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Sunday, January 13, 2013
Our Birth Story
One week ago today we checked into the hospital for a scheduled induction. We were one day past our due date and Baby Boy had been weighing in pretty heavy so far, and our OB/GYN didn't want us going much past 40 weeks. We didn't go into the induction with a whole lot of foreknowledge or preconceived expectations, but we were understandably concerned.
The first thing they did that night was to put in an IV. Soon after, they started the Foley catheter. I won't go into a lot of details for the uninformed, but needless to say, this was an unpleasant procedure. But apparently it worked, because the contractions -- little ones, mind you, but still contractions -- started in Mary's back soon afterwards.
I held her hand pretty constantly throughout the long night, and she needed it. This wasn't even active labor, but it was already greater pain than she'd ever endured.
Monday morning just after 5:00, they started the pitocin (the drug that's supposed to medically induce labor). It worked. Fast. Within minutes, Mary was having progressively more intense and more frequent back contractions. Within a few short hours, she'd progressed from 3cm dilation (when the Foley catheter was removed) to 8cm. The back pain was excruciating.
Mary went into everything with an open mind regarding pain control. She would love to give birth naturally with no pain medicine, but was okay with taking it if the pain became unbearable. At 8cm, it was unbearable. She asked for and received IV pain medicine at the same time they were preparing her epidural.
An hour or so later, Mary received the epidural. By this point, the back contractions were so intense she could hardly stay still for them to inject her. But, trouper that she is, she endured it and the powerful drugs started working their magic in her body. Sort of.
It took a while for the epidural to take. In truth, it didn't work perfectly. There were still areas that weren't completely numb, but for the most part she was weathering the contractions much better.
An hour or so later, they checked her cervix again and found that she was 9cm dilated, but that the baby was still hanging out at the -2 station. For the uninitiated, that means the young'un was not moving down far enough to be able to exit the premises, so to speak.
The midwife came in to discuss our options at that point, in advance of a similar conversation with the doctor. Mary could try to start pushing and see if the baby would move down any further. Or we could start preparing for a cesarean section immediately. The midwife didn't really think that pushing would do much good, and that a C-section might become necessary anyway after further effort on Mary's part. There was also a chance that she might start pushing and that the baby -- due to his estimated large size -- might not be able to fit, and that an emergency C-section would be the only option at that point (which is WAY scarier!).
Shortly after that, the doctor came in and convincingly reiterated what the midwife had just told us. After mere moments of consideration, we decided it would be best for Mary and the baby to proceed with the C-section.
I'm not going to lie to you. Tears were shed. This was not the way we saw this going down. This was, in fact, our worst-case scenario. And now it was happening. Like it or not. Ready or not.
They told us that it would take about thirty minutes to get everything ready for the procedure. We suddenly realized that we were actually "on the clock" for naming this kiddo. Everybody told us indecisive parents-to-be that we would know what his name was as soon as we saw him. No offense intended if you, dear Reader, were one of those well-meaning advice givers, but we didn't buy that for one second. How can you look at a baby that you've never seen before and instantly know what his name is. Ridiculous! (Or is it?) We needed a Plan B.
We had been going back and forth between two name combinations for the past three months or so. There was Tobias Grey, and there was Josiah Daniel.
Being an eighth Greek myself, I liked that the name Tobias was Greek in origin. Grey is an ancestral name on Mary's dad's family. This name was my favorite for awhile, though I liked the other name almost as well.
We'd picked the name Josiah the first time we got pregnant seven years ago, before we found out that the pregnancy was ectopic and the baby would not survive. Daniel is a family name on my mom's side. Having male children with the initials "J. D." is a multi-generational tradition on Mary's dad's side of the family (although the actual names used to make those initials have varied from time to time, and has never been Josiah Daniel to our knowledge). Since we both liked both names, we'd been unable to choose right up until this critical moment. There had to be a tie-breaker. Somehow.
While we waited to be called into the operating room, we pondered over the meanings of each name. Tobias means "God is good." Can't argue with the sentiment -- He is. Otherwise, we'd never be here in the first place. Not in this hospital room. Not expecting a child. Not even on this earth. It's a good meaning for a good name. Josiah means "the God who heals." That meaning sunk in a little deeper.
The first time we got pregnant, the fertilized egg was stuck in the left Fallopian tube. The pregnancy was unsuccessful. The second time we got pregnant, the fertilized egg was stuck in the left Fallopian tube. That pregnancy was also unsuccessful. About two years ago, Mary underwent a procedure to have her tubes tested. We fully expected to find out that her left tube was either damaged or faulty to begin with, thus the two ectopic pregnancies. The test showed that both tubes were fully functioning and that there was no reason why we couldn't become pregnant. The third time we got pregnant, the fertilized egg was finally in the correct place. And it had traveled to its destination through the left tube. What seemed impossible for so long was happening. We were pregnant. All thanks to "the God who heals." Heading into the operating room, the name Josiah Daniel was clearly in the lead.
They took Mary back first to prep her. Since the epidural hadn't taken completely, they were going to have to give her a spinal block to fully numb her up for the C-section. Meanwhile, I waited in our room. Impatiently. Nervously. (I peed five times in ten minutes. TMI, I know.)
Finally, the nurse brought me back to the operating room, where I had to quickly don a blue gown, hair net, and mask. Everything happened in fast-forward and slow-motion at the same time.
I didn't want to look at what was happening on the other side of the shield. I sat down right beside Mary's head and held her hand. She was crying and not breathing too well. We'd soon find out that the spinal block worked too good, and had numbed her from the neck down instead of from the abdomen down. She was having a hard time breathing and swallowing (the latter of which is a long-standing phobia of hers). I instantly figured out what was going on and asked the nurses to use some kind of suction to suck out the saliva since Mary felt like she couldn't swallow. They complied.
What followed probably took only several minutes, but it seemed to fly by even quicker. Long story short: They opened her up. They took out the baby. Dr. Kori Whitley, the OB/GYN performing the procedure, caught the first glimpse of the baby and called out in amazement: "This is a BIG baby!" Mary and I looked at each other warily. At the last OB/GYN appointment, they'd measured his weight at 9 lbs. 11 oz., but we didn't really think he was that big. Neither did the doctor we saw that day. But he was big. Real big.
Dr. Whitley cried out again: "Here he comes!" And she added: "He's got red hair!" Mary started crying. Joyfully. That was when I turned to look. And there he was. Gray and goopy and all ours. This was all so surreal. In the next few seconds, as they cleaned him, checked him, and did whatever else they do to newborn babies, I watched his gray skin turn purple, then bluish, then reddish, then pink. Pink was the goal. Mission accomplished.
Mary and I looked at each other. We have a redheaded son. I'm redheaded. Josiah is close in spelling and meaning to my name (Jason means "healer"). It all made sense.
"His name is Josiah, isn't it?" I asked her. "Yeah, I think so," she said. We smiled. We kissed. We knew we were right.
Moments later, I was invited to come over and meet my son. Mary was still feeling like she was choking. "Hold her hand!" I said (not unkindly) to our nurse, as I made my way to see Josiah. She did. I touched my son for the first time. He eagerly encircled his little hand around my finger. (Symbolic much?) I stared in wonder at this amazing creation: my son. Tears were shed. I picked him up for the first time, and brought him over to Mary. She couldn't see him clearly, but she kissed him nonetheless.
He was a big baby. Dr. Whitley, still working furiously to sew Mary up, called out in our direction (I had returned to Mary's side): "Any guess on his weight, Dad? How about you, Mom?" I had no clue. "10 pounds?" I guessed. "9 pounds, 12 ounces?" Mary guessed. The doctor smirked. She was wearing a mask and I couldn't actually see her face. But I could feel the smirk.
They weighed him, then asked me to call out the weight to Mom (my Mary is a "Mom"...holy cow!). "How much is 4938 grams?" I asked stupidly. "Wait for it to convert," they instructed me. It converted. Oh, my word! "10 pounds, 14 ounces!" I called out. Mary's jaw dropped (as much as is possible when numbed up from the neck down).
The next two hours are also a blur. We spent them in a post-op room. Josiah was getting his first bath on one side of the room, while our nurse was checking Mary on the other side of the room. I was floating back and forth between the two. An hour and a half went by, and Mary had still not held her son. I spoke to the nurse who was bathing him, and told her this. She told me they were about to take Josiah back to the transitions nursery (he was "grunting," which means there may still be fluid in his lungs...that's common with C-section babies, apparently). I asked if Mary could hold him just for a minute until it was time for him to go back. The nurse was compassionate and complied.
The second they put Josiah in Mary's arms, she started crying. "Hey, Boo. You're so beautiful!" she said (or something to that effect).
It was awhile longer till they brought Josiah back to our new room (a tiny room on 1 West) and we got to love on him in earnest. It's almost a week later, and we haven't stopped loving on him. Even when he's fussy for no reason for hours on end. Even when he makes a good night's sleep impossible for the better part of the first week of his life. We haven't stopped loving on him, and we never will.
That's our story. Long, I know, but what a happy ending! This is not the last you'll hear about our precious boy. I'll probably write something else tomorrow. Maybe I'll post pictures. Maybe lots of them. Stay tuned...
2 comments:
Wow!!! Big boy doesn't begin to describe him!!! You guys are sooo blessed and there is nothing in the world that u will ever love more, except another lol!!! Enjoy your new family...here's to Josiah's ;-)ReplyDelete
There is going to come a time when you need to be able to pee while holding a crying baby. Both of you should begin training to proficiently handle this. Now, the advice. You do not need to stay awake and watch him sleep. Sleep while he is sleeping or you are going to be worn out & trust me on this -- babies know when you are tired! They feel your tension & they will react with fussiness or crying or both! So, take several deep breaths, & RELAX!!!!! You do NOT have to do everything perfectly or by the book, you WILL make mistakes. You are parents, not robots, so allow yourself to enjoy him. Feed him, change his diaper & when he goes to sleep you do the same. He will sleep a bunch, but when he's awake you can read to him, sing to him, hold him and love on him. Love to all three of you! Auntie PaulaReplyDelete


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Blog for Thought
- What proportion of web users are on dial-up vs. broadband? This will probably vary by country, so a breakdown by country would be useful, if available
- If I make my site mainly text based, is this going to put off those readers who don't have download issues?
- Where can I get information on download times for my website? How do I tell if these are good or bad?
- Where can I get a simple, non-technical guide to website optimisation?
Looking at and learning from other people's blogs, I'd been thinking of a re-design of mine to include more pictures per posting and/or put more pictures in the sidebar. I was also considering upgrading my camera so that picture quality would be better, especially for close-up shots. Bare Bones Gardener's made me think again!

subset: commoncrawl


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This month's recipes are contributed by members of the NFB of Louisiana.
KG's Red Beans and Sausage
by Krystal and Eric Guillory
Krystal and Eric Guillory are active at all levels of the Federation. Krystal serves as a teacher of blind students and an early interventionist in northern Louisiana, and Eric is director of youth services for the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Both are officers of the National Organization of Professionals in Blindness Education (PIBE). They are the proud parents of Austin, age seven, and Brilyn, age four.
This dish is a tasty way to economize and is a wonderful entrée for large gatherings. While it is a nice option all year, it is particularly great during these chilly winter months.
1 large bag of dry red beans
2 pounds beef, pork, or turkey sausage, or to taste, sliced into bite-size pieces
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
2 large bell peppers, coarsely chopped
2 dill pickles, coarsely chopped (or dill relish)
Salt and pepper to taste
Note: We like Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning better than salt and pepper but realize that it is not easy to obtain in other parts of the country.
Method: Place dry beans in a large covered saucepan or stock pot and soak in water for at least five hours to soften. Drain beans and replace water, bringing the beans to a medium boil. Use lots of water since much of it will evaporate during cooking. Continue this medium boil for at least an hour, stirring occasionally to prevent burning or sticking. While the beans are boiling, brown the sausage and onions in a frying pan. Once browned, add these to the boiling pot. Next add the dill pickle and bell pepper to the mix. When the beans are done, reduce the boil to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Allow the beans to simmer for at least two hours. For a creamier texture place a ladle-full of beans into a separate bowl and mash smooth and return them to the simmering pot. Serve over your choice of rice or simply enjoy as a standalone dish.
Ruby's Banana Pudding
by Krystal and Eric Guillory
Named in honor of Eric's mom, this recipe gives a twist to a recipe popularized by Chef Paula Deen.
2 boxes French vanilla instant pudding
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
8 ounces condensed milk
1 12-ounce container Cool Whip
3 7.25-ounce packs Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
4 bananas, sliced
Method: Prepare the pudding as directed. Blend together the condensed milk, cream cheese, and Cool Whip. In a large mixing bowl fold blended mixture into pudding and mix thoroughly. In a 9-by-13-inch pan layer cookies, sliced bananas, and pudding mixture, ending with cookies. Cover and refrigerate. Serve cold and enjoy.
Bacon-Wrapped Cajun Jalapenos
by Jewel Ardoin
Jewel Ardoin is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Cajun country. Jewel is a technology instructor at the Louisiana Center for the Blind and an active leader in the affiliate. As well as being an outstanding cook, she is also famous for her massage fundraiser at the state convention. She is a certified massage therapist.
8 large jalapeno peppers
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
8 thick-sliced peppered bacon strips
16 toothpicks
Method: Cut 8 jalapenos in half lengthwise; remove seeds and center membranes. In a small bowl combine the package cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and Cajun seasoning. Stuff about 1 1/2 teaspoonfuls cream cheese mixture into each pepper half. Cut bacon strips in half widthwise. In a large skillet cook bacon part way. Wrap a half bacon slice around each stuffed pepper; secure ends with a toothpick Place wrapped peppers on a wire rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for twenty-five to thirty minutes or until bacon is crisp. Discard toothpicks and serve immediately. Yield: sixteen appetizers.
Note: Wear disposable gloves when cutting hot peppers; the oils can burn skin. Avoid touching your face. You can use doubled muffin papers instead of toothpicks. The best ones to use are the ones that have foil on the outside and paper in the inside. This makes it easy to serve the bacon-wrapped stuffed peppers and easy to clean the baking pan.
Potato Chip Cookies
by Jewel Ardoin
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup potato chips, crushed
1/2 cup pecans, ground
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about three minutes. With the mixer at low speed add potato chips and pecans and mix until fully incorporated. Add vanilla and mix until thoroughly combined. Stir in flour and mix the flour until just combined; do not over-mix. Using a medium cookie scoop (1 1/2 tablespoons), shape dough in one-inch balls and place them two inches apart on lined baking sheets. Slightly flatten each dough ball with the bottom of a glass dipped in confectioners sugar. Bake in a preheated oven for twelve to fifteen minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about twenty-four. Roll cooled cookies in confectioners sugar. If desired, garnish cooled cookies with a drizzle of melted chocolate and a sprinkling of fine sea salt.
Cereal-Crusted Chicken with Curry Cream
by Jack Mendez
Jack Mendez joined the LCB staff in November 2012 as director of technology. He is a committed Federationist who is eager to share his positive philosophy about blindness with others. Jack loves to cook and experiment with all types of cuisine. He and his fiancée, Maryann Topolewski, will be married in April. Jack made this recipe as part of his meal for eight at LCB when he was a student, and it received rave reviews.
Jack says, "Take this breakfast treat to a new level. You can use any unsweetened cereal, granola, or oats when you want to explore new flavors. (For best results place the cereal in a plastic bag and roll with a rolling pin until coarsely crushed, or give it a quick spin in the food processor.)"
Cooking spray
2 cups crushed unsweetened cornflakes cereal
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup orange marmalade
Ingredients for Curry Cream:
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon curry powder
Pinch of paprika
Method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the crushed cereal in a shallow dish and set aside. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper and brush marmalade over both sides. Add the chicken to the cereal and turn to coat completely. Arrange the chicken pieces on the sprayed cookie sheet and spray the surface of each with cooking spray. Bake until the crust is golden brown and chicken is cooked through, about twenty-five minutes. Meantime in a small bowl whisk together the sour cream, curry powder, and paprika. Serve the chicken with the curry cream spooned over the top or on the side.
Jerry Whittle's Famous Carolina Hash
A beloved Federation leader, Jerry Whittle has served for years in many capacities in South Carolina and Louisiana. He is currently the president of the Greater Ouachita Chapter of the NFB of Louisiana and vice president of the affiliate, along with being state fundraising chairperson. This dish is always a favorite.
2 packages boneless ribs
2 jars of Cattleman's Carolina Barbecue Sauce or any other Carolina Barbeque Sauce
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, diced (optional)
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
Method: Cook ribs overnight in a crock pot on low with onion, jalapeno pepper, salt, and pepper to taste. Cool ribs and chop meat, returning it to the pot. Add sauce and rice to crock pot. Reserve about a half jar of sauce to add as needed. Cook covered for 4 hours on low. Enjoy!
Chocolate Kahlua® Cake
by Roland Allen
Roland Allen has served the Federation at many levels. A gifted mentor and cane travel instructor, Roland enjoys sharing the message of the Federation. This is one of his favorite recipes and always a crowd-pleaser.
1 box devil's food cake mix
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
2 cups sour cream
4 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup Kahlua
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
4 tablespoons Kahlua
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all cake ingredients except chocolate chips and mix or beat until thoroughly combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into a greased bundt pan. Bake for one hour. Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes. Turn out cake on cooling rack to cool completely. Whisk together powdered sugar and Kailua until smooth. Drizzle over cake.
Broccoli Salad
by Pam Allen
Pam Allen is president of the NFB of Louisiana and director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind.
2 bunches broccoli florets, washed and cut into small pieces
10 strips of crisp bacon, crumbled
1/2 cup onion, diced
2/3 cup Craisins®
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
Dressing Ingredients:
1 cup Miracle Whip®
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Method: Combine ingredients for dressing in a small container and refrigerate overnight. Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl. Add as much dressing as desired and lightly toss.
Shrimp Creole
by Cathy Guillory
Cathy Guillory is the president of the Lake Areas Chapter. As a deaf-blind woman she is also a strong advocate for deaf-blind issues.
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
Wondra® flour
1/2 small can Ro*Tel® tomatoes (You can substitute a mixture of stewed tomatoes and minced chili peppers if you can't find the Ro*Tel brand.)
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
Peeled and deveined shrimp
Method: Sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic in oil until tender. Sprinkle Wondra flour over the oil-and-vegetable mixture, stirring constantly, until it is the consistency of watery oatmeal. Add Ro*Tel and stir until all ingredients are well blended. Add tomato sauce and then fill the tomato sauce can with water. Pour the water into the mixture, scraping can well, and stir. Bring to a boil and then quickly lower heat to simmer. Simmer for at least 20 minutes without covering the pot. Add enough peeled and deveined shrimp for two people. Cook only until shrimp is done.
Although some measurements have been included, none of the ingredients need to be measured precisely in this recipe. Creole cooking, like any art, is highly subjective. Play with it and develop your own favorite combination of ingredients.


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from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- n. any of several purple or white wine grapes used especially for Burgundies and champagnes
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Not the easiest wines to find (they are often labled as Spatburgunder (AKA what they call Pinot Noir in Germany)) but from my experience they have been lovely.
Jason has it pegged: Pinot is really a crazy grape.
Blind Tasting of Finger Lakes Pinot Noir Reveals Progress, Challenges
One might turn the question around and ask you if you think Pinot is suited for the American west coast.
Blind Tasting of Finger Lakes Pinot Noir Reveals Progress, Challenges
I can tell you that a new wave of producers believes in Pinot Noir as having the potential for excellence on a year-to-year basis.
Blind Tasting of Finger Lakes Pinot Noir Reveals Progress, Challenges
Pinot is always a fallback, and of course, riesling.
Of course all these qualities come at a cost—a popularity surcharge that I call the "Pinot tax."
Nebbiolo, the noble grape of Barolo and Barbaresco, has been called the "Pinot of Piedmont."
A sub-$10 Pinot is guaranteed to have who-knows-what in the blend up to the 25% allowed by law.
French winemakers found guilty in pinot noir fraud | Dr Vino's wine blog
The fuller-bodied examples (which are usually called Pinot Gris) are best with heavier summer foods, while the lighter wines (which are usually called Pinot Grigio) are good for sipping outside or with simpler fare.
Within American Pinot Noir, a couple of good names to look for under $20 are Frey and Willamette Valley.


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A change in location has certainly meant quite a change in the sights and sounds that surround me.
I no longer live my day to the background hum of traffic punctuated by sporadic squeals of emergency sirens. The view from my window is no longer of a similar house opposite, with the residents' actions mirroring my own – that old suburban routine.
My new lifestyle largely runs to the soundtrack of nature, with the occasional hum of boats drifting by. OK, some of their engines can be a tad noisy, but as we live on a tidal stretch of river, the times when these pass are restricted. I'm much more likely to hear birdsong (though screeching gulls can be less restful) and animal calls than the hustle and bustle of human life. Sometimes it's almost silent.
This said, I did find the nights a bit unsettling at first. Not only did the building creak and groan in ways that I wouldn't have imagined, keeping me alert to every noise, but I was hard-pressed to identify the sounds piercing the darkness outside.
Even I, as a lifelong townie, could recognise the bark of a fox, but other strange chattering and squealing sounds had me flummoxed. The strangest I've heard, I could only describe as a duck being throttled – actually in view of my former comments, let's just not go there.
The first day that I spent alone in our makeshift home, there was the most awful commotion on the roof. I was rather startled and at a total loss as to what on earth could be happening. Answer – a sparrowhawk had landed and caught a pigeon. I'll spare you the details, but I thought to myself, "Welcome to country life!"
To add to the atmosphere, we have experienced frequent episodes of river mist since we arrived, some so dense that the river itself seems to disappear completely. The whole effect can be quite surreal.
So all things considered, I don't think I chose the best time to read 'River of Destiny' by Barbara Erskine, a story of a couple who move to a converted property by the river. When the mists roll in so does a ghostly ship and strange things start happening all around them. Oh well, at least my new circumstances meant it left less to the imagination!


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|Kenta Gallagher in his Team GB kit (photo credits to Scottish Cycling/British Cycling)
The 24th of May 2013 will be a day that will stick in the memory of Kenta Gallagher for the rest of his life. This was the day that the 21 year old full-time cyclist won his first - of hopefully many! -World Cup races.
We at the SXC had a chance to catch up with Kenta at the third round of the British XC series the weekend following this fantastic result. At Hopton Woods in Shropshire he managed a respectable 6th place following his exertions in Europe.
At the second round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, Kenta managed to put a difficult start to the race season behind him and show the form that has been promised for many years. As a short, sprint specialist, the new Eliminator race suits his riding style. Bettering his previous best result of semi-final qualification, Gallagher cruised into the finals, where superior skill carried him safely through the first rocky section. As two fellow competitors – there are four in each race – dropped out due to mechanicals, Kenta knew the final sprint would be decisive. He dropped back on the approach to the finish straight, then stood up to put the pressure on the pedals and sprinted past his German opponent.
"It was a really tough course. It is short racing, but you're pushing at 100% for the duration. Of all the Eliminator courses on the World Cup circuit it's one of the toughest. The start is fast, and then there's a difficult rock garden section to negotiate and avoid any mechanicals. There is a long drag to the finish line and I knew that would be the most important part of the race"
|Photo copyright Rob Jones
"I'm really lucky to be part of such a world-class team. I get to ride a new Superior 29er which is a fantastic bike, and I'm supported by some of the best people and companies in the bike business. Riding for Team GB allows me to travel around to lots of countries, and they help with my training and racing schedule."
To reach such dizzying heights of the sport you love is a grand achievement for a boy who came last in his first race and didn't race a bike again for months following that disappointment. Kenta began racing in the Sprogs Under-12 category in his first SXC at Contin, close to his home town of Inverness, in 2002. The Gallagher family soon became regulars at the SXC races, with his younger sister Yuka proving that speed and fantastic bicycle handling skills run in the family.
|Kenta as the 2011 National Champion with his Mum and sister Yuka (pic (c) Yuka)
Despite having the opportunity to travel the world to race and ride his bicycle, Gallagher maintains that his favourite place to ride his bike is on the trails around Inverness. It's what he's grown up with and loves, with miles of tight, twisty trails a stone's throw from his home. Looking at these tracks, it's easy to see how Kenta so quickly developed into a world class cyclist, with an abundance of roots, rocks, technical challenges and big hills.
|Kenta at the SXC series race at Cathkin Braes
"Definitely, my favourite place to cycle is back up North in Inverness. There are so many trails to choose from that I could ride my bike all day and not get bored. It's riding on the natural tracks like these that helped me develop my cycling skills and always make sure that I enjoyed cycling and it never became a chore"
Kenta is a fan of the traditional style race courses, such as the red route at Lagan, Pitmedden, Drumlanrig or Glentress. In fact, he seems to be quite happy riding a bike anywhere in Scotland! Gallagher is a bit more sceptical about flat, man-made courses though, preferring the more natural, rooty, technical options. He does, however, believe that the Commonwealth Games course at Cathkin Braes will make for fantastic racing due to it's fast and close nature. At the recent SXC series race at Cathkin Braes, Kenta took second place behind his team-mate and fellow Scot, Grant Ferguson. There he praised the support of the spectators on the course, who helped create an event with a world cup feel with cowbells and banners. Should he achieve Commonwealth Games qualification, he looks forward to the support from Scottish fans.
"I love coming back to Scotland to race. While there are fantastic trails all over the world, I've always enjoyed racing in Scotland. I think that the British Championships coming to Glasgow is another great opportunity for the Scottish riders to do well, similar to 2009 at Innerleithen. The crowds will be loud, as they were for the SXC race there, and come the Commonwealth Games, the crowds will be better yet again."
These days, Kenta is left with little time to return to Scotland to race in the SXC series as his time is limited by international travel and the chase for UCI world ranking points and qualification for larger races. Gallagher believes that it was through the SXC that his love for mountain biking grew as he enjoyed the events, not simply for the racing, but for the whole day out with his family and friends. Going away for the weekend to race bikes and to enjoy the competition was a large part of his childhood and helped him to become the successful, driven racer that he is today. Hopefully in the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games as the big teams bring riders to test the Cathkin Braes course, we'll see more of Kenta in Scotland and pinning on a number to race in the SXC series.
|Kenta on the podium at the recent SXC race at Cathkin Braes
"At the SXC races I had a great chance to develop and grow as a mountain biker. It wasn't all about the racing, though the winning always was good! Meeting up with friends from all over the country and enjoying the atmosphere at the fantastic SXC venues was the best part of the weekend. We're lucky in Scotland to have some of the best trails in the world, and racing in the SXC series gave me the chance to get out and ride them."
Many thanks to Kenta for taking the time to speak to the SXC, and well done again on such a fantastic victory. All the best to Kenta, and his fellow Scots who are racing in Val di Sol this weekend at the third round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
You can watch this weekend's World Cup race on Redbull TV, found here;
Check out Kenta's team on their website here;


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Dear February: You've been terrible. It has been below freezing almost every day for as long as I can remember, which is, I'll be honest, roughly a month. Today is the first day in recent memory that you can go outside without having your face freeze off, which is, yes, the medical term for that condition. But nasty as all these polar arctic blast ice freezey whatsits have been, they can't last forever. The planet is doing that thing where it tilts closer to the sun! And just in time for the first week of March, temperatures are going to get, if not warm, at least not horrifically cold. I'm not saying sweater weather, but I am saying no-more-doubling-up-on-hats weather.
Extreme cold will be held to the middle of the country, per Accuweather, while some blessedly above 30 degree days are in our very near future. "We still think temperatures will average below normal, but instead of the departures in the minus 15 to 25 F range on a regular basis, they will likely average 5 to 10 F below normal," AccuWeather's Paul Pastelok said. You know what? I will absolutely take that.


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ALAN McMANUS has vowed to put friendship aside in his quest to upset fellow Scot John Higgins at this year's World Championship.
Former Crucible semi-finalist McManus was drawn against the four-times winner – and his good mate – Higgins at yesterday's live draw in London.
The pair were actually sitting together watching the draw on a tablet screen.
And soon the jokes were flying about playing each other at the most prestigious tournament in snooker that starts tomorrow and runs until May 5.
McManus said: "It was quite funny really because we were both in Glasgow's Q club and were sat next to each other when the draw was made.
"There was a bit of banter among the boys after we got drawn together but it was all a bit of good fun.
"We were actually due to practise together this week but that's now gone out of the window!
"At the end of the day me and John are good friends but we're both experienced enough to focus on the match.
"I'm really looking forward to it. It can be difficult sometimes when you play someone you know so well but I'm genuinely just going to try to enjoy myself.
"I want to enjoy it – and I genuinely can't think of anyone I'd rather play at the Crucible other than John."
Having twice reached the last four at the Crucible, McManus beat Welshman Mark Williams – who is a two-time world champion – 10-8 in a tough qualifying match to make sure of his place in the first-round draw in Sheffield.
And at the age of 43, McManus is now experiencing something of a renaissance in his professional snooker career.
The former world No.6 had slipped down the rankings in recent years but he's fought back to No.35 and is now relishing testing himself on the biggest stage of all.
McManus said: "It will be a fantastic game for both of us, it's good for Scottish snooker.
"I'd certainly put John right up there in the top bracket alongside great players such as Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Steve Davis.
"It's going to be a pleasure to play John. I've the utmost respect for him and what he's done, what he's achieved in the game and what he's still going to achieve.
"He's a great player, so that's why I'm really looking forward to the match."
With four Scots chasing the £300,000 top prize, Stephen Maguire faces Welshman Ryan Day in the first round while ?Hamilton's Jamie Burnett is up against England's Joe Perry.
MARK SELBY believes Sheffield will eventually lose the World Championship to China.
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn insists it will stay for as long as he runs the sport but world No.3 Selby said: "We're there five or six times a year at the moment and at one stage or another I think the tournament will be in China."
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has told snooker's straight men to lighten up or risk sending the crowds at the Crucible to sleep.
The defending champion, who faces Robin Hull of Finland in the first round of the World Championship, said: "Snooker has got very serious, some players could be a little less scared of losing.
"People would maybe watch a bit more if there was more effort to play attractive snooker."
The Rocket, going for a consecutive hat-trick of world titles, accepts a large burden will fall on him in Sheffield to win in a swashbuckling manner.
He said: "I know there are expectations on me. Fans want to see me do well, but it is tough as sometimes you are playing guys who really are top notch."
THE FULL DRAW: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Robin Hull, Joe Perry v Jamie Burnett, Shaun Murphy v Jamie Cope, Marco Fu v Martin Gould, Barry Hawkins v David Gilbert, Ricky Walden v Kyren Wilson, Mark Davis v Dominic Dale, Ding Junhui v Michael Wasley, Mark Selby v Michael White, Ali Carter v Xiao Guodong, John Higgins v Alan McManus, Stuart Bingham v Ken Doherty, Judd Trump v Tom Ford, Stephen Maguire v Ryan Day, Mark Allen v Michael Holt, Neil Robertson v Robbie Williams.


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The long-term business success of ASEC Cement group depends on our ability to continually improve the quality of products while protecting people, environment and community. Emphasis must be placed on ensuring human health, operational safety, environmental protection, and community goodwill. This commitment is in the best interest of our employees and contractors, our stakeholders and the communities in which we live and work. We believe that making a contribution to sustainable development should be integrated into all aspects of our business and that a structured framework is needed to ensure that we accomplish this goal.
ASEC's activities involve working with large, heavy equipment, explosives and chemicals other and materials at extreme temperatures. We also face normal industrial hazards such as driving vehicles, working at heights and operating machinery with dangerous moving parts. ASEC is aiming to put in place one of the best safety management systems in the industry and actively manage the safety of all those who work on our sites - employees and contractors alike. In 2010, the Group launched the Zero Harm Project based on technical and human approaches. The process consists of four main activities, all carried out by the HSE Committee: The identification of critical harms, collecting data, feedback, and removal of barriers, based on the Group core beliefs which are:
· All HSE harms can be prevented,
· HSE is a matter of management and leadership,
· Everybody is responsible for HSE at each level;
· Everybody must be trained in HSE.
The Zero Harm Project is applicable to all group subsidiaries and activities and to all people directly or indirectly employed in our operations. The Group always operates in accordance with the relevant local legislation regulating working and safety and environmental conditions in each country where it operates. However, historical and cultural differences mean that different countries have developed different ways of approaching health, safety and environment management. For this reason, the Group decided to introduce a single vision for HSE. ASEC group requires the active commitment to and accountability for SD from all employees and contractors. Line management has a leadership role in the communication and implementation and insuring compliance with SD policy and standards. Finally, active participation in sustainable development and accountability of all employees ensures that those who are affected by the changes are the ones determining the changes.
ASEC CEMENT is a platform for investments in emerging cement markets in the Middle East and North Africa Region and was created in November 2005 by Citadel Capital, the MENA region's leading private equity firm
We seek to achieve and retain the continuous satisfaction of our customer, employees and shareholders because we believe it is the road to success.


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Sometimes life can get in the way of discovering yourself, your emotions, who you are, and how much strength you actually have. We, as humans, forget to realize how strong each one of us is. We forget that sometimes it is important to reflect on who we are and build ourselves up before helping others. We don't realize how much we can accomplish each and every day. We focus so much on what everyone else around us has accomplished and what they have that we want. It's time we stop feeling sorry for ourselves and our situations and think of ways that we can better ourselves from the inside out. True strength comes from within and, much like any muscle in our body, the only way to become stronger is by working.
I have a friend (who shall remain nameless in this post but has allowed me to talk about her) that has gone through some seriously rough times over the last few years of her life. Lately, life has just been throwing change-ups and curveballs at her and she has struggled with confidence. Time and time again I tried helping her out by giving advice and just being a listening ear, but then an idea came to me. The idea that true strength comes from inside and it needs to be worked on is what inspired this idea. I had her find a quote about optimism and/or happiness every day for one week. Only one week. She needed to find whatever quote that made an immediate impact on her when she read it and tell me why it related to her. "Why do this", you may ask. Nothing builds optimism or happiness more than surrounding yourself with positive thoughts and positive people. By having her find one simple quote a day that related to her on some level she had to read many. Each quote she read had to be thought about on some level, subconscious or otherwise, and each time a new quote was read a little seed of optimism and happiness could be planted.
Confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, optimism, happiness, and so many other personal thoughts are often things that are taken for granted and not thought of. I find myself still struggling sometimes with my confidence and self-esteem to this day even though for years I have been working at making myself feel better. Strength from inside is not something that can be gained in one day, one week, or even one year. It is a never-ending battle of trying to balance out the punches life is throwing at you with the relentless push from inside to keep getting up, brushing off the dirt, and saying to yourself nothing can keep me down. Believing in yourself will open your eyes to a whole new you that no one has ever seen before. You truly can be your own worst enemy but don't let that be the case.
I challenge everyone reading this to do one thing, make yourself find quotes that relate to you. Make it a daily personal challenge. Start your day off by finding a quote that inspires you, that motivates you, that makes you happy or optimistic about the day ahead. Write the quote down and put it somewhere you'll see multiple times throughout the day. Live each day through these quotes and allow optimism and happiness to exude from you. You never know the difference you can make in your life and the people's lives around you just by being a happier, more optimistic version of yourself.
Take the step.
Start the challenge today.
Begin to change your life now!


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Meet Jim Duffy, Stop Hinkley's Co-ordinator and Press Officer
Spotlight on Jim Duffy
Weekly Views, Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News, March 29th 2006
STOP HINKLEY campaigner Jim Duffy was born near Manchester of Irish parents. As a teenager he became interested in green issues and a life-long vegetarian.
He developed a career in psychiatric nursing and specialised in psychotherapy using various approaches including analytic, drama therapy and art therapy. He pursued this work in Bridgwater and as a Senior Nurse taught modern methods to qualified staff in West Somerset. Later he worked in a prominent London unit.
In the 1990's he changed direction in life, quit his career and sailed his yacht to the Greek islands. En route he met his wife, Karalina, from Belarus, the country most affected by Chernobyl. They lived in Paris for two years and now live in the village of West Quantoxhead with their two daughters aged eight years and 18 months.
Jim has been a local anti-nuclear campaigner for most of ten years, achieving success in shutting down a nuclear incinerator and later the ageing Hinkley Point 'A' reactor. He highlighted local health issues by commissioning cancer studies suggesting a link between radioactive discharges and extra breast cancer in Burnham.
Currently he is campaigning to stop any more reactors being built.
1) What do you think is the best and worst thing about the place you live in? I enjoy the sea views and local woodlands where I walk our Collie, Brandy. But it's a bit quiet socially and culturally.
2) What do you think is the best thing and worst thing about your job? It's great when we achieve something, especially publicity for issues we feel are important - it feels as if we're breaking through the fears and secrecy around the nuclear industry. But occasionally I experience hostility from nuclear people.
3) What item in the news has particularly interested you this week? I was saddened to see the violence after the elections in Belarus. Their president has also squashed much information about Chernobyl.
4) If you could meet anybody, dead or alive, who would they be? I very much admire Prem Rawat who teaches meditation and inner peace.
5) If you were king or queen for the day, what laws would you pass? I'd bring about an end to nuclear power but encourage every aspect of sustainable living from localised energy to cruelty-free farming and a more holistic health service.
6) Who is your hero and why? I like Ghandi's courage and sensitivity.
7) What is the most important thing to you in your life? I think it's important to find a connection with your deeper self, to keep 'on track' while life can be wobbly sometimes.
8) If you had one million pounds to spend, how would you do it? Millions of African people seem desperate for help just to survive - that must be a priority.
9) What has been the most important event to you so far this year? A close elderly relative has switched from living independently to being hospitalised and may go into long-term care.
10) What do you think this year holds for yourself? I expect to be busy campaigning against mistaken proposals to build more nuclear power stations.


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Cecelia Taylor
Cecelia P. Taylor, 92, of Tunkhannock, PA passed away at her home Wednesday morning, Oct. 2, 2013.
Born Aug. 30, 1921 on the family farm on Russell Hill, she was the daughter of the late Edward V. and Rachel Bush Prevost.
Growing up on Russell Hill, Cecelia was a graduate of the Tunkhannock High School with the Class of 1938.
After her graduation from high school, she worked as a stenographer for the Securities and Exchange Commission during World War II in Washington, DC. After her marriage to Harold William (Jack) Taylor, she moved back to the Wyoming County area and she and Jack owned and operated a farm in Springville, until his declining health forced them to sell their farm. After moving back to the Tunkhannock area, she was employed by Dr. Rinehimer in Tunkhannock for a short time. She also worked as a secretary for a number of years for Bowman Petroleum in Tunkhannock that was later bought by Jay Niskey.
She was a lifetime member of the Russell Hill United Methodist Church. She was a proud and active member of the Tunkhannock Chapter of the DAR. Cecelia was very interested with the history of Wyoming County, and she was very involved with the Wyoming County Historical Society in Tunkhannock. She was very proud of her family ties to the Russell Hill area and with the Prevost Family Farm, which was purchased in 1815. Cecelia was a very dedicated wife to her husband during his 11-year illness before he passed away on Aug. 25, 1965. She was a loving and caring daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother that loved to be involved with her family, especially her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Marty Meehan of Wyalusing; her grandchildren Joe Meehan (Janet) of Meshoppen, Philip Meehan (Tonya) of Kingsport, TN, Thomas Meehan (Moriah) of Woodstock, GA, Edward Meehan (Kim) of Olyphant, Rachel Chavers (Thomas) of NY, Lydia Heatwole (Matthew) of Harrisonburg, VA, John Meehan of Wyalusing and Mary Milgate (Nolan) of Seattle, WA; 16 greatgrandchildren; her sisters, Angelique Harding of Tunkhannock, Barbara Jaquish (Orin) of Russell Hill and Carol Streater (Bill) of Harveys Lake and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Philip Taylor (Dec. 15, 2012); her brother, Lester Prevost; her brother and sister-in-law. Judson and Esther Prevost; her sister and brother-in-law, Pauline and Clifford Sands, and her brother-in-law, John Harding.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. from the Russell Hill United Methodist Church with Rev. Gil Clark of the church officiating. Family and friends may call at the Russell Hill United Methodist Church on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Arrangements were made through the Sheldon Funeral Homes, Main St., Laceyville.
Online condolences may be made at www.sheldonfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Cecelia's name to the Russell Hill United Methodist Church, 128 Church St., Meshoppen, PA. 18630 or to the charity of the donor's choice.
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Identical Twins Perform Soaring Cover of 'Game of Thrones' Theme on Harp
According to their bio, Camille and Kennerly Kitt are the "world's only known identical twin professional harpists." (If there happens to be any other such pros out there, now is the time to stand up and be counted.) The classically trained blondes are making a name for themselves by covering contemporary music with their ancient instruments.
When we last checked in on the pair they were strumming tunes such as the theme from 'The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword' and the Rihanna hit 'Disturbia.' Now they are back with another round of harp goodness. First up is the eminently cover-able 'Game of Thrones' theme.
Next we have the twins doing 'Misty Mountain Cold,' which is the song from 'The Hobbit' trailer.
AC/DC's 'Highway To Hell,' the duo's last song, doesn't seem as immediately harp-friendly as the other two. But the sisters are able to pull off a catchy -- if somewhat Muzak-like -- version of the hard rock anthem.
In case you are wondering, Camille and Kennerly really are performing in the desert. So not only can the sisters play difficult songs, but they can do so in difficult conditions.


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See Me
Real bones in Jenny Holzer's art work give crime victims a voice
The temptation to touch art in museums can be overwhelming, and the inclusion of human bones as part of Jenny Holzer's work in Building 6 at MASS MoCA has piqued that desire.
"Visitors have been curious about them, and surprised to learn that they were real bones," says curator Alexandra Foradas.
Known as the Lustmord Table ("sexual murder" in German), among the bones are silver bands etched with text engravings detailing the rape and murder of women during war from three points — victim, perpetrator, and witness. The powerful work was in response to the horrors in Bosnia.
And no, you can't touch the bones.
MASS MoCA is located at 87 Marshall Street in North Adams, Massachusetts.


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It came and it went. The 2012 NHL Trade Deadline passed at 3:00pm Monday afternoon.
Sammy Pahlsson, Grant Clitsome, Jeff Carter, Antoine Vermette, Kris Russell have all been shipped out, and no more "shipping" will take place until the after the Stanley Cup is awarded in early June in Nashville, Detroit,Vancouver, New York, or Boston.
This post isn't about the guys we said goodbye (or good riddance) to. This is about the captain that remains with our team.
I'll admit it right now: I trust the management of this team. There isn't a single person in the world who could have reasonably predicted this season would've gone the way it did. The excitement of James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter had everyone rip-roaring and ready to go in July of 2011.
Fast forward 7 months, and here we stand with Rick Nash requesting he be traded, after GM Scott Howson and Co. said originally it was management who requested the opportunity to pursue a trade for the Captain. It can be argued that Nash is going back on the contract that he signed, keeping himself in Columbus for the majority of the remainder of his career. But it can also be said that the management have not built the team around him that Rick was promised.
Certainly I'm in the minority of defending the management side of things, but Rick signed the contract knowing who his bosses were and knowing who signs the paycheck.
As a fan of the Blue Jackets, I thought it'd be pretty tough to be more embarrassed of the team than I already have been this year. A new low was reached yesterday evening when it was revealed that Nash was the one requesting the trade. I was prepared to be accepting of a huge return in a trade of our Blue Jackets' Captain, and sure, I would have felt upset/depressed/unsurprised that it never worked out for Nash in Columbus. Now, the egg's on those of us who wanted nothing but Nash to stay here and become our (lesser) version of Steve Yzerman.
While deadline day was not the epic explosion we expected, there are many in Columbus who are playing out their final weeks in CBJ-land. There is virtually no way Rick Nash wears the Union Blue ever again (unless it's part of the 2013 All-Star Game Jersey), Steve Mason, RJ Umberger, etc., etc., etc., could all be on the move too.
General Manager Scott Howson and Senior Adviser Craig Patrick have an unenviable position, and in the end, maybe Rick Nash did learn something from the previous Blue Jackets captain; How to bail on your team when they need you most. Luckily Scott Howson took those lemons and made lemonade too.


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People or Things?
Informative b multimedia example
Victoria Deschereon 10 February 2012
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Transcript of People or Things?
People are more important than things! Experiences I teach new drivers how to drive stick shift in my youth group. I want them to be safe when they go off to college. If they have to take someone's keys because that person is drinking, I want them to be able to drive a stick shift. Sometimes the kids almost hit something. Sometimes they stall out or burn rubber. I know this hurts my car, but they are more important than my car or the money to repair it. Since I was a child, my parents have loaned their cars and vans to anyone who needed them. I continue to do this. In college, a friend needed to borrow my car to get to work. He was late and could not catch the bus and make it to work on time. Unfortuantely on the way back, he had an accident. The damage was only to the body. It was an eyesore but did not keep the vehicle from running. He kept apologizing, but I did not care. He was safe and still employed and that's all that mattered to me. Prom, Homecoming, club dinners. There are a lot of events in a high school that require a student to be dressed up, but gowns and jewelry are expensive. How is a high schooler expected to foot the bill? To help defer the expenses, my senior high students borrow my jewelry to complete their look. If it breaks, disappears or never gets returned, I don't care. My oldest senior high student borrowed some diamonds for her prom and has never returned them. I did remind her for a year after the occassion but I will not let this get in the way of our friendship. She is much more important to me than some shiny rocks. Jewelry Car Stick shift Materialism Youth Group Family Students How often do you hear it? In songs. On tv. On billboards hanging along the side of the road. We hear it all the time. Get more, more, more! But is this what we are living for? Pass it on Item lost - Forget. Something Broken - Forgive. See a Need - Give.Full transcript


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Natalie Cole Performs Tonight at Ridgefield Playhouse
An end of summer soirée starring superstar performer and recording artist Natalie Cole, complete with wine, cheese and art...sound enticing? It's a great night out when Natalie Cole returns to The Ridgefield Playhouse tonight, August 21, at 8 p.m.
The eight-time Grammy award winner Natalie Cole continues to astonish with her vocal dexterity and intimate, knowing way with a lyric and melody. Before Natalie Cole won the 1975 Best New Artist Grammy, she appealed to fans and critics with her versatility as a pop artist offering R&B, jazz and popular songs of the first order. Her hits include "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)", "Inseparable", "Our Love", "Pink Cadillac", "Miss You Like Crazy" and "I've Got Love On My Mind". When her seminal album Unforgettable...With Love came out in 1991, it set a new standard for the Great American Songbook with its title track "Unforgettable" on which she partnered with her late father, the legendary Nat "King" Cole, for a posthumous duet. The CD spent five weeks at No. 1, sold more than eight million copies in the U.S. alone and garnered six Grammys including Album and Record of the Year. A wine and cheese tasting courtesy of No. 109 Cheese & Wine and reception with a local artist will take place in the lobby from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. This evening of jazz, wine and art is part of the Ridgefield Magazine Broadway & Cabaret Series and the No. 109 Cheese & Wine's Art, Wine & Jazz Series.
Taking a break from recording until 2009 to write an autobiography and focus on other projects, Natalie returned to the studio to make Still Unforgettable, which showcases her supple voice in 14 standards. This time she recorded "Walkin" My Baby Back Home" with her dad thanks to high-tech recording capabilities. Other classics on the album include "Nice 'N Easy", "The Best is Yet To Come" and "Come Rain or Come Shine". Every single one of these songs was a challenge to sing because the original performances are so iconic," Cole says. So she and her co-producer enlisted the A-list of arrangers including John Clayton, Patrick Williams, Nan Schwartz and Vince Vanacore, all of whom paid homage to the originals while creating something fresh and new.
For tickets ($135 orchestra, $125 mezzanine/balcony), call the box office at (203) 438-5795, or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT, ridgefieldplayhouse.org.


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Thursday, March 5, 2009
My ABC's
So here we go!!
A - Age: 33 and 3/4. My birthday is July 2nd. I'm giving you plenty of advance warning to get me the perfect gift!!
B - Bed size: King. And I am spoiled FOREVER now! I love my husband, but I am not a snuggler. All I want when I sleep is my own personal space. He still doesn't quite get it after almost 12 years of being married to me.
C - Chore you hate: All of them. Seriously. But toilets are the worst! BLECH
D - Dad's Name: William
E - Essential start your day item: Coffee. Buckets of it.
F - Favorite tv show?: Big Love. If you don't watch it, you need to! It is SO good!
G - Gold or Silver: I don't care if it's out of fashion--I love Yellow Gold. Always have.
H - Height: YOU NEVER ASK A LADY'S HEIGHT! What? Oh... I'm 5'5.
I - Instruments you play(ed): Violin and piano with proficiency, but in college I had to learn how to play every single instrument in order to get my Bachelor of Music. Marimba, clarinet, trumpet (which I really sucked at, but my teacher told me not to feel bad--I have a faulty embouchure), trap set (which I sucked at even worse than trumpet and I didn't have an anatomical flaw)--you name it--I learned how to play it!
J - Job title: Domestic Diva, Houseblogger, and Midget's Mom
K - Kid(s): Midget and the Wieners
L- Living arrangement: Have I told you I love my house? I love it so much! It has an open floor plan on the ground floor and small rooms upstairs (except the Master), so both hubby and I were pleased.
M - Mom's name: Same as my real name.
N - Nicknames: Carrie, Care, Care-bear, The Ice Queen, and Mouth.
O - Overnight hospital stays other than birth: None yet.
P - Pet Peeve: People who always need some sort of fake crisis going on in their lives to feel alive. I can't stand the drama!!
Q - Quotes you like: "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson Quite timely, eh??
R - Right or left handed: Right handed. A violin teacher of mine once told me to do everyday things with your non-dominant hand to help improve your dexterity. I still brush my teeth with my left hand!
S - Siblings: Three sisters and one brother--all over the country! One sister is in Houston, TX, another sister is in Helena, MT, and one sister is in Denver, CO. My younger brother is in Oklahoma City, OK.
T - Time you wake up: Whenever my screaming alarm clock named Midget wails loud enough to drag my sorry a** out of bed. Usually between 7:30 or 8:30.
U- Ultimate Dessert: I'm not a big dessert eater, though you wouldn't know it by looking at me. In fact, I can't really think of anything I really love. Do Swedish Fish count??
V - Vegetable you dislike: I don't like bell peppers or tomatoes very much, but I eat them. The only vegetable I refuse to eat is Beet Greens. GROSS!!
W - Ways you run late: Pretty much all ways and always. I am always at least 10 minutes late to everything and if I tell someone I am always 10 minutes late, then I'm 10 minutes late past the 10 minutes late I was already going to be! Speaking of late, I still haven't sent out the interview questions to the people who said "interview me." I haven't forgotten--I'm just doing it on "Carrie" Time.
X - X-rays you've had: In 8th grade, I broke my collarbone skiing. That's the only X-ray I've ever had.
Y - Yummy food you make: I love to cook, so I make lots of good stuff!
Z - Zoo Animal: Have you ever watched the seals snort? It's terrifically entertaining!
Okay, so now it's your turn to do your ABC's!! Play along if you want--I won't break your knuckles if you don't.
9 comments:
- Brandy said...
Let's see...A- I'll be 33 next week, G- Me too!, M- Mom & I share middle names, and I LOVE the quote. Love, love, love it. Can you say mortgage bailout?!?!
Highly entertaining before 9 this morning.{{applause}}
- March 6, 2009 at 8:52 AM
- Dr. Wifey said...
that's awesome that you can play so many instruments!
- March 6, 2009 at 9:20 AM
- Deanna said...
Birthday present? Hmmmm... the best one I can think of is an airplane ticket to come see me!!!
- March 6, 2009 at 11:03 AM
- Annikke said...
How fun is that! I may have to do this sometime next week. Right now, I am off to find me a bucket of coffee -- does Starbucks sell a bucket o' joe?? They need to!
- March 6, 2009 at 11:41 AM
- Christy said...
Swedish fish definitely count.
Your nicknames are hilarious. :)
- March 6, 2009 at 1:09 PM
- annaliese said...
I am so going to try brushing my teeth left handed! great list!
- March 6, 2009 at 4:01 PM
- Amie said...
that snorting thing was rather wild!
- March 7, 2009 at 12:24 AM
Fun meme, but far too long for my ant-sized attention span.
You're so funny! But, whaddya mean you don't like beet greens?? That's one of my fav; I like that you can eat the whole darn beet, leaves and roots!
- March 7, 2009 at 10:19 PM
- theArthurClan said...
This was so fun Carrie! I might just need to copy you on this one...
- March 14, 2009 at 2:50 PM


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This girl was one of my very first hoop inspirations when I started a few years back. Awhile ago she mentioned that she was finished making tutorials - but - I am thrilled to see that she is back with a trick I have been hoping to master for some time now: the knee reversal.
She breaks it down wonderfully and has just inspired me to get my hoop and give this a try!
Welcome back BlueTornado.


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Lately I've been playing with wallets. And by "playing", I mean I've been making a bunch of them, trying to figure out the best way to do it: sizes, layers, ways to not kill my sewing machine, that kind of thing.
I started by following directions from a variety of websites, including the card wallet on the Warehouse Fabrics Inc. site. There were a couple other sites as well. I jotted down notes from them all and made a wallet.
Um, okay. Outside works. Inside is not great. Everything was really super loose and floppy. Adapt!
I reduced some of the cutting sizes and added lightweight fusible interfacing. Here's the second one I made:
The first wallet had the card pockets turned 90 degrees and my cards kept falling out. Not good. So I figured out how to re-do it with the cards this way. Very scrappy, kind of fun, not as floppy, … but killer to tackle on my basic domestic sewing machine. I'm still using this wallet, so it is functional, but it definitely needed to evolve. Adapt!
But someone really liked it, and asked if I could make one for her. This photo shows the inside of the wallet I made:
Hmm, we're really getting somewhere now. The cards stay put in the card pockets. Heavier interfacing adds a good level of stiffness. But my machine almost cried every time I made one like this (and I made at least five this way, so I was really pushing it). Adapt!
And, finally, I think I have a wallet design I like, that doesn't threaten my sewing machine's existence, that is kind of fun to make. It's not as scrappy, because those extra double layers in the card pockets made a huge difference to my sewing machine and needle. I also widened the tab. The heavyweight interfacing is cut smaller so I don't catch it in the initial stitch-around. And I figured out where to stitch down the hook tape on the outside piece, so I can do it on the sewing machine instead of by hand (after the wallet was fully assembled). I think this is the design I'm sticking with:
Unless, of course, I need to change it again. Which I did. My sewing student expressed interest in making a small wallet next, and at 12 or 13 she really doesn't need space for that many cards or a checkbook register. Adapt!
I thought this came out rather well. I had just enough of this cat fabric left from some small purses I had made earlier. It's slightly more than half the width of the standard wallet. Someone could carry a few cards, and cash or receipts or other flat things in the pocket on the right.
Another possible future adaptation is using magnetic snaps instead of hook and loop tape. I've ordered some and am awaiting their arrival, and I have a wallet mostly done that just needs those closures to complete. Then I'll decide which type of closure I prefer, and go from there. Or maybe I'll just use both. We'll see. That's the wonderful thing about sewing, you can keep adapting as the need and desire requires. 🙂


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The Merit Brass one-piece unibody ball valve is made of stainless steel 316 and has a lever handle and female National Pipe Taper (NPT) threaded connections on both ends. This stainless steel 316 valve, which is higher strength and more corrosion resistant than stainless steel 304, has a lever handle with a vinyl sleeve for manual on/off control. The unibody construction and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) reinforced seats and seals reduce the risk of valve leakage. The maximum pressure is 800 pounds per square inch (gauge) (psig) for use with water, oil, and gas (WOG) and the working temperature range is 0 - 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The valve is inline for connecting two pipes going in the same direction and has NPT threads on both ends for creating tighter seals than straight threads. This ball valve is standard (or reduced or regular) port for reduced valve size and cost and is for use with water lines, processing plants, and agricultural applications.
Ball valves use a spherical disc to control the flow between pipes, tubes, or hoses. Flow is allowed when the hole that pierces the ball-shaped disc is in line with the inlet and outlet of the valve. Flow is blocked when the ball is horizontally swiveled 90 degrees, so that the hole of the ball is perpendicular to the opening of the valve. Ball valves can be referred to as full port or reduced port (also known as regular or standard port) depending on the inner diameter of the valve. A ball valve is full port if the hole of the ball is the same size as the inner diameter of the connecting pipeline (resulting in lower friction) and is reduced port if the hole of the valve is one pipe size smaller than the pipe, resulting in less flow through the valve than through the shaft of the pipe. Ball valves may have a handle or lever that aligns with the ball's position (open or closed) for manual operation. They are primarily used in air, gas, liquid, and steam applications.
Merit Brass manufactures pipe nipples following ISO 9001 standards for quality assurance. The company, family-owned since 1937 and headquartered in Cleveland, OH, distributes pipe fittings in the United States and Canada.


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'GaragePointer' is the name of a new service that makes it possible for users to share or rent out excess garage storage space.
The service is expected to be a hit among car collectors who simply find themselves short on space, although there is also room for garage-seekers who could use a bit of extra storage space for their personal items. As of now, the service is currently only operating in California, Oregon and Washington, although there are plans for expansion in the coming summer months. There are also future plans to offer insurance policies to both parties involved in the shared rental service.
The sharing economy has inspired the creation of everything from P2P delivery services to shared vehicle insurance plans, making it possible for all parties involved to enjoy the benefits of shared ownership.
Garage Rental Services
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Art Gallery Hotel Suites
Beauty Bartering Platforms
P2P Parcel Pickup Services
Peer-Based Trip Platforms
Overseas Shopping Networks
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'GaragePointer' is Like Airbnb for Shared Garage Storage Spaces
- By: Laura McQuarrieJun 14, 2016
References: garagepointer & blogranddriver
References: garagepointer & blogranddriver


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The best platform to access the details of the particular shop in Sweden
Most of the people are visiting Sweden with their friends and family members to enjoy their holidays in an effective manner. There are many people have fun by watching the new things and by visiting many shops or stores. But it is important to know the opening as well as the closing time of the shop. People will know the best shop and restaurant in that place but they fail to gather other information. This will make them uncomfortable at the time of moving to the required place. Thus, to solve this problem, the technology has made more facilities by introducing the internet facilities. Nearly, many people are highly aware of using the online facilities and that makes them more comfortable. The expert person has introduced the most powerful application in online and that will help the user to gain all essential information easily. This application will provide entire information of the shop or store within a short period of time. Thus, this application is easy to download and that makes the user reach the destination place easily with the help of the map. Öppettider Stockholm can also identify by using this mobile application which is easy to access and helps people to reach at the right time.
Know the timing of the shop
Even, this advanced technology can be used as an application in mobile devices as well as it can be directly accessed through the website. Öppettider Stockholm will make people understand the timing of the shop and that saves their entire time. Moreover, this application will help the user by providing a list of companies and even the user can make their searches in a particular category wise. This application can be easily downloaded on the mobile devices with many extraordinary features. Thus, it helps people to completely save their time by gathering the required information of a particular company rather than searching for a long time in Google. This is considered as the most useful Sweden's app which makes the user collect the entire information of the required company. Search through the online site and gather all the details in an advanced manner.