tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22677568142431570492024-03-05T17:25:41.947-06:00Mornings Start with EmIt's the Simple Things in Life that Make it All Worthwhile!Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-61335298594894772072013-06-05T10:36:00.001-05:002013-06-05T10:52:40.796-05:00Weekend Awesomeness!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good Morning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I bet you are all thinking there is something wrong because I am posting. Yes, I again took a bit of a break. With the theater opening right around the corner (20 days!), my time has been invested in helping out when I can there. That is in-between my full time job and actually trying to stay on track with Insanity/working out. I hate to admit it, but when my head hits the pillow, I am a goner. The days seem short and the to-do list seems to lengthen. Not a good combination when your only goal is to get things done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t worry, my optimisim is still there, I just find the motivation to be lacking when it comes to posting lately. We even have internet at our house (Finally), so I really have no excuse, but when I sit my butt down on the couch, I have a tendency to curl up and close my eyes. It’s quite fulfilling actually to sit down and know that you did the most you can with today and that tomorrow will be the same. Life sure is exciting lately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes, when life gets that busy, you have to remind yourself to take a break, sit back, and look at things in a whole new light. I think Cory needs to remember this more than I do because it seems he is living, eating, and breathing that theater. (no really, he sometimes stays over so he can get up early and work. As if the mile drive to the theater is such an inconvenience.) All sarcasm aside, he has been putting every ounce of himself into the theater and his hard work sure shows. Every time I enter, it looks more and more like a stellar theater and less like a scary place to store furniture. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I did make the choice to be selfish this past weekend and I snuck away for some me time. Well, more like me and my family time. My mom has recently discovered Pintrest. That being said, my mom has a new addiction, but a great one at that. I believe I am the only other one out of our family who has<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pintrest account, so our free time consists of searching, e-mailing, and planning a Pintrest weekend to get the best projects created. This past weekend was one of those weekends. It was our first Pintrest weekend and it was a success. After spending the night on Friday with my sister (and we did a bit of shopping. So far, I have only admitted to Cory one thing I bought. I am working myself up to the others), we headed out early to make it back home before noon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we pulled in, we saw stations put up and a different Pintrest project on each station with my mom and dad already working. We pulled up our sleeves and dug in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Project 1: Book Pavers. </span></span></strong></span></div>
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Sans Writing<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Project 2: Stacked Planter</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri;">Pintrest picture</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Project 3: Life-size Jenga</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri;">Pintrest Picture</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri;">Our Picture</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, it was too cold to set it up, so this is still in the process of making it. I will post a picture the first time we play it...if the sun ever shines. :) </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s just say that my mom is awesome because she is so creative and fun. That, along with my Pa’s carpenteyr skills, it was a pretty stellar weekend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was cold and rainy all day, but it was such a great time working together, coming up with ideas, planning the next Pintrest Weekend, and just having a great time together. That evening, my niece came over and we all had a slumber party. We watched movies, ate popcorn, and we stayed up until 12:30 am talking. Some topics a 3 year old likes to cover at a slumber party: How to catch fairies. How to get Grandma and Grandpa to get her another kitty. How to find fairy dust so the fairies can come out and play (recently, my parents made her a fairy garden, complete with a pathway and a door into a tree), how she is going to marry Batman. Okay, so this wasn't a question of how. She said that she is going to marry Batman. She also asked me if she could kiss Batman. She also mentioned how I could kiss Robin so he doesn’t feel left out. And, of course, she wondered what her stuffed animals were doing at home without her. Yes, it was a great day for all and I am so lucky that I can share these experiences with my family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning, my Pa and I went on a canoe ride which turned out to be quite a workout on the way to our destination but it made the way back pretty easy and the sun came out. Sun! I haven’t seen that in a while. I also took one of the best pictures I have in a long time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a weekend! I can’t wait to find more projects and have another weekend like this (get Pintresting Mom!) Also, my front porch could be in a Home and Garden magazine. It’s not the enchanted forest like my mom has on her deck, but she helped me in getting it halfway there (Thanks mom!) I am hoping next time we can make some recipes as well. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is something to be said about spending time with your mom. Nothing quite like it and I love every moment I spend with mine! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time, be selfish and take a time out for yourself. It will be worth it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-73156004810561108722013-05-22T09:00:00.000-05:002013-05-22T09:00:08.906-05:00Love is in the Air!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good Morning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We once again have arrived to yet another drizzly Wednesday morning. Grab your coffee and settle in for what shaping up to be a long day. Nothing beats a cozy rainy day at home, but when you have to dash from your car to buildings and people are coming in wet, sometimes sun seems like the better option. It is a day like today that I think we all need a pick me up. The best option I have to give you is a re-cap of my weekend. How will this cheer you up? I am not sure. It will bring some sun into my day though and it is my blog after all. So without further ado, I bring to you my adventures from this past weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I mentioned to all of you that this weekend was going to be filled with a weekend celebrating our friend’s marriage. Now, Cor and I were both very excited to take the weekend off and see friends and just enjoy ourselves as we revel in the bliss of two lives becoming one. Well, this weekend was just that and then some. First of all, I must say that the bride to be has to be one of the greatest people I know. Even in the midst of her wedding, she still asked if I needed anything and had a part to thank everyone involved. I mean, she is just such a great person. This weekend seemed to be more about the guests than the lovely couple. We arrived to an island via ferry to hugs and a gift bag filled with what I would consider a full course meal (okay, so maybe it was just chips, jerky, cookies, and so on, but that is more than what I eat for breakfast and lunch most days). After settling in, Cor and I went exploring on the island. I don’t think my pictures do it justice, but this place was amazing. I felt like I was Baby in dirty dancing at the resort they went to. We felt like we should have brought Polo shirts and loafers while drinking brandy. It was rustic and amazing! Again, the pictures don’t do it justice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hands down one of the neatest places I have been. After some good eats, we went and sat around a bonfire the size of a small swimming pool and just got to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday was equally as grand. After breakfast and coffee, Cory and I headed back to our room overlooking the lake, lit a fire, and took a nap. Yes friends, this was how relaxing the weekend was. After the nap, we headed to a fish fry (awesome!!) and ended the night with dancing and drinks. I can’t stress enough just how splendid it was. It has been awhile since Cor and I could just enjoy each other’s company and talk and then have close friends around as well. It makes me realize just how lucky I am. I know everyone thinks this, but I think my close group of friends has to be one of the best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday was the wedding ceremony. We all sat on blankets, drank coffee, and watched two great people join hands in marriage. It was such a neat experience to sit on the grass in the outdoors as the sun was peeking through the trees. Truly an unforgettable moment for all of us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well friends, I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed the weekend. I have another three day weekend ahead of me as we celebrate Memorial Day this coming weekend. Spring clean up, here we come!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-60830162692763520712013-05-14T10:15:00.001-05:002013-05-14T12:03:38.982-05:00Where Does the Time Go!?!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good Morning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And indeed it is, my friends. The sun has been out, the semester is winding down, and just all around joy and excitement is in the air. I am loving every moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I bet a couple of you have been wondering where I have been (or not). Well, my lack of posts is a good indication that I have been busy. My days are filled with getting ready for the summer semester and my weekends are filled with adventures. It has been since the end of March that I have actually been able to spend some time at home and this weekend is no different. Before I jump the gun here, I will just give you a quick recap. A couple weekends ago, I made the drive home to celebrate Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, my mom had to work on the actual holiday, so we moved it up a weekend. I know the day is past, but I just want to give a shout out to my mom. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. My mother is the most beautiful woman I ever saw and know. I truly strive to be like her because I don’t know a person who is so caring, giving, so beautiful and much more. I once read that a mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. This is my mom in a nutshell. She brings so much joy and laughter to my life each day and I am so proud to call her Mom. We celebrated by drinking coffee, catching up, having margaritas and fried pickles (mmmm!), shopping, and scanning Pintrest. There may be some Pintrest weekends coming up here soon! It was a delightful weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a short week at work, I again packed up for a weekend trip to Fargo, ND<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to see Cory’s sister graduate. One graduation party, three bottles of homemade mead (aka diesel oil), some bad karaoke, 6 beers, and some late night/early morning Catan and 35 Taquitos later, we were back in the car making the six hour drive home. It was a very successful weekend if I don’t say so myself. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Congrats on your Fashion Apparel Buying Sewing Branding Selling with an emphasis in Design Drawing and Retail degree Paula! (Did I get that degree right? I feel I missed something)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We got back and settled down for another short work week. This weekend we are off to see two lovely friends get married on an island. Let’s just say that my excitement is hard to contain. Weddings, first of all are awesome. Everyone is so happy and are there to celebrate. It is just a great time all around. Secondly, we are so happy for this couple and are so glad to be able to witness them getting married. Third, have a mentioned it’s on a flipping island? I mean, it just doesn’t get better than friends around all there to celebrate this jubilant occasion. I will definitely have pictures!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After this is done comes Memorial Day. It means yet another long weekend for me and I plan on taking full advantage of my first weekend at home in two months by opening the windows, turning on some music, and spring cleaning. This may not be exciting for some of you, but I am pumped. I get three whole days to do whatever I want! This also involves getting outside and cleaning up the yard from Old Man Winter still, some grilling and brews may also be in the itinerary. Yes, friends. Life is good. </span></div>
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If you need a good pick me up, here is another cat video! Yes, I know you are excited. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Get out there and enjoy this great day! Summer is almost here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!</span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-83486056686228911772013-05-04T14:34:00.003-05:002013-05-06T07:53:58.603-05:00Book Review: 24 Bones<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good Rainy Saturday Morning, Friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, this winter weather seems to be hanging on and mother nature’s throwing all of us a curve ball. The robins seem to be balls of puff as they hunker down to weather the rain and you can actually hear a tree fall down in the forest. It is days like this that a good read is most welcome. Well, friends, it’s your lucky day. Prepared to be warped into a world of Pharaoh’s and sun-dwellers in <a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">Michael Stewart’s</a> book <u><a href="http://24bonesblogtour.blogspot.com/">24 Bones. <o:p></o:p></a></u></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCqrflUVlKFcGfNZQg25qzIHBRh04cdoFoGT9NO72ip-Orh4M82QGSVt3h7avrraXxYTY9_pHeWcnfLNlpQu_-SmN4I9oAcZJxuZQc2N_bTxwYEVMUUpDmpUI27yjiHGI6YRg7BJd3S0/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCqrflUVlKFcGfNZQg25qzIHBRh04cdoFoGT9NO72ip-Orh4M82QGSVt3h7avrraXxYTY9_pHeWcnfLNlpQu_-SmN4I9oAcZJxuZQc2N_bTxwYEVMUUpDmpUI27yjiHGI6YRg7BJd3S0/s1600/24.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every five hundred years the phoenix dies.<br /><br />Samiya, born-into-shadow, is soon to battle her born-into-light brother. Abandoned by their parents, neither wishes to play the preordained role of beast and hero. When their loved ones are taken hostage, they are forced to follow the path laid out in myth, culminating in a battle first fought six thousand years ago in ancient Cairo. A mythic clash where one defeats the other and both become gods.<br /><br />To break free from their fates, Samiya and her brother must unravel a mystery twisted by cults, greed, and magic. But myth is a powerful force and failure to live up to it may not only destroy their lives but the lives of the ones they love most.<br /><br />When the phoenix dies, the only certainty is flames.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every once in a while, I find myself reading a book without really understanding the big picture at first. This is one of those books. I had the privilege to review one other book my <a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">Michael Stewart</a> before reading <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><a href="http://24bonesblogtour.blogspot.com/">24 Bones</a></u></b>., so I thought I knew what I was in for. His book <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><a href="http://24bonesblogtour.blogspot.com/">24 Bones</a></u></b> was not what I was expecting at all. Don’t get me wrong, I thought this was a very powerful read that touched on subjects that were unexpected as the book itself. War, family ties, mythology, balance just to name a few. Prepares yourselves for another epic ride as we tumble into the world of Pharaoh’s, the Void, and a battle for the record books. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thing that surprised me about <a href="http://24bonesblogtour.blogspot.com/">24 Bones</a> was the pure knowledge that the author knew about Ancient Egypt and some of the mythology and facts along with that. With this, he took us into the present (and possibly the future) but never once deterred from the ancient stories as the character carried the stories of the past with her. It was quite admirable how some of the paragraphs read more like a history lesson that was intertwined with the main characters. What started to really draw me in was the concept behind the words that can be broken down to good versus evil. This is where the knowledge of Ancient Egypt came into play. The story goes that when Osiris died, his spine was broken into individual bones and separated up within separate groups. Now the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>battle between good and evil is brewing and Osiris spine needs to be, for lack of a better word, reassembled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When one of the main characters, Samiya, takes her own mother in custody because she knew what a piece of the spine was, she was on the evil side, but then I started to question her motives, and if she was just acting evil for the sake of the good. But again, it was her mother who dedicated her to this side for the sake of ‘balance’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book distorted the lines of this so called good and evil. I found myself not knowing which side to root for, who were the good guys, and I had no idea how it was going to end. I have to applause <a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">Michael Stewart</a> once again for a suspenseful book and once again, a very gripping conclusion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, friends, this is the perfect book to make your rainy day more electrifying. Step in from out of the rain and discover a world unlike any other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About the Author<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After crewing ships in the Antarctic and the Baltic Sea and some fun in venture capital, <a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">Michael </a>anchored himself (happily) to a marriage and a boatload of kids. Now he injects his adventurous spirit into his writing with brief respites for research into the jungles of Sumatra and Guatemala, the ruins of Egypt and Tik’al, paddling the Zambezi and diving whatever cave or ocean reef will have him. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and SF Canada, and the author of the Assured Destruction series, <a href="http://24bonesblogtour.blogspot.com/">24 Bones</a>, The Sand Dragon, Hurakan, Ruination and several award winning graphic novels for young adults.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Purchase the book:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGCQGNG?tag=tributebooks-20">Kindle<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/286062?ref=tributebooks">Smashwords</a></span><br />
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<br />Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-52336384797013738602013-05-01T09:54:00.001-05:002013-05-01T12:17:16.062-05:00Happy May Day!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy May Day, friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know I have been absent on here lately, and I apologize. Some great things have been happening on my side of the line though. Flashback: remember those posts about me somewhat complaining about being bored all the time and I just want to do stuff? Well I take that back. It seems that free time is non-existent lately and I find myself looking forward to the first day I have no plans. I have no idea when that will be, but it is going to be glorious. Usually my weeks are filled with work, helping at the theater, or trying to get a start on spring cleaning while my weekends were free to do as I pleased. Well, that is no more. I don’t remember the last day that I slept in past 8:00 or sat down and just read for a couple hours and wasted time. Even my weekends seem to be taking a turn and are getting even busier than the work week. I haven’t been home for a weekend since my work conference at the beginning of April and it looks like it will stay that way through May. Don’t get me wrong friends. I am not going on a tangent of complaints right now because these past couple of months has been great. They have been filled with fun, laughter, a lot of firsts, good food, and just great memories. I have hopes that the upcoming future may prove to be the same. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes friends, great things are happening and I can’t wait! The upcoming events includes, but is not limited to: graduation parties, Mother’s Day, one epic Wedding Weekend of a great friend (yay!), theater opening, family time, barbeques, bike rides, and the theater opening!! (I know I already mentioned this, but felt it should be added again for emphasis) Yes, spring/summer is around the corner (despite the fact that we are indeed in a winter storm warning for tonight). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will give you a little bit of update as to what I have been up to. *Disclaimer* It’s not much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went home this past weekend to celebrate my Pa’s birthday and to help with some clean up. They were in an area that was hit hard with ice leaving pretty much the whole county without power for multiple days and it took down many trees and branches. Let’s just say by the end of the weekend, I didn’t want to see one or pick up another stick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started this little thing called Insanity. Let’s just say it lives up to its name. I am only a week in and can feel it. Never before have I wanted to hit the television screen one moment and hug it the next. I think my stubborn side reared its head because I didn’t believe a DVD workout routine that calls for no weights or equipment but guarantees to get you in shape could actually work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s pretty much like a bad relationship that I have started. It is the most intense workout I have ever done but feel fantastic after. It’s also somewhat addicting and I feel like a fool doing it, but I am hoping it will be worth it, and at this rate, I think it will be. It also helps me feel a bit less guilty of drinking that extra beer or eating greasy potato chips so I call it a win! My legs are sore and I am having trouble walking but that means it’s working or I am doing all the workouts incredibly wrong. (I will leave out the fact that I went on a 4 mile bike ride after my first session…Thanks Cory, for convincing me to go on that bike ride and telling me <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be alright to walk after.) This, along with me drinking between 64 and 96 ounces of water a day, has left me feeling pretty good lately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are starting to talk about what we should do for promotions for the theater’s opening day. This, my friends, is exciting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well friends, that’s about it. I hope you receive many May Day Baskets (do people still do that?) and I will talk to you again soon. In the meantime, here is a cat video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-41177778827156310792013-04-24T10:08:00.000-05:002013-04-24T11:37:17.943-05:00There Was This One Time That I Went to My First Concert....<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Hump Day, Friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is going to be a great day! Yes. Yes it is. Even though I am sleep deprived and my coffee is already half way gone (or is it half full?), it still is going to be swell. Why the sunshine (well, besides the fact that the actual sun is indeed shining)? Because last night I crossed one more thing off my 30/30 list. To you, this may seem small. To me it’s AWESOME! So, maybe my sleep deprivation is getting to me. I have put in one too many exclamation points in this first paragraph, but I am still coming down off my happy cloud that was yesterday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What did I cross off you may ask? I put a big line through: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Go to a concert.</u></i></b> I know to a lot of you out there that this isn’t a big deal because you have gone to many concerts, but I have not. Yes, this is a fact. I am 26 and have never been to an actual concert where you go to see one band and go exclusively for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, take that 30/30 list. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What band did I go and see you may ask? Well, my good friend who is <a href="http://strandupdate.blogspot.com/">somewhat of a concert whore</a> (can I say that on here?) <s>forced</s> recommended that I see the<strong><a href="http://www.theairbornetoxicevent.com/"> Airborne Toxic Event</a></strong> with her. Now, I have never heard of this band prior to her asking me, so I was hesitant to agree, but because I miss her face, I agreed. If I hated the band at least I could hang out with her, right? Well, it turns out that she was right and it was just a fantastic night. I loved the opening act (mainly because they were from Ireland and had awesome accents and were cute), and I absolutely loved <a href="http://www.theairbornetoxicevent.com/">The Airborne Toxic Event!</a> Little did I know that I even knew some of the songs. The crowd was awesome, the show was very high energy, and we had arguably the best <s>seats</s> standing room in the house. There even came a point where we got to touch the lead singer of the band (in not a groupie stalker way either). He came through the crowd and even though I didn’t get to hold his hand like <a href="http://strandupdate.blogspot.com/">Sara</a>, I did manage to find his sweaty armpit (hey, I took what I could get). There was a violin, a cello, so many guitars that I didn’t even know what each one did and just a great concert. Now, I have nothing to compare this to, but I feel safe to say it was a great concert and I had a blast! Now I know that I have truly been missing out and can’t wait to see what other music I can be introduced to. The lack of sleep and ringing in the ears is so worth it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s hope I can ration out these two things so I can make it through the day in a somewhat functional form:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, my day (well, morning by this point) was made even better when I came home to this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, my life is truly blessed and my friends are amazing! Seriously. I am just so thankful for the things I get to do and the people in my life that make it so much better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-58834462220733978522013-04-20T21:02:00.001-05:002013-04-20T21:02:50.743-05:00Book Review: Assured Destruction
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Saturday friends! The sun is shining, the birds are
cold and for the first time in a long time, the heat has no need to be on in
the car (and yes, I am typing this as we make our way to Mankato).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some mornings, I wake up and breathe in the
feelings of happiness and today is no different. With this being said, I am
thrilled to be able to review for you today <a href="http://assureddestruction.blogspot.com/">Assured Destruction</a> by <a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">Michael F.Stewart.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summary:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sixteen-year-old Jan Rose knows that nothing is ever truly
deleted. At least, not from the hard drives she scours to create the online
identities she calls the Shadownet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hobby? Art form? Sad,
pathetic plea to garner friendship, even virtually? Sure, Jan is guilty on all
counts. Maybe she’s even addicted to it. It’s an exploration. Everyone has
something to hide. The Shadownet’s hard drives are Jan’s secrets. They're stolen
from her family’s computer recycling business Assured Destruction. If the
police found out, Jan’s family would lose their livelihood. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the real people behind Shadownet’s hard drives endure
vicious cyber attacks, Jan realizes she is responsible. She doesn’t know who is
targeting these people or why but as her life collapses Jan must use all her
tech savvy to bring the perpetrators to justice before she becomes the next
victim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First of all, I must start with how cleverly titled this
book was. <a href="http://assureddestruction.blogspot.com/">Assured Destruction</a> could be the main theme of the book and it held
steady throughout. Not only was it the name of the business where most of the
plot took place, it could also be the theme of Jans’s life. Before I get too
deep into the review, let me introduce you to Jan: She is a teenager struggling
to make friends and make it through high school days while juggling<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a job, boys, a sick mother, and social media.
In short, a lot of people can relate to Jan. I think this will hit home with
the YA group that the book is aimed towards and this makes the book an instant
hit. While most teens don’t create alias’ from their friends hard drives and
create a network in their basement (aka the ShadowNet), a lot of teens can
relate to staying connected by social media. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Jan is hacked and her life takes a turn for the worst,
it is up to her and only her to get her life on the right track as friends now
look at her as the enemy, her mom (and her new boyfriend) starts to distrust
her and the police are on her tale for crimes that she didn’t commit. This is
where Jan relies solely on herself taught ways as she tracks down the person
who hacked her. Little did she know that she would uncover her own ‘<a href="http://assureddestruction.blogspot.com/">assured destruction’</a> and stop the demolition that was sure to happen. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In all, this was a clever book and a fast read. I think it
is a perfect read for today’s YA group and shows them that there can be
downfalls to this thing that we call social media. This is a techy read with a
cliffhanger ending. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Want to get in the loop? Purchase<a href="http://assureddestruction.blogspot.com/"> Assured Destruction</a> at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/098126994X?tag=tributebooks-20">Amazon<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BXRUYO6?tag=tributebooks-20">Kindle</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17376220-assured-destruction">Goodreads</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">About the author:<o:p></o:p></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After crewing ships in the Antarctic and the Baltic Sea and
some fun in venture capital, <a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">Michael</a> anchored himself (happily) to a marriage
and a boatload of kids. Now he injects his adventurous spirit into his writing
with brief respites for research into the jungles of Sumatra and Guatemala, the
ruins of Egypt and Tik’al, paddling the Zambezi and diving whatever cave or
ocean reef will have him. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers
and SF Canada, and the author of the <a href="http://michaelfstewart.com/">Assured Destruction</a> series, 24 Bones, The
Sand Dragon, Hurakan, Ruination and several award winning graphic novels for
young adults.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-4464006992783026472013-04-19T09:57:00.000-05:002013-04-19T10:16:41.987-05:00This Post Seems Somewhat Boring- Enjoy!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TGIF Friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the snow that fell yesterday along with the closings and deathly drive into work, a lot of people are sinking even further into the gloom that this season deemed ‘Sprinter’. Spring has yet to be sprung as the shovels are brought back out and I sit excitedly in front of the television as I wait for my place of employment to scroll across the screen. Well, for once it didn’t happen and I put on my big girl pants and made the drive in to work. I must send a shout out to my Pa who taught me to drive in weather such as this. I may be one of the few people at work, but here I sit. The thing is, I am not too disappointed. It’s Friday. Spring has to come eventually, I am done at noon and there are adventures on the horizon. Yes, it could be worse my friends. Hang in there. Sun will be on it way soon (hopefully). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh7AYVJFQOpV3fwV43-NRZEm0-nV87-N0nOrxzMSHsafpgGBJmGCkGUqNieNmZg8W9xrzF3R23Dvbf-FT0ejHHUczUtx3xUUSTgVhkVgHQsb2egLbFDjETATHIBNH5s0TIjjp8fOMlbw/s1600/s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh7AYVJFQOpV3fwV43-NRZEm0-nV87-N0nOrxzMSHsafpgGBJmGCkGUqNieNmZg8W9xrzF3R23Dvbf-FT0ejHHUczUtx3xUUSTgVhkVgHQsb2egLbFDjETATHIBNH5s0TIjjp8fOMlbw/s320/s.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My walk into work this morning!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What adventures are planned this weekend? Exciting ones, that’s for sure. After work, I am headed to the great Amery Theater to get my paint on and jam to the great hits of the 90’s with Cor as we try to get the theater ready for a Spring/Summer opening. After that, we are going to finish a DIY project that we have been working on (there will be pictures to follow, but it is also a birthday present and I don’t want to ruin any surprises), and tonight I may drink some beer while making these:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes. These are in fact mini hamburger cookies!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, that is what I consider a wild and crazy Friday night and I can’t wait. Saturday morning I am again packing up my bags as Cor and I head down to Mankato to help my sister move, hang out with the parentals and relax our evening away in the hotel room. Even though the weather may not cooperate, I am still excited to help her move and see her new house! Before we make the drive though, be sure to check out my blog Saturday morning for my next book review with Tribute books: <a href="http://assureddestruction.blogspot.com/">Assured Destruction by Micheal F. Stewart. <o:p></o:p></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday involves a drive back home, some laundry, and we might even have time to get some gaming in! A pretty successful weekend if I may say so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, just because I feel the post is a bit lackluster, here is a pick me up that makes reading my post today all the more worthwhile. Enjoy friends!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TGIF!</span><br />
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-71323197531415718712013-04-16T09:42:00.000-05:002013-04-16T09:58:13.781-05:00Let's Play a Game of Catch Up!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well hello there! It has been a long time, my friends. Besides my book review, it feels like it’s been ages since I last was on here. Okay, so two weeks is a long time and I apologize. Since I last posted, as mentioned, things have been quite busy. That along with a weeklong business trip to Lincoln, NE, I found my blogging time nonexistent. So, let’s play a quick game of catch up! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am going to start with the weekend prior to last weekend (make sense?). April 6<sup>th</sup> just to clear up any confusion. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Anyways, April 6<sup>th</sup> marked my first race of spring. As you all know, spring seems to be hiding its pretty little head behind snowstorms and ice sheets. That aside, my friend and I bundled up and put on bright colors (her more so than I) and took a 3.1 mile trek around a lake in Minneapolis for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #663300;">Chocoholic Frolic</span></i>. I am sure a couple of you remember my excited chanter about this race. Not only was the loot amazing (there was coffee, chocolate fountains, hot chocolates, chips, music, bananas, and cookies) the atmosphere was awesome as well!. Does all this seem random? Sure does. Was it a blast despite the cold! You know it!! This race is definitely in my top 3 races I have done. If the weather was cooperating and not snowing, it would have been that much better. As far as the timing goes, I guess I am a little disappointed in myself. Being the first race of the season and not being able to train very much due to weather and being too cheap to buy a gym membership, I guess I should be happy. I do feel like I slowed my friend down a bit, but she was awesome and we just had fun! This is def a must do race every year!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend also helped me cross off another thing on my 30/30 list (well almost). My friend is big into Yoga and is looking at getting her Yoga instructor licensure (how awesome is that!). Well, Friday before the race she attempted to teach me some Yoga moves and gave me a routine to work on. I learned two things: 1. Yoga is a lot harder than I ever thought and 2. I am not very good at it. I have been trying it out at home, but don’t know if I am doing the moves quite right. It sure was fun and I hope we will be able to get together more often and she can teach me more and more. I also learned that if you aren’t sure if you’re doing a move correctly, if it hurts, you probably are. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After heading back home and one very hot shower to ward off the cold, Cory and I settled into a cozy night of movies, snacks, and cuddling (he is going to hate I put that </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Poor guy!) Sunday wasn’t much different. I woke up to coffee in my owl mug and a fire in the fireplace. Being that we had a laid back night we both felt like doing something. It was decided that we would drive to our friends house and bust out the Catan board and have a couple of ‘cow beers’ (New Glarus Spotted Cow to be exact). Well, Sunday funday turned into SUNDAY FUNDAY as we rid their fridge of beer and transitioned from Catan to drinking games. It was an unexpected fun night out with great friends. Oh the joys of life!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday morning came way too soon as I packed my bags for a week away and headed to Lincoln Nebraska for a work conference. My boss and I made good time on the way there and we even saw hints of spring along the way. This included green grass and warm weather! We actually needed to turn the A/C on in the car. Blasphemy, I know! Don’t be too jealous friends, because it didn’t last long. Sun turned into rain which turned into hail which turned into snow. That aside, the training conference was actually quite fun. Never having been to one before, I didn’t know what to expect. There was a lot of information and new things to learn mixed in with just enough fun activities that the week went by in a blur. I ate the best I ever have, went to the top happy hours I have ever been to, made connections with other bookstore people, learned enough to make my brain hurt, and stayed in the one of the nicest hotels I have been to in a long time. In short, it was a great week! With the talk of the Spring winter snowstorm headed our way, we decided to make the trip back. One would think we drove cross country because we hit all the major precipitation on the way home and the last leg was a white knuckle drive, but we made it home late Thursday.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday was a catch up day and not much happened and then on Saturday, I packed my bags again to head into Minneapolis for a bachelorette party. (I think someone was protesting how much I have been gone and no, it wasn’t Cory) </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Girls nights, games, drinks, and food ensued at the bachelorette’s house as people got to know each other and old friends were reunited. It was a great night filled with delightful fragranced women, laughter, drunken twins fans, dueling pianos, 3D light/dance party, cold walks and warm hugs. It is times like these that I love to look around and think how lucky I am to have such great friends with hearts of gold (Yay friends!) Sunday was filled with a delightful brunch, some much needed coffee, a snowy drive home and a nap that some would consider a full nights rest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, friends, I am one lucky gal. It was a busy couple of weeks but I wouldn’t change a thing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a sidenote, don't get the thought into your head that I lead an exciting life. These past two weeks have been a fluke in my boring system but it never hurts to switch it up alittle. If I am still not fooling you, feel free to join me as I hit up my towns hottest ladies night (this picture is for you Sara!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!</span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-20036751557308744052013-04-13T16:25:00.000-05:002013-04-13T16:26:32.888-05:00Book Review: The Grace Painter<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ahhh! Where have I been? It seems like my last post was ages
ago. So much to catch you up on and so little time!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, Hello by the way. So maybe I’m not freaking out like my
first sentence leads you to believe but it was no understatement either. I
truly do have so much to catch up on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friend and I did the Chocoholic Frolic (Flippin awesome!
Pictures and post to follow), I went to training in Lincoln, NE for the week
and that in itself will be in a separate post (pictures and post to follow),
the Spring Blizzard of 2013 happened (no pictures or post to follow. Too
depressing), and at the moment I am sitting with curlers in my hair drinking
coffee because in a couple of hours I have a very good friends bachelorette
party tonight (no guarantee of pictures and a post to follow. ;) I feel like
Carrie Bradshaw, typing away at my computer and trying to sort things out while
I get ready for the evening out. Okay, so maybe I only have my cat here and I
am drinking coffee instead of a martini while in sweatpants, but a gal can
dream, right? With all the catch up I have on my list, I bet you are wondering
why I just don’t post about all this. Well friends, today I am going to send
you off with a little less crazy, but not by much. While my life had been busy
these last couple of weeks, through it all I was warped into a world that was
even crazier. Lo and behold friends, here is another great book and my review
to go along with it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<a href="http://thegracepainter.blogspot.com/">The GracePainter</a>,” by <a href="http://www.markromangbooks.com/">Mark Romang</a> left me on the brink of my seat and my nerves on edge.
Nicole from <a href="http://www.tribute-books.com/blog_tours.html">Tribute Books</a> sent me another book that belongs on your shelf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="color: #0c343d;">Summary:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is the one reflecting back at you from inside a mirror. Matthew London can attest to this difficult truth. Ever since the former NYPD hostage negotiator changed his identity and fled New York City for the backwaters of Louisiana, regret has ruled his life.<br />
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For eight years London has lived like a hermit in a declining plantation house. Only his talent for painting Renaissance-style murals and paintings keeps the inner-demons from totally destroying him. Each day the disgraced hostage negotiator longs for a chance at redemption, never expecting it to actually happen. But then a down-on-her-luck FBI agent shows up on his doorstep one evening. It turns out Jean-Paul and Sebastian Boudreaux, two local brothers famous for lawlessness have inadvertently kidnapped a little girl.<br />
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London is quickly thrust into the starring role of a daring rescue attempt. But before he can rescue the child from the dangerous Boudreaux brothers, he first must find a way to forgive himself for a past misstep, a blunder that forever altered his once promising life. But in the Atchafalaya Basin swampland, nothing is promised. Grace cannot be purchased or earned. It can only be given<br />
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<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="color: #0c343d;">Review:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow! That one word about sums up my thoughts on the book. I
agreed to review it, not really knowing what to expect. The synopsis sounded
exciting so I thought I would give it a go. Enter murders, drug lords, a hint
of romance, high speed chases, kidnapping, good guys, bad guys and everything
in between. The author<a href="http://www.markromangbooks.com/"> Mark Romang</a> sure can write suspense. The story was fast
paced and sucked you into a world so far corrupted but believable that it was
hard to stop reading. The main setting was a hurricane down in the bayou of
Louisiana, but I can’t help but drawn the line that as the hurricane boiled,
the parallel between that and the lives of the characters could also be
referred to as a hurricane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
whirlwind of action that was so cleverly plotted that the 300+ pages seemed to
whirl by. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There were a couple things in the story that I
think abetted my thoughts. First of all, the author knows suspense. The
backstories of the main characters added to my feelings of like or distaste. It
was just enough of a backstory on each character to leave me wanting more and
that in itself left me turning pages faster than I can read. Mark Romang sucked
me in with the flashback in the very start of the book and it only went faster
after that. Also, the transition from one character to the next was never
confusing. You have about three or four main characters and even more
supporting characters and all were important to the story, however, unlike some books, I
didn’t find myself paging backwards to get clarity of who’s who. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
<a href="http://www.markromangbooks.com/">Romang</a> also made it hard not to cheer for the good guys and
he reminded me that there is still good out in the world. Matthew and Annie
were two characters with more gumption than most, yet the motive was all for
the grace of good and to help others. I was always rooting for them and may or
may not have fist pumped a couple of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How <a href="http://www.markromangbooks.com/">Romang</a> wrote all of this suspense with an undertone of religion is
beyond me. This could be considered a religious book, yet Romang doesn’t preach
or overdo it. The book just reminds readers that there is still good out in the
world and if you believe, you will be saved. When we are at our darkest place,
alone, there is still light somewhere. Gabby was the one who this was most
prominent in but the innocence of childhood helped her see it the brightest.
Annie and Matthew took some time, but everything that happened to both of them
led them to exactly where they belonged, with each other. I being a hopeless
romantic loved this most. The book proved to me that even the most terrifying
of evils can be defeated and conquered. <o:p></o:p><br />
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________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span><br />
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At $0.99, why wouldn’t you buy it!! <a href="http://thegracepainter.blogspot.com/">The Grace Painter</a> can be
purchased at:</div>
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<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/b/259249?ref=tributebooks">Smashwords<o:p></o:p></a></div>
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<o:p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADWZ4M4?tag=tributebooks-20">Kindle</a></o:p></div>
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<o:p><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-grace-painter-mark-romang/1113848026?ean=2940015785463">Nook</a></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://thegracepainter.blogspot.com/">Check out the Tribute Books blog tour here!<o:p></o:p></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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About the Author:</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
[<a href="http://www.markromangbooks.com/">Mark Romang</a>]</span> was born in 1967. Avid reader, suspense novelist, faithful
husband, baffled father, factory worker, reformed head-banger, failed musician,
contact sports lover, MMA enthusiast, distressed KC sports fan, Lord of the
Rings geek, workout fiend, dog owner, nature lover, proud American, disgruntled
voter, pistachio addict, caffeine-riddled, screw-up saved by grace, sojourner.
This is me in a nutshell.<o:p></o:p></o:p></div>
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</span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-45308959262580790892013-04-04T11:00:00.001-05:002013-04-04T11:02:10.369-05:00That's Amore!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="color: #0c343d;"><strong>It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm definitely embracing my nerdy side by starting this blog post off with a Lord of the Rings quote. But lately, that road that goes ever on and on has been on my mind (and now I want to do an extended version Lord of the Rings marathon. Anyone want to join in?).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Movie marathon aside, it has been awhile since I last posted about the journey of marriage and why I like Cory just so damn much. Warning, this post might get mushy, but only for a sentence or two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you all know, I went home this past weekend and it was this past weekend that brought along the most thoughts about where Cory and I are headed. From time to time, Cory and I have both made the comments that when we're our parents age, we'll still be in love as when we are now. We look at our parents, who still have such affection for each other after all these years, and we hope that our love will be the same way. It is almost uncanny that both set of parents are still together and still so in love that we have some of the best role models. I have heard the comments that some guys make that include always treating his lady as a princess and give her everything she wants, it got me to thinking about the way I love, and the way I want to be loved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I think about my relationship with Cor, he treats me with that chivalry from ages past and I am so grateful for that. But when it really comes down to it, I cherish our relationship because we try to treat each other as equals. My feelings for grow each day as we talk about the past and how much we have done together and as we talk of future plans. Plus, we sure do know how to have a good time. Our interests are so very different from each other and I can say with honesty that when I pictured myself getting married, it was to an avid outdoors man not an artsy fella, but by golly, I fell in love with that artsy fella. Each day I feel thankful that he chose me. We just fit together and I am a better person (albeit more nerdy) because of him. I think the three main factors in our relationship are 1. Trust. We trust each other whole heartedly and neither one of us have a jealous factor. Seriously, if girls hit on your man, it is a compliment because guess who he is going home with? 2. Honesty. Cory has always told me the truth and I have never doubted it for a minute. Me, on the other hand, have tried lying to him on multiple occasions, but I am a very bad liar. He knows me almost too well and listens to everything I say. EVERYTHING. After multiple attempts of covering up how much I spent shopping or who fed the kitty the leftover steak, I have just given up trying to lie because I have found out it’s no use. And lastly, 3. Love and laughter (okay, so maybe it’s 3. And 4. ) Because at the end of the night, I recap my days past and my days ahead and know that I will always love this man and he will always love me, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>make me laugh, make me smile and thankful, and keep me on my toes (told you it might get mushy) We know how to love greatly and have a good time no matter what life throws our way. (Seriously, you all should want to hang out with us). In essence, it's about those small gestures. I'm all about the simple smiles, and while <s>flowers</s> cleaning the house <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and <s>chocolates</s> kitty coffee mugs and <s>diamonds</s> taking the garbage out may be nice, I cherish those smaller things that can be done on a daily basis, almost effortlessly. A squeeze of a hand, a post-it note or text message to say "I love you", cooking a favorite meal. That's the way I love and that is why I love him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lately I keep hearing about the 5 Love Languages. (Okay, so maybe I just found it on Google, but I didn’t know how to work in in the conversation) so I took the test. See an excerpt from their blog post below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m convinced that keeping the emotional love tank full is as important to a marriage as maintaining the proper oil level in your car. Running your marriage on an empty love tank may cost you even more than trying to drive your car without oil. How do you fill the love tank of your spouse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You find out what makes them feel loved and then to the best of your ability, you speak their “love language.” There are five love languages: words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, quality time, and physical touch. One of these speaks more deeply to your spouse than the other four. Learn to speak the right love language and watch your spouse begin to smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they feel loved, they are likely to reciprocate<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In short, this test is one that will point out the love language that best fits your life. Here’s how I scored:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">8 Acts of Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">7 Physical Touch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 Words of Affirmation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 Quality Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 Receiving Gifts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I won’t include what each one means, but here is my highest scoring result:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acts of Service<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter. Finding ways to serve speaks volumes to the recipient of these acts.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would be lying is I said this wasn’t true. So maybe I am a clean freak and look at vacuuming as an act of love. Don’t judge. I must say though, that the highest score is 12 and I am pretty balanced when it comes to each category (and thank the heavens that receiving gifts was lowest. I mean, I love getting presents. Like a lot. I am glad my superficial gratifications didn’t come through on a love test.) What language of love are you? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/"><strong><em>Take the test here!</em></strong></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I think this also mean that if we ever meet in real life, prepare to take your shoes off before you enter my house and don’t be alarmed if I follow you around with a swifter or lint roller or god help us all if you eat a cookie without a napkin or plate underneath that cookie. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This post is about love and the test was fun to take, but it also goes beyond that. I'm not the perfect wife or perfect <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>friend, but I try my best to show someone that I'm willing to go the extra mile for them and that, when it boils down to the end of the day, Love is all I Need and I am fortunate enough to be loved. And I am so grateful to have Cory in my life (and all of your love also. Yay for friends!) So as you take the step outside your door each and every day, be swept off your feet and enjoy life, love and laughter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hope you're not having a case of the Thursdays like I am and hope there's sunshine wherever you are right now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-23487515410611542502013-04-03T11:06:00.001-05:002013-04-03T11:06:32.984-05:00Doldrums Be Gone!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Wednesday! We made it half way through the week friends. It is once again the hump day of the week as we work to get through today and tomorrow before we celebrate the Friday feeling. Even though things are getting quieter at work, my workload seems to be stacking up. This, along with the amount of people using the word doldrums, I am beginning to think that you all need another mindless and fun post, so here you go friends. Enjoy these 23 Once in a Lifetime Shots:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nik Wallenda's Tightrope Walk Over Niagara Falls.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A boy finds out what happens when you mix Diet Coke and Mentos.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Six lightning strikes captured at once on Lake Michigan.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A great white shark becomes airborne in Cape Town, South Africa.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The moment before splashdown.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrebY_-Xe4DPm1v4yytrFJulydb0G-csf3uSPBTXGCndSqhRjwofshamg-lk7IDJu1E32PP5CXAMa1bT7xa2Ty_Mmqs0y4uN9d6HeywAs9UbJDZk40KfRh57YSxCK5ItgMyyCToKARg0/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-5541-1364938496-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrebY_-Xe4DPm1v4yytrFJulydb0G-csf3uSPBTXGCndSqhRjwofshamg-lk7IDJu1E32PP5CXAMa1bT7xa2Ty_Mmqs0y4uN9d6HeywAs9UbJDZk40KfRh57YSxCK5ItgMyyCToKARg0/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-5541-1364938496-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A statue of Buddha captures a commercial airliner by its tail.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPY_zgw4nqdL3a8_zPqs9xAfKr4i2ncf-LUyPvQaDmMT7a1j8koMuuFpPG2F3Nxq8zOXNAPyaHWpqyau9zGP_Z5qi0sKEqe-0YQTf55ZqbKCE80OvhjngO6jU4BzK2yllDOVZKKFXNpc/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-18203-1364938804-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPY_zgw4nqdL3a8_zPqs9xAfKr4i2ncf-LUyPvQaDmMT7a1j8koMuuFpPG2F3Nxq8zOXNAPyaHWpqyau9zGP_Z5qi0sKEqe-0YQTf55ZqbKCE80OvhjngO6jU4BzK2yllDOVZKKFXNpc/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-18203-1364938804-26.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A curious whale shark visits with a boat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XRC6csxfTpQGB8Agm6aOorzk9edlESNdKv47mLVwlwDhe091unVmdlFNwf7oLwXXwb2Onp1BK2L-vt_mZLDYxDI98ePvlOrKGxFVrCyk5_HEJKrxm4z836kW89zEm9gMhE4-ov4YHJo/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-29150-1364938498-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XRC6csxfTpQGB8Agm6aOorzk9edlESNdKv47mLVwlwDhe091unVmdlFNwf7oLwXXwb2Onp1BK2L-vt_mZLDYxDI98ePvlOrKGxFVrCyk5_HEJKrxm4z836kW89zEm9gMhE4-ov4YHJo/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-29150-1364938498-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Traffic stops as over 5,000 ducks cross a road in Zhejiang, China.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnEId2-jHY4SLyGi87bdCjvlaaqDfW-9MOwWEcz5icYdCKfD0a97ylO4LEke6bXays3EBgm4TSplgLS7dmaonk2jXOASbYjpqXP2rNKMEh90ZEosJHFxJTQU8eMvoVX0jsQbOi0tqIZE/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-6389-1364938498-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnEId2-jHY4SLyGi87bdCjvlaaqDfW-9MOwWEcz5icYdCKfD0a97ylO4LEke6bXays3EBgm4TSplgLS7dmaonk2jXOASbYjpqXP2rNKMEh90ZEosJHFxJTQU8eMvoVX0jsQbOi0tqIZE/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-6389-1364938498-18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A sloth photobombs a group of students in Costa Rica.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfyNKt8yNURmK17vcLY8D9vT1aCKVG-jw4MF6bYy3rHyjDw5JCzgd3fVC1PFHl4O_cF0giwl3WmSKMkClMbJU59jZekmOaU8XDpDoE4bexaxvlnkr1qBRSGq9v9iVc9Dx01hbgErVI1I/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-6453-1364938500-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfyNKt8yNURmK17vcLY8D9vT1aCKVG-jw4MF6bYy3rHyjDw5JCzgd3fVC1PFHl4O_cF0giwl3WmSKMkClMbJU59jZekmOaU8XDpDoE4bexaxvlnkr1qBRSGq9v9iVc9Dx01hbgErVI1I/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-6453-1364938500-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Snowboarder Tyler Chorlton pulls off the highest of fives.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70PfXPGO-ep2cq3xcYfs1C14NQcHjd8guS6SHjW_HNDff0OrXukAodaKaziI6-tq5bcacLKE04chuonC1VpSTnFy07o-nNozT1hDepLvKZKJFeYVEp_9kgvCfOQFiuG0CsT4hKClLV-M/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-7214-1364938502-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70PfXPGO-ep2cq3xcYfs1C14NQcHjd8guS6SHjW_HNDff0OrXukAodaKaziI6-tq5bcacLKE04chuonC1VpSTnFy07o-nNozT1hDepLvKZKJFeYVEp_9kgvCfOQFiuG0CsT4hKClLV-M/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-7214-1364938502-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The moment a huge bubble bursts in Paris, France.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PQlgc4Vz45IvYJ0dcXL7Zjtmo3cCkS5S1HeTa2kP3Ni4iVmVJ39EoL678IfXtebRU3PrESg2v3rCnGDTYqcpMp-KuaIYqR1fZ-1QtcnZLGuDqGEvxKfrjwFetjEPmb4JQP9tiVbvKuE/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-21796-1364939067-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PQlgc4Vz45IvYJ0dcXL7Zjtmo3cCkS5S1HeTa2kP3Ni4iVmVJ39EoL678IfXtebRU3PrESg2v3rCnGDTYqcpMp-KuaIYqR1fZ-1QtcnZLGuDqGEvxKfrjwFetjEPmb4JQP9tiVbvKuE/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-21796-1364939067-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A European roe deer caught mid-jump.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFXT8VvAW23P-Qlb0mNztDk1WPF6D_XwrbLgPAnOiOvqw51NRNthQhmwdkanLqZhMxrUziwN4jfvFtlAHV1rWSIdIWK9u5rtguNhkjPmaZ0Vv99cAv7x_tziw-bmHmc3d8rA5RCJTaW0/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-29777-1364938503-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFXT8VvAW23P-Qlb0mNztDk1WPF6D_XwrbLgPAnOiOvqw51NRNthQhmwdkanLqZhMxrUziwN4jfvFtlAHV1rWSIdIWK9u5rtguNhkjPmaZ0Vv99cAv7x_tziw-bmHmc3d8rA5RCJTaW0/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-29777-1364938503-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Space shuttle Discovery being launched into orbit as skydivers descend.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM74aUYcy-De6qZJpoXUH-6a1F4KEFl3oa3VULIf4eH8RNUnek0VS95G1HQX_ExcJQMQSvdWxaoLgmjawOX9zCvDK83Ki6YhuninKnXm3QtQlSqE_PdgOCPEW0GgoVID6g7ku_RgzxoA/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-29159-1364938506-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM74aUYcy-De6qZJpoXUH-6a1F4KEFl3oa3VULIf4eH8RNUnek0VS95G1HQX_ExcJQMQSvdWxaoLgmjawOX9zCvDK83Ki6YhuninKnXm3QtQlSqE_PdgOCPEW0GgoVID6g7ku_RgzxoA/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-29159-1364938506-16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Praying mantis takes on a bird.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj7OkUXhwKYTff0jfQcEIjMjx2Sej_UOOuQM246v0tdt3U4eRn_HA3ruF2AWhIxTX5yBeVJ077bhymEn4yKvIukqIDGqQWadCLntHF5UjoShlvPAznr6O5xN9zq1ERUibLe69W9Y3msY/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-29729-1364938508-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj7OkUXhwKYTff0jfQcEIjMjx2Sej_UOOuQM246v0tdt3U4eRn_HA3ruF2AWhIxTX5yBeVJ077bhymEn4yKvIukqIDGqQWadCLntHF5UjoShlvPAznr6O5xN9zq1ERUibLe69W9Y3msY/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-29729-1364938508-21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The dock under a wedding party gives way the moment their picture was taken.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnlXQwU1zJQQBAVrV0vNAnqddF-r1Ap-dBWvTfBjclHU7CyP_U-R5snd0v8-bt1CLCUQobwY8YrbV2gaITC10nqetfwtGSeBid_Y9Kpg07_xpR7-yDOrl3Yaco2LK_86YPahnKJ-f2YY/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-6287-1364938511-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnlXQwU1zJQQBAVrV0vNAnqddF-r1Ap-dBWvTfBjclHU7CyP_U-R5snd0v8-bt1CLCUQobwY8YrbV2gaITC10nqetfwtGSeBid_Y9Kpg07_xpR7-yDOrl3Yaco2LK_86YPahnKJ-f2YY/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-6287-1364938511-37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fireworks, a comet, and a lightning strike, all in one frame.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cS6awEO5OaBu65ED4kfoPQ4ehrwIDNb6Hewxw1POnxWWS5XO5I2BcOuwVhHU99Fu8P7IcZW6Ojq1g8hwLDwxlqIlj908qiKKzPq6CXKniqsZwYY9s4Yt_f11rg9amTdkkBgtuSPqrqw/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-29023-1364938517-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cS6awEO5OaBu65ED4kfoPQ4ehrwIDNb6Hewxw1POnxWWS5XO5I2BcOuwVhHU99Fu8P7IcZW6Ojq1g8hwLDwxlqIlj908qiKKzPq6CXKniqsZwYY9s4Yt_f11rg9amTdkkBgtuSPqrqw/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-29023-1364938517-19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A polyphemus moth rests in a human skull.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaWWXxs_k3NbyZ8DUliVxNgFso04IXAB9y2ilYv2aFyE5NEPQdRCcbUwSBRcaci16VSF2o1DN05YSm9lPtYAVoKbww-XFPMfz7Tx-eyKQNZLx0dqHQq68iPH4YJ3m3rUPEmDENjhQ3SY/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-28584-1364938519-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaWWXxs_k3NbyZ8DUliVxNgFso04IXAB9y2ilYv2aFyE5NEPQdRCcbUwSBRcaci16VSF2o1DN05YSm9lPtYAVoKbww-XFPMfz7Tx-eyKQNZLx0dqHQq68iPH4YJ3m3rUPEmDENjhQ3SY/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-28584-1364938519-16.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bubble eyes!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A bird makes a meal delivery.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6_s-NiLG0_xp-SQf3PH-t-2keMtgpD39qWLV_8vvJrnQljIB0N_6Xr4siQk-ZkjpOb5goHlDUSc0UasG7d5NngtIOzesNwp5v2cKs7XzJz5ydOXoDkyemcAHa7BKBQRcuw2bixxdMV4/s1600/enhanced-buzz-wide-21720-1364938786-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mta="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6_s-NiLG0_xp-SQf3PH-t-2keMtgpD39qWLV_8vvJrnQljIB0N_6Xr4siQk-ZkjpOb5goHlDUSc0UasG7d5NngtIOzesNwp5v2cKs7XzJz5ydOXoDkyemcAHa7BKBQRcuw2bixxdMV4/s320/enhanced-buzz-wide-21720-1364938786-12.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The moon rises over the Olympic games in London</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">21.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One lucky speeder gets a little help from a bird.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A roller coaster in Seaside Heights, New Jersey becomes submerged after Hurricane Sandy destroys the pier it sat on.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baby Canada geese leave the nest for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-36223265912907514922013-04-01T10:20:00.002-05:002013-04-01T10:20:35.719-05:00Monday, Muffins and Mischief<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good Monday Morning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So many things to celebrate. First order of business is Happy Easter! I know I am a day late, but I truly hope that you all celebrated with laughs of joy and fun. I had a very eventful Easter that involved egg dying, tree trimming, coloring, candy, muffins and looking for my Easter Basket. Yes friends, I still do that. I wake up Easter morning and hunt for my Easter Basket to see what fun things I got this year. And once again, <s>Mom</s> the Easter bunny delivered. I will enjoy this week by having chocolate for breakfast, candy before and after all my meals, and a pop of a jellybean before bed (how old am I again?). Ah yes, this is bliss. I don’t think I will ever grow out of the excitement I feel at going home for holidays. I look forward to it each time and on my way home, think about how fun it was and that I can’t wait for the next one. So what if I am 26 years old and still eat myself sick with candy. It is worth it each time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next on the list is Happy April. Geeze. Can you guys believe it is already April. In one week I will be celebrating my year anniversary in the Bookstore. It seems like just yesterday, Cory and I were talking about if we should make the move or not. Time flies, friends. It surely does. May you be pranked and play your own jokes and have some fun on this day that is deemed April Fool’s Day. As for me, I will be playing no pranks because I myself was already pranked….by myself…kind of. Let’s just say that there was some miscommunication as 4:00 a.m. on this Fool’s day. I rolled out of bed, showered, had some coffee, and yelled at Cory to get up because we needed to leave a little after 5:00 for that start of his work day. Little did I know that he indeed didn’t have to work until 8:00. Here I am, dressed and ready for the day at 5:00 a.m. After I realized the mistake I did what any grown woman would do after she ate some chocolate for breakfast…. I went back to bed and stewed about in my work clothes for an hour and a half. Okay, so I wasn’t angry, just jealous that Cory was able to sleep longer than I was able to because I could have sworn he told me he had to be at work early today. Where does the fault lay? I believe it was Cory’s fault. He claims it was my inattention to him when he talks. We shall never know friends (even though I know I am right). As a sidenote, did you know that April Fool’s Day was started by kids in France tacking paper Fish on the back of people and yelling “April Fish!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next on the list is this weekend. Okay okay. I know it is only Monday, but I can’t help but be excited for this weekend. This weekend is my first race of the season and it is a pretty awesome one. Not only is the weather shaping up to be great running weather, it is also a race filled with chocolate (hmmmm. By this post, one wouldn’t believe I am not a big fan of chocolate).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes. Chocolate. It is called the Chocoholic Frolic. Instead of protein bars, you get chocolate. No water stations here, just chocolate fountains. And the race is around a beautiful lake in Minneapolis. Ahhh sweet success. On Friday, I will be off to the Mall of America to hang out until my friend gets done with work. The night before will include a pre-race supper, some Yoga (yay!!! I finally am going to learn how to do Yoga. 30/30 list is going to go down by one more!), and must needed friend time. Saturday is race time and I can’t wait! It’s been a long time since I have been this excited for a race and even though my training has been slacking, I still think it will be a great time. I am ready to get outside! After the race, I am going to head home and pack for a weeklong conference for work (is it weird if I am looking forward to this also?) Throw in a birthday and a moving weekend (for my sister), April is shaping up to be one busy month for me but I am looking forward to it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well friends, that is all I have for the time being. I hope you all enjoy this day of tomfooleries. May the fools be all the wiser and the wise take part in today’s shenanigans and show their mischievous side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cheers Friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-56187025534361429752013-03-25T10:07:00.000-05:002013-03-25T11:22:05.201-05:00Weekend Recap<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes a predetermined good weekend turns into an unpredicted great weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was one of those weekends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With our bags packed and our coffee mugs full, Cory and I set out on the road for the 3 ½ hour drive to my parents’ house. Despite it being early (okay, 8:00 isn’t that early), we set off in good spirits. Neither one of us mind driving/traveling so the ride down was very pleasant. There is something to be said about driving a long distance in a car with one other person. It forces people to talk and touch on subjects that are otherwise easier left concealed in the bustle of day to day lives. We both have been wanting to talk about future plans of many things (house, money, jobs, etc..) but never sat down and talked to each other. I think the drive this past Saturday morning helped us talk things out so we can set some plans in motion. The drive went by quickly and it was just a gratifying drive filled with conversation and some not so good singing (sorry Cor). When we arrived at my parents place, we were welcomed with dinner (or lunch, depending on what part of the state you grew up in). I mean, it just doesn’t get any better than that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After dinner/lunch, we sat and talked, had some more coffee, and I got a lesson in driving a road grader from my Pa. Let’s just say that there are a lot of buttons and I am not going pro anytime soon. It was pretty awesome to drive such a big piece of machinery even if I only got up to 4 mph. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After that, my sister and her boyfriend arrived at my parents place and we all settled in for a night of margaritas, board games, and good times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday morning consisted of the boys being kicked </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">out of the bathroom as we got ready for the Baptism. Despite the snow and the wind that came in overnight, we made it to church and sat through a very enjoyable Palm Sunday Service (regardless of the many times we were caught in a Palm branch fight) and the Baptism of my godson (did I mention that I am a godparent!?!). Now, let me just get one thing out there: I am not the type to go baby crazy. I mean, I love kids, but I love them one year or older. Babies scare me and I have never really held one for an extended amount of time in front of people all looking up front at us. Taking this into account and the fact that my nephew is a bit colicky, I was nervous. It also didn’t help that, after expressing my concern to the Pastor, the Pastor said ‘Just don’t drop him and I will be fine’. So now I started to worry about that. Okay, so maybe not so much, but I was nervous. It was all for naught because everything went just fine and he didn’t cry until the very end and then I just passed him off to him mom. It was a beautiful service and I just feel so honored to be a part of it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was one of the Palm Branch fights I was caught up in. Just to be clear, the two on the right are definitely<strong> <em>not</em></strong> the troublemakers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the service, we went and had dinner (lunch), and just sat around with family and talked. It was here that Cory’s baby fever was in full swing. Not only did he hold our nephew the longest out of anyone, he also seemed to be the pied piper (but a good one, obviously) of children. It started out with him sitting with our niece, but then another one joined, and another and he had all the kids (and animals) sitting on and beside him. *sigh* He looked pretty content with all of this also, as you can clearly see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Hi Holly!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the drive back, and a quick stop at the Mankato Mall, we made it home and woke up way too early from a weekend that seemed to fly by way too fast. Yes, my friends, it was a pretty stellar weekend. The best thing is that I get to do it all over this next weekend. Yay short week of work, Easter Weekend, Sister’s birthday, brunches and bunches of fun!</span></div>
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Cheers Friends!! Happy Monday! </div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-77847099752263210342013-03-22T12:58:00.001-05:002013-03-22T13:03:52.091-05:00Look at it. Just look at it!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TGIF!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is Friday and it couldn’t have come soon enough. I am so ready for the weekend and I hope you all are also. As I get more and more readers (PS: don’t be shy to subscribe to my feed!! Help me reach my goal of 100 readers!! You can even remain anonymous …just saying. ), I feel that I have left some things in the dark about who I am and should delve into my personal life a bit more. Now, I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>must warn you that I am not that exciting of a person so there is not too much more than you don’t know, but I feel that the more I share, the more people will read. After all, humans are snoopy by nature. I will admit to doing the occasional (<s>daily</s>) Facebook stalking. I love looking at pictures of people I know and seeing what they are up to. I love to snoop, you love to snoop, we all do. I have also been hearing a lot of people talking about how busy and stressed they are (and yes, looking at my last post, I am guilty of this also). So today I am going to try and remind everyone just how lucky we are and get back to my roots of reminding you all to stop and smell the roses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I am going to let you snoop into my life a bit more while giving you a homework assignment that will pick up the moods of downers everywhere. Not going to lie, yesterday I felt a bit down just about things in general. I know I could have it worse and it took me looking through pictures on my cell phone to make me realize that I don’t have it bad at all. This is the homework assignment: grab your phone and look through all of your pictures. I can guarantee most, if not all, will make you smile and remember the amazing times that you have had. I did just this and found myself laughing and in a great mood. This being said, I picked out my favorite pictures out of the 722 pictures I have on my phone (yes, that is the actual number I have on my phone), and would like to share them with you. Some of them are self-explanatory as to why I love them, others I will share what I love so much about it that I chose it as one of my favs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, these are just off my cell phone so if you are wondering why there are so many of my cat and not of my wedding, that is the reason. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Side note: I did try to limit the amount of cat pictures I included. I don’t think I succeeded.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh geeze. The cat pictures are already starting. I was packing up for a 4<sup>th</sup> of July weekend with my family. My sister sent me pictures of the fridge in the cabin that my parents rented out and it was stocked with goodies. I wanted to let her know the goodies I was bringing. Only after snapping the pictures did I realize my cat was posing very handsomely in the midst of everything! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My sister’s birthday was coming up and I asked Cory if he could Photoshop a picture of us with a poem I wrote on the pictures. After a good 15 minutes, he called me up saying he was done and he wanted me to approve it. This is what he did! Still gives me a chuckle every time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At our first house, my cat Elvis had a stuffed cat (yes, you read that correctly). Well, he dragged it around and chewed on it so often that it got dirty pretty quickly. I decided to wash it and dry it separately. When I went to go get it out of the dryer, this is the sight I was welcomed with. </span></div>
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Just because. I seriously can’t resister taking pictures of his cute face. </div>
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My parents came to stay with me and rented out a suite at a hotel. We were the only ones at the hotel and this was the morning sunset over Lake Superior. I feel so blessed to have lived by this lake for 8 years of my life. I will never get sick of the view. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This was my second race of the season but it was cool because you got to take a train to the starting line. I have never been on a train in my life. Either had my dad. He came to watch me race and even rode the train with me. This was also the day that we both ate effervescents (Airborne) straight out of the box. I think the explosion in our mouths made his eyes water and I believe I started foaming at the mouth. This was how we figured out they weren’t the chewable tablets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Found the sun spot. Enough said. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Newborn Kitty. Happy niece. Pure bliss. </div>
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My friend Jamie and I took a hike to the waterfalls in her hometown. I have never been to a waterfall that you could walk behind and it was just an amazing day. Can you spot me waving hi to you all? I believe we also got ate alive by mosquitoes. It was a quick hike, needless to say. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of my best memories are hunting and fishing with my Pa. This is just one of the many trips we took during the summer months. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFQ4pjJ0zoMFEBzh2URgJ6qjf7Eeg3PkLMNBGplDz5GDTwuUirnhtSX2v-eD5w3v4dPOZ58tYlgtsfNVTtbq3TzXH3VSnbHlqBWwWLHBs0s5XLtZzD1aSgZfvurQVUWhKjZ079EmXF6s/s1600/photo+%252846%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFQ4pjJ0zoMFEBzh2URgJ6qjf7Eeg3PkLMNBGplDz5GDTwuUirnhtSX2v-eD5w3v4dPOZ58tYlgtsfNVTtbq3TzXH3VSnbHlqBWwWLHBs0s5XLtZzD1aSgZfvurQVUWhKjZ079EmXF6s/s320/photo+%252846%2529.JPG" ssa="true" width="192" /></a></div>
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This picture can bring me to tears for many reasons. Not only do I miss my sister terribly, I know that I would have never been able to run a half-marathon without her support and encouragement. I don’t know if she knows just how much this day meant to me. I look up to her so much. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a day I will never forget and will go down in history as one of the best days of my life. Thank you sister!</div>
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This is also on the shores of Lake Superior. After the half marathon, my parents rented some hotel rooms for all of us at the same resort Cory and I were married at. Cory and I took a hike and remember just how great life is. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My parents at Gooseberry Falls state park. This was their anniversary. To this day, I try to walk in their shoes and hope that Cory and I can have a marriage as strong as theirs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some little girls dream for a horse and never get one. Some girls ask her Pa for one and are fortunate enough to get one. This is me and my horse Gypsy. In elementary school, I used to get off the bus, run to the barn, grab a lead rope and jump on her back. No saddle, no bridle. Just me and my horse. It was the best feeling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hundreds of people throwing happy colors into the air while dancing. Pretty spectacular in my book!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me and my Pa. I just love this picture for so many reasons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My sister and I the weekend before she left for the Peace Corps. I miss her dearly yet feel so fortunate I can e-mail her and talk to her on the phone occasionally. This pictures just makes me smile and always will. </div>
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I have mentioned before how my mom and dad are always up for an adventure. They found this gem of an antique store, so we stopped to browse and it turned out to be the biggest antique store I have ever been in. This is just one of the many rooms and this pictures is just so amazing and helps me remember all the adventures I have been on with my parents and love every single one of them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is how you know when my Pa has had enough painting for the day. This picture just makes my day in so many ways. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is very rare that I catch Cory hanging out with Elvis, let alone hold him and pose for a picture. I think Elvis is as surprised as I was here. These two guys make me smile every day and I am blessed with the life I get to live. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vm5KHgRrwD0wq6AVI9o51w3LxJkzhbvLSTFWKEPC1b7MaASuPhk-QUKmAlrWNKVhs7qKeV_-3IW4h9nsR58JQYLRNNcUeobe09Mr8odRtcIN5UPWF7nQ7YENJYW6sIVa3KdOAlpzlZc/s1600/photo+%252833%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vm5KHgRrwD0wq6AVI9o51w3LxJkzhbvLSTFWKEPC1b7MaASuPhk-QUKmAlrWNKVhs7qKeV_-3IW4h9nsR58JQYLRNNcUeobe09Mr8odRtcIN5UPWF7nQ7YENJYW6sIVa3KdOAlpzlZc/s320/photo+%252833%2529.JPG" ssa="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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I just love it. I don’t need a reason!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have never had such a sexy bike. Whenever I ride it, I feel like it is the good old days where I rode your bike to the barn to get a soda. Brings back memories. </div>
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Fall. Coffee. Outside. Owl Mug. Happy Emily. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the trail in Hudson, WI that I did most of my training on. Every morning was more beautiful than the next and I never minded running when I was here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The fact that we own a house on a river makes me happy. This picture was taken for my sister when we gave her a tour of our house. To have my own trail to the river also makes me a happy girl. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He makes me smile. </div>
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He makes me smile A LOT. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
So does he. </div>
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A LOT. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yup. This is me in a nutshell. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And here is my protégé. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We’re kind of alike. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, so maybe it runs in the family. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a wall in my Pa’s barn. Every time I see it, it makes me happy, not only that I have started running, but because it motivates me and I feel he is proud of what I do. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This was the day after my niece’s birthday. My sister Holly gave her a princess dress, and she was so excited she even put it on for breakfast. Two of the most beautiful people know right there. </div>
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This was just another adventure with my Pa. We always have such a great time together and this day was no exception. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anybody who knows me knows I love this game. I love it even more when the ‘Mitten’ block is drawn. I can’t help but laugh at the poor sucker who has to play the off brand of Jenga with Mittens on. This picture always reminds me of the fun times that were had. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, so before you judge, let me tell you the story. My sister Katie and I were shopping in the bargain bin of a store when I came across this little nugget of a children’s book. I so wish I would have bought it that day. There is something so morbid but hilarious about this book that it makes me look twice and laugh loudly each time I see this picture. Seriosuly. Who would write a book with that title. </div>
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This is my mom and sister setting up for the Thanksgiving feast. Food, family, and fun. It doesn’t get any better than that. My sister and mom also look so happy here. I love them to pieces and their love is shown through this picture. (Look Holly, Chad even made it in the blog!)</div>
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I swear my first book I write will be titled “Hunting with Pa.” I have learned so much from him and found a true passion for the outdoors. </div>
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There is a very long back story as to why I am holding a flying squirrel. A lot of people know the story and for those that don’t, in short, these buggers were a big nuisance and I was very happy when they ‘left’ our house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><s>(No animals were harmed in this picture.) </s></div>
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I wish I would have kept a record of how many miles I have walked with my Pa. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This was the first snow day we had at our new house. What a beautiful sight and to think I live here. I know I will never take this sight for granted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Settlers of Catan, Beer, friends (not shown). These are always perfect days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Must I say how alike we are again? </div>
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And again! That purple sled I got for Christmas when I was little. After naming it Comet, I pulled that thing everywhere in the winter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes me so happy to see my niece gets the same joy out of it that I did. Talk about taking a walk down memory lane. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Okay, so maybe she is a lot cuter. I don’t think I will ever get rid of this picture. I love it. Everything about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This is at my parents’ house on the front deck. It reminds me of brunches outside on Sundays and times where the whole family sat down to eat. I have enjoyed this view many times and will still enjoy it many more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And last but not least, the love that a sister has for her baby brother. It reminds me how lucky I am to be part of such a great family and how my sisters are my best friends. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I look up to each and every one of them. I know my niece will be the same for her new baby brother. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<s></s><o:p>______________________</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Well friends, there you have it. Me in a nutshell as told by pictures. At the end of the day, sit down and really think about all the great things life has to offer and know that love surrounds us each and every day. I will never get used to the hand that I was dealt becuase it seems almost too good to be true. </o:p><br />
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<o:p>And here is one more cat picture for good measure (don't ask why I am wearing the sombraro)........</o:p></div>
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TGIF friends!
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-52136931821177025042013-03-21T12:17:00.001-05:002013-03-21T15:45:27.579-05:00Where is that Money Tree I Planted?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are almost there friends! We are almost to the end of what seems to be the longest week of March yet. Work is busy, as is life. So why does this week seem to be taking forever? Your guess is as good as mine. It’s just one of those weeks where nothing really is happening. You go day to day and live the humdrum life. Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not. Does it make for a long week? Absolutely. All I say to this is “Oh well,” and keep on living the good life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe this week seems so long because I am looking forward to the weekend ahead. This weekend I get to celebrate the baptism of my handsome nephew. Along with this comes home cooked meals, cable TV (it’s the small things, folks), egg coffee, family fun, and relaxation. It makes it even better because Cory gets to make the trip with me. I don’t know if you all know how rare that is. I am beginning to think that a majority of my family believes that I no longer have a husband (Don’t get the wrong idea, Cory wants to come home with me, but I usually make the trip back home on the weekends he has to work because I become bored and need to do something.) This being said, I am very excited for the weekend and it can’t get here soon enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I am going to change topics entirely. I have said it before and I will probably say it again, but I hate money. I hate that I have to rely on it to live, I hate that everything seems to be getting more and more expensive, and I hate that a lot of fun things I would like to do includes me having a lot of it. As Cory and I look into the future and the plans that we have, money is involved. We try our best to put as much as we can in savings but life has a way of throwing us curveballs and it is getting harder and harder to save these days. With the possibility of the theater being open sometime this spring or summer, it would be nice for Cory to just work on that. We have discussed being a one income household, but the closer that gets to reality, the scarier it seems and I just don’t know if we can do it. With this and my love to go out on dates, shop, and spending money in general (I am a woman after all), I just don’t see it happening. Now, the last thing I want to do is put a damper on your day. I have a point, I promise. The point is that I am thinking about getting a second job. I have been debating this for awhile, but never have taken action. It seems like a second job would answer a lot of our monetary problems, the only thing is that I don’t know if I want to give up my weekends and holidays off. We all know how I look forward to the Fridays of the work week because it means that I have two whole days to do anything I want , when I want, and I love them. There are pros and cons to each side and I just don’t know what to do. I think to myself that if a single mom can hold two jobs, go to school, and raise her kids, I can put up with another job. The other part of me wants to be selfish and say we can manage without the extra mula in our pockets. For a person who hates money, I sure think about it a lot. *Sigh* What to do, what to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, so now that I have put a damper on this post and have ranted a bit longer than necessary, let’s move on to something fun.... like cake! Mmm, cake. Enjoy these pictures of wedding cakes that failed. Happy Thursday Friends, for tomorrow is TGIF!!</span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-7691716634515659372013-03-19T09:27:00.001-05:002013-03-19T09:33:08.089-05:00A Whole Lot of Nothing and a Cat Video<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Erin go Braugh! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I may have missed out on St. Patty’s day this year, but I hope everyone else had a great one. Not going to lie, I don’t even know what ‘Erin Go Braugh’ even means. I guess if I can use my own translation, I imagine it means Cheers to Ireland and that sounds good enough for me. Last year I was able to celebrate my friend’s birthday in the windy city of Chicago (that’s a bit redundant, isn’t it?). The trip was awesome and my friend scored us an awesome hotel right on the river…over St. Patty’s day weekend. Needless to say, I saw sights I probably won’t see again. This included awesome architecture, a very green river, and drunks galore. Yes, friends, it was amazing. I was a Chicago virgin and this weekend was one for the record books. Having never been there, I believe that I saw a lot of the city that not many people get to enjoy. The water taxi at sunset was just a hint of the amazing things we did (I forgot to mention that it was 75/80 degrees and sunny). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, it was the complete opposite of what I did this year. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year I didn’t find my party pants at all (just to be clear, I did wear <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pants this weekend) and celebrated with reading a book from start to finish, plowing the driveway (twice), coffee, and taking down the Christmas tree (don’t judge). It was relaxing and it was very welcomed after a very hectic week of work and painting. I was husband free, plan free, and stress free. Besides the cold that keeps creeping in, it was a very delightful weekend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think it was aligned in the stars that I shouldn’t do much this past weekend because in the weekends to come I have a Baptism, Easter, my sisters Birthday, and my first 5K of the season. Along with that, I am starting Yoga, actually sticking to my running routine of 5 days a week, and working on the theater. My trusty suitcase will get a workout as well as the weekends will have me away from home for a while. And on goes the adventure of life my friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While I am on the subject of friends (I know, pretty bad Segway), I just want you to stop and think about how life is made grand by the people we call friend. There are those that you miss constantly in your heart and feel overjoyed when you hear from them. There are those friends that feel like sisters (or brothers), and then there are your actual sisters who are your best friends. There are those friends that always show you a good time and then there are the ones that let you be you. You have friends that are always up for anything and there are the ones who can sit and talk for hours and still have a good time. Friends give you laughter and love. Some talk you into bad ideas that turn out to be great stories. Some friends come and go through our lives, but we will always remember a story from each person we have called friend in our life. We may not hear from a couple of them for a while, but when we do, we start right where we left off. There are friends that we miss, that we cry for, that we cry with, but a friend is a friend. My Pa is my best friend as is my mom, and my husband, and sisters. My friends are all the best, therefore, I have many best friends and I count myself lucky each time I hear from them. So to you friend, thank you. My life is made grand because of the adventures and life that you have shown me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers, to you friend. May I treat you the best I can because you have shown me what is takes to be a great friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(This post was not meant to be sappy, so sorry about the mini violins playing in the background and the unicorns jumping over rainbows. For good measure, here is a cat video for you.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-80845109686759691742013-03-12T10:21:00.000-05:002013-03-12T10:33:58.305-05:00Weekend Recap<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">March is in full swing, my friends. Yes it is. The days are going by in a blur as we are awaiting the sounds and senses of Spring. Warmer weather has to be around the corner somewhere. It seems that the snow, rain and sleet are still persisting to stick around. Me? I am ready to run outside and get some Vitamin D (or is it C) on my skin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend was a very topsy-turvey one for me. It started out great with a Friday afternoon nap and a long phone call from my sister stationed in Tonga (looking for an adventure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should check out their blog <a href="http://thefreewheelinryanandabby.blogspot.com/">here</a>!). The nap was unexpected and so was the phone call. I think simple things that make you smile are very powerful things indeed. I miss my sister dearly and not many things can put a damper on my mood after talking with her (I hope she knows just how much she is loved and missed over here on the mainland). After calming down from the excitement, I waited for my friend to arrive to start the night off. The night ended with pizza, beer, video games, and one drunken snowman(just to clarify, it was the snowman that was drunk, not me....Sorry mom). Yes, friends, it was a must needed relaxing night with great company (okay, so my weekends have all been pretty relaxed lately).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday was a little bit of a downer for me. There are many sayings that when life gives you lemons you should: make lemonade, squeeze it into vodka and mix a drink, etc. On Saturday, Cory and I had plans to drive to Superior to celebrate a great friends birthday. Not only have I not seen her in ages, I miss the heck out of her. Last year for her birthday we went to Chicago and it is still one of the most memorable trips that I have ever taken. This year the plan was to play it by ear, starting out with supper and drinks and go from there. I have been planning on going for a little over a month now and made it known to her that I was going to be there. Well, with the unexpected good things that life brings us comes the bad as well. With an unanticipated bill in the mail on Friday along with the highest utility bill I have even seen in my life (it was more than what the utilities are at the theater. The theater could fit two of our houses just in the main theater itself. Yes, it was that high), I had to make a very hard decision. Now, if it was up to me, I would have went and bit the bullet and dealt with money when I got back, but Cory’s more logical (and sometimes frustrating, but I still love him anyways) way of thinking won out and I had to cancel on my friend. I think one of the most maddening things in life is how money controls us. I hate it. I hate how I can’t afford to go and see my friend on her birthday, let alone cancel at the last minute. Does money control my happiness? Of course not, but I need it to live and do the things in life I am set out to do. It is a Catch 22. So to my good friend, I sincerely apologize for me being a sucky friend and I will make it up to you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So with this starting my Saturday out, I did what any rational upset girl would do. I cleaned. And boy did I clean. My basement that was once filled with boxes from moving and dust from the previous owners is now spotless. Even my cat doesn’t know what to do when he goes downstairs. I think I confused him by cleaning up the obstacle course he had to maneuver through to get to his food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When all said and done, it was a good weekend. I still feel awful about Saturday, but my friend is so great that she said she understood. Yes, friends. When you have a friend like <a href="http://strandupdate.blogspot.com/">Sara</a>, you count yourself lucky (I can’t wait to go to Airborne Toxic Event with you!). I will still get to see her this Thursday and give her present to her and now my basement is probably the cleanest one on the block. And how many people can say that they made a snowman at 4:00 in the morning in the rain?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess when life gives you lemons; you just deal with them. If you dwell on all the lemons, your life won’t hold much happiness and happiness is key in this thing we call life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cheers friends to living the good life and being able to call one another friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-77837082126869207842013-03-10T17:20:00.003-05:002013-03-10T17:20:45.264-05:00Book Review: The Book of Paul
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Sunday, Friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will get to the adventures of this weekend at a later time
because today, as promised, I am reviewing<a href="http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/"> The Book of Paul by Richard Long</a>. As
I previously mentioned, this book is not like any other book I have read. Picture
a happy world filled with happy people who get along in everlasting bliss. This
book is the complete opposite.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjJVRXg_EgrGgqdihCbfA34cjhYIvNfVvs2AdzxQ1XRbndue62FjZHSl8VvmSrJM5ojGpMWPdXoT4EMA5KH0bOdIxm0NFL1QmWeexG-85I2YMzUK_rpfk5YaAjC1FRVAc5m1xZCBYPdc/s1600/Book+of+Paul+-+LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjJVRXg_EgrGgqdihCbfA34cjhYIvNfVvs2AdzxQ1XRbndue62FjZHSl8VvmSrJM5ojGpMWPdXoT4EMA5KH0bOdIxm0NFL1QmWeexG-85I2YMzUK_rpfk5YaAjC1FRVAc5m1xZCBYPdc/s320/Book+of+Paul+-+LRG.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summary:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Everything you've ever believed about yourself...about
the description of reality you've clung to so stubbornly all your life...all of
it...every bit of it...is an illusion." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the rubble-strewn wasteland of Alphabet City, a squalid
tenement conceals a treasure "beyond all imagining"-- an immaculately
preserved, fifth century codex. The sole repository of ancient Hermetic lore,
it contains the alchemical rituals for transforming thought into substance,
transmuting matter at will...and attaining eternal life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Rose, a sex and pain addicted East Village tattoo
artist has a torrid encounter with Martin, a battle-hardened loner, they
discover they are unwitting pawns on opposing sides of a battle that has shaped
the course of human history. At the center of the conflict is Paul, the
villainous overlord of an underground feudal society, who guards the book's
occult secrets in preparation for the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The action is relentless as Rose and Martin fight to escape
Paul's clutches and Martin's destiny as the chosen recipient of Paul's sinister
legacy. Science and magic, mythology and technology converge in a monumental
battle where the stakes couldn't be higher: control of the ultimate power in
the universe--the Maelstrom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Book of Paul is the first of seven volumes in a sweeping
mythological narrative tracing the mystical connections between Hermes
Trismegistus in ancient Egypt, Sophia, the female counterpart of Christ, and
the Celtic druids of Clan Kelly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/">The Book of Paul</a> has to be, hands down, the most messed up
crazy book that I have ever read. This is definitely a book for an acquired taste
and then some. Regardless of this fact, the author Richard Long knows how to
write. The tangled web of each character was hard to grasp at moments, but
right when the book started to get a bit too crazy, he brings you right back
into the story that is closer to reality and it was hard to put the book down. There
were moments in this book that were so elegant and beautiful that it struck me
as odd as the book itself did. For instance, there was a moment when the
narrator of the story was looking into the lives of Rose and Martin. Also
looking into the lives of these two main characters was Paul, the ringmaster of
it all. The moment when the narrator saw Paul looking at him (the narrator) through
the book at all of them was a moment that is unforgettable. Also, getting right
down to the bare bones of it was a love story between Martin and Rose and their
fight to survive in a world that many others don’t know exist. How do you
attain eternal life when life seems doomed from the beginning? Enter Paul and
his lessons of immortality. The character of Paul is biblical, a forced to be
reckoned with, and almost seems immortal. Can one man predict the lives of
others and make them play out the final prophecy? These are just a few of the
questions that I found myself asking and struggling with. This book was out of
my element, but there is something about the words that Long wrote into this story
that made me wanting more and enduring the pain that these characters were
going through. As Rose and Martin try to gain their own lives back by finding
The Book, you will find yourselves in a final battle that is not only epic, but
powerful, gruesome, and raw. Sickles, poison, Uzi’s and torture will leave you
holding your breath as you root for The Guardian and his beautiful Keymaster
who holds the key to his heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well friends, if you want to read a book that will make you
hold your breath, makes your (unknown) guilty pleasures come to life, if you
think life is just an illusion that you can control and is unlike any other,
this one is for you. It is an addiction that you don’t need to stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you wanting more yet? <a href="http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/">The Book of Paul</a> can be purchased
<a href="http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/">here</a>. Don't forget to check out the books official site <a href="http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/">here</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the Author:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"<em>The Book of Paul</em> crosses a number of genres. Sometimes when I'm asked
what kind of book it is, I'll say it's a dark, paranormal thriller with occult
horror themes, mystery, suspense, erotica and black humor. Other times, I just
say, "It'll really curl your toes." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">About the Author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/">Richard Long</a> writes to exorcize the demons of his past and
manifest the dreams of his future. His debut novel, <a href="http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/">The Book of Paul</a>, is a
dark, thrilling, and psychologically rich supernatural horror/thriller that
blends mythology, science and mystery into a page-turning addiction. Richard is
also writing a YA novel, The Dream Palace, primarily so that his children can
read his books. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, two amazing children and
their wicked black cat, Merlin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Don't forget to check out this book, as well as many other at <a href="http://www.tribute-books.com/blog_tours.html">Tribute Books blog tours</a>! </div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-1501664931676306652013-03-08T11:52:00.002-06:002013-03-08T11:52:38.960-06:00Happy Facts<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TGIF Friends!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s Friday and I am almost done with work. Yes, life is good. I am going to keep today’s post pretty fund and mindless. Just take a look, have a couple laughs, sit back, and enjoy this Friday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">30 Happiest facts of ALL time (according to buzzfeed.com)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Otters hold hands while sleeping so they don't float apart.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLSCgnxAOC6pspic2PiYSnh-grSEC1PZyxNC4vtuhZLE48ldhgI3DK87-73hGRwYJRQ18LTASBpkYhv2luN1aCBrFyISJoOEZbeySndLopwAmwQZW9QUeP_qYrdhOcadF7Hyw-9w_cnc/s1600/enhanced-buzz-32059-1362671259-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLSCgnxAOC6pspic2PiYSnh-grSEC1PZyxNC4vtuhZLE48ldhgI3DK87-73hGRwYJRQ18LTASBpkYhv2luN1aCBrFyISJoOEZbeySndLopwAmwQZW9QUeP_qYrdhOcadF7Hyw-9w_cnc/s320/enhanced-buzz-32059-1362671259-18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Norway once knighted a penguin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylzdaLrnNiHawVkCUrtbcIHQZnQIk7dGI7MupzfDaAGCNP_JXYSwBxQ3vEEqu4xF3n0fHm25NwlzgpgcqKffv00fMHIt3YuaifBaGMcO2KCXzXIU8Lmg7AxnOybSaGvA2Yic0qwSr1IA/s1600/enhanced-buzz-31887-1362671059-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylzdaLrnNiHawVkCUrtbcIHQZnQIk7dGI7MupzfDaAGCNP_JXYSwBxQ3vEEqu4xF3n0fHm25NwlzgpgcqKffv00fMHIt3YuaifBaGMcO2KCXzXIU8Lmg7AxnOybSaGvA2Yic0qwSr1IA/s320/enhanced-buzz-31887-1362671059-5.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blind people smile despite having never seen someone smile before. It is just a natural human reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXYuU6xiFnYsnjltoSan3lgsbIW1bLUku2hY3NSoP4lSf9GSBt7NY9QZkoF4CHdbxgvp_VhHImwNBDayuqstn5Rfjg-6SzWLEl-Hpj0cYBdIQkmt858r7TfClWfxtldzLkFzsoHOnSVw/s1600/enhanced-buzz-2511-1362675176-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXYuU6xiFnYsnjltoSan3lgsbIW1bLUku2hY3NSoP4lSf9GSBt7NY9QZkoF4CHdbxgvp_VhHImwNBDayuqstn5Rfjg-6SzWLEl-Hpj0cYBdIQkmt858r7TfClWfxtldzLkFzsoHOnSVw/s320/enhanced-buzz-2511-1362675176-27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite there being a 1 in 40 million chance of you having been born, your ancestors have successfully had children up until you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL0Pur8CjLW3IHcepHe1oxH5KWDs9hwSJwrs7RFeq8xKwZ-SUGJkPBie3gjWmaIF0XMCFJXsmYC14l0OmcGkAkribCs35noSgzHhMGP3l0Y_V1afMy8bQT_UT7YN0tx1fH5U5Y9LCYPM/s1600/enhanced-buzz-11884-1362677407-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL0Pur8CjLW3IHcepHe1oxH5KWDs9hwSJwrs7RFeq8xKwZ-SUGJkPBie3gjWmaIF0XMCFJXsmYC14l0OmcGkAkribCs35noSgzHhMGP3l0Y_V1afMy8bQT_UT7YN0tx1fH5U5Y9LCYPM/s320/enhanced-buzz-11884-1362677407-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A cat version of the corgi exists: the munchkin cat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZng43AEXbVTqYO5vcsHmd0-3G8s9kIFKWzjxMSKwW_ZjT7QYvHT_TVtfg9oVpDOkUO9DbLgvwJiPwr85zj4REY5Rantv6mDIHVQob9xD3voFMP8cS5LlY7BUJcWKZStwHmNaeu8pyUpM/s1600/enhanced-buzz-20595-1362678827-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZng43AEXbVTqYO5vcsHmd0-3G8s9kIFKWzjxMSKwW_ZjT7QYvHT_TVtfg9oVpDOkUO9DbLgvwJiPwr85zj4REY5Rantv6mDIHVQob9xD3voFMP8cS5LlY7BUJcWKZStwHmNaeu8pyUpM/s320/enhanced-buzz-20595-1362678827-2.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the voice of Mickey Mouse and the voice of Minnie Mouse got married in real life...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWbTf7a0ZWRHHS4WeBEm9WMwEvTIZrxlX4GacuhI_rKNj5wiffv3CaoTA0R0FBcIUBtIoTc-UQECVpROidC7a8dFVvaVTUTYTsrtRWa0PeYksBQVVt1_dehoUGVrcKM9l6GnsVa3s5pk/s1600/enhanced-buzz-12611-1362675703-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWbTf7a0ZWRHHS4WeBEm9WMwEvTIZrxlX4GacuhI_rKNj5wiffv3CaoTA0R0FBcIUBtIoTc-UQECVpROidC7a8dFVvaVTUTYTsrtRWa0PeYksBQVVt1_dehoUGVrcKM9l6GnsVa3s5pk/s320/enhanced-buzz-12611-1362675703-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The voice actor of SpongeBob and the voice actor of Plankton's computer wife are married in real life...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01ifSoDo2ld3CaMRmFJUf9-gVwmfC1DeTDNMNf794m5ZWpAue-XIjwSBnsLmBFuraQ9QDwsPpThvFMVO93BDLf6X2WNiznsgaKHEqq48upKSg8TNm5WWt35qdGIt74M99xi-iPZyHw8A/s1600/enhanced-buzz-4978-1362695298-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01ifSoDo2ld3CaMRmFJUf9-gVwmfC1DeTDNMNf794m5ZWpAue-XIjwSBnsLmBFuraQ9QDwsPpThvFMVO93BDLf6X2WNiznsgaKHEqq48upKSg8TNm5WWt35qdGIt74M99xi-iPZyHw8A/s320/enhanced-buzz-4978-1362695298-10.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Charlie and the waitress from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" are married in real life...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR2mxDaK6rz5XW6Kg6h4iJ9XERv-Xp7QLZPEZKQEQEssJLuoUB94zqVH8-K47pB-5jV-vKsMfsK-N4qqJS1v6Pn42Zp-22pdn4ddba5HgCwq3xH6g0cbJIdzsveB5a_Rya1HJUD0-GGc/s1600/enhanced-buzz-31885-1362671363-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR2mxDaK6rz5XW6Kg6h4iJ9XERv-Xp7QLZPEZKQEQEssJLuoUB94zqVH8-K47pB-5jV-vKsMfsK-N4qqJS1v6Pn42Zp-22pdn4ddba5HgCwq3xH6g0cbJIdzsveB5a_Rya1HJUD0-GGc/s320/enhanced-buzz-31885-1362671363-11.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And JD and Turk are actually best friends in real life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS-fjPJURTwzysds_SLMR9io7IfG4p4qlVJC-wOyA7saXesC9o2cnhZVoce8HHzlC9853hl_AFjyRfFGTS_ohvhrXr2SztnUxj8Ah3iv5B46WAuR47dSICVdZCHdwKoHMB4bKnia6yEs/s1600/enhanced-buzz-2498-1362671925-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS-fjPJURTwzysds_SLMR9io7IfG4p4qlVJC-wOyA7saXesC9o2cnhZVoce8HHzlC9853hl_AFjyRfFGTS_ohvhrXr2SztnUxj8Ah3iv5B46WAuR47dSICVdZCHdwKoHMB4bKnia6yEs/s320/enhanced-buzz-2498-1362671925-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spiders can't fly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ8rm48QtGnC1UnViAN9A0yLSoVop4MY5dwphIJgXAPFq9SgJ5gFTBgZ70vl946VL7rTZwvg8PKSLBd_hrG-9BDpuRqkMQmOQtdMHDfSUmDReDVLd4IzMrgQqNUlB8UrVSFB5zy3UH_A/s1600/enhanced-buzz-4912-1362679021-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ8rm48QtGnC1UnViAN9A0yLSoVop4MY5dwphIJgXAPFq9SgJ5gFTBgZ70vl946VL7rTZwvg8PKSLBd_hrG-9BDpuRqkMQmOQtdMHDfSUmDReDVLd4IzMrgQqNUlB8UrVSFB5zy3UH_A/s320/enhanced-buzz-4912-1362679021-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you fake laugh long enough, you'll actually start to laugh really hard.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGsKKwxz3z9MCFKfkGfiV4HuC08h-CYH8lWcZlZsjlgBgurTAC5J4Mlc1fn7PE6czbFcYYML3bz1xYAGv9nZ5EUuRF_QY3JBDeXNY8QIe224UB_ZOhurYmQebCpkjwIhoe3fibXujqqM/s1600/enhanced-buzz-22163-1362675260-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGsKKwxz3z9MCFKfkGfiV4HuC08h-CYH8lWcZlZsjlgBgurTAC5J4Mlc1fn7PE6czbFcYYML3bz1xYAGv9nZ5EUuRF_QY3JBDeXNY8QIe224UB_ZOhurYmQebCpkjwIhoe3fibXujqqM/s320/enhanced-buzz-22163-1362675260-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouKluFl5zC3Vuf1_nXS_v7FUPeHuh-3Qi4nH-U0P5GsrDfQjJmFwOQpcA6O76nOvHAt2iaYyIq_VZdU0qooGB7JQDtoirE9g4PdxkE8jheYRNryNeoyuuTYI-crAn5q_onachK8Ejw3s/s1600/enhanced-buzz-17101-1362673311-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouKluFl5zC3Vuf1_nXS_v7FUPeHuh-3Qi4nH-U0P5GsrDfQjJmFwOQpcA6O76nOvHAt2iaYyIq_VZdU0qooGB7JQDtoirE9g4PdxkE8jheYRNryNeoyuuTYI-crAn5q_onachK8Ejw3s/s320/enhanced-buzz-17101-1362673311-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you were born, you were, for however brief an amount of time, the youngest person on the planet.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe2tSX2Xhh8bn_kJiH2cRYBN18eC-lJzNBBfmnlcm1yBzSUjfj3W4kTNKv0UjuWVKNhhl1b4NN14Z3yDslfd9auwOpKY6Ipzs-pH0nin6DC2GoSCLOemeD9r0g8MdQs8-ySLf3gF2jrE/s1600/enhanced-buzz-13244-1362677070-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe2tSX2Xhh8bn_kJiH2cRYBN18eC-lJzNBBfmnlcm1yBzSUjfj3W4kTNKv0UjuWVKNhhl1b4NN14Z3yDslfd9auwOpKY6Ipzs-pH0nin6DC2GoSCLOemeD9r0g8MdQs8-ySLf3gF2jrE/s320/enhanced-buzz-13244-1362677070-8.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Puffins mate for life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89IuuIuAP2bqkkHpM_O92W-1pCpBVXi3uDcMZ0i5qJL1sOovJvkevJoVZ3QH_dtQOuyWHv7i4yfq7UEHcCAMnSKfwBmWEhJ4idL1uhTypCvcgiQvVdyGR0tifeisQa1w1zL2WnWnm4GQ/s1600/enhanced-buzz-15477-1362673961-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89IuuIuAP2bqkkHpM_O92W-1pCpBVXi3uDcMZ0i5qJL1sOovJvkevJoVZ3QH_dtQOuyWHv7i4yfq7UEHcCAMnSKfwBmWEhJ4idL1uhTypCvcgiQvVdyGR0tifeisQa1w1zL2WnWnm4GQ/s320/enhanced-buzz-15477-1362673961-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cows have best friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbrhH5OcnCfSsS3JAxRHrdjmlcB7cTTlo9a07nRO0LqnpsYlXswiLngG2HBZtKd-63KHUlPKSA4w9bPI1jNRjmWRy4Da-06Kz4Q4lvyVqk4A0IRK2yRExTd9QlWfmSwGA6q313WKnFVs/s1600/enhanced-buzz-16283-1362674158-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbrhH5OcnCfSsS3JAxRHrdjmlcB7cTTlo9a07nRO0LqnpsYlXswiLngG2HBZtKd-63KHUlPKSA4w9bPI1jNRjmWRy4Da-06Kz4Q4lvyVqk4A0IRK2yRExTd9QlWfmSwGA6q313WKnFVs/s320/enhanced-buzz-16283-1362674158-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alexander Graham Bell originally wanted people to greet each other on the phone by saying "ahoy!" instead of "hello!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsKYR32-gOltDjiFvbSFB5LCGY6bbQ5XH9H1NCGdP4_GpMlAEZ21TNf0TYcmJTje-qP5NdgKHTOkTmDgfGeWD9WUJrxEGGu3Bxpt6Ef_-VO1u1l3-WQjdr653l45_87y9MqnRXP1exeI/s1600/enhanced-buzz-21403-1362691016-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsKYR32-gOltDjiFvbSFB5LCGY6bbQ5XH9H1NCGdP4_GpMlAEZ21TNf0TYcmJTje-qP5NdgKHTOkTmDgfGeWD9WUJrxEGGu3Bxpt6Ef_-VO1u1l3-WQjdr653l45_87y9MqnRXP1exeI/s320/enhanced-buzz-21403-1362691016-12.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Squirrels forgetting where they put their acorns results in thousands of new trees each year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQceg42VOh1DKTD5pt3x4mnAl3uKD_sG6YxRS2aIka9DPILN5lfDhDVVR3DVZxnKSgso37UmmMYPDvPvhh242CHCllQDSwnSQpeluWEGIA3zVOr8bQNIvk5apMXf0rnkMkKHdXeotVTg/s1600/enhanced-buzz-13242-1362675016-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQceg42VOh1DKTD5pt3x4mnAl3uKD_sG6YxRS2aIka9DPILN5lfDhDVVR3DVZxnKSgso37UmmMYPDvPvhh242CHCllQDSwnSQpeluWEGIA3zVOr8bQNIvk5apMXf0rnkMkKHdXeotVTg/s320/enhanced-buzz-13242-1362675016-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Worms communicate with one another by snuggling.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Beatles used "love" 613 times in their songs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6iz2nddREQL4Uhxhc6-wytXkBLDw2VdQMXFDRQLiVNmbcmkW84uSG8EuPuJCU_frDZAeGj7NNFsNMNja1WH9AJzlrM_luSGx4Jye9Wme8ZB7i2VrgI1qVq9yg0yPWWSnQl89iD4shto/s1600/enhanced-buzz-27899-1362676745-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6iz2nddREQL4Uhxhc6-wytXkBLDw2VdQMXFDRQLiVNmbcmkW84uSG8EuPuJCU_frDZAeGj7NNFsNMNja1WH9AJzlrM_luSGx4Jye9Wme8ZB7i2VrgI1qVq9yg0yPWWSnQl89iD4shto/s320/enhanced-buzz-27899-1362676745-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some window washers at children's hospitals surprise the kids by dressing up like superheroes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d2Ag_froIFS9n_awQhUIVp7D52B31-NykJ3wrkkcslUTVOrmwH6EPkA6Q_BPgTmcGGcCZFKq8H4Du3MbM6hrV1z7Fn6J5HV4fNYEZ9EJB39ZwruWesL0D8VPEDQ4meJN1zQVgOFdx-M/s1600/enhanced-buzz-12105-1362677223-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d2Ag_froIFS9n_awQhUIVp7D52B31-NykJ3wrkkcslUTVOrmwH6EPkA6Q_BPgTmcGGcCZFKq8H4Du3MbM6hrV1z7Fn6J5HV4fNYEZ9EJB39ZwruWesL0D8VPEDQ4meJN1zQVgOFdx-M/s320/enhanced-buzz-12105-1362677223-3.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have a great Friday friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-68115025648266799292013-03-07T10:25:00.002-06:002013-03-07T10:29:22.521-06:00A Little Bit of This and That!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good Morning friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I do apologize for the lack of posts this week. Things have been busy and I am sure you all have been also. This busy is the good kind of busy that really makes me sit back and evaluate just how awesome life can be. It could be the addition of exercise in my routine that is making me feel high on life or it could be the paint fumes that are enveloping me daily, but things are busy but good. Okay, maybe they are even borderline great. What has been going on? Here is a quick look at the things that have been happening:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have started to run again, and it feels great. Sometimes I talk the big talk and say I am going to run today, but I have actually stuck true to my word and have been running every other day. I also am not as out of shape as I was expecting. On top of this, I have been trying the detox with cinnamon and honey (sidenote: I don’t feel all that different. I am a lot fuller throughout the day, but that is all. I am going to keep trying it though because maybe it takes a week or so to kick in?). I have also been eating healthy and have been getting Cory to eat more fruits and vegetables with me. Am I worried that if he starts losing any weight, he might disappear? Sure, but healthy is better than his diet of jellybeans and soda. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Is it ironic that ever since we have been eating healthy that Cory gets sick? Maybe his diet of candy and soda works? *sigh* Is it just me, or are skinny people with a junk food addiction annoying? Love you Cor.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>I had another snow day!! This is pretty self-explanatory! It was amazing AND I got to watch the Price is Right in what feels like forever. (P.S. When did they get rid of Bob Barker? Just kidding, it hasn’t been that long, just attempted to be funny. I feel this is a fail on my part.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My bookstore is going under somewhat of a renovation (thus the previously mentioned paint comment). More like a face lift really. The stark white walls are getting painted with a color pallet that I chose and I am getting new shelving and counters. I know this may not seem like a big deal but if you live and breathe in your place of employment, change like this is good. (<a href="http://strandupdate.blogspot.com/">Sara</a> can appreciate this statement though), It will feel more like mine than it did before and it just feels good to start new. I have a feeling that after Spring break is over, the bookstore (as well as me) will look (okay, so maybe this isn’t so much me) and feel refreshed and ready to take on the year ahead. Yes, friends, I find this exciting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.ameryclassictheatre.com/">The Amery Classic Theater</a> is trucking right along. There is still work to do, but each day when I walk in I am amazed with how far it has come and how the hard work is really paying off. With the hours of painting (see above mentioned paint fumes) and cleaning everyone has been putting in, a spring opening date might just happen. You will have to wait and see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend is also going to be busy but grand. I have a friend coming to spend the night on Friday (little does he know that I am going to put him to work sanding and painting), and on Saturday, Cory and I will be making the drive up to our old stomping grounds to celebrate for a friend’s birthday (Hopefully the forecast of rain/snow/sleet won’t happen). After some drinks and eats and a night’s sleep, it’s back home for us. Also, this Sunday I will be posting a review about a book that will blow your mind. It was a crazy read in every sense of the word (crazy). </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh yeah, Spring is just around the corner!</span></span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58XlQwyUdxNkJ-zMQgQk8f17kxxkIMGuZhltiml1l9GwXBSGCuNWaNF2NWhDPYolHJ8JsOFl5hMewLAk0Vb3OuwrOiz4xYhCtnMwAtH8oSyXB-bF9qIVOURnujs7a5urnjkA2WsjIw2s/s1600/HappyDaySpring_dig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58XlQwyUdxNkJ-zMQgQk8f17kxxkIMGuZhltiml1l9GwXBSGCuNWaNF2NWhDPYolHJ8JsOFl5hMewLAk0Vb3OuwrOiz4xYhCtnMwAtH8oSyXB-bF9qIVOURnujs7a5urnjkA2WsjIw2s/s320/HappyDaySpring_dig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, that is about it. We live in a busy busy world, but when you stop and look at life, there are a lot of blessings in life’s daily adventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Farewell for now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-87313281113771435202013-03-01T09:32:00.001-06:002013-03-01T09:38:38.782-06:00Cinnamon, Honey, Running, and being Impressively Lame.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday. Sweet and Glorious Friday. How I have missed you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Something exciting is happening this weekend. Yes, my friends, it certainly is. And when I say exciting, it probably only appeals to me, but I am okay with that. This weekend I have nothing to do. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I don’t remember the day I was able to say this with complete confidence that plans are moot. On top of this, Cory (unfortunately for his sake) has to work all weekend. What does this mean? This means I get to sleep however late I want to (okay, we all know I will probably wake up at 7:00 a.m. but it’s the reality of the matter), I can eat, nap, read, watch bad movies and have me some good <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i></b> time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been awhile since I last has some ‘me’ time (don’t ask why I put it in quotations. I just feel like it deserves the extra effort). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan on catching up with my book reviews (maybe even get ahead of schedule.gasp.), trying out a new recipe (God, I am getting lame), and watching the new Miley Cyrus movie that went straight to DVD or dare I saw a Twilight Marathon (When I said lame, I really didn’t believe it until re-reading what I just typed. don’t judge). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqxpOa-czULeb3wUSuxd-B4AT30NiPmfgd72bP6OfyV0BrL_eVrHjXeXt4lOs7c6cf2snUsBu8TgrmMfTrWyh1iEqSiw96HKpJJjIGkuHhSeG4m2cjNPvJMyq4phLWmMA-sSuKeTxprA/s1600/Miley-Cyrus-So-Undercover-Movie-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqxpOa-czULeb3wUSuxd-B4AT30NiPmfgd72bP6OfyV0BrL_eVrHjXeXt4lOs7c6cf2snUsBu8TgrmMfTrWyh1iEqSiw96HKpJJjIGkuHhSeG4m2cjNPvJMyq4phLWmMA-sSuKeTxprA/s320/Miley-Cyrus-So-Undercover-Movie-Poster.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know. You don't have to tell me what is wrong with this picture. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With all this free time, I have deemed this weekend “The Weekend I start Running”. Confession time: I haven’t run it what feels like forever. Okay, so it was last October, but that is still a very long time. My treadmill broke down in the move so I can either run at top speed (makes for a good show) or at the slowest speed (also makes for a good show) and that mixed in with sloppy weather and no running trails in the area, my running shoes have been collecting dust. Do I feel good about this? No. But I will get back into the swing of things. This weekend. I think. I hope. We will see. I think the temps might be around 30 degrees and no snow, so outside running can probably happen (if any of you have an excuse I can use to not start running, let me know. I am taking excuses at the moment). Okay, so I will be real as to the reason I feel the need to start again: Jealousy. Yes, you read that right. I am jealous. People all over Facebook are talking about training for the Half Marathon that I ran in last year. Due to the fact that I couldn’t afford it that week and the plans that Cor wants to knock me up sometime in the next year, I felt it was best to sit this one out because of all the uncertainties the future holds. All the statues though are bringing me back to last year when I signed up and when I started training and I do miss it. Despite the fact that I tell everyone I hate running, I miss the feeling after I completed a run or the feeling of running as the sun was coming up. It really put me at peace with myself, with nature, and I felt fantastic. What I have decided is that I am going to run another half marathon in October in Ashland, WI. I can sign up a week before the actual marathon, so the future will be more set and then I don’t have to worry about being outed the $80.00. Now I have a goal to be reached and can join the cool people and start talking about training. Yes, jealously is a very good motivator so thank you half marathon runners for posting about training. It has made me set a goal for myself and I am pretty excited about it!</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcrQCh3mn5dJkgyzov8yp7rcUZFhS_Uz4AfH447n6O9b4BwDTQTo3UFvDZKAvI-PyAn4rvmNOrm6pHyLBLqt2KF_nmszbo8NWMeQNRo4EQkLhRilopJFPdj2TzR8lzwFjYLnEdd88fPQ/s1600/woman-running221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcrQCh3mn5dJkgyzov8yp7rcUZFhS_Uz4AfH447n6O9b4BwDTQTo3UFvDZKAvI-PyAn4rvmNOrm6pHyLBLqt2KF_nmszbo8NWMeQNRo4EQkLhRilopJFPdj2TzR8lzwFjYLnEdd88fPQ/s1600/woman-running221.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Depite what many of you probably think, This is not me. However, I probably look like that when I run. I most definitely do not breathe like a Hippo and am very graceful. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Man, it feel like I have so much more to talk about. Sorry for the novel folks. It has been a busy week, so I am trying to catch you all up on my not-so-exciting life (hmmm. I really am uninteresting). With the new found motivation to get my big butt off the couch, I also want to start eating healthy. One of my dear friends and favorite running buddy have been talking about a detox they have been trying. She found it on Pinterest and it is all natural and supposedly good for you (I also want to put a shout out to this friend because I saw this on her Facebook posts so if she reads this, I am probably sounding really creepy and stalkerish right now, because we have in fact never talked about it. She has been posting about it and I copied her. Sorry Kat). </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just to set you all straight, I am not looking at losing weight, but I do love the feeling of being healthy. I was very successful last summer and am looking forward to getting on the horse again. Yes, this means that I have to pay attention to serving sizes and pass on the cheese with extra cheese pizza that my mother-in-law orders, but Me? I love food. Again, I am not going on a diet, I will just be more conscious of what is going into my body and paying attention to the serving sizes. What this detox claims to do is make your insides a bit healthier and it is all natural. Seriously. It is a detox with honey and cinnamon and water. That is all. Instead of drinking tea at night, you replace it with this. My frame of mind is that if it doesn’t work, I am not really out anything. I have copied the instructions below if anyone else is interested in it. They also have some information as to why they think it works. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Honestly, sometimes all of this is just a bunch a Bull. When they start talking about studies and why it works, I lose interest. The thing that really got me to want to try it is that I have heard a lot of good things about honey and how the natural bacterium in honey is good for the body. It is not a pill and I drink honey tea anyways. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel it might be a win!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #215968; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #215968; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Health Benefits of Honey and Cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦If you take tea made from honey and cinnamon, it will not only provide detoxification benefits, but will also prevent fat accumulation. This is confirmed by a research done in the year 2010 and published in the Archives of Biochemistry<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. <span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;">(See, this is where I lose interest, but read On!)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Cinnamon will help lose body weight, even when you will take a diet high in fructose and fats. Thus, fat is not allowed to get accumulated in the body and is instead purged. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;">Again, I feel this is too good to be true. I don’t necessarily believe that you can still eat high fructose foods and lose weight, but with healthy habits, this might assist in maintaining your weight) </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Honey also plays an important role in weight loss and prevent fats accumulation. Thus, replacing regular sugar with honey can help in prevention of fats storage and also allow it to pass through the digestive tract without being absorbed. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;">(We will see. Again, it seems too good to be true)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;">(I do believe this.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;">(I have heard this.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, enough about the health perks of this. If you just Google “Benefits of Honey”, you will get a lot more answers which include but are not limited to, better skin, improved athletic performance, and so on. Again, use your own judgment if you believe all the studies or not. Otherwise, stay tuned and I will let you know how it works for me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #215968; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #215968; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Ways to Detox with Cinnamon and Honey</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Detox with honey and cinnamon is very simple as it needs only honey, cinnamon and a cup of water. It should be done in the following manner:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Take cinnamon and honey in the ratio of 1:2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">EX: . 1/2 tsp cinnamon to 1 tsp honey is recommended but can use more or less as long as in the ratio of 1 to 2. — so 1 tsp cinnamon to 2 tsp raw honey is ok too as an example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Now, put cinnamon in a bowl or a cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Boil 1 cup of water and pour it over cinnamon and allow it to steep for about half an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Add honey, once the liquid gets cooled. Do not add honey in the warm solution as it will kill the enzymes present in raw honey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦Take half cup of honey and cinnamon tea before going to bed and the rest of the amount should be covered and stored in refrigerator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">◦This leftover tea should be taken as the first thing in the morning the next day. This tea should be taken on an empty stomach without adding anything to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #632523; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">** I also want to note that some websites mentioned that only RAW HONEY should be used, but again, you can do your own research and decide what you think/believe.**<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well friends. That is all I have to contribute today. I am very excited for my low key weekend and really look forward to spending time with my kitty (who has a very bad leg at the moment </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) Yes, this crazy cat lady who drinks way too much coffee is going to have a weekend that any crazy cat would dream of having. (See also previous mentioned lame comments about myself). Happy March, dear friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Be Truthful, Gentle, and Fearless” - Gandhi</span></div>
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My Poor kitty. At least he has this guy to cuddle with. </div>
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Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-83544957388323664282013-02-25T15:52:00.000-06:002013-02-25T15:56:22.597-06:00Laughing Foxes, Spotted Cows, Wheat for Sheep, Paint and Things<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Monday Morning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have made it through another weekend. The last weekend of the month of February. Time is passing us by and the joys of springtime is 23 days away (not that I am counting). Icicles are forming from the melting snow and the sun has been peeking out more often. People are switching over their wardrobe from browns and blacks to pinks, oranges, and yellows. Yes friends, the seasons are changing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend was another eventful one, despite the fact I stayed home. Friday included games, new friends, fun, and chili (my dad’s award winning chili nonetheless). We woke up early Saturday and headed to the <a href="http://www.ameryclassictheatre.com/">Amery Classic Theater</a> to get some paint on the walls. It is just so exciting to see progress being made. Each day we put our hard work in makes the reality of the theater being open more of a reality. Two of our good friends came and helped painted and things got done. When I say things got done, I wish I could show you just how hard they worked and how amazing the space is looking. Add that with some pizza and beer, it was a very fun and productive afternoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, I can’t post any pictures up of the progress. We don’t want to ruin the surprises in store for all of you!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On top of that our friends decided to stick around as Cor and I introduced them to the world of Settlers of Catan (Don’t know what that is? Your missing out!). We brought out the inner geeks, had some Spotted Cow, laughed along with Laughing Fox and played Settlers until the sun went down. Yes friends, it was a very good day indeed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday was another day of paint brushes, paint, and painters tape. I must confess though, we did sleep in a bit and have a lazy morning filled with coffee and conversation. The weekend ended with the red carpet of the Oscars and talk of the work week ahead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes I forget how blessed I am in the hand that I was dealt. It is weekends like this where new people come into the picture and become friends, where old friends show up to support us and stay for fun and games after, and where family completes the circle of love that I feel each and every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoy this Monday, friends, because life is grand and you are beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-7661547794964197252013-02-22T09:17:00.000-06:002013-02-22T09:17:31.782-06:00Book Review: Blood Prophecy-The Fated Three<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TGIF!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, we have made it to the end of the week. Let us raise our coffee cups to the end of the week! Today, I am super excited to bring to you all another book review. When <a href="http://apostrophebooks.com/books/blood-prophecy/">Apostrophe Books</a> contacted me to review a YA Paranormal Romance about vampires, I jumped at the chance. I think I replied within seconds of them asking me. Not only is this book right up my alley, it is a romance…with vampires. Seriosuly, need I say more. Make some shelf room friends, because this should go up on it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summary:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://apostrophebooks.com/books/blood-prophecy/">Blood Prophecy: The Fated Three by T.L. Spencer</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The darkness is rising. Thousands of years ago, a prophecy was foretold and now it has awakened…</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17-year-old Selene Giovanni loses her father at a young age and is forever separated from her peers by the experience and an abusive mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When a young stranger, Gregori, starts at her school, Selene’s world changes dramatically. Her once dull and lonely life becomes exciting and dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With vampires and werewolves around every corner, Selene must make a choice between love, death and the fate of the world. And that is only the beginning…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First of all, I have to be honest and say that the start of this book reminded me a bit too much of Twilight. It threw me off a bit and I struggled getting into the story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that in the YA paranormal fiction category, there is always that comparison with authors, especially when vampires are mentioned. It took me a couple chapters to get really into it because of this fact. You have a plain, yet beautiful girl who is attracted to a handsome rich vampire. You see where the comparison can be drawn? However, I am so glad that I stuck to it. The story took a couple of turns and actually threw in more story lines and more characters than I was expecting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so glad I kept to it because the went through the lives of the six main characters made this book an action packed read. One thing I did love about T.L. Spencer’s writing is that she gave a history of each of her characters and explained to the reader why the characters acted certain ways and you really got to know each of the girls inside and out. The backstories went into such detail that I could have read three different books in this one book but Spencer had a way to make everything come together gracefully. The stories were so different but the transition between characters fused together and there was no confusion. I found myself developing relationships with each main character. I loved them, I was annoyed with them, but I felt for them also. This is a detail that shows just how great the writing was. The struggles within each relationship can be compared to most relationships these days and I love that Spencer kind of told a story with a lesson that was twisted into this great plot. Throw in the shape-shifters, vampires, and other supernatural powers, T.L. Spencer wrote a book that can be put up on the shelf with the other great YA Paranormal books! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Want to add it to your must reads? Get more information and purchase it <a href="http://apostrophebooks.com/books/blood-prophecy/">HERE</a>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>About the Author:</strong></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p>TL Spencer was born in Lincolnshire and, as her father was a member of the armed forces, she travelled frequently. As a child, she lived in places such as Reading and Salisbury, taking advantage of being a short drive from the mystical Stonehenge – one of her favourite places. </o:p></div>
<span style="color: black;">She was diagnosed with epilepsy while living in Germany aged 11, and turned to writing as a way to cope with her condition. She is now studying at university and hopes one day to become a teacher. </span><br />
<span>A fan of all things paranormal, her three-part novel <a href="http://apostrophebooks.com/books/blood-prophechy/" title="Blood Prophecy">Blood Prophecy</a> won Apostrophe Books’ <a href="http://apostrophebooks.com/fftwinners/" title="Fiction Fast-Track: Winners">Fiction Fast-Track</a> new writing competition, appropriately enough on Halloween, in 2012. For more information, <a href="http://terrispencer.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">visit her blog</a>. She can be contacted via <a href="http://www.twitter.com/terrilspencer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well friends, that is all for this Friday. I hope you enjoy this snowy day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02580969930965588047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267756814243157049.post-17648495611145090262013-02-20T09:21:00.001-06:002013-02-20T09:21:52.118-06:00This is all. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There may not be much to this post, but it leaves a giant impact on me. Enjoy!<br />
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