spinning halo

Your Man Is Wonderful

2009-07-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

So, I've been working at a company called Buzzplant since May and one our clients is Dr. Noelle Nelson. She has written a book called "Your Man is Wonderful." The book helps women to evaluate their relationships and rediscover the prince that they once married. Women are challenged to rediscover the good things in their marriages, relationships, and husbands using one of the proven methods from the book through a contest www.toadtoprince.com.

I wrote a guest blog, which my husband prefers me not to upload here, but I wanted to say that this is a quality contest and I did learn some things along the way. I've gotten to read some feedback from women who have equally gained something from the experience.

I encourage you to check it out. The prize for the contest is a $1000 travel voucher for a romantic getaway for two. I wish I could go for it, but you know...there's rules and regulations.

Self-Explanatory...

2009-06-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

My mom died from cancer about 3 years ago. During our time of grieving, my brother became a road bike racer and Lance Armstrong became an inspirational figure in our lives. (along with most people dealing with the disease some way or another.) Brad has even ridden with Lance in Austin during the LiveStrong Challenge. I encourage you to watch the video link. It's pretty much self-explanatory and I LOVE IT! Great job, Nike!

Watch here.

So Sorry...

2009-05-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

Wow! I realized I hadn't blogged on here for awhile, but didn't realize a whole month had passed. Opps! Well, it's not as if I've ignored blogging altogether. I've actually created a new "family" blog for us. In the past, I've used this address as a sounding board for opinions, news and personal writings, but from here on out will probably try to keep the personal stuff left to the other site. You might even catch Skye blogging on there as well. So, please try to keep both of them bookmarked.

I am happy to tell you that I did get a great part-time job at BuzzPlant, an online marketing company in Downtown Franklin. Luckily, the majority of my workload will be done at home, which will be perfect once the baby comes. God has answered a huge prayer for us. I start tomorrow, and so I am trying to get back into "work mode." It's incredible to be hired during this economy crisis.

Free care at Walgreens

2009-03-31T11:14:00.001-07:00

I'm thankful that while I am unemployed I still have my husband's insurance. But for those of you that are jobless and now uninsured, Walgreens is offering a solution for the remainder of 2009. That's right, "The drugstore operator will be providing FREE tests and routine treatment for minor ailments through its walk-in clinics — though patients will still pay for precriptions." Usually the cost of that type of visit without insurance will set you back around $60. I think this is awesome that a company is stepping up and providing this service during a time of need. I know that when I've gone through this before, not having healthcare has been a big concern for me. Click here to read more details.

No more Sir or Madam...

2009-03-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

The EU has decided to get more political correct. They announced today that several titles are now offensive such as referring to women as 'Mrs.' or 'Miss.' And to make things equal men can't be referred to as 'Sir.' This is quite a big step for England, right? Officials have also ordered that 'sportsmen' be called 'athletes' and 'statesmen' be referred to as 'political leaders.' The guidance lists banned terms for describing professions, including fireman, air hostess, headmaster, policeman, salesman, manageress, cinema usherette and male nurse. One thing that hasn't changed is that MEPs are still allowed to refer to 'midwives' as there is no accepted male version of the job.

To read more about this, click here.

Twitterview Tuesday

2009-03-16T13:14:00.001-07:00

If you use Twitter, this might be interesting to you. Tomorrow, John McCain and George Stephanopoulos will 'tweet' in a Twitterview tomorrow at noon EDT. If you want to check it out, it will be made available to the public by signing up at the Twitter site to follow both Stephanopoulos and McCain. If you want to send in questions, do so to Stephanopoulos, but remember there is a 140 character limit.

Click here to follow McCain, and here to follow Stephanopoulos

Brite Revolution Site Launched

2009-03-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

This site was launched recently for Brite Revolution. "At Brite we made a choice early on: Any success we have will be shared with others. We donate 10% of all our revenue to our listed causes. That's 10% right off the top. 5% is determined by you, our listeners and the other 5% is chosen by each of our artists." I just love that during this economy crisis, people are still putting things out there for the greater good. Kudos to Cabedge for the web design.

Soap Opera Lullabies

2009-03-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

My husband is sitting beside me reading his "Expectant Father" book. He's come across a section which talks about a scientific study that happened amongst pregnant women that watch soap operas during their pregnancy. Apparently, for those babies that were exposed to daytime drama, they stop crying later on when they hear the show's theme song. Does that mean that my babies natural lullaby will be the Young and Restless theme? Oh no!

Inspiring Church

2009-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

I was watching the NBC Nightly news and they did a story on this church in Schaumburg, Ill. Apparently they give all their profits to people in the church community who need the money more. The Pastor works from his laptop at Starbucks and they rent property from the local high school. I thought this was inspiring in these hard times. Click here to read more about this church. I would have included the direct link to the church but it looks like the website is down. (Go figure!)

Today, the glass is half empty...

2009-02-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

So, I'm going to write a REAL update. For the most part, most blogs that I read, people don't really write their true feelings or what they are honestly really going through. They take the opportunity to share what they think is cool and use the web as sounding boards to voice their opinions. Well, to be honest, I'm not really in a "cool position" right now, so I will write what I know.

Today, I'm having a real insecurity about my future. I have this baby growing inside of me and I have no idea what to expect. I know these feelings of anxiety are normal or at least that is what all the books say, but I'm needing some other kind of encouragement. Right now, I feel like my support system has withered and I'm trying to figure out what I can do to get some confidence back. (Now, that excludes all my remarkable friends that have totally stepped in, given me advice and even loaned me some baby gear.) I'm talking about things like my mother, who won't be by my side to help me. Boy, what I wouldn't give to have her tell me that I'm doing everything wrong! Second, my financial stability. Right now, all I have to give towards our household income is an unemployment check, which will eventually come to an end by the time our little guy arrives. We've taken the steps by first cutting out the luxuries, so now we move to possibly cutting the necessities, right?

Someone told me today that this position I'm in allows me to take time and enjoy my pregnancy. I kinda beg the differ. I'm not like the octuplet mom who lives in a "Pollyanna" world. This is real to me. I wouldn't even allow us to entertain the idea of having a baby until I felt secure in our future. If I knew we would be in this position, I would not be sitting here pregnant right now. Jobs are hard enough to secure right now in this economy, but to throw a pregnant girl into the mix, that makes the competition a bit tougher.

I guess I should put a disclaimer on my bad day too. Believe me, during this time, I am grateful for a lot of things as well. I have a baby, from what we can tell, who is healthy. A truly caring and loving husband, who works his butt off for the both of us right now. We have lots of friends who care about us. My brother is getting married to a wonderful girl who already feels a part of the family. See, I know it is not all doom and gloom.

Meet Britain Thomas McCaskey

2009-02-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had our BIG ultrasound. Everything looked good so far, and because they weren't able to measure everything we get to go back in a few weeks once he is bigger! We aren't too disappointed that we get another glance soon! Here are a few snapshots!

Don't use the "C" word...

2009-02-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

Recently at a press conference for the Tour of California, an Irish Journalist, Paul Kimmage, set Lance Armstrong off. Apparently Lance had denied him an interview because the writer for the Sunday Times of London been quoted "The cancer had been in remission for 4 years and now the cancer is back in the peleton" talking of Lance's return to racing in the fall.

Now this is where I can definitely understand why he went off. Anybody, ANYBODY, who chooses to use the word "Cancer" to refer to something else in life, whether it be a person, a process, or even just an object is using a poor choice of words. Aren't people smarter than that now? Of course, I can understand because the disease has hit close to home, but I would like to think that before my mom got sick I would have been more aware of my words. I have definitely been around people who have accidently used this referral before and unfortunately it was a work situation where I didn't feel I could completely go off on my boss. But I can just say that I can understand where Lance is coming from with his anger. He's lived and defeated the disease and has also done more work to help the cause than we can imagine. He does all this work so your future friend, relative or spouse can maybe have some hope in the future if they are hit with the disease. To top it off, if you were wondering, as far as I know, this ridiculous reporter has yet to apologize for his remarks.

Watch Lance Armstrong Goes Off in Sports Online | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Advice from Ms. Trunk...again

2009-02-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

Back in my days at Provident, my boss made us read Penelope Trunk's book Brazen Careerist. Afterwards, I became a big fan of her blog. This week she's written about "How To Talk To A Friend Who's Been Laid Off." I've listed the bullet points below, but to read it in-depth, be sure to click here. I can appreciate these bullet points first hand, right now, but also need to remember these when talking to my fellow unemployed. Some of these are so obvious that we don't even think about it because we care about that person too much.

1. Don't ask "how's the job hunt?"
Do you know how many times a day someone hears this if he is unemployed? Ten. And even if it's not ten really, it's ten in his head. He asks himself that, and he imagines other people asking that, and he stresses about the answer. Because the job hunt doesn't change much from day to day, but it's demoralizing to report that.

2. Ask about extracurriculars
In between jobs is the best time for real vacations and often the best time for gaining deep knowledge of something totally new.

3. Ask about health insurance
There needs to be more collective knowledge on how to deal with health insurance during stints of unemployment.

4. Talk about industry news
One of the hardest things about being laid off is keeping up in one's industry.

5. Offer up one good contact
The truth is that we all know someone who is out of work. And we all know that the next person could be us.

6. Acknowledge trouble with the significant other
It used to be that we could not openly discuss the testosterone hit that comes with being laid off. But today it's fair game, and even compassionate to acknowledge.

7. Don't be shy about gratitude
Tell a co-worker who’s been laid off that you miss him or her. And what you miss.

It's 3am...

2009-01-26T01:40:00.000-08:00

It is 3am and I am wide awake. On a typically Monday morning, I would be frustrated because I would have to be up and ready for work in a few, short hours..but not today.

Here, let me give you quick update. Friday around 5pm, I was pulled into my bosses office and sat patiently as they told me that they simply can't afford to keep me at my job. Finally, the anxiety that I have been feeling for the past two months was confirmed. I had been walking into the office everyday, brewing the coffee and kicking things off wondering if it was going to be my last day there. I had no solid evidence, it was just the gut feeling in my stomach. My bosses also made no efforts in hiding the fact that they were starting to panic either.

So, as I sit here early this morning, counting down the hours until the unemployment offices open, I try not to panic. Right now, I don't really feel like a loser for losing my job. I feel like a statistic. According to CNN, "The third week of January was dismal for jobs, as around 40,000 more cuts were announced across multiple industries. All in all, about 125,000 job cuts have been announced so far this year, according to company reports." That isn't even considering the fall out of the little guy; those small businesses who CNN doesn't even reach out to... nor do the small companies report, "Why,yes, I have a staff of 6 and we plan to cut to 5 this year!" How ridiculous sounding is that? But either way, it's the same thing. Same crisis. My former company will feel the hurt from that one person being gone. To them, it was a luxury position, or so I was told.

I have no idea what I plan to do. The kicker? I am pregnant. (If you follow this blog on a normal basis, you would know that.) Here's my take on the situation. Glass half empty: Oh my goodness, what am I going to do? How am I ever going to be able to afford this baby now? Glass half full: Now I can actually enjoy my pregnancy without all the work anxiety and drama. God wants me to rest. In a previous life, I would automatically be drawn towards the first scenario, but for some reason I am at peace. Is it because I had those gut feelings for two months now? Did I have time to prepare? I mean, come on, I had already cleaned out my desk!

So, I am keeping my options open. I am going to investigate potential jobs, if there are any out there, that match my qualifications, or I might take my brother's suggestion and just really do some things that make me happy and make the most out of my time being pregnant. Do some jobs here and there that just simply bring joy and some peace...and enough income to get by.

BA Boom...

2009-01-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

BA Boom, BA Boom, BA Boom...that is the sound my baby makes at 164 beats per min. In certain circles, some say that means it's a girl. In my thoughts, right now it's just a confirmation that this little person still lives inside my belly. It's hard, because some of your symptoms start disappearing and the fear sets in....Was that box I lifted too heavy? I only sort of tripped, but caught myself. Basically, your mind starts going a little nuts. The body changes that came on so quickly start fading and you just want to make sure that instead, your body just isn't going back to normal. I can't wait until I can feel the baby move, so that I can have a constant confirmation that things are going according to plan. I also can't wait to have more of a belly. Yes, can you believe that?I am embracing the belly growth that will occur. It will be a source of validation of all the fatigue, the cravings and yes, the double chin that is more apparent to me, than others. It also feels good to be at the "safe point," as they call it, to be able to share the news with everyone. But I'm not the only one with good news....

Have I mentioned that my brother is now officially engaged? It is going to be a BIG 2009! I am very excited that we will be welcoming his fiance, Whitney, to our family next fall. She's been so supportive and helpful to us through some very good and very, very sad times the past four years. My mom would very happy with all the change that is happening in the Wormer family. I only wish she was here to share it with us, but boy would she be proud.

2009 Resolutions

2008-12-31T20:17:00.001-08:00

I don't know why, but I've never been a big fan of New Year's Eve. Sometimes I wish I could find that midnight party-goer in me, but relaxing at home and taking it easy has always been the better option for me...especially this year. It seems like the time between Christmas and New Year's has really caught up with me in terms of the pregnancy. Before I was going at full force, trying to hide my secret and not let on that my body was going through this major change. Now, I've just been super-duper tired and actually a little nauseated riding in cars. But in the spirit of New Year's, like always, I still come up with some resolutions.
Here they are in no particular order:
1. Lose most of the baby weight before Brad's wedding.
2. To have more self-confidence and to prove it.
3. To dive in and read my Bible more.
4. To not live so defensively.
5. Be able to do 10 pull ups by this time next year.
6. To reach out and mentor somebody.
7. Finally knit those hats for kids with cancer.
8. Budget....really, really BUDGET.
9. Eat more vegetables and fruit. (It's for the baby.)
10. Go with my instincts more often!

Some Big News

2008-12-22T16:01:00.001-08:00

Well, as you can tell a ticker has been placed at the top of my blog. Yes, that means that Skye and I are expecting a baby in July. We are totally excited about this and can't wait to share our journey into parenthood with you. We feel very fortunate to have so many friends going through this experience in their own lives, as well. (I'm glad our baby will have little friends to play with.) So, stay tuned for more updates. I'm still absorbing the news, so I haven't been good with posts so far...but I was also waiting to tell the rest of the family and the bosses at work.

Thanksgiving Past and Present

2008-11-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

Last year, at this time, I went away for the Thanksgiving holidays and came back Monday and didn't have a job waiting for me. Rest assured, I've gotten confirmation from my bosses this year that the same thing won't happen.

I can't believe how much I have grown this past year. I've realized many of my strong suits, faced the realities and openly discussed what I do and do not like to do. So many people recommended to me that I read the book Boundries. Why I didn't listen to them sooner? I don't know. It's been helpful in realizing what I actually expect out of people and what they should expect out of me. Really communicating your personal needs in a way that other people won't get offended or hurt.

I've also grown in a way of being more vocal. Especially in my job. When I was at a corporate environment, sitting around a conference table trying to present a marketing plan was torture. My tongue could somehow never find the words floating around in my brain. I was smart, had done all my research, but I didn't really feel that I could communicate in a way that people would listen and take me seriously. Maybe, in all honestly, I didn't believe in the product enough. I feel at times I can be pretty opinionated, but in return I am open to the opinions of others. I've learned to vocalize and stand up for my thoughts and actually give myself some self-credit and worth.

In reflecting on the words above, I want to make it clear that I don't find self worth through my job. Life is too short and there's a bigger plan somewhere. But it does make a difference when you walk in some place every day and feel appreciated and noticed. Therefore, this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the hardships and lessons I've learned. Job hunts, unemployment, grieving (still) have made me stronger. Through my experience, I can help offer words of wisdom, hopefully. It's a tough world out there with the economy and such. I just tell those of you out there suffering, chin-up. Something good will come and your luck will change.

Just a quick note...

2008-11-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

Reporters have now moved onto talking about Obama's new administration. Call me crazy, but don't we still have a lot of problems going on right now? Shouldn't we still be figuring out how to solve all these issues like the downfall of the economy? Bank bailouts and now auto bailouts? I am disappointed, in this time of crisis, that the only statements I've heard from the current Bush administration is that "Bush's goal is make Obama's transition as easy as possible!" Way to finish strong, Bush! But then again, what can you expect from a President that now has an disapproval rating of 75%.

Bah Humbug....Halloween?

2008-10-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Halloween and I am not enthusiastic at all. Probably the best adjective is "cynical," and I hate that. I blame it on the season of life that Skye and I are in. I finally got around to buying my pumpkins this week and don't even plan on carving them. I'll probably just continue to use them as fall decoration for Thanksgiving to extend their use.

We are saving money, so we don't want to go out and purchase Halloween costumes for fun. We feel a bit on the loser side because we weren't invited to any Halloween parties this year, so it doesn't matter anyways. Also, the majority of our friends have kids now, so they at least have the obligation of taking the kiddo's trick-or-treating that night. Therefore, we feel a tad left out there. So, I would say the best bet is to just stay home and hand out candy to the 3 kids that live in the neighborhood, trying to avoid the temptation of eating the remaining candy left in the bowl. YIKES!

The night won't be that bad.I must say, the one thing that I do look forward to on Halloween is the ritual of eating fish sticks and macaroni and cheese for dinner. My mom used to feed this to us, as kids, before we headed out to fill our treat bags. It's one of those comfort foods for me that puts a smile on my face. So, as I sit back an read my Stephanie Meyer vampire book "New Moon," I'll be wishing all you trick-or-treaters and Halloween lovers out there, have fun and be safe!

New Yorker essay by David Sedaris

2008-10-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night, I took my husband to see David Sedaris perform at TPAC. Now, I haven't read his books, but I definitely became a fan that evening. He read a particular story that is featured in The New Yorker this week called "Undecided."
Below you will find the intro to the piece I am talking about and a link to read the whole essay.

"I don’t know that it was always this way, but, for as long as I can remember, just as we move into the final weeks of the Presidential campaign the focus shifts to the undecided voters. “Who are they?” the news anchors ask. “And how might they determine the outcome of this election?”

Then you’ll see this man or woman— someone, I always think, who looks very happy to be on TV. “Well, Charlie,” they say, “I’ve gone back and forth on the issues and whatnot, but I just can’t seem to make up my mind!” Some insist that there’s very little difference between candidate A and candidate B. Others claim that they’re with A on defense and health care but are leaning toward B when it comes to the economy.

I look at these people and can’t quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention? To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?” To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked. I mean, really, what’s to be confused about?"

Click here to read the rest off the New Yorker's website. Enjoy and now GO VOTE!

Do Something That Scares You...

2008-10-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

Monday mornings, it's a no brainer. We always have staff meetings and on the agenda my bosses always have an inspiring quote at the top of the page. Well today, we were charged with "Do something that scares you!" Well, as I sit here typing this new update, I'm icing my knee with frozen vegetables. You see, for a while now, I've been meaning to learn to ride my new road bike with clip-in pedals. I've used my clip-in shoes many times in spin class, but there's safety in that... umm, it's stationary. Tonight, I was determined that I would learn to clip in my right foot, pedal forward, and get enough momentum to clip in my left. It was recommended to me trying this out in the grass first, and I'm glad I did. I'm also quite sure it made it more difficult. You don't get enough speed or balance to really get going, but it does make for a softer fall. I'm sure my bruises tomorrow will hurt, but I did conquer getting on my bike about 3 times tonight. I feel like I'm seven years old all over again with the anxiety, the unsteadiness of the wheel and then of course, the pain and tears that came from falling. Now, you may ask what led up to this nervousness of this task...and the answer is quite simple: Everyone has told me horror stories of their first falls. "Oh, I smacked myself into the side of a truck!" or "I didn't even leave the driveway before falling." Great.....

So, I came to defeating this task by small baby steps. First off, I did a few 30 mile rides just to get used to my bike. I listened to words of encouragement that wearing these "super shoes" would make the ride much easier. After being convinced, I knew it was time to take it to the next level. I had my husband take off my old school pedals and replace them with clip-ins. I've looked at my bike every day for about two weeks and have simply walked away from it and found other things to do. So, today I took their advice and went for it. After many tries and much frustration, I did succeed a few times and then called it a night. Skye could tell that I was not going to quit until I figured it out. What did I achieve tonight? As Obama would say....a little thing called "Progress."

Exciting News in the Cycling World

2008-09-10T07:18:00.001-07:00

Henri...Snip, Snip

2008-09-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

You feel bad enough when you drop your precious puppy off at the vet to get neutered. But... when you get the bill and it actually says "Castration" with the price beside it, you just feel utter remorse. Here's a shot of him today, when he got home from the vet. Don't you just want to give him a hug?

Political Ads....I'm Fed Up!

2008-08-11T15:04:00.001-07:00

I'm fed up with election campaign ads. Not that I was ever a fan of them, but this last effort by McCain has really put me in a bad mood. Yes, I am a supporter of Obama as of now, but I still haven't fully made my decision. I totally supported him against Hillary and since I had to vote in the Democratic Primary, he was my obvious choice. But now that I have to honestly look at McCain to make the wisest decision, my eyes are open. I am not saying that Obama's commercials are better, but why would you go and waste money on an ad that focuses on Obama's celebrity (alongside Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton.) If you want to view it, click here. If you want to see Paris Hilton's response to John McCain's ad, check it out here.

What if we truly had a candidate that was above all of this? What if we had someone who said "Hey, cancer research is an important part of my campaign...let's donate all the ad dollars that would normally be spent and put it towards something valuable... LIKE SAVING LIVES!" That's the type of man I would vote for. I mean, is America really persuaded by these commercials these days? Don't we just set our Tivos and fast-forward through them for the most part now anyways?

Advice to those with pregnant friends...

2008-07-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

This article on "6 Things to Never Say to Your Pregnant Friend" was great! I have entered that time in my life where I now attending more baby showers than weddings, so these pointers are good to know! Hopefully, in the past, I've been cautious and nobody has wanted to "poke my eyes out" like the writer Paula Kashtan states.

What is this world coming to?

2008-07-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a little behind on my current events, but the other day I was able to finally catch up with some news. One thing that really stood out to me is the story about Obama and The Western Wall." Apparently, while he's been on this overseas expedition he made a stop in Isreal and put a personal prayer in what some people call "The Wailing Wall." (one of the last remaining structures from the Temple in Jerusalem). You are supposed to write a prayer, fold it and stick it in the wall. The prayer then goes directly to God in Heaven from there. Well, unfortunately, in today's society, that isn't sacred anymore. It makes me angry that people feel it's right to take that personal info and sell it to a newspaper. Sure, this man is running for the U.S. Presidency and everything about him is on display and open for criticism, but have you no respect?

Click here to read more on this news story. I actually hope you get as angry as I did reading it.

Why my friend Mason is the coolest...

2008-07-09T19:00:00.001-07:00

Click here to watch some mullet metal!

What have you done?

2008-07-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

I've been lazy about posting lately, so I decided to steal this from Lynn. You highlight what you have done. I admit, it's a lot of questions, but I am having a slow night here at home, so I've got a little bit of time to reflect....
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabatized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hotel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Third Day News

2008-06-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

Just got the good word that Third Day will be performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday July 29th. This also happens to be the day their new album Revelation will be coming out. Check it out! This is one of the bands on Essential Records that I feel really privileged to have worked with.

Dreaming of Funnel Clouds

2008-06-20T19:58:00.001-07:00

During the past few weeks, I've had at least four or five dreams about tornadoes. I finally took the time to look for some kind of meaning online and this is what they came up with. Should I be worried?

Tornadoes - Dream Symbols
Dreaming about tornadoes is a way of dealing with destructive, uncontrollable forces in your life. A tornado strikes without warning, and there is little you can do to stop it.

Tornadoes are unpredictable and violent storms which often separate families and destroy property. Frequent dreams of tornadoes may reflect past family instability, or people who are prone to violent "outbursts" or unpredictable mood swings.

Interpretation:
A dream that includes a tornado may indicate the onset of sudden and major change in your life, self-destruction or something that is unpredictable or uncontrollable ...

Ouch, My Side!

2008-06-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

After a trip to the emergency room and lots of drugs, I'm proud to announce that at 2:32 pm Thursday afternoon, I officially gave birth to my third kidney stone. He's one mm big and weighs next to nothing. I've named him Stallone after his "rocky" blood line.

Nashville Star...Boo!

2008-06-10T07:37:00.001-07:00

I want the two hours back that was spent last night over at my brother's watching "Nashville Star." It is seriously one of the worst reality shows I've taken time to watch. I don't know how we got suckered in because neither of us like or watch "American Idol," which is supposed to be the better of the two. The judges, which included Jewel, provided no helpful feedback and I really do feel that there must have been a shortage of talent to choose from when they chose the final 12 contestants. Can't they hear the flatness in their voices? They didn't even pick big fights with one another. I at least want to experience the drama between the judges...can't you give me that? Billy Ray Cyrus isn't the best host either. I know he's kind of a hot commodity right now, but in my opinion he definitely should stick to "Hannah Montana." Either way...the best part of my TV experience last night was the ridiculous "Celebrity Circus" commercials. That's what summer TV is all about....Brady Bunches own Christopher Knight, making a fool of himself. Looks like I'm in for a summer full of badminton and bocce ball. Thank goodess!

Jobless in the USA

2008-06-06T09:04:00.001-07:00

I have to say that I am so thankful this month. Ironically, as I was unemployed the past 6 months, the month that unemployment soars to 5.5% (the biggest jump in more than a decade), I land a job. Wow! That's pretty much all I can say. I really feel for all those adults out there working their butts off to secure any kind of job... and opportunities are now being taken away by teen jobs for the summer. Here's the scary statistic...324,000 jobs have been lost this year alone. There hasn't been that dramatic of a start to the year since 2002. I keep my fingers crossed I'll have my new paycheck for a while.

Gotta Love This Video

2008-06-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

My husband, who works at the Apple Store, says all the guys are raving about this video.

Even the Queen doesn't like "free-loaders"

2008-06-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

Read here for more news about the Queen of England's announcement that before she allows the engagement of Prince William, his girlfriend, Kate Middleton, must get a career. Apparently, since her graduation 4 years ago, she hasn't found routine employment. Good for the Queen, I say.

Just a few things...

2008-06-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I should have updated sooner, but the past few days have been an adjustment. Last Thursday and Friday I was training for my new job at Birdsong Creative and I felt completely drained afterwards. Also, it was one of the more social weekends I've had in awhile. We celebrated Darci and Jeremy's engagement Thursday night with a "Stock The Cellar" shower. I spent the day on Saturday playing the old game of Bocce ball with my brother, Brad and his girlfriend, Whitney...and Skye. Now I felt this was more social because ever since my husband started working at The Apple Store (his official title is "Genius") he has had to deal with the store's retail hours. When he comes home, I'm already done for the day, so it actually feels like we are dating again in some ways. By the way, I kicked butt in Bocce ball; that old-man yard game you avoided playing with your grandparents.

I also went to see the long-awaited Sex in the City Movie friday night. Oh my gosh, I don't think that I've been surrounded by so much estrogen before in my life!!! I won't be a spoiler, but I will tell you that I left feeling satisfied and happy the way the movie left things. It was a bit predictable, but it was good to see the gals on screen again.

So, today was my first day on my own at the job. Nobody was watching over me, guiding me and giving me the play by play. I just went in with my head held high and tackled every task that came my way. To celebrate my new position and also the new designer they welcomed just the other week, we played hooky and went to the movies to see Indiana Jones. (Yes, the bosses treated!) I am really glad to be in a small family/company atmosphere. I feel really appreciated and lucky to be a part of the team. They had high expectations filling this position and I do feel that I had big shoes to fill, so I am a bit nervous in a way, but also really honored to have been chosen. I'm finally in a place where I feel good and actually deserving about this too.

StandUp2Cancer.org

2008-05-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

A previous post noted some cancer statistics that were mentioned on a cancer research news segment that aired all week on the news. Network evening news anchors Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams made quite an announcement during live appearances today on ABC's "Good Morning America," CBS's "The Early Show," and NBC's "TODAY show."

Stand Up To Cancer, a new initiative to raise philanthropic dollars for accelerating ground-breaking research, launches today through an unprecedented collaboration uniting the major television networks, entertainment industry executives, celebrities and prominent leaders in cancer research and patient advocacy. ABC, CBS and NBC will donate one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime for a nationally televised fundraising event to air on September 5, 2008 (8 pm EDT and PDT), aimed at rallying the public around the goal of ending cancer's reign as a leading cause of death.

I Got A Job!

2008-05-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give a great big thanks to those that have been supporting me the past few months, actually six months. The time during which you are officially known as "unemployed." Last November, I was forced into the trenches of a deep job search. I knew I had to make some serious choices about my next step, but I definitely knew that my next job was going to be something that made me feel like a winner. My patience grew very thin during these past months. I turned down some offers and I'm not going to lie, got really disappointed by losing out to some other candidates on some things too. I couldn't help but feel like somewhat of a loser collecting my unemployment each week. Today, things took a turn. I've wanted to write about it all week, but somehow I felt like I would jinx it if I talked about it. I've been interviewing with a company called Birdsong Creative in Downtown Franklin, and today they gave me an offer to be their project coordinator. It all moved pretty quickly, but its all felt very natural during the process. For once, nerves never got the best of me. This is how I know this is right. It goes back to my love of graphic design and away from the music industry. Hooray. So, thanks to all of you that have been praying and encouraging me along the way.

Along the same lines, if you have been reading this blog or know me, you probably know about all the stupid health insurance issues my husband and I have been worrying about. We applied to quite a few companies and either got denied or got riders put on the very health issues we were concerned about. Skye finally put an end to that problem when he took a job with Apple last week. Yes, a job with full benefits! Worrying over! At first I was concerned about him being tied down to a schedule and an actual routine (he's always been self-employed), but he has come home every night so enthusiastic about his day and looks forward to going back. I'm very proud of him and it's great to know that I won't always being tied down to providing the health insurance for us. Anyways, his business card actually read his actual job title "Genius." Gotta love that, right?

This makes me mad!

2008-05-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Did you know that government funding is drying up for cancer research?

1 in 10 Cancer research proposals gets funded.

50% of men will get cancer and 33% of women will get the disease in this lifetime, but as of right now 10 Million Americans are already living with Cancer right now.

Pharmaceutical companies are investing in clinical trials, rather than simple research.

Researchers are moving careers, such as to Wall Street because they can't get the funding or to go overseas to do research instead.

The New Bachelorette

2008-05-20T06:25:00.001-07:00

I have to be in the right mood to get into the TV series The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. So, I've missed a season here or there and I think the last one that I caught was the one with Travis, hometown boy from Nashville. Last night I set the DVR to record the season opener of The Bachelorette. I didn't watch the season where she became got scorned, but I was able to get the just of it. Anyways, let me tell you, I wasn't too impressed with the pickings she had. Out of all the men in America, we found these 25 to represent? (Guys who go by the names Donato and Spero). The most concerning was Greg , the personal trainer from NYC. During the final moments, after he was not given a rose, I might add, he ripped off his shirt and went crazy. I can definitely see why he didn't make it into even the second episode.

GMA week in Nashville

2008-04-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

So, there are only a couple reasons why I am reminded that it's Gospel Music Week in Nashville. The best reason is that good friends are back in town, and we have it on the books to catch up. The next being that all my old colleagues have updated their myspace/facebook page status with something like "ready for GMA to be over" or "consumed with GMA meetings." I admit that I almost started getting a little bit envious. I kind of enjoyed GMA week over the past seven years because about 90% of my job was always on the computer. It always gave me a break from the norm and meet new people and see artists. But then on this beautiful, BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon, I am grateful I am not working. I woke up and spent some time watching TV and playing with the new puppy, then got to be in the kitchen with my husband, which is a rare time together. I made these gourmet hamburgers and he made a great moroccan sauce from scratch. We also made homemade lemon-aid, fresh corn on the cob and vegetable chips. Yum! We had my dad over for a cookout after church and it was a fabulous time. We ended the afternoon by playing a few rounds of badminton and then went and got ice cream for dinner. I would take all this time outside today over being trapped inside the Nashville Convention Center any day. For once, in this whole unemployment phase, I am glad I don't have a job (enter sigh of relief here).

It's just a flip flop

2008-04-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

Skye and I have a new 9 week old puppy. We named him Henri (with an "i"), but his name was actually inspired by King Henry. I've actually been reading a lot about English History, so the name just came to me instantly. The spelling we chose just seemed more "puppy-like." We thought we had been doing really well crate training him. He's been a good dog, more than a bad dog, doing his business, but today we had to get a little strict. We had to put him in time-out twice in the bathroom. Once for doing #2 in the corner of the living room and then also for destroying my most favorite flip flop. I know, I know, puppies tear up things and we all know that dogs love to bite on shoes. It's my fault for leaving them out, but it was out of shear laziness because I need quick shoes to let him out all the time. But these flip flops are special. I got those flip flops on one of the last shopping trips my mom and I ever took together. I remember her every time I slip them on because she wanted to buy the matching purse, but thought it was crazy because she knew she had medical bills. I tried urging her to buy it because if it made her feel good...why not? If you have to put yourself through chemotherapy, you deserve a break. Note to self...they are only flip flops, but it just made me miss her today. I admit I shed a small tear, and then went and hugged my puppy. Henri is still a cool pup.

Rising Food Costs

2008-04-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this? The Today Show was talking about economic woes this morning and did some comparisons of rising costs of a few items, over just the past few months. It's not just gas costs we should be worried about...it's also those simple grocery items we all need.

Tomatoes are up 19%
Milk is up 26%
Eggs are up 41%

They pointed out that this is outrageous if you ask yourself, "Well, has your salary increased over the past few months?" Over the past year we are seeing a 25% of retail store closures and more and more stores are taking out bankrupt insurance, such as The Sharper Image.

AWW...Bernie!

2008-04-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

Last night my husband and I were tucked in on the couch (with a bowl of low-fat popcorn) and watched the season finale of The Biggest Loser. I was excited that we finally got the first female winner on the show, but was even more ecstatic that Bernie won the "At-Home" Challenge prize of $100,000. I loved Bernie's personality and sense of humor throughout the whole show and was so disappointed when he got sent home. I guess there is proof now that he would have been a big threat. I also can't believe Gillian wore a dress! It's going to be hard waiting for the next season again.

Our puppy is famous!

2008-04-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Our new puppy is the featured "Pup of the Week" on the Lucky Pup website. We got Henri about a week and a half ago and he makes me smile continuously. He's actually 8 weeks old, rather than the 12 weeks she mentions in the blurb. You should go check out the store down in Edgehill Village...it's a lot of fun.

Office Spin-Off Show

2008-04-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

In just a quick post, I'm pleased to tell you that NBC has announced that they will include a spin-off of The Office for the fall. Click here for more info about the line-up.

Back on the bike

2008-03-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

I go back and forth about posting about my weight loss goals and stuff on here. In a way, it could be kind of embarassing, but I am going from the angle of that it helps with my accountability. So, from time to time, you will continue to see me post on the subject. I keep my fingers crossed that they will remain encouraging and I will be blogging about good results.

Yesterday, I finally went to spin class again. I was motivated by writing about my new diet, that I figured it's time to also get back to the cardio. If you are a loyal reader, you will remember that I suffered a back muscle strain earlier in the year and had to go through physical therapy. Since then, I've been intimidated to go back. I've slowly worked some weight training and running into my routine, but nothing hard core like I was. So, yesterday I sucked it up and went for it. I got in the class and let me tell you, it was hard. I'm not going to lie. Flat out, I know that I am going to have to work at getting back to the level I was, but the good news is that I wasn't discouraged. In fact, that is what I love about spin class. It's an excellent work out and I feel like I really accomplished something when I get off the bike. It's not that I am obsessed about taking the class to lose the weight, but it really is the satisfaction/buzz of finishing 45 min. of hard work. Don't get me wrong, I want to get back into shape and possibly try street biking when it gets warmer. My brother is a huge biker and always asks "When you going to get a real bike?" Maybe soon, 'lil bro, maybe soon.

No more bread...I hope.

2008-03-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

This year for Lent I gave up soft drinks. I wasn't drinking a lot of sodas before, but I thought that with now having to deal with high blood sugar levels, it was the perfect time to say "I'm going to give this up!" I'm proud to say that I actually made it through and on Sunday when I could celebrate, I did so by NOT having a coke. It's terrible but I used Lent to kick off an even bigger plan. See, I'm a real picky eater. I hate, HATE vegetables and don't eat a large variety of fruits. I like apples and sometimes bananas...but that's about it. So, this soft drink plan was just the first baby step in reorganizing my diet. I got through that and will continue, but now the next baby step is breads and cheeses. For the first two weeks, I'm doing "NO WHITE AT NIGHT!" rule and then gradually move to no breads. I will be allowing myself one cheat day per week, but I'm really going to try to cut back as a whole. On a sandwich, I don't need a full piece of cheese. A half slice will do and on pizza....(which will only fall on the cheat day too, is actually preferred with half the cheese and double the sauce.) This step is going to be a lot harder, but trying is better than nothing at all, right? Giving up these foods is making me look at other options too. I'm sure I'll let you know how it goes. Right now, I'm already saying "Ugh!"

Officially Ghetto

2008-03-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Today one of our cars officially became ghetto. Yes, those are rubber bands keeping our side mirror attached to the car. Last weekend, the strangest thing happened. I had the car parked on a level surface and five minutes later I'm looking out the window and my car is rolling down the driveway. The first thing you might ask is "Was the car in park?" That's where the strange part comes in. "Yes! Even the parking break was still on!" Luckily, the mirror bent backwards by hitting one of the concrete posts on the side of the driveway and prevented the car from rolling further. Not good news for the mirror, though. The sad part is that this new wreck addition doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. The rusty paint, the scratches and the "maintenance required" light (that is always blinking) all work together making our car officially ghetto.

Break Dance

2008-03-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this greeting featuring my brother, Brad, my husband, Skye and Lance Armstrong. Brad and Skye are bikers and Brad actually rode with Lance last October.

Don't send a lame eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

I Heart Top Chef

2008-03-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Last night was the Season 4 premiere of Top Chef. Don't get me wrong, I am sad that Project Runway is over, but I love my Padma and Colicchio duo. They started the season off great with one of my celebrity crushes Rocco, who judged the "cheftestants" in their skills to make their version of Chicago deep dish pizza. Yum! After the quickfire and elimination challenge, I think it was a good call to let Nimma go home. Seems like she decided to over-salt everything she made. That got on my nerves after she separated herself from the rest of the house and didn't want to bond. Shame on you! (shaking my pointer finger). To point out some of the ones I think we should watch for this season include: Stephanie (last night's winner), Mohawk Richard, and although Ryan messed up his Chicken Piccata, he might redeem himself. It really is too early to tell, but I also like Erik. I like seeing big tough guys do something great in the kitchen, which isn't meat and potatoes. Andrew, I thought, was a bit juvenile.

Here's my own top chef moment of the day. I had to make cupcakes for a friend's birthday. I think these flowered creations came out looking alright. They at least tasted great!

What are kids thinking?

2008-03-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

It was all over the news yesterday about this CDC report concluding that 1 in 4 girls have an STD. HPV, the virus mostly known to cause cervical cancer is the most common. It is very sad that so many teens are having sex and not caring about their bodies, but using a scare tactic of the possibility of cancer is pointless. What about all those smokers? Lung cancer doesn't seem to really scare them. People still continue to smoke and can spread the potential of catching the disease with second hand smoke. Did you know that every 1 in 4 cigarette's that you smoke in front of a child is like them smoking a full cigarette themselves?

What kind of message are we continuing to give teens? In today's society, every time we turn on the TV there is a commercial on for medications. It seems we are so quick to go for the easy fix, rather than doing the hard work and helping our bodies. Rather than getting a good cardio workout and watching what we eat, doctors quickly distribute medicines for high blood pressure and cholesterol. I can't recall the name, but there's even one for genital herpes. So, does that give them the message that there is a fix for that too and they can take their chances?

So, for some reason the results of this study don't surprise me, but it does anger me. Kids are raping kids on school buses (a few counties over here in TN) and we find it stressful to find it in the budgets to add teacher aides to prevent things like this? Kids are needing sex so much they feel they have to victimize kids and pass along these viruses this way? Are kids becoming more stupid and ignorant or are parents becoming more irresponsible in what we teach them?

Royal Family Special

2008-03-03T08:03:00.001-08:00

There is a program on tonight on ABC that I am really looking forward to. It's a Barbara Walters special that shows the behind-the-scenes look at the Royal Family. Now, if anybody knows me, they can tell you that I am a huge fan of the UK; the history, the Royal family, the music and lifestyle. I lived there with a 6 month work visa and would move back in a heartbeat, if I could. So, when programs like this pop up, you know my Tivo is set. They say that one of the big things you take away from this special is a better understanding at how hard the Royal family works.
One of the big questions floating out there right now is all the extra expense to protect Prince Harry worth the risk of sending him out to war? Critics say that the manpower and cost to protect him doesn't prove it to be worthwhile. In my opinion, I am going to defend the handsome Prince and say that I respect him doing so. Coming from such an elaborate background, he chooses to go and serve in the military and defend his country. Some believe that it's a PR stunt to help turn around his party boy image, but I don't think that they would send him out, risking his life to do so. I think, even though he has protection, being out there on the front lines helps make him feel more of a common man. But it does raise the important question they are asking. Does it put an increased target on the men beside him? Should he be finding other ways to serve his country?

Modern Day Etiquette

2008-03-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

I've been babysitting and substitute teaching practically everyday, so I have spent zero time on the computer. Our comcast has also made it almost impossible to log on as well, but it's also been nice to really stay busy. It's been a struggle just to spend an hour of quality time with my husband. I know I needed to put up a quick update, so I decided to share this quick snippet I caught on the Today Show this morning. It's the quick bullet points caught from an interview with the great granddaughter of Emily Post.

1. Do not talk about sex, religion and politics. You can do so with good friends, but not with your boss or company you don't know.
2. Single parent dating-don't give other school mom's something to talk about. Keep it low-key.
3. Using hand sanitzer at the table. It's rude because of the harsh smell and they said it's in the same category as picking your teeth.
4. Email invites vs. stationary invites-watch your audience. It's easy to get lost in junk mail and it is still fun to send out regular invites to help excite your guests.
5. Cell phone etiquette-do not leave out on the table. Keep it on vibrate in your pocket and politely excuse yourself from your guest. Remember, this is a time to be social and it helps reassure your company know that you want to be spending time with them.

Double knot those laces

2008-02-25T20:31:00.000-08:00

I've never claimed to be a runner, but it is my new goal. For 6 months I was on the right track at the gym. I was making it there every single day, combining strength training and cardio...and I fell in love with spin class. Every time I walked out of there, I knew that I had accomplished something and that made me feel great. Well, over the Christmas holidays I somehow got a muscle strain in my back, most likely due to bending over incorrectly on the spin bike. So, after some physical therapy and a lot of inflammatories, I feel I am getting back on track. Yet, I am a little intimidated to get back on the bike, so, I decided that my new goal is to learn how to run (not on a treadmill). Today started DAY ONE of my new training and realized that this is going to be a lot of work and that is alright. I went to the park where the milage is clearly marked, and let me tell you it was hard. I kept imagining myself slowly taking charge of the whole track....but I didn't. I've never been good at running outside. It makes my lungs hurt and I have weird knees, but that isn't going to stop me for now. I've decided that the only way to accomplish this is to set small goals each day, so I don't get hurt or feel defeated. My goal is to make it around the whole track without walking by next week and we will take it from there, so wish me luck.

Robbers Beware!

2008-02-20T21:08:00.000-08:00

Tonight my husband and I went to the store and bought our first baseball bat...and NO it wasn't for baseball practice. We got a call from a neighbor informing us that 17, yes, I said 17, break-ins have occurred in our neighborhood this week. His house was hit in the wee early morning hours today and the police spent 4 hours fingerprinting. I have to admit, I'm nervous. It's obvious that these hooded guys in some volvo (the get away car in question) are robbing these homes while people are there. So, here's my message to you crazy dudes..."Go AWAY, we've protected our home and everything I have is in my safety deposit box. And please leave my neighborhood alone. There's a lot of little old ladies around here that can't run fast."

Aquarius Posting

2008-02-18T19:08:00.000-08:00

I usually don't pay attention to horoscopes at all...but today I glimpsed at it. Just wanted to say "Thank You" to whomever it is talking about.

The extraordinary efforts of someone in your crew -- social circle, office clique, team, whatever -- are creating some incredible opportunities for you right now, and today is the day to take advantage of them! Put the routine matters of the day aside and put your name on the list of volunteers for a brave new experiment. You have to show that you're eager to get involved in order for anyone to involve you. Be sure to show gratitude to the person who enabled all of this to happen.

Happy Valentine's Day...Did you know?

2008-02-14T08:18:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentine's, I've put up some history about the word KISS.

The band KISS used to be known as Wicked Lester. They changed the name in 1973. Paul Stanley (guitar and vocals) became the "Starchild" due to his tendency to be referred to as the "starry-eyed lover" and "hopeless romantic." Stanley came up with the name for the band, which was taken from the New York Dolls song "Looking For A Kiss."

The scientific name for kissing is philematology.

Some anthropologists believe that kissing originated with early Homo sapiens passing food to their babies mouth to mouth. As humans developed, the mouth-to-mouth feeding stopped but the learned behavior of kissing remained.

Hershey's Kisses got their name because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.

Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash away food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up.

You burn 26 calories in a one minute kiss.

The average person spends two weeks of their life kissing.

The top five foods to avoid 24 hours before kissing are garlic, onions, fish, cheese and pastrami.

The longest recorded kiss took place in New York City on December 5, 2001, between Louisa Almedovar and Rich Langley. It lasted 30 hours, 59 minutes and 27 seconds

Recessions drive me crazy

2008-02-12T10:09:00.000-08:00

Sticking to the topic of jobs....I'm just going to put it out there and say it. If you read my previous post, just be lucky you have a job. Stick to those simple bullet points and be grateful for the time being. Hmmm...maybe I should explain where this is coming from.

As many of you readers out there know, I lost my job last November. Of course I had my few days of shock and sadness. Believe it or not, there actually is a grieving process that goes on. I didn't even feel mad or bitter towards my boss who gave me the news and I felt confident in my skills, the experience I had gained. I even listened to everyone who said "You will be back on your feet in no time!" Well, it's all about timing. First off, why do people think that giving workers the boot on the holidays make it easier. I love how everyone tries to say "Go out and enjoy the holiday. Now you have time to go have fun and go shopping." Here's a clue, it makes it easier if you have a paycheck to help out. Also, it's a time when NOBODY is hiring, but they all are dreaming big for the new year. So, they are still interviewing people, but in reality, they know that nothing is going to start moving at the pace you need it to. Yet, you can't afford to not be looking and interviewing at the same time. Might as well practice those skills, right?

Okay, so it's the new year. Maybe those prospects, that you thought you won over, might make a decision and move forward now. I keep telling myself, keep your chin up. Stay confident, you can still get through this. Well, as many of you might have heard..Breaking a four-year string of growth in hiring, employers shed jobs in January, the clearest sign yet that the U.S. economy is nearing a recession, if not already in it. Lucky for me, right? Yeah, this doesn't look good. In the meantime, two of the jobs that I was very hopeful about, both claim they continue to grow. But now, I have to take into account that any job that I may get, won't be a great offer because no matter what, all companies right now are cutting back. Especially if they are trying to add on more and more employees.

You may ask, what prompted this post? Well, I got news today from a company that they hired someone internally, that had been doing contract work for a while. So, knowing this makes me sad because I lost out, due to a technicality. What drove it home, was that I got forwarded a goodbye email from the person who got the job. You know, her "Dear John, I'm leaving my job and am eager about this new opportunity..blah, blah."

This new angle makes me feel guilty too. I have a friend that was being interviewed for the same job, as me, at my other prospect. As far as I know, I'm still in the running, but she's already gotten notification of them moving forward. If things ended up in my favor, I would find it very difficult to tell her. She's been very great about it and supportive, but I can't help but think that she might feel the sadness that I feel today over this. It had already been looming over my head since I found out, but I really can't afford to look the other way right now. I need a job and this would actually be something I really want too.

As I am challenged with these things, it has been attacking my self confidence now (back to timing as I mentioned above). I feel like I have the scarlet "U" on my chest, standing for "unemployed." As I move into my third month of this hiring challenge, I am starting to feel a little frustrated towards my situation. I realize why a lot of people in the music business jump from label to label. It is simply because it's all they know, so I advise you to look at #5 on the list below. It's a niche market and it is hard to pull yourself out. I am starting to feel sad that my old job was so quick to let me go and eliminated my position and are now so SLOW in moving forward without me with their plans. What was the rush?

Keep your job

2008-02-11T06:44:00.000-08:00

The Today Show had a segment today about keeping your job during this recession time. Geez, I wish they would have a segment about how hard it is to find a job during the recession. These simple steps seem easy and for those of you out there who aren't willing to try...well, you disappoint me. I've listed the bullet points below and especially like the last one. (If you follow through, I may have a lot of friends coming to me. One thing I've noticed in the work place, when you lose your job, is who your friends really are. It was shocking to me how certain people, who just don't feel comfortable around you anymore, find it hard to say "hi" when they see you outside the workplace now.)

1. Be a good sport-don't be a drama queen and don't complain
2. Don't expect to get a raise-don't offer to take a pay cut, but don't turn one down either
3. Work harder and smarter-re-commit yourself to the job
4. Review your company health plan
5. Update yourself-it's time to learn those new skills
6. Add 20% more to your emergency fund-save your tax refund check
7. Prepare other options-there's no shame being open to other jobs and keeping your resume updated
8. Redirect a portion of your 401k to savings
9. Reconnect with people that have lost their jobs-they can give good advice and perspective

On a sidenote- this brief portion came on to help caution workers about work email. I kept on saying to myself "Who is dumb enough to do that?" because not sending your resume/personal emails from your work account just seems to be common sense, right? Well, they say that half of all businesses scan companies emails. They use software that detects key words because they want to protect company secrets, personal information and monitoring inappropriate contact. Courts are finding that businesses have the rights to do this and an employees' right to privacy just doesn't outweigh that interest. That's it in a nutshell.

Turning 30

2008-02-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is my 30th birthday. You know the best part about turning the big 3-0 is the fact that you no longer have to hear people ask the question "Uh, oh, are you scared?" and watch them make that face. That's right, you know the face I'm talking about. It's the one with the look of concern that you're facing the reality that you now are getting old and "What are you going to do?!?!?" Blah, blah, you know what? I don't care. I'm glad to be done with my twenties, I think? Nevertheless, it is a memorable birthday and one that everyone talks about. I am sad that my mom isn't here to celebrate with me and I'm sure she would have made it great.

So, for the big birthday, I'm getting three days of celebration (one day for each decade, I guess). Friday, I got to celebrate with close friends all day. It first started at Noshville with my old girls lunch crew. That evening we headed to the Rosepepper Cantina in East Nashville. Geez, What a great time! I just felt very lucky to have such good friends around me on an important day. Each person around that table mean the world to me. It was just the way I wanted. Small and intimate with the people that genuinely make me feel loved.

Tonight was the family dinner out at California Pizza Kitchen because of course my big day had to fall on SuperBowl Sunday. It's a pretty important birthday and I'm not letting a stupid football game be an excuse to party. I've had that happen before and it sucked. So, instead, I've decided to milk it for all it's worth. I might be able to round up some pictures and post them tomorrow. In the meantime, I give everyone permission to eat really bad tomorrow and have a good time.

P.S. I am still trying to figure out who to cheer for. I wouldn't be upset either way, but I think I'm leaning towards the Giants. They gave they Patriots a good run for their money last time they played and It'd be nice to see them pull it off. But I already give kudos to New England for a great season.

Learn and donate rice

2008-01-30T07:02:00.000-08:00

Are you sitting there bored at work? Well, if you are, do me a favor and check out FreeRice.com. FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com.

FreeRice has two goals:
Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free

Would you snitch on your neighbor?

2008-01-22T06:22:00.001-08:00

I was watching the Today Show this morning and they had an interesting segment on cybersnitching your neighbor. There is a website called RottenNeighbor.com where you can go and complain about your existing neighbors. They say that this is a wonderful thing when you are house hunting because finding out about your "neighbors-to-be" can be difficult. While watching this, in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about my crazy neighbors. When we moved in, we really loved the location. It's about one mile from Historic Downtown and we sacrificed some other things to live in this spot. Well, about three months later, our neighbor decided to let her GROWN son move a full size trailer into the front of their driveway, which blocks the whole view up the street. Yes, he actually lives out there. It's pretty clear when he hooks up his satellite TV and the lights are on all the time. It doesn't EVER move except for stupid Nascar races either. I've been that pesky neighbor and have called the city codes department about it, but they seem to not care. They say that it's against the rules for him to be out there, but maybe he sweet talks his way out of it...that is, if they have ever looked into it. My husband and I did a lot of work on the exterior of our house so that is why it bugs us so much. We love curb appeal so we painted the brick of our house, did some landscaping and even more. We can't help but feel that this situation just shoots our efforts down and lowers the property value. We have tried explaining to them our side, but it doesn't help either. So, we just continue to be stuck.

This RottenNeighbor.com wouldn't have done us any good anyways when we were buying. I haven't mentioned it yet, but I live in Grandpavillle. I am sure that maybe only three to four people on my street even own a computer. So, there wouldn't be any complaints on there to have researched. I talk trash in this blog, but I think that I am taking the advice from the creators and won't snitch on the site. They say that it can also hurt your own home's value if you complain, especially if you are trying to sell, which we might do maybe in the near future.

Just as a disclaimer, I'm sure the website is getting a lot of hits because I've had trouble with the page loading today.

Campaign research...check.

2008-01-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to do this, but it's time consuming, overwhelming and maybe a little boring. Today I researched the '08 Presidential Nominee Candidates. I went through their websites, read up on each individual issue and even took some comparison quizzes. To be honest, there is a lot I still don't understand and I will have to get somebody to explain some things. I do believe that I am making progress and have most likely have narrowed it down to a specific candidate. Typically, I am not really one to force my political opinions onto others and I don't really care for the conflict that can come with doing that. I'm usually the quiet voter that makes my way into the booth, presses the VOTE NOW button and goes on with my day. I might put up a banner or sticker at some point, but I will make sure that I am confident in my choice before doing so. Some people need an excuse to complain and elections are the perfect chance to do so. Ugh, if you do that, there is a 95% I will tune you out. No offense. I do stand firm that voting is important and don't complain if you don't plan on voting to help make a change. It will be a surprise to myself if I become passionate about the upcoming election, but there are issues like healthcare and etc. that were important to me before, but now that I am jobless and on cobra for a limited time, healthcare is even more important. Thinking about the future and keeping in mind; maternity, pre-existing conditions, and prescriptions, some things makes more sense now. Anyways, if you are still researching too, this is a good catch-all page for a brief glimpse.

Hockey game firsts...

2008-01-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

So, I went to my first Predator's hockey game last night. My friend Kristen got the opportunity to ride the zamboni after the first quarter, so we went and cheered her on. Unfortunately with the iPhone, I could not get a close up picture, but I that is her on the machine. (squint really hard) I've also included a picture of Holland (another friend's kid), which was too cute to not post. He was introduced to cotton candy at the game. Hmm....I wonder how he slept? Being with friends and their babies last night, I couldn't help but long for the day when I could be a part of that group, the mommies and the daddies. It will come some day, but I guess I really need to get a lot of things in order first. Once I get a job, I need to sit tight for a while so that I can be efficient and establish myself and then we also have to figure out the house situation. We barely have enough space for the two of us, with what we've got now. But then you can never, ever be fully prepared, right?

I met Isabeau!

2008-01-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness...I just met Isabeau from The Biggest Loser. I was in such a bad mood today about going to the gym. You know it's one of those "I hate my body" days. So...I knew in order to solve the problem I had to go, but I did not have the best attitude. This is why I have a personal trainer and set appointments to go, otherwise I would have wimped out and not gone. Thank goodness I went because I got to meet Isabeau. Go Black Team!!! You don't understand, The Biggest Loser was my favorite show last season. I would literally schedule my workouts the day after so I could still be inspired and to tell my trainer what happened on the show. I even got to ask her about the time Jillian made her do a speed of 14 on the treadmill. I remember going to the gym and attempting it and I could only run around 7 speed. So, WOW! Anyways, just wanted to share my starstruck moment of the day. It sort of motivated me out of my workout slump and I'm eager to hit the gym again tomorrow for spin class.

Ugh...American Idol

2008-01-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

Oh geez, American Idol starts back up tonight. Even as they are going into Season 7 of the show, I have yet to jump on the band wagon and watch a full episode of the show. I just don't like it, I get bored and change the channel. There have been numerous times that I wished that I could be a part of the "water cooler" discussion about the show, but I just hate it. To top it off, the show comes on like, what, three times a week? So, it's not just a weekly discussion, but almost a daily conversation. Ugh. I do admit that I like Kelly Clarkson and I think Carrie Underwood is pretty good. It might have been interesting to have watched them make it big on the show, but I'm sure there was some other show that was a bigger priority. Yep, I'm certain. But to all you fans out there, I hope it's a good season and hopefully a winner will come out of this season that I will appreciate. Fingers crossed.

I am an ISFJ, what are you?

2008-01-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

I was catching up on the Brazen Careerist blog and one post called "Are You A Strategist?" captured my attention. Penelope goes into a bit about jobs and taking a personality test. I figured I would give her the benefit of the doubt and go for it and apparently, I am an ISFJ (Introvert, Sensor, Feeler, Judger)

People of this type tend to be: cautious, gentle, and thoughtful; hesitant until they know people well then affectionate and caring; very literal and aware of the physical world; uncompromising about personal standards and easily offended; diligent and conscientious, organized and decisive. The most important thing to ISFJs is living a stable, predictable life and helping people in real ways. Does this sound like me? When answering the questions, I found myself being very honest and not clicking what I would hope or want my answers to be. It surprised me that it came really easy and I felt confident in answers. It even directly asks you if you are confident.

Take the test, what are you?

Job interview and more

2008-01-09T10:24:00.001-08:00

I had a good job interview yesterday. "YES!" I felt confident in my answers and walked away feeling like I could really bring something to the table. I didn't feel like I was stretching for answers and if the discussion goes to the next step, I think I would really like it. Would I want to make the daily commute to Nashville again? It might be worth it. Unlike the offer I had last week, I think that I could naturally fit into the company, the job position and take it on full force. Now, it's just that awful "waiting" period. The dreaded time where you wait anxiously to find out if they think you are the perfect fit. The dreaded time where they interview other candidates and you feel nervous being compared to others. You all know the feeling I'm talking about!

Anyways, never did I think that while being unemployed that I would find myself with little free time. It's surprising. I made the vow to myself that while I didn't have a job, I would be the perfect homemaker. There is no reason why the laundry shouldn't be caught up, the dishes always clean and everything picked up. I did really well at first. I even reorganized the pantry and cleaned out the fridge. Now, it's getting harder. I was telling this to a friend yesterday and she made me realize that when everyone is working, the house doesn't get "lived in." Therefore, you aren't making a mess or moving things around on an hourly basis. Think about it, it makes sense. You say, maybe I should be cleaning rather than blogging at this moment? Hmm.. I haven't cleaned the oven yet and it needs it. But the catch is that I like writing on here. It makes me feel connected to the outside world, still, and not feeling cramped up in my 1050 sq.foot home.

I also made the resolution earlier this year to hit the gym at least 5x a week and I'm doing pretty good so far. I've been twice already this week. This isn't a hard thing for me to aim for since I was already going about that much. It's really a maintence resolution. Monday I had to hold back because I felt the most excruciating back pain ever. I've been sore since I went to Hilton Head the week of Christmas. It might have started from a previous work-out, the long car ride, the awful guest bed...but after two weeks of discomfort, it just wasn't gettting better. I was still going to the gym though. (hint hint, I'm kind of hard-core. In fact, I have a friend who likes to call me a gym rat. Boo.) I did a leg workout, which combined with the back, put me out of order. I was laid up all weekend watching Season 3 of The Office. So, now that the back doctor has given me an anti-inflammatory we are now back in business. Spin class was good and challenging this morning and I'm looking forward to strength training tomorrow. Part of my enthusiasm comes from encouraging news I got yesterday. My personal trainer has a measure day every 8 weeks. We go over everything with a tape measure, do the skin pinchers and the hop on the scale to see the progress. Ever since I started training, the tape measure stuff remained consistent, the skinfolds have decreased, but what?? Why does weight keeps going up? I know there are myths about gaining muscle...blah blah...but still it hurts the ego. You feel like you are doing everything right, but seeing no progress. It's just my body and it's not working the way it should. Anyways, we did the measurements yesterday and I actually saw a decrease in numbers all around. FINALLY! It made me feel great about not giving up. I plowed through the frustrations and kept moving forward. It was also nice to know that I lost weight over the holiday season, rather than gaining. I've got a refreshed attitude about the gym now and am hopeful about things. I know that getting my blood sugar under control has been a big part of this too. I'm eating better and am working on the "eat more vegetables" resolution.

New 2008 Party Dress

2008-01-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's a little late, but I finally got around to updating the look of the site. Nothing drastic, but a new party dress was definitely called for, right?...Hello? Christmas was over like two weeks ago and that header was becoming vintage! Hopefully this blog in 2008 will lead to new and encouraging things. I look forward to your visits and, as always, love to hear your comments.

As many of you guys know, right now I am jobless (take a bow, Leslie). Right now, I feel that I am at this major crossroads. I am taking the time to really, REALLY analyze the things I have done previously and what I am willing to do in the future. I am no longer the recent college graduate desperate for that job. I feel like I am interviewing these companies as much as they are interviewing me. I want to respect an employer's time as much as I want them to respect mine, so I want to make sure that my next gig is the perfect thing...at least for this next stage in my life. (I hit 30 in 27 days and counting). I don't have kids yet, so I have the luxury, for at least a little while, of collecting my unemployment check and finding out what makes me happy. I think I have narrowed it down quite a bit. I did have an interview last week and did get the offer. After walking out the door, I pretty much knew my answer. I took the weekend to fully think about it and made the call today to respectfully decline. I didn't want to rush the decision because I do have a mortgage... and cobra insurance will eventually become too expensive. I felt nervous all weekend about having to let them down. "I don't want to make this call today! I really don't want to give them bad news." It definitely helped boost my confidence a little though. I have another interview tomorrow that I feel might fit better with what I am looking for. Wish me luck.

Thank You Writer's Strike

2008-01-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

I might be able to say "Thank you Writer's Strike." Due to the need of reality TV to fill the gaps, The Biggest Loser: Couples has hit the airwaves. This has grown to be one of my favorite shows (previously posted in December). This week, the new season premiered and so far I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I'm excited it's on, but I just don't feel like starting at the beginning again. As the show moves along, you become fans of certain contestants and now I have to start from scratch. Right now, I have no favorites. This season it's all about couples, so they are paired off and have to work off each other's successes and failures. The first week, a father/daughter couple got kicked off because she wanted to be there and he wanted to go home. I felt terrible for her.

This week I've started back at the gym, along with the rest of America. I haven't done my weight training for about two weeks which made me feel awful yesterday. It really does make a difference when you keep it up. I am used to doing an hour, twice a week with cardio filling in the gaps. Due to vacation schedules, I haven't been able to keep up with the routine. So, I started back yesterday and felt wiped out. I was feeling low blood sugar, it was crowded and I was starting a new upper body regiment. I felt paranoid. There were lots of people there staring at everyone and I felt I was going too slow on the machines. I guess you just have to remember that everyone there is unhappy with some part of their body, otherwise they wouldn't be there. I went to spin class today and successfully got through it, so there is hope. I managed to get a little bit of confidence back. Since I don't have a job right now, there is no reason why I can't really work on resolution #5 (see below). I just want my gym back. I don't want to get there an hour early just to reserve a bike and I don't want to have a reason to gripe anymore

My top 5 resolutions.

2008-01-01T05:48:00.000-08:00

Here they are In no particular order:
1. EAT MORE VEGETABLES AND GREENS. Now if you know me, you will definitely know and at sometime probably mocked and kid me about hating vegetables. Yes, I am a picky eater. I don't deny it. Over the past few years, I have been slowly making the transition to eat more vegetables. I've started eating green beans, spinach and maybe a few carrots here or there. I have friends that sneak in zucchini into my hamburgers. But this year, I'm going to try. I've got to change my diet to reflect one of a diabetic anyways, so keep your fingers crossed.
2. FINISH A 5K. Last year I walked/ran the Country Music Marathon and thought that was an accomplishment. I might decide to try it again in April, but I am setting a realistic goal too. I want to finishing running at least a 5K.
3. FIND A JOB. Now that I am starting the year off unemployed, I want to make sure that my next job is something that embraces my spirit and personality. No more dreading to go to work. The next thing I pick will be the right thing and I will be able to walk in everyday with a smile on my face.
4. READ MY BIBLE EVERY DAY. Yes, I am a slacker. I love to read. I don't have a hard time finishing other books, but I never really take the opportunity to sit with my Bible and digest it. So, for at least 5 minutes a day (I'm being realistic again) I am going to read The Word.
5. GET TO THE GYM AT LEAST 5X A WEEK. Yeah, yeah, lose weight right? Everyone includes this one. Well, I have to. One reason, I am now pre-diabetic. I can't let this take over me and go to the next level. Also, I want to look great for Susannah's wedding in June. I am determined to be a size smaller for the wedding, at least. I just in general want to feel better too. When I work out, it feels good and I feel like I have accomplished something when I walk out of that spin class. "The hardest part is getting there." I'm not sure if it is a full on resolution, since I already do this, but it also didn't feel right to leave it off the list.

A few catch up items...

2007-12-29T18:28:00.000-08:00

I've never been really good at having free time on my hands. I don't know what to do with myself and I just can't sit still. I always have to be doing something and at the same time multi-tasking. This week has been okay. We kicked the week off with the Christmas holidays. My younger brother, Brad, got Skye and I the Wii version of Guitar Hero lll. Now, we have had the Wii for over a year and I've never before "asked" to play a game. I've always just participated if it was a group activity and it was already in motion. I don't even know how to start up the darn thing. Well, that has changed now and I am addicted. I am still on the easy level, but I think I am in love. We even brought it along with us to Hilton Head to play while visiting the in-laws. I'm not sure they appreciate it as much, but I think I know what to do in my free time now.

Hmm...what else to report? Skye and I went to see National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets today and let me tell you "It was great!" I typically hate Nicolas Cage movies, but this was very, very good. I encourage you to see it.

Anyways, we head back home to Franklin tomorrow and I am so excited. I am ready to be in my own house again and to see my friends. I am also ready for January. I will write a New Year blog in the next few days. I also need to come up with a new header and design. So come back soon and bare with me.

"Love Came Down At Christmas"

2007-12-22T18:49:00.001-08:00

Jars of Clay was a band I used to work with at Provident, but they transitioned over to their own label close to my departure. Tonight I was actually watching one of those trashy tabloid shows on E! and at the end, they gave props to the band and rolled the credits while showing the video below. Kudos to Nettwerk!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2007-12-20T20:29:00.000-08:00

They say that the anticipation of the actual day is worse and I agree. Today is what would have been my mom's birthday. All week I've been dreading it. I even planned on taking the day off so I would be able to deal with my feelings and do something special to honor her. So, it's the 20th. Her day. It's a day of celebrating her life and memory... the good times.

So, today I went out and got my nails done. Right now, this is an indulgence and special treat. But if there's one thing I remember about my mom is that she usually had her nails manicured and freshly polished. It was just her thing. I even did her nails while she was in the hospital. Therefore, I went to lunch at our favorite lunch spot at Merridee's and then got a manicure and pedicure. We would have done this together.

I'm not going to lie. Today also hurts. I have so much I want to share with her and talk to her about; advice I need, a hug. She would tell me that some of my concerns are lame, but also I'm sure in reality, she would make me stress in some ways too. Mothers tend to do that. At least I think the good ones do. They pay attention to details in your life and want to protect your future. They think of the stuff that you need to, but don't. Anyways, happy birthday, Mom! Your are still beautiful and I love you.

P.S. I ate a sweet treat for you.

The last picture taken of my mom and I together....ironically on her last birthday.

I love my Tivo...and The Biggest Loser.

2007-12-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

I love my Tivo. Well, we don't really have the Tivo, we have the Direct TV digital recorder, but still, it's practically the same thing. It just doesn't do the cute fast forward noise. Why do I love this device? Because I finally got to catch up on The Biggest Loser finale last night. It's been a busy week, and all week I have had a hunch that Bill would win, but avoided all commercials and conversations about it. It drove me nuts. I didn't want it confirmed until I could watch it on the actual episode.

Now, this is the first season I've ever watched the show. I've had friends that have watched every season and have raved about it. I don't think I respected it until I started working out on my own with a personal trainer. Now, I know that the show goes to extremes, all the contestants have nothing to focus on except for their diet and exercise while they are ON the show, which makes it a bit easier. I would usually have my personal training session the day after the show aired and I would give her the update on what happened on the show. I would tell her that "Geez, they had that girl running on the treadmill at a speed of 12.0! Even with all that weight!" I typically run at a pace of like 4.0 or something. ( I am short and have little legs.) Her response..."That would be so dangerous! They also have a team of medical doctors standing right there waiting if something happens." She also said that she could easily be sued if she tried pulling something like that. Either way, the show is good inspiration for getting to the gym. I was actually more impressed with the contestants on the show that actually got kicked off and had to train at home under real-life conditions.

One of the final four is also from my hometown of Franklin. Rock on Isabeau! You did great and keep up the good work. They even said that she's been spotted at my gym. I think I would be in celebrity shock if I saw her.

Top 5 Reasons why I love The Biggest Loser:
1. Good motivation to get to the gym.
2. Jillian is kick-ass.
3. It's fun to point out all the intentional product promotion.
4. Bob, the trainer, is hot!
5. Watching guys get rid of their man-boobs...good for them!

Who's going to do the Million Pound Match up for next season?

Peyton Pep Talks

2007-12-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

A while back ago, I was reading this book called Made To Stick. One discussion that came out of the book club conversation was about marketing and who has had some catchy ideas lately. We threw out a couple good examples such as Apple (Mac vs. PC) and the ATT (Where Do You Live Campaign).

Today I was watching the Titans game and found myself intrigued by the Master Card "Peyton Manning Pep Talks Commercial." I found myself laughing at him describing the male mini-van driver. Mostly because my girlfriends and I had just been talking about how these guys are the worst drivers on the streets...feeling like they have something to prove. Dangerous! Anyways, I got out my laptop and went to the website. You can get more interactive by typing in your name and choosing what is getting you down. It creates a special video for you or you can create one to forward to a friend. When I used to have a few marketing dollars to spend, I thought this stuff might be not worth the time, much less the little money I had, but I do have to say, when you can splurge, this stuff can be fun sometimes.

Go create a pep talk!

Holiday Baby Steps

2007-12-14T18:37:00.000-08:00

This Christmas is weird. Once again, I am not getting out the tree. It's just too difficult. The last time we decorated, my mom helped me pick out the stockings and ornaments for the holidays. My family is starting to celebrate the holidays in baby steps. Last year, we avoided the holidays all together and went skiing in Jackson Hole, WY. This year, it is a challenge just to be in town. My mom used to put up two Christmas trees in her house. One in the main living room that was more formal and then one in the bonus room that had all the family traditional ornaments. This week, another baby step. We decorated the formal tree. It doesn't have as much sentimental value, but it did mean something to her. She was all about decorations. Each time I caught myself being lazy about putting the ribbon on just so, I could hear her saying "Now, go back and fix that. Make it right." And I did. I didn't want to do my mom's tree half-assed. (can I say that on here? There's probably a better way, but it's the truth.) And it is also probably the last time we will decorate that house for the holidays. I can picture my dad leaving that house soon.

Anyways, not having a job this Christmas is a double-edged sword. My close friends say, "Awesome. Take time off for the holidays and enjoy it." My mind keeps saying "What am I going to do?" The reality is that nobody is hiring right now. Everybody has checked out for the season. I probably would be...umm, if I still had a job. Not having a job means, tight Christmas. Not having a job means having more time than I know what to do with. I went to a job recruiting agency this morning. Let me tell you, two suggestions were thrown my way. One of which I had already scored an informal interview with last week and second, something completely off the scale. Me=identity theft protection company? Umm...I don't think so. But you know...what else did I have to do today? The quick answer...nothing.

So, when I got back home from my 30 min. outing, I decided to attempt another baby step. HOLIDAY BAKING! Could this be good for a girl that was just diagnosed as pre-diabetic? You would think NO! but you are wrong. I made so much gosh darn candy, I want to throw up and never eat sugar again. I made peanut butter balls, white peppermint bark, chocolate cookie peppermint bark and chocolate-covered pretzels. (My husband loves me right now.) I guess I got ambitious. Friends be prepared to eat. I am dispersing it all, since I can't have this stuff in my house.

Late afternoon I got a phone call. It was my good friends the D'Amicos. They invited me out on a holiday adventure. Why not one more baby step? I'm on a roll. We took at trip out to Twelve Pictures Gallery in Nashville to see Kris' artwork displayed. We then headed out to Opryland to see the lights. I haven't done this since maybe 1990? Geez, I am old because that would have been like 7th grade. I went to sing Michael W. Smith classics with my youth choir out in the atriums. Geez...he's old. Anyways, the lights were nice, people wore tacky Christmas sweaters and I have posted pics of Holland and one of the many light filled rooms.

Bragging on Marc

2007-12-09T19:29:00.000-08:00

We checked out this new downtown Franklin restaurant SOL last night with our friends Marc and Christy. Food was good, but did not live up to my expectations and wasn't really worth the late reservation...but the company was great. These are two friends that we definitely don't get to see enough of, so every time it comes together to hang out it is awesome. So, right now I am going to brag on Marc because someone should.

Marc has been working in the music industry for a long time now and has written some very popular songs. Besides writing the corporate hits I am most familiar with, he has been able to keep up his passion for ambient stuff. It's a project called Hammock. They got some good exposure during the last winter Olympics, but just recently they played the art opening for Riceboy Sleeps. Anybody who is familiar with the group Sigur Ros should know what I am talking about. But even more recently, one of Hammock's songs was featured on the ABC television show Dirty Sexy Money. (They want to feature more once the writers strikes are over.) I've come from working at a record label who has a strategic department for this stuff (actually it's just one girl who works her butt off). Anyways, without major label support, Hammock has been able to secure placement right up there with those guys. Kudos to you Marc and Andrew! You have been working really hard and hopefully more and more people will continue to notice.

The bike will not defeat me

2007-12-05T19:51:00.001-08:00

Oh my goodness. I really needed a break today, but did I get it? Um, no. I started the day off fighting with my husband. (Indeed, the worst part it all and sorry details will not be disclosed.) All I can say is that there are certain added pressures I feel now that I have lost my job. A pressure of adding extra income, pressure of being optimistic and in a good mood, and still the pressure of getting healthy again and losing weight.

After reconciling with him, I was off to the mall. Why? Because I have an informal interview this afternoon. Yes, informal, but still encouraging. I knew that my old work attire consisting of jeans and a hoodie sweatshirt would not seal the deal. I NEED TO GO SHOPPING. Geez, I hadn't done this a long time. Mainly because I have not liked my current body type and "I refuse to invest in this weight!" (My trainer loves it that I use this line.) I actually find a decent outfit and meet a former co-worker for lunch today. Yum, Baja Fresh. Things could be looking up. Wrong.

Next stop, the bank. Nobody really tells you how much work it is when you lose your job. There are many things that keep reminding you that YOU ARE NOW UNEMPLOYED! It's like a little kid making a squishy face and screaming "nanny nanny boo boo!" You go through the first step of cleaning out your office. Second step, applying for unemployment. Now, the third step has two parts. The first part is hearing from old co-workers that feel confused and sad your are gone. The second part is wondering why you haven't heard from other certain co-workers. Try figuring that one out. The fourth step is finally determining what your 401k was all about and rolling it over to a new IRA, which was todays bank adventure... and I might add still isn't complete. Now, the fifth step is tricky. It is actually figuring out where to send out your fancy, updated resume. Do you aim for something completely different or do you feel confident in your skill set and go with something safe? Today, I had an interview with something I felt could be a good mix of both worlds.

So, time crunch. The bank took longer than expected and I need to get home. I need to get dressed in my new duds and print out my resume to take with me. #1 piece of advice, never show up to an interview without a copy. They may not have printed if off or might have misplaced it and you always want to be prepared. So, along with the theme of today's events, I have 10 minutes before I have to go "sell myself." But WHAT? the printer doesn't work? YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Okay, it's set up again. Thank goodness my husband does this for a job. WHAT? NO PRINTER INK? (cuss words have been edited at this point) Luckily, I make a mad dash to a friend's house down the street, printed it off and raced to the interview. (Insert "Night Rider" theme song here. I know you can hear it.) I made it in time, hopefully scored some points and got invited back to the next round, maybe in January.

I get home, but what do I need now? I need the bike. This day has built up some frustrations that seriously needed to be let out. I put on my exercise gear and head out the door. It was a good class and I got the release I needed, not to mention, burned a lot of calories. As the teacher pumped out tunes like "Ayo Technology" and "Ridin' Dirty" I kept finding my focal point in the room and saying to myself "I am not going to let this job situation defeat me. I will not let my new diabetes diagnosis defeat me. My mom had it a lot tougher... and she may have not defeated it, but for now her cancer will not defeat me. Meaning, if she could go through all that she did, I can get through 45 minutes of intense cardio. Tomorrow is a new day and lets see what it will bring. Say hello to my new best friend, pictured below.

Good Recipe

2007-12-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

I wanted to point a little traffic to my friend Kris' blog. Last week, I found out that I have to eat a "diabetic lifestyle," so he pulled together this recipe for me on a really tough day. It was very good and very filling and worth trying, even if you aren't diabetic.

Naughty or Nice?

2007-12-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have a little more free time to watch television during the day. I found myself watching a segment today on CNN and their headline news. They did a poll on E-Online with 1,100 kids between the ages of 12-17 voting on which celebs should be on Santa's "Naughty or Nice" list. Kids said that "Being a snob and being mean gets you on the list." Some choices are pretty obvious, but they were giving the kids kudos for "knowing better."

Naughty List:

Britney Spears

Paris Hilton

Lindsey Lohen

the Grinch

Darth Vader

Swiper (From Dora the Explorer)

Beyonce

Nice:

Hannah Montana

Angelina Jolie

It's been a bad week

2007-11-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not supposed to talk about it, so I won't give details. The gist of it, though, I lost my job today. Sucks, I know. I really don't know exactly why and I don't know what to do. I just keep hearing those ugly words of "your position has been eliminated." I know it's going to be okay. In all honesty, almost losing my friends in a major car collision hurts worse than this. This is the second time this has happened to me (stupid music industry) and inbetween those three years, I have survived a lot more stressful things than a job loss. It's time to re-evaluate and get a new focus. I need to get back to the girl I used to know. Someone who was excited about starting her day. I don't feel like people knew the real me there and they probably won't feel the loss of my presence (insert invitation to the pity party here). Oh well, that's all I've got to say about that. I originally started this blog for work, so we will see if I keep it up, but let me just tell you, it's going to get a lot more interesting from here on out. Promise.

Please pray for Red

2007-11-28T08:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the day started out normal. I had a plan to meet one of my bands, Red, at the office to sign some CD covers. They were driving in from a show and their road manager was supposed to call me as they got into town. I never got the call. Instead I got an email later in the morning telling me that they had been involved in a serious collision, on their way back into Nashville.

-"What?" This couldn't be happening. While I am sitting at the office being pro-active, the guy scheduled to contact me was being thrown from the vehicle and dragged along the pavement. Not only is this band on my label, but I am a fan. But first and foremost, they are my friends. I've gone through a heartbreaking loss with my mom. It was the most painful thing I've ever been through. But she was in hospice and we knew the inevitable was coming and in a way were more "prepared." This news was just a shock to the system. My stomach hurt all day just thinking about what might have happened. Later that evening I saw pictures of where the side of the van had been ripped off. The trailer was torn to shreds in the middle of the road. Merch and gear spread all over the interstate. "I can't believe this!" Visions of us all together at each other's weddings, birthday parties and at those hot summer festivals keep running through my mind still. I'm so relieved my friends are safe. Thank you God for looking after them.

Always reachable...

2007-11-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

My husband has a way of keeping every paper known to man. Whether it is a post-it note, bill, or magazine from 1994, its somehow stashed on the floor underneath his side of the bed. Well, cleaning up this weekend, I came across a surprisingly not too old copy of MacWorld (Oct. 2007) and I brushed up on some new technology. Google just recently acquired GrandCentral. Once you sign up for its messaging service you will get a "GrandCentral number," a standard phone number that is programmed to ring your cell phone, home number, a vonage phone or Gizmo Project client, or all of the above simultaneously. You will always be reachable, without having to hand out your cell phone number. (good for doctor's offices, retail shops or for you single gals...those freaky guys who have the nerve to ask). While your caller is waiting for you to pick up, GrandCentral plays a standard ring-back tone. If you want to be picky about what your peeps hear, you can upload an MP3 file for them to listen to. (hint..it won't work with digitally protected AAC music files uploaded from iTunes store.) If you choose to ignore those unwanted calls, you can retrieve your voicemails by logging into the website.

Happy Pre-Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

I have mentioned before that I used to have a personal blog. This particular blog was set up in order to talk about the industry that I work in, current trends and more. The mindset was in that if we can ask our artists to take time to write (even if it's about granola bars...and yes, we have had someone do that and it was quite good) then we can find time to do the same. Well, I want to do some research and see if people comment more on my "industry" posts or "personal" posts. So, if you read this blog, let me know what you prefer.

To kick this process off, I've got the perfect excuse. It's the holiday season. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am baking my first turkey. For those of you who don't know, the holidays are very difficult for me now. It is now the second year that I have to celebrate without my mom and in all honesty, I just get sad. I don't want to celebrate. Last year, my family had a turkey cooked for us and we just assembled some traditional dishes. I think we barely made it through, but we were tough. I think this year is a little bit harder. You think you are being strong, but then you get hit with the guy at the meat counter who says to you, unknowingly, "Oh..a turkey for the Wormer family..I was wondering why she didn't order one last year!" or all of a sudden you are finding a place at the table for a new guest. Strange. Difficult. I feel fortunate and "thankful" though that I lost my mom at an age when I do understand the meaning of being thankful and traditions. Last night as I was tearing up the bread for the stuffing, I just kept thinking "If only I had helped out more when she was here. I would know how to do this better." But the truth is, she would just be proud that I am taking on her stuffing and gravy recipes and getting the family together. She would want that. So wish me luck as I get up at 6am and attempt my first turkey. It may not be great, but it's a step.

For those that may need help like me, click here.

Bootleg Content

2007-11-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

I am still on my concert high from earlier this week. If you visit Tori's website or know anything about this project, she is portraying different characters. At Monday's show, she came out as one character played a complete set, left the stage and did a costume change. She came back out as the "Tori" persona. Very Cool. You really didn't know what to expect of the show considering the set up of the record, but for that consumer who is still on high, like myself, you can buy the bootleg content from the show you went to. I remember back in the day when Pearl Jam introduced this concept. I haven't bought my copy yet, but still considering. (if only I hadn't spent so much on the tickets!)

My iTunes Pre-Order Experience

2007-11-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

So, here is something ironic. I work in "New Media," so one would quickly assume that I am a digital consumer....but I am also a graphic design snob. I have a degree and have worked within the field at a design company in London and also work closely with graphic/web designers. Therefore, I am still in love with the physical product. I like laying across my bed with the new CD, listen and read the lyrics and dive into the world of the artist. This packaging is the calling card of creative juices that went into the album. But I am also transitioning into the world of digital. I get lazy and just want it to download directly to my iPod and go on with my day. I don't have time to really sit with music anymore, if it's not work related. It's either got to be in my car or at the gym...there's no focusing involved.

There are very few artists that I consider myself to be a hardcore fan of. And honestly, only one that I sign up for an email update from. (other than for work.) When I got the email blast that if I pre-ordered Tori Amos' new album from iTunes, I would get the chance to order tickets before the on-sale date. No doubt, I was going for it. So, I sucked it up and downloaded the album. I've listened to it, but haven't fully sat with it. Am I slacking off as a fan? or is it because I don't have my usual lyric pages to follow? I did print out the digital booklet, but soon after misplaced it. And after all 22 pages drank up all the ink in my printer, I'm not going that route again.

I had lost all hope when I FINALLY got the email THREE MONTHS later than they promised about my concert opportunity. I had grown a small hatred towards iTunes and almost bitter towards Tori (which would never be her fault. She has no control.) All is good in the end, because I did get the email in August and on Monday I will be sitting 10 rows, center, back from the stage. The day is finally coming and I am so excited. I just feel I need to do my homework now and listen up alot.

I got bored...

2007-11-07T14:53:00.000-08:00

::The last CD I bought was::
Nine Inch Nails Year Zero

::Song playing right now::
Tori Amos "Bouncing Off Clouds"

::Five songs I listen to a lot at the moment::
1. Soulja Boy "Crank That"
2. Interpol "Pioneer to the Falls"
3. Kanye West "Good Morning"
4. Leeland "Opposite Way"
5. The Almost "Say This Sooner"

::Five songs that mean a lot to me::
1. U2 "Gone"
2. Michael W. Smith "How to Say Goodbye"
3. David Gray "This Years Love"
4. Joseph Arthur "Honey and the Moon"
5. Coldplay "Fix You"

::Five songs that get my booty shakin’::
1. Darude "Sandstorm"
2. Madonna "Get Together"
3. Kylie Minogue "Dancefloor"
4. Michael Jackson “Thriller”
5. Lasgo "Something"

::Five songs that rock::
1. Red "Let Go"
2. Foo Fighters "All My Life”
3. Deftones "Change (In the House Of Flies)
4. 30 Seconds to Mars "Attack"
5. Carl Orff “Carmina Burana”

::Five songs that I like a lot but didn’t fit into any of these categories::
1. The Pixies "Where Is My Mind?"
2. The Monkees “Daydream Believer”
3. Tori Amos "Precious Things"
4. Midnight Oil "Beds Are Burning"
5. Travis "Side"

Arcade Fire gets interactive

2007-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Click on the picture to watch the video.

Community Building

2007-10-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

I recently had to read a book called Brazen Careerist. She writes a blog alongside the book, which really shares some good points. Today's blog is titled "Teaching old tropes new tricks: Community-building with a 21st-century twist." It dives into how "its great time for new ways of thinking about community and how to make life better for yourself and those around you.

Here are five new ways to think about community:
1. Schedule community time because frequency matters.
2. Find your community first, then find a job.
3. Become an influencer by growing a community.
4. Get flexible work by leveraging your community.
5. Use community roots as a way to make a smooth transition.

I believe I am starting to follow some of these suggestions. When I think of #1, I think of my new small group. Since we've been married, my husband and I have had to deal with a lot of "go with the flow" scenarios. My mother's last year in the hospital and her death really made me a non-committal person and I had a one-tracked mind. Family first, no questions asked. But in the stages of getting back to normal (whatever that means), Skye and I decided to finally find a church and get involved with a small group. It only meets every other week, so it's not terribly time-consuming and we really needed to start making friends as a couple. We are such homebodies, so this is new to us as well. But we decided that we were going to put it on the calendar and stick to it. If something else came up, we would really evaluate it to see if it is worth missing, rather than blowing it off so quickly. It is making us stronger as a couple and also I am loving the people in the group. We don't have a set agenda and there is no pressure to speak or do homework, which is nice. You just know that you are going to be around people who care you for about two hours...and maybe watch some of "The Office."

My small group also speaks into #4. ("Get flexible work by leveraging your community.") Most everyone in my small group that I have met has someone that works or has been affected by my industry. In fact, the "leader" or "host" of my group has given me consulting advice on an area of my job that I am ignorant in, but is what he does as a profession. It's giving me a chance to really open up and expand my mind on the worship community. I have also gained a little more insight to his world and about events going on with him as a person.

Mrs. Trunk states in a bullet point for #5 ("Use community roots as a way to make a smooth transition") as "One of the most stifling parts of college is that everyone you hang around is at the same place in life you are. And one of the hardest parts of making a life transition is trading one community for another." I totally recognize this scenario. Moving into my late twenties (I am approaching 30), I quickly found out that I was in a different place than a lot of my friends. Sometimes I feel like I am running in last place in life's big transistions. I was one of the last of my crew to get married...now I feel in last place to have babies, but I do realize that I did so much more between my college graduation and even, say, my first job. I traveled all over Europe and worked abroad. Different opportunities, different agendas...But really, watching my friend's lives, it has given me the chance to view and have the internal debate about my own life choices. I was able to attend a lot of weddings and figure out what I liked/disliked for my own. I am able to watch my friends children grow, see them struggle with hardships, but learn from them. It helps me keep things in perspective.

Anyways, I could go into detail about the others, but these are the ones that spoke out to me first. If you want to read the full blog, click here.

Spirituality Trends

2007-10-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

I work for the Christian division of Sony-BMG called Provident Label Group. This info, passed onto me at work, is interesting because I try to market Christian products to consumers. We are seeing an uprising trend to many "Spiritual" answers to mainstream crazes. We have GodTube.com which competes with YouTube.com and Shoutlife.com which is the Christian MySpace. One thing that has always been a turn off is the fact that every time I walk into a Christian bookstore, most all the products are some type of rip off of something mainstream. The worst are the t-shirts, would you agree? I just shake my head and repeat "Why can't they come up with something original?" But maybe the following information is good news. Maybe "having faith and spirituality" will step up and become number one instead of number two. I ask, what is motivating this change? Are people just becoming more comfortable and confident? Or are they just more willing to ask the questions? Either way, maybe it will provide a little job security my way.

A social trend we're currently following with great interest and intrigue focuses on the audience's growing interest in spirituality. Spirituality is not acting as a replacement for religion among teens and college students. In fact, regular attendance levels to religious services has remained steady and even increased slightly among teen and college men over the past two years. Feedback and comments from panelists interested in the concept of spirituality lead us to believe that it is really part of the larger health and wellness macro social and lifestyle trend we've been tracking for quite some time now. Spirituality means lots of different things to different panelists, which it turn makes our jobs a little harder, but based on the latest immersion and Lifestyle Report results, this is definitely a topic on the minds of many young people:
Spirituality Trends

- "Spirituality is cool and popular at my school" - 23% (21% male/25% female)

- "I am interested in learning about products that can help me connect with my spirituality" - 19% (14% male/24% female)

- "I regularly participate in exercises (physical or mental) that help me connect more deeply with my spirituality" - 16% (12% male/20% female)

- "Becoming more spiritual is more important to me than regularly attending religious services" - 31% (23% male/39% female)

- "I consider myself a spiritual person" - 18% (15% male/21% female)

USB Extras on Albums

2007-10-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

So, I was reading the Digital Music News this morning and they had a brief excerpt that I have copied below.

"The digital download - and other forms of digital music distribution - are quickly replacing the disc, yet novel, next-generation physical experiments are starting to emerge. Among them is the USB flash drive, an ubiquitous method for quickly storing and transferring data between computers. Just recently, Atlantic Records artists Matchbox Twenty started selling their latest album, Exile on Mainstream, in USB form. The drive, which includes a number of multimedia extras, is being positioned exclusively at Best Buy for $35."

I think this is kind of a cool idea, but $35 seems a little steep. I don't have that much money to fork over to an album that isn't a box set. Those "media extras" would have to be extra cool. Are these extras something that can't be put on an enhanced CD? What is the goal? Trying to save space? Allow more content to be distributed? I'm intrigued though and I think I might head over to Best Buy to see what the fuss is about. I'd like to see how it's packaged, because I am a design snob. Although I am a digital consumer, for those albums I am wanting to pay that much money for, I want packaging, cool art...the whole shabang.

AIM Tunes

2007-10-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

I work in a corporate office, so during the day IT and its fun firewall prevent file sharing and downloading. We are just lucky enough to have AIM on our computers. So, I almost got excited when I heard the news that AIM is beta testing a feature through it's service for AIM Tunes. The application deeply searches to find music folders of friends and presents the content clearly. The user can then pick and choose selections from that friend's playlist to be sampled or assembled into another playlist, which can be saved and accessed through another media jukebox, such as winamp or iTunes. Advertisers are on board, and I do think it's cool that Amazon.com does identify the track being played and offers a downloadable MP3 purchase link.

What is Starbucks doing?

2007-10-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay....I live in a world of "free downloads." I will be the first to admit, I take advantage of free downloads. But now Starbucks is getting even more determined to make music a part of their coffee ministry. They are offering free download cards at their stores. Bob Dylan one day, Keith Urban the next. Who cares. I know who Bob Dylan is..if I want his music, I'll go buy it. I don't need Starbucks to help introduce me to established artists. Sorry, if you are a music fan and don't know who Bob Dylan is...you aren't a music fan. I think Starbucks is missing out on an opportunity to help young fresh, new artists get new exposure. They have a real chance to make a difference for the music community. I work in the music industry and I don't consider it worthwhile to give away free music for my artists, unless there is a direct need for it. If you are one of those people that "damns the man" on Starbucks being too corporate, but goes in to get one of these download cards, you might want reconsider some things.

Click here to read an article about this.

iTunes Update

2007-10-01T14:42:00.001-07:00

Oh my goodness. This is going to be dangerous. They did a new update for the iPhone which includes an iTunes update. It is now officially installed on my phone and I can download songs/albums from any place with wi-fi. By the touch of a button, I can download a song to fit whatever mood I am in.

Back To Blogging

2007-09-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

So, my boss wants me to "blog." I did this before...about 10 years ago. I was learning web design and wanted to practice, so I put my life up on the web. So much has changed since I last "blogged." That's right, before it was all for personal use and now it is for my job? WOW! How did I land a career in which I am told to put my opinions and knowledge up for everyone to read on the web?!?! Who knew that this would become one of the best, quickest ways to market new ideas and promotions? Who knew that I would end up in marketing? Like I mentioned before, I was really into web design. I thought that would be where I would land. Now, I just work closely with it.

I work in the "Interactive Media" department at a record label. The best way I can explain it is that I do online promotions, work with online retailers and third party sites to help gain exposure and sales for my artist roster. I didn't stray to far from website design, because I do deal with that. I just don't do the design myself. I hire out the talent and help our artist create and maintain their website. I'm all about content control.

So, back to this blog. I'm supposed understand the world my artists live in. I ask them to blog all the time, so I should be able to find the time to do this myself, right? Therefore, in the future, look forward to posts on what I think is relevant to what I deal with everyday.... Music. Blogs. Books. Media. Design. Geez, wish me luck!

Back From Scotland

2007-08-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

So, I went on a much needed two week vacation this month. Skye and I finally took our trip to Scotland and it was absolutely fabulous. We lived out of backpacks, took many train rides, and did a lot of walking, so I hope my metabolism is up and running now!

We started things off by flying into London. We both spent some individual time there before we met, so it was fun taking each other to our old stomping grounds, eating at our favorite restaurants, seeing the musical "Wicked" and shopping. We even got to play tourist and see some things we both still hadn't seen.

We then took the five hour train ride up to Edinburgh. It rained the whole day we were there, which was unfortunate, but we still managed to have a good time seeing the Edinburgh Castle and the Holyrood House, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. From there we got on the train to Inverness. This was a small town and nothing really to do except take the bus get on a boat to search for the LOCH NESS MONSTER! No, we didn't find Nessie, but it was fun to say we tried.

We then got on a train and headed for the Isle of Skye. Awesome! It took 3 hours by train, an hour by bus and then about a 30 minute car ride to our accommodation, but this was the whole point of the trip. Skye is finally able to say he's been there. We both got to drive on the left side of the road, avoided hitting sheep in the road and traveled to Dunvegan Castle. Apparently, his ancestors used to guard this well known place back in the day. Barely making the ferry back to the mainland, we caught the train to Glasgow this train ride inspired the train rides to Hogwart's in the Harry Potter movies).

Spent the day in Glasgow. We took one of those cheesy double decker tour bus rides, but time was very limited. It was interesting to see the industrial side mixed in with the deep history. We did get the change to see to a very cool art museum called the Kelvingrove Art Gallery. We walked around a bit and then decided to make our way back to London. We had one more day left there before heading back to the US. We utilized this day by finding Abbey Road and Studios, eating at our two favorite restaurants...again, and some shopping. We even went to see 221 Baker Street, of Sherlock Holmes fame. We ended our last night by seeing a play with Orlando Bloom called "In Celebration." Not the best play, but more interesting than watching bad BBC all night.

We got home yesterday evening and we are jet lagged. I am glad to be home, but I still found that I love traveling. I love being on the go and just being off without anybody being able to really reach me. I've had so much on my plate this past year, it was refreshing to finally do something for me and my husband. We needed this time together. I am already sad we had to be a part on Monday, when reality hits and we both have to go back to work. Ugh.

One Year Anniversary

2007-08-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

Today is hard. I sit alone here in my hotel room out in Monterey, California and this computer is what I have to vocalize my hurt. Today marks the one year anniversary of my mom's death. I've made it. One year. I never thought I would do it...never wanted to. They say it gets easier, but does it? I think about all the things I have to look forward to and then it hits me hard...my mom is never going to be there to share it with me. I want to have kids, but she will never be there to hold my hand through it. Tell me..."Oh that's just morning sickness" or help me decorate the baby's room. Everything has changed. My relationships with the rest of the family, my outlook on friendships, what I want to do career-wise. It seems kind of ironic that my mom tried to teach me so much growing up, but now at the age of 29, the biggest lessons are learned after she's gone.

I am so proud of my brother Brad. He has got this amazing strength to do all these marathons and bike races in my mom's honor. He's most likely to make his goal of $15,000 for the LiveSTRONG Challenge. The only thing I can do is support him the way she would. I am trying to get in shape to do those types of things. One lesson learned is that the easiest thing you can do for your family is to keep yourself healthy. So, I am working out every day and changing my diet. I've done okay so far, but I am still awaiting those big results. I'm determined and know I will get there. So, if you see me, keep me accountable. I need that.

I don't know who reads this blog. I don't even like writing on here. I do it because this allows me to be vocal without feeling anxiety about boring people sometimes. If they don't want to read it, then with one click of the mouse they can dismiss themselves. But if you have made it here to the end, do me a favor. Call your mom. Tell her that you love her and try not to take the time you have here with each other for granted