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View all of our photos in our Christmas album here!
Death is Nothing at All
It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever…
- 2018, Awesomeness, Birthday, Dan, Drink, Family, Gratitude, Grieving, JD, Joy, Leah, Memories, Raine
Simple Pleasures – October 2018
Let's Play Some Random Catch-Up … Pretty unexpected but Raine loved it — Cheering on a golf game at the country club reception following Great Grandma Karpiak's funeral. Read her obituary here. Highlights of that family gathering included Raine getting a chance to play with his cousins — Pictured here: JD on guitar and Bennett on drums. Raine asks us to play nerf basketball with him everyday all day. This particular afternoon, he wanted to increase the difficulty of a three point shot. That meant piling items upon himself? I celebrated my 38th birthday with lots of messages and love from all of the wonderful people in my life.…
for robyn I am grabbing at life today silhouettes of dogwood, white ash, and tulip poplar a delirious pleasure the light through the trees illuminates particles i know we are the dust of it all. harper can smell the fragments in green blades, smoke, and vermin miles away. her dark wet nose and keen mind will know up to forty feet what is buried below the ground only she knows what is stale in the rafts and scurf the biological richness of my human debris. isn't the devastation and the trauma of grief tangled into the molecules the bits and seeds of me? we share the bed now and i…
Eureka Lake Road
September's fields of tall, crisp stalks are like dry soldiers martyred by harvest— Their innards, tender and warm produce reveal robust kernels or rot— the industry of cutworms, beetles, borers. Tassels are fingered by hurried youth unloaded from yellow, sticky buses their bundled glands pumping sweat into drenched long sleeves and socks. At the lake, the basin is scorched, undressed by drought. Groups of family geese with black necks and white cheeks stagger across the cracks in the mud bed and huddle as they honk. Their chests and bellies protrude, hovering over the dried membranes of their feet. They will decide to go—take flight in their groups. Yet it is…
On September 18th, four years ago, incurable cancer became a part of our story. I had to write about it in order to cope. Writing felt like the air I needed to breathe. On September 8th, only one year ago, the remains of my beloved mother were sealed inside a niche in a columbarium at Glendale Cemetary in Washington. It had been eight months since her death. At the time, I couldn't write about this. I have been bereft and I have been silent. I would like to try to find my way into a new space of writing. I'm not sure what that will mean, but I do…
Father's Day 2018
Happy Father's Day to my amazing husband, Dan Herzing. I am a dork and signed Raine and Dan up for a Father-Son Basketball Camp at Eureka College without even thinking about the fact that Dan has only one reliable lung, vertigo, and a recent complete shoulder replacement. It didn't stop him from attending today, doing the best he could, and not even caring that he might have looked a little awkward and funny to all the other dads. Since his S4 diagnosis in 2014, we have been blessed with FOUR Father's Days together. Raine will someday know how utterly amazing this is. For now, he was just happy to…
Bone Scanxiety
Dan hadn't caught up mentally and I saw he was disappointed. Why an x-ray? It's just his leg falling asleep when he is in bed at night – probably because of a pinched nerve in his back. However, I understood what Dr. Piers wasn't directly saying–check the spine for cancer. I made the decision in a split second. "I want the x-ray." Get it done. In the meantime, Dr. Piers prescribed Gabapentin at a low dose to try at bedtime for the pain. At this point, I don't care that we are adding one more ingredient to his pharmaceutical cocktail. So be it. I am vehement that Dan gets better sleep.…
Dan's 41st Birthday
- 2018, Awesomeness, Chicago, Flowers, Hattie, Illinois, Life Lately, Memories, Nature, Photos, Raine, Travel
Meanwhile Back in January …. The Garfield Conservatory


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I have an air filter and an oil filter that I purchased for a W208 Convertible 2.3 a week before somebody smashed into it and got it wrote off (for surprisingly little damage but insurance companys seem keen to do stuff like this lately).
Anyway. I have a brand new oil and air filter that I have no need for. Anybody want them?
They are not that heavy so I can post them if anybody has a use for them.
Free. Gratis. Nada etc.

subset: commoncrawl


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last week I took ds to a different playground. It had rained earlier and the metal slides were damp. Ds went down a spiral slide; it was very slippery, and he went very fast and... (more)
posted July 21st, 2009 at 5:12pm in Toddler
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Working for us
NHS Providers represents the whole range of NHS public provider trusts, from large acute and specialist hospitals through to community, ambulance and mental health trusts. Our members provide NHS services in hospitals, the community and at home.
As the single voice for NHS public providers, we are recognised for our effective lobbying and influence within government, as a promoter of shared learning, and as a provider of exceptional support and development to our members. We are increasingly the 'go to' organisation for comment and debate on the issues facing providers of NHS services.
We're a busy team of around 40 staff, based in central London.
In a recent survey, nearly two thirds of staff (64%) would 'strongly recommend' NHS Providers as a good place to work. Over 90% of staff felt 'very satisfied' or 'fairly satisfied' with their job.
Benefits of working at NHS Providers include:
- 25 days paid annual leave, plus two additional days at Christmas
- contributory pension scheme and non-contributory life-assurance cover
- interest-free season ticket loan
- professional training and development
- competitive pay
- access to the Employee Assistance Programme, a confidential counselling service
All the information you provide during the application process will be used only for the purpose of progressing your application. For more information please see our privacy policy for recruitment.
Current vacancies
Policy Advisor
We are looking for a policy advisor to join our busy team and lead our work on quality.Find out more


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The art of video production – it can either be a hobby or a source of income. But most of the time, when you end up producing videos to earn for a living, you most probably had started out just for fun or for the curiosity of it. If you decided to pursue a serious career in video production then you must learn the techniques on how to create film and videos effectively.
On a tangential topic for television lighting, this month I wanted to talk about color temperature— not just the basics of "tungsten" and "daylight"—but how we dealt with rapidly varying color temperatures while shooting a reality show….Examining the Evolution of Archives
Every good and successful video production started with a great plan. If you yearn for expanded creative scopes and to add fresh, new and stirring production elements into your video graphs, begin by creating a good plan for your quality video production. Choosing the suitable format, approach and video production elements will give you a real success in this field.Visit my website again for the latest news and tips about video marketing.
Know more news and tips at
- If you want to know more about video marketing, visit – www.rockmanscreativemedia.com.au
- Testimonial Videos – Before you shoot… – WordPress.com


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Coaching Corner 6 - Running between the wickets.
Hopefully, having scored some runs, you want to stay in. The last thing you need is to throw your wicket away (or have someone else throw you wicket away) by being run out.
If batsmen are good at running between the wickets they will score many more runs. They do this by
- Working in pairs and communicating clearly
- Running and turning quickly
- Looking for runs from defensive strokes as well as attacking ones
- Putting pressure on fielders.
Decisive calling is essential. He who hesitates is lost! Call early.
There should only be three words used: "Yes" , " No" and "Wait". If you are not sure, shout "Wait", "Wait" should always be followed by "No" or "Yes" once the decision has been made to run or not to run.
Make sure that the call is loud. Shout so your partner can hear. Don't be shy!
Make sure that you get into the habit of calling. It's not a bad idea to start with to make a call after every ball, even if it is obvious there is no run.
Who calls?
If the ball is played in front of the striker, the striker will call. If the ball goes behind the striker, the non-striker will call because he will have a better view.
Running quickly
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line! Run in a straight line down the side of the pitch. Don't wander onto the middle of the pitch. Not only does it mean that you have not run straight, it is also against the laws of the game. You risk damaging the surface where the ball lands and can be punished by the award of penalty runs to the other side.
Backing-up by the non-striker is vital. As soon as the ball is bowled (but not before!), begin to move towards the striker's end and take a couple of good strides to give yourself a good start. Hold the bat in the hand nearest to the bowler so you can see clearly when the ball is released and know exactly when to move.
Turning is important. Turn quickly and keep low. To get a better view of the ball when you are going for a second or third run, you may have to change hands with the bat. Don't turn "blind". The batsman with the best view of the ball as he turns should call for the next run.
Remember that for a run to count, you must ground the bat behind the line, not on the line. If you don't do this the umpire will call and signal "Short Run" and it won't count.
Remember also when completing a quick run or runs, to slide the bat over the crease at arm's length. Unless the bat or some part of the batsman's person is grounded behind the line, he can be run out. Having the bat over the crease but in the air won't do!
Out - bat in the air.
Out - bat on the line.
Looking for runs and putting pressure on the fielders.
Without taking unnecessary risks, there are plenty of runs to be had from defensive shots if both batsmen are alert and calling quickly. The ball doesn't have hit hard for runs to be scored. There are often gaps in the filed and some fielders are slow to react.
Putting pressure on fielders will force errors. Run aggressively, and always run the first run quickly. It's surprising how many ones van be turned into twos of you do this. Likewise twos can be turned into threes. Don't dawdle!


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A few more finished projects - Worsted wool tassels. The large pair are for use as girdle tassels and have a bullion skirt and hand-spun silk gimp for the knots. The little tassel is for a paternoster; again, with hand-spun silk gimp knot. Of course, black just doesn't photograph well, but you get the idea.
Below, is a silk tablet woven ribbon, its eventual use will be to trim a tunic circa 1180s - originally a fully brocaded ribbon was wanted, but the timescales are too tight for that, so the threaded-in design using golden yellow silk was decided on. This was lovely to work with everything else I have been worrying about. My husband likes this band better than anything else I've done (looks like I finally know what to weave for him to use as a guitar strap then...)


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Last week, our blog discussed how the nation's capital saw a rather large profit this past fiscal year -- $84.9 million to be exact -- thanks to so-called traffic camera enforcement, meaning both red light cameras and speed cameras. However, we also discussed how area motorists were less than thrilled with this trend, calling it nothing more than a backdoor commuter tax designed to generate revenue for the cash-strapped city.
In recent developments Washington, D.C. mayor Vincent Gray, likely seeking to change this perception, announced last week that motorists caught speeding in the city would now pay reduced fines for speeding.
Specifically, speeding tickets are being reduced by the following amounts:
- A citation for traveling up to ten miles-per-hour over the speed limit will be reduced from $75 to $50
- A citation for traveling 11 to 15 miles-per-hour over the speed limit will be reduced from $125 to $100
The fine for driving 16 to 25 miles-per-hour over the speed limit will remain anywhere from $150 to $200, while the fine for driving more than 25 miles-per-hour over the speed limit will actually increase to $300.
Gray stated that the ticket reductions were made after receiving "lots of feedback" and that they are designed to "improve fairness while continuing to ensure and improve public safety."
Critics note, however, that even though the amount charged for speeding tickets has been reduced, the city is still projected to earn an additional $3.5 million in unbudgeted revenue from traffic cameras over the next fiscal year.
Perhaps even more significant, they say, is the fact that the reduction in the amount charged for speeding tickets will only apply to one type of ticket issued by the much-loathed speeding cameras.
Specifically, only motorists captured on film traveling 11 to 15 miles-per-hour over the speed limit will see the prices of tickets reduced from $125 to $100.
Stay tuned updates for more from our New York traffic law blog ...
If you or a loved one has received a speeding ticket or traffic citation, don't just dismiss it.
Instead, consider contacting an attorney who understands New York's confusing legal system, and who can help you evaluate your options and make the right decisions.
This post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
The Washington Post, "Some fines for speeding in the District to be reduced," Mike DeBonis, Nov. 2, 2012


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Stitch Fix #6
It's been a while since I was able to justify getting a Fix due to Chri.stmas bills and Baby Z's hospital bills. I got a couple of referral credits (yay!) over the past few months, and I decided I could get a box, so I ordered one up!
I changed up my profile a little bit, sadly needing to update my measurements. (I'm working on that post) I also redid my pinterest board and pinned things from the SF pinterest boards that I like as well as some other random picks from fashion boards.
I got the same stylist, Dani again even though I didn't specifically ask for her. I was curious to see if she would be assigned to me, or if I'd end up with a different stylist. Happily, it was her!
With no further ado, the contents of my Fix:
Bancroft Yara Stone Layering Necklace - $34
I like this, but I say that I don't want any accessories in my fix. I think the reason why I got this is that I changed the price level on accessories from blank to "the cheaper the better", so that must have triggered something in the algorithm to suggest a necklace. Anyway, it's really pretty and even though I wouldn't spend that much money on costume jewelry (always trolling clearance and thrift stores for necklaces and scarves), I thought I could keep it if I liked the rest of the box.
Skies are Blue Arca Henley Blouse - $58
Love this top! It's tunic length on me and really comfortable. I had asked for something like a tunic that I can wear with leggings and this fit the bill. The color is closest to the hanging pictures I took, kind of a purple-y blue. The picture I took of myself wearing it didn't really turn out that well. I don't think it looks like a sack when I'm wearing it IRL because the fabric flows so easily.
41Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse - $58
Perfect neutral blouse for work. Love this. I paired it with the Tart blazer from my last Fix, and the necklace from this Fix to see how it looked in an outfit. Sold!
Market & Spruce Corinna Striped Dolman Top - $48
I've seen this in a couple of other people's SF reviews and really liked it. I didn't specifically ask for it, but man am I glad Dani chose it for me! It's super soft and comfy and I can see wearing it often.
Liverpool Reagan Skinny Pant - $88
This is a closeup of the pants I'm wearing in all of my pictures. They're dark gray but this picture is lighter because I used a flash to show the pattern. The pants are really comfortable, except that they were a little snug. I was going to put up with the snugness, after all, I plan on losing the extra weight I'm carrying. BUT, one of the most important fashion rules I learned by watching What Not to Wear (back in the day) is that you buy clothes that fit now, not in the future. So, I e-mailed SF on Saturday to ask about exchanging the pants for the next size up. By the end of the day, they had located the larger size and given me instructions for the exchange. That's some pretty sweet customer service!
The Verdict:
The entire box = KEPT! There really wasn't anything in the box that I put on and thought, nah....I don't like this. Plus, between the referral credits and the gift card I got as incentive to fill out a health survey through my health insurance, I get a pretty sizeable discount on top of the 25% for buying the whole shebang.
Interested in checking out Stitch Fix? Here's my bullet list of suggestions for getting a good Fix. And here's my referral link (yes, I get $25 credit when you order your first fix)
- Completely fill out the style profile
- Take your measurements (no cheating!) and put them in your style profile in the box they provide for comments
- In the comment box on the style profile also include why you can't wear certain fabrics, or don't want certain colors. For example, I've received a couple of wool blends that had very little wool, but even 5% wool makes me itch. So, this past time I wrote that I could not wear any amount of wool, and no wool showed up
- Make a pinterest board as SF suggests and update it everytime you schedule a fix
- Post pics of your fix on FB - it's gotten me a couple referrals!
- When you check out, be specific about why you do or don't like an item
- Don't give up if the first few fixes aren't awesome. It takes a while to get it dialed in


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Call To Book
The Residences at The Little Nell are exclusive private residences. Located next to the Silver Queen Gondola these two-three- and four-bedroom residences offer direct ski-in/ski-out access to legendary Aspen Mountain. Each residence seamlessly blends dramatic mountain-inspired architecture and thoughtful interior design with exceptional handcrafted finishes and exquisite custom furnishings. Floor plans take the best of The Little Nells inviting guest rooms and translate them into luxurious living spaces ranging between 2500 to 4450 square feet. Large exterior decks and balconies invite guests to bring the great Colorado outdoors indoors. Our residence hotel rooms have high ceilings either one king or two queen beds and are on the street or courtyard level. The room and bath finishes are similar to individual residences.


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Some images from the Max.Tan 2010-2011 Autumn/Winter collection:
The Max.Tan people describe their designs as "androgyneous meets soft geometry" and "experimenting with quirk". I think it is quite lovely how the pieces essentially erase the model or wearer's own form and create an entirely new one. The individual doesn't wear the clothes; the clothes definitely wear the individual.
Max.Tan says that the "sobriety" - the black and white palette of the collection - is "interrupted by unexpected twists in the designs". I dig that.
You can also check out Max.Tan's currently 2010 Spring/Summer collection wherein they try to think of all the different and abstract ways you can design 'the white shirt'. Don't look too hard at the model though - she's uber skinny and thus a little freaky. (Too-thin is not IN, Singapore...)


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Gender Role Ideology Development Factors
Participants will participate in the study online, beginning with an informed consent document. Those who agree to participate will complete a demographic questionnaire and 110 questions from five previously validated survey questionnaires, which should take no more than 25-30 minutes to complete.
As a token of our appreciation, participants will be able to enter a raffle to win one of four $50 gifts. You must be 18 years or older to participate. To take the study, please follow this link:
If you have any questions about this study, you may contact the investigators, Dr. Ronald Levant (firstname.lastname@example.com); 330-972-5496) or Dr. Ryon McDermott (firstname.lastname@example.com); 251-380-2738).
This project has been reviewed and approved by The University of Akron Institutional Review Board (#20140701). IRB can be reached at (330) 972-7666.


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Made MyselfBranding
Rees & Company designed some seriously tasty packaging for a gorgeous new range of healthy, freshly prepared meals by Made Myself. The utensil graphics cleverly leverage the home-made nature of the products, while the choice of colours evokes a cosy, country kitchen feel. The labels for the different meals echo this, giving a tantalising description of the delights inside coupled with a quirky graphic of the main ingredient. Mouth-watering!


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31 May How To Start An Online Business In Missouri
Before the advent of the Internet, starting a business was a whole lot harder. You usually had to have a lot of startup capital in order to buy inventory or equipment and to rent a physical location where you could set up shop. The Internet completely changed all of that, however. Nowadays, it is possible to start a business from anywhere with very little money. If you live in Missouri and are thinking about starting your own online business, try using these tips:
1. Decide what type of business you want to run. There are a couple of different options. First, you could sell products to consumers online. These could be products that you buy and resell for a profit or products that you make by hand. Alternatively, you could offer services. For instance, you could build websites for people or do their bookkeeping, depending on where your skills lie. Another option is to make money passively by building a website that gets a lot of traffic and earning money from the ad revenue.
2. Find out what the legal requirements are for the business that you choose. Certain types of businesses require special licenses to operate legally within the state of Missouri. If you are selling products, you may also need to apply for a sales tax permit so that you can collect and remit sales tax to the state. You will need to do quite a bit of research to make sure that your business is in compliance with state laws.
3. Build a website. No matter what type of business you are running, you need to have a beautifully designed website if you want to succeed online. If you don't have web design skills of your own, consider outsourcing the project to a qualified web designer. Although having a site built can be somewhat expensive, it is generally money well spent. Presenting yourself professionally online will make it easier for you to get customers and clients, helping you to grow your business.
4. Get the word out about your business. Take advantage of every opportunity to promote your business. Don't forget about social media since it can be a powerful way to connect with potential customers. Whether you opt for paid advertising, search engine optimization, email marketing, or any other type of advertising, you should track your expenses carefully so that you can make sure you are getting a good ROI.
As long as you stick to these tips, you should be able to get your business up and running before you know it, allowing you to earn a good living from home in Missouri.


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Archétype Informatique SARL web design, 12 place Balmigère, 11200 Camplong d'Aude, Aude, France. Tél. (France) 04 68 43 52 38
Category Archives: Web development
Overriding PHP.INI
It's a while since I've needed to override the php.ini file on a per-site basis, and I hadn't realised that since PHP 5.3, the process has changed slightly. Now, if you want a local ini file to be read, you … Continue reading
Cherry pickin'
Oops. Made a change in the wrong branch of my git repository. Of course I knew there had to be an easy way of merging that one commit into the right branch, and there is. How to do it in … Continue reading
git: revert a single file to a specific revision
Turns out to be quite easy: Identify the hash of the revision you want to revert to, e.g. abc123 At the command prompt, type: git checkout abc123 path/to/file Why would I need to do this? Don't ask But I definitely … Continue reading
Automatically updating a WordPress blogroll
Years ago, I signed up to a social bookmarking system called Spurl. I'm really not interested in social bookmarking, but it had a handy feature: by inserting a bit of Javascript in a web page, you could pull all or … Continue reading
Book review: PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide, 4th Edition by Larry Ullman
I bought PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide (4th Edition) to use as a set book for an online intermediate PHP class that I teach. I previously used Web Database Applications with PHP & MySQL by … Continue reading
Accessing virtual hosts across a LAN
Like many web developers, I have a local Apache/MySQL/PHP setup for developing sites. To ensure maximum compatibility with live servers, I set up a virtual host for each site. That way I know all paths will work. For example, on … Continue reading
ADODB database abstraction library for PHP
I've been using this library for years to make my database interface code database-independent, but I am still discovering new useful functions. Case in point: today I was using the handy rs2csv function, which outputs a recordset to a CSV … Continue reading
Preventing hotlinking of images
Using an .htaccess file to prevent people stealing bandwidth by linking directly to your images from another website is a popular and well-known technique. I needed to do this, but decided to take it a step further with a little … Continue reading
Who knew Javascript could be fun?
It gave me migraines till I discovered jQuery. Now I can validate a form with some simple CSS and a couple of lines of jQuery code. And today I had a rather odd requirement to toggle the colour of cells … Continue reading
Chocs To Go is here!
The goal for students on the intermediate PHP and MySQL course that I'm running for IWA/HWG is to create a working shopping cart. The course starts in only three days, and I decided I'd better walk the walk and prove … Continue reading


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Our new update paper demystifies blockchain technology!
Even among industry experts, the blockchain concept is still shrouded in mystery. Many are probably familiar with the basic idea of blockchain technology and its relationship to cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, but only a few are able to explain it in just a few words. In issue eight of our update paper, we do just that.
This is a tremendous growth market that has developed rapidly in the past four years. Whereas investment in this segment amounted to less than $70 million in 2013, investment in the first half of 2017 alone totalled more than 1.2 billion dollars! And it is already becoming clear that the technology will have an impact on all segments of the economy. In the automotive industry, for example, blockchain initiatives are serving to simplify tracking of parts and verification of vehicle origin, while helping streamline logistical processes. In the financial and insurance sector, such initiatives are optimizing contractual agreements, clearing, settlement of claims and accounting. And in the media world, they are helping achieve transparency in pricing and shortening the value chain. As such, blockchain is quickly becoming a key driver of digital transformation. Our new update paper provides all the details.
In this series, we regularly convey knowledge in compact form on current trends in the areas of digital marketing, technology and communication. Past topics have included virtual and augmented reality , targeted content and native advertising. Oh, and one more thing! We had promised to explain blockchain in just a few words. The term quite literally refers to a "chain of transaction blocks". These chains serve as special databases, which can manage transaction data in a fully transparent way without requiring a central supervisory authority or even mutual trust.


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CORONA, CA - Another innovation is winding its way toward HPBExpo, scheduled for March 5-7 in Nashville.
The latest comes from Earth's Flame with a product called Grill 'N Glow. Company officials are calling it the "first ever portable fire-pit and BBQ in one, great for family outings, tailgating parties, beach parties, and camping."
The Grill 'N Glow (patent pending) is manufactured by Earth's Flame, sister company to Blue Flame, pioneers in the hearth industry for more than 60 years.


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|We Deliver with DHL and UKMail
|Flowers delivered by LOCAL FLORISTS
Founded in 1780 and produced at Midleton Distillery Co Cork by John Jameson and Son Today Jameson Irish Whiskey is world famous for its distinctive flavour and smooth characteristics. Natural irish ingredients are triple distilled and oak aged to give this smooth whiskey.Alcohol Volume- 40 % Bottle Size- 70 cl Type- Whiskey Country Of Origin- Ireland EAN- 5011007003005 Brand- Jamesons
Uk Delivery-
Next day Delivery available, Order by 4:00pm
(More info on delivery.)
Named Day Delivery-
Pick the day you want us to deliver, and we will arrange it, at no extra cost.
(we cannot be held responsible if no one is home to take a delivery)
International Delivery-
We send worldwide with DHL so we can track your order door to door.


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September 14, 2008 07:53:00
Fandom: SGA
Characters: Rodney/Radek
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language, slight whump, slash
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Summary: Things are different on Earth.
Author's Note: Takes place during The Return. Rodney-Radek bickering is presently my favorite thing in the whoooole world.
"Finally! There you are! What are you idiots doing? Let go of him and get back to your rent-a-coping." Rodney is all bluster and noise, and for a single second that's so familiar that Radek's mind twists it into comfort. He shakes the swell of warmth out of his stomach.
Still, at least the two men in the suits and dark glasses, radios in their ears and blank expressions on their faces, release Radek's arms. He glares at them, twisting his head over his shoulder as they step back into the elevator that goes to the surface, straightening his shirt and his glasses.
Not that it matters. Rodney is there, just like that, grabbing Radek's upper arm and dragging him forward, mouth going a million miles an hour, "What, did you stop at every duty free on the way here? Time management is every bit as important here as it was on Atlantis, you know."
Radek attempts to stop, and, that failing, then tries to twist out of Rodney's hold. Neither attempt is successful, and he finds himself being pulled down unfamiliar gray corridors, other scientists jumping out of their way. The poor souls already look cowed, and Radek does his best to resist the quick upward quirk of his lips.
Rodney opens his mouth again, and Radek finally manages to cut him off, "What are you doing?"
Rodney turns his head, shooting Radek a disgusted, scornful, look. He still hasn't taken his hand off of Radek's arm, fingers warm and strong. Rodney's voice is as sharp as his expression, "Trying to get you caught up on the bare essentials of what you missed. I don't have time to—"
"Rodney!" Radek reaches out, grabbing one of the door jams as they pass it, holding on. For a long moment Rodney keeps pulling on him, and then the man relents, rolling his eyes, virtually dripping impatience. It's almost enough to make Radek forget that he had at no point agreed to come here. Almost.
"What?" Rodney is crossing his arms, and Radek's skin feels cold where the other man's hand had been.
Radek squares his shoulders up, crossing his arms right back at Rodney, glaring at him from behind his glasses. He speaks slowly, just to push Rodney's buttons, "Why am I in the United States, Rodney? My family is—"
Rodney waves a hand, batting the words away, interrupting, "Please, you don't even like your family. If you were there you'd just be rotting what was left of your brain away with that swill you call alcohol. Besides, you always wanted to see Area 51."
Radek opens his mouth. Closes it again. Rodney beams at him expectantly, and, damnit, hopefully. Radek raises one hand, pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes closed when he says, "I did not." He looks up, holding onto the fraying line of his righteous indignation, "Rodney, you cannot just have your goons snatch people from—"
The look on Rodney's face makes Radek stop. For just a second there's something a lot like fear in Rodney's expression, his mouth dipping more severely than usual on one side. It's not an expression that Radek is comfortable seeing on Rodney's face. It makes his stomach and chest do unpleasant things. Radek sighs, dragging his hand back through his hair.
For a long moment they just stare at each other, and Radek thinks about how lonely he'd felt on the plane, the vague sense of empty loss eating its way through his gut while he sat in the airport lobby, right before Rodney's hired grunts had showed up to manhandle Radek onto a private jet.
Finally, Radek rolls his eyes, releasing his grip on the door jam. He says, "Fine, fine. Someone must make sure you do not blow up the planet, in any case. Tell me what you have done," and Rodney looks so relieved for just a second, before he's hurrying down the hall, explaining as he walks.
Radek decides, almost immediately, that there's no way his snatching was anything other than premeditated. Rodney already has him a spot set up in the labs, an apartment in town, a car, a bank account, everything. The fact that Miko shows up a few days after him, looking confused and a little lost while two men in suits escort her into the labs, makes Radek feel a little better.
They're it, the only ones that Rodney bothers tracking down and bringing here. It's flattering, in its own twisted, McKay, slightly insane, way.
Radek is almost surprised by how well they fall into the odd synergy they'd had in Atlantis. He thinks perhaps he shouldn't be. They all understand each other, he and Miko capable of grasping what Rodney is thinking when so few others are, Rodney able to take their ideas and shape them into impossible, wonderful, sometimes terrible, things.
Two weeks of working in the labs, and Radek finds himself grateful for his capture, relieved that he stayed when he could have left. He thinks, some days, that this might have been the only place on Earth where he would have still fit.
Miko corners Radek outside the men's bathrooms one day. She's looking stubborn and determined, and Radek attempts to duck back into the bathroom. She grabs his arm, dragging him back out, all surprising strength and a set expression on her face. Radek sighs, giving up.
She says, when Radek stops struggling, "He is not sleeping."
Radek blinks at her, and then looks over her shoulder to make sure no one is around to overhear them. He asks, "When did he ever sleep?" and Miko just stares at him, lips pursed, gaze expectant behind her glasses. Radek has no idea what she expects him to do about it.
Miko says, so matter of a fact that it takes Radek by surprise, "He is lonely."
Radek opens his mouth to protest that, and then closes it. Because, really, aside from himself and Miko, Radek isn't sure Rodney talks to anyone. Oh, he yells at plenty of people. Usually at great length. But that's not a conversation, certainly not enough to replace the friendships Rodney had formed with his team back on Atlantis.
Miko reaches out, touching Radek's elbow, her eyes dark and concerned. Radek sighs again, straightening his glasses and squaring up his shoulders. He finally manages, "I will see what I can do," and she nods, patting his arm again and hurrying back down to the labs.
Really, they have to look out for each other. That was, he thinks now, what Rodney had been doing when he brought them here. He had understood before they had, the frustrating way he always seemed to. If they don't take care of each other, Radek thinks no one else will.
Radek says, "Come, you must eat." And Rodney blinks up at him, brows drawing together in confusion. There are dark circles under Rodney's eyes. He's pale from all the time he spends down here in the labs, without even the warm Lantean sun to occasionally stand under.
Rodney sounds distracted, "What? No. I had," he waves a hand at the trashcan, "an MRE earlier. I have to finish—"
Waiting for Rodney to properly explain what he thinks he has to do could take most of the night. Radek is disinclined to wait right now, saving the programs and closing the computer while Rodney curses him and tries to grab his hands.
Radek says, Rodney scowling and gearing up for a full blown explosion, "The food is very good."
That brings Rodney up short. He blinks, tilting his head to the side, saying after a moment with his eyes narrowed, "No, no it really isn't. I've had it. Even by my somewhat lenient standards and appreciation for bland food, it in no way qualifies as 'good'." He makes the air quotations. Of course he does.
Radek rolls his eyes, grabbing the back of Rodney's chair and pushing him out of the room. He says, Rodney putting his feet down and almost tipping both of them over, "I did not say the food here." And for a long, long, moment Rodney doesn't say a word.
And then he says, "Oh," turning to look at Radek, confusion written all over his expression. Radek doesn't feel like giving Rodney more time to think about it, so he merely pushes on the back of the chair again, tipping it over while Rodney curses at him.
They end up at a steakhouse.
The food is good.
The fifth time Radek drags Rodney out to eat, the man looks up over the slice of chocolate cake he's eating and says, "Elizabeth called today." Radek feels something in his chest go still, setting down his own spoon, his mouth cold from the ice cream he'd been eating.
He asks, after a moment, watching Rodney methodically smash his cake down flat, "How was she?"
Rodney makes a face, waving his fork around, and then dropping it, pressing his hands up over his face instead. For a half second Radek is sure the other man is going to weep, and it's so utterly disturbing that he starts to stand up.
But then Rodney puts his hands in his lap, tilting his dry face up towards the ceiling, shaking his head. Rodney says, sounding tired and worn out, "Fine. She's fine. She can't come down here. She's too..." he cuts himself off with a wave of his hand, shoving his dessert plate away, grabbing his wine glass and slamming the rest of the alcohol back.
Radek says, "Ah," thinking about her pretty face, dark eyes, the sharp slant of her nose and jaw.
Rodney looks to the side, waving at the waiter, all stiff irritation when he says, "I have to get back to the labs," and for just this one time, Radek doesn't try to argue him out of it. Radek just nods, taking a last bite of his ice cream.
The first time something goes wrong, because Radek is sure that there will be other times, there always are, the entire base is almost destroyed. He's not used to the way all the other people panic, running around and getting in the way while Rodney shoulders his way through the masses, moving people aside more with his voice than anything else.
Radek moves in the wake Rodney leaves, Miko a step behind him, feeding Rodney the information he's bellowing for. Already the temperature is rising, sparks showering down on them from above as one of the fluorescent lights explodes.
The other scientists scream, some of them dropping down to cower right in the hallway. Radek tries to remember if he was ever like them, unsure if he should be pitying or disgusted by the way they fold up, sobbing, pleading for salvation.
A man grabs onto Rodney, blubbering uselessly, blood streaming down his temple, and Rodney snaps, "Jesus fuck! I don't have time for this bullshit!" and lays the man out with a punch that Radek finds himself fascinated by.
Probably it's a side effect of all the adrenaline, making him notice all the little things going on around them.
Miko steps over the collapsed man, still talking about power outputs and distributor cables. One of the lenses in her glasses is fractured, a spider's web across her eye. Her hair is wild and tangled around her face, and Zelenka pulls her to the side when flames leap out of one of the air vents.
And then Rodney is punching his security code into the sealed off lab, bending to let it scan his retina, twisting back around. Rodney snaps, "Stay here, keep me updated on the power levels. If they get above—"
"They will not."
"—then get your asses out of here." Rodney's hair is flat with sweat, his lab coat abandoned three levels up. He's wearing a shirt advertising Molson's, his knuckles are red from hitting that other poor man. Radek suddenly wants to grab him, to hold onto him, to remind Rodney that they're all that's left, that they can't lose anyone else.
Rodney steps through the doors. They slam closed as soon as he's through, and Radek turns to look at Miko. She's ignoring him, talking now into her radio, fingers flying over the laptop she's supporting awkwardly against the wall.
Radek shakes himself, and takes it out of her hands, arguing with her and Rodney, listening to the static get worse and worse over the radio. It seems like a small eternity before Rodney grits out, "Oh, fuck," and the feedback over the line makes Radek yank his radio out of his ear, even as the ventilation system kicks into reverse and the explosion that should have taken out most of the state hits with only enough force to knock Radek off of his feet.
The search and rescue team that the military finally sends finds Rodney half-buried under a pile of rubble. He's still conscious, which means that Radek gets to listen to him bitching at the rescue workers as they try to free him. It's more comforting than it has any reasonable right to be.
Less comforting is them finally bringing Rodney up, flat on a stretcher, one of his legs carefully secured, his face tight and white with pain. Radek finds himself walking alongside the stretcher, his hand on Rodney's charred shirt, Miko attempting to sideline one of the medics.
Rodney blinks up at him, a little bit dazed but still focusing, and slurs, "Damage?"
Radek laughs, patting Rodney's shoulder, one of the medics very sternly asking him to please, sir, don't do that anymore. But Rodney reaches up and curls his fingers around Radek's wrist, so Radek ignores them. It's a skill he learned from the best.
Radek says, "Truly impressive," and Rodney hums, mouth quirking up in a smile, looking entirely too smug and pleased with himself. Then the medics are pushing Radek to the side, ducking their heads and running out towards the waiting chopper, the midnight air cleaved by the spinning blades.
The helicopter rises quickly, and inside it Radek is certain that Rodney must be complaining about the noise and the unsteadiness of the ride. He watches it until the lights finally disappear, and then looks down at Miko, who is biting her nails, broken glasses crooked on her face.
Radek says, "He will be fine."
And Miko nods, "Of course. Would you like me to drive?"
They end up sitting in the waiting room at the hospital for a long time. The sun is rising through the tinted glass when a doctor finally comes to talk to them. Miko is sleeping, curled up across three chairs, drooling a little on her arm. Radek doesn't disturb her.
The break in Rodney's leg had been clean, had missed his knee by a vital few inches. Radek nods his head, sticking his hands into his pocket and waiting until the doctor finally stops talking to ask, "He is stable? So I can see him, yes?"
The doctor pulls a face, "Why would you want to?" and Radek just stares at him until the man stops boggling at him like he's crazy and says, "Sure. Fine. It's your funeral," and walks Radek down the hall to Rodney's room.
Rodney is taking apart the call button for the nurse when Radek steps into the room. He looks up, unrepentant, circuitry spread across his lap, glaring belligerently at the doctor until the man blanches and flees the room. Radek rolls his eyes, snorting, looking at the allergies written on the whiteboard above Rodney's bed.
Rodney snaps, "What are you doing here? Who's watching my lab? Tell me Kusanagi is there, I swear—"
Radek rolls his eyes again, harder, cutting in, "The lab is still smoldering, Rodney. The only people watching it are the firefighters." Rodney frowns up at Radek accusingly, like Radek is somehow to blame. And then he sighs, sagging down a little against his pillows and absently putting the call button back together.
Rodney finally says, frowning down at his hands as he works, "Did you call anyone?"
And Radek nods, finally giving in to the urge to reach out and touch Rodney's hair, just to reassure himself that the other man is fine. He says, when Rodney blinks up at him with an unreadable expression, "Yes. Colonel Sheppard is on his way now. And Elizabeth. And Major Lorne, and—"
Rodney groans miserably, putting his head in his hands, and Radek goes on out of spite.
They all come, too. It's good to see them all again, even with their worry over Rodney written all over their expressions. There are hugs, and reunions, and Rodney beams a little bit brighter every time a new person shows up, like maybe he thought Radek was lying about people coming to see him.
Sheppard corners Radek when Radek leaves for a coffee run. The man is impressively silent when he wants to be, popping up out of nowhere and drawling, "So I hear you were with him when this happened." For all the friendliness in Sheppard's voice, his eyes are flat, accusing.
Radek stops feeding quarters into the coffee machine, absently pushing his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose. He says, slowly, "Yes," wondering where Sheppard is going with this.
The other man nods, hands in his pockets, leaning one shoulder against the wall. Sheppard says, "And you let him go in there alone?" there's something scornful in Sheppard's voice, something angry and pissed off in the set of his mouth.
Radek hasn't slept for what feels like days, his eyes scratchy with it. He had to listen to Rodney's radio cut off, he had to watch them carry Rodney out of that rubble, he had to watch the helicopter fly away. He's the one that's been eating meals with Rodney, that's been making sure he exists outside of the work that government is demanding from him.
Radek scowls, stepping up to Sheppard and shoving the taller man's shoulder, trying to keep the sudden bubble of anger out of his voice, "Do not talk to me of leaving him alone, Colonel."
For a second Radek thinks Sheppard might hit him, eyes flashing bright with violence. But then the man takes a deep breath, looking to the side. Sheppard says, "Look, he—"
And then Elizabeth is walking up on them, her expression carefully diplomatic when she says, "Rodney wanted to know where his coffee got to." She raises one eyebrow expectantly, and Radek curses under his breath, turning back to the machine.
When he looks up, Sheppard is gone.
Visitors come and go over the next few days, through Rodney being released from the hospital and getting set up in his little apartment again. Radek or Miko stick close, more habit than anything, the others drawn back to their jobs or other commitments until it's only the three of them again.
Miko has a schedule set up within hours of which of them needs to be with Rodney when, and Radek doesn't even try arguing with her. She's immovable when she wants to be, and besides, he couldn't have come up with anything better.
It lasts all of two days until Rodney says, while Radek tries to convince him that he has to stay off the broken leg, "Why are you here, anyway? I am perfectly capable of lurching my way down to the bathroom without assistance. God, tell me you're not going to try to insist I need to leave the door open too. I already told Kusanagi there was no way in hell that was happening."
Rodney looks rumpled, and Radek knows the other man has been sleeping on the couch, his bed too high for him to comfortably drag himself into. Radek raises an eyebrow, "Just do not fall in," and Rodney rolls his eyes so hard it's nearly audible, making his way down the hall, knocking the crutch against the wall just once, probably out of spite.
Radek shakes his head, pulling Rodney's fridge open to find it remarkably and unsurprisingly devoid of food of any kind. There's a half-gallon of milk sitting along the back, but the expiration date is roughly two years late, and Radek has absolutely no intention of opening the jug to check the freshness.
He orders Chinese food from the restaurant advertisement taped to the front of Rodney's fridge, where luckily they already know what Rodney usually eats. And then, because Rodney still isn't out of the bathroom, he goes and pounds on the door.
Rodney curses at him, though the sound of the sink running mutes most of the words. Since the man says nothing about slipping and falling and breaking something else, Radek leaves him to whatever he's doing, and wanders back into the living room.
The television sitting across from the couch doesn't work, and Radek spends the time waiting for the food delivery attempting to fix it. He's managed to get snow on the screen, instead of the empty black, by the time the doorbell rings.
And like that's all he was waiting for, Rodney hobbles his way down the hall. Radek blinks at the other man, raising his eyebrows, and Rodney snaps, "What? It itched," rubbing a hand over his freshly shaved jaw line, looking stubborn and then brightening when he sees the take-out containers, saying, "Oh, good," and snatching them right out of Radek's hands.
Radek shakes his head, grabbing Rodney's elbow and taking some of his weight when the man attempts to sit down on the couch. They manage after a moment, Rodney grimacing and gripping at his thigh above the cast, tendons standing out in his neck as his fact goes white.
Radek asks, moving the crutch out of the way, "When did you last take the medication the doctors gave you?"
Rodney waves a hand, opening the little white containers with a pleased sound, humming, "What? Oh. I don't know." Which Radek knows has to be a lie. He glares at the back of Rodney's head but the other man shows no sign of giving.
Finally Radek gives up, rolling his eyes and sitting beside Rodney on the couch, snatching his food out of the other man's hands. It smells good, hot in his hands, and he sinks back against the cushions, eating with a fork because he isn't in any mood to mess with chop sticks today.
Across from him, Rodney groans, tilting his head back against the couch and making a slurping sound. Radek feels warmth prickle in the back of his neck, cutting his gaze towards Rodney, who is shoveling food into his mouth, smiling absently, licking across his bottom lip between bites, throat working up and down.
Radek shakes himself, swallowing hard. His own stomach suddenly feels tight and heavy. He chews without tasting his food, choking a little bit when Rodney closes his eyes and sighs happily. Tomorrow, Radek decides, he's talking to Miko about letting her handle meal times.
Rodney interrupts Radek's musings, asking, "Oh, hey, what did you do to the television?" For a half second Radek thinks the other man is going to try to stand, and he reaches out automatically, pressing one hand to Rodney's chest and shoving him back against the couch.
Rodney blinks up at him, eyes wide with surprise, and Radek opens his mouth, shuts it again without saying a word. Rodney's heart is beating beneath his hand, strong and steady, faster than Radek would have expected for a normal person. His chest is solid, strong, warm.
After a moment, Radek clears his throat, making himself move his hand, fidgeting with his fork and wondering what the hell he was just thinking. Beside him, Rodney says, "Right, well, awkward," and goes back to eating. At least he doesn't try to stand up.
They spend the rest of the evening in an odd near silence, Rodney drowsy from the pain and the drugs and the heavy food in his stomach.
The next day Rodney is absolutely impossible to be around.
Radek is ready to start pulling out hunks of his hair within two minutes of showing up at the other man's apartment. Rodney is irritable and more snappish than usual, stomping as best he can around the small apartment, slamming things, and attempting to hit Radek with the crutch.
Luckily, Radek is much faster than Rodney at this point, and manages to dodge the blow, shoving Rodney down onto the couch and yanking the crutch away from him. Rodney glares up at him, unrepentant, blue eyes sharp and angry when Radek carries the crutch down the hall and closes it in Rodney's bedroom.
When he makes it back out into the living room, Rodney has slipped sideways down on the couch, making frustrated sounds. Radek leans over the back of the couch, watching Rodney drum his fingers against the cast, his bottom lip held between his teeth, eyes squeezed shut.
Radek sighs, feeling his anger fade as quickly as it had flared up. He asks, "It itches badly then?" and Rodney shoots him a baleful look, mouth twisted down what looks like painfully.
Rodney's tone is waspish, "Never let it be said that you have anything but a firm grasp on the obvious," and he beats his fist against the cushion of the couch, all frustration and ire. Radek rolls his eyes, ignoring the insult and walking around the couch, trying to get Rodney to sit up again.
The other man is heavy and stubborn enough to resist Radek's attempts. He gives up with a sigh, smacking Rodney on the shoulder, frowning down at him. Rodney continues, even more aggravated, "And stop trying to manhandle me, for Christ's sake, I'm not the live stock you—"
Radek talks over him, frustrated and irritated himself, "I'm trying to help you!"
For a second Rodney falls silent, his mouth open just a little with what looks like surprise. Radek looks away, finally managing to get Rodney to sit up straight, stuffing a pillow behind his head and wondering if he should enable the other man by unbending a coat hanger for him.
He wanders down the hall in any case, because he needs a break.
By the time Radek comes back, Rodney is sleeping, the circles under his eyes dark, little lines of pain graven around his eyes and mouth. Radek sighs, straightening his glasses and going back the hall again, this time for a blanket. He watches the snow on the television until Rodney finally wakes up, disoriented and grouchy, hours later.
On the third day Rodney says, "I want to go back down to the labs," his arms crossed over his chest and his chin tilted up. He's somehow managed to get regular pants on over the cast, and a shoe, for a reason that Radek can't even fathom.
Radek says, "No," and Rodney glares at him, mouth opening, waving a hand and starting to overbalance. Radek curses, jerking forward, grabbing Rodney and attempting to steady him, one of Rodney's arms going around his shoulder as they twist towards the couch.
They manage to land mostly on the couch, Rodney's injured leg extended straight out, his body warm and firm beneath Radek. Radek gapes, one of his hands caught under Rodney's shoulders, blinking down into Rodney's surprised eyes.
Rodney says, "Get off of me," and Radek tries to twist away, freezing when he jars Rodney's leg hard and the other man makes a tiny, pained, sound. Rodney's face has gone pale, and Radek mutters curses again, disentangling himself with more care and pushing away carefully.
Rodney gasps, tiny, his hands balled up tight, and Radek starts to ask if he's okay .Rodney interrupts, voice low and rough, "I—get me coffee," and Radek takes the out that he's given, lingering in the kitchen for longer than he should. When he comes back, Rodney has himself straightened, breathing hard through his fingers, his shoulders tight and tense.
Radek goes back into the kitchen for another few minutes. When he next comes out, Rodney is fine, except for how he's far too pale.
The next day, Rodney tells Radek as soon as he walks through the door, "Congratulations, you and Miko can leave me alone for the whole damn weekend. John's flying in. So keep a fucking eye on my lab." He's glaring and irritated, and he's shaved again.
And Radek rolls his eyes, and agrees, because he doesn't really see how he can argue about it.
He ends up at Rodney's apartment on Saturday anyway, his wallet forgotten there the previous day. Radek knocks and waits, the first time he's done that since he started coming here, not even sure what he's waiting for. It seems like a good idea anyway.
At least until Rodney yanks the door open, looking tired and disheveled and like he just crawled out of bed. He's shirtless, hair flattened in random places, the crutch tucked under his arm, blinking blurrily at Radek and demanding, "What are you doing here?"
Radek rolls his eyes, squeezing past Rodney into the apartment, "Relax, I left my wallet. I will be out of your hair in a moment." It's sitting on the kitchen counter, right where Radek left it, and he slides the wallet back into his pocket, his voice coming out sharper than he'd intended when he asks, "How is Colonel Sheppard?"
Rodney blinks, frowning, looking mostly asleep, "John? How should I—" Rodney catches himself there, eyes going wider, stumbling over, "I mean, he's fine. In the shower. He's in the shower. I'll tell him you said hello."
Radek sighs, crossing his arms, and Rodney raises his chin, glaring, "Look, I can't think with you two under my feet all the time. I'll be—" He cuts himself off again when Radek takes his wallet back out of his pocket, kicking his shoes off and shrugging out of his jacket.
Rodney glares at him, crutching away down the hall, and Radek mutters, "Stubborn bastard," under his breath.
Rodney refuses to come out of his room for the remainder of the day, and Radek loses patience with trying to convince him to pretty much immediately. He ends up on Rodney's living room floor, the television in pieces around him, trying to figure out why the hell it won't work.
He's frustrated, sucking on a cut on his thumb, when Rodney says, "I was trying to make a smaller, stronger, EM pulse model and it hasn't been the same since." Radek looks up. Rodney is leaning heavily against the wall of the hall, shirt twisted around his chest, hair messy and the skin on the side of his face gone blotchy.
Radek frowns, "You could not have told me this earlier?"
Rodney shrugs, crutching over to the kitchen and pouring himself a cup of the coffee that's been cooking for the last six hours. Rodney makes a happy little sound when he takes the first swallow anyway, his eyes slipping closed when he says, "It was keeping you occupied and happy," he shrugs.
Radek curses, but only lightly. He kicks a foot out across the floor before pushing to his feet, stretching out the cramps in his back and legs. Rodney smirks at him from over the top of his coffee mug, his hair all messy, a five o'clock shadow over his jaw.
Radek says, "You are an ass," and Rodney just shrugs, looking far too pleased with himself, the crutch tucked up under his arm. Radek kicks through the computer parts again, dragging his hand back through his hair and going looking for a broom.
There's a pause in the conversation as he sweeps, until Rodney says, "You're a crappy babysitter. Where's my afternoon snack?"
Radek snorts on a laugh, smacking Rodney on the shoulder and throwing the take-out menus on the counter in front of Rodney. Rodney shuffles through them, shoves the one for the Mexican place back across to Radek, before hobbling out to the living room.
They eat in the living room, messy, greasy food that Rodney licks off his fingers until Radek is driven to distraction.
The next day Radek comes back, since Miko had been promised the weekend off. And maybe because Radek likes having Rodney all to himself. He brings a television with him, nothing big, and Rodney laughs at him when he wrestles it into place.
But it works, comes on just the way it should and there's not a sign of snow on any of the channels. Rodney ignores it pretty much completely, but it gives Radek something to do when the other man falls asleep again, snoring softly, his head tilted back against the couch.
Radek doesn't really mean to fall asleep himself.
He wakes up to the jarring sound of an infomercial, some woman with way too much body in her hair telling him how he needs to buy some kind of wax for removing hair from his bikini area. For a moment Radek just stares in a vague sort horrified fascination.
And then he realizes he's laying sideways, his head pillowed on something warm and firm. He blinks, looking up, and Rodney says, "Stop moving," his head coming down heavy on the side of Radek's neck. His fingers are warm and thick, his palm just a little sweaty.
Radek blinks, his cheek rubbing against Rodney's thigh, and Rodney grumbles, "Sleep," pushy and bossy, stretching his leg, his quads tensing and bunching under Radek's head. And Radek is exhausted, heavy and tense and so exhausted.
He sleeps.
The second time, Radek wakes slowly, to warmth and the sound of the news in the background of his skull. He blinks, finds he shifted in the night, his nose pressed up against Rodney's stomach, Rodney's hand on his shoulder, warm, solid, fingers curled into fabric.
Radek starts to shift up, and Rodney mumbles something unintelligible, his thumb stroking across the top of Radek's shoulder. It all seems frighteningly, terrifyingly, intimate, and Radek sucks in a quick breath, feeling something curl up warm and tight in his stomach. He braces a hand on the cushion beside Rodney's thigh and pushes himself up.
There's drool dried to the side of Radek's face. He wipes at it with the back of his hand, Rodney grumbling and shifting in his sleep. Radek rolls his eyes, squinting over the side of the couch in an attempt to locate his missing glasses.
Radek finds them shoved down between the cushions on the other side of the couch, and he doesn't even want to know how they got there. He pushes them on, grimacing at the smudges on the lenses, and Rodney mumbles, thick and hoarse from sleep, "What are you doing here?"
Radek rolls his eyes, shifting to his feet, because he needs coffee. He calls over his shoulder, "Sleeping on the bed of torture you call a couch." He rubs at an ache in his lower back that he's fairly sure hadn't been there the previous night, and spends a second wondering if Rodney stuck rocks into the cushions.
Rodney makes roughly the same amount of noise as a herd of bison crossing to the kitchen. He's rumpled and bleary eyed, glaring balefully at Radek anyway when he says, "Ha, ha. I mean. You and Miko. You've got to have better things to do than annoying me. If you don't, I can find you some."
For a second, Radek pretends to consider. Then he shakes his head, flashing Rodney a quick smile when the other man glares at him harder. Rodney leans back against the counter, shifting his gaze to the coffee maker, and Radek takes the opportunity to say, "Is what friends do, yes? Annoy one another in their times of trial."
Rodney hums, eyes still narrowed with thought. It's worrisome that he's trying to think before he's had any coffee. Usually that's when Rodney comes up with his craziest ideas. Radek starts willing the coffee to brew faster, grabbing a cup in anticipation.
Rodney watches Radek over the top of his cup when there's finally enough coffee to fill it. Radek tries very had not to feel unnerved. He's glad when Miko shows up to shoo him away.
The next time Radek comes by, Rodney refuses to let him in. Radek wastes fifteen minutes arguing with him through the door, until Rodney crutches his way down the hall so loudly that Radek can hear it right through the wall. Then Radek rolls his eyes, goes down to his car, drives to the store, and comes back to take the door off it's hinges.
Radek's mostly forgotten why he's doing it, because Rodney is perfectly capable of getting around his apartment. That's not stopping him.
Rodney comes back out of his bedroom when Radek loses his grip on the door and it falls. Rodney's shirtless, the skin under his right arm red and agitated from the crutch, expression shocked and appalled when he yells, "Oh my God! Have you lost your mind? I should have you arrested!"
Radek says, "Shut up, Rodney," not bothering with paying attention, wrestling with the door instead.
Of course, shutting up in not one of the skills Rodney ever bothered perfecting. He snaps, waspish, "I'm calling the police. I can't believe you knocked down my door, you crazy, little—"
Radek beats Rodney to the phone, grabbing it and glaring victoriously at Rodney. Rodney, who rolls his eyes and rubs a hand up over his face, before moving surprisingly quickly toward Radek. Radek swallows a soft sound of surprise, hurrying across the room, Rodney glaring at him, jaw set stubborn and pissed off.
Rodney spits, "Why are you doing this? After I got you the job at—"
"What job did you get me? Ah, the one where you kidnapped me and dragged me across your continent to this place? I did not ask you—"
"It's better than anything you could—"
"Pah! Is that what you—"
"Then why did you stay?" Rodney is breathing hard, face gone red with anger, and Radek is suddenly aware that everyone in the surrounding apartments probably just heard that argument. He swallows hard, his own heart pounding fast, his hands balled into fists.
Radek drops the phone, shaking his head, not sure who he's more furious with, himself or Rodney, and starting towards the door. Rodney shouts after him, "Oh, that's just great! I'll just air condition the entire town then, I guess!"
Radek makes it down to his car before guilt catches him and he stops, kicking the tire hard before turning back around. By the time he gets back to Rodney's apartment, the man has his crutch leaning against the wall, and has somehow managed to wrestle the door upright, pain making lines around his eyes and mouth.
Radek curses, stepping back into the apartment, snapping, "Let me have it, are you insane?" and Rodney just snarls at him, tightening his grip on the door. Radek glares right back, grabbing Rodney's wrist and squeezing hard. He makes his voice softer, hating the effort it takes, "You will just hurt yourself again."
Rodney hisses, "Well maybe if someone hadn't taken it off the hinges I wouldn't—"
And Radek really doesn't want to get into a shouting match with him again, not least because Rodney always wins shouting matches. He can't help it, "Why do you refuse to allow me to help you?" Because goddamnit, he's so tired of fighting Rodney every step of the way with this.
Rodney's chin goes up, all defensiveness all of a sudden as he wrenches his arm out of Radek's hold, almost overbalancing. Radek jerks forward automatically to steady Rodney, his hand pressed against the warm skin of Rodney's back, right above the other man's hip.
Rodney jerks away again, voice sharp as razors, "Who says I need help?"
Radek raises his eyebrows, barking out a laugh, "I say. Miko says. Your doctors—"
And Rodney waves a hand, rolling his eyes impatiently, voice all full of scorn, "Yes, yes, but besides them." For a second they just blink at each other, and then, just like that, they're both laughing, helpless, hitching laughter that makes Radek feel breathless, reaching out to brace his hand against the wall, his stomach aching.
Rodney twists, putting his shoulders against the wall, bending over, laughing, the door slipping down and hitting the floor again with a bang. It makes Radek laugh harder, taking a stumbling step forward to brace Rodney up when he starts to slide down the wall himself.
Rodney grabs Radek's shoulder, his big hand warm, face tipped up to the ceiling as his laughter slowly tapers off. Radek hiccups on one last chuckle, suddenly painfully aware of how close they are, how hard he's breathing, Rodney's bare chest.
After a long moment Rodney finally looks down, cheeks red, eyes shiny, mouth saying, "I—" right before Radek loses his mind and leans forward, kissing him hard. Rodney makes a surprised sound, his grip on Radek's shoulder tightening, and for a half-second Radek waits to be shoved away.
He grabs at whatever he can reach of Rodney, pressing closer, making the most of what he can get, and it takes his brain a moment to realize that Rodney isn't pushing him away at all.
And then Rodney is, shoving Radek back, gasping, "Fuck, fuck, my leg," his face gone white with pain and Radek curses, twisting, pulling one of Rodney's arms over his shoulders. They manage to limp over to the couch together, Rodney biting his bottom lip hard when he tumbles down onto the cushion, his hands balled up into fists.
Radek goes to the kitchen, looking for the pain medication, the bottle suspiciously full, cursing Rodney again for being a stubborn bastard. By the time he gets back to the living room Rodney has his head tilted back, eyes open and distant, breathing shallow through his mouth.
Radek says, "Here, take these," pressing two of the pills to Rodney's mouth. The man shakes his head, turning away, pressing his lips closed tight, and Radek wants to shake him, resists only because of how well he can see the strain across the muscles of Rodney's shoulders.
"They make me dizzy, nauseous. I don't want them," Rodney's voice is a rasp, low and miserable, and Radek stands there, holding the pills, for a long moment before he sighs and gives up. He puts them back, pausing beside the door to lean it mostly into place before going back to the couch.
Radek sighs, "Rodney," brushing the man's sweaty hair away from his forehead, and Rodney cracks one eye open, squinting up at him. Finally, Radek sighs, shaking his head, "I will fix the door." He starts to step away, and Rodney reaches out, catching Radek's arm.
And so Radek leans over, Rodney's stubble rasping against his palm when he kisses the other man, softer than before. When he pulls back, Rodney's eyes are closed again, expression still tense, but some of the pain leeched out.
Radek presses another kiss to the crown of Rodney's head, and promises, "I am not going anywhere."
Rodney squeezes Radek's arm, hard, for a long second, mumbling, "Good. That's good."
::back to index::


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"Happiness Is Just a Bad Memory" – 356
Happiness is just a bad memory Of everything great and elevated With the constant ticking going on I just can't keep on writing songs About how my life just seems to fall Into patterns on the road. I'm lost in trepid seas Smacked down upon my knees I can see the clouds come up and … Continue reading
"Forgetting Where You Came From" – Day 231, 232, 233
You'll be forgetting memories
That pass faster than before.
They trickle in and out of sync
The way Charlie Sheen's mood swings.
It's out of control,


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Ever wonder what it would be like to pilot an underwater drone?
Thanks to the efforts of today's guest, we now have that opportunity. Christine Spiten is the Co-Founder & Chief Global Strategist for Blueye Robotics, a Norwegian based company that seeks to develop and sell the world's finest drone for underwater exploration. The company launched a new product, the Blueye Pioneer, a prosumer personal drone capable of reaching depths of 150 meters and providing an unparalleled user experience. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Christine ialks about Blueye Robotics, the new Blueye Pioneer underwater drone and the rewards of exploring, first hand, our oceans and seas.


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Safire is a world-renowned circus and fire entertainer, skilled in a variety of movement arts, and has a range of performance experience. She has performed in 15 different countries around the world, has almost 3 million views on her YouTube channel and has appeared in dozens of television spots, magazines, newspapers, blogs and more.
1. Tell us your roots - where were you born and raised? I grew up in Northern Alberta in Canada. A city tucked away in the Boreal forest, 5 hours north of any other major city. Fort McMurray is an oil town and as a young girl I was always encouraged that I could work in any field I wanted to, I could work on the oil rigs and do a "man's job". There were always tons of job fairs as a kid, encouraging women into these fields. The trouble was… none of it interested me. I was always a bit of a weird kid, very excited, wanting to explore everything, interested in the arts, and being creative. When it came time to pick a career path, I decided to get an art degree because visual art was the only thing I really enjoyed in High School.
2. Why hooping? How did the journey begin? After a few years in art school I choose to get a teaching degree as well, opting to become a high school art teacher. While in University, I met a girl who spun fire poi. When she acted very casually about it, like fire dancing was normal and anyone could do it, I was inspired to try it for myself. Literally the next day I was online, ordering a set of poi, spinning random things in my house and trying to figure out tricks she had done. That was April 2006. Fast forward to August when a friend brought me to Shambhala, an outdoor EDM festival in B.C. It was my first non-punk festival and my second ever "rave". I saw a girl fire hooping and she was beautiful. BAM, I was hooked and the hoop took over my flow practice full force.
Over the next year and a half I hooped obsessively and after 6 years of University I returned home and said "mom, dad, I want to be a professional hula hooper."
That was awkward...
In the end I decided to take the leap. I moved 5 hours to the city of Edmonton because I had booked one paid gig. I lived in the living room of a home with two Vietnamese girls in China Town and began my career as a 'hooper'. The only problem, I didn't know what that meant. So I decided to do everything. I taught local classes, tried to find performances, did public speaking, sold hoops, etc. The first year was a struggle to make ends meat but it's now been 8 years working as a hoop dancer and I wouldn't have it any other way.
3. What has the hoop taught you about life? How to teach myself ANYTHING. The great thing is I was learning how to hoop at the same time as I was learning how to teach through my education degree. I was able to apply those lessons to myself, the hoop, and to my early students.
In addition to working within the hoop world, I also work as an anti-bullying youth motivational speaker. I suffered from constant bullying and major stages of depression as a child. Learning to find my own happiness has been a very long journey and the hoop has helped me tremendously in that journey. The hoop has taught me how important it is to make decisions for yourself, based on your desires, not on the desires of others. People will call you names in life and tell you what you can and cannot do but it's you who has to live with the decisions you make. If you want happiness you have to follow your own path. The hoop has taught me that the things you need in life are out there, happiness is not handed to you, you have to work for it.
4. What's next? How is your hoop life evolving? Right now my focus is to create content for hoopers who have been in the hoop for years and are struggling with their practice. There has always been a lot of resources out there for beginners but as our community grows we will need new conversations and new information for long-term hoopers. I'm also working on re-fliming over 400 tutorials for my online hoop classes at http://www.hoopingclasses.com It's a tedious task but much of the content was filmed in 2009 and I have learned a lot more about how to teach the tricks covered so I want to improve the quality for my students.
5. What aspect of the hoop community do you value the most and what do you hope to contribute to the future of hooping? I am constantly appreciative of how welcoming and flattering the hoop community is. I still don't see myself the way other people do so I'm happy to have support on days when I'm feeling down. My contribution to the hoop community is to inspire people in their journey, to teach, and to invite others to share the hoop. In the future I would like to do tropical retreats for hoop teachers and performers. When I'm ready, I'm interested in creating retreats to help others find and discover their own path to happiness.


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Hp Pavilion Notebook / bad customer service and repair performance
On november 22nd, I received my hp pavilion notebook that I had sent in for repair under warranty. Unfortunately, hp service team has not performed well because I am now required to enter a password which I never had to do before.
I am disappointed because when I called customer service on november 22nd, november 23rd, november 24th, and november 26 the agents assured me that it is not possible to find out who at hp has set this password.
The only option I was told was to do a system recovery which would mean the loss of all of my personals files, contracts and legal papers.
I am an independent contractor and have two lawsuits going; loosing these files was not an option. The agent then disclosed that hp, upon receipt of my notebook, has already removed all of these files. This was not disclosed neither on the warranty, nor has my permission been given to do this. My notebook had lcd cover issues so the removal of these file, if that's what they did, was completely unnecessary and illegal.
I was promised to get a call back but that never happened. Each time, I was forced to speak with agents that hardly knew the language. The average phone call lasted about 64 minutes and I was on hold or transfer a quarter of that.
To resolve the problem, I called, sent emails and certified mail. I mentioned that I hoped that the information I received was misrepresented and that hp has not deleted these files. I would appreciate if they could track whoever has set this password so I may assume my work as an independent contractor.
I will wait until december 26th, 2007 before taking legal action.
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Fabulous book to excite children to the world and bugs
Children engage well with the travel bug and get excited about travelling to different places and finding out more about who you are as you go.
Grandma Rachael
Sydney, Australia
Published: 30th January 2017
Number Of Pages: 32
The journey of a bug with an identity crisis
A strange little bug doesn't know who he is or where he's from. Even his name is a mystery. So he sets off to seek answers. He journeys the world meeting wonderful creatures, seeing amazing sights and eating delicious food. Adventures he has, but still no one knows what insect he is. Maybe, just maybe, the path he is on is the answer he seeks. The Travel Bug is a gently philosophical picture book about identity, fate, the joy of travelling, and the discovery of kindness and kinship across cultures.
About the Author
Benjamin Gilmour won numerous poetry awards in his late teens and at the age of nineteen was the youngest poet to be published in literary journals Quadrant, Island and Going Down Swinging. His first anthology of poetry was published in 1998. Since then, Benjamin has travelled the world, worked as a paramedic, directed the critically acclaimed feature film Son of a Lion and published Warrior Poets (Allen & Unwin), a narrative non-fiction work about his experiences making the film in Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
Benjamin's most recent book is Paramedico (HarperCollins, 2013) about paramedics around the world. A film of the same name screened at the Sydney Film Festival and was nominated for the Foxtel Best Documentary Award, 2012.
Children engage well with the travel bug and get excited about travelling to different places and finding out more about who you are as you go.
Grandma Rachael
Sydney, Australia
My girls love this book. The travel bug takes us on a journey around the globe with a bug that is trying to find its clan. Good to show children different places in the world and a way to introduce that we are all unique.
Sydney, Australia
Audience: Children
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 32
Published: 30th January 2017
Publisher: Random House Australia
Country of Publication: AU
Dimensions (cm): 29.0 x 22.7 x 0.9
Weight (kg): 0.35
Edition Number: 1


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Read This and You'll Never Eat at McDonald's Again
Next time you drive toward those Golden Arches, think about this: McDonald's has one of the worst reputations of any fast food restaurants. There are numerous reasons, but in this article, we're going to look at the inclusion in their recipes of ten very unappetizing ingredients.
Here they are:
1. Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium sulfate is an inorganic salt, most often used in fertilizer. It also used in flame retardant and in Monsanto's Roundup weed killer. It causes hormone disruption.
2. Silicone Oil
Silicone oil is used in making contact lenses, and in caulking, lubricants and silly putty. It is non-biodegradable, and manufacturers have cut back on its use in breast implants because of safety concerns. It has been found to harm marine life – but McDonald's uses it in their chicken nuggets.
This four-letter acronym is the name of a chemical used in cosmetics, lacquers and resins. The FDA says it is safe to eat in small quantities, but studies have shown it can aggravate ADHD symptoms and stomach cancer, and it damages DNA.
4. Propylene Glycol
This is the chemical that makes antifreeze absorb water. It can cause depression of the central nervous system, and it aggravates eye conditions, skin conditions and allergies.
5. Carminic Acid
Carminic acid is a substance produced by insects to deter predators. The insects are used in food processing as a coloring agent; approximately 70,000 of them are killed, crushed and soaked in alcohol to produce a pound of dye. This colorant has been tied to asthma, diarrhea and other health conditions.
6. Cellulose
Cellulose is processed wood pulp, used in cheese, salad dressing, muffins, and strawberry syrup, among other foods. It is often present in low-carb food products.
7. Industrial Sand
Also known as silica, this sand is used to make glass, optical fibers and cement. In industrial settings, workers wear hazmat suits and masks, as it is dangerous to breathe. McDonald's puts it in their meat to prevent clumping.
8. Cysteine-L
This amino acid is synthesized from human hair and duck feathers. McDonald's uses it to flavor meat and soften breads and pastries. It is implicated in vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, rashes, fever, headache, drowsiness, low blood pressure and liver disorders.
9. Prescription Medications
Chicken feed has an alarming amount of prescription medication, including antidepressants and even some banned drugs. A Johns Hopkins University study shown many of these end up in chicken products from fast food restaurants.
10. Dimethylpolysiloxane
This chemical is used in silly putty and breast implants. One of its components is formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen.
Still hungry?


text: Tony Blair and George W Bush had been sent to hell. The Devil had prepared two cells for them. Tony Blair walked into this dingy cold room that had rats running all over it. The Devil said, "Tony Blair, this is your eternal punishment!" George W Bush was not looking forward to his cell, so imagine his surprise when he entered a beautiful pink room with Pamela Anderson inside. The Devil announced, "Pamela Anderson, this is your eternal punishment!"


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This Victorian gem in desirable North Slope of Potrero Hill has fantastic downtown and bay views.
Whether you're seeking a move-in ready 1(or2) unit TIC or an opportunity to renovate and expand square footage, this property offers unlimited potential to the individual homeowner or investment professional. Both flats feature 2-BR, 1-Bath, double parlor with pocket doors (may be used as a 3rd bedroom), dining room, kitchen, and sunroom. Additionally, the upper unit has a bonus multi-purposed fainting room". 2-car (tandem) garage along with driveway and street parking. Steps away from 18th & 20th St. shopping, cafes, and restaurants. Near, 101, 280, Caltrain station, & 3rd street rail line MUNI.


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Reception- Butterfly
Mrs Lawns and Mrs Bodiam are delighted to welcome the children and families to Wren Class. We hope that you and your child have a great time in our class and enjoy the many learning experiences they will encounter.
In Wren Class we spend a significant amount of time developing an environment which aims at all times to be happy and challenging. Through planned, purposeful play, children are able to discover, practise and refine their skills in literacy and mathematics as well as find out about themselves and their environment. We are also committed to 'in the moment' planning to engage children in deep level and sustained learning where children can follow their own interests whilst being supported to develop their creativity and own critical thinking to learn about the world around them. We encourage and promote positive attitudes to learning, an enthusiasm for knowledge and the confidence to grow into successful learners.
Charlie, "School is good you can play in the pretend shop."
Candice, "You can have PE and write dance."
Alfie, "You can get to play with your friends and dress up."
Lily, "I like playing with the coloured ribbons. You can swing them around in big circles."
Tommy, "My favourite is the magnets shapes to build towers."


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Last February, Kim Kardashian unveiled behind-the-scenes snippets of her family's appearance during a filming of "Celebrity Family Feud," and Sunday evening that long-awaited episode finally aired as she was joined by Kanye West, Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and others for a bout on the popular game show.
The family was split between Team West—composed of Kanye, Kim, and Kanye's cousins Kim, Wallace, Jalil, and Ricky—and Team Kardashian, featuring Kris Jenner, her Mother Mary Jo, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner cousin Cici Bussy, and friend Jonathan Cheban.
Host Steve Harvey's first question arrived as Kanye and Kris would battle for initial control of the board: "Name the top five reasons why Steve Harvey is a good kisser."
Kanye nabbed the first buzz to immediately offer the No. 1 answer: "Lips," much to the audience's approval.
Read more at – https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/watch-kanye-west-and-the-kardashian-jenner-clan-square-off-on-family-feud-news.52298.html


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Would you like a longer healthier hair? Have you spent a lot of money on pills and masks that are not always the best solution for you? Why don't you try something natural and in the same time cheaper. Things that can be found in every house, such as eggs, bananas, honey and beer have good results on hair.Read More »
Home - Tag Archives: hair growth


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We have a strange thing in the house!
Just in time for Christmas and a visitor – we have a weird and unusual arrival. Not only is it an interesting sniff, it arrived three days early. Mum saw it on the Petcube while they were at the beach!
We have to report this strange and unusual 'thingy' to the Sunday Selfies and the Kitties Blue! Here it is!
Miranda just HAD to give it the once over, and a good sniff of approval. Of course we ALL gave it the once over except Silver who is off exploring. It goes perfectly with the two sofas, complimenting their lovely sage grey/green colour.
You get more of an idea of the overall effect in the second picture because the coffee table is there (and no we do not jump on the table!)
Do you give your pet parents new stuff the third degree when it arrives?


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Frijns wins second race of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Season 8 in Bahrain
Qatar-based driver Charlie Frijns has won the second race of Season 8 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East thanks to a composed drive from pole position at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Less than twenty-four hours after a pulsating first race of the season the same 17 cars representing 12 different driver nationalities returned to the grid and produced more world-class high speed action. Unlike the first race on this occasion the bold overtaking manoeuvres were a feature of those further down the grid battling for second place rather than the lead.
Frijns was the only driver to avoid any threats to his position and led from start to finish, looking comfortable throughout to win by a margin of 1.618 seconds. Victory secured his first win in three seasons. Behind Frijns, Dylan Pereira of Luxembourg repeated the second place he secured in the opening race with Norway's Denis Olsen in third.
Speaking after the win Frijns said: "This is my first victory in three years so you can imagine how much it means to me. I managed to achieve a number of podium positions last season in the championship but never managed to win a race. I had a really good start today and managed to pull a gap ahead of the others, I knew I just had to concentrate on my driving and not worry about what was going on behind me. Towards the end of the race Dylan closed the gap a little but that was due to me keeping it safe and focusing on not making any mistakes.
"I think one of the main things I have learnt in this opening weekend is qualifying is going to be vital this season, getting those top two spots on the grid could be the difference between winning and losing the championship. I am very pleased with the result but it is a long season, and there is a long way to go."
It was a sweet victory for Frijns who crashed out from pole position last season but there was no mistakes 12 months on. Clearly the wealth of experience Frijns gained in Porsche Supercup during the summer has helped the young driver mature into real title threat in Season 8.
The first three drivers were followed over the line by winner of the opening race Ryan Cullen of Ireland who finished fourth, Britain's Tom Oliphant came fifth and Bandar Alesayi of Saudi Arabia was sixth.
In the overall driver standings after two races out of a total of twelve across the season Dylan Pereira (48) leads, Ryan Cullen (46) is in second place and victory for Frijns (42) has taken him into third.
Lechner, the owner of Lechner Racing, and founder and manager of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East added: "Congratulations to Charlie. He's worked hard and remained patient so deserves this victory. On behalf of the championship it is mission accomplished for the opening races in Bahrain. Season 8 promises so much and already it is delivering. This season's expanded grid and blend of elite drivers from the region and Europe guarantees high competition and high standards. Everyone is already looking forward to Dubai."
The second round of the championship featuring the third and fourth races of the twelve race season will take place at Dubai Autodrome on 9th and 10th December, 2016.


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Hi Timp. I was doing a search for Barry Jolly and found this website forum. I was simply blown away this thread after soooo many years is reactivated by your good self.
I had already found Barry's addy but after looking around this forum I find it a very interesting place and decided to join. I once made timber veneered surfboards until I discovered the Chinese could not be contested in such a labour intensive op.
Anyway after a few years of disspondence I think I want to go to China and teach them my tecnique. I believe Barry is working there and it pays to know at least one other that speaks English.
If ya can't beat em, Join em! ;)


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NEW ORLEANS - Oil giant BP has asked a federal judge to disregard objections from a fraction of claimants and give final approval to a proposed multibillion-dollar settlement over economic damages from the Gulf oil spill.
BP was joined in the request by plaintiffs' attorneys who helped broker the class-action deal spawned by the 2010 disaster. BP estimates it will pay $7.8 billion to resolve claims through the uncapped settlement.
In court filings late Monday, BP PLC and plaintiffs' lawyers say the deal should not be derailed by a low number of individuals and businesses objecting or asking to opt-out.
Roughly 200 people and groups have objected to the deal, while 983 potential claimants asked to opt out as of Oct. 19.
More than 100,000 plaintiffs could benefit from the deal.
BP cited the numbers as evidence that U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier should approve the agreement after a Nov. 8 "fairness hearing." The judge preliminarily approved the proposed settlement in May.
"Critically, none of the objectors makes any attempt to rebut the generosity of the settlement," BP attorneys wrote. "Instead of explaining why the settlement is not fair, many objectors simply argue for even more generous recoveries."
In the spill's aftermath, BP created a $20 billion fund to compensate commercial fishermen, property owners, hotels and other tourism-driven businesses that claimed they suffered economic damages. The company agreed to continue paying claims through a court-supervised settlement program before Barbier decides whether to give his final approval.
In March, the court-supervised program replaced the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, which had processed more than 221,000 claims and paid out more than $6 billion. The new program has received more than 71,000 claims since June and determined that more than 26,000 of them are eligible for payments totaling roughly $1.1 billion, BP said.
Some plaintiffs' attorneys have complained that the new claims process has been slow. Couhig Partners LLC, a New Orleans-based law firm, said in its objection that claims have become bogged down by a "bureaucratic nightmare."
BP insists the program is moving as quickly as possible.
Nov. 1 is the opt-out deadline. BP says only a minuscule percentage of eligible claimants have asked to be excluded so far.
The settlement calls for BP to pay $2.3 billion for seafood-related claims by commercial fishing vessel owners, captains and deckhands. Several objectors argued the seafood program doesn't adequately account for uncertain future risks to Gulf fisheries.
The agreement also calls for paying medical claims by cleanup workers and others who say they suffered illnesses from exposure to the oil or chemicals used to disperse it.
It doesn't resolve separate claims brought by the federal government and Gulf states against BP and its partners on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig over environmental damage from the nation's worst offshore oil spill.
The deal also doesn't resolve plaintiffs' claims against Switzerland-based rig owner Transocean Ltd. and Houston-based cement contractor Halliburton.
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