The week in blog

Weight loss, the Exploratorium and tarte aux pomme

April 5, 2006

By DANE GOLDEN

I want you to put this newspaper down, right now.

That's right, in perhaps the first demand of its kind, I'm telling you to put this paper down, run over to your computer, type in www.arguscourier.com/blogs, and read what Skyler Fuhrman wrote on his blog about how he lost 70 pounds in Weight Watchers.

Oh, your computer's still booting up, is it?

OK, as you and I are waiting for the computer to boot up, let me tell you some more about what is being written about by the amazing Argus-Courier bloggers, who were recently selected from around the community for their particular interests and viewpoints. They've been at it for a few weeks now, and things are really starting to come to life.

Let's start with Skyler. He's the SRJC student who writes with girlfriend Monique Furtado, who sometimes chimes in.

"If you're the kind of person who ignores that little voice in your head that tells you what you should be doing, you won't like what I have to say," Skyler begins. "I suggest you read someone else's blog."

And then he drops the bomb. He has lost 70 pounds in the last year through Weight Watchers.

"I knew I wasn't the person on the outside that I felt on the inside," he writes, continuing on to discuss how he made the decision that changed his life.

Another Weight Watcher person, who read the blog and commented at the bottom, said "Congratulations on the weight loss! I'm down 18 & owe it all to the simple principles you state here -- I had a hard time admitting I needed to do something about the weight."

Skyler promises that he will blog more on the subject, and we can't wait to read about what happened next.

And let me tell you about what else is happening on our blogs:

Linda Postenrieder is urging you to stop at the Petaluma Museum for the third annual Museum Show.

Sue Wilcox, the self-described lazy gardener, goes plant shopping in Tomales, and buys a native bulrush called the scripus californicus, among other plants.

Superintendent-Principal Bob Raines is talking about how people can apply for Petaluma Education Founda-tion (PEF) scholarships.

Ross Lockhart tricks little Maddie, his 7-year-old Shih Tzu, into going to the groomer.

Meloni Courtway tells us what happened with the tarte aux pomme she made last week.

Argus-Courier sportswriter John Jackson is blogging now. He writes "I have way too much time on my shriveled hands these rain-drenched days. I'm tired of not watching baseball."

Tom Joynt says that mentoring works, and suggests we learn about Mentor Me Petaluma.

Argus-Courier city reporter Corey Young asks if you're ready for the next Big One. You can tell him what you're doing to prepare by using the "Add Your Comment" button at the bottom of that posting.

Casa Grande Senior Emma Drew didn't get into Brown, Dartmouth or Vassar, and will be going to one of her fallback schools, either Cal or UC San Diego.

"Why?!" is the title of her entry, which elicited the following comment from one of her readers, Susu: "Keep the chin up ... and your hopes. We are all proud of you!"

Frances Rivetti is making summer reading suggestions to get our minds off the wet weather: "To get yourself in the mood for balmy days ahead, check out 'Under the Tuscan Sun' author Frances Mayes' newly released travel offering, titled 'A Year in the World -- Journeys of a Passionate Traveler.'"

Look out, Bill Hammerman has set the future aside for the time being and is venturing into the past. This week he meets up with Petaluman William Howard Pepper, who died in 1906.

Vanessa Dodge took the kids to the Exploratorium in San Francisco last weekend.

"It is Reilly's all-time favorite museum, budding scientist that he is (or seems to be)," she writes. "He really liked the echo tunnel, as it was a good excuse for him to yell in public ... Gigi enjoyed making giant bubbles, as well as running around in front of the screen that breaks your shadow up into numerous different colors."

Hey, that computer of yours must have booted up by now. Check out these blogs and more at www.arguscourier.com/blogs. And don't forget to put in your two cents at the end of the blog, by clicking on "Add Your Comment."

(Dane Golden is an Argus-Courier reporter who writes business, features and general assignment news, as well as filling the role of "blog instigator.")