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August 2007

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In Four for Friday

Four for Friday Edition No. 1

I discovered this meme ((I’m not sure if it is really a full-fledged meme or just more of a writing prompt since it appears that a lot of participants just leave their responses as a comment at Belicove.com.)) at my friend Karen’s site, Write from Karen. It intrigued me so I thought I would participate. I hope that some of you will decide to join in, too.JHSEsq of Colloquium participates in Four for Friday

Each Friday, four questions are posted and each participant drafts his/her response. Simple! But it appears that Mikal asks thought-provoking and timely questions. So here goes:

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In Friday's Feast

Friday’s Feast #157

Appetizer

Say there’s a book written about your life. Who would you want to narrate the audio version?

Janet Evanovich.

Soup

Take the letters from your favorite kind of nut and write a sentence. (Example: Perhaps every avenue needs understanding today.)

A little misogyny offends naturally delicate sensibilities.

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In Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Tips to Help You Resume Your Health & Fitness Program if You Get Off Track

It is going to happen. You are going to “fall off the wagon” occasionally due to special events, vacations, lack of motivation, someone or something in your life sabotaging your efforts . . . When it does happen, there are a number of things you can do to get back on track with your health and fitness program. Here are thirteen tips for us all to keep in mind:
1. Be kind to yourself.

You are not perfect. You are never going to achieve perfection. So there is no point in beating yourself up psychologically when you occasionally demonstrate your own humanity.
2. Keep it in perspective.

Consider your slip-up. How does it compare to your old habits? Did you fall right back into your old destructive habits or was this different?

These days, when I “fall off the wagon,” the scenery around me as I’m picking myself up and dusting myself off looks quite different that it used to.

So when it happens, I stop and compare my lifestyle before I developed this program for myself and what the program looks like when I am conscientiously following it. Inevitably, I find that my deviation is minor when compared with how I used to live and what my eating habits used to be.

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In Colloquium on Writing

Disconnect and Go Back to the Basics

“Sensory overload.” We’ve all heard that phrase. It has become a cliched part of our vernacular. For instance, when deadlines and activities at work start to make us feel frazzled, we tell our colleagues, half-jokingly, “I can’t hang in. I’m on sensory overload here.”

The phenomenon is being studied by the experts and every day, it seems, there is another news story about the impact that technology and all of the communicative devices we use every day are having upon us. We are all connected to each other perpetually through our cell phones, blackberries, computers, etc. But are we really connecting with other human beings in a meaningful fashion or just superficially? That’s a question for the sociologists to answer in years to come.

For me, the question has become, am I really connected with my internal self? Some days the honest answer is “no.”

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In Life & Culture

Practice Tolerance

My mother-in-law died suddenly in May 2002 at the age of 82. The sheriff showed up at the front door holding her wallet and keys, and notified BigBob that the neighbors had called 911 earlier in the day when she did not answer the phone, doorbell or open the shades.

To say that we were shocked is an understatement. The day before she had driven #1Son to school after he spent the night at her house with her.

We need some of her wishes, but not all. She had indicated a preference for cremation and no viewing, plus she had made clear that she did not want a schmaltzy organ-with-loads-of-vibrato sort of funeral service. Past that, we had to figure out how best to say our good-byes and celebrate her life. To be perfectly accurately, BigBob, as her only child, had that responsibility. Our role was to support him.

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In Friday's Feast

Friday’s Feast #156

Appetizer

Describe your laundry routine. Do you have a certain day when you do it all, or do you just wash whatever you need for the next day?

I have yet to find the bottom of the pile. Ever. That’s all I’m saying about this subject. 😳

Soup

In your opinion, what age will you be when you’ll consider yourself to truly be old?

Dead.

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In Life & Culture

When Jesus Twiddles His Thumbs

Note: The first part of this story about the social function is totally true and happened a few years ago. The Flash Forward section is an addendum and reflection. I really don’t talk to pictures on the wall. Ahem …

He was drunk.

In the Presbyterian Church no less. You know the one. Swanky, elegant, rich old-money-in-the-middle-of-town-prestigious-kinda-church. And in the sacred basement that night?

Speed-dating. Round tables. Too much perfume. And a perky little woman with an annoying bell. I was game. After all, what could go wrong in a church?

Here are the rules: There are twelve white linened tables with burning candles and refreshments. You choose one and sit down. Male across from female. When the bell rings, you’re off! Introductions and more sweaty palms. I so hate that. The bell rings again and you rotate to the next waiting gentleman caller.

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