Kristopher James Allen (6/29/72 - 5/19/92)

In remembrance of my best friend and first love on what would have been his 38th birthday.
These are transcripts of poems from a journal I kept from 1991-1993.

Click here to read My Story of Kris

KJA

My heart skips a beat.

Your chestnut hair and crooked teeth.

You are him, the man I wish for eternity.

Others have come and gone, but yet, you remained.

Many a troubled night you consoled me as I did you.

Together we had a special bond, you and I alone.

No matter how sunny the day,

Or how stormy the night,

You were the light that got me through

the worst of my life.

We never verbalized our true emotions to each other,

Yet unspoken, they were said.

For many a year we grew closer and stronger.

We drew on each others strength to get through the

rough times,

And gave strength whenever it was needed.

You were a shoulder to cry on,

And I've dampened my shoulder comforting you.

I never envisioned you leaving as you did.

We were fixed on each other for life.

The only vision of death for us was

supposed to be when we vowed , 'Til death do us part".

Now we've parted;

And after all the hard times you got me through

I ask one question...

"Who is going to get me through you?"

-Beth Harrison 8/1992

Today I was reminded of you…

Taken back to a special

Place in time

And as I thought of you,

A certain sort of sadness

Filled my heart

Even though the memories

We have are beautiful

And thinking back on them

Fills my heart with joy

My eyes also swell

With tears

Because we are so far apart

And I miss you

So very much

In My Dreams

It’s so hard

Being here without you

I never imagined

I’d miss you so much

When you left

I cried for days

Saying goodbye

Was too much to bear

Now after so much time

Nearly a year

Every time I hear your voice

Or see your face

All the feelings

Rush back in

How is it just being

With you makes everything

All right

You take me to a place

That’s so warm and safe

I never want to leave

But I always do

Back to myself

Without you…

-April 1993

So far away

Yet so close to my heart

You occupy my thoughts

My dreams are visions of you

Life goes on while you're away

But it is empty

There are common distractions

Though nothing compares

To the perfection you hold

In my eyes

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Welcome to your new golf course home!

Welcome to your home!

Click Here for Virtual Tour:  EXIT e-Listings Tour# 832775

Included in the asking price of the home:

• Side by Side Refrigerator w/water & ice dispenser
• Dishwasher
• 2 Ovens w/Range
• Whirlpool Duet Washer Dryer (with the optional drawer stands that increase the height)
• Stand Alone Freezer in Garage
• Custom built Shed

Optional items available:

• Gorilla Shelving in Garage
• Office Bookcase & Desk Set (currently in living room)
• Atrium/Courtyard Furniture (1 Chaise, 1 Loveseat, 2 end tables and all custom cushions)
• Atrium/Courtyard Cast Iron Chiminea
• Diane Flack/Thomasville Living Room Furniture (1 Sofa, 1 Loveseat, 1 Oversized Char w/Ottoman)
• Matched Kitchen set (Tile top table w/4 Napoleon style chairs, Tile top kitchen island, china cabinet/hutch.
• 42 Gallon Hexagon Aquarium with all accessories and additional supplies
• Window unit AC

This house is move-in ready! Everything's been done! Foundation repairs completed 12/09 with a transferrable lifetime warranty. All interior repairs are done including drywall and fresh paint and new carpet in 2 smaller bedrooms. The atrium in the middle of the house is so unique and is pre-wired for a ceiling fan, and built to hold a hot tub! Pebble driveway, sidewalks, back patio stand out beautifully with the fresh landscaping. Check out this gem, you won't be disappointed.


Northern Hills Golf Course is less than a block away and can be seen from the backyard!


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en Espanol - Are computers masculine or feminine?

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. ''House'' for instance, is feminine: ''la casa."Pencil," however, is masculine: "el lápiz."

A student asked, "What gender is computer?"

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun.

Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora"), because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.

2 The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.

3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval.

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your pay check on accessories for it.

The women''s group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("el computador"), because:

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.

2. They have a lot of data but still can''t think for themselves.

3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem.

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

5. If you try to make them do too many things at the same time they crash.

6. Repairing them is usually more difficult than getting a new one.

The women won.

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Kindle, Nook prices slashed in e-reader price war

Kindle, Nook prices slashed in e-reader price war - Jun. 21, 2010


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Take that, Kobo. As e-reader competition heats up, Barnes & Noble responded Monday by cutting the price of its flagship Nook to $199 and introducing a low-cost, Wi-Fi-only version for $149.


Just hours later, Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) hit back. It slashed the price of its popular Kindle to $189 -- a deep discount from the original $259.

Barnes & Noble's move sets the Nook's entry-level price level the same as the Kobo, an upstart e-reader backed by Borders. Cheaper than many competing readers, the Kobo sold out its first run and will begin shipping another wave of pre-orders next month.

But Amazon now has the cheapest 3G e-reader. With the Kindle or Nook 3G, readers can download books from almost anywhere they can reach a cell network. The Kobo and Nook Wi-Fi rely on having a wireless network available.

A recent study from IT research company Yankee Group said the $150 price point is a "sweet spot" for e-readers, at which sales should soar.

"With new tablet technology, reading-only devices have been forced into a race to the bottom," said Allen Weiner, analyst at Gartner. "We've only begun to see the price cuts."

The Nook Wi-Fi, which will begin shipping this week, looks almost identical to the 3G, except the new model's removable back cover is white instead of gray. The Wi-Fi version is 11.6 ounces, versus 12.1 ounces.

Beyond those small changes, the Wi-Fi version includes the same specs as its pricier cousin, including a 6-inch E-Ink display and 2 gigabytes of memory, which can hold 1,500 books. The Nook 3G, now $60 cheaper than its original $259 selling price, offers free Internet connectivity over a cell phone network to Barnes & Noble's e-book store.

E-reader manufacturers were banking on the easy reading ability of the E-Ink technology, which boasts a backlight-free display and reflects light like regular paper does, to make their devices must-have gadgets.

But the release of the Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) iPad has pushed e-readers toward obsolescence, Weiner said.

"The e-readers do just one thing -- no Web surfing, no video," Weiner noted. "Are consumers willing to pay a little more, and sacrifice some reading comfort, for all that capability? Probably."

While the Kindle and Nook 3G readers have no monthly access fees, the iPad 3G's data plans start at $15 a month. But plenty of users are willing to fork that over, and the iPad features a variety of e-book applications -- including the "BN eReader," which connects to Barnes & Noble's e-book store.

Thanks to that kind of competition, the price tag of the Nook, Kindle and other reading-only devices will probably fall to $99 toward the end of 2010, Weiner said.

"The devices just didn't evolve quickly enough," Weiner said. "It's possible that this E-Ink tech has had a very short life. In the future, I can see book publishers giving them away with a bundle of e-books."

Both Qualcomm and Netherlands-based Liquid Vista are working on color E-Ink readers, Weiner said, but neither device is slated for release anytime soon.

The Nook Wi-Fi will feature a few innovative features that distinguish it from the pack, such as B&N's (BKS, Fortune 500) existing LendMe program, which lets customers share e-books with friends for 14 days.

A new software update gives both Nook 3G and Wi-Fi customers free access to AT&T (T, Fortune 500) Wi-Fi hotspots.

The new Nook is available at www.nook.com and www.bestbuy.com.



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How to fix Congress...

I don't usually delve into politics, I leave that to my husband, but someone sent me this and I found myself intrigued. Tell me what you think?

Congressional Reform Act of 2010

1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..


A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms


2. No Tenure / No Pension.


A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.


3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.


All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.


4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.


5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.


6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.


7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.


8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.


The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.


Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.


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Are You the Annoying Co-Worker?

MSN Careers - Are You the Annoying Co-Worker? - Career Advice Article

10 questions to find out if you irk colleagues

By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

Annoying co-workers are, well, annoying. They bug us. They get on our nerves. They make us grit our teeth and roll our eyes. We wish we didn't know them, much less spend 40 hours of our week with them. If only we could tell them that they're irritating and solve the problem.

Before you stomp over to your annoying co-workers' desks and start dispensing your advice, perform some self-analysis. You might not be so perfect yourself. In fact, right now someone might be thinking that you need a good talking to.

To make sure you're not the annoying co-worker, take this quiz and hope for the best. (Hint: If you're not the bothersome co-worker, feel free to print out this quiz and leave it where the offending parties will find it.)

1. You're stressed. You're busy at work and your home life is hectic. You walk through the front doors and ...
A. ... do your job, mentioning your stress level only if it's relevant to the conversation.
B. ... sigh deeply until someone asks you what is wrong.

2. You had the best wild salmon for dinner. You ...
A. ... tell everyone to order it the next time they're at the restaurant.
B. ... heat up the leftovers in the microwave, allowing everyone to enjoy its pungent aroma.

3. You're a busy person, so ...
A. ... you make sure to get all your work done during business hours so you don't have to take it home.
B. ... you show up an hour late and leave an hour early because someone else will pick up the slack.

4. Your new ringtone is awesome and deserves to be heard, so ...
A. ... you play it for your co-workers during lunch.
B. ... leave your ringer volume set to high so everyone can hear it every time you receive a call.

5. You have new ideas on how to improve certain procedures at work, so you ...
A. ... suggest them to your supervisor and ask for permission to test them out.
B. ... tell everyone that they're doing things all wrong and should listen to you instead.

6. Your children are adorable. Everyone thinks so.
A. The pictures on your desk are enough proof that you're one proud parent.
B. Bringing your brood into the office so they can run amok and interrupt the workday is an effective way to show them off.

7. You think you're getting sick ...
A. ... so you try to work from home to avoid infecting others.
B. ... but you're determined to show up every day for work, even if you're pale and coughing up a lung.

8. You find some funny Web sites you want to share with co-workers.
A. You forward only the best ones to a few select co-workers who share your sense of humor.
B. You send every amusing link you come across, certain that a dozen e-mails will not waste your colleagues' time.

9. You and 10 other colleagues receive an e-mail from the boss.
A. You decide that your response is relevant only to your boss and reply only to her.
B. You reply to all, even if your message is irrelevant to 99 percent of the recipients.

10. You heard some good gossip that is possibly true ...
A. ... but you don't want to spread rumors so you keep quiet.
B. ... you can't sit on the secret for too long, so you get the word out as quickly as possible.

Result: If you have more Bs than As, you are an annoying co-worker. The next time you're in one of these situations, stop and ask yourself what you'd like your colleague to do in the situation. Then ask yourself what you'd normally do. If they're not the same thing, err on the side of caution and do unto others as you'd like them to do to you.


Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.


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Plus Size is Not Always Bad

Plus Size is Not Always Bad

Have you ever been depressed because you are a plus size woman? Well don't be! We, and yes I am talking about myself as well, should be proud of who we are, on the outside and inside. No matter what others may have to say.

Sometimes, we do get depressed because we are a little "bigger" then the average woman. But just realize, there are a bunch of reasons to be happy with the way you are, like there are plenty of modeling agencies out there who offer plus size modeling. Plus, God made us the way we are, and we should be happy with that!

Also, we do get depressed because we think that nobody wants us. That is beyond true though. There are plenty of good-looking, nice, and respectful men out there who love "curvier" women more then skinny women. Let just face it ladies, skinny women who are all skin and bones are not very attractive. Men like women who don't look like they are going to break in half every time walk down a flight of stairs. Plus, plus size women can cook most of the time, which is a good way to a mans heart!

We all know that living as a plus size woman can be a little rough at times, but we just have to hold our head up and face the music. If people shut us down don't give up, keep pushing forward and don't look back.

Don't let yourself get down, whether it be because of rejection, or for the simple fact that we can't fit into those jeans we have always wanted, there is a reason for everything. With that being said, hold your head high, and push through til the end!


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Geico - F/V Time Bandit Commercials - Deadliest Catch

I normally fast forward over commercials, but while zooming through the other day I swore I saw the caveman with Capt Andy, so I rewound and sure enough there they were.   Jon and Andy Hillstrand, Captains of the F/V Time Bandit on Deadliest Catch have done several commercials for Geico and they crack me up.  I think you have to be a Deadliest Catch fan to really apprecite them.

I love the caveman commercials so I put them first, but the eyeball (Somebody's Watching Me) commercials are okay also.












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McDonald's faces lawsuit over marketing to kids

McDonald's faces lawsuit over marketing to kids

This is the kind of thing that just ticks me off!


When my husband & I were children, it was considered a special treat to go down to McDonald's and get a Happy Meal. The toys are part of the fun.

McDonald's may market them towards children by using tie-ins from current movies or by using popular brand names as enticements (Barbie, Hotwheels and my favorite, Madame Alexander), but at the end of the day, it's the PARENTS who put the kids in the car. It's the PARENTS that drive them to McDonalds. It's the PARENTS that hand over the money.

And finally, it is the PARENTS who no longer seem to feel it neccessary to teach their kids about nutrition, restraint, manners and most importantly, the difference between a neccessity and a luxury!

Unfortunately the parents themselves seem to have lost touch with what they need vs what they want.

To compare McDonald's to a pedophile handing out candy on the playground is absurd!

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Rubik's Cube Art

This definately takes some mad skills! I am one of the many people that never solved the cube! I would take my cube with me to Massachussetts and have my gramps fix it. He was really good at stuff like that.

I'm posting a few of my favorites here, but the website is worth checking out.

http://www.space-invaders.com/rubikcubism_.html

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