The Gorge at George - Lilith Fair this weekend

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP4nkHfMAzDDoNBotYqRjjFSuwdBA1mzbUiOqd0na_ylJh76bxBcG3Rwnf3hpNAQ5i_Z0QxrGdgAdV0oL64gXAS60os_49kp_IU7_5BApWLDj3u009wFFuOkWPobPKTgK5Zd8T_D3njWJ/s1600/lilith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFP4nkHfMAzDDoNBotYqRjjFSuwdBA1mzbUiOqd0na_ylJh76bxBcG3Rwnf3hpNAQ5i_Z0QxrGdgAdV0oL64gXAS60os_49kp_IU7_5BApWLDj3u009wFFuOkWPobPKTgK5Zd8T_D3njWJ/s400/lilith.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My company gave away some tickets to the Lilith Fair for this weekend at the Gorge, WA amphitheater. I've only been there once before, about 15 years ago to see Carly Simon (free tickets from my company then too).<br /><br />It's a super fun place for a concert. It's going to be 79 degrees, and I'm so excited. I really had no idea what the Lilith Fair was all about, just that Sheryl Crow was going to be there, and I love her.<br /><br />I won the tickets, and told my husband we were going to see Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLaughlin, Colbie Caillat and several other female artists. <br /><br />When my girlfriend at work asked me who was going with me, I said Jack of course. She giggled, and asked me if I knew what the Lilith Fair was all about. I told her of course, it a lot of female musicians singing at the Gorge. She said yes, but mostly women attended, mostly lesbians. That doesn't bother me, they're just women. <br /><br />I was pretty sure this wouldn't bother my husband either, but I asked him about it last night. He said he could care less if it was mostly women, straight or not. What was the big deal and why did I think he'd care? He just wanted to see Sheryl Crow, because, well, you know, she's a really good singer (translation...yes she sings great but she's also hot). <br /><br />It's a three-hour drive from our house, and we're staying in nearby Ephrata, WA overnight. It should be fun , and I'll have tons of pictures to post when I get home. Now I can't wait for the weekend!<br /><br />Then in a another ten days I'll be Alaska bound to visit family! Things are looking up!<br /><br />Plus, I have vacation starting July 15. Woohoo!

The Gorge at George - Lilith Fair this weekend

My company gave away some tickets to the Lilith Fair for this weekend at the Gorge, WA amphitheater. I've only been there once before, about 15 years ago to see Carly Simon (free tickets from my company then too).It's a super fun place for a concert.…

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Hello and goodbye Portland, Oregon

I was in Portland today, all day. Well, not actually Portland the city, more like Portland our offices near the airport. I was working with another developer to help get her to speed on a project I'm working on. Super sweet lady, with a EE Masters (Electrical Engineering). In other words, much smarter than me, and really nice.<br /><br />It's always sort of awkward trying to teach someone something when I know they're light years more intelligent than me. It all worked out, and I have no doubt she'll quickly figure it out.<br /><br />This really messed up my day since I didn't have time to get the gym this morning. I had to catch an early flight and working out before the flight wasn't possible. I was so drained afterwards that going to the gym wasn't really an option either.<br /><br />I also didn't take a lunch and only had a twenty minute break, which meant I couldn't leave the office. I bought a tuna fish sandwich out of the lunchroom vending machine. It had an expiration date of today. It was disgusting with dried up tuna salad . I'd rather starve than eat it so it went right into the trash.<br /><br />My coworker had some whole grain Goldfish graham crackers that she shared with me (delicious, taste like little cookies), which had 8 grams of sugar per serving. Along with a V-8 juice, that was my lunch. Not the healthiest thing I've ever eaten but it was better than nothing.<br /><br />I'm just glad today is over and back to my regular schedule tomorrow. The whole airport experience and traveling, even a short distance, just exhausts me. Early to bed and tomorrow the gym and healthy eating.

Hello and goodbye Portland, Oregon

I was in Portland today, all day. Well, not actually Portland the city, more like Portland our offices near the airport. I was working with another developer to help get her to speed on a project I'm working on. Super sweet lady, with a EE Masters (E…

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Istanbul Of The American West

Austin, NV – named for Austin, TX but that’s where the resemblance ends – got its start when Wm. Talcott, a Pony Express agent, discovered silver at this point along the legendary trail that is today Highway 50, “the loneliest road in America.” The silver boom is long gone, but Austin remains the richest source of entertainment in Nevada. I say this with all due deference to the Strip. This weekend was my annual visit to St. George’s, Austin.<br /><br />Saturday evening began with dinner – a meatball sandwich – at the Last Chance Saloon on the east edge of town. Despite its name The Last Chance is “a clean well lighted place” (Hemmingway) with a homey atmosphere. The proprietor gave me a favorable review of our new priest Darla Cantrell’s first time officiating at a wedding and gave me the card for her bed and breakfast, which is a castle 12 miles out of town. I later learned her husband is building an actual water filled moat around it. It sounded eccentric to me until I learned Austin has another castle, this one built in 1897, modeled after a Roman watch tower. A few weary gold miners were dining at the Last Chance as well. When they left, the miners gave me all sorts of brochures for local archaeological sites, caves, petro glyphs, pictographs, etc. That was pretty hospitable for tired miners on a Saturday night.<br /><br />I then made my annual pilgrimage to the International Bar, not “a clean well lighted place” – a deliberately darker ambience. Odo the bar dog remembered me – or feigned recollection with the pastoral pretense common to bishops and bar dogs. The crowd was thin this time, but the television was showing The Magnificent Seven so I settled in for a long slow drink watching the complex heroism of Yul Brenner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and the ptsd/ alcohol afflicted Robert Vaughn (the character, not Vaughn himself) unfold for the cause of justice in Mexico. The other patrons were well drillers. Austin is home to quite a gathering of well drillers this year since they discovered a hotbed (so to speak) of geothermal energy. There was much talk of virtues of geothermal in contrast to oil and coal. But the conversation also drifted to Emiliano Zappata and Pancho Villa. I am not sure they noticed the connection to the movie.<br /><br />At one point a driller from California discovered that someone had written “(expletive deleted) yeah” on the wall. He was greatly offended – not by the expletive per se – but rather because he believed he had coined the term “(expletive deleted) yeah” 30 years ago. He regarded the graffiti as an infringement of his intellectual property rights in the expression.<br /><br />Back at the Pony Canyon Motel, I fell quickly asleep but was awakened early by the television on the other side of the paper thin wall. It was saying “Thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents. That's right. Only thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents a week.” I hastily showered, dressed, and headed off to breakfast at the Toiyable Café.<br /><br />The Toiyabe is a wonderful place complete with deer heads. I sat there waiting for my breakfast reading the emotivist rather Zen verse of Alberto Caerero, a heteronym of the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa – poems written in 1914 generally about how things are only what they are but that’s just fine. Reading Pessoa/Caerero in the Toiyable struck me as perhaps somehow out of step. Then a couple sat down in the next booth. The man was large and white bearded; the woman a bit younger and subtly artsy, but very subtly. They began talking about visual arts in conceptual terms I did not understand. Their conversation turned to matters of technique which I also did not understand, but I could tell the woman was making a case for simplicity. She said something like “I just used pieces of purple cut glass. Some of them were pie shaped. Some were carrot shaped. I put them in triangles and that was enough.” The last part captured my attention. “That was enough.” Caerero’s Zen simplicity seemed right at home.<br /><br />Then I stepped next door to St. George’s, the quaintest of quaint old brick churches with ancient gnarled poplars in the front yard. You may recall from earlier posts that St. George’s, a building on the historic registry, is also distinguished by its bell tower which doubles as the restroom. Worship at St. George’s was warm and engaged. Their veteran priest, Estelle, has been away quite awhile now with health problems. But their new priest, Darla, the Lander County dispatcher, fighting crime by day and preaching the gospel on weekends, is doing a magnificent job of holding the community together. They sang out the hymns with gusto accompanied by an ecclesiastical karaoke machine. They nodded and facially encouraged me through the sermon. They said the responses with energy and received communion with reverence. The morning could not have been better.<br /><br />Then it was back to the Toiyabe for lunch with about half of the congregation. The server spoke to each and every one of them by name. One of the congregation, Frank Whitman, is working on a pictorial history of Austin and likes to wander the cemetery looking at tombstones. He described the tombstone of one Kee Lee whose epitaph read “Here lies a good Chinaman.” Ethnic sensitivity had apparently not made it to Austin by the time of Mr. Lee’s death. But the “unfortunate language” (Barak Obama speaking of Sen. Reid) was redeemed when it turned out most of the people at the table had actually known Kee Lee and remembered him with affection and respect as a wise and artful story teller.<br /><br />Austin refuses to be reduced to any simple characterization. It is a post modern mountain mining town where geothermal green energy is discovered and developed among the ruins of played out silver mines and archaeological relics of human habitation 8000 years ago. It is pride in crude expressions set alongside sophisticated artistic minimalism. This is surely the Istanbul of the American West compressed into a village -- all this without broad band access. Every visit to Austin amazes me and I know I have barely scratched the surface.

Istanbul Of The American West

Austin, NV – named for Austin, TX but that’s where the resemblance ends – got its start when Wm. Talcott, a Pony Express agent, discovered silver at this point along the legendary trail that is today Highway 50, “the loneliest road in America.” The s…

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Yummy breakfast

I don't post for an entire week, then I post twice in one day. I may even post three times today because I want to do <a href="http://kgershman.blogspot.com/">Kyle's</a> Two Thumbs Up post today, or maybe tonight. I love his idea.<br /><br />About my breakfast, this was absolutely delicious and low point. Since I ate at 11 a.m. I considered it sort of a brunch meal. It's 5.5 Points for a huge serving of yumminess.<br /><br />Open-faced breakfast sandwich<br /><br />1 egg<br />4 thin slices of Canadian bacon (only 1 Point - Costco brand), chopped<br />1 yellow bell pepper, chopped<br />1 cup red bell pepper, chopped<br />1/2 cup onion, chopped<br />3- 4 cups fresh spinach<br />2 wedges of light Laughing Cow cheese<br />Hot sauce, to taste<br />1 Sandwich Thin (I use Franz, more fiber, less calories, less weird ingredients and they taste better than Oroweat thins)<br /><br />Spray a little Pam in a skillet, add veggies (except spinach) and Canadian bacon. I added a little water so it wouldn't burn. Cook until the veggies are soft. Add the spinach and maybe a little more water, cover with lid. Steam for a few more minutes until spinach is soft, then mix all ingredients. <br /><br />You should have some liquid in the pan from the water you added and the spinach. Add the Laughing Cow cheese and a dash of hot sauce (I used Frank's hot sauce, used about 1 teaspoon). Mash the cheese and thoroughly mix in. I use a rubber spatula to squish the cheese. Let it cook until nice and bubbly. <br /><br />Once the sauce has thickened (it only took a couple minutes) pour over an open faced sandwich thin. Cook the egg in the skillet. I just did an over easy egg with some Pam. Place the egg on top of your open faced sandwich. Enjoy.<br /><br />This was super delicious, with lots of veggies, and it made a huge serving. You get a lot of protein, 24 grams, so it really has staying power. I love my protein.<br /><br />I know the light Laughing Cow Cheese and the sandwich thins probably weren't in my grandmother's cupboards, so I consider it a little cheat to my "try to eat clean foods" policy. Totally worth it!

Yummy breakfast

I don't post for an entire week, then I post twice in one day. I may even post three times today because I want to do Kyle's Two Thumbs Up post today, or maybe tonight. I love his idea.About my breakfast, this was absolutely delicious and low point. …

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Let Your Favorite Color Guide Your Career

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/1q/ar5f7k36p3mp3b422f1q.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/1q/ar5f7k36p3mp3b422f1q.gif" /></a></div>In today's challenging economy, you have more career opportunities than you might think. Modernize your dream career into a higher paying, more job opening niche or related occupation. Don't be afraid to get nosey and take the time to look around or invest in developing a specialized skill inside your chosen field. Use every opportunity to network and promote yourself.<br /><br />· Everywhere you go, ask questions like, "What do you do during your workday?" "What's fun, not fun?" "Any opening in your company?"<br /><br />· Be a temp. Ask for short tem assignments so you can taste different jobs and learn about opportunities. <br /><br />· Join career specific organizations and get your friends on board. <br /><br />Dreams come true with niche-specific educational training or on-the-job experience. Looking for the perfect niche? Consider the scientifically valid Dewey Color System test that measures career satisfaction at record-breaking accuracy. It lists the top 50 careers suited for you, plus hundreds of related occupations, niches and career specific organizations. To provide accurate and thorough results, data was obtained from 750,000 CareerBuilder online users.<br /><br />In order to take the test, you first have to choose the color you like most from yellow, blue and red. Then choose which color you like most from green, purple and orange. Remember your choices and see what your selected combination says about your career prospects:<br /><br />Yellow-Green <br /><br />If you selected yellow and green: Your ability to understand others' viewpoints and diplomatically express your thoughts increases efficiency. You know how to make products, systems, and services best fit the environment. <br />Make more money by seeking careers where you can assemble support structures or make living situations more comfortable. <br />Consider niches as in landscape architecture or real estate sales, or consider a career as a counselor, designer or social worker.<br /><br />Yellow-Purple <br /><br />If you selected yellow and purple: You prefer fast-growing companies with non-repetitive jobs that offer a constant barrage of fresh perspectives and non-stop new tasks. Your ability to communicate with finesse breaks down barriers and opens profitable doors. <br />Make more money by developing and communicating strategies for project-oriented settings that involve constant change. <br />Consider niches as a public relations representative, corporate communications manager, youth counselor or radio/TV announcer. <br /><br />Yellow-Orange <br /><br />If you selected yellow and orange: You know about the newest available resources, pertinent facts, or innovative ways to solve workday pressures. Your open-minded yet analytical approach creates must-do activities and programs. <br />Make more money by inventing new ways to market your business, better utilizing resources and talents, or making what you do more efficient. <br />Consider niches as a statistician, geologist, researcher, librarian or product developer. <br /><br />Blue-Green <br /><br />If you selected blue and green: You are at your best when you can anchor others with supportive suggestions. Your personable listening skills make you a success with colleagues, customers or clients who trust you with even their most crucial decisions. <br />Make more money by seeking environments that give you the opportunity to manage people, information or workplace environments. <br />Consider niches as a writer, actor, accountant, psychologist or departmental manager.<br /><br />Blue-Purple <br />If you selected blue and purple: Use your big-picture thinking to develop new markets, new ideas and new businesses. You can see what's missing and know how to get things done. <br />Make more money by working in environments where you can organize, develop and bring situations, people or markets together. <br />Consider niches in advertising and sales or as a public relations representative, trial lawyer or research scientist.<br /><br />Blue-Orange<br /><br />If you choose blue and orange: You're a natural both at developing new products or procedures and delegating tasks. You prefer a busy environment because you enjoy learning. Pressure stimulates you. <br />Make more money in careers where you can gauge productivity, analyze efficiency, and oversee or implement change.<br />Consider niches as an operations manager, civil engineer, builder or product salesperson.<br /><br />Red-Green<br />If you selected red and green: You know value and how to best use resources to make money. Your practical guidance keeps others focused on the bottom line and expenditures under budget. <br />Make more money in positions where you decide how to best utilized resources or spend money. <br />Consider Niches as a securities manager, auditor, banker, teacher, property manager, nurse or surgeon. <br /><br />Red-Purple<br />If you selected red and purple: When others speak, you sort out the facts from the emotions and establish a step-by-step action plan. You know how to calm those around you and offer quick solutions. <br />Make more money by selecting work environments where you're in control of all necessary resources and can offer win-win suggestions. <br />Consider niches as a human resources interviewer/manager, event planner, editor or executive assistant.<br /><br />Red-Orange<br />If you selected red and orange: You use facts compiled from past mistakes and successes to deliver strong opinions that are hard to refute. Others learn invaluable information from your critiques about the efficiency of a project. <br />Make more money in areas where you can sail your own ship by constantly examining, in detail, what needs to be done and express your opinion when things go off course. <br />Consider niches as a budget analyst, computer support specialist, production manager, manufacturing manager or business owner.<br /><br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=xa-4c276e331d7dbd3d"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=xa-4c276e331d7dbd3d"></script><br /><!-- AddThis Button END -->

Let Your Favorite Color Guide Your Career

In today's challenging economy, you have more career opportunities than you might think. Modernize your dream career into a higher paying, more job opening niche or related occupation. Don't be afraid to get nosey and take the time to look around or …

Read more »

Be Choosy About Sharing Your Profile

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/t4/ar5l3mv5zjby09c9kgt4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/t4/ar5l3mv5zjby09c9kgt4.gif" /></a></div>Your job is no longer just about your résumé and cover letter -- it's about your résumé, cover letter and your digital footprint.<br /><br />"Be sure to clean up your online presence before job hunting. Try to remove anything negative," says Susan Kennedy, founder and president of Career Treking and author of "The Job Coach for Young Professionals." "One of the first things a potential employer will do is a simple search for you online -- you don't want any surprises coming up. This is your chance to make a first impression, and you want to ensure that it's the right one."<br /><br />When it comes to your job search, everything from your pictures and tweets to your eBay transactions counts, according to a 2010 study from Microsoft. Seventy-nine percent of prospective employers review online information about job applicants, according to the survey. The study of 1,200 hiring and recruitment managers in the U.S., the U.K., Germany and France what they use to research applicants found that 78 percent use search engines, 63 percent use networking sites, 59 percent use photo- and video-sharing sites, 57 percent use professional networking sites, 48 percent use personal websites, 46 percent use blogs and 41 percent use news-sharing sites.<br /><br />While most employers search on their own for your digital dirt, nowadays some employers ask you outright to share your information. This confuses many job seekers, as the line between what to include and what not include is often blurred. <br /><br />"The main reason you would need to be choosy is if you haven't taken care with managing your online presence in the past," says Cath Duncan, career coach. "If you've been happily uploading videos of your drunken escapades or commenting about how bored you are at work and how much you've been skiving off, or if your Facebook page shows that you've been playing Farmville all day during work hours then this will reflect very badly on you with potential employers."<br /><br />Even so, your online presence doesn't have to work against you. If you play your cards right, you can use your social media existence to help your job search, rather than hinder it.<br /><br />"Social networking is an extraordinarily useful collection of tools for personal branding, seeking to create serendipity through online collaboration, interacting with peers from your college, your industry, even your company's competitors," says Barry L. Davis, director of career services for LMA Consulting Group. "The intelligent individual will use these applications to show their aspirations as well as their accomplishments, seeking opportunities to stand out from the mass of job seekers out there."<br />So, if an employer asks you to share your social networking profile, here are some things to keep in mind, according to Duncan.<br /><br />1. "Facebook probably isn't a good platform to share with your employers or potential employers. It's designed to be more social and you can't control what your friends post on your wall. Facebook also doesn't have the best features for displaying yourself and the value you can add to potential employers," she says."<br /><br />2. "LinkedIn has better features for displaying your value to employers. You should upload your CV, you should collect recommendations, and you should record your employment history," she says. "You can also link to your Twitter account and blog and other relevant information about you. Your connections on LinkedIn tend to behave more professionally on the site than they do on Facebook, so you're not going to have them commenting inappropriately on your page. LinkedIn is the more appropriate profile to share with your employer or potential employees."<br /><br />Jessica Silverstein, principal of Attorney's Counsel, a résumé and cover letter review and interview skills assessment firm, says LinkedIn profiles are generally used for professional purposes and can work to bolster a candidate's application when used correctly. <br /><br />"LinkedIn, like a cover letter, should be used as an addition to your résumé. Use the summary section to highlight your achievements and relevant work experience. Always be careful of typos and language. LinkedIn is your opportunity to show others your interests and affiliations without adding unnecessary information to your résumé," she says. <br /><br />3. "If you're using your Twitter account, blog or similar as a way of sharing your ideas -- the stuff you're enjoying reading and what's getting you thinking -- and you're keeping these aligned with your personal and professional brand then its appropriate to share these," Duncan says. "Remember that these are probably public anyway and will be found if they [search for] you. Consciously decide who you want to be and align your life and your online presence with that. When people [search for] you, they'll find more information that reinforces what you've already shared with them."<br /><br />By Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com writer <br /><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink" type="text/javascript"></script>

Be Choosy About Sharing Your Profile

Your job is no longer just about your résumé and cover letter -- it's about your résumé, cover letter and your digital footprint."Be sure to clean up your online presence before job hunting. Try to remove anything negative," says Susan Kennedy, found…

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Looking for a New Career Opportunity? Consider Temporary Employment

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/hm/ar5l4gj67775xw2dqyhm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/hm/ar5l4gj67775xw2dqyhm.gif" /></a></div>In recent years, many freshly laid-off workers have maintained optimistic attitudes, despite the ever-changing, uncertain conditions of the global economy, anticipating that they would eventually find new positions that would allow them to advance their skill sets and career goals.<br /><br />Does this describe you? If so, it seems that you may finally be reaping the benefits of your long-term patience and perseverance. While full-time positions are not as readily available as they were before the beginning of the global economic recession, the availability of temporary, contract, and project assignments has steadily increased in the past few months.<br /><br />An increase in contract or project work, along with a lackluster number of available full-time positions, can lead unemployed professionals to ask a variety of questions. Why is there still a lack of full-time, salaried positions? Will these positions increase anytime soon? If companies are unwilling to hire full-time employees, why do they seem to be able to steadily hire contractors?<br /><br />Of course, such questions lead to a two-word answer -- the economy. Until the recession begins to slow down and the economy further improves, most organizations will simply not have the funds to provide full-time, salaried positions to prospective employees, no matter how qualified they are.<br /><br />Ideally, all unemployed workers should have opportunities to improve their skill sets and to display their talents within their desired industries. At the same time, all professionals truly deserve to earn wages according to their past work experiences and skills. However, full-time positions are so few and far between that many workers have focused on another career opportunity for the time being -- temporary, contract, or project employment.<br /><br />In the meantime, contract employment can provide positive experiences to unemployed workers. Some of the benefits of contract positions include:<br /><br />Freedom and flexibility -- Many contract workers are able to work according to their own pre-determined hours, providing them with a sense of freedom and flexibility that full-time employees may not enjoy. If contract employees happen to work more than 40 hours, they are paid overtime. This is not always the case with full-time employees. <br /><br />Opportunity to discover new career options -- Through temporary or project assignments, individuals are able to attain a variety of positions within different industries. By obtaining work experiences in various fields, contractors are able to identify what type of career they would likely enjoy in the future, as well as which ones they would never like to experience again. It is important to realize that many contractors do indeed discover their dream jobs through contract engagements -- you can too! <br /><br />Networking -- During contract employment, individuals meet and network with a large number of employees within a wide range of industries. By developing such a vast and varied list of contacts, you can learn about temporary and full-time positions that are currently available, outside of your usual career field, before the positions are posted on career websites. Networking can lead people to acquire unique, highly enriching careers that frequently change their lives. <br /><br />By accepting contract assignments, you will not only receive regular, weekly paychecks, but you will also acquire meaningful work experiences that will possibly lead to a full-time position once the economy improves and the recession lightens. Often times, many contract workers are well-rewarded for their achievements, as well as the positive impacts they have on their organizations, as they are typically notified of full-time offers within their current organizations.<br /><br />Looking ahead<br /><br />If they are not offered full-time jobs, some contract workers may also learn about permanent positions that are available at a variety of other organizations, due to the relationships they have developed through networking. By maintaining a high level of positivism, as well as continuous persistence, you will not only thrive as a contract employee, but you may also succeed in a full-time setting once the economy improves.<br /><br />Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB) is a leader in providing workforce solutions. Kelly offers a comprehensive array of outsourcing and consulting services as well as world-class staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire and direct hire basis. Serving clients around the globe, Kelly provides employment to 480,000 employees annually. Revenue in 2009 was $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit www.kellyservices.com.<br /><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink" type="text/javascript"></script>

Looking for a New Career Opportunity? Consider Temporary Employment

In recent years, many freshly laid-off workers have maintained optimistic attitudes, despite the ever-changing, uncertain conditions of the global economy, anticipating that they would eventually find new positions that would allow them to advance th…

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How to Help, Not Hover, in Your Child's Career Decision-Making

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9g/ar5l89g5yqmmy075ny9g.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9g/ar5l89g5yqmmy075ny9g.gif" /></a></div>It's become much harder than it used to be for young people to launch a career after college. Many graduate without essential work-ready skills or a clear understanding of which jobs suit them best. Even those who do often flounder in the job market because they don't know how to market themselves to employers or stand out from more experienced candidates.<br /><br />As a result, many parents feel pressured to get more involved in their child's career planning. And while this is certainly an important step for them to take, career counselor Barbara Cooke, M.A., warns parents that there are constructive and destructive ways they can do this.<br /><br />"The term 'helicopter parent' has been used in recent years to describe adults who pay extremely close attention to their children, particularly when they're making college and career decisions. You've heard the horror stories. For example, consider stories you've heard about parents who insinuate themselves into their child's job search, sitting in the waiting room while they interview for a job and hounding human resources to negotiate a better deal," explains Cooke. <br /><br />"Chances are you don't want to be labeled a helicopter parent. You understand the long-term problems your child will face if you micromanage his young adulthood. At the same time, given what you are paying for college and the uncertain job market your child will face, you want to be involved." <br /><br />In her book "Parent's Guide to College and Careers: How to Help, Not Hover," Cooke offers parents a wealth of advice for how they can better prepare their children to make tough decisions about their education and career without hounding them in the process. Below are a few of her tips:<br /><br />Consider the difference between guidance and control<br /><br />Guidance is helping your child identify his strengths and connect those strengths to opportunities in the economy. Control is dictating your child's career choice. Guidance is helping your child get firsthand information about the opportunities that are out there. Control is doing the research yourself. Guidance is saying, "I want you to talk to two engineers before you reject an engineering major." Control is saying, "I won't pay for college unless you major in engineering."<br /><br />Take the pressure off the career-planning process<br /><br />Help your child separate career information gathering from career decision-making. All you are asking your child to do at this point is to gather information. You are not asking him to make a decision based on that information. Encourage your child to see himself as an objective journalist who is conducting research, interviewing people and observing work environments. He can decide what he wants to do with this information later on.<br /><br />Encourage informational interviewing<br /><br />Consider family, friends, colleagues or other people you know who have experience in a career field that interests your child. Help your child arrange a meeting with these people to gather information about that person's daily work tasks, background, likes, dislikes and suggestions for entering the field. <br /><br />Have your child complete a career-interest inventory<br /><br />This is a print or online questionnaire that helps individuals identify the pattern of their interests according to the framework of the test. Your child would answer a series of questions about school subjects, activities, occupations of interest and other preferences. After your child's answers are scored, he will receive an interpretative report that includes a list of job titles that connect to his interests and abilities.<br /><br />Direct your child to print and online resources<br /><br />A wealth of materials online, in libraries and in bookstores can help your child discover and learn about hundreds of careers. From information about a job's earnings and education requirements to its projected growth and average annual openings, these materials can answer key questions you may not know the answer to or that your child may not have thought to ask.<br />Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.<br /><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink" type="text/javascript"></script>

How to Help, Not Hover, in Your Child's Career Decision-Making

It's become much harder than it used to be for young people to launch a career after college. Many graduate without essential work-ready skills or a clear understanding of which jobs suit them best. Even those who do often flounder in the job market …

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High-Paying Jobs for Your Personality Type

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/vm/ar5l60p5x8myn757y9vm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/vm/ar5l60p5x8myn757y9vm.gif" /></a></div>Consider how many times you've heard yourself or someone you know say something such as, "I really love my job, but I wish I made a lot more money" or "I make a ton of money, but I'd give it all up for a job I actually liked."<br /><br />Sound familiar? That's because many people in the world of work are still struggling to achieve it all: financial abundance and meaningful work. When searching for jobs and defining their career goals, people often underestimate the value of both high pay and enjoyable work activities. This misstep prompts many to sacrifice one for the other, which may lead them into jobs they'll someday dream about quitting.<br /><br />"They truth is people can have a job they love and make a lot of money doing it," says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D. In his new book "250 Best-Paying Jobs" he encourages people who want a high-wage job to consider their personality type when exploring their options.<br /><br />"Your personality type not only predicts how well your skills will match the demands of the work tasks in a particular job; it also predicts how well you will fit in with the culture of the work site as shaped by the people who will surround you and interact with you," he explains. "Thus your personality type affects your satisfaction with the job, your productivity in it and the likelihood that you will persist in this type of work."<br /><br />Below Shatkin briefly explains each of the RIASEC personality types, which are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. Then, he identifies some of the best high-paying jobs suited for them. <br /><br />Realistic personalities<br /><br />According to Shatkin, people with realistic personalities "enjoy work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They also like dealing with plants, animals and real-world materials such as wood, tools and machinery. Often the best occupations for realistic people are the ones that do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others."<br /><br />Oral and maxillofacial surgeons<br />Median annual earnings: $166,400+<br />Percent growth: 9.1 percent*<br />Average annual openings: 400 <br /><br />Airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers<br />Median annual earnings: $111,680<br />Percent growth: 12.9 percent<br />Average annual openings: 4,073 <br /><br />Civil engineers<br />Median annual earnings: $74,600<br />Percent growth: 18 percent<br />Average annual openings: 15,979 <br /><br />Investigative personalities<br /><br />"Investigative people love working with ideas and thrive in jobs that require an extensive amount of thinking," says Shatkin. "They enjoy activities that let them search for facts and figure out problems mentally."<br /><br />Orthodontists<br />Median annual earnings: $166,400+<br />Percent growth: 9.2 percent<br />Average annual openings: 479 <br /><br />Physicians and surgeons<br />Median annual earnings: $166,400+<br />Percent growth: 14.2 percent<br />Average annual openings: 38,027 <br /><br />Petroleum engineers<br />Median annual earnings: $108,020<br />Percent growth: 5.2 percent<br />Average annual openings: 1,016 <br /><br />Artistic personalities<br /><br />"Often, artistic people are best suited for jobs that involve working with forms, designs and patterns," explains Shatkin. "These people require self-expression and work that can be done without a clear set of rules."<br /><br />Art directors<br />Median annual earnings: $76,980<br />Percent growth: 9 percent<br />Average annual openings: 9,719 <br /><br />Architects, except landscape and naval<br />Median annual earnings: $70,320<br />Percent growth: 17.7 percent<br />Average annual openings: 11,324 <br /><br />Technical writers<br />Median annual earnings: $61,620<br />Percent growth: 19.5 percent<br />Average annual openings: 7,498 <br /><br />Social personalities<br />According to Shatkin, social people enjoy working with, communicating with and teaching people. "They generally get the most fulfillment from occupations that involve helping or providing service to others," he adds. <br /><br />Law teachers, postsecondary<br />Median annual earnings: $93,210<br />Percent growth: 22.9 percent<br />Average annual openings: 2,169 <br /><br />Physician assistants<br />Median annual earnings: $81,230<br />Percent growth: 27 percent<br />Average annual openings: 7,147 <br /><br />Radiation therapists<br />Median annual earnings: $72,910<br />Percent growth: 24.8 percent<br />Average annual openings: 1,461 <br /><br />Enterprising personalities<br /><br />"People with an enterprising personality type like starting up and carrying out projects, leading people and making many decisions," says Shatkin. "Taking risks and dealing with business matters is exciting to them."<br /><br />Chief executives<br />Median annual earnings: $158,560<br />Percent growth: 2 percent<br />Average annual openings: 21,209 <br /><br />Engineering managers<br />Median annual earnings: $115,270<br />Percent growth: 7.3 percent<br />Average annual openings: 7,404 <br /><br />Lawyers<br />Median annual earnings: $110,590<br />Percent growth: 11 percent<br />Average annual openings: 49,445 <br /><br />Conventional personalities<br /><br />"If you enjoy setting procedures, establishing routines and working with data and details much more than ideas, you may have a conventional personality type," says Shatkin.<br /><br />Actuaries<br />Median annual earnings: $84,810<br />Percent growth: 23.7 percent<br />Average annual openings: 3,245 <br /><br />Computer systems analysts<br />Median annual earnings: $75,500<br />Percent growth: 29 percent<br />Average annual openings: 63,166 <br /><br />Financial analysts<br />Median annual earnings: $73,150<br />Percent growth: 33.8 percent<br />Average annual openings: 29,317 <br /><br />*Percent growth based in projections through 2016.<br /><br />By Selena Dehne career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.<br /><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink" type="text/javascript"></script>

High-Paying Jobs for Your Personality Type

Consider how many times you've heard yourself or someone you know say something such as, "I really love my job, but I wish I made a lot more money" or "I make a ton of money, but I'd give it all up for a job I actually liked."Sound familiar? That's b…

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Build Up Your Job Search Motivation

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/19/ar5l2ds6rdbzp46py019.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/19/ar5l2ds6rdbzp46py019.gif" /></a></div>"Rejections are not unlike breakups," says Marian Schembari of New York City. "I remember one time I was rejected from the perfect job and spent the day in bed like a love-struck teenager eating ice cream and watching movies. Maybe not the most productive way to spend my time, but it definitely made me feel better!"<br /><br />Anyone who has ever suffered through long-term unemployment can identify with Schembari's scenario, and such comforting may be just what is needed before sending out another application. But what happens when your desire to persevere needs an extra boost?<br /><br />Before reaching for another scoop of Ben & Jerry's, check out these motivational tips from experts and fellow job seekers.<br /><br />Start your day with structure<br /><br />"Get up every morning at your usual time and dress as if you're going to work -- because you are going to work, except now your work is finding a new job," says Richard S. Deems, co-author of "Make Job Loss Work for You."<br /><br />While it may be tempting to sleep in or lounge around in pajamas, getting your day moving can provide a psychological boost. "I think that keeping a schedule has helped me," says Cherie C. of Denver, who has been unemployed for nearly a year. "I wake up with my partner as he prepares for work, shower, dress and tackle the job search."<br /><br />Use your computer – and then get away from it<br /><br />Chances are you've used a computer to scout job postings, but have you explored the full potential of technology?<br /><br />Erica Myers of London spent seven months without a steady job. During this time, she learned new ways to connect to others and get an edge in the application process. Her tips to rev up job-search motivation by rethinking computer time include:<br /><br />Use social networking sites and Google searches to find a person to contact directly instead of sending a blind résumé. <br /><br />Build an online portfolio or a free website. (It not only looks great and tech-savvy, but it secretly gets you organized.) <br /><br />Read the websites of companies that interest you. <br /><br />Use connections and build on social media by looking through friends lists for useful contacts, searching through Twitter keywords and adding people on LinkedIn. <br /><br />Designate certain periods of the day as computer time -- then resist the urge to constantly check e-mail or see if one new position got posted. Too much screen time can zap energy. Instead, find other productive ways to pass the time.<br /><br />"Do as much face-to-face networking as possible," Deems says. "Even if you've talked with your network two weeks ago, contact them again." He also is a fan of hand-delivering applications, noting that the return rate for mail-ins is about 3 to 5 percent. <br /><br />While some job seekers may feel guilty about spending free time doing anything besides looking for employment, exploring interests can be rejuvenating -- and potentially rewarding -- during a trying time.<br /><br />"If someone is job hunting without getting the response they want, volunteering at a local hospital or for a nonprofit organization where they will meet new people who can extend their networking reach is a great game plan," says Debra Yergen, author of "Creating Job Security Resource Guide." "Not only will they keep their skills sharp, they'll also have an opportunity to make a larger networking base aware of their availability."<br /><br />Give yourself a break<br /><br />The familiar advice of persistence paying off holds true for finding a job. After all, you can't land a position if you don't even apply. Yet, while dedication will pay off in the long term, sometimes it helps to step away for a bit.<br /><br />"On days when I lack motivation and don't want to send a résumé, I really try to push myself to keep working, but sometimes I've found it's best to wait a day," Cherie C. notes. "Sending a résumé while in a sad or defeated mood could lead to typos or other errors that could cost me consideration for the job. I take a short break and try to refresh myself."<br /><br />It is easy to feel frustrated when your inbox is filled with rejections or (worse yet) you aren't even acknowledged after pouring your heart into landing a seemingly perfect position. Job seekers are often hard on themselves when faced with such disappointments, but it pays to remember that setbacks are only a bump on a long career path that will have ups and downs. Take a look at your résumé to remind yourself of what you have accomplished, and when you're feeling better about your capabilities, get back to sending it out. Someone out there is waiting to read it. <br /><br />By Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder Writer <br /><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink" type="text/javascript"></script>

Build Up Your Job Search Motivation

"Rejections are not unlike breakups," says Marian Schembari of New York City. "I remember one time I was rejected from the perfect job and spent the day in bed like a love-struck teenager eating ice cream and watching movies. Maybe not the most produ…

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Mookie, where are you?

<em>I wrote this at 4 a.m. today, but then I fell asleep sitting up and finally went to bed without hitting publish.</em><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_45fgZK4bhNNPDgEihZajVj9bYtccV_wChyphenhyphenDvB6eOBurwSDXnFdQPwEPLa2i6-o_dNAemjsr0E5wrQamTq1ioW4xArpo6YPlmr6_XqYEngG2_eXSiztRtTzmKYkJUQnSKx7E7QepQJT6_/s1600/Mookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_45fgZK4bhNNPDgEihZajVj9bYtccV_wChyphenhyphenDvB6eOBurwSDXnFdQPwEPLa2i6-o_dNAemjsr0E5wrQamTq1ioW4xArpo6YPlmr6_XqYEngG2_eXSiztRtTzmKYkJUQnSKx7E7QepQJT6_/s320/Mookie.jpg" /></a></div><br />It's almost 4 a.m and I've been up since 1 a.m., after all of two hours of sleep. Yes sir, still sleeping the sleep of the damned, waking up in the middle of the night unable to fall back to sleep.<br /><br />To add a little drama to my morning I thought our new, ten-week old kitten, Mookie, had escaped. I had the back slider door open for a split second, and I wasn't paying attention. Sometimes I forget we have a tiny kitten that has to be watched like a hawk or she tries to escape. She's so little and curious about everything.<br /><br />One second she was playing and he next second she disappeared. I was horrified to think she got out when I had the door open, and she was out walking the streets. After searching for 20 minutes, inside and outside the house, I decided to wake my husband to help me hunt for her. By this time I was in tears. I just knew we'd never see her again.<br /><br />We looked for her for about an hour, searching our yard with flashlights, and walked up and down the street shining the flashlights under every bush and into every yard.. I was crying and saying it was all my fault, devastated I'd killed our Mookie by subjecting her to the horrors of the night , raccoons, coyotes, and dogs just waiting to attack a tiny, defenseless kitten. <br /><br />Finally, at 3 a.m. we both came back inside the house. I sat down on the couch and said I couldn't believe this had happened. My husband kept questioning me if I'd search everywhere in the house, and I said "of course!". <br /><br />Then I noticed some movement under the dining table, on one of the chairs. It was Mookie! She'd never even left the house and was asleep the entire time I was calling her name. Going up and down our street like an idiot, calling "Mookie, Mookie! Here kittty kitty."<br /><br />I've never been so happy so see a tiny bundle of fur in my life. Thank God she's okay. I mean literally, thank you God. I think this means I have to go to church this week. :)<br /><br />A little about my week..<br /><br /><strong>Women's support group</strong><br />After giving a speech at Toastmasters last week where I divulged some personal things about myself, a therapist in the group insisted I join her Summer 2010 over 40 women's support group. I sort of blew her off and said I'd think about it. Then she emailed me and called me. She talked me into attending just one meeting to see if I liked it.<br /><br />I had no idea what to expect but I loved it. It's just some women, so far only three others and the therapist, and we sit around and talk about stuff. The therapist has us do self-evaluations and then we discuss what we write about ourselves. <br /><br />One question she asked was to rate our self, the value we would place on our self, on a scale of one to ten, with ten being perfect. I rated myself a seven. When asked why I rated myself so low, I said I rate myself how I thought other people would rate me, then I had to explain who I thought would rate me so low. It was a real eye opener that I place so much value on what others think of me. I need to get over caring so much about what other people.<br /><br />It's only seven meetings, on Monday nights for an hour and a half. At the next meeting there will be four more women attending, for a group of seven plus our therapist. I'm actually looking forward to the meeting (although I do have some homework). I felt an odd connection to everyone at the first meeting, which was totally unexpected.<br /><br /><strong>The food, the exercise, and "why aren't I losing more weight?"</strong><br />I'm not gaining weight, so that's a good thing. I'm just maintaining around 162. I'd really like to lose 23 additional pounds. I'm just not wanting it bad enough to starve myself to get there. I also don't want to exercise any harder or more often than I do now. <br /><br />I work out about an hour and twenty minutes, five to six times a week, at a pretty high intensity. That's enough, any more would be insanity. Been there, done that, and I'm not doing it again. <br /><br />I eat very healthy foods, but I'm eating too much. I'm still completely avoiding sugar and eating as little processed food as possible. I'm trying to follow the rule that if it wasn't in my grandmother's cupboards, then I shouldn't eat it.<br /><br />I've decided not to beat myself up about not getting to my goal weight. Even if I maintain my current weight for a while, that will be okay. All my clothes fit, and I feel healthy. That's really all that's important. I'm still planning on getting to goal, but I guess I'll take my own sweet time getting there.

Mookie, where are you?

I wrote this at 4 a.m. today, but then I fell asleep sitting up and finally went to bed without hitting publish.It's almost 4 a.m and I've been up since 1 a.m., after all of two hours of sleep. Yes sir, still sleeping the sleep of the damned, waking …

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Planning de la semaine du 28 juin au 02 juillet 2010

<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 lundi 28 juin de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 29 juin de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 30 juin de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 1er juillet de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 02 juillet 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> - mercredi 30 juin 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> - vendredi 02 juillet de 09h à 12h30 (sur rendez-vous)</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2008/12/atelier-parcours-emploi.html">Parcours Emploi</a></strong> - mardi 29 juin à 09h30<br /><br /><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 29 juin de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 30 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 29 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 02 juillet de 10h à 11h30<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> - vendredi 02 juillet de 14h à 16h</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Information collective</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>Boutique de Gestion</strong> - lundi 28 juin à 14h<br /><br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2010/06/presentation-de-la-chambre-de-metiers.html">Chambre de métiers</a></span> - mardi 29 juin de 09h à 12h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 28 juin au 02 juillet 2010

PermanencesLe Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans- le lundi 28 juin de 9h à 12h30,- le mardi 29 juin de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,- le mercredi 30 juin de 13h30 à 17h,- le jeudi 1er j…

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Présentation de la Chambre de Métiers du Loiret

<BR><br />Une présentation de la Chambre de Métiers du Loiret, de la législation et des obligations concernant les professions artisanales, les métiers d’art et de la création aura lieu <span style="font-weight:bold;">mardi 29 juin</span> de <span style="font-weight:bold;">9h à 12h</span> dans les locaux de la <a href="http://couveuseentreprises-pes45.fr/" target="_blank">Couveuse d'entreprises</a> à la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans (<a href="http://maps.google.fr/maps?hl=fr&q=maison+de+l%27emploi+du+bassin+d%27orl%C3%A9ans&ie=UTF8&ei=WSwGTOz2HJGW4gbx4YjLDA&ved=0CAoQ_AU&hq=maison+de+l%27emploi+du+bassin+d&hnear=Orl%C3%A9ans&ll=47.836148,1.932757&spn=0.010875,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A%20target=" target="_blank">Plan</a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwfDFobpR-mZWvFRYjMrdxxfrJzRM5XZa1Bq9ESy99DMC1BEwCZ0UfqVWDT89aLMj8jfmFoVoqcaQzQxWtenb5OYgidX5REmNTRfGaBUiWXfcmVHCb2Ppy0yRWqODXBqUWGReqLxD7EX9/s1600/172_logo.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487214212789619762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwfDFobpR-mZWvFRYjMrdxxfrJzRM5XZa1Bq9ESy99DMC1BEwCZ0UfqVWDT89aLMj8jfmFoVoqcaQzQxWtenb5OYgidX5REmNTRfGaBUiWXfcmVHCb2Ppy0yRWqODXBqUWGReqLxD7EX9/s200/172_logo.png" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 101px;" /></a><br /><br />Cette réunion sera animée par Monsieur Driss Azouguach, chargé de développement économique à la chambre de métiers du Loiret.<br /><BR>

Présentation de la Chambre de Métiers du Loiret

Une présentation de la Chambre de Métiers du Loiret, de la législation et des obligations concernant les professions artisanales, les métiers d’art et de la création aura lieu mardi 29 juin de 9h à 12h dans les locaux de la Couveuse d'entreprises à l…

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Welcome!

How did I get here again? At my heaviest I was 250 lbs!  Today as I write this I have reached 237.4 lbs.  I know that I need to make a change.  I've known this ever since I was a teenager!  I'm so sick and tired of looking in the mirror and hating what the reflection is.  Yet life gets in the way, and my best Weight Watcher intentions get sidetracked when stress and a busy schedule takes over.  Over more than the last 10 years of my life I have tried to lose weight in some way, shape, or form.  Only one time have I been truly successful, dropping 49.5 lbs.  That was a different time in my life - I was in college and had much more free time than I do now. <br /><br />No sense dwelling on the past - what's done is done.  This blog is meant to be a way to visualize my weight loss journey for myself - to write down my struggles and successes, post some goals and get this weight off once and for all!  I also think that The Big Weight is more than just about shedding pounds off of my 5'8" frame and documenting that journey.  It's also about lifting other weights off of my shoulders - emotional weights that need to get left behind as the physical weight is shed. <br /><br />So - let the games begin!

Introduction Welcome!

How did I get here again? At my heaviest I was 250 lbs!  Today as I write this I have reached 237.4 lbs.  I know that I need to make a change.  I've known this ever since I was a teenager!  I'm so sick and tired of looking in the mirror and hating wh…

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Assemblée générale 2010

<BR><br />L'assemblée générale de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans a eu lieu le mercredi 23 juin 2010 à 14h00 à l’Agglomération Orléans Val de Loire - Salle 04 - 5 place du 6 juin 1944 à Orléans.<br /><br />Ordre du jour :<br /> * Approbation du compte rendu de l’Assemblée Générale du 9 juin 2009<br /> * Rapport moral de la Présidente<br /> * Rapport financier, rapport du commissaire aux comptes<br /> * Bilan d’activité 2009<br /> * Orientations 2010<br /> * Renouvellement du 3ème collège : élection pour 3 postes.<br /><br />La <span style="font-weight:bold;">Fédération Française du Bâtiment</span>, la <span style="font-weight:bold;">Chambre de métiers et de l'artisanat</span> et <span style="font-weight:bold;">la Confédération de l’Artisanat et des Petites Entreprises du Bâtiment</span> ont été élus au 3ème collège.<br /><br />Enfin, cette assemblée aura été l'occasion d'aborder la question de l'accueil du public en s'appuyant sur la démarche d'autoévaluation menée en 2009 et qui a porté sur l'accueil et l'accompagnement réalisés à la Maison de l'Emploi.<br /><br /><a title="View AG 2010 2p on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/33497632/AG-2010-2p" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">AG 2010 2p</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="500" id="doc_525277682061996" name="doc_525277682061996" rel="media:document" resource="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=33497632&access_key=key-1bhz2okf5cru4gaczzb3&page=1&viewMode=list" style="outline:none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/searchmonkey/media/"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=33497632&access_key=key-1bhz2okf5cru4gaczzb3&page=1&viewMode=list"> <embed id="doc_525277682061996" name="doc_525277682061996" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=33497632&access_key=key-1bhz2okf5cru4gaczzb3&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="500" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> <br /><BR>

Assemblée générale 2010

L'assemblée générale de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans a eu lieu le mercredi 23 juin 2010 à 14h00 à l’Agglomération Orléans Val de Loire - Salle 04 - 5 place du 6 juin 1944 à Orléans.Ordre du jour : * Approbation du compte rendu de l’As…

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Happy Monday?

It's not really a happy Monday. I'm not even sure there is such a thing as a happy Monday, maybe if I was on vacation, then it would be a happy Monday (vacation next month, and I can hardly wait!).<br /><br />I just checked my work calendar for today and I have five meetings scheduled back to back, starting at 9 a.m. It makes me want to cry. Actually, it makes me want to get back under the covers and pretend I didn't look at my calendar for today. Maybe I could pretend it's really Sunday. <br /><br />I'm getting ready to head out to the gym. No bike ride this morning because although it's 5 a.m. and today is the longest day of the year, the sky is barely light. Even without checking the weather forecast I know that means a heavy cloud cover. Okay, I just checked weather.com and yes, it shows black clouds and 51 degrees as the current temperature, with a high of 63 degrees today. Seriously, 63 degrees? It's the first day of summer. What the heck?<br /><br />I'm not getting on the scale this morning (I weigh every day, in case your wondering). I overate last night. Not a binge, just too much good food at dinner. I made an awesome spaghetti sauce with ground turkey, onions, Portabella mushrooms, lots of garlic, and some Cabernet Sauvignon wine. I also ate about two pounds of the best Bing cherries of the season. Okay, maybe it did qualify as sort of a binge. However, I ate in front of my husband, and ate slowly and consciously, so in my book, that isn't really a binge. <br /><br />I've also discovered I love a glass (or two) of Cabernet Sauvignon wine (Barefoot, it's cheap and delicious) which is what led to my stuffing my face last night. Since I put the spaghetti sauce over spaghetti squash it probably wasn't too bad, but I ate without weighing or measuring anything, and I didn't count Points. <br /><br />I had two really good workouts Saturday and Sunday, but sans bike. Stupid rain kept me off my bike. <br /><br />Today I'm back on the straight and narrow. Counting Points, drinking water instead of wine, eating regular portions instead of construction-worker sized meals. Happy Monday? Not so much. :)

Happy Monday?

It's not really a happy Monday. I'm not even sure there is such a thing as a happy Monday, maybe if I was on vacation, then it would be a happy Monday (vacation next month, and I can hardly wait!).I just checked my work calendar for today and I have …

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Planning de la semaine du 21 au 25 juin 2010

<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 lundi 21 juin de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 22 juin de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 23 juin de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 24 juin de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 25 juin de 13h30 à 17h.<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> (sur rendez-vous)<br />- lundi 21 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br />- vendredi 25 juin de 09h à 12h30</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 22 juin de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 23 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 22 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 25 juin de 10h à 11h30<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> - vendredi 25 juin de 14h à 16h</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Information collective</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>RSA - Conseil Général</strong> - mardi 22 juin à 10h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 21 au 25 juin 2010

PermanencesLe Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans- le lundi 21 juin de 9h à 12h30,- le mardi 22 juin de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,- le mercredi 23 juin de 13h30 à 17h,- le jeudi 24 ju…

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Biking with bunnies is the perfect workout

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>I removed the BP oil spill widget from my blog. I'm still sadden by the whole thing, but it was taking forever to load my blog page. The combination of the video widget and my own pictures was too much. If you still want to look at it, here's the link to the </em><a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/horizon-oil-spill.html"><em>widget</em></a><em>. Today BP is dumping 15 gallons a second into the gulf, and that's by moderate estimates.</em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally found my perfect workout last week. In a perfect world I'd do it every day. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel quite so perfect when it rains, and it's raining a lot lately. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Three times last week I biked to the gym in the early morning, did a strength training routine for 50 minutes, then biked home. The round-trip on the bike takes about 40 minutes. Total burned calories according to my heart rate monitor was almost 600 calories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The best part of the workout is the bike ride, but since I love lifting weights, I don't mind the gym visit. I take great delight in walking past all the boring cardio equipment and getting right into my weight routine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, today isn't bike riding weather. It's only 52 degrees at 12:30 p.m. and the skies are dark, with rain in the forecast. I'll have to get my cardio workout on an elliptical or some other boring piece of equipment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My weight is still the same. I just can't seem to lose anything. To be really honest, I'm not trying that hard. I wanted to make 150 by my 55th birthday on August 7, but it's probably not going to happen. Maybe I can make 155. That's the maximum healthy weight for my height, 5' 6, according to Weight Watchers. I know that's really too high so I'm still debating on a healthy weight for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few pictures from the week:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saw at least 15 - 20 bunnies every day, but capturing a picture is a tricky task. They are fast!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpqDAreNcTWPPNMogU-0ryne5w8gr7OInywcHWDgS7bdqNmYFty13dT4J5lLGSbtpSaXXm1f1UDT9O4joIIGHHVNy8Xk9QuzFVHFF5Gic01DtismVx4juKE9F0r_M0ohsGXMhH7FeaWrm/s1600/bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpqDAreNcTWPPNMogU-0ryne5w8gr7OInywcHWDgS7bdqNmYFty13dT4J5lLGSbtpSaXXm1f1UDT9O4joIIGHHVNy8Xk9QuzFVHFF5Gic01DtismVx4juKE9F0r_M0ohsGXMhH7FeaWrm/s400/bunny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scotch Broom, a noxious weed in King County, Washington. Even though it's a weed and it's everywhere, it's really pretty. Lots of people are allergic to it, but fortunately, it doesn't bother me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVb5kdg3lOr6hlsWbWhSQuEn5edyDMppB2NDCwTwlLalvlinn029Txs-jU7W8lIUMl6Reqq4PpIW8qQj-Vpc_2BKeqqqwttEkN3QBDrVHVXIWJpHvpmATC6lBctbrJh0Iokb2xy414WAF/s1600/scotch+broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVb5kdg3lOr6hlsWbWhSQuEn5edyDMppB2NDCwTwlLalvlinn029Txs-jU7W8lIUMl6Reqq4PpIW8qQj-Vpc_2BKeqqqwttEkN3QBDrVHVXIWJpHvpmATC6lBctbrJh0Iokb2xy414WAF/s400/scotch+broom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trail at about 6 a.m. Dark and gloomy looking, but really pretty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLzbBZ5NXdhY8L-aNnukNbTz1l8WDC-_Op1SmZX4v29lODJQbF041E2RRpTgBIkbIwVuM8VTqYWIzvwT8cqrSOzVPZ2xBTrmV7LR908EFawtl43jyQ7OjA5k5dIaFsFsUmXB-g3qeiWPt/s1600/the+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLzbBZ5NXdhY8L-aNnukNbTz1l8WDC-_Op1SmZX4v29lODJQbF041E2RRpTgBIkbIwVuM8VTqYWIzvwT8cqrSOzVPZ2xBTrmV7LR908EFawtl43jyQ7OjA5k5dIaFsFsUmXB-g3qeiWPt/s400/the+trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wild roses</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVffeSLlM1p-ni4XXuXUSGqqzQ0yp-ETsSahwRgW-bWEGrY9SSN6XIkm1LzVAYu1uw5uugEI6PSW191cQyBVP1XMv4zHQHTlYLXyP3hb0AQJ5IctO0TZbw82_vrUxbQZxP0RAja8XMwmv/s1600/roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVffeSLlM1p-ni4XXuXUSGqqzQ0yp-ETsSahwRgW-bWEGrY9SSN6XIkm1LzVAYu1uw5uugEI6PSW191cQyBVP1XMv4zHQHTlYLXyP3hb0AQJ5IctO0TZbw82_vrUxbQZxP0RAja8XMwmv/s320/roses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me, freezing to death. It was about 50 degrees, but the wind was blowing. The next day I wore gloves with fingers on them. It was so dark because of the cloud cover that the flash went off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQUO8UkEvxL-ePIXWU8aMP1HNbm1Q-IIQQueAfyA3xCO4hyzlMrlbxgV06RU3zLMlKw4jrXwBkiMryE7TRI3I1g_4CgAU5h6GjXuQMsDlxYMH86i6lxDTdKgyrgP8M0BueLatj3SQ0RDa/s1600/June+15+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQUO8UkEvxL-ePIXWU8aMP1HNbm1Q-IIQQueAfyA3xCO4hyzlMrlbxgV06RU3zLMlKw4jrXwBkiMryE7TRI3I1g_4CgAU5h6GjXuQMsDlxYMH86i6lxDTdKgyrgP8M0BueLatj3SQ0RDa/s400/June+15+021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>

Biking with bunnies is the perfect workout

I removed the BP oil spill widget from my blog. I'm still sadden by the whole thing, but it was taking forever to load my blog page. The combination of the video widget and my own pictures was too much. If you still want to look at it, here's the lin…

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Jefferson Starship At The Red Dog Saloon

An incredible evening with Jefferson Starship at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City. What is Jefferson Starship like on tour in 2010? I will tell you all, but first, for those of you dear readers who do not know this Battle Born State, a word about Virginia City – forget Bonanza. Virginia City was never a cow town with broad dusty streets. It was a mountain top mining town -- the center of the Comstock Lode named for the successful speculator Henry T. Pancake Comstock who struck it rich in 1859, sold his claim, invested in stores in Carson and Silver City, purchased a Mormon wife who ran away, then prospected unsuccessfully in Idaho and Montana where he killed himself in 1870 – no relation to John Henry Comstock, the noted entomologist. For the truth – using the word in a loose literary sense – about Virginia City, better to consult their premier journalist, Mark Twain.<br /><br />The Red Dog Saloon, an intimate setting along Virginia City’s wooden sidewalks, was filled with boomers tonight. It was the 60+ crowd out in force to hear our old music. A few young folks showed up out of respect I guess. But we were mostly a collection of people who had lived through the Viet Nam era and everything since – it showed on us I must admit.<br /><br />After the opening act, Jefferson Starship took the small stage. Paul Kantner, David Krieberg, and Chris Smits – 3 old guys who still love their music, playing it now with a seasoned passion. Marty Balin was not around. And of course Gracie Slick has been gone from Starship since 1988 – and lest I go overboard let me acknowledge there is only one Gracie Slick – a pioneer rock singer who was once arrested for attempting to spike Richard Nixon’s punch with LSD. Awful of course, but you had to be there or at least be then. She was one of a kind and is now a painter in New York City.<br /><br />Instead of Balin and Slick, the old guys were joined by an angular young woman named Cathy Richardson who could have been their granddaughter. But she was a bona fide super star. She wore a sun dress under a black hooded sweater which she put to remarkable use. It wasn’t just the powerful brassy voice that was nothing less than Grace Slick quality; she was a performer in the 1967 sense of the word. She shot her fist up toward the ceiling, sliced the air with her hands, fell to her knees, clapped, stomped, pounded the stage with the mike stand exuding a blend of passions born of that mad era of hope, anger, and desperate aspiration. At one point she turned away, pulled her hood over her head transforming her blondness into an eerie witchy darkness, then turned on us with a rendition of White Rabbit that chilled the blood at “Just ask Alice, when she’s 10 feet tall.” In the second set, she hammered us with Somebody to Love – an existential admonition to human connection.<br /><br />The closing song of the encore took a surprising thematic turn for the top band of psychedelic rock. It was a medley of Songs of Freedom, Redemption Song, and Imagine. The lyrics of John Lennon’s atheist anthem were woven into the lyrics of Bob Marley, blended into a proclamation of faith in transcendent deliverance and an invitation to live boldly in the face of all the menaces to freedom, happiness, and life itself. John Lennon no doubt turned over in his grave, but I loved it.<br /><br />All this on a Friday night in the Red Dog Saloon of Virginia City. I cannot believe this life I have been given.

Jefferson Starship At The Red Dog Saloon

An incredible evening with Jefferson Starship at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City. What is Jefferson Starship like on tour in 2010? I will tell you all, but first, for those of you dear readers who do not know this Battle Born State, a word about …

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Walker Lake, Resilience In Reno, & How To Be The Church

On Monday, Walker Lake was perfectly still, reflecting the mountains and sky the way a serene soul reflects Christ. We were driving past Walker Lake after having flown from Reno to Las Vegas at the crack of dawn to load up our car with the rest of our belongings destined for Sparks. It was surreal, going to bed in Sparks two nights in a row, but with a plane flight and a long drive in between. That’s what I do with a day off. :-)<br /><br /> It had been a good Sunday at Trinity, Reno – a flagship congregation that has been through a lot of change and disruption these past few years. I was impressed by their resiliency and the energy in the room – the lay and ordained leadership and the people in the pews. They sang the hymns, said the responses – worshiped right out loud. Of course, they have the cutest family service anywhere. Then the principle service was blessed with a first class choir that is not too stuffy to get down as we said in the 70’s – I’m not sure what we say now – but they do it.<br /><br /> Saturday had been another Roving Workshop at St. Paul’s, Sparks on Orders of Ministry. Many Nevada Episcopalians have the notion that there are two diametrically opposed models for how to be the church and we are torn between them. I hope these workshops can help us recognize two things: 1. Neither of those models actually exists anywhere in our diocese today. 2. Neither of those models fits the ancient or contemporary Church’s understanding of our shape, our mission, or the nature of God.<br /><br /> I hope one basic insight will emerge from those two facts: A few general principles make up a broad outline of how to be the church. It is a deep and ancient wisdom – but the way the general principles are lived out in each local community is up to that community. Congregations have the freedom to be creative, innovative, and adaptive. We are here to connect people with Jesus “by any means necessary.” These workshops do not say“this is the way to do it” but rather "these are the resources you can use as you find your way."

Walker Lake, Resilience In Reno, & How To Be The Church

On Monday, Walker Lake was perfectly still, reflecting the mountains and sky the way a serene soul reflects Christ. We were driving past Walker Lake after having flown from Reno to Las Vegas at the crack of dawn to load up our car with the rest of ou…

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S’ouvrir les portes des métiers de l'eau : visite d'entreprise le 21 juin 2010

<BR><br />En partenariat avec le PLIE, la Maison de l'Emploi du Bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métiers de la distribution d'eau potable et de l'assainissement (Releveur de compteurs clientèle, Agent de réseau canalisation, Agent de station de traitement des Eaux, Agent travaux publics ...) :<ul><br /><li>le lundi 21 juin 2010<br /><li>dans les locaux de l'entreprise <strong><a href="http://www.lyonnaise-des-eaux.fr/" target="_blank">Lyonnaise des Eaux</a></strong>.</ul><br />L’entreprise propose le programme suivant :<br /><br />9h00-10h30 : <strong>Visite de l'usine</strong><br />10h30-11h30 : <strong>Présentation des métiers</strong> (par des managers) > en particulier Métiers Usines, Métiers Réseaux, Métiers Travaux et Métiers Clientèle<br />11h30- 12h00 : <strong>Présentation procédure recrutement</strong> + <strong>échange CV</strong><br /><br />Après cette 1/2 journée, les personnes qui le souhaitent pourront revoir une représentante de l’entreprise en entretien individuel dans les semaines qui suivent.<br /><br />Le transport est pris en charge par la Maison de l'Emploi avec l'appui du PLIE.<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> : <strong>Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans</strong>, 2 avenue Montesquieu 45100 Orléans, à 09h00 (<a href="http://maps.google.fr/maps?hl=fr&q=maison+de+l'emploi+du+bassin+d'orl%C3%A9ans&ie=UTF8&ei=WSwGTOz2HJGW4gbx4YjLDA&ved=0CAoQ_AU&hq=maison+de+l'emploi+du+bassin+d&hnear=Orl%C3%A9ans&ll=47.836148,1.932757&spn=0.010875,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A target="_blank">Plan</a>)<br /><BR>

S’ouvrir les portes des métiers de l'eau : visite d'entreprise le 21 juin 2010

En partenariat avec le PLIE, la Maison de l'Emploi du Bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métiers de la distribution d'eau potable et de l'assainissement (Releveur de compteurs clientèle, Agent de réseau canalisation,…

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Do the stuff that makes you happy

Recent studies have proven that the older we get, the happier we become. This <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/health/research/01happy.html">article</a> came out in the New York Times a few weeks ago, but it's just one of many similar articles.<br /><br />There are a lot of theories on why older people are happier, but the one that makes the most sense to me is because older people have figured out what makes them happy. Instead of doing the stuff they don't like, they do the things they enjoy.<br /><br />Therefore, I'm done with bootcamp class. I paid for a month, but it was deeply discounted to $39. I only went twice, and I hated every minute of it. I liked the group class atmosphere. I hated everything else about it. Especially the frantic pace and the exercises. I hated the music, and most of all I hated how I almost couldn't walk for two days after the class. I don't think it's good for a person to exercise so hard that they can barely get out of a chair.<br /><br />I'm 54. I don't want to waste time doing things I hate. I don't exactly love to exercise, but I don't hate it. I enjoy weight lifting, and never dread doing it. Cardio really isn't my thing, but I know it's a necessary evil and I do it six days a week. Great music helps a lot, as well as variety. I try to do a different machine every day at the gym. Or better yet, a bike ride or a brisk walk outside, both are preferred activities over the gym. <br /><br />Yesterday was a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest. Sun shining, 72 degrees. Perfect bike riding weather. I rode from our house to the mall, then the mall to the gym for strength training for 45 minutes, then back home. I stopped a few times to take pictures and talk to a lady walking her yellow labs (I love yellow labs). It was the best two and half hours of my entire week. It made me very happy.<br /><br />The swimming and the bootcamp class didn't work for me. There are still other things I can try. Next is an aerobic/strength training class at my gym. The only problem is that it's at 5:30 p.m. I'm really not much of an evening exercise person, but I'm going to try it a couple days this week. The last time I went to this class I was very overweight and although I liked the instructor and the music, I wasn't physically able to keep up. Hopefully I'll do better now.<br /><br />A few pictures from yesterday...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Rhododendron in the gym parking lot</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxvYZ3Rwo2besbzMmfEoXu5xqxBX_G7yF0uIa-AyD8rDKc4gfN1WmGX7j4mW1Za-RibddWPYuY3G5qjBvOokrpblsmmDAlbl9yFohkOMc8rg8z_wE7zt_bEAy2-1QWNeQnPeKGNC5wJKv/s1600/Rhodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxvYZ3Rwo2besbzMmfEoXu5xqxBX_G7yF0uIa-AyD8rDKc4gfN1WmGX7j4mW1Za-RibddWPYuY3G5qjBvOokrpblsmmDAlbl9yFohkOMc8rg8z_wE7zt_bEAy2-1QWNeQnPeKGNC5wJKv/s400/Rhodies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A view from my bike trail, Mt. Rainier in all her glory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYBOK5A9SZpu75FuNcFvnyu1tNejxE9qzO5A1KRWXNXUMTDwfdMFQlqf1Dxz5Ci4JqKOJJfBChoe-hohy3bqVkRttUYj99fwVKr41z2WgtWfV3NAS3Zvz0sRuFtFhdRjYdEpY-c0NPkmA/s1600/Mt+Rainier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYBOK5A9SZpu75FuNcFvnyu1tNejxE9qzO5A1KRWXNXUMTDwfdMFQlqf1Dxz5Ci4JqKOJJfBChoe-hohy3bqVkRttUYj99fwVKr41z2WgtWfV3NAS3Zvz0sRuFtFhdRjYdEpY-c0NPkmA/s400/Mt+Rainier.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and the bike on the BPA trail in Federal Way, WA</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MN7t1u0h2Vi9SESY4vcrr2QdD7D6EOxLVKPL9TUUM7eS-2qrvyZpOww_ki3CLAgQorldFgsyTlFiMGUBWKobVArCO5gVJLo2IxABSpv4nS76LaQCYUUfPYX5kYdc347LdJkPVH2-whNJ/s1600/Me2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MN7t1u0h2Vi9SESY4vcrr2QdD7D6EOxLVKPL9TUUM7eS-2qrvyZpOww_ki3CLAgQorldFgsyTlFiMGUBWKobVArCO5gVJLo2IxABSpv4nS76LaQCYUUfPYX5kYdc347LdJkPVH2-whNJ/s400/Me2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Eating until I feel full</span></strong><br />Last week I tried the Weight Watchers Filling Foods technique and not tracking every Point, I only tracked my weekly 35 Points. I tried eating until I felt "satisfied". It came as no big surprise to me that it didn't work. I gained 3.4 pounds this week. It's just a problem I have when left to my own devices, I will eat too much. It's who I am and a problem I have to deal with. <br /><br />This week I'm counting Points again. It's another necessary evil, but I know it'll make for a much better weight loss week.

Do the stuff that makes you happy

Recent studies have proven that the older we get, the happier we become. This article came out in the New York Times a few weeks ago, but it's just one of many similar articles.There are a lot of theories on why older people are happier, but the one …

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Planning de la semaine du 14 au 18 juin 2010

<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 lundi 14 juin de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 15 juin de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 16 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le jeudi 17 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le vendredi 18 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/01/egee-nouveau-partenaire-la-maison-de.html">EGEE</a></strong> - lundi 14 juin 13h30 à 17h (sur rendez-vous)<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> - mercredi 16 juin 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> - vendredi 18 juin de 09h à 12h30 (sur rendez-vous)</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 15 juin de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 16 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 15 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Préparation à l'entretien</strong> - jeudi 17 juin de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 18 juin de 10h à 11h30<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> - vendredi 18 juin de 14h à 16h</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Comité d'admission</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong><a href="http://couveuseentreprises-pes45.fr/" "target=_blank">Couveuse d'entreprise</a></strong> - vendredi 18 juin de 9h à 12h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 14 au 18 juin 2010

PermanencesLe Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans- le lundi 14 juin de 9h à 12h30,- le mardi 15 juin de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,- le mercredi 16 juin de 13h30 à 17h- le jeudi 17 jui…

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Un nouveau site sur les formations et les métiers du commerce

<BR><br />Un site Internet consacré aux métiers du commerce vient d’être lancé par le ministère de l’Economie. Site inédit de valorisation des métiers du secteur, il est conçu en 3D afin de proposer une véritable immersion dans cet univers professionnel via une interface dynamique, ludique et attractive et agrémentée de témoignages vidéo.<br /><a href="http://www.metiersducommerce.fr" "target=_blank"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480701399541884610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnVg9WP6PcJ80-8ej6ert2Jr01zj9xq2pgURjBTkFEVKcOb0KfAki1B2P_ODveZH0cb9kxnEbOEzo-9QQh9mJFavQq461Iob5cEokvydrpKFgSGXbHAlazqmR_fIXMZ4zMx5BpVYSKtvw/s200/logo_commerce_proximite.png" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 92px;" /></a><br /><br />Ce site permet aux visiteurs de s’informer sur les métiers, les formations, l’apprentissage, la VAE et le contrat de professionnalisation.<br /><br />Le site propose aussi des offres d’emploi relayées directement par Pôle emploi ainsi qu’un test pour définir son profil.<br /> <br />Consulter le site : <a href="http://www.metiersducommerce.fr" "target=_blank">www.metiersducommerce.fr</a><br /><BR>

Un nouveau site sur les formations et les métiers du commerce

Un site Internet consacré aux métiers du commerce vient d’être lancé par le ministère de l’Economie. Site inédit de valorisation des métiers du secteur, il est conçu en 3D afin de proposer une véritable immersion dans cet univers professionnel via un…

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Dam to Dam 20K

<p>Saturday I did something completely ridiculous! I ran 12.4 miles without being prepared. I’m pretty sure I ran less than 10 times in the month of May and the longest run was 8 miles at the end of April. NOT SMART DARCI!!!  </p> <p>But I finished, Kyle stuck with me the entire time, and I know I will never run that far without being prepared again! Here is a quick recap. But just as an FYI, the pictures are on the light side because it rained over half of the race. :(</p> <p>We went down to Des Moines Friday evening to pick up our race packets. It was wonderfully organized and we were in & out of there in just a few minutes. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ixPIbDmdmHXgO9wbPslx93lxyfg5MGwyla18ljqg0XqmoXso7P4wfralikvdFzbwRmR04rCE_-CqR7tRjY63oN87Df3iImNOdJ6WUi0Yei8S9lKT46VMMPTWTHyEPOvhLU_HkORvLChs/s1600-h/IMG00062-20100604-1757%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG00062-20100604-1757" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbzEzrC9AvMkA9VAllo1bc9ewyxTfobOd49tRmf1hMbE0boSfYSFczfuc5iBUJbCOgT__YgmfBtdK1cKVf_JRRktIEcEmExGtGlbzbv-TqDGDI2S_x0UYkELmtJUZkuNfHOrENDaxUFak/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="IMG00062-20100604-1757" width="404" /></a></p> <p>After packet pickup, we headed to Olive Garden for supper. We met Kyle’s cousins & their little 3 year old there. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqb8JK16MdT4g2Dw6K3tEQitaVeQT2xsPwlQJyTTY9mBgb3jrL9K-5aMKBNhVPxXPyj5rMglJhk_c1y50kQik1iRDZog-jkV6_VuTHuxLQivqOW-p_3yVQEQ33Fyvnvw6V9nOD_ACIfcg/s1600-h/IMG00066-20100604-1829%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG00066-20100604-1829" border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBC4711gpeWPwWcQ2I1AEGVRk_QLimoBxdqITo3m0T21VqXf7WFhe-57vLAksz-mR07DQ4CrmQGCyK7TQv_sSW8jOMh0NQqQnM36nrp-udQ7h8xmkuKLmVVNDXTIZqwXizIIf5f-wYBps/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="IMG00066-20100604-1829" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I definitely got my carbs in, Kyle and I both ordered the tour of Italy…good stuff!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHxg2RMOKDT5UARQ5-qDuJPCEBwZoP1w2nSlWDqW0kWgBg4tCbB5gCh1i-VEXBrvYYrpm7sIXsBPZgqV6vkZLO2J3iMTH-UXFxTtpUbRO1lhfIZyw7DyWjl5xedBQyyhyphenhyphenpk0K1JX2HqHh/s1600-h/IMG00068-20100604-1908%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG00068-20100604-1908" border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2pbptMnlO35Yjl_6OVeb9tsLDJ02RNqn7LatxHjP-kQMbsFdYb2ej5LaI8SjGjUCIXYBA6UAn_lYGL-Re6fEQ8hNs6j7JYMuGOcfXOkgU6Mn74JmpA0mRBybFX89tEv62wckamwKstlw/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="IMG00068-20100604-1908" width="304" /></a></p> <p>With full tummies we headed downtown to check into our hotel for the evening. We had a great view!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHDvLVPiUx9B290-BGCfMh62YVdjJ0IAEHycQLUf-ch_9J56iDlvS5GweCabZBNRNu0qhS3b8ehMzx1IvGTZ2Ibz2-DiHHqu7bwK6RlthCcKccy2NSpIKQKg_vk_RFY-yt3wBYqcRHUrA/s1600-h/DSC07496%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07496" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nU5hKgjgqn7tVa-XKBWMvCiuwduIuL_nTc8Naq1rm_h1D_tw6XRGJPKWk_cRZjBpIeU7TGEx5vtJ3wMGZMabtHVXQMT64IwhZ6f69yt-fvSMF1fL_Ze1aw2gjjZNEJpBKianimZShL2s/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC07496" width="404" /></a></p> <p>With butterflies in my stomach, I got my race gear ready. I knew I wasn’t prepared and there were major thunder storms headed our way. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtT17fnWU9zOnhtfF76jLEevXEB2x4uti6dX4ikkCfi4nN_rEBrnvnU0XKq4d4o0rgQG0Dga70t8O1GRTu-TeclPkBTR0ZkUbwaGEfqeeHD-QrNt9GLVlkOd8Nmjzt6re0QwJATITXhTYY/s1600-h/DSC07498%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07498" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9IEDq5h9h-57HYTsmMB0Irsx5qFyxaY1iMgVNkas4cVDpKLx0GDPJnDdum4qfvDaB01pKQ1b3WURWUeOWseNqM3eQ34qPt-jBUZxwJ70guL9UKt68sRHdWv8SSIt5wFPekdxj1XkEjC7/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC07498" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Kyle & I both were quite restless throughout the night. I kept waking up, worried that I missed the alarm. But 4:30am came & we both hopped out of bed and got ready. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppR_yngIjWBX9zJPHSCd4bfhwwEIWkWZIR0Uvkx07ssMeIZyPjIcbLVuKIXyyLCeFZAMg_qVcJbznz_2jIkIbTW_YwvLF52LNhko4S6KUYB-ryfzBSWKiogbBT5FWDBi0aSnWdA8kum3C/s1600-h/DSC07500%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC07500" border="0" height="543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM2Dylcu4DdYuBcLpQLGnoJBaT7aBkkzovDFY7yr7SWn0qT6U5RB0YGSnkoc4OZBQTK7Q9KabwMSecN51Mvy7YNtXWq-bhQ4xodDDwgVH-1mNVMBNrg2HKor1EG0hDkNFGCY5B8vQvwEy/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC07500" width="399" /></a></p> <p>From 5am-5:45am 7,000 runners were bused from downtown Des Moines out to Saylorville Dam. The race began at 7am. So for over an hour we were standing in the wind & rain, no fun!</p> <p>The gun went off and we didn’t cross the start line for about 15-20 minutes! I started out feeling pretty good, but not enjoying the rain. </p> <p>Miles 1-6 went ok, we were keeping an 11 minute/mile pace, and it was raining the entire time. I was so glad Kyle decided to stick with me! I know he is the reason I was able to push through. </p> <p>Between mile 6 & 7 I suddenly had the feeling I had to go #2! This may be TMI…but it was part of the race! It was too early to go pre-race! So we stopped along the way and had a potty break. We had to wait for the porta-potty for about 5-7 minutes. The entire time I could feel my legs getting tight. </p> <p>It was rough to get back into my “groove” after the potty break. The rain had cleared, but now we were just soggy and I could feel my wet shorts rubbing on my legs with every stride. </p> <p>I’m not sure what mile it was, but I did something to my knee. Nothing too bad that I couldn’t keep going, but it was fairly painful. We did a walk/run routine for the majority of the rest of the race. </p> <p>We ran the last mile with all we had. I was ready to be done! I couldn’t have been more excited to see the finish line!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iCmqYQVVSpvdrbD8Uc-VOOdcr51MqAzRGxkI6CTw169hJpZTwZwnQenRNbBFhpn7_Sb1lSjh3wP0z49drK1FiLgZTqZoX17du3Qb0vARQCbW3RgoHDCgjmCtuq7MGasOch7N1_hyphenhyphenludM/s1600-h/finish%20line%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="finish line" border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMbv1qVA4sQ0CBv_A3eJA2_tfKWbxDeyNw4IYtuCOG6B38bJcHE2alLrzIdcwb1rWiFlXzwYYGIsmfo6llTevYXzlSElHgrB35yVzZzjkp4dfUFz2Ys7M8bqqsYO4J3VgG_r8Q9VhFzOf/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="finish line" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I knew Kyle was disappointed in our performance, but he was so supportive the entire way even though he wasn’t feeling the best either. I LOVE my running partner. I know I wouldn’t have been able to finish without him by my side. </p> <p>We took advantage of the free food & Powerade and met up with Kyle’s cousins to check out the downtown farmer’s market. The entire time our bodies were screaming at us that we had pushed them hard enough for the day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQx3eE4nZYlvJ_Bv_Aj624CQEt4uuPYf22bjSCyG1-jGwH6mwLy4-QoiVScdr1LnpDSd6QvT_zWUKQjoLOgGxU6NUBj8WCrJCZwTiA4UdjSbhE1sSVZDiU2hr_Jl4NoqxMVG6LUKGCkdSB/s1600-h/IMG00071-20100605-1121%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG00071-20100605-1121" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivl47fa9ayKztbZvZ_SOimJ7WCzjksUYK_lB5DbsZYhGCVXTMs1vUNP3wxWrzBaMDv730XmMllShpSj_n6Sixbx3X131YQW0acn40QyNvJNZRB0zoz5OefqSAIQ3w9PCs169RM0_mRBOdz/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="IMG00071-20100605-1121" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I know it wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done and I’m pretty sure I didn’t do any long term damage to my body, but boy, oh boy am I hurting today! My knee is super stiff and I’m pretty sure muscles in my body are hurting that I didn’t even know I had. </p> <p>With all of that said though, I’m proud that we finished, I’m so blessed to have a great husband who is so supportive, and I learned my lesson! ;)</p>

Dam to Dam 20K

Saturday I did something completely ridiculous! I ran 12.4 miles without being prepared. I’m pretty sure I ran less than 10 times in the month of May and the longest run was 8 miles at the end of April. NOT SMART DARCI!!!  But I finished, Kyle stuc…

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Bootcamp kicked my butt

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until this morning, I thought I was in excellent physical condition. After this morning, I realized the joke was on me.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost every exercise we did this morning was something I hate doing. I hate push ups. I hate lunges. I hate dead lifts. I hate jumping jacks. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there were the new exercises that I learned to hate too. The fake swimming exercise with stretchy rope thingies hooked to the wall, the reverse push ups with some straps hanging from the ceiling while lying almost parallel to the floor and holding onto the straps, jumping up on giant tires, the mountain climber exercises with sliding things under my feet, the burpee thing (ugh!). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish I could say it was fun, but when is pain fun? When is panting, sweating and gasping for air fun, especially when a young, 20-something handsome male is pushing you really hard, telling you "KEEP GOING, FASTER!!! FASTER!!!"? After fifteen minutes I thought to myself, 'if I get out of here alive, I AM NEVER COMING BACK!'.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 35 minutes, my heart rate monitor said I'd burned 276 calories. It always reads half of whatever the machines say, so it's fairly accurate. Thirty minutes on the StairMaster only burns 200 calories, so I was happy with the results. Normally the bootcamp class is 45 minutes, but since today was my intro class the first ten minutes was spent going over the exercises with me.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I going back on Wednesday? Of course. Will I keep going after my month is up? No. One, normally it's $247 a month which is ridiculous. There are only three people in the morning class, which is also odd. The guy that owns/manages/teaches and is the CEO is about 20. He's in great shape, but he's 20! He was nice and seemed to know what he was doing, but the place was kind of strange.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was slightly flattered when the owner said he would have to up my weights next time because the 15-pound dumbbells were obviously too light for me and the dead lift weight (I have no idea how much - it was a kettle ball) was too light. Next time he said he'd make sure I used heavier weights than the other women. I guess that's a good thing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most valuable lesson I learned today is that I don't push myself hard enough on my own, and I'm very competitive when it comes to exercising. Hence, group exercise classes are probably what I need to focus on to get the best workout possible. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When other people are doing the hard stuff, like push ups, it's hard for me to say I can't do it. I feel like I have to prove something, like I may be 20 years older than you, but I can do everything you can do (and more!).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall it was okay. Maybe it'll be more fun when I feel more comfortable with the exercises. It was a lot of stuff to learn very quickly, and a lot of hard work. Plus the ton of lunges I did just about killed me. My butt is already sore!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Bootcamp kicked my butt

Until this morning, I thought I was in excellent physical condition. After this morning, I realized the joke was on me.Almost every exercise we did this morning was something I hate doing. I hate push ups. I hate lunges. I hate dead lifts. I hate jum…

Read more »