Hope for Troubled Boys

by Carol4 Comments
More years ago than I care to admit, I worked at a children's home for boys who couldn't stay with their parents and had trouble finding foster homes. Most of them were "troubled," but there were still good kids. I do believe that there is hope for troubled boys. And I've seen that a safe environment that helps them learn to control their behavior, that encourages them and helps them develop their strengths can make a difference. I know there are parents who may think that there is not anything left that they can do for their troubled child. They look at their son and believe that he is destined for a life filled with hardships because he seems too unruly to control. Many of these parents turn to family and friends for help, but they are not successful in helping their son. However, these parents do not have to give up hope. Juvenile Detention And Boot Camps Often Do Not Work Some parents believe...
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The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan

by Carol6 Comments
I've really enjoyed this trilogy and the finale, The Autumn Republic, was good, but I was hoping for great. It would not stand-alone well, but it does wrap up a lot of the points the first two were leading toward. We see an end to the war and a new government for Adro. I love the world, the magic, the politics, and for some reason military fantasies tend to draw me in. I think it has something to do with all the passions, loyalties, endurance, planning - and treachery. The characters are awesome and the multiple points of view and various subplots give them each a chance to shine. With so many characters and changes in viewpoint, the narrator of the audio has a tough job, but Rodska does well. He differentiates each character, and while the women are maybe not as well performed as the men, it's a fairly male-centered story anyway. To me, he's the voice of Tamas. There is one voice in however,...
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Readers’ Workouts – 5/19

by Carol8 Comments
So, here are my steps for the week.   And here's my current workout plan. It's an 8-wk plan, but I've only got the first 4 below. I just started wk 1, so I've only done the first Monday's run. Here are the definitions they're using: Fat-burning run: Run for the time indicated at a pace that is 65 percent of your maximum heart rate (if using a monitor) or a five out of 10 on the perceived effort scale, i.e., a comfortable pace. Strength training: Perform strength-training exercises, including squats, lunges, pushups, deadlifts, planks and overhead presses for the time indicated. Sprint intervals: Perform all intervals on a steep hill or a treadmill set to a 6- to 8-percent incline. Run 10 minutes at an easy pace to warm up. Sprint up the hill for 30 seconds at a very challenging effort. Recover by jogging down the hill (or on a 0-percent incline for two minutes). Complete as many sprints as indicated. Finish the workout with another 10 minutes of easy running. Easy run: Run at an easy pace for 20 to...
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Gelato

by Carol2 Comments
Tonight is the first church softball game of the season. David plays, usually as the catcher. He enjoys it and amber and I usually go and watch the games. Sometimes we go out for ice cream afterward. I kinda wish we could go out for gelato, but while they sell it at the grocery store, we don't really have a gelato shop locally. Gelato is a delicacy that has been a part of human history for more than a millennium. As far back as 3,000 BC, cultures in Asia began the custom of consuming ice that was crushed and topped with different flavorings. Flash forward five centuries into the future and Egyptian pharaohs were offering their guests crushed ice that was mixed with fruit juices. Later the Romans adopted this culture. They would collect ice from the volcano Vesuvius, and they would mix it with honey and serve it as a dessert. Gelato, as it is currently known, had start during the...
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Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

by Carol8 Comments
We went to see Avengers: Age of Ultron yesterday in 2D. Superhero movies tend to be ones that all of us enjoy and this is the current must-see. I have to say I enjoyed it. I actually haven't seen the first Avengers or (gasp) any of the Iron Mans, but I do love Thor. The movie was what I expected - lots of actions, cool powers and gadgets, good guys win. There were some funny bits and Amber glared at me occasionally for laughing out loud. She also filled me in on a couple of bits I missed from not seeing the previous movies, but nothing that really would have left me lost had she not told me.  There was a bit of philosophizing about the nature of humans and war, and attempts at making our superheroes real people too, with strengths and weakness and people they care about. There was one fight scene that I thought was a bit too long - between Iron Man and...
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I need new sheets!

by CarolNo Comments
Spring is here! Time for new bedding, at least at my house. It seems like all my light sheets have holes or have worn-out elastic at the corners. When the weather starts to warm up in the spring and summer, chances are you're like my husband, throwing that heavy winter blanket off your bed in the middle of the night. I could use flannel sheets all year long, but with our air conditioning on the fritz, even I've been getting warm at night. And I'd love a bedspread that I could wash at home instead of having to take it to the dry cleaner. Maybe it's time to just go out and buy some wonderful spring and summer bedding for your home, too. No matter what you’re style, you can find great seasonal bedding from companies like BeddingStyle. Use this guide to help you choose the best possible bedding for your home this season. Know Your Size It might sound really obvious, but a lot of...
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