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The first heavy rains have arrived, winds are getting stronger each day and its dark by 5.30……once again, old man winter is here.
A subterranean cave house may seem like a strange place to live in, but it feels oddly protective. The 'outside' feels like another world at times. Right now the rain is falling sideways and I can hear the steady tap dancing sound of the rain drops hitting the front door and window. But inside… it's another world. If I turned off the soft jazz playing in the background I would hear my own heart beat.
So with a nice glass of wine on my desk… I have decided to dust off my keyboard and write a few words and maybe post some photos in between my ravings.
I actually meant to write about this two years ago… and I may have hinted at the topic throughout this blog, but tonight it just feels right. It is a question that has perplexed many and has been asked throughout human existence. But what is the answer… is there an answer ?
In an article today I read that a palliative care nurse in Australia had been noting the comments her dying patients made during their last days/weeks. Namely the regrets they had about their lives. It seems there are some very familiar themes:
– "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others
expected of me".
– "I wish I hadn't worked so hard".
– "I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings more".
– "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends".
– "I wish that I had let myself be happier".
There is nothing new here… right?
So if there is nothing new here, why do we all make the same mistakes over and over. I don't know of anyone that wouldn't (shouldn't) put his/her hand up for at least some of these… if not all. Yet we keep going, until one day a nurse in a palliative care unit is asking us the big question… "what do you regret most about your life? "
There are many more well-known regrets we can add to the above list of course:
– wish I lived up to my potential
– wish I followed my gut feelings
– wish I was more decisive
and the big daddy of them all…
– wish I had followed my dream !
So why don't we? Why do we have to wait for a doctor to tell us the dreaded words before we give up smoking? Why do we have to wait until we are 80 before we realise that all our friends are dead and it's too late to get back in touch with them? Why do we have to wait until everything is "perfect" before we make a decision to do something we have always wanted to do?
There is a scene I will describe which happened a while ago…but is burned in my memory ever since. A man I knew (father of two close friends) met with his dying wife's doctor and was told of the likely outcome. He was a tough old Greek, ex-commando… bull of a man. Shook your hand and your fingers were sore for days. Yet now… he was in tears, just staring at the doctor in disbelief. "What can I do doctor?" he asked. "Nothing" said the doctor… "there is nothing that we can do now".
John (not his name) walked up to the doctor… took his hand and said "I would give you 200 thousand dollars… cash… if you could save my wife".
I would imagine the soft hand of the surgeon must've hurt like hell as John looked at him with both fire and fear in his eyes. The doctor apparently looked at him pensively and said… "I know".
At that point it was too late for John to change anything… but for most people it is not. They can change their lives tomorrow… but they probably won't.
So what's the link to all this with Oia Santorini you might ask? Well… it's like this, I get a lot of email from people who either have or want to visit the island. They see the photos, they read the blog, they see images all over the web… and they become obsessed with the island. That's something I can fully understand because that is 'more or less' what happened to me years ago. Most of these emails are just questions about the island, or thank you notes for the pics and the blog, or feedback about their experience visiting the island. But then… there are the "other" ones.
These "other" ones are from people who have somehow decided they want to make the big sea change. They want to come and live here, or to buy a house here…. "just a small apartment but it MUST have the view".
Of course there are the proverbial tyre kickers, but I am fully aware that there are perfectly well-intentioned people as well. Every move starts by making enquiries and asking questions… there is nothing wrong with that.
Where it starts to make me cringe is when people ask things like 'is it going to be a safe investment', 'is there likely to be political stability in Greece in the future', 'is it safe to live there all year round', 'would we enjoy living there all year round', ' is the volcano going to erupt' .
I mean…seriously, can anyone honestly believe that I or anyone else could answer these questions in a definitive way? Would you even want someone else to answer these questions for you? Wouldn't you want to find out for yourself if you would like the locals, or enjoy winters in isolation, or could handle island life? Would you (or should you) even take someone else's word for such issues?
To me it seems like people are saying "take the risk out of this… and I may try it". In other words… "make my decision safe for me","tell me I can't lose", or "there is no risk involved"…….
There is a condition the shrinks often refer to as "the tyranny of the shoulds". It tends to hit people after 50 and more likely past 60. It is the stage of regret… the 'shoulda/coulda' syndrome. You don't need a nurse in palliative care to ask you questions… your own brain will do it for you. That's when you hear people say things like "I shoulda bought that place", "I always wanted to visit…", "I shouldn't have wasted all that time", "if only I had gone to see for myself…".
My point is that whatever it is you want… a house on an island, or a job or an adventure, go after it. You can ask questions… and you should, but in the end it is you that has to make the move and take the chance. Dont wait for the palliative nurse or the good doctor's last words.
I can't give you a difinitive answer to the 'what life is all about' question. But I do know that making a decision to experience something… is a hell of a lot better than living with "what if" !
* * * * *
till soon ; )


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Before we get off the subject of maxi skirts and dresses, can I just tell you something? It drives me crazy when petite girls say they can't wear maxi skirts and/or dresses. YES YOU CAN! Maxis elongate the frame and actually make you look even taller. I promise! In fact I think maxis sometimes look EVEN better on petite girls. I actually have a difficult time finding ones that are long enough for me and they end up looking like a faux maxi. In fact I have to wear this skirt super low so that it will trail on the ground just a bit. Bottom line, petite girls, don't always rule out the maxi.
Let's move onto the leopard top. Anyone remember it from my Shop Your Own Closet Challenge I started a couple months back? I chopped that sucker in half and landed up with a perfect little layering top. I'll reveal a bit more of how I hemmed the edges and pinned the back on Monday's post. I'm really happy with how both the top and shorts turned out.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wil Louchie (Feat. Blood Raw) - Hood Rich
Hood Rich, from Wil Louchi's new album, featuring Blood Raw. Shot in Detroit & Atlanta,
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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text:
A naked man was arrested in Pennsylvania Sunday after driving a stolen vehicle into the Susquehanna River, bringing an end to a high-speed car chase.
At 10:15 a.m, Springettsbury Township Police received reports of an erratic driver in a green van with a missing tire. Five squad cars were sent on the chase while Raymond David Kallenberger, a 23-year-old Edgewood, Md. resident, allegedly hit up to 90 mph and tried to ram police twice, according to the York Daily Record.
Kallenberger, wanted for carjacking and armed robbery in Maryland, crossed three jurisdictions and more than 20 miles throughout the joyride, which concluded with the stolen Plymouth Voyager in 8 feet of water in Goldsboro, Pa., police said.
"It was a minivan floating down the river with a naked guy on it waving his underwear over his head," local resident and witness to the arrest Michael Shirk told the York Daily Record.
The man was arrested after swimming to shore. He faces charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, fleeing and eluding police, driving under the influence and possessing stolen property, according to the York Dispatch.
After the arrest, Kallenberger was taken to York Hospital to have blood tested and treatment for hypothermia. He now awaits extradition to Maryland.


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Best definition
pronounced la-gas-a. Derived from the French term "legess", meaning "to break wind". A lagessie is a very gasesous individual with
a chronic flatulation disorder. They are proud of their affliction and tend to share it with anyone possible. Upon a close contact, some are lead to believe the person has gingivitis. This is a misconception, clouded only by the foul order emulating from the lagessie. A lagessie is a very intolerable person.
"Don't listen to him, he is spouting more of his lagessie"


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I won't be running my birthday years in miles as I normally do each birthday, but hey, at least I can run..right? I will reach my highest mileage this week in a long time. It will be 47 miles. Tomorrow we are celebrating my birthday at Pittsburgh Blue. I'm looking forward to it.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Reflection: 2011
I won't be running my birthday years in miles as I normally do each birthday, but hey, at least I can run..right? I will reach my highest mileage this week in a long time. It will be 47 miles. Tomorrow we are celebrating my birthday at Pittsburgh Blue. I'm looking forward to it.
6 comments:
- Helen said...
Happy Happy 2012 Julie! Thanks for sharing all of the details. You dealt with a lot of shit this year. But you are stronger and wiser for it. I hope everyone who goes to see that quack chiro never returns. It is too bad those ones can give the whole profession a bad rep. Can't wait to see your running plans unfold for the year ahead. Training IS fun isn't it? :) I'm sure Topaz is beyond happy to have his partner back in action too. Here's to a year of highs!
Happy Birthday too!
Happy New Year, Julie! I love your blog and see you as a true inspiration. I herniated a disc in my neck several years ago and still feel the weakness on my left side. My neurologist was great and got me to the best point I could probably be...it is very painful going through the healing but it will heal. Good luck in 2012!
- Olga said...
Happy birthday, girl. That was some year. You had made it through. I am looking forward reading about your next year, and running with you too!
- Julie B said...
Yes, Helen, training IS fun!! Yeah, that chiro ... I was so stunned I just stood there with my mouth wide open.
Julie, I'm glad you are feeling better, too. I know what you mean, my left side is considerably weaker than my right. I notice it most while doing pushups, bench presses.
Dear Olga! We shall run together, through the woods of South Dakota! Looking forward to it...knowing you for 7 years online, it seems as though we have already met!
- tiaolou003 said...
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A Hollywood beset by a crisis over diversity will convene for the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, where the night's top film honor may be a toss-up between the ensembles of two fact-based tales: "The Big Short" and "Spotlight."
The awards, to be broadcast live from Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on TNT and TBS on Saturday beginning at 8 p.m. EST, come amid uproar over a second straight year of all-white Academy Awards acting nominees, which has spawned cries for an Oscar boycott and precipitated membership changes for the film academy.
Yet this year's SAG nominees in 15 film and television categories aren't as homogenous as the Oscars. Among the five film nominees for best ensemble are the N.W.A biopic "Straight Outta Compton" and the child soldier drama "Beasts of No Nation," whose star Idris Elba is also nominated. Another film in the hunt is the Dalton Trumbo tale "Trumbo."
U.S. & World
The SAG Awards are, in part, a dress rehearsal for likely Oscar winners to try out their acceptance speeches. This year, those nominees include Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Revenant"), Brie Larson ("Room") and Alicia Vikander ("The Danish Girl"), and their podium remarks could also be an indication of whether or how they might address the diversity turmoil surrounding this year's awards season.
The great comedienne Carol Burnett will accept the SAG lifetime achievement award from presenters Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
In the SAG television categories, best ensemble in a drama will be decided between "Downton Abbey," ''Game of Thrones," ''Homeland," ''House of Cards" and "Mad Men." The comedy side pits "The Big Bang Theory," ''Modern Family," ''Key & Peele," ''Orange Is the New Black," ''Transparent" and "Veep."


text:
Something's Rotten In the State of Texas
And no, I'm not referring to the Houston LOLstros, though they are pretty darn rotten, I admit.
The rottenness I'm talking about is the foul stench that emanates from a past-his-prime public relations disaster who seems to have eaten Tony Gwynn on his way to joining the Sugar Land Skeeters. That's right, as if taking a page right out of Jose Canseco's book of insanity, Mr. Clemens, the fallen idol of my youth, is now preparing to embarrass himself with what I can only assume is a Favrian attempt to prolong the inevitable Hall of Fame first ballot denial.
If Roger can get on a Big League roster, he'll get another five years before being considered. And who knows, by then they might be banning people 50 games for NOT TAKING EFFING STEROIDS.
Good grief.
And happy Friday!


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We Are Open During Covid-19, but Need Your Help to Keep Our Staff and Students Health & Safe.Learn More
Driver's Ed for all Choate Students, regardless of state or country of origin.
Find yourself on the easiest road to your license. The life of a boarding school student is challenging. At The Next Street, we understand these challenges so we created a Driver's Ed program that caters to your specific needs. Our classes and driving lessons at Choate meet on Sundays so as to not interfere with your normal academic and extracurricular commitments.
If you are an International or Out of State Student, you are eligible to obtain a CT Driver's License using your address at Choate. We have a Boarding School specialist on staff that will work with you to assure you have all of the needed paperwork and requirements to get your license. This is available at no extra charge when you enroll in our program at Choate.
Check out our page on our Boarding School Program for more information.
Want More Information?
Fill out this form and one of our Next Streeters will call you to help get you on the easiest road to your license.


text:
A Podcast in Second Life December 8, 2007Posted by GuySoft in Hamakor, open source, podcast, Second Life.
Tags: linux, open source, podcast, Science, Second Life
add a comment
Hello all,
I thought I might share a small of report of an event that happened to me in Second Life, and also, I thought i'd use the opportunity to show the podcast world in second life.
PSP Enc – Encoding video for PSP / ipod under linux GUI November 27, 2007Posted by GuySoft in Crictor, Hamakor, ipod, linux, open source, podcast, programming, psp, python, wxpython.
Tags: encoding, ffmpeg, podcast, psp, python, wxpython
2 comments
Hello all,
I am starting to work on the first Israeli video podcast, and we are now trying to figure out what format to publish it under. While pondering about this, I wrote a graphical program that will let you convert Video files for PSP format. And it should also run on iPods (however the screen resolution is specifically for PSP).
The program uses a command I found somewhere (you can see it in the code). The GUI is written in wxpython, which I just started learning not long ago. It is really useful for these small apps.
The requirements to get this working are:
- python
- ffmpeg
- python-wxgtk2.6
To run it just type:
python pspenc.py


text:
The College of the Florida Keys welcomes new and transfer students interested in using their Tuition Assistance &/or Veteran's Education Benefits to complete one or more of our eligible degree programs.
Here are links to resources to ensure you are prepared:
1 – Apply for VA benefits
If you have never claimed benefits you must first complete an application with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Electronic applications are made using the Veteran Online Application (VONAPP). Keep a copy of your application and confirmation page when you submit online. Veterans that are claiming benefits under Chapters 30, 32, 33, 1606, or 1607 can submit a hard copy Application for VA Education Benefits (Form 22-1990).
If you are a spouse or child of a service member or veteran who has transferred all or some of their Post 9/11 GI Bill to you, make sure it has been approved by the Department of Defense (DoD) first. Then, complete Form 22-1990E. Additional information regarding the transfer of benefits can be found on the VA website here.
If you have already used your VA benefits at another institution and are transferring in to FKCC, please complete a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training (Form 22-1995). Submit your completed form to the FKCC Financial Aid office.
Once VA processes your application, they will send you a Certificate of Eligibility. You will need to submit your Certificate of Eligibility and your most recent DD-214 (Member-4) to our office before requesting enrollment certification.
If you have questions on what you qualify for and differences between benefits, VA has information to help you in determining what benefit is best for you on their website. You can also call VA Education Services for additional assistance at 1-888-442-4551.
• Army (AARTS transcript)
• Navy & Marine Corps (SMART Transcript)
Many Veteran students are eligible for financial aid including grants and scholarships. Receiving financial aid does not affect your VA benefits in any way. Complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
4 – Register for classes and request enrollment certification to receive VA benefits
Contact Advising Services to make an appointment with an Academic Advisor or contact your program's Director for assistance in creating an academic plan and choosing courses.
One you are registered, complete the Certification Request Form and submit it, along with a copy of your schedule, to our office. This is your way of letting us know that you are registered and ready to be certified. You can submit your request up to 60 days before the start of the term.
5 – Pay for classes
State caps for tuition & fee payments have been eliminated. Instead, the VA will only pay the net charges for in-state tuition and fees for any program for public schools.
Break pay is eliminated for all GI Bill programs.
You have to be enrolled full-time to get the full housing allowance.
To see a full list of changes click here.
Resource Guide for CFK VA Students
If you have questions for CFK's certifying official please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
CFK highly recommends that all of our veteran students take the time to meet with the Monroe County Veterans Affairs Department. The friendly and knowledgable staff there are happy to help you gain access to the all of the benefits that may be available to you including disability, healthcare and non-service connected pension. Please call 305-295-5150 to make an appointment.
For specific information about benefits, current and prospective students can call the VA at 1-888-442-4551 or log in to www.ebenefits.va.gov.


text:
Bill is married to Peggy Patterson and their family consists of two daughters, a son, and eight grandchildren. Bill is a honorable discharge from the U.S Marine Corps with the rank of sergeant. Bill graduated from Baylor University with degrees in Accounting and Economics. He retired from Shell Oil Company after holding positions in the Finance, Operations, and Information Technology Departments. WB. "Bill" Patterson is proud to call the City of Deer Park, TX his home.
Elected to City Council, May 2008
Currently serving on the Golf Course Committee, the Finance Committee and the Tourism Committee
Active in Little League and Pony League for several yearsPast president of Battleground Men's Golf AssociationMember of First Baptist Church in Deer ParkParticipated on Mission Projects to Waveland, Mississippi to aid in Katrina Relief and to Fushan, ChinaCurrently serving on Educational Improvement Committee at Deer Park Independent School District
Correspondence to the mayor and members of the City Council can be sent by email or mailed to:City of Deer ParkP.O. Box 700Deer Park, TX 77536-0700


text: It has been hinted at that Eric Theodore Cartman has emotional and behavioral issues. His eccentricities are certainly vibrant in the South Park action figure line. In this assortment Cartman\'s character takes on the role of a Vietnamese Prostitute named Ming Lee from the "Cow Days" episode and comes complete with a purse and Terrance & Phillip plushes and an interchangeable left arm. This series also includes Mr. Slave, Mr. Garrison\'s former lover, who comes with the class gerbil Lemmiwinks, Frog Spirit and Fish Spirit. Nurse Gollum, the school nurse with conjoined twin myslexia, also appears in this super line-up with her handicapped award and clipboard. The series also includes the very thin ethiopian boy, Starvin\' Marvin, whose accessories include a can of creamed corn, a turkey and a plate of shrimp and luggage.