Siblings, in-laws or close friends might be the source of a current drama that begs for your involvement. However, if the circumstances are peripheral to you, it may be best to keep them that way. Your worry over something that doesn’t directly concern you could be motivated by your own unresolved issues. It’s best not to complicate the situation by adding your stuff to it. Establish a clear boundary and stick to it. Rick Levine Sunday, July 27, 2008

Tags: annoyances, family, me, summer, under pressure, vacation

Official UPDATE/ from hospital web site

Angelina JOLIE left LENVALwith her babies on July 19th Mrs Angelina JOLIE left the Clinic SANTA MARIA of Fondation LENVAL early in the morning , on July 19TH. The mother and her babies are doing very well. The general management of LENVAL and SANTA MARIA want to thank the team for the attention and care they pay to the family, and those of the journalists around the hospital who did their best to respect their privacy . Contact presse : Nadine BAUER Nadine.bauer@wanadoo.fr

Before sunrise on Saturday, Angelina Jolie and her newborn twins, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, left the French Riviera hospital where she gave birth a week ago, the hospital said in a statement.

“The mother and her babies are doing very well,” reported the Fondation Lenval hospital, located in the southern Mediterranean city of Nice, France.

Jolie slipped out at 4 a.m. Saturday with the twins, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt, again blowing off the intrusion of paparazzi who have stalked her family in France for months– ever since Jolie arrived for the Cannes film festival in May.

Angelina, age 33, checked into the hospital on July 2 and delivered the babies by Cesarean section ten days later. Son Knox Leon weighed 5.03 pounds and daughter Vivienne Marcheline, 5 pounds.

Jolie’s obstetrician, Dr. Michel Sussmann, told reporters after the birth that the 44-year-old Pitt was at Jolie’s side during the delivery, which he said had been pushed up from its originally planned date “for medical reasons” so the babies could be born “in the best conditions.”

The Jolie-Pitt brood had rented four rooms on the fifth floor of the maternity ward of the Lenval hospital, “appropriately located on Nice’s beach-front California Avenue.” The hospital treated the mirrored blue windows of Jolie’s room, which looked out the Mediterranean, with a special material that blocked telephoto lenses from peering in.

Jolie managed to check into the hospital unobserved, reportedly arriving by helicopter on the hospital’s rooftop helipad. That fueled rumors she would also leave the clinic by helicopter,

In its statement, the Fondation Lenval thanked the Jolie-Pitts for choosing its hospital. It also thanked the hospital staff “for the attention and care they paid to the family” and the “journalists around the hospital who did their best to respect their privacy.”

The Nice-Matin newspaper has reported that an unnamed U.S. publication has paid $11 million for exclusive rights to the first photos of the Jolie-Pitt twins and that the proceeds will go to charity.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have four other children _ Maddox, 6; Pax, 4; Zahara, 3; and Shiloh, 2. Before Jolie checked into the hospital in Nice, the family set up a household in Correns, 60 miles away.

Source

Tags: Angelina Jolie, Angelina Jolie Twins, celebs, Entertainment, Entertainment News, family, fanwank, Knox Leon Jolie Pitt, news, parenthood, photo, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt

First off, let me lay out who am to the degree that you can get some context.

I’ve been blogging for five years, participating in forums two years longer than that, and using the Internet for eleven years. I had a career as a licensed clinical professional counselor prior to health issues which are managed but incurable.

My health issues and the desire for a flexible schedule drove me to explore part-time work options on the Internet and as financial opportunities popped up I’ve tested the waters. I was a bookseller part-time for five years through Amazon. However,  after a few years it seemed that the forces that be did not want me in that field–plus my allergies to musty books were out of control so I stepped away from book selling permanently over a year ago.

I still needed a part-time income stream so I continued to explore Internet options and I came across paid blogging which admittedly, I knew nothing about prior to that time.

I signed on officially with one paid blogging company a year ago this month and when that one seemed to be foundering I added another four months later. They are very, very different and my interaction with the other bloggers is on the one side pretty heavy–on the other, none at all. And that is fine–can’t be all things all the time–and get my work done.

What has taken a disproportionate amount of my time in discussion at the one paid blogging site is the question of what constitutes the bare minimum in English-language abilities so your blog is coherent as well as lucrative for the advertiser?

The company for which I do the most work also has the most–I must be blunt–terrible bloggers. I’m embarrassed to be lumped in with them. To make the situation culturally charged, the low-quality bloggers have a poor command of the English language yet take on jobs that require at least an average command of written English. Then they fill the unpaid parts of their blogs with half-English blathering about what they had for breakfast and how they miss their country of origin.

At times I get very upset and resentful of these people because as I stated they are not qualified for the job and they make both the company and bloggers that are outstanding in comparison look bad by association.

Why would the company allow such bloggers into the system, having screened everyone who blogs for them?

That’s a really good question. If the company is strictly looking for numbers–for vast quantities of bloggers of any caliber to do paid blogging–then they are on the right track.

If they care about attracting quality advertisers who are looking for quality bloggers the company needs to make some very big changes in the selection process.

I care not if this seems politically incorrect. Facts are facts when two-thirds of your most awful bloggers are originally from one country. Yes, there are crummy bloggers around the globe–that’s a given–but allowing crap bloggers to clog your system is wrong-headed and counterproductive.

Time for some big changes before this big, new part of the company crashes and burns.

Tags: annoyances, behaviour, blog, blogging, business, heart failure, Internet, opinion, pagerank, paid blogging, personal blog, quality, social networking, talent, whine and cheese

You know why I like this one? It caught me off guard. I read it, then paused and thought What?! and then read it again. Upon second reading I thought it really strange and possibly unhealthful. I also thought “yuck” and “sick.” I hope there are not too many people who share this secret though I think this one was rendered in a very interesting way.

Tags: favorite, Favourite Post Secret This Week, I eat the last page, me, Post Secret, quotes

What criteria do you feel makes a good QotD?

A good Question of the Day should open up the possibilities of an answer that reveals something about me that I might not have thought to write about and in reading other’s answers I’ll be enlightened about them as well.

I need to be able to relate to the QotD on some level. I realize this “universal” quality must be a challenge to produce in the QotD but it is appreciated as it adds depth to the question and it’s resultant answer.

I think a QotD can be light and frothy in nature–not deep at all–but another QotD can be very much one to ponder.

I like QotD’s that inspire me to pour out a post almost effortlessly–a QotD that inspires answers that are easy to share but I like QotD’s too that I can stash away–like this one–and come back to when I can give the question some thought before I tackle it.

Tags: blogging, graphic, me, opinion

Latest UPDATE/Monday, July 14, 2007~

After speculation when Angelina Jolie’s OB-GYN arrived at the hospital first thing in the morning, double parked his Rolls with his emergency lights on, and hustled up to Angelina’s room for an hour-long visit with his superstar patient, he professed that all was well with both Angelina and the babies.

At around 5 pounds apiece the babies, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, are quite small especially if you consider that most newborns drop a bit of weight initially, before they start gaining again. They are reported to be are in excellent health, but they do need to gain some weight.

Dr. Sussman said that Angelina may remain at the hospital another six or seven days while the newborns grow.

The Nice newspaper Nice-Matin reported that the babies spent Saturday night in Jolie’s room and she took care of them by herself.

Brad Pitt, the father of Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, was reported to have repeatedly told the mayor of Nice, “I’m the happiest father ever.”

UPDATE/ from hospital web site Madame Angelina Jolie a donné naissance…. Press Release Doctor Michel SUSSMANN, Mrs Angelina JOLIE’s gynecologist, declared that Mrs Angelina JOLIE has given birth on saturday July 12 th, 8 p.m to a boy Knox Leon JOLIE-PITT, 2.27 kilogrammes (five pounds) and to a girl Vivienne Marcheline JOLIE-PITT, 2.28 kilogrammes (5.02 pounds), at the SANTA MARIA Clinic, FONDATION LENVAL , in Nice. “Everything is going well,” said Dr SUSSMANN. “The mother, the babies, the father are doing marvelously well.” Press Conference Tuesday July the 15TH 4.30 PM In LENVAL

And about those baby’s names…

“Knox was the middle name of Pitt’s maternal grandfather, Hal Knox Hillhouse.

Vivienne is more well-known. In the early 20th century, it was regularly among the 1,000 most popular girl names. Its most recent year on the chart, however, was 1930.”–E! Online

My guesses in re: the babies monikers~ I know Angelina’s deceased mother name was Marcheline. I thought “Knox” might be an architect that I’d not previously heard of but it has mostly religious connotations. The simplest answer about what significance the name “Knox” has is that it has the same last letter of both of the Jolie-Pitts older boys, Maddox and Pax. Leon, however is the Greek word for “lion.”

Update Three, Sunday From People.com:
Mayor Christian Estrosi of Nice, France, presented one of the birth certificates of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s twins on the steps of Nice’s Fondation Lenval hospital, where son Knox Leon and daughter Vivienne Marcheline were born Saturday. The typed certificate revealed that Knox was born at 6:27 p.m. on July 12. Sister Vivienne came within a minute of that time according to Dr. Michel Sussmann.

The document also showed the Mayor’s signature, as well as Pitt’s initials, the letters WBP representing his full name, William Bradley Pitt.

The mayor entered the hospital at 3:24 p.m. to oversee the signing, telling PEOPLE, “It’s a pride to Nice and all its citizens.”…

In welcoming the twins, Estrosi told reporters, “On behalf of the inhabitants of Nice, I congratulate the happy parents, the most famous couple of the world who have chosen our city for this happy event.”

Earlier in the afternoon, a large bouquet of white roses and lilies for Jolie were delivered.

Update Two: People.com

As for the actual delivery People.com reports: that during the labor and delivery, the couple “were talking, they were together,” Dr. Michel Sussmann told reporters outside Fondation Lenval Hospital in Nice, France, where twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon were born on Saturday, July 12, 2008. “It was an epidural, so [Angelina] was awake and speaking and laughing. They were happy.”

Pitt never left Jolie’s side – “he was my assistant!” Sussmann said jokingly – and even cut the babies’ umbilical cords.

“He was … perfectly calm, totally determined, very pleased to be at the birth of his children, very moved and very emotional,” said Sussmann.

Dr. Sussmann reported that there were, “absolutely no problems,” during delivery.

Dr. Sussmann went on to say that in regard to when Angelina will leave the hospital, “She will stay for a few days. You know, in Europe it isn’t like in the United States, where the patients go home after three days. They will stay a bit longer until everything is OK.”

He added: “The babies are fine. The babies are with the mother and father and they are fine.”Update One: In Touch

Angelina Jolie gave birth to her twins on Saturday night at the Fondation Lenval hospital in Nice, France. “Mother, father and babies are doing terrific,” ” Dr. Michael Sussmann tells In Touch. “And they are very, very happy.” The 33-year-old Jolie gave birth to a boy, Knox Leon, and a girl, Vivienne Marcheline, by C- section on Saturday night. Knox weighed 5.03 lbs, and Vivienne 5 lbs. Angelina checked into the seafront hospital earlier this month in anticipation of the birth. The doctor told the Associated Press that the Cesarean was moved forward “for medical reasons” so that the babies could be born “in the best conditions.” Sources say Angelina will leave the hospital with the next 48 hours.

Previously: (see updates above for corrections)An “In Touch” Magazine exclusive is reporting that Angelina Jolie has given birth to twin girls. According to unzipped lips at La Fondation Lenval hospital in Nice, France 33-year-old Angie had a C-section today at 6pm French time, delivering two girls. The first baby clocked in at 6:45 pm French time and the second at 7 pm.
Unsurprisingly, Brad Pitt was said to be at Angelina’s side at the time of the births. Both babes are reported to be in good health.

However, Nadine Bauer, a spokesman for the hospital, was quoted as saying that journalists would not be notified ”within minutes” after the birth and that the only way they would be told was by a press release posted on the hospital web site.

It’s expected via unofficial word that Angelina will take her leave of the hospital within 2 days, despite what her OB-Gyn says about the way the Europeans do it.

Angelina checked in to a four-bedroom suite of rooms overlooking the ocean in Nice, France about 10 days ago in anticipation of the impending arrivals.

Tags: Angelina Jolie, Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Baby Names, Angelina Jolie Birth, Angelina Jolie Caesarean, Angelina Jolie Kids, Angelina Jolie Nice, Angelina Jolie Pregnant, Angelina Jolie Twins Born, celebs, changes/transition, Entertainment News, fanwank, France, Knox Leon, photo, Vivienne Marcheline

I keep going back and forth between excitement and dread at my impending trip north. I have no idea when the last time was that I spent a week alone, without child, spouse or dog.

I have a thousand-and-one things to accomplish at the Lake this summer and I won’t get to but the tip of the iceberg but just the same I want to be there now in order to get started on everything.

Then I swing back to the reality of my life at the mo. and I realize that I am in no way ready to go to the Lake yet. But I need to be. I have to be–so I will sign off.

Tags: graphic, Mustang GT Convertible, postage, travel, vacation, whine and cheese

(Above) Brad On Tuesday in Nice 

Though Angelina Jolie’s Caesarean section birth to twins in a French hospital is not scheduled until next Tuesday, the actress-charity worker sounds as if she’s ready to get it over with now.

While staff praised her her extreme politeness when she first arrived, after a week spent confined to the 4-room suite in the private Lenval hospital in Nice, Angelina’s mood has turned ugly of late, In Touch Weekly claims. 

An insider told the publication that Angelina feels the staff are not attentive enough… She’s throwing fits if she rings and they don’t come quick enough.’

Angelina has even insisted she be served salmon for lunch, despite the dish not being on the hospital menu. The source added: ‘And I don’t mean asked - demanded. The food at Lenval isn’t very good - and I think she was fed up. The insider continued, ‘I think she’s in meltdown mode. She’s been getting upset if there’s not enough ice in her drinks…she doesn’t even take a shower early in the morning. She just stays in bed, talking on her phone, typing on her computer, reading magazines and watching TV.’

Angelina Grows Impatient, Brad Looks Whipped

Tags: Angelina Jolie, Angelina Jolie C-Section, annoyances, behaviour, Brad Pitt, celebs, family, fanwank, Lenval Hospital, photo, photograph, whine and cheese

This “confession” struck me as amusing because coffee filters must cost how many times more than toilet tissue? When did it become so easy to keep a supply of coffee filters on hand but run out of bathroom tissue? :p I would think it’d be the other way around?

I thought the Secrets  were a bit weak this week. I’m getting a weird feeling that Frank has maybe made a book or two too many and he’s sort of getting too mannered about his choices, if that’s the correct word to use. The choices seem very hand-picked to match, sometimes in a quite obvious way.

For example why does he, if he’s got some good secrets that he can’t publish each week due to space/time constraints, publish a postcard that claims it’s yet another from the same person whose goal is to get…a postcard published? The person says so on the postcard. It’s just dumb. Sorry, Frank.

Tags: Post Secret, quotes