laurajhitt's Xanga

New Blogger Site

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:52:38 GMT

Hi guys, I have a new blogger site: http://laurashipp.blogspot.com/. I will post on here occasionally, but not as much. My articles will be posted on here and on Facebook since I can't post them publicly. So, check out the new site.

Much love.

First of the Month

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:20:30 GMT

This song came on the radio, and it made me happy.

Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month,
to get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, so cash your checks and come on.

Oh the good old days. I miss Bone Thugs.

Resurrection

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:00:48 GMT

I'm at a loss for words, there's nothing to say

I sit in silence wondering what led me to this place

How did my heart become so lifeless and cold

Where did the passion go?

When all my efforts seem like chasing wind

I've used up all my strength and there's nothing left to give

I've lost the feeling and I'm down to the core

I can't fake it anymore.

Here I am at the end I'm in need of resurrection

Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead

What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption

You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

You speak and all creation falls to its knees

You raise Your hand and calm the waves of the raging sea

You have a way of turning winter to spring

Make something beautiful out of all this suffering

Here I am once again I'm in need of resurrection

Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead

What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption

You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

You have a way of turning winter to spring

Make something beautiful out of all this suffering

Here I am at the end I'm in need of resurrection

Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead

What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption

You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

Nicol Sponberg

Jose Cuervo and the United Nations?

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:11:35 GMT

This e-mail just appeared in my Inbox . . .

I'm contacting you with a new story idea on how to achieve more by doing less--and other paradoxical truths of success.

The big idea: Productivity expert Karlin Sloan sees increasing evidence that workers who strive too hard actually perform worse than their laid-back counterparts.

Sloan says being smarter, faster, and better is today's ticket to personal and career success--but the paths to getting there are counterintuitive.

She has coached individuals and teams, from Jose Cuervo to the United Nations, on paradoxical ways to boost their performance, and can discuss:

Why perfectionism leads to low-quality work
How to get smarter by asking everyone else for answers
How to solve a vexing problem by daydreaming
How to meet a pressing deadline by taking a nap
How to lead your field by giving aid to the competition

Sloan is a nationally known executive coach and leadership consultant, and author of Smarter, Faster, Better: Strategies for Effective, Enduring, and Fulfilling Leadership (Jossey-Bass, $24.95). Founder and CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company, an executive coaching firm for individuals and organizations in the U.S., South America, and Asia, she was recognized by Fortune Small Business Magazine for her exceptional work with NYC organizations following the 9/11 attacks.

Please let me know if you would like me to arrange an interview or email you her 10 strategies for being smarter,faster and better.

PhD, PHD, or "PhD"?

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:33:41 GMT

I am working on an article submission for our "Survivor" department in which a woman gave herself the honorary degree of PhD (Perpetually hariless Dame). The article is about how/why she uses the borrowed credentials in her speaking engagements, etc. She titled it "PhD Seeks Honorary Degree." I am uncomfortable with using these credentials for someone who hasn't earned them the proper way, but my boss wants to use the article, so I'm stuck with it.

So now I am stuck with how to treat it. As our magazine in laregely supported by real doctors, both PhD and MD, I don't want to offend anyone. Nor do I want to anger the writer by drastically changing her story. I think I'll go with "PhD" (actually in quotes) and hope for the best. If anyone has any thoughts on this, I welcome them, especially if you are a PhD of the academic variety.

No More Cats

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:52:45 GMT

Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that increased exposure to cat allergen is associated with greater bronchial responsiveness in people with certain common allergies, even if they are not specifically allergic to cats. This suggests that reduced exposure to cats may be beneficial for allergic individuals, regardless of their specific allergies.

Among people with any sensitization, the difference in BR between those who had low versus high exposure to cat allergen was almost as great a difference as that between non-asthmatic and asthmatic individuals. This study supports and clarifies previous research that has found that asthma is strongly related to indoor allergens, and that people with specific sensitizations exhibit greater BR in response to exposure to the allergens to which they are sensitized. However, the interaction between sensitization of any kind and current exposure was unexpected.

“Based on the current research, it appears that many individuals could benefit from reduced cat ownership and exposure,” says Dr. Chinn. “However, because the findings were unexpected, it is important that results are replicated in other studies before firm recommendations are made.”

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 01:02:17 GMT

I need a new profile picture, but I am too lazy, or maybe too busy, to change it.

Points to Ponder

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 01:11:10 GMT

If George W. Bush would have made the same comments as Joe Biden, do you think the media would be as forgiving of him?
The hallway outside my office always smells like a Caramel Macchiato. Starbucks is just down the street, but the aroma surely can't travel that far. Do you think Starbucks has special air fresheners that they hide in public places in order to fuel the addiction?
Are all the people who live in Boston idiots?
Does it frustrate you as much as it frustrates me when people pronounce the word "frustrate"as "FUSTRATE"?

I was tagged, so here goes

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 04:00:33 GMT

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with 6 weird things about you. People who get 'tagged' need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state the rules clearly. In the end, choose 6 people to be 'tagged' and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment saying 'you've been tagged' and tell them to read your blog.

1. In my head I automatically correct everyone's grammar, including my own.

2. My closet is the cleanest, most organized room in my house.

3. I love Celebreality.

4. I have scars on both my eyelids.

5. I made a New Year's resolution to floss everyday, and I've already broken it.

6. Clowns freak me out.

Now, I'm going to tag six people, but I might be too lazy to post comments on their blogs, so I hope they read mine.

Splanka

kiminchina

davidjorjani

chadwicktaylor

whoisfromturkey

righthandwoman

Reflections on the Week Gone By

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 05:59:16 GMT

This has been a pretty rough past week and a half. So many things have happened. My great grandmother died last Friday, prompting a trip to MS for the second week in a row. It was pretty exhausting. I had never really seen her sick until two weeks ago when we visited her in the hospital and she was completely unresponsive. It was really hard to see her like that. She was 88 when she died, and had lived alone and worked part time until she was 87. She was the woman I thought would never slow down. I was at work when my mother called me to let me know she had passed away. I left after only being there for an hour. It was a really long weekend, and draining weekend. I just hope I don't have to go to a funeral again for a very long time. It's just been tough dealing with it all, especially on top of the new job and everything. I have so much I need to do this week, and we are heading back to MS again for Thanksgiving. I really want to go and spend time with family and all, but frankly, I am kind of tired of the drive. Actually, I'm just plain tired.

I don't want to go on and on about all this bad stuff, so I think I'll mention some good things that happened this week.

My friend Andrea took me to the YMCA and was my personal trainer for the day. I think I'm going to join so that I can work out more because I really need it.
Emmitt Smith won Dancing with the Stars.
I got my first paycheck! Yay!
I got to see the baby, my sister's baby that is. He's a cutie!