Did you see Meet the Natives last night? If not, find it on your TV schedule and watch it. Soon. (It is on the Travel Channel in the US, National Geographic in other countries.)
If you're caught up in the frenzy of holiday shopping...or keeping up with the Joneses...or just looking for an interesting way to spend an hour each week, this is absolute must-see TV.
Here's the premise: Five tribesmen from the South Pacific island of Vanna come to the US for five weeks. They are taken to a ranch in Montana, NYC, Peoria IL, Orange County CA, and Fort Stewart GA & Washington DC. The five men chosen from the tribe are the Chief, Head Dancer, Medicine Man, Happy Man, and the translator. Note that all five could be referred to as the "happy man" because these folks are all happy - and kind and thoughtful and thought-provoking.
To see their excitement at seeing and feeling snow for the first time, their confusion about how someone could be homeless in America, and their joy at celebrating with their American hosts is a definite delight. Their tribal wisdom and view of everyday life is eye-opening.
Watch this show and you will look at your life and your surroundings in a whole new light. Even stepping into a "moving metal box" will make you think as you head up to your chosen floor. And that kid riding the "wood on wheels"...well, it really is a pretty cool thing!
This show takes some concentration as you have to read the subtitles when all but the translator are speaking. But that only makes you more aware of the view you are getting. And, like the "natives" observation of a missing part of American society, it will slow your life down - if only for an hour. You won't be able to multi-task if you really want to "get" this show. And trust me, you should get it. We all should.
Tune in next Sunday. You'll be glad you did.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
And The Answer Is...
Waiting for an answer from someone? On anything? This is a great post to read!
From agents to editors to potential employers, the idea that no response is okay seems to have taken over the country. I don't know when we began accepting such rude and disrespectful behavior - or when folks determined it was okay to be rude and disrespectful - but we have obviously crossed that line...and kept on running.
That noise you apparently don't hear, that's me yelling down the canyon. I will not be ignored...ignored...ignored! Well, at least I won't be beaten down, dissuaded, or not-responded-to into giving up. And don't worry, all the rabbits are safe, too!
From agents to editors to potential employers, the idea that no response is okay seems to have taken over the country. I don't know when we began accepting such rude and disrespectful behavior - or when folks determined it was okay to be rude and disrespectful - but we have obviously crossed that line...and kept on running.
That noise you apparently don't hear, that's me yelling down the canyon. I will not be ignored...ignored...ignored! Well, at least I won't be beaten down, dissuaded, or not-responded-to into giving up. And don't worry, all the rabbits are safe, too!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I'm Alive...and Well
Love, love, love Kenny Chesney's and Dave Matthews' new release "I'm Alive". What a FABULOUS song.
And it is the perfect song for me today - November 17. You see, November 17 always surprises me. This morning, I started a new job. After 18 months and 1 week as one of the millions of unemployed workers in this country, imagine my surprise that when I finally found a job (not just any job either, a job I wanted with a great company!) and was given a start date of November 17. On a Tuesday. Not a Monday. A Tuesday. The 17th...of November.
Five years ago today - on November 17th - I suffered a stroke. In fact, 5 years ago at this very moment, I was laying in the critical care unit of the ER. Among other things, my right hand would not move. Here I am, 5 years later, typing with that hand. And, if you didn't know to look for subtle cues, you probably wouldn't be able to tell that I ever had a stroke. Five years ago at this time, I kept thinking "I'm alive!".
Four years ago today - on November 17th - I had emergency surgery. In fact, 4 years ago at this very moment, I was laying in recovery. But, the results came back with good news and two weeks later, I was as good as new. Four years ago at this time, I kept thinking "I'm well!".
You might thing that for the last 3 November 17ths I hid under my covers. Nope. Didn't do that. Instead, I celebrated. If the date fell on a work day, I took it off as a holiday. My personal day of celebration of life. Nothing particularly fabulous happened on those November 17th...but then again, I didn't spend of any of them in a hospital so I was waaaaaay ahead of the game.
Then there's this year. A new job. Another new journey to take. Another celebration!
It's November 17th...and I'm alive...and well!
And it is the perfect song for me today - November 17. You see, November 17 always surprises me. This morning, I started a new job. After 18 months and 1 week as one of the millions of unemployed workers in this country, imagine my surprise that when I finally found a job (not just any job either, a job I wanted with a great company!) and was given a start date of November 17. On a Tuesday. Not a Monday. A Tuesday. The 17th...of November.
Five years ago today - on November 17th - I suffered a stroke. In fact, 5 years ago at this very moment, I was laying in the critical care unit of the ER. Among other things, my right hand would not move. Here I am, 5 years later, typing with that hand. And, if you didn't know to look for subtle cues, you probably wouldn't be able to tell that I ever had a stroke. Five years ago at this time, I kept thinking "I'm alive!".
Four years ago today - on November 17th - I had emergency surgery. In fact, 4 years ago at this very moment, I was laying in recovery. But, the results came back with good news and two weeks later, I was as good as new. Four years ago at this time, I kept thinking "I'm well!".
You might thing that for the last 3 November 17ths I hid under my covers. Nope. Didn't do that. Instead, I celebrated. If the date fell on a work day, I took it off as a holiday. My personal day of celebration of life. Nothing particularly fabulous happened on those November 17th...but then again, I didn't spend of any of them in a hospital so I was waaaaaay ahead of the game.
Then there's this year. A new job. Another new journey to take. Another celebration!
It's November 17th...and I'm alive...and well!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Two Biggest Losers In The UP-State
I've said it a hundred times - NO ONE can maintain their weight loss when they lost it by exercising 6 to 8 hours a day. NO ONE is going to keep up that schedule. Not even ex-Biggest Loser contestants. In fact, a couple of them said today that they only work out 60-90 minutes a day since the finale. (Thank goodness!)
Filipe and Sione Fa (season 8 Biggest Loser contestants) were in upstate Carolina for a Fitness Across America program at a local Y. Before heading to the Y, they made a stop past our local NBC station. They did an excellent 2-part interview.
Unfortunately, it was obvious that Filipe had gained some weight. Filipe started at 364 pounds and weighed 229 at the finale. Sione started at 372 and weighed 226 at the finale. When asked today what they weigh, Filipe said he weighs 241. Sione replied that he's in the 240's.
Sione looks like he did at the finale to me (even more fit, in fact!). I would have never guessed that he was up 14+ pounds. (The banter about the amount of weight loss is at the start of part 2 of the interview.)
Whatever they weight, they are certainly to be congratulated for keeping off the majority of the weight they lost. I just hope it doesn't creep back up on them a dozen pounds at a time.
If we're really going to have a "reality" weight-loss show, why not see one where folks have to deal with their daily lives, exercise the amount that is normal and healthy...and then declare the participants who lose weight at a healthy, realistic pace and keep it up to their going THE BIGGEST WINNERS?
Filipe and Sione Fa (season 8 Biggest Loser contestants) were in upstate Carolina for a Fitness Across America program at a local Y. Before heading to the Y, they made a stop past our local NBC station. They did an excellent 2-part interview.
Unfortunately, it was obvious that Filipe had gained some weight. Filipe started at 364 pounds and weighed 229 at the finale. Sione started at 372 and weighed 226 at the finale. When asked today what they weigh, Filipe said he weighs 241. Sione replied that he's in the 240's.
Sione looks like he did at the finale to me (even more fit, in fact!). I would have never guessed that he was up 14+ pounds. (The banter about the amount of weight loss is at the start of part 2 of the interview.)
Whatever they weight, they are certainly to be congratulated for keeping off the majority of the weight they lost. I just hope it doesn't creep back up on them a dozen pounds at a time.
If we're really going to have a "reality" weight-loss show, why not see one where folks have to deal with their daily lives, exercise the amount that is normal and healthy...and then declare the participants who lose weight at a healthy, realistic pace and keep it up to their going THE BIGGEST WINNERS?
Do You Hear What I Hear?
It's Christmas-time in the city, gang! The two biggest pop-rock stations here in town switched to all Christmas, all the time today. Gotta give 'em credit for being patient this year. They used to do it on November 1st.
Funny thing though, I spent a good part of the day listening to Christmas carols and enjoyed it! Maybe I'm just in a happy mood. Maybe I'm ready for all the fun and positive vibes of a joyful season. Or, maybe I've just had my fill of Taylor Swift songs on the radio and am glad for the break. LOL!
And get this - the first song one station played was "Do You Hear What I Hear?"...one of my three favorite Christmas carols. When it ended, I switched stations to get in on the first notes of "Little Drummer Boy"...another of my favorites. Still haven't heard "Silent Night" (to round out my faves) but I figure by this time tomorrow, I'll have heard it more than a few times.
So...are you ready for the season? Or do you feel like you're being pushed into it? Did you listen to Christmas carols today? If so, hope you heard your favorite.
Happy pre-Holidays!
Funny thing though, I spent a good part of the day listening to Christmas carols and enjoyed it! Maybe I'm just in a happy mood. Maybe I'm ready for all the fun and positive vibes of a joyful season. Or, maybe I've just had my fill of Taylor Swift songs on the radio and am glad for the break. LOL!
And get this - the first song one station played was "Do You Hear What I Hear?"...one of my three favorite Christmas carols. When it ended, I switched stations to get in on the first notes of "Little Drummer Boy"...another of my favorites. Still haven't heard "Silent Night" (to round out my faves) but I figure by this time tomorrow, I'll have heard it more than a few times.
So...are you ready for the season? Or do you feel like you're being pushed into it? Did you listen to Christmas carols today? If so, hope you heard your favorite.
Happy pre-Holidays!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Change IS Good!
Heck, sometimes it can even lead to weight-loss and love. Don't believe me? Just take a look at Happy's story!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Losers
It's taken me all season to figure out who I'm rooting for on this go 'round of Biggest Loser. There were probably more hard-to-like (on TV, anyway) folks offering themselves up for abuse this time than in any other season.
I've decided that either Danny or Allen would be excellent winners...er, losers...er, you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I wish them all success. But these guys are the ones who I've come to respect and like.
Did you see last night's show? Now, I've never been a huge fan of Shay's but she absolutely deserved to stay. I was SO hoping for Amanda and Rebbecca to be packing their bags. After Tracey, they were next on my oh-God-get-them-out-of-there list.
On a side note, here I was all braggy yesterday about losing 5% of my weight in 7 weeks. Then last night, a couple of the Losers lost MORE than that in one week! And to add insult to injury, there were a couple more in the 4% range. Of course, I've had a life, eaten healthy and exercised a reasonable amount of time during that period. They, on the other hand, have absolutely abused their body.
And speaking of abuse...did you catch Shay on Jay Leno's show? Didn't you just want to SCREAM when she said the exercises 4 hours a day during the week and 6 to 7 hours a day on the weekend?! What a screwed up life. And, what a way to set yourself up for weight gain in the future.
I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Biggest Loser. It's like a car wreck. You don't want to look but you do. I can hear the wheels screeching every week. I just hope that the resulting crash that they will find themselves in eventually doesn't kill 'em.
(btw - is this the season for hard-to-like folks on TV? Have you seen Next Iron Chef? Need I say more?)
I've decided that either Danny or Allen would be excellent winners...er, losers...er, you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I wish them all success. But these guys are the ones who I've come to respect and like.
Did you see last night's show? Now, I've never been a huge fan of Shay's but she absolutely deserved to stay. I was SO hoping for Amanda and Rebbecca to be packing their bags. After Tracey, they were next on my oh-God-get-them-out-of-there list.
On a side note, here I was all braggy yesterday about losing 5% of my weight in 7 weeks. Then last night, a couple of the Losers lost MORE than that in one week! And to add insult to injury, there were a couple more in the 4% range. Of course, I've had a life, eaten healthy and exercised a reasonable amount of time during that period. They, on the other hand, have absolutely abused their body.
And speaking of abuse...did you catch Shay on Jay Leno's show? Didn't you just want to SCREAM when she said the exercises 4 hours a day during the week and 6 to 7 hours a day on the weekend?! What a screwed up life. And, what a way to set yourself up for weight gain in the future.
I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Biggest Loser. It's like a car wreck. You don't want to look but you do. I can hear the wheels screeching every week. I just hope that the resulting crash that they will find themselves in eventually doesn't kill 'em.
(btw - is this the season for hard-to-like folks on TV? Have you seen Next Iron Chef? Need I say more?)
Monday, November 9, 2009
What's The Point?
Success! That's the point!!
Okay gang, I've done Weight Watchers so many times that I've lost count. The only thing that has ever really worked for me (in the weight-loss world) is Richard Simmon's Deal-A-Meal. You know, those little playing cards with food exchanges on them. See, the beauty of them is that they don't include stuff like, oh, jelly beans.
The first time - or first dozen times - I did WW and cheerfully counted my Points, I had this nifty little book that told me 25 jelly beans was 3 points. And, that better yet, 22 Gummi bears was 3 points. (So what's the deal with 12 Dots = a WHOLE box of Good & Plenty???!!!...3 points, btw, if you're interested.) Seriously. SIX pages of candy and their Points values.
Let's see...I could have 8 oz of cranberry juice (something good for me) or a WHOLE box of Good & Plenty for the same number of Points. Well, needless to say, I chose the Good & Plenty. (A WHOLE freakin' box!!!! Helluva trade off if you ask me.)
SO...seven weeks ago, I decided to join WW...again. BUT, I decided to use the Deal-A-Meal logic. And guess what? In seven short weeks, I've lost 5% of my body weight. In fact, when I weighed yesterday, I blew past the 5% mark. (3.8 pounds last week! Woohoo!!) Now, you don't need to know what 5% translates to on the scale...but, it's a big number.
So what's the point? The point is to do what works. Deal-A-Meal works for me...but I have to be accountable to someone. Translated: I have to pay someone to weigh me. Enter WW.
NO jelly beans or Gummi bears or Good & Plenty for this gal. I'd rather eat the fruit that I can or drink the milk for the same amount of Points. Click. Soooo making a point of successful weight loss again!
Hang with me. 10% isn't very far away!
Okay gang, I've done Weight Watchers so many times that I've lost count. The only thing that has ever really worked for me (in the weight-loss world) is Richard Simmon's Deal-A-Meal. You know, those little playing cards with food exchanges on them. See, the beauty of them is that they don't include stuff like, oh, jelly beans.
The first time - or first dozen times - I did WW and cheerfully counted my Points, I had this nifty little book that told me 25 jelly beans was 3 points. And, that better yet, 22 Gummi bears was 3 points. (So what's the deal with 12 Dots = a WHOLE box of Good & Plenty???!!!...3 points, btw, if you're interested.) Seriously. SIX pages of candy and their Points values.
Let's see...I could have 8 oz of cranberry juice (something good for me) or a WHOLE box of Good & Plenty for the same number of Points. Well, needless to say, I chose the Good & Plenty. (A WHOLE freakin' box!!!! Helluva trade off if you ask me.)
SO...seven weeks ago, I decided to join WW...again. BUT, I decided to use the Deal-A-Meal logic. And guess what? In seven short weeks, I've lost 5% of my body weight. In fact, when I weighed yesterday, I blew past the 5% mark. (3.8 pounds last week! Woohoo!!) Now, you don't need to know what 5% translates to on the scale...but, it's a big number.
So what's the point? The point is to do what works. Deal-A-Meal works for me...but I have to be accountable to someone. Translated: I have to pay someone to weigh me. Enter WW.
NO jelly beans or Gummi bears or Good & Plenty for this gal. I'd rather eat the fruit that I can or drink the milk for the same amount of Points. Click. Soooo making a point of successful weight loss again!
Hang with me. 10% isn't very far away!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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