Corkscrew Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

To continue on with cooking my way through all of my cookbooks, the next meal I made came from <a href="http://www.marlenekoch.com/">Marlene Koch's Eat What You Love</a>.  I first learned about Marelene through my beloved QVC.  This was a very easy dish and my first attempt at making homemade alfredo sauce... not too shabby!<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctzzzglrVr3L_BpnAGVQDABQHvINAoMH8kWL7JSlofL9RhYeMtmj_xYwNH4Y7qHATaf4GGREd-_qVhVTc0E7jSeh8g3Fg7BvL-zUBdGKvdnlQx4UjicyLpeD6rwrNJA6ZHXZzKx5tud8/s1600/eatwhatyoulove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctzzzglrVr3L_BpnAGVQDABQHvINAoMH8kWL7JSlofL9RhYeMtmj_xYwNH4Y7qHATaf4GGREd-_qVhVTc0E7jSeh8g3Fg7BvL-zUBdGKvdnlQx4UjicyLpeD6rwrNJA6ZHXZzKx5tud8/s320/eatwhatyoulove.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ideal-weight-corner.com/eat-what-you-love-more-than-300-incredible-recipes-low-in-sugar-fat-and-calories/.html">Courtesy</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Corkscrew Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo - 7 PointsPlus</b><br /><b>Makes 6 servings    Serving Size = 1 1/2 cups</b><br /><ul><li>8 ounces (3 cups dry) bowtie pasta (I used Barilla Plus Farfalle)</li><li>5 cups broccoli florets</li><li>1 cup low-fat milk (I used skim)</li><li>1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch</li><li>1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth</li><li>1/4 cup light cream cheese</li><li>1/2 teaspoon garlic powder</li><li>1/4 teaspoon pepper, or more to taste</li><li>1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese</li><li>2 cups shredded cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast</li></ul><b>Preparation</b><br />1.  Cook the pasta according to the package directions while preparing the sauce, and set aside.<br />2.  Place the broccoli in a large microwave safe dish. Add 3 tablespoons of water, cover, and microwave for 4 minutes, or until crisp tender.<br />3.  In a medium saucepan, whisk the milk and cornstarch until smooth. Whisk in the broth and place over low heat. Add the cream cheese, garlic powder, and pepper. Bring to a low simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the Parmesan and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, or until sauce is smooth.<br />4.  Toss the cooked pasta, broccoli, and chicken together in a large serving dish. Pour the sauce on top, and toss gently to combine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p_gRnl6TfrwRY-XV3vvo5XbGzzRNY50o6WGdy78mNHPKkBi6sJ5-9YwIlWoZWfT16wXfpqvWbn22ACGQrs3wcT8t1zIME8NK3D-B7fjBlthBwSJzAC5klkCU4AQlCx10_t-CYlgVpzU/s1600/brocalfredo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p_gRnl6TfrwRY-XV3vvo5XbGzzRNY50o6WGdy78mNHPKkBi6sJ5-9YwIlWoZWfT16wXfpqvWbn22ACGQrs3wcT8t1zIME8NK3D-B7fjBlthBwSJzAC5klkCU4AQlCx10_t-CYlgVpzU/s320/brocalfredo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>The results:</b><br />This dish was quite tasty right after I made it.  It did require some salt to give it more flavor but all in all not bad.  When I make this dish again, I would recommend doing the following... First, because I failed to read the recipe ahead of time, I just went ahead and cooked the broccoli according to the directions.  I would suggest cooking the broccoli how you like it cooked - I would choose steamed (in a steamer basket on the stove) or roasted next time.  Also, for the chicken, I simply cooked 3 chicken breasts in the skillet on the stove with only salt/pepper as seasoning.  Again, I would add some spices to the chicken next time to give it more flavor. <br /><br />I brought this in my lunch today for work and it definitely needed salt for more flavor.  Also, since I know I'll be eating this a few more times this week, I would add additional parm to it for some added taste.  I think there must be a recurring theme here: more flavor, more flavor, more flavor.  Don't get me wrong - I thought this was a very filling and tasty dish, and I will definitely make it again no doubt.  Still, next time I will make the modifications identifed above and I think it would be a true hit!<br /><br />Do you have a healthy recipe for chicken/broc/alfredo??  

Weight Watcher Recipes Corkscrew Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

To continue on with cooking my way through all of my cookbooks, the next meal I made came from Marlene Koch's Eat What You Love .  I fir...

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Fewer candy bars, more vegetables

My last post was titled "into every life a little rain must fall". That theme continued throughout the week and into my weekend. <br /><br />Yesterday, Saturday, I drove into the office so I could do some heads down coding, without the interruptions at home. I was there for twelve hours. <br /><br />I took an hour break and drove over to a Bally's gym in Kent. I'd never been to this gym before but it was 5 miles from my work so it was convenient. Even though I got in a a 30-minute elliptical workout, it was probably the worst gym I've ever visited. I felt like I was going to hit my head on the ceiling when I was on the elliptical. <br /><br />To annoy me even further there was some goofy guy standing right in front of me doing weird stretching exercises and wiggling his butt back and forth, sticking it up in the air. He did these odd stretching exercises for twenty minutes. It was very odd, especially since the gym was almost empty and he could have chosen a more private location for his obscene stretches. I didn't stay for any strength training. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.<br /><br />My job these past few weeks has been more coding than anything else. It's hard to explain coding if you're not not familiar with writing code (software development). It's sort of like figuring out a puzzle and getting all the pieces to fit together to create something. Sometimes though, you just can't get the pieces to fit so you try to force them and then you wind up with a big, ugly mess. That's where I was after twelve hours yesterday. Nothing worked.<br /><br />Last night I dreamed about writing code all night. I tossed and turned, trying to come up with a plan to fix the mess I created. I came up with a few new approaches to try and after trying them today, they seem to be working, with the exception of one test scenario that I can't seem to figure out. <br /><br />My eating has suffered a lot lately. Yesterday I ate candy for the first time in several weeks. The vending machine kept calling my name, and I had the stupid thought that maybe a little sugar would help me figure out the problem. After three Milky Way bars and two packages of cookies (at 600 calories each for the cookies and they were tiny packages), I was worse off than before. Not only was my mind not working at peak performance (which I desperately needed), but I felt sick and guilty. <br /><br />I had brought healthy food with me to eat during the day, fresh fruit, turkey breast, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, some hummus. Good, healthy food. I didn't want it, I just wanted candy. Something, anything to make me feel better.<br /><br />It totally backfired on me. The sugar made me feel sick, hot, sweaty, and my mind wasn't working. All I wanted to do was just cry. Finally, by 9pm, I gave up, went home, feeling sad and defeated. <br /><br />After four slices of cheese and a glass of wine, I felt even worse. My husband was already asleep so there was no one to share my misery, just me and my cat. <br /><br />Today, Sunday, has gone a tiny bit better. After a marathon house cleaning this morning, with my husband's help (he's trying to be super nice because he knows I'm stressed to the max right now), I started working on my project starting at noon. It's going a bit better, but I'm still not code complete.<br /><br />I finally have accepted that the world is not going to end if I don't get this done. Life will go on.<br /><br />My eating this past week has been all over the place. Healthy one day, candy bars the next. I don't think I ate a single vegetable yesterday (I made up for it today). Candy bars, cookies, and fruit. It was a terrible day that was was reflected in what I saw on the scale this morning. 188.6. Talk about adding insult to injury. I know it's just a number. I know it doesn't define me, etc. etc. etc. However, it's a direct reflection of how poorly I handle stress.<br /><br />Right now, I'm just trying to remember to breathe and try my best to eat healthy good  in moderate portions. Fewer candy bars and more vegetables.

Fewer candy bars, more vegetables

My last post was titled "into every life a little rain must fall". That theme continued throughout the week and into my weekend. Y...

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1st Annual Peter Mahon Memorial Trail Run/Walk 5K

Yesterday I completed the Peter Mahon Memorial 5K that was held at La Plata High School in La Plata, MD. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n_hDH2MjDBjwoGXqNuXA1GP9wmhDp_F1TuDPSAXf7IFEBc81EaO5TX8ekxLi43Mc6kzkLTc4AARkiAh0xDyE-GYB2z5OFfqM9NbHfbZYV_z_KPUfbhHtVYjp9Hv_JX4yTULJBZzBKEI/s1600/Mahon5K+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n_hDH2MjDBjwoGXqNuXA1GP9wmhDp_F1TuDPSAXf7IFEBc81EaO5TX8ekxLi43Mc6kzkLTc4AARkiAh0xDyE-GYB2z5OFfqM9NbHfbZYV_z_KPUfbhHtVYjp9Hv_JX4yTULJBZzBKEI/s320/Mahon5K+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I didn't realize until I received the t-shirt that it was considered a "trail' run/walk.  I had never done one of these before but I figured it would be a scenic walk at least. <br /><br />And I got a number! I don't recall receiving a number in the first 5K I did MANY years ago.. but I was excited anyhow.. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30SVr_p55t9B0p4txEuVKZdiLyJeA4ZgeWdIKbqJAcK2EVLyypnCzaAQaEPreC_cL4JGLul23P1RfhunrmrwhwWgP43Hyt5C1hwKN1ivxocrv3HtNzIXQLoUH5TDITUMrN_JV51JJuw8/s1600/Mahon5K+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30SVr_p55t9B0p4txEuVKZdiLyJeA4ZgeWdIKbqJAcK2EVLyypnCzaAQaEPreC_cL4JGLul23P1RfhunrmrwhwWgP43Hyt5C1hwKN1ivxocrv3HtNzIXQLoUH5TDITUMrN_JV51JJuw8/s320/Mahon5K+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It had been a rainy week and so the majority of the walk was EXTREMELY muddy and wet! We got started on the high school track field and once we made it off the nice paved track, it was a sloppy mess!  My poor white shoes were brown by the end.  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuOIBc_nbzbZrSrmf2Nglud4ggvAiREkOz5z6JXQ78O9sY-q-849NabzEW1Uc9AbgiTiMAqvW_mfTSbkwTlP6k-NtzV15BwWEgTesqjwoqupVWrUM6u4ARuOaJ3h_1cbHv0DRrK6ItD0/s1600/Mahon5K+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuOIBc_nbzbZrSrmf2Nglud4ggvAiREkOz5z6JXQ78O9sY-q-849NabzEW1Uc9AbgiTiMAqvW_mfTSbkwTlP6k-NtzV15BwWEgTesqjwoqupVWrUM6u4ARuOaJ3h_1cbHv0DRrK6ItD0/s400/Mahon5K+1.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I turned around to take this shot... hard to tell how muddy it actually was</td></tr></tbody></table>I didn't want to stop too much to take pics because I wanted to see how quickly I could finish (by my watch I did it in 49 minutes, but I am waiting to hear the official results).  I did jog for about the first 5 minutes or so of the race.  About halfway through I jogged again for about a minute.  Then to finish off strong I ran the remaining distance of a high school track field - 1 lap around that.  Honestly, I had on my <a href="http://www.ladyfootlocker.com/catalog/productdetail/model_nbr--140052/sku--320991&SID=9433&inceptor=1&cm_mmc=SEO-_-Feeds-_-Froogle-_-null#sku=320991&size=09.5">Reebok EasyTones</a> and my calves were on FIRE so much so that it made it too difficult to run.  I think a lot of this had to do with the fact that because we weren't walking on nice, smooth ground, my legs were working overtime to stabilize myself (those shoes don't have a nice, even bottom), and then add in the special toning shoes and my muscles were burning.. but it was a good burn!<br /><br />I felt good after the race and I'm looking forward to doing more over the next several months.  My next 5K is this upcoming Saturday, April 16.  It's the <a href="http://www.runforhospice.org/">Run for Hospice of St Mary's County</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVdcIYp2WYAd5ttO1CM04HKNI85g4lvw_IncCy3xYNehMqQStZx6eeQFBPlSIhq2CFz3ORUJCsPVJnqVMkAPZPZeMqI3PLwHSsww2C-TUD-cG_kU9UrYfMHhEwNnbM13BaYvfhgHjWso/s1600/run_for_hospice_logo_500px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVdcIYp2WYAd5ttO1CM04HKNI85g4lvw_IncCy3xYNehMqQStZx6eeQFBPlSIhq2CFz3ORUJCsPVJnqVMkAPZPZeMqI3PLwHSsww2C-TUD-cG_kU9UrYfMHhEwNnbM13BaYvfhgHjWso/s320/run_for_hospice_logo_500px.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.runforhospice.org/">Courtesy.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

5K 1st Annual Peter Mahon Memorial Trail Run/Walk 5K

Yesterday I completed the Peter Mahon Memorial 5K that was held at La Plata High School in La Plata, MD.  I didn't realize until I recei...

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Father of the Bride (1950)...and a reflection on mid-century Hollywood...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjUTaNJlyyj_G5lT9Xjqv-v6zrCLkmgEWXLm49C0-LAQXMHqtjHp_KNA-TR-1lkNlU8IaCrPUol9tME59_oK9KpmKfzt0LORi_4xf6oPfFfuszELZmJV7qjWxtPRH1JEUOQ2slEA8tcdW/s1600/ElizabethTaylor_FatheroftheBride%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjUTaNJlyyj_G5lT9Xjqv-v6zrCLkmgEWXLm49C0-LAQXMHqtjHp_KNA-TR-1lkNlU8IaCrPUol9tME59_oK9KpmKfzt0LORi_4xf6oPfFfuszELZmJV7qjWxtPRH1JEUOQ2slEA8tcdW/s1600/ElizabethTaylor_FatheroftheBride%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">During World War II Hollywood churned out popular pictures both entertaining and patriotic, bolstering home front morale and earning enormous box receipts. Between 1942 and 1945, Americans were spending 23% of their recreation dollars on movies and by 1946 weekly attendance was over 90,000,000. But the boom years would soon go bust.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A decline in movie attendance began in the late '40s driven by changing audience tastes and two major events. In 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that certain film industry practices violated anti-trust laws and required studios to divest themselves of their theater chains. Without a guaranteed outlet for every film produced, filmmaking became riskier and the studios began cutting costs and making fewer films. And then, just as the 20^th century reached its mid-point, the industry faced a threat unlike anything that had come before - the arrival of commercial television.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmJvSWrW4TroK8KfI6nnX_fCVOcZ10PKaFfvDFQlr6XP2CzTuBr6MCqOvVFzo4KbrToKXn011CZ7BwQAAYXVEN7iBcZBPpOUcKieoAzmCQ6FR6hiayoQoho9a2VwmxWco-Jsb3w_x_MvH/s1600/vernon+theatre+empty+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmJvSWrW4TroK8KfI6nnX_fCVOcZ10PKaFfvDFQlr6XP2CzTuBr6MCqOvVFzo4KbrToKXn011CZ7BwQAAYXVEN7iBcZBPpOUcKieoAzmCQ6FR6hiayoQoho9a2VwmxWco-Jsb3w_x_MvH/s200/vernon+theatre+empty+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">empty seats</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, headed by founder Louis B. Mayer since the 1920s, had been the dominant studio for nearly two decades. But the blow to the studio system and declining audiences affected production companies large and small.  By 1951, Mayer was forced out and MGM’s head of production, Dore Schary, took over.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Director Vincente Minnelli had been one of MGM’s top directors since his breakout film, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Meet Me in St. Louis</b>, the top-grossing film of 1944. Minnelli married the film’s star, Judy Garland, in 1945. The following year he and Garland produced Liza Minnelli, but from 1946 to 1948 the director's career was uneven, including only minor successes along with outright failures. But a 1949 effort, <b>Madame Bovary</b>, was successful and a point of pride with Minnelli. For the most part he'd felt sidelined from major film work by the overwhelming demands of his marriage to the emotionally volatile MGM star.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In 1950 MGM assigned Minnelli to a Robert Walker comedy, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Skipper Surprised his Wife</b>. The director was rescued from this bland task by producer Pandro Berman who offered him a more enticing project. Also a comedy, it was an adaptation of Edward Streeter’s 1949 bestseller, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Father of the Bride</b>, for which Berman owned screen rights. Because the two stories shared similarities, Berman wanted the director of <b>Meet Me in St. Louis</b> on his new production.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">  </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp74-3-IJjZw8lrVEewBoJL4apHbBA9ydL5CHmbAuU7uAnUDSKEVJvq6-lCtH_9Ehg3TGpDqnI2D7fB4YXlD6avIb5BHCwO0OiI6agsXYgEVGtDqtNtlrHKAgKI5E-Zqf2mez2nn-qQ_an/s1600/jack+benny.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp74-3-IJjZw8lrVEewBoJL4apHbBA9ydL5CHmbAuU7uAnUDSKEVJvq6-lCtH_9Ehg3TGpDqnI2D7fB4YXlD6avIb5BHCwO0OiI6agsXYgEVGtDqtNtlrHKAgKI5E-Zqf2mez2nn-qQ_an/s200/jack+benny.gif" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack Benny</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As the project began to develop, comedian Jack Benny heard about it and approached Dore Schary. He told the production boss he wanted the role of Stanley Banks, the father of the bride. Without consulting the film’s production team, Schary all but promised Benny the part. Berman was not pleased, nor was Minnelli who went to Benny Thau, veteran MGM executive, and told him he wanted <a href="http://myloveofoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2011/04/spencer-tracy-1900-1967.html"><span style="color: #990000;">Spencer Tracy</span></a> for the part and no one else. Thau gave Minnelli the bad news that Tracy was out of the running – the actor had already flatly refused to do the picture.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1950 would mark Spencer Tracy’s 20^th year in movies. The winner of back-to-back Best Actor Oscars in 1938 and 1939, he was by this time one of the most respected actors around. Laurence Olivier remarked that he learned more about acting from watching Tracy than from any technique. But away from the set Tracy wrestled with a serious problem - he was a notorious drinker. Between the efforts of MGM’s PR team and Katharine Hepburn’s care, Tracy had been able to avoid scandal and continue working. By the late '40s it appeared the actor’s drinking had tapered off somewhat, however, his hard living had aged him and he looked older than his years. Despite all this, Tracy was still much in demand and worked steadily, even as the industry went into a serious slump.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aPKgiTOmYaTFXr9ZZoqRZk8eIU0UAEqb-ARbLNCuWFVw1Gsyn_kpkYqdfULV3eL-fq0px4-FB1ijOq5MI1VUX_QJ1aq2VpztVH_qBBiiNcgTq4-PiSni68sLIjsOJWS7HxqTcjGqNaG9/s1600/Adams+Rib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aPKgiTOmYaTFXr9ZZoqRZk8eIU0UAEqb-ARbLNCuWFVw1Gsyn_kpkYqdfULV3eL-fq0px4-FB1ijOq5MI1VUX_QJ1aq2VpztVH_qBBiiNcgTq4-PiSni68sLIjsOJWS7HxqTcjGqNaG9/s320/Adams+Rib.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hepburn and Tracy, <b>Adam's Rib</b> (1949)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the midst of the box office downturn, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adam’s Rib </b>(1949), one of the the best of the Tracy/Hepburn battle-of-the-sexes comedies, became a major hit. Though Tracy’s follow-up had been a less memorable potboiler called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Malaya </b>(1949), Vincente Minnelli remained convinced that he was the only actor to play Stanley Banks. Eventually, Minnelli decided to enlist Katharine Hepburn’s help. Hepburn invited him over for dinner and, during the meal, Minnelli told Tracy that with him in the lead the comedy had the potential to become a real classic.This was all it took to win Tracy over and he agreed to take the part. It came out that the actor had not refused to do the picture at all, but had known others were being considered for the part and assumed Minnelli didn't want him. To save face, Tracy had resorted to spreading a rumor that he had turned down <b>Father of the Bride</b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Joan Bennett was chosen to play the bride's mother, Ellie Banks. Bennett and Tracy had last co-starred in Raoul Walsh’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me and My Gal</b> (1932) eighteen years earlier. That film had ended with Tracy and Bennett’s characters marrying each other, and Tracy liked to joke that the plot of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Father of the Bride</b> indicated that his 1932 “marriage” to Bennett had worked out. </span>  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMxb69uq8Ej7XmK3lGRyQVkMGd1Sy1_lwHyyCVIfc1Qycg18lWDw4V8znCZYjnhPI-U_H1oitLadXAZeHHMEAbyYv10fw_3Gsq3lZuFP5tW3NmSUfdAxVV_fDD7E9RyHztc2b_qZfMp8c/s1600/father+of+bride+taylor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMxb69uq8Ej7XmK3lGRyQVkMGd1Sy1_lwHyyCVIfc1Qycg18lWDw4V8znCZYjnhPI-U_H1oitLadXAZeHHMEAbyYv10fw_3Gsq3lZuFP5tW3NmSUfdAxVV_fDD7E9RyHztc2b_qZfMp8c/s320/father+of+bride+taylor+2.jpg" width="252" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Elizabeth Taylor in the 1950s</span></td></tr></tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Elizabeth Taylor, as bride-to-be Kay Banks, supplied the delectable frosting on the rich cake of <b>Father of the Bride</b>'s cast. Spencer Tracy cracked that the film's only hard-to-believe detail was that the lovely girl could possibly be his daughter. Taylor was just 17 when she made the picture, but had already begun to portray more mature characters; at 16 she’d played the wife of 38-year-old Robert Taylor in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conspirator </b>(1949). But Elizabeth Taylor was not so mature off-screen. She was still under the thumb and eagle eye of her mother and although the young actress had begun to date, her romances consisted of girlish infatuations and arranged dates mined for publicity by MGM. She was, despite her stunning beauty and poise, quite naïve when it came to love.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Father of the Bride</b>, like <b>Meet Me in St. Louis</b> before it, is in its way a fond glimpse into American family life. Contemporary when it was released, the film plays today as a snapshot of a bygone, fairly idyllic, era. That mid-century moment is caught as if in amber by the solid screenplay of screenwriting team Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, Vincente Minnelli's meticulous attention to what is now period detail...a well-chosen cast, cinematographer John Alton and the minimal, mostly diegetic soundtrack of Adolph Deutsch. <b>Father of the Bride </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">is invariably referred to as a “sparkling comedy.” It most certainly sparkles and brims with sophisticated humor as it casts a skeptical, if bemused, eye on the incongruous goings-on at the heart of its plot, the American marriage ritual, circa 1950. The plot follows suburban lawyer Stanley Banks who is by turns besieged and put upon as he as he spends an enormous amount of money to finance every stage of a tradition that will end in his beloved daughter Kay leaving home. Adding insult to injury, Banks is (amusingly) ignored, belittled, the butt of jokes and barely tolerated while at the same time forced to pay and pay and pay. As the wedding nears he is beset by irrational fears and surreal nightmares. Given that the Stanley Banks character, a lovable and loving curmudgeon, carries the film, Minnelli's judgment was unerring when he insisted on Tracy or no one for the part.</span><br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAdP91dKKmqd2nucNypyWa7ZZGqFOyvFTfVedRVFPo-dVrai626P6CEc5wK9QQeli-iEGlQiLyqIGsO1P_x3BFayf63qo4sWZI7zXf3mX0-xk6KqFhGG0HoMO_m-b_wche5yhzE0Bvutu/s1600/crying_over_invitations%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAdP91dKKmqd2nucNypyWa7ZZGqFOyvFTfVedRVFPo-dVrai626P6CEc5wK9QQeli-iEGlQiLyqIGsO1P_x3BFayf63qo4sWZI7zXf3mX0-xk6KqFhGG0HoMO_m-b_wche5yhzE0Bvutu/s320/crying_over_invitations%255B1%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Bennett</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Father of the Bride</b> was released on June 16, 1950, and was an immense hit. Contributing what can best be described as a publicist's dream, Elizabeth Taylor married her first husband, Nicky Hilton, just weeks earlier. Hilton was the son of the founder of Hilton Hotels, and though the pair had only begun dating months earlier, they succumbed to a whirlwind courtship. MGM naturally, and heartily, approved. Taylor's marriage at the very moment she starred as a virginal bride onscreen was an early indicator of something that would become a habit...her life imitating her art. Taylor's marriage to Hilton ended less than a year after it began...even before a quickie follow-up film to <b>Father of the Bride </b>was released in late 1951.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Father's Little Dividend </b>(1951) is a charming, if less inspired, sequel. The dividend is Kay and her husband's first child and the plot, once again, covers the indignities Mr. Banks (Tracy) must endure...this time as grandfatherhood approaches. It, too, was a hit, but it was not on a par with <b>Father of the Bride</b> which had earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Actor and become an instant classic.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLdT8R8EqIPDf0-eVrhfklePCwb-0reSRCPRba3qhJBiaBuPbBQyb5mtdB0ti-02GhSvFO8cG1WNl7Yl1e7d1jPPmJZ0K1qHysrXBfASewtZtYrg4Rn1u0cjLrbxtS5lMdxXbgv3SxeGa/s1600/2009_oscar_winners_and_results%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLdT8R8EqIPDf0-eVrhfklePCwb-0reSRCPRba3qhJBiaBuPbBQyb5mtdB0ti-02GhSvFO8cG1WNl7Yl1e7d1jPPmJZ0K1qHysrXBfASewtZtYrg4Rn1u0cjLrbxtS5lMdxXbgv3SxeGa/s200/2009_oscar_winners_and_results%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">By the time both films had been released, Minnelli and Garland were divorced. Their final split came not long after MGM terminated Garland's contract in 1950. As she struggled to rebound and rebuild her career, Minnelli went back to work with a vengeance. He embarked on the most productive and celebrated decade of his career, a period that included <b>An American in Paris </b>(1951), <b>The Bad and the Beautiful</b> (1952), <b>The Band Wagon </b>(1953), <b>Brigadoon </b>(1954), <b>Lust for Life </b>(1956), </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Designing Woman </b>(1957), <b>Gigi </b>(1958) and <b>Some Came Running </b>(1958). Minnelli received a Best Director Oscar nomination for <b>An American in Paris</b> (winner of six Oscars including Best Picture)<b> </b>and won for <b>Gigi</b> (winner of nine Oscars including Best Picture). Though Minnelli wasn't nominated, <b>The Bad and the Beautiful</b> won five Oscars.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Spencer Tracy went on make another 17 films and earn five more Best Actor Oscar nominations. His later years were difficult; he fell off and got back on the wagon, became withdrawn and taciturn and lost his health. He was fired from a picture for the first time with <b>Tribute to a Bad Man </b>(1956); it would the last time he worked for MGM. He was so ill during the making of his final film, <b>Guess Who's Coming to Dinner </b>(1967) that he was uninsurable and Hepburn put up her own money to help cover the costs. Spencer Tracy died a few weeks after the film was completed and received a posthumous Academy Award nomination for his performance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Elizabeth</span> Taylor made a permanent transition to adult roles with <b>Father of the Bride</b>.<b> </b>Her stardom was cemented a year later with the haunting George Stevens drama <b>A Place in the Sun</b> (1951). Taylor went on to become one of the biggest film stars of the 1950s and 1960s and remained a celebrity for the rest of her life.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSh2CGpbZc4XjkYD-KlZWEeX_mQ7AdcSyX9D22TC4lZOxroon-52rtH1N0KcVlLbJD6fqZcGDPwOr9Ca0FMg8gTFNLDta6kMPLGQHCWSJvxlRudfl6DICKqPgV8fOpo6wt9RcKWpS1Pdn6/s1600/TV+set+w+rabbit+ears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSh2CGpbZc4XjkYD-KlZWEeX_mQ7AdcSyX9D22TC4lZOxroon-52rtH1N0KcVlLbJD6fqZcGDPwOr9Ca0FMg8gTFNLDta6kMPLGQHCWSJvxlRudfl6DICKqPgV8fOpo6wt9RcKWpS1Pdn6/s1600/TV+set+w+rabbit+ears.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The studios of Hollywood met a less cheerful fate. By 1951, TV had made significant inroads into the movie audience. Cities with TV stations showed a decrease in movie attendance and wherever TV appeared, theaters closed. The age of the studio system came to an end by 1954. In 1956, Dore Schary, who had tried in vain to restore MGM's glory, was fired and in 1957 Louis B. Mayer, who had never recovered from his ouster, died at age 73. T</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">elevision, of course, continued to flourish. By the end of 1952 there were 19,000,000 TV sets in homes across America and by 1955 there were 31,000,000...</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Some have called <b>Father of the Bride</b> prototypical of the family-oriented TV sitcoms of the '50s and early '60s. In fact, in 1961 a series version of <b>Father of the Bride</b> debuted on CBS; it was shot at MGM studios. Ruth Warrick (<b>Citizen Kane</b>) played Ellie Banks, Myrna Fahey starred as Kay...and Leon Ames, who had portrayed the father, Alonzo Smith, in Minnelli's <b>Meet Me in St. Louis</b>, took the role of Stanley Banks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gC3Ic5qOWkc" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div>

Dore Schary Elizabeth Taylor Father of the Bride Father's Little Dividend Joan Bennett Judy Garland Louis B. Mayer MGM Pandro S. Berman Spencer Tracy Vincente Minnelli Father of the Bride (1950)...and a reflection on mid-century Hollywood...

During World War II Hollywood churned out popular pictures both entertaining and patriotic, bolstering home front morale and earning enormou...

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Slow Food Fast: Italian Sausage, Peppers and Onion Hoagies

<a href="http://prittygoodbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/hungry-girl-cooking-eggamuffin-101.html">Yesterday I posted about my goal of cooking my way through ALL of my cookbooks</a>.  I thought better about posting these recipes under my "Pritty" blog because part of my reason for cooking is to eat healthier, and that's what this blog is about. <br /><br />Anyway, on to the recipe!  Tonight Joel & I made a dish from my newest cookbook, <a href="http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.F07711.desc.Bob-Wardens-Slow-Food-Fast-Pressure-Cooker-Cookbook?&cookie=set">Bob Warden's Slow Food Fast</a>.  This book goes with <a href="http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx?view=2&app=detail&params=item%5EK22739,RecTypeInd%5EIOFFER,navlist%5EK22739*K26345*K29862*,cp%5Edetail,tmp%5Erelated,cpprod%5EF07711,cm_scid%5Edtlr&walk=&cmtags=">my new pressure cooker</a> I received on my birthday!  Tonight we made Italian Sausage, Peppers, and Onion Hoagies.  They were SOOOOO good!  The sausage was incredibly juicy and I'd venture to say that these are better than the ones we used to make over the camp fire when we'd go camping when I was a kid. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvrfGxHj2oMfDKFesjlSmULtHgMEobU3IHRcTZPV3cGWCRztQ1mhl6f0wWu8zttk5rwmTzDWM1MEzbzy3FMSk2YcsCXpiICr3iZ5Nyul5o5bbclB3z8P_27mwxgWH7v28kwoIWe0ELwM/s1600/Bob-Warden-s-Slow-Food-Fast-Warden-Bob-9780984188710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvrfGxHj2oMfDKFesjlSmULtHgMEobU3IHRcTZPV3cGWCRztQ1mhl6f0wWu8zttk5rwmTzDWM1MEzbzy3FMSk2YcsCXpiICr3iZ5Nyul5o5bbclB3z8P_27mwxgWH7v28kwoIWe0ELwM/s320/Bob-Warden-s-Slow-Food-Fast-Warden-Bob-9780984188710.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Ingredients</b>:<br />-2 Tbsp olive oil<br />-2 lbs sweet or mild Italian sausage <i>(I used turkey Italian sausage)</i><br />-2 teaspoons minced garlic<br />-2 white onions, peeled, cut in half and sliced in 1/2 inch wide strips<br />-1 c. green bell pepper, cored and sliced in 1/2 inch wide strips<br />-1 c. red bell pepper, cored and sliced in 1/2 inch wide strips<br />-1/2 c. dry white wine <i>(didn't have this so I used chicken broth)</i><br />-1 c. water<br />-1 tsp Italian seasoning<br />-1/2 tsp salt<br />-1/2 tsp ground black pepper<br />-6 Hoagie Rolls<br />-Provolone Cheese<br /><br /><b>Directions</b>:<br />1. Add the oil to the pressure cooker and heat on high or "brown" with the lid off.<br /><br />2. Add sausages and saute until well browned on two sides.<br /><br />3. Add the garlic and about 1/4 of the onions and saute together for another minute.<br /><br />4. Add the remaining ingredients, securely lock on the pressure cooker's lid, set the cooker to high and cook for 10 minutes.<br /><br />5. Perform a quick release to release the cooker's pressure.  Safely remove lid and serve with a slotted spoon into Hoagie rolls.  Top with provolone cheese.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVDTMySe9hiNardAAnzPcF8stve9y0z7sBBOCYEG8ePcl_rRmSjxXRmT-EnsWXaREgqfw9KYHwreJRz08mOvy_cLR5WpZ1vMfNV-Ofoe6jGwOhX-oa3pxL9KO6q-C8eQm0ZpEmlBusto/s1600/sausage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVDTMySe9hiNardAAnzPcF8stve9y0z7sBBOCYEG8ePcl_rRmSjxXRmT-EnsWXaREgqfw9KYHwreJRz08mOvy_cLR5WpZ1vMfNV-Ofoe6jGwOhX-oa3pxL9KO6q-C8eQm0ZpEmlBusto/s320/sausage.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't eat onions & peppers :) but it was SOO delicious!</td></tr></tbody></table>

Weight Watcher Recipes Slow Food Fast: Italian Sausage, Peppers and Onion Hoagies

Yesterday I posted about my goal of cooking my way through ALL of my cookbooks .  I thought better about posting these recipes under my &quo...

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29 weeks

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIofri7QAzr9Z_Shyphenhyphen4wpPX3w_kgw266IJtNXiYXy5dRYiKTAYvl_eMQR7sqBi6IP634mCEydxyXL_CbthhKwQCSMyJg6D5STIuFRGeKMBY2kBXsP5X4K5kfrzeL_sqScQSfns_dBbJ4aVq/s1600-h/29%20weeks%20-%204.5.11%5B3%5D.jpg"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy8ukBDm0H7AillSxpIxNqrHrxTdvs_4iCEyrRjjNGsYrVjcd70JnSFkbJi6j7f0zCCwxEqulS-349ynyYiOL8F1PmcLzXEc0DdiRJK5qd1DupLf_yovCcMYLa8Z-9VS63X6Xt6xBcgAW/s1600-h/29%20weeks%20-%204.5.11%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="29 weeks - 4.5.11" border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QW_INahyiT_tmOHKKpAwTcBlXkSAALWdCyS3xjHWGYPGoXVu-iJQChQRtMtiAKCjWjBx7U10wDQyYiK7RfAsyrlef6Yu3RPLAVtXDfM88AgQyOvgscviQZNGQy83Yqm4ePKox7ejBR_F/?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="29 weeks - 4.5.11" width="354"></a></em></a></p> <p><em>(FYI: Thursday I was actually 30 weeks…but wanted to get my 29 week post up anyway!)</em></p> <p><strong>How Far Along:</strong> 29 Weeks </p> <p><strong>Size of baby:</strong> Baby Bangert is the size of a butternut squash, about 2 1/2 pounds, and a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel.</p> <p><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> I wear maternity jeans, pant, and I’ve recently started wearing a few shirts I got from my sister. I’m still squeezing into a few regular things though! </p> <p><strong>Gender:</strong> It’s a girl!!! We’re still working on names…I sure hope we can get one picked out soon! </p> <p><strong>Movement: </strong>She is a busy little girl! i feel her all throughout the day. I love it though…there is a tiny little life inside me! </p> <p><strong></strong><strong>Sleep:</strong> Eh, it’s been ok! I’m not the best side sleeper and I wake up on my back quite a bit. Plus a few bathroom runs! </p> <p><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my stomach, a bigger selection of clothes, and buying regular clothes (the maternity section needs to expand)! </p> <p><strong>Cravings:</strong> Pretty sure I don’t got 2-3 days without ice cream! That is pretty normal though! ;) I am quickly finding out the bigger she gets the less I eat…I get full SO fast! </p> <p><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Really can’t complain! Feeling well for the most part, just stiff/achy by the end of the the day. </p> <p><strong>Best Moment this week:</strong> Spending the weekend in Omaha with my family! (Don’t mind my tired face…we had just spent 6+ hrs shopping and then waited 1hr to get seated at the restaurant.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NXxZvECK79YKzwnUzxZ2VWBMmVjzPoVKC9kNtlW76Q1MZV0dU4mR8omNQLfh19urAYmryr6DTzvu6zsS8S11IqWspw0JORMk38ADQAW-YOua_Qxn1iVLtCCezbprucmIUW3CrQsX10xs/s1600-h/March_2011_169%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="March_2011_169" border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x1To_TqZ4vqhHUwzJdC71-vxH7kTJjhbZRgXJWrtJ13XRowsxhZOQ9uK0pQM8N72d9Hj82O4xmxxS8JOScpc0hGlf2J53s052f8Sa864G2Ge9516qgiYiVwMhdd4LPV5RZ_ZZzLKybVA/?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="March_2011_169" width="404"></a></p> <p>I realized I haven’t posted a picture of my cute little nephew lately, he’s getting SO big! He’ll be 7 months in just a few days!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoySZn75RVMbugFaXOFNO4LOTr98_ohzRi9BB9xnYlHvkZm9QB06UtewF2NiVGuqDQCtm_BvT1KU6ZvhEqRny6gv1R7RAp08c48aNjdDeI7NdXUKEaAA0lwlS9qP7-AkmplOBhFJHtLpy/s1600-h/March_2011_133_-_Copy%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="March_2011_133_-_Copy" border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnDNWw_CazMftX3GyvLBRMxpaowkVsz-k0Xim-sMYoXgFilJb8CnOPe0PIDSDxRuP17B7kIZV2qCTOHcNexkxIHsOOLMKW0r84r1venUOhU6TJQkWywje4OEh-hKCTxSiqGFJfTv1aTQ3/?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="March_2011_133_-_Copy" width="354"></a></p>

29 weeks

(FYI: Thursday I was actually 30 weeks…but wanted to get my 29 week post up anyway!) How Far Along: 29 Weeks Size of baby: Baby Bangert...

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Another 5K!

I am making HUGE strides in raising money for two walks that I am participating in: <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/hilaryjp248">The March of Dimes March for Babies</a> & <a href="http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/HilaryPritt">GreatStrides - Cystic Fibrosis</a>.  That's right folks, I will be walking in the March of Dimes on Sunday, May 1.... yet another 5K I have signed up for!  Go me!  <br /><br />Please consider donating to either (or both!) of my walks by clicking on the buttons on the left of the screen!  A HUGE thank you in advance!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34iVUeX1SPmBL7HT9U0n8S0z2RJX2yr1tl3QfzG-oTvo1glrUsLwsjPzw-ZMLeXpMqK-L9NIJcBemtwGAvEkSfQ8GeqV1Zhqxd6sFW90MnLAUeQlC5K61YBDF78sKRROp6HKYU6_i7Rk/s1600/Cystic+Fibrosis+Goal+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34iVUeX1SPmBL7HT9U0n8S0z2RJX2yr1tl3QfzG-oTvo1glrUsLwsjPzw-ZMLeXpMqK-L9NIJcBemtwGAvEkSfQ8GeqV1Zhqxd6sFW90MnLAUeQlC5K61YBDF78sKRROp6HKYU6_i7Rk/s400/Cystic+Fibrosis+Goal+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>

5K Another 5K!

I am making HUGE strides in raising money for two walks that I am participating in: The March of Dimes March for Babies & GreatStrides ...

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Setting Goals for 2011

I've done two 5K's in my life.  I enrolled in both of them as a walker but I ended up running them.  It was an amazing feeling completing both of them.  I decided to get back into doing some 5K's this year and so I signed up for 3 of them today!  The details are below:<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.runforhospice.org/">St Mary's Run/Walk for Hospice</a>: Saturday, April 16, 2011</li></ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/HilaryPritt">Cystic Fibrosis - Great Strides</a>: Saturday, May 21, 2011<br />I'm raising money for this one!  Please help me meet my goal of $150 by clicking on the link above & contributing!  I'm already at 40%!</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnj0FZF9jlrLt1JgiTenNUpuSouX9OmSQ1Bh4-2jaN0h0cWR8yA_-yNT-_Z9ZX_BPPEHOZDKi9y_13pr2iezfUchJVDlHGJ9VxNBL11lBrOngaLi-wHhYr1X817l_bxVqhxqZPx7kV8A/s1600/Cystic+Fibrosis+Goal+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnj0FZF9jlrLt1JgiTenNUpuSouX9OmSQ1Bh4-2jaN0h0cWR8yA_-yNT-_Z9ZX_BPPEHOZDKi9y_13pr2iezfUchJVDlHGJ9VxNBL11lBrOngaLi-wHhYr1X817l_bxVqhxqZPx7kV8A/s400/Cystic+Fibrosis+Goal+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><ul><li><a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=84411">Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge</a>: Sunday, May 22, 2011</li></ul>I plan to get a few more lined up for June/July/August.. I'm so excited to be participating in these 5K's and I know it will help me continue to work toward my weight loss and exercise goals. <br /><br />Stay tuned for more updates :)

5K Setting Goals for 2011

I've done two 5K's in my life.  I enrolled in both of them as a walker but I ended up running them.  It was an amazing feeling compl...

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Into every life a little rain must fall

The Rainy Day<br /><br />Written at the old home in Portland, Maine by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<br /><br />The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;<br />It rains,and the wind is never weary;<br />The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,<br />But at every gust the dead leaves fall,<br />And the day is dark and dreary.<br />My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;<br />It rains,and the wind is never weary;<br />My thoughts still cling to the mouldering past,<br />But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,<br />And the days are dark and dreary.<br />Be still, sad heart, and cease repining;<br />Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;<br />Thy fate is the common fate of all,<br />Into each life some rain must fall,<br />Some days must be dark and dreary.<br /><br />I've written several posts this past week, each one sadder and more depressing than the previous one. I didn't publish any of them. I couldn't bring myself to share my sadness with the world.<br /><br />This morning I had written an entire post about the misery of my life. I had started it with the poem above. My work, marriage, dieting...everything seem broken beyond repair. <br /><br />Then the strangest thing happened. After working from home during the morning, on a project that I've been struggling with for the last week, I decided to drive into the office. Someone that I use to work with that's on another team emailed me, asking if I was still having a problem on my project. I told him yes, I was struggling. He said he'd be in the office today and if I wanted, he'd come by my desk and seek if he could help. I quickly showered, dressed, and headed off to the office.<br /><br />When I left my house at noon, the sky was dark and dreary, it was raining and the wind was blowing. I felt like the weather perfectly matched my mood.<br /><br />As I drove the twelve miles to my office, the skies opened open, and there, in all it's glory was the sun. I hadn't seen the sun for at least a week, maybe longer. I really can't remember the last time it wasn't raining. For the last ten minutes of my commute, the sun was shining, I felt my mood lift. Suddenly things didn't seem so hopeless and impossible.<br /><br />I'd actually made a lot of headway on my project this morning, before I received the email from my friend. I still had a few things I was still having trouble figuring out, and I knew he'd know the answers, and fortunately for me, he did.<br /><br />The thing I'm working on wasn't really my project until last Wednesday. Someone else was working on it for the last several months. Without going into much detail, I was asked to take it over and get it finished quickly. One of my coworkers often teases me that when I get in a situation like this one,  I always pull a rabbit out of my hat and get the job done. This time I was really feeling like I couldn't pull it off. I've always thought that one day there was going to be something I couldn't figure out. I'm happy to say this wasn't it. I'll be finished in a couple days. <br /><br />As quickly as my work situation improved, everything else seemed to fall into place. My husband is being super sweet, feeling bad for me because I'd worked last weekend, and several evenings the past week.<br /><br />Today, for the first time in several days I ate perfectly on plan. I haven't been eating terrible, no Easter candy, no Cadbury eggs, but as usual, my portions are too large, and I was eating to much fruit (can we say banana<u><b>s</b></u>). It all adds up, a calorie is a calorie, and I know I can't eat unlimited amounts of fruit.<br /><br />It's funny how everything that seemed so bad now suddenly seems good. In every life a little rain must fall, but like Longfellow said, the sun is still there behind the clouds. And into ever life a little sun must shine.

Into every life a little rain must fall

The Rainy Day Written at the old home in Portland, Maine by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The day is cold, and dark, and dreary; It rains,and t...

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(Not Quite) All About Bette...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLms7WYXMYNj_BfpRA3-lKYKeRH0sLex0CBlSF1vUyc4R4meHJuaUvBrwkmEer4LJnP17RiRDCK-P-w2ekAAvA_4lP4pebEBwLcyvox_gV8u1yPxwpXn1z-KhU4LFxsGvoO27oK-XQU4b/s1600/now+voyager+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLms7WYXMYNj_BfpRA3-lKYKeRH0sLex0CBlSF1vUyc4R4meHJuaUvBrwkmEer4LJnP17RiRDCK-P-w2ekAAvA_4lP4pebEBwLcyvox_gV8u1yPxwpXn1z-KhU4LFxsGvoO27oK-XQU4b/s320/now+voyager+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Bette Davis was born 103 years ago on April 5 in Lowell, Massachusetts. She attended drama school as a young woman and made her Broadway debut in "Broken Dishes" in 1929. She headed to Hollywood in 1930 where she was tested and signed by Universal. When her Universal contract was not renewed and she was on the verge of returning to New York and Broadway she received a call from Warner Bros. This was not exactly the beginning of a beautiful friendship, but it was the beginning of the truly legendary screen career of a groundbreaking actress.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />In her career of more than 100 films, Bette Davis was nominated for 11 Best Actress Academy Awards (including one write-in campaign) and won two.<br /><br />In her heyday, Bette received Best Actress nods five years in a row and, in 1942, was the highest paid woman in America.<br /><br />She won the Cannes Film Festival's 1951 Best Actress Award for <b>All About Eve</b>.<br /><br />She was nominated for four Emmy Awards and won one. The list of her various award nominations and wins goes on and on...<br /><br />She was the first woman to be the president of AMPAS and the the first woman honored with the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.<br /><br />She was one of a group of Hollywood stars who established the Hollywood Canteen for soldiers traveling through Los Angeles during World War II.<br /><br />Not to be forgotten (for it speaks to Bette's status as an icon)...the #1 single of 1981 and the winner of "Song of the Year" and "Record of the Year" Grammy Awards was "Bette Davis Eyes," sung by Kim Carnes.<br /><br />Even after suffering breast cancer and a stroke, Bette Davis continued acting until the final year of her life.<br />  <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtrvFSTrETaww-Ua6qMzqzhGD0WrTcMYtjrppQKwc4YMKGQ39p1fR9S5BJje7VydwH0rDXoOdIZsSeDIuE0IZD5prEEF_5aD6jLAmp3k4L1eJD0WEkK6nNse-LfsdkaS3wVaFwBhKjvQk/s1600/all-about-eve-anne-baxter-bette-davis-marilyn-monroe1%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtrvFSTrETaww-Ua6qMzqzhGD0WrTcMYtjrppQKwc4YMKGQ39p1fR9S5BJje7VydwH0rDXoOdIZsSeDIuE0IZD5prEEF_5aD6jLAmp3k4L1eJD0WEkK6nNse-LfsdkaS3wVaFwBhKjvQk/s200/all-about-eve-anne-baxter-bette-davis-marilyn-monroe1%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>All About Eve</b> (1950)</td></tr></tbody></table>Bette Davis's performances in these films were nominated for Best Actress Oscars:<br /><br /><b>Of Human Bondage </b>(1934) ( write-in)<br /><b>Dangerous </b>(1935) <br /><b>Jezebel</b> (1938) <br /><b>Dark Victory </b>(1939)<br /><b>The Letter </b>(1940)<br /><b>The Little Foxes </b>(1941)<br /><b>Now, Voyager </b>(1942)<br /><b>Mr. Skeffington </b>(1944)<br /><b>All About Eve </b>(1950)<br /><b>The Star </b>(1952)<br /><b>Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? </b>(1962)<br /><br />She won for <b>Dangerous </b>and <b>Jezebel</b> but was also "robbed" on more than one occasion...<br /><br />What else can one say about Bette Davis? A lot! However, what actor James Woods had to say in a TCM "Word of Mouth" segment a few years ago hits the bulls-eye for me and bears repeating in honor of her birthday...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pM3Ng8CY4sA" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>

Bette Davis James Woods The Lady Eve (author) (Not Quite) All About Bette...

Bette Davis was born 103 years ago on April 5 in Lowell, Massachusetts. She attended drama school as a young woman and made her Broadway deb...

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A Strange But Prophetic Day On The Strip

We were an unlikely crew of protesters: a deacon from St. Matthew’s attending her first demonstration; a deacon from Christ Church chiefly known for her pastoral and charity work; a lay person from Christ Church; a priest from Epiphany, Henderson who despite her California roots was born considerably too late to even remember the Free Speech movement; and me, the Mad Hatter Bishop. But there we were on the Strip on a bright April Day carrying signs and passing out pamphlets on the moral blight of human trafficking and child prostitution in Las Vegas.<br /><br />It may have been for the best that my colleagues were not veteran demonstrators since this was a different kind of event. First, we had to register for the Rally. Our organizers were really organized. We registered on line well in advance. Then we were required to sign liability waivers in case we twisted an ankle or got poked in the eye by a sign. Then we had to sign in at the registration site, where for a $25 donation, we got a red Not For Sale t-shirt and a bottle of water.<br />Someone eventually helped me realize that social activism has a new paradigm modeled on the marathon. <br /><br />As we walked from where we had parked our car in the Harley Davison Café parking garage, people were already stopping us to ask what this was all about. We gave them pamphlets and explained the cause which they readily supported. <br /><br />Then we took our places on the island at the corner of Harmon and Las Vegas Blvd. Other parts of our Diocese of Nevada family were elsewhere on the Strip. There were 4 venues in all. Ellie and her daughters were standing for justice at the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd. At Harmon, we were not alone. There were a group of amiable teens of diverse ethnicity – Latino, African-American, Anglo, and Asian. The Asians were my favorite. They were vigorously chanting, “Stop Human Trafficking” while shaking their signs up and down like the folks who advertise tax preparation services. <br /><br />A truck with a mobile billboard kept circling past us. The bold billboard, with boldly dressed people on it, proclaimed “Hot Babes Direct To You.” While it was stopped at the red light, the Rev. Helen McPeak got a pic of me holding my Not For Sale sign along with the billboard. Eventually, the guy driving the truck and the demonstrators began waving when he went by.<br />This is a strange world, at least a strange city.<br /><br />The pedestrians gave us a mixed response. One tourist from Florida was supportive. We had a pleasant talk and she took a pamphlet. A couple of hours later, she came back, having just won $200 at a Casino, and wanted a pic with me, helping me hold the sign, as way to give God the glory for her winnings. It did not seem the time to engage in theology about God and gaming. I just welcomed her support.<br /><br />Many took pamphlets. One man who refused a pamphlet was wearing a t-shirt that said “Father Of The Year.” After he had turned down a pamphlet from one of the teenagers, Dcn. Carolyn Shannon stopped him, and said, “Now, wait a minute. You’re the father of the year. You need to know about this.” He took the pamphlet.<br /><br />An Imperial Storm Trooper also walked by. I could not remember whether the guys in white worked for the Evil Empire or Princess Leia’s rebels. I asked one of the teenagers. But she had never seen Star Wars. I felt old.<br /><br />We achieved our brief moment of fame when Channel 3 and Channel 5 filmed us for the evening news. It was a surreal but inspiring day in what promises to be a long term effort that is shared all over the Diocese. On the last Sunday in March, the following Episcopal Churches observed a Sunday of Witness Against Human Trafficking: St. Bartholomew’s, Ely; Holy Trinity, Fallon; St. Martin’s, Pahrump; Trinity, Reno; St. Paul’s, Sparks; St. Matthew’s, Las Vegas; and Christ Church, Las Vegas. (Did I leave anyone out?) The Rev’s. Red Sims and Kathy Hopner wrote collects for the occasion.<br /><br />Epiphany, Henderson will host the Interfaith Service to raise awareness of issues of children’s well being, with a special focus on the sexual exploitation of children, on Sunday, May 22, at 5 p.m. Improved legislation would be a good thing. But the main goals we need to accomplish are to make this crime a priority for enforcement and prosecution and even more importantly to build a Safe House for care and rehabilitation for the young victims. To learn more, go to www.notforsalecampaign.org and www.nevadachild.com.<br /><br />Our advocacy efforts on this issue are part of an overall priority of caring for children in Nevada. Our restored relationship with St. Jude’s Ranch For Children, our partnership with Communities in Schools and other one-church-one-school initiatives, the participation of congregations in Family Promise, our partnership with St. Luke’s, Leogane to vaccinate Haitian children against disease are other examples of our efforts to serve and speak out for children here and around the world.

A Strange But Prophetic Day On The Strip

We were an unlikely crew of protesters: a deacon from St. Matthew’s attending her first demonstration; a deacon from Christ Church chiefly k...

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Not So Bad Afterall

This past week I spent 4 days at my sister's house in PA to help her out with the recent birth of my new nephew, Rexon.  For weeks I have been trying hard to have a 'good' week on Weight Watchers.  Each week brings new eating obstacles that make it rather difficult for me to remain on plan.  I was determined to make good choices while I spent these 4 days at my sister's house.  I took some breakfast items with me, as well as some snacks.  I was armed with a few dinner ideas and kept that momentum going.  I figured I probably would not get any exercise in and I was a little panicky about it.  While I didn't feel like I ate well while I was there (I never counted a single point!), I did end up losing weight - 1.4 pounds to be exact.  Not too shabby for a week without exercise while being on the road.. but it was all worth it to spend some time with the new little guy..<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWXBwKGbYL4GneqD0TCO1W_G8mVXVga8IMqLESjw3zLThXBbVrdwKZVuLyfeycy6RF3Jv5uV91jMCK5mrR6iKaDMAVBwnNa2JwKw3jEKOcqZicVGRf-doC3kiE5PZQ4Ic_EheFCSsAEY/s1600/elegant+WA+aunt+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWXBwKGbYL4GneqD0TCO1W_G8mVXVga8IMqLESjw3zLThXBbVrdwKZVuLyfeycy6RF3Jv5uV91jMCK5mrR6iKaDMAVBwnNa2JwKw3jEKOcqZicVGRf-doC3kiE5PZQ4Ic_EheFCSsAEY/s320/elegant+WA+aunt+copy.png" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: <a href="http://elegantwordart2.blogspot.com/2008/12/aunt.html">Here.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><a href="http://www.3fatchicks.net/index11.php"><img border="0" src="http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/tulip-bar/slider-scale/lb/0/95.2/0.39999999999998/.png" /></a>

Not So Bad Afterall

This past week I spent 4 days at my sister's house in PA to help her out with the recent birth of my new nephew, Rexon.  For weeks I hav...

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Checking in

I haven't posted anything since Sunday because my job is consuming me lately. I'm slightly stressed at work. I still love where I work and love my job, but sometimes I get myself in situations with deadlines. There's always a deadline looming up ahead, and I'm always trying to meet it. I have one next week that I'm struggling to meet. I guess that's just life. <br /><br />I'm doing okay, managing to get to the gym every day, although I took today off because I couldn't remember the last time I missed a day at the gym.<br /><br />Sometimes I'm getting in a lunch hour walk with a friend at work that practically race walks, I almost can't keep up with her. I think it would be easier if we just ran. Of course we only walk when it's not raining in the third most miserable city in the nation. At least that's according to this <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/03/29/where-are-americans-most-miserable/">article </a>in the Wall Street Journal, although they say it has nothing to do with the weather (really?).<br /><br />It's funny because my niece was here a couple weeks ago (from Fairbanks, Alaska) and she couldn't get over the deep green of everything, from he grass to the trees. She kept saying how beautiful it looked. She's right, at least when the sun shines here I think this area must be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. If only the sun would shine a little more.<br /><br />My eating hasn't been perfect, but I'm tracking my food which is big improvement. My food choices have been excellent, but sometimes my portions are too large (four ounces of chicken breast just doesn't do it for me). I've also managed to avoid eating added sugar for the last two weeks, which is huge for me.<br /><br />When my weight got up to 187 a couple weeks ago I had bought some cookies and other sweets which I consumed over a two-day period. I didn't write about it because I was pretty freaked out. I feel like I have that under control again.<br /><br />I also stopped buying and eating the Weight Watcher frozen treats. The only "treat" in my freezer are the sugar-free fudge bars that <a href="http://bbubblyb.blogspot.com/">Dawn </a>convinced me to try, and they're not that bad. However, they're not that good either so there's no chance I'd eat a whole box.<br /><br />Lately my evening snack has been a cup of Greek yogurt with a cup of frozen fruit, and some Stevia. It's more calories than one of the Weight Watcher ice cream bars (about 200 for the yogurt & fruit), but it's the same PointsPlus (3). It's a lot more filling than the bars and sort of like ice cream, and I never go back for seconds (or thirds like I did with the ice cream bars) because it's a lot of food. <br /><br />I tried the Simply Filling a few days this week and then switched back to PointsPlus on Weight Watchers. You're not suppose to switch mid-week, but I still can't trust myself with the "eating until satisfied" idea.<br /><br />This is a pretty boring post, but I just can't think of anything interesting to say. I guess all work and no play makes Diana a very dull girl.<br /><br />Off to work now!

Checking in

I haven't posted anything since Sunday because my job is consuming me lately. I'm slightly stressed at work. I still love where I wo...

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28 weeks

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ULBkhuQFkz9_6OYkv1-oM16q-tR0O12FBf5R5mN1-E1x1quho556cjJl136tnUPwYmCfRo0vDWAD3uGJfiP5fIQEH5rSvfDET9mltF_dOLzYxHSEcmmyvAwm22dMYWkkLH5BuEgs8cDs/s1600-h/28weeks3.28.113.jpg"><img alt="28 weeks - 3.28.11" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJp71HfRChlCisDRdZfx1JG8-f7QdqTV6MwHImu9gUmVDwRKRfnT3QS94-zVwqa0Pej4SUr4YyEacjcxGvN7zotEPSUzhT2PTKst2ZO9kMn3l7Tv0BtUL6UPjFCarVdN8fZQyB7UmNjOz/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="28 weeks - 3.28.11" width="354"></a></p> <p><strong>How Far Along:</strong> 28 Weeks <p><strong>Size of baby:</strong> Baby Bangert is the size of a Chinese cabbage. About 2 1/4 pounds and almost 15 inches, from head to heel. <p><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> I wear maternity jeans and pants but the majority of everything else is regular.  Things are getting tighter though! <p><strong>Gender:</strong> It’s a girl!!! We’re still working on names…I sure hope we can get one picked out soon! <p><strong>Movement: </strong>She is a busy little girl, mainly in the evenings when I winding down from the day. I love it though…there is a tiny little life inside me! <p><strong></strong><strong>Sleep:</strong> Eh, it’s been ok! I’m not the best side sleeper and I wake up on my back quite a bit. Plus a few bathroom runs! <p><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my stomach, a bigger selection of clothes, and being able to go up & down stairs without getting winded! <p><strong>Cravings:</strong> Pretty sure I don’t got 2-3 days without ice cream! That is pretty normal though! ;) I am quickly finding out the bigger she gets the less I eat…I get full SO fast! <p><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Really can’t complain! Feeling well for the most part, just stiff/achy by the end of the the day. <p><strong>Best Moment this week:</strong> Spending time with my great friend, Sara, and her 2 little girls, Emma & Grace! Aren’t they the sweetest! Grace is the best baby, I’m praying for baby who is laid back like Grace! :)<img alt="" height="267" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/180381_10150089254772918_44598837917_6352898_2486279_n.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="400"> <p>Emma just turned 2 and is full of energy! We had fun playing & girl chit-chatting the evening away! Emma loved the sleeping bag and headlamp I picked up for her at Target. The headlamp didn’t even have batteries & she still wore it the whole night! ha!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJq8ezPiSi1cGAnWEphHzCV5DMuEniUF0Ua5sX8ZWvJWVYplPoaYRQSXbQGdZkHsUItowlD-FTgA32n0k6gX0igy-oGGC6gAThMpnS5EQFF4pI2-BLCBy4JSS4jCJ3QT5yDzFut_z08Qw/s1600-h/Emma3.24.113.jpg"><img alt="Emma 3.24.11" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyW6UxIiNfHiKZMFjDVTqsyalPmEP08XGExYr5gzC-dzxNijl6gKpJdo7v6XDeVp1ImvqgLc7gPoEpFBTAaNS9h35Ak7Ktro7GZ_PWIarh0JUTYLAzh5s6JWhzO3np-5KlucYCtrVt7i1/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="Emma 3.24.11" width="404"></a></p>

28 weeks

How Far Along: 28 Weeks Size of baby: Baby Bangert is the size of a Chinese cabbage. About 2 1/4 pounds and almost 15 inches, from head ...

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STRANGERS ON A TRAIN...his best-remembered film

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__ZQJP7jE1lUycG5ZJeOTP7FY_TU1yXHVHYU91aPKCUQstTqtLCOyKA_CQB6rZQI8sWbvXrZ2ishi9dkVT5qnuDci3R4orePwteZ8T0KaI6REl6ur-FLaPoLSH405-3q1AsL8r0RcN_H8/s1600/strangers-on-a-train%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__ZQJP7jE1lUycG5ZJeOTP7FY_TU1yXHVHYU91aPKCUQstTqtLCOyKA_CQB6rZQI8sWbvXrZ2ishi9dkVT5qnuDci3R4orePwteZ8T0KaI6REl6ur-FLaPoLSH405-3q1AsL8r0RcN_H8/s400/strangers-on-a-train%255B1%255D.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Actor Farley Granger died in New York on Sunday at age 85. He'd begun his career in Hollywood under contract to Samuel Goldwyn and made his first film, </i>The North Star<i>, in 1943. Five years later he worked for the first time with Alfred Hitchcock on one of the director's most interesting exercises, </i>Rope<i> (1948), co-starring James Stewart and John Dall. In 1951 he again worked with Hitchcock and it is for this film, </i>Strangers on a Train<i>, that Granger is best remembered. The actor later left Hollywood to work on the New York stage; in 1986 he won an Obie Award for his performance in "Talley & Son." Though Farley Granger is not the specific focus, I'm posting this previously published reflection on </i>Strangers on a Train<i> in tribute to of his life and career.</i></span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was the middle of the 20th Century and Alfred Hitchcock's last major film had been <i>Notorious</i> (1946). Four years and four films later, he seemed to be drifting. Though <i>The Paradine Case,</i><i> Rope, Under Capricorn</i> and <i>Stage Fright</i> were all interesting attempts, only underrated <i>Stage Fright </i>was successful, but it was not major box office.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYm6ph3a7nPtZ68iTIE-Ycq6bkDzz8QJ0Pz77HlNKRKYq1K5D-5xoWwHTze8cricRx6rYdGdupyzQwj3sfdTeHauaCA4TSo4LETaO_vXe2zjGIUz77sDfoYtbUQ0lTUEBVRKBJhJvTg9s/s1600/strangers-on-a-train-1%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYm6ph3a7nPtZ68iTIE-Ycq6bkDzz8QJ0Pz77HlNKRKYq1K5D-5xoWwHTze8cricRx6rYdGdupyzQwj3sfdTeHauaCA4TSo4LETaO_vXe2zjGIUz77sDfoYtbUQ0lTUEBVRKBJhJvTg9s/s320/strangers-on-a-train-1%255B1%255D.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitchcock and Granger on the set</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For his next project, Hitchcock looked to the first novel of young Patricia Highsmith. Intrigued by its clever "criss-cross" murder plot, he bought the rights to <i>Strangers on a Train</i>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Raymond Chandler was tapped to tackle the screenplay, though Czenzi Ormonde, a protege of Ben Hecht, rewrote most of it. Cinematographer Robert Burks collaborated with Hitchcock for the first time and earned an Oscar nomination for his efforts. He was nominated again for <i>Rear Window</i> and won for <i>To Catch a Thief</i>. Dimiti Tiomkin, who had last worked with the director on <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i>, composed the dramatic score. Hitchcock produced and directed for Warner Brothers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Strangers on a Train</i> (1951) is considered one of Hitchcock's most accessible films; its overwhelming success revived the director's reputation at a crucial point. It also signaled the beginning of his final great filmmaking period.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirB3KnGKnTDf7WX0Q6xYtXpuxqiufgoNMw6kfxicQBqsehlxxlvDozQcigXyNAA-O02GnF1ceVnbb1k6GUsfxesI7MBZUndUEjngXohNaggKkrDyJwAMsBDsmugwWuyhFTt___OSaiT89d/s1600/strangers_2%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirB3KnGKnTDf7WX0Q6xYtXpuxqiufgoNMw6kfxicQBqsehlxxlvDozQcigXyNAA-O02GnF1ceVnbb1k6GUsfxesI7MBZUndUEjngXohNaggKkrDyJwAMsBDsmugwWuyhFTt___OSaiT89d/s320/strangers_2%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"meet cute" moment</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A virtual case study of Hitchcock's technique, <i>Strangers on a Train</i>  bears all the hallmarks of his style. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are spectacular set pieces, among them - an intense tennis match cross-cut with scenes of a killer's harrowing journey to plant evidence and a carousel sequence that sweeps to a terrifying climax. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Prominent historical sites appear; Washington, D.C., landmarks are woven into the scenario, with the Jefferson Memorial in a stark cameo. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is an "innocent man accused" and a powerful <i>doppelganger</i> motif.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NWf4hIaq4gsGZ3RlieoFOmMWsoeQOWHiAYUp68OQ7Vn1EqbZ0LAv5YWt0L6Sqt75_UTNTi6-PHAc2E5gRQzP_-WmWLo9L2_pFn37HyrYocpBN-7cum9zoGEgFJbPJNfDR5dT_-GTWf9n/s1600/Farley02%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NWf4hIaq4gsGZ3RlieoFOmMWsoeQOWHiAYUp68OQ7Vn1EqbZ0LAv5YWt0L6Sqt75_UTNTi6-PHAc2E5gRQzP_-WmWLo9L2_pFn37HyrYocpBN-7cum9zoGEgFJbPJNfDR5dT_-GTWf9n/s320/Farley02%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farley Granger and Laura Elliott/Kasey Rogers</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Though there are no marquee names, the cast is solid: Farley Granger as handsome, nearly guileless and beleaguered tennis star Guy Haines and Laura Elliott (Kasey Rogers) as his trampy estranged wife, Miriam. Marion Lorne stands out as the discombobulated mother of a killer, Leo G. Carroll appears as a U.S. Senator and Patricia Hitchcock has one of her best roles as his quirky younger daughter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Alfred Hitchcock once told Francoise Truffaut, "...the more successful the villain, the more successful the picture. That's a cardinal rule..."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The bold, unforgettable performance of Robert Walker as unhinged Bruno Anthony is proof of that rule. Remarkably, Walker had mostly been cast as boy-next-door types up till then. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Like Joseph Cotten's Uncle Charley in <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i>, Walker's Bruno is a glib, self-possessed charmer who is also a remorseless killer. Walker is riveting onscreen. His Bruno is confident, slick, erratic...and very unsettling. His smooth veneer barely masks a simmering rage. With a voice that slides from sensual as velvet to cold and hollow as tin, his eyes glitter, glare, caress.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKSAB-P7nXEKjhPQDcY2cCDA71Y3ennuhyphenhyphenFMpPgN5lyWS8vKpPJwla0Oav921oSFIrcRYqjjVfo34LZgayCw4pLNu09LAX2qfEYmckKaHYJ-OrJKTG53pSzrY650086PSdFE0_D8N6KSq/s1600/Strangers_on_a_Train_-_Bruno_in_line%255B1%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKSAB-P7nXEKjhPQDcY2cCDA71Y3ennuhyphenhyphenFMpPgN5lyWS8vKpPJwla0Oav921oSFIrcRYqjjVfo34LZgayCw4pLNu09LAX2qfEYmckKaHYJ-OrJKTG53pSzrY650086PSdFE0_D8N6KSq/s320/Strangers_on_a_Train_-_Bruno_in_line%255B1%255D.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Walker</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From the moment Bruno is first seen in the club car insinuating himself into Guy's life, to his final seconds of life, when he mercilessly implicates Guy with his dying breath, Walker dominates and energizes the film. Pat Hitchcock once observed that for all her father's genius, it was Walker's daring performance that 'made' the picture.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Walker died tragically at age 32 less than two months after the film was released. He had appeared in more than 30 films in his career, but it was <i>Strangers on a Train</i> that allowed him to reveal the devastating range of his talent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Farley Granger later reflected, "he was great in the film; his potential was limitless, his career was just beginning to take wing."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Robert Walker's life had been short and often troubled, but it later became clear that he had a bit of good fortune after all; his greatest role, a virtuoso performance, was preserved in one of Alfred Hitchcock's finest and most popular films.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">British film critic and historian David Thomson noted in a 1999 Hitchcock centenniel article on <i><b>Strangers</b> </i>that Walker's was "...a landmark performance. You see it now and you feel the vibrancy of the modernity...he had had that one chance..."</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEDen5jSY5MesjOq3FemA90DQQNDAaxje8cm9W9UpANQYoeC9Y1z0VRBiVBHmh3Hs82Unj-_-1Cf2qdFqEFezvrtR6odr4ik5SvugDSC6xcIDBuqJMqzXFewk1-J9EsVPThMIXDavRTU/s1600/Strangers_color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEDen5jSY5MesjOq3FemA90DQQNDAaxje8cm9W9UpANQYoeC9Y1z0VRBiVBHmh3Hs82Unj-_-1Cf2qdFqEFezvrtR6odr4ik5SvugDSC6xcIDBuqJMqzXFewk1-J9EsVPThMIXDavRTU/s400/Strangers_color.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Dimitri Tiomkin Farley Granger Marion Lorne Patricia Highsmith Patricia Hitchcock Robert Burks Robert Walker Strangers on a Train The Lady Eve (author) STRANGERS ON A TRAIN...his best-remembered film

 Actor Farley Granger died in New York on Sunday at age 85. He'd begun his career in Hollywood under contract to Samuel Goldwyn and mad...

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It's hard to lose weight but it's even harder to be fat

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As I struggle to get control of my eating and get my weight back down, I constantly wonder why this has to be so incredibly difficult. I know I'm not alone in these feelings. Almost everyone with a weight problem can relate. It's hard to constantly deprive myself of things I want to eat. For whatever reason, food makes me happy. It's just that simple.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three years ago I was 240 pounds. I honestly don't know how I was walking around. I don't know how I held a job or how I managed to start going to the gym. Carrying around an extra hundred pounds on my body made life very hard. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two summers ago I was 152, last summer I was around 166. Right now I'm at 182.2. Down 5.2 pounds from my last weigh-in on Wednesday. I'm still 30 pounds up from my lowest weight in the last three years. I've beaten myself up about this over and over. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The biggest thing I've noticed about this recent weight gain is how uncomfortable I feel in my own skin. More than anything, I'm embarrassed about the weight gain. How could I let this happen to me? Don't I even like myself? The answers to those two questions are sad. I let this happen to me because I don't care enough about myself to want to take care of myself. Like myself? Silly girl, of course not.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Added to the embarrassment is the discomfort. My clothes don't fit. Everything is tight. Every morning looking for something to wear is a challenge. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Added to the embarrassment and discomfort is the constant nagging fear that I'm going to end up where I started. Every morning I wake up and my first thoughts are "what did I eat last night?".  If the answer is "nothing bad" then I'm happy. If the answer is "oh darn, I ate that entire box of Weight Watcher Truffle bars" then I'm miserable (that was my thought this morning). </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My workouts the last two weeks have been hard. The more weight I gain, the harder it is to exercise. My body doesn't want to work hard, it just wants to lie down and sleep. Every day I push myself to exercise, but with the added weight on my body, I can really feel the difference. It hurts so much more to exercise at this heavier weight.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <br />The bottom line is that it's really harder to be fat than it is to lose weight. Fat hinders my entire life. Being uncomfortable 100% of the time and hating myself because I'm fat is really no way to live.</div>

It's hard to lose weight but it's even harder to be fat

As I struggle to get control of my eating and get my weight back down, I constantly wonder why this has to be so incredibly difficult. I kno...

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I didn't know I was so fat but pictures don't lie

<div style="text-align: center;">Before Pictures (from the Big Climb March 20, 2011)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0EDLGS0MGLI6fECK_nwWYTK-313a55PGjvibeoukXnbdqW2vdD4Z4fzv43NuQNLx3pj536shjLax5YXRYUkC5iow6FCIxlOKh4T0pS_afDZSV8zNvxFYZ5jinOuW9GfcPaNFEeJDnrf3/s1600/P1020652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0EDLGS0MGLI6fECK_nwWYTK-313a55PGjvibeoukXnbdqW2vdD4Z4fzv43NuQNLx3pj536shjLax5YXRYUkC5iow6FCIxlOKh4T0pS_afDZSV8zNvxFYZ5jinOuW9GfcPaNFEeJDnrf3/s400/P1020652.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Rear view (ugh!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oCO7GBnA5tH42elvGuhc-kbyapUm_UoZ1q5uSiNH2kfnF3uw1pX7xBUDXP1IfOIJfcqObFcLehN5Cmxf9_N7sDUgkjLOWPHUU0l6nggGXnz0F2GiZvoujmXN0gZTq-32XQRcUL5oGuqv/s1600/P1020653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oCO7GBnA5tH42elvGuhc-kbyapUm_UoZ1q5uSiNH2kfnF3uw1pX7xBUDXP1IfOIJfcqObFcLehN5Cmxf9_N7sDUgkjLOWPHUU0l6nggGXnz0F2GiZvoujmXN0gZTq-32XQRcUL5oGuqv/s320/P1020653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's weird how I often don't see my body as it really looks. When I weighed 152 two summers ago, and 166 last summer, I thought I was a fat pig. That's the picture on the lower right, me in the black size 10 skirt and pink top. 152 pounds and I thought I was fat. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that I'm fat again I don't see it when I look in the mirror. Even though the size ten's hanging in my closet don't even begin to fit, I still think of myself as the same person that weighed 152. It's like my head hasn't caught to the fact that I'm fat again. It's the opposite of what an anorexia thinks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The pictures really hit me hard. Really? I'm really THAT fat?! Yes, Diana, you are really that fat. How fat am I? Read below.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>My second weekly Weight Watchers meeting</b><br />Today was my first Weight Watchers At Work meeting. There were 28 employees at the meeting, each with their $130.20 check in hand for a 17-week series of meetings and e-Tools.<br /><br />My company is picking up the additional 30% that Weight Watchers would normally charge. I work for an awesome company! Of course, it's in their best interest that we all get to a healthy weight to keep our insurance costs down, as well as take fewer sick days. Smart move on their part, and I get to benefit from it.<br /><br />I'm very excited about this meeting. I'm not new to Weight Watchers. I've been going to meetings for three years non-stop. It annoys me that I haven't reached goal yet, but I also know that without the meetings I'd definitely be back up to my high weight of 240 pounds, plus a few extra for good measure. Going to two meetings a week is sort of like AA, where the alcoholic goes every day if possible. Like an alcoholic, I have a serious problem.<br /><br />I weighed in at home this morning and was appalled I saw184 pounds. I decided to eat breakfast, have my cup of coffee and drink water all morning like normal. I'm not going to starve myself or go without water because I have a noon weighin.<br /><br />The official weighin (are you sitting down because this is rather shocking):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">187.4 </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now I could make all sorts of excuses, I was wearing "heavy" clothes or I'd had food and water during the morning, or there was something wrong with the scales the leader brought to the meeting. That can't be my real weight! Seriously folks, it's my real weight. As real as it gets. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My plan isn't to dwell on how horrible this is or how mad I am at myself for letting this happen. My plan is to get down to business and lose the weight!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have my regular Weight Watcher meeting on Saturday, which I pay for online so I'll have two official weighins a week. I know that sounds kind of crazy, but I'm kind of crazy. My eating has become totally out of control with no accountability. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that I know how fat I am, I need to fix it.</div>

I didn't know I was so fat but pictures don't lie

Before Pictures (from the Big Climb March 20, 2011) Rear view (ugh!) It's weird how I often don't see my body as it really looks. Wh...

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27 weeks

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w7ih_8x51pG0K6FN2wUoPHSRaRMk47vv5vCq3xCMBJzT3hF8nsokoeYzHShrfXvMPNG9h0amMg1EkVr3PqBaMMg-oaWxdqwvL3HCkCn0pd7WaTSdin-NeEuy5yDfk8xseaHL3-CYH-e0/s1600-h/27%20weeks%20-%203.23.11%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="27 weeks - 3.23.11" border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoT6F0W_PkAf6btCoxt1IKYNzXYJpFji8e7Xmwrk-T_TrrG14bZSlfZ5KR8HFrnfwEAJNVsOtTQOGSdsTjBFEp9URrydHtTNRaQfUzIz2FkvaGT9xlpEdopAEMiWyOCBioFhRWKaSnIwg/?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="27 weeks - 3.23.11" width="354"></a></p> <p><strong>How Far Along:</strong> 27 Weeks <p><strong>Size of baby:</strong> Baby Bangert is the size of an eggplant! <p><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> I wear maternity jeans and pants but everything else is regular.  Things are getting tighter though! <p><strong>Gender:</strong> It’s a girl!!! <p><strong>Movement: </strong>My Doctor told me I should feel her at least 10 times before 1pm…I don’t think that is a problem!! BIG NEWS: Kyle finally got to feel her kick on Saturday!! It was such a sweet moment, we were watching a movie and after he felt her kick he left his hand there the rest of the movie just waiting to feel her again! <p><strong></strong><strong>Sleep:</strong> Not too bad, I get up a few times throughout the night to go to the bathroom. I guess it’s preparing me for a newborn! <p><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my stomach, a bigger selection of clothes, and being able to go up & down stairs without getting winded! <p><strong>Cravings:</strong> I don't have specific cravings. I just like to eat! ;) I don’t think ice cream counts, I love that anytime! <p><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Really can’t complain! Feeling well for the most part, just stiff/achy by the end of the the day. <p><strong>Best Moment this week:</strong> Kyle feeling her kick and making progress on the nursery! <p>I had my glucose test yesterday and they said no news is good news. So my fingers are crossed, I haven’t heard from the Dr. yet, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign! <p>In case you missed it click <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/03/nursery-progress.html">here</a> to check out the progress in the nursery!</p>

27 weeks

How Far Along: 27 Weeks Size of baby: Baby Bangert is the size of an eggplant! Maternity Clothes: I wear maternity jeans and pants but...

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Hitchcock's Silent Version of Blackmail on the Big Screen

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ6LnwQDZt-B7cOe40ByA8JZrn5yoWYJL46OtzC5Yas0By6_YF961sikfoaFpscJtWA48kAhgJR31X5VBik0wr-NznD2ZGoMWye54HsuoZnHmzLCflwAfwgwVLVmKwvdpUqPMKwM9FXGx/s1600/blackmail1929%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ6LnwQDZt-B7cOe40ByA8JZrn5yoWYJL46OtzC5Yas0By6_YF961sikfoaFpscJtWA48kAhgJR31X5VBik0wr-NznD2ZGoMWye54HsuoZnHmzLCflwAfwgwVLVmKwvdpUqPMKwM9FXGx/s320/blackmail1929%255B1%255D.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The era of talking pictures arrived while Alfred Hitchcock was working on his crime thriller, <b>Blackmail</b>, in 1929. The film had already been shot as a silent feature but during post-production the studio asked the director to convert it to partial sound so it could be marketed as a talking picture. Hitchcock, as was his way, had his own ideas. He began to tinker; scenes were reshot with dialogue, additional scenes with dialogue were added. In the end, Hitchcock had two films - his and Britain's much touted "first full length all talkie film" - and the original silent version. In 1929, most theaters in Britain were not equipped for sound, so it was the silent <b>Blackmail</b> that was for a long time the most widely seen and popular of the two films.</span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One night last summer, the California Film Institute presented a special screening of a 35 mm British Film Institute archive print of the silent version of <b>Blackmail </b>at a theater near me. Accompanying the film with an original score was the Alloy Orchestra, one of the world's foremost silent film orchestras. In attendance was an enthusiastic sold-out crowd.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji90T2Wa96183YGsps0shGdKwRIvtfELs0_pl1K1k1U9wyYbss0Lg1BhxrpPyXTZlwVYj5g1tgGaZsdm_8Mlnl8ozJ2n1OynSkxdAfVXKVQ10Dd8lsI4NCnmeztBtPmViYBQlAbFlMzIN2/s1600/blackmail+hitch+and+anny+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji90T2Wa96183YGsps0shGdKwRIvtfELs0_pl1K1k1U9wyYbss0Lg1BhxrpPyXTZlwVYj5g1tgGaZsdm_8Mlnl8ozJ2n1OynSkxdAfVXKVQ10Dd8lsI4NCnmeztBtPmViYBQlAbFlMzIN2/s200/blackmail+hitch+and+anny+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alfred Hitchcock and Anny Ondra</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Blackmail</b> was Hitchcock's second film of the thriller genre; the first was<b>The Lodger</b> (1927), the picture that first brought him widespread acclaim. <b>Blackmail, </b>a film that critic and Hitchcock author/scholar David Sterritt declared "has a strong claim to being his first masterpiece," foreshadows Hitchcock's later work in many ways. Visually sophisticated and gimlet-eyed in its observation of human nature and motives, it includes a delicately lovely woman in grave danger (who spends much of the film as if in a daze) and a grisly murder; the climactic chase scene at a landmark, the British Museum, is the first of such Hitchcock signature set-pieces...and there is no shortage of moral ambiguity.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story, which Hitchcock conceived as a conflict between love and duty, centers on a middle-class young Londoner, Alice White. Alice lives with her parents, helps out at their tobacconist's shop and is dating a straight-arrow Scotland Yard detective. After the pair has a spat over dinner, she recklessly goes off with an artist/Casanova and ends up involved in a killing (see clip below); as a result her beau is drawn into the investigation - and a blackmail plot. </span></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Blackmail </b>stars Anny Ondra as Alice, John Longden as her detective boyfriend, Cyril Ritchard as the artist and Donald Calthrop as Tracy, the not-so-innocent innocent man. The plot is well constructed, the action is tight and Hitchcock's mastery of suspense is evident throughout.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3wUTDAW_a5RHzNTNFZBHTzlBAKZ29zCwS-p8YerN7kMCnK5bDeSOcQHUMzmPg8g4voKCGB4anjN3y_eHKsnWDytNE161qufHDZ3NkvnEUwD-ngWXUxpnQ9yo3MtopHz63VL3oFeDP3ou/s1600/blackmail+ending+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3wUTDAW_a5RHzNTNFZBHTzlBAKZ29zCwS-p8YerN7kMCnK5bDeSOcQHUMzmPg8g4voKCGB4anjN3y_eHKsnWDytNE161qufHDZ3NkvnEUwD-ngWXUxpnQ9yo3MtopHz63VL3oFeDP3ou/s200/blackmail+ending+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>finis</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though clever and fast-paced, <b>Blackmail</b> is a film of some depth and darkness. Ultimately, the integrity of both central characters is permanently compromised. Though a messy situation is conveniently resolved, the truth comes out between the girl and her man and the film's ending implies an uncertain and possibly bleak future for the two who now share a terrible knowledge and guilt.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Alloy Orchestra artfully accented this screening of <b>Blackmail</b>, adding dimension and a sense of immediacy to the experience. However...the group is not exactly an "orchestra" but three musicians whose instruments include keyboards, accordion, clarinet, musical saw and a famous "rack of junk." A combination of percussion and electronics allows them to create an array of sounds and effects. The Alloy Orchestra has performed worldwide - for major film festivals, AMPAS and even at the Louvre.</span></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvuXy4a88PNXUFqR3C0NtePaPt0I3jBY2BxQ6FCEzYyLVC06HcUwEOnkB8gjSih58CPC8OXSkekj0ifxe1HKQ5GvWecEh3q8YxW-rs5IqU2AY0rSZC1QogFt8PcFSq4NrC0KHMi7V_Ljm/s1600/AlloyOrchestra1%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvuXy4a88PNXUFqR3C0NtePaPt0I3jBY2BxQ6FCEzYyLVC06HcUwEOnkB8gjSih58CPC8OXSkekj0ifxe1HKQ5GvWecEh3q8YxW-rs5IqU2AY0rSZC1QogFt8PcFSq4NrC0KHMi7V_Ljm/s200/AlloyOrchestra1%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alloy Orchestra</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Postscript:</span></i></div><div style="line-height: 14pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I had not seen the sound version of <b>Blackmail</b> when I viewed the silent, but have since. I was a little surprised to discover that I much preferred the silent version. There are, perhaps, some technical reasons for this (rudimentary sound, the awkwardness of English actress Joan Barry voicing Czech-born star Anny Ondra's lines as Ondra performed). What struck me, though, was that the plot was rendered less ambiguous by the addition of spoken dialogue that was more explicit than the intertitles had been. </span></i></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E3sOL_30nbw" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Anny Ondra Blackmail Cyril Ritchard Donald Calthrop Joan Barry John Longden The Lady Eve (author) Hitchcock's Silent Version of Blackmail on the Big Screen

The era of talking pictures arrived while Alfred Hitchcock was working on his crime thriller, Blackmail , in 1929. The film had already been...

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