Still hanging on...just barely

I'm still in San Francisco. Not a whole lot to say tonight. I'm very tired, frustrated, not exactly happy. More tired than unhappy though, so I guess that's a good thing.<br /><br />Eating isn't perfect. I'm missing meals then eating too much when I do get to eat. I worked out Monday and Tuesday, but overslept today. Tomorrow I'll go to the hotel gym. <br /><br />I still want to go home. Maybe tomorrow.

Still hanging on...just barely

I'm still in San Francisco. Not a whole lot to say tonight. I'm very tired, frustrated, not exactly happy. More tired than unhappy though, so I guess that's a good thing.Eating isn't perfect. I'm missing meals then eating too much when I do get to ea…

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Where are YOU?

In a dark hotel room, somewhere near the San Francisco airport, my cell phone rings at 12:37am. I awake from a sound sleep to answer it.<br /><br />Me: "Hello?"<br /><br />Husband: "Hi!"<br /><br />Me: "Why are you calling me?"<br /><br />Husband: "I wanted to me make sure you're okay."<br /><br />Me: "Of course I'm okay. I'm home. I don't understand why you're calling me."<br /><br />Husband: "You're not home, you're in San Francisco."<br /><br />Me: "I AM home and I don't know why you're calling me. Just come talk to me. "<br /><br />Husband: "Diana, you're not home."<br /><br />Me: "Yes, I'm home! Where are YOU?"<br /><br />Husband: "You're NOT home."<br /><br />I try to look around to see where I am. It's pitch black in the room. Then I realize it's not my bed and I'm not home. It dawns on me, I'm still in San Francisco! My husband is home and calling me in San Francisco.<br /><br />It's very disorienting to wake up and not know where you are, or to think you're in one place and find out you're in another place. It's happened before, but this time I was positive I was at home and was puzzled my husband was calling me.<br /><br />I want to go home.

Where are YOU?

In a dark hotel room, somewhere near the San Francisco airport, my cell phone rings at 12:37am. I awake from a sound sleep to answer it.Me: "Hello?"Husband: "Hi!"Me: "Why are you calling me?"Husband: "I wanted to me make sure you're okay."Me: "Of co…

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Las Vegas II

Did you know that right in the middle of this desert city is a swamp? There is. It's a wetland preserved as a park by the County. Two of our folks from St. Matthew's work there.<br /><br />The swamp actually has water and watery plants. There are roadrunners, hawks, and all sorts of little swamp critters about. It isn't the Okefenoke or the Everglades but it is a bona fide swamp. And there are ducks, little brown ducks indigenous to Nevada.<br /><br />However, awhile back an eco-terrorist or at least a vandal released four domestic white ducks into the swamp. That was uncool so the swamp authorities rounded them up -- that is they rounded up three of them. The fourth was too smart, too fast, or too something. They could not catch him.<br /><br />For months, he eluded the swamp police. But there were occasional sightings, and more frequent quackings, to let us know he was still there. We called him Osama bin Duck. I heard a rumor the duck was eventually apprhended. He's probably in Git-mo by now.

Las Vegas II

Did you know that right in the middle of this desert city is a swamp? There is. It's a wetland preserved as a park by the County. Two of our folks from St. Matthew's work there.The swamp actually has water and watery plants. There are roadrunners, ha…

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L'Argonne fête sa rentrée

<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyCCUenLi02H6Os5d1C8lfcA8OYl9WIuLiXZZOhdQjAyoUVnbsIa0fxqddO9ijpX_COfoDxgYglrGMSAMLtNt24BMPi7yv0gXvwPVA9LISLjJhcOHloLD4Au8E_Z5uf4nWUc2Huzb0lHv/s1600-h/argonne+en+f%C3%AAte.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386909083349290162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyCCUenLi02H6Os5d1C8lfcA8OYl9WIuLiXZZOhdQjAyoUVnbsIa0fxqddO9ijpX_COfoDxgYglrGMSAMLtNt24BMPi7yv0gXvwPVA9LISLjJhcOHloLD4Au8E_Z5uf4nWUc2Huzb0lHv/s320/argonne+en+f%C3%AAte.bmp" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />Samedi 3 octobre 2009, venez rencontrer la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans lors du forum des associations et des services de proximité de l'Argonne.<br /><br /><strong>Lieu</strong> : Centre Rouget de Lisle - 8 rue Jean-Philippe Rameau<br /><br /><strong>Date</strong> : 03 octobre 2009<br /><br /><strong>Horaires</strong> : de 14h à 18h

L'Argonne fête sa rentrée

Samedi 3 octobre 2009, venez rencontrer la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans lors du forum des associations et des services de proximité de l'Argonne.Lieu : Centre Rouget de Lisle - 8 rue Jean-Philippe RameauDate : 03 octobre 2009Horaires : de 1…

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Hiring Manager Secrets

<a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/smartmove">How to earn extra cash in the tough economy</a><br /><br />Adapted from "Career Building: Your Total Handbook for Finding a Job and Making It Work" the Editors at CareerBuilder.com<br /><br />Here's the bottom line: You have to get a job, you have to go to work, and someday, you'll probably have to change jobs. "CAREER BUILDING: Your Total Handbook for Finding a Job and Making It Work" (Collins Business) is a one-stop guide for navigating all those times in your career.<br /><br />If you worry about every possible way you can blow a job interview -- from mispronouncing the boss's name to babbling incessantly when you don't know what else to say -- you're going to walk in there feeling like you're destined to fail. True, job interviews are rife with opportunities for you to embarrass yourself, but hiring managers are more forgiving than you might think. We consulted some hiring experts about what is really going on inside their heads when interviewing job applicants. They offered the following insights:<br /><br />They like you. They really like you.<br />Most hiring managers come to the interview wanting to hire you. They are hoping you are the best person for the job and can start when they need you. After all, you made it to the interview didn't you?<br /><br />Show you are confident, even if you have to fake it.<br />Most hiring managers come to the interview wanting to hire you. They are hoping you are the best person for the job and can start when they need you. Have confidence. If you are frustrated with your job search, don't let that negativity show to the employer. Your pessimism can be a turnoff. Even if it's a temporary attitude brought on by rejection, the hiring manager might think it's your overall attitude. After all, you made it to the interview didn't you?<br /><br />Don't apologize for being out of work.<br />A layoff can happen to anyone. What do you do if it happens to you? Don't be ashamed -- in today's climate, layoffs occur (unfortunately) daily. Many job seekers are in your shoes. Don't apologize. Instead, focus on the job you are interviewing for by showcasing your skills and exhibiting how you are the best fit.<br /><br />Target your job search.<br />While you don't need to possess every single skill listed on a posting, you should at least be qualified for the position and prove that you have transferable skills. Your targeted résumé will help prove you're a serious candidate and have the right qualifications for the position. If you're spending time applying for jobs you're not qualified for, you're wasting valuable time you could be devoting to a position that's a better fit. If you recognize where your strengths lie and what transferable skills you possess, you'll see better results than if you apply to any posting you come across.<br /><br />Get primed.<br />"Tell me what you know about the company" or "Why would you fit in well here?" have become staple interview questions, so don't be caught off guard. Shrugging your shoulders and saying, "I don't know" isn't going to score you points. Look at the company's Web site and read press releases and newspaper articles to see what's going on with your prospective future boss. In addition to prepare for the interview, you'll learn whether the company and its culture are a right fit for you.<br /><br />They don't want to hear what you think they want to hear<br />Interviewers have gotten very smart to picking up if someone's spewing something they've memorized from a book. By only saying what they think the employer wants to hear, job candidates are simply putting on an act, and employers can see right through that. You have to be yourself in an interview and you have to be sincere.<br /><br />They don't expect you to have all the answers<br />Employers are more interested in how you find answers to things you don't know than if you pretend to know something you don't. In some cases, the interviewer may ask a question that he or she doesn't expect you to be able to answer simply to see how you handle it. If you ever find that you don't know the answer to an interviewer's question, the best thing to do is to admit that you don't know, but either add that you could give an educated guess or provide a way you might go about finding the answer. Most important, if you don't know, don't try to fake it. Not knowing is OK. Making something up or pretending to know is not.<br /><br />They want you to want them<br />You need to express genuine interest in the job or the company. As much as the recruiter wants to sell the candidate on the position and company, the recruiter also wants to know that the candidate actually wants to work in that position or for that company.<br /><br />From the editors of CareerBuilder.com, CAREER BUILDING is filled with the statistics, tips and priceless information on job-hunting and working in the digital age, including good and bad résumé samples, using social networking, searching online, résumé "keywords" and e-mail mistakes to avoid. In today's unstable economic climate, CAREER BUILDING is the guide you can't afford to go without.

Hiring Manager Secrets

How to earn extra cash in the tough economyAdapted from "Career Building: Your Total Handbook for Finding a Job and Making It Work" the Editors at CareerBuilder.comHere's the bottom line: You have to get a job, you have to go to work, and someday, yo…

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6 Ways to Expand Your Job Search to a Different City

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fz/ar5c70t6vkq092jm3kfz.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fz/ar5c70t6vkq092jm3kfz.gif" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br /><div>Every day, more and more people are searching for work. And every day, there are fewer and fewer jobs available -- or so it seems.<br /><br />If your job search is coming up short, it might be time to start exploring other options. Expanding the job search to another city, for example, is one thing many job seekers don't think about when trying to land a new gig. While it's not ideal to have a longer commute or to pack up and move altogether, the stark truth is that some cities just don't have the same opportunities as others.<br /><br />So how do you go about landing a job in a new locale? Here are some ways to broaden your job search to a different city:<br /><br />1. Target your search<br />The first step in broadening the scope of your job search is determining where you want to look. You won't do yourself any good if you search all jobs in every location. Try two things: First, search for the type of work you're interested in and see what cities come up first in your results. On CareerBuilder.com, for instance, if you search for "nursing," Phoenix, Dallas and Houston are listed as the cities with the most job postings for that keyword.<br /><br />Or, if you know what city you'd like to work in, but are open to any line of work, search for jobs by location. If you know you want to move to Indianapolis, for example, use that as the starting point for your search. Your results will show you the industries with the most job postings, which you can narrow down yourself.<br /><br />2. Expand your network<br />By now you know that when it comes to finding a job, it's not what you know, but who you know. But what happens when you want to relocate and you don't know anyone where you are job searching?<br /><br />If you don't know anyone in the city where you are job hunting, turn to your social and professional networks for help. Clue your network in on where you are searching for work and ask anyone and everyone you know if they have any leads for you. Chances are that someone you know has friends or family in the area; or a contact of yours might have an old boss who relocated to the place you're looking. Perhaps someone you know knows someone else who can help you -- you get the picture. The point is, everyone in your network has a network of their own so don't be afraid to turn to them for help.<br /><br />3. Update your résumé<br />The fastest way to get eliminated for job consideration in another city is by not having a local address on your résumé. List your current address as your permanent residence but also include a local address of a friend or acquaintance until you get one of your own. Don't know anyone in the area where you're moving? Rather than listing a local address, include your targeted moving date on your résumé to let employers know you are serious about making the move.<br /><br />4. Utilize your cover letter<br />Your cover letter is the perfect place to discuss your plans to relocate. Explain why you are looking for work outside your current area, when you plan to move and any days you'll be visiting the area before relocating. Tell them you'll be in town for X amount of time and you hope you'll be able to meet with them during that period.<br /><br />5. Register with a local staffing firm<br />Staffing firms are extremely helpful in your job search -- especially when you're conducting it from hundreds of miles away. Many recruitment agencies have offices in cities nationwide and therefore, have knowledge about hundreds of job openings you might not know about otherwise. Register with a local staffing firm and let them know the other cities where you are interested in working. Your representative will be privy to the job markets in other cities and can share your résumé with colleagues in other places.<br /><br />6. Plan a visit<br />It's very hard to score a job from afar, so make plans to visit the area where you're relocating and set up an interview while you are there. If you can give employers a time frame of when you'll be available to meet in person, they'll be more likely to take your application seriously.<br /><br />Keep in mind that before you're asked for face time, it's likely that a hiring manager will want to talk to you over the phone for an initial screening. When this happens, choose a quiet place and have a copy of your résumé handy, plus the job description and any details you can disclose about your move.<br /><br />Although a long-distance job search can be trying, expanding the scope provides you with new opportunities, new contacts and will hopefully move your career in the right direction.<br /><br />Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br />by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer<br /></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size: 180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size: 180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> <br /></div>

6 Ways to Expand Your Job Search to a Different City

Every day, more and more people are searching for work. And every day, there are fewer and fewer jobs available -- or so it seems.If your job search is coming up short, it might be time to start exploring other options. Expanding the job search to an…

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The scar

<em>I'm in a hotel in San Francisco, alone. I'm here for work. I am not having fun. Major problems with my project at the airport. Back at it tomorrow for another long day. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I wrote the post below a few weeks ago but never posted it. Tonight, after removing my makeup, and staring at myself in the mirror, I could see the scar is really noticeable. It's because I'm tired and stressed. But when I smile, the scar disappears.<br /><br />Yesterday's pictures are there now, not sure why they weren't there yesterday. You can see the hooker shoes that I don't own anymore. And yes, I actually wore them a couple of times. Sometimes I'm stupid like that.</em><br /><br /><p><em>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</em></p><div align="center">The Scar</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMcTrgHqffwer2Cncrc4TAK4cYE8CEpRWt-I2rQPCvJFEegLWz1gb3OXfsqyxhyPATvlvL_lKijqP6TWv08dGDaSE8ZzZLmfl3Uws34N2ZetARlTMWyYf7eCtj0rQE1yh0108DEZmGkfC/s1600-h/lips.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386392561002928002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMcTrgHqffwer2Cncrc4TAK4cYE8CEpRWt-I2rQPCvJFEegLWz1gb3OXfsqyxhyPATvlvL_lKijqP6TWv08dGDaSE8ZzZLmfl3Uws34N2ZetARlTMWyYf7eCtj0rQE1yh0108DEZmGkfC/s400/lips.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 144px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 35px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />There's a scar on my lower lip. It's just a little vertical mark that crosses my lower lip line. It's not really noticeable to most people. When I get really tired, it becomes more pronounced.<br /><br />The scar is a reminder of a very bad time in my life. I was 22 and had fallen in love with a man 16 years older than me. He was a "recovering" alcoholic. I moved from Alaska to Oregon with him for what became the worst three months of my life. I had dropped out of my junior year of college to go live with him. I worked a menial job while he stayed drunk. I didn't have any friends or family in Oregon. I was alone, with my alcoholic boyfriend.<br /><br />One day he hocked my TV and stereo to get money to buy alcohol. These were things I had brought with me from Alaska. Then he stole a check out of my checkbook and cashed it at a bar, forging my name on it. It was for $50.00, which left me with almost nothing in my checking account. I had to go through my coat pockets to find 35 cents for bus fare so I could go to work. I still didn't leave. I thought I could save him. It was a very dark time in my life.<br /><br />One night we had an argument and he threw his dinner plate at me. It hit me in the face and cut my lower lip, leaving me with the scar that is still there to this day, some 32 years later. After this happened, I realized I couldn't save him. I realized he was a lost cause, and for my own safety and sanity, I had to get out.<br /><br />I called my mom and was on a plane back to Alaska the next day. I left everything I owned and didn't even give notice on my job. I didn't even call them to tell them I was leaving, I just left.<br /><br />I never spoke to my boyfriend again. He came back to Fairbanks but I refused to talk to him. He went to see my mother and said he was leaving Alaska for good. He gave my mother a letter to give to me. I remember it was in a very thick envelope. I never opened it. Instead, I stood at the kitchen sink and burned it.<br /><br />Why am I telling you about this? Because whenever I look at that scar on my lip, like tonight, I remember that horrible time in my life. I remember being scared and feeling hopeless, but I also remember pulling myself out of that horrible mess I had made of my life.<br /><br />It's like gaining 100 pounds. I remember feeling scared and hopeless then too. It seemed so insurmountable to lose 100 pounds. I felt trapped. The difference between the alcoholic boyfriend and me gaining the 100 pounds is this time it was me abusing my body. It was me beating myself up, being cruel to myself. I was making a mockery of my life. I would say horrible, cruel things to myself. I would call myself a fat ass, a fat pig, stupid and ugly. All the awful things that a mean alcoholic might say to me.<br /><br />Just like I wouldn't let my alcoholic boyfriend ruin my life, I decided to not let me ruin my life with my weight. It's strange how when I look at that scar that this is what I think about. I don't really think of him, but I think of the situation, how similar it was to what I did to myself. </p><p>It makes me feel a bit sad that I was so cruel to myself, but it also makes me feel strong and invincible now. I'm reminded I'm capable of anything. Surviving an abusive relationship or losing a lot of weight. In a way, they're a lot alike, it's just that in the latter case, the abuser was me.<br /><br />Who would have thought that a tiny little scar would have so much meaning behind it?</p>

The scar

I'm in a hotel in San Francisco, alone. I'm here for work. I am not having fun. Major problems with my project at the airport. Back at it tomorrow for another long day. I wrote the post below a few weeks ago but never posted it. Tonight, after removi…

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Achy Breaky Heart And The Kingdom Of God

Last Sunday we said goodbye to Fr. Ed Lovelady who is retiring from All Saints, Las Vegas. It was a fantastic service. It was tri-lingual and multicultural. A packed house. Great worship!!!<br /><br />Then came the party. One of my best friends, a Georgian of the gay persuasion, was visiting. At one point, I saw him line dancing, holding hands with Rose (Fr. Jun's mother in law) a Filippina from the Nothern Mountains. Other dancers included Fr. Arsi and Benadette, Fillipionos of the South -- different language, ethnicity, and piety. More of the dancers were Latino. And the music was: Billy Ray Cyrus -- Achy Breaky Heart.<br /><br />As I watched this wonder, even before I watched Fr. Ed whaling a pinata and scads of children scambling after the candy he broke loose, I thought to myself, "Sometimes the Church works. Sometimes the Church really is a Kigngdom event right here and now."

Achy Breaky Heart And The Kingdom Of God

Last Sunday we said goodbye to Fr. Ed Lovelady who is retiring from All Saints, Las Vegas. It was a fantastic service. It was tri-lingual and multicultural. A packed house. Great worship!!!Then came the party. One of my best friends, a Georgian of th…

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I give up

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm1NFCl8q9Nv0BRYAG7kr6D_P1EcTavpoxKoWgcPNBkoCQrt-nCLqaqlEpDAz2vX54DJlvFcV4qDmgyjsmvflgKdUmY8Arsc44K-Y4_O0MfXntUrw6Z4rn56-3h5Ntxx9Xzw9YLMN1E09/s1600-h/Size+7.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386762182915520562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm1NFCl8q9Nv0BRYAG7kr6D_P1EcTavpoxKoWgcPNBkoCQrt-nCLqaqlEpDAz2vX54DJlvFcV4qDmgyjsmvflgKdUmY8Arsc44K-Y4_O0MfXntUrw6Z4rn56-3h5Ntxx9Xzw9YLMN1E09/s400/Size+7.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />I give up on ever wearing these size 7, slim fit jeans. I've had these jeans in my closet since 1997. That was the last time I weighed 124 pounds and had a 27" waist. I remember I was shopping with my mom and when I tried on these jeans, they fit. I looked skinny, really skinny. I was ecstatic to finally fit into a size 7.<br /><br />I also remember I felt like hell. I was weak and tired and hungry. It was my vegetarian, starvation phase, and eating less than 10 grams of fat a day. When I'd bend over and stand up quickly I'd see stars.<br /><br />I never wore these jeans. I was only at the 124-pound mark for about three weeks. I proceeded to gain 120 pounds over next two years. These jeans have remained on a hanger in the back of my closet all this time. I pull them out every year or so when I'd start a new diet. They were my goal jeans.<br /><br />Today I was putting away my summer clothes when I came across these jeans. I've finally accepted it, I will never weigh 124 pounds again. I'm 5' 6 1/2" and 54 years old. It's an old dream, one from when I was 14 years old. It's time to give it up and accept my size 10 body. I can live with that, I can't live with feeling sick just so I can wear size 7.<br /><br />I'm also giving up on these shoes. What the hell was I thinking? I have a few 3-inch heels, but 4-inch heels are just a little too much for me. Both the skinny jeans and the red 4-inch heels went to Goodwill today. They'll probably make some hooker very happy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0YW0C7VDS0xDhDzQ80TE6HD5OvzuAxMOclLzTF9S_vChtJ-ceJbvtjG9ywO-IXw1aluQSPvDY9xWFVmg7xkrRJfKpOkFug84hyphenhypheniZSOcoywrzNUsC7Tnp-ArgDDQte1xZ_2cm_WAqKIu0/s1600-h/Red+Shoes.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386762196501476242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0YW0C7VDS0xDhDzQ80TE6HD5OvzuAxMOclLzTF9S_vChtJ-ceJbvtjG9ywO-IXw1aluQSPvDY9xWFVmg7xkrRJfKpOkFug84hyphenhypheniZSOcoywrzNUsC7Tnp-ArgDDQte1xZ_2cm_WAqKIu0/s400/Red+Shoes.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />Although I'm giving up on the jeans and the shoes, I'm not giving up on me reaching a healthy weight. I'm almost there, it's within my reach. Maybe it's not a size 7 or even an 8, maybe it's just a loose-fitting size 10.<br /><br />~Diana<br />162.2

I give up

I give up on ever wearing these size 7, slim fit jeans. I've had these jeans in my closet since 1997. That was the last time I weighed 124 pounds and had a 27" waist. I remember I was shopping with my mom and when I tried on these jeans, they fit. I …

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Planning de la semaine du 28 septembre au 2 octobre

<BR><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Le <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans<br />- le mardi 29 septembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 30 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/solidarits-nouvelles-face-au-chmage.html">Solidarités Nouvelles face au Chômage</a></strong><br />- mercredi 30 septembre de 10h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de gestion</a></strong><br />- lundi 28 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br />- vendredi 2 octobre de 9h à 12h30</li></ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 29 septembre de 9h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation </strong>- mardi 29 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - jeudi 1er octobre de 10h à 12h<br /><br /></li><li><strong>Préparation à l'entretien</strong> - jeudi 1er octobre de 13h30 à 16h30<br /><br /></li><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 2 octobre de 10h à 11h30</li></ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Information collective</span></strong> </h2><ul><li><strong>Boutique de Gestion</strong> - vendredi 2 octobre à 14h</li></ul>

Planning de la semaine du 28 septembre au 2 octobre

PermanencesLe Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans- le mardi 29 septembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,- le mercredi 30 septembre de 13h30 à 17hSolidarités Nouvelles face au Chômage- m…

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The best dinner ever!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX4Ouz8Z4mcKuD4Bwdr7LbWvKUzqHfFr7n3tlQ4NS0UI04_6y97dh2MJjxA4r6aLoAEvGcpHlTqAiH14ALks10njShLYu7BJ-KXsWRnHOPRu9HiRkKIGpHYlIaO3eCJY4o0hlkkxUvw87/s1600-h/Sprializer+004.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386011968054287458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX4Ouz8Z4mcKuD4Bwdr7LbWvKUzqHfFr7n3tlQ4NS0UI04_6y97dh2MJjxA4r6aLoAEvGcpHlTqAiH14ALks10njShLYu7BJ-KXsWRnHOPRu9HiRkKIGpHYlIaO3eCJY4o0hlkkxUvw87/s400/Sprializer+004.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />I've been following <a href="http://liaallen.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Lia's blog</a> for over a year. She's an amazing young woman. She reminds of someone with an old soul in a young person's body. She's figured out things about life that I'm still trying to figure out.<br /><br />Lia is attending a Swiss hospitality school. When she wrote about her sprialized zucchini with cashew afredo sauce, I asked her to post the recipe. In the meantime I ordered a spiralizer from Amazon.com, and it came today.<br /><br />It was so much fun to spiralize the zucchini, and it was really easy to use. I'm a nut for kitchen gadgets and this thing is great.<br /><br />Tonight I made Lia's <a href="http://liaallen.blogspot.com/2009/09/choice-and-recipes.html" target="blank">recipe</a> for spiralized zucchini with cashew alfredo sauce. It was absolutely the best thing I've ever eaten in my life. Seriously, it was that good. As I was making it I said to my husband you can sure tell she's a chef because there were no amounts in her recipe, so I winged it. It turned out fantastic!<br /><br />My husband, who never says something is really good unless he really means it, said it was one of the best meals he's ever eaten in his life. I have to agree, it was really good. Thank you so much Lia!<br /><br />I have no idea of the calorie count in this recipe. I used three tablespoons of the sauce and mixed it in with the zucchini, carrots, some roasted butternut squash and cherry tomatoes, a few shrimp on top and a little shaved parmesan. It's been three hours since I ate and I don't feel hungry. <br /><br />Good eats for sure!

The best dinner ever!

I've been following Lia's blog for over a year. She's an amazing young woman. She reminds of someone with an old soul in a young person's body. She's figured out things about life that I'm still trying to figure out.Lia is attending a Swiss hospitali…

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Picture-less Post!

Hey ya'll!! I'm in the south so I can say that right?!?!? lol So maybe KC really isn't the south, but it is further south than central Iowa!<br /><br />To give you an update, Friday was a day I wish I could have just stayed in bed. I woke up at 5am, was not motivated to get ready to go to work, my hair was not cooperating with me, I had to deal with demanding, rude people all morning at work, started to not feel well, and ended up taking the afternoon off.<br /><br />I was originally thinking I just needed to take it off because I was not focused and was having a bad day, but ended up getting sick early in the afternoon. I slept for about 3 hours until Kyle came home from work. I knew there was no way I would be able to do our 12 mile run. So Kyle, being the trooper he is, went out and ran 11 by himself. Wow...kudos to you hunny!! <br /><br />I ended up falling asleep before 8pm and slept for over 12 hours. But feel 100 time better today (Saturday)! <br /><br />This morning I ran a few errands, packed the car, and when Kyle got off work at 2pm we headed south to Kansas City to visit some good friends who just moved there last week. <br /><br />We planned to get there and watch the Iowa/Penn State game, eat some pizza, got the Twins/Royals game on Sunday, and then head home Sunday afternoon. So far it's been a great weekend!! We got here in great time, had some yummy pizza, and the Hawkeyes beat Penn State. <br /><br />Food wise though, that is another story!! Let's just say I will be a VERY good girl to make up for all those calories I've eaten!!!<br /><br />Hope everyone is having a SUPER weekend!! I'll be back Monday with another update!!

Picture-less Post!

Hey ya'll!! I'm in the south so I can say that right?!?!? lol So maybe KC really isn't the south, but it is further south than central Iowa!To give you an update, Friday was a day I wish I could have just stayed in bed. I woke up at 5am, was not moti…

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Cat on a hot tin roof

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg5jTPH0djatl4W0RxwEUdfPN3RPnt40Y78FLuowwogCnD14B3-a87Lgf1_E9oxLfmvxSNRkICS6G8JxJpdaHXsGGdzkTpjTgwIBlA47iJ7RD25pxWnbSJRh-48GMK5zNOEyZ7mkMyeWJ/s1600-h/Mickey+on+Roof.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385826822212922258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwg5jTPH0djatl4W0RxwEUdfPN3RPnt40Y78FLuowwogCnD14B3-a87Lgf1_E9oxLfmvxSNRkICS6G8JxJpdaHXsGGdzkTpjTgwIBlA47iJ7RD25pxWnbSJRh-48GMK5zNOEyZ7mkMyeWJ/s400/Mickey+on+Roof.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Not really a hot tin roof, but it is a cat on a roof. That's Mickey Mouse, my cat, on top of our roof. That's where he was when we came home Thursday night. My husband left the ladder up against the roof when he was cleaning out the gutters last weekend. Mickey figured out how to climb up (and thankfully down) the ladder. Really nothing to do with this post, but this post really doesn't have anything to do with much of anything.<br /><br />I have a very busy weekend to get ready for a business trip to San Francisco on Monday. Today it's Weight Watchers, gym, haircut, mani/pedi, and buy a new suitcase. I'm going to check a bag for this trip. My old bag was destroyed on the last trip. I rarely check a bag but it's a necessity for this trip because of the stuff I have to take with me. This time I'm going to buy the wildest color I can find, definitely not black. If I can find zebra stripe, I'm buying it. I'm tired of looking at a hundred black bags trying to find mine.<br /><br />I'm still counting calories and it really seems to be working. I've been binge-free since I started with the calorie counting on Monday and writing it in my journal. That's five whole nights of not mindlessly stuffing my face like a maniac. I consider it a victory of sorts, but I know I can't let my guard down for a second. I must remained focused or I could slip and slide right back to where I was a couple weeks ago, or worse yet, nineteen months ago.<br /><br />It's strange to go back to calorie counting because it's what I did 40 years ago when I started my first diet when I was 14 years old and wanted to lose ten pounds. I was a whopping 135 pounds and wanted to weigh 125 (I was 5' 6" and still am). I was an idiot. I never did lose the ten pounds. I remember getting down to 130 and feeling like I was starving to death. Some things never change.<br /><br />I hope everyone has a really great weekend, and like <a href="http://ronmichel.blogspot.com/" target="blank">Ron</a> says, remember to make healthy choices. <br /><br />~Diana<br />161.6

Cat on a hot tin roof

Not really a hot tin roof, but it is a cat on a roof. That's Mickey Mouse, my cat, on top of our roof. That's where he was when we came home Thursday night. My husband left the ladder up against the roof when he was cleaning out the gutters last wee…

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Doin' the Puallup!

We went to the Dave Koz-Brian Culbertson-Peabo Bryson concert last night. It was at the fair. Puyallup is where the fair is held, their slogan is "Doin' the Puallup!". That makes two things I kind of hate, jazz and the fair. At least I thought hated them.<br /><br />Surprisingly, I was wrong! Turns out I can appreciate good jazz. The crowd was so into the performers and the music that it was contagious. Completely different crowd than P!nk. About half African American and almost everyone was our age or older.<br /><br />My husband loves jazz so he was in heaven. I'd never heard of Peabo Bryson, but all his songs were top forty songs. He sang If Ever You're in My Arms Again along with some of his other hits. The concert was outside and it was extremely romantic.<br /><br />Dave and Brian were awesome musicians, and if you close your eyes jazz actually sounds pretty good. So it wasn't torture at all and I had a really good time. Not as good as at my girl P!nk's concert, but still good.<br /><br />This is what was torture, and where I really wanted to eat, deep fried twinkies and chocolate covered bacon. Yummo!<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXt7akeKUCCdHgW0GhJfr7a4lIgSDKH20mZSwvDtzq8pQBd2q7CAkUzoomcETn3gqWsxlYSroYBPRwMO9Or4GDx63PUA9LDIzB_-RHsyicuzzR_V7U1I6DbUEICEjJrOg80izu4y6ReSD/s1600-h/Puallup+Fair+2009+019.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385390676842442114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXt7akeKUCCdHgW0GhJfr7a4lIgSDKH20mZSwvDtzq8pQBd2q7CAkUzoomcETn3gqWsxlYSroYBPRwMO9Or4GDx63PUA9LDIzB_-RHsyicuzzR_V7U1I6DbUEICEjJrOg80izu4y6ReSD/s400/Puallup+Fair+2009+019.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> </p><p>Or here, the world famous 1/2 pound hamburgers at Earthquake Burgers:<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeVXQswXP3JQGN1bLZVAd0QIyZoUi6iS8UsTYTEvBm336jPuoWkSR9BxMrx4ZQWEu8gY3bgr8NkJOtre8hH_IvTwmmE2itAmAdxfF4cmeO_1TF2vI083858pu8X5ZwYG02gLYllxv0dEd/s1600-h/Puallup+Fair+2009+020.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385390693943661410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeVXQswXP3JQGN1bLZVAd0QIyZoUi6iS8UsTYTEvBm336jPuoWkSR9BxMrx4ZQWEu8gY3bgr8NkJOtre8hH_IvTwmmE2itAmAdxfF4cmeO_1TF2vI083858pu8X5ZwYG02gLYllxv0dEd/s400/Puallup+Fair+2009+020.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />But I was good girl and ate at the Mongolian Wok where I had a super healthy dinner of a ton of grilled fresh veggies and a tiny bit of chicken breast. No oil, it was all steamed. No rice. It was really good. Probably not as good as anything at the "Totally Fried" place, but it was healthy.</p><p>I had a scoop of Nitro ice cream for dessert. It was okay, not great. I only got it because I saw a show on the Food Network where they made ice cream with Nitrogen and it looked wonderful (it wasn't). Calories for the day was 1535 (estimated on the fair food, but I think I probably over estimated). </p><p>My chef, who gave me a ton of extra vegetables and "cleaned" the grill so there wouldn't be any oil on it and just used water. Now that I look at the picture of the grill it kind of grosses me out. Click on the picture to enlarge it and you'll see what I mean (nasty!).</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QgAbYHgV1emp2AB4CdIiBV0aob1QC8Lo574iSqlW4z9WScWNo4922dt_z7GBcREq4GzjCOlzoQAP3cWl6ZPQuhVDm6yV46S8Ji2FKJItezdkxMeTc9FKvCMY89_7i1uT5sGOqA6IPfbK/s1600-h/Puallup+Fair+2009+021.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385390702879990130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QgAbYHgV1emp2AB4CdIiBV0aob1QC8Lo574iSqlW4z9WScWNo4922dt_z7GBcREq4GzjCOlzoQAP3cWl6ZPQuhVDm6yV46S8Ji2FKJItezdkxMeTc9FKvCMY89_7i1uT5sGOqA6IPfbK/s400/Puallup+Fair+2009+021.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />There were two rides I really wanted to go on but my husband won't do rides with me. Long story but he almost fell out of a roller coaster when he was seven. He won't go near a ride. That's why when we go to Disney World or somewhere like that I take his mom. She'll do every ride with me, nothing too scary for her.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKAMpd3GyPMATGCPSe0BCbdwwWE479ap5va0TOP9nhya_8eY8oPq-LtaH1jHoLYJvuc54VLOGFWTnVS6Of7nL07jxCo09oRXZCvHMgTgxOEdEjC-AzYGEvKbgZmDqWHXyQcaI9A9WQt9c/s1600-h/Puallup+Fair+2009+035.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385391741135773090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKAMpd3GyPMATGCPSe0BCbdwwWE479ap5va0TOP9nhya_8eY8oPq-LtaH1jHoLYJvuc54VLOGFWTnVS6Of7nL07jxCo09oRXZCvHMgTgxOEdEjC-AzYGEvKbgZmDqWHXyQcaI9A9WQt9c/s400/Puallup+Fair+2009+035.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />This one had a huge line and looked really scary.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AH_5Yn7L92C563wS60Qx6Q594fhYLqbB4zyj_PF8GRli4ppya0UQO1xZ24ISnQT_Gq1MXXWgiV1Aabjd6QMuUIrBonSjXt5BhyphenhyphenDXi7lCjM1wgUSXFXJBfQ0DuJXh7yvKNeHFHUVQmUXV/s1600-h/Puallup+Fair+2009+030.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385391734795906306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AH_5Yn7L92C563wS60Qx6Q594fhYLqbB4zyj_PF8GRli4ppya0UQO1xZ24ISnQT_Gq1MXXWgiV1Aabjd6QMuUIrBonSjXt5BhyphenhyphenDXi7lCjM1wgUSXFXJBfQ0DuJXh7yvKNeHFHUVQmUXV/s400/Puallup+Fair+2009+030.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <p>It was a fun afternoon and evening. We walked around a lot after the concert and got home around midnight. Too late for a work night and second time we did something like this in two weeks. Thank goodness it's Friday!</p><br />~Diana<br />162.6

Doin' the Puallup!

We went to the Dave Koz-Brian Culbertson-Peabo Bryson concert last night. It was at the fair. Puyallup is where the fair is held, their slogan is "Doin' the Puallup!". That makes two things I kind of hate, jazz and the fair. At least I thought hated …

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S'ouvrir les portes des métiers liés à la maîtrise des énergies : visite d'entreprise le 09 octobre 2009

<BR><br />En partenariat avec la <a href="http://www.ffb45.ffbatiment.fr/" "target=_blank">Fédération Française du Bâtiment du Loiret</a>, la Maison de l'emploi du bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métiers liés à son secteur d’activité (développement de solutions, produits, matériels et logiciels permettant de maîtriser les énergies dans les bâtiments et habitations) et les actions menées relatives au développement durable :<ul><br /><li>le vendredi 09 octobre 2009<br /><li>dans les locaux de l'entreprise <strong><a href="http://www.wirecom-tech.com" "target=_blank">Wirecom</a></strong>.</li></ul><br />Différents métiers du Bâtiment seront ensuite présentés lors du Village des métiers organisé dans le cadre des <a href="http://www.ffbatiment.fr/FFB_Coulisses2009/Coulisses2009_home.html" "target=_blank">Coulisses du Bâtiment 2009</a> :<ul> <br /><li> Métallerie<br /><li> Plomberie / Chauffage<br /><li> Charpente / Menuiserie<br /><li> Maçonnerie / Gros œuvre <br /><li> Peinture / Finition<br /><li> Electricité</ul> <br />Enfin, les personnes intéressées pourront échanger de façon individuelle avec des professionnels dans le cadre d’entretiens « blancs ».<br /><br />Le transport est pris en charge par la FFB du Loiret.<br /><br />Le nombre de places est limité.<br /><br />Pour s'inscrire, contacter la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans : 02 38 24 18 03 ou <a href="mailto:accueil@news-these-days.fr">accueil@news-these-days.fr</a>. <br /><br /><strong>Départ</strong> : Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - à 09h30<br /><BR>

S'ouvrir les portes des métiers liés à la maîtrise des énergies : visite d'entreprise le 09 octobre 2009

En partenariat avec la Fédération Française du Bâtiment du Loiret, la Maison de l'emploi du bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métiers liés à son secteur d’activité (développement de solutions, produits, matériels e…

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A Day Behind…But Still on Track!

<p>I was quite lazy last night (Wednesday) so I didn’t get my post done for the day, exercise, or make supper! I ate a bowl of <strong>Reeses Puffs cereal </strong>(estimating <strong>6 points</strong>…and no picture), put my pj’s on, and was on asleep on the couch before 9pm!! Must have needed the time off for some reason!!</p> <p>Backing up a bit, I started my day out Wednesday was a yummy bowl of oatmeal!! This is one of my favorite ways to have oatmeal, a <strong>sliced banana</strong>, <strong>oatmeal</strong>, and <strong>chocolate PB2</strong>!!! A delicious bowl of <strong>5 points</strong>!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XS91fS4uEbA-LPW15-WgyI9QvY0jwvB70oUOSH3B-T9dDx2JOAL_kkEA05sCRrKxuIn_LcNW7miGrH8H0dGEl_oIIF1d3kApbi-dCe6IH6k-5R6J1WuAtEhkvRl5Kcet9P5oMMAjerq2/s1600-h/DSC04544%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04544" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR-DF8lbmPvjYDPpOvzyxC3AFUh3khV1QIuSJ3t6iEBW7_zyaB-hutzTFLnt13mr8EcdFXM6CfZQuDV-oGf7PxGLSixSfGwZO1FjdoiLUwZou3-yC2T0tVu1lh6xRwIgTt5FhLJ9btu22/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04544" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>I had my <strong>usual snack</strong> (aka “morning mush”) around 11:30….<strong>3 points</strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S6TUd5OjoZhmZwTLzgGz4ms2bjip4YxVfpi17aUgDQ8pUAn8UejzvOkgQC_8DOuLRTKe8q4oZMfYMfkfk3l12TwzFJ_zGx-8IJiuh1UQflsSniACMYowROn8AEi2J2VuwS1q36WT-iQP/s1600-h/DSC04545%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04545" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LCPoFbCofW4oJiVcFu_uyByzJI6Kz9ThjTnjDHZmgnLjKssprKsXW4ET3HRmFkTMxzMqAnH1DwNKVmKGyHsuC-AQBmqvF1nGyY9yP45wIZ1ulfZdW7EOg5TsZezolyU2VdSkfJ09sC_U/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04545" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>Once again, work got busy and it was past 1:30 and I still hadn’t gone for lunch. So I sliced up a<strong> gold delicious apple</strong> for <strong>1 point</strong> to get me through the report I was working on. I sure to love apples, but HATE it when the peeling stuck in your gums. OUCH!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzJ6k4TGh-aU33VYKn5TFZn6wwjyCi6LN7Geayt22hlYRVtDbvpag79aC1vEp4CYkMi6TW5pcEt18AUSnc0UXHxqWqVtTLVdlU5WZlSKS0eoflQmgHfkgxnQjcbAdQZzXpXbgpcneC2e7/s1600-h/DSC04546%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04546" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgnqIoUA-Q74gRfqJR7MgAjgw9ZRXHsKYF9HF4jILD65Z2vzFIyGEtwnlQujodJAW0XF1yWdqtb-xZwNolYVW5bbQOxYV1WmjX986WqDjnInPFvKjv3TmbK_kUSXvZ8FmLRRuKHWkvX2f/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04546" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>Kyle called and said he ran home quick for something for work and also let Abby out to potty. So techinally I was off the hook at actually go home over my lunch hour. So instead I went quickly across campus to Subway. I got a <strong>6 inch turkey & ham</strong> on <strong>wheat w/pickles</strong> and <strong>cucumbers</strong>! I’m estimating <strong>6 points</strong> for the sandwich. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPMv1K6yP8j-BzfcAsahyuhDKk9v0ShUg1aaa5oyxpwkLAnu0CnLXRnGgJCHY4dbxe8N7j5F9cgVfZXqhuh0t0RgV6AXlYL3bCC4UB8hwVb996ZUS-BPwd_O3KCAe3Dses0N9eO05qQLn/s1600-h/DSC04547%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04547" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJWROdBU9NR4RcQuFZsp8h_agguk3JmUSowyb5zoAhMbcitrD3zYSqaYhE_xVv7hHddcAuW3PpC7lR-HDsu4ipQHdU-mGJoslbw2HqEMGmQjN17RiF9FJ9AQ3XhoXBr-G4RJD1UpPtGQT/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04547" width="554" /></a>  </p> <p>I ended up running into an old friend at Subway I hadn’t seen in over a year, so it was good to catch up with him and hear about him family. Now if you noticed I photographed a sandwich AND chips, but didn’t include any points for the chips. Well it’s because they were soft! Not sure what went wrong there, but I called and they said I could bring them back and get a new bag. Which now that I think about it, I still haven’t done that!</p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 21/22 <br />WATER = 68 oz <br />EXERCISE = none</p> <p>Ok, so now you’re up to date on Wednesday…on to Thursday!</p> <p>My morning started out quite similar today! I couldn’t wait to have the EXACT SAME breakfast this morning!! I had a <strong>sliced banana</strong>, <strong>oatmeal</strong>, and <strong>chocolate PB2 </strong>(5 points)!! Yum-O!!! (notice my messy bowl…my oatmeal almost boiled over in the microwave!)<a><img alt="DSC04549" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuEdaCmki9v7wf5TcFbgWDQtAJ9q3zeUNjRAIs4V-PfljcCXMRc3pgfEDzeE9pzFRMKnxRKesN7L_bDuVU-UdDwMSXv9DE9HMSyptTg8ywPyWegrxAnJhHijYI4qqfkXGqYqTNjPQW_m8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04549" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>Yesterday I ran across <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/">this blog, Young House Love</a>. I think I could spend <strong>HOURS</strong> on it looking at all their great advice, before & after’s, old posts, etc!! <strong>Love it!!</strong> Well it kind of inspired me. I would say I’m an organized person, but not near as organized as this couple. So I took a few of their tips. One I really like for both work and personal, is instead of having random note pads and sticky notes all over, use just one little note book and then cross off when it’s done/accomplished. I already have a work one and personal one started and have a few things crossed off on each one too! This is just something small, but I think I will get things done more because I <strong>LOVE</strong> to check something off my list!!</p> <p>Anyway, sorry for the side-note! Back to food!! I had my morning snack today….in the afternoon! So today it’s called “<strong>afternoon mush</strong>” (<strong>3 points</strong>). Nope, don’t like it near as much! I think I’ll stick with it in the morning! :)<a><img alt="DSC04550" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN84iY-51Mj0Ur_aVHTkOguiOwkbeM6ml69b4o7ukBGQbkb7DcH83c4zuwpYk2Mr6PTWd78d9RZd8bEbcK8nCfsJOI6xvElpg4fMyR0madiRnh2bWKj2ydkbcPrsPlD_Q6vh3ptqJ3C1OL/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04550" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>I was on a roll “checking” things off my list in my notebook at work, I didn’t even realize it was after 3pm and I hadn’t eaten lunch yet. So I called Kyle (he had the day off today) to see if he would mind bringing me a sandwich and some veggies. He was coming to my office in the afternoon anyway to hang a few things for one of my staff members. And look what he brought me:</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="400"><img alt="DSC04551" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqjiGT_zBYoAGJJMyv_74KptpRYRjbs0c4exF80VfPsPWSSIrSR1HMTOPvgbhP_biaDbxPzSDeUopnk6f5dlQRF7hyphenhyphenMVvVxNwvwdkNZDR7SmaUrOxDa1EFITJ5zkI2MF2AJnsKs2Ijdru/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04551" width="244" />A cute little container with all kinds of compartments perfect for my lunch!! I didn’t even know we had these in the cupboard!! (Maybe I need to organize my “tupperware” cabinet!!) Thanks for lunch honey…delish!! <strong>4 points</strong></td> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5jOZjG-b_Jh2WvZKpXsvNLdfrYfmPI6Inka3ZoTjMfGWeepvWaHNZVMld0drgHTgrco5cK2XtDGAt-ig6BBVKR6Eb4YCnfmzE514I57N4exf9Okkrd7dqTnrlVe-4oyEJDN6ehYVuAzO/s1600-h/DSC04552%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04552" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dfWlCfh7tLAUJLvDZUJiVvD3XSUgDa_XK80FONBrvZbbeLDCD6js3Ze_rgUsu7YVSEAJ2UNRfCzC6XNvESeHL-iMukEkwYDnhfiT2bDl4wUazmNjdfj2LJGm9Skla1ablQLTKg0Ti0j8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04552" width="564" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>I ate my lunch at my desk while working away the afternoon. I headed home around 6pm and Kyle was still working away around the house. He cleaned the kitchen, put up a new shower curtain, packed the Explorer (we are moving some stuff to KC for some friends this weekend!!), did some “honey-do’s” at my office, and did stuff for his work!! What a productive day he had!! Thanks Hun!! :)</p> <p>I had ZERO ideas for supper. I had lots of cut up raw veggies, left over chicken, and not much else to work with. So I ended up making my own mix! I used <strong>3oz grilled chicken breast, broccoli, 1 oz velvetta</strong>, and <strong>2 oz whole wheat pasta</strong>. Mixed it all together and <strong>MMmmm, a yummy, filling 7 point</strong> (I’m going high on the points) <strong>supper</strong>!! I love it when things come together like that!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VzPQ4kjy1MLXM4eDTNeMteLg4SRUwzNDmqS2gxgGTUUTGHX4soSX5UY_-1tZSWo7IAxjUUcjcOpPbc29Ci5Tz8PCfOI32ahblswUKPUTiCbyl2nF2dqoaCaGF4PTRefnXYpJ1R_H7NlH/s1600-h/DSC04553%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04553" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzbXAWNoP4B7QuSZ5mGUIgGnbCi7TSKxinWpoaPwSmCF-_XWTGaLYhWAhOLRGYDrhI-rN7v8ovLPlIYNXjp9TwRRwlrVPmmBKMWqiuQLOh5BXdu8Ta3M0Bqp20rvxCNKedpITtJ_thscp/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04553" width="554" /></a></p> <p>I spent the rest of my night pampering my pup. Abby got her eyes cleaned (she’s part poodle, so her tears stain her fur), clipped her nails, bathed, and dried her! Now she’s all fresh and clean, ready to visit our friends in KC this weekend!!</p> <p><strong>THURSDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 19/22 <br />WATER = 72 oz <br />EXERCISE = none</p> <p>Hope everyone has a great night. Tomorrow’s Friday and that means we have a 12 mile run….eeekkk!! Hopefully it goes well!! I can do it….I can do it….I can do it!!! I also have the trip to KC to look forward to! </p> <p>Nite blogger friends…I know I’ve said this already, but it’s SO good to be back!!! :D I’ve missed you guys so much!!</p>

A Day Behind…But Still on Track!

I was quite lazy last night (Wednesday) so I didn’t get my post done for the day, exercise, or make supper! I ate a bowl of Reeses Puffs cereal (estimating 6 points…and no picture), put my pj’s on, and was on asleep on the couch before 9pm!! Must hav…

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Don't Go To Work If You're Sick -- Please!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fs/ar5c7zh5w9kf6kvtv0fs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fs/ar5c7zh5w9kf6kvtv0fs.gif" /></a><br /></div>Between October and March, the following scene plays out in workplaces across the country.<br /><br />Employee 1: "I think I'm coming down with something."<br />Employee 2: "Yeah, something's been going around. Everyone's got it."<br /><br />Never mind how annoying it is that something's always going around, thereby robbing you of much-needed sympathy. Every flu season it does seem that at least one employee comes down with something and, by spring, everyone will have suffered from it. <br /><br />Did you ever wonder why no one can seem to shake that ailment? One big reason is the constant stream of under-the-weather employees reporting to work. Yes, punctual, dependable colleagues are making you sick.<br /><br />In fall and winter, expect to hear a symphony of sniffles, sneezes and groans from employees who refuse to stay home. At first you might admire their tenacity to get the job done despite their own health. Then you realize their presence might make you and everyone else feel just as bad in a few days -- suddenly they're not so admirable.<br /><br />They'll be better off without you ... really<br />Employees have several reasons to go into work even if they're sick: a limited amount of personal days, a big project to finish, unpaid sick leave or the desire not to let down co-workers. In some instances, when you weigh the pros and cons of going into work, you might decide to clock in and hope for the best. These instances are probably rarer than you think.<br /><br />Tania Hall works for 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a service that removes unwanted items from people's homes. Although the company doesn't have an explicit policy on sick employees coming into the office, the prevailing attitude is that germs belong at home, not at the office. As bad as one sick employee is, an empty office is even worse.<br /><br />"The biggest problem is when a person comes to work sick and others in that same department catch it -- if there are only three of you in a small, though important, department and you're all away, it's a concern," she says.<br /><br />Camille McCaleb, vice president of operations and human resources at Creative Business Resources, cautions sick workers to think about their reputations when they groggily march into work, determined to get the job done.<br /><br />"[If you're] working from home while sick [and] trying to stay on top of pressing issues, [then] making phone calls, logging in to respond to e-mails or checking voice mails could be viewed as admirable," McCaleb explains. But showing up with a runny nose and puffy eyes? "A walking germ fest."<br /><br />Explore your options<br />Of course, simply staying home isn't an easy option for many workers. Physicians, construction workers and retail salespeople can't do their jobs from home, and during a busy season, their absence affects many people. <br /><br />If you find yourself in a similar situation, ask yourself if you can perform your duties without negatively impacting others. If you come in contact with a constant stream of customers, clients or patients, you're not only exposing them to illness but you're also presenting yourself as a red-nosed, coughing representative of your business -- an image your employer probably doesn't want.<br /><br />"If you're contagious, stay home," begs Mike Gugliociello, a senior account executive for The Sherry Group.<br /><br />Also, from a health standpoint, can your body afford to keep working without some down time? Sick leave is a chance to sleep and rest, not just an opportunity to lie in bed pondering how scientists got moisturizer into the tissues. If your body suffers, then your job probably suffers, and you're back to harming the business and your own career.<br /><br />Here are some tips for working during flu season:<br /><br />If you get sick, take the day off. Give your body a chance to recover so you can return to work as quickly as possible. <br /><br />Work from home if your boss and job allow it. You won't use any sick leave and you don't leave anyone else picking up your slack. <br /><br />When you can't stay home, try to limit your contact with others. No one wants to get too close to the sniffling person, even if you're not contagious. Plus, you probably aren't in the best mood and would rather not make small talk anyway. <br /><br />Make the appropriate arrangements if you will miss work. You know to call the boss, but don't forget to let your co-workers know if they're depending on you. If a colleague is expecting a project from you, send an e-mail to save a headache later on. <br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Don't Go To Work If You're Sick -- Please!

Between October and March, the following scene plays out in workplaces across the country.Employee 1: "I think I'm coming down with something."Employee 2: "Yeah, something's been going around. Everyone's got it."Never mind how annoying it is that som…

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Are Single Workers Treated Differently?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/c6/ar5d4k16qlxv0f6qccc6.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/c6/ar5d4k16qlxv0f6qccc6.gif" /></a><br /></div>In a classic episode of the TV show "Sex and the City," Carrie Bradshaw realizes that she's spent thousands of dollars on gifts for one of her married friends. With bridal showers, wedding gifts and eventually baby showers, she has devoted much of her time and money celebrating her married friends' life choices. It dawns on Bradshaw that, conversely, no one gives single people any kudos for their decisions to stay single or not have children.<br /><br />The episode makes clear that Bradshaw, the representative for singles everywhere, has no personal rift with her married friends. Her beef is with the culture that unjustly rewards one group of people over another.<br /><br />For many single workers, that issue follows them into the workplace. <br /><br />Different rules for different people<br /><br />A recent CareerBuilder.com survey found more than 21 percent of workers who have never been married believe their companies show favoritism to married co-workers over single ones. Even more workers who have never been married (nearly 30 percent) claim their company provides more flexibility for married co-workers over single ones.<br /><br />Ken Wisnefski, president of marketing company WebiMax.com, says that you don't have to make the same rules for all workers as long as you're appreciating the circumstances of everyone.<br /><br />"All workers are different," he reminds. "If you have the means, approaching all workers as an individual can have a positive impact on your business." Because he has a moderate amount of workers compared with larger firms, he can give individual attention to his employees.<br /><br />"For instance, I understand parents with schoolchildren may need to drop them off [or] pick them up from school. I know that employees living further away are concerned with the morning and afternoon rush hour. I know that it may be easier to call a single worker with an emergency rather than one with a family," Wisnefski says. But he also understands that his writer might want to go surfing in the morning, so as long as it doesn't hurt the company, the option is available. "Understanding them and their lives outside of work makes it easier to manage them and to get more production out of them."<br /><br />Parental rights<br /><br />Some workers think preferential treatment arises not from your marital status, but rather from your parental obligations. Jennifer Wakefield, director of public relations for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, remembers a situation that irked her when she was a bank teller in college.<br /><br />"I've not noticed a disparity between single versus married, but several years ago with a previous employer, employees with children received four hours of [personal time off] per month to attend school plays and functions," Wakefield recalls. "However, as an employee without children, I was not allocated time to see my nephew in school plays and functions."<br /><br />John Welton of Voce Communications agrees that the system is set up to accommodate workers with children, though he took a step to equal the playing field. In his office of young professionals, he's seen over half of his colleagues take maternity or paternity leaves at one time or another. They've also incorporated flexible work-from-home days into their schedules. Welton isn't bothered by the demands of his co-workers' lifestyles and realizes that everyone's situation is different.<br /><br />"Unless my cat gets sick, I don't have the same requests they do as far as motherhood, fatherhood or sick children," he explains. But he also realized that in his midsize company, every absent worker puts more stress on others, so he decided to ask for a much-needed rest.<br /><br />"I spoke with my boss, saying that after covering for over three paternity and maternity leaves over the course of almost a year, I needed one of my own," Welton explains. "I was granted leave -- we called it 'John's leave.'" He was able to turn his regular vacation time into an extended break. He came back from his break refreshed and ready to jump back in. Perhaps more importantly, Welton felt that his boss had displayed a great amount of trust and appreciation for his work. And that's something all workers, regardless of their situations, look for in an employer.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Are Single Workers Treated Differently?

In a classic episode of the TV show "Sex and the City," Carrie Bradshaw realizes that she's spent thousands of dollars on gifts for one of her married friends. With bridal showers, wedding gifts and eventually baby showers, she has devoted much of he…

Read more »

Are You Tuned-In at Work?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/f1/ar5d1py610w9ggct30f1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/f1/ar5d1py610w9ggct30f1.gif" /></a><br /></div>Stand on any street in your town and you'll witness a trend that began 30 years ago with the invention of the Walkman: music lovers walking around wearing headphones.<br /><br />The freedom to listen to the music of your choice without being tethered to a stereo changed the way people listened music. Consequently it also changed the way they performed daily tasks. Teenagers stuck in the backseat of the family van on vacation weren't forced to listen to oldies, and jogs through the park now came with a motivational soundtrack.<br /><br />Today, those clunky players have evolved into credit card-sized digital music players, and you can't go two minutes without running into someone listening to their headphones. You're probably one of them.<br /><br />Workers of all fields have embraced headphones in order to inspire them and to make their days pass more easily. Each of these workers, it seems, has their own approach to incorporating music into their workday.<br /><br />Online radio<br /><br />Many of today's jobs take place in front of a computer screen in and in a room full of cubicles. Although lack of privacy means you have to keep singing aloud to a minimum, access to a computer means you have every available genre of music available to you in the form of online radio stations.<br /><br />Vincent Paciariello, an account executive at D M Public Relations, has become an Internet radio aficionado who knows the pros and cons of various stations. He likes Sirius for certain talk programs, AOL Radio for its extensive catalog of genres and Pandora Radio to discover new artists.<br /><br />"I would strongly recommend everyone listen to music at work, if possible," Paciariello says. "It really lightens up the day and makes the time go by a bit faster. And most importantly, you are entertained for a long stretch of time doing a job that may not be so entertaining."<br /><br />The science of music<br /><br />Listening to music at work can be more than just fun for some people. According to Peter Quily, adult Attention Deficit Disorder coach, music can have a physiological effect on his patients who suffer from adult ADD. According to Quily, listening to music boosts the levels of neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that can help people focus.<br /><br />Some of Quily's clients listen to music when they can't focus or when they're performing a task they find boring. People who have ADHD often have dopamine levels that are low or quickly used up, and the music is a welcome help.<br /><br />For some of his clients, music is just another distraction that they don't need. And while many workers can't imagine a day without music, plenty of people, such as Jay Levitt, prefer to leave the tunes outside of work hours.<br /><br />"I took a break from my technology career to study music production at Berklee," Levitt says. "Now, when I'm working, I can't have any music playing at all; I'll get distracted because the bass player's out of tune, and I wonder which microphone they used on the singer."<br /><br />A song for every mood<br /><br />For music lovers, however, deciding what songs to play for certain tasks can be an involved process that goes beyond simply picking any random song.<br /><br />Alex Greenwood of EventPros, a communications and events services company, is a bona fide music fan whose workday has a constant soundtrack in the background. Chances are you'll find him listening to his iPod, which has playlists for various times of day and different activities.<br /><br />"I find music to be a great motivator at work," Greenwood says. "It makes a slow day go faster and often really does help me in the creative process."<br /><br />For research, he chooses listens to jazz, such as Miles Davis and Jaco Pastorius. When he wants to tap into his creative side, he relies on what he refers to as "mature pop," which includes artists like Shawn Colvin, Colin Hay and the Police, among others. <br /><br />Ted Kendall is another music lover who relies on the right song to keep him productive. He sees music as a necessity more than a luxury. Rather than tuning out noise, he's tuning out silence.<br /><br />"I have my own market research company. Much of my work is in writing reports and analyzing data, so I am often in quiet solitude working on the computer," Kendall explains. "So if it wasn't for the music options, I would be going crazy as I crunch numbers." When he travels, he takes his headphones with him so that he can listen to music if he has to work in someone else's office -- anything to avoid concentration-breaking silence.<br /><br />Kendall attributes his reliance on artists like Pink Floyd, Manfred Mann and Genesis to his 1970s upbringing. The music, he says, is rock that doesn't distract you from doing your job. Classic jazz helps is good for unwinding and relieving stress when work gets overwhelming, so he relies on Pandora's Thelonious Monk station to ease his nerves.<br /><br />"As the day winds down and my need to concentrate lessens, sometimes I crank up the three-chord rock classics to get the blood pumping and stay awake," Kendall says. "And I know this will sound strange, but I really enjoy Chicago and Beach Boys at times like this as well."<br /><br />Listen responsibly<br /><br />If you like to listen to music at work, here are some tips to keep in mind:<br /><br />Use headphones if you share an office. If you have enough personal space to use external speakers, make sure the sound doesn't carry into other people's workspaces. <br /><br />Keep the volume low enough to hear if your phone rings or someone calls your name. <br /><br />If you use speakers, remember to pause the music when talking on the phone. <br /><br />Don't sing aloud. In all likelihood, you're a bigger fan of your voice than your co-workers are. <br /><br />Keep the dance moves to a minimum. <br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Are You Tuned-In at Work?

Stand on any street in your town and you'll witness a trend that began 30 years ago with the invention of the Walkman: music lovers walking around wearing headphones.The freedom to listen to the music of your choice without being tethered to a stereo…

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Do You Prefer a Male or Female Boss?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/m7/ar5d0tk5x6ml52vs73m7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/m7/ar5d0tk5x6ml52vs73m7.gif" /></a><br /></div>A famous George Carlin observation goes, "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"<br /><br />You can find this mind-set at work. Double standards aren't anything new to the business world, and neither is sexism, for that matter. Women have overcome many hurdles to be taken seriously in the business world and to achieve roles as leaders. The downside to this success is that echoes of past prejudice can still be heard in conference rooms today.<br /><br />A female boss who is every bit as assertive and goal-oriented as the archetypal businessman will be deemed by some employees as mean and ruthless. If she's not as aggressive as the male stereotype, she's an emotional pushover. Essentially she can't win.<br /><br />But times are changing, and the youngest generations of today's work force grew up in households with two working parents. Female bosses aren't new or distracting to workers these days. But are they more or less preferred than their male counterparts? <br /><br />A creative side<br /><br />Neil Gussman works in communications at the Philadelphia-based Chemical Heritage Foundation and has experience with male and female bosses. In his experience, he has found women more qualified for the specific roles as leaders of a communications team than men.<br /><br />"In communications, the women I know in the top jobs get there through the creative route -- being an artist or writer who is also a leader -- whereas men get there through the account exec route, bringing in the money," Gussman says. "I prefer to work for a boss who knows the work and appreciates creative talent, so I have come to prefer working for women."<br /><br />Therefore his preference for women isn't related to gender as much as it's related to answering to a competent leader. Like Gussman, Rachel of New York has also found a better creative vibe among women than men. She prefers female bosses and has a better time relating to them.<br /><br />"I have found them to be more relatable, more kind and generous and better to brainstorm with (because I feel more comfortable with them)," she says.<br /><br />The good, bad and ugly<br /><br />BJ Gallagher, author of "Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Other Women," doesn't have a gender preference for her bosses. She worked full time at the University of Southern California before becoming a full-time writer. During her time at USC, she worked under three female bosses, each with her own personality and work style.<br /><br />Her first female boss was Sharleen, a boss whom Gallagher refers to as "the very epitome of evil." What did she do to deserve such hyperbolic condemnation?<br /><br />"She ran her office like Stalinist Russia -- keeping her staff at odds with one another by planting seeds of suspicion and doubt in each of our minds, instilling a fear that others in the office had been complaining to her about us," Gallagher recalls. "She encouraged tattletales, backstabbers and gossips."<br /><br />On the flip side was Terry, Gallagher's next boss and the antithesis to Sharleen.<br /><br />"Terry was bright and talented, and she was also kind, caring, thoughtful, gracious, compassionate and a good listener," Gallagher says. Perhaps most importantly she cared about her staff and demonstrated it through her actions. But Terry was not a weakling, either. "She was also firm and had a definite vision for where our organization was going. She was no pushover. She had principles and integrity."<br /><br />Unlike the nightmarish Sharleen, Terry had the respect and trust of her employees, men and women alike.<br /><br />The third boss, Liz, was somewhere between the previous two, which meant a new set of pros and cons.<br /><br />"Liz was a good person -- she had worked for many years with the Girl Scouts of America and had that nice Girl Scout kind of energy -- perky, peppy, outgoing and friendly," Gallagher remembers. "She was a wonderful person, but a lousy boss."<br /><br />While Liz had the skills to address any issues after the fact, she lacked the foresight to prevent them from happening. Gallagher also laments, "She rarely took the time to provide coaching or feedback to her staff, as she was always running off to some meeting somewhere. She was very frustrating to work for!"<br /><br />No better or worse<br /><br />Gallagher's experience proved to her that blanket statements about anyone, female bosses included, aren't accurate.<br /><br />"Just as there are many kinds of male bosses -- the good, the bad and the downright ugly -- there are many kinds of female bosses." In Gallagher's opinion, when employees have a definitive stance on whether female bosses are better or worse than male bosses, she thinks they're being too presumptuous. <br /><br />"I think Golda Meir, the former prime minister of Israel, summed it up nicely," Gallgher says. "'Whether women are better than men I cannot say ... but I can say they are certainly no worse.'"<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Do You Prefer a Male or Female Boss?

A famous George Carlin observation goes, "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"You can find this mind-set at work. Double standards aren't anything new to the business w…

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How Hair Plays a 'Part' In Your Career

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ql/ar5d0h97749vmggww7ql.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ql/ar5d0h97749vmggww7ql.gif" /></a><br /></div>Although polite society says that looks aren't everything, you have to concede that they mean something. Your first impression of many people is based on appearance. Their clothes, posture, height and even their hair.<br /><br />Siblings and sociologists John and Catherine Walter have researched how a person's image is affected by his or her hair part. Whether you part your hair on the left or right side of your head -- or not at all -- influences how others perceive you and possibly even how you perceive yourself. The idea behind their theory is that your hair part alters how others interact with you, thus altering how you interact with them, and so on. <br /><br />You know a bad hairstyle can haunt you for years to come (as anyone alive in the 1980s will attest), but you probably didn't expect it to have a lasting impact on your career.<br /><br />This is the hair-part breakdown, according to the Walters:<br /><br />Men who part their hair on the left are often popular and successful. People perceive them as strong. <br /><br />Women who part their hair on the left are considered reliable and intelligent. It's a smart move for those who work in politics or business. <br /><br />Men who part their hair on the right are seen as radical and open. These men should be strong enough to overcome the stigma against men with this part. <br /><br />Women who part their hair on the right are viewed as gentle and feminine. Because it is a more traditional style, it can affect how seriously they are taken. <br /><br />People who don't part their hair, can't part their hair due to baldness or use a center part come across as trustworthy and wise. <br /><br />With that in mind, here are some examples of famous faces and characters with a variety of hair parts. Let's see if the theory holds up to their job roles.<br /><br />Who: Rod Blagojevich<br /><br />Job: Indicted Illinois governor<br /><br />Hair part: Right<br /><br />Verdict: While you wouldn't consider scandal-ridden Blagojevich an open person, you can't deny that he fits the description of a right-parter who makes people uneasy and sparks negative reaction.<br /><br />Who: Condoleezza Rice<br /><br />Job: Secretary of state under President George W. Bush<br /><br />Hair part: Right<br /><br />Verdict: Although Rice had to be cordial to the heads of state she met with, she was probably not overly concerned with coming across as nice and fulfilling a traditional feminine role. Her need to be aggressive and confident when the time came probably means she makes a better candidate for a left part.<br /><br />Who: Queen Elizabeth II<br /><br />Job: Queen of the United Kingdom<br /><br />Hair part: None<br /><br />Verdict: The Walters' theory suggests that no-parters might "lack the flair" of the other parters, but they can still come across as trustworthy and wise. If you're the queen, you probably want to be perceived as someone people are willing to follow and listen to -- making Queen Elizabeth's tendency not to part her hair a good choice -- athough you rarely see her not wearing a hat or her crown, both good choices for distracting from your hair part.<br /><br />Who: Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) on "30 Rock" <br /><br />Job: Vice president of East Coast television and microwave oven programming for GE<br /><br />Hair part: Left<br /><br />Verdict: Donaghy is the epitome of the all-American guy whose charisma and charm help him become a beloved leader. Although he's a little eccentric, his success as a corporate big shot makes him a model left-parter.<br /><br />Who: Milton Waddams (played by Stephen Root) in "Office Space"<br /><br />Job: Collator<br /><br />Hair part: Left<br /><br />Verdict: The bumbling, lovable loser of the film "Office Space," Milton Waddams does not evoke any of the traits of a left-parter. The thick-spectacled worrywart feigns assertion, but ultimately is a pushover who exudes no strength.<br /><br />Who: Oprah Winfrey<br /><br />Job: Talk show host, radio host, business owner, avid reader<br /><br />Hair part: Versatile<br /><br />Verdict: Winfrey's hairstyles change daily, though she tends to favor no part and a right part. As a no-parter, she definitely fulfills the description of trustworthy and wise. When she declares an item one of her favorite things of the year, people storm retailers to get their hands on her recommendations. <br /><br />As a right-parter, she definitely supports the theory that these women are perceived as gentle -- after all, viewers need to feel comfortable with her. Though you'd have trouble arguing that Winfrey isn't taken seriously.<br /><br />If you find that your hair part does seem to correlate with how you're perceived, consider changing things up a little. Maybe you can impact how people perceive you. Or you can just have some fun, because they'll probably notice something about you has changed, but not exactly what. Just something to think about when you're standing in front of the mirror tomorrow morning.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

How Hair Plays a 'Part' In Your Career

Although polite society says that looks aren't everything, you have to concede that they mean something. Your first impression of many people is based on appearance. Their clothes, posture, height and even their hair.Siblings and sociologists John an…

Read more »

If I could bottle this up for later

You know the feeling, the feeling that nothing could make you eat something you shouldn't or eat too much or eat late at night. That super-human strength that comes from somewhere, that saves you from yourself.<br /><br />I've been binge-free for four nights in a row. I think this must be a record. Last night I was hungry around 11pm (late night), but I told myself breakfast was only seven hours away. I could last seven hours without eating. I think I read that tip in Dr. Beck's Diet Solution, or maybe someones blog. It worked.<br /><br />Writing down my food in a regular journal, adding up the calories is really helping me. Maybe it's because it's different or because I can see all the food I've eaten during the day, written in my handwriting. The calories have been between 1100 and 1500, the Points between 20 and 30. It's really working out to 1 Point equals about 50 calories, every single day.<br /><br />Whatever it is that's working for me, I wish I could save it for when I'm feeling weak. I'm trying not to over-analyze the situation as I tend to do in all areas of my life, which can ultimately ruin it when I overthink stuff. I'm trying to just let it be what it is...a good feeling.<br /><br />A big thank you to Miz Fit. I watch these <a href="http://mizfitonline.com/2009/09/21/monday-facetime-your-questions-answered-video-post/" target="blank">video</a> answers she did a couple days ago. The one about improving an area of your body that you know is going to be difficult really hit home with me. I hate ab work. In fact, I'll do anything to avoid it. Which explains why I hate my abdominal area so much.<br /><br />After watching MizFit's video, I added ab work to my routine. I've tried before but it's so hard and I hate it so much, I always give up after a day or two. I know it's really important to keep the body in balance. My back is very strong, my abs are very weak. A bad combination and could cause an injury when I lift heavy weights because my abs can't support what my back can lift. I need strong abs to support my back.<br /><br />For three days I've added ab exercises to my workout. Old fashioned sit ups on a slant board, crunches with an 8-pound weight, with a twist to the side on the up move, the prone bicycle knee to opposite elbow (killer!). A few others I found in magazines and books. My abs have been so sore each morning I can barely roll out of bed.<br /><br />Thanks MizFit! As usual, you inspired me!<br /><br />~Diana<br />162.4 <----going the right direction!

If I could bottle this up for later

You know the feeling, the feeling that nothing could make you eat something you shouldn't or eat too much or eat late at night. That super-human strength that comes from somewhere, that saves you from yourself.I've been binge-free for four nights in …

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Signs Your New Job Is Lousy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/06/ar5d7wt6grcn5hy01p06.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/06/ar5d7wt6grcn5hy01p06.gif" /></a><br /></div>Few of us will ever win an Oscar. We will, however, receive a job offer at least once in our lives. The moment that we get the call is the closest we'll get to hearing our name announced at an awards ceremony. All the hard work, heartbreak and worry that we won't be able to pay the electric bill were worth it. In that moment we realize that our new boss likes us. He or she really likes us!<br /><br />Securing a job means you can stop sending out résumés and waiting for responses. You can take that energy and focus it on worrying about the new job. Will you be good at it? Will your co-workers like you? Can you wear jeans on Fridays?<br /><br />More often than not, your fears are allayed within the first week on the job. Aside from a few growing pains, everything goes well (and you can wear jeans when the boss is out of town). But sometimes the job that was an answer to your prayers turns out to feel more like penance.<br /><br />In the first few days, you won't necessarily know if you'll love the job, but you can often tell if you'll hate it. It isn't hard to find plenty of workers who saw ominous signs of a bad job soon after accepting it.<br /><br />Run, don't walk<br /><br />Before you even show up for Day One, you might receive all the warning you need to stay away from the new position. <br /><br />Sophie Martin went on six interviews with the company before being offered and accepting her new position -- news she happily shared with friends via e-mail.<br /><br />"Within five minutes of that e-mail going live, I got a call from a business associate telling me that I should try to get out of the new job," she recalls. "The words 'founder syndrome' and 'chew people up' came up in that call, and truer words, as they say. I lasted six months -- the last three were spent looking for a new job."<br /><br />Mistina Picciano, president of Market It Write, ran into a similar situation when she accepted a job.<br /><br />"One week before I started my first corporate job, I went to a party and mentioned that I was starting work at this company as a staff writer. A woman stared at me with huge eyes and said she had interviewed for that job two years earlier," Picciano says. "She had received an anonymous phone call at home, telling her to run away."<br /><br />The warning wasn't unfounded. <br /><br />"Sure enough, when I started work, my manager was taking me around the building, introducing me to people. At least two people smiled, shook my hand and explained that they probably wouldn't bother learning my name; people in my position typically lasted no more than two months."<br /><br />Professionalism, or a lack thereof<br /><br />Even the most laid-back employee expects a semblance of professionalism at work -- not necessarily a corporate uniform of suits and pantyhose, but common courtesy and respect from colleagues. Of all people, the boss should be setting a good example for you and your co-workers.<br /><br />"Well, the first sign that my new state university academic adviser job was a bad move was the fact that my future boss arrived 35 minutes late for our interview, breezing in after taking two of my future co-workers to lunch," recalls Carmin Wharton, founder and CEO of e-BlackWomenNetwork.com. "She never acknowledged she was late, and of course, you can't apologize for what you don't acknowledge."<br /><br />Sherri Bergman, director of marketing for St. Andrew's-Sewanee School, had to wait a little longer to get a glimpse of her boss's unprofessionalism during a previous temp job -- but it still didn't take long.<br /><br />"Within the first week of the job, the boss -- who managed a staff of probably 30-40 -- was coming into my office to tell me how glad he was that I was there because the rest of his employees were so incompetent," she says. "I didn't take that as a good sign -- not because of my colleagues' potential incompetence, but because of the unprofessionalism of any manager who would confide this sort of information to a temp." Bergman chose not to stay with the company and took a permanent position elsewhere.<br /><br />Money woes<br /><br />Everybody experiences a money shortage once or twice. That's a reason many people look for a new job in the first place. For that reason you'd like to think your employer is a reliable solution to your financial concerns. Unfortunately, that's not always the case, and it's often a sign that something worse is afoot.<br /><br />Mike Wright was a disc jockey whose friend offered him a job, which he accepted. The husband and father of a 1-year old knew quickly that he made a mistake when his first paycheck bounced. Shortly thereafter the radio station went bankrupt.<br /><br />Marketing consultant Jenny Tallis had a similar experience, only her paycheck was the problem for a different reason.<br /><br />"I was hired as a marketing director in the year 2000 and after I got settled, I asked the accounting person for the marketing budget so I could plan next year's expenses. His reply? 'There isn't one. We spent it all on your salary,'" she remembers. "He wasn't kidding."<br /><br />And the rest ...<br /><br />Given the chance to tell about warning signs that their new jobs were lousy, workers offered a bevy of stories. Here are more clues that you should be wary of a job:<br /><br />"Someone was always crying in the office."- Anonymous <br /><br />"You get yelled at for not knowing the format for a document and scolded for not paying attention to the training session. My response: 'There was no training session.'" - Anonymous <br /><br />"The computerized system consisted of three-by-five cards." - Joni Daniels, Daniels and Associates. <br /><br />"Your new boss comes in Monday morning on your first day and tells you she gave notice on Friday. [And] your predecessor left without a new job on the horizon." - Gaea L. Honeycutt, president of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting. <br /><br />"On my first day, they showed me to the reception desk and said, '...and this is your new office.'" - Mary K. LaFrance, founder of marketing agency HELP Virtual. <br /><br />"I took a job as an operator in a call center. Only to find out it was a big room full of phone sex operators!" - Christine Haynes, owner of Fezelry Jewlery Designs. <br /><br />Remember to be on the lookout for red flags in the interview, offer or salary negotiation. Hopefully any first-day snafus you experience are minor hiccups. But if they resemble the stories above, you might want to start sending out résumés again.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Signs Your New Job Is Lousy

Few of us will ever win an Oscar. We will, however, receive a job offer at least once in our lives. The moment that we get the call is the closest we'll get to hearing our name announced at an awards ceremony. All the hard work, heartbreak and worry …

Read more »

Exercise is not optional

At least once a week someone will ask me what motivates me to exercise. They want to know my secret. When I tell them I like how it makes me feel, or I want to live longer and be healthier, keep my weight down, wear cute clothes, they nod in agreement, but I can tell they don't really get it. They still want to know how I do it. <br /><br />I wish I did have a secret to share with people, that would motivate them to exercise. There just isn't any secret, but there are a few things I can share that might help.<br /><br />When I weighed 240 pounds it hurt a lot to exercise. I would feel a pain in my chest, my asthma would flare up and I could barely breathe, my feet would ache and hurt, even on the elliptical machine. It was pure and utter torture. In the beginning I would only do cardio for 30 minutes, four days a week. Every day I thought I was going to die. Every day, I wanted to die. <br /><br />As much as I hated it in the beginning, I knew not exercising wasn't an option for me. I was 53 at the time (19 months ago) and knew the importance of exercise for someone my age. I didn't want to be one of those frail, old ladies that can barely walk. That's not for me.<br /><br />I kept telling myself that working out was just something I had to do every day, like brushing and flossing my teeth, I have to work my body. <br /><br />As the weight started coming off, it got a little bit easier, but not a lot. When I had lost forty pounds and added in some weight training I could actually work out for an hour. It still kind of hurt, especially my left foot. I don't know what was wrong with it, but it hurt like the devil. My foot doesn't hurt at all now and my asthma has dissappeared. <br /><br />When I got down to 180 pounds I hired a personal trainer. This was the thing that really got me hooked on strength training and doing interval cardio. She showed me several stength exercises and how to maintain proper form. She also had me workout on every piece of equipment in the gym. Having a personal trainer was the smartest and best thing I've ever done for myself. I should have done it sooner.<br /><br />A couple tips on hiring a personal trainer. First of all, don't just walk into your gym and say you want to hire a trainer and slap down $110 an hour for ten sessions. Yes, they really wanted $1,100 from me and that was for the "cheap" trainer. Crazy! I almost did it, but after watching the trainers at my gym standing around with their clients with bored looks on their faces, I thought no way was I going to pay someone to do that. <br /><br />I was lucky because I got to know my aerobics instructor at the YMCA I was going to at the time (I had two gym memberships for about a year). She was an amazing aerobics teacher. I totally loved her enthusiasm. She had a great personality, was funny and put together really fun workouts with great music. When I found out she also did personal training I hired her immediately. Through the YMCA the sessions were only $30. Ten sessions for $300. The deal of a lifetime. <br /><br />Search around to find someone you like. Before you hire the person, interview them, watch them on the job, training someone. Do they act like they care or do they act like they'd really rather be somewhere else? I can't imagine anything worse than working out with a trainer that doesn't have a sincere interest in helping you.<br /><br />I really think exercise is the key to this whole thing of losing weight and keeping it off. Even though my eating hasn't been perfect, and I still have weight to lose, I've been in the same 10-pound range for nine months. Probably the longest I've ever kept off a significant amount of weight. <br /><br />So if you're struggling with the idea of exercise, all I can say is yes, it's hard, it hurts, it's not fun in the beginning. Actually it was a little piece of hell on earth, but after a few months it gets easier. You just have to do it, it's not optional.

Exercise is not optional

At least once a week someone will ask me what motivates me to exercise. They want to know my secret. When I tell them I like how it makes me feel, or I want to live longer and be healthier, keep my weight down, wear cute clothes, they nod in agreemen…

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Do You Have TWHD?

Vacation guilt syndrome, afternoon flu, procrastination blues and take work home disorder. You may not have heard of these conditions, but chances are you've suffered from them. Though fictional, these "illnesses" could have a big impact on your career.<br /><br />Here are a few examples of common workplace ailments and prescriptions for recovering from them:<br /><br />Ailment No. 1: Vacation guilt syndrome<br /><br />Diagnosis: This syndrome doesn't discriminate, keeping countless workers at the office five days a week, 52 weeks a year. It's all too easy to come up with a reason you can't take a vacation. Excuses include having too much work to do, not wanting to ask someone else to take on your assignments or worrying that you'll forget to complete everything before you leave. Any of these can cause you to feel guilty and forgo some necessary days away from work.<br /><br />Prescription: Plan ahead. It helps to notify manager as early as possible, so you can work prepare for your time away from work. Together, you can determine who will take on your assignments while you're gone and which projects can wait for your return. Also, use your out-of-office functions so people who call or e-mail you know that you're away, whom they should contact in the interim and when you'll return. With preparation, you'll be able to take a much-needed break and come back to work refreshed.<br /><br />Ailment No. 2: Afternoon flu<br /><br />Diagnosis: After a long day, the afternoon rolls around and suddenly you feel your energy wane. Tackling another assignment seems impossible. Instead, you're thinking about heading home and hoping the clock will suddenly speed forward a few hours.<br /><br />Prescription: Reorganize and rejuvenate. If you're consistently dragging toward the end of the day, you might need to organize your schedule differently. By taking on urgent and thought-intensive tasks in the morning, you can focus on low-priority assignments that don't require as much concentration later in the afternoon. Don't forget to take a break, go for a short walk or eat a light snack to keep your energy level high. If a last-minute emergency arises, you'll be better able to tackle it.<br /><br />Ailment No. 3: Procrastination blues<br /><br />Diagnosis: You most likely get the blues when a particularly tough project looms, rendering you unable to tackle it for days, if not weeks. You're convinced it will take too long, involve work that doesn't interest you or prove too difficult. Whatever the reason, your tasks continue to pile up.<br /><br />Prescription: Break projects into smaller portions. Instead of allowing an assignment to remain unattended, break it into more easily accomplished parts. For instance, if you're indexing a box of documents, separate them into small, manageable piles. Tackling the piles one at a time will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed and allow you to make gradual progress. Before you know it, the project will be finished and off your desk.<br /><br />Ailment No. 4: Take work home disorder (TWHD)<br /><br />Diagnosis: This malady seems to strike at the busiest, most stressful times. When afflicted, you've fallen so far behind in your assignments that you're forced to take work home with you at night and over weekends.<br /><br />Prescription: Develop a game plan. Preparation and focus are the keys to efficiency at the office. At the end of each day, invest some time in identifying the next day's tasks and ranking them in terms of priority. Review your to-do list in the morning to ensure you start the day by focusing on the most important projects. By taking care of pressing tasks early in the day, you have a better chance of being finished with everything by the time you go home. If you find yourself with chronic TWHD, you should talk to your manager about re-evaluating your workload.<br /><br />Informing yourself about these ailments will give you the tools needed to fend them off and keep working as efficiently and effectively as ever. If only avoiding a common cold were as easy.<br /><br />Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Do You Have TWHD?

Vacation guilt syndrome, afternoon flu, procrastination blues and take work home disorder. You may not have heard of these conditions, but chances are you've suffered from them. Though fictional, these "illnesses" could have a big impact on your care…

Read more »

Is Your Job Germy?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/4x/ar5b3qf66tvcfsbrm64x.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/4x/ar5b3qf66tvcfsbrm64x.gif" /></a><br /></div>Did you know that the average toilet seat is 400 times cleaner than your desk? Or that there are more than 10 million germs on the average desktop?<br /><br />But how can that be, when either you or someone else is cleaning your desk every day?<br /><br />For starters, workers who diligently wipe down their desktops are essentially just giving germs a free ride, says Dr. Charles Gerba -- aka "Dr. Germ" -- a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, who conducted a study on germs in the workplace. Instead, you have to kill them on the spot using a disinfectant or sanitizer. <br /><br />Workers are also spending more time at their desks. According to a recent survey by the American Dietetic Association, 57 percent of workers snack at their desks at least once a day. More than 75 percent of workers "only occasionally" clean their desks before eating and 20 percent never do. <br /><br />"As people spend more time at their desks, germs find plenty to snack on," Gerba says. "Desks are really bacteria cafeterias. They're breakfast buffets, lunch tables and snack bars, as we spend more and more hours at the office." <br /><br />Your desk isn't the only thing harboring germs. Essentially, your entire office is a petri dish of viruses, bacteria and other germs. Your phone, mouthpiece, keyboard, light switches, buttons on the elevator, door handles, right down to the papers you drop off for approval at your boss's desk -- each of these things is loaded with countless microbes that you come in contact with every day. In one study, Gerba and his researchers found that an infected person can leave a trail of viruses on every surface he touches -- and viruses can survive on surfaces for up to three days.<br /><br />For his study, Gerba and his team collected samples from private offices and cubicles in Tucson, Ariz., and Washington, D.C. The study, funded by The Clorox Co., tested more than 616 surfaces in the office and deduced which harbored the most germs. Then, they studied surfaces in the workplaces of people in different professions to determine which were the "germiest."<br /><br />Here are nine of the germiest jobs, in order from most to least germy, and how they stacked up to each other. <br /><br />1. Teacher<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 17,800 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Kids' desktops are probably the dirtiest object in a classroom. Additionally, when children turn in tests and assignments, they hand in germs, too. Teachers had 5 1/2 times more germs on their phones, nearly twice as many germs on their computer mice and nearly 27 times more germs on the computer keys than other professions studied in a survey done by researchers at the University of Arizona.<br /><br />Salary*: $44,137/year<br /><br />2. Accountant<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 6,030 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Accountants tend to spend a great deal of time behind their desks, which as previously mentioned often retain the most germs. Accountants' desks and pens ranked No. 1 in the study as most germy, averaging 12,600 and 2,350 bacteria per square inch, respectively.<br /><br />Salary: $46,171/year<br /><br />3. Banker<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 5,400 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Everyone knows how dirty money is. When you think about the one core duty of bankers -- handling money -- it's no surprise the germs bankers come in contact with. Surfaces used by bankers came in third behind teachers and accountants as having the most bacteria. Compared with other professions, however, bankers had the least germy computer keyboards.<br /><br />Salary: $22,099/year (as a bank teller)<br /><br />4. Radio DJ<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 3,323 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Radio DJs often work in shifts, with several people coming in and out of the station a day. It's doubtful that each of these people disinfects every button, switch, control and headset in between their shift and the next person's. As we said before, an infected person can leave a trail of viruses on every surface he touches -- so many people using the same equipment is bound to garner a lot of bacteria.<br /><br />Salary: $42,707/year<br /><br />5. Doctor<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 2,620 <br /><br />Why it's germy: As professionals who serve sick people, it's no surprise doctors are their own source of germs. Likely culprits for carrying germs are the medical charts that switch so many hands each day, which is why many health care facilities are pushing for electronic medical records.<br /><br />Salary: $123,147/year<br /><br />6. Television producer<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 2,460 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Television producers tend to spend their days overseeing writers, directors and editors, while also conducting meetings and editing TV segments. All of these responsibilities add up to lots of physical contact with humans and items that cart around germs. In Gerba's study, TV producers had the least germy computer mice, averaging only 375 bacteria per square inch.<br /><br />Salary: $65,930/year<br /><br />7. Consultant<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 1,250 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Consultants work in a variety of environments but most share the goal of defining problems and providing solutions for companies. To do so, they need to conduct studies, surveys and interviews. The problem is, as a consultant, you work with so many companies and in so many offices, you never really know the environment you're working in -- or what kinds of germs you're coming in contact with.<br /><br />Salary: $152,423/year<br /><br />8. Publicist<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 1,020 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Publicists have multiple clients with whom they keep in contact every day. As a result, they spend most of their time at their desks, communicating via telephone and on the computer -- the top three places that harbor the most germs. Surprisingly, out of all the occupations, publicists had the least germy telephones.<br /><br />Salary**: $49,800/year<br /><br />9. Lawyer<br /><br />Average amount of bacteria per square inch: 900 <br /><br />Why it's germy: Though many people picture lawyers as sitting behind their desks all day, lawyers had the least germy desks, averaging just 263 bacteria per square inch. This is probably because lawyers tend to be everywhere but their desks; instead, they spend their times in courtrooms, jails, interrogation rooms and other germ-infested environments. Plus, they probably shake a lot of hands.<br /><br />Salary: $90,414/year<br /><br />*U.S. national average salaries according to CBSalary.com <br /><br />** According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="mailto:http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Is Your Job Germy?

Did you know that the average toilet seat is 400 times cleaner than your desk? Or that there are more than 10 million germs on the average desktop?But how can that be, when either you or someone else is cleaning your desk every day?For starters, work…

Read more »