tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178861586035549902024-02-19T22:54:59.422-06:00Bathtub Book ClubRelaxation is a great book during a long soak in a hot bath. A glass of wine, Epsom salts with aromatic oils, & music are optional.flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-38104431853295078172015-04-10T03:06:00.001-05:002015-04-10T03:06:50.218-05:00Fontdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMhZWHnCdSfXsMrJ0NR6WuEcCUMg_-YQZnLZSEU-WsM5ERL00mo6KeQvCyCioNZFlG2rd3qYZhcw5aFMAI-DtA6_L9moTiZ5LlsTK2OlyyZHLz8m6DPeUuzqk5hVp2l2zcPXRFeEeAzE/s640/blogger-image--72364849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMhZWHnCdSfXsMrJ0NR6WuEcCUMg_-YQZnLZSEU-WsM5ERL00mo6KeQvCyCioNZFlG2rd3qYZhcw5aFMAI-DtA6_L9moTiZ5LlsTK2OlyyZHLz8m6DPeUuzqk5hVp2l2zcPXRFeEeAzE/s640/blogger-image--72364849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMARqatFBQV_GZYCATWpHjWcSNByn-QMMfJ7Zu87FXOZWBoq7j9uviYBcHC5FyfUngouKUeRHOWkCiiyNv0IXtoRI0-eKqQ3qkx7xto-oB1UypzOAMS78P4CMsihtX28TWWO4S-yVicU/s640/blogger-image-919494018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMARqatFBQV_GZYCATWpHjWcSNByn-QMMfJ7Zu87FXOZWBoq7j9uviYBcHC5FyfUngouKUeRHOWkCiiyNv0IXtoRI0-eKqQ3qkx7xto-oB1UypzOAMS78P4CMsihtX28TWWO4S-yVicU/s640/blogger-image-919494018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br></div>I was reading an author friend's post about Fontdom and wanted to share my biggest font challenge (up until recent resumes, that is!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">http://www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com/show-and-tell-wednesday-fonts/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wedding invitations, with purchased envelopes, pocket, cardstock, vellum, & silk dupioni ribbon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMhZWHnCdSfXsMrJ0NR6WuEcCUMg_-YQZnLZSEU-WsM5ERL00mo6KeQvCyCioNZFlG2rd3qYZhcw5aFMAI-DtA6_L9moTiZ5LlsTK2OlyyZHLz8m6DPeUuzqk5hVp2l2zcPXRFeEeAzE/s640/blogger-image--72364849.jpg"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Laser printed on silvery vellum adhered to teal cardstock then the silver folded invitation stock.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMARqatFBQV_GZYCATWpHjWcSNByn-QMMfJ7Zu87FXOZWBoq7j9uviYBcHC5FyfUngouKUeRHOWkCiiyNv0IXtoRI0-eKqQ3qkx7xto-oB1UypzOAMS78P4CMsihtX28TWWO4S-yVicU/s640/blogger-image-919494018.jpg"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I designed our own logo with our first initials & a stock flourish that reflected the pin on my dress & on the cake.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#000000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLhiTnn0h7HBhCgISswwxeUYG3ZuKk4VYlPZN9OwTbuD2rQzI-sE5OZEel-7Bg5ncjb2OSQojBY9nuKmbCosgMM2wUHkdXhvhMG0jz5gvdmq4t1fLe82Gw-Gk3l8ACPGUhv5O0QN1Hng/s640/blogger-image-401371340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLhiTnn0h7HBhCgISswwxeUYG3ZuKk4VYlPZN9OwTbuD2rQzI-sE5OZEel-7Bg5ncjb2OSQojBY9nuKmbCosgMM2wUHkdXhvhMG0jz5gvdmq4t1fLe82Gw-Gk3l8ACPGUhv5O0QN1Hng/s640/blogger-image-401371340.jpg"></a></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div></div>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-4088486853250588832014-08-26T13:56:00.000-05:002014-08-26T13:56:49.067-05:00I am Intolerant.<h3>
<span style="font-family: arial;">I am intolerant of the use of the "N" Word. The "R" Word, or any derivative thereof</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. The "G" or "Q" or "H" or "D" or "F" Word. "S", "W", "C", "T-H", "J", "R", "M", XYZ OMG BBQ!!!11!</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">I grew up hearing some of these words, but not regularly. My grandma used the term "Darkies" from the pale, pale land of Northern Minnesota, and Grampa fought the"Japs" and saw them encroaching on his Pacific Northwest town. Even when I was young, I knew those were not words we used. There are words for those that speak Spanish, those that wear religious head-coverings, for immigrants, for those with ethnic features, and even for those born with a condition that makes then shorter than average.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">"Mental Retardation" was a genuine diagnosis, but now variations are flung and meant to hurt. I know too many people with Autism or Down Syndrome or even learning disabilities that KNOW what these words mean to society and do not see them having anything to do with themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">My younger sister is a Lesbian. So when I hear "That's so gay", I am certain they aren't talking about one of the coolest people I know (after all, she did win "Rookie Teacher of the Year" at her school <i>twice!) </i>There are so many more descriptive words in the thesaurus, they just have to pick "odd", "weird", "unexpected", or...??? Any word that describes a person's sexuality or gender is not an appropriate epithet. Calling a guy a "pussy" or a "girl" or telling them to "man up" conveys the whole female gender as a slur.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Rape is neither a joke nor a metaphor. Period. A friend recently had a tradesman in her house to quote a project. He was polite and funny and seemed to know his craft, but then said that he gave a discount, as he didn't want to rape her over the price. I asked how she dealt with it. Her response:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".z.1:3:1:$comment10203942366951132_10203942785321591:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 17.066667556762695px;"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".z.1:3:1:$comment10203942366951132_10203942785321591:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".z.1:3:1:$comment10203942366951132_10203942785321591:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".z.1:3:1:$comment10203942366951132_10203942785321591:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">My approach is to say something like "oh man, please don't use that phrase, I don't like it." Then I continue talking about the job, or the price. I don't like confrontation, and this allows the guy to understand that he said something wrong, but</span></span><span data-reactid=".z.1:3:1:$comment10203942366951132_10203942785321591:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".z.1:3:1:$comment10203942366951132_10203942785321591:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".z.1:3:1:$comment10203942366951132_10203942785321591:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0"> he doesn't have to defend himself. Weak, I know, but it allows the conversation to continue. If he wants to go back and defend the rape comment, I'll be ready to give him plenty of reasons not to use it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She did not award him the job. I respect her approach. Inform the offender that you do not like that word/phrase. If this is someone you hold authority over (child, student, employee) you can explain why this is not allowed. If it is a friend, you have a teachable moment. For a stranger, you let them know that what they said provoked a negative response. If they choose to pursue, have your reasons. If they do not, then it may be something they recall for the next time, especially if they start losing jobs!</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-24405367684641645682014-07-14T15:34:00.000-05:002014-07-14T15:34:11.810-05:00MY EDS<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things I have found helpful for coping with my EDS </span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Note, I said MY EDS. Because mine is not yours, or my mother’s or anybody else’s, but mayhaps it could be helpful to you or inspire you to find your own way </i></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Originally posted to <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.600000381469727px; text-indent: 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/EDSAwarenessSTL" target="_blank">STL Ehlers Danlos Support Group</a></span> August 2013</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mobile Apps </span></h3>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apps for keeping track of pills, alerts for repeating plus “As Needed” </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/easy-pill/id458967344?mt=8" target="_blank">Easy Pill</a> for ios (iPhone, iPad, etc) I use every day to remind me to take my meds, and to keep track of my PRN meds for my pain management doctor </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sombreromobile.p123free" target="_blank">Your Medicine 1-2-3 by Sombrero Mobile</a> for Android I have not used, but found for a friend with chronic illness, and it appeared to have same functionality as Easy Pill </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Google Drive </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I keep a copy of my current medications, ICE contacts, diagnoses, surgeries, providers & insurance info on same doc. Separate doc with family history, and one with Advanced Directive. Easy to keep up to date once set up, and now have all that info at my fingertips on my phone. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Documentation </span></h3>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wallet Card</span></b></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a word template for printing wallet cards with critical info, in case I am incapacitated & </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">info needed by first responders. No computer, phone or family member required to access. I polled </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">friends that work in ER’s or as EMT’s, and services with online info or USB devices are not generally used </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">in an urgent situation. So I print, fold, and then slide into a business-card sized lamination pouch. Since </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">medications change frequently, I do not seal the pouch. I have plans with my sister-in-law to create </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">some attractive jewelry with the medical alert symbols and text See Wallet ID, but could also add things </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">like Latex Allergy or Penicillin Allergy, etc. - things critical in the first few minutes of treatment. Let me </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">know if you would like me to send you the docx file. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<u><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Medical Alert Bracelet</span></b></u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Star_of_life2.svg/220px-Star_of_life2.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Star_of_life2.svg/220px-Star_of_life2.svg.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.318561553955078px; text-align: left;">The emergency services' </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life" style="background: none rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.318561553955078px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" title="Star of Life">Star of Life</a> <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.318561553955078px;">features a rod of Asclepius</span></span><div style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.318561553955078px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The one I currently wear came from the MedicAlert company, where I also paid for online EMR (Electronic Medical Record) with a number or website for a doctor. Since then, I have found that most doctors want to </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hear it from me, and first responders just don't have the time. I have plans to change to one simply with the Rod of Asclepius with the Star of Life as shown here, pointing to my wallet card.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More info about the symbol & history here: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<u><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pain Chart</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sooooo subjective. Are they asking about my worst pain EVER? Or my least and worst pain for this specific issue? I smile and joke even when I am at a 9+++. I found the blog <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hyperbole and a Half</a> and adapted her post about pain to this one page Pain Level Chart. I did take the liberty of toning down the language a wee bit. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczusqYEhYvkEz9QyvRwGMB_MI8MRgGPIG8rZNHMvxvlChAYEQFt9_FfyoBm41yvczGl7ij0YtgEYcfTyzGdRslQCbDFuDr_jAtfHpD-lW0xTE7FNlCD4fhJIym1ajSlWhZjEpyqhfcSw/s1600/Pain+Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczusqYEhYvkEz9QyvRwGMB_MI8MRgGPIG8rZNHMvxvlChAYEQFt9_FfyoBm41yvczGl7ij0YtgEYcfTyzGdRslQCbDFuDr_jAtfHpD-lW0xTE7FNlCD4fhJIym1ajSlWhZjEpyqhfcSw/s1600/Pain+Chart.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Interesting factoids </span></h3>
<u><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">EDS & ASD</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> When I was diagnosed a few years back, I waited for a while to read much about it. Perhaps some denial, or just overwhelmed, but I just didn't do much reading or finding forums. But I do </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">remember one tidbit of info that I will have to look up & link to here. Kids with EDS are sometimes </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">misdiagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, or high functioning autism, as it is now called. One of the big </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">factors is the sensory issues, whether it be the touch of clothing, bedding or humans, reactions to sound </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or photosensitivity, a kid with EDS doesn't know how to express those intolerances and may be in pain, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">therefore may not be functioning as typical students. My 12 year old nephew has autism and is barely </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">verbal, communicating on the level of a 2 year old, though he very obviously has the intellect of </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">someone his age. Since he lives in CA and I live in STL, I volunteer for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sharing my enthusiasm and skills, though these days the actual walk is harder and harder.</span></div>
flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-77595575766451277962014-06-15T11:03:00.000-05:002014-06-15T11:03:56.636-05:00Caffeination or Caffeine Nation<h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>G'Mornin'!</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am enjoying this lazy Sunday morning with a glass of cold-brewed coffee, with just a bit of sweetener and no milk or creamer. The beauty of toddy coffee is the flavor is so good and the acidity so low (67% less than traditional brew!), that I do not need to add all the cream & sugar as I do with regular drip. I have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and yes, it is as unpleasant as it sounds, so the lower acidity is a great help. I think the organic beans I use contribute, too.</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>The method to my madness</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We now have a Kurig machine at the office, but it is only stocked with a breakfast blend, which I find too acidic. So I purchased a reusable K cup from <a href="http://www.ekobrew.com/" target="_blank">Ekobrew</a> and bring in my own ground coffee. The metal mesh is not perfect, so I brew into a drinking glass, then pour over ice. Even in the winter I am drinking iced coffee!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have not owned a drip machine for over 5 years, instead using <a href="http://www.melitta.com/en/Gourmet-6-Cup-Pour-Over-Coffeemaker-1666,69398.html" target="_blank">Melitta pour over cone</a> - either the single serving directly into my mug or thermal tumbler, or the 8-cup into a glass carafe, which then goes into a pre-warmed thermal carafe - or </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the </span><a href="https://toddycafe.com/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Toddy Cold Brew system</a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #c25d22; font-family: DejaVuSerifBook; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Why Toddy Cold Brew? </span></h1>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #525255; font-family: gandhi_sansregular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">
During the cold-brew process, time replaces heat. Todd Simpson, a chemical engineering graduate of Cornell, and who developed the Toddy cold brew system, discovered that high temperature facilitates the release of undesirable flavor elements.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #525255; font-family: gandhi_sansregular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">
A roasted coffee bean contains many compounds that are extracted during the brewing process. Some of those compounds, including certain oils and fatty acids, are soluble only at a high temperature. During the cold brew process, coffee beans are never exposed to high temperature (this only occurs after a rich liquid coffee concentrate has been produced).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #525255; font-family: gandhi_sansregular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">
Deceptively simple, <strong>cold water brewing extracts the delicious flavor </strong>compounds (and some of the caffeine) from coffee beans, but <strong>leaves behind myriad bitter oils and biting fatty acids</strong>, including undesirable elements such as ketons, esters and amids.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #525255; font-family: gandhi_sansregular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">
These are the same bitter acids and fatty oils that surface to the top of your hot cup of coffee, and give hot-brewed coffee that familiar 'bite' (thus the reason that some 8 out of 10 people attempt to soften the acidic taste by adding milk or cream to their coffee).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #525255; font-family: gandhi_sansregular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.600000381469727px;">
<strong>The cold brew process creates a perfectly balanced and distinctively smooth cup of coffee - served steaming hot or iced cold. You're invited to taste the Toddy difference: the same taste that has delighted coffee drinkers for nearly 50 years.</strong></div>
</blockquote>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Beans, Beans, the magical fruit</u></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hubby & I moved into our house almost 9 years ago, and just over 5 years ago, this little shop opened up on a corner nearby. I stopped in during the Grand Opening, and have been a loyal customer/evangelist ever since! Besides being a cornerstone of our nation's first <a href="http://www.greendiningalliance.org/2014/05/first-green-dining-district/" target="_blank">"Green Dining District"</a>, FoGro has wonderful food, incredible customer service, and a great family of owners, workers, and customers.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.foundationgrounds.com/" target="_blank">Foundation Grounds Coffee House & Cafe</a> in Maplewood, MO</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/1690267_10152322951619714_742606161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/1690267_10152322951619714_742606161_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Foundation Grounds uses only Goshen coffee to make their black gold, so I started buying my freshly-roasted beans and enjoy the flavor & supporting two local businesses.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goshencoffee.com/" target="_blank">Goshen Coffee</a> organic, fair-trade, roasted right over the Mississippi in Edwardsville, IL</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t1.0-9/385005_10151226396709743_140688925_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t1.0-9/385005_10151226396709743_140688925_n.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To hold the beans, I picked up the <a href="http://planetarydesign.com/products/airscape/" target="_blank">AirScape by Planetary Design</a> from Foundation Grounds. At first I used it for the pre-ground beans I use at the office, but the vacuum seal is too good & would coat everything nearby with little black specks. So I took it home & use it for the whole beans - so much better!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Muggin'</u></span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://resources.tervis.com/ShowDesignImage.ashx?ProductId=MOBD-I-24-WRA&Resolution=2&Category=WEB-HERO" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://resources.tervis.com/ShowDesignImage.ashx?ProductId=MOBD-I-24-WRA&Resolution=2&Category=WEB-HERO" height="200" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I rarely use a ceramic coffee cup. I am waaay to clumsy for drinks without lids, so here is my lineup:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gocontigo.com/mugs/20-oz-autoseal-aria-stainless-travel-mug.html" target="_blank">Contigo AutoSeal Travel Mugs</a> - One handed operation, seals completely so I can throw in my purse or backpack.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tervis.com/designs/Designs-Coll-Patterns-Florals-Prints-Motherboard-Wrap-with-Lid/795f4828319f8f36f764fd35c0732e9e/a7225d7246006e5f292519c47e2d7182/#!upc=093597573200" target="_blank">Tervis Tumbler-Motherboard</a> - Made in USA, lifetime guarantee, with excellent exchange if any issues (I know first hand!) and a full 24 ounces - perfect for the office.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://shop.camelbak.com/eddy-insulated-6l/d/1071_cl_594" target="_blank">CamelBak Insulated Water Bottle</a> Flip, Bite & Sip operation, so it completely seals, no condensation buildup on outside, and 20 oz. I have extra straws & bitevalves, so this is a staple for water, iced coffee, or icedtea. I attach it to my purse or backpack with a carabiner through the loop handle.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Coffea arabica: </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.25px;">Caffeine - 1,3,7-Trimethyl-3,7-dihydro- purine-2,6-dione</span></span></u></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Am I a coffee snob? Yeah, kinda. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Am I a coffee geek? Yep, definitely!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-24627381330700301822013-08-18T22:54:00.000-05:002013-08-18T22:57:01.963-05:00Long Time, no see...<span style="font-family: arial;">blarg</span>
Life has been busy since I last posted, but I have had the urge recently to start posting again. I have been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility type. If you google it, you will see lots of images of stupid people tricks. I can do some of them, but shouldn't 'cause it hurts more, you twit!
More info to come,but I came across an excellent Pain Level Chart a few years back on a blog called <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/">Hyperbole and a Hal</a>f. I took the liberty of formatting to fit on one page so I could laminate for reference. I am guilty of toning down the language so it is suitable for work, too.
<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9mHaCoqlMUbRHFNdGFnU2lPMzA/edit?usp=sharing">Pain Level Chart.pdf</a>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-43783813813933984642010-06-05T19:52:00.001-05:002010-06-05T19:54:06.472-05:00so it's been a while...<span style="font-family: arial;">blarg</span><br />
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CQFEY9RIRJA&hl=en_US&fs=1&&autoplay=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CQFEY9RIRJA&hl=en_US&fs=1&&autoplay=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-15543793657729398122009-12-31T22:22:00.002-06:002009-12-31T23:25:52.318-06:00Blanket O' Fun<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've been reading my blog for a bit, you've probably noticed that I volunteer for the Saint Louis Walk Now for Autism Speaks and shamelessly beg for donations to our walk team (still accepting funds, eligible for 2009 tax deductions for a couple more hours! </span><a href="http://www.walknowforautism.org/stlouis/flatflo"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recent prevalence studies indicate that 1 in 110 kids in the US are diagnosed on the autism spectrum. My 7 year old nephew is one of those kids, so I tried to think up something special for his Christmas present this year. I am told he is a whiz with the computer and other household electronics, loves Thomas the Tank Engine, and is as fascinated by tactile yummies as I am. (I, however, usually remember to ask before stroking somebody's arm because their shirt fabric is so scrumptious!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the softest baby blanket in my gift closet, plus own an embroidery sewing machine, so starting on the top right is my nephew's name, with colorful crayons to accent. In the corner is a red STOP button:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnc1qFVI2VNwGZuDi1gHS2KBQEDuRx6u8xFJ1vpxG8KdZOTcaRY4Ugr1yhrX-39868uPgWjMwYlCW7JajP_JFyp28EK1IqC1RM5BLv8c21uZURKJaQPyWhs2rzFnGXfsAs3x9-rfiWm0/s1600-h/Picture+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnc1qFVI2VNwGZuDi1gHS2KBQEDuRx6u8xFJ1vpxG8KdZOTcaRY4Ugr1yhrX-39868uPgWjMwYlCW7JajP_JFyp28EK1IqC1RM5BLv8c21uZURKJaQPyWhs2rzFnGXfsAs3x9-rfiWm0/s320/Picture+037.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My 'signature' is on the bottom right with "Love, Aunt Laura" and three 'Ants' with a yellow SLOW button:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcU5LFXlA9nrAEuI0svZWBL_AS6Q9Kka5YQKMyJxEcsegZbsEixkCT4mZXRG4wS06d6UwfyiVNqjaS-j2n0Nsq4otBxjl9xYB2RGagpNEAq1RRk678JQubEixKDqUnFXAjGn-XXWVR7c/s1600-h/Picture+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcU5LFXlA9nrAEuI0svZWBL_AS6Q9Kka5YQKMyJxEcsegZbsEixkCT4mZXRG4wS06d6UwfyiVNqjaS-j2n0Nsq4otBxjl9xYB2RGagpNEAq1RRk678JQubEixKDqUnFXAjGn-XXWVR7c/s320/Picture+043.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found a design of a small dragon on a computer, and it went on the top left with his nickname and a green GO button:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMeQGsz_RgYhIrGj9ozYIKi6_g7L7Bf9ihvKNyHwlsbXTMeM8rlX52aOfjwgoZgfGYhGtXeRV29XHBWAVoiF8H9wXkzHMfeDO7xGCR96M2zOjhyUPgkxMseIb7bsb1pPkMXm0LLnhJNs/s1600-h/Picture+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMeQGsz_RgYhIrGj9ozYIKi6_g7L7Bf9ihvKNyHwlsbXTMeM8rlX52aOfjwgoZgfGYhGtXeRV29XHBWAVoiF8H9wXkzHMfeDO7xGCR96M2zOjhyUPgkxMseIb7bsb1pPkMXm0LLnhJNs/s320/Picture+036.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And on the bottom left are puzzle pieces, used often in promoting autism awareness and signifying that it is time to find the missing piece. The button in the corner of this one is a glass charm with waves of dark red:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW56H5L3n48PnTJWAGCbgla1IBpgzKPdBXSXly66uTOUq-h2UVAYuragmtj0SMl_fTXa_YMkt1MXKvgDQGeK-k3cD9FXTq_lKfTcDxkvM5njr7zTdtkgFc7fsbXUHbDrWb2D7kHWIUQ08/s1600-h/Picture+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW56H5L3n48PnTJWAGCbgla1IBpgzKPdBXSXly66uTOUq-h2UVAYuragmtj0SMl_fTXa_YMkt1MXKvgDQGeK-k3cD9FXTq_lKfTcDxkvM5njr7zTdtkgFc7fsbXUHbDrWb2D7kHWIUQ08/s320/Picture+042.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you follow those circle outlines in the above image, you will find this purchased RECYCLE symbol in plush green on green (of course!):</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW77O6iyHO89kS47jw5Ey98U4IzC12kpzA39uLFJRmxMylo39oNv7zqc4hOL0_NNv_jGT1InCY0TojLOvRkcWGj4bwF1d4iKtVaGo2YAUCFNU9JoFx0ON3RizW0xM-4b4zWQ_FVa2n0U/s1600-h/Picture+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW77O6iyHO89kS47jw5Ey98U4IzC12kpzA39uLFJRmxMylo39oNv7zqc4hOL0_NNv_jGT1InCY0TojLOvRkcWGj4bwF1d4iKtVaGo2YAUCFNU9JoFx0ON3RizW0xM-4b4zWQ_FVa2n0U/s200/Picture+040.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along the bottom are strips of interesting fabrics: a super-plush sock (I got two pair and have the blue ones on now!), brown saddle leather, black pebbled leather, yellow butter-soft leather, and a silky faux-fur:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AkeBJjrpjbf9DftRhfFMYu_IH3faquUZRmHyqlKKS5vEVvxNSoliE2VO3Rw7H2-ecC16ySFOtwc6r8vYWnyIjVOgilPeNDSqvug7WlnhyphenhyphenWfBUSryAHrG4e2D4MCb3_k-UJWjRzRD0VQ/s1600-h/Picture+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AkeBJjrpjbf9DftRhfFMYu_IH3faquUZRmHyqlKKS5vEVvxNSoliE2VO3Rw7H2-ecC16ySFOtwc6r8vYWnyIjVOgilPeNDSqvug7WlnhyphenhyphenWfBUSryAHrG4e2D4MCb3_k-UJWjRzRD0VQ/s320/Picture+045.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reverse side of the blanket sports appliquéd medallions cut from Thomas and Friends fleece fabric: </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lGdB1-og1AxphqGU33i5t2uQwSECDE0ZSCCaF5EDXTxtyZa2sXHV572Ry7O81kpogjlhbT0I3tRHjsXwjSDmK9jua0ZcpAgh4cgJdXLRYKdnbmX-u_Kc2cK5bxRKXJRqu4XVs2DGaJI/s1600-h/Picture+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lGdB1-og1AxphqGU33i5t2uQwSECDE0ZSCCaF5EDXTxtyZa2sXHV572Ry7O81kpogjlhbT0I3tRHjsXwjSDmK9jua0ZcpAgh4cgJdXLRYKdnbmX-u_Kc2cK5bxRKXJRqu4XVs2DGaJI/s320/Picture+046.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a little pocket of palest blush pink "cameo" silk dupioni, a remnant of my wedding dress from this past May. The swirl motif and silver piping echo the tooth fairy pillows that I transformed for my nieces from their flower girl/ring-bearer </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswKcCMIynE0aJ3FzfJU3PVGWLYYtQ8HDUmGa38NgRXKXyn0y7HrW8usBUQBs3qsMV7WBH4Spbn2LzL_4Z2v9sVYlZsepFOPV9UY5tJqCKo2jAeyk3wL_aV22_1sip9VAdlWqoKNNwvD0/s1600-h/IMG_1904.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pillows</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOME-OcRFSHp6wuGG6z1EgjPGZlugBAIIs5TIXrZTkccSbdIiOmGoPbvv69Qx34_ajberr0LUX9MXjR0TbrmyGw3HjhVM9Pf30LS1QlC5cvqfzi9ZZU9dY3MALvgIcHERzk-RPZ-YTJeg/s1600-h/Picture+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOME-OcRFSHp6wuGG6z1EgjPGZlugBAIIs5TIXrZTkccSbdIiOmGoPbvv69Qx34_ajberr0LUX9MXjR0TbrmyGw3HjhVM9Pf30LS1QlC5cvqfzi9ZZU9dY3MALvgIcHERzk-RPZ-YTJeg/s320/Picture+049.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, here is a scrap of the material from my sister Heather, aka Kyle's Mom'a, wedding dress. Super-soft double-sided silk satin with a store-bought rhinestone motif:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRiuRlMLRZJ3O4b5N2xwgRqf48_hA6wzoJLEtKK_bH6ncPYS-D2pIrox7jYC4Xk6aTEXKsCema8GCv9IgmNWlwlZ5Mn93euEq3rMCGI13CC5KFwRWpG0jgVr4HKdl8h3GR6FCFtzxOhY/s1600-h/Picture+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRiuRlMLRZJ3O4b5N2xwgRqf48_hA6wzoJLEtKK_bH6ncPYS-D2pIrox7jYC4Xk6aTEXKsCema8GCv9IgmNWlwlZ5Mn93euEq3rMCGI13CC5KFwRWpG0jgVr4HKdl8h3GR6FCFtzxOhY/s320/Picture+047.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kyle loves it, and I have gotten compliments from my sis and the autism specialist that helps with him. I briefly saw Kyle via Skype this past week, though he wouldn't talk to me (no surprise.) I was able to see my darling nieces this past spring when they flew in to be in my wedding, but Kyle stayed home with his dad as he does not travel well. Love you, big guy!</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-89094793819116539792009-12-24T22:17:00.000-06:002009-12-24T22:17:38.702-06:00Peace, Hope, Love and Joy!<span style="font-family: arial;">The Baklava and Spanikopita are out of the oven and cooling. I am adding the final bows and such to the wrapped presents and look to be in bed by midnight!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Have a great holiday, even if you only celebrate it as a day off. Merry Christmas!</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-11136061969948731392009-12-19T20:55:00.000-06:002009-12-19T20:55:34.495-06:00What Religion is Your Bra?<span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">What Religion is Your Bra?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">A man walked into the ladies department of Myer's</span></b> </span><br />
<div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">and shyly walked up to</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">the woman behind the counter and said,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">'I'd like to buy a bra for my wife.</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"> </span></b><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">'</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">'</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"> What type of bra?'</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">asked the clerk.</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
'Type?' inquires the man, 'There's more than one type?'<br />
' Look around,'</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">said the saleslady,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, colour</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">and material imaginable.</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">'Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose from</span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"> </span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">.'</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">Relieved, the man asked</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">about the types.</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">The saleslady replied:</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">'There are the Catholic,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">the Salvation Army,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">the Presbyterian,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">and the Baptist types.</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">Which one would you prefer?'</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
Now totally befuddled,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">the man asked about</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">the differences between them.</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">The Saleslady responded,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">'It is all really quite simple.</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br />
The Catholic type </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">supports the masses;</span></b><b><span style="color: #8000ff; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen;</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0080ff;">The Presbyterian type </span></b><b><span style="color: #0080ff; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">keeps them staunch and upright;</span></b><b><span style="color: green; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
The Baptist type makes mountains out of molehills.'</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are the letters used</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">to define bra sizes?</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">If you have wondered why,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">but couldn't figure out</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">what the letters stood for,</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">it is about time</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">you became informed!</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #8000ff; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
(A} Almost Boobs...</span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{B} Barely there....</span></b><b><span style="color: green; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{C} Can't Complain!..</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{D} Dang!...</span></b><b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{DD} Double dang!...</span></b><b><span style="color: #0080ff; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{E} Enormous!...</span></b><b><span style="color: green; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{F} Fake...</span></b><b><span> </span></b><b><span style="color: #ff0080; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{G} Get a Reduction...</span></b><b><span style="color: maroon; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"><br />
{H} Help me, I've fallen</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: maroon; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">and I can't get up!...</span></b></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #93c47d; text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">{I} I can't believe they actually make 'em in this size...</span></b></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="color: #c27ba0; text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">{J} Jeez Louise, enough already... </span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"></span></b></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">They forgot the</span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';"> Lutheran </span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">bra:</span></b> </span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;">Holtzemfromfloppen</span></b> </span><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Okay, I admit I added the I and J, as those are the sized that I wear. Did you know they also do EE, GG, HH, etc. as a half size in-between? <br />
</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-68372231309888575122009-12-12T23:01:00.002-06:002009-12-12T23:02:47.622-06:00Habitat for Humanity STL<a href="http://www.habitatstl.org/images/ui_site_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="http://www.habitatstl.org/images/ui_site_logo.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">I had a great time at the <a href="http://www.habitatstl.org/">Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis </a>Volunteer Orientation this morning. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to work their first commercial De-Construction at an old Schnucks Grocery. I learned some good techniques from the veteran workers and it prodded me into finally getting a tool belt and steel-toed boots (<a href="http://www.redwingshoes.com/productdetails.aspx?prodid=1182">Redwings</a> which are the warmest, most comfortable winter weather shoes I now own.) My Christmas list this year was mostly hand tools I realized that I don't own, but would be useful on a build site - and in my own home!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Now I am ready to take on an actual build, whenever the schedule is posted, and depending on my employment situation. Today I learned that all 24 of the 2009 STL houses built are LEED certified at the Platinum level! Also, the new homeowners are not given the houses, they are provided loans at no interest and must put in a bunch of sweat equity, the hours equaling pretty much a down payment.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.habitatstl.org/images/Phase-2-Blitz-008.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://www.habitatstl.org/images/Phase-2-Blitz-008.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Hey Saint Louisans</b> - are you interested in joining me on a build? Any former APO-ers (Alpha Phi Omega, national co-ed service fraternity) jonesing for a service project? Anybody in need of service hours? No construction experience needed, just the urge and orientation!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.habitatstl.org/images/HabitatforHumanity019_200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.habitatstl.org/images/HabitatforHumanity019_200.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">The next <a href="http://habitatstl.volunteerhub.com/Events/Event/Summary.aspx?EventID=254998">Volunteer Orientation</a> is </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saturday, January 9, 2010, 9:00am - 11:00am </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in the building attache</span>d to <a href="http://www.habitatstl.org/supportus/restore/">ReStore</a>. I've mentioned ReStore before, as a wonderful place to pick up good used appliances and materials, along with new stuff from construction overruns or overstock from retailers and manufacturers. A bargain for homeowners and a wonderful resource for art or craft projects.</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-88091367673318488822009-12-08T10:47:00.001-06:002009-12-08T10:48:05.486-06:00Hello, Redbud<span style="font-family: arial;">Last week some mysterious lime-green circles appeared on the sidewalk easements in my neighborhood. Then some wooden stakes sprouted out of the circles. Finally, yesterday the City of Richmond Heights came around with a trailer full of trees and played Johnny Appleseed. Welcome to our lawn, little Redbud!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz7ST71-D3yGGc7T_VznKxNDKCpxwk-DiLU8tYrJBTk9kEwMgxstAv6VC-yu5cXTCfBemXNjoUmBH1HfpLpTT6l7F3PvCUyshpb5RJyYFGjyG3Sok0-8g5DJmf_mQfGPmxTsGwPZ3rvE/s1600-h/Picture+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz7ST71-D3yGGc7T_VznKxNDKCpxwk-DiLU8tYrJBTk9kEwMgxstAv6VC-yu5cXTCfBemXNjoUmBH1HfpLpTT6l7F3PvCUyshpb5RJyYFGjyG3Sok0-8g5DJmf_mQfGPmxTsGwPZ3rvE/s640/Picture+032.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br />
</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-20132259000907259302009-12-02T20:09:00.002-06:002009-12-02T20:14:15.079-06:00NaBloPo...wait, we're all done with that<span style="font-family: arial;">Back from my day of rest after the 30 days of my first attempt (success!) at NaBloPoMo. Now what do I write about?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">With a hard freeze coming, I have been weatherizing the house: putting away the hoses, turning off the outdoor spigots, draining the rain barrel. I've also been adding weatherstripping to many of the main floor windows, as I've already bought the supplies, and any energy we can save before we spring for new high-e windows in money in the pocket. Actually, money to the bank to pay for the new furnace!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">I also balanced the accounts in Quicken, which I bought yesterday at Best Buy for only $39 (instead of $59). I had done this for almost a year 3 years back, but couldn't recover that file. I like keeping an eye on all the accounts, and knowing where the money is going.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Till next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Laura</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-54306422532482495702009-11-30T21:55:00.000-06:002009-11-30T21:55:52.605-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXX: Made it! - 30 days and 6 months<div id="xg_sitedesc" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://c2.api.ning.com/files/YDrMGRSTbzMHGtu4Ep6bf-lTpVibgUYejFPq64Sv6Ax5FMQi8KByzA5Se9AwoFrA/nablo.didit.1109.120x90.jpg?width=120&height=90" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://c2.api.ning.com/files/YDrMGRSTbzMHGtu4Ep6bf-lTpVibgUYejFPq64Sv6Ax5FMQi8KByzA5Se9AwoFrA/nablo.didit.1109.120x90.jpg?width=120&height=90" /></a>Today is the final day of <a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/" id="application_name_header_link">NaBloPoMo</a>: National Blog Posting Month, and I survived posting every single day in November! Yay! And here are the badges to prove it:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHQlyvAm-OptydKc6mc9A22FkuGQtCJKIgRorj9NSq70tQ_aIDk-Crhx_r69WptXmH6tbTfwtGZdQYzQnWnv6ffx2EsPlxoNN85suIaWE6Rjr-qo3AxHkkFTvVzpimuL4kmWVW_uE73o/s1600/nablo.sat.1109.120x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHQlyvAm-OptydKc6mc9A22FkuGQtCJKIgRorj9NSq70tQ_aIDk-Crhx_r69WptXmH6tbTfwtGZdQYzQnWnv6ffx2EsPlxoNN85suIaWE6Rjr-qo3AxHkkFTvVzpimuL4kmWVW_uE73o/s320/nablo.sat.1109.120x200.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><a href="http://c2.api.ning.com/files/B6Qg6ODXt-otFQu3aeKCt1X2srq5oYqnWhcomRPvbSlB*iJSiST5mDifushuVOVk/nablo.didit.1109.120x200.jpg?width=120&height=200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://c2.api.ning.com/files/B6Qg6ODXt-otFQu3aeKCt1X2srq5oYqnWhcomRPvbSlB*iJSiST5mDifushuVOVk/nablo.didit.1109.120x200.jpg?width=120&height=200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div id="xg_masthead" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And here are some previous years' participant badges that are entertaining:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbElK7YnHq-ITNxEvRxwrIQzkRggroMMI6dcJhvqUcRL9xBzghy_t_udNOL83iEoT519FqnEHzCCwgIwInn281QTaOk3qk1wr6Jkn9J1l73dRQb8HQBdFo8x0slPKJHgzP7tvRpYUcNzD/s220/nablopomo2007badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbElK7YnHq-ITNxEvRxwrIQzkRggroMMI6dcJhvqUcRL9xBzghy_t_udNOL83iEoT519FqnEHzCCwgIwInn281QTaOk3qk1wr6Jkn9J1l73dRQb8HQBdFo8x0slPKJHgzP7tvRpYUcNzD/s220/nablopomo2007badge.jpg" /></a><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/til_midnight/nablopomo/pirate.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v36/til_midnight/nablopomo/pirate.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jXB5knmOsg4LzRY2kOrEaqysn9Wfw7FMsRVOQvO1Jz9Q7DpfjZSnek54MiEV-Pc7AdiL7oHd7HIs8NDceT3C35dZxnOBdPtAuRT0EfJ72yvXgJi2cNKJwNN5sX4Oj2bUkIXB-v7PTY0/s1600/nablopomo_mrt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jXB5knmOsg4LzRY2kOrEaqysn9Wfw7FMsRVOQvO1Jz9Q7DpfjZSnek54MiEV-Pc7AdiL7oHd7HIs8NDceT3C35dZxnOBdPtAuRT0EfJ72yvXgJi2cNKJwNN5sX4Oj2bUkIXB-v7PTY0/s320/nablopomo_mrt.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB_DKV4m9r6k_v4h2vcnF2uQTp01_9VIVab9u-46gslEK-MEexGSR0E9xWZuAa3JMX0E4BBvw49h4wCK3wWrxxqjBoESNW9RtXeK6CE3z0oq0ofm84YnTj4AcScgPDeyjErx9ncVmJwA/s1600/nablopomo_yoda_120x240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB_DKV4m9r6k_v4h2vcnF2uQTp01_9VIVab9u-46gslEK-MEexGSR0E9xWZuAa3JMX0E4BBvw49h4wCK3wWrxxqjBoESNW9RtXeK6CE3z0oq0ofm84YnTj4AcScgPDeyjErx9ncVmJwA/s320/nablopomo_yoda_120x240.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally,<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7oNTU2xIegPtGsQ1y5LcNTfT31RP5NJoWfmjOBRoU2gCG_6KQEeMOJAno4jOOCtuua_LGTYHnw80VXXgwreKtX73gpSvys9voaDrk8rftENlmRz36lspTG-bMYdWNRtyLCp1Dco_9jI/s1600/wedding+pix+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7oNTU2xIegPtGsQ1y5LcNTfT31RP5NJoWfmjOBRoU2gCG_6KQEeMOJAno4jOOCtuua_LGTYHnw80VXXgwreKtX73gpSvys9voaDrk8rftENlmRz36lspTG-bMYdWNRtyLCp1Dco_9jI/s320/wedding+pix+1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Happy 6 month Anniversary, Hubby!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdVOh4FKtl0BSCQHaF7fYqajlberiJcgqCI_Scu4AzsEqI2l0B4_MrAxHG1ADrO8vXfk0ZF36raF3AWN6EG9kUcOzBMW-zl1yIj6BfXnSyad9LoKS_BqtLv_K35yxLYESe6v-MGOcfOs/s1600/wedding+pix+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdVOh4FKtl0BSCQHaF7fYqajlberiJcgqCI_Scu4AzsEqI2l0B4_MrAxHG1ADrO8vXfk0ZF36raF3AWN6EG9kUcOzBMW-zl1yIj6BfXnSyad9LoKS_BqtLv_K35yxLYESe6v-MGOcfOs/s320/wedding+pix+2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span id="goog_1259636947287"></span><span id="goog_1259636947288"></span><br />
</div>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-64454746306083192602009-11-29T11:41:00.001-06:002009-11-29T11:42:09.919-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXVIV: Prop 8<span style="font-family: arial;">A change from my recent posts, to a serious legal/political issue on my mind:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Prop 8, or the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_%282008%29">California Marriage Protection Act</a>, is being <a href="http://www.repeal-prop-8.org/">challenged</a> in federal court in January and could have nation-wide consequences. </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My personal view? Legalize marriages between people of</span></span> the same gender. If a church or religious organization is not comfortable with that, don't make them perform the ceremony, but allow other churches and civil authorities to proceed. This may open those objecting organizations to discrimination suits, but I believe it is their right to object, just as it is gay peoples' right to get married. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Simple enough, right? Why can't we all just get along!<br />
</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-49680172618573292802009-11-28T22:11:00.000-06:002009-11-28T22:11:23.935-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXVIII: Makin' a List...<span style="font-family: arial;">'Tis high holy shopping season, and it has me thinking about what items I put on my list, and what I want my gifts to others to say about me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYvkoEApIO0cPg6tQ5jCSOgGihCICsSQAUpvlRI25cvIOYy18kHr-GIvI388RcUGo_np56TehJGQrOmoQqN5o8y-x-tx3zlLvivoPBkLrM4KugYUOkKhXlCGyKve0dwohSlzliIzFFoI/s1600/funnysanta05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYvkoEApIO0cPg6tQ5jCSOgGihCICsSQAUpvlRI25cvIOYy18kHr-GIvI388RcUGo_np56TehJGQrOmoQqN5o8y-x-tx3zlLvivoPBkLrM4KugYUOkKhXlCGyKve0dwohSlzliIzFFoI/s320/funnysanta05.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;">Most of the items I actually put on the list I sent to family were either tools or kitchen-related. I did some research on each and included links and some prices. I tried for Made in USA and eco-friendly whenever possible. The tools I use to make our house more a home, and the kitchen is the heart of the home. After doing some volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, I realized that my toolbox (still need one of those!) is missing a few key items.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">The items I am getting/making for others are reflecting price shopping and usability instead of the sustainability and US craftsmanship I strive towards. Maybe next year when the budget isn't already stretched. Sorry I can't be more specific, but you never know who is reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> <br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Finally, here are my pie-in-the-sky wish list items that didn't make it on the Christmas list:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-Upgrade of my Bernina Embroidery Software</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-Sooner-rather-than-later: Replace crumbling front porch stairs for safety reasons, and replace walkway to sidewalk and add walkway to driveway (so I stop slipping down the lawn when I go to my car)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-Rotating compost bin, because it would be very useful for yard stuff and kitchen waste (elevated, so that none of those wiggly things I am phobic about can invade)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-A new flat TV, in the 42 to 50" range and hopefully energy efficient</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-A console table to put said TV upon, along with places for all of the peripherals</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-Sooner-rather-than-later: New windows on the main floor of the house (currently original 1920's with later ugly aluminum storm windows, all of which leak like sieves)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-A second rain barrel, to go in the front of the house for watering plants so decorative this time<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-The kitchen stuff has its own list:<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> +cabinets that are not white & so show every speck of anything spilled</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> +</span><span style="font-family: arial;">oven that is big enough to fit a half sheet pan - really became obvious when Thanksgiving </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">dinner was 2 hours late, 'cause I couldn't fit enough stuff in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> +</span><span style="font-family: arial;">range that heats more evenly than the old electric one, and is easier to keep clean</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">more pantry room</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> +</span><span style="font-family: arial;">no more holy sheet vinyl or linoleum or whatever that atrocity is -bamboo or cork, please!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> +</span><span style="font-family: arial;">quartz or concrete (with recycled glass) counter tops, as the current laminate stains too easy and the cracks are ugly and dirty, no matter how I scrub</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> +</span><span style="font-family: arial;">tile backsplash instead of the cutesy wallpaper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> +</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dishwasher that doesn't leak out the sides and will fit the larger dishes<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-Our triangle-shaped Jacuzzi tub was a big selling point of the house, but I wish it were a bit smaller, so would not use the entire water heater supply when it is cold, saving natural gas and water usage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">-A mp3 player hookup in my car. Maybe I need to take a look at the Ford Fusion Hybrid...</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-23796628596492796572009-11-27T22:05:00.000-06:002009-11-27T22:05:40.632-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXVII: T-day dinner plus 27 hours & still recovering<span style="font-family: arial;">Didn't do much today. Brain still recovering from the <i><a href="http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidaysseasons/a/tiredturkey.htm">L. Tryptophan</a></i> and body still recovering from cooking and cleaning all day yesterday. I did a bit of Black Friday shopping...from right here at my computer. I am not determined (ahem-crazy) enough to brave the crowds today. My frustration level and hurting body could not cope with that. </span><br />
<a href="http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/blog/images/2008/10/mike-rowe-with-shovel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/blog/images/2008/10/mike-rowe-with-shovel.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">So instead I read, surfed the internet, communicated with some family, took a bath, and watched the boob tube. Specifically, <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/dirtyjobs.html">Dirty Jobs</a> (and one of my TV boyfriends, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1192046/">Mike Rowe</a>.) He ended the episode "Safety Third" (about individual responsibility in a dangerous world) with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt to his son:</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life.</span></i><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/west-wing/roosevelt-room/roosevelt-room-Theodore-Roosevelt-Tade-Styka-1909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/west-wing/roosevelt-room/roosevelt-room-Theodore-Roosevelt-Tade-Styka-1909.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">blarg</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-60582041259324523152009-11-26T21:11:00.000-06:002009-11-26T21:11:49.169-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXVI: T-day dinner plus 3 hours<span style="font-family: arial;">Family just left, one more load of dishes to wash, but I'm getting a bath first. As soon as the hot water heater fills again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> <br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Too tired for much else. Everything turned out great, though had to do a last minute brussel sprout substitute for green beans that went fuzzy. Gonna go put my feet up and start mentally composing tomorrow's post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-42381544047677166242009-11-25T23:38:00.001-06:002009-11-26T00:15:45.408-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXV: T-day dinner minus 16.5 hours<span style="font-family: arial;">The turkey is in the brine!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50kS59J95xFiJE00IpUlcVi9lKjUA_tScu6ESpEeWUQQ96NbF5lHDmZGQVbdlTzSOheS5LC-dnj51Hno_HZ1BbcRfD3XGZvAfyx-3_Eb0rI3LSSA0EgwUIn_tn08oemZrYDqbsMD-ogE/s1600/IMG_2469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50kS59J95xFiJE00IpUlcVi9lKjUA_tScu6ESpEeWUQQ96NbF5lHDmZGQVbdlTzSOheS5LC-dnj51Hno_HZ1BbcRfD3XGZvAfyx-3_Eb0rI3LSSA0EgwUIn_tn08oemZrYDqbsMD-ogE/s320/IMG_2469.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Anybody that has attended a major event with me knows that I make lists and try to prepare for any disruptions with a contingency plan. T-day is no different. I spent the last hour calculating how much prep and execution time each step of each recipe required. Then I lined them up to make the best use of time. Now I am off to bed, because I actually have to set alarm and get up earlier than usual tomorrow. Amazing how your body clock resets when you are unemployed!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bread crumbs for stuffing becoming croutons?<br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3SyHMRe2nn-4O1NQ9i12TjmulGrN4hyu8UGdMOUNwzzNxTqUSR8KvIrLKwxgaTinJQmvGO7TqGx3Uz-KPOY6QJhkQEx03QoceS1uf7N2gDo-oGHcWZjLTnUzut2HKfDOcVldKF06AFI/s1600/IMG_2470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3SyHMRe2nn-4O1NQ9i12TjmulGrN4hyu8UGdMOUNwzzNxTqUSR8KvIrLKwxgaTinJQmvGO7TqGx3Uz-KPOY6QJhkQEx03QoceS1uf7N2gDo-oGHcWZjLTnUzut2HKfDOcVldKF06AFI/s320/IMG_2470.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Starting with the pan, clockwise: sausage drippings for the roux, stuffing wet stuff, eggs for stuffing, dough for apple tartlets, giblets, butt & neck, freshly squeezed lemon juice, kitty food from stock discards, dinner rolls, butter rub for turkey, stock?</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vTN9I3_QD9X1b6ni9fLETvJz4GxAQwOi8bJhdJcjh5h8JPc6SIGB8snHpcVmkcgKLe2aDssSQynjt7wl38Dow_a-jZ0IGlJIbq0RauyCnQ6Ppxh-DIQObzTuvlRlsS7jERoac4G7XdU/s1600/IMG_2471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vTN9I3_QD9X1b6ni9fLETvJz4GxAQwOi8bJhdJcjh5h8JPc6SIGB8snHpcVmkcgKLe2aDssSQynjt7wl38Dow_a-jZ0IGlJIbq0RauyCnQ6Ppxh-DIQObzTuvlRlsS7jERoac4G7XdU/s320/IMG_2471.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yeppers.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Temporary prep table with cat-safe foods (like veggies), roasting pan and v-rack ready & waiting, salad spinner for cleaning veggies, pile of fruits, apron?</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsdqc8f5868vv4lvHLDKlDFcLG4Ikm8Ban98wFqVIZ8R28u0vHBcGYbbWb-8jq0O3c-EZ89985uSrImAS7u6_KG5RWoY40FpTjSU7z-_3ruxFlyrZl57qCrZx1iRbkwa9eohubEY8CZE/s1600/IMG_2472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsdqc8f5868vv4lvHLDKlDFcLG4Ikm8Ban98wFqVIZ8R28u0vHBcGYbbWb-8jq0O3c-EZ89985uSrImAS7u6_KG5RWoY40FpTjSU7z-_3ruxFlyrZl57qCrZx1iRbkwa9eohubEY8CZE/s320/IMG_2472.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ready and waiting for me in 9 hours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Off to bed now, but first a soak in a tub brimming with salts and aromatics...ummm...gobble gobble!<br />
</span><br />
</div>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-76816039264616806412009-11-24T22:31:00.000-06:002009-11-24T22:31:47.523-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXIV: T-day minus 2 days<span style="font-family: arial;">Turkey stock: check</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Homemade dinner rolls: in the fridge for a long 1 1/2 day rise</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Rustic Apple Tartlets: crust is ready to roll out and be topped & baked</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Stuffing: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">a) sausage is browned, celery, onions, carrots & apples are sauteed, pan was deglazed with sherry and is now in the fridge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">b) challah and hearty white bread cubed and drying in no-heat oven</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Groceries: all purchased</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Flowers: lovely!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9u-leEf5q2eKIRRcMPNURKokElhWw-d2B3SmGb7iEuk-P9bo4KJoC3X3-vtbyOIVMDW3I1unD9gaAUD8SKTa7xFX_od8jvf8cfzBWTO0o7DN0Yb4PaRE3gOe3tCLEvGhuTqGk4JG664/s1600/Picture+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9u-leEf5q2eKIRRcMPNURKokElhWw-d2B3SmGb7iEuk-P9bo4KJoC3X3-vtbyOIVMDW3I1unD9gaAUD8SKTa7xFX_od8jvf8cfzBWTO0o7DN0Yb4PaRE3gOe3tCLEvGhuTqGk4JG664/s320/Picture+005.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;">House: was pretty clean, but items 1-5 above have made it a mess once again! Off to soak in tub with good book (Bite Marks, a Jaz Parks novel by Jennifer Rardin) and candles, then to bed. Night, night!</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-36230998189353296812009-11-23T23:28:00.000-06:002009-11-23T23:28:35.193-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXIII: Thanksgiving Day Menu<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Appetizers - Cousin Rachelle is taking care of this, and no clue!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cocktails - I have Asti and sparkling grape juice to be poured over fresh pomegranates & cranberry-pomegranate juice.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iu8WDwnTNkXH7Gx21qObQNYRjqBYD200jwZ7Asvm0uao441qfAoNhdgESE4MWoN2JQXekfru8dVFXyPq_4lrMZYejnMGwTlMtW6GUk-4J3P6oEK7kEuiJP_-wyhkxlszU8w9sQv_qZ0/s1600/turkey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iu8WDwnTNkXH7Gx21qObQNYRjqBYD200jwZ7Asvm0uao441qfAoNhdgESE4MWoN2JQXekfru8dVFXyPq_4lrMZYejnMGwTlMtW6GUk-4J3P6oEK7kEuiJP_-wyhkxlszU8w9sQv_qZ0/s200/turkey1.jpg" /></a>Turkey - pick up on Wednesday from Seibert Meats in Soulard. Brine overnight, then get up early to rinse, pat dry and air dry in the fridge before heading into the oven - makes a nice crisp crust and moist meat. Only a 12-14 pound bird, as it will be me & hubby, Ma & Pa, Aunt Jan, Cousin Rachelle & her boyfriend Kris. We have room for one more at the table, if anybody is hungry. We could also set up a kiddie table if a bunch of you are interested.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gravy - I started a turkey neck (from Souldard) & veggie stock, now in the fridge, ready for makin' gravy! Will make a roux and generally follow Cooks Illustrated instructions (hereafter known as CI.)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23FVBxmac9l5lga-iGWS-YxlwT_EalzLayhfvxUBNdjiKHyggcSHQVSQ2EEIMkSzibOU6iUjPKnxhYyDjC8GPFXlSlZk6EFa1IEyKac8TAJEXJZ7qKrSxLSAOx5cgTs17vWY1WRolavs/s1600/turkey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23FVBxmac9l5lga-iGWS-YxlwT_EalzLayhfvxUBNdjiKHyggcSHQVSQ2EEIMkSzibOU6iUjPKnxhYyDjC8GPFXlSlZk6EFa1IEyKac8TAJEXJZ7qKrSxLSAOx5cgTs17vWY1WRolavs/s200/turkey2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sausage & Apple Stuffing - an amalgamation of my MIL's recipe, my best friend's mother's recipe, and CI.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes - This version is less fat than the classic mashed 'taters. Last time I made it to go with Christmas Prime Rib and included leeks. Credit: CI<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Roasted Sweet Potatoes - I've been making single servings of this by peeling the sweet potato, cutting into 1/2" dice, tossing with EVOO, kosher salt & fresh cracked black pepper and roasting until the edges are Carmelina. Drizzle just the slightest bit of real maple syrup, and you have a wonderful alternative to the version that is mashed & smothered with marshmallow goo.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHGNbMZos8IH5NplgEcQTvHbNdZA12Zemo8BLD1TBDQUh-OuzoLLCR9r04pnk7xpkBP_T9YMrFA_9SGyUegARDF564shtg7SbPyK8xc4kYmP-JCKQLsbTRLgO-sX2Ao-lVbP_7x6gYUc/s1600/turkey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHGNbMZos8IH5NplgEcQTvHbNdZA12Zemo8BLD1TBDQUh-OuzoLLCR9r04pnk7xpkBP_T9YMrFA_9SGyUegARDF564shtg7SbPyK8xc4kYmP-JCKQLsbTRLgO-sX2Ao-lVbP_7x6gYUc/s200/turkey3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sauteed Green Beans with garlic & herbs - a lighter alternative to the traditional green bean casserole (which I personally can't stand, even though I was raised Lutheran!) Credit: CI<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dinner Rolls - one component that is actually better prepared ahead and stored in the fridge. I'll take them out in the morning to let rise 6-8 hours, then pop in the oven for that wonderful yeasty aroma. Credit: CI.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzxu0yIZ8ax2M5LkhywAfJb0c8D-T59h6koZ9qgyb6YrRe_7P2heeFAjE1Nbq7j-XYe4BDKxbg_NFHmkg1jfKLw1VcqKs8o5bHbA5Uy0FkXtGdU2n3sNa-bc35U5uf8gLdaPnOCogvis/s1600/turkey4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzxu0yIZ8ax2M5LkhywAfJb0c8D-T59h6koZ9qgyb6YrRe_7P2heeFAjE1Nbq7j-XYe4BDKxbg_NFHmkg1jfKLw1VcqKs8o5bHbA5Uy0FkXtGdU2n3sNa-bc35U5uf8gLdaPnOCogvis/s200/turkey4.jpg" /></a>Cranberry Relish - Mum is taking care of this one, from a recipe she begged off of ??? (completely slipped my mind at the moment.) I will have a can of the gloppy stuff on standby, if anybody insists. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pumpkin Cheesecake - Cuz Rachelle is preparing this one, and I am very excited, as I came close to choosing to make it myself!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGg0q7AK8wJehC3GtFXFjuyAkKptMxPJQ30VDH5h4Oyh8J9F3_kSm4ou0Lkx4G8o7bcqcTKruKMXkmbM2xU3f4EmZjueJGZGuTrGWaCgXfX2F20_KvRj1klnJuT1yFL7jC_YSjQqCekA/s1600/turkey5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGg0q7AK8wJehC3GtFXFjuyAkKptMxPJQ30VDH5h4Oyh8J9F3_kSm4ou0Lkx4G8o7bcqcTKruKMXkmbM2xU3f4EmZjueJGZGuTrGWaCgXfX2F20_KvRj1klnJuT1yFL7jC_YSjQqCekA/s200/turkey5.jpg" /></a>Rustic Apple Tartlets - Another CI recipe I have used in the past, to great success. I starting the crust this evening, as it will keep, wrapped well, in the fridge for a few days.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI7yUFsWJYfZCpUaqclRFDJBf1VGYGqkz6DwbSOKLXl9n7zOVgsDdKWdnn652lP4Dm3DUpebPf25QZJIPK3HweMvFEjy0UUh8SmdNHEk8OqWni2nw9PrJQfFMHkqtnEaO7dEyKgztHPI/s1600/turkey6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI7yUFsWJYfZCpUaqclRFDJBf1VGYGqkz6DwbSOKLXl9n7zOVgsDdKWdnn652lP4Dm3DUpebPf25QZJIPK3HweMvFEjy0UUh8SmdNHEk8OqWni2nw9PrJQfFMHkqtnEaO7dEyKgztHPI/s200/turkey6.jpg" /></a>Whipped Cream with a hint of orange zest - To top the tartlets (or the cheesecake, or coffee)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Decaf Coffee - my favorite coffee place, <a href="http://www.foundationgrounds.com/">Foundation Grounds</a> in Maplewood, carries <a href="http://www.goshencoffee.com/">Goshen Coffee Company</a> - 100% organic and sustainable farmed. Current favorite: Venezuelan.<br />
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</div>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-8185643240337717242009-11-22T22:34:00.001-06:002009-11-22T22:35:59.144-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXII: Supervillains vs.Vampires!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My fingers are already casualties of Thanksgiving dinner prep (a couple of small burns, no amputated fingers or bleeding cuts...so far!) so I bring to you my argument why supervillains are so much cooler than vampires: Dr. Horrible. He looks like the guy that sat next to you in science class that was good enough to copy off of, knows how to do his own laundry and the songs are very catchy. Vampires? Blood, coffins and they're never around in the daytime. Now go!<br />
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<object height="296" width="512"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/Z4kt7M5Uta51JuIDJV6HeQ/0/2543"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/Z4kt7M5Uta51JuIDJV6HeQ/0/2543" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-51959415368527876692009-11-21T20:45:00.001-06:002009-11-21T20:45:54.929-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XXI: Farmers' markets<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I woke this morning determined to hit the local farmers' market to try and find purveyors of local and/or organic produce.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVHt2ySiWgD7Kds9PlE9c8W1Kbrr-47mo8RZDFoki6hP55jO6Cx2Au7YB_vcCbs0GLcmS1PhObbEV4a7tn8tEWGQYotVapy0AixGJ58zEFdxseBWOiMOfgBB_fbfdx1tV3R0jXSQHLCw/s1600/foundation+grounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVHt2ySiWgD7Kds9PlE9c8W1Kbrr-47mo8RZDFoki6hP55jO6Cx2Au7YB_vcCbs0GLcmS1PhObbEV4a7tn8tEWGQYotVapy0AixGJ58zEFdxseBWOiMOfgBB_fbfdx1tV3R0jXSQHLCw/s320/foundation+grounds.jpg" /></a>After filling up my travel mug with coffee from <a href="http://www.foundationgrounds.com/">Foundation Grounds</a> in Maplewood ( I was waylaid and had to try a new baked goodie: Blueberry & Lavender cheesecake -- yum!) I walked down the street to :<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.schlafly.com/images/market/market7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://www.schlafly.com/images/market/market7.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.schlafly.com/market.shtml">Maplewood Farmers' Market</a> at Schlafly Bottleworks. I got some yummy locally grown granny smith apples and some sweet looking sweet potatoes (they had real dirt on them!) but I think I overpaid. I had lots more on my list, so headed to:<br />
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</div><h1 style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.downtownkirkwood.com/kirkwood-farmers-market.asp">Kirkwood Farmers' Market</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> had very little, as they kicked off their Chrismas Market & Holiday Walk.</span></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.downtownkirkwood.com/uploads/Dan%20with%20xmas%20trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.downtownkirkwood.com/uploads/Dan%20with%20xmas%20trees.jpg" width="126" /></a><br />
</div><a href="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/21636914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/21636914.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> <-- So instead of this</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">It was this --></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">And this: <br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.downtownkirkwood.com/uploads/pic_santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.downtownkirkwood.com/uploads/pic_santa.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkbjwqRJA7fai2H-rvKmel2dNWuz1WgAgxzsdI6St0piHVdVkcpQ6kA2vI8k2JHs6Z_pTjlVWx4S7ngIQMPLeTqMgW7eV5ozJfOOJcn3-SqTZa0CiSRuekV_m3tLX4HOhjePrEqKbEO8/s1600/Picture+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkbjwqRJA7fai2H-rvKmel2dNWuz1WgAgxzsdI6St0piHVdVkcpQ6kA2vI8k2JHs6Z_pTjlVWx4S7ngIQMPLeTqMgW7eV5ozJfOOJcn3-SqTZa0CiSRuekV_m3tLX4HOhjePrEqKbEO8/s400/Picture+005.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;">So I finally headed to Historic <a href="http://www.soulardmarket.com/">Soulard Market</a> and struck gold. First, I found parking within a block. Next I walked through most of it, scouting prices and availability. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">I picked out 3 calla lily blooms and 6 spikey red/green things and a bunch of small white/red flowers. Of course I asked the names of each, but promptly forgot them.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">All of the fruit & veggies for Thanksgiving dinner are purchased. I found fresh pork sausage for the stuffing and turkey necks for a stock I will start tomorrow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">My turkey dilemma is solved! I ordered a 12-14 pounder from a poultry booth who gets them from a farmer in Illinois. I will pick up on Wednesday, then prep and start the brining.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">All I have left are a few things from the grocery store, and then --oh yeah-- all the cooking and prepping!<br />
</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-2387127688297855172009-11-20T19:48:00.000-06:002009-11-20T19:48:33.929-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XX: Gobble, gobble<span style="font-family: arial;">So.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.slapupsidethehead.com/wp-content/media/2007/10/thanksgiving-turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://www.slapupsidethehead.com/wp-content/media/2007/10/thanksgiving-turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;">Let's talk turkey.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lektrologik.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lektrologik.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/turkey.jpg" width="169" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;">The last (and only time) I cooked at turkey, I think I had a national brand mammoth. I have no great memories of it, but no horror stories, either. Thanksgiving for my side of the family is at my house this year, and I have been contemplating the poultry. I would love to find a fresh turkey from a local farm, but that is looking unlikely at this late point. But at $3+ per pound, can I really justify it versus a 57¢ per pound conglomerate-grown hen?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"> <br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2007/11/16-22/thanksgiving_turkey_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2007/11/16-22/thanksgiving_turkey_2.jpg" width="138" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been doing a bit of research, and have found places that offer "heritage" turkeys that are closer to wild than the lab-modified triple-D cup turkeys that are available at the major grocery stores. (See, Dave - I did work boobies into the conversation, though anybody that knows me know that I scoff at a DDD being considered large!) </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.pricegrabber.com/shopgreen/files/2007/11/lo-thanksgiving_humor_eat_ham_turkey-810472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blog.pricegrabber.com/shopgreen/files/2007/11/lo-thanksgiving_humor_eat_ham_turkey-810472.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial;">I have a $1.99/pound turkey reserved from Baumann's Fine Meats, but I have been told that it is an Arkansas bird, and not particularly heritage or free-range, or anything special. Should I just pick up the cheapy at Schnucks? Shoudl I spend $2.99/pound for the free-range one from Whole Foods?<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Maybe I should just give up at cook a nice ham, as I don't even really like turkey!</span><br />
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</span>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-83874359767214528452009-11-19T22:32:00.000-06:002009-11-19T22:32:03.135-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XIX: Windows are the eyes of the home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNq0qGDgMAuvtjhwfKkqrIcmZAYCI3R1ORIuEe9OSoUU5K63o1A6l1-toFgyLRu5Lk0VEFlweVjvDI04yiMcD5VV4Vue95gdXwYa03FzJtNS6flx07hyE7g-PF1CaHcw5KPp3iSCgJNM/s1600/house+eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNq0qGDgMAuvtjhwfKkqrIcmZAYCI3R1ORIuEe9OSoUU5K63o1A6l1-toFgyLRu5Lk0VEFlweVjvDI04yiMcD5VV4Vue95gdXwYa03FzJtNS6flx07hyE7g-PF1CaHcw5KPp3iSCgJNM/s640/house+eyes.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, does anybody in STL have recommendations on where to get good replacement windows for a 1920's brick bungalow? Preferably a company with good customer service & prices? <br />
</div>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717886158603554990.post-14308574760721721612009-11-18T20:57:00.002-06:002009-11-18T21:00:56.121-06:00NaBloPoMo Day XVIII: Utilikilts are stalking me<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Utilikilts are following me. Averaging once a week for the past month or two, I have talked to someone in a utilikilt, seen somebody wearing one, or had it mentioned by a friend that he was wearing one.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What are Utilikilts, you ask? <a href="http://www.utilikilts.com/company/">The Utilikilts Company</a> is "committed to pioneering a comfortable alternative to trousers by producing “Men’s Unbifurcated Garments” (MUG’s)." Think kilts are just girls' skirts fit for guys? Nope. Looking at the website, they are tailored for length and waist like male clothing. Kinda like an historic Celtic kilt, but with modern twists. Check out the <a href="http://www.utilikilts.com/">Mockumercials</a> on their main page. An excellent way to waste some time.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Warning. If you are too bow-legged or scrawny, these are not the garments for you! To all other men, I urge them towards "Freedom!"<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For hitting the links or heading to the office:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/3725154766_ee043dcca4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/3725154766_ee043dcca4.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2439881508_865737a16f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2439881508_865737a16f.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For dressing up or bundling up:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3725215212_e4e80d041d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3725215212_e4e80d041d.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="254" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/3724348941_9105cfd2cf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/3724348941_9105cfd2cf.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div>When and where do you wear yours? <br />
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</div>flatflohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690446933460902139noreply@blogger.com0