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TYPE DESIGN INFORMATION PAGE last updated on Sun May 24 22:24:47 EDT 2020

CheapProfonts [Roger S. Nelsson]

Started in 2008, this web place by Norwegian entrepreneur Roger S. Nelsson (based in Honningsvåg, Norway) sells fonts by Ray Larabie, Brian Kent, Nick Curtis, Derek Vogelpohl and Kevin King that were originally freeware fonts. Nelsson reworked them (more glyphs, more multilingual) and asks about 10 dollars per font now. He says his fonts now cover these Latin languages: Afrikaans, Albanian, Basque, Belarusian (Lacinka), Bosnian, Breton, Catalan, Chamorro, Chichewa, Cornish, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Esperanto, Estonian, Faroese, Filipino (Tagalog), Finnish, French, Frisian, Galican, German, Greenlandic, Guarani, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish (Gaelic), Italian, Kashubian, Kurdish (Kurmanji), Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourgian, Malagasy, Maltese, Maori, Northern Sotho, Norwegian, Occitan, Polish, Portuguese, Rhaeto-Romance, Romanian, Saami (Inari), Saami (Lule), Saami (North), Saami (South), Scots (Gaelic), Serbian (latin), Slovak(ian), Slovene, Sorbian (Lower), Sorbian (Upper), Spanish, Swedish, Tswana, Turkish, Turkmen, Ulithian, Walloon, Welsh, Yapese.

Designer at FontStruct in 2008 of cowboy_hippie and Syndrome X (DNA-look typeface inspired by Syndrome BRK by Brian Kent). Nelsson's fonts are Classic Trash BRK Pro, Dynamic BRK Pro, Galapogos BRK Pro, Genotype BRK Pro, King Cool KC Pro (kid's hand; done with Kimberly Geswein), Lamebrain BRK Pro, Matrise Pro and Matrise Text Pro (dot matrix), Phorfeit BRK Pro, Syndrome BRK Pro, Technique BRK Pro, Vigilance BRK Pro, Grapple BRK Pro. The "BRK" refers to Brian Kent, the original free font designer.

In 2009, he added a number of fonts that were done by Nick Curtis some years before that (hence the "NF"): Boogie Nights NF Pro (art deco face), Copasetic NF Pro, Coventry Garden NF Pro, Pro, Fontleroy NF Pro, Hamburger Heaven NF Pro, Monterey Popsicle NF Pro, and Wooden Nickel NF Pro. Trypewriter Pro (2009) is based on Kevin King's Trypewriter. Helldorado Pro (2009) is a Tuscan wood type style typeface based on a font by Levente Halmos.

Designer of Isbit Pro (2012, a magnificent melting ice cube-shaped superlliptical typeface family), Familiar Pro (2011, designed with the same metric as Helvetica but "better than Arial"), Bloco Pro (2010, fat counterless face), Trump Town Pro (2009, athletic lettering slab serif), Geometric Soft Pro (2009), Geometry Script Pro (2010, upright connected script), DIN Fun Pro (2011), Infantometric Pro (2012), Foobar Pro (2012) and Cheap Pro Fonts Serif (2009).

Typefaces from 2013: Adultometric Pro (narrow monoline sans).

Dafont. Fontspace link. Fontsquirrel link.

Catalog of Nelsson's bestselling typefaces.

 [Buy fonts]
 [Designer info]
Fontspring link [Buy fonts]
Dafont page
Fontspace page
MyFonts search
Monotype search
Fontspring search
Google search

Commercial fonts (small outfits) ⦿ Type designers ⦿ Type designers ⦿ African fonts ⦿ Non-Latin fonts ⦿ Eastern European fonts ⦿ Filipino / The Philippines ⦿ The Croatian type scene ⦿ The type scene in Iceland ⦿ Type design in Indonesia ⦿ Celtic/Gaelic fonts ⦿ FontStruct fonts ⦿ Type design in France ⦿ The Norwegian type scene ⦿ Children's handwriting fonts ⦿ Pixel/bitmap fonts ⦿ Type design in Belarus ⦿ Typewriter fonts ⦿ Western fonts ⦿ Wood Type ⦿ Sites with only a few free fonts ⦿ Handwriting fonts ⦿ Athletic lettering faces ⦿ Nick Curtis ⦿ Art deco typefaces ⦿ DIN ⦿ Tuscan fonts ⦿

file name: Roger S Nelsson Adultometric Pro 2012

file name: Roger S Nelsson Isbit Pro 2012

file name: Roger S Nelsson Isbit Pro 2012b

file name: Roger S Nelsson Isbit Pro 2012c

file name: Roger S Nelsson Isbit Pro 2012d

file name: Nick Curtis Wooden Nickel N F

file name: Roger S Nelsson Foobar Pro 2012

file name: Roger S Nelsson Infantometric Pro 2012

file name: Roger S Nelsson Infantometric Pro 2012b

file name: Cheap Pro Fonts D I Nfun Pro Effects 2011

file name: Cheap Pro Fonts D I Nfun Pro Grunge 2011

file name: Cheap Pro Fonts D I Nfun Pro Halloween 2011

file name: Cheap Pro Fonts D I Nfun Pro Plain 2011

file name: Cheap Pro Fonts D I Nfun Pro Removed 2011

file name: Cheap Pro Fonts Xenophone Pro 2011

file name: Nick Curtis Monterey Popsicle 2006

file name: Roger S Nelsson Trump Town Pro 2011

file name: Roger S Nelsson Familiar Pro 2011

file name: Roger S Nelsson Familiar Pro Black 2011

Luc Devroye ⦿ School of Computer Science ⦿ McGill University Montreal, Canada H3A 2K6 ⦿ lucdevroye@gmail.com ⦿ http://luc.devroye.org ⦿ http://luc.devroye.org/fonts.html


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Writer's Mastermind Group

Writer and published author, Luke Laffin, is leading an 8-week mastermind group.  This creative forum helps writers and authors bring their projects from concept to fruition.  During this mastermind, you will learn about tools and techniques for capturing key concepts for your writing project, outline and track progress, manage the drafting process, review software that will help you manage and develop your project, prepare for the editorial process and prepare for marketing.

Learn More

Copywriting Services

We work with individuals, businesses and organizations to develop clear, concise copy to make your content stand out.

Contact us with your marketing, business to business, or technical writing needs.

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Request Speaking Engagement

Contact us to request information for scheduling Luke as a speaker at your church, organization, or event.

Personal Coaching

Luke and Helen work with ministry leaders and professionals to navigate through the complexities of relational and emotional challenges.  Please contact us for more information or to schedule a session.

Contact Us

The Entrance of Light - Blog

Devotional style blog entries and articles designed to help believers grow in relationship with Jesus Christ. Sharing practical principles of spiritual growth that will help you find freedom, healing, and wholeness in your daily Christian walk.

Read More

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Definisi 'honorary society'
English to English
1 an institution for the advancement of art or science or literature
source: wordnet30
More Word(s)
academic, academician, faculty member, schoolman, establishment, institution, academy of motion picture arts and sciences, academy of television arts and sciences, french academy, national academy of sciences, royal academy,

Visual Synonyms
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Paneer Press With Foot Pump

Paneer Press With Foot Pump
Paneer Press With Foot Pump
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      Backed with the team of hardworking and experienced  professionals, we are offering best in class Paneer Press With Foot Pump to our customers. This pump is manufactured nu our professionals by using premium quality products and latest techniques as per the set industrial norms. The body of foot pump is of aluminum alloy therefore making it  noise free, light weight, and very easy to use. Moreover, it has multi-filters which increase the life of Paneer Press With Foot Pump by reduce contamination and damage.

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10 Strategies To 100% Improve Storage Picking Efficiency (7 Of 10)

- May 05, 2020-

Using caching and sorting techniques to avoid walking

The latest and most unique concept of distribution logistics is to avoid walking. It has been applied for many years, but now it is practical to use the computer’s powerful ability and the new caching and sorting system. Modern access engine and sorting technology has led a revolution. High density and efficient Automatic Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS) now can handle a large number of cargos on demand. It can be used sorting box or pallet to transfer cargos to the stacking location.

In high flow capacity spare part and FCL sorting work, enterprises will use new technology to manage sorting and caching. According to the needs, it will be sent to sorting station on time. This is a more cost-effective new distribution solution.

Welfor is specialized in producing various pallet rack, cantilever rack, medium duty rack, mezzanine and platform, slotted angle shelving, push back rack, longspanrack, rivet rack, drive in rack, carton flow rack, stacking rack and other related storage equipment.

Welfor strictly implements ISO9001, FEM10.2.02, SEMA, AS4084 and RMI standard in all operations. Welfor offers a wide range of products to meet all of your order fulfillment & material handling needs: pallet rack and cantilever rack. Whether you are looking to populate an entire warehouse or you are in need of a single piece of equipment, Welfor has a solution for you.


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Weblocal.ca Mobile

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Restaurants within walking distance. Shopping & hospital nearby. Casino Rama 11 km. Comp. shuttle.
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Situated only minutes from Casino Rama, and surrounded by a variety of recreational activities, this hotel features spacious accommodations, complete with a number of thoughtful amenities. The Orillia
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From gem5
Revision as of 12:48, 7 October 2012 by Nilayvaish (talk | contribs) (Replaced m5 with gem5)
Jump to: navigation, search

gem5 uses the Mercurial (a.k.a. hg) revision control system. The repository is directly accessible at This website provides browser access to history and changesets and the ability to "clone" (create your own copy of) the repository on your local machine.

We host two source repositories:

  • gem5 --- The development repository. Code changes are always committed to this repository first. This code should work, because developers are supposed to run a limited set of regression tests before committing to this repository. However, this code has generally not been tested against the full regression suite, and developers occasionally mess up and commit things that don't work as well as they expected.
  • gem5-stable --- The (relatively) stable repository. The head of this repository is the latest version that has passed a full set of regression tests. This repository is updated periodically from the development repository. Our goal is to update it from the development repository on a monthly basis, although that has slipped in the past.

Q: How do I know which repository to use?

A: Whichever one strikes your fancy can be tried first. If you like bleeding edge - go for dev. If you like knowing gem5-stable has passed all of our regression tests, try that one. If whatever you try doesn't work for you, try the other one, as there may have been bugs fixed/introduced between stable and dev. If neither works for you, go ahead and ask the mailing list. Read Reporting Problems before sending your question to the mailing list.

What is it?

Mercurial (hg) is a distributed version control system. Every copy of a mercurial repository is complete and fully functional. Any operation (examining history, committing changes, etc) can be done without communicating with a central repository. (In fact, from mercurial's point of view, there is no central repository; the repositories are "central" only by user convention.) Instead of having to manually diff/patch your changes when a new version is released simply executing a command will "pull" all changes in the repository into your local repository launching a merge tool whenever necessary. Additionally, patches can be sent to us for inclusion in the repository with a single command.

Where can I get more information about it?

The main Mercurial website is here. Joel Spolsky wrote a nice tutorial about mercurial. Other good sources of information about Mercurial is the hg book and the HG Cheat Sheets. We promise that it is worth taking 30 minutes to read some of the documentation to get you started. You may even decide that you really like hg and want to use it in your own projects. We do!

How do I use it?

The first thing you need to do is install hg (from either package for your OS/distribution or from source). Debian and Ubuntu have packages named mercurial that you can install. MacPorts also has a package. The next thing you should do is setup a $HOME/.hgrc. An example .hgrc is provided below. It enables various extensions that come with Mercurial and allows you to mail patches to the M5 mailing list if you so choose.

# Set the username you will commit code with
username=Your Name <your@email.address>
ssh = ssh -C

# Always use git diffs since they contain permission changes and rename info
qrefresh = --git
email = --git
diff = --git

# These are various extensions we find useful

# Mercurial Queues -- allows managing of changes as a series of patches =

# PatchBomb -- send a series of changesets as e-mailed patches
hgext.patchbomb =
# External Diff tool (e.g. kdiff3, meld, vimdiff, etc)
hgext.extdiff =

# Fetch allows for a pull/update operation to be done with one command and automatically commits a merge changeset
hgext.fetch =

# Path to the style file for the M5 repository
# This file enforces our coding style requirements
style = /path/to/your/m5/util/

method = smtp
from = Your Name <your@email.address>

host =

Basic Commands

Here are some basic commands for Mercurial, however this is not exhaustive and you should read the Mercurial documentation.

Cloning creates a complete and fully functional copy of a repository. To get started you should execute:

hg clone

Once you've got a clone of the repository, here are a few basic commands you can use:

  • hg status shows what files have been modified in your repository
  • hg diff shows a diff of the modified files
  • hg fetch fetches any new updates from the repository you cloned (in this case, gem5-stable), and if necessary merges them with any changes you have made since the last update. Note that fetch is a convenient extension that combines several other primitive hg operations that you can also do separately: hg pull, hg update, and if needed hg merge and hg commit. See the mercurial documentation for more details.

Making Your Own Changes

For guidance on how to effectively extend M5 within the Mercurial framework, see our section on Adding Functionality.


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Movie – Wonder Woman

© 2017 Warner Brothers/DC Entertainment

I have not seen a movie in the theaters in months and months and months.  Granted, there was Beauty and the Beast, but that was 2 months after it came out and there were only a handful of people in the theater with us.  But before that?  Rogue One.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  Arrival.  2016 seems like a lifetime ago at this point.  So finally seeing something that had been out for less than a month (important in the summer season where there are so many big and brand name movies that are competing for screen space and time).  And this one was important to me, because it was Wonder Woman.

Granted, at my local theater they’re still showing it on one screen for 5 showings each day, but that’s reduced from multiple screens, and 3D showings.  And I’m guessing the only reason it’s still there is because it’s done well, and made a lot of money.  Other, more recently released movies have fewer showtimes.  Take for example the recently released remake of “The Mummy” – it came out in theaters a week after Wonder Woman did, but at my local theater, appears on fewer screens.  And when you look at the numbers, it’s obvious why – Wonder Woman has made $372 million dollars to date, while the Mummy only clocks in at $78.5 million.  At this point, you’re likely to make three times as much per screen with a showing of Wonder Woman than a showing of The Mummy.

© 2017 Warner Brothers/DC Entertainment

This is not necessarily a fair comparison because while they are both well known intellectual properties, super-hero movies have dominated the film landscape in recent years.  A better comparison would be the recently released Spider-man movie – on the Wednesday after it’s release weekend, Wonder Woman had made around $138 million dollars.  At this same point, Spider-man has made $154 million.  Yes, Spider-man has made more, but perhaps that’s due to the fact that the Marvel comics movies tend to be a little more upbeat and enjoyable than the tendency for DC comics movies to be dark, gritty and “realistic”.  138 million dollars in less than a week is nothing to sniff at.  It’s a sign of a healthy audience.  And the fact that the box office for WW has continued to grow – at this point more than 2.5 times it’s first week gross – shows that there’s an audience there.  This was something people wanted and enjoyed, are going back to see, and telling their friends about.  And there’s already a sequel in the works.

© 2017 Warner Brothers/DC Entertainment

So – why all the discussion of movie theater business decisions and box office yields?  Because some movie executives (and men in general) can’t get past the idea of believing that a female led-film (much less one directed by a woman) is a good investment.  For years, Marvel has been hemming and hawing about having a female-led movie, and even though they are finally getting around to it, they’ve managed to bungle that as well – Ant-Man and the Wasp will come out in 2018, but getting co-billing isn’t quite the same as a female character headlining a film.  Thank goodness we’ve got Captain Marvel coming out in 2019 – I can only hope that they don’t screw that one up.  But yeah – women want to see women on screen.  Women make up more than half of all movie-goers, and want to see characters on screen that look like them.  They want to empathize with the lead, not with the fifth billed co-star whose main attribute in some promotional material was her butt.  Being the token lady every single time is not going to cut it.

So when someone takes the time to make a fun, exciting, and occasionally thoughtful superhero movie featuring a female lead, it’s hard to ignore.  Especially when it does well.  Look at my list of the last five movies I’ve seen at the top of this post again – four of the five have female leads.  And who in our household made the decision to see those movies?  I did.  And I didn’t go alone – I made sure the Boy joined me for each one.

© 2017 Warner Brothers/DC Entertainment

But what about the movie itself?  Was it good?  Yeah.  Definitely – the action scenes were terrific, and I loved everything that took place on Themyscira.  The Amazons were amazing.  The rest of the movie had its ups and downs (including the way it portrayed Germans as these all-encompassing baddies), but some moments – like Diana going into No-Man’s Land were immensely powerful.  Seeing a woman have the courage to go and do what no man before her had done was incredibly moving, and it brought me to tears.

If the movie were terrible, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.  But overall, it’s pretty good.  And for that reason, I feel like it’s the kind of movie that every young girl (of reasonable age – say 8-10 and up depending on the maturity of your child) should see so that they know women matter in the world of super-heroes.  It’s also the kind of movie that boys of that same age group should see so that they have female role super-hero role models in addition to any of the other caped-crusaders they might worship.  Because the more we stop sex-segregating our media, and allow boys to learn to empathize with female characters, the better off we may be socially in the future.

© 2017 Warner Brothers/DC Entertainment

Ok.  Enough of my feminist-Hollywood-economics rant.  Who else saw Wonder Woman?  What did you think?  What age do you think would be old enough to see this movie, and did anyone else cry at the scene I did?  Also – how awesome was Robin Wright?  (Answer: so awesome).

Details: Wonder Woman, written by Allan Heinberg, directed by Patty Jenkins.  In theaters.

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On Friday, Amazon released the pilot episode of The Tick as part of its Amazon Prime Pilot Season initiative.

In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, an accountant with mental health issues and zero powers comes to realize his city is owned by a global super villain long-thought dead. As he struggles to uncover this conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero, who may or may not be a figment of his own imagination…

Personally, I thought the pilot was a bit short at 30 minutes, but other than that, I had a good time.

Did you get a chance to watch the episode yet? What did you like? What did you not like? And, most importantly, do you want to see this show get a full season?

Use the comment section below to sound off, as we all want to know what your thoughts are!

About Author

Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

  1. Loved it. Love the more adult, darker take on it compared to past shows. His suit is not quite right, but I can get over that. Really hoping for a full season.

      • I kinda like the suit. I thought the additional detail help lend an organic feel to it, lending to the question on whether it’s actually a suit within the fiction. The main issue I had with The Tick’s look is that the actor isn’t that physically imposing. Not everyone can be Patrick Wartburton. Serafinowicz nails the dialog, so it works.

  2. My reaction was best summed up as “not bad”. I like the casting, even though I miss Patrick Warburton in the title role. It wasn’t quite as funny as I had hoped, but then again, much of the emphasis was on setting Arthur up, which I did enjoy. As it stands, it’s not my favorite incarnation of The Tick, but if it’s picked up, I will watch it.

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The Auto Business Could Be In For Big Bother Quickly

Automotive IndustryWhen Mercedes-Benz announced plans to open its solely U.S. meeting plant in Alabama in 1993, an trade was launched. For instance, in France the Odette commonplace is used quite widely among automobile manufacturers comparable to PSA Peugeot Citroen and in Germany the VDA group has written a set of document standards to go well with BMW, Daimler AG and VW Group.

These measures successfully rendered the Auto Pact requirements meaningless (the Auto Pact itself was eventually deemed illegal by the World Trade Group in 1999 as a result of it discriminated towards the newer entrants into the Canadian trade, particularly Toyota and Honda), and the entry of Mexico fully into the North American industry created a new continental competitor for auto funding dollars.

Late last month, the company said that it’s going to lower 21,000 U.S. hourly jobs and reduce its U.S. supplier rely by forty two{79468538b034cc3753534408ca972a18fd0e4807e752cc2bd53872231ad73f99} by the tip of 2010 beneath a revised viability plan meant to speed up and deepen the restructuring of its U.S. operations as it races to stave off bankruptcy.Automotive Industry

AIDA Strategic Plan is a visionary guide for the Alliance as it develops packages and providers for members while also adhering to its imaginative and prescient as an effective enterprise and public policy advocate for its automotive business gamers and the market they serve.Automotive Industry

Faced with this cloudy picture, researchers on the Heart for Automotive Analysis decided to weigh in with their own evaluation, one that’s rooted in our cumulative data of journey conduct, …


text:
For the moment we're keeping this wiki available for our legacy users.

Wiki source code of Inner Dark

Last modified by Vincent Massol on 2012/01/11 10:48

Show last authors
1 {{include document="ColorThemes.ColorThemeSheet"/}}

Get Connected


text:
For the moment we're keeping this wiki available for our legacy users.

XWiki Enterprise Manager Features

Last modified by Vincent Massol on 2012/08/17 12:13

List of all features bundled by default with XWiki Enterprise Manager. In addition to these bundled features you can also add other extensions.

Created by Vincent Massol on 2007/12/10 18:58

Get Connected


text:
Monday, May 16, 2011

Congratulations to JEN R. who has NO TATTOOS but might consider a shooting star on the top of her foot has won the copy of THE FIRST HUSBAND! Please email me your full name and address so you can receive your book!

Laura Dave’s third book hit the shelves last week and it’s one of my favorite books, because Laura’s one of my favorite authors, and she can’t write ‘em fast enough. Laura was so generous in answering a few questions about The First Husband, and she’s even offered to give away ANOTHER copy here on MaNiC MoMMy (she gave away TWO sets of ALL her books in March – did you MISS THAT?). Seriously, she is that great!

Laura’s the type of author who makes you fall in love with all of her characters. They’re so real and likeable, even the ones you’re not quite sure you’re supposed to like. Here’s my conversation with her about The First Husband. Check it out and then leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a copy! Thanks Laura! You ROCK!

MaNiC: Tell me about Roman Holiday - is it really a favorite movie of yours? Has bad stuff happened to you when you watch it? I’ve never seen it? Should I? Of course, I’ve never seen It’s a Wonderful Life or Gone with the Wind either! (I know, isn’t that like a cardinal sin!)

Laura: It is a cardinal sin! Mostly because you are missing out on serious enjoyment. Roman Holiday is a great movie—starring Audrey Hepburn (at her loveable best) as a trapped Princess eager to experience the real world. And, even though Audrey plays royalty, her desire to live life on her terms is highly relatable. And don’t even get me started on Gregory Peck. Wow.

As for my real-life bad luck movie? That would be All The Presidents Men. I love that movie—and my experience with it bringing me bad luck (and no longer watching it due to a misplaced superstition! Don’t judge me!) was what inspired my giving Annie a bad luck movie. Because—like Annie—as much as I love the movie, I will run out of the room if ever it comes on.

MM: Why did you feel the need to include the part in the book about the meeting of Caleb and Annie in the bar? And their attraction? I thought that was interesting but wasn’t sure what it was all about? Was that to trick the reader to think that maybe Annie would forget about both Griffin and Nick?

Laura: For me, the Caleb moment spoke to Annie’s ultimate psychological battle. Because of Annie’s past (her less-than-dependable mom/her nomadic childhood), she struggles to be present—both for herself, and the people who love her—and has organized her life so she can always escape in the name of something better being out there. There is always something exhilarating waiting for her just around the corner—in a new country, in a new part of the world. And Caleb represents the latest possibility.

She has a choice when they meet: she can choose something new and shiny all over again. Or she can choose someone (I won’t say whether I speak of Griffin or Nick, for those who haven’t read yet) who just may be everything.

MM: What I LOVED about The First Husband (among other things of course) is that I truly, TRULY didn’t know until the very end who she would end up with, and I do feel the reader is very conflicted as to who she would be with. Although I knew who I wanted to be with from the get-go!

Laura: Thank you! I’m so pleased to hear that. Early readers keep telling me that they really didn’t know what Annie was going to do, which makes me so happy to hear. I wanted her to have two viable choices. Griffin and Nick represent two sides of what Annie hopes for. But ultimately she has to choose—which side to be true to in herself. (As a side-note, I was happy with the choice she made too.)

MM: Why did you choose an anchor tattoo for Gia and Griffin? If Griffin and Annie were to get matching tattoos, what do you think they would get, and where? Also, do you think Annie is the type of person who would request that Griffin get his anchor tattoo removed?

Laura: That is a great question. It was actually a hand tattoo in the first draft (a tattoo of the hand of hamsa!), but that never felt precisely right to me. So much of Griffin’s life is anchored—anchored to his hometown, anchored to his family, anchored to his passion for his work—that I felt like an anchor was a tattoo choice he’d make.

Plus, Griffin’s ex-girlfriend Gia is both literally and metaphorically Griffin’s anchor. So much so that she almost sinks Griffin and Annie.

Even considering that, Annie wouldn’t ever ask Griffin to have his tattoo removed. It is an important piece of who he is.

But I think if Annie was going to brave it and get a tattoo with Griffin, she would suggest the opposite of an anchor for them. What’s the opposite? Maybe she’d pick a kite or a plane. Something that represents being set free.

MM: Did Jesse remind you of Uncle Jesse from Full House? ; )

Laura: That is hilarious! No, but how cute was John Stamos in his wedding episode? I know too much of that episode by heart to not be a little ashamed of it.

MM: Do you think Gia may ever show up in another book, or are these characters done in your mind? Or how about Nick? They’re all happily ever after?

Laura: I usually leave my characters in the world they’ve inhabited, but I have gotten such a phenomenal response to Annie’s best friend, Jordan, that I think she has the best shot of having her own story told. I try to never say never. So, yes, Jordan and her stepdaughter Sasha may very well appear in another book one of these days.

MM: Does your fiancé have any of the qualities that either Nick or Griffin possess? I know you live in LA, and also that your fiancé is in the TV industry. Nick is in movies and lives in LA … any connection between the two?

Laura: My fiancé, Josh, would definitely say there is. He thinks he’s Nick and Griffin and every other character, including Annie! I’m just kidding (mostly).

But I do recognize there are some outward similarities between Nick and Josh: Josh is a screenwriter (he’s written for a bunch of TV shows including The West Wing and, currently, Fringe, which has totally turned me into a Sci-Fi geek, I’m proud to say). So he certainly has a work life that mirrors Nick’s. But, in reality, he has more in common with Griffin. He has Griffin’s sweetness. And he’s a great cook.

MM: What town did you design Williamsburg (see, I can’t even remember what town it is either, just like the characters in the book!) from? Would you ever survive in a town like that? And would you go there for your husband?

Laura: I lived in western Massachusetts for a year in my early twenties and I loved the idea of setting a novel there: in a place that on the surface is cold and difficult (I mean very cold!), but despite its challenges, it is stunningly special at its core.

As the writing progressed, I took needed narrative liberties, but I loosely designed Williamsburg on the real town of Williamsburg, which was about twenty minutes from where I lived. My future sister-in-law is a professor now at Mt. Holyoake, which gives me a great reason to go back to western Massachusetts and visit. I still have such a fondness for it, and like to imagine Annie living her life there.

MM: Thanks so much Laura! And for you guys out there who would like a chance to win The First Husband, since Laura’s character Griffin has a tattoo, let me ask you this – Do you have a tattoo, and if so, what kind? If you DON’T have a tattoo, what kind would you get/what would it say/what symbol would it be, and where would you get it?

Karen said...

This looks like an awesome book! As for the about in my imagination? Please tell me that reality...can't do it. But in my imagination (where I am thin and look fab?)...yes! ktmixon315

Dani In Chicago said...

I'd get a tattoo on my wrist that says "kNow." It basically means "know you're in the now" and it would remind me every time I see it on my wrist.

dani patarazzi

Books & Reviews said...

I do not have a tattoo and I would not get one.

Ronit said...

I don't have a tattoo. I've thought about it but never came up with something I want to have forever. Top choices were little blue footprints with my sons' names and birthdates, Mickey Mouse, the Little Mermaid, or comedy/tragedy masks.

Heidi @ Decor & More said...

I don't have a tattoo and I wouldn't get one now, but... there was a time when I contemplated one! I wanted a teeny tiny butterfly on my hip bone {see, I even thought about exactly WHERE I would put it!}. Such a renegade-- HA!
Love Laura Dave and can't wait to read this new one... thanks, MM! xo

LizzybethDJ said...

I have three already. Two on my hip and one on my ankle. If I could, I would get the ones on my hip taken off, not because I don't like them but because they don't look very good anymore.
I do wnat one more though... a small one on my foot to honor my friend who lost her battle with cancer.

Logan Collins said...

My very cool sister has a tatoo but I do not. I love hers! She has a starfish on her ankle based on the starfish poem. See below.
Once upon a time there was a wise man

who used to go to the ocean

to do his writing.

He had a habit of walking

on the beach

before he began his work.

One day he was walking along

the shore.

As he looked down the beach,

he saw a human

figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think

of someone who would

dance to the day.

So he began to walk faster

to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw

that it was a young man

and the young man wasn't dancing,

but instead he was reaching

down to the shore,

picking up something

and very gently throwing it

into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out,

"Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused,

looked up and replied,

"Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked,

why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out.

And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that

there are miles and miles of beach

and starfish all along it.

You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely.

Then bent down, picked up another starfish

and threw it into the sea,

past the breaking waves and said-

"It made a difference for that one."

Kayo said...

I have a small butterfly tattoo just above my ankle. One of those "old enough to know better" type things.
I thought it meant something to me, but time has passed and I wish it was gone.
Lesson learned!

Ally said...

I have a cross tattoo on my back with Greek writing around it that means I have Life.

Emma S. said...

I have a tattoo on my right foot. It is a redish/pinkish orchid with my Korean name underneath the flower.

Jen R said...

No tattoos, mostly because I change my mind too much about what I want and where I want it.
Maybe a shooting star on my foot. Maybe a small shooting star on the back of my neck, right below my hairline (OUCH).
Something (who knows what) small between my shoulder blades.
I also would like to get something with my daughters name somwhere.

See I can't make a decision!!

jdstec said...

I never got a tatoo when I was younger and am old enough to know how much your body changes and have NO regrets.

Tina Brannan said...

I have a dolphin tattoo on my ankle. I would love to get one on the back of my neck...not sure what I'd get there...maybe a flower.

Meg said...

I don't have a tattoo. I can never decide what, exactly, I would want on my body for the rest of my life. I mean, i have a hard enough time deciding what to wear for an entire day, let alone permanently.

The Jagow Family said...

This looks like another great book!! When (not if) I get a tattoo it will be a dragonfly with our kids initials on each wing and it will be on the top of my foot. (I promised my husband that I would wait until we're done having kids....and this last baby is due in July). Can't wait (for the baby and the tattoo...ha!)!! :)

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel :)

kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I don't have one and probably won't get one now, butthere was a time when I really wanted one. It was going to be the 3 fairy godmothers from Sleeping Beauty. They each represented my own "godmothers", my mothers bestfriends. She passed away when I was 16 and they have watched over me ever since. I was also going to suround them
in purple dasies because they are my
favorite flower, and purple is both my favorite color and it was my moms. In case you were wondering, I am 32 now and one of my fairies passed a couple of years ago, but the other 2 are still with me and I talk to them everyday.

Anonymous said...

I don't have a tattoo, but my husband & I always kid that we should get matching tattoos (Herve Villechaize from Fantasy Island)!

JenFee 9476

absolutahnie said...

no tat for me, if i did it'd be either an oak leaf (my boyfriend's
nickname is oak) or a starfish!

CAnative said...

I have no tattoos, but if I were to get one...probably an anklet of Chinese characters (peace, serenity, health, happiness).

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

This book is going on my TBR pile! Sounds wonderful!

I do not have a tattoo and probably will never get one but..... if I were, maybe a dragonfly on the inside of my ankle.

Denise said...

I have 2 tattoos. A shooting star on my right hip, and my family's last name in Greek (the full name from before it was shortened at Ellis Island) down my left side.

I'm excited to read this book!

Lindsay Elizabeth said...

I don't have a tattooo and have never thought about getting one-perhaps i'm way too big of a square for it! Oh and there's the whole I have a very low threhold for pain that has kept me from even considering it!

val said...

i have two tattoos! i got them at age 17 + 18, one is flowers the other is a moon. REGRET!

Krystal said...

I do not have one. I promised myself that I would do it when I lost my goal weight (60 lbs) as a constant symbol to myself that I could do anything I set my mind to. I would get it on my hip, since really it's just for me. Unfortunately I couldn't decide what I wanted.... I guess there is still a chance if i can decide what I want to get. :)

Holly W said...

Love the book giveaways! Thanks again. I have two tattoos, the pisces symbol on my ankle and a symbol on my upper back. I haven't had a new one in 9 years and can't see myself getting another. My boyfriend is not a fan of tattoos. :)
holly w

LynnBelo said...

I have the chinese symbols for evolution tattooed on my back and a self-designed scorpio tattoo on my inner wrist.

Jenn3128 said...

I don't have one nor do I want one. The book sounds really good.

@Logan - Thanks for the poem this morning, I really liked it.

Kimmi said...

I love a book that contains imperfect characters (Emily Giffin does this a lot). It makes the book so much more relateable, because let's face it: even our BFF's aren't perfect.

Carly said...

I am not looking to win this book but I do have tattoos.

I have six of them.
Three of designs that I drew on my back.
One of a butterfly with my Granny's initials in the wing that I got after she passed.
One is the Chinese symbol for LOVE.
Last one is on my ankle. It's a Hawaiian turtle with my husband's initials in the shell.

ALWAYS plans to get more. Would really like stars on top of my foot. I told myself that as soon as I get a full time teaching position, it will be my reward.

Brenda L B said...

I have 1 tattoo and it's 4 inches of Baby Tweety with her security blanket in full color. Worst pain experience of my life and will never get another one. I do like it and it's on the right side of my back. Very painful!

Liz said...

This is embarassing, so I reeeeeaaaallly hope I win.
I thought it would be a great idea to get a tattoo of a strawberry. On my hmm-hmm. At my bachelorette party. With my closest friends watching. I was a bit (lot) tipsy. but I secretly think it's pretty badass.
I also got a tiny tattoo of a shooting star when I was in college. No meaning whatsoever, but I don't regret either tattoo, they're both part of my story!

Melissa said...

I do not have a tattoo. If I could come up with some meaningful idea I would get one, but nothing sticks out yet.

Melissa Rem

Unknown said...

I have 5 tattoos. A barbed wire chain around my left ankle, a lion's head with a little banner that says "leo" on my right shoulder, a tribal looking tramp stamp, a symbol for leo on my right ankle & my pride & joy is the 6 in full color sun on my upper back. It's beautiful! Over 6 hours in the chair for it...and worth all the pain! :)

buttah said...

I do have a is a purple heart with tribal wings on my lower back on the right side. Got it for my 18th birthday. I want to cover it up with Beerman's, C-man's and my birthflowers shaped like a fleur de lis with clovers in it (for our anniversary - St. Patty's Day) and the words "Gra' anois agus go deo" celtic for "Love, now and forever". One day I will make it a more beautiful and meaningful tat!

~Lil Mama~ said...

I have been inked twice!! You like my hip tattoo talk...inked, that is totally what all the cool people say. YES IT IS!!

Anyway, I got my first in 2000. On the outside of my right calf, it is a Dusty Pink Shasta Daisy flower with a Lady-Bug sitting in it =) I got my second one about a month ago..April 13!! It is on the top of my left foot, it says lil' mama in black primitive looking letters with 3 (for each of my kids) stars floating around it in a deep sapphire blue(my birthstone)!! Which I absolutely ♥♥♥♥ this new one to itsy bitsy bloody pieces!!! (LOOK Steph, I spelled pieces right!!! PIE!!)

If I EVER get another one it will be on my inner right wrist and it will either say "Country" or "Big Daddy"...not quite sure about that one, which is sooo why I did not get it last month!!

Ohhhh good song on the radio!! Gotta Go!!!! ((hugss))

Me = Winner

~Lil Mama~ said...

OoooHhhhhh...I have a whole blogpost titled 'Suckin' Up Some Ink' on meh blog..with pictures!! ;)

Lilianarenee said...

I have two tattoos. The first is a lillie on my right foot. I loved it for about a week then someone said it looked like a starfish(which it doesnt) and I never felt the same about it. I have STRENGTH written on my left wrist which I got after going through a rough year. I plan to put patience on the other wrist once I obtain some. I also plan to get an angel on my upper arm and a sleeve going down and a wisdom tree on my back with a bluebird on it. I also want to save the first time my kids write their name and its legible and tattoo that somewhere

faithspage said...

I have 2 tattoos and regret the second one. But if I was a size 2 I think a design on the hip is cute

Can't wait to read Laura Dave's new book. Huge fan

kyfaithw at aol dot com

BrendaBMarion said...

I have enjoyed reading many of your suggested books, so I will add this to the list if I don't win it. I don't have anything against tattoos, but I wouldn't get one either. My husband has enough for both of us!

Anonymous said...

No tatoos...nothing has ever appealed enough to have it last a lifetime (plus there is the old age wrinkles to consider!?). BUT if I were to get one, it would probably be the chinese symbol for Faith. LeslieGC

Carie Casey said...

I have 2. One of a bumble bee I got when I was 18. I just picked it off the wall at the tattoo shop because it was pretty small. The second one I got when I was 19. It's a flower and it's beautiful. It's right between my shoulder blades. They don't mean anything special to me, i like them and all but ultimately I'm glad I got them both on my back so they are unseen by everyone and me.

Nanette said...

I am so excited you are giving this book away again!! This sounds like an uber great read. Anyway, I do not have a tattoo b/c I am a big baby and would not be able to take the pain. BUT...if I *did* get would be a hummingbird. Not sure where I would get it...probably somewhere where it would hurt the least. I'm a WIMP! Nan

Sherry said...

No tattoo most likely would not get one--too painful:(

DaphneSFL said...

I don't have a tattoo, but, am planning to get one on my wrist. It'll be like a bracelet with my parents nicknames.

Erin Goff said...

Don't have a tattoo... I would consider one with something symbolizing my three kids, but don't have a clue what that might be.

The book sounds great!

kristinrose said...

No tattoos but I would get a small rose on the top/side of my foot for my grandma rosie/2nd mom

Tyra said...

I have many tattoos: a Celtic Trinity, a flower, a butterfly silhouette, the gemini sign, an Om, and a Chok-rah. I got them all in places that can be hidden or shown off depending on whether I'm at work or not:)

Tiffany Drew said...

I have many, many tattoos. Thirteen I believe. I love them. My favorite tattoo is of my grandparents' hands. They both passed away on 2007. My uncle had taken a picture of them holding hands while my grandmother was in the hospital, it is my all time favorite picture.

jpetroroy said...

Hm...I don't have one, but I'd probably get a laurel wreath.

A.C. said...

I actually got a tattoo several years ago as a spur of the moment thing at my cousin's lingerie shower! It's on my back and it's the mockingbird from the cover of To Kill A Mockingbird, my favorite book! I like it, but definitely don't need any more.

Dolly said...

No tattoo; I thought about it when I was 16 (that was a looong time ago), but didn't want to have to explain it to future grandkids (boy, have times changed!)

I've read a lot of good things about 'The First Husband' - hope I win!

Kristi said...

Sorry to be boring but no tatoo currently and no desire to ever have one... not even fantasize about what I would get if I did get one :)

Kristi Hooke

Homestead Jen said...

I have a tattoo and would love another one (but I might be too old to do that.) Mine is the celtic tree of life. It is on my back.

I love it.

equinn726 said...

No tattoo - I've considered it...funny, I thought about an Anchor (because it's a symbol for hope & because I'm catholic and I've read that centuries ago, when the catholics were oppressed in Ireland, some people wore the anchor as a secret symbol of their faith) or a set of canoe paddles because I started dating my husband after we got partnered up on a canoe trip.

Meredith said...

No tats (yet) but if I get one it will be on the underside of my wrist. Not sure what it might be.

Kristi said...

I got my first tattoo at the age of 39. It's of a butterfly on my lower left calf. It's in memory of my Grandmother. She loved butterflies and collected butterfly stuff her whole life.

My next tattoo will be an open book with my kids names in script on both pages.

Kristi Marie W.

Terri said...

No tattoos for me, but in an imaginary world, I might get a butterfly. I love the symbolism of new life.

Terri M.

Beverly Victoria said...

No tattoos. I don't want any tattoos. It's not something I've ever really thought about.

Brantly's Mom said...

I don't have a tattoo, but when I was younger I always wanted a tramp stamp. Luckily I never got that and now I am alot bigger. I really wanted around my 30th birthday last year to get a butterfly on my wrist, but I found out I was pregnant and that tattoo has been put on hold. So who knows if I ever get one; I think God is trying to prevent me from getting one.

Melissa said...

not entering to win as i have the book. i read a book last year that referenced "roman holiday" and then i bought the movie at a thrift shop. so maybe this is a sign that i should finally watch it. :) great interview!

Ready To Be A Momma said...

I have two tattoos, a ladybug on my foot and a butterfly on my shoulder blade. I want to get another one of the infancy and pregnancy loss butterfly and/or ribbon somewhere.

Lauren Louise said...

I don't have a tattoo and don't think I would ever get one cause I'm not a fan of needles. I don't even have my ears pierced! I'm a big old baby. Sidenote: Roman Holiday is a really cute little film.

Anonymous said...

No tattoos, mostly because I can't deceided what I want and where I want it.

Plus I am just scared, it will hurt too much. Whimp, I know.

AmyNicholeG said...

No tattoos for me. As I always say, I'm too pretty for tattoos.

Unknown said...

Good Lord I almost missed out on this! I thought I had commented, but can't find me.... so here I am! I would LOVE to win this one!

your invisible pixie said...

I would get the word "love" tattooed on my wrist, but in hebrew. I have NO pain tolerance though, so I would never get it... :)

michelle m said...

I have a butterfly on my wrist...

Linda Kish said...

The only tattoo I have is permanent eyeliner that I had done about 17 years ago. Boy, was that painful. But since I have oily eyelids I can't wear eyeliner so it was really the only thing I could do.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Book looks great! I don't have a tattoo. When I was 18, I contemplated getting one on my shoulder blade but couldn't decide what to get (thankfully). If I had to get one now, it would have to be some sort of reminder of my kids or variation of their names/initials.

Colbey J

BethC said...

Another book to add to my reading list!! As for the tattoo's....I have 3 of them. On my foot I have a flower with a butterfly that has landed on it. On the inside of my ankle I have the chinese symbol for strength....and my favorite one is on my lower back. It is a heart w/devils ears and a devils tail and a halo above it. I love that one because it depicts my personality perfectly!

Cari Lynn said...

I have the Seal of Solomon on the inside of my ankle. No regrets. I still get compliments on it all the time.

Kelly said...

I do have a tattoo on my upper right back. It's of a butterfly, which is a pretty common tattoo for girls but mine means something. For 6 years i was with this guy, he didn't hit me or anything like that but i lost who i was before him. It took me those 6 years to realize how unhappy i was with him and how much of myself i lost. So my butterfly tattoo reminds me to come out of my cocoon and not be afraid to speak out if I'm unhappy.

Jules said...

I've not read Laura Dave yet (I know ... I'm one of the very few!) This sounds like a great story - I SO want to win this book!!! As for the tattoo part ... nope ~ none yet! I do think I might like a small celtic cross on my ankle or hip ... maybe on e day.

Anonymous said...

I have five tattoo's and love them all. Once you get one, you are addicted.

Kristen said...

Tattoos are not for me... but somehow, I really like them on my boyfriend. Is that weird?

Love Laura Dave and hope to win this one! Am currently reading The Divorce Party.

Melissa said...

I'm totally against ever getting a tattoo although I considered it when I was younger and am glad I didn't go through with it...Now I just think about how it would look when I'm 80 w/ saggy, wrinkly skin!

Anonymous said...

No tatoo! I know too many people who regret getting them. They don't age very well. But I would love to wing the book!! Thanks, Patti Cole

Jessica said...

I don't have a tattoo but I would get one on my back. I would get angel wings in the middle of my back.

BuffyDee said...

I do, its a rose from a dream interpretation book... tramp stamp style

Literary Chanteuse said...

I love Roman Holiday! I actually just watched a week ago. Thanks for the giveaway!


text:
07 November 2019

Eye candy (and food for thought) from Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair

The fair is on till 10 November. An illustrated list of exhibitors is at http://www.woolwichprintfair.com/exhibitors-2019

Woolwich is a bit of a trek - well that depends on where you start - but when you're there, do have a look at the old buildings of the Arsenal, which was closed as a military depot in 1994 and is now a residential area; the 18th and 19th century buildings are interspersed with early 21st centurylow-rise apartments.

Cheers to Carol Justin, with her enormous woodblock print

Collage on pattern sheets from Burda Mode magazine
Hormazd Narielwalla

Reminds me of paper dolls... very cheery!
Adam Hemuss

Interesting way to display (or store) a print
Victoria Ahrens

A bag printed onto a bag - by inking up a bag??
Aliceson Carter

Yellow and grey, a favourite colour combination
Bee-Dwo Lin

Lovely use of woodgrain
Celia Scott

Lots and lots of lines
Johan Schoonvliet

Reduction print - so many colours!

Simple and subtle
Ann Kavanagh

A unity of contrast
Altea Grau Vidal

Printed on porcelain
Caroline Whitehead

Gorgeous ... that starry sky, the calm water...
Emma Stibbon

Huge pint of a piece of burnt toast!
Janet Milner

Based on a dream (?nightmare) - I can relate to this
Vaka Valo

So interesting, the imagined personalities, the group dynamics
Liora Tchiprout

Lovely, so caring
Ana Marie Pacheco

East London Printmakers

Thanks to Gillian Harding for bring me to the preview,
and for encouraging me to complete and submit work,
and at least frame it and display it at home!
A sculptural sort of landscape

1 comment:

patty a. said...

What a lovely exhibit! So many wonderful things to look at.


text:
Legend or Legacy – Part 2

Jesus is our hope of glory. Our source for glorious living.

He made a way for our true heritage, which means our freedom and citizenship of His covenant promise (Ep 2:12).

Colossians 1:27 TPT assures us that “Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!”

Recently, during quiet time with The Lord, I believe He revealed to me that, in addition to bringing prodigals home, He is also bringing His people closer to Him through high levels of global influence. He is also miraculously restoring businesses and land ownership (De 28:11).

Beyond the Covid-19 situation.

With past, present and future at heart, I believe God is making a way for His beloved followers to receive far-reaching generational blessings, particularly in the area of family, property and business.

Blessings that have been locked up and have even skipped a generation or more. Legacy blessings of recompense linked with family members who had to sell their homes against their heart’s desire.

Divine blessings of business ownership through wells that have been re-dug. Some involving renewed partnerships that will bring new levels of financial restoration to their family bloodline.

Kinsman-redeemer assignments for those who can be trusted with God’s wealth to build His Kingdom.

I believe The Lord has revealed to me that these life-changing restorations will come into manifestation as He lifts our limitations, with some major shifts coming full circle in the Jubilee Year of 2025 (Ez 46:16-18).

Habakkuk 2:3 MSG says, “…This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.”

Friends, it’s time to allow God to define our path and guide us into all truth (Jn 16:13).

It’s time to take the limits off, and let God re-set our boundaries to carefully and strategically position us to receive more of our legacy.

Romans 12:2 TPT instructs us to “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

So, it’s time for false shields and fantasies (false legends) to go.

It’s time to overcome old mindsets and negative emotions that have held us back.

2 Corinthians 10:5 TPT tells us that “We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.”

Many have already been tried in tribulation and are ready to step into the accelerated soaring of God’s blessings.

Doing it God’s way in His time.

Rest assured, where one door closes, another door to new life will open.

God wills to honor His beloved followers, who honor Him, with manifest multiplicity.

In serendipitous ways.

Isaiah 55:9 AMPC reminds us that “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Friends, God has covenant blessings to release.

This is dream-come-true stuff.

I’ve-waited-a-long-time stuff.

Ephesians 3:20 AMPC tells us, “Now to Him Who, by…the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].”

Friends, God wills to fully-resource His Kingdom through those who have a Kingdom mindset: Mature followers who have received their worth as a child of God, and can, therefore, can be trusted with valuables to continue a Godly legacy personally and professionally.

We are to enter into our new divine assignments with humility, as an offering unto The Lord.

Job 22:21 instructs us to “Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”

Commitment will be necessary.

The Word will continue to be an energizing force in us who believe (1 Th 2:13).

James 1:25 NKJV tells us, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

We must choose to trust God, and carry on in righteous living, which is by bold faith and obedience.

Philippians 4:19 AMPC reminds us that “…God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Friends, it’s time to awaken, because it’s time to join our Lord at the banquet.

So, pray with me if you will…

Dear Lord,

You are my inheritance. You, Lord, are my portion. I repent of idolizing any false legend, and I renounce all cultural opinions and traditions that are against Your will and way for my life. Thank You for Your rich mercy. I choose to receive it and honor You over false treasures. Lord, please help me live as Your righteous heir, receiving Your first-rate provision, not second best. I choose to enter into Your callings and assignments as an offering to You. Help me to receive every blessing You have for me and nothing that’s not of You.

Thank You, Lord that “You have heard my sweet resolutions to love and serve You, for I am your beloved. And You have given me an inheritance of rich treasures, which You give to all Your lovers” (Ps 61:5 TPT).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

And now, I pray, Lord, that You will send a plentiful rain to restore and confirm Your heritage where it languished and was weary (Ps 68:9).

And I pray that You will unveil within us the unlimited riches of Your glory and favor until supernatural strength floods our innermost being with Your divine might and explosive power (Ep 3:16).

I pray that You will flood our hearts with light, so we can know and understand the hope to which You have called us, and how rich is Your glorious inheritance in us saints, who are Your set-apart ones (Ep 1:18).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name.

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, including i.Believe.com.


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Friday, September 23, 2016

The Party is on Oct. 1 -- Join in the Celebration

I won! I was selected as the winner of the Tales & Tails Gala Sweepstakes and will be attending the 20th annual event, benefiting Canine Companions for Independence, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando on Oct. 1. In addition to the fabulous dinner dance party that is planned, attendees will enjoy a live and silent auction.  There will be guest speakers sharing stories of how their highly trained dogs have made such a difference in their lives, thus allowing these individuals to live a more independent life while also having a loving, caring companion by their side.

Tickets are still available for this event. Go to the Canine Companions for Independence site (Orlando FL) to learn more. Hope to see you there.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Health Issues Following 9/11 Attacks; I Knew This Would Happen

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was working in Guest Services at the Disney Reservation Center. When guests began telling us that planes were going into the Twin Towers, I knew we were in for a long day. Suddenly, planes were being forced to land before reaching their destinations. This meant we had guests unable to get to Disney or leave Orlando. Our reservation agents were unable to handle the calls and thus, Guest Services took a tremendous hit that day -- with call volumes rising rapidly. When I was finally able to take a quick moment away from the phone, I ran to the breakroom. There, everyone was watching one of two TV sets with the news of planes hitting the Twin Towers, going down into a field in Pennsylania and at the Pentagon. Shock and horror! That was the only way to describe how we all felt.

While we were focused on what was happening and hoping that there would be survivors, it occurred to me that there would be more issues down the road. I recall telling one of my colleagues that survivors or anyone in the vicinity of the World Trade Center would be in danger. Looking at the rising smoke -- the huge cloud of dust and debris overtaking Lower Manhattan that day, I knew that future health issues would take even more lives. I was already thinking about future cases of asthma, COPD and lung cancer. Other cancers would also be possible. It was obvious to me as I watched people running through the streets of NYC that many of the first responders as well as anyone in that immediately vicinity could be in danger.

I kept waiting to hear what was going to be done.  It seemed that no one was mentioning this "silent killer" during the immediate attack or the days following. And, if anyone was thinking about it, no one had publicly acknowledged the potential for future health issues. Well, it is now 15 years later and news outlets are sharing stories of individuals who have died or who have developed different types of cancer or other health problems most likely related to 9/11. There is the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Named for Zadroga, a detective who died after becoming ill from working at ground zero, funding will be available through 2090 thanks to a law signed by President Obama. Cancers, respiratory / heart ailments and gastrointestinal problems have all been associated with the toxins at ground zero.

I was approximately six months post radiation treatments for my stage one breast cancer. I was finally back at work full time and feeling much better. Until 9/11. The demands of my job began to take its toll. The daily stress levels continued to rise. Guest Services became the "hub" of all things related to 9/11 and we had added responsibilities in order to help our guests with their vacation plans. I found myself extremely stressed out as did many of my co-workers. If I could prove that high stress levels can lead to metatasized cancer that would be my story. By April 2002, my stage one cancer had  spread to the lungs.

I am not one of those individuals who can foresee the future. However, in this rare instance, I not only realized the ramifications of what happened that day on 9/11, I understood that there would be many more victims of these horrid attacks. The death toll and the numbers of people effected at or near ground zero would continue to rise over the years. It's gut-wrenching to think that the terrorists  behind these attacks may have already known that they would be able to kill or hurt many more people than just those who died when the planes hit those buildings.

To those now living with serious health ailments as a result of 9/11,  I sincerely hope and pray for your continued good health. I also extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones from the health issues brought about by the destruction of the World Trade Center.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Celebrating Another Year

It's not just another day.  Today is my birthday.  As a child, I couldn't wait to get older. Each passing year was special. At least I thought so. Turning 10 was cool. Right? Double digits. Then, turning 16 meant you could get a driver's license. I was 18 when I started advocating for the right to vote. By the time that became a constitutional amendment, I was 21 and legal. I could vote and drink legally. At age 27, I became a first-time Mom. I was overwhelmed with parenting.  My child didn't come with an instruction manual. Somehow, life really began to change a lot more once I became a parent. Time took on a different meaning.

I still enjoyed birthdays and my 30th celebration was a huge BBQ bash in the backyard of our Bucks County home. I can still remember the crazy cake Edward had the bakery prepare for me. I also remember friends and family stopping by that day to join in the fun and I recall lots of presents. A year later, I welcomed my second child. Now birthday parties were the ones I planned for the kids. These were well thought out events -- with themes and special locations. Each party needed to be unique. I became an event planner and while I continued to celebrate my own birthday each year, it was not the same. Time had taken me into a different direction. The years were adding up and I was growing older.

When I was 48 years old  I heard the words not one wants to hear: "You have cancer." My life instantly became a "roller coaster, merry-go-round" and I was just trying to hang on to anything remotely resembling normal. At my 50th birthday celebration, I already knew that my cancer had spread to the lungs. I had gone through horrific surgery that spring, leaving me emotionally exhuasted and physcially a mess. By August 9 when we gathered at a local Italian restaurant to celebrate, I was happy to see dear family and friends. It was no longer a question of another year of growing older or a different age I had to recall. I was now much more aware of the real meaning of celebration. I knew how special it was to be alive... to be able to enjoy another birthday. I would no longer take birthdays for granted. This day each year would now be extra special to me.

Ed, Brian, Adrienne and Jason all planned a special celebration for my 60th birthday. I had mentioned my dream of visiting Hawaii. While that was not meant to be, they came up with Plan B. We went to Disney's Polynesian Resort for its Luau. I spent an incredible evening dining on delicious food and watching a Polynesian revue that featured talented performers. It felt like I was in the Islands. My family knew how much I needed to celebrate. It wasn't that I was growing older. I didn't really think much about being 60. I felt great! It was a number. What they understood was that I had to find a way to make the day stand out from other days. For me, August 9 was a real day to jump up and down for joy. It was meant to be special. Time was now being measured in moments -- treasured experiences that would create memories.

Here it is ... August 9, 2016 and I am 64 years old. If I were still working I would be very close to retirement. I spent a wonderful time last night with Brian. We dined at bosphorous, a top-rated Turkish restaurant in Winter Park. Afterwards, we enjoyed a stroll around the park. The evening was perfect. Today, I'll enjoy some freebies ... such as picking up my subs at Jersey Mike's and Firehouse. I will also savor my brunch at Denny's with Adrienne where I will get my Grand Slam meal. I may also head over to Tropical Smoothie for my free smoothie. (Still trying to find room in my tummy and refrigerator for all the goodies I'll get for free in the next few days and weeks. I love getting all the birthday stuff. Already did my visits to Moes's and Steak and Shake.)

For me it is all about the celebration. A number is a number. I don't feel any different. (My pain in the neck is still a pain.)  However, celebrating another year is awesome! My perception of time may have changed over the years, but my appreciation of life and enjoying another birthday... that's priceless.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Current events... Relating to my own challenges and struggles

When I heard the news of the Pulse shootings on June 12 my heart literally skipped a beat. How could this horrific act of violence happen so close to home? I live just outside of Orlando, yet most times when I'm asked where I live my response is "Orlando, FL."

Seeing the faces and learning the ages of the victims really brought this tragedy closer to my own reality. My children are 36 and 32. So many of the men and women lost in that massive shooting were so young, just starting their lives. They were out sharing an evening of what was supposed to be creating lifetime memories and making new friends. Instead, 49 individuals died while many others were wounded. Not only would there be physical wounds to be dealt with, the emotional scars were only just beginning. As someone who has faced both physical and psychological pain, I immediately knew that anyone who was at Pulse that night, those who had to respond to the emergency or the professionals who would be providing care for those injured -- the events of that night would create long lasting damages beyond the obvious gunshot wounds or broken bones. I could feel the pain. I understood that there were families who had last a loved one -- husband, father, wife, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, uncle, aunt, cousin, significant other, dear friend. There were others left fighting for their lives, taken to area hospitals including a place I often refer to as my "second home." Orlando Regional Medical Center, part of Orlando Health, is the major trauma center in the region.  That evening, the center became ground zero for many of the victims -- some being transported via personal trucks or vans since rescue vehicles could not reach the scene. ORMC was only a few blocks away from the nightclub. (Per members of the medical staff who spoke to the media, the hospital's proximity helped some of the seriously wounded individuals reach emergency care faster.)

Since Dec. 2000 I have been a cancer patient. While my care was initially provided by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, I am now associated with UF Health Cancer Center, Orlando Health. (To me, it's all semantics. I have the same doctors, nurses, etc.) The buildings where I go for treatment, testing or doctor visits are located just off of Orange Ave. While there was a name change, fortunately for me and other patients, the care has remained consistent, compassionate and professional. The cancer center building is linked to ORMC via several passageways. I often go between the two buildings, visiting the gift shop or cafeteria. Depending upon what my oncologist orders, I may also have some testing done at ORMC's radiology department. I have also been taken to ORMC's ER after several auto accidents.

Why am I mentioning this after my reference to the Pulse mass shootings? It was ORMC that made headlines around the world when it took in most of the victims that night. (The main campus of Florida Hospital also received patients from this tragedy, offering its ER and surgical services as well. I've been a patient at FL Hospital and must add that the care was excellent.) When I realized many of the Pulse victims were now at ORMC receiving treatment in the ER or heading off to surgery, I also knew that they were in good hands. Highly skilled surgical teams were prepared to make a difference.

Having grown up in Philadelphia, PA I was used to having multiple major medical centers not only close to one another but also offering ER/trauma care. For some reason, Florida has different regulations allowing for only one Level 1 trauma center in each region. Central Florida has ORMC. That means it serves from the Atlantic to the Gulf Coast.  Anyone who is classified as a trauma victim is supposed to be transported to ORMC even if another hospital ER is closer. Since I am not a politician or an expert in emergency/trauma care, I may not be the right person to comment. However, on the evening of June 12 ORMC's Level 1 Trauma Center was truly overwhelmed with patients. The staff did an outstanding job. No one is doubting that it performed to the highest standards. But, is that the right solution for Orlando which aspires to grow into a major cosmopolitan city? Why there only one Level 1 trauma unit for such a large population and after the Pulse shootings, maybe it is time to re-think ER/trauma care throughout Florida?

I am extremely proud when I tell others that I am a patient at Orlando Health and its affiliates. I call the care I receive at the cancer center... one stop shopping. I have access to anything I need from spiritual to mental health counseling, dietary to pharmacy services, a library with computers, books and information that is safe to read and informative. My doctors and nurses are the best; many are considered experts in their fields and are respected throughout Orlando, Florida and the nation. The men and women who found themselves at ORMC the night of June 12 were placed into capable hands. Their care was top notch in every aspect.

I have had my own challenges over the years, from dealing with chronic pain to financial matters.  Those who witnessed the mass execution of individuals that night will have major challenges and struggles ahead. Is is even possible to relate a cancer patient's journey to that of a trauma victim? On some levels it is. Of course, I can't begin to imagine how terrifying it was for those men and women to see others being shot dead before their eyes and wondering if they would get out alive. Or, being shot multiple times and then dragged over broken glass in order to be saved. I hate pain and when I heard some of the survivors speaking about their ordeals I did feel a relationship to them.  I could understand the physical pain they had to endure. I also understood the emotional pain they were experiencing. The tie between this current event and my own cancer journey seemed a bit of a stretch at first but as I began to listen to the survivors, I did feel a common denominator.

Chronic pain is difficult to live with and for many Pulse victims this may be a part of their future. (I hope it's not.) Depression develops slowly in most cases and once it takes hold it can last months or years. (Counseling is essential as is learning to relax and meditate.) Cancer survivors or anyone who has faced a major health issue can relate to physical and psychological pain.  I can.

The current climate of violence overtaking our nation is alarming. Finding myself able to relate to the Pulse victims and their families is another small step towards a better understanding of what I went through and continue to endure.  It's also learning how my challenges and struggles relate to others. It is what makes us human, the ability to understand our compassion for one another and how we are all truly the same.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Moving forward on my journey

There are days when I can't recall a time that I was not a breast cancer survivor. I have been living with this reality since December 2000. It has become a big part of me, the person I am today.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, just a different reality.  I wake up with a greater appreciation of life. The simple process of jumping out of bed has become not just a daily ritual but a welcomed moment. The fact that I can get out of bed and walk (after two broken femurs as well as the osteoarthritis that keeps worsening) does not go unnoticed in my mind. (Which, by the way, has become much less cloudy in recent months.) The ability to remember little things, to finally have some clarity and mental recall -- I can't take any of that for granted. I lost so much of me during those years in that dark, terrifying place that today when I see the sunshine it is a beacon of hope.

There was a me before all this happened. I know that I existed before my cancer diagnosis. I see photos of me with family and friends. I see a woman, much younger, having fun on vacations, at holiday gatherings and living life as if nothing could ever go wrong. Then bam! I hit that wall. I never saw it coming.

I knew my Mom was a breast cancer survivor. She was only 48 when diagnosed; she immediately underwent a mastectomy.  Other than needing physical therapy she would be fine. In fact, she would be a 30 year survivor. She also dealt with thyroid cancer; she would survive that for 16 years. She had type 2 diabetes. Was I living in la-la land all those years as I watched her dealing with her various health issues? Did I not comprehend the reality before me? I was 48 when I heard the same words my Mom did, "You have breast cancer." Yet, it still never registered how complicated this could all be. In the beginning it seemed simple. Reality took a slight detour.

In my book High Maintenance   Surviving Cancer at All Costs   I live through this reality, page after page. Covering over 12 plus years, the book chronicles my continuous journey as a breast cancer survivor who has been through radiation, chemo, surgeries and much more. It is an adventure I wish I never had to take and yet it has changed my life in many ways. I became a slightly different me at some point. Perhaps a bit wiser, more understanding, someone with a greater appreciation for small things... an individual who decided to embrace life and move forward.

Today is a new day and I will enjoy the sunshine.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

It's Pink October -- An Opportunity to Share My Story

Yes! Today is October 1. When I began getting ready for the day, I almost forgot the significance of this month. Well, at least, I thought I did. Unconsciously, I was well aware that today marked the beginning of Pink October. I had already picked out one of my favorite hot pink exercise tops to wear to spin class. I also pulled out a pair of "hot pink" panties. (Okay, so no one would actually see these, but I would know.)

Pink October is not meant to be a fashion statement. While I may look good in pink, I must admit it was never one of favorite colors -- at least, not until I heard the words: "You have breast cancer." The date -- December 4, 2000. I woke up following surgery; I had undergone a lumpectomy after a biopsy had indicated that one of the two tumors in my right breast was malignant. My life changed that day.

At first, it seemed rather simple. My Mom was a long-time breast cancer survivor. Her mastectomy was in September 1976, just months after I had gotten married. Back then, cancer was usually spoken in "hush hush" tones. My Aunt Elinor, a registered nurse during her career and my Mom's sister, seemed rather concerned but tried to reassure my Dad and I that things would be okay. Actually, it was my Mom who gave us the reassurances -- she woke up asking: "What's next?" Other than the surgery, she never had any other problems from her breast cancer. She did undergo physical therapy for a year after surgery, needing to regain the use of her arm. But, otherwise, she was fine.

That is what I recalled as I went home that evening.  In fact, when I called my Mom to tell her the news, she responded: "You'll be fine." My cancer was stage one, fully contained. That was my diagnosis. The news was good. My cancer was found early, thanks to my diligence of undergoing annual mammograms. I went through radiation treatments (which were horrific but I survived) and I went on Tamoxifen, because my cancer was estrogen positive.

Then, my life really changed. Fast forward to 2002. A routine chest X-ray showed tumors in both lungs. The week after that "not so routine test" turned into a real nightmare. Suddenly, this "rather simple" breast cancer" experience was way out of control. I underwent major lung surgery, losing the upper lobe of my left lung. Now, my life had really changed.

From that day in May 2002 until nearly 2008 my life became a "living hell." Pain was constant. I now lived with chronic pain and it was in stages that hit past 10 on the standard pain scale. I lived on so many medications that I needed an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper just to keep track of every pill I took around the clock. I gained weight from my sedentary life style, reaching 186 pounds at one point. I had asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis, pulmonary hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood pressure -- on and on. I wasn't seeing pink -- I was seeing darkness. I went into a very deep, scary depression. For years!

Thank goodness that darkness is gone. I can see pink and it's beautiful. Now, I look forward to Pink October. I look forward to the annual 5K Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. I look forward to attending exercise classes at the Oviedo Y... including spinning, Zumba, Qi Gong and water fitness. I look forward to seeing friends and family. I look forward to waking up each day. I look forward to sharing my story -- a story of survival.

It's Pink October and I'm a breast cancer survivor. I'm here to celebrate!

(I recently applied for a U.S. Copyright for my book "High Maintenance." The book shares my cancer-related experiences over the past 13 plus years.)

Saturday, September 20, 2014

One Step Closer to the Goal

Yesterday, September 19, 2014 I finally took another step towards the publication of "High Maintenance." I applied for a U.S. Copyright.

Let's simply say that this process was not easy. In fact, it took two college educated individuals several hours to navigate through the pages of the form. We both had difficulties, at times, understanding how to proceed from page to page. We would begin to answer a question and then, would have second doubts as to if it was done correctly. I was working with a gifted graphic designer who knows how to work his way through the computer and online forms. However, he was overwhelmed by the U.S. Copyright's site. I was beginning to understand why other writers have mentioned (on various online sites such as Linked In) that they do not even bother applying for a copyright. But, to me, this process was essential. After spending four years writing this book, it was important that it be protected.

When I was at Temple University, I spent my last semester taking "Law and Ethics of Mass Communications." The textbook was massive in size. It weighed a ton -- okay, a mere exaggeration but since I only weighted 98 pounds at the time, it was a heavy load in my backpack. The class was early. If I recall correctly, it began at 8 a.m. My brain was barely awake at that hour. In addition, I spent the entire semester totally "lost." I never (despite my greatest attempts) understood anything we read or discussed. Even with the assistance of a legal expert (My Mom had me consult with a judge in the Philadelphia court system who had his law clerk helping me throughout the semester.) I never understood anything -- I felt "stupid" and "completely overwhelmed."

Before class began, I knew two things. There was libel and slander. One pertained to the written word; the other, to the spoken word. When the semester was over, I knew this ... if I were ever accused of either, I would hire an attorney. Even my instructor gave me "points" for this and, although I managed to pass the class, it was not without many nights of anxiety attacks.

I also learned that getting a copyright was always the smart thing to do when you wanted to protect a piece of work you created. Most of what I did throughout my career was protected via the publication I wrote for -- my work was within the collected pieces that were protected by the magazine or newspaper. Again, I am not a lawyer so don't ask my any specifics. I just know that a copyright is a good thing to have and my book, "High Maintenance," could not proceed to the next step in the world of publishing without it.

Now, that step has been completed. The forms have been filled out, the fees paid and my work has been sent to Washington, D.C. I will now have that U.S. Copyright protecting my words. My work. My book. My college instructors can be proud of me for, at least, learning this much from a class that basically "turned my brain to mush." While I may have hated the Law and Ethics class, I am happy to know that I will soon be taking the next step to get "High Maintenance" out to the public.

Copyright -- applied for. Next step -- moving closer to the date of publication for "High Maintenance - Surviving Cancer at All Costs."


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Tag Archives: Bob Tetens

After five years of promises, Ypsi’s downtown rec center pronounced dead

This past May 2nd, Bob Tetens, the director of the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, came to Ypsilanti at the behest of Washtenaw County Commissioner Ronnie Peterson, and explained to us why it was that, after five years, he and his team still hadn’t broken ground on the downtown recreation center that we’d all […]

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State Rep. David Rutledge to Washtenaw County Parks and Rec Commission Director Bob Tetens on the long stalled Eastside Recreation Center: “There are all kinds of ways that this could happen now if there was the will to do it… There is no will to see this done”

Earlier this evening there was a public meeting on the status of the long–delayed Ypsilanti recreation center. I’m not sure what the impetus was for the meeting, or how long it had been in the works, but the whole thing, at least from my perspective, seemed to be thrown together at the last minute. The […]

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Is building a new Washtenaw County Rec Center on Water Street a good thing for Ypsi?

As you know, there’s been some talk of building a new Washtenaw County recreation complex in downtown Ypsi, on the seemingly cursed parcel of land commonly referred to as Water Street. I wasn’t going to post anything about it, as I don’t really have an opinion one way or the other, but, seeing as how […]

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BUY LOCAL... or shop at Amazon through this link Banner Initiative Jeff Clark


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Luang Prabang – Dream a Little Dream

Completely different to everything else you have seen in Laos, this place in the North of the country is a marvel of South-East Asian natural beauty combined with French colonial architecture and a bit of a Western touch in cafés, restaurants and bars. A chill-out place of culture and art where yoga and temples and amazing sunsets viewed from the Phousi Mount align with Kuang Si waterfall healing power and the Mekong river ancestral vibes and traditions – a perfect melange that will surely make it underneath your skin…

The Rhythm of the Town and How to Pass Your Days Here

With the entire old town of Luang Prabang designated as a UNESCO site, the beautiful old buildings are being immaculately preserved and the town holds tranquil vibes of peace and love indeed. The rhythm of the place is rotating around the morning Alms Giving to the Buddhist monks (a very local ceremony which takes place at around 5.30 am; you will see processions of barefoot monks walking the streets to get a handful of sticky rice from the devotees; please make sure to cover your shoulders and knees and to stand at least 3 metres away from the monks when following the procession and making photos – no flash light is allowed), the sunsets (exactly about twelve hours later) observed from the top of Phousi Mount or from the few boats roaming the Mekong river (the sun sets behind the Mountains that fringe the river), and the Night Market life (the night market starts at 5pm, the morning market – a much smaller one, based mostly on food, located in a side street (of no name) perpendicular to the Night Market street (Sisavangvong Road).

You can get various local products at the market as well as local food (in the lane near Indigo Café) – a vegetarian buffet (which includes various types of noodles and rice, greens, veggies, papaya salad and watermelon) costs 15,000 Kip!

Many visitors conclude the night at the famous Utopia beach bar located right on the Mekong river bank, a place that will remind you of Bali with its bamboo decos, cushions and chillout vibes. The staff have blue shirts that say “Smile” – and you do when at Utopia, it is a truly cool place.

You can spend your days visiting the many temples (entry varies from 10 to 20,000 Kip), doing yoga, going to the waterfalls (Kuang Si is the most famous one but not the only one in the area, just get on your scooter or bike and explore – the roads, unlike in Vang Vieng, you are very good asphalt roads; bikes rentals start at 25,000 Kip, scooter rentals at 70,000 Kip), visiting the Royal Palace (a blend of Lao and French architecture with the Haw Pha Bang Temple where a famous statue Phra Bang Buddha resides) or arrange your “Rice Farming Experience” in a tourist office and learn all about the lifeblood of Lao people – sticky rice (at the farm, you can try out ploughing, planting, harvesting, threshing and even cooking sticky rice; you can also check out the sugar cane making process and the organic garden) which is also used to make wine (when the fermentation process is completed, they add water to the wine and it actually become even stronger).

Another option is to go to the renowned Pak Ou Caves (also known as the Thousand Buddha Cave thanks to the thousands Buddha statues in here), a holy place for pilgrims, situated right where the Nam Ou river meets the Mekong river. Situated along the sheer limestone cliffs of the Mekong River, the only way to get is by boat which you can take directly from Luang Prabang and thus enjoy a river cruise. Another option is to go by bike, scooter or tuk tuk to the village of Ban Pak Ou and then take a canoe for 20,000 Kip only across the river. If you are on your scooter, stop at “Lao Lao Village” (Ban Xang Hay) famous for the Lao whisky.

Eat, Pray, Love in Laos

In Luang Prabang you can dine in various cool cafés and restaurants. My favourites would include the Indigo Café, Timeless Café and Café Toui – all with lovely food, shakes, cocktails, vegetarian options and reasonable prices.

Many travelers come to Luang Prabang to rest their soul and find their true self. The town is truly spiritual, with 33 temples and 1000 residing in them. The monks are open to share the dharma with anyone ready to listen and perceive and thus you can take up a Zen Meditation Experience (demand in a tourist office) to get an in-depth meditation session with a local monk at a temple not frequented by tourists. You will also hear about the history of Wat Visoun and experience how the locals do traditional sauna with medicinal herbs at the Lao Red Cross. The package concludes with a massage… could that get any better?

To fully enjoy the laidback, peaceful atmosphere of Luang Prabang, to drift away, dream or find yourself immerged in meditation, go up the back side of Phousi Hill, best early after sunrise (actually, sunrises viewed from the Phousi Hill are as spectacular as the sunsets, since the hill offers a 360-degree view of the town), where there is a sacred cave, several amazing Buddha statues (including the Giant Reclining Buddha) and at the very edge also a small temple with the imprint of Buddha´s Foot. The monks never lock the temples, they are always open. To get to this temple and the cave you don’t even need to pay the entrance fee which normally applies to all the other sights (such as the Chomsi Stupa) on the hill. The entrance fee to the hill is 20,000 Kip and you can use the ticket for two visits. So – don’t chuck it out after the first one, keep it!

Falling in love with Luang Prabang is easy, and it will happen even faster once you try to connect with the local people. I was invited to a local village annual party and got to learn a bit of Laotian dancing. The hospitality of the locals includes their willingness to keep refilling your beer cup as soon as you have bottomed up the previous one (that is the way of drinking in Laos, once the cups clink – a gesture of respect – you are supposed to bottom up the content in your cup) though, so just be prepared for that!

You can also get more acquainted with the Lao people by joining one the local art workshops, e.g. a crossbow crafting class, a weaving workshop or a wood carving workshop and thus also help conserve the national heritage.

Kuang Si Waterfall

One of the most popular attractions in Laos is Kuang Si waterfall, which is about a 50-minute-drive away from the town of Luang Prabang. It truly is a marvelous place: gorgeous travertine cascades, pools and emerald green and milky waters (the milky share is caused by calcium carbonate which naturally occurs in the limestone subsoil) rushing through stepped waterfalls, it is a sight you shall remember. Situated in a national park, there’s also a moon bear sanctuary nestled together with the falls where you can see and help (by donation or buying one of the products of the sanctuary) the cute moon bears rescued from poachers.

Make sure to hike up the steep but short path (about 15 minutes) to get to the lagoon formed above the waterfall and see how tranquil the water is just a few metres away from the steep. The sight is by no means splendid, but it is interesting to see the stream from up there and you can actually take a 3-km walk from the spot to the spring cave (the sign will direct you to the restaurant by the spring cave) which is a sacred place with Buddha statues and offerings and where you can see the water that later forms the waterfall. Make sure to bring your flash light and know that the cave goes quite a long way in.

When you emerge from the cave’s darkness, the nearby spring water is a cool private place to relax and swim in. If you like easy jungle trekking and even easier caving, you will definitely enjoy this hike and “secret” cave exploring.

You can take a bike or a scooter to the car park by the waterfall, the road is safe and good. Your private means of transport would give you a chance to discover also some Laotian ethnic hill tribes as you can visit the H’mong village of Ban Ouay and the Lao village of Ban Ou on the way.

If you don’t wish for the ride, you can opt for a van (arranged by certain hostels); make sure you do not pay more than 50,000 per person and get at least 3 hours of time in the spot. A better option than a van though might be a haggle with a tuk tuk driver, especially if there is more of you (they generally take about 200,000 for a full tuk tuk – 4 to 6 people). Give him a 35,000 to 40,000 per person and negotiate a four-hour stay at the fall at least.

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