23 weeks

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz1iAlzVTIU-6gzztjpHZQyur0L90nbyC1moRWITx9dSMcXxaf3Rjz66d_ho7HUJ2i-DjdN4mWHoodsQ8v4xbu1UvKghzedLXYqdBjxuvW-TKQVbDQ08aJrFZ_MhFbq1fFk3sx-TrUhs/s1600/DSC09803.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577664474068291154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz1iAlzVTIU-6gzztjpHZQyur0L90nbyC1moRWITx9dSMcXxaf3Rjz66d_ho7HUJ2i-DjdN4mWHoodsQ8v4xbu1UvKghzedLXYqdBjxuvW-TKQVbDQ08aJrFZ_MhFbq1fFk3sx-TrUhs/s400/DSC09803.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><strong>How Far Along:</strong> 23 Weeks <br /><br /><strong>Size of baby:</strong> Baby Bangert is the size of a papaya<br /><br /><strong>Total Weight Gain/Loss:</strong> didn’t weigh this week<br /><br /><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> I wear maternity jeans and pants but everything else is regular. Things are getting tighter though! <br /><br /><strong>Gender:</strong> It’s a girl!!! <br /><br /><strong>Movement:</strong> She’s a busy bee in the evenings and I've been starting to feel her more & more throughout the day!<br /><br /><strong>Sleep:</strong> Not too bad, I get up a few times throughout the night to go to the bathroom. I guess it’s preparing me for a newborn! <br /><br /><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my stomach and a bigger selection of clothes! <br /><br /><strong>Cravings:</strong> I don't have specific cravings. I just like to eat! ;) I don’t think ice cream counts, I love that anytime! <br /><br /><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Really can’t complain! Feeling pretty well! <br /><br /><strong>Best Moment this week:</strong> Picking out the glider for our nursery! Hayden was a good help! ;)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90WXb-CtqfdL1MlUcyDGl4qzeEX4Jr7V6ILX5unGAiscVC5WdkY9ZAIGSg2Qil4-TCSvqJXBicsrveRE28i2i2spknq-F-OVJho5Z3twu7qPG7UrTrv7hQFHFI0pXldcTZ_aJ1KzrCoE/s1600/DSC09789.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577664477179890866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90WXb-CtqfdL1MlUcyDGl4qzeEX4Jr7V6ILX5unGAiscVC5WdkY9ZAIGSg2Qil4-TCSvqJXBicsrveRE28i2i2spknq-F-OVJho5Z3twu7qPG7UrTrv7hQFHFI0pXldcTZ_aJ1KzrCoE/s400/DSC09789.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br />Once again I'm behind getting this up. Today is day 2 in my 24th week, but hey better late than never right?!?! I'm so excited for this weekend, we have friends staying with us and a wedding, should be a good time!<br /><br />Happy Friday everyone!

23 weeks

How Far Along: 23 Weeks Size of baby: Baby Bangert is the size of a papaya Total Weight Gain/Loss: didn’t weigh this week Maternity Cloth...

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My head has been buried in the sand

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrVHy1twmOe5oywDUjI2TVgllyGqVVnJnBnmd8hv0X2lPz8iRktPPVezUxdeCbXZWWKQ9l7co8FTniyreD4aBeg2jBmKVp1QyJY9AUdCZrwmoxQ36aXkLRScas5cSKNv0xFZ59r9rvcGX/s1600/sand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrVHy1twmOe5oywDUjI2TVgllyGqVVnJnBnmd8hv0X2lPz8iRktPPVezUxdeCbXZWWKQ9l7co8FTniyreD4aBeg2jBmKVp1QyJY9AUdCZrwmoxQ36aXkLRScas5cSKNv0xFZ59r9rvcGX/s320/sand.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've been really good lately about ignoring the the one thing I don't want to talk about. Recently, another blogger mentioned that you can tell when someone is doing poorly on their weight loss plan. It's when they talk about everything except their weight loss plan.<br /><br />I know that blogger was talking about me (actually, I don't think they even know I exist...but still, that's me). I talk about my cat, about being sick with a cold, my toothache, and recently I've even been chatting about the weather. Really, the weather? <br /><br />Sorry dear readers. To the few of you that still remain faithful, I haven't exactly been open and honest about my weight loss, or rather, my lack of weight loss.Or in reality, my weight gain. It's very apparent I've been avoiding the obvious. Even if I should happen to even mention trying to lose weight or talk about getting healthy, I quickly gloss over it  hoping you don't notice that I really haven't been into it lately.<br /><br />About that blogger I mentioned above, they were right in their analysis. The weight loss hasn't been going well for me. I have a lot of reasons, or rather excuses. They really aren't even worth mentioning, but here they are: I've been sick, I'm tired all the time, it's cold outside, I've lost desire, I don't care anymore, my work is stressful (some things never change), or, and you've got to love this one because it's my favorite...I just don't feel like it. <br /><br /><strong>It's time</strong><br />Time for what? It's time that I do something about this very unfortunate situation I've put myself in. I have to lose weight. I have to stop talking about it and do it. <br /><br />I just counted the days until the Seattle Big Climb. My heart sank when I realized I only have 24 DAYS before I have to climb 69 floors. There are 20 people on my Big Climb team. I am the team captain. One of the people on my team is the president of my company. I've heard he's a very nice person. Although we've met a few times, he doesn't know me, but he knows the person we're honoring with our climb. The president went to high school with one of the guys on my team (on my work team and my Big Climb team). They're good friends. <br /><br />So it's not like I can say I'm not doing this thing. That's not even within the realm of possibilities. I have to go, put on my cheerleader hat and literally, take one for the team. Or in this case, take 1,311 stair steps for the team. Really though, this isn't about me. It's about raising money for research for leukemia and other blood cancers. Reading this guy's <a href="http://www.poundsoffplayoff.com/2011/02/in-home-stretch.html">blog</a> reminded me once again of why I'm doing this (it's not for me or about me, it's for a greater good). <br /><br /><strong>About my weight gain</strong><br />I weighed two days ago at home, no clothes, in the morning before breakfast. I was HORRIFIED to see 183.4 on the scales. I practically ran screaming from the room. How on earth did I let this happen? And now, of all times, with a very difficult, physical challenge facing me on March 20. I don't know. I just know it happened. Excuses are acceptable, and none would help at this point anyway.<br /><br /><strong>Setting a goal with fierce resolve</strong><br />I have exactly 24 DAYS until B.C. DAY (Big Climb Day = March 20). I can either throw in the towel and say there's nothing I can accomplish in that short amount of time, or I can give it 110% of my effort. I'm choosing the last one. I'm going for it. I know I can at least make a dent in the damage I've done. <br /><br />My goal is pretty aggressive, but here it is:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ten pounds in 24 days</div><br />Fierce resolve is a desirable quality in an employee. It's referring to intense professional will. It's something that's encourage where I work. Why can't I apply this concept to weight loss? What if I have fierce resolve to lose this weight? An intense will to lose weight. Imagine what I could do with this. I had it at one time, then I quietly and conveniently let it slip away from me.<br /><br />It's really easier to not have fierce resolve about weight loss. Fierce resolve is hard work, especially for someone like myself, that has struggled with my weight my entire adult entire life.<br /><br />I was reading about fierce resolve on the internet, and came across an interesting <a href="http://www.poitiveimpactliving.blogspot.com/2007/07/attiude-of-fierce-resolve.html">article</a>. I borrowed this paragraph from the article:<br /><br /><strong>Reality can and does bend at our will. This is where the phrase fierce resolve clarifies itself. When you are firmly decided upon a goal, you cultivate the resolution to achieve. You don't do this half-hearted. </strong><br /><br />My head is out of the sand.

My head has been buried in the sand

I've been really good lately about ignoring the the one thing I don't want to talk about. Recently, another blogger mentioned that y...

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Want to get hired? Think like a publicist

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ms/ar5l0zs696792b5jfcms.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ms/ar5l0zs696792b5jfcms.gif" /></a></div>Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder <br /><br />Being a publicist is hard work, but public relations pros may have all the right answers when it comes to landing a job or advancing up the corporate ladder. In "Be Your Own Best Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired and Rewarded," publicists Jessica Kleiman and Meryl Weinsaft Cooper share their advice on how to use classic, well-tested PR techniques to get ahead.<br /><br />Want to get a job or build your brand with the media savvy of a publicist? Here's what to do:<br /><br />When online, keep it professional<br /><br />You don't need to keep up with all the social networks, but make sure to set your best foot forward when it comes to Facebook friends, Twitter followers and LinkedIn connections. "You may think that tweeting 'My job sucks' or 'I'm so hung over today' is innocent, but if your boss or a potential employer reads that, it could reflect poorly on you," says Jessica Kleiman, co-author and vice president of public relations at Hearst Magazines. "In PR, we like to consider everything 'on the record' because you never know who's sitting next to you when you're complaining on the train or who's reading your online profile."<br /><br />Craft a message<br /><br />With little time to pitch a service or product to reporters, it's important for publicists to be concise with what they want to say. "The first thing we do when we get a new client or project is to map out our key messages," says co-author Meryl Weinsaft Cooper and managing director at DeVries Public Relations. "Think about the three things you want people to know about you and then consider how you plan to communicate that in your resume and, ultimately, in a job interview." With so many job applicants, being able to weave a concise message to capture a recruiter's or hiring manager's attention is key.<br /><br />Do your research<br /><br />"Never go into a job interview without having researched the company," Kleiman says. "We would never pitch a reporter without having looked up [the reporter's] last few stories or knowing what kinds of topics the outlet covers." To prep for the interview, talk to current employees at the company, read industry blogs and make sure you understand what this company and position is really about. The more you know about a particular company and job opening the easier it will be to tailor your experience and explain why you're really a fit.<br /><br />Don't be afraid of rejection<br /><br />Even when approaching a dream company, don't be paralyzed by the thought of rejection, say the book's authors. Knowing how to deal with frequent rejection is part of the process as a publicist and is an especially relevant skill in times of high unemployment. At times, publicists send out a 100 inquiries to get just one or two responses, the authors point out.<br /><br />Forget instant gratification<br /><br />One of the skills most publicists learn right off the bat is that nothing pays off instantly. Instead take time to really craft and slowly build relationships. Many publicists need to constantly call their connections to get a positive response and following-up is often a large part of the job. Use the same tactics to get ahead in your job search. Instead of sending a cover letter and forgetting about that specific hiring manager or recruiter, be persistent and continue to follow-up without outright nagging. Building long-term relationships means they'll think of you when an opportunity arises.<br /><br />Make it constant<br /><br />Being a publicist is a 24-7 job, and like a job search, requires constant upkeep. Just like publicists need to keep tabs on how their specific product, person or service is doing -- job seekers should keep up with new opportunities, add to their experience and understand the changes in their industry. "While many celebrities and politicians have teams of PR experts working with them to build and manage their images, anyone can use the same skills to promote their talents and accomplishments in the workplace," Kleiman says.<br /><br />Alina Dizik researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

Want to get hired? Think like a publicist

Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder Being a publicist is hard work, but public relations pros may have all the right answers when it comes...

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The gym and a snow day

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This will be a short post because I have a cat in my lap, with his head draped across my left arm. It's my cat Mickey (a.k.a. Mickey Mouse), a white and orangeTurkish Van. He's a cat that thinks he's a dog that's named after a rodent. Anyway, it's hard to type and keep my arm still so as not to disturb him. He looks annoyed here because I woke him up to take his picture.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98PgilO0HnSL6SZbXLKJazZqIIQ4UzCSRmlvOJ_6nKIPz0-ONO8_X8qhVZ0zFvdoU6Vm8r2y7X7eLN6fpCQg7uS9yajd5MmeSLkWj6alGik7Zg21ned3Bk-TqvBIq1xl9oLHXYS-mhSFw/s1600/mm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98PgilO0HnSL6SZbXLKJazZqIIQ4UzCSRmlvOJ_6nKIPz0-ONO8_X8qhVZ0zFvdoU6Vm8r2y7X7eLN6fpCQg7uS9yajd5MmeSLkWj6alGik7Zg21ned3Bk-TqvBIq1xl9oLHXYS-mhSFw/s320/mm.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />My toothache finally subsided last night until 2:30 a.m. when the Vicodin wore off (it's only good for four hours). I woke up in agony. I took two more Vicodin and went back to sleep. <br /><br />Since my toothache didn't come back, I made it to the gym by 6 a.m. and worked out for an hour and 45 minutes. My lungs burned so bad while I was on the StairMaster that I thought they were going to catch on fire. After my strength training I went home and was so nauseous that I threw up, and I hadn't eaten anything since the night before at about 9 p.m.. Maybe too much too soon. <br /><br />Pictures through my office window today at 12:30 p.m., and then twenty minutes later. The sun came out and about an hour later it was all melted, but it was beautiful while it lasted.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd2PfukiqG_-Dk5_-zu9YJGMzOI9fUnJFWiPXQmn5NV39AXxC5IDTCV4-ZmgSKyBMf7frZp1ofmBFiKqlj_oCPbNBzhm3aWuLddElPLMdOnI3gq8LkJPgPvKD9AaG9T1AQWtJYaeK2jQn/s1600/P1020594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd2PfukiqG_-Dk5_-zu9YJGMzOI9fUnJFWiPXQmn5NV39AXxC5IDTCV4-ZmgSKyBMf7frZp1ofmBFiKqlj_oCPbNBzhm3aWuLddElPLMdOnI3gq8LkJPgPvKD9AaG9T1AQWtJYaeK2jQn/s400/P1020594.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv5ADcmkwGF7REzvbXujyBeGUld1u2XUPyxuCuNEMPQbMiDS81hCOV0YiJMv6XrZLlauhWdRLbI8haukhzW2Yi6zIr0_OpOl2hjkDJ9sx2HwPQaBdvCChAZTlXC3v-St3wMTNhaOwfpyw/s1600/P1020600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv5ADcmkwGF7REzvbXujyBeGUld1u2XUPyxuCuNEMPQbMiDS81hCOV0YiJMv6XrZLlauhWdRLbI8haukhzW2Yi6zIr0_OpOl2hjkDJ9sx2HwPQaBdvCChAZTlXC3v-St3wMTNhaOwfpyw/s400/P1020600.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow's goal...to set some goals. :)</div>

The gym and a snow day

This will be a short post because I have a cat in my lap, with his head draped across my left arm. It's my cat Mickey (a.k.a. Mickey Mou...

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Toothache from hell and pictures from my day

I woke up this morning thinking I either have bronchitis or maybe pneumonia. Every time I cough, my lungs burn and hurt, and my throat is raw from all the coughing. I even thought about canceling my delivery aircraft flight but since it was very last minute, and it's considered a great opportunity and an honor, I took a shot of DayQuil and headed off to the office. I skipped the gym because just showering and getting dressed pretty much sapped all my strength.<br /><br />The day was sort of fun. We took a bus from Sea-Tac up to Boeing Field. We were able to take pictures of our brand new aircraft, and we took off for an hour and a half sightseeing flight around Puget Sound landing back at Sea-Tac. It was cloudy but there were patches of open sky.<br /><br />The best part of the day was when we got to 15,000 feet they let each of us take a turn sitting in the Captain's seat with our hands on the "steering wheel" (I think it's called a "yoke" but I'm not sure). Then the Captain took our picture. That was really cool. Unfortunately, we were warned to NOT post the pictures on the internet. I'm not sure why exactly, but we were told it wasn't allowed.<br /><br />The only pictures from my day where you can't see the name of my company (!):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Me holding up the aircraft</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1UZAFORf6ZQZBSnCwXWVeCEU6tPxMFJDgta0CcpmVkhE7UYpDS2eloqYAHm-VvixtnUld9McDzUZZVn5hhyphenhyphenynbyHQVl46KEgtPN4kX9SRZHq212tasV9YVHHavuQWF39DjoijlvKSqF-/s1600/P1020565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1UZAFORf6ZQZBSnCwXWVeCEU6tPxMFJDgta0CcpmVkhE7UYpDS2eloqYAHm-VvixtnUld9McDzUZZVn5hhyphenhyphenynbyHQVl46KEgtPN4kX9SRZHq212tasV9YVHHavuQWF39DjoijlvKSqF-/s400/P1020565.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A view from the window. Notice the sunshine on the engine, where it was </div><div style="text-align: center;">sparkling clean and shiny. The entire aircraft had a new car smell, or I guess, </div><div style="text-align: center;">a new airplane smell. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQWy96VCRdrJXumvOEYcDjRGNT-aI78syy7N9k_v5Cq_k2Blp_s1PC2E_1hMlqNwZPPwhePFmKW6y-usFVGcY4jD-RPMlQy1Jk1ZhkTyOEUc2ljXsZKN7gin6nYt-XLUB5NUNHUpHK_mM/s1600/P1020575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQWy96VCRdrJXumvOEYcDjRGNT-aI78syy7N9k_v5Cq_k2Blp_s1PC2E_1hMlqNwZPPwhePFmKW6y-usFVGcY4jD-RPMlQy1Jk1ZhkTyOEUc2ljXsZKN7gin6nYt-XLUB5NUNHUpHK_mM/s400/P1020575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />The toothache from hell<br />Tonight I have major, excruciating pain in a lower molar. I had my first crown about a year ago, and it's hurt from the beginning. Tonight it started throbbing and the pain kept getting worse. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is when you would rather just die than to keep feeling the pain, about an hour ago it was at least an 8. I'm a wuss when it comes to pain, but boy does this ever hurt! I've taken two aspirin and two Vicodin and the pain is now down to about a 7. I hope I make it to the morning when I can get in to see the dentist. <br /><br />The only positive here is that I have no desire to eat. None. The thought of trying to chew anything makes me cringe. I can't remember the last time I had a toothache. Probably when I was a kid. I never had tooth pain, until this crown, which was probably the biggest mistake I've ever made. The darn tooth didn't even hurt until the crown. I forgot what tooth pain felt like, and let me tell you, it is miserable.<br /><br />At least the Vicodin fixed my sore throat and cough. Its weird it's not doing much for the toothache.<br /><br />Weight this morning...183.4. Not good. Working on it the best I can, but with the cold and now a toothache, I haven't been in the gym in four days, nor have I been tracking my food. Hopefully I'll be well soon and get back on track. I haven't given up and the Big Climb in in 29 days!

Toothache from hell and pictures from my day

I woke up this morning thinking I either have bronchitis or maybe pneumonia. Every time I cough, my lungs burn and hurt, and my throat is ra...

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What to do when job searching takes longer than expected

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/lj/ar5m02y5wcpw398n50lj.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/lj/ar5m02y5wcpw398n50lj.gif" /></a></div>By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing <br /><br />Even the most talented, educated and experienced job seekers may have a difficult time finding a job in today's economy. Although people may hope their transition between jobs will last only a few weeks, the reality is that many job seekers spend months, or even a year, trying to secure work. This delay can wreak havoc on a job seeker's confidence, motivation and sense of pride -- all which are characteristics critical to achieving success in the job market.<br /><br />Jean Baur, author of "Eliminated! Now What: Finding Your Way from Job-Loss Crisis to Career Resilience," says one of the best things people can do when they begin to feel stuck in their search is evaluate what methods are working and which aren't productive and then adjust their strategy. They also need to take care of themselves. "You can better cope with the feelings associated with a long-term career transition if you're not worn out and take care of yourself through therapy, physical exercise and even volunteering. A new project or hobby can be another way to go," she suggests.<br /><br />"The real issue here is self-care -- something most of us aren't very good at. Job searching is hard work, so it must be sustained with good self-care. The obstacle that many people have to get over to do this is a false sense that this is wrong -- that they're selfish if they take care of themselves. Job seekers need to realize that balancing the demands of finding a new job with smart ways of caring for themselves will make them more successful."<br /><br />In "Eliminated! Now What?" Baur offers these additional do's and don'ts for persevering through a long transition:<br /><br />Do: <br /><br />Create contingency plans so that if your search goes on longer than expected, you know what you'll do.<br /><br />Take care of yourself during this demanding process. Find the things that restore you so that this doesn't become drudgery.<br /><br />Work hard on your search but don't let it eclipse your whole life. Positive results come from short breaks and rewards.<br /><br />Research opportunities for training, whether in your existing area of expertise or something new. Adding new skills will broaden your market and give you an area where you can see immediate results.<br /><br />Use volunteering as a way to expand your network. This effort keeps you connected to others and ensures you're doing something productive besides looking for work.<br /><br />Don't:<br /><br />Become a job search machine. You'll wear yourself out and won't be presenting your best self to others.<br /><br />Assume you know how and when you'll discover your next opportunity.<br /><br />Get stuck. If one method isn't working, try another.<br /><br />Tell your network that there are no jobs out there. This is a depressing message.<br /><br />Be unwilling to compromise. Sometimes you might have to take a small step back to move forward.<br /><br /><br />Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

What to do when job searching takes longer than expected

By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing Even the most talented, educated and experienced job seekers may have a difficult time finding a job in tod...

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Rising from the ashes

<strong>Where have I been?</strong><br />I've been right here, even though I've been away from my blog for over a week. It wasn't a planned or intentional time away. It just sort of happened. <br /><br />It started out with thoughts that maybe I was becoming a little too obsessive about my food and exercise. I was tired of constantly worrying about it, thinking about it, and condemning myself for my bad choices. I was even more tired of writing about it. Surely this couldn't be of any value to anyone who might read  this blog. Failure after failure. It was disheartening to say the least.<br /><br />I decided to "relax" a little on the food front. That didn't mean I would go crazy, eating whatever and whenever I wanted. Instead I thought I could take a step back and try to figure out exactly what was wrong with me. Why do I have the compulsion to overeat? <br /><br />I stuck with the exercise all last week, but Thursday and Friday were difficult days. I had to really push myself at the gym. When I was on the StairMaster Friday morning I felt like my legs were stuck in mud. Every step was torture. My lungs felt like they were on fire and going to explode. It felt about ten times worse than ever before. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Late Friday I knew what was causing the problem. I had a cold. <br /><br />It's not the flu, and I don't even have a fever. It's just a simple cold. Sneezing, painful sinuses, and coughing, and I feel like hell. Today is day three so I'm started to feel a little bit better. It's the first day I actually got up, showered, and put on real clothes.<br /><br />I felt a little better after the shower, but now I'm exhausted and just want to crawl back into bed. I'm going to try to stay awake for most of the day because I had a terrible night of trying to sleep last night. Apparently my body had enough bed rest. At 1 a.m. I was tossing and turning, going in and out of various nightmares. It was a very bad night.<br /><br /><strong>Zicam doesn't work for everyone</strong><br />I tried Zicam for the first time because my girlfriend said it wonders worked for her. Every three hours for the last three days I've put one of those icky mint Zicam melt-away lozenges on my tongue, let it melt, then waited fifteen minutes before I could have a drink of water. Each time I was practically gagging at the chalky, icky, sickly sweet mint taste. I can't tell that I felt any better. In fact, I almost think waking up every three hours to take the lozenge may have made me feel worse. I expected a miracle. I didn't get one. I was still just as sick as the last time I had a cold.<br /><br /><strong>A&E Heavy and rising from the ashes</strong><br />This morning I watched two old episodes of "Heavy" On Demand. These were episodes I had missed. There was one line that has stayed in my head. One of the guests on the show, Sharon, said she realized she'd "have to be stringent about what she put in her body for the rest of her life".<br /><br />I realized that's me. I'm not being obsessive when I track my food and worry about what I'm eating. I'm just trying to be healthy. There's nothing wrong with being "stringent". Because of my past and my compulsive tendencies with food, I have to try to be in control all the time.<br /><br />It's really not such a bad thing to be vigilant about what I'm eating. Not everyone has to live like this, but just like the crack addict or the alcoholic, I have to be careful of what I'm putting in my body.<br /><br />Stringent: rigorous: demanding strict attention to rules and procedures.<br /><br />That pretty much defines what works for me. Following the rules, paying strict attention to what I eat. As far as what's driving me to overeat, I know what it is but it's not something I want to share here, at least not yet. It's deeply personal, and a little sad to admit. For now, I prefer to keep this part of myself private. <br /><br />Even though I know why I overeat, it's still a challenge to stop it. It's something I've been doing for a very long time, and changing an old behavior is difficult, but not impossible. <br /><br />My plan for my week is to gently ease back in to exercising tomorrow. It's been three days, and I'm itching to get back to the gym. Tomorrow morning will be a light workout. <br /><br />On the food front, "stringent" will be my keyword. Weighing, measuring, tracking every bite. It's really not that hard. I've been doing it for over three years now. What's another twenty or thirty years? :)<br /><br /><strong>Fun day tomorrow</strong><br />Tomorrow I get to do something fun at work. Most of you know I work for an airline. Tomorrow I get to ride on a brand new Boeing 737-800 as it's flown from Boeing Field to Sea-Tac airport, and the airline takes delivery of the new aircraft.<br /><br />We usually get a few new aircraft each year. This year there will be three new 737-800's added to the fleet. It's a very big deal when we get a new aircraft. The price is somewhere in the range of $80 million, and there's a lot hoopla surrounding the delivery. It means the company is doing good and growing. <br /><br />As a special treat for working on a difficult project, myself and 107 of my closest coworkers (kidding, I only know a few of them), will get to ride around for a couple hours, sightseeing Mt. Rainier and the Cascades. Of course, after two gorgeous sunny days here in the Northwest, the forecast is rain for tomorrow (darn it!). <br /><br />It will still be fun to fly on a brand new aircraft and be part of the festivities. After 28 years with my company, I'm still very excited about a new aircraft.

Rising from the ashes

Where have I been? I've been right here, even though I've been away from my blog for over a week. It wasn't a planned or intenti...

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For the Love of Film (Noir): About Ida Lupino

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBojafVehwFYfGARreLyK0uAxJ06VELNg61wZ2haf26Sg-AsMnmOoM5kfmIYKQNEK9-TSCdsmA6Z3rrinJwf1hNrH7ukckqgAajSxZ3kt_Zv_l6x8Xk5WvkHQer4Qv8945ljhgmO21KLd9/s1600/Ida+expressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBojafVehwFYfGARreLyK0uAxJ06VELNg61wZ2haf26Sg-AsMnmOoM5kfmIYKQNEK9-TSCdsmA6Z3rrinJwf1hNrH7ukckqgAajSxZ3kt_Zv_l6x8Xk5WvkHQer4Qv8945ljhgmO21KLd9/s320/Ida+expressed.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><i>This review was part of the For the Love of Film: The Film Preservation Blogathon to benefit the Film Noir Foundation.</i><br /><br />One of the great dames of film noir, and quite a bit more, Ida Lupino was born in London in 1918. Her father was Stanley Lupino, a star of the West End stage who wrote many of the productions in which he appeared. Lupino Lane, an important British music hall star, was a cousin. And Ida's mother, Connie, was an actress. Of her father Ida Lupino once said, "I knew it would break his heart if I didn't go into the business," and so she did, even though her first love was writing.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />Her first credited film was Allan Dwan's <b>Her First Affaire </b>(1933). It was an ingenue part and an inaccurate industry myth had it that her mother read for the part but lost it to young Ida [thanks to Jean Howard for clarifying this]. In any case, the role led to several screen appearances in quick succession. By year's end she was signed by Paramount Pictures and headed from London to Hollywood.<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/AVvXsEjae7YYFsLimv2stwGaFdixFovTgbUrHqFTuEsxYFSJlYS089Hj38K6maqxVzXh8VTFq-Xr6F_Y3moxE5ZRemFxGC7_wx2A0jPE0GvFJCmOn-hHJ8dmNwz58w7pw5KxthYSSYI7a0BjyU6m/s1600/sherlock+holmes+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae7YYFsLimv2stwGaFdixFovTgbUrHqFTuEsxYFSJlYS089Hj38K6maqxVzXh8VTFq-Xr6F_Y3moxE5ZRemFxGC7_wx2A0jPE0GvFJCmOn-hHJ8dmNwz58w7pw5KxthYSSYI7a0BjyU6m/s200/sherlock+holmes+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</b></td></tr></tbody></table>She was to star in <b>Alice in Wonderland, </b>but that didn't pan out. Only 15, Ida seemed mature beyond her years and lost the part. She made several mostly forgotten films, endured a battle with polio and resumed her career. With <b>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</b> (1939) she was noticed in a role that provided an opportunity to demonstrate her range. William Wellman's <b>The Light That Failed</b> (1940) was her first real break. Though no one had wanted her in a part considered unsympathetic, Lupino pursued the role and in the end it brought her fame.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3Qu0fPsWAhBYSKEoIs4FSsi-VsJA_d8GCAFAy-pmMg_wqCQivv7CkjAytopBhoLWK_8QcdSp4VXWMJO6iTWpERUz8IfDfqk9HlK2lCPhKhnzx-RtdC3XtlzlJSTffmwwL3ZBsfSKmOtK/s1600/hard+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3Qu0fPsWAhBYSKEoIs4FSsi-VsJA_d8GCAFAy-pmMg_wqCQivv7CkjAytopBhoLWK_8QcdSp4VXWMJO6iTWpERUz8IfDfqk9HlK2lCPhKhnzx-RtdC3XtlzlJSTffmwwL3ZBsfSKmOtK/s1600/hard+way.jpg" /></a></div>She soon moved on to Warner Bros. and it was here her reputation as a dame-of-noir began with her fiery performance as Lana Carlsen in <b>They Drive by Night </b>(1940). <b>High Sierra</b> (1941)<b> </b>and <b>The Sea Wolf</b> (1941)<b> </b>quickly followed and her value to Warners was established. However, with Bette Davis the reigning queen of the lot, Ida Lupino was frequently assigned films the great star had passed on. Referring to herself as "the poor man's Bette Davis," she spent a good amount of time on suspension from the studio for refusing roles she considered unworthy. Fortunately, she accepted the part of driven, manipulative Helen Chernen in <b>The Hard Way</b> (1943); for her performance she received the New York Drama Critics' Best Actress Award.<br /><br />During this time, Lupino was married to actor Louis Hayward (<b>Anthony Adverse</b>, <b>The Man in the Iron Mask</b>). Hayward enlisted in the Marines at the onset of World War II and commanded the photographic unit that filmed the battle of Tarawa (November 1943). The film won a Best Documentary Short Subject Oscar but the experience of the bloody four-day battle left Hayward badly shell-shocked and the couple split up.<br /><br />Although Lupino's acting career continued, it was during a lengthy studio suspension in the mid-'40s that she started thinking seriously about directing. She married producer Collier Young in 1948 and in 1949 they put together an independent production company called Emerald Productions, later rechristened The Filmakers.<br /><br /><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/AVvXsEh5M6j77ZJUvm7bnrsh-NK8_fIkuV0Tb-HwB_aUfwvJj8LRDUatCmJzt1PdPTmv4GNznIkk9JgqgGIHWQyqcrq4P_Id_oHd3tF8WLBlIDhtSHLI7CbRw3NxfpWzUwU48rYnjOhT1LdjfGe7/s1600/idalupino%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5M6j77ZJUvm7bnrsh-NK8_fIkuV0Tb-HwB_aUfwvJj8LRDUatCmJzt1PdPTmv4GNznIkk9JgqgGIHWQyqcrq4P_Id_oHd3tF8WLBlIDhtSHLI7CbRw3NxfpWzUwU48rYnjOhT1LdjfGe7/s200/idalupino%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ida Lupino, director</td></tr></tbody></table> The company's first effort, <b>Not Wanted </b>(1949), featured a screenplay by Ida Lupino and was to be directed by Elmer Clifton. A few days into shooting Clifton suffered a heart attack and the actress stepped in to finish the film (but gave the credit to Clifton). Co-starring with Sally Forrest, a young actress Lupino would tap again, was Leo Penn an actor/director now best known as the father of Sean Penn. The film, like most Lupino directed, broached a ticklish subject for the time - unwanted pregnancy.<br /><br />Three low-budget, Lupino-directed classics came out of The Filmakers: <b>Hard, Fast and Beautiful</b> (1951) with Claire Trevor and Sally Forrest, <b>The Hitch-Hiker</b> (1953) with Edmond O'Brien and William Talman and <b>The Bigamist </b>(1953) with Edmond O'Brien, Joan Fontaine and Lupino herself. In the meantime, Lupino also co-starred with Robert Ryan in Nicholas Ray's powerful <b>On Dangerous Ground</b> (1952) and reportedly directed some of the film while Ray was ill.<br /><br />By the time the last three Filmaker efforts were produced, Ida Lupino and Collier Young had divorced. Lupino married actor Howard Duff not long after. In 1954, The Filmakers dissolved but Lupino later found herself in demand to direct for TV. Over the next few decades she directed dozens of episodes for series television, including "Alfred Hitchcock Presents, "The Twilight Zone" and "The Untouchables." At the same time she continued to act in film and on television; she and Howard Duff starred in a very popular TV series, "Mr. Adams and Eve" from 1957 - 1958, and Lupino was nominated for Best Actress Emmys for both seasons of the show.<br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XBUsw1kyDfvctbwv5v8E51ApAJl9utS8TsYhqy4FeSEhEVlIa5VpnKY-ms2WPk9fjJMqjxfC4s2rg69ndZ2HIP4B92XVkyd4SNBmoIt7XvZqvMZa9XR6AzUEGKCKV-6SfmHHw08oywYb/s1600/ida+and+steve+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XBUsw1kyDfvctbwv5v8E51ApAJl9utS8TsYhqy4FeSEhEVlIa5VpnKY-ms2WPk9fjJMqjxfC4s2rg69ndZ2HIP4B92XVkyd4SNBmoIt7XvZqvMZa9XR6AzUEGKCKV-6SfmHHw08oywYb/s200/ida+and+steve+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ida and Steve in <b>Junior Bonner</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Busy with television, Lupino directed only one more theatrical film, <b>The Trouble with Angels </b>(1966), a comedy starring Rosalind Russell and Hayley Mills. She didn't appear in many films at this point, but her later film career included an exceptional turn as Steve McQueen's mother in <b>Junior Bonner</b> (1972).<br /><br />Onscreen, Ida Lupino was an edgy combination of tough and tender and is remembered as one of the legendary actresses of film noir.<br /><br />Behind the camera, she developed a hard-boiled, suspenseful style while working on tight schedules with small budgets. Today she is not only honored as a pioneering "woman director," but is also an acknowledged auteur of the early 1950s. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ </div><br />My own introduction to Ida Lupino came long ago by way of the flickering box in our family living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>High Sierra</b>,<b> The Sea Wolf</b> and <b>Road House</b> (1948) aired regularly on TV in those days and the bruised but determined characters that were her stock in trade got my attention. Of those three films, it was in <b>Road House</b> that she most stirred my imagination. Her character, Lily, is a been-around-the-block torch singer who attracts more than a crowd at the out-of-the-way road house where she performs. Though Lily has a hard luck past and more pain to come, this time Lupino’s character is the locus of a romantic triangle and she commands much of the film - which is saying something with a co-star like Richard Widmark. And there is the added attraction of her singing - in her own dusky voice - two torch classics, “Again” and “One for My Baby.”<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h1Q71t5D8ko" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div>

Film Noir Hard Fast and Beautiful High Sierra Ida Lupino Junior Bonner Not Wanted On Dangerous Ground Road House The Bigamist The Hard Way The Hitch-Hiker The Lady Eve (author) They Drive By Night For the Love of Film (Noir): About Ida Lupino

This review was part of the For the Love of Film: The Film Preservation Blogathon to benefit the Film Noir Foundation. One of the great dame...

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What are transferable skills, really?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/x9/ar5m7186kzyl7hn3k1x9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/x9/ar5m7186kzyl7hn3k1x9.gif" /></a></div>Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder <br /><br />Q. How does a quantitative analyst for a hedge fund get hired as a strategist for a professional basketball team?<br /><br />A. He convinces those doing the hiring that he has the skills to do the job.<br /><br />The two positions may seem unrelated at first glance, but the New Jersey Nets wanted someone who could evaluate player stats and past performance to help determine the best combinations of team members to put on the court in various situations. With superior mathematical and analytical skills, the hedge fund analyst fit the bill.<br /><br />Transferable skills -- abilities that can be applied to different work environments -- can be among a job seeker's strongest assets. Here's a look at some of the most in-demand transferable skills and how to acquire them.<br /><br />What do employers want?<br /><br />Simply put, "They want skills that can increase or develop business," says David Couper, a career coach and author of "Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career ... Even When You Don't Fit In." "Organizations want anything that will make them more successful and more profitable."<br /><br />Some commonly sought-after talents include:<br /><br />Execution skills: "These are skills related to getting things done," says Duncan Mathison, a career consultant and co-author of "Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times are Tough." Think project management, adaptability and resourcefulness in the face of changing conditions, ability to stay within a budget and accountability.<br /><br />Managing people: "And not just supervision of subordinates," Mathison notes. "This can include project teams, contractors, volunteers, cross-cultural teams, virtual teams and turning around broken teams."<br /><br />Communication skills: "Writing, training/teaching others, speaking and listening are all important because being a good communicator can make a person more successful at his job -- whatever that job may be," says Brian Drum, founder and president of Drum Associates, a global executive search firm located in New York City.<br /><br />Customer service and sales: "Your ability to build lasting and profitable relationships is almost always transferable," Mathison says. "This idea actually can extend to nonprofits and public jobs. Think about donors, voters, constituents, students and even vendors."<br /><br />Negotiation skills: "If you can show a track record of saving your employer money by using your good negotiation skills, you become a more desirable employee," Drum states.<br /><br /><br />Developing transferable skills<br /><br />Some transferable skills are acquired through education and experience. For instance, demonstrated computer proficiency in a previous position may give a prospective employer confidence that you can quickly master a new company's specific system.<br /><br />Many transferable skills, however, are acquired by individuals through their own initiative. Look for corporate/professional training programs that focus on areas you'd like to improve, such as a seminar on how to be a more effective manager. Likewise, experts suggest reading books geared towards specific objectives, such as becoming a better negotiator.<br /><br />Couper notes that volunteering or taking on special projects offers the opportunity to work on skills valued in the workplace. For instance, one of his clients was involved with a not-for-profit group and became part of its selection committee responsible for hiring leaders. He later highlighted this experience to an employer to land a job with human resource duties.<br /><br />Presenting transferable skills<br /><br />So is the hedge fund analyst turned basketball advisor a rarity? No -- any job seeker who can pinpoint a legitimate match between her skills and an employer's needs has the potential to be hired.<br /><br />For example, Mathison recalls working with a former Navy SEAL who was having difficulty finding a job. While employers respected his elite training, they "just didn't know what to do with someone who knew how to land on sandy beaches and blow things up." But once he started making the connection for them as to how his background and training were applicable to their goals, employers took notice. He was hired by a high technology global company on the basis of his transferable skill of leading teams to get critical things done anywhere in the world with resourcefulness when unexpected events threatened to derail the project's timeline.<br /><br />Job seekers looking to present transferable skills as a major selling point may opt for a functional résumé in which skills are grouped together rather than a traditional list of work history. Putting similar skills together instead of dotting throughout can create a stronger impression and may prove especially useful to candidates trying to transition into a new field.<br /><br />Regardless of method used, candidates looking to cash in on transferable skills should remember the old adage "Show, don't tell." After all, anyone can profess to be a great communicator or an outstanding manager. People whose transferable skills lead to job offers are those with solid evidence of achievement.<br /><br />Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

What are transferable skills, really?

Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder Q. How does a quantitative analyst for a hedge fund get hired as a strategist for a profession...

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True stories: People who found jobs after lengthy unemployment

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/84/ar5m3dl6zsb3lwd1ky84.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/84/ar5m3dl6zsb3lwd1ky84.gif" /></a></div>By Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder <br /><br />Is there a light at the end of the job-seeking tunnel? You bet! Meet four people who persevered in their searches and can now put the word "formerly" before "unemployed."<br /><br />From the graduation stage to the unemployment line<br /><br />"It was difficult keeping my morale up because I felt like a failure," says Lauren Miller of San Diego, Calif., who was hired right out of college in 2009 -- only to be laid off months later due to budget cuts. "I'd spent five years getting two bachelor's degrees, and now I was supposed to work and take the world by storm. At least that is what everyone promised along the way, right?"<br /><br />Faced with student loans, car payments, rent and bills, Miller worked many temp and part-time jobs, often putting in 50-hour weeks to "just get by." She turned to "a million sources" -- from friends and old contacts to online career sites and job boards all over San Diego -- before landing full-time work in December 2010 as an account coordinator at a public relations firm.<br /><br />Recalling her time trying to make ends meet while searching for a steady position, Miller notes, "You have to always remember that there is no such thing as a job that is beneath you. No matter what, it's money, and if you have responsibilities, then you need to do whatever it takes to survive. And that's what I did."<br /><br />Doing everything you can -- and letting others help<br /><br />Jim Kuehm of Palatine, Ill., was unemployed for 18 months after recessionary conditions led his company to reorganize. "I applied for every position I felt could be at least a 50 percent match to my skill set and experience," he says, noting that some days he had up to 50 job-lead e-mails to sift through. In the end, though, he was contacted by a recruiter who had seen his résumé posted online. Kuehm returned to being a master planner, doing the same type of work he did before the layoff.<br /><br />Kuehm credits the support he received from the Saint Hubert Jobs and Networking Ministry with helping him through the trials of unemployment. "Get into an accountability group right away," Kuehm advises. "People are there, able and willing, to help you get through this tough time in your life. If I was being nonproductive in meeting my weekly goals, people would inquire about circumstances in my personal life that may have contributed to the slowdown of my job-search work, and they would reinforce using tools that I needed to get moving again and stay on track."<br /><br />Moving more than 200 miles for a job, then losing it<br /><br />While hearing that you're losing your job is always difficult, Tiffany Matthews faced an exceptional whammy. "I moved from Buffalo, N.Y., to Philadelphia, Pa., for a job that ended up lasting 84 days." Her solution: Really turning up the heat and pounding the pavement, including applying for things she felt were below her educational background.<br /><br />Despite her efforts, it was two years before she landed her current position as a social worker in a nursing home. During that time, Matthews says she tried different things and really learned a lot about herself, which helped keep her morale up. Her advice to others still hunting for a job is to stay on top of your unemployment claim. "You will call there three times and get three different answers to one question. Keep your claim right and it will give you the reassurance to do what you have to do when looking for a job."<br /><br />Part time can lead to full time<br /><br />Hoang Uyen X. Nguyen of Minnesota found herself with the opposite of the situation Matthews faced. She had a job, but her company went through a restructuring and planned to move her department out of state, meaning she had to move or lose her job. She chose the latter.<br /><br />Using past experiences and connections, Nguyen found a part-time job in the television industry. Seven months later, she became full time. She urges other job seekers to likewise use all of their resources to get a foot in the door. "Also, stay positive and keep hope alive," Nguyen says. "Even when it may seem like forever, you will get the job, and when you do, it'll be awesome!"<br /><br />Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

True stories: People who found jobs after lengthy unemployment

By Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder Is there a light at the end of the job-seeking tunnel? You bet! Meet four people who persev...

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22 weeks

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aGRSIHd0pXoteEjYkP6wYtzppa2qqfBx5-FP_9JfFut8eZJbj5BKU2xZMAw7GwXHdxBfKs_mpoxn6cgO2nNxV-0SfaAHRC8RWyJT5isJCB-ZgOAP1tfS1n9EBlHUzOXN4OAd0dmLZ_aY/s1600-h/22%20weeks%20-%202.16.11%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="22 weeks - 2.16.11" border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMNum9jzRkykccyYt-MQFv5oHT_2Z0Qa3MMFWA0XBOGjuCthvo4gaAwSEFpKk-5-7g_0EUF_lyWuRyryaHvmujmqDuJY108nsn-0hzcsyoWLKW_-qILPzRJlC67XoyTb9R3iO1u75w5Yi/?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="22 weeks - 2.16.11" width="354"></a> </p> <p><strong>How Far Along:</strong> 22 Weeks </p> <p><strong>Size of baby:</strong> Baby Bangert is the size of a papaya <p><strong>Total Weight Gain/Loss:</strong> didn’t weigh this week <p><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> I wear maternity jeans and pants but everything else is regular.  Things are getting tighter though! <p><strong>Gender:</strong> It’s a girl!!! <p><strong>Movement:</strong> She’s a busy bee in the evenings, but overall I think she is a pretty mild little girl. <p><strong>Sleep:</strong> Not too bad, I get up a few times throughout the night to go to the bathroom. I guess it’s preparing me for a newborn! <p><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my stomach and a bigger selection of clothes! <p><strong>Cravings:</strong> I don't have specific cravings. I just like to eat! ;) I don’t think ice cream counts, I love that anytime! <p><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Really can’t complain! Feeling pretty well! <p><strong>Best Moment this week:</strong> The warming weather & getting some exercise outside! <p>Today is actually the start of 23 weeks, but I wanted to get this up (even if it’s late!). It’s a rare day in Iowa in February today…the high is 72 degrees! Cannot wait till after work to take a walk outside. I have been pretty lazy in the exercise department and I can really tell! So my goal for my 23rd week is to exercise 3 times for at least 30 minutes. Hold me to it friends! <p>PS. A <strong><u>HUGE shout-out</u></strong> to 2 of my sisters, they joined WW and are doing awesome! Can’t wait to get back to the meetings after baby! I’m so curious about the new plan. </p>

22 weeks

How Far Along: 22 Weeks Size of baby: Baby Bangert is the size of a papaya Total Weight Gain/Loss: didn’t weigh this week Maternity Cl...

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The wow factor: Impressive job candidate qualities

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/l9/ar5m5jn731sp2rw6c0l9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/l9/ar5m5jn731sp2rw6c0l9.gif" /></a></div>By Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder.com <br /><br />The employment market is saturated with various resources for job seekers. While some of them offer consistent advice (always send a cover letter, tailor your résumé and wait for the employer to bring up salary), the truth is that conflicting information exists.<br /><br />Especially when it comes to what employers are looking for in a new hire.<br /><br />A recent survey from Express Employment Professionals, one of the nation's largest staffing firms, showed that the top three aspects that employers are looking for in a new hire are credible work history (97 percent), job experience (88 percent) and specific skills (87 percent). More than 15,000 current and former clients of Express were surveyed for the first quarter of 2011.<br /><br />To get the story straight, we asked hiring managers to tell us the most impressive qualities they see in potential job candidates. Here's what they said (in no specific order):<br /><br />1. Results<br /><br />"Something I always ask anyone I interview is, 'what is something you do better than anyone else in the world?' with the follow-up of, 'what is the evidence of this gift?' I think that truly driven, passionate people leave behind them a wake of results wherever they go. Talking about measurable outcomes separates the contenders from pretenders." -- C. Daniel Crosby, corporate psychologist and president, Crosby Performance Consulting<br /><br />"Candidates that can tell me an anecdote about how they got something done, against all odds, really impress me the most. Those who understand the rules and conduct of business but are not afraid to push the envelope a bit in the name of a job well done." -- Jennifer Prosek, author "Army of Entrepreneurs" and CEO, CJP Communications<br /><br />2. Good fit<br /><br />"There is no giant totem poll of qualities that makes one person more impressive or better than another. People who excel in one position are going to flounder in another if it doesn't fit their talents, interests and skills." -- Ann Latham, president of Uncommon Clarity, Inc.<br /><br />3. Preparation<br /><br />"Showing that they have done their research by knowing something about me, and my business." -- Kenneth Sean Polley, president, Global Asset Management Group<br /><br />"When a candidate asks really great questions it demonstrates not only their interest in our company and the issues we're facing, but also their research skills. Most impressive are those who think about what they discovered in their research and then ask really great questions." -- Anita S. Fisher, marketing communications manager, Briggs & Stratton Corporation<br /><br />4. Initiative<br /><br />"I look for the ability to take a project and run with it, to function independently and creatively with a minimum of oversight." -- Kathryn Minshew, co-founder and editor-in-chief, Pretty Young Professional<br /><br />"Proactivity -- the act of taking initiative, being able to operate independently and finding a way to get things done." -- Jordan Rayboy, recruiter, Rayboy Insider Search<br /><br />5. Sense of humor<br /><br />"Going over a recruitment cycle is long and very often annoying listening to the same pre-prepared answers. A candidate with faith and sense of humor de-dramatizes the atmosphere." -- Sarah Licha, owner, EspaceRH<br /><br />6. Passion<br /><br />"Typical candidates answer questions the way they believe they should. I want to see their passion for the company, the job opening and the industry. I want them to tell me why they are truly excited about the opportunity rather than every other opportunity out there. For me, passion is the ticket to a second round of interviews." -- Abby Kohut, staffing consultant, Staffing Symphony, LLC<br /><br />"Passion is energy, drive, motivation and commitment. Candidates who are infused with this quality demonstrate an enthusiasm and aliveness that is contagious to their colleagues and clients. It can be harnessed to learn the job to be done and then to do it without having to be constantly encouraged, prompted or micromanaged. Such people are willing to 'go the extra mile' to assure that everything is done and done well. They demonstrate initiative and creative problem-solving skills." -- Betty Gilmore, program director, Lift-The Bronx<br /><br />"Truly passionate candidates are not only likely to excel in their role, but, because they enjoy what they do, they will also remain engaged in their responsibilities and energize those around them. If an employee is not eager to learn, he or she will have difficulties accepting change and bringing innovative ideas to the table." -- Kathleen Dumlao, employment specialist, Rising Medical Solutions<br /><br />"Passion and resourcefulness. You can see right through robotic folks who 'say the right thing.' It's those who come specifically prepared to tell you exactly why the position is right for them that impress me the most. Very few folks lean across the desk and tell you 'I really want this job, and here is why.'" -- Jennifer Prosek, author "Army of Entrepreneurs" and CEO, CJP Communications<br /><br />7. Confidence<br /><br />"I coin the most impressive quality in a job candidate 'humble confidence.' Humble confidence shines as knowledge, humility, skilled verbal and written communication, friendliness and appreciation." -- Stacey Hawley, principal and owner, Credo<br /><br />8. Professionalism<br /><br />"At the interview, it is all about how the candidate presents him or herself. Are they projecting an image of professionalism? Are they showing enthusiasm and motivation for the position? Are they really listening to the questions and answering them accordingly? These are the qualities that are not shown on a résumé and are near impossible to teach." -- Darlene Johnson, director of career services, PEAR Core Solutions<br /><br />"Being a professional -- no matter what your industry or career -- demonstrates that you have the right blend of technical and soft skills, mixed with enthusiasm and dedication." -- Matthew Randall, director of the Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania<br /><br />"Presentation, presence, energy -- how they carry their personal power. They need to be engaging and personable." -- Emma K. Viglucci, founder, director and supervisor, Metropolitan Marriage and Family Therapy<br /><br />9. Body language<br /><br />"The hand shake: it has got to be strong and firm from the get-go. Candidates usually come prepared to an interview, but I'm looking for people come to the interview telling me what they can do for the job and what they can add to the job. These are usually the ones I recommend for second interviews." -- Muriel Alloune, recruitment and training specialist, Federation CJA<br /><br />"Body language, including a good handshake, confident shoulders, a smile [and] eye contact. I know it's cliché, but it really helps." -- Marissa Wright, hiring and training coordinator, Europe for International Studies Abroad<br /><br />10. Longevity<br /><br />"What will wow me about a candidate is a consistent job history. I like to see that people have been in a position for at least five years and that they have grown in the position. [A candidate with] lots of short stints [or who has] been in the same position for 10 years and their responsibilities have not changed is a big turn off." -- Carmel Napolitano, managing director and principal, CGN Associates<br /><br />"People move around so much, that longevity says a lot about the stability of a candidate when they have been in a position for a long period of time." -- Sarah Cullins, president, Finesse Staffing<br /><br />11. Communication<br /><br />"Qualifications in the form of experience and tangible skills aren't enough to grab a hiring manager's attention these days. You need to be a creative, proactive problem solver. Hiring managers want to know how you (and only you) can solve the needs of their organization. Read between the job description lines. What are you bringing to the table that the next person with a similar background is not? If you educate yourself and build awareness around what keeps your next potential boss up at night, and you clearly communicate how you can help to solve that, chances are you've got their attention." -- Dana Leavy, career coach and founder of Aspyre Solutions<br /><br />12. Attitude<br /><br />"The most impressive quality is to be a 'high performer,' a package of the right attitude, a passion for doing the work and the skill. 'Attitude' may mean different things to different people, but it boils down to having an 'I can' attitude. Everyone thinks his or her attitude is fine, however, some of these same people think it's OK to blame, make excuses and declare something cannot be done. That's the attitude employers are looking to expose during the interview and avoid extending a job offer to." -- Carol Quinn, CEO and author, "Expert of Hiring High Performers"<br /><br />"Someone who is enthusiastic about the company and has thoroughly done their research about the position. Open-mindedness, perseverance and a can-do attitude (someone who takes true ownership in the company) will get you the job." -- Heather Minsky Nottingham, owner, Nottingham Consulting Group<br /><br />Rachel Farrell researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

The wow factor: Impressive job candidate qualities

By Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder.com The employment market is saturated with various resources for job seekers. While some of the...

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6 tips to help you better leverage LinkedIn

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/f2/ar5m1nq6vwv0n7bht5f2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/f2/ar5m1nq6vwv0n7bht5f2.gif" /></a></div>By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing <br /><br />When job hunting, savvy seekers know their work isn't over after they've posted their résumé on the Web or submitted an application for employment. If they want to meet their goals, they must continue to manage their job search with consistent, proactive efforts that put them in direct contact with hiring managers, human resources personnel and recruiters.<br /><br />Your strategy for using LinkedIn, the leading site for professional networking, should mirror this concept. Simply creating a profile isn't enough to help you meet or reconnect with people, find jobs or stand out to potential employers. You have to participate in the community and take steps to market your presence on the site to achieve results.<br /><br />Diane Crompton and Ellen Sautter, co-authors of "Find a Job Through Social Networking," say it's easier to understand this concept if you liken social networking to advertising.<br /><br />They explain that "if you know anything about advertising, you know that placing an advertisement once is usually not sufficient. Media campaigns involve repeated placements of ads over time and often in multiple media sources, such as newspapers, magazines, websites and maybe even television or radio. If you are marketing yourself for a job, career advancement or business development, you need to have a multipronged approach to getting out the word about you and what you have to offer."<br /><br />To help you implement this strategy, Crompton and Sautter offer guidance on how to use LinkedIn more effectively, which will in turn help you do a better job of marketing yourself online. Here are some of their tips:<br /><br />Infuse keywords relevant to your expertise into your profile<br /><br />According to Crompton and Sautter, keyword searches are a popular way recruiters and employers uncover potential job candidates on LinkedIn. To ensure your profile turns up in searches related to your expertise, industry or occupation, they suggest that you "enter relevant keywords in your professional headline, in the specialties section and throughout your profile to drive traffic your way. Be sure to use all variations of keywords -- full names, abbreviations, acronyms and alternate words -- to increase the chance that you will be found in searches."<br /><br />Share your LinkedIn URL with others<br /><br />"Consider adding your LinkedIn URL to your résumé, e-signature, business cards and other marketing materials," Crompton and Sautter suggest. Not only will this strategy point people to a place where they can quickly learn more about you, it also helps you establish yourself as a professional who is savvy about online networking.<br /><br />Customize your invitations to connect<br /><br />When you reach out to potential connections, the default message that accompanies your invitation simply says, "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn."<br /><br />According to Crompton and Sautter, "Sending this canned note is a sure sign that you didn't take the time or care enough to personalize the invitation to remind the invitees who you are and how they know you. Such a message may even be viewed as spam by some LinkedIn members."<br /><br />For a more meaningful invitation, Crompton and Sautter say it's best to politely and briefly explain how you know the invitee and why you'd like to connect with him or her.<br /><br />Write recommendations<br /><br />LinkedIn recommendations are endorsements you can post on the profiles of your colleagues, supervisors, vendors, customers or others you've interacted with in a work environment.<br /><br />According to Crompton and Sautter, "Writing a recommendation often yields a reciprocal recommendation. In fact, when you write recommendations, the people you recommend are prompted by a message asking if they would like to reciprocate and write a recommendation for you. So if you are timid and reluctant to ask someone for a recommendation, this can be a more subtle approach," they explain.<br /><br />List your Twitter handle<br /><br />LinkedIn allows users to connect their Twitter accounts with their LinkedIn profile. This function is ideal if you're hoping to open a dialogue with your LinkedIn connections or if you want connections who are non-Twitter users to be aware of what you're posting beyond LinkedIn.<br /><br />On the other hand, if you're tweeting off-brand, personal matters, you may not want every one of your tweets to be streamed on LinkedIn. In that case, don't sync your Twitter handle with your profile and consider Crompton and Sautter's following tip:<br /><br />"On Twitter, you can select specific tweets you'd like to share with LinkedIn connections by manually adding either #in or #li to tag your tweets to 'go live.'" <br /><br />Join groups<br /><br />"Groups are one of the best tools and best-kept secrets on LinkedIn. There are groups for every conceivable shared interest. You'll find alumni associations, professional associations, networking groups and many other special-interest groups," say Crompton and Sautter.<br /><br />"One of the biggest reasons to join them is to have an easier way to connect with other like-minded LinkedIn members," they explain. "Depending on the protocols of each group, you'll most likely be able to communicate with your fellow group members through direct messages to individual members or the entire group by posting questions or comments for group discussion and response. So it becomes a way not only to expand your network but also to bypass the need to request an introduction or send an InMail to reach others."<br /><br />Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

6 tips to help you better leverage LinkedIn

By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing When job hunting, savvy seekers know their work isn't over after they've posted their résumé on the...

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For the Love of Film (Noir): Renoir, Ryan and a splash of vodka...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqNT_Eqrwxlc3yeUhIg9yzhzCYOLPLJ30pcIjn-KKOzjw8AuML2H2tWEZZRmJ4nAAOI6kYs0YlEcoM2bUmjmQCOtMObmMRZhnV5U1rzP5tlxb3CoFs104hKZPtDJYsuhYnUTQ4Bc69fLN/s1600/SF+nite+w+clouds+and+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqNT_Eqrwxlc3yeUhIg9yzhzCYOLPLJ30pcIjn-KKOzjw8AuML2H2tWEZZRmJ4nAAOI6kYs0YlEcoM2bUmjmQCOtMObmMRZhnV5U1rzP5tlxb3CoFs104hKZPtDJYsuhYnUTQ4Bc69fLN/s400/SF+nite+w+clouds+and+moon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><i>This review was part of the <i>For the Love of Film: The Film Preservation Blogathon to benefit the Film Noir Foundation</i>.</i></div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">San Francisco's annual film noir festival, Noir City 9, ran for ten days at the end of January. From all reports the festival, an event that showcased 24 films, was a great success. I would say, from my own experience, it was a smash.<br /><a name='more'></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVGc74gj9U73Rb32-getdfNw1I6gKpHIW7F-jNYsSp0uu6B4L8kLs55ByHKr5gsm8kEQic0ARuasbOXh_1wjffn1QVjdtfl6PG4UVVZaLgFFN-1fg7T4GeoT74w0zSYc2D12fJyojlHGl/s1600/Stranger+on+the+Third+Floor+%25281940%2529+DVDRip+x.264+AC3+Wolfman%255B%2528059257%252908-09-34%255D%255B1%255D.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVGc74gj9U73Rb32-getdfNw1I6gKpHIW7F-jNYsSp0uu6B4L8kLs55ByHKr5gsm8kEQic0ARuasbOXh_1wjffn1QVjdtfl6PG4UVVZaLgFFN-1fg7T4GeoT74w0zSYc2D12fJyojlHGl/s320/Stranger+on+the+Third+Floor+%25281940%2529+DVDRip+x.264+AC3+Wolfman%255B%2528059257%252908-09-34%255D%255B1%255D.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elisha Cook, Jr. in Stranger on the Third Floor</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">My first blog on the festival covered<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/01/whos-crazy-now-noir-city-9-opening.html"><span style="color: #990000;">opening night</span></a><span style="color: #ffd966;">,</span> a double bill featuring <b>High Wall </b>(1947) and <b>Stranger on the Third Floor</b> (1940). The evening included a torchy performance by songstress Laura Ellis, special guest Judy Wyler Sheldon, daughter of director William Wyler and actress Margaret Tallichet (one of the stars of <b>Stranger on the Third Floor</b>) and a riveting Serena Bramble montage of films noir/neo-noir/crime set in San Franciscco. Hosting the festival was Film Noir Foundation founder Eddie Muller, "czar of noir," the perfect emcee for a serious noirfest.</div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">On January 26th I trekked to San Francisco's glorious Castro Theatre once more, this time for a screening of French director Jean Renoir's fabled (and final) Hollywood effort, <b>The Woman on the Beach </b>(1947) starring Robert Ryan, Joan Bennett and Charles Bickford. While the festival's theme was "Who's Crazy Now?" and each film reflected lunacy of some kind, this night's double feature also honored Robert Ryan. In his introduction, Eddie Muller talked about the vicious, venal roles that were Ryan's trademark. Muller contrasted Ryan's filmography of villainous character with the man's generous and humane off-screen values. The enthusiastic packed house cheered when Muller announced that Robert Ryan's daughter Lisa was in the audience.</div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">In introducing <b>The Woman on the Beach</b>, Muller disputed the conventional wisdom that RKO mangled Renoir's film following a disastrous preview. Muller, who knows his noir intimately, told a different story. It was true, he said, that a negative preview did occur, but it was Renoir not RKO who aggressively edited the film afterward. Apparently Renoir was rattled by the audience reaction and lost confidence in his ability to connect with American movie-goers...then he began to cut...and cut.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0uRSAKrEK2LTeQF6NptvZmqp17TfIFhOvaKZAQVH7KeY0vgC_UJuxipO4j4JluTrty49qGxEn0CM0Fj5OfPfWsGx0kfYtkALT3IM8nnjm63ytH5BsIw-VRJwsPFaX2iI6CF71s-DDQTj/s1600/bickford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0uRSAKrEK2LTeQF6NptvZmqp17TfIFhOvaKZAQVH7KeY0vgC_UJuxipO4j4JluTrty49qGxEn0CM0Fj5OfPfWsGx0kfYtkALT3IM8nnjm63ytH5BsIw-VRJwsPFaX2iI6CF71s-DDQTj/s320/bickford.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Bickford in The Woman on the Beach</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><b>The Woman on the Beach</b> is, as one might expect, a visually arresting film. Crashing waves, vast sand dunes, ruins of a wrecked ship on a desolate beach, rocky cliffs...fog, wind, rain. The plot concerns a Coast Guard officer (Ryan) who has survived a torpedo disaster at sea and suffers nightmares and mood swings in the aftermath. He encounters a dark beauty (Bennett) gathering firewood on a misty shore and is drawn into a harrowing triangle. Charles Bickford plays the woman's husband, a celebrated artist, now blind, withdrawn from the world and bitter.</div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Evidence of heavy editing is hard to miss; there is often little flow from scene to scene. And though the film is beautifully photographed and atmospheric, the script is much less inspired. Ryan and Bickford are interesting, but Bennett is inconsistent and lacks allure as the femme fatale. It is a flawed film, but it has its moments and is well worth seeing.</div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">I planned to leave right after the first film, it was a work night after all, but when Muller announced that Rain Organics Vodka would be serving complimentary shots at intermission, I decided to linger a bit. Luckily I was early in the drink line and had enough time, as I let my ice melt, to peruse merchandise for sale on the mezzanine. Eddie Muller's book, <u>Dark City</u>, was on display and one day soon it will be mine. I referred to a borrowed copy when reviewing <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/01/focus-on-film-noir-warner-home-videos.html"><span style="color: #990000;">Warner Home Video's last film noir collection</span></a>. The book is full of fascinating information and stylishly written...in the noir tradition.</div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">This was my first Noir City, it won't be my last.</div><div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><a href="http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/index.html"><span style="color: #990000;">Click here</span></a> to learn more about the Film Noir Foundation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNmUaM4JzJc_qbEBR53Is7c4HUhYXPuYxfgMS1HbAyP6f0_isXFwliAnkBIXPXCXlGKCACB4pyixfEzOyr4FbgI2Gq6lXOz3nebxCFc871YXcsyo45-m1h1dMsuherkg7_WEcfVH4vYKz/s1600/fnf_logo08%255B1%255D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNmUaM4JzJc_qbEBR53Is7c4HUhYXPuYxfgMS1HbAyP6f0_isXFwliAnkBIXPXCXlGKCACB4pyixfEzOyr4FbgI2Gq6lXOz3nebxCFc871YXcsyo45-m1h1dMsuherkg7_WEcfVH4vYKz/s1600/fnf_logo08%255B1%255D.gif" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div>

Charles Bickford Eddie Muller Film Noir Foundation For the Love of Film (Noir) Jean Renoir Joan Bennett Robert Ryan The Woman on the Beach For the Love of Film (Noir): Renoir, Ryan and a splash of vodka...

This review was part of the For the Love of Film: The Film Preservation Blogathon to benefit the Film Noir Foundation . San Francisco's ...

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First bike ride of 2011

<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today was a gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest. I pulled my bike out of the garage, dusted off the cobwebs, pumped up the flat back tire and went for my first bike ride of the year. It was sunny and 50 degrees. Gorgeous!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I forgot how much I love riding my bike. It's hard to describe flying down a hill at 25 mph and feeling completely in control, yet free as a bird at the same time. I totally love it. Of course, going back up those hills with my extra twenty pounds was horrible. I thought I was going to have a heart attack for sure, as I was panting like a dog. It was really hard!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I biked to the gym, worked out with weights, upper body for an hour and then biked home. It took me about 25 minutes each direction. Much slower than my old 20-minutes I was doing last summer.. In almost two hours I burned 699 calories (Polar heart rate monitor). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now I'm totally and completely exhausted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watching the Grammys. Worst show ever! Right now I'm watching Cee-Lo Green in a goofy feather outfit singing the F--k You song (which I hate), but he's singing "Forget You" and he has some puppets and Gwynth Paltrow singing with him. Really? This is the best they could do? As soon as I finish this post the TV is going off. I'm reading a really good book, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minding-Frankie-Maeve-Binchy/dp/0307273563"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Minding Frankie</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: black;">by <span jquery1297663314429="119"><span class="contributorNameTrigger" jquery1297663314429="118">Maeve Binchy. Love this book.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plan for my week</span></u><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of exercise, as usual. Lots of stairs this week too, since the Big Climb is in less than five weeks (yikes!). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About my food, I'm going to stop freaking out about it so much. I'm really getting sick of being so worried about what I eat all the time. A piece of cake a couple times a year isn't going to kill me. Or even two pieces of cake a couple times a year. I just want to be healthy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I eat very healthy about 95% of the time. That's about 90% more than I was doing three years ago. My biggest problem is that I eat too much of the good stuff. I rarely eat junk. I just need to eat less. Sounds easy. It's not.</span>

First bike ride of 2011

Today was a gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest. I pulled my bike out of the garage, dusted off the cobwebs, pumped up the flat back tire ...

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Where the boys are (and aren't): Non-traditional jobs for women and men

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/rm/ar5m7pm6b7w9ydfyhwrm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/rm/ar5m7pm6b7w9ydfyhwrm.gif" /></a></div>By Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder <br /><br />When was the last time a male dental hygienist cleaned your teeth?<br /><br />Sure, we all know that women have significantly changed the face of the American work force over the past 50 or so years. And while children today rightly dream of becoming anything they want, the fact remains that some fields continue to be dominated by one gender over the other.<br /><br />Here, a look at some of the careers in which female or male employees may not have much competition for the restroom:<br /><br />Non-traditional jobs for women<br /><br />The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers a job where less than 25 percent of the work force is female to be a "non-traditional" job for women. Among the fields that meet this criteria are:<br /><br /><br />Logging<br /><br />Fishing, hunting and trapping<br /><br />Mining<br /><br />Construction<br /><br />Rail transportation<br /><br />Truck transportation<br /><br />Taxi and limousine service<br /><br />Couriers and messengers<br /><br />Utilities (such as electric power generation, natural gas distribution and sewage treatment)<br /><br />Repair and maintenance of electronic and precision equipment, commercial and industrial machinery, and autos<br /><br /><br />While there are a significant number of women employed in manufacturing, they tend to be better represented in some segments over others. For instance, about a third of the 1,467,000 people employed in the making of computer and electronic products are women. But men overwhelmingly dominate in the production of nonmetallic mineral products (think cement, pottery and glass), metal products (such as iron and steel), machinery, transportation equipment and wood products.<br /><br />Nearly half of the people employed in retail trade are women. Very few of them, however, are automobile or other motor vehicle dealers; work at stores selling auto parts, accessories or tires; or are vending machine operators. Likewise, women may account for about 30 percent of all wholesale trade employees but are rarely merchant wholesalers of recyclable materials, farm product raw materials, groceries or alcoholic beverages.<br /><br />Non-traditional jobs for men<br /><br />Walk into any child day care service and you'll likely be greeted by a woman. Of the 1,563,000 employees in that field, a whopping 95.3 percent are female. Among other industries the BLS classifies as "non-traditional" for men:<br /><br /><br />Veterinary services<br /><br />Gift, novelty and souvenir shops<br /><br />Libraries and archives<br /><br />Beauty salons<br /><br />Social assistance<br /><br />Employment in private households<br /><br /><br />So what about health care and education, two fields often associated with women?<br /><br />Male nurses are still rather rare, though their numbers are growing. The most recent national nursing survey by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration reports that men accounted for 6.6 percent of all RNs in 2008, up from 5.8 percent in the 2004 survey.<br /><br />Women continue to make up at least three-fourths of the work force at hospitals; the offices of physicians, dentists and optometrists; and outpatient care centers. Men account for only 13 percent of the workers at nursing care facilities, and even fewer are employed in home health care.<br /><br />As for education, numbers can be deceiving. Although the BLS found that men account for about 30 percent of those employed in educational services as a whole, they tend to gravitate towards colleges, universities and technical or trade schools. If you can't remember your child ever having a male primary-school teacher, you're not alone. According to the National Education Association, only 17 percent of elementary-level teachers are men. (Men do, however, represent about a third of middle-school teachers and about half of high school teachers.)<br /><br />The most gender-neutral fields<br /><br />Grocery stores employ equal numbers of men and women. In manufacturing, the work force is nearly split in textile product mills (except carpets and rugs) and in places producing soaps, cleaning compounds and cosmetics. Other industries that are at or close to 50-50 include:<br /><br /><br />Leisure and hospitality<br /><br />Services to buildings and dwellings<br /><br />Data processing, hosting and related services<br /><br />Real estate<br /><br />Advertising and related services<br /><br /><br />One last figure (which might surprise some): 50.2 percent of gas station workers are female. Maybe there is hope yet for male dental hygienists to become commonplace.<br /><br />Beth Braccio Hering researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

Where the boys are (and aren't): Non-traditional jobs for women and men

By Beth Braccio Hering, Special to CareerBuilder When was the last time a male dental hygienist cleaned your teeth? Sure, we all know that w...

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San Francisco Film Locations...a mini-tour on video

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiFjWmihhoCNnGHvza0pKDBnSkvtO7rkLdZQGeXgurNdz_hnlFDvqmQQ5rTGGEPmOqrxVwEpO7JzNoRyieDWxtL0USjjSPZLmWqeDFnmfIPDsbjGJaYzDW7yyJzhuDYMV0CIU9m0h1Hfq/s1600/Huntington+Park+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiFjWmihhoCNnGHvza0pKDBnSkvtO7rkLdZQGeXgurNdz_hnlFDvqmQQ5rTGGEPmOqrxVwEpO7JzNoRyieDWxtL0USjjSPZLmWqeDFnmfIPDsbjGJaYzDW7yyJzhuDYMV0CIU9m0h1Hfq/s400/Huntington+Park+B.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huntington Park at the top of Nob Hill, San Francisco</td></tr></tbody></table>One day not too long ago my friend Dave and I went on an excursion into three San Francisco neighborhoods to shoot video of classic film locations. I'd done some research and worked out a way to cover many films in just a few hours.<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/AVvXsEi3I6YbfSqmiCv2pu_eLm2G358tdTY2NsPGMmJj0mX5zdGvdY6jWw_eWeBrcLM5cHnHBjrXNnrhCiP6dsSuNf4vYWcxSCQ5dlh66NTHO3MMURmtyaqPaFT3A3ZOUZBgZpXLOKS8Tgc8y1UG/s1600/Fairmont+staircase+1+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3I6YbfSqmiCv2pu_eLm2G358tdTY2NsPGMmJj0mX5zdGvdY6jWw_eWeBrcLM5cHnHBjrXNnrhCiP6dsSuNf4vYWcxSCQ5dlh66NTHO3MMURmtyaqPaFT3A3ZOUZBgZpXLOKS8Tgc8y1UG/s200/Fairmont+staircase+1+b.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fairmont Hotel has appeared on film and TV many times</td></tr></tbody></table> We began our tour on Nob Hill where such sites as Huntington Park, Grace Cathedral, the Brocklebank Building, the Pacific Union Club, The Fairmont Hotel, the Mark Hopkins Hotel and steep cable car-tracked hills have long figured in films shot or set in the city...films like <strong>The Lady from Shanghai</strong>, <strong>DOA</strong>, <strong>Dark Passage</strong>, <strong>The Line Up</strong>, <strong>Vertigo</strong>, <strong>Bullitt</strong>, various of the <em>Dirty Harry</em> movies, etc.<strong> </strong>We moved on to North Beach and made three more stops in that colorful neighborhood to check on sites featured in films like <strong>Vertigo</strong>, <strong>Pal Joey</strong>, <strong>Play it Again, Sam</strong>, <strong>Basic Instinct</strong> and <strong>Foul Play</strong>. Our final destination was Pacific Heights where we shot just one building, a "mid-century modern" monolith used in <strong>Days of Wine and Roses </strong>that is no longer contemporary and is now a bit of an eyesore in an upscale part of town.<br /><br />Dave edited the video, added a music track and recorded my narration. I then tried but was unable to upload the video to Blogger and eventually gave up...and forgot about it. Then, a few days ago,  a Twitter friend tweeted about a photo contest his site,<span style="color: #ffd966;"> <em><a href="http://www.writingwithhitchcock.com/"><span style="color: #990000;">Writing with Hitchcock</span></a></em></span>, was sponsoring that involved posting personal photos of Hitchcock film locations. After I entered a still photo I'd taken of the building at 900 Lombard where Scottie Ferguson lived in <strong>Vertigo</strong>, I remembered the video.  Once I'd managed to post it on Facebook, I posted it on YouTube and, only slightly delayed...here it is...my mini-tour of San Francisco film locations. Dave and I hope to get back out there again one day. I'd love to venture into other neighborhoods as well as do a "Hitchcock tour" of the San Francisco Bay Area.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RvTQwQHv2X4" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>

Alfred Hitchcock Dark Passage Days of Wine and Roses Dirty Harry DOA Pal Joey Play it Again Sam The Lady Eve (author) The Lady From Shanghai The Line Up Vertigo What's Up Doc? San Francisco Film Locations...a mini-tour on video

Huntington Park at the top of Nob Hill, San Francisco One day not too long ago my friend Dave and I went on an excursion into three San Fran...

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Tuesday night update and Wednesday birthday cake

Last night didn't go well. After I wrote my post I felt like I was literally starving to death. Almond. Butter. I don't need to say anymore except that this morning I poured soap into the jar (what was left of it) and threw it in the trash. <br /><br />Right now I feel very ill because I ate a big piece of birthday cake tonight, chocolate truffle cake and I don't even really like chocolate cake. It was my husband's birthday today. I feel really gross. Like throwing up gross. Plus I'm so thirsty I could die. I just can't get enough water to drink.<br /><br />That's all. Not much else to write except I screwed up again. What else is new? <br /><br />Oh yes, I should mention that work is out of control busy. I've been getting intense headaches lately. Probably because I feel like my head is spinning out of control All day long I keep telling myself to calm the hell down, but then someone else wants something else from me. Tomorrow is going to be different. Honestly. Totally different. I need a new attitude at work.<br /><br />I'm going to bed now. I'm going to have to work out like a maniac tomorrow morning. I have a plan of really mixing up my routine with new exercises. <br /><br />Funny, I just read this post and I sound like a crazy person, with a death theme. Hmmm....

Tuesday night update and Wednesday birthday cake

Last night didn't go well. After I wrote my post I felt like I was literally starving to death. Almond. Butter. I don't need to say ...

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21 weeks

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ml6IenGtVoC_QRY9qUVdkDLlbJwki4lGO8O5BebejRIusrYl_h8lJvzmbg-ExAgdIebkeaBL3eCCAZkIbA81H4BqZ6aCdXS8moWEVZ7AntZ1BWI03uzni-polvval786mRGbG5S9kK-a/s1600-h/21%20weeks%20-%202.9.11%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="21 weeks - 2.9.11" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIn-zra4e6jioIDftJxbI2eCRKI9IQjciCjbGntCE3VcvzhUZ62Jc6BMFNd1kIcczaPQWVqa2gGB3XxTEnebcu1pC_l6ehG2Qcgx2dpRupbf_zOh25Sdcsy0fE1qXOf9r948dvhVV56Yd/?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="21 weeks - 2.9.11" width="304"></a> </p> <blockquote> <p><strong>How Far Along:</strong> 21 Weeks <p><strong>Size of baby:</strong> Baby Bangert is the size of a banana <p><strong>Total Weight Gain/Loss:</strong> gained 18lbs <p><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> I wear maternity jeans and pants but everything else is regular.  Things are getting tighter though! <p><strong>Gender:</strong> It’s a girl!!! <p><strong>Movement:</strong> I felt her kick on the outside of my tummy on Sunday! <p><strong>Sleep:</strong> Not too bad, I get up a few times throughout the night to go to the bathroom. I guess it’s preparing me for a newborn! <p><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my stomach and a bigger selection of clothes! <p><strong>Cravings:</strong> I don't have specific cravings. I just like to eat! ;) I don’t think ice cream counts, I love that anytime! <p><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Really can’t complain! Feeling pretty well! <p><strong>Best Moment this week:</strong> See below! <ul> <li>Spending the weekend with my sisters & this lil cutie!<img alt="DSC09776" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B2lbpU1kA0fahOy5gRJl5BPmv_MtHCN_n4s-7BHR6YvlrrMTvD9ZavCn9ZtmL_7sSLx_OAJgWWT14TGgmPVr5K9qMRErlp6q1c9eGmFM3DYV0bGd0qHqv81OZ7UFSjiBiGHnJhvgyIPQ/?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="DSC09776" width="404"></li> <li>Getting LOTS of free baskets from the <a href="http://www.signaturehomestyles.com/">Signature Homestyles</a> party I had! Our little girl’s closet is going to be SO organized!<img alt="DSC09779" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3te0G1dMWeY4aHWDs9BUK6Q-SpC5m14uiTLKoNPc6u8x6WR0RiKZTZRZvZq79qMbjC0D81JAfqX5qnq7w-7eOXxvr8Ecj8ehRc5bG31cKU7fqAw8YFnz2s8eLSqqNOI3fjIzYS-DvSTgn/?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="DSC09779" width="304"></li> <li>Haircut! Notice the difference from a few weeks ago?</li> <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="250"><img alt="19 weeks - 1.24.11" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CAlDSgHbZLoPDWPfsKu4jpg8vnOAmukaen0uUquP6c4Tbyn4B3bZcPFuhG_otU9NeDnoFDwn721z-Pc3-Uez1MNPZsJAV-hQOiqhIz6oJokOoy8tFT_0n3_lj0kPGulBKy5kgcYOF0oo/?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="19 weeks - 1.24.11" width="238"></td> <td valign="top" width="250"> <p align="center"><img alt="21 weeks - 2.9.11" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIB5u8teuu10uBPNgY1wpmtE_amw-LtFCZ_bgbNfcSPNZW6AlAkKxkVh6j5c_b0z0NTxVXfW0F4z_dsDPIRjWZhkVOpLbmDplyOXm9_X5vu1h7Mud1ZLs9Hz5tDRcr2dKksYQt4mCAN6yf/?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="21 weeks - 2.9.11" width="236"></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div></ul></blockquote>

21 weeks

  How Far Along: 21 Weeks Size of baby: Baby Bangert is the size of a banana Total Weight Gain/Loss: gained 18lbs Maternity Clothes: ...

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I made it through Monday night without an incident

I managed to get through last night without any type of evening snack and no binging. It's a miracle!<br /><br />Now I need another miracle! It's Tuesday night, and I'm in the same boat as I was last night, except tonight, I'm starving! Seriously, my hunger is off the charts. <br /><br />My food today was sparse, but sufficient. I was in a rush to get to work for a meeting this morning so I skipped breakfast, which is something I very rarely do these days. I had a glass of non-fat milk because I read on someones blog yesterday that it was one of the best post-workout beverages. Protein and carbs in a glass. <br /><br />Then off to work for back to back meetings until noon, lunch of chicken breast with two tablespoons of Stubbs barbecue sauce, leftover roasted butternut squash (yummy) and roasted Brussels sprouts (with about a teaspoon of oil). It was a wonderful and filling lunch.<br /><br />Then a crazy busy afternoon at work, with no time for a snack except a few cherry tomatoes. I left work at 5:30pm to go to the Pyramid Brewery in Seattle for the Big Climb Team Captains meeting. It was a great meeting and now I'm super psyched about doing the event. Only 39 days left!<br /><br />So I'm in a room with about 50 other Big Climb team captains and what do you think they're serving for hors d' oeuvres? Artichoke cheese dip with buttered french bread, and battered fried chicken wings with hot sauce, and of course beer. Lots of beer. Everyone was drinking beer.<br /><br />They had a dinner menu and several people were ordering from it. My skinny (but very sweet) girlfriend ordered a bacon cheeseburger and fries. She does Crossfit and works out like a maniac, and she gets to eat whatever she wants and remains a size 2. Love her to pieces, but honestly, life is so not fair. <br /><br />I ordered the salmon, grilled with no oil and without the cream sauce, steamed veggies, no utter. Water to drink.<br /><br />I just got home about an hour ago (it's 10:30pm now). I took the train back to my near my work. That was an experience. I missed my stop and had to take a different train to get back to my stop. 9pm and I'm running around in train stations near the airport (a rather unsavory part of town). I made it home safely but it was kind of scary. I'm not doing that again.<br /><br />So explain to me, why after eating a sufficient amount of food today, do I feel like I'm at a 10+ on the hunger scale (with 10 being the most hungry you could possibly be)? I'm debating about going to bed on an empty stomach. I ate at around 6pm, four and half hours ago. <br /><br />I could eat something but will that send me into a binge. I'm still debating on what to do. Normal people eat when they're hungry. I've already determined I'm not normal when it comes to food. What shall I do? I'm exhausted so I'm really thinking about just going to  bed.

I made it through Monday night without an incident

I managed to get through last night without any type of evening snack and no binging. It's a miracle! Now I need another miracle! It'...

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