Happy Hump Day!

<p>We had a <strong><u>BUSY</u></strong> morning today! We had to drop one of our vehicles off to get an oil change, then I dropped Kyle off at work, and then I took Abby (our dog) to the vet & groomer! <em>All before 8am!!</em></p> <p>Because of all those “errands” I ended up eating breakfast at my desk when I got to work. I had the usual <strong>oatmeal</strong> combo for <strong>5 points</strong>.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4TFiPcr2xJT6p9gtpe1tbNNCqvczAqIkp1SdJea_d4h0SYBmBjudRNNS7eMmcoYMabo8RhluTMEZuKM4tg2WzEABNpiI35WEhDFd8ajZpm_Tv3_6-259MteYHzg2ArHThKjGg9pGLHYh/s1600-h/DSC088083.jpg"><img alt="DSC08808" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTNyHTmrYp-NWEDP73GoSEpAjX2NxyrSn2UI0xOLE0SRCuibnTSxvGqjoxgCbdL6gvjTuEo9gMc87t_QlxPnj2eP9ZE5IV4Mg_cEUuzT2gyDFjD2TBqgsxMlihN1urwT_bSkmJ-KtC5IN/?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="DSC08808" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I had a new <em>“try”</em> at lunch today. Sunday when we got groceries I picked up some Green Giant Just for One frozen cauliflower & cheese sauce because I had a coupon. They are 0 points each. I would say this will be the first & <strong><u>last</u></strong> time I will get these. The cheese sauce was <strong><em><u>NO good</u></em></strong>!</p> <p>The rest of my lunch, on the other hand, was great! I had a <strong>ham, turkey, & cheese sandwich</strong>, <strong>1/4 c cottage cheese</strong>, and <strong>1/2 c grapes</strong> for<strong> 5 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeRf8Um18lFR5QuDhmsgJ0Xopr9Vqo4YyzhhT9k_UXpcS4r23L660_cHQvbYoBIHjVHEKc4A9vxubDyiNzr1rJgrlhx169y-jllsgxMECtl0KhJ6qPbvSuKTDDdE0Z2iN8SYDFzAPdpKC/s1600-h/DSC088093.jpg"><img alt="DSC08809" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG9tu0l2yBLYQsMUu4E01VIdPF1E17M6hQBsDXpVcVIISd8EPiECp2XN-p5HkrXZY2jxw0fREBAOKyYboGWwo3qBfqRh-0OyF1FzPi79CoSG5jj8pO8y9RpI6kDfbHyoWm9kRjyiX0mVK/?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="DSC08809" width="404" /></a></p> <p>My afternoon went relatively fast and then I <em>RUSHED</em> home! We had a 6pm supper time w/work friends. So that meant I had less than 20 minutes to exercise. I ended up getting<strong> 1.5 miles</strong> in <strong>14 minutes.</strong> My thought is that it’s 1.5 better than 0!</p> <p>We had supper at a pizza place, but I ordered a grilled <strong>chicken sandwich</strong>. I only ate<strong> half the bun</strong> & <strong><em>none</em></strong> of those icky chips you see in the background for a total of <strong>6 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1sMMKVDMDe1MUQ6-afNjsSMSW8tOjLogCzAkCCyh7iITCnUwDtM_sRKAGqr2GHV1GnXs0-rg6l2QKRpqnVPKkZlWUHn_NlTgDhrMFPBBgneYHX7ih9QIdx0RqJZqjGcYrRtiVOWb8gjf/s1600-h/DSC088123.jpg"><img alt="DSC08812" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5z64TNNvHfcOLjlhr3jaWIT65Wvgzt8K847Mwcy73PxuSQiI2cap7EtOtTzgzthAAT1GLcqJyMSzwnxLze2zP1Quu5PDIk21uetZ_nYKUXa707Vg7648S2T2Wc1NG7RK6QLe25nnCDKC/?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="DSC08812" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Kyle hung out & chatted the evening away while a work friend & I hit Younkers up for the last day of the <strong><u>Goodwill sale</u></strong>! Let’s just say between when I got Tuesday night & tonight…my shopping is done for the week! (<em>Probably not because we have a planned shopping trip on Saturday before the Hawkeye game!) </em></p> <p>I’ll have to get pictures of what I got & share with you guys tomorrow, there were some <strong><u>AWESOME</u></strong> sales!! :)</p> <p>I’m going to leave you with pictures of my sweet pup! This is here before her haircut this morning! She could hardly see!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXaTQdfZRSxwNK7VAL0PqW7WxLIShgRQoqsLpymCrl-FOHetZpmfS1qZYU9CkHKjd-r9ZLP6Nl38ksrjxNhthcuEfk2Hvd80BdykZ4WuwUZQ3moiZFj8DJkW5xt1Md3zxx07vlbHirMlF/s1600-h/DSC088073.jpg"><img alt="DSC08807" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50bDTO3HrL5NBpoZUL1cL_FHDPNijZz_yiBdskZVqJ4mPFt9PuWv1KSwUyDwIcE5fleHbucE8xGktD37tUmcr1pbIgba9w3O6R9pYUIeiaKP0FbksNRBFishOWtU5cgYyCwDzFvgeDHtB/?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="DSC08807" width="404" /></a></p> <p>For some reason she was<em> extra</em> hyper when we got home tonight and she wouldn’t sit still for an “after” picture, but you get the idea! lol<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfBy9lYCR_sWg4hTU7TXb38uZGaMziY01gMbjTd7qMtoRPVGg_ig8rh0fjFDewWnyBp0aL0cRvQCBfQj9o6Uyo3JCPbYJYSzNZyaL3aRjdPlZ6BActu9TyFGZ1-sARmslCugFtBWX4bbb/s1600-h/DSC088133.jpg"><img alt="DSC08813" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoZbEbUkzKS4tX0Y_7dkR7BkA_dp396f8d132i6EO9_9flSpvbPPyxJSpWfpOxEaEFevLjmkg465zeS0NAG0-QlK5v_wqIZw-GQFlY5yw-FTbn1L1q6EL_MsQUKJW7EVab2jBe0D3WroW/?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="DSC08813" width="404" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKS-9qvSB0KEZRUmhiZnHMEWwtRuF1pk7vX_AdK0s3pbzk2jO004pCzEb7qkM__N7SMDZ-B1Q9WBZExmnNYORY_ZrN5a4vrfg3LYCcqIjBkN4yxDCxMohMKjgNmIo4cZNdcOlxPSJFfd6/s1600-h/DSC088213.jpg"><img alt="DSC08821" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2NsgBqmRY6_G9aCGw-y8s6fa2urjeGEuss7ZeduDGk7KwfKvavgHJcc-G4_52gzxlQOuTddxBaaoon1fFO4JkwFilTI6hcgXlbLOd9XC7dMTya73Fy3qaEVEhvAb1IJr1qSN9rPrawHP/?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="DSC08821" width="404" /></a><img alt="DSC08819" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz2F4SJ-pa-2fzdLHvYtAYguqtESaGItXpB7R6eSdUqWeGxcP27TsE0dC5HqRvDQU0Kq54-NEZhd0Jw9XXAFa8mVBSNp-uVduokPFR1NXyX1aqlycqJi7LLb9BWRFhY_kJSg5VGr1hs80/?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="DSC08819" width="404" /></p> <p>This is the closest I got to a good one! If only you could read her mind “<em>put that black thing down & just play with me…please!!!”</em> I just luv her!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1SNly82GGDjCPHqBGYHnDQBEESIuFAoKHfKLrM-T3nCIUyDy9DMb-ODrZTGviilkKDEcm53_bjujf9T-zQWlpOLTQZB5tTtRndoMV5FjPX-qqIbK8qh2uv1pUZoE2bnDxJ6vUvASqwxZ/s1600-h/DSC088183.jpg"><img alt="DSC08818" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx0j_ZZfrKnpXUptC97NFUp0zUqNfGDLNS6JzkgcJcZehfaT8wlj54CR75GY1NxXJ2kvSohcFutNBcbc2pAblJqeVny8D5ZpHH96SMRtIB66_M_ygebjY3I6o9vayOCgfC-K_XJ9mxrMb/?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="DSC08818" width="404" /></a></p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY’S STATS <br /></strong>POINTS = 16/23 <br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 0 used/35 remaining <br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 2 today/2 week <br />H2O = 120 oz <br />EXERCISE = 1.5 mile run</p> <p><strong><em>Do you have a pet(s)?</em></strong> I can’t imagine our life without Abby! I love that she is always happy to see us and always puts a smile on our faces no matter how bad our day was!! By the way, she’s 3 years & a pom-a-poo!</p>

Happy Hump Day!

We had a BUSY morning today! We had to drop one of our vehicles off to get an oil change, then I dropped Kyle off at work, and then I took ...

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Light, Shadow and Synergy - von Sternberg and Dietrich, Part I

<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfZ4xQRJjREVNiQSdODF2WCNfrWqdHh19gxc_JTh-_qRCbBgQmhjIyDcRknuNrVad5zypmE2IV-NADtQBxezaWDrxjUSqkm6uC6iHIp9hvsK6sZY-1qU_Zq1hFgNbKcpEQdHZ84mGiVls/s1600/Marlene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520294341038125314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfZ4xQRJjREVNiQSdODF2WCNfrWqdHh19gxc_JTh-_qRCbBgQmhjIyDcRknuNrVad5zypmE2IV-NADtQBxezaWDrxjUSqkm6uC6iHIp9hvsK6sZY-1qU_Zq1hFgNbKcpEQdHZ84mGiVls/s400/Marlene.jpg" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Josef von Sternberg is recalled first and foremost as the filmmaker who, 80 years ago, introduced the cinematic persona adopted by Marlene Dietrich as her own, on screen and off, for most of the rest of her life. It is less well known that before their fabled association von Sternberg had already earned a name for himself as an accomplished, if temperamental, director. His artistic reputation peaked during the years 1930 - 1935, when he directed seven films starring Dietrich.</span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_w-h_gju4Jx8QZVzHI0X5DYq_b48lWvo0U8B0dRHBJcsZRqj5YT4iAv1dFwsDg0TnKrmq7OuLT1VYbDKJWDqpLWcy5IWawF_xzBgmymkVVuHSYReYSL2kwkLPojXuRPReX3vtX_eXhI9/s1600/vonsternberg-j%5B1%5D.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520324979978877858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_w-h_gju4Jx8QZVzHI0X5DYq_b48lWvo0U8B0dRHBJcsZRqj5YT4iAv1dFwsDg0TnKrmq7OuLT1VYbDKJWDqpLWcy5IWawF_xzBgmymkVVuHSYReYSL2kwkLPojXuRPReX3vtX_eXhI9/s320/vonsternberg-j%5B1%5D.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Born in Vienna in 1894, he spent his childhood shuttling back and forth between Vienna and New York City as family fortunes mostly waned. By the time he was in his late teens he was in New York and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">apprenticed to a man who patched, cleaned and coated motion picture stock. At 20 he received his first film credit while rising through the ranks at World Film Corporation in Fort Lee, New Jersey.</span><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Von Sternberg made his debut as a director in 1925 with <b>The Salvation Hunters</b>, a picture that attracted attention. <b>Underworld </b>(1927), a "sleeper" that became a pioneering film of the gangster genre, made his reputation (for his contribution, Ben Hecht won the first Oscar given for Best Original Story). In 1928, he directed <b>The Last Command </b>starring Emil Jannings, who won the first Best Actor Academy Award for for his performance as well for his performance in <b>The Way of All Flesh</b>.</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Just over a year later Jannings was slated to star in Germany's first full-length sound feature, <b>Der Blaeu Engel</b>/<b>The Blue Angel </b>(1930), and von Sternberg was tapped to direct. Against opposition, he insisted on casting Dietrich, then an actress/entertainer in Berlin, as the cheap cabaret singer who becomes the object of Jannings' obsession.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMgm3Rgi2dvMizG9HOSsy07A7M54OnfGIqCWXuUK1qi4QYZEQuX50SSjNfu9CdG0Zd8YCrsE4QRraOymOAgZA6hedMMH1XiugUa0FgpXDJUxjTQkcZxPHP0uNO19Vlpian9tAYIh7Gp_i/s1600/JvS+and+MD.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="140" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520328260185050178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMgm3Rgi2dvMizG9HOSsy07A7M54OnfGIqCWXuUK1qi4QYZEQuX50SSjNfu9CdG0Zd8YCrsE4QRraOymOAgZA6hedMMH1XiugUa0FgpXDJUxjTQkcZxPHP0uNO19Vlpian9tAYIh7Gp_i/s200/JvS+and+MD.jpg" style="float: right; height: 199px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 284px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This was the beginning of a collaboration that made Dietrich an international star and forever entwined their two names. <b>The Blue Angel</b> caused a sensation in Europe and, before its release, von Sternberg was on his way back to Hollywood - such was industry word-of-mouth on the picture. His leading lady followed him immediately after the film premiered in Berlin (to rave reviews). Both signed with Paramount, though Universal and MGM also vied for Dietrich, and made six American movies together over the next five years.</span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When von Sternberg sailed for the U.S., Dietrich gave him a book to read on his voyage, <u>Amy Jolly: Woman of Marrakesh</u>. Not long after, and despite Dietrich's opinion that it was "weak lemonade," the story was adapted to the screen as <b>Morocco</b> (1930). </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1Xr3H3bi_oHTyGgDcEczeKtuLj2braVHZk0WWAbh2DJWck4URUVKLM-bov2G1oM9n-pfU5j_6n_M8WkCz2tstFM50-DBWI1nEm-Hocrb_EcHNULKX9IbSFJ6OwkwFeyjzyaZF6WChzb_/s1600/morocco+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 169px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 218px;"><img border="0" height="145" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1Xr3H3bi_oHTyGgDcEczeKtuLj2braVHZk0WWAbh2DJWck4URUVKLM-bov2G1oM9n-pfU5j_6n_M8WkCz2tstFM50-DBWI1nEm-Hocrb_EcHNULKX9IbSFJ6OwkwFeyjzyaZF6WChzb_/s200/morocco+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was with <b>Morocco </b>that the evolution of the iconic Dietrich character truly began. Lola-Lola of <b>The Blue Angel</b> had been a tawdry temptress, raw and coarse. And though Dietrich's performance as the ammoral tart was electrifying, Josef von Sternberg had a different archetype in mind when he developed <b>Morocco</b>, the film that would introduce her to the United States, where <b>The Blue Angel </b>was not yet in release.</span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In her autobiography, Dietrich recalled, "I had terrible difficulties since I had to speak correct English and appear mysterious at the same time. An aura of mysteriousness has never been my forte. I knew what was expected of me, but I wasn't in a position to create this atmosphere. <b>The Blue Angel</b> had been something altogether different, the role of an ordinary, brazen, sexy and impetuous floozie, the very opposite of the 'mysterious woman' that von Sternberg wanted me to play in <b>Morocco</b>."</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In his 1965 autobiography, <u>Fun in a Chinese Laundry</u>, von Sternberg remembered, "I had deliberately selected a theme that was visual and owed no allegiance to a cascade of words..."</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Once Dietrich arrived on the West Coast she underwent the full Hollywood treatment. Her makeup was entirely redone (under von Sternberg's close supervision), she was assigned a voice coach and put on a diet and exercise regimen to slim down. Then Paramount photographers took portrait stills and Dietrich, awed, thought them, "the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life." The studio, soon realizing it had a potential superstar on its hands, rolled out a massive publicity blitz for its latest discovery...Voila! Dietrich was famous before either <b>Morocco</b> or <b>The Blue Angel</b> were released in America.</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In his 1966 book, <u>The Films of Josef von Sternberg</u>, critic Andrew Sarris observed that the director had "...entered the cinema through the camera rather than the cutting room and thus became a lyricist of light and shadow..." In </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><b>Morocco</b>, this lyricism is revealed to full effect. With Dietrich its fabulous centerpiece, the film wraps itself around her like a long, sensuous caress...in von Sternberg's painstaking hands she is stunning, enigmatic, worldly, intriguing. The landscape of the film is a dream world...an atmospheric fantasy of escape into the exotic and the romantic. Gary Cooper and Adolphe Menjou add just the right accents as rivals of opposing types.</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It was in <b>Morocco </b>that Dietrich created a commotion when she famously cross-dressed in a cabaret scene. About the sequence von Sternberg wrote that his intention was, in part, "to demonstrate that her sensual appeal was not entirely due to the classic formation of her legs." And he did.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jO0h190oboE?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jO0h190oboE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Upon its release at the Rivoli Theatre in New York, <b>Morocco </b>broke box-office records; both the picture and its star received an avalanche of press coverage.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Much was made of the way von Sternberg showcased Dietrich in the film. One magazine article aptly observed that von Sternberg "not only gave the picture to Marlene; she took it." </span><br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Part II...coming soon...</span></i></div></div></div></div></div><img height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1Xr3H3bi_oHTyGgDcEczeKtuLj2braVHZk0WWAbh2DJWck4URUVKLM-bov2G1oM9n-pfU5j_6n_M8WkCz2tstFM50-DBWI1nEm-Hocrb_EcHNULKX9IbSFJ6OwkwFeyjzyaZF6WChzb_/s200/morocco+2.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 167px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1629px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /></div></div>

Ben Hecht Emil Jannings Josef von Sternberg Light Shadow and Synergy Marlene Dietrich Morocco The Blue Angel The Lady Eve (author) The Last Command Underworld Light, Shadow and Synergy - von Sternberg and Dietrich, Part I

Josef von Sternberg is recalled first and foremost as the filmmaker who, 80 years ago, introduced the cinematic persona adopted by Marlene D...

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Step 1 -- Casting on for left handers or paying attention to details

After a rough start, the knitting project is going well. I came to the realization that I actually don't know how to knit. I've never knitted anything except for a few scarves and potholders, mostly when I was a kid. I tried to knit a pair of mittens a few years ago but the mitten was made for extraordinarily long hands (about two inches longer than my own hand).<br /><br />My mother was very talented, she knitted sweaters, gloves, mittens, and hats. She tried to teach me but I didn't have much interest back then (about 40+ years ago...I think I was 11 or 12 at the time).<br /><br />When I started my current knitting project, a simple scarf made out of this cool yarn, I had some problems.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBdNiipIHDIWqHOqRbRxSYgLB0mIricoHce0BY8QFolZxV2Rp5zBEhFD4BEgxK-ISCyOMUfjaOC0wNO1SooiQNbjjdhpTL1LSJlTHzXk8ICzX0MNl3lgaKbjYMI474jBUi6YMiv4yQTcZ/s1600/scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBdNiipIHDIWqHOqRbRxSYgLB0mIricoHce0BY8QFolZxV2Rp5zBEhFD4BEgxK-ISCyOMUfjaOC0wNO1SooiQNbjjdhpTL1LSJlTHzXk8ICzX0MNl3lgaKbjYMI474jBUi6YMiv4yQTcZ/s320/scarf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The first step to any knitting project is casting on for the first row of stitches. For the life of me I couldn't remember how to start. I had a beginners book in my big box of yarn so I pulled it out and read this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1roqhAqa_JVEeIN6l-tJVj_mvvnnb4nK7ZlZ3Ogq6k4ksyzk6F9b_b3Nyr5wDkNhHLg7cqdkFDOkYNsZAvGB7VaXnI_5fyS2_oJuko4VCw6Ie7mxLIemwWPJ1eb_L9VNerCCHsl5e5TO/s1600/Knitting+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1roqhAqa_JVEeIN6l-tJVj_mvvnnb4nK7ZlZ3Ogq6k4ksyzk6F9b_b3Nyr5wDkNhHLg7cqdkFDOkYNsZAvGB7VaXnI_5fyS2_oJuko4VCw6Ie7mxLIemwWPJ1eb_L9VNerCCHsl5e5TO/s320/Knitting+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I still couldn't figure it out. I couldn't get that first loop to work. It seemed odd, kind of backwards to me. I finally faked it by tying the yarn around the needle and casting on the first row. From there it was easy, just a simple knit stitch, which I remembered how to do. <br /><br />This morning I looked at the book again. The directions, as you can see from above says "Step 1 - casting on for left handers". Aha! I'm NOT left handed, I'm right handed! No wonder it seemed backwards to me. The right hander instructions were on the next page.<br /><br />So what does this has to do with weight loss? Not paying attention to details has been my downfall lately. By lately I mean the past year. <br /><br />I had a lot of weight to lose when I started February 2008. 100 pounds. The first 60 pounds were easy to lose. Then I lost my focus. I lost another 20pounds but it was a struggle. Then I gained back the 20 pounds, then I lost it again. Then I gained it, which is where I sit now. <br /><br />My problem is my lack of attention to detail. I only track a few days a week. I don't always weigh and measure my food. I don't stay within my allowed Points. In other words, I'm wasting my time. <br /><br />The real way to lose weight is to cut back on eating. Exercise is good for you but it won't make you lose weight. When you read how much you'd have to exercise to work off the calories of a single M&M you'll realize that you're not exercising to lose weight. It's one to two minutes of exercise to work off one M&M. Yes, exercise is good for your heart, your muscles, your bones, but it's not really a weight loss technique. <br /><br />I'm living proof that it takes more than exercise to lose weight. I'm faithful to my workouts but I don't cut back on my eating. I don't eat junk, I eat healthy, nutritious food, but I eat too much. <br /><br />Based on my new revelation (okay, it's not really new...I knew I was slacking), I'm changing my goals for the week to just two basic goals. Track my Points and stay within my limit. I've been making this a lot harder than it has to be.<br /><br />Here's something I don't post very often. Me post workout today, where I was a sweaty mess. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7vnoSz6XqnvtRHH3POmpHucTMDWdho1soVXT3zq_CCAUPc65rItlXYQ7zmZsS_A29RSpp28ztrOF31DpnqjPXshMSPZ8Za_6Zy0ZbWI_b2Td_Bd86f1AOamXu1XpFsdfKCpdQC0GvjAb/s1600/postworkout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7vnoSz6XqnvtRHH3POmpHucTMDWdho1soVXT3zq_CCAUPc65rItlXYQ7zmZsS_A29RSpp28ztrOF31DpnqjPXshMSPZ8Za_6Zy0ZbWI_b2Td_Bd86f1AOamXu1XpFsdfKCpdQC0GvjAb/s320/postworkout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>

Step 1 -- Casting on for left handers or paying attention to details

After a rough start, the knitting project is going well. I came to the realization that I actually don't know how to knit. I've neve...

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The Rare Week

This is a very interesting week if you're a sports fan. You may wonder why, though. Football is barely a month old, baseball is ending, and basketball and hockey have only begun to have training camp. <br /><br /><i>Wait a minute...</i><br /><br />Sure enough - if you're an NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL fan, all four of your teams are working right now! <br /><br />The Detroit Pistons website alerted me to this when they announced that practices have officially begun! I already knew that the Red Wings had a preseason game on Sunday, and the Lions have gone winless in 3 regular season games. Currently, I am listening to Game 1 of a doubleheader between the Tigers and the Cleveland Indians. <br /><br />It's pretty crazy to think about! <br /><br />I know I could get flak for saying that the Red Wings and Pistons are "in season", when clearly they are still getting their preseasons under way. But I like to think that counts. After all, the players are wearing official uniforms, getting together as a team, and being managed by their coaches. They aren't doing individual workouts or pending quality vacation time in Malibu.<br /><br />So what do we do about this rare phenomenon? <br /><br />Enjoy it! Sure, the Tigers aren't going to the playoffs, but they're still playing good baseball! They swept the Twins over the weekend, and Comerica Park sounded like it had playoff atmosphere. Make sure to stay tuned to their last few games, and give them your full support. After all, we can sit there the entire game and analyze how they are going to fare in 2011. <br /><br />When it comes to the Lions, they're only 0-3. They're going to Green Bay this weekend to face a very upset Packer squad that imploded with penalties on Monday night. Not to mention that the Lions haven't won in Wisconsin since 1991. But maybe the Packers will be so lackluster from a short week of practice that the Lions will take the upper hand. <br /><br />Well, maybe not. Let's just take bets on when the Lions will let QB Matt Stafford return!<br /><br />The Pistons have just begun practice, so all wecan take from them is their quotes from Media Day. They have a scrimmage coming up, which may result in a pretty fun dunk contest. Optimism is high, so it's the perfect time to pay attention!<br /><br />As for the Red Wings, we can anticipate a season with fresh players. We didn't make it all the way to the Final last year, and that may be the best result for this team. You can get pretty tired playing from October through June two years in a row! Hopefully that extra rest will be instrumental in getting them off to a hot start.<br /><br />This is one of the only times of the year where we can truly enjoy being a four-sport fan (and if you're a Detroit fan, enjoy the fact that we're a four-sport town). The only other time I can see would be April (in the D!), where the NHL playoffs have started, NBA season is winding down, MLB has just begun, and the NFL has its high-profile draft. <br /><br />But April is still so far away. Enjoy this time now, before it's all over!

The Rare Week

This is a very interesting week if you're a sports fan. You may wonder why, though. Football is barely a month old, baseball is ending, ...

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Fall is in the air!

Happy "hump" day friends, we're halfway to the weekend! Hooray! :)<br /><br />Let's catch up on Tuesday's happenings! <br /><br />Tuesday is WI day for me. Unfortunately I didn't have a loss this week, but I didn't have a gain either, STS. I guess it's better than gaining and I figured this was coming sooner or later. I think it has to do with some of the salty foods I had over the weekend. <u>NOT</u> going to stress over it!<br /><br />I made a delicious breakfast sandwich, who needs fast food, right?!?! ;) It consisted of <span style="font-weight:bold;">3 eggs white, ff cheese</span>, and <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 oz turkey ham</span> all on a <span style="font-weight:bold;">bun </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">4 points!</span> Mmmmm good!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLhRKjv0Bsnc63ZMUofNcVRb09qrZeQInpC8rQfRxnHW5BT0Nya7fdbThAQF8B_fniscDxD8Jf5YWF9Jy9DIxKrYcVRRE4OTQagV3ht7KA-956Ela1DWk2-gPcrzHw9QipglH9YqNoa5e/s1600/DSC08799.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522361152992613490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLhRKjv0Bsnc63ZMUofNcVRb09qrZeQInpC8rQfRxnHW5BT0Nya7fdbThAQF8B_fniscDxD8Jf5YWF9Jy9DIxKrYcVRRE4OTQagV3ht7KA-956Ela1DWk2-gPcrzHw9QipglH9YqNoa5e/s400/DSC08799.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I rounded out breakfast with <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 c </span>of <span style="font-weight:bold;">grapes </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29Rz59fWc5-eccpIvYWcU5ncsZbpj5nkAC14PCeFvGx47kX8o1EvvFvLsvZO3vxX7TXKBFNTnKNqGQo3Bo_XGbcpRegZ9ksKPWMpKz0nQcKACcGguC6iv1MWhkLCvlDXv6grK6nEW2bop/s1600/DSC08800.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522361004618923650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29Rz59fWc5-eccpIvYWcU5ncsZbpj5nkAC14PCeFvGx47kX8o1EvvFvLsvZO3vxX7TXKBFNTnKNqGQo3Bo_XGbcpRegZ9ksKPWMpKz0nQcKACcGguC6iv1MWhkLCvlDXv6grK6nEW2bop/s400/DSC08800.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I had a surprise at work today...Hayden came to visit!!! He had his 2 week check up, so him & Wendi stopped by to show him off afterwards!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmkXw1LbF4ZuGxd5GkjYgL3RWEYyOnCXQXtdpmwgM54FWZQUlxKhTY6aFvJq_j9r-lcfQYXiDPcI6eBNDHNK5zP2ujmaKRk1oNl8Oe-9jWWxAOKL-CRb3twumCo8ulSBRjDr9R39F8JJf/s1600/DSC08801.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522360997693285170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmkXw1LbF4ZuGxd5GkjYgL3RWEYyOnCXQXtdpmwgM54FWZQUlxKhTY6aFvJq_j9r-lcfQYXiDPcI6eBNDHNK5zP2ujmaKRk1oNl8Oe-9jWWxAOKL-CRb3twumCo8ulSBRjDr9R39F8JJf/s400/DSC08801.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />We ended up going out for lunch together too! We went to Subway (very close to where I work) and I had a <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 in turkey & ham</span> on <span style="font-weight:bold;">wheat </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkIv8Cuu7f8CxOoiM7en2Izd3eaFkXwQ-KKFe1yjz499XY-FEMwMgq5uzXx7gSpPj1GVeLJD4wzLLogpJGimurnfJ7vOPCX1Z2uDDCZ24JZpemtImJ9zEi_kIRxdM-3F_oUc5blZ82iu9/s1600/DSC08802.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522360994699341010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkIv8Cuu7f8CxOoiM7en2Izd3eaFkXwQ-KKFe1yjz499XY-FEMwMgq5uzXx7gSpPj1GVeLJD4wzLLogpJGimurnfJ7vOPCX1Z2uDDCZ24JZpemtImJ9zEi_kIRxdM-3F_oUc5blZ82iu9/s400/DSC08802.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Wendi and I shared a bag of <span style="font-weight:bold;">SunChips</span>, my half for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>. I hadn't had this kind before, it was good, but <span style="font-style:italic;">Garden Salsa SunChips</span> are still my <span style="font-style:italic;">fav</span>!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB3D9kZOr4amAhoS67A1vZ2NSPINbd9eRcNScaIMQqYWla9jZMGrl72bxOsNtWPeZcpEHzIwRTt9Yy31y7CQlKnOWIW_ja0vv5fxAwpbP4lsd7lzmUzKVgZb1658ACj9SDRMVpihRkgO4/s1600/DSC08803.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522360984970226946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB3D9kZOr4amAhoS67A1vZ2NSPINbd9eRcNScaIMQqYWla9jZMGrl72bxOsNtWPeZcpEHzIwRTt9Yy31y7CQlKnOWIW_ja0vv5fxAwpbP4lsd7lzmUzKVgZb1658ACj9SDRMVpihRkgO4/s400/DSC08803.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />I felt distracted the rest of the afternoon...I just wanted to hang out with Hayden!! :) But I got busy and it was 5pm before I knew it and for some reason I was <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">STARVING</span></span>!!!<br /><br />I had some <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/09/finally.html">leftovers </a>for supper right when I got home, <span style="font-weight:bold;">fiesta chicken & rice bake</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">7 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEaB12AlXnd1_Gh1Lk9_NdfhE_OdIj9_lGeCFt1QMPba-RPNti4Glg_9ID8RND5lqnB_6dNgcEd0mUyFmtgmcnWB0caoEjTuCFq2W8DkeV4mDBw8025-mCQhZ0EnNJTOy32CMfDSjm-SX/s1600/DSC08805.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522360981577816674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEaB12AlXnd1_Gh1Lk9_NdfhE_OdIj9_lGeCFt1QMPba-RPNti4Glg_9ID8RND5lqnB_6dNgcEd0mUyFmtgmcnWB0caoEjTuCFq2W8DkeV4mDBw8025-mCQhZ0EnNJTOy32CMfDSjm-SX/s400/DSC08805.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I forgot to show you guys what I did on Sunday! I got out all my fall decorations!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfahYXliRS6OnBXLjG8OAaZUj7rfxbngBIZL3Qtu6FBWu8YqNoKzskTQES9sEe0q0oeuB-i_6LKt5i2GugXtEbj-24lyE0qHTRdtqsTaIEWJAkbpL-I0x_M3q8XJMlq8f7JRADIOS3hntU/s1600/DSC08792.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522361527475286594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfahYXliRS6OnBXLjG8OAaZUj7rfxbngBIZL3Qtu6FBWu8YqNoKzskTQES9sEe0q0oeuB-i_6LKt5i2GugXtEbj-24lyE0qHTRdtqsTaIEWJAkbpL-I0x_M3q8XJMlq8f7JRADIOS3hntU/s400/DSC08792.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />My collection grows a little each year!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VBd9cB8nsH0qSIu9DgO394qbJR5mM_mUypVV9fDHaIHq2HNkJN4g4GGsSiFyvPEhvInJ2hjLDsuNxerFYEgB_U7CqLtFz6pobxORCWpfOcz6eZtluI8MY1q5UaPswj9UD4ApM48hwQ55/s1600/DSC08795.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522361518819668722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VBd9cB8nsH0qSIu9DgO394qbJR5mM_mUypVV9fDHaIHq2HNkJN4g4GGsSiFyvPEhvInJ2hjLDsuNxerFYEgB_U7CqLtFz6pobxORCWpfOcz6eZtluI8MY1q5UaPswj9UD4ApM48hwQ55/s400/DSC08795.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I love this time of year, the smells, the crispness in the air, all the fun activities that come with fall, etc! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqaftld_RlS1YUe2IoXm2J-KPz9Sra_lF2cLUjECyCOZ2uQ4McIfSX32IzFB_0bhn9TYvkvnC-0ghiYh6fnEIJOmEQ8zY3FBF_iB6xnG4PVsdTjJ4UePAgmRBje7ZCPHZ4SzUM1I82uZd/s1600/DSC08796.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522361510742595634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqaftld_RlS1YUe2IoXm2J-KPz9Sra_lF2cLUjECyCOZ2uQ4McIfSX32IzFB_0bhn9TYvkvnC-0ghiYh6fnEIJOmEQ8zY3FBF_iB6xnG4PVsdTjJ4UePAgmRBje7ZCPHZ4SzUM1I82uZd/s400/DSC08796.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESrdM1aa_-errOh704wLlKFKdFBQcO0d-NadS0Wo1DfEySbxByUPQCw6jG_023SXOOwMvPMYHzKHR6w3WZkxL_kSBKII_C0kLop1gMpAXqAmBZ5HjK7Jdf1Dq04cxUdJ5_LmzLBmrnrG0/s1600/DSC08798.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522361504219714434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESrdM1aa_-errOh704wLlKFKdFBQcO0d-NadS0Wo1DfEySbxByUPQCw6jG_023SXOOwMvPMYHzKHR6w3WZkxL_kSBKII_C0kLop1gMpAXqAmBZ5HjK7Jdf1Dq04cxUdJ5_LmzLBmrnrG0/s400/DSC08798.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TUESDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 20/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 0 used/35 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/0 week<br />H2O = 64 oz<br />EXERCISE = none<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Anyone else like to decorate for fall? I love that you can leave them up SO long!</span></span>

Fall is in the air!

Happy "hump" day friends, we're halfway to the weekend! Hooray! :) Let's catch up on Tuesday's happenings! Tuesday is ...

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S’ouvrir les portes des métiers du bâtiment : visite d'entreprise le 08 octobre 2010

<BR><br />En partenariat avec la FFB et le PLIE, la Maison de l'Emploi du Bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métiers du bâtiment :<ul><br /><li>le vendredi 8 Octobre 2010<br /><li>sur un chantier de l'entreprise <strong>TP BAT</strong>.</ul><br />Dans le cadre de la manifestation « Les Coulisses du Bâtiment », l'entreprise propose de visiter le chantier du futur pôle administratif du Conseil Général où la norme Haute Qualité Environnemental est requise :<ul><br /><li>Photovoltaïque : 134 m² de panneaux photovoltaïques en toiture Isolation Haute Performance <br /><br /><li>Orientation : optimisation des apports solaires grâce au choix d'orientation appropriée des ouvertures du bâtiment et triples vitrages au Nord<br /><br /><li>Géothermie sur nappe<br /><br /><li>Serre <br /><br /><li>Eclairage : éclairage naturel optimisé pour limiter les consommations liées à l'éclairage artificiel</ul><br /><br />D'autres corps d'état (second œuvre) peuvent également être présents.<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>PLIE</strong>, Espace Saint Marc, 5 place du 6 juin 44, 45 000 Orléans (dans l'espace d'accueil), à 14h00 (<a href="http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=fr&geocode=&q=Espace+Saint+Marc,+5+place+du+6+juin+44,+45+000&sll=47.905526,1.937199&sspn=0.040851,0.077162&ie=UTF8&radius=1.79&split=1&filter=0&rq=1&ev=zi&hq=Espace+Saint+Marc,+5+place+du+6+juin+44,+45+000&hnear=&ll=47.906217,1.937199&spn=0.039412,0.077162&z=14" target="_blank">Plan</a>)<br /><BR>

S’ouvrir les portes des métiers du bâtiment : visite d'entreprise le 08 octobre 2010

En partenariat avec la FFB et le PLIE, la Maison de l'Emploi du Bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir...

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Time to stop floating and get grounded

From Saturday's bike ride:<br /><div style="text-align: center;">I wish my legs were this long and skinny!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlo8DNT1FNN3bDr1Hl26cy8gnKCxZRq_NeldRUI9Y1wuI2dxAy9F059jq9I9PMZp89vprTan4CKryQojm4MOtiROJNVgvzd2JZWR-_8_T92BULRjn9QNQ3C92XYTFYGgO2SgIGvICTudo/s1600/bike+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlo8DNT1FNN3bDr1Hl26cy8gnKCxZRq_NeldRUI9Y1wuI2dxAy9F059jq9I9PMZp89vprTan4CKryQojm4MOtiROJNVgvzd2JZWR-_8_T92BULRjn9QNQ3C92XYTFYGgO2SgIGvICTudo/s400/bike+016.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful Mt. Rainier. Saturday was a perfect day.</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/AVvXsEhE-ldW9Iw-FI8ZerthyphenhyphenxobXpevsvSwej-jZk9mqmoaPr2yn58WvTHEg0YPg5JiqdebS9VnD6EAfEoC9xwzDxXoKX92y4Ezgxbrj9Gjbe735MzeFa7MvaN4znN4pTvBG2JgOaFEzJrjMQ2L/s1600/bike+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-ldW9Iw-FI8ZerthyphenhyphenxobXpevsvSwej-jZk9mqmoaPr2yn58WvTHEg0YPg5JiqdebS9VnD6EAfEoC9xwzDxXoKX92y4Ezgxbrj9Gjbe735MzeFa7MvaN4znN4pTvBG2JgOaFEzJrjMQ2L/s400/bike+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><strong>Goals</strong><br />I woke up in a foul mood this morning. I had the words of a two-year old I know going through my head "I don't wanna!". I really just wanted to turn off the alarm, roll over, pull the covers over my head and forget all my responsibilities in life.<br /><br />Of course, I'm not two, I'm fifty-five. I learned a long time ago that some things in life just aren't optional. Like going to work. If I want a place to live and food to eat, I have to go to work.<br /><br />Exercise and eating healthy are optional. As much as I'd like to claim these things are NOT optional, in reality, they are a choice. We can choose to be a couch potato and eat crap, or we can make our best effort to do what's right for our bodies. <br /><br />In high school my best friend's dad would always tell us, "the hard way is the easy way and the easy way is the hard way". At the time he meant if my we chose not to go to college, in the short run it would seem easy, but in the long run, that was really the hard way".<br /><br />I've thought of that philosophy hundreds of times over the years and how it applies to weight loss. In the short run it would be easy to never exercise and to just eat whatever the hell I wanted. In the long run that would most likely cause a multitude of possible health issues as well as greatly reduce my quality of life. <br /><br />Which leads me to the purpose of this post, it's really time for me to stop floating along, staying the same weight. I looked at my calendar this morning and my weight on August 1 was exactly my weight today. In almost two months I haven't lost an ounce. That is seriously a sad state of affairs. <br /><br />I love reading about people setting weekly goals for themselves, and especially when they report a week later on how they did. Monday is a perfect goal setting day, because after all, all "diets" start on Monday.<br /><br /><strong>Goal #1</strong><br /><strong>Exercise six days a week.</strong> <br /><br />Normally, this wouldn't be much of a challenge for me since that's my normal, but the last month my job has really messed up my workouts. After a 12-14 hour workday, getting to the gym or even a walk was more than I could manage on some days. My average turned into 3-4 times a week. <br /><br /><strong>Goal #2</strong><br /><strong>Attend a Weight Watcher meeting.</strong><br /><br />I've been terrible at attending meetings lately. I don't have an excuse other than, well, I don't really have an excuse. I just need to do this. It's one hour out of my week. Why is that so difficult?<br /><br /><strong>Goal #3 </strong><br /><strong>Drink water</strong><br /><br />This is really sort of pathetic to admit, but I've completely stopped drinking water at work. The reason was that I didn't want to take time to go to the bathroom. It makes me crazy that I did this, but things are back to normal at work, and it's time to get back to the water guzzling. <br /><br /><strong>Goal #4</strong><br /><strong>Count Points.</strong> <br /><br />Not even stay within my Points, which would be mighty nice, but just count them, even three times a week (every day preferred, but I have to start small). <br /><br /><strong>Goal #5</strong><br /><strong>Knit a scarf.</strong><br /><br />It's not weight loss related, but I need to stop being so obsessed by weight loss. I use to do crafty stuff all the time. It's time to get back into something that has nothing to do with weight loss.<br /><br /><strong>Goal #6</strong><br /><strong>Read a book.</strong><br /><br />I can't remember the last non-weight loss or non-exercise book I read. I have about a dozen fun books on my nightstand. I miss reading and want to get back to it. It use to be one of my favorite things to do. Now it's all about the gym and the food. B-o-r-i-n-g.<br /><br />I'll report next Monday how the week goes with my goals. Wish me luck. Lord knows I'm going to need it!

Time to stop floating and get grounded

From Saturday's bike ride: I wish my legs were this long and skinny! Beautiful Mt. Rainier. Saturday was a perfect day. Goals I woke up ...

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Bling!!!

<p>Good evening friends! Hope everyone had a marvelous Monday!</p> <p>I started mine out with my favorite <strong>oatmeal </strong>combo, <strong>1 small sliced banana</strong>, and <strong>1T peanut butter</strong> for <strong>5 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiI4HP4uj0v_BfVtx2SbSqaG_cphU39_XLDFLbmGEqQkSESyjjf71Wq0uqNRgfDmJUwDxaFDL87_kY1wW8hojJbJ9Xc3f2JqTSBrdETVGU1fdlOtF302OwjtR3WtJjeMIQv8zPfG8AT-f/s1600-h/DSC08785%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08785" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXXfBnTo79Ono3BznmYNDrcV7esM_MKiAsFHRxn60SPqQk3YZjfExU2DOgjqUlCcrRPWBjhkOyjZEVgs9GGXtcimLsLeKm8Cu1LqG5TgUFw5TAJ3DnGuBqkkMSu1vcTBlA2PkKHR6DamH/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08785" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I had <strong>1 c</strong> of <strong>grapes</strong> for my morning snack for <strong>1 point</strong>. I much prefer purple grapes to green, they always seem to be more crisp!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ebbh95GO9Hb0WrR5WwrKGlGMNKimCyiKsxxAxXw4YNCW8dwwy5VpiL6vIA4wZvJnhjfthQPdGizIY-KABeYdbDMJSNsM8wmPJovXmspN9RcA_uLQlF6lmSYLZt5faxe9JF0w2DQQoSeX/s1600-h/DSC08786%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08786" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsu-H66ZiXN0yDxt2rwYLb5kc5Y47X9pDfw2rZA155b9V3i5l1lvgabT8n77TFd4ARuzPK4eC1D24Sw4xs-VxbBRz7q8Psg9yc_L3SR22e7yfJ71JTnlAEfCi-U9ZgwSVVnnFYw4bXPOm/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08786" width="404" /></a></p> <p><font color="#c94093"><font color="#333333">Kyle ended up having a surprise meeting so we didn’t get to go to lunch till much later than normal, 3 pm to be exact! I had an <strong>oatmeal raisin cookie</strong> for <strong>2 points</strong> tide me over! This is a <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew/chewdetails.php?isid=1664">Hungry Girl recipe</a>, very good!<img alt="DSC08789" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWB_geZtB4LcSJjwKJCDVUFlrSVk1TpsbwY9_l_kEyk8b0BDQNyEvudyrH5l1SjlZhQbpXFGmIbYHoYIX-VVR09W4S_IeFN3l8zfotaoI5EahnVd7pOd6mF1C5MdlGCm77Mc5OjsyiHsC/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08789" width="404" /></font></font><font color="#c94093"><font color="#000000"></font></font></p> <p><font color="#c94093"><font color="#000000">I have to show you guys my two new favorite accessories! A white watch I got for only $14.99 and…</font><u><img alt="DSC08788" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid27ASov7YEJSlcsa0cWpRGLAdkiRbknAj3YMJgish2MFn-INszYFLSomvZop3jwuQgyGTobYsIyDXwqtdLD95ku6e8rpg6UDKRqYXVxwhlQmK9QdAtS_d8_stXeajHUHwNqb1UzyMEeVe/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08788" width="404" /></u></font><font color="#c94093"><font color="#000000"></font></font></p> <p><font color="#c94093"><font color="#000000">And a bliny ring, $7.99 at Target! Can you tell I like sparkly, shiny things?!?!?!</font><img alt="DSC08787" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLP-TofWYqVubXyIyoc4d878rjjntcJNobNaSIE7rdkEJ3Mc1UMr_BA0RRFlUGOJV9kSPDqbYKJJ35KfENOd2eL2LkkMpncUQG1yIDyM9Y5ftCzDRWNsWs8RycxTS7yRf6T89gJqdXGZp/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08787" width="404" /></font></p> <p>Ok back to my eats!</p> <p>Once we finally made it home for lunch I made a delicious bowl of pasta! I sautéed <strong>zucchini</strong>, <strong>1/4 c ff mozzarella cheese</strong>, and <strong>2 oz ww pasta</strong> for <strong>4 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMtlI3bZeTDUjW76w6bVsoQiaQVt3UhdZXKn8HnhCTlqzBTNL8qQeGFNhZ2uiJ7iKQJ-tq0HKW-xpJ2Ix5Gvp3THXsgKYL2ZqK51dqdqXY9HYOnzBcPgCi2Fix1y0CeZdWbWA2X7rQzrE/s1600-h/DSC08790%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08790" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ260WG0y-20A8Bh1r7240Igcs5HEVcEJ2m2l0wdv40-cfvJuiaHMbqqAD3w-_88cPMPa5jCtXBGptrmQlAzo-IsXRUaGypw_e2jNZXVlDNQd9G8TuBEWdxVUS-gDRuITwQ_Wp0ItqzU2x/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08790" width="404" /></a></p> <p>By the time we got back to the office we only had 1 hour of work left, talk about a <em>fast afternoon</em>! </p> <p>I ran first thing when I got home. I’m running a <em>5K</em> on Sunday and I’m quite <strong><em>nervous</em></strong> about it! Tonight I <strong>ran 2.5 miles</strong> in <strong>28 minutes</strong>. Not the best time, but I was <strong><u>proud</u></strong> to get the distance in and that I ran the entire time!</p> <p>After my run I made up a <u>quick</u>, <u>fresh</u> plate for supper. It consisted of a <strong>ham & turkey wrap</strong>, <strong>carrots</strong>, <strong>1/4 c cottage cheese</strong>, and <strong>1/2 c peaches</strong> for <strong>5 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM__zzTrsCVYypTWlpoNfT7WQAcfKc_Jb4x5Nxd2R8oiQXCt-71983P3RUCKevT8mEk4ZMUxO0AhpAoBDi5og74hzE1pMd4ulfp-ZU01uythPwCBd96ivrb_4vJRG2I_YbZc_czIzbuB5/s1600-h/DSC08791%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08791" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jnwfs8Tf4yFJrxjrARfCEjPrpfMVnEGFQfCgWlHHUh98W9CNXXk-S97wuibmvWBaol_29ggnXyEtKWuX-4Erf4AqtYavKtzVUdQhB1Jl8jFqzaddeo7EWg6SRvzX0PyjVRUJi3MWIICm/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08791" width="404" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I’m going to finish my evening by getting a few things knocked off my to-do list and then hit the hay semi-early!</p> <p><strong>FRIDAY’S STATS <br /></strong>POINTS = 17/23 <br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 1 used/34 remaining <br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 3 today/6 week <br />H2O = 154 oz <br />EXERCISE = 2.5 mile run</p> <p><strong><em>What are your favorite accessories?</em></strong></p>

Bling!!!

Good evening friends! Hope everyone had a marvelous Monday! I started mine out with my favorite oatmeal combo, 1 small sliced banana , and...

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A Small Act Of Mercy And Its Unforeseen Consequences

A few years ago a woman who had served in the Iraq War came home. The war had done something to her psyche and she could not cope with civilian life. She found herself on the streets of Las Vegas where she was taken in and supported by one of our Episcopal Churches.<br /><br />I don't know exactly what happened next, but somehow by the grace of God, she got her life together. She is now in Rochester, New York working with the Episcopal Diocese there. This is her project: They have remodeld an old rectory into a home for women soldiers returning from war, a place to help them make their way back. Substance abuse counselling is part of the program for those who need it. Bishop Katharine, who has a daughter in the military, recently dedicated the new home for women veterans.<br /><br />A delegation from the Diocese of Rochester is here in Canton, Mississippi this week for our annual meeting of the Domestic Missionary Partnership. They told the story of how an act of mercy in Las Vegas is bearing fruit in their midst today.

A Small Act Of Mercy And Its Unforeseen Consequences

A few years ago a woman who had served in the Iraq War came home. The war had done something to her psyche and she could not cope with civil...

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Weekend

<p>Happy Monday friends!!! Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. I sure did, check it out!</p> <p>We headed to Iowa City with Kyle’s parents Friday night and met up with his sister & her husband. We headed to Outback for supper.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJD0GStwRbTruSN_hW3Xj4FeugPii9ilOz4q6rX5J9fhdOKxw4hLDl5GTiU9xA2VjbKo3mpCsRMxPOjBVU2gS_GDNsVFiIYipE69wJHtKlXuzb2IRv0Gb7A6evA0N-4nPm6KWv0ASP5fn/s1600-h/DSC08751%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08751" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOp048ENTLH19xOC0XCdJVWu1_2pA31gA-9gVdc0EkRjAqBlFa4xhqOfUHsIt7w-wIPUgniMEPIy2dupEr_GHYyaNL-ZeUT-2b_YVGp-4F2OnWawQ94DqFpvx5x1IXsr_jOw16NRduhS7/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08751" width="404" /></a></p> <p>And I was good! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpCq992V1U0b9qqwuQ3xSC_63r4QiqVGr5ORDjyXMEyRp5scS3xfrzvjBaCKB39ukoqSuQjSnTNRaZJT7XJiS_nio9BOEqZR-7799zUulnFP5S8kqyKV81ifk5tUgmS1XvP5GPKjlJ5c1/s1600-h/DSC08750%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08750" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WqUbp8NK1O-BW13XQfAWWNk0-EJviL6JhyphenhyphenE1hXDmPAfexp-6usWmPtItrkk6uiktR7D-PK9yM0OTwEXvRtbIeOKHjwzKrCukPpLet7Eua-hXCCgL8-dI4Jxs5TdzHl5WO0pzINpDTjsg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08750" width="404" /></a></p> <p>I had a “hankering” for ice cream and once again made a smart choice again! <strong>2 point skinny cow!</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice6OJYnpfideXqy2Fx8PdvxKsiDiEeIkK5TUpv_NKSJVOs1aty6nwv7Bdcmjon80DstyVhlF95-iMuVqBL-ahcEssLrZgldf210tXic_IZHUvDpi7cuBnFLb7emGGbu-6zkA6H-lo59B0/s1600-h/DSC08757%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08757" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j08QV6VHy6ZMunRxSktBflmaZs1ShFJ_ilj6jIlOJ6Y1NFAniYVKAd4y6HYFGh9cm7SH7xokCxqgyniBdIRDP1outKQU9Ntlgcn7u5N4CozhJCZmzvYbruI_T3vKuXTqR3Jz2GkFPWec/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08757" width="404" /></a></p> <p>We hit the hay early ‘cause 5:30am was coming early! Gotta get our prime tailgate spot!</p> <p>Kyle’s Mom was the grill master…eggs & sausage!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4sqaxtdQL7oMT-zy7bWgcRJm-1-DIQd5KYZpo-Hr4yXoJzsPZwtDg-vr5cyvbyc1LogkGwjl9pNIKdvl0WXlL-NyT2UMdWvQwHHNW1bWpy_vRPM9pULBostbtqT4D6Jh8_6y58_me_Sa/s1600-h/DSC08758%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08758" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qxma_iKkdRYhpcS_zwBwfGrev6TPhzEyzPsiYpMh3dx3ucFG0ZCvDA79VG6Ylq0ZzpAd0X6t5evhTqv309fgQ_iXKMebfk8-a5tzYLZhttMmm9t-1NlnO0II_6VmuDut3lPlBRZHe7OZ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08758" width="304" /></a></p> <p>I said no to the high fat sausage and went for an apple with peanut butter and…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3lsaSGFcb8Xk74NCRslnU1NULpHbPLY6DP0Fzpq__hGkkV1X13iVQJDOtYg-eOuFkIWPdWSwM8Uhxnjs3iN6hMBqPE7upOhQeKy8XJOQUDkutYgdgi2gxZqIP7xEhKPvjgs1tAUK5l5W/s1600-h/DSC08759%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08759" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCY4BWf1MKt_ov4qGuzuX4THRbhbXoeL7LiIlVR7thZSxHajt3WNp5xdFREPebLOkxyky6izBgCOyhBFCnNgiqH-hcG1EsJNlj8zaJgdTO4JKasYdEuUee73N-UFDRbQ6iH7a62hF2kXI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08759" width="404" /></a></p> <p>A ff blueberry muffin! Tailgating and staying OP <strong><em>IS </em></strong>possible!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE_UZZBbpW1X2LZmacMANxIXhZ3E8DvebL_pfoBNMdJ8speoR1QpaIzMEH0K8spM58l9FE2e33b-VEypCl_Z-mopy6yePLsCPlmPke6Cj4A6PRC6KDlPDPFw_Cd1NU0BZmLmDucKkpSlw/s1600-h/DSC08761%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08761" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AhNm-tJhdS2grnT-xCdaxiDhW7y0RWikw_wdYFo19iCGukSAwQR8Epq_zDwSFcMF3u-QK_U3q9k5YDQ_U1Iu_pXJ_GEn7sVfUhtDLG-QWK6YIpGZDzSOCCveC1nbKC2FPE2kpP0Lk1eq/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08761" width="404" /></a></p> <p>We had time for a few games of bag-o before the rain came!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtXkL0XGRsH6Q_2aiIfTsuVg6K6WAwDoCLSxb5PKle8GxqJ-BDQttOjRiPdtWldXvGGTum8S5U69Z86QX7BbPMY6cdFg_OUdKpsVAnQ2BbxXRclv4TOjStVbVuzDyL1HohCgRzXhCB5Yo/s1600-h/DSC08762%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08762" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4s2hBxKCiMiWA_Hb8zUy-IoysRkIlBBjr_0xn-UcPO8xxO4_z1sjFs4NV2L_Ov1FnxkghjEpqt5dxvVT4_N1QPmLCBdMoARFtVo0d2kUIi2WjkD4dbiBz96NqgMUzAvFUOSO5dl7ZATb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08762" width="304" /></a></p> <p>My SIL and I sporting our ponchos…which I was SO glad we brought!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRup7F866BZesn3U1jXXN6jg3PH-yPV9ptLKQHc1fXzAVpUMkIdi__Pbgyok6FrgDHAvRm6I1JYtrLPasufcLEI9nTAMWRTmb8d6_3VhaR0hyphenhyphenTZ58bm66aWC0upljQzfRSj2LWvjkRQxKJ/s1600-h/DSC08768%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08768" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ljjf8j3N4gI9RecJEUZxhjeR1WgXsYUB_WnrQ-4hEI8TWxUawPcfOLQrya9fxLsa_YCXLcPMkmjJ32zxhkjle8WUdPiQ_eakQUO8nok_CngJYVoMz_dFU0sVUV7cyKIWZD2hfO1veZKT/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08768" width="404" /></a></p> <p>It was a GREAT game…minus the rain! We won 45-0!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWT0JK3-Hrby_xYMJKUtI0gkpRInZZ8c459xUE9Zdi02gkYiJFMwJNshDxRxmWYTEvsAQLYWjTbGwVGvOkZnX7VHvq7OqwRS9UQpnjkyf8SSKbuObCAsUzDc5i7tYoFoEaS8A5weA_hDyk/s1600-h/DSC08773%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08773" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsil7dR4ZuGTvFiDsItp8Wpsysf2cj0cYk8ZKtAB8k2b6h9RUXkfOJWkZJqnKydSrVVagS-SQS9vecNjW3vFiZ0CBZ4tpvmVNf8uDObZBBZiIx2L-kjBQYL1yZ-eokymfyzipmZg6xSSm/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08773" width="404" /></a></p> <p>And I ran into a hs friend, she was only 10 rows above us!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bZBBbMXv0eYJvvE9_cAWqSyygEMNZzsDdEJX8YU87GxUI6NmWcye22C8TlchpR7CrHCXXcO9gWf89QUIR9WAixbHPBuTmFSs_oZ8vtrd9qiMZ1zEpmb8hKnzhhvdekHzLl7URnyV-aLu/s1600-h/DSC08774%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08774" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOlmQ_UqARMYlshM-WTE_wkTxdp6z4-AUAuRLXfM4L1oFU8iWTRru3-r5oekITfHrghDQTNNe-3tiSFbSgHP841LnTd6dCx50hqyhIhYPoK4Z2B8rA974JdOovviOijw8MQJT6IGOPpf1/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08774" width="404" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Alright guys, I’ve got to get to work! I’ll be back tonight with my regular posts and show you what I did on Sunday!</p> <p>Have a <strong><u>FABULOUS</u></strong> day!</p>

Weekend

Happy Monday friends!!! Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. I sure did, check it out! We headed to Iowa City with Kyle’s parents Frida...

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PLUS: HBO's Movie Supremacy

Welcome to a PLUS section of the blog! Since this is called the <b>Michigan+ </b>blog, occasionally I'll write about non-sports items. In this case, I'm writing about HBO.<br /><br />Over the summer I have been watching quite a lot of movies and miniseries. I was astonished to notice that my favorite DVDs to put in were all released by HBO.<br /><br />I don't know how HBO does it (and why it seems like no network stations can follow suit), but they constantly put out grade A movies and miniseries. They are well cast, well shot, and well edited, and the stories really matter.<br /><br />Two of my favorite miniseries of all time are <i>From the Earth to the Moon </i>(1998) and <i>Band of Brothers</i> (2001), both released by HBO. I have these both on DVD, and decided it was time for me to watch them again.<br /><br />I have explained to people that I follow a lot of other shows and movies because actors in those movies and shows were cast in <i>Band of Brothers</i>. I called this the <b>BoB Effect.  </b>I became so invested in their storylines and their acting skills that I kept watching them in other things! But this Effect didn't start and finish with <i>Band of Brothers. </i>It also happened with <i>From the Earth to the Moon</i>. I had a few actors and actresses that I liked, and as I watched that miniseries again, I realized that many of them were in it! <br /><br />I also watched two newer HBO events this summer. I watched <i>Temple Grandin </i>simply because the Emmys told me to - it won Emmy after Emmy after Emmy, Temple Grandin herself was in the audience looking giddy as ever, and I decided to see what the fuss was about.<br /><br />What I watched was fantastic. I could barely tell that it was Claire Danes playing the lead! The story was incredible, and I was rooting for Temple to succeed from the very beginning. I could hardly believe that people treated her (a person suffering from Autism) so terribly. But at the same time, she persevered and used her brilliant mind to foster her passion for cattle and treating them well.<br /><br />I would highly recommend this movie if you're looking for a feel-good movie. Be warned: she does advocate for the rights of cattle in slaughterhouses, so if you get queasy thinking about where your hamburger comes from, it may be a bad idea to watch this.<br /><br />I was also recommended by a friend to watch <i>John Adams</i>, the miniseries that aired two years ago and features Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney as John and Abigail Adams. I guess I was just assuming it would cover the time leading up to and immediately following the Revolutionary War. Boy, was I wrong! It barely covered any events of the Revolution, instead reminding us that Adams spent much of the war overseas in France and the Netherlands. And the end of the war took place at the end of the third episode - there were still four episodes to go!<br /><br />I had always been a fan of John Adams - mainly because of William Daniels' portrayal as Adams in the musical <i>1776</i>. And I knew that he was obnoxious and disliked. But he was <i>really</i> obnoxious and disliked! I can't believe he even became the President of the United States! He spent so much time obsessing over the US Government and striving to keep peace between the US and France that his quality time with his children was incredibly slim. It's amazing that one of them was elected President (John Q. Adams).<br /><br />I think the thing that impressed me the most about this miniseries were the <i>costumes</i>. Since this followed the life of Adams from 1770 to his death in 1826 (on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence), the styles of fashion changed dramatically - not to mention they had to include French and British clothing styles, as well. And the costume designers did an incredible job - so much that I, the least fashionable person you'd know, noticed it! <br /><br />This portrayal of John Adams is a depressing one, but you can't help shedding a tear when they show the last days of his life and how he continued to stay close to his friend Thomas Jefferson till the very end. When the series concluded I could honestly say "That was well done."<br /><br />I haven't been disappointed by an HBO production yet. Now I can hardly wait to get my hands on <i>The Pacific</i>, another Tom Hanks-Steven Spielberg production about World War II. My parents watched it and said it was amazing; I can't wait to witness it for myself. <br /><br />So how about it, networks? Instead of doing movie events about a hurricane striking New York City or other drivel like that, how about putting money into something really worthwhile? Because if you don't, HBO is going to beat you to the punch every time.

PLUS: HBO's Movie Supremacy

Welcome to a PLUS section of the blog! Since this is called the Michigan+ blog, occasionally I'll write about non-sports items. In this ...

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U-M/Bowling Green: Nothing to Fear

It was all over the news: DENARD ROBINSON LEAVES GAME WITH INJURY. The headlines might as well have said EVERYBODY PANIC!!! with how serious that headline sounded.<br /><br />Never fear! We have two competent backups who know how to play the game of football. Both Tate Forcier and Devin Gardner came into the game and did not look shabby at all. But there was no reason to panic, anyway; if Denard Robinson had needed to come in and help Michigan beat Bowling Green, it would have happened.<br /><br />Luckily, we never needed Robinson after halftime.<br /><br />It got a little hairy during the second quarter, with Bowling Green getting two quick touchdowns before halftime to make the Michigan lead merely 14 - not a great lead. But before we had horrible visions of UMass again, the offense turned on the jets and the defense kept things in blowout mode. <br /><br />The defense looked far better this game. There were still a few spots that needed help - Aaron Pankratz threw for 231 yards (his longest was 71), and in the two Bowling Green series where they had 4th and goal, the defense allowed two TDs. But the defense made sacks, they caught interceptions, and the rushing crew could only muster 32 yards - a far cry from last week's horrible tackling at the line of scrimmage. The defense has practiced a lot.<br /><br />I was relieved to give Robinson some time off, even if he had to leave due to injury. He runs, he throws, he scrambles, and he needed a break! While Denard needed a break, Forcier needed to get warmed up. He went 12-for-12, threw for over 100 yards, and was part of a rushing corp (9 players) that gained 466 yards. He looked crisp, and I have a lot more confidence in our Michigan team with whoever is behind center!<br /><br />Looking back at a few items from the day:<br /><br />- Was that officiating crew bad or what? Between throwing flags and then taking them back, calling ridiculous penalties, and not calling touchdowns when it clearly was, they were just bad. I hope they aren't doing any more Michigan games this season.<br />- If you're going to be called Bowling Green, why can't they have a little green in their uniform? It's just confusing.<br /><br />Finally, we look ahead to Indiana:<br /><br />If you're looking for a trap game, this may be it. Indiana has always been the punching bag of the Big Ten, where you see them on the schedule and you breathe a sigh of relief. I don't think it's going to be that way this time. Michigan needs to make a statement in this game that they are ready to take on whatever the Big Ten teams are going to throw their way.  Last year we barely escaped from Indiana, and then we didn't win another game the rest of the <i>season.</i><br /><br />This year has to be different. We have to come out and crush Indiana from the start, and show Michigan State that we are ready for anything.

U-M/Bowling Green: Nothing to Fear

It was all over the news: DENARD ROBINSON LEAVES GAME WITH INJURY. The headlines might as well have said EVERYBODY PANIC!!! with how serious...

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Planning de la semaine du 27 septembre au 1er octobre 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 27 septembre de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 28 septembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 29 septembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 30 septembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 1er octobre 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 29 septembre de 10h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> (sur rendez-vous)<br />- lundi 27 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br />- vendredi 1er octobre de 09h à 12h30</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 28 septembre à 09h30<br /><br /><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 28 septembre de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 29 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 28 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 1er octobre 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 1er octobre de 14h à 16h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 27 septembre au 1er octobre 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 27 se...

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Returning to sanity

The last three weeks have wiped me out, mentally and physically. I almost feel like I'm in vegetative state. I feel like if I never moved from this couch for the rest of my life, I would be happy.<br /><br />I'm thrilled that I'm not working this weekend, which is the first free weekend I had in four weeks. Thursday I worked almost non-stop from 9am until 4am in the morning. Thankfully these type of hours are rare, but when they happen, they're a killer.<br /><br />Today I've recommitted myself to tracking my food online. I don't know why I make such a big deal about it. It's not difficult, and it only takes a few minutes. By seeing all the food I've eaten in the tracker, it makes me realize I'm not starving to death. My head may be telling me something different, but the tracker tells me something else. I realize I've had plenty to eat. It also helps keep me very aware of whether I'm following the healthy eight eating guidelines, something I've been struggling with lately.<br /><br />Even though I haven't gone too far off track in my eating, I haven't been getting all the requirements of a healthy diet. Vegetables? Dairy? Healthy oils? No. No. No.<br /><br />It's been more of a grab whatever is quick and easy. I even went to Jack in the Box a couple nights ago, the first time in at least three years.. My coworker and I were still at the office at 10pm and hadn't eaten since lunch. I got one of their grilled chicken salads, which was just awful. <br /><br />After I choked down the salad with it's awful low-cal balsamic vinaigrette and two ounces of chicken that tasted weird, I ate some cookies that were in the office (five to be exact). I never eat cookies. I can't even remember the last time I had a cookie before last Thursday. I felt like I was really splurging and being bad. <br /><br />Sadly they had Macadamia nuts in them. I'm allergic to Macadamia nuts. Wouldn't you know it, I decide to have a couple cookies and they made me so sick I wanted to die. The nauseousness was unbearable. It resulted in me standing over the toilet thinking I swear I'll never eat another cookie! Of course I will someday, but it's going to be a while and if there are any white chunks of anything in them, no way!<br /><br />It's gorgeous weather here today in the Seattle area. Sunshine and the thermometer in the sun says 82. I'm getting off this computer and riding my bike to the gym for an hour of strength training. I've skipped the gym Thursday AND Friday. I rarely miss two days in a row, but my body just said no way. Can't and won't do it. I felt like my battery was close to dead, and I couldn't use what little energy I had at the gym or I wouldn't make it through the day. <br /><br />I kind of feel like I've been to hell and back this past month. I'm really looking forward to eight hour workdays, and weekends off. I feel like I've been let out of jail, and have returned to sanity.

Returning to sanity

The last three weeks have wiped me out, mentally and physically. I almost feel like I'm in vegetative state. I feel like if I never move...

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I'm Late!!

TGIF Friends!!!!!! Obviously my Thursday post is a bit late! I was a tad busy last night...but I'll get to that in a bit!<br /><br />I had my <span style="font-weight:bold;">favorite oatmeal combo</span> for breakfast for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bJjlZmPw_o5O-9eRMmhMrnCB6pT314-h_oRwQasvvEYLDcJPavyc_KiBSRbSB0myWbEufBTpcqUHQmKexSV2GH4f3RitFYwufSWWQBQR3z9kC3TyJW3TcH2l4axIn6h-9bpdOZbVPJBW/s1600/DSC08728.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520572035636943058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bJjlZmPw_o5O-9eRMmhMrnCB6pT314-h_oRwQasvvEYLDcJPavyc_KiBSRbSB0myWbEufBTpcqUHQmKexSV2GH4f3RitFYwufSWWQBQR3z9kC3TyJW3TcH2l4axIn6h-9bpdOZbVPJBW/s400/DSC08728.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Mid morning I had a snack of <span style="font-weight:bold;">yogurt </span>& <span style="font-weight:bold;">1c strawberries</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SHEVWDF5_ou9aWJiF46GTXH5bPyqb0HF5yWcx1c6LFBX8f44CQS5JV0fuztrzhG1Q81AOdTUr3Qpq9CcMDAlNMGDHbvzoE0A-27pwlDpI0BWxUQZ_3Eredw0ONEvwd7K1iXK1ibgZV8m/s1600/DSC08729.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520572033922435250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SHEVWDF5_ou9aWJiF46GTXH5bPyqb0HF5yWcx1c6LFBX8f44CQS5JV0fuztrzhG1Q81AOdTUr3Qpq9CcMDAlNMGDHbvzoE0A-27pwlDpI0BWxUQZ_3Eredw0ONEvwd7K1iXK1ibgZV8m/s400/DSC08729.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Kyle and I ran home for lunch. Well I should say I did, Kyle used the time to get in a little siesta! I had <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/09/finally.html">leftover <span style="font-weight:bold;">fiesta chicken & rice bake</span>e</a> for 7 points, just as good as the first time around! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6oH7K472esHdM7ccPFZP32j8zuB2ku7IE9CEVFES7oqQJTQ_XFVfQiQr8071xoRfW85jLvM8Ql_8wvm_oytYEt_22Tnsy-i1qEpGuTo7i85-PwzqWhCXyqtddtf2_k6Sw_LfQDJP1fOX/s1600/DSC08730.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520572026389420178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6oH7K472esHdM7ccPFZP32j8zuB2ku7IE9CEVFES7oqQJTQ_XFVfQiQr8071xoRfW85jLvM8Ql_8wvm_oytYEt_22Tnsy-i1qEpGuTo7i85-PwzqWhCXyqtddtf2_k6Sw_LfQDJP1fOX/s400/DSC08730.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I also <STRIKE>inhaled</STRIKE> enjoyed a <span style="font-weight:bold;">WW cookies & cream ice cream bar</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1_bwc_5r-kVYYWzFXhEUcjh7IoESwx9177XZqZsLwHKY2oDBO2gOfE_-G6528sLMCXOuqH7zgurYwCxQJGl_Q7E-TeXTCvliGREEWV5GDAZXoAreL9a9xieA8QtD7U0xAebRnLr_AfsU/s1600/DSC08731.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520571881463684162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1_bwc_5r-kVYYWzFXhEUcjh7IoESwx9177XZqZsLwHKY2oDBO2gOfE_-G6528sLMCXOuqH7zgurYwCxQJGl_Q7E-TeXTCvliGREEWV5GDAZXoAreL9a9xieA8QtD7U0xAebRnLr_AfsU/s400/DSC08731.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />My afternoon D-R-U-G on, only because I knew I got to spend the evening with someone VERY special....<span style="font-weight:bold;">HAYDEN</span>!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWipcRg3r4VKYROys5SnzXrj-_3P6akxt3bGYVtrA9k7kqyIK835Tu2TTl17KJyYBTiAJJc1JEydHoFwlQWmo6Z5vaKVksgT50WksKpDbVHD3meYidjgWsagsI8iU5PbCwtd-Ani8L8jT/s1600/DSC08744.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520571856763817250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWipcRg3r4VKYROys5SnzXrj-_3P6akxt3bGYVtrA9k7kqyIK835Tu2TTl17KJyYBTiAJJc1JEydHoFwlQWmo6Z5vaKVksgT50WksKpDbVHD3meYidjgWsagsI8iU5PbCwtd-Ani8L8jT/s400/DSC08744.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />He is doing very well (for those of you who've asked!) and we just enjoyed the evening, well pretty much doing just that, snoozing! Wendi & I caught a few season premieres(LOVED the Office!) I had a can of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Progresso Beef Pot Roast soup</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span> with a <span style="font-weight:bold;">cheese sandwich</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">3 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg6DMCM1u3k_f5gF-yIBb_kRqbuz8CQZVAEliobRm8kYRakmYlgEkQ-IpeIg_kunjsS34Nz3V9Hr56pgWXNAQfhzbnmvTQBBncCpFzVbpFZZMYpeAMZITksh8RWq2foMQWqJ7PTPYIMLP/s1600/DSC08733.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520571869983075538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg6DMCM1u3k_f5gF-yIBb_kRqbuz8CQZVAEliobRm8kYRakmYlgEkQ-IpeIg_kunjsS34Nz3V9Hr56pgWXNAQfhzbnmvTQBBncCpFzVbpFZZMYpeAMZITksh8RWq2foMQWqJ7PTPYIMLP/s400/DSC08733.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />My sweet tooth was in full swing last night! I had <STRIKE>3</STRIKE> <STRIKE>6</STRIKE> 9 tootsie rolls! Thank goodness for Wendi, she made me stop! ;) Thanks sis!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWrgzzBuCMEuoJT2qf6dw1Gp-YEsPDOem75ijOsfgJF5B0d9mB8MGTRmEY-9xlkXypmFzv1eS7WQC3Fv9xDpFg9Qx2m5Yf993UTMMAcUdTcdXs9sTSd07C5-7P1X96DjLSyRU31ZxqU07/s1600/DSC08746.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520571851536452562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWrgzzBuCMEuoJT2qf6dw1Gp-YEsPDOem75ijOsfgJF5B0d9mB8MGTRmEY-9xlkXypmFzv1eS7WQC3Fv9xDpFg9Qx2m5Yf993UTMMAcUdTcdXs9sTSd07C5-7P1X96DjLSyRU31ZxqU07/s400/DSC08746.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Hayden was getting sleepy so Aunt Darci was <span style="font-style:italic;">more than happy</span> to rock the sweet little guy to sleep! I enjoyed the snuggle time!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguG_WsRQIUOPBSvhdgBxuDIgQoFDEDMRKJfHgNSmcQKKgHITS1yhpqc6dom57poVyJrqVKJ0nJ_pb04eTF9XX2YeBrRiJUUr28uZIFJg6kzMXDQmZ3eBrD24cXybDK1bCazvJimivV3sF/s1600/DSC08748.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520571849045689874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguG_WsRQIUOPBSvhdgBxuDIgQoFDEDMRKJfHgNSmcQKKgHITS1yhpqc6dom57poVyJrqVKJ0nJ_pb04eTF9XX2YeBrRiJUUr28uZIFJg6kzMXDQmZ3eBrD24cXybDK1bCazvJimivV3sF/s400/DSC08748.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I headed home around 10pm and would've loved to head right to bed, but I had to pack for tailgating this weekend! <span style="font-weight:bold;">[GO HAWKS]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">THURSDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 24/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 1 used/34 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/3 week<br />H2O = 128 oz<br />EXERCISE = none<br /><br />It's been a <span style="font-weight:bold;">CRAZY </span>Friday, but I'll save that for another post! <span style="font-weight:bold;">Hope everyone enjoys their Friday to the very fullest (and the weekend even more!!)</span> Got to finish some work and then we're jetting out of town!!!

I'm Late!!

TGIF Friends!!!!!! Obviously my Thursday post is a bit late! I was a tad busy last night...but I'll get to that in a bit! I had my favor...

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