News for today's 2018

Leadership Is Making Something Happen

3:20 PM Tukiyooo 0

Ron Heifetz in his book, Leadership On The Line, tells the story of Lois. She lived on a Native American reservation where nearly everyone over 12 drank alcohol. She started going to the meeting lodge every Tuesday night. She told her friends she was leading AA meetings. But when they peeked through the window, there was Lois sitting all by herself. When people challenged her about this she said, “I am not alone. The spirits and the ancestors are there with me. Someday our people will come.”<br /><br />Lois sat alone in that room for years. After three years, a few people joined her. After 10 years, the room was full. Leadership is doing what is needed -- not what is demanded.<br /><br />Two years ago, there were no Sunday Schools for children in Nixon, Bullhead City, Ely, or Elko. There were no Sunday Schools because there were no children. There were no children because there were no Sunday Schools. But determined leaders in each of these communities started Sunday Schools. The adult teachers sat in empty rooms and waited. Today, there are vibrant Sunday Schools in those four churches. The children are present and they have brought their parents.<br /><br />Who might need the grace of God? Who might need the love of Christ? What form might that grace need to take for someone?<br /><br />Nevada has the highest divorce rate in the nation. This is not just folks flying in for their divorce then flying back home. Our people get divorced a lot. Might there be Nevadans hurting from their divorces who might need the support of a group. There’s a ready template. <a href="http://www.divorcecare.org/">http://www.divorcecare.org/</a>. There’s a special version of it for the children. A church could extend that ministry to people regardless of where or whether they worship.<br /><br />Might the offering of periodic Recovery Masses or healing services mediate grace to someone with an addiction? Last year I asked all our churches to observe a Recovery Sunday each year. One initially said it would be too expensive. Another is waiting to figure out if any of their present members need such a thing. But many of our congregations have observed at least one Recovery Mass and they plan to do it again. At our recent priests conference several priests requested the resources to offer a Recovery Mass. We might someday become a church explicitly for people in recovery, a church whose commitment to being “inclusive” would intentionally include the addicted.<br /><br />Leadership is doing something new. It’s being out in front which necessarily means being alone at first. It’s risk taking because the new thing may fall flat. But it’s where the action is, where life happens.<br /><br />There are a few business management folks in our diocese who want us to announce a strategy. Maybe someday we can do that. But that strategy depends on what is in our people’s hearts. I am still waiting to learn that. For example it does no good for me to say, we ought to offer Divorce Care unless it is in someone’s heart to minister to people in this particular pain. What other needs are out there? Needs of the vulnerable elderly? Needs of abused children? What about the deaf? I I have been told (elsewhere) that “we don’t offer signing in our worship because we have no deaf people.” That’s like not offering Sunday School because we have no children.<br /><br />I don’t know a fraction of the needs that surround the church. All I know is what the church needs. We need leaders with the imagination, the compassion, the courage, and the initiative to make something happen. If our hearts are open, the Spirit will move us to right action.

Leadership Is Making Something Happen

Ron Heifetz in his book, Leadership On The Line, tells the story of Lois. She lived on a Native American reservation where nearly everyone o...

Happy in Seattle...sort of

8:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

Maybe "happy" is an exaggeration, but at least I'm not heartsick. Well, not totally anyway.<br /><br />My heartsick post stemmed from me losing my two best buddies at work, both in the same week. Next week they're both moving to different teams. They'll still be on the same floor, and they'll still be my friends, but it will be different. Right now I know these two guys always have my back. I won't have that anymore.<br /><br />Life goes on and since there's really nothing I can do about this situation, I have to get over it. I'm trying my best to stay positive, but it hasn't been easy. In my almost 28 years with my company, I've worked in several different areas and different cities. I've always had at least one and often two or three "best" friends at work. You know the kind of people I'm talking about. The kind where you can vent, and that you can trust 100%. The people that make you laugh when you feel like crying because you're so stressed out on your job. The people that are always there for you. Well, that's gone now. Even as I type this I feel the tears starting again (dammit anyway!). <br /><br />Of course there will be new people, but I have this really strange feeling that it won't be the same. In fact, I'm positive it won't be the same. There are reasons I can't discuss here, but I know the new folks won't be my best friends, and they won't have my back. Oh well, that's life, right? It's painful to accept, but like I said, it's just the way things roll. It can't be "fixed". <br /><br /><b>Moving on to the issue at hand</b><br />My biggest problem right now (outside of me boohooing about my work situation), is my weight. Another dammit anyway topic. I didn't weigh this morning, but yesterday I was 187.8. Ouch! This is totally <u>not </u>where I want to be, and I don't know how to stop this roller coaster I'm on.<br /><br />I'm not eating junk, I'm just continuing with eating too much of the healthy foods. It's all healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked or broiled chicken breasts and fish or shrimp, whole grain bread, Fage 0% yogurt, 2% cheese in very limited quantities (28 grams a day). That's pretty much all I eat, but I EAT TOO MUCH.<br /><br />Every day starts out great. A great workout at the gym (almost every day, at least I'm still doing this right). A great breakfast, a great lunch, an afternoon snack, usually yogurt and fruit. Even dinner is usually healthy and a small portion. But I'm back to eating at night, late night.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure this recent stint of night eating is because when I try to sleep I think about work. I can feel myself start to get upset and not wanting to think about it, but I can't shut my brain off. I wind up getting out of bed and grazing, and my grazing usually racks up about 500 calories or more. Last night it was three slices of Dave's Killer bread at 110 calories each (I need to stop buying this stuff because it too good), two bananas  and a cup of 1% milk, then later a giant bowl of fresh strawberries (the best strawberries ever). That's probably about 700 calories that was over my normal approximately 1500 calories. And I had the wise idea to skip the gym yesterday morning. <br /><br />I really don't know how to get a grip on this out of control eating. I'm not eating junk, but I am eating way too much food. It's making me crazy that I feel so lost and out of control.<br /><br />I guess "happy in Seattle" should probably have been titled "hopeless in Seattle".

Happy in Seattle...sort of

Maybe "happy" is an exaggeration, but at least I'm not heartsick. Well, not totally anyway. My heartsick post stemmed from me ...

Busy Bee!

5:28 AM Tukiyooo 0

Since last Wednesday, and continuing for the next 5 weeks, my life is going to be a little hectic.  Please bare with me as the posts will most likely be few and far between for a few weeks :(.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ-JjoYJxKc3ibl-ZDcGJlx4W1UmMoF53UZ6A3JusIf76MqRzx1oJMbs42iGQcxGKeepcHmyO3g5RAdvPBEIVrHh8PAZ3h-yjC7lacKc1LW3YDbk36KPn_TcWbVrahpqPl5bLBcdCLosO/s400/busy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ-JjoYJxKc3ibl-ZDcGJlx4W1UmMoF53UZ6A3JusIf76MqRzx1oJMbs42iGQcxGKeepcHmyO3g5RAdvPBEIVrHh8PAZ3h-yjC7lacKc1LW3YDbk36KPn_TcWbVrahpqPl5bLBcdCLosO/s320/busy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>For starters, I spent 2 full days last week searching for a place to live.  I wanted to move before summer got started so we can enjoy the summer in a new location.  As much as I did NOT want to move back to Virginia (toooooooo many people for this country girl!), it is going to happen afterall.  The places I like to live in Maryland involve a long commute (try 1 hour, 40 minutes during rush hour at night!) and I simply could not do that to myself again.  Joel and I searched high and low for a place in the part of Maryland we live in now (about an hour door-to-door), but it's more single-family home focused (i.e. no apartments at all) and so it just did not work out for us.  We checked out a 2 bedroom condo in Virginia and we decided it was going to be the best move for us, even though we're going going, back back to V-A V-A.  So with that said, a move is going to take place mid-June, and fortunately this time I only have to pack a bedroom's worth of stuff instead of an entire apartment - the rest is already sweetly packed sitting in a storage unit.  Oh and by the way, this will be move number 11 since 2002.  Kill. Me. Now.<br /><br />So what else is happening that will consume my life for the next 5 weeks? Well, I'm in school for the second time in my life, pursuing a completely different degree than the first go around from the beloved <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Blue & White</a> (Bachelor of Science: Management Information Systems).  This time I'm studying nursing, and for this 6 week long summer <i>adventure </i>I'm learning about anatomy and physiology.  And it has already taken over my life way more than I wanted it to.  <br /><br />So that's my explanation as to why I may be in and out over the next few weeks - I did not want you to think that I have fell of the Weight Watcher Wagon!  Still, I have two 5K's to blog about as well as last week's results for the HilJoe Competition, and some other little things here and there.  Stay tuned!!

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Busy Bee!

Since last Wednesday, and continuing for the next 5 weeks, my life is going to be a little hectic. Please bare with me as the posts will mo...

"Errol Flynn Adventures" - DVD Boxed Set Giveaway and More...

7:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMfV8NdzmM1hfbKHp_pDIidNuqJ9RBPid65xKKFnHqZPVRlOwEheNUDsO9Nm9KlD2G384bztYVQkOB9H9agqb7y101cvtECy4uPYkQQc51hIE1_4FFSNr26fr7_L7mQAds_LDsn43T8SJ/s1600/l_1672476%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMfV8NdzmM1hfbKHp_pDIidNuqJ9RBPid65xKKFnHqZPVRlOwEheNUDsO9Nm9KlD2G384bztYVQkOB9H9agqb7y101cvtECy4uPYkQQc51hIE1_4FFSNr26fr7_L7mQAds_LDsn43T8SJ/s400/l_1672476%255B1%255D.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Memorial Day weekend is just a few days away and in commemoration of this special holiday, The Lady Eve's Reel Life is giving away a copy of the DVD boxed set <i>Errol Flynn Adventures</i> from TCM Spotlight/Warner Home Video.<i> </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A collection of five World War II actioners, the set includes Flynn’s own favorite of his films, <i>Objective Burma! </i>(1945), directed by Raoul Walsh. Three more Walsh/Flynn collaborations are included in the set<i>: Desperate Journey</i> (1942),<i> Northern Pursuit</i> (1943<i>)</i> and<i> Uncertain Glory</i> (1944), along with Lewis Milestone’s <i>Edge of Darkness</i> (1943). </span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAv4R4S9k5thpRT2wl4QjLbLOiLkJNKEM4FB8Mzc_RqzqjPBHu3y4vYdB6tDMEKCxtiTLQ2YUjaQHTIAOXO-1zFVVIbhcLiQC39-rVtupP82xwB1NxEfDlovxLkle5hXm5rdMedQF6igd/s1600/Objective_Burma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAv4R4S9k5thpRT2wl4QjLbLOiLkJNKEM4FB8Mzc_RqzqjPBHu3y4vYdB6tDMEKCxtiTLQ2YUjaQHTIAOXO-1zFVVIbhcLiQC39-rVtupP82xwB1NxEfDlovxLkle5hXm5rdMedQF6igd/s200/Objective_Burma.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Objective Burma!</i> (1945)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Extras were carefully chosen to accompany each film, “like the pre-show at the neighborhood Bijou,” as the packaging puts it, with “newsreels, trailers and short subjects…each selection from the film’s release year.”</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To enter, send an e-mail with “Flynn Adventures” in the subject line to <a href="mailto:ladyevesidwich@gmail.com"><span style="color: #0b5394;">ladyevesidwich@gmail.com</span></a>. Include your name, address and e-mail. Entries must be received by Noon PDT on Monday, May 30, 2011.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>UPDATE:  A winner was selected in a random drawing at  Noon PDT on May 30. Congratulations to "Captain Gregg," a member of TCM's Classic Film Union who learned of the giveaway through that site. Thanks to all who participated, I hope to do more contests like this one in the future.</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This boxed set retails for $39.99 on Amazon and has a 4 ½ star rating from the site’s customers. From Amazon’s editorial review: “Unlike so many boxed-set tributes to actors, this one's actually got a tight, logical theme: <i>Errol Flynn Adventures</i> offers five World War II pictures made at Warner Bros. during Flynn's reign as a top leading man. Four of the films were directed by one of Flynn's favored collaborators, the robust Raoul Walsh, and all of them have an urgent wartime commitment that puts them in a zone between entertainment and propaganda.” For a full review of this boxed set by CMBA member Classic Becky, <a href="http://classicbeckybrainfood.blogspot.com/2010/08/errol-flynn-adventures-new-warner-home.html"><span style="color: #990000;">click here</span></a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This boxed set is an unopened review copy provided by Warner Home Video, and The Lady Eve’s Reel Life is not responsible for any defects or other product or packaging glitches.</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Errol Flynn was born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1909. His father was a biologist and professor and his mother was descended from a long line of seafarers who claimed an ancestor who served on the <i>HMS Bounty</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z7EXzbCB1Ybz9QbqENmeHgnH6WRjTqRSxKoSm6RlNKCtx-ZNZLMMEzjXTOteSclZkRcZJCdzwmCf-Ptzo3dQz8y2QC2diNfrbw9SUtWNImYFddANacnPgobyrXc0MY_A39YT7iXddiYS/s1600/errol+1923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z7EXzbCB1Ybz9QbqENmeHgnH6WRjTqRSxKoSm6RlNKCtx-ZNZLMMEzjXTOteSclZkRcZJCdzwmCf-Ptzo3dQz8y2QC2diNfrbw9SUtWNImYFddANacnPgobyrXc0MY_A39YT7iXddiYS/s200/errol+1923.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Errol Flynn, circa 1923</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Always a handful (a handsome, athletic handful), young Errol set off to seek his fortune in New Guinea in the late 1920s. His exploits there are open to debate due to his habit of embellishing his adventures, but it’s generally agreed that Flynn found various ways to make a living, from government service to slave trading. One of these many endeavors led to his life as a film star.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The story goes that in the early '30s filmmakers employed by the Australian government ventured to New Guinea to make a record of the territory. Flynn agreed to take them through uncharted waters on his boat. As the skipper of the vessel, he was often on camera. A while later Flynn received a telegram from Australian producer Charles Chauvel who offered him </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">£</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">50 plus expenses to travel to Tahiti and star in a film. It was a friend of Chauvel's who'd shot the government footage and word had gotten around that the "pilot" of the expeditionary boat had star potential. Flynn took the opportunity and starred as Fletcher Christian in <i>In the Wake of the Bounty </i>(1933). He was billed as Leslie Flynn.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A few adventures later Flynn arrived in London in pursuit of an acting career. It didn't take too much time but it took a lot of bravado for him to land the lead in Teddington Studio's production of <i>Murder at Monte Carlo </i>(1935) directed by Ralph Ince (younger brother of Hollywood pioneer Thomas and actor/director John). His performance prompted the head of the studio to cable Jack Warner: "WE HAVE HELL OF PERSONALITY HERE SUGGEST SIGN HIM FOR HOLLYWOOD FILM." Warner responded, "AGREE YOUR SUGGESTION."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk33uA5GBx84b6frWJ5RT8FxuoDBzPBnmvB_6Vw0U-80JoMrHc2VPBWpQ5WPap3SM813H9Dx8KXkqEHm947P-5_OPX3nQhnrLc0_oHzHU95gl7rVmoETnLSRcJ-WORvATT_ASXTXvm_pxD/s1600/sea+hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk33uA5GBx84b6frWJ5RT8FxuoDBzPBnmvB_6Vw0U-80JoMrHc2VPBWpQ5WPap3SM813H9Dx8KXkqEHm947P-5_OPX3nQhnrLc0_oHzHU95gl7rVmoETnLSRcJ-WORvATT_ASXTXvm_pxD/s320/sea+hawk.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Swashbuckling!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Flynn's first appearance in an American film was as a cadaver in <i>The Case of the Curious Bride</i> (1935). In his next film, <i>Don't Bet on Blondes </i>(1935), he had a speaking part. His third film and a starring role came about because Robert Donat dropped out. The movie was <i>Captain Blood </i>(1935) and it made Errol Flynn a star. His stardom grew with <i>The Charge of the Light Brigade </i>(1936), <i>The Adventures of Robin Hood </i>(1938), <i>The Dawn Patrol </i>(1938), <i>Dodge City </i>(1939), <i>The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex</i> (1939), <i>The Sea Hawk </i>(1941) and several other box office hits. Classified 4F and unable to serve in the war (a status Warner Bros. did not publicize), Flynn was cast in a series of World War II films - highlighted by <i>Objective Burma! </i>(1945). He delivered one of his finest performances cast against type in <i>That Forsyte Woman </i>(1948).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A high-profile movie star, Flynn's reputation as an epic womanizer, drinker and brawler was well-known and well-earned. His career waned and he aged rapidly in the 1950s, but he continued to work until the time of his death. His last major studio effort was John Huston's adaptation of Romain Gary's <i>The Roots of Heaven </i>(1958). His very last film, <i>Cuban Rebel Girls </i>(1959), co-starred his 17-year-old girlfriend, Beverly Aadland.</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Flynn died in 1959 at age 50. He left behind a widow, two ex-wives and four children. Sean Flynn was born in 1941 to Errol Flynn and his first wife, actress Lily Damita. Sean, who</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> resembled his father, had a brief movie career during the early 1960s.  By the mid-60s he'd become a freelance photojournalist and went on to cover the Arab-Israeli war and the war in Vietnam. He disappeared in Cambodia in 1970 with photojournalist Dana Stone, on assignment for CBS News and <i>Time </i>magazine. The two are presumed dead. Sean Flynn would have celebrated his 70th birthday this May 31.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGcbuyYz3kadEiX8cY22Tv-p7bATFIOu2PHSzwihxN3OXhLhyRXQXplyza8xf-0MCNFYDiUQtYqg5fUe8bW9egDxvc2CGxcTgua5RzbIPcfPtl6vCxsNIPiRCYoiWN9QFiypgUMyrUERE/s1600/sean+and+errol+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGcbuyYz3kadEiX8cY22Tv-p7bATFIOu2PHSzwihxN3OXhLhyRXQXplyza8xf-0MCNFYDiUQtYqg5fUe8bW9egDxvc2CGxcTgua5RzbIPcfPtl6vCxsNIPiRCYoiWN9QFiypgUMyrUERE/s200/sean+and+errol+3.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Errol and Sean Flynn</span></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEinSJtTFa-zhX78cKLbYWuL243Pzz0DB3m19t-6Li1JWtGGR_SetUAtVssR_MjlVSTbi2EpkLlNshf-a0-Pa5QwP0c3ydQ90mCehuuweAmlBpIRw9S3yy_A3XEf9MkkixUBviXExqjcEdsL/s1600/sean+flynn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSJtTFa-zhX78cKLbYWuL243Pzz0DB3m19t-6Li1JWtGGR_SetUAtVssR_MjlVSTbi2EpkLlNshf-a0-Pa5QwP0c3ydQ90mCehuuweAmlBpIRw9S3yy_A3XEf9MkkixUBviXExqjcEdsL/s1600/sean+flynn.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sean Flynn</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div>

Memorial Day weekend is just a few days away and in commemoration of this special holiday, The Lady Eve's Reel Life is giving away a cop...

Bow Holder

8:29 PM Tukiyooo 0

<p>I’ve seen so many cute ways to store & organize all those fun bows that come with little girls! Instead of spending $$, I decided to make my own!</p> <p>I started with this beauty! <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12aJ5ZJClYZoyX_XA7BdPaVMCvG97DsVlqEWZ4ixD1ec5BYQGzfew_XHvJAP2xiWxfYgrmfFNhkx7kna7v-x2MZMkTdO0KWkMMbcoWA8Lr2WK8lj-C_9Nl0rts8j_HBm5rPvRvczZRy00/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpUqOsiUT9lwMeYqNxmjq8kiUc51VxWX_RRA_b7Q2mGGB3po4gKdyHmM9gXdC-JO5yZZAimA-qiIJ_SQkzbvyj3wwuYk89ab_Cjh9Vje1wBFn03ZanqDsQoQZv6464O3U3GUkNaKfytoZ/s1600-h/DSC09893%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09893" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDhuBKwIzMbwERp7qhwnYd7C7FGdZdqAqxUDQd6jtSKdIrvmuFMGPtcLKGv6Flvzmm_W8NUoWzcV7cskH32XAgD4Y00lx0eD7il3HM3IY5_MmwQKJv1lYS-5iJ65VOHLMrUZvLkVNwubK/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09893" width="404"></a></p> <p>I removed the glass & picture. I think I got it at an auction for less than $2 last summer. Then spray painted the frame white. </p> <p>I picked out some paper for the background. And used mod podge to “seal” it to the backing.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59JHiM_sEuZIeytgHS224mWIdIl2xfEecBVKPcuB-663jpJQ4fwti43KRYFMGOLJGoqSdW6tGImwrRB8msgYkK_chU6S6SnmrwuiOu1M0Op0lNJmuXlpikPKHqXoM8rWfEnJY47ySAPTR/s1600-h/DSC09896%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09896" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjoU9r4pLyAqJr4YM8Mz-jhsGc8Z97-ynG2CU1U5RMsAkgFJLDjQrC0S4fCxCh_Kz4AcZRxsdlosv05sUgfT-hKNWIAFVi22FfjGM_j_3bPhcBZx_OaywumXU6sVrkutfKwnl78CkyfF5/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09896" width="404"></a></p> <p>Next I cut & measured some chicken wire (thanks to my Mom!), just a few inches wider than the backing. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFHr_rwLkMJreoXl_Pq0XreGdnmtgOhDN3w4ovg6b4JSdZqb9bNdn2l90tjJGOd1M4KAAMvEbAWTwSOAXwoo7arjBe6N9O-N1iP_2R_EnOdVMy-rzfMWYImzLbd83WJLWs7sTTgYqjfLW/s1600-h/DSC09897%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09897" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwMID-ZLXEKfRXdLxpdchGKpll0ndPOuuPMPe2u7xtS8BXtAQc92HtauOu5DnqFnNdquqX-HInOm85V9f00yIjk7GCGSAXz7tAb_kTYH6pXaSsox4u9WuaqVYwv8ajsyo1vD_P1uwovKr/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09897" width="404"></a></p> <p>Once the mod podge was dry I added some ribbon through the frame to use as a hanger. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlk2iP0qUDfkgnGDncBQl9MYD6Q8O807kDbBhKjn6es5NWQu1qTkkTapQbj6N_EDs1scA8iLAXXMNZiN2a-r7srdHBlti0mICXONXq7ox5t8V8PnasTd4VprOuI5LNBZY1MQQHrx5mzxd/s1600-h/DSC09898%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09898" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2WjrLh7qqfSsMHL9jMUmwg1HLchU60aUBuFMCHRak2K18ShKUjMRIrRoLzcn00MnRdM5ey0f_mgIMb84DhX_CjovJvrZ0z-seLa-SKsL0_tSE1KjmU_LKwK8QmjYOV8N_nBgWgK5zkfF/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09898" width="404"></a></p> <p>Next I folded the chicken wire around my piece of backing. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQ5xf294dQI81sIwHLqSg-gQZCADE5CeKp0VtltxVagHthR4_Of_HP3H8nJSOTQjxe6N5-W_-8Lm4nJmQZ0At1T8I32FJV2KFb4Z2TX8NN7-P0KKXxuI48SuUpCNNFKlzskoyLeEn1uGe/s1600-h/DSC09899%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09899" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQK3vKHas3QIK5zoLq-tUAZFlgx0qMasY26w-OWQ6-tPwl7J0J_kkZboVYFkytRPMX9ITA2TUW8V5Ju_zA3N9IL1tjRXbacIfj0rWliXWU06WogNBggpcV756RZ5xyn_CtbIY-WTdxYqbx/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09899" width="404"></a></p> <p>Lastly I used some duct tape to cover the sharp edges of the chicken wire (to protect the wall). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVJ-tcUE-t1ULx36tpeNOtGem7y7SByXRkDaz26XQE5YgYJqQlo8QopdRIw5C8FfV_6h4PcndLGIjVreoVmVc_vD9-XjtgOmWH1Blie62ua2kwe7EhS0lGwSVSXAtMFHivaEkrnVErhyphenhyphenP/s1600-h/DSC09900%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09900" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C_L-ztuMqFZ0ffCeJYIYuLWC5FtWECWfeLy_TXYJPG6zUp5DzG5JykNnyrBt7YND1SXMSI9gjhCAvlREDplLvov_FWQ1GV0Q9b9QSlpIP3zpQ0vTHxVEH8bvvf6gM-YJWhBxqybLVjqm/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09900" width="404"></a></p> <p>Lastly I inserted the backing into the frame and….</p> <p>Finally, hung it in Baby Bangert’s room!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN6k25rmhRaNhz6_YUzXBnsaNHimPWB2tChf-z9lxLU-lBGikQ7hezBCMHfxyTrO8i_sVsPTtGtB5nbhWild8GD6kEe7dIkv2jkwegvV5UUPISgJAklxMpEbZkv78Qtd2FpghjF551s_q/s1600-h/DSC09901%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09901" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2DVy3ezn-hE24fhhLSrlw9on77SCwUbQ8eB064qVoBEfqB5HKLMn_XRGW0M-Xd1Y9c-KsXFkdird6YwLqnCpVYVU_oSD_YfVzAur8XL66Q4sVICjssOGw06J9pA1ssRWia2jzlXeEinW/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09901" width="354"></a><br>Can’t forget the most important part…add bows & flowers!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw-BARFLuMW06i9-pu988DstpVzFJ1Gq_MlKZk_E3PXCj7q4zOOEbY-kfDDhnZ7AO0REMYT5UzAHznHWXZoJCsnD3Z-MopUyF6Okst26-tr7wAkDGEcqbE3lemOvnFkWxw3hIPmx7X2fh/s1600-h/DSC09902%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09902" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiZvnTQlu7xsWX7s8qindkQsZpJw9WkCyRv2LUaoUwBIEi8kYMgfD78_oauiUaoWOT3scW4pyXChrO0aafi7z15FIX2h4pi3RsKkKIble-tsQiLHnOVvoRBZTbflL2gbsdr0-f4qiBT9R/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09902" width="404"></a></p> <p>I’m sure this cheap, simple project will be very useful over the next few years for our little girl!!</p>

Bow Holder

I’ve seen so many cute ways to store & organize all those fun bows that come with little girls! Instead of spending $$, I decided to mak...

10 must-do tips for job seekers

6:45 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/pg/ar5f4ql6l37b39zshjpg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/pg/ar5f4ql6l37b39zshjpg.gif" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Alina Dizik, special to Careerbuilder</span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine"><br /></span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As a job seeker, finding the right position can often be a frustrating experience. But there are ways to make your search a little bit easier.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here are 10 tips from career experts to simplify your job search:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">1. Learn how to get past the generic HR inbox</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Typically e-mailing your résumé <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/human+resources/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">human resources</a> or filling out an online application means it will get short shrift once opened on the other end. Most of the time it's being pre-screened by a software program for keywords that correspond with the job requirements. "People need to understand what an applicant tracking system is, what it looks for and how to maximize the odds that your résumé will pass through the [system], and move on to human eyeballs," explains Jenny Foss, a career expert who blogs at jobjenny.com.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">2. Don't stress over the résumé</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you have a limited amount of time don't spend it all at your computer crafting a cover letter or preparing your résumé. "Cover letters and résumés come a distant third or fourth [as the most important part of] your job search -- never rely solely on them," says Rich Gee, an <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/executive/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">executive</a> coach. Instead, Gee suggests using the time to make connections at your dream company even if there are no openings. "[Target] a company because you would kill to work there -- not because it has open positions," he says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3. Create a job search game plan</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Just because you're looking for a job doesn't mean you need to apply to every position that comes your way. Instead, take the time to think through a specific plan for how you're going to land your next gig, Foss suggests. "Create an overall strategy, and then break it down into tactical efforts. Schedule your week, your days, your hours and know what you are going to do every day, before you get in front of the computer and surf aimlessly for eight hours," she says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">4. Conduct research before each interview</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Even if you've had a dozen interviews in the past three months doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare for the next one. Always take the time to understand the company -- beyond just looking at the website. Also, meet with people who have held similar roles or work at the firm. Knowing about the firm and the position can help you be less stressed during the interview.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5. Accept tea or water</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ward off nervousness by using this interview trick: "At the beginning of the interview, if the interviewer asks if you want water, tea, etc., always say yes," explains Alesia Benedict, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/chief+executive/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">chief executive</a> of GetInterviews.com. "It serves as a great prop if you need to stall a moment and gather your thoughts before responding to a question." Use it when the interviewer presents tricky questions that you'd like to take a few seconds to think about.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">6. Pay attention to the details</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Anything from misspelling the interviewer's name in a post-interview thank you note, to coming in a few minutes late for an interview can cost you a job. To avoid mishaps, be sure to give extra attention to all of your dealings with potential employers.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">7. Tap into your alumni network</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With many universities having well-maintained alumni networks, contact your alumni club for an up-to-date directory. Use the directory to find people who can help you land your next job. Many of them are eager to help fellow alums because of loyalty to the school.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8. Keep e-mails formal</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Even if you're simply confirming the meeting time to your interview, it's important to put your best foot forward, Benedict says. Skip terms written in shorthand like "thanx" or "2morrow" which come off as unprofessional. "Your e-mail messages should be as clean and polished as a cover letter would be," she says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">9. Include a zip code on your résumé</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you're looking for a job in your area, it's a good idea to leave your zip code in your address (even if it doesn't seem necessary at the time). "Recruiters often give preference to candidates who are local and will do a search on zip codes in the résumé databases to find candidates," Benedict says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10. Be truthful</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It can be temping to appear like you have far more expertise, especially if you're just starting out, but exaggerating your experience will likely backfire. Employers are looking for trustworthy individuals and are unlikely to hire someone who they have a hunch isn't being totally truthful.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Alina Dizik researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.</i></div>

10 must-do tips for job seekers

Alina Dizik, special to Careerbuilder As a job seeker, finding the right position can often be a frustrating experience. But there are ways ...

Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide from the US Fish & Wildlife Service

1:43 PM Tukiyooo 0

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recently revised their <a href="http://www.fws.gov/cno/pdf/HabitatGuideColor.pdf">Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide</a><br /><br />The Schoolyard Habitat Program helps teachers and students create wildlife habitat at their own schools. Typical projects include: wetlands, meadows, forests and variations based on specific ecoregions. <br /><br /><br />Many projects are planned through multiple phases and change over time as children from various classes build upon the existing work of past students. <br /><br />This 132 page guide provides a comprehensive resource to support new and existing habitat improvement projects.  The guide includes information on the following topics:<br /><ol><li>Forming a Team</li><li>Developing a Master Plan for your site</li><li>Assessing the Project Site</li><li>Designing Your Project</li><li>Deciding Money Matters</li><li>Project Installation Tips</li><li>Developing a Maintenance Plan</li><li>Using the Site</li><li>Sharing Your Story</li><li>Includes Appendices on Specific Habitat Types, Equipment, Choosing Plants, Soil Testing, and more!</li></ol>You can download the entire guide from their <a href="http://www.fws.gov/cno/conservation/schoolyard.cfm">website</a>.  <br /><br />You can also check out the Ohio Division of Wildlife's WILD School Site program on our <a href="http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/wild_resourcessubhomepage/Educator_Resources/Wild_Schoolsplaceholder/resourceswildschoolsdefault/tabid/5821/Default.aspx">website</a>.  We offer grants, consultations, workshops and a certification program for Ohio schools.<br /><br />Happy Planting!

Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide from the US Fish & Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recently revised their Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide The Schoolyard Habitat Program helps teachers...

The 16th Annual Civista Run/Walk for Wellness 5K

8:48 AM Tukiyooo 0

On Saturday, May 16 I participated in the 16th Annual Civista Run/Walk for Wellness 5K.  Civista is one of the local hospitals around here.  <br /><br />I planned to walk this entire 5K again because of the back pain I've been experiencing.  However, once the race started and the adrenaline started pumping, I had to take off!  I jogged and walked off and on throughout the entire race.    <br /><br />I was happy that the organizers of this race chose a different route through the town than I was previously used to doing.  The <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/05/march-of-dimes-march-for-babies-5k.html">March of Dimes walk</a> and the Charles County Walk for the Homeless that I did 2 years ago used the same route.  Admittedly, it gets boring doing the same route and knowing what to expect.  Even though I jogged at various points during the race, my back never really bothered me and I was <i>so </i>happy about that.  I hope this back issue starts to dissipate because I haven't been pushing myself at the gym for fear of injuring myself further. <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/AVvXsEhTuUFgYDUIQIpjQaCqGrfVF2rpLpAQNL9KOwnEC5t2m9MVtjlJeioVQRlDnW64lcmrmjWoY2OW3AN__UWTcwkOQx5bCB8n7z8K2FpzKcgWa2qdB3yd5p6CdL14HCHpyI9jgPl69EZYwH0/s1600/May+2011+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuUFgYDUIQIpjQaCqGrfVF2rpLpAQNL9KOwnEC5t2m9MVtjlJeioVQRlDnW64lcmrmjWoY2OW3AN__UWTcwkOQx5bCB8n7z8K2FpzKcgWa2qdB3yd5p6CdL14HCHpyI9jgPl69EZYwH0/s320/May+2011+032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crossing the finish line!</td></tr></tbody></table> I was also pleasantly surprised to find Joel waiting at the finish line!  I've been doing all these 5K's alone.  It sucks, especially whenever you see other groups of people clustered together before/after the race.  It's awkward just standing around by yourself.  That's why it was so nice to finish and see a familiar face, especially Joel's :).<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/AVvXsEhSgtgtuoOT08xYGlB8y_3PerG52OGlmca3FhgxGaREXGSoHcvLNjiRNSuaj6KpoZjZpxf6fEXDX4DCdzfZSpvwXJmUJSDaKPEVgNUkmJUqTAgtDoXM6ZWuzPfuBCMX7rZE1_z5Xqqay5Y/s1600/May+2011+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgtgtuoOT08xYGlB8y_3PerG52OGlmca3FhgxGaREXGSoHcvLNjiRNSuaj6KpoZjZpxf6fEXDX4DCdzfZSpvwXJmUJSDaKPEVgNUkmJUqTAgtDoXM6ZWuzPfuBCMX7rZE1_z5Xqqay5Y/s320/May+2011+036.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very sweaty and hungry.</td></tr></tbody></table>I've done four 5K's so far and I would do them all again next year if the opportunity arises!  I have three left as of right now and don't plan to do anymore until I move and class is over.  This weekend is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides 5K (Saturday) and the Weight Watcher's Walk-it Challenge 5K on Sunday.

5K The 16th Annual Civista Run/Walk for Wellness 5K

On Saturday, May 16 I participated in the 16th Annual Civista Run/Walk for Wellness 5K. Civista is one of the local hospitals around here. ...

Heartsick in Seattle

10:46 PM Tukiyooo 0

Yes, that would be me. I found out today that my other best friend at work is leaving my team. I knew he'd applied for a different job, and although I wished him the best, I secretly hoped he wouldn't go.<br /><br />This is the second person to leave my team in one week, and they're my two best friends on the team. A year ago my absolute best friend on my team left the company. Now in one week I've lost my other two best friends at work. <br /><br />These guys are more than just coworkers. They're actually friends. They help me with problems, they were my go-to people when I wanted a second opinion, and I felt like I was the same for them. They made me laugh even during the most difficult situations. I sort of feel like I'm getting divorced or something. <br /><br />I feel really, really sad. Heartsick as <a href="http://hopefulandfree.wordpress.com/">Hopeful and Free</a> would say. I know life goes on, but it's not going to be the same. I like the other people on my team. They're all nice people, but I just don't have the same type of relationship with them that I had with these guys. <br /><br />For even more misery, I've spent the last two days sitting in on peer interviews. There's not much I hate about my job, except this one thing...interviews. I detest sitting in on interviews. <br /><br />I skipped the gym this morning. I've gone the past four days, but this morning I just couldn't do it. I walked at lunch, a very brisk walk (which resulted in a blister because of rock in my shoe that I couldn't find...I think it was in my sock). By the time I was back at the office I was a sweaty mess.<br /><br />When I got home my husband had picked up fried chicken from the deli (why?!). I ate two pieces, and no vegetables. Now I feel sort of nauseous, and very, very sad.<br /><br />Not my best day.

Heartsick in Seattle

Yes, that would be me. I found out today that my other best friend at work is leaving my team. I knew he'd applied for a different job, ...

Note To Self..

11:32 AM Tukiyooo 0

Do NOT overeat raspberries.<br /><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="http://michaelkhong.com/whatsinseason/graphics/raspberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://michaelkhong.com/whatsinseason/graphics/raspberries.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://michaelkhong.com/whatsinseason/fruit/summer/raspberries.html">Courtesy</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I've overeaten A LOT of things.  Many of those things, like chocolate, have done numbers on my intestinal tract - need I say more??  I think you get the idea ;).  Still, it was no surprise to me.  It is junk food after all (in most cases) and it never came a shock to me when my stomach started rumbling.<br /><br />Never have I <i>ever </i>overeaten fruit, or vegetables for that matter.  I think I'd be kind of proud if I said "Yeah I ate 2 full bags of broccoli florets for dinner".  Nevertheless, I ate a <b>ton </b>of raspberries yesterday.  Ok, not a ton, but I'd estimate about 3 cups worth.  I wasn't planning on it - it just happened.  They were so good!  Plus I figured - they're 0 Points+ and they're fruits - they're supposed to be good for me!  It wasn't long after the consumption that my stomach started to hurt..... BAD.  I assimilate the feeling to when I've taken Vicodin post-surgery - almost a burning sensation rising from the pit of my stomach to somewhere in my chest area.  And I don't mean heartburn either! <br /><br />It was awful and it lasted for several hours, and there were repercussions even 24 hours later.  Blah!  I guess overeating <i>anything </i>is never a good idea!

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Note To Self..

Do NOT overeat raspberries. Courtesy . I've overeaten A LOT of things. Many of those things, like chocolate, have done numbers on my in...

Willl The Episcopal Church Survive? God Knows.

9:48 AM Tukiyooo 0

Will the Episcopal Church survive? God knows.<br /><br />The allusion is to Ezekiel: “’Son of Man, can these bones live?’ ‘O Lord, thou knowest.” Ezekiel 37: 1-14. Life and death are God’s business. So is the future.<br /><br />But some of our folks have been reading that if the Episcopal Church continues to lose members at the same rate we did in the past 7 years, we won’t last past 2060. Numbers and trends can be made to say all sorts of things, especially if you skip the facts of the story.<br /><br />We have not been losing members randomly or through being boring or spiritually irrelevant. In fact, up until 2003, we were the only mainline denomination that was growing. In the past 7 years or so we have gone through a major controversy over gay inclusion. We did the right thing, in my view. We were true to an honest reading of Scripture and we acted faithfully on our theology. We were true to our beliefs. But it cost us the attempted secession of the Dioceses of San Joaquin, Ft. Worth, Pittsburgh, and Quincy. It led to the loss of congregations in dioceses that remained in the church, and the loss of members from congregations that stayed in their dioceses. Statistically, it was not a tsunami but it did make a notable dent in our membership for the past 7 years.<br /><br />That controversy may not be completely over. But it has certainly lost a lot of steam. Much of American culture seems to have gone our way, and other mainline denominations are reaching similar conclusions to the ones we have reached. Even internationally, more and more of us are agreeing to disagree and get on with serving Christ.<br /><br />As for the future and the doomsday predictions based on “current trends,” we would have to come up with a series of new controversies as divisive as the one of the past 7 years to keep up that rate of schism and chaos. I’m not sure we are that creative. Besides, new controversies don’t seem to be what we are doing these days. We are more interested in moving on beyond the old liberal-conservative point and counterpoint. We are settling down to the business of being the Church in the 21st Century. Everyone from Alban Institute to the Evangelism and Congregational Development folks are teaching how to close the door on old fights and live into a newly invigorated mission. See for example “Changing the Conversation” in Alban Weekly for May 16, 20111, <a href="mailto:weekly@alban.org">weekly@alban.org</a>. The controversies of this decade have been hard, but they have brought us to a deeper understanding of the faith and a deeper appreciation of each other – those of us who are still together in this battle scarred old Church.<br /><br />So what does the future hold for the Episcopal Church? God knows. I only know what I see here today in Nevada. I see children’s Sunday Schools in Ely, Elko, and Nixon where there were no children just three years ago. I see young adults at numerous congregations where there were no young adults three years ago. I see active campus ministries in Reno and Elko. We had churches packed for Easter this year that had not been full for years. Epiphany, one of our newest and demographically youngest congregations, is looking for a larger building because they are regularly over crowded. The Grace in the Desert juggernaut of growth goes on.<br /><br />I see more and better parish web sites and Face Book pages. I hear our ministries recognized on NPR. Billboards are going up outside Ely and Fallon. Our Latino ministries happen in existing churches so we don’t count them as new parishes. But if you consider a worshiping community as a congregation, then we have seven brand new congregations all growing rapidly. We are offering small church music workshops and initiating a program of emergent ministries for miners and energy workers to rebuild our rural ministries. A plan for evangelism in Asian ministries is on the drawing board.<br /><br />It isn’t all rosy. One of our well loved small congregations in Reno closed last year. But I see its former members now actively engaged and strengthening the other 3 congregations in Reno, one of which is a fairly new parish. Another of our small congregations went from about 24 to around 12 this year over a local fight. But some of those dozen folks have found their way to another Episcopal congregation in the area that was on the ropes a few years ago but now is coming back strong.<br /><br />What does the future hold for the Episcopal Church? “O Lord our times are in your hands.” God knows. I don’t. No, I don’t know our future. But I know our mission and it is not perpetually checking our pulse. Our mission is being faithfully present in a culture where people are lost, alienated, lonely, and despairing. Our mission is shining the Christ light of hope into the dark corners of society – corners darkened by poverty, sometimes economic, more often spiritual. I believe people need the Episcopal Church and I believe God loves it. If God did not love it, it would have surely died long ago from all the things we’ve done to it in our human frailty and ineptitude.<br /><br />What is God doing in the Episcopal Church? We have a lot of wind out here in the High Desert. Jesus said “God is wind.” John 4:24 “The wind bloweth wherever it listeth and you hear the sound of it; but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goest. So it is with every word that is born of the Spirit.” John 3: 8. The Church is God’s word born of the Spirit on Pentecost, reborn of the same Spirit with each and every baptism. Where is the Church going? Wherever God wills.

Willl The Episcopal Church Survive? God Knows.

Will the Episcopal Church survive? God knows. The allusion is to Ezekiel: “’Son of Man, can these bones live?’ ‘O Lord, thou knowest.” Ezeki...

Get over it! (cheesecake) / 185.4

8:14 AM Tukiyooo 0

<b>Cheesecake </b><br />Yes, I had a piece of that Costco cheesecake last night. It disappeared from the refrigerator, and I thought my husband had put it in the garbage (he purchased it while I was in Fairbanks). Actually, he froze it. I found it last night and not accidentally, but on purpose. I went searching for it. <br /><br />After a great day of eating and no exercise (never made it to the gym last night), I had a 12-Point piece of cheesecake, (the nutritional information is on CalorieKing.com). I only had one slice (1/16th of the cake) because that's all that I could find. <br /><br />The verdict: Get over it Diana! It didn't lead to some big, crazy all-night eating binge. I ate some extra salmon later in the evening (leftover from dinner), five tiny Clementines, and a bag of SmartPop popcorn. None of this was planned. I put everything into eTools, and yes, I had a 53-Point day yesterday (I'm allowed 29).<br /><br />It's not the end of the world. I'm not mad at myself for not being perfect. It was just a piece of cheesecake. I'm pretty sure I would have eaten more if there was more available, but it wasn't and I didn't.<br /><br />I still feel in control in spite of the 53 Points. Okay, maybe I was a little bit out of control, but it's not a big deal. I'm okay with it. I'm not going to Costco today and buying a cheesecake, hiding it, and eating the whole thing within a day or two. I've done that before. Fortunately, it's been a few years (about three plus years).<br /><br />Ironically I had one of my best ever workouts at the gym this morning. I seemed to have extra power and stamina. I did the elliptical again for thirty minutes (still hate it and the StairMasters are still broken), and a full hour of lower body/abs exercises. I'm not sure if it was the salmon or the cheesecake that gave me the extra energy (maybe both?).<br /><br /><b>Sunshine!</b><br />Yes, we have sunshine today in the Pacific Northwest. It was 38 degrees at 5:30am when I went to the gym, so it's a bit chilly, but it's gorgeous. If I could take today off from work I'd do it in a heartbeat (a bike ride would be really fun). Unfortunately I have two meetings that I can't miss today. At least I can walk at lunch, so that will be some extra calorie burning (hopefully burn off some cheesecake).<br /><br /><b>Torchlight parade</b><br />I'm going to walk in the Torchlight parade this year in Seattle (July 30), and wave at people. My husband has wanted to go to it for the last twenty years. I'm not really fond of parades so I found an excuse every year to not go (I know, bad wife). This year my company is asking for volunteers to walk the route behind the float (or in front of it, I'm not sure). You can only ride on the float if you wear a uniform (flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents). I haven't worn a uniform in over 20 years. I'd really rather walk it anyway. My husband is actually excited about it. <br /><br />Now it's off to work!

Get over it! (cheesecake) / 185.4

Cheesecake Yes, I had a piece of that Costco cheesecake last night. It disappeared from the refrigerator, and I thought my husband had put i...

CMBA Movies of 1939 Blogathon - The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

6:45 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGBYYaTT1CRE9TsYvka5ikTm7KxLkDdEYtcmUmIJIQpSBdCzBUVwZm3LIqBhHslng9CcpYCDUDrDbwCUPajCC8wE3CTjMzTrWVRTNhc1TTG9OTs2t84cmlSeqF6rrLBZ1wyHbH7Xx9NMS/s1600/bette+as+eliz+i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGBYYaTT1CRE9TsYvka5ikTm7KxLkDdEYtcmUmIJIQpSBdCzBUVwZm3LIqBhHslng9CcpYCDUDrDbwCUPajCC8wE3CTjMzTrWVRTNhc1TTG9OTs2t84cmlSeqF6rrLBZ1wyHbH7Xx9NMS/s400/bette+as+eliz+i.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“In 1939, I secured my career and my stardom forever. I made five pictures in twelve months and every one of them was successful.” Bette Davis was referring to the string of movies she made in rapid succession, beginning with <i>The Sisters </i>in 1938 and followed by four more the next year – <i>Dark Victory</i>, <i>Juarez</i>, <i>The Old Maid </i>and <i>The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex</i>. If 1939 was a watershed year for Hollywood, it was, too, for the actress who was about to begin her reign as America’s top film actress.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Of6MJeEASW17UARIlA9Vz8TUukkQulfrs2F2c6GHrmjoM0bD8MWlcIpNC1iVhV6glLeegZ9WBA4BGAu784WhXQF2g8ZQdbvkQMjavYTkigo21CBV-w7DPySmKHzRT9OKoLWVs8MvXJxi/s1600/bondage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Of6MJeEASW17UARIlA9Vz8TUukkQulfrs2F2c6GHrmjoM0bD8MWlcIpNC1iVhV6glLeegZ9WBA4BGAu784WhXQF2g8ZQdbvkQMjavYTkigo21CBV-w7DPySmKHzRT9OKoLWVs8MvXJxi/s200/bondage.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Of Human Bondage </i>(1934)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bette Davis spent most of the first half of the 1930s making her way through a series of mostly dreary film assignments, first for Universal and then for Warner Bros. Her startling performance in RKO's <i>Of Human Bondage </i>(1934) changed the course of her career. She won her first Best Actress Oscar for a downbeat role in <i>Dangerous </i>(1935), and her second for her turn as a headstrong Southern belle in <i>Jezebel </i>(1938).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Maxwell Anderson’s <i>Elizabeth, the Queen</i>, a historical drama written in blank verse a la Shakespeare, opened on Broadway in 1930. It starred Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt and ran for 147 performances. The production and Fontanne’s portrayal of Elizabeth I were legendary. Eight years after the play closed, an adaptation would make its way to the screen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Based on events of Elizabeth’s late years, the story follows her relationship with the much younger Earl of Essex. After a victory against Spain at Cadiz, Essex returns to England a hero. Ambitious and overconfident, he is a favorite of the queen. However, the two are often at odds; she favors measured statesmanship and he is for bold action; both have a taste for power. Not surprisingly, the Earl is unpopular with the queen’s advisors who maneuver him into leading an ill-fated intervention in Ireland. Essex fails and returns to England in disgrace. Unable to bear ignominy, he attempts to raise a rebellion against the queen. This ends badly for Essex. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17cwyXLxnTZf8u_Z5ZNoBB6m8pPtMjLWkvM7QV__pZLBUFpof8cFzsZ0iMJGWQBC_hZlYJhUBRFeLt8zJLRwfDn310BEJmCyc0O3v88jUXKKRj1S2D0SWydgisgkNgFIvIWuSlZGU5eWC/s1600/picture%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17cwyXLxnTZf8u_Z5ZNoBB6m8pPtMjLWkvM7QV__pZLBUFpof8cFzsZ0iMJGWQBC_hZlYJhUBRFeLt8zJLRwfDn310BEJmCyc0O3v88jUXKKRj1S2D0SWydgisgkNgFIvIWuSlZGU5eWC/s320/picture%255B1%255D.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth I by Hans Holbein</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When Bette Davis learned that producer Hal Wallis bought Anderson’s play for her, she was elated. “Elizabeth was my tankard of tea,” she later recalled. Familiar with the Broadway production and Fontanne’s performance, she saw in the part an exciting opportunity as well as a real challenge. Davis was only 31 at the time and she would be portraying Elizabeth in her 60s. Additionally, the script primarily consisted of complex blank verse dialogue. As was typical of her, Davis threw herself into the project completely. She began extensive research on the Elizabethan period and monarchy, and she was happily surprised when she saw in Holbein's portraits of Elizabeth a resemblance between herself and the queen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Davis campaigned for Laurence Olivier to be cast in the role of Essex. “He was perfect for the part…he <i>was </i>arrogant, beautiful, virile and talented,” she remembered years afterward. Olivier was in between <i>Wuthering Heights</i> (1939) and <i>Rebecca </i>(1940) at the time, but Jack Warner wasn’t enthusiastic. Olivier was not yet a star in the U.S. (though he was on the very brink) and Warner felt the film required a box office powerhouse equal to Davis. The adaptation of Anderson’s play was a big picture for Warners in 1939 and Jack Warner wanted Errol Flynn, the studio’s hottest leading man, for Essex. Flynn had completed <i>The Adventures of Robin Hood</i>, <i>The Dawn Patrol</i> and <i>Dodge City</i> all within the past year and was at the height of his popularity. Davis was not convinced. She did not think Flynn had the experience to cope with blank verse or the professionalism to work at it. But Warner prevailed; Flynn it would be. Davis was deeply disappointed. Perhaps the fact that Flynn was being paid twice as much as she amplified her disappointment…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPbgyo0KMcIZs3nVRiaVesajV7gzhNvPRFE-F33_KyyQ3tlTt_jPx9omcjXSERvme6sxlq7EJYoSSVTrUP15fd_218bc0SIYPU6iX2QUe5CNApFVQfsRBClxEdjWAWYz-zVgUtsk8vywT/s1600/curtiz+and+queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPbgyo0KMcIZs3nVRiaVesajV7gzhNvPRFE-F33_KyyQ3tlTt_jPx9omcjXSERvme6sxlq7EJYoSSVTrUP15fd_218bc0SIYPU6iX2QUe5CNApFVQfsRBClxEdjWAWYz-zVgUtsk8vywT/s320/curtiz+and+queen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bette Davis and Michael Curtiz on the set</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Warner Bros. veteran Michael Curtiz was tapped to direct. Though Curtiz and Flynn collaborated on several popular films, the dynamic between them was not ideal. Curtiz viewed  Flynn as little more than a blank slate, referring to the actor as “my beautiful puppet.” </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the other hand, Davis put up with nothing from Curtiz on this set, she would not  forgive or forget his dismissive treatment of her before she was a star.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The supporting cast was steeped in solid character actors: Donald Crisp, Henry Daniell, Vincent Price, Henry Stephenson, Leo G. Carroll, Alan Hale and James Stephenson. Olivia de Havilland appeared intermittently and young Nanette Fabray (Fabares) made an affecting screen debut as ladies in waiting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Though Davis anticipated the film and her role as “a dream come true,” the production did not go smoothly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It might seem logical that in making a film of a famed stage drama, the name of the play would remain intact. But Flynn did not like it that his character was not mentioned in the title and insisted on a change. <i>The Knight and the Lady </i>was proposed. For Davis, whose character was the centerpiece of the drama, that was unacceptable. <i>The Lady and the Knight</i> was offered as an option. No one liked this, including Davis. The success of Alexander Korda’s <i>The Private Life of Henry VIII </i>(1933), an Oscar-winner for Charles Laughton, inspired the film’s eventual title.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTm6KRxNik69VbaP79gJEHuOy3WETwMXhblpCTjWALq_k-eN7CRDlY5OEUga8ymk-tumpHCevxYY6iTP9SVY2vZHDCuoufe-gibySidWCoJECzy65dQ6fk5537ynD11YqENx53Yy5CBRB/s1600/eliz+and+essex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTm6KRxNik69VbaP79gJEHuOy3WETwMXhblpCTjWALq_k-eN7CRDlY5OEUga8ymk-tumpHCevxYY6iTP9SVY2vZHDCuoufe-gibySidWCoJECzy65dQ6fk5537ynD11YqENx53Yy5CBRB/s320/eliz+and+essex.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bette Davis and Errol Flynn</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When Olivia de Havilland arrived to begin work, she was still doing retakes for <i>Gone With the Wind</i>. She claimed that she wasn’t ready to start, she couldn’t play two characters at the same time. Jack Warner convinced her, at least to some extent, that she could.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Davis insisted on authentic costume design, but Curtiz thought that authentic costumes would be “too much for the camera” and wanted them scaled down. According to Davis, designer Orry-Kelly made two complete sets of Elizabeth’s costumes – the first conforming to Curtiz’s edict, the second historically accurate. Davis tested in the first set and played her role in the second. “Tricky is the determined female,” she later mused.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Makeup artist Perc Westmore worked closely with Bette Davis to achieve Elizabeth’s age and appearance. He remarked on her dedication to the part but said that he had to walk a fine line to create what Davis wanted while not exceeding what Jack Warner would tolerate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As it turned out, Davis’s concerns about Errol Flynn were well-founded. Notes in the film’s production reports mention the actor’s difficulty with the dialogue. Flynn apparently protested, “I can’t remember lines like that,” and screenwriters Aeneas MacKenzie and Norman Reilly Raine simplified his lines by rewriting them out of verse.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In one famous scene (and infamous incident), Davis gave Flynn a hearty slap across the face with her heavily jeweled hand. Flynn called it a “right hook” and reportedly never forgave her for it. Davis did not seem to think she’d done anything out of character…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lgo-7Wu2llM" width="425"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Orry-Kelly, Perc Westmore, art director Anton Grot and cinematographer/d.p. Sol Polito, all masters of their respective cinematic arts, worked inspired magic. Polito was especially valuable on the production for his wizardry with Technicolor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anton Grot’s lavish sets are an eyeful. At times Elizabeth seems to exist as if within an enormous chest of jewels, so surrounded is she by plush shades of amethyst, turquoise, ruby, emerald and gold. And Grot creates an evocative mood...in vaulted candle-lit chambers, a massive fireplace blazes and flickering shadows leap across dim walls.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkgpGYUwbopIboiLg4uigqwmaM1V5jw2kz9rbtKcYma_mjjPji79XwCFRLus4QaLunVxV5O9AxeM-By2QqCeZJ0XVwteiLd2qtspu1bOh7Hmxe2NcEVuc-LUpLLuK1Bp4HFW5NAdGiZge/s1600/anton+grot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkgpGYUwbopIboiLg4uigqwmaM1V5jw2kz9rbtKcYma_mjjPji79XwCFRLus4QaLunVxV5O9AxeM-By2QqCeZJ0XVwteiLd2qtspu1bOh7Hmxe2NcEVuc-LUpLLuK1Bp4HFW5NAdGiZge/s200/anton+grot.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Director Anton Grot</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anton Grot dominated art direction at Warner Bros. from the late '20s through the 1940s and is often credited for the realism of "the Warner Bros. look" of the 1930s. He was known for his interest in the expressive qualities of light on film, and his work was influenced by European modernism. Nominated for five competitive Oscars, Grot was given a special technical achievement award in 1940 for his design of a "water ripple and wave illusion machine." His films include <i>Little Caesar</i>, <i>Anthony Adverse</i>, <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i>, <i>Captain Blood</i>, and <i>Mildred Pierce</i>. The UCLA Library houses a collection of Grot's original sketches (see below and <a href="http://potulentpalaver.blogspot.com/2007/01/anton-grot.html"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>click here</b></span></a> to see more).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWVhrIZ2OKpcG1YMp2DEJQBN62lpb0Tq5u07hyS89OEJw2oVRtZRrhvE5JTM1dYjQ4bLwuHFr62O0R_Qo9JiE60bY1EfNmjA9eACQiag3tl2WuomjEZZwadwGjaXjI3T7gxZg0u9xPQV6/s1600/Anton+Grot+sketch++Eliz+and+Essex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWVhrIZ2OKpcG1YMp2DEJQBN62lpb0Tq5u07hyS89OEJw2oVRtZRrhvE5JTM1dYjQ4bLwuHFr62O0R_Qo9JiE60bY1EfNmjA9eACQiag3tl2WuomjEZZwadwGjaXjI3T7gxZg0u9xPQV6/s320/Anton+Grot+sketch++Eliz+and+Essex.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anton Grot's sketch of the court of Elizabeth I</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bette Davis in an intriguing performance is the finest of the film's<i> </i>fine qualities. In his <i>Great Stars</i> monograph on the actress, David Thomson wrote of Davis that she "often moves like a beast fearful of being leashed." As Elizabeth, her erratic gestures and movements, her voice and her eyes are alive with frustration and exasperation, insecurity and rage. At times she seems to prowl the queen's quarters like a caged cat. Davis captures the spirit of a weary but wily and indomitable monarch, a woman trapped in the power she has fought hard to hold.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">While I don't think Flynn was up to this script, it isn't hard to imagine an aging queen (or any woman) falling victim to his many obvious charms. It's true that Olivier's brooding charisma along with his mastery of Shakespeare might've made for a compelling Essex - and I'm very sure he would have held his own with Bette Davis. But many among the film's cast and technical crew were veterans of Curtiz/Flynn action adventures and that may have something to do with why, overall, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Elizabeth and Essex</i> plays as a slightly off-balance marriage between historical drama and swashbuckling epic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex</i> was a moneymaker for Warner Bros. <i>Variety</i> reported, “Bette Davis dominates the production at every turn…” and pointed out it was the first picture to be released using fast new Technicolor methods. The picture's "slow spots" were discounted as minor shortcomings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh99gq21O3db8RU_BwrN9YfrquFiBkqizXLru4rgxNxyyWHmPKtSYp8oRKH1IDSIRyqwr_C6a2Rs7FiTEdbdBHRGqUX8k2oOGRNJg1Mc_t2rk6tjyIMlNiJlivuE3m7bmogdc_PQu2Kgv0/s1600/Private_Lives_of_Elizabeth_and_Essex_%25281939%2529_4%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh99gq21O3db8RU_BwrN9YfrquFiBkqizXLru4rgxNxyyWHmPKtSYp8oRKH1IDSIRyqwr_C6a2Rs7FiTEdbdBHRGqUX8k2oOGRNJg1Mc_t2rk6tjyIMlNiJlivuE3m7bmogdc_PQu2Kgv0/s320/Private_Lives_of_Elizabeth_and_Essex_%25281939%2529_4%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bette Davis and Errol Flynn</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Frank S. Nugent of the New York Times, voicing a complaint common among critics that Flynn was a weak Essex, observed that Davis delivered “a strong, resolute, glamour-skimping characterization against which Mr. Flynn’s Essex has about as much chance as a beanshooter against a tank.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bette Davis needed a rest at this point. “I weighed 80 pounds when I discarded Bess’s ruff and hoop for the last time. I was really exhausted. I knew I must take a holiday and recharge the battery…” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex</i> received five Academy Award nominations - for art direction, color cinematography, special effects, music score and sound recording. Davis was nominated for <i>Dark Victory</i> instead.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKUJBJf4BJmvFJ6I_lfUpRj0iAyvFJRHqTNKBIwZFU8mpcreDn0JkmlJ8-4kSv4LqaORaGL3vZ3MgzBK1YCFha-EclXuWJ3Ecmn7QHroxyQDSB7PUxBz1_1DZ3nnr5XQWtkZpbTPOHKgc/s1600/essex1%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKUJBJf4BJmvFJ6I_lfUpRj0iAyvFJRHqTNKBIwZFU8mpcreDn0JkmlJ8-4kSv4LqaORaGL3vZ3MgzBK1YCFha-EclXuWJ3Ecmn7QHroxyQDSB7PUxBz1_1DZ3nnr5XQWtkZpbTPOHKgc/s320/essex1%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nominated for art direction, cinematography, effects, score and sound</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Forty years after the film’s release, the actress told a biographer, “I have very mixed emotions when I see it.” She questioned whether she had, young as she was at the time, enough life experience to draw upon for the role. And she admitted that she had “secretly” been a bit unsure about playing Elizabeth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In her 1962 autobiography, <u>A Lonely Life</u>, Bette Davis recalled a moment that stood out in her memory of the production. One day Charles Laughton visited the set. It was her first meeting with an actor she admired very much.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Hi, Pop,” she greeted him, playfully referring to his role as Henry VIII.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Ah, it’s my favorite daughter,” he replied.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As they talked, Bette mentioned that perhaps she had a lot of nerve to be trying to play Elizabeth. Laughton’s response was something she never forgot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Never stop daring to hang yourself, Bette,” he told her.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span>~</div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://clamba.blogspot.com/2011/04/classic-movies-of-1939-blogathon-may-15.html" style="color: #990000;">Click here</a></b><i> for a full list of links to blogs participating in CMBA's "Classic Movies of 1939" blogathon.</i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><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/AVvXsEhjjPkNY3g2YA_JM99NkIAA7a98sPn89HJnWEQ9C-rkGaONao6SKOyn846fiOriIn4yfBPCOLnGGmKhUy6XoaPbMhMOHedYGFgAtWdMoAyEzZJad5nHdKQRGDk0LRAU7PAVhRWAsI4XRx8/s1600/Cimba+Best+Film+Review+Drama+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjPkNY3g2YA_JM99NkIAA7a98sPn89HJnWEQ9C-rkGaONao6SKOyn846fiOriIn4yfBPCOLnGGmKhUy6XoaPbMhMOHedYGFgAtWdMoAyEzZJad5nHdKQRGDk0LRAU7PAVhRWAsI4XRx8/s320/Cimba+Best+Film+Review+Drama+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Classic Movie Blog Association honored this post with the 2011 CiMBA award for Best Film Review (Drama) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Sources:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>The Lonely Life</u> (1962) by Bette Davis, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis, A Personal Biography</u> (2006) by Charlotte Chandler, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Dark Victory : The Life of Bette Davis</u> (2007) by Ed Sikov, <u>B</u></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>ette Davis</u> (2009) by David Thomson (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Stars </i>series)</span></div>

CMBA Movies of 1939 Blogathon - The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

Anton Grot Bette Davis Donald Crisp Errol Flynn Jack Warner Michael Curtiz Orry-Kelly Sol Polito The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex CMBA Movies of 1939 Blogathon - The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

“In 1939, I secured my career and my stardom forever. I made five pictures in twelve months and every one of them was successful.” Bette Dav...

Hungry Girl Cooking: Berry-licious Cupcakes

5:56 AM Tukiyooo 0

I made these cupcakes while at my sister's house celebrating my niece's 3rd birthday.  I'm pretty sure they were a hit since almost all of them were devoured rather quickly.  The icing tasted great too. You can find this recipe in Hungry Girl's first cookbook or on the <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeid=140951">Weight Watchers website</a>.  Enjoy!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0q5pSCw8ozyJugSrScRefrhqxv93mv-NO4fI3U9PustvCp0TrtooEbNP9C21ev9j5fDEXSw8cfBEqAoaOfkNsmrecbFGyWwZR2W_8g3yqyn04TPTmyDb-gWfFZo1cZnA_mWbLk94bFc/s1600/hungry-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0q5pSCw8ozyJugSrScRefrhqxv93mv-NO4fI3U9PustvCp0TrtooEbNP9C21ev9j5fDEXSw8cfBEqAoaOfkNsmrecbFGyWwZR2W_8g3yqyn04TPTmyDb-gWfFZo1cZnA_mWbLk94bFc/s200/hungry-girl.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><u>Hungry Girl/Weight Watchers Berry-licious Cupcakes</u> - 3 Points+</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCKZEE0ISoRapuahWZDeyb_1IC684UyAt0ZA1U-U_ykWHSmFelbelX3BVqMMAsZ_zIkFji2KIUd99J85KoA_Dd3IRa4axpyYJ2mx9CTZVPiKcVQZs3nkOhxG1uZmJnuMlj2GRf6nR8Pk/s1600/HG+Strawberry+Cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCKZEE0ISoRapuahWZDeyb_1IC684UyAt0ZA1U-U_ykWHSmFelbelX3BVqMMAsZ_zIkFji2KIUd99J85KoA_Dd3IRa4axpyYJ2mx9CTZVPiKcVQZs3nkOhxG1uZmJnuMlj2GRf6nR8Pk/s320/HG+Strawberry+Cupcakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><b>Ingredients</b></i><br /><ul><li>4 oz Cool Whip Whipped Topping Free Whipped Topping, half an 8 oz container   <br /></li><li>1/4 cup(s) fat-free cream cheese, softened   <br /></li><li> 2 Tbsp SPLENDA® SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener<i> (I used regular sugar)  </i><br /></li><li>1/8 tsp vanilla extract   <br /></li><li> 1/8 tsp food colouring, neon pink, divided (2 drops)   <br /></li><li> 1/2 Tbsp Hershey's Sugar free strawberry syrup, or raspberry variety   <br /></li><li> 9 1/8 oz regular white cake dry mix, 2 cups (half an 18.25 oz package)   <br /></li><li> 1 cup(s) diet cola, black cherry flavor <i>(I used Diet Dr. Pepper)</i><br /></li><li> 4 large egg white(s), about 1/2 cup   <br /></li><li> 6 medium strawberries, pureed    </li></ul><i><b>Instructions </b></i><br /><ul></ul><ol><li>Preheat oven to 350°F.<br /><br /></li><li>In a medium bowl, combine whipped topping, cream cheese, Splenda, vanilla extract, 1 drop of food coloring and syrup. Using an electric mixer at medium-low speed, blend until frosting is thoroughly mixed, about 1 minute. Chill frosting in freezer for 20 minutes and then transfer to refrigerator until ready to frost cupcakes.<br /><br /></li><li>In a large bowl, combine cake mix, soda and egg whites; add pureed strawberries and remaining drop of food coloring. Mix with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until smooth, about 45 seconds.<br /><br /></li><li>Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray, or line with cupcake wrappers. Evenly spoon batter into prepared muffin pan.<br /><br /></li><li>Bake until firm, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan. Once cool, remove cupcakes from pan and evenly spread with frosting. Yields 1 cupcake per serving. </li></ol>

Hungry Girl Weight Watcher Recipes Hungry Girl Cooking: Berry-licious Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes while at my sister's house celebrating my niece's 3rd birthday. I'm pretty sure they were a hit since alm...

Rambling Monday / 185.4

12:56 PM Tukiyooo 0

I'm back at work. wonderful, lovely work. I found out one of my best friends on my team accepted a position on another team. It made me want to cry finding out he's leaving. True, he'll only be about ten cubicles away from me on the same floor, still, it won't be the same. Things change, people come and go, it's called life. Sometimes it sucks.<br /><br />Today is day four of the rest of my life. Three days in my pocket where I ate healthy, tracked my food, and worked out each day at the gym for an hour. Three days. Doesn't sound like much does it? Yet it makes me feel strong and capable of staying with this plan. Seeing the 185.4 on the scale this morning made it worth it. "It" being the hunger I felt these last few days. I'm starting to become accustomed to the slight feeling that I want to/need to eat. Often I don't even know if it's real or all in my head. <br /><br />The 190.6 I saw last Friday morning was horrifying. I didn't really express how upset and scared I felt when I saw that number. So very close to 200.  There's always that little "what if" voice talking to me in my head. What if you can't rein this in? What if you gain back every pound and more? What if you kill yourself with food? <br /><br />Did I mention before I left on vacation I purchased three pairs of blue jeans, all size 16, different brands? I didn't even try them on. They're all baggy and too long. I don't care. They feel great. Sort of like pajamas. My nieces told me I should have bought a smaller size, the 14's probably would have fit. Who goes from a size 12 right into a size 16? I was tired of the 12's cutting me at the waist and my muffin top overflowing. No muffin top now. Loose pants are good.<br /><br />I skipped the gym this morning. Too tired. Now I have to pay my penance and go tonight. I detest evening workouts but it's not optional. It's part of the plan to lose the fat.<br /><br />This post is all over the place. I really have nothing newsworthy to talk about. It's part of my new commitment to the blog every day. It helps me stay focused. Whether it helps anyone else, well, probably not today.

Rambling Monday / 185.4

I'm back at work. wonderful, lovely work. I found out one of my best friends on my team accepted a position on another team. It made me ...

HilJoe Competition - Week 2

6:13 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: left;">I guess it was only a matter of time that I'd have to face a beating from Joel.  Hopefully this will only be one of a few I'll have to endure.  <b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><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" imageanchor="1" 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><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Joel</b> <b>(6')</b>: 239.6</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Hilary (5'8")</b>: 258</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Honestly, I'm frustrated with myself for yet again another gain.  When am I going to get it together? I get one thing under control (exercise), only to have the other one suffer (eating).  I'm not one of those people who can simply 'eat right' <i>alone </i>and lose weight - I need both elements.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not giving up.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">And so we move on to Week 3.</div>

Gain HJ Competition HilJoe Competition - Week 2

I guess it was only a matter of time that I'd have to face a beating from Joel. Hopefully this will only be one of a few I'll have ...

Shake the job search blues

6:44 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/m9/ar5m1s872166487nchm9.gif?time=3/9/2011%203:53:59%20pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/m9/ar5m1s872166487nchm9.gif?time=3/9/2011%203:53:59%20pm" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder writer</span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine"><br /></span></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In both his books and speeches, Donald Trump often <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHpNweVn6bQ" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">mentions a story</a> that his father told him when he was a child that goes something like this: There once was an entrepreneur who started a soda company called Three Up. Despite the man's passion for his company, though, Three Up eventually went under. Undeterred, the entrepreneur started another cola company called Four Up, which also went bankrupt. He persisted on, but after Five Up and Six Up failed as well, the man was tired of struggling and gave up. A short time later another company came along and invented 7 Up, which was wildly successful. The point of the story, according to Trump, is that if the man hadn't quit, he would have created 7 Up.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i>If you're a job seeker, you can probably relate to the entrepreneur in the story. It may seem hard to stay motivated in the face of rejection and success can seem elusive -- you might even feel like giving up on your job search or settling for a job you don't really like. But, if you quit when the going gets tough, you may miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime -- like the entrepreneur did.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The job search blues can certainly be tough to conquer -- but it can be done. Here's how to get through the tough times in a job search.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Pay attention to your thoughts</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Listen to the things you say to yourself about your job, your abilities and your chances of achieving your career goals," says Colette Ellis, founder of leadership consulting firm InStep Consulting and author of the e-book "Focus on your vision."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you realize that your "self-talk" is predominately negative, make an effort to change it any time a negative thought pops into your head. "When you hear your negative messages and begin to feel badly, say 'stop!' and replace the thought or message with a more positive statement," Ellis says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dave Sanford, an <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/executive+vice+president/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">executive vice president</a> at recruiting firm Winter, Wyman, agrees: "You can't force hiring decisions to go your way. But you can control your reaction to the circumstances. Allow yourself that healthy moment of disappointment and then pick yourself up and dust yourself off. This will help you move on a lot more quickly, which is imperative to your search," he says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Set goals</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Let's face it: The modern job search can be a long and tedious process -- but that doesn't mean it can't also be rewarding. Set smaller goals throughout your job search to keep you focused and give you a sense of achievement.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"As part of your job search, you will certainly have set goals for yourself, [like] the number of networking meetings you will have each week, how many résumés you will send out per day and the [number of] hours you will dedicate to researching opportunities," Sanford says. "Feel good about completing your objectives and find ways to celebrate your accomplishments."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Be careful not to be too hard on yourself when setting goals, though. When outlining your job search goals, don't limit yourself to an overly-stringent time deadline for getting a job. "It may feel proactive to say 'I will be working by June 30' but you are really setting yourself up to be let down," says Cheryl Heisler, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/president/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">president </a>of Lawternatives, a career coaching firm for <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/lawyers/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">lawyers</a>. "Concrete goals are good -- as long as they are within your control. Do commit to goals that you can reach, like 'I will make five new contacts each week.'"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Talk to people</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Making an effort to talk to people in your industry can give your job search a much-needed boost for a number of reasons: It's great for networking, it can provide you with a renewed sense of motivation and energy, it'll help you stay abreast on what's new in your field, and it can present you with options and opportunities you may not have known you had.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Best of all -- talking with your industry peers can help you get a job faster. "After speaking with someone once or twice and building a rapport, they are much more likely to bring up potential job leads or contacts for you, rather than you having to ask for them," says Kathryn Minshew, co-founder and <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/editor+in+chief/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">editor-in-chief </a>of Pretty Young Professional, a <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/blog/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">blog</a> and online resource for young professional women.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Is there someone in your field that you'd like to know, but don't? Reach out and ask the person for an informational interview. "I firmly believe in informational interviews," Minshew says. "Everyone loves being asked for advice, and sometimes the best thing you can do to get your foot in the door is to find people who work at the company or industry you're targeting, and ask them if you can meet."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Take a break</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Although it's important to maintain momentum and keep up a steady job search, it's also important to take time out of your day to de-stress. "Stress can be palpable and you don't want to present yourself to prospective employers or networking contacts as someone who will crack under pressure," Sanford says. "Whether it's a morning yoga class or walking around the block, find what works for you and incorporate it into your daily routine."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Reducing stress also means fighting the e-leash during "you" time. While you may feel compelled to check your e-mail or voice mail every five minutes, fighting the urge will help you relax. "Access your voice mail and e-mail a few times a day -- and then let it go," Sanford says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, </i><a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i>The Work Buzz</i></a><i>. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.</i></div>

Shake the job search blues

Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder writer In both his books and speeches, Donald Trump often mentions a story that his father told him when he ...