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Sunday, June 30, 2013
Pep Talk: "Tend to the Gardens"
In the cherished role of facility manager, the writer of this Pep Talk takes great pride in tending to the gardens. The patio area of our town home is this simple dude from Missouri's playground. Not a weekend passes without darling fiancee, usually somewhat sarcastically, wondering, "What did you get at Home Depot today?"
Guilty as charged.
Tending to the gardens. At least within this venue, revolves around daily watering, pruning, trimming and a special Miracle Gro bath each Sunday. Yep. Blame it on keeping in touch with my feminine side, I dig creating gardens with lots of colorful flowers. I think the passion to create and tend gardens comes from growing up in Kansas City, Missouri and attending many games at the city's Municipal Stadium.
Legendary turf master George Toma was the groundskeeper of a place that no longer exists. Plowed under years ago. But for a young and impressionable sports fanatic from suburban Raytown, the manicured field, and its surrounding areas, was magical. It was home to the Chiefs, Athletics before moving to Oakland, and Royals. Sitting in those stands, staring at that beautiful field and dreaming about playing on such surfaces occupied a bunch of my thinking back then.
Little did I know at that time but life would have other plans. Rarely goes as planned, right? So, for whatever reason, I blame sports and wanting to play on beautiful surfaces for laboring to produce good-looking gardens.
A recent early morning, while watering, I began to think about the important gardens of life. You know, those critical areas, could call them venues I guess, where consistent and wise tendering most often, not always, seems to help us achieve goals and overcome challenges? Let's see, where to start? How about our homes? What about the workplace? Neighborhood? School? Business District? Service Club? Athletic department? Non profit? The list is lengthy.
Are we tending to the gardens? Often, despite trying like heck to be Toma-like in caring, our best efforts fall short. We're left disappointed at the outcome. The garden, a marriage, business endeavor or something else, has fallen short of expectations. Flowers wilt and grasses brown. What to do?
We keep tending to the gardens, hoping like heck, diligence in watering, trimming, pruning and fertilizing will restore luster. It makes me think of parenting. With kids of 23 and 16 respectively, the tending is more a prayer right now. A prayer the soil, where these two incredible humans sprouted roots, provided, and continues to provide, optimum nutrients to survive the droughts and storms of life.
Raising responsible kids is an important garden to tender.
A friend just the other day was talking about one of his kids, now in their mid 20's. "We had some tough years through high school and early college," admitted the successful business owner. "But we kept loving and encouraging her. She figured it out eventually."
Another wonderful couple comes to mind about tending to gardens. Their daughter, more than two decades ago, was born with Down's Syndrome. One of my best childhood buddies, and his fabulous wife, kept watering, fertilizing and pruning a beautiful daughter who has grown into a Special Olympics swimming sensation. Admirable.
As I shifted to pruning roses and admiring some primed to blossom, the lesson pricked me like the ever-present thorns: Despite the unwanted stuff life likes to toss our way, when least expected or wanted, we gotta keep tending to the gardens.
While there is no guarantee of success, if this scribe's facilities management skills are any example, tending the garden does produce some very cool visuals. Smell good too.
Yes, it takes time, effort and patience. Most worthwhile things in life do require such qualities. Let's exhibit them in megadoses this week. Tend the gardens. Wherever roaming - home, work and elsewhere. Who knows, they just might blossom.
Posted by Mark McIntosh at 2:15 PM No comments:
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Pep Talk: "Emulating Marla's Spirit"
Billy Joel's playing on the Ipod. The Rockies, in the nation's capitol, against the Nationals are finally leading a game. Your grateful scribe's hunkered down in the man cave firing off an email. The electronic message talks of an outstanding young man who desires to work in the sports world on the business side.
Victory has many connections in that arena and I was reaching out to one. A fine gentleman and good guy at the University of Colorado. The email ended with, "This kid's a chip off the block of one of the most amazing women I've ever met."
Daily, on a sports talk radio show, co-host Eric Goodman and I constantly yak about athletes and coaches who display, "Incredible guts and courage." For what? Making a good shot? Stepping away from the game when its time? Whatever? We exalt them for putting fear aside and allowing wonderment to win. Along with criticism, we praise.
Lebron James is darn good, no question. Same for all the other sports' superstars discussed with each other and callers to the show. But, when it comes to having someone on my team I know will endure through the tough times? Make the big play under pressure? My lottery pick is Marla Jane Swanson.
Yep. She went to Mizzou. So did I. Love the place. The University of Missouri graduate also earned a teaching degree from the University of Denver. Smart. Beautiful. Strong. Unwavering in faith. She's been fighting tongue cancer for the past few years. It's been a war. Marla won it.
When first learning of the cancer, the mother of two incredible kids - daughter just as awesome as mentioned son - was told by doctors, "You're best chance of whipping this is to surgically remove a chunk of your tongue." The founder of the WilLiv Organization, it helps single moms with their challenges when dad walks out, countered with, "Can I think about that? Pray about that? Call you in the morning?"
The licensed practitioner of Religious Science took a different path. No surgery. Instead, wonderful care from oncologists in Denver and Houston, spiritual healers around the globe and a faith-based community originating in her local church and spreading far beyond. Marla says, "I have people, literally, all over the world praying for me."
The multi-faceted cancer-fighting formula worked. Recently, friends, family, care providers and others gathered to salute the darling woman's health prognosis: She's cancer free.
The road ahead still has many obstacles. The cancer's gone but the rebuilding will take time. A war against cancer, featuring gene-targeted therapies, low dose chemotherapy and faith has been won. However, there are battle scars. Healing will take time, patience and further resolve. If fighting cancer wasn't enough, she suffered a broken hip recently. Lots of chemotherapy and radiation make bones brittle and vulnerable.
Through all the physical and financial - lost her home financing the fight - turmoil raging, one thing never wavered. Her faith in surviving.
I first met this dynamo many years ago and have always been impressed with her spirit. She's tough to rattle. Love, respect and hope ooze from Marla's pores. One of my favorite moments recently was, while dressed in nothing but a cowboy hat, boots and Speedo, escorting Marla on a walk around Lakewood's Belmar area. Many other great folks joined us that evening for an event hosted by Wystone's Teas. We raised some money to offset Marla's considerable medical expenses and, we certainly hope, Marla and the kids' spirits.
Knowing others are rooting for you is rarely a bad thing, right?
Anyway, back to Marla. As we warmly embraced the other night, my mind wandered to, why? What is it about some folks who seem to endure, persevere, hang tough or whatever else you want to call it? Those folks who, despite great adversity, turn lemons into margaritas?
Wow, possessing the answer to that question and then packing, distributing and selling it might allow one to give Bill Gates a run for his money. What was it about Marla Swanson that powered turn back cancer's aggressive march? Smart doctors and effective care for sure. Good fortune too. But I don't think you can dismiss Marla's spirit.
Every time we talked and prayed during this rough stretch, the former parole officer with a nickname of "Hard Rock," would proclaim resolutely, "I'm gonna whip this."
Let it be a lesson for each of us. When the future prognosis is dire, what are we going to do? When the doctor says cancer, the spouse says divorce, the boss says adios or someone, or something, throws a monkey wrench into our best laid plans, what's our reaction? Student or victim? Learn, or suffer, from the experience? It's our choice. Choose wisely, K? Try like heck for the former.
Strategies for dealing with adversity will vary but, most of the time, one thing must be present: A belief we'll survive, live for another day and, eventually, thrive despite the battlefield scars - physical, emotional or financial.
Faith in self. Faith in a higher power. Faith in something. If ever summoned to a court of law to present proof of faith playing a major role, attorneys should call Marla, looking resplendent the other night by the way, as first witness.
In a quiet moment among the jovial and adoring throng gathered in an apartment complex clubhouse, I asked, "How did you do this?" A beautiful soul softly offered, "My faith in God. My divine love for my precious children. Prayer. My church and extended family." Amen sister.
This week, let's take on the challenges of our lives in a way that, if a second witness was needed, we'd get the call. Be like marvelous Marla. Never waver in believing you can conquer whatever ails - home, work and elsewhere.
No guarantees of course, but it sure seems emulating Marla's spirit gives us a fighting chance at victory and fun celebration parties.
Posted by Mark McIntosh at 2:37 PM No comments:
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Pep Talk: "Show The Way"
Father's Day 2013. My mind wanders to my old man, two children and a darling fiancee.
History of the day for dads, and other fatherly figures, is interesting. It started in 1910, at a YMCA in Spokane, Washington. Not surprisingly, it was a woman who found it appropriate to honor men a year after Anne Jarvis' creation of Mother's Day.
Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six kids raised by a single father, said, "What about the dads?" Father's Day was born. The Arkansas native was raised by Civll War veteran, William Jackson Smart, and wanted to have the commemorative day on her father's birthday, June 5. Somehow it was decided the third Sunday in June was best.
Happy Father's Day to all stepping into the role. We had a caller to Afternoon Drive the other day who honored his single mother for taking on the role. He salutes her twice a year. Cool. Anyway, Father's Day obviously makes me think of the late Marvin Walter McIntosh, Jr. My father, mentor and buddy.
I have written often, in Pep Talks past, of my father. He was 76 when lung cancer terminated life. The oldest boy in a family of six kids had to grow up fast, overcame poverty and built a successful business career. The sports fanatic always encouraged me to be the best I could be and had a profound impact on my life.
Despite physical, emotional and financial adversity along the way, rarely would you hear "Mac" ever complain. The father of four, step dad to three, grandpa to many, was a good man. He showed me the way. Thanks pops.
Fatherhood entered my world 23 years ago with the arrival of Kyle Martirez McIntosh.
His mother endured almost a full day of labor before Kyle's head appeared from the birth canal. It was an odd site, a head protruding from a woman's body. With big brown eyes, that looked like chocolate mints, Kyle turned noggin' side to side, as if surveying the room. His head was on a swivel. I had a brief second before the medical team, using forceps, readied to pull him from a mother's nurturing body. I whispered, "Come on out buddy. It's safe."
A prized possession is a ring from the 2001 Colorado Buffaloes football team. It won the Big 12 title that year beating Texas in Dallas. Then Buffs coach Gary Barnett surprised me the next season with my own personalized ring. It has "McIntosh" engraved into gold along diamonds and other fancy stuff. It's nice.
Kyle covets it. He always declares, "Dad, when you croak, I get that ring!" In fact, the treasured artifact was on loan during his college days as a New York University film student. It was a reminder, while studying there, to "play like a champion."
His little sister Rachel is trying like heck to play like a champion in the often turbulent world of being a teenage girl. 16 years young, driving, active in volleyball, too interested in boys for her father's taste and a real wonderment. Talented. Beautiful. Funny.
I think of her daily and hope she has the courage and wisdom to protect her mind, body and soul. Yep. I pray daily the volleyball standout can resist temptations bombarding her and other kids at such a tender and vulnerable time of life. Being a kid ain't easy these days.
I'm working with a man right now on developing a motivational keynote. At its core, the former University of Colorado football standout's message is simple. He's encouraging others to do three things: Believe in yourself, maintain a superior attitude and figure it out.
Father's Day 2013, I hope Rachel and Kyle never forget those wise words!
A simple dude from Missouri thinks about a deceased father, two children and a darling fiancee. Funny how things unfold on this journey, isn't it? Two painful divorces opened the door for the Chicago native to stroll in. She has my heart under lock and key. What a gift.
They are at ground zero. I would sacrifice my life for theirs. Father's Day gifts. It makes me think of my dad, realizing he would have done the same for me. A cherished golfing buddy showed me the way.
It's what Dad's do. It's what every human should do. Real simple to suggest, far more difficult to execute. Let's try it this week.
Work hard, make healthy choices and respect one another. Show the way and allow actions to speak louder than words. Till Father's Day 2014, let's do it together!
Posted by Mark McIntosh at 11:46 AM No comments:
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Pep Talk: "Remove the Pins"
Quite often the source of inspiration for Pep Talk comes from the least expected moment. The latest? While settling in for the weekly gathering of a bunch of knuckleheads, men and women, comprising the Denver chapter of Business Network International.
This simple dude from Missouri loves to hang with these good folks. We meet each Wednesday morning. We also have social events. For instance, a bunch of BNI'ers showed up recently for First Friday at The Shack, a sponsor of my sports talk radio show, Afternoon Drive. We sang really bad karaoke and had a blast doing it. Bruce, as Elvis, was off the charts.
Anyway, we gather consistently in the morning for breakfast. While busting each others chops and fighting over the bacon, we also focus on never growing weary of doing good things for each other. Especially when it comes to referring business to one another. The power of a team. A buddy of mine, Billy Mac from Hackensack, would call that good mojo, "One Heart Beat."
Anyway, part of the process involves an "educational moment" designed to encourage everybody to improve as entrepreneurs. Each year someone steps into the role of delivering the message. This year it's Jeff Coverly. A graduate of Boston University, the good guy moved to Denver in the late 80's and runs a successful physical therapy practice. He focuses on out-patient orthopedic challenges with an emphasis on manual therapy.
But each Wednesday morning, the owner of Coverly Physical Therapy plays teacher to the gathered. He recently asked a simple question: "Have you ever been to Cape Canaveral and seen a Space Shuttle launch?"
Most in the crowd of about 40 folks had not experienced a launch. Too bad. It no longer exists. The program has been mothballed. Sounds like we missed something cool.
Coverly began: "The Space Shuttle is huge. About 15 stories tall. It weighs 4.5-million pounds. It's designed to be shot 200 miles off the ground." The affable man paused perfectly before concluding, "It all starts with a small human step. It takes a tremendous amount of power to get it off the ground and heading toward its destination," Coverly described. "It all starts with one small human step."
Five minutes before blasting toward the heavens a person pulls a manual-locking pin from each of the shuttle's two side-booster rockets. The countdown has begun. Eight big bolts, 28 inches, that detonate on ignition, the only barrier keeping the marvelous flying-machine on the launch pad. Time clicks on.
Things begin to change dramatically in the final ten seconds. "10..9...8...7...Stop!" demands Coverly. "At 6.6 seconds the onboard computer starts three main engines."
The launch is imminent. "6...5...4...Stop!" he continued. "Main engines achieve 90% thrust and ready to deliver 1.1 million pounds of thrust."
Coverly had taken over the room.
"3....Stop!" We learn the computer issues three commands that pushes a capacitor to 40 volts, fires three main engines and kicks the boosters into high gear with the ability to deliver another 6.2 million pounds of thrust. The launch pad is a powder keg.
Side boosters ignite, the eight bolts explode and the shuttle is charging away from earth. 300,000 gallons of water are released to deaden the sound wave. The big flush causes the great plumes of white steam we observed trailing the shuttles.
Coverly then brought home the lesson. It applies to a billion-dollar government space mission, an opportunity before us professionally and, perhaps, something in our personal lives. It's one of those, "The venues change but the strategies are the same," kinda moments.
Getting off the launch pad of life quite often involves a simple step. In the case of the Shuttle, two simple pins removed. It's the same with our lives. Maybe the challenge hails from a physical ailment, a soured relationship, the loss of a job. It really doesn't matter.
What does matter is whether we're able to muster the courage to take a small step. To have the guts to remove the stakes keeping us pinned to the ground, unable to soar.
It's really easy to sit around and talk about effectively dealing with life's challenges but, we all know, far more difficult to execute the necessary steps. It ain't easy. There's a tendency to believe we're the only ones caught in the fray. We're not. That's why it's important to seek others in similar spots and encourage one another to achieve our goals and overcome the challenges to whatever ails us - home, work and elsewhere.
Coverly, in concluding his remarks, brought a grin to my face with this gem: "Astronauts say the view is brilliant up there. Ours will be too."
Amen brother.
Blast off into the great unknown. No doubt, the air space ahead might become turbulent. Hang tough. Persevere. Make necessary mid-course corrections.
A simple step. Remove the pins.
Posted by Mark McIntosh at 2:58 PM No comments:
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Pep Talk: "Food Network Made Me Cry"
Perhaps it's time to see someone about the condition. Or, at least turn in the man card. Trust me, it's been questioned before. An admission, I've reached a point in life where, the Food Network makes this aging jock cry.
Yep. Happened just the other day. While leaning on the kitchen counter and reading the Denver Post, I was saddened to learn accounts of another hellish weather day for Oklahomans. More killer tornadoes. People dying in their cars trying to escape the latest terrible twister. The heart grieved.
About a nano second later, the Food Network triggered a cascade of tears. Celebrating 20 years, reaching more than 90 million homes and always on at the house - darling fiancee is ADDICTED to it - a woman was singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
It wasn't just any woman. It was Trish Yearwood. The country music artist has a show on the network Trisha's Southern Kitchen. The Georgia native who, according to Wikipedia, is best known for "ballads about vulnerable women," was wrapping up the show singing the song.
I'm reading about tragedy in the Sooner state and begin to hear a beautiful voice sing the following lyrics: Somewhere over the rainbow, Way up high, There's a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue...."
It really made me feel for the victims and families and praying that someday "skies will be blue," not stormy for them. Yearwood continued her wonderful rendition of The Wizard of Oz song: "And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me...."
By now the tears were flowing big time thinking of the folks who can only wish upon a star for blue skies and the clouds behind them. Whether in our nation's 48th state, your life, my life and everything in between.
Life has a way of throwing a monkey wrench into our best laid plans doesn't it? Those "What the heck is going on around here?" moments leaving us yearning and praying for respite to what ails us - home, work and elsewhere. The elusive but enviable spot, as the Over the Rainbow lyrics offer, "Where troubles melt like lemon drops?"
That's where they'll find us? We wish.
There are exceptions to every rule, but rarely do troubles melt like lemon drops, right? Nope. Often it seems they're locked in dry ice. We're frozen. Numb. In other words, we get kicked around a bit. Good buddy Billy Mac from Hackensack often says at these moments, "It's okay to lie there a bleed a little. Then rise and march on." Amen buddy.
In acknowledging, rarely do "Troubles melt like lemon drops," let's give special kudos to Colorado Rockies' manager Walt Weiss. The rookie skipper focuses on three strategies in dealing with the unwanted junk life throws our way. In baseball and beyond.
Let's take Weiss' advice: Adjust. Improvise. Overcome.
Yep. The Rockies skipper has those three words emblazoned in large white letters outside his office deep in the bowels of Coors Field. We talk about Weiss and the Rockies often on the Afternoon Drive with Mac and Goodman talk show on Mile High Sports Radio.
Personally, I have been impressed with how the team plays under the former Rockie shortstop known throughout his life and baseball career as a top-notch player and person. The Rockies' team mentality has been strengthened by the former All-Star player's presence. Usually when the New York native is involved, success is found. The devoted husband and father to three athletic sons is a winner. Always has been.
Anybody entering, including himself, Weiss' office is reminded vividly of the philosophy oozing from the 1988 American League Rookie of the Year's DNA: Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.
It's a darn good philosophy for each of us too. The road ahead will probably require constant course correction. Like the pilot of an airplane or captain of a ship, we must constantly adapt and adjust our personal navigation system to the ever-changing world in which we live.
Often, in adapting, we must get creative and improvise. I have been honored to work with a single father in developing his inspirational keynote address. The former CU football standout tells a fabulous story about his young daughter rolling down the window with her foot. Now that's improvising!
The third and final wise word from Weiss challenges Rockies' players, coaches and staff to overcome. To learn from, not become a victim of, the experiences on the baseball diamond and away from it. That's one of the impressive things about Weiss. What he's asking his players to embrace is what has fueled his success. In baseball and life.
Somewhere over the rainbow, despite life's storms, let's try and muster the courage to face adversity with a game plan rooted in adapting, improvising and overcoming. In all likelihood, our troubles won't melt like lemons drops, but I sure like our chances of winning a fair share of the tussles.
I've got one right now. Forgiving self for allowing a show on The Food Network to make me cry.
Posted by Mark McIntosh at 1:16 PM No comments:
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text: Water damage is now the number one cause of claims for Ontario homeowners. The amount of damage can be so devastating that it's prudent to know what's covered by your home insurance policy. Many people just assume they have coverage but there are many different kinds of water damage and not all of them areRead More

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Computer Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Berkeley, CA 94720
IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120-6099
Damping factors of viscoelastically damped structures can be calculated using the modal strain energy method, implemented with a sequence of undamped modal analysis computations. There are significant advantages in performing these calculations using p -type finite element codes. These include ease of mesh design, an indicator of degree of solution convergence, modest computation time, and an insensitivity to element aspect ratio. Capitalizing on these advantages an algorithm is defined, which is effective in solving for the natural frequencies and modal loss factors of damped structures. The algorithm is demonstrated using a sandwiched cantilevered beam as an example.
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Phil Jackson sent out a cryptic tweet in response to the $25,000 fine he received from the NBA for tampering with Derek Fisher, indicating he was "chagrined.'' Jackson was fined Monday for making comments last Friday about Fisher being on his coaching candidate list.
Fisher is still under contract with the Thunder, who would like to have him back as a player and unofficial assistant coach. The Post reported Oklahoma City filed a complaint with the NBA over Jackson's overtures.
Jackson's tweet:
Jackson's message is he will continue to reach the fan base through the media despite a fine that seemed petty. In his meeting with the team beat writers last Friday, Jackson at first was reluctant to talk about Fisher.
"I'm not allowed to say boo, I think,'' Jackson said. "I said B-O and I didn't get the other 'O' out and the league already called me up.''
When pressed, Jackson relented.
"I have no idea if he wants to come here and move his family,'' Jackson said. "These are things he has to express. There's so many unknowns and I'm not talking to him. But he's definitely a person on my list of guys who could be very good candidates for this job.''
Jackson needs to get permission from the Thunder to speak with Fisher, who said late Saturday night he would only need a few days before addressing his future. Fisher and Jackson were expected to speak by week's end.
Nets general manager Billy King, during a press conference Wednesday at their free-agent mini-camp, didn't want to make the same mistake as Jackson when asked if Fisher could make the transition from player to coach like Jason Kidd did smoothly.
"I can't comment on Derek,'' King said. "He's [going to be] a free agent.''


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Houston All Star Boot Camp - Pivot Palooza
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3022 B North Center St.
Hickory, NC 28601
10am - 7pm
S: 10am - 6pm
Su: 12pm - 5pm
Mix up your routine with this quick and easy alternative that's great for the early morning runner. Typically used as a pancake alternative in gluten-free diets, this tasty dish provides equal parts flavor, protein, and potassium for either pre or post-workout fuel.
Follow the link above to read more.


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Making self-reliance a natural
part of your life . . .
"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to 'prepare every needful thing' (Doctrine and Covenants 109:8) so that , should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support Bishops as they care for others." ("All Is Safely Gathered In, Family Home Storage", The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
As members of our church, other churches, in our local communities and federal government we are encouraged to prepare for adversity in life by having a food storage (3-Monthly Supply and Basic Supply), water, emergency supplies and money in savings.
We need to be wise and not go into debt while building our food storage, water and emergency supplies. With careful planning, we can, over time, establish a food storage supply and a financial reserve. It has taken us 43 years to get to where we are today, and we still have a ways to go.
In some places you many not have the financial resources or space. Some countries it is prohibited by law from storing large amounts of food. Store as much as your circumstances allow.
Here are some suggestions to help you . . .
1) Little by little, month by month we can build our food storage and emergency supplies. Each time you go grocery shopping add a few extra cans or packaged items for your food storage. Store only what your family will eat! Remember to rotate our food storage as need, do not waste food or money by letting them expire. First work on getting a 3-Month supply of food, water and then work on the basic food storage (long term; wheat, honey, oats, beans, rice,powdered milk, sugar, dehydrated vegetables, fruits and meats, etc.).
2) Have emergency equipment. Have a least one way to cook if you cannot use your conventional stove,
have one source of emergency light, a way to heat, shelter and a way to take care of your sanitation needs. This blog on the right side under "Postings" and weekly postings will give lots of ideas and resources.
3) Each week take just a couple of dollars from your pay check and put it in your emergency saving jar or a special savings account in the bank marked emergency preparedness. Set priorities. Ask yourself it you really need that new pair of shoes, that new outfit or sports equipment. Can you go with drinks when you go out to eat. Take that money you would have spent and add it to your emergency savings account. Before you know it you will have hundreds of dollars saved. Use that money to purchase food storage, emergency supplies and equipment. Continue to save until you have a least one months salary.
4) Be creative in your storage space. Clear out things you no longer use. Rearrange cupboards, closets and pantries to allow for your food storage. A great place is under the beds as shown in the picture. After 43 years of storing things we did this. I was amazed at how much extra storage we found. Clean out the garage of unwanted unused things and organize your garage. Organize all your emergency equipment together. When purchasing lamp or side tables, purchase ones with enclosed storage space below. Check out websites showing creative ways to store food storage.
You can do it, a little at a time! Make a plan and make it work! With a plan and a goal you will be successful!
Weekly Assignment: Family Emergency Medical Kits
Many of us have some sort of medical supplies in our homes like band-aids, alcohol, peroxide, anti-infection creams, pain killers, etc.. Some of us have limited first-aid kits in our cars and home that we probably have not checked in months, years. Medications do expire!
If there was a major disaster or emergency situation would you have the proper emergency medical supplies to take care of you, your family and help your neighbors. I would say most of us do not! Right?
If there was a major disaster or emergency situation would you have the proper emergency medical supplies to take care of you, your family and help your neighbors. I would say most of us do not! Right?
Some of these items can be found at discount stores and drug stores. Make sure you check the expiration dates before purchasing them, you want them to last for at least a year or more.
Note: Make sure you keep this out of the reach of your young children and explain to the family is your Family Emergency Medical Kit/Supplies. If you need to use an items from it, make sure you replace it right away!
Note: Make sure you keep this out of the reach of your young children and explain to the family is your Family Emergency Medical Kit/Supplies. If you need to use an items from it, make sure you replace it right away!
This week add the following:
1) Cold and cough medications (adult and children)
2) Contact lens wearers--extra pair and solution
September Monthly Assignment . . . Food Storage
This month we are adding vegetables to our food storage. Purchase vegetables each week or as you go grocery shopping. They can be commercially canned, home canning, dehydrated or even frozen. Only add the types of vegetables your family will eat. It has been proven, even in an emergency situation, people are hungry, especially children, they will not eat things they do not like. Do not waste your hard earned money by storing vegetables your family will not eat. As all canned foods, store them in a cool, dry, dark place. Store them in your cupboards, under beds, enclosed lamp and bedside tables, and in closets. The garage is too hot! Most commercially canned and home canning vegetables will last for about 2-3 years if stored properly. Dehydrated and freeze-dried vegetables will store for 20-30 years if stored properly. Frozen vegetables usually only last about a year. Rotate them every time you purchase more. As always, the key to any food storage is rotation!
This week do the following . . .
Continue to add commercially canned, commercially dehydrated and frozen vegetables to your food storage. See the previous September blog postings for September 7th and 14th for more information.
Emergency Preparedness Ideas
Being prepared can take many turns as shown in my two examples below . . .
Being prepared can take many turns as shown in my two examples below . . .
What to do if your passport gets stolen while traveling . . .
Recently we had a friend who was traveling in Europe. He thought he had his passport in a safe place, tucked in the front pocket of his jeans with a shirt over it. Surely he would know if someone was trying to steal it. Yep, it was stolen with out him even knowing it. Professional pick pocketers are good! This is what he did to get another passport so he could get home.
1) First he did the right thing. He knew ahead of time to make a copy of his passport and keep it in another place like his luggage before leaving from home. May be also in a carry on bag too just in case your luggage is lots while traveling.
2) File a police report right away.
3) He went on line and printed out the needed forms.
4) He went to his US Embassy for help.
5) He learned to make sure to keep his passport in a very secure place on him, not in a pocket.
If you were to pass away, would your family know your wishes?
None of us like to think about things like this, but is a part of being prepared. How many times have you had a loved one pass away not known their wishes or how to handle their things and funeral. May be they have already made funeral arrangement with a cemetery. May be they want to be cremated instead of being buried. May be they only want a grave side service or may be they want a service at their church. May be they want a certain type of service with their favorite hymns sung. May be they want a certain person to do the eulogy. If they have no family around, who would you as a friend contact.
A friend's mother passed away a few weeks ago and her mother had everything planned out. She
had already purchased her burial plot many years ago and had made all the arrangements. Everything was spelled out for the family. When my mother-in-law passed away she had nothing planned. It was a very stressful time for our family. We hoped that her wishes had been meet.
had already purchased her burial plot many years ago and had made all the arrangements. Everything was spelled out for the family. When my mother-in-law passed away she had nothing planned. It was a very stressful time for our family. We hoped that her wishes had been meet.
Dealing with my husband's parents passing and my parents passing I learned a lot from these experiences. I put together a folder for our children with all the needed information, like our funeral wishes, social security information, bank information, insurance information and other valuable things they will need to know to make it easier for them at a very difficult time.
We need to communicate with family members regarding their wishes on their passing. Friends need to know who to contact if no family is near by. It is an important part of being prepared.
We need to be prepared in all aspects of life!
Comments: Please share your comments and experiences below. We all learn from each other. They are gratefully appreciated.
We need to be prepared in all aspects of life!
Comments: Please share your comments and experiences below. We all learn from each other. They are gratefully appreciated.


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George Will, nutcase: Addendumb - The online computery journal thingy of a turtle
Apr. 16th, 2009
08:58 pm - George Will, nutcase: Addendumb
Huh. The Washington Post also ran George Will's anti-jeans rant, but it's got one extra paragraph in it (which I guess the Houston Chronicle cut for space):
"This is not complicated. For men, sartorial good taste can be reduced to one rule: If Fred Astaire would not have worn it, don't wear it. For women, substitute Grace Kelly."
Well, dang. So I guess the next time I go out to pick up some Chinese food, I guess I better peek in my closet and ask myself, "WWFAW?" And the answer is obvious: I must put on my tuxedo, tie my bow tie (only posers wear clip-ons!) and shine up my shoes before I set foot outside the house.
And then, of course, when I get back home with my fried rice and my beef & snow peas, I better take off the tuxedo so it doesn't get dirty while I eat! And THEN AND ONLY THEN may I put on my jeans, I guess.
Y'know, I can't help picturing two guys walking down the street after a rainy day, one wearing jeans, the other wearing a suit. A car drives through a puddle, splashing them both. The man in jeans says, "Dammit. Welp, guess I better hang these up to dry when I get home and then toss 'em in the laundry." The man in the suit says, "AAAAGHH!!! This suit cost $500! It's RUINED! Get me to a dry cleaner NOW!!!"
Would Fred Astaire have worn this outfit?
If Mr. Will is so concerned about arrested development among responsible adults, why did he support that Texan man-child...twice???
Irony: Early in Swing Time, Fred Astaire is tricked into a unique fashion faux pas that indirectly costs him his wedding.
Explain again what's so great about the former option, George.
Actually, I kinda misled you. Astaire's wedding is called off because he takes too long to show up, having searched hard for a tailor who would agree to his unorthodox fashion demand.
In the end (spoiler alert), Astaire foils another man's wedding by playing the same trick on him. This time, the wedding really is called off on a fashion faux pas. Because he rips his good pants, the groom shows up on time, but wearing the pants of a much fatter (and, alas, Sambo-ier) servant. The bride cracks up and makes the decision she had already half-wanted: to be with Astaire instead. The now ex-groom smiles and approves -- probably the most sporting rejectee in the history of motion picture.
Hmm, maybe they really didn't take marriage more seriously then.
So, Astaire's actually a good example for the point he was making, absurd and out-of-touch though that point may be.


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Learn more about Eminent Domain
Eminent domain is the power of a state or a national government to take private property for public use. It can be legislatively delegated by state governments to municipalities, government subdivisions, or even to private persons or corporations, when they are authorized to exercise the functions of public character. Opponents, including Conservatives and Libertarians in New Hampshire, oppose giving the government the power to seize property for private projects, like casinos. Proponents, including advocates of oil pipelines and national parks, argue that the construction of roads and schools would not be possible if the government could not seize land under eminent domain. See recent eminent domain news
More stances on this issue
Eminent Domain should be allowed only in cases of extreme necessity with proven problem solving by action, and should be fair MARKET value, not what the government deems fair. 3 years ago from a Constitution in Shark River Hills, NJ
In Times of National defense only and for only what is required to defend the nation. 3 years ago from a Constitution in Potwin, KS
Certain things yes. But not to allow some business to build a parking ramp but in certain cases like a road that really needs to go a certain way not just so it doesn't go through a some high persons place the house means just as much to certain... 3 years ago from a Constitution in Albany, MN
No, Unconstitutional and goes against the Bill of Rights. 3 years ago from a Constitution in New Brighton, MN


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Lightning Protection
Thousands of properties are destroyed or damaged every year by lightning. A lightning protection system will help to protect your modern appliances, electrical systems or even the entire property, as well as the people inside.
Our experienced engineers can supply and install bespoke lightning protection on any type of building, keeping you and your structures free from the dangers and destruction lightning can cause.
Photovoltaic or solar panels capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity. The latest panels don't need direct sunlight and will continue to generate electricity on cloudy days.
For builders and developer's, solar photovoltaic systems are a great way to help meet your local planning requirements and reduce your carbon footprint. For homeowners, they reduce annual energy bills.
At Bloom & Wake we are experienced in the supply and installation of photovoltaic panels on a wide range of buildings.
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Bloom & Wake are committed to maintaining the very highest levels of quality, service and safety. All of our engineers receive ongoing training and assessment in the latest equipment and techniques. We are an approved NICEIC and ECA contractor, certified to ISO 9001 and hold CHAS, Achilles and Construction Line accreditations.


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Currently there are 4 homes actively listed with real estate agents in the Danforth community, none of which are under contract.
4 Home CLOSED September and December 2016.
Average Days on Market (currently): 78 Days
Average List Price: $332,725
Average Price/Sqft ACTIVE: $143.20
Average Price/Sqft SOLD (last 6 months): $142.79
If you are considering selling your Danforth Home, please do not hesitate to reach out to Jennifer Todd, your neighborhood expert, at 904-635-9207 or email@example.com to create your personalized marketing plan and set you apart from your competition.
View Available Homes in Danforth


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chireno, TX
Pre settlement is the time of time after which a case hosts been conveyed by annoyed gathering and going before the execution of the settlement comprehension, verdict or judgment. The time of time all around which a real case is pending and questionable. A Pre settlement credit is truly an advance against future claims settlement. With Global Financial, an advance could be issued against your case to help you with expenses, secure a movement vehicle or help spread helpful uses while you suspect settlement. There is no credit check or wage affirmation. The technique is clear and all we ask is to chat with your attorney to affirm the facts of your case. Best of all, if your case is lost... you owe us nothing.
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When you do choose to go in for Pre-Settlement Lawsuit Funding, constantly survey that notwithstanding the way that it might reliably require the part of a support for you, it is dependably sensible that you tread with caution, for instance, you might do with whatever possible credit. Disregarding the way that it is your settlement, your true blue case to the settlement cash and you do have the full rights and trueness to use it the way you require, check with your lawful advocate to have the terms & conditions unmistakably set with him/her on the rate that you may need to shell out; be completely get and unconditional particularly on this front reviewing the picking objective to stay a long way from any untoward scene once you do recoup you.


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July 18, 2009
So sorry..........I'll be back to choose a butterfly winner in a few moments!
Posted by Maria Matter at 9:25 AM
1 comment:
- Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...
Very pretty Maria! Love the colors and the coloring of that flower! Gorgeous layout!
- July 18, 2009 at 10:28 PM
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There's a new flag at Six Flags
Since 1999, Six Flags has had a rough run. It carries more than $2 billion in debt, and that's the kind of leverage that demands near-flawless execution. The company has failed on that front. There was a fair reason to believe that it was on the right path when it posted a small profit in its June quarter. It was the first time the company had closed out its second quarter in the black since 2002. The chain had also reported healthy attendance gains over the past three quarters.
Snyder's plan to grow his stake to nearly 35% through a tender offer of $6.50 a share seems dead in the water now that Six Flags is open to a new suitor buying the entire company. Snyder will be in the running, of course. Now that the acquisition process has turned friendly, he is likely to drum up some kind of offer, even if he has to team up with a private equity firm in the process.
Who else will bid for Six Flags? That's the big question for shareholders. As even an eBay novice can tell you, the best way to fetch a higher price on an auction is to line up more than one potential bidder. However, the logical candidates may have their hands tied at the moment, and the market is likely to overlook some of the dark-horse candidates that may make a run for Six Flags.
Come back Tuesday, and I'll handicap the odds on what companies are likely to make an offer. It won't be just a collection of rival park operators -- some of the more intriguing possibilities there are the media conglomerates that can make the most of a captive audience of 33 million guests a year. Disney
The important thing to remember is that this isn't going to be a story that develops over the weekend. It will take weeks, if not months, before we begin to see who the ultimate players will be. The potential is clearly there if the right company is able to turn Six Flags around. So buckle your seatbelts. Pull down the lap bar. It's going to be a white-knuckled thrill ride.
eBay is a Motley Fool Stock Advisor pick.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz loves to take his family to visit amusement parks over the summer. He owns shares in Six Flags and Disney. He is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early. The Fool has a disclosure policy.


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NYSE Hot Stocks to watch are - CSE, TOL, UUP, GS, PEP
CapitalSource, Inc. (NYSE:CSE) decreased -1.18%, to close at $7.56 and its overall traded volume was 5.01M shares during the last session against its ...
DHI, TNA, XRT, IRE, DIA - Notable Stocks with Volume at NYSE
NYSE Volume Active Stocks are - ADI, CEG, TTM, ARO, UBS
NYSE Volume Active Stocks are - MUR, IVZ, GIS, CPX, CAH
Source: news.google.com
Frisco mayor reflects, shares plans for 2011 - Frisco Enterprise
Frisco mayor reflects, shares plans for 2011
Frisco Enterprise
Photo courtesy of city of Frisco - Looking ahead to 2011, Mayor Maher Maso said he anticipates another year with a fiscally conservative approach. ...
Source: news.google.com
Jonathan Byrd: Jonathan Byrd shares lead at the Hyundai - Rotoworld.com
Jonathan Byrd: Jonathan Byrd shares lead at the Hyundai
Jonathan Byrd carded a third round of 6-under-par 67 and shares the overnight lead at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Byrd parred his first four holes ...
Garrigus in 3-way tie for the lead at Kapalua
Source: news.google.com
Saudi shares at eight-month high - Saudi Gazette
RIA Novosti
Saudi shares at eight-month high
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian shares rose on the first day of the week to the highest in almost eight months as investors anticipated year-end dividend payouts. ...
TASI surges to 8-month high
Source: news.google.com
Steve Jobs had Salary of $1 in 2010, but Apple Stock Shares Boost Income - Gather.com
Steve Jobs had Salary of $1 in 2010, but Apple Stock Shares Boost Income
However, the Apple Inc. Chief Executive has a lot of his value invested in the stock shares he owns of the popular technology company. ...
Source: news.google.com
Stocks in focus: United Continental, Verizon - MarketWatch
Stocks in focus: United Continental, Verizon
By MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Among the companies whose shares may see active trade in Monday's session are Alcoa Inc. and Genzyme Corp. ...
Genzyme, Verizon climb in late trading
WSJ: Genzyme, Sanofi Discuss Higher Buyout Price
The Ticker
Source: news.google.com
Former Yankees slugger Jesse Barfield shares his memories of Bombers boss ... - New York Daily News
New York Daily News
Former Yankees slugger Jesse Barfield shares his memories of Bombers boss ...
New York Daily News
Jesse Barfield had a suggestion to improve his numbers and the Yankees, so he took it straight to the top. As a right-handed power hitter who ...
Source: news.google.com


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We are so excited to showcase our AW 2015 collection at Playtime NY! All the hard work has paid off and Ultra Violet Kids collection is looking fetch. We have teamed up with JUCO Photo and Shirley Kurata for the editorial and lookbook. We can't wait to share it with you all soon but for now, here's a sneak peek.
Inspired by the swinging 60's. Mod squad meets the modern child in Ultra Violet Kids AW 2015 collection. Bringing together geometric shapes, graphic patterns and saturated hues to create a whimsical marriage of pop art and fashion.
Rock & Roll baby!


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Allow us to present episode four of the Can't Pause This Podcast where Marcus makes verbal love to Logan, Steve hates on the Oscar's and Dan and George disagree about Nintendo.
Want to help support Can't Pause This AND get awesome stuff delivered to your door every month? Of course you do so head over to Super Loot using this link for just that!


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Modern Western astrology retains a generalized, two-dimensional interpretation of the natal chart. There is often an unspoken consensus that a chart should be construed on the basis of society's moral axioms, a standardized method that fabricates dogmatic categories between the 'positive' and 'negative', moral and immoral, all at the detriment of the potentially rich symbolism and subtle paradoxes at its disposal. Ultimately, most inimical of all astrological symbols is Saturn, being renowned as the paramount single-sided Beast, without communicating its alternate facet, and therefore, retaining a flat, two-dimensional value for both interpreter and client alike.
At the root of Saturn's symbolism is a psychic odyssey alongside a quality of experience. The planet's known delineation of asceticism, suffering, restriction, and primal pain is far from the broader picture. Likewise, Saturn embodies the psychic process, a naturally human course, whereby one uses said experiences of pain, restriction, and discipline for expanded consciousness and truthful fulfillment. Additionally, Saturn links with the educational value of pain and distinguishes between external and internal merits.
Independent of psychological or esoteric terminology, there exists a basic fact: self-discovery is the conduit of free will, and self-discovery is not usually attempted unless circumstances become too painful to neglect. Therefore, it should be noted that it is not enjoyment of pain which is promoted by Saturn but instead, the exaltation of psychosomatic release. It is possible to use each restriction, delay, disappointment and sacrifice as a catalyst for understanding the human psyche, with all its mechanisms, and ultimately learn to perceive the truthful purpose and meaning of our lives.
In order to synthesize and align the proper elements in a chart interpretation, isolated studies of Saturn should be avoided. In other words, Saturn must be correlated with the combination of Sun, Moon, and Ascendant, firstly, including respective signs, houses, and aspects. These specific factors combined with Saturn become the foundation of a natal chart from a perspective of character. This will facilitate awareness as to what the individual's desire(s) (Sun), needs (Moon), the manner or 'flavor' in which one attains goals (Ascendant), and the root of failure and dissatisfaction once one has achieved said desires (Saturn). Although severely simplified (it would take volumes of text to produce an accurate depiction), the consideration of these four key factors brings insight and understanding to the core of an individual's struggles towards transcendental consciousness. No chart is void of Saturn, regardless of dignified planets and exemplary aspects, as there can be no life without struggle.
© 2017 Saturn & the Sun Astrology. All rights reserved.


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Swipe by Swipe: Stages of Modern Relationships
All relationships pass through a certain set of signposts.
That's been the case for generations. From first encounters to first dates to first kisses, there have always been signposts that helped to determine what phase a given relationship might be in. Without the constant ability to communicate with each other 24/7, those signposts were crucial in helping to figure out how one was meant to act or the expectations one should have about a given relationship.
However, as with most things, the growing reliance on technology has changed all that. Not only has technology obviously changed the dating landscape, but it's altered the signposts within a given relationship as well. Now, with it becoming so much easier to meet people, many young adults are faced with a constant internal dialogue about whether they're currently "dating" or "seeing" somebody, if they actually see it going anywhere, or if there might be somebody lurking out there (some phantom profile picture or online unicorn) with whom they might be more compatible. Growing up, when you only dated people who were somehow connected to your personal life, things seem to boil down to simply, "Do I like this person enough to keep seeing them." However, as wisely stated on one of the greatest shows ever:
With so many new situations arising, and so many long-standing couples wholly unaware of how things work anymore, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the new signposts that people are using to make qualify the "situation" they're in. I asked a few of my friends who are active on various forms of online dating to weigh in on how they've seen their relationships, and those of friends, progress since online dating became far more prevalent. Below is what I came up with based on the collection of responses.
(I'm curious to hear if anybody can think of any that I missed or may have ordered incorrectly, so feel free to chime in).
Signpost 1: Matching
This is obviously the easiest one to understand. No matter what platform you're using (Tinder, OKCupid, Match.com, etc.) a step is always require in which both parties "choose" to have a conversation with the other one. Think of it as the new age version of locking eyes across the bar/party and exchanging a smile or a virtual version of Ralph Wiggum's favorite Valentine's Day card
Signpost 2: Moving Offline
After a given time period, most conversations tend to either lead somewhere or fade off into awkward silence (only, online you don't have to experience the silence firsthand, which softens the blow – but that's a conversation for a different time). This is not as important a step as it might seem. By moving the conversation offline, one party usually makes a comment about not frequently using the app or preferring to talk via text and offers up a cellphone number. The conversation then continues, usually in the exact same manner, just using a separate form of communication, which speeds up the conversation.
Signpost 3: Actually Meeting in Person
If the first signpost indicated a modicum of interest, this one indicates a much stronger level of intrigue/attraction. Since most people seem generally averse to taking risks regarding actual, human, conversations with people that might bore them, the stated desire to meet in public already puts each individual much higher on the level of prospects than the countless others than exist only as cellphone numbers or profile photos on a website. Basically, if a guy/girl suggests meeting in person, he/she is essentially a highly regarded high school athlete who is announcing that you are one of his/her top 5 colleges.
Signpost 4: Low Level Stalking
Before technology, low level stalking amounted to talking to your mutual friends about the guy/girl you had just been on a date with.
What did she say? Has she asked about me? Do you know if she's seeing anybody else? Do you think she likes me? Those sorts of questions.
However, the internet, and other applications, have given us a plethora of ways to infer that same information without having to speak to anybody or leave our rooms. The most common avenue being Instagram.
People are more willing to give out their Instagram account than most other things for a multitude of reasons, but the two most common are that followers can only see photos of you that you post and that our culture tells us that more followers indicates a higher level of importance, so people can rack them up followers while not potentially ruining their social lives.
Since followers can only see photos posted by the people they follow, it's a heavily curated way to give access to your life without also ruining your chances. The only photos of couples on Instagram are those of official relationships, and nobody has to worry about your drunk friend throwing up countless photos of you at the bar on Friday night; the only people that can see those are his friends.
The downside is that the inferences we make from the Instagram accounts are not always accurate since we're not actually talking to people. You see a photo of the girl/guy you've been on a few dates with laying on a beach with members of the opposite sex and you have to trust your brain to accurately read that photo.
It's a difficult skill and probably one that should be taught in schools; even as an English teacher I'm aware that kids need to learn how to analyze photographs of people far more often than they need to analyze poetry.
Signpost Five: Meeting Friends
If you've been on enough dates to assume that the person you're seeing is normal and potentially somebody you could hypothetically have a relationship with, the next step is running them headfirst into the buzzsaw of a night out with friends. This will either chew them up or make them appear more viable than before. There really is no middle ground.
Most people tend to choose outgoing and social friends, but not ones that get too drunk and are liable to say awful shit that will ruin everything for you. This is absolutely a consideration for everybody at this signpost. If you've never been the friend that's used as a testing ground for a potential relationship, chances are you're too crazy or too boring (or live too far away, like, say, White Plains).
This is probably the step that has most in common with the pre-technology era. Meeting non-mutual friends has always been a way to judge how comfortable the person you're with is with the people close to you, but also suggests a certain level of openness to him/her finding out stuff from your past or seeing you in a less performative state.
Signpost Six: Deleting or Avoiding Online Apps
This is generally a step that the guy/girl you've just had meet your friends won't know about. People simply stop checking dating apps and trying to make other dates; other conversations tend to fade out.
Some people actually even delete the apps, but it's 2015 and people always seem incapable of deleting apps and/or looking for something better. Usually the apps will remain on the phone until the relationships appears rock solid, or even after; we all know those couples who keep a Tinder app that they can check when they're home alone together because "it's fun to play Tinder."
Signpost Seven: High Level Stalking
If the guy/girl has met friends and survived, you've typically hit a stage where you're willing to open up more avenues of information to them. This usually takes the form of Facebook.
Facebook isn't really used for much anymore and has become a dumping ground for unfiltered opinions and oh so many photos (and people who are peddling their various projects).
Since people who are friends with you on Facebook can see any photos in which you are tagged, but also anything that is posted on your wall, it gives you less ability to curate the information that is being sent out into the world. Any photo of you with a guy/girl could lead to an unknown amount of eyeballs, subsequent inferences, and potential consequences, so getting to this step indicates either a certain level of stupidity or an acceptance of the guy/girl in question seeing into the dark recesses of years of Facebook photos.
(Yeah, that's a real childhood photo of me that's on my Facebook page)
Signpost Eight: Admitting it to the Online World
Pre-internet, this was the equivalent of showing up to an event holding hands, introducing somebody as your girlfriend/boyfriend, or maybe allowing them to sit on your lap in the middle of conversations with friends. Nothing showy, but certainly a sign that whatever this was was a real thing.
When the internet became an active part of everybody's life, this became an important signpost that revolved around the decision to "make it official on Facebook." As mentioned earlier, that's become nearly nonexistent now except for engagements and baby photos. So many baby photos; however, people are still finding ways to let the online world know they're in a relationship.
It usually takes the form of a photo of said couple with one friend who comments: "Such a cute couple" or "Love you two" or just a collection of heart emojis. I've yet to figure out if this is a carefully orchestrated plan with the commenting friend, but it's another way in which we've taken out direct statements and replaced them with casual, distanced acknowledgements: you haven't told the world you're dating, you just put up a photo and somebody else did the job for you.
Regardless, everybody now knows. Except maybe your mother, unless you've allowed her to follow you on Instagram (I promise, Mom, I'll probably accept sometime. I still love you though).
Signpost Nine: Meeting Family
This one hasn't changed. It's as terrifying as ever, and perhaps more so if you have a traditional, judgmental or unfiltered family and the question of "How did you two meet?" comes up.
When most mother's first looked into their baby girl/boy's eyes and thought about one day meeting the man/woman that he/she would marry, they didn't assume that the person would be somebody from the internet. Times change, and people change, but I'm not quite sure how quickly the generation above us is getting acclimated to this reality.
Signpost Ten: Post Any and All Life Changes Online
This is basically engagement photos, wedding announcements, wedding photos, pregnancy photos, and pretty much every photo/video of your child that you can take until your iPhone storage fills up and you need to back them up on an external hard drive.
Seriously, for as much as single people use the internet to try and no longer be single, or try and have a few fun nights, married couples use the internet a hundred times more often to show the world the crazy, normal things their child has done.
I'm sure I will one day do the exact same, but for now I'm nowhere near signpost ten (Sorry, Mom).


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Press Release
Director of Marketing & Communications
(714) 876-2380
Making spirits bright! Pacific Symphony captures holiday magic with toy soldiers, waltzing flowers and sugar plum fairies in its annual favorite Nutcracker for Kids
November 12, 2012
A holiday treat so good even Santa can't resist stopping by!
Mirroring the magic that brings Clara's nutcracker to life in Tchaikovsky's Christmas ballet, "The Nutcracker," Pacific Symphony enchants audiences with battling toy soldiers, waltzing flowers and visions of sugar plum fairies in its popular Family Musical Mornings concert, "Nutcracker for Kids." Reinvigorating the cherished masterpiece created by Tchaikovsky, the Symphony collaborates with the talented dancers from Festival Ballet Theatre (FBT) and narrator Bree Burgess Rosen (as Mrs. Claus—yes, the one married to Santa) to bring the ballet to life in a condensed 45-minute version, specially created for children ages 5-11. Under the direction of the Symphony's Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy, who conducts his final family concert and passes the baton to Alejandro Gutiérrez, the Symphony tells the tale of Clara, a girl who receives an extraordinary gift—a nutcracker that magically turns into a prince! (Gutiérrez makes his official debut as the Symphony's new assistant conductor on Jan. 12, when he leads "The Magic Flute.")
After a fierce battle with the Mouse King, the prince whisks Clara away to The Kingdom of Sweets, where she encounters a variety of delightful characters including the Sugar Plum Fairy. This seasonal favorite concludes with a holiday sing-along featuring the young members of Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings as the Elf Philharmonic and a special guest—Santa Claus himself! Taking place Saturday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, children are invited to participate in a festive Musical Carnival before and after the show (more details below.) Tickets for the concert are $29-$46; for more information, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.
"My favorite part of our 'Nutcracker' is seeing the faces of the kids after the performance," says Maestro Eshkenazy. "They are so happy after hearing the timeless music of Tchaikovsky, which has become synonymous with celebrating the holiday season. To be a part of the Christmas magic the Symphony and the FBT dancers create for them through our version of 'Nutcracker'—created just for children—makes this concert that much more special."
"With this being my final family concert, I hope to leave the audience with a smile," says Maestro Eshkenazy. "I have treasured working with the Symphony's talented musicians, the time I've spent with the kids after concerts and being a part of the Symphony—an influential mechanism that creates and gives so much to the Orange County community."
Continuing in the effort to make spirits bright—and as a part of the Family Musical Mornings—the Musical Carnival, which begins at 9 a.m. (for the 10 a.m. concert) and 12:15 p.m. (for the 11:30 a.m. concert), is filled with fun holiday music for the whole family and hands-on activities for children. This year, the carnival features roaming carolers from "Caroling Connection," three hand-bell choirs from Trinity United Presbyterian Church and a ballet museum, where pointe shoes, tiaras and ballet costumes are on display courtesy of FBT. Children may also: meet the dancers from FBT, ask the orchestra questions about conductors and meet the musicians, including musicians from Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles, make holiday cards, participate in an instrument test drive and share holiday wishes while visiting with Santa.
"The collaboration with the Festival Ballet Theatre has been one that results in perfection every year and further inspires the kids' interest in the arts," continues Eshkenazy.
FBT, founded in 1988 by Salwa Rizkalla, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the artistic enrichment of the Orange County community through professional productions, educational programs and by providing nurturing and intensive artistic home base to some of Southern California's most talented young dancers. The dancers appearing in this production are students of Southland Ballet Academy (SBA), the official school of FBT. Founded in 1983, SBA provides the professional level of training in classical ballet that students require before joining the company.
Family Musical Mornings continue on Jan. 12, 2013, with Mozart's musical fairy tale, "The Magic Flute," a tale of a triumph of love in a world of enchantments and magic brought to life by professional opera singers and framed by Mozart's enthralling music. Then on March 23, 2013, the Symphony presents Prokofiev's "Cinderella" brought to life by life-sized puppets! The family concert season concludes on May 4, 2014 in "Under the Sea" with music from Disney's beloved "The Little Mermaid" and Debussy's "La Mer."
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WHERE: 11th between Woodland and Holly | COST: Free!
Gear up and help us break the world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as fruit/vegetables. Don't have anything to wear, come out and we will help you get dressed up.
The official attempt photo will take place at 7:00 PM on the dot! Be there a few minutes prior to so we can check you in to count your costume in the official count!
Special thanks to the Nashville Scene for sponsoring this wacky attempt.


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HAMPSHIRE have made a bid to land Australia's Shane Watson.
Giles White has confirmed contact has been made to bring the all-rounder to the Ageas Bowl next season.
That would see the 34-year-old return to the county after a stint in 2004 and 2005, which saw him help his side win the C&G Trophy.
Watson retired from Test cricket after picking up a calf injury in the second one-day international at Lord's last Saturday.
But Hampshire director of cricket, White, revealed there has been steps taken to bring in the right-handed batsman.
He is, as yet, unsure how the situation will pan out, however.
White told BBC Radio Solent: 'It will depend on his availability more than anything, but initial contact has been made.
'I'm not sure how long things will take, but certainly there's a will there.
'It's likely to depend on the structure of the competitions and the international fixtures next season, but we'll see how it goes.'
Any move to Hampshire would see Watson focus on playing limited-over cricket for the county.
That is a role he is continuing for his country in one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket.
Watson suffered persistent calf, back and hamstring injuries in a Test career spanning a decade.
The fast-medium bowler scored 3,731 runs and took 75 wickets in his 59 Tests for Australia.
His 75 wickets came at 33.68.
His runs saw him finish 25th on the list of Australia's all-time run scorers.