Heroes of Anothe Kind

What is the measure of a man? What is it that he calls upon down deep inside when desparate times come? Heroes are sometimes found in shooting wars and sometimes in wars of another kind. For the past year my granddaughter. Sierra, has fought cancer. January brought news that she was suffering from osteo saccoma in her right knee. This is a tumor attached to the bone. Chemo, titanium inplant, more chemo, cancer recurrence in in the calf of her leg, amputation of the right leg above the knee, another surgery for recurrence in a lung and now extended treatment with a new protocol to improve her immune system is a summary of her year with terror, seven operations and biopsies in a year! It’s 2009 and she’s back in school, looking forward to getting a prosthesis on what she now affectionately calls her “little leg”. We’ve been in three hospitals as well as consultation in another. We have met many “battle buddies” along the way, and what a blessing that has been. We have seen grace and courage in people thrown almost overnight into a nightmare they could never have imagined, a nightmare not to be awakened from, but one awakened into, over and over and over. Cancer is a thief, a robber of time, money and most of all, normalcy. Normal is good. Boring is good. But in the wild and terrifying roller coaster ride where Mr. Cancer takes away a person’s buttons and bows, there stands another MAN. He’s the guy that stays the course, doesn’t run from the unthinkable and remains true to what he vowed, “in sickness and in health” He’s the man holding his wife up when she’s almost beaten, cancer tired. He’s the dad that holds his wife up when their baby is sick unto death. He’s the hero of Cancerland and somewhere there’re making his medal of honor, his badge of courage. These men are described, I hope, in a poem I wrote some time ago and is in my book, “ POEMS BY LOU DAVID ALLEN”

My Prince Charming

Is not the richest,

Nor the smartest,

Nor the most handsome,

But when I’m sixty three

He will still love me

And put a diamond on my hand.

And should our babies be

Sick, even unto death,

He will pray God takes him

And not them.

That’s who my Prince Charming is.

B.S. degree in Physics and an
MBA. I have been an engineer,teacher,junior college administrator,mayor and a salesman. My book, “POEMS BY LOU DAVID ALLEN’ is self published. I sometimes sell some of them when I do readings for various groups.
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Natural stone tiles have become an added attraction to decorate the landscapes and households. Their beauty and grandeur are a visual treat for the viewers. However, these stones are disposed to heat, rain and sunlight. Hence, you need to mortar them perfectly to maintain their life for a long time. An ineffectively laid mortar can loosen in long run and affects the durability of the tiles.

Hence, you should follow the given below steps while mortaring your natural stone tiles.

1     Firstly, go to the shop of a builder and purchase a high quality dry mortar mix for your tiles.

2     Now, mix dry mortar with some water and stir the mixture uniformly until you get a thick paste. You should make sure that the mortar is thick enough to stay on the trowel without dropping. Moreover, you shouldn’t forget to wear gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes from the dry mortar and dust.

3    After preparing the mixture, trowel the mortar to the area where the next natural stone tile needs to be installed. Don’t forget to apply mortar between consecutive natural tiles.

4    Don’t forget to trowel the tiles under their surface. This will help in providing a proper base to the consecutive tiles.

5    Now, place the stone on the toweled area. As soon as, you’ll press the stone gently, some mortar will pop out of the stone. If the mortar doesn’t pop out, then it means that you haven’t applied appropriate mortar under the natural stone tiles.

6    After installing the tile, remove the excess mortar from the tiles with help of trowel and a wet finger. This ensures appropriate placement of your natural tiles.

Hence, the given above mortaring technique will be highly helpful in preparing a durable natural stone layout for your landscapes, gardens and households.

Jason Colling is a renowned writer, who has written articles on various interior designing techniques related to floor decor. His articles focus on various uses of porcelain tiles , natural stone , kitchen tiles and adhesives.

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If you anger easily, perhaps you need some techniques to <b>Keep Your Cool<b>. How you handle anger is how your children assume adults are supposed to handle anger and thus they use you as a role model.

Look deeply in your heart and discover what you are really mad about?  Rarely is the anger about the present incident, but rather unmet needs from the past.

Do you want your children to respect you? Is the underlying need for respect? Do you want people to assume personal responsiblity? Know your limits. Accept what you can’t change and let go of things out of your control.  

Here are some ideas that have worked for other parents.  Try them and see if you can control your anger rather than let your anger control you.

Ease your tension. Take a walk; listen to music, splash cold water on your face.
Earn small rewards when you make the choice not to become angry.
Phone a friend. It helps to share your concerns and talk things out.

<b>Your example helps your children learn to handle anger. Be a good role model.<b>

 
Object to the behavior if necessary, but separate the “deed from the doer.”
Use your kitchen timer for “time out” before disciplining.
Remember that everyone makes mistakes, including you and your children.

Count your breaths. Breathe in deep while counting to four. Breathe out while counting to four. Do four times.
Old tapes in your head may be making your reaction more than it should be. Are you angry because of issues in your childhood?

<b>Out of ideas to handle anger? <b>

Consider parenting classes or professional counseling.
Look objectively at the situation. Are you making a mountain out of a molehill? Is it really worth having a heart attack or stroke? This too shall pass.

Controlling angry feelings is a skill that children learn from the people who care for them. There are activities which support our development of self-control. Count to twenty, backwards! We all need to find helpful ways to intervene when anger and frustration overwhelms us or our children.

(c)Judy H. Wright aka Auntie Artichoke is a family coach and parent educator. She has written over 20 books and many many articles on building relationships on respect and open communication.

Please join us each Thursday for free teleclasses and radio shows at http://www.ArtichokePress.com You will be glad you did.

If your family is having problems or behavior situations that can not be helped with an article or book, please go to http://www.DisciplineYesPunishNo.com for a program that will transform your family. I recommend it to all my parenting classes.
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I have had a teacher who published a dozen books.

I have had a teacher who speaks 12 languages fluently.

I have had a teacher with two Ph.D.s and a J.D.

I have had a teacher who had been a President of a University.

I have had a teacher who had been awarded a Nobel Prize.

Yet, the most influential teacher in my life was my Dad.

My Dad taught me how to tie my shoes, how to wire a receptacle, and how to replace the alternator in my car.

He taught me how to bait a hook, cast a line, and gut a fish.

He taught me that getting stitches in my chin is easier when you have someone’s hand to squeeze.

My Dad taught me to ride a bicycle and a motorcycle, and how to drive a car.

He taught me how to back-up a trailer and how to roll a sleeping bag really tight.

He taught me that a look of disappointment could be a much worse punishment than a wooden spoon.

He taught me about ailerons, flaps, uplift, and touch and gos.

My Dad taught me how to read a map, read an auto repair manual, and read the edge of Mosquito Road even in the fog.

He tried to teach me algebra, but I gave up on it.

My Dad taught me to play the guitar, how to put backspin on the cue ball, and why I needed to clean the distributor cap.

He taught me that the journey can be just as fun at the intended destination.

My Dad taught me that enjoying your work is more important than promotions and prestige.

He taught me how to shingle a roof, how to earn a buck by stripping and recycling copper wire, and that a sandwich of canned black olives is not something a kid can appreciate.

He taught me how to use a camera, how to catch a snake, and how to wire a breaker box.,

He taught me how to split and stack wood, how to build a fire, how to drive a fire truck, about borate bombers, back fires, and why pine trees explode during a wildfire.

My Dad taught me not to make ridiculous threats that you don’t intend to follow through on – especially if the guy is bigger than him and flushing a head in the toilet is harder than it sounds.

He taught me that man can live on bran muffins for breakfast for eight years without complaining.

He taught me that completing a job you can be proud of is worth more than the paycheck.

My Dad taught me that you’re never too old to learn Morris Code.

He taught me to ask for morphine as soon as I arrive at the emergency room with a kidney stone.

He taught me that it is possible for a man of few words to make a lasting impression on people’s lives – through his deeds and his character.

And the last time I saw him, just several months ago, my Dad started teaching me how to use Photoshop on my computer.

My Dad, through his example, taught me that experiential education is more important than any lecture. And that the best teacher acts as a coach during the learning process and not a know-it-all expounding inflexible answers.

Although my Dad was a hard working, blue collar electrician with no college degree, I would not have earned a Doctorate in Education were it not for the most important essentials My Dad Taught Me.

Dr. Sandi Marie Smith, Educator, June 9, 2008
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Getting married and having children is the way of life for all of us. The question is – are we ready to get married and after that are we ready to become father? Why this question? Let us discuss.

Most of us are not always ready to get married. We are waiting for the right partner. We have career and money issues. We have emotional issues. We do not want to get married in hurry and then break up. We therefore weigh all the options and wait for the opportune time. Only after we are satisfied, we get married. Am I correct?

Becoming a father is equally difficult. Before becoming a father, you have to make sure that your wife is ready to become a mother. That both of you have settled in the marriage and do not foresee much problem ahead. Your career has picked up and you are saving money. You have a good home and you are otherwise free of problems. Only after satisfying yourself about all these, can you think of becoming a father.

Fatherhood involves many issues. As soon as you get a child, you will find that your wife is paying more attention to her child than to you. Your nights will not be as peaceful as before. Visits to doctors may increase. Vacationing may become difficult and partying may have to e cut. There are many such changes that a new child brings along with lot of joy. Please think about the pros and cons before deciding to become a father. Your child should never suffer because of your own frustrations. Your kid will be your most precious possession. Think carefully and decide.

The author writes text and advises for content for myspace comments, myspace graphics and designs creative ideas for myspace layouts.
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