Forum Emploi et Handicap

<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzu8Y6bMvJgPLtyc-6mHqZJfR_wRm93vVkYB0l1NIQeVHRNUK12-1wdMW39-KEHL28C9ig35Sg6TUGbjkQZ9g-5ny7Kb_eX_bwIJSYkj1vFoniCAsVRm2GLcFoY6hJzXgJjszGG4GiYr/s1600-h/au+centre+de+l%27emploi.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382819620292507314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzu8Y6bMvJgPLtyc-6mHqZJfR_wRm93vVkYB0l1NIQeVHRNUK12-1wdMW39-KEHL28C9ig35Sg6TUGbjkQZ9g-5ny7Kb_eX_bwIJSYkj1vFoniCAsVRm2GLcFoY6hJzXgJjszGG4GiYr/s320/au+centre+de+l%27emploi.gif" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 75px;" /></a><br />Un Forum Emploi et Handicap aura lieu :<ul><br /><li>le <span style="font-weight:bold;">mardi 16 novembre 2010</span> de 9h30 à 12h30 et de 14h à 17h30<br /><li>au <span style="font-weight:bold;">Zénith d'Orléans</span> - 1 rue du Président Schuman - 45000 Orléans.</ul><br />La Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans sera présente sur ce forum organisé en partenariat par Pôle emploi, la Mairie d’Orléans, Cap Emploi et l’AGEFIPH.<br /><BR>

Forum Emploi et Handicap

Un Forum Emploi et Handicap aura lieu : le mardi 16 novembre 2010 de 9h30 à 12h30 et de 14h à 17h30 au Zénith d'Orléans - 1 rue du Pré...

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2 Year Blogiversary!!!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBNNXunoESwTPEzTfKLvniZtQpdK7oaOC4EiKeOGEDk4WjyHpFmCOIcTVLxuixLoQ_YoXnd8c1etvrOmcM-2uFBNTV3_LVqEK_KhrIpRPufj-LNSq6e_q8hLKuxpLMgvDmBri0-ttZu1I/s1600/202lbs+oct+2008.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535411040881125794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBNNXunoESwTPEzTfKLvniZtQpdK7oaOC4EiKeOGEDk4WjyHpFmCOIcTVLxuixLoQ_YoXnd8c1etvrOmcM-2uFBNTV3_LVqEK_KhrIpRPufj-LNSq6e_q8hLKuxpLMgvDmBri0-ttZu1I/s200/202lbs+oct+2008.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 87px; height: 200px;" /></a>Two years ago today I was in a much different place. I had just had a long “life talk” (family, finances, health, etc) with Kyle, my husband. I realized I wasn’t happy with the place I had let myself get to and needed to make a change. That very next day I got back to counting points and exercising!<br /><br />I started a blog to document my eats and I’ve gotten SO much more from it! I’ve been inspired by your support, love the inspiration the blog world offers, and I’ve learned SO much from my fellow blog friends & this community.<br /><br />I have had a few ups & downs since, but I’m committed to this journey! I know that the support of my husband, family, friends, and YOU (my readers) have helped me to be successful! And for that, I cannot say thank you enough!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcH-L9FfYo44cG4HQsrt1GXrOrCc7OjK8QCtUaWwLYYneSygC5ZtbaLueyd8MX7Mc0uvM1sm3ETVt9x-x57ydLjEGZpA4_m_iQFCo_ZArA_7ep5zxqSnudR3jCYEnv-jdvTrtewrmF4ki/s1600/applefest.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535398491869811282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcH-L9FfYo44cG4HQsrt1GXrOrCc7OjK8QCtUaWwLYYneSygC5ZtbaLueyd8MX7Mc0uvM1sm3ETVt9x-x57ydLjEGZpA4_m_iQFCo_ZArA_7ep5zxqSnudR3jCYEnv-jdvTrtewrmF4ki/s400/applefest.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" /></a><br />I have gone from being able to run less than 1 mile to running a half marathon, something I would have thought would never be possible! I have a new outlook on life, food, fitness, the scale, and the list could go on & on! I know that it is not the number on the scale that determines if I’m successful, but what I’ve accomplished. <br /><br />Today I’m a stronger, smaller, happier, committed woman! I can’t wait to see what the next year holds! ;)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl_u7ha7rZlmQStmrUES3zqDlm9SWXIOZ7iHziLPFhIw3e6eV3qt29vnorrN_tXJ4mEYq5IyrmmvRnpmX8QzDaI4DH08cICu8hLso9dwtKMrCVy64_YGBuRzIira2T_8WSVUZ9QpB8Cr1/s1600/n210200185_30942311_6312893.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535399553113749522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl_u7ha7rZlmQStmrUES3zqDlm9SWXIOZ7iHziLPFhIw3e6eV3qt29vnorrN_tXJ4mEYq5IyrmmvRnpmX8QzDaI4DH08cICu8hLso9dwtKMrCVy64_YGBuRzIira2T_8WSVUZ9QpB8Cr1/s400/n210200185_30942311_6312893.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Just for fun I’ve I thought I break a few things down when it comes to the how long, how many, etc! I do have an accounting degree, you know! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">351</span> - The number of published posts to date <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1971</span> - The number of comments I’ve amassed from you, my lovely readers<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">357</span> - Most blog page views I’ve received in a single day according to Blogger (thank you amazing readers!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6,355</span> - Total number of blog hits I received last month, all time high! (thanks again amazing readers!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">16,810</span> - Total blog hits to date (did I mention that you’re amazing?)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">14</span> - Average number of posts per month<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">202</span> – My weight on 11.4.08<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">40</span> – The number of pounds I’ve lost since my first post<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">8</span> – Abby’s weight ;)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8al3FuxgrDk7I1gefw99hr-gLlZI3JF_GjunXl4SNi0M4_8swJC-nA82h7TjUFouc9MEXjwbMTegW-zdJtc9NpHF-_4JGP1JCFarO2rRHuOiJgaNXXuj-qmswd90GhHnA_Tll8apwITH/s1600/abby.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535398237438134450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8al3FuxgrDk7I1gefw99hr-gLlZI3JF_GjunXl4SNi0M4_8swJC-nA82h7TjUFouc9MEXjwbMTegW-zdJtc9NpHF-_4JGP1JCFarO2rRHuOiJgaNXXuj-qmswd90GhHnA_Tll8apwITH/s400/abby.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">13.1</span> - The furthest distance (in miles) I’ve ran<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6</span> – The number of races I’ve completed (Hope to greatly increase that number next year!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7</span> - The number of running shorts I own, one for each day of the week! <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">86</span> – The number of days I had a blogging hiatus (GOAL: get that lower next year!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">97</span> – The average number in ounces of water I drink per day <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7</span> - The number of weeks ago my sweet nephew, Hayden, was born <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zOTZvl-MHvAi7ngRdXb54OsBehAbtYUERI1i0CdX2LNEmdrNpRa4z8JbLS2E0n4B2-abzNcBmgUQJ6SDrboh8ZOFgTR6Mlzs43KJMYhpvHA2abEPbTRBjmUK1Efs6RJeT6gqzK2yV0sC/s1600/66637_535003259123_210201033_31378659_1855120_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535398086981685810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zOTZvl-MHvAi7ngRdXb54OsBehAbtYUERI1i0CdX2LNEmdrNpRa4z8JbLS2E0n4B2-abzNcBmgUQJ6SDrboh8ZOFgTR6Mlzs43KJMYhpvHA2abEPbTRBjmUK1Efs6RJeT6gqzK2yV0sC/s400/66637_535003259123_210201033_31378659_1855120_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />So there you have it! I proud of my numbers! :D<br /><br />My hope for the blog going forward is to give back as much appreciation, love, and inspiration as I get from blogging!<br /><br />As a small token of my appreciation, I am going to do my <strong>FIRST </strong>giveaway! It includes a few of my <strong>favorites</strong>: a Hungry Girl cookbook, an Iowa magnetic chip clip, Larabars, $15 Subway giftcard, and an Envirosax resuable shopping bag!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNwnq7JDXWLdB0UcpOyL_AQvw3rTKUeiSVrIEhd45fyRDhOedkBrDeYY5qMnL6IwJ6oDkZkRbqScPyH4BkLzwX3OxCnfsT1WjygCnaUaO6Y9yzsfMmYoJTu_6SyJ75d9URnSUi_N_WJ6D/s1600/DSC09282.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535495617744894962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNwnq7JDXWLdB0UcpOyL_AQvw3rTKUeiSVrIEhd45fyRDhOedkBrDeYY5qMnL6IwJ6oDkZkRbqScPyH4BkLzwX3OxCnfsT1WjygCnaUaO6Y9yzsfMmYoJTu_6SyJ75d9URnSUi_N_WJ6D/s400/DSC09282.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 388px;" /></a><br /><strong>How to enter:</strong><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Comment!</span> - Leave a comment telling me what inspires YOU!<br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Tweet!</span> - @darcibangert is hosting a Blogiversary giveaway over at weightloss-stories.blogspot.com – Leave a [separate] comment telling me you did so.<br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Follow!</span> – Become a follower or let me know if you already are. Leave a [separate] comment telling me you did so.<br />4. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Blog!</span> – Put a link on your blog post “Check out Darci’s Blogiversary post for a great giveaway over at http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com” - Leave a [separate] comment telling me you did so.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Deadline is Monday November 8th</span>. Good luck!

2 Year Blogiversary!!!

Two years ago today I was in a much different place. I had just had a long “life talk” (family, finances, health, etc) with Kyle, my husband...

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Free Supper

Happy Hump day my friends! We're half way to Friday, hooray!!!<br /><br />Here's a quick recap on my Tuesday eats. I had 1 lonely leftover <span style="font-weight:bold;">pancake </span>from this <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/11/trick-or-treat.html">Sunday </a>with some <span style="font-weight:bold;">cool whip</span> & a <span style="font-weight:bold;">banana </span>for<span style="font-weight:bold;"> 6 points</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6TfcmYcF1vzKWuO8JkDwke5YIvkdN-h2Vj1C7iexqNJxOn3wevFD8crF27oPFjiwKlJal0De2LySqO_ONdsUfZLU7KRW53oONT_S1xWwI7pEATAjKNGfYUY2zgfEMDanW0S80LwH04Bf/s1600/DSC09273.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367673174863986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6TfcmYcF1vzKWuO8JkDwke5YIvkdN-h2Vj1C7iexqNJxOn3wevFD8crF27oPFjiwKlJal0De2LySqO_ONdsUfZLU7KRW53oONT_S1xWwI7pEATAjKNGfYUY2zgfEMDanW0S80LwH04Bf/s400/DSC09273.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Mid morning I sliced up an <span style="font-weight:bold;">apple </span>for a <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point </span>snack.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-f6K21mM3XBthwhCOjde7yO9TmiHEHSQuKxeaL52JFa1QX14l_LGrwfM0tlsKDvw8Uq_RzLsaYJTwZOTeXgFTVev84lePE3gBjPqv26b9C1UBoASupOHgu4Rv18Uyn5PGrQRuuv8W_WH/s1600/DSC09274.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367661859292082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-f6K21mM3XBthwhCOjde7yO9TmiHEHSQuKxeaL52JFa1QX14l_LGrwfM0tlsKDvw8Uq_RzLsaYJTwZOTeXgFTVev84lePE3gBjPqv26b9C1UBoASupOHgu4Rv18Uyn5PGrQRuuv8W_WH/s400/DSC09274.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Kyle and I had an errand to run on our lunch break, so we were squished for time. I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1/2c cottage cheese</span> for <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>...didn't eat the cantaloupe, it was <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/blown-away.html">still hard</a>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHx3jIKXLKgSX3wk5IdJeQEl9gMMUxRj3tmnuWGL43W6KgT7mCnB95bqTWxsEFi5ZVEryJsirer90Muv8zr7CvmfnrCEKfGIFA73pJAd4x9ZQ9iaqoF_2RX4nzUcgH9lxbFBw1N0KU-Rp/s1600/DSC09275.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367657509633762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHx3jIKXLKgSX3wk5IdJeQEl9gMMUxRj3tmnuWGL43W6KgT7mCnB95bqTWxsEFi5ZVEryJsirer90Muv8zr7CvmfnrCEKfGIFA73pJAd4x9ZQ9iaqoF_2RX4nzUcgH9lxbFBw1N0KU-Rp/s400/DSC09275.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Because of our time crunch my main course for lunch was a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Smart Ones </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">4 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dvTIppXEPdxr7D2Uj7QDy34xgEMcxY3_fIJTompGKWGZjn-lSjPPFPxN91iCFSLZQdFSml5wrleAo9oaj6p7gDc25HmiF7dgAJhkuvmSU5hnNdlvls-giSG3UXxzSYU8cTpx0HlCfuOS/s1600/DSC09030_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367643072515634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dvTIppXEPdxr7D2Uj7QDy34xgEMcxY3_fIJTompGKWGZjn-lSjPPFPxN91iCFSLZQdFSml5wrleAo9oaj6p7gDc25HmiF7dgAJhkuvmSU5hnNdlvls-giSG3UXxzSYU8cTpx0HlCfuOS/s400/DSC09030_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" /></a><br />After work Kyle got busy on homework and I made a quick Target run. I <span style="font-weight:bold;">LOVE </span>that store! Somehow a bag of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Reeses </span>snuck into my cart. I had 1 serving of those little guys which is 5 for <span style="font-weight:bold;">5 points</span>. Darn clearance Halloween candy! ;)<br /><br />Supper was FREE! We got a coupon in the paper for <a href="http://www.kfc.com/">KFC's</a> newest <span style="font-weight:bold;">chicken sandwich</span>. I order it <span style="font-weight:bold;">grilled </span>and only ate 1/2 the bun for an estimate of <span style="font-weight:bold;">6 points</span>. I love their little song on commercials, <span style="font-weight:bold;">'G' double 'O' 'D', GOOD</span>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iaHhJWMHeNPmKdl8Q_hWmL2oEFyo7Fpey2VfOE7LTWsclHqjtfF2Ip2nBYpNX24NXSPpbkzCnfww9LqVQpoHzsVyMeSKGlzWlh-iQExtUlDnVSPAmkgWVaxSo47Ukc3YfrbjVq_fCsm-/s1600/DSC09276.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535367638220801330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iaHhJWMHeNPmKdl8Q_hWmL2oEFyo7Fpey2VfOE7LTWsclHqjtfF2Ip2nBYpNX24NXSPpbkzCnfww9LqVQpoHzsVyMeSKGlzWlh-iQExtUlDnVSPAmkgWVaxSo47Ukc3YfrbjVq_fCsm-/s400/DSC09276.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TUESDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 24/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 1 used/34 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/0 week<br />H2O = 104 oz<br />EXERCISE = none<br /><br />Just so you know, you <span style="font-weight:bold;">MUST </span>stop back tomorrow for a FUN post!!! That's all I can now though! ;)

Free Supper

Happy Hump day my friends! We're half way to Friday, hooray!!! Here's a quick recap on my Tuesday eats. I had 1 lonely leftover panc...

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Van Nest Polglase ~ Architect Of Cinematic Dreams, Part I

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fKuLNpex1jwHYBdjS8KrRsPV_la-fLsfQs5NtafmCUrw2c3xa81CaU7SgeWVGe-PLuTos12-9i0VaOTmxjUaqEUDR-Lx3dOZGdLjFZnTkrPezj7n6z3xPoxm8Xy6OGhePEBoV7XE_qeD/s1600/artdirectionTheMan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534727802972294098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fKuLNpex1jwHYBdjS8KrRsPV_la-fLsfQs5NtafmCUrw2c3xa81CaU7SgeWVGe-PLuTos12-9i0VaOTmxjUaqEUDR-Lx3dOZGdLjFZnTkrPezj7n6z3xPoxm8Xy6OGhePEBoV7XE_qeD/s320/artdirectionTheMan.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 248px;" /></a><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>by guest contributor Whistlingypsy</i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">The artistry of classic films reveals a cinematic alchemy in melding talent both before and behind the camera. The actor/actress and director are the two most visibly recogn</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">izable artists who created the image on screen. A careful viewer can also learn to recognize the names of the creative individuals who labored beh</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ind the scenes. Van Nest Polglase was one of these individuals who created the world in which our favorite characters move and have their lives.</span><br /><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Despite his elegant and intriguing name, his nearly decade-long tenure as RKO Studios’ art director and over 300 films to his credit, Polglase remains something of a</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">n enigma. In the absence of a definitive biography on the man’s life and career, much of what has been written is often contradictory and filled with errors (he was not mar</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ried to actress Dolores Del Rio as one source claims). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Van Nest Polglase was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 25, 18</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">98, and his unique name is a result of his family’s Cornish heritage. His education included the study of both architecture and interior design, but this is where the two paths of his life story diverge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Some sources claim that Polglase finished </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">school an</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">d was employed </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">by Berg and Orchard, a New York architectural firm. He is also credited with work on the Presidential Palace under constru</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ction in Havana, Cuba. The likelihood that he was involved in the Cuban project is remote, the architects of record were Cuban born Carlos M</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">aruri and Belgian born Paul Belau, and some sources claim that Polglase actually dropped out of school before receiving a degree in architecture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">However, in 1919, at the age of 21, Polglase was working for Famous Players-Lasky (today known as Paramount Studios) at their New York studio facilities. He made the move to the studio’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hollywood location when financial constraints forced the</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> closing of the locations in New York and Europe. He remained with Paramount Studios for a decade before mov</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ing to M-G-M where he wo</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">rked under Cedric Gibbon’s leadership.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">During his first decade alone, advances in architectural design and filmmaking technology forced Polglase frequently to reevaluate his style and expand his visual vocabulary of art dire</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ction. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">He came to filmmaking at a time when the first sets </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">were built to resemble a theater stage to give audiences a reference point, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">and the</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> category of “settings” covere</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">d everything</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> from art direction to set design. The practice of group</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ing t</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">h</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">e </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7BFPGO57d1vAwNWwIZQLvlkQqcgenj81hf-xn4gWkjHNuuZrFp3kWk7zbtS75i9sRyymp6y0kDywZmWDL-fDrddwYfbIiFad22bAI7hX6anFMXSsCCAXVeSdOdDvW6iw9s_O26MuhhOP/s1600/artdirectioncollage1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535049549163415026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7BFPGO57d1vAwNWwIZQLvlkQqcgenj81hf-xn4gWkjHNuuZrFp3kWk7zbtS75i9sRyymp6y0kDywZmWDL-fDrddwYfbIiFad22bAI7hX6anFMXSsCCAXVeSdOdDvW6iw9s_O26MuhhOP/s320/artdirectioncollage1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 162px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 321px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">different disciplines into o</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ne category, as well as crediting an individual for a department’s</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> work, makes it difficult to track Polglase’s work during his early career. However, the AFI Catalog of Motion </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pictu</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">res lists <b>Stage Struck</b> (1925, Paramount) and <b>Untamed</b> (1929, M-G-M) among his</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> early titles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Stage Struck</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> proved a challenge for Polglase to create a design suitable </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">for Gloria Swanson, who had distinguished herself as a design and style icon through her previous films in partnership with Cecil B. De Mille. <b>Untamed</b> was set in three distinctly different locations requiring equally distinct design sensibilities and featured Joan Craw</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ford in her first sound picture, which came with the adde</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">d challenge of incorporating the new technology into the set design.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">RKO Studios was formed when the KAO (Keith-Albee-Orpheum) theater chain an</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">d FB</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">O (Film Booking Offices Of America) were brought together under the control of RCA (Radio </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">C</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">orpor</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6JkJReYnJsdsINP5375IJz0xj5Y1nB-XuLtAKzkGbrIVTY04HYJk1RhBLhAQfkaD08gUUt1tk0g-thmxP42FX5XDGKr_ZM9gXzoyvZk7yZG2LIlOLIPJN6hq8SZYMVBpo5RiWxXrtpNM/s1600/artdirectionRKOlogo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535050296022427442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6JkJReYnJsdsINP5375IJz0xj5Y1nB-XuLtAKzkGbrIVTY04HYJk1RhBLhAQfkaD08gUUt1tk0g-thmxP42FX5XDGKr_ZM9gXzoyvZk7yZG2LIlOLIPJN6hq8SZYMVBpo5RiWxXrtpNM/s320/artdirectionRKOlogo.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 214px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">ation of America). David O. Selznick was hired in 1931 and in his new role as p</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">roduction </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">chief, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">he recruited producer/director Merian</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> C. Cooper, director George Cukor, actress Katharine </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">H</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">epburn and art director Van </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nest Polglase. One of Polglase’s first projects as art director was to redesign the studio logo to incorporate the blinking radio tower at the heart of RKO’s business ties with the RCA Corporation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The image most frequently associated with RKO’s art direction is the series of films that paired Fred Astaire and Gingers Rogers. The films were charming fantasy confections, but the art direction was equally roote</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFxfzY9Smn2mlXpR3AUmuwwfGhvwt7lVBhgQv57EqCyXTmAHy-fV5HKJfffJV3NXAH3GHoR7_dHEQUhJh2UI5-f1AHtjqz7G-2NgxIRXZwv60q2f2pGfk72LoylZgyqm3d63mpD-2yyU/s1600/artdirectionFlyingDownToRio.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535050739205614562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFxfzY9Smn2mlXpR3AUmuwwfGhvwt7lVBhgQv57EqCyXTmAHy-fV5HKJfffJV3NXAH3GHoR7_dHEQUhJh2UI5-f1AHtjqz7G-2NgxIRXZwv60q2f2pGfk72LoylZgyqm3d63mpD-2yyU/s200/artdirectionFlyingDownToRio.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 151px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">d in the c</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">oncepts of architecture. The art direction is ideally suite</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">d to the dancers with both personifying the streamlined and elegant, witty</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, athletic and sexy ideals of art deco architecture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The fantasy version of Venice in <b>Top Hat</b> (1934), which combines streamlined modernism a</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo0MlW_9odu_xGBmKc6E6Qrm2LKJJDQgfSdYhVMyVXMBVnRg876ZifBQhrodMv1OpeYVnzf9K2ZtfN_UbjmHr-lPLjlbebISdnPkuKHByX7aj9Uf9YvCRUYRsQCixEzB7gPq9W-Ryv5Ru/s1600/artdirectionGayDivorcee.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535051088026491762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo0MlW_9odu_xGBmKc6E6Qrm2LKJJDQgfSdYhVMyVXMBVnRg876ZifBQhrodMv1OpeYVnzf9K2ZtfN_UbjmHr-lPLjlbebISdnPkuKHByX7aj9Uf9YvCRUYRsQCixEzB7gPq9W-Ryv5Ru/s200/artdirectionGayDivorcee.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">nd neo-classical references, displays an architectural style both immediately recognizable and equally unfamiliar to movie audiences. The result is tied neither to the past nor the </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">present, but freely evokes the glamorous lifestyle of theatergoers’ dreams, transporting weary Depression era audiences out of their all too grim present and allowing them to hop</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">e for a better future. The popularity of the Astaire and Rogers films allowed the studio to pursue projects set in a wide variety of eras with equally varied plotlines.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A glimpse at Katharine Hepburn’s filmography during the perio</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">d reveals the careful attention to detail in the Civil War era design of <b>Little Women</b> (1933); the modified art deco chic of Adolphe Menjou’s apartment in <b>Morning</b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2ZbgsmJudjIbxsHOHbISiheakQWavrZMESV1kiixG8QLumxqmDJpAWUrqKn4rDFtyx4XPGiXxjY3qbYWGfO_R8fpgt5ZtdYEK6R5cOjqldJ2sTl-D__PjDb_mgyR7R9as_1k2I9l5wuz/s1600/artdirectionGrantandHepburn.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535051969093367570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2ZbgsmJudjIbxsHOHbISiheakQWavrZMESV1kiixG8QLumxqmDJpAWUrqKn4rDFtyx4XPGiXxjY3qbYWGfO_R8fpgt5ZtdYEK6R5cOjqldJ2sTl-D__PjDb_mgyR7R9as_1k2I9l5wuz/s320/artdirectionGrantandHepburn.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 246px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b> Glory</b> (1934); the us</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">e of a Victorian era Arts and Crafts design blend in the boarding house of <b>Stage Door</b> (1937) to communicate homey comfort; the all for fun eccentric design of <b>Bringing Up Baby</b> (1938) from the jail cell to the museum display.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1939, RKO undertook the ambitious remake of <b>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</b>, a film that had been an enormous success for Universal Pictures d</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">uring the silent era. The challenge was to create a new version that would exceed the expectations of those who could remember the original and make new fans of younger moviegoers. The film proved a showcase for Polglase’s attention to detail, and his perfectionism gave the historical sets an element of accuracy not found in the creations of the larger studios.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Paris of the RKO version features extravagant sets, immense staircases and oversized doors; the attention to detail is evident in the massive bells (Gabrielle, Big Marie and the rest) and a whole cow roasting on a spit (a prop that seems to have traveled to <b>Citizen</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b> Kane</b> for a picnic), the garden party lit by paper lanterns and the grand spaces within Notre Dame, from Clophin’s (Thomas Mitchell) court of miracles to Quasimodo’s (Charles Laughton) sanctuary in the clouds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizey410aTpvP9rOiuv3t5H7hK_y3BJ04dObUeN1i8HPilAWo8aBEXazbV9YmNGDBlOuhTVIIGLJ7ONJeX8lfSCUcV_bJTCbXZ4QqobqNPSoug7UBiVdr204WfBcd_A6HuibnbTOB3mHM_9/s1600/artdirectioncollage2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535051352448946946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizey410aTpvP9rOiuv3t5H7hK_y3BJ04dObUeN1i8HPilAWo8aBEXazbV9YmNGDBlOuhTVIIGLJ7ONJeX8lfSCUcV_bJTCbXZ4QqobqNPSoug7UBiVdr204WfBcd_A6HuibnbTOB3mHM_9/s400/artdirectioncollage2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 177px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A fundamental point to keep in mind is the emergence during this period of an RKO-specific visual style, and while the stylistic elements of art direction are the product of a talented art director, other factors contribute to this development. The influence of German expressionism in <i>film noir </i>is widely acknowledged and can be observed in films made by German expatriates in Hollywood during the silent era. The creative individuals of RKO’s art direction were working between the influence of expressionism and the emergence of <span style="font-style: italic;">film noir</span>, and the challenges of the studio system; reduced budgets and relatively modest sets provided the genesis of a new genre. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">During Polglase’s tenure at RKO, the studio faced continued economic challenges and numerous changes at the executive level. One such change in management philosophy led the studio to distribute films for independent producers, with Walt Disney’s earliest feature length titles among these films. The artistic vision of any RKO film bore Van Nest Polglase’s name, but he was not solely responsible for realizing this vision. Polglase relied heavily on his department and especially on the talents of Carroll Clark, Perry Ferguson and Charles Kirk. The question regarding artistic vision is additionally problematic when such independent directors as Ford, Hitchcock and Welles are behind the camera. Did these directors have cooperative relationships with Polglase, working to bring their visions to the screen, or was an art director entirely secondary to their vision? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Part II will follow soon...</i></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Thank you Lady Eve for your gracious invitation to contribute to your blog site, and thank you filmguy24 for your invaluable insights into the world of architecture as it relates to art direction.</i></span></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Cedric Gibbons Charles Laughton David O. Selznick Gloria Swanson John Ford Katharine Hepburn Orson Welles RKO Studios Van Nest Polglase Whistlingypsy (author) Van Nest Polglase ~ Architect Of Cinematic Dreams, Part I

by guest contributor Whistlingypsy The artistry of classic films reveals a cinematic alchemy in melding talent both before and behind the ca...

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It's going to be a good day

I've been up since 3 a.m. checking on my software release. Everything looks good. It went out to all locations (120+) at 2:33 a.m. I completed a couple very basic smoke tests on two machines in two cities and I think it's going to be okay. Hallelujah!<br /><br />It's 4:30 a.m. now so I guess it's off to the gym. Honestly, I'm so tired I could easily go back to sleep but I need to leave work early today so I can work on my Toastmaster speech for tomorrow. Ugh! The title is "The Fountain of Youth" and it's about the importance of exercise to the slow down the aging process. <br /><br />I'm going to make a room of 20 people listen to me praise the benefits of exercise for seven minutes. They're a trapped audience and have to listen. Did I ever mention how much I hate public speaking? I'm getting better and Toastmasters is a huge help, but it's not something I would normally volunteer to do for fun. It's one of those things that if it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger.<br /><br />Oddly, I'm starving this morning. Normally I don't eat before my workout but I feel like I'm running on zero energy this morning and my stomach is actually growling at me. I didn't have any snacks late last night other than a small Honeycrisp apple at 8pm, and I stayed within my 21 Points yesterday (not easy!). I'm cutting back on eating my earned exercise Points, especially since my candy lapse on Sunday. <br /><br />I'm also trying to cut back on junk, aka "diet" ice cream and frozen fruit bars. Since I have difficulty eating just one of anything that I think tastes good, I've stopped buying them. Even though the frozen fruit bars are only 70 calories each, if I eat three in one sitting that's 210 calories and a lot of sugar. So they're not on the list anymore.<br /><br />On <a href="http://bbubblyb.blogspot.com/">Dawn's</a> recommendation I bought a box of sugar-free fudgsicles. There's not much chance I'd eat more than one of those at a time, or two at the absolute max. They're 40 calories each and not exactly what I would call delicious, but they're better than nothing if you're really dying for a junk food sort of treat. Last night I actually decided I'd prefer an organic apple over the fudgesicles. An interesting concept. Something wholesome and healthy over something artificial (although sometimes, I'd pick the artificial treat). <br /><br />I really have to get to the gym now and stop stalling. Row machine for 20, Stair Master for 20 and upper body weights for 40. Fun times.

It's going to be a good day

I've been up since 3 a.m. checking on my software release. Everything looks good. It went out to all locations (120+) at 2:33 a.m. I com...

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Yes, she's a little bit crazy

Lately I've been a little bit nuts in my postings. I'm here, there and everywhere on how I'm trying to lose weight. One week I'm quitting Weight Watchers and Geneen Roth is my magic bullet. The next week I'm back at Weight Watchers, then I'm doing Geneen Roth's plan and Weight Watchers, then I'm binging. If you're wondering what the hell I'm doing, well, get in line because I'm not sure myself anymore.<br /><br />The only thing I know is that I'm not giving up. If it's not working for me, I'll try something else and I'll keep trying different things until I get this figured out. <br /><br />Now a word about therapy for people that have food issues. Obviously, I have issues. Anyone that gains 100 pounds and doesn't have a medical reason for the gain, most likely has some mental issues that contributed to the weight gain.<br /><br />I remember the very first time someone told me I needed to go to therapy for my issues with food. It was in 1992, the person was my Jenny Craig "counselor". After going from 192 to 135 pounds, and still wanting to lose another ten pounds, I lost control one week and ate six bananas in one sitting. I don't know much about the program these days, but in 1992 you were only allowed one or two bananas a week, maximum.<br /><br />I had a few more encounters with food similar to the banana incident over a period of several weeks. When I told my very thin Jenny Craig counselor about my binges, she was appalled. I think she'd lost 25 pounds on Jenny Craig before she was qualified to become a "counselor". She told me there wasn't anything she could do to help me, that I was wasting my money at Jenny Craig, and I needed to go into therapy.<br /><br />She was right, but at this point in my life, I'm just not willing to spend the time and effort for therapy. Perhaps that's a bad idea, but it's where I am right now. <br /><br /><strong>The food and exercise</strong><br />Today was a very good food day. I forgot to take the leftover candy to work, but I put it in the trunk of my car tonight, and I feel safe. Crazy isn't it? That I feel "safe" from food. It's not like it's going to attack me. <br /><br />My workout was great today, I love that old slider rowing machine. I did my thirty minutes on the crossramp and then fifteen minutes rowing. I found some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaKM0nhNSk&feature=channel">videos</a> on how to use the rowing machine (and if your back hurts, you're doing it wrong). <br /><br />There are several great instructional videos available on YouTube. It turns out it's a good upper body workout, as well as good for your core. It's not really meant to get your heart rate up high (although it does if you do it too fast), it's more to strengthen your upper body. Who knew? I was doing it super fast to burn calories, but after watching the videos I'm going to slow it down a bit for more strengthening.<br /><br />Now the crazy lady is going to bed. Tomorrow at 2am is out big software release to production. I'm not expecting good things. I hope I'm wrong.

Yes, she's a little bit crazy

Lately I've been a little bit nuts in my postings. I'm here, there and everywhere on how I'm trying to lose weight. One week I&#...

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Children Blessed To Be At St. Barts/ St. Bart's Blessed By Children

The children’s Sunday School at St. Bartholomew’s in Ely is my idea of important news. It isn’t overflowing like St. Mary’s, Nixon or Epiphany, Henderson – both wonderful too. But they definitely have something good going in Ely. <br /> <br /> Of course they have had children’s Sunday School before but part of small church life is the demographic blips. Every few years, the Sunday School declines or even dies for want to children. It is as natural as the seasons. The rebirth of the Sunday School, however, does not happen so spontaneously. That takes initiative. Kim, a relatively new member of St. Bart’s, has taken the initiative.<br /> <br /> Last Sunday, there were 4 children. Sometimes they have 5. Having no Sunday School room, they gather in a corner of the Fellowship Hall while the grownups are engrossed in the Liturgy of the Word upstairs. The kids sit on the floor for now, but Kim and Fr. Red are planning to get a rug or a carpet remnant for them to sit on. Such a thing makes a big difference. It welcomes the group into a defined space, holds them there and focuses attention – far less wandering off.<br /><br /> There is a board on which they have the words for their simple song – “Jesus in the morning” – one of my favorites. Then Kim converses with the children about one point from the Gospel lesson. Colored construction paper chains hang under each child’s name on the bulletin board. Every Sunday when the child attend Sunday School and learns a new lesson, they put a new link on their paper chain. The paper chains make visible their growth in spiritual intelligence. They also encourage and reward attendance, which judging by the paper chains is pretty good.<br /><br /> The point of this week’s Gospel lesson (Zacchaeus up the sycamore tree) was generosity. For their craft, the children created basketfuls of ghost treats. They hooded lollipops, with tissues, tied around the neck, and faces painted on the tissues with magic markers, thereby making ghosts. The kids then came upstairs to join their parents for the Liturgy of the Table. As people were leaving the nave, the children formed a receiving line giving away the ghostly lollipops to the grownups. After everyone else had left the nave, Kim gathered the children to make sure they got the connection between the Gospel lesson and their exercise of generosity in giving away the lollipops. The children also made large pin-on name tags for themselves and for the adults to wear – big help to the visiting bishop.<br /><br /> There are bigger, better-equipped Sunday Schools, but that isn’t an option for St. Bart’s. It may be just as well that it isn’t. As Professor Susannah Singer told us at Convention, Christian formation depends on context, context, context. I cannot imagine any Sunday School program working better in this context. They are doing what works for them – and from my conversation with the children, it is definitely working. They get it. What’s more, Kim is making the children and their activities visible to the adults, as with the ghost candy and the name tags. Children are mysteriously invisible to adults in church. The Rev. Kathy Hopner tells me she has talked with congregations who explain they do not have a Sunday School because they do not have children. She then points at children running about and says “What are those?” When the kids are the receiving line, they are harder to ignore.<br /><br /> Children’s ministry at St. Bart’s is not limited to the offspring of adult members. The Girl Scouts are reactivating in Ely as well, and guess where they meet? Most every Tuesday night, there’s a Girl Scout Meeting in our Fellowship Hall. That is an outreach ministry to the community and a soft evangelism in that it keeps us on the radar screen of Ely’s awareness.<br /><br /> But it isn’t all for children at St. Bart’s. They are soon revving up the new course using the Marcus Borg video on an Adult Faith, facilitated by MDIT (Ministry Developer In Training) Norma Engberg. The course used a workbook to structure people’s reflections on what they have seen and heard. This same program is being used at St. Martin’s, Pahrump and is, I think, available for Church Publishing Co. They are an alert, thinking congregation at St. Bart’s. I just did a sermon there that most preachers would not dare try – too theologically sophisticated. But the folks at St. Bart’s got it right off. Our people are plenty smart enough to deal with challenging material. They want to be challenged because that’s where the growth happens. I am very pleased that St. Bart’s, along with St. Martin’s, is undertaking this study.<br /><br /> Then there are softer spoken kinds of formation going on too. I noticed this year’s poster for Episcopal Relief and Development on a bulletin board too – a visible reminder of the world’s need and the Episcopal Church’s response. That too is soul shaping, consciousness raising, awareness instilling symbolism. I would be so glad to see that poser up in all our churches. Thank God and the people of St. Bart’s for remembering.

Children Blessed To Be At St. Barts/ St. Bart's Blessed By Children

The children’s Sunday School at St. Bartholomew’s in Ely is my idea of important news. It isn’t overflowing like St. Mary’s, Nixon or Epipha...

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Trick Or Treat

Happy Monday <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">AND </span></span>November friends!! Hard to believe there are only 2 months of 2010 left! They will be a fun filled 2 months though! ;)<br /><br />Despite the urge to sleep in on Sunday Kyle and I got up for church! After wards I sliced up a <span style="font-weight:bold;">pear </span>to tide me over for <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 point</span>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4usHkKEJJvvZ3fSwbBwbYLQycJo7CmkYWVRPhoe1oJlraAtewcnUrwVEiNpNalQ6TsrxKck8K71x4PPe6K9LO0U2cfhQKuTe9tPteeHMS3GQFPYziQpWUvMCyR9VaRdP9TCZyYdCpOgd1/s1600/DSC09254.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628627118934018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4usHkKEJJvvZ3fSwbBwbYLQycJo7CmkYWVRPhoe1oJlraAtewcnUrwVEiNpNalQ6TsrxKck8K71x4PPe6K9LO0U2cfhQKuTe9tPteeHMS3GQFPYziQpWUvMCyR9VaRdP9TCZyYdCpOgd1/s400/DSC09254.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Wendi & Hayden came up to hang out for the day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCCNI6UzqCnHKI0eakb0WH82h8vgdl7GwQO9F-1250EFHVt02bs5xYlFORGrdpjiluwZ-wwsk8c4TeKn766Awtv8S1xxwX73aledKwbApCtiWhyphenhyphen1xDsvuHWpmq-R-btJLbY-EjeBQnXz9/s1600/DSC09267.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628613363159378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCCNI6UzqCnHKI0eakb0WH82h8vgdl7GwQO9F-1250EFHVt02bs5xYlFORGrdpjiluwZ-wwsk8c4TeKn766Awtv8S1xxwX73aledKwbApCtiWhyphenhyphen1xDsvuHWpmq-R-btJLbY-EjeBQnXz9/s400/DSC09267.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />We made brunch, <span style="font-weight:bold;">chocolate chip pancakes</span> & <span style="font-weight:bold;">turkey sausage</span>! I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 pancakes</span> with <span style="font-weight:bold;">peanut butter</span> on one & <span style="font-weight:bold;">cool whip</span> on the other for <span style="font-weight:bold;">9 points</span>! MMMM, good!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisncwQspnVbVti4k63WLubFKKlJBNnxcjxTmn5cSAZ5yxfIV1iTsaPEBi9omECYyqLB5Afdbg7CnPOXN_VjqZPi8Mjjwt5BcOwSkD-HdlMFnv22TxMqIy9CkZcz1Dgpqp122yHOtojCFyt/s1600/DSC09255.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628620963420626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisncwQspnVbVti4k63WLubFKKlJBNnxcjxTmn5cSAZ5yxfIV1iTsaPEBi9omECYyqLB5Afdbg7CnPOXN_VjqZPi8Mjjwt5BcOwSkD-HdlMFnv22TxMqIy9CkZcz1Dgpqp122yHOtojCFyt/s400/DSC09255.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Isn't he the cutest lil monkey?!?!?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFEjDe2cKEApTPq4cWJD_gQFEfHNJp9_Bbx00ZEPHyqkoMkR2oHsw5QJcvmwPYdy0xkk5RpPy9ac-3UXS0HE74y7Qw4vaj24TUyBdQDj_LsXDlZUpnWtBcIsX-eieS4xu7PFPkrJTIMqm/s1600/DSC09265.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628411262611938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFEjDe2cKEApTPq4cWJD_gQFEfHNJp9_Bbx00ZEPHyqkoMkR2oHsw5QJcvmwPYdy0xkk5RpPy9ac-3UXS0HE74y7Qw4vaj24TUyBdQDj_LsXDlZUpnWtBcIsX-eieS4xu7PFPkrJTIMqm/s400/DSC09265.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />I had a big bowl full of <span style="font-weight:bold;">candy </span>ready for trick or treat-ers! Unfortunately I wasn't as strong as I hoped and had some...I'm estimating <span style="font-weight:bold;">9 points</span>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Wb3SDnZcX-_YshAvNqiPtzm5tz4lDKaYgns-572kaAXu8bchwd06BrHXKHi-tNK-empkPpszeF6uI9CDMTymh0kLK6PwVY_b2XnqGz4MNQB748ZBe80JAqpHXOIyckaPzYX3C3Z2pk-E/s1600/DSC09268.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628401183277474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Wb3SDnZcX-_YshAvNqiPtzm5tz4lDKaYgns-572kaAXu8bchwd06BrHXKHi-tNK-empkPpszeF6uI9CDMTymh0kLK6PwVY_b2XnqGz4MNQB748ZBe80JAqpHXOIyckaPzYX3C3Z2pk-E/s400/DSC09268.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Hayden was a good help passing out candy! ;) I love seeing the neighborhood kids all dressed up! I think my favorite were the little Iowa Hawkeye football player & cheerleader! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50wW41Y7cYgpmyiZkt7N6ZLzWm-2IYCb15aIPuS5qXg_qYyrmJ3g0RVdJzSjRAgNRKwJ2C5o5m4Op-WBKuXfk-cRYLRMe1TU9bO3jOS_RaTrV1OZ6ETF4Rv-y84QIX-dBRgknSzq55cro/s1600/DSC09272.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628387095248210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50wW41Y7cYgpmyiZkt7N6ZLzWm-2IYCb15aIPuS5qXg_qYyrmJ3g0RVdJzSjRAgNRKwJ2C5o5m4Op-WBKuXfk-cRYLRMe1TU9bO3jOS_RaTrV1OZ6ETF4Rv-y84QIX-dBRgknSzq55cro/s400/DSC09272.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />We had <span style="font-weight:bold;">chili </span>for supper! I had <span style="font-weight:bold;">1 c</span> with <span style="font-weight:bold;">cheese </span>& <span style="font-weight:bold;">crackers </span>for <span style="font-weight:bold;">10 points</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_72UR0CP97YbG7BJNk438Au36ufmmwuUSISrvmUDlVhf7YC2aRPCwSWEb1ROt81SyXGXIb2gUicqXRBwV4u3b0Pzk0yh6pnAsOdvRWCqzdoIbd9uH45y8O5ABeKpvxvCGsT4mBHkqOwWo/s1600/DSC09269.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628380229229826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_72UR0CP97YbG7BJNk438Au36ufmmwuUSISrvmUDlVhf7YC2aRPCwSWEb1ROt81SyXGXIb2gUicqXRBwV4u3b0Pzk0yh6pnAsOdvRWCqzdoIbd9uH45y8O5ABeKpvxvCGsT4mBHkqOwWo/s400/DSC09269.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />And a meal with chili is never complete without <span style="font-weight:bold;">cinnamon rolls</span>! Reminds of school lunches! These were reduced fat, so only <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span> each!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyFyfA4WN8j_6tDXm9ewI5_EUspMUOGUbcqH_pbbk2Ws3ID0lMVWgMDeHfmIKqtIPsN0Gg9sdfT0MXXC2vbmVfIYZkGiXQ6RnrwuvL2kT9grtpBGJ-J5vg-b95629o79yzpFsKdBJ2w96/s1600/DSC09270.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534628375834151138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyFyfA4WN8j_6tDXm9ewI5_EUspMUOGUbcqH_pbbk2Ws3ID0lMVWgMDeHfmIKqtIPsN0Gg9sdfT0MXXC2vbmVfIYZkGiXQ6RnrwuvL2kT9grtpBGJ-J5vg-b95629o79yzpFsKdBJ2w96/s400/DSC09270.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SUNDAY’S STATS</span><br />POINTS = 31/23<br />WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 35 used/0 remaining<br />ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 0 today/1 week<br />H2O = 68 oz<br />EXERCISE = none

Trick Or Treat

Happy Monday AND November friends!! Hard to believe there are only 2 months of 2010 left! They will be a fun filled 2 months though! ;) Desp...

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Weighin update after the candy lapse

I couldn't help myself this morning, I had to see how much damage I did last night with those candy bars I ate. At 80 calories each, I ate six, that's about 500 calories over what I should have eaten yesterday (or about 10+ Points, and that's not even looking at the fat grams).<br /><br />Well, I had a big scale surprise. I weigh 174.2, with my workout clothes on (same clothing as when I weighed in at Weight Watchers on Saturday at 178.2). That's on my home Tanita scales that are always right on with the Weight Watcher scales. What the heck! A <strong>four-pound loss</strong> in two days???<br /><br />Maybe it was the good eating all weekend with the exception of the candy, or the gallons of water I drank (thanks to <a href="http://almostgastricbypass.blogspot.com/">Allan</a> for the constant reminder of the importance of water), or perhaps the three-hour intense exercise at the gym over the weekend. I'm not sure of the reason, but I'm thrilled the candy didn't totally derail me. Seeing a four-pound loss has actually inspired me to keep on track and keep going. A mid-week weighin isn't always a bad thing.<br /><br /><strong>A little friendly competition</strong><br />I have a confession. I've been following Lyn, <a href="http://escapefromobesity.blogspot.com/">Escape from Obesity</a>, for at least two years (maybe longer). When she started on MediFast I weighed what I weigh now.<br /><br />I thought I must get to goal before Lyn to prove this can be done without using drastic measures such as reducing your calories to 800-900 a day on an expensive, pre-packaged food program. You can do this eating healthy, natural food and doing exercise. Well, Lyn kept losing weight, and I was up and down the same five pounds...for the last several months. I watched Lyn get closer and closer to my weight. <br /><br />Guess what? Lyn and I now weigh exactly the same (and we're the same height but I think she looks a lot skinnier :). <br /><br />Now I'm thrilled for Lyn. No one deserves this more than she does. She's done a lot of work on her mental attitude, how she views food, how she views herself. Just because she's doing MediFast doesn't mean this was easy for her. I've done several of the pre-package food programs (with the exception of MF), and I know it's still hard work. Lyn is one of my heroes, and I admire what she's done. I don't put any less significance on it because she used the MediFast program, just like I don't put any less significance on someone that has had weight loss surgery. It's still incredibly difficult to lose weight, regardless of the path you chose.<br /><br />On the other hand, I still feel like I have to prove something. That this can be done naturally, without spending a ton of money on a pre-packaged food program. So Lyn, if you're reading this, the race is on! I know you're losing 2-3 pounds per week, and I'm not sure I can keep up with that pace, but I'm going to give it my best shot.

Weighin update after the candy lapse

I couldn't help myself this morning, I had to see how much damage I did last night with those candy bars I ate. At 80 calories each, I a...

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Candy monster and polka dots

First of all, I don't think I can live with this polka dot look. It's making me dizzy, especially on my big 25 inch monitor I use for work (yes, I was just working on some work stuff and yes it's 5am). It's not bad on my laptop, but yikes, in big, giant living color, all these dots make me feel kind of sick.<br /><br />About the candy, even though we had about 40 kids last night, and I had them taking handfuls of candy because honestly, I wanted to run out of candy and turn off the lights and rip off that ridiculous wig...we still wound up with a bag of 150 pieces of candy. The good stuff. <br /><br />Right before I went to bed I grabbed a handful, a mixture of six bars, Twix, Almond Joys and Milk Ways, and I ate them. Oh well. A little lapse.The candy is going to work today, to the communal kitchen we all share on my floor. It will most likely be gone by noon. :)<br /><br />I'm just about ready to pull on my workout clothes and head out to the gym. I think I'll do the StairMaster today and a good upper body workout, probably an hour and twenty minutes, which seems to be my normal to get in 30 minutes of cardio and 40 minutes of strength training. <br /><br />Happy Monday everyone (and thank goodness Halloween is over!). Now we have Thanksgiving to face. Tis the season of food holidays.

Candy monster and polka dots

First of all, I don't think I can live with this polka dot look. It's making me dizzy, especially on my big 25 inch monitor I use fo...

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Halloween Eve

<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/AVvXsEiwiUtKwP5VNOXqLPC1er3ovYr5FhDzYeP6EqFb4StpPd3EvzvJ8KU8bukJ4iaMAf4yb8A4_5Un8hXTITfwCTZVptcIdRXj0cGC_LX1VBwJFsrajLF54dflq9EcWy-7vcGJe_uAwUlGoY-d/s1600/Halloween+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiUtKwP5VNOXqLPC1er3ovYr5FhDzYeP6EqFb4StpPd3EvzvJ8KU8bukJ4iaMAf4yb8A4_5Un8hXTITfwCTZVptcIdRXj0cGC_LX1VBwJFsrajLF54dflq9EcWy-7vcGJe_uAwUlGoY-d/s400/Halloween+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It's 6pm, and I'm sitting here in my gray banshee wig and witch costume. I'm wearing outrageous eye makeup with black eyebrows, black glitter eye shadow and red lipstick. I have black spider stickers on each side of my face. I'm waiting for the little ones to start ringing the doorbell, yelling "Trick or Treat!". I already have a headache. I hate wigs. This is the last year I'll be wearing a wig. I forgot how uncomfortable they can be (although I had on a different one last week and it wasn't this bad). <br /><br />I've never dressed up for the kids before. I don't know why I decided to do so this year. It seemed like a good idea at the time. We have a lot of kids on my street and they all know me. The last few years I made the decision that I was sick and tired of handing out candy that I couldn't eat and it wasn't good for the kids anyway. So we'd turn off all the lights and head out to a scary movie at the theater. Talk about being a Halloween Scrooge.<br /><br />For some reason I had a change of heart this year. I dressed up for work last week so I had a costume (actually, I bought two - a witch and vampire). Tonight I'm the witch because I can't talk very well with the vampire teeth. Of course, now I'm thinking maybe this was a stupid idea. The wig is bugging me and the makeup is itchy. <br /><br />I just answered the door to the third set of kids. They seem to be getting a kick out of me being dressed up as a witch. I love the wide eyes of the little ones. Maybe they think this is what I always look like.<br /><br />My husband is still mowing the lawn (at 6pm...???). The motion detector gigantic brown recluse spider hanging over the front door is continually yelling, screaming, howling. I need to turn off his sound until the mowing stops. I'm just too tired. <br /><br />Strangely the candy isn't bothering me and it's all my favorite stuff, Twix, Mounds, Kit Kats, M&Ms (no problem with the Reese cups since I have a peanut allergy). They're nice sized bars that are about two or three bites, at about 80 calories each. I really have no interest. <br /><br />The caramel cake I had Thursday night has pretty much done me in on sweets for probably a long time. I can still taste the intense sweetness of the brown sugar in the frosting, the slight grittiness against my teeth. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really didn't like it that much. I never want to have it again. It wasn't that it was a bad tasting cake, it just wasn't all that great. The same with the Häagen-Dazs ice cream. Maybe it's because I'm associating these foods with a sleepless night, filled with tossing and turning and a bad bout of night sweats. I really don't want a repeat of that night. I accept that I failed and I may fail again, but the sickening sweet taste is still too familiar. Perhaps I'm not as addicted to sugar as I once thought.<br /><br />I'm 100% back on track this weekend and actually tracking my food online and drinking tons of water. Three hours of exercise between yesterday and today. <br /><br />I even tried out a couple cardio machines I've never used before. I tried the recumbent bike because Bally's had a thing on their Bally TV about it, that it looks like the Lazy Boy of workout machines but you could get a really good workout on it. I hated it. After thirty minutes on the crossramp I tried the recumbent for twenty minutes. It was pure misery. I like the upright stationary bike or the spin cycle or a real bike, but that recumbent is really uncomfortable, my back is still hurting. <br /><br />Then I tried the old rowing machine. It looks like an antique torture contraption, and I never see anyone using it. It has a steel chain with a bar attached to it. There are slabs of wood with straps on them that you hook your feet into and grab the bar and pull back. It's not fancy at all, but boy was it difficult. My heart rate zoomed up to 135 in about a minute (remember, I'm old and my resting HR is 49...so 135 is high for me). I did it for ten minutes and thought I was going to die. I burned 80 calories in that ten minutes according to my Polar heart rate monitor (that thinks I weigh 152 pounds because I never changed it because you know I'm going to lose that 25 pounds I gained :). <br /><br />Okay, I'm ready for Halloween to be over. It's only 7:45 p.m. and the kids keep coming. About forty kids so far, and most of them I didn't know (and some were kind of old for Trick or Treating).<br /><br />I'm feeling nauseous from the wig. I'm just about ready to pull it off and let my  natural hair be my witch hair. My husband is having no part of handing out the candy which really isn't like him at all. Usually when we did do the candy thing in the past he was always the one to hand it out. Not sure what's up with him this year. <br /><br />Damn...the doorbell again.

Halloween Eve

It's 6pm, and I'm sitting here in my gray banshee wig and witch costume. I'm wearing outrageous eye makeup with black eyebrows, ...

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BIG win!!!

<p>Hello friends! Hope everyone is enjoying their Halloween weekend! Sorry for my lack of a Friday post. Kyle and I volunteered for our church’s kids game night. Our assignment was a photo booth, long story short we had to use our camera and all my food pics had to be deleted. :(</p> <p>On to Saturday! I feel like it pretty much a repeat of <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/weekend.html">last Saturday</a> (with a much better outcome)! I had some <strong>pb & j toast</strong> for <strong>4 points</strong> before we hit the road to Iowa City! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-GT7KUhTgPv8_XUduyybiBkUBpKkI9kca9cA02lS73dahwiNdQUECVZavLf9UVQrfI1XizPJ1J_d3UKbd9pwstD7yGP7bugf1ywOUOvhkHwv8ae58wxs5z8QUPmiJK3_pyoMu_4x7Spf/s1600-h/DSC090863%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC090863" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe8L_zYKaeKDkiDUuRCatbNxEJnhXK-CgFamGcBOoRRryc_JMUgl0Jl9kviqOPe9l2WzT2xt9FHcXlKx1-hmAUUOkYOFTz87Bj8OhvD_xjSqETD0kRd4aQhxaESXhZ8Rqunvd4j7VEiRb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC090863" width="404"></a></p> <p>Same as last Saturday, we skipped tail gaiting (SO much less stuff to pack!) and we went out to eat! Started out with <strong>chips & salsa</strong>, my serving was about<strong> 5 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cEOQKb6A-evushekE7_R_j-71_mPHDSU02OI1iYeEXau2_iDEPnXc5WKqyR6x2_7qTbda2Z4SZg5zkViqrrVX15RTtCL8vBPMJiTkCnvPRZq8GlHqCcdB2fEG51pwV3GVUzE6yGYgI6c/s1600-h/DSC09222%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09222" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ32pGk6nxRTnJlxtVE-7p3WhETtEqwWpzu86NpW_eEFwfmZ-OMYQCKNmEo7TSuzuhn_MlrY1LC5A2Vtk-VJP_rZ2ZPxz0Sx6GLCgOZwRMp1XWehW6SFGGqMXlmP4TetvZx4W0gwbTeAgZ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09222" width="404"></a></p> <p>I had the<strong> malibu chicken </strong>again (minus the top half of the bun, bacon, & cheese) for <strong>5 points</strong>.<img alt="DSC09224" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5U7OSKkfsNFt0B-eMC42vFBw_jZmuUb068IBlxH5tJP7lJa3_jDW3afUlSlVIG9hMGAB56ZYyg88K78uvTMtpWHYHCQc36fY3mVbj0oPm8qlxmpDXaqKfmxDZr6wFfba7LOUi3mPfBaq/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09224" width="404"></p> <p>On the side I had some delicious <strong>veggies</strong> for <strong>1 point</strong>. I was STUFFED after all that food. We sat in the restaurant a while though and just enjoyed our meal & time together!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_XxlCbApwWTiNq4BNmn0JxCT3lB8RWzaCSLlkDzfJV2lujjuk2T-rLDsBXuEnE41F-zD0TMaU64BEhtQP9xUBa3pv3uT05J6x7o_XEflmnPp4xpJmR4br73C5MbDlLqIFuFC0PuPEzGt/s1600-h/DSC09223%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09223" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5gmJuaYUieSpNGWuwOZiqmYrBx6WXuxDNNdTP7J-VHarCBQfJiUy1WP-EWRcQAWz8Ehjxe9LePWeS5GEp6h7gv07HMjHgOic9NLIjRA9g9_k5PsWse-Wj_s-Y2NE73swR1YS13uc1Hf8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09223" width="404"></a></p> <p>Afterwards we made the trek back to the stadium, ready to cheer on the Hawks! We played the #5 ranked team, Michigan State.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSjc5kGTcceBG434mnO02aSNeaDxcsl3uJJt1WAb2bw6YcF2-8LcQPoYcZxgjqDmKYOV2FlBm07lpKMwG7V5-33c3cy8P-jMKK6ZfJF3taBJsLlgia3WpBmQoa7lUjoiw5dqAyCuS11c9/s1600-h/DSC09231%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09231" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RBQsxZzqkcuNP6-eWuye1zE0dHTGUmjo4AQxJIF6mJcUqF1WyEoyrdg_LwUq_g6Zv54aUrEp8hrLksJevVKFLKmgXRCyr2F5OkJZNWK4ZNmwCsIahr5iPPyz-xgdcJ47fD7IJcYtCVzI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09231" width="404"></a></p> <p>Since it was so close to Halloween, Herky (our mascot) wore a costume!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIwtu8tO7ABF6wtE7LQxrEw17BELEE98p9i1ky9XWMtlQ3ZC_JxWQYb5xwWunXPJoHi97P_MjzoXJfCpbGoyIUZO6-rjzdY5gkyJoK45lDP8g0gRUBJh0_bdEVXU_S6jc1TrC-UB8S5cY/s1600-h/DSC09230%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09230" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofsQzWW1efYHVlpnqrE0vuNrLCdpBP32w7hfjZCCIPc-Fl-bAxufvhgopwOMfrcHaSlvbctISqz5EXpXmH3-Fbb8a2EaoGgRZnqAPEcSJrt-L__B8g_hZxzc8A7kbxN5FWNcMJqTBF1JB/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09230" width="404"></a></p> <p>He wasn’t the only one though, check out these people, they were teeth, a toothbrush, & toothpaste!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9V5UaE_zJSv3gu1R17qThgkNxyyoulsL05AdM9S4JBo9rk7ptaC0ZRRzVo915lAM9LylO18adt3PZRFHOLxrgC8B_VP0pFREaB6W2p6pPdnXLhFyVpvStXBUXMoqbLxSOO_Uax0jUmsX/s1600-h/DSC09225%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09225" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyZUQRiQm4d8kZ4ZTZJvAH2KuA6TgXsQthhpqiDTD7RnDM-tS0WL_cseh6KFma2PU7ptcGvFF5_iMCcJ3-tkbE38xWvX-R1TtkxT-wKXYHSn-ICWk57fXMIr_JZMhLIdYSgM6wtnY2uBo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09225" width="404"></a></p> <p>Bumble bee!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kd3zUj7aRLVe11vGAdVEcdZP6FRSjl1WbZap0Osh5_Xqu5W-TtpRZwSGvjWZ-douaCMNo71e26HV79HBFCLPr7Ynj0jhcRIqcG0XN_4bBBx7HqVIV_3YMxywbd-IS3s1bcAhDRKypxwa/s1600-h/DSC09227%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09227" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFFQpWUIkXbIZ0sOh5LAxTJaP2FoyDh-LswumOQBQ439jkYV-6nyDln3bqnNMyOAQszNAMWlVao_SwyYsgTMQO3p6n_mzGs62aGR6axZqXLCO5yB5bUbr99L2Htts43cph31wlcUylCbr/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09227" width="404"></a></p> <p>Spiderman & look, even Waldo!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrseXR1R4I-uCxGyZM8fu1VcHMnTC6Ox7psBVNT5_QcArqvuKvEu5lozvAUeJaPqIqDQN8JuvI7E3uLayG1Z4lZF_wmi4FW52vwoRK5b2fzlBQqOV4rbLIm4Vd1Dy-SCGAAArPxLhYCxsv/s1600-h/DSC09233%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09233" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSplEP1UYoPfgbcWeXuJVn2no8slYm5Yv0JkGimhVcX1Pq55uU6m1uIJ18Is5_1s96frrl_QhFPEgYxL9v2wkz6GP8qAh5qOILaixxEsUrF3UZxH9nCcHimhPYo-ZnUi8g8J1MNBKFOFZL/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09233" width="404"></a></p> <p>Kyle’s favorite, a whoopie cushion! lol<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QqPa83v4VL7YllRHUuJ2hpc1xyYN0Zdb_bMV5j8RjpGMAZQ34lX-f_CckKtxG9uAAo07mH-mGw44mnyOjSaRt1LmVdjEPucfWAS0AZAg23CnbFS7Stxlgxd-IIe3-XyGS347r9Hw9c__/s1600-h/DSC09237%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09237" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW6G2DYsKdhDQN6LJynGLXjE-hJi5t6Q4OF4aFGrs-7dfNDgiL7Yl8f74wNwW2B-hna9qUj-7IEC9GWqrpb8nBfIxJgHwhyphenhyphen35L6VvEQqBhlMsFFVcAwc40dqVTb_PpPle2El2dRcxiGEz/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09237" width="404"></a></p> <p>Anyone know who this guy is? He kinda makes me laugh!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwwl3HjT3EoZkdtUshVDyW7IULnLDB3mBF6-dyxwrkclqynpbOISFKClYpbUXV-a2ECyZIv-eA64dR2PDYR0iQ0UrFBGUpkCqNrZQwrlii7AuevYP1YDNvdZmqh8D59boSZ47GfnNqH1y/s1600-h/DSC09241%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09241" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcK1kHT_snzAjwrUFrl34Lyn_iYTe4DC3gVbSW-mMqRkrw2NyNy_OyH5pMYT9zAV8KWDNqlygnxuwznz69Tijjrj8v36Rx7sFN6y2cwl-dWLOx58l19XEdlpaoGO06pPG3QH-wsEfRE1X/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09241" width="404"></a></p> <p>Ok back to the game! ;) Our team came out fighting, half time the score was 30-0!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXxjnbBBvCPC5rPAKcagHAMoLHVcnM4gE5lBJpaeZxpSoa_RCLLA1GKHdJB1Gscr_lRb_jieR1uSRnmuKi3nd8ix4fniKGzkYtSMD7N-EJioFYjnLoBJEefhwi_bBpPH56xF7lkzOU8kk/s1600-h/DSC09232%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09232" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJttbVnAEOci3TDdm_DGKQazyM2FEvNHzhbUTGmQdQITcSt4muUCKfRZoluGPxCOQeGS0wO7GtTOA0vD7UMsLv_gk-6y7DwhY3Udt2ZB1_YeJMHx2nYYzzfDaBQyTpkhUf75KDGhtyxfq/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09232" width="404"></a></p> <p>We ended up <strong>winning 37-6</strong>! A great win, over a highly ranked team, and especially good after our bummer loss last week!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzufSDN1q_EtD92z7Lotq3U_J4z8E-EBOiyUarTnhm0N5CCrWqqZRqbIipbyPE_3LqFF6BNk7Hvh5PLFhzlf-pAv0fNmiUdE2uyVvO7MSCRXZaz3zK9OagWJJRmnbkLSLm28Vu7OkX4l4q/s1600-h/DSC09243%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09243" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJgTZLO9udkkIUBwKVEJutZjFWfwqDb92o5oe4Oi2j9X-yTGCLIvyQX6GPzHY3am_Iw5fb4NDVYvqil4_yUq84P-e7PypBMxuqkw6pzSUDVGD_Zq92hZJY0XkRG5KsptNMQ2cCVCxyTJS/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09243" width="404"></a></p> <p>After the game Kyle and I made the trip home. On the way we stopped for supper, Subway! I had a <strong>6 in chicken teriyaki</strong> on wheat for<strong> 7 points</strong>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZUthrVBPoEELa2A7gK3X_RbOIB-duUZt5S07FFtbyQC2INNYuT2QHcp8rbRDdS1Llp44U1g_EJOf3ZZs_XJLELG-tJsJ6qp5RPK7ZIjVkbA4fetdtKlzCdL352RWr3ULrCwgvDF3XN0w/s1600-h/DSC09251%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09251" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzser6DaG2XkdWDVXO_iuGBICfqxh0zp3M0cwWj624368S-CeIQpV5AKXPe7ch8C8wrcpuCGL-TwyakabVNp1gKiQjphROLDOtg9BTJBLDGUMTG-vcX1N7s_qgbY4ZnDoGLqxBDU0exSHT/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09251" width="404"></a></p> <p>We also shared a bag of <strong>Sun chips</strong> for<strong> 2 points</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5kjyTUxYQSojZKEWHW3_Mi-NUh-P3jjvryS8nxdPux0f0eBH2Fy3AQNE8YL7iBNAOJgrY-qqwPhLpsQ4b09ByczntLZUW9ZS3T_D9TcFvQSS7fhL0PMTnR95AEpmF-PzSqoPUxmPCdCa/s1600-h/DSC09253%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09253" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2UOq_-pDwFOiMrJQ6mUMhisp-NXREqc20_tD6HpV5mJW50QehxeaS0YcKXuMEEqgkXY1xhN4TbEdRLnA-JOtpTCF-Dxu-9AFL2WkpnmVN4hJhZyHHh4wSOEPXHTdyTYeufRpB89B1MPb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09253" width="404"></a></p> <p>It’s so much more fun to drive home after a win, compared to last week’s game! We got home and I crashed! Felt great!</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>SATURDAY’S STATS<br></strong>POINTS = 24/23<br>WEEKLY ALLOWANCE POINTS = 35 used/0 remaining<br>ACTIVITY POINTS EARNED = 1 today/1 week<br>H2O = 68 oz<br>EXERCISE = LOTS of walking to/from stadium! (I mapped it out and it was 2+ miles!)</p>

BIG win!!!

Hello friends! Hope everyone is enjoying their Halloween weekend! Sorry for my lack of a Friday post. Kyle and I volunteered for our church’...

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Planning de la semaine du 02 au 05 novembre 2010

<BR><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Le <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans<br />- le mardi 02 novembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 03 novembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 04 novembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 05 novembre de 13h30 à 17h.<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de Gestion</a></strong> - vendredi 05 novembre de 09h à 12h30 (sur rendez-vous)</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 02 novembre de 9h à 12h30 et mercredi 03 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation</strong> - mardi 02 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Préparation à l’entretien</strong> - jeudi 04 novembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 05 novembre de 10h à 11h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - vendredi 05 novembre de 14h à 16h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 02 au 05 novembre 2010

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le mardi 02 no...

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Windmill Ridge Reverie: I Shall Not Wear Purple

When I am an old man I shall not wear purple. I shall retire to the Pahranagat Valley and dwell not too far from the lake. I shall not wear purple – but dark brown and burnt orange – except in summer, robin’s egg blue. If they will have me, I may for a time ride circuit to churches which may not now exist and some that do, until my vocation fades and my absences are the greater blessings.<br /><br /> And I shall be obsequious to the Sharps, the Whipples, and all the valley thanes. I will develop a Druidic devotion to a tree, perhaps three, remembering the oaks of Mamre and hoping for a visit. I shall tend them gratuitously, officiously, and like a kind woman, they will tolerate my attention.<br /><br /> Eventually I will be buried beneath the thick mat of fallen reeds along the lake shore. Strong young people will cover me with a cairn of stones they have wheel barrowed from the nearby hills, forgiving me my incorrigible devotion to the Church and its arcane beliefs because they know I meant no harm. When the cairn has sunk into the soft and sodden decay of reeds, my faults and failings will be forgotten even by myself. This is not a sad reverie I indulge here on Windmill Ridge, but hope for a personal peace on earth and with the earth, that I may find joy in heaven.

Windmill Ridge Reverie: I Shall Not Wear Purple

When I am an old man I shall not wear purple. I shall retire to the Pahranagat Valley and dwell not too far from the lake. I shall not wear ...

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It's not the collapse that defines you...it's how you handle it

<strong>Post binge</strong><br />After writing about my major binge on Thursday, I was astoundingly not hungry on Friday. This surprised me because usually after a binge, I'm hungrier and find it just about impossible to get back on track. <br /><br />Yesterday I didn't even think about eating until about 3pm. I only ate then because I knew I really shouldn't go all day without eating. I ate lightly and slept well last night. Very unusual.<br /><br /><strong>The urge, the lapse and the collapse</strong><br /><br />Today's Weight Watcher meeting seemed to be tailor made for me. The topic was how to handle a collapse, and that our secret weapon is <strong><span style="color: magenta;">POSITIVE SELF TALK</span></strong>. It's all about giving ourselves the freedom to fail. Forgiving ourselves when we do and then moving on. <br /><br />Our leader, Janis (Federal Way, WA and I love her!) gave an example of how it starts. Let's say you have a bag of Halloween candy bars to hand out to the trick or treaters...<br /><br />1. You have an <strong>urge</strong> to eat the candy. What do you do? You can ignore it, or do something else and fight the urge or eat something healthy or you can give into it which leads to...<br /><br />2. A <strong>lapse</strong>. A lapse is you have one candy bar. Okay, now that alone isn't so bad. Not perfect, but it's okay. It's just a little lapse.  But what if you eat the entire bag of candy bars, that is...<br /><br />3. A<strong> Collapse.</strong> Now you've collapsed. Totally fallen off track. You feel horrible. Guilt. Shame. You hate yourself. You call yourself names. You think you're a bad, bad person. No willpower. Lazy. And if you're me, stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid!  That's always my ultimate insult to myself, that I'm stupid.<br /><br />Now this is the interesting part. How do you handle that collapse? Does it throw you into a tizzy, a week or a month long binge, or even longer? Or do you just tell yourself, okay, I collapsed. Screwed up. It's okay. I'm a human being capable of making mistakes. Where do you go from here? You get back on track. Immediately. Right now, this very minute. <br /><br />I feel like this is exactly what I did. I've heard this and read this before. It's not exactly new information, but for some reason it worked this time. I immediately got back on track. <br /><br /><strong>The toilet water trick</strong><br /><br />This is kind of gross, but I think this could work. Janis said if she's at someones house and they have junk to eat, such as fried chicken or fudge, she considers it the same as drinking toilet water. She said at home she wouldn't drink out of the toilet, why would she eat crap when she's at someones house. You've got to love Janis.<br /><br /><strong>Now for the kind of bad news, the weigh-in</strong><br /><br />I'm not beating myself up about my weighin today. It's not great, but it could have been a lot worse.<br /><br />My weight at my last meeting (7 weeks ago):<br /><br />9/11/10  --  174.8<br /><br />My weight today:<br /><br />10/30/10 -- <strong>178.2</strong><br /><br />Gained: +3.4 (in 7 weeks)<br /><br />Total Loss since 2/12/<strong>2008</strong>:<br /><br /><strong>61.0 Pounds</strong><br /><br />I'm not thrilled about this gain, but I'm also not bitterly disappointed in myself. Considering I haven't been tracking my food, and I tried the Geneen Roth plan of eat what I think my body wants and when I'm hungry, it's sort of a miracle I didn't gain a lot more weight.<br /><br />I do have a new idea. It's called following the Weight Watcher plan. I've been off of it for so long that it almost feels like something new. <br /><br />I have exactly 15 weeks until my three-year Weight Watcher anniversary on February 12, 2011. If you had told me three years ago that I still wouldn't be at goal by now, I would have laughed at you. I was so very determined back then. Somehow, I fell off track, lost sight of the prize, and have been playing around for far too long. <br /><br />There's nothing like a good Weight Watcher meeting to set me on fire again...and I'm on fire!

It's not the collapse that defines you...it's how you handle it

Post binge After writing about my major binge on Thursday, I was astoundingly not hungry on Friday. This surprised me because usually after ...

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It happened one night...a full-blown binge

It's strange how the harder I try to be "good", and the more I focus on thinking about always doing the right thing with food and exercise, the more obsessed I become with the idea of binging.<br /><br />Yesterday was the culmination of weeks of work stress. There was some marriage stress mixed in there too but I think we've worked through that and are back on pretty solid ground. Things are winding down at work too, finally there's a feeling of calm after weeks and weeks of intense pressure to work faster and harder, along with major stress. <br /><br />So what the hell happened? I don't really know how to explain it other than something just came over me. I've been feeling really hungry lately, but eating very clean, very healthy. Maybe my portions have sometimes been a little on the large side, but I haven't been gaining weight, just holding steady in the the 174-175 range. Not at all where I want to be (135).<br /><br />I shop at a Northwest grocery store, Fred Meyers. It's a large grocery store, sort of a one-stop shopping kind of place. For the last couple of months they've had a big display of caramel frosted yellow cake sitting right by the check-out area. You have to pass it to get in line to check out your groceries. You can't miss this huge display of cake.<br /><br />I have a thing for caramel. I love it. Anything caramel, it's my favorite. I don't really care for chocolate, but I'm in heaven with caramel. I also love yellow cake, hate chocolate cake. So this was a dangerous combination for me. Thick caramel frosting covering a tall two-layer yellow cake. <br /><br />You can buy the cake in a package of two big slices, or 1/2 of the cake, or the entire cake. Every week I would look at this cake and think, no way! Poison for sure. I pass by it and head down the ice cream aisle to buy my sugar-free Skinny Cow sandwiches or the Weight Watcher fudge bars or the Dryers fruit bars (Pomegranate - 70 calories each). Week after week for at least two months.<br /><br />Then yesterday happened. It was Halloween at work since most people work from home on Friday. I dressed up as a vampire in a very uncomfortable wig and lots of makeup (I'm doing it again this weekend so I'll post pictures). By mid-afternoon I felt kind of sick. The giant wig was hot, the hair from the wig was in my face all day and the makeup was itchy. I had only eaten my healthy lunch. I didn't touch the Halloween desserts or candy. I finally called it quits at 3pm and headed home. <br /><br />On my way home I thought about that caramel cake. I thought about going home, ripping off the costume and washing my face and heading back to the store. I also thought about listening to Geneen Roth's "What to do in the middle of binge" CD that was sitting right there in the seat next to me in my car. I made the conscious decision that I just flat out didn't care. To hell with the diet and Geneen Roth (sorry Geneen...it's nothing personal). <br /><br />I did exactly what I had planned. When I got home I changed clothes, washed off all the makeup and headed to Fred Meyers. I bought an entire caramel cake, three pints of Häagen-Dazs, a dozen bakery sugar cookies with pink frosting and a package of vanilla doublestuff Oreos, along with a gallon of 1% milk. <br /><br />I ate 1/3 of the cake. The frosting was so sweet it literally hurt my teeth and it made my stomach hurt. I also ate one pint of the Häagen-Dazs. I had a miserable night. Of course, I ate all of this before my husband got home and I hid the remains. I tossed and turned all night. I had horrible night sweats, something I haven't had in weeks. <br /><br />I broke every one of Geneen Roth's eating guidelines. Again, I just didn't care. <br /><br />This morning was filled with regrets, but I got up and got myself to the gym for forty minutes of cardio. I'm heading back at noon for 40 minutes of strength. <br /><br />When I came home from the gym I took the remaining caramel cake, the unopened Oreos and pink-iced sugar cookies, tore open the packages and dumped everything into a garbage bag. Then I cleaned the cat's litter box dumping the dirty litter on top of the food. I know that's really disgusting, but I've been known to pull things out of the garbage. The contents of the two remaining unopened Häagen-Dazs containers are now down the garbage disposal. <br /><br />I just don't know how I feel about this whole thing. Why did I do that? It made me feel awful. Guilty. Sad. It didn't make anything in my life better. The entire time I was doing it I knew exactly what I was doing. <br /><br />I haven't done anything that extreme for a very long time. Maybe even over a year or more. I've had a pint of ice cream a few times, but I haven't purchased a cake with the intention of eating the entire thing, along with two packages of cookies and three pints of ice cream. What the hell was I thinking? Was I even thinking anything?<br /><br />I guess the difference between yesterday and my past full-blown binges is that I didn't actually eat the entire cake or the any of the cookies or all of the ice cream. In my past I would have continued the binge into today until every morsel was gone. I also would NOT have gone to the gym after a night of binging. <br /><br />Maybe I have changed. Maybe I will be okay. It's just surprising to me how easily I can fall back into old, bad habits. It's disturbing that I seemed to be completely out of control yesterday. <br /><br />Even though I've come a long way, I still have a long way to go...

It happened one night...a full-blown binge

It's strange how the harder I try to be "good", and the more I focus on thinking about always doing the right thing with food ...

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No Counting Thursday

TGIF!!! And I couldn't be happier!<br /><br />So my dear blog friends, I hope after reading this post you don't abandon me! I pretty much threw "counting points" out the window on Thursday. SHOCK, I know! <br /><br />I started out with a bowl of Reeses Puffs for breakfast, all enjoyed in my Iowa Hawkeye bowl!! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJUzS6TfbEkYNICJmdRhRw5tDLBzM2cbyHpMxFPwe5kwRkkOYW23IpisYJtMnN65fdnkxz9IJ48LeT1QHTI_bKlFTND-NH5YUzhsZNumrCwgMcQVJ00rw5mpJ4jVJ5Tn1p0_D6-j9xdy4/s1600/DSC09117.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533493369664897826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJUzS6TfbEkYNICJmdRhRw5tDLBzM2cbyHpMxFPwe5kwRkkOYW23IpisYJtMnN65fdnkxz9IJ48LeT1QHTI_bKlFTND-NH5YUzhsZNumrCwgMcQVJ00rw5mpJ4jVJ5Tn1p0_D6-j9xdy4/s400/DSC09117.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I felt SO snacky throughout the morning and my first snack was this <span style="font-weight:bold;">yogurt parfait</span>, not bad for only <span style="font-weight:bold;">2 points</span>! (ok so I did count some points!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFbAy5TcWNVZk6oTagYh8DX-5CxqZ7JY_tfnWFfSNYCnfujstyTVS0TwLWR3BGEkeFfrF4FuYYILAd9fUBayFD-M-DTMeIfancwhVjl6C9f1DiucpL4wOLM7gDavBzuruapecdzOx5Tzv/s1600/DSC09118.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533493353137206130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFbAy5TcWNVZk6oTagYh8DX-5CxqZ7JY_tfnWFfSNYCnfujstyTVS0TwLWR3BGEkeFfrF4FuYYILAd9fUBayFD-M-DTMeIfancwhVjl6C9f1DiucpL4wOLM7gDavBzuruapecdzOx5Tzv/s400/DSC09118.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />My 2nd snack was some crunchy <span style="font-weight:bold;">carrot sticks</span>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhUZg7w3kw2y84RGJz9htuUS48Kq74VJhdrlaJ6RLrUt452nlnHFN-jf2lfuyJdrnYqEttZ4_6gcBY4J4FHcbQLp3bQGBF8agV15HsRqS1NNe5Pka8aKUz47mGqkxu8mTmvMFOVsGpIby/s1600/DSC09119.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533493013709819314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhUZg7w3kw2y84RGJz9htuUS48Kq74VJhdrlaJ6RLrUt452nlnHFN-jf2lfuyJdrnYqEttZ4_6gcBY4J4FHcbQLp3bQGBF8agV15HsRqS1NNe5Pka8aKUz47mGqkxu8mTmvMFOVsGpIby/s400/DSC09119.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I ran a few errands on my lunch break today and one included a stop to our local grocery store here in Iowa, <a href="http://www.hy-vee.com/">HyVee</a>. I LOVE their Chinese food and who could resist this deal, I got ALL this food for $5! I only ate 1/2 though and saved the other half for another meal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNAcB8-rZG3An3U7bZro-x8mbLfMiqCv56G4ODDTILQExbSoO6kTqbLd4VUly5JI5LYqMDPVRyu5y2ra3ucI9QQY5qouRmASubOkuIGLo2qrSd8o2Z7a9N3BWBNc5wU3OldoBeOQAmbcV/s1600/DSC09120.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533493005338152306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNAcB8-rZG3An3U7bZro-x8mbLfMiqCv56G4ODDTILQExbSoO6kTqbLd4VUly5JI5LYqMDPVRyu5y2ra3ucI9QQY5qouRmASubOkuIGLo2qrSd8o2Z7a9N3BWBNc5wU3OldoBeOQAmbcV/s400/DSC09120.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I was proud that I only ate half, the "old" Darci would have scarfed that whole plate of food down!<br /><br />The other reason for my HyVee lunch run was to pick up some peanuts & candy corn, I have been craving that sweet & salty combo for a while now! The good part is that I shared with my co-workers so I don't have that entire mix at my house constantly tempting me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUCYJju6RAo6wyl-41N4Snc6pP2qrGqNx770nnaI7edoYbCAUSQ4FyICuyDztztCR9x3JibUxpEKBl72Pqhw8ULG4hSsJP40GBl3iI4I_8ngYeR_Kd7uwX8MRnu01ePtcNnq-hthJfSdN/s1600/DSC09121.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533492994439135362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUCYJju6RAo6wyl-41N4Snc6pP2qrGqNx770nnaI7edoYbCAUSQ4FyICuyDztztCR9x3JibUxpEKBl72Pqhw8ULG4hSsJP40GBl3iI4I_8ngYeR_Kd7uwX8MRnu01ePtcNnq-hthJfSdN/s400/DSC09121.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />After work I spent the rest of my evening with these two cuties, Wendi & Hayden!! I feel like he changes every time I see him, he's getting SO big!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2zg0a97DoZsAtU_fmKvxdz05l8zCSgejx8EVQTKXa-vP18wcHnPz-Z36aYCJRcZUes7hYIT7rVKDNpIgQHvJuJqGg5XbOJ4SbU5nyrhpo9nL-_-f_qImZn447FGGoaiyo-VGN2fSYD-7/s1600/71526_534950574703_210201033_31377794_5111619_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533492990182801810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2zg0a97DoZsAtU_fmKvxdz05l8zCSgejx8EVQTKXa-vP18wcHnPz-Z36aYCJRcZUes7hYIT7rVKDNpIgQHvJuJqGg5XbOJ4SbU5nyrhpo9nL-_-f_qImZn447FGGoaiyo-VGN2fSYD-7/s400/71526_534950574703_210201033_31377794_5111619_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Supper was some of my Mom's delicious homemade potato soup. I ended up having another scoop after this, it was SO good!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v-J4xVBYndBrCUWa57g6STdWI_hjpxBRGsrmO9BmAA4mOQh8vcn8JClGKm6i10INeRgSy-5yLT0P-7drwaHCS4jeQsvyI7COiXS9DRX0OmcykAHHDBqztM4KojKs16rNSMOWU1NMpWC7/s1600/DSC09122.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533492980119072898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v-J4xVBYndBrCUWa57g6STdWI_hjpxBRGsrmO9BmAA4mOQh8vcn8JClGKm6i10INeRgSy-5yLT0P-7drwaHCS4jeQsvyI7COiXS9DRX0OmcykAHHDBqztM4KojKs16rNSMOWU1NMpWC7/s400/DSC09122.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br />Don't worry I'll be right back to counting points tomorrow! We all have those days...right?!?! It's just <span style="font-weight:bold;">important </span>to get right back to plan afterward.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Happy Friday!!! </span>

No Counting Thursday

TGIF!!! And I couldn't be happier! So my dear blog friends, I hope after reading this post you don't abandon me! I pretty much threw...

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