Envivo De Michoacan IV: Mi Historia Es Su Historia

The 3rd largest organ in Latin America was silent at mass on Sunday. That was a disappointment. But the chant was beautiful. There was a good cantor in some invisible place. The people chanted back as directed. The acoustics of the 18th Century baroque building (redecorated in neo-classical style afterthe Revolution) were lively so the resonance was rich. Can sound, vibrating not just through the ears but the whole body, heal and revive the soul? I felt stronger for having been there and grateful for such a good place to say prayers for people and churches in Nevada.<br /><br />After mass, I took myself across the street to the Hotel Virrey y Mendoza for brunch al fresco. It was my second meal away from my host family home and the first “nice meal” out since I’ve been here. I had Huevos Tarascan (Huevos Rancheros with a different salsa and some sliced of avocado -- Tarascan is a word for the Purhepecha – a word now generally out of favor). It was a truly excellent meal (for the rough equivalent of $16 US including tip), a leisurely brunch under the arches of a hotel built in 1744. The hotel has hidden doors and secret passageways where people conspired about revolutionary plots in 1810. The old churches in Morelia are connected by underground tunnels which were dug for the same purpose.<br /><br />The age of the place made me think of our history. I read recently that a disturbing number of young adults do not know from whom the United States won its independence. We cannot know ourselves as individuals unless we know the people and the land to which we belong. We cannot know the people and the land unless we know their story.Without history, politics is like doing psychoanalysis with a victim of amnesia.<br /><br />But even those of us who think we know our history may be missing huge parts. For example, just what was Nevada’s role in the 1776 Revolution which we celebrate each July 4? Nada. We were not part of the original 13 colonies. Do we want to trace our connection to Sam Adams and company through our church history? Better not. Anglicans were on the wrong side of that one, so our bishops skedaddled to Canada. Or is it our genealogy? A few of us can trace some such tie. One of my ancestors was in on the American Revolution, but most were not. Some of my ancestors were still in Germany and others would soon be learning to write from Sequoia. So what is our history if history belongs to the land?<br /><br />Well, we weren’t involved in 1776 because at that time we were part of Mexico, a colony of Spain, not England. Most of the population would have been First Nations people. Spain owned us and governed us but did not pay much attention. Precious metals had not been found here yet, but they had been found further south.<br /><br />Then came the Revolution of 1810 led by revolutionary priests. Fr. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was the first George Washington figure. But he was executed in 1811 and the torch passed to his friend, Fr. Jose´ Mari´a Morelos y Pavo´n. Fr. Morelos simultaneously led the military campaign, formed the first Mexican Congress, and wrote a Constitution that contained provisions comparable to the U.S. Bill of Rights and the 13th and 14th Amendments. A half Spanish, half Indio person, he was his nation’s first real leader. He was eventually captured, then executed by a Spanish firing squad in 1815. This city bears his name. So does the street that runs parallels to the street where I live in Henderson, but I had no idea who Morelos was until now.<br /><br />There were other heroes of that revolution. The bravest and most defiant revolutionary was Maria Gertrudis Bocanega de de Mendoza de Lazo de la Vega (Gerturdis Bocanagra for short, but maybe you noticed she had the same last name as Zorro -- same fight). Gertrudis Bocanegra was the daughter of a Spanish aristocrat (more Zorro parallels, hmmm) who was converted to the cause of the indigenous people by her nanny. After her husband and brother were executed for smuggling guns to the rebels, Gertrudis died a fiery death at the hands of the Spanish army in the public square of Patzcuaro while hundreds of citizens nearly rioted in protest.<br /><br />We were not called Nevada in 1810. That name was given us by the U. S. Commission on Territories in the late 1850’s when we were separated from Utah. In the early 1850’s, maps called the Great Basin “the mystery land” or “the unknown country.” The only places with names were Washoe and later the Comstock. But in 1810, the name for our land was Northern Mexico, and people in Michoacan were fighting and dying for our independence.<br /><br />I love the stories of what happened at Lexington and Concord as much as anyone. I have stood in the Old Manse from which you could have watched the first shots fired. I have visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the home of Paul Revere in Boston, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the rest. I claim what happened there as part of the story of my land. But what happened here is part of our story too. If we don’t know this part our how our land came to be what it is today, we are missing a part of who we are as a people.

Envivo De Michoacan IV: Mi Historia Es Su Historia

The 3rd largest organ in Latin America was silent at mass on Sunday. That was a disappointment. But the chant was beautiful. There was a goo...

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20 weeks

<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1scxY_nLzejLqzz2AukUj7xHGvRSMDcK_EZ6hQrpX2Z22dVG7jZSralfpdVa8NdxWxFTzZTp_FGrunwKvZ9tsegwWmdJV03gekGETdjUA5Vh41ILOVM_umbHqV2tP3U5Yn9T_Nvuj4Vb/s1600-h/20%20weeks%20-%202.2.11.jpg"><img alt="20 weeks - 2.2.11" border="0" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVAUXZnx8XiMWm5SC9OdgEXdjXkD56WrNJqQzKlsDeDPKIq-xjNdtFJcoycL_YGqb_ec76tu8Svpn2agQlAL6ODweLtOHiXHsyjf32FRXMlRFDosQiu2HR0Z3Hmx-C6TfXuyg74ivqt3m/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="20 weeks - 2.2.11" width="304"></a>  <strong>Pregnancy Highlights:</strong> </p> <blockquote> <p><strong>How Far Along:</strong> 20 Weeks </p> <p><strong>Size of baby:</strong> Baby Bangert is the size of a cantaloupe </p> <p><strong>Total Weight Gain/Loss:</strong> gained 18lbs </p> <p><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> I wear maternity jeans and pants but everything else is regular.  Things are getting tighter though! </p> <p><strong>Gender:</strong> It’s a girl!!! </p> <p><strong>Movement:</strong> Beginning to feel my little girl more lots more these days!  </p> <p><strong>Sleep:</strong> Not too bad, I get up a few times throughout the night to go to the bathroom. I guess it’s preparing me for a newborn! </p> <p><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my stomach and a bigger selection of clothes! </p> <p><strong>Cravings:</strong> I don't have specific cravings. I just like to eat! ;) I don’t think ice cream counts, I love that anytime! </p> <p><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Really can’t complain! Feeling pretty well! </p> <p><strong>Best Moment this week:</strong> Finding out & seeing our baby girl! Amazing!</p></blockquote> <p>Last Tuesday we had our ultrasound appointment. Kyle was there (of course) and Aunt Wendi came too! It was so amazing to see that little life inside me!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZXwGqXf71mB4UW2AQ91kwdaQShAfYAlw4kilbtSfePTEgNnDn5y6tsqVl3jnAulXzzm3uRo3LYZ0c_VkwZFIoCsUgM_eQbs58vc4zE1WdXaeWC9KetLY7JbsPo_qWC4XExc_nPfaMad7/s1600-h/1.25.11ultrasound%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="1.25.11 ultrasound" border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4ohCnF7jbnWOBinY7SWdHSDWDTV0VSqWhA_PfwTpCi2iEudaSQPgOYIBXEuN-3UKh24xqipElCQ5AAcD6iqxSQy2ff82NndHBkWIblRBQIvq7PBBFqG6weR0Y_jdqpj0b6SiB1Vig5Fc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="1.25.11 ultrasound" width="404"></a>Thursday we had our follow up appointment with the Doctor and said she looks perfectly healthy. Kyle got a kick out of her saying “baby looks proportional”! They measured me about 6 days ahead, but wanted to stick with my original due date, maybe that means Baby Girl Bangert will come before June 16th! </p> <p align="center"><strong><em>Nursery Preview!  </em></strong></p> <p align="left">Kyle painted while we were off work over Christmas break. We chose <a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/">Restoration Hardware</a> “light silver sage” for a color. It’s a light blue/gray. I knew it would (obviously) work for a boy, but thought if we added pink to the room it would look great for a girl too!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwSK9WCv-xDnEANA25QYRRu2XV4wr8VrRTVKQKa8VKYOC0L4DGNQS49NCAl3f4QHF4v5dq8-pbEr6nbU9GxneipsULsW1z3LcP078pXlmoO-ngGDxLJGLX7_2oyirBVpypxXFQax5q6jt/s1600-h/image-6082303950851780%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="image-6082303950851780" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6v6QjZ2xucls2zBUXmbl8Fznxr1p4DQqpkW52JXzqtimAhOyiK0Nnu9VFfA7RN7RZSG7K21fhj_xOuT2N_NmTk5XUAv9d8_0uHNRoVQzS1ti1pmwCoRUvcNt1vkVLaq-cTCkNaA4J0pDl/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="image-6082303950851780" width="304"></a> </p> <p align="left">Last weekend Kyle installed a closet organizer in the nursery. I just LOVE how it turned out, I’m all about organizing!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuSZ4cigmz_uvdr7hj0waILAu22reAHUpxGY8ic3y_XOACCqAyTH39Ods_9IOCnsm0SAjcTyGKWVQpEyFWhuibLDURyrwPuHdnOutpMHGhGcmb73fdQHD9IZocwF0E9UE_m08RnvMOCR_/s1600-h/DSC09772%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09772" border="0" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUtlp_jF2GI4o8Ge3Bpy8KIHOJrw9aiIzIFFudtrIEGlIwzlK8YDFqDta3jHf8TelZIRxcFyExRkik5YyBjcucjgDqWAQSUKU94E71QjLBkJUZRdxynw_7NTso7mD93s9u0GF5GuyA62m/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09772" width="304"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4axm5b7AISjidmknNh-DbBdB5IMDujcDFl5dDf6xfwlj7gFNm_8r8bZKvae1Zy0HobsTMax31XkdXTcYoK3BMHc-KpzUmK7Nm-BiZ3H4pikNPUlEjJBd0-L0NXM7hwHdxikOV6FjRl4vK/s1600-h/DSC09771%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09771" border="0" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSd45kiGeuOv17pOZnKOTF2XjlZiF7Vcky4WPD9FxQey482alg6ZPS0nziOzyCrliUSaJ1-9V9wHSlyReaBmx_PAv5Yukg9KKJHEFY4mbxLYLeiSF19SGrgx95YqeIPbcoIe7vKqxfFnHl/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09771" width="304"></a></p> <p align="left">Tuesday afternoon Kyle & I got off work early because of a snow storm, so I worked another nursery project. I REALLY, REALLY wanted to purchase a new dresser, but we’re trying to do the nursery on a budget! So we are using a dresser we already had, but I wanted to “dress” it up a bit. I added some pop of color inside the drawers. Idea courtesy of <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/03/nursery-progress-lining-our-dresser-drawers/">Young House Love</a>! We are also going to add some handles too! <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="521" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="middle" width="259"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TWh-BSq0DGeWYwVeX3UWqH580-diXMYplbDawiYUvAW6HFYTDa-kATT0YFTC11sWfrsdMiG2i3dIGDDy1o3f1wNyxmBC_SPwYWyD1uF1KfkKFH_VRKVF5K6Q4ygOCgMhwVUfmpoPChb8/s1600-h/DSC09758%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09758" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FT8E4VpwKE54F_91TIlzqyvg2fv97xPyFz4HPCO43nQGS8d9dY-1UE0xJ1pfBtziNRQjAy5WyLrRdvYwZM18h8tJryC4iPW-ogBT_SSlQhsXjCaV9fKIUif0wiI_A5qdqYXNSDP_zTM6/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09758" width="254"></a> <p> </p></td> <td valign="top" width="260"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV9INMkbXfaMbUi45Tq1j2_SFvYAJyh3NKmb2NsoQcLCiTNjxqG2fyEKvR_y8n-WLk5LO8-mEuBGp1lLd7GZKmna-zoqNgNOPdwVl7CI6zj1oe9FrZXcm44xjEcIPk9AfHBpd77v4XFEi/s1600-h/DSC09760%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09760" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tBWqyvo8aVSOyvwAEfxt8w7A1bSy9DBj5vwBpdwgR0RyH3UOKJsZzwOgNvrehI3dqFhArOLTQf1EvfJ59K6PANfZNkohXzF0OuL1bT2hSLXLDTaOnYTw6RatuucpvE3IIIOIcfVp6hdm/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09760" width="254"></a></td></tr></tbody></table>Here is a sneak peak of the bedding. This is something I purchased from <a href="www.potterybarnkids.com">Pottery Barn Kids</a> a few years ago on super clearance. I think it was back in 2006 I had <em>MAJOR</em> baby fever, but after lots of chats with Kyle we decided it just wasn’t the right time yet. But since we’re having a girl we still get to use the bedding!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRhYN7CSDx7yZ7xFx2Hg86ZUTA92jWrIq2J7m8yqLGpPw_-0dsFzVY0dzD8c4pjussJ0FwTZYtxBvFai7itN6g28mQjLidXP64D4S8zg3nN2-fr4N__mjHqhi3wLdAAjFeYdJbdu7v-58/s1600-h/DSC09761%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09761" border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha70b6dQM4h7nmsiR-Lx4rv4ryyA48xVmClNpCr3D2QBs1Y-ILueAUPgxbYQbxoFvag1MLE1a91C-O8Gy_5T9Xs6BHL7RtrWlF_vuZZcm6sJ3V1xX6oHxB-0XFnCwaSlqFk5CTKcXL5pj2/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09761" width="304"></a> And you can see from this picture too that we have a white crib. Kyle set up the crib over our Christmas break also. Last weekend I washed all her bedding & made the bed! The crib was a generous gift from some friends who moved out of state a few years ago and their little guy was ready to move to a big bed. We purchased their crib mattress for only $25 (they paid over $200) I guess it pays to plan ahead! </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>That’s all for now friends! Kyle & I are enjoying our snow day off work today. Going to do a few more projects in the nursery!! :)</p>

20 weeks

  Pregnancy Highlights: How Far Along: 20 Weeks Size of baby: Baby Bangert is the size of a cantaloupe Total Weight Gain/Loss: gaine...

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

<p>These are a new favorite in our house! Very yummy & “healthified” to boot!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvtOUfy_G0KR7yDymfaqRbCyZi17mWNEBjvmCEFuX8SLfLnO3Lnpc7JHwyFpCOflG5I3S9v5igY-CKEIFTrpmIbenRN_05vDrvn2UezCdkYscYEh2wPY49tsucZ3lxoNwi-pDSSUp6fcj/s1600-h/DSC09756%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09756" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4x44ZvvQfOYs3oLXJbv6ymFrOhnl-nj104ENgPjS7NnE-UVT2rUz9a8BUW9RYD6UB4hNpFWXJSSmKREVZzsrmeF7pl4aJDT7a5pb2xU9nrQCkiPla_736wZghFwUbRIGjc55v6NL4mkQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC09756" width="404"></a></p> <ul> <li>1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour</li> <li>2/3 cup sugar</li> <li>1 teaspoon baking powder</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon baking soda</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon salt</li> <li>2 to 3 medium mashed very ripe bananas</li> <li>3 egg whites</li> <li>1/4 cup canola oil</li> <li>1/4 cup skim milk</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla</li> <li>1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips</li></ul> <p><strong><em>Topping</em></strong></p> <ul> <li>1 tablespoon sugar</li> <li>1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon</li></ul> <ol> <li>Heat oven to 375 F. Spray bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray, or line with paper baking cups.</li> <li>In large bowl, mix flour, 2/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and salt.</li> <li>In medium bowl, beat bananas, egg whites, oil, milk and vanilla with fork until smooth. Stir into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Gently stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.</li> <li>In small bowl, mix topping ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over batter in cups.</li> <li>Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until light golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove muffins from pan to cooling rack.</li></ol> <p><em><strong>Nutrition Facts:</strong> Calories 210; Total Fat 6g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 160mg; Total Carbohydrate 33g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 18g); Protein 3g </em></p> <p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.eatbetteramerica.com">www.eatbetteramerica.com</a></em></p> <p><em><strong>PS Stay tuned tomorrow for a baby/pregnancy update and a nursery sneak peak!</strong></em></p>

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

These are a new favorite in our house! Very yummy & “healthified” to boot! 1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon bak...

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Baseball...It Can't Come Fast Enough

I sit here in the midst of a giant blizzard pining for baseball.<br /><br />It didn't take much for me to get into this stupor. On Facebook I noticed that 97.1 The Ticket out of Detroit was having a "Tiger Talk" with Pat Caputo and Dan Dickerson (Tigers radio play-by-play guy) tonight. Since my plans had fallen through thanks to the snow, I found my evening free.<br /><br />As I continued to listen, I started roaming the Internet for other Tigers information. And as I found more, I eventually crossed leagues and started looking at video for my National League team, the Milwaukee Brewers.<br /><br />Watching the videos, listening to the radio, and reading the articles made me pine for the day when I can turn on the radio any night - regular radio or Internet radio - and listen to one of my two favorite teams.<br /><br />I remember last year having that eternal optimism at the end of March - I seriously thought that the Tigers and the Brewers could meet in the World Series. On one of my many lovely spring walks, I actually debated <i>If they ever met in the World Series, who would I root for? </i>(it took me two seconds to decide: the Tigers)<br /><br />Of course, hope springs eternal, but April brings reality. Eventually as spring segued into summer I settled into a mood where just listening to them play made my day. Dan and Jim (Tigers) and Bob and Cory (Brewers) were great at bringing the game into my living room or car, and their relaxed voices always made it seem like they were talking right to me!<br /><br />Now that it's been over four months since my last baseball game with these two teams, I'm starting to go a little crazy. It became evident to me when I heard about the Tigers' opening day plans and immediately scheduled a trip home around it, so I could listen to the game on the radio as I drove!<br /><br />But even though I'm making all these plans, it still doesn't change the fact that Opening Day is still two months away. So the snow still falls around me, the weather is still bitterly cold, and the drifts pile up.<br /><br />But it doesn't mean I can't dream that it's already spring!

Baseball...It Can't Come Fast Enough

I sit here in the midst of a giant blizzard pining for baseball. It didn't take much for me to get into this stupor. On Facebook I notic...

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In Praise of Winter

<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter is often when we have very mixed emotions about the weather.  It can be gray and bleak, bitter cold and damp, and even a bit treacherous on occasion.  But, I still say that living in a region that still has four seasons is a treat.  I want to share an essay written by Paul Schiff, retired wildlife educator, that was in our Wild Ohio Magazine over 18 years ago.  I think his sentiment still rings true today.  Enjoy!</span><br /><br /><em><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In Praise of Winter</span></strong></em><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Paul Schiff</span><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Winter. Cold, wet, snowy winter.  Bleak, gray, barren, lifeless, depressing winter.  Poetry and song dismiss winter in favor of themes like the good ol' summertime and autumn leaves. It's difficult to find praise of winter, other than when it's referenced as a foreteller of spring.  And yet...</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are bright sunny days after a new snow, rosy cheeked children with sleds, snowmen, rabbit tracks to follow and winter birds at the feeder; winter has its moments.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For those of us who spend most of our leisure waking moments in the out-of-doors, winter becomes a challenge.  With the challenge met and feet snug in warm comfortable boots, winter is perhaps nature's most revealing time of year.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can see things in winter that are hidden in other times.  Hidden by leaves and the dominance of green and growing things.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Last January I saw a red fox sunning itself on a hay bale left in the field.  If the fox hadn't raised its head I might not have noticed. There was a new snow and the red of the fox in the spotlight of winter sun peeking through the clouds was remarkable.  You won't see that in June.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'd walked the day for the fun of seeing tracks and other winter marvels in the new snow.  I followed a pheasant trail until the bright colored bird flushed with a loud cackle from a bittersweet tangle in an old fencerow.  I automatically raised an imaginary shotgun and said "Bang" as my line of sight swung in front of the bird.  Pheasant season was out.  The old boy was safe.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A few berries that hung yet on the bittersweet looked like Christmas tree ornaments.  Juncos and song sparrows played hopscotch down the fencerow in front of me as I stopped for a closer look.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fencerows are neat.  They provide food and travel lanes for wildlife of all kinds, especially in the winter.  But they are a landscape feature that is quickly disappearing in favor of larger and larger fields for monocultures of corn and beans.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can walk the riparian corridor of a small stream more easily in winter.  You can see where a mink explored a root tangle and where other animals have visited any unfrozen trickle for a drink.  You can see squirrel leaf nests high among the branches of streamside cottonwoods and sycamores, and where deer have nipped buds and left their hoof prints in the mud or snow.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is of course the occasional deep snow or severe blow--the winter of "76 or the 1950 snow (I don't remember this one, but I've been told it was a doozy).  These memories and the potential of extremes make winter weather watching exciting.  The first thing I do when the weather is at its foulest, is to find some excuses to venture out.  We should all experience this and imagine what it might have been like before the time of flip the switch for creature comfort; and what it's like for wildlife.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wildlife can have a tough time in winter.  When deep snow or freezing rain cover available food survival is a struggle.  Of course wildlife survival is a struggle all year long.  That's part of the plan.  And in truth, wildlife has survived Midwest winters for centuries before people were around to worry about it.  The axe and plow doom more wildlife than the most severe winter.  </span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So dress right, eat your oatmeal.  Just like wildlife, our choices are to adapt or migrate.  If we choose to adapt and explore winter for all it's worth, we should find plenty to like.  And as long as the present rotation of seasons includes just one winter, I wouldn't trade it for any other season.</span></em>

In Praise of Winter

Winter is often when we have very mixed emotions about the weather.  It can be gray and bleak, bitter cold and damp, and even a bit treacher...

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There's one thing I'm really good at

I've been focusing a lot on the negative aspects of my weight loss journey. I often talk about the things I don't do right. It's a never-ending list. I don't always track my food, I eat too much, sometimes I eat things I shouldn't. I don't do this right and I don't do that right. Blah. Blah. Blah.<br /><br />However, in spite of all the things I don't do right, there's one thing I excel at doing  when it comes to a healthy lifestyle and that's exercise. <br /><br />I'm fifty-five years old and throughout my life I've had phases of exercise craziness. I would pick some exercise, such as high-impact aerobics, in my twenties when all my girlfriends were doing it. Or running because I thought that was what all the cool people did and it burned the most calories. Or or weight lifting when I worked at the police department with all the buff police officers and the department had it's own gym. Or whatever exercise struck my fancy, and I'd go full throttle with it.<br /><br />My problem was that I would only do it for a few weeks or maybe a few months, then I'd completely stop, cold turkey. My reasoning was simple. It hurt. Who wants to do something that hurts? I personally don't like pain and have a rather low threshold for it. <br /><br />On February 12, 2008 I started Weight Watchers. At the same time I started going to my gym four times a week. I had been a member since 1996 and had rarely used my membership. After about six months I started going five to six times a week. Now I ofte go for fourteen stretches without a day off. Although recently I'm trying to cut back to taking at least one off day a week.<br /><br />What happened to change me? How did I go from hating to exercise to not hating it so much to almost liking it? How did I go from a couch potato to working out six days a week, 60 to 90 -minute workouts each day?<br /><br />What happened to snap me out of my inactive lifestyle is something I've written about before. You can read about it <a href="http://diana135.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-story-and-my-trigger.html">here</a>. Basically, I felt like hell at 240 pounds. I thought I might be dying, and I might have died if I didn't do something about my physical condition. Since I really didn't want to die yet, I had to start exercising and lose weight. Let's see...death or exercise? Or perhaps a wheelchair or exercise? It was a pretty easy decision. <br /><br /><strong>How I started</strong><br />When I started exercising February 12, 2008 at 240 pounds, it was HORRIBLE. I'm talking real pain. I was miserable even just walking on the treadmill. I quickly gave up the treadmill and went to the elliptical. It was still hard, but I could set my own pace without being totally embarrassed. That was my big fear, being embarrassed at the gym. That's so stupid because really, no one gives a damn what you do at the gym. I barely even look at anyone else, because I'm totally focused on myself. <br /><br /><strong>When I absolutely hated going to the gym</strong><br />For the first two years I had a "five-minute rule". I decided right at the beginning that I would exercise in the morning. I knew if I tried to work out at night I'd find any excuse in the book to miss a workout. So I started getting up at 4:45 a.m. and was at the gym by 5:15 a.m. There were many mornings when I really thought I'd just rather die than go to the gym. The problem was that I probably would die if I didn't exercise. I decided to start my "five-minute rule". <br /><br />It's really simple, when I would wake up and think "I'm exhausted, I don't want to get up and go to the gym. I don't want to exercise and feel pain! I hate this!", this is what I would tell myself:<br /><br /><em>"Diana, get up, get dressed. Get in the car. Drive to the gym. Go inside. Get on any piece of equipment you want. Exercise five minutes. If you're so miserable you can't stand it, you have permission to go home. Stop thinking about it and just do it."</em><br /><br />Just knowing I could go home if I wanted to, took away a lot of the pressure. I had an out if I needed it. In three years I've only left the gym one time after five minutes. I had bronchitis and really had no business exercising.<br /><br />The funny thing is that I haven't even thought about my five-minute rule for months. Now I just tell myself to stop thinking about it and go. I rarely give it much thought. I just do it. After three years, it's become a part of my life. I can't imagine ever stopping.<br /><br />I have more tips for getting into an exercise frame of mind, but it's almost 9:30 p.m. 5:15 a.m. comes really early so I have to go to bed now.  More about exercise tomorrow.

There's one thing I'm really good at

I've been focusing a lot on the negative aspects of my weight loss journey. I often talk about the things I don't do right. It's...

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What not to wear - 5 interview attire don'ts

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/xj/ar5l7bj6dgv0xxd8fcxj.gif?time=12/8/2010%202:54:44%20pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/xj/ar5l7bj6dgv0xxd8fcxj.gif?time=12/8/2010%202:54:44%20pm" /></a></div>If you're headed to an employment interview and want to dress to impress, don't wear a cat suit, a jogging suit or "Star Trek" t-shirt. These were among the strangest interview outfits cited by human resources managers recently polled by Robert Half International.<br /><br />You may think to yourself, "I'd never wear anything that crazy!" But even subtle mistakes when it comes to your wardrobe can damage your chances of landing the job you seek.<br /><br />Here are some interview attire no-nos:<br /><br />Don't take casual to the extreme. Take a lesson from the job seeker who made the mistake of wearing sweatpants to an interview: You will not be taken seriously if you look like you just strolled in from the gym.<br /><br />Even if a company has a very laid-back atmosphere, maintaining a professional look is essential. It provides instant credibility and signals to the interviewer that you take the position seriously. If you're working with a recruiter, ask him or her for insight into the interview dress code. When in doubt, err on the conservative side and wear a suit, sport coat or blazer.<br /><br />Don't overdo it. You don't want the most distinctive thing about you to be the scent of your cologne still lingering in interviewer's office hours after you've left. Avoid overpowering fragrances; many people are sensitive (and even allergic) to perfumes and colognes.<br /><br />The same guidelines apply to makeup and jewelry. While these aspects of your wardrobe can allow you express your personality, be judicious in your choices. Less is usually more.<br /><br />Don't forget about comfort. Most people are already nervous enough during the interview. Don't increase your propensity to sweat by wearing a plastic skirt, like one individual cited in the survey.<br /><br />Similarly, avoid wearing clothes that itch or constrict your movements. You want to exude confidence during an interview, not look like you have a rash or can't breathe. A well-fitting outfit also can put you at ease.<br /><br />Test-drive your clothing choices ahead of time to ensure everything fits well and makes you feel good about your appearance. This is especially important if it's been a while since you've donned your interview suit. Repair or replace anything that is torn or soiled.<br /><br />Another tip: Dress in layers so you can be at ease regardless of the temperature. If you show up in Bermuda shorts, as one candidate referenced in the survey did, you might spend the whole meeting shivering under an air conditioning vent.<br /><br />Don't show too much skin. One job candidate we heard about arrived to the interview in a micro-miniskirt and fishnet stockings. Another wore a leather vest without a shirt underneath. If you want the job, avoid attire that is more fitting for the club than the office. Midriff-baring t-shirts, low-rise pants or mini-anything should be shoved back in the closet.<br /><br />Don't avoid the mirror. Conduct a final head-to-toe assessment before leaving the house to ensure everything -- including your hair, nails and shoes -- is presentable. Do the same when you get to the interviewer's office. A quick trip to the restroom will allow you to make final adjustments before meeting with the hiring manager.<br /><br />Remember, when it comes to attire, simple is best. What you wear won't get you the job, but it may take you out of the running. In the end, it's best to focus attention on your abilities, not your favorite funky shirt, shoes or skirt.<br /><br />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 www.roberthalf.com. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/roberthalf.

What not to wear - 5 interview attire don'ts

If you're headed to an employment interview and want to dress to impress, don't wear a cat suit, a jogging suit or "Star Trek&q...

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SHADOW OF A DOUBT's "Ann Newton"...Today...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; 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/AVvXsEiPHoj-LQLc8WFu4HrR5WR9zWG4K-h5gzHgM1b30UTfG5uW3wdSpz203EKSzCy77wlhfllqod0DsD49HuykX5Hy2WmPHTBdw6aQMbqXSuhqKTlziIBopC_OCICmVNLQYNo3XkolHryqCAJ4/s1600/Edna+and+Hitch+2+resized+small+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHoj-LQLc8WFu4HrR5WR9zWG4K-h5gzHgM1b30UTfG5uW3wdSpz203EKSzCy77wlhfllqod0DsD49HuykX5Hy2WmPHTBdw6aQMbqXSuhqKTlziIBopC_OCICmVNLQYNo3XkolHryqCAJ4/s400/Edna+and+Hitch+2+resized+small+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edna and Hitch</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While doing research for a blog on <b>Shadow of a Doubt</b> last year I unearthed information about Edna May Wonacott Green who portrayed Ann Newton, the younger sister in the 1943 film. I wrote a letter asking Edna if she'd be interested in being interviewed and a little while later received an email from her saying "yes." We had a lengthy telephone conversation soon after and on Edna's 78th birthday, February 6, 2010, the first part of our interview was posted at <i>The Classic Film & TV Cafe</i> as "Happy Birthday, Edna May." Part 2 posted a few days later (<a href="http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/2010/02/happy-birthday-edna-may.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Part 1 link</span></a><span style="color: #cc0000;">, </span><a href="http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/2010/02/happy-birthday-edna-may_10.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Part 2 link</span></a>). The blog also posted later at TCM's Classic Film Union fan site. <br /><a name='more'></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9QuBheQXrs2nAfluu0iGl7W1pJIChNvXhSjc5kG1r_4_smF28K4fat07bAlN_xzUsY8Ut6PDQIE_5q0yIClMWjuD-zkrkrWSML4s1yrEzt29NTCgP8fLzTpIyNL5uk1BTBxvyLO4Ve_R/s1600/Edna+now+resized+and+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9QuBheQXrs2nAfluu0iGl7W1pJIChNvXhSjc5kG1r_4_smF28K4fat07bAlN_xzUsY8Ut6PDQIE_5q0yIClMWjuD-zkrkrWSML4s1yrEzt29NTCgP8fLzTpIyNL5uk1BTBxvyLO4Ve_R/s200/Edna+now+resized+and+cropped.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edna Green today</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Edna Green is a truly genuine, intelligent and warm woman whose childhood was extraordinary. It occurred to me that the local paper where she now lives might be interested so I emailed the paper's features editor suggesting a piece about her. I included a link to my interview so he could get an idea of Edna's story. He was interested but said he liked what I'd written and asked for permission to reprint it. It was my turn to say "yes"...and in March of last year, Edna got the front page of the features section of a Sunday edition of the <i>Yuma Sun</i> (the interview was also posted with the online edition). But wait, there's more...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I submitted our interview to <i>Classic Images</i> - and it was accepted - for the journal's glossier sister publication, <i>Films of the Golden Age</i> and appears in the new issue - #63, Winter 2010 - 2011. It's an eight-page spread with many pictures from Edna's personal collection (a few are shown here), several taken on the set of <b>Shadow of a Doubt</b>. According to Wikipedia, TCM's "Robert Osborne has gone on record proclaiming <i>Films of the Golden Age</i> is one of his favorite publications."  </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: right;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last weekend Edna and I, who have stayed in touch since our initial interview, talked about events in her life over the past year.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwqEsM3AYidoAr7xxDxNEAK_ShftzsWexdkvXsYpIzfJNooGSRC5TYjUT_F0W84Ozv4efJCrGVXobDuKSWXTZekC62452q_AQ32ogDDaHKsvNRPjw7RYAtOT2lxfe42bLzhV47p-cAIsz/s1600/Edna+with+Martha+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwqEsM3AYidoAr7xxDxNEAK_ShftzsWexdkvXsYpIzfJNooGSRC5TYjUT_F0W84Ozv4efJCrGVXobDuKSWXTZekC62452q_AQ32ogDDaHKsvNRPjw7RYAtOT2lxfe42bLzhV47p-cAIsz/s320/Edna+with+Martha+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edna with Martha O'Driscoll on <i>Under Western Skies</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once our interview appeared Edna began to hear from fans all over the U.S., Canada and...the world (Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden). The letters she receives usually include a photo of her printed from the Internet and a request that she sign it. Edna still averages about three letters a week and reports that most are interested in <b>Shadow of a Doubt</b>, but some even mention <b>Under Western Skies</b>, a 1945 film that co-starred Noah Beery and Martha O'Driscoll. One young American girl wrote asking for advice on how to get into the movies. Edna responds to all who write her and in the girl's case emphasized that it's been nearly 70 years since she was "discovered," and that Hollywood has changed dramatically since then...Edna is a little surprised (and pleased) that so many of those who contact her are young people.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After Edna's interview appeared in the <i>Sun</i> she began to receive invitations from local community groups to speak about her years as a child actress. So far she has led two such programs and has a third coming up soon. She brings her memorabilia and scrapbooks and talks about her experiences on <b>Shadow of a Doubt</b>, <b>The Bells of St. Mary's</b> and the other films on which she worked during the 1940s. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Edna's life has also opened up over this last year in an arena unrelated to her Hollywood heyday. When her husband died of cancer a few years ago, Edna became interested in diet and nutrition. She attended <i>Food for Life</i> classes offered by <i>The Cancer Project</i> and was soon part of a small group of women who regularly met to share ideas and recipes. Eventually Edna was leading a class of 30+ men and women who still meet once a week on Mondays. Edna is committed to a plant-based diet and claims she feels better than she has in decades. She is now leading two additional classes a week and her crusade to promote healthy eating was recently covered by the <i>Yuma Sun</i>. <a href="http://www.yumasun.com/articles/diet-66578-green-recipes.html"><span style="color: #990000;">Click here for link</span></a>. Following this latest newspaper coverage, Edna was contacted by a local judge in charge of a rehab center who is interested in incorporating healthy eating into his program and has asked for her assistance.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Edna's childhood could be called magical, but she left the movie business while still young and led a normal life in the intervening years. It seems somehow fitting that she has come full circle and is once again in the spotlight - not only because of interest in her onetime movie career, but also because of the work she is doing to help others in her community.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; 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/AVvXsEjYAusZU0vnEEhOGXkj9lwAvxFo8cXGh4R1VhHz3ZpTnTR44EzqH1M-YNrjxt9aYUyLKt0sxy_U4fHZX3rVqvpf6VMFA-utFQtz419Wi7H5aFH-3xowYQHMNgkIlhIcdmdIMPTgMeRnkAVK/s1600/FGA+63+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAusZU0vnEEhOGXkj9lwAvxFo8cXGh4R1VhHz3ZpTnTR44EzqH1M-YNrjxt9aYUyLKt0sxy_U4fHZX3rVqvpf6VMFA-utFQtz419Wi7H5aFH-3xowYQHMNgkIlhIcdmdIMPTgMeRnkAVK/s400/FGA+63+cropped.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Films of the Golden Age</i> Winter 2010/2011,<span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.filmsofthegoldenage.com/contact/"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">click here</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> to go to site</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Edna May Wonacott Films of the Golden Age Shadow of a Doubt The Lady Eve (author) SHADOW OF A DOUBT's "Ann Newton"...Today...

Edna and Hitch While doing research for a blog on Shadow of a Doubt last year I unearthed information about Edna May Wonacott Green who por...

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Woulda, shoulda, coulda

From WiseGeek.com:<br /><br />"For many of us, there is a clear distinction between what actually happened and what we <em>wished</em> would have happened in a given situation. Sometimes people realize a number of options they could have or should have taken instead of the action they actually took. This feeling of regret or second-guessing is summed up in the expression <em>woulda coulda shoulda."</em> <br /><br />A friend of mine made a new year's resolution to stop her "woulda coulda shoulda" habit. Each time she says one of these words she has to put a quarter in a jar. She then proceeded to tell me about her vacation, and said "we should have made our reservations....". She stopped, and said "whoops! Another quarter!".<br /><br />It's so easy to slip into a pattern of regret, where we wish we'd made different choices. We often criticize ourselves for making bad choices, thinking we could have, should have, done things differently. I often do this to myself, then I proceed to berate myself for the bad choices I made when I know better. Does this do me any good? Absolutely not. If anything, it perpetuates a feeling of defeat and that I'm just not good enough or smart enough to lose weight. It makes me feel weak and helpless to dwell on my failures. It serves no real purpose. <br /><br />I've decided I'm done with the past. I posted recently that 2010 was a lost year. I didn't gain weight, I didn't lose weight. Now January 2011 is a lost month. I continued my no gain, no lose pattern.. <br /><br />It's time for me to stop looking back at my failures and time to start looking forward. I have the Big Climb in exactly seven weeks. On March 20th, I'll be climbing 1,311 stairs (69 floors). I can't cancel or just not show up for this event. I'm the team captain, and many of the team members are coworkers. As a team captain I'm required to be present. It would be not be cool of me to drop out, it's not an option.<br /><br />I call 2010 my lost year, starting and ending at the same weight, 180. Now January 2011 is another lost month. Starting and ending at 180 pounds. Not exactly where I'd hope to be, but not at the 239 pounds I started at February 19, 2008.<br />The good news, February is notoriously my month to lose weight. I've started many successful diets in February. In fact, February 19 will mark three years of Weight Watcher meetings. I don't know why it's my month, perhaps because spring seems like it's just around the corner and spring is my season (with summer a close second). Spring means skimpier clothing, and right now, none of my size 10 summer clothing fits. <br /><br />Moving forward now...

Woulda, shoulda, coulda

From WiseGeek.com: "For many of us, there is a clear distinction between what actually happened and what we wished would have happened...

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Disney Documentaries Divert the Dream and Delves into Depression

I am a big Disney fan, and love many things that come out of that company: the Parks, the movies, the channel, and other things, too. Recently I heard about three documentaries that were coming out that were about topics not usually discussed among Disney: one was about Walt Disney's goodwill trip to South America in the 1940s, another was about the time in Disney Animation between 1984-1994, and the third was about the life of the Sherman brothers. All three of these were hailed by critics, so that interested me even more. A Disney documentary that was receiving good press like that? I had to check it out.<br /><br />Luckily all three came out on DVD at the same time in December (and also appeared OnDemand with Comcast), so I was able to watch all three. And man, these are not your normal Disney fluff, that's for sure. This is all about the happy times, but also about the sad times too.<br /><br />I am happy that people thought these were good topics to present, before it got too far out of people's minds. I say this in particular for the Sherman brothers' story - both of the "Boys" are in their 80s now, and to hear their story out of both of their mouths was amazing.<br /><br />I enjoyed all these movies, but all three left me with a slightly sour taste. When one feeds on Disney for too long, it is kind of difficult to see that there is reality behind the dreams and fantasy.<br /><br />Let's start with <b>Waking Sleeping Beauty</b>, which chronicles Disney Animation from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. The Disney movies that came out of this time (especially the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and the Lion King) really helped shape my childhood. I thought this movie would talk more about how those movies were developed, the voice actors, how the characters were shaped, and so on.<br /><br />Instead, most of the movie talked about the power struggle between Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Roy E. Disney. With each triumph, those three had to ruin it with their quest to be top dog in Disney Animation. And left in the wake of their storm was all the poor animators and directors and producers who just wanted to make good movies.<br /><br />I was really hoping to enjoy this movie - and when the movie focused on the animators and the goofy stuff that happens, it was enjoyable. It was too bad that the height of the animation had to have so much negativity going on in the background.<br /><br />I watched <b>Walt and El Groupo</b> during Christmas vacation, and that movie had lots of fun aspects. It was fun to watch, especially since I had, in the past eight months, watched <i>Saludos Amigos </i>and <i>The Three Caballeros. </i>They showed how parts of those movies were inspired by the travels that Disney did with his animators.<br /><br />Yes, the trip was basically a goodwill trip so that South America wouldn't join the Nazis, but it seemed like the welcome parties from all the countries involved were very willing to show Walt and his crew the fantastic parties that they could throw.<br /><br />I liked listening to the letters that the animators' children read in the documentary, and I also liked seeing the real-life inspirations side-by-side with the animation that was used.<br /><br />The saddest part was at the end, when it turns out that this big research trip churned out very little results. They set it up for this big triumph, then at the end the South Americans interviewed said that very little of the research was used in the movie.<br /><br />It was nice seeing lots of video of Walt Disney, though. It made me want a bigger documentary out there featuring just Walt. I'm going to have to look that up...<br /><br />The final movie I just watched tonight. It's about the Sherman brothers, and it's called <b>The Boys</b>. Out of the three documentaries, this was the best one, in my opinion.<br /><br />The son of each brother got together and documented the lives of their fathers and their careers spanning their entire lives. Both Dick and Bob Sherman are still alive, and it chronicles how these two men who did so much together now live halfway around the world from each other and don't speak to each other any more.<br /><br />When they were honored with a window on Main Street in Disneyland last year, I was really confused why only Dick Sherman was at the special ceremony they had. But watching this, it helped me to understand it a little better, but was still sad. To see two brothers feel like they had no connection with each other is very depressing. I have brothers and can't fathom how they would just choose not to be around each other.<br /><br />That said, the movie is not just about the fall of their relationship. It also shows the <i>thousands</i> of songs that these two brothers wrote together. I had no idea how many songs they wrote for Disney and for other companies, too! They showed clips of the movies, they showed Dick pounding the song on the piano, they showed Bob and Dick kind of "composing" together, and they interviewed singers and other Disney honchos. The mood was far lighter than I thought it was going to be, but still, at the end I was sad.<br /><br />I am still happy that Disney is willing to put out movies like this that pull back the curtain on what's going on while they're making the magic. To me, it was quite the eye opener. If you are curious about any of the events that are chronicled in these movies, I would urge you strongly to see these movies. They are very well made and have different effects that enhance the movies more than usual.<br /><br />Just be prepared to suspend your infallible Disney beliefs for a few hours.

Disney Documentaries Divert the Dream and Delves into Depression

I am a big Disney fan, and love many things that come out of that company: the Parks, the movies, the channel, and other things, too. Recent...

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How to answer, "Tell me a little about yourself."

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/7t/ar5l0xq6szf88r05d47t.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:37:35%20pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/7t/ar5l0xq6szf88r05d47t.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:37:35%20pm" /></a></div>To a painter, an untouched canvas holds unlimited possibility for a bold new creation. But for each artist, the potential for something great is counterweighed by the potential for unparalleled failure.<br /><br />Similarly, excitement and anxiety loom over job interviews. When you present yourself to an employer, you hope all the right words come out and you woo them. You only practice the perfect responses to questions, never the wrong answers. But in the back of your mind you know that you might end up sounding like a terrible candidate who no employer will ever hire, even if you're actually the perfect person for the job.<br /><br />For a job seeker, the blank canvas is the open-ended question. When the right answer requires more than a yes or a no, job seekers need to take advantage of the freedom they have with their responses, not fear it. But perhaps no question intimidates job seekers more than "So, tell me a little about yourself."<br /><br />You have many ways to answer, and the best response might depend on the stage of your career.<br /><br />David Copperfield you are not<br /><br />When Charles Dickens begins the tale of David Copperfield, the novel's namesake ruminates on his life. Where and when he was born and what he's to become. Leave that specificity and personal information to classic literature or your personal ads. Employers don't want to know about your childhood. They're concerned with your professional qualifications and any history that's relevant to the position.<br /><br />Here is some information you don't want to blurt out when asked to tell a little about yourself:<br /><br />· A brief summary of your childhood<br /><br />· Your dislike of your current boss and your desire to get a new job ASAP<br /><br />· The details of your current divorce proceedings<br /><br />· Your passionate religious and political beliefs<br /><br />· The fact that you're probably moving in six months and are just look for a temporary job.<br /><br />Employers don't care that you're the youngest of three children and played the bassoon in junior high. This personal information might naturally come out during conversation, but it's not what you want to lead with. Wherever you are in your career, remember that employers want to know what skills you bring and how you will help their businesses.<br /><br />If you're in college...<br /><br />College jobs can vary from part-time positions you take to earn extra cash or they can be entry-level positions you use as the basis for your desired career. Either way, you're at a stage where education is your most significant qualification. And if you have work experience, mention it as an example that you're responsible and have a track record as a good employee.<br /><br />Your answer shouldn't sound like: "I don't have any 8 a.m. classes because I usually stay out late. And I'll need weekends off."<br /><br />Your answer should sound like: "I'm a full-time student studying education. I worked as a barista for two years and then as a sales clerk at for the past two summers, so I have plenty of experience working with customers."<br /><br />If you're just out of school...<br /><br />When employers hire new graduates, they know they're not getting seasoned workers with decades of experience. They also know they're getting workers who might not stick around for very long but who are current on the latest technology and trends.<br /><br />Your answer shouldn't sound like: "I just graduated last week and have a list of ideas on how to improve your operations. You're doing a lot of things wrong."<br /><br />Your answer should sound like: "I just received my B.A. in marketing with a 3.9 GPA. My courses in account management give me a strong foundation to begin my career with XYZ company, and I'm excited to learn from the industry leaders here."<br /><br />If you're mid-career and looking to switch industries...<br /><br />Many workers who specialize in one field for several years begin to think about exploring other industries. Either they grow tired of their jobs or they realize their skills can be put to better use elsewhere. Whatever the reason, their focus should be repackaging their experience for the new industry they want.<br /><br />Your answer shouldn't sound like: "Well, I've been a manufacturing supervisor for 15 years. I don't have any experience as a sales supervisor or in sales at all."<br /><br />Your answer should sound like: "For the past 15 years I was a supervisor at ABC Manufacturing. You might wonder why I want to move into sales at this stage in my career, but much of my time has been spent negotiating with vendors and meeting with CEOs. Although the industries might be different, the skills are the same."<br /><br />If you're easing into retirement...<br /><br />Seasoned workers might not want to devote the majority of their week to working, but they aren't ready to leave the workforce entire. When interviewing for part-time or contract work, these workers want to play up their experience and commitment to the job.<br /><br />Your answer shouldn't sound like: "I've had enough 50-hour weeks. Let the young workers try to keep up with that pace. I'm ready to finally relax and earn some extra money so I can finally quit for good."<br /><br />Your answer should sound like: "I've seen the industry change over the past 40 years and am eager to see where it goes in the future. As consultant, I'm eager to share my vast knowledge with clients in order to help their business grow."<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

How to answer, "Tell me a little about yourself."

To a painter, an untouched canvas holds unlimited possibility for a bold new creation. But for each artist, the potential for something grea...

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Envivo De Michoacan III: Before The Next Teardrop Falls

I have wanted to learn Spanish ever since 1975 -- the first time I heard the late great Baldemar Garza Huerta (stage name: Freddy Fender) on my car radio singing “Before The Next Teardrop Falls.” In case you don’t know the song, it is one of those dreadfully sentimental Country Western oldies. Freddy sang the first verse straight and it was as bad as always. I was on the verge of changing the channel when he sang the same verse in Spanish. It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever heard.<br /><br />Si te quierre de verdad<br />Y te da felicidad<br />Te desea lo mas bueno pa’los dos.<br />Pero si te hace llorar,<br />A mime puedes hablar<br />Y estare’ contigo quando trieste estas.<br /><br />Does it get any better than that? Not in the world of Tex-Mex music. But as the years went by I came upon Neruda:<br /><br />Inclinada en las tardes iro mis tristes redes<br />A tus ojos oceanicos.<br />Alli se estira y arde en la mas atla hoguera . . . .<br /><br />Whether in print or given voice, this language held a beauty that was inaccessible to me. My upbringing was a bigger trap than my lack of language. I could never bring myself to devote the time and effort to learn Spanish simply because it is lovely and has feelings and ideas embedded in it that cannot be expressed in English. What’s more, I am bad at languages. Just awful really – and afraid of them.<br /><br />So I feel enormously grateful to the many Latino Episcopalians in Nevada for giving me final push I needed for this experience. The joy and vitality of the worship and community life of our Latino congregations is just too good to miss. I hope I will be of greater service to our fastest growing congregations, but I am sure of this: their spirituality is already an energizing, life-giving blessing to me, and I will be better able to receive that blessing as I understand more of the language of Neruda, Lorca, Marquez, and the philosopher Miguel de Unamuno.<br /><br />After 2 weeks of living in Morelia, studying Spanish every day, I feel different in more ways than having just learned some verbs. Learning the language while living in its home culture is somehow transformative in a way it will take some time to sort out. Before coming here, I really didn’t know Hidalgo and Morelos from Profiro Diaz. I had no idea that there was a culture in Mexico the Aztecs never conquered, the Purhepecha who still live here and who ruled Michoacan, the place of fishermen, for 1,000 years, that they built pyramids as temples and the people worshiped outside – loudly so their gods could hear them -- or that images of sun and moon flank images of God above church doorways preserving the place of sun and moon in the pre-Hispanic religion of this ancient place.<br /><br />Despite my weakness in language, all the individual attention from the some of the best teachers I have ever had has made a huge difference. I have learned so much! I am a long, long way from conversant in Spanish. That will take much more than 3 weeks. But I have the foundation now to study at home. Before coming here, the prospect of even starting something like Rosetta Stone was overwhelming. Now I believe I can do it, especially knowing I will have the support of my Latino brothers and sisters.<br /><br />One of the big surprises here is that there are so few American students. All the violence along the border that is so exhaustively covered on American news has scared the Americans away. My school, the Baden-Powell Institute, <a href="http://www.bpimorelelia.com/">http://www.bpimorelelia.com/</a>, had about 30 Americans at a time until recently. Now you could count us on one hand. This is a long way from Juarez. I feel safer here than in Las Vegas. This is a beautiful city, untouched by urban renewal, full of old style Spanish architecture, no tall buildings, a magnificent Cathedral with the 3rd largest organ in Latin America, good food, and friendly people.<br /><br />I hope to come back again and again in the years to come.

Envivo De Michoacan III: Before The Next Teardrop Falls

I have wanted to learn Spanish ever since 1975 -- the first time I heard the late great Baldemar Garza Huerta (stage name: Freddy Fender) on...

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The wine was my downfall

After three days of being really good, eating on plan, feeling a few hunger pains during the day (a good thing),and having a late night healthy snack at 9pm each day that seemed to put a stop to my binges, I totally blew it.<br /><br />It started out well yesterday, healthy breakfast, healthy lunch, and super busy at work. So busy that it took me four hours to eat my salad of spinach, shrimp, and clementines with balsamic vinegar and a teaspoon of oil. It's my latest most favorite lunch (at home I add a little red onion, but not at work). I worked through lunch, with  barely time to eat a few bites, then meetings all afternoon. I'd grab a few bites between meetings. A crazy day.<br /><br />I had a fantastic workout yesterday, as I have every day this week, plus I've been doing our three flights of stairs at work twelve times during lunch each day, 720 steps (except yesterday). Every morning 110 to 120 flights on the StairMaster, plus 40 minutes of strength.<br /><br />Then my eating plan went all to heck. Last night I had a date with my best girlfriend. Her birthday was a couple weeks ago (the breakfast at IHOP), but we always celebrate later in the month with dinner and a movie. Her pick for both since she's the birthday girl. <br /><br />I was so busy all day that I didn't even have time to ask her where we were going. When I picked her up at 5:30 p.m. she said the dreaded two words: <a href="http://www.claimjumper.com/">Claim Jumpers</a>. This is a very bad restaurant. My girlfriend usually chooses this restaurant since it's one of favorites. When I know we're going there I go to their nutritional information on their website, decide what I'm going to eat and stick to it. This always works for me because I sort of get my mind around it, and I feel good about it. This restaurant is like hell for a dieter. Giant servings of fat-laden, delicious food. There are healthy choices, but you have to be really careful.<br /><br />Last night, after a horrendously stressful work day, I couldn't even think straight (this is my excuse for what happened). The Claim Jumper website is very unfriendly and difficult to use. It takes time to look things up and it's hard to find things (because everything has a million calories and they don't want people to know). In other words, trying to do it on my Blackberry was just about impossible. <br /><br />I asked the waitress to see their nutritional information. I got this story from our very sweet waitress. "Yes, we know it's the law in Washington state for restaurants to provide that information, but the restaurant chain has been purchased by a business in Texas, where nutritional information is not required. They just redesigned the menu and didn't realize they needed provide the nutritional information. They're working on it."<br /><br />Oh well, I'm a big girl, and I know what's healthy and what's not. I ordered the half rotisserie chicken (and it was a tiny, baby chicken) and a dry baked sweet potato (which was huge and delicious), no bread (they have the most amazing corn bread you've ever tasted). Good so far, right?<br /><br />Then I messed up. I know my girlfriend loves a glass of wine with dinner. I also know if I don't order it she won't either. I entirely gave up wine several months ago. I decided it was just a waste of calories and usually gave me a headache.<br /><br />Last night I was tired, stressed with a neck thing going on, and a glass of wine sounded good. So I ordered a glass of Cabernet. It was huge (as everything is in this place except for that chicken). Probably at least two servings.<br /><br />I ate every bite of my dinner (which would probably have been enough food for three people). Then I ordered dessert. My girlfriend's favorite dessert, Lemon Bar Brulee. And  no, we didn't share a piece and yes, it was wonderful. It's a lemon bar cheesecake thing with raspberry sauce and whip cream. I looked up the dessert this morning, 747 calories, 16 gr of fat, 105 gr carbs, 1 gr fiber. <br /><br />Anyway, the end of the story is that I gained two pounds overnight. 180.2 this morning. I know some of it's probably the sodium. I know it was just one night. I know it's not that big of a deal. It's just that I have Weight Watchers tomorrow, which means I have to weigh in. Sort of depressing. <br /><br />The movie was great though. No Strings Attached. Very funny, cute chick flick with Natalie Portman and Aston Kutcher (love him). I had a great visit with my girlfriend. It was very fun and yes, I would do it again, but skip the wine and dessert. Maybe. :)<br /><br />Life happens, but I really need to get serious about losing weight and stop just talking about it. The Big Climb is less than two months away. Remember, 1,311 steps. Scary at 180 pounds!

The wine was my downfall

After three days of being really good, eating on plan, feeling a few hunger pains during the day (a good thing),and having a late night heal...

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Your nonverbal communication can wreck your interview

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/97/ar5m4zl6sk34kd4z9397.gif?time=1/10/2011%2011:52:37%20am" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/97/ar5m4zl6sk34kd4z9397.gif?time=1/10/2011%2011:52:37%20am" /></a></div>Giving a limp handshake, letting your eyes wander and fidgeting are just a few of the subtle blunders that can botch your success in a job interview. Although you may have been unaware you were doing these things, interviewers who pick up on negative nonverbal communication are likely to doubt your fit for the job.<br /><br />Nonverbal communication can be judged just as much, and sometimes even more harshly, than the responses you give to questions you're asked during interviews. It can even be the single factor that helps hiring managers decide between you and another candidate when you're both equally qualified for the job. That's why it's so important to be mindful about your posture, facial expression and other behaviors.<br /><br />"The most important idea is to project confidence and professionalism," says Heather Krasna, author of "Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service."<br /><br />"If you find yourself becoming very nervous about interviewing, realize that this is normal. Practice interviewing in front of a mirror, on video or with a friend or career coach until you feel a bit more comfortable," she suggests.<br /><br />In her book, Krasna offers the following tips for ensuring positive, appropriate and polite nonverbal communication:<br /><br /><br />Handshake: A firm handshake is considered a sign of confidence. Take the other person's hand in your right hand (don't use both hands), so that the space between your thumb and first finger touches theirs. Give a firm, but not crushing squeeze, and shake the person's hand up and down slightly, once. If you have sweaty hands, be sure to dry them before your interview.<br /><br />Posture and physical distance: When sitting in a chair, sit up straight or lean forward slightly (don't slouch). If you will be crossing your legs, do it so that one knee is stacked on top of the other or cross your ankles. (Do not cross your legs so that one foot is on top of your other knee.) Alternatively, keep both feet on the floor. Do not stretch your legs out in front of you or sit with your legs spread far apart -- it looks too casual. When standing near someone, about three feet of distance is standard in most parts of the United States. Standing closer than this can be quite uncomfortable for others.<br /><br />Arms and hands: You can "talk with your hands" to some extent, but do not do so to the point of distracting your interviewer. Sitting with your arms crossed in front of you can look defensive. Instead, try to have a more open posture. Don't fidget, play with your hair or pen, or bite your nails!<br /><br />Eye contact: Look in the eyes of the person interviewing you. Looking down or away frequently gives a message of not being confident or being confused. Rolling your eyes up is considered a sign of disrespect. Don't stare intensely at the interviewer; just look him or her in the eye as much as possible.<br /><br />Facial expression: Smiling is an important way of showing that you are a friendly individual and that you are enthusiastic about the position. Smile at the beginning and the end of the interview at a minimum. This can't be emphasized enough -- I know several people for whom lack of smiling was a major barrier to employment.<br /><br />Mirroring: You can also take note of the posture and expressions of your interviewer, and adopt some of his or her tone. Be careful, though -- even if an interviewer is quite friendly and casual, that does not mean you should be too casual. It is still a professional job interview.<br /><br /><br />In addition to these tips, Krasna gives international job seekers a reminder: "Nonverbal communication is quite culturally defined," she says. "If you are interviewing across cultures, be sure to know what is expected of you."<br /><br />By Selena Dehne who is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

Your nonverbal communication can wreck your interview

Giving a limp handshake, letting your eyes wander and fidgeting are just a few of the subtle blunders that can botch your success in a job i...

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Wordless Wednesday

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlReM2KmbCWr6N7hNRUy_KkM5kZxgqyCv7_kKvH_c1WV6Z65tV5dcmIlOurg6we7z6xUU_d85nV-rkYHv_mjWeHDgm5cMfvLbd2aHPoVwBhnxn552dCrBDo0RP0Rrln-_AIk1yM1v0a8p/s1600-h/DSC09746Copy3.jpg"><img alt="DSC09746 - Copy" border="0" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dcxMQB3zJKkmt2FSa-ylNh6w1C_8m1iNs9JAbUecLKhPl3sJOUiV5QlljP6iUHvgaHN2zU7rE1lcqJdxGN1Wdv7PGdK35n38T8_EpKWbplaDG3JDdvYROlFjB7L41Nv-ppE8mr4CoeE3/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09746 - Copy" width="404"></a></p>

Wordless Wednesday

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555

Tonight I watched the new A&E show, Heavy. Most of the reviews I've read by other bloggers weren't very positive, but I liked it. I wouldn't call it entertainment because it was difficult to watch. It wasn't really educational either because I already know how to lose weight. Yet I was compelled to watch it.<br /><br />There was a woman that weighed 278 pounds and a man that weighed 555 pounds. I identified with the man because of his weight. I'm positive I have the propensity to weigh 555 pounds. My husband, friends and relatives all tell me I'm crazy to say I could weigh over 500 pounds. They really don't know me. They can't grasp how I view food. They don't understand the ongoing battle in my head about eating.<br /><br />This is a conversation I had last night with my husband, Jack.<br /><br />Me:  Do you ever eat just because you're bored or lonely or sad, but not really hungry?<br />Jack:  No. I eat when I'm hungry. Why would I eat if I wasn't hungry?<br />Me:  To make yourself feel better?<br />Jack:  How would eating food when I'm not hungry make me feel better?<br />Me:  I don't know. I was just wondering if you've ever done that before.<br />Jack:  No. Never.<br /><br />No one really knows me when it comes to food. Not even the man I've been married to for almost 23 years. Most people in my life don't understand that I often eat when I'm not hungry. It just doesn't make sense to the normal person. I use it as a way to deal with stress and unpleasantness in my life. If I actually ate when I wanted, I would most likely be eating non-stop. It's a scary thought that I could very easily lose control with food.<br /><br />I just have to take this a day at a time and continue the fight. 555 is a scary number and it's one I hope I never see.

555

Tonight I watched the new A&E show, Heavy. Most of the reviews I've read by other bloggers weren't very positive, but I liked it...

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Secular Humanism Is Impossible: Does The Soul Exist? What's At Stake?

Secular humanism is impossible.<br /><br />Well maybe not. There may be a way to get there that I don’t know. But I say “it is impossible” to draw attention to a massive contradiction, a huge crack in the foundation, of contemporary atheism.<br /><br />The problem arises if we start with the amateur philosophy currently being attempted by some biologists. They have presented arguments against the existence of God that I addressed somewhat in my previous post “Belief vs. Unbelief: Cleaning Up the Playing Field.” These biologists are eager to reduce reality to a mechanical material basis as opposed to a personal spiritual basis. That is understandable because they want reality to fit the language they speak, to fit the methods of inquiry they use. It is extremely inconvenient for those whose language has no word for “snow” and whose field of inquiry is the Sahara desert to consider that something such as snow might also be real. To be fair, the biologists’ discipline has been under attack by fundamentalists for decades. The shouts of the fundamentalists echo in biologists’ ears, so they are – perhaps understandably -- responding to those shouts rather than to the softer voices of a reasonable faith.<br /><br />But here is the contradiction for a secular humanism that relies on the work of these biologists to deny God: the same biologists are equally committed to denying the existence of the human soul. This much is consistent. If the universe is devoid of meaning, value, truth, beauty, goodness, and spirit, then humankind as a part of that universe must be equally worthless. They argue that our religious sentiments, along with our feelings for each other, our appreciation of art, and our moral values are all just bio-chemical processes. They assert that, although I may think that I love my family, my feeling for them is just a set of biochemical processes triggered in my brain when I am with them. It doesn’t really mean anything about our relationship. Philosophers call that kind of argument “reductionism” – saying that something we generally regard as significant is actually insignificant. Please understand, I am not saying all biologists are reductionists. Quite the contrary. Francis Collins, for example, is one of our foremost bio-geneticists and a defender of faith in the midst of science.<br /><br />The result of reductionist reasoning – which I intend to challenge – is that humanity is no more important than anything else. Consciousness does not matter. Sentience does not matter. Our capacities for philosophical interpretation, artistic expression, and most certainly religious intuition do not matter. The content of our minds – hopes, dreams, aspirations, compassion, etc. – are of no importance since they are just bio-chemical processes. Herein lies the contradiction for secular humanism, which makes an ultimate value of humanity, something science has proven to be worthless.<br /><br />Do human beings matter? Does life have value? Is our presence on this globe is of any importance? These are large questions. I would hold that we can have value only if value itself is possible. Linguistic philosophers would call that “a necessary truth.” It has its own internal logic. Human life can be meaningful only if the universe as a whole is meaningful. Given that any individual life is brief, and the universe will outlive our species, it is very difficult to make a case that a life has lasting meaning unless it is part of a larger meaning, albeit a mysterious one.<br /><br />But for now, I will limit this inquiry to the reductionist scientists' main point of attack – the existence or non-existence of the soul – which they rightly see as connected to the existence or non-existence of God. Again, they have found that our thoughts and feelings correspond to demonstrable bio-chemical processes. Therefore, they reason, the soul is a mumbo-jumbo hoax.<br /><br />Their point calls for two basic responses. The first is to challenge their philosophical interpretation of their findings. (One can be a perfectly adequate scientist without being particularly adept at philosophy of science, just as one can be a fine athlete without being a terribly astute analyst of the sport for TV commentary. The biologists might be as adept at philosophy and theology as philosophers and theologians would be at biology.) The second is to ask what we mean by the “soul” since the thing they claim does not exist may not be what we mean by the “soul” anyway.<br /><br />First, let’s look at their interpretation of the demonstrable fact that thoughts and feelings correspond to bio-chemical processes. The bias of reductionists is to construe this correspondence in terms of a materialistic (stuff that has a chemical composition is real; things that do not have a chemical composition are not) mechanical (cause and effect relationships like billiard balls or falling dominoes, as opposed to personal interaction like people dancing) explanations.<br /><br />However, even the staunchest atheist philosopher, David Hume, said that such causation is merely a hypothesis. Mechanistic cause and effect of the sort the reductionists assume is philosophically questionable, to say the least. And the greatest skeptic of all time, Renee Descartes, would have pointed out that the observations of their experiments and certainly the interpretation of their findings are merely descriptions of the bio-chemical processes in the brains of the reductionist scientists. Their own observations and interpretations, are by their own admission, mere bio-chemical processes occuring inside thier own skulls. The biologists have no basis for claiming objective truth for their own biochemical processes that deny the truth of someone else’s experience. (A case of needing to take the plank out of one's own eye.) Everything they observe may well be, as the Vedic philosophers would have put it, “a dream in the mind of God.” I do not accept the views of Hume, Descartes, or the Vedantists. I merely note the huge mountains the reductionists have ignored rather than climbed over.<br /><br />To put a point on the issue of causation (which is the basis of the reductionist argument): If two things happen together, how are we to say which has caused the other? If I am in a room that is 95 degrees and begin to sweat and so remove my sweater, what would the bio-chemical analysis say? It would say my bio-chemistry caused the room to become hot. Take for example two lovers: did their inner biochemistry cause them to love each other or did their love affect their biochemistry? Is it a new or surprising discovery of science to say that my heart beats faster when I see the one I love? Does my pulse rate cause the feeling of love or did my feeling of love affect my heartbeat?<br /><br />My challenge to the biologists’ materialist/mechanist leap of faith is this: Suppose two people feel kindly toward each other, admire each other, and remain devoted to each other’s well being. A musical composer might observe them and write a sonata to express the relationship of these two people. That would be a spiritual way of expressing what is happening. The composer would see the dynamic between the two people as essentially personal and relational rather like music. The reductionist scientist would observe the same dynamic and describe it in terms of bio-chemistry, thus reducing their relationship to the material and mechanistic.<br /><br />Ah and who wins? Obviously the biologist, since scientists are the high priests in our time. (Who ordained them?) They have the greater authority. (Who gave it to them?) But wait. What about the physicists? Are not the very molecules the biologists study made up of atoms and the atoms of sub-atomic particles? According to the physicists, these atoms and sub-atomic particles are not behaving like a material mechanistic reality. Rather, they behave personally and relationally. According to the physicists, these two people, at their most basic “material” level, are quite spiritual, and their connection to each other appears to be an expression of their essentially spiritual nature. (See e.g., Tervethick, “Quantum Spirituality”; Winter, “Paradoxy: Spirituality In A Quantum Universe”; Aaron, “A New Reality: A Wakeup Call To Life’s Mysteries”; Zukov, “The Dancing Wu Li Masters”; Capra, “The Tao Of Physics.”)<br /><br />It seems that any event may have layers of interpretation: spiritual, then material, then spiritual again, and so on – a vertiable parfait of interpretation -- as if perhaps spirit and matter are inter-related, as the scientist theologian Pierre Teilhard Chardin said and as the doctrines of Incarnation and Sacrament teach.<br /><br />Events are only what they are. True. But what are they? We cannot perceive an event without interpretation. (See Martin Heidegger & Hans Gadamer.) And we interpret through the lens of our own worldview. There is no way out of that for any of us. We can only try to be aware of the subjectivity of the lens through which we look at things. The reductionists who deny the soul, and with it the meaning of life, are the epitome of Eurocentric rationalist arrogance – not in reaching a facile conclusion but in failing to see the limitation of their perspective. This is the attitude that gave us colonialism, with all its barbarous cultural genocide. It is incongruous to see the surge of such arrogant materialist rationalism in the Post-Modern world, which is supposed to be beyond that kind of pseudo-objectivity.<br /><br />Now to the second response: what do we mean by “the soul”? The thing the reductionists purport to have disproven is a non-material vaporous entity that can be infused into a body and slip out of the body. It is ostensibly immortal since it does not die but floats away when the body dies. That may in fact be a common idea of the soul, but is it what Christianity means by the word? Is it what our theologians teach?<br /><br />A bit of history: Various ancient peoples believed similar, though perhaps not identical, things about a life-force that animated living things, especially people. They believed that this life-force came from somewhere before birth and went somewhere after death. We find that belief in ancient Egypt, Greece, India, Ireland, Mesoamerica, and generally around the globe. No one seems to have had a very clear explanation of it, but the belief was important for them.<br /><br />Plato gave the soul real significance in philosophy. He thought that the material world was real only in a secondary, derivative way. The basic reality was abstract. The soul was an abstraction, a spiritual reality which manifested for a time in material form as the body. Plato’s view of the soul influenced Judaism through Philo and it influenced Christianity through Sts. Justin, Augustine, and others. Was he right? I don’t know. But if he was, then the biochemical processes the scientist observes are not an anomaly. They are precisely what Plato meant by the material manifestation of a spiritual reality.<br /><br />If the soul as Plato undertood it is too speculative for you, Christians in the Middle Ages felt the same way. They turned away from Plato toward the ideas of his student, Aristotle. For Aristotle, and then for St. Thomas Aquinas, the soul was not in the least bit spooky. The soul was essentially the blueprint for the body. It was the shape of our material selves. To say that emotions have a physical pattern and form -- the form observed by biologists -- is not to deny the existence of the soul as Aristotle and St. Thomas understood it. Quite the contrary, it is to describe the soul. For Plato, their findings would be the footprints of the soul. For Aristotle and Thomas, they would be a description of the soul itself.<br /><br />There is a third view of the soul, one which I find more helpful than the vague-life force of the Ancients or either Plato’s or Aristotle’s more philosophical descriptions. It is the view we find in several schools of psychology, though it goes by different names. Some psychological schools use the word “soul.” Others call it the Self, the Personal Self, the Core Self, etc. One really needs to have done the exercises of these disciplines -- or even better, to have practiced Buddhist meditation -- to grasp what they mean by Soul or Self. The Soul, in this view, is essentially a capacity to observe the world but more importantly to observe one’s own inner dynamics from an emotionally centered “still point.” UCLA psychiatrist Dr. Daniel J. Siegel describes this capacity in neurological terms that the biologists should be comfortable with. (See Siegel’s books, “Mindsight” and “The Mindful Brain.”) It is this core of our being that does not change. It has the extraordinary capacity to observe the fractured parts of ourselves, each of which has its own neurological hard-wiring. By force of its differentiated observation, it brings compassion and healing. The Soul is not the processes the scientists observe so much as it is another observer of the same processes, but one who watches with a kinder eye.<br /><br />The interesting claim, which I readily grant partakes of faith, is the transpersonal psychologists’ belief that the universe has a Cosmic Self which underlies all the interpersonal dynamics from nations to quarks – and that the Cosmic Self and Personal Self are inextricably connected. (See e.g. Roberto Assagioli, “Psychosynthesis”; Firman and Gila, “Psychosynthesis: A Psychology of The Spirit.”) This Personal-Self-to-Cosmic-Self connection is perfectly consistent with the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas and directly in line with the mystical insights of Lady Julian of Norwich. How ironic that the reductionist scientists have grasped the same point, the same connection. The soul, if it exists, is of God. They have realized that to effectively deny one, you must also deny the other.<br /><br />If, indeed the Spirit of God blows across the deep (Genesis I), that divine wind will not be registered by a meteorologist’s instruments but by a harp. The right tool for the right job, after all.

Secular Humanism Is Impossible: Does The Soul Exist? What's At Stake?

Secular humanism is impossible. Well maybe not. There may be a way to get there that I don’t know. But I say “it is impossible” to draw atte...

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Why aren't employers calling me back?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/x9/ar5m7l86kdhc56l6qjx9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/x9/ar5m7l86kdhc56l6qjx9.gif" /></a></div>You write a killer cover letter, tailor your résumé to highlight skills described in the job ad and double-check your application before sending to make sure it includes everything the company requested. All that is left to do is sit back and wait for the employer to contact you.<br /><br />But as days turn into weeks without hearing a peep, questions arise. Did they get my material? Has the job been filled? Did they just not like me?<br /><br />Here, experts weigh in on what might be behind that silence -- and what you can do to get the conversation rolling.<br /><br />The reality of the situation<br /><br />Companies truly are glad that people want to work for them. Unfortunately, many places simply do not have the manpower to offer individualized responses.<br /><br />"Given the volume of applications an HR office receives, you should not expect a response beyond an automated 'we received your application' unless they are interested in interviewing you," says Pennell Locey, senior consultant for Keystone Associates, a career management consulting firm headquartered in Boston. "In the event there was no auto-response, you can send a note via snail mail to someone in HR along with your résumé to ensure that they received it."<br /><br />But is there anything one can do besides play the "wait and see" game?<br /><br />"After submitting a job application, it is wise to follow up with a telephone call to the appropriate contact within a week to 10 days," says Mary Massad, vice president of talent acquisition and retention strategies for Administaff, a professional employer organization headquartered in Houston, Texas. "Some individuals might feel that following up may be perceived as being pushy, but this actually demonstrates to the employer that you are conscientious, organized and professional."<br /><br />When following up, Massad recommends asking if the application was received and if any additional information is needed. (Of course, if they didn't get your application, offer to send it again.) "It also is important to restate your interest in the job, but don't be overzealous."<br /><br />Locey suggests trying to stand out from the masses by seeing if you can find a contact at the company who can single you out to the hiring manager and speak to your strengths. "That can be beneficial to you (you may get an interview) and to the company (finding a candidate who someone is willing to vouch for)."<br /><br />The waiting game, part 2<br /><br />Job seekers who are fortunate enough to generate employer interest may feel like their days of waiting are over. In truth, however, an interview (or even two or three) may simply usher in a new era of frustrating silence.<br /><br />According to Locey, if you have interviewed with a company and not heard back within two weeks, chances are that one or more of the following is happening:<br /><br />They are talking to several candidates and it is taking awhile to get them all scheduled.<br /><br />They can't get the interviewers together to discuss the candidates post interview.<br /><br />You are not the first choice but are strong enough that they do not want to say "no" yet.<br /><br />Having talked to several qualified people has changed the hiring manager's view of the job and he is working behind the scenes to upgrade or shift the role.<br /><br />"The best thing you can do is try to set some expectations during the interview about what the company's process is," says Tracy A. Cashman, partner and general manager of the information technology division of Winter, Wyman -- one of the largest staffing firms in the Northeast. "Ask when you can expect to hear if you are selected for the next round. Take that date, add a few days to it and then don't be afraid to politely follow up."<br /><br />Sending a thank-you note immediately after the interview can help set the stage for further contact. Follow-up strategies later in the game may include:<br /><br />Sending an e-mail that reiterates interest and offers to provide any additional information.<br /><br />Finding an article on a topic discussed during the interview and sending it with a note as a way to show you are thinking about the company.<br /><br />Phoning the person who interviewed you to thank her again, to ask if there is an update on the position and to share anything you might have forgotten in the initial interview.<br /><br />While employer silence is anything but golden to an eager applicant, stay positive by remembering that the day will come when the quietness will be broken by the sweet sound of a job offer!<br /><br />By Beth Braccio Hering who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

Why aren't employers calling me back?

You write a killer cover letter, tailor your résumé to highlight skills described in the job ad and double-check your application before sen...

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And Life Goes On..

<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/AVvXsEg1qC1YRuxNVanzaeuSWp778OgZV0aeMeJHt5wLE18n_bpoejMiEcCy9qkhNvcneTDIODJoTTMto6ypa071hkB5vavsJrr_G-RATsRFIvm3vUGpg1FWVCTkvSiMybPVrTcen6EgC8GGq44/s1600/sad-face.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/AVvXsEg1qC1YRuxNVanzaeuSWp778OgZV0aeMeJHt5wLE18n_bpoejMiEcCy9qkhNvcneTDIODJoTTMto6ypa071hkB5vavsJrr_G-RATsRFIvm3vUGpg1FWVCTkvSiMybPVrTcen6EgC8GGq44/s200/sad-face.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kristylovesherbuccos.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/06/well-that-didnt-take-long.html">Courtesy of here</a> </td></tr></tbody></table>Ick.  There is nothing worse than failing, and this week I <i>accomplished </i>failure!  Last time I checked I didn't see too many people standing in line to brag about how they achieved a failure.<br /><br />I gained more than just a pound this week, despite what the little ticker says.  I gained a little over 2 lbs this week.  BLAH<br /><br />I'm ready for life to start turning around.  I have had about 3 straight years of being in a major slump and I just want it all to end.  If you know me then you know that this slump consists of:<br /><ol><li>My distaste for my job.</li><li>My distaste for the town in which I live.</li><li>My weight.</li></ol>It's simple: happy people are not overweight.  People are overweight for some reason or another.  I am at the heaviest weight I have ever been.  I am embarrassed, frustrated, and sad.  I am embarrassed at my size, frustrated that I cannot seem to achieve substantial weight loss, and sad that I am overweight at age 26.  I did NOT want to be spending my 20s looking like this, and feeling the way I do!  Until next week...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.3fatchicks.net/index11.php"><img border="0" src="http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/tulip-bar/slider-scale/lb/0/95.2/-1.4/.png" /></a>

And Life Goes On..

Courtesy of here Ick.  There is nothing worse than failing, and this week I accomplished failure!  Last time I checked I didn't see too...

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Pink or Blue?

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwcgCQT8x4dLCrlvM82_rWGFFULM2dUiYf_vcp8GwD-YmKeCT76u9B0KeVKtyDcKhTC2dTBtFu7SDCdare0hceNGK82TaQe9gnDW4_Dn2UQFL9PcRCG8yVdMlHIggz_1hxGOVMtohnyj8/s1600/boy-girl.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566161500214457234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwcgCQT8x4dLCrlvM82_rWGFFULM2dUiYf_vcp8GwD-YmKeCT76u9B0KeVKtyDcKhTC2dTBtFu7SDCdare0hceNGK82TaQe9gnDW4_Dn2UQFL9PcRCG8yVdMlHIggz_1hxGOVMtohnyj8/s400/boy-girl.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 243px;" /></a> Today has finally arrived! Kyle & I get to find out whether we're going to bring on the pink or have a mini Kyle! ;) We are so excited!! Our appointment is at 2:30 this afternoon and I can hardly concentrate! I should have scheduled it earlier! <br /><br />So just for fun...what do you think we're having? Boy or girl? All the old wives tales point to girl, but honestly I have no opinion! I'm just super excited to find out!!

Pink or Blue?

Today has finally arrived! Kyle & I get to find out whether we're going to bring on the pink or have a mini Kyle! ;) We are so exci...

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