Some things...

I made a new bulletin board since the election is over. I know this is somewhat offensive if you're Turkish, but it's not really, it's just a play on words. My students know that I love Turkiye! So I made them sign their names on a turkey (the animal) and it is like I love them too!


I have lots of Obama things in my room, now I am just patriotic!!


On Saturday, I raked with the Portage Youth Commission and my cheeks are now really wind burnt and red!

"Team Awesome" as they called themselves!! So many leaves!

The whole world is celebrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

America can be good again, atleast there is a new hope! 

Mary Poppins said:

Practically perfect people never permit sentiment to muddle their thinking.

Oh my gosh...I want Obama to win so badly!!!!!!

Awesome Fall Break

Matthew and Rachel on U of I's campus during our walk on Saturday!

Rachel, me, and Sevgi at Rachel's friends place, we ate awesome Indian food.

My sister with her students on Halloween as Puffer Elementary in Downers Grove!

On the swings at recess. We're pretty darn cute!

http://bekahash.com/ 

I like this artist a lot. 

Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here...
Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you.

-Nancy Wood, from Many Winters

http://www.hulu.com/watch/5276/30-days-muslims-and-america#s-p2-so-i0

If you don't have an account, you will have to create one. This is a TV show called 30 Days. In this episode, a white Christian male from West Virginia, goes to live with Muslim Americans for 30 days. It is really interesting. And I think it is fairly unbiased.

There are so many things I like about Islam.

Let's go.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/10/26/travel/1026-ISTANBUL_index.html 

This is my town!!

http://chicagoist.com/2008/10/22/aljazeera_visits_northwest_indiana.php

For better or for worse...I grew up in this town!

Frida

I watched the movie Frida.

"At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can."

Turkey's mass terror trial opens

The trial of 86 people in Turkey on charges including armed insurrection and aiding a terror group has opened, but quickly descended into disarray.

The judge ordered everyone except the suspects out of the courtroom, as protesters piled in and lawyers complained of intolerable conditions.

The suspects are accused of belonging to a shadowy ultra-nationalist network.

Prosecutors say the group plotted a series of attacks aimed at provoking the military into carrying out a coup.

The trial may revive tensions between the Islamist-rooted ruling AKP party and the secular military, analysts say.

'Patriots'

Among the 86 suspects appearing before the Silivri prison-court were retired army officers, politicians, academics and also journalists, who are alleged to be members of the Ergenekon group.

The 2,455-page indictment holds the group responsible for at least two violent attacks - a bombing of a secularist newspaper in 2006 and an attack on a court the same year in which a judge was killed.

The attacks on these key parts of the secular establishment were supposed to provoke the military into launching a coup in defence of secular interests, it is alleged.

The suspects deny the charges, saying they are politically-motivated.

As the trial opened, the presiding judge asked spectators and reporters to leave the tiny courtroom, amid protests by defence lawyers that they could not work in such conditions.

Outside the courtroom, scores of demonstrators with Turkish flags held a protest rally. Many of them chanted: "The traitors are in parliament, the patriots are in prison."

As the trial quickly began to descend into disarray, the presiding judge decided to adjourn proceedings for several hours.

'Deep state'

The trial is unusual in a number of ways: the sheer size of it and the fact that the defendants include retired Turkish military officers, the BBC's Pam O'Toole says.

That is something which would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, given the power of the military, which has mounted three coups since 1960 and, in 1997, eased the country's first pro Islamist prime minister from power, our correspondent says.

Then there is the nature and scope of the charges, some of which would not seem out of place in a Hollywood thriller, she adds.

But many Turks regard the trial as the latest stage in an ongoing power struggle between Turkey's secular nationalist establishment and the governing AKP.

The alleged plotters were indicted this summer, shortly before a decision in a court case aimed at closing down the AKP for allegedly becoming a focus for anti-secular activities.

Government critics believe the timing was no coincidence.

Some of them maintain the Ergenekon network simply does not exist; many others believe this trial is the AKP's revenge for the closure case, which in the end did not succeed in the Constitutional Court.

Meanwhile government supporters portray it as a step towards accountability and democracy by taking much needed action against so called "deep state" nationalist groups, who have previously been virtually untouchable.

The military denies any links to such groups.

Turks will watch this case closely, but it could be months, or even years, before there is a result, our correspondent says.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7679158.stm

Eating pomegranate.


One of my classes. 3 mod.

5/6 mod.

Dollar's value finally up abroad

By Arthur Fromme

October 19, 2008

In the current economic gloom, there's a ray of travel-related sunshine: the increased strength of the U.S. dollar. Though no one can explain exactly why, the dollar has risen against every major foreign currency other than the Japanese yen, and it has increased substantially against some of them. Though the change in exchange rates hasn't been large enough to make a major difference in European travel, it has dramatically transformed the cost of visiting a number of other highly attractive destinations.

Australia comes first. As recently as six months ago, the Aussie dollar was traded almost at parity to the U.S. dollar. Suddenly, the U.S. dollar buys $1.40 to $1.50 Australian dollars (the rate varies from day to day), and Australia has become 40 percent to 50 percent cheaper to the American tourist. Hotel rates and restaurant costs "down under," sightseeing fees, clothing and souvenirs are today considerably below the price levels to which we're accustomed.

Mexico's currency has also weakened substantially against the U.S. dollar. A year ago, you received 10.50 pesos for one U.S. dollar; today, you receive between 12 and 13 pesos to the dollar. In a country so easily reached from all parts of the U.S.—in Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Mazatlan, along the Mayan Riviera and the new Nayarit district—prices were always moderate even before the strengthening of the dollar, but now they're positively cheap. So the smart American traveler will dust off those travel plans and book a flight to this colorful country with its gracious, courteous people—and low, low costs.

Thailand presents a mixed picture. Its unit of currency, the baht, has recently been selling at a rate of 34 to the dollar (earlier, the rate was 28 to the dollar), and a country that was always low-priced to the traveler with U.S. dollars has become cheaper still. Unfortunately, there's considerable unrest in Thailand, culminating recently in street riots and some bloodshed. But the tourist has always traveled safely in this land of gentle Buddhist people. I would continue to recommend travel there and remain firm in my belief that the unrest will be short-lived.

The Island of Bali: Its currency, the Indonesian rupiah, has continued to decline against the U.S. dollar. A year ago, $1 bought 9,073 rupiah; it now buys nearly 10,000 rupiah, and an island that was always amazingly cheap has become cheaper still. Get there fast.

Iceland: No nation has had a worse economic crisis than Iceland, for reasons (bank failures) too complex to discuss. A year ago, you received 60 Iceland kronur for one U.S. dollar; today you receive roughly 110 Iceland kronur. Since the nation's cost-cutting airline, Icelandair, is also running unprecedented sales on airfares to Iceland, this is perhaps your best time ever for soaking in those thermal waters.

Canada: Just a few months ago, one U.S. dollar bought one Canadian dollar. Today one U.S. dollar buys almost $1.20 Canadian, and everything in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and the like costs about 20 percent less.

But while the currencies of Europe have weakened by about 10 percent against the U.S. dollar (as I write this, you only pay $1.72 for a British pound, $1.34 for a euro), the shift hasn't yet been great enough to substantially lower the cost of traveling in these pricey precincts.

Odd, isn't it? Just when most of us are beginning to feel impoverished, the cost of traveling to numerous foreign destinations has become much lower than before.

3 Nations Win Security Council Seats

October 18, 2008

By NEIL MACFARQUHAR and GRAHAM BOWLEY

UNITED NATIONS — Turkey, Austria and Japan won nonpermanent seats on the United Nations Security Council on Friday, defeating Iceland and Iran in elections in the General Assembly.

Turkey and Austria pushed out Iceland for the two rotating seats that are reserved for the mostly European bloc. Iceland had lobbied hard, although its financial crisis had raised questions about its candidacy. Turkey won 151 votes and Austria 133, surpassing in the first round of voting the 128 votes required for the two-thirds majority out of 192 votes cast.

In the race for the single available Asian rotating seat, Japan easily defeated Iran by 158 votes to 32.

They join Uganda, for Africa, and Mexico in taking up the five rotating seats on the 15-seat Security Council for the 2009 and 2010 sessions.

The Security Council vote is hotly contested. Even as members grumble about the diminished relevancy of a Security Council designed circa World War II, more and more nations seek to wield the influence gained by winning a seat at the Council’s iconic horseshoe-shaped table.

The day of voting is one of the few days in the organization’s calendar when the atmosphere in the United Nations becomes electric, and everyone shows up. Candidates must achieve a two-thirds majority among voting nations to win a seat.

It is a time of intense lobbying by candidates, and the results are not always predictable. Most ambassadors overestimate the number of votes they will receive because everyone promises to vote for them.

Regions try to create consensus around one candidate to avoid a bruising vote. Uganda has been anointed for the Africa seat this year, and Mexico for Latin America. Most diplomats had expected Japan to win the contest for the Asian seat easily.

But Iran argued that it deserved the spot, having not been on the Council since 1956, while Japan has served nine times, the last ending in 2006.

Diplomats said that Iran was a long shot, noting the country’s standoff with the Security Council over the nuclear issue, with three rounds of sanctions against it. Nobody wanted to repeat the experience with Rwanda in the early 1990s, when it used its seat to hinder resolutions aimed at the violence there.

Iran ran a low-key campaign. Despite the likelihood of a humiliating loss, it refused to withdraw from the ballot on the insistence of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, diplomats said.

The intention to win a seat is often announced a decade in advance. It is a bit like applying for a prestigious college: You have to prove you are well rounded. At the United Nations, that means first showing active interest in peace and security issues. (Turkey contributes personnel for peacekeeping operations in four countries.).

Second, you must show you are working to improve the environment and alleviate poverty. (Iceland’s literature highlighted pictures of third world students attending its geothermal training program.)

Events can create turbulence around the most carefully choreographed campaigns, however. Witness Iceland and its financial crisis. It joined the United Nations in 1946, but decided only in 1998 to join the rotation of the other Nordic states on the Security Council.

The other candidates had issues, too. Austria’s anti-immigrant, far-right parties won almost a third of the vote in September parliamentary elections. Ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter has tried to counter any doubts by noting that Austria has a historical commitment to the United Nations, hosting important organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency and serving as a bridge between combative nations since the cold war.

Turkey last held a Security Council seat in 1961. Ambassador Baki Ilkin argued that Turkey’s time was due and that its geographic position at the crossroads between the turbulent Middle East, the turbulent Caucasus and the turbulent Balkans made it ideal to lend regional sensitivities to important Council deliberations.

Every country has an equal vote, so none were considered too small to lobby. Nauru and Tuvalu and Palau pulled the same weight as the five permanent members of the Security Council — the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France — that never have to run.

One Thursday

Kevin (my student) and I had the same outfit on!!


My awesome 10th mod class!


My mom doing a RAKU fire. Hot Hot!

My new beta fish for my classroom! His name is Mr. Coffee...since his home is a coffee pot!

My students write the weirdest answers on their tests.  I can't believe 'em. Oy.

Oh. I don't know what I'm doing. 

Yom Kippur

Today was rough, there is still an hour to go of fasting.  But an hour is short really, relatively speaking, when I think about sunset to sunset.  I have never really understood or felt the purpose of cleansing before or truly asking G-d for forgiveness and atonement.  I think I have a very different perspective this year.  I'm not sure if the actual day is important, I am sure I could do this anytime I wanted and G-d would accept it and pay attention.  But I am grateful I get to fast, that I have to stop and look at my sins and see them and regret for them wholeheartedly.  I get to ask G-d for forgive and want to never commit those sins against other people, myself, or G-d again. 

Although anyone who really knows me, knows I am really sensitive, I shut off my feelings to other people for so long. I felt like an emtional void sometimes. I would say the feeling wasn't important or wasn't real, but now I want to feel. Now, I even want to feel the hunger.  Because as I was told, all feelings are needs and no feeling should be denied. 

I like this quote too.

"If we looked down at the world from space,

we would not see any demarcations of national boundaries.

We would simply see one small planet, just one." -Dalai Lama

Whatever you may be sure of, be sure of this, that you are dreadfully like other people. -James Russell Lowell

University of Michigan Football and Fatih!!

The Big House at U of M!!

Sevgi and I went to Ann Arbor to see Fatih and Yelda! Even though Illinois won (and Sevgi was happy) we had a great time. =)

L'Shana Tova

Today is the Jewish New Year. It'll be a good year. 

I took my dad golfing this morning for his birthday........we had a good time. But I couldn't putt. =(

Article about Europeans' views of Jews and Muslims.

http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=262

Cubs clinch!

So, if you're not American, you may not know that the Cubs won their division.  If you don't know my family very well, you might not know that you are also born a Cubs fan. So in honor of this lovely game that clinched the division, my mom decided she wanted to take a family picture with our Cubbie apparel. 

"Andrea, go get my teeth. They are in the duck."

Go Cubs!

Rick sent me the link to this song. I like it! =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqHTScDBsDU

Alex

http://alexfiedler.blogspot.com/2008/08/alexs-message-to-auntie-katie-on-her.html 

This was the cutest thing.  My sister's nephew wished his "Aunt Katie" good luck in her first day of school! It is on Alex's blog, so here is the link! 

I love Katie too!!!!

More rain

There is SO much rain...school is canceled tomorrow!! 

Rain

Due to rain, my parents didn't do anything they were suppose to do this weekend and were thus home....although I also couldn't have gone anywhere because 94 was flooded, I should have gone to Katie's.

Homecoming.

Last night was Portage's homecoming game against Merrilville. They won the game 22-20, which I guess was an upset, they weren't suppose to win.  The royalty went off without any errors. The ladies were very beautiful and no one fell.  It is nice being an advisor and not a student.  There really isn't any stress involved, at least for me.  But it was really nice, the rain didn't even really get in the way.  

I got paid today for the first time...it all seems rather unimportant right now.  I am really grateful for everything I have. 

Testing

Giving my first tests tomorrow! I hope the students do well. =)

PickensPlan

Jackson

I like taking Jackson on walks because little children love him!! They get huge smiles on their face! Especially cars that drive by with little kids inside because they don't really realize how big he actually is, and I can see their smiles and bright eyes through the windows.  =)

Turkish president in Armenia trip

The Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, is to attend a football match in Armenia, his office says, signalling an apparent thaw in relations.

The Turkish and Armenian teams will face each other for the first time in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

The two countries have no official ties and their shared border remains closed.

Turkey has rejected Armenia's campaign for the killings of some 1.5m of its citizens, by Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1917, to be classified as genocide.

More than a dozen countries, various international bodies and many Western historians have recognised the killings as genocide.

Turkey admits that many Armenians were killed but it denies any genocide, saying the deaths were a part of World War I.

Climate of friendship

Mr Gul will become the first Turkish head of state to visit the Armenian capital, Yerevan, when he attends the match with his counterpart, Serge Sarkisian.

This visit is likely to be highly controversial in Turkey, says the BBC's Pam O'Toole.

The Armenian invitation has already sparked a major debate, with some nationalists regarding the fact that the president was even considering taking it up as a betrayal of the country's national interests.

Some columnists have questioned why Mr Gul should visit a country they refer to as Turkey's enemy.

The main opposition party has said such a trip would be a major deviation from state policy, while others see it as a valuable chance to break the logjam in relations, our correspondent says.

A statement on President Gul's website expressed hope that the trip would provide an opportunity for the two countries to understand each other better and create a new climate of friendship in the region.

Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Their common border has been closed since the war between Armenia and Turkey's ally, Azerbaijan, in the 1990s over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

From BBC News.

Lincoln Logs

One class finished so early today because Channel One didn't play, so for about 5 minutes we played with Lincoln Logs, and then discussed how the Sumerian's and Egyptian's couldn't use logs because their weren't any trees and thus no wood, which is why they used mud bricks. Everything is historical. ;-)

I got my haircut today.

Fatih in Chicago!

My favorite stop!


At the bean!

Night view of the river.

Fatih and me at Gino's East!! He looks a little startled!

Some not so random thoughts

September 1st is the first day of the Jewish month of Elul, which is also the first day of Ramadan (the 1st of Eylül). Elul is really important to Jews because it is a month of prayer and redemption, asking for forgiveness, a time to set goals, and commit to changes and recommit to G-d. Jews ask for redemption to be written into the Book of Life for the next year. (Actually, I just learned that Muslims have a very similar holiday, and they fast, same as Jews.)

My point is that, I am glad this is coming. I know I can ask G-d at anytime, but I feel like it's appropriate to do it then. There are many things I want to change, and I am already in the process of changing many things. Sometimes it is hard to notice in the process of...but now, thanks to a friend and a not so friendly slap in the face, I am very aware. But that's tough love, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Just like my mother would do.

Today my mom and I went to a funeral for a 21 year old girl who drown in Florida last week. A few years ago she was my mom's student. I know it's drastic, but if I died tomorrow, I wouldn't be ready. Or, I would have many regrets. I honestly try not to have regrets. I always look for the lesson or the positive. I regret not going to certain places in Turkey, but on the bright side, I have to go back and go there. (Little things like this I don't count as regrets.) But I do regret the way I have "loved," and how I have treated people. I really love being liked/loved...and not so fairly, I have easily lead people into loving me when I don't love them back in the same way. In the short term, it feels good, of course. Who doesn't like being wanted or liked? But, I know, I will sabotage myself for any true love I want in the future. I don't know why it has taken me so so so long to figure this out. Maybe because I never actually planned on truly falling in love, then when I did, I had already ruined it, and it was too late.

But I refuse to do it again to someone else, or myself, so I am changing, and I will ask G-d for forgiveness and ask people for forgiveness. I think it is harder for people to forgive than G-d. G-d may be disappointed, but he/she made me, my faults are very obvious, but to people, maybe it's not so easy for them. There is one person I couldn't fool and really, thank G-d for him.

From a Rotary Club's Review.

"Program speaker was Ms. Andrea Wiese, a Ambassadorial
Scholar to Istanbul, Turkey. Ms Wiese is a Chesterton native
and a graduate of Ball State University in education. The Am-
bassadorial Scholar program is funded by TRF and open to
those who have completed undergraduate studies who wish to
continue their studies. She studied at the Bosphorus Univer-
sity (Bogazici University) in Istanbul, Turkey. The university
is considered the Harvard of Turkey. 99% of the country
Muslim. She attended Rotary meetings as well as Roteract
meetings while she was there. Ms. Wiese has begun her
teaching career at the Portage Schools where she will share her
Turkey and other travel experiences with her students."

Oooo....

I almost forgot! When Sevgi and Beria came..they got me an awesome HEAVY paperweight with my name inscribed on it! It is so so cute. And I love it and I love that, if I didn't think about Turkiye and my friends enough, I think about Sevgi and Beria every time I see it! =)

First three days!

I had students starting Wednesday. My first four classes of the day are Geography and History of the World (GHW), then I have two classes of US History. I have the same lunch as my mom, so that's delightful. =) No, but really, I like eating with her.

The first day was mostly rules and classroom procedures. After school I headed to O'hare to pick up Fatih, a great friend of mine from Bogazici. The second day, Fatih came with me and saw an American high school and after lunch Sevgi and Beria came to get Fatih and take him the rest of the way to Ann Arbor. In class we attempted to sign up for Moodle, a program that is similar to BlackBoard, which posts assignments and other things and the students can access the information from any computer. There were many many problems, so we improvised and the day went on. On Friday, the third day, the GHW class did an exercise with latitude and longitude. The US History class had a quiz on Thursday, which they did horribly on, so on Friday we went over it and then did somethings with the Declaration of Independence and looked at which specific British acts were being protested.

My grandpa is doing better, but he has and still is in the hospital, so I have been spending a lot of time going to see him. He is still so so funny. I am sure that is where I get my excellent sense of humor. ;-) Today, after getting back from the hospital at 8:45 am..I went back to sleep until 12:30. Then baked and cooked all day with my mom.

Now I am writing lesson plans and quizzes and worksheets for the week!! =)

First day of school picture!!

First day of teaching at Portage High School!!!

My first day of kindergarten!!

My mom always took our picture on the first day of school. Even in college I had my roommate take my picture and I sent it to my mom. =)

I had an AWESOME first day!! It's going to be a great year!

My mom, just for some perspective.

Istiklal Marsi and Ataturk, just like every Turkish classroom!

My desk.

The yellow bulletin board is going to say "Where in the world is Miss Wiese" and there are going to be pictures of ME all over the world to the numerous places I have been!! Yep, I'm awesome.

My dad in the back of my awesome car!


My sister's classroom! It looks awesome, better now, there are more things up now.


The paintings my mom and I did. One of the Istanbul skyline and one of the Chicago skyline!

See the Besiktas flag? It will actually be on the wall to the right of the TV, but for now...it's there. =)

Full day and more Sipahi's!

Today I took the train into the city for a lasik consultation. (Which I might get in 6 months, but they have to do another follow up to see about a stigmatism.) Then I went to the Apple Store and they gave me a new free iPod because mine had broke and it was still under warranty. Then.....I went to the OB (always a good time) but everything is healthy and working well, so that's good news.

THEN....Sevgi and Beria met me in the city and we went to Gino's East for deep dish Chicago pizza and the Ghirardelli's for our free chocolate sample (the new one with peanut butter) and walked up and down Michigan Avenue. It was a great day. Everything went well and I got to see my favorite Turks. =) I am so so blessed that Sevgi lives close. (Beria too.) =)

Sipahi Weekend!

Standing: Aylin, Sevgi, Babam
Sitting: Annem, Selin, Beria


Same...but with me!!! before we went on a beautiful dinner cruise from Navy Pier!

View from the boat before we sailed...

I just like this picture.

Rotary programs

Me with Jim Graham in Brownsburg!


Muncie Sunrise with Jane, me, Sandra, and Don. =)

A few pictures from the Indy Zoo...

I love my mom....

I was right. I don't know if it was attitude, or I just made my mind up that today would be a good day, I don't know.

I went to the outlets in Michigan City and I exchanged somethings, and I got two pairs of shoes for teaching! Soap......and a pair of pants from Gap...I think my grandma has to hem them, they are a bit long.

I came home and watered the garden and ate a tomato (from the garden) sandwich! Which was delicious. And Katie had emailed me some websites with free things, so I filled out all of those and hopefully they will come in the mail!!

Then I went to see my grandpa, who is doing much better, and then went to synagogue and helped with the oneg and Shoshana had me light the Shabbat candles. I really missed "my people" (as my mom calls them). Everyone was so cute and asking me so many questions about Turkey and my life. So many of them had read my blog, which makes me laugh a little because I don't think anyone actually reads it. I missed Phil and Jack and all the little women. It was great to see them.

And I came home and watched the Olympic opening ceremonies...Go China! Go World!!! =)

Today is going to be a good day! =)

Busy busy!

I went to Indy with my parents because my dad had a conference and we got to stay in the Sheraton Downtown (nice!!!) for free! On Wednesday my mom and I went to the Indy Zoo and I Thursday while my dad was in meetings my mom and I drove to Brownsburg so I could give a little Rotary talk. I got to see Jim Graham, the former governor of district 6560, which made my day!

Thursday night, Kayla made me and my parents dinner (which they are still raving about!) and I stayed with her. It was great, we got to talk a bunch and really catch up! Then Friday morning, my parents and I went to the Muncie Sunrise Club at 7am so I could give my program. It went really really well. I love the Muncie club and I really wish I was closer to attend more often. I love talking about Turkey. It makes me feel like it's not so far away and I love sharing my experience and hopefully I can encourage people to visit or at least give them a different outlook or teach them something about Turkey that they may not have known. There are many misconception about Turkey and if I can change just a few for a few people, it's more than worth it!

Then on Saturday at 2am, I drove my parents to the airport so they could go to Mexico. I got to Katie's house around 4am. The same day, Katie and I went up to see Gail, my aunt. We had a great time, it's nice to just relax and be with family. We shopped a little and had Chinese. =)

Today I went to the Chesterton Art Fair and I bought a small print of a girl and a bird. I should take a picture. I really love it. Then I spent a lot of time at Portage, my room is looking better everyday!