August Goals

<h5><font style="font-weight: normal" size="3">Hopefully you saw the recap of my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2012/08/july-goals-recap.html">July goals recap last week</a>. I know that those monthly goals are a key part of my success and my overall goal, so I plan to continue to set goals each month. </font></h5> <p>Check out what I’m shooting for in the month of August!</p> <p align="center"><strong><u>August Goals</u></strong></p> <p><font size="3">1. workout 5 days/week </font> <p><font size="3">2. attend every WW meeting </font> <p><font size="3">3. sign up for a 5k race</font> <p><font size="3">4. track <strong><u>ALL</u></strong> eats everyday</font> <p><font size="3">5. weigh 162 by 8.31.12 {lose 6.6 lbs}</font> <p><font size="3"></font><img alt="Pinned Image" height="240" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/117586240241262378_oH4LEGKw_c.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="400"> <p align="right"><strong><font size="1"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/37999190576897413/">{source: pinterest}</a></font></strong> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>Do you set goals for yourself? If so, how often?</strong></font>

August Goals

Hopefully you saw the recap of my July goals recap last week . I know that those monthly goals are a key part of my success and my overall g...

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Monday, Monday

<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.archidose.org/wp/">A Weekly Dose of Architecture</a> Updates:</span><br /><br />This week's dose features <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/s%C3%B8lvgade-school/">Sølvgade School</a> in Copenhagen, Denmark by C. F. Møller Architects:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/s%C3%B8lvgade-school/"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Aug12-13.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is the <a href="http://www.archidose.org/Feb07/26/dose.html">Tietgen Residence Hall</a> in Copenhagen, Denmark by Lundgaard & Tranberg:<br /><a href="http://www.archidose.org/Feb07/26/dose.html"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Feb07/26/image01.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="featured past dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This week's book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/the-shape-of-green/"><i>The Shape of Green: Aesthetics, Ecology, and Design</i></a> by Lance Hosey (L):<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/08/13/the-shape-of-green/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/hosey.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" /></a>   <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2010/11/01/cities-for-people/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/gehl2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" /></a><br />(R): The featured past book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2010/11/01/cities-for-people/"><i>Cities for People</i></a> by Jan Gehl.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">World-Architects.com U.S. <a href="http://www.american-architects.com/projects/reviews/41">Building of the Week</a>:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/37705_cotillion_pavilion">Cotillion Pavilion</a> in Dallas, Texas by Mell Lawrence Architects:<br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/37705_cotillion_pavilion"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://files3.world-architects.com/projects/37705/images/900:w/Cotillionpavilion3.jpg" title="Current Building of the Week on american-architects.com" width="640" /></a>

Monday, Monday

A Weekly Dose of Architecture Updates: This week's dose features Sølvgade School in Copenhagen, Denmark by C. F. Møller Architects: Th...

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Connected Educator Month - Tuesday August 14th schedule

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here is today's schedule for Connected Educator's month. The full official and regularly-updated calendar can be found at <a href="http://connectededucators.org/cem.">http://connectededucators.org/cem.</a> Please consider participating in some of these superb wenbinars. Please note that the times are Eastern Daylight Time, so you will need to refer to the Time Zone Converter to work out the times in your region. Don't forget that the times are Eastern Daylight Time, so you will need to refer to the <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html">Time Zone Converter</a> to work out the times in your region. <br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2O0lV7YnSW7s19xqpUt5Dq-OCd5XZHTB0KUp3fqQumg__ZuE8i-vnd3OAITCJz8up1DLtw-e3Ei1ooQ5jBkZmIT4AQ5YoBpEqM4OuyFSNwVpR7cHhT4oc-om_FOpT5kPAEKZxsIzzVA/s1600/connected+educators.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2O0lV7YnSW7s19xqpUt5Dq-OCd5XZHTB0KUp3fqQumg__ZuE8i-vnd3OAITCJz8up1DLtw-e3Ei1ooQ5jBkZmIT4AQ5YoBpEqM4OuyFSNwVpR7cHhT4oc-om_FOpT5kPAEKZxsIzzVA/s320/connected+educators.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h3> 9:00am</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_3"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/ff5916860b8775bc4d0c3d40ea5c54d4?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="ff5916860b8775bc4d0c3d40ea5c54d4">Innov8: Twitter + History = TwHistory </a></span></div></div><h3>12:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/e5cb52441e7fe1f1e50085d509ce570a?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="e5cb52441e7fe1f1e50085d509ce570a">Webinar: Peek inside the life of a connected learner </a></span></div></div><h3> 1:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_2"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/94370a298d80975f170bc3306ef8edc7?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="94370a298d80975f170bc3306ef8edc7">Welcome to the iCollaboratory </a></span><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/47906a8541d2d17e5010da8706e682f2?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="47906a8541d2d17e5010da8706e682f2">Connected Learning Webinar: Elyse Eidman-Aadahl </a></span></div></div><h3> 1:30pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_15"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/dbbd84544733225cd92a9478a833f4e0?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="dbbd84544733225cd92a9478a833f4e0">Taking Classrooms Global </a></span></div></div><h3> 2:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_14"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/247b0eabd617e3512e257e261e4db4e7?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="247b0eabd617e3512e257e261e4db4e7">#globallit chat with Primary Source </a></span><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/e9a1a500d91bd519237aed78470f58e6?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="e9a1a500d91bd519237aed78470f58e6">Research-based Technology Implementation: Project RED Webinar </a></span></div></div><h3> 3:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/b0cdc1f29b0c5b9dc99fa949ec315cd7?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="b0cdc1f29b0c5b9dc99fa949ec315cd7">ASCD Webinar: Ask Dr Judy -- How can resisting immediate gratification and long-term goal development be developed in students? </a></span><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/5744911771ec22c5fde4f0cde5c836d8?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="5744911771ec22c5fde4f0cde5c836d8">Blended Learning: What Is It and How Is It Changing Our Schools? </a></span></div></div><h3> 7:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/00e580fb790a14e04458f6c258130f4c?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="00e580fb790a14e04458f6c258130f4c">Energizing Math: ideas, resources, and collaboration for K-8 math teachers </a></span></div></div><h3> 8:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_19"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/ac271a6d38dd02b9e092b8691d7c5429?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="ac271a6d38dd02b9e092b8691d7c5429">Intel® Teach Elements: A Series of 21st Century Short Courses </a></span></div></div><h3> 9:00pm</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_14"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/c64a57192a85a6a4c872a801d529bdca?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="c64a57192a85a6a4c872a801d529bdca">#PBLChat </a></span> </div></div><h3>12:00am</h3><div class="sched-container"><div class="sched-container-inner"><span class="event ev_14"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/19521a7620b5d922081523c7ccce26cf?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="19521a7620b5d922081523c7ccce26cf">#BBugs (Start) </a></span><span class="event ev_15"><a class="name" href="http://connectededucatorsmonth2012.sched.org/event/23dda77bb44639cc73e0cf4c42d90924?iframe=yes&w=680&sidebar=yes&bg=no" id="23dda77bb44639cc73e0cf4c42d90924">Academic Partnerships Faculty Commons (End) </a></span></div></div><div class="sched-container-bottom"></div><div class="sched-container-header" id="2012-08-15"><div class="sched-container-dates"><b></b> </div></div></div></div>

conferences Connected Educator Month - Tuesday August 14th schedule

Here is today's schedule for Connected Educator's month. The full official and regularly-updated calendar can be found at http://con...

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30 Days of webtools #19: Picasa, Photopeach and other photo sharing sites

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nowadays there are so many different and amazing things you can do with your photographs online. You can store them, create gorgous slideshows, among other things. In this post I am going to outline sites for the following:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Sites for uploading photos to the Internet for storage </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) A search engine for royalty free photos </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) A talking photo site </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) A site for making large classroom posters </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) Sites for creating lovely slideshows</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a look at this Slideshare for ideas:</span><br /><br /><br />  <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/13961829" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/have-fun-with-your-photos-using-some-of-these-photosharing-sites" target="_blank" title="Have fun with your photos using some of these photosharing sites ">Have fun with your photos using some of these photosharing sites </a> </b> from <b><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></b> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b></b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Classroom uses for photos </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(ideas taken from the Photopeach website)</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Library: Introduce new upcoming books with the image of the covers by a librarian; promote library actions; create book trailers</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For second language class / ESL class: Vocabulary with pictures / vocabulary quiz; Storytelling / story creation; Work with grammar content</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assistive technology class: Support reading and writing for students with disabilities</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technology class: Show students and staff how to use computer applications</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kindergarten: Mothers day and Fathers day slideshow to share with the parents; travels of "Billy Shakesbear"</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tutorial for students / Introduction of the curriculum content</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">End of year slideshow</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an assessment tool</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“20 things about me”</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slideshow about the rights for the children</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">International exchange between schools</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teachers’ training</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For presentations at conference</span></li></ul><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Further reading</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><a href="http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Photos+%26+Images">http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Photos+%26+Images</a></div></div>

30 days of web tools photo-tools Web tools 30 Days of webtools #19: Picasa, Photopeach and other photo sharing sites

Nowadays there are so many different and amazing things you can do with your photographs online. You can store them, create gorgous slidesho...

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Sr. Product Development Engineer (Optics | Laser | troubleshooting) (# 108535)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Position: Sr. Product Development Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Location: Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Duration: Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Responsible for engineering activities on next generation of existing product. These activities will include the development and release of new options, features or cost reduction improvements that provide more value to our customers (external or internal). Integral to this role is an understanding of the customers use-case and successfully working in conjunction with other groups to define the requirements. Must have the ability to follow through and release / support these product enhancements effectively. Train service and manufacturing employees. Maybe required to travel to customer sites to efficiently and effectively resolve technical issues (Fly and Fix) during and after product release, as well as to support existing systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">PhD degree preferred.  Experience in the area of mechanical, optical, electrical or systems design, overseeing subsystem project, troubleshooting of systems issues, creating and executing test plans is highly desirable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Basic Qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Master's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 0 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Kindly send your resume to <a href="mailto:raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com">raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Sr. Product Development Engineer (Optics | Laser | troubleshooting) (# 108535)

Position: Sr. Product Development Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: Responsible for engineering activitie...

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Technical Programs Director (# 108444)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Position:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Technical Programs Director<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Job Description: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Director of GSS Technical Programs is responsible for driving programs spanning all K-T products focused on advanced diagnostics and guided trouble-shooting.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Specific responsibilities include:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Lead cross-functional product life-cycle (PLC) team with representatives from each product support group, marketing, engineering, and IT, to develop roadmaps, define projects, and drive product development and release.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Work with the new product introduction teams to ensure that diagnostic and trouble-shooting capabilities are built into all new K-T inspection and metrology tools, and are leveraged to accelerate learning on new tools.  Ensure that best-known methods are developed and used across all product lines.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Work closely with Service Marketing to develop diagnostic and trouble-shooting solutions to help both our customers and our service engineers more efficiently service K-T inspection and metrology tools, while protecting core K-T intellectual property.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Use data gathering and analysis tools to provide value-added capability, in terms of both service metrics (i.e. uptime, MTTR) as well as tool performance (e.g. capture rate or measurement precision) to our customers, and leverage to add to the company’s service revenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Stay abreast of industry and academic trends in the area of intelligent maintenance systems and be able to lead developing of our 5-year architectural roadmap.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Demonstrated results driving product development or technical programs in semiconductor capital equipment or similar industry required. Familiarity with K-T’s PLC process or similar process for product development. Service experience on cutting edge, capital equipment products desired. Experience with turning large quantities of data into an action plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Basic Qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Master's Level Degree with at least 6 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 7 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kindly send your resume to raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com  <o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Technical Programs Director (# 108444)

Position: Technical Programs Director Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: The Director of GSS Technical Programs ...

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Let Me Elaborate

Thank you to those who left great suggestions and words of encouragement on last week's <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/08/burned-out.html" target="_blank">post</a>!<br /><br />I do want to elaborate a little further after one reader said:<br /> <i> </i><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"Reading your post, I wasn't sure if you're tired of the food planning itself, or the actual sticking to the plan part."</i></blockquote><br />That's a great observation, and it got me thinking. <br /><br />Right now, today, in this moment, I am burnt out of most everything related to healthy living.  I know this will pass, but I just need a short break from it all. <br /><br />It has all become rather overwhelming - the constant grind of trying to plan my meals each day/week, feeble attempts at living the Plan day in and day out (<i>not to mention the constant guilt each time I mess up</i>), getting in the exercise and <i>then </i>trying to blog about it all <i>(and more guilt when I fail at this too</i>).  I'm surprised (<i>and proud!</i>) to admit that the only thing that has remained consistent throughout the last year and a half is the rate at which I exercise.  I've maintained my average of 2-3 days per week for a year and a half.  Exercise is not something I'm giving up on because I don't want to.<br /><br />I'm also weary of having plans for every single scenario:  plans on how to eat when we travel out of town, or hang out with friends, or when I don't feel like cooking when I get home from work, or daily generic meal plans to get me through a "normal" week.  I'm tired of all the planning, especially when it just fails me in the end anyhow! (<i>Yes, Joel - even </i>I<i> hate planning after awhile :)</i>!). <br /><br />Life as a Weight Watcher (<i>or anyone trying to watch their weight</i>) is <i>filled </i>with spontaneity.  Some people thrive at the challenge of staying On Plan when dining out or being on vacation or visiting friends/family or whatever scenario you can think of.  You could argue that if I planned accordingly for each of these scenarios, I could set myself up for success.  I would argue back that I always have a plan, but apparently my plans suck or the execution of them is extremely poor! <br /><br />I despise spontaneity.  I don't like when life throws unexpected situations into my weight watching day.  I'm talking about little things, like when a coworker asks me if I want to join him/her at Chick Fil A for lunch, and I'm already starving/dreading what I brought and so I cave and go along for the fried food.  I have a real problem saying 'no' to stuff like that.<br /><br />But getting back to the reader's observation:  I am tired of food planning for sure.  It's also more that I'm tired/annoyed/frustrated with TRYING to stay On Plan - not so much of being on the Plan itself (<i>since, if I was following it perfectly, I wouldn't even be sitting here writing this - I'd probably be celebrating loss after loss instead!</i>).  While I don't like spontaneity, I do enjoy eating different foods week to week.  I cannot always eat oatmeal for breakfast and turkey sandwiches for lunch and salads for dinner.  I enjoy cooking and variety with my meals - and that's both a benefit and huge downfall of mine.  Years ago when I was most successful on WW, having lost 50 lbs, meal planning was no issue for me!  That's because I ate the same few things day in and day out for about a year - easy peezy.  Today, I cannot stand the sight of a Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice frozen entree/Smart Ones meal.  But because I tout my love for meal variety, it also comes with a few consequences: time and planning.  <br /><br />I enjoy preparing my own food, but that takes time (<i>as a sidenote, if I can barely handle my own life plus Joel's, I would never be able to be a parent - I have no idea how they/you do it ALL!</i>).  I try to do as much as I can on the weekends, but again - I'm tired of spending my entire Sunday cooking for the upcoming week.  I want to have the luxury/joy of just having a weekend where I don't have a plan in place related to Weight Watchers!     <br /><br />As Ryan so assuredly stated: <i> </i><br /><i> </i><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"No need to give up, just learn, shift, grow, and you can get what you want!"</i></blockquote>And that's exactly what I'm doing.<i><br /></i><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />

Lacking Motivation Weight Loss Weight Watchers Let Me Elaborate

Thank you to those who left great suggestions and words of encouragement on last week's post ! I do want to elaborate a little further a...

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elephants and eggs

One of my living room challenges is the layout. I believe, in fact, it is number 3 on <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/08/and-your-time-startsnow.html" target="_blank">my list</a>. Now normally I have no problems with layouts. In fact, that's usually how I put myself to sleep at night (instead of counting sheep I move furniture).<br /><br />But this time, I've got an elephant in the room. She is big and bossy and I love her.<br /><br />The 'egg piano'.<br /><br />For years my grandmother saved the money she earned selling eggs each week (from her chickens. on the farm. not <i>her</i> eggs.) to buy this piano. It was her pride and joy. It was later passed on to my parents and was the piano I took lessons on. Then, a few years ago my parents downsized and the piano came to live at my house.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9PY-EnE-OGGENYihtwtNX3FnljZeAzV7dFFAtrAWxloSO16ef_rK7muhf_DP_u897ptRrdEpOf1XfGPau0udb1VdfmZY3DsZ5SZuntvfScWNLNX083tB2JnirOcRdA1Cpb-4oMtLdIKW/s1600/LBDpiano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9PY-EnE-OGGENYihtwtNX3FnljZeAzV7dFFAtrAWxloSO16ef_rK7muhf_DP_u897ptRrdEpOf1XfGPau0udb1VdfmZY3DsZ5SZuntvfScWNLNX083tB2JnirOcRdA1Cpb-4oMtLdIKW/s640/LBDpiano.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Wahoo!<br /><br />But that wahoo comes with a however.<br /><br />This baby is big. And there are very few places she will fit. And after finding her spot, there is the even bigger issue of how to treat her. For whatever reason, styling a piano seems daunting to me. Even Pinterest didn't have many examples. (bite my tongue, I know)<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YHligFF9f2KjaoLOzsw3G3FQxFqOUG74serR4MaMeZ6y9YSROAycvSCSTiECU-GBbSk1cGKtr-21UXy7hDyyxGvVnCSFbL1LTuQoPwfrE-fKSoScraQtYn_ldCMG-pVWwRJWePPjsT7z/s1600/7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YHligFF9f2KjaoLOzsw3G3FQxFqOUG74serR4MaMeZ6y9YSROAycvSCSTiECU-GBbSk1cGKtr-21UXy7hDyyxGvVnCSFbL1LTuQoPwfrE-fKSoScraQtYn_ldCMG-pVWwRJWePPjsT7z/s640/7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/215469163391537477/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8wGTLIqzW9qKJMvC-xdgqCE_8-byRqD3qSMUx0uQVQFyFQgoPrRl3NgJtTc3PjMJY5PUt4zqBdMnE-AHyNUW42xdU1Ro3WFsqqpaubMQWH2D50s7NidtzLIULJsaR2JQE-XLBpayyTTu/s1600/3_16_10_SeanMacpherson18245.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8wGTLIqzW9qKJMvC-xdgqCE_8-byRqD3qSMUx0uQVQFyFQgoPrRl3NgJtTc3PjMJY5PUt4zqBdMnE-AHyNUW42xdU1Ro3WFsqqpaubMQWH2D50s7NidtzLIULJsaR2JQE-XLBpayyTTu/s640/3_16_10_SeanMacpherson18245.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theselby.com/galleries/sean-macpherson/" target="_blank">The Selby</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPfBYe7957J29eKt1nEw6eH5GaWQuqnfD3Av6u_97WN3G2ys9H6UNj7yl_Lf2Q-F6NnGE_KLkf7WyjKW2YCT49aG6UMCUYPdo6C4yEZL5FATWxWn0NYK3AUXRBS_1kDKYyGbPh3Ej_prz/s1600/dsc_3417-copy-800x530.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPfBYe7957J29eKt1nEw6eH5GaWQuqnfD3Av6u_97WN3G2ys9H6UNj7yl_Lf2Q-F6NnGE_KLkf7WyjKW2YCT49aG6UMCUYPdo6C4yEZL5FATWxWn0NYK3AUXRBS_1kDKYyGbPh3Ej_prz/s640/dsc_3417-copy-800x530.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://missmustardseed.com/" target="_blank">Miss Mustard Seed</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiVgPMERAy3MhyrzK3mFNRcKPz5LNvJHmnArp8IYxVrCPjAuytd3DmXhUlx8BWbWWuoCh1z3FQF3z6KyHZD-ol-rYJRyu_fhn2QOqA6AJCP4hMaFC3sd8Qq-nd_JGfMU_rK_zY9eobRNh/s1600/tasmanian+home+renovation+,19133.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiVgPMERAy3MhyrzK3mFNRcKPz5LNvJHmnArp8IYxVrCPjAuytd3DmXhUlx8BWbWWuoCh1z3FQF3z6KyHZD-ol-rYJRyu_fhn2QOqA6AJCP4hMaFC3sd8Qq-nd_JGfMU_rK_zY9eobRNh/s640/tasmanian+home+renovation+,19133.jpeg" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homelife.com.au/homes/galleries/tasmanian+home+renovation+,19133?pos=4#top" target="_blank">Home Life</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMifgO0bTl85vXTIVkIqE07JWDt3zJZlixQhgDZxzNX9vxdkLhMJ73AArYaNr8zD7kwIrTY69tq6yJQBTS9pi5y_xNfzjYMmkaxZEM_-INRqEyy5bbPvgZvK1_krDWF8VtrdHrfhML4ln/s1600/tove-mauritzson_12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMifgO0bTl85vXTIVkIqE07JWDt3zJZlixQhgDZxzNX9vxdkLhMJ73AArYaNr8zD7kwIrTY69tq6yJQBTS9pi5y_xNfzjYMmkaxZEM_-INRqEyy5bbPvgZvK1_krDWF8VtrdHrfhML4ln/s640/tove-mauritzson_12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://residencemagazine.se/" style="background-color: white; color: #909090; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Residence</a> via<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> </span><a href="http://www.scandinavianchic.com/2011/02/at-home-with-swedish-artist-tove.html#" style="background-color: white; color: #909090; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Scandinavian Chic </a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>So what say you? Have you ever worked with a piano? Any ideas on how to integrate it? What would you buy with your egg money?

elephants and eggs

One of my living room challenges is the layout. I believe, in fact, it is number 3 on my list . Now normally I have no problems with layouts...

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"The Misfits" and Me - by Christian Esquevin

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiIwo8gIUjDDFDjX7SfDjk0XgeN20nQZVO_DJRcpnnoBZ0Wbp5lT9IcNepoyXiuwQkVARIHSyEGT5r9_g6sOTm-7fUt9ECXluaOQ8gVyYca3GU6H7lRaCZ49_Ron822aYrZwgOVbue50j/s1600/Misfits+Title+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiIwo8gIUjDDFDjX7SfDjk0XgeN20nQZVO_DJRcpnnoBZ0Wbp5lT9IcNepoyXiuwQkVARIHSyEGT5r9_g6sOTm-7fUt9ECXluaOQ8gVyYca3GU6H7lRaCZ49_Ron822aYrZwgOVbue50j/s320/Misfits+Title+card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span id="goog_2054845030"></span><span id="goog_2054845031"></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where does the first step begin on a journey to fate? For me it was sometime in August of 1960, just a kid on a camping trip with his parents and their friends. Lake Tahoe was the destination, with side trips to Squaw Valley, Reno, Carson City, and Virginia City, Nevada. Little did I know, nor anyone else in our little party, that we would run into the production of <i>The Misfits</i>, starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Montgomery Clift, as directed by John Huston. It was clear from the entourage around Gable and Marilyn that this was a very big deal. And my father reinforced this message with his excited exclamation, “there’s Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable!” although he probably uttered this in French, my parents’ and their friends’ native language. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My recollections of this event are from the mists of time, and likely distorted by accretions of images and later reflections on the significance of the occasion, and the powerful warping auras of the stars themselves. As a kid turning twelve I was already highly aware of the significance of stardom. We did after all live very close to Hollywood, and in those days before paparazzi, seeing stars was not uncommon. But seeing Marilyn and Clark Gable at work was like entering the stratosphere. My best recollection of the scene was that it was taking place in a casino in Reno, likely Harrah’s Club. Production personnel were orbiting around the magic couple.  An aura emanated from Marilyn. In spite of the effects on her of nerves or drugs, which I wouldn’t have known anything about, she was glowing from the lights and the sheen of her platinum blonde hair. I don’t believe a scene was being filmed at the moment, since she seemed to be smiling and basking in the rapt attention of the small audience that was there, of which we were a part. Clark Gable was smiling too, though in a sort of cool, smirky way, aging, but still the king of the jungle. I couldn’t see their figures very well, and I was old enough to know that Marilyn’s figure was very special. But with the big stars, then and now, “we had faces” was all-important, and with these two in particular, their very unique faces reverberated in the room.  I had a particular affinity to Clark Gable. I grew up with prominent ears, the cause of a childhood complex, and my father would always tell me that this physical feature was what made Clark Gable famous. I believed him, and as a chubby kid with a funny name, I believed in the possibility that there was hope for me yet. Seeing Clark Gable in person might just provide that twist of fate that would correct my negative self-image. “See what I mean,” my father said to reinforce his message. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That perception of Clark Gable, directly seen and experienced, provided me the kind of connection that seems magically possible to children; a more direct connection than just seeing him on the screen, as I had done, during a re-release of <i>Gone with the Wind</i>.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItYQGtuLczgMlZ7q53mi1i-LIJMdZpt1U_nNeVUgL0sFM4ALiQyXc-AgXr8OKQnMW4zkJtNbHmwBjEt_76H4VgK5OKBGE5WLuIYLPxDHw5GoVxY-jPUHxr4pdV3igEMJ9qa3oGCFArTZy/s1600/Misfits++Gable+Monroe+Clift+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItYQGtuLczgMlZ7q53mi1i-LIJMdZpt1U_nNeVUgL0sFM4ALiQyXc-AgXr8OKQnMW4zkJtNbHmwBjEt_76H4VgK5OKBGE5WLuIYLPxDHw5GoVxY-jPUHxr4pdV3igEMJ9qa3oGCFArTZy/s400/Misfits++Gable+Monroe+Clift+2.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marilyn seemed even more magical. Here in real life and in plain sight she still seemed ethereal. Perhaps it was that very quality that made people, especially men, want to possess her, and somehow to hold onto a cloud. She was the embodiment of contradiction, an ethereal, almost angelic image that was hotly desired for her earthly body, and that most famous of movie stars, capable of moving mountains, yet unable to control her own life or emotions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally we moved away from all the action, onward to seeing other sights, me looking backward at the marvel just beheld. Alas, the whole scene was destined to be an ethereal vision. Clark Gable, “the King” died of a heart attack three months later in November 1960. <i>The Misfits </i>premiered in February 1961, to mixed reviews.  Then my father died on June 5, 1962 and Marilyn Monroe died two months after that on August 5, 1962, now fifty years ago.  How could these giants just disappear? My own fate had indeed led me to <i>The Misfits</i>, a rendezvous with the realization that I too might become one.  Marilyn’s star now shines ever more brightly, a testament to film and the power of image. We continue to try to hold onto a cloud.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Misfits</i><b><i> </i></b>was not a hit in 1961. No one then knew, of course, that it would be the last film that both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe would ever star in, nor that Montgomery Clift would also die five years later. The audience wasn’t ready for this modern, existential film in 1961. Its reputation, because of all its baggage, doomed it to the “missed opportunity,” or “underrated film” category. Today it is being rediscovered. <i>The Misfits </i>is not a fun film to watch, its barren landscape parallels its wounded characters. But it is a true reflection of the human condition, and for film buffs, a unique view into the life of several movie legends. For me, it was a rendezvous with destiny – an opportunity to see those legendary stars before they faded, and the passion to now write about them and the world they lived in, a world I briefly transited.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrbS6lbklQqeH6FactUhHt8figZNXA07rIkyqTFNuWdaPJuaRdQjNSZVNqGCvizjUqrkuZwW3yBWo6mQfvYmGwYkC2AnlYNIDaLgAnuiIPrHc1GMPkbh1X27rR2EnyMJj6SwdLziJWg_a/s1600/Misfits+Marilyn+and+Gable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrbS6lbklQqeH6FactUhHt8figZNXA07rIkyqTFNuWdaPJuaRdQjNSZVNqGCvizjUqrkuZwW3yBWo6mQfvYmGwYkC2AnlYNIDaLgAnuiIPrHc1GMPkbh1X27rR2EnyMJj6SwdLziJWg_a/s320/Misfits+Marilyn+and+Gable.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Christian Esquevin</b> is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adrian-Silver-Screen-Custom-Label/dp/1580931936/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325219252&sr=8-1" style="color: #990000;">Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label</a>, published by the Monacelli Press in 2008. The book is about the life and career of MGM’s famed Golden Age costume designer Gilbert Adrian and his subsequent fashion business. Christian also produces his <a href="http://www.silverscreenmodiste.com/" style="color: #990000;">Silver Screen Modiste</a> blog covering classic film fashion. This is Christian's third guest contribution to this blog, and for each piece I am eternally grateful...</i></span><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">TLE</span></span></i></div>

Christian Esquevin Clark Gable John Huston Marilyn Monroe Montgomery Clift Silver Screen Modiste "The Misfits" and Me - by Christian Esquevin

Where does the first step begin on a journey to fate? For me it was sometime in August of 1960, just a kid on a camping trip with his parent...

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I Am So Sad. Winter Olympics, Please Come Quickly!

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Blahblah Closing Ceremony blahblah basketball game blahblah DID YOU SEE THAT VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDAL MATCH? I really hope you didn’t just tune in for the basketball game and then delete the rest of the recording. Because that was a brilliant gold medal volleyball match played by the Russians. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To get you up to speed, the Russian men’s team was playing Brazil in the match. Brazil, whose women’s team had already won gold the day before, quickly went up two sets to none. As a matter of fact, Brazil had Gold Medal Match Point <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">twice</i>! But the Russians wouldn’t quit. Their coach changed up all of their positions, and the Brazilians weren’t prepared for that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Russia made it a late set, but won the third set. Now they were down two sets to one. Brazil just had to win the fourth set and they’d be champions. Did they do it? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No!</i> They lost the fourth set! Giant player Dmitriy Muserskiy – who could be the younger brother of Noah Emmerich – was crushing the ball, and the one-named Brazilians (one of which – Murilo – is a cross between Alan Tudyk and Josh Hutcherson) couldn’t handle it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The fifth set is a shorter set – they only play to 15. And even then, the Brazilians were crushed. They couldn’t do anything. The Russians – who had already come back from match point in round-robin play against the Americans to win – knew how to play the match, and they conquered. I was really in awe of that match – it was probably the best volleyball I saw all Olympics!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">I did watch the entire US-Spain basketball game, and at the end I really didn’t know who was going to win it! I fully believe that the US may not win the gold medal next time around. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I also watched the entire marathon. I was disappointed that Mebrahtom Keflezighi<span style="color: black;">, who had</span> been a silver medalist in 2004 for the US, placed in a distant fourth place. The other two Americans dropped out. Don’t they condition themselves to run in those conditions? They’re marathoners, aren’t they? I could have ran the marathon and dropped out after a few miles! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I got to see some team rhythmic gymnastics, and there were some high flying equipment going around! One of the teams laid out the three ribbons, put them through a hoop, and the gymnast kicked the hoop into the air, causing the three ribbons to fly up…into the hands of the three gymnasts who knew <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i> where the ends were going to land! Unbelievable! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Instead of Where’s Kobe? The past couple of days it’s been Where’s Becks? On Friday David Beckham was spotted watching BMX, and on Saturday he was at the Olympic Stadium for the men’s 5000m and at the Aquatics Centre for diving. And in other celebrity news, Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the gold medal baskeball game today. Why? Beats me! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Small side note: I purchased the Opening Ceremony music on iTunes, and the entire second disc is the music that was played when the athletes marched into the stadium that night. It’s 1 hour and 20 minutes of awesome remixed music. I could see myself walking into the Olympic Stadium with that kind of music. Usually I am turned off to that kind of music (“club” music), but I like this mix. I think you should check it out! If I ever need to pull an all-nighter (kind of what I’m doing right now trying to finish this blog!), I will put on that disc to keep me awake. And it will make me think of the Olympics, which is always great.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I did enjoy the Closing Ceremonies this evening. There was lots of variety, and I liked all the British music they chose. The Brazilian contingency was a little odd, but it always is a little jarring to have a bright culture like that thrust upon you after two weeks of Brit culture. I remember feeling that way during the Closing Ceremony in Beijing. When the Brits did their little thing, it was a culture-180 in a very short amount of time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you know Prince Harry’s formal title is HRH Prince <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Henry</i> of Wales? Because I sure didn’t! It was cool to see him as the leading royal figure in the Closing Ceremony. But I’ve always been a Prince Harry kind of gal, so...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And how about Boris Johnson? The London mayor was caught by the camera really boogieing to The Spice Girls during the Closing Ceremony. He’s quite a character, that one. (To be fair, who wasn't boogieing to The Spice Girls? The girl group of my grade school years!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So the Olympic Anthem was sung once again, and the Olympic flag was taken down. That always chokes me up. But then they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to play “The John Dunbar Theme” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dances with Wolves</i> as the flame was extinguished. And I was a royal mess, because that single trumpet melody gets to me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anyway</i>, and in these special circumstances I was a goner. Ugh, it’s always so sad to see that flame go out. Britain chose to use a phoenix and ballerinas and precede the actual dousing of the torch with large fanfare. Personally, my favorite extinguishing of the flame was in 2010, when all they did was have Neil Young sing “Long May You Run” with his guitar and his harmonica and the flame just went out. Very simple, and very effective. Though this was effective, too. I was crying, so whatever they did worked.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, then NBC had to ruin my tear-fest and barely had Bob Costas wrap things up before launching into one of their terrible new shows, “Animal Practice.” I wasn’t expecting that, so I never got to see The Who perform (one of my favorite bands) and see the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actual </i>ending of the Olympics. And way long ago I remember NBC doing some really great closing montages to the song “Titans Spirit” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Remember the Titans</i>. But nothing here! They blew it AGAIN – I remember complaining in 2010 when they did the same thing. Don’t they ever learn?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I really hope that NBC can brush up its coverage and show a more worldly coverage next time around. They are so American-driven most of the time that we miss out on so much. If you can, watch BBC or Canadian television for your Olympics. I wish that I could.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Summer Blurb: The End</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And just like that, two weeks have ended. The hype is done – now we celebrate the athletes that actually came out and won their events. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you believe we just spent two whole weeks talking completely about sports? I pretty much ignored every other news story going on and maintained my blissful ignorance. Sports is really the glue that keeps us all together. It brings in nations from every corner of the world, and for a brief moment we can set aside our political and cultural differences and just play sports together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Sports! Occasionally revered way too much, but sometimes just the right thing to set us all back in our place. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As a matter of fact, the Olympics have really soured me on a few things here in the States. Take football, for example. Every year the football hype train comes earlier and earlier. I can’t find any magazines that talk about the Olympics, but I can find fifteen fantasy football magazines. Not just football magazines – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">FANTASY </i>football magazines! Preseason games that get ratings equal to that of normal games. Media covering football camp like it’s the Super Bowl. (I’m talking about you, ESPN.) Every busted thumb gets fifteen minutes in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sportscenter</i>. Can’t we wait for the real season to start before we all start freaking out? It’s probably the Olympics-buzz in me, but I am really sick of it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So as I turn from gleeful Olympics lover to pessimist American sports hater, I guess that means I need to step back and take a break for a little bit. I need to get my bearings again, so I can return to normal American sports and not feel so lethargic about them. But I can strive to keep the good Olympics buzz going, because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Winter Olympics are only 18 months away!!</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Winter Blurb: Countdown to Sochi 2014</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you believe it? In a year-and-a-half, we can return to this Blurb page and get our daily fix of the Olympics again! NBC already was talking about it today, and for once I was excited that they were! Think about it: figure skating, hockey, skiing, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">curling</i>, and twelve – yes, twelve! – new events! Snowboarding and extreme skiing are adding new events, which can only be a good thing! Plus, SCOTT HAMILTON!!! Because let’s face it: Rowdy Gaines and Tim Daggett are just Scott Hamilton wannabes. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Put it on your calendar, folks: The Blurb will reconvene on Friday, February 7, 2014 to celebrate the opening of the Winter Olympics! Only 542 days, 19 hours, 41 minutes, and 44 seconds!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for reading the past couple of weeks. I have gotten so much traffic from my Olympics posts, and hopefully I can keep posting weekly so you can come back for a different perspective on sports... and other stuff!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

I Am So Sad. Winter Olympics, Please Come Quickly!

The Main Blurb Blahblah Closing Ceremony blahblah basketball game blahblah DID YOU SEE THAT VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDAL MATCH? I really hope you d...

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