J.M. Filipowicz's Blog

Is there anything more annoying than experiencing a car break down when you are driving late at night? Maybe driving far away from familiar surroundings and having your car fail on you when you need it most is even more frustrating.  For anybody that drives it’s a great idea to always have a emergency preparedness back up plan for just that rainy night when your car rolls to a stop or when it won’t start up.  Best case scenario you get a flat tire, and since most models of cars these days come with a jack and a spare, if you aren’t disabled you should be able to change the tire yourself.  If you happen to be a populated area chances are you can flag somebody down to lend a hand.  But if you are stuck on an interstate highway with not a car in sight then this situation might pose as a more challenging one.  Cars are machines and most will eventually break down or experience some kind of operational failure, often times because of lack of proper care and maintenance.  Getting regular checkups, tuneups and oil changes drastically reduces the chances of having your car die on you sooner than it should.  But there is also the factor that many of the newer cars on the roads these days have intricate computers running them internally and when there is a failure in the car computer that can cause other issues that are not so readily found and repaired .  To plan ahead, make sure you have a local car tow company on speed dial in your phone, or keep a short list of good ones in your glove compartment that you can call just in case.  They might be able to tow you right to their repair shop to fix your car, or in some cases they can car tow you to your dealership or right to home.  One of the best things is that tow companies are usually open 24 hours, such as car towing worcester, just for those late night towing calls when you are least expecting to have to call for a tow.

The post Late night towing appeared first on J M Filipowicz.

We just bought a new ranch house on the South Shore area of Boston. The house was built in the ’50s and hasn’t had much work up to it for 30 years. Most of the floors were covered with an orange shag carpet that was heavily stained from years of tread and smoking. When we closed on the house and finally were able to start demo to renovate, the first thing we did was rip out the awful carpet. Once we removed the old carpet we were pleasantly surprised to find hardwood floors underneath. Although they seemed to be in decent condition, they did however have lots of stains in and because the carpet down, the floor boards were full of staples.  At first we considered just starting from scratch and buying some wide planks and take the time to redo all the floors.  But then we realized they could probably be salvaged.  My brother and I spent many long hours removing the staples from the floor by hand. Originally we thought maybe we could rent some of the machinery and refinish the floors ourselves ourselves. But there were so many holes in the wood and stain that it proves to be a bridge too far from my capabilities. We were doing other work on the house as well and had to move in in a timely fashion.  I started doing a little research for hardwood floor refinishing Boston and found some reputable companies who could come in and do it in a few days. After searching and checking some reviews I found a good company that could fill all the holes with putty then sand it down.  They used a dustless sander which made clean up much easier. They were also able to do two gorgeous coats of polyurethane and gave the floor beautiful Shane. We been in the house about two years now and the floor still looks amazing and we can’t believe this gorgeous hardwood was under all the carpet.

The post Old Floors Like New Again appeared first on J M Filipowicz.

The whole idea of tattoo care has only been around for a few years, and now the veterans and pioneers of tattoos are in awe about the invention of tattoo aftercare creams that make the aftermath of getting a tattoo a lot bearable and easier  to do. Now the question is which one is the best tattoo cream out there for you?

In the olden days of getting tattoos, the home remedy for aftercare was to apply petroleum jelly or any other lubricant would keep your skin moist and clean. Now the tattoo aftercare products have expanded and they are made with specialized ingredients made for your safety and convenience. Now you can find special tattoo lotion, tattoo cleansers, and tattoo creams, The business of tattoo is just beginning to boom and a lot of people are eager to expand the beauty care line of tattoos.

Tattoo cares have a lot of benefits and it’s main attraction is to protect your skin from that irritating itch and that bad dose of irritation. Another benefit is being able to attain the look of your design as much as possible, poor healing your tattoo can cause it to fade, stain, or get smudged. The cool thing about these products is that it is not just for brand new tattoos, it can be used for proper maintenance for your previous designs.

Billy Jealousy Marked IV life Tattoo Care kit is one of the crowd favorites when it comes to aftercare for tattoos. This contains Billy Jealousy’s Tattoo Wash, Tattoo lotions  and Salve. The tattoo wash is effective and versatile because it comes with 4 different kinds of cleaners that are made to get rid of the dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. It is also made with cucumber extract that will help in retaining the color of your tattoo.

The lotion is also something that is unique and special. It has essentials oils and shea butter to help define that colors that are in your tattoo. It will be more defined and it will definitely stand out more than ever after constant application. It also contains Green Leaf extract that is a natural antioxidant that will act as your skin’s shield from dirt and other environmental stimuli that contains bacteria.

Tattoo Salve maybe something that is very new to a lot of people, but this contains a lot of Vitamin E, olives, lavender oils that will assist your skin in the healing process and help prevent irritation and infection. It will keep your pores open and allow the wound to breathe and heal the proper way. For fast and effective results, just apply to your tattoo thrice a day for 1 to 2 weeks.

The good thing about this product is that is cheap and will only cost you $30. Another factor is that they use a lot of natural ingredients and less chemicals, so it is healthy and good for your skin. The branding is also has a old school passionate look towards tattoos, it could be something you can collect and show off to your friends.

The post What is the right Tattoo cream for you? appeared first on J M Filipowicz.

Pruning is not the act of extracting the juice from a prune, rather it is like trimming the branches of a tree and making sure it looks nice and neat. This is one of the most sought out maintenance treatment used in residential and industrial gardening, this is themost convenient way of maintaining the look of your trees.

This is a good way to make your tree stay healthy and strong, because during pruning you are  taking out the dead and infected branches from a tree. This is a highly effective way to prevent your trees from getting diseases that may be fatal for them and surrounding structures as well.

Pruning is also a safety precaution, because with this you are able to remove the weak and fragile branches that may fall apart on its own and maybe fall on someone or a car for example. Professionals are also able to give more sustenance to the tree by removing the water sprouts. This way the whole tree will be able to receive more food and water equally.

Maintaining a tree is very similar to maintaining your own hair, you will have to also trim it from time to time to make sure that you get the consistent decent look that you want. There will naturally be a bunch of branches that will grow out too much or grow awkwardly, and pruning will help control the growing habit of the branches and restrict it from growing too much.

You usually prune your tree depending on the changing seasons, it is best you time it perfectly so you can cut away as much dead branches as you can and you enjoy the rest of the seasons with pretty looking tree. Professionals will recommend that you do your pruning during late winter and early spring. It is vital that you remove the dead and diseased branches right away before it spreads to the whole tree.

Pruning has its own specialty scissors that are able to cut the branches with ease and finesse. There are two kinds of pruners that have its own special features, the bypass and anvil. The bypass pruner has two sharp sides, this is for you to have a swift and clean cut every time, it is the one that is most like a typical pair of scissors. The difference between the bypass and the anvil is that the anvil has one sharp side and one flat side for accuracy and precision.

Before you even start to do the act of pruning, you have to plan the branches that must be cut out. If you go up the tree and just start snipping away, the chances are you will end up with a bald looking tree or just an awful looking tree. This takes perfect planning and precise cutting to make sure you get the look you want for your tree.

You have to be extra careful when you are pruning a tree because the act of cutting a branch of a tree will harm and will have effects on the tree, if you are cutting the right way and snipping away the right branches. Then pruning will have a positive effect on the tree. This is one of the most used tree service in Framingham, MA.

The post Pruning, A Service That Maintains Quality Trees appeared first on J M Filipowicz.

It is only in recent years that people have come up with a tattoo aftercare line for people to take advantage of. A lot of people with the same passion for tattoos have also joined the wave and created lines of their own. Now there are a lot of choices to pick from, and all you need is to choose the one that fits you the best.

 Hustle Butter-Deluxe Tattoo Butter

This one of the healthier choices you can make, because this is made with all natural ingredients and is a good alternative if you do not want petroleum based products. The main use of this product is to moisturize and keep your skin hydrated. You are supposed to use this before getting a tattoo, after, and during the duration of your tattoo which till the day you pass.

Some of the benefits you can gain from this is that it helps increase the healing process of your skin. It can also lessen the redness, swelling and bleeding of your wound. It is great because it also rejuvenates your skin, before this kind of product existed a lot of people had a hard time working on already used skin because it tires that skin out and creates weak color highlights.

Tattoo Goo Aftercare Kit

This is one convenient and complete aftercare kit and can be used for all your tattoo skin issues. If you purchase this kit you can expect getting a ¾ ounce of the Tattoo Goo Salve, a 2 ounce Tattoo Goo deep Cleanser, a two ounce Tattoo Goo Lotion, and also a color protector that has sunblock features with it as well. The branding and packaging of this kit is cute and can be used a great giveaway or gift to your friend who loves tattoo. It is also oone of the cheaper product kits and you can get it for only $13.50.

H20cean Ultimate Tattoo Care kit

This is one ultimate healing kit that will get you through all the healing stages of your tattoo, the great thing about this is that it has effects for even your old tattoos. The products you will find here will strengthen and nourish your skin when it feels inflamed and itchy. This water soluble kit will help keep the image of your tattoo and keep it healthy looking, you can be assured that even the tiniest detail will be salvaged and enhanced with this product.

Urban Nomads Tattoo Oil

People say that mother nature created this as a gift for those tattoo lovers. This product contains a lot of healthy and natural ingredients like Vit E, Argan oil, and other vitamins and nutrients that will make your skin and tattoo glow and stand out from the rest. The good thing about this is that it doesn’t only target the outer layer of the skin, but it penetrates to the deep seated areas of your skin and will make it strong and healthy inside and out.

The post Some of the best products in town appeared first on J M Filipowicz.

Sci Fi author Reesa Zimms is kidnapped and taken to the future. And not just any future, but the one she created for her novels. Reesa’s kidnapper is none other than her hero Hedric Prosser. And the villain of her stories, Matthew Borden, becomes her unlikely rescuer. As Reesa struggles with whether she is losing her mind or if she is some kind of prophet, her and her friend Kate are caught in a religious war between the fanatically anti-woman faction Makeem and the extremist feminists of Nova Femina. That is the plot of A. J. Maguire’s original and entertaining novel Deviation.

As a writer myself, I’m delighted by the concept of an author being thrust into her own story. I’ve always believed on some level that the characters I create really exist. I know that sounds crazy, but I also know that the authors reading this are nodding their heads. This is why I squeal with glee as Reesa meets the people she created. As Hedric becomes angry at Reesa for writing the loss of his wife, I remember the guilt I felt when giving my characters loss and turmoil.

I also enjoy the undertone of feminism in the power play between the Makeem and the Nova Femina. Maguire pits the extremist anti-woman against the extremist feminist, mirroring the gender politics of this century, but she never tells the reader what to think. Both the universe its characters are too complex and real to fit neatly into camps of right and wrong, good and evil.

The one unanswered question I have reading Deviation, is how is it possible that the characters Reesa created actually exist? If she is a prophet, only predicting the future instead of creating it, then how is it possible that several of her characters are based on people she knows in real life? (So much so that everyone recognizes Kate as Hedric’s recently dead wife.) I’m certainly glad nothing turns out to be “all a dream” and I much prefer the idea that Reesa literally created the universe, but the mechanics of how this is possible are never adequately explained. Of course, as I got caught up in the story I began to care less and less that my initial questions weren’t going to be answered and just enjoyed the ride.

Maguire’s writing is believable, readable, and entertaining. Most of all it left me wanting to read more, which is always a good sign. 4/5 stars. Highly recommended.

Grab yourself a copy of Deviation at Double Dragon Publishing’s website here, or wherever ebooks are sold. Or read more reviews on Goodreads.

Last February, while walking my dog, I slipped on an icy sidewalk and broke my arm, specifically my humerus, just above my elbow. Four hours of surgery and two months of physio therapy later and my arm is almost back to normal. It isn’t the same as it was before, and it never will be, but I can use my arm now and unless you happen to notice the scar, you’d never be able to tell that I was injured.

Yesterday a doctor friend of mine was marveling at how fast and how well I’ve recovered. Most people take much longer to get better. Some people lose the use of their arm forever. So I was lucky. So I’m pretty tough. So I’m kind of a super hero.

Now I’m going to tell you a secret: I haven’t recovered.

I’m not talking about the six-inch worm-like scar running up my elbow, or the fact that thanks to new metal parts my left arm is now one inch wider than my right. I’m told the numbness in my hand may or may not go away eventually, and my elbow still hurts, sometimes a lot, when it’s going to rain that day. I can live with all those things. But my elbow isn’t the only thing about me that changed.

These days, if I see a child fall I have to watch to make sure they are okay, even when they are not in my care. Before, I knew instinctively that they were fine, that they need nothing more than a parental cuddle and possibly a band-aid.  I’m not so naive anymore. I know what can happen when bone meets pavement. I know how fragile we are.

Now that fall is here and the weather is turning colder, my heart clenches in fear at three simple words:

Winter is coming.

Now I’m one of those odd people who looks forward to winter. It’s my favourite season. I love the fresh feeling of cold air on my face. I love the beauty of the world in white. I love tobogganing and skating.

Skating.

On the ice.

Ice = danger.

The thought of not enjoying winter fills me with anger. Anger at whatever city official decided not to salt the sidewalks on my street that day. Anger at myself for falling, and for being afraid of falling again.

It was a long time  before I was able to walk the dog by myself without tears. By the time I could, the snow and ice had already melted away. I haven’t had the chance to face my fears since then. I didn’t even know the fear still existed until the leaves started to change. Now I live in dread of the season that I love so much.

I’ll get over it. I have to. I’m going to walk the dog on the iciest days. I’m going to take my kids to the skating rink. I’ll be okay when they fall. I’ll be terrified at first, then eventually I won’t be. You can’t have courage unless you have a fear to face. I have courage. I’m kind of a super hero.

Yesterday evening, as is my regular Tuesday custom, I participated in an advanced improv workshop at the Staircase Theatre, lead by the incomparable Hugh MacLoed. At the start of such workshops we set goals about what we want to work on to better our improv performance. Last night we did something different. We let the group decide. Facing a tribunal of supportive friends, I got the notes I was expecting. I should try high status characters. I tend to play children, immature adults, and I rarely take charge. (This is true in life as well as improv, but I’ll try not to psychoanalyse myself too much). Then my friend Laurie said something unexpected, something that touched me enough to inspire this post. “I want you to realize that you are actually really good at this.”

As someone attracted to various artistic endeavours, I’ve been critiqued in various situations. In my university painting class we would take turns having our paintings displayed before the class, each person saying both a positive thing and

something that could be improved. “I love the use of colour. I would add more detail.” “The composition draws the eye around the piece. I don’t think you got the proportions quite right.”

One writing professor had the perverse habit of waiting until I was sitting in his office before reading my assignment. Then he would judge, sometimes fairly, sometimes mercilessly, the personal narratives about my life. “I don’t get it. You’ll have to either revise, or decide that this is the piece that won’t go toward your final grade.”

I’ve learned to take even the harshest of criticism about what I produce. I use it as a tool to improve my work, separating the personal from the professional as needed. In all these years, however, I never learned how to take a compliment. I distrust positive feedback, never certain of its honesty. Even if I do believe the praise, I tend to respond by putting

myself down. By worrying about coming across as boastful, I’ve developed a habit of selling myself short.

Tonight I meet with my novel writing group. I’ve read their latest chapters in preparation, trying to find something to improve in well-written, well-structured, and publishable pieces. These are women I admire for the way they weave with the words on the page. I’m in awe at times of their unique voices, their ability to construct a story, the poetry of their descriptions. And yet, I get the distinct impression that they are equally impressed with me. Along with they very valuable notes for improvement (which I appreciate greatly, Wardroids wouldn’t exist without them), I’m often met with compliments about my

writing. Tonight, instead of defaulting to sheepish denial, I shall try a more high-status role. I shall take the praise at face value, without self-doubt or self-depreciation. “Thank you, I worked hard on this.”

Sometime last year and sometime in winter my husband went to Alberta on business. While he was there he took breathtaking photos like this:

Photo credit Adam Filipowicz

While I was at home watching the kids and browsing through his photos on Facebook. This week Adam’s working in Calgary again and this time we’re saying a hearty “forget you!” to our budget and paying the money so I can tag along.

We will hike up and down mountains. We will see breathtaking vistas. We will spend much needed couple time together. Lately I’ve been a bit lax on my one-a-day blog post marathon. Well I promise that next week will be even more lax! I will be way too busy rocking the Rockies to bother with this blog. If that bothers you, just imagine me yelling my musings down at you from the top of a mountain.

For more of Adam’s photos have a look here.

Today my friend Becca invited us to go to the public outdoor pool. We wore them out in the park before hand, then headed in. William passed his swim test for the first time which meant he got a green bracelet and didn’t have to stay within arm’s reach. He spent most of the day jumping off the diving board with his friend Aedan. The boys have known each other since birth and it’s pretty amazing that they are both grown up enough to use the high dive without assistance.

In any case we stayed for several hours, until both us Moms were exhausted. Then we left. We stopped to play in the park on the way out. This all should make what you are about to see all the more impressive. When they were already exhausted from swimming and diving, my kids went and conquered the monkey bars like professional chimpanzees.