BOSNIA, CURSED BY EUROPEAN UNION (EU) TECHNOCRATS

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6WjC1Uw5goTm_coKe2WkhRX-lGyXX2olAx-wyGycZTBpMQ6oHq_C-tvgoVwarM6rqxGKcnvJnnvJG0M8aKrT2lXewUY_FI7AwbQ_ZNXg57R-dxeHANrsshkOp0nev3bDiDM8OAezLCGq/s1600/ICG_report_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6WjC1Uw5goTm_coKe2WkhRX-lGyXX2olAx-wyGycZTBpMQ6oHq_C-tvgoVwarM6rqxGKcnvJnnvJG0M8aKrT2lXewUY_FI7AwbQ_ZNXg57R-dxeHANrsshkOp0nev3bDiDM8OAezLCGq/s1600/ICG_report_thumb.jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Indifference of the EU and the West on Bosnia’s political stalemate could backfire</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4VgPI_g-2Co?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A fellow political analyst working for the EU in BOSNIA once mentioned the frustration he encounters when briefing EU representatives in BRUSSELS on BOSNIAN issues. It appears that these mostly young highly educated technocrats, running the show in BRUSSELS, lack practical and on the field as well as life experience when it comes to complex geo political decision making in the BALKANS.</span><span style="font-size: large;">  </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Underestimating the ethnic rift</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">  </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the most pressing issues that analysts are trying to point out to the EU and the WEST is that if they don’t offer more decisive support to solve the political stalemate in BOSNIA, BOSNIAKS (Bosnian Muslims) will turn their back on the West and turn towards other Muslim counties for support, thus inviting radical Muslim elements to establish their pillars in BOSNIA and at the doorstep to EUROPE. The SAUDI ARABIAN WAHHABI movement in BOSNIA up to now has played a minor role, despite efforts by politicians to portray them as a serious threat, nevertheless they are present and do have followers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Potential power of youth movements in the Balkans </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As mentioned in my previous article on BOSNIA dated the 21 July 2011 the older generations of BOSNIAKS are still strongly connected to EUROPE. This does not apply to the young generation who represents a large portion of the BOSNIAN population and who are rather well organized through social networks and student organizations and who share more radical views on the current game the EU and the West plays with BOSNIA. As one BOSNIAK student union leader pointed out bluntly, if the EU does not want us we have TURKEY and other fellow Muslim countries in ASIA to turn to, which are economically better off then EUROPE anyway. Why bother joining the EU or bother to live in harmony with Bosnian Serbs and Bosnian Croats, who tend to favor secession anyway.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The minute the economic situation in BOSNIA deteriorates and the BOSNIAN DIASPORA ceases, the political landscape of BOSNIA will tilt towards more instability and provide fundamentalist movements such as the HOUSE OF SAUD WAHHABI movement the opportunity to gain more influence and power in the region. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike EUROPE, BOSNIA consists of a large population of educated youth with lack of perspectives (the latter also applying for the youth of EUROPE), thus creating a dangerous vacuum in the region which should not be underestimated, especially in times when young people increasingly</span><span style="font-size: large;">  voicing their anger on the street around the world. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Dayton Peace Agreement Ghost</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">There exists common consent among the 3 ethnic groups of BOSNIA that the DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton_Agreement">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton_Agreement</a>) is obsolete and that the country’s constitution has to be changed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Threats by the RS (REPUBLICA SRBSKA ) (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republica_Srpska">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republica_Srpska</a>) to separate have been put on hold for now, but in recent past Bosnian Croats also voiced their opinion and called for a 3^rd entity, a move that would definitely complicate the situation in BIH. Some Bosnians suggest forming 3 or 4 cantons with each canton being governed by the respective ethnic entity, thus eliminating the current expensive and politically flawed 10 cantonal system of Bosnia.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Questionable Role of the Office of the High Representative </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">One would think that the OHR (Office of the High Representative) (see <a href="http://www.ohr.int/">http://www.ohr.int/</a>), the EUROPEAN UNION and the WEST would try to intervene more decisively in current secession tendencies in BOSNIA. Instead, as </span><span style="font-size: large;">WILLIAM STUEBNER, an American Diplomat who held several diplomatic posts in BOSNIA during and after the 1992 to 1995 war, points out in an article published in the CYPRUS MAIL, the EU in most likelihood would not step in strongly, should the 2, respectively 3 (Croats) entities really split. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">(see</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cmsearch?keyword=West%27s%20indifference%20could%20condemn%20Bosnia%20anew">http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cmsearch?keyword=West%27s%20indifference%20could%20condemn%20Bosnia%20anew</a>)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The indifference displayed by the EU and the West plays in the hands of TURKEY who already has grabbed the key player position in BOSNIA and is willing to go a step further in order to become a key player in the entire region. TURKEY’S position in the BALKANS on the other hand strengthens SAUDI ARABIA’S WAHHABI expansionism in the region, by spreading the Islamic faith. (See TURKISH and SAUDI ARABIA’S common interests at <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MH23Ak02.html">http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MH23Ak02.html</a>, </span><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2011/08/20/163186.html">http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2011/08/20/163186.html</a> )</span><span style="font-size: large;">  All in front of the gateway to Europe and with EUROPE playing the indifferent!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Where Occident meets Orient </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike EUROPE, TURKEY the USA and its ally SAUDI ARABIA are following another agenda in the Balkans, one that the EU seems to neglect, namely that of vast amount of natural resources in the region.</span><span style="font-size: large;">   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">BOSNIA and KOSOVO, both hold huge and almost unexploited reserves of coal, lead, zinc, lignite, bauxite and nickel. Rumors of uranium reserves in Kosovo persist, with some arguing that these reserves are located where coincidentally the USA erected the largest US Army base outside the USA, Camp BONDSTEEL.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without strong guidance from EUROPE the BALKAN is a ticking time bomb. Unfortunately the EU “technocrats” seem not to understand the significance the BALKAN plays in the geopolitical landscape as well as in the “ war of faiths”, where OCCIDENT meets ORIENT.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div>

BOSNIA, CURSED BY EUROPEAN UNION (EU) TECHNOCRATS

Indifference of the EU and the West on Bosnia’s political stalemate could backfire A fellow political analyst working for the EU in BOSNIA ...

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Official Weigh In & Week 2 Challenge Updates

This morning I weighed in at 255.8!  That means I officially met my <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/p/goals.html">first goal</a>!  I'm down a total of 8 lbs and today I picked up the <a href="http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/2EC398vHy15QEeuA2gp2AqlCpANwFMYL">Wii Just Dance 2 video game</a>.  I'm excited to include this into my weekly workout routine. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hkofferhouse.com/images/cover/other/Just%20Dance%202%20-%20U.S%20Ver%20%28Wii%29%20cover%20front%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.hkofferhouse.com/images/cover/other/Just%20Dance%202%20-%20U.S%20Ver%20%28Wii%29%20cover%20front%201.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hkofferhouse.com/items/wii/o0109-detail.htm">Source</a>.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr><br /> </tbody></table>I really hope that the weight is coming off <i>mainly </i>because of the consistent weight training I've been doing over the last 2 weeks now, and not due to <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/so-there-was-earthquake-today.html">this past week's events</a>.  <br /><br />Either way, a loss is a loss! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/starting-weekend-off-right.html">To continue on with the Beck challenge</a> from Priorfatgirl, here are some additional things I've been working on:<br /><br /><ol><li><b>Find a diet coach.</b>  This person will be our motivator and personal cheerleader during our weight loss journey.  They could be a therapist, spouse, family member, friend, anyone... just as long as you have someone to stay accountable to.  My diet coach is <a href="http://60lessat40.blogspot.com/">Leslie</a> - thank you again for volunteering to be my d.c.! :)</li><br /> <li><b>Arrange your environment.</b>  This includes ideas such as start eating your meals on smaller size plates to cleaning out your cabinets and pitching all junk food and trigger foods.  Be sure to make it known to people that you are on a healthiness journey so that hopefully they don't sabotage you in some way, and also try some creative problem solving - such as not allowing any candy in the house what so ever.  I've used the plate trick for years and I love it.  </li><br /> <li><b>Create time and energy.</b>  Make a schedule for yourself.  Schedule in time for yourself to get healthy, whether that means putting exercise on  your calendar or allotting time to meal plan or whatever it is you need to do to stay on track with your weight loss journey.  In other words, figure out your priorities and schedule those first, then put all the extraneous stuff in where it fits (<i>if </i>it fits!).  When I sat down to make my workweek schedule and weekend schedule, a feeling of relief came over me.  Finally, I can see in black/white what I should be doing and when.  I can see that I have plenty of time to get everything done that I want to achieve each day.  Having it written down really helped me organize my thoughts and relieved some stress to be honest.  Try it!</li><br /> <li><b>Select an exercise plan.</b>  MWF for me is the NROLW.  Tuesday is a gym visit.  Thursday is a Wii active game.  If I decide to go to the gym on Saturday as a bonus, I will.  Sunday's are always meant to be a day of rest :).</li><br /> <li><b>Set a realistic goal.</b>  Beck doesn't want us focusing on anything more than 5 lbs goals.  <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/p/goals.html">My goals page</a> has been updated to reflect my rewards for each goal.  I think this is a great idea, because originally I had been focusing on 10 lbs losses, and as you can see on the left, my weight loss hasn't exactly been moving along so drastically.  The 5 lbs goals seem much more attainable to me.</li><br /> <li><b>Differentiate between Hunger, Desire and Cravings.</b>  For one full day, keep track of how you feel before, during and after a meal.  On a scale of 0 - 10, where 0 is not hungry at all, and 10 is you're the hungriest you've ever been, rate yourself for one day.  I plan to try this out tomorrow.  This is by far the thing I struggle with the most - I often eat out of boredom!</li><br /> </ol>The <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20Rules%20of%20Lifting%20for%20Women">NROLW</a> is going great guys!  I haven't missed a workout yet and Joel is still participating as well.  In just the 2 short weeks I've been doing this, I've already seen true growth in my strength - in some cases I've already moved from 5 lbs weights to 15 lbs weights.   I'm definitely proud.  Soon, we'll be able to move back into the gym to start doing these workouts.<br /><br />I hope you all have a great and relaxing weekend!  To those of you on the east coast, I hope you and your families are able to stay safe during <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?5-daynl">Irene</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><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/581574main_image_2043_946-710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/581574main_image_2043_946-710.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2043.html">Source</a>. I've heard Irene is the width of Maryland to St Louis, MO!</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><br />

Loss New Rules of Lifting for Women Success The Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Weight Watchers Official Weigh In & Week 2 Challenge Updates

This morning I weighed in at 255.8!  That means I officially met my first goal !  I'm down a total of 8 lbs and today I picked up the Wi...

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It's almost noon and I have done....nothing

It's kind of killing me that I have all this free time, but because of my broken wrist and this cast, I can't do anything too physical or active.<br /><br />It's almost noon and all I've done is have a healthy breakfast. It takes forever to prepare because I've added lots of vegetables my meals these days. Although I'm not doing Weight Watchers anymore (BodyMedia and counting calories instead), I still trying to get in 5-7 fruits/veggies a day and my healthy oil.<br /><br />As with many things in my life, I think I may be addicted to Netflix streaming video. We've had Netflix forever but I've never watched much of the instant stuff. Of all the things on there to watch I chose probably the dumbest series ever made, but I love it.<br /><br />I'd never heard of the ABC show, <a href="http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/make-it-break-it">Make It or Break It</a>. You probably never have either because it's geared towards teenage girls with an interest in gymnastics, with a touch of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377092/">Mean Girls</a>. Obviously, I'm none of those things, so it's really puzzling to even me why I like this show so much.<br /><br />On the agenda for today:<br /><br />1. Go for a walk at <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/puget-sound-marine/beaches/dash.aspx">Dash Point Park</a>, about a 10-minute drive. I can't stand to do my usual trail or neighborhood walk today. It's boring me to death.<br /><br />2. See a matinee showing of The Help.<br /><br />3. Pick a few blackberries to have for an evening snack.<br /><br />4. Buy the ingredients for homemade hummus (Angela's <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2010/12/04/the-hummus-that-changed-everything/">recipe</a>, but make it tomorrow).<br /><br />5. Stop at the neighborhood produce store for some more white peaches. Almost twice the calories of a regular peach, but twice the flavor.<br /><br />Another exciting and fun-packed day.

It's almost noon and I have done....nothing

It's kind of killing me that I have all this free time, but because of my broken wrist and this cast, I can't do anything too physic...

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Time to get serious!

<p>TGIF friends!!</p> <p>I know what you’re thinking “Darci we haven’t heard from you in 22 days, this sporadic blogging needs to stop.” I couldn’t agree with you more! <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0huDtz5v3UCpXSGnHboTwlMrVOveExZrVik94_FMTeTtn4MQaWuglWk4kCIrfmkke8esTZquZQ4Xk5GNGtoDdyASh1bmNPzG1XKbButRRC-2pK27tYA53B2fjrRmE__W7wz7NNAi65ys/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none"> I’m not one to make excuses…well ok maybe once in a while! So here’s my “reasons” for being MIA! </p> <ol> <li>Our computer doesn’t work. Obviously that makes it hard to blog! (we have a loaner right now, for a few days)</li> <li>And I’ve been soaking up all the time I can with my sweet baby girl! My maternity leave is quickly coming to an end. <img alt="Sad smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZH7_TcROJkRIvTaVptByyppUuRUZYK_LQl-xFu60NUl4YiXhfz9rqhtPny4bjeH3SndeG4IChOpw1oQ81rD3wTXWM32mNpQYXIm8Po1oXpvSAINN0e7bmwt_KaHCjyaJsujdHrGrskIqQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none"></li></ol> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbZXGBu13wLs9_3GJpdk8C5QZ892oyioyc4_UTSqW-DcynbRlIlgdBJGfZQ-4O1GX0UbXrHNhh8Y6TTLdAHLRNP_-5NzLWVIUSXPcWs6C_hXHZzMU83D715m86eK7qdNBxw8VaW30SxVN/s1600-h/JD09286edited-2-M%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="JD09286edited-2-M" border="0" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn__JYyLQAt-l4D3nYBsCbUZueJi7o13wdI32YGKs8ZhDiVmIEBNa55Z-UG1IiE3GYH8iWmFzgCWhWEHq3k3NSudzuA6UglxlOyz9uHiBgIWMD68BmcUY9VXRQanL4kFU5XJsFilbcW13/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JD09286edited-2-M" width="360"></a></p> <p>Those are pretty legit…right?!?! I’d say at least the 2nd one! To think I only have a week and half of maternity leave just makes me so sad.</p> <p>Ok…back to the reason for my post! Anyone see my <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/darcibangert">tweet</a> this morning?</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9nIuMgFMZ1Afnz3JIy7dkcMtfGPjmz-nDGKVirEwvBXs71JnghWi9HfrPqX4lcROxBfRw5gwS5NyBOiZx8trMpyfUXbtOgYi-Iss2DLZ7DJco3D5eKDBOlF7AKh7ZeMvShfe5hMCoZ5Y/s1600-h/image%25255B5%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbUJ2zw-zrYfYV_57RjxF_L329UyD_9wCNPgBbNTpoOHAJq5Ift7Y-I_YO0hxz6RFdkEnW1JlCQ0BF7Oq6pG9ELACiTeU8rDqguJRQfL04tpR8K8AWggEuLb364e6CiDqKnHLKe-f3D3B/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="404"></a></p> <p>In preparation for going back to work I raided my closet to see what fit for work attire. (Honestly I was hoping nothing would fit and I just wouldn’t have to go to work. Ha!) j/k Out of 22 pairs of dress pants and 7 pairs of jeans, only 5 fit. (I know that is a lot of pants, but it is a mix of 2 sizes and I LOVE to shop! <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0huDtz5v3UCpXSGnHboTwlMrVOveExZrVik94_FMTeTtn4MQaWuglWk4kCIrfmkke8esTZquZQ4Xk5GNGtoDdyASh1bmNPzG1XKbButRRC-2pK27tYA53B2fjrRmE__W7wz7NNAi65ys/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none">)</p> <p>At first I was really depressed, but gotta look on the bright side. At least I have a pair for each day! For real though, it was hard trying on pair after pair and having little luck.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU0jYt8UCLpaYund-7xJvkuIWfQ28KuCE0qJ2puNgqziTrhfMkOzIBS10515iTR9AqQlgV_oTfZRXYu3BUarnH3OKiGfUAyhvDtKsMrg_uFMgOvKtMg5t1H0IQsxRTbUAyYtxMue5lLfZ/s1600-h/DSC00667%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC00667" border="0" height="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKy9diJ8BTCJSiHTJqHDQpDD3CzCFC6lQ1jVuYyIWokyHj_0SnyFkIYNtzqdITOiN_XwNtm-tcxEQ14ybSek7GlxU84jlhFnPH6s2gmtrHQGlBZY0N_N0vYmDOfaiorGc1qUg9C6QIZn7/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00667" width="332"></a></p> <p>Another thing I’m trying to keep in mind is that it took me 9 months to put on these pounds. They aren’t going to come off overnight. I’ve read it can take anywhere from  6 months to a year to lose your baby weight. </p> <p>But it was a good swift quick in the rear to get me serious again. When I <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/08/post-baby-update.html">posted on August 4th</a> I talked about starting to workout and eating well. I have worked out…not consistently though. To date I have completed the first 2 weeks of C25K. If you do the math you will see it took me 3 weeks to do that. <strong>It’s time to get serious!</strong></p> <p>As far as eating, I’m doing fairly well about getting fruits and vegetables. But…I’m also pretty good about eating ice cream & other empty calories! <strong>It’s time to get serious!</strong></p> <p>So here is my clear cut plan:</p> <ul> <li>Workout 5 days/week – 3 days of C25K & 2 days of other options such as workout DVDs, weights, cardio, etc</li> <li>Track eats & eliminate empty calorie sweets </li></ul> <p>Two tasks, seems easy enough! <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0huDtz5v3UCpXSGnHboTwlMrVOveExZrVik94_FMTeTtn4MQaWuglWk4kCIrfmkke8esTZquZQ4Xk5GNGtoDdyASh1bmNPzG1XKbButRRC-2pK27tYA53B2fjrRmE__W7wz7NNAi65ys/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none"> If only it were! But I’m ready for the challenge. <strong>It’s time to get serious!!</strong></p> <p>No better time to start than this morning! For breakfast I made an egg burrito with 2 eggs, salsa, 2% shredded cheddar, and a ww tortilla! Paired with a banana it’s a nutritious breakfast!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2f5lyzfpL0iDhUjZxYLhV_yjTbziNEr4b536IxcXvzzr9fH9JZx6MFmESHdlApsZLUMGAPX0pDgd0umhy88E3ZskZu5br76j6NeP2U6AJReXYUo5U51CXvn8zUPuMKU_8S0D5zEHTrhE/s1600-h/DSC00666%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC00666" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWCWu5piNyFe6OSU4OSVeFOnpbyl6SqKKaPJSM43VS4kIv7SP-StZppfAwbnuxKXZK_BqlX-VdHnMLzzMv7Jo_mspp31Bke9vxVEeO9MZMMwROdWOS31UY0S9GoAkJu_sTmuIpzWmgOIl/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC00666" width="404"></a></p> <p>So my friends I’m asking you to keep me accountable! I’ve buckled down and lost weight in the past, I can do it again! <strong>It’s time to get serious!</strong></p> <p>PS If you are wanting more baby updates, hop on over to our <a href="http://bangertfam.blogspot.com/">family blog</a> to see the latest of Adelyn! <a href="http://bangertfam.blogspot.com/2011/08/adelyns-two-months-old.html">Sunday she turned 2 months</a>! Hard to believe!</p>

Time to get serious!

TGIF friends!! I know what you’re thinking “Darci we haven’t heard from you in 22 days, this sporadic blogging needs to stop.” I couldn’t a...

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A time to heal

Even though I'm pretty sure I'm a borderline hoarder, perhaps even a full-blown one when it comes to closets, I decided the closet cleaning can wait until my wrist has healed. It was a stupid idea.<br /><br />I didn't use my left hand the last two days while moving stuff, yet my left wrist was aching terribly by this afternoon. It has me concerned.<br /><br />Before I decided to stop the madness, I managed to drag two big bags of clothes, ten purses (why do I keep things I don't like?), and even a belly dancing kit (a Xmas gift, the box not even opened), among many other treasures.<br /><br />I shoved the rest of my <strike>junk</strike> valuables back into the closet. I'm done for now.<br /><br />Back to just my walks and moderate one-armed gym workouts. This is not the time for me to do  chores...it's a time to heal.<br /><br />Weight this morning was 183.4.<br /><br /><br />

A time to heal

Even though I'm pretty sure I'm a borderline hoarder, perhaps even a full-blown one when it comes to closets, I decided the closet c...

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The IMF on trial

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3hBYAcPPYQM?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br />

The IMF on trial

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Father and Mother Were Movie Stars: Leatrice Gilbert Fountain Remembers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSGSA81MlOJy4z6AOeD9MJ7kpnXZOeeegTbRCLjJM0Z3KEXAYTyz1LxRqfoIkxPnrQVEJM5lyNxKdOiOH2pK-HtKdE_PF7ZjNN5P5g11erTKqBrCmihKjZISNSngKoxHTmN6oHkapyD_m/s1600/hollywood+postcard+cathay+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSGSA81MlOJy4z6AOeD9MJ7kpnXZOeeegTbRCLjJM0Z3KEXAYTyz1LxRqfoIkxPnrQVEJM5lyNxKdOiOH2pK-HtKdE_PF7ZjNN5P5g11erTKqBrCmihKjZISNSngKoxHTmN6oHkapyD_m/s1600/hollywood+postcard+cathay+2.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Just over a year ago, as Turner Classic Movies prepared to honor silent screen legend John Gilbert with a day of his own for the first time during “Summer under the Stars” 2010, I interviewed Leatrice Gilbert Fountain, daughter of the actor and his second wife, silent screen star Leatrice Joy. Leatrice Fountain and I had become acquainted several months earlier and it seemed a perfect idea to publish a discussion of her father’s career on the same day TCM fêted him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Leatrice and I have stayed in touch ever since, and over this 4^th of July weekend we spent more time talking about her memories…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Leatrice’s story has its origins in 1918, when John Gilbert and Leatrice Joy met on a Peralta Studio picture called <i>One Dollar Bid</i>. He was kind to the nervous actress who hadn’t worked for a while and was preparing for a scene. He was also taken with her - and she thought he was the most attractive man she’d ever seen.  Their romance began when they met by chance months later.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEiYNUpF3G065fWD6Mb2mIsHVJmUIhaHA7kKx9z4HaS7q6Lf4dlYn8y6kGYESJGSDDSDU4xCIsXcvWo2EOAC76HyiFWY5O9Jy6I43mrzKi3fOUKjhwOYzpyYHBJNokTGRHkpyEfrLG_0j5wj/s1600/leatrice+joy+3+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNUpF3G065fWD6Mb2mIsHVJmUIhaHA7kKx9z4HaS7q6Lf4dlYn8y6kGYESJGSDDSDU4xCIsXcvWo2EOAC76HyiFWY5O9Jy6I43mrzKi3fOUKjhwOYzpyYHBJNokTGRHkpyEfrLG_0j5wj/s1600/leatrice+joy+3+b.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leatrice Joy</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">From their early days together and throughout their marriage, Joy had the bigger career and salary. In 1922, the year she married Gilbert, she signed with Paramount to be groomed for stardom by Cecil B. DeMille. She had been working for Goldwyn and when that contract ended, her brother Billy, then her agent, got in touch with DeMille knowing C.B. had lost his great star Gloria Swanson and was looking for a replacement. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">John Gilbert was on his way up, but during his time with Joy he hadn’t yet made the films that firmly established his stardom. The couple’s relationship was always tempestuous, and they were apart as often as they were together. For his part, DeMille would have liked the pair to part permanently. Their daughter recounted this story: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">“Father had drinking problems, the two would quarrel, and sometimes mother would show up at the studio looking sleepless and unhappy. DeMille finally told her that she must move out of her home until the picture was finished and stay with her mother who lived nearby. This of course infuriated Jack and they fought bitterly. A few days later she was driving on Hollywood Blvd. and saw him ahead of her. He stopped, parked, and walked into a barber shop. She parked behind him, walked into the shop and got into the chair next to his. Neither spoke. When the barber asked her what she wanted she said, I want a haircut just like his (in those days women did not enter the sacred masculine environs of the barber's). It did not cross her mind that this might interfere with the film she was shooting with her long flowing curls. Poor DeMille...” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Some have called Joy a forerunner to Katharine Hepburn and Rosalind Russell because her leading roles were often as emancipated women (and she became famed for her boyish, close-cropped haircut). She was one of Paramount’s top stars and the best known of her films is DeMille’s first version of <i>The Ten Commandments</i> (1923) in which she had one of the featured roles.</span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Young Leatrice was born in September, 1924, just as her parents were divorcing. Her uncle Billy tried hard to keep Gilbert away from mother and daughter, and her father played virtually no part in the girl’s life for many years; she remembers that she called Billy Joy “Uncle Daddy.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEifAwVE4tLhPGOo_LCyN3mceoooktoR3lGz2dQ45Dv0ICfi4YqvjJing4qV8qV_Ej_m4vi3LfXocZoEBgwMKKFTXNfxKIyuaF_gYSr7DH8ahuE3Zz42aC-YZsOzTLwNmA_z47zazTLpGJul/s1600/john+gilbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAwVE4tLhPGOo_LCyN3mceoooktoR3lGz2dQ45Dv0ICfi4YqvjJing4qV8qV_Ej_m4vi3LfXocZoEBgwMKKFTXNfxKIyuaF_gYSr7DH8ahuE3Zz42aC-YZsOzTLwNmA_z47zazTLpGJul/s320/john+gilbert.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Gilbert</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Baby Leatrice arrived as John Gilbert’s career was about to skyrocket. He had co-starred in the newly formed MGM’s first production, <i>He Who Gets Slapped</i> (1924), with Lon Chaney and Norma Shearer. But it was in 1925, the year his divorce from Joy was finalized, that Gilbert achieved the heights. He starred in MGM’s production of Erich von Stroheim’s opulent <i>The Merry Widow </i>and also starred in the film that established MGM’s reputation, King Vidor’s smash hit <i>The Big Parade</i>. Just over a year later, not long after the demise of Rudolph Valentino, Gilbert and Greta Garbo co-starred for the first time - in Clarence Brown’s sensual <i>Flesh and the Devil </i>(1926), a runaway success. John Gilbert was now Hollywood’s top romantic lead, adored by millions and in the midst of a great romance with Garbo.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEjP8CbEVrm3NmxPIkSpbcxWvOLACvTcngqkni8n0MGv8a7h4QLiwrvpeaon34BI7KSKNjzEHuzEnhZB8F4Z8GCCW5XA2mWgtE5pR5jIAgEkV9O_-jRasGs5zB3vkw6OSo453F65bPYVchAL/s1600/Cecil-Demille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8CbEVrm3NmxPIkSpbcxWvOLACvTcngqkni8n0MGv8a7h4QLiwrvpeaon34BI7KSKNjzEHuzEnhZB8F4Z8GCCW5XA2mWgtE5pR5jIAgEkV9O_-jRasGs5zB3vkw6OSo453F65bPYVchAL/s320/Cecil-Demille.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cecil B. DeMille</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">At just that time, Leatrice Joy’s career began its decline. In 1925, DeMille departed Paramount, Hollywood’s reigning studio, to create his own production company. When he left, his agreement with Adolph Zukor and Jesse Lasky allowed him to take his stars with him - if they were agreeable. Joy was one of those he took. According to Leatrice Gilbert Fountain, this was at a critical stage of her mother’s career, “she hadn’t yet reached ‘name above the title’ status, but she was being built up.” Joy didn’t want to leave the studio, DeMille’s new company hadn’t yet worked out a distribution deal, and she had been happy at Paramount but, she said later, she was under the impression Zukor and Lasky didn’t want her because they agreed to let DeMille have her. When she realized this wasn’t true, she reacted, according to her daughter, “childishly.” She begged DeMille to release her, but he refused. After that she would not speak to him, “even when they were walking together.”  Joy’s success was modest with the DeMille company; she was assigned to program pictures and DeMille never directed her again. Her daughter mused, “She was a subtle actress who deserved more.”</span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OHIWIBjoSt8" width="420"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Leatrice Joy on "To Tell the Truth"</span></span></i> </span></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">At one point, Joy was off the screen entirely for about 18 months. During that time she toured the country on the vaudeville circuit, performing scenes and singing with an accompanist (her daughter recalled that she was awarded a gold medal as the most popular entertainer on the tour). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Joy’s partnership with DeMille ended unhappily in 1928 and he reportedly held a grudge for years. She signed with MGM and made the last of her silent films for that studio.  The coming of sound effectively ended the film careers of both Leatrice Joy and John Gilbert. Her strong southern accent was considered a detriment, and his voice was called unsuitable.  Joy freelanced for a couple of years for lesser studios and then left movies for nearly a decade. Meanwhile, John Gilbert struggled to revive his waning career until he died suddenly in 1936.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEjMnXiHGnySOjoDw8yF-qAZGvTdVOsA0XZTDX2Oiid-346fUWhfIFMH4r4d1S1PULjojs-ODFDQztB-l_T6OZW0Bujp6xra5sh0Qz7y0ilNVSnC3ymF27b4kSiBe6JOClHh9_qJpwsJswBz/s1600/MM+62+JFK+bday+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnXiHGnySOjoDw8yF-qAZGvTdVOsA0XZTDX2Oiid-346fUWhfIFMH4r4d1S1PULjojs-ODFDQztB-l_T6OZW0Bujp6xra5sh0Qz7y0ilNVSnC3ymF27b4kSiBe6JOClHh9_qJpwsJswBz/s200/MM+62+JFK+bday+3.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marilyn Monroe</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Joy’s final film was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love Nest</i> (1951), one of Marilyn Monroe’s early films. She told her daughter that Monroe had an effect similar to Jean Harlow’s. She wasn’t talking about her onscreen persona so much as her stunning impact on men - who stopped in their tracks and stared the moment they caught sight of her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Leatrice Gilbert Fountain remembers Jean Harlow. Her family was linked to the ‘platinum blonde’ on both sides. Members of her mother's family were Christian Scientists, as was Harlow, “…my family was very fond of her. My grandmother was Jean's</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"> Christian Science Practitioner (like a healer). She was a really lovely person who always paid attention to a scruffy little girl hanging around [Leatrice].” She remembers the young actress as “a warm, friendly, easy-going girl. She didn’t push herself, others pushed her.” Leatrice’s ‘Uncle Daddy,’ Billy Joy, was Harlow’s first agent and arranged for her initial screen test – for which she wore a dress lent to her by Leatrice Joy. At that time Harlow was under contract to Howard Hughes, an agreement she discussed at length with the more experienced Joy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEj3G5FZvSFXCDOigH3iXe5OGoN7no1fWRLniMZ_jsAZrw97VHE06U9o4zd5Nz2aMVZVJ4TvqsdiPWagnv0JkYymsf_ezayQOcIaBAvZ9e6mJDADdOl4-Pu7u8mDdF2I9fo2N2A8c4jn-3wV/s1600/harlow+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3G5FZvSFXCDOigH3iXe5OGoN7no1fWRLniMZ_jsAZrw97VHE06U9o4zd5Nz2aMVZVJ4TvqsdiPWagnv0JkYymsf_ezayQOcIaBAvZ9e6mJDADdOl4-Pu7u8mDdF2I9fo2N2A8c4jn-3wV/s1600/harlow+wedding.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Gilbert (right) at Jean Harlow's wedding</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">On the other side of the family, John Gilbert was the best man at Harlow’s wedding to her second husband, Paul Bern, in 1932. Bern was a writer, director and producer at MGM, and a close friend of Irving Thalberg. Bern had at once shared a bachelor pad with John Gilbert and Carey Wilson, an MGM screenwriter Oscar-nominated for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mutiny on the Bounty </i>(1935). Leatrice chuckled as she recalled that many years later silent screen star Colleen Moore referred to the place, a house above Sunset Blvd., as “a circus” for all that went on there.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEgc_wYjNGfahUFQmBfgXEJQnMK5cduTTwJ5InFY5N5ijnUdSFvbODN1CF1EgjGPvvXRoqSH2yipZqOIYnn8RusRtAaN58ivWG1rMxQlRzSeKONWqaqsCy9tGoB7Dpwqk4_yHh2tyOHG5VT6/s1600/of+human+hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_wYjNGfahUFQmBfgXEJQnMK5cduTTwJ5InFY5N5ijnUdSFvbODN1CF1EgjGPvvXRoqSH2yipZqOIYnn8RusRtAaN58ivWG1rMxQlRzSeKONWqaqsCy9tGoB7Dpwqk4_yHh2tyOHG5VT6/s320/of+human+hearts.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leatrice Gilbert's first film</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Leatrice remembers getting to know the children of other stars, Harold Lloyd’s daughters went to school with her at the Westlake School for Girls; she knew Maria Riva, Marlene Dietrich’s daughter, also born in 1924. Riva, who had a brief career as an actress and appeared on TV in the early ‘50s, seemed to Leatrice a “quiet, withdrawn child” very unlike her illustrious mother.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Leatrice also got to know child actors like Freddie Bartholomew and Judy Garland once she made her own foray into ‘the family business.’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">At 12, she portrayed Ann Rutherford (‘Annie Hawks’) as a child in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Of Human Hearts</i> (1938), starring Walter Huston, James Stewart and Beulah Bondi (Oscar-nominated for her supporting performance). Around the same time she made a screen test for Hunt Stromberg and was cast as the lead in MGM’s upcoming production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">National Velvet</i>. The test, she told me, was a scene set the day before the Grand National, in which Velvet and Mi have a talk. Stromberg was planning to shoot the picture in England, but the advent of World War II in Europe and other issues at MGM put the picture on hold for years…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEgpDHsDu1ge7T3CpjOaY4aNGZ4LCI5-QV-JxSp0fDWtDZvu_Trcc27llFq7_u2FEIfWGT5UMS0nydkzxc9Luara4bDoJG9VU3Eukm8jQrUhzFD_GGFLcsC70nTX3u9GmW4YDuJg1T0g-zN9/s1600/Ava+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDHsDu1ge7T3CpjOaY4aNGZ4LCI5-QV-JxSp0fDWtDZvu_Trcc27llFq7_u2FEIfWGT5UMS0nydkzxc9Luara4bDoJG9VU3Eukm8jQrUhzFD_GGFLcsC70nTX3u9GmW4YDuJg1T0g-zN9/s200/Ava+2.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava Gardner</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">As an MGM contract player in the early ‘40s, Leatrice appeared in several films, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Random Harvest</i> (1942), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Guy Named Joe </i>(1943), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kismet</i> (1944) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo </i>(1944). During this time she knew all the other young hopefuls on the MGM lot, liked many and became friends with some, including future star Ava Gardner. She recalls of Ava that she was “beautiful, down-to-earth and warm when so many were distant and aloof…she was so personable.”  Leatrice thought back to an evening when she, Ava and another friend went out on the town to one of Old Hollywood’s great night spots, the Mocambo. She remembered that all eyes in the room followed Ava...and Ava took it in stride, paying little attention to her devastating effect on others.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">In 1944 Leatrice joined the war effort by becoming a WAC. She was a clerk-typist for just a year when the war ended.  Out of the Army, she went to New York and for two years attended the school of Tamara Daykarhanova, formerly of the Moscow Art Theatre, source of “the method” approach to acting. Daykarhanova had been with Maria Oupenskaya’s New York acting school before Ouspenskaya relocated. At the studio Leatrice met her first husband, a fellow student. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJf26B7eS7xLdVgjRncJVvbdqrsVAeMKuCHVSD7z-wpWrvIrEcGHEqzHIB_W1kMe81mBis0I9LYUHtf3_BefPVUVfd-G1DLRlMZ936XHgGsIVCrENHYpnkVdZy2G_eGSfj9UeUhQxIB4-/s1600/dark+star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJf26B7eS7xLdVgjRncJVvbdqrsVAeMKuCHVSD7z-wpWrvIrEcGHEqzHIB_W1kMe81mBis0I9LYUHtf3_BefPVUVfd-G1DLRlMZ936XHgGsIVCrENHYpnkVdZy2G_eGSfj9UeUhQxIB4-/s1600/dark+star.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Many years later, Leatrice became interested in the life and career of her father and eventually wrote his definitive biography, <u>Dark Star</u> (St. Martin's Press, 1985). Her exhaustive research on his life put her in touch with many luminaries of Hollywood’s ‘golden age.’  She interviewed the likes of Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Colleen Moore, Lillian Gish, Marlene Dietrich, John Ford, Howard Hawks, King Vidor, Clarence Brown and many others. She came to know and was assisted in her journey to learn more by esteemed film historian/filmmaker Kevin Brownlow (winner of an Oscar in 2010, the Governor’s Award). Along with taking part in silent film festivals world-wide in her continuing effort to restore her father's professional reputation, Leatrice became an oft-quoted source for books and documentaries about Hollywood icons as well as Hollywood itself. In the last few months I’ve come across her comments in biographies of Jean Harlow, Louis B. Mayer and Cecil B. DeMille. Charlotte Chandler’s 2011 <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/04/marlene-dietrich-gets-personal-in.html" style="color: #990000;">biography of Marlene Dietrich</a> quotes Leatrice at length so I asked Leatrice about Chandler, the somewhat enigmatic author of several Hollywood bios…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><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/AVvXsEh06z7_S57bwJpO5ZYGc-6I_QAHcnjYPT7dJvvGygkydeusblJT2eIVrdllQ1KFU3DFHu3GfJm3utBQLHRfLxfTOuaP9pmw3fjsiUrbOuH7H5xRnmPTByDgDbaj1wjFUojY-ofMVKftXGeV/s1600/Leatrice+Gilbert+Fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06z7_S57bwJpO5ZYGc-6I_QAHcnjYPT7dJvvGygkydeusblJT2eIVrdllQ1KFU3DFHu3GfJm3utBQLHRfLxfTOuaP9pmw3fjsiUrbOuH7H5xRnmPTByDgDbaj1wjFUojY-ofMVKftXGeV/s200/Leatrice+Gilbert+Fountain.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leatrice Gilbert Fountain</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">“...I knew her and ran into her continually at MOMA in the heyday of the film department (there was nothing like it anywhere except for Langlois in Paris). And she seemed to know everyone. How she has kept herself a mystery is one in itself.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">I could’ve asked Leatrice to reminisce for days, but her two visiting sons returned from a fishing expedition and it was time for us both to return to the 4^th of July weekend and our daily lives. We agreed to talk again soon…</span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/2010/08/about-john-gilbertan-interview-with.html" style="color: #990000;">Click here</a><span style="color: #990000;"> </span>to view my original interview with Leatrice. <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2010/10/house-that-jack-built.html" style="color: #990000;">Click here</a> for my piece on the fabled history of her father's house in Hollywood.</i></span> </span><br /><br /></div></div></div>

Ava Gardner Cecil B. DeMille Jean Harlow John Gilbert Leatrice Gilbert Fountain Leatrice Joy TCM The Lady Eve (author) Father and Mother Were Movie Stars: Leatrice Gilbert Fountain Remembers

Just over a year ago, as Turner Classic Movies prepared to honor silent screen legend John Gilbert with a day of his own for the first time ...

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A 5 Pound Loss

<a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/lets-say-it-all-together-folks.html">Last week</a> I was frustrated and sad about gaining 2 lbs at the weekly WW meeting, especially after I knew I had a stellar week.<br /><br />This week, I lost 5 lbs! <br /><br />When my leader asked what I did differently this week, I told her:<br /><br /><blockquote> <i>"Well, you may have heard.... we had this earthquake on Tuesday and since then my mind has been so consumed with that that I haven't really been eating much." </i> </blockquote><br />Of course the meeting members laughed, but I really believe that <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/08/so-there-was-earthquake-today.html">Tuesday's events</a> certainly contributed to some, if not all, of that loss.  <br /><br />Tomorrow is my official weigh in and I'll be interested to see what the scale has in store for me this week.  <br /><br />To <a href="http://60lessat40.blogspot.com/">Leslie</a>, <a href="http://biggerthanababyelephant.blogspot.com/">Jodie</a>, <a href="http://www.1year100pounds.com/">Ryan</a> and <a href="http://mrshillruns.blogspot.com/">Jessica</a> - thank you all for your encouraging comments from yesterday.  I appreciate you taking the time to leave thoughtful words :).<br /><br />

Loss Success Weight Loss Weight Watchers A 5 Pound Loss

Last week I was frustrated and sad about gaining 2 lbs at the weekly WW meeting, especially after I knew I had a stellar week. This week, I...

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The Ambien Diet

Best thing that happened to me today - I made a ponytail with one hand! With a special ponytail thing I found in a drawer and with the help of gravity. I have a ponytail! It's like a little piece of heaven. Yes, I do lead an exciting life. <br /><br />I should be working on my closet mess, which has now spilled over into the rest of the house. It's like my closet is a bottomless pit of junk. I can't believe the stuff I'm finding. Like 12 pairs of size 12 pants (jeans and dress slacks), so far. I still have piles of clothes to sort through.<br /><br />I haven't comfortably worn size 12 for about a year. Why are they still hanging there if they don't fit? We all know the answer...because I was going to lose the extra weight...soon. I also have lots of size 14 and 16 clothes. In boxes in the garage are the size 8's and 10's from two years ago. I never dreamed I'd outgrow my size 12's, for about the 20th time in my life.<br /><br />I actually don't even know what size I wear right now. I have a "one-hand" rule for pants these days. I have to be able to pull then on with my right hand. No buttons. Which means I'm living in my elastic waist workout pants.  <br /><br />So about this Ambien diet. For the last five or six years, since menopause, I feel like I haven't slept. I can fall asleep easily, I just can't stay asleep. I've practically begged my doctor for Ambien several times, but the most she would ever give me was ten tablets at a time, no refill. She acted like she was prescribing heroin. While I appreciated her conservatism, I just wanted to sleep for an entire night.<br /><br />Hello cast! My doctor accepted it as a logical reason for my sleepless nights and gave me a refillable prescription for Ambien. The difference in my sleep is incredible, although I do feel a little like I'm doing something I shouldn't be doing. Just a little. Ive been warned about Ambien's addictive properties (and I read about it on the internet), but these days, I'll accept a little help in the sleep department.<br /><br />The added benefit is that if I'm sleeping, I'm not eating! A pleasant side effect of sleeping through the night.<br /><br />Although, this morning I remembered a dream where I was eating plums. Then I found a lonely pluot on the counter this morning and a pluot sticker in the sink, I checked the trash. There were two pluot pits right on the top. It wasn't a dream. The really odd thing is that I'd forgotten we even had any pluots. They must have been hidden somewhere in the fridge.<br /><br />Check out these old posts from last year:<br /><br /><b><i>Posted 4-20-2010</i></b><br /><i>The Ambien experience</i><br /><i><br />I've stopped taking Ambien, the prescription sleeping aid. It's dangerous! This morning I woke up and had red stuff all over my hands. It looked liked I'd murdered someone in my sleep.<br /><br />My fingers were literally "beet red". OMG! I ate the roasted beet dip! I headed into the kitchen and found the container in the refrigerator, with only a couple tablespoons of dip remaining. There was about 3/4 cup in the container when I went to bed. This meant I'd eaten almost the entire 3/4 cup of dip. Considering three tablespoons was 4.5 Points, this isn't a good thing.</i><br /><br /><b><i>Posted 4-20-10</i></b><br /><i>My Ambien blackout I had last night where I ate 1/4 of a loaf of Dave's Killer bread but didn't remember a thing (about 500 calories). This morning I wanted to make breakfast and found the empty bread bag. I asked my husband if he ate bread in the middle of the night and why couldn't he have left me just one slice. He said of course he didn't eat bread in the middle of the night (like I was insane). Plus there was a full glass of milk, untouched, on the counter next to the empty bread bag. I don't remember what happened. Scary!</i><br /><i><br /><b>Then this posted after I quit taking Ambien, 5-27-2010</b></i><br /><i>I continue to sleep the sleep of the damned, waking up several times during the night. I've tried all kinds of things, Ambien, Simply Sleep, meditation, quiet time before bed with Sleepytime tea, Melatonin, and sleep techniques I used when I worked a graveyard shift thirty years ago that always worked like a charm. NOTHING is working. Now it's to the point where the more I worry about it, the worse it's getting. I really don't want to go back to the doctor for a sleeping aid, but I'm not sure what else to do at this point. I just know it's kind of killing me. Everything is in shades of gray when I'm exhausted.</i><br /><br /><b><i>Funny thing, this was in the same post, so about a year ago I was size 10:</i></b><br /><br /><i>One bright spot is I have to retire my size 12 slacks. I have several pairs that I bought last fall because I gained twenty pounds when I was doing all that traveling for work. I've almost lost all of it (19), and now my size 10's all fit. This is the first time in many decades that I'll start summer at the weight I was last summer, which is a weight after losing 75 pounds. Usually by now I would have regained all 75 pounds plus an extra 10-20 for good measure. Of course, I still want to lost another 20+ pounds. Will I ever be happy with my weight? Probably not.</i><br /><br />We'll see how this goes, but I don't like the sound of it. How quickly I forgot about the negative aspects of Ambien.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

The Ambien Diet

Best thing that happened to me today - I made a ponytail with one hand! With a special ponytail thing I found in a drawer and with the help ...

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Sweeps are Sweet, but All You Need Are Series

I spend a lot of time nowadays paying attention to the Tigers and Brewers. It's become a fun obsession - "The Cardinals lost <i>again</i>?!" "They <i>both </i>swept this weekend?!" "They made the cover of <i>Sports Illustrated</i>!" Even the guy at work who spends every moment dogging me about my sports teams has been complimentary!<br /><br />I am thrilled when it comes to a sweep, but as the great Jim Leyland stated at the beginning of the season, (to paraphrase) "You can't win every game in a season." And that's still the case. So when the Tigers can take a few games and then drop a couple, I tend not to fret.<br /><br />Sweeps are wonderful, but you can't bet on a team to win them all. All I ask is for them to take 2 out of 3. Or 3 out of 4. Or both of a 2-gamer.<br /><br />I checked. If the Tigers win all the series for the rest of the season, that will be 20 games. They currently are at 70 wins. In a division that looked as lost as the AL Central for the first half of the season, they probably only need to win 90 games to win the division. And bam! They are there!<br /><br />I'm not saying that sweeping a series is unnecessary. If we can clinch the playoffs sooner, it will make me feel better sooner. Plus we can rest a bunch of starters without worrying about a Game 163 or something like that.<br /><br />You may pine for the sweeps. But when they take 2 out of 3 from the White Sox, you are allowed to smile and pump your fist. If Porcello or Scherzer drop a game, (OR, not AND) don't push the panic button. Root to win the series. Because when the playoffs roll around, the same scenario goes: all you have to do is win the Series.

Sweeps are Sweet, but All You Need Are Series

I spend a lot of time nowadays paying attention to the Tigers and Brewers. It's become a fun obsession - "The Cardinals lost again ...

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So Why Should I Be Afraid?

<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?" - Psalm 27:1</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Friends, I'm not over what happened yesterday.  I have to be honest here.  While this natural disaster was mild in comparison to what others have experienced over the years - Katrina, tsunamis, tornadoes - I have to imagine that the same thoughts and fears that people experienced through those events are  similar to what was running through my head yesterday while my office building was shaking.   For most, it seems, it is back to business as usual today.  For me, I don't easily forget things like this.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is how yesterday's earthquake affected my weight loss journey:</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Joel and I stopped at McDonald's to get something to eat and drink while we were sitting in traffic.  This might be the first time I've ever entered a McDonald's and the only thing I ordered was a bottle of water.  For those who are following the Beck book, this is me giving myself credit!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. I pretty much sat in a trance all night long, trying to digest the events from earlier that day.  Hunger finally started rearing it's head around 7 PM.  I didn't want to make anything.  I didn't even want to eat, but I couldn't get past the growling in my stomach.  I made myself a remake of a Chipotle burrito bowl.  It did nothing for me other than take away the hunger.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. I had a gym visit planned for yesterday and I could not muster the energy to go.  See #2 - I was busy sitting in a trance people - no time for gym visits!  Not only was I busy staring off into space, but I had a splitting headache that began about the time I stepped foot in our front door and continued all the way until bed time.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. I didn't read the second round of the Advantages Response Cards, and I didn't read Week 2 Day 2 of Beck either.  </div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not at all upset with myself for not doing what I should be doing or planned to be doing in the least.  Sometimes there are just more important things that worrying about weight loss.</div>

Miscellaneous Weight Loss Challenges So Why Should I Be Afraid?

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should ...

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Collaborate with a country new to your experience

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_ysz30q="131" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_3st3u4="108"><div closure_uid_92neax="108"><span closure_uid_vrqrfh="106" closure_uid_ysz30q="130" style="line-height: 115%;"><span closure_uid_3st3u4="106" closure_uid_vrqrfh="125"><span closure_uid_92neax="106" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Are you planning a collaborative project this year or next year? Have you considered linking with a school in Israel? I must confess I have done projects with schools in many countries but have never had a school from Israel among them. Via Twitter (@Langwitches) I came across this link today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that <span class="apple-style-span"><span closure_uid_ysz30q="129" style="background: white; color: #444444;">RT</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #444444;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span closure_uid_3st3u4="131" style="background: white; color: #444444;">the Israel Ministry of Education looking<span closure_uid_3st3u4="130" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>for twin schools around the world </span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_ysz30q="132" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><a closure_uid_3st3u4="132" href="http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/MadaTech/hatamat_marechet_21/lemida_shtufit.htm">http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/MadaTech/hatamat_marechet_21/lemida_shtufit.htm</a></span></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_ysz30q="179" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_6kj614="147" closure_uid_ysz30q="264" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMPqdsvg5O3Mz0iF5oM3UatxpVCTUrjNruS_MK99otW9CqooQYvonoE4ZMBTnd6Pwr_oTva8lAGRxsYjIa2ckJ38dE4WJr0bYENtwHNnTub7X30b6wIUBcYgEwx89_qzxOCJZ_Kzf8kg/s1600/israel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMPqdsvg5O3Mz0iF5oM3UatxpVCTUrjNruS_MK99otW9CqooQYvonoE4ZMBTnd6Pwr_oTva8lAGRxsYjIa2ckJ38dE4WJr0bYENtwHNnTub7X30b6wIUBcYgEwx89_qzxOCJZ_Kzf8kg/s400/israel2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_ysz30q="132" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_ysz30q="132" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div closure_uid_vrqrfh="127"><div closure_uid_3st3u4="141"><strong><span closure_uid_3st3u4="140" closure_uid_vrqrfh="126" style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The website says that “collaboration and communication is one of the main outputs of the National ICT Program. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students are expected to perform learning tasks while using a variety of collaborative tools available on-line. Our goal is to promote intercultural communication between schools from different sectors, cities or countries. Herewith is a list of 20 Israeli exemplary schools which demonstrate broader integration of ICT along with the use of advanced pedagogical processes.One may find a diversity of population and form of habitat in this list: Jewish, Arab, Druse, observant (religious) or secular in central urban cities, development towns, rural settlement areas with cooperatives like Moshav or Kibbutz and so on.” </span></strong></div></div></div><div closure_uid_ysz30q="266"><div closure_uid_92neax="130"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span closure_uid_3st3u4="157" closure_uid_92neax="128" closure_uid_vrqrfh="130" style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It goes on to provide a list of schools with contact details</span>.</span></span></strong></div></div><div closure_uid_92neax="129" closure_uid_ysz30q="266"><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div closure_uid_vrqrfh="132"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span closure_uid_3st3u4="158" closure_uid_ysz30q="265" style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mmm, this could be a way of linking with a country new to one’s experience</span>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong><strong><span closure_uid_vrqrfh="134" style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I wonder if language would be a problem? Why not consider writing to one of these schools? </span></strong></span></span></div><div closure_uid_3st3u4="159" closure_uid_vrqrfh="131"></span></div></div>

Collaboration Project-based learning Collaborate with a country new to your experience

Are you planning a collaborative project this year or next year? Have you considered linking with a school in Israel? I must confess I have ...

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My strange addiction

<i>I typed this yesterday, a paragraph here and there throughout the day, then forgot to hit "publish" before I went to bed. So this really was my day yesterday, Tuesday.</i><br /><br />My addiction isn't as interesting or dangerous as eating my couch (where do they find those people?), but I'm addicted to buying (not eating) magazines. I buy a magazine or two at a time, sometimes I read an article or two, sometimes not. After a couple months (or after watching a Hoarders episode) I throw them all away. Usually 20-30 magazines at a time, mostly health related. Really a waste of money.<br /><br />I guess I could take then to a senior center, but would they really want to read articles like "Sexy Abs, Butt & Thighs"? There's something similar on almost every magazine cover. <br /><br />Right now I'm looking at a stack of 25 from June, July, August, September. Everything from Oxygen (my fave), Women's Health, Fitness, Oprah Magazine, Shape, Weight Watchers, Natural Health, Prevention and many more. Some of them I haven't even cracked open.<br /><br />Normally this is about the time I toss all of them, but since I have all this free time, I'm trying to go through two magazines a day.<br /><br />So what did I learn today? Tons of stuff.<br /><br />New exercises that I can do with my right arm.<br /><br />Several fun, healthy recipes I want to try.<br /><br />Lots of weight loss tips, like did you know cayenne pepper can reduce cravings. Just 1/2 a teaspoon added to your food (which sounds like a lot to me!). I wonder if this is where that cayenne pepper, lemon and molasses in water fast came from that Beyonce did a few years ago.<br /><br />A book I'm going to order from the library, Joy Bauer's Food Cures. I read a review on it at the vet's office a few days ago (Woman's Day I think), and then in one of my magazines. Sounds interesting.<br /><br />Best organic protein powder according to Women's Health, Orgain. I checked out the nutritional information on it and I totally <u>disagree</u>. 255 calories a serving! 13 grams of sugar! 7 grams of fat!  And its only 16 grams of protein. Supposedly you get the equivalent of ten servings of fruits and veggies per serving and it's organic (and very expensive)..<br /><br />I love my<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle" style="display: inline;"> MRM Egg White Protein French Vanilla. It's only 120 calories a serving, 0 grams sugar (uses Stevia), 0 grams fat and 23 grams of protein, and it tastes great in my green monster smoothies with a little banana (100 grams), berries (150 grams) and spinach. The only downside is I'm sure it's not from free-range chicken eggs, but you can't have everything.</span></span><br /><br />The truth is all this magazine reading feels a bit like information overload. It's just too much stuff to take in.<br /><br /><b>Workout bra frustration</b><br />I came home from the gym today after an hour of "moderate" cardio (bike, treadmill, crossramp), heart rate 124-134 for most of it so I don't sweat too much into my cast. I was still drenched in sweat. I fought with my workout bra for at least ten minutes and couldn't get it off. It was one of the t-strap kind that's a pull-over type. I can get it on okay but when it's sweaty I need help getting the thing off. Since I was home alone and totally mad and hot and sweaty, I took a pair of scissors and cut it off. That's right, an almost new $35 workout bra in the trash!<br /><br /><b>Look what I just ordered!</b><br />A <a href="http://castcooler.com/castcooler_works.html">CastCooler</a>! I'm so excited about this that I can hardly stand it. I want it right now but have to wait 3-5 days for shipping. Especially since my orthopedic surgeon faxed a letter to my work on Monday that I'll be in a cast a minimum of three months. I'm really hoping he's wrong.<br /><br /><b>Closet cleaning</b><br />What was I thinking when I got a wild hair this morning and pulled everything out of my closet (with my one good hand)? Major disaster. It looks like a bomb went off in here. I had good intentions, but forgot how much harder the simplest task is with only one hand. Try putting on fitted bed sheets with one hand (I could write an entire post about that dreadful experience). I did that this morning before I got the crazy closet cleaning bug.<br /><br />I saw something on the Today show last week that 70% of the junk in our closet shouldn't be there because we don't use it and will never use it. So true but this is a major non-fun chore that I kind of wish I hadn't started! Too late now.<br /><br />At least I have a lot of time.

My strange addiction

I typed this yesterday, a paragraph here and there throughout the day, then forgot to hit "publish" before I went to bed. So this ...

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Have you see the provisional programme for Elkanah House's upcoming ITC Conference?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I think it is wonderful when a school takes initiative and plans a really exciting ITC programme for the local teachers. Elkanah House in Tableview has worked really hard in this regard to provide a great interactive programme for teachers in all subjects who are interested in combining their curriculum with technology (Sept 30th and October 1st). They have called on the expertise of EdTechConf to aid them in this endeavour.<br /><br />Click on this picture to look at the provisional programme (if that doesn't work, click on the link below):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.edtechconf.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Prov_programme_web1.pdf"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOYTEfTRiaCn1dDwIa4e7KsIqKm0ED_8XwsCjegX_-Bz9Y1peoobfSkZetkBMKbEEg54zq-OzcgGfD6uhxs9HuvVDsnIOmKG5KpvI0DnbLn0mJPiWRH5EAkSwNEyzwMClKpO-xeM1lSE/s400/programme+elkanah.JPG" width="350" /></a></div><a href="http://www.edtechconf.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Prov_programme_web1.pdf">http://www.edtechconf.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Prov_programme_web1.pdf</a><br /><br />Perhaps we will see some of our SchoolNet premium members there?</div>

conferences Have you see the provisional programme for Elkanah House's upcoming ITC Conference?

I think it is wonderful when a school takes initiative and plans a really exciting ITC programme for the local teachers. Elkanah House in Ta...

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So There Was An Earthquake Today...

<i>Dear Lord:  </i><br /><br /><i>Thank you God.  Thank you God for protecting me, Joel, and my coworkers today during the 5.8 magnitude earthquake here in Arlington, VA.  Thank you for getting us out of our office building safely and as quickly as possible.  Thank you for Joel getting out of our condo safely.  Thank you for keeping everyone safe throughout the East Coast of the U.S. </i><br /><br /><i>Thank you for being with me as I took cover under the desk in my office.  </i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>Today was the scariest day of my life, Lord. Ever. And I never want to experience that kind of fear again, Lord.</i>  <br /><br /><i>I just simply cannot thank You enough.  As I was under my desk, I was frantically praying to You, asking You to keep us safe.  As we made our way down from the top floor (11th) in the stairwell, I prayed more.  All I could think about were those poor souls on September 11, and the fear they must have felt.  I imagine I felt a similar fear like that today.  It was awful.   I prayed and thanked You for every flight of stairs You helped us descend.  </i>   <br /><br /><i>Thank You for allowing me to get in touch with Joel, family and friends so quickly afterward by allowing enough of a cell signal for text messages to process. </i><br /><br /><i>Thank You for giving me kind enough coworkers to obtain my laptop for me because I was too afraid to go back into the building once it was deemed "safe".  </i><br /><br /><i>Thank you for allowing Joel to easily drive to my office to pick me up afterward.  </i><br /><br /><i>Thank You for being with me today, Lord.  Without You, I don't know what I would have done</i>.<br /><br /><i>In Jesus' name,</i><br /><i>Amen</i>

Miscellaneous So There Was An Earthquake Today...

Dear Lord:  Thank you God.  Thank you God for protecting me, Joel, and my coworkers today during the 5.8 magnitude earthquake here in Arling...

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Senior Monday

I had an argument with my husband yesterday. It was about dishes. Enough said.<br /><br />I decided to go see a movie alone. Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Great movie. I discovered<span style="font-size: small;"> Glaceau Vitaminwater Zero Naturally Sweetened Water Beverage Lemonade (with Stevia).</span> Delicious poured over a cup of ice.<br /><br />As I was standing in line, waiting to buy my ticket, I noticed the sign said Senior Monday, $6.00. Age 62 and up. Six more years and I'll be a senior. Just think of all the money I can save.<br /><br />Then it was my turn. I stepped up to the counter and ask for one adult ticket. The young man, about 18, asked "Senior?". I said "yes". I don't know why I did that, but he said okay, took my $6 and gave me a ticket.<br /><br />I told him "I'm only 56!" He said "too late, I already rung it up." Gee, thanks a lot. As if I didn't already feel lousy, now I can pass for 62 years old.

Senior Monday

I had an argument with my husband yesterday. It was about dishes. Enough said. I decided to go see a movie alone. Rise of the Planet of the ...

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Job search rules: Can you benefit from breaking them?

<div class="ArticleHeadline"><div class="hdr_org_bld"><h1 id="articleHeadline"> <b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder</span></b> </h1></div><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/hf/ar5l5dq733ddjj80f1hf.gif?time=5/10/2011%204:13:27%20pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/hf/ar5l5dq733ddjj80f1hf.gif?time=5/10/2011 4:13:27 pm" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Follow the rules and you are bound to get rewarded, right? Not necessarily. Here, experts offer their take on some traditional advice that might not always be in a job seeker's best interest:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><strong>"Do not be too obvious that you are trying to find a job."</strong><br />While one need not hang a "Hire me!" sign around his neck, valuable networking opportunities can be wasted if a job seeker is overly apprehensive about displaying interest in employment.<br />"I do think this rule has been dispelled in our down economy where the job search stigma has been eliminated, though some folks are still afraid to advertise their status," says Christine Bolzan, founder of <a href="http://www.graduatecareercoaching.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099;">Graduate Career Coaching</span></a> -- a custom-<a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/counselor/"><span style="color: #000099;">counseling</span></a> service for <a href="http://careerrookie.com/"><span style="color: #000099;">college students and new graduates</span></a>. "Just yesterday, I was speaking to a father of a current college senior and suggesting to him that he leverage his own network to help his son's search. His response was, 'Oh, no. His mother and I have not told anyone that he does not have a job.' There was a perception that this is an embarrassment or a failure of sorts, which is completely wrong on both accounts."<br /><br /><strong>"Provide salary information if the job ad asks for it."</strong><br />"So many job seekers are under the impression that you show that you can't 'follow rules' if an ad asks you to state your salary history/expectations and you respond without it," states Darrell Gurney, founder of CareerGuy.com and author of "Backdoor Job Search: Never Apply for a Job Again!" "If you are close enough to the specs, chances are you'll hear back even if you didn't include it. That's what you want, so you can at least begin to deal with a real person rather than set yourself up to be eliminated with no contact whatsoever."<br /><br />If the lack of a figure comes up when contacted, Gurney suggests a response such as, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'd be happy to provide you with copies of W-2s at an appropriate time. Perhaps we can see if there's some initial alignment on what you're looking for first? Can you tell me more about the role?"<br /><br /><strong>"Let the employer run the interview."</strong><br />"Going in and being a 'good' interviewee is not in your best interests, though (of course) amiability and friendliness are critical," Gurney notes. "Think of it like you were brought in to <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/consulting/"><span style="color: #000099;">consult</span></a>. Going in with questions and interests that you want to have addressed, including a real interest in the interviewer, can go a long way to setting yourself apart from the masses."<br /><br />David Couper, a <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/career+coach/"><span style="color: #000099;">career coach</span></a> and author of "Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career ... Even When You Don't Fit In," adds, "The more you know, the better. Some job hunters think it is OK not to do research because the employer will explain to them about the company. The problem with that approach is that all the information is one-sided. It is what the company wants you to hear, not what the market, customers or employees are saying."<br /><br /><strong>"Don't call after an interview to follow up because hiring managers don't like it" and "Continue to follow up on positions for which you interviewed."</strong><br />Finally, remember that job search "rules" are rarely set in stone, as these two contradictory yet widely circulated pieces of advice demonstrate. Sometimes, using your own good judgment is key.<br />"Follow up after an interview with additional information and with solutions to their problems like a <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/consultant/"><span style="color: #000099;">consultant </span></a> would," Couper says. "Calling to discuss this information is positive. Calling just to ask where your application is and to whine about the process doesn't score you any points."<br />Adds Gurney, "A simple follow up from a position of strength and certitude is always helpful and demonstrates interest, but continuing to 'follow up, follow up, follow up' from a place of need and desperation loses your gloss and negotiating stance. Think dating: How interested would you be in someone calling over and over after the first date, leaving messages letting you know how much they enjoyed it and wanting to know 'where we go from here'?"<br /><br /><em>Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.</em></div>

Job search rules: Can you benefit from breaking them?

  Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder Follow the rules and you are bound to get rewarded, right? Not necessarily. Here, experts o...

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Weekend Recap

Happy Monday!<br /><br />My weekend was filled with grocery shopping, hanging out with friends, and a cooking affair on Sunday. <br /><br />Saturday I was up fairly early and out the door by 8 AM to get my start at grocery shopping.  On this week's menu is chili with cornbread muffins, a healthier recreation of Chipotle's burrito bowl, and fettuccine with bolognese sauce.  <br /><br />Once I got home from all 3 grocery stores (they don't all have everything I want in one store), I planned to have a snack and then start on the New Rules of Lifting workout.  My snack for the past few days has been awesome.  I've been eating the <a href="http://www2.kelloggs.com/ProductDetail.aspx?id=1261">reduced fat Townhouse Crackers by Keebler</a>, with some <a href="http://www.thelaughingcow.com/products/light-swiss-original/">Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese</a> and a piece of <a href="http://www.hormel.com/products/refrigerated/HormelPepperoni.aspx">Hormel Turkey Pepperoni</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><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN7fe8OxZTVBjgfGuJ0CMzWhA7iFbaP8K7lgO73NwXu3b-zxSX-07WjrtKqyf-pF2JgSpVZ-WNhIcPvw_zmJcjiOO6IphgbW5TcmN8JxtDHlTvxOBd6kIw1DA5sDZXDM6uJh2Fle5tlo/s1600/blog+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN7fe8OxZTVBjgfGuJ0CMzWhA7iFbaP8K7lgO73NwXu3b-zxSX-07WjrtKqyf-pF2JgSpVZ-WNhIcPvw_zmJcjiOO6IphgbW5TcmN8JxtDHlTvxOBd6kIw1DA5sDZXDM6uJh2Fle5tlo/s400/blog+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">delicious and filling!</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table>After all that yummy in my tummy, I began on Workout A.  I was proud of myself for sticking to a workout I planned for a weekend day.  As much as I'd love to rearrange my workouts to happen on the weekends when I feel I have more time, it just seems easier for me to talk myself out of it when the time comes.  But I stayed true to my goal, and while I was standing outside doing the bonus workout at the end (2 workouts, as many times as you can for each one), a very thin, younger, and pretty woman walked by with her dog smoking a cigarette and she told me "Great job on working out.....*laugh* as I stand here smoking a cigarette!  That's what I need to be doing!"  I have to go outside to do the Step Ups because I actually need something to step up onto (go figure! :) ), and so we've been using the curb.  Joel hates this though - he gets all embarrassed.  I actually don't care - I mean look!  I even got a compliment! <br /><br />So while I achieved my fitness goal for the weekend, I didn't do so hot Saturday night when we hung out with friends.  I actually didn't think these plans were ever going to come to fruition because we never heard back from the people planning the get together until just 2 hours before we actually met up.  As a result, I went ahead and ate dinner around 6 PM and figured the night was coming to an end.  However, we ended up getting together at 8:30 PM for a very late dinner.  Of course, I wasn't planning on eating because I already ate earlier.  Then we got there and suddenly I was "hungry".  It was a sushi restaurant, which is not something I eat.  And the only other thing on the menu was tempura chicken....and lots of Miller Lite.  Eh, it is what is is.<br /><br />I was happy for a great night out with friends though - this is not something Joel and I get to partake in very often because of his conflicting work schedule.  We had a lot of fun! <br /><br />Sunday I spent the entire day making the dinners for the week.  Stay tuned for some awesome recipes!

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Weekend Recap

Happy Monday! My weekend was filled with grocery shopping, hanging out with friends, and a cooking affair on Sunday.  Saturday I was up fair...

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It's a quarter after one and I need...

It's a quarter after one and I need...a dry cast! I walked for an hour and a half last night at 8pm. The evening was gorgeous. It was 81 degrees with a nice breeze. I was really pushing myself which resulted in a disgusting and very sweaty cast. I've been tucking Kleenex in it and soaking up the sweat. It's totally gross, cold and clammy and really wet. Next I'm going to try the hairdryer. I was asleep for three hours but the cast woke me up because it's so uncomfortable.<br /><br /><b>My walk</b><br />I found a new trail and I'm very excited about it. It's the same BPA trail in Federal Way, a  ten-mile paved loop from my house where I use to ride my bike (too fast...hence broken wrist).<br /><br />Last night I discovered there's a dirt trail that runs next to the paved trail. It's separated by brush by about 200 feet in most areas. I like this a lot better because the terrain is a lot rougher, much hillier, and fewer people. I had a much harder and more interesting workout last night. Although, I think I'll be buying a can of pepper spray because it's a bit secluded.<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>What my husband said about my diet and exercising affecting our lives..what I didn't tell you</b><br />I was mad and hurt at first. I told him I didn't choose to be like this and it sure as hell wasn't fun for me either. I'd love to eat whatever I wanted whenever the mood struck me (like he does), but if I did I would easily gain 100 pounds very quickly, and more. It's my cross to bear in life, this thing I have with food. I'm doing the best I can, but it will always be a battle for me. Always.<br /><br />He tried to continue with his reasoning that it causes a lot of hardship for HIM. This isn't the first time we've had this "discussion". I didn't back down before, and I certainly didn't this time. He has no concept of deprivation when it comes to food. He never looks at calories or carbs or fats, or any food label. He's never heard of calorieking.com nor does he care about my BodyMedia. <br /><br />He's not skinny and needs to lose at least 50 pounds, but he refuses to count calories or track his food, and he basically eats whatever he wants, when he wants it. If he's hungry, he eats. Nor does he exercise except 'working' in the yard.<br /><br />So when he tells me that <u>me </u>being on a diet all these years has been hard on <u>him</u>, I just want to scream. I sort of understand it, I guess, in a tiny, insignificant way maybe it has impacted him.<br /><br />I don't cook fat-laden, delicious meals like his mother did when he was growing up.<br /><br />Or maybe I do always check out how many calories in an item before I eat it, or pick a restaurant based on what's available that I know is healthy and I can eat without totally ruining my diet.<br /><br />I never eat movie popcorn with him. Does this stop him? I wish it did, but it doesn't. I don't say anything either, like 'do you know how many calories are in that?! OMG!'. I keep my mouth shut and don't make an issue about it. I'm not a popcorn fan so it doesn't bother me, but I know it's very unhealthy for him.<br /><br />Birthday cakes, I have a sliver then the rest gets cut up in pieces and frozen...all for him.I still haven't figured out why he keeps buying birthday cakes for me (I guess he likes cake?).<br /><br />Then he told me he resents all the time I spend working out. Those were fighting words. He apparently has no concept of how hard it was, and sometimes still is, for me to exercise almost every day. I consider this a major achievement in my life, to be a person that works out consistently. I've been doing this for over three and a half years and plan on doing it the rest of my life. And he "resents" it?<br /><br />That's when the conversation took a bad turn because that really me me mad. <br /><br />I told him I wasn't changing. This was all for my heath. Period. I wasn't going to ever stop my vigilance with food. I will continue to exercise until I'm physically unable to do it. I told that I was sorry this was such a hardship for HIM (I didn't scream it, but I wanted to). I also told him if I didn't do these things I could guarantee him I'd gain a lot of weight very quickly. Didn't he remember how miserable I was at 240 pounds? Talk about not being fun! I was very unhappy..<br /><br />My husband isn't an ogre nor is he stupid. He quickly apologized, told me he was proud of me, of how hard I try and how much I work at being healthy. He would never want me to stop (that was the correct response if he wanted to stay married).<br /><br />On the other hand, I'm trying to lighten up a little. That was why I agreed to the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet at a casino. Although in my head I was dreading it (no nutritional info so I had to make my best guess on calories)  and I knew there was no way we'd get our money's worth on my dinner. <br /><br />It's all good. I'm still counting calories and still exercising, and we're still married. :)

It's a quarter after one and I need...

It's a quarter after one and I need...a dry cast! I walked for an hour and a half last night at 8pm. The evening was gorgeous. It was 81...

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I spent the night with Elvis

Okay, so it wasn't the whole night, only about ninety minutes. It wasn't the real Elvis, but this guy, Elvis impersonator Steve Sogura (who was incredibly and surprisingly good):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3ntw8LnRQW2sHWHv5M9QvAaYU1n8KAgJA9c4X9MhHCO3hFnAmpTTKPPANRMOrgxyk0I8CJ2N_MQDg_MzEe3VqefjHmPKknjMBJCIFQ7TuIQXAA1c4QrfXyAMLGbtICHuckYASDmUgZ-Y/s1600/elvis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3ntw8LnRQW2sHWHv5M9QvAaYU1n8KAgJA9c4X9MhHCO3hFnAmpTTKPPANRMOrgxyk0I8CJ2N_MQDg_MzEe3VqefjHmPKknjMBJCIFQ7TuIQXAA1c4QrfXyAMLGbtICHuckYASDmUgZ-Y/s400/elvis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />It was our 23rd wedding anniversary yesterday. We usually try to do something different or special on our anniversary because it is a special day (Lord only knows how we made it this far).<br /><br />Since I can't travel (my flight benefits are suspended - which is fine), my husband wanted to go to the Muckleshoot Casino for their all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Personally, I'd almost rather have my eyes poked out with a sharp stick.<br /><br />a.) I hate casinos. The noise, the smoking, and watching people that you know can't afford it throwing away good money is all almost more than I can stand. I'm not a gambler and personally, I just do not understand the entertainment value. I've tried it a few times and thought it was boring and a waste of money (obviously Ive never won anything substantial).<br /><br />b.) All-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Need I say more?<br /><br />In an effort to be more fun, I agreed to go. A few weeks ago my husband told me that my constant diet and exercise really has had a negative impact on our lives all these years, and he was tired of it (not of me, I guess--just my relationship with food and how I often don't want to do food related activities). He doesn't get it.<br /><br />I could write a very long post on the previous paragraph but since I only have one good hand, I'll spare you for now.<br /><br />My review of the Muckleshoot Casino food -  yuk! Bad food. I didn't know it was peel your own shrimp and crack your own crab. With only one hand that is almost impossible. My husband offered to do it for me but I didn't like the shrimp (mushy and tasted funny) and the crab was super salty so after one bite I was done with the crab.<br /><br />My dinner was Northwest salmon (wild Alaskan Chinook is better), smoked salmon (too salty), a few shrimp, a big pile of perfectly steamed broccoli, and cantaloupe and honeydew melon for dessert.<br /><br />In spite of the food not quite being what we expected, we had a really good time. We decided to go to the free show, the Elvis impersonator, Steve Sogura (from Ravensdale, WA). It sounded a little cheesy and I didn't expect much. I was shocked at how much he sounded, looked and moved like a young Elvis. Especially the voice. He had it down perfectly. My husband, a rather harsh critic, loved the show. I'd highly recommend it (skip the buffet).<br /><br />Weight this morning, a new low (well, at least this time around): 183.4.<br /><br />By the way, you'll notice no pictures of me for a while. I had a hair catastrophe earlier this week. A bang trim that butchered my bangs. Almost an inch and a half above my eyebrows, and ash blond on my golden blond hair. I have an appointment to get the color fixed (with my regular color person). The bangs, well, I guess they'll grow. Long story on what happened. Anyway, I'm camera shy right now.<br /><br />Funny thing, two days after my bad hair experince, Jen, Prior Fat Girl, wrote this <a href="http://www.priorfatgirl.com/2011/08/i-am-not.html">post </a>with the video, " I Am Not My Hair" by India Arie. Made me smile.<br /><br /><br />

I spent the night with Elvis

Okay, so it wasn't the whole night, only about ninety minutes. It wasn't the real Elvis, but this guy, Elvis impersonator Steve Sogu...

Read more »