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As seen in Central Park yesterday, these crocuses may be in trouble on Friday when the snow blows in.
Purple flowers grow
When there should be snow. Love/hate
Winter spring debate.
Share your own haiku for this photo in the comments.
I recently participated in a call to action against bullying. ZNO Street published the imaged below and asked writers and rappers to respond. Here's the image and my response. If you want to get involved, click on their name above to go to the response page.
Cowering in the shadows
Red like wine
Red like blood
Green envy covers the walls
All wanting
Willing to Destroy
The Other
To get it
Back to the wall
Cracks in the wall
Like the sticks
They swing
You crouch
Life chips away.
I overheard the following as I was walking cross town yesterday: If you will be good just this once, I'll never ask you to come anywhere with me again.
The tone was more angry and exasperated than pleading. And I began to think about those bargains we drive with recalcitrant children, bargins that are impossible to keep. But what would happen if we did?
Here's what my imagination did with that as I continued my walk:
If you will be good,
Just this once,
I'll never ask you to come
Anywhere with me again.
And you were.
We made it through that awful ordeal
Of settling your mother's estate.
So I kept my promise.
Grandma would love to see you,
I'd say and you'd look at me
With a challenge in your eye,
"Are you asking me to go with you?"
No, I'd sigh, but she would love you see you.
"I'll pass." And I'd call the sitter.
As you got older, I'd go to your games, concerts, and shows.
"Don't ask me to go home with you."
You challenged, and so win or lose,
You'd catch a ride with someone else.
I took to watching from the bleachers
And sneaking out. Perhaps,
You never knew I was there.
And when your grandmother died,
You walked to the church.
Your aunt drove you to the burial
And then back home
Where you retreated to your room.
Still every morning I made your breakfast and lunch,
But I never drove you to school.
Every evening you'd grumble over dinner and glare at me and Joey.
As soon as you could, you bought your own car,
But you never offered me a ride
And drove yourself to college, never to return.
Joey and I would take road trips
To see every one of your shows.
Til your brother went off on his own road too.
Then it was just me.
Following your career,
Calling every week for a few minutes
Of awkward small talk and strained silence
Only to find out from the tabloids
That you were engaged.
I was relieved to get an invitation,
But you did not ask me to walk you down the aisle.
You did that yourself.
And when you won that award,
I was so proud of all you accomplished
And you thanked everyone except me,
Including Joey and your mother in heaven.
Now, here I am, alone, in this hospice room.
Would it be breaking my promise
To ask you to come see me
One last time?
I'm afraid it would.
"The promises we keep define us,"
You said all those years ago.
So young, so headstrong, and so prescient.
You fought against me defining you,
And in the end, you defined me.
Well, the meteorologists were right. The snow came and blanketed the spring-like fields of yesterday.
We headed out for a walk and to clean off the car and got some help from the abominable snowman.
Okay, that's really just the ice scraper.
But by the time we were heading home the sun was shining, promising better days to come.
Today it is 61 degrees in New York City, in February, and on my walk through the park, the barrenness of the trees is at odds with the sunshine and temperature.
It's weird, but I still took advantage of weather to take a longer walk through the park today. And I was not alone, though the picture below makes it seem that I almost was.
The oddest thing about our spring February day is the weather report for tomorrow–8-12 inches of snow. Of course the metrologists are having a field day predicting all different scenarios, but for me, I'll enjoy the open fields of Central Park instead.
We'll wait and see what tomorrow brings. I'm convinced now that the snow won't amount to much because they've already closed the NYC schools. I wasn't actually looking for a snow day because if we don't use them, we'll get a five day weekend in May. But I'll take it; at least I can spend the day creating (and grading). As Robert Herrick says, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."
Last week I started a post about my crocheting mishap and published it accidentally, which is really apropos actually. If you read my last post, you know that I made some big mistakes in crocheting a baby blanket. And, I posted about it on the Instagram (and Facebook) page for our Etsy store (AlyCatCreations1) too. Here's the thing: This series of posts garnered 90% more likes than our other posts.
Now, I am not one to quibble about likes. I'm happy to have traffic to our site. Please, come browse. Like it. Buy something! We'd love to have you. The thing that struck me though, is that while we do get likes and comments about our finished products, the posts that garnered the most attention were the ones about my mistakes. I began to wonder about that. There are so many "feel good" memes and the like on Facebook and Instagram about building each other up and saying nice things. Which are great. Which are the right sentiment. Which we should do. But then, the likes poor in when I fail.
I wasn't sure how to feel about that at first. Well, actually I guess I should say that I was feeling many emotions at once. I did laugh. It struck me as funny that posting about a product that would never be on our site brought more traffic to the site than the pieces available for purchase. I was happy the posts were getting likes. I also found it funny that Facebook kept wanting me to boost the post. But I would be lying if I said there wasn't also a twinge of something else-some hurt or embarrassment.
This led to some pondering of the phenomenon of social media. We post all these lovely catch phrases about being good to others, you never know what they are going through.
And we should. We should think of other people's feelings. That has been lost on social media. Too frequently, perhaps in an effort to be brief (140 characters only please) or because we're posting on the go from our phones and not really crafting prose, posts can be too blunt or even hurtful, so we do need to be attentive to tone and diction, now more than ever. But then, when I admitted I failed at a crochet project, the abundance of likes seemed out of proportion to the post. This is where things get a bit tricky. I posted the photos and the story, so I wanted it out there. I wanted to draw traffic to our site, which it did. I feel good about all of this. I am not really hurt or embarrassed. There was just a twinge, no real regret. My main reaction to the failure of the project is frustration. I did begin to wonder, however, what this says about people in general. Do we really like to see others fail?
What I've come up with is yes and no. On the one hand, some like to see others fail because it makes them feel better about themselves, but I think that is the minority, and I've come to the conclusion that, that is not what was going on with my crooked blanket posts. I think, rather, that the likes on the failure posts were commiseration. Too often we try to make our lives seem perfect on social media. I'm sure you have all seen the memes and videos of Facebook versus real life. (This one is pretty powerful about how destructive this fake life can be.) Perhaps when a post comes up in which someone admits to making a mistake, and does so without whining, we empathize. "Oh I hate when that happens." "I understand the frustration." There is no emoticon for that, so we "like."
So, let's continue to like each other's posts, and let's comment too. I have to admit that I did receive some encouraging and empathetic comments on the blanket debacle posts. I really liked those; they let me know that others understood my frustration. Sometimes that understanding is what we need most to pick hooks up and begin to stitch life back together. So, let's like; let's continue to build each other up and support each other when we were down.
As for that blanket, I rewound all the yarn.
And I've started again. This time, I'm crocheting my tried and true pattern and so far, it's lovely. I'll let you know when it's done. Wish me luck!
**UPDATE: The app decided to publish this post before I was finished with it. As I was writing, I began musing about the seeming frivolity of this post and what message I really hope to convey. Then, I guess the subway bumped a bit and maybe I hit publish without realizing it. And voila, my unfinished thoughts floated out into the world. Here's where we begin.
It's been a while since I posted about crocheting, but that doesn't mean I haven't been stitching away.
Unfortunately, I ran into some trouble recently. I was trying out a new pattern for a different style of baby blanket than I usually make. It is a double stand pattern, using two colors. I chose a cream and navy, which while still traditionally blue for the baby boy for whom it is intended, navy rather than baby boy blue changes it up a bit.
The pattern is easy, or so I thought, and I was moving along nicely. T wo skeins (of each color) in I laid it out to measure and decide on border options. And that's when I noticed that the pattern wasn't as easy as I thought. Stitches had been dropped and picked up rather randomly, abs the edges were a mess. There was no salvation for it. In the words of my mother-in-law, "Damn, I've got to rip it."
Out it came. All four skeins. Which then had to be balled up again before I could begin anew. Lionel looked on in anticipation.


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Does CAT have service on holidays & Sundays?
There will be no service on Sundays and the following holidays: New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On all other holidays, CAT will have normal or reduced service. See the Holidays page for more information.
Does CAT have a lost and found?
Yes! If you have lost or found something on the bus, please fill out the form located at the Lost & Found page.
How can I contact customer service?
If you have a question, comment, or complaint, please reach out to our customer service department by calling 717-233-5657, weekdays 7:30AM-4:30PM and Saturdays 9:00AM-1:00PM. Or, fill out the form on the Contact Us page.
Will winter weather affect my route?
Winter weather may affect your regularly scheduled route. For up to the minute updates about your regular routes, we recommend signing up for Rider Alerts. When you sign up for Rider Alerts, you will receive a text, or an email when there are unexpected changes to your route(s).
How can I apply to work for CAT?
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subset: commoncrawl


text: The media is always accused of being the harbinger of bad news. Of being the "nattering nabobs of negativism". Of glorifying death, disease, despair and disaster when there are so many happy, positive things happening all round us. Here's a "sexy" story that should leave you feeling nice and good. (If it doesn't, get a life, stop blaming us.)


text: This advanced engineering design reproduces high resolution sound from your regular headphone when using iPod, iPhone or iPad. The power supply and battery-less design make this amplifier ultra-compact and the aluminum bezel control panel gives you quick access to music selection and volume control. Deep Bass is designed to truly present the original sounds produced by professional musicians, artists, and producers in the way they want to be presented. Why spending hundreds of dollars for a professional headphone when you can get the same effect using your standard headphone powered by this compact headphone amplifier?


text:
Marique Schimmel stars as an ethereal, modern day Snow Queen for Harper's Bazaar UK December 2013. Stylist Cathy Kasterine dressed Schimmel in an array of cozy shearling coats, wool capes and cashmere turtlenecks from designers Salvatore Ferragamo, Celine and Missoni. Her rosy cheeks and pink lips were the work of makeup artist Thomas De Kluyver while her windswept locks were courtesy of hair stylist Chi Wong.
Schimmel, photographed by Thomas Lohr, wanders the secluded, otherworldly landscape of the Dover cliffs. The pristine white surroundings and Schimmel's piercing stare infuse the editorial with a haunting, celestial vibe. Overall, the excellently executed shoot will have you excited to break out your winter separates. Arm yourself against the cold with suede boots and snug sweaters inspired by Harper's Bazaar UK December 2013 issue -- and maybe a hot chocolate or two.
Harper's Bazaar UK December 2013 is a Winter Wonderland
Vasiliki Marapas — November 10, 2013 — Pop Culture
References: astairwaytofashion & thecitizensoffashion


text:
collide with (someone or something)(redirected from collide with you)
collide with (someone or something)
To crash into someone or something. There's a major traffic jam because a tractor-trailer collided with a car earlier. The runner did collide with the first baseman, but neither one was injured.
See also: collide
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
collide with someone or something
to crash with or bump into someone or something. The bus collided with a truck. Maria collided with Alice, but neither was hurt.
See also: collide
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.


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One of the things that I had promised myself (and those following the blog) that I would do, is restart/resuscitate Tome Raider. And, so this day, I have. Click on the picture here to get taken to my review of Night Train to Rigel and then stay tuned this Friday (January 11th) for a really cool post about Timothy Zahn and the night that I met him.
Archive for the 'Not To Be Missed Books' Category
Tome Raider: Night Train to RigelPosted: January 8, 2013 in Not To Be Missed Books
Tags: Night Train to Rigel, Not To Be Missed Books, timothy zahn
Timothy Zahn's Night Train to Rigel and Shameless Self Promotion (but not really)Posted: August 23, 2012 in Inkspots, Not To Be Missed Books, Scribe Scribbles
Tags: Books Not to Be Missed, Night Train to Rigel, review, timothy zahn
This is the part of reviewing books that I absolutely love; introducing authors that write extremely. I discovered Timothy Zahn on my own, during a despondent wander through the science-fiction section of the local library. I picked up his book The Icarus Hunt and glared at the flashy cover with its odd-looking space ship and raised letters in gold. "Timothy Zahn, New York Times Best Selling Author" was written in white under a blurb about another of his works on the front cover. I nearly put it back on the shelf, I'd been so disgusted with other books that had been on the NYT's best sellers list.
I flipped the book over, and read the back cover. Jordan McKell and his troubles didn't seem like your normal space novel. In fact, it reminded me vaguely of The Maltese Falcon. I moved over to one of the over stuffed blue chairs on the opitsite side of the library's sci-fi shelves, and began to read. An hour later, I came back to myself with a start. The library was closing. Red cheeked, I grabbed my purse and fled before the librarian turning off the lights to the check out desk. I remember how my heart leaped in my chest as carried the book to the car, smelling the slightly sweet paper pages and marveling at how immersed I'd been in so short a time. I stayed up past one in the morning, reading. I couldn't stop. It was better than the best movie. I saw Jordan McKell, and I liked him, despite his desperately trying to make sure that I didn't.
I immediately took to Pix and Pax an Ixel, too. I was rooting for them, even when they turned out to be drug runners for a mafia like character. I still liked them. And then my imagination kicked over in excitement. What Jordan said he was, and how he acted, didn't make sense. Something was up. I began anticipating where the plot was going. Sometimes I guessed right, and sometimes I guessed wrong. Mainly I guessed right. That was because of the skillful clue planting Zahn did. I began to enjoy the writer/reader partnership consciously. I was playing a game, an exhilarating game, with someone who was a master of their craft. He dropped phases like "The sky to sunward was gaudy"* into the book as well, making sci-fi poetic and I'd never seen anyone do that before.
The Icarus Hunt was the first book of Timothy Zahn's that I read, but it certainly wasn't the last. I picked up Night Train to Rigel the day it released at my local Barnes & Noble and like The Icarus Hunt, I read it in a handful or hours. It was the kind of read I wanted to slow down, to make it last longer, and at the same time, was so amazing, I couldn't pause, not for one moment.
My review of "Night Train to Rigel" is up on thechristianmanifesto so go and buy your copy or reserve it at the library first. Then go read what I have to say about it, and get ready for one rip-roaring thrill ride that will keep you up later than you planned and pull you so deep into another universe, you might get locked in at the library.
*Chapter 2, page 22 in The Icarus Hunt.
And while you're at it, you'll want to pick up this one too.
What books caught your imagination and drew you in so deeply you were up till three in the morning, or spent the night in the library? Let me know in the comments, I'm always on the prowl for another fantastic read!
Marissa Meyer InterviewPosted: August 8, 2012 in Not To Be Missed Books
Tags: Cinder, Marissa Meyer, Marissa Meyer Interview, The Christian Manifesto
Remember when I was talking about interviewing Marissa Meyer? And raving over her book Cinder? No? Well if you missed all of the fantastic adventure I had with both the book and the interview, here's a chance to catch up! Click the picture above and you'll be taken to The Christian Manifesto site where the review is posted. And, if you keep scrolling down below, you'll find my review of the book.
G.K. Chesterton said this of fairytales: "Fairytales are more than true; not because they tell us that the dragon exists, but that they tell us the dragon can be beaten."
In Cinder the strength of a fairytale undergirds the story that Meyer sets down, but she has made this tale all her own. If you're looking for a faithful word-for-word retelling of Cinderella in this book, you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a tantalizing story complete with cyborgs, a plague, not-quite-human residents of the moon, and heroes that come in the most unusual shapes, Cinder should be at the top of your 'to read' pile.
Meyer's tale is set in the distant future of Earth, which I really liked as it set it apart from the way fairytales start with 'once upon a time'. It's a future where those that have colonized Earth's moon are a distinct nation of people called Lunars, and Earth is fragmented into kingdoms rather than countries. It's a world where the markets of New Beijing have bakers selling the most delicious confections in booths beside cyborg Mechanics there to repair your androids and comboards.
It's also a hurting world, where a plague disease called Letumosis, is tearing families apart. It strikes with without warning, and no one is immune. Sixteen year old Cinder, Meyer's cyborg mechanic main character, knows first-hand what this plague is capable of doing to families. With the death of her adoptive father, she falls from the status of daughter, to possession. Her stepmother, Adri, works her all day long doing odd jobs around the house and sends her to the market to work in a family owned booth.
Meyer adroitly weaves echoes of the original Cinderella like this all through the tale, and adds some delightful twists, like making Cinder's younger stepsister Peony, one of Cinder's only friends.
Prince Kai, in disguise, brings his android to Cinder at the market place because of her reputation for being able to fix impossibly broken things. Cinder's cybernetics punch through the Prince's disguise, but he can't tell that she is a cyborg. Cinder doesn't want him to know she is less-than-human. After all, what is the harm in keeping one secret from a Prince she is not going to see again? All through the scene their banter is bright and Cinder's compassion shines, as she learns that Prince Kai's mother and father have both be struck with the plague.
Several chapters later, Prince Kai becomes Emperor Kai, his father succumbing to the dreaded plague. Then, Peony catches the disease and is whisked away, making Cinder's life unbearable. Her stepmother, full of grief and anger, "volunteers" Cinder for plague cure testing as she is "only a cyborg" and not a real person.
This wonderful warp between bright fairytale and the darker Grimm style tale makes Cinder such a rich read. Meyer has a fantastic cast of characters in her story, too. These are not typical fairytale players.
The Lunar Queen, Levana, is a superb dragon of a villain. She is beautiful, clever, ruthless, and holds immense power to sway people to her point of view. Emperor Kai and New Beijing are in her crosshairs as her next conquest. And she holds a terrible weapon to batter at his resolve; Queen Levana has a cure for Letumosis.
Cinder, having been found to possess an immunity to plague, works with the enigmatic Dr. Erland to find a cure. She endures all the needles and the testing, desperate to save Peony.
While talking with Erland, Cinder begins to discover that she is not who she thought she was. Emperor Kai, notified of her immunity, and still wanting his android to be repaired, continues to pop up in Cinder's life. He is unaware of what she really is, and Cinder, is unable to reveal her mechanical nature to her second friend.
As time begins running out for her sister, Cinder is pulled and pushed between a young Emperor who values her friendship, a world that has no great love for "her kind", and a Lunar Queen understands how terrible a threat Cinder could be to her plans.
The only part of Cinder that was a disappointment was the ending.
While the book is set up as the first in a series, the ballroom sequence, the reveals, and the end of Cinder are rushed. Everything spills and tumbles over itself for the last seven chapters of the book.
However, I am now part of the happy throng of readers, waiting for Scarlet which releases in 2013.
So there you are! Definitely not a book to be missed, and one I hope you'll put near the top of your own reading piles.
I'm always on the look out for a good read, and if I like it enough, I will review it for The Christian Manifesto. Let me know Scribes, some of your favorite treasure you've found in the comments below!
Books! Books! Books! (You're going to want to buy copies)Posted: May 4, 2012 in Inkspots, Not To Be Missed Books
Tags: book recommendations, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, The Christian Imagination, writer help
Scribes have asked, and now, this Scribe is answering!
Before you call the Better Blogger Business Bureau (BBBB) and cry foul for this post doesn't match the heading, wait a moment please and thank you.
I am going to introduce you to some of my most precious books on the mechanics of writing. It's like a gold miner telling you where they found a vein of that precious metal. It almost hurts to share these secrets with you, but I am. So sit tight.
I'm going to answer some questions first.
What's with all the soul stuff this week?
Um, I'm a soul in an earth suit. It's been a rough week so the soul's shown a little more than usual.
Hey, when are you getting to the other parts of Mirriam Neal's list?!
Cool! This means that you actually LISTENED to me and went back and read her posted list. Tomorrow. Well, actually, later today. Oooh, a double-post day. Can you stand the excitement?
Are you going to talk about CBA verses ABA like some other writers are?
For right now, I'm not going to blog about it, but you're welcome to follow my thoughts on Chila Woychik blog. Why? Well because it's true that it's "Better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt."
Five majillion points of the internet to the person who knows that quote and tells me in the comments here.
Now, onward to the books.
The first one is:
It's a Christian Writers theological and philosophical look at writing, creating, and what is required of us as writers who happen to be Christian. Don't get all long faced on me now, it's not a pill, it's a treasure. You see it's not really by Leland Ryken. It's by J.R.R Tolkien, Annie Dillard, George MacDonald, Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis , Flannerly O Conner, G.K. Chesterton, and Madeleine L'Engle and many others. Ryken just compiled the text and sorted their thoughts/essays into themes.
Uh-huh. You're welcome.
It's roughly 460 pages and costs between $17.98 and $24.99 depending on where you find it. You can definitely get cheaper copies used, but then they'll likely have other people's notes in them. Mine's all highlighted and dog-eared and I've got notes in the margins.
The second book is:
I don't care where you are in your journey as a fiction-writing story teller, buy this book. Buy it. Don't get it from the library, don't borrow it from a friend invest in your craft, and buy it. I have had so many AHA moments since I started reading this, it's embarrassing. But, my writing's grown. It really has. I know, because those that have read things recently, have commented on improvements.
You can pick a copy up for as little as $10.99 new (which I recommend because again, you're going to make notes in it) but I've seen several copies recently on alibris for $5.99 used.
Now, it's YOUR turn. I shared two fantastic finds out of my own hoard, how about returning the favor? C'mon Scribes, FESS. Which books have helped you grow as a writer? Why do you recommend them? Should I get them from the library, buy a copy used, or cough up the $$$ and get one new?
As always, Encourage one another!
The Boys of Bonanza Archetype-d (Part 2)Posted: April 22, 2012 in Inkspots, Not To Be Missed Books, Scribe Scribbles
Tags: archetypes, Bonaza, hero characters, Hoss, Little Joe
So what is very encouraging about part one of this post, is that the friend that requested it, said that I got the first two fellas spot-on! That's fantastic, because I don't know Bonanza well. I'm gleaning stuff about the characters from a page she linked me to, and from the Wikipedia article I found. Using that, and The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes I was able, she said, to pretty much peg Ben Cartwright and his son, Adam. So today I'm taking on the other two Cartwrights just so show you how amazing this book really is! Ready? All right here we go!
- Hoss Cartwright:
- The middle brother of the family, Hoss, is kind and gentle despite his size and strength. Always ready to help a neighbor (even if he does get it totally backwards) and ready for fun, I marked him as the BEST FRIEND archetype. The BEST FRIEND is easy to get along with and a gentleman. He's the one who is:
- Stable
- Supportive
- Tolerant
- He's the one who is the team player and can be counted on when things are going horribly terribly wrong. When others are getting frustrated and upset he keeps his head and keeps his eye on the solution. Feeling down? The BEST FRIEND will build you back up without flattery, and tell you the truth without malice. He does have weaknesses though, he can be:
- Complacent
- Myopic
- Unassertive
- Now, several people on several different pages have pointed out that Hoss isn't complacent, he tends to throw Little Joe around and slam other people into non-moving things when they've set him up or taken the mick with him. While that's true, an archetype is a CORE of the character and you are suppose to layer things around it. I'm going to stick with keeping Hoss as the BEST FRIEND because of his compassion and his loyalty
- Little Joe Cartwright:
- Little Joe Cartwright is the youngest son/brother of the Cartwright family. With his wide smile and twinkling eyes he's easily the one that falls into the category of THE CHARMER. He's fun, he is generous with his family and friends, showing his appreciation of them with gifts both large and small. He can get the birds to come down out of the trees, and always has a tale to tell, a story to spin. His strengths are that he is:
- Creative
- Witty
- Smooth
- He makes friends easily, and everyone has a good time when they are with him. He continually injects "fun" into others lives, even making them the target of pranks or jokes but there's no malice in him. He'll laugh just as hard if the joke is on him. With his search for fun comes his desire to have life go his way and that's where his character often hitches. He can be:
- Manipulative
- Irresponsible
- Elusive
Now, that concludes my look at the boys of Bonanza. Hopefully, this little demonstration has made you decide to put The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes on your 'must buy' list. If it hasn't, maybe the fact that there are more than just archetypes listed and explained in the book, will. In addition, the authors go through how archetypes interact, how to layer archetypes, and the differences between static and evolving archetypes. There's so much meat in here for writers at any stage of the game, it really should be on each and every scribe's book shelf.
Tomorrow, I'll let you peak at two more resources you should have on your shelf if you're a writer. Until then, encourage one another Scribes!
The Boys of Bonanza Archetype-d (Part 1)Posted: April 21, 2012 in Inkspots, Not To Be Missed Books, Scribe Scribbles
Tags: Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Bonanza, character archetypes
I had a friend recently ask me if The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D Cowden, Caro LaFever, And Sue Viders was any good. I told them "It is worth its weight in gold; it's like the Rosetta stone of character understanding." They have purchased their own copy. Yay!
But, they also asked me if I had time, to Archetype the boys from Bonanza. So, here is my look at Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe using the book, and what I know about the show. I'm doing this here, so that not only can they get their information but also so you can see a practical outlay of the book's features. Ready? here we go!
The father of the family, I easily pegged him as the CHIEF for the group. He's the one who is
- Goal oriented
- Decisive
- Responsible
- He's the leader of the family, and his boys at some point or another will look to him for answers. Ben is dynamic and strong-willed (stubborn). He delights in fixing problems, and anyone who comes to complain to him will be given a solution. He expects to be obeyed, and while he can appear harsh, he has a protective side that's like a bear or mountain lion when it comes to his family and those that are dear to him. He will gladly give all he has for them including his life.His flaws are:
- Stubborn
- Unsympathetic
- Dominating
Adam is the eldest son of the Cartwright family and I see him as the PROFESSOR. His university education (in architectural engineering) helps him build their ranch house and there's a love of learning him that runs through the core of his character.
- He's the one who is:
- Expert
- Analytical
- Genuine
- He's usually the smartest man in the room, and will consider a problem from every angle before making a move. He's very logical, and introverted, when he makes a promise, he keeps it even at great cost to himself (he's seen the cost before hand). He has some trouble filtering his emotions through his intellect and can come across as cold to those that don't know him well, but he has a deep reserve of love for those he is close to. He just sees no reason to wear his heart on his sleeve.
- His flaws are:
- Insular
- Inhibited
- Inflexible
- I do apologize for the formatting, word press does not like only partially bullet-ed lists
The Restorer's Son Expanded Edition by Sharon HinckPosted: April 13, 2012 in Inkspots, Not To Be Missed Books, Scribe Scribbles
Tags: Book Review, Fantasy Fiction, Sharon Hinck, The Restorers Son
Sharon Hinck's Sword of Lyric Series is one of the most unusual fantasy trilogies I have ever read.
Why? Well the main protagonist in The Restorer, Susan, is an unlikely one. She's a suburban Mom with limited experience dealing with bad guys other than snarky home repair men and the occasional back-biting fellow soccer mother. But when she's taken to another time and place, and the terrible danger is revealed, Susan doesn't cower in a corner waiting for her knight in shining armor. She takes the armor herself, and goes out to meet the enemy.
In The Restorer's Son you'll get to meet one of my all time favorite characters, Kieran. He's a supporting character in the first book, an outcast with a surly (understandably so) personality who has every reason to abandon the people that he's been press-ganged into serving. He is probably the most vocal reluctant hero I've ever read. Kieran questions everything and everyone, from The One, to his role as Restorer, to several interesting people he stumbles across in the length and breadth of the tale. Sardonic and wry, Kieran carries the narration of second book in the series with the same masterful strokes that Susan carried the first. You don't have to read The Restorer first as Kieran's story will stand on its own, but Susan and his meeting made me grin and that can only be found, in The Restorer.
I had the privilege of meeting Sharon, and talking with her in person, about the Restorer several years ago at the Fantastic Four Fiction Tour. She is as warm and genuine as her writing and has a heart large enough to hide a sun inside. I jumped up and down when I learned that Marcher Lord had picked up the series. The Restorer Expanded Edition, and The Restorer's Son Expanded Edition have been released in print and e-book format. Trust me when I tell you, you'll want to read them again and again. They are destined to become classics. Don't worry, The Restorer's Journey Expanded Edition will release soon. Until then, start on the first two in the series, and check out the interview below with Sharon Hinck.
The Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition
The Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition
Book two in the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric series, The Restorer's Son won a Carol Award for speculative fiction.
Plunged again into the gray world of Lyric and Hazor, Susan and Mark search frantically for their teenage son, Jake. All signs hint that a trusted ally has betrayed them and threatens their son. A target of assassins and more political intrigue, false leads and near misses beset their path, which leads them into the dark prisons of Hazor before the One's purpose is revealed.
Cast out by those he trusts, the new reluctant Restorer prefers to cross swords with the One rather than submit to His will. Pursued by his calling, he journeys to Sidian, where he finds a boy without a home, a king with burning questions, and a nation torn by darkness. As he embraces the tasks the One has set before him, this new Restorer learns that the One requires his all—perhaps even his life.
This new expanded edition of The Restorer's Son includes an in-depth devotion guide for readers who want to dig into the spiritual themes of the book, bonus scenes providing glimpses of the story through a variety of characters, and fun extras including links to songs and recipes.
What was it like developing new material for this new edition?
Books are like children. I treasure each of them in different ways, and among the novels I've written, I try not to have favorites. However, I confess that The Restorer's Son has an extra special place in my heart. Because of that, it was fun to revisit the characters and world of this story. Kieran's attitudes were loosely inspired by a verse in Judges where Gideon is told God will use him to save his people. Gideon's response is basically, "If God is for us, why have all these bad things happened to us?" It's a question many can relate to, and part of the reason that Kieran is such a beloved character.
The new devotion guide gives readers an opportunity to dig deeper into the Biblical inspirations that helped inform the book, as well as find personal application. About forty pages of new content, including bonus scenes and a new song composed for the book, make this edition a new experience.
How did you decide where to put in bonus elements?
Working with the publisher, we decided it was important to keep the flow of the story intact and free from distractions. So the book is designed with a large back-of-the-book section that can be used either after finishing the story, or during the reading of the main story. Small symbols and page numbers at the end of chapters direct readers to bonus scenes, and QR symbols in the margin invite readers to explore audio files, or recipes, or rules for playing Perish – all without interrupting the story.
It was important to me that people would feel that it was worth the investment to own The Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition, even if they had a copy of the original edition, so we packed this book with lots of added value.
Besides an entertaining read, what do you hope people experience in The Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition?
My hope is that readers will catch glimpses of the way the One speaks to each of us in the language we understand, and that we can go to Him with our difficult questions. For those who are walking very painful roads, I hope the story will help them feel acknowledged. The journey is hard, heroic, and sometimes frightening. But we are never alone.
Where can people find the book?
To order The Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition:
Kindle version:
Sharon writes "stories for the hero in all of us," about ordinary people experiencing God's grace in unexpected ways. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include contemporary fiction such as The Secret Life of Becky Miller or Stepping into Sunlight and the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric fantasy series which includes The Restorer's Son–Expanded Edition. She's been a Christy finalist and won three Carol awards.
Sharon's undergrad degree is in education, and she earned an M.A. in Communication. When she isn't wrestling with words, Sharon enjoys speaking to conferences, retreats, and church groups. She loves interacting with visitors at her website and blog: sharonhinck.com


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Ariel Winter just hit a major milestone: she is now boasting 2 million Instagram followers and counting! To celebrate the moment, she posted a pretty awesome bikini shot of herself on a boat, sporting a super patriotic two piece. This comes just a day after a certain meme essentially confirmed that she's now single, and of course, following the stream of body positive posts she's made over the past week.
The celebration came just after the actress posted a photo of the words "Own who you are," and of course, her incredible graduation #look. Ariel Winter walks her talk (or rather, posts her talk) and is truly the embodiment of self-love.


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Extra Maths lessons for High School pupils
In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
I specialise in one-on-one customised Maths lessons in Durban, South Africa
Extra Maths lessons for High School pupils
In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
My name is Margie Dwyer. I retired from Durban Girls' College at the end of 2017 as the Director of Academics and Head of Mathematics. In my more than 40 years in education, I have taught in boys' schools, co-ed schools and girls' schools; rural schools without electricity and city schools with every amenity; DBE schools and independent schools. All of this has enabled me to develop a wide variety of skills to help pupils with a range of abilities.
I have marked Matric examinations, both DBE and IEB, which has given me extra insight in preparing Grade 11 and 12 pupils in examination techniques and experience.
I live in Morningside opposite Mitchell Park, so I am conveniently situated for many Berea schools.
I specialise in one-on-one customised lessons. Pupils requiring extra lessons benefit most from individual, focussed attention, whether it is to help them pass or to help them achieve more at the top end of the scale, or anywhere in between.
I also offer lessons via Zoom if that is your preference.
Lessons for 2 can be accommodated by arrangement, provided that the pupils are of similar ability. These are created when friends wish to come together, as I do not organise groups.
Lessons are normally scheduled during the school term, but pupils needing lessons during school holidays are also welcome.
R400 per hour for individual lessons
R250 each per hour for 2 pupils
All lessons are payable a month in advance.
Complete the form below and I'll get back to you shortly.


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Swimming fun in home pools is often ruined by cold weather. But solar pool heaters allow swimming in pools during the entire season, no matter what the weather is like. There are different types of solar pool heaters available and comparison is always important. We compared the best solar pool heaters and solar pool heating panels for your home pool.
Quick Navigation
- 0.1 How to take care of a solar pool heater?
- 0.2 How long do solar pool heaters last?
- 0.3 What do solar pool heaters cost?
- 0.4 How do solar pool heaters work?
- 0.5 #1. SmartPool S240U Universal Sun heater
- 0.6 #2. Game 4721-BB SolarPro Curve Solar Pool Heater
- 0.7 #3. Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System
- 0.8 #4. SunQuest Solar Pool Heater with Couplers
- 0.9 #5. Kokido Keops Solar Dome Above Ground Swimming Pool Water Heater
- 1 Buying Guide / How to choose solar pool heaters
- 2 Final verdict + editorial Choice
How to take care of a solar pool heater?
Today's solar pool heaters are extremely easy to control and maintain. They are very reliable and usually have automatic controls that are easy to set and understand. Since there is no operating cost and generally no maintenance cost, the solar pool heater is the most economical way to heat your swimming pool.
How long do solar pool heaters last?
On average, solar pool heating panels should last about 20 years. Sometimes, if made out of good quality materials and well maintained, they last much longer. Most solar pool heater manufacturers offer a 20-year warranty for their solar panels and solar heating systems. Some even offer a lifetime warranty.
What do solar pool heaters cost?
The price of a solar pool heater depends on the quality and size of the solar panels. There are relatively cheap solar mats, which are a few square meters in size and for smaller pools. There are however also larger solar panels which are much larger and go for a few hundred euros. Larger panels need enough space, but they do heat large pools without a problem.
How do solar pool heaters work?
Similar to solar fountains or solar showers, solar pool heaters use the energy of the sun to heat the pool water. Special solar collectors or space-saving solar domes are integrated into the filter circuit of the pool and simply placed in the garden. The pool water flows through the pipes and heats up while doing so. The solar pool heating uses this energy to heat the water in an environmentally friendly way and without any additional electricity costs. Easily mount your solar panels on the house or garage roof and are barely visible.
#1. SmartPool S240U Universal Sun heater
Smart Pool sun heater works for both above grounds and in-ground pools. It uses the sun's heat to heat the pool water. Composed of a black polyethylene solar panel that measures 2 by 20 feet, the solar pool heater is designed to effectively capture the suns heat. Easy to fit small place that's why you can easily place your other tools like pool lounge chairs or pool pump easily set.
Installation of the solar panels is very easy and you or a professional can install it yourself. With a trilingual installation manual, your installation will be easy. You can easily install the solar panels on a roof, a solar panel rack, on the ground or on a fence. The pool heater uses existing pool pumps to move the water into the tubes and back in the pool – therefore no extra expenses arise from tubing and pumps. The quality of the materials is ok for the price you pay.
Pool water, after running through a filter, will run through a couple of tubes in the panel and then back to the pool after absorbing the heat of the panel. This leads to an increase in the pool temperature of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit on a sunny day. Flowing through a one header hole for each heating tube, the Smart Pool Universal Sun Heater is a direct flow system.
In total, the SmartPool S240U Universal Sun Heater will really do the job for you. It is very affordable and has absolutely no costs aside from the acquisition cost. It heats the pool very well and is installable by a handyman or professional, or by yourself. With the quality of the materials, there is however a high chance that this solar heater won´t last 20 years.
- It is very affordable
- It is easy to install for above the ground and in-ground pools
- A cost-efficient way to heat your pool
- Uses renewable energy
- It doesn't work when it's cloudy
- The quality of the material is not excellent
#2. Game 4721-BB SolarPro Curve Solar Pool Heater
Game SolarPro Curve Solar Pool Heater is using a design optimized to capture the heat from the sun all day long. It's a nicely finished curved solar panel that fits in any backyard without taking up too much space. Constructed from a blow-molded plastic frame, the curved panel stores the sun's heat without taking up much space.
This DIY solar pool heater very easy to install and this system is ready to use in just a couple of minutes without the need for a professional. Due to the short tubes that come with the Game SolarPro Curve Solar Heater, you will have to place the solar panels right next to the pool. For a different placement of the solar heating system, you will have to purchase extra-long tubes. No matter if installed for inground or above ground pool, it will provide an increase in temperature of the pool by roughly 5° Fahrenheit on pools up to 8,000 gallons in just 5 days. The adjustable and foldable legs allow the heater to be set for maximum exposure to the sun, along with a clear cover that locks in heat.
A big plus aside from the very affordable price and the quick set up is the fact that you can combine each SmartPool Sun heater with multiple units in order to generate even more heat.
- Everything necessary for a quick start included
- Combine it with multiple units for more heat
- Very fast installation and easy to set up
- Very short tubes, therefore a position close to the filter pump necessary
#3. Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System
Manufactured by the premier company in the solar business, the Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System is a smaller and more affordable version of the Solar Bear Plus System. This system only works for above the ground pools. To use, mount the solar heater on the ground, on a rack, or a nearby roof. Made of U.V. stabilized
polyethylene that is very tough and will last many seasons under direct sunlight, the system offers great durability. The solar heater comes complete with an integral bypass valve, so you can turn them on and off as needed. Also included are two 6-feet hoses and four clamps to hook the system up to your filtration system.
Fafco Solar pool heating system comes with a 10-year warranty and complete installation and user's manual. With the correct and sun-facing setup, the Fafco System can increase the temperature by up to 10 Degrees Fahrenheit in less than 2 days. To reach higher temperatures even fast, combine it with another system. It is often considered as the best solar heating system for above the ground pools on the market.
Optimal heating with unobstructed sunlight will be achieved between 10 am and 4 pm. Performs most effectively when tilted 10 to 30 degrees to the South.
- Easy to install
- Very durable
- Currently the best system for above the ground pools
- Affordable
- Only works for above the ground pools
#4. SunQuest Solar Pool Heater with Couplers
The SunQuest Solar Swimming Pool Heater is very large and bulky, but thanks to its large size it is able to generate more heat for the pool. A lot of things really stand out about this pool heater. It has two-inch OD headers that work to improve the circulation of your water. Not only does this put less pressure on your pump, but it also helps to increase the water temperature evenly. SunQuest solar pool heater is a very affordable solar heater. It is compatible with both in-ground and above-ground pools and has a design for easy installation without a lot of concern.
Water temperatures rise with this solar heater by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and possibly even more with direct sun exposure. Because this heater comes with two 20 feet solar panels, this heater even heats up very large pools in little time. When both panels are connected to a smaller pool, temperatures can rise even more than the above mentioned 10 degrees. Max-Flow design with 2″ OD headers assures a better water circulation and less back pressure on your pump.
Installation of this solar pool heating system is simple and doesn't take much time. The Solar panels can be mounted on a roof, or on a rack close to the pool. However, as mentioned before, they do take up a lot of space. The tubes from the panels connect very easily with existing water pumps, and the entire system doesn't need maintenance.
- Heats water up 10 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer
- Great for big pools
- Connects easily to water pumps
- Requires absolutely no maintenance
- It takes up very big amounts of space
#5. Kokido Keops Solar Dome Above Ground Swimming Pool Water Heater
Overall, this isn't the best performing solar pool heating system, but when it comes to the extremely low price and the output and the size, this is a great system for your above the ground pool.
Although it doesn't require large solar panels to heat the water, the Kokido Keops Solar Dome channels heat from the sun into your pool. The system is very easy to connect with the pump, it doesn't require any additional adapters like some other solar heating systems, and it raises the temperature of the water between five and seven degrees Fahrenheit in just 2 days of sun. If that doesn't sound like much, keep in mind that many solar heaters twice the cost and five times the size only add about 10 degrees. That makes the Kokido Keops one of the more cost-effective units above the ground pools currently on the market.
Suitable for pools up to 8000 Gallons of water, upgrade it easily to heat even larger pools with multiple units, or larger units.
- Works for pools with up to 8000 Gallons
- Combine with more units for faster heating or larger pools
- Very space-efficient system
- Very cost-efficient systems
- Only increases temperatures by up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit
Buying Guide / How to choose solar pool heaters
Generally, you should take care of all types of solar pool heaters – for both inground and above ground pools – to match the size of the pool. Otherwise, it may happen that the healing power of the solar pool heater panels is not enough to heat the entire pool. Also, pay close attention should when buying a solar pool heater for the quality of the material. This is important so that the lifespan of your pool heater is very long. Consider the intensity of care and maintenance of a solar pool heater when purchasing. Solar pool heaters are a lot less maintenance-intensive than pool heaters with a heat pump powered by electricity of gas.
Pool Size: It is important to mention that no matter what kind of pool or pool size you have, you can install a solar pool heater to increase the water temperature. For most pools, the solar pool heaters will be very easy to install. Only for some types of pools, it can be a challenge which professionals have to complete.
Most solar pool heaters can heat your pool all year long. A properly sized solar system with unglazed solar panels heats your pool to comfortable temperatures between 78°F and 85°F in summer months. Yet, the amount of heating and temperature of your heated pool depend on the amount of sunlight you receive during colder months. We suggest using a pool cover or blanket in colder months in order to avoid heat loss through the water surface.
Payback of a solar heating system for your pool will come anytime between 2 or 3 years after your purchase and installation in comparison to a gas or electric pool heater. Installation of a new solar pool heating system can take anywhere from one to three days, depending on how large the solar panels are and whether any trenching or concrete work will be done.
You can use solar pool heaters for both above ground pools and in-ground pools. Heaters will work equally as well for both types of pools. When installed, solar pool heaters will not affect your pool chemicals. When your pool reaches warmer temperatures, you will need more chlorine to keep algae away.
Final verdict + editorial Choice
There are many ways to heat up the pool water during the swimming season. Solar pool heaters offer the most advantages since they heat up quickly and climate-friendly, are low-maintenance and inexpensive to buy. When planning and purchasing solar pool heating, always consider the right ratio of heated pool water and solar area. There are small solar mats for next to the pool and large solar collectors, which you can mount on the house or garage roof. It is also very important to consider whether you are trying to heat an in-ground pool or an above the ground pool.
Making the editor's choice for an inground pool is a simple task – SmartPool S240U Universal Sun heater – this solar pool heater really has it all. It's very affordable heats the pool well and doesn't use up too much space. The only downside is not excellent material.
Our choice for the best above the ground solar pool heater is the Fafco Solar Bear Economy Heating System. It has everything you need for an affordable and easy to set up a system that works well.
Next: Best Pool Paints


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Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary have won the dance reality show Nach Baliye 9. Anita Hassanandani-Rohit Reddy and Vishal Aditya Singh-Madhurima Tuli were announced as the first and second runner-up respectively.
Popular television couple Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary have won Nach Baliye 9. The grand finale episode that was shot on Tuesday will air this weekend. Anita Hassanandani-Rohit Reddy and Vishal Aditya Singh-Madhurima Tuli were announced as the first and second runner-up respectively.
Shared a source, "Shantanu Maheshwari-Nityaami Shirke were the first ones to get eliminated from the top five. They were followed by Aly Goni-Natasa Stankovic. In the end, Prince-Yuvika and Anita-Rohit were on stage for the final announcement. Given their journey on Nach Baliye 9, it was surprising when Prince and Yuvika were announced as the winner. However, it's a voting reality show and fans' love definitely makes a difference."
Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary met on Bigg Boss 9. While Prince instantly fell in love with her, Yuvika took her own sweet time to finally say yes. The two got married in October 2018. Their journey on Nach Baliye 9 started on a sad note. On the day of their first performance, Prince got to know that his brother had passed away in an accident in Canada.
Recently, as a way to celebrate their anniversary, the team played a prank where they announced that the contestants have voted them out. While it had left the couple shocked, the next week, they pulled a trick back on the contestants by faking their exit from the competition. Time and again, PriVika, as the couple is lovingly called, was accused of playing the sympathy card. Last week, when Hina Khan had graced the show as a special guest, she also questioned them on why they keep talking about their issues on the stage.
Prince had then replied, "As a kid, we always tend to approach our parents for sharing each and everything, whether it is about any problem or about any incident. Likewise, we consider our judges as our parents and we will definitely share our problems with them, If anyone considers it as a strategy to gain sympathy then we have no words."
Co-produced by Salman Khan, Nach Baliye 9 had Raveena Tandon and Ahmed Khan as the judges, while Maniesh Paul and Waluscha De Sousa were the hosts. This season has received a lot of flak since its premiere. Be it the format of having exes participating or the show running more on drama than dance, Nach Baliye 9 clearly did not match up to the popularity of its previous seasons.


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What Health Issues Cost Oklahomans the Most?
Posted in
What would you guess are the costliest health conditions in our country? Although cancer or lung disease might come to mind, when looking at health issues comprehensively, based on dollars spent nationwide, heart disease and diabetes are the most expensive conditions. Because diabetes is a "gateway" disease that can lead to multiple other conditions, it's attributed to more than $176 billion in annual health care expenditures. Heart disease, including conditions like coronary heart disease, heart failure and heart attacks accounts for more than $193 billion in annual national spending.
Where Oklahoma ranks for health care spending
In a 2016/2017 report from the United Health Foundation, Oklahoma was named a "State with the Biggest Opportunities for Improvement," ranking 46th in the nation, on average, across a variety of health issues. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates Oklahoma's annual health care spending per person is $7,627. A report from the Department of Health and Human Services projects that health care spending will grow at a faster rate than the national economy over the coming decade. That squeezes the ability of federal and state governments, not to mention employers and average citizens, to pay. So what issues comprise the bulk of Oklahoma's health care expenditures?
Costliest health issues in Oklahoma
The following health conditions have the biggest impact statewide, not only in spending, but in people affected, individuals in treatment and death rates. As costs fluctuate annually, these are not in any particular order; however, each of these issues significantly impacts the overall health of our state.
- Heart disease and stroke
- Obesity
- Mental health
- Lifestyle-related cancers and smoking-related conditions
- Diabetes
- Substance abuse and addiction
Changing the future of Oklahoma's health
When preventive care and healthy lifestyle choices become a priority, health care spending decreases. Staying up-to-date with regular check-ups is a smart place to start. The power to change the health of our state and improve the outlook for future Oklahomans lies with us.


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Thursday, April 30, 2009
DigiStamp Boutique is now open!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
So busy . . .
Work has been keeping me way too busy these last couple of weeks and I'm really starting to drag. Last night I rushed home from work to change my clothes before running off again but when I got home I found this little guy in the yard so I paused for a bit to take a couple of photos of him before he flew away. Cedar waxwings are one of my favorite birds! I have fond memories of flocks of them occasionally filling our trees when I was a child. They aren't too common around here so it's always fun to spot a group of them. This little guy must have hit out window and was recovering on the ground. His friends were all perched in the trees waiting for him. He must have sat for at least 30 minutes before flying up into the tree. But he did fly away with the group so I hope he's ok.
I do have a card I made the other day that I can share. I made this using the Polly and handbag digital image from DigiStamp Boutique and papers from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie line.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you're all having a wonderful week!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Take the Challenge: Earth Day
I decided to recycle an empty envelope box to create a card holder.
And here it is recycled into a card holder.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
You're not old . You're ripe.
I'm really enjoying my label maker for creating sentiments! I find it much easier than pulling out alphabet sets to create them. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having a great day.
- Stamps: Gina K You Know You're Old When
- Papers: White, Black, Marigold Morning, My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow
- Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir
- Accessories: Copics, Nestabilities, Dymo Label Maker, Popdots
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Exciting News!
Zoe (aka Mrs Wonka)
Thank you Sally-Ann for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to working with this group of gals! In honor of being selected, here is a card made with one of the images from the Fairy Collection by Grab-a-doodle-do. The glitter on her wings and wand didn't photograph very well but they are glittery in real life. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderful day!
- Images – Grab-a-doodle-do Fairy Collection
- Paper - White, Riding Hood Red, Basic Grey Urban Prairie, Amy Butler
- Misc – Copics, Stickles, Prima flower, Amy Butler brad, Pop dots
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Greetings Earthling
- Stamps – Cornish Heritage Farms Kim Hughes Little Guy
- Ink – Palette Hybrid Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink
- Paper - Kraft, White, Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy (top) and Basic Grey Archaic (bottom)
- Misc – Copics, Pop dots, Circle punch, Dymo Label Maker
Friday, April 17, 2009
Whipper Snapper Bee-cause
Last night I pulled out the bee in Anna Wight's Little Critters set from Whipper Snapper and my dymo label maker and had some fun. I love the little bee and wanted to create some sayings to go with her so the label maker was perfect. I went with: BEE WELL SOON, BEE-LATED WISHES, and HAPPY BEE-DAY. The bee was stamped with Palette Hybrid black on white cardstock, colored with Copics and coated in Stickles. Once the stickles were dry the bee was matted with black and mounted to the card with a pop dot. The patterned papers are from the Basic Grey Urban Prairie line.
Thanks for stopping. I hope you are all having a great week.
- Stamps – Whipper Snapper Little Critters
- Ink – Palette Hybrid Black
- Paper - White, Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Basic Grey Urban Prairie
Misc – Copics, Stickles, Circle punches, Corner round punch, Ribbon, Button, Twine, Pop dots, Dymo label maker
CSS Bravery Gent
Today's card features Clear & Simple Stamps new Bravery Gent set. I started by stamping the image on white and coloring it with re-inkers and an aqua brush. The starts were stamped on white, cut out and mounted on pop dots for some dimension. The ribbon is from May Arts. What a special way to thank all of the military people in your life.
- Stamps – Clear & Simple Stamps Bravery Gent
- Ink – Palette Hybrid Black, Midnight blue Stazon
- Paper - White, Navy, Riding Hood Red, Unmarked designer paper
- Misc – Re-inkers, Aqua brush, Ribbon, Pop dots
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Are you ready for summer?
I created my own patterned paper by using the background stamp. First I took a sheet of white cardstock and used my Scor-pal to score it every 1 ½ inches in either direction to create a grid so I could line up my stamp. Next I stamped every other square with Blue Iris chalk ink, washed my stamp and stamped the remaining squares with Lipstick Red chalk ink to create my patterned paper.
To create the containers cut your cardstock to 4x6 and glue the end of the 6 inch side together to create a 4 inch long tube. Put a little glue inside one end of the tube and flatten the end together. Now run the end through your crimper to finish the edge. On the other end pinch the ends together in the opposite direction of the finished end and run that through the crimper too. Don't put any glue on this end! Now fill it with goodies (Hershey Kisses work great if you don't have to worry about them melting). Once you have filled it, squish the end back together and punch a couple of holes in the crimped part to attach the ribbon. For a little extra detail I stamped some stars from the set, mounted them on a couple of layers and attached them just under the bows.
- Stamps – Clear & Simple Stamps Bravery Gent
- Ink – Colorbox Chalk Blue Iris and Lipstick Red
- Paper - White, Navy, Riding Hood Red
- Misc – Ribbon, Crimper, Circle punches, Nestabilities, Pop dots, Candy
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Clear & Simple Stamps Release Day
Mom and Me / Dad and Me / Believe in Words III
Got Fish? / Tea Time / Summer Sentiments
BBQ Darling / Bravery Gent
Receive $1 off the Stamp of the Month
Mom and Me
Enter discount code: 04SOTM09
offer valid thru April 30, 2009
You can see earlier samples of the Mom and Me set here and here. I also have two more cards using the Mom and Me set to share with you today.
How about a gatefold card? If you have a scor-pal it couldn't be any easier to create one. Cut your cardstock to 4 ½ x 11 then score at the arrow marks on your scor-pal. For my card base I used Kraft then added some Bo Bunny double sided paper. I cut the two pieces of designer paper for the front panels and then cut them in strips and alternated between sides to get the variety. The image and greeting were stamped with Colorbox Chalk French Blue. The image panel and layers were attached to the left front panel with Pop dots. Instead of using a brad or crystal in the flower center I stamped the #1 Mom sentiment and added that for the flower center.
- Stamps – Clear & Simple Stamps Mom and Me
- Ink – Colorbox Chalk French Blue
- Paper - White, Kraft Bo Bunny
- Misc – Scor-Pal, Corner rounder, Prima flowers, Nestabilities, Pop dots
- Stamps – Clear & Simple Stamps Mom and Me
- Ink – Stampin Up Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose
- Paper - White, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose
- Misc – Tracing wheel, Heidi Swapp Distress Tool, Prima flowers, Crystal
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Another BBQ Darling card
- Stamps – Clear & Simple Stamps BBQ Darling
- Ink – Palette Hybrid Black
- Paper - White, SU Riding Hood Red, Black
- Misc – Copics
Monday, April 13, 2009
Release Week for Clear & Simple Stamps
- Stamps – Clear & Simple Stamps BBQ Darling and Gourmet Darling
- Ink – Palette Hybrid Black
- Paper - White, SU Chocolate Chip, SU Morning Marigold, My Mind's Eye
- Misc – Copics, Tracing Wheel, Nestabilities, Circle Punch, Pop dots
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter
I hope you're all having a great weekend.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Happy Birthday
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
What a beautiful day!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Take the Challenge Tuesday
from Clear & Simple Stamps.
This card uses several designer papers from the Basic Grey Sultry collection and a strip of paper from the My Mind's Eye Bloom and Grow collection. The faces and hair were colored with Copics and then their clothes were paper pieced. This card uses more of the My Mind's Eye Bloom and Grow papers.
Visit the Design Team blogs to see more Spring inspired, paper pieced projects, or PCP to upload your own paper pieced challenge cards - use tag "ttco04".
Design Team Members' Blogs
Guest Design Team Members' Blogs
Kim Howard - Basement Stamper
Lynette Neus - My Stamping Addiction
Thanks so much for stopping. I hope you'll join us for the challenge.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Little Gem in Bee Suit
I'll have to edit the supplies info to add the designer paper info. I'm not at home right now so I don't have the details with me. I hope you're having a great day! Thanks so much for stopping by.
*Edited to add the designer paper details - K & Company Citronella pack*
- Stamps – Little Gem in Bee Suit from Pink Gem Designs
- Ink – Archival Jet Black
- Paper - White, Black, K & Company Citronella pack
- Misc – Reinkers, Aqua brush, Stampin Write markers, Stickles, Pop dots, Gems
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Home again, home again.
It's not a really big zoo but it's free and has some great animals plus it was within walking distance of the hotel. Here's me posing with the tortoise.
My daughter thought this Rhino was pretty cute.
Look at that face!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all had a great weekend!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Hope your day is Fairy nice!
Both images were colored with Copics and cut out using Nestabilities. For the top card I used some glittery paper from DCWV and for the bottom card I used SU Marigold Morning, some patterned paper from My Mind's Eye and then added some glitter to the fairy wings and stars. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you're all having a great day!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Want to win a stamp set?
- Stamps – Clear & Simple Stamps Mom and Me
- Ink – Stampin Up Soft Sky and Bordering Blue
- Paper - Very Vanilla, My Mind's Eye
- Misc – Stickles, Pearls, Prima flowers, Fiskar's oval template and cutter, Pop dots


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Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has described the negotiations with P5+1 in Vienna on the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as good and constructive.
"We had discussions with P5+1, especially with the Americans on expediting the implementation of the commitments of the other side and we wanted to make sure that these commitments will be honored in different areas of JCPOA," Zarif told reporters on Friday.
He went on to say that one of the issues is Arak Reactor that "we had detailed discussions about", including the other side's commitments for its renovation, about which we made good progress.
"We talked about US measures which need to be taken as well as the provision of guarantees to our trade partners in order not to block trade with Iran; we reached good agreements in these fields and it was agreed to work more on that," Zarif added.
He said that Iran and the US held three sessions of negotiations and at each the Iranian side was provided with responses after the other side coordinated with Washington.
"We hope that the sessions held on Thursday and Friday could help with the implementation of JCPOA," Zarif said.


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Sunday afternoon, the field hockey team finally busted out after a season where it felt like it was stuck in stop and go traffic. With a second place finish and a winning record in the Ivy League on the line — not to mention Senior Day looming on everyone's mind — the Red scored the first five goals of the afternoon against Dartmouth in coasting to a 5-2 victory.
The win gave the Red a 7-9 overall record (4-3 Ivy). It was a record that resulted from many trials and tribulations throughout the year, including a four-game winning streak to start the season, followed by seven straight frustrating losses, then a sudden offensive resurgence as the season wound down. The victory over Dartmouth, the first since 1997, marked a beginning as much as an end for Cornell.
"I'm very pleased with how we ended things," said head coach Donna Hornibrook. "We had a lot of heartbreakers this year, and those are tough, but there was not a game we weren't in. And to finish like this, it's a good confidence booster. We can use this as a stepping stone for sure."
It was the first time the field hockey team finished above .500 in the Ivy League two years in a row.
[img_assist|nid=19635|title=One and one|desc=Sophomore Alyssa DePaola (left) had a goal and an assist in Cornell's 5-2 win over Dartmouth yesterday on Schoellkopf Field.|link=popup|align=left|width=91|height=100]
"You're never happy with second, but to end the season well was just an incredible feat after what we went through," agreed senior co-captain Lindsay Moyer. "Last year we took a baby step and this year we took another step. I'll take second — the way we were going you never thought we would end up second. We definitely deserved this."
The Red earned its due through intense preparation the week leading up to the Dartmouth contest. The team set its zone up to take out some of the Green's more effective play makers, and then counterattack, pushing the ball a little more than normal.
"Our zone played as a unit," Moyer said. "We had a lot more attack plays in the game plan today, and we just wanted to set the tone first and make sure it was our game."
Indeed, just over 15 minutes into the affair, the Cornell zone clogged the passing lanes, intercepting a pass attempt and quickly countered right back down the middle where sophomore Abbi Horn slipped a pass off to classmate Helena Haas who one-timed it into the back of the net. Even with a slim 1-0 lead, emotionally the Red appeared incredibly loose on the field, something which translated into its play, fluidly weaving up and down the field on both sides and through the middle.
"We said it's our last game, let's just go out and play as a unit and have a great time," Moyer said.
Yet, despite not possessing the ball that often, Dartmouth manufactured its share of chances in the first half. Just over 20 minutes in, the Red defense was tested by three consecutive penalty corners.
"We knew going in that their penalty corner unit was dangerous," said Hornibrook. "With that drag off the corner it's hard to track the ball because it moves so fast."
Junior netminder Lizzie Goldblatt was up to the challenge, however, as she rebuffed each shot attempt, including a rare stick save on a diving attempt. Moyer also came up big in the series, clearing a dangerous ball out of the scrum on one occasion.
The free-flowing atmosphere continued right through halftime and into the second half. However, this time, the Red found more results, filling the net four times in the first 15 minutes of play. With the team making run after run, it seemed like just a matter of time until a cross eventually found a stick and the back of the net, which happened just under 10 minutes in when Moyer crossed the ball to sophomore Alyssa DePaolo, whose shot was deflected before sophomore Brenna Gulotta picked up the rebound and netted the goal. About 90 seconds later, off a penalty corner, sophomore Belen Martinez sent a shot screeching towards the goal. Dartmouth keeper Ashley Heist extended on a dive to make the save but the ball trickled under her outstretched hand enough for DePaola to finish the job.
"It was nice to see Alyssa back after missing a third of the season," Hornibrook said. "She was our leading scorer last year, and now it was good to see her as part of the good balance we had on offense."
Hornibrook's remarks were referencing the fact that the Red boasted a different scorer on each goal Sunday. It was a balance and cohesion, she said, that came from individual effort.
"On offense we definitely were looking to take shots," she said. "We had good passing and good individual effort."
"Everyone did their job and that made us mesh well," Moyer agreed.
"The ball just flowed well," Haas added. "Everyone's heart was just really in it."
History repeated itself on the last two Cornell goals, with the first coming off a cross and the second coming off a penalty corner. The first found the back of the net via a sharp pass to sophomore Katlyn Donoghue who held the ball, back to the goal, just long enough before slipping it to Horn near the right post. She passed it on to junior Lizzie Auer, who snuck the shot in near post for the 4-0 lead. And in a fitting end to the scoring, Moyer scored her first goal of the season off a penalty corner, netting a rocket shot from the top of the crease.
"It felt amazing," she said. "There are no other words to describe it."
From there on out the game felt like a foregone conclusion. A late offensive push from Dartmouth, resulting in two goals, was not enough. A happy but emotional Red team gathered to lead a cheer ending in "We are Cornell!" There were pats on the shoulders and hugs all around for both Moyer and senior co-captain Sarah Miller, and as the two left the team and the field, their parents were there to embrace their slightly tearful children.
"More than anything, I never thought I would get emotional," Moyer said. "We just haven't won on Senior Day in years. It was a great feeling."


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|Upper Saddle River 08
This deck space extends the interior dining/living areas to take full advantage of the Ann Brooke-designed landscape. The horizontal bands camouflage the stairs and soften the impact of this generously apportioned structure, hiding from view the AC condensers and large storage area.
Click on any photo to launch enlarged slideshow.


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In order to accommodate the growth and diversification of Digital Check, we have made some organizational changes in the customer service and support area.
Please join us in congratulating Claudia Pavel who has been promoted to Customer Service Supervisor. Claudia joined Digital Check in 2006 and has provided outstanding customer service to our customers and support to our sales team over the past six years. She will continue to work in customer service and sales support, but will also be taking on a supervisory role, managing all contact with both domestic and international customers.


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Writers' Room 101: The Most Important Rule
There are very few absolute musts when it comes to the writers' room. On almost any show you can name, there are small variations in terms of how certain things get done, but the basic process is pretty much the same nearly everywhere. Therefore, I'm going to do my best to refrain from being overly didactic and handing down "You must always do this!" and "You must never do that!" decrees.
However, having said all that, this is one of those occasions where I have no choice but to be a little heavy-handed, because there's one rule that, if you break it, you're very possibly screwed. And once you start working as a television writer, no one will pull you aside every day and give you constant reminders. So write this one down if you have to.
There's an expression that TV writers like to throw around a lot. You might hear it spoken seemingly in jest, but trust me, it's 100% serious.
The expression is, "What's said in the room stays in the room."
This is The Most Important Rule Ever, and here's what it means: you must never, ever, EVER repeat outside the writers' room what your staff discusses inside those walls.
Just don't do it. If you're ever in doubt about whether something's safe to share with an outsider, do yourself a favor and err on the side of caution.
Everyone speaks freely in the room. Every imaginable "What if...?" scenario is openly contemplated. But don't go home and whisper to your boyfriend/girlfriend/roommate/therapist about that big guest star the showrunner is hoping to cast. Don't run and tell your best friend about the big season finale twist ending that the writing staff just came up with. And please, if you care about your career at all, say nothing specific about your show on any social media platform until after the network makes it public. Jumping the gun could turn out to be a fireable offense.
During your daily brainstorming sessions, everyone on the writing staff needs to feel safe enough to toss out ideas that may or may not be great. Pitching bad ideas to get to the good ones is a time-honored process, and it often works. Someone (maybe even the showrunner!) might even randomly suggest killing off a certain character, and if word gets out that such an idea was floated even for an instant, who knows what kinds of headaches it could cause.
We'll delve more into the pitching process in a later column. But "what's said in the room, stays in the room" goes deeper than just protecting plot details and possible casting coups.
Whether you're working on a character-driven drama or a more plot-driven procedural cop or medical show, writers will sometimes volunteer stories from their personal lives and either offer them up for use in the show, or just share them as fuel to spark other ideas. These stories can range from the mildly embarrassing to the hilarious to the deeply painful, and even if no one says so out loud, you're being trusted (sometimes by total strangers if it's the early days of writing a first-year show) by your coworkers never to repeat these things. Do not betray that trust.
Just don't do it.
This rule extends to and protects everyone in the room, including you. One of your most humiliating past experiences might be a perfect fit for the show you're working on, but you'd never share it if you suspect someone's going to blab it all over town, or tweet about it, or whatever.
I said earlier, "if you break this rule, you're very possibly screwed" because if someone shares a painful story with the room, and you repeat it elsewhere, and it gets back to that person, well, who'd want to work with you again? You might be the best writer on earth, but given the choice, most people would rather hire a mediocre writer who knows how to keep their mouth shut than a genius writer with a history of violating the privacy of the room. You do NOT want that reputation. It will follow you.
Just don't do it.
Now, here's where it all gets a bit tricky. Despite everything I just said, there are certain cases where the secrecy of the room may not necessarily apply.
I have to tread very carefully here, because I'm not a lawyer and don't want to be seen as giving legal advice. But at the end of the day, the room is still a workplace like any other. No one has the right to create a hostile work environment through a constant barrage of inappropriate sexual/racial comments and/or jokes, or anything of that nature.
But as an additional caveat, it's generally accepted that sitcom writers' rooms (and many drama rooms as well) are sort of a "safe haven" where all kinds of racial, sexual, and gender-related jokes are allowed to fly – often the more scathing, the better. The idea is that writers need to be free to be as funny as they can in order to discover the best jokes for the show. Again, you'll have to determine for yourself where your personal "line" is, and what constitutes someone crossing it.
Every network has a Human Resources department, and if you honestly feel like you have to avail yourself of their services (i.e., file a complaint), that's a judgment call you'll have to make on your own after weighing all the circumstances of a given situation. But that's a whole other topic for another day. What I'm talking about here are the 99.9% of writers' rooms where your only concerns are where to order lunch that day and not spilling some cool, privileged information that was shared with you.
Just don't do it.
What's said in the room, stays in the room.
Learn from television writers in
Inside the Room: Writing Television with
the Pros at UCLA Extension Writers' Program


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Growing speculation suggests that Amazon is close to releasing a new and improved Kindle. The next generation e-book reader is expected to target students, and the massive text book industry, with the addition of note-taking capabilities, a larger screen, and new tools to improve usability.
For its part, Amazon is not yet confirming any details other than to acknowledge that something is in the works. If you want to learn more, a growing community of Kindle lovers is offering hands-on demonstrations.


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Juvederm Voluma is an injectable dermal filler designed to correct facial contours as well as the shape of cheeks and cheekbones. The rejuvenation effect is reached by adding the missing volume.
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Juvederm Voluma is manufactured by the leading American pharmaceutical company Allergan (Botox is also produced by them.) They apply Vycross technology in Juvederm production. Another ingredient is Lidocaine – the anesthetic drug providing smooth and painless procedure. The drug is administered without any pain making the process comfortable for doctors and patients. The last constituent is Phosphate Buffer that allows not only to reduce puffiness after the procedure but also provides a more prolonged result comparing with other HA-based dermal fillers. Although the effect is long it's temporal. Hyaluronic Acid is a biodegradable substance that eliminates from the body after a while. As a rule, this term is about 18 months.
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June 2015
HHC's History
How we got here — Where we are going
HHC is a 750-member chartered HOA club, founded in the fall of 2008 by Bill and Jane Daly, Joan Donnelly, Bets Knepley, Frank Lamm and Ken Duck. Becoming a member is as simple as signing up for HHC's email list which provides you timely announcements of our monthly programs.
Our constant mission has been: To present monthly, professional-caliber performances for the enjoyment of Heritage Hunt residents and their guests —the best possible shows at the best possible price.
In pursuing this mission, HHC has become a central element of Heritage Hunt's award-winning lifestyle.
In our first season, Heritage Hunt residents and their guests enjoyed eight classical programs — ranging from small ensembles to a 36-person orchestra. We even had a Viennese waltz program for Valentine's Day, accompanied by chocolate-covered strawberries! The following summer, we launched a three-month Americana series — featuring distinctly-American musical genres such as bluegrass, jazz, ragtime, cajun, dixieland, swing and rock 'n roll.
September's resumption of classical programming featured a solo piano performance by South African pianist, Petronel Malan — unfortunately resulting in the breakdown of the clubhouse piano, causing the artist to cancel her planned encore presentation. As a result, HHC donated to the HOA a brand new Mason and Hamlin AA piano, selected by a piano search committee assembled under the auspices of the HOA Facilities Committee. The following May, while receiving six standing ovations, Ukrainian pianist, Elena Ulyanove dedicated this marvelous instrument to the memory of Fritzee Lank, late wife of HHC member John J. Lank who provided three-quarters of the funds for its purchase. Audience members and artists alike continue to thoroughly enjoy this instrument. John Eaton, a frequent performer at the Barns of Wolftrap, remarked: "You have to come all the way to Gainesville to get a decent piano."
"Fritzee's piano" plays a central role in our programming: in 2014 alone, we presented two classical solo performances, a trio reprising 30s & 40s movie and show tunes, a solo presentation of Hoagie Carmichael, George Gershwin and other favorites and a quintet dedicated to performing Brazilian tangos.
Building on this successful record, HHC has adopted a yearly program mix of: four classical programs, four rock 'n roll programs and four "best of the rest" programs. We are also moving upscale, by seeking out more prominent acts, national acts — sometimes with correspondingly higher costs, as we continue to present "the best possible shows at the best possible price."
HHC President
Bill Daly


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Mortal Kombat will release a new version of the popular franchise in 2011, and like Street Fighter is going back to basics. This means that we will not see a child friendly version like the characters that appeared in the 2008 game MK vs DC — we will be seeing a violent return to form.
Andrew Webster from Ars Technica thought that they would offer a short review of the Mortal Kombat demo, and makes a point of the fact that the game is now back to what it once was. The game is a sort of tag team affair, meaning that you will pick two fighters and then swap from one to the other mid-fight.
We already have a good idea of what characters will be returning to the franchise, Scorpion and Sub-Zero are just two, but are the most popular. The other great thing is that the button combinations is almost the same as the previous game, so will not take long to get back into the flow of defeating your opponent.
The biggest change in the new Mortal Kombat game is how it utilizes 2.5D, much the same as Super Street Fighter IV and the Super Mario Bros. Wii. This helps to add a little bit more excitement to scene, just try not to look too much at the background, as you could end up being impaled by Scorpion.
For a brief hands-on with Mortal Kombat visit Ars Technica.
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