As I try to understand all that I feel and all I think regarding this existence that is now mine, crazy thoughts cross my mind. I guess, I am allowed a bit of crazy. No worries there, I have plenty.
The Grief; I wish someone could answer my questions or show me the direction I should be traveling in. I have heard the endless statement saying, " There is no correct way.." I wonder if this is actually true or is it that the grief, in and of itself, is simply NOT correct. I KNOW I believe my source of grief just seems so very wrong, so very incorrect. I need a "do-over" I tell myself, for this was clearly an error.
We, the afflicted..we need to be sad, many times we want to be sad. As strange as that sounds it is a mechanism by which we will, perhaps be able to use to come through this thing. YES our route is plotted, although in many respects it is NOT defined by nothing more than we must head straight through the pain.
We do hope that we do not run you away. We mask our pain and sadness, we avoid contact when we know it is all encompassing. However, as terrible as this is for us, you need to know it is not something we can pass on to you, there is no contagion involved. It may be superstition imposing itself upon you, it could be karma. or the teachings of your faith. Know this for certain, we would not do something to trigger what we are going through to you, even if was possible. Unlike the yawns of others or a wonderful laugh session..this belongs to us, the members of the club no one wants to be a part of, exclusively. We need you, we need you to witness us so that we can come back from this terrible journey and be there for another who will need to have the benefit of someone who has been where they must go. Through the pain, toss out a lifeline, please.
I look around and see so many things that NEED to be done. I walk past items that need to be addressed. My phone has the alerts blowing up. I sit or stand in a stationary position unable to move, unable to think, unable to function. I wait for the items to take care of themselves, knowing full well that is NOT going to happen.
The laundry is getting done but the folding and hanging is not happening. The dishes are in the sink, but they still need to be washed or put in the dishwasher. The house is vacuumed, the pets are fed, these things need attention daily without a thought. Now, they require a plan which includes reminders. I realize this is perhaps how the hoarders and people we deem as strange may have begun. Just a simple state of being confused, or hurt, or stuck. Maybe it was tragedy that invaded their existence, maybe it was illness, maybe they just became overwhelmed and had no one or nothing to motivate them, to bring them back.
Searching for the place where concentration used to be, the place where things used to be accomplished, I now question whether I was ever able to make anything happen. I have this question because seemingly, getting things done is virtually impossible.
Riding along side concentration, or lack there of, is joy. They both appear to be getting lost, and a collision course with despair is clearly ahead. No one wants to be in these places; and for certain you don't want to have people YOU care about in these places with or because of YOU. Know your friends and/or loved ones are enthralled in a battle, a battle of which they have never encountered before, and of which the outcome is still quite unclear.
I ask myself how many more will I count. Today as I start this piece I remind myself only 5 weeks have passed. I sigh in disbelief and exhaustion, knowing that if things remain as they are now, there are many more to come..
I was born at 5 A.M. on an October Sunday in 1959. Some 57 years later in 2016 Mom passed away at approximately 5 A.M. in October on a Sunday. The latest blow; my dear youngest son, Jay passed away on a Sunday morning in January of 2018, a mere 30 years old. Sundays are hard and lately they seem to be coming at me in an alarmingly rapid rate, or so it seems.
There is a poem called Monday's Child… it came to mind because I am seemingly having some difficult experiences on Sundays. However, according to the poem and to paraphrase I, as a child born on the Sabbath, am blessed. Well I will leave that idea open for review.
I tell myself, I am okay, I tell myself, I must go on. I wonder from day to day, is any of this true. How can it be? Every tear that falls, and they are bountiful, reminds me of the pain I want to go away but it will not. Sometimes I tell myself do what you used to do on Sundays. Do what you grew up doing, do what feels right. Let me share something with you..NOTHING FEELS RIGHT. Sunday is a marker, no matter how I try when 3 A.M. rolls around some how my eyes are fixed on the clock. My semi-awake state tells me 19 minutes and __ weeks ago my child floated away from life as I know it. Sundays are hard.
You look up and 20 years will have passed. You find yourself searching, wondering how and why you are both in these respective places. It didn't start out like this, it certainly is not what you planned. This venture had high priority and success rate probability, written all over it.
There was the five-year-plan, but we were younger and "in love"; we thought it would be like this forever, based on the current feeling.
I'd feel smothered and longed for alone time, but sampling alone time versus existing in that state are two very different things.
Would you be mad if you woke up one morning and found your mate sitting at the breakfast table writing out in an"as-a-matter-of-fact" manner, a letter telling you she was tired of the marriage. I think you know when you haven't been a good spouse. I think that we all know what companionship is about. Yet I also know there are people from past generations who foster archaic ideas about what the marriage relationship is about. These are the same people who would adamantly tell you their marriage was good and this would be based on the fact that they themselves are happy. They would speak for their spouse without considering that individual's feelings. The logic would fly out the door so-to-speak.
I clearly saw myself in a two bedroom condo or apartment. No pets and no husband. There is a sigh in my soul. There is a memory of hopeful, a shadow of happiness, the remnants of failure, and residue of indifference. It is soiled with the reality of now.
Every single day, I now think about the statement which begins with "Bad things". Yes Bad things happen to good people, but that does NOT mean we accept this truth. It destroys all we have been taught, all we have been led to believe and it makes us question all we THINK we know.
Growing up we learned of consequences and rewards. We learned very early, very quickly we wanted to be on the receiving end of the good stuff. We learned if you do the "right" thing, if you follow the rules and instructions, this was the recipe for success. Who among us did NOT want to be on the receiving end of the positives in life.
However, for no apparent reason, against the odds, contrary to what you have learned observed, thought, a curve ball is thrown and there is an upset. You turn to all you know for a reasonable explanation.. and depending on how far away from what you KNOW this is, you may just look for ANY explanation. Just when you thought you had this thing called life figured out, you thought you had the formula, this happens. Your very soul is challenged and put to test. Then the questions begin to arise. What is it really about? Is it worth it at all? What motivates us to go on in spite of these things we deem as mishaps, errors, unfortunate events?
I can offer you the obvious; Life happens. Yet that is not even acceptable to me. I want something more. I want to know how and why we are expected to go on . We do not understand and we want to. We need to make sense of this thing called LIFE.
Shall I lie to you and say, when someone wrongs me I am satisfied to allow fate or God or both to deal with this individual or at the very least feel comfort in knowing no matter what, I did the right thing and they will have to face what ever justice there is. HELL NO! I want and need to see justice served, even though that does NOT always happen. Therefore, I go out of my way to do the right thing, I avoid stepping of others toes, I keep my opinionated negative views under wraps, as much as possible. Now that last part is key; "as much as possible", by whose standard, by whose gauge do I base my statement on? Certainly not mine, for I am flawed and sway in an unfair direction.
Then the unthinkable happens; the bad things find me and I get handed a punishment so very unfair and there is no appeal available. I am angry, I am hurt and I have NO ONE to direct my protest to. Then I step back and ask, was this a punishment or was it just LIFE, life happening.
Born Friday February 13,1987 at 13:31 a leap year in Inglewood California's Centinela Hospital. He graduated from Northview High School in Duluth, Georgia May 2005 where he played Varsity football and was sought after by 37 colleges and universities including Princeton. Jay chose NOT to play football and in December of 2009 he obtained a dual degree in Politics and Sociology from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia where he ran cross-country track. He worked for the U.S Department of the Treasury as a Tax Examiner. On Sunday January 14, 2018 at 03:19 he departed this life in a way you would hope to, he was with the love of his life and he quietly slipped away without pain. He was healthy, athletic, and happy; his big strong heart simply stopped beating. We are told sometimes that just happens.
Jay was a good person who loved Jessica Howard, his family, and his friends.
Jay's favorite color was yellow.
Jay wore a size 13 shoe.
Jay's favorite bird was a crow.
Jay was a kind soul.
Jay had a pet cat, her name is Kitt.
Jay was loved by his family and friends.
Jay loved and respected animals.
Jay also loved the Arts, the environment, and Circa Survive.
Jay was a writer and a critic; he had a lot to share for his short years on this Earth.
Jay was bigger than life in stature and presence.
Left to carry his memory in their hearts are his immediate family; father and mother Wes and Eileen; his big brother Carlton; his sister-in-law Destini; his niece Addison; his nephew Kai; aunts and uncles by blood and contact notably Anna of Las Vegas and Arthur and Al of Los Angeles, "Aunties" Kim and Denise; His lady, his love Jessica Howard; his "grandmother" Momma Daisy and his godmother Yvette. Additionally his cousins, a hosts of "other" family members, friends, colleagues and co-workers. Too many names to list.
If you look too closely at a star it's beauty can blind you, Jay's light will FOREVER shine within us.
So you are angry, but who is your anger directed at? There is this empty feeling and there is nothing that can fill that void. Are you in a dream? From one minute to the next I am on the verge of tears. My child was a source of joy, yet he was taken from me. How am I supposed to think of this any other way?
This process is terrible, it is going on an unplanned journey to a place you did NOT want to go to, not knowing what to expect. My son had a "good death" quick, pain free and with his love. In my effort to comfort myself I tell myself this time and time again. Yet I am now painfully aware that I do NOT have a place or a person to direct this anger in me at. In saying and believing this, I have only the unknown. There is no comfort in that.
When my mother passed away there was sadness, but in her passing there was a sense of relief. Mom and I were close. When I became and adult we were friends. It was nice, she was my mom who I loved and respected, but she was the friend who knew things about me that I didn't, things I had forgotten. Like one time we were out shopping and I laughingly told her how much my husband hated shopping with me and how nice it was to do something small like shop with my mom and NOT worry that she was bored. I told her how he said I would be in search of a particular item and find it almost in the first place I looked but I would abandon it, in search of another one that might be better, then I would ultimately come back to that first item. She laughed and told me about a time when I was a little girl and she and I were out shopping for Easter shoes. She told me I tried on every shoe in the store that was my size that I did not like anything. She said she told me after all possibilities were exhausted she turned to me and said," I guess you won't be getting any new shoes for Easter.." she said I looked at her in shock and quickly grabbed the very first shoes I tried on and handed them to her. She said she did not know what my problem was and I said I have no idea, but I also wonder why SHE was being so gracious on that day, because Mom was not a game-player. I do know with that little story she in effect told me that my shopping habits go waaaay back to childhood.
Now Mom would no longer be in pain, she would no longer be confined, she would no longer be confused, she would no longer be unhappy. Yet, I remember thinking why she no longer wanted to be here. What was it that made my mother give up, because she was stubborn and she was a fighter. I knew it was something and I knew it was something, SHE could not endure. My rock, the lady who taught me to be strong, there was something she did not want to face. So Mom left us quietly October 30, 2016 and while I managed to brush the question aside, it lingered just beneath the surface of my consciousness.
2017 rolled in; I had made it through my first Christmas without my mom, but February was on the horizon. We had so many birthdays in February, so many good times, so many memories. I wondered if this would be my breakdown point. It was not; maybe because I did not concentrate on the loss of she and my father, but celebrated the people who were still here with me that shared that February birth month my Godson, my youngest son and so many friends, friends who considered family from our street in Inglewood.
Late in 2017 things became complex. Illnesses came from out-of-the-blue and they were illnesses that would likely bring about loss. By the time the anniversary of my moms passing came around I was too preoccupied with the business of living to fall apart. There were millions of questions, where did this come from, could we have done something different to avoid this condition. The answers were vague and really rather pointless. Things are never as they seem, we can almost never make plans, for the way we think it should be often turns on a dime.
We prepared to do battle now and there were going to be tough ones ahead. Two rounds of chemo therapy, test after test, clearance after clearance for surgery, low and behold it was Christmas again. My dear friend told me to make this a good one, take lots of pictures and video. A polite way of saying this may be the last one like this for "someone" would not see another. We always had great Christmases this would be no different. I would heed my friend's warning, but not interfere with the mood of the holiday. I was prepared for the change to take place; I did not know the exact time, season, or manner but I was fairly certain I knew who.
I was wrong in focusing on who, that when the loss came it was beyond devastating. 14 days into the new year, after a fantastic holiday, after a wonderful vacation, after things were ready to move forward, they came to a screeching, abrupt halt. We were all looking for/ looking at something, we were all aware of something but we were misdirected. We all knew something was going to happen, we just did NOT know what. Was this what mom could not live with/through? Was this why my friend told me to make this the best Christmas ever? Something turned on a dime for us all, but the truth is sometimes you do just know. Even when you don't want to.
As I did my best to navigate through yet another day feeling some-kinda-way, I thought of strong characters, I thought of women and I thought of our relationships with God. Eve did us in ladies, and the sooner we accept this the better we will be.
Enter my first character Megan "Meggie" Cleary. Meggie is a favorite character from the novel, "The Thornbirds". Meggie is the pretty, lone daughter in a family of strapping boys living on a well-to-do aunt's station in Australia. Her life's significance is summed up by her mother, Fiona," What is a daughter but someone to make the same mistakes you already made". Wow..But was her mother right(read the book to see the similarities). Meggie lived out her mother's life without ever really knowing her story. Ultimately, Meggie fell in love with and seduced a Holy Man..a Cardinal. She went on to give birth to his son, unbeknownst to him, and settle into being happy with her chosen life. Never truly having the man she loved, but having a love relationship of sorts, having their son who was proof of such an intense beautiful love, that gave her a sense of being contented.
M'Lynn Eatenton lived a bit of a charmed life. Settled into ultimate suburbia; small town life in Louisiana. Married, children, comfortable. Her only snag was her diabetic daughter, but with this strong stable mother in her life her Shelby was virtually unaffected. Until Shelby fell in love, married, and was advised NOT to have children. She of course did and while she gave M'Lynn a beautiful healthy grandson, Shelby's health suffered.
Finally, we have Florida Evans the struggling matriarch of a 1970's Chicago family. With a husband who is a constant victim of the economy and three children to raise in a housing project, Florida utilizes her common sense, street smarts, and faith in the Lord to keep her family together. The shows ratings keep the family on air for years but the family's bad-luck streak seems unending. Finally, life is looking up for this hardworking do-on-their-luck but ever faithful family. Husband James gets a job "down south". So-long Chicago.
Here is the end game. Meggie loses her beloved son to the priesthood by his choice, and to life by divine intervention? While saving someone he drowns. Meggie defied God by taking that which was not available to her..a Holy man. Meggie said God was greedy. M'Lynn gives her precious daughter one of her kidneys to make her life better after Shelby's give out but she falls into a diabetic coma and is eventually taken off life support. M'Lynn questioned God telling Annelle she'd rather have her daughter here on Earth with her. Florida in the midst of a farewell party receives a telegram that bluntly tells of her dear husbands death in an auto accident. In the midst of brief favor as well as it's shadow, Florida cursed God.."DamnDamnDamn".
I am overcome with grief. I am searching for answers. I say in my quest, then there is me. I have always been aware of my short comings, my bad behavior, and I was willing to take the responsibility for these things. Just as the characters I spoke of, I know what I have done, I know how I feel, and now I must find a way to live with it. For I too mistakenly thought I had served my penance.
It had been exactly 2 weeks since my beloved youngest son left us, when I started this piece and could NOT finish it. As I looked over photos taken at his memorial, I see smiles. I remember when my dad/ his grandfather was alive and how we used to laugh at dad taking so many pictures at funerals. As kids we though, "Dad is just weird." Life happens and time passes, you realize that these funerals, last rights, memorial services are truly times to celebrate. They are gatherings that may not have happened had the loss NOT occurred. You make promises that this will not be the last time you are in contact with this relative or that long absent friend; no matter how well intended, you may not see one another until yet another passing happens.
What are we smiling about, my mind scans the faces. Some of us just reacted to the camera. Some of us reacted to a feeling. Others felt the love and comfort of being with people who would hold us up when we thought we would fall.
What are we smiling about. I can tell you from the moment he came into my life Jay gave me joy. I smiled because Jay truly would have been upset to see me sad or crying. All he wanted was for people he loved and cared about to be happy. If he could facilitate that he did, if he could not he encouraged them to look around and within to find that happiness. Jay found happiness, and that was all he needed.


text:
31 days in Europe Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Europe trip maker
Start: Montevideo, Uruguay
Narbonne, France
— 1 night
Carcassonne, France
Zermatt, Switzerland
Bruges, Belgium
Blois, France
Mont-Saint-Michel, France
— 1 day
End: Montevideo, Uruguay
Sat, Apr 16 - Mon, May 16 Edit
Jewel of the Mediterranean
Barcelona, the country's second-largest city, is a cosmopolitan urban center known for its throbbing youthful energy and stellar architecture.
On the 17th (Sun), admire the masterpieces at Museu Picasso, don't miss a visit to Casa Batllo, and then appreciate the extensive heritage of El Barri Gòtic. Here are some ideas for day two: take in the architecture and atmosphere at Barcelona Cathedral, pick up some local products at La Boqueria, then stroll around Parc Guell, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Las Ramblas.
For other places to visit, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Barcelona trip planning app.
Montevideo, Uruguay to Barcelona is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. Traveling from Montevideo to Barcelona, you'll lose 4 hours due to the time zone difference. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Montevideo in April: high temperatures in Barcelona hover around 22°C and lows are around 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Narbonne.
Historic Sites · Neighborhoods · Parks · Museums
Find places to stay Apr 17 — 19:
Find places to stay with best proximity to your trip
Parc Guell
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Crossroads of the South
The Mediterranean city of Narbonne links to the nearby Canal du Midi and the Aude River by the Canal de la Robine, which runs through the center of town.
On the 19th (Tue), don't miss a visit to Tour Barberousse and then admire the striking features of Cathedrale St-Just.
To find ratings, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Narbonne route tool.
Traveling by car from Barcelona to Narbonne takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. April in Narbonne sees daily highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 20th (Wed) early enough to go by car to Carcassonne.
Things to do in Narbonne
Side Trip
Tour Barberousse
Cathedrale St-Just
Medieval Heart of France
Best known as a fortified town, Carcassonne is a walled city that provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and the location for many scenes in Kevin Costner's movie "Robin Hood." For a daily dose of excitement, medieval jousting tournaments are held twice per day between the two walls--while this may sound like a typical touristy show, it's actually an entertaining display of combative competition and horsemanship.
To see traveler tips, photos, maps, and more tourist information, read our Carcassonne trip tool.
You can drive from Narbonne to Carcassonne in an hour. Another option is to take a train. Expect a daytime high around 21°C in April, and nighttime lows around 9°C. You'll set off for Marseille on the 20th (Wed).
Things to do in Carcassonne
Outdoors · Tours · Historic Sites · Museums
Gateway to Provence
The 2013 European "Capital of Culture," Marseille is the largest port city on the breezy Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in France.
Start off your visit on the 20th (Wed): see the interesting displays at Paul Cezanne's Studio and then wander the streets of Cours Mirabeau. Here are some ideas for day two: stop by The Panier, take in the waterfront at Le Vieux Port, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Abbaye Saint Victor, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathédrale La Major.
To find reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Marseille online trip itinerary builder.
Traveling by flight from Carcassonne to Marseille takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In April in Marseille, expect temperatures between 22°C during the day and 10°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Fri) so you can drive to Nice.
Neighborhoods · Historic Sites · Museums
Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde
Paul Cezanne's Studio
Nissa la Bella (Nice the Beautiful)
Well-known for the beautiful views of its famous Promenade des Anglais waterfront, Nice is an ethnically-diverse coastal port city on the French Riviera and the fifth most populated city in France.
On the 22nd (Fri), observe the fascinating underwater world at Marineland.
To see where to stay, other places to visit, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Nice trip itinerary maker site.
Drive from Marseille to Nice in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. In April in Nice, expect temperatures between 20°C during the day and 13°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Sat) so you can go by car to Genoa.
Things to do in Nice
Zoos & Aquariums · Parks
Once the most important harbor in the Mediterranean Sea, Genoa has a long history as a rich and powerful trade center in northern Italy.
Start off your visit on the 23rd (Sat): make a trip to Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Aquarium of Genoa, and then see the interesting displays at Galata Museo del Mare.
To find traveler tips, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Genoa trip itinerary maker.
Getting from Nice to Genoa by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or take a train. In April, plan for daily highs up to 20°C, and evening lows to 14°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Zermatt.
Things to do in Genoa
Zoos & Aquariums · Parks · Museums
Aquarium of Genoa
Galata Museo del Mare
Piazza Raffaele De Ferrari
Best known as home the Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt serves as a chic ski resort town of the Swiss Alps.
When in Zermatt, make a side trip to see The Matterhorn in Matterhorn, approximately Matterhorn away. There's still lots to do: enjoy breathtaking views from Gornergrat, fly like a bird with a parasailing or paragliding tour, stroll the grounds of Mountaineers' Cemetery, and tour along fresh powder with Sunnegga.
For where to stay, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Zermatt trip planner.
Traveling by car from Genoa to Zermatt takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of bus and train. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Zurich.
Things to do in Zermatt
Outdoors · Tours · Parks · Winter Sports
The Matterhorn
Gornergrat
Matterhorn Diamonds Ski School
Big Small Town
The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.
Your day by day itinerary now includes Uetliberg Mountain. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 28th (Thu): take a stroll through Bahnhofstrasse, get to know the fascinating history of Old Town, then contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Zurich, and finally take in the awesome beauty at Uetliberg Mountain.
For other places to visit, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Zurich trip itinerary builder tool.
Drive from Zermatt to Zurich in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In April, plan for daily highs up to 17°C, and evening lows to 5°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 29th (Fri) early enough to catch the flight to Frankfurt.
Nature · Parks · Neighborhoods · Historic Sites
Mainhattan
A global center of finance and transportation, Frankfurt is perhaps best known for its futuristic cityscape.
Kick off your visit on the 29th (Fri): snap pictures at Iron Bridge and then get great views at Main Tower.
To see ratings, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Frankfurt tour planner.
Traveling by flight from Zurich to Frankfurt takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 18°C in April, and nighttime lows around 5°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 1st (Sun) early enough to go by car to Amsterdam.
Things to do in Frankfurt
Historic Sites · Museums · Parks
Find places to stay Apr 29 — May 1:
Cathedral of St. Bartholomew (Dom St. Bartholomaus)
Stadel Museum
Goethe House
Venice of the North
Known as one of the greatest small cities in the world, Amsterdam charms visitors with its cool and cozy atmosphere.
On the 1st (Sun), take in the architecture and atmosphere at De Duif, then walk around Vondelpark, and then explore the world behind art at Van Gogh Museum. Keep things going the next day: contemplate the long history of Begijnhof, get engrossed in the history at Anne Frank House, then explore the world behind art at Rijksmuseum, and finally indulge your thirst for a good beer at Heineken Experience.
To see where to stay, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Amsterdam trip itinerary website.
Traveling by car from Frankfurt to Amsterdam takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of train and flight. In May, plan for daily highs up to 20°C, and evening lows to 10°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Tue) so you can drive to Brussels.
Museums · Historic Sites · Breweries & Distilleries · Parks
Find places to stay May 1 — 3:
Capital of Europe
The allure of the multi-cultural capital, Brussels, stems from its mix of political intrigue, artistic influence, historical significance, and a thriving social scene.
Kick off your visit on the 3rd (Tue): examine the collection at Atomium, steep yourself in history at St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule), then examine the collection at Musical Instruments Museum (MIM), and finally make a trip to Grand Place.
To find photos, more things to do, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Brussels trip builder website.
You can drive from Amsterdam to Brussels in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or fly. Expect a daytime high around 19°C in May, and nighttime lows around 8°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Bruges.
Things to do in Brussels
Museums · Historic Sites
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule)
The medieval town of Bruges centers around a canal, and the architecture of its historical district has made it a World Heritage Site.
On the 4th (Wed), don't miss a visit to Menin Gate Memorial, then see the interesting displays at Choco-Story - The Chocolate Museum, then explore the activities along Minnewater Lake, and finally make a trip to The Markt. Here are some ideas for day two: take in panoramic vistas at Belfry of Bruges, explore the world behind art at Groeningemuseum, then get to know the fascinating history of The Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde, then indulge your thirst for a good beer at Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan, and finally contemplate the long history of Historic Centre of Brugge.
To see ratings, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Bruges trip builder tool.
Traveling by car from Brussels to Bruges takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. May in Bruges sees daily highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Fri) to allow time to take a train to Paris.
Museums · Historic Sites · Nature · Parks
Menin Gate Memorial
Groeningemuseum
The Markt
City of Light
A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.
Paris is known for historic sites, museums, and nightlife. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: admire the striking features of Louvre Museum, admire the natural beauty at Luxembourg Gardens, take a stroll through Le Marais, and appreciate the history behind Arc de Triomphe.
For other places to visit, photos, maps, and more tourist information, read Paris trip builder website.
Traveling by train from Bruges to Paris takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. May in Paris sees daily highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Blois.
Historic Sites · Museums · Neighborhoods · Shopping
Find places to stay May 6 — 11:
Musee d'Orsay
Town of Art and History
Situated on the banks of the lower Loire river, Blois opens doors to many activities centered along the banks of the river.
Kick off your visit on the 11th (Wed): explore the historical opulence of Chateau Royal de Blois, then let the kids burn off some steam at Parc des Mees, and then admire the natural beauty at Les Jardins de l'Ancien Eveche.
For maps, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, read Blois trip itinerary tool.
You can drive from Paris to Blois in 2 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. In May in Blois, expect temperatures between 21°C during the day and 8°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Thu) so you can drive to Angers.
Things to do in Blois
Parks · Historic Sites · Fun & Games
Find places to stay May 11 — 12:
Parc des Mees
Chateau Royal de Blois
City of Flowers
Discover France's rich medieval history in Angers, a medium-sized city well known for its medicinal and culinary gardens dating back to the Renaissance and still open for a visit.
On the 12th (Thu), admire the natural beauty at Jardin des Plantes, then explore the world behind art at Galerie David d'Angers, and then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Cathedrale Saint-Maurice d'Angers.
For other places to visit, photos, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Angers online trip itinerary maker.
You can drive from Blois to Angers in 2 hours. Another option is to take a train. Expect a daytime high around 20°C in May, and nighttime lows around 9°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Things to do in Angers
Parks · Historic Sites · Museums
Cathedrale Saint-Maurice d'Angers
Galerie David d'Angers
Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. Start off your visit on the 13th (Fri): stroll through Mont Saint-Michel Bay, don't miss a visit to Le Moulin de Moidrey, and then make a splash at Alligator Bay.
To find other places to visit, photos, reviews, and tourist information, go to the Mont-Saint-Michel trip planner.
Getting from Angers to Mont-Saint-Michel by car takes about 3 hours. In May, plan for daily highs up to 19°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sat) so you can travel to Paris.
Things to do in Mont-Saint-Michel
Historic Sites · Parks · Theme Parks · Wildlife
Alligator Bay, Le Moulin de Moidrey
Mont Saint-Michel Bay
Le Moulin de Moidrey
To see ratings, other places to visit, reviews, and tourist information, use the Paris road trip planning app.
You can do a combination of taxi and train from Mont-Saint-Michel to Paris in 4 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of taxi, bus, and train. You will leave for Madrid on the 15th (Sun).
Nightlife · Historic Sites · Shopping · Tours
Cultural Capital of Spain
Madrid is known for its cultural and artistic heritage, lively nightlife, and a dynamic culinary scene.
Kick off your visit on the 15th (Sun): admire the landmark architecture of Estacion de Atocha, then walk around Parque del Retiro, then explore the world behind art at Prado National Museum, and finally steep yourself in history at Plaza Mayor.
To see where to stay, reviews, photos, and more tourist information, read Madrid travel route planner.
Fly from Paris to Madrid in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Traveling from Paris in May, you will find days in Madrid are somewhat warmer (28°C), and nights are about the same (13°C). Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) so you can catch the flight back home.
Museums · Parks · Historic Sites
Prado National Museum
35 days in Europe BY A USER FROM COSTA RICA Zurich Stuttgart Munich 35 days in Europe BY A USER FROM FINLAND Zurich Stuttgart Munich 35 days in Central Europe, Paris & London BY A USER FROM CANADA Berlin Prague Krakow 30 days in Western Europe BY A USER FROM IRAQ Madrid Paris Brussels 12 days in Paris & Barcelona BY A USER FROM QATAR Paris Barcelona 29 days in France & Monaco BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA Paris Rouen Honfleur 50 days in Paris & Versailles BY A USER FROM INDIA Paris Versailles 29 days in France, Italy & Madrid BY A USER FROM INDIA Paris Lourdes Madrid 30 days in Western Europe BY A USER FROM CANADA Paris Munich Cologne 30 days in Western Europe BY A USER FROM CANADA Amsterdam Cologne Frankfurt 57 days in Europe BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM Paris Lisbon Sagres 60 days in Europe & United States BY A USER FROM FINLAND Copenhagen Berlin Budapest
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Most Honorable Woman Coloring Book & Story | We sell Muslim dolls and Muslim doll clothes with hijabs.
featuring exciting but simple read-aloud text with large and beautiful illustrations which children will love to color.
This coloring book tells the story of the Maryam (Mary).
It is a wonderful way to explain the greatest stories of the Quran to children and encourage them to explore the meaning and purpose of the Word of Allah.


text:
Q: Tag synonym disappeared after swapping tag master with synonym Three tags existed.
Desexing, neutering and spay.
Neutering and spay were synonyms of desexing.
I swapped the master and synonym on Pets.se for desexing and neutering.
So neutering is now the master, which can be seen in the url  https://pets.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/neutering.
A search on the neutering tag shows it doesn't exist:

The spay tag still exists, but is not associated with any posts.
So I created the tag and added it to a post:

Two questions:

*

*Is it usual for the tag synonym to disappear like that?

*Have I done it wrong?

These posts are totally unrelated:
Tag synonym disappeared without a trace?
Why did my tag-synonyms disappear?

A: Swapping a synonym doesn't actually do all that much, and certainly not as much as you think it's doing. Literally the only thing it does is change the synonym record so that the master and source tags are swapped. It doesn't retag any posts, and doesn't change any past synonyms.
That tag doesn't "show up" in that scenario because a) it is not a synonym that points somewhere else, so we don't show a stub regardless and b) it does not have any questions tagged with it. There is no case where we show a tag that is the master of another tag but doesn't have any questions, because that's not really a case that's even supposed to exist.
There's another step you want to take after swapping a synonym, and that's a tag merge. On the synonyms page where you performed the swap, a merge link would've appeared immediately after, because it detects a bunch of questions with a tag that's supposed to be remapped to a master tag. Do it. Completing the merge will solve all the issues you think went wrong with the swap by:

*

*Creating the tag, if it doesn't exist.

*Replacing the "desexing" tag with "neutering" on all the questions.

*Moving any synonyms that point to "desexing" to now point at "neutering" instead.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to `touch` files recursively? I need to change the timestamp of about 5000 files.
Typing touch file1.txt, touch file2.txt will take me forever.
Is there a way to do something in the lines of touch -R *?

A: You can use find command to find all your files and execute touch on every found file using -exec
find . -type f -exec touch {} +

If you want to filter your result only for text files, you can use
find . -type f -name "*.txt" -exec touch {} +


A new style for us this season is this sweet A-line sun dress with a little frill cap shoulder. Printed with cheeky little sunshines in a vintage effect, this dress is perfect for little ones twirling in the sunshine. The press stud opening at the back makes dressing simple.


We've waited 6 years for Ralph to make an appearance again and today is the day he is doing that with the new sequel Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet now playing in theaters everywhere. I got the chance to screen it on Monday and absolutely loved it. From the witty humor to the Easter eggs it is a definite must see with the family. Check out my reasons to see it.
This scene where they are lounging around in comfy clothes definitely steals the show. And you may see them pop up again later in the movie.
There are several inside jokes of online viral videos, internet stuff, and Disney characters that kids and adults will understand. You will be laughing throughout the film and may even recognize a YouTube star.
There is a line where Yesss the head algorithm at BuzzzTube says to Ralph. "Rule #1 is never to look at the comments on the internet." This is very true as comments can be hurtful and think it is a life lesson not just for kids but for adults as well.
Lots of Easter eggs to look out for throughout the film for Marvel, Star Wars, Moana and other Disney hints. Check out the scene where they are at eBay, you will see Rapunzel's frying pan, Vladimir's unicorn from Tangled, and the magic lamp from Aladdin. There is also another scene where Mr. Litwak, the owner of the arcade, gets on the internet where you will notice in the background some Star Wars collector plates. These are just a few Easter Eggs I found. There are plenty more. How many did you find?


Limpkin In Flight by John R Young Jr - 8.000" x 6.375"
Limpkin In Flight framed print by John R Young Jr. Bring your print to life with hundreds of different frame and mat combinations. Our framed prints are assembled, packaged, and shipped by our expert framing staff and delivered "ready to hang" with pre-attached hanging wire, mounting hooks, and nails.
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The Limpkin (also called "carrao", "courlan", "crying bird"), Aramus guarauna, is a bird that looks like a large rail but is skeletally closer to cranes. It is the only extant species in the genus Aramus and the family Aramidae. It is found mostly in wetlands in warm parts of the Americas, from Florida to northern Argentina. It feeds on molluscs, with the diet dominated by apple snails of the genus Pomacea. Its name derives from its seeming limp when it walks.
John Robert Young Jr. was bitten by the wanderlust bug just after he graduated from high school when he traveled across the United States. He came to photography much later, and we are all the better for it. Today, wherever he wanders, you�ll see him with his camera gear in tow. His current favorites include a Nikon D700, a Nikon D300 and a wide range of lenses. The year 2010 found him shooting up and down the East Coast and out West in our National Parks. To date he has traveled to nearly every state in the USA as well as twenty countries, including a stint in Thailand during the Vietnam War. The photo above was shot recently at Myakka River Park, one of Florida�s oldest and largest state parks, located in Sarasota.


Coaching at Kingston Tennis Club is provided by Nick Martin from Kingborough Tennis Coaching who is the owner and head coach. Nick, is a Club Professional Coach Tennis Australia providing tuition for juniors to adults from the beginner to the advanced player.
Groups are also catered for, why not bring along the whole family or your friends!


text:
Passengers – Titanic in space
January 25, 2018 January 25, 2018 ~ rostock11
Review by Erik Engel
Let's accompany Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings) on their journey to a new life and a whole new world, literally. Just keep in mind, we are never going to arrive, although some people argue the journey is the destination. This time they may be right as we see the actors fighting not just for themselves but also for 5000 strangers.
With Academy Award Winner Jennifer Lawrence in the cast you can't really do anything wrong these days. But 'Passengers' only introduces her character, the journalist Aurora Lane, in the late stages of the film, starting off instead by making us acquainted with Chris Pratt's engineer Jim Preston. He wakes up on the self-spinning spacecraft Avalon, which is carrying 5000 other passengers and 253 crew members to their new home, planet Homestead II. Only one problem though, he is the only one awake on the ship. After the Avalon is hit by a huge meteor shower, all system failures could be repaired except for one, Jim's hibernation pod, the sleeping cabin installed for each individual traveler. The engineer, who was invited on board because of his skills in building and constructing new colonies, only realizes his exclusive condition after overcoming his traveling sickness. The Avalon, which is supposed to arrive at Homestead II after a 120-year trip, woke Jim up 90 years too early and, being only a passenger of the lowest pay-grade, he is denied access to the most important facilities like the bridge of the ship.
It doesn't take him long to figure out that re-hibernation is not an option and that the corridor to the sleeping crew will stay shut until four months prior to arrival. His only company now is the android bartender Arthur (Martin Sheen), who represents Jim's only chance for human interaction. A short personal high involving Jim breaking into the villa suite, playing non-competitive basketball, getting drunk and walking around butt-naked quickly finds an end with his loneliness slowly creeping up on him again and again. Finally, he runs, more or less accidentally, into his sleeping beauty Aurora Lane, a writer and Journalist who hopes that becoming a colonist on a very far away planet will be her breakthrough story on earth. Jim, however, becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea of waking her up intentionally, creating the effect of another technical malfunction. Spoiler Alert: he does! Who would have thought? Aurora realizes her fate pretty soon with Jim's help and keeps her mind distracted with sports, writing and, in the end, also Jim. The movie develops into a love story that is thrown right into the third-act drama. The malfunctions on the Avalon start to mount, risking a self-destruction only our two heroes can stop.
Passengers really plays with the emotions of its audience. Love, betrayal, loneliness, action but also comedy, injected by a brilliant Chris Pratt, all find their way into a rather simple story. But the sibling-like dynamic relationship of outstanding harmony on- and off-screen between Lawrence and Pratt makes us forget the unavoidable; Aurora finds out Jim is lying but they bond again in a fight for the lives of their 5000 companions. Breathtaking visuals like a swimming pool off gravity or casual space walks really compensate for the rather functional lay-out of the inside of the Avalon.
Director Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) sends us on a luxurious sci-fi adventure with an astonishing resemblance to Titanic. Our protagonists Aurora and Jim are caught on an (not really) abandoned cruise ship for 5000 people experiencing its opulence all for themselves and, as it threatens to sink, they take it into their own hands to save the lives of their unconscious fellows.
Passengers really is a one-woman and one-man show. The drama between the two main characters represents the drama of their spaceship, which is saved in the end. Therefore, maybe the movie's a bit too predictable but at the same time it fits so nicely into the Hollywood-Happy End-scheme Passengers is nothing out of the ordinary. Still, I was captured by the innovative script that, unusually, does not end with Marvel superheroes saving the day or aliens threatening the Earth with mass destruction. Also, a special mention has to go out to Chris Pratt who slowly seems to be sneaking into the top ranks of Hollywood actors.
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Get competitive rates on 50 currencies, but make sure there's a branch near you.
RedRate's latest exchange rates are listed on its website and are better than those offered by the major banks. However, the company does add a margin on top of the mid-market exchange rate.
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Foreign currency exchange. If you need travel money, RedRate offers competitive exchange rates for 50 currencies. Currency orders can be placed online or in-store.
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Cash passports. RedRate offers these multi-currency prepaid cards issued by Mastercard, which can be loaded with up to nine currencies and can be used at any ATM that accepts Mastercard.
International money transfers. RedRate's strategic partner Money Chain specialises in online international money transfers to Asia and other major currencies.
How long does an order with RedRate take?
If you place an online order before 4pm Sydney time, you can collect your foreign currency the next business day.
If your order is placed after this 4pm deadline, you'll need to allow an extra business day's processing time.
Which payment methods does RedRate accept?
However, please note some branches only accept cash, so you'll need to contact the store ahead of time to find out which payment methods it supports. Credit card purchases also attract a 1% surcharge.
Is RedRate safe to use?
Security and regulation: Regulated in Australia by ASIC.
Online protection: Transactions secured by SSL encryption.
First established in 2009, RedRate is regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The company says all transactions submitted through its website are protected by SSL technology, which ensures your personal data is encrypted to prevent it falling into the wrong hands.
How does RedRate make money?
By adding a margin on top of the mid-market exchange rate. The mid-market rate is the "real" exchange rate you see quoted on Google.
By charging handling fees on small transactions.
How do I order foreign currency with RedRate?
Select the currency and amount you want to buy before clicking "Calculate".
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Enter your name, phone number, email address, residential address, date of birth, ID document details and mother's maiden name.
Review the full details of your order before confirming your transaction.
When the collection date arrives, take your ID to the nominated cash pick-up point to collect the currency.
RedRate is a foreign exchange company based in Sydney. Founded in the suburb of Auburn in 2009, the company offers foreign bank note exchange services, prepaid travel cards and the option to cash traveller's cheques.
RedRate now has 20 branches spread across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and the ACT.
Access to 50 currencies. RedRate allows you to buy a wide range of major and rare currencies, with the convenience of ordering either in-store or online.
Competitive exchange rates. RedRate's exchange rates are better than those you can get from the banks, allowing you to save money when purchasing foreign currency.
Large transactions are fee-free. There are no handling fees when you purchase $300 or more via online order or $200 or more in-store. However, remember you also need to include the exchange rate margin when calculating the cost of your transaction.
Multiple locations. RedRate has a total of 20 locations around Australia with branches in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and the ACT.
Credit card surcharge. If you pay for a currency order with your credit card, a 1% surcharge applies.
Bank transfer not supported. There's no option to pay for your currency order using an electronic funds transfer.
Most locations in Sydney. Most of RedRate's locations are concentrated in and around the Sydney area, so there may not be a branch conveniently located near you.
How does RedRate compare to other providers?
Want to know how RedRate's exchange rates, fees and processing times compare to the competition? Check out the table below.
Can I choose what denominations I will receive?
No. However, RedRate will provide a mixture of high and low denominations to fill your order.
No. Payment must be made when you collect your order in-store.
Can I change my currency order after placing it?
No. However, you do have the option of cancelling your order and then placing a new one.
Check out our detailed review of WeXchange, a foreign exchange service that allows you to buy travel money in 43 global currencies.
We take a look at the exchange rates, fees and transfer times of UAE Exchange to see how its international money transfer service stacks up.


GrittyVeterans had the most liked content!
Eppler wasted a lot of money this offseason. But 1 year deals!!!
Whatever system they choose to go with will be more objective and just flat out more accurate than the human error system they currently have.
An average player (starter) is a guy with a 100 OPS+ and about a 2 WAR. Is anyone seriously thinking Calhoun puts up either of those in 2019? And honestly, average offense out of a corner outfielder should probably be more than 100 OPS+. It's probably about 105 without looking. The guy is a crap 4th outfielder that should play maybe 2 times a week.


Review of action points: Action points were reviewed and ongoing actions noted. Discussion of chapters process and project coordinator recruitment were held over to their individual agenda items.
Approval of all redacted minutes: The redacted minutes were approved for publication. The Board thanked BH for preparing the minutes. The Board resolved to apologise to the community for delaying publishing of the minutes.
Recommendation of recruitment sub-committee for new Project Coordinator: The recruitment sub-committee reported on the Project Coordinator recruitment process and recommended Jason Kitcat for the position. The Board accepted the recommendation. The Board asked IB and BH to support RP during Jason's probation period, and asked RP to report back to the Board at the end of the probation period.
Report on finances: The financial report was discussed and all matters resolved to the Board's satisfaction. The Board agreed to hold over publishing the balance sheet until the next Board meeting, noting that it is still finding its competency in terms of accurately representing OKF's financial position.
Report on chapters: The Board approved the Memorandum of Understanding and process documents produced by JH with regard to OKF chapters. The Board thanked JH for his work.
The Board resolved that novel expenditure from core funds needed to be approved by the Board.
A discussion of the role of network members was held over due to lack of time.


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Israel continuously faces condemnation from international organizations. Urge your representative to support a bill that combats these attacks and, in particular, bans boycotts of the Jewish state.
In particular, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) targeted Israel last March with a resolution calling for the creation of a database—akin to a "blacklist"—of companies that operate in or have business relationships beyond Israel's 1949 armistice Lines, including parts of Jerusalem. The list is meant to be used as a database for boycotts on Israel.
According to reports, the blacklisted companies would include businesses as large as Coca-Cola, Teva, Airbnb and TripAdvisor.
The bill, to date, has 49 senators and 253 House members backing it.
We must ensure that this bill is passed into law. Please urge your legislators to support this crucial law.
What are Lindsey Graham and his fellow RINOs up to now?
I'm getting very concerned. Too many are dismissing the latest attempt by the DC liberal/moderate establishment to sneak a fake Obamacare repeal bill through the Senate.
This threat is real and it must be stopped, today.
Please don't waste a moment to let them know you won't stand for the Graham/Cassidy fake Obamacare Repeal!
No one wants to repeal Obamacare more than I do. As a career physician, there are few in Congress who have as much first-hand experience on all sides of the health care debate as I do. I've voted for repeal. I've sponsored my own Repeal and Replace plans.
Together, you and I have led the fight to stop and block Obamacare Lite plans offered in both Houses of Congress this year. These have also been plans that have spent nearly as much money as Obamacare, that left most of the taxes and regulations in place, and basically failed to honor our promise of repeal.
I need you to join me again.
In all ways the Graham/Cassidy bill is also Obamacare Lite. In no way is it repeal the way we promised. I will oppose this bill as I did the other fake repeal bills, and I urge those who want repeal to do so as well.
Make no mistake – Graham/Cassidy keeps Obamacare funding and regulations in place. Oh, it rearranges the furniture a bit, changes some names, and otherwise masks what is really going on – a redistribution of Obamacare taxes and a new Republican entitlement program, funded nearly as extravagantly as Obamacare.
Graham/Cassidy doesn't repeal a single Obamacare regulation. All of the Title 1 rules, the Essential Health Benefit rules, all of them, they're still in place here.
So help me beat this last-ditch establishment effort to fool you – to confuse everyone into thinking they've "done something" when in fact, nothing will have changed.
Graham/Cassidy won't fix our health care problems, and it will become a permanent drain on the treasury, one that is already $20 trillion in debt with a $700 billion dollar deficit next year.
Repeal of Obamacare, if we did it "root and branch" as some suggested in their campaigns, would have saved over a trillion dollars in spending over 10 years. Instead, we are left trying to save crumbs while leaving the system largely intact.
And I know you won't either. So please help push your Senators not to do it as well.
That's nice, but I don't like it, I don't want to keep it, and I don't want to keep paying for it. So how about we all keep our word and get rid of it?
I'll be fighting against this dangerous, deceptive Obamacare Lite bill, and I hope you'll join me today.
I hope you'll also help RANDPAC deliver this message to MILLIONS of people nationwide. I'm afraid it may be only us fighting this terrible bill –for now.
But if I can, through RANDPAC, mobilize enough grassroots power, we can defeat it, just like we've done all year long.
So please help RANDPAC after you've signed your petition.
Long Lost Golden Age – Just a Myth?
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Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids In Just 24 Hours Using This Remedy!
Say Goodbye To Glasses And Improve Your Eyesight With This Amazing Recipe!
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Will Postal Carriers Act as Census Enumerators for the 2020 US Census?
While most Conservatives lauded President Trump's recent speech at the United Nations meeting in NYC, I couldn't help but shudder at our inability to accurately assess ourselves as a nation.
The Book of Daniel shows us the need to REPENT both personally and corporately as a nation (Daniel 9). While we at The National Day of Repentance have seen some encouraging signs of individual repentance, there still seems to be zero recognition of our need for National Corporate repentance.
During his U.N. speech, Trump specifically called out three "rogue nations": North Korea, Syria and Iran. Allow me to juxtapose Trump's words against recent American news articles.
Chemical Abortions on the Rise in U.S.
America appears to have a collective PLANK in the eye that is blocking our ability to REPENT.
In scripture Peter denied Christ 3 times.
It's all there, the Three Temptations: POWER, MONEY, FAME.
Now we have the Graham-Cassidy bill failing miserably. Let's see what happens. With three strikes already against us, it does not look promising as GOP Senators are dropping support like flies. It appears, we have lost our national moral authority to call out sinners either at home or abroad.
Like Peter blustering and boasting that he would never desert Christ, our talk is cheap. Even after he repented, Jesus told Peter he would be bound up by others and forced to go with them.
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.
And so I believe it shall now be the same with the United States of America. Even if we repent at this time…we will still have to walk the same pathway as Peter, the pathway of sorrows.
Those who remain clueless to the depth of their own sin both personally and nationally, those with a false sense of self-righteousness, will face destruction.
Amen…so be it, Mr. Trump. So be it.
Heavenly Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we come to You confessing our sins and the sins of our family and our nation. Like Daniel, we confess that we have failed You and have failed in our witness to our people. We are a divided nation instead of one united under Your Providence. We are grieved and we ask You to forgive our sins. Help us repent and change our ways, so that the nation in which we live can begin to live out Your blessed Plan for us. Restore to us the years that the locusts have eaten. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Massive Earthquakes and Hurricanes. Prophecy Film Exposed Scientific Evidence that Proves Prophetic Fulfillment is Unfolding!
Before baptizing anybody, the ministry almost invariably urges the person to "count the cost" of giving his life to Christ. While counseling the candidate, the minister expounds Luke 14:26-27.
The cross we bear may be any potentially long-lasting trial that persistently affects our liberty to submit to God. However, very often at the base of this chronic resistance to submission is our desperately wicked heart with its deeply engrained baggage of proud, self-centered, anti-God habits of thinking and conduct. Despite our being baptized and having God's Spirit, pride remains a fellow traveler, stirring resistance to the knowledge of God. Satan's pride separated him from the Creator, and if permitted, it has the power to separate us from Him as well.
Prepare for Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).