A return to sanity

<div>I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever make peace with food. Today was suppose to be day number four of eating 1200 calories. My average calories for the previous three days was 1294 a day, not quite my 1200 goal. </div><div></div><br /><div>My energy level was zero when the alarm went off at 4:45 a.m. today, my normal time to get up and head out to the gym before work. This morning I just couldn't do it. I was so tired that I shut off the alarm and went back to sleep. </div><div></div><br /><div>When I finally woke up at 7:30 a.m. my husband had already left for work. I still felt like I couldn't get out of bed. I decided to stay home from work. I was so tired that even getting ready for work sounded like more than I could do. After two days back from a 25-day vacation I took a day off. I couldn't help it. My body and mind weren't cooperating. </div><div></div><br /><div>I ate a healthy breakfast and then went right back to bed. I didn't get up until 11 a.m. When I finally got up I was still exhausted. I felt like I couldn't move.</div><div></div><br /><div>I realized that although the 1200 calories a day plan works for a lot of people for quick weight loss, it's just not right for me. I'm not criticizing the plan all. I'm just not willing to feel extremely hungry, tired and weak all the time. To be really honest, if I had to live like this the rest of my life I think I'd rather not live.</div><div></div><br /><div>Now what?</div><div>I need to do something since I really need to lose a minimum of 25 pounds (preferrably 35). The only logical thing is to go back to the Weight Watcher plan and follow it faithfully.</div><div></div><br /><div>I still think it's the best weight loss plan out there. I've been reading the Getting Started book for the new plan (again). </div><div></div><br /><div>Just for fun I'm still going to track my calories and Points for the rest of the month. I didn't track anything today because honestly, I was just to tired and I really didn't care about much of anything. I ate more than 1200 calories and I feel much better tonight. I'm not seeing stars when I stand up to quickly.</div><div></div><br /><div>I want to keep my calories under 1500. If I track the Points and calories for a month, I can get a good idea of how the zero Point fruits are affecting my daily calorie count. Once I get an idea of how many fruits I can eat and still stay under 1500 calories, I'll keep that as a limit for myself. <br /><br />I feel like for me, this is the sane thing todo.</div>

A return to sanity

I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever make peace with food. Today was suppose to be day number four of eating 1200 calories. My averag...

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NOIR CITY 9 - Schedule announced for 9th annual San Francisco festival

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6UIlyfzCiA632zG_vUAXoNoN_3t0_-POqJqR272_OWXP4oEHryKS0X1XPu4sdD4NbpwonkLxHIrtUwn1lvL754lYWyJJMG259aInmG17KgsVtQQi95e9-cl9puP1mfDZnkMUQv2VCsG8/s1600/9+noir+city+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6UIlyfzCiA632zG_vUAXoNoN_3t0_-POqJqR272_OWXP4oEHryKS0X1XPu4sdD4NbpwonkLxHIrtUwn1lvL754lYWyJJMG259aInmG17KgsVtQQi95e9-cl9puP1mfDZnkMUQv2VCsG8/s320/9+noir+city+2.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ninth annual San Francisco film noir festival, Noir City 9, will run from Friday, January 21, through Sunday, January 30, at the historic Castro Theatre; 24 films noir, both celebrated and obscure, will screen.</span><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">A presentation of the Film Noir Foundation, this festival is the centerpiece of the organization's effort to find and preserve films in danger of irreparable damage. The foundation's advisory council includes best selling novelists James Ellroy and Dennis Lehane, actress Marsha Hunt and film historian/critic Leonard Maltin. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Film Noir Foundation founder and president Eddie Muller, known as "the czar of noir," is a writer and filmmaker who frequently speaks at noir screenings. Earlier this year he was a special guest at Robert Osborne's 2010 classic film festival in Athens, GA, where he introduced the screening of <b>Double Indmenity.</b> Muller has also provided commentary on noir DVDs (<b>Fallen Angel</b>, <b>The Lineup</b>, <b>They Live by Night</b> and many others).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Film Noir Foundation also produces festivals in Chicago and Washington, DC.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://noircity.com/noircity.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Click here</span></a> for screening times and pricing.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVkA3-QEKr5gw9p7r3WlcHE33rL8jVxSu0AlMuVwPhLiiN6zbRiSkZK-jzlUHKoHvYR2IhuEtrwkNpp2HZBOwA6g1bmvV_WS3tkQgjr7GAjKDhCl7VOa2lDpBaiAfDnygJmQ9fAWUPTKk/s1600/2+stranger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVkA3-QEKr5gw9p7r3WlcHE33rL8jVxSu0AlMuVwPhLiiN6zbRiSkZK-jzlUHKoHvYR2IhuEtrwkNpp2HZBOwA6g1bmvV_WS3tkQgjr7GAjKDhCl7VOa2lDpBaiAfDnygJmQ9fAWUPTKk/s320/2+stranger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)</td></tr></tbody></table><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Friday Jan. 21</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>High Wall</b> (1947), with Robert Taylor and Audrey Totter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Stranger on the Third Floor</b> (1940), starring Peter Lorre, considered "the first American film noir"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Saturday Jan. 22</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Strangers in the Night</b> (1944), directed by Anthony Mann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Gaslight </b>(1944), with Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotten </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They Won’t Believe Me</b> (1947), with Robert Young, Susan Hayward and Jane Greer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Don’t Bother to Knock</b> (1952), with Richard Widmark and Marilyn Monroe</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sunday Jan. 23</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A Double Life</b> (1947), directed by George Cukor, with Ronald Colman (<i>watch a clip featuring Colman's Oscar-winning performance below</i>)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Among the Living</b> (1941), with Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward and Frances Farmer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Monday Jan. 24</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Lady Gambles</b> (1949), with Barbara Stanwyck</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sorry, Wrong Number</b> (1948) directed by Anatole Litvak, with Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tuesday Jan. 25</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Dark Mirror </b>(1948) directed by Robert Siodmak , with Olivia de Havilland and Lew Ayres</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Crack-Up </b>(1947), with Pat O’Brien, Herbert Marshall and Claire Trevor</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wednesday Jan. 26</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM1szJGJ3lBp31y4bO_QA2LiMEco1qQiMdXidGNA1QihVn84hQ0N9DG8H82KFnJYt8jbsynOA2l96vnjlEvaYw3nXQGzYUMP7jVQITaLtUYoU9_1uQjCmx9TGYHa9DNAdmOB1igi60ygO/s1600/1+woman+in+sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM1szJGJ3lBp31y4bO_QA2LiMEco1qQiMdXidGNA1QihVn84hQ0N9DG8H82KFnJYt8jbsynOA2l96vnjlEvaYw3nXQGzYUMP7jVQITaLtUYoU9_1uQjCmx9TGYHa9DNAdmOB1igi60ygO/s320/1+woman+in+sand.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Woman on the Beach (1947)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Woman on the Beach </b>(1947), directed by Jean Renoir, with Robert Ryan and Joan Bennett</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Beware My Lovely </b>(1952), with Ida Lupino and Robert Ryan</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thursday Jan. 27</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Two Mrs. Carrolls</b> (1947), with Humphrey Bogart and Barbara Stanwyck</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My Name is Julia Ross </b>(1945), with Nina Foch and George Macready</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Friday Jan. 28</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Crashout </b>(1955), with William Bendix, Arthur Kennedy and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William Talman</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Loophole </b>(1953), with Barry Sullivan and Charles McGraw</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Saturday Jan. 29</span></u></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blind Alley </b>(1939) directed by Charles Vidor, with Chester Morris, Ann Dvorak and Ralph Bellamy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Secret Beyond the Door </b>(1948) directed by Fritz Lang,  with Joan Bennett and Michael Redgrave (this year’s “incomprehensible” film)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry</b> (1945) directed by Robert Siodmak, with George Sanders, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Ella Raines</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">So Evil My Love </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(1948), with Ann Todd, Ray Milland and Geraldine Fitzgerald</span></span><br /><br /><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sunday Jan. 30</span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Angel Face </b>(1952), directed by Otto Preminger, with Jean Simmons and Robert Mitchum</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>The Hunted </b>(1948), with Preston Foster and Belita</span><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qhhWLHVBezc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qhhWLHVBezc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Eddie Muller Film Noir Film Noir Festival Noir City 9 San Francisco film noir festival The Lady Eve (author) NOIR CITY 9 - Schedule announced for 9th annual San Francisco festival

The ninth annual San Francisco film noir festival, Noir City 9, will run from Friday, January 21, through Sunday, January 30, at the histori...

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Interpreting Reality As World Making

It is fashionable in some circles to say we make our own lives with our attitudes. Whatever we are like inside manifests in our outer circumstances. This morning it snowed in Las Vegas. I suppose according to the “manifest” theory, it was something in my attitude that caused the snow. Oddly enough, it seems a couple million of us fell into the same mood at the same time since it snowed on all of us, “the just and the unjust alike.” Maybe the notion that we create our own reality is a big of an exaggeration. But there is something to it.<br /><br />Experiences make up our lives and we are constantly interpreting our experiences. So much depends on interpretation. Suppose for example, I am on a multi-lane highway. I turn on my left blinker signaling my intent to change lanes. The car a little behind me in the lane to my left accelerates and passes me. What happened? I might surmise he was a competitive driver who wanted to get ahead of me before I got ahead of him. Possible. But maybe he was concerned he was in my blind spot and was dashing for safety. Or maybe he figured that if he hung back waiting for me, I would hang back waiting for him, and we would both waste time dilly dallying, and by passing me he was actually allowing me to change lanes quicker and more safely. Or maybe he just noticed he was late and sped up without even noticing my blinker. Which interpretation I put on the anonymous driver’s action is up to me and says more about me than it does about him.<br /><br />Is everything interpretation? No. Some things are facts, or at least direct experiences. But we interpret all of them and the interpretations we give determine the flavor, the texture, the quality of our lives. All of our interpretations flow from one basic interpretation. It is our comprehensive interpretation of reality itself – our understanding of why there is something instead of nothing, of why it is as it is, moves as it moves. Our belief or disbelief in God is the fundamental interpretation on which everything else depends.<br /><br />I received an e-mail recently from someone trying to decide whether God exists. She may have been inviting me to try to persuade her of God’s existence. But here’s the kicker. The question is wrong to start with. Christian theologians, going back at least to St. Thomas Aquinas (and really much farther back) have not said that God “exists” – not the way anything else in the universe exists. God is not such a thing. Many Christians never get past the children’s Sunday School picture of God as “the man upstairs.” Even if we aren’t so naively anthropomorphic as to think God is a man, we are apt to think he is a being along with the other beings in the universe, only bigger, stronger, smarter, and older. Like the abominable snowman or intelligent aliens, such a being might or might not exist. However, if such a being does exist, he is not God. Orthodox, traditional theology teaches that God is not a being along with all the other beings, just bigger. Our best contemporary theologians agree. As Kathryn Tanner says, “God is not a kind of thing among other kinds of things.”<br /><br />God is that out of which all being arises and into which all being sinks when it ceases to be. St. Paul said, “From him and through him and to him are all things,” and “In him we live and move and have our being.” In Christian doctrine, God is the source, the destiny, and the meaning of reality itself. St. Augustine saw God as the ultimate object of all our longings. The 20th Century Roman Catholic theologian, Karl Rahner, wrote of God as the source and the destiny of reality, “the whence and the whither” – “whence comest thou? whither goest thou?”<br /><br />Likewise we believe, or at least hope, that there is some deep sense to reality, some order, some meaning. We believe that there is truth and that the truths we know, and the truths we do not yet know, may be ordered within an overarching, comprehensive structure of Truth which we cannot know. We value things. Indeed, we hold that things actually have intrinsic value. And of all that is valuable, there must be that which is most valuable, ultimately valuable, something that finally matters. Just so, we delight in beauty, believing, or at least hoping, that there may be a greatest beauty beyond the reach even of our imagination.<br /><br />Each of these things – source, destiny, meaning, sense, order, truth, value, beauty – could be its own object of devotion. Each could be regarded as a god. But monotheism rolls all of this, and much more into the unified concept of the one God. Monotheism teaches that there is no final conflict between truth and beauty, that our source, our destiny, and our purpose are all one. All of this is in God. To put a point on it, God is very big – far too big to fit inside the universe. God does not fit inside anything. Everything must fit inside God. So God is not a being among other beings, a value among other values, a power among other powers.<br /><br />To believe in God is not to believe that a particular thing exists. It is to believe something about all our experiences, to trust, to hope, to risk our fate on something deeply true in reality. To believe in God is to affirm truth, beauty, goodness, that life has meaning and value.<br /><br />To believe in God is an act of interpretation. Interpretations are not facts. But that does not make them entirely subjective. Some interpretations may be more reasonable than others, more plausible or probable than others, and certainly some are more helpful than others. Philosophers and theologians rarely offer “proofs of God” anymore. Since interpretation always smacks of mystery and God, as the meta-interpretation of everything, is infinitely mysterious – God is not subject to proofs. Instead, philosophers like Alvin Plantinga now speak of “warrants for faith” – meaning reasons to justify believing in God, lines of thought demonstrating that faith is reasonable.<br /><br />A wonderful example of such a warrant for faith is Anthony Flew’s book, There Is A God. Flew was the leading atheist philosopher of our time – a real philosopher unlike the pop atheists (Dawkins, et al) on the bookshelves today. But Flew ultimately concluded that God is the best explanation for the existence of this universe we experience.<br /><br />Now back to the power of interpretation: We control some of our experiences – the things we do. We do not control others – the things that happen to us. But we interpret all of them. My assumptions about human nature, or at least Las Vegas drivers, will determine the motives I attribute to the person who zipped around me when I had my blinker on. That interpretation will shape my mood for awhile. My mood will shape my further interpretations of the next events as well as my behavior and indirectly the way people respond to my behavior and then my interpretation of their responses.<br /><br />So what did I believe about today when I woke up? Did I believe it would be an episode in a Darwinian power struggle or the closely related Marxist class conflict? Or was it to be a random, meaningless exercise in futility acted out in an existentialist void? Or is it the Day the Lord has made for us to rejoice and be glad in it? And what of these people I encounter? Are they my Darwinian rivals for survival, human commodities to be used for some gain, or brothers and sisters in Christ?<br /><br />Experience is just raw data until we interpret it, and our interpretation is a matter of will – as William James called it “the will to believe” – guided by reason. So let us ask two questions: First, is it plausible, is it reasonable to believe that the universe has a source and a destiny, that all this actually has a raison d’être? The vast majority of people who have lived on this planet have thought so. The greatest philosophers and theologians have thought so. Second, is it helpful to believe such a thing? How will I experience life with God and how will I experience life without God? What difference might faith in God make to my behavior, to the kind of person I become?<br /><br />There is an objective world. We live in it every day. I cannot pretend the other cars are not on the road except at my extreme peril. But that world affords me only the raw data for interpretation. After that, I have it in my power to create a godless universe or a godly one in which to live this life, “to make a very hell of heaven or heaven of hell.” Such is the power of faith. “Faith” is the foundational interpretation which can make or break a life. That’s why sometimes Jesus did not just zap people with healing energy but rather told them “your faith has made you whole.”

Interpreting Reality As World Making

It is fashionable in some circles to say we make our own lives with our attitudes. Whatever we are like inside manifests in our outer circum...

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Allan is right, this is REALLY hard

I'm participating in <a href="http://almostgastricbypass.blogspot.com/">Allan's Phase 4 challenge</a>, well, at least I'm trying to do it. It's not that easy. He says it gets better, I sure hope he's right.<br /><br />I don't weigh 141 like he has me listed on his chart of participants. I wish! I started at 181 on Sunday. I hope he doesn't show me gaining 40 pounds at the end of week one.<br /><br /><strong>The Good</strong><br />My size 12 jeans that I wore on the plane on Saturday that were too tight and cutting into my flesh, fit much better today. They were fresh out of the dryer this morning, and they're actually comfortable.<br /><br />My manager bought us all really cool company logo insulated water glasses with a straw. I love it! I can add ice and it doesn't sweat like my stainless steel Nathan water bottle. I've actually been drinking more than my required 90 ounces of water (today was 116 ounces of water, plus coffee and tea - a little on the high side).<br /><br /><strong>The bad</strong><br />Allan said Phase 4 would be hard in the beginning and he wasn't kidding. It's been an extremely difficult three days of trying my best to stay in the 1200-calorie range. To say I'm hungry is an understatement. I feel like I'm starving to death. I'm trying to follow his eating guidelines. Actually, they're similar to Weight Watchers but without all the "free" fruit.<br /><br />I've been eating a bit more protein than his plan recommends, because, well, you know I work out soooo hard. I think I've been kidding myself about exactly how hard I'm really exercising. I thought the extra protein would help with the hunger but it's not working. I know, I'm breaking the rules and if this doesn't work for me it's totally my own fault.<br /><br /><strong>The ugly</strong><br />I'm feeling sort of weak and light headed, and I'm more forgetful than normal. Forgetting names of people that I've known for years, losing my cell phone (found it in my car), and other things that are starting drive me a little nuts.<br /><br />I can't decide if this is all in my head and I'm imagining it or if it's because of the reduced calories. I know the upside of the hunger means I'm losing weight. The downside is that it's difficult to function when I feel like this.<br /><br />My workout this morning was really terrible. Thirty minutes on the StairMaster and each step felt like torture. I only completed 103 floors. I normally complete at least 125 to 135 floors (my personal best was 144 floors in 30 minutes).<br /><br />My strength workout wasn't much better. The barbell that I use for bicep curls and overhead shoulder presses is 45 pounds. I've been doing it for months but today that 45 pounds felt like 65 pounds. I completed all of my exercises and reps (three sets each) but it was a struggle. I really just wanted to go home, eat everything in sight, and crawl back into bed. Usually I don't even think about food when I'm at the gym in the morning.<br /><br />My calories burned on my heart rate monitor for my hour workout was 380. Usually it's 500 - 600 calories. Not good.<br /><br /><strong>A word about Weight Watchers</strong><br />I've been whining about the zero Points fruits and vegetables, but really, for most people I don't think this is a problem. It's really just a problem for me. I don't seem to know when to stop. I guess I'm lacking in common sense when it comes to food. After all, I did gain 100 pounds. That says a lot about my self-control when it comes to food.<br /><br />I'm still attending meetings, mainly for the accountability of the weigh ins and because I love my leader.<br /><br /><strong>Link to my food diary</strong><br />I'm tracking my food on a different blog page -- <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.diana135-FoodDiary.blogspot.com">Food Diary</a>, with calories AND Points for everything I'm eating. It's very boring reading but I'm really surprised how many calories I'm consuming. I'm pretty sure I was eating a lot more than 2000 calories a day because 1300 calories seems like starvation to me now. No wonder I've been gaining weight.<br /><br /><strong>My conclusion about this whole thing</strong><br />It really is lot harder than I thought to eat only 1200 calories a day. I really hate being this hungry. I know it'll be worth it if I can get this weight off. Thanks Allan for sharing your plan with us, I appreciate it, but oh my gosh, this is difficult!

Allan is right, this is REALLY hard

I'm participating in Allan's Phase 4 challenge , well, at least I'm trying to do it. It's not that easy. He says it gets bet...

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This was a very tough day

After 25 days of vacation I went back to work today. It's hard for me to get back into the swing of things after a long weekend. After almost four weeks, it was darn near impossible. I'm so tired right now I can barely stay awake. <br /><br />Today is also the first day in a really long time where I was extremely careful with what I ate.  I'm doing an experiment through the end of January. I'm still counting Points, but I'm also counting calories. Double the fun, right? <br /><br />I have my doubts about the new Weight Watcher PointsPlus plan. Zero Points for all fruits and most vegetables just doesn't seem right to me.<br /><br />I know someone reading this is thinking 'she didn't get fat from eating too many fruits and vegetables'. That's probably true, but it's also true that I can consume massive quantities of fruits and vegetables. Six large bananas is 600 calories. I've easily eaten six bananas in a day several times in my life, in addition to my regular meals. I seem to have a bottomless pit for a stomach. This is enough calories that would prevent me from having a weight loss and might even cause a gain.<br /><br />I rarely list what I eat unless it's something I binged on like the can of cake frosting I ate about a year ago. Or the pizza and coconut cream pie I ate on New Year's Eve. In an effort for accountability I'm going to post every bite I eat, at least through the end of January. <br /><br />Since I don't want to bore you all to death with my daily food intake, I've created a separate blog of my food diary. The calories and the Points will be documented. This is really for me, so I can see it all in one place. I just started it tonight, but haven't added the link yet. <br /><br />Unfortunately, since I'm dead tired right now and getting up this morning was a challenge, I'm heading to bed right now.

This was a very tough day

After 25 days of vacation I went back to work today. It's hard for me to get back into the swing of things after a long weekend. After a...

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Tiiiirrreeed!!!

<p>Hey all!! First of all I need to say thanks for all your sweet comments on my bump and the support! You all are just too sweet! I just can’t believe how much my tummy is already sticking out. I’m pretty sure it gets bigger everyday! </p> <p align="left">I feel very good about my eats the first 2 days of the week. Here is a summary of Tuesday’s eats. For breakfast I had <strong><em>1 glass orange juice (Vitamin C) </em></strong>and a bowl of <strong><em>oatmeal</em></strong> <strong><em>(whole grains) </em></strong>with a sliced <strong><em>banana</em></strong> <strong><em>(other fruits)</em></strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1Pvop7kinkMZcVL7ZMXgs0kWNwJIYj85TKHWPdVETWThF2CIhQcKlCzy3ZGNxpdawaRT24Xa5n4ZvjyrAR9Ew2CwEtF5IYLEmMwu2ELbcctah8rKuys0MrLCxmOZUtabb7lRFloVyXYV/s1600-h/DSC096623.jpg"><strong><em><img alt="DSC09662" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ilmV_yhuM96y33FWFuyahyphenhyphenOEdyL0ZLcivrz2KLJ0478qdVDB8MDv8C4DBUIhXk9ByNb3LmTwc160o4t-N5W0KAnYw5K5irI3q5xwHsnNikno0zQOX9cBwK_mzo7q6ommSoMN0UV1jyjl/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09662" width="304"></em></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRSvKOz90Cd7sp6TRSUgCy9WOaK-lB-voteq6MAGzde5fP_C-7FqFkKCmQ2zoMxlfcF7j3q-dwtgYTmmaWVkrLAVagW7e-QQ8N01PCY6Q3EJmNLiejeIUtAYXswClPYIG3aJjjBZ2Mv5c/s1600-h/DSC096613.jpg"><img alt="DSC09661" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhElX0NnNTSG6tx6_KkUCGw33wElcEn6zix06LY7njTKo9zAzK15rsho-DDIOEzeIFXptweIqNt9STF9yE3qzHyzh1pY0ioe3B0b2R6nU4ZyRHsjjUScBgsyiHih7ughHaoVF-eds2UIF/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09661" width="404"></a></p> <p align="left">One thing I love about my job is that I had almost 2 weeks off over Christmas, but boy oh boy, coming back to insane, crazy busy work has been rough on this girl! </p> <p align="left">Mid morning I snacked on <strong><em>1 c</em></strong> of<strong><em> multi grain cheerios (whole grains). </em></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XUL_9uxhueTDZ7SF6uxAfoZNhxRVr9VlblT9hkEavNNuvIGdpWw9EEvhfrpW3KdYj78j_XO5_1uGx7gUXrlWbdc3s28IJzgowDBLE2Y3UCEwNA4vwsSXO2F3zlXdsxlGxbBjVgMnZE6B/s1600-h/DSC096633.jpg"><strong><em><img alt="DSC09663" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChZb456oGY98BT66PUIeg7Cg-ZO3hAYVXBnGaJYhGuUZ8aMYxUqf3SdhVUk6bwdKZklCBMzmhyphenhyphenilpiCSeOcVe75HYtZ7s9JDKQ7hupcCTn0jdBg0kkHXuqHhTSFr3bW9A0MfHZxqhoe4M/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09663" width="404"></em></strong></a></p> <p align="left">Like I said the office was pretty crazy, so to hold me over till lunch I sliced an<strong><em> apple (other fruits)</em></strong> for another snack. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm1GPwI8Z3BbsLaF9Sj2EEcKFcSDSiBWkcWxMTfAvaOkla7-zwIN-U6v3GW4QQUqrPNbRRNCmRmq116izhyorv96p-_oRLX3rj2Mr1XDnQoGhznsnuJSM332bfDyqEMmaJ58ngUwAWUDv/s1600-h/DSC096643.jpg"><img alt="DSC09664" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXyKvQedakhXYPbEIPzvKLS-cR9q_nbamx2I5HLy26BpKV061EHHogpk4F-gAOVMrzwKk8VemdHEdg_RqkVSFu594Ze22FgE_VaFYa6pnXlVU2BX_TcnGkbE8nx9QH_Yky3FCgaGO10uZ/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09664" width="404"></a></p> <p align="left">My late, but delicious lunch was leftovers! I had cheesy crock-pot <strong><em>chicken (protein)</em></strong> with <strong><em>brown rice (whole grains)</em></strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6ud1gcaLTvLiL4u8P78a8vC726ot8nyom9GurjXVa8DHWYz7-YKneQvyiAiiXmsrX5CmonWxlpQLGMepxFdfL92BMp39P-Jq6e_UStHR990Gy9hgpOBH3NLe2naZvnZyQGDN0DXi7i1N/s1600-h/DSC096683.jpg"><img alt="DSC09668" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljOQKfBcS8DRJaV-SSGz4U3T5tYb16A6S71ZKyE5AN7jW01osA4yQA7K2eb3ntUT1If2A_DPPwnWfL_K8eA-5oHIL_csD_81pAcBFNBatpn9pkD3aZkVj0eZbropnUWA7Yk9PJo73zRBD/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09668" width="404"></a></p> <p align="left">When you take lunch at 2pm it really makes your afternoon <em>fly</em>! Before I knew I was carpooling with my main man to our humble abode! I love that we work at the same place!</p> <p align="left">Supper was a true midwestern meal, <strong><em>steak</em></strong> & <strong><em>potatoes</em></strong>! We use our new *larger* George Foreman grill to cook 2 good sized steaks. I had 1/2 of one <strong><em>(protein & iron).</em></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWmitrISIKNywCmDP41qkSgV4Ks7PbuurgWvwSHTw7gXDVII54AaWjYlgTRQ7PVRwermvtgKILY17gt2kmH2zxbBWoGuI-oirrl6tTy5gD0DjhJJWF8rVnFyLHGIFy-E0ZhiEmDzE0U_F/s1600-h/DSC096703.jpg"><strong><em><img alt="DSC09670" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lTzDFBmwvT7clc-mYN9nUM1caH4wIMJQjBAWc110nCSECJG49HCW-pZbibp_9U-6lBo-xeMTh0Zzvw5xK_gLNH3YHeSWJkPMv_qDWqdGibk9kpulZ03LJisE0vLIrWuuAt2c2oVAH1Kr/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09670" width="404"></em></strong></a></p> <p align="left">And the<strong><em> roasted potatoes (iron)</em></strong> rounded out the meal! Felt like a farm girl again! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A-Q7s2Oz228ReQgh6wQdcgs8fPWPUGmWo_af9IExtbz09HboPQWlgUC0Bxv-alR6w_4Mzhf75vX8u45AJT7yfdzubr27TV6vjCmwqpWlY6JYiWU4BO1iJyBDYiEDPFWKLvumQEfTjLMo/s1600-h/DSC096713.jpg"><img alt="DSC09671" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RUSrvMuy-AYfuUHJjJCXf2VkuWjIILqMq73Wfp3ou6NMwVcBFM_llKQ6JN8qCehltv8nto0FLcQSInlRhFKppHTETPCeYA7km502Wr9wBpFMjmfqCF_SpYfYLSoGqtQtOEtlSglbZZT5/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09671" width="404"></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>After supper was eaten & cleaned up, I got right back to work. I brought home a bunch of things that are <strong><em>VERY</em></strong> time sensitive right now. Needless to say, I’m ready to hit the hay!</p> <p>Here is a run down of my stats. The top number is how many servings I got in, the bottom number is how many is recommended. I think it will be hard to get all the recommended servings in of each category. But I think the big thing is that when I do choose food, I choose nutritionally rich ones. </p> <ul> <li>Whole Grains 3/6 <li>Calcium 0/4 <li>Green Leafy/Yellow Veggies/fruits 0/4 <li>Protein 2/3 <li>Vitamin C 1/3 <li>Iron 2/3 <li>Other Fruits & Veggies 2/2 <li>Fats 2/4 <li>Fluids 104oz <li>Prenatal – check!</li></ul> <p>I’m still in decision mode. These are a LOT of thing to track. But I know they are important for me & my baby, so I’m giving it a shot. If anyone has any advice to more easily track I am all ears! </p>

Tiiiirrreeed!!!

Hey all!! First of all I need to say thanks for all your sweet comments on my bump and the support! You all are just too sweet! I just can’t...

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Post Holiday Weight Gain

I started the holiday off right with a 2.6 lb loss! I was happy and motivated!  But alas, I was at home at mom and dad's, and that is never a good thing when it comes to healthy eating.  My mom doesn't typically abide by 3 course meals (or any number for that matter).  She almost always makes dinner, but we are on our own for everything else.  The bottom line is I ate a lot of crap over the holidays simply out of boredom and lack of food choices.  The result: a 5 lb gain a week later! Blah! <br /><br />Still, it is a new year, a new week, a new day... and thank God for that! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.3fatchicks.net/index11.php"><img border="0" src="http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/tulip-bar/slider-scale/lb/0/95.2/0/.png"></a>

Post Holiday Weight Gain

I started the holiday off right with a 2.6 lb loss! I was happy and motivated!  But alas, I was at home at mom and dad's, and that is ne...

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Pregnancy Eats Plan

<p>The reason I started this blog over 2 years ago was to become a healthier me. I haven’t really touched on that subject since my “<a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/12/101610.html">announcement</a>” of baby on the way! When I first found out I was pregnant I was very strict with my eats. I basically ate like I was on WW, just a little extra. <p>Then came the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/12/family-fun-cruise-days-1-2.html">cruise</a>…of course on vacation I enjoyed all the different eats the ship had to offer, but it didn’t stop there. <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzvtpFB1xif03JQhz684jo61orIG2s0tfe00TYRivl6lgQ494Bpj2SPln2ldm09X5TPPX-mMZuErLQ6JsZXB5KOAkAWFv_3PGA52CIo8w5w6cTOtNwE9K_iPNdAWNZZkrIXlk5PUhblFT/s1600-h/DSC09379%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09379" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ipFrHnjC6aIEYHKZV3zLuPsoqrfDSQCOxLsC0nXbCRfmlMuWQEy4ac5sG0HQnYpZce5QIkI7BAY7Qi2AQsLLhdksChUurbAyrjaXryOkCFBd733UndtfnP95-ZmQ66lt62MMTaXJL4lr/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09379" width="254"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwKlZ962lqiWLk5ktXUIemuw088bYP49UVLElIvgQFSmG1HuHo1o-RG7sP2pNEKRS2CT7W873UIsY6Uz517kXdRRmcIsCOImTjiGuAYc8sl-JEDhgfcNvtl1znxCSSKdVon8gCxYuG_0D/s1600-h/DSC09385%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09385" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMkUs7Oq8LNeWdiX_WSJfhYz40jjKEIn14UZqjcFyB8xP1ZYs3JMcvRXGjY5fV7ysNFv-aTFvDHCXy2lpxzpZAYsXzMXGFRpfZ-RVNtlIe8N6atxjKiEpwen0cmtF8uEjvHAV9pNjU1hi/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09385" width="254"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>The next weekend we made a 10+ hour trip for a family wedding. I ate all the “no no” quick snacks from gas stations on the way there & back (think donuts, ice cream, etc). Wedding cake, anyone? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPwh6MxyZwmDp6ckNWlQb4cknGOiPIxqsRWiZIqzJyEKvrUfxtr1Sp3HRQyPQ1GEZ58CtzlAdGVZodJSH3K7YIcgtMAjIVXeBserALRBMP_zGPW967yoiSgTMpZ_vR4LqwykXLx16laBk/s1600-h/DSC09529%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09529" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNFYBcTwG9L3_c4Uk4QGrNgJlxhaWZFP_mEfX2oIvs6cad32yqSbNhHjYIcEpwZg0o2WYmWH8FXJMrONOESEB2WezfY3pszT7VUz53qX06neRyHiMnNOq0qmjTk1T_gLgUcgZHo9wMT4y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09529" width="304"></a> <p>Then it was <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-recap.html">Christmas</a>. We all know there is always a surplus of food at Christmas. <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVOJ2isbQbjhgQxBMZJMk-B-IadCqH5Db2uAm-JsvJMO63C0sdfKo19f43HAgfQ7rBEO4TpGNBANdezXjKh13SmKNrjuMHvBkS4lPOWKlMazq0b5ZLSv_3DeWtxYVidC29qTcifFYekiW/s1600-h/DSC09584%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09584" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2qqvmiTHOZfUNRUZOFOlkuzBKrMl4PMdS_bV4BFUGHtHmXVsL4WKZM2xTUw9VWUbW7UJwlGR15zQxWm5Fswzdk2pvzIsg6QADmgb0Uafd0dTBQ1SAaFsow0kxx63b4EwOBuePvsM5M60/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09584" width="254"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvhmFII9GOpyM3seTHOeSi_IKnolAk7oOhML1kNJxJc_5KHFiC6b78MAUwMx3zazghcFR5KpBUPlwfNxKQjh7uhQWbbkAkVCPmaS2idJWey96MGD5legatKMnd6ARemcndTLrRki7fFjS/s1600-h/DSC09593%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09593" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvOtHhkeQruP1BguXsveb_jhdjFqdxfA3Q2CFmTqlDT5I-DS3dqBEQq4Og_j4uL_EO3sjAebh0X5oKeZM1laMPqw6NWXrQC6PsScED3Ih8lV_O_E_0ggNCxEWHrLgdWXUTOvqr-Y5K6on/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09593" width="254"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="left">And lastly <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-years.html">New Years</a>!</div> <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZWCrb6wp7U8X-afy61iIMg0t4pWXaPwzAgh-XWoX16E2Hz_Z44YupHO8UUS8_1hLzTN2SToQS8CCdH5uYVloQOUraGRTLR_Ot6tYAU1ZUHey-bK78iE0iEcBM94UO0ZOxb7wtUGYDQL3/s1600-h/DSC09647%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09647" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilobhI06TY9lJz4VYKHVEt9y6QD1QCrH-5PtQuKuPyCPMU8xBdLDIEZNT7UV31x-doSatCez09SSHiFM-YLXMZ4y6Em2AZoFeaCxpqSXARF0B5c0hbNRAcatpzFDlvdsZ2yh0C0SZVjz6B/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09647" width="254"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="250"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS35RMuVdzQhfH-Rbqt8KNWZdghncX6rcthecHNwGdDaUHpe6UsYdzwdxwiRL3KUqQp347UM5r4zH7OcBGCJjesWRUM0_q23CuDYg3cyMPTMs4o6D5Lqi9FyufmwSALD81FjEGtcQfEmcE/s1600-h/DSC01655%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC01655" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJJGJqsaa1mvyYuVEoOFWEJKuzetnSgvE8BOd-R1o4xvBHNQX4TXXaPWWvFXlOgfiUYTrbus1cdVEFsBhrOAOpcsSmeNMYnEEoVGdy9MlhKd8MNeoX5VbFjGelpO4iW4GUW-ubSN4dzoT/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01655" width="254"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="left">Now I wasn’t eating horrible the entire month, but not what I needed nutritionally. One of the first things I did when I found out I was pregnant was researching what the eating guidelines were. I vowed to have a healthy pregnancy, not only for me, but baby too. Somehow in the month of December, I lost sight of that. </div> <p>Aware of what I let get slightly out of hand, I’m making a change! I’m going to continue to use this blog as a tool to track   my eats, just a little differently! In the past I’ve always counted points. I think the majority of us know when WW finds out you’re pregnant, you are kicked out! In my research I’ve found while pregnant it’s important to focus on nutrition rather than counting calories, fat, points, etc. So that’s just what I’m going to do. Here is a summary of the recommended serving/day of each item: <ul> <li><strong>Whole Grains and Legumes</strong> (6 + servings)<br>Example: 1/2c brown rice, whole-grain bread/cereal, 1 oz whole-wheat pasta, pita, tortilla, beans, peanuts, peas, 1 c oatmeal</li> <li><strong>Calcium </strong>(4 servings, 1200 mg total)<br>Example: 1c milk, 1/2c hard cheese, 1c yogurt, edamame, sesame seeds, calcium-fortified juice</li> <li><strong>Yellow, Green and Leafy Veggies and Fruits</strong> (3-4 servings)<br>Example: winter squash, 1/2c broccoli, 1/2 carrot, 1/2 sm. sweet potato, apricot, mango, 1/2c cantaloupe, 1 lg peach, 1 clementine</li> <li><strong>Other Veggies and Fruits</strong> (1-2 servings)<br>Example: green bean, zucchini, corn, potato, apple, pear, banana, cherry</li> <li><strong>Vitamin C</strong> (3 servings)<br>Example: 1/2 med orange, kiwi, strawberry, peach, 1/2c cantaloupe/honeydew, 1/2c broccoli, cauliflower, 1/2c pineapple</li> <li><strong>Protein</strong> (3 servings, 75g total)<br>Example: poultry, beef, eggs, cheese, yogurt, nuts, peanut butter, beans, 1c. cottage cheese, edamame, 3-8oz glasses milk</li> <li><strong>Iron</strong> (3 servings)<br>Example: beef, duck, spinach, dried fruit, beans, soy products, pumpkin seeds, barley, oat bran, baked potato w/skin</li> <li><strong>Fats</strong> (roughly 4 servings)<br>Example: peanut butter, sour cream, cream cheese, salad dressing, olive oil, butter, mayonnaise</li> <li><strong>Daily Prenatal Vitamin</strong></li> <li><strong>Fluids </strong>(at least 64 ounces)<br>Example: water, juice, milk</li> <ul> <li><em>Note: the examples are things that I eat/like. I don’t consider myself picky, but I’m not a fan of lettuce and a few other things I took off the list. If you’re looking for more examples I recommend checking the book<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Youre-Expecting/dp/0761148574">“<u>What to Expect When You’re Expecting”</u></a></u><u>.</u> They had great examples. </em></li></ul></ul> <p>I think a lot of these foods look quite familiar, WW good health guidelines anyone?!?! So instead of totaling my “points” each day I’m going to calculate my daily nutritionally servings. Now, yes I know there are a lot, but I’m going to try to keep it somewhat simple. For example, use this as a guide when I make my grocery list.</p> <p align="center"><em>This is Christmas day, I was 15 weeks.</em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZ6qQU1yBvcpgZ5UaBE6xEt-h8G71EBRddCqyrwBxHcoSZOxtsKe-0GV5KPnGE5RG-VGixDATZB7TbpGSCd9wkhlkPo4X8LL-iLgirUR-096RU6JTMc26FEBOUWdoJkJA_jhZobJnSaLE/s1600-h/15%20weeks%20-%2012.25.10%5B4%5D.jpg"><em><img alt="15 weeks - 12.25.10" border="0" height="593" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCE4uCusD60-l5ILn7V2skWTB2pibTvs8pD7sOClcn5iLDDlsjzog3oPs7tLOwTw6Vczr_RTWPvRceq8391hdnKSdd5UrEKK1VCIQhn3k1FqVH2l6OsWNlWSq9M9iu-kS4GhPUOmCB0AK/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="15 weeks - 12.25.10" width="282"></em></a></p>Hope you’re on board to follow me while I strive to have a healthy pregnancy, ending with a healthy baby!

Pregnancy Eats Plan

The reason I started this blog over 2 years ago was to become a healthier me. I haven’t really touched on that subject since my “ announceme...

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January 2, 2011 - 181 pounds

<div style="text-align: center;">Pictures from the ice park at North Pole, Alaska.</div><div style="text-align: center;">December 31, 2010<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WnqpbQak5XdPslNjPjSwPSTEkk0RA8nDog0J1AjMVyFA-qbq_jNVDkyZzI-QZCzz10PF9LaxNaR9uVq1hKEB4YhepEsab3z2xj2MQhdRXlYnLMDXZ-zviosg7Bu5rnDbxTwNqDj5S2GM/s1600/DSCF0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WnqpbQak5XdPslNjPjSwPSTEkk0RA8nDog0J1AjMVyFA-qbq_jNVDkyZzI-QZCzz10PF9LaxNaR9uVq1hKEB4YhepEsab3z2xj2MQhdRXlYnLMDXZ-zviosg7Bu5rnDbxTwNqDj5S2GM/s400/DSCF0078.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcJkPlJdD8nVOFTtsemrGh8aS_saqmWpbkkyUIdTWhLcYXxq5jOUEgE7mHnvslAgl5RKcU2PXX9ZK4UspS8BRUwAZoxrkWdLokYdmNvsfZ8bgjSLAsHneruFHIfcUjrx9FBbIamQFAECa/s1600/DSCF0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcJkPlJdD8nVOFTtsemrGh8aS_saqmWpbkkyUIdTWhLcYXxq5jOUEgE7mHnvslAgl5RKcU2PXX9ZK4UspS8BRUwAZoxrkWdLokYdmNvsfZ8bgjSLAsHneruFHIfcUjrx9FBbIamQFAECa/s400/DSCF0111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKRCdNvXuGWMNlgbUcfMtQxP8z9NMfOq7ObcB5hZbgJX3t-b3U3R5JbJR1TaDu6Gu5Orts1t-tBEbI_EC5d4q1wNBdDgi6WyKDHiyLhh8x7zbHseETDixunsOnamiBT6XuojKw9H6YwDJ/s1600/DSCF0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKRCdNvXuGWMNlgbUcfMtQxP8z9NMfOq7ObcB5hZbgJX3t-b3U3R5JbJR1TaDu6Gu5Orts1t-tBEbI_EC5d4q1wNBdDgi6WyKDHiyLhh8x7zbHseETDixunsOnamiBT6XuojKw9H6YwDJ/s400/DSCF0092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVEVQ4w1tPA5l40bkUWAg9CfIXUJ_2DhEaGp39xOhgDTohd1b-r1vgYJnHZfMnDCVSZhDKUn7lj7HLTPK6uWfcjWkfbyBSJhcspXUn4dK-eOn9nJ55X1uG_Cp-W5STnvbCeuwpfDi1rlS/s1600/DSCF0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVEVQ4w1tPA5l40bkUWAg9CfIXUJ_2DhEaGp39xOhgDTohd1b-r1vgYJnHZfMnDCVSZhDKUn7lj7HLTPK6uWfcjWkfbyBSJhcspXUn4dK-eOn9nJ55X1uG_Cp-W5STnvbCeuwpfDi1rlS/s400/DSCF0076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpU89Dvv2K-2EJqkFxrLBoVRX-7Szc9y6Tw6q0sR7CZ6UtbUmXzNDBH9ougTb0-MEib9MVkgm6C2XGO58NixfFaH8Ocoa80TyQLiNHmCsCgTp6NaOsHIN2_VcORZ9JS6N7m3vFtu74pjs/s1600/DSCF0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpU89Dvv2K-2EJqkFxrLBoVRX-7Szc9y6Tw6q0sR7CZ6UtbUmXzNDBH9ougTb0-MEib9MVkgm6C2XGO58NixfFaH8Ocoa80TyQLiNHmCsCgTp6NaOsHIN2_VcORZ9JS6N7m3vFtu74pjs/s400/DSCF0103.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vXEp3jyMzgumemTNiHqKlBBE76frwvrW7cazsYWQx2Y4Jwu-2iWcYXCcBWsrCygI0hELlBxUiuqqFuYNIyPVU9EuaoPM-gW0zpyMmfIlkaDUuVQUUg9HdF1zCHnbZTUIwkYpqutHFtQP/s1600/DSCF0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vXEp3jyMzgumemTNiHqKlBBE76frwvrW7cazsYWQx2Y4Jwu-2iWcYXCcBWsrCygI0hELlBxUiuqqFuYNIyPVU9EuaoPM-gW0zpyMmfIlkaDUuVQUUg9HdF1zCHnbZTUIwkYpqutHFtQP/s400/DSCF0108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><strong>The vacation</strong><br />I'm back from Fairbanks where I had a wonderful week with  my family. I'm blessed to have a really great family. We have a little dysfunctional stuff going on, just like any family, but we have a lot of fun together. I was actually crying on the plane after leaving them yesterday. I miss them already.<br /><br />You can see from my title I didn't do so well with the weight loss this last week. I actually gained four pounds in the week I was in Fairbanks. Even though my sister normally eats really healthy, her children (my nieces and their families), well, not so much. <br /><br />My nieces, sister and myself started off the week going to the gym Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. My 72-year old skinny (and beautiful) sister usually goes five days a week. On Thursday and Friday we just wanted to stay home, relax and visit, so that's exactly what we did.<br /><br />For New Year's Day everyone decided on Papa Murphy's pizza (with extra cheese). I looked it up before I ate it, 28 Points for 1/8 of  a pizza (combination). I had two pieces. Then there was the coconut cream pie for dessert (which I didn't even bother to look up the Points) Seriously, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I haven't eaten food like this in oh, I don't know, three years! I wish I could say it made me sick and I felt awful afterwards. I didn't. I felt fine, with just a twinge of regret knowing I was going home the next day and facing the scale.<br /><br />It wasn't just the one day of overindulgence. My sister makes the world's best homemade bread. It's whole wheat and healthy, but it's bread, and I'm sure it's high in Points. I can't resist it. <br /><br />We also ate out a lot and even though I tried to order healthy food, eating out is not conducive to weight loss unless you really watch it. I didn't. <br /><br />Check out this salad I had at Chili's that I looked up AFTER I ate it. I could have looked it up before since I had my phone and internet connection, but I made a conscious decision to look it up later, knowing it wouldn't be good.<br /><br />Quesadilla Explosion Salad <br />Calories 1400 <br />Fat grams 88<br />Sat. Fat 26 <br />Carbs 88<br />Protein 65<br />Fiber 10<br />Sodium 2320<br /><br />Can you believe those numbers? It should be illegal to serve something this high in fat and calories, not to mention the sodium. <br /><br />On the plane ride home I felt miserable because my clothes were too tight. My bra was cutting into my back (back fat), my jeans were too snug around my waist (gut fat) and I was wearing my big size 12's. I was so thankful I got a First Class seat  (remember, I'm an airline employee...not rich). I can't imagine three hours squeezed into a middle seat in coach. I think I would have died. At least I was in a nice wide seat for my nice wide butt. <br /><br />I'm a little disappointed in myself, but I had a great time last week. It really wasn't about the food, it was about spending time with the people I love. The food just happened to be there. I could have said no, and a few times I did eat healthy. Obviously though, I didn't make good choices most of the time.<br /><br />I will give myself a little credit though. When I got home last night about 8pm, I stopped at the grocery store on my way home. My husband is in Denver visiting his family so it was just going to be me at home. I have issues with eating when I'm alone. It's when I do my worst eating, when no one is watching. I'm a closet eater of junk food. When I'm alone is the most dangerous time for me.<br /><br />As I was walking through the store last night I had coconut cream pie on my mind. I kept telling myself no. I bought my staples, organic non-fat milk, organic eggs, my favorite whole-grain bread, chicken breasts, non-fat yogurt, lots of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and a lot of other things that I eat on a regular basis. All very healthy and on plan.<br /><br />I kept thinking about the bakery and walked past it a few times, but I never actually looked at any of the baked goods. They have a large cooler full of pies. I knew there would be a coconut cream pie in the cooler. I knew I could buy one, take it home and eat the whole thing. I knew no one would ever know. Somehow I managed to get out of the store with only my healthy food. I consider this a major accomplishment. <br /><br /><strong>Now what?</strong><br />Now it's time to get down to business. I don't have the I'm-on-vacation excuse. I have great hopes that I can get this thing under control. Today the gym is on my schedule, along with tracking my food and drinking tons of water. Tomorrow it's Weight Watchers and an official weigh in.<br /><br />I go back to work on Tuesday, and back to my regular routine. For some unexplicable reason, I'm feeling positive and hopeful. I know I can and will do this (again).

January 2, 2011 - 181 pounds

Pictures from the ice park at North Pole, Alaska. December 31, 2010 The vacation I'm back from Fairbanks where I had a wonderful week wi...

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New Years

<p> Kyle, Abby, and I made the 4+ hour trip down south to Kansas City on Thursday for New Year’s weekend!<img alt="DSC09643" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dBMYYACjZttLeXi6vTSEXotoYMCYV3F6ctiz-drNSKIBBxioHeJBIQMJIhfCoDS9EmwLDb56sKhdfl2zLIrswzNoiRvqIUOT4oHkyNo_7MRl_zz1r0D1zDRRTglYcqt-2hY48H78VOBe/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09643" width="304"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lu37QVY_mk29XiJCERSeuXuQlwPF1nDZu-m94A5hvfYKbtCOg0DtPSsEuL2wegNZDtwqtrrouZeG-kF1qe4Cka-E5AJbswhIqVIHEQ4tkV1hVx382CLRY91onOBWgnckbQNWSndZvTXv/s1600-h/DSC09641%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09641" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9ObT9b2yZWYRQ23RXb8Ctl82fD5yykcg5hHVHqJ-2xci6feTfxrUf29iLDenRWnp1lcqpL3KJsYe1wDluHS1aXZobQ_VfPO4eRvbkapPn_hH-wg1a_WB_F7N5IwOGk8iM4fwvzc96d-E/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09641" width="404"></a></p> <p>The purpose of our trip? To spend some quality time with 2 <strong>wonderful</strong> people, Mark & Jenna!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnawdrOmBGOz1HKjXpeHDS9INSPvkVk2lIvSx3L8nfzL2w_4D3t-REh5VsywukF31NHvWRgwMB_m12azfSfuI6WSuNOMuaurnQqRk2WdDm7kiOWz8d3pyAZ__LI2KxCdrGUG6BskxQjJC/s1600-h/DSC01652%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC01652" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7Tml5c13yqIbkKIAke-H0HPKBgtWvGcWJfMk9HX1JzeZHuqIqQ4ILV2xofdXnyRRm7fOltsed-Fu_dvJBsUbTzKXQZ6-US4mnFTW5XOpjynIQ91nNieDfF5IvdiYHg0dPI-qZnIjGsG2/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01652" width="404"></a></p> <p>It was an unbelievable 68 degrees when we got there! Doesn’t seem right for December! The boys squeezed in a game on the PS3 while us girls freshened up a bit!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlSJ23MU_h89pqr0ulxEWtnRDgcdI5OUWepdLotonHGmJgzYDB-WkBC3BZspv2qxwLc4FJEY6rsbXUfzI0Rtw1EneID610spDXMGqlCPbX2tBmSISBtQECcQq1fMmp4YYCURjpFSoNtKV/s1600-h/DSC01643%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC01643" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0P4RX7iSNCI1Sx0lMy2jKl_9o1QLtaP1jDu7XGhGxj7dC-kxzgWvO_PDFjYfwpqN5FbcYRi_n_JEOwD82xdi60aoJqKbBLFdimGvVVp3Yh2hktQ1wOMtli_1S7Y0KQBED8hbR1ZcWqRd/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01643" width="404"></a></p> <p>Abby did what she does best! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hVlSAmP3hjMCXczgaftI7AI1LOJ4q9Jbv2-w0k4E97vfrJcrEpz2GTe0fc_65iWTPKrc7_rdvzSdanszycMF6lhuhTCO7BLKSDEY6KOy_v_3AofR2sssPwo4R-T40RXJmp05wzepn2UC/s1600-h/DSC01645%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC01645" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMv7NZvFbYCTzlbAHX7KhmGGCsoH_Q2HR7aS2g0j3nV5gmS31Twfi3qdU7oPblCbgjlxVubbBI7qFXH8h6wJx7BiWJCtP40yUaBuJRtFxzbYOQCeCpI-f0v_EPyHf7guVFvrJwJZnY6fs/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01645" width="404"></a></p> <p>We had a night of “favorites” planned! First up, Texas Roadhouse! Mark & Jenna are regulars! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRaCulGe6UXQr1lkctoQTiwN6-lSIw2469vdcM-U51ZHOevrsiJMlQo2B5LaDVScWQQBQ_TfUfEYkMsYmcnyLPxqZSeayllh1q0A8qHKj4TuipFef5DeG8-MsWeYgSs1NKUyDylPjlnAx/s1600-h/DSC09644%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09644" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZ-YQ9TucPwuRFoIylqrPQQJNUE3QgtCOwv12AvedxqBeNsm_U5qo8OPsX82gPsCFI0i5hzAezV-GZBLblNBHCPhmvsz6CAz6nl62UeZ7SHvbI-1TrLKOfOMXmJdsklQCqv77JIV5Acde/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09644" width="404"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSP0VgVqko2xIExJrz8mkBPUGZxqTCkly19iyH2h2snJe_ZrgwUe-_0hVO1lMwZ16aOPRq6C1iY-h6ZA2L0dOhYUiqizJmPsRV3-qbGHij_DvZnv57Z_MCGmGdJVgaVNAIkXfE4jwuLx2/s1600-h/DSC09645%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09645" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2xw8iozw2dAh_yz_e6WiNoIp343Q9QmIYOaJs_Pz4A1surVcsTF7luqfjB74F4DUpqcYF_VF56ZWKkDqm2icN11oWHRXgHNdBfZ7Ss7GPFeAPF3I05EnPBrh0KsUknk-BpeUGoLKSA4Z/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09645" width="404"></a></p> <p>Who can say no to their awesome dinner rolls & loaded potatoes?!?!? :) Mmmm good!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZyXiVaLAzKCHVdUs02dVjRVk12u8smGH3s_uWNJnvxFBMW9CokqzyJjv3rOFRmGWEPfHMjLK-VftmcfHPMWFyfOBe9L5alKw7i2l2ENDOFINhBsrBtRHJH7MBP7nUWueVM5yRygNeRls/s1600-h/DSC09647%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09647" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjna1R1PYBqqnK6l_gLeXTlKOFHsDuViSlgiXdhVQ9yLUdX3o1UTnsN0wYNP76c7s3msLcqFPrms_qS4JELKU9G00DOiuwo3BciSqq2w-N17q1m2yczwBRBuLP-BcwNVCHOdHA64FVfsH-B/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09647" width="404"></a></p> <p>The other favorite of the night…ICE CREAM!!! DQ to be specific!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBilncPiXh1F-O71QXfi3-eqIZgsgZVLlijcAia2-HasGqNoj8qo5waiC20AI6on9UOwUxl5R5Y-MDxKyE6BhOqJeDGhV5clYhBCtv5j49rFikJWX3sQrkQuOk2N6ZKM_IAxpV_aLrc_V4/s1600-h/DSC01655%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC01655" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLSrUc0uDXbOOU4V_5UY7qc4F-5xMJ7hwi-Ibp9TlTpA1YRnZ0XJzxPpy58nW_4gyOLi5phvDJptIRaoHZf4omK71H0k1j7EefC3TlMHcSXnD00QARzi34l-IfAT3IIKfErKHv9nQPvEw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01655" width="404"></a>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67JQp-WqhLUH-u_mknjfaGvHsqsKVwcJu5vzCzbne0YGHBXAF9HW2beWuHDsYUr3lKRZHoE_fUJY8vYFQOKVJEaKS74-0rSPbGg8EgBMBGM699F3MQj2GzLrrBf_LfGdHabh-1cUO98b2/s1600-h/DSC01658%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC01658" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2331FdwXD4-LoqY3gEc222uxj2NGJnu0Bc8iMLG33hIADIWIcwkXkqIbPZbhQmOBEwrOvQZg0X7FFTWf-Io00PfX4S2zMf5mBFThVavhNOR6mYsdokm_GATVOicJrbhmtZEsZ2FAxKiJb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01658" width="404"></a></p> <p>Wendi & Hayden also made the trip to KC to see some of her college friends!<img alt="DSC01660" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DIcJJl0XvxrHKw2jpN6WCl-dQKzFRdJUyyk9WEp39UXbCr6mKT3J3FWAbwk4i2dWJafhtGVqnY-TD5HNGARF1f4ygjWnVZmWa_jTBoGRGE1Zq6oITGZYZxxurum8qNkHAAujkK9RHg1f/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01660" width="404"> </p> <p>But first they spent the night with us! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBYnNPMi11dofCMTzcXPr-rpLeOfh87mrOcVx5IIbQF6wRhwEHdg6hBWNCERw13k99wuGkuggrXuHwxnTQaOgVTugek_fU3s0W3felDEubQj4nSDIdgTaRdyNF1GaLKV9esGNUBBVFWlC/s1600-h/DSC09649%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09649" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEoWh2KmN6kiEiNWDX_qKMVGiqX1E1nr5YsWHpW5wMnMxKNP6lCayR5Ym_miQjGDV6FmfWI-DAhEJqM28AWOZjIPh_sDtFncD2ASQWpg7_3TRBx_ZMLMEux-fNDXqgcDtbuY3pjlyyhi3/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09649" width="304"></a></p> <p>Friday Jenna made us an amazing breakfast! (thanks hun!!) And we hit the mall! Hayden was pumped!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBJieQUOKEc_2UDfYvTy7_6HYEbl88gLgoh3NfMqS-jg8wGlD1gyv-51naBw3mxqKlb7Nv1QQhdGJ5JIoJMzGyuwEWtoejHixmNGZOiI6TxDWEiet6Uj0z-VV60Yb2mFmS1k6JU_Tu6vY/s1600-h/DSC01662%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC01662" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSVLXFVMsx20YBIl4eTDYraLoXpExiLQ9trGwWYFXrcIazS4RPOa5H1JvtgBGvNcZCO3ly8V2Gp7GUYS2YS1opaK0AThpae-wPI1gluBpKNLxy488SQ7NuD9n4br7NJhTCsxBZhoql7Yf/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC01662" width="304"></a></p> <p>So was Mark! This reminds me of another guy I know! ;) <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/03/sundaymonday.html">See this post</a>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNibSw9gUzON4xdE40sj7quzo1kbm2iAtwYMxpgHafwYfKMRFsCQYecsdKes2QHkGGYH7z6TTxMi5tGqfXr3Ml4Kqqev0ng0RhraLvERIdlFvdo0CDfAqvLYJ2YcvyFgpvLzflb234hpT/s1600-h/DSC09650%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09650" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwSYL7t9eqWkU1Ig9g2nVLk3tnO4Zb27JoG5CWSGsQAtS5Nq1k22_9IGMufsfofshVOX20ZlpwKGpFnEb72LCEtpZWH8sVoA-XYsY6CUZZwQaOnHbIoJ-f4UR2vukFc4NoaoTPFMrDJxg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09650" width="304"></a></p> <p>After our day of shopping we “pretty-ed” up for a low key night out!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3st6bYrwMLMQxdoq_bDAsI85AT0WI1CYoouXJFrv0tNmBfWFeis0H2upC9glRkKpwWklYskl2FmlcIM5y9zJlGPco_h0p6BM6BAL479OS7yMSuh6_bdrEGpmkIA0YU41hjSjwnhGTGp-V/s1600-h/DSC09654%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09654" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkz9d1-5xidqG6fq3hNjYR3Qa54FH5lX6lOv-ETOn-n2qN2TZlD-yioQn6ud8t5XDbw-EKWAT6wQzsyLLGs3ch-5lIp_7TjijVVlUOv6mFDIWalMIqWNtdOdktwBq9KO3CtQpVKyCTGBJ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09654" width="304"></a></p> <p>Tough boys! ;)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgHqXZMxWWyhcs-3XAwr7P3V51lZ3Z45gWxfRNISqULKeeb_v2MiYUKoqpITI8GWHVcYY4NwkxfmkCN4RSzS1C7g2qaUKYQYlqs3lZCy5l1G00o9AuC1amx2y8XVyxx0XKqfejSA4h9cj/s1600-h/kylemark%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="kylemark" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBa9WaplygNmLTMrUQBU7X93NBTARnIhguprAxX7f3pA3jfPHX-M-PGi2eB53DTiT7jm-Jiqg6PJlFTZDliINm8Zm96aYdb6vd9I5oHJYtAHu8u6LGGdFK_o46KsohWq-2D6Fj-7NlZHX/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="kylemark" width="404"></a></p> <p>I sure do love this guy!!<img alt="DSC09660" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_6uKXunyt7IVCMTikW3h-bpUNyYb129dFZIRNm9HtRiFl6RLXI-z1OLVrfSSW7UaNSrST_qehwMd50q8L4opqkA9J7YprEjCzHCcDxSfv-h1wHdYOgS9cBgpmeA_7KOxg7j3XMCK4HHd/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09660" width="404"></p> <p>Soon to be Mr & Mrs!!! :D<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XhXNv38dXj3QStStxZnoTemIkbcRTb2M2nVoBHfhFSiwZ0RaVNKX1h1oNx3f3P4_WGgJaFo-7Y8Uc0vCCKqBvxEueZRqlV03BBYMTmQyRv0MZ5FjJP_d6MzZjr39oyPP-DPj8BiagYzb/s1600-h/marknjenna%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="marknjenna" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-Kiq_Yg8ErgsJfcFANzio8F5G_MjkIufB44Vbnmmkt23hkabIc2FiqWCDZqzASZWGTqggTbcRGCUCs74RY2mR3DeEG1rMwtpXfm-nboHmlgnLRmM3EU7utxcUopru2e_X4rqlhoLEixh/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="marknjenna" width="304"></a></p> <p>We enjoyed Mexican food for supper and spent the rest of the evening at their apartment. Unfortunately I didn’t make it to midnight. But Kyle did wake me up to get his New Years kiss! ;)</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Kyle, Abby, & I headed home early Saturday morning. We keep telling our friends they need to move back to Iowa!! I guess we’ll just have to keep working on them. </p> <p><strong><em>I wish you all the best for 2011!!</em></strong></p>

New Years

Kyle, Abby, and I made the 4+ hour trip down south to Kansas City on Thursday for New Year’s weekend! The purpose of our trip? To spend so...

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Break out the champagne (the '55 Hitchcock)...

<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuu-j93w_O4SAZI35_v2b7KGevhXQy_WvDxLVNBYtMHbsY7tmgjWZVU4lXBmrhAWqRtI6pkot7SRLI8Bw5oqSnZi8-8vbfmusmfX2mnM8dp463edZ0RLidEHP9uPZBuJ-oW7h3pXhK_54/s1600/cote+d+azur.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuu-j93w_O4SAZI35_v2b7KGevhXQy_WvDxLVNBYtMHbsY7tmgjWZVU4lXBmrhAWqRtI6pkot7SRLI8Bw5oqSnZi8-8vbfmusmfX2mnM8dp463edZ0RLidEHP9uPZBuJ-oW7h3pXhK_54/s1600/cote+d+azur.bmp" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometime just after Labor Day it began to seem that 2010 suddenly accelerated and was careening headlong toward Halloween…Thanksgiving…Christmas.  Each holiday quickly came and went and, what seems like moments later, 2011 is here.</span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In my life, 2010 was a year highlighted by reconnecting with old friends and making new ones…so today I celebrate the old year along with the new.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Traditionally, of course, champagne is the <i>drink du jour</i> at New Year’s, and so champagne it shall be now. A bottle of ‘96 <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dom Pérignon Ros</span>é<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> would be great, but I’m in the mood for something really special…an old favorite… Hitchcock’s distinctive ’55 </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">vintage</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> from the </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cote d'Azur. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">To Catch a Thief</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> (1955), or “Hitchcock champagne,” boasts a rare combination of elegance and flair. Light-bodied with a smooth finish that lingers, it remains unmatched, though it has been imitated far and wide for decades.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A jaunty score sets the tone as the opening credits roll over a shot of an international travel service with a poster in its window, “If you like life, you’ll love France.” The tinkling keys of a grand piano hint at continental sophistication and adventure long before the first scream bemoaning stolen jewelry issues from a Riviera hotel balcony.</span></span> <br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48Sgpw1nuTnGKA-hGWpGyPdQwOaT7n03Owk9uy7NmHcFMWFTNuebRjyaRRf1IL2SDRiAlyPMIflEK8rOeDZOaYHCfQLdUwz65_Al6d5ZsB3w2qQqY95hbdjGH0ShuV8axK6eP9sPlFOax/s1600/sainte+jeannet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48Sgpw1nuTnGKA-hGWpGyPdQwOaT7n03Owk9uy7NmHcFMWFTNuebRjyaRRf1IL2SDRiAlyPMIflEK8rOeDZOaYHCfQLdUwz65_Al6d5ZsB3w2qQqY95hbdjGH0ShuV8axK6eP9sPlFOax/s320/sainte+jeannet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">John Robie's Sainte-Jeannet villa</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial;">Quickly enough the action takes off with a colorful cruise through the Cote d'Azur as the French police speed to the village of Sainte-Jeannet and the hillside villa of retired jewel thief and prime suspect, John Robie (Cary Grant). The film has just begun and cinematographer Robert Burks has already heralded Hitchcock's first film in VistaVision/Technicolor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Alfred Hitchcock and Robert Burks had initially worked together five years earlier, following the director's return to the U.S. after making two films in England. Hitchcock was beginning production on <b>Strangers on a Train </b>for Warner Bros. and the studio cinematographer assigned to the project was 40-year-old Robert Burks. This would be the beginning of a fabled partnership.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aJ-LFhxBKGBVxsOpoMXKA9LFUFZ3nn0ZmbCFLYOEwnvpwl08JKliUAQyoatZUrp6FC-Dip7VCoYoKQA50NGVH3tOnfqGOOUi2pIb5WsF8-LzdqT_BHBSyPcbdGA-ZkwEtTMLr_Yyfm-6/s1600/robert+burks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aJ-LFhxBKGBVxsOpoMXKA9LFUFZ3nn0ZmbCFLYOEwnvpwl08JKliUAQyoatZUrp6FC-Dip7VCoYoKQA50NGVH3tOnfqGOOUi2pIb5WsF8-LzdqT_BHBSyPcbdGA-ZkwEtTMLr_Yyfm-6/s200/robert+burks.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cinematographer Robert Burks</span></td></tr></tbody></table> <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Burks began his career in the Warner Bros. special effects lab at 19 when Hal Wallis, who liked shadows and high contrast from his cinematographers, was in charge of production. Burks, who apprenticed under James Wong Howe, worked his way up, becoming a DP and then a cinematographer by 1948.</span></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The early influence of German expressionism on Hitchcock corresponded nicely with the influences Burks absorbed at Warner Bros. and the two collaborated on twelve films from 1951 – 1964, every picture Hitchcock made during that period except <b>Psycho</b>. Like Burks, Hitchcock had detailed knowledge of special effects and tended to devise scenes featuring complex imagery. One of the most memorable scenes in all of Hitchcock came in <b>Strangers on a Train</b>, the scene in which Robert Walker’s strangulation of Laura Elliott is reflected in the lens of a pair of fallen glasses. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Robert Burks was Oscar-nominated for <b>Strangers</b> and again for <b>Rear Window</b>. With <b>To Catch a Thief</b>, he won the Academy Award for Best Color Cinematography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From 1955 – 1958, Burks shot five Hitchcock films in VistaVision/Technicolor; four of the five were for Paramount Pictures.</span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr8W-czTC3FMiCGK16WWGMNjigxqu6CxCVVO-PuVsxPiv1AqVSTVL9SfVDGpGd9prBf7E4__YFzTxtlIjTyWtpwvPhEtKGSG2wduZYjDmyRFyufRfBx73micT6qZm-hBiBCqakqV5Mikq/s1600/filming+TCat+in+VV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr8W-czTC3FMiCGK16WWGMNjigxqu6CxCVVO-PuVsxPiv1AqVSTVL9SfVDGpGd9prBf7E4__YFzTxtlIjTyWtpwvPhEtKGSG2wduZYjDmyRFyufRfBx73micT6qZm-hBiBCqakqV5Mikq/s200/filming+TCat+in+VV.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hitchcock on the set with VistaVision camera</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Paramount had been the only major studio to balk at the widescreen CinemaScope system when it came into use in 1953, and set out to develop a process of its own. The studio worked with Eastman Kodak and came up with VistaVision, a method that delivered a higher resolution, widescreen version of 35 mm. The VistaVision process printed down large format negatives to standard 35 mm, creating a finer-grained print and improved image. The use of Technicolor's dye transfer process was key to VistaVision image quality.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />For his first VistaVision/Technicolor excursion, Hitchcock contrived a stylish romantic thriller fueled by dazzling starpower.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtLE882JFOZgUtqIjSrnbv55ZduFCRVVu9gm11qpDvjVoBrfLE00ow453l5wdjAcWI6gYh43NRBsrtwr2t5H31LrfvgystnxYvCWDdlM7uhB9P_ipuuR5i-HUHsKKdpcNFLVCHUanhqoX/s1600/TCAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtLE882JFOZgUtqIjSrnbv55ZduFCRVVu9gm11qpDvjVoBrfLE00ow453l5wdjAcWI6gYh43NRBsrtwr2t5H31LrfvgystnxYvCWDdlM7uhB9P_ipuuR5i-HUHsKKdpcNFLVCHUanhqoX/s200/TCAT.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cary Grant and Grace Kelly</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Robert Osborne remarked, when he introduced TCM's most recent screening of <b>To Catch a Thief</b>, that it had “the best asset any film could have...Cary Grant.” Good point. This was the third of Cary Grant’s four Hitchcock pictures and it came nearly ten years after their last collaboration, <b>Notorious</b> (1946), one <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of</span> the best films in either man’s illustrious filmography. In the interim, Hitchcock’s career had gone into and dramatically come out of a slump. During the same period, Grant had continued to make popular films, but had increasingly moved away from the kind of part he had trademarked – the dapper, self-effacing man of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following <b>Dream Wife </b>(1953), Grant retired, dissatisfied with the films he was being offered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But then he was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>approached by Alfred Hitchcock who had a project in mind with the requisite amount of elegance and comedy to attract him. </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With <b>To Catch a Thief</b> Cary Grant returned to type; John Robie, “The Cat,” is a dashing charmer, “a man of obvious good taste” very few could or would want to resist. Grant seldom departed from type for the remainder of his career.</span></span> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoJXaYjZ9ofOEJ5VFOE-jaUbsAeQQPtBML85fsIj7ONQ1VlAayIENcDsIObokCFf-ggUJve55Qm2kRvG-03vylAwZR-sic_Vf9Ujgfd0YDDiigJlpDf4Ezm_gfXGPEHZ1kSZAfJfkPoft/s1600/last+scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoJXaYjZ9ofOEJ5VFOE-jaUbsAeQQPtBML85fsIj7ONQ1VlAayIENcDsIObokCFf-ggUJve55Qm2kRvG-03vylAwZR-sic_Vf9Ujgfd0YDDiigJlpDf4Ezm_gfXGPEHZ1kSZAfJfkPoft/s320/last+scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cary Grant and Grace Kelly</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>To Catch a Thief </b>was the third and final film Grace Kelly made with Hitchcock, who would have worked with her for the rest of his career had she not left movies <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">at the height of her stardom to marry Prince Rainier. </span>Hitchcock’s breathtaking onscreen vision of Kelly brings to mind Josef von Sternberg’s cinematic exaltation of Marlene Dietrich 20 years earlier. Kelly was a beautiful woman but among the handful of films she made, her image as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a screen goddess achieved perfection only in her films with Hitchcock. In <b>To Catch a Thief</b> she plays a spoiled rich girl, the ultimate "snow covered volcano" and "Hitchcock blonde."</span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y5C_Wc0Ior6XOQknst_xU10BJT7TDn8OiWVjwkcmhJdK-8t-xkWLrqr-fbM4IagH0gezvhBJDtS7HoARoIcpDXP8wGvG1taFUGP1oCvbZcTUW8Gvzn6TAaIZKN2d7O3hoHAoduYiepxa/s1600/TCAT+Jessie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y5C_Wc0Ior6XOQknst_xU10BJT7TDn8OiWVjwkcmhJdK-8t-xkWLrqr-fbM4IagH0gezvhBJDtS7HoARoIcpDXP8wGvG1taFUGP1oCvbZcTUW8Gvzn6TAaIZKN2d7O3hoHAoduYiepxa/s200/TCAT+Jessie.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jessie Royce Landis</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The pairing of Grant and Kelly is irresistible. The two are perfect for the roles of debonair thief/innocent man and haughty/hot debutante, and they literally generate fireworks together.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In her first Hitchcock outing, Jessie Royce Landis portrayed Kelly’s jovial, down-to-earth, bourbon-sipping mother. Hitchcock liked to include colorful women as supporting characters in his films, ranging from the silly (Florence Bates in <b>Rebecca</b>, Patricia Collinge in <b>Shadow of a Doubt</b>) to the clever and wisecracking (Thelma Ritter in <b>Rear Window</b>,  Barbara bel Geddes in <b>Vertigo</b>). Royce Landis portrayed two of the most appealing of the latter type in this film and <b>North by Northwest</b>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Actor John Williams appeared in his third Hitchcock film with <b>To Catch a Thief</b>, this time as an insurance agent helping Robie track down the real jewel thief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His H.H. Hughson is a fine foil for Grant’s Robie. Their early scenes provide Hitchcock the opportunity to have some fun with a favorite theme, the ambiguity of guilt and innocence...Robie tells Hughson flatly that though he “only stole from those who wouldn’t go hungry,” he “kept everything myself.” Chiding Hughson for stealing hotel sundries and cheating on his expense account, Robie comments, “I was an out and out thief…like you.” Robie emphasizes his point with the throwaway line, “I wish I’d known someone in the insurance racket when I went into the burglary business.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAMDio0AmddkrFXfJpPwo8RBcWrGDzjg0vhSntaTSrnp9bQ99AzG7VsDOefNmShmdsQbHJZB0OL11czH0OIHYsFaVIlPs2n1B5iLkSFT6tyWUy6SFqG4Youd2B0oCFBw-PJnlisdolSfB/s1600/robies++villa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAMDio0AmddkrFXfJpPwo8RBcWrGDzjg0vhSntaTSrnp9bQ99AzG7VsDOefNmShmdsQbHJZB0OL11czH0OIHYsFaVIlPs2n1B5iLkSFT6tyWUy6SFqG4Youd2B0oCFBw-PJnlisdolSfB/s320/robies++villa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cary Grant, John Williams, Georgette Anys</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hitchcock toys with guilt and innocence again when Robie refers to the sensitive hands and gentle touch of his cook and housekeeper, Germaine, who bakes a quiche as "light as air" and who, during the war, “strangled a German general once…without a sound.”</span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some have dismissed <b>To Catch a Thief</b> for its lack of weight, however, it is a strong reflection of Hitchcock’s meticulous craftsmanship, lightly touches on some of the director’s pet themes, and is a solid film of its genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Hitchcock delivered exactly what he intended, an exciting, lighthearted, romantic thriller. All elements click into place…from the John Michael Hayes screenplay to Robert Burks's VistaVision/ Technicolor photography, Lyn Murray’s score, Edith Head’s eyeball-popping costumes, two scintillating stars and the Cote d’Azur setting.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>To Catch a Thief</b> was successful and influential, and many later films bear its earmarks... most prominently Stanley Donen’s <b>Charade</b>, as well as his <b>Arabesque</b>, William Wyler's <b>How to Steal a Million</b>, Blake Edwards's <b>The Pink Panther</b> and countless romantic romps ever since.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlPETvkuwu0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlPETvkuwu0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> </div>

Alfred Hitchcock Cary Grant Grace Kelly Jessie Royce Landis John Williams Robert Burks To Catch a Thief Break out the champagne (the '55 Hitchcock)...

Sometime just after Labor Day it began to seem that 2010 suddenly accelerated and was careening headlong toward Halloween…Thanksgiving…Chris...

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