Moe El Moussawi from Lebanon (PART 2)

Second part with biceps...

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July Book List

Bringing Home the Birkin.  The true story of Michael Tonello's foray into the world of Hermes.  An ex-pat now living in Barcelona, Tonello discovered a lucrative venture that led to him gaining and insider's perspective on the elusive Birkin bag.  This book has many great points: first, the look into the extravagant and excessive world of Hermes and those that purchase its products; second, it's set against a gorgeous European scenic backdrop that takes Tonello beyond Barcelona across the European continent; third, Tonello's engaging writing style.  This is a perfect summer read!

A Visit from the Goon Squad.  This Pulitzer Prize winning novel was this month's book club pick.  Met with the most varying reviews from our book club selections yet, responses ran the gamut from love to hate of the read.  I personally fell on the love side.  The novel is comprised of intersecting stories and characters revolving around the music industry.  The book spans many years and does not take place in a linear fashion, instead moving back and forth in time depending on the chapter and point of view.  Despite the characters deep flaws you find yourself rooting for them in spite of yourself.  I found the book riveting and worth its praise.

A Piece of Cake.  This is the memoir of Cupcake Brown's life--her evolution from an abused child riddled with addictions to becoming a successful lawyer in her adult life.  Brown suffered innumerable atrocities in her youth, that sometimes leaves you reeling and not sure if you could even read on.  Becoming a drug addict very early in her youth, it seems her life is heading nowhere, until she hits rock bottom and turns her life around.  This story of triumph over a horrific childhood is empowering and inspiring, not to mention it will stick with you long after you finish the last page.

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YILDIZ DİNLE YILDIZ TİLBE DİNLE

Yıldız tilbe dinle ,sizin için yıldız tilbenin en iyi şarkılarını toplamya çalıştım dinleyin beğeniceksiniz,yıldız tilbenin dinlemek istediğiniz veya şu şarkısı veya türküsüde olsaydı daha iyi olurdu dediklerinizide yorum olarak yazarsanız sevinirim.

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Craft Idea

I scanned these little sketches from a cookbook. Not sure what I am going to do with them. Something creative! Cards? Notes? Embroidery? Now that is a grand idea! Framed? They are too cute to go to waste! I would love to hear your ideas. Or feel free to borrow them for a project.

I am really liking the idea of embroidering. Didn't think of it until I was typing.  Maybe on an apron? :)

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RICH PIANA 01

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American Eccentrics of Note – William Walker

Handsome fellow – and also one hell of an original American Eccentric.  Walker started out life in Tennessee, got his first college degree at fourteen and his medical degree at the age of nineteen.  He practiced medicine, studied the law, ran a newspaper, and did some time as a reporter. Geographically he bounced around from his home state to New Orleans, LA and then on to San Francisco, CA.  When he got out west Walker found his passion – conquering land south of the current borders of the United States to establish new American colonies in Latin America.  We all have to have ambitions in life and Walker’s was building new nations or conquering existing ones.  What makes him stand out is that he was actually somewhat successful at it.

In 1853, at the tender age of twenty-nine, Walker recruited a total of forty-five men and set out to into Baja California with the goal of establishing a new republic – one built around the ideas of Manifest Destiny, expanding slavery, and joining up with the United States through annexation like Texas had done.  Walker had started out attempting to convince the Mexican government to just give him the land to set up an armed colony against attacks by Native Americans – Mexico was uninterested in Walker’s plan though.  Most people would have given up at that point – Walker conquered a city in Baja and proclaimed a new republic – the Republic of Senora.  It didn’t last long though – the Mexican government decided that Walker’s new state was an unacceptable addition to the local Baja scene and crushed it militarily.  But from that Walker moved on to a greater dream – conquering a Latin American nation that was already established.

In 1855 Nicaragua was embroiled in a nasty civil war and Walker, leading a group of fifty-eight Americans nicknamed “The Immortals” Walker was able to ally with local military forces in Nicaragua and successfully defeat all opposing factions in Nicaragua – Walker initially ruled through a puppet president but then elevated himself to the office of President of Nicaragua.  He actually held the office for a year and eleven months, his government was formally recognized by the United States, US President Franklin Pierce provided that honor.  Walker lost power due to his ambitious, but failed efforts, to expand his holdings into nearby Costa Rica and was military defeated by an alliance of surrounding states.  Walker escaped punishment and capture by surrendering to a US naval warship in 1857.

He returned to the United States and by 1860 he had written a four hundred page tome explaining his actions in Nicaragua and his administration.  He was hailed as a hero throughout the southern United States.  Walker also in 1860 made another attempt to carve out a nation, he sailed secretly to Honduras to take advantage of some dissatisfaction brewing in Honduras among its wealthy, non-local residents.  Unfortunately for Walker his ambitions in the region raised concerns with the British government, who had a vested interest in Honduras staying stable, so when Walker arrived in Honduras a local British naval captain captured him.  Walker was then handed over to the government of Honduras, which promptly shot him.

I’ll be reading up for more information on William Walker – I might someday write a book collecting eccentric and oddballs of US history and he’ll be in that collection.  But Walker did impact history – his actions changed Nicaraguan history and modified how the US approached Central America in the early 20th century.  (Bad memories by the locals of US involvement in their country among other things.)


Sources: Wikipedia entry on William Walker, California Native Newsletter article on William Walker, article on William Walker produced for the Virtual Museum of the city of San Francisco, and finally Lester Langley’s The Banana Wars – An Inner History of American Empire, 1900-1934.

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BAYAN VÜCUT GELİŞTİRME RESİMLERİ FOTOĞRAFLARI

Vücut geliştirme kas yapma her nekadar en çok erkeklerin ilgilendiği bir spor dalı gibi görünsede vücut geliştirme sporunda kadınlarında var olduğunu kanıtlayan bazı fotoğraflar sizlerle

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Wine & Love (2)

Wine and Love, brought to you by Nora, is a list of things that make you want to reach for a bottle of wine vs. things you love for the week!

WINE:

- The same project as last week's meeting. The drama continues. There are a lot of high profile people involved. Actually, there are simply a lot of PEOPLE involved. There seems to be a lot of miscommunication due to too many cooks in the kitchen.

- Bugs. I went running last night and got several in my eyes and mouth. I spent half of my run fighting them, wiping them and spitting them.

- More bugs. I was warned of chiggers, but thought I had escaped them. Until I keep finding random really itchy bites in my pants line and sock line, which is where I was warned I would find them. Itchy bugs are the worst!

- The heat. Still. It is not quite as bad, but it is still hard to get motivated to do anything.

LOVE:

- The weather last Sunday. It rained and it was cool enough to take a very happy run.

- That run was good too. I ran roughly a 9 minute mile for three miles. I AM finally getting stronger!

- Peaches. They are fresh right now and you can buy them on the side of the road. Yummy!

- This weekend. I am looking forward to relaxing, taking some photos and working on a few projects I have in the works. Hopefully I can catch up on some personal things!

- Work has been busy. It goes by fast and I am feeling productive. Except for number one in the wine category, things are going well. Most of the people I am working with are great!

What about you? What have you loved or not loved (needed a glass of wine for) this week?

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