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Official Notification of the 2012 Preliminary School FIRST Rating

Official Notification of the 2012 Preliminary School FIRST Rating

The purpose of this letter is to notify you of the availability for review of your school district’s preliminary 2012 School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating based on financial indicators per 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §109.1002(f).  A school district’s School FIRST rating is based upon an analysis of financial data for fiscal year 2011 (the fiscal period ended June 30, 2011, or August 31, 2011, depending upon the ending date of the school district’s fiscal year).

School FIRST Rating and Data

Your rating and data that were analyzed by the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA’s) automated process for generating School FIRST ratings are accessible by the district at Please carefully review your district’s preliminary School FIRST rating and the data supporting the 20 indicators.

Opportunity for Appeal

If the district believes that its rating was based on a data error solely attributable to TEA’s review of the data for any of the 20 indicators, the district may submit a written appeal with supporting evidence to the Division of Financial Audits. The written appeal must be submitted to the following address and received by TEA by July 30, 2012:

Texas Education Agency

Division of Financial Audits

1701 N. Congress Ave.

Austin TX 78701

Any errors made by the district in recording data or submitting data through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) will not constitute a valid basis for appeal.

Please review 19 TAC §109.1002(i) for the rules regarding the filing of an appeal. Only appeals that would result in a change to a district’s rating will be considered. Final ratings will be issued to school districts after TEA has had an opportunity to properly review any appeals submitted. It is anticipated that the final 2012 School FIRST ratings will be available to school districts on or around September 13, 2012.

Required Reporting after Receipt of Final School FIRST Rating

On or about September 13, 2012, the final School FIRST ratings will be available. Within two months of the release of the ratings, each school district must announce and hold a public meeting to distribute a financial management report that explains the district’s rating and its performance under each of the 20 indicators for the current and prior year. The first of two required published newspaper notices, to inform taxpayers of the meeting, may not be more than 30 days or less than 14 days prior to the public meeting, in accordance with 19 TAC §109.1005. The public meeting to present the School FIRST rating may be combined with a scheduled regular meeting of the board of trustees.

At the public meeting, the district should review the disclosures that must be included in the financial management report. The district will be required to report on reimbursements to the superintendent and board of trustees members, for the 2010–2011 school year, and either post on the district’s website or supply in the financial management report the current superintendent’s contract.

The district must also provide a summary schedule of the data previously submitted to TEA under the financial solvency provisions of TEC §39.0822. The TEA website provides the required reporting disclosures, described in 19 TAC §109.1005. Additionally, TEA’s Division of Financial Audits has a template posted on its FIRST page ( that school districts may use to help facilitate the compilation of this information. The district is encouraged to provide additional information in the report that will be beneficial to taxpayers, especially information explaining special circumstances, if any, that may have affected the district’s performance under one or more of the indicators.

A corrective action plan is to be filed with TEA by each school district that receives a final rating of Substandard Achievement or Suspended—Data Quality.

Accreditation and Special Education Determination Statuses

Please note that, in accordance with the Accreditation Status rules at 19 TAC §97.1055,  TEA will take into consideration a district’s School FIRST rating when assigning an accreditation status.

Additionally, a district’s final School FIRST rating may impact its special education determination status as issued by TEA under the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §300.608(a).

Planned Modifications to School FIRST Rules

Modifications to the School FIRST rules are planned which will affect the ratings in the future. Proposed revisions will be disseminated for public comment through the agency’s established rule adoption process.

For Further Information

If you have questions about your district’s School FIRST rating, please contact me by telephone at (512) 463-9095 or via email at

Sonya Etheridge
Division of Financial Audits - Office for Grants and Fiscal Compliance


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Friday, April 2, 2010

Shop Ride Review

Despite the looming bad weather, 19 hearty souls appeared for the 2010's first Shop Ride from Two Wheel Transit. We really should credit the ride with 20, but I will get to that in a moment.

As previously reported, the first shop ride of the year was set for 5.30 pm on April 1. Let me repeat a couple of important points there: "5.30", "pm", "April", "1". Even though it is in the past, it is still important for our story.

So, as I said, there were 19 (or possibly 20) people who showed up for the shop ride. All three members of Team Two Wheel were in attendance, one of the owners of Two Wheel (Geoff), a couple of GU cycling team members (one of them 2nd in last week's Bellingham race - didn't catch K.C.'s finish), a couple of Baddlands riders and that left the majority as guys (sorry, no ladies on this trip - they may have been more mindful of the bad weather) who like to ride.

It was a good and compatible group, but I think that there were really two stand-out heroes of the day. The first shall be known as "D". D did a couple of triathlons last year with a 12-mile bike portion. He is interested in improving his cycling speed and fitness and thought that a group ride would be a good way to do that. He is relatively new to town and also wanted to meet some more riders and learn a bit about the routes around here. I think that part all went well, but a combination of a prior work-out that day, a rubbing brake pad that wasn't detected and fixed until late in the ride, and a more vigorous pace and distance than he was used to and D found himself struggling whenever the route headed upwards.

Now, every cyclist knows what this feels like. There really is a special kind of misery that goes with that sinking feeling as your legs and lungs refuse to cooperate as a group of riders seems to effortlessly ride away up a hill (I expect to have that feeling this weekend at Frozen Flatlands at Williams Lake!), but I also think that it takes a special reservoir of courage to keep with it and keep trying no matter how fruitless it appears. And that, my friends, is exactly what D did. No whining, no complaining; just kept riding the best he could and giving it what he had. He kept a good attitude and finished the ride.

His reward was pizza waiting for us at Two Wheel Transit. The benefit to having Geoff along, besides his pace setting and breaking wind, wait, I mean, anyway, at the end of the ride Geoff had arranged to have some pizzas delivered to the shop so that everyone who wanted was welcome to come in and have a bit of refreshment and hang around for a few minutes. It was a nice way to end a cool, but not wet, first shop ride of the year.

Now, about our mysterious 20th rider. This rider is a well-known, well-liked, fit and fast cyclist. He has a respected profession and, in fact, I recently saw him in Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine in a "Best of" story. In light of the cycling and community stature of this individual, I don't want to embarrass him, so I will simply refer to him as Dr. SJ. So, why, you ask, does Dr. SJ get to be a counted/not-counted member of the ride and how, you ask further, does that make him a hero of the ride? Well, my friends, Dr. SJ showed up for the shop ride on April 1st, at 5.30. Unfortunately for both him and us, it was 5.30 AM and not PM.

We should let that sink in for a moment.

For those of you around Spokane, you know that it was dang cold at 5.30 am yesterday. You also know that it was dang dark at 5.30 am yesterday. You also know that not one other sane person was on the street, much less on a bicycle, at 5.30 am yesterday. Nonetheless, Dr. SJ heeded the call for a ride and showed up at what he thought was the correct time. I'm not sure how he thought pizza fit in for the 6.30-7.00 am finish time, but you can't let little inconsistencies get in the way of a man's desire to ride his bike in a group.

So, to a ride hero who kept riding when he felt like stopping, and to a ride hero who went riding when no one else was looking, we salute you and thank everyone who showed up for the ride.

We will be having shop rides on the first Thursday of the month for the next several months, so put it on your calendar for Thursday, May 6 at 5.30 PM (please note the correct half of the day!).

See you at Frozen Flatlands this weekend!

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Where did Lumenlab.com go?

I just received an email where someone was looking for Lumenlab CNC micRo config files. I had to check it out, and apparently Lumenlab has flown the coop. This is a bit disheartening to see.

Many months ago I logged into the forum to see many people asking where the owners of LL had been, and there were no replies from them with an answer. There were only suspicions and guesses as to where they could be. Had they ditched the production at that point?

I know that the micRo router existed because I have a version of it, but apparently there may be others that never received their finished CNC router. I’d really like to know what happened.

If anyone knows more to the story, I’d like you to comment. To be sure, I am clearly in the unknown on this situation other than lumenlab.com does not display. I haven’t contacted Lumenlab in a long time since receiving my router. One thing is for sure, I am on my own with my router if something ever goes wrong.

Further reading: (to include comments)


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Runtime Classpath vs Compile-Time Classpath

April 25, 2012

This should really be a simple distinction, but I’ve been answering a slew of similar questions on Stackoverflow, and often people misunderstand the matter.

So, what is a classpath? A set of all the classes (and jars with classes) that are required by your application. But there are two, or actually three distinct classpaths:

  • compile-time classpath. Contains the classes that you’ve added in your IDE (assuming you use an IDE) in order to compile your code. In other words, this is the classpath passed to “javac” (though you may be using another compiler).
  • runtime classpath. Contains the classes that are used when your application is running. That’s the classpath passed to the “java” executable. In the case of web apps this is your /lib folder, plus any other jars provided by the application server/servlet container
  • test classpath – this is also a sort of runtime classpath, but it is used when you run tests. Tests do not run inside your application server/servlet container, so their classpath is a bit different

Maven defines dependency scopes that are really useful for explaining the differences between the different types of classpaths. Read the short description of each scope.

Many people assume that if they successfully compiled the application with a given jar file present, it means that the application will run fine. But it doesn’t – you need the same jars that you used to compile your application to be present on your runtime classpath as well. Well, not necessarily all of them, and not necessarily only them. A few examples:

  • you compile the code with a given library on the compile-time classpath, but forget to add it to the runtime classpath. The JVM throws NoClasDefFoundError, which means that a class is missing, which was present when the code was compiled. This error is a clear sign that you are missing a jar file on your runtime classpath that you have on your compile-time classpath. It is also possible that a jar you depend on in turn depends on a jar that you don’t have anywhere. That’s why libraries (must) have their dependencies declared, so that you know which jars to put on your runtime classpath
  • containers (servlet containers, application servers) have some libraries built-in. Normally you can’t override the built-in dependencies, and even when you can, it requires additional configuration. So, for example, you use Tomcat, which provides the servlet-api.jar. You compile your application with the servlet-api.jar on your compile-time classpath, so that you can use HttpServletRequest in your classes, but do not include it in your WEB-INF/lib folder, because tomcat will put its own jar in the runtime classpath. If you duplicate the dependency, you may get bizarre results, as classloaders get confused.
  • a framework you are using (let’s say spring-mvc) relies on another library to do JSON serialization (usually Jackson). You don’t actually need Jackson on your compile-time classpath, because you are not referring to any of its classes or even spring classes that refer to them. But spring needs Jackson internally, so the jackson jar must be in WEB-INF/lib (runtime classpath) for JSON serialization to work.

The cases might be complicated even further, when you consider compile-time constants and version mismatches, but the general point is this: the classpaths that you use for compiling and for running the application are different, and you should be aware of that.

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5 Responses to “Runtime Classpath vs Compile-Time Classpath”

  1. Useful post.
    I think there is a way in IDE like eclipse to export the resources while creating your jar for standalone apps.
    The jars which you have included in the build path for the project may be then exported along with the main jar, so that you dont have to put the jars separately.

  2. I’ve just started programming in Java and I’ve encountered the problem which I cannot resolve for a few days now. I was looking for a solution on the Internet, and I guess your post is closest to the issue I have. I’ve set classpath correctly (I hope. I was able to compile another programs already), but I still get the NoClassDefFoundError typing java MyProgram in the console. I’m not using any IDE, and I don’t have any .jar files either. How can I check whether my runtime classpath and compile-time classpath match?

  3. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any
    widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my
    newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  4. Finding consumers an honest, dependable, 100% safety inspected repairs and
    service. In case you prefer that the contractor has done a remarkable job.
    Communication is the crux of the contract between the various problems.

    My web page – site (Rocco)

  5. how to find out what is the runtime and compile time classpaths ? There seems to be only one environment variable in the control panel.

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Home > Archive by tag 'Tripigator.com'

Posts Tagged ‘ Tripigator.com ’

Travel planning engine Tripigator.com launched in partnership with Ministry of Tourism coaxes you to be a traveller, not a tourist

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 | More »

Bangalore-based startup WorthYourHolidays has launched a travel planning engine called Tripigator.com in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism. The...


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Opera 11.01 Released, Fixes Critical Security Vulnerability

Opera Opera’s customary point release to tidy things up is here. Opera 11.01, which was released earlier today, includes critical security patches, much needed stability updates, and a few other minor changes.

This build closes the security hole discovered by Vupen that could allow hackers to gain control of a user’s system. Another critical vulnerability that could be exploited to load files (with potentially confidential information) from the user’s computer as web page resources has also been patched. The security fixes in Opera 11.01 affect Windows, UNIX as well as Mac.

One of the major new features introduced in Opera 11 was visual mouse gestures. While the idea behind the feature is excellent, Opera tweaked the mouse gesture sensitivity to accommodate users unfamiliar with gestures, which peeved several experienced users. Opera 11.01 restores the old sensitivity settings for mouse gestures, while retaining the intuitiveness of visual gestures.

The nagging crashes that plagued Opera 11 also seem to have disappeared in this version. There are dozens of other minor improvements. For a detailed overview of what is new in Opera 11.01 check out the change logs for Windows, UNIX, and Mac.

[ Download Opera 11.01 for Windows, UNIX and Mac ]

Published by

Pallab De

Pallab De is a blogger from India who has a soft spot for anything techie. He loves trying out new software and spends most of his day breaking and fixing his PC. Pallab loves participating in the social web; he has been active in technology forums since he was a teenager and is an active user of both twitter (@indyan) and facebook .


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Monday , 27 March 2017
Home » Drawing Tablet » Wacom Graphics Drawing Tablet

Wacom Graphics Drawing Tablet

Wacom Cintiq Companion 2 Hybrid Windows 8.1 Graphics Tablet

Wacom-Cintiq-Companion-2Finally, the much awaited Cintiq Companion 2 was already showcased at the recently held CES 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its predecessor, the Cintiq Companion was announced way back in 2013 and most users probably thought it’s the end of its line-up.

This latest tablet by Wacom sports a 13.3-inch touchscreen display (2560×1440 resolution) which can be used as a graphics tablet or a full operating Windows 8.1 tablet.

It can also be connected to your PC as a secondary or primary display via Cintiq Connect.

It is powered by Intel i3 processor paired with HD 4400 graphics, 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. In addition, it has also a Pro Pen which has 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition and can function as a brush, pen, or marker when used with 3rd party applications.

Wacom Bamboo Pad with Navigation Gestures

Wacom-Bamboo-PadWacom Bamboo Pad now comes with navigation gestures aside from its digital stylus drawing.

This new Bamboo Pad is fully compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7 and Mac OS X-powered computer that supports multitouch gestures which will aid you for interface navigation on your computer. On the other hand, the Wacom stylus which can be stored inside the Pad lets you add your signature, doodle or add handwritten annotations to your documents.

Since it works in sync with pressure-sensitive stylus, we can safely assume that your signature or whatever your hand scribbles, will be as natural as pen and paper. While ideal for signing papers or making annotations on photos and documents, don’t expect it to be as sensitive as the more professional Wacom tablets.

The Bamboo Pad comes in wired and wireless models, both are ultra-slim and supports multi-touch gestures. Wacom says the wireless Bamboo Pad will give you a month on two AAA batteries, based on two hours’ use daily.

The Wacom Bamboo Pad is a plug-and-play touchpad for computers running Windows 7 and 8, but will require a driver for Apple computers. The Bamboo Pad (Wireless) costs £60, is out now, and comes in metallic grey with black, pearl white with either blue, green or purple accents. The Bamboo Pad (USB) comes in metallic grey with black and costs £42.

Intuos4 Graphics Pen Tablet

Introducing the Intuos4 Wireless graphic pen tablet, the first cord-free professional tablet ever produced that features a 9.4-inch pro-grade graphic and has a stylus with 2,048 levels of pressure and 60 degrees of tilt recognition.

Intuos4 Wireless connects to Bluetooth-enabled computers (Macs or PCs) including some devices that have Bluetooth USB adapters.

It conveniently charges through USB and continues to work while charging. Its Bluetooth technology allows you to work at distances of up to 10 meters from the computer.

The graphics pen tablet from Wacom, the Intuos4 are available in 4 different models including Intuos4 Small, Medium, Large, Xtra-Large DTP, and Xtra-Large CAD with pricing range between $302 and $1,076.

Developed as a high performance design tool, the Intuos4 comes with the new IC (integrated circuit) and display function. Highlights: 2048 pressure levels that accurately detect fingertip nuances, New tip sensor provides full expressiveness even with light brushstrokes, Assisting Increased efficiency in creative work, Touchwheel – improving the operability of software, Customizable to personal tastes, and more.

Other features includes eight customizable ExpressKeys with illuminated displays that provide easy reference for assigned functions, a finger-sensitive touch ring that controls up to four different functions per application, and best-in-class integration with popular software applications.

Advantages of a Tablet PC

  • An extremely natural form of input.  Writing with the hand and sketching with a keyboard and mouse is really difficult compared using a pen tablet .  Using your hand for input is also beneficial for those who are new or unfamiliar with traditional computers.
  • Gesture Recognition.  Many tablets come equipped with gesture recognition software which is a powerful technique to improve productivity and manage several applications and programs at once.
  • Taking handwritten notes and drawing graphs and diagrams during conferences or meetings can help those retain information and is one of the most efficient ways to keep notes.

Wacom Multi-Touch Drawing Tablet

wacom-bamboo-multi-touch-tabletAs the name implies this latest Multi-Touch technology device can detect more than one finger, in short it is now possible for the user to use several fingers wherein it can track all of the motions at the same time.

With the help of this professional drawing tablet, simple hand gestures can now be detected and finger taps for navigation is now available, as well as browsing documents, zooming in and out of images, and many other functions.

The nine gestures that prove to be useful with your tablet are click, right click, double click, forward & back, navigate, scroll, rotate, zoom, as well as select and drag.

About Vinson Lozano

Vinson Lozano is the founder of Techie-Pinoy. A web developer by mind and a passionate blogger by heart.

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Usually there would be no problems when you connect WiFi connections on your android smartphones, it connects almost instantly when you turn the WiFi on. But there are situation when sometimes it will stuck on ‘Obtaining IP address..’ when you look at the WiFi settings page. After few moments, for some users it might get connected and a message ” WiFi Disabled” will be the result for other users. This post discuss the solution to this problem and describes how to get connected easily.

obtaing IP address

Usually this happens to smartphones after firmware upgrades, changes in WiFi router configurations etc. When you turn on the WiFi it scans for WiFi, obtains IP address then disconnect.  After researching throughout to find a possible work around for this issue, I’ve found a simple solution to get instant WiFi connection. All you have to do is use the static IP option.

use static IP

  • On your android device, goto Settings > Wireless and networks > WiFi Settings > tap advanced from when you press left menu button.
  • You”ll be there in a page where you can set the regulatory domain, sleep policy and static IP. Just enable the ” Use static IP” option. Then enter the following entries in their respective fields.

IP address :

  • After doing this, click save. Then try to reconnect the WiFi, for me it get connects immediately. I’ve tested this with my BSNL home WiFi router from Teracom. You have to do this only once and no need to re-enter the fields every time when you connects to a new network. If you have any difficulties in connecting to other networks, like a free public WiFi, disable static IP option and check to see if it works.


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New HP CEO vows to maintain course

— 6:00 AM on September 26, 2011

If you thought the dramatic ousting of Leo Apotheker would shift HP into reverse, think again. In her first interview as HP CEO, Meg Whitman told BusinessWeek that the company is still going full-steam ahead with the previously announced strategy. "We are behind the actions that were taken on Aug. 18," she said.

That means HP will proceed with the $10.3-billion buyout of enterprise software firm Autonomy. Whitman also vowed that HP will decide whether to sell or spin off its PC division "as soon as possible," acknowledging that uncertainty on that front "doesn't help the business, doesn't help customers, doesn't help shareholders." Yeah, no kidding.

DigiTimes reported last week that notebook manufacturers were expecting HP to backtrack and keep its PC division in-house after the CEO change. However, Whitman's statements don't leave room for much backpedaling. I suppose that means the fate of webOS is also sealed. One has to wonder, then, why Apotheker got the boot. If you're going to drive into a wall at full speed anyway, why change drivers at the last minute?

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PS3 JailBreak 3.60+

Posted by Ali Reda | Posted in | Posted on 10/29/2011

Last days i made a tech news about a new dongle jb2 that can play 3.60+ ps3 game, in fact, this dongle need to work with patched (by the team who created the dongle jb2), burned bluray game to allow games to work on ps3. So this is not really what people expect.
A BIG rumor about a Custom firmware 3.72 float around here… A senior member of claim he have a cfw3.72 in development with a video proof. This video is controversed by everybody claiming it’s a fake… We are all waiting news from the guy of
Wait and see… I’ll make TechNews post if a legit CFW is released… Again, sorry for my bad english, this is not my first language and i try to make it clear as possible.


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Typographic pizzazz: Coming to a Web near you

Your favorite font could soon be coming to the Web.
That's because of a new technology called Web Open Font Format, or WOFF, that has attracted support from all the right players: browser makers, standards groups, typography designers, and online services to ease licensing. The technology, just now ready enough to use, is making something of a debut this week at the TypeCon conference in Los Angeles.

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Friday, 1 November 2013

Farewell October

Hello and welcome back! As I kinda sorta mentioned in my last post (which was only yesterday- someone's back in the game!), I have all this stupid exam preparation at the moment, so all my super duper late reviews will have to come after them. But have no fear, exams end on Tuesday, and I'll be free to blog about everything ever. Of course, I couldn't let the opportunity to say goodbye to yet another month go past, so I've halted my study temporarily to give it a proper send off and officially bring on November. So yeah, I'm just gonna do the usual and highlight the memorable moments of October.

4. Wicked 10 Year Anniversary

On October 30th this year, it was officially the 10 year anniversary of the awesome musical 'Wicked'! And yeah, not everyone may consider this to be a significant event in October (or anyone who isn't a musical theatre buff), which is why it only ranked at number 4. But back in 2003, this awesome musical opened and gained its own cult-like following (which I may or may not be apart of), and I think that should be celebrated. Of course, they had a little celebration too, throwing a little anniversary party and doing their own lip-dub of Mika and Ariana Grande's 'Popular Song', but I think this blog will just add to the festivities.

3. Big Sean pops the question to Naya Rivera

Back on October 4th, it was officially announced that Naya Rivera and Big Sean are engaged! Yeah, again, it's kinda biased being on the list (I like to gleek out whenever I can), but I'm pretty sure Big Sean is famous, isn't he? To be honest, I wouldn't know. But whatever, it's on here, and it's exciting, and it happened in October, so just go with it.

2. Miley Cyrus vs. Sinead O' Connor

Yeah, yeah, we've all seen Miley's controversial 'Wrecking Ball' music video, but who knew that Sinead O' Connor was among those viewers? Well apparently, she is, and apparently, she's not happy about it. Maybe it's because everyone was comparing Miley's close ups to her own, or maybe she was just horrified and appalled like the rest of us? Who knows. But one thing's for sure, it certainly got cray, It all started when Sinead O' Connor wrote an open letter to Miley, basically saying that she's a terrible role model for everybody ever. Miley kinda responded by comparing her to the all cray Amanda Bynes, and re-tweeting some of her old, slightly insane messages, which didn't exactly go down well. Yet another open letter was sent Miley's way, talking about how teasing her for her previous mental health problems was wrong and all that, while Miley simply stated that she was 'too busy' to write back to her. All in all, it was just a pile of cray.

1. Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr are no more

Yep, it's official, the couple with the best genetics ever have now separated. It sure looked like it was smooth sailing there for a while, but as all couples who get together in the magical land of Hollywood, they never really stood a chance. But personally, what I found absolutely hilarious and completely and utterly cray since this, was that apparently Miranda has rebounded with Justin Bieber. Just a recap, Miranda Kerr, ditched Orlando Bloom for a narcissistic 12 year old (19 year old, whatever). Take of that what you will.

So yeah, now we can officially bring on November having remembered some of the crayness and awesomeness of October. And just think, it's nearly Christmas (sort of)! Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

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TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Ruling May Be End for Vonage / Judge Enjoins Use Of Key Technology

Ruling May Be End for Vonage / Judge Enjoins Use Of Key Technology

Monty Solomon (
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:34:19 -0400

By Alan Sipress
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2007; D01

A federal judge yesterday dealt a potentially fatal blow to Vonage
Holdings, the Internet-phone service that offers one of the few
alternatives to traditional carriers, by ordering it to stop using a
technology that connects its network to the public telephone system.

U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton approved the request by Verizon
Communications for a permanent injunction two weeks after a jury in
Alexandria found that three of its patents had been infringed by
Vonage, including one for the technology allowing the Internet
company's 2.2 million customers to call regular phones.

Hilton said the ban would not take effect before he holds another
hearing in two weeks on Vonage's request for reprieve through a stay.
The company said customers will not be affected by the court's
decision, although analysts are skeptical the company will be able to
sustain service if the ruling is not overturned.

This is the latest setback in Vonage's troubled history, which has
included some regulatory losses and a shareholder suit stemming from
its public offering. Vonage, which has never generated a profit,
helped popularize online calling as a cheaper alternative to
traditional phone service, waging a flashy marketing campaign on
prime-time television and over the Internet. But some industry
analysts said its flat-rate service was already starting to lose its
luster next to new offerings from phone and cable companies selling
combined telephone, Internet and cable television services.

The impact of the court's decision on other providers of Internet
phone services, known as voice-over-Internet protocol, or VoIP,
remains unclear, analysts said. This could depend on whether Verizon
wants to shut down Vonage or sell its licenses for the technology.

Vonage, which was ordered by the jury to pay $58 million in damages,
has vowed to appeal the verdict and seek a stay from the federal
appeals court if Hilton does not grant one.

In his ruling, Hilton said that the financial award alone was not
enough because it "does not prevent continued erosion of the client
base and customer base" of Verizon.

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Christian Book Reviews hosteb by Bring It On! communications

April 9, 2013—Hello bloggers, reviewers, and book lovers!

We know-this site is looking a little rusty. We had to set aside our book reviews for several months in 2012, but we are back and hoping that you will join us!

In the weeks to come, many new reviews will be rolling in and when they do, we will be posting them to our new site which is nearly ready to launch. You can visit us at

So....out with the with the new! Thank you for being a fan of books! We love what you have to say!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

My review of The Key to the Kingdom:

I haven’t been to Disney World since I was a little girl, so I am not terribly familiar with all the rides and attractions that are there now, so I knew I was going to be entertained and interested by the Disney trivia in this book.  I’m not even a big Disney fan, but it is a place I would love to visit again, especially after reading The Key to the Kingdom.  I had such a good time reading this book, so much better than I had expected.  Not only is the story interesting, but all the trivia and the entire mystery of the book kept my attention and made this a fast read.  It didn’t take any time at all for me to get into this story.  Jeff Dixon really did an excellent job with the pace of the story and with adding interesting elements at just the right times.

You don’t have to be a Disney fan to enjoy The Key to the Kingdom, but it does help to have a good imagination and to love a good mystery.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.  It is a good nerd book, and I mean that in a most flattering way because I am a nerd and I appreciate books like this and this kind of writing.

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Cinnamon Roll Waffles

These Cinnamon Roll Waffles are so quick and easy, you may never make traditional cinnamon rolls again!

Okay…..that is stretching the truth!  Just a bit!!

They are quick, and they are easy but I don’t know if anything is better than the traditional cinnamon roll.  Mmmmm….I wish I had one right now!  These Cinnamon Roll Waffles add that nice touch of variance when you are seeking out the ‘different’, and don’t want normalcy in your life!  Wow, that was a tongue twister.  LOL!

Waffle Iron, Cinnamon Roll, Waffles

Very bad lighting….I know! =(

What makes these waffles so easy is that they are made from a refrigerated cinnamon roll package.  I know, I know….I couldn’t believe it either when I saw it on Pinterest, which is why I had to give it a try a few weeks ago.  The kids and I decided to make them after dinner one evening, and they were a hit.  Not just for the taste, and the unusual shape, but for how easy it was to put together.

Cinnamon Rolls, Waffles, Breakfast

That was not the last of these waffles!

Cinnamon Rolls, Waffles, Breakfast

They returned this past weekend, as a breakfast treat for B and his friends.  The best part?  I didn’t have to make them!  B did it all on his own, impressing his buddies to no end!  The bad part?  I still had to clean the waffle maker. =(

Go ahead…impress your kids with this easy breakfast treat.  Switch it up even more, and make ice cream sandwiches out of them (without the icing) for dessert.   Now that could get interesting!!!

                 xoxo,      Shaunna

Some of my Favorite Posts:
Parmesan Crusted Salmon
Subway Art

Cinnamon Rolls, Waffles

Cinnamon Roll Waffles

Serves:  4

  • 1 pkg (8 count) Cinnamon Rolls, I used Pillsbury

  1. Warm up your waffle iron, once light indicates that it is ready, spray lightly with vegetable spray (top and bottom)
  2. Unroll Cinnamon Roll pkg, and lay 1 roll onto each waffle grid.  Close waffle iron lid, and cook for 2-4 minutes.  Remove waffles from grid and place on warmed plate.  Drizzle with reserved icing from the cinnamon roll pkg.  Repeat until all rolls have been converted to waffles!!

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Terminator Wiki

SCC 106 fighters arrive in the past.jpg

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This file is from or related to the Terminator franchise, and the copyright for it is owned by the company or corporation that produced it. All trademarks, service marks, trade names, and trade dress present in the image are proprietary to the copyright holder and are not affiliated with Terminator Wiki. The use of a small number of low-resolution Terminators images to illustrate a product or character on Terminator Wiki falls under the fair use provision of United States copyright law.

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Terraria Wiki

Mod:Adamantite Nodachi

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This page pertains to both Omnir's Melee Weapons and the Reborn Mod. The items, NPCs, or features described in this article can be found in both mods, but not in standard Terraria.
v Adamantite Nodachi
Adamantite Nodachi
Type Weapon
Sub-Type Nodachi
Damage? 45
Use Time 21 (Fast)
Knockback Very Strong
Continuous Attack No
Quality Tier 4
Sell Value 14 GoldCoin Small 95 SilverCoin Small
Crafted With 13 Adamantite Bars
Crafted At Mythril Anvil

The Adamantite Nodachi is a broadsword-type weapon added in the above-mentioned mods for Terraria.

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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

What to keep? - Part 7 Final - Amongst My Momma's Treasures

I am one of those people that don't have the heart to throw away cards. I have even made up rules for myself because of the volumes of them that I have. The rules for keeping cards are: 1) Never ever throw away a card from a grandchild. 2) Never ever throw away a card from my husband. 3) Cards that have letters either written on them or in them are saved. Why? I know my fellow genealogists will agree that those will one day be considered a historical record. So those must be kept for the future. 4) Hand made cards are also kept because the person that made them took their time to do it for me. When I follow my rules I eliminate a lot of my clutter. But, how do I apply this rule to the boxes of cards my Momma saved? Somehow the rules seemed to change for me as I started going through them. I actually felt physically ill at the thought of throwing away her memories. Not the memory of her, but her memories. As I went through them a conversation she and I had had about her photo albums came back to me. With tears in her eyes she told me to just dump them. That they wouldn't mean anything to anybody. It broke my heart to hear her talk this way, like her life experiences weren't important. Is that true? Do our memories only belong to us? I guess for me the pictures are a record of her life and the things that she did and enjoyed. I don't know that the occasional picture of a lion or giraffe hold a lot of significance to her life story, however, pictures that show the places she visited or people she shared her life with certainly do. The problem for me isn't so much keeping them, because believe me I can't part with them – at least not right now. The problem is where do I put them all? I have stacks and stacks of my own memorabilia and adding hers to mine is overwhelming. I'm seriously thinking that since I have a slide show business that I may take them and create a living history slide show with them in the future.

I think you can tell a lot about a persons thoughts and beliefs by the things they keep tucked in books. Of course there are always those things that you have no clue why they were saved. My Grandmother and my Momma were “clippers”. You know, people that clip things out of newspapers or magazines and put them inside their Bibles or a special book. They're usually something that they wanted to remember or that touched their hearts. I believe I could take all the clippings that were saved and make a road map of how to live a spirit filled life, one with purpose and meaning.
In the end it's not really about the things we have kept but how our lives were lived. We hold on to these small treasures not because they have value, but because they hold a memory of those special moments in our lives. And when that person is out of our reach it's a tangible thing we can touch, hold and remember. Will the next generation find the true value of these treasures? I can't answer that. I only hope that the next “keeper” of the treasure will know the stories behind them and find the value of them. Right now I don't know for sure who that “keeper” will be, but I'm sure one day my heart will tell me.

The only real treasure amongst my Momma's things was Momma herself. I only hope I told her often enough that she knew it.

In the memorial slide show that I created for Momma I included a prayer I found in the clippings that she had saved. I'll share it with you here as my final thought.
“I remember thee in this solemn hour, my dear Mother.
I remember the days when thou didst dwell on earth,
and thy tender love watched over me like a guardian angel.
Thou hast gone from me,
but the bond which unites our souls
can never be severed,
thine image lives within my heart.
May the merciful Father reward thee
for they faithfulness and kindness thou
hast ever shown me;
may he lift up the light of his countenance
upon thee and grant the eternal peace!”

Please click on this link to watch the slide show - click here - For Momma - Memorial Slide show - as with all slide shows they are best when viewed in full screen.  Don't forget to turn off the playlist music on the right hand side of this page.

  1. I see according to Geneabloggers, today is your 4th year anniversary since you've been blogging. Happy Blogiversary.

    Regards, Jim
    Hidden Genealogy Nuggets

  2. Thank you Jim! I haven't blogged for a while on this blog - to many memories that made me sad. However, I did begin a new blog on Word Press called "I'll be seeing you in all the familiar places". I don't blog as often as I used to, but, I still share fun stories and video's that I create. Hope you'll visit me there.

  3. I just wanted to say this fit with me today. Stuff of mothers. Including cards. Mom must have kept nearly all of them and dads and grandpas too. I did find a few letters that were a godsend when I began research. Especially a centennial church book. I regret tossing one with out knowing it's worth. Some things my dad kept himself in a pouch for safe keeping.
    I also learned as a young child how my cousin copied her mother by keeping special clippings and pictures in her bible. I thought that was so neat. Again I was admiring your website too. jo

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Join the Movement!

State House District 27- Patsy Hazelwood

Stand for Children Tennessee endorses Patsy Hazelwood for State House District 27

Bio-  Patsy Hazlewood is a proven, effective leader in both the state and local community. Her experience as a seasoned business head and, most recently, as Regional Director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has solidified her ability to lead and ignite community growth. Patsy Hazlewood has the track record, the passion, and the resolve necessary to effectively represent District 27 in the state Capitol.

Why I Stand for Children-

Why Stand for Children Endorses Clayton- District 27 deserves a representative they can be proud of. Patsy Hazelwood will make sure every vote she casts betters the lives of her constituents.  As State Representative for District 27, Patsy commits herself to represent this community with integrity, good sense, and efficiency.

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Monthly Archives: May 2012

Test anxiety: "I'm running out of time!"

One of the most common causes of test anxiety is running out of time, or the fear of running out of time. The clock is ticking and you are stuck on a problem. The clock is ticking and you still have too many problems to go. The clock is ticking and you won’t have the time to review answers you were uncertain of.

There are three causes for test anxiety about running out of time. I’m going to bullet each one and then give you the remedies.

  1. Not enough study. If you don’t really know the material well you’re going to stumble. You won’t have the certainty that comes from knowing that you know. “Study” means comprehending, learning, not just retaining. It also means practicing– doing simulated problems or taking practice tests. By studying in the right way you will use the time on the test more efficiently.
  2. Self-doubt. Even if you are well-prepared for a test you may suffer from self-doubt once the test begins. You think you can’t remember what you studied. You second-guess your intuition, and you aren’t sure of your answers. This leads you to go round and round on questions, over-think your answers, and leaves lingering doubts that make you want to go back and review your answers before the test is over. Self-doubt causes your internal clock to stop. The trouble is, the one on the wall is still ticking.
  3. Distraction. Distraction takes several forms when you take a test. You start thinking about something else (what you’re going to do for your summer vacation), you become preoccupied with the person next to you (why can’t he stop fidgeting?), or you are evaluating your performance as you’re going along. All of these waste your valuable test time

What are the remedies?

  1. Studying. Plan your study time. Have a schedule. Make sure you start studying for a test with good lead time. Do not wait till the last minute.  Your study times should be broken up into 30-40 minute segments with short breaks in between (“short” means short. Just get up and get a drink of water, stretch your legs, go to the bathroom. NO texting, emailing, web surfing– save those for the longer breaks).  Make sure your study time includes practice– if you can find old exams, or with your study buddy make up some mock questions, or test yourself with flashcards. When you simulate the conditions of the exam, including setting the clock, you will have practiced in the most efficient way. You will be ready to take the test because you’ve practiced.
  2. Confidence. You need to keep your confidence up throughout the exam. If it starts slipping you need to know how to get it back. There are three tools for maintaining confidence. All three are in my book. The best way to build confidence is to break up any problem into small manageable steps. Take each one in turn. Take each one successively. You’ll get to where you’re going, but if you rush ahead out of anxiety (“I don’t know this! I’m going to run out of time!”) chances are you will make a mistake and you will have to spend even more time to correct that. Think of what you can do rather than what you can’t.
  3. Stay focused. Become aware of how you become distracted. Learn to stop the distraction just when it appears.Tune into what the next step should be. Take it decisively.  Example: you’re taking a test, you start thinking about the pizza party after it. Stop– that thinking is not taking you to your goal. What do you need to do get you back on track?  You’ll know. Do it.

If you’re having trouble with timing on tests you need to pinpoint the issue and consider why you are having it. I’ve given you the major three reasons people have difficulty on timed tests. If there is something I’ve missed. Please let me know.

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What the members should do to make the unit run smoothly:

  1. Inform Unit’s Secretary AND International Headquarters of any address or e-mail changes.
  2. Pay dues by November 15th, to ensure inclusion in the International and local directories.
  3. Notify president or rally hosts for reservations early to assist in the rally plans.
  4. Volunteer to serve on committees or act as hosts for rallies.

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“I’ve never had an easy fight.” A few words with Jarret Jones. Interview by: sPidA

Jarret Jones, TX MMA Fighter A few words with Jarret Jones post his June 30th fight in Odessa,Texas . “Americas Most Wanted” a 24/ Seven entertainment event,taking place at the Far West Event Center (5850 West University Blvd #200, Odessa,Texas 79764) Great card with 10 bouts of what  promises to be a great night of Mixed Martial Arts action. For ticket info: 432-580-7979

sPidA : Since going Pro , you have fought some of the top guys in Texas Mixed Martial Arts , what ever got you into competing in Mixed Martial Arts?

Jarret: Yeah ive definatly fought some of the top welterweights and lightweights in texas since I turned pro in 2008. Some have went my way and others not, but I can honestly say I’ve never had a “easy fight”. I’ve always been an athlete and competed in many sports, I was raised to be football player, just like alot of guys who grew up in odessa. Which carried over to my agressive athleticism. So those years following graduation I was really looking for some kind of competition outlet and lifting weights at the local gym wasnt gonna fill that drive. When I came across fighting I was hooked from the beginning. The self discipline, intense training, and competition was what I had been looking for….and I soon found out that I was better at choking someone than trying to knock them out. (or maybe just enjoyed it more) So I really focused on BJJ from the beginning.

sPidA: Tell us ,what Team do you re-present and what gyms do you crosstrain in?

Jarret: I train at West Texas MMA in Midland,TX. I’ve been with these guys since the beginning and have watched thier school grow just as my fighting carrer has grown over the years. In that time I’ve went from white belt to currently purple and one day black all from my west texas brasa instructors kc whindam, jack burcham, and Jamie Lara. While the jiu-jitsu has aways been great there was not many mma fighters in the odessa/midland area when I began so I seeked out a place where I could train with some top level professional fighters. I found this place at octagon MMA in DFW. These guys have always welcomed me as part of the team and I spent many hours on the road traveling back and forth to octagon for training. Dallas is 6 hours from my home but the help that coach sayif saud and all the octagon fight team made all worth it. Octagon trains like professionals and as a team all the time and you can see by our team record last year that this method works. Coach sayif really cares about his guys and puts in the extra work for each individual.

sPidA: With over 10 Pro Mixed Martial Arts competions, have you set goals for yourself for this year? (2012)

Jarret: This is the question where I always say something like ” I’m going undefeated” or “this is my year” but, as I learned in the past that just puts more pressure on me. Honestly my goal is to do what im doing right now. Doing what I love, and doing pretty good at it. Of coarse as a fighter my goals are to be in a big time show like BELLATOR or the UFC because that’s the top and a chance to prove your a champion. But right now I’m just loving life and loving fighting. I’ve recently been able to quit my day job and can really focus on my training and my sleeping which is something I use to not get much of. I feel complete as a fighter and now I can just push myself as hard as I can everyday so that good things will happen.

sPidA: Having looked up your fighting stats I noticed you have won most of your fights by submission, do you prefer the ground game or is this mostly after feeling out your opponent that you decide to take the fight to the ground?

Jarret: All my professional wins are by submission and I would love to finish my career like that one day. I love jiu-jitsu, so I want to get them on the ground but I spend a lot of time working my standup so I’m comfortable there too. I’m not to much of a wrestler but thank goodness we fight in a cage, you can only sprawl and run away so much before I’m gonna get my arms or legs wrapped around you and it’s time to take a nap.

sPidA: With more promotions coming out in the DFW area, is this the perfect time for OCTAGON MMA to rise above and showcase there skills?

Jarret: Yes , OCTAGON MMA   is a gym with a awesome team and coach. If your a fighter or want to be a fighter this is the gym to go to in DFW area.

sPidA: Your coming off an unfortunate loss to an opponet you had already fought and defeated, How has this affected your mindset if any?

Jarret: Unfortunate loss is right, to tell you the truth that fight still keeps me up some nights. Not to take anything away from Brandon but I’m a better fighter than that guy as I had already proved the first time we fought in 2009. I was like you said, on a win streak but I made a mistake and it cost me a win but the sport is very unexpected. Doesn’t matter how the fight has played out, what round it is, or who the better fighter is your always one second away from a win or a loss. The more you realize that the more your see the urgency of getting the win as fast as possible. With that being said, I hope to get that rubber match with Brandon sometime in the future.

sPidA: Mixed Martial Arts is very time consuming, from training and getting prepared, what are some of the things you dislike about the sport? (If any)

Jarret:  The one thing that I dislike about fighting is that it keeps me from entering more BJJ tournaments. It seems every time theres a good tourny coming up I’m preparing for a fight. Its hard to do both when you risk an injury everytime you compete but I know I’ll be competing in BJJ all my life so I do what I can for now. I try to make all the local ones in my area and the IBJJF in Dallas. Even if im not competing in bjj tournaments I’ve got a gi on 4-5 times a week  and I’m training my ass off to help myself and help all my team mates at West Texas MMA. Ive recently started focusing more on judo. Both of my instructors are black belts in judo and I avoided the sport for 6 years now because it hurts so bad. I’d rather take kicks to the face all day than be on the wrong end of a judo throw but it has helped my game and gives me another goal in life to shoot for. So maybe judo tournaments are in my near future.
sPidA: Whats worst, Nerves while cornering a team mate or before your own fights? How do you deal with them?

Jarret: I gotta go with nerves before my own fights  but im pretty calm before I walk out these days.I know I’ve put in the work. Nerves and anger get in your head and make you forget your game plan. This is the charachteristic of a true professional, ready to go to war and confident in his skills. I would say the worst part is about right now, 4 weeks out. I think so much about the fight that sometimes lose sense of the rest of the world. All that really matters is my training to win this fight. Sometimes I”ll start my drive to the gym and start thinking about my fight. Going over scenarios in my head, picturing the win, imagining my hand being raised and  1/2 an hour later without any recollection of the drive I’m sitting in front of my gym with hands gripped and knuckles tight on the steering wheel, my heart is racing, forehead already sweating but I use that energy to go inside and just bust ass to make it a reality.

sPida: If you were given an opt to come out as a character in a video game (other than the UFC) which one would it be and why?

Jarret: Ha! I have to admit im not much of a video game guy. That stuff turns your brain to bologne but I remember playing Mortal Kombat as a kid. Scorpion is pretty awesome. I wouldnt have to judo if I had that cool thing that shot out of my hand. “Get over here”

sPidA:  LoL That would be pretty cool! Thank you for your time man, any last words bro before we wrap this up?

Jarret: Yeah for sure, I have to thank my awesome wife for supporting me to shoot for my dreams. Its a pretty crazy idea thinking you can make a living through training and fighting but with her support I can do anything. Thanks to all of my instructors and team mates at west texas mma for putting me through tough rounds everyday. Every one else who has helped me prepare, Brad Barnes & Bruno Bastos over at Rhino BJJ, Coach sayif at Octagon MMA, traininerydag partner Clay Hantz. Fabian butler w/ 24/7 entertainment for all the awesome local shows. And finally all my athletes at Basin CrossFit. You guys come in everyday and let me yell at you and put you through fitness hell and its making my dreams come true. Anyone in the Odessa/midland area I welcome you to my gym Basin CrossFit most awesome and motivating group of people youll ever workout with. www.basincrossfit.com Thanks for the opportunity sPidA!

Published by

I am a writer, photographer and blogger for TexasFighting.com. I also Freelance and contribute to other sport Magazines in the San Antonio area. " I AM SECOND."

2 thoughts on ““I’ve never had an easy fight.” A few words with Jarret Jones. Interview by: sPidA”

    CONTACT NUMBER-832-863-1460

  2. Jarrett if you ever want a rematch i will be more than welcomed to oblige you in a rematch and i can guarantee you I am better at every aspect of mma, not too mention i am bigger faster and stronger. If you couldn’t tell this is Brandon!


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Thames Reach
Monday 27 March 2017
Keyword Search

Employment and Resettlement

Finding work plays a key role in helping people on their journey away from homelessness.

Thames Reach runs a range of schemes helping formerly homeless people find work.

Boosting people’s self-confidence and developing their skills and experience play a vital role in helping people get a job.

Thames Reach helps people to take up training, education, volunteering and work opportunities. This raises people's self-esteem and combats isolation and depression. For many, it will lead to financial independence.

We help people into mainstream training and work, but also run schemes that offer more specialised support. These include:

The farm project
, which gives people who have experienced homelessness the chance to spend time working at an organic farm in Sussex.
offers people with little or no computer skills the opportunity to learn at their own pace.

Jumpstart provides personalised action plans to people living in selected L&Q housing in order to help them get back into work.

The literacy support service helps formerly homeless, vulnerable and socially excluded men and women to improve their reading and writing skills.

Moving In Moving On (MIMO) is Thames Reach’s painting and decorating course for long-term unemployed, homeless and vulnerable men and women.

The Peer Advisor Service helps people develop the skills and training needed to find employment.

Step Up – the Upwardly Mobile Network, is a service to help people in low-paid jobs learn new skills and find better work with better pay.

The TRaVEL volunteering scheme helps homeless and vulnerable people to build their self-confidence, develop new skills and find opportunities for suitable employment.

Volunteering into Employment provides on-the-job experience and training to people who are close to finding work but need a final helping hand.

The Work Ready Programme is a week long course of activities, followed by an ongoing mentoring scheme to help participants acquire the skills they are likely to need once in employment.

Twenty per cent of Thames Reach's workforce is made up of formerly homeless people. You can find out more about service user employment on our Giving Real Opportunities for Work (GROW) site.

Employment Services Guide 2016
Employment Services Guide 2016 - [1.36 MB] Click to download


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February 20, 2012

Hiatus (sort of)

After giving this some extensive thought, I've decided to take off the next four weeks and subject you all to my blog's first hiatus ever. The reason for this is that I've felt pretty much drained of energy lately and I need a little bit more me-time. One week just won't cut it, two weeks might not quite get me back into a more energetic state, and while three weeks oughta get the job done I'm adding week number four to be on the safe side.

And I'm not completely gone anyway. Old habits (also known as daily blogging) die hard and so I will at least stop by on Sundays to share what I read during the week and if there've been some book-shaped goodies in the mail I'll post about those too.

On a different note. I've already scheduled a few posts for the next couple of weeks. Not "real" posts, but interesting enough to make you want to stop by. First of all there will be the February and March editions of the 2 by 2 Giveaway. Secondly I'll squeeze in the next Old Books in need of a New Home post during those four weeks as well. Thirdly I'll participate in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop which will run from March 17th through March 22nd.
Last but not least, as some of you might have noticed, I passed the 1.000 followers mark just recently which translates into a wee little celebration, or shall I say the 1.000 Followers Giveaway? That one'll be coming up on February 27th.

Everything will be back to its usual schedule on March 19th!

  1. I hope you will feel better you, you really deserve some time for yourself so don't worry for us, we will still be there when you are back ^^

    all the best and thanks you for everything you do for us

  2. I've actually been contemplating doing the same in the near future. I think it's important to step back a little when you feel like you need the break. And I agree with miki, we'll all still be here when you come back :)

  3. Enjoy your YOU time! I will be looking forward to the giveaways :))

  4. Oh yes, me time is important! Enjoy your hiatus! You shouldn't be writing many IMM posts as you are not buying any books, right, :)!?
    And wow, you have quite a few giveways coming up in the next few weeks. They should keep us busy!

  5. You're such a prolific blogger, I'm not surprised you need a break. Just do what you like and don't feel guilty about not posting.

    I posted every day in 2011 and this year I find it very hard not to post every day. I feel a bit like a naughty child if I don't But I'm getting better....

    Enjoy your me-time!

  6. I completely understand!! We all need to recharge. (And yes, daily blogging habits die hard- mine are still trying to kick back to survival). Enjoy your time off. Maybe go to the spa? :)


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Final Exam

What do you get for the guy who doesn’t like having a big deal made of his birthday? Well, when he’s an incorrigible teacher who enjoys stories, maybe you give him a story about teaching and learning. Well, I do anyway. No idea what you’re giving him.

Final Exam

As Serena approached the little wooden cottage on the edge of the school grounds where tests were always given, she saw Master Dominic sitting at a desk outside the door. He was scribbling something, as usual, with occasional pauses to tap his pen against his lips as he thought. Serena frowned and stopped humming her new tune.

She wished anyone but Dom-Dom were overseeing her final exam. She didn’t know why he didn’t like her, but he clearly didn’t. When he saw who was coming, his thick black brows drew close together. He slumped heavily into his chair, the wilting effect enhanced by his height. It didn’t make her nervous, exactly, but it didn’t improve her mood.

He sighed. “So, you think you’re ready for this?”

This was just too unfair. Worse than Dom-Dom’s dislike was his persistent belief that she was incompetent. No one else at the school seemed to think so. Her teachers consistently rated her highly, and other students often came to her for help. If she wasn’t ready, who was? She straightened her back. “I’ve always been one of the best students in this school, Master Dominic. I don’t see why that should change now.”

Master Dominic stared at her for a moment before grunting. “Perhaps.”

His admission was grudging. Serena knew she wouldn’t get a response if she asked him why. He’d just grunt again.

His long arm gestured toward the doorway beside him. “Instructions are on the table. Everything you need for the spell is there. Yell if you get into trouble.”

Serena walked past him into the cottage without a response. Trouble? She’d miss a lot about the school once she graduated. She would not miss Dom-Dom.

After closing the door, she leaned her back against it and tried to relax. He always had that effect on her.

Once the first burst of anger passed, she wondered whether it was part of the test. Spells required concentration, and her teachers had always warned her that once she left the school, there would be more distractions to deal with. Maybe they wanted to know she could handle them. Serena went to a window for one more look at the old school building while she gave her emotions a chance to settle. If everything went well, this was the last time she’d see it as a student.

It was a sturdy, sprawling thing, two stories of gray brick roofed with slate. The front, which she couldn’t see from here, held its only pretension to decoration, with sculpted stone pediments over the windows and door. The building was far too aware of its own dignity to be really inviting, but six years of happy memories made it beautiful to Serena.

The back consisted of two stark wings sheltering a large courtyard. Girls were in the wing closest to Serena and boys in the far wing. Serena thought the arrangement was intended to keep the students segregated after hours, but her theory wasn’t well supported by personal experience. If they wanted to keep students from sneaking around, they shouldn’t teach the spell of silence to third-years.

Smiling at memories of midnight parties that would have made her teachers shake their heads, Serena turned her back on the school. She calmly approached the broad blond wood table, the main feature in the cottage. It held a single large square of paper. There was no title, just a short list of ingredients and instructions roughly centered on the page. She read it through, stopping at the end to briefly decipher the key word.

Then she sat back and blinked in confusion. This was her final exam, the test that would determine her place in the world? Admittedly, from the length of the last word, it would require some power from her. She’d have to be precise and careful. But the spell seemed awfully simple.

She read it through again. It didn’t get any harder. Annoyed again despite her best intentions, she set herself to learning the key word. Even if the rest of the spell was simple, this could take some time.

It wasn’t that it was long, or even hard to pronounce. It contained at most six characters. (Serena carefully traced each character on the table, covering the rest with the fingers of her left hand as she worked. Yes, there were six.) But the language of magic contained more concentrated truth than most human brains could hold at once. It powered the spell and was liable to trip her up unless she treated it very cautiously.

Even here, the school had saved her some time. She wouldn’t have to write it out during the spell, since her instructions told her to use the paper it was written on. She’d only have to say it.

As she practiced under her breath, her mouth grew warm, as though she were eating the heavily gingered pears that were the specialty of the school’s cook. So she was right. The spell had to do with fire.

When Serena felt confident in the word, she memorized the rest of the spell. She suspected it would disturb a lot of the students to use the paper as part of the spell instead of having it next to them for reference, but she preferred to work from memory. The way she did it felt more magical, at least to her. And she could use her music.

Serena was a musician as well as a magician. She sang the old tunes and composed her own to share with friends. The choice between studying magic and music had been difficult. Left to herself, Serena might have chosen music. However, she’d only been thirteen when the time had come to choose, and her parents had considered magic the rarer and more valuable skill.

She hadn’t quite been able to abandon music, though. She practiced whenever she could spare time from her studies.

She sometimes wondered whether that was what irked Master Dominic. When she made her rare mistakes, he obviously relished telling her she’d chosen her field poorly. And he often railed against the school for allowing students to waste time on their “trifling hobbies” when they should be studying magic.

Still, if Dom-Dom was obsessed by magic to the exclusion of everything else, Serena didn’t see that she had to be. After all, she’d found a way for the music to help her learn the magic.

She assigned each ingredient of a spell a short line of melody based on her associations with it. The arrangement of the ingredients became simple harmonies. She turned every spell into a tune that would be complete only when all the elements were in their places. One piece flowed into another, making it nearly impossible for her to forget what came next.

Dominic was the only teacher who didn’t seem impressed by Serena’s memory. He was patient with other students who had to grope their way through remembering spells, but he seemed to resent her ready answers. He always asked her–and only her–questions from outside the lessons, and his criticism was harsh when she didn’t have answers.

It wasn’t just her studies where he held her to a ridiculous standard either. Just over a year ago, an hourglass she’d used in a spell had come apart in her hand as she was putting it away. It had, of course, happened under Dom-Dom’s ever-watchful eye. It had been the occasion of one of his periodic rants about taking care of materials and planning for adverse events. As though she could have planned for an hourglass nearly as old as the school itself choosing that exact time to disintegrate.

Serena shook her head and concentrated on converting the exam spell to music, setting aside her grievance with Dominic. The spell seemed simple, but the tune it suggested to her was unusual. Most of the spells she’d learned were very structural, balancing diverse elements to form something new.
The tunes she built from them tended to be lyrical and layered with complexity.

This spell was very straightforward. The tune had two main themes, repeated one after the other with slight variations when each new element came into play. It was almost a march. It definitely suggested a single purpose, building by repetition to the point where the key word would be inserted.

Serena didn’t know how the key word would fit into the music of the spell. She never did until she worked the spell. It was one of the things about the language of magic that still defied her understanding.

Curious now and eager to find out how her song would end, Serena moved away from the table. She turned her attention to the plain cupboards that lined the walls of the cottage. They contained nearly everything anyone could want for a spell. It was an embarrassment of riches for a student. She hummed her new tune as she collected what she would need.

She’d spent enough time here to know where some of the more common items were kept. The candle was easy to find, although she had to rummage for an orange one. It wasn’t a typical color for magic. The spices lined the bottom of a cupboard hung with bundles of dried herbs.

She let her hand linger over another drawer, this one a jumble of minerals, while she decided what size piece of copper seemed appropriate. The one she chose was already polished, suggesting she wasn’t the first student that day to think it looked promising. After pausing briefly to hope the first student had passed, she dug for a piece of pyrite about the same size.

Other items took more work. She had to take a knife to a log by the fireplace to get the bark she needed. She nearly cut herself trying to find the right piece of glass buried in the drawer full of cotton batting, although the batting that stuck to her hand in the process was enough for the spell.

She stopped to laugh over the neatly labeled bag of dandelion fluff, then carried a firmly clasped handful back to the table. She had everything. Reading the spell through one last time, she made sure she had the harmony fixed firmly in her mind. With a deep breath, she decided she was ready.

Serena knew which direction was which after six years at the school, but now was not the time to get overconfident. She sang out the magical word for east.

The word echoed back to her from the surfaces of the room, robbed in every case of one piece of its meaning or another. It lacked the nuances of unknown places, creeping shadow, or sun. From the direction she expected came no answer that she could comprehend, and she turned to face that way.

She hummed her song only in her mind now. Holding the tallow candle like a pen, blunt end to the paper, she drew a line from the magical word toward the east. Then she drew six more lines leading out from the word like rays, tracing the seventh line directly over the first.

The pyrite was the first piece she laid down, faceted gold at the end of the eastern ray. The bark went opposite, cut into thin strips and covering the length of the western ray.

She moved counterclockwise by one ray to prop three tiny orange dried peppers up on their bases. If she’d had any doubt that this spell was meant to draw fire, the sight would have convinced her otherwise. On their ends, even leaning, they already looked like flames, and she knew how they tasted.

She paired the dandelion fluff with the peppers, trying not to breathe on it. She arranged the bright chunk of copper and a line of batting. Then she set a lens, a beautiful, dark red piece of glass, carefully over the word. She stuck the remains of the candle to its center.

She was sweating now, whether from the spell or with concentration she didn’t know. It had been difficult to move slowly, to be as precise as she knew she needed to be. The simplicity of the spell and the compelling nature of the tune she’d created had tried to rush her along. Even now, as she was about to see the completion of her last spell at the school, she couldn’t pause to appreciate the moment.

She said the word. It rang in her mind like a bell and the candle blossomed into flame.

But there was a problem. The song didn’t end. Instead of dying off, the sound of the bell kept pulsing. Serena thought it was growing louder. She looked at the table.

The whole top of the candle was burning, not just the wick. As Serena watched, wax puddled at the base of the candle, split into three rivulets, and reached toward the edge of the lens. It was slow, but it showed no sign of stopping.

She didn’t want to think what would happen when it reached the edge of the paper. Spell paper was impervious to nearly anything, but as far as she knew, the table and the rest of the cottage were made of simple wood. It would burn beautifully.

She had to do something. She doubted that smothering the fire physically would work, not with the word still ringing in her head. She needed a counterspell.

Serena hesitated, knowing she didn’t have time for it. A counterspell meant asking Master Dominic for help and confirming his poor opinion of her. It might even mean failing, although she’d followed the spell exactly.

She’d never failed at a spell before, and the idea made her stomach ache. She couldn’t have rushed that badly, could she? She felt ill.

She bit her lip. The school had created the test. That meant there had to be something she could still do to pass. There had to be another choice besides getting Master Dominic’s help.

Wax continued to run down the candle as she thought. The bell continued to pulse in her mind’s ear. It was definitely louder.

She’d always built songs out of spells. Could she do the opposite? She had a fair grasp of what needed to happen musically to resolve this song. Could she create a spell from that? Creating spells wasn’t anything the school had taught them, but the teachers did keep telling them that real life was different from school. If nothing else, it gave her something to try before calling Master Dominic.

The first thing she needed was something to stop the belling from growing forever.

She remembered seeing dried lake weeds in her search for spell ingredients. They were the long rubbery weeds she hated when swimming. They felt so substantial wrapping around her legs, she was always afraid she’d be trapped. She hoped they could hold the spell she’d just performed.

She pulled the three most flexible leaves out of the cabinet where they hung next to the herbs and brought them back to the table. Tracing their fluted edges with her finger, she arranged them in a circle outside her diagram, the ends of the weeds overlapping.

That would give the fire something to do. The pulsing of the word should find an echo in the smaller rippling of the weed and should follow it around the circle. The march continued, but now it doubled back on itself. Its energy fed into moving rather than growing.

It would keep the fire from pressing on toward the edge of the paper, but how long would it hold? The wax was creeping down the three rays that she hadn’t covered. It had reached a third of the way, and the heat was already intense. She had to do something to make the weeds resist it.

She drummed her fingers on the table, impatient and frustrated.

She wanted something with a tie to the original spell. It would make a more pleasant song, and Serena often found that those indicated the most powerful spells. She’d found something green to counter the hot colors of the original spell, water to counter fire. What else did she need to counter?

Her eyes lit on the peppers. She headed back to the spice cabinet. She didn’t see anything obvious and she didn’t want to waste time digging. She moved to the next cabinet, which held bottled brews. There she found what she needed.

Back at the table, she poured a little peppermint
oil over her finger. She sniffed it, then touched it to her tongue. Bracingly cool, but not as strong as the peppers.

Again she traced the edges of the weeds, coating them liberally with the light green oil. She hoped quantity would make up for lack of intensity. In her mind, a cheerful little icy melody cut across the remaining sound of the word, competing with it, robbing it of its place of prominence.

That done, she looked at the remaining elements of the original spell. The wax was more than halfway out the rays. There was about a third of the candle left. She told herself to think faster.

The candle, bark, batting and fluff were all fuels. She could counter them with anything that wouldn’t burn.

How about the minerals? The pyrite would spark if struck with a knife. The copper conducted heat. The glass lens concentrated the light and heat of the sun.

So she wanted an opaque mineral, something that wouldn’t feed, create or transmit fire. Ideally, it would be something she could make a barrier from. Stopping the spell might not be enough if the fire kept burning on its own. If it had associations with water, all the better.

Serena grinned with relief and stepped away from the table. She was glad of Dom-Dom’s unfair lecture now. Without it, she might not have remembered. The black sand from the broken hourglass was just what she needed.

At the time, she’d swept the sand back into the hourglass and jammed the lid back on. She found it where she’d shoved it in the back of a cabinet, Dom-Dom’s words still ringing in her ears. The lid came off as easily as she remembered and she shot a dirty look at the cottage door in passing.

She poured the sand onto the table, circling the leaves and staying just inside the edge of the paper. Then she spread it out in an even layer. She pushed some of it under the leaves. Working quickly, she kept one eye on the shrinking candle. The sand created a variation on the theme of the other minerals, but this time the march shuffled its feet.

The bell was nearly buried in her new music. Now she just needed another key word to finish her counterspell. It needed to be something she knew. She didn’t have time to look something up and practice it. It should be the smallest change she could invoke. She didn’t have the energy to deal with more unintended consequences.

She thought of a word and traced it onto the bare table. She silently rehearsed the pronunciation, keeping one eye on the candle. Just before the flame reached the pooled wax on the lens, she wrote in the sand and said the word–hold.

It cut itself off in her mouth.

Then the last of the candle was gone. The flame covered the lens with a quiet whoosh and shot up into the air. It stopped just short of the ceiling. Then it raced down the six rays. When the fire reached the ends of the rays, it flared again. With a loud pop, the elements of the test spell that she had so carefully assembled had disappeared. There was only fire left, one large flame in the center and six hungry, reaching arms.

They quickly came to the weeds. There they paused. Tall flames lunged toward the leaves and retreated. Forward and back. Forward and back. Nearly dancing.

Then they turned. They followed the leaves, bobbing in synch with the rippled edges until there was a circle of dancing flames.

The song ended with a chord that resolved all the themes she had created.

Serena watched long enough to see that the fire was no longer growing, the weeds not blackening or shriveling. Then she closed her eyes in relief. Her legs shook.

She had told her spell to hold, using the word that meant to simply contain, embrace without smothering. It had held. She’d passed.

She opened the door to the cottage and walked around the desk. “Master Dominic, I’m done.”

Dom-Dom had been starting to get up, but he sat back down. He looked startled. “Already?”

Had it only felt like the test took forever? Serena nodded.

His expression was stern. “Fire properly started?”

“Quite.” Serena suppressed a smile.

He raised his eyebrows. “No damage to the cottage or the table?”

She blinked at his disbelief and reminded herself she wouldn’t have to deal with him again. She’d passed. She made her tone firm. “None.”

Master Dominic settled back into his chair, and it was Serena’s turn to be startled. He smiled at her for the first time in her six years at the school. “Congratulations.”

“I, uh,” Serena didn’t know what to say. “Thank you?”

He laughed and rubbed one earlobe. “I suppose I earned that.” He gestured at the chair next to her.

As much as she was in no condition to stand, she sat down gingerly. She wondered what was coming next. How many shocks could she handle in a day? She promptly got another.

“Serena, I owe you an apology.”

She blinked dumbly, and Dominic went on.

“You’re very bright but not the first bright student in this school.”

She frowned. “Of course not.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that. All too often, I meet students who think being bright makes them incredibly special. It’s their ticket out of working as hard as the other students.” He smiled ruefully. “I thought you were one of those students.”

Dominic stood up and paced behind the desk. “You were always singing instead of studying. You knew what I told you to learn and not one word more. It bothered me that you were willing to be just as good as everyone else when you could have been much better.”

She took a deep breath. She’d never looked at it that way, but there was some uncomfortable truth to his words. “I–“

He held up a hand. “I told you, I owe you an apology. I misjudged you. We teachers are human too, you know. That’s part of the reason for this test.”

“After six years of working with students, we know which of you can handle what level of magic. We see it every day.” Dominic sat back down.

“If that were all there was to magic, we could just send each of you out the door with a reasonably large spellbook of the right level. We want to know which of you have the capacity for more. That takes curiosity, which can’t be taught but can be learned. It’s also ridiculously difficult to measure in a classroom, when you’re all learning the basics.”

Serena didn’t understand. “The test measures curiosity?”

“In part. And a good thing, too.” Dominic ran one hand through his salted black hair. “If it had been up to me, I’d have said you’d never get curious enough to flip the paper over and read the counterspell on the back.”

The world wobbled a little. Serena clutched at the chair seat to steady herself. Her ears buzzed.

“Are you all right?”

She took a deep breath and looked at Master Dominic. “There’s a counterspell on the back?”

As the words sank in, Master Dominic was on his feet and in the cottage. It was several minutes before he came out. Serena had plenty of time to wonder what she could do with her life now.

“What did you do?” His words were very quiet.

I failed, she thought. It hurt as much as she’d thought it might. “I used another spell to hold the first one.”

“Where did you find it?”

“I made it up.” She might as well own up to the worst. “Master Dominic, you were right about me. I didn’t find it. I’ve never looked at a spellbook that wasn’t assigned. It never occurred to me to turn the paper over.” She bowed her head and waited for one of his famous lectures.

“You made it up?”

She nodded at the ground. He was being very gentle with her and she couldn’t stand it. “I’ve failed, haven’t I?”

“Well, I think we’d like you to stay at the school for a bit.”

Serena had never heard of a student being held back after a final exam. “You mean I’m not even ready to go out
and practice magic?”

“I don’t know that I’d say that.” Dominic sounded suspiciously cheerful.

Serena looked up to see him grinning. She wasn’t sure whether it was a good sign or a bad one. “What do you mean?”

“None of us know the spell you used in there.” He shook his head, his eyes wide, before focusing on Serena again. “And I think we’d all like to know how a student who,” he wagged his finger at her, but he was still grinning, “admittedly doesn’t study any harder than she has to managed to come up with such an elegant counterspell.”

She hadn’t failed? Serena let it sink in. She’d even done something Dominic wanted to analyze. She hadn’t failed. “I’ll stay if you think I have something to teach you.”

“And maybe something still to learn?” Dominic’s smile was softer now, more friendly.

Serena felt herself smiling back. She nodded.

They shook hands across the desk.

Final Exam

14 thoughts on “Final Exam

  1. 1

    Splendid. In fact, absolutely delightful! Cunning twist on that old test where you're expected to read the whole thing through, and at the last question it says to ignore all the rest of the questions and just put your name at the top and hand it in. I honestly wasn't expecting a counterspell to be on the reverse of the page, brilliant. And I especially love that Serena had a novel way of learning, with a sort of synesthesia of music and magic.There's an extraneous "she" in there — "although she the batting that stuck to her hand". Outside of that, I can't think of enough superlatives. This inspired me to search Amazon for your name — why isn't there anything on there except for a thank-you in the foreword of WebMage?

  2. 2

    Thanks, Jason. Typo fixed.There are actually three more books on Amazon where I'm thanked in the acknowledgments. But that's not what you're asking. There is a book written, YA SF, which needs to go looking for an agent. The next book in the same universe is outlined and just barely started. There are others planned.The big holdup right now is that I'm lousy at self-promotion. I've been letting the book sit with a busy friend, whose opinion on it I really do want, rather than jumping on the agent chase.

  3. 3

    By SF do you mean speculative fiction (e.g. sci-fi/fantasy catchall), or science fiction? There's a dearth of sci-fi aimed at kids… I'd buy such a book in a heartbeat.I sometimes lament that I never truly tried my hand at writing beyond the ramblings of a lonely geeky teenager in black ink on looseleaf. I don't think I've got the chops though, so I'm glad to have met someone that does. As far as you can meet someone over the intertubes.

  4. 5

    Jason, science fiction. And while I may be terrible at self-promotion, I do know a market niche when I see one. That's why I wrote that book instead of something else. :)Greg, really? Okay, now I need to hear that story.Oh, and thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

  5. 7

    Brilliant! I know the story wasn't for me but that was great, I loved it!I hope you tell us when your SF book finds an agent so we can buy it 🙂

  6. 8

    Excellent story. It's difficult to make an interesting story from something as simple as a test, even if it is a magical test. The novel solution helps, and the test not being what it appeared to be goes a long way, but it's the quality of writing that carries it, really.One small criticism, though. In this line: "She turned every spell into a tune that would only be complete only when all the elements were in their places." Your use of the word "only" twice in quick succession is a little jarring. I'd suggest dropping one or the other.Other that, it's a superb piece of writing, and I hope to read more in the future.

  7. 10

    Hey, Jodi. I missed your comment, sorry. I will absolutely tell the world when I land an agent. However, even looking at really excellent timing after that (and assuming success), we're talking well over a year between that and publication. The publishing world is not fast, but they've still got the best distribution and promotion system going.

  8. 11

    I, too, thoroughly enjoyed reading your story Stephanie. I look forward to reading more in the future.(And I'm delighted to see the main character shares my alias! I understand the name of your character was chosen long before I adopted my alias, but still, it was fun to read about Serena.)

  9. 12

    Thanks for the heads-up. I'm reading through some of those older stories now. They're much better than a ton of short-form work I've seen published. If I saw them compiled in a paperback at a store, I'd buy it.

  10. 14

    Serena, I was debating which of my stories Greg would likely appreciate–in a fairly light-hearted way–and settled on this one. Then I opened the file, read the first two words and laughed. I knew he was going to think of you as soon as he started reading. So I didn't add the name because of you, but I did keep it with you in mind. I'm glad you enjoyed it.Thanks, Kelly. Me too. There were some parts that just worked better than I had any reason to expect them to.

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text:
Wednesday, October 21, 2015

I'm sure it's happened at your house. Someone drops a glass or plate and it shatters...everywhere. It's broken and useless; no longer good for its intended purpose, so we sweep it up and into the trash it goes.

Or maybe if it's a special piece you might try mending it. I have a set of red mixing bowls that my husband bought me for my birthday while on a trip to Angelfire, New Mexico. I love those bowls...they make me happy. So when one of them began to crack I quickly grabbed the Gorilla glue to try and salvage it. In my eyes the cracks didn't diminish the beauty. I wasn't about to throw it away because I loved it.

Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art that fills the cracks in a broken piece of pottery with gold, incorporating them into the restoration. The result is amazing! Rather than covering up the brokenness, the faults and weaknesses become a beautiful part of the object's past.

What a beautiful picture of how God views us! My cracks and brokenness make me who I am and if I allow them to they will become an opportunity for His strength  to shine through. Bringing our hearts to Him He lovingly takes each broken, jagged piece and puts it back together, sealing it over with His love and grace. The end result is more beautiful than we could have ever imagined and something that ultimately brings Him glory when viewed by those around us.

Feeling broken today? Don't hide it! Jesus wants to pour Himself into the cracks of your life to create an amazing masterpiece that will bless others and bring Him glory. Give Him the pieces and see what He'll do.

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Monday, August 9, 2010

weekend review

i worked. late. boo.

i worked in the morning.
hubs worked his 2nd job.
that night we celebrated with friends
at a luau for J & S that are getting married in september.

we didn't know many people there, so I will refrain from posting many pics
but, please note that I am on the hunt for a red/black blow up pool to cool
our food in for football season. what a cute idea!!

i fixed breakfast while hubs slept in.
read my ikea catalogue for an hour straight.
chores. and cole got a bath.
movie time / nap time on the couch with hubs.
dinner with my parents & bro & sil at our house
{i guess i only got pics of the food. ha}

Jessica said...

Banana pie ice cream sounds delish!!! I made a batch of tiramisu ice cream in my maker this weekend... so good!

Shanna said...

dinner was so delicious! craving some of that ice cream right now!

ashley said...

looks like a great weekend! oohhh how i need to get on ikea's mailing list!!!

kirkandmona said...

Yummmmm--that ice cream was awesome!! And--look--you caught Cole being good. he he. What a wonderful time we had! You guys keep raising the bar for our family get togethers!

Summer {Bisfor...} said...

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