Surprises at St. Jude's

Today was my first Sunday visit to St. Jude’s the parish. I have visited St. Jude’s Ranch many times and have celebrated the Eucharist with gatherings of our deacons there in the Zabriske Chapel. St. Jude’s graciously hosts our deacon conferences at no charge. But this was my first Sunday visit, marking the actual return of St. Jude’s to the Episcopal fold. Bishop Katharine visited and Kay Rohde celebrated there, but the priest who served St. Jude’s was of a schismatic persuasion and was not willing to attend those services. So much of the congregation was not there either. Today, St. Jude’s is in some sense our oldest, in another sense our newest, Latino parish.<br /><br />The first surprise of the day was the turnout. Attendance at St. Jude’s is often around 15 to 20. On a big Sunday it breaks 40. Today we had 80 people, which packed the Chapel. They were engaged, singing the Spanish hymns a capella, fully participating in the liturgy using a Spanish translation of the Book of Common Prayer. Some of the attendance was no doubt due to the three baptisms – one early elementary schoolboy and two teenage girls. When I baptize older children and teenagers of Latino families, I always know there is a story there. I don’t know what it is, but there is a story. We are doing something important.<br /><br />After the service I did a little demographic research about where the congregants reside. Many of them are, in fact, from Boulder City. When we began work on restoring our ties to St. Jude’s, I was assured that there is only one Latino family living in Boulder City and they attend St. Christopher’s. It turns out there is an invisible Latino population in BC. I am not being ironic. It really is true. By patronizing different businesses, etc. it is quite possible for ethnic groups to inhabit the same space with minimal awareness of each other’s existence. But, as I expected, many of them lived in Henderson. Neither of our churches in Henderson has a Missa Espanol so the 20 minute drive to St. Jude’s works for them just for convenience. But a significant minority drive to St. Jude’s from Las Vegas. There are no more community churches. We are all destination churches. People drive to where they choose to worship.<br /><br />The next surprise came when I asked the teenagers, Cheyenne and Mia, in Spanish “Do you desire to be baptized?” They looked at me blankly. I thought it was my pronunciation; but Fr. Leslie explained that they did not speak Spanish. Oh my! Flashback to the ordeal a few years ago when I agonized over preparing and delivering a French sermon in Haiti only to learn afterward that the congregation did not speak French. They spoke Creole. So I found myself fumblingly trying to translate the questions I was reading out of a Spanish Prayer Book back into English. There goes another stereotype. <br /><br />After the congregation finished receiving the sacrament, they brought the children up for blessings. I have never done more blessings of children, not even at our largest Latino congregation in Las Vegas. There was a hunger for blessings. <br /><br />After the service, Christina Vela, the Regional Program Director for St. Jude’s (that means she runs the Nevada campus – there are two campuses in Texas) came by to meet me. That is a very positive gesture. If I am correct that Nevada Episcopalians share a sense of call to help at-risk children, then restoring our historic commitment to supporting St. Jude’s is a top mission priority.<br /> <br />Relations have been being maintained by folks like Sherm Fredericks who serves on the St. Jude’s Board. Connection with the parish restarted in earnest through the work of Fr. Bernardo Iniesta-Avila and his wife Lolita. It has been carried on by Fr. Leslie Holdridge. I am enormously grateful to them for their work at times when it was not at all clear that anything would come of it. They walked by faith and not by light; but the light is dawning. No worship space in Nevada has a holier feel than St. Jude’s. I feel blessed to have been there today and am eager to return.

Surprises at St. Jude's

Today was my first Sunday visit to St. Jude’s the parish. I have visited St. Jude’s Ranch many times and have celebrated the Eucharist with ...

Read more »

Europe's Islamic future

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>IF CURRENT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS PERSIST, EUROPE TO BE MUSLIM BY CENTURY'S END</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #646464;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; width: 408px;"><tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 229.5pt;" width="306"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable"><tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0in;"><br /></td> <td style="padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td> </tr></tbody></table></td> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 76.5pt;" width="102"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td> </tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Islam is on its way to become the most practiced religion in Europe. In a new book published by the University of Leuven, “The Iris and the Crescent,” sociologist Felice Dassetto says that Muslims will comprise the majority of the population of Brussels by 2030. The title of the book refers to the yellow flower symbol of Brussels’ region and to the Islamic emblem: While the first is decaying, the second is growing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Muslims now make up one-quarter of the population of the capital of the enlightened Europe and they are asking to use the empty churches for Islamic prayers. Since 2008, the top seven baby boys’ names in Brussels were Mohammed, Adam, Rayan, Ayoub, Mehdi, Amine and Hamza. Mohammed is also the most popular name for baby boys in Belgium’s second-largest city, Antwerp, where an estimated 40% of elementary school children are Muslim. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Antwerp is also home to Belgium’s first Islamic Sharia law court, which began operating in September. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet Belgium is not an isolate case in fact there are warning signs looming on the horizon that Europe risks being “overrun” by Islam. According to a recent report of the US Pew Center, Islam is already “the fastest-growing religion in Europe,” where the number of Muslims has tripled over the past 30 years. One third of all European children will be born to Muslim families by 2025. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Islam is the most practiced religion in the United Kingdom. In London, more Muslims attend mosques on Friday than do Christians churches on Sunday. The Oude Kerk, the oldest church in the city of Amsterdam, where the kings of Holland were crowned, is now a museum. The only “church” in the largest Dutch city that is crowded is the church of Scientology, a six-story building in the thick of the city center. Only 7% of Dutch Catholics now go to Sunday Mass and 16% of children are baptized. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Austria, which was 90% Catholic in the 20th Century, Islam will be the majority religion among Austrians aged under 15 by 2050. The French case also shows that the often exaggerated “Eurabia” threat is more a quality phenomenon of religious attendance than of demographic takeover. In France, there are now more Islamic mosques being build - and more frequently so - than Catholic churches, and there are more practicing Muslims than practicing Catholics in the country. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; width: 300px;"><tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0in;"><br /></td> </tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Overall, the total number of mosques in France has already doubled to more than 2,000 in the last 10 years. The best known French Islamic leader, Dalil Boubakeur, Rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, recently suggested that the total number of mosques should double yet again, to 4,000, to meet the growing demand. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, the Catholic Church in France had only 20 new churches built in the last 10 years, and formally closed more than 60 churches, many of which became mosques, according to research conducted by the French Catholic daily La Croix. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Princeton University’s Bernard Lewis once told the German daily Die Welt that “Europe will be Islamic by the end of the century.” At the time, Brussels’ political and cultural elites expressed outrage at the alarmist prediction. Yet if the current trends persist, Mr. Lewis may yet be proven right. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Article by Giulio Meotti </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #646464;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Europe's Islamic future

IF CURRENT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS PERSIST, EUROPE TO BE MUSLIM BY CENTURY'S END Islam is on its way to become the m...

Read more »

'TIS THE SEASON...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kingdom-biz.net/uploads/Fireplaceanimated.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://www.kingdom-biz.net/uploads/Fireplaceanimated.gif" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful...which means it's a perfect time to snuggle down into a favorite chair, remote in hand, and decide: DVR or DVD?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With Christmas just a week away I've picked a few long-time holiday favorites to watch along with one or two that have come into my life more recently...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBtLp90JyyMnHCuFOv1cwj54GBSrtfiBFOH-n2iutRJkgRxw1egWViTfrVy-GbJZ9h7DHRSPQNkhYBR5piMH_1rFaYp98BVa5_6ghKevg0xW5Q3U8ZGvMjLQBIDL1iYxpsziUzwBRHI6v/s1600/remember.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBtLp90JyyMnHCuFOv1cwj54GBSrtfiBFOH-n2iutRJkgRxw1egWViTfrVy-GbJZ9h7DHRSPQNkhYBR5piMH_1rFaYp98BVa5_6ghKevg0xW5Q3U8ZGvMjLQBIDL1iYxpsziUzwBRHI6v/s320/remember.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Remember the Night</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Remember the Night  </i>(1940), directed by Mitchell Leisen from a Preston Sturges' screenplay, debuted on Turner Classic Movies a few seasons ago, which is where I first encountered it. A jewel! Fred MacMurray stars as an Assistant D.A. who falls for thief Barbara Stanwyck during the holidays. With Beulah Bondi, Elizabeth Patterson and Sterling Holloway, music by Frederick Hollander (known for his work with Marlene Dietrich). <i>Remember the Night</i> is a compelling tale delivered by a very sharp script and a superb cast, qualities that should establish it as an enduring holiday classic.  </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><a href="http://jimlanescinedrome.blogspot.com/2011/11/remembering-night.html" style="color: #990000;">Click here</a> for more on <i>Remember the Night</i> from <i>Jim Lane's Cinedrome</i>.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />I've already watched <i>Meet Me in St. Louis</i> (1944) once this season. It is Vincente Minnelli's simply magical confection of 100% pure fine-spun Americana. Set in turn-of-the-century St. Louis, the film follows "a year in the life" of the Smith family. Margaret O'Brien famously portrays precocious (annoying?) tyke "Tootie" Smith to the hilt, but it is Judy Garland as Esther Smith who glows as the film's centerpiece. And there are the songs, now classics, she introduced in the film..."The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I'll probably watch <i>Meet Me in St. Louis </i>one time more before the holidays are over.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqMwBMNVHzPByrSFaYa39v322mdfzdnykTlSQDkv8jfwUd-4-AaPz9vLjONsBcPvINdvSj7P9EkalYqz6pOinTfUknZMtrRghxCTMN8SZswqeHWO793Je1xEXPtWVmkqWD6SYWalFT4aF/s1600/Connecticut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqMwBMNVHzPByrSFaYa39v322mdfzdnykTlSQDkv8jfwUd-4-AaPz9vLjONsBcPvINdvSj7P9EkalYqz6pOinTfUknZMtrRghxCTMN8SZswqeHWO793Je1xEXPtWVmkqWD6SYWalFT4aF/s320/Connecticut.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Christmas in Connecticut</i></td></tr></tbody></table><i>Christmas in Connecticut</i> (1945) has been on my "every year" list for a while now.  I can't resist this home front romp about a career woman (Barbara Stanwyck) with zero homemaking skills who falls for a Navy vet (Dennis Morgan) who dreams of home cooked meals and every domestic delight.  Last year I blogged about the movie and the year in which it was released, 1945. It was the year World War II ended, the year American troops were finally home for Christmas. <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-in-connecticut-1945one.html" style="color: #990000;">Click here</a> for my 2010 reflection on <i>Christmas in Connecticut</i>.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>The Shop Around the Corner </i>(1940), is my favorite film of director Ernst Lubitsch and contains one of James Stewart's finest performances along with the best of Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan and Felix Bressart. I posted on <i>Shop</i>, a must-see film,<i> </i>just a week or so ago...<a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/12/shop-around-corner-1940-lubitsch.html" style="color: #990000;">click here</a>, if you missed it. <i>And </i>if you've missed the film so far this year, it airs in just about an hour (Dec. 18, 10am Eastern/7am Pacific) on Turner Classic Movies.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy0fhbeluelof4uNZlb0NELJMLDg_TNFj3as_xaLbtNTzcdqPVdpiVEMjfWgmA7wMgZvYVJNAhtTnmjDgooPqeQHSLK7misSfZxgNOyYsbN2p6gn_aAwsnXYxD8lw05jx7eHbVoMamqXT/s1600/Cary+as+Dudley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy0fhbeluelof4uNZlb0NELJMLDg_TNFj3as_xaLbtNTzcdqPVdpiVEMjfWgmA7wMgZvYVJNAhtTnmjDgooPqeQHSLK7misSfZxgNOyYsbN2p6gn_aAwsnXYxD8lw05jx7eHbVoMamqXT/s320/Cary+as+Dudley.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Bishop's Wife</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In<i> The Bishop's Wife</i> (1947) Cary Grant stars as an angel...typecasting at its finest, I'd say! I first saw <i>The Bishop's Wife</i> in the 1980s and, when I discovered it, was surprised I hadn't heard of it before. Now it surfaces every year, everywhere, a seasonal standard (and it will air once more on TCM  this year - late on Christmas Eve). The fine cast includes David Niven, Loretta Young, Monty Woolley, Gladys Cooper, James Gleason, Sara Haden and Elsa Lanchester. The film's yuletide sentiment is reflected throughout and nicely encapsulated in the Bishop's final sermon, "Let us ask ourselves what we would wish for most, and then let each put in his share. Loving kindness, warm hearts and the stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth." </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">...Because she does it so well, here's Peggy Lee singing a holiday standard that expresses my wishes for each of you (click to listen)...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8n1yapgYn8o" width="420"></iframe></div>

Christmas in Connecticut Meet Me in St. Louis Peggy Lee Remember the Night The Bishop's Wife The Lady Eve (author) 'TIS THE SEASON...

  The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful...which means it's a perfect time to snuggle down into a favorite chai...

Read more »

need vs want

With Christmas a week away, we've had a lot of discussions around here about need vs want. I don't need anything for Christmas, but I can always find plenty of wants when I go to the Antique Mall just right down the street.<br /><br />So this will be my fix, my 'wake up on Christmas morning fun' to satisfy my wants. Because even though (almost) all of these are yummy, I don't need any of them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZZbLcucnc_gWmxhrbxcne-sy3_0m4Nl432WoO6k8fc2gSm-OmdZNNTkvRelh4xIUPmMjud-cKc6ZuRgkidG368nRj0S_68-wgXLhwCxCWtlMj-criHL2VB_0NYFNP5p1KSx0aSUCXSXD/s1600/IMG_0743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZZbLcucnc_gWmxhrbxcne-sy3_0m4Nl432WoO6k8fc2gSm-OmdZNNTkvRelh4xIUPmMjud-cKc6ZuRgkidG368nRj0S_68-wgXLhwCxCWtlMj-criHL2VB_0NYFNP5p1KSx0aSUCXSXD/s320/IMG_0743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yummy (don't ask my why I keep using that word) teapot with my favorite - polka dots. A disco tea set. I think it is a bit blurry because I was so excited. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9N5HMdYIYNjBko7qVFSInmS57Yp9h8fCbiiZQRcrv-RIPLkGiEn6bAJOcXjPTUdJ2jgJfpuxtDxGatveRpfTtd1yeRpj1JjOLqKJrm8m9aJLK26cMGeVNXt2L8-O9ozjUAzh6F50g6a2/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9N5HMdYIYNjBko7qVFSInmS57Yp9h8fCbiiZQRcrv-RIPLkGiEn6bAJOcXjPTUdJ2jgJfpuxtDxGatveRpfTtd1yeRpj1JjOLqKJrm8m9aJLK26cMGeVNXt2L8-O9ozjUAzh6F50g6a2/s320/IMG_0744.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Great for lighting up the deck and only $20. Holla.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJITIecAE0BxVXbJ24LTOd9xqybK20l43gGsjV8IdcfDpMMwX3kt5hvPpJ_dsd3_cDABA_dNTYhH1Ki6mnBiwt05Fa_KEtxYPOGhUrCgtyfb3198iQ_1upqAnayP8svxMZrcHq_STOFmoL/s1600/IMG_0826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJITIecAE0BxVXbJ24LTOd9xqybK20l43gGsjV8IdcfDpMMwX3kt5hvPpJ_dsd3_cDABA_dNTYhH1Ki6mnBiwt05Fa_KEtxYPOGhUrCgtyfb3198iQ_1upqAnayP8svxMZrcHq_STOFmoL/s320/IMG_0826.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> No, not Julia Child. To the left. A book of House Beautiful issues from 1908-09. Great for a magazine subscriber. Very cool.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjfHStSK29ZxW_fMFhuK75MJSzLEKM4XA2L1Pbg8ArT9hxgdGlWxQf4pmMeTqSngwXfZV4ZtbZLMIFtZH6pzT2TsCwb-OLCZobZEtAZej58pmw77pcd5gCpoEZQXTNCo2CDv_7J2FXrIk/s1600/IMG_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjfHStSK29ZxW_fMFhuK75MJSzLEKM4XA2L1Pbg8ArT9hxgdGlWxQf4pmMeTqSngwXfZV4ZtbZLMIFtZH6pzT2TsCwb-OLCZobZEtAZej58pmw77pcd5gCpoEZQXTNCo2CDv_7J2FXrIk/s320/IMG_0828.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Vintage silver ornaments at $1.50 a piece. I think these are awesome enough to stay in a bowl all year round.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yPcKJEp4Ozj2uugZR7evUijrrL8Tep-ZDasjkNMt8Y9LHkCfT9cNpAOMxrkL0RwSvZ8dHIxb3sAZuFXLVqZbzil6oHDbWKlM__lwdqPloSySETwVdVgNeNmEsV_2r182WKZG1YLGx1SF/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yPcKJEp4Ozj2uugZR7evUijrrL8Tep-ZDasjkNMt8Y9LHkCfT9cNpAOMxrkL0RwSvZ8dHIxb3sAZuFXLVqZbzil6oHDbWKlM__lwdqPloSySETwVdVgNeNmEsV_2r182WKZG1YLGx1SF/s320/IMG_0831.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bamboo bar cart - perfect for my disco teapot.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHGqvtiGdutA3OCLVNHrfXXFTW0CaJexrsTFRxJYL34CxcynlqncZzl5dyGK6BZ-7D5BIk3y0pO-xacYsgqu3czmLrVXYkmoypiJfn04o2rXyItibiP-9kOQkkThRPMo-xHVGOnbupmPf/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHGqvtiGdutA3OCLVNHrfXXFTW0CaJexrsTFRxJYL34CxcynlqncZzl5dyGK6BZ-7D5BIk3y0pO-xacYsgqu3czmLrVXYkmoypiJfn04o2rXyItibiP-9kOQkkThRPMo-xHVGOnbupmPf/s320/IMG_0832.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saw a similar one on Etsy. Gold. Bamboo. I see a theme developing...</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/AVvXsEjPvoUCtHrnKEmlatrnQM7PyxTARlfVUxFLWFMHH0xoCo-Vvim3OrBq4eSYxtb_eMhJSMdQLC19skmOOI2IzkmEht7IE_fkx-Cbk5uYwQiSEutWZ4y8-3c_WSh7OPRExNH0TeFTmr4IMnjD/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvoUCtHrnKEmlatrnQM7PyxTARlfVUxFLWFMHH0xoCo-Vvim3OrBq4eSYxtb_eMhJSMdQLC19skmOOI2IzkmEht7IE_fkx-Cbk5uYwQiSEutWZ4y8-3c_WSh7OPRExNH0TeFTmr4IMnjD/s320/IMG_0836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Funky sconces for my fireplace.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTRMjWQLg-di1DyAV01wXZ1Rg_GGShE6ASv7pCg1YsAyJTjUjiFAZ1Kpp9GSkbMQCf0HoPajxoSCJBBhvlYfNP_IQ8HqkF4bWdV8Khob0Yyy9u3DHSzMQvCm51F1CN_CE3qPpy81p4GhD/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTRMjWQLg-di1DyAV01wXZ1Rg_GGShE6ASv7pCg1YsAyJTjUjiFAZ1Kpp9GSkbMQCf0HoPajxoSCJBBhvlYfNP_IQ8HqkF4bWdV8Khob0Yyy9u3DHSzMQvCm51F1CN_CE3qPpy81p4GhD/s320/IMG_0834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These have been in the store forever and their color is awesome. Next time I have a spare $2500, I'll consider it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSEzlJrAq834aoM-Xa2GBzlrYmDrzD56zP4orHQPO_wYkixsUkMFNSjEbI6mipPOXfFS2uFePIqXIEU10o8CjhgToxlqHtRogENLZ82fcK6dxp3vHn2V3Y3bxl_SgcdkTH6w-ZFtoZO-g/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSEzlJrAq834aoM-Xa2GBzlrYmDrzD56zP4orHQPO_wYkixsUkMFNSjEbI6mipPOXfFS2uFePIqXIEU10o8CjhgToxlqHtRogENLZ82fcK6dxp3vHn2V3Y3bxl_SgcdkTH6w-ZFtoZO-g/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And this does not fall under need or want but 'what the hell'. Where are your pants dude?!<br /><br />What is on your list? Anything you secretly hope to get even though you don't need it?<br /><br />

need vs want

With Christmas a week away, we've had a lot of discussions around here about need vs want. I don't need anything for Christmas, but ...

Read more »

What you should know if you have a stroke

<div style="color: red;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Please note:  if you don't want this entire post, I beg of you, scroll to the bottom and read the part about stroke symptoms. It's extremely important. Paste it into an email and send it to everyone you know and love.</span></b></u></div><br />Where has the time gone? I haven't posted for four weeks. Have I really been that busy?  <br /><br />I have been busy with trying to keep my sister's medical and financial manners in order. It's not an easy task and not one I would wish on my worst enemy. Lesson learned from this catastrophic event: DO NOT HAVE A DEBILITATING STROKE! More on this later.<br /><br />I've been busy with work. I'm back at it and have a giant, scary project in front of me. Scary, as in I don't know how the hell I'm going to meet my deadline.<br /><br />I've also been getting back into a daily exercise routine, which is something that was severely lacking for the last three months. Since my sister's September 21 stroke, I have not made myself a priority. My sister was number one on my radar. I fell into second place.<br /><br />I read my last post and actually laughed out loud. I was really in the spirit of weight loss the day I posted that entry. Then I went to Fairbanks for a week and got caught up in the circumstances surrounding my sister. Weight loss and my health weren't important anymore.<br /><br />Then I came down with the flu while in Fairbanks.  Right in the middle of my week that was jam-packed with tasks. Somehow I made it through it, after holding up in my hotel room for 24 hours, living off of NyQuil. <br /><br />Then it was back to work, to a world from where I'd been missing for most of four months. Since I broke my wrist August 6 I've either been out on extended illness leave for my wrist or on PTO for my sister.<br /><br />I forgot what normal felt like. It's actually kind of nice to sit in my cubicle, in front of my computer and think about something other than my sister's tragedy. Her health and how I'm going to pay her bills, and function as her guardian and conservator have consumed me for the last three months. Stepping back into my real world was nice, but a shock to my system.<br /><br />The last two weeks I've been exhausted. All I want to do is sleep. I'm not sure if it's the after effects of the flu or post traumatic shock syndrome of dealing with all things related to my sister. It's probably been a combination of both.<br /><br />I didn't follow Weight Watchers nor did I count calories or track my food. Not even for a single day.<br /><br />The past week I made it to the gym four times, two 30-minute workouts, one hour and 20-minute workout (Thursday) and yesterday for an hour. I feel my strength and energy coming back, although my left arm is still weak. Three months in a cast has pretty much decimated most of my muscle in my left arm. I still use 15 or 20 pounds on my right arm, but only 10 or 12 pounds on my left arm. Even the lighter weights are a struggle. I guess it'll just take time.<br /><br />My weight today at home is 183.4. Since I was 184.4 at Weight Watchers four weeks ago, this means I've really gained a pound or two (since I weighed with clothes and after breakfast at Weight Watchers). If you're wondering, I'm going back to Weight Watchers today.<br /><br />Considering all I've gone through in the last four weeks, there will be no "beating up of Diana" today. If there's one thing I've learned from the last four months, it's don't sweat the small stuff. There's enough big shit to worry about in life without worrying about the minutia. <br /><br />Two pounds will come off easily, and the other thirty or so will come off too (albeit not quite as easy). I feel back in control of my eating and exercise. I care about what happens to me. I don't want to end up like my sister, stressed out about life, with high blood pressure and having a stroke. Trust me, you really don't want to go there. It's truly a fate worse than death.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Read this!</span></b>  </div><br />I took the information below from <a href="http://www.stroke.org/">www.stroke.org</a>. A family member that talked to my sister at 10 a.m. on the day of my sister's stroke said later that she had slurred speech that morning. Since my sister doesn't drink, this was a definite sign of a stroke. The family member is a trained CNA, and has taken numerous nursing classes. Yet she didn't recognize the slurred speech as a symptom of a stroke. She has expressed great remorse about this, but it doesn't matter now. It's too late for my sister, but maybe this will help someone else.<br /><br />My sister wasn't taken to the hospital until 10 p.m. that night. Twelve hours after her first sign of having a stroke. This unfortunately sealed her fate to a life of being unable to speak, paralyzed and bedridden. If only she'd been taken to the emergency room that morning, things probably would have turned out so much better.<br /><br />Please read it and remember it. The most important thing is to remember is get to an emergency room as quickly as possible. Time is critical. There's a drug they can give you that will actually stop the damage from the stroke. It's called a t-PA drip (one of the clot-busting drugs, there are others). The doctors in Fairbanks told me about it, but you have to get it within three hours of the first stroke symptom. It doesn't always work, but it gives you a fighting chance. My sister got to the hospital too late, and it's ruined her life.<br /><br />Every minute-and-a-half, on average, someone in America suffers a stroke.<br /><h1 class="title"> Warning Signs of Stroke</h1><br /><span style="font-size: 120%;">Learn the many warning signs of a stroke. Act <span class="subheading">FAST</span> and <span class="subheading">CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY</span> at any sign of a stroke.</span><br /><br />Use <span class="subheading">FAST</span> to remember the warning signs:<span style="font-size: 120%;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbN4vQVe5H_wvdurdHVWgqRwCleRaD45lXBcJeFvVQXUU_Ks13WW6LKCykkONMJeMevkx9PJgs2jLIX-NpCQ_r4fgryc5kxYKK0skqscWq9NFp-BBvy7DbKAvOiHfUgmubry4flANwlvKc/s1600/stroke.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbN4vQVe5H_wvdurdHVWgqRwCleRaD45lXBcJeFvVQXUU_Ks13WW6LKCykkONMJeMevkx9PJgs2jLIX-NpCQ_r4fgryc5kxYKK0skqscWq9NFp-BBvy7DbKAvOiHfUgmubry4flANwlvKc/s640/stroke.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><span class="subheading">NOTE THE TIME WHEN ANY SYMPTOMS FIRST APPEAR.</span> If given within <i>three hours</i> of the first symptom, there is an FDA-approved clot-buster medication that may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. There are also two other types of stroke treatment available that might help reduce the effects of stroke. <a href="http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=treatment">Read more about stroke treatment</a>. <br />Learn as many stroke symptoms as possible so you can recognize stroke as <b>FAST</b> as possible. <a href="http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/FAST_walletCard_2011.pdf?docID=8342" target="_blank" title="2011 FAST wallet card">Click here</a> to download the FAST Wallet Card to keep a reminder of stroke warning signs with you wherever you go! <br /><div class="subheading"><b>Stroke symptoms include:</b></div><ul><li>SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body. </li><li>SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. </li><li>SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes. </li><li>SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. </li><li>SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.</li></ul><div class="subheading" style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any of these symptoms</b></div><br /><br /><br />

What you should know if you have a stroke

Please note:  if you don't want this entire post, I beg of you, scroll to the bottom and read the part about stroke symptoms. It's e...

Read more »

Christmas Message 2011

Dear Nevada Episcopalians,<br /><br /> I write to express my hope that your Christmas season, in all its aspects – church, family, friends, and home – will be a time of grace and blessing, that you know in your souls the serene hope of God’s good news for us.<br /><br /> The Scriptures and the Carols for Christmas are exuberant in claiming that this event makes all things right. Through Advent we have sung of an absent but hoped for God:<br /><br /> O come, o come Emmanuel<br /> And ransom captive Israel<br /> That mourns in lonely exile here<br /> Until the Son of God appear.<br /><br />In step with nature’s season of the long nights, we darken the room for the lighting of the candle. On Christmas Eve, we will exult:<br /><br /> Hark the herald angels sing<br /> Glory to the newborn king<br /> Peace on earth and mercy mild<br /> God and sinners reconciled.<br /><br />And:<br /> Joy to the world, the Lord is come . . . .<br /> No more let sins and sorrows grow<br /> Or thorns infest the ground. . . .<br /> He rules the world with truth and grace<br /> And makes the nations prove<br /> The glories of his righteousness. . . . <br /><br />We celebrate a sunrise, a dawn, an experience of grace. Like most Episcopalians, I love this celebration. Of all the branches of the Christian family, we are the ones most devoted to the Feast of the Nativity.<br /><br /> But I sometimes wonder two things. First, I wonder if our heads and hearts align. Do we understand what we are celebrating? In the theology of the Western world, salvation is something that happened on Good Friday to pay a debt incurred at the Fall in Eden. In that theology, the birth of Jesus is just a necessary preparation for the real action scheduled for 30 years later. To make such a to-do over Christmas makes no sense. That is part of why the Calvinist Lord Protector of England, Oliver Cromwell, banned the celebration of Christmas for the 40 years of his rule; and the brilliant Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon concurred that we should not be so exuberant over the set up for tragedy.<br /><br /> The second thing I wonder is whether we believe our Scriptures and our Carols deeply; or is it a night of just pretending it’s all alright. Agnostic professor Bart Ehrman attributes his disbelief to the disconnect between the Christmas celebration of “Peace on Earth, Good will toward men” with our experience that two thousand years later sickness, crime, poverty, prejudice, and death are just as real as they were before – in a sense, more so. Sins and sorrows still grow. Thorns infest the ground.<br /><br /> So what are we celebrating? First, it helps to broaden our theology a bit, to stretch it farther to the East and farther back in time. The great Eastern theologians, the same ones who gave us the Nicene Creed, taught that the Incarnation itself was part and parcel of our redemption and salvation. God in taking on human nature changes it sanctifies our very being. By entering more deeply into our world, God makes it holy. That is why the Creed links salvation to the Incarnation:<br /> <br /> For us and for our salvation<br /> He came down from heaven.<br /> By the power of the Holy Spirit,<br /> he became incarnate of the virgin Mary<br /> and was made human.<br /><br />And our Eucharistic Prayer says:<br /><br /> When we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death,<br /> You, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ your only and eternal Son<br /> to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us,<br /> to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.<br /><br />Human life becomes God’s life; God’s life becomes human. The temporal is imbued with the eternal. This is not to deny or diminish the salvific power of Good Friday. Western Theology has got that right; but the power of Christmas – and Easter and Pentecost for that matter – are at least as much a part of God’s great drama of our redemption.<br /><br /> But what about our experience? Can we really believe that something important has happened when so much still seems so wrong in our world? Christians have never claimed that the power of sin in the world is already vanquished. The fulfillment of our hope lies beyond the reach of our mortal lives and beyond the reach of unfolding history. St. Paul tells us that this world is still under the sway of “the powers and the principalities of this present age.” C. S. Lewis says our world is “in enemy hands.” But the end of the story has changed and we are given a foretaste of our destiny in the joy of Christmas. In a novel, the meaning of each chapter depends on how the book comes out. All our present delights and regrets, successes and failures, take on their meaning from a story; the story of our lives, the story of human history, the story of the whole cosmos has been decisively changed.<br /><br /> At Christmas, we touch holiness. More than that, we are touched by holiness. At a little Episcopal Church in Texas a long, long time ago, I attended my first liturgical worship. I was a teenage Presbyterian with minimal understanding of what was happening. It was not a dramatic conversion experience. But in a quiet way, I touched holiness and was touched by holiness. I didn’t know it then but the course of my life was changed. Christmas after Christmas over the years, I have received grace. My prayer for you is that you will touch the holy and be touched by the holy, and so be drawn closer to your destiny in union with the God and Father of All.<br /><br /> Bishop Dan

Christmas Message 2011

Dear Nevada Episcopalians, I write to express my hope that your Christmas season, in all its aspects – church, family, friends, and home – ...

Read more »

Having Our Cake And Eating It Too: An Amateur Question About The Payroll Tax Gridlock

I am not a political scientist and am even less of an economist, so this is just the naive question of an amateur.<br /><br />We want to continue the tax cut for working people not just for their direct benefit but to stimulate demand for the sake of the whole economy. Everyone agrees on that. The question is how to pay for it. <br /><br />The leading proposal is a tax surcharge on the rich. The objection is that if the rich have less disposable income, they will not invest in businesses that would employ people. That may or may not be true, (we gave the largest most powerful banks all that bailout money thinking they would actually loan it to small businesses -- didn't happen) but let's assume it is true. The rich need more money so they can invest in job creating businesses. <br /><br />Other recent news stories disclose that the richest 1% of the nation contributes a ludicrous amount of money to fund political campaigns -- way, way disproportionate to the rest of us, more money than average people earn all year. <br /><br />So here's what I am wondering. If we extended the tax cut for working people and paid for it by a surcharge on the rich, maybe we could put a cap on individual campain contributions. Then instead of bearing the unfair and noxious burden of paying for all those annoying tv ads, the rich could use the money they save to invest in businesses that create jobs. <br /><br />My idea is no doubt unconstitutional, but by the time that issue gets to the Supreme Court, the economy will have been saved and everyone will be happy. But what do I know?

Having Our Cake And Eating It Too: An Amateur Question About The Payroll Tax Gridlock

I am not a political scientist and am even less of an economist, so this is just the naive question of an amateur. We want to continue the t...

Read more »

THE HCG PROTOCOL AS A THERAPY FOR POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (and other leptin induced hormonal imbalances)

<div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is on the rise and it affects millions of women in the United States alone. The more fat a person has the more leptin is produced when stimulated. This magnified leptin response affects the sex hormones LH (leutinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). While this over-production of leptin in adulthood affects LH and FSH resulting in reproductive and sexual problems, in adolescence this hormonal reaction can change the way the individual looks, their hair, and resulting body-image issues.</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">PCOS is characterized by high testosterone levels and insulin resistance. Typical symptoms are: </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span>infertility,</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span>male pattern balding, </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span>high blood pressure,</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span>pelvic pain, </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span>irregular menses, </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span>acne, </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span>and the development of Type 2 diabetes at a very young age, </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Excessive consumption of sugar combined with obesity is probably the driving force behind PCOS. To explain, the over production of leptin (which is strongly stimulated by blood glucose) increases the levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY). NPY in the body increases in production of LH and FSH, although the effect on LH is significantly more pronounced.</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As leptin levels increase in the hypothalamus there is a stimulus of the hormone galanin like peptide (GLP). GLP acts to increase the production of LH releasing hormone (LHRH) which further increases LH production from the ovaries. The combination of high LH and high blood glucose levels (insulin resistance) increases the production of a hormone called Inhibin B. Inhibin B in the brain further decrease FSH, creating a polarization between LH and FSH levels. The more LH levels rise and FSH levels decrease, the more testosterone increases over estrogen. </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Having excess fat that magnifies the production of leptin, combined with excessive sugar intake, is strongly correlated to the occurrence of PCOS. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the rise in childhood obesity and the incredible amount of sugar in the American diet, there is no doubt the occurrence of PCOS will exponentially increase. The solution? Reducing body fat and decreasing sugar intake. This is where the hCG protocol could be used as a hormonal therapy.</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Because low dose hCG strongly stimulates leptin, if administered properly the patients hormonal need for food dramatically reduces. You could say because PCOS is linked to high levels of leptin that with hCG their chances of exacerbating the issue could increase, which is true. However, if the very low calorie protocol is strictly followed these risks go away. Especially if the participant only eats when there is hunger. </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Hunger is the conscious signal from the brain indicating that leptin levels are decreased, which is a sign there is a need for an external stimulus (such as food) to improve leptin levels. Eating would then stimulate the production of leptin which would ultimately cause a problem if too much food is eaten. This is why pre-calculated portions of food would be contraindicative during this type of therapy. When hunger goes away, the patient needs to stop eating, and at the end of the day it may have only taken 350 calories in food to keep their leptin levels optimal. If they continue to eat even though hunger is removed, the participant would be causing a hormonal imbalance that may aggravate their hormonal symptoms. </div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We must keep in mind that humans eat without hunger all the time because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we have the ability to ignore physical mechanisms for emotional desire. </i>This is what makes the application of feeding behavior of mice very inappropriate for the feeding behavior of humans. Mice do not eat when their hypothalamic leptin levels are elevated and hunger is removed. Humans eat all the time with high leptin levels and without hunger. We are an emotional species that validates and justifies eating at any time and for whatever reason, even though it conflicts with the feedback from the body. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the hCG protocol to work as a hormonal therapy, the hormone leptin must be controlled. To do this the patient must fully understand hunger and use it as there only guide for when and how much to eat (similar to how a mice would eat).</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This concept requires that we stop using the outdated science of calories. That we stop using nutritional guidelines to dictate how much a person should eat. Obviously by limiting food intake to what the body needs hormonally, there is a risk of malnourishment. This is why vitamin and mineral, and electrolyte supplementation is so important during the process, and why protein is the most important food choice when hunger manifests. As fat is markedly reduced and food is only eating with hunger, the hormonal imbalances that cause symptoms such as PCOS, will go away. However, to prevent the reoccurrence of these symptoms the patient must learn from their past behavior and continue to only eat when hunger manifests and to stop eating as soon as hunger goes away.</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This is a change in behavior that must be done without using the superficiality of weight as motivation. The diet industry has taken advantage of the most obvious result of the very low calorie protocol, which is weight-loss, and used it to make a quick buck as the superficial diet. It’s not longer called a protocol but a diet.</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When you consider the hormonal cause of diseases in America, most of which are linked to too much leptin, using the protocol as a diet and with the same diet mentality is selling it very short. Weight is a shallow measure in comparison to the incredible hormonal therapy the protocol could provide− only if it was approached with intelligence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weight-driven and money hungry diet industry has made the hCG protocol another fad diet, which is sad because weight is just the beginning and only a superficial indication of how incredible the hCG protocol is.</div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="style7" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Any self-proclaimed “expert” who continues to market and value the protocol based on weight-loss is part of the diet industry. You will never get respect from the medical community until you understand the depth of knowledge it takes to fully comprehend how the hCG protocol influences the endcrine system. There must be a standard of intelligence that applies the protocol from a hormonal point of view and this is where the medical hCG protocol industry needs to regain control.  <em> I suggest you as "experts" understand the protocol from a hormonal perspective, and no longer tout this protocol as a diet. </em></div>

THE HCG PROTOCOL AS A THERAPY FOR POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (and other leptin induced hormonal imbalances)

PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is on the rise and it affects millions of women in the United States alone. The more fat a person has the...

Read more »

Things I Love This Week

<u><b>Love #1</b></u> <br />Shortly after Halloween, while shopping in my local Safeway, I stumbled upon these Keurig gems: Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-cups.  They were 50% off, though I'm not sure why.   One K-cup is 2 Points+.  If you're like me, and one K-cup just doesn't quite get your cup full enough, then 2 of them are just 3 Points+!  Have you tried these?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1W68t6-v06yAWlhIrbBrf0JT2Q4bVXu6ZRlH4fDvINUyd3HNsNcBEdWZMQa1SwUjjrXYenFRVbA0vmBuxKixTSDXOuIQdqgwIS7q8MiBixlpiJjnPYNxAUK94cOSkHfxFXMA1E24p8/s1600/Christmas+Card+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1W68t6-v06yAWlhIrbBrf0JT2Q4bVXu6ZRlH4fDvINUyd3HNsNcBEdWZMQa1SwUjjrXYenFRVbA0vmBuxKixTSDXOuIQdqgwIS7q8MiBixlpiJjnPYNxAUK94cOSkHfxFXMA1E24p8/s400/Christmas+Card+003.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />The Market Pantry large marshmallows (from Target) are 2 Points+ for four.  You can really do without four of them though.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8eXUIBE24pHgvqS7R6heuOn6ksKBwG1qx2bErNx7YTP0pUZmjQl9hGKj-pFMVODWkr2GKNBKLsvymckSC1UL38-LcoM47oXCEe5V9ZGKX8L3YK87z6c5DXK3fTo78F4bqEsEX82vtUM/s1600/Christmas+Card+005+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8eXUIBE24pHgvqS7R6heuOn6ksKBwG1qx2bErNx7YTP0pUZmjQl9hGKj-pFMVODWkr2GKNBKLsvymckSC1UL38-LcoM47oXCEe5V9ZGKX8L3YK87z6c5DXK3fTo78F4bqEsEX82vtUM/s400/Christmas+Card+005+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><u><b>Love #2</b></u><br />The next thing I am loving is the veggie dip recipe that I snagged from <a href="http://nothankstocake.blogspot.com/2011/12/veggies-and-dip-new-way.html">Kelly @ No Thanks to Cake</a>.  Incredibly easy to make and rather versatile based on the dip mixes available from <a href="http://www.hiddenvalley.com/products/hidden-valley-dips-mixes/">Hidden Valley</a>.  The serving size I chose is 48 grams (determined on eTools) for 1 Points+.  It has definitely inspired me to eat more vegetables, which is always a good thing for this picky eater!<br /><br /><u><b>Love #3 </b></u><br />The last thing I'm loving are the awesome comments you've all made on the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/12/giveaway.html">Giveaway page</a> in regard to what you're most excited about for Christmas.  I am going to hold off on commenting on them individually because it will make it easier for me to total up the count when it comes drawing time.<br /><br />For the readers who are parents, I can somewhat identify with you on that front - watching your kids open gifts on Christmas morning.  Isn't that the best?  Ever since I was blessed with a niece, Christmas is that much more enjoyable - her reaction to things are hilarious.  Last year my parents got her this view finder.<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.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2009/07/View-Finder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2009/07/View-Finder.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember these?</td></tr></tbody></table>We could NOT convince her to move on to her other gifts.  She just had to play with that one thing.  (She was 2 years old at the time).  Each time she would look through the view finder she would say... and I quote: "What you do seeeeeeeee?" ... really dragging out the 'e' sound! Too cute!<br /><br />What are you loving lately? Any new/cool/genius WW friendly product finds?<br /><br />

Things I Love Things I Love This Week

Love #1 Shortly after Halloween, while shopping in my local Safeway, I stumbled upon these Keurig gems: Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-cups.  T...

Read more »

A Giveaway!

Well friends, in honor of my recent "20+ pounds removed" weight loss goal, I've decided to host a giveaway in its honor, and in yours as well. <br /><br />Now, normally I like to keep the giveaway value in line with the total weight lost - <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/starbucks-giftcard-giveaway.html">last time</a> it was a $10 giftcard for reaching the 10 pounds removed goal.  This time it should be $20 right?  Consistency can be fun.<br /><br />You might remember how I was complaining about feeling guilty for <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/12/weekend-recap-1-day-late.html">spending so much money</a> on myself?  Well, it's time to pay it forward!  What better time than <i>now </i>to spread the holiday cheer.<br /><br />But first - allow me to give credit where credit is due.<br /><br />Thank you all SO MUCH for your support throughout these last several months.  It's shocking to me that I even have regular readers.  I mean, seriously, look at how long (on the left) it took me to make some real progress around here!  It's amazing that you've even stuck around.  I'm supposed to be a weight <i>loss </i>blogger, not weight-maintaining-but-really-need-to-lose-it-blogger.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/target-Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/target-Logo.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><i>Promise me</i> that if you win the <b>$40 Target Giftcard</b> that you will spend it on yourself!  You deserve it, I'm sure of it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.</i></b> - <i><b>Deuteronomy 16:17</b></i></div><br />Here are the conditions for winning (U.S. & Canadian residents only please):<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">1. Leave a comment here telling me what you're most excited about this Christmas season.  It can be a gift you hope you receive, something you're thankful for, the opportunity to travel to see family/friends, etc, etc. <i>This counts as 1 entry.</i><br /><br />2. Like The Big Weight Facebook page & comment on the page letting me know you've done so (handy dandy button on the right to do so).  <i>This counts as 1 entry.</i><br /><br />3. Post about this giveaway on your blog!  Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your blog entry. <i>This counts as 1 entry.</i></blockquote><br />A winner will be randomly chosen on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 9 AM - so please hurry :).<br /><br /><i>**While I did contact Target last week about sponsoring a giveaway, they have yet to get back to me.  So, this $40 giftcard has been purchased using my own money, and also because I feel like at this point it is more meaningful for me to provide the card myself than to receive it from Target.</i> <i>I still love you Tar-jay, I just can't wait around forever :).  </i>

giveaways A Giveaway!

Well friends, in honor of my recent "20+ pounds removed" weight loss goal, I've decided to host a giveaway in its honor, and i...

Read more »

Weekend Recap (1 Day Late)

Boy those weekends come and go before ya know it!<br /><br />Friday night after work, I ran over to the <a href="http://www.nationalharbor.com/">National Harbor</a> to pick up my new Pandora charm.  I went with a glass bead, though the other one will be a purchase in the near future no doubt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJuclzn2nFYhAitRyc2axfb_rWMtlUWNCe6zTewXXvjjkBbVPvsunLTzhQ48fSnY7xrD1OYoT8o61nrz3xS5tdYxRIAniMakBCy0PpgGWq3u56zgXYAfSu_qTJ_Faq4pPpGnxmu_xv8s/s1600/Christmas+Card+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJuclzn2nFYhAitRyc2axfb_rWMtlUWNCe6zTewXXvjjkBbVPvsunLTzhQ48fSnY7xrD1OYoT8o61nrz3xS5tdYxRIAniMakBCy0PpgGWq3u56zgXYAfSu_qTJ_Faq4pPpGnxmu_xv8s/s400/Christmas+Card+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I have yet to purchase the VB bag.  I feel guilty dropping so much money on myself this time of year, when I should be getting Christmas gifts for others.  And then there's that little old wedding I have to pay for too. <br /><br />Speaking of weddings, we checked out a venue on Saturday in St Mary's City, MD.  It's on the campus of <a href="http://www.smcm.edu/">St Mary's College</a>.<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/AVvXsEjDkqo1GdNNIMS6O6Z3oa-lVUi2vIL0tNXLROGRSV-1eqmhsBsoRVc-4NvSnQKKcP7jU3ZH9coJKR_e9FSDi1G3BKhwYyU1MW2tZhiQfiFzv097wIvUGvgNqAC7jnfkGej5dgj9OPKXW8ED/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkqo1GdNNIMS6O6Z3oa-lVUi2vIL0tNXLROGRSV-1eqmhsBsoRVc-4NvSnQKKcP7jU3ZH9coJKR_e9FSDi1G3BKhwYyU1MW2tZhiQfiFzv097wIvUGvgNqAC7jnfkGej5dgj9OPKXW8ED/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">State House</td></tr></tbody></table>The place doesn't have a great website to show you pictures, but it's really nice if you can use your imagination.  The State House will be where the cocktail hour and cake will most likely take place.  Guests will enter the ceremony site through this building.  It's rather rustic inside.  Outside, directly in front of the building, will be where the ceremony will take place.  It overlooks the St Mary's River, which ultimately dumps into the Chesapeake Bay.  The reception will be held outdoors in a tent to the right of the building.  We have penciled in the State House as our venue (pending responses from other venues).  The date is tentatively October 6, 2012!  Unbelievable, still, for me to imagine that by this time next year I will be married!!  I really think this is the place!<br /><br />After wedding venue shopping, I wanted to get our pictures taken for our Christmas card.  <br /><br />It was absolutely freezing cold along the water... and VERY windy!  This shot is along Piscataway Creek in Joel's hometown in Maryland.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8t4XwNvwQZerVJEU_fZ9OtaF0Y1chIAvSLPDmB3jtKtivRl7ydTHqMgjCg4eN62KMDI2oOMY-jqjqxGaAIoLazQ2zONdYSnM4eYUEzai008VfACxT4_S3SQj1krP3IkUzfaUmCaYtOU/s1600/christmas+card+edit+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8t4XwNvwQZerVJEU_fZ9OtaF0Y1chIAvSLPDmB3jtKtivRl7ydTHqMgjCg4eN62KMDI2oOMY-jqjqxGaAIoLazQ2zONdYSnM4eYUEzai008VfACxT4_S3SQj1krP3IkUzfaUmCaYtOU/s400/christmas+card+edit+1+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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: left;">Some people in this picture were not pleased with the cheesiness that was the handmade heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWU5fwI7qPi30VZ6fKdFbcf3EjEcX4SZj0BR7JwubmxX_RhX38R0pUw3xWXcsoeCQmuaQUF54pmV3vxyRAFFg61Wtiqh5Gdbr_VuyzbOWS5L8LbLU1MwccSHLYQubJGLPKcV5Oo69vWg/s1600/christmas+card+edit+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWU5fwI7qPi30VZ6fKdFbcf3EjEcX4SZj0BR7JwubmxX_RhX38R0pUw3xWXcsoeCQmuaQUF54pmV3vxyRAFFg61Wtiqh5Gdbr_VuyzbOWS5L8LbLU1MwccSHLYQubJGLPKcV5Oo69vWg/s400/christmas+card+edit+2+copy.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Then we crossed the river back in to Virginia to try out the park near our condo.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaKur0GGrmtFvRq8OowB4yJagCls6l0NNRNdWonRjR3MdxfM6BR3vXtfLvSPmroK0fhPso7bk4KObcp1efF0_ZvABcUWLa0kScQj5wsMJ80Gxv03mfFsz5e1Wwl-7vkLli6m4UlOWx-4/s1600/christmas+card+edit+3+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaKur0GGrmtFvRq8OowB4yJagCls6l0NNRNdWonRjR3MdxfM6BR3vXtfLvSPmroK0fhPso7bk4KObcp1efF0_ZvABcUWLa0kScQj5wsMJ80Gxv03mfFsz5e1Wwl-7vkLli6m4UlOWx-4/s400/christmas+card+edit+3+copy.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br />It was so much warmer over there with the trees shrouding our picture taking frenzy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ86GK1YCkC7B0qkG3cQN1fX3nGb9E6uZ99Qn_2ux_Y1M0jwwRT9hxo2LVVy-CtJITk94ntNcMQluAmo21Xa940F99Ge_XZDSZqfUD-bmJEERNLfeoTPqi07J4TJLCo0mcq2rJFwPj3o/s1600/christmas+card+edit+4+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ86GK1YCkC7B0qkG3cQN1fX3nGb9E6uZ99Qn_2ux_Y1M0jwwRT9hxo2LVVy-CtJITk94ntNcMQluAmo21Xa940F99Ge_XZDSZqfUD-bmJEERNLfeoTPqi07J4TJLCo0mcq2rJFwPj3o/s400/christmas+card+edit+4+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm such an amateur photographer, but it's something I really like doing and want to do more of.  I love capturing a perfect moment of a human being - I'm not so much about landscapes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_mCWKVKol9NaBRWzfrzoJYnUkfdN_WDU9BBLeH0cuaRCxZhhCJypiyq_WMxCT-GN3t_LW6VENtSEnWDzmrUjMNRRqNiPdYjAhLmhtS-wpzkCgWveUidW7hTFko_1YtJbCTYP3_NDv2Q/s1600/christmas+card+edit+6+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_mCWKVKol9NaBRWzfrzoJYnUkfdN_WDU9BBLeH0cuaRCxZhhCJypiyq_WMxCT-GN3t_LW6VENtSEnWDzmrUjMNRRqNiPdYjAhLmhtS-wpzkCgWveUidW7hTFko_1YtJbCTYP3_NDv2Q/s400/christmas+card+edit+6+copy.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />We ended our lovely weekend with a Sunday road trip to Fredericksburg, VA to pick up a case of Joel's much loved wine, Rappahannock Red from <a href="http://www.hartwoodwinery.com/">Hartwood Winery</a>.  I love wine so much - it really helps ease the tension of a day at work.<br /><br />I've been doing MUCH BETTER at staying On Plan this week than last.  Despite all the travels we did this weekend, I've still stayed within my daily target two days so far and have not surpassed my Weekly Points+ allowance yet (and it's Tuesday!).  Usually by now I would have blown through the WP.  I currently have a balance of 15 - which is great considering I'm only allowing myself 39 this week, instead of 49.  So I technically have more left but I'm going to forget I even typed that ;).  I've also hit the gym twice this week, earning 8 of the planned 14 Activity Points.  So far, I'm setting myself up for what should be a successful week.  <br /><br />How was your weekend?  How has your "healthy eating" week been progressing so far?<br /><br />

wedding Weekend Recap Weekend Recap (1 Day Late)

Boy those weekends come and go before ya know it! Friday night after work, I ran over to the National Harbor to pick up my new Pandora char...

Read more »

RESURRECCIÓN DE UN CONTINENTE

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;">Spanish version of article posted on 05 Dec 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;"> <span class="hps"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;"><span class="hps">América Latina</span> <span class="hps">se une en</span> <span class="hps">bloque</span> <span class="hps">nuevo</span>, <span class="hps">no es EE.UU.</span> <span class="hps">invitado</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="ES" style="line-height: 115%;">Treinta y tres líderes de América Latina se han unido y formado un bloque regional nuevo, prometiendo estrechar lazos económicos y políticos. La Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC) deliberadamente excluye los EE.UU. y Canadá.<br />En el segundo día de una cumbre en la capital venezolana, Caracas, todos los líderes de América Latina, tanto de  derecha y de izquierda, firmaron oficialmente la formación del bloque CELAC. La fundación del bloque ha sido elogiada como la realización de la idea de dos siglos de edad de América Latina "independencia"  prevista por Simón Bolívar.<br /><br />Analistas consideran a la CELAC como una alternativa a la Organización DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS (OEA) con sede en Washington y como un intento de los países de América Latina para  reducir la influencia de EE.UU. en la región.<br />Sin embargo Washington no ve a CELAC como un reemplazo de la OEA. El Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos dijo Mark Toner portavoz de los EE.UU. seguirá "trabajando a través de la OEA como organismo multilateral por excelencia, en representación del hemisferio".<br /><br />Los analistas políticos opinan que los EE.UU. ven  CELAC como una amenaza potencial a su hegemonía en la región.<br /><br /><br />Los 33 líderes se comprometieron a resistir la crisis financiera que ha golpeado a Europa y otros países desarrollados.<br />Dilma Rousseff BRASIL hizo hincapié en que los países latinoamericanos tendrían que depender más de sus vecinos en medio de la turbulencia económica mundial.<br />"La crisis económica, financiera debe estar en el centro de nuestras preocupaciones", dijo Rousseff. Ella dijo que América Latina debe "darse cuenta de que para garantizar su actual ciclo de desarrollo a pesar de la turbulencia económica internacional, esto significa que todos los políticos deben ser conscientes de que cada uno necesita de los demás."<br /><br />Presidente chileno Sebastián Piñera, quien asumió la presidencia rotatoria inicial en CELAC, expresó la esperanza de que el bloque podría ayudar a fomentar la cooperación regional a pesar de las diferencias entre algunos de los 33 Estados miembros.<br /><br />Los líderes también discutieron la cooperación en el ámbito del tráfico de drogas y el cambio climático.<br />CELAC debe ser una "unión política para construir un centro de gran potencia del siglo 21", dijo el presidente de Venezuela, haciendo hincapié en el crecimiento regional fuerte como muchos países de la región de estrechar los lazos con Asia o Europa y reducir su tradicional dependencia de los EE.UU..<br /><br />La formación de la CELAC fue recibido calurosamente por el creciente poder global, China. Hu se comprometió a profundizar la cooperación con la CELAC, y subrayó que en el siglo 21 las relaciones entre China y América Latina han experimentado un desarrollo integral y rápida con la expansión de la cooperación de beneficio mutuo, de acuerdo con la agencia de noticias Xinhua.<br /><br />Los países de la CELAC tienen una población combinada de casi 600 millones de personas y un PBI combinado de alrededor de 6 billones de dólares EE.UU. - aproximadamente un tercio de la producción combinada de los EE.UU. y Canadá.</span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>

RESURRECCIÓN DE UN CONTINENTE

Spanish version of article posted on 05 Dec 2011   América Latina se une en bloque nuevo , no es EE.UU. invitado Treinta y tres líderes...

Read more »

December is for the Birds

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>From guest author, Mary Warren, Naturalist at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Sportsman's Migratory Bird Center, Oak Harbor, Ohio</em> </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://levahnbros.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/cardinal-in-the-snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://levahnbros.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/cardinal-in-the-snow.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a>While you are out dashing around looking for the perfect gift, many folks will be outside counting birds. The National Audubon Society will sponsor the 112th Christmas Bird Count from December 14th to January 5th this year. While it’s not a<br /> BIG YEAR (did you get to see the movie The Big Year? Very funny!), it will be a big event. <br /><br /><br />On any day during that period, people will be out with binoculars and field guides in hand counting every bird, recording how many and what species, and where they are seeing them. Thousands of volunteers across the Americas will take part in this adventure that has been a tradition for years. You don’t have to be an expert to participate in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). All eyes and ears are welcome. The data that is collected during these weeks is used to guide conservation actions for bird populations. This tradition began in 1900, making the CBC one of America's longest running wildlife census projects. And you can be a very important part of this fun citizen science project.<br /><br />Most CBC’s are run through local Audubon chapters. You can go <a href="http://www.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count" target="_blank">online</a> to find a chapter near you. There are also informal CBC4Kids events sprouting up around the country. First introduced in 2007 in Sonoma Valley, California, this event is specifically for kids and families and encourages enjoyment and respect for nature together. For more info you can check it out at <a href="http://www.sonomabirding.com/">http://www.sonomabirding.com/</a> <br /><br />If you are in Northwest Ohio, there will be a CBC4Kids at Magee Marsh on January 14th, 2012. There will be lots of fun activities planned that day. For more info, you can email <a href="mailto:mary.warren@dnr.state.oh.us">mary.warren@dnr.state.oh.us</a> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="192" data-width="262" height="192" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="cursor: move; height: 192px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 262px;" unselectable="on" width="262" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From g2goutside.com<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />We hope that you will consider starting a new tradition this year by getting OUTSIDE to count the birds in your area and to take time to enjoy the beauty of our natural world!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

December is for the Birds

From guest author, Mary Warren, Naturalist at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Sportsman's Migratory Bird Center, Oak Harbor, Ohio   Wh...

Read more »

good enough to eat

I crafted! And no one cried or threw up (a measuring stick for all disasters in our family).<br /><br />We always get fresh boxwood wreaths to hang on the french doors in our dinning room. But this year, I thought I would try something a bit more fun and something that would last (knock on wood) from year to year. Namely this...<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/AVvXsEjQ9VWJemuDgU8S22g3Ssl_yNvlUbErZnAb_jXvyoaUQtLCHriyiqKDybVsFeDFt9o2NKPkVMpgHJXOtxj_yZqXuquh6fHOtbgMVmsXz6W_2TMI55vPYSjd3n1Ftdz6TZ89haQLeSSJKd-y/s1600/PeppermintWreath-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9VWJemuDgU8S22g3Ssl_yNvlUbErZnAb_jXvyoaUQtLCHriyiqKDybVsFeDFt9o2NKPkVMpgHJXOtxj_yZqXuquh6fHOtbgMVmsXz6W_2TMI55vPYSjd3n1Ftdz6TZ89haQLeSSJKd-y/s320/PeppermintWreath-1.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/115615915403449762/" target="_blank">via Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I read a few tutorials and thought it sounded so easy that I could out smart the foam wreath and go with a cheaper wire wreath. I got my supplies, plugged in my glue gun and started wrapping my wreath.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHNxLEL76kCu8Y7Ut1VjPgt_0RYeN2aW2rWYOlHVLnOiGP79gZpgo34wPH-ka8BL5DHL_l8MaKXV3TpfnAS0j1tAcF6vV_TQvxnT9aLdnTCQJBkP5EEi7jhlUdx_TGtz2B5V_FnqpsOBB/s1600/PB291611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHNxLEL76kCu8Y7Ut1VjPgt_0RYeN2aW2rWYOlHVLnOiGP79gZpgo34wPH-ka8BL5DHL_l8MaKXV3TpfnAS0j1tAcF6vV_TQvxnT9aLdnTCQJBkP5EEi7jhlUdx_TGtz2B5V_FnqpsOBB/s320/PB291611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Wrapping the wire form in duck tape, I got about one row of peppermints on before I proved my crafting ignorance. You silly crafting fool. It was ugly, mis-shapen and the wire wasn't holding up as those little candies were getting heavy. Bust.<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/AVvXsEiICGJuncNPnRPVx6yFgRbq7pKrxjqaqebtzm3bhvJGN7PkonKh22gulO3DeLWcRAWEZK4qwv5avloLJLtG4v0GByOxbv3Hnh89Tmct_qFRPGTbeDp87YjDExvoziB4jcd4Zzvbxk0n2mWW/s1600/PB291612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICGJuncNPnRPVx6yFgRbq7pKrxjqaqebtzm3bhvJGN7PkonKh22gulO3DeLWcRAWEZK4qwv5avloLJLtG4v0GByOxbv3Hnh89Tmct_qFRPGTbeDp87YjDExvoziB4jcd4Zzvbxk0n2mWW/s320/PB291612.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took off my sad first row in disgust before I got a picture taken</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So, I printed off a Michael's coupon, sucked it up and bought foam wreaths (I believe they were 16"). The tape went on a lot better and I had a more stable, flat surface to work on. After that it <i>was</i> easy. As long as you have several episodes of RHOBH or Sarah's House DVR'd and a crafting partner you are in good shape.<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/AVvXsEin74z3HtfGJjci2JU60b8ZZXEIjXE5Y3hCGoT5KDOHiLcUNfO4-gvXf6vdCI3fMBzR1fGpx5LYMjTyZWL1uzwa3qQnugpD0gV9X6ekHOlzY0a03z_icP3wuiWjZYCbiQwzG6mjjRlBtB7i/s1600/PB301620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin74z3HtfGJjci2JU60b8ZZXEIjXE5Y3hCGoT5KDOHiLcUNfO4-gvXf6vdCI3fMBzR1fGpx5LYMjTyZWL1uzwa3qQnugpD0gV9X6ekHOlzY0a03z_icP3wuiWjZYCbiQwzG6mjjRlBtB7i/s320/PB301620.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crafting partner</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Several hours later...ta-dah! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RfXg_9MwOg5EFdLDqYwim1mysH23lEiBd3vkrSkP97GdsiFIsUt4ZQS9MWnDTnrUPMfgPEFupf9MT9xDJDi8Uz35yF7vpKKkmafNkWyqtokMSG4gI_UmUrUxl5cNt-K2LUFFBfusBDiv/s1600/PC111889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RfXg_9MwOg5EFdLDqYwim1mysH23lEiBd3vkrSkP97GdsiFIsUt4ZQS9MWnDTnrUPMfgPEFupf9MT9xDJDi8Uz35yF7vpKKkmafNkWyqtokMSG4gI_UmUrUxl5cNt-K2LUFFBfusBDiv/s320/PC111889.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm thrilled. It was easy, relatively cheap and looks great. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRwXmFfPkRxeeGsjL8nkAuq6HHqOftq8eMdTWUBvCXNi8c3xqqfm-UdZ0SDGQgM0jppyXMXTECfJsN1Rc57cZOpEpNZOO3Qim9GG7ZNaQQgw2teLQYlXUswG1lRucKl8_WB31mN0sqa4x/s1600/PC051681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRwXmFfPkRxeeGsjL8nkAuq6HHqOftq8eMdTWUBvCXNi8c3xqqfm-UdZ0SDGQgM0jppyXMXTECfJsN1Rc57cZOpEpNZOO3Qim9GG7ZNaQQgw2teLQYlXUswG1lRucKl8_WB31mN0sqa4x/s320/PC051681.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will say I highly recommend covering the wreath with duct tape first. Some tutorials glued the peppermint directly onto the foam. You will have gaps between the candies and the red background looks more finished. And the glue holds onto the tape a lot better as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTNpt00iUdgPQmbcxP3bahQgSUw7cwYRMmwDoF6FDpwCc2PronTFp6rxY5zHz3sjvufnEY6eSG1W2CW0Roht29fpm6TPlkrorXLeKRvW94B0Y0DWk7paAMxj6LJrNjaCi-wA9tJAFDQxU/s1600/PC051679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTNpt00iUdgPQmbcxP3bahQgSUw7cwYRMmwDoF6FDpwCc2PronTFp6rxY5zHz3sjvufnEY6eSG1W2CW0Roht29fpm6TPlkrorXLeKRvW94B0Y0DWk7paAMxj6LJrNjaCi-wA9tJAFDQxU/s320/PC051679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Also worth noting, this project uses a LOT of peppermints. Thank god I have a dollar store down the street as I had to use 7 bags for 2 wreaths.<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/AVvXsEgjdZe2LXWdK-_QC1BtXudbc4z0FJDJtaWsYY3SWzejfhjnwMQ3XU7S44eBIftfdGQ8nuAch-zxDaCetRVfbhycB9V6bAVv7kf_3IkHUNJgdKAoVDMkx-lmBNyrdCYhMNmS4qNyf7_InRiW/s1600/PC071748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdZe2LXWdK-_QC1BtXudbc4z0FJDJtaWsYY3SWzejfhjnwMQ3XU7S44eBIftfdGQ8nuAch-zxDaCetRVfbhycB9V6bAVv7kf_3IkHUNJgdKAoVDMkx-lmBNyrdCYhMNmS4qNyf7_InRiW/s320/PC071748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFJLdCrxHMTlDzKOvUM9Pq9nvQQyTlxlcAe2ocwrn3s9oRm8DYWuL6Hj1h8h7JFI73toAVHDRRBpMK9dYbu7NKDVu-zE70SmQkZT_n80mIil37qbXJoONtQXRDW3ZYnTFDRdByJkeyutu/s1600/PC111893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFJLdCrxHMTlDzKOvUM9Pq9nvQQyTlxlcAe2ocwrn3s9oRm8DYWuL6Hj1h8h7JFI73toAVHDRRBpMK9dYbu7NKDVu-zE70SmQkZT_n80mIil37qbXJoONtQXRDW3ZYnTFDRdByJkeyutu/s320/PC111893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />So for less than $20 bucks I've got two wreaths I can pull out year after year (and they smell minty fresh). Have you tried any new projects lately? Holiday or otherwise? Share!

good enough to eat

I crafted! And no one cried or threw up (a measuring stick for all disasters in our family). We always get fresh boxwood wreaths to hang on ...

Read more »

A lovely South African site with free downloadable worksheets in several subjects

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Isn’t it great when right here, in South Africa, you come across a site with lovely, free, downloadable worksheets in : <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/mathematics/">Mathematics</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/english/">English</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/science/">Science</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/environment/">Environment</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/health-nutrition/">Health</a>, <a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/health-nutrition/">Nutrition</a>, <a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/health-nutrition/">Hygiene</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/art-crafts/">Arts</a>, <a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/art-crafts/">Crafts</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/art-crafts/">Colouring</a></strong>.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This site is called the e-learning classroom  and it can be located at:<br /><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/">http://e-classroom.co.za/</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4WpBCuAmNUIRNwqR28Hayz_f_0mf_kpy5ofemOyxrQd5opajQJ8ohfEL2goEIRb4Rn0nJYnge2ni8uMq29YDpCqS-_eeKHzlHRSiRc3ZXwavSi0hjT-FBbmus7YK9x-M0JbYThCQMK8/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfJQs-1PswrlvZeJ993qrs5oMbdHLAm5l_pKEJs1lQf0L0x7Q-U1XhiCkKNn1eVtD2kRdLmRmlkF_3w3cWgfLvBtFdLP8I8se0qNSCGpoEtW3lhDO8nhzYMju4XzGA_GKI89cJVvN4cc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When you explore the site you find so many excellent worksheets and other classroom aids.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JLkOfPjoP_8vrqZ87m05cM3eoVGSIwUM5sThExpY87vojMxAZNoVSLbXcO2TXwnSWnbWJ61oz1GTOKAS9DQmHMGHbrOgXSawtoVgpSEYxfZ4REo91O2p0ZAadEEMjMmxt_uQ1jtsX2U/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmTjktq9j0yikVqY4Jo2vRWAKyt4s37IMxweKVAkrfBdCsRkz7Tb1jwMQ8mQyigvVAtqKyD_vi5pN-CGTjLklAHu7y_9r2Igb1KwfaGvaeNUaH5-3VRrm4rMj64572xtkv4MjeS4c998/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Take a look. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!</span></div>

Lesson plans Website reviews A lovely South African site with free downloadable worksheets in several subjects

Isn’t it great when right here, in South Africa, you come across a site with lovely, free, downloadable worksheets in : Mathematics , Engli...

Read more »