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Saturday, 28 January 2017

We Three Kings

Hi to you all.  I am here with a card made with two challenges in mind.  The first is the Rudolph Days Challenge run by Mo over at Scraps of Life by Scrappymo, which runs from the 25th to the end of every month and the theme is alway Anything Goes.  The second is NBUS Challenge No. 9 (NBUS means Never Before Used Schtuff) run by Darnell of djkardkreations.  She is running three back to back challenges to celebrate her 5th Blogaversary, having written 1000 posts and reaching over 1000 followers which is a great achievement.  This is the second and the optional theme this time is Steganography which in essence means concealed/hidden words.  If this doesn't make a lot of sense perhaps all will become clear after seeing the card I made, or perhaps

I decided to use this new set of stamps by Habico which I was lucky enough to win over at the playground not long ago.  The three kings is the largest stamp in the set and a lovely one to colour.  Anyway, here is what I used for the card:

Habico Stamp Set.
Stamping/Gelli Plate Card 7"x 7".
Wooden Stamp with a Star (unfortunately don't know the make and old so no longer available).
Gelli Plate 6" x 6".
Adirondack Inks:  Butterscotch, Sunshine Yellow. Espresso and Stonewashed.
Tonic Scalloped Square Layering Dies.
XCut Sentiment.
MISTI Stamping Tool.
Spectrum Noir Coloured Pencils.
Gold Mica Powder.
White Funky Foam.
White Base Card 8" x 8" cut down just under 6" x 6".

I started with a piece of the gelli card and using the inks I created the background by placing blue at the top and yellow, butterscotch and a little espresso ink towards the bottom.  I spritzed with water and pressed the card onto the surface of the plate and pulled the print.  I did add extra of some of the colours still using the gelli plate and spritzing to build up the colour a bit on the sand area.

When dry I cut it with one of the scalloped dies (second largest) and then stamped the Wise Men into position using the MISTI but first making sure I had allowed enough room for the sentiment to be placed at the bottom.  I stamped using the Espresso ink and it took several goes to get a really good impression, but the beauty of the MISTI is that you can overstamp as many times as you wish.

I coloured it using my pencils and I also finished with some Gold Mica mixed with a waterbrush and carefully painted on to various parts of the scene.  I also used it for stamping the star by actually painting it on the the rubber stamp.  I did have to go over the star after stamping to darken the impression, but I think the result is nice and shimmery.  I also added a little shading under the feet of the camels using some Espresso ink with the waterbrush.  It doesn't show up that much now as that is where the sentiment is.

The hardest part of the whole process was doing this hidden sentiment.  I started by die cutting the sentiment from the scene first being careful to save all the little pieces (13 in total).  I then cut another using some white funky foam which I backed with Stick It adhesive.  The next step was to mount the scene on to the base card having first fixed a piece of the Stick It adhesive to the back of the the piece before adhering to the card.  I did this as none of the small pieces had any sticky on them I then stuck the funky foam sentiment into the space (excluding all the little pieces apart from the dot for the 'i' which I placed in the hole.  *I then fixed all the little coloured pieces I had kept into the spaces being careful to position them correctly by looking at the top layer to see that they matched correctly.  I then adhered the top layer with some photo glue.

*With hindsight I think it would have been better to fix the top layer and then inset all the little pieces last as it would have been easier to match them up but I got there in the end and was pleased with the result.  The foam made it stand out better and by setting the little pieces at a lower level gave it more dimension and again made the letters easier to decipher.

I hope you managed to stay awake throughout that rather long winded  Thank you for taking a look today and I'll see you again soon.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Happy Little Stampers January Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes (no twist).
Artistic Stamper Challenge - Anything Goes.
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

Saturday, 21 January 2017

Japanese Lady

Hi everybody.  I hope that January is going well for you.  We are about three quarters  of the way through it and already the nights are beginning to be lighter which pleases me greatly.  I have felt very lacklustre and have not really got going with my cardmaking since Christmas.  I did spend quite a bit of time after Christmas and into the new year sorting out my crafting area and that is done now and everything is a lot more tidy, well, at the

Anyway, getting to the point, our lovely friend Darnell over at djkardkreations is hosting her NBUS Challenge No 8 to celebrate her 5th Blogaversary and having done a staggering 1000 posts and having over 1000 followers, is no mean feat I feel.  In case you are not aware NBUS stands for Never Before Used Schtuff and I know we all have some of that kicking about the place so this is a great time to use it.  She is generously offering some lovely prizes and this is the first of three challenges back to back too.  Darnell also has an optional theme for this challenge which is to 'Use Coloured Pencils on Kraft'.  I don't have many pencils but did the best with what I had, so here it is.

For this card I used:

Japanese Tea Garden Embossing Folder and Lady Stamp (magazine freebie).
Crealies Pierced Rectangle Nesting Dies.
Adirondack Espresso Ink.
Versafine Smokey Gray Ink.
Spectrum Noir Coloured Pencils.
8" x 8" White Base Card with the width cut down to 6".
Kraft Card.
Sentiment Stamp.

I'm afraid I'm a bit addicted to magazine freebies and I picked this one out, back in December I think, because it had a lovely embossing folder and a border folder too and this very pretty lady stamp, so I thought it was a good deal, and this is its first outing.   I have to say that sometimes the stamps do not stamp that crisply, but now I have a MISTI to help me, instead of putting too much ink on to make sure that there are no bare patches, you can go easier on the ink and stamp as many times as it takes to get a good image, and it is so much better and easier.

I started by cutting a piece of kraft card using the second largest Crealies Die which was just the right size for the embossing folder, which I then used to make the pretty flower frame.  I then placed the lady and stamped with the Espresso ink using the MISTI.  When it was perfectly dry I used the coloured pencils to colour her in.  To finish I adhered this to the white card base and stamped the sentiment, again using the MISTI and the Smokey Gray ink.

Thank you for dropping by and I'll be back soon.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Penny Black and More January Challenge - Anything Goes.
Country View Challenge January -  Anything Goes.

Sunday, 15 January 2017

Honey Doo Flower Anniversary

Hi everyone.  I made this anniversary card back in early December but with all the Christmas cards it has been sitting there waiting its turn.  The new season of anniversary card sending doesn't start until April so this may be the only one on show for a while.

For the Card I Used:

Honey Doo Crafts - Flowers for Design Stamp Set.
Leonie Pujol - Dotty Heart Embossing Folder.
XCut Hearts and Kisses Embossing Folder (difficult to find at the moment).
Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson - Orange Blossom Leaves Die.
Sue Wilson Congratulations Sentiment Die.
Tonic Scalloped Square Layering Die Set.
Adirondack Ink - Cranberry.
Distress Ink - Faded Jeans.
Snippet of White Card.
Snippet of Red Card.
Cosmic Shimmer White PVA.

I started with a white snippet and made an embossed background with Dotty Hearts Embossing folder.  In order to make it square I had to extend it a bit.  I then attached it to the white square base card.

I found a red scalloped square in my bits box and added it to the middle of the card on top of the Dotty Hearts.

I then found a white heart in my bits box left over from another card and I coloured it using Distress Ink in Faded Jeans applied with one of my new Clarity Brushes.  The colour looks much paler because the brush covers it very slowly and so you can stop when there is as much colour as you would like.  I then embossed it with the Hearts and Kisses Embossing Folder.  I adhered this to the red scalloped square.

I made my flowers by stamping onto a snippet of white card using the Adirondack Cranberry Ink.  I stamped one large and four small flowers.  I blended the ink into the centre of the flowers using a waterbrush and then added a small amount of the Faded Jeans to the outside of the petals.  I cut all the flowers out and shaped them a bit.

I cut both of the dies from the Orange Blossom Leaves die set using a snippet of white card and this gives you a mirror image set.  I cut each of the cluster of leaves into three and using Pinflair Glue gel I attached the flowers and the leaves so they framed one side of the heart.  I finished by adding the centres to the flowers with the White PVA.

I finished with a Sue Wilson 'congratulations' die which was also in my bits box and the blue was the perfect colour to go with the flowers and heart.

Before I go I would like to introduce Kate aka Cuilliesocks whose blog you will find here.  For those of you who haven't come across her before she has a very interesting and varied blog and loves her stamps and getting inky.  She also loves knitting and as her name suggests socks figure highly,  and enjoys singing in a choir, and I'm sure she would appreciate your visit.

Thank you for looking at my blog today.

I am entering the following challenges:

Pixie's Crafty Playground - Weeks 263 and 264 where we use our snippets of card and paper etc.
Simon Say Monday Challenge - Be Square.  (Square card and square white embossed and red mats)
Happy Little Stampers January Anything Goes with Dies Challenge.
Country View Challenges  January 2017 - Anything Goes.

Monday, 2 January 2017

Winter Stag

Hi all.  This will be the last Christmas card on here for a while as now we are into the new year Christmas is definitely over for another year.  It was made for our DS in Australia and I was waiting for it to arrive before showing it here.  Unfortunately it didn't arrive until a few days after Christmas, although I thought I had sent it in plenty of time, but sadly his card to us has still not arrived, although hopefully it may drop through the letter box when we are least expecting it to.

I love this Serendipity stamp call Buck but over here we would normally call it a Stag, hence my title.  It is one of those stamps that you can change to suit the season and that is what I have done here.

Used for this card:

Serendipity Stamp - Buck.
Sheena Douglass Frosty Ice Embossing Folder.
Adirondack Ink - Stonewashed and Espresso.
Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac.
Memento Ink - Bamboo Leaves.
Snippets of White and Silver Mirri Card.
White Base Card cut to fit a 6" x 4" envelope.
Cosmic Shimmer White PVA.

I started with a snippet of white card and embossed it using the Frosty Ice EF, and I cut it down so that it would fit the A6 sized card as the original size is 5" x 7".  I then stamped the Stag into the centre using the Espresso ink, but as it is a large stamp I masked off some of the top and bottom so it fitted the space better.  I blended the ink a little with a waterbrush  and then added the sky using the Stonewashed and a little of the Espresso and Shaded Lilac to give the impression of distant trees.  I also added some Espresso and Bamboo Leaves ink for the foliage poking through the snow.

I finished with the White PVA on the tree and the snow in front of the Stag, and then die cut a sentiment from a snippet of Silver Mirri card.  I then layered it up using another Silver Mirri snippet and adhered to the white base card.  I have shown it here without the personal sentiment which obviously I added before sending it.

Thank you for visiting today and I hope to see you again soon.

I am entering the following challenges:

Pixie's Crafty Workshop - Week 262 where we use our snippets of paper and card etc.
Penny Black and More Challenge - Anything Goes.
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.
Happy Little Stampers January Watercolour Challenge - Anything Goes (no twist).
Happy Little Stampers January Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes (no twist).


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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Punisher #1

Greg Rucka & Marco Checchetto

This is probably one of the first Punisher books that I've ever read.  Frank Castle was just never really a character that I was very interested in following.  But I really like Greg Rucka's work, so I thought I would give this a shot.  Greg Rucka is really known for his strong female characters (Whiteout, Batwoman, Stumptown, etc.), so I thought that this was an interesting choice for him to write.  But then again, Rucka also worked on Gotham Central, and as this heavily features characters of a police department, it makes sense that he would enjoy writing something like this.  I like that Punisher is presented as a force of nature in this first issue.  There are few characters out there that seem so much larger than life, but Frank Castle definitely fits that bill, swooping in to "punish" people for their crimes, before disappearing into the night.  Like Batman, he's above the law.  A vigilante.  A kind of anti-hero factor that adds some dimension to his character (which we really have yet to see in this title).  Ironically, another character who's a force of nature in the Marvel Universe is Elektra, assassin for hire.  In her Marvel Knights series, she was definitely portrayed as a force of nature swooping in to kill her mark, hints of red in the panels as people were killed in her wake.  But Greg Rucka didn't portray her like that when he took over the title.  Sandwiched between Chuck Dixon and Robert Rodi who did portray her in that light, Rucka brought a real depth to her character in a really riveting run of comics, yet still managed to make her seem bad-ass and cool.  Again, he's great at writing those strong female characters.  So it's kind of strange to see, at least in this first issue, that he uses Punisher as that force of nature-type character that he avoided with Elektra.  But I'm confident that this won't be that sort of one-note title, as Rucka can write some mean characterization.  And I think that if anyone can make Punisher into a character I'd want to follow, it's Greg Rucka.

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July 6, 2011

Application Diagram: Remote OB Truck with Matrix System and External Interfaces

The following diagram provides a sample of a common application of Clear-Com products. To access the PDF download, Visio download, or to find out what Clear-Com products are shown in the diagram, click here.

Remote OB Truck with matrix system and external interfaces:
(Click on image to enlarge.)

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Publication Date
Publication Date:
August 1, 2015

These Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) address the problem of chronically missed children (CMC), who are widely discussed in polio eradication initiatives. It has been found that especially in the polio-endemic countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan), poliovirus transmission is maintained because of no or very low immunity among a clusters of susceptible children. Very often these children are found to be missed during the polio Supplementary Immunisation Activities (SIAs) for various reasons. In order to stop transmission of polioviruses for a longer period or permanently, it is crucial to identify these missed children and bring them within the reach of the entirety of polio eradication activities.

After defining CMCs, the SOPs explore topics of identification of CMC, characterisation, micro-planning, plan and implementation of vaccination strategy, social mobilisation, supervision and monitoring, evaluation/assessment, and review. On social mobilisation: "Strategic social mobilization activities should be planned and implemented starting from pre-campaign to the end of SIAs based on the characterization of the chronically missed children." These activities might be implemented, for example, in communities that have low trust on polio vaccination programme, commonly known as refusals or non-compliance communities.

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Image credit: GPEI


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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Agri Commodities Market Update Today : 30 March

Turmeric April futures traded on a slipped on Tuesday (5.00pm) at India's National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX). NCDEX Turmeric trading range for the day is 8170-8622. Market sources however expect further fall to be limited as summer season North Indian demand and export demand are expected to pick up in coming weeks.

Buy Turmeric @8350, SL-8150,TGT- 1 / TGT- 2-8550/ 8880

Chana futures traded on a Negative note decreased demand on Tuesday (5.00PM). Chana May l contract lost -0.36% to 4467 levels. NCDEX Chana trading range for the day is 4385-4583. But an overall fall in Pulses production reports could also keep overall sentiments firm for the commodity.

BUY Chana @4430,SL-4380,TGT- 1 / TGT- 2-4480/ 4540

The NCDEX Soyabean April futures slipped by -1.77% in the last trading to close at 3994 level till Tuesday closing. Ref.Soya oil trading range for the day is 636-648. NCDEX Soyabean trading range for the day is 3933-4119. NCDEX accredited warehouses soyabean stocks gained by 121 tonnes to 41132 tonnes.

SELL Soyabean @4040, SL-4090, TGT- 1 / TGT- 2-3990/ 3940

Commodity NCDEX Tips

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Date of Award

Degree Type

Education, Leadership and Public Service

Educational Administration and Supervision

First Advisor/Chairperson

Derek Anderson

Second Advisor

Abby Cameron-Standerford

Third Advisor

Cale Polkinghorne

This case study explores a superintendent’s leadership during financial crisis. It is imperative that new superintendents have a body of research and specific case studies to review to see how other superintendents were able to manage and mitigate crises in similar areas they may face. In the particular case studied, a superintendent took over a district with a newly identified deficit, an expired teacher contract and a poor reputation with stakeholders. The qualitative study allowed for an analysis of the superintendent’s leadership traits and actions that are needed in crisis. Data included interviews, memos and primary source documents. Findings showed a need for a leader with high competency and integrity. New leaders can learn that while it may appear directive decision-making is required in crisis, in this case successful changes came through soliciting feedback and a level of collaboration and compromise. It is evident further research is needed to validate findings of this case study to help shed light on what superintendents can do to mitigate crisis.


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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Charles Gage VanRiper struggled to speak for much of his life.  Because his spoken words came haltingly, he became a extraordinary writer, publishing numerous text books on speech disorders.  His fiction was published under the name of Cully Gage.  Through his work and his writing, Charles Van Riper achieved the same victory expressed by King George VI, who also struggled with stuttering, “I have a voice.”  The “voice” of Charles VanRiper changed the lives of millions of stutterers, and continues to influence thousands of Speech/Language Pathologists who dedicate their lives to helping children and adults overcome this problem.

Charles VanRiper planned to speak one last time from beyond the grave, sharing the struggles and triumphs of his life through his autobiography.  But once again, his voice has been silenced, not by a speech disorder, but by those responsible for his legacy.  The manuscript on which he lovingly labored remains unpublished and unavailable to those who would benefit from its message.  The purpose of this series of blogs is to reveal the existence of the autobiography to the public, and to demonstrate to those who have silenced VanRiper’s final words, that many still care and desire an opportunity to learn more from the life experiences of this extraordinary man.

The following brief exert from VanRiper’s unpublished autobiography describes the first year of his career as an English teacher in the town of Saline, Michigan:

I taught four classes in English including Shakespeare, Grammar and Composition, Modern Literature and something else.  I was also in charge of the assembly room, where the pupils studied for one period, and that was the hardest for me because at the end of the hour I had to say loudly, “Classes may pass!  Lord, I used to fear having to say that!  Once by the school clock on the wall opposite my desk, I had such a hard complete block on the word “classes” that I couldn’t get it out until four minutes had passed.  That sure raised hell with the whole operation of the school. . . . . . .

. . . . . .Unable to express myself with any fluency I developed ways of teaching silently or used various strategies to keep my verbal output to a minimum.  Most teachers talk too much and their students too little.  In my classes the students taught themselves and each other.  For example, after I’d held up a large cue card bearing the word “SILENCE!” and the class had come to order, I’d take envelopes to about four of the class members with their names, and the names of the other members of the group on the back of them.  Inside the envelope would be a sheet of paper outlining the topic that was to be discussed among them and then to be taught to the entire class.  Also I had questions to be answered and a set of five slips of paper of varying lengths which were drawn to determine which member had to do the reporting.  Then I’d give them ten minutes to work on the project with the remaining time used for class presentations.  They worked like hell because they didn’t know if they would get the shortest slip and have to come up front.  Sometimes I’d go around to the various groups and give a bit of help but not usually.

            At other times, when they came to class the students would find a list of questions on the board (I sure loved that blackboard!) and something like a roulette wheel I’d made of heavy cardboard.  Each student had a number and if, when I spun the wheel, it stopped on that number the student had to answer the question.  Previously I’d assigned the roles of clapper and groaner to two of them.  When the student answered the question correctly, the clapper applauded loudly.  If he didn’t then the groaner groaned.  Very hilarious but effective.

            I worked out many variations of these techniques and I know that no student ever got bored in my classes. . . . .  Also, like most stutterers, I could be very fluent when speaking in unison so in my English classes we read a lot together aloud.  I remember once though when choral reading one of Browning’s poems that had the refrain “And a rouse to King Charles” I couldn’t say “Charles” and had to pantomime it.

            Shakespeare was tough to teach to those kids, but I had them act out scenes from Julius Caesar and Macbeth translating the Bard’s immortal prose into their own words.  They had to study hard to do it.  And I had them collect quotations from all of his works that they might be able to surprise their parents with at home.  One boy, whose father raised horses, reported he had delighted him by quoting, “Phew! Methinks I smell of horse piss!”. . . .

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Herald staff win UN awards - 24th October 2009

Journalists on the Herald have dominated all major print categories for the United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards. Nick O'Malley, Heath Gilmore, Erik Jensen and Josephine Tovey's ''Foreign students exploited as slaves'' was judged the best news print report.

Glenda Kwek's feature ''Grim life of outcast children'' won its category, while Kate Geraghty's series of work, ''Sexual warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo'', was judged the best photojournalism. (Credit: Fairfax)

Media Man Australia Profiles

United Nations

Social and Community Entrepreneurs


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Toybox Project Worker

Closing date:
31 Jul 2017
The Toybox Project Worker will work with the Project Team Leader, Area Manager and the Toybox team to improve the early years’ development and educational opportunities for Traveller children aged 0-4.

Early Years – the organisation for young children requires the following staff to work within Traveller’s Toybox Project

Toybox Project Worker

Ref: 17-42

NJC Scale 5, Point 22-25 (£20,253 - £22,212) pro rata

25 hours per week, Permanent

For further information and an application pack please visit our website or contact Human Resources on 028 9038 7905.

Closing date: Monday 31 July 2017 at 12 noon.

Early Years is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to providing flexible friendly working conditions.  As Protestants and males are currently known to be under-represented in the Organisation, we would particularly welcome applications from these groups.

Added by
Early Years
Closing date:
31 Jul 2017 12 noon
Job Information
Part time
25 hours per week
£20,253 - £22,212
Contact Information
Office 3, First Floor
Legahory Centre
BT65 5BE


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The Link Family & Community Centre

Created by
Naomi Boyd
Last updated -
18 weeks 6 days ago
Charity, Community Centre,

The Link Family and Community Centre came into being in January 1997 as an initiative of one Presbyterian Church in Regent Street, Newtownards. Ten years on The Link has become an interdenominational project and an independent community development organisation with its management committee involving people from across the community and its volunteers drawn from around twenty churches. Since its small beginnings, in a small coffee bar drop-in based in commercial premises on one of the town

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Contact information
Lamont Building
10 West Street
BT23 4EN
028 9182 1124


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Hints on Maximizing Your Rewards

October 19, 2001

Updated, 11/06.
One of the questions I see a lot on the message boards is, “Can you give me some hints on how to earn the most points on this-or-that rewards program?” This is a very incomplete list, but here are some ideas to help. Please email if you have other tips to share!
General Hints
Use a different email address for every rewards program you join. Create new mail addresses on Hotmail, YahooMail, or Mail.com for this if necessary. Make a note of the addresses! Another suggestion is to create addresses you can remember, like mypointshappy@mail.com, ebateshappy@mail.com, etc. What’s the advantage here? To get points for signups you must have a unique email address. Also, some merchants that give rewards for “first-time customers” only check your email address to verify if you’ve bought there before (instead of putting a cookie on your machine). If you can use a different email address…ahem.
Another hint: some rewards programs pay you a small number of points or cents for correctly answering a daily trivia question. There is a daily newsletter that provides the correct answers to these questions, saving you a lot of time and effort — more information on that newsletter is here.
Hints for BondRewards
Be sure to read their emails and click the link inside where it says, and you’ll receive 5 BondRewards cents (worth 2.5c) for each!
Hints for BzzAgent
Log into the site several times a week and look for surveys/polls. Your answers to these will help qualify you for upcoming surveys. Also, once in a campaign, try to file your first report as soon as possible. It takes a while to get your report approved, and you can’t attempt to cash out your points for that campaign’s rewards until you have at least one report approved for the campaign. BzzAgents are required to identify themselves as BzzAgents when bzzing the product. And all bzz is good bzz; you will not be penalized for filing a report on bzz that didn’t go so well.
Hints for CreationsRewards
When you’re in the Daily Visits area, hold down the shift key as you click each button. A new window will open and you can click the banner in it…then go back to the Daily Visits window and shift-click the next banner. In other words, you can have multiple Daily Visits windows open at a time, which will save you a little bit of time. Be sure you opt in for their daily email to earn additional points. This is one of the sites that pays (poitns) for daily trivia answers — see General Hints above.
Hints for Days Of Our Lives Rewards
This is another site that pays (points) for daily trivia answers — see General Hints above.
Hints for Freeride
My friend Ginger put up a great list of Freeride hints on her message forum, here. I don’t do this program much and can’t really add anything.
Hints for Freestyle Rewards
Make sure you read the emails they send, and click at least one link in the email, they’re for 5 points each.
Hints for Milesource
This is another site that offers points for daily trivia answers. See the General Hints above for information on the answers newsletter. For your daily clicks, hit the shift key as you click on a link, which will a new window. Minimize it, then go on to the next link. When you’re done, go back and close each window. Saves lots of time!
Hints for MyPoints
Bonus Mails (5 pts each, worth about 4c) are sent based on your answers to their user questionnaire. If you check “yes” under all of the interest categories, you will get more bonus mails.
Hints for QuickRewards.net
This is another program that pays (1c to random correct answerers) for daily trivia — see the General Hints above to sign up for the daily trivia answers newsletter. Be sure you opt in to their daily emails; links are 1c or more each. Offers on the site must be confirmed for you to receive credit; after you complete an offer, return to the offer page, refresh it, and click the Confirm Signup button. A popup will prompt you for some minor bit of info required to confirm your signup and credit your account. Offers done by email do not require this extra confirmation step.
Hints for QuizPoints
Be sure to submit a freebie daily for points. Try to qualify for the daily survey for points, too (if you complete a Daily Survey on one of the other rewards programs, you won’t get credited for both… unless you clear cookies and cache first).
Hints for RewardTV
Check out the BigBigForums section on RewardTV for trivia answers daily. Also, their Trivia2 Daily Answer is provided in the daily trivia answers newsletter (see the General Hints section above).
Next section in Rewards Program Basics: Earning with Referrals
Back to CompareRewards Home.
Updated, 11/06.

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About Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities which receive Federal financial assistance. Sexual harassment of students, which includes acts of sexual violence or sexual assault, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Retaliation against those who raise complaints or participate in the complaint investigation and resolution process is also prohibited. The following person has been designated to coordinate the University’s compliance with Title IX :

Kate Leonard, Title IX/ADA Coordinator
Box 354996
Phone: (206) 221-7932
Email: TitleIX@uw.edu

Valery Richardson, Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Box 354996
Phone: 206-616-9713
Email: valeryr@uw.edu

Title IX Coordinator

The Title IX Coordinator’s responsibilities include:

  • Providing information and assistance to those who wish to raise a complaint or have concerns relating to the University’s compliance with Title IX
  • Facilitating the University's compliance with Title IX, including responding effectively to each complaint
  • Providing assistance and support to University programs responsible for responding to and investigating complaints
  • Identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic issues relating to Title IX compliance
  • Facilitating University-wide training and outreach
  • Where appropriate, responding to or conducting an investigation of complaints
  • Participating in and providing support for committees and other programs dedicated to Title IX compliance

Complaint Reporting


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Monday, October 29, 2012

I always look forward to weekends, especially since I'm a "grown up". Those two glorious days, I get to do what I want, when I want to do it. Those are "MY days". I love sleeping in late, lounging in my pj's, relaxing, and taking my time getting ready.

Last week, I struggled. When I say struggled, I mean, cried most everyday, questioned Sley's love for me, freaked out over the smallest things, and needed reassurance that Sley would never leave me. It's a wonder the man is still with me after last week, especially Saturday!

It's not public knowledge (well, I guess it is now...), I live with Sley. Something happened (which for now, I will choose not to explain), and now I live with him. We have lived together since the end of April. Everyone has their own opinions on this matter. I had my own opinion before I moved in with him. There are certain circumstances that arose that caused me to make my move. Gossip if you wish, delete me from facebook, move your mouse to the X at the top right of the screen. It simply is what it is.

Now that it's out, back to my story.

I was really looking forward to Saturday. I had not slept good all week due to my insecurities, and honestly, I thought not having to get up early for work this weekend would make all the difference. Boy, was I wrong.

After Sley took me out to eat Thursday for my "free anniversary", I thought I was all good! I had not cried at all Thursday and it was actually a very good day for me! I ended the day talking to my soon-to-be ex sister in law and snuggling up with my man.

Friday, Sley's alarm clock went off. Any normal day, I feel him get up and I quickly go back to sleep. Friday, I felt him get up and I got up right behind him. Back when I was with Brandon, he would get up early and go get on his phone with "whoever" while I was still sleeping. Sley had gotten up earlier than normal (due to my snoring) and decided to go ahead to Hardees (where he goes every morning). See, I cling to normalcy. The instant something changes, I freak! I got up behind Sley and questioned him, shedding a few tears, explaining my fears.

Sley tells me everyday how much he loves me. There is NO REASON, whatsoever, for my insecurities with him except for the fact that I was burnt last time, with Brandon, and had been made out to be a FOOL! Sley is so so so understanding and is willing to do whatever it takes to help me.

That Friday morning, he held me, reassuring me that I'm the best thing that has ever happened to him, and then heads to work. I try to go back to sleep but end up laying in bed, awake, cussing at myself for being so dumb!

Friday goes by, I hang out at my friend/co-workers house (Sley's cousin) and Sley worked on his cousins farm after work. I came home, chatted with my man for a few minutes, then went to sleep. The weekend was finally here and I couldn't wait to just wake up whenever I wanted to on Saturday. The only plans we really had were that Saturday night. Sley needed to get his tires changed Saturday but didn't plan on getting up too early.

Saturday morning arrives and Sley gets up at 6am. I wake up when he gets up and freak out, again. Actually I wake up PISSED! I tell him my insecurities. I tell him I'm scared he is going to cheat on me. I tell him I'm scared he is going to wake up one morning and not love me anymore. He reassures me that it's never, ever going to happen. He tells me that he loves me more than I will ever know and that he has never been with someone who cared and loved for him as much as I do. He heads out to run errands and I get up to watch tv. Friday night, we didn't go to bed until after 1am so I was TIRED.

That morning set the tone for the whole day. To say I woke up on the wrong side of the bed would hit the nail on the head. He got back home around 9am. By that time, I was in the living room, reading a sad blog, crying my eyes out. I go get back in the bed and just cry. He comes into the room and holds me and we end up falling asleep. I thought when I woke up again after a nap that everything would be better but again, I was wrong. I was a pouty, whiney 2 year old. Bless his heart, Sley deserves so much better yet he still loves me at my worst, and when I say my worst, folks, its down right UGLY.

By this time, it's lunch time and I havent had anything but coffee all day. We get up and he asks me what I want to eat. I reply, "where are we going, Wilson or Zebulon?" in which he replies, "whatever you want." I never choose. I always tell him I don't care. Well that day I cared and said, "Chickfila or Cookout." We get ready and he says, "you want to go to Bojangles?" UM NO! "We can go to bojangles, that is fine, but don't ever ask me again what I want...I told you what I wanted, which never happens, and none of those choices included going to Bojangles but whatever..."

lol Yes he still loves me, no he didnt kick me out, and yes, we went to cook out...I said all of that and he never got mad...he actually joked and said, "nuh uh! we don't be catching a attitude up in the Whitley household..." Gah I love that man.

Anyway, we get lunch, go to a local church's Halloween get together, then head out to PF Changs for dinner. All went well and dinner was ah-maze-ing! After dinner, we are all given a fortune cookie. I expected the normal, "Set your goals high" kinda fortune but that night I was delighted when mine read, "You will get what your heart desires." I thanked God right then for such a sweet note and reassurance. We went to Cheesecake Factory after dinner and got a slice of heaven each to take home.

We headed home and I turned into the 2 year old monster, again. Ugh. I would start something, go to the bedroom, stew, then come back in the living room for more. I don't know what my problem was! I don't know why I was so out of it on Saturday. I'm normally not like that, at all, but goodness I was such a biatch I couldn't even stand MYSELF! The whole time, Sley doesnt raise his voice or anything. He tells me he loves me no matter how ugly I am and holds me in the end, promising me he will never leave me and that it's going to take more than this to push him away.

Ya'll, I have a good man. Sunday morning, I got up being myself. Thank God! Sley went and got breakfast and woke me up when he got back and had my breakfast waiting for me in the kitchen once I got up. While I was eating, I asked Sley if I needed to go get professional help. I knew Saturday I was BAD and I didn't want that to happen again. He said, "No Andrea! You have been through a lot. I would be the same way if I had gone through all you have been through." and that's where we left it.

Sunday was normal, thank GOD, and we both got some much needed rest.

I wanted to write this to show that although I am so blessed with an amazing man now, I still have days where I struggle. While they are few and far between, it still happens but I have a grounded man who loves me at my worst and is quick to reassure me when I need it, wrapping his arms around me, holding me tight, promising never to let me go.

I thank God for Sley. I thank God for my troubles with Brandon and my heartache because had I not gone through what I did with Brandon, I would never appreciate the man Sley is to me.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Not so bad!

Thank you all so much for the prayers yesterday! They were definitely felt! I had so much peace in my heart all day yesterday. I can't explain it. I went to work and had a great day, came home and had dinner with Sley and his cousins at a local mexican restaurant, then came home and talked to my (soon to be) ex-sister in law.

It's so nice to be able to continue to have a relationship with Ashley and her husband Justin. They were my strongest advocates the whole time Brandon was cheating on me. So many times, Ashley tried to convince me to leave Brandon, telling me I deserved better, and we still joke about it, how she tried to tell me! I didn't want to end my relationship with Brandon because I was scared to be alone and I didn't want to lose such good friends, even though they both tried to reassure me, countless times.

It's also so nice being with a man as understanding as Sley is. It doesnt bother him that Ashley and I talk and when we meet for dinner, he is happy to be in good company. I wish I could put into words how much I love that man. I am at a point in my life where I don't need a man but I sure am glad I have him. He holds my hand and kisses me right when I need it. He is so sweet and I know if I had not been in such a bad relationship with Brandon, I wouldn't appreciate Sley as much as I do now.

If things go as planned, November 5th, Brandon is meeting me and I am driving us to the courthouse where I will file for divorce and he will get served. He is also coming with a notarized form stating he is waving his 30 days. If they accept it, I could possibly be officially divorced...the next day. I asked Brandon if he could pay $100 of the $230 it's going to cost to file and ofcourse he says, "I can't" so I'm stuck with the bill but it's ok, that will be the best $230 I will have ever spent.

God's timing is best and I know God is still on His thrown through all of this. Thank you all again, so so much, for praying for me and giving me such encouraging feedback.

Stay tuned! Things are about to get very exciting, extremely fast!!!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

then and now

October 25, 2008

Once I got out of Lauren's car and shook the water off my feet from stepping into the puddle at the church, we headed in. I walked into a classroom where I would be transformed into the princess I had imagined myself on my perfect wedding day. Paige had brought me a sausage biscuit to force down while Anna, my sorority sister, was doing my hair, and Tracy, my long time confidant, was doing my make up. Excitement was in the air as all 10 of my bridesmaids were furiously getting dolled up for my big day. I sat, getting pushed and pulled which way, wondering what my soon to be hubby was doing. I had written in a card for him and told him I hoped he would do the same for me, as I told him stories of other brides getting jewelry and such from their soon-to-be husband. I send the card with my ringbearer and my heart dropped when my little messenger came back empty handed. Not even a note on a napkin. I should've known then how selffish he was but surely I couldn't back out now! I was an hour away from walking down the aisle in front of my 20+ wedding party and 250+ attendees! My family had put too much money into making my dreams come true to just throw it away. If I was going to call it off, I should have done it by now. It was too late.

Mom came in with my wedding dress and the photographer was there taking pictures of all of us putting our finishing touches together. I told myself, "I am not going to be that bride that once she gets in her wedding dress, has to instantly go pee..." Well, it happened, but worse. I got in my dress and had to pee. I had started my period that Tuesday and thought I was done but apparently I wasnt so not only did my best friend Paige, my big sister in my sorority Heather, and my future sister-in-law have to help me hold my dress as I peed, but also had to witness the insertion of a glorious tampon! bahah!

Once the fiasco of the potty incident was taken care of, we were all wisked away to the sanctuary where we took pictures before the wedding. We rented a church down the road from my parents house. It was huge and absolutely beautiful! The aisle didnt split down the middle; there were 2 aisles, so I went down one with my daddy and came up the other with my husband. All the pictures were done except with bride and groom together so it wouldn't waste time getting to the reception.

Pictures were taken and people started arriving. I always wanted a picture of me and Brandon, back to back at a wall or door, so the photographer brought him to me. As soon as I touched his hand, I started crying. I was nervous and still disappointed from that morning. I knew in my heart it wasn't right but I don't give up. I could make this work. One picture was taken and I had to get my make up touched up by someone else because Tracy was singing in my wedding and had already sat down. One of my bridesmaids had a nerve pill so I took that. Michelle, my sorority sister, had been alerted on her way to the wedding, of my meltdown and brought a 40 of Bud Light in the room we were in. I'm not proud but looking back I chuckle. We nonchalantly shut the door and passed it around. Everyone partakened, even my mom! haha

We line up, and each bridesmaid is escorted down with a groomsman, one by one. Dad walks beside me and chuckles, "you still have time to run..." If only I would have taken him up on that....

He knew I was nervous so to make me laugh, he opened his coat to his tux and showed me his stash of airplane bottles, neatly lined in his pocket. I cracked up!

It was my turn. We slowly walked down the aisle. I remember everyone looking at me but I just needed to see Brandon's face. I needed to see his face for reassurance. I needed some kind of sign. I finally caught a glimpe and just focussed on making my way to be with him.

My bridesmaids and I all wore our rainbow flip flops so I had to make sure I didnt trip! Dad gives me away, forgets to kiss my cheek, comes back for a peck, and wah lah! Next thing I know, we are hitched!

Brandon and I meet the preacher in another room, sign the wedding license really quick, then run back to finish taking pictures.

Once we take pictures, we go to the reception, where EVERYONE is waiting for us. We had to park right at the door in the grass and there was hardly any room to even get in the door! The keg was empty when we got there but someone did end up saving us a half of a cup each.

We danced, we talked, we took pictures, we cut the cake. It was all a blur. I never saw the ice sculptures and never got to eat a morsel of food. Next thing I know, we are getting told it was time for us to leave!!! Everyone blew bubbles as we got into my car that had been graffitied and had beer cans tied to the back.

We headed to my grandparents house where I got out of my princess gown and got into a tshirt and stretch pants. We went to my parents house where we had a "after reception party." BEST IDEA EVER. The DJ came, we had another keg and lots of liquor, and a bartender! It was so much fun just being laid back and listening to the music.

Midnight came and my brother took Brandon and I to a nearby hotel to spend our first night as husband and wife.

My wedding was beautiful. The bridesmaids dresses were gorgeous, my dress was out of this world, and the sunflowers that the girls walked down the aisle holding, were breathtaking. The day I had dreamed of had come to an end and I couldn't wait to see what the future held for Brandon and I as husband and wife...

October 25, 2012

Today I sit reflecting on 4 years that have gone by. There were happy times and for that I am sad that there had to be such bad ones. Today snuck up on me. It wasn't until yesterday afternoon that I realized Brandon and I would've celebrated 4 years of marriage today. I cried last night; not because I would ever want to be back in such an awful relationship, but because of what a terrible waste of what the good times were.

I am so unbelievably happy with Sley. I couldn't ask for a better man in my life. He is so understanding of this whole process for me and is so supportive of my feelings. I can't wait for what the future holds with he and I and I can't wait to share with ya'll!

If you think about it, say a quick prayer for me today. Sley is going to take me to dinner tonight because he knows today is a hard day for me, not because I don't love him and not because he doesn't make me happy because he knows that isnt true, but because I have 4 years of memories, 4 years of damage, 4 years of baggage, that is pouring down on me today.

Monday, October 22, 2012

New Beginnings

So after Brandon left, I entered a very dark place. I remember everything but I don't remember much about the month of November. The day I left work early and told Brandon to meet me at home, I got Dixie, took her to my parents and headed back to wait. I waited and waited. Brandon wouldn't answer my phone calls so me being desperate, I called Traci. She went off on me when I asked her if Brandon was with her. At that point, I didn't care if he had gone to see her, I just wanted to get this over with.

Later that afternoon, Brandon pulled up. I was sitting outside around the firepit we had just recently bought. By that time, I was second guessing my sudden bravery of telling him I couldn't do it anymore. When I got home, I had it planned out what I was going to say and such but by the time he got home, I was a huge puddle of nerves begging for my unfaithful husband to stay! How was I going to make it by myself? We had acquired so much debt (mostly me buying things to try to make him happy/stay/not cheat) that I could not pay for everything by myself! I was so scared. I don't like things that are out of schedule. I like knowing exactly what I am doing and getting myself into. I like preparation. I had NO IDEA what was going to happen to me!

Brandon got out of the car and came to sit with me. He showed no emotion. No matter how much I pleaded to work things out, he wanted out. All he said was, "Andrea, it just didn't work out!" He told me he didn't love me anymore. My world was closing in on me. I went inside and took my wedding portrait off the wall, the picture where I was so happy, so innocent. I helped him bag up some essentials. He called his family and told them he was coming home. He asked me if he could take Dixie, that I had Ranger and he had nothing. I told him this was his choice, he was leaving us behind! He shed a few tears trying to change my mind about who got Dixie and once that didnt work, he left.

I got in the car and headed to my parents. I walked in the door to my parents house, numb. I went straight to my parents bedroom and fell into my daddy's arms as I wailed. I had kept it together for so long and I couldnt do it anymore.

Two weeks before, I told my parents everything. I knew my marriage was coming to an end and I needed my parents. My mom was livid. My dad was angry but knew his little girl was hurting and was more worried about me. Victor couldn't talk about it. So many times before I told my parents, I went crying to Victor, all the while he just listened. He couldnt look at me and the more I told him, the more I saw his fist clenching. The day Brandon left, we all knew it was coming but didn't know exactly when.

After sobbing in my daddy's arms and listening to my mom tell me how much better off I was going to be, Victor rode with me back to my house to spend the night with me. I opened the door and went straight to bed.

The next day, I went to work, and surprisingly, I held it together all day. It was weird not calling Brandon or texting him throughout the day. My coworkers were there for support but the less I talked about it, the less I got upset. I came home that day and we headed to my dad's side of the family for my cousins wedding. As soon I walked in the door to my parents house after holding my anguish in all day, I lost it. I walked in the door and just fell apart in the kitchen. My bags were already packed, courtesy of my mom, and all we had to do was get in the car. I was given a nerve pill and finally calmed down 10 minutes in the trip.

We got to my aunt and uncle's house. They were forewarned of what was going on. The next morning, my mom, aunt, cousin, and I headed to a nearby sunflower field to get decorations for the reception. It was beautiful! We headed to the barn where the reception was going to be held and we decorated and ran home to change clothes. The reception was a big pig picking with a DJ and a dance floor. While in the buffet line getting my dinner, my cousin asked where Brandon was and all I could do was shake my head as a tear drop fell. I wasn't eating much, I just didn't have an appetite. I actually quit eating before Brandon left when he told me the reason he didn't want to have sex with me was because I was too fat. As I sat down with samples of food, mom slipped me another nerve pill and I tried to swallow down everything that was on my plate.

Later in the evening, I had moved tables to sit with my mom and another cousin. The bride and groom had cut the cake and I was trying to force down what I had on my plate. My cousin looked at me and said, "where is Brandon? He not do weddings?" and I just looked at her as tears began to flow and simply stated, "no, he doesn't do me." I kept eating with hot tears streaming down my face. Mom starts crying as she explains to my cousin, who is utterly embarrassed, what happened the night before. Mom doesn't cry but she couldn't take me being upset anymore. One minute I was fine, the next I would fall apart. That night I tried to get drunk. I tried drinking my sorrows away but no matter how much alcohol I consumed, the pain was still there.

That is really all I remember about November. Paige, my best friend, tried to talk to me but I didn't want to talk to anyone. She texted me and said that she wasn't good at this stuff, that she wanted me to know she was there for me but she didn't want to push too hard. I woke up, went to work, came home, and went to bed, everyday, and if my mom was lucky, she got a spoonful of food down my throat. Since I wasn't eating, mom made me take vitamins. I moved back home because honestly, the last thing I needed was to be alone.

Days passed, Brandon came to retrieve more of his belongings, and somehow I made it. Finances were handled through my lawyer. I met with Brandon to figure things out. He kept acting like he wanted to get back together and then when he got my hopes up of having my husband back, he crushed me again.

I went to get my hair done by my sorority sister who had gone through something similar not too long before me. She mentioned one of her friends that was a guy who she was going to set me up with. He was a teacher and nerd. I was excited! It had only been a month since Brandon had left but I needed to get out of the house. Numbers were exchanged and we decided to meet for dinner. Going on a date was hard, and awkward, but it helped me a lot with my self esteem. Things didn't work out with this particular guy but it was nice to get back out there and keep my mind off of things.

A few months later, my friend at work's cousin would come into where I work all the time and flirt with most of the girls. He never really talked to me and I didn't have time for his nonsense, plus he was very cute and I never thought he would ever give me the time of day! All that changed when a few weeks later, my friend came in and told me that Sley, her cousin, had asked about me. I gave her my number to give to him.

The next day was Valentine's Day. Ugh. My first time being single since 2006. I was currently dating a guy I had gone to college with but I knew it wasn't going anywhere, especially when I found out he was moving that next month. Sley came into the bank that day and I was flustered! I never get embarrassed! Before he left the bank, he said, "youre going to be my valentine!" and walked out. I joked with my friend and said, "ha! then where are my flowers?!"

If I only knew where that day would take me months down the road...

Friday, October 19, 2012

What I do know, What I don't know, and What I think I know

After vacation and meeting Traci and Jeff, things went downhill, FAST. I tried. I tried so so hard. I told her my insecurities. I told her me and Brandon's past. I tried being friends with her. I tried "keeping the enemy close." The thing was, she and Brandon are exactly alike: lying manipulators. It's hard to see it when you're in the middle of it but now, it is so crystal clear to me...I got super played.

I wish I could write everything that went down and maybe one day I will! but it is still too fresh for me and I still haven't soaked it all in yet like before. Maybe because I still don't have all the facts, maybe because he still denies it, or maybe my subconscious won't let me process it all because I can't handle it. I try to gather it all to write and it is just one big blur of screams, tears, lies, and me just being a broken, needy, manipulated dumb ass fool.

Here is what I do know:

  • as much as Brandon wants to deny it, I have proof he is with Traci...well not physically because he thinks he has everyone fooled...but he tells her "I am so in love with you" and they are about to live in the same house together. He bought a house for her.

  • Brandon has played a lot of folks since all this went down. He has been with countless girls (probably behind Traci's back) but once a cheater always a cheater! I don't know what makes her think if he left me for her, what is going to make him stay with her?

  • I am so much better off and had Brandon not left me, I would still be in that mess.

Here is what I don't know:

  • How long Brandon and Traci had been together before we separated and if they had sex.

  • How many other girls Brandon screwed around on me with.

  • How Brandon can continually lie to everyone's face and it not catch up with him.

Here is what I think I know:

  • Brandon will continue to play everyone. Nothing will ever be enough to make him happy.

  • Karma is a bitch and he will soon find that out.

So this is the end of my dark saga for now. I may come back to it but I'm ready to bring yall to my present, happy times! :)

Until then!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

After the texting incident with Lauren and the "whatever" with Elizabeth (to this day, I still don't know the whole truth of what happened...I know they kissed and he swore that was all except he said that he accidentally touched her chest while rolling up the window on her side in his truck for her...1-he has automatic windows...2-he has a control for the passenger side window on his door...but I refused to argue it because my heart couldn't take the truth), I had changed.

The same night I took my rings off and put on the coffee table in front of Brandon after finding out he had cheated on me again with a teenager, he got on his knees in front of me and begged me to put the rings back on, swearing his fidelity to me, again. I was empty. I felt like I had no choice. I didn't want to be alone. I vowed for better or for worse. My chest was pressing so hard on my heart it was hard to take one single breath. I prayed for death.

The next day, I told my brother everything. He never said a word, he just walked out. I told Brandon he was going to apologize to Victor, face to face, like a man, since he couldn't be a man to begin with, much less a husband to me. I came home from work that day and found Victor and Brandon sitting on the front porch step talking, the same front porch step I sat on the night before, wondering how I was going to wake up the next day.

Days passed. I continually needed reassurance that there wasn't going to be a third time. For the first month, Brandon was more than sympathetic to my insecurities and my frequent outbursts and questions. I became depressed. On weekends, I would sleep half the day away. I stopped doing laundry. I stopped washing dishes. I would not help him with the dogs. In my mind, he wasn't a husband to me, so why should I be a wife to him? I continued to watch him and check his phone. It was so stressful having to babysit a grown man 24/7 and it was hard to trust him over the smallest things. I felt like I could not leave his side.

I continued to gain weight. I had no self confidence and found myself looking to Brandon for whatever self worth I did have.

I am a touchy/feely person. Just a simple touch, hug, a holding of hands, makes my heart full. Brandon used to do all of these things before we were married but it soon ended. I would tell him what I needed, even bought the 5 love languages book, but he wasn't willing to put forth the effort. He simply stated, "that's not me".

After Lauren and Elizabeth, I started depending on sex to make me feel better about myself and our marriage. I never understood why he did not want to have sex with me but wanted relationships with everyone else. It made me feel worthless. Every time he would tell me, "not tonight" or "I am too tired", it hurt my feelings and made me wonder where else he was getting it from.

Every year, we would go to the beach with my family for a week in May. Brandon, loving to fish, would go to the pier everyday. Last year, before dinner, he and my brother came home talking about their trip to the pier that day. They had met this man and woman. The man was deaf and the woman knew sign language. They weren't a couple. The woman, Traci, was married and the deaf man, Jeff, lived with Traci, her husband Carl (who was also deaf), and their daughter Shana. They lived in a town 30 minutes away from the pier and came every night just to fish. That eased my mind a little.

I went the next night to meet the new found friends. They seemed really nice! Surely a married woman with a child wouldn't want to break up another marriage! Traci was about my height, with dyed reddish hair. That night, she was wearing cute sandals with capris and a dark brown carhardt jacket. Jeff was skinny, with shaved blond hair, and a distinct gap between his 2 front teeth that would show as he was signing to Traci.

I was easily mesmerized as I watched them communicate through sign language. That night on the pier was the last night of our trip. Brandon exchanged numbers with Traci and Jeff, then we headed back to our cottage. I thought it was harmless. I didn't really enjoy pier fishing and it was something Brandon liked so I thought it was good for him to have friends that like to do the same thing. When we got married, he blamed me when he lost contact with his friends from his hometown because he had to move. If he would've been a man, he would've prepared our home, but again, it was left up to me to do. Luckily, my family owned a single wide trailer and renovated it for us to live in.

That night, on our last day of vacation, marked the beginning of the end of what was left of our marriage.

I said yes

Brandon and I dated a year before he proposed to me. We dated exactly ONE year.

August 25, 2007

Brandon picked me up from my grandparent's house for our 1 year anniversary date. I knew he had a ring, I just didn't know when he was going to give it to me. I had my speculations it would be that day but I had been wrong before and I didn't want to get my hopes up again.

I had no idea where we were going that night. He always made me do all the work for our dates, choosing when and where, but I wanted tonight to be special. I wanted tonight to be a surprise. I wanted HIM to put forth a little effort.

-----Valentine's Day that year, I went above and beyond. I typed up 100 reasons why I loved him, cut them into mini confetti, and put them in his card, where I wrote him a letter telling him how lucky I was to have him in my life. I also set up a scavenger hunt for him to find his gift. Once he found it, I cried. I put forth all this effort and he acted like it was nothing. He gave me a card, "love Brandon", and a teddy bear. We got in his truck to head to dinner and he had nothing planned. I cried again. Every nice restaurant around had at least an hour long wait and he had an hour drive home where he couldn't be out too long. We settled on Wendy's. I was disappointed, to say the least.

On the way to my unknown destination, I get a phone call from my parents. Mom proceeds to tell me that Brandon had come up to their house, before he picked me up at my grandparent's house, to ask permission for my hand in marriage. Buzz kill. I couldn't believe it, the one time I had no idea what was going on, someone had to ruin it. I quickly hung up the phone while Brandon tried to play the incident off, saying it might not be tonight.

We pull up in the same movie theater parking lot that we first met, just one year ago. Same place, same date, same time. Brandon tells me to sit tight and gets out of the truck. He hands me a scrapbook. I open it and tears begin to flow. In this scrap book I find movie ticket stubs, pictures, notes, and cards from the past year. All little memories he had kept. I couldn't believe he did this for me. I was impressed. On the last page, he had written me a letter. By this time, he was crying and when I looked over at him standing beside me with my passenger side door open, he drops to one knee on the asphalt and asks me to marry him.

-----This was the day I had been waiting for my entire life. Half of my "needs" were met. So what if his proposal was in a parking lot and not some fancy restaurant. So what if I knew it was coming. So what if I had seen red flag after red flag, like the time he got me a build a bear but said they "mispelled my name" on the certificate so he just gave me the bear (in my mind, I firgured it was for another girl but I looked the other way)... no one is perfect right? Once I graduated highschool, my mom had been on my back about getting a job after college and getting married. She always threw it in my face that she was married by the time she was 21. I know she didn't mean to pressure me but there was always that constant reminder in the back of my head telling me, "I need to get married, asap." I didn't want to spend the rest of my life alone. I was scared of being by myself. Apparently, Brandon was as good as it was going to get and I didn't need to miss this chance of having someone.

Ofcourse I said yes. I was so wrapped up in everything. It was so easy to ignore the red flags from the past, like the lies he had told me about the "other girl" on our first date, the way he had already started to manipulate me when he would get caught in lies when the "other girl" would call, when there was a diamond ring, that happened to be my size, dangling in my face.

Brandon had planned nothing else for the evening, SHOCKER, but I was in such a daze and dreaming about my wedding so much, I didn't care. I made calls to friends and family to let them in on the news. We ate at a cute little italian place near by and headed to Brandon's family's house to tell them the news, then made our way back to my grandparent's house.

I couldn't wait to plan my dream wedding. I came straight home and made an engagement page on theknot dot com. I immediately started looking at dresses and themes and colors and cakes and magazines. I was bound and determined I was going to have the perfect wedding, besides, the perfect marriage comes from the perfect wedding, right?

Monday, October 8, 2012

A first time for everything

I messaged back this "BKC1122" on cupid dot com and told him that if he wanted to talk to me, he was to call me and proceeded to give him my number. The next day I got a call.

We continued to talk/text for the next couple of weeks, sharing stories of our past, hopes of our future, and decided we could wait no longer, we needed to meet. I knew my family would FLIP if they knew I was going to go meet a stranger man I met online, so I told no one. Smart.

It was a Thursday afternoon and I headed toward a local movie theater. We met in the parking lot. I pulled up toward the back and didn't see the truck he described to me. I think to myself, "Great. He stood me up. Maybe it's for the best." Just as I am about to leave, I see his red truck turn into the parking lot.
----I dated a really sweet guy one summer. Well really, I met him one time, we kissed, and then I never answered his calls again. I was shallow and judged him by his car. It was old. And "granny looking." Huge Mistake but I was immature.

Brandon drove a loud, red, 2003 Dodge Ram with big tires. I loved it. "Ok maybe this isn't so bad." I was so nervous. He had seen my picture from the website but I didn't know what he looked like. What if he was ugly? He sounded so sweet on the phone, could I see past his looks? All I knew was what he had told me on the phone: blue eyes, tall, broad shoulders, shaved blondish hair.

He parked his truck beside my car, with his passenger side facing me. I couldn't catch a peek of him through the windows because they were tinted so dark. I hear the truck engine silence and I open my door. "Here goes nothing..." I thought. Earlier, I had thought about leaving a note in my car if I should not return just in case my date should turn into the rapist/murderer I made him out to be at first.

I see his driver side door open as I get out of my car. His door shuts and he meets me toward the back of his truck. Before we even say "hello" we hug. He had strong, muscular arms that I fit right into and felt so safe. While he was hugging me, me still being nervous, lose my favorite pearl earring. I hear it drop to the asphalt and my heart sinks. I was embarrassed. He tried to help me find it but I told him it wasn't a big deal.

I jumped in his truck and we headed to a different nearby theater to see a movie before dinner since both of us were so nervous and food was the last thing we wanted. I remember there was a movie about 9/11 playing and he asked if I wanted to see that but I told him I didn't feel like crying in front of him the first date so we settled on the Nickelodeon film: Barnyard.

We got our tickets and went straight to sit down. Once seated, Brandon asked if I wanted popcorn and a drink. I said no but he went to get some anyway. He came back and begged me to eat some. As soon as I popped a piece of popcorn in my mouth, he kissed me. It was a sweet, short peck. My cheeks got so hot and I began to shake. I was so nervous! As soon as he pulled away he said, "You have popcorn breath!" We both laughed and enjoyed the rest of the movie.

After the movie, we headed across the street to Chili's. I got some sort of red sauced pasta. Midway through the date, OF COURSE, I get some on my shirt. It never fails. If I wasn't mortified enough losing my earring, I had to drop food on my chest! Brandon immediately says, "I'll tell you like I tell my mom, You feed those things more than you feed yourself!" I thought I would DIE!

Somehow the conversation turns to his family and talking about whether or not they would like me. He says, "They will love you just as much as I do." Wow. Flustered. This was going fast. I didn't even know if I liked him! This was our first date! He certainly didn't look like I thought he would, judging by his voice. He was handsome but I expected more.

We head to the truck so he could take me back to my car. His phone rings and it was one of his sisters (I don't remember which one, they are twins and sound EXACTLY alike). His volume was up and I heard her say, "What about the other girl?" in which he replies, "I'll tell you later."

Why, hello there first RED FLAG!!!! that I chose to ignore...all because I needed a man in my life and Brandon was the only interested at the time. I thought, "He must be the one! Thank you God!" all the while, forgetting I opened this door all by myself.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Fool me twice, shame on me!

After our first bump, to say that my whole world had been turned upside down would be an understatement. I clung to Brandon's promises that he would never hurt me again. I had started looking for comfort anywhere I could find it and found it mostly in food. I started eating like a grown 300lb man and soon I would find myself knocking on the door to 300lbs myself.

I was unhappy. No matter how many times Brandon promised me he would never cheat on me again, no matter how many times he apologized to me, and no matter how much food I packed into my poor, broken, depressed body, nothing "filled me up." I felt just as empty if I had not eaten one morsel of food and not heard the pleas and apologies coming out of Brandon's mouth.

About 5 months later, my brother started dating Elizabeth. At the time, he was around 20 and she was 16. They had told my parents she was 18 and attending a local community college, all the while she was still in highschool. Something had happened between Elizabeth and Victor. Victor, needing a man to talk to other than Dad, came to Brandon. Somehow in the midst of Brandon helping Victor with his relationship woes, Brandon retrieves Elizabeth's phone number. At first, I wasn't the least bit worried. Yes, I had just found out my husband, not 5 months earlier, had come up with this extravagant lie that devastated me to my core, but surely he wouldn't be dumb enough to start a relationship AGAIN outside of our marriage with Miss. Jailbait!

I was already on guard from the last incident. I couldn't allow myself to hurt like that again. The wounds were still very much fresh. I don't remember exactly when I started noticing things just "weren't right." The relationship with Victor and Elizabeth didn't work out but my 30 year old husband was still talking to this highschooler. I remember confronting Brandon with my insecurities about the situation and he ended up getting mad and blowing me off.

I decided to sit back and observe. My nerves were tore up. What would happen if Brandon did this to me again? What would I do? My brain was in overload and my heart was torn out of my chest. I noticed him getting on the phone while I was "asleep," and his truck being in a different spot when I got home from work, when it wasn't his turn to drive. The harder I pushed for answers, the angrier Brandon got at me.

Victor and Elizabeth got back together for a few days around Valentine's Day. Brandon and I had started going with Victor and Elizabeth to her church. Brandon didn't like church but LOVED Elizabeth's church. I ignored the coincidence. On Valentine's Day, we all went to a japanese restaurant where Brandon knew the owner and we had been to a couple times before. The owner knew me and Brandon well, and as soon as we walked in, the owner gave me a rose. While we were walking to our seats, Brandon went over and got a rose to give to Elizabeth. That hurt me to my core as she sent a victorious smirk my way.

Brandon got off of work everyday around 3 and everyday around that time I had the worst anxiety. I knew in my heart what he was doing. I was friends with Elizabeth on facebook and the more I read her statuses, the more my fears were confirmed. She had done a "survey" or questionaire, where it asks you randoms about your favorite things and your dreams to post for friends to read.

  • Do you have a boyfriend? Yes but she doesn't know

  • What does your boyfriend call you? Baby

  • If you have kids, what do you want to name them? Timothy

  • Dogs or Cats? He has 2 dogs

  • If you change anything what would you change? I wish he would tell her about us. She can't make him happy like I can and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him.

and on, and on...The more I read, the more I wanted to scream. Timothy was Brandon's uncles name that had passed away a few years before. Brandon idolized his uncle and I knew if we had kids, that would be the boys name. Brandon and I had 2 dogs at the time. That's what is so funny about immature teens, they can't keep a secret, and the more I sat back and watched, the more she told on them both.

One day I had had enough. I told Brandon, me or her. For me, it was quite simple. He flipped on me and couldn't believe I was making him choose. It was a Friday afternoon and we were on the way to Brandon's family's house. He called Elizabeth and told her, "We can't talk anymore." Her reply, "OK." Brandon looked at me and said, "Happy now?"

I knew better. I used to be a crazy, hormonal teenage girl and had someone told me I couldn't talk to the man I was supposedly in love with, I would have had a FIT! I would've cried and screamed and demanded to know why. I knew they had talked before he called and had this all planned out, yet I played along.

I had contracted the swine flu from a coworker. I came home from my doctors appointment and Brandon put me in bed. That made me so happy and loved. He asked me what I wanted, anything, and he would go get it. I asked for loaded potato soup from O'Charleys 45 minutes away. He left to get it about 4:30. I woke up at 7:30, he still wasn't home. He claimed he was "lost". He came home with no soup and I knew he had been with her the whole time while his wife was confined to the bed. I slipped back into my NyQuil induced coma where I prayed I would stay.

Days passed and I saw a picture on Brandon's work phone of a house in Clayton from Elizabeth and suddenly her fb statuses referred to "waiting on Clayton." When confronted, Brandon said the house was one Elizabeth found for him and I and he didn't know what her statuses were referring to.

Words can't express the pain and agony, the stress this put me through. Before with Lauren, it was just texts, and I don't mean to make it any less of cheating than the others, but I didnt have to worry about him meeting up with her. This time, it was a physical person he was having a relationship with and there was nothing I could physically do to stop it.

I don't know how Brandon could lie to me as much as he had and actually sleep at night and honestly, I sometimes wondered why God had allowed him to lie so much. Not only was he lying to me, he was lying to his family. I had told Brandon's family about what all was happening. I had no one to turn to and I needed help understanding it all. I couldn't tell my family because I know they would hold a grudge and I really wanted my marriage to work. I loved this man even though he continually hurt me. Brandon's sister Ashley confronted Brandon numerous times about Elizabeth, all the while he told her nothing was going on.

One night, Brandon had gone to bed. I had yet to see a phone call or text from Elizabeth show up on our phone bill and I knew something was fishy. I decided to check his work phone. He had cheated on me by phone before so I had every RIGHT to check whatever phone I wanted to of his. I grabbed his work phone and headed to the bathroom. Sure enough, as soon as I turned it on, a text message from E (as it was listed) appeared. She had apparently read my blog about me going to get my hair done that weekend and told him about it. She ended by saying, "I love you so much my wonderful husband."

The night 5 months before flashed before my eyes, only this wasn't a dream. He had done it again. My heart was right when I had begged for it to be wrong. I crumbled. Again, I shook him. I screamed. I cried. I shaked. He pleaded. He apologized.

I headed for the door with my phone but before I got outside, with snot rolling, I choked out, "DID YOU KISS HER?!" He looked down and whispered "yes." As I ran out the door I screamed, "YOU BASTARD!!!"

I got on my phone and immediately called his sister Ashley to confirm our fears. At the same time, Brandon called his mom and walked into the night. Ashley's words to me exactly, "GO SLAP THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!"

I cried and cried sitting outside on the front porch step. I had never dreamed things could get any worse. I felt worthless.Why was he doing this to me? Why wasn't I enough for him. Brandon came back and handed me his phone. His mom was crying on the other end. I was on another planet. What just happened?

Andrea, wake up! Who is this man that calls himself my husband? Who is this broken woman staring back at me? With tear streaken faces, my unfaithful husband and I headed back inside. Physically shaking, about to get sick, somehow I muster the strength to take my wedding rings off of my finger. Brandon's face went white. He asked me what I was doing. Hell, I didn't even know what I was doing but I did know one thing, this man I married was a complete stranger to me.

I opened my mouth and said the only words that could come out as I placed my rings on the coffee table in front of him, "You can give these back to me when you decide you want to be a husband."

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Fool me once, shame on you

A year or so after Brandon and I had been married, we experienced our first bump in the road.

Brandon's parents have a nice time share in Myrtle Beach. Every year, we would go on vacation the week of our anniversary at the end of October, with his parents to their time share. Mostly, the week consisted of Sheila (Brandon's mom) and I shopping at the outlets, sleeping in late, staying in our pj's, laying out by the pool, and of course, eating yummy food. Brandon and his dad would get up every morning, before the sun came up, and headed to a nearby fishing pier, where they would fish from sun up to sun down. Sometimes they would meet us girls for dinner, other times we would bring them something back for them to eat when they returned.

This one year, Brandon's sisters Ashley and Jennifer came, too, as well as Ashley's husband Justin. Midway through the week, I started to get sick. I mean, fever, chills, fatigue...flat out SICK! At the same time, after 2 days of fishing, Brandon's back down to his rear end starting hurting, so bad he was in tears and skipped a trip to the pier. I knew he didn't feel good then. We tried everything. I tried over the counter medications and he tried soaking in the tub, nothing alleviated the pain both of us were in.We were both in bad shape and decided to cut our vacation early so we could both get checked out.

We got home and both made doctors appointments. My appointment was that morning, his was in the afternoon. I ended up having the flu. GREAT! I had not had the flu since middle school!!! I felt like death and I'm pretty sure I looked like it too. I immediately came home and got in bed. Brandon goes and comes home with surgery scheduled! Come to find out, he had an abscess in his rectum (aka pain in the ass - haha had to throw that in there). I already felt like crap and then I get hit with this. He had a doctor appointment the next morning at a specialty doctor then surgery scheduled for the next afternoon. We were both freaking out because we didn't have a lot of money to begin with and having this surgery guaranteed him AT LEAST 8-10 weeks out of work, on top of that, hospital bills.

The next day, Brandon's parents and Jennifer rode up to go with us to the doctor's appointment and to be there at the hospital for  Brandon's surgery. There was about 4 hours between the doctor's appointment and surgery so we decided to head home. When we got home, Sheila went to our bedroom to read a book. All I wanted to do was lay in my bed for a few hours, without any interruptions. I laid down beside her to rest and her phone rings. Now, common sense would say "HEY this girl is sick and her husband is about to have surgery in a couple of hours! Let's take the phone call outside!" Well, common sense didn't show up that day and she had a 30 minute conversation while I was trying to sleep, in my room, on my bed, in my house.

Anyway, that night Brandon had surgery, we came home, and I stayed home with him the next day just to make sure he was ok. He was in a lot of pain so I was there for him when he needed help getting anything.

Time went on, I went to work, Brandon stayed at home, and somehow, by the grace of God, with one income, a $500 truck payment, $300 boat payment, $200 school loan payment, and other bills + food, we made it.

One night while Brandon was still out of work, he had gone to bed early. This wasn't out of the ordinary. I am a night owl, he is an early riser. I had gone in the bedroom where he was sleeping and noticed his cellphone laying on the bed. We didn't have a house phone so if I needed to get in touch with him during the day, he needed his cellphone charged. His charger was in the kitchen, so I picked up his phone to take it to be plugged in.

I happened to glance down at his phone and noticed there was a text from "mcgreg." I immediately assumed it was a fishing buddy or work friend so I looked at it. Nothing had prepared me for what I was about to discover that night.

The text read, "You must have fallen asleep." Well...he did so I texted back, "this is Brandon's wife, he did fall asleep, I will let him know you texted him when he wakes up." I get a text back almost immediately, "say what?" I wrote, "this is his wife, who is this?"

By this time, I knew something was wrong. My heart was beating very fast. I could feel my chest pounding through my shirt. It was hard to swallow and all of a sudden the crisp, cool night became humid and sweltering. The text came back, "Wake that sorry SOB up and ask him who Lauren is."

I shook Brandon. I couldn't stop shaking him. I was screaming. Not angry screams, screams of disparity. The room was closing in. This. was. not. happening to me! Men cheated on their wives everyday but I did NOT marry a cheater!

Lauren ends up calling his cellphone and I answer. She is so apologetic. She is telling me she had no idea he was married. I am shaking, convulsively. I surely wasn't cold. I was in shock. My ears were full of silence and this strangers voice.

Brandon had portrayed himself as being in a hospital in Roxboro (near where he is from). He had been in a coma with his sister, Jennifer, by his side. He professed his love for Lauren, to Jennifer, who had been texting with Lauren, and expressed his hopes of one day, spending the rest of their lives together. He told her he wanted to be the father of her children. He told her he loved her.

By this time, I was gagging. Between Lauren telling me everything in one ear and Brandon pleading in another, I was overwhelmed to say the least. This poor girl had no reason to lie to me. She had been played. We both had been played.

I hung up the phone and didn't know what to do. I cried. I screamed. I believed his apologies. I believed he wouldn't do this to me again. I forgave him. I stayed....all when I should have ran.

RAW= from me

I'm taking a little break from the story and I just want to write to you all about how writing my story out for the world to see, being so open and vulnerable with my feelings, is affecting me.

**My blog is a raw, judge free zone. It's ok if you think my feelings are wrong. It's ok if you dont agree with me, but please..PLEASE refrain from writing a comment below that 1-calls me out or 2-makes you seem better than me. This will result in unnecessary conflict. Please be courteous.

-There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about being married to Brandon and what happened between us. I wouldnt take $100 million dollars to have him and the relationship between us back.

-The human part in me wants him to suffer. I want him to suffer the way he made me suffer. I want him to worry. I want him to experience pain, loss and abandonment the way I had to experience it. I want some girl (or the whore that he is with) to screw him over so bad that he hits rock bottom and has no one to turn to.

-It cracks me up that Brandon thinks he has everyone fooled. "We are just friends but I'm buying a house and we are going to live together, with her kid, OH and another couple with their 2 kids!!! But no, there isnt anything going on but I cant tell you what the future holds either" really?

-I often worry about God's Will...I had a dream last night. I had gone to Brandon's Aunts house for Thanksgiving to say hello. His mom was there and gave me the cold shoulder when I first got there. After chatting a while about how I was doing and showing them my new car, I was asked to stay to eat Thanksgiving dinner. I told them I would stay if Brandon didn't show up because I wouldnt want things weird for anyone but if he didn't, then I would be happy to stay. I remember Brandon showing up for a few minutes until he saw me there, then he left. I ended up staying and eating. There was a man at the food table. I had never seen him before. He was all alone. He looked up at me and said, "Andrea, it was God's will for Brandon to leave you."

====I woke up after that. It was so real to me. Who knows, it may have been God telling me, "Andrea, its ok!" or it may have been me saying, "Andrea, its going to be ok!" either way, I woke up this morning with a little more peace in my heart.

-I have talked to someone that reads my blog that appreciates my "realness." I think God put me through this storm for a reason and if its to help just ONE person, it will be worth it. No ones situation is the exact same and times can be really lonely and feel like you are walking in the dark trying to find your way out. I said before, the LAST thing I'm going to do on my blog is pretend like I have the perfect life. I'm not trying to be "negative nancy," but you know, sometimes things arent always peachy!

-I will NEVER take a healthy relationship for granted for as long as I live!

- I file for divorce in 1 and good news! my name will be changed back to my maiden name!!! Please everyone say a prayer for me that things go smoothly! I'm paying EVERYTHING and all he has to do is sign the papers. Please pray he cooperates.

I may write more to the story later on today...until then!


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Will baby boomers adopt smartphones?

posted in: Unclassified | 2

Analyst reports keep predicting that smart phone market share will explode in the next few years. Pyramid Research forecasts that smartphones will comprise 60% of all new handset sales in the US by 2014.   Pretty soon it would be difficult to buy feature phones, simply because mobile stores won’t stock them anymore.  Operators are all about maximizing ARPU (average revenue per user), and it is in their interest to push smartphones to consumers.  Smartphones come with data plans,  and that’s where the growth will come from in this nearly saturated mobile market.

However, baby boomers are famous for being slow to adopt technology.  They buy only what they need, and only after the benefits are thoroughly demonstrated by other early adopters.  This behavior extends to their adoption of smartphone technloogy.  According to Emarketer, baby boomers are slowly warming to smart phones, but they still lag far behind their Generation X and Y peers in smart phone ownership.  Baby boomers are the largest demographic segment in the US right now, yet they comprise only 21.1% of all smart phone owners.

So how would smart phone ownership and usage play out for baby boomers in the next few years? Things can go one of two ways:

  1. Baby boomers finally “see the light”, realize they will reap productivity gains from using a smartphone for business, and will finally jump on the bandwagon in the next year or two.
  2. Baby boomers will adhere to their preference for a feature phone that looks and acts like a phone.  They will continue to be slow in adopting smartphone technology.

Interestingly, the diminishing availability of feature phones doesn’t necessarily mean that people will be forced to adopt smartphones.  This is because you can buy a bonafide smartphone, like the Nokia C5 below (to be released in Q2 2010) and use it only for voice and texting services. It would be a complete waste – but it can be done.

So what do I personally think will happen?  I personally believe #1 will come to pass much sooner than we might realize.  The parallel I draw is SMS.  Five years ago, when I first started watching the mobile industry, text messaging was a newfangled phenomenon that largely belonged to teenagers and college students.  If anyone was to ask me whether I thought anyone Generation X and above would adopt this technology, I would have laughed in their face.  Fast forward to today, and texting is ubiquitous.

Being an early adopter and staunch supporter of smartphone technology, I do hope we will see a similar phenomenon with smartphones, as availability goes up and prices go down.

2 Responses

  1. Esther Surden
    | Reply

    I think you missed one key ingredient in the adoption of smart phones by boomers: Ease of Use. That’s why the iPhone has become so popular with this group and why I predict that the iPad, once price come down, will become popular as well. As soon as smart phones become easy enough to use without reading an instruction manual or needing my blog to figure them out, I believe adoption by boomers will skyrocket.

    • Elaine Chen
      | Reply

      Esther, you are absolutely right – ease of use + benefits + excellent cost-to-benefit ratio are prerequisites to adoption. I can’t wait to see how the iPad adoption plays out in the next 6-12 months.

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Sunday, May 14, 2017

Menu Plan ~ Week of May 14th

I hope that all of the moms and families reading this had a wonderful Mother's Day.  We had a chance to spend time with both sides of our family this weekend and enjoyed lots of sunshine.

Here's what we're planning for dinners this week at our house:

  • Sunday ~ Mother's Day Grill Out
  • Monday ~ Rigatoni Alla Toscana (Pasta with Goat Cheese, Sausage and Red Peppers)
  • Tuesday ~ Asian Chicken with Rice
  • Wednesday ~ Chick-fil-A using some coupons and treats I got via the Chick-Fil-A One App
  • Thursday ~ Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes

What's on the menu at your house for the week? Head over to Menu Plan Monday to see what others have planned.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Prepping for an Epic Weekend

Weight lifting session early afternoon
MTB TT at Thorn Trail-this time I did not get lost and actually rode well considering.   As I was about to go off, we heard about a guy who went down hard in the trails. It seemed like he hit a tree.  When you see someone with blood with on their face, down their arm, and a face that looks like death I begin to wonder why I try to see just how fast I can dodge around trees, roots, rocks, and all of the above.

The guy was taken to the hospital I believe, I wish him the best. I rode a chill 59min something. I was pretty nervous when I went out afraid that I was gonna eat it i took it slower at first

I went out to Reagean Park to see how fast I could ride the first smaller loop out of Huffman Park. After an easy warm-up.  I was able to ride a 13:10, 13:22, and 12:50-ish. No idea if these times are any good but I felt strong.
Afterwards I joined a pick-up soccer team in Sville with about 30 people I used to play with on leagues. There are two reason why I dont play anymore: 1-I do not have the ability to cut or turn, 2-I Suck at soccer. 90 mins playing and I was done.

The Weekend Ahead-
So I try to avoid words such as "legit" "epic" However this weekend will be nothing short of EPIC and leaves me with this thought:

 "I want to be as tired as i can get without actually dieing on a regular basis and i want to do it in really tight clothes with a bunch of other sweaty people in direct sunlight"-Gabriel

Saturday wake up call: 4:30am
-arrive at the race start at 6:00am
-race begins at 7am for 31.64 miles *WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO*
9mi Thorn time trail after having trashed legs

Last weekend at TOV I got made fun of because of all my pre-race rituals...
1-My drink mix has to be a certain way
2-I must use my inhaler over, and over, and over again then pop some Advil, Tylenol, oh then another inhaler
3-I race BEST when i feel like I just need to RAGE. you can bet i have some music from The Offspring, Eminem, and probably every song Hova aka Jay Z ever sang waiting to pump me up along with some awful 90s dance music.
My Secret:
4-As far as trail running is concerned-i am convinced that Coca-Cola and Chocolate-covered espresso beans is the best trail fuel ever created. I will make sure I have me a 'Coke' & 'Chalk' dealer waiting for me and the aid stations/check-in stops so I can get my fix