Current Affairs - Argentina

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOzogBfeHiJdS-2tns1-8OLmbsz0jn1AC21XjTfhCvP5YTvaJYLKmm3P1YAG_kXvRnOSPsNqPkLExf3-tAj7YbZgID0FfXVRxsq8AIiS4aj7hYb4-2fWq1HRbneAfe4wi81iYf1rvKPBJ/s1600/mapa_bariloche1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOzogBfeHiJdS-2tns1-8OLmbsz0jn1AC21XjTfhCvP5YTvaJYLKmm3P1YAG_kXvRnOSPsNqPkLExf3-tAj7YbZgID0FfXVRxsq8AIiS4aj7hYb4-2fWq1HRbneAfe4wi81iYf1rvKPBJ/s320/mapa_bariloche1.gif" width="269" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINA NABS IRANIAN-HIZBALLAH CELL, ABORTS THIRD HABAD ATTACK</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Via DEBKAfile Sat. 28 Jan 2012</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />ARGENTINA has captured a three-man IRANIAN-HIZBALLAH cell and is hunting for the rest of the network, according to exclusive DEBKAFILE sources. Its counter-terror police were a step ahead of attacks plotted against several of the 10 HABAD centers in the country, part of a worldwide joint terrorist offensive against ISRAELI and Jewish targets.<br /><br />The three-man cell was captured in the ARGENTINE resort town of SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE, 1,680 kilometers from Buenos Aires, a favorite starting-point for ISRAELI backpackers touring PATAGONIA and the ANDES.<br />ARGENTINA'S anti-terrorist FEDERAL SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP, known as T4, waylaid the three terrorists on tips from US and ISRAELI intelligence. In their possession were incriminating documents and maps.<br />HABAD hospitality centers and Jewish institutions in the country were then shut down and given extra security guards, as was the ISRAELI embassy in the capital.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6AwTQNWcCg4sFh67NFi2sfcUxc7gE2uEYmBf7PTQhvZxfWhmHUimpaa7yPkjS6xeHtOJh3nG4tfNH3cjK4-PkPOWMaiOZ6J4zyHqb6Gz9EvClPZM8NBilEMCSUD86c24_8TJ8yDIO5bp/s1600/Bariloche+Argentina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6AwTQNWcCg4sFh67NFi2sfcUxc7gE2uEYmBf7PTQhvZxfWhmHUimpaa7yPkjS6xeHtOJh3nG4tfNH3cjK4-PkPOWMaiOZ6J4zyHqb6Gz9EvClPZM8NBilEMCSUD86c24_8TJ8yDIO5bp/s200/Bariloche+Argentina.jpg" width="197" /></a></div><br />In 1992, the embassy was attacked by IRANIAN terrorists killing 29 people and injuring 242. DEBKAFILE'S intelligence and counter-terror sources reveal that one of the things the investigation seeks to discover this time is whether the captured IRANIAN-HIZBALLAH cell was given a safe house, guidance and aid by family members of World War II Nazi criminals who won sanctuary in ARGENTINA.<br /><br />At the time of the ISRAELI embassy bombing twenty years ago, the IRANIAN and HIZBALLAH terrorists were suspected of working hand in glove with local pro-Nazi elements.  ARGENTINA, GERMANY and ISRAEL never confirmed this.<br /><br />The terror alert BUENOS AIRES declared this week was also communicated to CHILE, PERU, URUGUAY and MEXICO, in case additional Iranian-Hizballah teams were heading for Israeli and Jewish targets there too.<br /><br />

Current Affairs - Argentina

ARGENTINA NABS IRANIAN-HIZBALLAH CELL, ABORTS THIRD HABAD ATTACK Via DEBKAfile Sat. 28 Jan 2012 ARGENTINA has captured a three-man IRANIAN-H...

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The Plan

<p>First of all, thank you sweet friends for all your kind & encouraging words on my <a href="http://brings together friends, families, businesses and communities in team-based wellness challenges designed to promote positive lifestyle change">post yesterday</a>! It means so much that you’re still out there and didn’t give up on me!</p> <p>I thought I’d update you on what I’m doing to lose weight.</p> <p>As many of you know I became a <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2009/07/im-still-aliveand-im-lifetimer.html">lifetime Weight Watchers</a> member in June 2009. My goal weight was 161. Why 161? No reason other than the fact I was happy with my weight there and I was ready to go for free!! So that’s what I am doing, Weight Watchers,…for life! <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhHqaYYOwozwT6S80j_yKuwJZrLyzhRJC9cQrqmxsGm73kayI0pci_HD0n4keUObVh-yhikWrn9JburyA7CEBrnv4jKsRvDzP3E5tqXOf9vUALABAjbBuhDOsMVvOiE2zflfc81Y9-swf/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none"> I’ve still got a good number of lbs to lose before I can go for free again, but it’s more than attainable and I KNOW I can do it!</p> <p>Currently I get 37 points per day. I get an additional 7 because I am nursing. Before Adelyn was solely nursing and wasn’t on solids yet I got 44 points/day. I think 37 is going to be much better for my weight loss. </p> <p>I’m also getting in about 4 workouts/week. I either go over my lunch break and get in a quick 30 minutes or I go in the evening after I’ve put Adelyn to bed. Sometimes its hard to go at almost 8pm, but I have to keep telling myself I CAN DO THIS!</p> <p>Another motivation is <a href="http://www.livehealthyiowa.org/default.aspx">Live Healthy Iowa</a>. From their website:</p> <p align="center"><em>Live Healthy Iowa brings together friends, families, businesses and communities in team-based wellness challenges designed to promote positive lifestyle change</em>. My work encouraged people to get teams together.</p> <p>So one of my staff members & I got 2 teams together and are having a little friendly competition! There are 8 members on my team and we named ourselves the “Sweat Sisters” because there are 2 sets of sisters on the team! Our main goal is activity minutes. Not only will increased activity help my weight loss, but it will also help my Live Healthy Iowa team!</p> <p>That’s the plan friends! Help me stay accountable and soon enough I will be at my lifetime weight again and won’t have to suck it in when I shimmy those jeans on! Ha! <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7aVuK3ftkuxRet92QylXfD_cGB2IvQ-pXBgL_Esdd-Y4C4v43QrAZaM3tP8Tl82b3cFuMVA13U4gXniIakeOP_zR0M0SKoMit26RwgJscx_E3TTDtGw_OxMiVPczSubd03FJyzTI9SwN/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none"></p>

The Plan

First of all, thank you sweet friends for all your kind & encouraging words on my post yesterday ! It means so much that you’re still ou...

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Vertigo: Alfred Hitchcock's Edifice to Obsession

<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">a video blog by guest contributor Brandon Kyle Goco</span></i></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h98cjr5QYTShX9sbO0VuRVYfAWvtKbgbKsjoIeA_adh0vkdrhMB5nE2z4LchPFkD1mSB6-scrNaH5LSOI_2TW5OJo8Wg22W4Ygon4LIn2jCzF_K2hLrwy2ogHHnbXFP_9s3iZ_x-Jn_d/s1600/Brandon+Kyle+Cinephile+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h98cjr5QYTShX9sbO0VuRVYfAWvtKbgbKsjoIeA_adh0vkdrhMB5nE2z4LchPFkD1mSB6-scrNaH5LSOI_2TW5OJo8Wg22W4Ygon4LIn2jCzF_K2hLrwy2ogHHnbXFP_9s3iZ_x-Jn_d/s400/Brandon+Kyle+Cinephile+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><b>Brandon Goco</b>, guest host of Turner Classic Movies’ monthly podcast series for October 2011, is both a film student and a movie fanatic. He has penned well over a hundred individual blogs for the TCM Classic Film Union, has his own blog, <a href="http://brandonkylethecinephile.blogspot.com/" style="color: #990000;">Brandon Kyle the Cinephile</a>, and has only recently taken up video blogging. At the age of 20, Brandon is currently attending a California State University, majoring in film studies and working part-time as the production coordinator and general manager for the university’s local television station. He has dreams of becoming a film director or film preservationist some day. </span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Brandon on <i>Vertigo</i> <span style="font-size: small;">(</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">he recommends his video be viewed in 720p)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">: </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ly0KIyN400w" width="560"></iframe></div>

A Month of Vertigo Alfred Hitchcock Brandon Kyle Goco Vertigo Vertigo: Alfred Hitchcock's Edifice to Obsession

a video blog by guest contributor Brandon Kyle Goco Brandon Goco , guest host of Turner Classic Movies’ monthly podcast series for October 2...

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color coded

I stare at these bookshelves a lot. Most of the action in our house happens in this room. Barbie's wardrobe is stored just below these shelves, as well as puzzels, legos, movies, games. Everything. And of course there is the TV as well. I watch a lot of TV. I love TV. So again, I stare at these suckers all the time.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXZxK6-W53wVhhusdd7czdxKZxfwDv-ytNoON-A-fwN_gLkaDgr-0V9EUNmsUVye_aNGFnWJE4qxjBc5gycvTCyAJ4OJt0SRsQrgjQptbmBcIg7xn_OXiP2cwBywI-1aSx-NEZP_iVdcr/s1600/PB180944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXZxK6-W53wVhhusdd7czdxKZxfwDv-ytNoON-A-fwN_gLkaDgr-0V9EUNmsUVye_aNGFnWJE4qxjBc5gycvTCyAJ4OJt0SRsQrgjQptbmBcIg7xn_OXiP2cwBywI-1aSx-NEZP_iVdcr/s640/PB180944.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">every bookcase looks a little better with Aiden in the middle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And as I stare, I always think to myself, "You really need to paint the back of those suckers. I am over that brown. Why didn't you paint over that when you painted the rest of the room?" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_bk4QE1nO-cB0DC1KxlViOy4MNW28gDjCtPrLzQKCYEoIsrDvIlWsPsoMFlmP1TeE8kRQbuHUc5mqS3MGTJJkv3CHuy5BU4HOIfY2XUgqAtPGJBIExLau9OIuQoWTt5CW27r45e7DMwT/s1600/PB180940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_bk4QE1nO-cB0DC1KxlViOy4MNW28gDjCtPrLzQKCYEoIsrDvIlWsPsoMFlmP1TeE8kRQbuHUc5mqS3MGTJJkv3CHuy5BU4HOIfY2XUgqAtPGJBIExLau9OIuQoWTt5CW27r45e7DMwT/s640/PB180940.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>"You need to find something to actually go in those big picture frames if you are going to hang them up you lazy fool. A picture of a flower on its side is not doing it for me."<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/AVvXsEhJ0egRNP3Y6okDVvj5umwAwQ487H4rJDF_WZRBXfES8GdKg16D5wT_6wWK680KBtvX7FBCppZfhaG3Nra80SYnmW2IyYG6qvKCxaTWlkkK-9ubpxLEFA9msx4vb9Rq9WoXRFjqKSbKcMlM/s1600/PB180942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0egRNP3Y6okDVvj5umwAwQ487H4rJDF_WZRBXfES8GdKg16D5wT_6wWK680KBtvX7FBCppZfhaG3Nra80SYnmW2IyYG6qvKCxaTWlkkK-9ubpxLEFA9msx4vb9Rq9WoXRFjqKSbKcMlM/s640/PB180942.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">good gracious the lighting down here is awful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;">So a few weekends ago I had the rare treat of an entire 24 hours with no one to take care of. I took it as a sign. (to paint and drink cocktails) So, </span>I stripped them down, clean up about a pound of dust (does anyone dust bookshelves on a regular basis) and taped them up. Buh bye brown.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLrmugxnsAM8B9RyL-92qh1u-gnb2EcGjY07VqxSFXf-3riUb4b_CUyruUoKZLz9yF_lucmZ5cMZ5GnnAq2_NULhtbqdWr3HWLDgPAX15Fb3NO_cp1PIb39nO1vyS9lHmZdZIkMIkVNsk/s1600/PC161942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLrmugxnsAM8B9RyL-92qh1u-gnb2EcGjY07VqxSFXf-3riUb4b_CUyruUoKZLz9yF_lucmZ5cMZ5GnnAq2_NULhtbqdWr3HWLDgPAX15Fb3NO_cp1PIb39nO1vyS9lHmZdZIkMIkVNsk/s640/PC161942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I looked thru my <a href="http://pinterest.com/ladybaum/" target="_blank">pins</a> and found that I'm obviously loving the whole color coded look. Like this.<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/AVvXsEgcxMOl1IHRcj2Kuz3FueQ0_jro6_QjeBNvIMH8jf8pu1B8TNIILaAMKnKJ72ac_uiUXtrdFprVsV2H_FZhzE8JLKDq69kG5gWe6SRiqBW9I6JE0aTgn3CAChu4CwQR-8q39czJAsik2zKC/s1600/6896205649170813.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxMOl1IHRcj2Kuz3FueQ0_jro6_QjeBNvIMH8jf8pu1B8TNIILaAMKnKJ72ac_uiUXtrdFprVsV2H_FZhzE8JLKDq69kG5gWe6SRiqBW9I6JE0aTgn3CAChu4CwQR-8q39czJAsik2zKC/s640/6896205649170813.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205649170813/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table> Or this.<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/AVvXsEjHaF2WJElTB6iMfTumL3v-8iHGdX3WwNabrL7Q1aQCgjV2FnnkJLUi82QV3AmaHsw1Wdk6pXTaWTinmor80-CLUY-pEI2vj5xdje2v2pfC7c68C9ccuT-fWbtgmVpSdIcr99Ak1PIRWfId/s1600/art-of-display_26.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaF2WJElTB6iMfTumL3v-8iHGdX3WwNabrL7Q1aQCgjV2FnnkJLUi82QV3AmaHsw1Wdk6pXTaWTinmor80-CLUY-pEI2vj5xdje2v2pfC7c68C9ccuT-fWbtgmVpSdIcr99Ak1PIRWfId/s640/art-of-display_26.jpeg" width="390" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205649083028/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table>As a side note - isn't it funny to look thru your boards and find you pin ten variations of the same thing? Subliminal design. Hey, that would be a good name for a business...I'm getting off track.<br /><br />To go polar opposite of the brown, I wanted something fresh and clean, but not white. I liked having a color of some kind back there. Martha pulled thru with just the right fresh, clean but not white color. (I need to get better about keeping paint chips so I can remember the name of the color)<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/AVvXsEgikyLdNULvYPvSDxRZik3wVyXwKws6sKSycf5SD9WQ_8qvZT8-YpgSL9YIbOIpwcGIMr5dMYjy1xPvjjrybOQc8-WDoH1lVj4hUki0uFADwJPJvlOkqBUL1rWgMBbiWD93Grm21QeTV-C4/s1600/PC161943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikyLdNULvYPvSDxRZik3wVyXwKws6sKSycf5SD9WQ_8qvZT8-YpgSL9YIbOIpwcGIMr5dMYjy1xPvjjrybOQc8-WDoH1lVj4hUki0uFADwJPJvlOkqBUL1rWgMBbiWD93Grm21QeTV-C4/s640/PC161943.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to the power of the internet...voila. Painted shelves.</td></tr></tbody></table>Much cleaner. Much brighter. A good start. Now lets see if I have enough books for a rainbow.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKnsbGBJcIXb7Y_-l6DtPZ6qhyphenhypheniZYXhPCju96w2bqJcZPxr_ywQfStxBCexIUhT4D98eFWrk27MeLAdl5bSrv2qDEU7phgyEX2F3uNCqSrU-bedHcb3mPCObhEBS4KPp7DpeNnxs0MkJU/s1600/P1273405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKnsbGBJcIXb7Y_-l6DtPZ6qhyphenhypheniZYXhPCju96w2bqJcZPxr_ywQfStxBCexIUhT4D98eFWrk27MeLAdl5bSrv2qDEU7phgyEX2F3uNCqSrU-bedHcb3mPCObhEBS4KPp7DpeNnxs0MkJU/s640/P1273405.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>Who knew I had so many red books? And yellow? Crazy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__fMvIhVh6f9ndba_jc9e2qmsn6r6d3nG5dkzmTor696ZwCgWTiTO3_4NlfOQDFgW4WqYhnyf7dH175CA5SK7sIbZzj53v-bclsqg2BNmXwonIZGmofDlS3tGcKmiEC5bKD9nEeyeU5bi/s1600/P1273408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__fMvIhVh6f9ndba_jc9e2qmsn6r6d3nG5dkzmTor696ZwCgWTiTO3_4NlfOQDFgW4WqYhnyf7dH175CA5SK7sIbZzj53v-bclsqg2BNmXwonIZGmofDlS3tGcKmiEC5bKD9nEeyeU5bi/s640/P1273408.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>An afternoon of finger painting and I had some new artwork...from Amelia. Not me. My finger painting days are behind me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoVpcIUQ_DCmjojPZdg9eDuSoMIeo1zbIqz2NcCxT-sDyJiFtV5iDFvmEJtsMA5QvtnGiUaFE0hJ7G1rfGQ-7VP41yFjl1IL0ZYCB7PJkfecKeS2tjHLRvduX29idfk_nTVF430MGEKD3/s1600/P1273410.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoVpcIUQ_DCmjojPZdg9eDuSoMIeo1zbIqz2NcCxT-sDyJiFtV5iDFvmEJtsMA5QvtnGiUaFE0hJ7G1rfGQ-7VP41yFjl1IL0ZYCB7PJkfecKeS2tjHLRvduX29idfk_nTVF430MGEKD3/s640/P1273410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Old cup/bowl/whatever it is made by me, age 8<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3kgfU7NDUckbqVEPkHl1xWa2QEh9N2xIZDUz21uUh0cYIi4f8SjX5h9UeDqP-r-Te4HjY4-EPTtpk8LYTOAmheyuqpTTU_wlb4GEQl3AagDk2-JM3BhSrzjKz_t3C8-F9lonxCXckrbC/s1600/P1273425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3kgfU7NDUckbqVEPkHl1xWa2QEh9N2xIZDUz21uUh0cYIi4f8SjX5h9UeDqP-r-Te4HjY4-EPTtpk8LYTOAmheyuqpTTU_wlb4GEQl3AagDk2-JM3BhSrzjKz_t3C8-F9lonxCXckrbC/s640/P1273425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHgtgNDKMxPUeSq8KdVQ-SEJuG0Yyxx0Xbj9Fwwom9Rhm7QyitrGFbkYUTZdHva5ZlaEPai65GzhKFALdfYCawNEzQJbw5dxOxcK2JRyjHM5dquwu4NDAJAoayAcQnVweO38fazJ7keUM/s1600/P1273447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHgtgNDKMxPUeSq8KdVQ-SEJuG0Yyxx0Xbj9Fwwom9Rhm7QyitrGFbkYUTZdHva5ZlaEPai65GzhKFALdfYCawNEzQJbw5dxOxcK2JRyjHM5dquwu4NDAJAoayAcQnVweO38fazJ7keUM/s640/P1273447.JPG" width="426" /></a></div> Rainbow continued on the other side. I apologize for the horrible lighting.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2ixgmUAMldyfrDMGzpEJWkUT7Ndja22jKEtkvZ9mqeOLB7WsyFOm-ybwEJw_fgeUmwfemmLpfH_FtKWCLToLl05kpENi8pc2DL_uV40AT0sB699IJuRiyOCYazfiS1avtLxJGNM21STb/s1600/P1273450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2ixgmUAMldyfrDMGzpEJWkUT7Ndja22jKEtkvZ9mqeOLB7WsyFOm-ybwEJw_fgeUmwfemmLpfH_FtKWCLToLl05kpENi8pc2DL_uV40AT0sB699IJuRiyOCYazfiS1avtLxJGNM21STb/s640/P1273450.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The finished product with the Olivia stamp of approval. Not a huge change, and not a lot of work but it makes me feel like I've done something. And its nice to stare at something new while watching TV.<br /><br />Have you made any small changes around your house lately? Is this all the motivation I need to get started on some of my bigger projects? And more importantly, who's ready for Monday's RHOBH reunion show? Viewing party at my house!

color coded

I stare at these bookshelves a lot. Most of the action in our house happens in this room. Barbie's wardrobe is stored just below these s...

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It's Going to be Different!

<div><div><div>It's been 5 months since I last posted and I've finally decided to come out of hiding! J/K I've actually just spent these last 5 months figuring out the balancing act of being a working mom! If you want to see what we've been up to feel free to hop on over to our family blog <a href="http://bangertfam.blogspot.com/">here</a>. </div><br /><br />Ok now it's time to spill my guts! My last post I left you guys with was about conquering week 3 of C25K and I had made some WW friendly freezer meals. Well, pretty sure I haven't ran since then and all those freezer meals are gone! ;)</div><br /><br />I went back to work from maternity leave part time on September 6th and then full time on September 12th. That was a major few weeks of transistion for me. I did not like leaving my baby everyday. But the weeks went on and I adjusted. I'm still not a fan of leaving her at daycare, I'd much rather be home with her, but it's just one of those facts of life that you have to deal with.<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702178879187564322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzs5gLYLameENXw6-ZHrdopcsFIKKgYIkdyALJhMzqxqY68uDS77ZSqX7x_k69YvKk5MrPGvOIR1jQ0VkOmaVELyHqIVJ0pfILCBP92YIAAzjSdehXLNKxofQJiy5-InxfbnSOs-1Brl9/s400/IMG_0821.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" /><br />Ok I'm getting de-railed....<br /><br />So once I was back to work I joined Weight Watchers at work, which was perfect. The weekly meeting was right on campus where I work. Over the next few months I lost about 10lbs of post baby weight. Then November came...<br /><ul><li>I had a work trip away in state.<br /></li><li>Thanksgiving.<br /></li><li><a href="http://bangertfam.blogspot.com/2011/12/mommys-home.html">I ended the month/started December with a week long work trip to Vegas</a>.<br /></li><li><a href="http://bangertfam.blogspot.com/2012/01/omaha-christmas.html">We celebrated Christmas a week early in Omaha with my family. </a><br /></li><li>And then the week of Christmas & New Years. {read: calories galore}<br /></li></ul><div>What are all those things? Excuses! That's it plain & simple. </div><br /><div>In those 7 weeks I went to Weight Watchers 2 times. Naughty, naughty! The scale showed it too, I gained 5 lbs. Eeekkk!!<br /><br /></div><div>After the New Years I vowed I need to get back on track & lose this baby weight. We didn't have enough members to keep our at work meetings going so I had to drive off campus to the local meeting in town. And that is what I've been doing for the past 3 weeks! Haven't missed one yet and have no plans to!<br /><br /></div><div>So that brings you to where I am today! I've started working out again, either on my lunch break or after I put Adelyn to bed. As far as food goes...sit back & let me tell you about me & food!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702179760129478770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSM7O5SqE5ezQCXTmIA_8vKzNaTI52jXVY_GJbJpbvsI7MCOMI7_7W28eAPNqdIaFU8wm0ksrUy4KNJquen1lKiaetBxJj9vTR37nZl379uvLt4DK81-xCub4V_yeJ3_GXPEqeFFDxIOtF/s400/IMG_0808.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" /></div><br /><div>I think a big part of it is such a head game for me. I weigh in on Thursdays. In my head I tell myself I can eat what I want on the weekends and then buckle down and make up for it M-W. I've done that the past 3 weeks and sure I've lost, but it's been minimal, -.6lbs or -.4lbs. </div><br /><div>I have to be honest with myself. Doing that isn't going to get me back to my goal weight. It's just a vicious cycle and it isn't the point of the program. Eating like that was in no way benefiting me.</div><br /><div>So here I am, out there for all see {read}, <strong>this week is going to be different</strong>. I'm not going to spurlge this weekend, I'm going to track what I eat, workout, and next week I will see the reward when I got to my WW meeting! </div></div>

It's Going to be Different!

It's been 5 months since I last posted and I've finally decided to come out of hiding! J/K I've actually just spent these last 5...

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Things I'm Loving This Week

<b style="color: #674ea7;">1. Hungry Girl's <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/367" target="_blank">Yum Yum Brownie Muffins</a> {5 PointsPlus}</b><br /><br />These are definitely on the steeper side of PointsPlus values on sweet treats for me, especially since it's <i>just </i>a muffin!  However, they are really chocolatey and provide some hidden fiber as a bonus, thanks to the pumpkin.  They're actually a nice size too.  INCREDIBLY easy to make: simply mix <span style="color: #999999;">{ONLY}</span> the cake mix + the pumpkin puree and bake in 12 cup muffin tin at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. <span style="color: #999999;">{HG Tip: Make these in mini muffin tins to yield around 36 mini muffins at a smaller PointsPlus value!} </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/AVvXsEguzgAL09sN8ngryhaBBVpWgXwjGAYDz_QmBmGKZUYsL72qb1roL9WahVSJF40dW7KG55TZiagLs_b3_jYzJv3-_VoanM_hUJ4cb2JbKmlu6OZmKUCo-K22zWO9ZiZSEWEJdMk7-Zmc5Gg/s1600/brownie+muffins+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzgAL09sN8ngryhaBBVpWgXwjGAYDz_QmBmGKZUYsL72qb1roL9WahVSJF40dW7KG55TZiagLs_b3_jYzJv3-_VoanM_hUJ4cb2JbKmlu6OZmKUCo-K22zWO9ZiZSEWEJdMk7-Zmc5Gg/s400/brownie+muffins+3.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">easy peezy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8quTmk7iE289_IXUjUw5K3u09s9usEkcdUu0tp3ZyBDZqNBPkmMq5dlAmmUYJuWQqSQufY2EVAXL3HUVlMC5htmJwCWkQDA-bXbNwzK6Ibw5VIxwC5ZpjO4cHXUxhYrlcPQZCuuT32wU/s1600/brownie+muffins+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8quTmk7iE289_IXUjUw5K3u09s9usEkcdUu0tp3ZyBDZqNBPkmMq5dlAmmUYJuWQqSQufY2EVAXL3HUVlMC5htmJwCWkQDA-bXbNwzK6Ibw5VIxwC5ZpjO4cHXUxhYrlcPQZCuuT32wU/s400/brownie+muffins+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />You could argue that these muffins have an almost....dis-pleasurable look to them. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOd72hil_x3hBe8_SV4SM3pBseHdR90UOaXMTpGFAVOlabeFZhaqD0xi5D9wxwmYPMMXTesivZYZhWMvnfQgj7-9oQwt0as49KAUNJD69B-LPuSKhHBm6karLlgPIYxVP1BtfC-HCECQ/s1600/brownie+muffins+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOd72hil_x3hBe8_SV4SM3pBseHdR90UOaXMTpGFAVOlabeFZhaqD0xi5D9wxwmYPMMXTesivZYZhWMvnfQgj7-9oQwt0as49KAUNJD69B-LPuSKhHBm6karLlgPIYxVP1BtfC-HCECQ/s400/brownie+muffins+2.jpg" width="306" /></a></div> <br />They somewhat resemble what might "happen" to you if you consume endless amounts of fiber.  BUT if you can look past their....outward appearance.... and try not to think about it as you bite into the goodness, you will be glad you didn't judge this brownie-muffin by it's cover!<br /><div style="color: #351c75;"><br /></div><div style="color: #674ea7;"><b>2. Mini Chopper</b></div>I received this mini chopper as a Christmas gift two years ago.  My mom purchased it as part of a Black Friday special at Wal-Mart for $4.97.  Sometimes, you get what you pay for.  In this case, I can assure you that this less than $5 chopper has been nothing short of amazing and useful since I first unwrapped it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBW4wQklboCx6K2-iuZtHDBU7iNLDG3KjLqDmO77IvA-C7SJtB7cJY1UD7dQd9x1JlGNGURTf8G0X0l87tdHYX5HmR_K_zkYqoE4YENgMWHEkOE1WlKMUspywcoZgpkxWPMw4mFpNozg/s1600/mini+chopper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBW4wQklboCx6K2-iuZtHDBU7iNLDG3KjLqDmO77IvA-C7SJtB7cJY1UD7dQd9x1JlGNGURTf8G0X0l87tdHYX5HmR_K_zkYqoE4YENgMWHEkOE1WlKMUspywcoZgpkxWPMw4mFpNozg/s400/mini+chopper+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I primarily use my mini chopper to get those pesky onions minced up.  I hate onions, but a lot of ingredients in recipes that I cook often call for them.  Once upon a time I would've never considered putting onions in a dish.  But since I got my mini chopper, I can get them so finely minced that I can pretend they're not even in the food I'm making!<br /><br />Of course, it's also extremely good at grinding up Oreos to make <a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-oreo-truffles-95085.aspx" target="_blank">Oreo Truffles</a>.  <span style="color: #999999;">{Tip: If you do make the truffles, refrigerate or freeze them for up to an hour before dipping them in the chocolate.  Otherwise you will have a mess of melted Oreo balls in your bowl of chocolate.}</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbbZScAuAe7o9azHmpfefyTZj1lB9H4C5-AYRpiAeZFza6jifIlL6h7n0Ky2wTJSFlTGqpiHZCBbxnYoEF_z2HtBBkjAcVniRjOIStSLPlod_-e77ipVgZmBFPOvtL45HFchfyclGeFk/s1600/mini+chopper+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbbZScAuAe7o9azHmpfefyTZj1lB9H4C5-AYRpiAeZFza6jifIlL6h7n0Ky2wTJSFlTGqpiHZCBbxnYoEF_z2HtBBkjAcVniRjOIStSLPlod_-e77ipVgZmBFPOvtL45HFchfyclGeFk/s400/mini+chopper+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The stainless steel blade, chopper bowl, and lid are all dishwasher safe.  What more could you ask for in a $5 kitchen appliance?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y9Gpjqa3eVagyznQwpaEL7sDF4HN9At_55wYehcl3ybq8aelNP4v-iuEogXCvVNwcoN5lHgO2Ruebrkri6g3J9LgAS6MnFwiMdBKkqW0tym81BmEXeVjP2ZDQWveEqebSdAFNlgI-gs/s1600/mini+chopper+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y9Gpjqa3eVagyznQwpaEL7sDF4HN9At_55wYehcl3ybq8aelNP4v-iuEogXCvVNwcoN5lHgO2Ruebrkri6g3J9LgAS6MnFwiMdBKkqW0tym81BmEXeVjP2ZDQWveEqebSdAFNlgI-gs/s400/mini+chopper+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I have used this chopper over and over and <i>over </i>again, and the blade is starting to get a little dull.  Any idea where I can go to get something like that sharpened?<br /><br /><div style="color: #674ea7;"><b>3.  <a href="http://www.drpepper.com/products/#drpepperten" target="_blank">Dr. Pepper Ten</a></b></div>Diet pop is an acquired taste, let's face it.  It's about the same as during your freshman year of college, when your first taste of an alcoholic beverage is, inevitably, cheap beer.  You choke it down at first, but eventually you cannot even tell the difference between <a href="http://www.anheuser-busch.com/s/index.php/our-beers/#%21Natural" target="_blank">Natural Light</a> and the "premium" beer that is the <a href="http://www.coorslight.com/" target="_blank">Silver Bullet</a>.  {That was then, however!  No way will you catch me sipping a Natty Light these days!}<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOX_yXOEh9yoJwq015YmZTP6m6mVyq9775QTsL4fQhT4B5ImnFBeng4kJx5f9PEbZK2ARFPLnuQ0eCArbNf_6u8xBPHOtbMg6wvpQiVIL7R0KJwrJ-O-inDcTuKNckE7M3qN-hVqwx1U/s1600/dr+pepper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOX_yXOEh9yoJwq015YmZTP6m6mVyq9775QTsL4fQhT4B5ImnFBeng4kJx5f9PEbZK2ARFPLnuQ0eCArbNf_6u8xBPHOtbMg6wvpQiVIL7R0KJwrJ-O-inDcTuKNckE7M3qN-hVqwx1U/s400/dr+pepper+1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />Still, Dr. Pepper Ten is the closest variation to it's "parent" version that I've tasted yet.  Coke Zero may be a close second.  But Dr. Pepper Ten has absolutely no after taste what so ever.  And for 10 calories, I will take it!  I don't drink a lot of diet pop, but I will not hesitate to use it as a substitute for eating whenever I'm craving food.  I find it filling and it gives me a taste of something other than water.  <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/AVvXsEi8Gk5pdxFuGUGSXGbBH5vcUjcBzqsnSItWrwgMalqLoeZObXsP4qEZi8Na5w9SZk5Vc_3LfFjIMn9sALUuNZI8qLq10pzFaHwv8Ld1XI1qT7AIUF9sfdmYVXi_7m8YzfZKbYK4CNhecBc/s1600/dr+pepper+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Gk5pdxFuGUGSXGbBH5vcUjcBzqsnSItWrwgMalqLoeZObXsP4qEZi8Na5w9SZk5Vc_3LfFjIMn9sALUuNZI8qLq10pzFaHwv8Ld1XI1qT7AIUF9sfdmYVXi_7m8YzfZKbYK4CNhecBc/s400/dr+pepper+002.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to make larger - yes, there is HFCS</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This gem was an accidental discovery whenever Joel was looking for a low-cal mixer for his Jack Daniels fix.  I'm so glad he discovered this!<br /><br /><b style="color: #674ea7;">What are some things you love this week?</b>

Hungry Girl Things I Love Weight Loss Products Weight Watcher Recipes Things I'm Loving This Week

1. Hungry Girl's Yum Yum Brownie Muffins {5 PointsPlus} These are definitely on the steeper side of PointsPlus values on sweet treats f...

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ORIENT AND OCCIDENT A THIN DIVIDING LINE

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixXfumjFXIIoPBaUCI_NESfGqg7V8FtIpxPVjrNob-_AhG72mkjJKk-WZC5o79iUob2P5rwjNNI3lZ57ljlG3RLh9p_QpnY0_qutYWXLP47EF8f3M2AvI_AN8aKRT3YiCTvwAHiSF-XOm/s1600/solutions2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixXfumjFXIIoPBaUCI_NESfGqg7V8FtIpxPVjrNob-_AhG72mkjJKk-WZC5o79iUob2P5rwjNNI3lZ57ljlG3RLh9p_QpnY0_qutYWXLP47EF8f3M2AvI_AN8aKRT3YiCTvwAHiSF-XOm/s320/solutions2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">  </span><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">                       WIND OF CHANGE</span> <br /><br /><b style="color: blue;">ILLOGIC SHIFT IN STRATEGIES OR CALCULATED RISK? </b><br /><br />The pace at which the geo political and strategic landscape in the MIDDLE EASTERN region is changing is simply astonishing and at times beyond logic. Thus it comes as no surprise that every mainstream media outlet as well as alternative media sources around the globe speculate on the outcome as well as to the “why”? Thus RUSSIA’S alleged shift of its stance on SYRIA comes as somewhat of a surprise. But then also does the fact that ISRAEL supports a regime change in SYRIA. (see http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/01/syrias-destiny-sealed.html )<br />According to mainstream media RUSSIA apparently has changed its attitude towards SYRIA by distancing itself from the ASSAD Regime. Other media outlets though report that RUSSIA had just inked a deal with SYRIA selling a considerable amount of fighter jets to SYRIA! <br /><br />TURKEY’S official stance regarding IRAN is that of hostility but just a few days ago TURKEY announced publicly that it would not adhere to any sanctions against IRAN'S nuclear program unless they were imposed by the UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. So where does that leave TURKEY, pro or contra IRAN?  As of recent, TURKEY’S foreign policies have caused a bit of an uproar among the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, thus making its geo political agenda behind these havoc moves hard to analyze. On the one hand TURKEY strongly oppose IRAN and subsequently SYRIA, but on the other hand it supports INDIA to bypass EU and US sanctions on IRAN by supporting INDIA to bypass the sanctions, for INDIA announced that it would circumvent EU and US sanctions on IRANIAN oil by buying IRANIAN oil with gold. The transactions will allegedly be conducted by two state-owned banks: the CALCUTTA-based UCO Bank, whose board of directors is made up of INDIAN government and Reserve Bank of INDIA representatives; and HALK BANKASI (Peoples Bank), TURKEY'S seventh largest bank which is owned by the government.<br /><br />These are just a few examples on how the MIDDLE EAST chess game is picking up pace as well as surprise moves, which still leaves us with the question as to why? Here are some hypotheses:<br /><br /><div style="color: blue;"><b>CURRENCY WAR?</b></div><br />Is the MIDDLE EASTERN turmoil really about dollar dominance and private central banking? Was the LIBYAN “intervention” because LIBYA wanted to set up a private gold currency in AFRICA? <br />Was the idea to create a new currency among AFRICAN and MUSLIM nations to purchase oil and other resources something that provoked the echelons of WESTERN powers because it meant that the dollar would de facto lose its “value”? Such move would definitely shift the economic balance of the world. Establishing a banking system in AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST, based on ISLAMIC doctrines would create outrage among WESTERN FINANCE POWER jugglers for ISLAM as a faith does not allow to borrow-sell money with interest. Such doctrine would surly cause havoc among the casino finance system currently ruling the markets.<br /><br />Thus the creation of a Muslim finance cartel and the Islamic GOLD DINAR is something the ANGLO AMERICAN finance cartel wants to make sure does not occur for it would jeopardize their power and influence significantly, especially since the GOLD DINAR currency would be based on large quantities of gold, where as WESTERN currencies are “based on digital numbers” without physical value backing! It appears that there is no "mainstream" currency in the world that is backed by metals, either silver or gold. Less than 150 years ago money was considered to be gold or silver, in other words worth real value.<br />Recent past has shown that oil producing countries that tired to implement oil trade in other currencies then the dollar faced severe “punishment” from the ANGLOSPHERE oil and finance cartel. Now we read that INDIA is planning to pay for Iranian oil with gold and rumors have it that CHINA will follow suit.<br />(See http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/01/circumvention.html)<br /><br />The question is if the ANGLOSPHERE oil and finance cartel really intends to defend dollar dominance at all cost. Looking at the current currency war with EUROPE one might come to the conclusion that they do so indeed. Aside from the currency war with EUROPE one should not forget that the world remains dollar driven and the dollar remains a source of WESTERN power, not to mention that the dollar is still referred to as the worlds “RESERVE CURRENCY”.<br />SAUDI ARABIA, a key ally of the USA and UNITED KINGDOM, refuses to sell their oil for anything other than dollars.<br /><br /><b>On subject matter, Anthony Wile from the Daily Bell writes:</b><br /><br />The arrangement is perhaps a convincing argument, by the way, against peak oil theories. What are the chances that SAUDI ARABIA just happens to be the ANGLOSPHERE'S biggest producer of oil in the MIDDLE EAST and also the WEST'S strongest ally?<br />Isn't it more reasonable to conclude that WESTERN powers-that-be have RESTRICTED oil discovery and production around the world? Famously, according to a statement by one of the FORBES brothers last year, there is enough oil in the mainland UNITED STATES to furnish energy for the next 1,000 years. That doesn't even include natural gas (which is still flared off) and coal.<br />(See also: http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/01/deceiving-tactics.html under the headline: <b>Are claims that crude oil resources are diminishing legitimate or a deliberate lie</b>?)<br /><br />The world is likely drowning in energy. The scarcities that people fear are generated by the power elite's dominant social themes– the fear-based promotions that are intended to frighten people into giving up power and wealth to globalist facilities such as the UN, IMF and WORLD BANK<br /><br />In view of these facts here are 3 possible scenarios as to why the current “Strategic Chess Game” in the MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA is such a decisive one.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: blue;">1. GEO STRATEGIC SUPREMACY</span> </b><br /><br />Looking at the current developments on could argue the entire sabre-rattling is about strategic resources and military-intelligence advantages over RUSSIA and CHINA. The idea, that we are once again face a cold war scenario where the WEST is repositioning itself both defensively and offensively to gain maximum flexibility and power over potential adversaries is imminent. This would also explain the sudden shift of US strategic interests in ASIA.<br /><br /><b style="color: blue;">2. MONETARY DOMINANCE </b><br /><br />Bank institutions or “Banksters”, who run much of the WEST’S military industry, intend to “seize” public central banks in order to replace them with private ones, as is the case with the FEDERAL RESERVE in the USA. These private monetary institutions fear that citizen led governments print their own paper money. <br />This fear seems imminent, for GERMANY announced that will begin to abolish cash transactions step by step from August 2012, putting the EU directive 2009/110/EC (PDF) into practice. (See http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/01/total-control.html) <br /><br /><b style="color: blue;">3. ISLAMIC CRESCENT ARC</b><br /><br />The Crescent Arc is a theory which argues that the ANGLOSPHERE intends to spread the war on terror in the MIDDLE EAST and is actively aiding ISLAMIC regimes in order to create this war. While this may sound far-fetched to some, the various regimes that have been destabilized by so-called YOUTH MOVEMENTS (controlled it seems by the USA and BRITAIN) are all SECULAR, where as the replacement regimes are all ISLAMIC. This theory not only seems to apply for the MIDDLE EAST but can also be applied for BOSNIA. The details of which will be described in an article on subject matter on this blog in due course.<br /><br /><b style="color: blue;">CONCLUSION</b><br /><br />The ongoing geo-political turmoil in NORTHERN AFRICA, the MIDDLE EAST and IRAN are most likely sparked by the USA and its allies as part of a wider strategy aimed at gaining dominance in the region, in order to create a basis for future quests into ASIA and AFRICA, thereby gaining tactical advantage over its adversaries, the BRICS (BRAZIL, RUSSIA, INDIA, CHINA and SOUTH AFRICA) and other emerging economies, who also claim a slice of the “energy and geo strategic cake”. This coincides with US Asia-Pacific orientation and the need to have a foundation on AFRICAN soil, for the AFRICAN continent is about to become of increased eco – geo political importance for developed nations, a fact that many seemed to have ignored until recently, thus underestimating the potential the continent offers. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Parts of above article contain extracts from Anthony Wile's article “Truth About Middle East is Spreading” published via the Daily Bell.</i></span>

ORIENT AND OCCIDENT A THIN DIVIDING LINE

                         WIND OF CHANGE ILLOGIC SHIFT IN STRATEGIES OR CALCULATED RISK? The pace at which the geo political and strategic l...

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James Stewart: A Walk on the Dark Side

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">by guest contributor Classicfilmboy</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmnXVHdkvY9NAzmc_IAZJdYpeSIwZ7wOISZ4TxYh3Hxq69nQ5GBcKdVjMvdP4zbLizNSdB2K9bTAVQ979eNhxwc1byGH1l_Ddfg2FGlcTGQBpyUgP6Mz4IDUkPnXBN-TZoqf1H6PjPaao/s1600/Scottie+Obsessed+and+Coit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmnXVHdkvY9NAzmc_IAZJdYpeSIwZ7wOISZ4TxYh3Hxq69nQ5GBcKdVjMvdP4zbLizNSdB2K9bTAVQ979eNhxwc1byGH1l_Ddfg2FGlcTGQBpyUgP6Mz4IDUkPnXBN-TZoqf1H6PjPaao/s400/Scottie+Obsessed+and+Coit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Alfred Hitchcock had a knack for bringing out the worst in the best of actors. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And I mean that as a compliment. He could take likable leading men, cast them as dark characters and draw great performances. Think of Cary Grant’s Johnnie in <i>Suspicion</i> (before the studio re-edited the ending), Joseph Cotton’s Uncle Charlie in <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i> and Robert Walker’s Bruno in <i>Strangers on a Train</i>.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Perhaps the best example of this was how Hitchcock used James Stewart, whose image was the “aw shucks” guy next door. As Hitchcock biographer Patrick McGilligan suggests, his heroes began to deepen with Grant and then with Stewart, and those films deepened as a result. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But as much as I love Grant, he has a particular on-screen persona that became part of almost every performance he gave starting in the late 1940s. Meanwhile, as Stewart aged, he pushed away from his all-American persona and began playing dark and conflicted men, looking less and less like the characters audiences loved in the 1930s and early 1940s. Frank Capra tapped into Stewart’s dark side in 1946’s <i>It's a Wonderful Life</i>, with the actor playing a man who is contemplating suicide, forced to stay and work where he never wanted to and bitter that he never had the opportunities that others enjoyed. According to McGilligan, Stewart told Lionel Barrymore that his air force experience during World War II made him question acting, resulting in Stewart searching for stronger parts. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIos6P3kd1a7AMECdSmwtgAiTygL26OF16qX2RcqwJfN60t2sbQoElSWmZVVhJwiOFXvQ5WL45YKXIeUKK135proqum1jTaUw6vbWJaPlrfW0TPaqDaDNHazc9ZLnrqB8MM6F9MqbDhGK/s1600/rope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIos6P3kd1a7AMECdSmwtgAiTygL26OF16qX2RcqwJfN60t2sbQoElSWmZVVhJwiOFXvQ5WL45YKXIeUKK135proqum1jTaUw6vbWJaPlrfW0TPaqDaDNHazc9ZLnrqB8MM6F9MqbDhGK/s400/rope.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rope </i>(1948)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It makes sense that Hitchcock would pick up on Stewart’s newfound attitudes. Yet, oddly enough, Stewart’s first film with Hitchcock was 1948’s <i>Rope</i>, in which Stewart is very much playing off his good-guy persona. Stewart does his usual fine job, but both he and Hitchcock learned from this for their future collaborations. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But first came some fine roles that would eventually comprise a decade of marvelous work from Stewart, starting with 1950’s <i>Harvey</i>. As the gentle Elwood P. Dowd, Stewart plays someone who’s not in touch with the rest of society, which in itself can get you labeled as mentally disturbed even if that’s not the case. Stewart mines the dark comedy in playing a man who would rather be friends with a large imaginary rabbit that with any humans, and it takes a special actor to make this character resonate rather than becoming too cute or too disturbing. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stewart’s early 1950s westerns also brought out a toughness in character. Just look at <i>The Naked Spur</i>, with Stewart as a bounty hunter in a tale that predates some of John Wayne’s more conflicted Western characters.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj7TaMT1aCX2URWkPopJycrJXeiSevUlcForgeX1ReBg3zhYLq2J6wS_Bm5KA9znAULJJDaOBQuX8mgwaZmDnUy5QxpUJVU6HLKrCpMmmVo-syil0pPir9SSyXK9cDTeTX62vpa3aH3Ne/s1600/rear+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj7TaMT1aCX2URWkPopJycrJXeiSevUlcForgeX1ReBg3zhYLq2J6wS_Bm5KA9znAULJJDaOBQuX8mgwaZmDnUy5QxpUJVU6HLKrCpMmmVo-syil0pPir9SSyXK9cDTeTX62vpa3aH3Ne/s400/rear+window.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rear Window </i>(1954)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stewart’s second pairing with Hitchcock is 1954’s <i>Rear Window</i> which is my favorite Hitchcock film of the 1950s. It’s rare to think of Stewart as having a sexuality on screen, yet here Hitchcock fully taps into it with Stewart’s character, Jeff, having an open affair with Grace Kelly. It’s rather shocking to see Mr. All-American, in a leg cast and wheelchair, clearly in lust with the lovely Ms. Kelly. Yet it works, bringing Stewart down to our level. Yes, he’s still the hero, but he also has desires and doubts like the rest of us. The fact that our hero likes to spy on all of his neighbors adds an unsettling dimension to that character, because the audience is right there with him, knowing it’s wrong but unable to do anything but indulge. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How better than to have your audience identify with a peeping Tom than have that man played by Stewart. He’s a flawed man, and one that Hitchcock and Stewart brilliantly explore together. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXofHi52KyOTYj4QZYwpYQn4M1tQo0gw76Ddy3sIDbnePOH2gMYpRnBXs-TsP_MBZlASLZTLlgD_mQLladvtZY3xC_klo_fVhniHxTJCrqj5pvdqZOJFyThhDViUbf5XIhHnuT0M4GmczN/s1600/tmwktm+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXofHi52KyOTYj4QZYwpYQn4M1tQo0gw76Ddy3sIDbnePOH2gMYpRnBXs-TsP_MBZlASLZTLlgD_mQLladvtZY3xC_klo_fVhniHxTJCrqj5pvdqZOJFyThhDViUbf5XIhHnuT0M4GmczN/s400/tmwktm+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Man Who Knew Too Much </i>(1956)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It’s worth noting that Stewart was cast before screenwriter John Michael Hayes started his work, so the role was tailored to Stewart. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stewart and Hitchcock were both friendly and business-like to each other. More importantly, they understood each other. Stewart re-teams with Hitchcock a third time in <i>The Man Who Knew Too Much</i>, although in the first half of the movie Stewart relies on his aw-shucks persona too much. It isn’t until the latter stages when Stewart’s Ben MacKenna is desperate to save his child. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But Hitchcock fully taps into the dark side of Stewart in <i>Vertigo</i>, their fourth film together. Stewart’s Scottie may be afraid of heights, but that’s the least of his problems in light of his sexual obsession over Kim Novak. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2012/01/deadly-obsession-alfred-hitchcocks.html" style="color: #990000;">R.D. Finch</a> does an outstanding job of discussing Stewart in his <i>Vertigo</i> post from earlier this month during The Lady Eve’s <i>Vertigo</i> event, and there’s no need to repeat what he wrote. What’s worth noting is the unsettling, frightening darkness to Stewart’s character. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><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/AVvXsEguuXMpQOTi5IFMTrFSWhFKGhrtw8d2hVoD6xBMOeVm5COsQUbEgWqKP8GmEDmHz6NWVKugybFms-BET6NNajmaPQpXdSyDwUR24GdN6LRasAkooODHIRGjRJMWd153N3JviQnJUkiEifKa/s1600/changing+judy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuXMpQOTi5IFMTrFSWhFKGhrtw8d2hVoD6xBMOeVm5COsQUbEgWqKP8GmEDmHz6NWVKugybFms-BET6NNajmaPQpXdSyDwUR24GdN6LRasAkooODHIRGjRJMWd153N3JviQnJUkiEifKa/s400/changing+judy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Perhaps this is why the film wasn’t much of a success when it was released. In <i>Rope</i>, <i>Rear Window</i> and <i>The Man Who Knew Too Much</i>, Stewart eventually overcomes his weaknesses, although with some struggle. In <i>Vertigo</i>, the weaknesses are debilitating, and maybe that’s what audiences simply don’t want to see in Stewart or accept from one of his characters. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><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/AVvXsEiAMH60yQmjCJdMjmwlOCXXBwF2r5djqMORIFCHNNpnp6398H768l1uiRYpTNHPTeGhV-WgtB6tTSS5HYasRpQkehHHG6-q6CfgKOld0k7arQHIWxBgwuzWcRjTl60z5m_BBGdBuiTQ1Lfv/s1600/vengeance+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMH60yQmjCJdMjmwlOCXXBwF2r5djqMORIFCHNNpnp6398H768l1uiRYpTNHPTeGhV-WgtB6tTSS5HYasRpQkehHHG6-q6CfgKOld0k7arQHIWxBgwuzWcRjTl60z5m_BBGdBuiTQ1Lfv/s400/vengeance+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But Scottie should be a disorienting figure in a film where dizziness is both literal and figurative. For me, Stewart’s casting is genius, because it adds another level of disorientation. I doubt another actor could have carried this off. Sure, others may have given strong performances, but Hitchcock and Stewart knew what they were doing. It’s that extra push, the expected screen persona that’s built into the audience mindset before the film begins that ultimately shocks them in the end. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnGAHVdo4Nz_fopkDZyqTFxnnSiDB8rFx-RFUnI5WsdhC5gzGGgvSgy9nFzpSUYYImZMFtn8vNzHvU1DLd5SsUXxCId6nU5tXL8IxRW-1FPZfGdO9Y3af4k6taxyADdoKcah0iUORDyc2/s1600/acrophobia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnGAHVdo4Nz_fopkDZyqTFxnnSiDB8rFx-RFUnI5WsdhC5gzGGgvSgy9nFzpSUYYImZMFtn8vNzHvU1DLd5SsUXxCId6nU5tXL8IxRW-1FPZfGdO9Y3af4k6taxyADdoKcah0iUORDyc2/s400/acrophobia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> As a result, <i>Vertigo</i> is an enduring, disturbing tale. Over four films, Hitchcock and Stewart worked well together, and the great director elicited from Stewart some of his best work, perhaps none as disturbing as Scottie.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D0Z1YDOm8nivyoh1Ba-Wbpfd1EYgd62tOxxAKg6o29ekRouh1ubcMamMzCxPqzxSbIFviwymFa8Z5iQyFqRLGGks5Htk6va1UwGHdNv9nO3Slm5wdx1qn1I52nzGSJe84XLy1wa2vajz/s1600/shattered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D0Z1YDOm8nivyoh1Ba-Wbpfd1EYgd62tOxxAKg6o29ekRouh1ubcMamMzCxPqzxSbIFviwymFa8Z5iQyFqRLGGks5Htk6va1UwGHdNv9nO3Slm5wdx1qn1I52nzGSJe84XLy1wa2vajz/s400/shattered.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">~</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Brian, aka Classicfilmboy, developed a love of classic films at a young age with the annual airing of </i>The Wizard of Oz<i> on CBS (which he partially blames for his tornado phobia). As a kid growing up in a small Midwestern town, access to classic films was limited, which made their mystique even more enticing. Brian later spent 10 years as a film reviewer and now writes <a href="http://classicfilmboy.com/" style="color: #990000;">Classicfilmboy.com</a>, although he wishes he could devote more time to his blog. He specializes in pre-1970 film history, and for fun he teaches noncredit film appreciation classes at his local community college in suburban Chicago. </i></div>

A Month of Vertigo Alfred Hitchcock Classicfilmboy James Stewart Vertigo James Stewart: A Walk on the Dark Side

by guest contributor Classicfilmboy Alfred Hitchcock had a knack for bringing out the worst in the best of actors. And I mean that as a comp...

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Kickin' Chicken Pot Pie

One thing I love in particular about this version of pot pie is the crust. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZBJZAGTIdI1PJVR0eaCsxMWODRxsdMpqNt2UsLngU569HZw4wf-fDmxcWTONER8-6gb2i0flk_ng6C36mNN4cWWOWICiLRc1xoXwKvpUtmH8pB7yLQHBWjX_VjAcc2JdI2VEyJqUh3c/s1600/chicken+pot+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZBJZAGTIdI1PJVR0eaCsxMWODRxsdMpqNt2UsLngU569HZw4wf-fDmxcWTONER8-6gb2i0flk_ng6C36mNN4cWWOWICiLRc1xoXwKvpUtmH8pB7yLQHBWjX_VjAcc2JdI2VEyJqUh3c/s400/chicken+pot+pie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Hungry Girl makes it using Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls, making for a really delicious and buttery flavored topping.  As much as I love pot pie, I'm less of a fan of the pie crust used to make a traditional pot pie.  This one? Love!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuPm2pkWxJAKyFX7Rar9L1bzVDdqIO0RvACzvtCNhcctnQRPFNA-XkxGleEomn3zpmsSilg7R6OL9_M2sN0MQhmFKKasGvEyW_QYxx8SHlBBqE7jZtWnbG7D2oFDQb1FuZvY0I8rbeFY/s1600/hungry-girl-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuPm2pkWxJAKyFX7Rar9L1bzVDdqIO0RvACzvtCNhcctnQRPFNA-XkxGleEomn3zpmsSilg7R6OL9_M2sN0MQhmFKKasGvEyW_QYxx8SHlBBqE7jZtWnbG7D2oFDQb1FuZvY0I8rbeFY/s320/hungry-girl-book.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><u>Hungry Girl's <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/710" target="_blank">Kickin' Chicken Pot Pie</a></u> - <i>7 PointsPlus</i></b><br /><i>Ingredients:</i><br /><ul><li>8 oz. raw boneless skinless chicken breast; cut into bite-sized pieces<i> (I used a can of chunk chicken)</i></li><li>3 cups frozen mixed vegetables</li><li>1 can (10.75 oz.) Campbell's Condensed Soup, 98% Fat Free Cream of Celery</li><li>3 servings (triangles) Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls (unprepared)</li></ul><i>Directions:</i><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute chicken pieces for several minutes in a pan spritzed with nonstick cooking spray, until chicken is light brown/cooked but still tender; set aside. Heat frozen veggies in microwave according to package. Mix chicken, vegetables and soup together and put in a 9" round baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Place dish in oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly (stir about halfway through). While dish is cooking, unroll 3 crescent rolls. Combine pieces together with hands to make one large ball of dough. With a rolling pin, roll dough out into a circle to cover top of dish <span style="color: #674ea7;">{you have to get it very, VERY thin!}</span> . Add dough to the top of the dish and cook for an additional 15 - 20 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serves 4.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnYA-YWmL_16uQkznFfgEIcgdT1s3yuMLOkIEk6uRnQgf0s7dAixoXouVvG5vxfSTQCSo7Bn96_xJ093AyjpxUP8I8q_Q87iP-P8MIUmLjvGqpkyHBzvlJSTR3qu5pbUX_M23YfQDaXk/s1600/pot+pie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnYA-YWmL_16uQkznFfgEIcgdT1s3yuMLOkIEk6uRnQgf0s7dAixoXouVvG5vxfSTQCSo7Bn96_xJ093AyjpxUP8I8q_Q87iP-P8MIUmLjvGqpkyHBzvlJSTR3qu5pbUX_M23YfQDaXk/s400/pot+pie+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />

Hungry Girl Weight Watcher Recipes Kickin' Chicken Pot Pie

One thing I love in particular about this version of pot pie is the crust.  Hungry Girl makes it using Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls,...

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The worst weighin ever

Okay, maybe it's not my worst weighin ever. When I weighed 240 pounds I practically cried every time I stepped on the scales (and I weighed 240 pounds for over a year).<br /><br />Maybe it's because I'm out of tears that have been shed over other things, or maybe it's because I know this is temporary, and I can and will lose the weight, but I'm not terribly upset with myself. It's more like, oh well, shit happens. I gained ten pounds in twelve days. <br /><br />So here it is, available for public viewing, my weighin this morning, at home, buck naked, before breakfast or coffee:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">188.0</div><br />I knew it was going to be bad. In fact, I shut my eyes before I looked down at the scale and tried to guess my weight. You're not going to believe this but I guessed exactly correct. I guessed 188.0 and that's exactly the number I saw on the scale. Weird.<br /><br />The last time I stepped on the scales was January 12, that's only twelve days ago when I weighed 178.2. Normally I weigh every day, yet I stopped for 12 days. During that twelve days I was dealing with my sister's sudden move to Seattle and my totally insane niece, fallout from other family members because I basically kidnapped my sister and moved her, and of course, the snowstorm, ice storm and the power outage. All great excuses for eating like a fool (at least that's what I told myself).<br /><br />Not only have I been eating poorly and eating too much, but I also cut back on my gym workouts drastically. I didn't even go this morning, claiming I was just too tired and too beaten down. That's exactly when I should go, but I just couldn't do it this morning.<br /><br />No worries though, I have plans to get back on track. I'm not beating myself up too bad because I have lots of other people that do a great job of beating me up mentally (okay, really only one person but she has many personalities).<br /><br />Tomorrow I meet with an attorney to file court papers to stop my niece's crazy antics. Even though I'm dreading the whole legal maze I'll have to go through to stop my niece, I have a sense of relief that I made the decision to follow through on what I've been talking about for months.<br /><br />Thank you for all your supportive comments on my sad day post yesterday. It really helped. I agree that I need to seek help from a professional. I know this, but right now I'm swamped with all the financial, medical and now legal facets of my sister's life, not to mention my real life job.<br /><br /> Until I get things straightened out for my sister, I have to put myself on the back burner, but just temporarily. I know someone I can see that can  help me. She's a therapist I met years ago in Toastmasters and she's awesome. We've kept in touch and as soon as things calm down a bit I'm calling her for an appointment. I think she can help me sort out this craziness. Thank you again. I love you guys. You make me feel somewhat normal (and not the wicked witch of Washington). <br /><br /><br /><br />

The worst weighin ever

Okay, maybe it's not my worst weighin ever. When I weighed 240 pounds I practically cried every time I stepped on the scales (and I weig...

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Circumvention

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr8MwgY7Gd1VkeW28mxH6vkSw99gMa4Nj-GyBEN0ZVYevQrEKcOBDaiq7qIS5PeS6DftztN1MG6MqmhNg7pyG8XElFDLE8FIrNYf9p8A38mEkLmewqErs6g5ER1mw7_h6lMEzyNkUxJ8c/s1600/url.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr8MwgY7Gd1VkeW28mxH6vkSw99gMa4Nj-GyBEN0ZVYevQrEKcOBDaiq7qIS5PeS6DftztN1MG6MqmhNg7pyG8XElFDLE8FIrNYf9p8A38mEkLmewqErs6g5ER1mw7_h6lMEzyNkUxJ8c/s320/url.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I<b>NDIA TO PAY GOLD INSTEAD OF DOLLARS FOR IRANIAN OIL. OIL AND GOLD MARKETS STUNNED </b></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Via <span style="font-size: small;">DEBKAfile </span></span><br /><br />INDIA is the first buyer of Iranian oil to agree to pay for its purchases in gold instead of the US dollar, debkafile's intelligence and IRANIAN sources report exclusively.  Those sources expect CHINA to follow suit. INDIA and CHINA take about one million barrels per day, or 40 percent of IRAN'S total exports of 2.5 million bpd. Both are superpowers in terms of gold assets.<br /><br />By trading in gold, NEW DELHI and BEIJING enable TEHRAN to bypass the upcoming freeze on its central bank's assets and the oil embargo which the EUROPEAN UNION'S foreign ministers agreed to impose Monday, Jan. 23. The EU currently buys around 20 percent of IRAN'S oil exports.<br />The vast sums involved in these transactions are expected, furthermore, to boost the price of gold and depress the value of the dollar on world markets.<br /><br />IRAN'S second largest customer after CHINA, INDIA purchases around $12 billion a year's worth of IRANIAN crude, or about 12 percent of its consumption. DELHI is to execute its transactions, according to our sources, through two state-owned banks: the CALCUTTA-based UCO Bank, whose board of directors is made up of INDIAN government and Reserve Bank of INDIA representatives; and Halk Bankasi (Peoples Bank), TURKEY'S seventh largest bank which is owned by the government.<br /><br />An INDIAN delegation visited TEHRAN last week to discuss payment options in view of the new sanctions. The two sides were reported to have agreed that payment for the oil purchased would be partly in yen and partly in rupees. The switch to gold was kept dark.<br /><br />India thus joins CHINA in opting out of the US-led EUROPEAN sanctions against Iran's international oil and financial business. TURKEY announced publicly last week that it would not adhere to any sanctions against IRAN'S nuclear program unless they were imposed by the United Nations Security Council.<br />The EU decision of Monday banned the signing of new oil contracts with IRAN at once, while phasing out existing transactions by July 1, 2012, when the EUROPEAN embargo, like the measure enforced by the UNITED STATES, becomes total. The EUROPEAN foreign ministers also approved a freeze on the assets of the Central Bank of IRAN which handles all the country's oil transactions.<br /><br />However, the damage those sanctions cause the IRANIAN economy will be substantially cushioned by the oil deals to be channeled through TURKISH and INDIAN state banks.  CHINA for its part has declared its opposition to sanctions against IRAN.<br /><br />Debkafile's intelligence sources disclose that TEHRAN has set up alternative financial mechanisms with CHINA and RUSSIA for getting paid for its oil in currencies other than US dollars. Both BEIJING and MOSCOW are keeping the workings of those mechanisms top secret.<br /><br /><br />

Circumvention

I NDIA TO PAY GOLD INSTEAD OF DOLLARS FOR IRANIAN OIL. OIL AND GOLD MARKETS STUNNED Via DEBKAfile  INDIA is the first buyer of Iranian oil t...

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Fast Fix Lasagna

Those of us trying to lose weight know more than anyone how difficult it can be to enjoy pasta.  2 oz of spaghetti is such a joke!<br /><br />Hungry Girl certainly has her <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/666" target="_blank">substitutes</a>, but I still prefer the real deal.  My go to pasta is <a href="http://ronzonismarttaste.newworldpasta.com/" target="_blank">Ronzoni's Smart Taste</a> - loaded with fiber, but not grainy like traditional whole wheat pasta.<br /><br />I always say that my favorite "international" cuisine is Italian, and particularly lasagna.  I LOVE lasagna.  I'm worse than Garfield when it comes to this layered feast.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://theskinnyonmyjeans.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/its-that-kind-of-day.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://theskinnyonmyjeans.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/its-that-kind-of-day.gif" width="324" /></a></div><br /><br />I came upon <a href="http://www.marlenekoch.com/" target="_blank">Marlene Koch's</a> recipe for a lasagna-style dish called Fast Fix Lasagna.  Though this is not prepared with your traditional flat lasagna noodles.  She uses these cute little curvy numbers called Campanelle {i.e. "bell flowers"} noodles.  Have you heard of them?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3aZSckjoWsxrwaGPwRKlq7SkoY0Q7ZPBeMg96dhJTKd8EBjfWUoiHS8jh-77WSHkmes2m7_z-h_jlQe9m_nyagLRG18yJNZvPr6LAn8J5SjtEpOD4evvQbhGokz-ToE4mSQFS0BK0kE/s1600/campanelle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3aZSckjoWsxrwaGPwRKlq7SkoY0Q7ZPBeMg96dhJTKd8EBjfWUoiHS8jh-77WSHkmes2m7_z-h_jlQe9m_nyagLRG18yJNZvPr6LAn8J5SjtEpOD4evvQbhGokz-ToE4mSQFS0BK0kE/s320/campanelle+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Man, I had a hard time finding these.  None of my grocery stores {Giant, Safeway or Shoppers Food Warehouse} carried them.  It wasn't until months later, after first attempting to make this dish, that I stumbled upon them at Target.  Thank you Tar-jay for stocking these awesome noodles in your stores!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjbVvSerD2iPhL0pyxeeyv9FEsSJ_aBH2jEXvpc-sbPVA5b5JUyPFupV9h2ZHepFWyTi8LL5TZUVIEfUSZNrNFXJz3l2ZyW9W33BROyG_grQwR-KUa0EoJ6E1n76JFWv-oaLfYdMYEi4/s1600/campanelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjbVvSerD2iPhL0pyxeeyv9FEsSJ_aBH2jEXvpc-sbPVA5b5JUyPFupV9h2ZHepFWyTi8LL5TZUVIEfUSZNrNFXJz3l2ZyW9W33BROyG_grQwR-KUa0EoJ6E1n76JFWv-oaLfYdMYEi4/s400/campanelle.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><br />Essentially, the process of making Fast Fix Lasagna is the same as making regular lasagna - the only difference being the noodle shape.  Below is the original recipe.  Obviously because it's pasta, it's high in PointsPlus values, but I promise you it is a nice serving size (1.5 cups or 1/12 of the recipe) and is filling.  Served with a side salad, you'd be plenty satisfied!<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/AVvXsEhU2VyQb0mJWVVIMkZXXExyuJMqQrNyT_kEpFurP3X41-_NLFwsIEejAOEDJRdY3N2NNLNVLPoAeocqvQP0aaKWPa1Wk_FeFS8-W2mUne4P-x8r4wYgw4oLj43WvzIW5TyYyBawVtd2iHE/s1600/fast+fix+lasagna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2VyQb0mJWVVIMkZXXExyuJMqQrNyT_kEpFurP3X41-_NLFwsIEejAOEDJRdY3N2NNLNVLPoAeocqvQP0aaKWPa1Wk_FeFS8-W2mUne4P-x8r4wYgw4oLj43WvzIW5TyYyBawVtd2iHE/s400/fast+fix+lasagna.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looks just like lasagna to me!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctzzzglrVr3L_BpnAGVQDABQHvINAoMH8kWL7JSlofL9RhYeMtmj_xYwNH4Y7qHATaf4GGREd-_qVhVTc0E7jSeh8g3Fg7BvL-zUBdGKvdnlQx4UjicyLpeD6rwrNJA6ZHXZzKx5tud8/s1600/eatwhatyoulove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctzzzglrVr3L_BpnAGVQDABQHvINAoMH8kWL7JSlofL9RhYeMtmj_xYwNH4Y7qHATaf4GGREd-_qVhVTc0E7jSeh8g3Fg7BvL-zUBdGKvdnlQx4UjicyLpeD6rwrNJA6ZHXZzKx5tud8/s320/eatwhatyoulove.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">her new book is coming out in March!<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-More-What-You-Love/dp/0762445890" target="_blank">Eat More of What You Love</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><u>Eat What You Love - Fast Fix Lasagna</u> - <i>8 PointsPlus</i></b><br /><b>Ingredients:</b><br /><ul><li>12 oz campanelle noodles</li><li>1 Tbsp olive oil</li><li>1 small white onion, chopped</li><li>3 garlic cloves, chopped</li><li>8 oz Italian turkey sausage, bulk or removed from casings (I used Shadybrook Farms)</li><li>1 (14 oz) can reduced-sodium beef broth</li><li>1/3 cup dry red wine</li><li>1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes</li><li>1 (6 oz) can tomato paste</li><li>2 tsp granulated sugar</li><li>1 1/2 tsp dried basil</li><li>1 1/2 tsp dried oregano</li><li>1/4 tsp black pepper</li><li>1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese</li><li>1 (15 oz) pkg part skim ricotta cheese</li><li>2 Tbsp water</li><li>2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese</li><li>1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese</li></ul><br /><b>Directions:</b><br />1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.<br /><br />2. Cook the pasta according to package directions while preparing the sauce and set aside.<br /><br />3. Marinara sauce: In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and saute for 2 minutes, or until tender.  Add the garlic and sausage and cook until meat is slightly browned.  Deglaze the pan by pouring in the beef broth and wine and scraping the browned bits from the bottom.  Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, herbs and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.<br /><br />4. In a medium bowl, mix together the cottage cheese and ricotta cheese.  Add the water and a dash of black pepper.  Set aside.<br /><br />5. Toss half of the red sauce with the cooked pasta.  Layer half of the pasta in the casserole dish.  Top evenly with the cheese mixture.  Pour 1/2 cup of sauce across cheese mixture and top with remaining pasta.  Cover with remaining sauce and sprinkle top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.<br /><br />6. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through.  Serve.<br /><br />

Archer Farms Eat What You Love Food Finds target Weight Watcher Recipes Fast Fix Lasagna

Those of us trying to lose weight know more than anyone how difficult it can be to enjoy pasta.  2 oz of spaghetti is such a joke! Hungry Gi...

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Having a very bad day

I've been on an emotional downward spiral all day today. After a 15-minute phone conversation with my craziest niece this morning about her mother (my sister) while on my way to work, I came into my office shaking, my heart pounding and very close to bursting into tears. It was a horrible conversation with a crazy person, and not a good way to start my day.<br /><br />I feel like my heart has been ripped out and stomped on. Even as I write this ten hours after the conversation, I can feel the pain like a knife in my chest.<br /><br />I won't rehash all the evil things she said to me, but I have retained a local attorney to help me stop her from ever contacting me again. It's a sad situation and a path I didn't want to go down, but my mental health is too important to me to keep living with this kind of insanity. <br /><br />I really want my old life back. I didn't know how good I had it, when life was simple and my biggest concerns were exercising and losing weight. I'm trying to make the best of things, but the sadness is overwhelming me.<br /><br /><br />

Having a very bad day

I've been on an emotional downward spiral all day today. After a 15-minute phone conversation with my craziest niece this morning about ...

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Weekend Recap

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I've been cooking up a storm for the last few weeks.  I normally cook several times per week but lately it's been everyday, and I like that.  I'm sure that has also been a huge contributing factor in my weight loss success.  Only allowing 1 meal to be eaten out per week plus no Starbucks Mon-Fri has been working to my advantage!<br /><br />Having said all of that, I have lots of deliciousness coming your way :).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul><ul><li><b>Oreo Truffles (2 Points+ for one ball)</b> - these are SO GOOD and incredibly easy to make. I first had these at my aunt's annual Christmas party years ago, and this year I made them as part of the cookie tins I gave to our family as gifts. They were a HUGE hit! Freezing them makes it harder to go overboard {if you think you might}. </li></ul><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://www.kraftrecipes.com/assets/recipe_images/Easy-OREO-Truffles-52162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/assets/recipe_images/Easy-OREO-Truffles-52162.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-oreo-truffles-95085.aspx" target="_blank">KraftRecipes.com</a> - totally forgot to take one!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><ul><li><b>Fast Fix Lasagna (8 PointsPlus for 1/12 of recipe)</b> - this is a tried and true lasagna recipe. The only difference is the noodle you use. No, it's not those pesky <a href="http://www.house-foods.com/tofu/tofu_shirataki.aspx">Tofu Shirataki's</a> {sorry <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/">Hungry Girl</a> - I love you but I don't love those as a viable pasta sub!}. It's this flowery little ditty called Campanelle. Real pasta. Real lasagna flavor. </li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmEALiB9v_MbtOcuUsbF4E-dBgkMSdsaHT0HTcDF-juqLo5xb7AczfeQKZsDIAiFHjpe2G_P6oD5N_W4gAFxf7Mdh7s96dSmXTeUoAHdnF_ewribrLOm1I352S0REL-YJwx1EXxvv6Wk/s1600/lasagna+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmEALiB9v_MbtOcuUsbF4E-dBgkMSdsaHT0HTcDF-juqLo5xb7AczfeQKZsDIAiFHjpe2G_P6oD5N_W4gAFxf7Mdh7s96dSmXTeUoAHdnF_ewribrLOm1I352S0REL-YJwx1EXxvv6Wk/s400/lasagna+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><ul><li><b>Kickin' Chicken Pot Pie (7 PointsPlus for 1/4 of recipe)</b> - <i style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="color: #999999;">Made Hungry Girl's way - your total would be 6 PointsPlus.</span> </i>The only difference between how HG makes it and how I did is I used canned chunk chicken {in water - 99% fat free} instead of 8 oz of raw chicken breast. Do what's easiest for you. BUT, again, a wholesome meal. No fake ingredients. Veggies, protein and carbs abound! AND the serving size is HUGE. You'll be making this in a 9" pie plate and you get 1/4 of that as a serving! I sure do wish I could get 1/4 of a pumpkin pie for 7 PointsPlus.</li></ul><br /><div style="color: #674ea7; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BhsCMau1q_VC1jDv0RIWBW0dlV60TFNE8HSEqaN4Yv2rixHUMq_inprjDr0EkkeTVtYP3w59JaudpdQE-s-pYuSmHOJjQFSV4096OaosVOGfFd83ckx0jumu2HeiQxBymxQwoHerhY0/s1600/chicken+pot+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BhsCMau1q_VC1jDv0RIWBW0dlV60TFNE8HSEqaN4Yv2rixHUMq_inprjDr0EkkeTVtYP3w59JaudpdQE-s-pYuSmHOJjQFSV4096OaosVOGfFd83ckx0jumu2HeiQxBymxQwoHerhY0/s400/chicken+pot+pie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>***********************</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>We did meet with the caterer on Saturday.  It went well and the dinner options for the wedding sound great.  Of course, it made my palms sweat facing the reality of the cost.  Don't get me wrong, I knew what to expect, but we are actually committed now, and this is <i>really </i>happening!<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/AVvXsEgZ_a28JvV_U3vd9WGPTxoqAHCy3P03cBWWTJL2L0nEHbivYfHnNk0sf3bX_Rj9MeVCefzO2EQCxwr1ECWP12tKXxeMLxPAN4EaKqj7tXOtHmbBtnt4EDKmLbtzJvbjwBO0-r8ZsQaZnBA/s1600/charles+dreaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_a28JvV_U3vd9WGPTxoqAHCy3P03cBWWTJL2L0nEHbivYfHnNk0sf3bX_Rj9MeVCefzO2EQCxwr1ECWP12tKXxeMLxPAN4EaKqj7tXOtHmbBtnt4EDKmLbtzJvbjwBO0-r8ZsQaZnBA/s400/charles+dreaming.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Meal-schmeal.  I have something they can eat that won't cost a lot!"</td></tr></tbody></table>Things like cars breaking down on the drive back from the caterer meeting are expenses that we really don't want to see happening right now.  We were in Joel's Corolla coming upon an intersection when this loud noise began, accompanied by a funky smell.  He quickly maneuvered us off of the highway where we proceeded to push the car into a 7 Eleven parking lot {with the help of a passerby who seemed to come out of nowhere!}.  This is just not something we need right now at all.<br /><br />We definitely have some bad luck on our side lately.  In just the past three months alone, we've now had two cars break down {well, mine was a broken heater but mine was also covered under a warranty}, a furnace that blew only cold air, a microwave that wouldn't heat the food {do you see a trend here??}, and my engagement ring is currently in the repair shop because a prong bent back causing the diamond to shift.  Fortunately the heater and microwave are things our landlord is fixing, but we've definitely incurred some indirect costs as a result of those 2 things being broken {like higher than normal utility bills}.<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/AVvXsEh44M5-3qFgDF8OtVEsnNMJh3BYREzWUbpyxm6-fRpI8OrS8gndik8f2LXnpcdEFA7Lre1ehqUPkOBxe-ZCL7P5_ZjLN2fHiicHV7JzALGZQ__SlmlDdcpvSaxZW8W87qA6o5iNcpXokag/s1600/merlin+relaxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44M5-3qFgDF8OtVEsnNMJh3BYREzWUbpyxm6-fRpI8OrS8gndik8f2LXnpcdEFA7Lre1ehqUPkOBxe-ZCL7P5_ZjLN2fHiicHV7JzALGZQ__SlmlDdcpvSaxZW8W87qA6o5iNcpXokag/s400/merlin+relaxing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bad luck?! I've been living the life!"</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Are we alive and well? Yes, and that's frankly all that matters.  It could always, ALWAYS be worse.  <br /><br />At least I survived my first week of classes unscathed! <br /><br />I hope <i>you </i>had a great "on plan" weekend!

wedding Weekend Recap Weekend Recap

I've been cooking up a storm for the last few weeks.  I normally cook several times per week but lately it's been everyday, and I li...

Read more »