Mia wakes up hungover on the floor after a night of heavy drinking in response to her breakup with Zack. Her cousin Calvin finds her and encourages her to go home and spend time with her son Lyle. When she gets home, Mia discovers she is pregnant again. Later, Mia and Lyle adopt a kitten they name Lottie to help Lyle cope with the loss of his father figure. On Lyle's birthday, his cousin Wally bullies and teases him. Allen also moves out as he marries his girlfriend Audrey. Lyle starts school but is reluctant to go at first.
This document summarizes events in the lives of several families in Simfield over the course of a day. Key events include:
1) Anna and Lydia Ryman start their first day of school and make new friends, including twin girls Victoria and Meg.
2) Liv Jalowitz gives birth to triplets - two boys named Eddie and Trick and a girl named Abigail.
3) Mia Ryman learns that her older brother Calvin has passed away, upsetting her greatly.
4) Huey Ryman has a birthday party where he becomes a teenager and his brother Stern becomes a child.
This document provides an update on the Wrongway legacy series. It recaps events from the previous installment, including Maddie scaring her siblings with a story and starting to plan a pirate radio station. It then shows several interconnected scenes: Hex has another nightmare about not aging; Maddie's friends confront her about punching a boy at a party; Rose struggles with her writing and spends time with her family; Maddie tells Lee about losing her friends; and Lance befriends a girl named Gold at the playground. The document links these scenes together to continue multiple storylines within the Wrongway family.
Boolpropian Round Robin Legacy - Generation Five - Part Three
Staring Ainesly Doran, this begins her story in Veronaville, starting at the nearby Stratford Globe College.
Vauxia has been spending time in his garden to escape from the noise of the many children in the new house. He decides to make a bold move and invites his neighbor Mr. Twitface to look around, hoping to get him to join the garden club. However, these types of moves by Vauxia often end in disaster. Mr. Twitface begrudgingly agrees to look around, just because it's his duty as a neighbor.
Laura Lynn is moving into the Greek house after living in a dorm. She tours the house with Jill and they discuss plans to renovate and expand the house to accommodate more students. They decide to add more bedrooms upstairs and expand the downstairs living areas. Laura Lynn and Jill are pleased with the completed renovations which added space and more color to the house.
Laura Lynn is moving into her sorority house after living in a dorm. Her friend Jill gives her a tour of the small house and they discuss plans to renovate and expand it to accommodate more students. They decide to add more bedrooms upstairs and expand the downstairs living areas. After the renovations are complete, Jill and Laura Lynn are pleased with the results. Later, Laura Lynn attends her little sister's birthday party and brings Jill along.
The Quest for Peace: Dark Moon Saga 3, Chapter 3.25animeangel1983
The Norns Skuld, Verdandi, and Urd reveal a prophecy to Odin about Loki being hunted by the gods Vali and Forseti in Greece. They also mention a young goddess named Callisto who is in danger of being manipulated by Chaos.
Aiden asks his sister Hope for help preventing Callisto from being used by Chaos, but Hope refuses. She directs him to Solan, who may help or harm Aiden.
The story then shifts focus to Aiden's daughter Althea meeting her cousin Bell and developing a romantic relationship with him. It also shows their cousin Aeson interacting protectively with Bell and Ambrosia.
Traviata confronts her mother Victoria about hiding the fact that Traviata is a level 3 witch and eligible to inherit the throne as Victoria's successor. Victoria admits to killing Traviata's parents so she could prevent Traviata from becoming successor. Traviata vows to find a way to rightfully claim the throne from Victoria.
This document summarizes events in the lives of several families in Simfield over the course of a day. Key events include:
1) Anna and Lydia Ryman start their first day of school and make new friends, including twin girls Victoria and Meg.
2) Liv Jalowitz gives birth to triplets - two boys named Eddie and Trick and a girl named Abigail.
3) Mia Ryman learns that her older brother Calvin has passed away, upsetting her greatly.
4) Huey Ryman has a birthday party where he becomes a teenager and his brother Stern becomes a child.
This document provides an update on the Wrongway legacy series. It recaps events from the previous installment, including Maddie scaring her siblings with a story and starting to plan a pirate radio station. It then shows several interconnected scenes: Hex has another nightmare about not aging; Maddie's friends confront her about punching a boy at a party; Rose struggles with her writing and spends time with her family; Maddie tells Lee about losing her friends; and Lance befriends a girl named Gold at the playground. The document links these scenes together to continue multiple storylines within the Wrongway family.
Boolpropian Round Robin Legacy - Generation Five - Part Three
Staring Ainesly Doran, this begins her story in Veronaville, starting at the nearby Stratford Globe College.
Vauxia has been spending time in his garden to escape from the noise of the many children in the new house. He decides to make a bold move and invites his neighbor Mr. Twitface to look around, hoping to get him to join the garden club. However, these types of moves by Vauxia often end in disaster. Mr. Twitface begrudgingly agrees to look around, just because it's his duty as a neighbor.
Laura Lynn is moving into the Greek house after living in a dorm. She tours the house with Jill and they discuss plans to renovate and expand the house to accommodate more students. They decide to add more bedrooms upstairs and expand the downstairs living areas. Laura Lynn and Jill are pleased with the completed renovations which added space and more color to the house.
Laura Lynn is moving into her sorority house after living in a dorm. Her friend Jill gives her a tour of the small house and they discuss plans to renovate and expand it to accommodate more students. They decide to add more bedrooms upstairs and expand the downstairs living areas. After the renovations are complete, Jill and Laura Lynn are pleased with the results. Later, Laura Lynn attends her little sister's birthday party and brings Jill along.
The Quest for Peace: Dark Moon Saga 3, Chapter 3.25animeangel1983
The Norns Skuld, Verdandi, and Urd reveal a prophecy to Odin about Loki being hunted by the gods Vali and Forseti in Greece. They also mention a young goddess named Callisto who is in danger of being manipulated by Chaos.
Aiden asks his sister Hope for help preventing Callisto from being used by Chaos, but Hope refuses. She directs him to Solan, who may help or harm Aiden.
The story then shifts focus to Aiden's daughter Althea meeting her cousin Bell and developing a romantic relationship with him. It also shows their cousin Aeson interacting protectively with Bell and Ambrosia.
Traviata confronts her mother Victoria about hiding the fact that Traviata is a level 3 witch and eligible to inherit the throne as Victoria's successor. Victoria admits to killing Traviata's parents so she could prevent Traviata from becoming successor. Traviata vows to find a way to rightfully claim the throne from Victoria.
Wesley Robinson arrives in Riverblossom Hills and is taken in by Leod McGreggor. Wesley befriends Leod's daughter Tamara and her boyfriend Xander. Wesley also meets and connects with Daisy Greenman, the daughter of a police detective. Despite just meeting, Daisy and Wesley grow closer and begin dating. However, their relationship is interrupted when two elderly women are murdered in Riverblossom Hills, straining the small community.
A Buffyverse Bachelor Challenge: Chapter FourRose Fyre
Liam spends time flirting and chatting with each of the remaining girls - Lydia, Cassie, Rissa, and Croissant. Cassie and Rissa are very competitive for Liam's attention. Liam also realizes he will need to tell the final three girls about his daughter Kathy before getting too serious with any of them. The next day will include more hot tub time, kissing each girl, and eliminating one of them from the competition.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. A guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's crazy, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says there's no memory spell and the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret about having magic.
Hex confronts Lee about secretly slipping him elixir to prevent him from aging. Lee admits he did it because he was scared of being alone without Hex's guidance. Meanwhile, Lance proposes to Gold in the park and she accepts. Later, Ralph finds Hex in an alley and insists they work together to find Ariel, who he believes is threatening Maddie. Tank takes Maddie out roller skating and bowling to distract her from worrying about Leda, and their date ends at a bar.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. However, a guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's mistaken, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret, as there is no memory spell they can use.
Ivah explains to her family how she knows so much about Tristan. She reveals that since she was 15, she has been visiting a magical place called Peerless Park in her dreams. There, she met an elf named Naenae and learned about Tristan's past and abilities. Both Adam and Ivah have visited this place in dreams, though Adam met different beings there. Ivah's visits explain how she gained secret knowledge about Tristan and his dangerous mother, who has a green glow and uses her powers for evil.
The White Legacy--Generation 4, College (Part 1)Keika20
Generation 4 of the White Legacy begins as Jade enters college while her cousin Callie has a strange encounter with a vampire named William who bites her, leaving Callie feeling dizzy. Jade finds Callie looking unwell and makes her breakfast, while sharing that her lifetime want is to become the Education Minister.
The chapter begins with Andi's birthday celebration. Isis expresses doubts about Andi but wishes her a happy birthday. It is then revealed that Jade is pregnant again, hoping for triplets or quadruplets. At Andi's party, Toro scares her. Later, Isis tells Jade that her time is almost up, but she does not die. Instead, she bonds with Hyde and locks the magic shed before supposedly dying. However, she is then seen alive in a snowstorm. Jade has a panic attack after Isis speaks with her but recovers with Sun's help. The chapter ends with Lyra's birth and family bonding, though Andi wants her mother to not be pregnant anymore
McKenzie Cross gives birth to her first child, a boy named Larry, with her husband Aidan by her side. Esmeralda Ethnies discovers she is also pregnant with her first child. Florbela Lisbon's pregnancy is progressing as well, though her husband Hanzi had initially wanted to wait to have children. Both families are adjusting to the arrivals of their new babies.
Eli reveals to Elizabeth and Knut that Austin is his son from a drunken affair on the night before his wedding to De. Eli acknowledges that while Austin is biologically his son, he does not want to take him away from Elizabeth, who has been a loving mother to him. Elizabeth is grateful that Eli recognizes how much joy Austin has brought her. The family agrees to keep Austin living with Elizabeth and Knut.
Maddie has been named the heir to the Wrongway legacy after Ralph returned to her. However, Maddie does not want the responsibility and feels she will be terrible at it. She is worried she will ruin the family. Hex and Lavender try to assure her that with her lineage, she has good odds of success. Lee points out that all of Maddie's ancestors have had families of their own, so the current line is very successful. Maddie remains unsure about taking on the role of heir.
Boolprop Round Robin Legacy Spare Story - Desdemona Doran Part ThreeSilverBelle1220 .
Desdemona has a dream where her deceased mother tells her to stop blaming herself for what happened to her sister Lily and to choose happiness. She decides to open up to Jimmy about her past. She tells him the full story of her family's history with the vampire council and what led to her being banished. Jimmy understands why she has trust issues but encourages her to let people in. They start dating and their relationship grows closer over time, though Jimmy remains hesitant to fully commit due to his werewolf condition.
Steven went off to college while the rest of the Bradford family dealt with various life changes. Shirley had a baby girl named Pauline. Dorothy joined the Peace Corps to work as a nurse abroad. Rosalie convinced Bruce to have another baby to stop rumors that their marriage was failing. Concerns grew about the US involvement in Vietnam. Peggy helped keep her friend Doug out of trouble as political and social tensions continued both at home and abroad for the Bradford family.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Steven Bradford proposed to his girlfriend Mary, though his sisters Peggy and Nettie were skeptical of Mary and didn't trust her intentions. Mary lost her virginity to Steven on the night he proposed in an attempt to cement his loyalty to her. The document concludes with Steven and Mary's wedding day arriving amid the Bradford family celebrating the union, while Peggy and Nettie remained wary of Mary.
The White Legacy--Generation 4, College (Part 2)Keika20
Jade and Callie's younger sister Gizmo has been kidnapped by vampires. They suspect William, Jade's ex, was involved. They seek help from Sun, a vampire Jade befriended, who warns them the vampires want to infiltrate their legacy family. William confronts them and demands they meet the vampire Contessa that night. In a fight, Sun helps drive the vampires away. At home, Jade and Callie tell their father Dez what happened. Though a warlock, Dez is furious. They have two hours to plan a rescue for Gizmo before having to meet the Contessa. Sun offers a plan, but Callie thinks it's not very good.
Rhiannon celebrates her 13th birthday with her extended family at the beach. Though her mother is absent due to a storm, Rhiannon enjoys playing with her cousins and uncle. That evening, her uncle Ryker arrives and tells her not to worry about her brother Lir lacking supernatural abilities. Rhiannon is optimistic about starting at her new school the next day.
Jade chooses an heir for the White family legacy. Though Lyra, Dane, and Andi all decline the role, Hyde reluctantly accepts. However, their celebration is interrupted by the arrival of Arc and Merry, who taunt the family. A fight ensues in which Sun tries to attack Arc. Arc escapes with Dez's tombstone, upsetting the family further.
Lee drives Maddie home after her martial arts grading. At Hex and Lee's apartment, Hex pretends to be Mark to help Lavender practice telling him her concerns, but Lavender kisses Hex. Lee catches them and criticizes Lavender for potentially having an affair like she worried Mark was. Hex admits he is retiring as guardian. Lavender and Hex agree to forget the kiss happened. Lee drives Maddie home and remains troubled by the day's events.
The sims in the author's spare household conspired against her by getting into more mischief than intended while she took a nap. This led to unexpected twins being born and other hijinks. Meanwhile, the author's main legacy family secretly took a vacation in the mountains without telling her first. During the kids' birthday party, their great-great-aunt came to collect on a deal to attend every birthday. The author remains exasperated by her sims' antics but finds the humor in it.
Trinity Future-In Pvt. Ltd. is a technology company based in Bangalore, India that was founded by three inventors and an experienced entrepreneur. The company has developed a new digital security technology and holds 12 patent applications. Their core technology blocks intrusion and unauthorized copying of digital files. They have tested and certified their first product, the Trinfin eS-Vault USB device, which protects enterprise and entertainment software from counterfeiting. Trinity aims to become experts in solving various digital security needs for organizations and individuals.
Upwardly Global is a non-profit organization that helps skilled immigrants rebuild their careers in the United States. It provides job training, coaching, and networking opportunities to place highly educated immigrants in jobs that match their skills and experience. Upwardly Global serves over 800 clients each year, many of whom have college degrees but struggle with underemployment or unemployment due to barriers like lack of U.S. experience or credential recognition. Through individual coaching and an employer network, Upwardly Global helps skilled immigrants find jobs with an average starting salary of $40,000.
Wesley Robinson arrives in Riverblossom Hills and is taken in by Leod McGreggor. Wesley befriends Leod's daughter Tamara and her boyfriend Xander. Wesley also meets and connects with Daisy Greenman, the daughter of a police detective. Despite just meeting, Daisy and Wesley grow closer and begin dating. However, their relationship is interrupted when two elderly women are murdered in Riverblossom Hills, straining the small community.
A Buffyverse Bachelor Challenge: Chapter FourRose Fyre
Liam spends time flirting and chatting with each of the remaining girls - Lydia, Cassie, Rissa, and Croissant. Cassie and Rissa are very competitive for Liam's attention. Liam also realizes he will need to tell the final three girls about his daughter Kathy before getting too serious with any of them. The next day will include more hot tub time, kissing each girl, and eliminating one of them from the competition.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. A guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's crazy, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says there's no memory spell and the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret about having magic.
Hex confronts Lee about secretly slipping him elixir to prevent him from aging. Lee admits he did it because he was scared of being alone without Hex's guidance. Meanwhile, Lance proposes to Gold in the park and she accepts. Later, Ralph finds Hex in an alley and insists they work together to find Ariel, who he believes is threatening Maddie. Tank takes Maddie out roller skating and bowling to distract her from worrying about Leda, and their date ends at a bar.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. However, a guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's mistaken, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret, as there is no memory spell they can use.
Ivah explains to her family how she knows so much about Tristan. She reveals that since she was 15, she has been visiting a magical place called Peerless Park in her dreams. There, she met an elf named Naenae and learned about Tristan's past and abilities. Both Adam and Ivah have visited this place in dreams, though Adam met different beings there. Ivah's visits explain how she gained secret knowledge about Tristan and his dangerous mother, who has a green glow and uses her powers for evil.
The White Legacy--Generation 4, College (Part 1)Keika20
Generation 4 of the White Legacy begins as Jade enters college while her cousin Callie has a strange encounter with a vampire named William who bites her, leaving Callie feeling dizzy. Jade finds Callie looking unwell and makes her breakfast, while sharing that her lifetime want is to become the Education Minister.
The chapter begins with Andi's birthday celebration. Isis expresses doubts about Andi but wishes her a happy birthday. It is then revealed that Jade is pregnant again, hoping for triplets or quadruplets. At Andi's party, Toro scares her. Later, Isis tells Jade that her time is almost up, but she does not die. Instead, she bonds with Hyde and locks the magic shed before supposedly dying. However, she is then seen alive in a snowstorm. Jade has a panic attack after Isis speaks with her but recovers with Sun's help. The chapter ends with Lyra's birth and family bonding, though Andi wants her mother to not be pregnant anymore
McKenzie Cross gives birth to her first child, a boy named Larry, with her husband Aidan by her side. Esmeralda Ethnies discovers she is also pregnant with her first child. Florbela Lisbon's pregnancy is progressing as well, though her husband Hanzi had initially wanted to wait to have children. Both families are adjusting to the arrivals of their new babies.
Eli reveals to Elizabeth and Knut that Austin is his son from a drunken affair on the night before his wedding to De. Eli acknowledges that while Austin is biologically his son, he does not want to take him away from Elizabeth, who has been a loving mother to him. Elizabeth is grateful that Eli recognizes how much joy Austin has brought her. The family agrees to keep Austin living with Elizabeth and Knut.
Maddie has been named the heir to the Wrongway legacy after Ralph returned to her. However, Maddie does not want the responsibility and feels she will be terrible at it. She is worried she will ruin the family. Hex and Lavender try to assure her that with her lineage, she has good odds of success. Lee points out that all of Maddie's ancestors have had families of their own, so the current line is very successful. Maddie remains unsure about taking on the role of heir.
Boolprop Round Robin Legacy Spare Story - Desdemona Doran Part ThreeSilverBelle1220 .
Desdemona has a dream where her deceased mother tells her to stop blaming herself for what happened to her sister Lily and to choose happiness. She decides to open up to Jimmy about her past. She tells him the full story of her family's history with the vampire council and what led to her being banished. Jimmy understands why she has trust issues but encourages her to let people in. They start dating and their relationship grows closer over time, though Jimmy remains hesitant to fully commit due to his werewolf condition.
Steven went off to college while the rest of the Bradford family dealt with various life changes. Shirley had a baby girl named Pauline. Dorothy joined the Peace Corps to work as a nurse abroad. Rosalie convinced Bruce to have another baby to stop rumors that their marriage was failing. Concerns grew about the US involvement in Vietnam. Peggy helped keep her friend Doug out of trouble as political and social tensions continued both at home and abroad for the Bradford family.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Steven Bradford proposed to his girlfriend Mary, though his sisters Peggy and Nettie were skeptical of Mary and didn't trust her intentions. Mary lost her virginity to Steven on the night he proposed in an attempt to cement his loyalty to her. The document concludes with Steven and Mary's wedding day arriving amid the Bradford family celebrating the union, while Peggy and Nettie remained wary of Mary.
The White Legacy--Generation 4, College (Part 2)Keika20
Jade and Callie's younger sister Gizmo has been kidnapped by vampires. They suspect William, Jade's ex, was involved. They seek help from Sun, a vampire Jade befriended, who warns them the vampires want to infiltrate their legacy family. William confronts them and demands they meet the vampire Contessa that night. In a fight, Sun helps drive the vampires away. At home, Jade and Callie tell their father Dez what happened. Though a warlock, Dez is furious. They have two hours to plan a rescue for Gizmo before having to meet the Contessa. Sun offers a plan, but Callie thinks it's not very good.
Rhiannon celebrates her 13th birthday with her extended family at the beach. Though her mother is absent due to a storm, Rhiannon enjoys playing with her cousins and uncle. That evening, her uncle Ryker arrives and tells her not to worry about her brother Lir lacking supernatural abilities. Rhiannon is optimistic about starting at her new school the next day.
Jade chooses an heir for the White family legacy. Though Lyra, Dane, and Andi all decline the role, Hyde reluctantly accepts. However, their celebration is interrupted by the arrival of Arc and Merry, who taunt the family. A fight ensues in which Sun tries to attack Arc. Arc escapes with Dez's tombstone, upsetting the family further.
Lee drives Maddie home after her martial arts grading. At Hex and Lee's apartment, Hex pretends to be Mark to help Lavender practice telling him her concerns, but Lavender kisses Hex. Lee catches them and criticizes Lavender for potentially having an affair like she worried Mark was. Hex admits he is retiring as guardian. Lavender and Hex agree to forget the kiss happened. Lee drives Maddie home and remains troubled by the day's events.
The sims in the author's spare household conspired against her by getting into more mischief than intended while she took a nap. This led to unexpected twins being born and other hijinks. Meanwhile, the author's main legacy family secretly took a vacation in the mountains without telling her first. During the kids' birthday party, their great-great-aunt came to collect on a deal to attend every birthday. The author remains exasperated by her sims' antics but finds the humor in it.
Trinity Future-In Pvt. Ltd. is a technology company based in Bangalore, India that was founded by three inventors and an experienced entrepreneur. The company has developed a new digital security technology and holds 12 patent applications. Their core technology blocks intrusion and unauthorized copying of digital files. They have tested and certified their first product, the Trinfin eS-Vault USB device, which protects enterprise and entertainment software from counterfeiting. Trinity aims to become experts in solving various digital security needs for organizations and individuals.
Upwardly Global is a non-profit organization that helps skilled immigrants rebuild their careers in the United States. It provides job training, coaching, and networking opportunities to place highly educated immigrants in jobs that match their skills and experience. Upwardly Global serves over 800 clients each year, many of whom have college degrees but struggle with underemployment or unemployment due to barriers like lack of U.S. experience or credential recognition. Through individual coaching and an employer network, Upwardly Global helps skilled immigrants find jobs with an average starting salary of $40,000.
Upwardly Global Presentation to Queens Library 05-18-2010Debbie Wibowo
Upwardly Global is a non-profit organization that helps skilled immigrants rebuild their careers in the United States. It provides job training, coaching, and networking opportunities to place highly educated immigrants in jobs that match their skills and experience. Upwardly Global serves over 800 clients each year, many of whom have college degrees but struggle with underemployment or unemployment due to barriers like lack of U.S. experience, unfamiliarity with the U.S. job market, and difficulty having their foreign credentials recognized. Through individual coaching and an employer partnership program, Upwardly Global helps skilled immigrants find jobs with an average starting salary of $40,000.
- World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit organization that has been providing credential evaluation services to individuals educated outside the U.S. since 1974, evaluating over 50,000 credentials annually.
- WES's main services include credential evaluations to help academic credentials earned abroad be understood and recognized in the U.S., as well as providing resources to immigrants on integrating into U.S. academic and professional settings.
- WES authenticates all documents and issues evaluation reports that are widely accepted by academic institutions and employers in order to facilitate foreign credential recognition in the U.S.
This document contains diagrams illustrating the income and substitution effects of a fall in the price of good X under three scenarios: normal goods, inferior goods, and Giffen goods. For normal goods, consumption of good X increases due to both the substitution and income effect. For inferior goods, consumption decreases due to the substitution effect but increases due to the income effect, resulting in an ambiguous total change. For Giffen goods, consumption paradoxically increases due to the income effect outweighing the substitution effect.
Windows Phone 7 Silverlight MVVM App the Test-DrivenMark Tucker
Windows Phone 7 Silverlight MVVM App the Test-Driven Way
Mark Tucker presented on developing Windows Phone 7 apps using the MVVM pattern and test-driven development. He discussed the Windows Phone 7 platform features, the MVVM pattern for separating code into models, views, and view models, and using the Silverlight unit testing framework to develop apps in a test-driven manner. He demonstrated sample apps and provided resources for Windows Phone 7 development.
This document provides information about a campaign to save water and discusses the process of excretion and states of matter. It defines excretion as the process of eliminating waste through metabolism and discusses how water is needed for excretion. It also covers the five standard states of matter (solid, liquid, gas, plasma, Bose-Einstein condensate), physical and chemical changes between states, and properties of different states like compressibility. The document seeks to educate about water conservation and basic science concepts.
What constitutes fair and valid e-assessment?Michael Coghlan
This document discusses what constitutes fair and valid e-assessment. It notes that while e-assessment tools are increasingly used, there are still concerns about validity, authentication, and how auditors evaluate e-assessments. The document advocates using a variety of assessment approaches, building relationships with learners and employers, and considering e-assessments as part of a larger portfolio to demonstrate competency rather than relying on any single assessment. Developing effective e-assessment requires understanding principles of assessment, not just the technologies involved.
Education 20/20 ~ Perspectives on Education ChangeJulie Evans
This document summarizes a presentation given by Julie Evans from Project Tomorrow at Maryland's Fourth Annual Teachers of Promise Institute on April 23, 2010. The presentation discussed results from Project Tomorrow's annual Speak Up survey, which collects input from K-12 students, teachers, parents and others on educational technology issues. Key findings from the 2009 Speak Up survey in Maryland are highlighted, including perspectives from students, teachers and pre-service teachers on technology use in schools and barriers to integration.
This document summarizes key findings from the Speak Up 2009 survey conducted by Project Tomorrow. The survey gathered input from over 370,000 K-12 students, teachers, parents and administrators regarding technology use in education. Three main themes emerged from the student responses: 1) a preference for social-based learning using communications and collaboration tools, 2) being "un-tethered" from the classroom through technology-enabled learning, and 3) having access to digitally-rich resources for learning. The survey found that students are already independently using technology outside of school and want to see more technology integration and mobile access to support learning.
Speak Up 2009 National and Wisconsin FindingsJulie Evans
The document summarizes key findings from the Speak Up 2009 research project conducted by Project Tomorrow. It discusses students' vision for 21st century learning, which emphasizes three main elements: social-based learning using communication/collaboration tools, un-tethered learning that transcends the classroom, and digitally-rich learning using online/digital resources. While many students and parents see benefits to incorporating mobile devices and online learning, teachers have concerns about distraction and equitable access. The research found a disconnect between how students currently learn and use technology outside of school versus limited technology use within education.
The document discusses developing a shared vision of innovation for 21st century learning. It defines key terms like shared vision, innovation, and 21st century learning. It also discusses understanding students and their expectations, which are shaped by district priorities, millennial attitudes and values, and their tech-infused lives. Data from the Speak Up survey provides insights into challenges facing education leaders and students' technology use.
STEM: Students, Teachers, Education and MoreSpeak Up 2009 National FindingsJulie Evans
The document summarizes key findings from the 2009 Speak Up survey conducted by Project Tomorrow. The survey gathered input from over 370,000 K-12 students, teachers, parents, and administrators regarding technology use in education. Three main elements emerged from the student vision: social-based learning using communication tools, un-tethered learning through mobile devices, and digitally-rich learning with interactive online textbooks and resources. Students see potential for mobile devices and digital content to increase engagement and prepare them for future careers.
This presentation is about a company that sells sports goods. The company started by making sports drinks but has expanded into other sports products like shoes and clothing. The company aims to create products that help the body perform better during sports like drinks that provide energy or shoes that aid in running. The presentation discusses the company's structure, challenges, financial results, and goals for market research and the next period. It provides an overview of the company's purpose, history, product goals, and achievements.
This presentation is about a company that sells sports goods. The company started by making sports drinks but has expanded into other sports products like shoes and clothing. The company aims to create products that help the body perform better during sports like drinks that provide energy or shoes that aid in running. The presentation discusses the company's structure, challenges, financial results, and goals for market research and the next period. It closes by summarizing the company's successes and challenges so far.
This document presents "rules from the MALE SIDE" in response to hearing female perspectives on relationships. It lists over 20 brief "rules" with sarcastic and sometimes controversial opinions on topics like looking at breasts, sports on Saturdays, hints not working for men, headaches, arguing over past comments, and men's interests like sex, sports and cars. The concluding slides acknowledge this is meant in jest to get a reaction and see how quickly it spreads online, rather than representing actual sexist views.
The document summarizes several historical revolutions from ancient to modern times, including political revolutions like the English and French Revolutions as well as social revolutions like the Digital Revolution. It then describes the company Proudfield and its mission to lead the viral revolution by helping social media users connect through applications and using viral techniques to connect traditional industries to social networks.
The document summarizes a biblical story from 2 Kings about a commander named Naaman who had leprosy. Naaman was told by his servant, a young girl taken captive from Israel, that the prophet Elisha in Israel could cure his leprosy. Naaman went to Elisha carrying gifts, but Elisha only instructed him to wash in the Jordan River seven times. Angry that there was no grand ceremony, Naaman refused at first but ultimately obeyed and was cured. Naaman then recognized the God of Israel as the only true God. Elisha refused to accept gifts from Naaman in return.
A noble woman brings good to her family and community through her diligent work. She is generous with the poor, provides for her household, and supports her husband through her wise counsel. Her children and husband praise her virtues and strength of character.
The document summarizes events in the Ryman family after Marina and Nery's first child became an elder. It describes Nicola giving birth to her sixth child, Gina, but then accidentally burning herself in the kitchen and dying. This was devastating for the family. Mia took on more responsibility in caring for her younger siblings like Allen and Gina. Mia also started dating and showed an interest in parenting. The family continued to experience birthdays and normal childhood activities, but were still coping with the loss of Nicola.
1) Terry has moved in with Kimmy and her husband to protect her unborn child from potential abuse or neglect, as Kimmy has shown cruel behavior in the past.
2) Nicola has proposed to Alvin and they plan to marry soon. However, Sean warns Alvin to be cautious of Kimmy if he ever meets her.
3) Marina's children Seth and Sara are growing up. Seth resembles his father but has Marina's black hair, while Sara looks like Marina but has Nery's brown eyes and skin tone.
Mia finds herself pregnant after being left at the altar by Juan. She is depressed but begins dating her old friend Zack, believing he will make a better partner. However, her siblings worry she is moving too fast and trying to replace Juan due to rebound feelings rather than genuine love for Zack. They stage an intervention, questioning if Mia truly loves Zack or is just rebounding, but Mia insists her feelings are real.
This chapter follows the lives of several families in the Ryman legacy. Nicola gives birth to a daughter, Mia. Calvin continues to bond with his father Alvin. At Marina and Nery's house, their children are growing up. The chapter also shows Tom's difficult situation living with his mother Kimmy and uncle Terry. Terry gets injured but doesn't tell Tom how. Kimmy is frustrated that Tom doesn't express love for her.
The story follows the Albrecht family on their Amish farm. Allison has been struggling with exhaustion from caring for their triplets. She discovers she is pregnant again. Later, Allison goes into labor and gives birth to a baby boy named Joshua. Elijah begins teaching Noah how to care for the farm animals.
Elijah's son Noah had an accident with one of the horses on their farm and suffered an injury to his eye. His friend Henry, who has some medical knowledge, examined Noah and determined that he likely won't fully regain his eyesight. Meanwhile, Elijah and Allison's children continue to grow up, with their triplets now teenagers and their youngest son Joshua a toddler. Allison wants to focus more on household duties like sewing now that her child-rearing years are coming to an end.
The Ryman family's house has exploded, leaving them homeless and broke. They set up tents on the property and work to earn money. Mia takes a high-paying job from her brother Calvin to support the family. Over time they are able to expand their living space with the earnings. The children work to stay together as a family despite losing both parents.
Mia was left heartbroken on what was supposed to be her wedding day when her fiancé Zack suddenly changed his mind and left her. She feels unlovable and like there must be something wrong with her that drives people away. She goes to a bar to drink away her sadness. Her brother Calvin stays behind to take care of Mia's son Lyle, hoping Mia will feel better after having some time to think.
Sophia calls her family to a meeting to share an important story from her family's past. She explains that generations ago, her ancestors were half-elves who faced persecution from the elven community for being half-human. While most half-elven children were killed, her ancestor Carli Doran escaped. Sophia's family line has survived since then, though faced attacks. The paintings in the living room were created by three elven friends, Thea, Stanlina, and Edwina, to protect Sophia's half-elven ancestors living with humans from harm by hiding their elven features.
The Ryman family takes a holiday at an expensive beach resort hotel to bond as a family after the death of their mother. However, not all family members are able to relax and enjoy themselves. The father struggles with grief and memories of his late wife. One of the daughters gets sunburn after ignoring warnings, while another daughter questions her about relationships. Overall the family faces challenges connecting with each other and finding peace during their vacation.
Kate died at the age of 75 after her sixth grandchild's birthday party. Her death was unexpected. Later that week, Quinn also died at age 75. Ally and James then grew up their newborn twins Luke and Lorelai. Galahad had just finished his final exams and was relaxing at home when his housemate Tessa returned from celebrating her engagement.
The document summarizes events in the lives of several families. Ally gives birth to twins, a boy named Luke and a girl named Lorelai. Erin also gives birth, to a boy named Ambrose, though her pregnancy was more difficult. That night, Rosa wakes her sisters claiming to have heard screams, though Lydia is skeptical. The next day, Dec worries over preparations for his children's birthday party, where Eliza, Felicity, and Gavin will age up. Kate seems sad about the event.
Tom locks his vampire parents Count Christian and Kimmy out of the family home in retaliation for his uncle Terry's murder. He intends to subject them to the same fate - burning in sunlight. They argue about who is to blame for their current situation until Count Christian embraces Kimmy, overriding her protests, as they burn together in the sunlight. Meanwhile, Tom feels conflicted about enjoying their demise but lets the music distract him from his conscience.
Calvin had his birthday party but is now a teenager interested in dating. Nicola is pregnant again, this time hoping the baby looks more like her. Alvin builds robots to help with chores but gets absorbed in his projects, ignoring his children. Calvin and some cousins get in trouble after being arrested for breaking curfew.
Eileen faces her elder days as Sullivan tries to support their family. Eileen worries for Kate's future and proposes that Corey, her best friend, moves in to help care for Kate after she passes. On her final Tuesday, Eileen loses her mental faculties. Corey moves in as planned and Sullivan works to reassure Kate and keep their family functioning amid this difficult transition.
This chapter introduces the new spare Sims and alien twins born to Llarimar. Vin's face glitched blue, and T'Telir and her future husband were given tie-dye outfits. Vasher started on a new apartment complex. Llarimar returned home after Lucy's death and had an alien toddler implanted. The toddler later had aspiration failure. Llarimar was then abducted again and had alien twins, Dawnlight and Limelight. Babysitting duties were shared between Fortuity and the robot Janess.
This summary provides context about Terry's situation living with the vampire family of Kimmy, Count Christian, and their son Tom. Terry is essentially the babysitter and caretaker for Tom but is treated poorly by Kimmy and Christian. During an argument where Terry snaps at Kimmy, Christian physically assaults Terry in front of Tom. Though angry, Terry knows harming Tom would be wrong. He sings to calm the frightened Tom. Terry worries each milestone for Tom, like birthdays, could provoke more abuse from the vampires.
Marina and Nery have just gotten married. Marina is already pregnant with their first child. Opal and Sean are also engaged but struggling financially. Terry is shy but hopes to find a girlfriend someday. Kimmy continues to bully others but is bored at home as everyone grows up. She considers moving out on her own.
- The document describes the daily life of the Starr family in the Silver Bend neighborhood over the course of a week. Key events include multiple birthdays for the Starr children, including Aquari becoming a teen, and the birth of the youngest Starr, Libra.
- Ani-Mei is pregnant again and is working towards her goal of having 12 children total. The large family is starting to feel cramped in their current house as it fills up with children.
- The narrative highlights the growth and activities of each Starr child from the newborn quads to the older teens. Business and careers in the town are also developing.
The document is a chapter from a story. It describes several teenagers who have been forbidden from attending their prom due to safety concerns from the dangerous individual Drea. However, some of the teens try to sneak out to go anyway, including Spica and Teak. Spica manages to sneak out and makes it to the prom to meet up with her friend Quinn, who has just been named prom king.
This document follows the story of Terry and his family as his children grow up and leave home for university. It describes Terry struggling with loneliness as the house empties out. Two of his children, Tim and Order, have a difficult start at university, living in a tent with few amenities. However, they work hard to earn money and improve their living situation. They make new friends and romantic connections. Back at home, the family celebrates Jan's 50th wedding anniversary, though she later passes away, leaving Terry grieving. His children try to support and distract him in his loss. The story chronicles both the joys and difficulties of families changing as children become independent adults.
The family continues struggling in the apocalypse, with Kimmy insisting the children work constantly to earn elixir of life. Benton succeeds in lifting Military, allowing more freedom of movement. Aisha nears lifting Gamer, but needs to be in a better mood first. Despite the difficult circumstances, Caprice remains kind to others, worrying her mother Kimmy. The story catches up with each family member as they strive to survive and improve their situation through career achievements.
The document is an excerpt from a book describing the challenges of childrearing from the perspective of Kimmy Ryman. Kimmy dislikes the responsibilities of caring for her babies and resents having to change diapers, clean them, and deal with their crying and sleeping issues. She relies heavily on her husband Justus to help with the childcare duties. The twins Benton and Aisha grow up in an environment where their mother provides minimal affection and engagement, but they find love and support from their father and each other.
This chapter summarizes the lives of several siblings after leaving home for university. BD and Penny both find romance - BD begins a relationship with his dormmate Suzanne, while Penny's true love turns out to be Warren, who she marries. Both settle down in an apartment complex owned by BD. Penny wastes no time in getting married, while BD's relationship with Suzanne grows serious as she moves in with him. Meanwhile, Bennie and his partner Stern start their own family, having two daughters named after famous musicians.
This chapter summarizes the lives of Terry and Jan's family as their children grow up. Bennie meets and falls in love with a man named Stern at university. They get married and have a daughter, becoming the first of Terry and Jan's children to start their own family. The chapter touches on each child's interests and aspirations as they become teenagers.
Kimmy finds herself trapped in a frozen hell and tasked by her creator Mzyra with getting a job in the military and rising through the ranks before getting too old to have children. Her living situation is depressing, with a small, barebones house. She begrudgingly socializes with neighbors like the paper boy and brain-dead Marina. Kimmy entertains herself with activities like snowball fights and cleaning obsessively. She takes a job in law enforcement but may get fired for her attitude. Kimmy hopes to find a way to fix up her living situation and end the eternal winter.
Terry Ryman has just gotten married to Jan in a small ceremony. Due to living in an empty lot without walls or roof, Terry had many interactions with the few townies in the new neighborhood prior to Jan's arrival, including unwanted flirting from some female simselves. Jan works to improve their living situation. Though their marriage faces challenges, Terry and Jan remain devoted to each other.
The document describes several families celebrating the winter holidays. Alvin spends time with his family including his daughter Nicola and infant granddaughter Mia. The grandparents gift Calvin a llama ride. Terry gives Tom a gift and they bond, though Terry's sister Kimmy plots against them. Marina sets up an adventure playground to entertain her many children. Sean and Opal take their twins to their holiday home in Three Lakes and bond as a family, though they discuss their criminal activities. Terry later wakes up outside, confronted by his sister Kimmy.
Sean and Opal reconnect at university after having argued in the past. They realize they have feelings for each other but Kay, Opal's friend, doesn't want to make things awkward so she declines pursuing anything with Sean. Later, Sean and Opal talk things out and reconcile as friends. They discover they have more in common, like a desire for money, than they realized. They begin dating and eventually get engaged before graduating together with high honors.
Nicola tries to find a boyfriend using a gypsy matchmaker but ends up with a date who is gay. Meanwhile, Marina and Nery commit to marriage despite uncertainties about their living situation. The chapter also shows interactions between various family members as Terry celebrates becoming a teenager and Kimmy remains antagonistic.
The family moves into a new house with more space. Nicola is happy with the move while Sean is eager to leave for college to escape family drama, especially from his twin Kimmy. Terry has a scare when getting lost outside alone at night but finds comfort sleeping with his parents. Sean convinces his parents to let him leave for university earlier than planned.
Kimmy agrees to babysit her younger siblings Nicky and Terry while Marina talks to Sean. Terry wants to go look for Bigfoot, which he heard lives nearby. Despite Nicky's skepticism, Kimmy thinks encountering another species could be educational and agrees to take them to search for Bigfoot.
The Ryman family takes a holiday at a campsite to get a change of scenery. However, the accommodations are more rustic than some of the children expected. Marina volunteers to babysit her younger siblings for a few hours so their parents can have some alone time, though she is hesitant about her ability to manage all the kids by herself.
This document provides an overview of life in the Ryman family, focusing on the children. It describes interactions between siblings like Kimmy teasing Sean and insulting Marina. Marina is developing a relationship with her childhood friend Nery. Sean has gotten his first job while Kimmy continues making cheesy chocolates. The family is growing up but still dealing with the challenges of having so many children.
1. Marina brings home many friends from school despite being introverted, including helping a friend named Jane.
2. Kimmy is dedicated to learning to cook from her father and wants to surpass Marina's skills.
3. Carla gives birth to another boy named Terry, adding to the family. Marina enjoys helping care for the new baby.
The Ryman household is large but under-resourced, with five children and little money. Sean tries to start a lemonade stand business to earn riches but fails, upsetting him. A new baby girl is born, to Marina's joy but others' dismay. Tensions rise between the siblings as resources grow scarcer.
Birch proposes to his girlfriend Carla at a restaurant. Though initially surprised by Birch's fancy attire and plans, Carla accepts his marriage proposal. Their relationship had faced obstacles from Carla's admirer Simon, but Birch and Carla remain deeply in love and committed to spending their lives together.
Rodney receives a panicked call from his daughter Liv, who admits to cheating on her husband Winston and that the triplets she had are not Winston's children. Rodney arranges for Juan Harris to pick up Liv and the children. He then calls Seth to discuss the situation. Though initially angry, Seth agrees the children and Liv will be protected. They inform Winston, who crashes his car in a rage. Later, Rodney and Seth confront Briney Lum, revealing he is the father of Liv's triplets.
This summary provides context for the document in 3 sentences:
The document describes life events in the Ryman family over time. It details births of new children, including Tina giving birth to twins Anna and Lydia. It also shows the family continuing to support each other through various challenges while enjoying time together raising the children. Liv insists everything is fine living with her husband Winston and father-in-law Seth, though some family members remain concerned for her well-being.
1. Calvin! The Ryman Legacy Chapter 10C Lyle Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again… Lottie By Mzyra
2. Sound wafted into Mia’s consciousness from a distance… “Mia…? Mia, wake up!” No, she wanted to sleep… Not have to face all the things from when she was awake… “Mia!” “Urrrgh, alright, alright…” She managed to just about open her eyes and adjust them to the bright disco lights, seeing the silhouette of someone crouched over her, and managed to shakily force herself vertical, off the cold, hard (and slightly sticky) floor.
3. “Calvin…?” “Oh God, Mia, what happened to you? You’ve got bruises all over…” “Really? I can’t feel them…” “I can believe that – how much did you drink?!” “Erm… I don’t know. I think I lost count. What time is it? Who’s home with Lyle?” “I left to look for you once Gina and Allen got home from school, they’ll be taking care of him I’m sure. But still Mia, you have a kid, you can’t go off and do things like this!” “I know. I know, but… But when- When Zack- I couldn’t-” And she burst into tears for the first time since Zack’s outburst.
4. “Oh, come here…” “I’m a terrible mother – a terrible person – aren’t I?” “No! Given what’s happened to you… It’s just a slip. You shouldn’t let what happens in your love life affect you in relation to your family though. Lyle will always love and need you, regardless what any other man might say.” She sniffed. “Thank you.” “Now, go home, get yourself some food and water to help you feel better and sober up, and spend some time with your son instead. I’m sure he’ll be happy for it.”
5. So Mia wandered home through the rain (from clear skies to rain, how long had she been unconscious?) sucking a bruised finger anxiously. She’d kept wondering why her life seemed to always be going wrong around her, but just then… it’d been all her own doing. How much of the other things had been? Was she trying to blame other people or things for problems she was creating herself? As if that wasn’t bad enough, she couldn’t shake off a troubling feeling she had about a dream she’d had but couldn’t quite remember… Orange, cold and fear. That’s all she could think of. And possibly something about a cow, but that didn’t make any sense- that was probably just the alcohol.
6. When she got back she was slightly disappointed to see that most of the guests were still there – she’d hoped that she could just slink off to bed and not face anybody… A: “Mia! They told us what happened when we got home from school – if I see that git again, I’m going to punch him in his bumpy nose!” M: “Heh-heh, yeah… Looks like there’s nothing left for everyone to stick around for now…!” She said, raising her voice so everyone would get the message, which they mostly did (Gina’s girlfriend didn’t seem to be listening, being slightly distracted).
7. As soon as they’d left, Mia burst into tears, much to Allen’s dismay. A: “Was it what I said? I guess you at least used to love that bumpy nose and everything, I should have been more sensitive…” M: “N- no, it isn’t you Al, it’s just- it’s just everything…” A: “Oh. Is there anything I can, like, do?” M: “N-no. I- I’m sure I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep and everything…” A: “Well okay, if you’re sure…”
8. But as Mia walked towards the house she felt a sudden jolt in her lower stomach – she was pregnant. Again. Without a father. Again. Why?! But she was too exhausted emotionally to break down again, she’d just have to deal with it all tomorrow…
9. But she was stopped from hiding under her covers for the rest of her life by Lyle, looking for some attention from her after some hours. “Mama! Mama, where Dada?” Oh, god…
10. Mia picked Lyle up and snuggled him up against her shoulder. “Don’t worry about that Lyle, Mama’s here…” Lyle always made her feel a little better, though she couldn’t help but wryly smile at the fact that her first mental reaction to the question of where Lyle’s father was “Which one?” Her life would have been hilarious, if it weren’t real and massively depressing. Still, maybe she should give Lyle something to make up for his second loss of a father figure…
11. Which was how they came to adopt a little kitten who didn’t have any parents, so had been marginally worse off than Lyle was. Mia hoped Lyle might appreciate that fact one day, but most children took their parents for granted.
12. Not that Mia wouldn’t appreciate something small, soft and fuzzy herself. “Hello there, cutie. What shall we call you? Well, you’re a girl kitten, so how about… Lottie?” Lottie just purred her general approval to everything.
13. And Lyle adored her just as much as Mia hoped he would, though Lottie looked a little scared of the creature that was bigger than her, but almost as fuzzy. “Kitty!”
14. Mia did feel significantly better the next day, enough that she could even greet passersby, especially when she recognised her aunt Marina who was taking her dog for a walk. Mar: “Mia! It’s been too long- And I see you have another child on the way! Congratulations!” Marina was aware of Mia’s situation, but her family-orientated brain naturally thought of every pregnancy as a cause for celebration and Mia guessed she was right. Mia: “Well, it wasn’t exactly planned, but then neither was Lyle and I wouldn’t give him up for the world… I just wish I had a solid father figure for him like your kids had Nery.” Mar: “Tch! If you say so! I do love Nery and have done since we were children, but when it came to our own children… He could barely get out to work fast enough!”
15. Mia: “Huh, really? Yeah, I think I remember my Dad always being busy when we were little before we lost Mum… Huh.” Mar: “See? You don’t have to have a man there to be a good mum. Admittedly it is nice – your uncle Sean doted on his daughters, but you’ll survive.” Mia: “It’d be pretty difficult to get a new husband when I’m the size of a cruise liner anyway…” Mar: “Nonsense my dear, you look radiant. But make sure that, if you get one, the next guy’s reliable!”
16. With Mia greatly cheered up, it was time for Lyle’s birthday. Gina would have fought to be the one to bring Lyle to the cake, so everyone stepped back to let her do so. L: “Pretty cake!” G: “Yup, but you have to blow out the candles before you can have the yummy cake!” L: “Pretty candles!” G: “Nooo, no candles for children, you just blow at them.” L: “…Pretty Gina.” G: “Awwwwwww– Miiia, can I keep him?” L: “Pretty Mummy!”
17. Once they finally made Lyle concentrate on the task in hand, there was soon a child running eagerly around. L: “Look how big I am now! Or did you all get smaller?” Rick: “Trust us, kid, you got bigger.” L: “But how do you know you’re not the ones shrinking?” R: “… Because the tooth fairy told us so.” L: “Really?!” Mia: “Rick!” L: “I thought the tooth fairy only knew about teeth! She must be very clever!”
18. Yes, Lyle was more than a little gullible – or overly trusting, perhaps. Unfortunately this probably wouldn’t help him with his older cousin Wally. L: “Hey cool! We have matching haircuts!” W: “… Maybe, but it looks better on me.” L: “Oh. How do you know?” W: “Because the tooth fairy told me so.” He responded sarcastically. L: “Really? I want to meet the tooth fairy!” W: “Oh no, she only talks to cool people. And Uncle Rick apparently. Not you.” Calvin: “Wally, stop being mean to your cousin!”
19. W: “Ugh, Daaaaad, do you have to be so embarrassing all the time?” G: “Of course he does! It’s half the fun of being a parent, Wally!” W: “I don’t need parents anyway…” C: “Oh? Who would check your wardrobe for monsters then?” W: “I wasn’t scared! I just wanted to know!” C: “Uhuh. And what about that time you had a nightmare and wanted to come and sleep with me and your mother?” W: “Uh…Hey Lyle, do you want to play some chess?” L: “Sure!”
20. After that the two children were able to play together pretty well for a while, but after Lyle won the first game (his favourite toy as a toddler had been the blocks), Wally quickly resorted to cheating. W: “Oh my god Lyle, look! It’s the tooth fairy- and she wants to talk to you!” L: “What? Where? Am I cool now?! I want to know how they switch the moon and stars on at night!” W: “Aw, you just missed her… Guess there was someone cooler to attend to…” L: “Awwww…. I wanted to ask how to get a Daddy likes yours, too…”
21. It wasn’t just Lyle’s birthday that night though, Allen was finally going to become an adult and be able to leave home. He had hoped that his long-term girlfriend Audrey could have turned up, but in the end she couldn’t – by which time it was so late that nearly everyone headed straight off home or to bed.
22. Speaking of which, they had no separate bed yet for Lyle (planning that he could have Allen’s once he moved out), but Mia’s bed was conspicuously empty once again and Lyle seemed happier to share one than have a room and bed of his own – especially once he’d heard that Wally had done the same, if only once. And Mia didn’t feel half as alone as she had the night before.
23. The next morning Allen was eventually able to get Audrey – who had also become an adult over night – over, especially as he had a rather pressing question…
24. Al: “Marry me!” Or rather, a pressing statement rather than question. Aud: “What’s the magic word?” Al: “Please marry me?” Aud: “Well, when you put it like that… Yes!” And the wedding was set for later that same day.
25. Lottie also had a birthday that morning, a lot sooner than any of her owners had been expecting. She certainly looked a lot more like a stern than a happy cat.
26. But Lyle knew different, and she was always partial to hugs. Lyle started a tradition of starting every morning playing with his pet cat, which was good because there was another, less fun, tradition to start…
27. BL: “Hey, getting on the bus for school for the first time?” L: “… Do I have to?” BL: “I don’t think your teachers or your parents would be very happy if you didn’t…!” L: “Well… Okay then…”
28. This did mean that Lyle (and Gina) missed Allen and Audrey’s wedding though, not that they made a big show of it…
29. In fact Mia was the only one who sat and watched it (there were other guests, but they seemed more interested in the contents of the fridge), luckily having gotten past her aversion to seeing happy married couples – at least if they were her relatives, anyway.
30. M: “Congratulations on getting successfully married Al, I guess somebody has to!” A: “Heh, yeah… Look Mia, I know I’m moving out, but if you ever need anything-” M: “Yes, yes, I know. Don’t you worry about me. You’ve got your wife and your future, focus on that and be happy for yourself. I’ll be fine.” A: “Okay…”
31. And so the two of them headed off to their own bright little future elsewhere. Mia just looked forward to a new niece or nephew sooner or later from the pair.
32. But in the meantime there were other issues. L: “Hehe! Wheeeeee!” Of course, there was nothing wrong with a child playing with a child’s toy, except:
33. M: “Lyle! It’s not even 2pm! What are you doing home already?” L: “I’m not sure. I was sat in geography, but it was really, really boring and I was staring out of the window wishing I wasn’t there, and then I wasn’t. I was at home. So I started playing-” M: “You suddenly disappeared out of school and appeared here?” L: “Yes. I think so. Is that okay?” M: “Well, no! If you miss school your grades drop!” L: “And that’s bad?” M: “Yes! If you get an F-!”
34. Mia zoned out a little at that point. What if Lyle got an F? Social services would come for sure. They’d blame her and take him away from her. No. No way. L: “Momma?” M: “Hm? Oh. Right, well if anything like that ever happens again you have to run straight back to school and apologise, alright? And maybe if you don’t let yourself get so bored…” Might Lyle have… teleported himself home? Was that so crazy? Crazier than sometimes seeing things before they happen? Maybe it was sleepwalking or something… L: “Oh. Okay. I would have done that anyway, but I wanted to be at home in case the new baby comes while I’m away!”
35. M: “Well, there’s not much harm done for now. But you’re really that excited for your new little brother or sister?” L: “Yeah! Wally has a little brother, he says it’s annoying, but I think it sounds nice. Can I talk to the baby?” M: “Sure, maybe it’ll hear you.” L: “Hiya baby, I’m your big brother Lyle! You’re in Mummy right now, but soon you’ll be out here and you’ll get to meet me and auntie Gina – she’ll buy you sweets and stuff!” M: “Haha. You’re sweet Lyle, but you needn’t have worried about missing the birth, you’d have been home anyway.” L: “Oh, okay. But it’s too late for me to go back now, so I’m gonna go find Lottie…”
36. But it wasn’t much after 3pm that Mia’s contractions started. Perhaps it would have been better for Lyle if he hadn’t been home to see his mother screaming in pain, she mused, but it would probably put him off getting into an adult relationship while he was still a teenager, anyway…
37. And in the height of the pain an image appeared behind her eyes once more – a group of people dancing, having a party or something… At least somebody was having fun…
38. And then there was a new baby in Mia’s arms – a baby boy who, unlike Lyle, had all of Mia’s colouring; hair, eyes and skin tone. “Hello there, little one. What do you think about the name… Jose. Jose Ryman. I like it. Sounds kind of exotic and unusual.”
39. Gina was naturally drawn to Jose like she had been to his older relatives – like a moth to a flame. Mia had to say she would be shocked if Gina never had any children of her own, despite what Gina might claim. She was a natural!
40. After discovering that he wasn’t old enough to hold the baby on his own, and that Jose mostly just slept, ate and smelled, Lyle changed his focus to the older, distant, relatives he came across – in this case Lola Cormier (Marina -> Haley -> Lola) and Roxanne Raymond (Sean -> May -> Roxanne) – and they had a water balloon fight until they were all tired out and more than slightly cold, if very happy about it all.
41. The next day was a Saturday and Mia was awake bright and early. Lyle was still asleep after being up late with the water fight and Gina was having a standard teenage lie-in, but she’d assured Mia the night before that any time she wanted a baby sitter she would be more than happy to fill in that role. So Mia decided to spend the morning out of the house for the first time since… that time, a beautiful morning in the park.
42. They had some beautiful parks downtown too, though she’d never taken the chance to explore those places before. She found an empty chess table and sat down for a game in the sun, where she was soon joined by another woman who seemed keen to do some man-hating of her own. Jan: “Oh, don’t get me started – they’re all just shallow, self-centred idiots who are after one thing and one thing only!” M: “You think so? Don’t you have any nice male relatives?” Jan: “Pfft, well there’s my cousin Komei, but he’s only not so bad because he can’t be – barely any woman would take him. Nah, if guys are going to be shallow and self-serving to us, I say be the same right back.”
43. Jan: “See, like that guy who’s just turned up behind you. He’s kind of cute, so I would, but he’s blatantly just staring at you-” M: “What?! Huh? That’s my brother! What’s he doing in the park at 8am on a Saturday without his family…?” Jan: “Oh, so he’s not single then? Shame…” M: “Excuse me, I think I’m going to have to go have a word with him…” J: “Tell him if things don’t work out with his wife he can call me!”
44. Mia took a sip of coffee (Calvin had declined one himself) “You’re following me, aren’t you?” C: “Well, it’s a very nice day and this is a beautiful park-” M: “Look Calvin, I’m glad and thankful that you were there last time, but it was different then. That was alcohol in a bar, this is coffee in the park. This is perfectly healthy. I know you’re only doing it because you care, but I don’t need you to be permanently watching me.” C: “But I’m just worried-” M: “I know, but I’m a grown woman and I’m in control. I’ll be okay. And you have a pregnant wife and two children to be looking after, not me. Okay?” And so she left.
45. Mia felt a little bad for being so forth-right with Calvin when he clearly meant well, but she resented being treated like a child who couldn’t go anywhere without an adult to look after her. Hopefully another, different, park would take her mind off of things. She pretty quickly started a conversation with somebody new and she was always open to an opportunity to make friends, though the conversation took an odd turn: “Hey, you know, I reckon you’d get on really with someone else I know. How’d you like to meet him?” M: “Like a blind date? Um… Okay?” After all, what did she have to lose?
46. The blind date turned out to be a university cow mascot. For a moment Mia wondered whether this guy was making fun of her, but hey, cow mascots were people too - underneath the costume, anyway – it was worth a shot, even if it felt silly asking a cow out on a date. She was about half way through the proposition when the first guy cut back in: “Excuse me.” Mia turned around “Hm?”
47. The man – still essentially a stranger – grabbed her around the waist and pressed his lips to hers. And the odd thing was, Mia wanted him to. Somehow there was nothing wrong about the situation. If he hadn’t kissed her she would have surely kissed him soon enough in any case. Cow: “Sooo… My friend calls me all the way over here to show off that he can get a hot girl even when she’s meant to be on a date with me? Some friend he is…!”
48. Mia just about managed to pull herself out of the passionate embrace to apologise – she hardly needed a blind date now. “Pfft, whatever. Like I care. Personally I’m waaay more interested in your cousin… Hey you could make it up to me by giving him my number maybe?” M: “He has an alien daughter, apparently.” C: “Honey, I’m a grown man dressed as a cow. I really don’t care. Unless you’re telling me he’s straight? Darn it, all the good ones are straight…”
49. After that increasingly surreal interlude, Mia was soon back in her love’s arms. It was so right. They just couldn’t get close enough…
50. But they did manage to get closer, as everybody else seemed to notice. Diane: “Ugh, I’m supposed to be the romancer here! And I’m dressed like I could be on Baywatch! Where’s my hot guy in the photo booth?! Grr…”
51. But things went wrong as Mrs Crumplebottom had apparently come on to the lot at some point. MC: “Oh, it’s you! I’ve told you how I feel about these things! How dare you go against an old woman’s sensibilities?! You should be ashamed of yourself, you young hussy!” M: “But we’re in love-!” MC: “Love?! Pah! It’s all just an excuse to do bad things in public!”
52. It took Mia some minutes to escape Crumplebottom’s wrath, but she finally did and tried to relocate her new man… But he was nowhere to be found. He’d left, just like that.
53. Her head felt fuzzy. She still loved him, wished she knew where he’d gone so she could follow… She loved him too much to be angry. Maybe he would call. Or stand under her balcony like Romeo and Juliet… Her Romeo… She’d just have to go home and wait. She just wished she could get her head clear, she was getting a headache.
54. Somehow facing her actual children something felt odd about it though. Maybe it was best kept to herself… L: “Hey Mummy! Where did you go this morning?” M: “Erm, I met your Uncle Calvin at the park. It’s a really nice day.” L: “Auntie Gina said she couldn’t get hold of you on your mobile.” M: “Maybe I didn’t hear it, I was… quite distracted.” L: “Doing what?” M: “…Being outside… Like you should be! Go enjoy the day!” L: “Um… okay!” ~~~ End of Chapter 10C~~~