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Monday, December 30, 2013

Alfa Beta Shel Metatron: The Alphabet of Metatron – Part 7

(Kof) It is said the magical glyph for the letter (Kof) represents a tree, and the gematria of this Hebrew letter is one hundred. Regarding the latter we are reminded that Abraham fathered Isaac at the ripe old age of 100, and as far as the “tree” symbol of the magical glyph is concerned, we are informed that this refers to the thicket (tree) in which a ram was caught, and which was substituted as sacrifice in the place of his son. We are also told that the main portion of the magical glyph in question portrays a shofar (ram’s horn), whilst the two side extensions refer to the two days when the shofar is sounded during Rosh Hashanah (New Year), for all to hear its (Kol—“voice”).

(Resh) The magical image for the letter (Resh) is said to represent a boat with a mast. In this regard, we encounter the only magical instruction listed in the dissertation on the magical “Alpha Beta shel Metatron.” We are told that in summer Rahav (), who is the angel of the sea, would allow foul smells to surface the waters — methane perhaps! Seeping into boats this would kill all and sundry on them. However, we are instructed that invoking the Divine Name (Adiriron) would forthwith dispel the nasty odour. We are also informed that invocation of this Divine Name calms the violent storms of winter.

Regarding the Divine Name (Adiriron), I noted in "The Book of Sacred Names" that this is an ancient Divine Name the meaning of which is said to be “The Mighty One sings,” and that this Divine Name is called “Name of Joy” or “Name of glad song” (rinah). Adiriron is associated with the word (adir—“mighty”).

I also noted that the Name “Adiriron is utilised both in Hebrew amulets and magical incantations, and is considered particularly efficacious as a protection against demonic forces.” Hence we are informed that “whosoever builds a new house and yard, lest he come to any bodily harm he must write the great name Adiriron Adiron () on deerskin parchment and place it on the door of each and every room. And it is best to write this on a Sunday, Thursday or a Friday. And he must drill a hole and place the same in the doorway both from above and from the side.”

(Shin) The magical glyph for the letter (Shin) is said to indicate a very deep wellspring gushing forth an abundance of water which spills over its edges. In this regard, there is the saga of King David digging pits on the side of the Holy Altar, and in the process unleashing subterranean waters which were surfacing and which might inundate the world. We are told that the King wrote the Divine name on a shard which he cast into the depths in order to halt the threat and seal the opening of the depths.

Be that as it may, we are told that the letter Shin is the initial of the Divine Name (Shadai), and that the five endings of the magical glyph representing this letter, refer to the five cubicles of the Tefilin (phylacteries). Regarding the latter we are reminded that there are four in the phylactery tied to the forehead, and only one in the phylactery tied to the left forearm.

(Tav) The magical glyph for the letter (Tav) comprises three vertical bars crossing a horizontal line, and there are altogether eight endings in the glyph. In this regard we are informed that the two outer verticle lines represent the two handles of a Torah scroll, and the centre line the reader. At the conclusion of perusing its contents, the scroll is wound and enclosed in a beautiful mantle-cover. The latter is symbolized by the horizontal bar in the current magical glyph.

We are also instructed that the three vertical lines represent the threefold division of the Tanach (Sacred Scriptures): (Torah—Pentateuch), (N’vi’im—Prophets) and (Ketuvim—Writings). The “Prophets” section of the Hebrew Bible comprises eight books, which is said to be symbolized in the eight endings of the magical glyph of the letter Tet. We are informed that the Divine One autographs his name with this Hebrew letter, since it stands for (Emet—“Truth”).

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Alfa Beta Shel Metatron: The Alphabet of Metatron – Part 6

(Ayin) The magical glyph for the letter (Ayin) is said to comprise two parallel horizontal bars. These, we are told, pertains to Moses and Aaron who confronted the Egyptian sorcerers whose magical activities were illusions meant to deceive the eye (Ayin). In this regard, we are told (Exodus 7:12):

va-yashlichu ish matechu va-yih’yu l’taninim va-yivla mateh Aharon et matotam
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
We are informed that in the Hebrew alphabet the letter order (Nun), (Samech), (Ayin) reminds us of this miracle (Nes), by means of which the trickery worked on the eye (Ayin) is exposed.

(Peh) We are told the magical glyph for the letter (Peh) represents an open bucket, representing something like a divine cornucopia by means of which the Eternal One provides (Pirnes) an infinite flow of abundance to the whole of manifestation, like the miracle foodstuffs, i.e. the daily manna, quails, and a wellspring afforded to the Israelites during their long sojourn in the desert. In fact, these miraculous substances are said to be represented by the three endings of the magical glyph.

As it is, the word (Peh), the name of the letter in question, means a “mouth,” the organ of eating but also of speaking. Regarding the latter ability, we are informed that a real savant is a wellspring of wisdom, whose Torah elucidations motivate a descent of the Shechinah, i.e. the Divine Presence and “face” of the Almighty to descend on his or her person. This is because a Spirit Messenger (angel) affords the wise one endless insights.

(Tzadi) The magical glyph for the letter (Tzadi) is said to be a kind of walled stronghold which could be accessed via a side entrance (Petach—“opening”). In this regard a Tzadik, i.e. a righteous individual, is said to constantly alternating between two entrances, i.e. the one to the synagogue and the other to the “House of Study.” Considering some of the sentiments I expressed earlier, that “Torah Study” means “living the law of life,” I “naturally” think it quite “unnatural” and even “ungodly” to cut oneself off from the natural world. After all, the very beauty which we see in this world is in fact God, and acknowledging beauty is a most sacred act.

In this regard, we are told that “when you desire to eat or drink, or to fulfill other worldly desires, and you focus your awareness on the love of God, then you elevate that physical desire to spiritual desire. Thereby you draw out the holy spark that dwells within. You bring forth holy sparks from the material world. There is no path greater than this. For wherever you go and whatever you do—even mundane activities—you serve God.” [Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev in Buber, M.: Tales of the Hasidim: The Early Masters, Thames and Hudson, London 1956] We are further reminded to “use the things of the world to recognize No-thing. By this I mean, approach everyday life as an ongoing opportunity for raising the sparks. Take a micro-moment for establishing a meditative attitude, whether that moment be painful or joyous or neutral. Practice hitbodedut (meditation/all-one-ness) everywhere, at all times. When tempted away from righteousness by idleness, anger, or greed, let yourself listen to the sounds of that moment until you are all ear, nothing but listening. Wrap yourself in listening until even the still, small voice of the moment has vanished and there is No-thing there at all.” [Besserman, P.: The Shambhala Guide to Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism, Shambhala, Berkeley, 1997]

(More to follow)

Monday, December 23, 2013

Alfa Beta Shel Metatron: The Alphabet of Metatron – Part 5

(Lamed) The magical glyph for the letter (Lamed) is said to represent the crown of a king. In this regard, we are informed that those who are studying (Lamed) Torah, and who are controlling their darker passions, so to speak, will be granted an exalted status befitting a king as well as a crown in the world to come, similarly to the biblical Joseph who, by controlling his emotional self, was granted rulership and a crown by the Pharaoh of Egypt.

We are reminded that the letter Lamed is located in the Hebrew alphabet between (Kaf) and (Mem). When read in reverse, the combination spells (Melech—King).

(Mem) We are told that the magical glyph for the letter (Mem) represents an empty womb. We are also reminded that the numerical value of this letter is forty since the womb remains empty after conception for around forty days when the foetus starts to take on a definite shape. We are further informed that this magical glyph indicates an empty stomach, referring to Moses having maintained a fast for forty days during the period he remained in the celestial realms during his reception of the Torah.
On the other hand, the meaning of the letter Mem is “water” (Mayim), and it is said that the current magical glyph symbolizes a pool which requires the exact amount of forty “seahs” (measures) to qualify as a Mikveh (ritual bath).

(Nun) The magical glyph for the letter (Nun) is said to symbolize a shield. In this regard, we are enjoined (yit’halel ha-gibor big’vurato—“Let not the mighty man glory in his might”) (Jeremiah 9:22 [23]), and that he should rather trust in the One who is Awesome (Nora), Almighty God.

In the current instance the magical glyph is said to be a “shield” with three endings, i.e. two on top and one below. “shield.” The upper two endings are said to refer respectively to two biblical figures, i.e. the Patriarch Abraham and King David, who were granted Divine protection. In this regard, the Eternal One told our father Abraham (Anochi magen lach—“I am thy shield”) (Genesis 15:1), and King David exclaimed (magini v’keren yish’i—“my shield and my horn of salvation”) (Psalm 18:2 [3]).

On the other hand, we are informed the three endings of the current magical glyph refer to the first three letters of the Ineffable Name, i.e. (YHV), which were engraved on the impregnable shield of King David conjointly with the opening phrase of Exodus 15:11 reading (Mi chamocha ba’elim YHVH—“Who is like unto Thee YHVH among the mighty?”). The initial letters of the four words comprising this phrase form the acronym (Makabi). In this regard, we are told that the last recipient of King David’s shield was the great Judas Maccabeus (Yehudah ha-Makabi).

(Samech) The letter combination (Samech) refers to the concept of sustaining or supporting. This is said to pertain to the statement (Somech YHVH l’chol ha-noflim—“YHVH upholdeth all that fall”) (Psalm 145:14). In this regard, we are told that the magical glyph for the letter Samech represents a tree extending its fresh green leafy branches.

We are also told that whilst the magical symbol for the letter Samech is upright, it appears to be pierced by an arrow. In this regard, we are informed that Pharaoh pursued the Israelites after they departed Egypt, and that he fired arrows at them, but that the latter were swallowed up by the clouds protecting the Israelites all round (Saviv saviv).

(More to follow)


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Getting a Good Night's Sleep

Ensuring Restful Sleep - Positive Self-Talk

A great way to establish the habit of restful sleep is to quietly talk to yourself a little before falling asleep. In essence you're talking directly to your subconscious mind, and the instructions you give your subconscious can go far toward ensuring a good night's sleep and a successful day tomorrow.

Positive self-talk has been championed by renowned plastic surgeon Maxwell Maltz in his world-famous book, Psycho-Cybernetics, and by many leaders in the field of human peak performance, including Earl Nightingale, Napoleon Hill, and Norman Vincent Peale.
You can say things like:

  • I sleep through the night. I sleep deeply and well.
  • I wake up relaxed, refreshed, restored, renewed, revived.
  • I will have a great day tomorrow. I'll meet the right people and speak with the right people. Everything goes my way.
  • I am healthy and well. I am healthy and well.

Give thanks for your wonderful family, friends, and job or career.

You'll notice, after a few nights of brief, quiet positive self-talk, that you're falling asleep quicker and that your days are becoming much easier, much more enjoyable. Things are flowing your way. It's quite remarkable.

Americans spend more than $2 billion each year on sleep-aiding medications. Sleep is supposed to be a natural process. What's going on? There are many issues in the way of getting a good night's sleep. Daily stresses - work problems, financial difficulties, family challenges - can all keep a person up at night.1 We rehash what was said over and over again, or we endlessly review the problems confronting us, creating more anxiety and worry while the minutes and maybe even hours tick away.

Eating late at night - particularly fat-filled foods and snacks - may also interfere with a person's ability to fall asleep and sleep restfully. Late night meals engage all the resources of your digestive system - your body is actually doing a lot of work when it's supposed to be resting. Not good. And, of course, a lot of this late night food is stored as fat, creating additional problems.

Not enough exercise also contributes to lack of restful sleep.2,3 When you're doing vigorous physical work, your body needs to recover. Sleep allows your body to repair and rebuild, getting stronger in the process. Regardless of one's stresses and worries, vigorous exercise makes a physical demand on your body that will put you right to sleep.
If you're not exercising regularly, this strong physiologic need for deep rest is missing, and you'll likely be tossing and turning the night away.

Old, soft, lumpy mattresses are another potential sleep-disturber. But too-firm mattresses may also cause problems. A good mattress is supportive and comfortable - it "gives" in all the right places and provides a balanced, springy platform for a restful night's sleep. The solutions are straightforward and none of them involve medication. Regular exercise is the key ingredient. With consistent exercise, your body's need for sleep will win out over your conscious mind's automatic mechanism of repeatedly processing the day's events.

Chiropractic care may be another key ingredient. Gentle chiropractic treatment ensures that all your body's systems are talking to each other and the right messages are getting through. Chiropractic treatment ensures clear communication from one body system to another. Late at night, systems shut down when they're supposed to and the result
is a good night's sleep. Your chiropractor will be glad to provide you with important information on customized exercise and nutrition programs that will help you continue to be healthy and well.

1Richardson GS: Human physiological models of insomnia. Sleep Med 8(Suppl 4):S9-S14, 2007
2Lee YC, et al: Lifestyle risk factors associated with fatigue in graduate students. J Formos Med Assoc 106(7):565-572, 2007
3Li F, et al: Tai chi and self-rated quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 52(6):892-900, 2004

New clients receive 50% OFF first class.

Sign-up under "Sign Up For A Class" tab or call us at 732-889-3106 to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Doing happy dance.

My babies are coming home!!!

One daughter should be home tonight, the other tomorrow. WOOT!

And it's snowing to boot. WOOT!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

A little surreal.

This week has gone by so fast it's almost surreal.

It's Wednesday night and I don't know where the time flew. I didn't really do much of anything this weekend other then to veg out. Went shopping on monday with my gf.  Went to Carrefour Lava [as my gf's auto correct says]. We went early morning around the time the stores were opening. Thank God. By noon we were both ready to kill a few people.

I swooned. They opened a Vans store in Carrefour Laval. I'll have an easier time getting my favourite Vans. I know there is one downtown and I went once or twice, but their layout was really not conducive in me finding the right shoes. I wonder if there will be a boxing day sale at the Vans store.. Swoon.   I can't explain why I like skater wear, but the past 10 years or so, I wear Vans running shoes and the past 5 years it's been Billabong dresses.  And last summer one of my favourite combo's was the Vans with the hot pink laces, and a Billabong dress with hot pink detail, seen in the scenic photo below.

In August 2013, at the lookout on Mont Royal.
Old Navy had some of my favourite long sleeved cotton tops for $5 a piece. I took 5 home of different colours. The purple, burgundy and hot pink one were v-necks. the Monet blue, and charcoal grey are extra stretchy and scoop neck.

Work has been so busy for me. Usually the week between my interns I have to set up equipment for them.  Anyway I'm realizing many of the systems don't have windows 8.1 on them.  It's quite the task to set them all up.  But trying to make sure each intern has 2 systems available to them fully configured.  Dunno if I will succeed. Maybe they will just have 1 that is and one that isn't that will get rotated out once I have others done.  I have work for weeks, doing it between other tasks.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Vitamin C ice cubes

I've been complaining that I'd just realized that my favourite cough drops now contain aspartame and I really don't want it in my body. I'm sensitive to all sort of additives, this one is probably no exception. Probably one of the causes of my night time headaches.

So my buddy in Ireland suggested boiling citrus with cloves and adding honey to make some form of beverage to help my throat.

Perrier and Vitamin C cube.
I took his suggestion first washed 1 grapefruit, 2 clementines, 2 oranges and 2 lemons.  Once well scrubbed, I cut them into small quarters without ever peeling them. Put it in a pot cover will water, and I added 40 cloves. It actually has a bit of a cloves taste. You can also add cinnamon stick and ginger as well, both are also helpful, I personally don't care for either.  I readded water a few times.

The pot in my photo was my first batch. Hadn't put enough water or cloves in that one.  Once I deemed it cook, I let it cool down. Then I drain it, so there are no more clove pieces or peel/pith pieces of the citrus fruits.

I then put it in ice cube trays and froze them.  So when I need a cough drop, I put one or two squares in a mug, warm them up in the microwave and either add to perrier or my tea. Of course you can just use it as ice cubes to cool down your drink or even suck on.  Most would find them really bitter as I added no sugar. Most would add honey to the mixture when using. I like it as is.

Since using 2-3 cubes a night, it really helps my throat and keeps me away from the cough drops.

Vitamin C ice cubes.

Friday, December 13, 2013

I know what I want.

I can wait forever to get what I want too. I am far happier single and most of the summer I was so busy hanging out with friends I didn't have the time to be lonely.

The guy I met on Twoo, it turns out was too fascinated by his own dick. Other then sending me dick pictures at 2 different times, he also wanted to send me a video of him masturbating. Really? So Wednesday night I sent him this message "I don't think you're the right guy for me. You aren't what I am looking for. I hope you find a woman that meets your expectations, but I know it's not me. "

I would rather hang out with friends and/or my daughters. Maybe I'll find a lover again one day but it wasn't this week.

From a little girl who definitely was not brainwashed

Here is an interesting post quoting a little girl not brainwashed... The comments are also interesting.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Gluten free fig squares

Grape seed oil & black mission figs
I am a Larabar addict and it is a costly addiction.  So I decided to try to find a homemade alternative that would be as delicious, as healthy, and a mix of nuts and fruit. This is my first creation. It's still not perfect but quite edible.

This recipe is high in protein and the only sugar is the sugar found in the figs and the banana. The recipe I modified to make these used honey instead of the banana.

Gluten free Fig Squares

1 bag of dried black mission figs [it was 375g]
1/4 cup of grape seed oil
1/4 cup of Nuvel margarine
1 mushy banana
1/4 cup of almond milk
3/4 cup of almond flour
3/4 cup of coconut flour
1/2 cup of gluten free rolled oats
1/2 cup of coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt.

1 - preheat oven to 350F. Put figs in small saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn of head and let figs soften for 5-7 minutes. Do not drain.

2 - Lightly coat an 8x8 dish baking pan with coconut oil. In a small bowl, mix almond milk, banana, margerine and oil. In a medium bowl, combine flours, rolled oats, coconut flakes, baking soda and salt. Add wet ingredients, then mix well.

3 - Remove softened figs from water and place in a blender or food processor. Add 3 tablespoons of the re-hydrating water and puree until smooth

4 - Place half of the oat mixture in the prepared pan and spread evenly across the bottom. I use a spoon to tap it down evenly. Spread figs evenly on top. Add teh remaining mixing on top of the fig layer. Pat with a spoon to flatten.

5 - Bake for 20-25 minutes [Depending on your oven]. Remove from oven and let cool. When cool cut into 16 squares.

Vegan, gluten free fig squares

NOTE: You can substitute 1/2 cup of coconut oil instead of grapeseed/canola mix. That worked fine, though may try with 2/3 cup coconut oil for the perfect texture.

See updated recipe for better crust.

Pig feet stew with meatballs.

One of the recipes all the women in my family seemed to be able to make when I was growing up was my great-grand-ma's Pig feet stew with meatballs recipe. Over the past 10 years I've become a pro at making it.  This time I even cooked it differently so it could all cook after coming home from work on Monday.

Meatballs, meat broth and roux ready to join the pork hocks after removing bones and fat
While the pork hocks were cooking, I made the meatballs, and browned some flour. After which I put everything in the garage on top of the freezer over night.  Monday I warmed up the meat, and removed all the bones, the fat, and anything that didn't look like meat. I re-added the broth, warmed it, then added the browned flour, stirred it well, and then the meatballs. I let it cook for hours. I was sure I turned it off at midnight, but my friend staying with me turned it off at 3 because apparently I'd left burner on.  Yay distraction. I took pictures at midnight, but apparently forgot to turn it off.

Pig Feet stew with meatballs
Recipe posted here.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Would you believe Windows 8.1 is a teaching OS!

I'm going to call it an OS for dummies.

Here I am installing Firefox on one of my test machines. Towards the end of the install I have a pop up from windows that informs me "You have new apps to open web pages"

Really? NO WAY!!! OMG I am so thrilled. Like OMG I never thought this could happen,  I mean I installed a browser. Never in a thousand years did it ever occur to me that I could use it to browse the web. OMG. I will be more intelligent now that Windows 8.1 will tell me about my software! I was a little bit disappointed that it did not acknowledge my install of flash.

I also installed VLC the other day, and Windows 8.1 did not skip a beat. As soon as the install finished it told me I could use new apps to play videos. I was stunned. A new app? Wow. My friend Rick, bless his soul, would have said "slap me silly and call me Berniece". It would never have occurred to me after installing a media player that it could play media!!!

This feature will probably go the way of the "desktop icon" cleaning tool. Because EVERYONE needs to regularly clean their desktop icons. Did you not know that? And it would periodically tell you that your icons were old and you needed to clean them up [Because if you use say Firefox, 4 years later, you might think the icon is old?!?! even though it opens the right software????] Or another amazing feature, the Vista gadgets. How can we ever live without those????

Monday, December 09, 2013

Mixed vegetable salad

From the book Mezze, in the Love Food collection of Paragon books

Mixed Vegetable Salad [Serves 4-6 as part of a Mezze]

1 1/2 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove crushed to a paste with 1/4 tsp of salt
3 large, ripe tomatoes
2 red or green bell peppers
1 cucumber about 7oz/200g
2oz/55g fresh flat leave parsley leaves, finely chopped
1oz/30g fresh mint leaves. finely chooped
salt & pepper

To serve

Romaine lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry
warmed pita bread.

Mix the lemon juice, oil and garlic  together in a large serving  owl and set aside

Halve and seed teh tomatoes, then cut the flesh into 1/4 inch/5mm cube and add to the bowl.
Halve and seed the bell peppers, then cut into 1/4 inch/5mm cub and add to the tomatoes. Halve the cucumber and use a teaspoon to scoop out the seeds, then cut into 1/4inch/5mm dice and add to the other ingredients. Add the herbs and salt and pepper to taste.

Toss the salad together with your hands. Serve immediately with romaine lettuce leaves to scoop up mouthfuls of salad, and warmed pita to mop up the juices.

So Google makes photos auto-awesome?

So Google took this photo and made it into auto-awesome.

It's a little weird to see the sun and the snow...

I'm not sure how I feel about this feature

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Fruit and nut tabouleh

This recipe I found in the book Vegetarian planet, by the Harvard Common Press.

Fruit and Nut Tabouleh

1 cup fine bulgur
2 1/2 cups of boiling water
2 seedless oranges
1/4 cup of lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 cups of chopped parsley
1/2 chopped mint
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 currants
1/2 tsp salt, or more to taste
fresh-ground pepper to taste

1 Put the bulgur into a medium bowl. Pour the boiling water over. Cover the bowl with a plate, and let the bulgur sit for 20 minutes. Then drain it with a fine mesh strainer.

2 Meanwhile section the oranges with a paring knife: First cut away the peel and pith, the cut out the flesh by sections, leaving the membranes. Cut the sections in half and add them to the bulgur. Then add the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, onion, cucumber, parsley, mint, walnuts and currants and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the tabouleh at room temperature.

As a variation you can add 1/2 cup of crumbled feta.

Alternatively if you want to make this tabouleh gluten free, replace the bulgur wheat by quinoa.

1 cup quinoa [I like mixing white and red, or white and black]
1 1/4 cup of water

and step 1  Bring water to boil, put Quinoa in boiling water and turn heat down, cook until all water has been absorbed. Then fluff out your Quinoa before going to step 2.

I've yet to meet someone who didn't like fruit and nut tabouleh, whether I made the original recipe or the gluten free variation.

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Chickpea salad

From the book Mezze, part of the love food collection by paragon books

Chickpea salad [serves 4 to 6]

1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 red onions, thinly sliced
about 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
about 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2  tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp dry thyme
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground coriander
pinch of ground tumeric
14oz/400g canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed and shaken dry
salt & pepper

To serve

2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, parsley, cilantro, or mint, plug extra to garnish
1 pomegranate, halved.

 Melt the butter with the oil in a heavy-botomed skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Add the onions and cook over medium head, stirring, until well coated in teh butter and oil. The reduce the heat to low, put a damp, crumpled piece of wax paper over the saurface of the onions and cover the skitter. Let the onions sweat for 20 minutes, or until very soft and pale pink but not brown.

Meanwhile, mix 3 tablespoons of oil, one tablespoon of lemon juice, the thyme, spices, and salt and pepper to taste together in a bowl. Stir in the chickpeas.

Transfer the onions to a plate lined with crumbled paper towels and pat dry to remove the excess oil. Add to the chickpeas and stir together. LEt cool, then cover and chill in teh refrigirator for at least 1 hour.

Remove the chickpeas from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving to return to room temperature. Taste and add extra lemon juice or oil, as you like, then stir in the chipped dill, parsley, cilantro, or mint. Hold the pomegranate over the salad, cut-side down and tap the top with a wooden spoon until the seeds fall out. Repeat with the other half, then stir together, transfer to a serving bowl and serve. Garnish with the remaining herbs.

I lead an exciting life.

After work yesterday I went to Canadian tire to pick up some posts to put to indicate where my driveway is.  When I got home I hammered in 3 posts into the ground and banged on the one that was still there I put up  a month ago. Last year the snow clearing guy kept hitting my smoke bush near my driveway. This year I decided to mark my driveway clearly.

I also changed the light bulb on the light in the middle of my  lawn as it was dead. Which I found weird as I changed it as recently as July.

Today I took apart  my humidifier, cleaned it, de-furred it and put it back together. It's purring right now. Needed to add humidity to the house it was getting way too dry.

Friday, December 06, 2013

Garlic Sauce

From the book Mezze - from  Paragon books Love food collection

Garlic sauce [serves 4-6 as part of Mezze]

Many recipes for this pungent sauce are made with ground almond or walnuts, but this recipe, using boiled starchy potatoes, has a slightly milder flavour. This sauce goes well with beet salad or broiled sardines and it can also be served as a dip.

2 large starchy potatoes, scrubbed
4-5 garlic cloves, crushed to a paste with 1 tsp of salt
about 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice or white wine vinegar
about 1/2 tsp of salt
about 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
white pepper

Put potatoes in a pan and pour enough boiling water to cover and return to a boil. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until the potatoes are very tender then drain and let cool.

When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel away the skins and mash using a masher or potato ricer. Don't be temped to mas the potatoes in a food processor - the texture becomes gluey rather then fluffy.

Add the garlic, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and white pepper to taste to the potatoes. Slowly beat in the oil , a tablespoon at a time, making sure each addition is well incorporated before you add more, until no more can be absorbed - the exact amount you will need will depend on the texture of the potatoes. Taste and add extra lemon juice and salt as you wish. Set aside to cool completely then transfer to a serving bowl, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Serve the sauce with a platter of prepared vegetables and warmed pita if desired.

To serve:

2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 large large cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 greeen bell pepper, seeded and sliced
warm pita bread (optiional)

In memory of December 6th, 1989

December 6th in Montreal always brings mixed feelings. Most of us still remember the Polytechnique massacre. I wrote on December 6 1990 this poem in memory of those who died....

In Memoriam of December 6th, 1989

You are gone forever but not forgotten
The memory of your tragedy lives on
It is a pity that you were attacked and killed
For just fulfilling your potential

There is a malaise in society
That was created long before you came to be
It will not go away so easily
Perhaps your death will make the problem clearer

There were those who looked on in disbelief
Those who were confused and deeply hurt
How can someone decide the fate of others
Is there no justice for the living?

The work of a madman for sure
But there is a madperson in all of us
Some say that he was just a marginal exception
But how can we learn to trust others again

Perhaps this incident will make people think
Of all the injustices committed towards women
Perhaps the next time she cries injustice
Society will believe she her complaint.

The answer does lie within each one of us
To forgive him who focused his personal anger on women
To help others learn to love and help themselves
And make this world equal for both men and women.

In your memory: Genevieve Bergeron, Helene Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Havierncik, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganiere, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay,Sonia Pelletier, Michele Richard, Annie St..Arneault, Annie Turcotte

Thursday, December 05, 2013

Musicians eh?

I've realized that I have a thing for musicians, in particular it seems bass players. At the moment my world is full of bass players. Not that this is an issue, it's just amusing. The female friend I've had the longest, plays bass, my buddy in Ireland who's company I really enjoy, plays bass. Just to name 2 obvious ones.

I met a guy on Twoo, someone willing to chat for a while to get to know me and also interested in a friends with benefits type of relationship. And of course he's a bass player. Bonus, he's 5 years younger and also born in December. Other Sagittarius and in general fire signs rock.

Of course in general most of the men I date play a musical instrument. Heck both my grandparents played instruments, my aunt played an instrument. My step-dad played guitar. I was one of the rare ones without much talent for music. But it doesn't mean I don't appreciate music or that music isn't running in my head 24/7.

And it's not like I'm a groupie and go looking for musicians, I am just naturally drawn to creative types. Those around me who don't play musical instruments are often incredibly creative in other ways.

Beet salad

From the book Mezze, part of the Love food collection of Paragon books

I love beets cooked and seasoned like this recipe. I miss beets and most people don't care for them.

Beet Salad [Serves 4 to 6 as part of a Mezze]

2 lbs/900g of beets
4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 scallions, chopped
coarse sea salt
garlic sauce to serve

Wash the beets and remove the roots without cutting the skin. Put the beets in a pan cover them with water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat slightly and cook for 20-40 minutes, depending on size until the largest beet is tender when you pierce it with a long metal skewer or knife

Meanwhile put the oil, vinegar, scallions, garlic and salt in a jar with a screw on lid and shake until emulsified, then set aside.

Drain the beets and run under cold water until they are cool enough to handle, then peel away the skins. Thickly chop or slice the beets and then put them into a bowl and pour the dressing. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

To serve gently toss the salad, and put it in a serving platter. Serve with garlic sauce on the side.

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Sesame sauce

Recipe from Mezze, from the Love food section of Paragon books.

Sesame sauce  [serves 4-6 as part of a Mezze]

1 large garlic clove crushed with salt
4-6 tbsp water
4-6 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
5 1/2 oz/150g of sesame seed paste [tahini]
1 tbsp of very finely chopped flat-leaf parsley [Italian parsley]
warm pita to serve

Put the garlic in a bowl and stir in 4 tbsp of water and 4 tbsp of lemon juice. Use a fork to whisk in the sesame seed paste, then season to taste with salt.  Taste and add extra sesame paste and lemon juice as you wish until the sauce has a smooth, pouring consistency. Stir in the parsley. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Serve with warmed pita bread of cover and chill in the refrigerator until required

Tip: the sauce is very thin and running when first made, but thickens while it chills. If it is too thick when you get to use it, thin it with all little bit of water or lemon juice.

I was told mine was too thick. It was very runny before I put it in the fridge. so it needs to be adjusted before serving.

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Chile Shrimp

This delightful dish I found in the book Mezze, in the "love food" section of Paragon books.

Chile Shrimp  [Serves 4-6 as part of a Mezze]

2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 fresh red chile, chopped or 1 tsp dried chile flakes
5 tbsp olive oil
1lb 5 oz/600g large raw shrimp
lemon wedges to serve [optional]

Put the garlic, chile, oil and salt to taste in an ovenproof serving dish or individual ovenproof bowls. Break off and discard the shimp heads, then peel away the shells. Devein the shrimp by using a small, sharp knife to make a shallow cut along the back then use the tip of the knife to life out the thin black vein. Add the shrimp to the oil and use your hands to rub the marinade all over. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 450F/230C or its highest setting. Stir the shrimp well, then bake in the preheated oven for 6 minutes, or until the shrimp turns pink, curl and are cooked through when you cut into one. Serve straight from the oven in the dish or bowls with lemon wedges for squeezing over if using.

Got my winter tires on

It helped they had been in the truck for the past week so I could put truck in garage. I went during "lunch" time yesterday. Don't know if I'll be going back to the Monsieur Lub to get my tires changed again.

First off when I arrived the guy said he could take me right after the guy he was going to finish, in about 10 minutes and it would take 45 minutes.   It took over 2 hours. They tried to say it's because it takes SO MUCH LONGER to balance 18" wheels. BULL. I've been out of there in about 1 hour with this truck and those tires.

There was at least 2 guys working on my vehicle, but they were going obviously as slow as they could. So when it was finally finished, I get the usual, "We noticed XYZ" about your vehicle, to which I answered "I'm getting maintenance done at my dealer next week". Get into the car, and found the cabin filter in the passenger seat and the glove compartment opened.  To which I was told "See the filter is dirty". Yeah it has a few leaves, I'm not worried about that. In fact now that I know I can access that filter via the glove compartment, I can take it out again, shake it free of stuff, and put it back in. They didn't even bother shaking it. No, they would have charged me an arm and leg to change it and taken another half hour.

I dunno that I'll be going back to this Mr Lub. I've been going to get tires changed there for years, but the level of their incompetence this time and the time it took, is not making me feel that comfortable.

When I got home I rolled all 4 tires to my back shed and put them in. So my car has it's winter tires on 2 weeks before the deadline. Usually I set off to get them put on after the deadline!

I also washed dishes for hours last night.  I really miss my dishwasher.  Need to get that fixed already.  Still have more dishes to wash tonight, but it should be the end of it.

Monday, December 02, 2013

More Mezze dishes

Chile Shrimp
Recipe here

Chickpea salad
Recipe here

Rosemary chicken
recipe here

Grilled cauliflower
Recipe here

Recipe here

garlic sauce
Recipe here

hummus balila
Recipe here

sesame sauce on the right, hummus on the left
Sesame sauce recipe

Tomato tabouleh, made with white and black quinoa, so gluten free
Recipe here

Fruit and nut tabouleh, made with white and red quinoa, so gluten free
Recipe found here

Beet salad
Recipe here

mixed vegetable salad
Recipe here

batata harra
recipe here

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Lebanese Mezze for his Birthday.

I decided to cook a Lebanese Mezze for my ex hubby's birthday. Every year I used to try to find a Lebanese restaurant so he could have the taste of home, and often that would fail miserably. This year I decided to try to do it at home. I made 12 dishes and 2 sauces.

Does it look yummy?  Yep made this much food in 2 days.  Will be posting close up photos of each dish with name later. Right now I just want to sleep :)


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Your Call: What can we learn from Moral Monday?

Apr 7, 2014

On today’s Your Call, we’ll talk to leaders of the NAACP-led protests in North Carolina that are spawning similar efforts nationwide. In February, more than 80,000 people joined a historic march at the state capital in Raleigh to oppose cuts to healthcare and education, and threats to voting and abortion rights. What tactics and messages helped Moral Monday grow? And how would it work in California and elsewhere?  Join the conversation on the next Your Call, with Holly Kernan and you.

Tim Tyson, civil rights historian at Duke University

Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP and one of the key leaders of Moral

Web Resources:

The American Prospect: A Mighty Shout in North Carolina

Slate: The Left Fights Back

The Washington Spectator: The Politics of Faith and Fusion: Moral Monday in North Carolina

The American Prospect: The Man Behind Moral Mondays


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Monday, March 14, 2011

Foreign-Owned Maine Wind

Maine isn’t just a magnificent piece of real estate—it’s a brand. This beautiful state in which we live is a destination. Maine residents already have what millions of people the world over are craving.

Maine is unique—and Mainers are distinctive. We’re independent. Resilient. Proud. We’re a people who resist domination and prefer to be self-reliant. We’d rather do without, than do wrong.

Maine is at a cross-roads. For years we have been inundated with propaganda from the wind industry and its biggest supporter--the Baldacci administration. We’ve been told that we must do our part to counter-act global warming, and we’ve been led to believe that installing hundreds of miles of industrial wind turbines on our mountains would help affect that change. Wind proponents have also used fear tactics to encourage us to support their plan. As Angus King said in May of 2010, “I haven’t talked to anything about global climate change… but the bottom line is—we’ve gotta stop burning! And we particularly have to stop burning stuff we have no control over… It just strikes me as not very sensible to be totally dependent on other people—particularly other people who don’t like us very much.”

Science does not support the notion that adding wind-generated electricity to the mix will reduce carbon emissions. In fact, it may do just the opposite (See the Bentek Study “How Less Became More”, “Wind Farms are Redundant” and “Wind Power Won’t Cool Down the Planet” R. Bryce, WSJ, and others).

In addition, less than 2% of Maine’s electricity is generated by oil. Adding an undependable, intermittent power source to the grid will not reduce Maine’s usage of ‘foreign oil’.

But our dependence on the oil-producing countries in the Middle East ‘who don’t like us very much’ has been advertised exhaustively as an important reason to invest in wind. In March of 2010 Dr. Dora Mills, then head of Maine’s CDC, wrote in an email, “The unfortunate thing is that currently Maine people are dying from our world's dependency on fossil fuels. Wind turbines and other strategies to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels help improve our overall health.”

The scenarios conveyed by wind supporters show dire circumstances if Maine does not build extensive wind turbine developments along our mountain ridges… only a few of which have ‘sufficient wind’ resources. Independence Wind, the development company owned by Angus King and Rob Gardiner, used to have the following statement on their website. (From a PDF copy of the page titled “Wind Power Site Selection”, which has recently been removed from the site.)

“Wind strength is the most critical factor, and less than 2 percent of the state has
sufficient wind.”

So. Only a small portion of Maine has ‘sufficient wind’. Those locations are atop our iconic mountains, which are synonymous with Maine’s ‘quality of place’—that same quality which draws millions of tourists and buyers of vacation properties to our state. That same quality for which so many residents remain.

Also-- according to wind developers, anyway--it is imperative that we stop being dependent on foreign oil producers.

I find that puzzling; given the current ‘wind’ climate in Maine. Former governor Baldacci went to Spain to court Iberdrola, the corporation which owns Central Maine Power Company and the parent company of Iberdrola Renewables—the world’s largest wind developer. Iberdrola was only too happy to collaborate with the former administration and foist their product on Maine and its people.

However, Iberdrola is affiliated with corporations in the Middle East. In a May 25, 2008 article in “TAQA”, we read that Iberdola partnered with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, of the United Arab Emirates.

The goal of the partnership was to “explore co-investment and development opportunities in power generation, renewables and upstream assets in… North America. Thanks to this strategy, the Company has become the 4th largest in the world energy sector… and world leader in wind power.”

And today, March 14, 2011, we learn that Iberdrola has a new investor.

Chron Business News states: “Qatar Holding is the main investment arm of the OPEC member's Qatar Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund… Monday's deal calls for it (Iberdrola) to set up a regional headquarters and research and development operations in Qatar…

“(O)ur investment in Iberdrola provides significant exposure to other important global markets including… the United States of America," Qatar Holding managing director and CEO Ahmad Mohamed al-Sayed said.”

My question then, is this: If these foreign, oil producing countries ‘don’t like us very much’, and if we are frantic to reduce our dependence on them, why are we inviting them to Maine? Why are we giving the largest wind developer in the world carte blanche on our mountains? We won’t only be importing their oil, we will be allowing them to export our wind—pitiful energy producer that it is.

I often wonder if all these smaller, independent wind developers aren’t the ‘front men’ for the biggest industrial wind developer of them all. I envision Independence Wind, Patriot Renewables, Maine Wind Power LLC—and perhaps even First Wind—building their projects, receiving their millions in tax-payer subsidies, and then selling out to this multi-national conglomerate which owns our major electric utility. Currently, CMPC is barred from both producing and delivering electricity at the same time—but I’ve heard whispers that the law which created deregulation is going to be challenged. I hope I’m wrong. I hope we are not allowing our government to set Maine up to be at the mercy of a huge foreign corporation which will have a monopoly here in our state.

We independent, resilient and proud citizens still have power. We still have the right to say ‘No!’ It’s not too late to change the policies which put our state in this tenuous position. But we must stand up—and stand together. Sound science and economics should be the basis for our energy policies. If we adopt and enforce that strategy, there is no way that ‘wind’ will dominate our unique mountain summits.

Wind developers use scare tactics, but that’s a double-edged sword. When they tell the whole story, maybe then--they can be believed.

  1. It is absolutely unbelievable that we are being asked to turn over not only our Mountains, but also billions of dollars of OUR MONEY to companies that are, essentially, held and controlled by middle eastern countries. The same middle eastern nations who we supposedly have to 'wean ourselves off of' when it comes to burning their oil......

    I know that people have become complacent, but I can't believe that the people of Maine, and the people of America are stupid enough to buy this BS.

    The real problem is, they just don't know. They have been lied to for so long, by the administration, and the developers, that they just don't know what's really happening.

    Well, that is changing. And pretty soon, they will DEMAND an end to the lies!

    I just hope that day comes before it is too late......

  2. Scary stuff. certainly makes you wonder. very informative blog Karen...

  3. Hey, DC and Ali g...

    Thanks for reading and commenting.

    Yep... it's scary. Unfortuntely-- it's also 'reality'.

    It makes me realize how naive (and lazy) I've been.

    Hugs to you both.


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Thursday, October 7, 2010

Scary Helicopter Mom

On average kids learn to walk at 13 months.  In a few days T will be 14th months and he has just started to take a few steps on his own this week.  This is the first developmental milestone that he hasn’t reached on time or early and I am deeply ashamed of how much it bothers me.  Soon enough he will be in school and faced with competitiveness that will build and build basically forever.  I do not want to add to that, particularly this early.  But I can’t deny that I want him to be the best, the fastest, the smartest.

Over time I hope my wants for him become what my parents wants were for me.  They wanted me to be happy, do something I love, and be able to support myself.  My father, who is a successful businessman, would have loved if I had followed in his footsteps.  When I showed an interest in theater as a high schooler he completely didn’t understand it, but he also completely supported it.  My happiness, not his was what he focused on.  As a kid I had no idea what a gift he was giving me.  He and my mother managed to let me develop into my own person who is so different from them.  When I was 13 months old if my parents had any idea I’d become a registered democrat, tattooed, loudmouth I think they would have been crushed.  But they certainly don’t act crushed now, they continue to support me in any way they can.  Well ok, my father has voiced his deepest desire for T to become a hybrid football player/Alex P. Keaton.  He says it’s only fair I get to deal with the opposite of me.

My suspicion is we all want our kids to be the best and the brightest.  So I ask you, smart parents who are reading, how do you stop yourselves from putting pressure on your kids?

 And here he is doing his thing.  Notice the tie shirt he is wearing with his overalls.  Z has rocked the tie with overall look in his day, so I thought it was appropriate.

  1. I suggest stop reading any pamphlets from the pediatrician's office. Most of that stuff has no meaning, especially if your yardstick is a month or two between appointments. If we weren't so obsessive with our measurements, our kids could grow along in fits and spurts and we wouldn't have to pay it any mind. Love them unconditionally and they will choose which gifts they develop. i try to marvel at those. Astrid didn't ever really crawl, didn't walk until 18 months, and is perplexed at the workings of a scooter, but homegirl has decided she loves letters, can spell certain words , and rocks the 60 piece puzzles. She's probably off some norm with her jumping and running but, hey, as their bag of tricks grows, I find I've stopped worrying about the other things...

    Here's to all of our above-average children!!!!

  2. Thanks Ingrid. Very sound advice.


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Lia and Alex were married at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Sacramento. Guests then traveled to the Crocker Art Museum and cocktailed in the Old Ballroom, enjoying passed hors d’oeuvres from Mulvaney Building & Loan. After the Cocktail Hour, guests traveled to the New Courtyard where they found their escort card displayed on a giant easel. Tables were swathed in various silver linen textures – from crinkle taffeta to silver sequin. Each table had an array of white ceramic Greek crosses, Tuscan columns and artichokes and white acrylic papel picado table numbers to pay homage to the couple’s heritage. Market lights criss-crossed overhead suspended by white draped columns and custom lighting accented the Old Crocker Building’s unique architecture. Guests then moved inside to the live band for dancing and a gorgeous dessert display.

Lia + Alex

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA

Scott Andrew Photography


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O is for Occasional

Anthony Andrews perfectly captures
Sir Percy Blakeney's unique blend of fop
and champion.
Apparently, I don't read enough Irish authors. As with "N", my list of "O" authors is not that long:

I have read Flannery O'Connor's well-written rather horrible story "A Good Man is Hard to Find." It is one of those "classic" stories that students have to read in Intro to Lit courses. I've never cared for it, but another tutor and I were able to use O'Connor's story to illustrate the principle of multi-interpretations when we debated the grandmother's last line to the Misfit: "Why you're one of my babies. You're one of my children!"

Is she losing her mind? Has she had a revelation of mercy? Does she feel compassion for the Misfit? Does she recognize the similar mindset between her and the Misfit?

"You see," we told the students (who were hoping we would just tell them what the story "means"). "We both read the story and have differing viewpoints. We have to defend our interpretations with evidence from the text."

Ah, formalism at its best!

Ogilvie, Elisabeth: I read one of her books for book club. She does saga writing, a genre I hardly ever read (although I am currently giving Outlander a try).

O. Henry. Marvelous writer. Best known for short stories like "Gift of the Magi." The enchanting Wishbone's Dog Days of the West is based on an O. Henry character (and is the best, most hilarious Wishbone movie of the series).

Orczy, Emma or Baroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála "Emmuska" Orczy de Orci: I haven't just seen the movies; I've read The Scarlet Pimpernel! Speaking of . . . the movies, I highly recommend the Anthony Andrews' version.

Orwell, George: Animal Farm, naturally! Good book. Not the kind of thing I read more than once.

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Rider for the United States in Three Olympic Games

Expert Witness Since 1983

Kathy Kusner provides detailed information and education to attorneys, judges and juries during all stages of legal proceedings - from discovery through settlement or trial. She has had a major horse life, both nationally and internationally, including 15 years as a riding member of the United States Equestrian Team. As a jockey, she rode races both in the United States and numerous other countries. She teaches horse educational clinics throughout the world. Kusner is an expert in horse-related accident analysis and reconstruction - her abilities include, but are not limited to, degrees of negligence and accident prevention, and analysis of specific horses and equipment.

     · Accident Reconstruction and Prevention
     · Horse Behavior
     · Safety Procedures
     · All Levels of Riding, Teaching, Training, and Competing
     · Racing
   · Industry Standards
   · Buying and Selling Standards
   · Stable Management
   · Rental Stables and Pleasure Horses
   · Specific Horse and Equipment Analysis

Available nationally and internationally on behalf of defense or plaintiff.

As of October 2015
· 16 Trials· 41 Depositions
· 2 Arbitrations· 206 Completed Cases

    Kathy Kusner was named Horsewoman of the Year before joining the United States Equestrian Team at the age of 21. Representing the United States, she rode in three Olympic Games Tokyo in 1964, Mexico City in 1968, and Munich in 1972 (silver medal). She was also a member of the United States team in two Pan American Games Sao Paulo in 1963 (gold medal) and Winnipeg in 1967 (silver medal).

    In addition to riding for the United States in countless international competitions, she was a consistent winner and leading rider at major national and international horse shows, and on two occasions was the leading international rider at Madison Square Garden. Kathy's many wins include the Grand Prix of Dublin, in Ireland (twice); the French Championship, in La Baule, France; the Pre-Olympic Grand Prix of Rotterdam, in The Netherlands; the Puissance, in Aachen, Germany (twice); the Grand Prix of Hickstead, in England; the Grand Prix of Wiesbaden, in Germany; the Grand Prix of Wulfrath, also in Germany; the Grand Prix of Ostend, in Belgium; and the Grand Prix of Lucerne, in Switzerland.

    She mounted a successful legal case in 1968 to become the first licensed female jockey in the United States. Since the age of 16, she had been regularly winning unrecognized flat and timber races. As a licensed jockey, she rode races up and down the eastern seaboard and Canada and became the first licensed female jockey to ride races in Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Panama, South Africa, and what was then Rhodesia. She was also the first woman to ride in the Maryland Hunt Cup, the toughest timber race in the world. ABC Television filmed an award-winning documentary in Saratoga about her being the first woman in modern times to ride in a steeplechase at the racetrack.

    She has worked as an expert witness concerning horse-related issues since 1983. She has experience as a course designer, both nationally and internationally. She has worked as a television commentator for Grand Prix show jumping events and has written for well-known equestrian journals. She has been featured in a variety of television shows, books, articles and a 2005 Library of Congress publication, Women Who Dare. She did the riding for the long shots in the Disney movie, The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit. She and the jockey Julie Krone were the subjects of a segment in the Debbie Allen-produced series, Cool Women.

    Kathy, in 1960, was named Horsewoman of the year by the American Horse Shows Association.
    In 1990, Kathy was inducted into The Show Jumping Hall of Fame.
    In 2000, she was named one of the 50 most influential horsemen of the 20th century by The Chronicle of the Horse and The American Horse Shows Association.
    Also in 2000, she was inducted into the Virginia Horse Shows Association Hall of Fame.
    In 2005, she received the Pegasus Medal of Honor from the United States Equestrian Federation.
    In 2005, she was also inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
    In 2012, Kathy was a receipient of the John Henry "Pop" Lloyd Humanitarian award.
    In 2016, she was inducted into the California Professional Horseman's Association Hall of Fame.

    Kathy continues to be involved with the world of horses, giving clinics on riding, training, and competing. She has given clinics in the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Guatemala, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Paraguay, Zimbabwe, Spain, South Africa, Peru, and Mexico.

    She is a licensed pilot with commercial, multi-engine, instrument, seaplane, and commercial glider ratings. She obtained a Lear Jet-type rating, for the Lear 23 and 24, and became the first woman to work as a Lear Jet pilot for Executive Jet Aviation, which was the largest jet charter company in the world at that time. She also has aerobatics skills. Kathy is an experienced scuba diver and has had the opportunity to dive some of the best waters in the world.

    She is an enthusiastic runner. As of August 2015, she has completed 123 marathons and 73 ultramarathons, including 20 races of 50 miles or longer. In 1997, she finished the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Race in 27 hours, 37 minutes.

    Kathy is founder and chairman of the board of Horses In The Hood, a non-profit organization benefiting the inner-city community by providing lessons that teach skills and values associated with the care and riding of horses.

Available for Private Lessons and Clinics.

Kathy Kusner Clinics - for Clinics and Private Instruction

Horses In The Hood

Kathy Kusner Telephone: (310) 745-7795
(310) 383-8854 Cell

URL: -- Revised: 4/5/2016


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Monday, September 26, 2011

The Sweetest

New born babies are the sweetest most interesting creatures I have ever been around! On the 19th my oldest sister had our first nephew of the family, Max Jess Wiberg. Clark and I went up to Park City on Saturday to meet him before my sister and her family move to North Carolina. I had never spent an entire day with a baby only 5 days old and anyone who hasn't let me just tell you they are sooo interesting! It's just amazing that this little bitty baby is a human being who has an entire life to live. They have so much potential to become anything.( Just an fyi - my major is human development, so how people change and grow overtime is something that I think is very fascinating) It was amazing being with him all day as well as seeing my sister interact with her new baby. This life truly is something special. That moment was just a simple little testimony to me that we do have a loving God who trusts us and allows us to strengthen the world through families. It was really fun for Clark and me to get to experience the blessing of a new born baby this weekend. Don't worry I'm not getting "baby hungry" or anything, but I have to admit I cannot wait until Clark and I can experience the blessing of having our own babies someday :)
 Such a sweet little baby! ooo I just LOVE him!
 All these little new born babies do is sleep! I don't know if you can tell in this pic but he's a little blondie!... although I think he has a tint of red hair too, such a cutie!
 Just getting his nails filed down by his momma, totally lovin' life.
 SO SWEET!... I wish I would have gotten a pic of Clark holding him too, it was the most precious thing.
Saying good bye to my big sissy. I spent most of my time with her this summer as I was preparing to get married. She is basically my other mom and I do not know what I would do with out her in my life. I am going to miss her and her sweet family SO much. Have fun in North Carolina Fanny, Love you!
(and can I add that she looks dang good after just having a baby!)

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

We're Back!

It has been over a month (by two days!) that Clark and I have been married. I thought I would love this whole blogging deal but I have realized it is a little hard to set aside time to share your life with the world when you are in school and planning a wedding... but I think it is finally safe to say, although I need to do homework, I found some time!

{{ First of all, I just want to note the reason why I have this time is because of how HARD of a worker Clark is. He has a way intense schedule of working from 7am to 5pm and then takes evening classes which do not get done until after 8! So during my time doing homework, cleaning the house and making dinner (yes, you can believe it, I am finally becoming a little homemaker!) I also spend a lot of time waiting for Clark to get home }}

Ok, to cut to the chase I have no idea who is even reading this or if I am just jotting my thoughts down for my own pleasure but there is a point to this entry besides having time to write it. This weekend Clark and I spent time with the Brimhalls at Fish Lake, Utah. Clark and I (as well as all of his family) love appreciating the beauty of nature... and Fish Lake is a place to truly see nature at its best. I've always wished everyone could take the time to realize how beautiful the natural world around us is. There are so many stunning sites that no human could possibly replicate. Well, today in my Philosophy class our teacher put up a quote about beauty that really hit me and made me redefine what I think is most beautiful.

"Some say an army on horseback, some, an army on foot,
Others, a navy, of all on this black earth,
Is the most beautiful. I say it is he
Whom you love."

I think out of all the beautiful sites and scenery on earth there is one thing that is more beautiful than any of it... it is the beauty of the person you love. That is the beauty that I hope and wish everyone will see in their lifetime. The confidence of making a commitment to each other and God to love, strengthen, and grow with one another is truly beautiful. It is amazing to me that two people can just agree that the other person is who they want to go through everything in life with. I have found that person. I love Clark more than anything and I am just so grateful that we are married. This month has been very fun, exciting, and new for us. It is fun to live with each other as well as learn even more about the other than we knew before. But more than that it is beautiful. This new life we've brought together is beautiful. Our potential in life together is beautiful. I am grateful for Clark and all he does for us and me, I am grateful that because of him I have finally seen the true meaning of "Beauty".


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National Coordinator (HIV in East Africa)

The SRD Center is committed to quality and excellence in helping national and international agencies in the domains of education, health, and environment, to succeed through providing state-of-the art consultation services, exceptional capacity building opportunities, and sound implementation, monitoring, and post-project evaluation for humanitarian and development projects. The Center’s Head Office is located in Amman.
SRD Center is preparing a proposal for evaluation of an HIV and AIDS project in East and South Africa. The evaluation will focus on effectiveness and impact of a programme aimed at accelerating the AIDS response in East and South Africa region. However, for the purpose of the evaluation field will be limited to six countries:
Uganda; and
SRD requires a national coordinator, from one of the six target countries, with experience in HIV and/or Public Health, data collection, and surveys. The role includes about 18 days of fieldwork from October 2016.
  1. A minimum of 5 years’ experience in HIV and AIDS project.
  2. Demonstrate experience in data collection and surveys activity.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge and experience in HIV and AIDS and/or public health projects in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zimbabwe.
  4. Demonstrate experience in project evaluation, assessment, and surveys.
  5. Proven capacity in conducting research at the national and sub-national level, including capacity to manage, analyze, and interpret large sets of collected data and produce quality reports.
  6. In-depth knowledge of education projects programming, gender-related dynamics.
  7. English language capabilities are must.
  8. Excellent writing and reporting skills.
Please note that CVs will be assessed on an ongoing basis and therefore qualified candidates are encouraged to send their applications as early as possible.

Please send your Curriculum Vitae by email to: jobs@srd.edu.jo
In the email subject line, please write: HIV/ESA (your name)
In the body of the email please write the following information only:
  1. Project Title: HIV Project Evaluation in ESA
  2. Job Title: National Coordinator (HIV in ESA)
  3. Full Name:
  4. Nationality:
  5. Language(s):
  6. Sex:
  7. Email:
  8. Mobile:
  9. Skype:
  10. Address:
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Wineries in San Andreas and Boulder Creek

Shale Canyon Winery

in Syrah Wineries, Malbec Wineries, Chardonnay Wineries

Shale Canyon Wines is a new producer vinting small lots of hand crafted varietals of Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel.

PO Box 1098
Boulder Creek, California 95006
United States

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Catano Winery

in Chardonnay Wineries

All grapes are hand picked, pressed, bottled, and labeled by a very supportive group of family and friends. After a hard days work, they enjoy food and wine together!

PO Box 1173
San Andreas, California 95249
United States

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Honors for Engineers

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/34759

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OS_ENG_v14_i05_006.pdf 1.669Mb PDF View/Open

Title: Honors for Engineers
Issue Date: 1931-03
Publisher: Ohio State University, College of Engineering
Citation: `Ohio State Engineer, vol. 14, no. 5 (March, 1931), 6-7.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/34759
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How did a truck end up in this tree?

SHERWOOD, Ore. - Firefighters and a towing company removed an empty truck from a tree Sunday morning, but they're still confused about how it got there.

They found the truck 10 feet off the ground near Highway 99 and Middleton Road, southwest of Sherwood.

Firefighters said the truck had been empty for some time, and there were no signs that the driver was thrown from the truck or injured in the crash.

The woman who was driving the truck showed up while the truck was being removed from the tree. She told firefighters she was not hurt in the crash. The specific details of how her truck ended up so high in the tree are still unclear.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office cited her for failing to perform the duties of a driver because she didn't immediately report the crash. Her name has not been released.

Someone called 911 at 7:30 a.m. to report the truck. A Portland General Electric crew helped with the truck removal because the tree was near some power lines.


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Book Review: Lorelei James’ Chasin’ Eight

Posted January 15, 2013 by Kathy Davie in Book Reviews

This book came from the library, and I will never give you less than an honest review, no matter its source. I do provide informational and purchase links to make it more convenient for you to access the book. I also receive a percentage of the sale if you use one of my links to buy it. And that's not enough money to be less than truthful *grin*.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
Book Review: Lorelei James’ Chasin’ Eight

Chasin' Eight

by Lorelei James

Series: Rough Riders #11

Other books by this author that I've reviewed include Corralled, Saddled and Spurred, Rode Hard, Put Up Wet, Wrangled and Tangled, Long Hard Ride, Cowgirl Up and Ride, Rough, Raw and Ready, Tied Up, Tied Down, Wild Ride, Branded as Trouble, Shoulda Been a Cowboy, All Jacked Up, Raising Kane, Cowgirls Don't Cry, One Night Rodeo, Casanova Cowboy, Kissin' Tell, Gone Country, Mistress Christmas, Miss Firecracker, Bound, Redneck Romeo, Unwound, Turn and Burn, Hillbilly Rockstar, "Schooled", Wrapped and Strapped, Unraveled.

Genres: Erotic Romance

This eBook has 288 pages on June 28, 2011. Discover more about it at Goodreads. You can also buy it at Amazon

Eleventh in the Rough Riders erotic romance series complete with cowboys in Sundance, Wyoming. The couple focus is on Chase McKay and Ava Dumond Cooper.

I really wanted to go with a “3” for all the errors in this, but I have to appreciate the message that James promotes in this.

My Take

What can I say? I am so caught up in the McKay family and learning what’s happening in their lives, you’d’a thought I’d’ve missed all the proofreading errors scattered throughout this story. Man, James, were you really in this much of a hurry that y’all couldn’t be bothered? I mean, Mazerati, Manalos, let alone all the missing articles and prepositions???

It is pretty funny. Chase has sworn off sex and here’s Ava dying for some. Nor does he want any of his family to know he’s been kicked off the circuit…so why he decides to hole up on Kane’s ranch is beyond me. He knows what the family is like.

For all the words James has written, there’s no sexual tension between Ava and Chase. Sure, he’s highly sexed and Ava wants some reassurance, but he’s determined to stick to his vow. Which doesn’t make much sense since he never has in the past. So, all of a sudden, for the sake of this story, he is gonna stick. Then Ava keeps letting Chase know how attractive she finds different guys, but she does absolutely nothing about it. Sure, we know it’s inevitable that they’ll get together, but, geez, couldn’t James have put more sizzle into this?

There are some interesting bits of “raw honesty” in this. Desires one wouldn’t expect. Especially from a guy. I think it’s also the first story in this series with such a tremendous message to it, and I do appreciate what James is saying in it. She presents the attraction and mechanics of bullriding in a rodeo circuit and tempers it with a hard dose of reality in the need for more and better safety equipment.

One of the things I like about this series is that the family isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with each other. They’re supportive AND they tell it like it is.

The Story

It’s similar disasters that find two completely different people meeting in the most unlikely place.

Ava Cooper has just been emotionally destroyed by her boyfriend while Chase is well on the way to destroying himself with his personal antics in the bar and the bedroom.

They each plan to lick their wounds and NOT each other when Chase stumbles over a sleeping Ava. He refuses to have sex with her, and he wants to get back into his groove while Ava tags along to experience something different, something real that isn’t knocked up on a soundstage.

Hours, days spent on the road lead each to opening up in varying degrees to the other. Seeing the similarities and self-absorptions they share.

The Characters

Ava Rose Cooper Dumond is a actress who’s never really hit the big time. She’s also from a mega-wealthy family. Jake Vasquez is the boyfriend who has no manners; Decker is his boyfriend. Hannah is her assistant; Brad is Hannah’s uncle, just doing her a favor. Her dad is Dumond of the Dumond Racing Team in NASCAR. Her mother is a Cooper, CEO of Cooper Hotels, while her brother Axel is involved with DRT and Cooper Tires. Marnie Driscoll is her agent. Petra is an actress friend of Ava’s who married up — Arthur — and now does the New York high society thing.

Chase McKay, a.k.a., Bill Chase, is a great bullrider, but he’s been coasting on his laurels. Ben is his furniture building brother. Aunt Joan has left Uncle Casper, which has sent his parents, Violet and Charles McKay, into a honeymoon phase. Quinn and Libby with their son Adam and baby Amelia (Wild Ride: Strong, Silent Type). Gavin Daniels is the oldest…and longlost…brother. He has a fourteen-year-old daughter, Sierra.

Brandt and Jessie are honeymooning as well. Tell has become a licensed rodeo judge. And, hoo-ee is he angry! Dalton‘s still single.

Ginger Paulson is Ava’s lawyer and friend; she’s also married to Kane McKay (Raising Kane) and they currently have Hayden, Paul, and Maddie. Her dad still lives with them.

Cash Big Crow is going to help Chase get back his mojo. Gemma is his wife (see Rode Hard, Put Up Wet) and their kids are Ryder, Ella, and Jansen.

Carter and Macie McKay (Rode Hard, Put Up Wet; Macie is Cash’s daughter) with their kids Parker and Thane (Gib and Braxton get a mention); Carter and Colby (he and Channing have added Talia to their brood; see Long Hard Ride), his older brother and Chase’s cousins, are helping Cash with his bulls.

Chet and Remy are building Keely and Jack‘s place (their story is in All Jacked Up).

Elroy is Chase’s PBR liaison. Winnie his PBR publicist. Sheree Bishop is a spoiled, rich lunatic who wanted Chase while her dad, Lou Bishop, has too much power, but not enough nouse to know his daughter. Rhea and Janae are really flexible in bed.

Ryan Ackerman is new this year to the PRCA bullriding circuit. He recognizes Chase, but keeps it quiet and, in turn, teaches Chase a few things. Jackie Ackerman is his mom. Taz is an old-timer on the circuit with his own set of stories.

The Cover and Title

The cover is hot. It’s not Chase or Ava. Simple, physical math dictates that. Uh-huh. He’s 5-foot 7-inches and she’s several inches taller. In flats. The graphics do follow the theme set for the series with its “carved leather scrollwork” and sepia-toned black-and-white photograph.

The title is all about why bullriders participate, why they obsess about Chasin’ Eight.

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