Live From Las Vegas V: The Bishop's Address

We have had a remarkable year in Nevada.<br />Some congregations are growing in attendance.<br />Hispanic Ministries has taken off like a rocket.<br />Education, formation, and outreach programs are on the rise.<br />Most of our congregations are either living in harmony<br /> or managing their conflicts creatively.<br />Despite the economy, we are getting along just fine financially.<br />There is much to celebrate.<br /><br />All of us have a part to play in making the church work.<br />I want to thank each and every one of you for your part.<br />But I want to say a special word about vestries.<br />I want to thank our vestry members specially<br /> because we have not always treated you very well.<br />Neither diocesan leaders nor the average person in the pew<br /> know much about what vestries actually do.<br />But, at the highest echelons of diocesan governance,<br /> odd fantasies about vestries sometimes arise.<br /><br />We sometimes imagine that our vestries are running amok<br /> in flagrant violation of the canons if not the 10 Commandments.<br />Meanwhile folks in the pews imagine that their vestries<br /> are acting without a sliver of sense,<br /> spending money like Louisiana fraternity boys<br /> on a weekend in Vegas<br />This habit of blaming of vestries for all that goes wrong<br /> or even for the inevitable struggles of being the church<br /> is self-defeating.<br />Eventually, the best and the brightest among us <br /> will figure out its more fun to sit in the pews throwing rotten fruit<br /> than to sit up front with the vestry ducking.<br />Besides which, it just isn’t true.<br /><br />The vestries I have met these past 3 years have been<br /> conscientious, faithful, servants of God and God’s people.<br />Vestries are the backbone of our church.<br />So the best thing we can do for God’s mission<br /> and each other would be to cut the blame<br /> and give our vestries some trust and support.<br /><br /><br />We can do that if we make two simple attitude adjustments.<br />The first is in how we understand our problems and our challenges.<br />The truth is all our problems come down to one.<br />Whether it manifests as needing more money to maintain an old building<br /> or someone to teach the Sunday School,<br /> these are just symptoms of our one basic problem.<br />It is a problem with /our doors//.<br /><br />I do not mean we need to paint them red.<br />That is my friend Andy Weeks – not me.<br />I don’t care if your doors are chartreuse.<br />The problem is that there are too many people outside our doors<br /> who need to be inside them.<br />The core problem – the key challenge – is just that simple.<br />We have the people on the wrong side of the doors.<br /><br />But what shall we do about it?<br />That leads to the 2nd attitude adjustment.<br />Back before Las Vegas was the entertainment capital of the world,<br /> we were in another business.<br />What was it? The name of the street we are on tells us.<br />Rancho. The Las Vegas Rancho.<br />We were a ranch. That is our tradition.<br />And we know something about ranching.<br />Not much because we are now lounge singers and black jack dealers.<br />But we have watched Bonanza.<br />Is there anyone here who has never watched Bonanza?<br /><br />So we know something about ranching.<br />We know the situation where we go out in the morning<br /> and find the horses have gotten out of the coral.<br />What shall we do?<br /><br />There are two basic approaches.<br />One is from CSI – Las Vegas.<br />We hang around the corral, dusting it for prints<br /> and gathering DNA samples,<br /> trying to figure out who left the game open.<br /><br />The other approach comes from Bonanza.<br />We go out and round up the horses.<br /> <br /><br />So I urge you all in this coming year, when troubles or challenges arise,<br /> do these two things:<br />First, remember it’s really about the doors.<br />Second, ask yourselves, “What would Ben Cartwright do?”<br /><br />But all that leads to a deeper question:<br /> Why would anyone want to come inside our doors?<br />What do we have to offer?<br />There is plenty of good food at the restaurants,<br /> fellowship on a bowling team, and the Comedy channel<br /> is more entertaining than a liturgy.<br />What have we got to offer?<br /><br />There is a difference between a fun time and a good life.<br />There is a difference between random misery<br /> and suffering endured for a greater good.<br />There is a difference between a pleasant mood and joyful spirit.<br />But our culture is in danger of forgetting these differences<br /> which are as fundamental<br /> as the difference between right and wrong.<br /><br /> During World War II , the Jewish psychoanalyst Victor Frankl<br /> was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp.<br />He watched a lot of people die.<br />He also watched a lot of people survive.<br />He became intrigued by the difference.<br />Eventually he figured out what made some people<br /> more resilient than others.<br /><br />He saw that people who found a larger meaning<br /> in their experience could endure suffering<br /> while people who suffered without insight into a deeper meaning<br /> withered and died.<br />Meaning is the key to enduring bad times,<br /> and it makes just as big a difference<br /> for how we experience good times.<br /><br />Happiness in a random world of chaos<br /> is just a lucky break,<br /> a brief distraction from the grind.<br />But happiness in a meaningful world is a gift from God,<br /> and a promise of our ultimate well-being.<br /><br />Faith is the heart-felt belief that our experiences all add up to something,<br /> that our lives matter,<br /> that our joys, our sorrows, our loves, and loathings matter.<br />Faith is trusting that there is a meaning and order to reality<br /> that gives our lives purpose and a value.<br />We may not know exactly what the answer is<br /> but we live out of our conviction that there is an answer.<br /><br />Christian faith makes a striking claim about the meaning of life.<br />It isn’t an abstract principle.<br />Some of you remember that in The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy <br /> someone asked the universe’s most powerful computer<br /> the answer to life’s mystery.<br />Who remembers the answer? The answer was 42.<br /><br />Well for Christians the answer is not a number.<br />It isn’t an abstract principle or an idea.<br />At the heart of reality, something personal throbs<br /> -- something feels, aspires, cares, hopes.<br />The universe is born from and sustained by<br /> something that is more like a person than a principle.<br /><br />So it was natural that this foundational personal reality<br /> should reveal itself to human kind as a human being<br /> – as Jesus of Nazareth<br /> who “share(d) our human nature, who live(d) and die(d) as one of us.”<br />To be a Christian is to know Jesus,<br /> and when we wonder what it’s all about, what it’s all for,<br /> to think of him.<br /><br /> .We live in a changing, challenging time<br /> – a time when environmental and social conundrums<br /> threaten to overwhelm us.<br />Living in such a time demands spiritual intelligence.<br />“Spiritual intelligence” isn’t stuffy intellectualism.<br />It isn’t talking in special language no one understands.<br />Spiritual intelligence is knowing our story<br /> so that we can know our Savior.<br />It’s seeing the connection between what we do<br /> at our job each day and the moral order in Holy Scripture,<br /> the connection between Gospel truth and social action<br /> in our neighborhood and the wider world <br />It’s experiencing the connection between our emotional ups and downs<br /> and the disciplined practice of prayer.<br /><br />The 21st Century demands wisdom, spiritual intelligence.<br />But that is in short supply today.<br />Someone said, “We have mastered the simple secret of the atom,<br /> but we have forgotten the Sermon on the Mount.”<br />College students ask their professors, “Who came first Jesus or Moses?”<br />I am not making this up. It happens.<br />At jewelry stores, a customer asks to see a cross.<br />The sales clerk says,<br /> “Do you want a plain cross or the kind with the little man on it?”<br />These are true stories.<br /><br />Just as schools and colleges are the guardians and bearers<br /> of secular knowledge,<br /> the Church is the guardian and the bearer of spiritual wisdom.<br />We do not have a monopoly on wisdom.<br /> But our truth is the core without which the adages<br /> of even the best life coaches, counselors, and 12 step sponsors<br /> do not hold together.<br /><br />Let me say this straight and without apology.<br />Brothers and sisters, there are thousands of people<br /> in this state who need Jesus.<br />There are thousands of people who are dying<br /> for want of Jesus.<br />Their happiness is not joy but distraction.<br />Their sorrow is not sacrifice but despair.<br />Their lives wither because their roots have found no water.<br /><br />What are we doing about it?<br />Someone said, “The world comes to us looking for Christ<br /> and we give them the Church.”<br />When people come to us spiritually hungry<br /> it will not do to regard them as potential supporters<br /> for our religious club – as church workers or pledge units.<br />We need to feed them gospel.<br />We need to show them Jesus.<br /> Jesus said,<br /> “When I am lifted up . . . I shall draw all people to myself.”<br />It’s time for us to lift him up.<br /><br /><br />But we can’t show people a Christ we do not know<br /> and know well.<br />We have to know our story which begins with his story<br />We have to know what he did and what he said.<br />But that is not enough.<br />To understand Jesus we have to know<br /> the psalms he prayed, the laws he obeyed,<br /> the proverbs he lived by, the prophets who inspired him.<br />We have to know how the mystics have experienced him<br /> the theologians have explained him,<br /> and the saints have shown him to the world.<br />We need to eat, breathe, sleep, and sweat Jesus.<br />That means we have understand his connection<br /> to our experience at home, at work, at the ballot box,<br /> and the football stadium.<br />We need to take our passions into prayer,<br /> to see God’s hand in the blessings of our lives, <br /> to see our work, our family, and our friendships<br /> as part and parcel of God’s mission.<br /><br />That’s what Christian formation is about.<br />But in a recent Pew Survey on Americans’ knowledge of religion,<br /> atheists scored almost twice as well as mainline Protestants.<br />How are we going to proclaim Christ to people<br /> who know more about him than we do?<br /><br />I love the stories of young people who see physical suffering<br /> and study medicine so they can do something about it!<br />Look at the spiritual suffering around us<br /> – the addiction, despair, and moral callousness –<br /> look at that suffering and ask,<br /> what if you could learn something to alleviate it?<br />What if you could learn the words of life and share them?<br /><br />Our mission is not to preserve an institution.<br />It isn’t to keep doors open and pay utility bills.<br />The truth is we don’t even have a mission.<br />As Episcopal evangelist Wayne Schwab says,<br /> God has a mission and we get to be part of it.<br />God’s mission is to save people from despair.<br />It’s to share the gospel of eternal life.<br /><br />We have been doing new projects.<br />We have done some teaching.<br />We have started some new ministries<br /> that have brought more people to Christ<br /> than we have done in a long, long time.<br />We can celebrate that.<br /><br />We are planning more new projects.<br />We can add up the numbers. We can quantify results.<br />We can write reports for the church office in New York.<br />But the meaning of what we do is Jesus.<br />If we aren’t connecting people to Jesus<br /> we should go home and turn the church over<br /> to somebody who will.<br />We are here to plant Jesus in the hearts of children,<br /> to give the drunkard Jesus instead of liquor,<br /> and the money hungry business person Jesus<br /> instead of a portfolio.<br /><br />The prayer for the mission of the church says,<br /> O God . . . remember the multitudes<br /> who have been created in your image<br /> but have not known// <br /> the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ;<br /> and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church,<br /> they may be brought to know// and worship you<br /> as you have been revealed in your Son.”<br /><br />This is what we are here to do for each other<br /> and what we equip each other to do for the people<br /> outside our doors.<br />We know and worship God,<br /> our foundation, our source and our destiny,<br /> our purpose and our delight,<br /> as God is revealed in the face<br /> of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Live From Las Vegas V: The Bishop's Address

We have had a remarkable year in Nevada. Some congregations are growing in attendance. Hispanic Ministries has taken off like a rocket. Educ...

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ROSEMARY'S BABY...Roman Polanski's Horror Classic

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTVnLufBHPy2Co_NgBJcbEIcoakxZDk_2A2WrVGeE_oI1ASGS0uYbLR928-lLt1CFKo9kWHMAtj9cxuTVH3cgU9VjryFTp3hAhNhz99BOKm0MNE0JWO_gTb1zKw0sp26C7caccZeOumhA/s1600/rosemary-poster%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTVnLufBHPy2Co_NgBJcbEIcoakxZDk_2A2WrVGeE_oI1ASGS0uYbLR928-lLt1CFKo9kWHMAtj9cxuTVH3cgU9VjryFTp3hAhNhz99BOKm0MNE0JWO_gTb1zKw0sp26C7caccZeOumhA/s400/rosemary-poster%5B1%5D.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A landmark film of the horror genre, <b>Rosemary's Baby</b> (1968) also marked Roman Polanski's directorial debut in the US. The film, a runaway hit on release, was the prototype that inspired the onslaught of big-budget "A" horror films that followed: <b>The Exorcist</b>, <b>The Omen</b>, etc.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the tradition of Hitchcock, Polanski achieves his effects with little explicit violence but with maximum finesse. Like Hitchcock, Polanski assiduously maneuvers the emotions of his audience. Drawn into Rosemary's point of view and her growing alarm, the viewer becomes ever more aware that something is amiss but, like Rosemary, doesn't grasp exactly what has happened until the final scenes.</span><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNTTRzb1eiBwcU8XRcFXl_D9abvT_al3HJ0j1bOrMz97PDP_HCEzGkEhjUHMNXLDtlW0uGlUO6A9vlXn5yzbBWFs5SsTOBxCJlSQ2jaXbUPQsunOOtKuPvj4V6Jmz9yuOnRXcyUpuO0Fi/s1600/rosemary's+baby+31%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNTTRzb1eiBwcU8XRcFXl_D9abvT_al3HJ0j1bOrMz97PDP_HCEzGkEhjUHMNXLDtlW0uGlUO6A9vlXn5yzbBWFs5SsTOBxCJlSQ2jaXbUPQsunOOtKuPvj4V6Jmz9yuOnRXcyUpuO0Fi/s200/rosemary's+baby+31%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This suspense is propelled by a careful ambiguity that implies Rosemary's terror may have a rational explanation (women <i>do</i> have difficult pregnancies), that her fears may be her own paranoia (though related to an infamous Satanist, her neighbors <i>could</i> just be a pair of elderly oddballs). On the other hand, the movement of plot and action make it difficult for the viewer to simply write off Rosemary's anguish. Equally ambiguous throughout much of the film are the majority of the characters. While Rosemary remains constant as the innocent young wife, those around her are more enigmatic - from her ambitious actor husband and her intrusive neighbors to her wise and kindly old doctor. Ironically, several of the most villainous characters are also the most comically eccentric.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB10Tz2HrIIloRSXNkz8vmTSCzHrPAiV5zvyMFeXItMs7__IkQWq0QhADhbvfiVN1yWgyrdzhAdTPOI8uJtrD-nkYaqUypiZw8NEWYKaX7F501hyphenhyphenLbZ45P33RVbZDCSjcth_V7WdJLugXG/s1600/RosemarysBaby43%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB10Tz2HrIIloRSXNkz8vmTSCzHrPAiV5zvyMFeXItMs7__IkQWq0QhADhbvfiVN1yWgyrdzhAdTPOI8uJtrD-nkYaqUypiZw8NEWYKaX7F501hyphenhyphenLbZ45P33RVbZDCSjcth_V7WdJLugXG/s200/RosemarysBaby43%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The clever intermingling of suspense with humor is one of the film's distinctive qualities. A few unforgettable scenes: Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) are dining with her friend Hutch (Maurice Evans) who describes the Bramford building's ghoulish history (including a pair of sisters who devoured children) as he carves lamb at table...a shocking suicide scene in front of the Bramford simultaneously introduces the Castevets: Minnie (Ruth Gordon), dressed and made up in the manner of a Christmas tree, and Roman (Sidney Blackmer), clad as though vaudeville was alive and well...and finally, when Rosemary sees her baby for the first time she, uncomprehending, shrieks, "What have you done to its eyes?" Roman Castevet responds, "He has his father's eyes"...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another of the film's delights is its painstaking recreation of the specific time in which it was set, late 1965 to mid-1966. Costume designer Anthea Sylbert captured that timeframe's contemporary look with Rosemary's short shift dresses (some with peter pan collars), a long and luxurious plaid skirt, red chiffon lounging pajamas. Rosemary has her blunt-cut pageboy snipped short by Vidal Sassoon, she relaxes at home reading Sammy Davis, Jr.'s book <u>Yes, I Can</u>, the Pope's visit to New York is glimpsed on TV, and Time Magazine's famous "Is God Dead?" cover is shown on a waiting room table.</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/AVvXsEgJbSY53AAeF-TACeryvlHATvk96Jc_5sXDl1gssq3dyyaz3DMeoJfs6TnoV5Kjq_I-GlzGdHRnsjT_s_7deZkFi50LfFVCf0TiTRBbb4Vb5j7UQY7FE6gV3V-HWhNosGhhS9ZnFCFq5j2K/s1600/rosemary's+baby+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbSY53AAeF-TACeryvlHATvk96Jc_5sXDl1gssq3dyyaz3DMeoJfs6TnoV5Kjq_I-GlzGdHRnsjT_s_7deZkFi50LfFVCf0TiTRBbb4Vb5j7UQY7FE6gV3V-HWhNosGhhS9ZnFCFq5j2K/s1600/rosemary's+baby+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Dakota</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The hand-picked supporting cast includes especially solid performances by Patsy Kelly and Ralph Bellamy. Uncredited but in an acknowledged key role is <i>The Dakota</i>, a famed gothic confection at 72nd and Central Park West. <i>The Dakota</i> starred as the Bramford, and exteriors were shot there. Because filming was not allowed inside, its interiors were recreated at Paramount. Significantly, the film begins and ends with aerial views of the building.</span><br /><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In <b>Rosemary's Baby</b>, Roman Polanski combined the trademark elements of his style - atmospheric location, psychological distress, irony, dark humor, an endangered and isolated protagonist – with his penchant for craftsmanship and the high gloss afforded by Hollywood to create a classic that has developed a legend all its own over the years...</span>

John Cassavetes Maurice Evans Mia Farrow Patsy Kelly Ralph Bellamy Roman Polanski Rosemary's Baby Ruth Gordon Sidney Blackmer The Lady Eve (author) ROSEMARY'S BABY...Roman Polanski's Horror Classic

A landmark film of the horror genre, Rosemary's Baby (1968) also marked Roman Polanski's directorial debut in the US. The film, a r...

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Crafty

This week has blown by, in multiple ways! lol ;) Can't believe tomorrow's Friday already!<br /><br />I was lazy for breakfast Wednesday morning and just had a bowl of <span style="font-weight:bold;">cold cereal</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>.<br /><br />My morning snack was <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 c</span> of <span style="font-weight:bold;">grapes </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYDCvFnlUTC4R9GhwRCuljYOxJ_aIv3pzzULVSnKf91j_yc32oj7FYxPeVdQXxLBrgHkGFQl-cxDbMPKMH9iPb0s5Az1fPOnaNZbymOFpm89KnGsXynegklZx-aBQhNi_8yeqDTlTBJzP/s1600/DSC09111.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533148298933324754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYDCvFnlUTC4R9GhwRCuljYOxJ_aIv3pzzULVSnKf91j_yc32oj7FYxPeVdQXxLBrgHkGFQl-cxDbMPKMH9iPb0s5Az1fPOnaNZbymOFpm89KnGsXynegklZx-aBQhNi_8yeqDTlTBJzP/s400/DSC09111.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I was a bit snacky and ended up having a serving of <span style="font-weight:bold;">wheat thins</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span> before lunch. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTT3XjeRcQOqshJol1Pc2mYJimtLVdtu5Q-Ur73WoiJrr-AnbnZ3zMEfEB_P8auVYphGzRrWBgIMOD9GWwglA5FscamoO-EJh4fS8kImbeTdjdbGnMIaRzmSFFUVgvKdaMVMggD3RIE-I/s1600/DSC09112.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533148197187411554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTT3XjeRcQOqshJol1Pc2mYJimtLVdtu5Q-Ur73WoiJrr-AnbnZ3zMEfEB_P8auVYphGzRrWBgIMOD9GWwglA5FscamoO-EJh4fS8kImbeTdjdbGnMIaRzmSFFUVgvKdaMVMggD3RIE-I/s400/DSC09112.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Since it was so windy & cold I decided to have soup for lunch! I had 1 can of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Progresso vegetable soup</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRnBK0k5JO6IPcL15E12iaCwpkctbEGmO1cHYa-9pf-TWASZkqFaePBzJTg4Y2OklX6lYYIaiNFGvnyaD-1r_SF3oflXAolHyPb10Eez5GvEOEgatKJsdHUzmhyfZREUG7qEehVavafrr/s1600/DSC09113.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533148191838432354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRnBK0k5JO6IPcL15E12iaCwpkctbEGmO1cHYa-9pf-TWASZkqFaePBzJTg4Y2OklX6lYYIaiNFGvnyaD-1r_SF3oflXAolHyPb10Eez5GvEOEgatKJsdHUzmhyfZREUG7qEehVavafrr/s400/DSC09113.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I had a <span style="font-weight:bold;">cheese sandwich</span> on the side for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6MngGMTc8cgcohbjmPE_T5jhI-FsY-NCR7r4agl6xLOzbdQNJg9vqbkBkWEW3ubiJNr3TaNDKk365GxuEvzGXRwvr1vRZ1VIQSAn-UpLPybjso0EL5m7lnlrm1P7VPgrhgwY5WeKqDOX/s1600/DSC09114.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533148182305219394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6MngGMTc8cgcohbjmPE_T5jhI-FsY-NCR7r4agl6xLOzbdQNJg9vqbkBkWEW3ubiJNr3TaNDKk365GxuEvzGXRwvr1vRZ1VIQSAn-UpLPybjso0EL5m7lnlrm1P7VPgrhgwY5WeKqDOX/s400/DSC09114.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Still wasn't 100% satisfied so I made myself a <span style="font-weight:bold;">grilled cheese</span> for another <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKyssIMMX42mBeoLT0ZcedvLZ3nnz67LQ7nY4zDf6W7CW3fXNXhPULVASeq17TITNt6eNU0U4igHt8IMVxi5x_XFDzM8snNzJSVSoBJfGs6y9-UTqrifUolf06mSWFp2x8YyNs5ZPS_WM/s1600/DSC09115.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533148179162117058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKyssIMMX42mBeoLT0ZcedvLZ3nnz67LQ7nY4zDf6W7CW3fXNXhPULVASeq17TITNt6eNU0U4igHt8IMVxi5x_XFDzM8snNzJSVSoBJfGs6y9-UTqrifUolf06mSWFp2x8YyNs5ZPS_WM/s400/DSC09115.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I was determined not to be glued to the couch when I got home from work and I'm proud to say I wasn't! I cleaned a bit, put away some laundry, made supper...<span style="font-weight:bold;">mini Hawaiian pizzas</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeISIKO0b4KH-By8BdWs_7klADrCPEnwGLYnzdx9_6gj9UGcRrL9kGnh73pyhT_q3o93v2XpqX1XIp1SEeeJSulwXqxTKW1x6uSh5dyA1gFCVC7_z1X4BBX3_XCjTDLtHCuqlxJHappjC/s1600/DSC09116.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533148166378356466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeISIKO0b4KH-By8BdWs_7klADrCPEnwGLYnzdx9_6gj9UGcRrL9kGnh73pyhT_q3o93v2XpqX1XIp1SEeeJSulwXqxTKW1x6uSh5dyA1gFCVC7_z1X4BBX3_XCjTDLtHCuqlxJHappjC/s400/DSC09116.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Super easy, use a english muffin, sauce, & toppings of choice and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. These were even husband approved! ;)<br /><br />After supper I got busy in my craft room! I got a good start on a new project and finished up a few other things. Time flies when I'm in there though, I couldn't believe it was 11pm and I wasn't zonked out yet!<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />WEDNESDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 21/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 4 used/31 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/0 week<br />H2O = 104 oz<br />EXERCISE = none

Crafty

This week has blown by, in multiple ways! lol ;) Can't believe tomorrow's Friday already! I was lazy for breakfast Wednesday morning...

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Blown Away!

Hello friends! Please forgive me for my Monday blogging break! Never fear though, I'm back! :)<br /><br />Tuesday morning I mixed up my favorite <span style="font-weight:bold;">oatmeal </span>combo of a <span style="font-weight:bold;">small sliced banana</span> and <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 T</span> of <span style="font-weight:bold;">peanut butter</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBWrzmr-lZmFGr7OBhx7J1E1o2bkPhKy6tGXHo51CXyxaErGGfr_K3AnlFkzSLbq7WvxN5HO4zA6MF8aSd6ht9i-mKtbhTkW23rpbCPu6ZmvcxYEzv5K4iTUjT3tI87YUhIdZqX2Rb7fJ/s1600/DSC09070.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532734287826445298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBWrzmr-lZmFGr7OBhx7J1E1o2bkPhKy6tGXHo51CXyxaErGGfr_K3AnlFkzSLbq7WvxN5HO4zA6MF8aSd6ht9i-mKtbhTkW23rpbCPu6ZmvcxYEzv5K4iTUjT3tI87YUhIdZqX2Rb7fJ/s400/DSC09070.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />My day was pretty much shot! I was in meetings from 8:30am-2:30pm! Throughout the morning I snacked on a serving of <span style="font-weight:bold;">wheat thins</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfOiPhSeWOapEw9Kguzwj2D8JnsnfJUinO5_dtrQ9U8wx-kK_gw5y2b7IDj3l8e9Xfu1KGHduVqlqYxvG_24r2PssWWFK6_EeKUPgoqHqvZGFkSdocFmr7bIJiG03SgKz6TP_BQZWOycZ/s1600/DSC09105.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532734197786512578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfOiPhSeWOapEw9Kguzwj2D8JnsnfJUinO5_dtrQ9U8wx-kK_gw5y2b7IDj3l8e9Xfu1KGHduVqlqYxvG_24r2PssWWFK6_EeKUPgoqHqvZGFkSdocFmr7bIJiG03SgKz6TP_BQZWOycZ/s400/DSC09105.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I did get a quick lunch break, I felt like these crazy winds just blew me right back over to my office! There were gusts recorded at 80+mph!!!<br /><br />I had some left over <span style="font-weight:bold;">spaghetti </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7WSdYe0ntf71UxAlJXmkwzTQjFFBlFezQodx-Qgl4W1scJqHDN4MNTA1n1Y3inGOHGu0cxcIsw8-aNyIYJRHSWQwlq-us6Hb7bz7apPIauHOIc7Xc1aPyzFwAAjDAVyr5om0Bt4ZO4fr/s1600/DSC09107.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532734191465605186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7WSdYe0ntf71UxAlJXmkwzTQjFFBlFezQodx-Qgl4W1scJqHDN4MNTA1n1Y3inGOHGu0cxcIsw8-aNyIYJRHSWQwlq-us6Hb7bz7apPIauHOIc7Xc1aPyzFwAAjDAVyr5om0Bt4ZO4fr/s400/DSC09107.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I also had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1/2c cottage cheese</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span> and didn't eat the cantaloupe, it was <span style="font-style:italic;">ROCK HARD</span> with no taste. :(<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrIiORDqAeFvxBjlkIEJx2aH2otTOwinDhQPRSFPZZhJupHsyw90m5rNxvOYQueeuKgyUCLVvjpWEZvTwB_C_nO1ltAbe-FvghL9-dg0niK9gO3qtbxPcIPzYYD5GT2pPZBLos72AX93N/s1600/DSC09108.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532734180379746290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrIiORDqAeFvxBjlkIEJx2aH2otTOwinDhQPRSFPZZhJupHsyw90m5rNxvOYQueeuKgyUCLVvjpWEZvTwB_C_nO1ltAbe-FvghL9-dg0niK9gO3qtbxPcIPzYYD5GT2pPZBLos72AX93N/s400/DSC09108.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />After work I sliced up a <span style="font-weight:bold;">fresh pear</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point</span>. It was perfect! A nice change after my fruit fail at lunch!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcbYYlCtOoXielIluKqiOFmhpHqF7N0LFMuzTxJAcF2dQTqWB1HCMnRagHODv7ZQa8hvjmv-3JiGEJPbXMGPm9AMEupdE-pASvR9i0ucvvf4IulwetnG7R66IKniuT8qx9Lo_pZhTtYb-/s1600/DSC09109.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532734173900584530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcbYYlCtOoXielIluKqiOFmhpHqF7N0LFMuzTxJAcF2dQTqWB1HCMnRagHODv7ZQa8hvjmv-3JiGEJPbXMGPm9AMEupdE-pASvR9i0ucvvf4IulwetnG7R66IKniuT8qx9Lo_pZhTtYb-/s400/DSC09109.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I had NO clue what to make for supper. I just knew I needed to use up some zucchini I had in my fridge. I ended up mixing a heaping helping of <span style="font-weight:bold;">zucchini </span>with 1<span style="font-weight:bold;">/4c light parmesan alfredo sauce</span> and <span style="font-weight:bold;">2oz whole wheat pasta</span> for a total of <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>. Delish!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpr1mutgbR9ReE232gWKMoWGartxPTr9aMKcopH556UIEn4YXWSsIXhbL8lIAkNGR1PX3ym7L_BWzZ18SSzxkcg9leSPVYBlO5ikv6ogLbb802f-GtwneOjGVbPU4OvwQIiYYmFnZJQ2mO/s1600/DSC09110.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532734165579634882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpr1mutgbR9ReE232gWKMoWGartxPTr9aMKcopH556UIEn4YXWSsIXhbL8lIAkNGR1PX3ym7L_BWzZ18SSzxkcg9leSPVYBlO5ikv6ogLbb802f-GtwneOjGVbPU4OvwQIiYYmFnZJQ2mO/s400/DSC09110.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I finished my eats off with a small dish of <span style="font-weight:bold;">light ice cream</span> mixed with <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 T</span> of <span style="font-weight:bold;">peanut butter</span> and drizzled some <span style="font-weight:bold;">light chocolate syrup</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>! I felt like I worked at <a href="http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/">Coldstone </a>when I was mixing it all together!<br /><br />Kyle spent the majority of the night on the computer doing homework and I'm pretty sure my rear was glued to the couch!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TUESDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 27/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 4 used/31 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/0 week<br />H2O = 80 oz<br />EXERCISE = none<br /><br />I'm hoping to get some form of activity in today, even tho it's about 40 degrees with 25+ mph winds! Brrr, I have to say I'm not really ready for winter, but it's quickly approaching!

Blown Away!

Hello friends! Please forgive me for my Monday blogging break! Never fear though, I'm back! :) Tuesday morning I mixed up my favorite oa...

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Another day, another dollar

I'm still alive! Work is kicking my butt again. Even though I promised myself only eight-hour days from here on out, sometimes it's just not possible. Considering the hours I've been working the last few months I'm probably working for minimum wage. Sad but true. <br /><br />Although my manager did give me the "Parking Spot" award last week along with a $100 gift certificate for a dinner out. A nice gesture but I'm still working for minimum wage. The parking spot means I get to park in the spot of my choice for a month (next to the front door) with my name on the parking spot. I think this is the fourth time I've been given the parking spot in the last three years. It basically just tells you that I work too many hours. <br /><br />I still haven't made it to a Weight Watcher meeting. This Saturday I've promised myself to go back to my favorite meeting and favorite leader. I'll have my official weighin, sit through the meeting, and once again start tracking my food. I'm just not ready at the moment to crack open the online food tracker and start tracking.<br /><br />Lately I've been struggling with hunger. I'm not sure why, maybe it's the weather change, maybe it's just a problem I'll always have, but I've been feeling ravenous hunger the last few days. I'm cutting back a little. For example four ounces of chicken - weighed on the food scale - instead of eyeballing it and knowing it's really eight ounces. I've been really good at convincing myself that was okay because, you know, I work out so hard. The joke is on me. <br /><br />I'm still going to the gym on a consistent basis, although not every day. Five or six times a week, last week was seven days, but I'm taking today off from the gym because of a very late night last night. I decided sleep was more important this morning. <br /><br />Speaking of the gym, I was reading the Health magazine and it said if you're over fifty, you have do do a minimum of sixty minutes a day of moderate exercise...and that's just to maintain your weight! All because our metabolism is slowing down drastically now. I always do an hour, but not EVERY day. Sucks to get old.<br /><br />Time to get going to work. I just thought I'd drop by and let you all know I'm still here, still struggling, but I'll never, ever give up!<br /><br />~Diana<br />174.8

Another day, another dollar

I'm still alive! Work is kicking my butt again. Even though I promised myself only eight-hour days from here on out, sometimes it's ...

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Weekend

<p>Howdy blog friends! I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend! Check mine out. </p> <p>I started my Saturday out with a <strong>peanut butter & jelly english muffin</strong> for <strong>4 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxHDsArcRc-d5Rz9dwmB4JMIpIPH_eh520SbwMK9F40EctX6BdREdzS4gcCP9X_r3Y2gYavg7d0iQBtgC1UZpXSaoPoyLxSdNwRCcGKieOsgu-4-2Bd_hNYWrdqsgULN4XPCxnUInwd_a/s1600-h/DSC090863.jpg"><img alt="DSC09086" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrNMMoYXKUeAC8iggtFJGblpiTatshlOHuVqTRIRbUuSt-9M6_e5vPmqHcmqOYXj8oEf2QIEixJE100nHOjcPfSere2pAH1nmYYq4_VXlwf3mcb6eqBBhnCnc2K89jw4m7VppvYHR1lhP/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09086" width="404"></a></p> <p>Kyle and I did a few last minute things around the house and then hit the road to Iowa City to cheer on the Hawkeyes!!! I snacked a few handfuls of <strong>grapes</strong> on the way down for <strong>1 point</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU958ogeTXkx7mRjH7ohQoEYLdmFXNrfyp72zFmIewQIOUkeR2spgZI7GOKo8gffI6uwCxZ_iM23YNskBLywp70oJzs0QUmf4AP7-ZCaJEOeJkDvpM8zbi_RClDawtQNhaPXJTii8s4LDm/s1600-h/DSC090883.jpg"><img alt="DSC09088" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhCWQmLZLbnsk0hmvnwfiHpCZVuJ2zLLLAvG3Ray5Y17MdQxoQI77THYtH06qLOx9vo9euVbOZl1zUreL-6nqsKQbs6J-Vk3oKfgGrdl-24VheJkhAdAip_fJ8z-3yjUa5fAj96RJ05GF/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09088" width="404"></a></p> <p>We decided to forgo tailgating (easier not to have to pack all that food, supplies, grill, etc!) and go out to eat for lunch before the game. We started out with <strong>chips & salsa</strong>. I had about <strong>5 points</strong> worth. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffqjUo_VzzVHQp5sia8o-qqNOXirEFdwGi8H0LX_3MqTKpaBxVHcjDkmWmU5ctJdLg4a-QGTBWwH5ojgYUYFQweWzIGmeNAev87fqMpJ2q23ptWpM4cErQqUnke-nKxrCBEO23H21pC6L/s1600-h/DSC090893.jpg"><img alt="DSC09089" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdclZmQ2GgOAYaa7OhYYW1w1Vq39xwxIfDQfOM9g6XMifRlg02IOkRaZfOc2gr7Djl_8pO4OHwrdWFIsq0AXO7qjsM-RApP_nYPyaKVn0jJNZOhO8EXzn3UGBs6h-yV1aPXmDIbli-9DzP/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09089" width="404"></a></p> <p>For my entree I ordered the<strong> malibu chicken</strong>, but took off the bacon & cheese and only ate the bottom of the bun for <strong>5 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4hMjhMAU5RgV4MgJUOY_2Iw4RIZWKBOh_wLYFC6t9F5CSUmQvwNXY1R_Cy84jQuuSPndBb6JQs0wzpSK82zs29gFgB760LXhr4rkbN5zH_0C0csd0XIFkjz_Ub8a2kWXjX5yKuc-qAnG/s1600-h/DSC090903.jpg"><img alt="DSC09090" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cOjrdUnvGQpX6Qv7jHNVeZcarlKh6hKpUTY-_q3QzRFfzLetLKyXLHRrrSPAQp2PfpxbezbCH1gg-1rQJWCrw5Kq1aTxOtNUXc95O__G9yvgIN2MrLeQaSFInHj9trbWvcqrKZzPX15Q/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09090" width="404"></a></p> <p>No greasy fries for me on the side, I went for some protein packed <strong>cottage cheese</strong>. I ate about half of this for <strong>2 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ffTrARNLrQY2RuRBwDrfZ3L9I36SkhXpElr6uYYfmtG_p1Ne10aVx-UyJpbZP4HxfbvBuuD4Qb86rIdZVOKaS_xbAnKBBJWPWVWnIdHcOtkNvvD5nRyI95dvoBmRc-eYEcNWk7HQHUzx/s1600-h/DSC090913.jpg"><img alt="DSC09091" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRyup-aqBJ5ChmGCJzvhENf8wSqSqT0rMEccDl7cic6jqdrc12xdcH5jvVGLP236aN2-9cb9btIMxRGZXlOmAZ3cxSN5W4MTYFt2PAF9uctasTpbqKyYaS7h4ZmcpoTWiT-QtrZcnEpW-/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09091" width="404"></a></p> <p>After lunch we walked to the stadium ready to cheer on the Hawks!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSpC-cGmxLgD2tHhgfmmfrl7cG_bCmimGC-XNE-wyd-Z-GLUMIv3dH59efzBq6dSL0-yD02pNxGxzOv3VnCYWeEK4-vQqAKBTCSC-hn8gFla9i86NzZ1Ywv-6C8bBIvPm4Q6Ec3IPFISv/s1600-h/DSC090943.jpg"><img alt="DSC09094" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCtzNRC6EQrZBXBio0uT8owJKFuv2rWNbCUTcjE1LQnA1JMAiV6yzfRE16TaLvKMNOPm8GpZ4xmLiUQItgwtZwF9M0XrOU64lrp6jEpZqIUygBQc9-61022TdfAbiEZm8pBGa7W3Ob6vE/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09094" width="404"></a></p> <p>We played Wisconsin. If you know anything about college football, WI beat the #1 rated team last week. We knew we would have our hands full. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLtGLH1s5G_n2oELMcDHq7aT8xYapV2H0fQHf8piTW4UcpeZUb9heqwrhz-S9GD0aJLihnM5FkoQ7oELjhps6j8P3wvfRAe3X6PwYN3q9Dd-mQsubKOR5Y7IQ9jgJ0JNUmRZ4uwCRacAs/s1600-h/DSC090983.jpg"><img alt="DSC09098" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjOIpxgAntU_VT3N9VTjZmKGN9XcYZFESXonNuOWgBL35ewlJs0qKNO7PIkEJxy59eDcWbhX8DwsuoCZV5yPq7plQfnw-ZFxnUfiDPDG9vIqOjsnbBDfZzIslVaynI-Om-9GNi0vmCe4D/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09098" width="404"></a></p> <p>The good part of the game is that it only rained for about 10 minutes, tops! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Dh9LRiNBS4yDEN-nR44tBXxyGGsIX7FwJtZvAxaj4o1kiDTzp5YjuqXaGw2RUMDQ0WimyHJIDKrtP4h88G6-Q61RabzlCPGwlohGJnICa-d0vK5C8DLOmev_EP-R67S7jJXuMzkPmGyI/s1600-h/DSC091033.jpg"><img alt="DSC09103" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyPDgo0mY3iI4Wk35MaHXrBczNwhtCKzY21o9PI10W8jI4z0dNXAKLXuui7W8y0ojSa0XepEU2-tSXgeqGBd-RlCzNDJHHI0CqnKB3dyjH6sAzyib7ZNqIxg08lVDKKHatbhNpp0Be7Ce/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09103" width="304"></a></p> <p>The bad part, we didn’t win. :( We lost by 1 point!!!!!!!!! I think Kyle went through an entire box of tissues, j/k! He was quite bummed though!</p> <p>We made the 2+ hour drive home and stopped at <strong>Subway</strong> for supper. I had a<strong> ham & turkey</strong> on <strong>wheat</strong> & <strong>1/2 bag of chips</strong> for<strong> 8 points</strong>. </p> <p><strong>SATURDAY’S STATS<br></strong>POINTS = 25/23<br>WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 31 used/4 remaining<br>ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 2 today/3 week<br>H2O = 60 oz<br>EXERCISE = LOTS of walking to/from stadium! <p>Sunday we <em>slept in</em>, met Kyle’s family for <em>brunch</em>, and then<em> got busy</em> at home! We have a storage shed in our back yard which is awesome, but it became the spot to stick something if we didn’t know what to do with it. We didn’t have any room to put our patio furniture & grill in for the winter. So we pulled <strong><em>EVERYTHING</em></strong> out, <strong><em>purged</em></strong>, and <strong><em>re-organized</em></strong> everything. Such a great feeling!</p> <p>Can’t wait to catch up with everyone’s weekends!</p> <p><strong><em>Have a marvelous Monday!!!</em></strong></p>

Weekend

Howdy blog friends! I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend! Check mine out. I started my Saturday out with a peanut butter & jelly en...

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Live From Las Vegas IV: Go In Peace

A lot of peole who have been at Convention do not stay for Sunday -- quite understandably. The business is done. Those from afar often need to get home. Those from anear worship at their own churches. So there is a kind of intimacy among those who are left, and a comfort in knowing that the work is done and the issues are resolved one way or the other. So it was this morning.<br /><br />We had the final meeting. Fortunately, things had gone as planned. There were no more run-off elections, budgets, or other matters. Rose Kawai delivered a box of stoles from Bp Alexander Wangadag of the Diocese of Santiago, our companion diocese in the Philippines. We had courtesy resolutions affirming our friends who had made the convention happen.<br /><br />Worship was like an All Star Game. All sorts of people offered lovely gifts. The readers, the musicians, the acolytes, etc. came from diverse parishes to do a holy thing in a casino ballroom.<br />However, like an All Star Team, they were not used to playing together on an strange field with unfamiliar leadership. There were some glitches that I felt bad about. I hope no one felt that their gifts were unappreciated or taken for granted. They were all lovely -- the music of the Todos Los Santos, Holy Child, and Convention Choirs supported the readings by Aja, Melvin, and Deacon Mike. Our worship inlcuded some chaos, but God was glorified in the midst of it.<br /><br />Then I enjoyed a working lunch with our Deans. Despite their meeting all year on line and their working ? It feels like at least a week. I had expected the Deans to be patient in a bedraggled way. Instead, they were eager to to share their experience of ministy and discuss how we can do more together in the future.<br /><br />So it's done for another year. I feel tired and blessed.

Live From Las Vegas IV: Go In Peace

A lot of peole who have been at Convention do not stay for Sunday -- quite understandably. The business is done. Those from afar often need ...

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Planning de la semaine du 25 au 29 octobre 2010

<BR><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Le <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans<br />- le lundi 25 octobre de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 26 octobre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 27 octobre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 28 octobre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 29 octobre de 13h30 à 17h.<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> - vendredi 22 octobre de 09h à 12h30 (sur rendez-vous)</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2008/12/atelier-parcours-emploi.html">Parcours Emploi</a></strong> - mardi 26 octobre à 9h30 à la Maison de la Réussite et de l'Emploi (place Mozart - Quartier de l'Argonne) <br /><br /><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 26 octobre de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 27 octobre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 26 octobre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 29 octobre de 10h à 11h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - vendredi 29 octobre de 14h à 16h</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Information collective</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>Boutique de Gestion</strong> - lundi 25 octobre à 14h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 25 au 29 octobre 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 25 oc...

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Live From Las Vegas III: Bishop Bugsy

The business is done: COM restructured; budget passed; elections conducted and appointments ratified; the Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation adopted. But the big events were the Formation Fair which got an enthusiastic response from a diocese that proved hungrier for formation than I had expected. Then there were the Special Mission Group meetings which produced lots of engergy and ideas. I met with the most diverse group of wardens you could imagine -- each great in a unique way. I was delighted that they wanted to meet again next year and to find a way to keep in touch. So we will set up a Google Group for them just like we are doing for Parish Educators. Then I learned the Parish Communicators want the same thing. Amazing. I love seeing people come together. I feel like an ecclesiastical Yentl.<br /><br />Of course, our keynoter, Dr. Susanna Singer of the Church Diviniity School of the Pacific was great and she seemed to think well of us in return. She did far more than any keynoter I've ever seen -- meeting with and facilitating small groups, fiellding questions, and leading a plenary session.<br /><br />Tonight at the banquet, we honored office manager Barbara Lewis on the occasons of her retirement and her 80th birthday. Faith and Visual Arts presented awards to our top artists. Then we saw a display of remarkable folkdances from the mountains of the Northern Philippines performed by the people of St. Luke's, Las Vegas. Never ever saw anything like this at a diocesan convention. What a place! What a people!<br /><br />I may feel like Yentl but that was not my image. Having worn a green hard had that said "2 million green energy jobs now" yesterday, I thought I'd go conservative today with a black fedora I bought last year at the Veneitian. But people said it was a mob hat and now they are calling me Bishop Bugsy.

Live From Las Vegas III: Bishop Bugsy

The business is done: COM restructured; budget passed; elections conducted and appointments ratified; the Charter for Lifelong Christian For...

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Early Out

<p><strong><em>Hooray for the weekend! It’s officially here!</em></strong> I <3 Saturday & Sunday…can ya tell!?!?</p> <p>For my breakfast on Friday I was a little lazy and just had a bowl of <strong>cold cereal</strong> and an <strong>english muffin</strong> with <strong>pb & j</strong> for a total of <strong>9 points</strong>. </p> <p>I felt like my day was pretty much shot when I looked at my calendar at work, I had meetings from 9am – 11:30 and then from 1:30 – 3:30! Lots of good info though. </p> <p>After my first meeting I had a <strong>Larabar</strong> for my morning snack for <strong>5 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6khfybQY2gBXqCrH2zQbkn1JoUTAuJ9JeZXsF7Mv0GftUFoZIZa78wdIVGKuoOdjph5Gk3BYPI_2HQ6EluIWWtSaBW0fZa2zy383TdBgOx7N3R1JUeTDfZAcmLmpA2CmTaK-U5zKxQaYx/s1600-h/DSC09083%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09083" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHBs842jeLHpqcTXtKrg5KiSjuHnkCA6lA4QKLnMTxjOgN0Aky_FvA9Dhq11bphzDhhNBXT_F-oHIpaWOGIQnx-R9SKYCfSBtmxAjtLbKSmb8enb3Rk_hDBORcXz3I8cJnTiWGf9ztmCQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09083" width="404"></a></p> <p>Since I had little time in between and a few appointments I ended up eating lunch at my desk. But I came prepared and had a <strong>Smart One’s</strong> for <strong>4 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7e_kxnYjbBt8vK3knAfjDq7VO42aTlZGdPBts3_2so1cHsRc6mU_PztW0ckheRK8AJ-a-hz4jP8xhYNAyueJfAib7DCJAQNNFy6mfTLzcK19vrl1RsKNDmYwip7rILPb3idH6C-wtzpp/s1600-h/DSC09030%5B3%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09030[3]" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBriLtx1RcCNXrJR-s-vgPp7URKCgA71_-9f2_7742WFUJtd5T3sCERH5zApXAyBU2uw9tiiwOungi0SsZgpJ8v7Bvm0UyiB5smqblsWXMc7Xtr9cG6Aj0693-fUXxyTGPuUvP-gA2hfAz/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09030[3]" width="404"></a></p> <p>Found out after my afternoon meeting that our President was closing the offices an hour early today, HOORAY!! :)</p> <p>Kyle and I welcomed the extra hour and headed up to his parents house. His <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/02/weekend-chicago-trip.html">sister & BIL from Chicago</a> were in town. My MIL made her famous<strong> homemade pizza</strong>. I had this <strong>X2</strong>, it’s just SO good, estimating <strong>16 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAk3g0IzJuf7N2EcGV0mF6bylb72-SBqybbIJbjrl7q4suRBuWD0pwwBmoV50fqi-Ir9InlcSI6OLOcza5kCNR-BIeA63Oo-M-RWwmFvq_5SZMuNKl5Z3x0gm4GKc68aBYgSP3lmHjwif/s1600-h/DSC09084%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09084" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FVqMA76a0-PKo538C5j8gxlRYtBY_zfrIg-Oq79hjDR3opkwMxF35wAOuJI962J50e2rCVsPTg3QTc_3QmezE2A7Ls-3V3RR-_U8HRGbH4u8H66OotP678Bb5TVlPmWFpBl-J-DO_PE6/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09084" width="404"></a></p> <p>Desert was another favorite…<strong>homemade ice cream</strong>! It was too good to say no. I had about <strong>1/2</strong> of what is pictured here for an estimate of <strong>6 points</strong>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQwnonM6PNSjQZjm9dL9xdLgquwSV7rsUZ-SvaB_FlLfDXoWK-kiNDSoO_8WWp1o14YCpI_ImALDzHKKM34g95SpVrZPlutjgcB990DJrSQkpE8o807WnXOPk9eHNvcHF8Wrce8mcxfbr/s1600-h/DSC09085%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09085" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeU6KFI-GeRfpP7teHUo_1oYnOOxL-vn6HgaSanPXNbp9-WNRG0GbVil8bzADgARlUFn3hAJOqGRVc8WGK2gzLViNt3B-fclxtCE4gMoDi9ffL0BmaYmbiRbFD71-29irr3kYkK3vMqGk/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09085" width="404"></a></p> <p>We called a night a little early, needed to get some Z’s before heading to Iowa City Saturday morning to cheer on the Hawkeyes!</p> <p>Oh please keep your fingers, toes, anything you can crossed & say prayers we don’t get drenched at the game. Weather.com is saying 40% chance of rain pretty much throughout the entire game. :(</p> <p><strong>FRIDAY’S STATS<br></strong>POINTS = 40/23<br>WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 28 used/7 remaining<br>ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/1 week<br>H2O = 80 oz<br>EXERCISE = none <p><strong><em>Enjoy your weekend everyone!</em></strong></p>

Early Out

Hooray for the weekend! It’s officially here! I <3 Saturday & Sunday…can ya tell!?!? For my breakfast on Friday I was a little lazy...

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Live From Las Vegas II: Galilee, St. Jude's, and Splashing Children

This morning seems years ago. So much has gone down at Santa Fe Station. Good prayer services morning and evening. A tribute to Sr. Faith, an upbeat presentation by UNR students about Vocare. Reports on the Frensdorff School, Camp Galillee's resurgence, new evangelism training and resources, our partnership in Haiti, and more. Tonight we heard Mildred Springer's compelling personal account of the watershed General Convention in 03 and a plug for the Book of Occasional Servcies and Holy Women, Holy Men -- our new book of saints.<br /><br />The high points of the day were the report from St. Jude's Ranch where we are restoring a parntership in mission to abused and neglected children -- a partnership unnecesarily interrupted by theological differences in years past -- and the report on Latino/Hispanic ministries particularly as it is touching the lives of families, youth, and children. It was a true blessing to have Fr. Anthony Guillen with us from Latino/ Hispanic Ministries of The Episcopal Church and to see the grace, positively visible grace, in the slide show of our own people presented by Fr. Bernardo and Delores. The best pics showed the children spashing in the fountain at Christ Church, Las Vegas.<br /><br />Tomorrow, God willing and a quorum arriving, we will slog through the business of elections, canons, and one resolution; but the main theme tomorrow will be Christian formation. The Rev. Dr. Susanna Singer, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, will deliver the keynote address and faciliate large and small group discussions. Should be a good day.

Live From Las Vegas II: Galilee, St. Jude's, and Splashing Children

This morning seems years ago. So much has gone down at Santa Fe Station. Good prayer services morning and evening. A tribute to Sr. Faith, a...

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Trying to Cling to the term "Career Tiger"

I have read the book <em>Al Kaline and the Detroit Tigers </em>by Hal Butler about three times now. My father owned a copy, and I think I was bored one day and he suggested I read it. (This was before I asked him what number I should wear for softball - I told him I was playing right field and without a beat he said "six.") The book is great, and it really helped me realize how great Kaline was for the Detroit Tigers. His leadership over those seasons, from an eighteen-year-old rookie to the wizened veteran hoising the World Series trophy, was crucial for that team of amazing talents. Not to mention that he was a stellar outfielder and slugger. <br /><br />I think the thing that impressed me the most about Kaline was his committment to the Detroit Tigers themselves. They weren't giving multi-million dollar contracts at the time, but each year the Tigers offered a contract, Kaline accepted it. And now, for many of my father's generation, he is their favorite Tiger of all time. He never gave his heart to another pro franchise, and he remains a part of the organization to this very day. <br /><br />This man was a career Tiger.<br /><br />Think about Steve Yzerman. It's a different sport, yes, but I think it still applies. He came to the Red Wings as a fresh-faced rookie on a pretty terrible team people liked to call the "Dead Things." The Wings knew they had something special and made him captain at age 21. He helped create the ultimate team of the 90s (in my humble opinion) which won back-to-back titles after a 42-year drought. <br /><br />The man was committed to the team and the fans embraced him back. I loved watching him on those teams - he was never the highest scorer on the team, nor was he the hardest hitter, but you could feel his presence holding the team together for one common goal.<br /><br />This man was a career Red Wing. <br /><br />It is very rare for there to be a player who is with the same team for his whole professional career. It may be due to the team deciding he's not worth it. It could be for injuries. It may be just for more money. But the offseasons of pro franchises are filled with "This guy's going here" and "We just got this guy!" It makes me excited when we can get a player like Tracy McGrady (the injury-free one) or Mike Modano or Miguel Cabrera and they really embrace their Detroit-ness. But it's always great to have a guy that's been in the system since his first day turning pro. <br /><br />Now I'm not trying to compare Steve Yzerman or Al Kaline to Brandon Inge here, but the announcement yesterday that he had been re-signed for two more years did make me excited. In all the articles it talks about how he was drafted by Detroit in 1998, played for one of the worst teams in baseball history in 2003, and went to the World Series with that very team in 2006. <br /><br />In my years as a Tiger fan (which has grown since that 2006 season - before that I was more of a spectator to a losing team), I remembered Inge, whether he was the catcher or at third. I remember for one Spring Training the only thing people could talk about was Inge's complaints about getting paid. But I remember a few seasons after that voting for him as many times as humanly possible so he'd be the last player voted in to the All-Star game!<br /><br />Ever since he's been given the third base position outright, he has turned into a fine fielder. He led all third basemen this season with a .997 fielding percentage and only nine errors. I want to be able to trust the player in the Hot Corner with every ball hit to him, and Inge has proven himself this season. He won't be the big bat you hope for, but that can be arranged in other areas of the lineup. <br /><br />I also know that he lives in Michigan. While all the other Tiger players retreat to their warm winter homes (some to their home countries, to be fair), Inge has set up permanent residence in Michigan in a time where everyone is seemingly leaving the state. That gives me a huge sense of respect to this player. <br /><br />I hope that this is the last contract he signs, whether he plays two or three seasons with the Tigers. I want him to retire as a Tiger - and not one of those day-contract things, either. I'm still clinging to the belief that there are players that are work-hard career players who are committed to their team. <br /><br />It's more than likely that Inge will never be inducted into the Hall of Fame or anything. But when Brandon Inge does come back to Comerica Park for something, whether it's for a special event or as part of a front office, I know that I'd give him as much of an ovation as he deserves. He stuck with us through thin and thick, and I will always respect him if he sticks with us to the end. <br /><br />So how about it Brandon? You wanna be a career Tiger?

Trying to Cling to the term "Career Tiger"

I have read the book Al Kaline and the Detroit Tigers by Hal Butler about three times now. My father owned a copy, and I think I was bored o...

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The endless journey

"The Endless Journey" might have been a better choice for my blog name. There are so many twists and turns in trying to figure out the right way to lose weight or even if there is a right way, that this journey is never going to end. It's a lifelong process trying to figure out what works.  <br /><br />Some people figure out what works for them very quickly in the game, some people give up and never figure it out. Then there are people like me, learning something new every single day, that have some of the answers, but certainly not all of them. <br /><br />Geneen Roth's book Women, Food and God provides a lot of the answers on what's wrong with me. It works if you follow her guidelines. If you don't, it doesn't work. It's just like every other plan, you can't just read the book, attend a workshop and then forget about it. You have to continue to work at it.<br /><br />What I'm finding is that it's not easy to feel the pain instead of eating. In fact, it kind of hurts like hell. It's like ripping a band aid off of a wound and the scab sticks to the band aid and now you're in excruciating pain. I'm not sure how I feel about this type of introspection into my psyche. It's not pleasant and some days I'm just not up to it. <br /><br />On the other hand, I suspect it's the only way I'll ever feel okay about food. I know this is a very slow process, undoing forty plus years of using food for comfort, not facing my reality, and it isn't going to change overnight. <br /><br />I haven't posted since last Sunday, four days of silence. It was an odd week where I was extremely tired every day. Each night I came home and could barely move. I skipped the gym three days in a row due to pure exhaustion. Wednesday night I went to bed at 7:30pm and woke up at 7:30am Thursday morning, twelve hours of sleep. I guess I was tired. <br /><br />I have today off from work, for no particular reason. I just felt like I needed a day off. I weighed this morning and I'm 174.6 which is oddly almost exactly the weight in my blog profile. I think that was posted a couple of months ago. Although I'm not gaining weight and I'm eating well (probably a little too well), I'm not losing weight. <br /><br />I'll be honest, I don't like following Geneen Roth's eating guidelines. It's  a lot harder than it sounds. My least favorite guideline is #3. I find it almost impossible to just sit quietly and eat, without doing anything else. On Geneen's CD that I purchased at her workshop, she said you should try to do this once a day in the beginning, more often if possible, and at the very least a few times a week. It's not easy.<br /><br />Geneen Roth's Eating Guidelines<br /><br />1. Eat when you are hungry. (Truly hungry, body hungry not mind hungry)<br /><br />2. Eat sitting down in a calm environment. This does not include the car. <br /><br /><strong><span style="color: red;">3.Eat without distractions. Distractions include radio, television, newspaper, books, intense or anxiety producing conversation and music. </span></strong><br /><br />4. Eat only what your body wants. (Big difference from what your MIND wants!) <br /><br />5. Eat until you are satisfied. (This is different than full). <br /><br />6. Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others. <br /><br />7. Eat with enjoyment, gusto and pleasure. <br />I've decided on a different route to get to my goal weight. It's a hybrid of the above eating guidelines AND Weight Watchers. I realize this doesn't sound possible, but it really is possible. I can still do the above eating guidelines but also attend Weight Watcher meetings and follow their eating plan. <br />  <br />My goal is by December 31, 2010, lose ten pounds. That's not a crazy amount of weight in ten weeks, but it is the holidays which makes it a tiny bit harder than normal. I feel more at peace with this idea than just doing it on my own. I also know at my current weight that my weight loss is pretty slow, unless I starve myself. I have no intention of starving myself. Been there, done that and it doesn't work in the long run. <br />  <br />The endless journey continues...

The endless journey

"The Endless Journey" might have been a better choice for my blog name. There are so many twists and turns in trying to figure out...

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Les métiers en 2009

<BR><br />Une publication conjointe du Centre d'analyse stratégique, de la Dares et de Pôle emploi sur l'évolution des métiers en 2009 vient d'être publiée.<br /><br />Cette étude met en avant la forte baisse de l'emploi en 2009 dans de nombreux secteurs provoquée par la crise économique ce qui n'est une surprise pour personne. <br /><br />Il semble cependant que quelques métiers aient bien résisté, essentiellement des métiers de service.<br /><br />Parmi les domaines professionnels qui ont le moins souffert de la crise, on retrouve essentiellement des métiers du tertiaire : métiers de la santé, de l’action sociale, culturelle et sportive et des métiers de services aux particuliers et aux collectivités.<br /><br />Les métiers de l’aide à la personne sont un exemple de ces professions peu touchées par la récession et font l'objet d'un focus particulier dans cette publication.<br /><br />Les domaines du commerce et de l’administration et la gestion des entreprises ont également été moins touchés par la crise que la moyenne. Dans ces domaines, certains métiers ont vu plus que d'autres leur situation se dégrader sur le marché du travail, tels les cadres et professions intermédiaires du commerce ou les secrétaires de direction.<br /><br />Ces évolutions conjoncturelles ne remettent pas en cause les tendances mises en avant notamment dans le rapport de prospective publié en 2007, Les Métiers en 2015, même si la crise a pu les amplifier ou les atténuer temporairement.<br /><br />Pour en savoir plus : <ul><li><a href="http://www.travail-solidarite.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/2010-069-2.pdf">Les métiers en 2009</a><br /><li><a href="http://www.strategie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Rapp6_DF_complet.pdf">Les métiers en 2015</a></ul><br /><BR>

Les métiers en 2009

Une publication conjointe du Centre d'analyse stratégique, de la Dares et de Pôle emploi sur l'évolution des métiers en 2009 vient d...

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Happy Birthday to my Pops!

It's FRIDAY!!!! Woo Hoo!!! (just picture me doing a little dance!!) Only a few more hours and the weekend is officially here!<br /><br />Ok, but we can't forget about Thursday! Here's a quick recap! I made <span style="font-weight:bold;">eggs & toast</span> for breakfast for<span style="font-weight:bold;"> 5 points</span>. I don't think they sat well in my tummy though, it was turning all morning. :(<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz67zmfvKBkK3ipLMpZjxzSGxLMBsYtNdxwFIfIsqVVKTGefdajNnK8aGGircn40AxDXE6eLrzD_o65uiwNzbElfe8Gl1ELf_Kwb1Ycs3BzaeF4DgkwV_ujr1Q7hGHHG22e0523Wsue_q/s1600/DSC09079.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530857230730724738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz67zmfvKBkK3ipLMpZjxzSGxLMBsYtNdxwFIfIsqVVKTGefdajNnK8aGGircn40AxDXE6eLrzD_o65uiwNzbElfe8Gl1ELf_Kwb1Ycs3BzaeF4DgkwV_ujr1Q7hGHHG22e0523Wsue_q/s400/DSC09079.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I tried snacking on a <span style="font-weight:bold;">granola bar</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span> to see if it would help, no such luck though. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGIPH38A78EibkzVAFtLtW2nD5B4Sb5JD-_Z-Pve2yhEBX1DnKNyTiez_fdBkRrsM6FRzmeunS3yoGBnS98bKFPomLBfJog8KFIw59EbeBDLOVgTW7FRmS_Nu9e-nX64VbPVctpR4BFwe/s1600/DSC09080.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530857221692899266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGIPH38A78EibkzVAFtLtW2nD5B4Sb5JD-_Z-Pve2yhEBX1DnKNyTiez_fdBkRrsM6FRzmeunS3yoGBnS98bKFPomLBfJog8KFIw59EbeBDLOVgTW7FRmS_Nu9e-nX64VbPVctpR4BFwe/s400/DSC09080.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Lunch was <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-weekend.html">leftovers</a>...again! But don't worry, this is the last of the <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html">creamy baked chicken</a></span>! There were 1 1/2 pieces left and I ate <span style="font-style:italic;">BOTH </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>. Thankfully lunch helped settle my stomach, not sure what the deal was.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5iDX00w000SP8X_NbpHWYcaxAUjcuuWToc6TRLrEG6gO-5So_H3zg-IRN65z2y9WcqybjY66B6zFZ7MXJSXVKjt5oqV9rHdEs1mkDOEZuNqQv1BwDbnZRFEkjqgHXTvFA8at7ga08tDM/s1600/DSC09081.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530857211611669618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5iDX00w000SP8X_NbpHWYcaxAUjcuuWToc6TRLrEG6gO-5So_H3zg-IRN65z2y9WcqybjY66B6zFZ7MXJSXVKjt5oqV9rHdEs1mkDOEZuNqQv1BwDbnZRFEkjqgHXTvFA8at7ga08tDM/s400/DSC09081.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Remember my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/soup-fail.html">soup fail from Wednesday</a>? Well I had made such a big pot last weekend and was planning on taking it to my Mom's house for my weekly Hayden visit, but since it didn't turn out the best I made a back up, <span style="font-weight:bold;">chili</span>! It's always good! ;)<br /><br />I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 1/2 c</span> with a sprinkle of <span style="font-weight:bold;">cheese </span>and some <span style="font-weight:bold;">corn chips</span> for a total of <span style="font-weight:bold;">10 points</span>. Mmm good! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfK3ioIA9wvKPwxot9ph1oXqiRxdZBZ5yjt2Wv3tsRANmhNX0H_tBmb-VcotMlipdauvmxbZdjc47Ouuo5GSt_lNccDW07UTi1aTL3IYju795LZYBOWTM1RxTdgu6EZKw8C7M2aB9sGHR/s1600/DSC09082.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530857207305441842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfK3ioIA9wvKPwxot9ph1oXqiRxdZBZ5yjt2Wv3tsRANmhNX0H_tBmb-VcotMlipdauvmxbZdjc47Ouuo5GSt_lNccDW07UTi1aTL3IYju795LZYBOWTM1RxTdgu6EZKw8C7M2aB9sGHR/s400/DSC09082.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I spent the rest of the evening with this little cutie! Well actually he slept most of the time, but that's ok!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzB0LbaGiCI1Me6ZtNqKrEKlL4h8M1udp_obLtz5gnxjd4cF7Ro9Gkb3xxPDatY3PALgiIAPay12G07EvNqrhuQiXqrJKuo1myixx9jyfdUtnd_U0FKPOyXlXnb_vSqrBjSO_RY45D89Y/s1600/hayden.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530859045207116594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzB0LbaGiCI1Me6ZtNqKrEKlL4h8M1udp_obLtz5gnxjd4cF7Ro9Gkb3xxPDatY3PALgiIAPay12G07EvNqrhuQiXqrJKuo1myixx9jyfdUtnd_U0FKPOyXlXnb_vSqrBjSO_RY45D89Y/s400/hayden.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I have to give a shout out, Thursday was my Dad's birthday!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUomnKdiYWGEZ09ui5v4fYwEBgFCkVuYk5kG9tNbY0yU9Ms-PG9p4_RKyKkCi62mv9gy2ZEuOsH-8l5jllvpajmHbe_ZVLH8buos8b-sh7QckfMMHbAxb8BJRdvWcHAyqLoWNZlZJBu9lN/s1600/4286_522229627583_210200185_30980151_5536638_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530865066137243458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUomnKdiYWGEZ09ui5v4fYwEBgFCkVuYk5kG9tNbY0yU9Ms-PG9p4_RKyKkCi62mv9gy2ZEuOsH-8l5jllvpajmHbe_ZVLH8buos8b-sh7QckfMMHbAxb8BJRdvWcHAyqLoWNZlZJBu9lN/s400/4286_522229627583_210200185_30980151_5536638_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I brought a <span style="font-weight:bold;">strawberry rhubarb pie</span> down for his birthday(he's more of a "birthday pie" kind of guy!), but he's one busy farmer (it's that time of year!) so we had to have a piece w/o the birthday boy. I looked up the nutrition facts and 1 slice is about <span style="font-weight:bold;">9 points</span>!! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">THURSDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 32/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 11 used/24 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/1 week<br />H2O = 120 oz<br />EXERCISE = none<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">What's your preference? Birthday cake, pie, or something else?</span></span> Me - I like all of the above(plus ice cream)! ;)

Happy Birthday to my Pops!

It's FRIDAY!!!! Woo Hoo!!! (just picture me doing a little dance!!) Only a few more hours and the weekend is officially here! Ok, but we...

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Live From Las Vegas I: A Latino Kick-Off To Convention

The Diocese of Nevada Convention kicked off tonight with a Fiesta reception at Todos Los Santos. I have been to a lot of opening receptions for church conventions -- but never anything remotely like this. Think of words like packed, loud, joyful, celebratory, festive. There was a large mariachi band, the kind that normally gets paid $400 per hour, playing for us for over 2 hours, just out of piety and personal affection.<br /><br />Fr. Bernardo and his incomparable wife, Delores, outdid themselves. The feast was Mexcican, Ecuadoran, Honduran, Salvadoran. I spoke with Fr. Leslie who, God and the Standing Committee willing, will be our next Latino priest. I saw Fr. Hilario who serves at St. Luke's now, and with the new grant from The Episcopal Church, will begin model Latino/ Hispanic ministries at St. Matthew's and St. Thomas in the near future. I met his charming, sophisticated diplomat wife, Ruth, who has recently come here from El Salvador and is eager to begin work in Christain formation.<br /><br />But the most fun was watching Episcopalians from around the diocese who have heard of what is happening here but had not seen it. There were Chuck and Hallie of Carson City dancing to the Latin beat. I saw amazed delight on many a fellow Anglo face. Veteran Nevada Episcopalians said this was the biggest and best kick-off for Convention ever.<br /><br />A simple point: What we Anglo Anglicans call Latino/ Hispanic ministry sometimes looks a whole lot like Anglo ministry done by our Latino/ Hispanic brothers and sisters. We were all blessed tonight.

Live From Las Vegas I: A Latino Kick-Off To Convention

The Diocese of Nevada Convention kicked off tonight with a Fiesta reception at Todos Los Santos. I have been to a lot of opening receptions ...

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Soup Fail

G'day my blog friends! :) Hope everyone had an enjoyable Wednesday! Check out my day:<br /><br />I started out with my favorite <span style="font-weight:bold;">oatmeal </span>combo, <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 T peanut butter</span> & a <span style="font-weight:bold;">small sliced banana</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkINQLYkpXyYIHouV7IxfWJrgzJgJf1PNA_9mE7g93qA5hvG3SELvAOkWt9r2SjHT43MZLwLx4J1m6-wTH2Qb2lnetq5oFG_cq_KoKecIETlrlK8Tb5xxlq1cK7x8bv6vfdF0NyvvlCF4g/s1600/DSC09070.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530487034454479778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkINQLYkpXyYIHouV7IxfWJrgzJgJf1PNA_9mE7g93qA5hvG3SELvAOkWt9r2SjHT43MZLwLx4J1m6-wTH2Qb2lnetq5oFG_cq_KoKecIETlrlK8Tb5xxlq1cK7x8bv6vfdF0NyvvlCF4g/s400/DSC09070.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I've been trying to get better about eating my morning snack in the morning, instead of around noon! Today it was about 11am and I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 c</span> fresh <span style="font-weight:bold;">pineapple </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point</span>. Mmm, I wish it wasn't so $pendy, I'd eat it all the time!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFLpVXxWNlvE_S0U1EbQ635fzwXpKeVm9vzF37DKYqWtpAtWb-L3rpoRkVjyOJlGRELLxohw4OVaCRV6IBxz6FtMIqus2MBXTlschTYDwguE8AZpS0hQsV-Kn2KBQlEYA3Sr9hAiznQJF/s1600/DSC09071.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530487025576592578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFLpVXxWNlvE_S0U1EbQ635fzwXpKeVm9vzF37DKYqWtpAtWb-L3rpoRkVjyOJlGRELLxohw4OVaCRV6IBxz6FtMIqus2MBXTlschTYDwguE8AZpS0hQsV-Kn2KBQlEYA3Sr9hAiznQJF/s400/DSC09071.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Remember on <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-weekend.html">Saturday </a>when I said I made a big pot of soup? I finally had some today! <span style="font-weight:bold;">Enchilada Chicken Soup</span>, click <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/week/weeklydetails.php?isid=1971">here </a>for the recipe.<br /><br />My friend <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/saturday.html">Jenna's Mom</a> made it for me a few weeks ago to <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/motivated-monday.html">sample</a>, well I loved what she made, unfortunately mine didn't turn out the same. :( It wasn't bad, but not as good as I remember. I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 1/2c</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">3 points</span>. <span style="font-style:italic;">(Betty, what's your secret?!?!?)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdITCdAG4EJiC4owBQvm0PHHSvhixOn_47RDs6ebaGtPnFWjUFOf1pquKFNGgTqvp6vsB8H7qLMEvlIW24OguI2olBBqtLlKHNrlXp9sJitAf5qfJTUMPFavd2138deu82HHzhXqbS23H5/s1600/DSC09073.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486894150384658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdITCdAG4EJiC4owBQvm0PHHSvhixOn_47RDs6ebaGtPnFWjUFOf1pquKFNGgTqvp6vsB8H7qLMEvlIW24OguI2olBBqtLlKHNrlXp9sJitAf5qfJTUMPFavd2138deu82HHzhXqbS23H5/s400/DSC09073.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I also had a <span style="font-weight:bold;">cheese sandwich</span> on the side for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJIvhR-L1Dg0CiUi2mBpqfqgqo4GTByhZgSfgsfA3vFBYsli_g13zFYKTJ9TMu9HLNpttHMazuW-zwA1J5B5P7cYdOTuaoLfU0MeBF_cn6TKHmL-q90NirjcfE_enp0ITpOpDKCrRb7Ky/s1600/DSC09074.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486886346567442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJIvhR-L1Dg0CiUi2mBpqfqgqo4GTByhZgSfgsfA3vFBYsli_g13zFYKTJ9TMu9HLNpttHMazuW-zwA1J5B5P7cYdOTuaoLfU0MeBF_cn6TKHmL-q90NirjcfE_enp0ITpOpDKCrRb7Ky/s400/DSC09074.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I had an afternoon snack today, something I usually don't need! I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 c</span> of <span style="font-weight:bold;">grapes </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbP3hR2JsKzq7pNA79Ezq89b-0_ElIC3U6KvqBO_mu0va7MfpDpuenbGv-TfGNMPdnElg9JszONhKdjlOXQUEV10h_MkIOEunUklxAfl2oKgvFvaSYi3WJx8AR_QZDCaa-4XF3a3fAB0I/s1600/DSC09075.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486874521260162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbP3hR2JsKzq7pNA79Ezq89b-0_ElIC3U6KvqBO_mu0va7MfpDpuenbGv-TfGNMPdnElg9JszONhKdjlOXQUEV10h_MkIOEunUklxAfl2oKgvFvaSYi3WJx8AR_QZDCaa-4XF3a3fAB0I/s400/DSC09075.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />After work, Kyle and I went on a <span style="font-weight:bold;">30 minute walk</span>. It was so relaxing and nice to just get out and talk about our day!<br /><br />Get this, my wonderful hubby made supper for me again! I'm getting spoiled! We had <span style="font-weight:bold;">pork chops</span> and some <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-weekend.html">left over</a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">roasted veggies</span> for a total of<span style="font-weight:bold;"> 6 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeIRbadCeOQP6rpUdBDSXGXg12s_KU3EiICEFt2DRIfieNf0Z80qsCvda87orxeN-b4TdwbMJrcIgoxjq7UD90wrL6Z4jFSCAEdmmJgZrOdrjnGge5b7-W_Gao3-G2V0kx3WRBWNaRsco/s1600/DSC09078.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486850241550402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeIRbadCeOQP6rpUdBDSXGXg12s_KU3EiICEFt2DRIfieNf0Z80qsCvda87orxeN-b4TdwbMJrcIgoxjq7UD90wrL6Z4jFSCAEdmmJgZrOdrjnGge5b7-W_Gao3-G2V0kx3WRBWNaRsco/s400/DSC09078.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I love that he even cut the meat up for me! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyHIz6uhaCPLiwHtu06ppORpjGI6x-in706_bkwGb6C5T9QsPe0eWA8uXzg0ld5u7HvsoJtPsO9XhZ_Cv3r4-JCp-ryM7zQJUqSLoUZ1EODmI4KKHddhpwMjgZ_scPGsikxNghXCJeerG/s1600/DSC09076.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486865518564290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyHIz6uhaCPLiwHtu06ppORpjGI6x-in706_bkwGb6C5T9QsPe0eWA8uXzg0ld5u7HvsoJtPsO9XhZ_Cv3r4-JCp-ryM7zQJUqSLoUZ1EODmI4KKHddhpwMjgZ_scPGsikxNghXCJeerG/s400/DSC09076.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br />I did end up having a <span style="font-weight:bold;">pb & j sandwich</span> later in the evening for <span style="font-weight:bold;">4 points</span>. I think no matter how old you are pb & j will always be good!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WEDNESDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 22/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 2 used/33 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 1 today/1 week<br />H2O = 130 oz<br />EXERCISE = 30 min walk

Soup Fail

G'day my blog friends! :) Hope everyone had an enjoyable Wednesday! Check out my day: I started out with my favorite oatmeal combo, 1 T ...

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Auction Fun

Hello friends! Yet again I have a late post! Please forgive me! <br /><br />Tuesday = WI day for me! I wasn't sure what expect considering the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/10-reasons.html">past few weeks</a>! But I hopped on the scale and it said <span style="font-weight:bold;">162</span>, a <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 lb loss</span>! I'll take it! :)<br /><br />I started my Tuesday out with my favorite bowl of <span style="font-weight:bold;">oatmeal </span>with a <span style="font-weight:bold;">small sliced banana</span> and <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 T</span> of <span style="font-weight:bold;">peanut butter</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSCI6xyuzlhwrbgjbRCjeAWwmbRNQHxo3pOOU2FSEt_xAUgbC5ptlqkp7Sv7G-rx-jClxwf88taI4UUSf3UyBZoLTOdLNcjxr44tdYTMD0DW0YlCb8uCy035HFprOM2O107aJxn8_7YJW/s1600/DSC09061.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530148398851479698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSCI6xyuzlhwrbgjbRCjeAWwmbRNQHxo3pOOU2FSEt_xAUgbC5ptlqkp7Sv7G-rx-jClxwf88taI4UUSf3UyBZoLTOdLNcjxr44tdYTMD0DW0YlCb8uCy035HFprOM2O107aJxn8_7YJW/s400/DSC09061.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />For my morning snack I sliced up an <span style="font-weight:bold;">apple</span>, to only find out it was <span style="font-style:italic;">quite tart</span>! Not sure what it kind it was. No sticker! I had my sister try it out and she agreed, that apple was meant for a pie, not my morning snack!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzr7YK5XbgZtlKX-Hse8UrQfmsFp-eDR-6sM9Si225nlQFg-1qdUgArp-2kUGKuXA9qEPCPR5LAGZYC-7b4yJXqYLPSjQspeaDxzT9wh99ERumd_FkvU0UfpJOQntYVuF7m5e764DLJB5/s1600/DSC09062.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530148396308875970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzr7YK5XbgZtlKX-Hse8UrQfmsFp-eDR-6sM9Si225nlQFg-1qdUgArp-2kUGKuXA9qEPCPR5LAGZYC-7b4yJXqYLPSjQspeaDxzT9wh99ERumd_FkvU0UfpJOQntYVuF7m5e764DLJB5/s400/DSC09062.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Lunch was leftovers from <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-weekend.html">Saturday</a>, they were just as good as the first time around! I had a serving of<span style="font-weight:bold;"> roasted veggies</span> and...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7WJUK8h_hmitwff8HCl_9fbB4ykiaqPi7dyDD-BULFClVIm0MrYCWvpYntzTrk9A5-z1qTo0iGgBpmBHc-gH0-jTdbjCZFDnYL_aqQXKERte9EOfIr_muT34u7bM3zU2kNe0h9pAwuUb/s1600/DSC09063.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530147965650848402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7WJUK8h_hmitwff8HCl_9fbB4ykiaqPi7dyDD-BULFClVIm0MrYCWvpYntzTrk9A5-z1qTo0iGgBpmBHc-gH0-jTdbjCZFDnYL_aqQXKERte9EOfIr_muT34u7bM3zU2kNe0h9pAwuUb/s400/DSC09063.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />...a serving of <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">creamy baked chicken</span> </a>for a total of <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpwwn8g1upjWyIRFySO718sm4c2-U_8m75oW4v5bm-2sVqkAMIAcMqIfwCuDpkWX4JatA4a1yI0vOIsNrSvrhHDT6ythqPAAF8huTIXVK2pBbRGrNAMBU9_Ev_D-2bbfuGmiHyDOaxqjZ/s1600/DSC09064.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530147962175572066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpwwn8g1upjWyIRFySO718sm4c2-U_8m75oW4v5bm-2sVqkAMIAcMqIfwCuDpkWX4JatA4a1yI0vOIsNrSvrhHDT6ythqPAAF8huTIXVK2pBbRGrNAMBU9_Ev_D-2bbfuGmiHyDOaxqjZ/s400/DSC09064.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />My sweet tooth was a little out of control yesterday! I had 1 serving of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Reeses Pieces</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">4 points</span>. You know me, I LOVE peanut butter! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnLsWa2XbuzBfoNM6J2Tv2PEUGJQwhPB91IcvRAz7Qe7ZFvymnH_ocbdcarKaXgau4otsEUIijO3lfSUHuj4fgGf8iiLKrqa-ppY9nstdA1JDz4dqix9BJu2cUYdb5BgfwNlfcb7YSDrv/s1600/DSC09065.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530147957645124978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnLsWa2XbuzBfoNM6J2Tv2PEUGJQwhPB91IcvRAz7Qe7ZFvymnH_ocbdcarKaXgau4otsEUIijO3lfSUHuj4fgGf8iiLKrqa-ppY9nstdA1JDz4dqix9BJu2cUYdb5BgfwNlfcb7YSDrv/s400/DSC09065.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />After work I met up with one of my sisters at an auction! It's always fun to see what kind of "treasures" you can find! I ended up getting a <span style="font-weight:bold;">patio table</span> & <span style="font-weight:bold;">4 chairs</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">$12.50</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">(something I had been hunting for on Craigslist ALL summer long!)</span> and some <span style="font-weight:bold;">garage shelving</span> for Kyle for <span style="font-weight:bold;">$7</span>! Score!<br /><br />Supper was cooking when I got home, thanks to my wonderful hubby! I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 oz whole wheat pasta</span> with <span style="font-weight:bold;">1/2 c marinara sauce</span> and some <span style="font-weight:bold;">cheese </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB54H9VHg1cPhrSeWQQgYnaAB4ib50sqangOTssyDJKS6mDjXiBiyvo9iximUnG-q3BkF3eRpZNjOate3sdyAW1QXfyb5fPDjRWArKAscRD65-2oGmht9wlFpglahF51mFVXpqlfVTbzfu/s1600/DSC09066.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530147948182816434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB54H9VHg1cPhrSeWQQgYnaAB4ib50sqangOTssyDJKS6mDjXiBiyvo9iximUnG-q3BkF3eRpZNjOate3sdyAW1QXfyb5fPDjRWArKAscRD65-2oGmht9wlFpglahF51mFVXpqlfVTbzfu/s400/DSC09066.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />For desert we finished off the <span style="font-weight:bold;">mint brownie ice cream bars</span> from <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-weekend.html">Saturday </a>for<span style="font-weight:bold;"> 4 points</span>. Mmmm, good!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXENvhWH847zA35FP5a3XGD3_qyr0exU8jFeFOMiMHdfqFMc9Z79jhCU36klY6JupQk2DXrcsL_vz5I62-FFhCzNNklu9OFTPPlVIuc1e4xvzyBGBNYAP52GuUv2KEqYmCO7hCnQOh7va/s1600/DSC09067.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530147939453902418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXENvhWH847zA35FP5a3XGD3_qyr0exU8jFeFOMiMHdfqFMc9Z79jhCU36klY6JupQk2DXrcsL_vz5I62-FFhCzNNklu9OFTPPlVIuc1e4xvzyBGBNYAP52GuUv2KEqYmCO7hCnQOh7va/s400/DSC09067.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TUESDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 25/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 2 used/33 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/0 week<br />H2O = 114 oz<br />EXERCISE = none <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Have you ever gone to auction before? If so, what has been your best "find"?</span></span> I'm kinda new to going to auctions, but man I got into it! My hand just kept wanting to go up & bid!

Auction Fun

Hello friends! Yet again I have a late post! Please forgive me! Tuesday = WI day for me! I wasn't sure what expect considering the past ...

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The M Must Stand for Misery

I guess we know which fork Michigan picked.<br /><br />It's really unfortunate. The past two games have shown pretty much all of Michigan's weaknesses. The game against Michigan State showed their terrible defense. The game against Iowa showed their terrible special teams. And in both cases, the offense didn't prove that a team could just get by with...well...a good offense.<br /><br />Also, does it seem like Denard Robinson is injured in some way in <i>every </i>game? I think I've seen him being walked off the field more often than fans at a World Cup match. (it's a few months old, but I think it can apply.) I don't know whether to roll my eyes every time it happens, or be thrilled it's not more serious. (I'm looking at you Stafford.)<br /><br />These next three games could salvage a season. But does Michigan really have what it takes to defeat three mediocre teams in the Big Ten? They had a hard enough time with Indiana!<br /><br />This bye week could not have come at a better time. It's been a roller-coaster of a first half for Michigan, and the games only get tougher. A game at Happy Valley under the lights. Another against a pretty formidable defense. And a final one against a team that looks pretty bad, but will probably bring out everything against this team. Everyone brings their A-game to Michigan, unfortunately.<br /><br />Hypothetically, we could still end this season 8-4. But is it a good season if you lose your third straight game to MSU, your third straight <u>Homecoming</u> game (aren't those supposed to be pancake walks?), and quite possibly your gajillionth straight loss to Ohio State? (Doesn't it seem like a gajillionth by now?) I just can't justify that. They have to show improvements against Penn State. The defense can't run out of gas after the first quarter, like it seemed like it did on Saturday. Wide receivers can't drop passes. Everything needs to click.<br /><br />Can Michigan save this season? That is really the question on people's minds. And it will stay in their minds for the next two long weeks.

The M Must Stand for Misery

I guess we know which fork Michigan picked. It's really unfortunate. The past two games have shown pretty much all of Michigan's wea...

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Tired Monday

I'm a little late on my Monday post, obviously! ;) I was overly tired yesterday, not feeling 100%, so I listened to my body and crashed in bed around 8pm!<br /><br />I woke up this morning feeling refreshed & ready to take on the day! Hooray! :)<br /><br />Ok back to my Monday eats! I had wonderful bowl of <span style="font-weight:bold;">oatmeal </span>with <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 T</span> of <span style="font-weight:bold;">peanut butter</span> & a <span style="font-weight:bold;">small sliced banana</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span> this morning. We finally got peanut butter again, I missed it so!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9ma8iR48geP98WIRTBjl-B3tp-4LPO1Yaw8OWpSCovZWNcSu4YGs_Lb6KR6Fb1D1Nk0NhYyg3ZpjT4NuIveq20RlNnAXUrQ1jNfQ0pWoFNjQzF_5BUaCeIQgHHq2mgQdnQlIylGpFPqA/s1600/DSC09056.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529813982398787570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9ma8iR48geP98WIRTBjl-B3tp-4LPO1Yaw8OWpSCovZWNcSu4YGs_Lb6KR6Fb1D1Nk0NhYyg3ZpjT4NuIveq20RlNnAXUrQ1jNfQ0pWoFNjQzF_5BUaCeIQgHHq2mgQdnQlIylGpFPqA/s400/DSC09056.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I just wasn't feeling 100% throughout the morning. I tried my morning snack of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Greek yogurt</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>, but it just didn't settle my stomach. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQPDo5CAgr29vBAagccUrdOzPvaJxx9WiExZhm5vZHag6nCbyUMXp0syMiOrbs8WBxbd12DeUzltxaML1hyHl4EYMgA_Tt452MtPFgCRw1DXf29K5ezEl8NWIu3ws13Z0NFd0UkGtuJoR/s1600/DSC09057.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529813969128946242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQPDo5CAgr29vBAagccUrdOzPvaJxx9WiExZhm5vZHag6nCbyUMXp0syMiOrbs8WBxbd12DeUzltxaML1hyHl4EYMgA_Tt452MtPFgCRw1DXf29K5ezEl8NWIu3ws13Z0NFd0UkGtuJoR/s400/DSC09057.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I figured I give my lunch a try to see if that would do the trick! I had a <span style="font-weight:bold;">SmartOnes</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>. Thankfully it helped! I must have just been hungry!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPEDmD1UhaIQ2k7CdJvSVKTVlJ7eeINudXruRcTlWZ6NH5V4xEBSKVGDnLKtF5QyplYRwDCyBrztYv1m4Ytu3iCPj2AhJoBifLEsQIT4CHs8rLoJhM2DuuWY1xHjfohQipP0sZ6pVP2dD/s1600/DSC09058.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529813961390898738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPEDmD1UhaIQ2k7CdJvSVKTVlJ7eeINudXruRcTlWZ6NH5V4xEBSKVGDnLKtF5QyplYRwDCyBrztYv1m4Ytu3iCPj2AhJoBifLEsQIT4CHs8rLoJhM2DuuWY1xHjfohQipP0sZ6pVP2dD/s400/DSC09058.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />My stomach was ok, but boy oh boy was I tired!! Usually my days at work fly by, but not this afternoon! I was a bad clock watcher!<br /><br />Thankfully a friend at work helped me get through with a WW friendly <span style="font-weight:bold;">brownie</span>, only <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>, she dropped off! (Thanks Melissa!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdthbFMhoMy-lU-CjSi_ls5MYTHxc1CvQ9K5_xdC19q5BCL4Ty32-WF3HV0F-aG_IdP-cR5CHjOmWpGp68rl8_2O-bwAsGh6lLmfBgiZxnOkPDj46yxHD5jVUE-c_CDsV-ELdmq9CfHfQm/s1600/DSC09059.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529813949849374738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdthbFMhoMy-lU-CjSi_ls5MYTHxc1CvQ9K5_xdC19q5BCL4Ty32-WF3HV0F-aG_IdP-cR5CHjOmWpGp68rl8_2O-bwAsGh6lLmfBgiZxnOkPDj46yxHD5jVUE-c_CDsV-ELdmq9CfHfQm/s400/DSC09059.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />But finally quitting time rolled around and I was outta there! I made a quick stop at Hobby Lobby for a project I'm working on (can't wait to share w/you guys!). <br /><br />Supper was some left over <span style="font-weight:bold;">buffalo chicken dip</span> from <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-weekend.html">Saturday </a>that I forgot to share with you guys. My friend, <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/03/guest-post-2-jenna.html">Jenna</a>, gave me the recipe. I had 1 serving with some <span style="font-weight:bold;">baked tortilla chips</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPONBedOmKNi93MB1tzirMTA__fd_uiWk7zbT9t3u81j-tp1ceYpu761jn12bi-HSc7zFNNcySvBLRdWE-WF6RItXn1b-Hnf2Q4LygalkHx3TPOSrmdC4vquERKrtiby9YE1fJbfRf2Qz/s1600/DSC09060.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529813943146815106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPONBedOmKNi93MB1tzirMTA__fd_uiWk7zbT9t3u81j-tp1ceYpu761jn12bi-HSc7zFNNcySvBLRdWE-WF6RItXn1b-Hnf2Q4LygalkHx3TPOSrmdC4vquERKrtiby9YE1fJbfRf2Qz/s400/DSC09060.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Buffalo Chicken Dip </span><br />2Pts - 1/3 c. serving <br /><br />1 (12.5 oz.) Can 99% Fat Free Chicken in water, drained <br />1/4 Cup Hot Sauce <br />1 (8 oz.) Package Fat Free Cream Cheese <br />1/2 Tablespoon Fat Free Ranch Dip Mix <br />1/2 Cup Fat Free Sour Cream <br />1 Cup Fat Free Cheddar Cheese <br />1 (4 oz.) Can Diced Green Chilies <br /><br />In a medium microwave safe bowl; combine the chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, ranch mix, sour cream, cheddar cheese and green chilies. Mix well to combine. Microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring often until the mixture is warm and smooth. <br /><br />A must try for sure!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">MONDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 20/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 2 used/33 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/6 week<br />H2O = 80 oz<br />EXERCISE = none

Tired Monday

I'm a little late on my Monday post, obviously! ;) I was overly tired yesterday, not feeling 100%, so I listened to my body and crashed ...

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