National Moment of Remembrance for 9/11

Not sure how I missed this, probably because I've banned myself from watching the news this past week. This is a lot more important than anything I could say about weight loss.<br /><br />Taken from the <a href="http://www.dodgeglobe.com/news/x1413023937/Americans-to-observe-National-Moment-of-Remembrance-Sunday">Dodge City Daily Globe</a>:<br /><br />This year we mark the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a day that changed America forever. To commemorate this occasion and pay tribute to those we lost, the United States Senate, in an overwhelming demonstration of unity, unanimously passed a resolution (S. Res. 237) establishing a national Moment of Remembrance on September 11, 2011. I write to request that you join us in making this Moment of Remembrance a symbol of solidarity throughout your city and across the country.<br /><br /> During the Moment of Remembrance, every person across the country is called upon to stop and remember those we lost in the September 11th attacks. The Moment of Remembrance will take place for one full minute at 12:00 p.m. on September 11, 2011, and cities and towns, firehouses, churches and other institutions across the country are called upon to to sound sirens and ring bells during that minute. These sirens and bells will be a signal for each person to stop and remember the people we lost and demonstrate the perseverance the American people have shown since that fateful day.<br /><br />Taken from <a href="http://www.auburnwa.gov/government/calendars/community/spet11moment_s_p7316.asp?EventMode=View&EventOccurrence=0">City of Auburn, WA</a> events:<br /><b> </b><br />Governments and businesses, houses of worship and railways, fire and police departments, and others are called on to ring bells and sound sirens as we observe this Moment of Remembrance. At the same time across the country (<b>1 pm EDT, noon CDT, 11 am MDT, and 10 am PDT</b>) we call on you to reflect on the lives lost and those affected by the tragedies of 9/11.<b> </b>

National Moment of Remembrance for 9/11

Not sure how I missed this, probably because I've banned myself from watching the news this past week. This is a lot more important than...

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That's what I was going to say...why I may never reach goal

Do you ever have a post idea rolling around in your head, then you read almost exactly what you were thinking on one of your favorite blogs?<br /><br />After three and a half years of blogging that's happened to me a few times. Sometimes I even write my post then find a similar one written by someone else. Then I wonder 'Did I read it and think it was my idea when I actually plagiarized it?'. <br /><br />This time I'm pretty sure I hadn't read this before. It's a topic that people don't talk about. I was going to write the post a couple days ago, but then I read Helen's post on Doing a 180, "<a href="http://doingaone-eighty.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-dont-have-what-it-takes.html">I don't have what it takes</a>" on Wednesday. There were my very thoughts written in Helen's words. She was openly honest about her thoughts that she may never reach her fitness and weight goals. <br /><br />My title was going to be "Why I'll never reach goal". What I was going to write was very similar to what Helen wrote. Basically, I'm not sure I have it in me to get to my goal weight of 135 pounds.<br /><br />You can read Helen's post to know how I feel, with the exception of the thyroid problem, the rest of it is very similar to my own story. Except I've been on a diet since I was thirteen years old and wanted to lose five pounds to get down to 120.<br /><br />The only difference between when I was 13 and then in my fifties is that the amount of weight I wanted to lose has changed. When I was 52 I needed to lose 100 pounds. That means I've either been on a diet or thinking I should be on a diet for about 43 years. Or a lifestyle change, thank you Weight Watchers for that little gem.<br /><br />It doesn't mean I'm giving up or that I'll stop exercising and trying to eat right. It just means I'm rethinking trying to reach a weight I was in high school. Maybe that's not realistic. Maybe weighing 150 at 56 years old wouldn't be such a bad thing. It's something I need to seriously consider.<br /><br />I still need to lose 31 pounds to get to 150, but I was 152 two years ago so I know it's possible.<br /><br />I haven't seen 135 since 1997 with the help of Phen-Fen (a weight loss drug that works, but kills). I was literally starving myself to death (800 calories a day and not hungry). I was doing high impact aerobics five days a week and I was a vegetarian. I lost 107 pounds in seven months, from 237 to 124. I was almost dead and looked awful (my hair was very thin from the sudden weight loss), but I was wearing size six jeans, which are still in the back of my closet.<br /><br />My point is that I'm not giving up on getting healthy, but I might be giving up on weighing 135.  Kind of what Helen said.

That's what I was going to say...why I may never reach goal

Do you ever have a post idea rolling around in your head, then you read almost exactly what you were thinking on one of your favorite blogs?...

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Take 2: Irene Mayer Selznick, a Life in Three Acts

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1rwjNKvjiJVAo6vLvvJ4L7E6u5-MWrWAroNu2dRpFuq9xQFc0p633lqr8W0FmG2NBITm_-VBQRzKgL5TLleMYjGTqHXmBGXSINuLRkQWt3rKjgwSsxV2421BCnEfRa0eAGAOSesPrpjI/s1600/Private+View%252C+Irene+Mayer+Selznick+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1rwjNKvjiJVAo6vLvvJ4L7E6u5-MWrWAroNu2dRpFuq9xQFc0p633lqr8W0FmG2NBITm_-VBQRzKgL5TLleMYjGTqHXmBGXSINuLRkQWt3rKjgwSsxV2421BCnEfRa0eAGAOSesPrpjI/s400/Private+View%252C+Irene+Mayer+Selznick+3.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Classic Film Boy and The Lady Eve Discuss the Fascinating Irene Mayer Selznick</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSnv0SDnAR0IDllOtkp8c_djExaJ4v1CfoEnScXtpzDVM3E6YJXolP4j-0KST9FMSLrIWxuS89jSo-EyqVmcL1rx9TtdV8InczQ-Kb6LRcZtzAmz7KtOaP4Jmc0TywweFbqR5ByWGi46e/s1600/Take+2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSnv0SDnAR0IDllOtkp8c_djExaJ4v1CfoEnScXtpzDVM3E6YJXolP4j-0KST9FMSLrIWxuS89jSo-EyqVmcL1rx9TtdV8InczQ-Kb6LRcZtzAmz7KtOaP4Jmc0TywweFbqR5ByWGi46e/s200/Take+2-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Welcome to Take 2, a conversation about Irene Mayer Selznick, the daughter of MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer and first wife of famed producer David O. Selznick. Both Classic Film Boy (CFB) and I (TLE) recently read <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1238423.A_Private_View" target="_blank"><u>A Private View</u></a></span>, Mayer Selznick’s 1983 autobiography.We were impressed by the story of this strong woman who grew up and lived in Hollywood during its golden age and went on to become an esteemed Broadway producer in her own right. CFB invited me to discuss her life with him and, over the past month or so, we did:</i> </span><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">CFB</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">: It is great to find another fan of Irene Mayer Selznick’s autobiography. I knew very little about her until I read Scott Berg’s <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/292751.Kate_Remembered" target="_blank"><u>Kate Remembered</u></a></span>, his biography of Katharine Hepburn, with whom he became great friends. He was also friends with Irene, and she really intrigued me. By this time it was later in her life, after her autobiography had been published, and I wanted to know more about this woman.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">TLE</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">: Over the past few years I’ve had an experience that could be called “all roads</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">lead to Irene Mayer Selznick” – I kept coming upon interesting references to her as I</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">read about or researched other subjects. Eventually, I knew I had to get my hands</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">on her autobiography. This led me to also peruse biographies of her father as well as</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41243.Showman" target="_blank">David Thomson’s bio of David O. Selznick</a></span> - primarily to learn more about Irene in</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">relation to the two key men in her life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">CFB</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">: I’ll need to read the David Thomson book. I’ve read a few others on David O. Selznick. It interests me that several books infer that Irene had an iron will and you didn’t want to cross her. Yet I didn’t get that feel from her autobiography. I guess the truth lies somewhere in between. Still, I very much wish I could have met this woman. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEjzzSNLuhaXufe9-ZQroNP61u072SFf2AFCO1iHLDDyHFL9vCW1H32vgcbX24Zl2STL-fngdJx_hXEP12F5Qie1-UzLQipfXVw0tmzXYnqoKK3r9-SquVL_ky6AspagKEq2Or1Qw_nnq_3_/s1600/Edie+Louis+Margaret+and+Irene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzSNLuhaXufe9-ZQroNP61u072SFf2AFCO1iHLDDyHFL9vCW1H32vgcbX24Zl2STL-fngdJx_hXEP12F5Qie1-UzLQipfXVw0tmzXYnqoKK3r9-SquVL_ky6AspagKEq2Or1Qw_nnq_3_/s320/Edie+Louis+Margaret+and+Irene.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mayers: Edie, Louis B., wife Margaret and Irene in the 1920s</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">You would expect that someone who was brought up in Hollywood during the 1920s would have been part of the jazz age/flapper set. Yet I was amazed at the quiet life Irene and her sister Edie lived. It wasn’t sheltered, but it wasn’t flamboyant, either. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">TLE</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">: My impression was that Irene and Edie’s lives under their father’s roof were intensely scrutinized and fairly insulated. Louis B. was vigilant and protective to the point of warning his girls not to become smitten with #1 Hollywood bachelor <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/about/awards/thalberg.html" target="_blank">Irving Thalberg</a></span> (before he married Norma Shearer) because of his ill health. Irene wrote that they were allowed to socialize with him but were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> seated next to him at dinners or events.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene seems to me to have been a stifled child. She behaved very self-protectively, careful not to reveal much about her thoughts or feelings to her parents. She had a stammer, something that developed in childhood and apparently lasted most of her life.  Probably the most telling statement she made about her early life was that her parents had given her everything but a sense of her own worth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEhVnxOMuNiNj8PGjwQwnv5uUuZZo2Nj4NVhG_U5NQu1wAHEs-xYz07fXq3hiWK0-Wx9FRh3daACpEln42z5wZkFU0aMfyhDe7q-84Vrw0NGVRaU3J4FXhoIknAqrGlObZ2uwMk_XFF6eHy4/s1600/the+selznicks+arrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnxOMuNiNj8PGjwQwnv5uUuZZo2Nj4NVhG_U5NQu1wAHEs-xYz07fXq3hiWK0-Wx9FRh3daACpEln42z5wZkFU0aMfyhDe7q-84Vrw0NGVRaU3J4FXhoIknAqrGlObZ2uwMk_XFF6eHy4/s400/the+selznicks+arrive.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene and David O. Selznick on the town</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene grew up to be more her father’s daughter than her mother’s. She was very bright, discerning and determined. And she was a good-looking woman, stylish and modern in her day. I have the impression that David O. Selznick counted on her for quite a bit during their 19-year marriage – which may be why he could never completely let her go. She had been his foundation and sounding board during those years when he achieved the heights.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">CFB</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">: Great impressions, and you are on target. I do think Louis B. was overly protective, yet Irene never seemed to shy away from more intellectual pursuits. Where her older sister, Edie, definitely focused on the clothes and societal aspects of life as she came of age, she preferred people whose minds she admired. I enjoyed her fond recollections of <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.hearstcastle.org/history-art/historic-people/william-randolph-hearst" target="_blank">William Randolph Hearst</a></span> (and not-too-fond memories of <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/44966|106932/Marion-Davies/" target="_blank">Marion Davies</a></span>, who also had a stammer). He treated Irene as a woman with a brain, and she treasured their conversations together. David did the same thing – he recognized that she was his equal in that regard. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">As for her father, Irene paints a side of Louis B. in her autobiography that many may not be aware of. She recalls when he – notoriously fond of Americana and family-friendly fare – saw <i>A Streetcar Named Desire</i>, which Irene produced for the stage. Louis B. came to the tryouts in New Haven, and Irene was worried about his reaction. Others were respectful but weren't gushing, but it was Louis B. who pulled Irene into a room and told her, “You don’t have a hit, you’ve got a smash. You wait and see.” She was then shocked to see her father and Elia Kazan, the play’s director, deep in conversation and clearly enjoying each other’s company! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">I also agree with you that Irene was a good-looking woman, although Edie didn’t think she put enough into how she looked. I love this from Irene’s book: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEgdusoV3w_qcpdZFqMiXuUUQDUQdOjVdVEy0rv0j3NQdLpp_boyJevkCAEU6Ekpi2b3YFgqE68kBAdRWfOcNvKh7utSljCwnv-mrBejbYkSW9BRDGcHrwS16Ej0eQEylP4m6k5iRlo_TQo-/s1600/Irene+and+Edie+1929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdusoV3w_qcpdZFqMiXuUUQDUQdOjVdVEy0rv0j3NQdLpp_boyJevkCAEU6Ekpi2b3YFgqE68kBAdRWfOcNvKh7utSljCwnv-mrBejbYkSW9BRDGcHrwS16Ej0eQEylP4m6k5iRlo_TQo-/s200/Irene+and+Edie+1929.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene and Edie Mayer in the 1920s</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Edie to Irene: “Do me a favor, darling. While I want you to look beautiful for yourself, actually I’m being selfish. Everyone thinks I’m years younger than you, but there are some people from way back who remember. So take care of yourself for my sake, because you make me years older than I appear.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene’s response when a friend asked how old Edie was: “She used to be two years older than me. Now she is younger than springtime.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">TLE</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">: You touch on a significant aspect of Irene’s life, her disastrous relationship with her sister, Edie. Theirs was a sibling rivalry that eventually drove them completely apart. Edie had suffered ill-health when she was young and, as a result, received a lot of special parental care and attention. Because it was expected of her, Irene deferred to her “frail” sister’s every whim. As the two grew up, Irene became the more popular of the two and was part of Hollywood’s up-and-coming younger crowd. This didn’t escape Edie's notice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEikJZIepUPPRX4gjclz_DGWBcOJk4MRVB98XHE-8RmJxbjGi9BNg54r2BrQaMz6tGSomZV0XKD85SVawRfbZwOYl11zVHR_uGCxuo-JWEvWE3qsDzMS4Nc6n5c2WEZrdtpcjcTUEWb1p74T/s1600/Edie+Goetz+with+Van+Gogh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJZIepUPPRX4gjclz_DGWBcOJk4MRVB98XHE-8RmJxbjGi9BNg54r2BrQaMz6tGSomZV0XKD85SVawRfbZwOYl11zVHR_uGCxuo-JWEvWE3qsDzMS4Nc6n5c2WEZrdtpcjcTUEWb1p74T/s320/Edie+Goetz+with+Van+Gogh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edie Mayer Goetz at home...with Van Gogh</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Edie was a woman of great social ambition. Her husband, Bill Goetz, was a producer, though not a trailblazer in the way L. B. Mayer or David Selznick were. Mayer brokered Goetz’s partnership at 20^th Century Fox and it’s said that the snide inside-the-industry crack “the son-in-law also rises” was aimed as much at Goetz as it was Selznick. Goetz’s most significant film was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sayonara </i>(1957), and it earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. He was a canny and forward-thinking businessman and enormously popular in Hollywood. Once the Selznick’s split up, he and Edie were at the heart of its social scene and remained so until his death in 1969. Edie quickly lost her social clout once Goetz died.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene’s ambition seems of an entirely different nature. Her inclination was to be in on the action, not a decorative accessory or hostess. Her diary from her teen years includes comments on films she saw at MGM previews. These journal entries reveal Irene to have been perceptive and frank in her observations – even at 17. Her take on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romola</i> (1924): “…L. Gish good as always but didn’t make the most of her opportunities – leading male part should not have been the villain – not enough love interest.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEjdwR5meKVGBjvVTHGbJXksY0jBvHAdpTXWERZpRrpct7g9-wW5r5RfmJttONqatJf1KpTeuJ3u4UI4-eYNZPcnSGI3NJS3QJzIy6zXevF0hPv1mY-TKCIE4spw-RL6Z7owKDawIATjmNFc/s1600/Irene+and+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwR5meKVGBjvVTHGbJXksY0jBvHAdpTXWERZpRrpct7g9-wW5r5RfmJttONqatJf1KpTeuJ3u4UI4-eYNZPcnSGI3NJS3QJzIy6zXevF0hPv1mY-TKCIE4spw-RL6Z7owKDawIATjmNFc/s1600/Irene+and+boys.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene with her sons Jeffrey and Daniel Selznick</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">In her book Irene writes that it amused her father to ask her opinion of a movie and then try to argue her out of her point of view. When she was dating Selznick, they went to a preview of a picture of his one night and afterward he asked what she thought of it. Irene replied with noncommittal remarks - and he challenged her, “…speak up; no one’s going to hold it against you. If you’re afraid, I promise you no one will ever know a word you’ve said.” Irene writes that she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> afraid but over time she felt free enough to say anything she wanted to him. Selznick told her that he was undoing the damage her father had done.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">David Selznick was the younger son of <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.fortleefilm.org/studios.html" target="_blank">Lewis J. Selznick</a></span>, L.B. Mayer’s one-time employer and long-time anathema. The Selznick boys were on Mayer’s “off-limits” list for his girls, but Irene and David, once committed, were not to be stopped. It seems to me that Irene may not yet have had a true sense of her own worth, but she was developing a mind and will of her own.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">CFB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> She clearly had a will of her own, and I like how you track it from those observations about film to her conversations with David. She really needed an iron will, considering the men in her life. She could stand up to her father and husband, so dealing with Edie probably was more frustrating than anything else. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene was great friends with Katharine Hepburn, and you know Hepburn was no pushover. Still, Irene spent years in analysis, and she was never afraid to admit it or discuss how it helped her. Perhaps that is what grounded her considering the characters around her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEj2tnQoL-jW9ELuJv5d9R36HewEvirVkwMibA_Y75zbsz_qRuInYPE_VWExUOaRtN7qbMx1f3iX68NOxNeloBOhcKlsEXdUJgvowPL4zNXcSQxqz15Q-FfOdp8e2voxzNkjlRCGNDkfwBsR/s1600/kate+and+irene+asking+directions+in+montego+bay+jamaica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tnQoL-jW9ELuJv5d9R36HewEvirVkwMibA_Y75zbsz_qRuInYPE_VWExUOaRtN7qbMx1f3iX68NOxNeloBOhcKlsEXdUJgvowPL4zNXcSQxqz15Q-FfOdp8e2voxzNkjlRCGNDkfwBsR/s400/kate+and+irene+asking+directions+in+montego+bay+jamaica.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katharine Hepburn and Irene in Jamaica, asking directions...</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Going back to Berg’s book, he was friends with Irene for nearly 20 years until she died, and it’s a nice companion piece to Irene’s autobiography. He describes her as such when they met in the 1970s: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">“I don’t think she was more than five feet tall – with short dark hair in bangs and the shrewdest pair of eyes I have ever seen; and I know she was one of the most powerful presences I have ever beheld. … It would be less than precise to call Mrs. Selznick an extremely difficult person, but she was easily the most challenging I have ever met. One never let down one’s guard with Irene, unless looking to be knocked out or thrown out. Emotional, volatile and analytical, she took nothing at face value, probing layers beneath layers in even the simplest matters.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Berg was very fond of Irene, and it’s interesting to have this insight when you read her autobiography. Her book was no frivolous undertaking to cash in on her fame, and I believe she took great care to analyze her life before setting it down on paper.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Eve, I feel like we could talk about Irene for days, but perhaps we should wrap this up. Any final thoughts about this fascinating woman? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">TLE:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> I’d like to talk a bit about Irene Mayer Selznick’s accomplishments after she departed Hollywood. Her family and friends are extremely interesting, of course, and her life was entwined with the history of movies in America, which is covered in her book, but there was more – she managed to reinvent herself and carve out a career of her own in New York.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene’s decision to leave Selznick and relocate on the East Coast was bold. She wasn’t sure what she might achieve, but turned to old friends for advice, friends like famed playwright/director <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/05/moss-hart-diaries-kitty-carlisle-marlene-dietrich" target="_blank">Moss Hart</a></span> who urged her to pursue her dream of becoming a theatrical producer. After a while, she rented an office, hired a general manager and got going. Her first production, an Arthur Laurents play starring Shirley Booth, didn’t get to Broadway but closed after an out of town tryout. Laurents later retooled the play, came up with a new title, but kept Shirley Booth  - who won a Tony for her role. David Lean later adapted it to film; this was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summertime</i> (1955) starring Irene’s good friend Katharine Hepburn.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEiviMu-eHKIrN__mlUlnbdE3JKPgqImHCJdDlcSmYI4p_vdPDweN8-NY8bCWdnFY5yvfuSkE0thIxDq-3iKrHpx1FSrVb9hcK8dBs8ivEaSbMLePq2UVeX_P-JLcMHF_aX79iupxHGWq2wO/s1600/Streetcar+on+Broadway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviMu-eHKIrN__mlUlnbdE3JKPgqImHCJdDlcSmYI4p_vdPDweN8-NY8bCWdnFY5yvfuSkE0thIxDq-3iKrHpx1FSrVb9hcK8dBs8ivEaSbMLePq2UVeX_P-JLcMHF_aX79iupxHGWq2wO/s400/Streetcar+on+Broadway.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final scenes: <i>A Streetcar Named Desire</i> on Broadway, 1947</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">It was on Irene’s 40^th birthday that she received the script for what became her second production and it was this play that established her – and everyone associated with it. The play was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Streetcar Named Desire</i> by <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/tennessee-williams/about-tennessee-williams/737/" target="_blank">Tennessee Williams</a></span>; it debuted on Broadway in 1947 to a half-hour standing ovation. According to Irene, the play made director Elia Kazan “a king.” It also made Marlon Brando a star (he went straight to Hollywood after the play and never looked back), brought a Tony Award to Jessica Tandy, who played Blanche Dubois in New York, and a Pulitzer Prize to Williams. The film adaptation would win four Oscars.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene was certainly a powerhouse, she went toe-to-toe with the indomitable Kazan when they worked on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Streetcar </i>(perhaps second nature to her by now, after dealing with her father and husband). In fact, Tennessee Williams had a habit of referring to her as “Dame Selznick,” apparently acknowledging her pedigree and her demeanor. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEha_EoFSz_IBCsllX0mDZUzx7GMg_rk0iagvVvPnMyPBf89rVC7GcQ6cWs0b5csGVDZZWXFJuJ3aXogc_oGbxWj8nv3TLN_PxX7_oNKl7UPKbYO0Q19f5T3mi0hZXfMaPmNxjqBgkpgyC_f/s1600/Bell+with+Palmer+and+Harrison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_EoFSz_IBCsllX0mDZUzx7GMg_rk0iagvVvPnMyPBf89rVC7GcQ6cWs0b5csGVDZZWXFJuJ3aXogc_oGbxWj8nv3TLN_PxX7_oNKl7UPKbYO0Q19f5T3mi0hZXfMaPmNxjqBgkpgyC_f/s1600/Bell+with+Palmer+and+Harrison.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bell, Book and Candle </i>on Broadway</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">Irene produced several more Broadway plays. Her production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bell, Book and Candle</i> in 1950 starred Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer and was <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051406/" target="_blank">adapted to film</a></span> in 1958 and became a hit starring James Stewart and Kim Novak. Irene’s production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Chalk Garden </i>in 1955 brought her a Tony nomination; <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057933/" target="_blank">the film adaptation</a></span> starred Deborah Kerr.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">In her memoirs Irene described her life as a play in three acts, the first as her father’s daughter, the second as wife to her husband, and the third act was her career in the theater. She wrote, “With perseverance I’ve gotten this far. Now, with a little more luck, I’d like to grow very old as slowly as possible.” She died in New York in 1990 at age 83.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve really enjoyed this, CFB, and want to thank you for inviting me to discuss Irene Mayer Selznick's incredible story with you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">CFB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"> You're welcome. Detailing her amazing theater work – which many people may not know  of – is a wonderful way to wrap up a conversation about Irene. She wasn’t just the daughter of mogul Louis B. or the wife of wunderkind David O. She was a tough, sharp and respected Broadway producer, and her stage work alone represents a strong legacy. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaDBO6AoKQjkJ5XaAj7NMJQGGqmHlQHQj0uJCLPwCmZWUezoNqWOR9qtFME8UOgyi4fqHPwiSKDcPfmllaDwb1z8D1NzuNj8zqqR3xdeGkXDHH6qlv4GWDZYawRgHtklILMRgJqAS-35i/s1600/irene+solo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaDBO6AoKQjkJ5XaAj7NMJQGGqmHlQHQj0uJCLPwCmZWUezoNqWOR9qtFME8UOgyi4fqHPwiSKDcPfmllaDwb1z8D1NzuNj8zqqR3xdeGkXDHH6qlv4GWDZYawRgHtklILMRgJqAS-35i/s320/irene+solo+1.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene Mayer Selznick</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i>Following is an audio clip of a 1948 radio program that begins with Elia Kazan and Irene Mayer Selznick accepting the New York Drama Critics' "Best American Play" Award for Tennessee Williams. The program goes on to feature portions of the play itself, with narration by Kazan and scenes performed by the original Broadway cast - including Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter and Jessica Tandy:</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wmpjP-ZKDvg" width="420"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.classicfilmboy.com/" style="color: #cc0000;">Click here</a><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>to visit <span style="color: #cc0000;">Classicfilmboy's Movie Paradise</span>. <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/05/en-route-to-elysian-fields.html" style="color: #cc0000;">Click here</a> to learn more about the evolution of <i>A Streetcar Named Desire.</i></span></div>

A Streetcar Named Desire Bell Book and Candle Classicfilmboy David O. Selznick Elia Kazan Irene Mayer Selznick Katharine Hepburn Louis B. Mayer Tennessee Williams The Lady Eve (author) Take 2: Irene Mayer Selznick, a Life in Three Acts

Classic Film Boy and The Lady Eve Discuss the Fascinating Irene Mayer Selznick Welcome to Take 2, a conversation about Irene Mayer Selznick,...

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Starbucks Giftcard Giveaway!!

In honor of reaching my first 10 lbs weight loss goal, I am hosting my <i>first ever</i> giveaway on The Big Weight!  I'm not gonna lie, I'm really excited about this!<br /><br />Since I lost <b>10</b> lbs, I'm giving away a $<b>10</b> Starbucks giftcard to one of my lucky readers :). <br /><br />I love Starbucks so much.  Not only do I love their chai tea and pumpkin spice lattes, but I also love that <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/menu/nutrition">they post their nutrition facts online</a>, which really makes it easy for me to stay On Plan and still enjoy my Starbucks fix.  Plus, it is another added bonus that their drinks are made-to-order.  Skim milk only please! <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jennlikesit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/starbucks-new-logo-296x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://jennlikesit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/starbucks-new-logo-296x300.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jennlikesit.com/2011/03/happy-40th-anniversary-starbucks/">Source.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>You have 3 separate options to get in on the Starbucks goodness!    <br /><br />Here is what you have to do to enter to win:<br /><br /><ol><li>Like <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/">The Big Weight</a> on Facebook, then come back and comment letting me know that you've done so.  There is a handy little box on the right sidebar where you can easily do this. ;)</li><li>Post about this giveaway on your own blog, and come back and let me know you've done this in the comments, providing the link to your post.</li><li>Answer this question: What is your favorite Starbucks beverage and how do you like it made?</li></ol>It's that simple friends!  I will randomly draw a winner <b>Friday, September 16, 2011</b><i> </i>at 8 AM <i>(U.S. & Canadian residents only please)</i>.  <br /><br />And, my little readers, this giveaway is hosted solely by me and only me.  Starbucks does not know me (unfortunately!) and they did not provide the gift-card for this giveaway - I did!<br /><br />Thanks for following along and supporting me on my journey :).

giveaways Starbucks Giftcard Giveaway!!

In honor of reaching my first 10 lbs weight loss goal, I am hosting my first ever giveaway on The Big Weight!  I'm not gonna lie, I'...

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My First 10 Pound Goal Has Been Met!

I was so anxious for today's weigh in.  I've been consistently losing over the last 3 weeks and I wanted to keep the momentum going.  I would have been pleased with losing less than a pound, just so that it was a recorded "loss". <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="http://slimfitworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/easy-way-to-lose-weight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://slimfitworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/easy-way-to-lose-weight.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.slimfitworld.com/set-your-weight-loss-goals/">Source</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table>There have been a few occasions where I've gotten close to meeting my first 10 lbs goal, but then ultimately failed. But still, it's always in the back of my mind when I hop on the scale Friday mornings to see the verdict.  I desperately want those new shoes!!    <br /><br />Today was no different.  I really wanted to see a 10 lbs loss (total, not since last week :) ), but like I said, I would have been happy with any loss.  Still, as I was getting ready to step on the scale, I told myself, "Just picture the 10 lbs loss Hilary, it could happen!"<br /><br />Holy moly friends!<br /><br />Sure enough - 253.8 was staring back at me!!!!!<br /><br />That means that I have removed the first 10 lbs of this loonnnnggggg weight loss journey.   It has taken me 6 months to lose 10 lbs everybody.  6 months!  It is what it is and I'll take it.  And I will never see those 10 lbs again.  But, what I want <i>you </i>to realize is if <i>you're</i> struggling and not seeing immediate results, <b>hang in there</b>.  If I could sum up in one word the theme of these past 6 months for me, it would be called <b style="color: blue;">Perseverance</b>.<br /><br /><h2 style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;">per·se·ver·ance <span class="main-fl" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"> <i>noun</i> </span><span class="pr" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">\<span class="unicode">ˌ</span>pər-sə-<span class="unicode">ˈ</span>vir-ən(t)s\</span><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b> <br />continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition</span></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Yes, I would say based on that definition, that pretty much sums up my journey thus far.  </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">So, my reward for meeting the first 10 lbs goal was a brand new pair of tennis shoes:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></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="http://s.onlineshoes.com/images/br008/247285_366_45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://s.onlineshoes.com/images/br008/247285_366_45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.onlineshoes.com/womens-new-balance-ww860km-lace-up-for-the-cure-silver-pink-p_id207023">Source</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">I am a big supporter of breast cancer research.  These are the New Balance Lace Up for the Cure walking shoes.  </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></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/AVvXsEiAmbjd_0rITBkLB0or3M4WnvCpLvVIMTllFrakk8sjhxYUrSD1sROxBHWn9NXPMwcjsxWKrQs4mw4Vuc82DORMpPlCbMZExneFUMXJwKKoU1bMfSVA-jOvF2t8Eom7JKNy0qlq6C02k_I/s1600/shoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmbjd_0rITBkLB0or3M4WnvCpLvVIMTllFrakk8sjhxYUrSD1sROxBHWn9NXPMwcjsxWKrQs4mw4Vuc82DORMpPlCbMZExneFUMXJwKKoU1bMfSVA-jOvF2t8Eom7JKNy0qlq6C02k_I/s400/shoes.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they have the pink ribbon detail on the inside - love it!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">I'm so excited to <i>finally </i>be getting these new shoes!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Now that I've met my first major goal, it is time to update the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/p/progress-pictures.html">Progress Pictures</a>!  AND, it is time to get this "party" started - I plan to celebrate this achievement allllll day long :).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Best wishes for a fabulous, happy and blessed weekend everybody :).</span></span></div><h2 style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> </h2>

10 Pound Goal Loss Success Weight Loss My First 10 Pound Goal Has Been Met!

I was so anxious for today's weigh in.  I've been consistently losing over the last 3 weeks and I wanted to keep the momentum going....

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WARMONGERNING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The prospect that Israel together with Cyprus allegedly are about to extract gas from a 350,000 hectares gas deposits found on the border of CYPRUS’S and ISRAEL’S economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean has infuriated Turkey to such extend that it expelled the Israeli ambassador under the pretend of the UN report on the GAZA flotilla incident which cleared Israel of any wrongdoing other then the use of excessive force. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Israeli Cypriot energy synergies prompted TURKEY to shift its strategic force from the AEGEAN to the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN in order to secure the freedom of navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Protect the territorial waters around CEYHAN, a major natural gas transportation harbor, located northeast of Cyprus by increasing its naval presence in large numbers around Cyprus, the Adriatic and Red Sea.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thus warmongering between the two nations is increasing in order to establish dominance in the region.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_pcz1wbSI9a3AqJx_nGsCsLAcPk0tJB_MsoXf2Ync_PPzBiWsfEcScZho8aNxESqSsOkgPJOTpcu6fYhspUkZQnrREKK5N4qlgeskubb0YhkdwvqtoMdcnJUbslLxB_WC844AiL9iUuC/s1600/800px-Baku_pipelines.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_pcz1wbSI9a3AqJx_nGsCsLAcPk0tJB_MsoXf2Ync_PPzBiWsfEcScZho8aNxESqSsOkgPJOTpcu6fYhspUkZQnrREKK5N4qlgeskubb0YhkdwvqtoMdcnJUbslLxB_WC844AiL9iUuC/s320/800px-Baku_pipelines.svg.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">See: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku%E2%80%93Tbilisi%E2%80%93Ceyhan_pipeline">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku%E2%80%93Tbilisi%E2%80%93Ceyhan_pipeline</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p3Wa1St36oc?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">          What is interesting is that main stream media refrain from mentioning the natural resources issue Turkey has with Israel and Cyprus. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">CYPRUS MAIL published an article written by Stefanos Evripidou on September 9, 2011 which showcases the true reason behind Turkeys warmongering.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">See: <a href="http://www.cyprus-mail.com/eu/eu-tells-ankara-back/20110909">http://www.cyprus-mail.com/eu/eu-tells-ankara-back/20110909</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">EVRIPIDOU wrote: </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">THE EUROPEAN Commission yesterday issued its strongest rebuke yet to Turkey over its threatening behaviour towards Cyprus’ efforts to drill for hydrocarbon reserves within its own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfazed, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued to raise the stakes in his row with Israel and Cyprus over hydrocarbon explorations in the eastern Mediterranean, vowing yesterday to stop them from exploiting natural resources in the area while also pledging to send warships to escort aid to Gaza………….. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div></div></div>

WARMONGERNING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY

The prospect that Israel together with Cyprus allegedly are about to extract gas from a 350,000 hectares gas deposits found on the border of...

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Rainy Thursday!

We've been getting non-stop rain for the last 3 days here in the D.C. metro area. <br /><br />I personally love the rain - it is the perfect occasion to cuddle up on the couch with a book and some hot tea :).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2icwkpFtpmLuUfjimNiFZzBJyUDFfMHPULP6DBGDQdNLdFXy_uzOlGtAx7krd1aKzQaDaXORsvvT0R_B_ms_7drWL6hvgBTfypX4vf_6bM2BnB1IC3RmtDRMMIdrnGzXjcwrRSpt2Qig/s1600/February+2011+082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2icwkpFtpmLuUfjimNiFZzBJyUDFfMHPULP6DBGDQdNLdFXy_uzOlGtAx7krd1aKzQaDaXORsvvT0R_B_ms_7drWL6hvgBTfypX4vf_6bM2BnB1IC3RmtDRMMIdrnGzXjcwrRSpt2Qig/s400/February+2011+082.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />When it begins to rain frequently in September, that is when you really know that fall is just around the corner.  I used to believe that summer was my favorite season, but after living in this extremely hot part of the country, I really appreciate the cooler, crisp temperatures that come with fall.<br /> <br /> I especially love fall for all of its outdoor activities, including traveling to wineries (lots of good ones in Virginia!), going camping, visiting haunted houses, picking pumpkins, and some general mischief with my niece :).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31gJP7omC4RMVhmKC5ok3VbUplBXHXanTXwIfzkm6p8FQjNSuJheWvmygWZovbt_JZT1unz2aNDyU0J1EKSmBaykM3fg4WJBz0g22ExEjKRDukjfuq17YyTV9p8raCpCRkwx8maWhTI0/s1600/DSCN3955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31gJP7omC4RMVhmKC5ok3VbUplBXHXanTXwIfzkm6p8FQjNSuJheWvmygWZovbt_JZT1unz2aNDyU0J1EKSmBaykM3fg4WJBz0g22ExEjKRDukjfuq17YyTV9p8raCpCRkwx8maWhTI0/s400/DSCN3955.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEjJ6k_5aUjEq0X5dVd77A9JPQnQpjAfTbEfJx-hYLaNivgIQu-37AQQJEc48wZ56JoDF-IvIw-4XHVQwT_cA3nyPAfd5qwcDecGgYD0EpsQDjhDW8yqLMELnRH8ljjJsZ80SFhD9GkJHZk/s1600/DSCN3952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6k_5aUjEq0X5dVd77A9JPQnQpjAfTbEfJx-hYLaNivgIQu-37AQQJEc48wZ56JoDF-IvIw-4XHVQwT_cA3nyPAfd5qwcDecGgYD0EpsQDjhDW8yqLMELnRH8ljjJsZ80SFhD9GkJHZk/s400/DSCN3952.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And raking leaves only to jump in them!</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEhLOCf_yNd9j3ohslytusQ8fIrFbPkhr9GcD9cUUOZYgOFRpnrBCP_fbCpRPalZ7FSoI-h4uiQMspTnrWscp02_8qBRohaI6V58CcZFvNaNmpRePzYEmo3bDB4gsqZqgN2N8G6Sjpg1YyU/s1600/DSCN3953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOCf_yNd9j3ohslytusQ8fIrFbPkhr9GcD9cUUOZYgOFRpnrBCP_fbCpRPalZ7FSoI-h4uiQMspTnrWscp02_8qBRohaI6V58CcZFvNaNmpRePzYEmo3bDB4gsqZqgN2N8G6Sjpg1YyU/s400/DSCN3953.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5kx_pZ4OGwqUETiLGVxLM5qcgzjXEHXtHUCEzn0e5NzNwmK48hN20-qNGbsm5MacMxlA0iJlMVJVqfCoTxbOyOo3xb2Ovk_xWyYCmHXg60O_S6_6Q74gpa8RmZLnEAo6ymMh9xKRdRg/s1600/DSCN3972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5kx_pZ4OGwqUETiLGVxLM5qcgzjXEHXtHUCEzn0e5NzNwmK48hN20-qNGbsm5MacMxlA0iJlMVJVqfCoTxbOyOo3xb2Ovk_xWyYCmHXg60O_S6_6Q74gpa8RmZLnEAo6ymMh9xKRdRg/s400/DSCN3972.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is the life, eh?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Tomorrow is my official weigh in day and I'm really hoping for a loss, however small it may be.  <br /><br />Do you get to enjoy all 4 seasons where you live?  What is your favorite season?

Miscellaneous Rainy Thursday!

We've been getting non-stop rain for the last 3 days here in the D.C. metro area.  I personally love the rain - it is the perfect occasi...

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Not So Comfortable After All

Turns out those gym guys are intimidating afterall.<br /><br />Monday I attempted a gym visit <i>solo </i>to do the NROLW.  I started out with 30 min on the elliptical to warm up.  Once I was finished with the warm up, I headed over to the area where Joel and I were working on Saturday.  As soon as I saw all the meat heads, I kept on walking.  I couldn't do it.  I already don't feel like I belong in a gym as it is, and to walk over to the weights section and attempt that with all those thick-necked, oversize armed men, I couldn't do it.<br /><br />I tried to tell myself to get it together as I walked around the gym, and that it was no big deal - those guys had to start from somewhere as well!  Still, I couldn't do it.<br /><br />Then I thought, "Ok, I'll try the all female side of the gym."  That's one cool thing about this Gold's (<i>perhaps this is the norm at all Gold's?</i>), it has a section of the gym just for women - it's closed off and everything.  This is for people like me who are intimidated by all the man meat.<br /><br />Actually, it's not for people like me. <br /><br />Because as soon as I walked into that side, I panicked again.  There were other women in there doing their thing - looking buff and fit as though they are professionals - and I couldn't do it there either.  Ugh...Hilary.<br /><br />So I left.  <br /><br />Last night, Joel and I planned to try that workout together at the gym, but I had a bad day at work and I couldn't bring myself to go (or do much of anything actually).<br /><br />Tonight, after my Weight Watcher meeting and Joel's doctor appointment, we're going to try again.  <br /><br />There should be no excuses tonight not to go.  Yes, I am still a little afraid to go and attempt these workouts again, but this time I'll have Joel by my side.<br /><br />For the lady readers, are you ever intimidated at the gym?  How do you handle it?  Please don't tell me you, too, panic and run out :).

New Rules of Lifting for Women Weight Loss Challenges Not So Comfortable After All

Turns out those gym guys are intimidating afterall. Monday I attempted a gym visit solo to do the NROLW.  I started out with 30 min on the e...

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The world map of social networks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Don't you just love these infographics? Facebook is just everywhere! Click on the picture to be taken to the original website. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.rian.ru/infographics/20110228/162792394.html"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26f5fplDGpbA4IT2li4v6z_3GsAe7kwSbB7xz2oyNK4dAc0vYhhOIS0zSODh4Cxy6kcLXJHXUtPeRhBWUCCsYYm8Nhl6HTbTtT_wUpUxyD0fXAcZXelPWjwGtwJMGyq1NFDCAp21HNZg/s400/The+world+map+of+social+networks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>

Social networks The world map of social networks

Don't you just love these infographics? Facebook is just everywhere! Click on the picture to be taken to the original website.

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A purple cast this time

I had my doctor's appointment this morning. The doctor couldn't really see any healing in my scaphoid bone. When I looked at the x-ray it looked like it was actually worse than before. Of course, I'm not an orthopaedic surgeon, but even he said he didn't really see any improvement but he wanted to try another month of my wrist in a cast.<br /><br />I'm really disappointed. Even though my doctor had warned me my scaphoid probably wouldn't heal on it's own in a month, if ever, I was still hoping. This particular bone, the scaphoid, tends to not heal easily because it doesn't get a good supply of blood. My doctor told me this fact at my last appointment, and I had read about it on numerous websites in the last three weeks. Still, I thought with all my vitamins, supplements, healthy eating and regular exercise, there would be a miracle and it would heal. I was wrong.<br /><br />I'll keep up the exercise and healthy food, if not for my scaphoid bone, then for the rest of me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Getting the dirty, pink cast removed.</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/AVvXsEjl4fVFRynsyjLoRlaz9n1n9z_wmKveumjKIEkiZ34ICpD53hJEwvyUNHGUKFRieC_pTv_-gplpz40nKBb-Xb4lQ7IArV5sCNegLvWym9v3x8f9XGTE6Gho2Qfj7hclKXsFxj0fnxtJamcY/s1600/old+cast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4fVFRynsyjLoRlaz9n1n9z_wmKveumjKIEkiZ34ICpD53hJEwvyUNHGUKFRieC_pTv_-gplpz40nKBb-Xb4lQ7IArV5sCNegLvWym9v3x8f9XGTE6Gho2Qfj7hclKXsFxj0fnxtJamcY/s320/old+cast.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> This wasn't a staged picture of pain. It hurt like heck after the cast was removed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ6A0VS0tQsT2auyoPx4NabWmYeQSYMfq_KyBcSkNIZk6kIT4WcFZnM8Hn98F3jtSwlmVF4DOL0kyWaSvtXOERqs5-2wDyTeOpUX63Vjlw4QxsmNg31g7dXz0FtYB1DlIIYAkm5NJQE-e/s1600/No+Cast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ6A0VS0tQsT2auyoPx4NabWmYeQSYMfq_KyBcSkNIZk6kIT4WcFZnM8Hn98F3jtSwlmVF4DOL0kyWaSvtXOERqs5-2wDyTeOpUX63Vjlw4QxsmNg31g7dXz0FtYB1DlIIYAkm5NJQE-e/s320/No+Cast.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not happy (and I have bad posture!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pZT4lZxT8Ik6URE3EyvAtBurTuPsmidTM4VU_TOzZL3kT9kQAtsYZCbVBSp-CTg6TludGbLWopyN5qpmklLkPGKfqEh56XzVWz-V8SuMTPl9E8VdEsWvlvBWDQ6nND_EAkXwN3hzThDt/s1600/New+Cast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pZT4lZxT8Ik6URE3EyvAtBurTuPsmidTM4VU_TOzZL3kT9kQAtsYZCbVBSp-CTg6TludGbLWopyN5qpmklLkPGKfqEh56XzVWz-V8SuMTPl9E8VdEsWvlvBWDQ6nND_EAkXwN3hzThDt/s320/New+Cast.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I guess I'll go for a walk now. I need to get my arm moving and hopefully get the blood flowing to my wrist. Even though it may not heal, and I'll wind up getting surgery on it anyway, I'll still need to be healthy for the surgery.

A purple cast this time

I had my doctor's appointment this morning. The doctor couldn't really see any healing in my scaphoid bone. When I looked at the x-r...

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Great videos about 21st century teaching and learning

In one of our pre-assignments before attending PIL Institute in Redmond, we were asked to discuss our views on 21st century teaching and learning, and also add artefacts, and place all of this in our Partners in Learning community site. Many of the attendees added video links as their artefacts, so I have listed them here for quick access. These videos capture what, I believe, best describes teaching and learning in the 21st Century. These videos focus on the skills that students need or what teachers see as vital skills for both teachers and learners. <br /><br />1. <strong><strong>A vision of K-12 today</strong></strong><br /><br /><object height="390" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_A-ZVCjfWf8&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_A-ZVCjfWf8&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="420" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>2. A vision of 21st century teachers</strong><br /><br /><object height="390" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B4g5M06YyVw&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B4g5M06YyVw&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="420" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>3. What teachers make by Taylor Mali</strong><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RxsOVK4syxU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><strong>4. Three steps</strong><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aPQlu5Vxm28" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><strong>5. Learning to change, changing to learn<br /></strong><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tahTKdEUAPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />And then there is my favourite which was shown to us at the Schoolnet conference in Joburg in July. <br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/gel_gotta_share.html">http://www.ted.com/talks/gel_gotta_share.html</a>) .<br /><iframe width="420" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/soAk3F0wX9s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Can you recommend any others?

videos Great videos about 21st century teaching and learning

In one of our pre-assignments before attending PIL Institute in Redmond, we were asked to discuss our views on 21st century teaching and lea...

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A Very Active Saturday

On Saturday, Joel and I did our first NROLW workout in the gym.  I enjoyed this SO much better.  <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20Rules%20of%20Lifting%20for%20Women">You might remember</a> how I was scared to go to the gym to do these workouts because of all the super buff gym guys.  Well, we did great - steadily making our way through the workouts. <br /><br />Though Joel did get a little self conscious about me toting around a book about lifting for women.  I guess it's okay to be doing these workouts privately in our own home, but he was none to pleased with me "flashing the book around" on Saturday "like a tourist".  Hehe... sorry J-J.  Next time we'll be taking pics of the gym workouts and referencing our cell phones instead of the book :).  Problem solved!<br /><br />We both started out with 30 min on the elliptical, followed by Workout B (Stage 1).   After the gym, Joel and his cousin decided they wanted to meet up to go fishing at a nearby state park.  I decided to go along, since we would be kayaking, and I figured it was a great way to add more activity to my day while still having fun with Joel and his cousin.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW3ZDcPTyePnH8ivssIGFeUR8IGsPOYbQHdzNJvo2_13B7qeFHQajI0FlYTvAdZi6H5bJ8-UlPgkm7dzi0uoqkkIIPARkZ5AGsir9qJjVMSIQdiaEJJSO777fOb7vZrIlrlQpBM8ybFg/s1600/Hil+Kayaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW3ZDcPTyePnH8ivssIGFeUR8IGsPOYbQHdzNJvo2_13B7qeFHQajI0FlYTvAdZi6H5bJ8-UlPgkm7dzi0uoqkkIIPARkZ5AGsir9qJjVMSIQdiaEJJSO777fOb7vZrIlrlQpBM8ybFg/s400/Hil+Kayaking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was rather humid out on the water</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnW1PWeDniqIzHE0lOwTP7G-dxd5yxLmj4HZWyKLlkUMcGrxDrpoVB_Xn5YTD0hJW8jpb_Lj__OSdmcZJwQGGN3rfMYUwgxcEPeiC76E9oyKMTjclablTeeLLqJEzioJRPZjON7C3DGgU/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnW1PWeDniqIzHE0lOwTP7G-dxd5yxLmj4HZWyKLlkUMcGrxDrpoVB_Xn5YTD0hJW8jpb_Lj__OSdmcZJwQGGN3rfMYUwgxcEPeiC76E9oyKMTjclablTeeLLqJEzioJRPZjON7C3DGgU/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Joel and his cousin, Jonathan, both have Hobie kayaks.  They are geared toward fishermen, and as you can see, you sit on top of it, rather than down inside.  They have these really neat foot pedals and a rudder to guide you around.  I love Joel's kayak - you have the option of either paddling the traditional way, or pedaling, and both are a great workout.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuZRJ96egOG9GBXFwZI0uweTaby3Kwox48H7QpZpxPwwSGSiVfwllZ7JLcqy2Vx4qO8CaxLMYQ4IKDWbbfgqnciSU50208fEXNimTPy9aHdkyK3OzFG015t-PGJ5c9rpWEpNp0sHLbeg/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuZRJ96egOG9GBXFwZI0uweTaby3Kwox48H7QpZpxPwwSGSiVfwllZ7JLcqy2Vx4qO8CaxLMYQ4IKDWbbfgqnciSU50208fEXNimTPy9aHdkyK3OzFG015t-PGJ5c9rpWEpNp0sHLbeg/s400/026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many large mouth bass caught that day by both him and his cousin</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEgv24yD8dRn-Q429WdhBHgaExFLvl4cA6YrJLwa513qKrrA0qIKGOZ4HMj8vT_51CVHOMscE2FNBj_RflraK96s9UKsIgg_pVCrd_6dlwpUpoOdeLX1ERgrmyJPmK0AjNZzm_yj6F0jnfs/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv24yD8dRn-Q429WdhBHgaExFLvl4cA6YrJLwa513qKrrA0qIKGOZ4HMj8vT_51CVHOMscE2FNBj_RflraK96s9UKsIgg_pVCrd_6dlwpUpoOdeLX1ERgrmyJPmK0AjNZzm_yj6F0jnfs/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan is Joel's 5th "brother" - they are the best of friends</td></tr></tbody></table>What did you do this weekend?  Were you able to incorporate any activity AND fun into your plans?

Exercise New Rules of Lifting for Women Success A Very Active Saturday

On Saturday, Joel and I did our first NROLW workout in the gym.  I enjoyed this SO much better.  You might remember how I was scared to go ...

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Why not try using Live Writer for blog posts?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">With Windows Live Writer you can write your posts offline and then publish them when you are finished. This will be a great help to me as I usually write my posts in Word - and the HTML code is very complicated behind the scenes. Correcting the formatting in the published post is also a headache! I am using Live Writer now for the first time so I’ll be able to comment on how easy it is to use in a minute. To install Live Writer this is what you need to do:<br /><br />1. Go to the Internet and search for <a href="http://explore.live.com/windows-live-writer">Windows Live Writer</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeq9OY3GClNW0Bk15CxNMhKbKdg7cUOYrJl0ZRpxcZNhuFu_b97hZhcd91GcintevQGLwKZtRptFvo1nQUgqLkCMPnUPcVQssdve2YOYmHFoqJmS_fikYX8IENYe97S-Ti0akTjqndEc/s1600-h/windows-live-writer3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="windows live writer" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ybtnrwn6hmXC7khhjyCzm_gplxyvK2u7LT0JjjpVwswJE5FO68P72SU3ZqRawwH8GQ8dH-D7GrVDpC1Ch7omFfkw5CPmeEHsynuGMsL3PvwV-UnduoONyjAVB_PhJC8LYD_tmD-3ceI/?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 3px auto;" title="windows live writer" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />2. Click on <em>Download now</em>. It will give you an option to download the whole Live Essentials pack. Untick the blocks that you don’t require.<br /><br />3. Install Live Writer.<br /><br />4. Choose your blog type and follow the instruction. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BvyF3jx_y8X3uLwUEsAv4dHmhgZcjFvjZu2ki7qRlcCXbuSZZU3Kf8vTlHd126zI3_fbtbgtnX337zxpGt-8nXrGP0tbrA2izvLCAawY6CXAc6zRbZCq5FvDuDaAH_UTNASUuV6lwAg/s1600-h/live-writer2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="live writer" border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQC7IsTyKJz9CFyq2uVEov9EcDte9IbWtdq53xnJdvH3ZomEL-ZkEYLUOyr_apZZNvni6xxz_Q6MWOd0pFCAJpe2TZHdMBN8mURkbTiJCvswLrnGDfQ4MKM3UplFeYLG6zKOjtoC_0qg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 3px 10px 3px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="live writer" width="400" /></a></div><br />5. Once everything is ready and you have restarted your computer you can start writing your post offline, and then publish it. <br /><br />6. Just to recap, here is a short video from the Partners in Learning UK site giving the instructions for using Live Writer.<br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EqDtrKr619w" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />Well, I have taken a look at my published post and wow! I love the formatting! If I look behind the scenes to the HTML code it is very neat and straightforward. I might be doing all my posts like this in future!</div>

Live Writer Web tools Why not try using Live Writer for blog posts?

With Windows Live Writer you can write your posts offline and then publish them when you are finished. This will be a great help to me as I ...

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Better For You Buttermilk Pancakes

This was my breakfast for last week.  These are easy-to-make standard buttermilk pancakes, with a bit of a healthier kick to them.  I ate them plain with an 1/8 cup light syrup, but you could certainly add some fresh fruit (blueberries please!) and/or preserves and they would be just as delicious.<br /><br />These are brought to you by Eat What You Love.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><u><b>Better For You Buttermilk Pancakes</b></u><b>-4 Points+</b><br />(Makes 6 servings)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1pCZbbEYjCUY4XLO9iaCgdIcsw0ACjSQr87jg4nye7J_SN4TgyyPuZaiOOVHlL8qums53OitoS5EBIh3OdWMkLloJb-UMlMMVqnr7NndilZ7hThTOVHkIY6pujxm2vaV3W6DEaPCI_M/s1600/blog+pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1pCZbbEYjCUY4XLO9iaCgdIcsw0ACjSQr87jg4nye7J_SN4TgyyPuZaiOOVHlL8qums53OitoS5EBIh3OdWMkLloJb-UMlMMVqnr7NndilZ7hThTOVHkIY6pujxm2vaV3W6DEaPCI_M/s400/blog+pancakes.jpg" width="300" /></a><i>Ingredients:</i><br /><ul><li>3/4 c. all purpose flour</li><li>3/4 c. whole wheat flour</li><li>2 Packets of Sweet 'n Low</li><li>1 tsp baking powder</li><li>1/2 tsp baking soda</li><li>1 egg</li><li>2 egg whites</li><li>1 1/2 c buttermilk</li><li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li></ul><br /><i>Directions:</i><br />1. Combine the flours, sweetener, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl.<br /><br />2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.  Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.  Make sure not to over-mix the batter.<br /><br />3. Spray a nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and place over medium heat.  Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto skillet and spread into a 4" circle.  Cook the pancake for 3 or 4 minutes on the first side, or until golden on the bottom.  Flip the pancake just once more and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.  Serve hot. Serving size is 2 pancakes.

Eat What You Love Weight Watcher Recipes Better For You Buttermilk Pancakes

This was my breakfast for last week.  These are easy-to-make standard buttermilk pancakes, with a bit of a healthier kick to them.  I ate th...

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Argentina

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Election Times Equals Crime Time</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Sunday 10 July 2011 I wrote in my article <b>Election Times Equals Crime Time</b>: “Mark my words”, public security debate will increase as Election Day in Argentina is getting closer.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">(see:  <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/07/election-time-equals-crime-time-on.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/07/election-time-equals-crime-time-on.html</a>)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here we are, Argentine political opposition and its supporters, demoralized by their monumental defeat of last month primaries are not missing a chance to utilize the public security debate even if it means to exploit a tragic crime of an 11 year old girl which was brutally murdered under suspicious circumstances after being kidnapped for more than a week. A crime that has shocked the nation and now is being politically exploited by the opposition to question Argentine public security policies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As tragic as this homicide is, it has nothing to do with public security as such, and in no other parts of the world would it be politically exploited by political opposition to such extent as is the case in Argentina. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the crime became high profile case with large media interest it did not take long for De Social Development Union’s (UDESO) candidate for Buenos Aires province governor, Francisco De Narváez and other opposition politicians and supporters to jump onto the “bandwagon”, and quickly exploit this crime by pointing fingers and stirring the public security debate for purely political reasons and not having real solutions at hand on how to solve the so called “public insecurity”. What they forget is that Argentina is still the 2^nd safest country among 16 Latin American countries and statistically on the same level as the USA regarding public security. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">See:(<a href="http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/77686/public-security-policies-are-a-complete-failure-de-narv%C3%A1ez-">http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/77686/public-security-policies-are-a-complete-failure-de-narv%C3%A1ez-)</a></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jwzhl4xrVTbNlmprKBYmO0VPEX0I2tSaiPVHtW9xsd-gbxtXOQmhI_2p1SUO-utfhxNWr4utwspKObTlzfVNa2PmEG2BRFzod5NlZaAX1WXrr155_Rfjx2wV4-KGUjQBZeDB1SEIF3Gk/s1600/homicide_world_rates_700px.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jwzhl4xrVTbNlmprKBYmO0VPEX0I2tSaiPVHtW9xsd-gbxtXOQmhI_2p1SUO-utfhxNWr4utwspKObTlzfVNa2PmEG2BRFzod5NlZaAX1WXrr155_Rfjx2wV4-KGUjQBZeDB1SEIF3Gk/s320/homicide_world_rates_700px.gif" width="320" /> </a></span></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Homicide-world.png">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate#cite_note-67</a></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Curbing in poverty and providing social security not only to the middle class but also to the lower class is the key to success in fighting crime, something it seems  none of the opposition are willing to admit but which has worked in Europe's favor for last 60 years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Only 2 years ago in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires, usually referred to as the rich neighborhood, Gated Communities with large mansions and numerous “Villas” (Slums) bordered next to each other, displaying the strong contrast between rich and poor and thus steering envy and hate which subsequently leads to crime .  Driving through the same neighborhoods nowadays, most “Villas” have disappeared and Slum inhabitants received social welfare and housing plans which enabled them to live in decency as well as giving them the opportunity to work, thus refraining in most cases from criminal activities. Something most of the political opposition in Argentina simply turn a blind eye on.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In regards to the current high profile homicide case, everything in relation to the 11 year old girl’s murder appears to be premeditated. Furthermore the family surrounding of the victim seems to be not that of a crime free environment (The father of the murdered girl is currently serving a prison sentence and the current partner of the mother has also served jail time), </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">thus claiming the government to be responsible seems somewhat farfetched and exploiting such tragic event politically, only displays political immaturity.   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The only proven way of curbing in crime is to provide economic growth and social security for everyone, something Argentina is currently successful in implementing. </span></div>

Argentina

Election Times Equals Crime Time On Sunday 10 July 2011 I wrote in my article Election Times Equals Crime Time : “Mark my words”, public sec...

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BRICS support SYRIA

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-23bc9cfa2e41d42f-13553" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwbSexv46NV8vtGY62fAI00g9O4kNHsePZ_BXwrnMgsjxGeTgi0QOFzShb4LxHraIENSfatpitujn7E5jqp66KM1LWhCYs9_RI_1xHq3peUmutttA1YMEIiQTG53AQQoM98kW5k" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br /><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in support of Syria, as broadcast by Russian TV. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> BRICS nations support Syria one way or the other in order to create a counterbalance to USA and EU political agenda and strategies in the region and thus help the Syrian regime in most likelihood to survive the uprising, something I have mentioned all along in my previous articles on this Blog. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

BRICS support SYRIA

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in support of Syria, as broadcast by Russian TV.  BRICS nations support Syria one way ...

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Bishop Felled In Comstock Shootout

After celebrating Ozzie Whittaker (1st bishop of the missionary district of Nevada & Arizona) Day, I hung around Virginia City which was thronged with tourists for Labor Day Weekend. Half the town was in Old West costume. I met up with Ken who plays the good guy Marshall in the gunfight show and we hatched a plot against one if the other actors. It went like this:<br /><br /><br /><br />A volunteer is always called from the audience. Marshall Ken helps her shoot the bad guy Kyle. But another actor, Lefty, falls and Ken tells her she has missed the bad guy and shot innocent Lefty instead. Unbeknownst to anyone but Lefty and Ken we arranged that Lefty would not fall.<br /><br /><br /><br />I was sitting in the front row. When the shot was fired I clutched my chest and fell splayed into the hay. Ken exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! You not only missed the bad guy! You shot Bishop Dan! He's the bishop of the Episcopal Churchall all over Nevada! You are in deep do-do!" I couldn't see the reactions because I was technically dead lying prostrate and slack-jawed across a hay bale. Reports are the volunteer from the audience handled it well enough but bad guy Kyle was pretty surprised.<br /><br /><br /><br />It was a great day at St Paul the Prospector. We commissioned one of the flock, Christy Anne Strange, to serve as lay chaplain to the Sheriff's Department. After the service, we dedicated the Western Missionary Museum. They have quite the collection of artifacts and records there. The museum now has a docent and a gift shop. "The scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven brings out of his treasure that which is old and that which is new." A new museumm does both at once. Quite a way to mark their 150th anniversary!<br /><br /><br /><br />For those who may not be Nevada church history buffs: it was important for me to get shot on Ozzie Whittaker Day. When Ozzie was elected Bishop of Pennsylvania, somebody took a shot at him during his installation service in Philadelphia. He survived and had a good long episcopacy back east to balance out his long years in the saddle between Virginia City and Tombstone. "Whistle back a memory. Whistle back where I wanna be ... To Tombstone Territory."

Bishop Felled In Comstock Shootout

After celebrating Ozzie Whittaker (1st bishop of the missionary district of Nevada & Arizona) Day, I hung around Virginia City which was...

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Listening to our inner voice

We all have that little voice in our head telling us the right thing to do. It's the voice that told you it's time to buckle down and get serious about your health. It's the voice that cares about you, even when you don't think you care for yourself. It's the cheerleader, the voice that constantly tells you to exercise and eat healthy. <br /><br />My inner voice told me yesterday that my goals for my weight loss were too aggressive. They were doing me more harm than good. Every day was a challenge to meet them and almost every day I failed. On the rare day I did meet my exercise goals, I was practically dead from fatigue.<br /><br />Even though I'd love to consider myself "Very Active", it was a path to failure. I wanted to stay on a two-pound a week loss schedule, but if I moved less, that meant I'd have to eat less. 1,500 calories consumed and 2,500 calories burned daily are my new customized goals. I set attainable exercise too, 90 minutes of moderate exercise daily (not all of this has to be gym time), and 10,000 steps.<br /><br />Last night at 8:30 p.m. I realized I only had 8,500 steps. Not happy. Food had been perfect, and I had almost two hours of moderate exercise, which included gym time and some housework. My inner voice said, well, what can you do to fix this? Too late to go for a walk. The gym is closed so I couldn't go there (I wouldn't anyway that late at night).<br /><br />We were watching The King's speech on DVD (great movie) when I decided to walk in place and watch the movie. In about 15 minutes I made my 10,000 steps. My husband thought I was a nut, but nothing new there. My kitty was annoyed because he couldn't sit on my lap, but he got over it.<br /><br />When it was time for bed, I couldn't sleep. Exercise that close to bedtime is never a good idea for me. After tossing and turning for about an hour, I finally got up and took an Ambien. I hadn't taken one for three nights. I'd sworn off Ambien because of some bad night eating experiences where I thought it was a dream, but it was real (strawberries and hummus).<br /><br />Before I took the Ambien I had a conversation with myself. I realize this sounds a little crazy, but I told myself that the Ambien couldn't make me do anything that I didn't want to do, and I did NOT want to get up later and eat. I'd eaten almost 1,300 calories of healthy, nutritious food. I wasn't hungry, so there wasn't a need to eat more. I would use the Ambien as a sleep aid and not an excuse to eat mindlessly. I was in control of my actions, not the drug.<br /><br />I woke up at 5 a.m. feeling rested and hungry. My first thought was "Did I eat anything last night while I was asleep?". From my hunger pains I was pretty sure that was a  no, but I went to the kitchen just to make sure. During my sleep walking episodes I always left evidence, like dirty dishes in the sink or strawberries strewn about the floor (which became cat toys and I'm still finding strawberries in the oddest paces, all rotten and gross now). There was no evidence of sleep walking and eating. The kitchen was spotless, just like how I left it last night.<br /><br />Maybe I am in control of my own destiny. At least last night I listened to my inner voice for once. Perhaps I will do that more often. <br /><br />

Listening to our inner voice

We all have that little voice in our head telling us the right thing to do. It's the voice that told you it's time to buckle down an...

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Modifying my goals

<br />Just returned from the gym (45 minutes cardio, 40 minutes right-handed weights). I'm sitting here hooked up to my vacuum cleaner with my <a href="http://castcooler.com/index_c.html">CastCooler</a>. Greatest invention ever! Sucks the sweat out of my cast in about 15 minutes. Also worked when I didn't get the cast cover pulled up all the way and the shower shot full blast down the inside of my cast. Nothing like feeling a puddle of water on my fingers inside the water-proof cast cover. The CastCooler was worth every penny.<br /><br />New weight loss plan<br />I originally set up my BodyMedia  for Very Active, 60 minutes of moderate exercise and 30 minutes of vigorous (like jogging or StairMaster). Burn 2900 calories a day, eat 1900. This was before my broken wrist and cast. It was difficult to attain, but doable.<br /><br />With the cast, it takes a herculean effort to make these goals. I've made it a couple of times, but I've failed many more times. Failure to meet a specified goal is damaging to my spirit.<br /><br />I customized my goals today and this sounds much easier, but still challenging:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGpCUltljPrbCq0fmYZRwbWNhiVPwrX9M4nL02-t5eYhb703dAComZTtNzHJBBXN9ngwpXQAu5V6sObII8xa0TIa6mw92AAwBxfQWcXj1jErX0RK9ZsBFbrrNdGBwyiFmafdM6cxlSLZO/s1600/bm+goals.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGpCUltljPrbCq0fmYZRwbWNhiVPwrX9M4nL02-t5eYhb703dAComZTtNzHJBBXN9ngwpXQAu5V6sObII8xa0TIa6mw92AAwBxfQWcXj1jErX0RK9ZsBFbrrNdGBwyiFmafdM6cxlSLZO/s400/bm+goals.png" width="400" /></a></div>I have to face the reality of having a cast. Vigorous activity isn't advisable. I can still do the StairMaster and elliptical, but I just have to go a little slower. A heart rate of 140+ shouldn't happen. It's really hard for me to accept this, but it's just the way it has to be for now. I feel a little bad for myself (and stupid) that it took me almost 4 weeks to figure this out. Guess I'm a little stubborn.<br /><br />No real plans for the rest of today. Just take it easy and enjoy the incredible weather we're having here in the Northwest. Sunshine and 78 degrees.

Modifying my goals

Just returned from the gym (45 minutes cardio, 40 minutes right-handed weights). I'm sitting here hooked up to my vacuum cleaner with my...

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The Blurb: Track and Field Worlds

I got cable back. This was quite the wonderful happening for me. I called my large cable conglomerate (who shall remain nameless) to see about getting my Internet and phone moved. When they inquired about my cable, I told them I couldn't afford it. But they said they could get me the basic channels at no extra charge to my bill! So I decided to get it back.<br /><br />Because I have those core channels back, I get my weekend sports back. College football, the NFL, MLB on Fox, golf, and tennis. Sure, I don't get the 24-hour sports channels, but most of the important events are aired on one of the four major networks.<br /><br />One of the events that I was fortunate to view was the World Track and Field Championships on NBC. Usually, when NBC airs Olympic events, most people tend to ignore it. After all, it's not an Olympic year. Why should anybody care?<br /><br />Well, considering I had a boring weekend ahead of me, I cared. The Championships aired from Friday August 26 through Sunday September 4. NBC only aired the Saturday and Sunday events from the two weekends, and only for 1 1/2 hours in the early afternoon, but I was in front of my TV.<br /><br />I got to watch athletes that I remembered from the Olympics in 2008. A few of those athletes were not here this year - Jeremy Wariner, Lolo Jones, Stephanie Brown Trafton. But I did see a lot of familiar faces.<br /><br />Allyson Felix, who ran the 200 in Beijing, ran the 200 (and got bronze) <i>and</i> she also ran the 400 this year and got silver! I hope she doubles again next year in London. Sanya Richards, who is now married and runs as Sanya Richards-Ross, competed in the 400 but did not medal this time around. Walter Dix is a speed runner who is probably our best bet for silver in London. I say <i>silver</i> because unless Usain Bolt of Jamaica gets disqualified (like he did this year in the 100m final), there really is no chance for anyone else to win the 100 or 200 meters.<br /><br />While there were many familiar faces who repeated in their feats, I recognized many athletes from previous championships that won this year! Lashinda Demus competed in Berlin in 2009, but this year she won the 400m hurdles! Carmelita Jeter also competed in 2009 and won the 100m this year. Trey Hardee repeated as world champion in the decathlon.<br /><br />And some new athletes who I saw this week made statements for themselves to be the frontrunners for London. Ashton Eaton won silver in the decathlon. Jenny Simpson won the 1500 meters. Jesse Williams won the men's high jump event.<br /><br />If you're reading this and say, "I don't care," well, next year you'll come back and read this Blurb and go, "Hey, she mentioned this winner last year!" I'm keeping an eye out for the stars (and busts, too) of London, just for you!

The Blurb: Track and Field Worlds

I got cable back. This was quite the wonderful happening for me. I called my large cable conglomerate (who shall remain nameless) to see abo...

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