Pandora Bracelet

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I picked up my new Pandora bracelet on Saturday in lieu of <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/11/4th-weigh-in-results-sickness-update.html">achieving another weight loss goal</a>.  This bracelet has been a long time coming, and I'm so excited to have finally purchased it.  My original plan was to get a charm for every 5 lbs goal I meet, starting with the most recent one.  However, there are two other 5 lbs goals I met and I would love a charm to represent those first two achievements as well - as a clear reminder as to how far I've come.  I'll be on the lookout for two more charms in the coming weeks for sure.<br /><br />What do you think of these?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSbnhfZNi5_kTrHv5rOYCDEozuclRAvjkSDC-GYtXUdrq577xk9weMj9RNDEP8W_GxzAHfG6DiLKMXxC_fOchULz_X7XosAbve5vOfZ4qTnYZ-UcwmSv-VLEPXmTS3uPSQYE_zJyEmBw/s1600/charm+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSbnhfZNi5_kTrHv5rOYCDEozuclRAvjkSDC-GYtXUdrq577xk9weMj9RNDEP8W_GxzAHfG6DiLKMXxC_fOchULz_X7XosAbve5vOfZ4qTnYZ-UcwmSv-VLEPXmTS3uPSQYE_zJyEmBw/s1600/charm+1.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1> <a href="http://www.wilkinsandolander.com/003527.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bead Cross W And Cz</span></a></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBDlLtklniBBncFVp-bwZ6juWrhiBnZBr2YB5uwOIHpI0CHCtp16_UY8qywFAYA0vJmEWxnGf_U9tIE1y5UYYfj5PcKJPJVNA7pd8baKD37hNWCiBrqdst_M5do9RcM-nCnOy9mueHII/s1600/charm+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBDlLtklniBBncFVp-bwZ6juWrhiBnZBr2YB5uwOIHpI0CHCtp16_UY8qywFAYA0vJmEWxnGf_U9tIE1y5UYYfj5PcKJPJVNA7pd8baKD37hNWCiBrqdst_M5do9RcM-nCnOy9mueHII/s1600/charm+3.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wilkinsandolander.com/000365.html">Bead Tea Pot</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIpkgjUnJVr6fPQsYiIFc9TUspJaf0Rf7aPoguYLh2osKEjpNjq1MUA26QxN1hNtsXpJ_5JbeOOBjlI_PWtFZ100-Sk9PmyoDPqGGbz1odZYoT_M-iHFWpvxASpDJrMbiBX0PTSSJApY/s1600/charm+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIpkgjUnJVr6fPQsYiIFc9TUspJaf0Rf7aPoguYLh2osKEjpNjq1MUA26QxN1hNtsXpJ_5JbeOOBjlI_PWtFZ100-Sk9PmyoDPqGGbz1odZYoT_M-iHFWpvxASpDJrMbiBX0PTSSJApY/s1600/charm+2.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wilkinsandolander.com/012715.html">Inner Strength</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I will probably go with the first 2, but I'll have to see them in person to make the decision!<br /><br />After selecting the specific Pandora bracelet style (a sterling silver one with the Pandora clasp), I moved on to the decision of what to get for my very first charm.  This charm was going to be very meaningful for me on so many levels.  Not only would this represent my having lost over 15 lbs so far, but it was going to serve as a reminder to me as to why I'm doing this journey.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi23fRk94cXSv-Eu83diHA6oaKuoq0p6rX2cGvW6rbzDfEfZyX1Kua9gM-KX1sKTOzA4186MVnXFSU3ggyaJ1HSmMziFySBiCGXi5CpZ1gfG75hWCXlZdQXky_5_QWR56_5XU3oNFp-Y/s1600/bracelet+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi23fRk94cXSv-Eu83diHA6oaKuoq0p6rX2cGvW6rbzDfEfZyX1Kua9gM-KX1sKTOzA4186MVnXFSU3ggyaJ1HSmMziFySBiCGXi5CpZ1gfG75hWCXlZdQXky_5_QWR56_5XU3oNFp-Y/s400/bracelet+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "Pandora" clasp</td></tr></tbody></table>You see, on Wednesday, November 9, my family and I will be honoring the life of my grandmother, Clara Mabel, as we mark the one year anniversary since her death.  Earlier this year, <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/04/drawing-inspiration-from-places-other.html">I shared</a> how seeing her in the hospital last November, suffering from cancer and a host of other illnesses, made it abundantly clear to me that I needed to make a life change now while I was fully capable.  The same week my grandmother passed away, I joined the local gym. <br /><br />Now, almost a year later, I am happy to say that I haven't given up on this journey, despite the slow rate of weight loss I've experienced.     <br /><br />It was my grandmother who inspired me to do this once and for all, and I know she would be especially proud of me today for removing these 16 lbs.  It's not an easy journey.  She knew that just as well as the rest of us Weight Watchers. <br /><br />And so my first charm had to be representative of her.  Something that I could glance at and immediately know, "Yes, that is the first charm I bought on this weight loss journey.  That is the one that honors Grandma."<br /><br />I chose a sterling silver flower with a purple amethyst stone in the center.  Purple was her favorite color.  The charm is perfect!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxJb_4KgW75219uJe9z67mdTcwPXv_2MSYaF0Ho7cTgL9NXbq7gaVXrFinkKSZzpMbwrm7DfVvHUIe3XwznoXEfixdXdgtWJ6cQxrMROs05pSqKtsfcctw3ESw4vGo5_Y2dlEIZZZOSc/s1600/bracelet+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxJb_4KgW75219uJe9z67mdTcwPXv_2MSYaF0Ho7cTgL9NXbq7gaVXrFinkKSZzpMbwrm7DfVvHUIe3XwznoXEfixdXdgtWJ6cQxrMROs05pSqKtsfcctw3ESw4vGo5_Y2dlEIZZZOSc/s400/bracelet+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And while we were in the store, Joel liked the idea of the bracelet so much that he also bought me a charm.  I know not many of you know Joel personally, but if you do, you can imagine which one he picked :). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8bZvaEj0o3yVX8mbpr2kKNTgacfL6y-EQN3Maw3AWJ-ibp9xmgxayObmrwyHbhjKjUxGjdZ6IGuGj7aXikPqCsf7f0ID5BE76grFezRGMgGLyHpdQ4WaxZWBl5rnXH1T7zaLE2LeMF0/s1600/bracelet+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8bZvaEj0o3yVX8mbpr2kKNTgacfL6y-EQN3Maw3AWJ-ibp9xmgxayObmrwyHbhjKjUxGjdZ6IGuGj7aXikPqCsf7f0ID5BE76grFezRGMgGLyHpdQ4WaxZWBl5rnXH1T7zaLE2LeMF0/s400/bracelet+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm so pleased with my Pandora bracelet, and would strongly recommend it as a great tool to showcase your weight loss, if to no one else but yourself!  It is a constant visual reminder as to how far I've come (and will be even more so once I add those two additional charms).  Not only that, but I don't want to reverse the progress I've made, and so when I'm craving a snack size Reese Peanut Butter pumpkin, all I have to do is glance down at the bracelet and it forces me to ask myself, "Is it really worth it?". It is quite a large investment up front (the bracelet itself was $65, the flower charm $75, and the 2 clips were $35 each), but after that initial upfront cost, charms vary in price enough that they can be (somewhat) affordable (as low as $30 that I've seen).  <br /><br />How do you put your weight loss efforts into perspective?

goals Weight Loss Weight Watchers Pandora Bracelet

I picked up my new Pandora bracelet on Saturday in lieu of achieving another weight loss goal .  This bracelet has been a long time coming, ...

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8 important tips for Skype interviews

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/fr/ar5l22n5yp17k2n5mcfr.gif?time=6/17/2011%206:24:10%20pm" /></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder</span></b> </div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With video interviews becoming more common during hiring, not being prepared can easily keep you out of the running. While meeting via video is time saver, getting past the technological barriers of not speaking face-to-face can be difficult. Be sure you're prepared and use Skype to your advantage, experts say. For one, use your computer screen to refer hiring managers to your achievements or provide explanations. "Prepare a digital portfolio that you can link to during the interview or show the interviewer your screen, which has a sample of your work," says <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/social+media/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">social media</a> expert Marian Schembari, who adds that you can also send relevant links through the chat function.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Looking for more ways to impress? Here's how to handle a Skype or video interview:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. Look at the camera, not the screen</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It can be confusing, but when you're looking at your monitor it actually makes the interviewer feel as if you're looking away. Instead, look directly at the video camera you're using for your interview. And although you're not making eye contact in the traditional sense, this is the way that the interviewer perceives that you're looking straight ahead.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2. Be aware of interruptions</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Since you're used to living in the house, it can be easy to forget to turn off a phone or not warn family members to give you some privacy, Schembari says. Have a plan for whatever distractions you have in your house, including children and dogs. "Too many people don't take [Skype interviews] as seriously as in-person interviews, but you need to be just as professional here," she says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. Practice in front of a mirror</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">During the interview, you can see yourself in the video camera, which can be startling if you've never seen yourself speak. "It's important to get familiar with your own facial expressions when you talk," says Colleen Aylward, <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/CEO/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">chief executive</a> of InterviewStudio Inc., a company that offers video interview capabilities. "It also gets rid of some of the camera shyness."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>4. Mind the background</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Your surroundings can say a lot about how you've prepared for the interview, so it's important to put your best foot forward. "Shoot your video against a blank wall or a warm one-color background," Aylward suggests. "Clear off your desk, or have only awards and certificates in the background."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>5. Avoid patterned clothing</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wear a shirt that's business casual and complimentary to your skin tone. Avoid patterns that come across as too loud on screen, such as anything floral or bright stripes. Clothing can distract the interviewer from the information conveyed during the conversation, so it's important to plan your outfit carefully.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>6. Conduct a mock interview</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Being comfortable with the technology prevents the added stress from a tech malfunction. Find a person you trust and use Skype or other video conferencing software to conduct a mock interview. You're bound to make mistakes, so it's best to practice with someone who can provide honest feedback.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>7. Test audio and video</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Just because your laptop has a built-in video camera and microphone doesn't mean the quality is up to par. Instead, test out the video and audio capabilities on your computer and decide whether you need to buy a headset with a microphone or an attachable video camera. Before the interview, some companies may send their own video devices to applicants.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>8. Add extra enthusiasm</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Any news announcer will tell that your reactions translate differently when on-screen, so it's important to compensate with extra enthusiasm and concise answers. Additionally, speak succinctly and remember that speed is important, Aylward says. "Practice speaking more quickly than you normally do," she says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Alina Dizik researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

8 important tips for Skype interviews

Alina Dizik, Special to CareerBuilder   With video interviews becoming more common during hiring, not being prepared can easily keep you out...

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Don't forget to document your day on 11.11.11 with iEARN.org

Here is a message from Omashani our Projects Manager at SchoolNetSA:<br /><br />"On Friday 11 November 2011, students and teachers from around the world will document parts of their day using video, photography, writing, and other media. We hope you and your students can join us! For this special event, we are teaming up with filmmakers at <a href="http://www.onedayonearth.org">http://www.onedayonearth.org</a> who worked with us last year on 10.10.10. Keep in mind that this event is not a video-only event. It is also part of our regular iEARN One Day in the Life project, so we will soon be setting up special discussion areas for 11/11/11, including places for students to publish text posts and other media. (Even if your students use video, we ask that you post a link to it in the iEARN forums, so that the younger students and the non-video-making students can view, enjoy, and respond to them.) This project is facilitated by Marta Garcia Lorea (Argentina) and Chris Baer (USA). Learn more about the project, and connect, on the One Day in the Life Project Page."<br /><br />Watch this video about 10.10.10 (last year)<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18910284?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="/18910284">One Day on Earth Video Map Trailer</a> from <a href="/onedayonearth">One Day On Earth</a> on <a href="/">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Collaboration Project-based learning Don't forget to document your day on 11.11.11 with iEARN.org

Here is a message from Omashani our Projects Manager at SchoolNetSA: "On Friday 11 November 2011, students and teachers from around the...

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EUROPEAN STABILITY MECHANISM (ESM) - A NEW DICTATORSHIP

<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is this the end to the sovereign democracies in Europe?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gls3pO-94b4?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

EUROPEAN STABILITY MECHANISM (ESM) - A NEW DICTATORSHIP

Is this the end to the sovereign democracies in Europe?

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Set up a group email account using Gmail

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One of Google's great offerings is Gmail. You can do so much with a Gmail email account. Have you ever wondered how to set up a group email in Gmail? I have been wondering about this and today I set myself up to learn how to do it.  It is really not as difficult as I thought. Here is a video explanation from YouTube:<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3oYFrIK_7Zg" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />This type of account is useful to teachers to possibly set up a Gmail group account for homework help for example. <br /><br />Other interesting posts relating to Gmail are as follows:<br />1) Some Gmail tips worth knowing about:<br /><a href="http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2011/08/awesome-gmail-tips-gmail-as-you-have.html">http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2011/08/awesome-gmail-tips-gmail-as-you-have.html</a><br /><br />2) This Gmail trick is very useful for teachers who want to add safe email accounts for students <br /><a href="http://www.markbrumley.com/2010/02/18/the-gmail-trick-once-and-for-all/">http://www.markbrumley.com/2010/02/18/the-gmail-trick-once-and-for-all/</a></div>

Gmail google Set up a group email account using Gmail

One of Google's great offerings is Gmail. You can do so much with a Gmail email account. Have you ever wondered how to set up a group em...

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CASINO CAPITALISM IN A NUTSHELL

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In his article in Asian Times, the link of which is displayed below, Pepe Escobar brilliantly describes Casino Capitalism and its subsequent cause and effect on society</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_383418207">http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/MK05Dj02.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

CASINO CAPITALISM IN A NUTSHELL

In his article in Asian Times, the link of which is displayed below, Pepe Escobar brilliantly describes Casino Capitalism and its subsequent...

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WHY SKINNY B*TCHES EAT MORE(and don't get fat)

<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">By the time I first meet with a client, they’ve already decided they want to do the hCG protocol. Not because they want to completely overhaul the way they eat, but because they’ve convinced themselves losing weight will improve their life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On some level, they are absolutely correct. Fat cells are organ cells that create and stimulate all sorts of hormones, and because these clients have too many fat cells, weak stimulus results in a strong hormonal response. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Do you understand the hormonal difference between a leaner body compared to a more obese body? The more fat you have the weaker hormonal stimulus you need. On the other hand, the less fat you have the stronger hormonal stimulus you need.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Similar to hormones, food (all food) stimulates your fat cells to release hormones. As a result, in order to maintain hormonal balance, those who have more fat need significantly less food. If you continue to eat similar to others who have less fat, you’ll inevitably have hormonal problems. This is why those who are leaner (skinny b*tches) can eat more without gaining fat or having hormonal problems. And a person who has more fat, eats less, gains fat, and has hormonal problems. (This is thoroughly explained in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Weight-Loss Apocalypse)</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Because of this magnified hormonal response after eating, the larger you are, the more you end up feeling like crap if you eat “normal” amounts of food. You're tired, fatigued, have suppressed adrenal function which makes you less motivated to do anything, have hot flashes, daily symptoms of heart burn, erratic sex drive, inflamed joints, breathing issues, night sweats, sleep disruptions, etc. These symptoms don’t occur with people who have less fat-- unless they binge eat or have a hormonal cause, such as thyroid, ovary, or other organ problem. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As soon as clients begin the very low calorie protocol and their food intake is regimented and minimal, they notice how much better they feel. Energy for most improves. Hot flashes and heart burn disappear. The more fat they lose, the more their sleep improves, etc. However, many people look past how incredibly better they feel to instead, base all of their motivation on their weight. If they lose more weight, they want to continue. If they don’t lose enough weight, they feel burdened by the reduced food intake. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Weight on the scale is a very superficial reason to eat less. When you consider the disease and hormonal problems associated to obesity and eating’s hormonal magnification, don’t you think there are more profound motivations to eat functionally?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Unfortunately, the diet industry has plagued us with the idea that weight is the only measure of success. Why? Because you pay for it. The more you obsess over your weight, the less focus you put towards ending the reasons you eat that have nothing to do with true physical hunger, and have everything to do with why you have excess fat. Weight motivated diets don’t realistically prepare you to live in our culture of normalized gluttony. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This time, instead of enlisting for another shallow diet that judges food, causes guilt every time you eat, and encourages you to weigh obsessively-- do something very different. Choose to eat less to feel better, and to reduce your hormonal problems. If you’re never going to lose the damn weight anyways, wouldn’t you at least want to lose all the sh*tty hormonal symptoms?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">For the next couple of months try this: stop judging food. Eat anything you want. HOWEVER, the boundary is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you must have true physical hunger to eat, and you must avoid fullness at all cost.</i> Throw away your scale, and choose to eat functionally no matter what the result. You’ll notice you physically feel much better. Binging because of diet guilt will immediately stop, food isn’t such a big deal anymore, and neither is your weight. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Because you aren’t allowed to eat without hunger, you’ll have to find other things to do with your spare time. Projects you’ve started will finally get finished; you’ll try new hobbies, and have more creative drive. Emotionally, you’ll be held accountable. This is similar to a baby and a pacifier. If food is your pacifier, you’re going to have to learn to handle change and life without superstitiously thinking food will make things better. Truthfully, letting go of food emotionally will get you back to the way you used to eat as a child.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Children spend their time playing, thinking, and creating. Eating is only necessary when they get the physical irritation of hunger, which eventually can’t be ignored. They eat, but only enough for the pang to go away. Then they bolt out the door, back to the fun and creativity they only left, because of hunger. No fullness, no emotional high, no emotional guilt, no fear of gaining fat, and no caring about weight.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This is a challenge of your ability to understand what physical hunger feels like, and to understand the difference between true physical need to eat, from emotional desire. Ultimately, as you no longer need food as a pacifier, your emotional confidence will grow. Eating less won’t need motivation or feel like punishment. With hormonal balance, you’ll immediately feel better, and the obvious result will be fat loss. This immediately solves hormonal problems that created fat gain, and were caused by eating without hunger in the first place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This is one of those win/win situations: <em>Eat what you want, but only when there’s true physical hunger, and avoid fullness at all cost.</em> I challenge you to try this, and let me know how it goes!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div>

WHY SKINNY B*TCHES EAT MORE(and don't get fat)

By the time I first meet with a client, they’ve already decided they want to do the hCG protocol. Not because they want to completely overha...

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Our weekly update of Diigo bookmarks:

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="diigo-link"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.e4africa.co.za/" rel="nofollow">Documenting the challenges of implementing ICT in schools in South Africa. | Kobus van Wyk</a><br />Kobus' blog which gives loads of tips and practical advice for the integration of ICT in South African context.</li><li><a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/" rel="nofollow">Free Book Writing Software: self-publish and sell your book or ebook with just a few clicks. - FastPencil</a> - bookwriting software </li><li><a href="http://livebinders.com/play/play/3803" rel="nofollow">GOOGLE - LiveBinder</a> </li><li><a href="http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning2-0/10-social-media-tools-for-learning" rel="nofollow">10 Social Media Tools For Learning: The eLearning Coach</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/iTunesNew/index.html" rel="nofollow">How to use iTunes from Teacher Training Videos</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html" rel="nofollow">Educational Hash Tags</a><br />Cybraryman's list of hashtags</li><li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/toolbox4teachinglearning" rel="nofollow">21st Century Toolbox For Teaching & Learning</a><br />Naomi Harm's toolbox</li><li><a href="http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans" rel="nofollow">Lesson Plans | EDSITEment</a><br />A great collection of humanities lesson plans</li><li><a href="http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning2-0/screenr-for-elearning" rel="nofollow">Screenr For eLearning: The eLearning Coach</a><br />Use Screenr fr screencasting</li><li><a href="http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2011/02/26/socioclean-can-help-clean-up-your-digital-footprint" rel="nofollow">Moving at the Speed of Creativity - Socioclean Can Help Clean Up Your Digital Footprint</a><br />Weblog of Wesley Fryer</li><li><a href="http://mathforlove.com/blog" rel="nofollow">Blog | math for love</a> Maths for love blog</li><li><a href="http://www.absolutely-write.com/magazines/businessteaching.html" rel="nofollow">The Business of Teaching</a> - A teaching magazine from South Africa</li><li><a href="http://blog.wikispaces.com/2011/09/resources-for-project-based-learning.html" rel="nofollow">Resources for Project-Based Learning</a> - projects for wikispaces</li><li><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/100-ways-use-digital-cameras" rel="nofollow">100 Ways to Use Digital Cameras | Scholastic.com</a></li><li><a href="http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/10/14/twitter-chat-to-explore-the-future-of-internet-search" rel="nofollow">Twitter chat to explore the future of internet search | eSchool News</a><br />All the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing) have revamped their formulas to include social media data as key indicators of a website’s importance </li><li><a href="http://www.angelamaiers.com/2011/10/guest-post-how-teachers-are-incorporating-ipads-into-the-classroom.html" rel="nofollow">Guest Post: Erin Palmer | Angela Maiers Educational Services, Inc.</a><br />Ipads in the classroom</li><li><a href="http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Digital-Write-Ables" rel="nofollow">Digital Printables</a></li><li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15391515" rel="nofollow">BBC News - 7 billion people and you: What's your number?</a><br />Where do you fit into 7 billion</li><li><a href="http://kommein.com/29-things-we-should-teach-our-kids-about-using-the-internet" rel="nofollow">29 Things We Should Teach Our Kids About Using the Internet — Kommein</a><br />Online safety tips</li><li><a href="http://ozgekaraoglu.edublogs.org/2011/10/28/a-to-z-web-toolsj" rel="nofollow">Ozge Karaoglu's Blog - A to Z Web Tools:J</a><br />AZwebtools - J</li><li><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-planet-finder/id361753588?mt=8" rel="nofollow">Star & Planet Finder for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on the iTunes App Store</a><br />stars, planets, constellations and satellites in the sky</li><li><a href="http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/10/5-reasons-e-books-are-awesome-even-for-the-most-reluctant/#more-16475" rel="nofollow">5 Reasons E-Books Are Awesome – Even for the Most Reluctant | MindShift</a><br />e-books are awesome</li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XjbKi9PCHf8" rel="nofollow">Bringing e-books to African schools - YouTube</a><br />Kindles in Africa</li><li><a href="http://kommein.com/8-safe-social-networks-for-kids" rel="nofollow">8 Safe Social Networks for Kids — Kommein</a></li><li><a href="http://maggiev.edublogs.org/workshops-conferences-webinars/twitter-online-workshop" rel="nofollow">Twitter Online un-Workshop (1 November- 30 November)</a><br />Please join us and help us to get 500 teachers to use twitter for teaching and learning</li><li><a href="http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning_design/10-types-of-writing-for-elearning" rel="nofollow">10 Types Of Writing For eLearning: The eLearning Coach</a><br />IF you're considering writing online for eLearning here is a valuable site.</li><li><a href="http://kommein.com/25-essential-conference-networking-tips" rel="nofollow">25 Essential Conference Networking Tips — Kommein</a><br />These are useful tips for conferences</li><li><a href="http://education.skype.com/projects/1407" rel="nofollow">Skype Book Club for Elementary School Kids | Skype Education</a></li><li><a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/ictmagic/p/365661599/jellycam-stop-motion-animation" rel="nofollow">JellyCam - Stop Motion Animation | ICTmagic | Scoop.it</a><br />A site with a great collection of stuff for younger learners</li></ul><br />Posted from <a href="http://www.diigo.com/">Diigo</a>. The rest of <strong>SchoolNetSA</strong> <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/school_net_sa">group favorite links</a> are here.</div>

Diigo bookmarks Our weekly update of Diigo bookmarks:

Documenting the challenges of implementing ICT in schools in South Africa. | Kobus van Wyk Kobus' blog which gives loads of tips and pra...

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How to calm job interview jitters

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/fc/ar5l4176zxvzrpybs7fc.gif?time=6/7/2011%2011:49:48%20am" /></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Larry Buhl, Special to CareerBuilder</span></b> </div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Interviews can strike fear in the hearts of the most seasoned job seekers. If you don't have a lot of experience interviewing, it's not unusual to feel mild jitters or even outright terror at the thought of sitting down with a potential employer. But you don't have to let emotions turn that important hiring hurdle into a horror show. Experts offer several tips for preventing anxiety from torpedoing your chances of landing the job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Interviewers are not trying to make your life miserable. Really. In fact, they are hoping you are "the one." They need to fill the job with the best person, and if they don't succeed their jobs could be on the line. Just keeping that in perspective can help calm your jitters.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Prepare, prepare, prepare.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Preparation is 90 percent of success in job interviews," says Dr. Linda Smith-Gaston, career advisor at <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/california/los+angeles/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Los Angeles</a> Trade Technical College. Smith-Gaston encourages role-playing with a friend before the interview and anticipating the questions you'll likely hear. Typical interview questions include:</div><ul><br /><li>Why are you the best person for the job?</li><br /><li>Tell me about yourself.</li><br /><li>What are your best/worst traits?</li><br /><li>Why do you want to work here?</li><br /><li>What did you learn in school (or at an internship) that prepares you for this job?</li></ul><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"You should always know what the company actually does before the interview," Smith-Gaston adds. Finding out could be as simple as a two-minute Internet search.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Plan your day around the interview.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Running late will stress you out. Avoid rushing by mapping out the directions to the interview site and allowing more time than you think you'll need. Budget for traffic jams, parking snafus, bad weather, road closures and just getting lost. Make sure you budget enough time off from your current job or school, so you don't feel like you have to run out of the interview if it runs longer than you anticipated. Hiring managers, like doctors, can sometimes keep you waiting.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>De-stress before the interview.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After you check in with the <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/receptionist/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">receptionist </a>-- being pleasant and professional when you do this -- try some relaxation techniques, recommends Smith-Gaston. This could be as simple as closing your eyes or doing a few deep breathing exercises. But beware: If your idea of relaxation is kick-boxing or a yoga routine, do those at home. "You want to be memorable to the employer, but not for making a scene in the waiting room," Smith-Gaston says. And don't even think about taking a drink or using substances to calm down; that should be obvious, but for some it isn't.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Listen, think, speak</b>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Whether your interview is in person or over the phone, it is important to listen to what the interviewer has to say, and then think before responding, according to Paul Bailo, author of "The Official Phone Interview Handbook." "Take a few seconds to understand the question, and then prepare a quality answer before simply blurting out something less intelligent," he says. "Focusing on the interviewer will take your mind off your own jitters and actually help calm you down."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Prepare your own questions.</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You'll know the interview is almost over when the interviewer asks whether you have any questions about the job or the company. When you hear this, don't say "no," and bolt for the door. Use this opportunity to solidify the good impression you've made. "Well-thought-out questions show you're really interested in the company and the job," Bailo says. Also, if you have sent in your résumé, have a copy in front of you (and make sure it's the same version). Always wait until the interviewer has finished asking about you and your background before launching into your own questions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The day after the interview, send a thank you note to the interviewer. "Use the thank-you note to add something new, like an award or a small honor you received," Smith-Gaston says.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Larry Buhl researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

How to calm job interview jitters

Larry Buhl, Special to CareerBuilder   Interviews can strike fear in the hearts of the most seasoned job seekers. If you don't have a lo...

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Greetings from Fairbanks

Last night I remembered why I moved away from here 25 years ago. It's too cold!<br /><br />For the first time in my entire life, I arrived at the airport here in Fairbanks and there was no one to greet me and give me a ride to their house. It used to be my mom, then my sister and her husband, then just my sister, then my crazy niece, then my almost depressed niece and her husband, and now....no one.<br /><br />My brother offered to pick me up, but he lives about 20 miles from the airport. Since I was going to my hotel and renting a car so I wouldn't be stranded for a week, I told him there really wasn't a need for him to meet me at the airport.<br /><br />It was an odd experience to come down the stairs to baggage and not see a smiling face greeting me. I didn't cry, but there certainly was a feeling of loss.<br /><br />I got my bag and picked up my keys for the rental car. Walking out to the car in freezing cold and dark at 5:30 p.m. was quite an experience. It was at the end of parking lot at the airport. It's a small airport but dragging my giant suitcase, backpack and my 20-pound purse through the ice and snow to get to it was a challenge.<br /><br />The doors and trunk of the car were frozen shut. I found one door that I was able to force open and then crawled in and managed to get the driver's door open from the inside. I never got the trunk open, and put my bags in the back seat.<br /><br />When I got in the car the light for the trunk said it was open. I guess technically it thought it was open but it was shut tight with ice. I finally forced it open with the snow scraper so I could shut it. I thought it was at least 20 degrees below zero, but it was actually 17 degrees above. This is exactly why I moved away from here. Alaska is beautiful and there's a lot to love about this state, but the cold weather is NOT one of them. <br /><br />I drove to the hotel and my suite is really nice. They upgraded me for the same price as my regular room ($72 a night for my airline discount - can't beat it). I have a microwave and fridge, a little kitchen with a table and chairs, a sitting room with chairs, TV and a computer desk, and then the bedroom with it's own TV. It's not a separate room, but has a half wall. It's pretty nice, although it's a bit large and I keep misplacing things (like my phone!).<br /><br />After getting settled into the hotel room last night, I went to see my sister. She was asleep so I sat next to her and held her hand. She woke up, saw me and started to cry. She cried for about ten minutes, even though I kept telling her it was okay. For some reason, I didn't cry, but just held her hand and tried to comfort her. She felt like ice and the room was freezing cold. She only had a sheet and a thin cotton blanket on her. The week I was here before she had a down comforter on her every day. There was another blanket in the room which I put on her and she pulled it up to her neck and said "ahhhh!". I know she must have been freezing.<br /><br />She kept trying to tell me things but I couldn't understand a word of what she was saying. She tried spelling words but I still couldn't get it what she wanted to tell me. I visited for about an hour, but my migraine headache was starting and I was starving. I told her I was going back to my hotel to sleep and kissed her goodnight. <br /><br />I talked to the nurses and they said she hadn't eaten a bite of anything for two days, Wednesday and Thursday. Since they put the morphine patch on her on Tuesday, all she's been doing is sleeping. They started the morphine patch at the insistence of my crazy niece, because she wants her to sleep all the time. I don't like this one bit and am going to do what I can to get my sister back on the morphine drops, on an as needed basis. My sister can't get better if she doesn't eat and is sleeping 24/7.<br /><br />I have a huge list of things to do today, talk with my sister's doctor, speech and physical therapists, bring my sister a strawberry milkshake from the homemade ice cream place down the street, and some organic bananas (she used to eat one every day), pick up the book on how to recover from a stroke from Barnes and Noble (should have done that last week), check with the home care people that visited her yesterday (who are they?), look at the bed sore on her heel and check her backside for bed sores, buy her some reading glasses at 2.25. I asked both nieces to do that while I was gone and neither one did. We forgot to bring a pair of hers from home when we moved her, and the only ones the the hotel gift shop I bought her the last time I was here were 1.75.There's one other thing I have to check on but I can't talk about it yet. It's the real reason I'm here.<br /><br />Number one thing right now is I'm heading down to the hotel gym to workout. I have to keep myself healthy and working out is really important now. Eating wasn't perfect last night, but not a total disaster. I started out tracking my food, but by last night I was too tired, too hungry and my head hurt too much to really even care about it. Today is a new day, and I'll do my best to track my food. At least I'll write down what I'm eating. I bought a few groceries last night so I can eat in my room, which will really help keep the calories in line.<br /><br />Wish me luck today, it's going to be a rough one. <br /><br /><br /><br />

Greetings from Fairbanks

Last night I remembered why I moved away from here 25 years ago. It's too cold! For the first time in my entire life, I arrived at the a...

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i can't sleep with you staring at me

I've long wanted sconces by our bed. It would free up some bedside table real estate and work toward that cozy master bedroom that I never seem to have time to create. While hardwired sconces were not in the budget, I set out to find an alternative that suited and scored a pair from Home Depot.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3wwR-ADOFJ7AmLXLTujBB67gkYVuitU0vdBM1G7Jarx_KmdhN-1HnGGpnS69AgjjWMNp1nQJtzfemRiaQ9nXGyfeh2F3YDqji3rRrXFkSqsVb4vGDhzZouDKDEL4rL7a4DhwCGtEqViP/s1600/PA079418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3wwR-ADOFJ7AmLXLTujBB67gkYVuitU0vdBM1G7Jarx_KmdhN-1HnGGpnS69AgjjWMNp1nQJtzfemRiaQ9nXGyfeh2F3YDqji3rRrXFkSqsVb4vGDhzZouDKDEL4rL7a4DhwCGtEqViP/s320/PA079418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And while I'm happy with them, the shades were just...sad. I wanted to do something with them but was trying to practice some self control (very unusual) and hold off until I knew what I wanted to do with our bedroom.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmeM3ZuoNsIyKneBXh6wSIImsAuB48XrJgaMR2Jqs9U8FOaGogEn3H1wJedtuTaCucYxbehm2KevGZnH1WXMJ4MPVahtknuiyyxaqq-nAh5iQX7tnghQiUojsE3_imlux-peRXu0D4OHA/s1600/PA079419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmeM3ZuoNsIyKneBXh6wSIImsAuB48XrJgaMR2Jqs9U8FOaGogEn3H1wJedtuTaCucYxbehm2KevGZnH1WXMJ4MPVahtknuiyyxaqq-nAh5iQX7tnghQiUojsE3_imlux-peRXu0D4OHA/s320/PA079419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sarah Richardson's words are always replaying in my <strike style="text-align: left;">DVR</strike> mind, and I remembered a trick she used in one of her <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/video/player/0,1000149,HGTV_32796_7041_42101-59885,00.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Farmhouse bedrooms</a>. I went on the hunt for some cool ribbon (yes there is such a thing) and found this little honey.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi_SyvDLLviS73SkjSnfnEKp67BujDe_1xQnLDkQLQhLFp7AX0MmjX47qYRkwrw7iM0Ybwn52xTnazjddNn13DYHwcdTwAJo8K-x0Y2gRU2wedabBDTuyouT_8OfUhmkDtDwg2-ieSFQK/s1600/PA079422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi_SyvDLLviS73SkjSnfnEKp67BujDe_1xQnLDkQLQhLFp7AX0MmjX47qYRkwrw7iM0Ybwn52xTnazjddNn13DYHwcdTwAJo8K-x0Y2gRU2wedabBDTuyouT_8OfUhmkDtDwg2-ieSFQK/s320/PA079422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dark navy 'man ribbon' and I'm in love. With ribbon giddiness over taking me, I got to wrappin' (with ribbon, not rhymes. Although my rhymes are tight). The whole thing only took about 20 minutes and I only got tangled up once, okay maybe twice.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1ihJz544rjk1szzDomB2PVFcoXoALxGVnOkpnlLKPx-Sw_FNKhDpT59OL3ZU8rdZ_56pGqgoJfBalPT-Bj7i5Apd9swHM6xdiZhVI3vV3bUO8thzeidH5ZYKEk50vy1mQ4SKP78Telud/s1600/PB040717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1ihJz544rjk1szzDomB2PVFcoXoALxGVnOkpnlLKPx-Sw_FNKhDpT59OL3ZU8rdZ_56pGqgoJfBalPT-Bj7i5Apd9swHM6xdiZhVI3vV3bUO8thzeidH5ZYKEk50vy1mQ4SKP78Telud/s320/PB040717.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUIdc-KNlJ9K4ub9M1LO67hyphenhyphenpOTQ49iUkzEpTLwgQrUNRlSaz9-Agi5JJaKveoRKv-yIk0FdoiuwlXARKwQk-A6vQROVV-sqAcujdijteVg9ulESjNY0YWEz1I2B_0eGKf4E4QZyLPjg_/s1600/PB040719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUIdc-KNlJ9K4ub9M1LO67hyphenhyphenpOTQ49iUkzEpTLwgQrUNRlSaz9-Agi5JJaKveoRKv-yIk0FdoiuwlXARKwQk-A6vQROVV-sqAcujdijteVg9ulESjNY0YWEz1I2B_0eGKf4E4QZyLPjg_/s320/PB040719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />This is by no means Elle Decor worthy but it was a cheap and easy way to give a bit more life to those shades and ease into this new room plan. I'm working on my inspiration board this weekend and then<br />its time to 'get to gettin' on this room. What little tricks have you tried to perk up a space?

i can't sleep with you staring at me

I've long wanted sconces by our bed. It would free up some bedside table real estate and work toward that cozy master bedroom that I nev...

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4th Weigh in Results + Sickness Update

Today brings Joel and I to our 4th weigh in together - with stellar results yet again!<br /><br />But first, the update on my sickness.  After work on Wednesday, I went to the local urgent care center and the nurse practitioner there deduced that I had food poisoning.   And because I had not been eating or drinking (pretty much, <i>at all</i>), I had become dehydrated.  The dehydration is what caused the heart palpitations.  She explained why at the time, and it made sense, but don't ask me to reiterate :).   My job was to go on the BRAT diet for 24 hours to get my GI-tract back to normal (i.e. so that all things I do consume don't immediately exit my body out the other end!).  If you've ever had dehydrated children, or know someone yourself who has been dehydrated, then you've probably heard of BRAT:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>B</b>ananas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>R</b>ice</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A</b>pplesauce</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>T</b>oast</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>These are foods that will "stop you up", causing your body to start to retain some nutrients and not simply pass everything right through your system as quick as it went in.  I was also advised NOT to drink any water, but to drink Gatorade (I've been drinking the Powerade Zero - no calories), tea, diet soda, and/or chicken broth.  Water actually helps aid..... I'm just gonna go ahead and say it here, because we're all adults right?.... <i>diarrhea</i>.  So does milk.  And those are 2 things that I consume a lot of on a regular basis.  Even on Wednesday, I had tried to start normalizing myself and I started the day off with milk and 3 bottles of water - bad idea I realized about 30 minutes later!<br /><br />So for 24 hours, I ate rice/chicken broth, applesauce, toast and saltines (saltines was a sub-category of the toast).  AND, the heart palpitations have subsided substantially (by biggest concern).  By the time those 24 hours were up, I was the hungriest I had been all week.  All I wanted was a nice slice of lasagna (hence the trip to the Olive Garden)! <br /><br />Still, recognizing that I was sick this week and I didn't eat at all like I normally would, I had a 4.2 pound loss from last week.  BUT, I cannot help but be excited.  A loss is a loss and I'll take it!  I have not seen 247.6 on the scale in probably more than a year.  That means I've also met another one of my <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/p/goals.html">5 pound goals</a> and today/tomorrow I will be going out to buy my Pandora bracelet and first charm - I'm so excited!! <br /><br />While I do hope to maintain this current weight loss in the upcoming weeks, I will not be too shocked if come next week I have gained a little, especially if I can get myself back to eating normally this week, which is slowly but surely starting to happen.  I'm not trying to stick to the BRAT forever :).  <i>But I will cross that bridge when I get there next week.  </i><br /><br />I have viewed this incident as a means for God reminding me that I shouldn't continuously put crap into my body - even if I do have the Points+ values for it!  Now, I'm not saying God was like - "punish this girl - poison her!!"  No, He doesn't do that.  But, everything happens for a reason.  This "clean out" of my system this week has made me only want to put good things <i>back in</i> to my fragile stomach, and not taint it with junk.    <br /><br />But, alas, the results:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.loosemyobesity.com/index_files/page13-1008-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.loosemyobesity.com/index_files/page13-1008-full.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.loosemyobesity.com/">source</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Joel (6'): 225.6</b><br /><b> Hilary (5'8"): 247.6</b></div><br />If you're on a weight loss journey, how did you do this week?  Would you "count" this weight loss this week if you were me? 

Loss Success Weight Loss Weight Watchers 4th Weigh in Results + Sickness Update

Today brings Joel and I to our 4th weigh in together - with stellar results yet again! But first, the update on my sickness.  After work on ...

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A "Normal" Trip to the Olive Garden

I'm up and at 'em bright and early this morning!<br /><br />After almost 4 days had passed since I got sick, where the main entree for me had been saltines, by 5 PM Thursday I felt famished and like I could really go for a nice slice of lasagna.  I wanted carbs and I wanted something heavy that would sit well in my stomach and make me feel satisfied and not so sickly as I've been feeling.  So we went to the Olive Garden. <br /><br />Ordinarily, a trip to the Olive Garden for me would involve an appetizer, the pasta fagioli soup with cheese on top, <i>at least</i> 2 breadsticks, and the main entree of either cheese ravioli OR the tour of Italy - both with plenty of added cheese.  Italian food is my favorite "international" cuisine - what can I say?  I cannot go there and have one of their more "healthy meals" - I want the Olive Garden for the pasta, not their version of fish.  <br /><br />Joel expressed some hesitation in going to the Olive Garden the night before our weigh in, rightfully so, but I reassured him that this trip would be different.  We would eat only until we were satisfied, and take the rest home.  There was no way, even if I <i>wanted </i>to indulge (and I didn't want to!), that I was going to put my stomach in the situation of being uncomfortable/stuffed/stretched out, etc. after all it had been through this week.  <br /><br />So, Joel prepared us with the Points+ values of the foods we enjoy (21 Points+ for the lasagna), and away we went.  I am proud to say that this is the first trip EVER to the Olive Garden where I felt like I ate like an <i>almost </i>normal human being.  I had 3/4 of my pasta fagioli soup (3 Points+ for the whole thing) WITHOUT the cheese.  I had 1/3 of a single breadstick.  Then I ate about 3 bites of my lasagna and I was done.  I could not have consumed another bite even if I wanted to.  And to be honest, I didn't.  I didn't want to, not only because I didn't want to put any undue stress on my stomach, but also because I was proud of myself for eating in moderation and to satisfaction - not because the food tasted so good that I was going to eat all of it in one sitting only to then feel extremely stuffed and uncomfortable later, not to mention guilty for just eating all those Points+ values.     <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTcYDjGUY6aIFmrtpPrDCXD1loBKxe6hFVTHJWWJnb4RclFIQ7Bn-jUGZwXrVkThlPjICu8qvOtYsl3XDHnz_JC-J_7OXfQ1rmYUekJQ3i7iTYT7MxUADmQls79SvAKtc1TDAZlimw7k/s1600/olive+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTcYDjGUY6aIFmrtpPrDCXD1loBKxe6hFVTHJWWJnb4RclFIQ7Bn-jUGZwXrVkThlPjICu8qvOtYsl3XDHnz_JC-J_7OXfQ1rmYUekJQ3i7iTYT7MxUADmQls79SvAKtc1TDAZlimw7k/s400/olive+garden.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had 3 bites from mine, and Joel only ate half of his!</td></tr></tbody></table>Have you been able to recently express self control over one of your favorite cuisines?  What was your logic/rationale?<br />

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Weight Watchers A "Normal" Trip to the Olive Garden

I'm up and at 'em bright and early this morning! After almost 4 days had passed since I got sick, where the main entree for me had b...

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Leaving on a jet plane...again and again and again

For the third time in almost six weeks I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to Fairbanks. Thanks Google for the free wi-fi at SeaTac. <br /><br />This trip is going to be a hard one, but what I have to do is necessary. Ethically and morally I don't really have any other options. I can't go into details right now, but I'll post about it after it's all over.<br /><br />58 days of tracking<br />I was inspired by Tony's post, <a href="http://theantijared.com/2011/11/the-kim-kardashian-72-day-trim-down.html">Kim Kardashian 72 Day Trim Down</a>. I have also needed to get back to tracking my food. Since my sister's stroke almost six weeks ago I haven't tracked a single day, not even one meal. I have a plan for this trip, I'm going to track all my food. It's the start of the Diana 58-day Trim Down plan. There are 58 days until 2012.<br /><br />I would love to get to 160 by 2012. It sounds like a reasonable goal. Two months and 13 pounds. It's not a crazy number, although it is the holidays. Add in that there's going to be a lot of pressure on me the next few months. I guess that's why it's even more important than ever to really keep on top of what I'm eating and to keep up on the exercise. I could see myself easily gain a bunch of weight. Well, it's not going to happen if I can help it.<br /><br />When I get back home I'll get back to using my BodyMedia. I haven't use it at all the last six weeks. I just didn't have time for such a luxury (ah...the good old days when all I had to worry about was the size of my pants). For now I'll just use a little notebook I carry in my purse and track my food and exercise.<br /><br />Luckily my room is a suite this time at the Westmark (my favorite Fairbanks hotel). I'll have a microwave and fridge so I can heat up a few things in my room and not eat out for every meal. That will not only save money, but save calories too. I'm really sick of eating out. <br /><br />Well, it's time to head on over to my gate. Boarding is in ten minutes. I hope to have time in Fairbanks to read a few blogs and actually comment. I miss you guys!

Leaving on a jet plane...again and again and again

For the third time in almost six weeks I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to Fairbanks. Thanks Google for the free wi-fi a...

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Microsoft Free Tools #7: Microsoft Flashcards

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>What is this application?</strong></span><br /><br />This is called FLASHCARDS and it is an application from Microsoft Education Labs.  I really like the idea of these flashcards. This is a great programme to teach your learners at school to use. They could use it for anything where facts are important - vocabulary recognition, spelling, history etc. <br /><br />When we were in Seattle one of the group designed flashcards about Seattle, and at the time I was really taken with the idea. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OHzXGuzLmZymHne67KX0t8ZfSGmHdj1i7BBmCwczEXZ5dRYqj43WcCthXcRQKVoYpyGoek3yaF0vlXQMjhRC7Nq44fYxLiX2QTTwZOqbSeIpmdq3IR5wfQVVB7-QASiZx6e4jlDubME/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fqa3d30B6azHtAza8YT2YPnQx20o2U1Ldd8NQRRwlXGI2vkCd0dJUa2mlUnM8q_uJ1RUWxf5QArc93HwIzn07rkOESjU5i0E4NCotaCPxgxLmeaqJOUkLxeAmsN0WxF41eg2zHoRNFA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="519" /></a><br /><br />Microsoft Partners in learning UK has a video available on how to use this flashcards application.<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/innovativeteach#p/u/54/FhdEZ8KoA3s">http://www.youtube.com/user/innovativeteach#p/u/54/FhdEZ8KoA3s</a><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FhdEZ8KoA3s" width="420"></iframe> <br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Classroom Use</span></strong><br /><br />*Create a revision tool in one of the subjects you teach<br />*Show your students how to create a revision tool with this application.</div>

Microsoft Flashcards Microsoft tools Microsoft Free Tools #7: Microsoft Flashcards

What is this application? This is called FLASHCARDS and it is an application from Microsoft Education Labs.  I really like the idea of these...

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Microsoft Free tools – #6: Zoomit

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">  <br /><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is Zoom.it?</span></strong><br /><br />Zoom.it is a free service for viewing and sharing high-resolution photography. All you have to do is provide the link to any image that is already on the web, and Zoom.it give you a beautiful new way to experience it by making it possible to zoom in and out.  Zoomit also gives you a nice short URL for your photo. <br /><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_DnzruIX4qY/Tq7JH0xoaWI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ANWEj7gLOII/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="205" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2WwJw3cwWsk/Tq7JIqw8HcI/AAAAAAAAAcI/DUKXt6eVcrQ/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a> <br /><br />This is great for displaying a photo that has a lot of people in it on a blog such as this one taken by Neung Wichai at the Partners in Learning Institute week in Seattle in July.<br /><br /><script src="http://zoom.it/dhlX.js?width=auto&height=400px"></script><br /><a href="http://zoom.it/dhlX">http://zoom.it/dhlX</a> <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Classroom use</span> </span></strong><br /><br />* Use Zoom.it on a blog or wiki for showing a large group of people or objects and zooming in for a closer view. </div>

Microsoft tools Zoomit Microsoft Free tools – #6: Zoomit

  What is Zoom.it? Zoom.it is a free service for viewing and sharing high-resolution photography. All you have to do is provide the link to ...

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A Chill in the Air - Part I

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljz9D6sCL93zCfYdMa3doUmO6pQkkeIG1aKybxyeI-KzzTgIDa0TEsiwJI1GQvnrCBMeGEOrxRMYOekIKwkAbsxXoCptUD7P06ff_dcKIQ2_jCqbesPPtSolfa_L4XQOQzbXAqCDjA1dX/s1600/manderley+x4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljz9D6sCL93zCfYdMa3doUmO6pQkkeIG1aKybxyeI-KzzTgIDa0TEsiwJI1GQvnrCBMeGEOrxRMYOekIKwkAbsxXoCptUD7P06ff_dcKIQ2_jCqbesPPtSolfa_L4XQOQzbXAqCDjA1dX/s1600/manderley+x4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Halloween has come and gone, a time change looms (“fall back”) and winter is just around the corner. Early twilight and cool evenings are here and it seems to me that when the weather starts getting nippy and night falls early, nothing satisfies like a crackling fire, something either steaming or iced to drink and a well-chosen book or movie to settle into. What I'm reading and watching as autumn deepens this year are books and the films that were made of them.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfAAJbwa0K7t57fHOI3BRxJf3v5OJysoauno47bSLcGQw1bDQx_Byba8LyhgvCbp18PZ5ds8OyTQW511i1U8WPZIwzIQnyoQ_agtguK42bi5GgZpu-R0nmbBZI5fdZ1mLNoXTQTOisT8D/s1600/uninvited+france+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfAAJbwa0K7t57fHOI3BRxJf3v5OJysoauno47bSLcGQw1bDQx_Byba8LyhgvCbp18PZ5ds8OyTQW511i1U8WPZIwzIQnyoQ_agtguK42bi5GgZpu-R0nmbBZI5fdZ1mLNoXTQTOisT8D/s200/uninvited+france+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Uninvited</i>, 1944</td></tr></tbody></table>I’ve been reading Dorothy Macardle’s classic ghost story, <u>The Uninvited</u>, a novel that made its way to film by way of Paramount Pictures in 1944. I’d seen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Uninvited</i> again recently and became curious about its original source material.  I’ve also picked up Daphne du Maurier’s romantic thriller <u>Rebecca</u> once more and have happily revisited the 1940 Hitchcock-directed Selznick production. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykCG3Df2PSUH0QjM_8b0SGWgPYt-PTbr2posE1-kzVhYofvAzyS_nStRLOg2KdIcK3Zx66FxFP-k5MtuRo8kw7b8EsWuuV9puZj-F3CsQX819718TBc8qDn3_PBFm02PuynLRxBZzicfy/s1600/rebecca-1-1024+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykCG3Df2PSUH0QjM_8b0SGWgPYt-PTbr2posE1-kzVhYofvAzyS_nStRLOg2KdIcK3Zx66FxFP-k5MtuRo8kw7b8EsWuuV9puZj-F3CsQX819718TBc8qDn3_PBFm02PuynLRxBZzicfy/s200/rebecca-1-1024+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rebecca</i>, 1940</td></tr></tbody></table>I don’t know how old I was when I first read the words, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again,” but do know I was young because, when I came upon du Maurier’s description of 50-foot rhododendrons I didn’t know what they were or how to pronounce the word (...if only I could remember what I called them in my imagination back then...). As I re-read <u>Rebecca</u>, I realized how completely Hitchcock’s Oscar-winning film had supplanted the book, erasing nearly all but the opening line and “rhododendrons” from my memory.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The film is a generally literal adaptation, barring Production Code-dictated changes (most notably, Rebecca's death is accidental in the film rather than outright murder as in the book) and a few other alterations. This is largely thanks to producer David O. Selznick, who was wary when it came to tinkering with literature.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQLLYsDLKq4JzEI58zMnbKv7rYsf4RqVlGMzFdSoE5VBEUq_EQPqwOKEQEMgy4G8t7UyaYQFpR7Q9hHgsBmgR56wqS1qBL_4aXEAlL5owURiX7vjz-Xkz6j3LKH2HK4njiAIo6QzXJCi_/s1600/1940+Oscars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQLLYsDLKq4JzEI58zMnbKv7rYsf4RqVlGMzFdSoE5VBEUq_EQPqwOKEQEMgy4G8t7UyaYQFpR7Q9hHgsBmgR56wqS1qBL_4aXEAlL5owURiX7vjz-Xkz6j3LKH2HK4njiAIo6QzXJCi_/s320/1940+Oscars.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selznick, Fontaine & Hitchcock at Academy Awards dinner</td></tr></tbody></table>Hitchcock and Selznick weathered a famously rocky collaboration on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebecca</i>, Hitchcock’s first American film and his first under contract to Selznick International Pictures. The director counted himself lucky that Selznick was still involved with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gone with the Wind</i> - which lessened his interference on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebecca </i>to some extent. For his part, Selznick was flabbergasted by the director’s stubborn habit of shooting very little ‘coverage’ – or extra footage, effectively “editing in camera” (filming only what he wanted for the final cut). Once Hitchcock completed the shoot, the producer did what he could to more explicitly stamp the production as his own. In particular he supervised the film’s score, having music added to almost every scene – which accounts for intermittent intrusions of musical bombast. Selznick biographer David Thomson writes that the producer learned that no matter how involved he was, “there were secrets of craft, nuance and meaning that only a director controlled.” According to Thomson, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebecca </i>had been a battle between director and producer that left Selznick feeling defeated.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He should not have been so glum.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Rebecca </i>is plainly a Selznick project, a glossy and rich first rate production. The film was an unqualified success and brought the producer his second Best Picture Oscar in a row, one of the two Oscars <i>Rebecca </i>won out of the eleven total nominations it received. But Selznick was accustomed to dominating his directors and Hitchcock had outfoxed him… </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Despite the fact that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebecca</i> has been called the least ‘Hitchcockian’ of the director's films and that Hitchcock later virtually disowned it, it bears unmistakable signature touches. The character interpretations of Florence Bates (Mrs. Van Hopper) and George Sanders (Jack Favell) are darkly witty comic turns - entirely in the Hitchcock tradition. And from relatively inexperienced Joan Fontaine in the central role, the director determinedly mined the performance of her young life. Judith Anderson’s iconic Mrs. Danvers, a brilliantly shaded tour de force, evolved out of a collaboration between actress and director about which she remarked, “I knew I was in the presence of a master; I had utter trust and faith in him.”<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V6mt0ChEPLY" width="560"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Judith Anderson and Joan Fontain in <i>Rebecca</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><i>Rebecca</i>'s visual style also bears the recognizable imprint of its director<i>.</i><i> </i>Hitchcock and cinematographer George Barnes concocted a persistently foreboding atmosphere that permeates the film from its first frames.  In fact, the film's opening images - of Manderley's ornate iron-gated entrance, its misty landscape and the mansion's ghostly silhouette - are often cited as an influence on <i>Citizen Kane</i>. Hitchcock and Barnes also notably and inventively contrived to create a character, or the presence of a character, who never once appears onscreen - the titular Rebecca. The scene above beautifully illustrates...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKK1pFchhlv7rMWPrWhpagaX5T-hIwag2EL7wq8wtURfc2TlcWqNnHNEXaaQ3lvXz1V8SYCWmqqx5B6fj6xYO6cap3WKn5g8ZqycBETGZKDCjvnfHAAW9Fo95Qk7TOVXevI9GS275dRn3/s1600/Menabilly+-+Daphne+duMaurier+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKK1pFchhlv7rMWPrWhpagaX5T-hIwag2EL7wq8wtURfc2TlcWqNnHNEXaaQ3lvXz1V8SYCWmqqx5B6fj6xYO6cap3WKn5g8ZqycBETGZKDCjvnfHAAW9Fo95Qk7TOVXevI9GS275dRn3/s1600/Menabilly+-+Daphne+duMaurier+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daphne du Maurier and her children at Menabilly</td></tr></tbody></table>Daphne du Maurier once described <u>Rebecca</u>,<i> </i>her most well-known and popular novel,  as a study in jealousy. Many have offered opinions on what inspired the plot - was it du Maurier's relationship with her mother and father? Was it based on the writer's insecurities about her husband's beautiful, glamorous, dark-haired former fiancee? It is known that du Maurier spent time during childhood at two grand country mansions, Milton Hall in Cambridgeshire and Menabilly (which she later owned) in Cornwall, and that the two estates were both likely models for Manderley and its grounds. Regardless of conjecture about du Maurier's inspirations, few have questioned that <i>Rebecca</i> is a triumph of its genre - it has been continuously in print over the eight decades since its original publication.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-xmvlVcsDLFcc2tEtCwq1ItG6DXOQy1EQ26z0AVnFSvWHHIvOaCcY3WT-JneDZsqClWqMxT5foVV9t6WuzDWcNxpdqM0WF8lFnzbBBhzGB8HznFpkDRESEIR6jFHHWnrWs-XqBG1A3yk/s1600/du+maurier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-xmvlVcsDLFcc2tEtCwq1ItG6DXOQy1EQ26z0AVnFSvWHHIvOaCcY3WT-JneDZsqClWqMxT5foVV9t6WuzDWcNxpdqM0WF8lFnzbBBhzGB8HznFpkDRESEIR6jFHHWnrWs-XqBG1A3yk/s200/du+maurier.jpg" width="174" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daphne du Maurier</td></tr></tbody></table>Du Maurier's <u>Rebecca</u> is a shrewd, seductive 20th century update on the gothic mystery/romance. Its persistent lure is dream-like imagery and a vulnerable narrator's voice throbbing with melancholy and hinting at dark secrets and heartbreak. Soon enough the reader is trapped, like the second Mrs. de Winter, in the world of psychological torment that is Manderley.<br /><br />For me, du Maurier's novel and the Hitchcock/Selznick film are, taken together, an unbeatable way to greet the season's chill...<br /><br /></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Daphne du Maurier David O. Selznick Dorothy Macardle George Sanders Joan Fontaine Judith Anderson Laurence Olivier Rebecca The Lady Eve (author) The Uninvited A Chill in the Air - Part I

Halloween has come and gone, a time change looms (“fall back”) and winter is just around the corner. Early twilight and cool evenings are he...

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Common interview questions -- and how to answer them effectively

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></i></b></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal arial, helvetica;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="tblContent"><tbody><tr id="trContent"><td align="center" class="cb_style tcContent" id="tcContent" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="cbArticleWrapper" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleContentWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 15px; width: 750px;"><div class="cbArticleRight" style="width: 560px;"><div class="RXart" style="padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="margin-top: -30px;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/0s/ar5l53269b3z1khpzh0s.gif?time=6/7/2011%2011:29:31%20am" /></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Robert Half International</span></b> </div><br /><div class="ArticleContent"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Every hiring manager has a different set of go-to interview questions. In a recent survey by our company, we asked more than 650 managers in the United States and Canada to name the single question they ask that provides the most insight about a job applicant. Responses ranged from classic queries ("Where do you see yourself in five years?") to less-traditional ones ("How would you describe yourself in five words?").</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">While there's not always one right way to answer an interview question, some approaches are better than others. Here are some questions from the survey that you may face in your next interview, along with tips on how -- and how not -- to answer them:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>"Can you tell me a little about yourself?"</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Do:</b> Prepare for this popular question -- which is often the first one asked -- by developing an incisive summary of your career. Your sound bite should be succinct but include enough detail about your pertinent skills, work experience, accomplishments and goals that the hiring manager can quickly see what you bring to the table.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Don't: </b>Give your life story, discuss leisure pursuits or describe aspects of your professional background that aren't relative to the position you're interviewing for.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>"Why do you want to join our company?"</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Do:</b> Walk into the interview with beyond-the-basics knowledge of the firm. Read the company's website, marketing materials and relevant news stories to gain a good grasp of its mission, history, reputation and corporate culture. The more information you collect, the more specific you can be about why you're an excellent fit.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Don't:</b> Answer in the context of your financial needs. Saying "I hear you provide good pay and benefits" or "Frankly, I need a job" won't score you any points.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>"What's your biggest weakness?"</b><br /><b>Do:</b> View this as an opportunity to demonstrate your self-awareness, sincerity and problem-solving prowess. Mention an area where you could improve and spotlight the steps you've taken to do so.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here's an example: "In the past, I sometimes overextended myself. Reading time-management books has helped me, though. Now, I make prioritized to-do lists, I've learned it's OK to delegate and I volunteer for extra projects only when I'm caught up on core responsibilities."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Don't: </b>Offer a transparently fake flaw ("I care too much about my work!") or pretend to be perfect ("Weaknesses? None come to mind."). And, of course, don't be your own worst critic by citing countless shortcomings.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>"Where do you see yourself in five years?"</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Do:</b> Position yourself as an ambitious but flexible realist. One way to do this is to speak of your desire to continually take on broader responsibilities and grow professionally no matter what role you're in. You also might emphasize your commitment to lifelong learning by mentioning your interest in attaining advanced industry certifications.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Don't:</b> Focus on an overly lofty objective. For instance, boldly proclaiming you intend to be the firm's next CFO when you're an entry-level accounting candidate certainly shows drive, but it's not a practical five-year objective. In addition, steer clear of fanciful daydreaming ("I'll be counting my lottery winnings on a Hawaiian beach").</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>"Why are you looking to leave your current employer?"</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Do: </b>The interviewer is trying to figure out if you truly want the position, or if you're looking for any way out of a bad job. As such, reiterate what you like about the role you're seeking rather than gripe about the one you hope to vacate. Make it clear you're chasing a great opportunity, not running away from an unpleasant situation.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Don't:</b> Speak ill of your current employer. Regardless of how unhappy you are with your job or company, never act bitter or resentful in an interview. Hiring managers seek candidates who are loyal, positive-minded and team-oriented. They aren't inclined to hire people they perceive to be potential headaches.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Finally, despite your best efforts, you can't anticipate every question you'll be asked.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"How would you define your personality in one word?" or "How will you behave if you get blamed for something you didn't do?" were just two of the unique questions that popped up in our survey of hiring managers.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If an interviewer throws you a curveball, maintain eye contact, take a deep breath and pause to consider your response. Many of your competitors will fluster easily. Set yourself apart by keeping your cool in the hot seat.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit <a href="http://www.roberthalf.com/" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">www.roberthalf.com</a>. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at<a href="http://www.twitter.com/roberthalf" style="color: #3300cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">www.twitter.com/roberthalf</a>.</i></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

Common interview questions -- and how to answer them effectively

Robert Half International   Every hiring manager has a different set of go-to interview questions. In a recent survey by our company, we ask...

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Sick...Again

It seemed like I spent the better part of October not feeling well in some shape or form.  I'm ready to start the month of November off on a better foot!<br /><br />I had a great weekend visiting my niece and nephew in the Motherland.  We did pumpkin carving and spent plenty of time coloring and playing with Play-Doh.  Joel found a "Barbie Princess" app on the iPad that had Grace enamored for hours.  She is 3 years old and had NO problem learning how to navigate the iPad - amazing!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8ht28X1AqMHw29aEpo5CNK6ZlfRKhCYqA9XHfkUu1dGzUzlo_6VAxCXduyO2pj3uQlgjItg_ptY_ztqzOBfPY_-zNUrVra1yRuDzXfiEGIOrhhK5DRl0rlNq8xK7XvFWE2FFuyI_G18/s1600/Blogger+PlayDoh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8ht28X1AqMHw29aEpo5CNK6ZlfRKhCYqA9XHfkUu1dGzUzlo_6VAxCXduyO2pj3uQlgjItg_ptY_ztqzOBfPY_-zNUrVra1yRuDzXfiEGIOrhhK5DRl0rlNq8xK7XvFWE2FFuyI_G18/s400/Blogger+PlayDoh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a recreation of Dinosaur Train (if you have little ones, you probably know<br />what this means)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9HK6NQxq0Rm6WbaIpaVn-UyGKrBXq7l7ziAh3PNKV5yF_J3bL2T8CvlTlVvX-cyLgJGrh-oj7LTY6f4ldDdzsVw5L6pfNeh4R5eoP0ao0wwiQW68CcgeaA8JMWCzu7IYC4QBg1CY0v4/s1600/Blogger+Barbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9HK6NQxq0Rm6WbaIpaVn-UyGKrBXq7l7ziAh3PNKV5yF_J3bL2T8CvlTlVvX-cyLgJGrh-oj7LTY6f4ldDdzsVw5L6pfNeh4R5eoP0ao0wwiQW68CcgeaA8JMWCzu7IYC4QBg1CY0v4/s400/Blogger+Barbie.jpg" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "Barbie" game</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZwDY1ISMRuahBTPbN2zpgu_mahhC1Id8mAbjShZHjU-NgCCkiSVMq7ovgzNhyQ8T46VJJGhayW6GCKAIXkxbsj6aB_u1j1XrH46s82zLSda0khCBGX68aAWubfTITRhX-CoQpLVLVnU/s1600/Blogger+Pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZwDY1ISMRuahBTPbN2zpgu_mahhC1Id8mAbjShZHjU-NgCCkiSVMq7ovgzNhyQ8T46VJJGhayW6GCKAIXkxbsj6aB_u1j1XrH46s82zLSda0khCBGX68aAWubfTITRhX-CoQpLVLVnU/s400/Blogger+Pumpkin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rexon's, Grace's, Tiffany's, Vern's</td></tr></tbody></table>One of my challenges with heading to my sister's for the weekend was how I was going to stay "on plan".  It was definitely a lot easier this time, mainly in due part to Joel's support.  Neither of us wanted to go off plan.  I counted and tracked diligently all weekend.  Even though we did get pizza on Friday night, I tracked it and felt a lot better about eating it.  Typically I wouldn't track it at all out of frustration of not knowing exactly how many Points+ the pizza was (seems counter-productive, this I now know).  I estimated as best I could, accepted the estimate and moved on.  Saturday night my sister and bro-in-law went out to dinner, so Joel made us a WW friendly meal of mac/cheese with broccoli (a recipe from e-Tools).  It wasn't bad for 7 Points+. <br /> <br />On Sunday, we stayed long enough to get the majority of the pumpkin carving done before we headed out on our long trek back to Virginia.  We were both ready for the drive to be over, but we had to drop my car off at the dealership - the heater was not working, which made for a challenging weekend spent up north where it actually snowed in October!<br /><br />Monday morning, as I was waking up to prepare for the work day, I started to not feel well.  It started off with....plenty of bathroom visits, shall I say, but ended with throwing up.  Of course, I felt better afterward like you always do, but not 10 minutes later the stomach sickness came back full force and I was sick alllll day long.  I have never been sick like this in my adult life (except from hangovers).  It was awful.  I spent the greater part of Monday in bed with severe stomach pain, which eventually developed into a splitting headache.  All of this was so bad I couldn't get relaxed enough to even fall asleep.  By Tuesday, I was feeling much better, but still a little queasy and today (Wednesday) I feel better yet, but am still struggling with an appetite.  Quick! I need to note somewhere that I actually said I have no appetite!  Believe it or not, I can count on 1 hand the things I've eaten since Monday.    <br /><br />Either way, I'm back to feeling moderately better, though I plan to visit the Urgent Care center tonight after work because I've been experiencing heart palpitations since the sickness ensued.  I usually only get these when I consume caffeine or lots of chocolate, but it's been kind of crazy since Monday, so I want to go get checked out.  I'll let you know how it all pans out!<br /><br />Happy Wednesday!<br /><br />

Miscellaneous Weight Watchers Sick...Again

It seemed like I spent the better part of October not feeling well in some shape or form.  I'm ready to start the month of November off ...

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Insanity: is it contagious?

A lot has happened since my last post.<br /><br />After a disastrous lunch with my craziest niece last Saturday, where I attempted to make peace with her, I flew home on Sunday. There is no reasoning with a crazy person. Lesson learned.<br /><br />I was an emotional basket case when I got home. For the first time in my life I felt like I was losing my mind. After weeks of barely sleeping, even though I was taking Ambien nightly, I felt crazy. Add to that an incredible amount of stress because of my sister's situation and my totally insane and evil niece, I couldn't stop crying. My husband couldn't comfort me, nothing made me feel better. Even sitting in the back yard here at home, with the sun on my face and the fall leaves falling around me with my kitty chasing after them, all I could do was cry. I cried for almost twelve hours straight.<br /><br />I realize I had just gone through five weeks of high stress and little sleep, but I also believe the Ambien was messing with my head. I decided to forgo the Ambien that night. It was a very rough night, with a three-hour period from midnight to 3 a.m. where I couldn't sleep and couldn't stop crying. I was also having the worst migraine headache of my life. I'd been having severe headaches for three weeks, but this one was off the charts in the pain level.<br /><br />When I closed my eyes all I could see were bright shooting lights. I'd been having the lights problem for weeks, but this time it was intense. I couldn't picture anything in my head, just the lights. When I finally fell back to sleep around 3 a.m. I had a dream, the first dream I could recall in the past three weeks.<br /><br />I was climbing up a stairwell, dressed in workout clothes. It was similar to the Big Climb I did last March. In front of me was one of my nieces (the depressed one) and behind me was her husband but he only had one leg. The other leg was a stump sticking through his cut off pants leg. This is the niece and her husband that I spent two weeks with while we were caring for my sister at her house. We were together almost every minute during that time.<br /><br />As we were climbing, each step became more difficult. I turned to my niece's husband and told him to go in front of me. He went up in front of my niece. Suddenly, I turned around and started running down the stairs as fast as I could go. I could see myself running, my ponytail swinging. I was laughing and so happy. I was going as fast as I could go. Then I reached the bottom and had to turn around and start back up the stairs. Each step was difficult. Then I woke up.<br /><br />This dream made me realize I'm not crazy, and I'm going to be okay. It was a very rough five weeks, and there are more things that need to be taken care of, but I'm not losing my mind. I feel more at peace and sane than I have in weeks.<br /><br /><b>Sister update</b><br />On 9/21 we moved my sister to an assisted living home that specializes in hospice care. It's a nice place and one I found by calling all twelve of the assisted living homes in Fairbanks. Only two had a bed and could care for someone like my sister. This home has an R.N. and several L.P.N.s and a staff of 16 for 14 residents. They seemed better equipped to deal with my sister's needs.<br /><br />The move was horrific. Considering how we'd had a phone conversation two weeks before her stroke about how awful it would be to have stroke and how we'd rather die, we also talked about how awful it would be to move into an assisted living home.<br /><br />I've never seen my sister cry as hard as when they placed her in the bed in the home. She barely shed a tear when her husband past away two years ago (after 51 years of marriage). She just doesn't cry. But that day, she couldn't stop. <br /><br />On the day of the move my sister hadn't eaten more than a couple bites of food in 33 days and barely drank any water.<br /><br />Then a weird thing happened. At the home she starting eating and drinking a lot of water. She doesn't eat a lot, maybe five bites of apple pancake for breakfast or a little 4-ounce container of yogurt for lunch and some jello for dinner. But she's eating!<br /><br />She's also talking non-stop (stroke talk I call it), and sometimes I pick up a word here and there. She also spells words, but jumbles her letters. Except for two days she kept spelling E-???-E, over and over. It sounded like "e-l-e" but she kept shaking her head no. Then one time she said E-???-E-R. Exercise?! Do you want to exercise?!!! A big nod yes. I asked if she wanted to move her paralyzed side. The occupational therapist had showed me some exercises to do with her to keep the muscles moving and I had pleaded with my sister for five weeks to let me do them for her, and always got an emphatic NO. Now she wanted to do exercises. So we did. I asked her if it hurt and she said "a little". I asked if we could keep doing them and she nodded yes. <br /><br />I talked to her about getting a speech therapist and a physical therapist and she agreed. She wants to get better. I called her doctor and she's arranged for both the ST and the PT to come to the home. Woohoo!<br /><br />Something transpired in the past two days that is requiring me to return to Fairbanks tonight. I can't go into details, but I'll write more about it later. Don't worry, I'm going to be okay. Whatever happened to me on Sunday has passed. I'm completely off Ambien and have been sleeping. I feel more calm and at peace than I have in months.<br /><br /><b>About my weight loss</b><br />I didn't forget this is really a weight loss blog. I weighed yesterday, after getting my cast removed and I'm 173.4. I was 180.8 when I went to Fairbanks almost five weeks ago on September 22. My plan was to eat carefully but not starve myself. I went out to eat often the last week while at the hotel, but I chose my meals carefully and almost always only ate half of what I was served, leaving the other half on my plate.<br /><br />For the five weeks I was gone, I had to stay in a hotel for two weeks. The hotel gym was pretty decent, and I worked out there as much as I could.<br /><br />In case you're wondering, I can't stay with crazy niece because, well, she's crazy (mean crazy). I can't stay with depressed niece because even though she's nice, she doesn't clean her house. So not only is she incredibly depressing to be around (she cries all the freaking time), my allergies go nuts at her house. We went there one night for dinner, and I thought I was going to stop breathing because of all the dust and dog hair. My brother, who I adore, lives out of town and is married to an alcoholic (she went on a big drinking binge while I was there). Ha! And you thought your family was nuts!<br /><br /><b>My broken wrist update</b><br />Well, it's indeed a miracle. My majorly fractured, almost broken in two pieces, scaphoid bone in my wrist has healed and grown back together after three months in a cast. My orthopaedic doctor (Dr. Callahan) and the number one orthopaedic hand/wrist surgeon in Washington (Dr. Buckmiller) looked at my x-rays on Monday. They couldn't believe it, but the bone has grown back together. This almost never happens since this bone has difficulty healing because of a lack of blood supply. They had even told me to expect to have surgery even after three months in a cast. Now no surgery is needed (thank you Jesus...and I really mean that!). I told my husband it was all that wiping my sister's butt after we had to give her an enema at the house (that was three days I'll never forget!). <br /><br />They made me a custom molded type splint/cast thing that fastens with Velcro. It has a cotton liner (like a stocking thing), and I have two of them. They're washable!<br /><br />I can take it off to shower or wash my hands. I can take it off to watch TV. I have physical therapy and lots of exercises to do here at home with my wrist. Since it was in a cast for so long, some of the mobility is gone and I'm working on getting it back. I'm still not allowed to lift weights to do bicep curls, but I can use that arm for any machines where the hand isn't doing the work (like lat raises and some other machines). My left wrist (the one that was casted) is 1/2" smaller than my right wrist and my left forearm is a a whole inch smaller than my right forearm, and same for my left bicep, it's one inch smaller too. Definitely some muscle loss and a lot of flabbiness in my upper arm. Probably a little of my weight loss, maybe a pound or so, is from this muscle loss. Oh well, I can get it back, it'll just take some time.<br /><br />I go back to work on November 16, and I'm really looking forward to it. I have this thing to take care of in Fairbanks this week and I'll get to visit my sister, but life isn't bad right now. In fact, being home for a few days has made me realize just how precious life is and how much I appreciate what I have here. My job, my husband, my kitty, and most of all, my sanity.<br /><br /><b>Thank you</b><br />Lastly, but most importantly (for the few that have read through this incredibly long post), thank you for all your kind comments and emails. I haven't responded to any of you or comment on your blogs because until this week, I only had one hand to type with and it was pretty difficult to even get a post typed up. Soon I will be back to reading blogs and back to my real life. Thanks again for all your support. You really have no idea how much it meant to me during a very difficult and dark time in my life.

Insanity: is it contagious?

A lot has happened since my last post. After a disastrous lunch with my craziest niece last Saturday, where I attempted to make peace with h...

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