How do you earn a student's trust so learning can start?

<script src="//storify.com/coolcatteacher/140-character-conversations-between-a-teacher-and.js"></script><noscript>[<a href="//storify.com/coolcatteacher/140-character-conversations-between-a-teacher-and" target="_blank">View the story "140 Character Conversations: Dear Teacher, Dear Student," on Storify</a>]<h1>140 Character Conversations: Dear Teacher, Dear Student,</h1><h2>On Twitter recently, I had a series of conversations between a fictional teacher and his/her student. They got such an incredible response, that I've taken those conversations and captured them here. Hope you allow these 140 character conversations cause you to start thinking.</h2><p>Storified by <a href="http://storify.com/coolcatteacher">Vicki Davis</a>· Mon, Mar 25 2013 03:25:18</p><div>Launching a mini letter series on Twitter between a student and teacher. Stay tuned and add your own.Vicki Davis</div><div>If you decide to write a fictional series like this on Twitter, disclose it. Or others will think that you are writing something based on your classroom RIGHT NOW. Always be transparent.</div><div><h2>Conversations</h2></div><div> It took a while to learn these things, but teaching starts with a relationship between two people who care. They won't come to the classroom caring about you at all, so you have to start. But once you earn their trust, what you'll experience is a highly rewarding profession where you know you're making a difference. </div><div>Dear teacher, I want 2believe I'm special, but if u don't look me in the eye & don't call me by name, it's hard to.~ Your studentVicki Davis</div><div>Dear student,I get busy sometimes and forget you need to hear your name, but tomorrow I'll do better.Love, your teacherVicki Davis</div><div>No guilt, teacher. When you see something you're not doing right, start today. You can't live life in the rear view mirror.</div><div>Dear teacher,Calling me by name is a start, but how about knowing what I'm interested in learning more about?Know me to reach me.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Get to know the personal interests of students.</div><div>Student-I want to reach you. There are so many of you and just one of me. I'll do passion projects but you'll have to bring it.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>I've had a personal interest or 20% time project in my classroom since last year. Last year was fantastic. If you want to see what we did, you can <a href="http://westwood.wikispaces.com/2012+Computer+Fundamentals+Projects" class="">look at our wiki</a>.</div><div>Dear student, I will love you even when you don't love yourself. I won't give up on you, so don't give up on me. Love, your teacherVicki Davis</div><div>Teacher-You mean I can pursue my passions? Can passion and learning really happen at the same time. I'm not sure if I believe you.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Student-We have a lot to cover in my class, but yes, you can bring your passions. Let's make learning fun together. OK?~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>Oddly, some students want me to tell them what to do for their "passion project." We don't settle on a project until I see the sparkle in their eyes. I track all of these projects and activities on the free workflow program, <a href="http://www.trello.com" class="">Trello</a>.</div><div>Teacher- I know you have lots to cover but sometimes you move on when I don't get what you've just done! Why can't it be personal?~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Student-I know I'm moving too fast sometimes but I don't have the flexibility I used to have to slow down. It upsets me.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>WARNING: If you don't personalized learning in a face to face environment, someone will find a way less expensive to do it online. We must be personalized learning professionals. You know how sick you are of hearing 21st-century. Just wait, personalized learning is about to be a new buzzword.</div><div>Teacher-I had a hard night last night. Mom and Dad were fighting again. So hard to think about Algebra when I'm so confused.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Student-I looked in your eyes today & knew something was wrong. I let you sleep & got in trouble when my admin came in. Worth it.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>This one tweet about letting students sleep had more response than any other part of this story. I thought it would be telling to include a few of those responses here.</div><div>@coolcatteacher I've done the the same thing. We never know what happens when a child is not with us. We teach children 1st, content 2nd.Kelly Gibson</div><div>@coolcatteacher this one resonates with me ;) #LetThemSleep sometimes you just know they need itDawn G.</div><div>@coolcatteacher @ydmason That has totally happened to me. And I’d do it again.Michael Gier</div><div>@coolcatteacher love it. But necessary sometimes, right? Been done with the little ones, too.Elizabeth Goold</div><div>@coolcatteacher been there too, it's always the right choiceLydia Kirkman</div><div><h2>The Breakthrough: Trust leads to Honesty Dialog about Learning</h2></div><div>Now. Finally, the time has come. When they finally know you care and trust you, they will let you teach them. It does happen. For some kids it takes a few weeks but most, for me, it takes several months. </div><div>Teacher-Every day you ask about me &call me by name. I might believe that you care. BTW I need help on an Algebra problem.-StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Student-I love you. I'm happy to help you after school. I'll keep working to earn your trust. You're worth it.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>Teacher-You might think I'm worth it, but I'm wondering if Algebra is worth it. How am I going to use this anyway? Frustrated. ~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>At some point, if students are honest, they will question the importance of your subject. Even if they like you, this point is critical because you need to take the chance to demonstrate the real-world importance of what you're teaching. You'll hear them say it and you have to take time to cover this. The drawback of scripting, is if you don't have an empowering admin, you can kill the love of learning right here. When students know it has real world applications AND that you love them AND that you'll help them learn - you're a <b>triple threat teache</b>r.</div><div>Student-Tomorrow we will do some real-world problems and you'll see that Algebra will help you with your life.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>Teacher-You care. I see that. Your class counts. I see that too. I don't see how I can learn this stuff. I really don't.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Now it happens. They know you care. They know the class is important. Now, they question themselves and if the effort is worth it. Don't give up, you're almost there. You're trained to do this! Show them you know your stuff and help them learn how to learn. You have to leave them with an ability to teach themselves because there are sorry teachers out there<b>. They are lucky you're not one.</b></div><div>Student-I specialize in helping students learn. I'm trained in this. Let's figure out how you learn best together.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>Teacher-You mean, your job is to help me learn how to learn? Really? Don't you get paid the same whether I pass or not?~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Student-I'm here because I love my students &I love teaching. That is the only reason anyone would stay in this job. It is tough.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>Teacher-I wish there were more like you, sometimes I think teachers just want to get rid of me. My parents do too. Makes me sad.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>It often comes back to kids wondering if they matter. They want to feel important. They want to know they are here for a reason. Never forget the human side of what you're doing. You're not feeding data into a machine or shoveling food into a mouth. You are trying to help an organic, trembling brain learn something and it is a lot more complex. Truly, the human mind is the last frontier.</div><div>Student-You matter. The world needs you. I will remind you until you believe me. I hope this will bring you joy.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>Teacher-You have given my hope back to me. Because you love me and I know it, I'll learn from you. I can trust u with me.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Student-When you learn, you remind me why I teach & make the struggle worth it. Thanks for trusting me enough to learn from me.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div><h2>Heroic Teaching and honesty</h2></div><div>Teacher-You are the one reason I want to come to school. I'm happy to walk in your classroom door. I'm safe. U r my hero.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>When you have this opportunity, be careful. A lesser, more self-centered teacher would get prideful. Pride and arrogance will kill the relationship and your potential for other relationships with students. I take these comments and put them in an "at a girl" file in evernote and treasure them when I have a bad day.</div><div>Student-Thanking me is the greatest gift you could give. If you only knew how insecure I am about whether it is all worth it.~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>This is the second most responded to tweet. Teachers are insecure. Like buying a jewel with all you have, we are spending all we have - our lives - to educate children. Until you've been there, you don't know the joy and the self-doubt that comes from giving everything you have to kids. </div><div>Teacher-I struggle with wondering if school stuff is worth it too, but I believe you when you say it is. Believe that I need you.~StudentVicki Davis</div><div>Teacher, you are important. You are noble. You want the students to believe you when you say they are important. Believe them when they speak kindness to you. It is the least you can do.</div><div>Student-I look back on our relationship & see that learning only comes after trust & respect builds. You taught me something~TeacherVicki Davis</div><div>What 140 character letters would you add to this conversation? </div></noscript>

How do you earn a student's trust so learning can start?

[ View the story "140 Character Conversations: Dear Teacher, Dear Student," on Storify ] 140 Character Conversations: Dear Teacher...

Read more »

anatomy of a gallery wall

Happy Monday! I trust that y'all had a splendid weekend. We got pummeled with more snow than we should have for the whole month of December, never mind the fact that it is almost April. Mamma ain't happy. I've got some flip flops burning a hole in my closet. I need spring!<br /><br />I want to thank all of you for your kind words about the girls' room and all of your great questions. You know how to make a girl blush! There were lots of questions about things on the gallery wall so I thought I would tackle those today.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZ6B2cpZQibcUWS3GKxZ8xnrbXT1_k0K0TeHG1OYjdh4TeyQbwLWSDnIEr1CWexrF2Hdc9mzNHglExOeXSK4wuuKbInMK_wiKmwHuXBtQxMsm23v32aNEt69z71FFcrvAHIcpp5dDqPbw/s1600/Anatomyofagallerywall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZ6B2cpZQibcUWS3GKxZ8xnrbXT1_k0K0TeHG1OYjdh4TeyQbwLWSDnIEr1CWexrF2Hdc9mzNHglExOeXSK4wuuKbInMK_wiKmwHuXBtQxMsm23v32aNEt69z71FFcrvAHIcpp5dDqPbw/s640/Anatomyofagallerywall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Here are the specifics on what I included and why.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFD_MaggTBkfI9AlAeJbL8ESdG-j1F4rFrFt9Cy4U_uWmvrhfy8Nqm0QxRbQUysFNwgHOkvDun32xpxEuwE7kJvVoHQr2ni31FN7jDp7DCKoUIge1CXMcL9ZyVXptnGfwEcNpYjyqdvm5/s1600/loveyouforever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFD_MaggTBkfI9AlAeJbL8ESdG-j1F4rFrFt9Cy4U_uWmvrhfy8Nqm0QxRbQUysFNwgHOkvDun32xpxEuwE7kJvVoHQr2ni31FN7jDp7DCKoUIge1CXMcL9ZyVXptnGfwEcNpYjyqdvm5/s400/loveyouforever.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br />1. <b>Keep it personal.</b> This is a 'commissioned original'. I wanted something vertical so I asked my uber talented graphic designer bestie to take some lyrics and make them pretty. This is from a song, I Will, by a little band called The Beatles. I sing this each night to the girls (Eve sings along). They are the only ones allowed to hear me sing unless cocktails are involved.<br /><br />2. <b>Add something with dimension.</b> A <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/02/pom-pom-heart-art.html" target="_blank">craft I did with the girls</a> for Valentine's Day. It is their handy work and they are very proud of it.<br /><br />3. <b>Humor is important.</b> Let me introduce you to Herb. 'Herbie' to his friends. The hubs got the ceramic dear head for Christmas and as soon as he opened it the girls were smitten. It was Amelia's idea to put Herbie in their room and the hubs was gracious enough to share him. Right now he wears some forsythia for this season I hear we are supposed to get someday called 'spring', but Amelia is on the hunt for the perfect antlers (aka branches) that we can make glittery. Because when you think of a mounted deer head, you think of glitter. At least I do.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIETPfSravutrWwWjyaqPMb2N0kZ3l_BjhS-G1kWjE86y_lOvGs6rylXOg2pl4TWKCcK0VCjDds_R4WZHrzetUsZiYaPyJft7TFAy_sIwSrEc3h-TN5gXUPvN9SIVDze2I511Kdm2CCjIY/s1600/AmeliaArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIETPfSravutrWwWjyaqPMb2N0kZ3l_BjhS-G1kWjE86y_lOvGs6rylXOg2pl4TWKCcK0VCjDds_R4WZHrzetUsZiYaPyJft7TFAy_sIwSrEc3h-TN5gXUPvN9SIVDze2I511Kdm2CCjIY/s400/AmeliaArt.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br />4. <b>Art is in the eye of the beholder.</b> An unsolicited piece by Amelia herself. She came into the kitchen one day over the moon to show this off. My favorite is a toss up between the swing on the tree and the paver walk. The girl is a genius obviously.<br /><br />5. <b>Include something that includes all the colors of your scheme.</b> One of my favorite watercolors from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaiAutumn" target="_blank">MaiAutumn</a>.<br /><br />6. More pretty watercolors my parent's gave <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/02/very-first-birthday.html" target="_blank">Eve for her 1st birthday</a>. And yes, the one on the right is in there sideways.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkNh8aEhiqioCuOoXl_vnvN101_DkAZeNLi_HA5qOiLwiHu6JnKVZUpMz6_hOgEJ4ijcNBNDkNy1DeIGgrUwhpfQ4BudbzytDURnYOAfkxB4JfX57qEFBpsRfrMqsbB5J7NQpTeUAcduj/s1600/BabyHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkNh8aEhiqioCuOoXl_vnvN101_DkAZeNLi_HA5qOiLwiHu6JnKVZUpMz6_hOgEJ4ijcNBNDkNy1DeIGgrUwhpfQ4BudbzytDURnYOAfkxB4JfX57qEFBpsRfrMqsbB5J7NQpTeUAcduj/s400/BabyHat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />7. <b>You need an 'awww' factor.</b> I keep several pieces of clothes from the early baby days (no matter what my mom might tell you about my sentimentality) and this is one of the few items that both of them wore. This is the hat that both girls had on when they came home from the hospital. How I wish I had better handwriting.<br /><br />And good gracious, have you ever tried to take a picture of something behind glass?! It isn't pretty, and neither are the pictures.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCd3g-b6SeX5ohWjw1QxXg2ma5lTvyM61RtjTl3ZLGhvSdJ-q2bfbDbXnd7ut1Rb6Fzrd32tken9s-US6BTSzT2xXrhyphenhyphenW1zH8-mGwVP2EdrH1wij6-IZmVArdvhX-hiPOaeiVM2L2HP8-/s1600/BirthAnnouncements.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCd3g-b6SeX5ohWjw1QxXg2ma5lTvyM61RtjTl3ZLGhvSdJ-q2bfbDbXnd7ut1Rb6Fzrd32tken9s-US6BTSzT2xXrhyphenhyphenW1zH8-mGwVP2EdrH1wij6-IZmVArdvhX-hiPOaeiVM2L2HP8-/s640/BirthAnnouncements.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />8. <b>History.</b> The girls' birth announcements. Memories.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJxv1Yv5e9zEHhMahqKaXQ71C01Su-tzsSip8z1oAppxNZiRtaFG6tGUmTS65wljR7rynJv5ZJGVbRIoRFRMvHQE12C7pUqcXzeKyY5KWU1Es5jSc1dc0lJCStzSEG4w694kXAVn2GNpE/s1600/vintagebutterflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJxv1Yv5e9zEHhMahqKaXQ71C01Su-tzsSip8z1oAppxNZiRtaFG6tGUmTS65wljR7rynJv5ZJGVbRIoRFRMvHQE12C7pUqcXzeKyY5KWU1Es5jSc1dc0lJCStzSEG4w694kXAVn2GNpE/s320/vintagebutterflies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />9. <b>Add a bit of life.</b> Mean I know as they are no longer alive, but the girls love butterflies. And the yellow ties into the colors of the room. Any random group of things can become cohesive thru color.<br /><br />10. <b>Break the routine.</b> A vintage oval gold frame from my stash. Something nice and round...or oval, helps to break up all the squares and straight lines.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeR5tgHPpw46FWPGfgvVpwimtZuFvagJO7MnbDAU2sCb1qHVeW93Se7sR85ijMl87LC_hZ8jtKrYjMWCV04ZZdxScSkEVeSMOU49jLWcZ7fAN-5NnbF3Y13FNPJEaRsK8yY96TCCea8ANf/s1600/KateSpadequote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeR5tgHPpw46FWPGfgvVpwimtZuFvagJO7MnbDAU2sCb1qHVeW93Se7sR85ijMl87LC_hZ8jtKrYjMWCV04ZZdxScSkEVeSMOU49jLWcZ7fAN-5NnbF3Y13FNPJEaRsK8yY96TCCea8ANf/s320/KateSpadequote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />11. <b>Words to live by.</b> Kate Spade has spoken. Amen Kate.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduQRLYHWsOmRs02ayk4vJtFOYKydHMW_onxg_2QG9GxJYAP2uvNQtqiSz1ImaEjIi6ulx4Ltg-K9rHXawmC1fzsRN5B6H2ShOxSS_vD_4BUDcAOUwWH4xXKwIcbv9RF3kBqsR5oVS5RQg/s1600/embarrassing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduQRLYHWsOmRs02ayk4vJtFOYKydHMW_onxg_2QG9GxJYAP2uvNQtqiSz1ImaEjIi6ulx4Ltg-K9rHXawmC1fzsRN5B6H2ShOxSS_vD_4BUDcAOUwWH4xXKwIcbv9RF3kBqsR5oVS5RQg/s400/embarrassing.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><br />12. <b>Lessons Learned.</b> I believe I wrote this in sixth grade. There is also an accompanying illustration that severely dates me. Let's just say Benetton was one of the stores featured. They did have great rugbys. I'll keep that little drawing for myself.<br /><br />13. B. Baumgartner. No expanding on that really.<br /><br />And yes, I used my tried and true <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/02/step-into-my-gallery.html" target="_blank">template hanging method</a> and it worked like a charm. Take that plaster.<br /><br />So that is how I go about picking what little nuggets make it up on the wall. How do you pick what goes on your wall?

anatomy of a gallery wall

Happy Monday! I trust that y'all had a splendid weekend. We got pummeled with more snow than we should have for the whole month of Decem...

Read more »

Don't Be an Enemy of Fun

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]-->Hola y’all! We all love to talk a lot about what’s wrong with this country. Everyone has an opinion and what you think is the problem generally depends on which political party you belong to. But, I think I’ve actually discovered what’s REALLY wrong with America. There are too many people opposed to having fun. Who are these Enemies of Fun? <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Conservatives hate fun. HATE! In fact, as we all know, the driving force behind most conservatives is that they’re afraid that someone somewhere is having a good time. Conservatives are generally obsessed with sex, so that’s where they focus their anti-fun activities. If you’re not having one-man-one-woman married sex in the missionary position for the exclusive intent of procreation, conservatives want you thrown in jail or at least publicly shamed. Same goes for having a drink or even worse … GAMBLING! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Liberals hate fun almost as much as conservatives. I know they like to claim it isn’t true, but liberals get very upset when they see someone having fun. Let’s say you’re sitting on the front porch of your own home, minding your own business, smoking a cigarette. Liberals lose their shit over this! And, if it’s a really big home that you bought with money you made in the financial services industry and there also happens to be a really expensive car in the driveway liberals DOUBLE HATE the fun you’re having. Also sporting events where someone has to lose and not get a trophy makes liberals sooooo sad. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Teachers hate fun. Yeah, I know they have to keep kids in line and they have to be in charge and all that, but mostly the teachers are just trying to make sure the kids aren’t having any fun. Even if you’re allowed to go outside for recess there will be NO RUNNING! No loud talking or laughing! No playing Tag or Red Rover or any other game that might involve touching each other at all. Also, if the playground equipment isn’t covered with Nerf Foam then you must stay off it! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Preachers, Priests, Mullah, Rabbis and all other religious and “spiritual” leaders hate fun. Anything that’s really fun is immoral. Unless of course they are the ones engaging in said fun, then that’s different! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xZ_8Oe3DKXDcKcYCBhjn4oZJs9fNWcidiIURNzk7wFlRWu_tXqjEIyLnWwFZpGdB7CQyJANPzNpbPNfWFbFXmFwwsDsS7BjlZN7KL97AXrWm5Qrh2qR-F86ZDEImzMrD-LhpCC6auD8/s1600/mika-brzezinski-nanny-state.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xZ_8Oe3DKXDcKcYCBhjn4oZJs9fNWcidiIURNzk7wFlRWu_tXqjEIyLnWwFZpGdB7CQyJANPzNpbPNfWFbFXmFwwsDsS7BjlZN7KL97AXrWm5Qrh2qR-F86ZDEImzMrD-LhpCC6auD8/s320/mika-brzezinski-nanny-state.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Nanny Staters like Michael Bloomberg and Mika Brzezinski hate most things that are fun, especially if they taste good. They are here to protect you from yourself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want a big, refreshing Pepsi or Coke? Nope, it should be against the law. While they can’t outlaw having a cheeseburger they think they should be able to set calorie limits on foods private businesses serve to their customers who WANT those things. And, you’ve gotta love Bloomberg’s latest idea to HIDE the cigarettes. He’s hoping that if you don’t see them you won’t want any and magically everyone will stop smoking! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bitter, angry sportswriters hate fun. A player that gets excited and wants to celebrate isn’t being classy enough for these morons. A lot of them are on full display this weekend and they don’t even bother to hide their disgust at small schools and unknowns like Florida Gulf Coast having the AUDACITY to beat people like Georgetown. They feel like the big, rich schools from the “power” conferences have some special entitlement that means the small schools should just roll over for them. Now that the tournament gets more and more even every year, with more of the “big” schools losing they’re bitching that too many teams are allowed in and arguing the NCAA should do away with the automatic qualifiers. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The internet is full of people who really fucking hate anyone having fun. I’m not really talking about haters, I’m just talking about those people who just shit all over everyone's fun. A great example would be this chick who last week was bitching up a storm about St. Patrick's Day. She was saying if you aren't FROM Ireland then you can't call yourself Irish even if you parents are from there but you aren't. Why do people get all picky and bitchy like that over something that is just about having fun?<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">All of these people I just mentioned are so sad. It must be awful to go through life never having any fun. Worse than that though is being one of those people who get angry when others are having fun. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s all agree right here and right now to NEVER be an Enemy of Fun! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_38102941"><br /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_Iws">@Jayman_IWS</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Speaking of fun, we celebrated Palm Funday over on I’m With Stupid Sunday morning it was pretty much nonstop fun the whole time! We talked Palm Sunday, Obama in Israel, the NCAA Tournament and more. Plus there was a live remote from Guy Ahnyurdyck in Jerusalem plus Billy Roy “Stonewall” Jackson here in Redneckville. Then we called Billy the Kid at the Beer Mine and Drive-By Mikey to check on his cholesterol. On top of all that, our correspondent Joshua brought us a very special interview of John the Apostle! All that and so much more! Check it out! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="105" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4582209&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4582209&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">Im With Stupid</a> on Blog Talk Radio<br /><br /></div></div></div>

Don't Be an Enemy of Fun

Hola y’all! We all love to talk a lot about what’s wrong with this country. Everyone has an opinion and what you think is the problem genera...

Read more »

ZYPERN KRISE - EZB-SCHIEFLAGE:

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5yMQI7caP_uD0hKB2jklXL4YTgcqd8zNXMVARGYJp9htLRvw5lrQiFgK0ZEeQUNGHPswhktEucPNIW2Hmz0X4h78F1Fjmn_arHHAmEtVGvKzc0v0jgDwxci-PJNNtmQ6XPIz58Jb5_RW/s1600/20130323_EUD000_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5yMQI7caP_uD0hKB2jklXL4YTgcqd8zNXMVARGYJp9htLRvw5lrQiFgK0ZEeQUNGHPswhktEucPNIW2Hmz0X4h78F1Fjmn_arHHAmEtVGvKzc0v0jgDwxci-PJNNtmQ6XPIz58Jb5_RW/s400/20130323_EUD000_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DRAGHI BRAUCHT DAS GELD DER BANK-KUNDEN IN ZYPERN </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Via Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Für die EUROPÄISCHE Zentralbank geht es in der ZYPERN-Krise auch um das eigene Überleben: Der Großteil der Staatsanleihen von ZYPERN sind bei der EZB als Sicherheiten hinterlegt. Sie machen ein Drittel des Eigenkapitals der EZB aus. Geht ZYPERN pleite, wankt die EZB. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Viele Beobachter fragen sich, warum die Euro-Retter im kleinen ZYPERN nicht dasselbe machen wie in GRIECHENLAND: Dort gab es einen Schulden-Schnitt für die Investoren in griechische Staatsanleihen. Beim ZYPERN-Deal bleiben die ZYPRIOTISCHEN Staatsanleihen außen vor: Sie sind nicht vom Haircut betroffen. Auch die Bond-Inhaber von Banken-Anleihen werden nicht zur Kasse gebeten.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ZYPERN GEHÖRT LÄNGST NICHT MEHR SICH SELBER, SONDERN DER EZB</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hintergrund: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">DE FACTO LOSS OF SOVEREIGNTY: CYPRUS MAKES BIG CONCESSIONS FOR BAILOUT (via Der Spiegel )</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/cyprus-under-claws-of-imf.html"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/cyprus-under-claws-of-imf.html</span></b></a><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="color: #0b5394;">EU - ZYPERN - GENERALPROBE</span></span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/eu-zypern-generalprobe-erfolgreiche.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/eu-zypern-generalprobe-erfolgreiche.html</a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Der Grund ist einfach: Der überwiegende Teil der Staatsanleihen ZYPERNS sind bei EZB als Sicherheiten hinterlegt. Die Papiere wurden bei der EZB als Pfand für neue Schulden hinterlegt. Das heißt: ZYPERN gehört längst nicht mehr sich selber, sondern der EZB.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Für die Bank-Anleihen hat ZYPERN eine Staatsgarantie ausgesprochen: Gehen die Banken pleite, hat ZYPERN für die Anleihen der beiden größten Banken eine Garantie gegeben. Das bedeutet: Wenn eine der Banken pleitegeht, steht der Staat für die Schulden gerade.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Es gibt zwar keine offiziellen Zahlen. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-23/why-cyprus-matters-and-ecb-knows-it"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Mark Gran</span></a></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">t von Out of the Box schätzt jedoch, dass bei der EZB Papiere im Wert von 11,6 Milliarden Dollar aus ZYPERN als Sicherheiten hinterlegt sind.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ZYPERN-PLEITE WÜRDE DAS EIGENKAPITAL DER EZB DRAMATISCH REDUZIERT</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Im Klartext: Das Schlimmste für Mario Draghi wäre eine Staatspleite in ZYPERN. Dann hätte die EZB einen Verlust von etwa 12 Milliarden Dollar. Das gesamte Eigenkapital der EZB betrug nach Berechnungen von </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.voxeu.org/article/target-losses-case-euro-breakup"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT;">Hans-Werner Sinn</span></a></span><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> etwa 31 Milliarden Euro. Mit einer ZYPERN-Pleite würde das Eigenkapital der EZB folglich dramatisch reduziert.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Über Target 2 ist das natürlich auch ein Thema für die Bundesbank: Im Falle eines Verlustes müssten die EUROPÄISCHEN Staaten frisches Kapital in die EZB pumpen. Für DEUTSCHLAND wären das immerhin vermutlich etwa 3 Milliarden Euro. Alle anderen Euro-Staaten müssten den Rest aufbringen.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Im Unterschied zu den Target 2-Salden handelt es sich hierbei um reales Geld. Das muss aufgebracht werden.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hier zeigt sich, welch gravierende Bedeutung ein solch kleines Land wie ZYPERN haben kann. Was geschieht, wenn ein großer Staat einen Crash hinlegt, kann man sich leicht ausmalen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dieses Szenario fürchtet Mario Draghi wie der Teufel das Weihwasser. Er muss sich an seine Ankündigung halten, alles zu tun, um den Euro zu retten.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ZYPERN ZUM RECHTSBRUCH GEZWUNGEN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Daher unternehmen die Euro-Retter tatsächlich alles, um den Inhabern von Bank-Konten in ZYPERN das Geld abzunehmen. Denn ihre Guthaben sind reale Sicherheiten, auf die EZB dann zugreifen kann. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Die Staatsanleihen sind faktisch nicht mehr zu gebrauchen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Das Schneeballsystem ist daher an einem Punkt angekommen, wo alle Schranken niedergerissen werden: Die Zwangs-Abgabe hat keinerlei rechtliche Möglichkeiten für die Konto-Inhaber. Die Insolvenz einer Bank unterläge dagegen zumindest einem vorhersehbaren rechtlichen Prozess – auch wenn die Chancen für die Kunden minimal sind, etwas von ihrem Geld wiederzusehen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Auch die Kapitalverkehrs-Kontrollen in ZYPERN sind ein klarer Bruch des europäischen Rechts. In den Verträgen von Maastricht ist die Errichtung von Kapitalverkehrs-Kontrollen ausdrücklich untersagt. Nun wird ZYPERN zum Rechtsbruch gezwungen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aber jeder Rechtsbruch ist für Mario Draghi und die Euro-Retter weniger schlimm als das Zerbrechen des Euro. Fliegt das Euro-System auseinander, bleiben alle Gläubiger auf ihren Target 2-Forderungen sitzen. Im Falle DEUTSCHLANDS sind das astronomische Summen.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aus dieser Perspektive ist der organisierte Bank-Raub in ZYPERN das kleinere Übel. Mario-Draghi und die Euro-Retter kämpfen auf ZYPERN nicht für das kleine Land. Sie kämpfen um das eigene, nackte Überleben.</span></div>

ZYPERN KRISE - EZB-SCHIEFLAGE:

DRAGHI BRAUCHT DAS GELD DER BANK-KUNDEN IN ZYPERN  Via Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten  Für die EUROPÄISCHE Zentralbank geht es in der ZYP...

Read more »

It was a Hike of a Trip

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">I am a visual learner – I need to experience things before I really feel comfortable doing it again. If someone shows me how to do something, I am pretty capable of repeating it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, sometimes I have to be thrown into the deep end. And a lot of those times, I feel pretty rotten because of how badly I do. The only real comfort is that when I do it again, I know what to expect.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have a feeling that mountain hiking is going to be a lot like that.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m not saying that I had a terrible time hiking up Mt. Bierstadt in the middle of March in the snow. But now, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> what to expect, what to pack, and how I’m going to feel after 11 hours of hiking. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There was a lot of “experience” going on for me that day. I’m here to tell you all about it!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pre-hike drive playlist: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The King is Dead</b> by the Decemberists, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fleet Foxes</b> by Fleet Foxes.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have a group of friends around the area who are quite the adventurers. Not extreme, but they hike, climb, ski, showshoe, and do all sorts of outdoorsy-type stuff. This time, they had organized a winter hike up to the summit of Mt. Bierstadt. And I decided to try it with them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Usually, a hike up Mt. Bierstadt is a nice little daytrip. In the summer, the mountain is crawling with hikers. Of course, it isn’t summer right now, so the mountain was pretty much empty. Our group saw one lady coming down in the morning, had two more hikers pass us near the top, and then saw one more guy in the afternoon. That was it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The weather forecast wasn’t too appealing for the casual hiker, either. They forecasted rain for much of the area, but in the higher elevation there was bound to be snow. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My group gathered in Georgetown, about an hour west of Denver on I-70. The mountains really start to pick up around Georgetown – nearby is Mt. Evans, one of the fourteeners you can see from Denver, and a popular tourist location. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We piled into three vehicles and headed up to the trailhead of Bierstadt. Well, almost to the trailhead. About two miles from the trailhead, they stopped plowing, and hikers need to walk up the rest of the way. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Georgetown to parking playlist: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cracked Rear View</b> by Hootie and the Blowfish</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It was here where I observed what my fellow hikers wore and brought. Snow pants and rain pants, Camelbaks and backpacks, snowshoes and microspikes. Layers and layers and layers of clothing, too. I felt mostly prepared, with my layers and Yaktrax and Camelbak and hand/feet warmers, but I had a feeling I still may not have everything I need. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We started up in good spirits, and in about 10 minutes it started to snow. It was pretty clear from the clouds and the snow that we were going to be experiencing that for much of the hike. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The road went up by switchbacks, and we cut out a bit by climbing through the trees. It was pretty steep, but eventually we found the road again. We took our first break here, and I put my feet warmers in my shoes and my hand warmers in my mittens. Someone gave me a body warmer, and I put that on my t-shirt. When you shake these bags, they heat up, and as longs as they continue to shake, they can stay warm for hours. I have to say, I wasn’t cold at all through the entire hike. My fingers stayed warm and I could always feel my toes. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Experience tip #1: bring hand/feet/body wamers.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We made it to the trailhead, where there was the one pit toilet station available for the day. They didn’t have anything on the mountain, so the best you can do is find an empty area and squat. I’ve been to China, so this wasn’t a problem. You just had to make sure to go with the wind. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Experience tip #2: bring toilet paper. Apologies for being crass. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There were four main parts of the trail: the Willows, the switchbacks, the tundra, and the rocks. The Willows actually starts out in a descent (more on that later). We found the trail with poles that stuck up out of the ground, since there was snow. You wouldn’t think about that when hiking in the summertime. Up past the tree line, you look for cairns, which are rocks stacked up on top of each other. It made the hiking a little more of an adventure, looking for a pole or a cairn nearby. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Experience tip #3: look for piles of rocks or a pole to stay on the trail.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I didn’t use an iPod during my hike, deciding to focus on the quiet of nature. But that didn’t mean I didn’t have songs stuck in my head to keep me going.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Internal playlist: “World on Fire” by The Royal Concept</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We had to say goodbye to a few friends who had engagements elsewhere, so the final count was six that would try to make it up to the top.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We often stopped to catch a breath and take a drink. A few times we stopped to eat something. This was one of the dumb things I did: I only brought Cliff bars and a couple of my great no-bake cookies. Some of the others had sandwiches, chocolate bars, trail mix, crackers, and fruit. By the end I had no desire to eat my food, and that made me more tired and more cranky. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Experience tip #4: bring lots of types of food and EAT IT to keep up your energy.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I had inquired before taking the hike as to how much water I should bring. I heard two liters, and my Camelbak bladder (yes, it’s called a bladder) held two liters. To be on the safe side, I also packed two other water bottles, in case I ran out. Then I drank lots of water the night before, drank water before we started, and made sure to rehydrate when I got home. That last one was REALLY important. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So you’re thinking, “Hey! You did something right!” Well, you’d be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kind</i> of right. The problem was that I drank my Camelbak water first…and drained the whole thing by the time I got to the top. I mentioned it to my group, and someone said that the Camelbak is insulated to prevent freezing, but the water inside the tube may have frozen. I checked when I got home, and it hadn’t frozen – I had drank every single drop!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“When Can I See You Again?” by Owl City</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The big problem was my water bottles. Since they were outside the pack, and it was below freezing, the water froze! I had to borrow water from friends on the way down. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Experience tip #5: drink water bottle water first, then Camelbak water.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In order to keep going up, I developed a few techniques/steps to keep going. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now it just seems pretty silly. But I digress. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Babel” by Mumford & Sons</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The first step is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Penguin</i>. As I got into the steeper territory, I pointed my toes outward, which helped me avoid too much incline in my feet. I also used the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hermit, </i>where I hunched over and put the weight of my Camelbak directly on my back and took tiny steps up. I looked ridiculous, but it worked for short amounts of time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The best move, though, was coming down the mountain. Since it would obviously be easier going down the tundra section than going up it, we spent a lot of time, well, sliding down the snow. It would have been a great chance to use a sled or skis if I’d had them. It ended up being a lot of jumping and slipping down as much as I could without toppling over. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Madness” by Muse (how appropriate.)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A huge factor was the weather. When we started, the clouds covered all the mountains. We could see a good distance, but it didn’t look like much. The snow fell for pretty much the entire ascent. The higher we got, the more the wind picked up, too. There was about a 20 minute span as we neared the rock portion of the hike where we considered turning around, because the wind, snow, cold, and clouds were making the trip a little less desirable. Several people said, “If someone wants to turn around, that’s fine, just say the word and we’ll head down.” But no one said anything. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We were rewarded a while later, when we caught glimpses of the sun…and the clouds broke. Suddenly we saw mountains behind us! The area we had started at was a valley <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">completely</i>surrounded by the mountains. The view was incredible. It was that extra bit of adrenaline that we needed to keep moving upwards. God made sure that the curtain was pulled back at just the right time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Gangnam Style” by Psy</i> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, by the time we conquered the large rock portion of the climb (in the summer you would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">avoid</i> putting your feet on the rocks; in the winter you avoid putting your feet in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">snow</i>), the clouds had covered Bierstadt, the snow had picked up, and you couldn’t see a thing. It didn’t matter, though. I had five people that served as witnesses that I made it to the top of that mountain. Yes, in pictures it doesn’t look like much, but it’s all about depth perception. Once we got up there, we realized it was quite the fourteener to conquer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The curtain was once again opened as we were heading down, and this time the sun completely appeared under a beautiful blue sky. I believe that the red on my face was from the sun reflecting off the snow, and not from windburn. We ended up stopping halfway down, plopping ourselves in the snow, and having a “meal.” I even had a victory beer. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Experience tip #6: don’t drink beer. At least, not until AFTER the hike is over. It will give you a stomachache. It won’t feel great inside your system, either.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Harbour Lights” by A Silent Film</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For much of the hike I had been in decent spirits. Even when I kept losing my Yaktrax in the snow (eventually losing both of them completely), needing to use the bathroom, and frustrated with the snow and clouds, I kept talking. But after our “meal,” I started not feeling the best. Yes, the beer was one of the factors, but there were others. My water was slushy in the water bottle. My hand warmers kept my hands warm, but my mittens had frozen. My nose kept running. And that snowfall that had taken place while we were at the top had laid down an inch of fresh, fluffy snow in the switchback/Willows area. That was the worst. Some in the group broke out their snowshoes, but I didn’t have anything. Instead, I kept finding the fresh snow and falling knee-deep in it. If I was lucky, I stepped on the already-packed-down snow. But most of the time I was not. And that made me really tired and cranky. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I tried to keep it to myself, but I didn’t do a very great job. But my hiking buddies, bless their hearts, tried to keep spirits high. Whether it was talking to me or talking to others, they kept up a good conversation. They kept up the encouragement, and urging us on with “We’re almost there!” and more stuff like that. I wish I had tried harder to be more positive in this point, but once we reached the Willows, it really felt like we were never going to get back to the trailhead. I wasn't the best hiking buddy that I could have been. Sorry, hiking buddies. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Kill Your Heroes” by AWOLNATION</i> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember how I said at the beginning of the hike that the Willows actually started downhill? Well, after 9 hours of hiking, the Willows portion was now an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">uphill</i> climb. And at this point, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really, really </i>didn’t want to do any uphill climbing. I really could not remember how long we had hiked in the Willows, and because of the fresh snow, I could barely remember the trail. Our leader kept taking us to the poles, but I just wanted to see some sort of light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">finally, </i>we got to the blessed outhouse. That pit toilet meant that we just had to follow the road downhill, and we’d be at the car. Yes, there was snow we’d have to slog through, but just getting out of the Willows made me feel a lot better. We didn’t take that steep shortcut like we had in the morning, but followed the road down. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Galvanize” by The Chemical Brothers</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Just before darkness fell, we got back to the car. After 11 hours of cold, wind, and snow, it was wonderful to get back into a car with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">heat.</i> And when I got back to my vehicle, I could finally revel in the fact that I had just gone up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and down</i> a mountain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I highly doubt I’ll try another winter fourteener – especially since Bierstadt is probably the “easiest” winter fourteener in Colorado. But the idea of hiking on dirt paths is incredibly appealing. Anything has to be easier than keeping yourself from sinking in the snow!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did this experience convince me to try again? I think I have one more fourteener inside of me. I am curious to see how a summer fourteener is different. And hopefully, thanks to the experiences I had during this fourteener, I will be more ready and more prepared mentally and physically for what I will be facing! </div>

It was a Hike of a Trip

I am a visual learner – I need to experience things before I really feel comfortable doing it again. If someone shows me how to do somethin...

Read more »

Nexxus Frizz Defy Review

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReWQ_-iAXRxevFVEsQmGeXK3YtR_eHSKtgXxU7RCOMQD3MLixFCiGw3BZ37nAwD92T_zPxMlO-s7NKoVHICxd_vHPoaT2O1_roNnYriq8KTbxiCSrQVVqTPUWOR6YFlsNxdSrRVWftUA/s1600/nexxus+hair+care.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReWQ_-iAXRxevFVEsQmGeXK3YtR_eHSKtgXxU7RCOMQD3MLixFCiGw3BZ37nAwD92T_zPxMlO-s7NKoVHICxd_vHPoaT2O1_roNnYriq8KTbxiCSrQVVqTPUWOR6YFlsNxdSrRVWftUA/s320/nexxus+hair+care.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing that I can't stand is frizzy hair! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it's hot or cold outside my hair is total frizz!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just gross, especially on those hot summer days my hair is all over the place!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's frizzy, full of static and just a hassle to manage until now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My hair is more manageable now since I started using <a href="http://www.nexxus.com/">Nexxus</a>'s Frizz defy shampoo and conditioner which I was sent for review.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkIhz7sFyuJdIOtIVpNWaKvFtXrlKPLzlrQnsbslLSi927bipbxeuGWdLCwiH4inusNaU_HsYLZQ2AfsjBZg5WVYH4anPv5d6fqZA3ESPHDLD3BABKprrnUDTp8_kjKB3bJMpUGnd1Yg/s1600/nexxus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkIhz7sFyuJdIOtIVpNWaKvFtXrlKPLzlrQnsbslLSi927bipbxeuGWdLCwiH4inusNaU_HsYLZQ2AfsjBZg5WVYH4anPv5d6fqZA3ESPHDLD3BABKprrnUDTp8_kjKB3bJMpUGnd1Yg/s320/nexxus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Infused with Moroccan Argan Oil and coconut extracts make my hair easy to brush, shiny and smelling oh so good! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first time I used it I've noticed a difference right away.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you believe it that it reduces frizz up to 87% all day long?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's amazing!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reduces frizz from heat styling such as curling iron, blow dryer and even humidity. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am totally in love with these products that I've received.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did they know coconut is my favorite scent?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've got to check them out online!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website : </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nexxus.com/">http://www.nexxus.com/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/nexxushair"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://twitter.com/nexxushair</span></a></div>

Nexxus Frizz Defy Review

One thing that I can't stand is frizzy hair!  Whether it's hot or cold outside my hair is total frizz! It's just gross, especial...

Read more »

India!

<p>Here's<a href="http://amydublinia.blogspot.ie/2013/03/a-blog-i-wrote-in-india-in-2005.html#comment-form"> a great blog post </a>by my sister about her travels in India.  There are also a few photos too. Enjoy!</p>

India!

Here's a great blog post by my sister about her travels in India.  There are also a few photos too. Enjoy!

Read more »

When Spencer Tunnick came to Ireland

American photographer Spencer Tunnick is best known for organizing large-scale nude-shoots all over the world. In 2008, he visited Ireland and photographed two installations. One at the South Wall in Dublin (see photograph) and the other in Cork at Blarney Castle. Blarney Castle being the site of the famous "Kissing" stone. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8DxDMlZzOKArItW-vAR_vfyyCQFQTd4l1WdZSdlocgV_nnEK7GPXaej4MJulS9J1ZewZHi9b1bLY_ZlVIi7HDTCem-I9FE2zqyDWaOBiQ1DA1i3JnTxschPg7OC_YWq9g8BMyZOHFXrR/s640/blogger-image-1835963313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8DxDMlZzOKArItW-vAR_vfyyCQFQTd4l1WdZSdlocgV_nnEK7GPXaej4MJulS9J1ZewZHi9b1bLY_ZlVIi7HDTCem-I9FE2zqyDWaOBiQ1DA1i3JnTxschPg7OC_YWq9g8BMyZOHFXrR/s640/blogger-image-1835963313.jpg" /></a></div>

When Spencer Tunnick came to Ireland

American photographer Spencer Tunnick is best known for organizing large-scale nude-shoots all over the world. In 2008, he visited Ireland a...

Read more »