Tag Archives: Alen Standish

Ep 0120 – The Grand Finale

Laurie and Mark in front of the mic
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So long, Adieu, Auf Wiedersehen, Adiós, Cheerio! From Mark and me in our new sound studio. We’ve had a great time making this show and we send you much love along with it.

Podcast Recap

The epic end of the series. I visit all three of my regular podcast spots and walk down memory lane as well as look toward the future. Features include – a new song by BC Fionna Lane titled A Light in the Dark. A live radio play written by BC David Glowen, directed by David Babich and starring professional and student voice actors. Good-bye audio messages from Cheryl, Sue from the UK, BC Dave, Stéfanie from Quebec, María from Spain and Fionna. Foolish Fun with Dawny Taylor. Stéfanie’s Secret Topic. Stories read by members of the writing group. Good-bye comments from BCs. We welcome the last new BC, Petra. An interview with Alen Standish. Hear my work in the sound booth with voice acting director David Babich as we work on my professional demo. Mark stands in one last time for my scale, and much much more!

At Descanso Gardens

Laurie blows a kiss near an oak tree

A kiss from Descanso Gardens


A wooden bench near an oak tree

The actual podcast bench by the dry river bed at Descanso Gardens


dry river bed

The view of the dry river bed from the podcast bench at Descanso Gardens

Mentioned at Descanso Gardens

Cheryl’s blog, Impromptu Promptlings
Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin’s Win the Diet War

Ways to continue to support the show financially

At The Podcast Rock at My Local Park

Laurie in glasses smiling with hat brim turned up

I’m having fun recording Stéfanie’s Secret Topic on the podcast rock


Boulders in the woods under trees

The actual podcast rock from my local park.


trees and brush in the back of the park

The view from the podcast rock at my local park

Mentioned at the podcast rock

Alen Standish’s new show, Inner Effort
Write It Up! The Writing Group Mark and I attend
Stéfanie’s IG account, Weightloss_Stef

At The Next To Upper Zen Spot

Laurie holds her recorder near her face. Slightly sad look to her eyes.

That’s a wrap! I just got through recording how much I really, really, really, really, really care on day 120.


Wooden bench in some brush near a tree

The actual bench at the Next to Upper Zen Spot

Sunrise seen from the mountain

The early morning view from the Next to Upper Zen Spot the day I finished recording Day 120

Mentioned at the Next to Upper Zen Spot

Actor and Director, David Babich
Fionna’s Blog, Fionna Sings
My Bravery Twitter Account, TheBraveryCoach
My IG Account, LaurieDreamWeaver

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Special Guest interview: Alen Standish of Inner Effort
Special Guest interview and Laurie in the Sound Booth Voice Acting Direction: David Babich of David Babich Studio
Laurie’s Stories Intro Announcer: Mark Weaver
Dave vs.The Robot Aliens Written by: Dave Glowen
Dave vs.The Robot Aliens Directed by: David Babich
Dave vs.The Robot Aliens Cast:

  • Taylor Watkins as Dave
  • David Babich as Robot Alien #1
  • Ray Holdridge as Robot Alien #2
  • Valerie Schrementi (Alvarez) as Robot Alien #3
  • Laurie Weaver as herself

Laurie’s Foolish Fun Intro Announcer: Mark Weaver
Laurie’s Foolish Funner: Dawny Taylor
Stéfanie’s Secret Topic Intro Announcer: Mark Weaver
Stéfanie’s Secret Topic concept, content and voice by: Stéfanie Lepage
Mark’s No-Diet Report Intro Announcer: Mark Weaver
Bravery Alert Announcer: Mark Weaver
Writing Group Member Stories
The Judge written and read by Peter (J.P.) Bumstead
The Birch Bat written and read by Jake Terrell
The Collector written and read by Samantha Marquis
The Beach written and read by Mark Weaver

Main Theme: I’m Letting Go by Josh Woodward from The Simple Life Part 1 Used by permission of Josh Woodward under a Creative Commons License

Featured Song

Light in the Dark
Music and Lyrics by Fionna Lane
Hear More of Fionna’s music on Soundcloud
Fionna’s Blog, Fionna Sings

Light in the Dark

Well the time has come
I must move on
We have come to journey’s end
So I’ll say “goodbye” and I’ll be on my way
I will carry memories with me
And I’ll always call you “friend”
I’ve a feeling we will meet again one day

Chorus:
Thank you for loving me selflessly
You gave me strength to find what I need
We’ll be apart, but you’re always in my heart
I hope you know
You were my light in the dark

What will I do in my new life?
Gonna travel ’round the world
I’ll be anywhere I want to be
The best part is I’m livin’
And I’m brave and feeling free
And I’ll proudly say “I’m happy to be me!”

(Chorus)

Bridge:
At last I’m not scared of my tears
I let them fall
Free as the wind
Your words helped me conquer my fears
And I love you all
I love you all

(Chorus)
(Repeat chorus

Laurie Sings Intro and Outro

America : My country ’tis of thee (Metropolitan Quartet)
Composer: Smith, Samuel Francis
Performer: Metropolitan Quartet
Date Issued: 1914

Sounds Used in Mark’s Bravery Alert

  • Alarm
    http://www.freesound.org/people/JarAxe/sounds/204424/
  • Bravery Alert Music
    http://www.freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/
  • News beeps
    http://www.freesound.org/people/johnnytal/sounds/88517/

Sounds Used in Laurie’s Stories Open and Close

  • Music Theme
    http://www.freesound.org/people/ShadyDave/sounds/262259/
  • Applause
    http://www.freesound.org/people/bulbastre/sounds/132154/
  • British Welcome
    http://www.freesound.org/people/Intimidated/sounds/61571/
  • Pages Turning
    http://www.freesound.org/people/zzzemon/sounds/176623/
  • Cello Loop
    http://www.freesound.org/people/Thirsk/sounds/121018/

Sounds Used in Dave Vs. Robot Aliens

  • Knock on Door
    http://www.freesound.org/people/HunteR4708/sounds/256513/
  • Space Music 2
    http://www.freesound.org/people/Xythe/sounds/100871/
  • Opening Space Music
    http://www.freesound.org/people/levelclearer/sounds/259324/
  • Creaking Door
    http://www.freesound.org/people/urupin/sounds/200988/
  • Door Slam
    http://www.freesound.org/people/chaosportal/sounds/137083/
  • Dun Dun Dun
    http://www.freesound.org/people/FreqMan/sounds/20106/
  • Laurie Memory Music
    http://www.freesound.org/people/JimiMod/sounds/244663/
  • Space Choir
    http://www.freesound.org/people/syntheway/sounds/278903/
  • Evil Childish Laughter
    http://www.freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/sounds/315940/
  • Ending Choir
    http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/210514/

Sounds used in Laurie’s Foolish Fun Intro

  • Slide Whistle sounds
    http://www.freesound.org/people/plingativator/sounds/188873/
  • Background Tune/Beat
    http://www.freesound.org/people/siakitty/sounds/38478/
  • Girl’s Laughter
    http://www.freesound.org/people/choplin/sounds/109759/
  • Phone Ring
    http://www.freesound.org/people/winsx87/sounds/152028/

Sounds used in Stéfanie’s Secret Topic Intro

  • Space background loop
    http://www.freesound.org/people/zagi2/sounds/178573/
  • Space Alien ray gun zap sound
    http://www.freesound.org/people/NoiseCollector/sounds/43041/
  • The Human Has been Neutralised
    http://www.freesound.org/people/cityrocker/sounds/128649/
  • Eating Chips
    http://www.freesound.org/people/fresco/sounds/48933/
  • Zen Cello
    http://www.freesound.org/people/Nightlife999/sounds/144971/

Sounds used in Mark’s No-Diet Report Intro

  • News Jingle
    http://www.freesound.org/people/mansardian/sounds/61322/
  • News Ting
    http://www.freesound.org/people/robni7/sounds/174027/

Sounds Used in the Writing Group Stories

The Judge

  • Epic music
    http://www.freesound.org/people/TheTunk/sounds/213275/
    Mike TheTunk Woloszyn” www.Senproductions.de
  • Courtroom crowd
    http://www.freesound.org/people/miastodzwiekow/sounds/110416/
  • gavel
    http://www.freesound.org/people/zerolagtime/sounds/70071/
  • laser gun
    http://www.freesound.org/people/bubaproducer/sounds/151022/
  • Fart
    http://www.freesound.org/people/junkfood2121/sounds/242004/

The Birch Bat

  • Ukulele background music
    http://www.freesound.org/people/qubodup/sounds/259312/
  • Bat and crowd
    http://www.freesound.org/people/AmishRob/sounds/214989/
  • ballpark organ and crowd
    http://www.freesound.org/people/AshFox/sounds/191928/
  • birds
    http://www.freesound.org/people/derjuli/sounds/275961/
  • axe
    http://www.freesound.org/people/electrovoice664/sounds/75077/

The Collector

  • Metal Clink
    http://www.freesound.org/people/BMacZero/sounds/96134/
  • Soundtrack
    http://www.freesound.org/people/DigiZoo/sounds/273662/
  • Police are close
    http://www.freesound.org/people/thearxx08/sounds/262886/
  • Key fob chirp
    http://www.freesound.org/people/shakaharu/sounds/151359/

The Beach

  • Ocean
    http://www.freesound.org/people/xserra/sounds/161699/
  • Flute
    http://www.freesound.org/people/Thirsk/sounds/121088/
  • Seagull
    http://www.freesound.org/people/beejeeb1314/sounds/197743/

Other Sounds

  • Crowd Cheering
    http://www.freesound.org/people/xtrsounder/sounds/202498/
  • Crowd awww
    http://www.freesound.org/people/phmiller42/sounds/124996/
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Ep 0115 – Fear of Criticism Get Outta Here!

Laurie on the podcast rock wearing a straw hat and smiling hugely
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I’m enjoying taking various photos today and it shows. This selfie from reaching above shows me wired up and ready to record on the podcast rock.

Podcast Recap

I ponder criticism’s impact on risk and going for our dreams. Thank you to new BC Char, who posted a 5-star review on USA iTunes. BCs have been asking ‘Where’s Alen?’ Find out from a clip from Alen Standish’s and my third interview.
Welcome to Char and to other new BCs, including Shelly B. and BC X – who shares a wonderful email, but wants to remain anonymous. Comment conversations from day 114 featuring Dawny, Dave, Myself, eM and Mark. Why is it Mark shrugs off our compliments? Dave’s wife, Kathleen, goes on the bravery report for sharing some foolish fun for the first time and Dawny shares a very funny pair of jokes. I practice voice acting by reading you one of my latest blog posts which includes a dialog between myself and one of my pesky inner voices – Tantrum Laurie.
Oak tree forest with sun streaming through the leaves

View from the podcast rock. It’s a pretty day.

Mentioned

Alen Standish’s Progress Not Perfection episode 59 where he talks about his upcoming new project

Day 114 where you can read the comment conversation with eM, Dave, Dawny Mark and me.

The Apple Seed Radio show Dave mentions in his comment

The blog post I read with Tantrum Laurie

My Instagram Account LaurieDreamWeaver look for #FlowerSafari

Ways to support the show financially

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Special Guest: Alen Standish
Laurie’s Foolish Fun Intro Announcer: Mark Weaver
Laurie’s Foolish Funners: Kathleen and Dawny

Main Theme: I’m Letting Go by Josh Woodward from The Simple Life Part 1 Used by permission of Josh Woodward under a Creative Commons License

Sounds used in Laurie’s Foolish Fun Intro

  • Slide Whistle sounds
    http://www.freesound.org/people/plingativator/sounds/188873/
  • Background Tune/Beat
    http://www.freesound.org/people/siakitty/sounds/38478/
  • Girl’s Laughter
    http://www.freesound.org/people/choplin/sounds/109759/
  • Phone Ring
    http://www.freesound.org/people/winsx87/sounds/152028/

Other Sounds

  • Crowd Cheering
    http://www.freesound.org/people/xtrsounder/sounds/202498/
  • Joke Rim Shot
    http://www.freesound.org/people/jmayoff/sounds/256959/
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Ep 0100 – It’s been one YEAR since I began this experiment…

Sun shines on Laurie's profile. She's smiling on the mountain
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It’s a beautiful sunny day for looking toward the future.

Podcast Recap

It’s time for the Brave Companions to Partay! We celebrate Compulsive Overeating Diary’s one year anniversary and its 100th episode with music, good wishes, interviews and the debut of The Brave Companions’ Song featuring BCs from around the world written and sung by our own BC and talented song writer, Fionna Lane. We’ll feature greetings and well wishes from many BCs and reminisce about their roles in the show. We’ll check out the latest versions of every regular feature we’ve had on Compulsive Overeating Diary, including Foolish Fun, Mark’s No More Diet for Laurie Report, and Stéfanie’s Secret Topic of the Day. We’ll get another wonderful musical treat from Suz. We’ll go together to my writing group in Burbank, CA and talk to its founder, Samantha Marquis. I’ll read you the latest story I wrote there. Then on Bravery Saturday I’ll take you on my voice acting adventures . We’ll take a look at what it takes to polish a monolog from start to finish. We’ll have interviews with my singing teacher Viki Hilferty, my voice acting coach David Babich, and my voice acting teacher and director Marc Cashman – all sharing with us what it took to make THEIR dreams a success and their advice for us on ways we can try to do the same. It’s an awesome day of memories and surprises. Don’t miss it!

Rocks arranged as the number 100

On the way up to record Day 100, I arrange some prayer rocks in an interesting pattern…


Laurie and Viki

With my singing teacher Viki just before I start my lesson.


Laurie and David Babich in his studio by a mic in front of his bookshelves

Me with my voice acting coach, David Babich right before our interview. I really loved this day, because I feel I’m starting to ‘get’ my acting chops back.

Laurie and Marc

Marc Cashman and I squeeze into the booth. The bright light makes so many shadows, I had to adjust with Photoshop – causing these colorful reflections – artsy!

Laurie snaps a selfie wearing a princess themed sparkle sleeveless blue top.

I take my photo prior to Mark giving me the once over for his opinion on how I look. I’m of two minds here. I look good, but can tell I weigh more than I’d like.

Mentioned

The Writer’s Group Meetup – Write it up! In Burbank

My Singing Teacher, Viki Hilferty’s site

My Voice Acting Coach, David Babich’s studio site

My Voice Acting Teacher and Director, Marc Cashman’s site

Marc Cashman’s Voice Over Book on Amazon – please use the links below

Voice-Oh!

Fionna’s Blog, Fionna Sings

Compulsive Overeating Diary Episodes Mentioned

Day 33 Where I first Sing my Garden Song and start my bravery adventures

Intuitive Eating Book on Amazon – please use the links below

Intuitive Eating

Ways to support the show financially

Want to have Fun Being Foolish too?

Participate in our new feature called “Foolish Fun“. Just call the bravery hotline 206-350-6445 or check out the send audio page on https://www.compulsiveovereatingdiary.com/how-to-send-audio/
And tell us a joke, riddle, a silly story, limerick, sing a song, play a kazoo, ANYTHING but talk about compulsive eating. This is the feature where messing up is just part of the act! No names required and Silly Aliases are AOK! Need ideas? See Day 54’s Resource of the Day for my page of ToonaCat Jokes

Catch up with Laurie

My Spreaker page. Please follow me there if you are on Spreaker.

My Instagram page at LaurieDreamWeaver

FaceBook Page if you want to sign up for our email list by clicking Tiger the Cat’s Sign-up button

My Second Twitter Account JUST for bravery sayings @TheBraveryCoach

Laurie on Tumblr

My page with instructions for all of the ways (so far) that you can send audio and lend your voice to this podcast.

New free way to leave voicemail http://speakpipe.com/laurieweaver You can also click the blue button on this page that says ‘send a voice message.’

Bravery Hotline

Leave your comments, questions, feelings and stories on Laurie’s podcast voicemail hotline – 206-350-6445.

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Special Interview about Laurie’s progress: Mark Weaver
Guest Interview – Laurie’s Writing Group Leader: Samantha Marquis Creator of Write it Up! Burbank
Guest Interview – Laurie’s Singing Teacher: Viki Hilferty from Hilferty House
Guest Interview – Laurie’s Voice Acting Coach: David Babich of Voice Los Angeles
Guest Interview – Laurie’s Voice Acting Teacher and Director: Marc Cashman of Cashman Commercials
Foolish Fun Announcer: Mark Weaver
Foolish Fun Content: Dawny
Stéfanie’s Secret Topic Intro Announcer: Mark Weaver
Stéfanie’s Secret Topic concept, content and voice by: Stéfanie Lepage
Laurie’s No Diet Report Announcer: Mark Weaver
The Brave Companions’ Song: Written and Sung by Fionna Lane of Fionna Sings
The Brave Companions’ Song participants: Amy from Wisconsin, Cheryl, Dawny, Fionna, Maria from a Spanish speaking country, Patt, Sandy, Stéfanie from Quebec, Sue from the UK, Suz, Mark, and Laurie
Laurie’s Garden Song: Written and sung by Laurie Weaver
Laurie’s Garden Song accompaniment: Suzanne
Piano Extra: Suzanne
Gwedolyn and Foobie Hit the Beach: written and voiced by Laurie Weaver
Greetings and Well wishes: Alen Standish, of Progress, Not Perfection, Cheryl, Dawny, Sue from the UK, Suz, and Mark

Main Theme:I’m Letting Go by Josh Woodward from The Simple Life Part 1

I’m Letting Go (Josh Woodward) / CC BY 3.0

Sounds used in Stéfanie’s Secret Topic Intro

  • Space background loop
    http://www.freesound.org/people/zagi2/sounds/178573/
  • Space Alien ray gun zap sound
    http://www.freesound.org/people/NoiseCollector/sounds/43041/
  • The Human Has been Neutralised
    http://www.freesound.org/people/cityrocker/sounds/128649/
  • Eating Chips
    http://www.freesound.org/people/fresco/sounds/48933/
  • Zen Cello
    http://www.freesound.org/people/Nightlife999/sounds/144971/

Sounds used in Laurie’s Foolish Fun Intro

  • Slide Whistle sounds
    http://www.freesound.org/people/plingativator/sounds/188873/
  • Background Tune/Beat
    http://www.freesound.org/people/siakitty/sounds/38478/
  • Girl’s Laughter
    http://www.freesound.org/people/choplin/sounds/109759/
  • Phone Ring
    http://www.freesound.org/people/winsx87/sounds/152028/

Sounds used in Laurie’s No-Diet Report Intro

  • News Jingle
    http://www.freesound.org/people/mansardian/sounds/61322/
  • News Ting
    http://www.freesound.org/people/robni7/sounds/174027/

Magic sound used in Gwendolyn and Foobie Hit the Beach

http://www.freesound.org/people/Robinhood76/sounds/178318/

Crowd cheering sounds used in the opening

  • Crowd Cheering
    http://www.freesound.org/people/xtrsounder/sounds/202498/
  • Bells and cheering
    http://www.freesound.org/people/sagetyrtle/sounds/36162/

Resource of the day


How to achieve your dreams by MatYooProductions, a wonderful little simple animation with a large impact.Highly recommended!
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Ep 0095 – Our 2014 Holiday Extravaganza

Laurie wears a santa hat and is looking up holding an orange on the hiking trail
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I’m so happy I think Santa may be flying overhead a little bit early.

Podcast Recap

Live from the Next to Upper Zen spot, I ponder letting go of ‘woe’ and bringing in the ‘yay’ just in time for our first annual Holiday Extravaganza. We get caught up with Kendra the Librarian, Hear greetings from Stéfanie from Quebec, Alen Standish, Mark, and our fake son, Steve. I have fun getting all Jib Jabbery with the holiday selfies. Suz goes on the bravery report for whipping up the courage to speak to us for the first time on Speakpipe before she plays her holiday concert piece, ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ on piano. I put myself on the bravery report for daring to sing ‘Winter Wonderland’. Fionna rounds out our annual concert by singing a great rendition of ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’ while playing the ukulele. I tell about last year’s Christmas show for Daily Adventure Tales and play a bonus clip of a poem I wrote as a youth called ‘Twas the Groove Before Christmas. Special holiday music by the United States Marine Band.

Mentioned

Kendra Catches up with us via comment on Day 94

JibJab Fun

Click to see the fun video of Alen Standish and I as Santa’s Podcast Rockers!

Holiday Selfies R Us!

Stéfanie from Quebec in a red and green elf outfit

Stéfanie from Quebec rocks the elf look!


Dawny holds a photo of a cute black and white puppy in a santa hat

Dawny’s cute Christmas!


Laurie by a menorah

I’m glad I found a menorah for my fake son, Steve.

Laurie smooches a giant nutcracker statue

While Mark is away I steal a kiss.

Laurie with coffee by Christmas tree

I have my morning java by a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

The Ghosts of Podcasts Past (and Present)

Twas the Groove before Christmas cover art

The cover of Twas the Groove before Christmas – a bonus clip from Daily Adventure Tales

Click to view the show notes and hear the Holiday Episode of Daily Adventure Tales, Ep 0016 – Christmas, It’s a Small Christian World, Don’t Twerk on Twitter, and other Holiday Adventures

My Interview of Cliff Ravenscraft on Daily Adventure Tales

Alen Standish’s blog and show, Progress, Not Perfection

Zero Calorie Holiday Treat I Made for You

Click to play your special BC Holiday Celebration online Word Search Puzzle – Enjoy!

Want to have Fun Being Foolish too?

Participate in our feature called “Foolish Fun“. Just call the bravery hotline 206-350-6445 or check out the send audio page on https://www.compulsiveovereatingdiary.com/how-to-send-audio/
And tell us a joke, riddle, a silly story, limerick, sing a song, play a kazoo, ANYTHING but talk about compulsive eating. This is the feature where messing up is just part of the act! No names required and Silly Aliases are AOK! Need ideas? See Day 54’s Resource of the Day for my page of ToonaCat Jokes
Intuitive Eating Book on Amazon – please use the links below

Intuitive Eating

Ways to support the show financially

Catch up with Laurie

My Spreaker page. Please follow me there if you are on Spreaker.

My Instagram page at LaurieDreamWeaver

FaceBook Page if you want to sign up for our email list by clicking Tiger the Cat’s Sign-up button

My Second Twitter Account JUST for bravery sayings @TheBraveryCoach

Laurie on Tumblr

My page with instructions for all of the ways (so far) that you can send audio and lend your voice to this podcast.

New free way to leave voicemail http://speakpipe.com/laurieweaver You can also click the blue button on this page that says ‘send a voice message.’

Bravery Hotline

Leave your comments, questions, feelings and stories on Laurie’s podcast voicemail hotline – 206-350-6445.

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Greeting and French Jingle Bells: BC Stéfanie from Quebec
Greeting for Hanukkah: Fake Son, Steve
Greeting from fellow podcaster: Fake Little Bro, Alen Standish
Silly Greeting for the new year: Mark Weaver (with help from Laurie)
Concert piece – ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’: performed by BC Fionna
Concert piece – ‘Winter Wonderland’: performed by BC Laurie
Concert piece – ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’: performed by BC Suz
Poem – ‘Twas the Groove Before Christmas’: written and performed by Laurie Weaver

SFX used in Twas the Groove before Christmas

  1. Jingle Bells
    http://www.freesound.org/people/juskiddink/
  2. Bongos
    http://www.freesound.org/people/stomachache/
  3. That’s groovy
    http://www.freesound.org/people/cogitoandcradle/
  4. Burp
    http://www.freesound.org/people/baidonovan/
  5. Christmas song loop
    http://www.freesound.org/people/milton./sounds/85209/

Main Theme:I’m Letting Go by Josh Woodward from The Simple Life Part 1

I’m Letting Go (Josh Woodward) / CC BY 3.0

Featured Holiday Music

We Wish You a Merry Christmas by United States Marine Band is licensed under aPublic Domain Mark 1.0 License.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas – A secular sixteenth-century English carol from the West Country of England Performed by The U.S. Marine Corps Band, ‘The President’s Own,’

Auld Lang Syne by United States Marine Band is licensed under a Public Domain Mark 1.0 License.

Auld Lang Syne written in 1788 by Scottish poet Robert Burns it is set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is most often heard to celebrate the start of the new year at midnight on New Year’s Day. Performed by The U.S. Marine Corps Band

The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. Today, the Marine Band also includes the Marine Chamber Orchestra and Marine Chamber Ensembles.

Resource of the day

Continue reading →

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Weighing My Life Without a Scale

Laurie holding her yellow tiger-striped cat
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When I wake up, the first thing I do these days is snuggle with Tiger. His warm cuddly purring makes me feel much better about my life than any cold and mechanical scale number ever did.

Brave Companions, today my guest post about giving up the scale came out on Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin’s award winning blog, Make Peace With Food. Please stop by and if you enjoyed it, leave a comment for Dr. Nina. Her blog is full of great resources and articles. Highly recommend it. It IS a great blog – check it out!

A Visit from Old Frenemies

Yesterday, quite frankly, I was feeling discouraged. As I described during a recent episode on my podcast, I had fallen lately into the arms of my old frenemies, the Robot Aliens. For those new to this blog or who haven’t listened from the very beginning to all of the episodes of the podcast, Robot Aliens, are what I call the automatic binge behavior that takes me away from subconscious uncomfortable feelings. Robot Aliens are the distractors and protectors from conscious discomfort. I say,”Robot Aliens beamed into my body, thrust their robot arms into my sleeves and hammered those chips right down my gullet”.

Alien Robots are attacking me with bags of chips

My fun graphic of the alien robots for that I posted on Facebook.


This Robot Alien attack was disconcerting, because it has been literally, several months, maybe 6 or 7 months, since they have been around. Through journaling, telling “all” on my show, working in therapy and generally feeling good about my life, food has not been too much on my mind. My feelings have been apparent and present and for good, or for ill, I’ve been dealing with them.

Kicking Robot Alien Butt


One of my first instincts was to haul out the scale from the garage, step on it, notice the number and “Take my medicine”. After all, that would have been my reaction in the past. That looming and awful number would be enough to make me control those damned Robot Aliens with my awesomely powerful super-juiced-up renewed commitment to diet and exercise.

All it would take is one teensy step and I’d once again kick their Robot Alien Keisters and I’d get back into my skinny jeans and I would fit into chairs and I would feel better about myself and my life would be perfect…

:::Sigh:::

I knew that was a lie. I knew I could go back on a diet/exercise plan, count carbs, calories, points, macro/micro nutrients, remove grain, remove dairy, add supplements, add super foods, join a gym, join a diet program, be a body builder, track my miles, my steps, my cadence, my pushups, my burpees, measure my strength, my distance, my shrinking girth, my growing self-worth…

I have done this all before. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

I have been thin. I have been a body builder. I have been on many programs for months and years. I’ve been a vegetarian, I’ve been low-carb, I’ve been a clean eater, I’ve added flax, omega 6 oil, vitamins, eaten 6 times per day, 3 times per day, had a sensible dinner, had a sensible snack, had baggies of veggies in my purse for parties, had dressing on the side, no bread, no butter, no wine, no dessert, added fruit, removed fruit, added whole grain, removed grain, ate low-fat cottage cheese, shunned brie, boiled up leeks and drank green tea.

And in the end, eventually, I still returned to being me.

Crying in the Wildnerness

Being me, used to be the worse curse in my book, for all of the wrong-headed reasons we’ve discussed many times on my show.

But now, am I REALLY so bad that I need to give up my intuitive progress?

I took myself on a hike to ponder.

Purple light breaking over the mountains and a yellow meadow

This was one of the amazing views on my hike.

I didn’t hurry up or down the mountain. I took photos and posted them to Instagram and/or Facebook when my phone would work. I listened to Alen Standish’s podcast, Progress, Not Perfection for inspiration. I listened to Episode 45 where Alen interviews Dr. Stan Beecham, a sports psychologist who has a very different take on success. It wowed me. Something that struck me was his pyramid of what we want/do/be. We begin with things. For example: I want a fit body. Then we move on to activities. I want to hike and bike. Then the highest level is how we wish to be as we experience life.

How do I wish to BE? Hmmmm…

I wish to be kind, filled with purpose, motivating, happy, authentic, fearless and content.

Weighing In


Stones stacked on a fence post

I built this stack of prayer rocks on purpose out of stones that were hard to balance. Together they fit and were strong. I did this to send my gratitude to all of you for supporting me and each other.

A diet won’t help me be those things. My chosen path of intuitive eating, telling you all my truth with courage and humility, accepting myself as I am and not waiting for a better number or size, for taking the good with the bad and processing the bumps of life with as much humor as I can… This is me. And after thinking it through, I’m very happy with that.

The scale can remain weighing cobwebs in the garage.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

PS, Brave Companions, what I wrote was how I feel about my path. Your path needs to be right for you and how you feel. Please don’t think I judge you or feel you must do as I do. I love you all just as you are and respect you for choosing your own way.

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