little epistle

Beirut

2010-02-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

I just absolutely adore this band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukU-E5Qp4Kg

Cold and Flu Season

2010-02-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

Well, when you've got a little guy who remains sick for two weeks straight...

Then it's the smallest adventures at home that make our days so lovely.

Like, skiing at the Vancouver Winter Olympics (via Mario Wii of course!)

Or discovering the secrets inside hidden coves (a.k.a. the cabinet)

And then methodically figuring out the magic and wonders of one's pants!!!

The good news is that we're all feeling better, and are out and about again 8)

Don't like brownies?.....

2010-02-20T21:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, if you're not a brownie fan, or even if you are one but still want more indulgences PLEASE check out the most amazing sound ever by going to the following..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NEU6Xf7lM... I take no credit, other than just being simply obsessed with this video. Thank you YOUTUBE!!!

Enjoy,
Gracie

OH MY BROWNIE GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-20T10:53:00.001-08:00

If you have a Trader Joe's near you, don't like gaining the weight of bear preparing for hibernation, and have a serious addiction to chocolate, then you just might want to rush over there today to grab up this No Pudge Fudge Brownie Mix.

All you add is non-fat vanilla yogurt and then bake!!!! AMAZING!!!!

Great purchase!!!

2010-01-31T11:54:00.000-08:00

Last week I was wandering the aisles in Hobby Lobby in search of crayons when I found the most amazing item! A house you can build, play in, color on, use flashlights in, eventually destroy (Asher's almost at the destruction phase), and then toss into recycling!

This little cardboard house has been entertaining both Asher and I for an entire week. The best part? Only 15 dollars!!! And trust me, every penny was worth it when it was as cold as it was last week and the cabin fever started to set in.

The package it came in also seemed to be entertaining with its convenient carrying handle that allows one to carry it all over the house while at the same time knocking down everything in that same little one's vicinity.

Endearment

2010-01-15T18:41:00.000-08:00

It's always wonderful to laugh at life. At least, this is what I will tell Asher when he stumbles upon these photos at age 15.

My wonderful little guy preparing for a game of "Buh Bye." And who can go anywhere without their purse?

Game over.

Found treasure in the laundry bin!!! Asher is a big boy now with Daddy's unmentionables.

Sorry Asher, age 15, I ran out of batteries before I could get a decent facial expression with the boxers up.

I'm back?...

2010-01-10T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I at least think I'm back to blogging. It doesn't really take that long to create an entry does it? No, it doesn't and I enjoy it, so I will make time for it. One of my few New Years "hopes" as I would like to call them.

Time has passed quickly since my last entry and it feels as though much has happened. No worries though, I won't recite it all in this post. The important points to know are that we are all well and healthy (except for my problematic teeth...boo root canal and fillings). Noah has had three weeks off and it has been wonderful! We've both has a lot of time to relax and enjoy our family. Sadly, he starts back up again tomorrow, so I'm a little down about that.

On a positive note our holidays were wonderful, and the snow is beautiful. Noah could go without the snow but I just adore the white stuff. I could kiss the grass goodbye from Thanksgiving to Easter quite honestly. Bring it on!

Well, on that note I'll attempt to put a picture or two up, as those always make for a good post. Hopefully I won't stray far from blogspot this year 8) HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

Love,
Grace

Asher with cousin Audry (my little sister Hillary's daughter)

Asher and Daddy

Bike Ride

2009-06-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

When was the last time that I rode a bike? Far too long, in fact, the bike that I’ve had since…well since my first mountain bike, is long gone and rusted away. Noah’s unfortunately had to be tossed as well because of rust a few years back. And because of rust, we refused to spend money on bikes, though we wanted them badly, until we had a safe and rain/snow free place to store them. That day has arrived.

We recently bought new bikes and I couldn’t be happier. What is summer without an occasional bike ride? We even bought a trailer to put Asher in, though we still need to get him a helmet….I know…we’re really bad parents. But seriously, to let you all know, we’ll be getting him a helmet, as well as our own.

On Sunday we went on a bike ride and loved it! The streets are very quiet around our new home and Aurora University is but a minute or two away. There is even a park that we took Asher to where he swung and slid down a slide…over and over again! Summer has been made new again with Asher. What a blessing to have a young heart around 8)

I hope you are all enjoying your summers!!!!

Pooped out after a day of FUN!

Hello Summer!

2009-06-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

Alright, yes, summer is not here yet, but in my opinion it is here! After being stuffed inside a wayyyyy too small apartment, Asher and I have finally been set free with recent beautiful weather!

Just this past Friday we also closed on our first home, but it is currently in a state of complete and total chaos, because of plumbing which is being completely re-done. I just try not to think about it, while at the same time hoping that Noah knows how to dry wall.

Another thought that is constantly on my mind is that Asher will be 1!!!! 1!!!!! 1!!!! Wow! I grabbed him from his crib last night during t.v. watching time and held him while he slept. I love that boy so much that I don't think I can allow him to grow anymore. That's right, he's going to stay 11 months forever! Either that or I'll have to get me another little one ;)....every year from here on out.

I hope you are all doing well. Sorry for being M.I.A. for so long and I hope you enjoy the pictures. They are all random and beautiful.

Love,
Grace

House Pictures

2009-05-10T17:22:00.001-07:00

Here are the pictures of our first house! These were the only pictures on the listing, but there will be more to come in the next couple of months 8)

I am no liability!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

In my last post I commented on how I am considered a liability when it comes to purchasing a home, as I haven’t been working since the last half of my pregnancy and then on into motherhood. Is this fair? Well, yes, when it comes to things like proof of income, I can’t blame the banks, but it did start to make me wonder what the worth of a stay-at-home-mother is.

To be a mother I have: given up my body to a life of saggy boobs, stretch marks in places I’d never think I’d get them, an expanded ribcage that requires all new bras, a belly button that went from an innie to an innie-outtie thing, and a stomach that is bloated, wrinkled even, and far from flattering. Oh, and then there is the hair that has fallen out, and the new wrinkles under my sleep deprived baggy eyes. I think that might be all, but of course I have been suffering from memory loss as well. Luckily, Noah or his uhhh… seems to be oblivious to all these changes.

Alright, so it sounds like I’m being pretty dramatic, but these are all the physical realties of motherhood. And yet, honestly? I don’t really care that much about any of those physical changes, despite how feverishly I described them, because when you meet your little one and then get to know them you’d give both your legs for just one more, and then both of your arms for the third.

As for my worth, I contribute to the family in my own way. Whether that’s breakfast and dinner being made and cleaning taking care of, I do what I can. I know that Noah appreciates all that I do, and most days I as well realize how hard I work for our family, and yet something is lacking. I guess I just wish society was that accepting of what all a stay-at-home-mother does. Oh to dream.

It may not be the easiest or highest paying gig I’ve ever had, but it is the best, and I am a better woman for it. So forget the banks, I know that I am nowhere close to being a liability.

HOUSE UPDATE!!!

2009-05-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Finally the stress and chaos of finding a home has ended!!! We are actually purchasing...or Noah is, since I have too many liabilities from lack of income in far too long. How much does a stay-at-home-mom get paid again?

Anyways, what was I saying? Oh yeah! We are actually purching the home that had all those problems, which are mostly going to be fixed upon our moving in. All the plumbing needs replaced but we'll get a credit from the seller, but other than that there will only be a few minor fixes for Noah and I to make.

You know, even more than wanting a home I just want to get out of apartment living! I'm tired of the idiot thumping loudly above us, slamming his toilet seat down, and apparently throwing bowling balls down his stairs. And then there are the neighbors next to us that are so generous for deciding to share their beautifully loud music with us during evening hours. Wow! I really do dislike renting.

Anyways, so I didn't get any more pictures of the home after the inspection went so badly, but they will come. We close in the end of May and shortly after that the plumbers will come. Don't know when Noah and I will officially move in, but once we do... pictures, pictures, pictures.

Happy Day!

afuaoidufoaiudfoausdlfknasldkfmasdhgfoiug

2009-04-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Sooooo the home inspection did not go well, despite how sure were that it would or how cute I dressed Asher AND myself for once. I'm soooo bummed out, but I refuse to live in a home that has aluminum wires, which are apparently a fire hazard, or plumbing that is so decrepid that you only get drips of water in the basement's tub. Not to mention the water heater that needs replaced, as well as the furnace, oohhhhhhhh and a foundation that's shot and probably bows in when it pours down rain. Did I mention the asbestos fire prevention panels between the garage and home that happen to be flaking in the attic and spreading throughout the home through the ventilation? No thanks.

I cannot even explain how upset I am. I just hope the third time is truly the charm.

Home Inspection

2009-04-22T18:23:00.001-07:00

We found another house, and our home inspection is tomorrow!

More pictures to come if inspection is successful.

Easter has come and gone

2009-04-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

Alright, so Easter has been many days ago, but I fain sickness. Yuck. Even worse, Asher has been sicker along side me.

So here are some belated pictures of our Easter. Hope you all had a good one!

Poor baby, sick on Easter morning 8(

Duke was beginning to wonder if he was going to get an Easter basket...

Don't worry Duke, you've always been a spoiled old dog

This is after the infant tylenol started to kick in...

Moving on...

2009-04-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

Though I wish I could say that this post was about moving on from apartment living to the sweet bliss of a tiny bungalow life, that is just not the case. We lost it by 1,000 dollars to another bidder!!!! It's alright though, I know that our home is still out there waiting for us to find and love. So, moving on! Updates soon to come 8) Hope you all enjoy your Easter Sunday!

()....this is an egg...

Offer

2009-04-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Noah and I are going to make an offer, our very first offer on a home, (the very small bungalowish house from a previous post) and so I wrote a letter for the current home owners. Still not sure wether or not I should sneak this politely in with our offer or not, but it's already been written, regardless.

To 404 S. Commonwealth and the lovely family that resides there,

This house, this beautiful home that we have been so lucky to have seen, is already in our dreams; literally. I believe the night before I dreamt that I was walking through the dinning room to the kitchen with sleepy steps, and it already felt like a home to me. Such an incredibly intricate and beautiful home; and with so many possibilities for our family to find, and to be.

True, we don’t have a lot of money, but we do have a lot of heart; heart enough to see the beauty of a home so small, and, to us, so complete. We treasure the little drawers, the squeaky wooden floors, and bedrooms oh just so right. We love it all, every inch, every perfection, and even every flaw.

We love it. We love it so. All the more for its intrigue and art. And then so much more for it’s beauty that has found a very sweet spot tucked tightly deep inside our meager hearts. It’s a pleasure, a dream, and a bit of hope, to make it our own. To make it our home.

Awestruck,
Grace, Noah, Baby Asher, and Duke the Dog
...............................................................................
A very Happy and Blessed Good Friday to All!

2009-04-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

The last and first time Asher was sick was when we were moving from Urbana to Aurora. He was also only a meager five weeks at this point in time…poor guy.

And now? Well, Asher is sick for only the second time since being born. WOW! Maybe not so impressive though when one considers that I’ve kept him locked up in our apartment this entire winter. Regardless, I feel so bad for the little guy. When he was just five weeks he slept all the time, but now he’s awake for so much of it and he can’t take anything but Tylenol, and he doesn’t know how to blow his nose, or know that it’s not a good idea to rub the snot all over his face after he sneezes. I just wish I could swaddle him up in a blanket and get him to sleep for hours on end so he could wake up feeling better, much like he did at five weeks.

Here’s a picture of him a couple days before he got sick. I hadn’t realized that I had dressed him up like Luigi but it made for some cute pictures.
Hope you all are feeling well!

a weekend away

2009-04-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was such a great weekend for our family, as it was the first weekend of Noah’s IMSA spring break! We got to visit both sides of the family in Bloomington/Normal, and though of course we arrived home pooped, it was an exhaustion that was well worth it. Gosh, all I have to say is that Asher is so lucky to have such great families on both sides. Lucky boy!

Alright, so that was the introduction.

When I say pooped, I mean more like, annihilated! I mean, I don’t even know what happened to me! I slept well, ate well, played well…too well? I read a book for an hour (AMAZING right?) and yet, I arrived home feeling like my weekend away had gotten the better of me. This seems to be happening more often than not, and I just don’t know how to break that pattern. What is it exactly that wears me out so much? Am I laughing too hard, playing too much, eating in excess (Yes, yes, and YES)? I guess feeling fatigued after seeing family is a good thing. Asher is so lucky to have such an awesome family, on both sides.

I hope I'm not jinxing myself...

2009-04-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

I’m afraid that I might be jinxing Noah and I by even writing this post, but I have to. You see, we are going to be (hopefully) looking for a home soon! This is the thing…I recently found one online that I just love, love, love. Love; hence the fear of being jinxed by writing this blog.

It’s small, and cute, and cozy, and near Aurora University, and old, and probably creaky, and possibly even a bit too cold in the winter, but it’s perfect in my eyes! I can see it now…Asher and I could walk Noah to his evening classes that he teaches at the University and we’d be close enough for Noah to even come home for lunch if he wanted to. Picnics in the backyard, reading books in the three seasons front porch, trying to shove Duke out of the way too small kitchen when I’m cooking…

Of course, this post really means nothing because I’ve never seen place. Yes, I’ve driven by it a total of about five times in the last few days, seen a few pictures online, and have even been tempted to peek in through the windows once, but I’ve never been inside. I have no idea if there is mold growing out of wazoo in the tub or if the plumbing is all shot or if the electrical is a fire hazard waiting to happen or if the floors tilt like an optical illusion room. I really know nothing. Oddly enough, I think if we had the money I’d beg Noah to let me fix all of those problems…if they existed, and I’m sure they must seeing as I like the place so much.

Noah will hate the place though. It’s small…no, it’s tiny, very tiny. I’ll call it a cottage and he’ll say it’s impossible to live in. Okay, so I’ll have to account for his frame that is almost a foot taller than mine, but still, I can’t get his house out of my mind!

I really have no other explanation for writing this blog other than hoping to get this, what I hope to be dream house, out of my head. And it’s just not right to be so consumed with the teeny weensy bungalowish type house when there are so many other, and much larger, homes to see, and when there is so little of this place that I have seen!

On a side note, any home buyer advice would be much appreciated! Or is that even a side note? It actually seems quite appropriate.

Here is a link to my supposed dream house...

http://south.cbprimus.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=06986258&PRM_MlsName=NorthernIllinois&VAR_AgentCode=231926&VAR_OfficeCode=23196

Why do I feel like a bad parent everytime I go to the Doctor's office?

2009-03-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

Today Asher went in for his 9 month appointment and after being weighed and placed back in the cold waiting room the assistant came back saying she needed to weigh him again. You see, there must have been a mistake when weighing him the first time because at 6 months he was 19 pounds and he only weighed in at 20 pounds today. Back to the scales. He again weighs in at 20 pounds. The assistant scribbles in her folder, and then, …did she just give me a look? I think about telling her how I wake up AT LEAST every two hours to feed my baby, and spend about an hour total each day trying to get him to eat food, but stop myself, remembering a familiar Seinfeld episode.

I walk back to the cold waiting room where Asher begins to scream so loud and hard that he starts gurgling. I have to act fast! Before long I’ve turned our little room of terrors into a zoo with various animal sounds including the donkey and the rhino, the most embarrassing to make and Asher’s favorites. A couple minutes later I realize that he’s covered in goose bumps and turning blue. Why hadn’t I thought of wrapping him up in the blanket which lies unused at the bottom of his diaper bag? So now I’m digging deep in the bag while dangling my half naked boy with the other arm, who is excitedly trying to get away from me in order to pursue my purse. This was the position we were in when the doctor entered.

On the examining table Asher eats the paper, attacks her watch, pulls my hair, scratches my face, wrestles with the stethoscope, and laughs the whole time through. I get the feeling that she’s wondering if I let my child behave this way, and yes, I do. I then get the feeling that maybe I shouldn’t let my child behave this way. She asks if I have any questions, and I don’t. “Are you sure?” she asks. The doctor clearly expects me to have concerns. I ask about his belly button again, which I’ve asked about the last two times. It’s still fine. “Anything else?” Uhhhh…. Uhhh…uhhh… The answer is still no, and when she scribbles in her file I am again reminded of a Seinfeld episode.

On the drive home I can’t help but feel like a bad parent. Do I let Asher get away with too much? Am I going to have some kind of wild-half naked-acrobatic-biting-clawing child? Are all the kids in kindergarten going to ignore the weird boy eating paper and laughing to himself? I do have my concerns…

Yesterday I planned on being productive…

2009-03-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

How to be productive:

1: Get out of pajamas. Seriously, it’s 9 in the morning, which means you’ve been awake for three hours. Take them off.

2: Get up off the couch in order to change into clothes and out of pajamas.

3: Do not write a blog during one of your baby’s now rare morning naps when there is laundry to do, scattered toys to pick up, bathroom cleaning that MUST be done, vacuuming, and dusting that is way past due.

4: Look at previous list of things to do in order to inspire you to get up off couch and be productive.

5: If this doesn’t work take another sip of coffee in hopes that the caffeine will perk you up enough to get motivated and move.

6: Put the remote down, do not channel surf, do not watch TV, do not even think about putting in a DVD.

7: Get up off the couch, and though still in pajamas fold a load of laundry. Remember to put the load of laundry away after you open up the fridge and see what there is to eat.

8: There is nothing desirable enough to eat.

9: Make chocolate chip cookie dough.

10: Make cookies with half of the dough, store a quarter of it in the fridge, and go back to the couch with the other quarter of dough.

11: Cool cookies off next to the mess of dishes. Make a note to add dishes and cleaning the kitchen onto the list of things to do.

12: Get the baby when he wakes up. Feed him, change him and play with him.

13: Be realistic, you’re obviously not a productive person lately.

14. Get over the idea of being productive and just enjoy your day.

15: Tell yourself that tomorrow you’ll be productive.

Twilight Blog Part 2

2009-03-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

I have to say, come Saturday morning I was a bit embarrassed to tell Noah that I had to get to Hollywood Video soon, because they open at 10 and it’s already 9:30. My embarrassment did not come without warrant, seeing as Noah looked at me like I had some issues.

On the drive to the video store I sped through a yellow light…I know, pretty dangerous huh? On the way there I kept telling myself that I’m not a teen crazed Twilight fan, I’m not a teen crazed Twilight fan, I’m not a teen crazed Twilight fan. And I’m not, I’m actually even more pathetic, I am an adult/wife/mother crazed Twilight fan.

Pulling into the parking lot I’m amazed to find that I am the only crazy early show there. Hello? Don’t you people know that Twilight has just come out today? Just then the store employees open the door, and as I look behind myself I see that my car is still the only one in the lot.

The woman that greets me is wearing a Twilight t-shirt, but I’m convinced that she had to wear it today. She’s probably making fun of herself for having to put it on at all. Where can I get a shirt like that for a good price?

I consider wandering around the store like I’m looking for a random DVD only to stumble upon Twilight, but when I pass it by the entrance I excitedly pick it up and quickly walk to the front. Be cool, just be cool.

“I watched that movie four times in one day,” says the employee with the Twilight t-shirt on. Phewww! I then proceed to have a five minute conversation about the books, which I think she has quickly gotten tired of since she only read the first one. I end the conversation and head out the door to a still empty parking lot.

When I get home Asher is up, of course, and I start to strategize when I’ll be able to watch my movie. Could I put it in my laptop and hide out in the bedroom for the next two hours? Ha.

I didn’t get to put my movie in until 8 at night, but the atmosphere was perfect since it was dark out at that time.

Annnnd.. I LOVED IT! Though, like always, the book was better. Also I wasn't crazy about some of the actors that they casted...

But him I just adored!

…and now to strategize when I’ll be able to watch it today…

Twilight Anticipation

2009-03-17T17:55:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited for Saturday! Twilight here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Important Note: Though I have read the books, I have yet to see the movie because of motherly breastfeeding duties and such. This will be my first time seeing the movie!!!!! Yay!)

Patience

2009-03-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

I’ve never been a patient person. Even when I seemed to be a patient person I was most likely biting the inside of my mouth or clenching my jaw in frustration. You can ask my husband, I’ve never been very tolerant.

But this has begun to change. To me the change seems immediate, but I realize this must have been a gradual process, since becoming a mother.

Patience training begins during hour 5 after giving birth:

I’ve slept 3 hours in the last 30 hours, 25 of which I was in painful labor. I’m starving, I’m dangerously malnourished, which is indicated by the yellow-green hue of my skin, and the hospital cafeteria is not open. Patience, patience, patience.

I have now only slept 3 hours in the last 35 hours and though I have finally eaten a meal all I want to do is curl up and sleep with my baby, but we have visitors. More visitors. And even more visitors. Everyone is visiting the baby and me in the hospital while I sit there biting my lip in my sallow hue, bit of baby blues, desire/need to hold my baby all day, feelings of where’s an hour of sleep when you need it, please don’t take my picture, could you keep it down, why won’t my baby eat? Patience, patience, patience.

Patience engrained by the time Asher is 8 and a half months:

The baby is crying at the top of his lungs after I lunge over the ottoman in search of my much needed cup of coffee that I left on the counter next the ants that are truly going to regret this one day and then his diaper is dirty when I lunge back and then he is hungry and then I have to strategically find a way to go to the bathroom myself, then please the baby, find the dog scratching at the door, stuff baby in layers of clothes while he screams, attach him to stroller, attach dog to leash (don’t forget your coat!) put my coat on, make my way outside, come back 10 min. later after wresting with a stroller in one hand and the leash in the other, detach dog, reward dog with treat, detach baby, reward baby with milk, detach baby from me, reward myself with cold coffee. And I’m not phased by any of this. I am officially a woman of patience.

Patience is a mother’s virtue, it just has to be, or none of us would survive.

Ants

2009-03-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

There are ants, ants, ants, ants all over the place! I'm grossed out and feel like they're crawling all over me!

I had our apartment sprayed a week ago...but I think that I cleaned it away with my pschotic cleaning. Then I bought some of my own child/pet friendly organic spray that reaks of a concentrated clove scent causing me to open the windows in uncomfortably cold weather. This didn't work either. In fact, it really didn't work seeing as there were ants in my CLEAN dishwasher when I went to empty it!!! There was apparently a crumb or something that they were after...who knows!

I just went and bought some child safe ant traps when I found an ant crawling up the bedroom wall an hour after the dishwasher mess. Oh this better work!

Any tips or advice?

Inspired

2009-03-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

I loved looking at a friend's blog which contained delicious pictures of her dinner. I was inspired to do the same.

Today was a dreary rainy day so I made a yummy dinner to perk us up! Chicken stir fry, with rice, and crushed peanuts. Yummo!

chicken stir fry

with rice and crushed peanuts

The best part is that I get left overs for lunch tomorrow 8)

The Bad Day Remedy

2009-03-05T18:28:00.000-08:00

I usually keep myself stuffed inside our small apartment most days, especially with how cold it has been this winter. But today? Ah, not today. Today Asher and I went to the park! It was only a short stroll away, and before long I found myself ankle deep in thick and muddy sand where the baby swings resided. Of course, seeing Asher's smiling face while swinging for the first time was well worth a pair of dirty shoes.

On the way home I realized how it really is just the small things that can make a day the beautiful day that we are suppose to recognize it for. And really, even for me, swinging brings on some sort of childhood exhilaration that is impossible to prevent as I float like a pendulum on the wind.

Swinging is my new bad day remedy.

My First Entry

2009-03-03T18:35:00.001-08:00

So, I am a new blogger. Brand new. But also, I am a first time stay at home mother to an eight month old, Asher. He is so lovely that my life has taken on a new shade of pink; what a miracle that little boy is. I am also married to a man that is almost equally as lovely...should I say his name? Sure, why not. Noah is miraculous in his own right, and I am so lucky to have him.

I'm really hoping to find an enjoyable outlet for myself, as a blogger, and can't wait to meet new friends as well as converse with the familiar ones.

Much Love to you all and am promising more enjoyable entries,
Gracie

Here is a photo, because, even as a new blogger I realize how important they are to a great post.