text:
"Morgan had a fairly quiet day. The PEDS had a day of reverse trick or treating today. The hospital volunteers and staff dressed in costumes and brought treats to all of the children. Sponge Bob and friends came by; but the best was the ORANGE, three/ legged, poodle with a GREEN tail, that did cool tricks for BT.
"I am spending the night with Morgan so [Morgan's parents] and BT can spend a night at home. Tomorrow at 11:30 Morgan will be moved to...the hospice facility on the...Medical Center campus. It is a beautiful setting, with medical, emotional, and physical support. Morgan will have access to the same level of care as he is receiving at this point in PICU. (The biggest change will be not having to use a public restroom 40 feet down the hall and past the security doors.)
"We are all grateful for each day with Morgan - he is a strong child. Thank you for your letters of encouragement and Victory Morgan cheers!"
Monday, October 31, 2011
Morgan's Grandmother's Update - Monday
"Morgan had a fairly quiet day. The PEDS had a day of reverse trick or treating today. The hospital volunteers and staff dressed in costumes and brought treats to all of the children. Sponge Bob and friends came by; but the best was the ORANGE, three/ legged, poodle with a GREEN tail, that did cool tricks for BT.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 11:38 PM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Morgan
Basic Cream Soup Recipe
We had a special guest for dinner last night. It was just something I felt I should do knowing that his wife was out of town and he was living the bachelor's life for awhile, Saturday, we invited him to join us for Sunday dinner. When I invited him, I didn't know what I was going to make for dinner, and I didn't know that Sunday was his BIRTHDAY. I found that out bright and early Sunday morning on facebook (good ol' facebook).
We started in on the birthday cake. That was easy. It was the figuring out what to make for dinner that was a little more tricky.
I decided that I'd make the bread bowls and a soup. I found a recipe online, but didn't have all that it asked for, so I did my own thing. As I made it, I realized that the base of this soup can really be used with any ingredients, so here's what I did, but you can throw in anything you want.
Basic Soup
Throw the following into a crockpot:
1 large bag frozen vegetables--I used a Tuscan mix--peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, etc.
You can use fresh veggies too, but if you do, saute them in a pan first until they're tender, but not soggy.
cooked meat--I used chicken that I chopped and shredded, but you could use browned ground beef, or probably some chopped up pork (I'm not sure about beef, but what do you have to lose? Give it a shot.)
spices--I used thyme and paprika
salt and pepper to taste
you could probably also throw in some onion or garlic for flavor
Now, for the yummy part:
Make a cream sauce with equal parts butter and flour--I used (for our large group) 1 C. of each, but a more practical amount would be 1/4 C. of each.
Gradually pour in chicken broth. I used four cans, and I threw in a can of cream of chicken soup to boot, but if you do 1/4 C. of butter and flour, use 1 C. chicken broth. The cream of chicken is completely optional.
Stir this sauce into the veggies and meat.
If you'd like, grate some cheese into it or do it before you serve it.
You can also throw in some pasta, but cook it slightly before you do, or throw cooked pasta in right before you serve it. I think the second option is the one I'd choose. I always seem to end up with soggy, nasty pasta if I cook it in my crockpot.
Let the soup cook on low for about three hours.
I highly recommend this soup served in the bread bowls. We served this with a Caesar salad. It seemed to be just right for a Sunday night. By the way, we have afternoon church, and we get out at 4pm, so I made the bread bowls around 12:30pm and let them rise while we were at church and set the soup to cook at that time too. It was all ready to go when we got home.
Hope you try it and hope you love it. If you try some good combinations, let me know. I'd like to try your creations too. Enjoy!
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 9:52 AM 2 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Recipes
Sunday, October 30, 2011
This past week was just a bit too insane.
Last night, I fell asleep watching a movie with #5. This is something I never do. It's been just one of those one thing after another after another after another kinds of weeks.
I woke at 5am and went upstairs. I checked the time and decided that while the house was quiet, I'd go through the power point to get things ready for tonight. It's amazing how quickly this whole exercise grabs my heart every time.
Kids started to wake up.
Next thing I knew, there was a phone call reminding me that I was supposed to be at a meeting. Ugh! Where had the time gone?
Well, I had fallen asleep in my jeans and hoodie the night before, so I was already dressed, I guess. I contemplated changing, but decided I was already late, so what the heck.
Now that #2's party is over and soccer season is done and there is only one more cross country meet and tonight's fireside is over, I think I can breathe again.
The delightful thing is now that all the Halloween costumes are taken care of, I don't think there's anything out of the ordinary this week. It'll be nice to have life back to normal.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 10:00 PM 3 people had something to say about all this Madness
Morgan's Grandmother's Update - Sunday
"Morgan continues to battle the sympathetic storms, he is receiving medication sometimes on the quarter hours. The Team is trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. [Morgan's parents] were given the option to move Morgan to...a hospice for children. This will give them a more home-like place with support for these difficult days.
"We continue to pray that we can have the courage and strength to face the small challenges of each day. Tomorrow will begin the sixth week Morgan has been in the hospital. We truly appreciate your emotional support!"
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 9:37 PM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Morgan
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Morgan's Grandmother's Update - Saturday
"Morgan and I spent Thursday and Friday together. Morgan's belly had become very swollen and distended; eventually his whole body was very puffy. They gave him a medication to help him move the fluid from his 'third skin' (the interstitial spaces or areas not within the cells). He had been storming for about seven hours no matter how they medicated him. His oxygen saturation levels dropped as low 65 several times. The nurse realized that his diapers were getting lighter, so they scanned his bladder, which was full. They called [Morgan's parents] who gave permission to use a catheter. As soon as the catheter was in place he calmed down. He had a few short storms this morning (Sat, 10/29), most of the time he is resting comfortably.
"[Morgan's parents] are taking BT to a Trunk or Treat* party tonight. They are trying to do fun things with BT, to make his life as normal as possible. BT has moved back in with Kate and me, so he can be closer to mom and dad.
"Yesterday was [Morgan's dad's] interview with Intel. He thinks it went well. [Morgan's parents] had a good break from the hospital.
"[Morgan's dad's] brother, flew in to spend a few days. It is good to see them together.
"*Trunk or Treat: neighbors get together in a parking lot, decorate their trunks and children walk from car to car, rather than door to door, more candy less walking dark streets. Arizona has low ambient light laws, so neighborhoods don't have streetlights. It is VERY dark, but the night sky is beautiful, and there are no clouds."
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 3:25 PM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Morgan
Party Time
Oh my goodness! Last night was so much fun! I just had to share.....
We had 18 teenagers here. They were SUCH good sports.
If you've never done a murder mystery dinner, I highly recommend it. I'm convinced that the more you put into something, the more you get out of it, and since everyone who comes has to do something to prepare--get a costume--they have a great time.
If you're curious, we purchased the party here.
This party was even more fun that the one we did for my birthday years ago because it had activities mixed in. They were all optional, but we did a few of them--create a disguise with a roll of toilet paper, Halloween movie quiz, and (my favorite) the rap contest.
This, being a teen party, didn't have a murder attached to it but a theft. At the end, the kids had to share who they thought did it, and nearly everyone was accused.
Here's a sample rap for you:
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 3:07 PM 1 comments
Labels: Parties
I just found this. FASCINATING! To date, there have been 1607 earthquakes in Japan since the biggie on March 11th.
One of the things we were told when we first arrived was that there would be a quake everyday while we were out in the work area. It wasn't a "might" or a "maybe." It was, "Plan on it. It's gonna happen."
Thankfully, this situation lasted for only a couple nights before more volunteers arrived and moved in with us.
When I go to the Japan quake website, I see that there were fourteen quakes during the time that we were in Japan (8/2-10; they have the dates set up so they read day/month/year). We felt none of them. Those that did happen were either far enough away from where we were located or of such a magnitude that we didn't feel them.
I guess there was a larger one the night after we left. It woke some of the volunteers up, so it must have been a bit larger and a bit closer.
So relieved and grateful that we were safe. I wish things would calm for the Japanese people, but that just doesn't look like part of what they can plan on for the time being.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 6:17 AM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Japan
Friday, October 28, 2011
Big Night
We're doing a mystery dinner. It has a Halloween theme. Should be really fun.
So, today is full of preparations--cleaning, decorating, baking, dressing up, etc., etc.
My kids are an Indiana Jones type character, a country/western Taylor Swift-esque star, an opera singer, and #4 has opted to be one of Robin Hood's merry men.
|Hmm. I should make more excuses to get Harrison Ford on my blog.
|Just be grateful that I passed on the pic of the woman with the shields in strategic places--very tempting.
I'll make sure to get some photos to share in the next couple days.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 9:56 AM 2 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Parties
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Working Toward Functionality: Conscious Parenting
Here's the third point from James D. MacArthur's The Functional Family speech:
"In the FF (Functional Family) parents CONSCIOUSLY and INTENTIONALLY parent....You cannot afford to allow your parenting to become casual. You are very serious about it—not uptight—but serious and focused. If I could convince parents in the Church to do one thing that would make all the difference it would be to set aside a specific time once a week or perhaps every two weeks (but not further apart than that) to sit down together and discuss family matters—or if you are a single parent I would encourage you to set aside a time to think about each of your family members and overall family needs. Some single parents have taken this advice and joined together at a regular time each week to discuss family issues and help each other. I want to be very sensitive to single parents in this talk. The idea here is that you would not miss the time set aside for partaking of the sacrament at 9:00 a.m. Sunday in Sacrament Meeting. Then why would you miss the time set aside for thoughtful consideration of each child's needs, overall family needs, marital needs and the personal needs of you as parents in the family? DO IT!! It will make a big difference if you don't give up on it too easily. Intentional parenting means regularly taking some private time to think about each child and what he/she needs.
I love this idea!
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 10:20 PM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Functional Family
Strength from Surprising Sources
What first drew my attention to Morgan and his situation was my former sister-in-law. One day on facebook I received a message from her asking me how I knew them. I told her about my history with the family and growing up with them in the same ward. I asked her the same question. She wasn't raised in the church. She shared with me the posts I shared with you yesterday.
She told me that her new husband grew up with them and he and Morgan's dad are best friends. Morgan's dad was in their wedding party. She said they, as a family, were just in Arizona visiting them in January.
Wow! What a very small world we live in.
But....Here's where it gets interesting....
My former sister-in-law, had one child in her first marriage. That child was born with a seizure disorder. These are the things Morgan is going through right now. She watched her son leave this life at a very young age.
Isn't it amazing how our Heavenly Father blesses our lives with friends who can truly empathize and support us in our times of greatest trial.
His love for us never ceases to amaze me.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 3:16 PM 1 comments
Labels: Morgan
Morgan's Grandmother's Updates
|Image credit: http://www.pinkpistachio.com/scents-for-cents/
I'm afraid it might have been a bit deceiving. I didn't feel, because of privacy of the family, that I could share more. I have edited the updates a bit just to protect the family.
I started receiving updates from Victory Morgan's grandmother on the 14th. That's nine days after the link I shared yesterday. That's a long time in a situation like this. Between the 5th and 14th, Morgan starts having what are known as "storms." The best description of just what a "storm" is is found in the information on 10/16/2011 (below).
The day before was a difficult day. "The neurologist wanted to make sure that Morgan's storms were storms, not seizures; so they removed the ativan, and increased the seizure medications. The neurologist wanted to remove the medication regulating his heart rate....they would allow the trial for 24 hours, but if his heart hate went above 160....Morgan would get morphine....The trial results at the end of the day were that the storms most likely not seizures....
"Morgan cried again yesterday....It is rather heart rending....[One of the doctor's said this was a] time to rejoice."
"It is amazing to be witness to the outpouring of love, prayers, and continuing support.
"They removed Morgan's EEG leads on Friday and see no signs of seizures. Morgan continues to storm through the day with about two hours of storming and one hour of rest. Morgan's Team does not want to stop the storming, just control his heart rate; which was often going over 160 (average for Morgan's age is 80 to 120). They have administered medication to control the heart rate,which the Team is now reducing so they can see if using a using a muscle relaxant will help relieve the stress on Morgan's limbs and muscles. During a storm all the major and strongest muscles contract, contorting his body into a backwards 'C'. The Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists have trained [Morgan's parents] to help Morgan stretch his leg and back muscles.The Speech Therapists have created splints for his hands....
"Friday night to Saturday morning Morgan slept 10 hours with no storms! He went to slept at 8:30 pm to 6:30 am last night without a storm. Today Morgan's Team have decide instead of waiting 15 minutes to see if Morgan self-soothes they will administer morphine after 5 minutes to see if they can give him longer rests between storms. [Morgan's parents] have a deep faith that Morgan will be fine, and everyday Morgan works harder to fight back! Morgan's Team is so pleased with his progress; Morgan continues to surprise them everyday.
"The EEG's continue to show normal patterns in some areas of the brain. We are all so encouraged with blessings and answers to prayers we receive each hour. Morgan's Team appreciates your prayers in their behalf, they really have no data on children and storming. There are very limited documentation on storming in adults."
"This has been another miraculous day for Victory Morgan! Morgan slept for 11 hours last night! We pray this will become a habit, so he can heal. Morgan had one storm today, and spent the rest of the day listening to stories and music. He had one dose of morphine or was more alert. He is relaxing his arms, folding them across his chest. He pulled up his knees and relaxed them down a couple of times (not in a storm).
"Friends are still working on the trust fund. If you would like to make a donation at this point for Morgan's health care please make the checks out to Victory Morgan Eggleston and mail to:
Victory Morgan Eggleston
11487 S Cinega Dam Pl
Vail AZ 85641-9073
"Thank you again for your prayers and support. We know that they make a difference!"
"[Morgan's parents] had another piece added to their burden today. [Morgan's younger brother, BT] was unable to stand up. He came to the hospital for a CT Scan and x-rays to see what was wrong. BT has the current virus, that attack the cerebellum, disrupting your equilibrium. He should be fine in 48 hours.
"Morgan's whole team (case manager, PT, OT, SpT, resident and doctors) to discuss the future....this is the first positive meeting they have had since September 26. They plan to put the G-tube (Gastrostomy Tube) in within the next few days, the surgeons feel confident that Morgan's storms will be controlled by the general anesthesia.
"The next big question is what to do about the storms. He is back to storming for two hours with about an hour's rest between storms. They have tried many combinations of medications and they are not sure what if any of these have had an affect - today they added valium, but it made no difference. They tried morphine, waited 15 minutes, added ativan, waited 15 minutes, then added valium and with no effect on the storms. So [Morgan's mother] gave him a bath and he slept for an hour, and then he had another storm so they tried morphine and valium with no effect, so they added more valium, still no effect. [Morgan's parents] asked if they could see what would happen if they administered no medications. The team agreed to try as long as it does not become life threatening (as in his pulse rate stays below 150 and his oxygen saturation levels stay above 89). Morgan has just started another storm - so you will have to wait until tomorrow for the results .
"The next steps will be the G-tube, finding medications that will control or reduce the storms, make sure [Morgan's parents] can administer food and medications, and then they will take him home until the storms cease. Then the team will do an assessment to see what he can do and find a rehab placement for therapies to complete the healing process."
"So much for the suspense... I think this is like the scary guy jumping out at you. I wish we could have the sound track music to know when to cover your face. Today was rather a rough one, Morgan had a 14 hour storm, the medications are no longer having any effect. They tried a bath, a massage, rocking, and leaving him alone, none of those therapies worked. His pulse was often 190. We began a fast for him at 7:00 am this morning; by 11:30 he was calmed down. I truly believe we are receiving blessing sent from heaven! He has continued his "normal" storm pattern the rest of the day. The medications no longer have any effect. [Morgan's parents] are totally exhausted!
"Good news [BT] is a little better, not quite steady on his feet, but able to stand. He is such a good sport about not having a mom and dad most of the time, but hey, with grandparents on call, I think he is coping....
"Thank you for your love and prayer's for our family - they do make a miracle everyday!"
"Thank you for your continued prayers. Victory Morgan continues to give a good fight! What a tough few days. Morgan stormed through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The only rest was an hour on Thursday when he had surgery to insert the G-tube (gastronomy feeding tube). After the surgery he stormed for 40 hours straight, with his pulse rate going to 190. Friday night at 4:00 pm Morgan's Team asked [Morgan's parents] if they were ready to let Morgan go. After mighty prayer, they decided that Morgan and they were not ready to quit. The Team administered small doses of morphine for the pain and Versed (a prescription medication approved for use as a sedative, anxiety, or anesthesia medication used before or during surgeries, medical procedures, or dental procedures). Since then Morgan has been resting comfortably....They are glad that something finally is working. That little man is one tough kid, good thing he has lots of tenacity!
"...BT, the 15 month-old brother of Morgan) is doing much better! He is such an easy going little guy - he has not minded being shuffled around, just as long as he gets some Mom & Dad time.
"Thank you to all of the friends and family who are supporting us physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. It is all the little things together that have made for these amazing daily miracles.
"This weekend has been hard, difficult and faith building After 72+ hours of non-stop storming, experimenting with combinations of medications, Morgan is finally resting comfortably. This is an extremely difficult journey for [Morgan's parents]. Morgan's Team has worked diligently to bring Morgan back to life. Over the weekend Morgan developed pneumonia. [Morgan's parents] were given the option of continuing letting Morgan storm until he had a heart attack or to administer 'comfort care'. Morgan continues to hold on to this life with great tenacity. Morgan's Team continues to support Morgan and care for this 'little man'.
"[Morgan's parents] have faith in our Heavenly Father's plan for Morgan. While this experience has been discouraging they have counted themselves and their family blessed by the faith, thoughts, and prayers of so many people. To those who have reached out in their thoughts and prayers we are all so grateful for your sustaining faith and will continue to sustain us as we experience the unfolding of this little life.
"I know that families can be together forever. This is one of the sustaining principles that allow me to move forward in letting Morgan go home to a Heavenly Father who knows him and loves him. I know that the family and friends will be blessed and strengthened by walking this path with us. We look forward to the day when we will be united together again. That will be a very happy day giving balance to the sorrow of today.
"In a Facebook post yesterday [Morgan's dad] wrote, 'Thank you all for your prayers and support. Today marks the beginning of our fifth week in the ICU with Morgan. I am certain that we would not have survived the sleepless nights without you. Unfortunately, things continue to worsen but may I please ask this of you. Regardless of the outcome, if this experience has turned you to prayer and brought you closer to God as it has me--Promise me that you will not turn away from God. In his honor and with the knowledge that I will see him again someday--I will stay faithful.'
"A bless (sic) that we count is: [Morgan's mom] took a picture of Morgan and wrote about his life every day for his first year of life, these are entries are captured in a blog; then published a book called 'Morgan 365', which I cherish. For the next two years she maintained the blog with at least weekly postings of her family. They will find great comfort in knowing that they put their family first. [Morgan's dad] loves and adores his boys; he loves to play with them and teaches them about this beautiful world.
"Today, as [Morgan's mom] was rocking Morgan, BT came in for a bit and kept giving hugs and kisses to his big brother.
"I will continue to keep you updated as we walk this road with Victory Morgan.
"Again thank you for your unfailing faith, thoughts, and support."
10/26/2011 Morgan Update
"This is has been another day of joys and sorrows.
"Morgan's condition has remained the same; they (sic) Team continue comfort care. Thankfully he is resting peacefully most of the time. Today he had two short storms. [Morgan's parents] explored the idea of a hyperbaric chamber, and the specialists studied Morgan's case and came back with the sad news that it would be 'fruitless'.
Today [Morgan's parents] were able to 'detach' Morgan from all of the tubes and wires and take him outside for a little sunshine. BT ran around the courtyard telling Morgan what he saw and then he would go to Morgan to give him hugs and head-butts (their sign of endearment). It is a bittersweet time. We are grateful for the time to say our goodbyes; yet we continue to hold out hope for some other choice. We feel enveloped in love from angles both Heavenly and Earthly!
"I know many of you are wrapping your arms around our family! There truly are not words that can express the comfort that we feel as you support us during this difficult time."
Today: A Note from Morgan's Grandfather
"At this point, Morgan is just being kept comfortable, I'm praying for [Morgan's parents] and Morgan's brother [BT]. For Morgan I'm praying he will feel no more pain as he prepares to be with his Father in Heaven. I'm not sure what else to do. I'm thankful for the memories I have from his short life. One just can't or imagine ones grandchild proceeding them from this stage of eternal life."
Again, I'm just begging that you would keep this family in your prayers as they say good-bye to their son. I have included the address for Morgan's trust fund, so you can donate if you wish to. I know it would help the family greatly.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 1:10 PM 2 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Morgan
Permission Granted
I'm really not sure where to begin, and I have children and a house that need my attention this morning. I have received permission from Victory Morgan's grandfather to share a bit of his story.
I think, first of all, I want to share the following video. Just know that as the day goes on, I will post more and get the updates out so you can pray appropriately. I'm trying to be sensitive to the situation and protect privacy as much as possible.
I found this video on Morgan's grandmother's facebook wall. So appropriate. Get some tissues and take a minute to watch it. The artist is a wonderful LDS musician--Hilary Weeks. NieNie (Stephanie Nielson) and Mariama Kallon are featured in this video. Both have been through things they would NEVER have chosen for themselves, but the things they've done with what life has handed them is truly inspirational.....
Interesting, but the Warden shared with me, last night before we went to bed, that he's been asked to speak in church on Sunday. His topic: Being an example through adversity.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 8:24 AM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Morgan
Requested Update
More on yesterday's post....
As I said, I've been keeping tabs on this family via facebook. The information I shared yesterday was that that I knew was already public. It was all I felt I was at liberty to share.
I receive updates from Victory Morgan's grandmother, but they are sent via facebook message--not on her wall, so I don't feel comfortable sharing that. I will just tell you that things are not good right now, and all I can do is ask that we join our prayers together and ask for comfort and blessings for this family.
I have asked if I can share more but that was late last night, so I haven't heard back yet. As soon as I can, I'll make sure to update here.
So, for now, please keep praying.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 7:30 AM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Morgan
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Great Sadness
First read this.
Then read this.
This little boy is the son of one of my former Primary children--when I taught Primary before my mission. His grandmother was one of my leaders when I was a youth. SUCH a WONDERFUL family!
I've been keeping tabs on his progress through facebook. At this point, things are not looking good. Please, please, PLEASE keep this sweet family in your prayers. I just can't imagine the anguish they must be experiencing.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 1:46 PM 2 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Morgan
Wordless Wednesday: I Know This Feeling
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 10:20 AM 1 comments
Labels: Wordless Wednesday
Cascading Milk and a Lacrosse Stick
I couldn't help it this morning. He shut down, and we had to get going, so I had to say something. I did, and the rest of the morning, so far has been, we'll just say, less than pleasant.
If only I'd just kept my mouth shut in the first place. My brain said to just keep quiet, but I couldn't. The other choice was to leave him behind, and I couldn't do that. It was a real catch 22. Actually, now that I think about it, the whole morning has been a catch 22. I feel like I was set up. Can we just start all over? I'd like to climb back into my nice, warm bed.
So, here's how things went down....
We're walking to school. He's mad, so he runs ahead. He crosses the street without anyone with him. I tell him that that's dangerous, and if he can't get it together soon, it'll be his last time walking to school with us (he only gets to do this on Wednesday's when he has no school). That's totally an option because the two middle school-age kids are home. It's their time to practice their instruments. The only reason why #6 likes to walk with us is because our neighbor boy walks with us, and he thinks he's pretty great.
Well, instead of pulling himself together, he gets angrier. This is our ongoing problem with him. He does the opposite of the best reaction and makes the situation worse. He continues to run.
Thankfully, a neighbor who happens to be driving her son to school today pulls over and offers the two boys a ride to school, so I'm left with #6 and #7 to walk home with. I try to get #6 to talk to me. What am I thinking?! Again, he gets angrier.
I go upstairs, shed my milky pants and throw them into the laundry room. In my bedroom, I already know there aren't any more pants to be changed into--darn minimalisim (what was I thinking?!) Of course I am unsuccessful. Most of my things are still out in the garage in the crates from that darned experiment.
I'd like to add here, that I had absolutely NOTHING to do with the reasons that led to all of this. Why am I the target?! Let me off the bus!!!
I go running to the garage to find some pants and can't dig through the crates fast enough. I'm fearful of what other chaos might be growing in the house. The garage is cold and dark, but oh so quiet--tempting. Maybe I could just hang out here for awhile and let whatever else is going to happen happen. I could go back in when things are quiet, but no, I know I've got to face what lies ahead.
I reenter, carrying crates into the house--the pants were in the bottom crate, of course. Towels have been strategically placed on the puddles of milk on the floor and table. #7 continues to stand at the table now crying because milk is flowing onto her shoes and socks. She's trying to figure out how to get the bowl to the sink and ends up with milk on her pants and sleeves as well. All while #6 is beating on the door.
Okay, so what do you deal with first and do you not lose it?
After I locate pants, I head upstairs to put them on. At some point while I was dressing, #6 came back in by himself--I guess he felt he had it together. Without a word being said, he had started cleaning up the milk and cereal that was all over the floor and table. I find him quietly sopping up puddles of milk with large towels. He looks up and quietly says, "Sorry, Mom."
Peace is starting to be restored. Did we all survive? Barely. I feel like I've had my workout for the day, and it all started with one disappointment to a very small boy.
At this point, I have two errands that NEED to be run, and I am the carpool queen today, so we have to leave the house.
Get the errands run, get the kids to school, and get the little kids to their playdate (THANK GOODNESS! Thank you, Christy!). I walk in the door and reality hits me. The house is a complete WRECK, and I have three hours to study, so here I sit whining and blogging. I have to get a grip on it before I can go deal with it. Why is it that cleaning from a tsunami is easier than cleaning my own home after an experience like this morning's?
Well, I'm off. Thank you for letting me vent and whine. Off to face the aftermath.
I just went downstairs, and I'm not kidding...
and this song comes on the playlist:
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 10:15 AM 2 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Basic Insanity
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Working Toward Functionality: Give and Let Go
"Of course, we all care a lot about what our children do with what we offer them. I care about it a lot in my own family. But I realize I can't control what my children do with what I offer them BUT I can pay a lot of attention to what I consciously try to offer them."
After getting all the way through it, I realized that's not what he's saying at all. MacArthur comes out and specifically states that what he gives his family is as much of his "love, teaching, sharing, concern, help, guidance and attention" as he can. These things I can accept.
Bottom line: I CANNOT control my children. The more I try, the more frustrated I become and the more resentment we feel toward each other. It's just a fact that the freedom to choose is an eternal principle. It's one of the reasons we exist here. When and if we try to revoke this privilege from someone else, we are breaking a God-given right.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 8:58 PM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Functional Family
HUGE Faux Pas
So, I pulled out my handy dandy all inclusive (or so I thought) cookbook--Madhouse Masterpieces of Mastication. I searched and found two different chocolate chip cookie recipes, but my mom's WASN'T there. NOOOOO!!!!
So, for your cookie making pleasure, here it is for you:
1 C. shortening
1 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. water (I left this out today)
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/4 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg. chocolate chips
Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. Beat the first five ingredients until creamy. Add the eggs and the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Bake at 375^ for 10-12 minutes. (I like mine soft, so I go with 8 minutes).
My mom's recipes says to sift the dry ingredients. Truth be known, I rebel against sifting (and ironing--just thankful it didn't ask me to iron anything; the guilt of not sifting is enough). I figure I've got better things to do with my time (and my wrist). The cookies today turned out a little bit flatter than I remember them, but that might just be a consequence of my rebellion.
|The chefs
One other thing I'm trying today for the first time is something a friend shared with me YEARS ago. I've now baked three dozen cookies. That's really all we need for today. I have an empty juice can that I've washed out. I'm stuffing a bunch of the dough--as much as'll fit--into the can. I'm going to cover it with foil, tape it down and put it in the freezer. Oh yah, and if you do this, don't forget to mark what it is in the can, or you might get quite a surprise the next time you're thinking of making apple juice; although, the foil might just give it away that something's amiss. I'm also jotting down the baking instructions so I don't have to look them up when the time comes.
Next time we want cookies, we pull the can out, use a can opener to open the other end and push the dough out as we cut the cookies onto a cookie sheet.
The leftover dough will take at least two cans, and I only have one, so I may take the rest, put them on some wax paper in little balls and then wrap them in foil, and put them in the freezer to wait until next time.
There you have it. Enjoy!!!
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 1:29 PM 4 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Recipes
Monday, October 24, 2011
Working Toward Functionality: Clearing the Air
For the personal finance class that I'm taking, there are, in some lessons, optional reading selections. I just ran across a GREAT one. I thought I'd share it here.
I am not asserting here that my family is completely "functional." I would also submit that we're not 100% dysfunctional either. I believe functionality requires that each person who contributes to a home consciously decides and works at being a responsible individual and recognizes the part he/she plays in what makes up the family.
Point #1 from Mr. MacArthur's speech is this:
"As we talk about the other characteristics of the Functional Family—you will see that it is because the other characteristics are happening in the family that the atmosphere in the home is what it is."
I will be the first to admit that my home is NEVER spotless and rarely, if ever, wonderfully clean, but there have been times when friends have come to our home and have commented that they "like the way it feels." I would assert that it's the feeling of those that live in the house toward each other that flavors the feeling in the home.
Last night was not one of these "ice cream" type of times at our house....
I took one of my children to a choir practice, and when I returned, there was tension in the air. It was clear. It has been here for awhile, but for some reason, last night I decided that life is just much too short to have our home feel like this for even one more minute.
I walked into the front room and found two individuals in the room that have been at odds for a good long while. I decided I couldn't take it any longer, so I put my nose where it didn't belong and said, "Wow! I'm surprised to see you both in the same room. Have you fixed things?"
One of the parties looked at me with complete surprise on his face, and I said, "C'mon. Don't tell me you didn't know he's been mad at you for weeks. Have you talked it out?"
I was surprised that neither was mad at me for butting in, but they said they hadn't. I said a few more things and got the ball rolling. I knew if I didn't, it would be a cold day in someplace unpleasant before they took that bull by the horns. I don't know if, by the time they were finished, things were fixed, but I believe they were well on their way. At least they understood each other, and it sounded like they were both aware of the things they needed to work on. Now we'll just wait and see if they both do them.
It surprises me how quickly we can accept disharmony and make it part of our skin. For them, I guess it was just easier to be unhappy than to talk it out, but once the dialog began, the air started to clear.
I remember hearing, when the Warden and I got married and people were asked to offer us advice, that we were never to go to bed unhappy with each other. We heard it so often that it became a trite saying. I still cringe when I hear people say that. But, more than not going to bed unhappy as husband and wife, I'd say, never go to bed with an unhappy teenager in the house. A committed husband will still be there in the morning; an angry teenager might not. They know just enough to be dangerous.
So, there you have it.
The first goal for a functional family is to clear the air.
If there's unhappiness in your home, maybe it's time to swallow some pride and be the first to open your mouth and bring it out. One thing I saw last night was that you have to be completely honest, but be kind in your honesty. Be prepared to hear some things that might not be comfortable, but be willing to accept that you're not perfect and everyone needs to change--even you. I mean, if you're being a jerk and everyone else is aware of it, wouldn't you rather know so you can stop and make a change and become a more functional person?
One final note....You can do NOTHING to change the other person. You can do all in your power to make them aware of what's bugging you, but it's really up to that individual to take what you've offered and choose to do something with it or not. The only person you can control is you, and that's okay.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 4:33 PM 0 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Functional Family
The Week Ahead
We had a friend's three kids this afternoon, so she could go volunteer at the school. Tomorrow, #7 will be with her good friend "Kaffrin" at our house. Kaffrin, last week, requested that we make cookies because we'd done it the week before, so I'm thinking every Tuesday with Kaffrin's going to be a cookie day. Wednesdays, I trade with a good friend, and it's my kids' turn to go to her house to play with her kids. Thursday, #7 goes to Kaffrin's and Friday afternoon, the friend whose kids I watched today will have mine, so I can go volunteer. I guess, unknowingly, I'm back in the swing. I'm loving that my kids have lots of good kids around them.
With all that fun, there are a LOT of projects going on....
The Primary program was yesterday, so that's a big relief. To be honest, for that, I'm kind of a support person. My wonderful counselor really pulled it off. The kids did great, but I have to admit, it's nice to have that pressure behind us. Now, to plan for Christmas and the coming year for the Primary kids.
Sunday is the big Japan fireside for the ward. I need to fine tune the power point I created for it and finish translating Sister Asano's testimony.
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 2:14 PM 3 people had something to say about all this Madness
Labels: Basic Insanity, Cookbooks, parenting, Parties, School


text:
Brief hope for Mets extinguished on wild pitch
Ankiel's homer ties it before Marcum, Rice run into trouble in seventh
ST. LOUIS -- It is something different almost every night. Whether a defensive misplay or a baserunning blunder or a ball in the dirt or a frozen offense, the Mets have displayed ample creativity in losing 14 of their last 18 games.
Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals only continued the trend. Finally the beneficiaries of an efficient starting pitching performance, the Mets allowed an extra run when David Wright dropped the ball in an early rundown, and another on Scott Rice's wild pitch in the seventh.
By the ninth, they had sealed their sixth straight defeat.
"The game is very cruel sometimes," Wright said. "Right now, we're experiencing some of the cruelness of it."
Rick Ankiel gave temporary hope in the top of the seventh, tying the game with his first homer in a Mets uniform. But after starter Shaun Marcum put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Rice -- who forgot to cover home plate on a key play in Monday's loss -- entered and immediately allowed the go-ahead run to score on a wild pitch.
With New York's offense still icy, that made a hard-luck loser out of Marcum, who gave the Mets 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball -- by far his best outing of the young season. Coming into the game, Marcum had yet to complete five innings in a start. But he said he took "no satisfaction" out of Wednesday's effort.
"It stinks to lose," Marcum said. "As far as throwing the ball for me, it's better. It's still not where I want to be. But the important thing is the team, and we lost. So it doesn't really matter what I did out on the mound."
Marcum was already grooving when Matt Holliday hit a seemingly innocuous one-out single in the fourth, keying a Cardinals rally. Jon Jay subsequently drove a double into the right-center field gap, where Mike Baxter corralled it and hit cutoff man Daniel Murphy on a hop.
Rather than attempt to gun down Holliday at the plate, Murphy fired to third base, surprising Jay, who made a half-hearted attempt to retreat back to second. But as Wright tagged him with one hand, the ball squirted out of his glove, allowing Jay to proceed safely to third. He jogged home a moment later on Tony Cruz's single.
"The ball just came flying out," Wright said. "It must have hit something hard on him and the ball just kicked out. It's just one of those crazy plays."
The Mets came into the night understanding that their offensive momentum would depend largely upon the right arm of Shelby Miller, a rookie captivating St. Louis in much the same way that Matt Harvey has enthralled New York. Fresh off a one-hit shutout of the Rockies, Miller established his presence with three strikeouts in the first.
The Mets settled into their offensive comfort zone after that, fouling off enough pitches to drive up Miller's pitch count. Nonetheless, they could not score until the rookie left the game.
It was a typical offensive performance from the Mets, who have averaged fewer than three runs per game over their last nine contests. Even Miller admitted that he "got away with some mistakes." And while the lack of offense has been an overarching problem, it has also exposed the Mets to other, odder, unfortunate situations.
Because they cannot score runs, the Mets have played countless close games throughout the month of May. With razor-thin margins, even small mistakes loom large. And the Mets have committed blunders of all shapes and sizes, from Wright's error to Rice's wild pitch and others. There was Ike Davis' throwing error in Tuesday's loss. Ankiel's dropped fly ball in Monday's defeat. Rice's failure to cover home plate that same inning.
"Outside of a few innings, we've been in every game in the last week," manager Terry Collins said. "We just can't finish it. We cannot get a big hit; we cannot get a big out. We cannot make a big play when we need to."
Taken individually, those are the types of mistakes that are bound to occur over the course of a season. Clumped together, they create a jumbo-sized cocktail of losing baseball.
"There's so little room for error the way we're struggling offensively," Wright said. "We're not playing good baseball -- that's easy to see. But it's a resilient group, and we know there's going to be tough times over the course of the season. We're going through one right now. It's not time to hold your heads down and mope around. We've got to find a way to compete."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I am so very truly proud of my son, Elliott, for undergoing the rigors of learning the hula and performing. Makes me so very humbled and grateful for his Kumu. When my Mother was dying, she often opened her one good eye and glanced all around the living room ceiling, watching movement. When I asked her what she saw, she often saw Hawaiians of old getting ready to dance hula. There were feather 'ahu'ula, or capes, canoes, men, women, and children. Always preparing to dance. Awaiting her blessed arrival on her last sacred journey home...
Posted by Ka`iana at 7:01 PM
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At the Alamo Drafthouse the pre-show entertainment includes a 'Don't talk' message that threatens to take your ass out if you chat or text during a movie. It's one of the defining characteristics of the theater, which has a zero-tolerance policy towards those who disrupt the show for others.
But a theater in London is upping the ante, introducing black-clad ninjas into their theaters to deal with talkers and texters. The Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square has a team of volunteers wearing all black lycra Morphsuits; in exchange for free movies the volunteers sit in the darkest parts of the theater, waiting for rude people to begin talking or texting, and then they descend upon them like black wisps of nightmare.
From Digital Spy:
Cinema-goer Abdul Stagg described the moment two Lycra-clad figures appeared beside him as "terrifying". He had accepted a phone call as the film was about to start.
Of course back in the old days these people would have just been 'ushers,' but that's fallen out of favor at the big chains, who usually run their auditoriums like Thunderdome. I like the general theatricality of the ninja suits, and I think using volunteers is semi-brilliant. Cost is the excuse given for a lack of theater supervision in most chains, and this surely gets right to that excuse.


text:
We took three of our best holiday centerpieces and added more holiday cheer with a classic glass hurricane vase! Choose between our merry All Red Centerpiece, our stunning All White Centerpiece and our charming Winter Wonderland Centerpiece. Pick the arrangement that matches their style best, and you're guaranteed to make them smile all season.
In stockIDR1,750,000


text:
September 3, 2013
JPNAP Expands Interconnection and Peering Services into Equinix's Newest Data Center in Tokyo
Expansion increases customer connectivity while further validating Tokyo as the premier network hub in Japan
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and TOKYO – September 4, 2013 – Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the global interconnection and data center company, today announced that INTERNET MULTIFEED CO. (MF), a high-quality Internet Exchange provider and operator of the Japan Network Access Point (JPNAP), has expanded the JPNAP peering exchange into Equinix's Tokyo-4 (TY4) International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data center, located in Otemachi, Tokyo.
Highlights/Key Facts
- MF will establish a point-of-presence for the JPNAP service in TY4, Equinix's newest IBX data center in Tokyo. This expansion provides customers with the ability to create new or expand existing peering relationships with a greater number of participants and exchange IP traffic at a single location through JPNAP and the Equinix Internet Exchange (EIE). Through access to Equinix's dense network ecosystem in Tokyo and over 950 network providers globally, customers can manage the exchange of traffic more efficiently and accelerate the delivery of their services in a cost effective way.
- MF provides a network-neutral Internet exchange platform that allows customers to interconnect directly with a wide range of network providers. Since establishing JPNAP's peering exchange in Equinix's Tokyo-2 (TY2) data center in 2009, MF has enabled seamless, efficient exchange of local and international Internet traffic. This latest expansion further reinforces the proposition to provide superior quality of content delivery for end users in Japan.
- Tokyo is Asia's largest Internet hub with Internet traffic predicted to reach 3.5 terabytes in 2013 and grow at a staggering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44 percent from 2009-20131. By enhancing Japan's Internet services, multinational companies will be able to expand into the growing Japan market and better serve their international customers.
- Ryoichi Hosoya, executive vice president and representative director, INTERNET MULTIFEED CO. (MF):
"The expansion of our relationship with Equinix is an important move for us and our customers. Specifically, with the rise of global cloud and content providers, it is critical that these industries have high-performance peering points for the exchange of Internet traffic. By expanding into Equinix's TY4 data center, we will further increase traffic exchange efficiency for our customers, helping them to meet their business and customer needs."
- Kei Furuta, managing director, Equinix Japan K.K.:
"Japan is a critical strategic market and the expansion of JPNAP to TY4 further strengthens our network ecosystem in Japan. JPNAP's customers and significant traffic volume will help us to meet the growing demand for data center services in Japan, as well as provide customers with greater access to global network connectivity while streamlining internet delivery. We are pleased to expand our five-year relationship with JPNAP."
1 Source: TeleGeography – Global Internet Geography Asia Report
Additional Resources
- Press release: Equinix to Develop First IBX Data Center in Osaka in Partnership with K-Opticom and Kanden Energy Solution
- Press release: Equinix Invests $43M to Develop Fourth Data Center in Tokyo
- Blog: Future proofing Japanese data demand at every level
About Equinix
Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), connects more than 4,000 companies directly to their customers and partners inside the world's most networked data centers. Today, businesses leverage the Equinix interconnection platform in 31 strategic markets across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. www.equinix.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix services; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenue from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; and other risks described from time to time in Equinix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see Equinix's recent quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Equinix and IBX are registered trademarks of Equinix, Inc.
International Business Exchange is a trademark of Equinix, Inc.


text:
Well, I'll be amazed if anyone is still lingering out there. But the answer is yes, I'm still alive. Between a computer crash, a trip to Jamaica, 20 horses that required food in the dead of winter, and maybe a little slacking off....well I fell of the face of the blogging planet. But I'm back....
So today's goal is to share just a little bit of Jamaica with you and then in the coming days I will catch you up with my life...and maybe I'll try walking into my craft room...we'll see.
All I can say is yes...a lot of locals really do look like this...and yes they smoke A LOT of the wacky weed.
We went on this "girls" trip because our friend Kristy was getting married. A sunset wedding on Valentines day, in Jamaica. It truly was amazingly beautiful!!!!!
Sunsets like this EVERY NIGHT....it never got old. In fact....can I go back???
Here was the view from the lobby of our resort. It was beautiful every day!!!!
This is a crazy cliff diver at Rick's Cafe. 90 feet in the air. Won't jump until he has $20 in his little money bucket. Rough day at the office for these guys.
I hope you are all well....I promise to try to catch up!!!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Well, I'll be amazed if anyone is still lingering out there. But the answer is yes, I'm still alive. Between a computer crash, a trip to Jamaica, 20 horses that required food in the dead of winter, and maybe a little slacking off....well I fell of the face of the blogging planet. But I'm back....
Posted by Kat at 10:53 AM 43 comments
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Wonder of Winter
If your going to live in Minnesota, you have to be ready to embrace that it's gonna snow and it's gonna get cold. And I'll be the first to say that by the end of January I'm thinking "Why the heck to we live in this God forsaken ice box." But I'm not there yet. I'm still embracing and loving the snow, because part of me loves it. I think if you live here too, you need to be able to know how to play in the snow or your gonna go crazy.
And I think maybe I've succeed at teaching my kids to embrace it too.
So 3 days ago after dragging the boys through the 70% off Christmas sales at Target, and then $150 dollar grocery trip (because the little hooligans are eating me out of house and home while on "winter" break), it started to snow on our half an hour drive home.
And not just your average snow. Big huge, gorgeous flakes. The kind that make you feel like some giant has just shook the snow globe that you are living in and now you just stand there while they descend.
These are the kinds of snow falls you live for each year. Because you don't think about the fact that it's not as pretty when you are shoveling it. And because it's not that pretty when you slide off the highway and your car is stuck in the stuff.
Years ago when the boys where little I would get all excited over these snowfalls, and yell, "Grab your boots....we gotta go catch snowflakes!!!!"
And apparently it hasn't worn off. Because they jumped out of the car to do this...
First, you need to check them out at little.
It starts with eyeing up the big flakes and trying to catch just the right one.
And when you have really long eyelashes, that are just wrong to have as a boy, the snow will stick to them. (As well as your overly long, hippy-ish hair, that makes it look like your mother can't afford a haircut).
And then you stand there, weaving and bobbing, making weird noises that make you sound like Chewbacca, because your tongue is stuck as far as it will go out.
Or you can opt to catch them on your hands, and eat them that way.
Or perhaps just stand there, tongue extended, waiting for one to just stick.
And then there is the chopping attack mode.
And lastly there is the "when a snowflake hits your eye and forces it closed, it causes your tongue to get all contorted". And luckily your mom makes a priceless snapshot!!!
Embrace winter everyone, we only have 4 more months to go!!!!!
Posted by Kat at 12:46 PM 3 comments
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Trying to catch up
Before I start in with catching up to Christmas and such I figured I better back up because I've taken a couple hundred pictures in the last month. So I'm gonna back up to Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving this year was spent at my cousins house. They moved here from Colorado and wanted to host this year. The boys were very excited to see that in the front yard they found a zip line attached to some trees. And somehow my 70 year old mother took a bet to do it herself.
I love that about her!!!!
Hopped right on and went a flyin'. These are kind of priceless memories right here, what great facial expressions.
And then my sister hopped on, skirt and all. Pretty great to see, considering last year at this time she was bald from chemo and finishing radiation for breast cancer!
My 16 year old niece had to jump in the action as well.
And the good part about having a brother is he can drag you back up the hill, so that he can fling you back down the line, secretly hoping you might fall off. It's a brother thing!
Posted by Kat at 2:19 PM 2 comments
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Away in Coors Light Can
Well I'm trying to catch up on my life, and seriously I could write a new blog entry with photos every single day, it's just that whole time thing that seems to be a challenge.
Last Friday, my good demo friends Brenda and Kristen, and I had our holiday Stamp Camp.
No it's nothing like band camp....
Part of our stamp camps are a demonstration section, where we show our customers some trick or tip about stamping. This go around we decided to show everyone the rage of using Coors Light can to sharpen your punches and in return you get a punched out blue piece of tin.
But here's the funny (at least to me) part:
We rent a church hall for our event ant they were in full Christmas mode.
And little did we realize that when Brenda started her demo, she was standing in front of the manger with a Coors Light Can.
"And the wise woman brought gold, frankencence, and Coors Light for the baby Jesus."
But see Brenda didn't know how ironicly funny the whole thing looked. She did an amazing demo that impressed everyone.
She did a great step by step demo.
I think the one and all was impressed with her ability to turn a beer can into a card.
Good Job B.!!!
Posted by Kat at 8:01 PM 2 comments
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Okay I need some good Karma here folks. I've lost the cord that connects my camera to my laptop and you know what the means???
No NEW photos, no new blog entries, no nothing.
I've exhausted every possible option. I mean how do you lose something that you use all the time???????????????
So send some good luck my way!!!!
I'm having blogging deprivation!
Posted by Kat at 4:20 PM 4 comments
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
This may be disturbing to younger viewers and the elderly
It's hunting season in our neck of the woods.
A time for men and their sons to bond and commune with nature.
A time to kill a large animal with horns, and fill my freezer with meat I will never eat.
A time to explain yet again why there will never be a deer head mounted on the wall in my living room.
A time for my husband to grow out all his facial hair and look like the unabomber.
A time for clothing that only has camouflage or blaze orange in it.
A time for the male species to not shower for a week.
A time for me to be VERY glad he leaves to do this.
A time for me to send one of my camera's along and tell the men, "take some good pictures", and secretly hope they don't really come home with pictures of dead deer and gut piles.
A time for me to take the camera after they come home and load the pictures on my computer and find pictures like this:
And then I find something like this. Something that makes me cringe as the mother. Something that reconfirms that testosterone and dumb boy humor are not a good combination. Something that makes me feel like I am getting nowhere with these children.
Something that makes me think...."where the heck was your dad?????"
Something that confirms my sister in law is NOT on my side. And neither is my mother in law-cuz I hear her in the background too.
Something that makes me glad my brother in law knows nothing about my blog.
**I'm warning you, there is nothing pretty about this**
**If you have never been mooned, or you would find something like that offensive YOU SHOULD NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO**
I'm sorry, I'm really really sorry.
Seriously people I am trying to raise them better than this, but I cannot be blamed for their behavior when they are away from me.
And, yes...it cracked me up....but that's not the point!!!!
Posted by Kat at 10:24 AM 1 comments
Friends...Part 2
Do you know what friends don't do? When someone says they don't like your second choice for a blog background, well then it's just time to ignore them.
And Kathy...I'm not scared away that easily. I'm a labor and delivery nurse....I deal with irrational people in pain all of the time. My skin in a little thicker than that. And don't even get me started on dealing with doctors.....
I will say that I do value your honesty however, it's kind of refreshing. I may not always listen to you, but I do hear you.
Don't worry I'll have a Christmas theme for you to analyze soon!
Posted by Kat at 9:44 AM 1 comments


text:
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text:
On the streets of Chicago, a savvy telephone-pole huckster was selling Rapture-jets to circumvent God's plan of Hoovering only the pious up to Heaven. For $50K, you can beat the system! Stick it to the bearded man on a cloud!
Be sure to embiggen this photo to read his sales pitch.
[Via Copyranter]


text:
Mac storage specialist LaCie also offers an 80GB "Mobile" Hard Drive, with a sleek design by F.A. Porsche "precision-engineered to deliver the peformance of a race car." Since no one seems to submit race cars for review in EMedia anymore, I can't verify that claim with any confidence. But I'm both intrigued and delighted by the "USB Power Sharing Cable," which turns out to be an auxiliary power source for the drive—augmenting the FireWire bus, which provides the rest of the power it needs to run. Instead of plugging into a wall socket, the LaCie uses either the FireWire or the USB 2.0 port (or both) on your PC or Mac for power, while using the FireWire port for data transfers.
Featuring a compact form factor almost identical to the Kano, but a little lighter and without the rounded edges, the 7.05oz. F.A. Porsche LaCie is a 4200RPM drive designed for use with both the Mac and PC and it ships with Silverlining backup software for both platforms. I tested the drive on the same selection of PCs as the Kano (Pentium 4s from Sony, Compaq, and Gateway) and did the bulk of the evaluation using the FireWire and USB 2.0-equipped G5.
As with the Kano, installation was a snap, and transferring the drive back and forth between systems and platforms proved no problem, although using the G5 for most of the review meant abiding the FAT 32 file restrictions. It's worth noting that the LaCie's spec's aren't quite as impressive as the Kano's—its 4200RPM rotational speed is a cut below the Kano's 5200RPM, and is 2MB data cache only a quarter the size of the Kano's 8MB. But neither of these appeared to be an issue in testing. Both drives did the work of hard disks without incident and with no muss and fuss in the system-to-system migrations. Given the paucity of open wall sockets and powe-strip real estate in the office, however, the LaCie's on-bus power scheme was a welcome change of pace.
Naturally, the LaCie passed the pocket test as well, fitting even more comfortably than the slightly heftier Kano.
The LaCie mobile FireWire series, like the Kano, comes in four models: 20GB ($139), 40GB ($179), 60GB ($219), and 80GB ($299).
--Stephen F. Nathans
System Requirements: PC: 350mHz Pentium 2+, 32MB RAM, FireWire; Mac: G3+, 32MB RAM, FireWire
Price: $299


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The 2012 Moretown Artisans' Sale will feature over two dozen Vermont artists – students and professionals – at this year's show, December 8 and 9 at the Moretown Elementary School. All artists are from Vermont, the majority from Washington County, and while many have been with the sale for years, this year's show will have some very talented new artists showcasing their work.
Artists will be selling work ranging from pottery, jewelry and handbags to clothing for all ages, whimsical artwork, detailed Ukrainian eggs, bath salts, teas, jams, fudge, wreaths, stained glass, greeting cards and much more. School students will also be participating in the show with live music performances on Saturday. Santa will stop by for a visit between noon and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.
Additionally, this year's sale will feature a silent auction benefiting Hannah's House and their mission to help families in emotional crisis find a sustainable path to emotional well-being. The silent auction will feature a wide array of artwork generously donated by artists participating in the show, but additional donations from local businesses are welcome. The auction will run from Saturday at 11 a.m. to Sunday at 2 p.m. Auction winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and must be present to win.


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Mazda released a statement yesterday indicating that vehicles aboard the fubar'd car-carrying ship, Cougar Ace will not be sold at dealerships as new. But — and here's ther part where you feel around for your wallet — repairable cars would be "made available for sale as used cars through Mazda's dealer network in the U.S. and Canada." Of course, that doesn't mean the company will sell damaged goods, but it does likely mean the factory warranty won't be in effect. Still, for transparency's sake, the company is listing VINs of all affected cars on www.mazdausa.com and,www.mazda.ca. For all of those interested in buying one of the salvaged Mazda3s or CX-7s, this is what an Atlantic Salmon looks like. Click through for Mazda's account of the Cougar Ace's plight.
From Mazda Motor Corp:
The Cougar Ace sailed from Japan to North America with just over 4,700 Canadian- and U.S-bound Mazdas aboard. She became stricken when an issue during a routine ballast-water change caused her to list. Thanks to heroic efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, all 23 crew members were transferred from the ship within hours.
After the ship was stabilized, she was towed by her owners to sheltered waters in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where she was returned to an even keel. She is currently under tow to the Port of Portland, Ore., where she is expected to arrive on September 12 (the same date in local time). Upon arrival, her cargo will be further evaluated and unloaded.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Cougar Ace Makes It To Alaska, Mazdas Inside Did A Shake n' Bake [internal]


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Intellectual Capital Deflation
BearingPoints Chapter 11 filing represents a watershed type event.
The filing by the global consulting firm BearingPoint puts it on life support or at the very least in an intensive care unit. BearingPoint the bulge bracket consulting firm that was spun off from KPMG due to regulatory mandates concerning the separation of accounting and advisory businesses is in serious trouble. It has been struggling under a mountain of debt and the bankruptcy filing will give the firm protection from creditors while it seeks to reorganize its business.
BearingPoint's filing is an interesting metaphor about the deflation of intellectual capital. Ideas, creativity, knowledge, productivity and innovation are some of the words that that we closely associate with intellectual capital. Once we may have even thought this form of capital to be immune from the vicissitudes of the banality of markets. I surmise that the recent business cycle exposes that idea as based more in our narcissistic prejudices then the cold objective realities of efficient markets. As we witnessed radical capitalism's continued drive of extreme rationalization through monetization we discovered the price of anything but seriously lost sight of the value of everything.
During the 1990's I remember always being impressed and astonished by the reports of the rising productivity of the American workforce. Year in year out the rising productivity was the proud boast and confirmation of American managerial brilliance. But today that claim looks spurious at best. Rethinking this proclamation may reveal this was accomplished not by brilliant management innovation but by outsourcing operational functions to subsistence based economies; and some artful balance sheet wizardry that aligned business performance ratios to maximize shareholder returns; particularly senior managers whose stock options were critical design considerations as to how those ratios were engineered. Indeed if productivity is a proxy for innovation, the productivity of American capitalism was outpacing the most aggressive predictions of Moore's Law. True technology contributed to massive gains in productivity but in many ways was an economic rent seeking agent that enabled a flawed economy to sustain itself through over leveraged economic and misdirected intellectual capital.
Today we are confronted with the evaporation of massive social wealth that the IMF estimates to be almost $4.1 trillion in the financial service sector. I suspect a good portion of this value was carried on the balance sheet as good will. And anyone that has been living close the plant earth the past couple of years can attest to how the good will of corporations has been severely discounted. Perhaps this wealth never really existed and as the saying goes "you can't lose what you never had". We can take comfort in that and perhaps we can look on the bemused folly of central governments eagerly trying to stimulate economic growth to levels of our recent unsustainable past. I must admit that my sympathies and conviction stand with the Keynesian but I am beginning to wonder if they are chasing the long tails of ghostly economic shadows cast by AIG's worthless CDS franchise. Once considered a revolutionary innovation cooked up by the finest minds of the capital markets financial engineers are now perplexing conundrums wrapped in a riddle and remain valuation Level Three FAS 157 mysteries.
To be sure intellectual capital deflation is a huge subject. I must also admit that this blogger lacks the time, skill and brain power to elucidate and articulate the numerous nuances and depth this assertion deserves and requires. I guess we could sum it up in a sound bite like the "dumbing down of America" but I believe that merely addresses the race to the bottom marketers skillfully cultivated to gobble up a greater portion of that ever fickle and fluid market share pie. In a way the deflation we speak of turns this dumbing down on its head and now claims the purveyors of fine ideas and clever tactics devised by the corporate marketing geniuses who were able to enrich themselves by conceiving the brilliant plans to convince us to buy so they can sell as much useless junk to as many people as possible.
The monetization of intellectual capital by incorporated consultants are increasingly becoming inefficient. New technologies that are enablers of strategic thinking has large consultancies disappearing into the computing cloud. Large bull pens of gray matter are inefficient as innovation in small firms are more efficient purveyors of thinking large to solve small problems or thinking small to solve larger problems. The large corporate dinosaurs that protected bloated bureaucracies enmeshed in group think stasis increasing showed an inability to be agents of innovation. They boldly proclaimed best practices to justify and position themselves in the executive office but now that the large corporations have been decapitalized their value creation mantras dissipated as markets capitalization fell.
In appears that the bulge bracket firms viability were dependent on knowledge transfer initiatives to underdeveloped economies to support outsourcing; and rent seeking business models dependent on regulatory mandates of Sarbanes Oxley, GBLA, COBIT, EURO conversions, Basel II, Y2K, PATRIOT ACT, HIPAA, FISMA etc etc. Their business models profited from significant business drivers of the past two decades the reallocation of capital to emerging markets and the guarantee of market protection due to governmental regulatory mandates. In both instances value creation from the deployment of intellectual capital proved to be unsustainable.
Consider the financial services industry and hedge funds. Hedge funds claim to offer uncorrelated investment products but most of the hedge funds performance fell in lock step with the market index averages. Investors pay premiums to participate in absolute return strategies offered by hedge funds. Fund managers make the claim of absolute returns based on their superior insights that their intellectual capital confers on their investment strategies. Last year that claim was demolished to devastating effect.
Newspaper publishers are also experiencing a decline in the portfolio value of their intellectual capital. But many believe that it is more of a question of their antiquated business model and once they figure out how to Googlize their business model to sufficiently monetize its intellectual capital shareholders will once again be rewarded with an appreciation in its investment and the true value of their intellectual capital will be realized.
The markets are dramatically changing. Today the question is not so much about ideas and strategy its a question of execution. Just as in the recent past it was about raising capital and acquiring assets now its about making informed capital allocation decisions and liquidity. Its true you need the target to shoot at but you also need munitions, a good scope with adjusted cross hairs and a gun. The value proposition of consultants is quickly becoming marginalized.
Its a poor business model. It scales poorly, its racked with inefficiencies, its built on protected markets and knowledge segregation. Now that those barriers are falling and more and more MBAs are out of work the value of this form of intellectual capital continues to fall.
Consultants all to often are beholden to their process biases. They find it difficult to get out of the box and routinely ask their engagements to climb into the box with them. That said it is an absolute necessity that business redefines its business model to address current market realities. It needs to do so with dispassionate dispatch and it needs to create a unique value proposition that differentiates the brand and adds identifiable alpha in an expanded value delivery chain.
Its a big challenge that many professional services firms need to confront. Our firm went through that transition 6 years ago. We went from a strategic sound practices consulting firm to a product creation and marketing firm dedicated to the commercial application of sound practices. For Sum2 creating value was a very different value proposition then delivering value. The need to build equity in our business was our principal concern. Building and marketing tangible product value is how you create a sustainable business model.
Corporations are becoming disenthralled of their self perceived cleverness. Many believe that major investments in applied intelligence create a culture of insularity that hedges all risks and builds enterprise value. In the past it allowed executives to hide behind a wall of opaqueness. They bought the best and brightest minds from our esteemed business schools convinced that this treasure of intellectual capital would protect them. They believed the digital blips of risk models to be sparkling Rosetta Stones containing the secrets that unlock the mysteries of effective risk management, value creation and business sustainability. The codified results of these algorithmic exercises are revered as holy Dead Sea Scrolls that offers the protection of an supernatural mojo. This is the thinking of a bankrupt brain trust.
You Tube Video: Nena, 99 Luft Ballons
Risk: Group Think, sustainable business model, value creation
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text: HEA FITS gurus At a recent OGIP FITS Working Group (OFWG) meeting, the panel made a preliminary recommendation ("p15.1") that a set of standard strings be employed to specify the mission, instrument (+sub-instrument) and filter in use in a given FITS dataset. In most cases these strings would of course be used in conjuncture with the TELESCOP, INSTRUME & FILTER keywords. (The start of) a list of such standard strings has been constructed by George & Angelini, based upon comments received from within the OGIP & SAO. This is available in the form of an OGIP Memo from anonymous ftp on legacy.gsfc.nasa.gov as caldb/docs/memos/ogip_93_013.ps (Postscript) We would welcome any comments or additions from the community - especially if the proposed strings will cause insurmountable problems to existing s/w. We hope that most members of the High Energy community agree that it would be highly desirable if such a list of standards were adopted community-wide as soon as possible. As usual, comments of community-wide interest should be posted to HEAFITS. regards Ian M George (email@example.com) Lorella Angelini (firstname.lastname@example.com) HEASARC NASA/GSFC


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Banish that creeping sense of doom. Whether we develop launch...
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You can join like-minded peers from all over the world by choosing one of three University-owned housing communities.
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If you need help with your search for accommodations, contact our Office for Off Campus Living Programs for comprehensive housing and roommate search assistance.


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§18-2E-10. Transformative system of support for early literacy.
(a) The Legislature finds that:
(1) In the early learning years, ensuring that each student masters the content and skills needed for mastery at the next grade level is critically important for student success;
(2) Students who do not demonstrate grade-level proficiency in reading by the end of third grade become increasingly less likely to succeed at each successive grade level and often drop out of school prior to graduation;
(3) State board policy requires every school to establish a process for ensuring the developmental and academic progress of all students. This process is to be coordinated by a school student assistance team that reviews student developmental and academic needs that have persisted despite being addressed through instruction, intervention, and as applicable, supports for personalized learning. Ensuring the developmental and academic success of all students requires every school to implement, in an equitable manner, programs during and after the instructional day at the appropriate instructional levels that contribute to the success of students; and
(4) To ensure that all students read proficiently by the end of third grade, a statewide comprehensive approach to early literacy is required. This approach shall focus on supports during the early learning years which include schools and engaged communities mobilized to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist parents in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to serve as full partners in the success of their children.
(b) The state board shall, in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, promulgate legislative rules as necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section. The rules shall provide for at least the following:
(1) Development of a comprehensive, systemic approach to close the reading achievement gap by third grade, which targets school readiness, the attendance gap, summer learning loss and a transformative intervention framework for student and learning supports;
(2) Ensuring all West Virginia children have access to high quality early learning experiences that focus on healthy learners as part of the school readiness model, resulting in increased populations of children on target for healthy development prior to entering first grade;
(3) Closing the attendance gap to certify West Virginia children attend school regularly and limit chronic absenteeism in the early grades;
(4) Assisting county boards in establishing and operating targeted, sustained extended day and extended year reading programs to ensure grade level proficiency and battle summer learning loss;
(5) Maximizing family engagement to result in the development of a culture of literacy from birth through third grade;
(6) Supporting high quality schools and a workforce prepared to address early literacy, identification of interventions, and implementation of a system of intervention for children not reaching grade level proficiency;
(7) Ensuring the employment of qualified teachers and service personnel in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-nine, article five of this chapter and section seven-c, article four, chapter eighteen-a of this code to provide instruction to students enrolled in early literacy support programs;
(8) Creating a formula or grant-based program for the distribution of funds appropriated specifically for the purposes of this section or otherwise available for the support of a targeted, comprehensive system of support for early literacy;
(9) Providing support for transportation and healthy foods for students required to attend after-school and extended year early literacy instructional support programs and supervision at the school that accommodates the typical work schedules of parents; and
(10) Receiving from county boards any applications and annual reports required by rule of the state board.
(c) A student in grades kindergarten through three who is recommended by the student assistance team or the student's classroom teacher for additional assistance in one or more of the key standards of English Language Arts, including reading, speaking and listening, writing or language may be required to attend an extended year early literacy instructional support program as a condition for promotion if:
(1) The student has been provided additional academic help through an in-school or after-school early literacy instructional support program and, prior to the end of the school year, the student assistance team or the student's classroom teacher recommends that further additional academic help is needed for the student to be successful at the next grade level; and
(2) The county board has established an early literacy instructional support program during the extended year for the student's grade level.
(d) County boards shall provide high-quality educational facilities, equipment and services to support early literacy instructional support programs established pursuant to this section. Extended year programs may be provided at a central location for kindergarten through third graders who qualify for the program.
(e) This section may not be construed to prohibit a classroom teacher from recommending the grade level retention of a student based upon the student's lack of mastery of the subject matter and preparation for the subject matter at the next grade level.
(f) This section may not be construed to affect the individualized education plans of exceptional students.
(g) This section may not be construed to limit the authority of the county board to establish an extended year program in accordance with section thirty-nine, article five of this chapter. County boards may not charge tuition for enrollment in early literacy instructional support programs established pursuant to this section.
(h) Each county board shall prepare to implement the provisions of this section and the provisions of the state board rule required by subsection (b) of this section. The preparations shall at least include planning, ensuring a process for ensuring the developmental and academic progress of all students through the auspices of student assistance teams as currently required by state board policy and performing a needs assessment to determine the potential capacity requirements for the system of support for early learners.
(i) The state board shall provide a report describing the proposed implementation of the transformative system of support for early literacy to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on or before July 1, 2014.
(j) The state board shall provide a comprehensive report regarding the status of the transformative system of support for early literacy to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, and the Governor on November 1, 2014, and annually on November 1 on each year thereafter. The report shall address, at a minimum, the progress of the program throughout the state, its effect on student achievement and the sources of the funding both available to and used by the program.
(k) The provisions of this section are subject to the availability of funds from legislative appropriation or other sources specifically designated for the purposes of this section. If a county board determines that adequate funds are not available for full implementation of a transformative system of support for early literacy in the county, the county board may implement its program in phases by first establishing early literacy instructional support programs in the early readiness grades (Kindergarten), then the primary grades (Grades 1-2), and then establishing an early literacy instructional support program for the third grade once the county board determines that adequate funds are available.


text: Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums :: View topic - My famiily doesn't like my girlfriend Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in My famiily doesn't like my girlfriend Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Family View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message ToneJoined: 03 Sep 2006Posts: 175 Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject: My famiily doesn't like my girlfriend My girlfriend is many years older than me so my family doesn't like her and can't accept her. Having older girlfriend is still unacceptable for some elders. I don't know what to do becasue we get along so well actually... _________________==>English Quiz |English Grammar |English Conversation<== Back to top sumomoJoined: 08 Nov 2006Posts: 15 Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:41 am Post subject: It's not important difference of age. My friend was like you too. She has a boyfriend older her. This difference was more than 10! Their parents accept them 2 years later. It gonna be good! Good luck Back to top ToneJoined: 03 Sep 2006Posts: 175 Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:17 am Post subject: I hope so if I can insist my family by then. _________________==>English Quiz |English Grammar |English Conversation<== Back to top sharon.luJoined: 10 Jan 2007Posts: 17 Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:42 pm Post subject: how much is your girlfriend older than you? if more than 10 years, i think it is really difficult for your parents to accept her! _________________I have a lot of things to say, but i don't know how to express it, oh, my God! Back to top PamrolpavJoined: 31 Jan 2007Posts: 12Location: Costa Rica Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: Hi ! Maybe you need to talk with your parents and ask them to give you a reason what they don't like your girlf riend.[/size][/size] Back to top ToneJoined: 03 Sep 2006Posts: 175 Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:03 am Post subject: Thanks for all the advice. I have talked talked and talked to my family so many times already but it doesn't seem like they understand._________________==>English Quiz |English Grammar |English Conversation<== Back to top 87618Joined: 14 Mar 2008Posts: 2Location: China Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:50 am Post subject: my family also donnot like my boyfriend. because he is not ....that one good one they think. i feel a lot of pressure.. good luck! Back to top Yumi a.k.a. C.R.E.A.MJoined: 10 Nov 2008Posts: 3Location: Okinawa Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject: ouch! my parents have never accepted any of my boyfriends. I once went out with a guy that was 10 yrs older than me... i really liked him cuz he was so mature n he'd teach me so many things in life. n thats why i wanted to be with him. but i never thought we'd get married or anything like that... so it was okay. i think there are no age limits with girlfriends and boyfriends. if youre happy with ur woman then that should be all that matters. theres alot to having an older partner cuz you can really get alot from her/him. but when it comes to marriage thats another story. i think you should stay with her as long as you two are happy together. the longer the better! then your parents might accept her! they might even see that you've become more mature by beeing with her. good luck with everything Back to top beibeizhuJoined: 29 Mar 2009Posts: 61 Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:01 am Post subject: if you love your girlfriend,you must do something to cheat your Parent.for example,buy some gifts to your Parent and tell them that the gifts is from your girlfriend.or you could try to find a new girlfriend which your Parent loved. Back to top sourwineJoined: 26 Apr 2009Posts: 17Location: Germany Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 11:41 am Post subject: beibeizhu wrote: if you love your girlfriend,you must do something to cheat your Parent.for example,buy some gifts to your Parent and tell them that the gifts is from your girlfriend.or you could try to find a new girlfriend which your Parent loved. I am wondering if Tone and his girlfriend are still an item. But @beibeizhu: I wouldn't recommend to cheat on the parents. If the girlfriend should be accepted as she is and when there is need to "buy" the parent's acceptance with presents, there is definitely something wrong. Regarding the advice to find a new girlfriend, well... The parents might find something wrong in the new girl, too. So what can he do, just bring home one girl after another until they are satisfied? I hope they found a good solution in the meanwhile since opening this topic. Back to top Snake777Joined: 05 Nov 2005Posts: 301Location: Ho CHi Minh , Viet Nam Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject: It's been 2 years already. I'm wondering if you guys are still dating =/ True love conquers everything BUT... does that kind of love still exist ? Hmnnn... 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