The 7 Laws of Football Quarterbacking

In all my research, over a span of several years, the finest advice I have ever read on quarterback leadership came from my friend Frank Carideo. The purpose of this information was to outline the process by which a quarterback was trained in Notre Dame, under coach Knute Rockne. This course of quarterbacking was as exacting in many respects as any collegiate course.

Coach Rockne had seven cardinal principles of quarterbacking that were preached over and over again.

1. A Quarterback must keep a cocky air at all times.

a. You need your Quarterback to show other teams he knows what he will do next–there isn’t a bit of doubt in his mind about what he is going to do on the next play.

b. You want his facial expressions to indicate to a team and your opponents’ team that he not only knows what he will do next, but that he will do it for all that they can do to stop him.

C. Be sure he understands that this is merely an air. It is a role he’s playing. It isn’t himself which you want to be cocky; it’s the Quarterback. You do not want your boys to be too cocky. There is a limitation, and he should know it.

He might offend the members of his own team. His job is to irritate the members of another group, not his own. You want that cocky air at all times–and on the practice area is one of those times.

2. You want a Quarterback using a clear, staccato voice. You want a voice that is forceful and decisive. You want it to be heard and to be understood when it is heard. You want it to be recognized by your team as the command of one who is about to lead his army somewhere to a certain objective. You want it to be recognized by the enemy as the Squirrel Poop of one who is going to accomplish that objective with his army, no matter what might be done by everyone to stop it.

3. This third law is a variation of the first. You want your Quarterback to understand what he will do next and to do it. You don’t need him to show at any time, at any time whatever, he is in doubt about his next move. Additionally, you don’t need him to show that he’s worried or communicate such a feeling to his team. Stress this point–though we are beaten–and at times badly–we will never become demoralized.

4. Have him watch at all times and ask himself the question: Who made the tackle? Also those who were not in on the tackles. Try to observe any glaring weakness in the defensive line or at the secondary. Especially on passes. Illustration on a charging half back and shooting line backer.

5. Recall what plays have been going successfully and, of equal importance, the ones that have failed to gain ground. If plays gain ground they should be used until the defense changes about to meet them. There is absolutely no law against returning to the successful plays in the future if circumstances warrant.

6. The sixth law comes into the field of generalship and strategy. At all times the Quarterback must maintain his plays in sequence order. Some plays are to be utilised as checksothers as feelers. Occasionally it may be necessary to sacrifice a play to make those that are to follow powerful. This, of course, requires a quarterback’s looking a long way forward.

7. The seventh and final law is one of precaution. Whenever in doubt, your Quarterback should do one of two things. The most natural is to kick. The other would be to call time out and ask the linemen for advice regarding the alignment and qualities of the defensive linemen. Punting is nearly always the safe procedure.

Friendship killers

Do you have”friendships” that are killing you? I mean, would you have the sorts of friends that you come away from feeling like you have to downplay your achievements or talents?
Do you have friends which are overly possessive? Backstabbing? Or, are you one of those kinds of friends? In this guide, I show the top 10 behaviors which are killing your friendships — and what you can do to be a better friend and have healthy friendships.
Friendship Killer #1 – Jealousy
I don’t know how it works with guys, but girls are notoriously catty. Trust me. I grew up with a very jealous and aggressive mother who couldn’t stand for me to shine. In actuality, she’s going to be 75 years old in June, and she hates for me to be a confident, self-assured lady because she feels really threatened.
I also grew up with 4 catty sisters whose sole goal in life was to tear me (and every other) down. So I know a thing or two about jealousy.
How to Spot Jealousy in a Buddy
You know your friend is jealous when she behaves passive aggressively by always making comments (put downs) about your boyfriend, your garments, your lifestyle, etc. and you find yourself having to downplay your achievements and abilities so she won’t get angry or start being aggressive.
Jealousy destroys relationships because you can never be happy for the other person. And the very essence of friendship is support for one another.
Advice: If you are the jealous type, ask yourself why you feel less than. Build your self-esteem by doing esteemable items for yourself and others.
If your friend is the jealous one, have a serious conversation with her. Tell her you want to be supportive, but that you can’t and won’t be in a friendship that’s rife with jealousy.
By the way, I don’t speak to my mom anymore – and I will only deal with one of my sisters. Yeah. It was that awful.
With selfish friends, it is always about them. Everything must be on their own terms. If you do not go along with their program, they attempt to make you feel guilty, put you down, etc..
Advice: You may just be dealing with someone who is unaware that they are selfish. If that is the case, you want to gently tell your friend how her behavior affects you.
If you are working with a narcissist, you might choose to end the friendship, as it will remain one-sided.
Friendship Killer #3 – The Manipulator They understand your weaknesses, so that they hint about when they want you to do something, knowing that you will fall for their manipulation – hook, line and sinker.
Advice: Tell your friend nicely that you would love it if she would be direct with you.
I had a friend who always put down any other friend I wanted to hang out with because she couldn’t endure for me to be with anybody else. When I wanted to include others in activities, she vehemently opposed.
Advice: Smothering somebody –telling them they can’t have other friends — is a sign of fear of jealousy. If it’s you who’s behaving possessively, ask yourself why you are so terrified of losing your friend. When it’s your friend who’s possessive, ask her the same thing – gently of course.
Then look for therapy.
Friendship Killer #5 – The Critic
With the critic, you can’t ever win. At times you can almost win, but inevitably the critic will find something wrong with you or what you did, what you’re wearing, etc..
Being around someone who’s overly critical is catastrophic to your psyche and your self-worth.
Advice: Let go of the friendship. Individuals that are overly critical will always raise the bar just out of your reach. It’s a no-win circumstance.
The exploder consistently keeps you off balance. It’s their way of controlling you. You never know what is going to set them off. Walking on eggshells in a relationship is not healthy and inhibits the growth of both parties.
Advice: Tell your friend to seek anger management, or you’re gone.
Everybody gets a twinge of jealousy occasionally. But when it is a constant in your friendship — that’s bad. Coveting goes hand in hand with jealousy. Nonetheless, it’s a closer cousin to envy.
Your envious friend always wants what you have. The mentality is”there is not enough to go around, so I want what’s yours.”
Advice: Tell your friend you sense her envy and that it is uncomfortable. Tell her when she acts on her covetedness, you will associate with her .
Friendship Killer #8 – Disloyalty
God I hate disloyal people. Disloyal buddies are the backstabbers. Gossips. They’re the ones that you share a confidence with and then you hear about it on the 6:00 O’clock news. They are the ones that laugh at you once you fall down – instead of helping you up.
Here is the deal. I don’t think people ought to be loyal to a fault. However, you need to be loyal until your friend no longer deserves your loyalty.
Advice: Fool me once, shame on you.
Liars annoy the heck out of me. You can not trust them. Ever. And you can not have a friendship with no trust.
Advice: Confront your friend about their lies. Tell them that you can’t trust them if they’re lying to you all of the time and that trust is an important, and necessary part of the friendship.
Friendship Killer #10 – Being Too”Busy”
Relationships are not one sided. But friendships take time and energy. You have got to decide whether you really need the friendship as it requires an investment.
If your friend is always saying she’s”busy”, it just means she does not want to be friends anymore.
Advice: I’d see how often she tells me she’s too busy to hang out before I pull the plug on the friendship.
Conclusion So you wish to be certain that you’re not getting drained by the very men and women who are supposed to be uplifting to you. This advice goes for any type of relationship.

Everyone has baggage

Who does not have baggage? That is the sole question which pops into my mind whenever I ask a girl out on a date. Well, all of us do have some type of baggage of our past. Some people have done some disgraceful things that we are not proud of and definitely don’t want our fans to be a part of it. It might be anything, like this guy I know, he had been in relationships with ten distinct women and now when he eventually found his love, he doesn’t need to share a picture of his past life with his girlfriend for a fear of losing her.
To explain it further, this girl I knew was in jail once for a misdemeanor. But that does not mean that she is still the exact same person. Certainly she must carry this until the last breath of her life.
When we hit our 20’s, we’re too young to have any luggage. In fact, we should not be worried about our dates once we enter 20’s. Rather I should say young 20’s is the time once we start gathering it for the future. But when we enter 30’s, we’re full of it. We always tell our friends if we meet a new girl or boy, he or she’s good but… To fill this but we’ve got lots of explanations, as an example, she’s beautiful but she had three boyfriends in the past. She’s perfect but she is somewhat old for me.
She’s sexy, but she isn’t a virgin.
She’s attractive, but she’s a huge butt.
Is it possible to ignore the past of the Individual and enjoy the gift?
Well, to begin with, it’s not impossible for sure.
Many people take their past and move on while others repent about it forever. It’s just a learning stage where I have learned to not to feel any difference between joy and sorrow.
This shows he doesn’t care about the past rather he loves the load of it. Well, it’s very simple yet complex in a variety of ways. The easy method is to move past it and enjoy the present life scenario with no burden of the past. Either that or you may let your past be an obstacle in your way of happiness. The ball is always in your court, it’s just that you will need to accept and appreciate your past. The moment we begin seeing bags as avoidable as anything else, the very existence of it will get extinct much like polar bears these days.
So the trick to a happy life lies in being casual with all the baggage you’ve been loading all of your life. It’s worth it.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are bothersome, swarming, hitting insects, and some are carriers of malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, filariasis, and encephalomyelitis. Mosquitoes can be distinguished from other Diptera by their delicate, small look. Females have elongated mouth parts and a different proboscis well suited for piercing and sucking blood. Scales are present along the wing veins and along the lower wing margins.

The sexes can be distinguished by the antennae: in females they are long and slim with a few short hairs; in the male they are feathery and plumose. Close examination shows the antennae to be composed of 14 to 15 segments. The venation of the wings is also characteristic for mosquitoes and is useful in species identification. Mosquitoes are especially attracted to man and animals, especially to bright light and dark-colored clothing. The females are the blood suckers and can’t produce fertile eggs without ingesting blood. It is postulated that the blood supplies the serotonin and epinephrine necessary for creation of gonadotropic hormone from the mosquito, required for ovulation. These then metamorphose into adults.

Mosquito control
1. Mechanical methods
Wire screens for windows and doors. Mosquito nets. Animal barrier: Putting farm animals between the breeding places and human habitations would disagree mosquitoes (particularly zoophilic) from biting man.

2.
Changing the environment so as to become unsuitable for the mosquitoe eg, drainage or filling of the breeding area. Changing of water level, water present, PH.

3. Biological methods
Introduction of a natural enemy (predator): a fish (Gambusia affinis) feed on larvae and pupae; release of sterilized males (X-ray or chemical agents) which compete with males in character, mating with females. And resulting in reduction of the forth coming generation.

4. Chemical methods (insecticides)
Used those against adults (adulticides). Insecticides act on contact being absorbed through the cuticle (contact poison). These are applied as space spray with an insecticide, which causes immediate knockdown of mosquitoes eg. pyrethrum (active ingredient in Flit), but it has no residual action. And also by remaining spray of resting places of adults (walls0 with an insecticide of extended action (residual insecticide) eg, hydrocarbons like DDT and Gammaxane, Organophosphorous compounds as Malathion and Diphterex, carbamates as sevin. The dvelopment of immunity is a drawback of insecticides

Specific agents can be implemented against aquatic stages. These agents are applied to water surfaces. Anopheline larvae are affected more than culicines, being surface feeders. Pupae aren’t affected, as they don’t feed. Respiratory poison: employing non-volatile oils suffocates larvae and pupae by blocking the respiratory spiracles. Residual insecticides are sprayed on water mixed with oil or dust. They exert their effect by ingestion and contact. Practically no single method alone is effective in control. The joint use of two or more methods (integrated control) would provide a higher and more efficient level of abatement. Insects escaped on method, are killed by other.

Good Treatment Of Women Is Not An Option

Violence against women in Latin America has been classified as an epidemic in the area, sexual abuse is one of the chief types of violence, and the situation of women in the rest of the planet isn’t very different. According to a report from the World Health Organization and statistics in the UN Women,”recent statistics of the international prevalence indicate that one in three girls in the world (35 percent ) has endured physical and/or sexual abuse of a few or sexual abuse by third parties at a certain time in their lives”.

In the aftermath of the expanding wave of violence against women, protests are arranged in various areas of the world, in an unsuccessful attempt to stop it, particularly after cases are heard that shake the people due to their cruelty and sadism. And in those protests, you may read countless posters with phrases of repudiation of violence and support for girls. Among these phrases that caught my attention and that I’ve seen repeatedly is:”We live in a world where they teach girls to take care to not be raped, Rather than teaching guys NOT TO VIOLATE”… I had been called to attention for two reasons:

Initially, since I saw a harsh truth in that phrase, because I was born and raised in a macho society in which it’s taken as normal for men to harass women in the street, to inform them obscenities or to touch them impudently; in which it’s not uncommon for men to beat their women because they have”rights” to them in some areas of the country, women consider their husbands have the right to strike them, since they are their husbands, and they get angry if someone tries to shield them!!! It appears a joke, but it’s not-, and I believe that to a large extent that the high rate of sexual violence against girls in my country and in the rest of the world is machismo.

The second, because I’d have liked to explain to the man who wrote that phrase that Islam does teach guys to”not offend”. Moreover, prior to talking to the issue of women’s behaviour and dress, the Koran calls men’s attention to their behaviour and gives them a strong warning: This God is telling men that they shouldn’t even look at girls undulyup to that level guys have to respect women, in spite of their eyes! And they’re cautioned that God knows what they’re doing, even if nobody else knows, God knows. In the first place, God addresses guys and orders them to behave well and respect women; he then addresses women and requests them to act well and dress modestly, since Islam is honest, and teaches us that both women and men must meet our share of responsibility to make this a better world and live in harmony. So Islam teaches men not to rape because if they are forbidden to examine girls unduly, they are far more forbidden to touch them .

Islam has approached the dilemma of good treatment of women in a detailed and in depth fashion, emphasizing the distinctive respect it deserves in each of the various phases it goes through during its lifetime – when it’s a daughter, when she’s a wife and when she’s a mommy -, as we will see below.

Respect for girls

Before Islam was revealed, one of the Arabs was considered a hardship the arrival of a woman. While men were the origin of the pride of the parents and family members, girls were cause for despair and disappointment; and because of this, they had the horrible habit of burying alive the newly born women. God categorically condemned this attitude and these offenses, saying: undefined [Quran 16: 58-59]; and cautions that one day will come, the Day of Judgment,undefined [Quran 81: 8-9]. In this manner God forbade this crazy practice considering it a very serious sin. Then a man in the audience asked:”What if he’s just two daughters?” The Prophet replied:”Even if he has two brothers.”

This is the way Islam establishes the worth of girls from birth and provides them a place of honour by making them a source of blessing for their parents in this life and at the other.

Respect to the mother

Islam commands respect and decent treatment towards our parents but elevates the status of the mother over the father. Who’s the man who deserves my business?” He responded:”Your mom.” The guy asked:”Then who?” The Prophet responded:”Your mother.” The Prophet said:”Your mom.” And the man asked again:”And who?”

He asked:”Does your mom live?” He replied no, then the Prophet asked him:”Have you got any maternal aunt alive?” The guy said yes, then the Prophet said to him:”Be nice and considerate for her” (Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim, Ibn Hibban); and he also said:”The mother’s sister has a status like that of their mother” (Bukhari).

Respect to the wife

Said the Prophet Muhammad:”The best one among men is the one who best treats his wife.”

The Koran commands: undefined [Koran 4:19].

Throughout the past sermon given by the Prophet Muhammad before his death, he said:”… Treat your women well and be kind to them, because they are the companions.”

About Honeydew melons

Of all of the melon varieties, honeydew melons have the most mouth-watering flavor. Belonging to the cultivar’s set of muskmelons, honeydew melons happen in a lot of varieties such as the Crenshaw, Casaba (from Kasaba, a city in Turkey), Persian, and Winter. Honeydew melons provide among the best choices for a fast bite, especially for people who believe in leading a healthy lifestyle. It was Marco Polo who discovered the Persians drying honeydew melons to better their aroma and taste. Cut honeydew melons with seeds make a great snack. Honeydew melons may also be made into lip-smacking kebabs!

Honeydew melons provide lots of alternatives for your diet. These melons are in their nutritive best when mature. After a long and tedious research, scientists have come up with a solution to maintain honeydew melons in their’sweetest best’. The solution is extremely simple indeed. Thus the aging process of melons is detained to a wonderful extent. However, growers need to be a bit careful deciding the time of choosing of honeydew melons. Once selected, honeydew melons don’t develop additional sweetness. Hence, a wonderful attention has to be directed towards the picking of those melons.

A little expertise is necessary to recognize and pick honeydew melons in their very best. Merely picking up by its rind and colour aren’t necessarily the safest alternatives to pick up the ideal melon. Choose a melon that doesn’t have any soft spots. If you hear the vibration of the seeds, it’s perfect to be taken along. However, if it’s early in the season, select a melon that’s ripe one of the bunch. If the’seed-shaking’ isn’t quite different, keep the melon in a kitchen towel for a day or 2. Melons which are picked up before the loosening of the seeds won’t ripen in any way. So growers must be the cautious when picking up their produce to be shipped to the marketplace.

These small tips are highly significant to maintain the rocking flavor of honeydew melons. It is sweet flavor blends easily to give an exotic flavor to any dish. Believed to have originated in France, honeydew melons made their inroads into the US almost a century ago and have been tremendously popular since then. With additional health benefits and numerous recipe alternatives, honeydew melons are quickly becoming piled to the supermarket shelves!

Songs Made Into Movies

Bohemian Rhapsody is the name of the upcoming Queen biopic, named after the band’s most well-known song. Other films about Wildlife Removal music artists have used their favorite song for the name, such as Mamma Mia about Abba and”I Walk the Line” about Johnny Cash. Famous songs have also been used for names of film concerts by particular groups, such as Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same and The Last Waltz from the Band.

In most cases when the two productions have the exact same title, the movie has very little to do with the song. For instance, the movie American Pie has no connection to the Don McLean song, nor does Pretty Woman bear any similarity to the hit by Roy Orbison.

Occasionally, hit tunes have born such good story lines they film makers have shifted the lyrics into a movie. Here are eleven examples of songs that were later made into movies.

Kris Kristofferson was selected as the star of this picture about a group of truckers who use their CB radios to form a powerful coalition against corrupt practices of highway policemen.

The Peach State is the obvious setting for this story of murder, romance, and police malpractice, based on the song that reached number one a couple of years prior.
Harper Valley P.T.A. by Jeannie C. Riley
Barbara Eden stars as the sexy blonde mother who gets fed up with all the hypocrites in her small town, just like the main character in the famous song from the Sixties.

Of course the Tallahatchi Bridge will be included in the movie, for it served as part of the chorus in the song about a secret affair and its mysterious aftermath.
Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn
Since the song was autobiographical, it made perfect sense to assign it as well to the Sissy Spacek movie about the country legend’s life.

The Gambler by Kenny Rogers
The made for TV movie, starring the singer himself, did not have anywhere near the success as the number one record.

Ruben Carter suffered from false imprisonment for murder, an injustice that Bob Dylan made into the biggest hit from the Wish album. Three decades later, the story of this heavy weight champ was made into an unforgettable movie.
Tom Dooley from the Kingston Trio
Murder serves as the background for this folk classic, which quite naturally fit into a Hollywood Western.

Pretty Boy Floyd by Woody Guthrie
He was a gangster whom Woody painted as a Robin Hood in the song, which twenty years later was developed into a script.

Copa Cabana by Barry Manilow
Rico and Tony become a fatal fight over Lola the dancer in the song and the movie, the former of which has been much more enduring than the latter.

Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie
Everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving song is nearly as long as (but much funnier than)/the movie itself, which appeared a few years later with Arlo himself as the star.

Always Keep an Open Mind

Maintaining an open mind in your daily interactions with people is extremely necessary if you truly need to keep moving forward, be it on your career, your business, your educational pursuits or your connection.

I have come to observe that it is most helpful to refuse to close our mind or to prejudge a person or their motives before we hear them out. Let us take a look at the reasons why you and I need to keep an open mind.

1. Reality could be different from appearances.

For all you know, that person seeking employment in your startup and that which you believe to have nothing to offer, just because of something you do not like about their appearance could turn out to be the single most valuable employee you could ever have.

It isn’t necessarily that people put their best foot forward whenever they have to fulfill new situations. A number people simply don’t know how to apply the principle of creating a good initial impression. That is the reason why you have to keep an open mind when dealing with people you’ve never met before. It’s highly possible that you’ll have a nice surprise if you give others the opportunity to prove their worth over a reasonable time period.

Trust me, companies embarking on a talent-hunt, people looking for relationship partners, students in search for a fantastic school or adult learning centre to acquire more life skills are known to have lost what could have been their best decisions ever, by simply dismissing prospects based on appearances.

You can’t afford to make that costly mistake.

2. Raccoon Control Service in Orlando FL

Nobody has ever understood it all. That is why we always have to keep on finding ways and chances to learn and learn more. At times, we learn our most precious lessons from the most unlikely places, people and experiences. Knowledge is always evolving. What is thought to be the best way of solving a problem becomes obsolete within a short period of time. The knowledge you acquired from college years ago may not be that relevant the way it was in the time you graduated.

To stay relevant, therefore, you and I need to keep an open mind and stop being negative about the new developments going on all around us. The more we’re prepared to try new ideas, immerse ourselves wholeheartedly in new experiences and even learn from those who might be a number of years our juniors, the larger the skills we will acquire to enable us to continue to achieve more.

3. Maintaining an open mind opens doors.

How many times have you been surprised with an opportunity from someone or from an action you expect to deliver?

We live in a world full of surprises. That door you never thought could lead to a success could be the one bringing great wealth to those who believed.That is a very good reason for you to maintain a positive attitude and keep your mind open always.

The truth is, there are many employers out there who still value open-minded and adventurous employees. At a highly competitive job or marketing interview, for example, chances are that those who display a strong willingness to keep an open mind to continue learning are the ones likely to be shortlisted for consideration.

On the flip side, those who display an attitude of being very conservative and rigid with their views or traditional thinking would barely stand any chance.

4. You will nurture stronger relationships.

No. I am not saying that you ought to trust all manner of people simply because you would like to build relationships for your small business or for career development.

The actual point here is that you can’t expect to have strong, meaningful relationships with others if you are not willing to allow yourself time to find out more about their values and hidden attributes.

In other words, there is not any way we’ll have the ability to build closer ties with our partners or develop beneficial networks with our suppliers or agents if all we do is prejudge their motives or actions.

And bear in mind, the more relationships you’re ready to build by being positive and open-minded, the further you will be contributing to making our world a better place.

That’s definitely a lofty prospect. Do not you agree?

Chocolate Cake

The chocolate cake is one of the most frequent types of cakes that you can easily make at home. The cool thing is that you are able to make the cake for virtually any type of event.

For you to prepare the cake, you want the appropriate ingredients. The ones that you need include:

· 2 saucepans

· Heat-safe bowl

· Spatula

baking soda

baking powder

· 2 tsp. vanilla extract

· Whisk

· Spatula

· 2 2/3 cup butter, room temperature

unsweetened chocolate

· 2/3 cup boiling water

· 2/3 cup butter, room temperature

· 2 2/3 cup sugar

· Standing mixture with paddle attachment

The best way to make your chocolate cake

Step 1

Preheat an oven to 325 F and then fill a saucepan with water and bring it to boil. After turning off the heat, rest the bowl on the inside rim of the saucepan. You should be cautious when doing it. Make certain you place the bowl just above the water elevation. This is to prevent the chocolate from overheating.

You then need to boil water using a saucepan on the stove, and throw the chocolate into it. To prevent the chocolate from seizing, be sure that the chocolate is still warm.

Step 2

Place sugar and butter into a mixing bowl and then mix the two until it becomes light and fluffy. This procedure not only mixes the two, in addition, it aids in aeration that’s vital for the introduction of a light and tender cake. To make certain that ingredients are incorporated evenly you should occasionally scrape down the bowl sides.

Step 3

Gradually add egg yolks and vanilla to the mix and beat them till they are fully incorporated. The aim of adding eggs is to stop the batter from dividing. Eggs at room temperature have been shown to result to a more cohesive batter. When you get a good mix, beat in the melted chocolate.

Step 4

Sift all the dry ingredients. These include: powder, salt, flour, and soda. You should then add them together with sour cream into the batter. The ideal way of doing it’s adding 1/3 of the dry ingredients and 1/2 of sour cream. You should repeat this process until all the sour cream and dry ingredients are evenly incorporated. The reason you should gradually add the ingredients is to allow the batter to accept large liquid quantities that create a moister and flavorful cake.

Step 5

Conquer the battery until it becomes smooth. When doing it be cautious that you don’t over-mix. You then need to prepare the baking pans using pan spray and then divide the batter evenly. Finally, bake your cake until it springs back to the touch.

Luggage Accessories

Bags accessories are a practical and convenient solution to make organizing your luggage or paperwork easier. They could range from the handy items like travel pockets and packing cubes to those items that enhance security, like the security straps. Let’s take a look at a few of the most useful options to Prepare for traveling:

Travel wallet

A travel wallet is a really convenient item for the frequent traveler with its ability to keep items like the passport, tickets and money safe. Any pocket created in a waterproof material will be favored because it is going to be sure that the contents are protected in the event of being caught in a rain shower.

Packing cubes

The packing cubes are a beneficial solution to pack clothes, accessories, toiletries, etc., in a bag without getting everything screwed up. Alternatively, they can simply be used to split the space in a bag by putting the cubes down the center.

Waterproof toilet bag

This is a useful all-in-one solution to hold an entire collection of bathroom solutions. They are usually spacious with multiple pockets and compartments. When in use, it will conveniently unzip and hang on its plastic hook at a hotel room or similar. Also, they can make a very useful option for camp trips when it’s necessary to navigate to bathroom facilities in the dark.

Luggage security straps

The bag security straps give extra peace of mind in knowing the suitcases are better protected with less chance of being broken into. Also, they can be used to secure additional items onto the suitcase which are too bulky to fit inside, including a rain poncho, sleeping bag or roll-mat.

Money belt

A money belt that’s easily hidden under clothing is a great way to ensure the valuable items while researching a busy marketplace, rushing through a crowded airport, or similar environment with plenty of other individuals about.

Dry bag

This type of bag is great for holding a spare set of clothes, towels, muddy clothes, or damp swimming gear.

Ways to Best Match Your Colored Mirror Sunglasses, to…

Are you excited about the approaching party or date? You can’t wait for the day to arrive? You may already feel the cool music thumping through your soul.

Yes, and the savory odor of tasty dishes too. It will be a crushing event. You are certain of that.

But before you leave for the party, you should not just get to choose any dress combination. You Need to match-:

• the event to colors,

• the colours to design, and

• the design to accessories.

They will surely whip up the vibe in your party or date.

The mirror sunglasses come in a dashing range of colors. It would make great fashion sense for a stylish boho-chic to maintain four or five different colored sets on your sunglasses holder, in the closet, to match to your beautiful outfit, and to offer suitable protection from different weather and day requirements.

Now that’s being properly prepared to rock the event. When choosing the colors of mirror sunglasses to stock, the best advice would be, keep a color range that covers dark colors, light colors as well as sparkling colors. You could have shades of gray, pink, green, diamond blue and plain tints.

Here are some of the major benefits you will get from wearing your dazzling mirror sunglasses for your party or date-:

1. Photo-chromic optical lenses.

These change and darken on exposure to various kinds of light. The mirrored sunglasses will give you extra comfort in bright sunshine.

2. Eye strain reducer.

The coloured mirror sunglasses will also cut eye strain and fatigue from squinting in sunlight.

3. Strong and extremely durable.

Polycarbonate lenses are more impact-resistant and will withstand the majority of the daily blunt pressure.

4. Fashionable frames.

The colored mirror sunglasses are a smart trendy piece. You can have them in silver or gold plated alloy frames that give a softer 80s iteration to your style cue.

So how do you match the celebration or date to the dress, and all the way to your

Colored mirror sunglasses?

Let us go through the 3 best fitting tips;

1. Picnic.

A day in sunlight, calls for light colours. Avoid absorbing an excessive amount of heat by wearing light-colored outfits. You could try sleeveless dresses, adorned with pink floral to exude that feminine chic vibe. Or mesmerize in a white bar-code stripped dress, with a sneaky slit for tasteful expose of a bit of skin.

The stunning side slit, will also be sure you won’t have any problems sitting on the ground. This will add to the perfect touch of summer vibes and cause you to ever comfortable.

Picnics are sunny weather occasions. Splash in your dark shades of colored mirror sunglasses to offer additional comfort against the glare of the sunlight.

2. Sports.

It is possible to kill fashion while hanging court side at a New York Knicks game. Put on a funky hat-it to bring your soft petal looks together and it is the ideal way to protect your skin at an outdoor event.

Wear lots of accessories. Yes, you can afford to. Put on charm bracelets with sparkling blue-diamond rhinestones, with your tight fit blue jeans and colorful embroidered white tummy-tuck shirt.

On the shoes, make a loud statement with high leather boots. You may go with knee-high dark brown or black leather. Dazzle your ears with tiny sparkling fun earrings.

Then splash on your stunning pink or reddish hues. A set of pitch-day aviators and cat eye colored mirror sunglasses with crimson tints, goes nicely nicely with blue jeans and is good for indoor lighting.

Don’t forget a dash of crimson on your soft lips to match the pink or red colored mirror sunglasses. Now that is smashing chic.

3. Dinner date.

Or are you going to be going to the exceptionally secluded woody resorts? Your dress code should fit the environment. You can not manage to stand out and be so obviously garish.

For those who have great arms and legs, wear a short strapless dress. Yet don’t go off revealing too much skin. It’s a date. Comfort is definitely your utmost priority. You don’t want to be fidgeting and always pulling down your dress. Focus on making most of the light-heartened chatter with your date.

You could also wear jeans, converse or flats, t-shirts along with your hot mirror sunglasses. You can do apartments and wedges depending on the setting. That deepens your mystery as a well dressing hot movie.

Now remember, eye contact is quite important on a date. It’s really the unspoken reason a couple decides to go out in the first place. Making eye contact provides a excellent opportunity for soul connection.

So put on light colored sunnies that can allow your date to see through to your eyes. With a giggle, yes, make them make eye contact.

Slip on the lighter shades of gray once you choose your colored mirror sunglasses. That will just spark romance and set the tone for an engaging soulful evening for both you and your date. The light shades are a seamless fit for the varied outfits which you may wear on a dinner date concerning color and design.

If The World Was More Like

Nearly every day, especially in this first – year of the administration, of President Donald Trump, we’re confronted with real, and/ or perceived threats, challenges, and so on, equally, at home, in america, as well as internationally. Obviously, the threat of terrorism, if based on some theology, or emotional issues, is real, and, often, somewhat, frightening! Is the rhetoric of Mr. Trump, reassuring and unifying, or vitriol – based, adversarial and confrontational? Every two decades, either the Summer or Winter Olympics, are held, on a rotating basis, and, at these, international adversaries, come together, to try to win awards, based on achievements, without regard to their national strengths, etc! At this year’s events, held in South Korea, by way of instance, North and South Korea, have formed a joint, combined group, even though, the leader of North Korea, has threatened the rest of the area, with devastation, etc.. Wouldn’t it be nice, if we could all, come together, in the real world, like in the Olympics, and also be in a position to oppose and compete, in a peaceful manner, rather than the often – vitriolic one, otherwise? Here are 3 compelling aspects, and examples.

1. Competition, but sportsmanship: Rather than threatening others with devastation and annihilation, Olympic competitors seek to do all they can do triumph, and conquer their competition, but wind up, exhibiting sportsmanship, and a maximum level of honour, and caring! If just, world leaders, were ready, willing and able, to pursue the maximum degree of domestic success, etc, wouldn’t this be a safer, more secure, world?

2. National soul, and one – world: While there may be numerous individual needs, goals, and priorities, and a useful, nationalistic spirit, etc, leaders must recognize, we share one planet, and for that reason, there has to be a spirit of collaboration! 1 example, is protecting the environment, for the common good, and while many countries have come to understand this, President Trump continues to articulate an America – first philosophy, while denying, climate change science! You couldn’t have an Olympics, if any nation, chose, they were taking their ball home, and moving – it, independently !

3. They realize, one just wins a trophy, if he earns it, by becoming the very best! Far too often, we witness federal leaders, focus on personal self – interest, and politics, rather than accepting good – enough!

If the world proceeded, with the authentic, Olympic spirit and ideals, there are more, openness, to agree, to disagree! It’s up to the electorate, to demand this, of leaders!

The Keys to Having Successful Financial Conversations

Before wedding planning kicks into high gear, make conversations about your finances a priority. Taking the time today to speak through money things can create a good foundation for your future. Use the following six principles to guide your money conversations:

1. Open-minded. Listen carefully to what your future spouse says is important to him or her. Acknowledge your gaps and build on your strengths. If your expectations do not match up, look for a compromise. Some couples sidestep discussions about cash to avoid feelings of hurt, fear, anger or guilt. Creating a habit of regular communication may help you avoid heated arguments, and can help ensure you are on the same page financially before you walk down the aisle.

2. Honesty. Financial secrets can destroy trust. Share the specifics of your financial history and current situation in case you have not already done so. Your future spouse deserves to know whether you’re paying off college debt, or if you’ve made any financial mistakes in the past (and the way you have rectified them). Disclose the good news, too. Divulge details about savings you’ve tucked away or a family trust which will help supplement your income so you both know the sum of where you stand.

3. Forward-thinking. Once you’ve shared your present situation and history, discuss your goals for the future. Be open about what your fantasies are, but you should be ready to compromise. While you don’t have to agree on everything, having shared goals (purchasing a home, saving for college if you decide to have kids, retirement, etc.) allows you to combine forces on savings and gives you a road map for spending.

4. Cooperation. To avoid any miscommunications as newlyweds, discuss and assign responsibility for financial roles. Is one of you at monitoring online accounts and paying bills? Are you enrolled in a retirement account and taking maximum advantage of employer contributions? Who will be the principal contact for your financial advisor, tax professional or estate planner? Two is better than one when you are able to divide and conquer financial tasks, but be sure you’re both in the loop on key decisions and money matters.

5. Diligence. As soon as you’re married, make it a priority to update your financial documents. It requires discipline, but taking care of those housekeeping tasks immediately protects you if something unexpected happens. Several steps to consider:

• Consider combining your bank accounts if it makes sense for your circumstances.

• Amend your tax withholdings, to make sure that the right amount is withheld from your paycheck that you’re married.

• Choose your wellbeing insurance. If both of your companies offer health insurance, carefully evaluate your coverage options and premiums for the ideal fit.

Like most things worth attaining, preparing for a life of financial compatibility requires work. In the event you and your prospective partner can commit to the identical money values, it may help you create a solid financial base.

Garden Growth

June in southern California usually means overcast mornings that transform into mild sunny afternoons which makes it an perfect month to spend time in the garden before summer heat takes hold.

Thin Outside Fruit Trees: From June, trees should be bursting with small fruit such as apricots, plums and peaches. The weaker fruit will begin to drop this month. Do not be alarmed. In fact, following the initial shedding, remove the smallest of the remaining. This will permit the hardiest of fruit to attain their full potential.

Deadhead Flowering Plants And Bushes: Your rose and other flowering plants should be in full bloom by now. Remove older blossoms to make way for new ones. Trim wayward branches and stalks to promote better density within the center of the plant.

Control Aphids: Everything springs to life in June-including bad bugs such as the tiny aphid. These bugs latch onto plants and suck the sap from new growth. When the infestation is important, they can curl leaves and stunt plant growth. Tips: Remove stems with the largest aphid concentration and then shoot a strong stream of water in the aphids to knock off the rest.

Plant Avocado Trees: Plant your avocado trees in well-draining, loose soil, level or a little above level to the ground. Put 5 inches of wood chips around the tree. Don’t over water despite a young tree. Allow the soil around the tree become moist before watering. Never let it pool around the trunk. Flowers will bloom next spring, but don’t expect fruit until two to three years following planting.

Be Water Smart: With dry, hot weather on the horizon, replace water-loving shrubs and trees with those who require little water once established.

Lawn Maintenance: Spring and autumn are ideal times for patching or replacing lawns. Grass types which are best suited to southern California include Fescue (absorbs water well), Bermuda (drought resistant) and St. Augustine (durable). Good soil preparation with the suitable compost mix (based on soil type) is imperative to lawn success. Once established, add a layer of high dressing especially intended for lawns.

Still Time to Plant Vegetables: For a summer harvest, plant tomatoes, squash, cantaloupe, celery, corn, cucumbers, lima beans, okra, peppers, spinach and squash in early June.

Buying Bathroom Vanity Cabinets

A vanity is an often overlooked piece of bathroom furniture. It can’t only increase storage in your bathroom but can add a fashionable touch to your decor. You can not only hide any unsightly pipe work, but you could also incorporate drawers or cupboards for all those bathroom necessities. However, there’s a enormous selection of vanity cabinets available, so you may need a little help to choose the right option. Fortunately, here is a basic guide to purchasing vanity cabinets.

Bathroom vanity cabinets are available in a broad range of styles and layouts, which means that they can be used in bathrooms of all sizes and shapes. Even if you have a smaller toilet, you can make use of the potentially dead space under the sink. You can fit a slimline unit that looks stylish and adds valuable storage space.

There is no 1 bathroom style that is suited to a dressing table. There are units available in traditional and contemporary styles to suit all kinds of decor and personal preference. Whether you choose an elaborate layout or the clean lines of a basic unit, a vanity is sure to be an excellent addition to your bathroom.

Considering Size:

The size is possibly the most important consideration for vanity cabinets. Bathroom dimensions will determine your choice of sizes to your unit. Remember that you will need to allow space for the doors or drawers of the unit to be opened fully. Make sure you take careful measurements of the existing sink area and consider if you’d prefer a bit more space. If your bathroom is on the larger size, you could always opt for a double vanity unit. This will allow you to have two sinks side by side for even greater usefulness.

Recessed or Semi Recessed Sinks:

The first choice you need to make for bathroom vanity cabinets is if the sink is shining or semi recessed. This simply means whether the sink is flush with the cabinet top or if it is raised over it slightly. This is usually a matter of personal preference, but there are a number of considerations you may not have given any thought. The first is the way you tend to use your sink. If you are the kind of person who likes to get clean surfaces with everything tidied away, you’re likely to appreciate a recessed sink. However, if you would like to have bottles and containers around the sink, you might prefer a semi recessed sink, as there’ll be a more defined perimeter of the sink. It may also help to prevent bottles from slipping into the sink.

Guide for Consulting a Tarot Reader

Tarot reading is an ancient form of divination that uses a pair of 72 tarot cards to foretell the current, past and future of someone. ‘Tarot’ means the’Wheel of Life’ and the tarot cards represent the image of the Universe; of human virtues and vices, fortune and death and so forth. Tarot reading has consequently been providing guidance to individuals through their life journey.

Tarot cards may seem quite nondescript to an onlooker because of the weird images and inscriptions printed on them. This is because tarot reading is based solely on instinct and psyche. It requires a clairvoyant to understand what the cards reveal. Tarot reading is both an art and a science as with comprehension and constant practice, it produces precise and reliable results.

When you consult with a tarot reader, you must remember that the tarot cards don’t predict the future and instead simply offer the possibilities that your future holds, based on different perspectives of the current events. The tarot cards provide hints and ideas about what the future potentially holds for you. According to these, you can decide to take the best path of course to follow, to attain the desirable result.

While earlier you had to approach a tarot reader in person to get tarot reading done, today technology has made life so much simpler for everybody.

There are quite a few wonderful Tarot apps that are available online and also on the smartphones, which when downloaded, make tarot readers accessible to you, at your convenience and at the luxury of your homes; with just a few clicks. While tarot reading with the help of tarot apps might not allow you to touch the tarot cards, the clairvoyants controller energies and inner senses to help connect you with the cards and relay the query even if you are on the opposite side of the globe.

How is this possible, you might ask? The truth about psychic readings is that even when the readings are completed while you’re physically present with the reader, the psychics do not read the body. They do not base their readings while studying your eyes or your body. Rather, they read your energies and join it with the energies that they receive from the world to give you an accurate reading. But only a genuine psychic will have the ability to do so.

Thus, before you download a tarot program, it is reasonable to look at the ratings of the app and of the tarot readers recorded on their panel. Once you are satisfied with the authenticity of the tarot reader, go ahead and seek guidance. The important point to remember is that, when you’re confident of the tarot reader, you must trust them and open your being entirely to them. This will permit the psychic to have full access to your being and he will have the ability to get in touch with your energies entirely to give you accurate answers to the questions you seek.

Tarot cards are very useful to those searching for answers to many questions in life.

Foods to Keep Away

Particularly when it comes to sharing the things we love together. Unfortunately, not everything that’s good for us is good for our pets also. Listed below is a series of foods to eliminate the dogs.

1. Chocolate (& Caffeine) – Now even if you have never had a dog of your own you likely know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs. What you may not know is that this also extends to coffee and caffeine. All these items come from cacao seeds, which contain methylxanthines. This has been known to cause numerous ill effects in dogs and even death. They should be kept far away from the pets.

2. Grapes and Raisins – This one may not be widely known, and that might be a result of the reason for it being unknown also, but grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. It is best to refrain from giving both of these to your dog in any respect.

3. Salt – When consumed in large amounts, salt can cause pets to have excessive thirst and urination. This can result in severe dehydration and even sodium ion poisoning, so it’s best to restrict the salty bites that you give your dogs. Some common salty snacks to watch out for could include pretzels, chips, popcorn etc..

4. New York City Animal Control – This common table food can cause bloating and twisting on your dogs stomach. This extends to all kinds of bread, from chopped to baked. Also, when eating raw dough, the ethanol produced in the yeast can cause your dog to become drunk. Obviously, you do not want that so you are likely to need to keep all forms of bread from your pups.

5. Bones – Dogs are known for their love of bones, but giving your dogs bones in the table can be very harmful to them. Certain bones like chicken and ribs are prone to breaking off easily. This can do damage to your dogs throat going down and even choke them. The bones may also splinter off at any point going down, possibly damaging their insides and their stomachs. It’s best to only give your dogs bones which were made specifically for chewing on, like the kind you can find at your neighborhood pet store.

Things to Do in Bulgaria

Bulgaria may not be a mainstream tourist destination, but it does not mean it lacks interesting things to do and see. To the contrary, this small Balkan country has plenty to offer concerning cool customs, events and actions. Here’s a quick list of things to do this:

A dance with critters – Bulgaria is home to the somewhat unusual tradition of Kukeri. Men dress up as monsters with large masks and plenty of bells attached to the waist region. Kukeri takes place in cities all across the nation from as early as January until March. The idea is that these monsters and the sound they make will frighten away evil spirits and ensure prosperity in the region. The costumes are very elaborate and are spectacular to check out.

Step on the embers – If you think watching Kukeri was cool, you would be very pleased to see the Nestinari. Watching these people dance on the smouldering embers might make you stressed. However, know that they are perfectly fine – they’ve mastered this art to perfection.

This is the type used in the majority of top cologne and cosmetic products. Roses are picked in June and vacationers may usually join in on the fun. You should bear in mind that roses must be picked at dawn to preserve their essential oils, so that’s one consideration for people who like to sleep in.

Hundreds of people head up the mountain to enjoy a weekend of live music performances and have a peek at various intriguing crafts and exquisite food.

Enjoy a different February 14 – You know well enough that February 14 is St. Valentine’s day. However, that’s mostly a Western tradition. Bulgaria has been affected by it and makes honor love on this day, but the country also celebrates the Day of the Winemakers on the same day. If you happen to be in the nation on this specific day, you should treat yourself to a glass of wine in honour of Pembroke Pines Wildlife Removal.

Have a look at seven lakes at once – Maybe the most visited tourist attraction in Bulgaria is the Seven Rila Lakes. The lakes unveil magical scenery as you climb the Rila Mountain. Climbing along with Lake Peak is a fantastic chance to see all seven lakes simultaneously.

Visit a place of worship of 4 unique religions – there’s a place in the capital of Sofia where four unique religions have their places of worship co-existing peacefully. The place is known as the Square of Religious Tolerance, where a mosque, a Roman Catholic cathedral, a synagogue and an Orthodox church stand near each other.

Apparently, there are a good deal of cool things to do in Bulgaria. The next time you are searching for a Bulgarian property, be sure to check for chances to experience these events and locations.

Benefits and Uses of a Lie Detector

You might have seen the demonstration of lie detectors in movies. The wire of the devices makes a relationship between the lie detector and the person being tested.

According to the latest studies, the accuracy of a lie detector varies between 70% and 95%. Let’s now have a look at a few of the benefits offered by this machine.

Benefits and Usage

Since lie detector tests are rather popular, a growing number of people have started to use them. Nowadays, they are used for social research projects.

Often, lie detectors can have an impact on how the subject gives answers to the questions. While they are not used solely to find out the truth, they do assist document changes in the physiological indices of the subject. So, the experiments are done together with before and after interview evaluations.

It’s important to note that some companies also use polygraph tests. The tests are done in order to screen prospective personnel for Davie Wildlife Removal.

Another common use of these devices involves the evaluation of the statements given by the suspects and witnesses. Often, they are used by attorneys, police offices, and prosecutors. Additionally, law enforcement agencies also use them to track the post-conviction offenders. However, it’s important to say that the machines aren’t utilised to determine whether the subject is truly guilty.

It’s interesting to remember that toy lie detectors are also quite popular with kids. Interestingly enough, these toys are based on similar algorithm and might give a mild electric shock to the subject when he tells a lie. However, it is important to keep in mind that the results might not be accurate.

Negative Remarks

Polygraph tests are quite popular, but the results of those tests can not be accurate. The reason is that not everyone will give the identical reaction in a situation. As a result, the physiological indices of a person could be different from another test subject. That’s the reason this device isn’t considered 100% reliable.

Also, polygraph tests aren’t worth it. The machine may provide misleading results. While the authorities will be busy proving that the subject is guilty, the real culprit may go out of the reach. As a result, they have to do the exam all over again, which will take a whole lot of extra time.

Additionally, the tests can cost a great deal of money. Aside from the price tag of this machine, it will cost extra money to hire a qualified professional for the interpretation of the evaluation results.

How Did A Discussion Become An Argument?

What was supposed to be a discussion morphed into an argument – sounds familiar? How often have we began a conversation with our family members, colleagues, friends with the goal to talk about, just to have it turn into an argument?

The whole thing just feels like a bullet train wreck – it’s out of your hands, it takes a life of its own and people involved become angry, angry and all sorts of unkind words ensue.

There are so many factors why this sometimes happens. In this sharing, let us keep a focus on the use of language to avoid an explosion.

This is what I teach my customers: Use the word I versus You. Possessing our feelings/emotions/behaviour and accepting responsibility for Riviera Beach Bat Removal.

Whether it is a work discussion or a discussion regarding relationship and family matters, some kind of emotions/feelings will certainly surface. We are humans, and we come in little packages that include all the good feelings and all the bad feelings. Sometimes, for a number of us, our feelings (good or bad) are so concealed and stuck deep inside that they do not get expressed until a conversation with others ignites a spark within. For some others, we have no control over our emotions that they get ignited anytime and anywhere.

One of the keys to bear in mind if we do not need a discussion to turn into an argument is that we maintain our attention only on ourselves and the words we’re using. This is a certain guarantee.

No one likes to be accused of something, even if they did do it! This is just the ego protecting itself and wanting to come up tops in each and every human scenario. So if we don’t want to place ourselves in a position where things get volatile, avoid saying YOU too much and more importantly stay away from the blame game!

Take ownership of our own feelings/emotions that surface: I feel so sad, I feel so mad etc.. When we say what we’re feeling instead of expressing the feeling in a way which is going to come across as if we are using the other party as a punching bag, things are going to explode.

Do you find the difference between saying what you’re feeling versus expressing what you are feeling?

We say, I’m feeling so angry about this circumstance.

If we express this anger, this is the way we could say: Why did this occur? How could something so dumb happen? Why are you doing this? etc.. .

When we take possession, we are saying we are accountable for how we feel, and we must give other people an opportunity to say what they’re feeling too.

Some examples:

I am feeling so angry about this circumstance. I’m certain that no one intended it to be this way…
I’m feeling so angry about this, I am not sure it wasn’t your intention to hurt me, but I felt very hurt when I was talked to this way…
I’m feeling so angry about this, I do not know if they intended to do so on purpose, but I can’t help but feel so angry because the reality is, I feel so helpless in this situation…
The matter is using the I word will definitely make us more emotionally vulnerable, BUT at the same time, in addition, it assists the other party to view their own vulnerability.
So the next question a few people may ask is: what if the other person doesn’t respond in kind but goes in an attack mode while we’re being vulnerable? Stay calm and stay in precisely the exact same position of owning feelings/emotions and know that we’ve taken the higher stand in this situation. 1 person cannot begin an argument, so if we don’t feed it, it is going to die off. A discussion can still happen if both parties have calmed down if not a conversation at the time is the best way ahead.

Remember that: Discussions empower us, arguments weaken us.

“I Can’t” Into “I CAN”

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.”

Have you ever actually heard yourself complaining about how you can not do something?

I have… and it was not pretty. But it was made for a funny story!

In actuality, I created a presentation based on stated funny story and delivered it recently at a women’s networking event. The talk was well-received (and everyone laughed at the funny part) but I rather surprised myself in the question and answer period afterwards.

My presentation was called,”The Electric Jello Story – Turning I Can’t Into I Can… and I Will.”

The first part of my talk was a rather sordid tale in my party days about a bachelorette gone awry. I had overindulged in certain electric jello shooters and had been sent home from the pub early. But when the girls attempted to wake me from my drunken slumber in the wee hours of the morning (so that I could buzz them up to the apartment) I wanted no part of being woken up, thank you very much.

Nor could I appear to figure out which button to push on the absurd intercom to let them in the foyer.

Unfortunately, my repeated wails of”I can not” (in the most whining and pathetic tone imaginable) was recorded on the answering machine. Much to my chagrin, the women played the tape back to me the next morning.

It was awful. But to this day, I can still hear how dreadful I seemed!

Anyhow, in the next part of my presentation, I told the story of this conversation I’d had with my husband the day before he died. I had said to him:”I am so scared I will wake up 20 years from now and still not have finished Palm Springs Raccoon Removal.”

To which he’d responded:”You are likely right about that… just so long as you know that will have been your choice.”

But in all fairness, after 12 years of being together, I believe the poor man had run out of patience listening to me complain and whine about not having the time or money to write. For at least a decade, I had used every excuse in the book as to why I couldn’t make my writing a priority.

I promised myself I would wake up early the next morning and do an hour of writing before going to work at my clerical job.

However, if the alarm clock went off the next morning, what did I do? I pushed snooze. “I can’t get up,” I told myself (in a whiny, pathetic voice). “I’m too tired to write.”

When I finally hauled my butt out of bed, after pushing the snooze button multiple times, there was not any time to write. In fact, there was barely time for me to get to work.

And when I did arrive at work, my whole life changed in an instant. John died that day. And I got the wake-up call of all wake-up calls about the threat of waiting for a tragedy to wake us to the importance of achieving our dreams.

Two weeks after his departure, I started writing what would become my novel, A Widow’s Awakening. It took me 8 years to get it – and me where it had to be. But I did it.

After I completed my presentation at the women’s media event, we had an impromptu Q&A, and the host asked me this question:

“If there was only one word to describe what you think is the most crucial thing concerning transforming”I can’t” into”I can,” what would it be?”

I thought about this for a moment and then a single word popped into my mind.

“But not religion in the traditional way we often think about faith, as in having faith in some sort of divine guidance or a religious belief.”

“I’m talking about faith in one’s self.” I continued. “I think it is absolutely imperative that we have faith in ourselves and our ability to achieve what it is we really want to reach. Because if we do not have this, then all of the divine help and spiritual guidance in the world can not help us.”

Likewise with our mortal fans.

John believed in my potential as a writer and did what he could to inspire me to take concrete actions towards meeting my goals i.e. get my butt in the chair and WRITE.

But in the end of the day, taking action was my responsibility. That was a very difficult life lesson to learn in the wake of such an immense reduction.

If we do not have faith in ourselves that we can – and will – measure up to the plate, each and every day, and do the work that needs to be done, then the support and encouragement of our nearest and dearest, as well as any type of divine guidance we may believe is available to us, won’t be of much use.

And for the record, I DO believe there’s a tremendous quantity of spiritual aid just waiting in the wings to help guide us… sending us all sorts of signs and signals. We just have to a) pay attention and b) take action. I guess, however, that those other forces don’t require our faith.