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Welcome to the Tales of a Kitchen Witch Blog.

JoniRae.com is also the home of the Gentle Parenting Colouring Book and Goddess Dolls, and original artwork by Joni Rae Latham, so remember to check out the Gallery and Shop while you're here.

No Gluten- No Cry

Welcome to the July Carnival of Natural Parenting: Let’s Talk About Food

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have written about their struggles and successes with healthy eating. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

No Gluten- No Cry

This is a subject I should love.

Food.  I mean, come on- my name out here is “kitchenwitch” you’d expect me to love talking about food.  Food and I have a tricky history.  For a long time I was a BAD COOK.  The huz was a sweetheart, but there were times when the dinners I cooked were actually inedible.  I would burn things- all the time.  You know that joke about the dinner bell being the fire alarm?  In our house that is a true story.  Chicken nuggets and french fries, frozen pizza, and microwave dinners were the norm.  I found fresh vegetables intimidating- unless they were in basic salad form (and I’m talking basic.  Spinach was exotic and kale was something my vovo put in soup.  It is only in the last five years or so that I’ve been able to take interest, and later pride, in the food I feed my family.

When I was twenty-four, my second child was born- Patrick.  He was not a happy baby. He cried, constantly.  I was breastfeeding, and he would have to eat every hour, around the clock.  He was slow to put on weight.  He fussed and cried and spat up more than any baby I had ever known.  When he began eating food he would throw up ALL THE TIME and he had horrible rashes.  He screamed and cried.  He was the temper-tantrum king.  He never wanted to be held or cuddled.  He fought me with every single ounce of his little being.  It was so sad, but I didn’t understand how to help him.  I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what.

When he was two, Willow was born.  At her first baby check up, I mentioned to the doctor (a new doctor) that I was concerned about Patrick- I made a joke about how foul his bowel movements were and that he had NEVER had a solid one yet.  Our old doctor didn’t seem concerned, but I was really worried.  The doctor suggested that he might have an allergy and he put Patrick on an elimination diet- no gluten, soy, eggs, nuts, dairy.

I had never heard of food allergies (no one in my family has ever had one) so it had never occurred to me that this might be the problem.  Within days we saw a change.  Patrick became calm.  He was sweet and happy.  I can still remember the first day he HUGGED me.  He had never done that before and I was so happy I burst into tears.  By the end of the summer he was a completely different child.  I think his poor tummy finally had a chance to settle and heal.

We slowly began to add back foods, one by one, and I kept a food journal for him.  Through trial and error we discovered that he doesn’t have a full blown allergy, but is sensitive to most foods on the no-no list.  As long as we keep his diet well-balanced and incorporate a lot of whole fresh foods, he does just fine.  This experience forced me to learn to make better meals and snacks for my family.

I’m glad it all worked out- he is ok now, and enjoys what I cook for him and his brother and sisters, but I feel bad when I think of that poor little baby.  I work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again.  I spend quite a bit of time planning our weekly menus, trying to walk the line between well-balanced meals made with healthy, fresh foods and our limited budget.  We eat a ton of vegetables and beans- we have been slowly dropping meat from our diet and we are veggie about five days a week now.  We love the farmer’s market and I enjoy finding new things to make for my family.

The littles have fabulous appetites and every one of them is blessed with an adventurous palate- so they love to try new and interesting foods.  I’m so happy that they know dinner doesn’t have to come from a box.

Carnival of Natural Parenting -- Hobo Mama and Code Name: MamaVisit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

(This list will be updated July 13 with all the carnival links.)

38 Responses to No Gluten- No Cry

  1. I had similar problems with my dd2. For 3 months she did not gain weight and she would breastfeed every 45 minutes around.the.clock. SHe was fussy and it was awful.

    Unfortunately the doc I went to for her 6 mon checkup didn’t seem concerned about finding out why she wasn’t gaining. So I by passed her advice to give my 6 month old straight cow’s milk and didi an elimination diet. Turns out she is sensitive to dairy and for a while was also sensitive to gluten.

  2. Aw, your poor little guy, I’m glad you were able to figure out his food sensitivities! My little one couldn’t tolerate dairy for his first 7 months. I was exclusively breastfeeding so I had to cut out dairy from my own diet. What’s funny is that when I was pregnant with him, I was very dairy intolerant myself. I should have guessed what was to come.

  3. You are lucky that your kids will eat a good variety of foods. I wish I were that lucky! (having a Reluctant Feeder with sensory issues and on the autism spectrum is a daily food battle.)

    • I can’t imagine what that must be like. :(

      When he was little it was really difficult to get him to eat good things… When we started the elimination diet, he would scream and cry because he wanted his staple foods. But, once he started to figure out that some of the things he ate made him feel sick, it became easier to get him to try new things.

  4. Powerful stuff. I’m a great believer that food is our medicine and in the case of Patrick; that certainly is the case. My daughter is intolerant to refined sugar (not as serious as gluten, I know) but she is like a different child when she inadvertently has it. I look around me and see kids who are as high as a kite, unable to focus, having ‘behavioural challenges’ and I just wonder about the food they eat – don’t you?

    So pleased you have Patrick’s diet sorted; that’s wonderful …

    • I do- I was just talking to a friend yesterday about this- her son is very sensitive and gets upset so easily, it reminded me so much of Patrick when he was little… So I talked with her about our experience with diet change. I hope she tries it!

  5. Good for you for taking the initiative even when the old doctor hadn’t seemed too concerned. Moms know when something isn’t right, even if we can’t always pinpoint what’s wrong.

  6. I’m always amazed (but not totally surprised) and how connected we are to the food we put in our mouths. I’m so glad you were able to figure it out for Patrick’s sake! I think I was similarly sensitive to things, though not quite to the same extent. Once I realized I was allergic to some key things that go into our food (not the food itself) it was easy to start avoiding all that junk. I don’t miss sodas one bit!

  7. That’s amazing to hear of your son’s transformation! Food is so powerful.

    I know from other posts you’ve done that you really stretch your budget, and I’m glad to hear you’re able to fit in lots of fresh produce regardless. I know when we’re feeling the pinch, we’re tempted to skimp there, and it’s never a good thing.

    Thanks for this post!

    • No- fresh produce is SO important. If my budget is tight and I have to skimp, I leave meat off the grocery list.

      Meat is so expensive and it really makes a difference to our grocery bill.

  8. My Youngest is very sensitive to dairy, her first couple of months were a screaming nightmare, she cried and cried, severe colic in the evenings, green, mucousy explosive poo, constant snacking, needing to be held (upright) almost all the time. I even took her to A&E more than once because there was blood in her green slimy poo. I was told she had a tummy bug. No, I said, she’s not dehydrated, she’s not vomiting, she’s got no temperature, she’s exclusively breastfed, non of us have tummy bugs, thats not the problem. No, said the Dr, she has a tummy bug.

    One day whilst venting to a friend she made me list her symptoms, and compared them to the symptoms her sons had both had. Both her sons are dairy intolerant. The penny dropped. I cut dairy from my diet, my baby went from screaming and writhing to smiling and comfortable. When I mentioned this to my Health Visitor, she wrote “Lactose Intolerant” in her notes. I had to explain the difference between cows milk protein intolerance and lactose intolerance.

    She’s 4 now, and still can’t tolerate much dairy. A bit of cheese or yoghurt now and then is ok, but ice cream, creamy sauces or lots of cheese or yoghurt give her belly aches, wind and the runs.

    Fortunately running an exclusion diet is easy for me, I have coeliac disease, so most food we eat is gluten free, it wasn’t hard to me to add dairy to my list of banned ingredients. And fortunately I love to cook, so we are never short of cakes and cookies, or even home made pasta. All of it dairy & gluten free.

    It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible!

  9. Wow, I couldn’t believe the similarties between yours and my experience. My son was such a fussy baby and cried ALL THE TIME too, until we started working with our naturopath who figured out he has food sensitivities. It’s really tricky and definitely more time consuming to plan meals now, but at least it’s for a good cause! Thanks for sharing your story :-)

  10. I am really glad that you found this out early, and that the improvement was so dramatic and so obvious. We have several mild food sensitivities in our house, and one pretty significant one (also gluten). It certainly can make meal planning more challenging, but not having to rush stomach cramps to the doctor any longer was a relief.

  11. You are awesome for figuring it out! Elimination diets are hard work, and I know lots of parents unwilling to try…

    My 1st born cried a LOT. I instinctively eliminated dairy from my diet (I was already vegetarian at the time…) and it was like a MIRACLE. She can tolerate some dairy now, but gets pretty darned emotional when she’s gotten too much. <3

    • We get milk delivery each week, it isn’t raw- but it is SUPER fresh and hormone/antibiotic free, and Patrick does really well with it in moderation.

      He calls the milk at the grocery store “rotten milk”.

      • How nice! I haven’t found anything like that here (although we only buy organic dairy products, it’s just not the same as fresh & local!), but I suspect I will have better luck once we move!

  12. We have had the same exact problems. Once we cut out corn, soy and then sugar and along with homeopathic treatments our ds#2 has gotten so much better. His skin is still a mess so I think our next step is to cut the gluten. Food is so powerful and I truly believe that food is the best medicine we have.

    • Oh yay! Glad he is getting better!!!

      Patrick’s skin gets really bad when we overdo the gluten. He gets HORRIBLE oozy excema patches. Poor kid.

      I hope your little’s skn clears up soon!

  13. I love it. I too have a really fussy little one and have found food sensitivities (along with a healthy dose of his mama’s stubborn disposition) to be a contributing factor. My house has to be gluten free and egg free to meet the dietary requirements of everyone in the house. I got tired of making some gluten, some non, some egg, some non and overall limited dairy. Great instinct with your son – glad you found him underneath those pesky sensitivities : )

  14. I’m the same way, not a full-blown allergy but am sensitive. Isn’t it great when you finally figure it out??? I would love to read about what kinds of recipes you use and what types of things you eat that are gluten-free! Definitely in a rut over here.

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Home / Information & Tutorials / Tutorials / WordPress Tutorials: How to use Posts and Pages – Add, Edit and Delete

WordPress Tutorials: How to use Posts and Pages – Add, Edit and Delete

Here i will walk you through how to add, edit and delete posts and pages. Make sure you pay close attention to the differences in the pages.

Don’t forget to subscribe here on youtube and to like Joshua’s facebook page for all the updates

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About Joshua Curci

Joshua Curci
I'm a very open person and a very honest person. You can ask me any question and I will answer it honestly but don't ask a question you don't want to know the answer to. My full name is Joshua Richard Curci and I am currently 22 years old. I love video games and movies and I keep up to date with all the new movies and video games. I also play basketball and I follow the NBA, NFL and AFL. I also love swimming and surfing and try to do both as much as I can. I love making effects tests which you can see on my portfolio page I do most of the videos for fun and not for a client but I only have limited hardware so my ideas don't come out like I envision them. I'm always looking for more projects and ideas ether voluntary or payed work but as I have already stated I have very limited hardware. If you need any info or want to contact me for anything then you can follow me bellow or contact me on my contact page.

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WordPress Tutorials: How to install WordPress

WordPress Tutorials: How to install WordPress

Want to know how to install WordPress? This video will teach you everything you need …


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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Smooth Sailing & Lighthouse

Essie Smooth Sailing is a beautiful muted blue from one of their recent collections. I added one layer of China Glaze Lighthouse on top. I prefer China Glaze White Cap as a top coat over Lighthouse, but this manicure was cute for something different. Layering manicures are simple, fast, and I think most times they turn a plain polish into something really unique.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Orly Snow Cone

Orly Snow Cone is a light blue creme polish that is pretty average as far as I'm concerned. I probably own 4-5 blue polishes and this one is my least favorite. I got this polish for free with a coupon a few months ago so it is hard to complain. I think it will be good for water marbling so when I have time I will try that :) This is two coats, no top coat.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

My 450 Follower Giveaway!

I reached 450 followers:)

Thank you to all of my followers, this giveaway is to show you all my appreciation.

China Glaze: Coconut Kiss, Rainbow, Purple Panic, Beauty & the Beach

Open internationally.

Closes July 30 2011 - anywhere in the world.

The winner will be picked by random number generator. Please fill out the form below:)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Love: OPI Shorts Story & White Cap

I love pink polishes, and I LOVE China Glaze White Cap. When I finally finish my bottle of White Cap I will definitely be repurchasing it. This was a simple manicure but I still received several compliments. This is two coats of OPI Shorts Story, with one thin coat of China Glaze White Cap.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Essie: Smooth Sailing

Essie Smooth Sailing is a beautiful new polish from the Essie Braziliant Collection. Although I thought the collection was pretty plain I purchased both Smooth Sailing and Absolutely Shore because they were both very unique compared to the pink polishes I own, and I had a Target giftcard :) If you love blue polish I would recommend Smooth Sailing. The formula was good, and it dried way faster than the other eight Essie polishes I own. This is two coats, no top coat.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Simple Tape Manicure

For this mani I used China Glaze Knotty & Empowerment layered together for the base. I then added a thin strip of tape and painted on top with Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Steel Grey. The brush on the Rimmel polishes is large and wide and I love it. It makes application very easy. I finished everything with one coat of Seche Vite to complete the manicure.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Sally Hansen: Bling It On & Question

I have read several great things on Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. I won Bling It On a few weeks ago and have finally decided to try them out. I was able to do all ten nails with only five strips. If your nails aren't too long I would definitely recommend cutting your strips in half to make them last longer. The price range for these is around $10 per pack. I am going to test these out and see how long they last so it might be awhile before I have a post again. I LOVE the pink glitter strips, and unlike a normal glitter polish it is smooth without a top coat.

Does anyone know of a pink polish that looks like the pink glitter strips? I would love to wear this manicure everyday, but it has been hard to find a good selection of the polish strips in my area.

Essie: Nice is Nice

Essie Nice is Nice is a pretty lavender creme polish that is perfect for spring/summer. I purchased this polish during a CVS 50% off clearance sale but I would have paid full price for it. The formula is great, and it is unique from several other lavender polishes I have tried. This is two coats, no top coat.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Quick Manicure & Giveaway Winner

Every time I decided to do my nails in a jiffy I always turn to polishes from the China Glaze Tronica collection. From my experience they all dry extremely fast, and can be opaque in one careful coat. Today I used China Glaze Hyper Haute as a base, and the newest collection of Bundle Monster plates for the stamping. I do not normally do accent nail manicures, but this was fun for something different.

I have finally drawn and contacted the winner for my 300 follower giveaway. Sorry for the delay. I broke one of the bottles when I moved, so I had to find a replacement. The winner is Jenny S! Thank you everyone for the nice comments and for following my blog :)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Mermaid's Tears & Silver Stamping

I love OPI Mermaid's Tears, it is the perfect creme base for stamping. I also love Sally Hansen Celeb City, which is perfect for stamping. This also happens to be one of my favorite Konad plate images. I think this is my favorite non-pink manicure I have tried so far :)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Layering: China Glaze Knotty & Empowerment

I have been testing China Glaze Knotty as a layering polish since I purchased it a month ago. Knotty makes any polish more muted and dusty. For this mani I used two coats of China Glaze Empowerment with one thin coat of China Glaze Knotty on top. Although Knotty is interesting for a top coat, China Glaze Lighthouse and White Cap are still my favorites.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Stamping with Pink Voltage

It is no secret I love pink manicures. China Glaze Pink Voltage is one of my favorite pink polishes. If you would like to read my post/view links to my other favorite pink polishes you can see that here. For this mani I used Pink Voltage as the base, and black Bundle Monster stamping on top. The first picture with without top coat, and the second photo is with.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Pirate Skittles

I purchased the small OPI set from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection awhile ago and finally decided to use them. I wanted to test all four polishes out, so I painted my nails like this. They only stayed like this for a few hours, but it was fun to have rainbow nails for once. I love all of the Pirate colors, but I think in the future I will stick to the full size bottles and not the minis.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

China Glaze: Encouragement

Encouragement is a light baby pink with silver shimmer from the China Glaze Fight Like a Woman Collection. I love this color, and I think it would be perfect for the workplace. I think Encouragement would look best with a white/ivory base. This is three coats, no top coat.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Quick Purple Manicure

For this fast mani I used China Glaze Virtual Violet (from the China Glaze Tronica Collection) as a base. Virtual Violet dries very fast, and I only needed to use one coat. I then stamped on top with my Bundle Monster plates and a white Wet n Wild polish. I think this whole manicure took less than ten minuets :)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Orly Oh Cabana Boy & China Glaze Pom Pom

Lately I have not been buying many new polishes because I have been busy with moving and my ongoing job hunt. Instead I have been finding new combinations for my old polishes. I have worn this manicure for a few days now, and still have no chips. This is two coats of Orly Oh Cabana Boy with one coat of China Glaze Pom Pom on top. I found Pom Pom on clearance at Sally's a few months ago, but any pink glitter top coat would be cute. I topped everything with a thick coat of Seche Vite, which I think is really helping this manicure last.


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The Journal of Sonic Studies

To refer to this article use this url: http://journal.sonicstudies.org/vol05/nr01/a03

Journal of Sonic Studies, volume 5, nr. 1 (Special Issue September 2013)

Jan Nieuwenhuis, Sharon Stewart, Vincent Meelberg, Marcel Cobussen

On the 15th and 16th of December, 2012, the editors of the Journal of Sonic Studies visited the exhibition “Sound Art: Klang als medium der Kunst” in the Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie (ZKM) in Karlsruhe. During and afterwards, they discussed the exhibition and, in particular, four of its sound installations. This resulted in a variety of perspectives published in this article. The article is presented as a space through which the listener/reader/viewer must navigate. You enter a digital space – or a small exhibition – in which each editor reflects on the exhibition as a whole: Vincent Meelberg discusses sound art from the perspective of interactivity; Sharon Stewart presents four different approaches towards the installations, yet at the same time creates her own para-exhibition as recording-performer pursuing the fleeting nature of sound; Marcel Cobussen reflects upon the omnipresence of sound and the importance of listening; Jan Nieuwenhuis deconstructs the Dutch word “tentoonstelling” (“exhibition” in English) in order to rethink the visual paradigm of the museum and to allow sound into its space. After you have listened and read your way through the “entrance hall”, four different sound-spaces remain to be discovered. You can open the door and enter the room by clicking on the images of the sound installations. There, we – the editors – present our perspectives on the installations. Firstly (or lastly, if you prefer) Roberto Pugliese’s Equilibrium is grappled with; then Bernard Leitner’s Pulsierende Stille is absorbed; subsequently you can settle down in the Klangdom; and lastly (or firstly) listen in on Anselm Venezian Nehls’ and Tarik Barri’s #tweetspace. Welcome to  “ Sound Art: Klang als Medium der Kunst ”.


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Dear Leaf Baby,

What's that around your mouth? (Besides all that kissableness, that is?) Is that floor dirt? Son, have you been sweeping the floor with your mouth again?

The answer is probably yes, and Leaf, I've told you to stop putting pine needles and little miniscule pieces of tree or dirt that the broom can't even pick up into your mouth. Great Scot, Child! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

You are nine months old. A few days ago, in fact, you became nine months old, and I sat and looked at you. A lot has changed since the day you were born. For one thing, sometimes when I pick you up now, you struggle with all your chunky might to get into the position to nurse. It's like wrestling a beaver. All I'm saying is- hold on a sec, honey, just let me sit down first, but you will have none of it, and attempt to flip over and find the num nums you desperately crave. What an addiction. Yes, you are strong, and you are HEAVY. What happened? I actually know, too, that you're not that heavy; on the charts you are pretty average, as babies go, but to me you feel like a soft little squirmy ball of lead. With a big, beautiful smile on its face. And still the drool bombs. (Although I kind of admire you for drool-bombing friends of ours who aren't used to drool bombs. Like the other day when I was trying to get our friend Todd to hold you and he was protesting that he doesn't like holding the smaller kids, because he thinks you will break, and then he reluctantly took you and the first thing you did was drop a gigantic bomb out of your mouth and onto his pants. It was awesome.)

You are a lot like your brother. And different in more ways than I can describe. But, in likeness to him, you love sounds. You imitate the phone, the pitch of the kettle, and the other kids shrieking in the other room, just like Kid A did when he was your age. I always catch you with this look on your face; the listening look. Usually right after I see the look, I'll hear you try to mimic whatever it was that you were listening to. You also already fake laugh, to try to imitate me laughing, or make me laugh. Both work. It's pretty hilarious. I'll be sitting and holding you on the toilet, asking you to poo, and you are fake laughing in my face to crack me up. Which works. Heh heh heh. Your real laugh, though, is as squeaky and unconscious as your brother and sister's before you.

So, yes, as I mentioned, I have to be rather diligent with the sweeping around here. I try to be, oh, I try to be, and I can't help it when your x-ray vision helps you find the ONE pine needle that I missed. I've never met a baby more interested in putting things in his mouth.

Oh, yes! I almost forgot, you are scooting! Finally. Oh, Leaf, you are so laid back that we thought you'd never get to moving around at all. You are a uni-ped, now, with your belly being the part of you that gets you moving, and you've gotten to be pretty fast at it. I can't for the life of me imagine myself moving around on the floor like that, it seems like it would be a rib bruiser, but more power to ya, if that's how you like to get around.

Also, although one of those photos I posted of you a few days ago showed a deceptive little white spot, it was actually only the bright light reflecting off of your shiny and toothless gums. TOOTHLESS! LEAF, cut SOME TEETH ALREADY! But take your time, take your time, no worries, I live to puree food for you.

But it's not all about teeth, and motion, or keeping things out of your mouth. I really and truly have never met anyone as happy and funny as you are, in my life, perhaps. You are an absolute gift from God to us, a shining star, a whole galaxy. In a trying time, I walk back into our house and am lifted out of gloom by the way you welcome me. In your highchair, you strain your whole body to get a little closer, with the combination of a gigantic smile and the desperate look of a madman on your face. I am a better person, I think, in the swimming pool of love you have for me. We are a good combination, parents and babies. We love you with purpose and life saving giving, you love us without judgment.

I think you and your brother will be the perfect foils for each other, you are better together, him with his intense brilliance, and you with your sunny life. You make each other's lives better. When Kid A wakes up on in some state of incomplete REM or something, as he does approximately 62% of the time, and is grumpy and inconsolable, you are often the only one who can snap him out of it. And you follow his every move, he is already teaching you everything he knows. You will be a great friend to him. And someday I know I'll find you and your sister whispering over some toy. She'll be making up the story around a stuffed animal, and you'll be there too, making the animal sounds, cracking her up, reaching over to pat her on the back.


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The reasons I have for being grateful this week, including family visits, winter travel deals, and being inspired.It seems as though I completely underestimated how crazy the first week of 2016 would be!

So a bit of a belated Happy New Year to you all – I hope it’s off to a great (and less hectic) start for you!

A few exciting things are happening for me work-wise, family-wise, and growth-wise.

These are all things I’m grateful for as I start the year with a clean slate.

If you’re interested in the goals I set for 2016, you can look at my last post which details what I was grateful for in 2015, and what I hope 2016 holds.

The biggest goal is getting my student loans paid off! I can’t wait to be debt free.

A Brand-Spanking-New Podcast

As you might have noticed on my sidebar, the Financial Conversation podcast is up and running! I’m so happy to be a part of this awesome project along with Kayla, Chonce, and Kristi.

If you read my FinCon recap, you’ll recall that we hung out a bunch during the four days of the con and had a great time. We thought it made sense to continue that with a podcast!

Kayla happened to have the domain and during FinCon, she realized it would make the perfect site for a podcast. Inspired by Shannon’s Martinis and Your Money, we decided to give it a try.

It has been a huge learning curve, but we’re so happy and grateful to have it out there. Our hope is that we’ll reach a wider audience than we can with blogging.

We’ve got a lot of interesting things planned for future episodes (a new one is launching this week), so stay tuned!

If you have a free moment, please give it a listen and feel free to send feedback.

Family Visits!

My grandma had been going back and forth the last few months on whether or not she was going to make a trip down here during the winter. She wanted to take a month (or two month) long trip, but things didn’t work out as she had hoped.

Being that my grandma is 84 and doesn’t necessarily enjoy traveling alone, I couldn’t blame her if she didn’t make it down here, but that doesn’t mean I’d be any less upset!

Thankfully, my aunt was watching for deals, and we were able to snag her tickets for a total of $100 round-trip.

Of course, that’s on Spirit *shudders* so I’m really hoping she doesn’t experience any problems. After the last time I flew with them, I swore I’d never fly with them again.

She’ll be down here later in the month and is leaving in early February, and has already promised to do some baking while she’s here.

Her cookies are pretty much what made my childhood Christmases, so I’ll be noming away when they appear as I’ve been going through withdrawals.

Winter Travel Deals

I had resolved to fly back home if my grandma wasn’t able to make it down, mostly because she’ll be celebrating her 85th birthday later in February. I would have felt guilty for missing it and not seeing her.

While we could throw her an early birthday party here, it’s not the same. And even though I saw my family and friends back in October, it already feels like it happened ages ago.

I flew back to NY in February last year because, similar to the deal my grandma got, Spirit was offering one-way flights for something like $60. It was a no-brainer (besides getting stuck at the airport every time I go to fly back!).

I’ve been monitoring deals and it seems like I could get a round-trip flight for $140 from American Airlines or JetBlue. I know that’s not very frugal of me, but my sanity is worth the extra money.

It’s either that, or I’ll likely be making my way to Austin to scout out areas for the move. If any of you know anything about the city, or know someone there, I’d appreciate any knowledge/connections you can pass along!

As always, I’m grateful that I have the flexibility to coordinate getting the cheapest flights (I saw some $300s mixed in with the $140s), and for the savings to afford these trips.

Need a reminder to practice gratitude? Here's what you're looking for: Click To Tweet

Grateful for Inspiration

I have always said that one of the best parts of the personal finance community is how inspirational everyone is. From amazing stories of debt payoff, to incomes being tripled, and all the people making a living off of doing things they love, there’s no shortage of it.

That’s one of the reasons why I love FinCon so much; you can feel the energy buzzing in the air.

If it hasn’t been obvious (as I’ve stated it before), I’ve been lost at sea for the better part of a year with blogging and where I want to go. There have been ideas, but none I felt strongly about.

There has been a lot of rebranding going on with bloggers I look up to, and I’m always amazed by what is possible with “just a blog.” We all started from nothing and had to build our audience, and it’s so exciting to see where people have ended up.

That gives me the hope and inspiration I need to keep going. I love writing, and likely always will. I also love talking about money in hopes of empowering others to make good financial decisions.

But for some reason, there’s been a disconnect, hence this post being the only one I typically publish.

Being Grateful for…Brain Dumps?

I specifically selected “Journey to Saving” because it can involve anything I experience. It’s my journey that I’m sharing with everyone, and the top reason I chose to share it was to inspire others.

However, I feel like I’ve fallen short there for a number of reasons:

  • My journey looks nothing like I thought it would when I started blogging (of course, that’s life, duh Erin)
  • I also started blogging anonymously (anyone remember those days?) and the tone of the blog has changed as I’ve grown and found my voice.

I remember reflecting on this last year, and it led to me change the theme I use for the blog. While I like it, I’m not in love with it, and I don’t think the solution is as simple as that. It’s a bandaid for a bigger issue.

Those of you on Twitter might have noticed I changed my handle to @erinmcreates. I truly felt like @journeytosaving didn’t fit with all I wanted to share/express on there.

I know that sounds absolutely silly, being that I rarely use Twitter in the first place (I’ve been working on that!), but it felt freeing when I changed it.

I’ve been wondering if the same thing is in order for the site, but we’ll see. I just like to keep you all in the loop on my ramblings. ;)

Anyway, let me stop there for this week. Please check out the podcast if you have time (it’s perfect for a commute!), send feedback, and let me know if you have any inside knowledge of Austin. =)

What are you being grateful for this week? How has the new year treated you so far? Do you take advantage of traveling inexpensively during certain seasons?

  1. Tonya@Budget and the Beach January 10, 2016 at 6:25 PM

    Huge congrats on the podcast with you and the rest of the awesome ladies! It’s great to see more women talking about money. BTW I bought my ticket for Camp Grounded just outside of Austin in October so maybe you’ll be living there by then? Hope so so I can get a tour and see your side of the city! :) Best of luck with everything for 2016!

    1. Erin M. January 10, 2016 at 7:12 PM

      Thank you! I totally agree. More female voices are needed in the space. We want to inspire everyone (but definitely women) to take control of their finances and live a fulfilling life. So glad we’re joining the ranks!

      What is this Camp Grounded? *Googles* Um, that sounds pretty awesome! I plan on moving within the next few months, so yes, I will be there in October!!

  2. Sarah January 11, 2016 at 2:08 PM

    Erin!! Congratulations on the podcast!! I can’t wait to check it out!!

    As for blogging/rebranding, I’ve totally been feeling that too. My blog also is not where I’m at today and it doesn’t represent what I’m about anymore. So, I created a brand new one that I’m launching soon! It’s not even in the personal finance sphere, but it’s general enough to where I can talk about that if I choose to. I’m keeping my current blog, too, but really plan on turning the new one into a business. I thought longgg and hard about this, which it seems like you are, too!! Best of luck!! And any updates on your move?! Staying in Charlotte?! ;)

    1. Erin M. January 11, 2016 at 4:16 PM

      Thanks! I’ve actually thought about creating another blog, too, just using my name as the domain and keeping this one. But, I barely have enough time to keep up with one blog, so I didn’t think it was a good idea to start a second. If only! Good luck with it!

      I am heading to Austin, TX. =)

      1. Sarah January 11, 2016 at 8:24 PM

        Austin!!! Yay!!! We just hired a new person for our company who lives in Austin :) He spent this past week in Charlotte for training (he will work remotely) and had nothing but good things to say about Austin. I hope you love it there!!

        And, sigh, yes, I don’t know how I will keep up with two blogs LOL. Honestly, I think this one (the frugal millionaire) will fizzle out eventually. I’ll for sure keep up with it for now and just see where it goes. I don’t see myself keeping up with two long-term, though.

        And I think that’s a fantastic idea to use your name as your domain! If nothing else, it could serve as your portfolio until you have time to blog on it!

        Good luck, Erin!!!

        1. Erin M. January 12, 2016 at 1:58 PM

          That’s good to hear! I went there last summer and it was nice.

          Haha, I think that’s something every blogger goes through. Blogging is pretty darn addicting. At the very least, if you maintain it, you can always sell it when you’re ready to move on. It has a great name and content history!

          Yep. Lots of decisions to make. I’m just glad I was able to snag the domain – I was surprised it wasn’t taken!

          Good luck to you too!

  3. Cat@BudgetBlonde January 12, 2016 at 8:04 PM

    I can’t wait to see where you go. I think everyone who sticks with blogging eventually figures out that their blog no longer really fits with what they want to say and what they want to be. Re-branding can be hard, but sometimes it’s for the best. Congrats on the podcast! I love it!

    1. Erin M. January 12, 2016 at 9:19 PM

      Thanks Cat! I absolutely love your redesign, and it looks like rebranding has been a great step in the right direction for you/the business/the blog. I’ll take my blog not exactly fitting where I want to be as a good sign – growth is much better than stagnancy!

  4. Melanie @ Dear Debt January 12, 2016 at 11:03 PM

    The first week of January was crazy! I can’t wait to check out your podcast. Congrats girl! You’ve accomplished a lot and I know you can nix those student loans this year. Get them GONE! I’m here to support. :)

    1. Erin M. January 13, 2016 at 10:57 AM

      Thank you!! There is no way I’m entering 2017 with student loan debt. They will definitely be gone, hopefully sooner than later.

  5. Anum January 13, 2016 at 10:22 AM

    Wow. I’m so excited for your podcasts! I just heard the first ep and I can’t wait for more! Congrats to all of you guys!!

    1. Erin M. January 13, 2016 at 10:53 AM

      Thank you so much, Anum! Our next episode just released this morning. =)

  6. fehmeen January 14, 2016 at 10:43 AM

    That’s really good news about the ambitious podcast project you have started. I’m definitely going to stay tuned to see what you have to share with us. The new year has turned out to be pretty pleasant so far and I’m hoping it stays that way. Have made a few (realistic) resolutions and feel pretty good about sticking to them so far :)

    1. Erin M. January 15, 2016 at 3:59 AM

      Thanks! Good luck on sticking to them! I’m glad you mentioned realistic goals – that’s what I try to set, too. =)

  7. Jayson @ Monster Piggy Bank January 15, 2016 at 7:24 PM

    I am excited to read your posts on your family visits, where you go, and more of your posts on being grateful. Hope you have more editions of this kind of posts Erin. I am sure there are so many things to be grateful for this 2016 for all of us.

    1. Erin M. January 18, 2016 at 11:19 PM

      Thanks Jayson, I appreciate it, and totally agree that we all have many things to be grateful for this year!

    1. Erin M. January 18, 2016 at 11:18 PM

      Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!

  8. DC @ Young Adult Money January 22, 2016 at 8:57 PM

    So happy and pumped for your new podcast! Podcasting is something I would be very bad at so I’m always happy to see people I know give it a try.

  9. James January 29, 2016 at 8:06 PM

    I had fun listening to your podcast, Erin! I hope there’s more to come! It’s so fun to listen to you girls.

    1. Erin M. January 31, 2016 at 11:13 PM

      Thanks, James! We have quite a few episodes out now, and another one will be out tomorrow. =)

  10. Kelly February 2, 2016 at 8:19 PM

    Erin, that is a fun podcast. I have listened to two podcasts. You all are great! I am just so excited for the new podcast. Congrats!

    1. Erin M. February 6, 2016 at 12:42 AM

      Thanks Kelly, we appreciate it!

  11. Bobby February 19, 2016 at 5:17 AM

    Wow, its one thing to be grateful in life, its another thing all together to write several blog posts about it. You must have had to dwell and think on all of the things you mentioned in order to really appreciate them. I do that sometimes and it really makes a huge difference in the way I view my life. Very well written post. Truly.

    1. Erin M. February 19, 2016 at 11:46 AM

      Hi Bobby,

      Actually, quite the opposite. I’ve conditioned myself to be grateful after writing so many of these posts, and figuring out what to mention doesn’t take much thought at all. =) It definitely does make a positive difference, though.

  12. Grant Bledsoe May 23, 2016 at 3:30 PM

    Nice job with the blog and podcast – everything looks and sounds very sharp.

    Now that you’re a few months into podcasting, what are some of your “takeaways”? Any suggestions for other aspiring podcasters?

  13. EL @ Moneywatch101 May 26, 2016 at 4:39 PM

    Congrats on the new podcast, it is a big step. Eventually we all might have to go to audio or video content, as people everyday prefer those avenues for media consumption. The financial conversation is a great domain name, Best of luck.

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Sunday, November 1, 2015

Vegan Pumpkin Macaroni and "Cheese"

Back when we all still ate dairy, one of my favorite recipes for Autumn was a pumpkin mac-n-cheese. There were so many things to love about that recipe... it was warm, hearty and creamy, but also a bit healthier than straight up mac-n-cheese, due to the generous amount of squash in the sauce. When I started moving from vegetarian to vegan a few years ago, I began working on ways to adapt my favorite recipes to suit my new vegan ways. This fall, I finally got around to revamping this one, and I have to say, it's still every bit as delicious as the original recipe, but without the animal products.

Instead of the cheddar and cream called for in the original recipe, this adaptation uses my favorite cashew cheese spread as a base, along with some unsweetened nut milk. The cashew cheese can be made up ahead of time, and kept in the fridge until you need it. I usually make a batch each week to have available for spreading on sandwiches, using as a veggie dip, or making creamy sauces like this one. It will keep up to a week in a sealed container in the fridge.

As for the pumpkin, I like to use fresh roasted pumpkin, but you can use canned if you prefer. If you do use canned, you'll probably need to add a bit more nut milk, as it will be thicker than fresh. To roast your own, cut a sugar pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds, then place it face down on a greased baking pan and bake at 350 until soft enough to stick a fork in easily. This will take about 45 minutes for an average size pumpkin... adjust accordingly if your pumpkin is larger or smaller. After you bake it, let it cool and scoop the pumpkin out of the skin.

And now for the recipe...

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

16 oz box of macaroni (you can use a gluten-free pasta, if you prefer)
1/2 cup cashew cheese
1-1/2 cup of cooked pumpkin
3/4 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (I use almond, but you could use soy, hemp, whatever)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste

While the pasta is cooking, add all the remaining ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until creamy, adding more milk if necessary to make a nice, creamy sauce. Transfer to a sauce pan, and heat through.When the pasta is done, drain it and add the sauce, stirring to coat. You can eat it just as is, or you can transfer to a casserole dish, top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

served up with sauteed kale

If you have leftover cooked pumpkin after you make this, check out these ideas to use up what's left:

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal (vegan)
Creamy Pumpkin Soup (vegan)
Pumpkin Bread (vegan)

1 comment:

  1. I just saw a similar recipe in the whole foods magazine and thought I needed to try this. Now I have even more of a reason. I keep trying to decrease the animal products in our diet, but it's really difficult!


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Edward Norton is doing double-duty in Tim Blake Nelson’s newest film, “Leaves of Grass.” The movie, which comes out in 2010, also stars Richard Dreyfuss, Keri Russell and Susan Sarandon. It just finished shooting in Louisiana. Here’s the description for the curious:

In LEAVES OF GRASS, Bill Kincaid, a college classics professor (Norton) is lured home from the Ivy League to the backwoods of Southeastern Oklahoma by his identical twin (also Norton), a hedonistic, pot- smoking career criminal. Kincaid finds that Plato and Marcus Aurelius have ill-prepared him for dealing with a gang of homicidal yokels.


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Dead Stare Through the Window Glare

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Move Along

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DragonCon 2006 Parade in Atlanta. I love the detail these Stormtroopers put into their costumes.

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3-2-1 go

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(for Maura Wolfson-Foster)

Submitted to Mementos Last Hot on 27 Apr 2015 in Mementos
Uploaded 24 Feb 2011 — 18 favorites
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  • The good memories of when we were children
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February 2011. (Â© Lise Utne).

Please check out Maura's great work here: http://jpgmag.com/people/mwfoster51

[Special thanks to Maura for spotlighting!]

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  • MÂªTeresa Barreda Royo

    MÂªTeresa Barreda Royo gave props (24 Feb 2011):

    Beautiful image..!!! VOTED

  • Joy B

    Joy B gave props (24 Feb 2011):

  • Maura Wolfson-Foster

    Maura Wolfson-Foster   gave props (24 Feb 2011):

    Lise, what an honour.....the detail, and of course, the subject matter, are divine! The tiny painted toe nails, the furry white 'bearskin' rugs, the light, the unseen - love everything about this. Thank you! xox

  • Lise Utne

    Lise Utne said (24 Feb 2011):

    So happy you like it, Maura: I did think you might like those painted toenails :-) Thanks for the kind spotlight!

    Thank you, Teresa and Joy, too, for your kind words, and thanks for the faves!

  • Carlo Pagan

    Carlo Pagan gave props (24 Feb 2011):

    Beautiful tribute!! Voted!!

  • catharine amato

    catharine amato gave props (24 Feb 2011):

    Yes! my vote!

  • Debrah Leonard

    Debrah Leonard (Deleted) gave props (24 Feb 2011):

    Bingo ! for Maura.... I especially love the the red toe nail polish. xoxo

  • Kevin Kott

    Kevin Kott (Deleted) gave props (24 Feb 2011):

    My vote!!!

  • John Linton

    John Linton gave props (4 Mar 2011):

    Oh YEAH! Rad!

  • Sonia Adam Murray

    Sonia Adam Murray gave props (6 Mar 2011):

    I agree, Oh YEAH! Rad!

  • Anthony Cronin

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    voted !1 love it

  • JamesHarmon McQuilkin

    JamesHarmon McQuilkin   gave props (30 Mar 2011):

    The eyes have it--I know Maura would love this--and probably buy it

  • christa masters

    christa masters gave props (4 Apr 2011):

    perfect for maura! nice comp...voted

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The Mourning of Erin 1

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Seemingly all alone, the lovely Erin Stuart portrays a woman struggling to come to terms with the loss of a loved one, in our recent themed photoshoot.

Thanks to Ray, at Dis-A-Ray Antiques in downtown Guelph for supporting local artists.

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    James Wiley gave props (13 Sep 2012):

    Well portrayed!

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    You kicked some wholesale ass here. Absolutely timeless.

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    perfect set up with lighting, composition and model!

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Vivid Lights

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HER2 Transgenic Mouse Models: A Way To HER2+ Breast Cancer Targeted Therapy

  • Joel Munene Muchira Faculty of Medical Sciences, University “Goce Delcev”; MINISTRY OF HEALTH-KENYA
  • David Mwanza Wanjeh Ministry of Health,Kenya University Goce Del Cev
  • Aschalew Alemu Marie Faculty of Medicine,Addis Ababa University
  • Darko Bosnakovski University Goce Del Cev

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide despite major advances made in the recent years. About 20-30% of breast cancers cases show HER2 over expression and amplification which predicts poor prognosis. Though HER2 has been successfully targeted with anti-HER2 therapies including mAbs such as trastuzumab and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, resistance to trastuzumab is a major setback. Resistance is proposed to occur by steric hindrance of antibody binding to HER2, expression of mutant HER2 as well as increased PI3K/Akt pathway activation. Since there is need to develop better therapies, HER2 transgenic mouse models will contribute greatly to the search for these therepies.

The aim of this review is to analyse HER2 transgenic mouse models and demonstrate their potential towards development of new targeted therapy. The first model evaluated was generated in 2003 using wild-type HER2 and the whey acidic promoter (WAP) under the C57BL/6 background. The mouse was injected with ID8/E2, ovarian tumor cells and there was no tumor rejection in the transgenic mice which indicated tolerance to HER2. On vaccination with five cycles of a robust HER2 DNA based vaccine, there was induction of the immune system in the transgenic mice which was shown by anti-HER2 antibodies and 33% of the transgenic mice were protected from tumor growth. Consistent findings were obtained using the FVB-huHER2 mouse model which uses the MMTV promoter. In both models tolerance was broken by DNA vaccination hence offering protection.

A newer HER2+/PIK3CA mutant transgenic mouse using a Tet-inducible system for gene expression was described in 2013. It was shown that HER2+/PI3KCA expressing mice developed tumors with shorter latency compared to mice expressing HER2 or PI3KCA mutant oncogene alone. Cells from HER2+/PI3KCA tumors showed more lung metastases in the nude mice and the tumors were resistant to trastuzumab alone or in combination with lapatinib. Resistance was reversed by a PI3K inhibitor. This shows that increased PI3K activation has a role in trastuzumab resistance.

The transgenic mouse models expressing human wild-type HER2 oncogene only is suitable for testing of vaccines while the HER2+/PIK3CA mutant transgenic mouse model is suitable for studying trastuzumab resistance and testing of PI3K inhibitors. HER2 transgenic mouse models therefore have great potential towards development of better targeted therapy. If new drug targets are to be identified, new HER2 transgenic mouse models will need to be developed.

Key words: HER2, HER2 transgenic mouse, PI3K, targeted therapy, trastuzumab.

Dec 29, 2015
How to Cite
MUCHIRA, Joel Munene et al. HER2 Transgenic Mouse Models: A Way To HER2+ Breast Cancer Targeted Therapy. Book of abstracts "International Symposium at Faculty of Medical Sciences", [S.l.], v. 1, n. 1, dec. 2015. Available at: <http://js.ugd.edu.mk/index.php/ISMS/article/view/1146>. Date accessed: 17 jan. 2018.


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About me

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started off as a music blog hence the name. but, it is now my any and everything blog.
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Thursday, March 18, 2010

That's a Rap

So, I've been re-reading my old posts and noticed some typos/lack of clarity. I try my best to make my blogs typo free, but sometimes even after reading things again and again I still miss something. If you are one of the few people who've read a blog post with typos and thought "WTF did I just read?", I'm truly sorry and I'm trying to pay closer attention to the little details.

Also, I'm working on a series of blog postings about music in television shows and I'm really excited because this is a real passion of mine. Trying to keep things a bit more interesting around here, so I'm not just posting videos and reviews.


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About me

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started off as a music blog hence the name. but, it is now my any and everything blog.
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Thursday, June 02, 2011

Skin Care Journey: How do you remove your make up?

Very good tip from Goss. I've seen this direction on packs of face wash.

Personally, I would do it like this;
 - Take my make up off with Johnson and Johnson baby wipe.
 - Squeeze some face wash onto my hand and spread it around.
 - Wet my hands and wash a bit more.
- Rinse.

That way I get at least a few minute. When I was having problem with dryness, I incorporate my boots scrubbing pad into the routine.

In other news, I am pleased with the way my skin is going - clearing spots and reduced the frequency of my acne (thanks to duac). The smoothness is my big issue at the moment, I have heard amazing things about the Clarisonic AND the manual Clarisonic (the boots botanical brush). But, since the boots one is more in my price range, I will be checking that out and up dating you all with progress pictures.

till then.


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Tuesday, 31 January 2012

              I've had to remove these pictures ready for publication - my first ever!!

Saturday, 28 January 2012

Well, I've done it now! I put my tag image on the Craft Barns' (I loooove that shop!) blog - the first time I have ever put any of my work out there. I suppose we all have to start somewhere!

My First Tag!

My very first tag - ever! Enjoyed playing with the wonderful 'Distress Ink Pads' and fear that I'm now hooked on them. Probably much better for me than chocolate I suppose! Unfortunately (or not as the case may be) my daughter Rebecca decided that she must have this tag and it's now on the notice board in her 'Uni' (I hate that word!) digs. I suppose it's encouraging that she still likes stuff her Mum does! I'll have to post her latest drawing on here and show off - it's amazing.

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

               I've removed this post because the item is going to be published!
My first post - help! Not really sure what to do but hopefully all will become clear. My main reason for starting a blog is to enable me to post pictures of my work on various challenge blogs etc. I'm very nervous about doing this but there is so much inspiration out there that I feel I need to have a go. Perhaps then my skills will develop and I can have even more fun!


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Blue Drop

Average: 7 (5 votes)

Five years ago, something horrifying happened on Kamioki Island. Something so nightmarish that it stripped all memory from Mari Wakatake's mind even as it left every other human on the island dead in its wake! Now enrolled against her will at an isolated girl's academy, Mari is unaware that hidden eyes are watching her, waiting for her memory to return. Buried in her psyche is the most terrifying secret of all: while Mari was the only human who lived, she may not have been the only survivor! As something in a female skin invades Kaihou Academy, Mari's only hope may lie in a strange girl to whom she is inexplicably drawn yet cannot trust.

Type: TV
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Oct 3, 2007 to Dec 26, 2007
Producers: Gonzo, BeSTACK, Sentai Filmworks, Memory-Tech, Showgate
Duration: 26 min. per episode
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older


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Author Archives: Cosima Ybarra

Shepherd or Hireling?

A few weeks ago I found myself reading a newsletter article, “The Next Big Thing,” several times. Did I understand correctly that this article was written by a successful worship leader in a thriving church? I went to his web site and looked for confirmation. I checked out the blog … did I read it right….did he really say, “I’m so impressed with NBT I’ve decided to join them?” I wanted to believe he was quoting someone else.

Continue reading


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The Flying O

Our charter boat the Flying O has undergone a complete renovation, inside and out. With more space and comfort, we can cruise and fish anywhere on the west coast. So sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery and fishing on the North Coast.

For your comfort and safety the Flying O is equipped with the following:

  • 6-man-a-pac liferaft
  • Coast Guard approved lifejackets
  • Nobeltec Global Mapping System
  • Furuno GPS & 2 Furuno Colour Sounders
  • 18-mile Furuno Radar
  • 2 VHFs
  • Comdav Auto Pilot
  • 8.5-kw Onan Generator
  • 3-kw Yanmar Generator
  • 2500-watt trace inverter
  • Force 10 Stove with thermostat controlled oven
  • Sigmar Oil Heater
  • Refrigerator & Deep Freeze
  • Surround Sound Stereo Sysem
  • BBQ
  • Electric Head (Toilet)
  • Full Stand Up Shower
  • 4 Guest Berths Forward – with complete bedding

cabin-2a cabin-3a cabin-4a cabin-5a

Flying-O Resume

View the Flying-O Resume.

Kaien Sportfishing Charters Prince Rupert
The most spectacular salt water fishing off the rugged coast of British Columbia, Canada. Located in Prince Rupert.
Local Weather
Your Fishing License

Everything is included: meals, bedding, fishing tackle, bait, etc. All you are required to bring is your Tidal Sportfishing License. Apply for your license online here.

Contact Us

Colin Flaten, Owner/Captain

Cell: 1-250-889-1310

Home: 1-250-624-5151

Address: 2130 Graham Avenue, Prince Rupert, British Columbia V8J 1C8


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Noizepunk & Das Krooner, interview transcripts, and K&D: In the House! More info.
Kalvos & Damian Logo

Chronicle of the NonPop Revolution

The Essay
Show #448
The Slowest Composer in the World
David Gunn

In the half-light of a full moon's glow on a clear and crisp January night, a shivering man is casting stalks of yarrow upon the frozen ground. He is shivering not only because he is cold, but also because the results of his actions will have such profound effects on him, and he is rightly concerned. The man is Hieronymous Bosworth, a 20th century experimentalist and the slowest composer in the world. Each note of each composition is guided by the I Ching, an ancient form of divination and the fundamental oracle of Confucianism. Reading the I Ching involves casting yarrow stalks to build a series of six lines called a hexagram. Each line is either yin, the passive-feminine force, or yang, the active-masculine force. Pithy passages in the I Ching then reveal the meaning of each line. There are 64 possible hexagrams, each of which can be broken down into three-line groups called trigrams, which in turn can be further divided into rudimentary brainwave activity, or electroencephalograms.

Bosworth is working on a composition now, a piece for either solo voice or bouzouki. (Picking the instrument is itself a prolonged interaction with the I Ching.) He has been writing the piece for 11 years and is just now approaching the 40-measure mark. The total number of notes is 902. You do the math. He begins the process by first silently asking the oracle, "What note shall next be?" Then he throws the yarrow stalks. Each stalk is uniquely scented, and the way their combined odors register on Bosworth's smellomometer determines the equivalent number. The first throw yields a seven, as do the second and third, making for a bottom trigram of Ch'ien, the creative. Bosworth smiles. He may get several notes tonight, which would be an all-time record for him.

But he probably won't. Every throw involves new yarrow stalks. This is neither demanded nor endorsed by the I Ching or its assigns. It's strictly a Bosworth thing. Ergo a lot of perfectly good composing time is instead spent harvesting and prepping an Eurasian weed.

It's not a romantic notion that has him outside on this cold, moonlit night clutching a handful of yarrow. But it's Friday, Penny Ante Night, and his small flat is otherwise engaged by Schnitzler, his schnauzer, sitting at the dining room table with three other yappy dogs noisily playing poker.

The next throw is an eight, yin; line 5, eight; line 6, eight. A yin line! Bosworth sniffs the yarrow. It smells a little like chicken: Hexagram 26, Ta Ch'u, the Taming Power of the Great! He withdraws the ancient book from a hidden pocket in his dashiki, turns to the appropriate page, and reads:

   It furthers one
   To embark on the journey
   The enlightening experience is to partake of the Great Walnut.

Hmm. Sounds like an Eb, though it could also be an Fbb if the yin line is deemed gray, or changing. He continues:
   Ten pairs of old women's shoes cannot reach him
   Constant perseverance brings many nuisances
   The Walnut awaits the blessing of the efficacious tortoise.

There's that walnut again. Maybe it isn't an Eb after all, for don't nuts and seeds typically dwell exclusively in C Major? He reads the concluding three lines:
   The walls fall back into the moat
   One is enriched through unfortunate events
   That isn't chicken you're smelling, buster.

Bosworth checks his smellomometer. Sure enough, the chicken odor was left over from an earlier reading. He diligently cleans the gauge, points it at the six lines of yarrow again, and jots down the new measurements: six, one, one, four, nine, five. Good grief, with the unfavorable line nine in the fifth place, it's Hexagram 28! Bosworth sniffs the yarrow and grimaces. Definitely traces of copper sulfate. That's Ta Kuo, all right. He shivers in trepidation, because he's visited 28 often. In fact, the book readily falls open to that page, which is wrinkled from overuse.

   Perseverance brings humiliation
   It must be announced truthfully
   At the court of the Dog.

As has accompanied so many previous readings, somewhere in the distance a dog barks. Bosworth sighs and continues:
   No blame if you are sincere
   And walk in the middle
   But the danger sitting in the boat also lurks unseen beneath the water's surface.
   The walnut's wisdom remains elusive
   One must therefore resort to contemplating the Omnipotent Zipper
   Have a nice day.

Bosworth doesn't bother to turns the page to the commentary because he already knows what it will advise him to do: use his intuition. Given the nature of his compositional style, however, that's simply not likely. A sudden gust of wind scatters the yarrow stalks, obliterating the lines of the hexagram. Again in the distance, a dog barks. Momentarily thinking like a composer, Bosworth imagines that it sounds a little like an Eb. Then let it be so, he decides, abruptly rousing from his glum reverie. He roots around in his dashiki's other pocket, but discovers that he has exhausted his supply of yarrow. Well, he'll just have to figure out which Eb another time, he reasons, as he heads for home, for once not averse to a round or two of poker.

Today's 448th round of Kalvos & Damian's New Music Bazaar is brought to you by Hexagram 63, the Reinterpretation of History, which concludes with the lines:
   Seize the moment
   Cesium oxide
   Si, see Kalvos!


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Kansas City Printers - Colorstar Printing

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Thursday, March 06, 2008

Internet Explorer 8 Download Site Up and Running

Internet Explorer 8 can be installed on Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Vista, Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Note, IE8 is still in Beta stage so only download if you know what you are doing. As for myself I will continue to use Firefox and Opera as my web browsers.

Link to the Internet Explorer 8 Download Site

More reading Below:

You also might want to read "Why Internet Explorer 8 might not pass the Acid2 test"

The Web Standards Project (WaSP) announced the release of Acid3, the latest in a line of tests designed to expose flaws in the implementation of mature Web standards in Web browsers.
Acid3 Test Released

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Monday, February 18, 2013

Die groot Kokkedoor?  Television comes to town.  The Afrikaans version of Master Chef is being filmed right here in Prince Albert.  The film crew have been in town for weeks, scouting locations, restoring an old barn, and setting up the 'stage' for the big cook up.  It's fun meeting the people that come to town and learning about their lifestyles.I feel sorry for them.  Each of them is passionate about what they do and they are happy with their travelling, unsettled lives, but I grin to myself and think how lucky I am that I have roots here in the Karoo.  One of them was telling me this morning how he hasn't been home since December and how he is looking forward to his wife visiting him in Prince Albert.  They've made sacrifices in their lives to do what they love to do.  I chose to sacrifice money for lifestyle.  My friends in the IT industry keep saying come back to Joburg and earn real money again, but I am richer with what I have here, clean air, magnificent vistas and a very low crime rate.  I can walk my dogs after dark and not feel threatened.  Life is about choice.  The Karoo is my choice.
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Snapshots for You, Mom!! :)

We're heading to the beach this weekend... but before I go, I thought I would give you some of the latest photos... Nothing spectacular, but ideas of what it looks like here.
A chair back at the family's house in Heredia. Que bonita!! They have a room with all antique furniture that has been in the family a long time.
Theatre camp last Saturday with Kim V. and the kids dancing to High School Musical.

Trish before the haircut
and after :)
And the past neighbors, Steve and Diane. I tried taking their photo for their latest support letter, but it was so windy!! This is one of the best, but it doesn't do them justice with the wind.

Time for Funny Stories

So I thought there was a bat in my room last Friday night. No joke. I'm laying in bed, it's pitch black, and I hear the sound of wings hitting the curtains. Swish, swish. 'What the heck' was all I could think. I finally wrapped my blanket tight around me (I was freaking myself out, ha) and turned all the lights on (not just one -- all!) and opened my windows and doors... I looked under my bed and desk to see if it was hiding there... and I thought for sure I saw it under my desk. Turns out what I thought was a bat under my desk was actually just a part holding the legs on the desk... right. But then I heard it again... and I saw it... but it wasn't a bat -- it was a HUGE moth. Yup, that's right. I was freaked out over a moth in my room. This thing was seriously huge though. Too bad I didn't think to get my camera out.

The funniest part came the next morning as I'm trying to explain the midnight adventure to my family. Judit says "Oh yeah, I saw your lights on when I got home last night, and I thought, 'How strange that gringas sleep with their lights on and windows open.'" Ha, thanks for the help, sis. We laughed about that one.

I was riding in the car with ManRi and Blanca, returning from the family party on Sunday, and ManRi was driving, well, kind of fast through the city traffic. I said (as usual, not thinking), "Que un taxista!!" (What a taxi driver!) and they were laughing so hard. Blanca repeated what I said to Judit and Rebecca later... They were cracking up too.

Today we were learning about the digestive system and, well, 4th graders fill in the blanks that the textbook doesn't exactly mention. For example, the book calls "pooping" ... "elimination." Ha, quite an official word for that process. So anyway, today we were acting out the digestive system and Gabi jumps out of her seat and declares herself the nutrients that the small intestine is absorbing and then she jumps up in the air like a firework and falls on the ground. The whole class was laughing and then Gabi picks herself up off the ground and says, "And then I was the energy that the nutrients make." Good, we're learning.

That's all for today <3

Process of Harvesting Cashews

I learned today why cashews are so expensive. One nut is on one fruit... and the fruits are big. We started with a pan of nuts and we had to heat them for an hour or so before we could crack the shells...

Then the nuts started "sweating" an oil and smoking... the kitchen was so smoky we were running outside to get air and then running back inside to stir the nuts. Ha, it was quite the endeavor.
And the burnt shells are finally ready for cracking!
And I was learning how to crack the shells with a hammer. Fingers, watch out!

Yo Soy Tica... Mas o Menos ... Jaja :)

The title: I am Tica... More or Less ... Haha :)

Today Sojourn celebrated Valentine's Day, so there were lots of parties and cards to be exchanged. The students were able to wear Valentine's Day colors, which the advertisements defined as pink&white&red&purple... so I took the opportunity to wear my Saprissa jersey. Some of the boys were not excited to wear Valentine's colors, but when I told them I was wearing my Saprissa jersey, they got really excited about the idea.

But we still had learning to do, and the students handled that well too (for the most part... always :)). I need continued prayers for handling the situations with the two difficult boys in the class.

I was thinking about my family a lot today as my great-grandma's funeral was this morning. How surreal when I am still in a foreign country surrounded by a foreign language!

My migraine was finally subsiding this morning, so by this afternoon (maybe because it is Friday!) I was feeling much better.

Then one of the tica teachers, Carolina, invited me to her house to make empenadas, a traditional Costa Rican biscuits with meat and cheese inside. Of course I said yes because I have been wanting more tica friends and more practice with Spanish! So we went to Carolina's apartment and made empenadas. She was so encouraging to me, both about my learning of Spanish and my teaching. Carolina said that she has not seen discrimination in my teaching with the ticos and gringos, which is a huge compliment coming from a tica... and she said it is incredible how much Spanish I am able to speak now. Gracias a Dios!!! I am learning each day... more words and more verbs and more phrases... it's such a process!

and now it's Friday night and my mind is not working in English or Spanish. I just mixed up Spanish grammar while speaking English -- I said "the soccer practice of Esteban" instead of "Esteban's soccer practice". Whoops... so maybe I should stop typing before I type something in really bad English grammar, haha :)

Migraine Number Two

Why am I getting migraines??? The bright light here? I'm allergic to cheese again? Because my classroom is sweltering?

I left school at noon today and my head is still pounding...

And Grandma Great just passed away... I want to go back to the States for the funeral, but since it's in about 36 hours, it's nearly impossible. My heart will be with my family these next few days.

On a positive note, I am well on my way to having my latest support/update letters completed... They'll be mailed soon :).

Yo entiendo mas!

Aaaand another photo that Kim Loosa gave me -- the four Sojourn chicas on top of the mountains!

I am understanding more and more Spanish. Gracias a Dios!!! I have been working hard with my tutor to learn an endless list of verbs (more than 200) and it's amazing what a difference it is making in my understanding. Today at church, a gringa named Bonnie introduced herself to my tica mom, Blanca, and explained that she is a student at the Instituto. Bonnie had an assignment to ask some questions of a tica, so she began her questions. Blanca told Bonnie that I was also learning Spanish, but I don't think Bonnie understood her... I explained to Bonnie (in Spanish still) that I live with Blanca's family and I am a teacher at the Institute, but Bonnie gave me a blank look and nodded her head (ha, my own default mechanism also -- to smile and nod when I have no idea what's going on)... so then I said in English, "I am a gringa too." Blanca was laughing and Bonnie was still looking at me blankly. ... did she really think I was tica?? ha, that would be a nice switch, because to ticos, I am obviously gringa. ha, it's always an adventure in both languages!

I cut Tricia's hair on Friday afternoon... photos to come :)

Kim, Tricia, and I hung out last night and literally talked for like 4 hours straight. It is so good to have good friends here! We have our differences, but we are so thankful that we enjoy each other's company... if we didn't, this experience would be miserable and lonely!

Please pray for my students. These past couple weeks have been rough and I am often losing my patience... In talking with Mr. Reilly, the principal, he said that February and March are often the hardest months of teaching because there are no breaks and it is becoming warmer throughout the dry season. The students are becoming irritable with each other... Maybe it's time for another encouragement conference with them? ha, that worked in November when we were having similar problems. I think another part of the problems is that because I have such a small class now, each child's issues are magnified to me... Instead of focusing on many issues, I am focusing on just a few major problems ... but I feel way in over my head right now with what the students need. Pray for wisdom for me in how I handle the situations tomorrow.

Life is Very Full and Very Good

Here's the crazy group that hiked the mountain Sunday. Thanks, Brendan, for the photo.

So Kim V. is officially the producer of a play at Sojourn... and I am officially the Set and Costumes Designer! The right side of my brain says "Wow this will be so much fun!" and the left side says "What are you thinking?" Ha, it's going to be a lot of work... but the good news is that it's totally in my artistic creative nature to do something like this. We just had auditions today, and I am sketching the stage scenes and brainstorming what we need. Another adventure...

Life in 4th grade is challenging. An impatient attitude, an apathetic attitude, an attitude of stuffing anger, and an I-need-attention attitude have been my challenge lately. I mean, I know they're making their choices in how they want to behave and interact with the other students, but it's so difficult to warn and lecture and encourage and reflect and there's not much progress.

But positives include we've started a Geometry Unit -- a vacation from Multiplication and Division. We play Simon Says to get the vocabulary in our brains. "Simon says be an obtuse angle. Simon says be a vertex. Simon says be a line segment."... and on it goes. They seem to enjoy it and kinesthetic methods of learning never hurt anyone (there's a teacher word for you :)).

I have 2 hours of Spanish tutoring tomorrow and I need to study! and so many other things to do... but I'm loving life. :)

Landscape Beauty

Some of the crazy hikers climbing the cross. I decided against climbing, but I definitely enjoyed the view of the mountains and city.
Much of the path was steep and loose dirt... like this photo.
Practicing my still life photography. :)
And again.
The city and mountains in the distance.
and again :)
This photo reminds me of how foreign a country I live in. Ha, you would never see these in Illinois!
The enormous city seeming itsy bitsy from the mountain.
and again :)
and the lovely ladies of Sojourn. I can't live without them!

Tres Cruzes

I climbed a mountain today. We had heard of the Three Crosses at the top of a mountain that overlooks San Jose, and so a group of students from the Institute decided to climb it today. I now have these photos as evidence that I survived the steep hike and my camera is still intact. Que bueno.