I hope you all had a  Happy Thanksgiving. I hope that you ate lots to turkey, watched a few of the NFL games, and fell into a comatose like sleep.  I also hope that you learned a little something about family.

I think that sometimes we take our family for granted.  I mean they’ve always been around, even when you didn’t want them to be.  We have holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas when we’re supposed to appreciate them a little bit more, but shouldn’t we do that all year long?

I have a friend who spent a non traditional Thanksgiving with her mother this year.  It was just the two of them because, as happens to all of us, the rest of her family was pulled in so many different directions that it’s hard to keep up with everyone.  She and her mother went out to eat dinner…and then went bowling.  She texted me later to let me know that it might have been the best Thanksgiving ever.   She got to spend some one-on-one time with Mom and learned a few personal things about Mom she probably didn’t know before. My friend said that she wouldn’t have gotten to know Mom better over the loud roar of Thanksgiving conversation, family catching up, and NFL Fox Sports news casts.

I learned a lesson of my own.  My family got together for the typical Thanksgiving dinner.  Everyone was eating and enjoying each other’s company….except my teenaged cousin.  She usually sits in the corner, eats dinner, and gets on her laptop.  Everyone is older than her, talking about jobs and their kids growing up and going to school.  She’ll take part in the conversation for a while,  but then goes off to do her own thing.

After I  ate, I went into the living room like I usually do to watch a lopsided football game.  I peered over at my cousin. She just looked up from her computer just long enough to catch my eye, smiled back, and went back into techno-world.  Instead of watching the game, I went to talk to her for a while. We talked about her love of Korean pop music, that she wants to go to college in Japan, and that she eventually wants to help design computer and video games.  She’s a really smart kid and she has a bright future.

Even though get-togethers sometimes seem like a bad scene from “Madea’s Family Reunion” and they get on my nerves, they are my family.  You don’t have to love your family, but I do.

Did you learn anything new about your family?  Feel free to comment.

We are here to elevate you into a new understanding
to elevate your mind and conscious awareness
so that you might receive constant guidance from source in a clear manner
we are here to lead you away from the confusion
the conditioned darkness you have wandered in
and into a new way of being a new light to illuminate all problems
to bring forth goodness and love in a vibrant manner
so that all who come into your presence will be moved and touched by your healing power
this is the calling this is the life you can lead now
and this is the love you are here to be
thankfully, you are on the path to enlightenment because you have decided by your own desire this is what you want
this is where you are headed and this is the path that we continuously guide you toward for the benefit of all concerned
know that there is nothing that can separate you from the love of source
from the love of God from the love of who you are
because it is part of you
you are an extension indeed
but even more importantly you are filled with this love
it is simply a matter of letting go of resistance and giving into this love that fills you now
know that source is always present equally throughout your body throughout your mind throughout your circumstances throughout the universe
there is no lack of source no lack of love no lack of the presence and power of God anywhere
for as you know source is all present all power all knowledge and all love
there can be no lack of source anywhere
take responsibility for any shortage of what you want in life and figure out how to let go of your resistance your blocks
your uncertainty
figure out how to allow source to move freely through you so that you can fulfil that heart’s desire

know that no good thing will be kept from you
you must undue the conditioning undue the limits
you have put upon yourself
you must cleanse your mind and allow source to fill it with possibility potential love and hope
you must allow source to show you the truth apart from the illusion and insanity of modern-day thinking
let it go and allow source to elevate your consciousness to a new way of being a new way of allowing and a new way of thinking
let source fill your mind with beauty and passion let your mind be free to dream to love to endure with grace and gratitude
that all is well in this moment
and is always so
be sure to remember that now has everything you need
now has all the beauty joy and love you desire
if you would but allow it to come through
allow now

- Morning stream of consciousness writing from John Stringer

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I just finished reading Voltaire’s Candide, ou l’Optimisme in the original French.  This is probably the first time I’ve read it in a few years.  My, how I struggled with the French and had to flip through my dictionary more than a few times; I’ve been so out of practice.

I think I’ll have to laugh though.  Candide is such a way to describe me.  And I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.

No one is born excellent.
No one is born to do whatever he/she is doing now.
No one is born to work well with people.

I would not agree that I work well with people, but I have my principles in life. At this level, commitments are not excuses. It is how one actually prioritise. No matter how busy one is, you may forget something, it should not be an excuse in life. Which boss will accept the excuse that my commitments are high and I have no time or I forgot to do the proposal? It is known even weeks before about the responsibility, and it is how one sees it. No one is right in the situation, but clearly we have withhold certain details purposely. Those are the details that would show the pushing and tension, but was not mentioned. I would not expect initiative at all, but just one word: sensibility.

You have the right to express your anger, or even be against me. Still, I have my right too. Youngsters tend to be behaving in their own unique ways. Ever thought that is the behaviour appropriate? I am no older than these people. Some of them might even known more than me, because of our different experiences. One known fact is, we all have to learn from each other. Not many people could stand in front of the mirror, and think about their actions and behaviours. We need someone to tell us.

Be it accuse, be it complain. Be it guilty, be it innocent. Say it out. Holding the grudge, I always do but there is a limit. We do not need excellent teamwork, we do not need acceptance, we need tolerance. Humans take time to grow and learn. It is a process to undergo.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

‘Shameful Flight’ relates the history of the final years of the British Raj in India, including the partition of India into both Pakistan (West and East) and India, and the early hostility of the two new nations destined for perpetual warfare in such regions as the Kashmir.The history of this era of political instability on the subcontinent includes all the main players from Great Britain, India and Pakistan.These main players include Winston Churchill, Viceroy Louis Mountbatten, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah. There is not a single figure in this history of India’s partition who comes out of it in a good light, though several seem to have had very well-intentioned aims and motivations. It is the true story of lost opportunity and the devastating consequences of human pride and selfishness that have reverberated down through the decades to the present day and remain visible in the continuing clashes between India and Pakistan, as well as in the extremism expressed in both the Islamic and Hindu communities throughout the sub-continent. It is a story of perpetual tragedy and human suffering with no end in sight.

This book is extremely easy to read, passes on a wealth of historical information and whets the appetite for further research on the India/Pakistan situation. It provides enlightenment, by bringing understanding to the current political instability in both India and Pakistan, by clearly revealing the root of the problem – the manner of the birth of both nations out of British imperialism and that nation’s final haphazard departure aptly described as a ‘Shameful Flight.’ This is a great book for understanding the sub-continent and the wounds it still carries to this day.

This book was provided to me for review by Oxford University Press – www.oup.com

Opening up one’s Self can be hazardous to your health.

I really mean that. Writing from the heart, digging deep into the well of emotions and getting in touch with that true Self can leave you vulnerable. A little weak. Even dazed.

It’s like “blood-letting.” You reach inside, focusing on a part that has rarely seen the light of day, or a memory that gets recalled only when you see a phrase or two on another’s blog and so you must go within to retrieve that  just-now-remembered something from your inner Self.

The process involves trust. A trust that the revelation you offer won’t be viewed with scorn, held up to ridicule or used against you in some other forum, some other means of prosecution, persecution or indictment.

What if your offering appears unacceptable, what if it encroaches on someone’s sensibilities, some “untouchable” area where you’re viewed as being simply ”tasteless,” or worse yet, “irrelevant?“

I pour my heart out when I write. That’s if I can reach the core inside and let that cocky little kid strut his stuff out in the open. I like him, but he can get me into trouble with name-calling, taking too many risks, and now and then wanting a little more red wine than the night before. But if he can roam free, like a bantam rooster flying to a rooftop and chasing one hen after another, then I can feel free to innovate, to imagine, to create. Free to shout “I LOVE YOU!” or  warn not to” piss me off” with the same amount of vigor. Courageously. Looking you in the eye full with life and laughter; without fear of retaliation. Or fear of being spit at.

It is when the writing ends, the article reaches that last line, that I feel my wings draw closer to my body. I need to rest. Need to retire. Sleep.

Until the next time, when I will be squawking at your door, awakening the kid in YOU to “come out and play,” or “come closer to God,” perhaps even to say “You were right about me after all. I am your sensitive friend, and I need you.”

Now, that is what I call opening a vein from one searcher to another!

Yet, writing drains me. I cannot deal with matters of  importance now. Not after leaking more important matters here. Please, don’t  let them mess with me now.

1 Timothy 1:1-7 (New King James Version)

Greeting

¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

² To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

No Other Doctrine

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ⁴ nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. ⁵ Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, ⁶ from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

We do not want to be St. Paul’s description in verses 6-7: “from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.” Just because I am a servant, or I do this or that, doesn’t mean I am saved for sure and I am going to heaven 100%. The problem is that we are able to show this face of wisdom and understanding and say “I am a servant; I know what I’m talking about,” when in reality, we have absolutely no idea what we are talking about. Even as servants, we will have ups and downs in life, but we don’t want to stay in the “downs” of our lives for too long. The thing about us as Christians is that we are able to get back up and know that we can start anew. It is sad when we don’t know what we believe or understand what we are saying to others, and with all honesty, sometimes I feel that way. I’m sure everyone feels some kind of doubt at some point, and I know that I have doubts at times and sometimes I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing or what I’m saying. But this is where Christ comes in. If we ask Him to give us the mental strength and wisdom we need, He will supply. So, if you’re down, just ask Him to help you back up. Believe me, even if it isn’t right away, God will not fail you. EVER.

God bless.

Pray for those who are spreading Christ’s word and love, and for those striving to find Him.

Marina

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Mike Ibrahim

Abouna Paul and Sherry Girguis

My family

“The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth” (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe

Happy Thanksgiving to all. For many of us, this has been a difficult year, as it was for the pilgrims depicted in the idyllic scene above. Yet we all have some reason to be thankful—a kind friend, a faithful pet, a family (even if they’re contentious), a small success, hope for the future, a happy memory—something. Be thankful for the smile of a stranger; be thankful for the happy child you saw yesterday; be thankful for the soldier who returned home alive, for the beauty of a sunrise. And if you’re feeling down and can think of nothing for which to give thanks, rest assured that we at the Woodstock Council for World Peace extend our love to you; we love you, and be thankful for that. We extend our best wishes and all our love to every person on this day, affirm our hope, and promise to continue our quest for a more peaceful world.

Cluster flies are a real nuisance in both autumn and spring since the fall coming in your home to heat and hibernate during the winter months and activity is then reviewed in the spring when they begin to leave property. Pollen, pollen rudis is a great fly up to 10 mm long with a wingspan of up to 20 mm. Seems to be very similar to Moscow, but his gray chest with golden hair. The abdomen is usuallyfailures in pattern. The life cycle of the cluster fly is a bit "simple, the female lays her eggs in the soil, often to the point of entry for the earthworm burrows, larvae hatch and search for earthworms. A Once he found the worm larvae that penetrate the worm and develop within it. Chrysalides and let the worms and the adult flies emerge.

Cluster flies are a real control problem pests. Rarely transmit diseases, but all seem to create very large swarms that becometoo irritating. Controlling cluster flies phase years is not really simple but complete twelve months is almost impossible. Cluster flies are often in loft areas and often on the south side of the property where it is warmer. Cluster fly treatment that we must first ensure that we not disturb BAT infestations. If the attic of bats is clear, if there are bats present is required to inform the Bats Conservation Trust. The next step is to decide on acontrol method. In fact there are 3 very successful ways to treat cluster fly infestations.

First use the smoke generator and smoke bombs. These small containers emitting an insecticide in the loft to kill everything that flies or scavenging. Agropharm produce a mini little smoke bomb to cover up to 120 cubic meters of space for flying insects which is ideal for cluster fly infestations. It is recommended to treat the attic of about 7 and re-application of a weekafter initial treatment. With smoke generators or smoke bombs to cover any open water tanks and follow the label accordingly.

The second method of dealing with cluster flies is to install a flying insect killer electronic. Flies are attracted to UV light and immediately get killed instantly. A car is recommended for high UV fogging initial focus is for a shock effect quickly. A good UV unit to kill flies is our preferred method because no chemicals are usedafter the initial fogging.

The third option is a product called SWAK distributor kit. SWAK dispenser automatically distribute kit is a natural insecticide in the atmosphere. Once in contact with the pole to steal kill him immediately. Cluster flies are a real nuisance for the time and wet weather during the summer of 2008 does not really help things. The eradication as I mentioned earlier, the initial treatment is very simple, but is full almost year after yearimpossible.

Thanks To : http://astore.amazon.com/cardiffblog-20 http://astore.amazon.com/tw-japan-20 http://fuelleyeve.wordpress.com http://lesaw.blogspot.com/ http://baby.fernstudiumde.com/

The Colours Of Light

Oft the colours are pitched so high
The deepest note is the cobalt sky;
We have to wait till the sunset comes
For shades that feel like the beat of drums –
Or like organ notes in their rise and fall –
Purple and orange and cardinal,
Or the peacock-green that turns soft and slow
To peacock-blue as the great stars show .

Dorothea Mackellar

ty OLDPOETRY

a head operates in its clay
and thinks about the wings
it cannot elevate to understanding
here against the fickle light

foto – by susan pomroy 2009

I have been trying to understand a couple passages from Dhammapada. This is what it says:

To see essence in the unessential and to see essence as unessential means one can never get to the essence wandering as one is in the road of intention.

But, to see the essence in the essential and the unessential as unessential it means one does get to the essence being on the road of right intentions.

This is my interpretation:

To see essence in the unessential: I think this means to put importance onto something that is meaningless. For example, last year I used to worry a great deal about a past action. That past action though was unimportant because it is the past. I did it. I admitted my fault, and I asked forgiveness. So, to worry about it, I was putting essence into something unessential, I was putting importance onto something that was no longer important.

To see essence as unessential: I think this would mean the reverse. I believe that it means to see something important as something menial. I think this is kind of like putting blinders on a horse. You know something is important but you make yourself see it as unimportant and put other things first.

Doing these two things are examples of wrong intention. They will cause harm one way or another.

Then to see the essence in the essential is about being wise I think. It is about knowing what is important and the unessential as unessential meaning knowing what is unimportant. For example to see the importance of mindfulness is good intention and to know that the past and the future are unessential in the present state of mind is also good intention.

Therefore, when we let go of the unessential and pay attention and be mindful of what is essential and important then that is right intention and will bring us to the essence (the essence of life? Peace? Nabbana?)

For those of you who know more than I (which is probably a lot of you J), my question is this: Am I even close to understanding what was meant by this passage??? If I am way off base please let me know and help me to understand.

Thank You for your time!

A small miracle is happening right before our eyes if we only open our hearts to see.

A minister, a rabbi and a Muslim sheik put their differences on the line and walked away clearing  an unobstructed path to God.

They met together and spoke of the greatest aspects of their respective faiths, as well as what they believed were the most divisive.

What they most valued as the core teachings of their tradition:

• the minister “unconditional love.”

• the sheik “compassion.”

• the rabbi “oneness.”

What they regarded as the “untruths” in their own faith:

• the minister: “Christianity is the only way to God.”

• the rabbi: the notion of Jews as “the chosen people.”

• the sheik: the “sword verses” in the Koran, like “kill the unbeliever.”

Now, I’m simply using my poetic license here. About that “unobstructed path to God,” that is. But read this  story submitted by Dustin.

It is from a newspaper article of the “three amigos” who may, one can only hope, help to unite all again. (See if you don’t agree!)

great story of friendship

My one, silent rebellion was prayer.

In Oz it’s rude to talk about spirituality/religion much, certainly not the private kind so I really have no way of reading how ok you’d all be about the mention of it?
(not that I mind being rude, you understand. The odd verbal spanking appeals to me but there is such a thing as context and I get enough spam as it is…)

Sufficiently armed with the above disclaimer, I was thinking (they tell me it’s dangerous, so naturally I find it hard to stop)…
about the resources I have to hold onto. then and now.

Back then the question seemed about externals. I mean, technically God is an external, too except it’s hardly the same. (God is not a Disney film.) But it’s notions like that that kept me even vaguely this side of sane, even with militant atheists for parents or perhaps because of them.

Sounds funny because we normally associate prayer with conformity and with a brand of conservatism that is so mainstream as to go largely unacknowledged and yet remains a central feature of many peoples’ daily lives.

My prayers were always tinged with guilt. Surreptitious and vehement as the stars I’d look to. I heard them swallowed by the silence, the depth and magnitude of nature rang out in response and I was sure they were still there.

My parents were strangely devout in their atheism… and I mean these were people who would disown friends/family for ‘turning religious on them.’ There was a deep-seeded fear of it, for good reasons but at the time all I knew was that you keep it underground.

So day by day it grows a little stronger in response.
Because it’s always there when nobody else is, and precisely because it’s meant to stay out of sight. It’s like telling a prisoner not to mind the bright red escape hatch on the wall… these are not the ways to keep the curious from killing the cat.
I’ll go there because you tell me not to. I’m obsessive like that, or is it stubborn? Either way, it was there.

I went to an Anglican school with enforced prayer but it was the music and the wholeness of each note that did it — a thousand voices soaring, the organ piercing sunlight that had only just before seemed so absolutely void. Scriptures I could take or leave, for the most part. Parables you hear regardless — the lessons had already been marked on my skin, one way or another.

And so they told me, you can sing but do not dare to feel. Leave it at the gates and go… nowhere. offer… nothing. tell… no one.

Sometimes I’d write to God because it turned out Santa was just another fat, middle-aged pervert pretending to be something he was not.

See, there was no replacement for the wonder and belief that had long before been poured into my heart. How do you tell a child they can’t believe in the Moon? It’s right there.

But I learned to ignore those things, somewhere along the way, deliberately forgot the rest, most likely. It is an emptiness, an invitation to deny yourself and in the process lose a little hope with every breath. Not that I hoped for so many things, certainly not that some mystical power would save me from what had by then become my life.

I doubt I wanted to be saved. Kindness hadn’t proved much of a boon up to that point so I thought to myself, just don’t hand me another fairytale. I’m not a princess and there is no pea. There’s just you, me and… ?

What I did want to know was that I could be understood. And if there might, just might be a light switch to find, if I kept to the path I couldn’t help but know lay deep within, then that would be gravy.

These were my messages in a bottle, stored on the very top shelf. I stuffed them in the cookie jar, perched right below the bright red sign that tells you not to dare.

Like any good businessman, the Lord knows it takes money to operate a business. And as I have written before, the Lord is in the business of saving souls from the firey pits of hell, and for every soul saved from that horrible place there is a battle that must be fought for the right to claim that soul because the devil doesn’t like giving up property he thinks belongs to him. And as with any army involved in war, there must be a support system in place to supply those on the front lines of the fight. Every person that God has saved from the fires of hell has a job to do in His service. Either we are on the front lines of the fight, or we are a part of the support system. Any army that goes into battle without a strong support system in place will soon find themselves at the mercy of the enemy when their ammunition and food runs out. And for any war to continue for very long, there must be soldiers willing to fight, and there must be people who are willing to support the cause. People who support the war effort make sacrifices in whatever area necessary that will help ensure victory for their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers or friends involved in the fight.

Because the Lord understands how important finances are to fight a war; He has put into place a reward system for those people who support Him and His cause. Luke 6:38 “Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

However, there are many people in the church who claim they support the cause of Christ, but never give anything to Him. There is a story in John chapter six where Jesus has just finished feeding the five thousand from two fish and seven small loaves of bread, He then sends His disciples across the sea, while He Himself remains behind to pray. Later, He walked on the sea and joinde His disciples in the middle of a storm. The people who had been fed by Him, took notice that He had not joined His disciples in the boat when they departed. The next morning when they came looking for Him, but could not find Him. Knowing He had sent His disciples on to a certain place, they got in their boats and crossed over to the other side where they saw Jesus standing with His disciples. One of the five thousand, asked Him, John 6:25 “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus replied, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

The reply Jesus gave to that man in this story is a very fitting description of people who fill our church pews every meeting date. The majority of them come seeking what the Lord can do for them, but the thought of what they can do for the Lord never enters their minds. I have been just as guilty of self seeking as everyone else. The following is a quote by John F. Kennedy from one of his speeches, “Ask not what your country can do for you; but what you can do for your country.” This is precisely what Jesus expects from His disciples. And if the church ever gets its priorities straight; the soul saving business of Jesus will prosper and grow, and the church will be abundantly blessed because of the support they lend to Him and His cause. If not, we will continue to settle for what comes our way, like we have been doing for some time now. DThrash

This is a great story of friendship between people of different faiths. I especially appreciate this paragraph:

The three say they became close not by avoiding or glossing over their conflicts, but by running straight at them. They put everything on the table: the verses they found offensive in one another’s holy books, anti-Semitism, violence in the name of religion, claims by each faith to have the exclusive hold on truth, and, of course, Israel.

This week (Thanksgiving and Eid Al-Adha) presents a unique opportunity for Muslims and Christians (and Jews) to celebrate their holidays together – to learn from one another while enjoying each other.

HT: E-Baad-E news

We are here to assist in every way possible
here to assist you in your unfolding and in understanding exactly what it is source desires to experience through you in you and as you
we are here to assist you in looking deeply within your heart to ascertain what it is you are here to experience
yes
what it is you truly want to do be and have
this is the freedom of choice that you are here to experience as the unique creation you are
indeed we have tried to give you as much as possible
but you must realize to embody all that you have been given you must experience certain things
you must undergo certain circumstances and you must be put through situations that assist in your growth
for these experiences assist in your growth when you practice what you have received
yes
that is most important to recognize in becoming aligned from moment to moment
practice will assist in your alignment and it is up to you to maintain that alignment
through your attention
through your intentions
and through your focus
receive all that source has for you in this moment
and let the reservations go
let them go and be free to allow source to move freely through you now
let the energy of source move through your body let it cleans your mind
focus your attention on your heart center and feel love
feel passion feel good flowing and pulsing through your heart growing and widening its reach until you feel it overtaking your entire being and cleansing all resistance all blocks and all limitations
free yourself from the conditioned thinking that has brought about the conditions you do not want
and allow the power and freedom of source to fill you with clarity confidence and love
know that you are a child of the most high
you are a child of love of life
of liberty
you are a child of God and as such
you are in nature God
in nature love and in nature liberty
give your full attention to this moment and let go of distractions let go of the pestering thoughts filled with fear and tension
and relax into the vibration of love
now you are aligned with the vibration that brings peace joy love bliss and every good thing into your life
know that with this vibration with this frequency you can receive guidance for every step you need take to bring about the best and highest for all concerned
know that there is power there is peace there is joy there is freedom
just for you
yes
a path uniquely present for you to walk
and still being a part of the whole a part of the balance
important for you to be exactly all that you are here to be in order to assist the rest of life in its best and highest unfolding
yes
your good depends on your alignment
yes
your good depends on your alignment
for your perspective of what is is tied to the degree to which you are aligned with source
your consciousness raises to that frequency allowing you to perceive from the perspective of source to some degree
when you align
you increase the degree to which you see from the perspective of source through practice
continue consistent practice and surrendering yourself to connecting with source as often as you are able
this is the secret to fulfilment
all else follows
this is seeking the kingdom, the presence the alignment of God
and all these things will be given as well
all these things being the desires of your heart
the truth of why you are here
understand and do

- Morning stream of consciousness writing from John Stringer

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Before purchasing a new ski or snowboard boot it is worth exploring the fitting process and how it should feel so that you know what you are looking for and can intelligently think about what you feel as you are trying on a boot.

“The best boot fitter in the world it you.” States Greg Klein, second-generation owner of Willi’s Ski and Board Shop in Pittsburgh. “The reason why,” he goes on to explain, “is because you are the only one who can tell what the boot feels like”.

A boot fitter in a shop is trained to ask the right questions so that you can explain to them how the boot feels. Once you understand how the boot should feel the salesperson can help direct you to a boot that not only fits your skiing or snowboarding style but your foot as well. When you shop on line you will have to search for product reviews to do this for yourself.

The boot selection process starts with answering a few simple questions to narrow the wide selection of boots down to a manageable number. The questions should include, How long have you been skiing or snowboarding? Do you ski or snowboard locally, travel or both? What type of skier or snowboarder would you classify yourself as? Do you have and pain or abnormalities in your foot, ankle or shin that should be accommodated? To fit boots properly one should have both feet measured in the ski or snowboard socks they plan to wear on the slopes. Measuring both feet is very important. Besides size differences that are common in most peoples feet there are often bone spurs, swollen ankles and other considerations that one must be aware of before choosing any boots to consider. If you are buying your ski or snowboard boots in a retail shop you will have the advantage of trying on several boot styles and sizes. This is just not logistically possible when purchasing over the internet so you must narrow your choices down very carefully.

The fitting process will confirm that you are trying the proper size and help to determine the style of boot that fits your foot shape best. Start by removing the liner of the boot, if possible, so that you can place your foot into the ski or snowboard boot shell. Simply skip this step if the liner cannot be removed. With your foot in the shell slide your foot forward so that your toes are touching the front if the shell but not curled. There should be about two fingers worth of space between your heel and the back of the shell for a generous fit, one finger for a tighter, performance fit. Shell fitting will confirm that the shell size is within the range that will fit your foot the best.

With the liner out of the boot you slip your foot into it. This will allow you to insure that the liner size is appropriate as well as note potential problem areas and to identify ways to customize the fit by seeing how your foot sits within the liner.

When the liner is back in the boot you will be able to feel how the boot and shell fit as a unit. When you get your foot into the boot, your toes will go into the front and your toes may feel a little crushed. This is typical; so don’t let it worry you. With only the top two buckles and the power strap fastened flex forward as if you were skiing or riding. Your toes should then back away from the front of the boot. When you return to a standing position your toes should lightly touch or be just off the front of the boot, but they should pull back slightly when you are flex forward again. You should be able to wiggle your toes at all time but the boot should feel snug without pinching. When the boots are brand-new they are the tightest they will ever be. As you ski or ride, the liner will break in providing up to 15% more room so keep this in mind when you are assessing the fit.

It is critical to check how your heel fits in the heel pocket. When flexing forward your heel should stay seated snuggly in the pocket. If they try hard enough, anyone can lift their heel out of the pocket, it’s only a problem if it happens while the boot is being flexed forward. If the rest of the boot fits well fit aids can help to address a slipping heel.

It is typical for customers to want to walk around in boots for minute to get the feel of them. While this will help your foot to settle into the boot it will not give you any useful information about how the boot actually fits. Ski and snowboard boots are meant to be worn stationary, while locked into a single place on the skis or board -they are not designed for walking. Walking in them will cause your toes to smash into the front and your calves to hurt. The best thing to do is to stand idly and do a lot of flexing into the boot. This will give you a more accurate read for how they will feel on the slopes.

Boot fitting can be a complex process but if you know what you are looking for and understand what to expect you will be far more effective at choosing the proper boot for your feet. Before you hit the slopes make sure to have a full binding safety check to have your ski bindings adjusted to accommodate your new boot and check ratchet straps for wear and tighten all screws as your new snowboard boots will fit into your snowboard bindings differently.

Kjerstin Klein: Passionate skier and technical writer for http://www.skiwarehouse.com

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Spread The Word

A response to the question: How do I get my children to communicate or to listen to basic requests?

Notice what your child is doing. Is she focused on a particular project or a phone call? Is he deep in thought?

Communication is a little like merging into highway traffic. Look ahead, match your speed with the traffic speed, find a place to fit in, and then join the line of cars when the timing is right. Rushing into a child’s room expecting her to pay attention to you is like leaping from the on-ramp into oncoming traffic. It’s an accident waiting to happen. Are you trying to speak without the other’s full attention?

When lovers court each other, they slow down and gaze into each other’s eyes. When a new baby is born, parents gaze into her eyes. When rapport is good, people begin to mirror each other’s body language. 90-95% of what we communicate is nonverbal. I suggest that you begin there. When you don’t know what to say, stay present in silence.

Merge with your child. Find out what he’s interested in in that moment. When he has your attention, then you can ask for his. Even if your child wants to do something else, you’ll likely be able to better understand that intention rather than thinking that he’s ignoring you. If you need to interrupt, say so. Treat your child as you would like to be treated. For example: “Excuse me, may I have your attention?” Then, ask for what you want while linking it to the needs you want to meet. For example, you might say, “Take out the trash, please.” and it may be heard. Requests are better understood when prefaced with a clear need and connection. Try something like “Remember when we agreed that you’d take out the trash after dinner while I did the dishes?” When you get a nod and smile, ask, “Could you do that now?”

What if you’re not getting the nod and the smile? The child’s attachment to you and the relationship between you and your child may need some attention. Before focusing on the behaviour you don’t enjoy in the moment, first establish good rapport with your child. For example, before talking about the trash, be sure your child is enjoying your company in the moment. We spend much of our day telling our children all the ways they are behaving badly. Begin to spend more time each day enjoying each other’s company, sharing a meal, chatting about what’s important to them, and sharing your stories. I know this gets harder the older the child. However, there is no other way. Your heart already knows how to do this. Forget all the parent training that says that children should do this or that at such and such age. The fastest way to win our children over is through their hearts. They need to depend on us to be there for them and listen to them. They need to know that we will take care of them and our relationship with them. When our kids feel secure, they are likely to help out around the house if that’s what we’re looking for.