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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
What Makes a Great Protagonist? (Case study: Jake Gittes)
In the middle of this CHINATOWN story breakdown and analysis it has struck me that the character of Jake Gittes is a virtual textbook all on his own on techniques of creating a great character. So I wanted to do a dedicated post on all – well, some - of the character techniques that went into Jake Gittes that helped create a tragic and iconic detective for the ages.
First, they got Jack Nicholson to play Jake.
(Do that and your work is done, right?)
But that casting was no accident. Robert Towne wrote the part specifically for Jack Nicholson, who was NOT a star at the time, although he was rising. Towne used Nicholson's voice, his mannerisms, his attitude, to develop a colorful, complicated fully-realized lead.
I've talked before about writing a character for a specific actor. And as authors, we can use this technique even more easily than screenwriters can - because we don't have to go out and get the actor to play the part (and then compromise later with the ninth choice on our wish list). We can write any actor we please into any part we choose. So why not take advantage of that happy position of unlimited power?
Reread THE FIRM and tell me Grisham didn't write that character for Tom Cruise (at the age he was when the book came out). Then look at Grisham's THE PELICAN BRIEF – Darby IS Julia Roberts, right? This writing-for-actors technique works, not just to create bestselling novels, but also to help you nail your intended actors when the book is made into a movie. (In fact Nicholson not only signed on to play the role, according to Polanski himself, Nicholson was instrumental in getting Polanski to agree to direct. That's what happens when a smart actor has a vested interest in getting a movie made).
So there's one major technique right there – Write for a specific actor.
But what else went into the creation of Jake Gittes?
Now, when you're writing a detective as your main character, whether that detective is a cop, a PI like Jake, or an amateur, a lot of your choices are already made for you. You know there's going to be a mystery, or a murder, or another crime - or a combination of all three of those things, and that the detective's outer desire is going to be to solve that crime or mystery (and usually also to avoid being killed by the person s/he is pursuing). The incredible advantage of having all those choices already built in to a character probably has a lot to do with why so many authors and screenwriters choose to write in this genre.
The downside is that detectives have been done so often that it can be hard to do anything unique with the character.
Robert Towne hits a lot of classic points with Jake. I'd like to take them one by one.
1. Jake is a hero with a GHOST, or WOUND:
He used to be a cop working in L.A.'s Chinatown, where nothing was as it seemed and where Jake's best efforts to help a woman ended up with her getting hurt instead. Though we never learn the details of the incident, apparently it was bad enough that Jake quit the police force and now is wasting his talents on divorce work. And the case he is about to take on will take him metaphorically and physically right back into Chinatown. He will be forced to relive his haunted past.
(And that recreation and reliving of a past trauma is a staple of drama for a reason: a lot of psychologists would say that that's the human condition, the "repetition compulsion": we all unconsciously seek out people, events and situations that duplicate our core trauma (s), in the hope of eventually triumphing over the situation that so wounded us.)
2. CHINATOWN is a "Hero Falls" story.
When we meet him, Jake seems on the surface to be doing pretty well. Whatever happened in Chinatown, it doesn't seem to consume him. His business is good, he's making good money, he's not a broken down alcoholic or basket case, he keeps a sense of humor about things. But there's a good reason the filmmakers start Jake on a fairly even keel.
For any story you write, there are certain big arcs that most characters fall into. One is a hero/ine who starts the story in emotional trouble if not actual physical trouble (generally brought on the emotional problem!), who takes the journey of the story, is forced to confront her or his deficiencies, overcomes them, and triumphs - to win a goal that was probably not the goal s/he started out with, but is clearly what s/he really needed all along. (This is the most common character arc).
A second pattern is an innocent hero/ine who triumphs over evil and opposition and wins her/his goal through sheer goodness. (THE WIZARD OF OZ and SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE are good examples). The heroine and hero in those stories don't have huge character arcs (although both characters gain in personal strength); the lesson for us (the reader or audience) is a more general one of how virtue and passion and doing the right thing are rewarded (and hopefully we the reader or audience are inspired by the story to be virtuous ourselves.).
A third pattern, though, is a hero who fails or falls. THE GODFATHER shows the moral fall of Michael Corleone (even as he rises in societal stature). CHINATOWN shows the fall of Jake Gittes, despite his sincere and determined attempts to do the right thing. While Michael Corleone makes the choices he makes deliberately (although the pressure of family history weighs heavily); Jake is a pawn, up against the greater forces of a malevolent universe. The only thing Jake learns in CHINATOWN is that his best efforts are useless; he should have learned his lesson long ago that the only way to survive is to do "as little as possible."
So CHINATOWN begins with a protagonist who we come to understand is wounded, but doing better, and the mystery that presents itself to him as the case seems to offer a chance for Jake's complete redemption (and the chance of love). The uniqueness of CHINATOWN, of course, and the reason it would not be made as a film today, is that the case that Jake (unconsciously) and we (consciously) hoped would redeem him destroys him instead.
This was a bold choice of the filmmakers (and it was not Towne's original intention; it was Polanski who pushed for the tragic ending), and sets the story far apart from most Hollywood offerings; one might say it out-noirs most noir as well.
But there are other, more subtle techniques going on here to define Jake.
There is a character who is the protagonist's mirror
A lot of Jake's BACKSTORY, GHOST, INNER and OUTER DESIRE are dramatized through the character of Lt. Escobar. Escobar is Jake's mirror – the man he could have been, in the position Jake could have been in now, had he stayed on the police force instead of quitting to go into private investigations. Escobar got out of Chinatown without quitting the force, and rose from there. When Jake is with Escobar we see Jake's regret about quitting, his longing to be doing real police work (inner desire). Escobar is a character serves as both an antagonist, sometimes (actually dramatizing Jake's internal opposition) and an ally. It's terrific storytelling that Jake's backstory is dramatized, brought to life with this character from his past.
The character's inner and outer desires are in conflict
On the surface, Jake wants to do his not very taxing work, make money, and live the good life – doing, as he later says, "as little as possible." This seems to mean he wants it easy, but we will find that he adopted this philosophy when doing his best to help someone resulted in tragedy.
Jake's inner desire becomes more and more clear as the story progresses. From the beginning of his investigation of Mulwray, we see that Jake is both a very good investigator and a very passionate detective – he loves doing the work of uncovering a mystery, and his interactions with Escobar make us realize that he loved and misses police work. But even more – and he says this aloud – he wants to help people. He says to Evelyn that he wants to help her husband; after her husband dies he wants to help Evelyn, and when he finds out about Katherine he wants to help both women. So his inner desire is to use his substantial detective skills to help people.
So two great techniques going on there:
- Give us a character with inner and outer desires in conflict and let us see the inner desire start to triumph, and
- Dramatize the hero/ine's inner desire – and have him or her state it aloud.
There are two characters who represent the hero's good and bad angels, or two contrasting sides of his personality.
We see two conflicting sides of Jake in the dialogue and in Nicholson's performance – he can be smart, sophisticated and charming; but he's also crass, earthy and inappropriate. He'll make an astute observation (like telling Evelyn that in his "métier" he doesn't come across people who say they're relieved to find out their spouse is cheating unless they themselves are cheating…) and then he turns around and undercuts it with a crude remark (he tells her that she changed her mind "quicker than wind out of a duck's ass")
These two different and often conflicting sides of Jake's personality are physically represented by Walsh and Duffy, Jake's operatives. Walsh is the serious, perceptive operative, focused to the point of being nerdy, and emotionally insightful and compassionate (he knows when to shut up and listen, he is the one who tries to comfort Jake in the final moments of the movie). Duffy is big, loud, crassly charming, and focused on sex and money – another side of Jake's personality.
This is an easy technique to use and massively effective in developing both character and overall theme: you can see it in operation in Star Wars (Luke is a combination of the intellect of Ben Kenobi and the derring-do of Han Solo), and Star Trek (James Kirk is constantly having to balance the emotional id advice of Bones McCoy and the cold, rational superego advice of Spock).
There is a character who is the protagonist's doppelganger.
Part of the eerie power of CHINATOWN is the relationship between Jake Gittes and Hollis Mulwray: the man he is initially hired to follow and whom he never actually meets. But Jake doesn't just follow in Mulwray's footsteps while on the case; he actually takes the same journey that Mulwray does: both investigating the water scam that's going on and trying to help Evelyn and her daughter/sister. And both men are equally doomed. It's a mesmerizing and haunting technique that gives this film a mythic resonance, and makes Jake more than just an ordinary hero, but a tragic figure.
The storytellers give the protagonist clever "business".
There are scenes throughout the film that are deliberately designed to show how clever Jake is as a detective – some of the most memorable bits in the movie. Jake places a watch under the tire of Mulwray's car to record what time Mulwray leaves the water pipe. He takes business cards from Yelburton, the Deputy Chief of the Water Department, and uses the card later to gain access to a crime scene at the reservoir. He understands instantly that something is fishy about a drunk drowning in the bone-dry L.A. River bed. He delights in torturing Yelburton's secretary with his whistling and humming and wandering around the office and relentless questions until she caves and lets him in to see Yelburton. He steals the page he needs from a map in the Hall of Records by borrowing a ruler from the snippy clerk and then laying the ruler across the page and coughing to cover the sound of the page tearing. These often comic scenes are endearing and also make us admire and empathize with Jake. It's a good idea to start becoming aware of how actors and filmmakers and novelists build character through this kind of business, and then ask yourself what kinds of scenes you could give your own protagonist to let his or her personality shine through.
The character goes to extremes
Another character trait that makes Jake unique is that he will not give up, even to the point of absurdity. For half the movie he has an enormous bandage plastered on his nose because it was cut by one of the goons working for the Water Department. You rarely see a protagonist in a thriller or drama looking like such a buffoon, but valiantly continuing the case in spite of it all, and it certainly sets Jake apart from most heroes.
The character has archetypal or mythic resonance.
And of course it helps that Jake Gittes is deliberately based on one of the all-time classic protagonists of world literature. Not that he has a lot in common with Oedipus, really, but even the slight resonance with Oedipus's tragic blindness to his own culpability, and the deliberate references to the very first detective story, goes a long way toward making Jake a haunting character.
In the climax, the protagonist must confront his greatest nightmare
This is a very important point: in the climax of CHINATOWN, Jake finds himself (actually deliberately drives himself) right back into the same situation that almost crushed in him in his past. The climax externalizes Jake's GHOST, or WOUND: he is in Chinatown again, a wonderful, seedy, ominous visual, and he's trying to save another woman, two of them this time, when the last time all his best efforts to save a woman in Chinatown resulted in her getting hurt (in some way that was awful enough that he quit the police force). The lesson here is - spend some quality time figuring out how to bring your hero/ine's greatest nightmare to life: in setting, set decoration, characters involved, actions taken. If you know your hero/ine's ghost and greatest fear, then you should be able to come up with a great setting that will be unique, resonant, and entirely specific to that protagonist (and often to the villain as well.)
So what I hope you get from this post is a glimpse of how breaking down what techniques go into creating a specific character can teach you some tricks to use for your own characters.
I bet you can guess my next suggestion and blog, too. Make a list of YOUR top ten hero/ines, some from films, some from books, like we did with villains, here: What Makes a Great Villain?, and let's take a look at what turns you on in a protagonist.
- Alex
I have succumbed and put the Screenwriting Tricks workbook up for Nook and on Smashwords, where yes, you can finally download it as a pdf file or whatever format you want. Any version - $2.99!
- Smashwords (includes pdf and online viewing)
- Kindle
- Barnes & Noble/Nook
- Amazon UK
- Amaxon DE (Eur. 2.40)
Previous articles on story structure: (all also linked at right hand side of blog under WRITING ARTICLES).
Story Structure 101 - The Index Card Method
Screenwriting - The Craft
What's Your Premise?
What is High Concept?
Why the Three Act Structure?
Elements of Act One
Elements of Act Two
Elements of Act Two, Part 2
Elements of Act Three, Part 1
Elements of Act Three, Part 2
What Makes a Great Climax?
Visual Storytelling Part 1
Visual Storytelling Part 2
Creating Suspense
Creating Suspense, Part 2
Fairy Tale Structure and the List
Meta Structure
What Makes a Great Villain?
Villains: The Forces of Antagonism
23 comments:
- Stephen D. Rogers said...
I like flawed protags. Not just because of their past, but because they're flawed in the present.
The Terminator in TERMINATOR 2 is not quite up to defeating the T1000. He's weary and he has to learn throughout the movie.
The Bruce Willis character in DIE HARD is acting throughout most of the movie without ever really knowing what's happening.
In EMMA, Emma misreads situations and hits a wrong social note at a picnic, although she is always trying to do the right thing.
Patrick Genzie in GONE BABY GONE (the movie at least, I don't remember the book) doesn't really know what's going on through most of the movie. His belief about what is going on is colored by his world view.
Jake in CHINA TOWN also misreads the situation based on his view of the world.
In my WIP, my protag is given the answer halfway through the book but is desperately believes something else is happening because it meshes with his inner desire.
- Holly Y said...
In movies: Willow (small person saves the baby and saves the world), Spiderman (ultimate misunderstood teen), and the little bushman in The Gods Must Be Crazy.
In books: Eowyn from LotR (she slays the king of the night riders single handedly), Gustine in The Dress Lodger (hardworking and feisty to save her baby) and Gordianus the Finder in Steven Saylor's Rome mysteries.
I prefer protags who are not so much flawed as vulnerable. From this list I can also see a theme of babies and children. :/
I don't care for Oedipus. He's the king for goodness sake, and strong and everything. So he falls, big deal. For me the more interesting character is Jocasta because she is so vulnerable. She even tries to make Oedipus stop the inquiry. She is in the weakest position because the loves of spouse and child, and desire to protect come into direct conflict.
This, to me, makes a more interesting tale than the fall of someone already at the top.
So I'm thinking you'd suggest I'd create those kind of characters, eh?
- Gayle Carline said...
I may have to think about why I like these hero/ines, but here's my list:
1. Sherlock Holmes (the books, altho Basil Rathbone brings such fond memories)
2. Philip Marlowe (The Big Sleep - book and Bogie version)
3. Eve Diamond (Denise Hamilton mysteries)
4. Flynn Carsen (The Librarian movies)
5. Rick O'Connell (The Mummy)
6. Ripley (Alien)
7. Nick and Nora Charles
8. Brenda Lee Johnson (The Closer)
9. Ziva David (NCIS)
10. Allison DuBois (Medium)
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
Hmm, Stephen, I think that's fascinating - you named mostly protags that are not just flawed, but specifically flawed in their apprehension of their situations. That's quite a pattern you've got going there, and you're using it in an interesting way in your own work.
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
LOL, Holly, yes, you know how this goes by now!
Again, very clear and interesting pattern - babies, children, even little people!
I love reading people's lists!
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
Hmm, Gayle, almost exclusively detectives, and most of them, thought not all, pretty hardboiled.
But I'd like to hear what YOU like about each.
What are the Librarian movies? And how come I don't know about them?
- Gayle Carline said...
I was going to leave a long comment about why I liked those specific characters, but I ended up blogging about it instead. You can read more details at http://gaylecarline.blogspot.com.
Basically, I think I like my hero/ines smart, funny, and fearless. And The Librarian movies were made by TNT, starring Noah Wyle.
- Paul Brazill said...
Thanks for this stuff. We did Chinatown as part of my, mostly useless, screenwiting course many years ago but not with as much insight as this.Cheers.
- laughingwolf said...
great examination of a superb role and film, thank you....
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
Gayle, great breakdown! Nick and Nora are two of my absolute favorites, too.
You know, I never questioned why someone like Holmes would be an addict. Someone that classically OCD and paranoid - I mean, hyper-vigilant - would pretty naturally turn to drugs just to disconnect from his own racing brain.
You know Ripley was a man in the original ALIEN script, right? And Sigourney Weaver wanted to play the part without any rewrites, which is how they did it (except of course for the sexual chemistry with the officer whose name escapes me.
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
Thank you, Paul and LaughingWolf!
- DebbyJ said...
I think my all time favorite movie protagonist is Thomas Crown. Not the watered down Pierce Brosnan version of Crown, but the original with Steve McQueen. I know that part of the reason is the performance of Steve McQueen—flawless and as cool as the condensation off a dry martini.
That version of Thomas Crown has many of the points you covered with the character of Jake Gittes. To some degree you could say that Crown is a hero with a ghost. There are several mentions of an ex-wife, the most telling being that she hated the beach and therefore didn't like the beach house he was building and clearly loved.
Crown also has a character who mirrors him—the female insurance investigator (Faye Dunaway). They give new meaning to two peas in a pod.
The storyteller definitely makes Crown a clever character who goes to extremes.
Mostly though, Crown is protagonist in conflict with his inner and outer desires. And the thing that makes the original movie, at least for me, far superior to the remake, is that the story allows Thomas to give in to those desires in such a way that, like the Faye Dunaway character, we're left crushed and confused by his final choice, one we should have known he'd make all along because it was coming at us throughout the whole movie like a freight train.
The original Thomas Crown Affair rocks. A great story. Wonderful actors. And a super terrific ending that got totally screwed in the remake.
- Jolie said...
It's amazing how many of these points you internalize when you absorb enough books/movies. I'm already using a lot of these techniques in the brainstorming of my novel, without really thinking about them. It helps to have someone name and analyze them, so thanks!
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
Ooh, it's been ages since I saw Thomas Crowne, and now I HAVE to. Thanks, Debby, what a great rundown!
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
That's great that you're already doing it, Jolie. I have to remind myself of all this stuff every single time I start a new project. I get some of it, but it just somehow helps me to go down the list and ask, "Could I do more of that?"
- thelittlefluffycat said...
I love all of Dick Francis' heroes, but most specifically one of the ones he's chosen to repeat, Sid Halley. Sid is born out-of-wedlock into semi-poverty, raised by a single mother who, when she finds out she's dying, basically chooses his profession (racing) for him. Sid learns to define himself in terms of his profession, becoming a champion jockey, but when an accident destroys one of his hands and takes him out of racing, he's forced to learn to redefine himself, and revalue his existence.
- Karen from Mentor said...
Would it break your heart if you wrote a GREAT character with a specific actor in mind but for some reason he/she couldn't play the part...And they hired someone "of the moment" to play your hero. Which would be worse, if it failed or was a blockbuster?
Loved the post!
Karen from Mentor
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
Karen, absolutely not, it wouldn't break my heart if I didn't get the actor I was envisioning. You have to remember that I come from theater, and I know perfectly well it's always a total roll of the dice who shows up for an audition.
Whatever you're thinking about for a character when you're writing a piece, you have to let ALL of that go when production starts. And sometimes the least likely actor is the best possible person to make your script come alive. I love what happens when actors get involved. We writers can only take things so far... we can't possibly live all the characters the way that good actors will do. We do our job, and then we have to step back and let them do theirs. That's the way it's supposed to be
You never get the PERFECT actor any more than you ever write the perfect book or script, right,?
I mean, let's be reasonable, after all. There is often magic. There is never perfection.
And believe me, I'm not saying that disaster doesn't happen, sometimes, and the worst possible person for the role gets cast, and your movie or play crashes and burns like the Hindenburg. Life isn't fair.
But there is magic in theater and film, and we all always have to hope for and expect the magic. Much more often than not, magic is exactly what will happen.
Fabulous question, btw - I hope I did it justice.
- R.J. Mangahas said...
Alex, I completely agree with you on the whole character/actor thing. I really had my doubts when I heard that Casey Affleck was going to play Patrick Kenzie in Gone Baby Gone. I have to admit though, I was pleasantly surprised.
- Karen from Mentor said...
I'm really glad to hear you say that. Writing for me is organic. I love to watch my characters grow to the point that I just have to get out of the way. It's a lovely idea to finish a story and let what happens happen. It's similar to launching a child into the world and trusting them to live the life they need to live.
Your response was beautiful.
Karen Schindler
- Stephen D. Rogers said...
I think it would be interesting to compare and contrast Jake Gittes from CHINATOWN to Jake Gittes from THE TWO JAKES. Same actor, same character, same writer. And yet....
- Alexandra Sokoloff said...
I have to say I don't remember ANYTHING about TWO JAKES. I think I'd want to read it before I saw it again.
I recently read that there was a third movie planned to complete a CHINATOWN trilogy, but it got shelved when TWO JAKES didn't do well at the box office.
It's about the building of the So Cal Cloverleaf, the freeway interchange, so I've got to get hold of it just for Towne's take on the history!


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Are you interested in volunteering with Louisville Metro Animal Services? We have many opportunities for you to help animals! Get involved by walking dogs, socializing cats, helping with events and representing MAS! Hope to see you soon!
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subset: commoncrawl


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For years I've avoided Bartenura wines. I thought of them of decent quaffers, nothing more. However, recently I've heard a spate of positive reviews on various Bartenura wines, leading me to believe something has changed.
Can anyone provide some information on Bartenura? Is it an actual winery or just a Royal label? Has something changed at Bartenura? Which wines are recommended?
Any help would be appreciated.


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Narrow your search
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The enthusiast-targeted XZ-2 iHS is quite capable of taking excellent-quality photos. Get an idea of what it can do in this slideshow.
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Even more than a year after its release this enthusiast compact is a nice choice, though not at its full $600 price.
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After Peyton Manning's historic performance to open the NFL season Thursday night, the Columbus Dispatch was slightly less accurate in telling the tale.
This was Friday's headline for the Ohio paper:
Perhaps this is why the state's capital has no professional football team
except Ohio State.
To this I say:


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It's finally winter
view from my window
In responce to your question...
I do not have a vitamix I have a grain mill and i used it to make pearled barley into flour. I asked a vitamix salesperson once how fine the mixer can grind, he said that it would not be fine enough for a 100% whole grain bread like my mill would.
I have often wondered the same thing about what the bloggers eat and their thin-ness. If I ate the amount of cupcakes, pancakes, crepes, squares, and cookies that I see a lot of bloggers posting about, I would be huge. No matter how many veggies I ate the rest of the day. I think that for some people, metabolism is damaged from dieting, and never quite returns to normal. Thus, those of us who have dieted (more than likely unhealthily) in the past will probably always struggle with food. Does that make sense?
Also, don't think of WW as a 'diet', because it really isn't, and I think that those who view it as one are those who will not succeed.
Anyway, stick with WW, it really does work and there are ways to make it easier. I sometimes find it hard to visit these blogs and not eat what I see, but I somehow manage.
This is a WW related site/forum that I find very helpful, check it out.
I have always had slow metabolism and found it unfair that some people can seemingly eat endlessly with nothing to show for it. As for me, I let myself indulge sometimes, and then try to eat sensibly the rest of the time. At meals, I stop eating when I'm not hungry anymore--even if it does mean a few spoonfuls have to go in the trash can. And I walk EVERYWHERE right now--being a college student, that's usually a huge part of my day. The dynamics will definitely shift next year when I have an 8-5 office job!
You're doing so well! My parents did WW several years ago and have stayed slim all this time, just by eating more sensibly most of the time and then going off the deep end once in a while, at a party or something. They monitor their weight closely, and if they gain more than a couple of pounds, they jump back on WW for a few days until they get back down. It's just all about monitoring yourself closely, and having enough discipline to indulge sometimes and eat sensibly most of the time.
Nice to see pics from you again! Take care, Melody.
Hi Melody and happy new year to you. I've always had to watch my weight, even though I'm a healthy eater. Just the luck of the genetic draw, I'm afraid. Portion control and lots of exercise is the key for me. Also adjusting meals so if dinner is heavier, lunch is lighter etc.
As a teen, I was both very overweight and anorexic. I think its helpful to think about psychological reasons for eating and see what you can discover about yourself (feelings of deprivation vs abundence, for example, make people compensate by eating, shopping, other behaviors). Also, keep in mind that why its great to have a goal of a reasonable and healthy weight, hitting that weight will be just that - hitting a weight. I think a lot of people feel "if only I weighed X, I'd be happy/confident/cool/lovable" etc. Ultimately, though, these feelings have nothing to do with how much you weigh.
I often wonder about the food bloggers who bake sweets everyday! Maybe they have big families or lots of friends to share with.
Hang in there!
Hi Melody,
I am glad to see you back blogging, and your gorgeous food photos, but of course I sympathize with the temptation of food too. It seems that fellow bloggers have an endless supply of recipes that are irresistable! (Not to mention a little cupcake book...). I'm not skinny, but I'm at a comfortable weight, and I have to say, for me it's all about exercise, exercise, exercise. I have to go to the gym at least 4-6 times a week or the pounds will creep on. I think if you work out and eat a vegan diet, even if some of it is too junky or sugary, it still evens out in the end (or at least does for me.)
These next two points are strictly anecdotal (I have no scientific proof) but I've heard that grapefruit and pickles/vinegar do help keep some weight off. I know it may sound crazy, but since I love grapefruits and pickles and vinegar so much already, I try to eat some with most meals.
Also, I eat less of meals that I have to "work" harder to eat (spicy noodles with chopsticks as opposed to regular pasta with sauce for example) since by the time I've managed to eat some, my stomach has had a chance to feel full.
One of my new year's resolutions is to detox, so I'll be blogging a lot about that. I look forward to hearing any insights you have about food, temptation, health, weight, etc.
Happy new year's eve!
that is a very beautiful picture of outside your window. It should be called 'the one leaf that clings'
I hope that you are able to find a way to blog and be happy. I sure missed you during your absence. I think that you're right though. It is hard to blog and not want to make everything I see.
I try to cook mostly fat free and am always very careful to watch my portion sizes. Usually the food on my blog is from my husband's plate because it looks better. I generally put my portion on the salad plate. That way I know I'm only eating 1 cup of spaghetti instead of 2 or 3. If I'm still not full, I'll eat extra veggies or salad. Any entree or starchy carb dish (except for beans) has to reasonably fit on my little salad plate. Veggies and salad and fruit are the exception though. I eat those in unlimited quantities. I do cook and eat a lot of desserts but I usually eat half the portion that my husband does. Also, kind of like what Laura was saying about her parents, since I am at a comfortable weight, I weigh myself every day. If my weight gets 3 pounds over my comfort level, I will make changes to my diet to correct that (such as skipping dessert and eating a piece of fruit (or a very small blueberry and banana smoothie) instead. I think another thing is that most of our meals aren't photographed and blogged about. They're usually very plain and simple and boring (not blogworthy at all). We also don't keep snack type food in the house at all (which might be difficult for anyone who has children). If I want a snack the only thing around is fruit or veggies or bread and Earth Balance. But I know that if there were chips or cookies or any other snacky type treat available I'd eat that first.
Also, I walk at least 30 minutes (if not more) almost every day. That's one of the reasons why I got a dog - to have a friend to walk with and help keep me motivated (I feel guilty on the days it's raining and we don't walk). Although my husband has recently started to walk with me which is nice.
I do hope that you find something that works for you and helps you to stay on your diet and still blog.
That photo from your window is beautiful. I love that last leaf clinging on.
Hi Melody!
That's a beautiful view you have! (And the food is looking great too!)
Congrats on WW! My mom is on WW and has lost 100 pounds already! Hoo Hoo!! I love how she is eating so much better now! I know what you mean about all the goodies posted and how some vegans are so thin. I'm average...not fat, not thin. Just average! Lol! I notice that I lose weight when cutting back on the carbs. I also gain if I do not exercise (including muscle toning.) I'm bad about regular exercise since the move, but hey..it's a new year and that's a resolution - to get back to at least 30 minutes a day! :)
I love the advice everyone is giving. Crystal is right about lots of foods not getting blogged...and lots of food sharing! I make lots of sweets, and tend to give them away or freeze them. (I have to admit that my dogs even share some of the treats too!) Lol! :P
Happy New Year to you!!!
That really looks delicious. and i love the pix of the tree. i have a thing for trees. that's why i hate to have anything wood. (not woody; wood.)
i hope, someday, to live in the midst of a thousand trees...
Yummy food photos--and what a gorgeous image of the branches and leaves. Such a great metaphor.
You're doing great. Conrgats on all your awesome accomplishments!
About eating, well honestly, I have always been thin, but over the past 2 years (I'll be 42 in March), I started to notice that my metabolism is slowing down, which I'm told is a natural by-product of aging. (Oh joy.) I am trying to train myself to eat less to try to stay proactive about it.
For me, I try to eat smallish portions of several foods and not just a big plate of something (like pasta, for example). I'm happier and feel more satisfied if I have variety--but I suppose everyone is different. Also, I've always been active. I work out 3x a week, and walk to work almost every day, weather-permitting (a 30-minute walk).
Happy New Year!
Those are some GREAT-looking food pictures, very colorful and inspiring!
I try to stay slim by focusing on more fruits and vegetables and less desserts. Portion size is important, as you said. And I exercise regularly. Sounds like you're doing well - don't be so hard on yourself.
Melody, I wonder the same thing about how some people can stay so slim. I know my resting metabolism is slower than most. I had it tested in a nutrition group I used to belong to and I burn about 400 fewer calories per day than average. Just genetics I guess. I'm really happy for you, succeeding on WW. It didn't work for me. This year I'm trying a raw diet to see how that works, but I'm pretty discouraged about the whole weight loss thing.ReplyDelete
I've wondered the same thing. I'm glad WW is working for you. I hope this new year gives you the success that you desire.ReplyDelete
you're right, It is hard to blog and not want to make everything I see.
Crystal give you a nice tip.she is right about lots of foods not getting blogged and shared lots of food too! I tend to freeze lots of the food in portions too.
im batling myself with some pounds too due to hormonal problems and inactivity. but this year is my year and i will sucess! You will sucess too!
That photo from your window is beautiful, for me means hope.
I tell you, my weight has always been a struggle. I was a chunky kid who blossomed into an overweight adolescent who mushroom clouded into an obese teen. It was awful. I was 100 lbs overweight. I never knew anything but being fat. Finally one day I had enough. At the end of my second year of college I made a commitment to myself and within 8 months I lost over 100 lbs. I have kept the majority of it off for 5 years! I have had some issues with weight coming back, especially if I don't exercise. Pasta is my downfall. I don't eat it anymore as I know it's a trigger food for me. I also stopped eating bagels. If I have something like a cookie or a muffin, I never eat the whole thing in one sitting. I never eat dessert anymore unless it is soygurt, fruit, or a smoothie. Or if its a special occaision.
And still, I struggle. I'm not fat. I'm not thin. I'm medium and worry about it constantly. I don't want to be a size 22 again...ever!


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I've posted before telling you all about how I am religious. Lately I just feel like maybe it doesn't make sense.
During my pregnancy people kept telling me that they would pray that Nathaniel would be healed and would live. I kept thinking how dumb it was. Anacephaly can't be healed, he won't live. That just got me thinking. Then people kept telling me how he will always be an angel, watching over Parker and it seemed like a coping mechanism. I just can't shake this feeling lately that I've been religious out of routine from being raised in a home that's religious.
Did any of you go through a period where you just felt like religion couldn't be explained and you didn't believe anymore?


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Danny DeVito & The Contract from Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito & The Contract
Danny DeVito
Fred Savage
Danny DeVito agrees to do a third season of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia"... on one condition.
Published August 26, 2007
590k views
More Info »
Full Credits
Danny DeVito
Fred Savage
Additional Credits
Additional Credits:
Written and Directed by Rob McElhenney.
Starring: Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day,
Danny DeVito
, Fred Savage and Rhea Perlman.
Stats & Data
9,065 Funny Votes
797 Die Votes
591,226 Views
Published August 26, 2007
Not Safe For Work
Danny DeVito
The Contract
Third Season
Always sunny
On One
Rob McElhenney
Charlie Day
Fred Savage
Blow Jobs
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Rhea Perlman
The video opens with a black screen. The time 3:30 PM appears on the screen in white text followed by On a Friday.
Rob McElhenney: Alright, so I was thinking that we would give lefty the whole Friday speech.
Charlie Day: I'm worried that we're going to tip that he's the dumb guy.
The shot cuts to Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day sitting in a trailer.
Charlie Day: You know what I mean, and that's like the funny…that's like one of the funniest things.
Rob McElhenney: All right. No, you're probably right. All right, let's just leave it then.
There is a knock on the trailer door and Charlie Day opens the door. An assistant is at the door and talks to Charlie Day.
Charlie Day: Yeah?
Assistant: Hey, Dan would like to see you in his trailer.
Charlie Day: Danny?
Assistant: Yeah.
Charlie Day: OK.
Assistant: Bye
Charlie Day: That's weird.
Rob McElhenney: It's your turn, bro.
Charlie Day: My turn for what?
Rob McElhenney: It's your turn to blow DeVito.
Charlie Day laughs and responds sarcastically.
Charlie Day: Yeah.
Rob McElhenney: Hurry up. Go do it and get back here because we've got tons of work to do.
Charlie Day: What the fuck you talking about dude?
Rob McElhenney: Are you kidding me Charlie? Third season! He does the third season we blow him. It's in the contract.
Charlie Day: I don't read the contracts. You read that whole contract.
Rob McElhenney: What do you mean you didn't read the contract? Are you kidding me, Charlie?
Charlie Day: That's like a, a bunch of pages of lawyer mumbo jumbo!
Rob McElhenney: Yes, well…
Charlie Day: You read the contract!
Rob McElhenney: Yes, of course I read the contract!
Charlie Day: You read the whole thing word for word! It's like twenty pages long!
Rob McElhenney grabs a copy of the contract.
Rob McElhenney: Article 8, subsection B. At the commencement third
season services for the work of Mr. DeVito, blowjobs must be performed
on Mr. DeVito by all executive producers here thereof.
Rob McElhenney offers Charlie day the contract.
Charlie Day: Let me see that.
Rob McElhenney: Dude, it's better if you don't fight it. Trust me.
Charlie Day: Why the fuck did we ever agree to this?
Rob McElhenney: We've already shot like half the third season. If you
don't do it, he's gonna walk. Just go blow him and get back here! We
have so much work to do.
Charlie Day: Right, maybe I can talk him out of it.
Rob McElhenney: That's what I thought.
Charlie Day leaves the trailer and the shot cuts to him knocking on
Danny DeVito's trailer door. Danny DeVito opens the door dressed in
bathrobe, eating chips.
Danny DeVito: Oh, hi. Charlie, come on, let's go.
Charlie Day: Holy Jesus, dude. Look, I didn't read my contract. You
know what I mean? Like, is there any way you can let it slide or…
Danny DeVito: So what you didn't read your contract? Don't take it out on me. Take it out on your agent.
Danny DeVito roots around for a minute and hands Charlie Day a container of Vaseline.
Danny DeVito: Here, lube up those lips.
Charlie Day: Vaseline?
Danny DeVito: Yeah.
Charlie Day: Are you serious?
Danny DeVito: It feels good. Come on.
Charlie Day Well, eh, eh, you're married man, alright. Think about
that, huh. Think about your wife. Think about Mrs. Rhea Perlman. Right?
Don't you think she's going to be pissed at you?
Danny DeVito: Think so? Ask her?
Danny DeVito looks back into his trailer.
Charlie Day: What?
Charlie Day climbs up into the trailer.
Danny DeVito: Come on, get in.
Charlie Day enters the trailer to see Rhea Perlman adjusting a video camera.
Rhea Perlman: Sit down on the toilet and do your job you little bitch.
The camera turns to reveal Fred Savage sitting on a couch and eating pizza.
Fred Savage: Come on Charlie. Be a sport.
Charlie Day: What the fuck is Fred Savage doing here?
Fred Savage: Oh, I'm just here to watch.
Danny DeVito: Go on, get over there. Go on. Get!
Rhea Perlman laughs maniacally and is joined by Fred Savage and Danny DeVito. Charlie Day smears Vaseline on his lips.
Charlie Day: Motherfucker!
The shot focuses on Danny DeVito removing his robe. The audio track
slows down to make Danny DeVito's laughter sound satanic. The shot cuts
to a black screen with "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" in white
text. It cuts over to text that says "Season three begins in September.
Only on FX."
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"The Expectant Father " is the book all 'soon to be Fathers' receive. Giving sage wisdom, passed through the ages on how this whole 'being a Dad thing' is going to work. It gets you prepared for everything right up to how to play with the baby, after it has been born.
By Terryjoyce (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
I remember receiving my copy and thinking that here were the answers to my questions. I was really scared of being a horrible father, towards the end of my ex-wife's pregnancy. It was a bit of welcomed comfort to know that the answers to my questions were wonderfully indexed in this magic tome of wisdom. I learned a bit from the book:
- What my ex-wife was going through
- What I could do to help
- How to tell others you are expecting
- How the financial situation was going to change
- and much more
After that, there are countless books that will walk you through the process and help light your way through the mysterious journey of fatherhood. You start to have the development milestones laid out for you at this point.
His development wasn't matching up to my books of fatherhood wisdom, at all. He was supposed to have been saying some words by the age of 18 months. He didn't crawl. He scooted on his rear. Then one day he was pulling himself up and was walking.
We were being told that every child develops at a different rate, by our parents, by our doctor and by our friends. That some things might seem out of 'sequence'. They were right. Not every child hits the mile markers at the same time as everyone else. That said, my ex-wife and I felt that there was something up with Alex. It was a feeling we had in our guts. It's an instinct that only a parent can have for their own child. It's not something you can put into words, it just IS.
We began the uncharted journey when Alex was 2½, from our doctor, about the Marathon County Birth to 3 program. After some basic testing, they recommended us to the Autism Clinic at Marshfield Clinic. They helped us to change the mindset that is drilled into EVERY parent, looking for milestones. This was INCREDIBLY hard to wrap our heads around.
It's like this. One of the biggest complaints about magazines, like Cosmo, is that it describes unreasonable expectations of what your life should be. It literally tells you that you are doing most everything wrong. You are wearing the wrong clothes, you have the wrong job, you are with the wrong person... A lot of groups, rightfully, point to this as to reasons why people feel like they are failing at life.
We get messages like this, when we become parents. Magazines, books, people and a host of other people are full of 'helpful' information on how raising a child is supposed to be. Now, imagine you raising a child that has issues processing the world around them. They aren't reaching the established goals and milestones that 'every' child achieves. You begin to feel that you've failed at raising your child. This is a dark path. No one is to 'blame'. Your child is fine, you are fine. The textbook life that you feel society promised you, was not right. It almost fosters the thoughts that there aren't people in this world who are 'wired' differently. You need to move past that. It can be very easy to feel overwhelmed, especially just after getting the Autism diagnosis. Like I said in my first post, you are not alone. 1 in 88 children, in the United States, are on the Autism spectrum. That means hundreds of families are out there, finding their way, just like you.
By Pem Dorjee Sherpa (Pem Dorjee Sherpa) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Parents of children on the Autism spectrum are bold explorers, each setting out on their own adventure, with no map to guide them. Every child is different and moves along at their own pace. Your job becomes that of a Sherpa, guiding your charge up the mountain, finding new and often inventive ways of overcoming the obstacles that life throws at you, so you can reach your destination. With Autistics, even little detours, can become anxiety ridden, white knuckle flights of terror... or you are surprised with the ease at which they deal with the change.
You may find it helpful to join a local Autism support group. Your fellow 'adventurers' can give sage wisdom of the journeys they have taken and give you solid information on what they learned from their experiences.
One of the best books, I can recommend for Autistic parents, is "The Out-of-Sync Child". It's a great guide book that covers a number of different sensory processing issues and ways to overcome them.
It's easy to feel lost, when you don't have milestones to help guide your way. There are guides who can help your through the occasional bits of wilderness you'll encounter along the way. It's okay to stop and ask someone for directions.


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(RNN) - New York hosts a trio of quality games involving ACC teams as the nonconference portion of the season begins to wind down.
With three weeks left until conference teams go head-to-head, a pair of former Big East schools meet Tuesday and two of the most decorated programs in college basketball are set for Thursday.
In addition, a 2 p.m. ET matinee of Florida State's athletic defense against UMass' high-scoring offense kicks off a full schedule Saturday.
A season ago, both of these teams met under the banner of the old Big East. This year, Pitt comes in to the Jimmy V Classic calling the ACC home while Cincy resides in the new American Athletic Conference.
The Panthers (10-0) have feasted on a strength of schedule ranked 154th in the nation, beating every opponent but one (Penn State) by 17 or more points. Senior Lamar Patterson has averaged more than 16 points while shooting better than 50 percent and dishing out five assists per game.
Head coach Jamie Dixon has Pitt looking strong on defense, switching between man and zone coverage as the game dictates. His other senior, Talib Zanna, has looked strong on both ends of the court, and freshman big man Michael Young has been solid on the offensive glass.
Cincinnati started 7-0 but lost its last two against good competition - New Mexico and Xavier. Bearcats senior Sean Kilpatrick has always been a volume scorer, putting up lots of shots. But this season, he is hitting at a much higher rate, and he leads the team with 19.3 points per game.
The Longhorns have reloaded with talent but have yet to see much in the way of challenges early on. Meanwhile, UNC may be the most tested team of the young season, and they have responded well.
The Tar Heels (7-2) are coming off a home win over 11th-ranked Kentucky. They have also taken down then-No. 1 Michigan State on the road and then-No. 3 Louisville at a neutral site. The team has been led by sophomore Marcus Paige, who has singlehandedly made the team a threat to score from long distance.
James Michael McAdoo has kept the aggression he played with last year but is showing improved control, turning the ball over less than two times a game. At 6'9" and 230 pounds with superior leaping ability, he is a matchup problem for almost anyone.
Texas (9-1) freshman guard Isaiah Taylor is second on the team in scoring, at 11.7 PPG, and minutes, at 27.9 on average. Junior Jonathan Holmes and sophomore Cameron Ridley give the team plenty of size and rebounding; they could present a challenge to a young UNC frontcourt.
The Blue Devils and the Bruins have a combined 33 Final Four appearances and 15 NCAA titles between them. A setting of the World's Most Famous Arena, New York's Madison Square Garden, seems appropriate for the two elite basketball programs.
Duke (7-2) will be playing its second game of the week after having a 13-day layoff. For Jabari Parker, Rodney Hood and Quinn Cook, it was a well-deserved rest - each has logged more than 31 minutes per game so far.
Parker may be the best of the outstanding freshman class in college hoops. He has immediately become an elite scorer (22.1 PPG) who rebounds, blocks shots and causes turnovers. Hood, a sophomore, has also been impressive after sitting out a season as a transfer student, scoring nearly 20 a game while shooting 54 percent from behind the 3-point line.
UCLA (9-1) sophomore Jordan Adams has been coming into his own, averaging more than 21 PPG and getting to the free throw stripe at a high rate. He has an NBA-ready frame and the elusiveness to get past defenders. Zach LaVine, another talented first-year man, has put up efficient statistics (13.8 PPG on 59 percent shooting) as well.
The Irish (8-3) bounced back from a huge letdown last week in the loss to North Dakota State by beating in-state rival Indiana in the Crossroads Classic. Now, they will take on another Big Ten opponent at another neutral site with a chance to add a top-notch win to their resume.
The Buckeyes (10-0) took down the same NDSU team easily Saturday. They have a pair of talented scorers in Lenzelle Smith Jr. and LaQuinton Ross, as well as a standout perimeter defender in point guard Aaron Craft.
Amir Williams, a 6'11, 250-pound junior, has been a stern player in the low post for the Buckeyes. The Irish's struggles have come when they meet teams that have solid interior play, but they have the ability to hang enough points to outscore anyone on a given night.
Notre Dame's strength is a senior backcourt of Jerian Grant and Eric Atkins. Grant leads the team in scoring and quarterbacks the offense, showing a nice ability to find open guys with precision passing. Freshman Demetrius Jackson also provides scoring and energy when he has the ball in his hands.
Copyright 2013 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.


text:
Yup! He's the one I really like!
I don't know! I wasn't even on when he followed me but I had sent him a couple tweets recently.
I do feel a little bit of pressure but his timeline probably goes by so fast I don't know if he'll ever notice me again. However now I can send him DM's (personal messages that go to his inbox). I won't abuse it though...really.
Actually it might have been because I recently changed my name from TonightForever (a subtle nkotb reference) to JoesLuckyGirl and posted that picture of him and me as my userpic. He tends to follow people with catchy twitter names that refer to him. And it's funny because I really did feel like something was going to happen after I changed my name.
My only news is that I now have 15 pages of my porfolio finished (actually 30 since we have two of everything). The book we have to use holds 25 pages so I'm more than half finished!!!! It has been HARD to try to decide what to put in. One I went back and forth on. This one
But I am putting it in. Not the cutest picture of me BUT I LOVE Star Trek and sci-fy. I don't speak Klingon or anything but yeah both DH and I are nerdy sci-fy people Star Trek, BSG, Stargate....Love it.
And than there is the page I'm going to work on tonight or tomrrow. It's a two cute pictures of us in Vegas...one at the Eiffel Tower there. I mean it's Vegas and we don't want to come off as gambling drinking stripper lovers. (though I don't mind the drinks and DH does like the roulette wheel! LOL). But really there is so much more to it there, all the shows and sightseeing. So I'm going to put it in. I mean if I have to be in a relationship with these people for life....I want the best match to us as possible. If they like/want super christian hunters......not the right match for us either.
If anyone is interested in seeing the rest of the pages....let me know as I have a private album on FB.
Kate, that's so cool about Twitter!
Jennifer, did you post a pic? I can't see it, if you did.
Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
Jennifer that looks really cute!!! I love scrapbooking!!!
Oh, I see it now! Wonder what happened? Very cute!
Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
Thanks...I'm very new to it and just got into it for this portfolio. I have spent sooooooo much money between the papers, the cricut, cartridges, adhesive, sticker maker, printing out doubles of pictures, embellishments......OMG.
Once this thing is done I think that I HAVE to have a new hobby.
Oh and the fun part is that the books we have to use hold pages that are 8.75x11.....so every 12x12 has to be cut down.....
Very nice Jennifer!
I actually thought of you today...remember when I told you that I thought the adoptive parents of my now 20-some-year-old biological cousin were also parents of a child in Sydney's class? Well I think I was walking with them today. I didn't say anything, of course, but I am very curious about them. And Connie, of course. I hear she's doing very, very well and the last I heard she was in school to be a pediatrician. They've since adopted at least 2 other children. I believe Connie was their first foster child and they adopted her that way...I often wonder if they had always intended on that sort of life as they did have at least 2 of their own children when they adopted her, or if this was something that developed after they met/fell in love with her.
The little girl in Sydney's class seems to be very happy and well adjusted, from what I can tell.
I stayed up too late again
Why do I do that to myself? Comedian Mike Birbiglia talks about it - that there's the nighttime Mike and then the morning Sleepy Carl. Sleepy Carl always pays for everything - nighttime Mike gets all the fun.
"Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out." -Anton Chekhov
Speaking of staying up late, I just went into the kitchen for some ice cream (I know, I know). I noticed the floor in front of the freezer was really cold, which seemed strange, and then I noticed the freezer drawer (we have a bottom freezer) was partly open. I checked the temperature and it said the freezer temperature was 27 (recommended setting is 0). My ice cream, which was somehow underneath the icemaker, is much warmer than that and completely melted. OMG, I am so annoyed with DH (who was the last one in the freezer). We went shopping and there is a ton of frozen meat in there, good stuff from the farmer's market. I will be seriously pissed if we have to throw away a whole freezer full of food, although the chicken seemed pretty frozen. So.annoyed.with DH.right.now.
Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
I know what you mean, Katy! I'm like that too. Right now i'm suffering from little sleep because both boys were up all through the night and my husband is sick, too, so I have no help. I'm just exhausted. I don't do too well on little sleep. And i'm teaching a lesson at school today so it's not like I can even lay low. Woe is me.
Okay, I went through the freezer and one bag of chicken was thawed, but the rest was still frozen. Seems like part of the freezer was warmer or something and the food under the thawed bag of chicken was protected. Put that in the fridge for now but I might throw it out. DH just said he hasn't been in the freezer all day, and neither have I. Eek.
Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
Yuck Mandy!
Our freezer is weird, sometimes it will pop open if you close the fridge too hard. We've neve lost food though.
Joe answered my direct message....I thanked him for the follow and asked what I did to deserve it. He said "U were u. That's y." LOL I guess I can overlook grammatical issues for Joe. He's usually more eloquent.
So I replied back and said 'do you remember me at all? my userpic is from cruise 2011'. I'm sure if he doesn't, he'll make up something nice.
I can't believe I'm having an internet conversation with my favorite celebrity ever.
How weird about the freezer Mandy. Ours 'pops' open if I have too much stuff in it.
Kate-that's pretty cool!
I really wish I could take a leave of absence from work (or quit) and just focus on renovating my house for this summer.
House renovation is a lot of work! We have only done minor stuff and we're lucky to know a guy who is pretty much a handyman in many areas...he fixed our ceiling that was leaking, refinished our shower, built our new front steps and finished off our gate so it's completely enclosed now. It's all good work and he's very fair with prices. Do you know anyone you can depend on to help you or are you set on doing it yourself?
I know this is a total shot in the dark but now that I have Joe following me and he actually seems to read his messages I was wondering if I could use it to my advantage somehow...maybe he'd hire me to be his personal chef or a nanny to his children LOL Of course then I'd have to move out to L.A.!
Totally kidding of course but I am sort of wondering how I can kind of make myself be noticed more. Twitter can be a powerful thing.
We're doing it ourselves. It's not that we're incapable, it's just time that's a real inhibitor...plus, I just get anxious about it. I can't help myself. I was just talking to Rich about possibly taking a couple personal days so we can focus on doing a lot of work there. Maybe once I really see progress I'll start feeling better about it.
I have no advice on how to get his attention that way Kate! Or, really, how to use Twitter as a marketing tool. I know people do it...but that's not something I know anything about.
Home renovation is SO time consuming! We usually have the best luck during 3 day weekends so our holidays are usually not really holidays Luckily DH is a jack of all trades so anything we need done he can do it Although all that has been put on hold pretty much for the past year and a half to 2 years since going on Clomid and getting pregnant with N. I seem to have an issue with buying itty bitty people clothes and toys
Wanted to share a funny from Ky. I thought it was funny at least.
I have been speaking to him about stranger danger for as long as I can remember really and he would always ask me what do kidnappers do to kids when they are kidnapped. I would just say "bad things" or that they would grab him or something and not want to go into details and scare him. But recently since he is older, if he asks me I will tell him something. There was a news story here recently where a lady was keeping modern day slaves, teenage girls, in her house from Nigeria and forcing them to work for her and abusing them. I told him sometimes people keep kids as slaves and force them to do work for them like the lady on the news did. He was shocked and said "I didn't know people still had slaves!" So I explained how it is rare here in America but that slavery is still rampant in other areas in the world and how horrible it is. He was still shocked and said "I can't believe they still have slaves in America. What state still has slaves? Alabama!"
I thought that was freaking hilarious!! What would make him think of Alabama is beyond me. Hope it didn't offend but I thought it was soooooo funny and I assured him that Alabama didn't allow slavery. We've been to Birmingham and we didn't see any slaves (or did we, he said!)
That's funny, Erin!
Me (40) DH (47) & furbabies * m/c 7/08 4/12 11/12
That is funny, Erin! Alabama...hee hee
Erin that is hilarious Little kids crack me up with the things they come up with!!
Since we're sharing funny stories-I was with my in-laws the other day at the grocery store just to pick up some veg and bread. Travis picked up a bag of veg that had broccoli, carrots and cauliflower in it and handed it to my MIL and said, "Veggies make my poo soft." LOL....my DH had been lecturing him about making good food choices a few days before!


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Aeja's Q & A
Who's your favorite sports team, and why?
LA Lakers Baby!!!! why because Kobe is awesome
What's your favorite movie quote?
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming- Finding Nemo
What's your favorite video game, and could you kick our butts at it?
I actually am pretty good at dance revolution and will kick butt in that game for sure
Piercings/Tattoos (How many? Where?)
I one tattoo on my back and 2 piercings in each ear thats all
What's the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
Nsync- this i promise you
What's your best party trick?
Look awesome so that Im catered to all night by some random guy that actually THINKS he has a chance with me.lol
What's the most memorable pick-up line you've ever heard?
Hey I lost your phone number can you give it to me again
What's the worst job you've ever had?
every retail job I ever had before I started modeling full time
What's the most dangerous thing you've ever done?
texting and driving
It's 4AM after a crazy night out – what are we eating?
what ever is open
What's the strangest thing in your fridge right now?
cereal I like my cereal really cold
What's the naughtiest thing you've ever done in public?
make out with my boyfriend
What do you feel sexiest wearing?
My birthday suit
Tell us a joke.
what is a 6.9? a really great thing ruined by a period


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( This is Bubba-he's lucky, he doesn't hate storms )
It's time for storms and for many dog owners, that means your dog is anxious and afraid. There are several ways to address this issue so that storms don't create such fear in your pets.
1. Try a distraction. Take the dog to the basement and play loud music or games. This is always suggested but it never worked for me with my shivering dog. Adaptil is also a product you can buy in spray or diffuser form that is a copy of a calming pheromone. They also have versions for cats, as well (Feliway). You can spray it in the pet's bedding or plug in the diffuser in an area where the dog likes to hang out. NEVER spray on the pet.
2. Try a Thundershirt . It's a shirt that gives a little bit of compression (using velcro), tightness around the dogs body. This can give the dog a feeling of calm and doesn't require much advance planning. Marathon Town and Country in Wausau stocks Thundershirts and it's worth a try.
3. Talk to your Veterinarian. There are medications available to help ease anxiety and alleviate the stress each time the skies turn dark. Also, when pets are afraid, they tend to run. Many scared animals can become missing pets if not properly restrained. Even if your dog NEVER runs away when you let it out, one thunderclap and your dog may be off and running. Make sure you have the proper leash and collar to keep your pet safe. Marathon Town and Country of Wausau has a special coupon for readers of Stacy's Pet Project Page!
(at the above link) Click on the Marathon Town and Country banner at the top and you'll find the coupon there to save 30% on your leash and collar purchase!!!


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30 Great Midwest Spots to See Fall Color
Michigan: Keweenaw Peninsula [1]
The only things crowding Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula in autumn are miles of coastline, fall color and Lake Superior lore. Take scenic drives, explore areas such as Haven Falls Park (pictured), learn about the region's copper heritage or just relax and take in the views.
See Midwest Living's story on fall in the Keweenaw Peninsula. [2]
Indiana: Brown County [5]
Artists were drawn to Brown County a century ago for its rolling hills and natural beauty. Today, an artists' colony still thrives, especially in and near county seat Nashville -- a great destination for cool boutiques, artsy finds and cooking with a Southern touch. Visitors come to enjoy both the arts and the scenery, which is especially appealing in fall. Brown County State Park, Indiana's largest state park, spreads over hills southeast of Nashville, offering activities such as horseback-riding, hiking and mountain bike trails.
Read Midwest Living's story about a fall girlfriend getaway to Brown County. [6]
St. Louis [9]
Fall lingers in Missouri and we like to, too. Zip to the top of the Gateway Arch, stroll the Missouri Botanical Garden, roam the 1,200 acres of Forest Park, indulge in silky frozen custard at Ted Drewes...you'll find many ways to celebrate the season in St. Louis.
Read Midwest Living's story about 30 ways to make the most of fall in St. Louis. [10]
Cleveland: Cuyahoga Valley National Park [13]
In Cleveland, you can have your nature and your city, too. Just 20 minutes from downtown is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a 33,000-acre preserve. Where mules once pulled canal boats, walkers and bicyclists now stream along the 20-mile Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. More ambitious hikers choose from an additional 100 miles of trails. Families tour a 19th-century living history museum, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad chugs past heron and bald eagle nests (and offers ghost train rides in autumn!).
See Midwest Living's story about a fall color getaway to Cleveland. [14]
South Dakota: Custer State Park [17]
At 71,000 acres, Custer State Park (30 miles south of Rapid City) is one of the nation's largest state parks, known for granite spires called Needles and the 1,500 head of bison that wander freely. You can't go wrong with any of the trails here, but for a short, 1-mile walk, it's hard to beat the loop around lovely Sylvan Lake. For a longer hike, head to Harney Peak (and into the Black Hills National Forest); it's about 7 miles round-trip from the Sylvan Lake trailhead, with gorgeous vistas of the area's famous granite formations.
S [18]ee Midwest Living's story about a fall getaway to the Black Hills. [19]
Michigan: Mackinac region [22]
If you've only been to Michigan's Mackinac region during the summer (or never been at all), you owe yourself a fall trip. You'll find the best seats on ferries, prime lakeside-restaurant tables, wonderfully deserted hiking trails, bargain hotel rates -- and stunning fall color.
Thanks to the insulating effects of the Great Lakes, the color show here often starts in late September and stretches into late October. Fall foliage forms a backdrop everywhere you turn: riding along on an island carriage tour (left); driving the Tunnel of Trees (State-119) near Cross Village; exploring Mackinac Island State Park; or crossing a forest-canopied bridge at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park near Mackinaw City.
Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway [26]
Within easy drives of Chicago and St. Louis, the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway threads through natural areas and past the sort of water views, bluffs and brilliant fall foliage Illinois rarely gets credit for. When travelers start craving the comforts of civilization, the road meanders to places with just the right amount—welcoming hearths, inspiring art and history, memorable meals, and even locally produced wines. At the left, a view of the Illinois River unfolds from a bluff at Starved Rock State Park.
Read about Midwest Living's trip to the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway [27]
Wisconsin: Door County [30]
Many of the pioneers who settled in Door County in the 18th and 19th centuries came from New England, and their white clapboard architecture has earned Door County the moniker Cape Cod of the Midwest. In fall, as foliage turns fiery red and orange, the quaint maritime villages of Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim and Sister Bay look all the more like New England. Throughout the county, five state parks- also show off fall's finest colors.
Read Midwest Living's story on a fall trip to the Sturgeon Bay area. [31]
Minnesota: Root River Valley [34]
A rare mix of activities comes together in the Root River Valley in the southeast corner of Minnesota (120 miles south of the Twin Cities). Along the 30-mile stretch between Lanesboro and Houston, the river, the paved Root River State Trail and the Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (State-16) run parallel, offering different ways to explore storybook towns and the scenic stretches in between. Hardwood trees cloak the limestone bluffs, transforming the valley into a quilt of colors.
Read Midwest Living's tips for visiting the Root River Valley. [35]
Missouri: Katy Trail [38]
The nation's longest rails-to-trails bike path starts northwest of St. Louis in St. Charles and loosely follows the Missouri River west for 225 miles, through small towns, farmland, prairie and wine country. Known for towering cliffs and tree-lined ridges, the Katy Trail provides a passage through some of Missouri's loveliest fall foliage. Ultimately, the 20-year-old trail will connect to city and county bike paths to Kansas City, making it possible to pedal across all of Missouri.
Ohio: Ashtabula County's covered bridges [43]
Benetka Road Covered Bridge, built about 1900 and renovated in 1985, spans the Ashtabula River and is one of 17 historic and reconstructed bridges in northeast Ohio's Ashtabula County. In the fall, the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival features tours of the bridges plus country music, a parade and other entertainment. Extend the fall experience by exploring the orchards and vineyards around pretty lake towns in Ashtabula, which borders Lake Erie.
Ashtabula County Convention and Visitors Bureau [44]
Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival [45]
Illinois: Galena [49]
Galena shines in the fall, and the little river town in northwest Illinois' rolling hills continues to evolve. Take a cruise to admire the forested bluffs from the Missisippi River; shop and dine in downtown Galena; visit area vineyards for tastings and tours.
See Midwest Living's story about a fall trip to Galena. [50]
Minnesota: North Shore [53]
Minnesota's North Shore is a 154-mile stretch of waterfalls, densely wooded inland mountains, pebbled Lake Superior shoreline, and small towns. In autumn, woods dotted with maples flaming red and orange attract hikers along the Superior Hiking Trail.
Less adventuresome travelers can take a leisurely ride to panoramic views on the mountain tram in Sawtooth Mountain Park or drive the North Shore Scenic Drive (State-61), which runs 150 miles from Duluth at the southwestern tip of the lake to Grand Portage at the Canadian border. Along the way, eight state parks beckon with waterfalls, forest trails and achingly beautiful Lake Superior views, while the residents of Grand Marais, the artsy hub of the shore, greet autumn with song at the annual Unplugged festival.
See Midwest Living's story on a fall getaway to the North Shore. [54]
Wisconsin: Cranberry harvest [57]
Family farms and berry-theme attractions in central Wisconsin draw visitors for the autumn cranberry harvest. Here, 100 miles northwest of Madison, farms grow more than half the nation's cranberry supply. Come for the Warrens Cranberry Festival or explore the history of Wisconsin cranberries at the Cranberry Discovery Center. Wetlands and hiking trails beckon at nearby Black River State Forest.
See Midwest Living's story about Wisconsin's cranberry harvest activities. [58]
Ohio: Hocking Hills State Park [61]
Explore soaring shelf caves, deep gorges and sweeping overlooks at Hocking Hills State Park (55 miles southeast of Columbus). Expect company on the trails, especially on the weekends, when crowds snake past the fall colors of Ash Cave and Old Man's Cave. But on weekdays, you might have the park more to yourself. Nearby Hocking State Forest and Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve also offer spectacular fall foliage.
Kansas: Glacial Hills Scenic Byway four-state overlook [65]
See Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa from a viewing platform in tiny White Cloud (population: 176), 85 miles northwest of Kansas City, Missouri. The town, on the bluffs of the Missouri River, lies at the northern end of the 63-mile Glacial Hills Scenic Byway.
The byway runs through rolling, wooded countryside and connects the towns of Leavenworth, Atchison and Troy with White Cloud. Be sure to stop at Jackson Park in Atchison for another scenic overview of the river. Click on the byway link below for a map and sample itinerary.
Iowa: Historic Hills Scenic Byway [69]
Better-known fall-drive destinations carry nearly the deadline pressure of a day at work. Visitors must book lodgings months ahead, then wait for tables at trendy restaurants. But on southeast Iowa's 85-mile Historic Hills Scenic Byway, down where the Des Moines River makes its stretch run to the Mississippi, there's no place for urgency. Most weekends find the area fairly quiet, although the annual Scenic Drive Festival in October swells towns such as Bentonsport, Keosauqua and Bonaparte (each with populations of around 1,100 or fewer) with crafters, pancake feeds, pedal tractor races and old-time medicine shows.
See Midwest Living's story on the Historic Hills Scenic Byway [70]
Minneapolis: Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway [73]
Come fall, instinct draws many Minnesotans to the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. The 55-mile loop follows the Mississippi River southeast from downtown before snaking back to the green spaces on the city's west side.
The country's only official urban scenic byway offers a continuous, magnetic beauty. Huge parks, such as 759-acre Theodore Wirth, give visitors a total fall immersion. The byway's lakes have personalities as different as siblings' -- showy Calhoun, quiet Brownie, family-oriented Harriet. Minnehaha Park features a 53-foot waterfall. Sample these and other attractions, then reminisce about how you took one of Minnesota's prettiest fall drives without ever leaving the metro.
Read Midwest Living's story about a fall trip to Minneapolis. [74]
Missouri: wine trails [77]
If autumn could be captured in a glass, it would be this: a cabernet sauvignon, glistening ruby red like fall leaves, reflecting the golden glint of the late-day Missouri sun. The aroma, too, rich in fruity harvest and earthy roots, speaks to the end-of-season landscape. To capture this vignette, travel one of central Missouri's wine trails, with many wineries (including the Stone Hill Winery, left) near Hermann and Defiance along the Missouri River. When October arrives, the region gives a new twist to Oktoberfest festivities by celebrating with fall winery tours and tastings.
Missouri Wines [78]
Read Midwest Living's tips on wine country weekend getaways [79]
Nebraska: Nebraska City [82]
More than 250 varieties of trees and shrubs—many planted by the founder of Arbor Day and his family—flourish in a 72-acre arboretum in Nebraska City. The grounds of Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and Arboretum include at least 10 state-champion trees, the largest examples of their species in Nebraska. Visitors can also tour Arbor Lodge, a 52-room neo-Colonial mansion that was the home of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day (first celebrated in 1872) and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland.
South Dakota: Oyate Trail [86]
Running along South Dakota's southern border from North Sioux City west to the southern Black Hills, US-18, known as the Oyate Trail, blends South Dakota's past and present. On the east edge of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, a short detour north leads to Wounded Knee, site of an 1890 massacre of 300 Lakota. Pass pine-topped outcroppings and horses grazing in meadows while traveling 115 miles west through the reservation. Hot Springs rewards visitors with spas and Evans Plunge, a gravel-bottom indoor swimming pool with 87-degree water.
Oyate Trail [87]
Great River Road [90]
The nation's mightiest river offers some of the Midwest's most dramatic fall scenery. Majestic wilderness, reborn river towns and carefully preserved history await along the Great River Road, which passes through Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota on its 2,000-mile journey from the Gulf Coast to northern Minnesota. Choose a stretch to visit by going to byways.org. At left, the Mississippi stretches alongside the Great River Road near Elsah, Illinois.
Michigan: Porcupine Mountains State Park [94]
The Porkies (150 miles west of Marquette) embody Michigan's remote Upper Peninsula, with 59,000 wild acres, 90 miles of trails and, if you get away from the campsites, not too many visitors. If you only go once, be sure to stop and drop your jaw at the Lake of the Clouds vistas, ringed in fall by a necklace of color. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park also claims dozens of waterfalls, including a spectacular series easily accessible along the half-mile boardwalk of the Presque Isle River Scenic Area.
Kansas: Botanica, The Wichita Gardens [98]
More than two dozen themed gardens spread over 9 acres at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, showcasing 3,600 species of plants. Sculptures, fountains, waterfalls and streams dot the grounds; in fall, 5,000 mums add fresh blooms throughout the garden, and trees such as the Shantung Maple (pictured) turn brilliant colors. Among the areas to explore: Woodland Walk, Garden on the Rocks, Margie Button Fountain Garden and the Sally Stone Sensory Garden.
Indiana: Parke County's covered bridges [102]
Thirty-one covered bridges punctuate Parke County's landscape like the miniature buildings in a model train set. Here, 55 miles west of Indianapolis in the Wabash River Valley, you'll find the nation's highest concentration of covered bridges. Stop by the visitors center in Rockville, pick up maps and set out on a self-guided trip through time. In October, tour buses roll in for the half-century-old Covered Bridge Festival.
See Midwest Living's story on Indiana's Rivers and Roads Artisan Trail [103].
Illinois: Shawnee Hills Wine Trail [106]
The little towns—not a stoplight among them—along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail offer enough to fill several days. Fresh-picked apples fill baskets at Rendleman Orchards' Farm Market, and apple dumplings tempt at Flamm Orchards. Walking trails around Cedar Lake cross creek shallows; hilly hikes through Little Grand Canyon and Giant City State Park shred stereotypes about Illinois' landscape. Dozens of bed-and-breakfasts and cabins burrow in the hills, and the wineries reveal personalities all their own—not to mention a mix of sweet and dry varieties reflecting the region's deepening understanding of wine making.
Read about Midwest Living's fall trip to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. [107]
Michigan: M-22 color tour [110]
In 2011, Good Morning America viewers voted Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore the most beautiful place in America. But this wedge of Eden jutting into Lake Michigan still harbors a juicy secret: Fall is even better than summer. A single highway, M-22, traces the shore up from Manistee, around the Leelanau Peninsula, then back down to Traverse City—116 gorgeous miles in all. The scenery flits between idyllic towns and breathtaking vistas of 300-foot golden sand dunes crowned with an autumn cap of red, green and gold leaves.
Harvest bounty Northern Michigan's rich soil and lake-tempered climate make for fantastic local wine and produce. Look for roadside fruit stands with the final harvest of heirloom tomatoes and squash—or the first of pears and apples.
Details on this drive [111]
Arkansas: Eureka Springs [114]
Art, history and a splash of kitschy fun mingle in Eureka Springs, a Victorian town nestled in the wooded hills of Arkansas. Set aside an autumn weekend to savor its colorful charms.
You'll find a maze of impossibly steep streets lined with quaint homes and inns. Spring Street packs galleries, gift shops and restaurants. Tiny parks protect natural springs, and spas echo the town's history as a haven for healing. Don't miss Thorncrown Chapel, a glass-walled church in the woods (pictured).
Read about Midwest Living's fall getaway to Eureka Springs. [115]
Iowa: Loess Hills [118]
The Loess Hills, which the wind sculpted from silt deposits as glaciers retreated eons ago, dominate a narrow section of western Iowa in the Big Sioux and Missouri River valleys. Enjoy the area's fall foliage from the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, a 220-mile route that links prairies, parks, forests and overlooks stretching to the Missouri. The Loess Hills Visitors Center in Moorhead (55 miles north of Council Bluffs) offers maps and brochures to help plan your trip.
R [119]ead about Midwest Living's fall hike in the Loess Hills. [120]
North Dakota: Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway [123]
In a state known for its flat terrain, the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway offers a refreshing change. The 63-mile byway follows the route of the Sheyenne River from Lisbon to Lake Ashtabula, winding through a tree-spotted valley rich in pioneer lore and linking sites such as Sheyenne State Forest, Fort Ransom State Park and Little Yellowstone Park. At left, fall leaves cover a trail to a small footbridge along the byway near Valley City (about 60 miles west of Fargo).


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Rated 5 out of 5Â by Courtney13 Great Top Received this top to review and love it. As always with Reebok's tops, the fit is great and still continues to work perfectly with my growing baby belly at 29 weeks pregnant. Would definitely recommend! 5/2/13
Rated 4 out of 5Â by Sofa Nice, but too loose I like wearing long bra tops when I teach yoga and lift. I was hoping to wear just this top, but it's a bit too loose so I'll need to add a sport bra underneath it. 11/21/13
Rated 4 out of 5Â by rahmbomb Love Reebok Tanks This tank top is great for all types of fitness. I do running, crossfit or yoga with it. 12/17/13
Rated 4 out of 5Â by AMPed Super cute - love the back Great workout tank! I love the long length and the V the straps make in the back - very flattering. 5/2/13
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