unpainted arizona

I'm a sucker for a good estate sale. Saturday mornings I'm granted a few hours to run away, thanks husband, and quietly walk thru people's homes and look thru their stuff. Totally normal and not the least bit freaky, right? Not only can you find great stuff (sometimes) but the people watching is just...wow.<br /><br />My expectations are always low so I'm giddy when I find something. Nothing I'm taking to the Antique Roadshow, but some fun stuff.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69OXbY4UrBGhT-8RjWljBkbKjXzVWUK7dXB258t9OER1Om2HztY0f3yn430JtXIc8HSI6_8vYaSpwtzoRHxsThRacOXfdgDnusebj_1eap0fDBxY7ckcaTYHI5pLRp_Dhs1wQaoDY71pt/s1600/PB080838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69OXbY4UrBGhT-8RjWljBkbKjXzVWUK7dXB258t9OER1Om2HztY0f3yn430JtXIc8HSI6_8vYaSpwtzoRHxsThRacOXfdgDnusebj_1eap0fDBxY7ckcaTYHI5pLRp_Dhs1wQaoDY71pt/s320/PB080838.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />I've been on the lookout for a side table for the living room that wasn't round, apparently I have a round table fetish, so I was happy to snag this one up for $15. And no, that isn't dust on that table, its someones sad attempt at sanding.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ohQ9MRPWjfEYqfzCKmz4KGQIvm96tJDlTQ_EcyBffMT3taJ8dOLoCbGC2lv7phD-j2sBGK7ocSz4RSPpprm3ynjP_WDQEiOIA61i4YIxVhSepCerzy_mjOQgN8ewK0SoL-Jyhq8gE7c/s1600/PB080837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4ohQ9MRPWjfEYqfzCKmz4KGQIvm96tJDlTQ_EcyBffMT3taJ8dOLoCbGC2lv7phD-j2sBGK7ocSz4RSPpprm3ynjP_WDQEiOIA61i4YIxVhSepCerzy_mjOQgN8ewK0SoL-Jyhq8gE7c/s320/PB080837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />They got a bit further on the top of the table, but luckily for me, they gave up. Since this isn't some fab piece of craftsmanship (I would not be allowed in my parent's home if I painted a 'good' piece of furniture) I'm thinking I might do something fun like this.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeBUBo9j0JIu7nSwKJXjXTAgpJdL59Pnh3HvaN90X2gyxnHNvIF8s4dtmRPMOJpoKC_PxMXGSzFdn2Bbt4UbhnXxmvEEDOauN4hCk1WBs9wSlsKAYT07VS65FIBd9WnzSamVkpb04LRI/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518990726379625986" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/717695/8542295/_OwN4Pij9ra4/TJdk0ySIXgI/AAAAAAAACSc/zEInUlHl43Q/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great table top by <a href="http://www.hannahkateflora.com/imported-20101115054656/2010/9/20/street-merch-monday-wip-ba.html" target="_blank">Hannah Kate Flora</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Or maybe this.<br /><span id="1761938319729073564"></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPW2fRRR1fpz3p7lk3_j58ZGAKhc4LeEGmlvTp6adWTDT9XMMOl06rPaJPmWO154AsV_6MOlgOvbt1438duCtNQB2AJCU4HNKNprBnX1Up-OBwUL2S5BFjcNKRmSnQZK5M-pb3cBDTRc5/s640/bedroom-nickolsen4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPW2fRRR1fpz3p7lk3_j58ZGAKhc4LeEGmlvTp6adWTDT9XMMOl06rPaJPmWO154AsV_6MOlgOvbt1438duCtNQB2AJCU4HNKNprBnX1Up-OBwUL2S5BFjcNKRmSnQZK5M-pb3cBDTRc5/s640/bedroom-nickolsen4.jpg" width="526" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome dresser by <a href="http://nickolsenstyle.blogspot.com/2011/07/house-beautiful-small-spaces.html" target="_blank">Nick Olsen</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Or even something like this.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sydneybarton.com/2010/08/orange-retro-chest.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Pinned Image" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/308697298_mc1QYH30_c.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via Pinterest</td></tr></tbody></table>I keep you posted on what I decide.<br /><br /><div class="ImgLink" id="PinImage"></div><div>I also scored some great little trays and two Hermes boxes. All for $8. "What cha gonna do with those old boxes?" said the old man when I handed over my money. Good question old man. Good question.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMun59Tg3YJxopC4vh9UDwwHrHVqZpCXJjtbC3G9wtWnaF5kMiSo0xzm536OHTcglfw9CNDc3p_bPJ3T4BiwhTjTf3AcVsPPYRnuGyhRN6oUbzfuoOPN3c04ZdWHCifBizaDQHiPC4tdwv/s1600/PB080843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMun59Tg3YJxopC4vh9UDwwHrHVqZpCXJjtbC3G9wtWnaF5kMiSo0xzm536OHTcglfw9CNDc3p_bPJ3T4BiwhTjTf3AcVsPPYRnuGyhRN6oUbzfuoOPN3c04ZdWHCifBizaDQHiPC4tdwv/s320/PB080843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0yIyOfp6JSZaVu2dcVChF3-jprvLvUyR-NgrJ_VmP5dv0sPqbkbRTj-t-TifCs4D26TGA_W2h1pF7TKt-eOjI9IM4mB16OhJY929tSpEboiBdkR9VMh-UEL5d9Z9y7GaoQ478gwRDUpX/s1600/PB080845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0yIyOfp6JSZaVu2dcVChF3-jprvLvUyR-NgrJ_VmP5dv0sPqbkbRTj-t-TifCs4D26TGA_W2h1pF7TKt-eOjI9IM4mB16OhJY929tSpEboiBdkR9VMh-UEL5d9Z9y7GaoQ478gwRDUpX/s320/PB080845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2WwaILNm_-8gyvpfbuEJDxP-zTxgbCiGj4_la3K9KdGLeRG4LAoKPjLxJcwn7mAp16ltRVua1RHpmNhG6EV7Klrl3sZnTpwPnuNw0lv7kzgw9Zbs3Jx8VggeQ37yYt9rziTwN9YxkGa1/s1600/PB080846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2WwaILNm_-8gyvpfbuEJDxP-zTxgbCiGj4_la3K9KdGLeRG4LAoKPjLxJcwn7mAp16ltRVua1RHpmNhG6EV7Klrl3sZnTpwPnuNw0lv7kzgw9Zbs3Jx8VggeQ37yYt9rziTwN9YxkGa1/s320/PB080846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>And a disclaimer regarding the post title. Not a day passes that I don't link at least a dozen thoughts in my head to movies. And I cannot think of painting furniture without thinking of Raising Arizona.  So you will often find references to movies in odd places when talking with me. I can't help it. It is just part of my <strike>problem </strike>charm.<br /><br />So have you had any luck at garage sales lately? Any ideas on good paint color/options for my table? You can't answer me because you are off to rent Raising Arizona at Red Box aren't you? I thought so.</div>

unpainted arizona

I'm a sucker for a good estate sale. Saturday mornings I'm granted a few hours to run away, thanks husband, and quietly walk thru people's homes and look thru their stuff. Totally normal and not the least bit freaky, right? Not only can you find grea…

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What Do You Do?

Today's post will be short and sweet.<br /><br />I want to know from you: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Do you tell people that you're on Weight Watchers? </i></b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(or, insert whatever eating plan you follow)</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>If "Yes"</u>:</div>If you do share your eating plan publicly, why do you choose to do it?  How do people react when you tell them?  Do you feel judged when you tell others that you're trying to eat more healthfully? <br /><br /><u>If "No"</u>: <br />If you don't share it, why do you choose not to share it with others?<br /><br />I would LOVE your feedback on this question!

Weight Loss Weight Watchers What Do You Do?

Today's post will be short and sweet.I want to know from you: Do you tell people that you're on Weight Watchers?  (or, insert whatever eating plan you follow)  If "Yes":If you do share your eating plan publicly, why do you choose to do it?  How do pe…

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Companies hiring in large volume

<br /><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -30px;"><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #ff7700; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder</span></b></span></h1></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/9r/ar5l0b46yz93bz1lpy9r.gif?time=9/8/2011%2010:51:04%20am" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/9r/ar5l0b46yz93bz1lpy9r.gif?time=9/8/2011%2010:51:04%20am" /></a></div><div class="cbmsnArticleImage">There's an interesting dynamic going on in the job market right now. Despite the fact that millions of people can't find jobs, millions of employers can't seem to find the right employees, either.</div></div><div class="ArticleContent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In case you missed it, last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy created no jobs in August, and that the unemployment rate held steady at 9.1 percent.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At the same time, however, the BLS also reported that nearly 2.7 million jobs went unfilled in August, and, according to CareerBuilder's 2011 Q3 hiring forecast, 26 percent of employers report having difficulties filling open positions -- a 4 percent increase over 2010.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To help close this employment gap, and match job seekers in need of work with companies in need of their services, we've put together a list of employers that are hiring in large volume right now.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The following 14 companies have a combined total of nearly 10,000 job openings -- and they need employees as badly as you need a job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>1. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/PNC/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PNC</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available: </strong>1,000+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Mortgage loan officer, bank branch manager, software engineer, part-time teller, relationship manager and financial advisor</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>2. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/AON/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">AON</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available: </strong>1,390+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Risk management, insurance brokerage services, benefits outsourcing, human capital consulting and actuarial</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>3. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/u-haul/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">U-Haul</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 1,575+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: General manager and trainees, shop manager, customer care representative, programmer, web designer, traffic control manager, storage team manager, structural engineer, production manager and transfer driver</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>4. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/yellowbook/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Yellowbook</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 1,000+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: New media specialist, client service representative, entry-level customer service, finance, it- engineering, developer, programmer, entry-level production and entry-level field distribution management</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>5. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/comfort+keepers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Comfort Keepers</a></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/comfort+keepers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 900+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Caregiver, home health aide, LPN, personal care aide, registered nurse, community relations and marketing director</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>6. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/motorola+solutions/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Motorola Solutions</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 600+ globally</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Various IT and engineering roles: product manager, systems engineer, information security specialist and software engineer</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>7. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/red+ventures/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Red Ventures</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 500+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Inside sales, web developer, online marketing, sales trainer, corporate recruiter, php developer, sales recruiter, human resources and copywriter</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>8. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/bridgestone/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bridgestone Retail Operations</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Retail management trainee, retail sales (full-time and part-time), automotive technician (full-time and part-time) and automotive maintenance technician (full-time and part-time)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>9. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/earthlink/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Earthlink</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 300+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Account executive, major account executive, national account executive, system sales, channel sales, sales engineer, field technician, NOC technician and branch manager</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>10. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/unitek/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">UniTek Global Services</a></strong><strong></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>umber of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Cable installer, satellite installer and wireless installation project manager and foreman</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>11. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/certified+payment+processing/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Certified Payment Processing</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Outside sales</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>12. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/pilot+flying+j/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pilot Flying J</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 500+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs</strong>: Retail and restaurant managers</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>13. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/senior+helpers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Senior Helpers</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 400+</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Certified nursing assistant, caregiver, scheduling coordinator, marketing manager, client services manager, community relations coordinator</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>14. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/company/harbor+freight+tools/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Harbor Freight Tools</a></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Number of jobs available:</strong> 500</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Types of jobs: </strong>Field positions at all level within our stores, nationwide. Corporate positions in all functions: finance, legal, marketing, sourcing, category management, etc.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">See a job you're interested in? Check out these articles before you submit your application:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2532-Job-Search-Strategies-What-hiring-managers-really-want-to-see/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">What hiring managers really want to see</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2267-Job-Search-Strategies-3-things-that-make-you-irresistible-to-employers/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3 things that make you irresistable to employers</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2379-Resumes-Cover-Letters-10-useless-r%c3%a9sum%c3%a9-words-and-10-eye-catching-ones/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">10 useless resume words (and 10 eye-catching ones)</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2415-Job-Search-Strategies-Getting-results-10-strategies-for-job-search-success/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Getting results: 10 strategies for job search success</a></div></div>

Companies hiring in large volume

Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilderThere's an interesting dynamic going on in the job market right now. Despite the fact that millions of people can't find jobs, millions of employers can't seem to find the right employees, either.In case you missed it, la…

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A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HETERODOX SUCCESS STORY

<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINE ECONOMY LESSON FOR EUROPE</b></span></div></div><div style="color: yellow; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;"><br /></span> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to Argentine local main stream media, foreign media paint a somewhat different picture of the Eco-political situation of the country. In fact Argentina’s recovery after its default is frequently taken as the example on how Europe, to some extent, could overcome its economic crisis. In the German speaking part of Europe many Eco – political TV shows increasingly show interest in Argentines recovery and economic growth even though it did not adhere to IMF, World Bank and Wall Street doctrines, thus challenging “EUROCRATS” to follow suit. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As growth in Argentina continued, the critics in the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal claimed it would end once “unused capacity was exhausted”. Instead growth earnings financed the expansion of the domestic market and created new capacity for growth, especially to new markets in Asia and Brazil. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to thesis proclaimed by economic experts, Argentina still has a substantial amount of funds available and thus is not in immediate danger of running into financial problems. Argentina still draws from its favorable crop exports. Even if prices of soya are down, the ever increasing worldwide population increases the need to feed the people. Thus supply of food commodities will not subside, even if speculators manipulate price trends. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINA CONFOUNDED THE PRESTIGIOUS ECONOMISTS </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Argentine experience goes counter to all the precepts of the international financial agencies (the IMF, World Bank), their political backers, and publicists in the financial press. From the first year (2003) of Argentina’s recovery to the present, the economic experts have “predicted” that its growth was “not sustainable” – it has continued robustly for over a decade. The financial writers claimed the default would lead to Argentina being shut out of financial markets and that its economy would collapse. Argentina relied on self-financing based on export earnings and re-activation of the domestic economy and confounded the prestigious economists.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE ARGENTINE ALTERNATIVE TO BAILOUTS AND POVERTY </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even as late as October 25, 2011, Financial Times columnists still prattle about “the coming crises” in the manner of messianic fundamentalists who predict the pending apocalypse. They harp on “high inflation”, “unsustainable social programs”, “overvalued currency”, and more predictions of “the end of prosperity”. All these dire warnings occur in the face of continued growth of 8% in 2011. Anglo-American financial scribes should focus on the demise of their free market regimes in Europe and North America instead of denigrating an economic experience from which they might learn. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(See: Food for Thought, the Anglo – Saxon Quest<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1731534439"> </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1731534439">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html</a><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html%20">)</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINA IS NOT TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON PRIMARY EXPORTS</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In refutation of the Wall Street critics, Mark Weisbrot and his associates point out (“The Argentina Success Story”, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Oct. 2011) that Argentina’s growth was based on the expansion of domestic consumption increased manufacturing exports to regional trading partners as well as traditional agro-mineral exports to Asia. In other words Argentina is not totally dependent on primary exports; it has balanced trade and is not over dependent on commodity prices. In regard to high inflation, Weisbrot points out that “inflation may be high in Argentina but it is real growth and income distribution that matter with regard to the well-being of the vast majority of population”. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyNUzqlDNeA?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina created a state more accommodative to its political project of financing economic competitiveness, new markets and social programs. Argentina ensured that the banking sector financed the growth of the export sector, manufactures and domestic consumption. Argentina imposed a 75% “haircut” on bondholders in order to finance social spending. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Argentina the economic catastrophe provided Argentines with an opportunity to bring about a basic shift from speculative pillage to social programs and sustained economic growth. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The current government reflects its success in creating a ‘normal’ capitalist welfare state. After 30 years of US backed predator neo-liberal regimes, this move stimulated great positive change. From 1983to 1989 Argentina’s suffered under a neo-liberal regime (Raul Alfonsin) which failed to deal with the dictatorial legacy and which presided over triple digit hyper-inflation. From 1989 – 1999 under President Carlos Menem Argentina witnessed the biggest sell-off of its most lucrative public firms, natural resources (petrol included), banks, highways, to foreign investors and kleptocratic cronies for bargain basement prices. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last but not least, Fernando De la Rua (2000 – 2001), promised change and proceeded to deepen the recession that led to the final catastrophic crash of December 2001 and the closing of the banks, the bankruptcy of 10,000 firms and the collapse of the economy. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Against this background of total and unmitigated failure and the human disaster of US – IMF promoted “free-market” policies, Kirchner/Fernandez defaulted on the external debt, re-nationalized several privatized firms and the pension funds, intervened the banks and doubled social spending, expanded public investment in production and increased popular consumption, on the road to economic recovery. By the end of 2003 Argentina turned from negative to 8% growth. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND INDEPENDENT FOREIGN ECONOMIC POLICY</b></span> </div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b> </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina’s economy has grown over 90% from 2003 – 2011, over three times that of the United States. Its recovery has been accompanied by a tripling of social spending, especially on programs reducing poverty. The percentage of poor Argentines has declined from over 50% in 2001 to less than 15% in 2011. In contrast US poverty has risen over the same decade from 12% to 17% and is on an upward trajectory over the same period. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The US has become the country with the greatest inequalities in the OECD with 1% controlling 40% of the country’s wealth, (up from 30% in less than a decade). In contrast, Argentina’s inequalities have shrunken by half. The US economy has failed to recover from the deep recession of 2008-2009, during which it declined by over 8%. In contrast Argentina declined less than 1% in 2009, and has been growing at a healthy 8% (2010-2011). Argentina has nationalized pension funds, doubled basic pensions and introduced a universal child welfare program to counter malnutrition and guarantee school attendance. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In contrast 20% of children in the US are now suffering from poor diets, drop-out rates are increasing for adolescents and malnutrition affects over 25% of minority children. In Argentina the income of wage and salaried workers has increased over 50% over the decade in real terms, while in the US they have declined by nearly 10%. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina’s dynamic growth of GNP has been fueled by growing domestic consumption and dynamic export earnings. Argentina has a consistent large trade surplus based on favorable market prices and increased competitiveness. In contrast domestic consumption has stagnated in the US, the trade deficit is close to $1.5 trillion dollars and revenues are wasted on non-productive military expenditures of over $900 billion a year. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Read also related articles on Argentines heterodox economic success story</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications">http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9">http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1731534453">http://issuu.com/washdiplomat/docs/diplomat.november2011</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Extracts of </span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: small;">Prof.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b style="color: black;">James PETRAS</b> </span>article: “Argentina, from crises to dynamic growth” have been adapted into this article.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HETERODOX SUCCESS STORY

ARGENTINE ECONOMY LESSON FOR EUROPE Contrary to Argentine local main stream media, foreign media paint a somewhat different picture of the Eco-political situation of the country. In fact Argentina’s recovery after its default is frequently taken as t…

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THE HCG PROTOCOL IS NOT FOR SISSIES

<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you ever considered what it would emotionally feel like to be limited to less than 500 calories of food, while living amongst gluttons? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For most, when considering the benefits versus the risks of the hCG protocol, emotional hardship isn’t well thought-out. Instead, the biggest influence when deciding to do the protocol, is potential weight-loss.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They’re tired of battling with weight, and frustrated with the diet industry’s failure to make a difference. They think, “If what thousands of people proclaim on the Internet is true-- eating such a small amount of food must be worth it.” There’s no hunger, the food is simple, and if the weight is lost as fast as everyone says, how could the protocol be difficult?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This mentality is naive. The hCG protocol requires the participant eat 500 calories in food for about a month, and when done correctly, hunger may limit eating to even less. Take a step back and observe this amount of food. Compare it against the backdrop of our normal cultural eating behavior. Notice the difference? Our culture is the most gluttonous and dysfunctional culture with food --in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Universe</u></i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We spend hundreds of billions of dollars on food, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and what’s ironic is that we spend billions, <em>trying not to eat it</em>. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><em></em><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The hCG protocol is the extreme opposite.</span>The naivety is in thinking that weight-loss will perpetually motivate us to eat less, even amongst friends, family, and coworkers who eat significantly more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to believe that without hunger you’ll be emotionally resilient-- is crazy! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">How many of you eat without hunger? When you’re bored, when you’re celebrating, when you’re drunk, have the munchies, when you’ve had a difficult day at work, to suppress negative feelings about someone, or to avoid having to talk to strangers in social settings? Anybody who thinks that hunger is why American’s eat too much, needs a reality check.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you ask anybody who is obese how often they’re hungry (I’m talking true physical hunger), they will tell you they’re not hungry that often. However, for reasons I’m not going to explain in this blog, their hunger occurs more rapidly than others who have less fat. In general, they’re not hungry for breakfast; they could wait hours and hours before feeling that physical irritation and urgency to eat, and they don’t need as much food to reduce hunger. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This makes sense, considering the science that has proven the more fat a person has, the higher (exponentially) their blood leptin levels are. Leptin, in the brain, reduces hunger. So it makes sense that if you have more leptin, you’re going to experience hunger less often. But does lack of hunger and weight loss keep you from continually eating with the rest of our gluttonous culture? Probably not. Otherwise the first diet you ever attempted would have worked long term.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The hCG protocol is not as easy as you think. It requires you eat less than what small children eat, and for over a month. If you live in America, that means you’re going to be constantly surrounded by food commercials, surrounded by restaurants and fast food joints on every corner, and will have invitations to eat all the time-- for any reason.  Our culture is defined by eating and food, so to think any amount of fat loss would completely overhaul your desires to eat is naïve.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before considering the hCG protocol, take into account the desire and emotional strength you’re going to have to develop to let go of excessive emotional eating. And to keep from gaining fat back, you'll have to let go of emotional eating forever. Are you ready to divorce this gluttonous way of life? Do you really want to let go of food emotionally?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Are you seeking an intrinsic desire to eat less, whether you lose weight or not? If so, the hCG protocol will change your life. Your body will heal and your relationship with food will too. With freedom from emotional eating as your goal, consider yourself anything but a sissy, and ready to take on the hCG protocol challenge.</span></div>

THE HCG PROTOCOL IS NOT FOR SISSIES

Have you ever considered what it would emotionally feel like to be limited to less than 500 calories of food, while living amongst gluttons? For most, when considering the benefits versus the risks of the hCG protocol, emotional hardship isn’t well t…

Read more »

Today is the day

I haven't discussed the real reason I'm in Fairbanks because it was kind of top secret. Since all involved parties now know why I'm here, and the court hearing is at 11 a.m. today, I can talk about it.<br /><br />On Tuesday of last week I received two very disturbing phone calls. I'd only been home for three days, having returned from a three-week stay in Fairbanks to help care for my sister in her home (two weeks) and then help her transition to an assisted living home (another week).<br /><br />The first phone call was from the owner of the assisted living home where my sister resides. She was very upset regarding my crazy niece's last two visits to my sister on October 30 and 31. The first visit involved my niece and four teenage boys she brought with her (two children were my niece's sons and two were another niece's grandsons). There was a lot of disruption, with my niece screaming at the boys to behave and then demanding the staff make lunch for the four boys. Not only was my sister upset, but so was the staff and the other residents of the home. The owner was very upset, but there was more.<br /><br />The second visit involved the Alaska State Protective Services (APS), which were called by the owner of the home during the second visit on Oct. 31. My niece became verbally abusive to both women when they discussed the previous day's visit. She screamed at them that she wanted her mother moved out of the home to the Pioneers Home (an institution-like setting), and furthermore, all her mother's money was gone (there was $50,000 cash in my sister's bank accounts five weeks ago, my niece had me look at the accounts online). She stated she wasn't paying next month's fee of $7,500. All of this was said (screamed) in front of my sister.<br /><br />APS called me next, and reiterated everything the owner of the home had told me. <br /><br />Both the owner of the home and APS requested I immediately file for emergency full guardianship of my sister. This had been discussed at length during the previous weeks. Even though my sister has three daughters, none of them are capable of handling her medical and financial affairs.<br /><br />I discussed this with my other niece, the one that's clinically depressed and has been for seventeen years. She's on a lot of medications for her mental condition and is barely holding on. Both her and her husband (the saint that helped care for my sister during the two weeks after her release from the hospital), agreed I was the best choice. This niece doesn't feel like she can handle it, and I understand. She's extremely close to her mother and she's best at sitting by my sister's bed and holding her hand. Paperwork, paying bills and handling tough decisions isn't something she's capable of doing.<br /><br />Of course I didn't talk to my other niece, the one that has caused extreme mental distress for this entire family, and especially for my sister. She's already proven she can't handle the responsibility.<br /><br />There's a third niece that I've only seen twice since my sister's stroke. She lives here (for free in one of the apartments that my sister owns, about 1/2 mile from he home where my sister resides). She's caused a lot of problems for my sister since she was adopted at six years old (she's the only adopted daughter). She came from a home with two alcoholic parents that were charged with abandonment. She came with a lot of emotional and mental issues. She was basically written out of the trust by my sister, so she's really not even in the picture when it comes to the care of my sister.<br /><br />In the past three days, I would awake every morning at 3:30 a.m., get up and work on a document I was writing for the court. It outlined the series of events that led me to the decision to apply for full guardianship. I would work on it for three hours each morning. The document only touched on a few of the things my niece has done over the last seven weeks, since my sister's stroke. I was preparing it for the Court Visitor, who makes the final decision in the guardianship, both the emergency hearing (which is today) and the final decision for permanent guardianship (which will be in February). Even though it was just a snapshot of some of the horrors that have happened, it was eight pages long. Fortunately, the Court Visitor told me more information is better than less. She was glad I'd written such a lengthy document, to help her with her decision.<br /><br />I met with the Court Visitor yesterday, and we discussed for an hour the reasons I was applying for guardianship. She almost couldn't believe some of the things I told her about my niece. She told me it was almost a slam-dunk that I would be awarded guardianship. The big gun for me is that the State of Alaska Attorney General's office has filed the petition on my behalf, along with APS (they even waived the fees since they were filing). They both recommend me as guardian for my sister. In addition, they'll have a lawyer from the Attorney General's office in court today to represent me. <br /><br />It's sort of odd how things work out. The Court Visitor told me she'd stop by and visit my sister yesterday afternoon. I headed over to see my sister at 11 a.m., and brought my sister a bouquet of fresh flowers, a new makeup mirror to put on her beside table so she can learn how to apply her own makeup (something she hasn't even tried yet and I've been doing for her every day), and a new picture to put on one of her walls. At the same time I was arriving, there was Carrie Ann, the Court Visitor. How odd that she actually came in the morning when she said she was coming in the afternoon, and that I was arriving at the exact same time. <br /><br />She talked with my sister about the guardianship, and my sister indicated she understood. Both my brother and I had already explained it to her, and why I was taking control away from her daughter. As the Court Visitor talked to my sister, she started to cry, but I expected she would cry. The entire issue with her daughter has been very upsetting to her. It breaks my heart that I can't fix her daughter for her, but at least I can protect my sister from her craziness. My sister indicated to the Court Visitor that she was okay with the change. I know my sister never expected that with having four children (her son committed suicide 20 years ago), that her baby sister (me - 17 years younger than my sister) would have to take over her affairs some day.<br /><br />Another odd event, I've been staying at the Westmark Hotel here in Fairbanks. I love this hotel. It's where our crew stays (I work for an airline that flies into Fairbanks) and I get a really good rate. They upgraded me to a suite this time for the same price (so I don't have to eat out!). It's also only two blocks from my sister's assisted living home. I feel safe in this hotel, and it's very comfortable (with awesome staff).<br /><br />When I asked to extend my stay through Friday they told me I'd have to move out for 10/7 and 10/8. I pleaded and begged to stay, they said there was a convention and 14 people ahead of me on a wait list. The timing was all wrong for me to have to move (I needed my internet connection to remain unbroken...court documents, emails, etc.). Every day I'd check with the front desk (they all know me). I asked about their no-show factor (there are 400 rooms here - there must be no-shows). They said they rarely have even one no-show, and sorry, but I'd have to leave for those two days. Guess what? Yesterday morning as I was reluctantly looking online for another hotel the front desk called my room. There were 25 no-shows and I could stay here for the rest of my stay through Friday.<br /><br />It's so weird how so many things have fallen into place for me throughout this entire ordeal. Just odd little things that have made things much easier to deal with.<br /><br />One tiny thing happened two nights ago that annoyed the hell out of me. Someone stole my extension cord that I used to plug in my rental car. I have to park in back of the hotel where they have deadbolt heaters and yesterday morning, the extension cord was missing. It belongs to the rental car agency, and I'm going to have to buy another one in case the temperature plunges below zero. It's been hovering above zero (like + 5 or +10 degrees), but tomorrow it's suppose to get down to -12 degrees. <br /><br />It's been non-stop snowing since I got here and the roads are beyond horrible. I had two really close call car accidents yesterday. Both by giant pickup trucks that practically ran me over, through no fault of my own. They act like they own the freaking road, whipping through parking lots, not paying attention to anyone else. I have a tiny Ford Focus. It must be the world's smallest car. Maybe they don't see me because it's so tiny, but my heart practically stopped twice yesterday when I had two near misses with pickup trucks. Fortunately, no accidents so far, but it's sure scary driving around here. The car stops really well, it just can't take off very well on the ice. It doesn't have studded snow tires which I find really strange. I also often can't tell where the road is, or if it's two lanes or one because there's so much ice and snow packed on the roads. Hopefully I'll make it through the rest of the week accident free.<br /><br />It's almost 6 a.m. so I'm going to get dressed and head over to the gym (they call it "the club" here, it's kind of a nice gym). I'm not sure if I mentioned it but I spoke to the salesperson at the gym where my sister has gone five days a week for almost four years, and asked for a week long free pass. I told them why I was here, and that I live in Seattle and wasn't going to join their gym. I indicated that my sister is still paying for her membership, and she can't use it since she had a stroke, so could I get a pass to go with my niece to water aerobics. They said yes (although I hate water aerobics but I'll go if she goes...she's not going today...this is my good niece).<br /><br />I'm going to do some cardio and weights, to get myself prepared for the battle of my  life today. I expect fireworks if my crazy niece shows up, and I'm pretty sure she'll be there. My other niece, her husband and my brother will all be there to support me. It should be interesting. :)<br /><br />

Today is the day

I haven't discussed the real reason I'm in Fairbanks because it was kind of top secret. Since all involved parties now know why I'm here, and the court hearing is at 11 a.m. today, I can talk about it.On Tuesday of last week I received two very distu…

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