2007 Follow the Christ District Convention

We're leaving for the "Follow the Christ" District Convention today. This is the first time for me going to Reading for the convention. Thankfully, there are lots of people that we know staying in the same hotel. So there will be some friendly faces.

Going to the convention is a highlight of my year because, for me, it's like getting a spiritual jump start. I always learn something new. The convention also helps me set better spiritual goals for myself.

I've heard from other people that this year's program is the best yet.

Intranet theme song

Our intranet was launched yesterday at work. My department worked really hard on it and we decided that we needed a theme song for the launch. We picked the song below:

50,000 coaches

I watched Akeelah and the Bee last year and in a scene between Akeelah and her mom, Akeelah laments that she can't possibly learn 5000 new words. Akeelah's mom told her that if she just looked around, she'd see that she had 50,000 coaches willing to help her prepare for the spelling bee.

I realized this morning that I have 50,000 coaches too, figuratively speaking. There are so many people who have been encouraging with my weight loss goals. It gets frustrating for me sometimes, but then someone will say something encouraging and it helps me go on.

Sweet Freedom

I finally got the peanut butter double-stuffed oreos out of my house. They've been here since last Tuesday and they've been haunting me. Every time I walked into the kitchen they called me, telling me that one wouldn't be so bad.

I was brave and resisted, but I was glad to get them out of the house this morning. Who knew that you could be traumatized by a bag of cookies?

Role Model

I walked four times this week, 3 miles each. It's a good work out, but I feel like I'm hitting a plateau. Part of it is that I'm not eating quite the way I was before Italy. And mentally I'm not where I was before Italy.

Ever since I started this weight loss program, I've felt pressure not to let people down. Losing weight can never be a personal battle. Everyone can see the results. When they are good, everyone is happy. When the results flatten out, it is mentally taxing - at least it has been for me. I want to do the best that I can because I don't want to let anyone down. But at the same time, there are days when I need this to be my own thing; a journey that I go on inside my own head without discussion or input from anyone else.

It's so hard to keep this going and there are days that I want to give up. The thing is that I need a support system. It's just that some days, it's more than I can take.

I don't want to be a role model today.

Fall Textbook List

ANTH344 - Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics

• Kottak, C.P. and Kottak, C. Cultural Anthropology with Living Anthropology Student CD and PowerWeb, 12th edition McGraw-Hill 0073315095


• Weiner, A.B. The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea Holt Rinehart and Winston 0030119197


• Spradley and McCurdy ANTH 344: Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics Coursepack: How To Do a Fieldwork Project, UMUC Fall 2004 MBS/UMUC 0006586848


• Ottenheimer, Harriet Joseph Anthropology of Language Thomson Learning 0534594360


• Ottenheimer, Harriet Joseph Anthropology of Language /Workbook reader Thomson Learning 0534594379

HUMN398 American Pop Culture

• Irwin, Conard, Skoble, eds Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh of Homer Carus Publishing 0812694333


• Sklaar, R. Movie-Made America: A Cultural History of American Movies Random House 0679755497


• Altschuler, G. All Shook Up: How Rock n Roll Changed America Oxford University Press 0195177495


• Wright, Bradford Comic Book Nation John Hopkins University Press 0801874505


• Spigel, L.Welcome to the Dream House Duke University Press 0822326965

CMST303 Advanced Software Applications

• Shelly/Cashman PowerPoint Introductory 2003 Course Technology 1418843644


• Shelly/Cashman Hutchinson Modular Package MS Office 2003, 2n ed (Windows XP, Word 2003, Excel 2003, and Access 2003) Course Technology 1418895113

It's a struggle

I've been feeling this obligation to maintain this new life style, not only for my health, but also for the well-being of other people. I find that people are reacting to me as if I am a new person. Maybe I am in some ways. I do feel a little more confident in my newly baggy jeans. I also feel healthier.

But when I have to get up in the morning and go walk 3 miles, that's where the hard work kicks my butt. Everyday, I'm tired, a good tired, but tired nontheless. That's the part people don't see; the part that I do for me.

Every day is a struggle and there are times when I want to eat everything that is bad for me. I carry around Dr. Ian's book everyday, but I must confess that I read it less and less. I need to go over it again because I desperately feel like I need a week back on phase I. Right now, I'm maintaining my weight, but I want to lose more. I'm still 50 lbs from my goal.

Some days, I want to give up and other days, I'm hard core. I keep hearing the words that I said "It's not that you can't do it, it's that you won't" and that makes me go on. I don't want to become a victim of my own mind.

Stay in the Fight

I heard some thing inspirational the other day. Fran Drescher was talking about a technique she used to get thought her cancer treatments. She kept two rubber bands on her wrist. Any time she started having negative thoughts like "I can't do this" or "This is too hard", she would snap one of the rubber bands. It was like a quick snap back to reality and a deterrent to allowing the negative thoughts that she would inevitably have from taking over and consuming her.

I got to thinking that her technique could be applied in just about any situation. We all face challenges in our lives and negative thoughts are more than abundant inside our heads and hearts. We have goals that we want to reach, but there is something holding us back. Taking that step is scary, but you know what, not taking that step can be even worse.

Are you stuck in a job you hate? Why not quit and do the thing that really fulfills your real passion? Do you want to lose weight? Who doesn't ? I know I do. Taking that step, making the step to take my life back was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. I was stuck in a vicious of negative thoughts and bad habits.

There are always reasons why you can't do something. But the truth is that it's not that you can't, it's that you won't. Everything is hard when your attitude is led by the negative thoughts in your head. It's time to break out of the cycle of negativity and surround yourself with positive thoughts, from within yourself and from the people closest to you.

So go grab two rubber bands and stay in the fight!