Microsoft's free tools #1 - AutoCollage

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I love all the Microsoft programmes that are free to teachers who join the Partners in Learning website. One of my favourites is AutoCollage. Have you tried it?  This is one really great way of capturing all the students in your class in various activities during the school year. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoa-giOJBAkYmfbF7tPhwC0V7wGtlnZit-utaCAJexIovQgcCq6fqueXbP1EYA_tW-Oo7YLWjQVOmIU7TYlZfnjSH_TE5WbqC6E5GGIJ1kG39QinJ7QVQalDYmuxtGjzsJ5f_3BI8DaY/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo_oyVX2Y1tqM0kl56xk1WbwtfMgZ8ab1jKfaaxPQIh0JPZxucSzpPJwwH-Sz2jnmHhzxeh-ZC0et5CUy0QKHpKJ89fmprWhIfRd2yG-TRBOO5DOPCvi0X_N-TjG_g_otDGZcZrnAbbo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How does AutoCollage work?</span></strong><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>1. Put the photos that you want to use in a folder in My Pictures</b><br />When you open AutoCollage you’ll see that it picks up all the folders of photos in My Pictures. Choose the folder you want and immediately all the pictures in the folder will appear in the middle.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROrZrPONbqdYrMsNhuP3fQE1HGNjoManSSByka4V6QTPSYxmR-l8vQPFsIpW5gYiqiXQ2Shu2WPHA98k9ZqNZE4e0E-1CQcQ64cZGfumJntzmcbegelza-wGg9l-DR9tInsNdVGyddQs/s1600-h/image%25255B10%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka-Bg-_3QDGvyzT0NfuJ1Nks6CubwudcjipTm-SQzRcCLegY0QXPCBZBBCwVmOV0IngvRVkS7rbrTmL5-1kMU5XygYAfy_HwZDrnILgiSsj6ieF4odJFHFIwJrh64Zr6fZ72oOhW7MTI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a></div><b>2. Click on Create</b><br />AutoCollage starts to swirl the pictures around. This is where you make some choices in the settings. Do you want some to be bigger than others, for example?<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Y3hypCwpzCJhE6jy9NVBx1THJ1yncg7IypYLmdeKhoJt3lTRVhuueH3oybJAh1SFzpBI3tMjYkQxEKuXz6-qP5fTg9L0yTtY39HdcIUVVxz2ErD_UdqZ1bhtyad7LHKHXY9pnCYxJ4/s1600-h/image%25255B29%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf6iCn1h8MDG_R5PqI1htX5HYjElYsj8AWFlyHU2_A8behoXEhQslPA6oS67oKtP81fobVKZWC7FjEcqKyl5iOYx4O00WKzqt07Qp5GHZgqthOM_mWdztkcqdF1rqzHEkQmDr49h6wco/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="412" /></a></div><b>3. Your picture starts to take shape</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREl4tmp9bAvBu2JvxlCi9xgnN3XN7EqTTSedSRH6luq4gBPTlph_h8ZfsFOU66XIT457wzQGIOIXgwqjHOspSndOwzHz0A62oxkcEfaRtBeTdPhEVm-EWNyxk9_3mHxAefj0XSnbeT-Q/s1600-h/image%25255B32%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv5mpkW0sqfPmuFrPeuyf_ag0jwuyM-svksugb8Gah147hdiysa3IVTFeHWP0TyMXet3_eWUubS0Y6QLv5Tp6kmMiRcCHTKRSnudpiUVS2D-K6b5tsiACK3fibFzKUTFLbqI1enJ8Oyw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><div align="left"><b><br /></b></div><div align="left"><b>4. What’s the verdict?</b></div><div align="left">If you don’t like the resulting picture just click on Create a again and a different arrangement appears.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDc0IdVr8X9Rfoa_0E334tQgUOPigog4tdWcs_0g7wOAOHSB3AaN-OuzI9WaEIPNYIbHsUt3X1XFBXL0qbW32PjqCKBlFXItrwHhL4N6Fvc-IPlanT4wYOWcC9Q4xBXQhWP6-SpBo4L0/s1600-h/image%25255B35%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSRY-6ZqEe8MYWYAPvu39wUQ_EPUw9mkH7s_QHUcz5oMqCiQ1oY6nGBpePmiJ17ENQKyiqOd5krdtlNu8KWKdE_2MqE5zeNrmsurlyBZgTZARGk1QjE_dIM19XEPHzS1fEVAVVG_fygU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Classroom ideas for Autocollage</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><br />1.<b> Create a picture to put on a classroom door that incorporates everyone </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXpJJAdKD-Ds2KgyY1l0WUnbvqHBbwY1ph8lO9SrcFEmsHUyHHbXdVPQpIqfUugXNMPPwFJutVgI139wWq9-CRkt8QrX4K98M1Wm26iTznD33MoaTSuKpxBx2TXRz7nZZUf1OuGABda0/s1600-h/image%25255B38%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGb4VNwzxVwqBmxluAjwsthEQvGXKIirbuQpEq00T6PJ5JTeC8GYp5PVMwAdDYhKqqVkOaXSIimlIH_326xmTcls7lB7D2OtZKLB8nL0XTDSIPSx27PvFnPXz9Mz90I0HrVdqB_JrXgCA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><b>2. Use it as a way of capturing everyone’s finished work or to remember names!</b></div><div align="left"><b><br /></b></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl5VDm_lcbNfKevoRGesiwL0LcFxuxBeiyOfDyutOx_KYEI6nbwrnLpci7afWqy0_PamIuB-I_YntviGdiUUmX-m1jX8szi8Hz642Gz4jcmitBWfJsr_xUP9ccK5LAbKpAsABt8V3N8o/s1600-h/image%25255B41%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXfi2yxm4cMkwz54cMFKr-zcKgZ3AEkeVHlffXJ7xCcwLq3XJ1YbY5uE3_MPMIM7PnIr210fe_U1cN55qWt_1B71xSrG2JdElgtF3LYBmlfVLpHeV8cTlo3tNmfYK7lQZokFzPYa5ywE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><b>3. Use it to collect memories from a project. (This is from Lisa Gair’s Adopt-a-donkey project) </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IIuu1GZYQQjgOdPihS16Vry-w4nHFrWBmkK0RDIXsC1gUoG1R0_SPWrI6z_b-SzPRZ-038KneipdTqel_mF-R-RRTSFo6MowJ6yvj2ISdkkcTrn1VmbSH7yqX9TC8J6Ps-0whLhMJiY/s1600-h/image%25255B44%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOldUlSXcyR_oQR9d3iRwVBuwMS0yo4f6P2v3Fa7mCXsiHfJpSwHPHHOo0KN5GdZVGXZs0h8F15Rvpi0r25bIQAjEaVKYqL1jxIwnVog5fSJFp1MOp7VXYZh7Mg__YbbDBWQ2OfQOU7k/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><b>4. Use it for collecting themes about South Africa and writing poems about the theme as was done by the class of 8 year olds at St John’s College in Johannesburg. </b></div><div align="left"><b><br /></b></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-lxlDdFCnPnrbccTdOOGbOVNEgd8IgdHWncplJJDMDcZWPY7gkqPrkDIZG6Lh5j0UHvV5EhDE0mGcAsv1vJQGZmtO_G8FU-Y7hspHcQzKMzeEmB2z6JgQhZcVTM2ojBO9wxWL6mrib0/s1600-h/image%25255B50%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQpD-Q1z72zFIaJuLT4J6aXTD2Y2OWt1qypCgbH_-a1_H6sASGkY_401I2ZTemRQZ9TTalwoSf9rdok-_B8At4-jn_2Ot7R66zfl7U54HzdyhURv0r9xShWO_RpSNXUlXnes9QjR0xQY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><b>5. Use it in Maths for collecting pictures of Shapes</b></div><div align="left"><b><br /></b></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnguY5MheMZBPFf27rGvNxoRED1j0O3Oez0WDrGfCPNEAydXX1pNlDNXSBHdt8aL9XGbpMiLl0Vn1if0v3SC-xfXnjJtQueg2dFzPmDc2HPJbGoMtbixtxYHaWx-6cVm4ukGVpl3NlAPI/s1600-h/image%25255B55%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuwXSgdIymu8ETi4C1vMDpwr8wfgtepXplTvkUNw9F9Bq27tvxw-Puf_cwWXTW3IKEZ1sQq8Pk3WI9718b7Hdw6IOzmPtVrqXtt9BOUYSaCYMw0txYMAXjjQpvx0nJgqOAC5pP59qdJQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a><br /><b>6. Other ideas that could work</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />• Make a card from the class for some occasion<br />• Creative writing exercises – ‘How does this make you feel?’ ‘Moods and feelings’<br />• Book cover for a planning book<br />• Create a vocabulary exercise using PowerPoint and store it on a blog<br />• Create certificates<br />• A collage of a novel’s characters<br />• Background for a PowerPoint presentation<br />• A record of a lesson with everyone showing their product <br /><br /><b>7. Microsoft has plenty of step by step instruction available on their website </b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuh7cM9Myca073uWVMOWdebOtFLp3WtatyqckOiNQfrUSBAedAk362gWn8c2cVgeuIQzii7UuaRB36xawkxcwLowzrKepMYwH4msm8O8Mg8VHJd7JBsA0GkyblEP_l5mdUFjokyF40F4/s1600-h/image%25255B61%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D8ZRYEUoNLZRaNCr2OPNg7HyqKGEXXT_8YXL6Kn02dvBUFqZHje0pcqjacZPipybSxkDUJgcBtXDCrJfFqI0FPpP9_54x-BwBM_nClSj8Pua2fWv8VJLiwOpBGnUNXhv_yQd-izvZyE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="213" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">A video from UK Partners in Learning </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">‘How to use Autocollage’</span></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1GAUW0wRd4A" width="420"></iframe> <br /><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/1GAUW0wRd4A">http://youtu.be/1GAUW0wRd4A</a></div>

AutoCollage Microsoft tools Web tools Microsoft's free tools #1 - AutoCollage

I love all the Microsoft programmes that are free to teachers who join the Partners in Learning website. One of my favourites is AutoCollage...

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Interviewing the interviewer

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/x2/ar5m2rq6x0gmngb25sx2.gif?time=5/2/2011%203:37:26%20pm" /></div><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #ff7700; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Robert Half International</span></b> </div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">During the job interview, your primary concern is what the hiring manager will think of your qualifications. But don't forget the interview is also an opportunity for you to evaluate a potential employer. In fact, it's the best chance you have to determine if the company and its prevailing culture are right for you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Consider the situation if the roles were reversed. What would you want to know if you were interviewing the hiring manager? What would convince you that this is the perfect workplace for you?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ask yourself the following questions during the interview to turn the tables on the hiring manager and get a true sense of what working for the company would be like:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>How does the company's résumé stack up?</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The hiring manager will be paying close attention to your résumé, so it only makes sense that you scrutinize the firm's, too.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The company's annual report can give you a good idea about the <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/finance/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">financial</a> health of the organization, its stability and its future prospects. Press releases and <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/marketing/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">marketing</a> materials can provide insight into how the company differentiates itself from competitors and what is unique about the products or services it offers. These documents are typically available on the firm's website.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Also search the Web to get a more complete sense of the potential employer's reputation. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/social+media/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Social media</a>, in particular, can be revealing. What are people saying about the firm on Facebook, Twitter and similar services? Are the comments mostly positive or negative?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And don't forget to speak to those in your professional network, especially individuals who have worked for the company or might be able to put you in touch with someone who has.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>How prepared is the hiring manager?</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You arrived on time to the interview, brought extra copies of your résumé, and spent hours going over potential questions and answers. Did the hiring manager prepare as thoroughly as you?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If the interviewer keeps you waiting past the scheduled time, hasn't read your résumé or simply seems to be winging it, think about what it would be like to work for that person. Would he or she leave you waiting during meetings or provide only limited information on important projects?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You don't want to read too much into the actions of a hiring manager who may be busy or stressed. But several small slights could reveal a pattern.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>How does the work environment align with my needs?</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A hiring manager is trying to determine your personality and how you would fit in with other employees. You should do the same.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When visiting the company, try to get a sense of how people in the office operate. Are people rushing around, looking stressed, or is the atmosphere relaxed? Do people talk with each other in the hallways or keep their heads down? How employees work and interact with each other can be indicative of what the corporate culture is like.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>How does the hiring manager answer my questions?</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Before the interview concludes, make sure you have an opportunity to ask your own questions. Ask about any concerns you have. For example, you may want information about the professional development resources provided to employees or more specifics about the open position. You might also ask about the hiring manager's personal experiences with the firm. How long has he or she been employed there? Why does the interviewer like working for the company?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Pay attention not only to the interviewer's answers but also to the way he or she responds to your queries. When talking about the company, for instance, do you sense true passion and engagement? Or does the person seem to be rehashing standard marketing points?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Interviewing the interviewer doesn't involve actually switching roles with the hiring manager. But it does require you to think about the qualities you seek in an employer. By asking yourself -- and the potential employer -- the right questions, you can gain get a deeper understanding of the firm and be confident in your decision if you're extended a job offer.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit <a href="http://www.roberthalf.com/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">www.roberthalf.com</a>. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at<a href="http://www.twitter.com/roberthalf" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">www.twitter.com/roberthalf</a>.</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

Interviewing the interviewer

Robert Half International   During the job interview, your primary concern is what the hiring manager will think of your qualifications. But...

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1st Weigh In with Joel

Joel and I had our first weigh in on Friday.  Here is how it panned out:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Joel (6'): 230.2</b><br /><b> Hilary (5'8"): 252.8</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">We both won this week!  I have hit my lowest weight yet since starting this journey.  Joel also did well - dropping<b> </b>around 2 pounds from his starting weight of 232.6.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had a relatively large loss in one week - close to 5 pounds.  I think that was mainly due to me being sick.  I had been feeling under the weather on Wednesday-Friday of last week, dealing with flu-like symptoms.  I'm not entirely sure what was wrong in the end.  I had a hard time eating and just felt nauseous all day long for several days straight.   That all seems to be in the clear though, because since Saturday I haven't had too tough of a time eating anything :).  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Joel and I had a really busy and fun weekend.  We called it our "Groupon" weekend because we had 2 sets of vouchers that we needed to use up before they expired.  So Friday evening we set out on our first adventure - a 3 hour sailing ride down the Potomac river in Washington, DC.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </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/AVvXsEiKLahc-DscIvvbeO50tC0SqJ3JK2KThQx96BHvoh23k4-QRnmopTxVZe9YgZ2uVeDYZSD4gIIxXpVTZqfeXsvMo8njemHQR7zKYAqbe8hj_klteKawLrubaBawJamRQHfc2kVJn8Wpkxw/s1600/Groupon+Weekend+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLahc-DscIvvbeO50tC0SqJ3JK2KThQx96BHvoh23k4-QRnmopTxVZe9YgZ2uVeDYZSD4gIIxXpVTZqfeXsvMo8njemHQR7zKYAqbe8hj_klteKawLrubaBawJamRQHfc2kVJn8Wpkxw/s400/Groupon+Weekend+002.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">see the tip of the Washington Monument in the <br />background?</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The captain told us that our trip was only his second one all season where he was actually able to raise the sails.  So what does that tell you?  It was windy!  Not only that, but it was very chilly out on that water, especially after the sun went down.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </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/AVvXsEiLU4qicvGRzu4HqjKHLwJZCLstZuBYrAycJbB2lCupvnoQvsFhQWZCu67BWLUZF3iIpRFaRiHDOBAM68PhMFa1ESspnvmjNY28TKapIu9-5HYBUrwlB5a4Eh2PaOMyvGFC_9ASeYNkyhk/s1600/Groupon+Weekend+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLU4qicvGRzu4HqjKHLwJZCLstZuBYrAycJbB2lCupvnoQvsFhQWZCu67BWLUZF3iIpRFaRiHDOBAM68PhMFa1ESspnvmjNY28TKapIu9-5HYBUrwlB5a4Eh2PaOMyvGFC_9ASeYNkyhk/s400/Groupon+Weekend+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The ride was a neat experience overall.  It's not everyday that you get to see Virginia and DC from the Potomac River's vantage point.  Because it was so windy, we even experienced keeling - when the boat tips from one side to the other.  That was definitely a little scary for me.  I was not trying to include a chilly swim into my evening!    </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkTF_-0lpZFeZFUXfXNBh_bb9x1T2pdsqeXdN47jLAji116cIdhn60GMtGMN8g5vM9vu3vvrCZoOsSXUygJVVGL93vAOO8gMhRYOgGS4HgvmMr-0WisVdv7QPMJFJuNaYbKRWQpZ19fw/s1600/me+sailing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkTF_-0lpZFeZFUXfXNBh_bb9x1T2pdsqeXdN47jLAji116cIdhn60GMtGMN8g5vM9vu3vvrCZoOsSXUygJVVGL93vAOO8gMhRYOgGS4HgvmMr-0WisVdv7QPMJFJuNaYbKRWQpZ19fw/s400/me+sailing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Joel and I were more than ready for the ride to be over by the time we hit the 2 hour mark.  We were both cold and I had a headache.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87CXNeik1LmVHV6UwDGWmu_KFc-lI6Bl-cQwo7IxEcperCutyj9afhwM2zIxcb4SOCXRoBCbt7mZuEyqmjbO6dG44q_9GclYEtgaSDVwscJVG87ltv6DNfp-ftlOgqgGT4wH3lmLTdqU/s1600/sailing+wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87CXNeik1LmVHV6UwDGWmu_KFc-lI6Bl-cQwo7IxEcperCutyj9afhwM2zIxcb4SOCXRoBCbt7mZuEyqmjbO6dG44q_9GclYEtgaSDVwscJVG87ltv6DNfp-ftlOgqgGT4wH3lmLTdqU/s400/sailing+wilson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">However, one additional cool experience was that the captain took us under the bridge you see off in the distance in the above picture.  For those not familiar with the DC Metro area, that is the Wilson Bridge and it is part of Interstate 495, the highway that forms a circle around DC - also known as the Capital Beltway.  <i>Also </i>known as a driving nightmare.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CRejq4BSaBqKmz9pm9rzibQds-yaFA5NfeJqjrSNSbqkgffAHSNsO4LidRUtwe7HuDNu2rW6uO71wpQ8RB0LNJ-R0p4vQJGIF4NVl-Rrj8hN06pTyC0-Z-u6Y-lulBCj1ceY2_lm6Nk/s1600/us+sailing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CRejq4BSaBqKmz9pm9rzibQds-yaFA5NfeJqjrSNSbqkgffAHSNsO4LidRUtwe7HuDNu2rW6uO71wpQ8RB0LNJ-R0p4vQJGIF4NVl-Rrj8hN06pTyC0-Z-u6Y-lulBCj1ceY2_lm6Nk/s400/us+sailing+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Still, this was a great start to a fun-filled adventurous weekend :).  </div>

HJ Competition Miscellaneous Weight Loss 1st Weigh In with Joel

Joel and I had our first weigh in on Friday.  Here is how it panned out: Joel (6'): 230.2 Hilary (5'8"): 252.8   We both won t...

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It's Still Better

It seems like deja vu all over again, doesn't it?<br /><br />It's been happening for the past three years. We start without a loss, we beat Notre Dame and it's considered a "huge" win, Denard Robinson is viewed as the amazing quarterback athlete...and then we lose to Michigan State.<br /><br />We've been on this road before...or have we?<br /><br />There have been major changes to the team since Rich Rodriguez was fired. We have a defense that isn't constructed around a colander. We have an offensive line that has gotten bigger, albeit it's still difficult at times for them to keep the defense back. And we have a quarterback that is learning how to be a complete quarterback - when he's given the right plays.<br /><br />The biggest objection I have to the game against Michigan State was that Denard Robinson was given too many plays where he had to throw balls over 15 yards. He is still unsure about that, and when he's not consistent, he struggles mentally. When I attended the game against Minnesota, it was clear that Al Borges was trying to give Robinson's receivers short routes to run, so that he could gain some confidence in his throwing arm. Unfortunately, there weren't enough short routes open against the MSU defense. They may have picked up on that thought, or the wrong calls were played.<br /><br />I was happy to see that they kept it close at the end. If Robinson had not thrown that pick-six, the game might have ended with State winning by just a touchdown.<br /><br />If anything, this got the national media to stop putting Michigan on a pedestal that they didn't deserve. Did they deserve to be #11 in the nation? Really? Are there only ten teams better than Michigan? I highly doubt that. It puts Michigan back in its place: as a team that's rebuilding and finding its footholds again.<br /><br />But what does that say about the rest of the season? In 2008, they lost three out of four after MSU. In 2009, they lost six out of seven (the win was against Delaware State). In 2010, they lost four out of six. This year, we have Purdue, Iowa (away), Illinois (away), Nebraska, and Ohio State. Two of those games - Purdue and Iowa, are winnable (especially when you see Iowa lost to Penn State and didn't even score a touchdown). Even Nebraska, who has only played one ranked team all season and looked terrible against them (Wisconsin), is a game that can be won in Ann Arbor. Actually, if you look at Illinois and Ohio State's performances this season, there is a chance to win them all! We can't be discounted for any of these games. Even if I don't think we will, we hopefully won't win just one. <br /><br />This coming month is the true test for the Wolverines. September and early October were practice, as they always are. If Michigan wants to be true to the ranking that had been given them earlier in the season, they need to show their mettle against these Big Ten teams that do have weaknesses.<br /><br />I have all the confidence in this team's future games, and I do believe that this team is far better than the teams of the past three seasons.

It's Still Better

It seems like deja vu all over again, doesn't it? It's been happening for the past three years. We start without a loss, we beat Not...

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