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So I decided to write a "brief" life story. That was the intention, at least. I was thinking that surely I could condense things down enough.
Apparently I didn't realize how long-winded I can be.
I was in a much more secure forum there, a place where I get to choose who sees what I write. Obviously I can't have that comfort level here in a public forum with no restrictions to my audience. So names will be changed or removed but I'm going to try to leave everything as intact as possible so that you can get a better idea of me and how I came to be me.
This is my life as I remember it as I've seen it and as I've felt and lived it. I'm sure some things are romanticized in a few areas and glazed over in others, but it's my life from my perspective.
Of course if I touched on everything you'd be reading for days, so just know ahead of time that there are quite a few things left out that I'll have to go into at a later date.
So sit back, get a cup of coffee, and enjoy, but keep in mind....this is a tremendous step for me to make so much of my life so public....please be respectful of that.
I came into the world in the old fashioned way. One man, one woman.....ten months gestational period. Yes, ten. I was due December 14, 1981. They even tried to induce me on New Year's Eve of 1981. Setting precedence for the rest of my life, I did things my way, no matter how hard they tried. And on the 8th of January I made my entrance into the world.
I grew up in a tiny, disappearing town in Northeast Oklahoma. Picher. Everything you've heard about it on the news is absurd and slanted, ignore it.
Picher is the place of my fondest memories.
I grew up in a house of love, with a close-knit family, and in a community that looked out for each other. It was a Mayberry kind of town. Actually, Rascal Flatts' song Mayberry is somewhat based on Picher from what I'm told. (Joe Don Rooney, their guitarist, is from my home-town)
Daddy had a game-breeder's license with the State of Oklahoma. He raised chickens, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, quail....you name it, we likely had it. I had a pet rooster named Chips that I adopted in my younger years, carrying it around like a baby, laid on its back with its feet up in the air. I also had a pet mallard (duck) named Quankers, and in about 1st or 2nd grade, we welcomed a pet raccoon into our menagerie of pets. I named him Ricky-Ticky-Timbo-Nosarimbo. (My teacher had read us the book Tikki Tikki Tembo the day my dad brought him home, so my imagination ran wild when it came to naming him)
My hometown originated as a mining town, so the area is scattered with huge (or what used to be huge) hills or almost-mountains of gravel and chat left over from the mining process of the town's early history. We called these Chat Piles. There were two just south of my house. When it iced or we got a good, packed snow, the whole community would converge on the chat piles for an amazing time of sledding, tubing, and rocketing down the chat, piles.
There would be different heights that we would go down, a "bunny hill" of sorts for the little kids or big babies, a medium hill for the braver kids or adults that had a healthy respect for their own life, and then a typically ridiculously tall and steep hill with a ramp at the bottom that my dad and uncle almost exclusively shared. (Is it any wonder my dad was always in and out of the hospital all the time?) When it snowed, my dad would get us out in the yard and build snowmen and igloos. We'd have to go outside in spurts. As any kid, we'd stay out there until we were half-frozen, then make our way inside to thaw out and put warm, dry clothes on. Once our fingers returned to their normal skin color, we were out again.
My whole family originally lived within minutes of each other. My maternal grandpa, Papa, lived a block and a half up the alley from us. My other grandma lived all the way across town.....maybe a mile away, if that tells you how small Picher was (although, believe me, I'm not a good judge of distance). Get-togethers at both grandparents seem, looking back, to be pretty regular, although I have more memories at my Grandma & Pa's (Daddy's parents). There were more kids in that side of family. All of us grandkids spent our days either swimming in the pool, riding bikes or dirt bikes, or walking the trails on the Indian land behind grandma's. Fishing was common, as well. In the summers, normally at a holiday get-together, us girls would go through my aunt Michelle's clothes and put on a dress show that we made all the adults sit down and endure.
Before I started school, my aunt Carolyn babysat me while my mom taught school and my dad worked at the hospital across the state line in Baxter Springs, Kansas. This is where I met R., my childhood best friend. When we started kindergarten, we only went half-days, so my aunt would pick us up from kindergarten. R. was friends with a boy from the afternoon kindergarten class. We'd pass this boy as we were leaving and since R. liked him, I knew I had to like him. I took it a step further, however. I was crazy for that boy for 5 years. And never let him know it because my best girl-friend fell for him in 1st grade, before I ever even had the first class with him (we were never in the same class until 2nd grade)
The summer after third grade, we uprooted and moved to Arkansas. I had no clue my parents had been entertaining any notion of moving so I felt more than justified at my hatred for the whole situation. I hated Arkansas and I would refuse to be happy here. And I did just that for a long, long time.
I had a difficult time adjusting. I went from a small community of less than 1500.....about 50 students in my entire class to a community of almost 5,000 and almost three-times as many students in my class. Back home everyone was either white or Indian and I was taught that we're all essentially the same, no matter what our skin color. So I thought that everyone grew up just like me, believed just like me, behaved just like me, and thought just like me.
I was in shock for a couple of years as I adjusted to the very different lifestyles and behaviors that I came in contact with. Not everyone was taught to respect, to listen, to be fair. Not everyone was reasonable or logical or even half-way decent. Back home, if the teacher stepped out of the classroom that just meant we could talk to each other in a voice somewhere between a whisper and a conversational voice. Down here, when the teacher stepped out of the classroom, the students were jumping, screaming, throwing stuff (not just paper or pencils), hitting each other....it was ridiculous to say the least.
I never really found a group of friends that fit me. Never have, actually, in the 17 years we've been here. I had one group of friends for grade school, another for junior high, yet another for college, and still another and another and another for the years since then.
In Junior high I convinced my dad to buy me a horse. I don't remember how I came to want one, but he 'rented' a horse for me to ride for several months to make sure it wasn't just a phase I was going to grow out of. It was the best thing we ever did for me or that poor bony horse. While under our care her skeleton began to disappear and she started to look like a real horse again. I named her Wonder, because it was a wonder she was alive. After it was established that this wasn't a phase, we bought my first horse. We owned my first horse for about 15 minutes. We went to a horse sale and from the second I laid eyes on her, she was mine. Number 237. She was a buckskin with a doll-face and a beautiful build. I told Daddy that was the one I wanted, the price was in our range so that's the one I got. Right after we bought her, a man told Daddy that he didn't want to put me on that horse because she was straight off the race-track. Daddy turned around and sold her to the guy bidding against him. I think we've both regretted not keeping her and seeing what she was capable of.
A short time later, we bought a black Tennessee Walking Horse. I named her Pride. (Got this name from a series of horse books I'd been reading). She was a good horse. Stubborn and wouldn't run unless you just made her. She was a gaited Walking Horse. I wanted a running horse. But I made do. In the meantime, Daddy set his eyes on a buckskin horse he wanted for himself. The guy wanted too much for her by herself, but Daddy was able to buy her and her half-brother for barely more than he wanted for the one horse alone. So it was a done deal. The buckskin was his, and her brother, a feisty two-year old, was just another mouth to feed.
Once Daddy got Dollar, the buckskin, broke well enough to let other kids ride her, he started breaking the brother, Bo Jangles. He barely had him broke before I was demanding my turn on his back. He resisted and resisted. We disagreed a few times, but I never gave up. I never backed down. I'm pretty sure it was one of those "Fine, have it your way" moments when my dad finally agreed to let me on Bo Jangles' back.
I crawled up on the horse, who was barely more than green-broke, and held my own. The next time we rode, I wanted him saddled with my saddle. We went to a horse sale a short time later, which was about a monthly occurrence at this time, and Daddy bought a couple of hackamore bits for Pride, my walking horse. She didn't like a bit in her mouth, so this was perfect for her because instead of having the metal bar in her mouth, this "bit" only put pressure on the side of her nose to let her know which way to go.
The next time we rode, I wanted a hackamore on Bo. We hadn't found a bit he would work well with, so I wanted to try it on Bo to see if it would help him. Daddy thought I was crazy. The horse couldn't be controlled WITH a bit, he certainly wasn't going to be able to be controlled without one. He later described what happened as if you had jacked up the old horse and slid a brand new horse right under him.
I knew in my heart that Bo Jangles was my horse from that moment on. And he was a running horse.
During Junior High and Senior High, my sister and I were active in the youth group at our church. Sunday nights after church Daddy and I went and loaded up the horses and brought them into the arena. There would normally be upwards from eight kids lined up along the fence of the arena. Three or four of the boys rode our horses in horse shows with me, only one other was ever able to handle the still wild-hearted Bo Jangles. The others normally rode Dollar, Bo's sister, or Sierra, another horse we'd come to acquire. Those that weren't practicing for the shows with us, normally rode Pride or one of the other horses we'd had at the time (at one point we had either 11 or 13 horses, though not all were old enough to be ridden).
Daddy and I would go nightly to feed the horses. It was one of the favorite times of my life. Still is. And most nights, especially during the summer, after feeding or riding the horses, we'd stop at the gas station on the way back and he'd get him a Peach Nehi and I'd get a Black Cherry Clearly Canadian. Happy memories of simple times.
I stopped showing in about 10th grade. Other things occupied my time. Boys was high among them. I've always missed it though.
In high school I was a band nerd. But that wasn't a bad thing at the time. Our band was the biggest it'd ever been. We got over 130 people in it at one time. Our shows were amazing. In 10th grade, our half-time show was a group of Beatles songs. Our football team crashed through the rally-sign and onto the field to "Eye of the Tiger". I remember it being a lot like he football movies you see, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights, We Are Marshall. The atmosphere at the games during those years was electric. At those times, during those years, being a band nerd was amazing. Away games were always a blast. There was such comradely. Everyone had fun. And as with anything to do with high school, there was always flutters of sitting near that certain guy. And even when that wasn't the case, or even when seats were assigned, you still had fun because that's all we knew at the time.
My junior year, the band director (that had built the band into what it was over the 5 years she'd been there) had a baby and found work elsewhere. Closer to where she lived, 45 miles away. The band director that replaced her was a polar opposite from the director I loved. I quit half-way through my senior year because of the way he treated the students. Since then our virtually nonexistent band seems to focus more on gyrating hips and tacky dance moves than it does the music and the discipline and the comradely.
I was 16 when I decided that I wanted a job. My sister had worked at the local radio station for a couple of months collecting news from the local law-enforcement agencies but she was switching jobs to work more hours at the local hospital in their bookkeeping office. So I took her job as "Investigative Reporter". I went to the Police Department, Court Clerk's Office, and Sheriff's Office every day to collect the news. I worked 3 hours on a long day, so it's not like it was really work. Besides, I got to look at all those young guys in the city uniform, even though they were far too old for me.
In 1996 my parents bought some land and started building a house the following year. We moved in December 19th, 1997.
I worked at the Radio Station for several years, even working two jobs my senior year when I started as a clerk at a local grocery store. Eventually I gave up the radio station for the bigger paycheck.
I graduated Salutatorian of my class in 2000. I found out the night before graduation. I had less than 24 hours to write what I personally thought was the best speech of our graduating class (I could be biased though, plus I had some really great help from my parents). Not many in my graduating class were really close. We were friends more with the classes graduating before and after us. There were never any real bonds between classmates. I didn't focus my speech on fabricating such stories, I focused my speech on what was coming, on the life that awaited us. A speech I still read over from time to time.
I commuted to college, 50 miles away, for the first year and a half. Then I decided to get a job in my college town and take an apartment up there. I lived in Monticello during the week and made the obligatory drive home every.weekend.
In the summer of 2001 I went on a trip to New York City with a group of Criminal Justice majors. It was a blast! We went and we did and we had a time of it. I was the only one on the trip that didn't drink, so that made things more entertaining for me.
November 2001 through April 2002 was my longest run of doctor visits. It started with a strained shoulder and a chest infection in the winter months. In late-January or early-February, I rolled over one morning to turn the alarm clock off and heard a loud popping/snapping sound. An explosion of pain shot through my chest, leaving starbursts of every color before my eyes. I'd been having issues with popping in my chest for a couple of months, but it was nothing more than the sound of a joint popping, with no discomfort whatsoever, except it was at my sternum where no joint was present. This time was very different. It hurt for days and I eventually went to the doctor over it. No one seemed to really buy that it happened as innocently as it did.
We did x-ray after x-ray. On February 27th, my grandfather's birthday, I had the bone-scan done that made it appear I had a tumor on my sternum, right beside my heart. The twenty-four hours after that was the.most alone and afraid I'd ever been. But the good news came the next day, on my sister's birthday, that whatever it was, it was not a tumor. Eventually the Dr. diagnosed that one set of ribs had grown ever-so-slightly longer than the other set of ribs, causing my sternum to be offset at an angle. The snapping and pain I felt when I rolled over that morning was at least 2 of my ribs dislocating.
In March I broke my hand four-wheeler riding with my then-boyfriend. It was late and we were crossing a creek. He was on a four-wheeler behind me. Some other kids had ridden back there and rutted it up pretty bad, so I was trying to straddle the ruts to keep from getting stuck. My back tire slipped in a rut and the oversized Polaris Sportsman 4x4 rolled over on top of me in the creek (yes, I know just how lucky I was!). Fortunately the boyfriend got the four-wheeler off of me. There was no way I was going back across the creek and taking the shortest distance home, so we continued on the trail we were going, which would take about 2-miles to get home, instead of just under one. My hand hurt, but I was okay. I thought I'd just sprained it, nothing I couldn't hide from my parents. No sense in letting them know just HOW stupid I was. Driving with only one hand, I got stuck a few times. Eventually my four-wheeler got so stuck that we had to leave it. We rode back to the house and got my dad to get him to come help us get it out. It was almost 10pm by this time on a Sunday night. When I met Daddy at the door, I told him I thought I'd hurt my hand but that I was going to sleep on it. He asked and almost insisted on taking me to the ER, but I told him it wasn't that bad. It couldn't be broken because I could still move it.
So I slept on it and during the night it turned a rainbow of colors and distorted in shape and size. The next morning I drove myself to the doctor 30 minutes away. I had to hurry, I had an appointment in Little Rock that afternoon with a specialist who was confirming the Dr's diagnosis on the dislocated ribs. My mom called to check on me and was shocked when I told her I'd be home as soon as they finished putting my cast on.
The first cast, a blue cast was later traded for a white one. I kept having intense burning sensations, to the point that I really thought I had open sores underneath the cast. They cut it off to make sure. My skin was red and irritated, but otherwise intact, so they replaced it with a white one. This has always been important in my mind because my cousin Jerrid was the first one to sign my white cast.
The Sunday after I got my white cast on my grandma called early that morning to tell us that my Jerrid had been in a wreck.
Who knew my life would change from that moment on......
Jerrid had been in a wreck and was life-flighted to Wichita., Kansas At first they weren't sure he was going to make it. Then they knew his back was broken and he would be paralyzed, but they didn't know to what extent he would be paralyzed. He had died twice since the wreck but they eventually got him stabilized. He was out of the woods, but he was paralyzed from the abdomen down.
I talked to him daily on the phone. He told me "I love you" for the first time ever. And we told each other from then on out. He promised me some cherry yogurt if I came to see him. I would never dream of telling him I couldn't stand yogurt. The next weekend my family loaded in the car and drove to see him. No one knew we were coming. No one knew to expect us. We walked in and Jerrid's face lit up.
"I knew you were coming".
It felt like we shared a connection.
He insisted that I sit beside him and hold his hand. He'd had a scare before we got there and he wanted my comfort as much as I wanted his. His lungs had backed up with fluid and his subclavian port had come out, shooting blood everywhere. He coded and flat-lined, but fortunately they revived him. All was not lost. To think of the heartache we would have walked in to had things turned out differently. But they didn't. We walked into a room of smiles and relief.
We spelled off my aunt and grandparents, who had been staying with Jerrid. We sent them home for rest. I slept on the hard, cold floor beside his bed that night. Beside the pump that had failed to keep his lungs drained. He and I were both so afraid of a repeat performance that I don't think either of us slept.
He dubbed me "Turbo" while I was up there. I never knew just why, but it was perfectly fine with me, because it was Jerrid. I started thinking more about him. Thinking about taking care of him. Thinking about maybe moving up there someday. It could be me and Jerrid against the world.
We continued to talk virtually every-day. Jerrid moved from the hospital into a rehab unit where all the nurses were swooning at his smile. He totally had the bad-guy thing down pat, and now he had one heck of a battle wound to show for it. The girls had a hard time resisting him, even in his Kawasaki-green wheel-chair.
Late that summer, early into the fall, my parents made a discovery that shook their world. One of their employees and trusted friends had stolen a very significant amount of money from the Nursing Home that my parents owned. And she never touched a penny. She found a glitch and used it to write check after check after check. She forged and altered bank documents so that my parents didn't realize it for months. She had one more check printed when my mom found out.
That one check would have sunk everything my parents had ever worked so hard for.
My mom was reeling from the betrayal of someone she considered to be such a friend. And yet she composed herself and she set out on a mission and even though I'm sure she struggled with bitterness, she overcame what could very easily have destroyed her. In doing so, she set an example I would always aspire to follow.
Fall of 2002, my family was in from Oklahoma and Kansas for the Brookshire Family opening weekend of deer season. My cousin, Josh, brought a friend with him that had come the year before, too. Only this year his friend was single.
It was the only time in my lifetime that I can remember being so forward with a guy. And the only time a guy's shown his butt quite the way he did. Once he mooned me, I felt obligated to let him know what I thought of him. I found a reason to drive back to my apartment one day, insisting he ride with me for the two-hour roundtrip. On the way back we'd been talking and I stopped by a lake to show him a place I went to regularly. We got out and were walking down the bank of the lake when he stopped and wrapped his arms around me. After a few seconds of whispered words, he leaned his head in and kissed me.
It was over from there. At least for me. The night before they left, I gave him strict instructions to wake me up before they pulled out to head for home. Home for him was 11 hours away. He woke me up and gave me his phone number. We talked almost every day. No, we talked every day. I got a weekend off in December and drove to where he lived to spend the weekend with him. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment things. I called him, asked his plans, and asked if I would be interfering. He seemed legitimately excited, so I packed my bags, called my aunt to see if I could stay the weekend with them and asked for directions. I'm sure it was around then that it became quite obvious I'd never felt this way about a guy before.
I went up there and we had a great time. He took me to see Just Married one evening. Another evening, he took me with him to his company Christmas party. I was crazy about him in that "I can't keep my eyes off of you" kind of way and he seemed to have the same trouble of it.
For Christmas, my family always met at Grandma's house in Picher. He came down with my family. Jerrid brought his new girlfriend with him. It snowed and iced that Christmas. My cousins, Josh, John, and Chris as well as myself and The Boy went to the chat-piles. We sled all day. Then The Boy and I went to Miami to see a movie with my cousin Lisa and one of her friends. After that, we came back to Grandma's. Jerrid wanted me to come sleep in Grandma & Pa's bed with him. I chose to be in closer proximity with The Boy instead, afraid if I stayed with Jerrid that I would be awake all night talking.
The Boy and I continued on as ever after that. We never once argued. It seemed we were perfectly matched in everything but that he was at the point where he was ready for a wife and a home and a family. I absolutely would not consider marriage until I was done with college. But I was scheduled to graduate in December. Twelve months wasn't a long time.
But in the end my heart was broken. I was hurt so bad that I couldn't even begin to think a nice thought towards him if I had a gun to my head, even though I knew in my heart that it was no fault of his or my own that "we" weren't meant to be.
I was determined to get over it so I focused my thoughts anywhere else but on him.
That following summer I quit my job, gave up my apartment, and asked my aunt for a place to stay for the summer. She readily agreed and so I was off to Kansas. Though they never said it, I once thought my parents were afraid that I was going there to try to win The Boy back. They never knew that the only motivation he had in it was that I wanted to be able to face him and get over the hurt that still occasionally struck me.
On the drive to Kansas I vowed to myself to be the kind of person that people would consider themselves better off for having known. I wanted to infect everyone with my smile. To be the kind of person no one could help but to be friends with.
Anyway. I went jogging almost every evening. I put on my shorts and a t-shirt or tank top and would jog a mile, sometimes two miles. I'd either jog out by the lake or I'd jog at the school. On one particular night I'd just gotten done jogging at the school. I was emptying a cold bottle of water as I pulled into my aunt's house and--to my horror--had to park next to his truck.
"Not a problem," I told myself. Life had gone on without him and that wasn't going to change simply because he was in the one place I'd considered would be safe from him. I put on my game face and got out of the truck, smiling politely with a casual greeting as I walked past him and my uncle to join my aunt and her friend in the front yard.
I put on my smile, kicked back in my chair and propped my legs up in front of me. It couldn't have been better timed that he drove past us just as I was laughing out loud at something one of them had said. He honked and I glanced over with a quick wave. I couldn't have looked happier at that moment. Life went on without him. And for some reason it was so important to me that he know that...that he know my life was not ruined simply because he was not in it. (See, I've always been one to put too much thought and emphasis into things that other people never even realize has any meaning to me!)
That evening my uncle told me he was engaged and I found myself bracing for a wave of pain that never came. I had moved on, I had healed.
The summer passed far too quick. I made so many friends and--for once--was the person I'd set out to be. Several times I found myself in the center of so many of the get-togethers. I was an outsider, which seemed to make me a novelty. If they didn't love me for my accent, they loved me for my smile and my laugh and my quirks. I remember two of them being awed by my ability to disappear when I wanted, too. The spotlight would get too much for me. The attention would be too overwhelming sometimes to the point that if I didn't want to be seen, I'd simply choose not to be. They never figured that out. They never learned how I did it either, which, I think only added to my appeal.
I was the girl who had her heart broken and survived. I went home a better person for it.
That fall I started a job at the Sheriff's Office, where I now work. I went back for what I'd planned to be my last semester of school. I was going to graduate early because I'd taken college courses in high school and had tested out of two Comp courses. My scholarship would carry through to the following semester. I looked at it and saw that one more semester would give me a minor in Criminal Justice. So I went for it. It was free, anyway.
That winter, though, my world changed again. In November all the guys came down for hunting season again. Except The Ex, now.
I'd gotten so busy with school and work that Jerrid and I hadn't talked since early October. He was enrolled in college at this time, too. My cousin, Josh, told me Jerrid's girlfriend had broken up with Jerrid and he'd taken it pretty hard.
It became one of those things that you meant to do but never thought to do....calling Jerrid, I mean. Every time I thought about it, it was never a good time. So I put off for tomorrow what I should have done that day.
December came and I still hadn't found time for my cousin. One night that month I was headed home from visiting an old friend. It was about 4:00 in the morning when I was driving home and had the overwhelming urge to call Jerrid.
But that was silly. Jerrid would be asleep.
So I put off for tomorrow.........and tomorrow, he was gone.
Shortly after I had the urge to call him, he took his life.
My dad broke the news to me before church the next day and I slipped into zombie mode. I remember crying and falling to pieces in my room, but having the distinct feeling that I was being cradled in the arms of someone. Of course, my faith tells me exactly what happened at that time. Exactly Who was holding me.
We left for Kansas Monday. The services was on Thursday. I tried to keep myself composed. My friends from that summer and The Ex were all there and I just didn't want any of them seeing me as anything less than composed. I looked at the slideshow of my loved Jerrid. The cry caught in my throat and tears slipped over my lashes and then I felt the tug on me as my aunt turned around and made me come sit with her. She gave me Jerrid's sweatshirt to cry into, to hold onto. And while I still fell to pieces, I had my family there to hold me--to hold each other--together as well.
[my heart is knotted up inside my throat just typing this]
And as it always does, life went on and the world continued to turn.
In July, the Brookshire family had their first reunion in years.
The following fall, in 2004, my grandfather (my Dad's dad) was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. He had weeks, not months. Hospice was called in and he was sent home with a death sentence over his head. My dad, having been back and forth to Oklahoma and dealing with the stress of it, chose not to let it interfere with our travel plans for Paris. It was a good opportunity to get some distance, to regroup and compose ourselves. So we set off for the best trip of our lives. We spent a week in Paris and then returned to face the reality of it all. I hadn't seen my grandpa since July. I knew he had lost weight, it was obvious in July that he had. I was not prepared for what I saw when we went to Oklahoma and I went into their bedroom.
::deep breath::
When I walked into my grandparents room, I expected bad. I saw much worse than I had ever imagined. The strong, virile man I'd known all my life was gone. In his place was a skeleton with familiar skin draped over it. He was comatose....
I should probably skip this part of the story. It's just too hard to relive it. Anyway, I went back to Arkansas that Sunday. I had both work and school the next day. So I went home to a empty house.
It was too quiet.
So I went to the Sheriff's Office to talk to the dispatcher working, who happened to be someone that I'd dated briefly earlier in the year. But this night, as I sought a friend to talk to and to give me some comforting words, I found none with him.
So I went home and cried my eyes out into a hot shower. I tried to lay down but all I could think about was the skeleton of my grandpa's body.....
I thought about who I could get to come sit with me for a few hours, watch a movie or distract myself with idle conversation. The only people I could reach were males, and I wasn't too sure that was a good idea. Who knew what inappropriate things might happen in the state I was in. But beggars can't be choosers and sometimes the things we're afraid might happen are exactly the things that happen.
The following night I was sitting at the computer when the phone rang. It was my sister's first anniversary and she was calling. She was coming by.
That meant one thing.
As I saw their headlights come up the driveway, I felt a strange feeling, not physically but almost like the "walking on a grave" feeling, but it was in the pit of my belly. Before I could completely process it, that thought was forced out of my mind by the fact that I now knew, without being told, that my Pa was dead.
A few weeks later, a new guy came around. He was young. I didn't really know about getting into that. But he pushed past my reservations, and once he was there, I kind of liked him there. I fell hard and fast for him.
A complication came up shortly after when I took a test I'd been putting off taking for almost two weeks, a test that I'm certain I knew the results of the minute I had that weird sensation in my stomach the night my grandfather died five weeks earlier.
Yep, I was preggers. But I didn't think I was ready to tell my family just yet because Daddy had just lost his dad and the annual Brookshire Opening Weekend of hunting season get-together was coming up. And this would be the first one without Pa. I didn't want my unexpected news to complicate things even further.
But I had to tell someone. I was afraid that the idea of abortion would enter my mind, and if someone knew....if someone could hold me accountable, I knew it would never be an issue.
So I called my sister.
We told my parents the following Monday.
I knew from the get-go that I wouldn't be able to. I knew that I could never utter the words that I was certain would break my parents hearts.
In the end, I was right; my sister had to tell them for me. She told me to just squeeze her hand and she would do it. We barely got seated and I clenched it tightly. She picked right up as if she'd intended to do it all along.
The second she said the words....."Ashley's six weeks pregnant" both of my parents eyes took a second to process. I was looking at my dad when his eyes flashed to joy. Of course they asked "who" and I told them. I also told them I was going to tell the new guy the next night and see what happened there.
My parents handled it with a love I now feel ashamed for doubting. I saw in their eyes it would be okay. And I clung to that.
I told my then-boyfriend the next night.
I really expected things to end that night. But he took me by the hand and said we'd get through it together. My heart was his even more than ever.
For New Year's he gave me a promise ring.
He was good to me. Every night he came over after work and ate supper with us. I'd go up and take my shower, and he'd tuck me into bed at 7:30 or so, and then he'd stay downstairs and visit with my parents until 9, then he'd go home and get his homework done and go to bed.
He had already decided before I came into the picture that he was going to a college in another state. He would leave in July, a matter of days after my due-date of July 4th.
My doctor agreed to induce on the 6th, as I was dilated 3 cm on the 5th at my appointment. We went home, packed my bags and headed off to the hospital bright and early the next morning.
It was an all-day event for our two families. Of course they enjoyed themselves more than I did. When the decision was made to do a cesarean, his parents were as visibly upset as my own were. I had no fear or worries at this point. After laboring for 10 hours and pushing for 2 1/2, I was too tired to care how he made his entrance, I just wanted to see my son.
Ty was born at 11:05 p.m. I was too drugged to be able to process the miracle of it. It was as if they'd shown me the new $5 bill. "Oh....well......look at that."
I couldn't hold him or see him for over an hour. They had to close me up and get him cleaned up and all that good stuff. It was in the early morning hours that I got to hold him, and even then, the urge to close my eyes was overwhelming. I could tell enough to know my life was changed, though.
The Tuesday after Ty was born (He was born on a Wednesday) I had to be opened back up. My uterine fluids infected my cesarean site (one of those one-in-a-million things and it happens to me!). They opened up a 3"+ section of my site.....no pain medicine, nothing to numb it. Just pushed a Q-tip in it to break it open and then used his fingers to pry open the rest.
Hands down.
Two days later, they opened 1" of the other side.
Both sites had to be packed with sterilized gauze soaked in antibiotic three times a day.
Three times a day my mom and boyfriend would wash up, glove up and remove the old gauze from the site and then pack the site with the fresh gauze.
This had to be done for 6 weeks before it was fully healed from the inside out.
That December he gave me an engagement ring.
I ordered my dress in January. The date was set for September 23, 2006. It was going to be a special and amazing day.
We bought a house in May.
The details of what happened to end our relationship are private, so they won't be expelled here. I'll just state that shortly after he arrived home from school, after facing and enduring a year of separation there was little of our relationship left that was recognizable.
I cried.
I cried some more.
I had a particularly painful melt-down in the floor of my shower, and yet again, I cried.
And then one morning I got myself out of bed, dried my eyes, and let the world continue on. I had been hurt before. I had my heart broken before. I survived. Everything that I had endured, one thing always happened....I survived.
One way or another, the house was going to have to be fixed up, with some help I figured out a way that I could keep it for me and Ty, so we finished fixing it up and Ty and I moved in that December (2006). Life has kinda been in a holding pattern ever since.
A few guys have wandered in and quickly out of my life. Very few have treated me like an actual human being, much less someone that deserves their respect. Hopefully by now, though, I've learned to weed through the players and the jerks. Hopefully, by now, I should be able to recognize a good guy simply by the fact that he would have to be so completely different from some of the guys that have come my way in the past three years.
Although my love life is quite that pathetic and horrible, my life--overall--has been anything but!
Ty is getting bigger and bigger everyday and, cliche as it sounds, I love him more and more every day and I know that I'm so wonderfully blessed.
True, I'm not where I hoped I'd be in my life at age twenty-seven.....but I absolutely wouldn't change a thing even if I could because that's part of life. If I were the person I hoped I'd be, I wouldn't be me, and I think I'm doing a pretty good job of learning to live with me.


text:
Our guest for this episode is the mind of Tyler Waye. Tyler is a man on a mission trying to re energize the working structure of the modern world, and engage with people to understand what makes them drive and what makes them do their best work. Tyler is also a university football coach, and a fiery presenter for youth and adult alike. Tyler was also in Avenue's Top 40 Under 40.
But all of this doesn't encapsulate all of Tyler, as he is a man with passion for positive change and before I talked to him, he asked me if I could specifically mention and discuss the gender wage gap, a topic he has a lot of ideas about. He also heads up the We Stand conference for young leaders which he has taken to Edmonton and China. We're going to hear all of that in his own articulate words.
Check out Tyler's Book "I Went To School That Long For This", also you can read more about him at his website and blog tylerwaye.com, or on his Twitter @TylerWaye

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Omniscience /ɒmˈnɪʃəns/,[1] mainly in religion, is the capacity to know everything that there is to know. In particular, Dharmic religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism) and the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) believe that there is a divine being who is omniscient. An omniscient point-of-view, in writing, is to know everything that can be known about a character, including past history, thoughts, feelings, etc. In Latin, omnis means "all" and science means "knowing".
|Part of a series on the
|Attributes of God
There is a distinction between:
- inherent omniscience - the ability to know anything that one chooses to know and can be known.
- total omniscience - actually knowing everything that can be known.
Some modern Christian theologians argue that God's omniscience is inherent rather than total, and that God chooses to limit his omniscience in order to preserve the freewill and dignity of his creatures.[2] John Calvin, among other theologians of the 16th century, comfortable with the definition of God as being omniscient in the total sense, in order for worthy beings' abilities to choose freely, embraced the doctrine of predestination.
Jain view
In Jainism, omniscience is considered the highest type of perception. In the words of a Jain scholar,
The perfect manifestation of the innate nature of the self, arising on the complete annihilation of the obstructive veils, is called omniscience.[3]
Jainism views infinite knowledge as an inherent capability of every soul. Arihanta is the word used by Jains to refer to those human beings who have conquered all inner passions (like attachment, greed, pride, anger) and possess Kevala Jnana (infinite knowledge). They are said to be of two kinds:[4]
- Sāmānya kevali – omniscient beings (Kevalins) who are concerned with their own liberation.
- Tirthankara kevali – human beings who attain omniscience and then help others to achieve the same.[4]
Omnipotence (unlimited power) is sometimes understood to also imply the capacity to know everything that will be.
Nontheism often claims that the very concept of omniscience is inherently contradictory.
Whether omniscience, particularly regarding the choices that a human will make, is compatible with free will has been debated by theists and philosophers. The argument that divine foreknowledge is not compatible with free will is known as theological fatalism. Generally, if humans are truly free to choose between different alternatives, it is very difficult to understand how God could know what this choice will be.[5]
God created knowledge
Some theists argue that God created all knowledge and has ready access thereto. This statement invokes a circular time contradiction: presupposing the existence of God, before knowledge existed, there was no knowledge at all, which means that God was unable to possess knowledge prior to its creation. Alternately if knowledge was not a "creation" but merely existed in God's mind for all time there would be no contradiction. In Thomistic thought, which holds God to exist outside of time due to his ability to perceive everything at once, everything which God knows in his mind already exists. Hence, God would know of nothing that was not in existence (or else it would exist), and God would also know everything that was in existence (or else it would not exist), and God would possess this knowledge of what did exist and what did not exist at any point in the history of time.
The circular time contradiction can suppose anything concerning God, such as the creation of life, meaning before God created life, he wasn't alive. Moreover, to assume any more attributes, to then say God is merciful, but before the creation of mercy, he wouldn't have been merciful, and before the creation of the concept of negation (meaning to assume something as not), no one would have any concept of what is not. These apparent contradictions, however, presuppose that such attributes are separately defined and detached from God, which is not necessarily so. It is not a given that attributes which can be assigned to or used to describe mankind, can be equally (or even similarly) ascribed to God. Take good and evil for example: goodness is biblically defined as that which is of God; it is intrinsic to his being and is revealed most prominently through his provision of Old Testament Law, the keeping of which is the very definition of goodness and the neglecting of which (on even the slightest of grounds), is the epitome of evil. A similar argument could be laid down concerning God's omniscience (i.e. knowledge). It even eludes the idea a lot more even to assume the concept of "nothing" or negation was created, therefore it is seemingly impossible to conceive such a notion where it draws down to a paradox. Assuming that the creator and creation is separate, and not the same one thing, or process. That it is a "this or that" notion, instead of a "this and that" idea.
To assume that knowledge in Plato's sense as described to be a belief that's true, it then means that before everything came into being, it was all to be conceived as total imagination by God until the set of truth. One verse "God created man in his own Image" states that God imagined the form of humans, taking image as a root word for imagine, mistakenly understood as man to look like God. [this verse from Genesis 1 is in the Hebrew Scriptures. The word 'Image' is translated from two Hebrew words 'demuth' - likeness or similitude and 'tselem'- an obscure word which translates as image or idol.[6] It is difficult, therefore to make a case for the author's reading of this verse to mean 'God imagined the form of humans'. Or that 'God is imagined in the form of humans'.
The above definitions of omniscience cover what is called propositional knowledge (knowing that), as opposed to experiential knowledge (knowing how). That some entity is omniscient in the sense of possessing all possible propositional knowledge does not imply that it also possesses all possible experiential knowledge. Opinions differ as to whether the propositionally omniscient God of the theists is able to possess all experiential knowledge as well. But it seems at least obvious that a divine infinite being conceived of as necessary infinitely knowledgeable would also know how, for example, a finite person (man) dying feels as He (God) would have access to all knowledge including the obvious experiences of the dying human. There is a third type of knowledge: practical or procedural knowledge (knowing how to do). If omniscience is taken to be all knowledge then all knowledge of all types would be fully known and comprehended.
Omniscience vs free will
A question arises: an omniscient entity knows everything even about his/her/its own decisions in the future, does it therefore forbid any free will to that entity? William Lane Craig states that the question subdivides into two:
(1) If God foreknows the occurrence of some event E, does E happen necessarily?,[7] and
(2) If some event E is contingent, how can God foreknow E's occurrence?[8]
See : Determinism, Freewill and argument from free will
Non-theological uses
The field of literary analysis and criticism can discuss omniscience in the point of view of a narrator. An omniscient narrator, almost always a third-person narrator, can reveal insights into characters and settings that would not be otherwise apparent from the events of the story and which no single character could be aware of.
A collection of surveillance techniques which together contribute to much disparate knowledge about the movements, actions, conversation, appearance, etc. of an individual (or organisation) is sometimes called omniscient technology.
The word "omniscient" characterizes a fictional character in the Devin Townsend album "Ziltoid the Omniscient".
Omniscience in Buddhism
The topic of omniscience has been much debated in various Indian traditions, but no more so than by the Buddhists. After Dharmakirti's excursions into the subject of what constitutes a valid cognition, Śāntarakṣita and his student Kamalaśīla thoroughly investigated the subject in the Tattvasamgraha and its commentary the Panjika. The arguments in the text can be broadly grouped into four sections:
- The refutation that cognitions, either perceived, inferred, or otherwise, can be used to refute omniscience.
- A demonstration of the possibility of omniscience through apprehending the selfless universal nature of all knowables, by examining what it means to be ignorant and the nature of mind and awareness.
- A demonstration of the total omniscience where all individual characteristics (svalaksana) are available to the omniscient being.
- The specific demonstration of Shakyamuni Buddha's non-exclusive omniscience.[9]
See also
- ↑ "omniscience". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. September 2005. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)"
- ↑ John Polkinghorne, Science and Theology SPCK/Fortress Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8006-3153-6
- ↑ Mehta 1954, p. 99.
- 1 2 Sangave 2001, p. 16.
- ↑ "Ron Barnette, a Bright-OMNISCIENCE AND FREEDOM". Valdosta.edu. 1999-09-16. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
- ↑ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance: "demuth: likeness, similitude - Original Word: דְּמוּת
- ↑ "Purtill on Fatalism and Truth". Faith and Philosophy: 229–234. 1990.
- ↑ Viney, Donald Wayne (Spring 1989). "Does Omniscience Imply Foreknowledge? Craig on Hartshorneby". Process Studies. Center for Process Studies. 18 (1): 30–37. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ↑ McClintock, Sara L. (2010). Omniscience and the Rhetoric of Reason. Wisdom Publications.
- Sangave, Vilas Adinath (2001), Aspects of Jaina religion (3 ed.), Bharatiya Jnanpith, ISBN 81-263-0626-2
- Mehta, Mohan Lal (1954), Outlines of Jaina Philosophy, Jain Mission Society (Original- the University of Michigan)
External links
- Wierenga, Edward. "Omniscience". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Omniscience and Divine Foreknowledge article in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Is God All-Knowing?


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This amazing nonprofit "sibling" to the incredible Sonoma County Regional Parks system helps raise funds, match funds for grant applications and support programs, initiatives, outings for 56 county regional parks that keep our community emotionally and physically healthy and fit
The Parks Foundation plays an excellent and vital role in supporting our 56 regional parks and programs. As a pediatrician, I find that the parks are a cherished resource for us all to share as they support getting children and their families outdoors and active. The parks and the foundation sponsor programs that help decrease childhood obesity together with promoting love for nature and the outdoors as we unplug our children and help prevent "nature deficit syndrome". From building new trails to teaching water safety to our youth (Vamos a Nadar) to providing nature education (Environmental Discovery Center), the Foundation is instrumental in supporting and enhancing our precious Sonoma County Regional Parks System.
Previous Stories
The Parks Foundation plays an excellent and vital role in supporting our 56 regional parks and programs. As a pediatrician, I find that the parks are a cherished resource for us all to share as they support getting children and their families outdoors and active. The parks and the foundation sponsor programs that help decrease childhood obesity together with promoting love for nature and the outdoors as we unplug our children and help prevent "nature deficit syndrome". From building new trails to teaching water safety to our youth (Vamos a Nadar) to providing nature education (Environmental Discovery Center), the Foundation is instrumental in supporting and enhancing our precious Sonoma County Regional Parks System.
With my 17 years of experience with Regional Parks I am amazed each year at the amount of support the foundations not only gives back to the parks but to the community that enjoys and uses the parks. Each year they exceed the amount of money raised to give back to the community through programs like environmental education, water safety programs, the restoration and amenities within the parks, and events like the Funky Friday, Water Carnival, Water Bark and many more. Thank you Regional Parks Foundation for doing such an awesome job!!!
As the Owner/President of Green Valley Consulting Engineers, I have had the privilege of working directly with the SCRP for the past twenty years (and counting)! Our cooperative work has developed new scenic coastal trails, created walkable and bikeable communities, transformed gravel pits into recreational lakes, and restored native habitats. There is a reason "googling" any Sonoma County Park (there are 50-plus) will yield 4 and 5 star user reviews!
We can't think of a better way to use our time and talents - supporting the SCRP's mission of creating healthy communities and contributing to the economic vitality of our beautiful Sonoma County home! And when not improving a park, we are using it - below is my "significant -dog - other" Hannah and I enjoying an afternoon outdoors at Crane Creek Regional Park.
My family and I have spent countless afternoons hiking the beautiful Sonoma County Trails. They offer us a fun way to get physically fit while always reminding us of how lucky we are to live with such natural beauty. My children have also developed a deep appreciation for "the great outdoors". Thank you SCRP for all the wonderful work that you do to build, maintain, and preserve our parks so that we can continue to get up close and personal with our environment!
I spend time in Sonoma County parks every week, and I am a donor to the Parks Foundation. As a Sebastopol resident I consider Ragle Ranch like my second home! There are a lot of needs in our parks that simply cannot be funded through the County budget alone, and sometimes there are also needs that are time sensitive, to which a government agency is not agile enough to respond in time. That's where the Parks Foundation comes in. I love the fact that the Foundation helps the staff of Regional Parks buy important equipment that makes their jobs easier and makes them more efficient! And I like that the Parks Foundation provides matching funds to Regional Parks which provide leverage to secure millions of dollars in grants every year.
In 2017 every member of the board of directors is engaged in the work of the SCRP Foundation - thanking donors, volunteering at events, contributing financially, advocating for regional parks. The Foundation provides environmental education programs for schools, raises funds for county parks (trails, benches, habitat, etc.), offers water safety programs for families, and responds to the recreation interests of diverse populations. Board members represent the 5 supervisorial districts of the county.
In the four years I have been contributing to Sonoma County Park Foundation I have been consistently wowed by the they do in support of our Regional Parks. They are there for regional parks in so many different ways. Raising money to allow the parks department to leverage those amounts many times over in grants. Reaching out as an exceptional advocate to bring more residents to the parks, providing flexibility that allows the department to nimble and responsive beyond what governmental agencies can achieve. And finally find ways and resources to enhance the effectiveness of the day to day operations.
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has been giving scholarships to students in need in order to strengthen their knowledge of the natural world through empirical experiences at the education center. What an amazing foundation!
This board is doing an excellent job supporting the Regional Parks. It is a pleasure working with such like minded individuals. The goals and mission statement are what the foundation is focused on completing
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has grown substantially over the 10 years that I have been a donor and beneficiary of their generosity and compassion when it comes to providing valuable resources and support to the community and the department.
I have been part of projects that helped to restore Watson and Fort Ross School's to help preserve our local history and culture. As a tennis player, my crew benefited from the community and Foundation fundraising for resurfacing the Occidental tennis courts when parks department funding was not available. As an avid hiker and trail designer, the Foundation has sponsored many fundraising events and trail construction projects throughout the County that provide recreational trails for residents and visitors everyday.
In addition, the Foundation is a primary sponsor of the programs that serve the residents, and especially children, in the north bay. This gives many of them an opportunity to experience nature in a fun and educational environment, many for the first time.
The Foundation continues to grow and evolve into an integral part of the parks department and the community, and everyday I am thankful for their efforts.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is the best! They not only help staff to obtain tools and services that are needed to improve efficiency, but they also provide funding to recreation, education and lifesaving programs. Recently the Parks Foundation wrote and received grant funding to provide 12 scholarships for a Rushing Down the Russian River summer camp to underserved youth. 12 campers were able to have a life-changing experience due to the work of this foundation.
Annually the Parks Foundation provides scholarships to environmental education field trips, provides summer camp scholarship, funds swim lessons for Vamos a Nadar (Let's Go Swimming), purchases life jackets and finds funding for the Water Safety River Patrol. These are all programs that educate and save lives and would not be available in Sonoma County without the Regional Parks Foundation. The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is the Best!
I worked with the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation Board and I found the organization to lack focus, goals and specific objectives. They do a great job approving funding requests by Sonoma County Regional Parks with little or no investigation.
The committees rarely if ever meet and the group does not accomplish very much other than approving funding requests by Sonoma County Regional Parks. Their financial ratios are poor and they have very high turnover and poor communications among the board members.
Sonoma County Regional Parks Directors are very well paid and have excellent salaries and benefits. All of which is at the expense of the tax payer and the park system. The Regional Parks has the resources to make the parks in Sonoma County best in its class, but perspective donors would be best advised to provide other organizations their resources.
Review from Guidestar


text:
Jersey sheet SGL whiteSKU: 1602201
Jersey sheet SGL white
Cotton/polyester. Fitted sheet for box, spring and foam mattresses. With elastic edges. Single 80/90x200x35 cm
Related blog posts
Product specifications
|52% polyester/48% cotton
|Do not bleach
|** Tumble drying possible, normal temperature (max. 80ºC)
|* Ironing possible, lower temperature (max. 110ºC)
|Dry clean
|Do not dry clean
|Wash before use, Wash with similar colours, wash separately the first time
|Size of sheet
|80/90x200x35 cm
|5-7 %
|105 g/m².
|Environmental and health certification
Products carrying the label 'Confidence in textiles' satisfy the stringent testing criteria of the International OEKO-TEX® Association and are free of harmful substances.
|Method of colouring
|Fitted Sheet
|Elastic edges
All reviews
Great value
Great value for money
gode jerseylagner til denne pris
godt tilfreds med køb ,
Originally written on jysk.dk
god vare
God vare jeg har købt og som altid gode vare ved JYSK og god betjening og hurtig levering
Originally written on jysk.dk
Billig men fin
Fint lagen, men ret tyndt. Fint til prisen.
Originally written on jysk.dk
Lidt tynde
Dejlig blød, til den tynde side, så jeg lægger 2 stk. på, eet på topmadrassen og eet over både top- og bundmadras.
Originally written on jysk.dk
Lagenet er meget tyndt og " sjasket". Det lagen jeg købte sidst, som godt er nogle år siden, er af bedre og kraftigere kvalitet - hvilket jeg foretrækker.
Originally written on jysk.dk
Billigt lagen og virkelig et godt køb til prisen.
Originally written on jysk.dk
For tyndt
Lagnet er gennemsigtigt, så det er alt for tyndt stof. Men til prisen, er det vel "okay"
Originally written on jysk.dk
Ekstremt tynde
De er utroligt tynde. Man kan tydeligt se syningerne i madrassen gennem de hvide lagner. Kan ikke forestille mig, at de holder ret godt
Originally written on jysk.dk
Til en billig pris og ok kvalitet
Originally written on jysk.dk
When you shop online at JYSK, you can choose between a variety of delivery options either to a JYSK store near you or directly to your home or work:
Click & collect – Free of charge
Click & collect allows you to reserve products online and pick them up in a JYSK store of your choosing. When reserving products online JYSK will within two hours confirm that your order is ready to be collected.
Click & Collect is freight free, and you do not pay for your products until you pick up your order in the store.
Pick up in store – Free of charge
You have access to an even wider assortment online than you won't find in our stores. If you want to buy online only items, just order and pay on our website and choose to have them delivered to a JYSK store of your choice.
You will be contacted by JYSK when your items are delivered to the store and ready to be picked up.
Home delivery of small packages - Fee
When you shop online in JYSK, you can always choose to get your order delivered to your own home, at work or anywhere else which is convenient for you.
Small packages are be delivered by mail or by a company specialized in packaging delivery services.
Larges packages, cargo – Fee
When buying big and heavy products such as mattresses, sofas or other kinds of furniture, a lot of customers prefer a home delivery.
JYSK cooperates with well known and trusted cargo companies all over the world, in order to make sure that our delivery service is punctual. At the current time we can only offer a door step delivery, our transport drivers will not be permitted to enter your property
Store only
JYSK is proud to offer our broad assortment in both our stores and online. However in some cases a specific product can only be purchased through Click & Collect or directly in our stores. This can be the case with fragile articles, articles handled as sales- and ordering number, discontinued articles or articles sold only for a short period of time.
No matter how you choose to get your products we look forward to providing you with a great experience.


text:
River science, aquatic ecosystems, and the ongoing ripple effect
Ontario's St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences has 'reconnected the community with the river'
Some time ago, the concept of "river science" took hold in Cornwall, Ontario.
Nearly 30 years later, the ripple effect is still being felt.
Conceived in the late 1980s, and founded in 1994, the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences now reaches thousands of students a year—demystifying science, launching careers in biology, and inspiring tomorrow's generation with the wonder of the natural world.
"The river is such an important part of the community here, and I think that in no small part, we've gone a long way to reconnect the community with the river," says Dr. Jeff Ridal, the River Institute's executive director and chief research scientist.
"In the mid-1980s, there was a realization that the river had been severely impacted in places like Cornwall through decades of heavy industry," he adds. "Our work has helped people appreciate actions and consequences, and has played a role in restoring the health of the river."
With 16 scientists and educators on its staff of 22, the River Institute reaches more than 5,000 young people from Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec annually—from kindergarten up to university postgraduates, during the school year and throughout the summer.
Through offerings like Marsh Diversity, Pour-a-Pond, Frogs and Friends, Water Quality, and Aquatic Invertebrates Ecology, the River Institute engages younger audiences with activities of inquiry and discovery—and older students through actual scientific research out on the water and in the lab, often in support of projects being pursued by university students.
"They'll collect and test water samples. They'll catch, measure and release fish, with the information being added to a database for the St. Lawrence River watershed. They'll learn about water filtration, bacteria, microbiology and chemical constituents of water," says Dr. Ridal. "Once you know about a river's ecosystem, and understand its importance, you take more responsibility for it."
At Enbridge, we take responsibility to the environment seriously, and we invest in community programs that promote environmental stewardship, conservation, habitat remediation and education.
We supported the River Institute's capital campaign to establish a permanent education and research centre, and we've also supported its aquatic science programming since 2011, most recently delivering a $15,000 check for continued environmental education workshops.
"If you're talking about connections, we've fostered and grown our relationship with the Mohawks of Akwesasne. In addition to independent research projects, the River Institute also works in partnership with universities" like Queen's, Carleton, Ottawa, Quebec at Montreal, and Clarkson, says Dr. Ridal.
"Graduate students who come from the area will do their field research here, and end up inspiring another generation. One domino falls into the next."


text:
IHC and process validation
Handout (pdf 54p)
Handout (pdf 14p)
Today, pathology labs are facing many challenges to provide the optimal quality and service. One of the most critical steps is immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Immunohistochemical staining is a multi-step and complex process where the results are influenced by multiple parameters. Standardization of this process is crucial to obtain high quality and reliable results but is sometimes difficult to achieve. In addition, there is a growing demand from regulations and accreditation programs. In this context, process validation might provide a helpful tool.
This presentation will give an overview of a method for process validation used in our lab and based on the "M model". This model enables you to approach every step in the total IHC process in a systematic way. The process steps are divided into following categories : "Machine, Means, Men and Methods" - hence the "M model". Potential critical factors in pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical steps are listed based on experience, guidelines and recommendations. This list subsequently becomes the basis for a risk analysis (FMEA, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) resulting in a risk priority number assigned to each factor influencing the process. Critical points within the IHC process are validated in order to meet the predetermined acceptance criteria which are crucial to obtain consistent and high quality results. The use of controls together with other monitoring instruments will keep the IHC process in a validated state and minimize the risk for errors, ensuring a robust and standardized process.
The systematic mapping and validation of critical points within the process will provide the framework for "in-house" standardization.
Donald Van Hecke is senior/head histotechnologist and quality coordinator at the pathology department of the AZ St. Lucas hospital in Bruges – Belgium. He has more than 20 year experience in histotechnology, immunohistochemical staining and special stains, is first author on international papers, former Belgian IHC conference organiser and guest speaker on topics related to IHC, standardization/ validation, lab automation and quality management. The pathology department is currently preparing for ISO 15189 accreditation this year.
VisitAalborg · Kjellerups Torv 5 · 9000 Aalborg · Tel. 9931 7520 · email@example.com


text:
- Fragrance description
- About the brand
- Review
Fragrance description Creed Fleurs De GardeniaIngredients
Creed Fleurs De Gardenia is a floral fragrance for women. This Eau de Parfum comes from the workshop of a unique luxury, dynastic and privately owned niche perfume brand. As well as an exceptional tradition passed down from father to son since 1760 and a celebrated history (more than 250 years of creating exceptional fragrances for royal families and other exacting customers with refined tastes), the Creed brand can also boast the use of classic techniques when processing the rare materials selected for the production of its unrivalled perfumes.
The Creed Fleurs De Gardenia floral fragrance for women involves the sensual intoxication of the human soul and the olfactory senses. A composition based on fresh tones which bring joie de vivre into the life of every lady. A new and unique essence full of spicy ingredients which will become your personal calling card.
Creed Fleurs De Gardenia is an Eau de Parfum for women who like delightful scents of a floral nature. The ingredients such as pink jasmine, peony or cedar wood will transport you to blossoming gardens.
The flacon for the Creed Fleurs De Gardenia Eau de Parfum for women makes an original impression and it is garlanded in purple. Creative style which will show you the path through life, a path leading through an intoxicating composition full of warm surprise. Enjoy it to the fullest.
- Top notesTop notes - They develop straight after you put the fragrance on. They create the first impression and tend to be quite intense, but not long-lasting.
- Galbanum, Black Currant, Pink Pepper
- Middle notesMiddle notes - The heart of the fragrance comes out after a couple of minutes when the head of the scent fades away. These notes usually last around 2 to 3 hours.
- Jasmine, Gardenia, Peony, Lily Of The Valley, Rose
- Base notesBase notes - The last and often longest part of the fragrance's evolution on your skin. Takes anywhere from 4 hours to over a day.
- Musk, Patchouli, Cedar
- Fragrance category
- floral, green
About the brand Creed
Creed fragrances | Creed is the king of perfume and the perfume of kings. For more than 250 years, the brand has been creating extraordinary fragrances for royal families and other customers of exquisite taste. The company was founded in 1760 by James Henry Creed and has been helmed by the family ever since.
Creed's history is truly unique. Over the years, the perfume house has designed fragrances for many people of note including Queen Victoria, the emperor Franz Josef, Winston Churchill or JFK. These days, Creed is mostly known for its classic masculine fragrances that are favourited by celebrities like Robert De Niro or Sylvester Stallone.
But Creed still remains the perfume brand of royals and presidents (it's a well known fact that both Michelle Obama and the Duchess of Cambridge wear Creed perfumes). The company now resides in France and operates in other countries including the US. In keeping with the long tradition, Creed still uses many of the old distilling methods and chooses the ingredients carefully to only include the very best that is available.
Creed's fragrances are divided into categories for women and for men, but there are unisex perfumes as well. Among Creed's most popular fragrances are Green Irish Tweed, a classic fougère created in 1985 by Olivier Creed, and Creed Aventus, inspired by the life of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Whichever Creed perfume you choose, you'll get timeless beauty and a modern approach to traditional methods and values.


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Voucher information: No need to print! If you are travelling with a smartphone or a tablet you can present the voucher on your device for this activity.
Please call the local activity operator at least 24 hours prior to the start of the tour to confirm the departure details.
Please reach the meeting point at least 15 minutes prior to the start time.
The gondola ride is not a private tour, so you will have others along to make it all the more festive and fun! The maximum number of people is 6.
Seating is on first come first served basis and left to the discretion of gondolier in order to balance the load on Gondola.
The classic gondola ride is not guided.
There is no serenade (singing) on this Gondola option. Generally Gondoliers do not provide commentary.
Backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica and Doge's Palace.
Shoulders and knees must be covered while entering into churches. Please deposit before tour departs.
If you wish to spend more time inside the Doge's Palace independently after the tour, your museum pass will allow you to do so.
You will be given a map at the first meeting point which will indicate the meeting points for the other tours.
The confirmation voucher includes the local activity operator's contact details and local telephone numbers at the destination. They will happily answer any logistical questions you may have.Getting to the Meeting Point:
Arriving by Boat (Vaporetto): Take the No.1 boat and get off at the boat stop "Santa Maria Del Giglio", walk straight down the small street "Calle Gritti". At the end of the street you reach a small square with a church in front and a Well on your left. Turn left passing by the Well and the restaurant and walk back down the street to the water and the Grand Canal. Here you will find the Gondola Park.
Arriving by water taxi: Ask the water taxi driver to drop you off at the Boat stop (Vaporetto) Santa Maria del Giglio and then follow instructions as per arriving by boat.
Arriving by Foot: From Saint Marks square go under the arches and make your way towards the Correre Museum and take the last arch on the left of the square making your way to street "Calle Larga XX11 Marzo". Continue along "Calle Larga XX11 Marzo" passing the church on your left and then cross the bridge near the gondolier park in front of Hotel Buaer, continue walking along to the very end of the street which bears left and then right, cross over the small bridge and continue into the small square, here you will see a church in front of you and a Well on your left. Turn left and make your way to the water front to the Grand Canal. Here you will find the Gondola Park.
GPS Coordinates: 45.431652, 12.332986


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in C:\xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf uncomment the following line:
- Code: Select all
LoadModule vhost_alias_module modules/mod_vhost_alias.so
replace the content of C:\xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd-vhosts.conf with the following
- Code: Select all
# get the server name from the Host: header
UseCanonicalName Off
# this log format can be split per-virtual-host based on the first field
LogFormat "%V %h %l %u %t \"%r\" %s %b" vcommon
CustomLog logs/access_log vcommon
# include the server name in the filenames used to satisfy requests
VirtualDocumentRoot "C:\\xampp\\htdocs\\WORK\\%0\\docs"
VirtualScriptAlias "C:\\xampp\\htdocs\\WORK\\%0\\cgi-bin"
Create C:\xampp\htdocs\WORK
Restart Apache
Now setting a new vhost for a new project is a bit easier - no need to edit vhosts config and no need to restart apache:
1. Put a new domain record line in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts , e.g.
- Code: Select all
127.0.0.1 example.loc
2. Create a folder with the name of the new created domain in C:\xampp\htdocs\WORK, e.g. C:\xampp\htdocs\WORK\example.loc
3. Create "docs" folder in the new folder, e.g. C:\xampp\htdocs\WORK\example.loc\docs . It's the document root folder for example.loc vhost.
These 3 things could be done by running the following batch file with the domain name as a parameter. I put it in c:\xampp\addvhost.bat, e.g.
- Code: Select all
addvhost.bat newexample.loc
- Code: Select all
echo creating folders for %1
mkdir c:\xampp\htdocs\WORK\%1
mkdir c:\xampp\htdocs\WORK\%1\cgi-bin
mkdir c:\xampp\htdocs\WORK\%1\docs
echo adding %1 to windows hosts file
echo # >> C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
echo 127.0.0.1 %1 >> C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
echo %1 vhost added. test it.
Hope it was useful.


text:
The M.E.T. program staff works to support students' academic and professional achievement. Our team bridges the resources offered by Berkeley-Haas and the College of Engineering to provide a seamless undergraduate experience for M.E.T. students. We are here to assist students as they navigate through a uniquely challenging workload by offering personalized support, dedicated recruiting opportunities, and by empowering students to make informed career-based decisions.
Chris Dito
Executive Director
Career development
Internship application strategy
Employer engagement
M.E.T. outreach
Community/industry outreach
Dawn Kramer
Associate Director
Coursework advising/navigation
4-year academic plans
Faculty integration
Berkeley resources facilitation
Althea Escalante
Marketing Manager
Program outreach initiatives
Marketing & Communications
Student Data Analytics


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in the mountains outside of Hsinchu, there are dozens of tiny towns just waiting to be discovered. Emei and Beipu had been on my radar while we lived there - along with Neiwan, Lion's Head Mountain, and a dozen other things. but I never went. not once in my 3 years living nearby.
here's how I explain this phenomenon. you move somewhere new. you spend a little bit of time exploring, but most of your time adjusting. [and America to Taiwan was quite the adjustment.] you settle into a routine and then knowing that you plan to stay for a few years, you always think you'll have time to go "later." throw in an element of not feeling like it's the best idea to scoot out in the middle of nowhere alone on a random tuesday, and most of my Hsinchu adventures occurred pretty close to home. [or at least, to the main center of civilization.]
now that I'm belatedly aware of this, and that the move to Taipei didn't require so much of an adjustment, I've been making an effort to get out and explore. it also helps that the mountains are a lot more accessible in Taipei... but we were speaking of Hsinchu.
a few weeks ago Husband and I went down to visit some friends still teaching at the old school in Hsinchu. we gave up our scooter when we moved, but they fortunately have two. we decided to spend a day having what we like to call a "scoot adventure" and headed off into the mountains.
there were two stops on our itinerary: Emei and Beipu. our friends had driven out to both a few weeks prior, which meant we knew the way and wouldn't have to wander the countryside. [not that getting lost while scooting can't be enjoyable, but we had a time frame here.]
Emei wasn't much more than a few empty streets, but boasts a gorgeous temple and a lake. oh, and one really giant Buddha holding a globe outside a place called the Nature Loving Wonderland. we weren't really sure what this place was... temple or hotel, museum or monastery. so I did a little internet investigation and came across their english website:
"The Nature Loving Wonderland is a home for ALL. It is the garden of utmost bliss, a cultural center for spiritual enrichment, a common ground for social interaction and a venue for the exchange of Nature Loving culture in the pursuit of cosmic unification." we didn't realize that all were welcome to unify the cosmos, so we kept driving instead.
our next destination was Beipu. the town center was bustling with activity, streets closed off so pedestrians could wander through market stalls. I purchased myself a six dollar straw hat before we made our way to the main temple.
I always feel a bit strange taking photos in temples. but as I stepped through the door of this one, some guy was completing his prayers and then whipped out his phone for an instagram of the altar. so I snapped away... as respectfully as I could. I have no power to resist the opportunity to photograph thousands of tiny golden buddhas, intricate carvings in wood and stone, and of course dragons.
our final stop was a short scoot outside of town - the Beipu Cold Springs. by this point, the sun was beating down and we were ready for a dip. the water flowing down the river and over the wall was cold and refreshing... though you had to step on a lot of rocks to get in.
we cooled off, had a snack, and lounged on the rocks for a while before scooting back into town. we ended our day with a shower followed by a visit to the ever-tasty Din Tai Fung.
it was one of those amazing expat days - where you stop and look around in awe that this is where you live. I'm glad that I've moved past the point of needing to adjust, but still haven't lost the wonder of exploring somewhere new.


text:
Country Cupboard goes bare
Reid's gets ready to return to same spot
The recession has taken another victim with the closing of a New Canaan restaurant, and its owner attributes its demise directly to the crash of the financial services industry.
Many of the customers at JP's Country Cupboard at 17 Elm St., which closed July 7, were associated with financial services, said owner Joe Loughran, who opened the restaurant three years ago.
"Starting last October-November, we saw a drop in sales due to the bank collapse in New York," he said, estimating that the crash resulted in a 20 percent drop in daily business.
Hearst Connecticut Newspapers reported in March that 125,000 to 150,000 job losses were expected on Wall Street in 2009, and 15 percent of them involve Connecticut residents.
As a result, many in the region have cut back on their discretionary spending, said Loughran, who moved into the space after the closing of Reid's Country Kitchen operated by Reid Iannazzo.
Iannazzo, who owns the building, plans to reopen Reid's Country Kitchen in the same location in three to four weeks, but is first remodeling the interior.
"We're gutting it," said Iannazzo, adding that Richard Treglia, a Wilton general contractor, is doing the work. "People called me at home saying they wanted me to come back. I love it. I love New Canaan, and I love my staff," Iannazzo said.
Head chefs Humberto Tenate and Peter Charpentier, who have been with Iannazzo for about a decade, will return as part of a 12-person staff. Iannazzo said he received about 250 responses to the help-wanted advertisements he placed.
Loughran said he needed to expand the breakfast and lunch menus to include a dinner offering so he could pay the $4,300 monthly rent, but discovered that business was flagging.
"We had a business model that required a dinner menu. Dinner never really took off," Loughran said. "Since we don't own the building, here it is nine months after the market collapse, and we have run out of gas and need to step away."
Loughran, who had 12 full- and part-time employees, had owned Brock's restaurant in Stamford for 16 years until he lost his lease three years ago.
"Reid was charging himself a most modest rent previously and, since his family owns the building, he should be able to weather the storm with just the two meal periods if he chooses," he said.
Tucker Murphy, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, said she is sorry to see Loughran close his restaurant, but she realized he was challenged paying a monthly rent during the recession.
"He did a great job down there, but it's nice to bring back Reid and his group. It's nice to have a familiar face back in town," she said.
Loughran said he is optimistic that he soon will find a job in the food or hospitality sector.
"Life is a journey -- good times are soon to be around the corner again -- for sure," he said.


text:
Regular price
$ 24.00
Sale price
$ 39.00
- 2 x 100ml
This deeply nourishing and detoxing facial and body mask combine the power of activated charcoal, sodium bentonite clay, coconut oil, and essential oils to keep your skin smooth, clear, firm, and ageless.
*Activated charcoal + sodium bentonite clay draws out impurities and detoxifies your skin to smooth and brighten your complexion- can help to reduce appearance of pore size as they are cleaned out.
*Bentonite Clay helps oxygenate skin for younger, smoother, and healthier glow.
*Oil of Oregano + Tea Tree + Thyme are antiseptic and anti- bacterial to combat breakouts, regulates oil production, reduces appearance of pores, and smooth fine lines
*Coconut Oil moisturizes your skin to leave it soft and smooth
*Sea salt exfoliates and combats acne and normalize ph levels
Wash skin with water or cleanser, then pat dry so skin is still a little damp, or steam open pores in hot shower or with a warm wash cloth, pat dry, and then apply in circular motion. Leave on until just before mask dries....wait are you confused? Yes, you've been doing clay masks wrong your entire life... its ok, we used to too. Don't let this mask get parched and harden... because all that does is parch and harden your face! Instead leave it on until its mostly dry but still damp to the touch (approx 3-8 minutes depending how thick you put on the mask) then steam off with a warm damp cloth. The clay is only activated while wet anyways, so you aren't clearing out any more pores by leaving it on dry, only drying out your poor skin. For best results, can be applied in hot shower and leave on for 10-30 minutes to keep hydrated and activated.
*Use 2-3 times a week, or everyday, for clear, detoxed, smooth skin! ** Breakouts can occur upon first use as it detoxes and pulls bacteria and oil from clogged skin, to speed up this process use daily in the beginning until skin clears. Use your favorite oil of choice, such as jojoba or rosehip to remove excess, as you do not want to scrub daily and irritate your skin!
When you're done playing dirty it can take longer to get cleaned up. This mask isn't messing around...it's packed with some serious activated charcoal to pull out all the grimies clogging your pores and irritating your skin...so it's going to need some TLC to wash clean. Steam mask with a warm cloth until mask is thoroughly wet, then wipe gently, rinsing cloth and repeating as you go. Don't scrub! Wash off as much as you can, then wash face with You Mint Me Coco or our Coffee Scrub and let the oils remove the rest. Try mixing a dime size amount with your favorite oil for cleansing and using as a daily cleanser!
*Best if used within 6 months. A little goes a long way, can be used to combat breakouts all over body and even to detox armpits!
Ingredients: UV Purified Reverse Osmosis Water, Sodium Bentonite Clay, Activated Charcoal, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Ancient Sea Salt, Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil, Organic Oil of Oregano, Organic Thyme Essential Oil, Organic CO2 Rosemary Antioxidant
Please expect a 3-5 day window before orders are shipped as many items are made upon order... We try to ship within 48 hours but some orders take more time than others! Thank you!
<3 We switched to Infinity/Miron Glass Jars! <3
Each product comes in the worlds best glass jars: reusable extra thick European Miron glass jars, which use UV Light filtering technology and are air and light proof to preserve and rejuvenate the freshness. They look black, but hold in the light and you will see they are actually a rich violet color. You can see and smell the difference! Your products are totally protected & preserved much like ancient Egyptians- who invented deep violet glass thousands of years ago and preserved precious oils and herbs for centuries in tombs!
50 ml miron jars retail for $15 ach on amazon! Save your heavy duty glass jars to store your favorite products or food, or save to return to us for our upcoming recycling return rewards program


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Adelaide's Widest Range Of Retaining Wall Blocks
A retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil and prevents it from sliding or eroding away. It is used to restrain the soil at different levels on each side and is designed to resist the pressure of the soil that it is holding back.
Showing all 12 results
Read more
Aussie Block
The Aussie Block are sturdy durable blocks suitable for vertical retaining walls, straight or curved retaining walls or garden edging, steps and more.
Read more✓ Tradies Choice
Backyard Block
The Backyard Block is easy to use, low maintenance and requires no mortar so you can easily take on this DIY project yourself.$8.95
Read more
Cement Sleepers
Cement Sleepers are perfect to use for vertical boundary or retainer walls. Call the Streaky Bay store to find out more 0427 263 050!
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Concrete Sleepers
Looking to buy Concrete Sleepers at the best prices? The steel reinforced and structurally strong sleepers are available in a range of colours and sizes.
Read more$15.95 Each* + Delivery
Freestone Block
Freestone Exposed Finish Blocks glisten in the light adding a subtle elegance to your home. Visit one of our many stores located in SA to find out more!
Read more
Junior Block
The small block face of the Junior Block makes this product ideal for constructing your own retaining walls, building garden walls and planter boxes.
Read more
Limestone Block
Limestone Block is a quality stone which is available in two finishes, rockface amd smoothface. Visit your local APC store to find out more information!
Read more
Natural Impressions® Duostone
Duostone is a multi piece retaining wall system which has five block sizes that when used together creates a random, natural looking wall.$4.60
Read more
Natural Impressions® Flagstone
Flagstone is an easy DIY wall system that features varying face profiles which, when used together, create the impression of natural stack stone walls.
Read more$12.95 Each + Delivery
Textured Easy Lock Block
The Textured Easy Lock Block retaining wall system is the premium retaining wall choice for near vertical and very high retaining walls.
Read more
Versawall® Blocks stack together easily making them perfect for all DIY segmental retaining walls, garden edging and planter boxes.
Read more
Windsor™ Stone
Windsor Stone blocks are DIY friendly so you can create garden walls, garden edging or retaining walls with ease. Find out more from your local APC store!


text:
I don't have to go much farther than my Google Search History to find inspiration for something to document - I read Wikipedia like regular people read the Sports section. While most of my recent searches are stupid and pedestrian ("How long until doxycycline works?", I wondered at 12:42pm), there are a few good ones in here. Today's topic: 'elixir terpin hydrate', a medicine of years past.
Terpin hydrate is derived by high-temperature acid treatment of "oil of turpentine", which is composed mostly of alpha- and beta-pinene. These compounds are termed "terpenes", but they are more often known in science as "isoprenoids"; they share a common biosynthetic pathway in plants and some insects. Traditional biochemistry obsesses over lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids... this is a very animal-centric perspective, and I think that isoprenoids are only excluded because they don't have a connection with the publicly well-known Big Three in nutrition (fat, carb, protein). They are the major component in all essential oils and most natural resins.
A medicine called "Elixer Terpin Hydrate" was available from the beginning of this century right up until the early 90's, and was a popular expectorant used to treat bronchitis. My parents remember the stuff fondly, but the FDA pulled it off the market because there was no indication that the active ingredient actually did anything. The original version was loaded with codeine and contained more alcohol than vodka... so that could explain why it was so popular.
See "Patent Medicine" for a fascinating look at the not-so-distant past of the pharmaceutical industry.
8 years ago


text:
Grilled Shallot-Stuffed Peaches With Bacon and Buttermilk Dressing Recipe
Grilled summer fruit is always a welcome addition at the table, and these peaches get extra boosts of flavor from sticky caramelized shallots, cooling buttermilk dressing, and crisp bacon.
Why this recipe works:
- Grilling intensifies the peaches' natural sweetness, which is accentuated by the sweet browned shallots.
- Creamy buttermilk dressing ties the salad together, and chopped bacon ensures a not-too-sweet dish.
Read more: Grilled Shallot-Stuffed Peaches With Bacon and Buttermilk Dressing
- Yield:Serves 4
- Active time: 25 minutes
- Total time:35 minutes
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon (about 6 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 6 large shallots, peeled and finely chopped (about 4 cups)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 medium-large peaches, firm but ripe
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
- 1 small head butter or Boston lettuce, leaves separated, rinsed and spun dry
Add bacon to a Dutch oven and cook over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until most fat has rendered and bacon is crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Discard all but 3 tablespoons of bacon fat from Dutch oven. Add shallots and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until sticky and caramelized, about 35 minutes reducing heat or adding a tablespoon of water as necessary to prevent burning. Add balsamic vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, light 1/2 chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over the coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, preheat a gas grill to high, covered, for at least 10 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.
In a large bowl, toss peaches with olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place peaches cut-side down on the grill and and cook until lightly charred on cut side, about 3 minutes. Using tongs, flip peaches and grill until browned and softened on skin side, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Transfer to a platter, cut side up.
While peaches cool slightly, prepare the buttermilk dressing: in a Mason jar or other container with tight-fitting lid, combine the buttermilk, mustard, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar and chives. Shake well to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Divide shallots between peach halves, filling each peach cavity with about 1 tablespoon of cooked shallots (you may have extra). Divide lettuce leaves between 4 plates, top each plate with two peach halves and drizzle with buttermilk dressing. Sprinkle each salad with chopped bacon and serve immediately.
This Recipe Appears InGrilled Shallot-Stuffed Peaches With Bacon and Buttermilk Dressing
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General Issues
The ADAAG Review Advisory Committee recommended significant changes to the format and style of ADAAG. In fact, their recommendations completely reorganize much of ADAAG. The changes were recommended to provide a guideline that is organized and written in a manner that can be more readily understood, interpreted and applied. The recommended changes would also make the arrangement and format of ADAAG more consistent with model building codes and industry standards. This will make it easier for designers of the many facilities that will be required to comply both with the ADAAG and the locally adopted codes to understand how to comply with both sets of provisions. Changes include:
- removal of text language that is non-mandatory in nature for inclusion as advisory information nearby the text it comments on;
- inclusion in written text of requirements otherwise provided only in figures;
- clearer delineation between scoping requirements, which indicate what has to be accessible, from technical requirements, which specify how access is to be achieved;
- organizing technical sections into chapters according to the type of element or space;
- streamlining the guidelines by integrating special occupancy chapters (except for transportation facilities) into the main body of the document;
- revising the substance of scoping and technical provisions to better meet the needs of people with disabilities, to recognize technological developments, and to reconcile differences from national consensus standards; and
- utilizing a decimal-based, numeric-only numbering system, consistent with that used by the model codes and utilizing, to the extent possible, identical chapter and section numbers as ICC/ANSI A117.1 for the comparable subject matter.
Some changes are recommended in order to make the provisions in ADAAG more technically consistent with model building codes and industry standards. The advisory committee coordinated closely with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A117 Committee, which was in the process of updating its standard. This is a national consensus standard that provides technical requirements for accessible buildings and facilities. The Council of American Building Officials (CABO) was represented on the advisory committee. CABO, which functions as a coordinating body among model code organizations, serves as the Secretariat for the A117 Committee. CABO has been incorporated into the International Codes Council (ICC). While ADAAG requirements derive in large part from an earlier version of the ANSI standard, there are considerable differences between them. Both the advisory committee and the ANSI committee sought to reconcile these differences to harmonize the revised ADAAG with the ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998 standard.
The Board reviewed all recommendations from the advisory committee and has adopted most of them with some changes of its own. In addition, the Board has developed new figures to illustrate various provisions and provided new advisory notes that provide information currently contained in the appendix to ADAAG. In removing non-mandatory information from the text of the guidelines, the advisory committee made various recommendations on information that should be included in advisory notes. The Board has taken these recommendations into account in developing advisory notes for this proposed rule.
The application and scoping requirements (Chapters 1 and 2) for facilities covered by the ADA have been used as the basis for updating application and scoping requirements for facilities subject to the ABA. The technical requirements of this rule, as revised according to the advisory committee recommendations, are referenced by both scoping documents.
In addition, the Board has included scoping and technical requirements for accessible residential facilities. These requirements are based on updated provisions for residential facilities contained in the ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998 standard. These requirements represent an addition to ADAAG, which currently does not address such facilities. Also, they will serve to update requirements for dwelling units in the minimum guidelines for federally funded facilities upon which UFAS is based.