1.   And off we went, the first steps light and easy, Bart-Dog tugging at his leash, as we entered Plumas National Forest.

2.   And the first step toward the return of Mendoza to the bullpen, in spite of his success.

3.   As Jimenez takes his first steps toward citizenship, Thanh Ho and her six brothers and sister-in-law all are nearing the end of their journey to naturalization.

4.   Now, a consensus is growing among the community of nations that the first step toward reaching that goal and dealing with atrocities is a permanent international criminal court.

5.   Reaching the playoffs, of course, would be only the first step toward Subway Series I.

6.   The first step in bringing dead capital alive, according to De Soto, is to provide legal recognition to extralegal customs and relationships that have sprung up.

7.   Today marks the first step of what the Astros hope will be an unprecedented season.

8.   Last week, CWA workers approved the strike authorization, the first step in a three-step procedure for calling a strike.

9.   Often, a full accounting is the first step in reconciliation, sometimes the only step.

10.   Resumption of talks only a first step.