text:
A walk into the future

After spending the last few days hunkered down reviewing information and discussing ideas, the team was in desperate need of some outdoor time. We needed to stretch our legs and clear our minds in preparation for the days ahead. While the idea of a Cricket match was floated and eagerly accepted by a few, the consensus was that a walk along the river would do wonders for both our mental and physical condition. We exited our hotel and walked to the corner where we were met with the unexpected sight of two donkeys standing in the street seemingly oblivious to the cars and motorbikes zooming by them.  Taking our lives into our own hands, we crossed the main street in front of the hotel and ventured forward looking for the river walk we had seen from a distance.  We passed through a working class neighborhood filled with people who were probably wondering what we were doing there.  However, it was the children who were curious enough to actually come up to us to ask our names. When we engaged them in conversation, their smiles seemed to bridge the gap between our world and theirs.

Ahmedebad River Walk

Ahmedebad River Walk at night

Traveling on we reached the water only to find ourselves in the middle of a construction zone built upon the reclaimed land of the river. Walking towards the finished sections of the river walk we walked by homes that reflected both newer and no-so-new homes. However, the constant was the friendly children who greeted along our walk. We reached what appears to be an unfinished gate  to the river walk and a new water filtration plant also unfinished but filled with new water pumping equipment. Our walk continued down a new, but also unfinished, concrete road that eventually rose to meet an area filled with people enjoying the evening company of friends and family. We crossed a small, dirt field that we envision will be filled with soil and we hope will be left as open space. We could already see how the future plans for the water front were starting to meet the reality of what was in place. Taking steps down from this open area, we finally found ourselves on the river front we had seen so often in pictures. With its breath-taking views of the river, we found all people doing much the same thing as us, enjoying the evening with friends while marveling at the new walk along the river. Families with children playing mixed in with couples walking and talking. Peering over the edge of the railing, we noticed that there is still work to be done in getting the river completely clean. But nothing could take away from the beauty of the river walk and the lights dancing off the water. Small boats passed by as everyone seemed to be content to enjoy this modern marvel in their own way. After a few hundred meters we arrived at the boat launch and elected to climb the steps back to the roadway. Leaving the calm of the river walk, we were once again back to the city life and crazy traffic. While our walk back to the hotel along one of the main roads was not without interest, it so paled in comparison to what we had just seen. Who knew that something as old as a river could be made to look so new.

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Academic Life

Buy custom Academic Life essay

An internship is part of the most important aspects in ones academic life. It is a chance to open up beyond the academic world and encounter the real aspect of practical applications in life. The importance of an internship also lays in the fact that the student is presented with a chance to practically apply the theoretical methods previously received from the tutor in class. It is aimed at promoting the personal, civic and professional development in a student. Creativity, ability to reason beyond the constraints, and high standards communication skills are all best cultivated in an internship (Mary & Sweitzer, 2009, pg7).  In this paper we are going to analyze the report by Kimberly J and Zhao J. ” industry internships; feedback from participating faculties and industry executives.”

This study is about a research carried out on internship in the hospitality industries on students, executives and their respective universities. It brings out the main ingredients expected in any internship and the subsequent response by the concerned parties on various issues relating to the internship. Te report involves a sample of 42 students from 28 universities; their experiences, observations, feedback as well as the recommendations given by the students.

The research objective in this report was to establish the success of internships in promoting supplementary learning mainly on practical issues to students. It was also aimed at establishing the level of corporation from the students’ institutions and the respective organizations in the hospitality industries; in which the report was based in facilitating an effective intern period to the students. A good internship is a partnership between the school, student and the institution. It should be planned so as to present the student with challenging projects and tasks coupled with adequate supervision and guidance. Thus the objective of this research was to prove this fact and the extent of compliance.

The design in this research is set such that to get the response to students who go to the internship through their factors. The assumption that faculties are more knowledgeable on matters pertaining the organizations in their discipline seems a good assumption so as to give the research a feasible and directional way of doing the sampling through the faculty’s guidance. This is an important factor from the argument that those who secure private internships may have varied reasons for choosing the specific organization. This may range from the attractiveness, the amount of payment obtained and other subjective reasons that may not be measurable. A good research design is supposed to be situational in that it reflects the settings of the particular organization, feasible in that it can be practically implemented and a sign of flexibility allowed in improving its variability.

The flexibility in this research is observed where the candidates were allowed to pass the research materials to others who were not under the CHRIE plan. By a alerting the specific restaurant industries of their aim to carry out the specific research about the internships they offer, then the researchers prepared in advance those who were expected to be involved in this research and this makes the research even more credible.

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Having a bit of fun

Posted by mcm0704 on July 26, 2011 |

I know. This is Tuesday and I don’t normally post on Tuesday’s, but I thought you might like to have a little fun with us at the Blood Red Pencil today.

I’m a regular contributor to the Blood Red Pencil blog, and today we are featuring the authors behind the book, Write More Good, a guide to editing that is sure to get you fired. The book is a spoof on the AP Stylebook and is quite funny. We do a regular Ask the Editor series on the blog, and I thought it would be fun to have them answer questions today. No telling what kind of answers we will get, so if you have a moment, stop on by and join the fun.

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I Scream for Serenity

I wake up well rested at 5:30 am. The house is quite and everyone still sleeps. I, however, am bundled up in my warm robe and pajamas, sipping my morning coffee and reading my Bible while seated in my favorite rocking chair. I have just the perfect amount of time to read, journal, pray, blog, hand write a few thank you cards and letters, and catch up on some emails before the day really begins–I might even have time to sneak in a few minutes of Facebook and Pinterest, just to make sure I’m fully up to date with friends and family.At 6:30 the girls start to slowly awaken. We have a peaceful breakfast together, rubbing sleep out of our eyes and sharing about our dreams the night before. Daddy wakes around this time and makes his groggy way to the table with his own cup of coffee. Just a few minutes later, everyone has finished breakfast and heads to their respective rooms and bathrooms to get ready for the day. Within 30 minutes or so, we are all dressed and ready to go. By 7:15 we are out the door. I have the pleasure of taking the girls to school in the morning, allowing for us to have a fun and joyful few minutes of singing praises along with the car radio. Daddy heads to school for a few classes today, before putting in some hours at the church office.

Once the girls are settled at school, I run a few errands–grocery store, post office, Target (of course)–before heading back home. I return to my home office where I am preparing to meet three or four counseling clients for the day, and spend time writing my recent manuscript and update my daily blog.This is what I do. I’m a counselor and a writer. And I praise the Lord for these moments of peace, solitude, reflection, and ministry–whether in person with clients or by written word. And so goes my day…

Wait…what?!?!? I wish!!! If only this perfect day existed! Instead I oversleep, find little time with the Lord, and well, forget the opportunity for writing. My children won’t wake up in the morning, won’t finish their breakfast, and we are usually late getting out the door. With lunches surprisingly made and hair quickly pulled into pony tails for the day, we barely survive the mornings. And that’s just the beginning of the day! Our family’s current life circumstances dictate that I work a full time job–NOT as a counselor or writer–and thus my week is filled with 40 hours of unfulfilling labor, only to return home to multiple errands, piled high dishes and laundry, and homework waiting for me once the girls go to bed. Yes, I am also in grad school full time and balance three or four clients a week. And once the homework is done, I crawl exhausted into bed by midnight (if I’m lucky) and prepare my mind for another day of madness tomorrow.

Oh, and did I mention all the wonderful ways in which I respond to my children or my husband throughout the day when things go wrong? If need be, refer back to Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst and the study I completed last fall. Yes, still working on these raw emotions. But to the present…

I can’t do it. I just can’t do it.

My schedule screams. My circumstances are overwhelming. I find myself exhausted. And the hope for serenity seems ever so distant.

And so I have come to terms with the reality–I can’t do it. I just can’t do it.

Nike would be very displeased to read my admission of failure. And yet, there is something peacefully redeeming about the statement “I can’t do it.” It means I’m finally letting go! I can’t continue living with a crazy schedule that I allow to dictate my attitude with my husband, my children, and my friends. And I can’t keep trying to control my  screaming schedule and life circumstances in hopes that one day I will have that perfect day.

We try to squelch the screaming by being on top of things and in command. Because the schedule prods us to snap into action, into action we dive headlong. We grab the baton of control and keep things clipping along at breakneck speed, seldom slowing down. And all the while around us are living souls who, when they don’t get with our program, immediately get on our nerves. – Karen Ehman, Let. It. Go.

Exactly. This is exactly what happens. Thank you Karen for hitting the nail on the head. I am challenged to reconsider how I am spending my time–time that should be governed by the Lord, for my times are in his hands.

“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand.” Psalm 31:14-15a (ESV)

And while I know this is easier said than done, I must take action to make changes–being ever aware that it is the Spirit of the Lord truly making the changes in my life. I was blessed to review some of the practical steps and advice presented by Karen to help me more easily let go of my control and to live a life that allows for me to be more trusting of God’s control. Each point is quite helpful, and I could comment on all, but for the sake of time–because we all know now that I have NONE–I just wanted to list them (and for you readers who have not joined us for this Let. It. Go. Online Bible Study, I encourage you to pick up the book and explore this amazing journey). So here goes:

  1. Stand back and ask, “Why?”
  2. Dare to be different
  3. Consider setting number limits
  4. Make a list and check it twice
  5. Realize how each family member’s activities affect the others’ schedules
  6. Don’t take on more than you can pray for
  7. Say yes because you feel called, not because you consider your self capable
  8. Don’t attempt to set the world record for most consecutive years served

And as a final piece of advice–“The less you’re involved in, the less your schedule will scream, and the less you just might too.”

But what about those circumstances that are outside my control? As stated above, our lives dictate certain aspects, such as my having to work a 40-hour job. And then there are circumstances for which we have no contingency plan. What do we do when my husband becomes very ill? (Which just happened). Or what do we do when the car breaks down on the freeway? (Which ALSO just happened). Even if we change our schedules, freeing time to be with the Lord and in a more healthy relationship with our family, there will always be circumstances that we can’t change.

It is here I must recognize that the only aspect I can truly change about my circumstances is my outlook. I must remember that God is God and I am not. I can do what I can, but I also can’t do what I can’t. I must continue to let go.

Let’s face it. I can’t control my schedule. And I can’t control the unforeseen. And while I scream out to the Lord, he reminds me that all my work and all my attempts to fix life will only bring more chaos. Instead, my surrendering to him alone will bring the serenity.

So, next week we will explore a little more of what it means to let go and let God–giving up sole control of our soul control. Tune in next week…

5 thoughts on “I Scream for Serenity

  1. Mary, I just loved this post. I loved how you shared from your heart and were “real”. Just like you said, we have to stop craving the “perfect” day because it is not going to happen. We must give God sole control and realize that He needs to be in control and not us. Thank you for giving of your time to share with us.

  2. Mary I loved your post. I kinda laughed a little when I thought oh wow she has all together and then I continued to read. I love that you are being real. I can relate to you. My life is chaotic most of the time but I tell myself: slow down, let go and let God have control and it helps me.

    • Tabitha,
      I had the same feeling–I was reading the beginning thinking how jealous I was that she had everything so well organized and pulled together. When the reality part hit, I laughed out loud!
      Thanks, Mary, for illustrating our absurd notions of perfection with that beginning fairy-tale. I loved what you had to share 🙂

  3. Mary I sit here thinking wow FINALLY here is a Mom that has figured it all out to pefection and WHAMMO. Loved your blog and love your heart. Thanks so much for sharing. Debbie W. (OBS Small Group Leader)

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Pressure Gauge (7110300000) PG0250200LBK - GA016717AV $8.98

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PG0250200LBK - Pressure Gauge (7110300000)

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Part Number: PG0250200LBK (GA016717AV)

Description: 0-200 PSI, 1/4"" MPT BACK MOUNT, 2" Face.

A pressure gauge measures air pressure in the air tank and the pressure to the line from the air regulator. Be sure your gauges are accurate; if it is reading the pressure inaccurately it can damage the pump and other components and if the safety valve fails, the tank could explode. Moisture rusts/damages the gauge over time so they must be periodically replaced. Gauges can be air filled or liquid-filled.

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Monday, April 10, 2017

Lion (Australia, 2016) [PG-13] ****+

A film review by James Berardinelli for on December 26, 2016.

Sometimes, it is said, truth is stranger than fiction. And, as director Garth Davis has perhaps discovered, filming such truths can be more difficult than filming fiction. Lion, based on the autobiographical tale of Saroo Brierley, tells of the author’s amazing journey from being lost at age five on the streets of Calcutta, more than a thousand miles from home, to his return journey as an adult to discover the place and people he left behind. By turns sad, frightening, and inspirational, the movie is impeded only by the difficulty of bridging the 25-year span between segments and accepting the older lead (Dev Patel) as a replacement for his younger self (Sunny Pawar).

Lion begins in a small village in India in 1986 where a young boy, Saroo (Sunny Pawar), works with his older brother, Guddu (Abhishek Bharate), to complete chores that will help their mother, Kamla (Pryanka Bose), put a little more food on the table. One day, Guddu tells Saroo that he will be traveling by train to a distant city to find work. Despite his young age, Saroo insists that he comes along. His stubbornness is such that Guddu eventually relents but, along the way, the two brothers become separated and Saroo eventually disembarks in Calcutta not knowing where he is, how to speak the language, or the name of the village he has come from. Fortune smiles on the confused and frightened young boy - he is eventually adopted by an Australian couple, Sue and John Brierley (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham), and grows up with only dim memories of his biological mother and siblings. A quarter-century later, an adult Saroo (Dev Patel), uses Google Earth to research his past and make the decision to seek out his birthplace and contact any surviving relatives. More than anything, he hopes to be reunited with his mother and Guddu.

Lion’s first half, which focuses on the young Saroo, is exceptionally well done. Davis effectively captures the boy’s fear and confusion at being separated from his brother then stranded in a strange country where he understands nothing, can’t speak the language and doesn’t know the culture. Non-professionally trained actor Sunny Pawar (who doesn’t speak English) conveys the essence of a child’s view of this big, frightening world.

The film loses traction when it shifts to the modern day. Although there’s nothing wrong with Dev Patel’s portrayal, there’s a disconnect between his interpretation of Saroo and Pawar’s. Admittedly, 25 years have passed, but it’s difficult for the viewer to accept these two actors as playing the same person. And, although Saroo’s trek back to the town of his birth is critical to finishing the film’s narrative arc, the character is less interesting as an adult than as a child and the story lacks the intensity evident during the first segment. Rooney Mara’s role as Saroo’s girlfriend, Lucy, is superfluous. She’s intended to illustrate the success he has achieved in assimilating and provide a sounding board for him but the part seems shoehorned in.

Although Mara is a poor fit for the storyline, the same can’t be said of Nicole Kidman, who puts aside her Hollywood stardom to take on a small, unglamorous role. This isn’t a flashy part but Kidman was drawn to the story and the real Sue Brierley (whom she plays) endorsed the Australian-raised actress to be her cinematic doppelganger. Although some of the key actors in Khandwa and Calcutta are professional, many are not. In the final scene, for example, there are no hired extras. Everyone is an actual resident of the area.

For Davis, the producers, and the cast, telling the story has been a passion. The documentary footage that closes the film was shot by Davis for a 60 Minutes special detailing Saroo’s life. Patel immersed himself in the history of his character in order to be better able to play him. And the production team refused to move the setting from Australia to America to acquire the support of a major studio (and the associated money). Lion represents a commitment from those involved and, flaws aside, it’s an amazing tale of resilience and determination. [Berardinelli’s rating: *** out of 4 stars]

Blogger’s notes: As a child, Saroo mispronounced his own name, so he grew up thinking it was Saroo, when actually it was Sheru, an endearing form of the name Sher which is Hindi for Lion.

If you want to take Saroo's journey yourself, simply google "ganesha talai india to kolkata india" Click on the map and start zooming in (+). You will be able to zoom in 14 or 15 times, shifting the map to keep Ganesha Talai in center, before you run out of resolution. Click the Satellite box in the lower left corner for an aerial view of Ganesha Talai.

It's interesting that Saroo remembered the word "Ganestalay" but never thought that it might be "Ganesh talay". There are probably hundreds (literally) of tiny villages named "Ganesh" or "Ganesha" in India. One example is the ashram of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, named Gurudev Siddha Peeth, located near the tiny village of Ganeshpuri, seventy miles northeast of Mumbai.

Ganesh, or Ganesha is the name of the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is traditionally pictured as a boy with an elephant's head. The story is that Shiva impregnated Parvati but was away from home when the boy was born. When Shiva finally showed up Ganesha, protecting Parvati, would not let him in the house. Angered, Shiva took Ganesha's head off with his sword, upon which Parvati told him that was his son, and what had he done? Shiva immediately began looking for a head to put on the boy's body and searched far and wide for a sinner he could kill, until he found a baby elephant who was sleeping with his head facing north. He killed the baby elephant, brought his head home and placed it on the body of his son Ganesha. True story. Wikipedia

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text:
Hillary’s "endorsement."

From: Shame on You Barack Obama
that is why
we must elect
Barack Obama
our President.

Pretty damn good speech, that Hellary gave Saturday. Finally. Guess I gotta stop being so juvy by calling her Hell….and start spelling her name correctly…. Hill…a..ry…ok, yeah, I know it’s cheap and silly “humor” calling people names, but during this primary season, Hellary (sheesh…ok, ok….Hillary!) stooped to such slimy innuendoes about Barack…remember when she said “I don’t think he’s a Muslim…” and when in Ohio she said, “Shame on you Barack Obama.” and Bill saying about Hillary and McCain..”“I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country,”…inference: Obama does not love America? Anyhoo…Hillary, you dissed Barrack to the max baby, so it’s hard to trust you (“your Bobby Kennedy was assassinated quote).

Despite the rave reviews of your Saturday speech Hillary, I couldn’t help but detect an edge, a bitter edge. The three or four times you say: “and
that is why
we must elect
Barack Obama
our President.”
is figuratively (no, not literally) dripping with a bitterness that says “okaaaay, I gotta dooo this…you want me to endorse you, okaaay, I’ll endorse you alright, listen to this, asshole…”and…thaaat is why, we must elect, Barack Obama, our Pres-i-dent…” nah nah, nah, nah…yeh, yeh, yeh, yeh, yada yada yada.

I’m sorry, but that did not sound like a sincere endorsement to me. I think we’ve seen the last of Hillary in any significant positive role in Obama’s campaign to win the Presidency.

Author: Lawrence Rudmann

Multi-genre comedic political poet and trender/periscoper of what's around the corner. Avid tennis player and ukulele strummer. Comedic poetry stimulator and healer.

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25 December 2014

CCC - Snowman

Hi everyone,

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope you have a wonderful day with your family and friends.

We have started the day over very early around 6.30 am and it has been humid and warm here in Sydney.

Have a little break and ask I am still have issued at home with the computer, have gotten a chance to post my card for the challenge Crafty Creations.

For the next two weeks our theme is:

Want to Build a Snowman?

Snow is a far from here but I have had a great time creating my card.

I have used very non-traditional colours and a cute little stamp from Bildmalarna called "Snowman Hugs".

I added some glitter to the snowman's hat too to add a little more sparkle!

Here is my card:

Stamp: Bildmalarna " Snowman Hugs"
Ink: Memento Black
Cardstock: Naturals White, Bermuda Bay
Other: SU Frosted Sequins Embellishments, SU Rhinestones, Dimensional, Candy Cane Paper #16501443, SU retired paper, SU Ovals Collection Die, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, Glue Dots

I love the papers and the image is so sweet and has been coloured in with Copic Markers.

The markers used were:
Skin: E11, 00,000,R21
Snowman: C00, 1, BG0000, 10
Hair: E55,43,42,40
Coat: R0000, 85, 83, 81, W00 ,5 3 1
Scarf & Hat: W00, 5,3,1, BG 70, 78, 75, 72
Nose: YR000, 2, 4, 7
Holly & Berries: G00, 28, 24 R0000, R24, 27
Ground: C1, 0, BG 0000, 10

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Divas by Design Challenge - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions Challenge - #190 Winter Wonderland
A Random Fan Challenge - #21 Anything Goes
Aurora Wings Challenge - #10 All that Glitters

Again wishing you a fabulous Christmas and a Fabulous 2015.

16 December 2014

Holly Jolly Christmas

Hi everyone, I hope that you are well.

This is the second week at Holly Jolly were we are displaying creations from our sponsors.

This week my creation is a project using an image called Mail Girl from Stamping Boutique.

Here is my project

Here is another side view

and the other

This so quick to make and I gave it to my Mum so she could add it to her Christmas items to display.

If you get a chance please come and join us at Holly Jolly, we would love to see your Christmas Creations and there are some fabulous gifts to won.

Thanks for visiting

15 December 2014

Z is for Zany

Hello and hope that you are well.

We have a new challenge at ABC Challenges and our sponsor is Sherri Baldy.

Our theme is:

Z is for Zany

So I used bright colours and busy papers to create my cards.

I have created two cards the first is using Big Eyed My Bestie IMG267 and coloured it in with Copic Markers

Here is my card:

I have added some sparkle the the fairy's wings.

and the second card uses 3D Decoupage Bestie IMG384

Here is my 2nd card:

I just love this paper, perfect for this time of year.

We would love to see what you create, so please join us!

14 December 2014

CAGI - Christmas

Hi and thanks for visiting.

Unfortunately I am still having Internet and computer issues at home so my posts are a little light on with details and I am still using Mum and Dad's computer and Internet.  Hopefully all will be sorted by Christmas - fingers crossed.

We are on to the second week of our Christmas creations displaying some of our Sponsor's images over at Come and Get It.

I have used an images from our sponsors during the year.

The image used is from Stamping Boutique and is called Mail Girl

Here is my card:

and I have also created a card using an image from our sponsor Digi's 4 Joy called Mr Snowman.

Another CAS design

Thanks for visiting and please come join us if you get a chance.

10 December 2014

Crafty Creations Dies

Hi everyone,

Still no internet or phone cannot believe that I now have to wait until 20 December until another technician is available, hopefully by Christmas everything will be working again.

So back at Mum and Dad's to use their computer and internet and sharing my card made for the new challenge at Crafty Creations.

For the next two weeks our theme is:

Something to Die For

Any dies will do we just want everyone to share with us plus our Sponsor is Robyn's Fetish

I have used a Robyn's Fetish image called Blissful Angel and coloured the image in with Copic Markers.

The dies I have used are the SU "Snow Flurry Die" and a Memory Box Die from the "Peaceful Snowflake Frame Set"

Here is my card:

Stamp: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Robyn's Fetish Blissful Angel
Card: Sahara Sand
Ink: Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Snow Flurry Die, Memory Box "Peaceful Snowflake Frame Set", Silver Glimmer Paper, Xpress It Blending Cardstock, Dimensionals, Green Pearls, Vintage Christmas 2013 Couture Creatures Paper, Word Window Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

A simple layout but I think the image is so peaceful.

I was going to add glitter to her wings but I with the glitter snowflakes I changed my mind.

The Copic colours used were:
BG0000, 000, 13, 11, 10
E0000,000, 10, 11, 40, 44, 42, 43 &

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

City Crafter Challenge - #241 Glittering Snowflakes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge - #224 Family Christmas
Robyn's Fetish Challenge - #241 Christmas Cards
Artistic Inspirations Challenge - #121 Anything Goes or Snow
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Christmas & DT Call
Eureka Stamps Challenge - #118 Let it Snow & DT Call

Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting.

09 December 2014

Holly Jolly Christmas

Hi everyone,

For the next few weeks at Holly Jolly we are showcasing images from our sponsors.

For my first project I have created a card using a Lacy Sunshine image called "Tinsel Tangle" and the image has been coloured in with Copic Markers.

This is such a cute little image and I love the sentiment "Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle".

It can get a busy at Christmas so I think the sentiment is perfect.

When I get the internet up and running again at home, hopefully this week, I will add the markers and a closer peak at the image.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Lacy Sunshine Challenge - #48 Holiday Joy
My Perfect Life Challenge - Christmas Cards
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Monthly Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you over at Holly Jolly if you get a chance.

07 December 2014

A Gift for Christmas

Hello & I hope that you are well!

Here in Sydney we have been experiencing some hot weather with storms in the afternoon. This humid weather has created some problems like getting home on Wednesday and finding that the telephone and internet are out.

It is now Sunday and still not working maybe it will be back up and running by Wednesday of this week when the technician gets to home.  In the meantime it is lucky that Mum and Dad are not far away so I can do some posting.

But anyway let me tell you what we are doing at Come and Get It for the next few weeks.

At Come And Get It for the next few weeks we are creating Christmas Projects and Cards using our Sponsor's images.

So for my first project I have used a sweet image from Bugaboo called "Christmas Mouse Ornament" and cut the image out with a die and layered it on some Silver Glimmer Paper.

I created a cover for a bottle wine using some Bo Bunny paper and also where the join is on the back of the bottle I have added some Snowflakes by using the Martha Stewart "Winter Snow" Punch - (I will add photos soon).

The cover can be slipped off and reused of placed on the Christmas Table.

Here is my little project:

Stamp: Bugaboo "Christmas Mouse- Ornament", Festive of Trees Stamp Set
Card: Sahara Sand
Ink: Sahara Sand, Mellow Moss
Accessories: Nestabilities "Beaded Ovals" Die, SU Ovals Collection Die, Crumb Cake Scalloped Trulle Ribbon (retired), Frosted Finishes Embellishments, Martha Stewart "Winter Snow" Punch, Real Red Satin Ribbon (retired), Bo Bunny Elf Magic 2013 Paper #14901917, Xpress It Blending Cardstock, Dimensionals, Rhinestones, Silver Glimmer Paper

The little mouse has been coloured in with Copic Markers and the sentiment reads "A Merry Little Wish..." and is from the Festival of Trees Stamp Set.

The copic colours used are;

Body and Ears: C5, 3, 2,1,0, 00, R0000, 30, 00
Hat: R0000, 29, 27, 24
Ornaments: G000, 21, 24
Ground: W00, 1

I would like to add my project to the following challenges:

A Gem of A Challenge - #134 Anything Christmas
Allsorts Challenge - #288 Animal Magic
Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenge - #25 Unusual Christmas
Paper Creators Craft Challenge - #33 It is all about Christmas
We Do Doobadoo Challenge - Get Festive
A Crafty Mess Challenge - #2 Anything Goes/Traditional Christmas Colours
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - #223 Animals
C.R.A.F.T Challenge - #288 Christmas
Red Rubber Inspirationals Challenge - #149 3D Gifts
The House that Stamps Built Challenge - #123 Anything but a Card

Thank you for visiting and have a fabulous week.

01 December 2014

Y is for Yuletide

Hello, the first of December can you believe it!

I am sharing with you my card for our new theme at ABC Challenges which is:

Y is for Yuletide

So for the next two weeks we are celebrating Christmas and would love you to join us!

Our sponsor is The Paper Shelter and I have used a beautiful image called "Hope".

I have coloured the image in with Copic Markers and added lots of snow some with punches, embellishments and liquid pearls.

The beautiful papers that i used inspired the colours for my image.

Here is my card:

P1020224_edited 2

Stamp: The Paper Shelter “Hope”, SU “Endless Wishes”
Card: Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
Accessories: Bo Bunny Candy Cane Fancy Pants Design “St Nick Stocking #1346” Paper, Jodie Lee Fairy Belle Collection “ Firefly” Paper, Memory Box “Peaceful Snowflakes Frame Set” Die, Shapeabilities Venetian Motifs Die, Nestabilities Captivating Squares Die, SU Word Window Punch, Martha Stewart Winter Snow Punch, Frosted Sequins Embellishments, White & Platinum Pearl Liquid Pearls, Xpress It Blending Cardstock, Dimensionals

Here is a closer look at the image:

The copic colours used were:

Skin: E000, 00, 11, R21

Eyes & Lips: B00, 1, R000, 20, 30

Hair: E57, 55, 53, 51

Holly: G000, 24, 28

Dove: E43, 40, 37

Clothes: BG0000, 000, 11, 13,15, R0000, 00, 1, 2, E0000, 40, 42, 43

Branches: E40, 34, 47

Doesn’t this image just capture a beautiful moment of Christmas!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Crafty Calendar Monthly Challenge - Christmas

Paper Creators Craft Challenge - #33 It is all about Christmas

Sweet Stampin Challenge – Let It Snow

Just Us Girls Challenge - #269 Anything Goes

Completely Christmas Challenge - #40 Anything Goes with Twist using something beginning with “S” (Snow)

Simply Create Too Challenge - #75 Snow, Snow, Snow or Use White Only

Winter Wonderland Challenge - #117 Dies & Punches

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - #222 Die Cuts

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge - #91 Tis the Season

Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful week.


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Blog Archives

The Early 90’s – an exciting time in music

When people get nostalgic about music, they love talking about the pure carefree pop of the 50’s or the experimental psychedelic rock of the 60’s. While I do enjoy a lot of music from those eras, nothing beats the early 90’s for me. It was the start of my teenage years, the growing-up years. We got satellite television in 1991 and I was suddenly exposed to a ton of interesting music videos on MTV, back when it was still music television! So here’s a list of some of my favourite albums from the early 90’s…

U2 – Achtung Baby

Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes

R. E. M. – Out Of Time

Guns n’ Roses – Use Your Illusion I & II

Michael Jackson – Dangerous

Pearl Jam – Ten

Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger

Nirvana – Nevermind

Metallica – The Black Album

R. E. M. – Automatic For The People

Annie Lennox – Diva

Deep Forest – Deep Forest

Alice In Chains – Dirt

Bon Jovi – Keep The Faith

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

U2 – Zooropa

Depeche Mode – Songs Of Faith And Devotion

Enigma – The Cross Of Changes

Alice In Chains – Jar Of Flies

Soundgarden – Superunknown

Tori Amos – Under The Pink

Live – Throwing Copper

Oasis – Definitely Maybe

Pink Floyd – The Division Bell

My Whitney Houston memories

When I saw the news on the internet this morning, I just could not believe it. Whitney Houston found dead in an LA hotel room, at age 48. I was not very aware of her on-going drug addiction but this sudden news still came as a shock. Whitney was one of the first few artists that I really liked growing up.

I remember back in 1986 when she got nominated for the Grammy Awards for hits from her debut album the previous year. My dad used to enjoy listening to quite a bit of her music. So he went and got a cassette of hers. We were living in Delhi at the time in Safdarjung Enclave and this collection of hits looked very much like it was arranged in Delhi itself along with the cover art and everything. 😉 It had hit songs from both her first and second albums, more so from the first; stuff like ‘Saving All My Love For You’, ‘The Greatest Love Of All’, ‘You Give Good Love’, ‘How Will I Know’, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ etc.

Every year we used to happily look forward to the Grammys, especially cos satellite television had not yet made it to India and this was the only outlet to ‘western music’ that we had back then. I still maintain that in those days the Grammys were of much better quality than today. There used to be another programme called Pre-Grammys on the local channel Doordarshan which showed music videos for nominated songs, roughly one week before the award show. Since Whitney had only recently hit the big time and covered the pop/adult contemporary genre very well, the Grammy academy would lap her stuff up like a kid in a candy store. So anyway, my dad would buy cassettes of Grammy nominated songs every year. And I remember the ones from 1986 and 1987 having a number of Whitney hits.

Later, in the 90’s we got MTV and I discovered rock music :p. So, slowly my attention started shifting from the likes of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston and more towards Guns n’ Roses, Pearl Jam etc. But the Bodyguard soundtrack became such a huge smash that it was hard not to be swept by songs like the Dolly Parton cover ‘I Will Always Love You’, ‘I’m Every Woman’, ‘I Have Nothing’, ‘Run To You’ and so on. Then she did ‘Waiting To Exhale’ and another song with Mariah Carey from ‘The Prince Of Egypt’. Shortly afterwards, my interest started waning.

From around 1999 or so, I pretty much completely lost track of what she was up to. I think she was past her peak and losing popularity rapidly. From then on, I would only hear about Whitney in the news for all the wrong reasons such as relationship trouble with ex-hubby Bobby Brown or some other random airing of dirty laundry in the public eye. But I really had no idea that her drug problem had become so serious. I suppose I kind of assumed that many celebrities do drugs and didn’t think too much about it. As of this moment when I publish this post we still do not know exactly how she died. But anyway, it is a damn shame to lose one of the greatest voices of pop music and somebody who shaped a good part of my childhood musical palette.


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Blog Archives

Smashing Pumpkins ‘Oceania’ – Brightly optimistic and reminiscent of early years

Billy Corgan is back! But I shouldn’t add “… with his band of misfits” cos that only applies to Axl Rose, right? Anyway, here’s a little bit of back-story. In 2007 he suddenly decided to bring the old band back together, but funnily enough he did not inform them. So, only drummer Jimmy Chamberlin came back. Nonetheless, the duo charged ahead with an album titled ‘Zeitgeist’ which tried very hard to bring back the rawkk of olden times. It didn’t quite succeed and aside from a few bright spots, the whole thing sounded like a formless mush of modern hard rock. The dream pop element that I loved so much was missing.

Coming back to 2012, Billy has recruited all new band members: guitarist Jeff Schroeder, bassist Nicole Fiorentino and drummer Mike Byrne and set out on an ambitious 44-song set called ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope’ of which this first one ‘Oceania’ is just a part. Phew!! .. But bombast and delusions of grandeur are nothing new to Billy. Their most popular (double) album ‘Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness’ could almost be compared to a sprawling art exhibition on a grand scale. Sure, there were fillers in there but I respected his vision for experimentation and art rock a la Pink Floyd. Those otherworldly qualities are thankfully back now.

‘Oceania’ is a bright and optimistic sounding tribute to their classic blend of heavy metal and dreamy psychedelia that they used to do so well! Right from the first track ‘Quasar’ it is evident that the old Pumpkins sound is back. The song is a delicious mix of crashing drums, distorted guitar and 60’s psychedelia. Mentions of Krishna and Om, plus an opening that sounds like a modern day version of ‘Cherub Rock’ only seal the suspicion that this is a celebration of everything ‘Gish’ and ‘Siamese Dream’. After that burst of energy, they deliver a second punch of delight with ‘Panopticon’ which does take a little bit more time to seep into you. Then come the strings of ‘The Celestials’, a lovely ballad which rocks almost as hard as it flows beautifully to end on a sustained solitary distorted note. As the album ambles along, there are many interesting sounds in tracks like ‘Violet Rays’, ‘My Love Is Winter’ and ‘One Diamond, One Heart’. When we get to ‘Pinwheels’ we are immediately hit with a gorgeously sunshiny opening that lasts for a good two whole minutes followed by soft acoustic guitar. Great stuff this!

Next comes the epic title track which is like the Pumpkins’ version of ‘A Saucerful Of Secrets’ I guess. Took a while to grow on me but I really dig the prog rock tendencies of this song now. Halfway through, Billy stops singing suddenly and the song fades into a dreamy soundscape of distant drums and crazy guitar solos. After that comes the wonderfully chilled out ‘Pale Horse’. One of my favourites on this album, it is easy to get into and completely relaxes the listener. This whole album is just so happy-sounding… I love it! And none of it is cheesy. That’s the best part! As we approach the last stretch of the album, there are some tight rocking songs like ‘The Chimera’, ‘Glissandra’ and ‘Inkless’ which are quite enjoyable musically. These take longer to get used to though, than anything on the first half. Finally, the closer ‘Wildflower’ is okay. Didn’t like it all that much at first but now I can appreciate the music here, although Billy’s singing drones on a bit – a quality in his singing style I was never that big a fan of.

Nevertheless, colour me surprised! After their several tumultuous years as a changing band, I did not really expect or hope for an album as sunny and glowing as this one. Looking at their discography as a whole, nothing will probably top moments like the last 2 minutes of ‘Hummer’, the skipping sighing beat of ‘1979’ or the entirety of ‘Mayonaise’ but I can confidently say that ‘Oceania’ is one of their best efforts that I have ever listened to.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Work commute album of the day: Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream

Featuring seamless transitions from hard rock to psychedelic dream pop and shoegaze to progressive, I really think this was the Pumpkins at their absolute creative peak. 1991’s ‘Gish’ was not quite there yet (although good in it’s own right) and 1995’s ‘Mellon Collie…’ felt too vast, containing good songs interspersed with fillers. This album though, is just perfect from start to finish. It is such a pleasure to listen to every now and then, even now in 2012. Jimmy Chamberlin’s drumming is nothing short of stellar in songs such as Cherub Rock, Quiet, Geek USA and Silverfuck. Maybe the drugs helped. lol. Maybe not. Though I’m not particularly a fan of the lyrics here or Billy Corgan’s voice, everything comes together beautifully to create that fantastic wall of noise. And I just love those moments like during the last couple of minutes of the song Hummer when the guitars quiet down to reveal the most exquisitely gorgeous acoustic solo. That is the kind of stuff that I seriously missed on their comeback-of-sorts album ‘Zeitgeist’. What the heck happened to all the shoegaze inspirations??? Speaking of which, I wouldn’t mind exploring that genre a little more. All I know about it is MBV’s Loveless which frankly I could not get into for the life of me! (Please don’t hate me.) And I believe ‘She’s So High’ by Blur was also shoegaze-inspired. I love that track. Anyway, Siamese Dream… great album and possibly one of my all-time favourites ever. Perfect for a boring, slow work commute. 🙂


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Finishing First

I am working on the baby blanket today,  I figured that I needed to get it done today, so that it is ready to go.  Above it is pictured half quilted.  This time I am quilting it one way and the crossing it the other way to make squares.

Here I am working on marking the next row to be top stitched.  I am marking it rather then freeform sewing so that my top stitching meat up at the corners of the squares.  Its a bit time consuming to do it this way but it looks really cute!

Here the quilting is all done, you can see some of the lines still, but within a day or so they will disappear, they will also go away when I wash it.  I love disappearing ink markers for sewing, they are awesome for lines that you need to sew but don’t need to show!…lol

Here is the back of the quilt, the little dots are actually a raised surface, its really soft, being Minky fabric.  I think I will use some of the left overs of this to make part of some tag blankets as the texture of this fabric is great!

And finally, here is the completed quilt!  I am so happy with it, the quilt measures 37″ square and will keep baby very cosy!

What A Week

It’s been a hectic week for me, and I haven’t been feeling great, so the time I did get to spend at home I tried to sleep most of it, so I haven’t done a ton of sewing.  I did manage to get half of the table runner quilted, I am pleased with how it is turning out.  I have more projects that I am planning and with Amy’s Challenge week coming up I am going to challenge myself to get a bunch of it done.  While Challenge week is meant for one thing, I hope to finish 3 -4 things, not very big things mind you, I will talk more about what I am challenging myself with once Amy posts the Challenge!

I have also made a couple of key chains, which I will post later as well.  I am thinking at least a couple of them will end up on my etsy shop.  Which is empty at the moment, but soon there will be some listings up.  I would rather get some things made before I post things, easier that way.

Chris and I are planning a trip (hopefully) we are thinking about going to Mt Rushmore, driving there in a couple of days and then slowly making our way home after we spend the better part of a day there.  We hope to drive to the border the first night, and then drive most of the way the next day, camping along the way.  We are so good at setting up and taking down the tent, this comes from when we went to his cousins wedding, we drove further then where we needed to be and then worked our way over there spending only a night or 2 at each place we went.  It was a lot of fun.  And we need a break.  But its not for a few weeks yet.

I have a poll for you!

I am working on my Mini Margaret Bag and I am at the point where I am ready for a button, only I cant decide. So hopefully you can help me out. Here are some photos of my margaret in progress, I have put a strip of the inside fabric over the purse so that you can see it, but my question is Which Button do I choose? (there is a poll at the bottom of this post, thanks in advance for playing)

Here is a view of all the buttons together

And here is the poll!!

What are we working on today?

Sunday’s are a great day for me to quilt and get other things done.  And so today I have been working on lots.  I have started cutting, sewing and pressing a dresden plate, this is made with the cheap template I bought to see if I could make a dresden plate…lol… its nice, just a lot shorter then I would have liked, the template is only one size, so you are pretty much stuck with what you get.  So before I finished it, I ordered the Easy Dresden Ruler.  I like making them but would like to be able to create multiple sizes!

I also am working on a Disappearing 9 patch table runner, there is a great and super easy tutorial here to make your own, I have all the blocks sewn together, and it has been sandwiched and pinned and is ready for quilting.

But before I can quilt that, I need to quilt and finish the baby blanket, so I am thinking of quilting the 9 patch as a treat for finishing quilting the baby blanket.  It is a slow process as I am marking a few lines and then top stitching, then more marking, and well you get the idea.  I am using my disappearing ink pen and if i do to many at once the lines start to fade before I get to them!!

So now that leads me to….What are you working on today?  I hope you have been productive in what ever you are doing today!

Made on a Mac


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7 posts tagged with metafilter and links.
Displaying 1 through 7 of 7. Subscribe:

Recent Amazon Links not working

A Metafilter Labs project, Recent Amazon Links, either isn't working or nobody has posted a link to an Amazon product for a couple of days, which I've never seen happen before. As a gadget addict, I'm wondering if something's broken or are other things being prioritized? Is anyone else experiencing this?
posted by SillyShepherd on Oct 3, 2014 - 14 comments

What percentage of FPP links get clicked?

What percentage of FPP links get clicked?
posted by Trurl on Dec 22, 2011 - 57 comments

Self referential posts

What would happen if I posted a self-referential FPP? [more inside]
posted by GnomeChompsky on Oct 28, 2011 - 64 comments

Can I link to my classmates' MySpace Music pages?

I study popular music, and needless to say I go to school with some pretty amazing musicians and song-writers, many of whom have MySpace profiles and websites with their songs on them. [more inside]
posted by MaiaMadness on May 30, 2010 - 35 comments

Links for the Memories

The welcome-back message on the front page reads 'x links and y comments posted since your last visit' (except, y'know, with numbers). But most posts contain more than one link. Would it be better to have it read 'x posts and y comments'? There's probably a downside I'm not seeing.
posted by box on Dec 10, 2009 - 38 comments

Non-obvious links in posts

what? posts around here have often had lots of extra links about a topic, but is it too much to ask that the text of a post at least make sense? Personally, I'd like to get a clear idea of what I'm clicking on (even if it doesn’t elucidate the full scope) in mefi posts.
posted by delmoi on Feb 10, 2005 - 16 comments

Single link for a whole post?

We should be able to refer to a topic (i.e. whole of thread) using single link - in a way that will allow us to send it via email to other people who are likely to be interested, but don't use metafilter regularly.

posted by vinod on Oct 1, 2001 - 3 comments

Page: 1


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Career Management

Our PMBA students want to ensure they're continuously learning and connecting with people and resources that will propel them into the next phase of their careers.

That's why our program focuses on developing and practicing skills needed for expanding your network to explore new employment opportunities. Whether participants want to showcase their talents to their current employer or expand their network to include potential employers, the variety and flexibility of career offerings adds tremendous value to the PMBA program.

From establishing a personal brand to understanding how to more actively nurture and engage your network, you will have access to resources that will fast-track your career development and prepare you for leadership opportunities.

The Professional MBA program offers a host of mini-courses, career building opportunities and skill building sessions to show professionals how to actively manage their careers, with their current employers and beyond.

  • How to effectively develop social and emotional intelligence skills
  • Developing a personal brand and image
  • Networking strategies
  • Résumé writing
  • Opportunity analysis
  • Working with executive recruiters
  • Web-based job search tools and resources

The career-focused mini-courses offer students guidance and support based on your specific needs and interests. In addition to these courses, professional staff are available to help guide you to the next step in your career.

As a PMBA student, you can further expand your network by tapping into the School of Management’s extensive global network. From your PMBA colleagues to students and alumni, we can you connect to people and organizations that can help poise you for opportunities that will accelerate your career. Some of the available opportunities for connection include:

  • Developing relationships with graduates around the world who share your goals
  • Taking part in PMBA events designed to expand the reach of your current network
  • Leverage your online social networks


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Police Capture Dylann Roof, White Gunman Who Killed Nine in Black Charleston Church

Nine people were killed after a gunman opened fire Wednesday night at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Among the dead was the church's pastor, South Carolina state Sen. Clementa Pinckney.

On Thursday morning, police had apprehended the suspected shooter identified as Dylann Storm Roof, a 21-year-old white male.

At a news conference shortly after the incident, city police Chief Greg Mullen called the shooting a hate crime. On Thursday, the Department of Justice, FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office launched an official hate crime investigation, ABCNews reported.

"This is a tragedy that no community should have to experience," Mullen told assembled reporters. "It is senseless and unfathomable that someone would go into a church where people were having a prayer meeting and take their lives," the New York Times reported.

Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. announced the city would be offering a reward for information leading to the shooter's capture.

According to a survivor, the gunman briefly may have prayed before opening fire and allowing certain individuals to go free.

Police have released a photo of the suspect who remained at large as of Thursday morning as well as images of the black sedan he was driving.

Suspected Charleston shooterSource: Charleston Police
Suspected Charleston shooter  Charleston Police
Car of suspected Charleston shooterSource: Charleston Police
Car of suspected Charleston shooter  Charleston Police

Pinckney had been an outspoken advocate for the black community in the state legislature and had focused on issues of body cameras as a way to curb police brutality. Charleston sits just south of where a police officer fatally shot and killed Walter Scott, an unarmed middle-aged black man, in early April. The murder was misrepresented at the time by the officer, Michael Slager, and only received national attention after video taken by a bystander emerged.

The attack by a white male against one of the oldest historically black churches in the South rekindled painful memories of racial violence from a different era. NAACP president Cornell William Brooks released a statement after the shooting condemning the violence, saying that "our heartfelt prayers and soul-deep condolences go out to the families and community of the victims."

Photos from Charleston showed the anguish and chaos of the moment as officials scrambled to find the shooter and make sense of the tragedy.

Source: David Goldman/AP
Source: David Goldman/AP
Source: David Goldman/AP
Source: David Goldman/AP
Source: David Goldman/AP
Source: David Goldman/AP

Reaction online was also one of grief with users flooding social networks to share their condolences. Throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the hashtag #CharlestonShooting was trending on social media.

Thursday, June 18, 2015 10:16 a.m. This story has been updated.


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Lunch for Two for $10!

In: What's Cookin'?

Over the last decade, I have spent the same amount of money each month on food. Ten years ago, that meant that I had a dinner party at least once-a-week, provided snacks for all the neighbor kids, had a liquor cabinet stocked with premium brands, and bought food at gourmet shops, both for guests as well as my family of four who ate nearly all meals at home since “school” took place at our dining room table. Today, it means that I feed myself and one child with the occasional Whole Foods gift card tossed my college kids’ way…and no dinner parties…and no liquor. Nobody can tell me that the price of food has not quadrupled in that time as I have spreadsheets to prove otherwise. And yet, you can still eat a clean, tasty, and nutrient-rich meal for less than what it  costs to go to McDonald’s. I am going to have a conniption if I have to explain the obvious health benefits.

But with the recent conversations about healthcare coverage, people are focusing on the wrong thing. Sadly, people do not consider the backend expense of poor eating habits and lack of nutrition. I save a bundle by having a healthy family. According to Forbes, medical expenses for the average family of four exceeds what they spend on groceries. Well that is stupid!

If you want to save money on both food and health care, consider eating at home as a start. Step two is preparing fresh foods for your family. And include them in the process. One of my “rules” for my children was that they learn to make 50 meals before they left home. I implemented that “rule” when they were young enough that they thought it fun to chop, stir, slice, and pour; by the time they realized that I could not make them do anything, they already knew a tremendous amount about nutrition, food pairings, and taste, not to mention how to use food to heal themselves.

The next time you are tempted to grab something quick and easy,2013-05-02_14_24_29 try making some grilled fish, rice, and salad. The dishes featured in this post each took me less than fifteen minutes to prepare and cost $10- for two people! That is $5 each. You cannot even get a fastfood meal for that much. And if you are truly that short on time, grill some meats or tofu one day and use it for salads the next three.

Enrich yourself with healthy eating; enrich your life cooking with others; and enrich your savings by abstaining from empty calories. Bon appetit!


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Bush Speaks!

Initially, it sounds like blame the home buyers.  Once again, he’s just learned something and is now “teaching” the rest of us.  (Here’s a cartoon I saw a while back.  It explains the sub prime debacle.)

Now the scare tactics — the bank in your neighborhood could fail etc.

Bush backs McCain’s plan to meet tomorrow.  I swear, is there nothing the Bush administration won’t do to help McCain?

2 responses to “Bush Speaks!

  1. I think he is trying to let the Federal Reserve do the SEC’s job, among other things.

    I don’t trust the panic. Too much of a Patriot Act vibe for me. My Congressman concurs. I’m going to read up on the proposals and call the congresscritters again tomorrow

  2. I think this little speech was a vehicle to get free air time for McCain’s suggestion of getting together. McCain was already scheduled to be in D.C. tomorrow. This was another way — on a grander scale — to force Obama to do what they want.

    I’m lucky in a way, I live in a red state, have a blue rep and she’s too busy with the hurricane stuff. I don’t think she is on the committees involved in this negotiation. I should look that up though.

    I can’t remember where I read it, but this Paulson plan was in the works way before last Friday, so your instinct is correct.

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Midwives of the Revolution

Explorations, analysis, and reflections on women's health, midwifery, and politics from a feminist, marxist lens

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Surprise! Anti-Abortion Lies Across America!

Where do I begin with what is wrong with this ad?

The fact that a dad was surprised that he got someone pregnant, for one.

The fact that this suggests a cute baby is all women need to convince them that they should accept and embrace any surprise pregnancy, for two.

That the fact a potential baby has a heartbeat is supposed to sway an actual human that she shouldn’t have an abortion, for another.

But really, the fact that this has been up and prominent on my commute route home for at least two months and it hasn’t been defaced, is what really bums me out. I’m not saying that y’all should go out and mess it up. But if there was a movement to turn the tide against this kind of anti-woman garbage, that might have happened.

We have a lot of work to do to de-stigmatize abortion. These kinds of billboards show us our work is cut out for us. We desperately need a movement in the streets that proclaims that whatever the reason a person wants to terminate a pregnancy is ok.

Only a pregnant person can know if it’s right to continue a pregnancy, whether it was a surprise (for her or the sperm donor) or not. I look forward to the day such messages of reproductive freedom are found publicly and beautifully in public spaces, paid and not.

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How I Got Here; Or: Why I Am a Nurse-Midwife

Now that I’m here, I’ve jumped through the hurdles of getting my degree, passing boards, getting licensed, and becoming employed, I thought it would be nice to reflect on how I got here. It’s easy to take for granted sometimes, now that I just wake up and go to work every day. But I’m doing what I set out to do! I’m midwifing! So…how did that happen?

Back in the day…

My background is in languages and literature. I studied English and Spanish in undergrad. Like many undergrads, I had no idea what I would do when I grew up…Like many women, I thought I was “bad” at science and hadn’t really taken myself seriously in that regard. When the nursing shortage blew up in the mid-2000s, my mom suggested I look into nursing. I didn’t really think it was for me. I had the old-school pre-feminist movement (and very middle class) idea about nurses as doctor’s handmaidens and couldn’t see myself doing it. But then I started looking into it, and taking my prerequisites for nursing school (adventures to tell of another day), and more and more found it seemed like the right next step for me. Hands + heart + science + possible unionism + healthcare activism…that I could get into.

I originally planned to be a WHNP. When I started nursing school, I had never attended a birth, and I really didn’t know much about midwifery. I liked the idea of working with women, but I didn’t want to try to get into a program/field that I wasn’t as passionate about. I knew folks who were planning to be midwives, and they were excited about Ina Mae Gaskin and doulas and home birth. But I was in my mid-twenties, and no one I was close with had had a baby yet, and these topics were remote from my experience. The abortion world was more my bag, and I knew that as a WHNP, I could possibly train to provide early aspiration abortion or at least do lots of cool family planning work.

Trust Women Tiller

Then, I fell in love with birth and also realized that, as I later saw expressed beautifully in the documentary After Tiller, trusting women and being pro-woman/pro-abortion was midwifery. The issues of birth and family planning and abortion are inextricably linked. And, from a practical standpoint, I realized that it made sense for me to provide pregnancy and birth care as well as the other family planning and gyne care I would do as a WHNP. Why hand off patients to another provider to attend the birth, when I could actually be the one to be there for the whole lifespan? So, during nursing school I asked the women’s health department if I could switch to midwifery. They OK’d me.

An Alternative Route

For a variety of reasons, my path to practicing midwifery has not been traditional, at least how it’s done “typically” by CNMs. According to tradition, an RN works in labor and delivery, then goes to midwifery school, then works as a CNM. When I finished my nursing program, nursing jobs in labor and delivery were hard to come by. I got one interview on a hospital unit but did not get the position. I applied to dozens of others. I also had put out my feelers for work in abortion care and managed to get a position through a student colleague connection, at the abortion service in the county hospital.

My first nursing position was a nightmare, but it paid the bills for my first semester of midwifery school and gave me valuable insight into the lives of women seeking abortion in fairly desperate situations. I then got a scholarship so I didn’t have to continue working as a nurse during my program, but it required me to complete it in two years. I babysat for a wonderful family and watched their family grow throughout my graduate studies. Then, as I was completing my final semester of my masters program, I landed another position in abortion care, which eventually turned into a broader family planning nursing role. That is the last job I held until beginning this current job.

After I passed my boards (got certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board), I again looked for jobs around my city. This time around, I had more interviews and got a lot more interest, but still, employers and even my mentors questioned if I could work as a full-scope (meaning: catching babies, not just working in the office) CNM without having worked as a nurse in labor and delivery. Some suggested that I should swallow my pride and try to get such a position and then try again in a year or two for a full scope  job. It was a full six months between my initial interview and my start date for the position I landed, and there were times that I considered this option. Luckily, this position came through, and I got to do things the way I originally thought I could (more or less).

What is midwifery? Is it only possible to be a midwife if you’ve been a nurse during hundreds of births, many of which were probably complicated or high risk? I don’t think so.

It’s hard being one of the handful of people who graduated from programs like mine, that allow you to graduate without having to work labor and delivery, having to prove that you belong and that you can hang with the more experienced nurses. But I am not alone, and I’m grateful for others who blazed the trail before me — whether they intended to or not.

Midwifery is a whole lot of things.* True, the only births I’ve attended are the ones where I was doing the baby-catching (or doing labor support in a few instances). I haven’t seen a ton yet. My career is young. I am humbled by all I have to learn. But I have also worked in women’s health for over six years, and have learned compassion and to not judge women’s lives and choices. Midwifery is trusting women, it’s listening to women, and it’s being present with women. You can’t learn that from a textbook or demonstrate that on a board exam, but you can show it in the type of care you give. I am confident that, as one quarter of women in the United States will have an abortion before the age of 40, my background in abortion provides a ton of useful clinical and emotional skills to be a good midwife. Good midwifery care has to include all phases of the reproductive lifespan, including abortion. (And hopefully one day CNMs will be legally allowed to provide spontaneous and elective abortion care in all states!)

Tomorrow will mark three months as a practicing CNM, but I think I’ve been practicing the midwifery model of care for more than that. I respect that other midwives took other paths — and they may have done so out of their own necessities. I hope that as I enter the birth setting again in a few months, when I get my hospital privileges, I can continue to safely develop my labor and birth skills and humbly continue my journey with new mentors and teachers.

*There are, of course, other paths to midwifery outside of nursing. I respect direct-entry or certified midwives, but I don’t claim to know much about their paths. I can only speak as someone that went the CNM route, and know that non-nurse midwives have their own contributions to women’s healthcare that may differ from where CNMs might be coming from (e.g. Ina Mae Gaskin).

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Abortion should be available on demand, without restrictions, for everyone who needs it. I believe that while society still places limits on what a woman may or may not do with her own body, while women’s sexuality and reproduction are still in effect controlled by the state, any discussion of equality or empowerment is a joke. – Laurie Penny

Sums it up.


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2006-06-16 Spike activity

Quick links from the past week in mind and brain news:

The Boston Globe has a review of Walter Benjamin’s collected writings on drugs and intoxication.

Study finds Prozac worse than placebo at treating anorexia (via AADT)

South America’s indigenous Aymara people have a ‘reverse concept’ of time.

The Phineas Gage Group apply behavioural science to legal education.

Older people do mellow with age – they’re quicker to perceive happiness, slower to perceive fear.

World of Psychology report that child abuse may be a causal factor in schizophrenia.

Psychologist Dana Leighton is recording and podcasting her general psychology lectures.

Developing Intelligence looks at recent research which is trying to determine the main alogorithms of the prefrontal cortex.

One I missed in a previous post… Chronobiology blog Coturnix has now moved to A Blog Around the Clock.

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(title credit goes to my Mom)

Today, (which happened to be March 15th) tomorrow, and Saturday were planned “MORE” days for me. With the exception of the crazy Thursday afternoon routine that includes Student Council, NJHS meeting, horseback riding, and tutoring, Thursdays are usually my favorite day.  My favorite morning would probably be a more accurate way to put it.  It’s my designated Yo-God (Yoga with a Christian focus) day.  For me, it’s like getting a stress releasing work-out, a tension relieving massage, and an hour of spiritual healing all in one. I love it.

But Yo-God was just going to be the tip of the iceberg this morning. My wonderful-and-pretty-incredible husband* had his big busy work week full of User Group Meetings and hosting client dinners this week. They stay at a gorgeous ocean side resort for three days when this is happening.. sounds divine to me, but in reality I know it’s still just work for him. This year he invited me to come out for the day, have lunch with him then enjoy the spa or the beach while he’s in meetings. Well YEAH! I’d say that lunch with him, a massage and some beach time would go a long way in making me more than just mom. So, I had planned to go straight from Yo-God to meet him at the resort.

As if that wasn’t good enough, I have tickets to see an Off-Broadway show (and a plan to juggle the three kids while he’s at a working dinner) Friday night with my girlfriends from my neighborhood! To be followed by some volunteer training that I’ve really been looking forward to on Saturday! Three days of MORES just for me!!

You moms know what is coming next, don’t you? I mean, that’s just too good to be true. Obviously.

My son, The Owl, started that asthmatic cough on Wednesday – the one that usually means I’ll be giving him breathing treatments q4hrs within a matter of a couple of days, so I just went ahead and started it.

My middle child, The Pelican, seems to be having some sort of reaction to the earrings she has the new-found freedom to accessorize with.. and her ears are slightly infected. (responding to Neosporin, but she can’t wear earrings. Can the holes still close in 3 months after being pierced? Because I’m not doing that crap again.)

My youngest daughter, The Starling, was home Monday with a tiny low-grade fever, but that’s about all.. not nearly enough to slow her down, so she went back to school on Tuesday. By Wednesday night she couldn’t breathe because of head congestion. And this morning she woke with a spot on her face that – best I tried – I could NOT ignore.

I took this photo of it:

… and sent it to my mom. Because that’s what I do when I’m in a panic – “Mom, PLEASE tell me I’m wrong and this is just a bug bite?!”  — My mom agreed that it was suspicious. Determined to keep asking people until someone told me she was fine to go to school, I called the school early and sent the picture to the school nurse.  I don’t know what I expected her to say, but she said, “Yes that really does look like Chicken Pox. Don’t send her to school. Take her to the doctor.”

With the calendar items and thoughts of how many days of school my child has already missed this year running through my head, I call the office of our Pediatrician. 2 hours of waiting for a return phone call, results in a second call from me to them. The Pediatrician can’t get her in until the afternoon.. which, as we have already discussed, is quite full with other stuff.  So we end up at an urgent care facility, because I don’t have enough patience to “wait” to find out what I’m dealing with.

So it’s the Ides of March and I can’t help think that my kids might be conspiring to kill the “just me” part of me and keep only the motherhood part.  “DEATH TO YOUR FUN, MOM! You’re our slave! How DARE you attempt to get a life?!”  I’m only kidding, of course.  But really, all that beautiful planning to do fun things for myself — all up in the air or gone by the wayside already. It makes me a little** disappointed and sad.

Yes. It’s a selfish thought process; I realize this. But I’ve given myself fully over to these little birds for the first 11 years of my motherhood, so finally finding a tiny bit of selfishness is Ok, right?

Remember the 6th sense Superpower (that I’m convinced was given to them in the disgusting prenatal vitamins) they have of knowing when you’re on the phone or in the bathroom? Turns out that isn’t the only Superpower my kids have.

My kids also have Super-human powers like being able to break through ANY immunity or vaccine you can give them! You name it, my kids are going to catch it.** – I think I actually posted earlier on in my blog where I questioned the importance of these vaccines.. I just thought I was being funny at the time, but apparently I knew more than I realized.

Speaking of questioning the validity of health care.. back at the urgent care stop (that was in lieu of a beach side lunch date with my wonderful-and-pretty-incredible husband), my confidence was shaken a tad bit when I had to explain to the first practitioner that it was indeed possible for kids to “break through” the varicella vaccine and still get a mild case of Chicken Pox. Further doubts settled in when he reacted to my sharing of this information with a surprised face and asked if I minded that he step out to “do some research on this.” – I could hear the conversations through the closed door. Yes, it’s possible. When the door opened again, it was a different practitioner. Second opinion, I guess. And her surprised face was because indeed, “it looks like Chicken Pox!” with 100% certainty. Yet what followed brought me feeling like we were somewhere down around 60% sure. The second doctor then said, “But follow up with your Primary on Monday morning, because I don’t want to be responsible for her  missing that much school.” Well, if she has the chicken pox, she needs to miss that much school.

We left the urgent care office with a shaky diagnosis of… “Chicken Pox, but follow-up with your Primary Pediatrician.”

I called our regular pediatrician’s office back and promptly made an appointment for as early as they had available on Friday morning, rather than Monday morning. – Did I mention that I have tickets to see a show with my girlfriends on Friday night? –

Here’s the kicker.  At 3:45 my phone rings and it’s the pediatricians office.. returning my phone call from 8:15 this morning. Seriously? It’s way past time to fire my pediatrician’s office.

While on the phone with him, there is a heated conversation about why I went to urgent care instead of his office. (Um, hello, dude it took you 7.5 hours to call me back and I already have a diagnosis AND a follow-up appointment scheduled!) He proceeds to tell me that if I could come in then, he would like to see her, because “there’s NO WAY that she has Chicken Pox!”

Are ya freaking kidding me? I’ve already followed up with the school nurse. Who in turn has already sent out a “Chicken Pox letter” on School letterhead to all parents informing them that their kids have been exposed to Chicken Pox. Does he know how humbling (read humiliating) it is to be the source of a [potential] viral disease running though the school?! Well, I’ll tell you this. Until I have an unequivocal answer about exactly what the heck is going on, I’m not talking to the school nurse again!

The events that took place during and surrounding our second trip to a doctor’s office today are just too overwhelming to delve into, and I – quite frankly – am too exhausted to do so tonight. They did, however ALSO include over-hearing conversations between doctors and nurses through closed doors. Don’t they know we can hear them?! But anyway, tomorrow is another day. And of only one thing am I certain: it will include some sort of interaction with doctors. Because I still don’t know exactly what we are dealing with. AND I don’t know who our next pediatrician will be.. but there will be a next. And soon.

So no, there weren’t any beach side lunch dates, massages, or toes in the sand today. Instead, multiple doctors’ offices, lots of copays and frustration. And still no clear cut answers. There are going to be times when we bang our heads against the wall, and no matter how hard we try, our best laid plans will have to be let go.

It’s all going to be fine, though; that’s just part of this motherhood thing. Some days we have to give ourselves over to it.. and that’s really OK.

Plus my little Starling’s cheeks are the MOST kissable cheeks in the whole world. Today she had one that was totally void of mysterious spots.. clear for the kissing. And there was plenty of time for such things during the many hours we spent cuddling in doctor’s office waiting and exam rooms.

You know, at the end of this day, I can’t help think about the topics from my string of posts lately (including one that I have yet to post, but will soon) and though I did not intend for them to add up to anything.. they seem to. There’s been a lot of questioning of the hurried pace. Juggling. A lot of searching for balance. And derailing of plans that I’ve made.

I think SOMEBODY  may just be trying to give me a heads up on something…

Ides of March, y’all.

*Yes, I do believe that if I put the compliments before his name I can then say anything I want to say about him and it becomes all very loving.

** Fine. More than a little. A lot, really.

*** For instance? The Owl (my oldest) got the Chicken Pox when he was 8, despite having had the vaccine.


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Life and Other Funny Things

Who Pooped?!

I found this the other day, thought I’d share:

An interactive game!

It’s a super cool game on whopooped.orgcreated by the Minnesota Zoo.
What happens is they show you a picture of animal excreta (yes, thats how you say poop when you’re an adult), and you have to guess which animal the feces (actually I think this one’s funnier than poop) belong to.
Try it, it’s fun! Unless thinking about an animal’s bodily waste makes you sick, in which case I would not recommend it.

Random question: Do any of you ever laugh when people say the word duties? I do. In fact, if anyone asks me how my duties are going (you would think they’d be more careful with words like that), I awlays respond with smooth. Yes, I am that weird.

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