Planning de la semaine du 15 au 19 novembre 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 15 novembre de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 16 novembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 17 novembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 18 novembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 19 novembre de 13h30 à 17h.<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/solidarits-nouvelles-face-au-chmage.html">Solidarités Nouvelles face au Chômage</a></strong> - mercredi 17 novembre de 10h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> (sur rendez-vous)<br />- lundi 15 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br />- vendredi 19 novembre de 09h à 12h30</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 16 novembre de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 17 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 16 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;">Préparation à l'entretien</span> - jeudi 18 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 19 novembre 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 19 novembre 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>RSA - Conseil Général</strong> - mardi 16 novembre à 10h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 15 au 19 novembre 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 15 no...

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8 tips to apply for an out-of-state job

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/l3/ar5f41v68ht3lmcxtql3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/l3/ar5f41v68ht3lmcxtql3.gif" /></a></div>You've been looking for a job for months, to no avail, so you've decided to start fresh -- in a new city, in a different state, hundreds of miles away. Some people might think you're crazy, but expanding your job search might actually be the best thing you could do.<br /><br />"People should not limit themselves to one area. There are many jobs in specific fields that are hot in certain geographic locations [and not so hot in] others," says Gina Kleinworth, social media coordinator for HireBetter in Austin, Texas. "In these times when jobs can be scarce, you must be open to going where the jobs are. They are not going to come to you."<br /><br />While submitting your résumé to an out-of-state employer is a good way to ramp up your job search, it's not without challenges. Job seekers may worry that hiring mangers may not consider their résumé as seriously as a local candidate, for example, but that's not necessarily true.<br /><br />"At first, hiring managers may be inclined to consider candidates that are local or within commuting distance. But as the search continues they can become more open to candidates that are applying from out of the area," Kleinworth says. "Hiring someone from out of the area can be a great way to bring in top talent that you wouldn't otherwise find in your local area."<br /><br />The level of the position can also be an obstacle when you apply for a job out of state. An executive out-of-state applicant might be more appealing to an employer than an entry-level candidate, for example.<br /><br />"Generally, entry level jobs are more abundant," Kleinworth notes. "You normally see people relocating for a job because it is a step above their current level, a great new opportunity or is in a more desirable location. This usually isn't the case with entry-level positions."<br /><br />Other obstacles that job seekers might consider when searching for a job in a different state include: <br /><br />Lack of contacts <br /><br />Fewer (or no) opportunities to attend networking events <br /><br />Traveling for multiple interviews <br /><br />Difficulty obtaining current and accurate information on the local job market<br /><br />While it may seem like the odds are stacked against you, it's important to remember that you're going to face difficulties whether you're searching locally or out of state. And like all challenges, there is a way to overcome them, if you just know how.<br /><br />Here are eight best practices and tips that job seekers should keep in mind when submitting their résumé out of state, according to Kleinworth and Barbara Babkirk, master career counselor and owner of Heart At Work Career Counseling in Portland, Maine. <br /><br />1. Identify your career and personal goals<br /><br />"Clarify the type of job want. Are you interested in changing careers or just employers?" Babkirk asks. "Where do you want to live, including location and type of residence? What is your ideal time frame for moving?"<br /><br />2. Write a job description that reflects what you want and use it as a benchmark<br /><br /><br />"Know what is necessary or negotiable for you in terms of: salary and benefits, responsibilities, physical work environment, colleagues, skills and workplace culture," Babkirk says.<br /><br />3. Research the new location<br /><br />"Look at the quality of the schools if you have children, make sure the housing is acceptable and within your new price range, check out the crime rate where you'd be wanting to live, research the demographics, look into services available and how they compare with what you are looking for," Kleinworth says.<br /><br />4. Identify and research key resources in your industry or career field<br /><br />"Research the professional associations affiliated with your target job. The Encyclopedia of Associations, available in libraries and online, gives useful descriptions," Babkirk says. "Note the officers' names and the date and place of their annual conference. Plan to attend if possible. Contact the association's officers for help with networking."<br /><br />5. Be rational<br /><br />"Be realistic about what it will truly cost you to relocate if the new employer doesn't offer assistance," Kleinworth says. "Moving is expensive."<br /><br />6. Network your way out of state <br /><br />"Tell anyone you know of your plans to relocate. Ask if they know anyone who lives and works in your target location and if they would be willing to send an e-mail asking if you might contact them for networking," Babkirk says. <br /><br />7. Stay focused on your goal and take specific steps each week toward it<br /><br /><br />"Before you know it, you'll be living and working where you want to be," Babkirk encourages.<br /><br />8. Don't give up<br /><br />If you are committed to finding the perfect job- it does exist and you can have a job you love in a place you love living in.<br /><br />By Rachel Farrell who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

8 tips to apply for an out-of-state job

You've been looking for a job for months, to no avail, so you've decided to start fresh -- in a new city, in a different state, hund...

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When interview questions get too personal: Tips for getting back to business

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/2y/ar5f13t72r0y9wcx6n2y.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/2y/ar5f13t72r0y9wcx6n2y.gif" /></a></div>Sure, it is an interviewer's job to gather information about someone who wants to be hired. But when questions veer into matters that have little to do with an applicant's ability to perform the job at hand, things can get uncomfortable. Here, experts and job seekers who have been there offer diplomatic ways to steer a nosy interviewer back on course.<br /><br />Off-limit topics<br /><br />"Some of the questions I've been asked at job interviews include age, religion, questions about my husband, more than a casual interest in what I do outside of work and my political affiliations," says Janis Badarau of South Carolina. "Whenever an interviewer has asked such a question, my polite response has always been the same: 'I'm afraid that if I answer that question I might be violating some kind of law.'"<br /><br />While she reports having received a smile from more than one interviewer with this response, the fact remains that employers are not supposed to venture into certain areas.<br /><br />"The basic illegal interview questions are ones based on religion, marital status, parenthood status and health issues," notes Linda Matias, president of CareerStrides and author of "201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions." "Oftentimes when interviewers ask a question that is off limits, their intention isn't to offend or alienate. Usually, they have a hidden concern and ask the wrong question to uncover whether or not their concern is justified." <br /><br />On-track responses<br /><br />Thinking about why an interviewer may have asked a question can help an applicant formulate a suitable response that eases worries without divulging unnecessary personal information. "You should never point blank refuse to answer a question because the refusal itself will be construed as a 'red flag,'" says Patrice Rice, author of "How to Interview" and president of the recruiting firm Patrice & Associates in Dunkirk, Md. "Either the employer will think you are confrontational or that you are hiding something. There are ways to handle questions without actually refusing to answer."<br /><br />A few to try:<br /><br />"I have been working since I was 18 years old, and I have never allowed any personal relationship to interfere with my job. I have great references." <br /><br />"I would prefer to tell you more about my transferrable job skills. What else would you like to know about my skills?" <br /><br />"That's a question I've never been asked before in an interview because it is so personal. Perhaps you can explain why you asked it and what kind of information you really want." <br /><br />Reconsidering your candidacy<br /><br />Erin Farrell Talbot of New York City, owner of a freelance consulting business, was taken aback when a prospective client said he didn't want to hire someone who would become pregnant -- and then proceeded to ask if she was planning to have any more children. Though she politely told him she would "take what God gives me and go from there," he persisted. Talbot finally told him, "I am a three-dimensional person with many aspects to who I am besides just a worker, and if that question or discussion comes up again, I'll resign from consideration." She landed the job.<br /><br />"Personal questions are asked by unskilled interviewers," says Ralph Neal, vice president of educational services at Employers Resource Association (a nonprofit serving small and medium businesses in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana). "This may tell you a bit about the professionalism of the company. Keep that in the back of your mind as you progress through the interview process, and pay close attention to help determine if the company as a whole is unprofessional or simply has a 'rogue' manager who needs interview-skills training."<br /><br />Richard Deems, a career coach and co-author of "Make Job Loss Work for You," adds, "If the candidate thinks a question was asked on purpose, and that the organization often asks personal kinds of interview questions, then we advise our clients to quickly think through if they really want to work for that kind of an organization. We coach our candidates to say something like, 'That's a very personal question and has no relevance to the position or my abilities to do the job very well.' Then stop. If the interviewer persists, we suggest the candidate end the interview and leave."<br /><br />A final thing Deems recommends after an inappropriate interview: sending a letter to the company's CEO. Respectable organizations aren't out to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and giving a heads-up to a higher-up may make a difference in how candidates are treated.<br /><br />By Beth Braccio Hering who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

When interview questions get too personal: Tips for getting back to business

Sure, it is an interviewer's job to gather information about someone who wants to be hired. But when questions veer into matters that ha...

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Should I stop my job search during the holidays? Stopping your job search during the holidays: The biggest mistake you'll make this year

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/yn/ar5f8c26bl9p8ydbpnyn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/yn/ar5f8c26bl9p8ydbpnyn.gif" /></a></div>As the calendar year comes to a close, job seekers may be tempted to put their hunt on hold. After all, companies are too busy trying to get work done amongst office parties and days off to have time for new hires, right?<br /><br />Wrong, say many experts. Slack off during November and December and you might just miss one of the best times of the year to find a job.<br /><br />Company needs for talent do not take vacation<br /><br />"I would say taking time off from your job search is never wise, regardless of the time of year or season," states Frank Dadah, general manager at Winter, Wyman -- one of the largest staffing organizations in the Northeast. "Oftentimes, year end is the busiest time of the year for companies, not only because they are getting ready for the year-end close but because they are gearing up for a quick start to the new year. It may be a bit more challenging to schedule interviews during the holidays, but that doesn't mean companies aren't hiring."<br /><br />Elaine Varelas, managing partner at Keystone Partners (a career management and transition services consulting firm headquartered inBoston), agrees. "When there is a need, a candidate needs to be there. The idea that a candidate should suspend her job search during the holidays or that employers stop recruiting during this time is very dated."<br /><br />Take for instance The Knowland Group, a company headquartered in McLean, Va., that offers business development solutions for the global hospitality industry. According to communications manager Tom Crosson, the company is in the process of hiring 200 workers to staff a new call center that is opening by year's end.<br /><br />Likewise, Josh Jones, CEO of DreamHost Web Hosting (a Los Angeles-based web hosting provider and domain name registrar) says his company is planning a late 2010 hiring "spree" for about 20 full-time positions. "We're trying to gear up for what we expect to be faster growth starting in early 2011, and we want to have people on board and situated already by the time that comes."<br /><br />Potential advantages for applicants<br /><br />Dadah and Varelas both note that one of the foremost reasons to pursue employment during the final months of the year is a reduction in competition. By keeping your search going at a time when others have slowed down or stopped, you have a greater chance of being noticed. Also, job seeking during the holidays can show prospective employers your seriousness about landing a position.<br /><br />Catherine Jewell, author of "New Résumé New Career: Get the Job You Want with the Skills and Experience You Already Have," thinks that job seekers who keep at it are even more likely to be hired during the holiday season than at other times.<br /><br />"Human resource managers have year-end deadlines," Jewell says. "The new year brings a new budget. Toward the end of the fiscal year, hiring managers may have a number of new positions to fill. They will be evaluated on whether they get the job done."<br /><br />Other reasons why Jewell suggests keeping your job search going full throttle during the holiday season:<br /><br /><br />Holiday activities often put managers in a more receptive mood. When people are focused on family and fun through the holidays, they often are more open and receptive to conversation -- even from job seekers.<br /><br />Holiday events are a natural networking environment. Professional associations often have free holiday events. Job seekers should be sure to take advantage of parties given by associations, chambers and clubs that are of interest.<br /><br /><br />Holiday greetings by mail, e-mail and telephone keep you connected. People searching for jobs should harness the spirit of the season to amp up gratitude. Thank former clients, vendors and co-workers. Thank bosses and mentors. Thank everyone who has helped. <br /><br />So while it may be tempting to take a long winter's nap during the final weeks of the year, smart job seekers should write "looking for work" at the top of their holiday to-do list. They just might ring in the new year with a new job!<br /><br />By Beth Braccio Hering who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

Should I stop my job search during the holidays? Stopping your job search during the holidays: The biggest mistake you'll make this year

As the calendar year comes to a close, job seekers may be tempted to put their hunt on hold. After all, companies are too busy trying to get...

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1st Film Noir Xmas coming to San Francisco…9th Noir Festival set for January

<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAGXx-UIgQFnfdZ0Yn3pA0rJ35KlkQ2wUHjhyqfTmzFlx-0b_GgqWoOlP8iggQuB1nSzljup-1Dgo9MvISmqaITQKmMQ01qp4e9ca5SOi_8dfhG18-oT1F4lvBu5_RDQjuZ0ZSmlxf3PR/s1600/noir+city+xmas%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="89" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAGXx-UIgQFnfdZ0Yn3pA0rJ35KlkQ2wUHjhyqfTmzFlx-0b_GgqWoOlP8iggQuB1nSzljup-1Dgo9MvISmqaITQKmMQ01qp4e9ca5SOi_8dfhG18-oT1F4lvBu5_RDQjuZ0ZSmlxf3PR/s400/noir+city+xmas%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">The San Francisco Film Noir Foundation has set its first-ever <i>Noir City Xmas</i> for Wed., December 15, at the Castro Theatre, and extends an invitation to </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>“enjoy a Cruel Yule...”</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSpbOpUrb7oDgtf6v4Zxcpyje16UZV7iRLui_qtJir0xNe87kqLnR9RzigR8SFk_FlAegrtdc0r7DCtURo7tPYR9zHegROisPDyV08ayM2nsIy8XW9QEwQUtkA291Obdx-QoQa3-FedS7/s1600/remember_the_night_poster%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSpbOpUrb7oDgtf6v4Zxcpyje16UZV7iRLui_qtJir0xNe87kqLnR9RzigR8SFk_FlAegrtdc0r7DCtURo7tPYR9zHegROisPDyV08ayM2nsIy8XW9QEwQUtkA291Obdx-QoQa3-FedS7/s200/remember_the_night_poster%255B1%255D.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The double feature pairs <b>Remember the Night</b> (1940) and <b>Mr. Soft Touch</b> (1949).</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">TCM has been airing <b>Remember the Night</b> regularly in recent years, and that's where I first saw it. The film stars Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck as an assistant DA and a thief who share a memorable and affecting holiday before she is set to serve her  jail sentence. Directed by Mitchell Leisen, written by Preston Sturges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>A classic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzaO7Wqim59WLzQgZSjT14E3UQNHpwS6KsbK_a8z3YdATLATrJD4J-d5sE5FVLXLQxoaLandAmyLC2AxUPpeTletuih_Yg5VHwN84adsBXmWPN0pJqhL9qUbYjAUiVpD6yPsWu8s5dXYd/s1600/mrsoft%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzaO7Wqim59WLzQgZSjT14E3UQNHpwS6KsbK_a8z3YdATLATrJD4J-d5sE5FVLXLQxoaLandAmyLC2AxUPpeTletuih_Yg5VHwN84adsBXmWPN0pJqhL9qUbYjAUiVpD6yPsWu8s5dXYd/s200/mrsoft%255B1%255D.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Mr. Soft Touch</b> stars Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes. A combination of “tight-lipped noir and broad comedy," it was shot on location in San Francisco. The film tells the story of a WW II veteran (Ford) out for revenge when he falls in with a kindly social worker (Keyes). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first viewing of <b>Mr. Soft Touch</b> will be this “freshly struck 35mm print.” </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; 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;">San Francisco’s 9^th annual <i>Noir City Film Festival</i> will run from January 21 – 30, 2011, also at the Castro Theatre; I'll post the screening schedule and ticket information as soon as it's available. Film noir fans should try hard to attend this festival, it's a chance to see both classics and rare "B" gems on the big screen in an old-style movie palace. </span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistXg9PlcZCpZbkwZBr0qczGD44rzg0IVUMZIbO7Wud6UfNAWuQtyOsSxKlUmPIdtIrnQTAMmgvjIYt2ha1PegjhAqbHX8ydHDsE00P-3-LdJJubeo4kOOScZ96Bo_55XgpsNkKAODkpI1/s1600/noir+city+9%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistXg9PlcZCpZbkwZBr0qczGD44rzg0IVUMZIbO7Wud6UfNAWuQtyOsSxKlUmPIdtIrnQTAMmgvjIYt2ha1PegjhAqbHX8ydHDsE00P-3-LdJJubeo4kOOScZ96Bo_55XgpsNkKAODkpI1/s320/noir+city+9%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>

Barbara Stanwyck Evelyn Keyes Film Noir Fred MacMurray Glenn Ford Noir City 9 Noir City Xmas The Lady Eve (author) 1st Film Noir Xmas coming to San Francisco…9th Noir Festival set for January

The San Francisco Film Noir Foundation has set its first-ever Noir City Xmas  for Wed., December 15, at the Castro Theatre, and extends an i...

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*almost* WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjh8FYfSNmLRdhWQ2HdGm_27C78HK5JsyOlMThl8bVxmr29PW40yezw_HBH2KQgXP2gV-UI644HRuJzu_PZ8zPZrcpj8iqhoJLxvBS7qWXitzUyoznirY6zB4tnGeuw4hPhyphenhyphens_ttVgvI9Z/s1600-h/DSC09314%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09314" border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyZbah9x_AEPXXDzS9IVio5r_sC_R-PMAlkrRZ2Yvtc1rMiFIGKtzMfssbDyxtjNlIT10YLfedn161YIxSsXEppTaEyVOBbn7BBsmmtYEG4mp9S4CRDbCmZAJpSynn820ZNQA6iEZC73H/?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="DSC09314" width="304"></a> <em>no longer a honey crisp virgin! ;)</em></p>

*almost* WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

no longer a honey crisp virgin! ;)

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Slightly Bitter, Mostly Sweet Big Meeting

Last night’s organizational meeting for Las Vegas Valley Interfaith was on the whole a big success. I didn’t count the number of churches, mosques, and synagogues present but it was by far the largest yet – and the diversity is increasing. The evening began with music from a great Gospel Choir singing “How Excellent Is Thy Name.” Then Dr. Aslam Abdulah chanted the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic as our invocation. Evangelical Protestants were spontaneously murmuring surprise and appreciation of that beautiful gesture. Roman Catholic Bishop Pepe was there with a pledge of $60,000 in support of our efforts. We heard moving stories from real people about real life challenges in the Valley. I gave it my best shot to explain how broad-based community organizing changes communities at a deeper level than charity or single issue advocacy. People seemed to get it. I got Amens and was interrupted by applause, which feels good anytime but especially when it’s the teaching piece of the program. We received in one night half the pledges we need for the funds we have to raise by May.<br /><br />I was so proud of the turnout from our Latino/ Hispanic congregations! They may well have had the strongest turnout of any congregation of any denomination. Without them the attendance would have been disappointing. With them, it was something to celebrate. I'd call them playmakers. Fr. Hilario, Fr. Bernardo, and Dee had speaking parts done to perfection. Fr. Bernardo is going to Phoenix in the next couple of weeks to be trained as a community organizer.<br /><br />I was especially pleased to see a strong turnout of lay people from both St Thomas’ and St. Luke’s along with their priests. Fr. Tim told me afterward he would be taking this mission to the St. Thomas’ vestry so they can decide how best to support Las Vegas Valley Interfaith. It is inspiring and deeply gratifying to see St. Thomas moving on from a leadership role in our recent convention to a leadership role in our most important social ministry in the southern half of the diocese. Christ Church, Las Vegas was also present, represented by three clergy and a clergy spouse.<br /><br />There is much to celebrate for the mission, which I am confident will transform the character of the Las Vegas Valley in the profound way that can be accomplished only by an interracial, non-partisan, interfaith coalition. This is exciting.<br /><br />Personally, I also feel rather like President Obama the day after the mid-term elections. The absence of most of our Episcopal churches, including some I had expected to be on board, is definitely a message – I’m just still sorting out what it is. Shakespeare said, “There is a tide in the affairs of men (sic) which when caught at the flood leads on to destiny.” I saw that tide last night, saw it growing deeper, wider, stronger – and saw most of our congregations missing it. I feel responsible for that but am not at all sure what to do next. Thankfully, two of my colleagues may be showing me the way.<br /><br />The Rev. Candace Lansberry, District Superintendant for this district of the United Methodist Church; Fr. Bob Stoekig, pastor of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Boulder City (he spoke to our deacons earlier this year); and I will be meeting soon to talk about how to introduce the same listening process within our parishes that we have used to build our interfaith organization. Perhaps that process will deepen relationships in the congregations turn the ignition for participation in our religiously pluralistic community. In the meantime, I’ll keep my hand on the plough and hold this in prayer along with our other diocesan missions, all our congregations and their leaders both lay and ordained.

Slightly Bitter, Mostly Sweet Big Meeting

Last night’s organizational meeting for Las Vegas Valley Interfaith was on the whole a big success. I didn’t count the number of churches, m...

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Sunny Tuesday

<p>Tuesday was a gorgeous day here in Iowa, sunny & 70 degrees! Too bad I had to work inside all day!</p> <p>Breakfast was a few left over <strong>pancakes</strong> with <strong>peanut butter</strong> for <strong>9 points</strong>. </p> <p>My first morning snack was <strong>cheese</strong> & <strong>crackers</strong> for <strong>4 points</strong>! I love these 100 calorie pre-portioned cheese cubes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsPlVFiq31BJRfnWJWTca9o47D4DH2q6NF7p72Htt_KF0DEf1lLaDivLlDb9qtFyniy74T4TVG_gIkKC5EU-PEyTMAx2PisPWwaIC5O4woQFDDpBHSX0lY7cH31tvhuDm4D-zdaFGqVCV/s1600-h/DSC09302%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09302" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfMmJGtjuAKsbLTsbMOzcUngRh2oayL27XH4esxzs1-Cu8lEH8C0ZmrmkkwkFmqR5tsRapbLQwbJ8EbF2SkIs5hNtP6C8cPTy1iRgypoZbCmQCAaJHjSH8s0zDlc5-1pplLP7Zw4DczFs/?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="DSC09302" width="404"></a></p> <p>Kyle got stuck in a meeting and it was after 1:30pm so I went for another snack before lunch to calm my tummy, a<strong> fruit parfait</strong> for <strong>2 points</strong>. I love how convenient these are…fruit, yogurt, & granola all in one container!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNYZhzKCWY7XvJ07ZL3fZpw2VfalM1-NsT9Zr2VOPgV-a3z1xPKAhNfsjFP2LvfFX-dbnIAyykA11CCQBrYgNGVZT7xFqaU_YbT9z84rdDRRWWQN6EqtPxa_Wu6q06omwoAC6mSRt8W7R/s1600-h/DSC09304%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09304" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ycbkd-qNGXztepmpCBJ0anpEXT3DFDeHGtBD__dfRNhZ_gLyKtzQ3SNmxs9KQEgCNmoADOQLRI2CKAJpYytQ84T0k8rAyjW0poVvUAdkjiMGpt3k6CU4ELJVYe5iYeJ55chBxLtIvXty/?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="DSC09304" width="404"></a></p> <p>We finally got to go home for lunch a little after 2pm, which I don’t mind because that means our afternoon at work <em>flies</em> by!</p> <p>I had a triple threat plate, starting with <strong>1/2c cottage cheese</strong> and <strong>pineapple</strong> for <strong>3 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JKcX6wD53UJHWlJ3f_eS22bUV3jvdeE5lxqDhIihsfC7sm3BVAXr51bsgc9fKrOuOrZE-yf_erUqrFQd640CIIJANTZ-FO_xdtnV9XgHIW3YqCvdHSJDFcigQwZL8s63uy-W7ZrOcPyy/s1600-h/DSC09305%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09305" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJcdujFatewScSLwYXt63vn4jwlJ9HEyaFyjQkEoqn7mafj0wuCIMdBjWN-xzcLZdOnV-dYLjy5QuI6KmrH-KGiZNmpy6tltB_weKHIUIhJOkxy1xVDLKnHzRk_3nn-aYWwMgyZctBIlt/?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="DSC09305" width="404"></a></p> <p>A serving of <strong>steamed broccoli</strong> that I <em>didn’t eat</em>, had a horrible taste. I think it was on the verge of going bad. :(<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRqL2hJfVBc16WDGjv28UPs-H9UJN09Je0Y7sE41I8ppBUnMpzU6N_VV7I9MeOqR-4ZPWq9tkWpXQkVsASLtMLimtvisP0Q_dPZIlmwqjelDBXNOUS6SDuFs6jGzO11k3ItZmGcuzHx97/s1600-h/DSC09306%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09306" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28rJIY0mwn8TWLpn5c-9B8e1qA_PXTPPhJPbXW4BNUu2wT3_cxdeJaU8gxNK5_K5RfhqO3XgsFNivAIZBuz5rsn5Hctl9RNgznqRDaskMLLanFAGv4MmDtOtdwNfTzttgV5ztn3Rytjbe/?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="DSC09306" width="404"></a></p> <p>And I rounded things out with a<strong> grilled cheese sandwich</strong> for <strong>2 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmSNC_qRDd5ht9W4ukK-XUe2ZOrfuc10qz_s2Zde7tDDx7XvLTbqTto12szsbPpU0nq7zuki8s4x102oOSUyBsJ7TstnMpbrzhJ9sofNZAhauAYd-HjDdJZpfkNee2JbNxZdae5hSH2jv/s1600-h/DSC09307%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09307" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvX2DySJZzTTqGfpOWTn_2J8vLXXdFsMaEBjFfn7VnGYMPOZuvSLS_o-CUuM4Eud81ZzAJ38217o-rtBeym4pQYixHckN1hTB-J0mtutQTUxS8w3mbR5oVe4TUMm87s9qwuv5N8BD3RmOB/?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="DSC09307" width="404"></a></p> <p>Great lunch, minus the bad broccoli! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx35tMbAZ5fvIkVkJ3CLr9c-MGxbLY6ZWDw1oRBkMIGdiPTvQS_P9fe_xt-3-PyasLQQnerUUNPl6zA5O1m_SrpZu8Q5V_FkPhZkLErfAQarzMZb5elHZEBhoEsUnNPhhJekVrXjltYVN/s1600-h/DSC09308%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09308" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfQ6eR5AlsXuWBA3zBlBJwAVmeYJBF3qzSJ6aeufhZJ0Gut-FQvCj1UAQ-tLJROIh9iReHCIGWD2JDLY7W_TMIUrffoGzVKaMsplMxURU8E5RKXbl5FdX6TURwWVVt5XT08NmqEegFIpB/?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="DSC09308" width="404"></a></p> <p>After work Kyle and I ran a few errands, had to make a quick stop at the post office to mail a <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/11/catching-up-and-winner.html">certain package</a>! ;) And then we hit up the grocery store, we were running quite low on food!</p> <p>By the time we got home it was after 7pm, so I went for something quick & comforting! The <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/crafty.html"><strong>mini pizzas</strong></a> strike again, <strong>6 points</strong>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDY5MoeUTa-1ZLAJqNn7zM7VXhmoQORoXr7czfLxNP4V3V1qqQriy_uSuh5z5rk5ur6XszE5OUAkeK3zFTWtPM-1UVMIQt3ZlVG_61cvORdwTzIAgdd-CNZYs8yHTMNT0ixYVeRLOCrvHR/s1600-h/DSC09312%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09312" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEccJ_TCbfy8E_Tb78WFAut-kQviIk8qujmIXkyPG4LkhtUaIJZr2EmMRVJ0fKdPJSsfnlZSpdkGtr6Ve6fBB6YfR3ZRw4vjwhVxbxfJZGR7178p2tHYmVJesVNs5WBFomtkDUZkd9zXr/?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="DSC09312" width="404"></a></p> <p>I had a craving for<strong> mac n cheese</strong>, so I made a 1/2 box and calculated the points. Not too bad if you have 1/2 a serving and make it w/no butter & skim milk. My serving was only <strong>3 points</strong> and totally satisfied my craving!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTSbKo1MzNjVEcEYBAJ-rQlyiFslxVN5fwCpyCd9VTCvZKLKGtCA0IkSZ_m1qu4cR7g49E6-pEh0fFdesWA6zWz3Hk-2AwQ8ilyqr4ydgU8oHs9VoA7jRPhH9N9XVPJtQyPPMlAQdSu5W/s1600-h/DSC09311%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09311" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vIV0XtrSjTqPo58KKUpEei91NdbMfXo2pD5jQnWAtGddNnyYnAwq21hoK4oKqHYxSOGtWhxudyQ3pp5NkRYrfynMFS96SWWfZjWXowLTe2TAzgUuoqGb0Bez8J-Rr4X187SnbWypYsiP/?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="DSC09311" width="404"></a></p> <p>I had to show you guys my dress I wore today! It’s pretty simple, but I love it! I had already ditched my heels, walking all day at the office & grocery shopping was enough! ;) Can’t wait to pair it with leggings & boots this winter!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jfAqf-zl6DMrW6pmeOvvmTwSU_hHDtnaFtBdos9v0nssp65lyjQtZccnXsxuZ9wPzIAFcTicKBVFWrI5GO216PveiEkymUur_apjz1Se5SudxdTWBBxR2R1YorsKX3rLTi-n1IFotu4M/s1600-h/DSC09310%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09310" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5pAWOAZqj4cI_-HnqyvEm0CP9yUr5Sf1GplTBaUAQ-FPAtNTWkMM3yF84wvDwRb6tsO4WeXuWOjqXwuJHqv75RkpPJkRl75b7UVixLlLtK24Rdmk80pFngmPyO7vARwiKPWhu-e6T9My/?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="DSC09310" width="354"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>TUESDAY’S STATS<br></strong>POINTS = 29/23<br>WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 6 used/29 remaining<br>ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/0 week<br>H2O = 88 oz<br>EXERCISE = none <p><strong>Are you a dress girl?</strong> <em>I would say I definitely am! But I don’t wear them often enough!</em>

Sunny Tuesday

Tuesday was a gorgeous day here in Iowa, sunny & 70 degrees! Too bad I had to work inside all day! Breakfast was a few left over pancak...

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Catching up and a WINNER!!!

Hello friends! I've been MIA the past few days! LOTS going on! :) I'll give you the short version!<br /><br />Thursday was my blogiversary...hard to believe 2 years ago I was in a much different place! If you missed my post make sure to go check it out <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/11/2-year-blogiversary.html">here</a>!<br /><br />Friday was work like normal and then we spent the evening w/my family! Always love family time! :)<br /><br />Saturday was an unexpected road trip to Kansas City!! I packed my bags quick...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllURDDNxz0AU5UlIpuVXMZDCjjQfnFAKqNuNdgTKFqmpkw2MLAsYkC6feUHYMtreVjelgp1pw8BX6JbsNTcdQDApzX_YULUnUYneQ1m89fikS12qO9gmHrXvvyAF3NBIIX_cAlREkdUk_/s1600/DSC09285.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621209266599202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllURDDNxz0AU5UlIpuVXMZDCjjQfnFAKqNuNdgTKFqmpkw2MLAsYkC6feUHYMtreVjelgp1pw8BX6JbsNTcdQDApzX_YULUnUYneQ1m89fikS12qO9gmHrXvvyAF3NBIIX_cAlREkdUk_/s400/DSC09285.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Had some cereal in my favorite bowl...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVWqshzJZZ4Zhoarhb5XI7sbv_yb1UokhhF174QcgiHR3JPbpH6nmPkXlqkcOtbe8L7wEUERBDEf6EyvKEO0ZsEfpp_EV1lZz3VpJ4sEDNkW13po9e3yECPfm6Zfb_QAHPwjriLXjFvWJ/s1600/DSC09283.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621595534796290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVWqshzJZZ4Zhoarhb5XI7sbv_yb1UokhhF174QcgiHR3JPbpH6nmPkXlqkcOtbe8L7wEUERBDEf6EyvKEO0ZsEfpp_EV1lZz3VpJ4sEDNkW13po9e3yECPfm6Zfb_QAHPwjriLXjFvWJ/s400/DSC09283.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />And my sister, Mindi, and I hit the road!! She had a wedding to go to and I was going along for the ride & to surprise my friend who lives in KC!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFmUcyLlB4xHZXgo6wigx2Pq5TNtm2y8Y7AKPe0tHwTU6-C_eWeuH8IlBQXdRi2UqPPk5fWN38ifk-Ux5u_cj9qERMETK-OvldQCECvGUOYUdkC_vk6BjQ1tPWLoSrJLel3c6WKGBuBX6/s1600/DSC09298.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621315864290018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFmUcyLlB4xHZXgo6wigx2Pq5TNtm2y8Y7AKPe0tHwTU6-C_eWeuH8IlBQXdRi2UqPPk5fWN38ifk-Ux5u_cj9qERMETK-OvldQCECvGUOYUdkC_vk6BjQ1tPWLoSrJLel3c6WKGBuBX6/s400/DSC09298.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />We had a few snacks along the way...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy54_Zoslffbk81LEP2sp2DXgqcgtMtvxFv4Y0J0-dURGBKJQ_kMZPhwLTxYtpOZwU8YWJgrjeBzj8sbxuPcKFBOdAi3bT3Vm4wiblX_6NViotu5TpqJhi-2MRvg6LEuqR77AjRJ5M2Jl/s1600/DSC09290.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621906779600386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy54_Zoslffbk81LEP2sp2DXgqcgtMtvxFv4Y0J0-dURGBKJQ_kMZPhwLTxYtpOZwU8YWJgrjeBzj8sbxuPcKFBOdAi3bT3Vm4wiblX_6NViotu5TpqJhi-2MRvg6LEuqR77AjRJ5M2Jl/s400/DSC09290.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Some healthy...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExmYPkk14HfYRWQb7UsP-qxMm-4QPuPvbIwjS1qdIoVaZcG2KsLwrH05m6zj2IH0o1SmtZAFQKZ07-OVLDoy4Ksx1ScQi0uY2Q7yPSzzSh0bg2htnvkeYUPj9fM1Fbe3AXlbSMpPJIbXj/s1600/DSC09287.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621896770004290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExmYPkk14HfYRWQb7UsP-qxMm-4QPuPvbIwjS1qdIoVaZcG2KsLwrH05m6zj2IH0o1SmtZAFQKZ07-OVLDoy4Ksx1ScQi0uY2Q7yPSzzSh0bg2htnvkeYUPj9fM1Fbe3AXlbSMpPJIbXj/s400/DSC09287.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Some, not so much! But I counted out my serving! ;) The 4+ hour trip flew by, I always enjoy sister time!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N5oF_sZxaBqIev42i8QxNP5lYitL_BWn6J5yG84rtbEQRG2W3QBI_Nmk7zkPXhxVE3CPtMWBmZZS8putSddn7Y1pcGXsn6wlW-jXaHZ9Q9TIFKN0GV32Mjr3Gakbv2MkIjW0f8CWTk20/s1600/DSC09288.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621891137521618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N5oF_sZxaBqIev42i8QxNP5lYitL_BWn6J5yG84rtbEQRG2W3QBI_Nmk7zkPXhxVE3CPtMWBmZZS8putSddn7Y1pcGXsn6wlW-jXaHZ9Q9TIFKN0GV32Mjr3Gakbv2MkIjW0f8CWTk20/s400/DSC09288.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Our first stop was the Legends at Village West Outlet mall!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMj2m-3Z6d_RRvhLteKV4jaYRsfKUD1NGX24NkRPIh_HhymVy22qTamUnbWqtHDQJpMx2RfdOpczYrk31HfMicqKAeLxgZynNYkzYMzjkZTddCboqIANNIre2ciSDVcyb9r_ayqpUXCedv/s1600/DSC09291.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621204686069154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMj2m-3Z6d_RRvhLteKV4jaYRsfKUD1NGX24NkRPIh_HhymVy22qTamUnbWqtHDQJpMx2RfdOpczYrk31HfMicqKAeLxgZynNYkzYMzjkZTddCboqIANNIre2ciSDVcyb9r_ayqpUXCedv/s400/DSC09291.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Mindi made friends with some "animals"!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuWhmCxux11PlaTIDdVMNXQTH6w1DCUOPV_3H9_6JQY-7yfg2awvkWZRpbRT4L7PxxEkFPISYofzHOUOStH5ebkhhC-tZZnIWgvliMRLyPCsOwoJp-x4ytsg5rvxoZqNtnxOoIJihE5zF/s1600/DSC09292.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621195396468770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuWhmCxux11PlaTIDdVMNXQTH6w1DCUOPV_3H9_6JQY-7yfg2awvkWZRpbRT4L7PxxEkFPISYofzHOUOStH5ebkhhC-tZZnIWgvliMRLyPCsOwoJp-x4ytsg5rvxoZqNtnxOoIJihE5zF/s400/DSC09292.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />We couldn't shop on an empty stomachs though! We made a quick stop at Five Guys, a new try for me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj-7TJJ9M0Zv0-wK62OQadU2bq7E3VxZNg3FRZ8Cp9IHaypFbYO9VN9PqsAXEfS07oeGpsVlb6Ldcufafzuh8TMC_ashlPodL3tzLxdhAwitw6GdLlqjMv2WblHYSGa0SZNxtYSnphuF0/s1600/DSC09293.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621181761980402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj-7TJJ9M0Zv0-wK62OQadU2bq7E3VxZNg3FRZ8Cp9IHaypFbYO9VN9PqsAXEfS07oeGpsVlb6Ldcufafzuh8TMC_ashlPodL3tzLxdhAwitw6GdLlqjMv2WblHYSGa0SZNxtYSnphuF0/s400/DSC09293.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I got the "little" burger, but there wasn't much that was little about it! ;) But it was one good burger!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsWWuVNcOHxxbtcxpBcbKiOTIoCzPpAF1JGvSscXrSvic2b5Lu5qDMxDFqiLGMvQWeCF-dtgsEHRRNnC4p78zeHxTv73km6RpZU4ufNVNS_THishyKXlhYpN2qCsDTlOvNVwwhBduwqP3/s1600/DSC09295.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537621168889201442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsWWuVNcOHxxbtcxpBcbKiOTIoCzPpAF1JGvSscXrSvic2b5Lu5qDMxDFqiLGMvQWeCF-dtgsEHRRNnC4p78zeHxTv73km6RpZU4ufNVNS_THishyKXlhYpN2qCsDTlOvNVwwhBduwqP3/s400/DSC09295.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Mindi's got the little burger too...but went "all the way" with her toppings! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPYi_I23onpPREGCnPJhzdkouM_46yw3CvuyHNOIW7zEy-2GX7EVk7J_p3TsN3KRu8rYlvv0Z4Kjm6usAaQN4XoAoHVzZ-AYrCkMMAUBz80AL8Bq6eM2fViiwCH6rFgaLmSos6lub6-xk/s1600/DSC09296.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537620739924947986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPYi_I23onpPREGCnPJhzdkouM_46yw3CvuyHNOIW7zEy-2GX7EVk7J_p3TsN3KRu8rYlvv0Z4Kjm6usAaQN4XoAoHVzZ-AYrCkMMAUBz80AL8Bq6eM2fViiwCH6rFgaLmSos6lub6-xk/s400/DSC09296.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Word the wise, if you go to Five Guys, get the regular fries! Our little container was overflowing. We barely made a dent in them!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAg_mjEesri-WK2FyTlbiCshWw5NuEyUVTr2i0mgOtxz9EAyFpW0qjNYbgwJOkc4KELAaew1-IOttkmPH7lzyEwkvHoJk1hyeXidmJIObvEKcmvF-luBcNyw8biD3Ju2dfYmv29bAUffg/s1600/DSC09297.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537620732945088626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAg_mjEesri-WK2FyTlbiCshWw5NuEyUVTr2i0mgOtxz9EAyFpW0qjNYbgwJOkc4KELAaew1-IOttkmPH7lzyEwkvHoJk1hyeXidmJIObvEKcmvF-luBcNyw8biD3Ju2dfYmv29bAUffg/s400/DSC09297.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />We shopped the afternoon away and I made a quick call to my friend, <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/03/guest-post-2-jenna.html">Jenna</a>. She had NO idea I was in town and was TOTALLY surprised!! I love surprises!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45zrQkRjrRFFCBygFqAPZs74g0Wh4eZXXnR5HYAyhUSHnKKKUzO6SncF_yt9203uZ57V2ak3m4BbToTEgsU4L_Oq0AnaKBo4Amq2fZxLUIVAMxaAaIemXkrMBuMWfLvkzfJqkwpkWStYJ/s1600/mejenna.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537624848874799730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45zrQkRjrRFFCBygFqAPZs74g0Wh4eZXXnR5HYAyhUSHnKKKUzO6SncF_yt9203uZ57V2ak3m4BbToTEgsU4L_Oq0AnaKBo4Amq2fZxLUIVAMxaAaIemXkrMBuMWfLvkzfJqkwpkWStYJ/s400/mejenna.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />We met up downtown at The Plaza for some more shopping. It was EXTRA fun to see her because she recently got ENGAGED!!! For supper we hit up one of my favorites, Cheddars!<br /><br />We had their homemade onion rings...LOVE these!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KVlYV6rHNYcOh64416iJzOGgUnCdPgrH1_bMZ6wAD_XofGI_EC8dF-Rov09gCHA-bWeITBhLf34VI24YSifBq-ikkqfwbWvh90sPfUhap3DIQGhu2-ptaPO8Z62TGAUn6w7hG0NTHUmM/s1600/DSC09299.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537620728552163698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KVlYV6rHNYcOh64416iJzOGgUnCdPgrH1_bMZ6wAD_XofGI_EC8dF-Rov09gCHA-bWeITBhLf34VI24YSifBq-ikkqfwbWvh90sPfUhap3DIQGhu2-ptaPO8Z62TGAUn6w7hG0NTHUmM/s400/DSC09299.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />And I got the chicken tender wrapper! I think they changed something on it though 'cause it wasn't the same as past times. Why mess with a good thing?!?!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUHg-jXHJL_Szk-holHidclF4G_3AX9evwIlvvUnFKtPDPHcO3_3WANnRb6PH4-5X01ABejr7m5AZBkRudsIEJoWRCA-bIk8BxsydWwKbu9R5yenC2NITBjvXK65qbIKXUPG15yIDGc24/s1600/DSC09300.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537620719505982114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUHg-jXHJL_Szk-holHidclF4G_3AX9evwIlvvUnFKtPDPHcO3_3WANnRb6PH4-5X01ABejr7m5AZBkRudsIEJoWRCA-bIk8BxsydWwKbu9R5yenC2NITBjvXK65qbIKXUPG15yIDGc24/s400/DSC09300.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />We enjoyed supper and met up with my sister from Omaha, Stef, who was also in town for a wedding. It was a fun girls night! Oh and Jenna asked me to be a bridesmaid!!! Can't wait for your big day Jenna, you're going to make a gorgeous bride!!!<br /><br />Sunday involved sleeping in, more shopping, and Mindi & I made the drive home! We didn't get back till after midnight though! I was one tired girl!! It was worth it, such a fun weekend!<br /><br />Now on to some blog business!! My first giveaway ended yesterday and I used random.org to choose a winner. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuy5XrhDvTpeEPLblW2EU5_v3siVGgGB22bz7o6oCnxxizbkUCIWeCd80d76WmUvh2FpmxCRPx2rg_jPA6lKfWhyphenhyphenaDhtdh_0pVVoRuth9LyoAt5Gr20tclmvqO9oNlV-vWY6-qWnCY4iG/s1600/random.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537619795044873378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuy5XrhDvTpeEPLblW2EU5_v3siVGgGB22bz7o6oCnxxizbkUCIWeCd80d76WmUvh2FpmxCRPx2rg_jPA6lKfWhyphenhyphenaDhtdh_0pVVoRuth9LyoAt5Gr20tclmvqO9oNlV-vWY6-qWnCY4iG/s400/random.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 289px;" /></a><br />Comment #3, my good <span style="font-style:italic;">[blog]</span> friend & fellow Iowan Alyssa from over at <a href="http://ajourneytothin.blogspot.com/">A Journey to Thin</a> said:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwLq5gx-Zx9PBpBCiIFu9u-yO98S5BJA4DsA5GxVomy1FuMLK2HCFF1yaEI3cKuW6__66XEOpi_LoXPmjYt4DIKwRym410eFAsq-qsspmdbw6Jshcl5aOj7k8R5xKnIL2AK0VobFjNdFb/s1600/maeflowers.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537626960827925714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwLq5gx-Zx9PBpBCiIFu9u-yO98S5BJA4DsA5GxVomy1FuMLK2HCFF1yaEI3cKuW6__66XEOpi_LoXPmjYt4DIKwRym410eFAsq-qsspmdbw6Jshcl5aOj7k8R5xKnIL2AK0VobFjNdFb/s400/maeflowers.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 192px;" /></a><br />Congrats Alyssa!!<br /><br />Ok, so question for you guys! <span style="font-weight:bold;">Do you enjoy last minute trips? Or are you a planner & don't like to change plans?</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">I'm usually a planner, but I didn't have a whole lot going on and figured "what the heck"!! Glad I did! :)</span>

Catching up and a WINNER!!!

Hello friends! I've been MIA the past few days! LOTS going on! :) I'll give you the short version! Thursday was my blogiversary...ha...

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14ème Semaine pour l’emploi des personnes handicapées

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyEZhXOQeS_v6vaT8cT8IpEpukba_pocMugL9PNBCRGo741F4WKS8cvxZUAFxjf6LBU7jQowthQBFr3Zy1pzHgLICzAh9YG6NBscXRqVmsB1LpbNM4tUV2KFzzKq4aTgSgU8HLoBJA-8G/s1600/10-seph-Affiche-40x60_0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537874217602926834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyEZhXOQeS_v6vaT8cT8IpEpukba_pocMugL9PNBCRGo741F4WKS8cvxZUAFxjf6LBU7jQowthQBFr3Zy1pzHgLICzAh9YG6NBscXRqVmsB1LpbNM4tUV2KFzzKq4aTgSgU8HLoBJA-8G/s320/10-seph-Affiche-40x60_0.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.handichat.fr/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537873717382554978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT5LKLcP7geh957Jt5u3X5dI_cq0aCcyncKBJbyZ37WVwlt7LoX4CYb300rEo9mR15Uzqux-qPOksZ4XTtu-YcPMWPLD6njDhuFmN4REcQJpXigSdynGjB2i-ROm-c1ZaOyqB3zTr7C_3/s320/Agefiph_Bann_160x600_2010.gif" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 86px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />Du 15 au 21 novembre 2010, l’<a href="http://www.agefiph.fr/">AGEFIPH</a>, l’<a href="http://www.ladapt.net/">ADAPT</a> et le <a href="http://www.fiphfp.fr/">FIPHFP</a> s’associent pour l’organisation de la 14ème semaine pour l’emploi des personnes handicapées. Cette semaine a pour objectif de favoriser chaque année le recrutement des travailleurs handicapés dans les secteurs public et privé.<br /><br />Dans le cadre de cette semaine, l'opération <a href="http://www.handichat.fr">HandiChat </a> sera renouvelée. Chaque journée sera construite autour d’une thématique :<ul><br /><li>Lundi 15/11 : trouver un emploi<br /><li>Mardi 16/11 : Travailler dans la fonction publique avec le FIPHFP<br /><li>Mercredi 17/11 : S’orienter et se former<br /><li>Jeudi 18/11 : Conserver son emploi et évoluer professionnellement<br /><li>Vendredi 19/11 : Créer ou reprendre une entreprise.<br /><a href="http://www.handichat.fr/agenda.php">Programme complet</a></ul><br />Un <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2010/11/forum-emploi-et-handicap.html">Forum emploi handicap</a> aura lieu à Orléans le 16 novembre.<br /><BR>

14ème Semaine pour l’emploi des personnes handicapées

Du 15 au 21 novembre 2010, l’ AGEFIPH , l’ ADAPT et le FIPHFP s’associent pour l’organisation de la 14ème semaine pour l’emploi des person...

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I had a dream

It wasn't really a dream, more of a nightmare.<br /><br />Since I've been sleeping a lot more lately I've started dreaming again. Unfortunately, most of my dreams haven't been pleasant. The one I had Friday night has stayed with me through the weekend. I can't seem to let it go.<br /><br />Usually I dismiss dreams as just that...dreams. They don't really mean anything, just silly junk our brain comes up with while we try to sleep.<br /><br />This one was different. This one is was disturbingly a reflection of my life. <br /><br />I was inside of a building, standing on a very narrow ledge along a wall. The ledge was so narrow that only the balls of my feet were on the ledge and I was standing on my tiptoes. I was very high up, and there was a cement floor below me. I knew if I fell I would die.<br /><br />I was facing the wall with my hands and body pressed flat against the wall. I slowly inched along the narrow ledge sideways. I kept feeling like I was going to fall. When I looked down it was a long way to the floor. I was very frightened. I didn't know how I was going to get down.<br /><br />Finally, I called for my husband to quickly bring me a ladder. He came with a ladder but he held if about five feet from me. I tried to reach for the ladder but I couldn't reach it. Then I lost my balance. I fell.<br /><br />I didn't die (obviously), but in my dream when I fell I grabbed onto the very narrow ledge with my fingers. Then as I was hanging from the ledge with my fingers, and my legs were dangling, I realized my feet were almost touching the floor. I could let go and I wouldn't die. I was going to be okay.<br /><br />This could be a reflection of so many things in my life. My job, my marriage, my weight loss efforts. The failure at any or all of these things will not kill me. It might scare me, but I won't die.<br /><br />Or the dream could have been about the guy at work that was wearing moccasins last week. He told me they were like slippers. I asked him if they had arch support and he said no. I told him that would kill my feet because I have extremely high arches and had to have arch support in my shoes. He told me I needed to practice standing on a Bosu ball with one foot, barefooted. Just stand there grabbing the ball with my foot. That it would build up my arches. I told him I always fall off of those stupid Bosu balls. Yes, I bet that's what the dream was really all about. :)

dream I had a dream

It wasn't really a dream, more of a nightmare. Since I've been sleeping a lot more lately I've started dreaming again. Unfortuna...

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Van Nest Polglase ~ Architect Of Cinematic Dreams, Part II

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ5hzKKenNU9Q8zv2ix7KD0GcPgm89rNNzwmT3HZZ8TdZZ86uTK6g-xqsX-s3SqTVDIOclOneQniL-d8CnYfMKnbehGRNPRL4mkSZ-aGeFrUKn-2fk8OTxPjMV6Xr0288uYZar2JsJ_Jz/s1600/artdirectionTheInformer1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536896414924983106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ5hzKKenNU9Q8zv2ix7KD0GcPgm89rNNzwmT3HZZ8TdZZ86uTK6g-xqsX-s3SqTVDIOclOneQniL-d8CnYfMKnbehGRNPRL4mkSZ-aGeFrUKn-2fk8OTxPjMV6Xr0288uYZar2JsJ_Jz/s320/artdirectionTheInformer1.jpg" style="float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 257px;" width="257" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>by guest contributor Whistlingypsy</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The emergence of those stylistic elements in American films later termed <i>noir </i>by critics is often debated and open to interpretation.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Five years before the films that captivated French critics for their “dark” plots and visual style, John Ford directed an equally dark film for RKO Studios. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Informer</span> (1935) was based on the novel by Liam O’Flaherty and tells the story of an increasingly desperate man. <span lang="EN">Whether John Ford had the stylistic treatment of German expressionism in mind when</span><span lang="EN"> making the film seems unlikely, but </span>Gypo Nolan’s (Victor McLaglen) flight through Dublin’s fog wreathed streets suggests these atmospheric elements as an archetype of <i>noir</i> essentials. Through the effective use of black velvet drapery and fog, to disguise the minimal budget for art direction, Polglase and assistant art director Charles Kirk created an atmosphere that is alternately brooding and menacing, dark, claustrophobic and bleak. Setting the story over the course of one night gives immediacy to Nolan’s frantic race to outrun his conscience and his pursuers. <span lang="EN">This small film would proved an artistic triumph, surprising studio executives, and won four Academ</span></span><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">y Awards, one for John Ford’s direction and Victor McLaglen’s portrayal of the lead character.</span></span><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;"></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;">Alfred Hitchcock, before he began directing films in 1925, was active as an art director. He entered the industry in 1919 when he was employed by the Islington studio location of Famous Players-Lasky and he worked as an art director on at least six films before moving on to directing. Hitchcock’s lifelong interest in production design has often been understood in light of his experi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegK03W6KHP0AIIXY8PICgLOKNTygJImp0HUdDjESJKHZB1T2jte_qMHUXL9TOj3H1sKXG74ghqj10UBx0HKDDOed3bpsQNp9GlI2-y9nFV4GWxAG6Z1_-6NSzZEka53fSjT1L9zo9Xz1k/s1600/artdirectionSuspicion1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536893241127740146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegK03W6KHP0AIIXY8PICgLOKNTygJImp0HUdDjESJKHZB1T2jte_qMHUXL9TOj3H1sKXG74ghqj10UBx0HKDDOed3bpsQNp9GlI2-y9nFV4GWxAG6Z1_-6NSzZEka53fSjT1L9zo9Xz1k/s200/artdirectionSuspicion1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 150px;" /></a>ences at German studios both in Berlin and Munich and his exposure to German expressionism.</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;">Hitchcock’s first project for RKO Studios had been a comedy and with his next assignment he was given the opportunity to pursue a subject in keeping with his earlier darker films. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Suspicion</span> (1941) was notable for first introducing actor Cary Grant and director Hitchcock, and for using art d<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95S5fE57dHpHjWjcMNzBPmfN1Dkn65z07j_YP1wB65ymq-OfB6eK8KeOlohodtGX2DC00NKNjV9ewDK4hWbP2uc9ALDezkUNZr6h1lOCRI4Opcg_otgQsD3DTOzImVtnxZu1rF2aQ8dS4/s1600/artdirectionSuspicion2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536893545410650658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95S5fE57dHpHjWjcMNzBPmfN1Dkn65z07j_YP1wB65ymq-OfB6eK8KeOlohodtGX2DC00NKNjV9ewDK4hWbP2uc9ALDezkUNZr6h1lOCRI4Opcg_otgQsD3DTOzImVtnxZu1rF2aQ8dS4/s320/artdirectionSuspicion2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 257px;" /></a>irection as a psychological element in storytelling. The contrast between Lina’s (Joan Fontaine) reassuringly stuffy family home and the coldly menacing home she shares with husband Johnny (Grant) personifies the tension of her state of mind.</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;">The film’s art direction, supervised primarily by Carroll Clark, is also noteworthy for using the human form as an architectural element. The tall and solid form of Cary Grant balanced on the stairs is echoed in the equally tall and solid column at the foot of the stairs. The graceful line of the pinstripe in Grant’s suit is echoed, but altered, in the equally graceful lines of the treads and risers of the stairs. These lines are further mimicked in the lines falling across the wall and surrounding Grant’s head. The elements confirm and confuse by communicating both Grant’s guise of reliability and the shadow of suspicion regarding his motives, all combining to create one of the most emotionally menacing sequences in the film.</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="font-family: arial;"></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Van Nest Polglase is credited with supervising art direction on what is considered the finest film ever made in America. However, the credit for most of the innovative art direction rightly belongs to Perry Ferguson. Many film scholars have written in depth on the making of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Citizen Kane</span> (1941), with a focus on cinematography and the use of lighting, but few focus on the contribution of art direction.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5GOH44SCXhWHTRlXsiIpWtedR2CJS1UW03i6sSieH8YP0LKGzuYWpNjpC8gky1E2vE787aTui_dy2KXCwo14wdLZ4yTldsRdTPeviAZ-GrfEXKvX583vcGG7gyHS7zbGtBO0KSL2dAdT/s1600/artdirectionCitizenKane.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536894085944090018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5GOH44SCXhWHTRlXsiIpWtedR2CJS1UW03i6sSieH8YP0LKGzuYWpNjpC8gky1E2vE787aTui_dy2KXCwo14wdLZ4yTldsRdTPeviAZ-GrfEXKvX583vcGG7gyHS7zbGtBO0KSL2dAdT/s320/artdirectionCitizenKane.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>Pauline Kael, film critic and author of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Citizen Kane Book</span>, mentions neither Polglase nor Ferguson. Orson Welles, in trade paper ads the day of the film’s Hollywood premiere, gave thanks “to everybody who gets screen credit for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Citizen Kane</span> and thanks to those who don’t.” Considering the risk involved in screening the film, this was a generous acknowledgment of the work of many creative individuals. Although Welles appears to have refused to acknowledge Polglase’s contributions, he praised Perry Ferguson’s historical details stopping short of giving Ferguson his due credit on the film.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ferguson’s use of revers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbVsxXHB8e6FMuT3tMYs3zJK5ko01VdFYDqbHjlwVb3QOPPQs5VaXx7BerOutSBrJYQw9lSG1oq3Pd77Ilf_6FBh_2yxmQN_tWyuArKx1U2C0OpHewZfbQY0D9kjhFGmnCEaDDccAkvvL/s1600/artdirectioncollage3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536894483708036914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbVsxXHB8e6FMuT3tMYs3zJK5ko01VdFYDqbHjlwVb3QOPPQs5VaXx7BerOutSBrJYQw9lSG1oq3Pd77Ilf_6FBh_2yxmQN_tWyuArKx1U2C0OpHewZfbQY0D9kjhFGmnCEaDDccAkvvL/s320/artdirectioncollage3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 211px;" /></a>al of scale as Kane’s ambitions move from larger than life to dwarfing the man who created the illusion is one of the film’s benchmarks and an example of RKO’s sophisticated art direction. A comparison of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Citizen Kane</span> with a lesser film in production the same year proves the level of RKO’s emerging visual style.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stranger on the third Floor</span> (1940) was a minor B-film that caused no great stir at the time and could have easily disappeared to the dustbin. Some film historians claim the film contains the first examples of what would later be termed <span style="font-style: italic;">noirish</span> elements (but this is open to debate). Compare the two films for their remarkable similarities: the often dream-like quality, elaborate sets, oversized props and the exaggerated reversal of perspective found in both is significant. <span class="postbody1">The photos to the right show a scene from each film that again reveals a stylistic use of the human form in an architectural environment, and nearly duplicates the body language of the lead character poised at the top of the stairs. </span>Two different art directors created the design of these films, but the designs were produced under the guidance of Van Nest Polglase and RKO art direction.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="postbody1">Polglase left RKO Studios as head art director in 1942 and divided his time between freelance and studio projects before retiring fifteen years later. His film credits during this period include <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Fallen Sparrow</span> (1943); <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Song To Remember</span> (1945); <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gilda</span> (1946);<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Slightly Scarlet</span> (1956) and B-films directed by Allan Dwan.</span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In February of 2005, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Art Directors Guild</span> unveiled its new Hall of Fame and inducted the following legendary production designers at the ninth annual <span style="font-weight: bold;">Art Directors Guild Awards</span>: Wilfred Buckland, Richard Day, John DeCuir Sr., Anton Grot, Boris Leven, William Cameron Menzies and Van Nest Polglase.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="postbody1">A trend in film criticism seems to have developed regarding Polglase’s contributions to RKO’s art direction, dismissing them as negligible at best. An unfair appraisal of Polglase may be due to the assumption that he ran his department based on his experiences at and observations of M-G-M and Cedric Gibbons. Richard B. Jewell, film historian and author of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The RKO Story</span> states, </span>"The supreme irony of RKO's existence is that the studio earned a position of lasting importance in cinema history largely because of its extraordinarily unstable history. Since it was the weakling of Hollywood's 'majors,' RKO welcomed a diverse group of individualistic creators and provided them...with an extraordinary degree of freedom to express their artistic idiosyncrasies.... [I]t never became predictable and it never became a factory." </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jewell’s assessment that RKO was a studio of artistic freedom did not preclude conflict over creative control. David O. Selznick, the man responsible for Polglase being made head of art direction, left the studio after a brief fifteen months. Polglase remained with the studio for ten years as an administrator and art director, successfully filling both roles with films that satisfied audience demand for inventive entertainment and studio executives’ demand for new revenue.<span class="postbody1"> A change of perspective from Polglase taking credit for work he did not do would result in his making possible the outstanding work of art directors Carroll Clark and Perry Ferguson.</span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="postbody1">There are many elements that form a link between architecture and art direction. </span>The difference between the two disciplines is where architecture “encompasses” space from without art direction “evokes” space from within, and the architecture of film works within cuts and edits, frames and openings. The architect designs a space with an eye to permanence while the art director designs a space with an eye to the ephemeral. This leaves the art director a greater sense of flexibility when creating his projects unfortunately; the <span class="postbody1">architect and the art director both depend on the efforts of preservation to maintain a permanent record of the artist’s original vision.</span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" face="arial"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Scroll down to read Part I of Van Nest Polglase ~ Architect of Cinematic Dreams</i></span></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Carroll Clark Cary Grant Charles Kirk Film Noir John Ford Orson Welles Perry Ferguson RKO Studios Van Nest Polglase Victor McLaglen Whistlingypsy (author) Van Nest Polglase ~ Architect Of Cinematic Dreams, Part II

by guest contributor Whistlingypsy The emergence of those stylistic elements in American films later termed noir by critics is often debated...

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It doesn't make it all better

After looking at my stats from last year that I posted yesterday, I started pondering why I just gave up and gained 21 pounds. I was near goal, at least the Weight Watcher goal of 155. At 158 pounds I was so close to goal that I could almost feel it. I remember being happy and proud of myself. <br /><br />So what happened? Why did I just give up? Don't I want to reach goal? It appears that I don't really care anymore, that I gave up giving it my all and I'm just floating along, staying in the 170's, not really giving my weight loss much attention. <br /><br />A few weeks ago a friend that I walk with on occasion asked me, "Isn't your life a lot better since you lost so much weight?" My immediate response was "No! It's not." Then I told her some things were better, I can breathe easier and my knees don't hurt. I don't get tired as quickly. I have a little more self-confidence. However, overall, I still have the same problems I had at 240 pounds, and I still had those same problems when I was down to 152 last year. <br /><br />My job is still a job that I don't exactly look forward to each day, but it is a job. My marital problems are still here. My husband still gets grouchy when he's tired and he's tired a lot. I'm still afraid of the same things, becoming one of the morbidly obese and being homeless. I still don't think I'm smart or pretty. In a nutshell, I'm still the same person just in a healthier body. <br /><br />My friend was shocked that my weight loss didn't solve all my problems. I was only telling her the truth, even though she's trying to lose a hundred pounds and this was disheartening to hear. <br /><br />Maybe because I know it won't solve all my problems I've made reaching goal not as important to me as it was last year. I still want to reach goal, but for different reasons now. Now that I know it won't fix everything I need to look at in an entirely different light. <br /><br />I want to lose weight so I can comfortably wear all the size 10 clothes in my closet. I'm back in a size 12. I want to lose weight so I can remain healthy and continue to be active in my old age. I have no intention of moving into an assisted living home in my 80's. I want to travel and not be in a wheelchair. <br /><br />The reasons for getting to goal are different now. I know it won't make my job more fun or less stressful. I know it won't make my husband happier or my marriage better. I can't control these things, but I can control me. I can control how I handle things, what I put in my mouth, my health. <br /><br />I think <a href="http://msbitchcakes.blogspot.com/2010/10/emotional-effects-of-reaching-goal.html">Sheryl</a> said it best in her post last week when she wrote about her struggles at being at goal. The last few paragraphs really hit home for me. <br /><br />I suspect this is why so many people gain back all their weight and then some more, just like I've done many times in my life. I expected a different outcome when I lost a lot of weight. I expected life to be wonderful and everyone around me to be as happy for me as I was for myself. It just doesn't work that way.<br /><br />The bottom line is that reaching goal doesn't make it <strong>ALL</strong> better. It makes some things better, but a lot of things stay the same or only get slightly  better. That's okay, small positive changes in life are still good. I just have to expect less, accept that this isn't really a life-altering event to weight 155 versus 175 or 135 versus 175. My life will still be pretty much the same, just a thinner, healthier version of me. <br /><br />So it doesn't make it all better, but it's a little better and sometimes, a lot better. That's still a good thing.<br /><br /><em>An afterthought:  After I posted this I realized some people might think that what I'm saying is that losing weight isn't worth it. That since it doesn't fix <u>everything</u> then why bother? That's not what I meant. </em><br /><br /><em>It fixes a lot of things, but basically you'll still come out on the other side the same person with a lot of the same problems. Some things will be better, some will go away, and you might even have an entirely new set of problems. It's still a very good thing to lose weight. </em><br /><br /><em>The other thing you might think is that I'm seeking compliments when I say I'm not smart or pretty. I know what I am. I'm average intelligence, average looks. It's okay, I've accepted it. Somehow I thought losing weight would make me better in all areas of my life. Obviously, I was wrong on that account, but again, I've accepted it.</em>

reaching goal weight It doesn't make it all better

After looking at my stats from last year that I posted yesterday, I started pondering why I just gave up and gained 21 pounds. I was near go...

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Planning de la semaine du 08 au 12 novembre 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 08 novembre de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 09 novembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 10 novembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 12 novembre de 13h30 à 17h.<br /><br /><li><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/01/egee-nouveau-partenaire-la-maison-de.html">EGEE</a></span> - lundi 08 novembre de 13h30 à 17h (sur rendez-vous)<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> - vendredi 12 novembre 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>CV</strong> - mardi 09 novembre de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 10 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 09 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 12 novembre 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 12 novembre de 14h à 16h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 08 au 12 novembre 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 08 no...

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It's in the water

In spite of the Halloween candy incident last weekend and the brownies I made one night this week I still had a good weighin today. <br /><br />About the brownies, well, I had an argument with my husband, he went to bed mad at me. I felt sad so I made brownies, but...I only ate two and put the rest down the garbage disposal. The funny/sad thing is that I don't even really like brownies. Obviously, I still have a long way to go to overcome my emotional eating.<br /><br />However, even though I wasn't perfect this week, I did a few things right:<br /><ul><li>I ate good, healthy food 90% of the time, in moderate portions.</li><li>I tracked my food four of the seven days.</li><li>I drank a <strong>LOT</strong> of water thanks to this <a href="http://almostgastricbypass.blogspot.com/">guy</a>. This really helped.</li><li>I worked out like a maniac seven days in a row.</li><li>I slept eight to nine hours a night. <---this one is amazing for me.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">Weight today, November 6:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">174.6</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Week loss:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">-3.6</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Total loss:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">-64.6</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">There are eight weeks left in 2010. The holidays. The weeks where people skip their Weight Watcher meeting, and indulge at the parties. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Check out my stats from last year, around this time:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ipDVjDtwnsdOv0Qx9arjPmahSCbooa8h1HNERKQcJpahk8To3WomhIYxG7e1JzjL6zMNBG__oMDhQYAvrGSd7_pjnhrLLajviIeVDt5J8WK0YtRIJxxhDKQVLpaK6PucCZRfmhGkMPWo/s1600/chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ipDVjDtwnsdOv0Qx9arjPmahSCbooa8h1HNERKQcJpahk8To3WomhIYxG7e1JzjL6zMNBG__oMDhQYAvrGSd7_pjnhrLLajviIeVDt5J8WK0YtRIJxxhDKQVLpaK6PucCZRfmhGkMPWo/s1600/chart.jpg" /></a></div><br />In four months I gained 21.6 pounds.  I was traveling a lot during that time, but it's been a year. I still haven't lost the weight I gained last fall. <br /><br />My goals for the remaining eight weeks of 2010:<br /><br /><ol><li>Don't skip Weight Watcher meetings!</li><li>Track my food <u>seven</u> days a week, aiming for 25 Points/day.</li><li>Continue with my seven days a week workouts. Thirty minutes cardio, forty minutes strength.</li><li>Water, tons and tons of water. I haven't caluclated exactly how much I need to be drinking, but currently I'm at 104 ounces of pure water a day (not counting tea, coffee, milk...I don't drink soda).</li><li>Aim for a 1.5 pound/week loss. Eight weeks, 12 pounds. </li><li>January 1, 2011 goal weight: <strong> 162.6</strong></li></ol>I still can't believe 2010 is almost over and February 2011 marks three years I've been blogging and following Weight Watchers. Obviously, not perfectly or I'd be at goal. :)<br /><div align="left"></div>

It's in the water

In spite of the Halloween candy incident last weekend and the brownies I made one night this week I still had a good weighin today. About th...

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Forum Emploi et Handicap

<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzu8Y6bMvJgPLtyc-6mHqZJfR_wRm93vVkYB0l1NIQeVHRNUK12-1wdMW39-KEHL28C9ig35Sg6TUGbjkQZ9g-5ny7Kb_eX_bwIJSYkj1vFoniCAsVRm2GLcFoY6hJzXgJjszGG4GiYr/s1600-h/au+centre+de+l%27emploi.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382819620292507314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzu8Y6bMvJgPLtyc-6mHqZJfR_wRm93vVkYB0l1NIQeVHRNUK12-1wdMW39-KEHL28C9ig35Sg6TUGbjkQZ9g-5ny7Kb_eX_bwIJSYkj1vFoniCAsVRm2GLcFoY6hJzXgJjszGG4GiYr/s320/au+centre+de+l%27emploi.gif" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 75px;" /></a><br />Un Forum Emploi et Handicap aura lieu :<ul><br /><li>le <span style="font-weight:bold;">mardi 16 novembre 2010</span> de 9h30 à 12h30 et de 14h à 17h30<br /><li>au <span style="font-weight:bold;">Zénith d'Orléans</span> - 1 rue du Président Schuman - 45000 Orléans.</ul><br />La Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans sera présente sur ce forum organisé en partenariat par Pôle emploi, la Mairie d’Orléans, Cap Emploi et l’AGEFIPH.<br /><BR>

Forum Emploi et Handicap

Un Forum Emploi et Handicap aura lieu : le mardi 16 novembre 2010 de 9h30 à 12h30 et de 14h à 17h30 au Zénith d'Orléans - 1 rue du Pré...

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2 Year Blogiversary!!!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBNNXunoESwTPEzTfKLvniZtQpdK7oaOC4EiKeOGEDk4WjyHpFmCOIcTVLxuixLoQ_YoXnd8c1etvrOmcM-2uFBNTV3_LVqEK_KhrIpRPufj-LNSq6e_q8hLKuxpLMgvDmBri0-ttZu1I/s1600/202lbs+oct+2008.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535411040881125794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBNNXunoESwTPEzTfKLvniZtQpdK7oaOC4EiKeOGEDk4WjyHpFmCOIcTVLxuixLoQ_YoXnd8c1etvrOmcM-2uFBNTV3_LVqEK_KhrIpRPufj-LNSq6e_q8hLKuxpLMgvDmBri0-ttZu1I/s200/202lbs+oct+2008.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 87px; height: 200px;" /></a>Two years ago today I was in a much different place. I had just had a long “life talk” (family, finances, health, etc) with Kyle, my husband. I realized I wasn’t happy with the place I had let myself get to and needed to make a change. That very next day I got back to counting points and exercising!<br /><br />I started a blog to document my eats and I’ve gotten SO much more from it! I’ve been inspired by your support, love the inspiration the blog world offers, and I’ve learned SO much from my fellow blog friends & this community.<br /><br />I have had a few ups & downs since, but I’m committed to this journey! I know that the support of my husband, family, friends, and YOU (my readers) have helped me to be successful! And for that, I cannot say thank you enough!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcH-L9FfYo44cG4HQsrt1GXrOrCc7OjK8QCtUaWwLYYneSygC5ZtbaLueyd8MX7Mc0uvM1sm3ETVt9x-x57ydLjEGZpA4_m_iQFCo_ZArA_7ep5zxqSnudR3jCYEnv-jdvTrtewrmF4ki/s1600/applefest.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535398491869811282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcH-L9FfYo44cG4HQsrt1GXrOrCc7OjK8QCtUaWwLYYneSygC5ZtbaLueyd8MX7Mc0uvM1sm3ETVt9x-x57ydLjEGZpA4_m_iQFCo_ZArA_7ep5zxqSnudR3jCYEnv-jdvTrtewrmF4ki/s400/applefest.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" /></a><br />I have gone from being able to run less than 1 mile to running a half marathon, something I would have thought would never be possible! I have a new outlook on life, food, fitness, the scale, and the list could go on & on! I know that it is not the number on the scale that determines if I’m successful, but what I’ve accomplished. <br /><br />Today I’m a stronger, smaller, happier, committed woman! I can’t wait to see what the next year holds! ;)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl_u7ha7rZlmQStmrUES3zqDlm9SWXIOZ7iHziLPFhIw3e6eV3qt29vnorrN_tXJ4mEYq5IyrmmvRnpmX8QzDaI4DH08cICu8hLso9dwtKMrCVy64_YGBuRzIira2T_8WSVUZ9QpB8Cr1/s1600/n210200185_30942311_6312893.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535399553113749522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl_u7ha7rZlmQStmrUES3zqDlm9SWXIOZ7iHziLPFhIw3e6eV3qt29vnorrN_tXJ4mEYq5IyrmmvRnpmX8QzDaI4DH08cICu8hLso9dwtKMrCVy64_YGBuRzIira2T_8WSVUZ9QpB8Cr1/s400/n210200185_30942311_6312893.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Just for fun I’ve I thought I break a few things down when it comes to the how long, how many, etc! I do have an accounting degree, you know! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">351</span> - The number of published posts to date <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1971</span> - The number of comments I’ve amassed from you, my lovely readers<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">357</span> - Most blog page views I’ve received in a single day according to Blogger (thank you amazing readers!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6,355</span> - Total number of blog hits I received last month, all time high! (thanks again amazing readers!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">16,810</span> - Total blog hits to date (did I mention that you’re amazing?)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">14</span> - Average number of posts per month<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">202</span> – My weight on 11.4.08<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">40</span> – The number of pounds I’ve lost since my first post<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">8</span> – Abby’s weight ;)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8al3FuxgrDk7I1gefw99hr-gLlZI3JF_GjunXl4SNi0M4_8swJC-nA82h7TjUFouc9MEXjwbMTegW-zdJtc9NpHF-_4JGP1JCFarO2rRHuOiJgaNXXuj-qmswd90GhHnA_Tll8apwITH/s1600/abby.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535398237438134450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8al3FuxgrDk7I1gefw99hr-gLlZI3JF_GjunXl4SNi0M4_8swJC-nA82h7TjUFouc9MEXjwbMTegW-zdJtc9NpHF-_4JGP1JCFarO2rRHuOiJgaNXXuj-qmswd90GhHnA_Tll8apwITH/s400/abby.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">13.1</span> - The furthest distance (in miles) I’ve ran<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6</span> – The number of races I’ve completed (Hope to greatly increase that number next year!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7</span> - The number of running shorts I own, one for each day of the week! <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">86</span> – The number of days I had a blogging hiatus (GOAL: get that lower next year!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">97</span> – The average number in ounces of water I drink per day <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7</span> - The number of weeks ago my sweet nephew, Hayden, was born <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zOTZvl-MHvAi7ngRdXb54OsBehAbtYUERI1i0CdX2LNEmdrNpRa4z8JbLS2E0n4B2-abzNcBmgUQJ6SDrboh8ZOFgTR6Mlzs43KJMYhpvHA2abEPbTRBjmUK1Efs6RJeT6gqzK2yV0sC/s1600/66637_535003259123_210201033_31378659_1855120_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535398086981685810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zOTZvl-MHvAi7ngRdXb54OsBehAbtYUERI1i0CdX2LNEmdrNpRa4z8JbLS2E0n4B2-abzNcBmgUQJ6SDrboh8ZOFgTR6Mlzs43KJMYhpvHA2abEPbTRBjmUK1Efs6RJeT6gqzK2yV0sC/s400/66637_535003259123_210201033_31378659_1855120_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />So there you have it! I proud of my numbers! :D<br /><br />My hope for the blog going forward is to give back as much appreciation, love, and inspiration as I get from blogging!<br /><br />As a small token of my appreciation, I am going to do my <strong>FIRST </strong>giveaway! It includes a few of my <strong>favorites</strong>: a Hungry Girl cookbook, an Iowa magnetic chip clip, Larabars, $15 Subway giftcard, and an Envirosax resuable shopping bag!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNwnq7JDXWLdB0UcpOyL_AQvw3rTKUeiSVrIEhd45fyRDhOedkBrDeYY5qMnL6IwJ6oDkZkRbqScPyH4BkLzwX3OxCnfsT1WjygCnaUaO6Y9yzsfMmYoJTu_6SyJ75d9URnSUi_N_WJ6D/s1600/DSC09282.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535495617744894962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNwnq7JDXWLdB0UcpOyL_AQvw3rTKUeiSVrIEhd45fyRDhOedkBrDeYY5qMnL6IwJ6oDkZkRbqScPyH4BkLzwX3OxCnfsT1WjygCnaUaO6Y9yzsfMmYoJTu_6SyJ75d9URnSUi_N_WJ6D/s400/DSC09282.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 388px;" /></a><br /><strong>How to enter:</strong><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Comment!</span> - Leave a comment telling me what inspires YOU!<br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Tweet!</span> - @darcibangert is hosting a Blogiversary giveaway over at weightloss-stories.blogspot.com – Leave a [separate] comment telling me you did so.<br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Follow!</span> – Become a follower or let me know if you already are. Leave a [separate] comment telling me you did so.<br />4. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Blog!</span> – Put a link on your blog post “Check out Darci’s Blogiversary post for a great giveaway over at http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com” - Leave a [separate] comment telling me you did so.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Deadline is Monday November 8th</span>. Good luck!

2 Year Blogiversary!!!

Two years ago today I was in a much different place. I had just had a long “life talk” (family, finances, health, etc) with Kyle, my husband...

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Free Supper

Happy Hump day my friends! We're half way to Friday, hooray!!!<br /><br />Here's a quick recap on my Tuesday eats. I had 1 lonely leftover <span style="font-weight:bold;">pancake </span>from this <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/11/trick-or-treat.html">Sunday </a>with some <span style="font-weight:bold;">cool whip</span> & a <span style="font-weight:bold;">banana </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/AVvXsEgn6TfcmYcF1vzKWuO8JkDwke5YIvkdN-h2Vj1C7iexqNJxOn3wevFD8crF27oPFjiwKlJal0De2LySqO_ONdsUfZLU7KRW53oONT_S1xWwI7pEATAjKNGfYUY2zgfEMDanW0S80LwH04Bf/s1600/DSC09273.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367673174863986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6TfcmYcF1vzKWuO8JkDwke5YIvkdN-h2Vj1C7iexqNJxOn3wevFD8crF27oPFjiwKlJal0De2LySqO_ONdsUfZLU7KRW53oONT_S1xWwI7pEATAjKNGfYUY2zgfEMDanW0S80LwH04Bf/s400/DSC09273.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Mid morning I sliced up an <span style="font-weight:bold;">apple </span>for a <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point </span>snack.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-f6K21mM3XBthwhCOjde7yO9TmiHEHSQuKxeaL52JFa1QX14l_LGrwfM0tlsKDvw8Uq_RzLsaYJTwZOTeXgFTVev84lePE3gBjPqv26b9C1UBoASupOHgu4Rv18Uyn5PGrQRuuv8W_WH/s1600/DSC09274.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367661859292082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-f6K21mM3XBthwhCOjde7yO9TmiHEHSQuKxeaL52JFa1QX14l_LGrwfM0tlsKDvw8Uq_RzLsaYJTwZOTeXgFTVev84lePE3gBjPqv26b9C1UBoASupOHgu4Rv18Uyn5PGrQRuuv8W_WH/s400/DSC09274.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Kyle and I had an errand to run on our lunch break, so we were squished for time. I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1/2c cottage cheese</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>...didn't eat the cantaloupe, it was <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/blown-away.html">still hard</a>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHx3jIKXLKgSX3wk5IdJeQEl9gMMUxRj3tmnuWGL43W6KgT7mCnB95bqTWxsEFi5ZVEryJsirer90Muv8zr7CvmfnrCEKfGIFA73pJAd4x9ZQ9iaqoF_2RX4nzUcgH9lxbFBw1N0KU-Rp/s1600/DSC09275.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367657509633762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHx3jIKXLKgSX3wk5IdJeQEl9gMMUxRj3tmnuWGL43W6KgT7mCnB95bqTWxsEFi5ZVEryJsirer90Muv8zr7CvmfnrCEKfGIFA73pJAd4x9ZQ9iaqoF_2RX4nzUcgH9lxbFBw1N0KU-Rp/s400/DSC09275.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Because of our time crunch my main course for lunch was a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Smart Ones </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">4 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dvTIppXEPdxr7D2Uj7QDy34xgEMcxY3_fIJTompGKWGZjn-lSjPPFPxN91iCFSLZQdFSml5wrleAo9oaj6p7gDc25HmiF7dgAJhkuvmSU5hnNdlvls-giSG3UXxzSYU8cTpx0HlCfuOS/s1600/DSC09030_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367643072515634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dvTIppXEPdxr7D2Uj7QDy34xgEMcxY3_fIJTompGKWGZjn-lSjPPFPxN91iCFSLZQdFSml5wrleAo9oaj6p7gDc25HmiF7dgAJhkuvmSU5hnNdlvls-giSG3UXxzSYU8cTpx0HlCfuOS/s400/DSC09030_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" /></a><br />After work Kyle got busy on homework and I made a quick Target run. I <span style="font-weight:bold;">LOVE </span>that store! Somehow a bag of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Reeses </span>snuck into my cart. I had 1 serving of those little guys which is 5 for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. Darn clearance Halloween candy! ;)<br /><br />Supper was FREE! We got a coupon in the paper for <a href="http://www.kfc.com/">KFC's</a> newest <span style="font-weight:bold;">chicken sandwich</span>. I order it <span style="font-weight:bold;">grilled </span>and only ate 1/2 the bun for an estimate of <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>. I love their little song on commercials, <span style="font-weight:bold;">'G' double 'O' 'D', GOOD</span>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iaHhJWMHeNPmKdl8Q_hWmL2oEFyo7Fpey2VfOE7LTWsclHqjtfF2Ip2nBYpNX24NXSPpbkzCnfww9LqVQpoHzsVyMeSKGlzWlh-iQExtUlDnVSPAmkgWVaxSo47Ukc3YfrbjVq_fCsm-/s1600/DSC09276.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367638220801330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iaHhJWMHeNPmKdl8Q_hWmL2oEFyo7Fpey2VfOE7LTWsclHqjtfF2Ip2nBYpNX24NXSPpbkzCnfww9LqVQpoHzsVyMeSKGlzWlh-iQExtUlDnVSPAmkgWVaxSo47Ukc3YfrbjVq_fCsm-/s400/DSC09276.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;">TUESDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 24/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 1 used/34 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/0 week<br />H2O = 104 oz<br />EXERCISE = none<br /><br />Just so you know, you <span style="font-weight:bold;">MUST </span>stop back tomorrow for a FUN post!!! That's all I can now though! ;)

Free Supper

Happy Hump day my friends! We're half way to Friday, hooray!!! Here's a quick recap on my Tuesday eats. I had 1 lonely leftover panc...

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