TRUTH

I Am a journalism major first, before anything else, and one of the things we learn in print classes is "If it Bleeds, it leads." A horrible car accident killing sixteen little children will air before a fundraiser that raised twelve hundred dollars for a children's hospital. It is a cloudy day in New Hampshire finally, after much New Mexico-like weather, and the ads are fierce. The female candidate for Senate is accused of erasing e-mails after she resigned in shame, and her opponent used a sound byte to enhance his case. However, the female candidate slung the same mud, but with only a surprised shot of her male opponent, with no sound putting him to shame. If I lived in New Hampshire, it would be a tough choice for me, but she probably would not get my vote. I am not very good at making decisions, but the truth is so hard to find, especially in a situation like this. It's like advertising a new car--you only hear the good stuff.

ONLY CHILD SYNDROME

In this photo, notice how she stares into the child's eyes. She is intent on this child, and the child seems happy. However, there is also something called "only Child Syndrome," which I would like to talk about here. I promised this would be a blog that focuses on good news, and so I will never print about bombings and shootings and teen pregnancies, but this is too much. To think that a couple would specifically decide to have one child, in order to give him everything. There are two of these in my life. One is very sweet and well-mannered...with his bad days...and the other is an intelligent spoiled brat. Only child syndrome...is it real, or imagined?? An issue to be dealt with???? Something to be avoided????

Stanley G Hall was the father of child psychology. This man lived in the 1800's and called the only child syndrome "a disease in itself". He used words such as lonely, maladjusted, and bossy to describe only children. Boy, Can I relate. I am angered that one of the only children in my life, who in my opinion, needs to get a clue, is considered a highlight of a visit to New Hampshire. I respected this child's parents, until now. How could a couple choose this life??? If you read my blog, do YOU think these children are maladjusted?????

SERVICE WORKERS OF NH

Greetings from Manchester, NH, where it is green. A chance of thunderstorms for one day this week, which is something nice if you are from New Mexico. It is a frightening thing looking for a new job, especially if you just want to be at the bottom, serving other people, in a K MART somewhere. It is sad, but respect must be gained. And if you are comfortable, moving is the most difficult thing. But sometimes it is necessary. The first photo in this post is a photo of a new Hampshire animal shelter. ALEXANDRIA - Bill and Anna Jeanne Russell's 235-acre property is home to Dancing Brooke Lodge, one of the largest hybrid wolf rescue operations in the Northeast, with 54 animals living in 14 wired enclosures.

BEAN SALAD!!!!!

1 14-oz can cut green beans, drained
1 14-oz can cut yellow wax beans, drained
1 14 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 19 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 red, yellow, or green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small purple onion, finely chopped
A small handfull of fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup red wine vinegar or white vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 clove garlic
salt and pepper


1. Combine all the beans, vegetables and parsley in a big bowl

2 In a small pot, combine the vinegar, sugar, oil, ggarlic and salt and pepper to taste. Set it over medium heat and bring the mesxtrure to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes, until the sugar dissolves completely., Set the vinaigrette asise to cool for a few minites before pouring it over the salad. Toss gently to coat all the beans well.

3 Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow the beans to marinate, and serve the salad cold.

Serves 8-10

Source: Rosendahl, Julie Starting Out: The Essential Guide to Cooking on Your Own. North vancouver: WHitecap ( 2006)

PROFESSOR EVALUATIONS

MANCHESTER - The First Haitian Baptist Church of Manchester opened its doors all day yesterday for a memorial service for victims of the earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital on Tuesday.

I wanted to do a feature on professor evaluations, and how important they can be, but that will have to wait until I'm not so jumpy. My sociology teacher changed from busy and too rushed before class to talk to me to cordial and happy when the guy with the cast on his arm came in. I'll never take another class from her. She probably does not remember, but I do. Is hyperactivity a myth? I get scared when I have a long Sunday afternoon with nothing to do, because I was caught once. If you stop by, tell me if you think hyperactivity is real. Gage is three years old now; let me see if I can find another picture.

GRANDPARENTS

It's a sunny day in Manchester, NH, where more than two million grandparents are raising their grandchildren. It's also a day where a school principal is arrested for driving while intoxicated. It also may be a rough semester for some college students, but for those of us whose jobs require enrollment, well, I need to get a life. Here are some new pictures for you, of the amazingly sweet kid my sis left behind because she wants the easy life.

MANCHESTER GRID PATTERN

The City of Las Cruces, NM, where I live, is not set up in a grid, so the transit system does not stay on time, no matter how it is planned and re-planned. Here is the word on Manchester's grid pattern.

Geographic Context
Rimmon Heights is located in the center of Manchester’s west side. The
neighborhood is bounded by the Merrimack River to the east, the Piscataquag
River to the west, Rock Rimmon Park and Dexter Street to the north and Putnam
Street to the south. This topography has created dramatic breaks in the landscape,
developing natural boundaries for the neighborhood. Most of Rimmon Heights is
located on a large plateau-like flatland above the flood plains of the Piscataquag
and Merrimack rivers, but below the towering “Rock Rimmon.” Because the
majority of Rimmon Heights is largely flat, implementing the city’s grid pattern
was easier here than in most areas. The neighborhood is accessed from downtown
by the Notre Dame Bridge (Bridge Street bridge), the Nazaire Biron Bridge
(Kelley Falls bridge) from the west to access Pinardville and Goffstown and by a
handful of connecting streets along its northern and southern borders.


And here is a frequently asked question about the definition of a plot. Wonder if Manchester planners have done their job, at least better than was done in Las Cruces.

Question: What is a preliminary plat?

Answer: A preliminary plat is an instrument to review site design characteristics of a proposed development. The purpose of such a process is to serve as a tool to establish quality design that promotes development compatibility with the physical and cultural aspects of the community.

This process is also used as a method to determine proper site design, to mitigate traffic and drainage hazards, appropriate lot configuration and street layout. Design flexibility and imagination should also be considered.

The review process for a preliminary plat is the same as the master plan process in that they are brought to the DRC and sent forward to the P&Z. The intent of the P&Z review is to allow public input in the development process and to serve as a land planning process, not specific engineering development review.

Decisions by the P&Z are binding in that final platting must comply with the preliminary plat. Decisions by the P&Z are appealable to the City Council.