Weight Watchers Walk-It Day Challenge

As you can see, I'm a little behind on the posting :).  Again, please bear with me these next few weeks - <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/05/busy-bee.html">my life is consumed by anatomy right now</a>.  <br /><br />On Sunday, May 22 I participated in what I think has been my favorite 5K so far!  The <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/templates/marketing/marketing_utool_1col.aspx?pageid=1171941">Weight Watchers Walk-It Day Challenge </a>took place in College Park, MD at Lake Artemesia.   <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpLQX-3W_hkSfWOGsfXuGjl61njRMi4B_ZBCxbEFSe2O3XE9X2YcFhVdni3OPZYYS1QmhcylDVHUn57AldZg9sJO_bqFVOglII3TIUv2YksU1tmBkylkpkE5hyN2gr9TUCHFqado_nCU/s1600/LA+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpLQX-3W_hkSfWOGsfXuGjl61njRMi4B_ZBCxbEFSe2O3XE9X2YcFhVdni3OPZYYS1QmhcylDVHUn57AldZg9sJO_bqFVOglII3TIUv2YksU1tmBkylkpkE5hyN2gr9TUCHFqado_nCU/s400/LA+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so pretty - a perfect 5K around this lake!</td></tr></tbody></table>What I liked about this 5K was the scenery!  We did 2 laps around the lake as part of the 3.1 miles.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmeGmaYugpTHok1LVaQXBoJdzGNp2hFknk9HOMk2Fb4-gojEJ8JTJHv5yn-EUI-T2Ut-mKtmoA8lTkQWYD2e4EzuJBoiockYCo1xrX3QjcwJ5pDqOze5g2UjHE4k7oo3HNfKGeflXHgQ/s1600/LA+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmeGmaYugpTHok1LVaQXBoJdzGNp2hFknk9HOMk2Fb4-gojEJ8JTJHv5yn-EUI-T2Ut-mKtmoA8lTkQWYD2e4EzuJBoiockYCo1xrX3QjcwJ5pDqOze5g2UjHE4k7oo3HNfKGeflXHgQ/s400/LA+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rest of the 5K took place through woods</td></tr></tbody></table>The path was perfectly paved and wide enough for people to pass one another.  Also, because this event is related to the eating plan I follow, it made it that much better!  The snacks at the end were calculated with the Points+ values, and they were ALL healthy snacks - no pizza & pop afterward like most of the 5K's I've attended.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Z3jt6Hr1Byby0hZYUc3oeQ58dZ2pbNDshp5_HjXByB1UPHP4CgFOCf_GqQFJ7l6fQ4an3XZTQ9nVDkrrpgNI5fWmx0c6UYjCk8BNTiCwIfpykrtuEGI0p9e_KC5YuWmyPphyphenhyphenXVIvIQ/s1600/LA+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Z3jt6Hr1Byby0hZYUc3oeQ58dZ2pbNDshp5_HjXByB1UPHP4CgFOCf_GqQFJ7l6fQ4an3XZTQ9nVDkrrpgNI5fWmx0c6UYjCk8BNTiCwIfpykrtuEGI0p9e_KC5YuWmyPphyphenhyphenXVIvIQ/s400/LA+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The event organizers were also amazing - very encouraging and positive!  There were several of them along the route at various intervals cheering us on.  I also enjoyed the fact that in order to do this challenge, you had to be a WW member.  This made it extra special for me because it felt like you were really doing those 3.1 miles as a team.  Also, everyone there has been through the same struggles I'm going through.  Having Weight Watchers be the commonality between all of us was absolutely perfect - no one was looking down upon the next person for not being as fit or fast as they are.  In other 5K's I've done, people are strutting around in their skimpy running gear and everyone seems to be trying to outdo the next person.  I <3 Weight Watchers members!<br /><br />I was also happy with myself because I think this was the most distance I've jogged during a 5K.  I have no real way of knowing that for certain, but I felt really strong that day and I felt like the running was easy for me and it was not hard for me to keep going.  That almost NEVER happens.<br /><br />At the finish line they greeted you with what was my very first race medal! *Tear*<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_aD-KmBRB9X59ppI69vGqKjXqjWIDDmR9rVyvBUd4hljqwvfP3CrQ_OsnnAQPgE-vVbBK-TggTd787s1FrqKblgj7hM-OjLuzpnXZ0l110TWbhHMubggbGtSkPcKhXRXdgu8UkqiUFI/s1600/LA+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_aD-KmBRB9X59ppI69vGqKjXqjWIDDmR9rVyvBUd4hljqwvfP3CrQ_OsnnAQPgE-vVbBK-TggTd787s1FrqKblgj7hM-OjLuzpnXZ0l110TWbhHMubggbGtSkPcKhXRXdgu8UkqiUFI/s320/LA+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>That made my day!  It was as though I was being rewarded not just for completing this 5K, but for all the others I've done over the last few weeks.  Also, at the finish line they gave us a bag of WW friendly treats.  After everyone finished the walk, they gave away 50 prizes - I was so close 2 times!  They called numbers 301 and 303 :(!<br /><br />Oh, and we got this AWESOME shirt for signing up for the walk:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1tKA1ABWGfCejAQIUOkJnqXJwwHAvWTOo6ngJjw4mSUaHhP1lfAvZ5XBkCH4EslfCiajRprGXkaQ7LPVNWYqffGB45nXvw8oNDq190Ul5Iw2bsR0HGO2DPpx7NcA4ClgBpQLstkH8Wk/s1600/LA+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1tKA1ABWGfCejAQIUOkJnqXJwwHAvWTOo6ngJjw4mSUaHhP1lfAvZ5XBkCH4EslfCiajRprGXkaQ7LPVNWYqffGB45nXvw8oNDq190Ul5Iw2bsR0HGO2DPpx7NcA4ClgBpQLstkH8Wk/s320/LA+4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>This is blurry because I didn't want someone to walk in and see me doing a self-photo shoot!  But, that t-shirt I'm wearing is that silky, moisture wicking material.  It's SOOOOO nice!  I've never owned a shirt like this before and it is now my favorite exercise shirt.  I never understood the thrill with this type of athletic clothing because I really felt like my cotton t-shirts did the job just fine.  But man, these shirts suck the sweat away from your body and then you don't feel so disgusting!  <br /><br />If you're a WW member, I would highly recommend doing this walk next year!  Ours was so well put together and I just loved all the people who participated.<br /><br />My next and final 5K is this Saturday on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  It is the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure.  I'm kind of excited that this will be the last 5K for awhile.  I'm not currently committed to any others as of yet, but I'm going to hold off for the month of June until after we get moved and I'm done with this hell... or, I mean, school!

5K Success Weight Watchers Walk-It Day Challenge Weight Watchers Walk-It Day Challenge

As you can see, I'm a little behind on the posting :).  Again, please bear with me these next few weeks - my life is consumed by anatomy...

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I'm feeling fluffy / 189.0

Feeling fluffy for a human being is NOT a good thing.<br /><br />I don't wear 189 pounds very gracefully. It's doesn't feel comfortable. I've passed the point where I'm a little overweight, now I'm into the obese category again. <br /><br />My left knee hurts, I get out of breath easily and my blood pressure is up to hypertension levels (149/ 90--physical next month). I don't like this one little bit. I'm miserable.<br /><br />I wrote a really bad post Wednesday night. I only left it up for about five hours. Only a few people read it before I got up at 5am and deleted it. As my 14-year old nephew said after he posted something awful on Facebook a few weeks ago (he sounded very angry and depressed)...he said "I'm sorry...that's not me. I didn't mean it." I'm saying the exact same thing.<br /><br />It's strange how life slaps you up side the head one day, and you just think you're going to die from unhappiness. Sometimes that day turns into weeks. Then one day you wake up and it's like "oh well, that's life. Stuff happens. I'll be okay." That was me this morning. Whatever that thing was that I was going through seems to have passed for now.<br /><br />My change of attitude came about early today. I had a really good workout at the gym. I didn't want to go, but I had to make myself go to the gym at 5:30am. I've been going, but not as often and not working out as hard as I was a few weeks ago. Today it was different. I felt the old me coming through. The woman that wants to be healthy, and actually gives a damn about her life. <br /><br />Pretty good day today. Even if I am fluffier than I'd like to be. :)

I'm feeling fluffy / 189.0

Feeling fluffy for a human being is NOT a good thing. I don't wear 189 pounds very gracefully. It's doesn't feel comfortable. I&...

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Weight Watchers Tracker Cover

I was an E-Tools Tracker for years and years.  I liked the online convenience and the ability to see charts/graphs of the progress you've made.  I like how you can mark favorite foods and how it automatically remembers what you've tracked previously.   <br /><br />However, I recently switched over to the paper tracker and I've been having more success with it.  When I'm at work, the online tracker is great because I'm always at my computer.  However, when I get home, the last thing I want to do is turn on my computer to log Points+.  I feel the same way on the weekends - I'm not always online.  I have the WW E-Tools App for my phone, but I still find it somewhat cumbersome to log the Points+ that way too. I found that my logging was lacking!<br /><br />The paper tracker has been working out so well for me, but I was finding that it was getting worn out pretty quickly due to the constant toting to/from work or to/from the grocery store (or any other place other than at home).  In my search for buying the paper trackers online, I came upon this <a href="http://myworld.ebay.com/mywhimsicalhearts/">Ebay Store called My Whimsical Hearts</a>.  The lady is a sewing expert and she makes tracker covers that perfectly fit the Points+ trackers!  I thought this was such a genius idea and so I bought one.  I am VERY pleased with this purchase because not only does it protect the tracker, but it's very well made, very cute, and I like the bookmarks that come with it.  They are also available in other patterns.  These covers range in price from either $14 to $26 plus shipping.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tnNPsz4fMh-tXDLMD2ymjIU56Q2Ovpa9rEJgUnuc_Xx0dXVuv_k84mN7p6twrcROAalV78QgKOjftcPjePZGVfQeo7WEgDSFwbM16c7DkrmsMHs2cmPY2VU0tiJFwrLmx3YZdTIRmCM/s1600/Blog+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tnNPsz4fMh-tXDLMD2ymjIU56Q2Ovpa9rEJgUnuc_Xx0dXVuv_k84mN7p6twrcROAalV78QgKOjftcPjePZGVfQeo7WEgDSFwbM16c7DkrmsMHs2cmPY2VU0tiJFwrLmx3YZdTIRmCM/s320/Blog+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pen not included :)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RKHgTFCJfzTDsp7Ydu5gYBhErw5owoy7M_znXh52GzM3bH_pM7zjGvoW2M_gZXFuRWqRik7OB3aISKbhYywNH7b4r-fyiTxtiWr2EYIE4DlLd1GojgPiO9xNJjO6egdKgL6qCw2KBMw/s1600/Blog+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RKHgTFCJfzTDsp7Ydu5gYBhErw5owoy7M_znXh52GzM3bH_pM7zjGvoW2M_gZXFuRWqRik7OB3aISKbhYywNH7b4r-fyiTxtiWr2EYIE4DlLd1GojgPiO9xNJjO6egdKgL6qCw2KBMw/s320/Blog+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like the elastic strip on the left side that holds your papers down</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxuwao9-AK-RS1z04Hh0kmPN66ZcWZ2Y4EN6TEu15_mbchLd2Xm4Ft9HrfZApLbEanYHKw6nTcZ-GqciD-rOEaiMst0QutvVf_UBbdNmUYd4qEnN3ACVz8ZExM060Fvvi7UCRO13ZNN4/s1600/Blog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxuwao9-AK-RS1z04Hh0kmPN66ZcWZ2Y4EN6TEu15_mbchLd2Xm4Ft9HrfZApLbEanYHKw6nTcZ-GqciD-rOEaiMst0QutvVf_UBbdNmUYd4qEnN3ACVz8ZExM060Fvvi7UCRO13ZNN4/s320/Blog+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cute bookmark - very handy!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7mgTBWaqyM3c1KIXoQA3T7xYqeo0XKgxPDng6EqfLFyp9G2vMwfKP8WgGFrJ5mwAmyWSiz7RxedjIP_AegRY2xytabg3JoOb0id9XnlBX6_yWcGAkuchU0-qvGvsje-iqEeHgwmnvds/s1600/Blog+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7mgTBWaqyM3c1KIXoQA3T7xYqeo0XKgxPDng6EqfLFyp9G2vMwfKP8WgGFrJ5mwAmyWSiz7RxedjIP_AegRY2xytabg3JoOb0id9XnlBX6_yWcGAkuchU0-qvGvsje-iqEeHgwmnvds/s320/Blog+007.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside pocket - also very handy!</td></tr></tbody></table>By the way, I do not know the owner of this Ebay store at all, and she has in no way influenced me to market her product to you, other than the fact that I love this thing!  It's just that when I find awesome, functional things that help me out in my weight loss journey, I was to pass them along to you as well!  Please go check her out!

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Weight Loss Products Weight Watchers Tracker Cover

I was an E-Tools Tracker for years and years.  I liked the online convenience and the ability to see charts/graphs of the progress you'v...

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North by Northwest - free to the public...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr637xG2iyQ_sRktVwa9aEU8Zvq6KuG0SUPERY3uaNJYOQWJP5tDcVNJhZuNEB8d7XMX8uxPQjtczN1SEX8dJsiZlajboQ7Jeg7y0gOswjWpQ0xTvHld3ON4JkaKk91gn6ElX0UtTckIAO/s1600/NxNW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr637xG2iyQ_sRktVwa9aEU8Zvq6KuG0SUPERY3uaNJYOQWJP5tDcVNJhZuNEB8d7XMX8uxPQjtczN1SEX8dJsiZlajboQ7Jeg7y0gOswjWpQ0xTvHld3ON4JkaKk91gn6ElX0UtTckIAO/s320/NxNW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83aD-6R-rdZTEsPdUtZICQS45Vc1oWGtSvEEZOXg9q-_VzGytTEii0RAMSWQTTT-Wy5ilXYHrCrAQcD4Gu5O_0xILq0jDF1-b2sBfjVLnmedqK1IagbcGezl684kMwhe2A-Kn7xyR-MnK/s1600/nxnw+audience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83aD-6R-rdZTEsPdUtZICQS45Vc1oWGtSvEEZOXg9q-_VzGytTEii0RAMSWQTTT-Wy5ilXYHrCrAQcD4Gu5O_0xILq0jDF1-b2sBfjVLnmedqK1IagbcGezl684kMwhe2A-Kn7xyR-MnK/s320/nxnw+audience.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">When I was a little girl, the only director whose name I knew was Alfred Hitchcock. Though I didn't see any of his signature films of the era in a theater - <i>Rear Window</i> (1954), <i>To Catch a Thief</i> (1955), <i>Vertigo</i> (1958), <i>North by Northwest</i> (1959) - I must've seen the trailers, because I was well aware that he made exciting, colorful and glamorous movies.</span><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Psycho</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> (1960) was the first Hitchcock film I watched on in a theater. I saw <i>Psycho </i>(a far cry from his elaborate VistaVision/Technicolor creations of the 1950s) second-run (I was <i>finally</i> old enough) at the local movie house, the Ritz Theater, with a friend who'd already seen it. Pal that she was, she nudged me just as Arbogast, the detective, reached the staircase landing of the Bates home and a figure with a knife darted toward him...naturally, I shrieked long and loud...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I was fortunate enough to see <i>Rear Window</i> when it was re-released into theaters in 1984, but have seen most of Hitchcock's films on television. There's no question that his work comes through powerfully on TV, but his films were made – carefully - to be seen on full-size theater screens.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjDVlIn6pkex3gmKtAHxtjk1_8AYLjZY_3SmPVd3gyMMbsloLcphtilF64YL6aneiN_gBBTLXtoAEmcjqQfRWAbUGpo0cuXTF_zDgJ8E0zmNJNnFK-1O1pAWOQ-X4_M0vBuJ9OIlEozJo/s1600/Rafaelatnight-300x225%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjDVlIn6pkex3gmKtAHxtjk1_8AYLjZY_3SmPVd3gyMMbsloLcphtilF64YL6aneiN_gBBTLXtoAEmcjqQfRWAbUGpo0cuXTF_zDgJ8E0zmNJNnFK-1O1pAWOQ-X4_M0vBuJ9OIlEozJo/s1600/Rafaelatnight-300x225%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rafael Theatre, San Rafael, California</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Last July the nearby <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/search/label/Rafael%20Theater"><span style="color: #990000;">Rafael Theatre</span> </a>screened the silent version of Hitchcock’s <i style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/search/label/blackmail" style="color: #990000;">Blackmail</a> </i>(1929). The film exceeded my expectations in just about every way possible. I was surprised that it as well-crafted and fluid as it was and that it contained so many elements that were to become Hitchcock trademarks. Live accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra underscored the action and added dimension. And it was thrilling to be surrounded by an appreciative SRO audience.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Six weeks later, at noon on Sunday, September 5, the Rafael presented <i>North by Northwest</i>, free to the public, as part of its quarterly "Everybody's Classics" series. At 11:40 a.m. the line was long, but good seats were still to be had. By show time Theater 1 was packed and anticipation ran high.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Then Bernard Herrmann's pulsing score began and the crisscrossing lines of Saul Bass's title sequence filled the screen. <i>North by Northwest</i> was upon us and in just a few exhilarating moments I was whisked into the adventure.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncfTwxhlJ2LRmR7Js0ElvhCP0rydU3WwiZlcaNajjCjteH2h-thupKtdDIKMMWhqDVOae1u3vYpADTARrMJn1gVzZ1b2WssACPfp3TBJfeR46TrNQl3knU-mnnua1ISQmQn54Akoy3td6/s1600/North%252520by%252520Northwest%252520movie%252520image%252520%25283%2529%255B1%255D+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncfTwxhlJ2LRmR7Js0ElvhCP0rydU3WwiZlcaNajjCjteH2h-thupKtdDIKMMWhqDVOae1u3vYpADTARrMJn1gVzZ1b2WssACPfp3TBJfeR46TrNQl3knU-mnnua1ISQmQn54Akoy3td6/s320/North%252520by%252520Northwest%252520movie%252520image%252520%25283%2529%255B1%255D+b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cary Grant - the adventure begins</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Possibly Hitchcock's quintessential thrill-ride, <i>North by Northwest</i> incorporates many familiar themes and plot devices - an innocent man accused, a romance complicated by mistrust and betrayal, a double chase (the police after the innocent man and the innocent man after the true villain), a backdrop of international espionage...</span><br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">North by Northwest</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> has been linked to two of Hitchcock's earlier classics, <i>The 39 Steps</i><b> </b>(1935) and <i>Notorious</i> (1946), but by 1959 the director, at the height of his powers, was in a position to control just about every aspect of his films, much more so than he had been 10 and 20+ years earlier.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">He was able to cast his favorite actor/star, Cary Grant, in the lead. And though he was unsuccessful in enticing Princess Grace back to the screen as his leading lady, he transformed Academy Award-winning method actress Eva Marie Saint into a stunning and complex femme fatale. James Mason, Martin Landau, Leo G. Carroll and Jessie Royce Landis rounded out his first-rate cast.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLm5_dVQc_8P3zWLK5BEr_R1Tz5jlUh_VZVlsnINBG7Gqa80U-UgV_u3ix8BcNzpWIigkkar68CB7NvSlGN5uEDSMGZqZXGUUByPgOnNvbnc9v3toGPGV8MBOS6OOwSWbTTL1oVSftLfi/s1600/nxnw+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLm5_dVQc_8P3zWLK5BEr_R1Tz5jlUh_VZVlsnINBG7Gqa80U-UgV_u3ix8BcNzpWIigkkar68CB7NvSlGN5uEDSMGZqZXGUUByPgOnNvbnc9v3toGPGV8MBOS6OOwSWbTTL1oVSftLfi/s320/nxnw+hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, hands on </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Bernard Herrmann, who by now had worked with Hitchcock on several films, was just completing the score for the pilot of "The Twilight Zone" when he began <i>North by Northwest</i>. Ernest Lehman wrote the sophisticated and clever script that earned an Oscar nomination. Academy Award winning cinematographer Robert Burks, production designer Robert F. Boyle (also Oscar-nominated for this film) and other Hitchcock stalwarts joined in the collaboration.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">All of these ingredients plus glorious VistaVision and Technicolor added up to produce one of Hitchcock's most successful and exciting films.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I'd seen <i>North by Northwest</i><b> </b>countless times and felt I knew the film well, but to finally see it on a movie screen was akin to seeing it for the first time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">To begin with, Cary Grant's starpower was almost overpowering - his screen presence was that commanding. What grace, what confidence…and how impossibly handsome he was. It's not surprising that Bernard Herrmann adjusted his score to match what he described as Grant's "Astaire-like agility."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">As might be expected, the suspense seemed magnified on a theater screen, and so did everything else - the humor was more direct and the seduction scenes more intense in their intimacy and erotic implications. The film’s pacing is acutely precise – with suspense building to an exquisite pitch, then, at just the right moment, relief - via wit or romance. Then, once more, the suspense begins to build…</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdsZttYxl-0L4WHyQTs4Fcc1DhOSajvG0gixaqFzmqLNqD1Xs_a0dNjO1k2VV8YgGAVhg8MvaFLMm42kTbYlpNKJ9t4F6SuWzbsqpTOlEFbO764Ez5_RCDRgBe-FwZwfX9vK6tAaW0eX4/s1600/NorthBrand%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdsZttYxl-0L4WHyQTs4Fcc1DhOSajvG0gixaqFzmqLNqD1Xs_a0dNjO1k2VV8YgGAVhg8MvaFLMm42kTbYlpNKJ9t4F6SuWzbsqpTOlEFbO764Ez5_RCDRgBe-FwZwfX9vK6tAaW0eX4/s320/NorthBrand%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climax of a classic chase scene</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The crop-dusting sequence with its truck-in-flames finale and the moonlit chase across the face of Mount Rushmore are striking set-pieces on a screen of any size. Via the big screen I could almost feel the heat of the truck’s explosion and smell South Dakota’s night air. These scenes are legendary and, for obvious reasons, much imitated. The early James Bond films emulate the crop-dusting scene... Steven Spielberg's <i>Close Encounters</i> (1977) includes a well-known homage with its replication of Hitchcock's night-time Black Hills.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Afterward, I couldn't help wishing I'd been able to see <i>North by Northwest</i> back in 1959 at the Ritz. The kid I was then would've come out of that theater exhausted and elated, convinced she'd just been on the greatest rollercoaster ride of her life.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoihabE6skbsSXUgz8BYBgbrbge-kESZRwqe64NIDi9ldGw2fQW-buTDBrsvEbl9I4TgdIA2BIK_Hl_BIJjkR7xKt3P_x7xfjsrenzHciIQ6fqQS-bow7sC_uSAkm6_j25btSHHNVQiIoY/s1600/nxnw_great_cast%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoihabE6skbsSXUgz8BYBgbrbge-kESZRwqe64NIDi9ldGw2fQW-buTDBrsvEbl9I4TgdIA2BIK_Hl_BIJjkR7xKt3P_x7xfjsrenzHciIQ6fqQS-bow7sC_uSAkm6_j25btSHHNVQiIoY/s320/nxnw_great_cast%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eva Marie Saint, James Mason and Martin Landau</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Alfred Hitchcock has been widely acknowledged for his matchless ability to maneuver an audience's emotions and point of view with ease, and it's hard to maintain much distance from Hitchcock's best films. This could be why I enjoy the <i>experience</i> of his films as much as I enjoy the exercise of <i>studying</i> them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">As with all Hitchcock films, <i>North by Northwest</i><b> </b>has a few things going on beneath its slick surface. But last Labor Day weekend, inside a darkened theater filled with laughing, sighing, cheering people, I was a child again for a while. Happily immersed in a suspenseful, clever, sexy adventure, I didn't really notice that, from the first note of Herrmann's score to the final shot of a darkened railroad tunnel, I was being swept along as if aboard a sleek 20th Century Limited under the command of a very crafty locomotive engineer.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_eDVg712jVxSH8zKidSYldd3z-4A5O1JdxsUl31TOYTc-3O9sXaHvQtaQOdcWJm3q_kVu0p4IgQVbTrYkGlx0LhM2qJUKEH11HBXDrTQ75ICTRO6McAx9MGwcjc8yfgQGPDdWtN-u6Oz/s1600/nxnw+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_eDVg712jVxSH8zKidSYldd3z-4A5O1JdxsUl31TOYTc-3O9sXaHvQtaQOdcWJm3q_kVu0p4IgQVbTrYkGlx0LhM2qJUKEH11HBXDrTQ75ICTRO6McAx9MGwcjc8yfgQGPDdWtN-u6Oz/s400/nxnw+poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>

Alfred Hitchcock Bernard Herrmann Cary Grant Ernest Lehman Eva Marie Saint James Mason Jessie Royce Landis Martin Landau North by Northwest Rafael Theatre The Lady Eve (author) North by Northwest - free to the public...

When I was a little girl, the only director whose name I knew was Alfred Hitchcock. Though I didn't see any of his signature films of th...

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Nursery Tour

<p>Welcome to Baby Bangert’s nursery!</p> <p>We painted over Christmas break before we knew the gender. We chose <a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1161246">Restoration Hardware’s</a> light silver sage for a  color. I knew the color would work well for a boy and of course adding pink to it worked out perfect for our little girl!</p> <p>This is the view from the door.  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! Her bedding is from <a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/?bnrid=3560101&cm_ven=BrandSearch&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=BrandExact&cm_ite=pottery+barn+kids&OVMTC=Exact&site=&creative=4394783413&OVKEY=pottery%20barn%20kids">Pottery Barn Kids</a> I purchased 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 life chats with Kyle we decided it just wasn’t the right time yet. Everything happens for a reason, right?!?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vq-qn4LAKf7afUR2bOOfhKVPsUzeRImOFOgvshZ2JGLL7NscuGiTNOmnu6L0tSiVwYQSIBu6c3pAOgxBn5mwzCaE_BbnWcZ6tF_8Gm9YVf97-AvtI_nh9tNAA5iGXsORkjci_BZyQoVp/s1600-h/DSC09919%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09919" border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsjvWkr-fTlOIjAxn12vNPAk5yOy-DcNVL6tylQsEp2Og_8YAqMAMPCaFTFyDqF2nwNqX2IPNVYKEDbjZ_GmUrqhPPYRc8ojnweeDvl-3EmIZYhyykdmcqUIBTVtDkY19NgmRbN94TBQs/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09919" width="404"></a></p> <p>Above her crib we plan to do something similar to this with her name. Don’t get excited though, Stella isn’t one of the names on the list…just a sample! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG3iumrgA0bD8kJAxJUjtP6mbIY6NRjQfktLqcM89UI1J0ShJiAOickpgMsG4I6LfoYVmUIzqjRYl4zWvRbQm_VLdv340flEBcS3yFOatsGPG2T9TxW3SSWnHbD131LtImIHwg1MqDWq0/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfnUiLJL8z7UNns7EtqVyeBpCFMZgXaM6xJG-WUbH7605O4gBwvYUvgM442vmfkw5O-mbF2HaHTI2KMmcCIHS5pogX9TJmNheVpUqoNybCD4Ll36cj6yuQl4uOsBglwLxB09XcO64rj6y/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="image" width="354"></a></p> <p>To the left of the crib is some décor I explained in this post <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/03/nursery-progress.html">here</a>. </p> <ul> <li>The frame on the far left has pink scrapbook paper with a white swirly design. Once we pick out her name I’m going to put a big initial of her first name. <li>Another little owl from my friend, <a href="http://www.kimcreates.blogspot.com">Kim</a>. (Kyle still needs to hang up the carbon monoxide detector) <li>The 2nd frame is something I designed & framed.  <li>Then we have her ultrasound. <li>Lastly, I finished it off with some coordinating scrapbook paper I picked up at Hobby Lobby. <li>The 2 pink iron flowers below are hooks I also got at Hobby Lobby for $3/each.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t29geK6IhSv4kOVupm83VYAI3rwehOAVd8J0PEw9_ZIF_uxaIDkEED-Po2sInrMVxUEHJr548UyBhsQ2Riri9OHVVb7nxyTpKaFEozBm-FWBnMD8LRKswUy86pru3qO9u_kkeemiJzEx/s1600-h/DSC09928%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09928" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XTiR0IbwNW2S5KNTBB9roykvPUS-GQynaqNQarUj3vtiBSr7Q3JJ2Of0NehqnseHZXoM210CsQKYxDmkVq5dskSe2KnM_-o7J02_cMp_fiOPTqrHaz2rwRtbBRx_jH4Nm5-LiWskWFzN/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09928" width="304"></a></li></ul> <p>To the right of the crib is a night stand we picked up at <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/">Ikea</a> for under $10. And in the corner is our comfy, cozy glider we got with the generous help of my Grandma! The ottoman was a gift from my Mom & sisters for one of my baby showers! Both are from <a href="http://www.babiesrus.com">Babies R Us</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNe686IBlD07xJEYlP6ygjHgbJfERPcUZxy2u0FtfPB21ExZ-vwF5Di7HCcMIIIyQJS6Z9wUQa6BPpewaEpwxReI_s6YFfvdpugAwOWjnLUMCRrJ99wixRw0muwc8LInUZk8pWpStyB9e/s1600-h/DSC09920%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09920" border="0" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuza2xQAkznbTrIewrughQsPqWqdU0JXBRZKr_p91lqSi1YQji_tkL1Z_bR_VF8y1ERNHFGZlgeem3DXi76M627jLhdmYRsfR2hwJOnc45MP99870AmYktRoLyPvvIIhwFGAPOUP4373G/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09920" width="304"></a></p> <p>Zooming in at the side table…the lamp & light block (the outside says “Iowa Hawkeyes”!!) were shower gifts. The lamb piggy bank was a gift from Kyle’s Grandma. And we picked up the pink clock/ipod dock with gift cards at Target. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKOURP6BSK2b75hPVjV9RQ3O0IMTG_5I8WLi6betzX7EcstiuIyoezuvWnzPqa8Rp-aqYrJ5yH_6nbnJXpiD1DAMYobeckoBBW-urHiaI-XLce779q75M-PvWpTJo1DDuVIXlL8DugB8y/s1600-h/DSC09921%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09921" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oNp32MF64aRhWByYzTB0LmdJtSsTbrDZo8wnI8U7R9q8pzelRXG5nDZEQ8r8vjoKN-z5odTidlhi_TAe_qrq0ILC1_icA67otzQeAUlc_ZUXM5_FAw_ScvgKFVB0um4_NNKqSSSX_he8/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09921" width="304"></a></p> <p>Here’s a close up of our glider! The owl was made by my good friend <a href="http://kimcreates.blogspot.com/">Kim’s</a> mom! She used them for decorations at my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/05/work-baby-shower.html">work shower</a>! Kyle’s Mom made the sweet blanket on the back of the chair and the tag blanket was a gift from my cousin!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A54ood2GsNCuZJXnLU3rJtT4Qtt8tRC5nshTY3k2WXF7vKkXbJIpjx6o82eH4WF_rPTkThmGYAWC3O5vx0RvWysxlyocBVE7ZVJjsoztcthyphenhyphenFKhRp-5o0i64UGeS_dVJGbQnlMNvrNtA/s1600-h/DSC09922%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09922" border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPgMNTtDwy7copFtjrf2H76Cdt4XlCAcxNORaZ-xeeRgGh4WX7qIRzAEuUPEENOLM_sX48OIWDzqdRHrXj0yq_DdcPHUdYRiqx3TjOcHjlkZ-5S7nf0i8RqOH5wUMjDA4GecWP2dQ6Fy3/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09922" width="354"></a></p> <p>Above the chair is a shelf we purchased from Ikea that holds a few baskets for storage. My sister, Mindi, made the banner below for one of my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/05/work-baby-shower.html">baby showers</a>! Once we pick out her name I was going to re-arrange the letters to spell out her name. I picked up the calendar at Hallmark. A friend I scrapbook with said she used one to jot down notes on each day of what baby did and it came in super hand when she went back to do her little guy’s scrapbook!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfur-XrYCfNW0HBR2mXz7gUNgUfeyVzKNX0zbxm2bvSMxbuqyG5pZribbMw3Ay31TKkUtplm9A_YfxCRvPyuptSw3Y9sEEVg20zkr1GkMC-hzMXvP9XrmS1r6NsiAU-aGBqZxpzp6daDeN/s1600-h/DSC09923%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09923" border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFf9ZdLaotnREsdGJRqxwK66gySAjmiVWQ9YbxpLAWH54mf2bZ_D0VtZY-7Chgfuz8Y1WYI_QrDvRib6QT79zTKsZyZcjd4ZOLyj-K3Q2_j8SL22-fZyfTHte7pa06PSN8Ev-YcMp2vp0/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09923" width="404"></a></p> <p>Here is her changing station. We used a dresser we already had and just added the changing pad to the top. The cover on the changing pad is from <a href="www.etsy.com">Etsy</a> (one of my favorite sites!!). To the left of the changing station is her hamper and to the right is the much needed Diaper Genie! The curtains were a set of 2 <a href="http://www.target.com/Eclipse-Miley-Window-Panel-Pink/dp/B002OLABRU/ref=br_1_22?ie=UTF8&id=Eclipse%20Miley%20Window%20Panel%20Pink&node=300012011&searchSize=30&searchView=list&searchPage=1&sr=1-22&qid=1306876768&rh=&searchBinNameList=target_com_category-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Cmaterial_type%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchRank=salesrank&frombrowse=1">black out, floor length panels from Target</a> that Kyle’s mom hemmed into 4 curtains to cover the 2 windows in the nursery. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2UHWPzSEYAYZMQzNc_RqchUwammj5UQANkR37WT9bscDI5kfP1eglV_jIw0yMGhW63dDgep0sukViWbNi4Mn-MWqcwOfb6D2Lp8dyLoNq40NMjTWPrV4GTZrUS64U3-0xkS98Pj5HG85/s1600-h/DSC09924%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09924" border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP5j1xYzHwK2k3dbhG-5T1VQOhJbuXSf4uw9OdG3hEbVlH8HO5tSzUvCINYaSCHzUdlhfq22fgI5yV-XDjRe3enCOir3ta0gbb7Pkv2-JiMTlWBCEaJw57sXVkwnnOg0uclLhyphenhyphenZGl5lfw/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09924" width="354"></a></p> <p>You’ve seen her closet <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/01/18-weeks.html">here</a>! It’s much fuller now! LOVE it!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejZH9kUK2g4FZOFUKpyjavu0n-9cpREdqUc95RxwqW7TZRYlc3oJQbTYwfL7eeP0QKXmc3e4SrnvX7NLyFCo14xH0_mdome1ovEOkcCsCM1LPzZAioDztSn0AGeYkATGRU6XNf_ALTer1/s1600-h/DSC09926%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09926" border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8Z_WtVpCevVWggwXeOop-356emjVjbxt7nToVefYTIE-q_574KaUfOljgzeZ01dVX33r3Cgrrkni-BSVK3XjNzTc93CQKYp5k7zCV3Ic2WAWCjWCOM2oUJ7EZmZZE4n54BCgZ-8pnapo/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09926" width="454"></a></p> <p>To the right of the closet is a bookshelf with cubbies & storage for her already growing book collection! Above the shelf is another owl from my friend, <a href="http://www.kimcreates.blogspot.com">Kim</a>. Hanging on the wall is a scrapbook page display frame I got as a birthday gift from my sister Mindi a few years ago. I think it worked perfect in her room to display her shower invite & other memorabilia. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyPbDKIGGSwfkU2G8jjZwArbDvI7KzZMNHp5fCCJ8YK_tnpEYbSwY20nkvnZdf_noUWrjIurE6fzp1rFfWHjjphRcB1jmppn8fU0xT1lu0QAhVL3vaW10eyAcPX02lD3OiSkIwdZV8AYL/s1600-h/DSC09927%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC09927" border="0" height="777" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGO0JuLi4MyCP4Kmd13IO-fw8OdmrVvUikc4aZG9nOE2j3eYyD1L00XAAplb_21DEbnF8JljpBtZaP9tz3Und8YyPWczpSqIPV2KQUGGVCKgKl224ovtMHWsAEJTvRK84vOD-VlV3yB7x/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09927" width="454"></a></p> <p>Behind the door is the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/05/bow-holder.html">bow holder</a> I made. Kyle hung some hooks to store the diaper bag and her cute little robes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_ZkieVYHbivBCiB0akVYo2g-dItiHmWemOPONietIdad4zCJMIRcJa6C-DVkouEU_8Rtbm3wqLxduMr1yCFw_GvzlibJv7vNp_8qmrSqBNAMp4OihXBeFgRTDXtAWylSuBVGJL8ondsA/s1600-h/DSC099295.jpg"><img alt="DSC09929" border="0" height="701" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaM6LXUy6JkTjFFDjH2DxXDHqrMt7DzwalvyiEIUofi48zyfPAYeWthFudSAyIpAVlqvkl5fFNWLFMwkQqF6Rpfu0vyI1G8aiUjXF2wrmHfyXPbgjjV5mqkSR-InAldodk_WUz2oh98XP/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09929" width="454"></a></p> <p>We are ready for her arrival…hospital bag all packed & ready to go!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PHin7Oxwc9bykVvkavGp7LrV-2ljOSSgU28O80k3w1KM8erXvEhSQN9sFV_OtfKwCsPvVjTCQokvPNRILAcus53Bmk8I-DgajTwfXa8PzEDwfUmgmfBjifQE8I74Pz5qAAf7YRlbzME2/s1600-h/DSC099305.jpg"><img alt="DSC09930" border="0" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz8rvlUWxoHA1sFkmzTkUjwocgO84RYD8NglniKy__JaWU-4LUIPVyquUj-XJpXoQtgYuGDiHT1v4PDRy9Yjjylyd286jwmOONEgrB3p8XzYlKqq2xiMcExNoSDyEarFY5PwApJUVPDip/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09930" width="454"></a></p>And just for the fun of it I included a video tour of her nursery too! We just got our video camera and had to test it out! <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9br3hC5XPPrixYpmYz0yByypqXedfJ5P0cO6HEb7NTDbSJAdEoxbFXZuLXr6QkfF56aDMQaQvyemsNVm4pw06NDeuFfezCYAqIVsU3tnU1EgWP1xiuvp4PZpXJFgbP8LAhyphenhypheneSdDbTsVkt/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none"> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:1b6e4e17-c5cd-41e2-b198-e09d9f23251a" style="padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; width: 448px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="528551e7-c20e-44a3-a083-282d28dd5afa" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gRv7aOx03w" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('528551e7-c20e-44a3-a083-282d28dd5afa'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/9gRv7aOx03w?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/9gRv7aOx03w?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"277\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9k8VkIzk90TWytACd4xgx5SYyCOpp6YjheA0qsR0mIpE21DtSdzvNHUrBAk4Hc6DJkAfARr07lBNIPS5JzXd62oedY_XsAtRdztIxPHV5MqkoD_cU35wa8O8Wmv175ogZdn8aS-Y-fdXa/?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div>

Nursery Tour

Welcome to Baby Bangert’s nursery! We painted over Christmas break before we knew the gender. We chose Restoration Hardware’s light silver...

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Great Strides 5K

On Saturday, May 21, I participated in the <a href="http://www.cff.org/">Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's</a> <a href="http://www.cff.org/great_strides/">Great Strides 5K</a> in Waldorf, MD.  With the help of my family and friends, I was able to raise $270 for this event!  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3goM43505i5XzO2w3ZFHHptDIRr0wjirOTXjcM6DT3OfFxNNjqE7551jmkkyQy7DO_BugccED1C-N_oaZI1W8p7WBdlwquzqhvg1jzfyF2xAVGBd9nbHWquMnwab16E9rVxN3PeShEMs/s1600/CFF+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3goM43505i5XzO2w3ZFHHptDIRr0wjirOTXjcM6DT3OfFxNNjqE7551jmkkyQy7DO_BugccED1C-N_oaZI1W8p7WBdlwquzqhvg1jzfyF2xAVGBd9nbHWquMnwab16E9rVxN3PeShEMs/s320/CFF+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The walk was great and scenic, taking us through parts of Waldorf I had never seen before.  <br /><br />The event did not start until a little after 10 AM, which was a little late for my liking - it got really hot really quick!  Also, apparently we ended up doing more than a 5K, which made sense to me at the time because it felt like the walk was going on and on and on.  When we arrived back to the finish line the coordinator said there was a mess up with the walk routing and that we walked close to 6 miles.  I don't actually think it was 6 miles... maybe we did closer to 4, but definitely not 6.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVAlYyMpQ4Fw8SQrs9Ite_hYR8oJZLBEGc0ayOOS_gLFE_zR3JoXw8cwiKRnu7ZactAhjN4ZVqIfylfzc71eOOFX2ZAmiItuDF9pTIZD2InVP4OycIdwL2GBq_5SEOLWm7QQSuUfII2Q/s1600/CFF+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVAlYyMpQ4Fw8SQrs9Ite_hYR8oJZLBEGc0ayOOS_gLFE_zR3JoXw8cwiKRnu7ZactAhjN4ZVqIfylfzc71eOOFX2ZAmiItuDF9pTIZD2InVP4OycIdwL2GBq_5SEOLWm7QQSuUfII2Q/s320/CFF+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />It was a great event and I look forward to doing it again next year!<br /><br />Thanks to everyone for your financial support!

5K Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides Great Strides 5K

On Saturday, May 21, I participated in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides 5K in Waldorf, MD.  With the help of my family a...

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Work Baby Shower

<p>A few girls at work were SO kind to throw me a shower, Wendi (my sister), Kim, and Nicole. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6Ii3UoeS_8Sm6WdYMJwq-za0z_w34jWI1JipfXOaxmvWVRO2AGd1RC_IbHA055OIxKp5cksR8m5gwPqGRN8yzJCXQkURk0iT28CQH3P7-7F2LCsxLfwncWNiD1dFNxIJRN1F2hMzUxBJ/s1600-h/DSC099177.jpg"><img alt="DSC09917" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxIyavfyZxoJi_ECRTpDtxA9GY06VJIYEcjjINbUS5Mmz51aUuCtPjKjV3-Xv9vEnvJ9PSG68GwrVXyuRIhigDdVSCDHudA2rdUiQbDEAKIuUkgaNOQFT0CJlc-vpVmbAl_5dk9gsi2sn/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09917" width="404"></a></p> <p>This is the invite that was sent out, too cute! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPVEO8PB11BZ7Na_xuc6UBCrZJYAkQYlkKmCdmLFFnOZIg-lRHomWVeEqbGqccZKRpX0SAGFc9cBg-9M_6rf2Ix_DwUJUZgZRIG_04aDzoatpSXEgpaqZhLfLKcoLzM2gtoby2z5B7opL/s1600-h/image0013.jpg"><img alt="image001" border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo_ai7jlP3nKEPvPE09qZKsVWAmQlxVLd3PitlnIR-1-jaw82U11pnd3rlt0amjQZzmM4PmdLaqofA40qZhZUTZKN2anAjHSIGKV4bNKxGRk03Ldsk6DKHsZ7ZSeQbeSuwZLfmGdqS6s0/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="image001" width="354"></a></p> <p>Some of the guests showed up early to help me get my work done quicker! <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_u9zgyENhRTzVDcjo2aJNyexY_PUxvUlZTPtAmpwm8v-8RsCTzZ-7g5ckFQtbvay4t5Fkjq5j39Nw1jfckv_Zc9YWQLk2NMV1PO57Kux_O2Rcqy7aKv10UsbCivcU9DMNSECzsWRM2GLY/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none"></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nNRxqLXsRDZ59-5wXJ1PYYo_9M8kZZXYRcnenB-0DCfNoLIGPrL3cgJ5DGZlJK8EFFKVwe9trGRZrX_JAesMsEJJS3pU5eRB7d584HZR9s-u-LgLJcNZbB5lfPIzgZ8GopY7Cj3NIA56/s1600-h/DSC099037.jpg"><img alt="DSC09903" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWhyWgVwTabV59_AJPyfOtXlJf_-0PvJzuQxxgpKMRYFwyJtIfbMcn9NtSnIXJfmW7mwfjzMYSG-6FQZoAaaD7XwDPCbpWjKHjDTohm1KcgRzTUxtAVRn7dJ2Ooc9Gp7s9Q-62NanZHP0/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09903" width="404"></a></p> <p>I loved the owl theme they went with!! And who doesn’t love diaper cakes, SO cute and VERY useful!! Great job, <a href="http://kimcreates.blogspot.com/">Kim</a>!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsneqbZo1uk4ZNnpcwn7a5ekwvEP60bRQ-afABk1QSL2VMnqkEIFRAh8mPbpOyTX1Gt4AahoMSGpOOamDUtyMARpaLUU8lzU5PPTrh1UmJRGeEJB4TchTx0Q2k0uvUDmoHd2bI1WtuZ_eh/s1600-h/DSC099057.jpg"><img alt="DSC09905" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOH2HEd_QLzrQMMmQD0jSAPDs3YbNweYEGd6C0GgNmmVTEA7e0WkXn0hILmVCDdxzQs43JYNCSHlEU4CHoCdXNh3x1CB8q1pIrZzdplRFXsMEah-tgUg5cTJ2Q1H6Vgs138LTGR3yL9s0/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09905" width="354"></a></p> <p>The food was exceptional too! Not only did they have these yummy éclairs, but also a “ho ho” cake that was AMAZING!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrH70RA-RTBYnZK95HWMjm9Et5939icTqbEEMAwaGesqs_OgfB2-uHzmRf1QDtKHt-WLVEWk6J1s0UrzxS_-4mFROv1rkY-juXYBfnUWu0giYZzOTYcF0dwjq1PTlopzUuj6mZeU6MLCM/s1600-h/DSC099067.jpg"><img alt="DSC09906" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJzWDFrlrrx_A-whzhanpbroDaNpyjBRDXz4VaiCkP-e9g9lFteK4LP1IHd4JTcv8GuI1UpTu99y-hWq2oCPlg_yz2-M25eG0tvh-A2AZ_VredVQ1K6qgiTen1HEZmsQjMPK8FfvuzmUR/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09906" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lpS1zeH001zOhx5mWBpyGh4eK-Cvw6FmbY7Z7mVQL-1WdkXhisBWOdKQx6qB5hiY4LFj6PChygIAatrHqGzKMTZUcfO9rC2sQq3PCHHUbY_1-KPsCNqzkEz5GUGN6wPm2gXEmGarzm_F/s1600-h/IMG_3759%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3759" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JrmbTf8pSsKlZPjqSrssm2LH8iTA3EF0nw0Kqg0ebWtMMYd8-NMHC98ReOpBBUuBSLPhNUGgvMvzcxHV5KiDZ0X2sIugondMcI-WsWa5lnY1apgBeZqX2sxnJSDKgYgBR7ektPo5rNMP/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3759" width="404"></a></p> <p>So many of my co-workers stopped in to “shower” baby Bangert!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW0Q2mZlqS4NjdIOck9cPFjBr_CAs6NiHaCm03GDGjMVMfxLrON9NVwFcb4xtz0cQs_zvNzNjvlXU1yTHmwQOIaFBgE5Be0cUUCTqiRKde2tTffmaLiMlhqyuM9mdq4zQsxmbl8iW-KYk/s1600-h/IMG_3760%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3760" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzGcuN3vTprLbent9xT2LMclo5EtvcxujpH-Tt_h1O64CkHszeKcLRH-T7QeZbOyoWIRAhAOzPDPf0vHmzqydqlO_9KFjsYb43qFL9icGCurmM7aaRz3GIDrX19H7WNRzDWni4xM7Yj72/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="IMG_3760" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT5byo1af2rTvhdp96Yp3WtTslYND4P8I1FA1DjxFU57QrAvIy2iqZKPqsATYNC-s9FEYfgk3vrVqyW7znGgYa5iby0z7llqbxbN-ss_3LoMRXbbjJh0QIfHWC12wtJi_-D6HLkxoZLCv/s1600-h/IMG_3762%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3762" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl5O1NulX00lfize5m3bP9eo0oR-sqphHOrOlw5-HtXxmNBSqX7NWuPIuDoeF0BGyBBDUyWsFcpDMPNsVsc9SWmjkHy8pcPhTKb7U1WnDCEHD0oKYOfVWVOLkR35GjVcTiJgI-ecVDCAe/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3762" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA44IShRp6Jl59nwdxftiLSxWe-j29ptNANEkoLgRsnXvBUJTYS5WCHrKIjLzIrMh1L6YIu26f21z8_4bGKuAGuY0W8gV1NPBWOurxrbu-SCZ12GzYcsB0dx46ww9J3t4pMAKDpvBBdE91/s1600-h/IMG_3774%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3774" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgN29aCAMvPGYE0J6L5lWymR4tP9Q7UKdAfonDXKECrMwtM1DwhipERoJkFzOWau6PUBg67Zlasw7L2vocHGylZlfYhNXpj75uuP8tadhXmjH_fT41V2ac-wAVK8VCRFTdlsctwLYuQW8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3774" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHgK4p8L_9OwSSRagxAJCYdrKs9cgdhyphenhyphenQ7ZcEPaG7a4fxRoVBb1swYzAu8AiNp9gwO8_mIYLP71p30GzTP9IPGapOUpJhgl0tlCTlC_Bm0HHKmP3xsKMBNOglCVBIagDJAF2tMnGaQP0t/s1600-h/IMG_3783%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3783" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk0Ghr4JP6rSNQvYpIXnM0nQsoB4QXEZwdMATTSA0_WofH129Isxvj9VmUy8GoSwXargRwqUtviUceJC4XVNYVZzmMNcryfrV_y25caAzO1o00nwxv9guM3voaRbUFCSe4wbQWuBfBvrL/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3783" width="404"></a></p> <p>To say my friends at work were generous is an understatement! Our SUV was completely full with gifts for Baby Bangert!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyfc-R7fWlgfM0xgUtjEDV_r9pIRjSWos1l6-du1oHSXzo-HBh8QYNalQtl0YR80DsrLFKmg1rayc0clLSDVXPCkILWqE-7RdEXqassu_tWlp-En4NEFTP6_cSQbFixTlOTAVS3TvPfAs/s1600-h/IMG_3777%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3777" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Rstx6tCKqh6i87r0YzHxGvxlk49UX7nJjenDTObjwHnRpmcJdvU_dUccYM0Tv4U5urAKgq1l2CfOVtEoEcO6SeehkoXxlHEf84OTWdlBkdQ6mMXLJtFCcRg-Cq8kxr8qTQgoJkaagzyo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3777" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OjtxiGNkt1BY0tIurgYg_KTpRJbr-kjW3zhTphVfMSwOpfbbx0inxd-BmyFsJDBVOwgjAIFSYM1RUhE5K_lbs290bv6eG7LmB5y0KJHgyyEUbhOp5637leFCMiNDl0Ljkwe0A_76-QqT/s1600-h/IMG_3779%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3779" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsAKRiTtfOlP6boIqSdVJazkyv1h-4_vxNdR9YQOnNQprSDk7l2eXPtRDAMNWR9TMXRr0eMf2pvKoURV0FJVqnOspuZPEdYZuoVG2E35-IgfPdpIgIToJToF3ukqP3tHY1wIzxnX_7EtX/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3779" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01SDbCBcZMH3S2y_1nlP7kWaDbzR9r3igPcF_ZJ4VqpQ5X-f_F-da20hKNS0VovkosL1DYpQAvJ32ZI4lShDB9LseIYRkrFmviCmd4w8xMQBTMV-4BUDVP7gbsbuMwJPN3D-QaZp1VAeE/s1600-h/IMG_3781%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3781" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHmCfuqoBgvfukB8lwGCCvJG4xW_BjeFd1893Thw3nmIZNK6ih1DL0J5AAX9OuS_QO5IyRs8EoB6Nkf4DkKOUWJU4rpDKGstltvbW34FZhv-x0Fi3F1NLpb2_cfBAIVJh4pGnxhzMtV40/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3781" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKuDQZTw-y2xCRqgXtHVhg1T0UHkBmjR3DlH8KhUXE-87fkRr5UvlHxnxpaOYXYdxmtKWdQ_ozfVZyGmMUhGZlegRxvnQhnZjGOap_hMZ2YtdjklghbITHJ7YSelPyPSlWgc13NOD7UiP/s1600-h/IMG_3785%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3785" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0kQ8aHE-ozCUBR1Mt_9bEfmtjGZSZ-055pHaBx5z39AO1KkWlzf-alL9fYccY2tRLm579EUvAJ4WQB2KsitKsKp8TxSkJIeMIVF4ITioCxZkNQTc7g033RXV2o-_RejkQ0kUClQXE74F/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3785" width="404"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjprDwiUvrkY4TgYa7wAN9BSMTBNKlLtGSOEJeH62B7zx6T-PnqT5I1NX2bAOWUPNoNGgWi_saPmN0TYrRmyjzRJ_I0cFrxuL_FjasrFFNOv9_4S_THpC7jqdNMxRWIxJT0T88eXyux23/s1600-h/IMG_3789%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3789" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXm9f69ybcfoYyf3w6ctOXddXRIfPJVX335_H8kF5SeVvRMfBzED9a86Xjq8yg12NQfg-8TEvb-za4VvQ_8Sw9wce-Im6SIjYfqyGwZxzrl2-qA39tSs8yf0YX6fLm6dIId4xpscNOsAcS/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="IMG_3789" width="404"></a></p> <p>This is my friend/co-worker Kim. She is 4 weeks behind me. This is also my only 34 belly picture! I’m glad to share it with Kim!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDfc8kMKZu4Uqywlrd4FtvnKPQ_YX8W_wc_-eXQTaksaTRrzlhzoyXejOAfRNBcCihc-XsBhzhzvF1R2MsJbpDRkb9ofy6OqYMOfdfoYts8KEf7n7wt1Ggvv6iVU7V1hfhPW6SZukAJNt/s1600-h/DSC099157.jpg"><img alt="DSC09915" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TA87IEJALTBwnCiW7vJs5N-Rws70hZQpU_SLeQq14uSVBWCIuASuv-xlPt7DFVx5Oq25o1HvGsbiRmNiv1ZO_wciO9oz1qiX35TuRo5nfTW6lNfmvW_ND9I0xqBGC9Jm7vMl0R1gzYvO/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC09915" width="354"></a></p>

Work Baby Shower

A few girls at work were SO kind to throw me a shower, Wendi (my sister), Kim, and Nicole. This is the invite that was sent out, too cute! ...

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Colts In A Ditch

Yesterday, as I was driving north into Fallon on 95, I saw a horse pasture to my right. It was a fenced pasture with a deep gulley inside the fence. The gulley had a steep slope, one that could be negotiated by a mature horse but not a colt. Two colts were lying along that steep slope. My guess is they frolicked along the edge, fell in, could not get out, and collapsed in exhaustion and despair.<br /><br />Most of the mature horses in the pasture had gathered around. Several were at the top of the gulley. At least four horses had come down into it and were standing over the little ones. They were standing as if at attention, majestic in a posture of defense. They were guarding their young and calling out for help.<br /><br />I called Dean Trudy Erquiaga on my cell phone (it’s alright I have Bluetooth). She called the Churchill County Sheriff’s Department, who in turn called the Highway Patrol. That’s as far as I know of the story but I imagine it came out alright. Fallon is the sort of place where a horse in need can find a friendly human hand.<br /><br />But I can’t get out of my mind the picture of those horses standing over their colts. It was a thing of beauty, a thing of character. That image leads me inevitably to a sadder, contrasting picture – the state of children in Nevada and the response of our adult population.<br /><br />Our dropout rate, our domestic violence rate, our divorce rate -- all the facts are consistent and emphatic. Thousands of Nevada’s children are lying in a ditch, exhausted and in despair. If we start with their families, the adults are often broken themselves. One way or another, many children today do not have families watching over them. We preserve our ranking as the state with the lowest number of young adults with post graduate degrees by remaining the state with the lowest percentage of preschoolers who are read to daily by an adult. The schools and social service agencies, already operating on a shoestring, are now being drastically defunded.<br /><br />It’s always easy to blame the politicians. Partly I do – but I don’t’ think they lied to us. They have been clear on their priorities and we have elected them. I can only say that the adults who run our state, the adults who vote, the adults who advocate for this interest group or that – the adults of our state are leaving the children in the ditch. The current political expression of child neglect mirrors the chronic neglect of children in their homes.<br /><br />I am not the one to find a mission for the Diocese of Nevada. My place is to listen to what’s on the hearts of people both inside and outside our church walls. What I hear is deep concern for the children. What I hear is a desire to find a way to stand together and watch over our children. I see it happening in different ways in different churches and communities. St. Matthew’s and St. Paul’s, Elko partner with Communities in Schools; St. Peter’s works through Food for Thought and there are other parish/ public school partnerships; several congregations have taken up advocacy about child sex trafficking. We are beginning to restore our partnership with St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Some of us have engaged in legislative advocacy for the public schools where we deliver food, shoes, and school supplies. We are seeking grants to begin Episcopal Children’s Services in Nye County to transport at risk children to their service providers (transportation the Sheriff can no longer provide because of funding cuts.)<br /><br />There are no doubt many ways to take action. But the image that remains in my mind is of those horses watching over their young. Already, the Episcopal Church in Nevada is moving into that posture, standing over the fallen in the ditch – guarding and calling out to those with the power to do more than we can do.

Colts In A Ditch

Yesterday, as I was driving north into Fallon on 95, I saw a horse pasture to my right. It was a fenced pasture with a deep gulley inside th...

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HilJoe Competition - Week 4

This week was a loss for both Joel & I! Go us!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Joel (6'): 237.2</b><br /><b> Hilary (5'8"): 255.8</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am getting closer and closer to reaching my first 10 lbs milestone!!!  I'm going to put in some extra effort this week to see if I can lose at least a pound.  I'm not going to be unrealistic and hope for a 2.8 lbs weight loss because look at my history on the left - the weight isn't exactly sliding off at the speed of light and that's okay.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's to keeping the momentum going this week!</div>

goals HJ Competition Loss Success Weight Loss HilJoe Competition - Week 4

This week was a loss for both Joel & I! Go us!! Joel (6'): 237.2 Hilary (5'8"): 255.8   I am getting closer and closer to ...

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The HilJoe Competition - Week 3

Here is the update for the HilJoe Competition - Week 3.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.beautyandwell-being.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/weight-scale-400x400.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Joel (6'): 241.8<br />Hilary (5'8"): 256.4</b></div><br />I'm back down to the prior week's weight - yay!  I'm getting closer to those <a href="http://www.shopnewbalance.com/detail.asp?s1=NBAS&s2=buynow&style=WW860KM">new tennis</a> shoes I want so badly!

Exercise GoalsWeight LossExercise HJ Competition Loss Success The HilJoe Competition - Week 3

Here is the update for the HilJoe Competition - Week 3. Joel (6'): 241.8 Hilary (5'8"): 256.4 I'm back down to the prior we...

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7 common job search objections and how to overcome them

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/dd/ar5f0s46jnqv77xp3bdd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/dd/ar5f0s46jnqv77xp3bdd.gif" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Don Asher, "America's Job Search Guru" and author of "Cracking the Hidden Job Market"</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you've been in the job market for more than five minutes, you've heard some networking contact or employer give you the brush off with these objections:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">1. We're not hiring.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">2. Just apply online.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3. I'm too busy to talk to you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">4. Just send me your résumé.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5. I don't have any leads for you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">6. I don't handle this type of thing. Call <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/human+resources/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">HR</a>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">7. Don't call us. We'll call you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">These are the seven deadly objections you'll run into in a job search. Objections are an interesting linguistic device. Objections are neither literal nor logical. The meaning behind an objection may be quite different from the words that come out of your contact's mouth.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For example, "I don't have any leads for you" may mean "I'd love to help you, but I'm sitting here hoping that you don't ask me for a job, because I like you and I don't want to be put in the uncomfortable position of saying 'no' to you. Besides, the whole idea of unemployment scares me, and if you sound desperate it might just totally creep me out."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"We're not hiring" is almost never true, either. They're hiring somebody, maybe in some other department or in some other state, but they're definitely hiring somebody.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Just send me your résumé" usually doesn't mean that at all. It usually means "Get off my phone." Same goes for "I'm too busy." "Just apply online" means, yep, you got it: "Get off my phone."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You can overcome some objections by making it clear in advance that you're not asking them for a job, and by being enthusiastic about your search and the world of possibility out there.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Remember that you don't have to overcome the objection literally or logically. In fact, an advanced technique is simply to agree with the objection. "I'm too busy to meet with you" is completely disarmed when you say, "Yeah. I heard you guys were really successful right now. That's great."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Suddenly, it's the other person's turn to speak, and the conversation continues. There may be a pause, and you may want to fill that pause, but don't. It's the other person's turn, and I assure you, she'll start speaking soon enough.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">She'll jump in with something like, "Well, how can I assist you? I'm underwater with work, so a face-to-face is out, but what else could I do that might help you out?" That's exactly what you want to have happen.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In fact, objections appear right before someone decides to help you. In <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/sales/" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">sales</a> theory, the sale only begins with the objections. Sales professionals are trained to listen for objections, because they are a buy signal.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objections can come over the phone or in e-mails, and you'll see the same ones over and over. Learn to juggle objections and you can massively increase your success in networking and accessing hiring managers. Here are some lines to help you get started:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objection: We're not hiring.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Response: That's okay. I'm not applying for a job with you anyway. I am just interested in your advice.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objection: Just apply online.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Response: Actually, I'm going to be applying through official channels, as well, but I wondered if you could give me a little inside information.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objection: I'm too busy to talk to you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Response: This will only take a moment.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objection: Just send me your résumé.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Response: Great. What's your e-mail. I'll send it to you while we're talking.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objection: I don't have any leads for you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Response: No problem at all. I wonder if you could share any advice with me. What's the best thing I could be doing to find a job in this field?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objection: I don't handle this type of thing. Call HR.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Response: Who should I be talking to about this? I appreciate the referral. May I mention your name?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Objection: Don't call us. We'll call you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Response: Great. No problem at all. But when, if I have not heard from you by then, should I check back in with you to see where I stand? Two weeks? A month? What's best?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Remember, you don't have to overcome the objection logically. You just have to keep the conversation moving over this rough spot. You'll double or triple the number of people who can help you find your next position.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Adapted with permission from "Cracking the Hidden Job Market: How to Find Opportunity in Any Economy." Copyright © 2011 by Donald Asher, Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, Berkeley, CA. Donald Asher is the author of 12 books on careers and higher education, and the creator of the Stone Soup Club phenomenon for job seekers. Get a Stone Soup Club starter kit from </i><a href="mailto:don@donaldasher.com" style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><i>don@donaldasher.com</i></a><i>.</i></div>

7 common job search objections and how to overcome them

Don Asher, "America's Job Search Guru" and author of "Cracking the Hidden Job Market" If you've been in the job ...

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Leadership Is Making Something Happen

Ron Heifetz in his book, Leadership On The Line, tells the story of Lois. She lived on a Native American reservation where nearly everyone over 12 drank alcohol. She started going to the meeting lodge every Tuesday night. She told her friends she was leading AA meetings. But when they peeked through the window, there was Lois sitting all by herself. When people challenged her about this she said, “I am not alone. The spirits and the ancestors are there with me. Someday our people will come.”<br /><br />Lois sat alone in that room for years. After three years, a few people joined her. After 10 years, the room was full. Leadership is doing what is needed -- not what is demanded.<br /><br />Two years ago, there were no Sunday Schools for children in Nixon, Bullhead City, Ely, or Elko. There were no Sunday Schools because there were no children. There were no children because there were no Sunday Schools. But determined leaders in each of these communities started Sunday Schools. The adult teachers sat in empty rooms and waited. Today, there are vibrant Sunday Schools in those four churches. The children are present and they have brought their parents.<br /><br />Who might need the grace of God? Who might need the love of Christ? What form might that grace need to take for someone?<br /><br />Nevada has the highest divorce rate in the nation. This is not just folks flying in for their divorce then flying back home. Our people get divorced a lot. Might there be Nevadans hurting from their divorces who might need the support of a group. There’s a ready template. <a href="http://www.divorcecare.org/">http://www.divorcecare.org/</a>. There’s a special version of it for the children. A church could extend that ministry to people regardless of where or whether they worship.<br /><br />Might the offering of periodic Recovery Masses or healing services mediate grace to someone with an addiction? Last year I asked all our churches to observe a Recovery Sunday each year. One initially said it would be too expensive. Another is waiting to figure out if any of their present members need such a thing. But many of our congregations have observed at least one Recovery Mass and they plan to do it again. At our recent priests conference several priests requested the resources to offer a Recovery Mass. We might someday become a church explicitly for people in recovery, a church whose commitment to being “inclusive” would intentionally include the addicted.<br /><br />Leadership is doing something new. It’s being out in front which necessarily means being alone at first. It’s risk taking because the new thing may fall flat. But it’s where the action is, where life happens.<br /><br />There are a few business management folks in our diocese who want us to announce a strategy. Maybe someday we can do that. But that strategy depends on what is in our people’s hearts. I am still waiting to learn that. For example it does no good for me to say, we ought to offer Divorce Care unless it is in someone’s heart to minister to people in this particular pain. What other needs are out there? Needs of the vulnerable elderly? Needs of abused children? What about the deaf? I I have been told (elsewhere) that “we don’t offer signing in our worship because we have no deaf people.” That’s like not offering Sunday School because we have no children.<br /><br />I don’t know a fraction of the needs that surround the church. All I know is what the church needs. We need leaders with the imagination, the compassion, the courage, and the initiative to make something happen. If our hearts are open, the Spirit will move us to right action.

Leadership Is Making Something Happen

Ron Heifetz in his book, Leadership On The Line, tells the story of Lois. She lived on a Native American reservation where nearly everyone o...

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Happy in Seattle...sort of

Maybe "happy" is an exaggeration, but at least I'm not heartsick. Well, not totally anyway.<br /><br />My heartsick post stemmed from me losing my two best buddies at work, both in the same week. Next week they're both moving to different teams. They'll still be on the same floor, and they'll still be my friends, but it will be different. Right now I know these two guys always have my back. I won't have that anymore.<br /><br />Life goes on and since there's really nothing I can do about this situation, I have to get over it. I'm trying my best to stay positive, but it hasn't been easy. In my almost 28 years with my company, I've worked in several different areas and different cities. I've always had at least one and often two or three "best" friends at work. You know the kind of people I'm talking about. The kind where you can vent, and that you can trust 100%. The people that make you laugh when you feel like crying because you're so stressed out on your job. The people that are always there for you. Well, that's gone now. Even as I type this I feel the tears starting again (dammit anyway!). <br /><br />Of course there will be new people, but I have this really strange feeling that it won't be the same. In fact, I'm positive it won't be the same. There are reasons I can't discuss here, but I know the new folks won't be my best friends, and they won't have my back. Oh well, that's life, right? It's painful to accept, but like I said, it's just the way things roll. It can't be "fixed". <br /><br /><b>Moving on to the issue at hand</b><br />My biggest problem right now (outside of me boohooing about my work situation), is my weight. Another dammit anyway topic. I didn't weigh this morning, but yesterday I was 187.8. Ouch! This is totally <u>not </u>where I want to be, and I don't know how to stop this roller coaster I'm on.<br /><br />I'm not eating junk, I'm just continuing with eating too much of the healthy foods. It's all healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked or broiled chicken breasts and fish or shrimp, whole grain bread, Fage 0% yogurt, 2% cheese in very limited quantities (28 grams a day). That's pretty much all I eat, but I EAT TOO MUCH.<br /><br />Every day starts out great. A great workout at the gym (almost every day, at least I'm still doing this right). A great breakfast, a great lunch, an afternoon snack, usually yogurt and fruit. Even dinner is usually healthy and a small portion. But I'm back to eating at night, late night.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure this recent stint of night eating is because when I try to sleep I think about work. I can feel myself start to get upset and not wanting to think about it, but I can't shut my brain off. I wind up getting out of bed and grazing, and my grazing usually racks up about 500 calories or more. Last night it was three slices of Dave's Killer bread at 110 calories each (I need to stop buying this stuff because it too good), two bananas  and a cup of 1% milk, then later a giant bowl of fresh strawberries (the best strawberries ever). That's probably about 700 calories that was over my normal approximately 1500 calories. And I had the wise idea to skip the gym yesterday morning. <br /><br />I really don't know how to get a grip on this out of control eating. I'm not eating junk, but I am eating way too much food. It's making me crazy that I feel so lost and out of control.<br /><br />I guess "happy in Seattle" should probably have been titled "hopeless in Seattle".

Happy in Seattle...sort of

Maybe "happy" is an exaggeration, but at least I'm not heartsick. Well, not totally anyway. My heartsick post stemmed from me ...

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Busy Bee!

Since last Wednesday, and continuing for the next 5 weeks, my life is going to be a little hectic.  Please bare with me as the posts will most likely be few and far between for a few weeks :(.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ-JjoYJxKc3ibl-ZDcGJlx4W1UmMoF53UZ6A3JusIf76MqRzx1oJMbs42iGQcxGKeepcHmyO3g5RAdvPBEIVrHh8PAZ3h-yjC7lacKc1LW3YDbk36KPn_TcWbVrahpqPl5bLBcdCLosO/s400/busy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ-JjoYJxKc3ibl-ZDcGJlx4W1UmMoF53UZ6A3JusIf76MqRzx1oJMbs42iGQcxGKeepcHmyO3g5RAdvPBEIVrHh8PAZ3h-yjC7lacKc1LW3YDbk36KPn_TcWbVrahpqPl5bLBcdCLosO/s320/busy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>For starters, I spent 2 full days last week searching for a place to live.  I wanted to move before summer got started so we can enjoy the summer in a new location.  As much as I did NOT want to move back to Virginia (toooooooo many people for this country girl!), it is going to happen afterall.  The places I like to live in Maryland involve a long commute (try 1 hour, 40 minutes during rush hour at night!) and I simply could not do that to myself again.  Joel and I searched high and low for a place in the part of Maryland we live in now (about an hour door-to-door), but it's more single-family home focused (i.e. no apartments at all) and so it just did not work out for us.  We checked out a 2 bedroom condo in Virginia and we decided it was going to be the best move for us, even though we're going going, back back to V-A V-A.  So with that said, a move is going to take place mid-June, and fortunately this time I only have to pack a bedroom's worth of stuff instead of an entire apartment - the rest is already sweetly packed sitting in a storage unit.  Oh and by the way, this will be move number 11 since 2002.  Kill. Me. Now.<br /><br />So what else is happening that will consume my life for the next 5 weeks? Well, I'm in school for the second time in my life, pursuing a completely different degree than the first go around from the beloved <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Blue & White</a> (Bachelor of Science: Management Information Systems).  This time I'm studying nursing, and for this 6 week long summer <i>adventure </i>I'm learning about anatomy and physiology.  And it has already taken over my life way more than I wanted it to.  <br /><br />So that's my explanation as to why I may be in and out over the next few weeks - I did not want you to think that I have fell of the Weight Watcher Wagon!  Still, I have two 5K's to blog about as well as last week's results for the HilJoe Competition, and some other little things here and there.  Stay tuned!!

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Busy Bee!

Since last Wednesday, and continuing for the next 5 weeks, my life is going to be a little hectic.  Please bare with me as the posts will mo...

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