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adidas All Blacks AIG Logo

Draw leaves Bledisloe Cup questions unanswered

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Lynn McConnell     17 Aug 2014     Getty Images

Saturday's 12-12 draw in Sydney was the sort of game where victory would have marked Richie McCaw's men as deserved holders of the record on their own.

Instead, the weather and New Zealand's indiscipline meant they were only able to claim a share of the record.

As a result it was sufficient to keep life in the Bledisloe Cup aspect of the Investec Rugby Championship, but it has gone a long way to increasing South African interest in claiming the title by the end of the competition.

Eden Park now becomes the focus for the Australians as they come to the fortress where they haven't won since 1986 knowing that they have to lift themselves again if they are to keep their Bledisloe Cup hopes alive.

The immediate concern for the All Blacks will be counting their injury losses with second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu and flanker Jerome Kaino being the main worries.

Nonu demonstrated his role, especially in Conrad Smith's absence, with a physical game that, had he stayed longer on the field, may well have proven vital in breaking the Australians down.

Being a draw several questions that were obvious before the game remain unanswered.

The most consequential was whether Ewen McKenzie's gamble in playing Kurtley Beale at first five-eighths paid off?

Clearly he wasn't able to produce the match-winning touch that might have brought the game Australia's way, but at the same time he did nothing wrong in keeping his side in the hunt.

Fullback Israel Folau was never given sufficient room to set up potential match-winning opportunities while the conditions demanded the loose forwards, Richie McCaw and Michael Hooper especially, were more confined to the tighter departments than might have been their wont.

It is not too hard to imagine that there will be a concentration on firmer discipline among the All Blacks as the build-up for next weekend's game. That they conceded so many unnecessary penalties was frustrating and reduced the ability of the side to give the world record a serious nudge.

What wasn't at issue was the defensive intent in the side, with some superb examples to deny the Australians the opportunity to convert the superior chances they created to score tries.

The sight of wing Pat McCabe thumping the ground after being bundled out in the corner by Julian Savea and Ryan Crotty was recognition not only of a chance lost but also of the quality of the defence.

And hooker Dane Coles' elusive sidestep after getting back deep into the 22m area in cover to tidy ball and deny the Australians again was a sign of how much he has grown into his role in the side.

It was in reality something of a damp squib of a game, where basic approaches necessarily over-rode the flourishes that might normally be expected in a match of its type and the sort of contest where the conditions sucked the intent and execution out of both side's game plans.

As a consequence, the players of the earlier 17-match sequences, the All Blacks of 1965-69 and the Springboks of the late-1990s, remain unsurpassed in their feats and the subjects of debate late into many evenings over who might be the best of them all.


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All Life Community Providers

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a program that teaches ancient meditative practices, such as breathing and body-awareness, as well as attention to daily activities to help manage stress, anxiety, depression and chronic pain.  The program uses sensory experience to ground one’s awareness in the present moment, regardless of whether the experience is pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. This present-moment attention reduces the anxiety and stress fueled by discursive thinking (worrying, planning, etc.) and can facilitate deep acceptance and contentment with life as it is.

Mindfulness in Motion is an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention program that offers busy adults pragmatic resiliency tools that can be easily implemented in daily life to enhance well-being and functionality while mitigating the effects of chronic stress. This program is based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program to the UMass Medical Center. This abbreviated version originated and was scientifically proven effective through OSU Dept of medicine and is a popular choice for corporate and organizational wellness programs.

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Anne Arundel Community College Nursing

  1. I just want to know what is the average GPA to get into the nursing program at aacc? I have a 3.3-3.4 but im not sure if thats good enough. Also, when are clinicals and classes and how long do they last? Will i be able to keepp my job?
  2. 10 Comments

  3. by   SiennaGreen
    The GPA cut off varies semester to semester. I have heard anywhere from 3.7 to 3.0....depends on who you talk to.

    I'm 3rd semester and am really enjoying the program. It is pretty intense and honestly, you'll be most succesful if you look at it as your FT job. It's hard to work. Some people do, especially if they have no other works out okay. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions!
  4. by   SiennaGreen
    Also, class and clinical vary by semester. Our first semester was lecture 3-4 days a week and lab another day for the first half of the semester. 9-2 kind of stuff. Then the second half was lecture 2-3 days a week and clinical 1-2 full days a week. Clinicals can be anywhere from 6:30 -4:30 and were usually 8 hrs. 2nd and 3rd semester break out differently but you can expect to be in lecture for a few hours a day 2, maybe 3 days a week; and then in clinical 2 days a week. You still have to plan studying, projects, papers, care plans, et cet.

    Like I said, it feels like a FT job to do well.
  5. by   luvly189
    Sorry it took so long to reply back siennagreen. But yea so my GPA is a 3.4 and they will be mailing out letters very soon and really hope i can get in. im an in county resident so maybe they will take that into consideration. Hopefully the gpa's arent extremely high for this fall semester and i will be able to make it in By the way what is an FT job?...thanks for the info.
  6. by   nursingstudent221
    FT job is Full time job
  7. by   jlawrence3
    Hi Sienna...I also attend AACC Nursing PRGM. I was interested in Kowing about the schedule and books need for 3rd semester. I just completed my first year, excited about finishing strong. Is MedSurg 2 as challenging as medsurgI? Is Peds more demanding than MedSurg2. I would like to read ahead and would like to know what to expect from the mental health aspect of medsurg II and also what book I should get for Peds. Thanks for any info.
  8. by   SiennaGreen
    I didn't find Med Surg 2 as challenging as 1. Peds was more challenging simply due to the sheer volume of information and projects, paperwork, et cet. Many people found Peds to be quite challenging.

    I personally wouldn't do too much reading ahead. You could skim through the text if you want, but everythign you need to know gets explained in the PP presentations and lectures. I did the online MedSurg2 and I actually think it was more work than just going to class. The forum discussions were time consuming.

    Text wise. I always buy an older edition of the text, used, online, really cheap. I got the Peds text 2nd ed. for less than $5 and it worked fine. I would rather the spend the money on Review and Rationale books for each section. Plus, if it turns out that you need it, you can always run over to the bookstore and get it.

    Enjoy your summer!
  9. by   jlawrence3
    Thanks Sienna

    I appreciate the advice. I will probably go to class vs. online for medsurg. Would you be able to tell me what book you used for Peds...thanks. Janet
  10. by   SiennaGreen
    Hmmm...I don't have it presently. It was the older version, of the required text for class. IMO, as long as it has thebasic info that you're going to need to look up. You're fine. Find out what is required through the bookstore and then search for an older edition. try Amazon or my favorite is Buy New / Used Books to Fund Literacy Worldwide at
  11. by   peachysa
    I am a lvn in texas im thinking about moving to annapolis and I am looking at the lpn to rn program at anne arundell community college I have all of my prereqs except micro. Do they make you take chem before micro there? also how long is the program if you have all of your prereqs and whats the cost?
  12. by   brieakgul
    to - peachysa
    you can take them concurrently - also you just need the basic non-credit chem class, i took it during the summer in a 6 or 8 week class, pretty simple, no lab is required - i think it is the same as rn where unless you are transferring to university you do not need the 4 credit general chemistry - pretty sure program is almost 2 years and in-tuition rate is about $86/credit and more for out of county, you will be out of county b/c you have to be a resident for a year to be considered in-county -- look at the website and you will get tons of info too, hth!


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Time Frame for Med Administration - page 4

Hi, In school, we learned that meds can be given within an hour of the designated time frame. In other words, if a med is due at 2100, it can be given between 2030-2130. Here on AN, I've noticed... Read More

  1. by   Kooky Korky
    Whoever makes these rules is not actually living by them. They just make rules for the rest of us to follow. This justifies their employment. No one really cares about patients any more and, most assuredly, no one cares about nurses. Our necks are always in the noose and the trap door is about to be sprung.
  2. by   eatmysoxRN
    If they expect all my meds to be given in an actual hour time frame, they'll have to either give me less patients or clone me. Oh man, management would love that... Pay 1 salary since me and my 4 clones would be the same. Lol.

    Oh, and it's the hour on either side at my facility too. Abd if it's late/early, we have plenty of reasons to choose from. Most common is : time restraints
  3. by   Unknown member
    Quote from redhead_NURSE98!
    Golly, I'm really sorry that GrnTea made you have to read all that due to your misstatement! How will you ever get over the heartache of having to read two additional paragraphs?
    Why take the time to comment if you're just going to be rude? Very unnecessary.

    Please close this thread, as I didn't come here to be spoken down to, rather seeking advice from my soon-to-be fellow nurses. Thanks everyone who shared intelligent answers.
  4. by   Merlyn
    In LTC I always combined 2000and 2200 until a supervisor showed me that if you gave all the meds on time you finished work early.
  5. by   caliotter3
    Quote from rn undisclosed name
    Anywhere I have worked at I've been able to give meds within an hour either way. So 9:00 meds can be given as early as 8:00 or as late as 10:00 and still considered on time. Of course it depends on the medication, especially if it is time sensitive such as certain antibiotics (like vancomycin).
    This was the policy I liked when I had up to 80 residents to be responsible for.
  6. by   redhead_NURSE98!
    Quote from Unknown member
    Why take the time to comment if you're just going to be rude? Very unnecessary.
    I agree!! Thus my comment. Please don't act like what you said to GrnTea wasn't meant to be smart alecky. You don't get to dictate the manner in which advice is given to you when you ask for advice. If you want someone to just tell you what you want to hear, ask your mother.


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New this month
J.P.'s Big Daddy Biscuits

J.P.'s Big Daddy Biscuits

"This recipe will produce the biggest biscuits in the history of the world! Serve these gems with butter, preserves, honey, gravy or they can also be used as dinner get the picture. The dough can also be prepared several hours, and up to a day ahead of time. If so, turn dough out onto aluminum foil that has been either floured, lightly buttered or lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Roll up foil until it is sealed, and refrigerate. Don't be surprised if your biscuits rise even higher because the baking powder has had more time to act in the dough. You may have to make a few batches before you get desired results: desired results equals huge mongo biscuits."
Added to shopping list. Go to shopping list.

45 m servings 282 cals
Serving size has been adjusted!
Original recipe yields 6 servings

  • Calories:
  • 282 kcal
  • 14%
  • Fat:
  • 12.6 g
  • 19%
  • Carbs:
  • 36.4g
  • 12%
  • Protein:
  • 5.6 g
  • 11%
  • Cholesterol:
  • 3 mg
  • 1%
  • Sodium:
  • 649 mg
  • 26%

Based on a 2,000 calorie diet

See full nutrition

Nutritional Information

1 Serving
Servings Per Recipe:
Amount Per Serving
  • * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
  • ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
  • (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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  • Prep

  • Cook

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  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Gradually stir in milk until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
  3. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead 15 to 20 times. Pat or roll dough out to 1 inch thick. Cut biscuits with a large cutter or juice glass dipped in flour. Repeat until all dough is used. Brush off the excess flour, and place biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges begin to brown.

  • Tip
  • Parchment can be used for easier cleanup/removal from the pan.

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Read all reviews 3141
  1. 3897 Ratings

Most helpful positive review

ok, I come from a family of very picky biscuit lovers. I looked all summer for a soft big biscuit and have FOUND IT ! I don't see why people have had problems with these. They are great and i ma...

Most helpful critical review

These biscuits tasted OK, but they were very dense and doughy. (Is that a word?) The search for a great biscuit recipe continues.

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ok, I come from a family of very picky biscuit lovers. I looked all summer for a soft big biscuit and have FOUND IT ! I don't see why people have had problems with these. They are great and i ma...

Very good! I make them with half whole wheat flour and half all purpose, and I use butter instead of shortening (I like to avoid trans fats). This is the biscuit recipe I added to my permanent...

Mandy14 - The instructions say to knead 14-14 TIMES, NOT 14-15 minutes! The object is to handle the dough as little as possible.

Excellent recipe ! Being a single guy -no shortening or milk in the fridge, I used butter and a cup of beer. Go ahead and laugh, but they came out great.

These biscuits had a great texture, rose beautifully and were so easy to make. The only drawback was that they were bland and definitely had a slight baking powder taste. I made them a second t...

These are exceptionally good. Very similar to my mom's "baking powder biscuits", but these are moister then hers. I made the "creamed chicken over biscuits" recipe from this site to go with thes...

Simple and tasty! One tip though...don't knead the dough! Kneading this mixing with produce a tough textured biscuit. Mix it just till it holds together...pat into a 1 1/2 inch thick circle.....

This is a good basic biscuit recipe minus the sugar - adding sugar makes a biscuit a scone. I've been making biscuits every AM for 30+ years and I've found that it's really the techniques that ...

Thanks to J.P., I can finally make biscuits after 10 years of trying different recipes and mixes. I would suggest for those people who want more flavor to use buttermilk instead of reg. milk. ...

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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

I'm Rubber, You're Glue...

I think I'm losing my mind. I just got back from picking up my son from youth group and suddenly I feel like a teen again and just want to get a reaction out of little Koresch. The typical juvenille acts come to mind - trip him as he walks by, mumble a mature insult like "jerk" under my breath (again as he walks by) and my all-time favorite, throw a basketball directly at his huge, ego-inflated head. I'm not well. Honestly, I'm pushing 40 and yet this child has got me feeling like an angry kid again. My son was the more mature one tonight chosing to take the high road and not cave in to the nasty looks and vicious gossip of "the circle". I was proud.

I'll have to see Koresch when I'm at work tomorrow. He'll come in for class, buy a soda and thank me with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He knows I'm not fooled anymore. I'm glad to see that there's one teen around me who knows that I am completely on to him. My teen still thinks me to be a bumbling idiot most of the time who doesn't have a clue - about anything. I can't possibly know about teen relationships because I was a teen in the 80's! Gasp! That's practically a hundred years ago! I don't have a clue about music because the groups I liked didn't scream as if in agony - the clear sign, apparently, of 'good' music. I certainly don't know a thing about parenting - if I did, I'd know that most good parents just let their children have whatever they want all the live-long day. I know, my sides hurt from laughing too.

On a positive teen note, one of my son's oldest friends came by today to...hang out with the 8 year old! Willingly! Michael is just absolutely beside himself that his 'best friend' came over to spend the afternoon with him. How cute is that? And yeah to the 16 year old boy who took a free afternoon to spend with a friends brother. Now THAT is a good kid. I'd still like to adopt him (and I think if asked at the right time, his parents would allow it).

Pray for me that I do not throw spit-balls tomorrow or put tacks on anyone's chair. Cross your fingers that there is not super-glue around or 'kick-me' signs lying around just waiting for the chance to be taped on someone's back. Help me to remember who is the grown up and who is the child.

Why don't the grown ups get to have any fun?

But I Already Bought My Bridesmaid Dress...

About a year and a half ago, my dad was dating a woman who I only knew as "crazy Nancy". Seriously. Whenever he'd talk about her (usually after they'd have a fight and break up) he'd say, "Stace! She's crazy!" Of course, none of their fights were ever his faults, he's completely sane, and...please, even I can't lie that much even when I'm writing! So, on one of the occasions that he and crazy Nancy are back together, he gently breaks it to me that they're going to get married. Keep in mind, at the time, I was 37 and he had already been divorced from my mom since I was 10 and had since remarried and divorced wife number 2 by this time. Apparently I'm sensitive.

So the date was set, I was working out travel arrangements even though I felt that the whole thing was a sham; I mean, they had broken up more times than I could count, would they really even make it to their wedding day? We'd planned on driving down to Florida and doing the road trip thing - maybe visit the in-laws on the way. About 2 months before the wedding, I'm talking with my dad and we have a very normal conversation and he mentions nothing at all about the wedding. Odd, but okay. Not much later, I'm on the phone with my sister and she tells me that the wedding was off! I'm a little annoyed that he didn't bother to tell me and share that with my sister. So we decide to wait him out and see how long before dad actually tells me that the wedding is off.

A year and a half later, he still hasn't. Good thing I procrastinated and didn't pick up that yellow chiffon gown I had my eye on!

Two Halves of the Same Whole

We had a rough morning this morning. My husband was out of town last night so it was just me and the boys. I got up on time with the help of the alarm clock, woke both boys up since they both had to come to work with me today, and got on with my morning routine. We were like a fine-tuned machine with taking turns in the bathroom - no one had to stand and wait. I didn't have to remind anyone to do anything - which is a major miracle, believe me.

So I send the boys out to the car to wait for me as I do the final run through the house to make sure everything's turned off and I leave the house with a sense of accomplishment. That is until I hear this angry male roar coming from the car. If I hadn't known better, I would have sworn my husband was in the car because it was that loud and that male. So I climb in and ask what in the world is going on. I mean, clearly with the kind of yelling I just heard, someone must have a jagged piece of glass in their eye or something! Thankfully there was no blood shed but merely a minor misunderstanding (and by misunderstanding I mean that the 8 year old made a request, the 16 year old told him no and that it was a stupid request, the 8 year old breathed heavily and rolled his eyes before whining and the 16 year old snapped). In all fairness, my 8 year old is just coming in to his own and thinks that he knows a whole lot more than he does. It seems to be the 16 year old's job to break his spirit and show him how wrong he all the time.

The funny thing about my kids is that they are complete opposites. Now I know that my sister and I were opposites as well but I just never realized how bizarre it makes your home life until I experienced it as a parent. Nick (16) is overly cautious, he takes no physical chances yet mouths off without provocation and sees nothing wrong with telling us (as parents) when he thinks we are wrong. And believe me, we seem to be wrong quite a bit. Michael (8) is completely daring. He broke out of the nursery at 18 months and they found him near Main Street happily running with a Matchbox car. He was always the peace maker and never wanted anyone to be upset. They have no similar interests and just recently have begun to battle all the darn time. One starts to speak, the other huffs, eyes roll, and then the gloves are off. It's not a fun time. What makes them even funnier is the fact that Nick looks exactly like me and mostly has my personality. Michael is all Frank - in looks and interests. Yet Frank and I get along very well. We have an awesome marriage and have a great time together. How come the kids can't get along? If Nick is me and Michael is Frank, and Frank and I get along, what's their problem? I don't get it.

The arguments keep coming, eyes are about to fall out of heads due to all the rolling and someone's going to develop asthma from all of the huffing. I can only hope that someday they will learn to get along for longer periods of time and maybe, just maybe, even enjoy one another's company and be friends.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Cult, Charisma or Just Plain Crazy?

For most of my 16 year-old's life, I have adored his friends. Some have been like family to me and I enjoyed having them around. Several years ago he became friends with a boy who was okay (to me) but something was never quite right. I was never really at ease with him around. He was kind of cold to my younger son, he broke a very expensive bracelet of mine and then denied it to my face...things like that just fueled my unease.

With the approach of the teen years, drama started. When one friend was the first to get a girlfriend, his friends did not respond well. Relationships were severed and new bonds made. I went along with it all - all the while remembering what it was like to be 15 and how it felt when your friends started dating before you. With the loss of my son's best friend, a new best friend came on the scene - you guessed it, Mr. Bracelet-breaker. For Nick's sake, I tolerated the friendship and even forced myself to get along with this kid and as time went on, it wasn't so much of a chore. Then I noticed my son becoming more and more moody. He was giving up possessions and stopped listening to music that he loved because this person told him to. Soon, other friends were complaining (to me, might I add) how this person was causing problems with his constant barrage of put-downs on all of them. I'd even had girls come to me complaining of inappropriate touching and how uncomfortable they were with this boy. At 16, I now liken this person to a David Koresch-type personality.

The final straw for me was when I found out that my son's group of friends had formed "The Circle". If you're group needs a name, you're verging on being a cult in my opinion. The point of 'the Circle' was to be a group of Christian friends who lifted one another up and offered spiritual help and prayer and it all sounded like a good thing. That is, until little Koresch started making rules. He would complain about the clothes Nick wore or the pictures Nick would post on his My Space page and even went so far as to show them to me behind Nick's back in hopes of outraging me. I thought they were funny! They weren't vulgar or offensive, it was Nick in make up from the movie "the Crow" with Brandon Lee. Koresch's comments were "See! See what he's doing?" Then came the interventions - again in front of me - where Nick was told that he wasn't right with God because of the music he listened to. Well, guess what? A few weeks later, who has the same music on his i-Pod that he's playing for their book-club teacher? One-hint: NOT NICK. The charasmatic leader of the circle convinced his followers that it was time to kick Nick out of the circle because he was causing too much strife and refused to get right with God. His crime? He argued with said leader. These are 16 year old kids!!!

I met with their youth group leader and then my son and another friend met with him to discuss this problem. I was pleased to see that this man is very wise and has actually witness this crazed behavior and is worried himself. He sees that this boy is using the Bible to hide behind without any theology to back him up and even went so far as to demand - DEMAND - that the church back HIM on what he's doing! This is a 16 year old boy telling a youth pastor what to do! He's not even a member of the church where they go to youth group and he's making demands on them that they follow him! His parents aren't members of this church either. The youth pastor likened him to trying to be the Pope over this group.

I have to admit that for a while, I thought I was just a crazed mom defending my kid and not seeing the big-picture, now I fear that we're not seeing enough! I see the way the other kids 'follow' him and do his bidding. He wanted lunch one day but he only had a few minutes before he was being picked up to go to a class. The rest of the group was deciding what to do for lunch and he sent one of the girls in to demand that the lunch run happen NOW because HE was hungry! And believe me, she was serious. She refused to eat after she was informed that lunch wouldn't be back in time and instead, gave this boy her money so that he could get himself lunch at his class! None of these kids parents seem to realize what is happening because he has charmed them. He knows the right things to say. His own parents believe his lies. His friends are affraid to go against him or disagree with him because of how they will be treated.

He wears a dog collar as if marking himself as "Top Dog". Give me a break. I saw a phrase similar to this in reference to Waco and Koresch and found it appropriate.

"The type of character exhibited manifests the worst sort of evil and wickedness in the guise of virtue. Wickedness as seen in his manipulation and control of people, most of whom do not have the same abilities and will power as he, an exploitation of those weaker for the purpose of fueling his pride and self-importance; yet, all the while, in the mien of piety and truth. What deception!"

I'm venting, I know. I just wish that parents would open their eyes to what is happening right in front of them. How do you think cults get started? Where do you think these leaders begin to fuel their massive egos? It all has to start somewhere and usually when everyone does finally take notice, it's too late.

Do we want our kids to be friends with a person bent on having control over them just for the sake of having friends or do we risk isolating them a bit in order to protect them? I'd rather have my son mad at me now that have him be a statistic later.

Think about it.

Do I look Amish to you?

Some of you have heard this story, but it still makes me laugh. Plus it gives you a little bit more of an understanding of what I deal with on a daily basis. Back in August we drove up to New York for my grandmother's 84th birthday. We were staying with my sister and on our second day there, my 19 year old nephew asked if he could take my 16 year old son to a party with him. I was not thrilled with the idea but reluctantly agreed. His response? "Great! I told everyone that my Amish cousin was coming!"

So I'm like "Um, Justin, we're not Amish." He looks at me like I've grown a second head. "You're not?" He asked, all confused. "Aren't you something with the homeschooling and the living down south?" I'm dumbfounded. "You mean, Christian?" I ask. "Yeah, that's it! I knew you were something." He was all pleased with himself as he walked away.

A couple of months later, I'm on the phone with my sister and we're talking about swapping pictures via e-mail and she couldn't figure out how to do it so she puts her son on the phone to help. I give him my e-mail address and when I say that it's at he asked, "Embarq? Is that some sort of Amish e-mail?" Sigh. "Yes," I say patiently. Because everyone knows that the Amish are famous for their technology and e-mail service. Honestly, it's a good thing that he's pretty because there's not too much going on upstairs, if you know what I mean.

But seriously, what exactly is it about me that screams 'Amish'? Is it the highlights in my hair? The perfectly sculped waxed eyebrows? The fact that I drive a car? My use of cell phones? Take your pick!

I guess when you look at the way that they live and all of the creature comforts that they enjoy, we must look Amish to them. I really don't see anything wrong with us - we like things simple. Now excuse me while I go and harvest some wheat while listening to an i-Pod.

Can only stars dance?

Okay, one of my favorite guilty pleasures to watch on TV is "Dancing with the Stars". I have always loved to dance but never had the guts to really dance. I took a year of jazz, I took dance as a PE elective for a year and a half in high school and when we moved in the middle of my 10th grade year, I danced on that high school's kickline. An event in my life that still causes my sister and I to go in to a fit of giggles over because I still have my pom-poms. She's just jealous! I love watching this show because not only is the dancing decent, but I've watched some of these rather out-of-shape, B-list celebrities dance away the weight. So I watch and I think "Why can't I do that?" I mean, if the stars can dance, why can't I? Quite possibly because while they are out there rehearsing for 8-10 hours a day to get in to those fabulous, shiny, sparkly dresses, I'm watching them while eating a pint of Hagan Daaz and merely tapping my foot to the music. You can see my dilema.

I've watched them have hearing impaired celebrities (go Marlee Matlin!) and wanna-be celebrity amputees (Heather Mills) and botox-impaired celebrities (shame on you Priscilla!), why can't plain old Stace from Wake Forest go out there and dance? Shouldn't that be an option? I mean, we've seen reality shows where they do "celebrity" editions, why not take a celebrity reality show and throw the average guy/gal in there? Honestly, I still have the pom-poms, this could work!

And as if they are just looking to taunt me, tonight on DWTS result show, one of my all-time favorite rock bands from my 80's big-hair days is the guest group! Why, Oh why?? In a perfect world, I'd be as skinny as one of those dancers, Vienese Waltzing all over the bookstore and Joe Elliot (of the infamous rock band) crooning to me tonight! Don't worry, Frank is aware of this secret fantasy.

I guess a good start would be to put the Nestle Crunch bar down and actually make an attempt to get in to shape. My mom and sister bought the DVD for Hip-Hop Abs. I think it got watched once. Hip-hop doesn't appeal to me so I won't ask them for it but I have to admit, when I get up and get on the tread-mill, there is nothing like some 80's disco to get me going. There's something very empowering about strutting to "I Will Survive" while sucking wind on the treadmill in hopes of buring 30 calories!

So, will I dance? Yes, in the privacy of my own home, in my room, with the door closed. Will I wear one of those shiny, sparkly, skimpy outfits, not on your life! No one should have to see that, not even me!

Two Tickets to Paradise - for 4?

Last night at the end of dinner, the family got in to a discussion of vacations. Now if it were up to me, I'd be in Disney World at least once a year. My husband does not share that dream - and yet, our marriage works. So we grab a notebook - I am a big list maker - and decide that we are each going to pick five places that we'd like to go on vacation that are realistic. Damn, there goes my trip to the Great Barrier Reef! We want this to be an attainable list and so I get comfy on the couch and we begin to discuss.

For as much as I want to be in Disney, my 16 year old son want to go to NY. Why? Because he gets treated like a celebrity when we go home to visit our families up there. Every one makes a big deal, he gets to only do the fun things with everyone, we eat good food and sure, for him, it's a sweet deal. What he doesn't understand is that for every "fun" activity he gets to do, somewhere there's a family member lurking with what I'm sure they consider to be "helpful" comments that suck the life out of the trip for me. There was the time dad pulled me aside to tell me how fat I was getting, or when I made one simple food request to my sister and instead of making it for me, she took it to a friends house and fed it to them! While I was still in the darn state!! But back to the list...the rule is that there is to be no Orlando or Long Island anywhere on the list. So, of course, the 16 year old no longer wants to participate because if he can't go to NY then he wants to go international. Honestly, I don't even think he's trying to be difficult, it just comes naturally.

The 8 year old chimes in with his requests and I think that basically, he's just learning state names because he had no real reasons for chosing those states except that they just sounded good. Okay so we add his states to the list. My husband - who constantly complains about my not taking his feelings in to consideration when planning a vacation, comes up with some good choices - the Grand Canyon, Northern California to see the Redwoods, Alaska and perhaps, Nashville. I can work with that. We're all getting in to the groove and my 16 year old finally gives a non-NY input - Washington state. Now, the only people that we even know in that state is one of my husband's sisters. The one that I don't talk to. The one who I've never gotten along with - and it's mutual. Why? Why would the boy even suggest such a thing? He's clearly got some deep rooted issues with me that involve making me as uncomfortable as possible on any vacation. Why else would his only two choices involve me being insulted at every turn? We should talk to someone about that.

So where are we going to go next? Hee, hee! Actually, I am going back to Disney World before any of the "list" locations. I have a trip planned with my sister, mom, aunt and cousin. My sis and I take a trip to "the World" alone (no husbands, no kids) every 2-3 years. Since mom is living with her now, we invited her to join us. She then invited the aunt and cousin. She may not get invited on a trip with us again if she doesn't watch it! Our trip is in September and I really cannot wait. It's four days to relax and be a kid without having to deal with the realities of every day life. I highly recommend a trip like this to all of you moms out there. I know my husband appreciates me so much more when I get back!

If I had my choice of where the family headed to for our next trip, it would definitely not be NY or Washington (sorry, Nick) but maybe something completely different like a road trip to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio! I'll keep you posted!

The case for a phone-free world...

Okay, so it all started last week with a phone call from my dad. "Stace!" he starts in a near frantic voice, "You've got to help me! It's Anthony! He's on the drugs." Let me take a minute to fill you in on why this is so damn funny to me. First of all, Anthony is my step-brother. We've been related for the last 20 years and I've spoken to him maybe a dozen times in all those years. Why dad thinks that I would possibly be helpful in this situation, is way beyond me. The second comical aspect to this conversation is the fact that my father has been know to use a LOT of drugs in his life-time so it's kind of like the pot calling the kettle black. On with the story...

So I ask all of the usual questions, what's he taking? how do you know? have you done an intervention? blah, blah, blah. He begs me to call and so I say that I will. It takes me four days to make the call because in all honesty, I have no clue what to say. Shocking, I know, for those who know me. So I finally cave and make the call and to my surprise, I actually have a GREAT conversation with my bro. I mean, he was making sense, he took responsibility for his use of prescription pain killers and was - in my opinion - sincere in his attempts to get help. Okay, so my job is done. My conscience is clear. As I'm about to get off the phone and pat myself on the back for a job well-done, he asks, "Can you call dad for me? Tell him that I want to come and see him. He won't answer my calls." I don't really want to make the call - the fewer conversations with dad, the better - that's my motto. But I cave and make the call. Plus, now I can get that approval from dad that I'm forever looking for because I've done what he asked and had positive results. Or so I thought... Dad is not ready to talk to Anthony and asks me to call Anthony and tell him not to come around. At this point I'm thankful for that unlimited long-distance calling plan I've got. I mean, I'm in NC they're in Florida, can't they make their own damn calls??? So now I call Anthony and relay the news and after a brief conversation, we're done. I am relieved to be out of picture.

In a perfect world, that would be the end. But the next day I get a call from my sister who is on a cruise to Bermuda with her boyfriend. "Stace! Is daddy dead?" Not a typical greeting, but my curiosity is piqued. "No, why?" I ask. "Because Anthony's called me three times and I refuse to answer it. Why would he be calling me three times unless is was bad news?" Now for the awkward part. In my conversings with Anthony, I let it slip that Karen sometimes takes some prescription "stuff". Now he's concerned that SHE has a drug problem!! Oy! So I explain that to her and she took it rather well. I was shocked. But as our conversation progressed, I realized that she doesn't really care because she's clearly on something RIGHT NOW!! On a deluxe cruise, she's sitting in her room, mid-day, eating spaghetti! Okay, that's normal. While we're talking, my husband calls on my cell-phone from Virginia where he's working complaining of a migraine. I feel bad and all but hey, I've got Bermuda on the line, I'll call you back. So we wrap things up, seriously, the spaghetti was the most exciting part of her cruise story, and her final request? "Hey, can you call Anthony and tell him to stop calling me?" For crying out loud!!! Being a good sister, I make the call - after I check on hubby (who is fine by this point). The conversation with bro goes fine and we actually bond. Who knew? While on the phone with him, my mom calls! She took Grandma to the doctor and there were some problems, please call back. A cold compress for my head, a fist-full of Advil and a strong drink are what I need most right now. Hang up with Anthony, call mom. I get the info on Grandma and it's not as dramatic as she'd made it sound on the answering machine and then she begins an argument with my nephew who she lives with. Actually, she lives with my sister (of the spaghetti/Bermuda cruise) and my nephew. That's a story for another day. They start arguing because he wants to have a party and since mom's away, he thinks he can con Nana into agreeing. His last party ended when one of his friends got thrown through the kitchen window. But I digress... they're fighting and finally mom says, "Stace! Talk to your godchild and tell him that he can't have a party!" I'm feeling pretty powerful at this point because clearly my family thinks that I have some magical powers that I can right all the wrongs in the world with just my voice. Pretty impressive. The boy could care less what his aunt who lives 600 miles away has to say (they're in NY) and he eventually just walks away from the phone. Mom is so disgusted, with him, not me, that we end our conversation with me wishing her good luck. Again, glad to be out of the picture.

Or so you would think. At 10 pm that night, I get a call from mom. "What's wrong?" I ask. "Well," she begins and she does not sound well,"I just had four fully loaded fire engines, three police squad cars and an ambulance leave the front yard!" Right now a body through the window is sounding good. Long story short - because it's just too ridiculous at this point - the boy and his three friends (all of the age of 19) were drinking in the yard and lit the portable fire pit and threw some sort of accelerant on it and the flames shot up higher than they should for about 5 seconds. My sister's soon-to-be-ex-husband (who lives next door and is not happy about his wife being on a cruise to Bermuda with her boyfriend) called the police about an "out of control fire" in the yard! No charges were filed, the boys hid their illegal beer before the fire-fighters stormed the yard (which is a good thing because in NY if you are caught drinking under the legal age in a private residence, the adult at home goes to jail). I think that would have thrown Nana over the edge for sure!

I'd love to meet the person who invented caller ID. I don't know how we've lived so long without it. Now if only I could remember to put it to good use and ignore when the family calls and not just for those pesky telemarketers!


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Trina Turk for Banana Republic – Buy Before its hits Stores TODAY!

Racked just announced that today at noon, Trina Turk’s much-anticipated capsule for Banana Republic is launching exclusively on —a week before you’ll be able to shop it at Banana. No discounts, but do expect first dibs on lots of gorgeous prints and So-Cal-friendly dresses. A selection from the 60-piece collection will go on sale at full price ($34-$150) on Wednesday at noon, and be available for 36 hours. Set your alarm for noon and if you haven’t joined Gilt yet, get signed up – this one is expected to go really fast!

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About Melissa

Written by Melissa Angert, editor of this fashion blog and author of Girlymama. You can also find her on Twitter as Melissa Angert. She is a mom of 3 living in Providence.


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Lush - Romantica
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For most parts of the country, spring is just being sprung. Sure, the cool nights still linger around, but for the most part plants are starting to bloom and the sun is staying in the sky for longer and longer each day. With that in mind, Romantica is being released at the same time that nature is also signaling the return of some springtime lovin'. Lead man Dean Wareham used to make super-fuzzy rock tracks with the rather seminal band Galaxie 500, but this release finds him (and the group) at probably their most poppy to date.

One quick scan through the song titles also reveals a slightly lighter side to the group as well. Wareham wears his heart on his sleeve on tracks like "Lovedust," "Weird And Woozy," and the obvious album-titled "Romantica" (among others) and rather unobtrusive production by Dave Fridmann (who brought groups like Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips to dizzying heights) that allows the gauzy rock to flow like the Nile. Although the group has been beloved for quite some time, they've also been some rather brutal big-label dealings, so it's pretty refreshing to hear them create something like this.

On "Lovedust," the album mixes some acoustic guitars and a punchy little bassline along with the almost always wistful vocals of Wareham. When the first lines of vocals on the album are "When candles light themselves / And the air turns creamy / Why not take a photograph? / You look so dreamy," it might be easy to dismiss as plain silly, but the group pulls the track off with just the right mix of self-winking and panache to make it work (although the two-part male/female vocal harmony doesn't hurt). Even the slightly less bubbly lyrics of "Black Postcards" ride along with a funky bassline and some rough-edged drumming that turn it into one of the more musically interesting tracks on the disc (mainly because the drums seem to take a backseat for most tracks).

If sex and lovin is one main theme of the album, the other is food. "Renee' Is Crying" starts out with the absolutely goofy lines "Salt and pepper squid / And Singapore noodles / I could look at your face / For oodles and oodles," and instead of being laughable the group makes them downright singalong. Mixing in food metaphors as if he'd been studying Like Water For Chocolate, (or Cibo Matto's Viva La Woman!), Wareham keeps the track moving along with an infectious giddy-ness. Fans of the groups early work might find the album a bit trying at first, but it's still the same old group for the most part (despite changing a few members). Spring is definitely here, and Luna just wants to help you get your swerve on.

rating: 7.2510
Aaron Coleman 2003-06-19 00:00:00


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Top Everyday Aloe Vera Uses for Skin

When you take a look at aloe vera, you may think that this plant is not beautiful at all. You may do not like to grow any in your house. But when you find out that there are many everyday aloe vera uses for skin, you probably want to change your mind. What are they, the uses of this plant for the skin? Well, here come some of the benefits this unbeautiful plant.

Since many centuries ago, people have been aware of the aloe vera uses for health. Even, thousands years ago, ancient people of Egypt had been very well knowing the good effects of the plant. At the time, people in the country use the plant for treating wounds, sunburns and burns merely. But with the development of technology, today there can be found a bunch of advantages people can get from the aloe vera medicinal plant.

Well, one of the everyday aloe vera uses to include in this article is that it possesses the power to heal eczema. What is eczema actually? Is it a dangerous disease? When you find out that your skin is dry and harsh, it means that you are suffering from eczema. The worst thing of this disease is that your skin can be easily irritated. The gel inside the leaves can help you avoid suffering from eczema effectively.

Many people feel so annoyed when they have acne on their faces. It is not exaggerated to say that they would like to do anything just to get rid out of their acne. But it is important for you to learn that aloe vera uses include treating acne effectively. So, if you wish to get rid out of your acne, all you need to do is to apply the gel on your face every day. This plant will gradually fade and then eliminate acne from your face in a significantly short amount of time.

When you go outside often, you have the big chance of getting sunburn. In order to heal sunburn, it is actually not hard for you. You need to know that actually one of the aloe vera uses is to treat sunburn. Sometimes, sunburn can be very painful. The Aloe gel will decrease the pain you feel drastically. You will like to apply the gel on the skin due to its greatness. As compared to other natural materials, the gel is the most powerful one.


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Fukuoka Shrine Club

The Fukuoka Shrine Club is the newest and most active Shrine Club in Japan. Located in Fukuoka Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, the Fukuoka Shrine Club was chartered on November 12th, 2016 by then Illustrious Potentate, Lee D. Gordon and Assistant Rabban, Mark P. Leo. Fukuoka Shrine Club was chartered by 8 founding members, many of whom are members of Himiko Lodge No. 24 (Fukuoka, Japan). However, founding members traveled from as far as Nippon Lodge No. 9 (Sasebo, Japan) and Kokusai Lodge No. 15 (Tokyo, Japan). The members of the Fukuoka Shrine Club are local business leaders and professionals in their communities, who all seek to better themselves and the communities in which they live. The Shrine Club’s founding and first President is Noble Shigeru Oshima, Past Master of Himiko Lodge No. 24 and Junior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Japan F&AM.

Founding: November 12, 2016
Location: Fukuoka, Japan
President: Shigeru Oshima
Contact: Oshima@alohashriners.jp

Membership Dues


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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

32 weeks - it's getting real

Sunday marked 32 weeks of this pregnancy. Or as one of my apps helpfully reminds me, I have now been pregnant for 224 days. That's a lot of days.

And that's a lot of belly. Whoa. It looked smaller on my phone.

I'm still feeling generally ok. There's a bit more reflux happening (especially when I bend over, though that's becoming a rarer occurrence these days!). And the noises are getting louder when I put on my socks. And my hips are starting to hurt a bit when I spend too long in one position at night (which is generally not a problem as my bladder usually forces me up long before my hips start complaining).

My newest issue is that it appears that my dog and my unborn child are now conspiring together to keep me from sleeping. Perhaps the dog is rebelling against the fact that we left him alone to go back to work yesterday after spending four full days with him over Thanksgiving? I have no idea, but whatever it is, the boy decided to insist at 2am, then 3am, and then 4am very loudly that he should be allowed on the bed. Since I found out that I was pregnant we've been teaching him that he's not allowed on the bed until 5 or 5:30 at the earliest for some cuddle time before we get up for the day because as I get bigger there's just not room for my belly and the dog. Plus I'm fairly confident that we aren't going to want the dog in the bed all night long once the baby is actually here. So. We're working on it. And it's been fairly successful. Until he got sick the other week (and I'm a total sucker when he's sick. I admit it). And then we were at my parents and he slept on the bed all night at their house. And now we're back to reminding him he doesn't have that privilege anymore.

So I was doing my sleepy best to get him to go lie down on his dog bed and he was doing his best to be all sad and pathetic looking and have me let him up. At one point instead of going to his own bed he decided that lying down with his head under the bed, pouting and sighing heavily was going to get him his way. It did not. Until he came back at 4:30am (after I'd been awake since 4 at that point because my darling unborn child was tap dancing on my ribs) and I couldn't take it anymore. So I let him up on the bed and surfed twitter for awhile. Fun times I tell you. Except that now I feel like I'm going to fall asleep at my desk (curse of the open floor plan office - no door to shut for a quick catnap!). Perhaps I should thank Cody for helping me get ready to be a mom to a newborn, but instead I'm cursing him for making the last weeks of sleep less restful than they should be!

Also I keep saying in my head that it'll be at least 8 more weeks (or longer!) until baby comes, but after talking to a friend last night, I realized that there's only 5 more weeks until I'm at 37 weeks (full term!). Which seriously blows my mind. I could potentially have a child starting any time after Christmas. That's just crazy.

Monday, November 26, 2012

A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. And I've been lucky in that most places I've worked I've had the Friday after Thanksgiving off as well as Thanksgiving Day (or I've just taken it off) which means that I'm very used to having a four day weekend. And I love that the actual holiday is at the beginning of the break so I spend the week leading up to Thursday all excited and then I still have three full days to enjoy doing whatever it is I want to enjoy (this year - a lot of napping and eating leftovers and watching football). Christmas is a close second, but there always seems to be other stress surrounding the holiday which isn't present at Thanksgiving.

Sunrise on Thanksgiving morning from my parents house.

Plus, I've decided that the absolute best part about now living closer to my parents is that we can go spend a couple of nights with them and still get two full days of vegging out time on my own couch. Yes, I am very thankful for my couch in case you couldn't tell!

My contribution to dinner this year was a caramel apple pie (recipe found here) and it was delicious! I was a bit worried about how it was going to turn out, but luckily everyone loved it! Mom says I might have to make one every year (oh darn...). Actually, I might make another one sooner rather than later as we ended up with an extra batch of caramel sauce (let's just say I tried to be ahead of the game by making the sauce at home before going to my parents, and then promptly forgot it in my fridge. Whoops).

Mom's the head Thanksgiving chef-in-charge-of-yummy-goodness for our family meal while I keep her company (and attempt to help wherever I can). The stuffing is my absolute favorite (Grandma's recipe!) and her turkey came out so delicious this year! Plus, since we ended up with only five of us for dinner that meant there were a lot of my other favorite part of Thanksgiving - leftovers!

And is it really Thanksgiving without a picture of the dog begging for turkey?

Though because of a recent bout of not-feeling-well-itis, no turkey scraps for Cody!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and were able to spend it however you wanted - whether with family or friends or at a movie or scoping out the best deals for Black Friday (better you than me - you couldn't pay me to deal with Black Friday crowds!). Now that we're heading into December, I'm trying to soak up this last holiday season as a family of two with B before our lives change so much when this little one decides to make his or her debut.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I've been trying to remember and for the life of me I cannot remember a Thanksgiving that I didn't spend with my parents. I also can't remember a Christmas that I didn't spend with my family in my own home, but that's another story for another day.

Thanksgiving to me means spending time with my family. Specifically I mean with my parents and siblings, but there have been years when I was the only child who was able to make it home. More often however, there are lots of others celebrating with us (siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, students of my dad, etc) which just makes the day more festive. And really, with all of the delicious food and plenty of wine, how could the day be anything but fun? (I realize I'm fairly lucky that I'm 31 years old and can't remember a drama filled day.)

Part of the reason I've always had Thanksgiving with my family is because where I went to college we had the whole week of Thanksgiving off (which was awesome). They actually shut the dorms and made everyone leave ("you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"), and since I was only a 4 hour drive from home, why else wouldn't I go home? In law school I was about 5 hours away, and while I could have stayed and spent the day with friends, it had usually been awhile since I'd seen my parents and it was nice to go home for a break (even if I did spend the majority of the three days I was home during my 1L year writing outlines and cramming for finals in a coffee shop).

B hasn't quite had the family connection to Thanksgiving that I have, and in fact for many years this was very much a friend holiday for him. He and whichever of his friends were around would cook a big dinner and spend time relaxing with each other. Luckily he likes my family a lot and is more than happy to spend Turkey Day with them, though he does still find it strange not to be the one making the bulk of the meal (my mom does that - I help where I can and usually make a pie. Also I am Chief Taste Tester of all that comes out of the kitchen. Between that and watching football with my dad, it really is a most excellent day).

I'm hopeful that perhaps next Thanksgiving we'll be in a position to host my family so that my mom doesn't have to do as much. I'm pretty sure she'd be plenty happy to spend the day playing with our kiddo while B and I make dinner (what, clearly I'm not going to do it myself!). But this year I'm going to enjoy all of her cooking (especially the stuffing - it's my grandmother's recipe and it's SO GOOD) and pretend not to notice all of the excellent wine that everyone else is drinking. Me and my sparkling cider totally aren't jealous (and yes, I phrased that exactly how I intended).

Hope you all have a wonderful day however you choose to spend it!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Getting through

It's been a long week and it's only Thursday. It doesn't really help that I've spent part of today listening to a CLE about immigration remedies for victims of domestic violence (why yes, my CLE reporting period does end at the end of this year!). Always uplifting stuff right there, let me tell you.

I just feel sort of down today, but I have no particular reason why. I mean, our hospital tour was great last night (the rooms are a lot bigger than either of us thought they'd be!), and the sun is shining which is always cause for celebration in Seattle in November. I think I'm just tired. That kind of tired when you've been working too long without a break and you just feel like you're in a rut. Luckily next week is a short week (thank goodness!), and I am very much looking forward to the downtime. I think I'm also just starting to get more tired during the day (apparently growing a baby will do that to you, who knew?), plus I haven't been sleeping all that well. And now Cody hasn't been feeling great which makes me all worried about him too (we're pretty sure he just pulled or strained a muscle in his back legs and he'll be ok with rest and recuperation. But he's still my baby and I worry!).

Anyway. All this to say I am very thankful that next week is Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Playing Around

I was playing around with one of the apps I have that makes collages for Instagram (oh yeah, I'm on that now if anyone cares to follow - alongfarview over there... not really sure what I'm doing yet, but I'm really enjoying all of the baby pictures - turns out I follow a lot of new parents!), and decided to do a belly shot comparison. I haven't really looked at the pictures side by side much to see just how big the belly had gotten, and well, wow. Hello there 30 weeks!

The lighting and cropping aren't great since I was just playing around, but thought I'd share it anyway.

30 weeks seems like a big milestone to me for some reason... 10 more weeks to go, solidly in the third trimester, belly definitely large and in charge but not hugely uncomfortable yet (though I'm getting there...). Some of the not so nice side effects that I've been hearing about are starting to happen - reflux being the main one. It usually happens in the evening, and I feel like I shouldn't even complain since it's not that bad, but it's still annoying. And I wouldn't be shocked if it gets worse.

I'm also still waiting to figure out exactly what my leave plans are going to be (I've sent a proposal to my boss and he's still thinking about it...), and I'm pretty sure we're going to get some news this week at work that may shake things up a bit. I'm not entirely certain how it all will affect me, but I'm definitely working on reminding myself that "If I can't change it, I can't worry about it." We'll see if that's actually enough to keep myself from worrying.

In other happier baby news, our hospital tour is tomorrow night and I'm so excited! Really looking forward to seeing exactly where we'll be when this kiddo of ours comes into the world (and all of the random stuff, like where to park and check in when we first show up). And my baby shower is coming up in just a couple of weeks and people are actually coming! (Am I the only one with the irrational fear that no one will show to these types of things? Just me? All right then. But really I'm just SO excited to spend some time with people who I really don't get to see often enough!)

And have the holidays gotten here super quick for anyone else? I mean, Thanksgiving is next week! I'm super excited for the short week, but wow, the days are definitely flying by over here.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

10(ish) weeks to go. Say what now?

Um, guys? Baby's due date is in roughly 10 1/2 weeks. I don't know if you're counting at all, but that's like 2 1/2 months away. And it could be less than that! That means that in just over 2 months time there's going to be a living, breathing, CRYING human being in my life! You know, separate from me! Uh, the hell? When did that happen??? Also, I'd like to point out that we're now just two weeks away from Thanksgiving, and then my baby shower, and then B's family is coming up to celebrate Christmas and then we're celebrating with my family, and then New Year's and then it's going to be January (aka baby eviction month) before I know it. Holy whoa.

So, here's my 29 week belly shot, only several days late because, well, no excuse. Just because. But it's not like I've actually been sticking to any sort of timetable for weekly updates. No, more it's fun to throw in shots of how the belly is taking over. Which it seriously feels like it's doing. Generally right now I feel pretty good up until about 2pm or so. Nothing really hurts, baby has its dance party moments and some sleepy time moments, I can get work done, all is well. And then, well, then 2pm hits and something shifts. Instead of fun dance parties I think baby gets pissed off at not having enough room and has to take it out on my uterus. I swear it's getting bruised in there. And then my back starts hurting and no matter how I adjust my chair and back pillow I can't find the position that was perfectly comfy just a couple of hours ago.

And then I go home. Where after B and I walk the dog (who's had to get used to having us both out of the house all day long and therefore goes bat shit crazy excited when we get home), I try to relax on the couch, searching for the position where my back doesn't hurt, the belly doesn't feel weird and the reflux is most held at bay (spoiler alert: said position does not exist). God, this sounds delightful doesn't it? To all of my friends who haven't had kids, sorry 'bout that. Just think about all the alien belly strangeness you have to look forward to should you some day choose to have kids! (I am told it's all worth it though.)

Oh, also? Putting on my socks is starting to get hard, much to B's amusement. Luckily I wear Danskos every day to work so I haven't had to tie shoes in, oh, a couple months now? (also should tell you how long it's been since I wore a pair of sneakers... I have worked out since then but I do so barefoot in my living room. It works. Sort of.) I hear this only gets harder as the belly gets bigger. Awesome.

Back to the plus side though, so far things are trucking along pretty normally (I think). Even though I had some weird Braxton Hicks contractions last week and went home a bit early on Friday because they were hitting that 6 in an hour point that my midwives start paying more attention to, I appear to be back to normal now with the kid just shoving various body parts in my ribs. I'll take it. It is definitely odd trying to figure out what is "normal-weird" versus what is "bad-weird" and where precisely that line is when everything about this process is new and strange and constantly has me saying wtf is that??

Next week we have our hospital tour and I'm really looking forward to seeing exactly where this kiddo is going to be born. Also that marks the beginning of having our Centering Pregnancy class/appointments every 2 weeks rather than every 4! And other than the Centering classes that we're doing, we're only taking an Infant CPR class. I don't really feel the need to do any other classes given the research that we've both already done and the resources that we'll have available at the hospital (ie breastfeeding help).

It's crazy both how fast and how slow time has seemed to have gone this pregnancy, and I know the last couple of months are going to fly by. So I'm trying to savor this time with B before we become a family of three as much as I can. I can't wait to see him as a dad, but right now he's being a pretty awesome husband and I'm so happy he's my partner in crime in all of this.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Election Day

I voted in my first presidential election in 2000. I was a 19 year old freshman in college and I remember being at dinner at the old Student Union Building with a friend when we first heard that Florida was being called for Al Gore. We were so excited. Then in the time that it took to get back to the dorm, we heard that the networks were taking it back and maybe it was going to be called for George Bush. And then... well, then no one really knew what was happening. After that I stayed up until nearly 3am trying to get some sort of clarity and then I woke up the next morning to learn that it would be days or weeks before we knew who our next president was going to be.

Since then I've voted in every election (including off cycle elections, though I admit, I did forget to send in my ballot for this latest primary. Whoops). I am proud of my right to vote, and believe that it is my duty as a citizen to exercise it. I don't always agree with the candidates, but I am pragmatic enough to know that one of them will be in charge and I'd like a say in picking who that person will be. Plus so often when people decide not to vote for president they just decide not to vote at all, missing the opportunity to effect change on a local level. For example, my state has a hotly contested governor's race this year (without anyone named Gregoire or Rossi on the ballot! Hallelujah!), along with several important initiatives, including granting same-sex couples the right to marry. Even if people decide not to vote for president, I do hope that they vote for these local elections and issues.

I'm also very happy to live in a state that conducts its elections through mail-in ballots (where you can even check online to make sure your ballot was received and your signature verified!). By allowing people the time to vote at home when it is convenient for them and then providing the opportunity for people to either mail ballots back (which yes, does require a stamp) or drop them off at a designated location (which does not require a stamp), Washington has done a great job with raising voter turnout. Oregon has had mail in only elections since 1998, and I believe that Oregon's turnout is over 70% now, well above the 58% turnout nationally (I'll try to find time today to located sources to back up those statistics). Sure it means that since I've only ever voted in Oregon and Washington that I don't ever get an "I voted" sticker, or have tales about standing in line for hours at a time, but I also know that there is no reason for me not to vote and I truly only have myself to blame for not getting my ballot in on time.

I already know that I'm going to spend today being fairly anxious about how the polls are going to turn out. I do my best not to talk too much politics on here because even though this is my space, I respect that others have different beliefs than I do. And I respect that thoughtful adults can come to different conclusions on various issues, as well as how they prioritize those issues when a candidate doesn't represent them perfectly. However, I also don't think it's hard to guess who I voted for. To that end, I very much hope that President Obama wins reelection tonight, and I will be spending my evening watching the election results much as I did back in 2000. However, this time instead of being a 19 year old college student trying to figure out what her life might look like and hoping for a bright future, I'm a 31 year old attorney, married with my first baby on the way, now hoping for a bright future for my child. Amazing how things change and yet have the capacity to come full circle.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

On being pregnant

I thought I was prepared for everything my body might throw at me while pregnant. For example:

I was prepared to be sick during the first trimester. Luckily, I really didn't get much morning sickness at all (and what I did get was afternoon nausea - gotta love the 4pm sicky feeling). But I didn't throw up and I never had to take a sick day from work because of feeling terrible. So, bonus on being prepared for something that didn't really happen. I'll take it.

I was prepared for the cravings and food aversions. Well, sort of. I anticipated that there would probably be some foods that I really wanted and some foods that I really didn't want. But it was weird to see how strongly those would hit sometimes. Like the day that B made a most excellent steak salad and I loaded that up with all kinds of wonderful, healthy, yummy veggies (and steak!) and my body took one look at it and I swear started laughing at me. Like, you've got to be kidding if you think you're going to eat this. Nope, go get a bowl of cereal and then possibly a bagel, thank you very much.

I was prepared for the weight gain. I don't have to like it, and I'm trying to manage it so that I don't gain more than is recommended by my midwives, but I was still prepared for it. (And no, I'm certainly not depriving myself or the growing alien of food. Trust me! Said as I shove Tootsie Rolls in my mouth...)

There were plenty of other things that I was prepared for while this alien makes itself comfy for 9 months before it graces us with its presence. But there were two very specific things that I was not prepared for.

1. The non-stop, all the time, I just freaking went 10 minutes ago! peeing. Seriously. I have never in my life felt so ridiculous in my need to always know where a bathroom is. I've always tried to drink a lot of water (I keep a Nalgene on my desk and make sure to fill it up a couple of times a day at work), and I've been more conscious about staying hydrated while pregnant, but I've never had to pee this often. And especially as the kid grows bigger and moves around in the belly (and yes, uses my bladder as a trampoline), the bathroom breaks come more and more often. It's now gotten to the point where I don't even ask myself if I have to go when I'm leaving the office or the house to run an errand. It's just an automatic stop now. And of course this doesn't let up during the night, either, which brings me to the second thing I was not fully prepared for.

2. No more sleeping through the night. Ever, apparently, as it appears that this does not get better when the baby actually arrives. Damn. In all seriousness though, EVERYONE tells me to "sleep now before the baby comes!" I would LOVE to! And in my first trimester, by golly, I definitely made it my mission to sleep 12+ hours a night (you think I'm kidding... Ask B how many times I fell asleep at 8pm on the couch). But the past couple of months due to the growing belly and the apparently magically shrinking bladder, I'm up at least 4 times a night (if not more). What sucks the most is when I go to bed at 10:30 and my first wake up isn't even after midnight. Nope, often I'll wake up around 11:30 or 11:45. That's a lot of fun, let me tell you.

So far it hasn't been too bad trying to get back to sleep during all of these wake ups (for which I am currently very, very grateful), but I wouldn't be surprised if that changes shortly. I mean, I'm only 28 weeks. I've still got (probably) 12 more weeks of this! Where I'm only getting bigger! And more uncomfortable! With a stronger tap dancer in there! So yeah. Again, very grateful that I don't (yet?) have many other issues that are keeping me awake (like heartburn or reflux or various aches and pains), but really I'm just waiting for those to show up. So how, exactly, am I supposed to be getting all of this wonderful precious sleep before the baby comes? I have no idea. But if you figure it out, feel free to clue me in.

And because I forgot to post it earlier: 28 weeks! Third trimester! Holy crap, things are getting real!

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

One Year Later...

Year ONE at Tony's Dog House
One year ago, I met some incredible people at Tony's Dog House.  I got a chance to know them and they shared some of their stories with me.  As much as I touched them by having the goal to walk in two Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walks, they touched me with their spirits.  Now, fast forward a year later.  Two walks completed and plenty of holidays come and gone.  Back to Tony's we go, for the Tony's going PINK for the Cure event year two.  As you can see below two of our members that were going through treatment last year, came back this year stronger and with locks that are just a year old.  It was great to see everyone that came out to support the event, but what touched my heart was to see all of the survivors still moving forward.
Year TWO, Everyone coming back to Celebrate!
16 Days away from the walk in Clevland, and the momentum and excitement is only growing here!  So, from now till the event it is all about making sure that I am all ready to go!  Thank you for taking the time to make it to Tony's Douse.  If you weren't able to make it this year for what ever reason.  Don't worry, we will be back at it again next year & will save you a spot at the table.
My Table Set Up Inside the Event

The Sign, Set up out Front

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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

New Jem Doll: Anthony Julian! An IT Direct Exclusive of 500

Finally, some new Jem goodness and a male doll at that with a new sculpt! I adore the little bullhorn and the accessories.

Item # 14066
Anthony Julian™
Dressed Fashion Figure
Limited Edition Size of 500 Dolls
Estimated Ship Date: Late Fall 2015
Retail Price: $130.00 US + Shipping and Handling.
Doll Tech Specs:

Body Type: FR Homme
Head Sculpt: Anthony (New Head Sculpt! First Time Appearance!)
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: A-Tone
Hair Color: Black
Eyelashes: No
Anthony Julian is a fully articulated vinyl figure with sleek rooted curly and flocked hair. The man of the hour comes dressed in one of his key looks from the hit 80's animated TV series. His elaborate layered outfit sends us that "oh so 80s" vibe with his turtleneck, v-neck knit sweater and plaid pants, topped by his signature royal blue driver coat, perfect for those late night takes out by the chilly banks of the Seine river in Paris. Of course, no film Director would be complete without his stylish watch, bullhorn (plastic) and movie clap board (cardboard)...Cut! It's a Wrap! For adult collectors ages 15 and up. Figure cannot stand alone; stand included.
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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Preschool Mardi Gras

I had the pleasure of hosting a little Mardi Gras celebration at Davis' preschool. We've been so lucky to have the same teachers again who are quite the enthusiastic trio.  We kept the activities just like last year, reading Gaston goes to Mardi Gras, making masks, eating king cake and going on a parade to share beads with the whole school.  Davis was very enthusiastic about the entire day and was most excited to help his friends make their own mask and to lead the parade by carrying the umbrella. I loved every second of my time with all of them, watching the girls put more sequins and feathers than the mask could hold, watching them eat the sprinkles first off the king cake, teaching them "throw me something mister", watching the other classrooms react to the chaos of our little ones coming in yelling, waving hands and sharing beads, watching Davis take great pride in leading his parade and sharing a little bit of my home with these desert babies. I was so thankful his they let me do it a second time and look forward to the next time.

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In the Community

A Hands-On Approach to Health Education

By Ariana Stone

Photo credit: Jennifer Adkins Ernst

Photo credit: Jennifer Adkins Ernst

When 6th grade students from Kelly Miller Middle School were asked to photograph barriers in their community that hinder healthy living, they captured images of unsafe crosswalks, basketball hoops without nets, and areas without sidewalks. When asked to capture equipment that enables healthy living, they took pictures of nice tennis courts, safe playgrounds, and fruit and vegetable stands.

The assignment was part of a 5-week program at the school called Community Voices for Health: Kids Take Action. Spearheaded by health promotion professor Stacey Snelling, the program aimed to teach Kelly Miller students about health, exercise, and nutrition in an engaging and interactive format. The program culminated in an assembly on June 3, where students presented their activity projects.

According to Snelling, these lessons are especially useful at Kelly Miller, which is classified as a failing school by the D.C. Public School System, and is in Ward 7, which has the second-highest poverty rate and second-highest unemployment rate in the District. “Healthier students make better learners,” says Snelling. “Helping them improve their personal health can help them improve academic achievement, which will then go ahead and improve their potential to go on to college in a productive, higher-income and higher-education level. It’s truly a full continuum.”

In every Tuesday for 5 weeks, Snelling and her team— Jess Young, MS SETH ’10, health promotion professor Jennifer Adkins Ernst, and SETH field experience coordinator Doris DuPree—provided a lesson on topics ranging from how to write persuasive letters to local or national politicians about improving community health, to nutrition basics, to how to analyze a Lays potato chip commercial for misleading advertising.

In the culminating assembly, students saw a slide show of their neighborhood assessment photographs and presented their skits, flyers, songs and posters created with their groups, which they used to convey a message to their communities about health-related topics, such as their school’s need for school gardens, breakfast programs, or PE equipment.

Snelling calls the program a “valuable, rewarding experience. We were constantly preparing, constantly coming up with new ways to energize the students. We plan to return to Kelly Miller in the future and help build a school garden with the students.” And according to Snelling, the students enjoyed themselves as well—many approached her or her colleagues at the final assembly and asked if they’d be returning.

On Oct. 26, 2010, Kelly-Miller Middle School became the first DC school to receive the Silver Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their participation in the HealthierUS School Challenge, a key component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. Kelly-Miller is also the first middle school in the country area to receive the award. “This achievement recognizes Kelly-Miller as a national leader in the effort to advance school nutrition,” said Audrey Rowe, Deputy Administrator of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. “It’s very exciting for us,” SETH Dean Sarah Irvine Belson said.  “This project demonstrates that in order to make real and lasting change in children’s lives, we need to offer a full deployment of academic and social programs – soup to nuts.”


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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ

By Claire

Taliesin means "shining brow" in Welsh, which is Frank Lloyd Wright's ancestry.  He believed a building should be in the brow of a hill, not the crown.

We made our last FLW pilgrimage today, another exciting, interesting journey into this man's life and work.  Taliesin West was built from 1937 onward.  He was in need of a winter abode, fell in love with Scottsdale, Arizona, while designing a home for a client, and decided to build a western location.

Entrance--note the twirling square--a Frank Lloyd Wright logo

This rock with petroglyphs was found in the hills behind the property during ground preparation.  Frank had the builders place it near the entrance in the same relative position they found it, and adopted the twirling square as a logo that represents the linked hands of fellowship.

The entire estate living area is a sprawling 33,000 square feet.  There are patio areas everywhere, giving it a roomy, open feel.

This structure is an archive that stores all documents and plans to protect them from fire.  Our guide, Jim, was talkative and full of information, quotes and jokes.  One client, Mr. Johnson, of Johnson Wax, called Frank in a fury because he was holding a party to showcase his new home, when it began to rain.  The roof started leaking over Mr. Johnson's chair.  Frank's response?  Move the chair.

We went into the office where the archives are located and sat and listened to some history of the place.

This is a photo of FLW taken 3 months before his death.  He died in a Phoenix hospital at 92.  He was in great shape; he ate mostly organic vegetables from his own garden, took a nap everyday and walked all over his properties, except when he was driving one of his 25 Cherokee Red cars.  Every Frank Lloyd Wright home incorporates Cherokee Red paint.

This is the Kiva, designed after the Indian style.  It had one window and stayed cool, wonderful for the parties held in here. The interior is surrounded by beautiful drawings.

Chuck heading into the Kiva--that red tile has FLW's signature carved into it as a building with his personal seal of approval

This drawing is a design he did for a proposed new City Hall building in Scottsdale.  The Mayor wanted something special and different.  Unfortunately, the City Council rejected it except for the spire, which was built and placed somewhere in Scottsdale.

We were startled to find it as we drove by, later in the day, on our way to get gas.  If his design had been built, it would have become world famous, I'm sure.

Frank loved triangles and this house has them everywhere.

Looking towards the mountains

Frank loved Japanese art and placed one of these at all entrances.  These were purchased at Gumps in San Francisco.

Lots of sculpture placed all around the property

Frank found some pots he wanted to place in the living room.  His wife told him he would have to build wider shelves.  His solution was to cut a hole in the glass.

These small squares are ventilation windows for the bathroom on the other side of the wall.

Water tower on the right

Dragon with the ability to shoot a flame 4-5 feet

Breezeway--the Venturi effect--designed to increase natural air flow

View through Venturi onto Olgivanna's patio where she enjoyed tea every morning

Bell tower--the bell was used to call the architectural students to meals

This walkway had the beams at 6 feet--remember, he felt that anything over 6 feet was wasted space.  After his death, the beams were raised 8 inches.

Double doors leading into the theatre where plays took place and architectural presentations were made

Music room--each row had bench seats facing chairs and tables

Frank brought in a grand piano but it took up too much room.  He told his students to get their hammers and make a hole for the piano.  One of them had the bright idea of using dynamite rather than trying to chisel it out.  It worked but it took out all the windows too.

No house should ever be on a hill or on anything.  It should be of the hill.  Belonging to it.  Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other. ~ Frank Lloyd Wright


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Carolina School of Broadcasting

Category: School

Address: 3435 Performance Rd, Charlotte, (NC) North Carolina, 28214

Phone/Fax: 7043959272 (General Info)

ID IPEDS: 198190

ID OPE: 04101300

Internet website address:

  • Less than one year certificate

Institutional category: 2-year, Private for-profit

Total International Students

Total Students: 73
International Students: 1
2016-2017 (Preliminary)
Total Students: 65
International Students: 1

Published tuition and fees 2015-2016 (for International Students): NA

#1 Program

Title/Code: Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (CIP ID 09.0799)

Total length of largest program: 898 (credit/contact h)

Tuition and fees 2016 (for international students): $16500

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6+ Ways to Beat the Detector
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Institutional category:

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Total Students:

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Georgia Piedmont Technical College

Category: Technical School

Address: 495 N Indian Creek Dr, Clarkston, (GA) Georgia, 30021-2397

Phone/Fax: 4042979522 (General Info)

ID IPEDS: 244446

ID OPE: 00562200

Internet website address:

  • One but less than two years certificate
  • Two but less than 4 years certificate
  • Less than one year certificate
  • Associate's degree

Institutional category: 2-year, Public

Total International Students

Total Students: 5970
International Students: 50
2016-2017 (Preliminary)
Total Students: 5752
International Students: 31

Published tuition and fees 2015-2016 (for International Students): $4976

#1 Program

Title/Code: NA

Total length of largest program: NA

Tuition and fees 2016 (for international students): NA

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4 Steps to Becoming a Student
4 Ways to Finance Higher Education
6+ Ways to Beat the Detector
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Institutional category:

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May 25, 2010

Bicentennial of William Henry Channing

William Henry Channing is probably not as well-known as his uncle, one of the foremost Unitarian preachers, or even as famous as his brother, the much-maligned poet Ellery Channing. W. H. Channing was born 200 years ago today on May 25, 1810.

After graduating from Harvard Divinity School, Channing was ordained at a church in Cincinnati. While there, he succeeded his colleague James Freeman Clarke as editor of the Western Messenger. Already floating in the circle of Transcendentalists, Channing had previously been asked by Orestes Brownson to review an essay called "The American Scholar" by one Ralph Waldo Emerson (who shares his birthday). Channing concluded that Emerson's points were "hinted, without the progressive reasonings through which he was led to them." (He later was more openly laudatory; in a private letter in 1842, he writes of Emerson's "fineness of touch about all he does, and such a genuine appreciation of everything! ...I thank Heaven I was born in the same day with him.")

Later, while in New York, Channing became interested in the Associationist movement, the same reform ideas that inspired Brook Farm, and issued a journal, The Present, to promote it. His theories eventually evolved into, what he called, "Christian Union," the idea that a fervent faith among the masses could fix society's problems and lead to greater equality. More than just a theory, Channing put his beliefs into practice, emphasizing that Christians were obligated to work for the good of neglected or abused segments of the population. By 1847, he termed it "Church of Humanity."

One of those inspired by Channing was fellow obscure Transcendentalist Christopher Pearse Cranch. As Cranch later recalled, "He always took an intense interest in the spiritual elevation of the people, but no less in establishing a high standard of morality for the cultured classes." Cranch noted Channing's opposition to slavery, the Mexican War, the annexation of Texas. "It is difficult to describe a man so perfect... He held an ideal standard in everything," he wrote.

Channing was also a lifelong friend of Margaret Fuller. "She was peerless," he wrote of her. After Fuller's death in 1850, he visited the wreck at Fire Island where she died, spending two days there talking to survivors. Channing, Clarke, and Emerson collaborated on her biography. Channing sought out a man named James Nathan (with whom Fuller may have had a romantic relationship) for his relevant letters. He refused (and friend told Emerson that a biography could not be written without them; his letters were later edited and published, in small part, by Julia Ward Howe).

Emerson in particular rushed the project and controlled its direction. Channing wanted to take his time, particularly in the section about Fuller's marriage and pregnancy (still somewhat confusing today). Channing believed that Fuller, on principle, would never legally marry and privately told Emerson as much. Emerson was unconcerned and made up a wedding date, apparently out of thin air. The book, Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli, remains controversial and has been blamed for much of the 19th century's judgment of Fuller as an abrasive, arrogant, "unwomanly" figure.

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Actress Mariska Hargitay’s Scar

Celebrities, Celebrity Q&A, People
on May 6, 2007

Q Is Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit the daughter of Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay, and was she mauled as a child by a wild animal at Jungleland in Thousand Oaks, Calif.?
—M. Filipmere, Yreka, Calif.

Yes and no. The Law & Order star, 43, is indeed the daughter of the late sex symbol and her actor/bodybuilder husband. But it was Mariska's brother, 6-year-old Zoltan, who was mauled by a lion during a freak accident in 1966 at Jungleland while his mother was doing a photo shoot at the now-defunct animal park. Mariska and Zoltan both survived a horrific car crash a year later in which Mansfield and two other adults were killed. Hargitay has a zigzag scar on the side of her head from the accident, but she doesn't remember anything about it.


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MS Doesn’t Stop NASCAR Driver

Health, Home & Family, People, Sports
on August 21, 2005
Nate Mecha

Kelly Sutton, 33, can’t remember a time when she didn’twant to get behind the wheel of a racecar.

"As far back as I can remember, I’ve been in racing," says Sutton, a native of Crownsville, Md. (pop. 1,670). "When I was 3, I was on the floorboards of my dad’s racing dune buggy. As I got older, I did a little go-cart racing, and then I built my first racecar when I was 15. I love racing, and it’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do."

Today, Sutton is part of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS), a hard-racing national circuit in which she drives a half-ton Chevy pickup at tire-blistering speeds of more than 180 mph. Yet her bravery behind the wheel is more than matched by her courage off the track.

At age 16, Sutton was diagnosed with recurring-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), an autoimmune disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. As she experienced constant fatigue and loss of feeling on her right side, her budding racing career came to a halt.

"I felt my life had ended before it had begun," Sutton recalls. "More than anything, I feared the unknown. I didn’t know how MS was going to affect my life and whether I would ever be able to race again."

Her father, Ed Sutton, a former dirt track driver, told her she had to get up and fight. So she began taking medication and using diet therapy. She also started an exercise program, and, by 19, she was back on the track.

But six years later, Sutton suffered another setback. An off-the-track car accident left her with several broken bones and saw her MS return in full force, confining her to a wheelchair. Again, her dad got involved. He built her a simulator—a go-cart without wheels, painted blue like her racecar and emblazoned with her name and number "02"—to keep her driving skills sharp.

"It meant so much to me to know that my dad believed in me," she says. "He told me I could do anything I set my mind to."

Along with a strenuous conditioning regimen, which she continues to this day, Sutton began daily injections of Copaxone, a drug developed specifically for RRMS. Within a year, she was out of the wheelchair and back on the track, where she’s been ever since, symptom-free.

Just as her dad inspired her to fight the disease, Sutton strives to inspire others. When her racing schedule allows, she travels coast to coast giving inspirational speeches.

"I feel I have to get out there and talk to people who have MS because I was raised to help others," Sutton says. "I listen to how they are struggling to get along in life, and I know how they feel. I tell them they have to keep going."

"I heard Kelly speak in Cincinnati, and then we had a chance to talk," says Brandhi Russo, 16, of West Chester, Ohio, who suffers from MS. "She encouraged me so much and told me I couldn’t give up. That was the turning point for me. After I talked to Kelly, I felt I could do anything."

Sutton’s courage and efforts to help others have earned her several honors, including the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award in 2003. The award, conferred by the Women’s Sports Foundation, is named for the American track and field champion who overcame childhood polio to win three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics.

Her racing career also has earned her fans across the nation. "She has broken down barriers for us younger females trying to get into the sport," says aspiring racecar driver Ashley Parlett, 22, of Wye Mills, Md. (pop. 291). "I look up to Kelly because she has been in the sport for so long and has the determination to keep going."

Sutton’s crew chief, Jason Weissman, 30, expresses similar sentiments. "Kelly sets an example for the whole crew," he says. "Her courage makes us want to give her 110 percent to help her win."

But winning doesn’t always mean crossing the finish line first. In the eyes of many, Kelly Sutton has already won . . . on and off the track.

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