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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Be Thankful But Study What Happened

With the consumption data released today--the day before Thanksgiving--we are reminded to give thanks that retail sales are at least growing not declining sharply as they were a year ago. But what was it really like out there day-by-day in the shopping centers a year ago? How rapidly were sales declining? And what did it have to do with what was happening on Wall Street? To answer these questions, I examined daily retail sales from Target stores in the weeks before Thanksgivng last year. The data were provided to me courtesy of the Target Corporation.

Daily sales are hard to analyze because they jump around so much and because there are stong seasonals and huge within-week variations as you can see in the first chart showing sales at Target stores around the country. But after adjusting the data for these factors one can see more clearly what was happening as shown in the adjusted data in the second chart. The details of how you get from the first chart to the second chart are in my note Analysis of Daily Sales Data during the Financial Panic of 2008. As shown in the second chart, daily sales had been declining in the summer of 2008 compared to 2007, as the recession began in late 2007. But there was a noticeable acceleration in the decline from September to November 2008. The acceleration appeared to start before the Lehman bankruptcy on September 15, and there was no noticeable effect at the time of that bankruptcy or shortly thereafter. It was not until a week later that sales really began their precipitous decline in panic-like fashion that paralleled the panic in the financial markets. This was during the chaotic period that various government responses were being proposed, debated, criticized, and implemented, suggesting that these responses were themselves a factor. However, it is difficult to find a negative impact on sales of single events or dates during the panic. Rather there appears to have been a more cumulative, yet still very sharp, negative impact

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Economic Freedom and Rose Friedman

We are hearing a lot these days about the disadvantages of free markets and the need for a greatly expanded role of government in the economy. Last month I spoke at a wonderful memorial for Rose Friedman. We celebrated among other things about Rose's life, her strong advocacy, along with her husband Milton Friedman, of free markets, starting in the 1940s and 1950s, another time of talk about the disdvangates of free markts. The memorial took place at the Hoover Institution on the Stanford campus. George Shultz, David Friedman, Bob Chitester, and others spoke. There was a lot of talk about the need to reenter the fray. I spoke about how Rose was an inspiration for anyone who wishes to do so.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

New Evidence of Government Induced Risk

A year ago I wrote Getting Off Track one of the first books on the financial crisis. I argued, based on data available at the time, that government actions caused, prolonged and worsened the crisis. After a year of debate, this early assessment is holding up well. Indeed it is being reinforced by new evidence.

Consider, for example, the government actions associated with the takeover of Fannie and Freddie in 2008. Of course, Fannie and Freddie were a big part of the reason for the explosion in mortgage debt including risky subprime mortgages, but I want to focus now on the impact of government actions relating to these institutions during the period leading up to the panic in 2008.

A good way to assess this impact on risks is to look at the spread between interest rates on subordinated debt and senior debt at Fannie or Freddie. When investor concerns about risks at the institutions increase, the interest rate spread between subordinated and senior debt rises. So what caused the movements in these spreads in 2008?

The three charts show the spread between the interest rate on Fannie Mae subordinated debt and Fannie Mae senior debt over three different periods. The yellow line with the green shading in the lower panel of each chart is the interest rate spread of sub debt over senior debt. In the top panel (harder to read) the orange line is the rate on subordinated debt and the white line is the rate on senior debt. The first chart focuses on the period from June 2004 to February 2008. The spread was fairly stable fluctuating in a rather narrow range around 20 basis points over this period.

The second chart covers the period from March 2008 through June 2008. Observe that the spread jumped to around 80 basis points after the Bear Stearns intervention. Unlike many other risk spreads it did not come back down after Bear Stearns.

The third chart focuses on the period from July 2008 through September 2008. There are two big upward jumps during this period. The first was on July 11. What was the big event that day? It was a leaked news story about a possible government action, a takeover of the two institutions. In particular the New York Times ran a front page story with the headline "U.S. Weighs Takeover of Two Mortgage Giants"

The other big jump up was on Monday August 18th. Again the reason was a news story about another government action. The previous Friday the Washington Post reported that the Treasury hired Morgan Stanley to assess the vulnerability of Fannie and Freddie, a strong indicator that the government was looking for outside justification to take over the institutions. It is important to note also that certain other events, which could have moved the spread up, did not move it up. When Freddie and Fannie released their second quarter earnings in August, there was little to no reaction in the spread.

So the major movements are clearly linked to government policy decisions and news stories about them. This timing does not prove that the government actions were responsible, but at the least it raises questions about why rumors of possible government actions were leaked to the news media.

The questions are important because some government officials have indicated that these jumps in the subortinated debt spread were part of the evidence to justify the take over the institutions at this time. But the evidence shows that the government itself was increasing the spreads.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Monetary Policy Week

This week was monetary policy week in Economics 1 at Stanford. It was also monetary policy week in Washington: the House Financial Services Committee surprisingly voted 43-26 for Ron Paul's controversial bill to audit the Fed; the TARP inspector general found that the Fed's AIG bailout was unnecessarily generous to creditors; and people continued to debate how long the Fed could hold the interest rate at zero without threatening the dollar.

To discuss the interest rate decision in my lectures, I made use of the Taylor Rule, a guideline for the Fed and other central banks to use in setting interest rates. To start I showed the students how to derive the rule from economic theory. Actually, the students derived the rule on their own--with the help of a little Socratic questioning--even choosing the signs of the coefficients and the target inflation rate (2 percent) correctly. I was happy to welcome the NewsHour's Paul Solman and his camera crew who came to film part of this lecture. Here's my paper on what others would later call the Taylor Rule

The Taylor Rule says the interest rate should equal one-and-a-half times the inflation rate plus one-half times the GDP gap plus 1. Rounding off to the nearest percent, inflation is running around 2 percent and the GDP gap around -8 percent, so the rule says the interest rate should be near 0, (1.5 x 2 + .5 x (-8) + 1 = 0) which is about where the Fed is now. As the economy recovers and real GDP increases, the Fed should raise rates. If inflation picks up too, it will have to do so more rapidly.

Several columnists and bloggers also used the Taylor Rule this week, including Gene Epstein of Barron’s in “Better Baking for the Bank: The Right Recipe for Rates.” The recommended interest rate setting can vary a bit because of different estimates of the inflation rate and the GDP gap (the percentage difference between real GDP and potential GDP). Epstein also finds the interest rate to be close to zero, but slightly higher at 0.6 percent.

But sometimes you read really wild things about what the interest rate should be. Paul Krugman’s Monday piece about the Taylor Rule is an example. He says he likes to use an estimate of the Taylor Rule. But the estimate is much different from the Taylor Rule, so he gets a much different interest rate setting of -7 percent! This implies that we are unlikely to see a positive interest rate for many years, which would be dangerous for the stability of dollar let alone the stability of the U.S. and world economy. I explained the problems with using such estimates in a Bloomberg oped several months ago. Estimates can perpetuate past mistkes. In the current environment they could lead to a repeat of the same mistakes that led to this deep recession. Michael McKee, in another Bloomberg opinion piece , suggested a line for me from Woody Allen's Annie Hall, where Marshall McLuhan makes an appearance and tells an academic pontificating about McLuhan: “you know nothing of my work!”

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Road Ahead for the Fed

Stories this week in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Washington Post focus on how Senator Chris Dodd's new financial reform bill threatens the independence of the Federal Reserve. And Larry Kudlow took it up on his CNBC program. Loss of Federal Reserve independence is a serious problem, especially at this time of rapidly increasing Federal debt and a greatly expanded Federal Reserve balance sheet. But an important issue not touched on in these stories is that Fed actions during the crisis have themselves raised questions about its independence. After reviewing these actions in the new book The Road Ahead for the Fed, former Secretary of Treasury George Shultz writes:

"Observing this process, the question comes forcefully at you: Has the Accord gone down the drain? And remember how difficult it was for the Fed to disentangle itself from the Treasury in the post-World War II period."

Secretary Shultz is referring to the 1951 Accord where the Federal Reserve regained its independence following the World War II peg of Treasury borrowing rates. So even without the Dodd bill the Fed has a lot of work to do to disentangle itself. For a broader summary see Tom Simpson's recent review of this book which came out of a conference hosted at the Hoover Institution at Stanford Univeristy by John Ciorciari and me last March.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Jobs Saved: PR or Fact?

While the unemployment rate continues to rise--to 10.2 percent in October--the debate over the "jobs saved" concept also continues, most recently on last Sunday's Meet the Press with host David Gregory asking Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner whether the concept is PR or Fact. Gregory first quotes Allan Meltzer saying “One can search economic textbooks forever without finding a concept called 'jobs saved.' It doesn’t exist for good reason: how can anyone know that his or her job has been saved?” Gregory then pops the question to Secretary Geithner. Watch this short video clip for his answer, and then search your textbook as Professor Meltzer suggests.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Government Failure versus Market Failure

My Forbes magazine column this week reviews the latest empirical evidence on why government actions and interventions--government failure rather than market failure--should be at the top of the list of what went wrong in the recent financial crisis. Some continue to be surprised by my finding. While I focus on macroeconomic policy, mainly monetary policy and fiscal policy, my finding that government failure rather than market failure rises to the top of the list is not at all unsual in the broader context of empirical policy evaluation research.

Cliff Winston of the Brookings Institution carefully reviews three decades of empirical research on a wide range of microeconomic policy studies in his important book Government Failure versus Market Failure. He comes to the same basic conclusion; as he puts it "thirty years of empirical evidence... suggests that the welfare cost of government failure may be considerably greater than that of market failure."

It is interesting that he focuses on research done outside of government because, again as he puts it, "studies conducted by the government,...can be biased, inconsistent, and technically flawed." So perhaps it is not surprising that so few government agencies or officials are pointing to government failure as the main problem in the recent financial crisis.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Greg Mankiw and Homework on Marginal Tax Rates

In an op-ed in today's New York Times Harvard's Greg Mankiw gives a good example of how government transfer programs increase marginal tax rates. He uses the same example assigned to Stanford's introductory students in their homework last week--the Senate Finance Committee's health care plan. Both Mankiw's op-ed and the homework consider the marginal tax rate increase implicit in the plan. Students in introductory economics courses around the country are hearing a lot about the health care debate, which is what makes Greg's column a good reading assignment.

Mankiw considers a family whose income rises from $54,000 to $66,000 and who loses $2,800 in government-provided health care benefits by earning $12,000 more income. The marginal tax rate is the lost benefit divided by the increase in income, which is a high 23 percent (2800 divided by 12000). The high marginal tax rate is a disincentive to work more.

The homework example has an even higher marginal tax rate and a larger disincentive. It consides a poorer familiy whose income rises from $24,000 to $48,000 and thus loses $7,300 in government-provided health care benefits according to the Senate plan. The marginal tax rate is 30 percent (7400 divided by 24000).

So the increase in marginal tax rates in the Senate plan is higher for poorer families.


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The Anchor of Time

     Just as a sailor must bear the mighty power of the seas amidst a treacherous storm, at times we also must buckle down and endure the storms that life brings. Time is like the raging seas on a dark, dreary night; a sailor trapped in the eye of the storm fights with all his strength to stay above the encroaching waters. At some point or another, we are that sailor, surrounded by a world which is being enveloped by busyness. Sailors have anchors with which they can provide their boat a pillar of security.

     Anyone but photographers never comes into contact with an often overlooked tool which acts as an anchor of time. This apparatus is called a tripod. The tripod acts as an anchor of time because when a camera is mounted atop it, time continues to flow on (Just as waves never cease splashing on an anchored sailboat) around the camera, while time becomes glaciated into an image captured by the tripod-mounted camera. Theoretically speaking, there is no limit to how long the shutter in the camera can be open. I often cope with the busy storms of life by indulging into photography. For me, photography is a meditative activity, calming, yet at times thrilling.

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Home Sweet Home

For those affected by water~~

  I’ve been back at work for more than a week now and can feel the hopelessness of those that lost so much with the flooding in southern Minnesota and Wisconsin.  And again I think of the “hope” that’s so hard to find for so many.  My prayers are with you all.
  I did have the opportunity of sitting down with Don Boxmeyer who’s doing a follow up in the Pioneer Press.  He’s the man that told St. Paul
about what I was doing before I headed for Seattle WA to start my journey across America.  Thanks Don!
  I’m finding work a bit boring these days but how could it offer anything in comparison to the summers endeavor.  I remember back in 89 when I completed my bike trip to Washington D.C. to deliver the letters from the kids here about their friends suffering with cancer.  Going back to work was boring then also.  But thank God I’ve got a job to return to and good people to work with.  So I count my blessing and just look forward to presenting myself in D.C. next month and “hopefully” convincing everyone that to gather the hopes of America would surely show a unity unsurpassed and send a bolt of hope into the heavens~~~~Stay tuned~~~~~~~~

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Home » » Pocket Listing (2014)

Pocket Listing (2014)

Pocket Listing For Free

Movie Pocket Listing Full Duration with duration 92 Min and released on 2014-11-19 with MPAA rating is 0.

  • Original Title : Pocket Listing
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  • Release date of movie : 2014-11-19
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  • Durationof movie : 92 Min
  • Average vote of movie : 0
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  • Translation of movie : EN,
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    Rise. Ruin. Revenge. Real Estate.

    Pocket Listing Synopsis:

    Play Streaming Pocket Listing A satirical thriller about L.A.'s real estate roller coaster. Double crosses, adultery, murder, mistaken identity, and revenge ensues when a mysterious power player and his sultry wife hire a disgraced Los Angeles property broker to discreetly market and sell their Malibu villa. Full Pocket Listing Movie

    You can Enjoy Pocket Listing Movie Streaming in HD Now. Play and free download Pocket Listing online movie with single fill out the form by clicking on the image of the sign up button. Enjoy all the albums new movie with all Faves Movie Streaming In ! Just watched it Pocket Listing full and free online movie. This is truly spectacular and could one of those rare amazing. The quality was great all around. Management, images and visual effects were all very innovative and brilliant. The pleasure of the script, often humorous and has a lot of heart for all his characters are all very well developed.

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Monday, November 23, 2015

Let there be light - Moving forward

I was talking to a friend yesterday about our Thanksgiving menu and she mentioned that she saw my ex at a restaurant a few months ago. I am not sure why she picked this moment to give me the news just a few days before the anniversary of our break up.  The day before Thanksgiving.

This is a tired story and this will be the second year that I feel that I am truly over it.  This didn't keep me from spinning my wheels for a half hour of so or having a dream this morning about being back there in that house. What I can remember about the dream is that I had gone to the doctor and he ask me to look into a clear bowl and tell me what I saw.  I said it looked like a piece of coral flooding in water. Evidently that was the wrong answer and indicated that I had some kind of brain disease.

I was happy when I woke up without a diagnoses this morning. I was also grateful to have a home improvement project to work on today. Yesterday after a trip to Lowes for a light bulb for my microwave I came back with under cabinet lights for my whole kitchen.

I feel like my life has been in limbo for a long time. This includes what to do with my sad dreary kitchen. I kept thinking that at some point I would feel inspired to gut the whole thing and design a dream kitchen like the one I had before.  The person that wanted that then doesn't exist anymore.

I think I have been waiting for that person to show up again and take charge. It has been a long wait and I am starting to accept that she isn't coming for me. I left most of the girl I was behind and I am here with mostly a blank slate. I have noticed lately that parts of her have been popping up here there.

Like today after installing the lights I couldn't believe how excited I was getting about redoing my kitchen. After adding lights to one side of the kitchen couldn't believe the transformation. I was so excited I was coming up with one idea after another for what I wanted to do next.

I do love design and have always improved the places I have lived no matter how little money I had. Truthfully when the budget is small creativity really is all you have.  Investing time in your home and making it reflect who you are can transform your life. Having a beautiful space can make coming home at night something to look forward to.

Tonight with the extra light in the kitchen I actually enjoyed making dinner for myself.  I have decided not to gut the kitchen for now and just address the things that will make it more inviting. The lights went a long way in doing that this weekend I am planning to paint.

Being inspired today gave me hope that I am on a path to the new me which includes some of the old me as well. I wanted to believe that I could be inspired again but it has been so long I was beginning to wonder.  Today I am grateful for the new light in my life.

1 comment:

  1. Isn't it wonderful when an old spark like that comes back. The long forgotten creative designer isn't 'dead', just resting.


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Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies provides a broad range of state-of-the-art vacuum solutions to create, measure, maintain and control vacuum for your applications. Whether you need flexible, reliable systems for research and development; simple, robust systems for routine industrial vacuum processing, or fast, rugged, portable solutions for real-time leak detection in your plant, we have the solution for you. All our vacuum solutions are backed by our applications and global service support team to maximize your uptime.

View product line


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30 March 2015

Awesome Logos For Animals Use Creative Typography To Represent Each Creature

If animals have brand logos, what do you think they would look like?

Based in Minsk, Belarus, art director, designer and calligrapher Sasha Chebotarev has created a collection of very clever logos for various animals, including the shark, the rhino, the whale and the snake.

Each logo in the series uses creative typography to bring across the distinct characteristics of the animal that it represents—for instance, the wordmark for the whale forms the shape of the sea mammal while the letter ’S’ in the shark logo has fierce, sharp teeth.

View all all the logos in the series here.

[via Betype, images via Sasha Chebotarev]


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Lian Song

Irritation & Reddening

Lian Song products for external use moisturise the skin and reduce redness and skin irritation with frequent scratching.

According to Chinese tradition, various pathogenic factors can cause an inner stagnation of dampness and heat. The skin will appear red, scaly and may even be weeping. This pattern can appear in babies and children as well as in adults. The illness progresses in stages and manifests itself individually, depending on the patient’s age. Strong irritation and scratching are typical. Treatment primarily consists of clearing heat and fire, cooling xue-heat and expelling wind.

Lian Song is suitable for sale in the practice, in pharmacies or drug stores.


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Asian American Studies

Welcome and Key Databases for Finding Sources

Send Off Husband at Jerome Camp, Japanese American National Museum (Calisphere) This guide is designed to help Claremont Colleges students, faculty and staff to find and use library and information resources for research in Asian American Studies.

Use the menu on the left-hand side to navigate this guide.

If you are new to conducting research:
Consider taking the Start Your Research tutorial to better understand the phases and processes of doing research.

Start your Asian American Studies research with these key resources:

Related Research Guides

You may also want to consult research guides in other fields.

Jennifer Thompson's picture
Jennifer Thompson
RTLS Division
Claremont Colleges Library
800 N. Dartmouth Ave
Claremont, CA 91711


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Information Literacy Habits of Mind (HOMs) Toolkit: Home

Start Your Research Tutorial

The Start Your Research Tutorial teaches to all 5 HOM learning outcomes.

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Information Literacy Habits of Mind Toolkit by Claremont Colleges Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States License.

About This Guide

The Information Literacy Habits of Mind Toolkit was created to provide ideas for library instruction in support of the Claremont Colleges Library's newly adopted information literacy definition. For more information on our information literacy definition and the 5 Critical Habits of Mind, please view the resources to the left.

Additional content will be added to the Toolkit as it is received from librarians at the Claremont Colleges Library. Content in the Toolkit is available for reuse under a Creative Commons license.

In This Toolkit...

In the Information Literacy Habits of Mind (HOM) toolkit, you will find sample activities and ideas for incorporating HOM learning outcomes into your library instruction sessions. Each HOM is represented in its own tab:

Some of the activities cover learning objectives for more than one HOM. This guide is meant to be a starting place for thinking about activities that teach HOMs. You can copy these activities into your course guides, incorporate them into your lesson plans, or (best of all) use them as inspiration for activities that work best for your students and your teaching style.

Do you have activities that work for you in the classroom and map onto one or more of these HOMs? Please send them our way, and we will add them to this toolkit!

This Guide By:

Guide design by Dani Brecher Cook and Natalie Tagge

Additional content provided by the Claremont Colleges Librarians

Teaching and Learning Services Coordinator

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Rebecca Halpern
RTLS North
Claremont Colleges Library
800 N Dartmouth Ave
Claremont, CA 91711
Subjects:Education, Sociology


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Introduction to Essential Lawyering Skills Research Guide: Treatises and Practice Guides

Guide provides information about library resources and research tips for students in the Introduction to Essential Lawyering Skills.

Treatises and Practice Guides

Treatises are scholarly publications containing an organized summary of the law on a particular subject, such as real estate or copyright law. Practice Guides are a type of treatise which is aimed at practitioners. They are usually less scholarly in tone and contains more practical information, such as useful forms and litigation procedures and timelines.

Treatises and practice guides typically contain:

  • An overview of the current state of the law (as of the treatise’s publication)
  • Citations to relevant primary authorities, like statutes, case law, and administrative regulations.

Print treatises also contain tables of cases and statutes cited, Popular Name tables to look up a Law or Act by name, and an index at the end so you to look your topic up by keyword. The Table of Content at the front of the treatise is also a quick and useful starting point to review important topics contained in the treatise.

Access to Treatises and Practice Guides at the Library

Important publishers of treatises include:

  • Rutter Guides, available in print and electronically on Westlaw (type Rutter guides in the main search field or click the Secondary Sources link)
  • Matthew Bender guides, available in print and electronically on Lexis (type Matthew Bender in the main search field or click the top tab Browse - Sources and then search by source on the left-hand side, or otherwise from this page click category-secondary materials then narrow by treatises)
  • CEB (Continuing Education of the Bar) guides, available electronically on CEB Onlaw

Access to Treatises and Practice Guide at your job

Be aware that access to treatises on Lexis and Westlaw are costly and may be outside the institution or firm’s plan. If you use these electronically through Westlaw, Lexis or Bloomberg Law, and your firm does not subscribe to them, you will get charged per document you pull. Instead, the institution is likely to own the major treatise in their field in print, and you will be expected to use it to start your research assignment.

If you’re not sure which treatise to use, you can do the following:

  • Ask an expert, like the assigning attorney or the court librarian
  • Search the library catalog by keyword. At Hastings, narrow your results to the Location Research Alcove.


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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Sweet Red Onion & Black Bean Enchiladas

Finished Enchiladas

Naked enchiladas

I'm a little behind on the posting - I haven't wanted to spend much time in the kitchen this week. Thursday was absolutely freezing cold outside, so instead of going to the gym after work and having to make the longer walk home, I headed straight home to cook something hot. I had to make a fruit salad for our work potluck on Friday, so I figured I may as well do that while enchiladas baked in the oven. The salad of fresh pineapple, kiwi, red grapes and starkrimson pears came out awesome and was a huge hit with my fruit-loving coworkers. I hardly put any effort into the enchiladas (and just threw a sauce together with half the ingredients I usually do), and those came out awesome too. Quantities don't really matter, but a can of black beans will give you about 3-8" tortillas full of enchilada filling.

Sweet Red Onion & Black Bean Enchiladas

Vegetable or Canola oil
1 Can Goya Black Beans, rinsed and drained

2 small cloves Garlic
1/2C Red Onion, diced

2 plum tomatoes, diced

Adobe seasoning, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, dried oregano to taste

Shredded Sharp Cheddar
8" Flour Tortillas

Fresh Cilantro, chopped

Fat Free Sour Cream (for serving)

Simplified Enchilada Sauce

3T Vegetable Oil

1/2 tsp Arrowroot powder
1 Large Tbsp Chili powder (or more to taste)

1 small can of (no salt added) Tomato Sauce

Cayenne pepper (pinch)
Salt, black pepper (pinch)

Hot Sauce (Frank's Redhot) to taste

Saute onions in oil about 3 minutes. Add garlic, saute 2 more minutes. Add black beans and tomatoes and cook until tomato breaks down. Season to taste. Remove from heat and mix in a couple tablespoons of cilantro.

Meanwhile prepare the sauce in a small saucepan. Heat oil over low-med heat and add arrowroot, chili powder and cayenne and stir to dissolve. Add tomato sauce and season to taste.

Lay tortillas on a plate and heat slightly in the microwave to soften them (about 10 seconds). Covering with a damp paper towel helps them not to dry out. Divide bean mixture onto center line of each tortilla and top with some cheese. Fold 2 sides in and secure with a toothpick. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top all the naked enchiladas with sauce and cheese. Less sauce will give a crispier tortilla, less cheese will give a more crunchy cheese topping. More sauce or cheese can be used to taste, depending on if you like your enchiladas saucy or dry. I'm leaning toward drier and crispier these days - you can always add more sauce while serving.

Bake at 400 degrees about 30 minutes until cheese is browned. Serve topped with more sauce if desired, hot sauce, a dollop of fat-free sour cream and chopped cilantro.

Thursday morning view - even looks cold outside, all the smokestacks going full-force

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SE(Denufood) said...

hey..thanks for stopping by at my blog and being a follower of my blog!!!

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Speaker - Mozhi Habibi

 Mozhi  Habibi  Thumbnail

Mozhi Habibi is a member of the Global Energy & Utilities Strategy & Solutions Team. She is the Global Strategy Manager responsible for leading IBM's emerging energy and utility solutions for clients worldwide. In her role, she is focused on working with utility companies, industry partners and others to accelerate the development of an intelligent utility network, integration of renewable energy sources and distributed energy assets, implementation of a smarter grid and smarter cities worldwide. Previously, Mozhi was the head of Product Management at Space-Time Insight, a provider of geospatial situational awareness software, responsible for overall product strategy. Prior to this, she was Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing at Ventyx a company in the energy, utility and telecommunication industries providing asset and workforce management and smart grid operations solutions. Prior to its acquisition by Ventyx in 2007, Mozhi was responsible for market strategy, new product innovation and product management at Global Energy Decisions and Henwood Energy, providers of energy operations, analytics and ETRM software for the energy and utility industry. Mozhi started her career in the energy industry as a field engineer, with General Electric Energy. Mozhi serves on the board of a number of non-profit organizations with a focus on Education. She received her Bachelors degree in aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo and her masters in business administration from San Jose State University. Mozhi lives with her husband and 2 children in San Carlos, California.

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Highlights from GreenBeat 2010

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Get lost Fats!!!

I hate it! It just keeps getting worse. I'm getting heavier and heavier. I don't like this. It frustrates me. Most especially when I see my old pictures. How I look like before, how I can wear my clothes without hesitation. Grrr! This is my venting out entry about my weight. Haha!

I'm out of control with food. Lately, I have been enjoying the goodness of food. And the joy of what chocolates and ice creams and cakes can give. And this is with zero gym or exercise. I hate the fact also that there's no one else to blame but myself. For not having a control with my urge with fatty foods.

I need to wake up. I need to stop. I need to do something!!!

But I can't find the strength and the will to turn things around. Hubbee loves my weight. He embraces it with so much joy. Will it be a matter of making your partner happy about you or making yourself happy? Tough one. Hubbee enjoys cooking food and preparing nice meals for me. And those food are sometimes served with rice. Will it be a matter of enjoying what your partner prepared or refusing it just for the sake of your diet? Tough one again.

I used to work out at Gold's Gym Alabang during the last hours. I intentionally picked that time so it's not crowded. I hate working out with so many people, and so many gays. Haha! And it worked for me. That was when my schedule at work was still 2:00am. But since a lot of things happened to me at work, and now following an early shift, I'm having a hard time adjusting to it and create a routine at gym.

I feel so helpless but at the same time, I know in my mind that there's something that I can do. I feel so sad when everyone's saying how I gained now. Well, it's just the truth. And how I miss the days when I can just wear anything from my closet. Now, it takes me time to choose which one will be appropriate. Damn! I just really hate the feeling.

Again, thoughts of quick fix are running in my mind like diet pills (expensive), liposuction (very expensive), or getting dengue fever (very very expensive). Haha. Lately, I've been seeing success story of people who lost weight by just running consistently, having a healthy lifestyle and good diet. Waaah! I had that motivation and determination before. Where did it go???

Yeah, sometimes, I silently blame hubbee for loving me so much for what I am because I get so relaxed and care less. But God knows I cannot complain for that. We can't find someone who can easily do that. And so I thank hubbee for loving me so much even though I'm getting heavier. But I just wish he would help me to lose some of it. Haha!

I'll keep pushing. Until I get back my motivation and determination to bet back in shape. Until I get in to this figure...

Just kidding! Haha! Happy wednesday!!!

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For four years I’ve blogged mostly about my personal genealogy in New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire), New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. I still will, can’t forget my own roots.

Please check out the labels on the right side for articles. The header tabs at the top are a work in progress.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wordless Wednesday -- Easter Pictures

My first Easter, I think.

Painful to look at, because I hated dressing like my youngest sister.
Showing it, because the outfits were made by my mother.
Light blue fabric and the jacket was removable.

Cynthia Shenette said...

Love them both! Maybe you didn't like dressing like your sister, but the photo is wonderful! Your mom was a wonderful seamstress.

Susan said...

Lovely photos! I remember being dressed the same as my 2 younger sisters and hating it.

Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski said...

Love the photos Barbara ... my Mom also made many of our outfits. I never appreciated the attention to detail she lovingly put into our outfits until I was much older. Fortunately, Mom never dressed us alike but she often used the same patterns with different colors. I see that your Mom was also very talented - light blue is my favorite color :-) Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my blog.

Barbara Poole said...

Thank you all for your comments. Susan, I feel for you, maybe our mothers were from the same gene. Cindy, both of you, my mother majored in textiles in college and she made clothes for me until high school (ugh, ugh). Cindy S. you were lucky your mother used different colors.


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Friday, February 02, 2007

bitchy pig

a couple of days ago i was at the shop getting some groceries and fresh produce. there was this fat woman with her toddler son. she was being such a pain in the ass. she being fat, was already blocking up a lot of space. she also took her own sweet time to choose her stuff, leaving the rest of us to wait for her to finish before having the chance to get what WE need.

she was putting her basket (which is already heavily loaded) on tender foodstuff, thus spoiling the less sturdy vegetables. what an ass of a person!!

as we were lining up to paid for our stuff, i had the misfortune to be right behind the wicked witch of the west. her whiny son was hanging on to her fat legs and as she was moving on she bumped her own son and he fell on my foot. i cushioned his skinny little butt with my crocs. and that cunt had the fucking audacity to make a comment sounding like "can't you see a little boy is down ah?" as she didn't have the guts to say that to my face, i didn't think much of it and let it slide. i was just wondering if she really is such a prick of a person who expects a pregnant woman carrying her own groceries to pick up that whiny little brat for her. Jeez!

as we reached the payment counter, she put her basket on the outside of the counter and i hoisted my own on rest on the inside of the counter. that cuntface started berating me for not waiting and cutting queue and pushing her and all that. i knew she was just waiting for the opportunity to say something after all these while. truth to be told, i was itching for a fight with her as well.

as i retorted and counted all her inconsiderations from earlier on, hindering the rest of us shoppers, she just widened her eyes and glared at me as though i was a young kid and should be afraid of her. i found it so ridiculous that she thinks that it's gonna work on me and i almost burst out laughing. i couldn't of course, had to maintain my game face. i squinty-eyed glared(kinda clint eastwood like, at least i'd like to think so) back at her and said, "what the hell is YOUR problem??!!" she was so flabbergasted that she was speechless. my hubby came into the grocers at that very moment and thought that his pregnant wife was being bullied by a fat-assed pig. he very calmly inquired, "are you having a problem with my wife?" i think she got scared at that moment and quickly replied, "no, no". she quickly paid up and left the shop.

i had so wanted to poke her on her pottu and say "YOU THINK I'M SCARED OF YOU LAH, LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!!" i know, i know, it would have taken the class out of my composure to do something like that. plus that would have been rude and brought me down to her level. but i so wanted to do that. i didn't, but i wanted to.

1 comment:

Kentuckianasian said...

Oh no, she didn't!! I take my hat off to you for being the bigger person and not stoop to her level. I'm not certain if I would've done the same thing or beat the crap out of her LOL. Most likely she wouldn't see the sun the next day LMAO


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home about speaking she cares resources contact

Friday, May 13, 2011

Enjoy the Unexpected

Yesterday I took my Palmer to school with the intention of dropping him off and enjoying his last day of preschool. Ever.

I had a workout on the schedule (long overdue), some writing, some cleaning, a shower, pay the bills.  Well, you get the idea.

Instead, I stayed. I stayed at preschool watching my boy and his friends enjoy their last day. They had so much fun. He had so much fun. Yesterday I wanted to bottle up preK and save it. Yesterday I cherished it. It was an unexpected joy.

Last night Alyssa had a choir performance. Also a joy. I set aside everything yesterday to just enjoy where my kids are right now. That carried over into today. When unexpectedly a child stayed home sick.

Instead of giving into the worry, anxiety and overwhelming duties that are so much easier to do child-free, I am choosing to just enjoy where they are. Especially when it is with me!

And thankfully, Blogger has been down (and I'm not writing enough posts to catch up today) so I have been able to have all this unscheduled fun guilt-free since I got behind on my "31 Days Closer to" posts! LOL

Start changing your focus by choosing to see the joy in the unexpected instead of the inconvenience.

This is the very day God acted—
      let's celebrate and be festive!
   Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
Oh yes, God—a free and full life! Psalm 118:24-25 The Message
      Get the rest of 31 Days Closer to the Life You Always Wanted delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe via e-mail in the top left margin. And visit some of the coolest friends ever:

1 comment:

A little extra time . . . compliments of blogger . . . was nice. Glad you got to enjoy your moments with your kids.


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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Istanbul (II)

 A few more photos taken in Istanbul last week.. The picture below was taken from the Galata tower, where we had a beautiful view over the city. It took us a while to figure out how to get to all of the places we wanted to see, because the public transportation system was so different than any other European city I've been to. The buses ran rarely, so we took taxis from the place we were staying many times, which was about as a cheap as a bus fare when split between three people. Over the week we were there we saw the Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand and Egyptian Bazaar, the Princes Islands, and countless beautiful neighborhoods and markets, which I loved even more than the tourist attractions, because the culture was so apparent. Still, there is so much more to see and I would love to come back someday, especially since I now know so many nice people that live there.

Friday, April 29, 2011

 Just a few photos I took during the week I stayed in Istanbul. I had a great time traveling with my friend Andrea and Istanbul was probably the most unique city I've seen to date. Every morning we awoke at 5am to the Azan (the Islamic call to prayer) from the mosque right next door to where we were staying. We walked through the richest and the poorest neighborhoods, went inside churches and mosques. It was crazy seeing so many places in the same city that you would never expect to find together. It was also my first time couchsurfing, which was an amazing experience. Our hosts, Okan and Buket, were so nice and took the time to show us around the city on the weekend and show us places that we would never have been able to find in a toubook. We had Turkish dinners together in the evening and went out dancing at night. I'll try to post some more photos tomorrow!
Also, you guys might have noticed that I made some changes to the blog's layout. What do you think? xx

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Sunday

 I only had one day to get into the Easter spirit after returning from Istanbul, but I managed to bake a batch of easter cookies (a perfect excuse to use up all of the Christmas sprinkles) and spend Easter Sunday with the family. My aunt baked a beautiful Osterlamm and Osterzopf while my grandparents hid easter eggs in the yard. What did you do for Easter?

Friday, April 8, 2011

 These are a few shots I've taken in Munich over the past couple of weeks. It's so hard to believe how fast spring came! Last night I laid out at the River and grilled and drank with friends until late into the night (April swimming and bonfires are unheard of in Minnesota.) Tomorrow I'm off to hike in the alps for the day and enjoy this beautiful weather. What have you all been up to this spring?


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Friends Only! [
Posted on January 02, 2010 @ 8:12 pm

Comment to be added!

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The End of Med - Part III [
Posted on September 28, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
[ mood | stressed ]

The week after the beach house, I texted Matt to see how his first day went (Tuesday), then on Thursday (his birthday). It was KILLING ME not talking to him. I couldn't believe how much I wanted to be with him and not in my own apartment with Ed. On his birthday, he put on his facebook that he would be at a certain bar on Friday to celebrate. All I wanted to do was go and surprise him even though I was supposed to have cut him off.

So I did. I went to the bar and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, and his reaction was priceless when he saw me. He gave me the biggest hug and couldn't stop saying, "OMG! I can't believe you're here." For the rest of the night, we walked around, hand in hand, and he introduced me to his friends and a few cousins who were there. People were buying him shots like crazy, but he was trying to act sober for me, which cracked me up. It felt so right being with him, and I knew the scales were tipping in his direction. I slept at my cousin's that night, then went to my friends' apartment the next day. I talked to them about Matt, and they were like, "Invite him over, we want to meet him!" Matt came over and met my friends Jenn and Megan, and spending even more time with him made me make my decision - I wanted to break up with Ed and be with Matt. We both slept on their pull-out couch that night, and I told him my decision. He couldn't have been happier. :) He left the next day, and I spent the day with Jenn and Megan since I didn't want to go home. I knew I had to break up with Ed over the next couple of days, and I was in full panic mode. He got home late Sunday night though, so I had to wait until Monday.

Monday night, Ed came home, and I knew what I had to do. I had him sit down, and he pretty much knew what was coming. I told him that he never wanted to get married, and I just haven't been happy anymore. We both cried, and he apologized for stringing me along. We both felt it was for the best, and we would figure out the living situation another time. One thing he said that surprised me though - that yes, he didn't want to get married because of his view of marriage from his parents...but another reason that he never told me was that he thought that if we did get married, our differences would get in the way. Wow. Thanks for telling me NOW. But other than that, the breakup was calm. Funny thing was that when we were finishing up our discussion, all I wanted to do was leave and call Matt (which was the plan - he knew I would be calling afterwards). I told Ed that I would stay at Jenn and Megan's that night to give us some space. I called Matt on the way over, and I told him that I was okay. I was actually okay! I wasn't devastated, and I knew I had done the right thing. He was the happiest guy in the world that night. Jenn and Megan were shocked that I was so fine with things. I changed my status on facebook to single (tons of messages followed), and Matt changed his to "in a relationship."

I know, I know, it seems so rushed. Why not take time between relationships? But I was already in too deep with Matt. I was feeling things for him that I haven't felt in a long time. I knew I was falling for him, and there was no going back.

I saw him the next weekend on Saturday, and I was able to kiss him and...do other things...without the feeling of guilt. It was AMAZING. We just hung out, then went for some food. We knew his parents were returning from wherever they were, so when we got back from dinner, I had to meet the parents. EEK! They were adorable though, but I was nervous since they know the whole story (thanks to Matt's friend Justin). I went to a party that night, then went back to Matt's the next day. It was so great just hanging out and cuddling (he's such a cuddler) and all that coupley stuff with him. And the things he says to me...wow. I didn't want to leave at all. I had fallen for him.

This weekend was a nice 3-day weekend for everyone, so I went to Matt's Friday night and came home today. Friday night, we weren't planning on going anywhere, but his friend called and another friend of his just returned from Iraq, so we ended up at a bar at around midnight. He did more introducing, but this time, it was, "This is my girlfriend Michelle." :) We got back to his house, and we were cuddling on the couch (parents were away for the weekend). He suddenly seemed so nervous about something and kept doing this smiling, trying to speak but nothing was coming out kinda thing. He kept pulling his face back to focus on me. I knew what was going on, but I let him get it out in his own time. He then told me, "I think I love you." I had to give him a few moments to recover, lol. It was so cute, he was completely panicking. I told him that I love him too...and it's the truth. I had realized it the weekend before, but obviously wasn't going to say anything. He told me that at the bar that night, his friend asked him how things were going with us (I was talking with the guy's girlfriend), and Matt blurted out, "Great, I love her..." And they apparently both sat there going, "Uhhhh..." I wish I had seen that. But once we said our ILYs, it felt wonderful. I know, our relationship is going at warp speed, but it feels right (it's practically our motto). The rest of the weekend was amazing, and I had to drag myself away from him today.

As for Ed, we're sorta stuck in our lease right now, so we're still living together. He's sleeping on the couch. It's kinda like two friends living together at this point. I'm trying to find a way out of this, but it may take some time.

PHEW! That is the drama of my life over the last month and a half, but it was worth it. I'm deliriously happy with Matt even though I had to go through a lot to be with him. :)

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The End of Med - Part II [
Posted on September 23, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
[ mood | uncomfortable ]

I reread my last entry and saw that I left out a VERY important part to the story, but I have to backtrack a bit. In the beginning of August, Ed and I had another marriage talk. I realized that he's never going to want to get married, and if he is, it's YEARS upon YEARS off. So I started August, before Matt came along, with that heavy on my mind.

Back to the story. So I had officially fooled around with another guy, and was the most confused person EVER. That was Saturday. I went to talk to my friend Jenn on Sunday since I HAD TO GET IT OUT! Funny thing was that as I was talking about Matt, I couldn't get this goofy grin off my face. Why wasn't I feeling incredible guilt?? Jenn said that maybe I was with Ed because it was more habit than anything. It certainly gave me something to think about.

Matt texted me on Monday saying that he wanted to see me. I really did want to see him, but I didn't want to drive all the way to him (he lives almost an hour away) so we agreed to meet halfway at an Applebees. It felt awful, like I was wearing a big neon sign that said, "I'M CHEATING ON MY BOYFRIEND." We walked in and OF COURSE someone I knew was working there! He was a guy from college, someone I had a small history with, and someone in a fraternity. We got the hell outta there and went to a diner down the road. It felt so dirty, but I loved spending some time with him, and he was telling me how much he wanted to be with me. Total and utter confusion. I was starting school that week so I couldn't see him anymore, but he was going to be at his beach house on Saturday and he wanted me to go. At first, I said no way...but I caved. I couldn't stay away.

So the beach house...

He introduced me to a bunch of his friends, who are pretty cool, then took me out to dinner. We actually went on a DATE. But at dinner, I talked to him about everything. I needed to cut him off for a little bit. I told him that I needed to figure out what was going on with Ed without him as a distraction. He knew it was coming (I had hinted at it during the week), but he hated it so much. But he said that if that's what it takes for us to be together, he'll smile his way through it. After dinner, we went onto the beach. Full moon and all...and people started setting off fireworks. We went for a moonlit stroll on the beach, hand in hand. It was the most romantic night of my life. We made out on the beach (and got eaten up by bugs!) and looked up at the stars. Straight out of a movie again! We went back to the beach house and drank a few beers with his friends. Then we moved into the bedroom...

I left the next day, knowing I was cutting him off for awhile...except it was a bad week for that. Tuesday was his first day of school (he's a replacement art teacher at a middle school, so not only do we have the replacement thing in common, we have being teachers in common....and Ed and I have NOTHING in common). Thursday was his birthday. I couldn't NOT text him on those days, but he was off limits besides that.

But I got home on Sunday and found Ed sleeping. He was supposed to be at work! I asked him what he was doing, and he said he, "just needed a day off." Um...he did the pig roast the day before, and he had the next day (Labor Day) off. So he couldn't pay rent for the month (I covered for him) yet he was taking days off. He got pissed that I brought it up a couple of times and went to his friend's house. Wow. I had Matt on the brain and I was finally coming out of denial about my future with Ed.

Part III coming soon...

The End of Med. [
Posted on September 16, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
[ mood | sick ]

Well, I'm sure everyone is curious about how Med suddenly became no more. This doesn't paint me in a good light, but it is what it is, and I'm happy now. So...here goes nothin'.

I think it was in my last entry that I mentioned some camp crush (Matt). Yeah...well, we started talking more, and it was definitely a crush. The difference this time was that I knew he liked me. He really wanted to hang out outside of camp. We did at the staff party even though I was so sick that I don't know how I stood for as long as I did without passing out. At one point, he touched my back - yep, he definitely liked me, and I liked what I felt. Oh boy. He walked me to my car, but I hugged him and went home. He was inviting me to go to some party the next day (last day of camp), but I couldn't drink because my stomach was really bad, and I wouldn't really know anyone else there, so I declined. We made plans by text message to hang out the following week and grab a drink. In those texts, he told me how beautiful I was. Whoa. I had no idea he thought about me like that. And yes, he knew I had a boyfriend. We hung out the next Thursday (August 27th). It was SO MUCH FUN. We laughed and shared stories and it was so comfortable and natural. He told me that he liked me all summer, but didn't talk to me because he knew I had a boyfriend. After awhile, he was like, "Fuck it." I was pretty shocked that he had been eyeing me that long. I told him that I had thought he was cute, but yeah, I had that boyfriend of almost 8 years at home. We went back to his place where I went to go home, and he tried to kiss me. I told him I couldn't even though I wanted to...and I really wanted to. But he texted me later that he couldn't stop smiling even if his advances were rejected, lol. He texted me the next day to see if I wanted to hang out that weekend, and even though I knew it was dangerous, I didn't want to stay away. I went back to his place that Saturday, and we went out for a drink again. I met some of his friends, and they sat on the other side of the booth. When I had switched to his side, my will-power was gone. We went out to his car, and he kissed me...and I let him that time. Yes, I felt guilty, but not as much as I should've. We spent the rest of the night holding hands and whatnot. We went back to his house, and I couldn't drive home yet since I had too many drinks (and no, none of this happened because of the beer), so we walked inside, and he kissed me again. I was done. We ended up making out on his bed, and he held me, and told me how much it felt right with me. I couldn't deny it. This may be TMI, but I hadn't had a sex drive in forever...and it reappeared that night with Matt (not that we had sex). I was the most confused person on the face of the planet.

To Be Continued...

chelles_icons [
Posted on April 01, 2007 @ 11:56 pm
[ mood | creative ]

*chugs* [
Posted on August 16, 2006 @ 7:10 pm
[ mood | confused ]

What. A. Day.

First, let me set up abbreviations for the school districts.

South Brunswick = SB (the school I worked at last year)
North Brunswick = NB
East Brunswick = EB

Got it?

Okay, so it all started with a voicemail from my principal from SB. He knows I'm still waiting for an answer from my interview with NB, but he's kinda needing an answer for HIM about if I'm committing to the kindergarten position for the first half of this year.

So I tried to get a hold of the people from NB to see if they made a decision yet, but the school doesn't have power because of construction, so I had to call the board office. I told them my situation, and they said they would try to get a hold of the principal and get back to me. I didn't hear from them. I finally left a message on the SB principal saying that I still don't know.

I go home stressed to the max when I get a call from the human resources person from EB. I've interviewed for them twice, but this person LOVES me and told me that. She has a couple of openings they need to interview for on Monday - and they're only interviewing like 4 people, me being one of them. She really likes me, but the principals I've interviewed with needed certain personalities to go with the other teachers. I explained EVERYTHING to her. By the time Monday came, I would be going through new teacher training at SB OR already have a permanent job in NB. She wants to keep in touch though because of mid-year maternity leaves.

I was in the middle of bitching to Ed about all this when my principal from SB beeps in. I told him about EB. He's willing to let me go on the interview and if I get it, scramble to fill my position. He's being SUPER nice about all of this, but he knows I have a good chance of getting screwed mid-year if I work for him.

So I called EB back. I have an interview with two principals on Monday since new teacher training that day is kinda optional, and I'll know by that night if I got either job. She also has a middle school math position interview waiting in the wings if these don't work out (I freakin' LOVE her).

So tomorrow, I'll find out about NB and let SB know. If I didn't get it, I'll find out by Monday night if I'm working in SB or EB.

*head spinning*

Yeah, I'm drinking a beer right now.

If you made it through this post and understood it, have a beer yourself.

Read (11) Comment

Happy Cranky Day! [
Posted on August 15, 2006 @ 8:25 pm
[ mood | grumpy ]

I think everyone at work, including myself, was cranky today.

Which is why I'm having a nice, tall glass of wine right now. :)

Read (7) Comment

Can I go back to Thursday? [
Posted on August 14, 2006 @ 9:27 pm
[ mood | thoughtful ]

I looooved this weekend!

Thursday was the staff party! Myself, Jenn, and Megan got all dolled up and went to Lory's (a bar) to meet up with the over 21 staff members. I love seeing everyone in non-camp clothes. One of my fave people at camp is Shari. She's a mother of three, and one of the sweetest people ever. That night, she was one sexy mama!!

Par-tay!Collapse )

Once drunk enough, we went down the road to the party. No one really finished eating - the dance floor was calling us. I danced for about three hours straight. People were a little surprised about how I become when I dance, lol. I used my friend Elyse as a pole, and gave Craig a tiny lap dance. Even Shari was getting down on the dance floor. We had a BLAST!

Then a lot of people wanted to go to New Brunswick to the bars, but we went back to Lory's instead. New Brunswick is tiring and we'd have to park far away and we still had work the next day. The head people showed up (basically everyone who runs the whole camp), and Randy bought TONS of food for us, and everyone had some drinks. Good times had by all. :)

Friday? Wow. I was walking around with my sunglasses on for a looong time. I went to the docs for my follow-up for my concussion, and got lights in my eyes and I had to walk a straight line. I think it was easier when I had my head injury, lol. THEN I had to go to Ed's hockey game and hear pucks being slammed against the wall right in front of me. Yeah, I went to bed early that night.

Saturday night, Ed and I hung out with our friends Will and Leighanna, who recently got engaged. We went on a water taxi, which took us to 5 different bars on a bay in Point Pleasant. We all spent way too much money, but it was worth it. Will and Leighanna are working on Ed with the whole marriage thing, but he does seem more up to the idea. He even said that when he buys a ring, it's not going to be a tiny thing. It needs to be big and lavish. Good boy. ;) And he wants to do a lot of the wedding planning. I love how the two of them brought out that side of him! lol

Today was back to camp. It's the last week. I'm gonna miss it. :(

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"What a c***rag." [
Posted on August 09, 2006 @ 7:39 pm
[ mood | enraged ]

The subject line was a direct quote from my friend when I told her how I started my day at camp.

Morning meeting had just ended and I was chatting with some campers when this BITCH of a division leader decided it was time to fucking LECTURE me about my job. She was in my face, telling me I put up too many pictures of the same kids and that I really need to stop. I didn't know what to do, so I just nodded along.

I went to vent to Megan and just broke down. I started crying right in the middle of the junior soccer field.

I went into the office to upload pictures and to calm down. The bitch happened to be coming out of the office at that time, noticed something was wrong, and came back in to ask me if I was okay. No, I'm not okay! She asked if it was because of what she said. I almost lost it. I'm half crying, half yelling at her, saying that the only person I need to answer to is Randy (the boss) and he thinks I'm doing great, so I don't need to be told how to do my job. She said that she would go through Randy from now on. Ten minutes later, Randy comes in, comes over to me, and simply said that I was doing a great job as I'm holding back tears. She had obviously gone straight to him.

In the words of Jenn: "What a c***rag."

Read (1) Comment

Subject line goes here. [
Posted on August 08, 2006 @ 10:22 pm
[ mood | moody ]

I don't know WHAT has been going on with me. My moods lately have been all over the place. I spend most of the day in this very happy-go-lucky mood, then the smallest thing will piss me the hell off.

SoapZone? Not helping.

Although I had a better day than my friend at work. She felt lightheaded and went to the nurse who asked her if there was a chance she was pregnant. If it were true, it could've been the division leader she slept with a few weeks ago who has a girlfriend. Luckily another friend of ours had a pregnancy test in her car (?!?) so she was able to clear that up very quickly.

Thursday can't come fast enough for all of us.

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"Wow! Cool! Superman, you wanna play?" [
Posted on August 06, 2006 @ 10:16 pm
[ mood | bitchy ]

Things That Suck:
1. My 6-disc CD changer in my car that I just got reinstalled because it was broken? I can't figure out how to actually have more than one disc in there.
2. My DVD/VCR player? I can't figure out how to record or even work the VCR part of it.
3. GH this week. Ew.
4. I had an AWFUL headache all day yesterday. It's actually a good thing I didn't go to Ed's Friday night. But dammit, the concussion symptoms won't go away!

Things That Rule:
1. Back to work tomorrow!
2. Staff party on Thursday! We're ALL getting sexified and liquored up! There will be pictures. ;)
3. This picture. Does anyone know if there were other versions of this shot?
4. I bought Lois & Clark season 2 on Friday to cheer me up. I heart them. :)

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Miserable. [
Posted on August 04, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
[ mood | morose ]

My parents and the doctor don't think it's a great idea to drive an hour away to see Ed tonight since I'm still having symptoms. Ed was going to come here tomorrow anyway to rip down an old shed in our yard, but this fucking sucks. This is the second short weekend in a row for us, and I feel like I should just suck it up and go since I've been driving around the last couple of days anyway. I know that whatever decision I make, I'll regret it.

I guess I'll just stay home and cry.

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Oh, the confusion! [
Posted on August 02, 2006 @ 9:50 pm
[ mood | sore ]

This whole job thing is just confusing the bleep outta me. I can't even get into details because my head hurts but I'm not going to know where I'm working until at least the 14th.

I could go for a chocolate M&M blizzard from DQ right now.

Project Runway is on next! Yay for entertainment! I hated that Katherine was out last week. I need for either Angela or Vincent to go. Right now, I'm rooting for Kayne and Uli.

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It's official. [
Posted on August 02, 2006 @ 12:04 pm
[ mood | moody ]

I tried going to work.

They sent me home.

I finally went to the doctors, and I officially have concussion #3. I went for a CAT scan, which was clear.

But I'm not allowed to go to work for the rest of the week. :(((((

*sitting on my ass twiddling my thumbs*

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Irked. [
Posted on August 01, 2006 @ 6:04 pm
[ mood | uncomfortable ]

I tried going to work today. I drove for about 10 minutes, but I was spacing out and my headache was returning. I called out and went back home to go to bed.

I checked the camp website, and someone else took pictures today. I have to admit that I'm a little uncomfortable with that. I feel all territorial, like it's MY job! Step away from the camera, bitch!

Now I don't care how I feel tomorrow. I'm going to work, dammit.

Of course, they're not going to be thrilled that I have to leave a little early for an interview. Oops.

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Michelle vs. Soccer Ball [
Posted on July 31, 2006 @ 9:05 pm
[ mood | groggy ]

I got nailed in the face with a soccer ball today.

It was kicked by a 6-foot-something male counselor at somewhat close range. I was trying to take a picture of the action - instead, I took a picture as the ball left his foot about to hit me in the face.

I was more stunned than anything. I went to get ice and took some Advil since a headache had started. After that, I was walking around in a daze, completely out of it. Once the nausea began, I knew it was time to go home.

I definitely have a slight concussion. It's not as bad as the other two I've had. It's just sad that I had those other two to compare it to.

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Crazy-ass Week! [
Posted on July 30, 2006 @ 10:02 pm
[ mood | happy ]

Let's start on Tuesday. After work, several of us went to a bar. My work friends finally saw outside-of-camp-and-drunk me. :) They were a little shocked! The best part was when I opened my big fat drunk mouth and told them about the dream I had about the camp director. I'll never live that one down. I got home at 11 that night, but it was so worth it. :)

Wednesday is the day I bought my car, and Thursday was when we signed the papers and I took it home!!

Say goodbye to the Corsica...Collapse )

...and say hellooooo to Shaniqua!Collapse )

Unfortunately, while I was driving it to work on Friday, I realized the CD player didn't work. :( So I'm getting a new one this week, no charge.

I actually went out Friday night! Well, out being Emily's apartment. I had a couple glasses of wine, played some asshole, and hung out. 'Twas fun. :)

Ed's back from Ocean City! He was a very good boy. He called me everyday, and even told me on Friday night after he went to a bar/club that he wished I was there to dance dirty with, lol.

Must fold laundry now...

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Posted on July 26, 2006 @ 11:03 pm
[ mood | giddy ]

A 2003 black Jeep Liberty!!!!

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Meme Goodness [
Posted on July 24, 2006 @ 10:09 pm
[ mood | hungry ]

I can't simply highlight a line or two on my screen anymore. It ends up highlighting the whole page. WTF?

Borrowed from bedtimeforbonzo

be my lovah, won't you be my lovahCollapse )

Misc. Shit [
Posted on July 23, 2006 @ 10:26 pm
[ mood | indescribable ]

I love camp gossip! As the camp photographer who works in the office and gets to talk to everyone at camp whenever I want, I find out a lot of stuff.

Especially when one of my closest friends at camp has sex with a division leader who has a girlfriend but also tried to hook up with someone else at camp who now has a huge crush on him.

Said division leader is apparently...well-equipped.

So now whenever I see said division leader walking around camp, that's what I think of.

My parents are home. Bah.

Ed and his roommate Jay are going to Ocean City, MD from Wednesday till Saturday. Jay is single, and his goal is to drink and get laid. Ed's role is the wingman. Am I happy about this? Not at all. But I'm not going to act like a controlling girlfriend by telling him so.

I've been loving the recaps from FCW! I'm feeling much better about this SIC crap, particularly the aftermath. :)
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Friday, March 14, 2014

Worldwide Quilting Day is today!

Did you know?

Are you in your happy place, sewing?

Are you patting fabrics and piecing (or appliqueing)?

Ain't it great to have a special day, dedicated to our obsession, er, therapy, er, hobby?

Me? I'm hunkered down in my studio, with Padsworth, DragonDrop, and Moses the Official Studio Cat. It's time to play -- that's how I will celebrate!

I am so happy to hear from you! I try to respond to all comments, but sometimes that just isn't possible! If you don't receive a reply, it may be because your profile is set on "no-reply". Edit your profile, and click "show my email address" and we'll be able to talk!
Please don't leave links to un-related blogs or products. That's not good etiquette and they will be deleted! :)


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Almost two years ago, I wrote a 4 part series on domestic violence.  I wish I could say that the violence has diminished since then, but it hasn’t.  I want to run that series again, so that hopefully others who need the information will have it.  Victims of domestic violence can be women or men, of all ages, all races, and all economic and educational levels.  We think of abuse as being physical, but it can also take other forms, such as emotional, verbal, and sexual.  The scars don’t always show on the outside.  Being loved by someone should not be painful!

If you know anyone who might be suffering abuse from a loved one right now, please find a safe way to share these articles with them.  Here are the links to all 4 parts of the series:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.  This violence can be inter-generational.  The children who live in violent homes are learning very dangerous lessons which can impact their lives for many years to come, and these same lessons may some day be handed down to their children.  It needs to stop!  Please help spread the information.

No one deserves to be abused!

Until next time,

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Monday, April 14, 2014

NZ suicide rate 'normal'

'Normal' is, of itself, a controversial word. Here, I use it in the sense of being near the average.

I was under the impression the NZ suicide rate was relatively high. But apparently the rate isn't internationally abnormal (notwithstanding a break-down will show age and ethnic disproportionalities.)

Again I draw on the OECD 2014 Society at a Glance data which shows NZ's rate is below the OECD average, notwithstanding many countries hover around a similar rate.

That on it's own must tell us something.

Brendan McNeill said...

What immediately strikes me as interesting is that the country with the lowest suicide rate in all countries measured, is Greece.

If poor economic prospects were the primary driver of suicide, then one might have thought that Greece, post 2008 would have been towards the top of the list, not residing happily at the bottom.

Perhaps life is not as bad there as we thought, or else ones economic/social prospects are not necessarily the primary driver of suicide?

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Brendan, Completely unresearched, but I'd guess religion in Greece plays a role.

Brendan McNeill said...

Lindsay, I have a friend who works in the sector so I asked him. He tells me that depression is considered to be the primary driver for suicide in the Western world.

It's probably a combination of factors as to why Greece is the best of a bad chart, and yes I imagine their Catholicism plays a part, however I suspect the Church there is in decline as it appears to be in most of Europe.

My friend suggested that part of it may simply be their cultural predisposition, along with climate, more open relationships, more connected families perhaps?

Completely unrelated, but I loved your post on the saxophone by the way. If we are going to be irrational then the purchase of musical instruments has to be the logical choice!

I have three guitars. :-)


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Sunday, 3 May 2009

The BEST Surprise Ever!

So - what would you do after having two major surgeries and spending almost a month in hospital!? Jump in your car and drive ten hours to Melbourne (from Sydney), sleep the night in your car in the middle of Melbourne (but in close proximity to a hospital - just in case!), watch the Hawks V the Blues at the MCG, jump on the spirit of Tasmania and then rock up to church and surprise everyone!

Chrish gave everyone the best surprise ever today! At 1.30 we got a phone call from Mum on my mobile asking where we were. She said they decided they wanted to see the boys after church and decided to come in to surprise us. We had gone to visit our friend Marlo as we weren't expecting Mum and Dad to drop in. I told them to let themselves in and start cleaning the house for us :D We got home and walked into a lovely clean house and lots of vegies peeled ready for tea. The best surprise was to come though. Not long after I walked in Chrish came walking out of my bedroom!!!

It was one of those situtions where you recognise the person, but they aren't where they are supposed to be (like when I see nurses in town) and you don't register for a second who they really are. He had his shirt and tie on from church and at first I thought it was someone from church (like strange people from church just jump out of my bedroom everyday!), and then I thought he was a missionary and then it clicked it was him!!! We were so excited to see him and everyone gave him a big hug.

They stayed for tea and we made sure Chrish got the biggest plate of food as he has lost a lot of weight in the last month from not being able to eat much.

Harri kept asking them if they were going to stay for FHE which we usually have on Sunday night as Monday nights are too crazy. He was so excited as he wanted them to stay for the game which was going to be 'hide and seek'. The boys LOVE playing hide and seek, but there aren't very many good hiding spots in our house, and if it is a good spot you have to be really tiny to get into it!

Chrish did well getting himself into hiding spots especially considering he has just had major surgery.

Mum and Dad were 'great' at finding great hiding spots (not!). Mum thought she could look really inconspicuous just standing in the corner of the hall and was wondering how I found her so easy!

Dad just stood in the toilet and scared the crap out of Kobe when Mum found him!

It was so good to see Chrish and to see him feeling better. Hopefully he can have a great recovery down here in the fresh air of Tassie before he has to go back to work in June.

  1. It was a hilarious night.
    Love Mum.

  2. That was a cool surprise, sounds like fun. Hope Chrish gets better quickly!

  3. *just wondering how appropriate it would be for a missionary to be in your bedroom....* hahahaa.

    That's SO exciting! What a great surprise!

  4. Looks like Kobe is feeling better-that's good. Having a sick babe is the pits!

  5. I am dissapointed there isn't a photo on here of your 'surprised face!'

  6. Nicki - Chrish took one, but accidentally deleted it off his camera! Lucky for me! :D

  7. That's the best!!! Wish my brother would do that.
    Will have to settle for when they come over again in July!

  8. I wish it had only been 4 weeks in hospital, mightn't have got so frustrated then.

    It was fun suprising everyone though

  9. I was sitting in Sunday School when he walked in and ever so nonchalantly sat next to your Mum and Dad. The looks on their faces was a classic. When Chrish walked in we all gasped. Your Mum and Dad where at the very front row, us sitting further up the back saw him first.

We are so grateful for everyone's love and support, and appreciate your comments xoxo

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Sunday, September 26, 2010

Chocolate for Writers (or anyone who wants a treat)

Any writer worth the salt they’re licking off the margarita glass knows that chocolate cures writer's block, aids in dealing with rejection, enhances procrastination, and is always eaten in celebration. With Christmas just around the corner (and it IS, you know, even if Halloween is only just on the horizon as I write this), I figure now would be the best time to share a family recipe; to give you a head start for those Christmas preparations.

This is easy. There is no stress. Honestly. No need to over-think it. Just follow the directions, and it will work out JUST fine.

Here we go:

Chocolate Marshmallow Roll

1 egg, beaten
1 cup icing sugar
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted
2 tablespoons butter
120 mini coloured marshmallows
1 – 1 ½ cups sweetened coconut

Before you do anything, pull out a sheet of wax paper. Not parchment paper. Not clear cling-film wrap. Not foil. Not freezer paper.

Just WAX paper.

Pull out maybe 17 to 18 inches of it, and sprinkle about half the coconut along the middle of the WAX paper, but not all the way to each end. Eventually, you will need to ROLL the whole thing up, twisting the ends closed, as this recipe is for a ROLL.

Now, before we begin, a few notes about the ingredients.

The eggs: this is an OLD family recipe, so the exact size of egg is not clear. But let’s meet halfway and use a medium-sized egg. If you crack one open and it’s one of those double-yolk-ers, although good luck in some parts of the world, DON’T USE it. Save it in the fridge for making a face mask (there ARE recipes for such a mask). I don’t think brown eggs make a difference, and I don’t know the measurement for those pre-beaten eggs from a carton. And forget about powdered eggs. Gag.

The icing sugar: just use NORMAL, everyday, icing sugar. Not FINE sugar, the kind for strawberries. Not pre-made icing from a container. Don’t try to use granulated sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, artificial sweeteners, liquid sugar, or finely minced sugar cane. IT WON’T WORK.

The semi-sweet chocolate squares: don’t try to substitute with a million chocolate chips (eating them while you make this is fine). Don’t try carob chips; another gag. Don’t get bitter chocolate, sugar-free or organic. Just use good old fashioned, sugar-laced, calorie-laden, non-organic, semi-sweet chocolate squares. They come in a box, each square individually wrapped - very cute, actually.

The butter: real butter is fine, but if you have margarine, that’s fine too. I know that margarine is supposed to be unhealthy for you, but if that’s all you have - fine (you’re already using semi-sweet chocolate squares, so you might as well go all the way). DON’T use any of the margarines that are made with olive oil, are vegan (you’re already using eggs, don’t forget), are salt-free, are packed with Omega3, reduced-fat, fat-free, dairy-free….the list goes on. Who cares if it contains yellow dye? Just use regular, cholesterol-laden ordinary margarine. You’re eating all that chocolate anyways. And for the love of chocolate, do NOT use those sprays. If this is too stressful for you, just use real butter. But don’t use salt-free, lactose-free, or clarified butter. And don’t use….oh never-mind.

120 mini-coloured marshmallows: when I say 120, I mean 120. Not 119. Not 121. Specifically 120. Count them out by tens if you must, putting them in little groupings on the counter. You will need 12 groups of 10. And yes, there IS dye in those coloured marshmallows (like the yellow dye in margarine). But they are technically FRUIT flavoured marshmallows, so they can’t be THAT bad for you.

Sheesh….you’re looking a little too deeply into all this, aren’t you? This is a SIMPLE recipe.

The coconut: remember, this is a SIMPLE recipe. Don’t buy a whole coconut and burst a hernia trying to crack the darn thing open in hopes of shredding the gunk inside. It’s messy, painful, and you will end up with hairy things from the husk everywhere. Don’t use canned coconut, dehydrated chunks, or coconut milk powder (yes, there is such a thing). Just use regular, over-processed, over-sweetened, preservative-laden, packaged coconut. No-name brand is fine.

Okay, now for the process.

1. Melt chocolate and butter/margarine in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in icing sugar until well mixed, then the egg.
3. Mix well until smooth and shiny.
4. Fold in marshmallows.
5. Spread mixture in a ‘log’ formation on top of the coconut on the waxed paper.
6. Sprinkle remaining coconut over roll.
7. Roll into a chocolaty, wax-papered log, twisting the ends closed.
8. Chill for up to 3 hours (overnight is best), unwrap, slice into ½ inch slices, and serve (looks pretty with the coloured marshmallows).

See? Wasn’t that easy? And there was NO stress involved. You didn’t have to over-think anything.

Enjoy, and happy writing (and eating, and baking)!

(author’s note: I am not an epicurean expert - I know my own slices are not round in the picture. Who cares – JUST EAT IT!)

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Writing with Waterproof Mascara

Ahhh…Maybelline Great Lash® Mascara. A true classic and basic staple for most women. And to think it’s been around for almost 40 years, according to a magazine advertisement I came across the other day. That iconic pink and green tube helped transition many girls from their tweens to their teens; those same girls who likely shed a mascara-laced tear or two during those hormonally imbalanced teen-years.

Those days are long gone for me and, since then, I have sometimes paid $10 - $20 for mascara I was told would transform my look (umm…I have never really had a ‘look’ but…whatever).

I was promised THIS mascara, with its high-tech wand and revolutionary formula, would plump, thicken, lengthen, and strengthen my ever-batting eyelashes. I was assured THAT mascara would make my eyes look bigger, wider, brighter, younger, and bluer. And of course, I would look thinner, younger (again!), sexier and ever-alluringly more mysterious.

And none of them worked.

I am not a ‘Vogue-esque’ kinda girl. I am just simple little me. I am just a mom, just an employee, just a writer.

And I still do, occasionally, succumb to the ever-trending, ever-increasing promises I know deep down will never come true, and try something different – something new.

Just to say I tried. Just to know I tried.

And sometimes I end up going back to the basics; the classics. What I know works - for me.

Good ‘ole Great Lash® Mascara, every time.

As a writer, I try to branch out and try something new; a new idea, style of writing, or genre of writing. I work at being brave, ignoring that inner-critic. And I figure trying something new has to be good for all writers – for anyone. It’s important to flex those creative muscles, to try something else, and see how far you can push yourself in your writing and in your creativity.

But what about those times when a project just won’t work? When no matter what you do, or how you do it, it just won’t work the way you thought it would? Do you have a fit, cry and wail uncontrollably, then give up and quit? (If it makes you feel better, do have a fit, but do it privately and wear waterproof mascara.)

But for the love of mascara, whatever you do, don’t give up! Just put it aside – for now.

It’s common for a writing project, or idea, to fall flat and loose its steam. DON’T THROW IT OUT for God sake! You spent time and effort writing your heart out; there will be something in there that can be used one day, in some way. Try it again when the timing is right. Rework it; reword it. Maybe you need to wait for a renewed sense of direction. Thoughts, tastes, and abilities change.

Go back to the basics – to what you know – for now.

Like that tube of $20 mascara that was too clumpy/flaky/chunky/dark/light and basically just didn’t fulfill its promise. Unless it gave you an eye infection, DON’T THROW IT OUT for God sake! You just spent $20 on the darn thing! Put it away in the bottom of your make-up bag or at the back of your bathroom cupboard (but not behind the calamine lotion – you might forget it’s there). One day, maybe, you might try it again (or you might be out of Great Lash® and need that $20 tube in a pinch!)

Go back to the basics – to what you know – for now.

As for the 40th Anniversary of Maybelline’s Great Lash® Mascara? The creation fell into make-up bags everywhere in 1971, and hasn’t stopped enhancing eyelashes since. A tube is sold in drugstores every 1.7 seconds, according to Maybelline® of New York (, and is always on hand, backstage, at fashion shows.

Not bad for a little tube that usually sells for around $6. There’s something to be said for the basics.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Writing with the Toilet Seat Down

Virginia Wolff had it right; a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.

Well, the money part might be a long time coming for me…but the room part? Well, read on…

I spent too long moaning, groaning, whining and crying about not having any where to write. Um…hello!? There is a whole world out there in which to write. Not EVERY human being can fill EVERY little nook and cranny. There is ALWAYS somewhere to write: on the bus, on the couch at 5 am, on a park bench, and in the bathroom.
The bathroom? Yes, it’s possible.

I will explain in a minute. So, for now, just cross your legs and read.

During a brief break from all the moaning, groaning, whining and crying, I finished blowing my nose with Kleenex-by-the-foot (toilet paper), and reflected on the past year. Armed with a set of goals set at the beginning of the year, I had ALWAYS found a place, and time, to write. Maybe not as often as I would have liked, and maybe not in a fancy oak desk with a leather swivel chair with my tea brought to me hourly by a Chippendale’s dancer....but I always managed to write.

And I guess I paid my dues because, so far as it seems, and although I am still in the early organizing/planning stages, my time has come.

I will have my own office.

Where I KNOW great things will happen.

Before you flush this down the toilet at my self-indulgent smugness, read on.

I live with three men; a husband and two sons. I am the minority. Space has always been an issue, what with everyone growing. Finding time to write, finding space for myself, has always been a challenge. But somehow, I have managed. Between refereeing at home, going to various extra-curricular activities, homework, meals, laundry, laundry, laundry, never mind forever cleaning the bathroom…..

And so very often, the bathroom is often my refuge. As long as I have super smelly soap that NO ONE is allowed to use, I am happy. As long as the bathtub is rinsed of sand, grass, and pine needles after their bath, I am happy. As long as the toilet seat is down, I am happy.

But what makes me most happy is finally having my own bathroom. Just a little powder room, but I don’t care. It’s mine.

We moved, and not only did I acquire a kitchen window, but an extra bathroom.

And I had a flash of brilliance, as I so often do, of TRULY making it mine.

Why not make it my office?

And of course I have told anyone and everyone about this; the bus driver, the girls at the grocery store, and everyone else in between.

A writer friend of mine had the brilliant concept of converting a commode to a chair, able to fit over the toilet. Another friend of mine came up with having a drop down table suspended by chains, from the wall.

THIS is going to be perfect.

I have yet to get to it; boxes are still being unpacked, furniture still being re-arranged. I still get confused as to where I am now keeping the Hello Kitty Waffle Maker. It will come together eventually. I have already stored ‘writerly’ things under the sink, awaiting the bathroom transformation - but it will come.

I am patient.

I’ve waited this long.

And get this: all through the move, through the packing/unpacking, chaos, and too many nights of ordering pizza (which really isn’t a bad thing), I continued to write.

Even, still, without the ‘office.’

Stay tuned….and while you’re at it, go change the empty toilet paper roll.


text:
Adjective "et" definition and examples

(Et may not be an adjective, but it can be used as an adjective, click here to find out.)

Definitions and examples

(in North America) Eastern time.
    Egypt (international vehicle registration).

        More definitions

        1. a simple past tense of eat. et [et] /ɛt/ Spell Syllables conjunction, Latin.

        1. and. Et Symbol, Chemistry.

        1. ethyl. e.t.

        1. electrical transcription. -et

        1. a noun suffix having properly a diminutive force (now lost in many words): islet; tablet; midget; plummet.

        More examples(as adjective)

        "pars can be et."

        "autres can be et."

        "usages can be et."

        "ses can be et."

        "dus can be et."

        More examples++