My Kind of Town'

Outside of the world famous Art Institute, even the lion doned a Chicago Bears helmet. This is why I love Chicago. It's a city, but with a hometown feel. We still love you Bears.

All statistics in the world cannot measure the warmth of a smile.

Overheard on the drive home

Heard on Prairie Home Companion today....

"How many Catholics does it take to change a lightbulb?"

Answer: "Change, what change?"

See if you get it! :)

A Tint of Red

His beard has a tint of red in it, a color that is almost as unique as his voice. And in the winter his beard takes on an even greater tint against his cream colored skin. Over a year, I've grown quite accustomed to this beard, but even more to the face that lies beneath it.

You can almost always predict when we are about to have a reunion. There are usually butterflies, and dancing feet; signs showing up even hours before we lock eyes. Anyone would think by now, a year into a relationship, that those butterflies would've flown away. But they never did. They remain with me, and so does he despite any time or distance.

Between schedule revisions, case studies, and the occasional schoolgirl laugh (I'll never admit to), there are our Christmas-like visits -mornings filled with the smell of sausage, and lack of whole milk - time spent sitting in an office chair, in his kitchen, doing the dishes together. And laughter, lots of laughter. And the red beard is always there, like my favorite song I can't get enough of. Even though it changes color with the seasons, the face that wears it is still the one that gives me butteflies.

Traveling with a teacup and a wine opener. Compartment 44

I've heard a good analogy once about life being like a ride on a train. The more I revisit that idea, the more it makes sense.

It's a journey, people get on and off the train. Some sit with us for awhile, others may board our train and get off at the next stop. Some people go merrily around, getting off at each and every stop, some have no direction. Others carry elaborate plans with times and hold tickets to where they expect to be.

There's always a guy who's scary sitting 5 rows in front of you, and starring back. Or the woman who talks so loudly that you know of her whole life. These are the people we run into on our journey, colorful characters who make up the blogs we write before we try to empty our minds and sleep at night.

And then there are those passengers, whom we love but they choose to sit in another compartment and we travel onward, but keep a seat open for them. I thought of this person in my life the other day, only because I wanted to share the good news with him, but I don't have a way of getting ahold of him. On my train, this is my father. He's gotten on and off my train from time to time, and right now I think he might be trying out a subway.

But although sometimes we don't understand why some get off at certain places, or move into different cars, I'm happy I'm on the train I am. I have a destination in mind, and places I'd like to see and people I'd like to travel with. And I'm willing to help someone carry their luggage or lend a helping hand if they need it. Oh, and I always travel with a teacup and wine opener, if you'd like to share a drink. You can usually recognize me by my smile.

On This Day and Feelings of Gratitude

On this day a young woman sat at her desk, between sips of her earl gray tea and editing background materials, she received an email announcing her acceptance into graduate school. Her mouth fell open, she tried to push it closed, but before she could she uttered "I got in" and suddenly there was music everywhere and a song in her heart of thanks to God for enabling her with the gifts to get to this point. (and the fact she had a nice bottle of wine at home to celebrate with).

With a mad dash to the parking lot, and her hair dancing in the wind she phoned the most important people in her lives. And at the end of the phone calls, instead of feeling like her head had been inflated, her heart was inflated...with feelings of gratitude.

On THis Day

On Jan. 31, 1865, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment to abolish slavery.

Because you will. How could you not.

There was a smell of clean sheets and fresh powder in the air, and of course an extra commotion about the office. Ducking my head out into the hall, I spotted the baby carriage outside of Big Brothers office. Closing my eyes, for a moment, I imagined a world where rich, older aged bachelors did away with being "set in their ways" and gained the courage to marry that graceful woman and raise a son who would know why it was good to go to church, wear cufflinks, and eat italian food.

A quick mind check brought me back. A new mother from our office brought in her baby, and like any other estrogen enduced woman, I took the baby in with wide eyes.

Minutes passed, and another reality check, I had work to do. Work in more then the sense of the papers sitting on my desk, but the learning to be done, the fun to be had, the foundation to be laid, and don't forget to mention the graceful aging I'd like to do before I'm in that place.

I fumbled back through my to do list, but before I even gained slight focus, someone knocked at my office door and came running up to give me a hug from behind.

"You'll be a wonderful mom someday," LC said.

"How do you know," I asked, half serious.

"Because you will. I just know it. How could you not," she said very surely.

That was enough for me to carry on with any vigor and nice to think I could someday be that to someone. And not just a mom, but a wonderful mom. *In the distant future.

Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and fans the bonfire. ~ François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

Stranger in a Strange Land - Abraham

Abraham referred to himself as a "stranger" and a "sojourner," even though he was a man of much wealth. He owned several wells, and that alone made him wealthy. In addition, he had many cattle.
But even with all of this, Abraham had not allowed himself to become attached to worldly possessions. He unashamedly confessed by his words and actions where he stood with God. These people recognized Abraham's greatness because of the way he lived before them.
Although they were not concerned about Abraham's God, he had made such an impact on them by the way he lived that they were willing to give him any land he wanted for a burying place for Sarah.
Abraham refused to be chargeable to his ungodly neighbors. He let it be known that he was a separated man and was going to stay in this separated position. May the same be true of us.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

Strength. It comes in many forms.

"You are not the source of each other's Love. You are helping each other to access the LOVE that is God."

My insides are wooing! (January in review)

Assessing Priorities.

1. Only 1 setback since the new year has begun, and was able to process in less then a few hours. 2. Reading new genre and greatly enjoying (stimulating mind)
3. Funny bone is back in full swing'
4. Productivity level = above average, taking greater initiative
5. Stress Management = low anxiety, if any, keeping things in check = above average
6. Making time everyday for God, experiencing deeper fellowship in relationships
7. Exercising at least 4 times a week
8. Enjoying relationships, cultivating new ones, and strengthening existing
(developing greater relationship w/female mentor, spending time w/sister, enjoying/growing w/significant other)
9. Spending continued amount of time and energy investing in future goals i.e. grad. school pursuit, independent study, ETM time, writing, refining strengths & managing weaknesses.

It's good to stop and reflect now and again, especially as the first month of 2007 almost comes to a close.

Pursue:
- Restablishing involvement w/ Alumni Sharing Knowledge network
- Continue to identify likes/dislikes in terms of relocating to new city: job prospects, costs, culture, education, and family/friends

Patagonia and Clutter

I was watching Sunday Morning before church, and caught a special on Yvon Chouinard. He's the founder and CEO of outdoor activity elite company - Patagonia. I came to find out that he started making gear for himself, since he couldn't locate any good rock climbing pitons out on the market. (Lightbulb moment!) This is usually how it starts out via a need.

Anyways, he became very successful in marketing to extreme outdoorsmen. Similiarly, he runs his company in a free spirited fashion. He's even published a book about his management style called Let My People Go Surfing. [When the surf's up, you won't find Chouinard behind a desk. And he doesn't hog all the fun for himself. Patagonia has a company policy that if the surf is good during work hours and an employee is a serious surfer, he can go. "It's like, there's no waves today," he said. "You go surfing when there's surf. I don't care when you get your work done, as long as it gets done." ]

Interesting philosophy.

On a final note, I was struck by a quote that spoke to those who keep messy desks and say it's a sign of being a genius. As for me, disorganization inhibits my ability to focus, instead I want to declutter and file before I can really get to work.

"If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, then an empty desk is a sign of what?"

TGIF. And that's with a capital G.



Think about it, and have a good night.

Chapter Titles

Tonight I watched a french film I'd been dying to see for quite some time now, Amelie. It's a lovely little film about a girl and love, and the wonders and lessons in life. (And yes it's in French, and yes I do read subtitles)

Today I devised a few new chapter titles for the book I'm going to author about my life. Thought I would share a some - some may make sense others not, unless you were there in that chapter.

The T in ETM
Mice Holes
Napkins, Grandmothers, and Omas
Catholic Girl on a Jewish Block
The Pickle Ornament
5'4 is Not a Ballerina, but Better and Boobs
Man Overboard
Moving On and Moving Out
Dear God
My Full Value Life
The Year I Didn't Do Dishes
Johnny Cash meets Junebug
Being For Real Style

To be continued...

Raison d’être

"That's just it: our vocation and calling to marriage and motherhood is for the goal of attaining salvation with the help of our spouse (i.e. your husband should strengthen your faith, not weaken it), and being open to the gift of life (aka, having children). In this way, the family partakes in the Trinity, the Church as the Bride of Christ, and the Holy Family."

raison d’être. Tis true.

My precious life.

Kindness and all things good. (Jacob and I)

Men go forth to wonder at the heights of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the broad flow of the rivers, the vast compass of the ocean, the courses of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.

St. Augustine

The Holiday and Meetcute

Since I saw The Holiday last night - and one of the characters used and defined the word meetcute-

Say a man and a woman both need something to sleep in and both go to the same men's pajama department. The man says to the salesman, "I just need bottoms," and the woman says, "I just need a top." They look at eachother and that's the 'meet cute.'

During a "meet-cute", scriptwriters often create a humorous sense of awkwardness between the two potential partners by depicting an initial clash of personalities or beliefs, an embarrassing situation, or by introducing a comical misunderstanding or mistaken identity situation. Sometimes the term is used without a hyphen (a "meet cute"), or as a verb, as in "to meet cute." (Wikipedia)

And yes, The Holiday is clearly one of my new favorite movies...ever. Let's see it has a journalist, a screenwriter, a producer, and a composer. It quotes Shakespeare, and there are a few characters with English accents. Old friends meet new friends, and the soundtrack is beautiful. As well they even have a scene with cutout stars and little girls playing in a tent, alas I have met my match. (and oh they drink good wine and enjoy the snow)

Why an English major?

Why an English major? Is that really worth your while?

So I majored in English - hence the past three posts. I believe that an education in the humanities equips us to deal with a world that - outside academia - is becoming increasingly globalized. Thomas Freidman writes:

Today more than ever, the traditional boundaries between politics, culture, technology, finance, national security and ecology are disappearing. You often cannot explain one without referring to the others, and you cannot explain the whole without reference to them all...If you don't see the connections, you don't see the world.

Humanities education is fundamentally different from an education in engineering or science. You learn to expect questions that don't have just one correct solution. Our tests do not lend easily to multiple choice questions, nor a clear check or ex. Approaching problems from different perspectives, considering different schools of thought, and recognizing the biases and beliefs that accompany them is encouraged. This is why an education in English is one of the most valuable.

The World is Your Oyster

Fal. I will not lend thee a penny.
Pist. Why, then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.
Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor

To create a pearl, an oyster needs an aggravating parasite inside its shell. It builds layers of calcium carbonate around the invader, gradually fabricating the treasure. How long does it take from the initial construction to the finished product? Five years for a pearl of average size, and as many as ten years for a big one. This puts into perspective the tenacious work of what may be your long-term goals; grad. school, career, family, and life. Sometimes you may begin to wonder if you've been striving to transform your irritant for an eternity, but you're actually right on schedule.

Smart Humor

A panda walked into a cafe. He ordered a sandwich, ate it, then pulled out a gun and shot the waiter. ‘Why?’ groaned the injured man. The panda shrugged, tossed him a badly punctuated wildlife manual and walked out. And sure enough, when the waiter consulted the book, he found an explanation. ‘Panda,’ ran the entry for his assailant. ‘Large black and white mammal native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.’

Grammatical Query - What's Up

I haven't done this for awhile, but I'm raising a grammatical question. Caution, for those not interested in tearing apart a sentence, and getting some guilty pleasure joy - stop reading now.
First: what exactly does the up in phrasal verbs like look up mean? Some examples:
work up [a solution]
rustle up [some chow]
and also:
toughen up [those raw recruits]
bulk up
eat it up[, yum]
... and plenty more that I can't think of in this moment. It seems clear that there's a difference in what up means in the above examples.
Anyway, I found a couple of words recently that suggest that the up particle is still going strong in producing new phrase verbs.The first case is the ever greeting - what's up,

Good, eh? To what's as a transitive verb, and a new phrasal verb on top of that. How flexible is, the English! The up particle in the cases -work up, rustle up -add a connotation (or even denotation) in the new word Interestingly, sometimes the up particle is arbitrary (new, dim), other times not (work, rustle).

Ok, so that's one. Onward. I've also stumbled across another one. This was the line:

Many men have become female appeasers who need to, well, man up.
To man up = to become more masculine. This use of up is related to the second examples (toughen up, eat up, bulk up). These verbs are intransitive (can be). I'm not seeing that eat up belongs in the same category, unless the commonality is one of, what, completeness? To eat up means to finish eating something. Up is optional in toughen up; is it in to bulk up? Do they both suggest a kind of completeness, or a degree?

I confuse myself easily when I get deep into my grammatical brain. I could, of course, go look it up; I'm sure these are well-understood usages. My point, really, was just that I've seen a lot of usages of up , which I've now ... wait for it ... written up.

Mayonaise represents poor conditment choice and other Bug lessons.

Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living, and sooner or later we all must face the question, what does life mean. For some this can be very painful, for others it is their ever driving light.

Many have tried to answer this question through theories, formulas, and the ever loved 10 step guides. Maslow said it was about fufilling human goals and need through a hierachial process. The top rung of the ladder being "self actualization" of course this can never be reached, he said. But it is this very thing that keeps us going.

Carl Jung said that "Wherever there is a reaching down into the innermost experience, into the nucleus of personality, most people are overcome by fright, and many run away....The risk of inner experience, the adventure of the spirit, is in any case alien to most human beings".

And it's been through the past few months that I had my breakthrough lessons. And yeah, when they first occured it felt like I was crashing through a windshield of a car. But I picked the glass shards out and am back behind the wheel. Woo.

1. Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself for he shall never cease to be entertained. It always makes a difference in reducing the amount of judgement on self and others.

2. The only real mistake is the one in which we learn nothing.

3. Mayonaise represents poor condiment choice

4. Hope is invaluable because it portends the best possibilities of the world.

5. For real style is catching on.

6. The only love worthy of a name is unconditional.

7. Everytime I fall down, is one more time I'll get back up. (and i can come back even stronger,improving not only my heart muscle, but my guns too)

8. Oatmeal IS a meal.

9. Love is what wakes me up in the morning, love is what keeps me up at night.

I kick butt.

MLKs Rhetorical Phonetics.

In the early 1960s, millions of Americans were ready to listen to Martin Luther King's message, and the way that he delivered that message helped us to hear it. Think about these two phrases from the famous "I have a dream" speech, delivered on August 20, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial. The first phrase, "I am happy to join with you today", is his opening. The second, "when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet", is from his peroration, just before the immortal ending "free at last".

Oh dear, can I help you with that?

CIA, Georgetown, and J. Edgar Hoover

Having recently seen The Good Shepard with Matt Damon, my book has turned into an ideal sequal to provide more elaborate details on the partakings of Washington, DC during the 1930s - 1950s era.

By the eary 1950s Georgetown had become a major CIA listening post. It made good sense, Georgetown, by virtue of those who lived and socilized in the tiny kingdom, had become as much a seat of power as the White House, only far more accessible.

J. Edgar Hoover, spurred on by his determination "to keep tabs" on everyone, including the Georgetown crowd, set in motion a private project he called "Operation G-town," where he registered a number of FBI agents with an exclusive domestic employment agency to serve as per diem waiters and bartenders at Georgetown get-togethers. "Their main objective," said John White, "was to amass data on both the CIA and the Georgetown social set. The CIA, of course, knew that Hoover was spying on them." In return, they were spying on him.

In a later comment to the CIA Director William Casey, he received word from a socialite host that the best pastry chef ever employed turned out to be an FBI agent. That's irony. Must have been able to make one heck of a strudel.

The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club

In true English dame fashion I headed to the closest bookstore after work today and perused for a new true love. Having had no luck in my recent dating adventures with books, I decided to venture into somewhat unfamiliar territory and scouted the US History section followed shortly by the biographies. With Washington, DC on my mind and and as always passion I couldn't help but see love at first site with The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club by C. David Heyman. Befriending a plush leather chair for a 30 minute break, I quickly made friends with the Washington Post women this book writes of and was enthralled with all the new things I was learning about Washington and of course, the power of an intelligent and passionate woman.

"Every student of Washington's political process ought to know that the business of government is often transacted during evening hours, sometimes over a drink and sometimes over a meal-but almost always in Georgetown. What President Johnson did not say is that these evening transactions are largely conceived, created, produced, and directed by women."

Come to find out that "The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club" was actually a term coined by none other than Ronald Reagan to identify an elite corps of prominent and powerful Washington women whose connections, courage, wealth, vision, intelligence, and ambition afforded them an abundance of social and political clout in a town traditionally and historically run by men. In reality, it was the great woman behind the man...but of course we already all know that.

Signing off from the South Florida Post-

ETM

Funny

Charlie Brown: Do you ever think much about the future, Linus?

Linus: Oh, yes...all the time.

Charlie Brown: What do you think you'd like to be when you grow up?

Linus: Outrageously happy!

When I don't think too hard, I realize it's that simple.

Journeys and Destinations

A co-worker approached me today, mind you she's in a different department, but she said that she was bored out of her mind and did not feel like she doing or thinking about anything. She said, do you know? And then she asked, do the rest of them care? (referring to her fellow employees in her department) After that we made a few comments that perhaps some are fine with that and may even prefer a job that takes reflexive thinking.

What would you do if you weren't in a job that was intellectually stimulating?

At this point I can only minorly reflect upon one job I had during high school, working at a restaurant, and what a good motivator it served for me to continue my education. In fact many of my jobs up to this point have simply served as motivators for me to continue to advance in my own personal education.

I take this as a blessing. For real style.

Minor newsflash: One more month till I should start hearing from graduate schools...in closing, I recently wrote to an admissions director who had commented on a part of my application. I ended my email saying "I've realized it's more about the journey then the destination."

Library Hotel - A Dream Come True

So when I was still finishing my English major at DePaul, I had read once about the Library Hotel located in New York City, but had never officially checked it out - until today. It feels like Christmas morning all over again.

The Library Hotel in New York City is the first hotel ever to offer its guest over 6,000 volumes organized throughout the hotel by the Dewey Decimal System.* Each of the 10 guestrooms floors honors one of the 10 categories of the DDC and each of the 60 rooms is uniquely adorned with a collection of books and art exploring a distinctive topic within the category or floor it belongs to.
Floors:
Social Sciences
Language
Math and Science
Technology
The Arts
Literature
History
General Knowledge
Philosophy
Religion

Personal service goes one step further as guests may request their room based on their personal interests (subject to availability) such as the Literature floor featuring subjects from Poetry or The Classics to Erotic Literature. Such intriguing room themes offered on the Math and Science floor are Astronomy and Botany. Law, Eastern Religion, Money, and New Media are also among the 60 eclectic themes available on the room menu at The Library Hotel. Other distinctive features Library guests have at their disposal include the Writers Den a beautiful mahogany paneled room with working fireplace and The Poetry Garden, our sparkling greenhouse.

Books and beds, and breakfast!

Which floor would you choose?

Check it out for yourself at www.libraryhotel.com

This is definately on the "To Do" list once I make my first million... ah`

E

If real straight men filled their girlfriends' apartments with a million twinkling votive candles as often as fictional ones do, three large American cities would burn to the ground every weekend.

iLive idisturb

So low and behold I got a fun toy to play with for Christmas, okay, an electronic stereo, called ILive. It's complete with an ipod hookup, cd player, and radio. Great portable size too, as I plan on moving a couple more times. Good thinking there Oma and Opa. (this also may be a subtle hint they are thinking i'll be moving back into the chicagoland area...)

Well I hooked it up the other night, and finally was able to set it up so that it would be able to wake me up to my requested song on my nano ipod. Presto! This morning it worked, accept the volume managed to keep increasing. Was it an evil trick that the ilive people tried to play on me to get up? Or was it a way that I could disturb the neighbors while they were sleeping. As I began to get ready, and jammed out, I heard a knocking. Making sure I was decent, I glanced myself over quickly in the mirror, and ran to the door in my new red silk pajamas. (i must add these are the cat's meow) Looking through the peephole I was pleasently surprised to see that no one was there, only their small dog, Rocko. I didn't feel bad, the dog definately disturbs the peace more then my iLive. So I went back to ringing in my new day with some dancing in the bathroom.

Betz Family Christmas

Emily has celebrated yet another Betz traditional family Christmas Eve... the nativity story, the old hymns, the carols, santa claus and his bells, the performances, the love of family.

Of course our Christmas is always complete with humour. They decided to take our Aunts christmas gifts and try em' on! (funny aprons!) A family that laughs together sticks together!

Performing...see where I get it from?

Pose in that snowmobile helmet Uncle Mark! See where I get it from?

Notice, I had a bit of a height restriction...managed to work half a smile in.

In conclusion, Christmas is about remembering that peace and love, and carrying it with you for the rest of the year.

Merry Christmas!

Hummer Limo. 16 Family Members.

So last night our aunts and uncles and mom surprised the whole clan (seen below = 16) with a stretched hummer limo! How fun! We took it downtown to a Christmas musical complete with champagne and holiday music. I'll tell more later, but for now let these pictures tell the story! (of course i stuck out my head and said Merry Christmas to all who passed by!)

The sisters

M having a good time'

My Oma and Opa and I. They are the most wonderdul grandparents ever.

Mum and Aunty and Uncle! Festive festive.

Christmas Cheer!

A festive night of dinner and dancing at the LA holiday party! (complete w/ a singing boss and all)!

Here's the dancing part! Note my boss is in the background cheering on.

Insight.

I've been called a goodie goodie. I like to wear plaid skirts w/little sweaters, always write in books,& have a good wingspan. I've taught English and my superhero power is my flexibility.When I swear people usually laugh or go into shock. I've been smiling since 1983 and have been known to pull good clean jokes.I always drink hot tea in the morning, and enjoy a walk after dinner. I'm a fan of the outdoors, hard work, and wear my hair w/ a natural curl. I like surprises and tend to blush when my heart beats fast. I love the Lord, and dance in the kitchen. My strongest muscle is probably my heart. For real style.

Christmas Countdown!

Suavemente` Bessame

Fun is fun: Authors Invited to my 25th Birthday

Reading my dog-earred pages and highlighted passages, complete with chicken scratch, it's been decided who I would invite to my luncheon on the occasion of my 25th birthday....because we all need to have fun once in awhile.

C.S. Lewis - he would bring his world famous logic. We'd discuss a few of the insatiable thirsts I have, and come to the conclusion that it simply means that I was made for another world. Heaven itself.
"A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such as a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world...Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it...
C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)"

Emerson (and other transcendentalists) - we'd talk about dynamic growth. Calculate how to best destroy my cell phone, and get dimensions on the log cabin I want to build in the mountains one day.
“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”Emerson

Robert Burns - He will recite "Oh my love is like a red, red rose" as a toast' followed by "Brown Penny" by Yeats. I love men who know how to love and mean it. It takes a stronger man to do that then anything else.

Harper Lee - because I want to defend all things noble, just and good. when i was little i wanted to grow up to be atticus finch. She'd get the princess w/ an edge thing.
"If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it."

Roald Dahl - because we could joke like jokesters do. He'd buy trick candles, and they wouldn't go out unless I used a fire extinguisher! I'd be sure to be getting younger.
“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”

To be continued...just remember you have a whole two years to plan for this event. What would your additions be?!

Snow Angels

You are not even aware of those whose lives you have touched, or how you have touched them...

To those who have been with me through the past year...

Lately I've been filled with such a joy and gratitude towards life. It's a light in my eyes, peace in my heart, and gentle kindness I want to share.

Tonight I simply say...

Thank you.

Gotta Love a Jokester!

Happy Tuesday!

Winter

I've decided there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

Sweet Dreams

At night they would fall asleep
holding hands
...and God only knew
that side by side
they were quietly
praying
...for the
same things.

Chevy Case Study: Consumer Generated Ads

Wired Magazine just featured an article on Chevy's most recent experiement. Chevy ran a contest for consumers to create YouTube video's for its Tahoe. Running for 4 weeks, it attracted over 30,000 folks. Of course ads created by the public both praised and put down the SUV. Interesting enough Chevy decided not to take down any video's that critiqued the vehicle for "gas guzzling" "global warming," etc. Instead it was a free for all. They felt it they censored the ads that they'd actually lose greater credibillity. Check out the article and a few of the ads here.

What's funny is the idea that you can sell a product by sitting back and letting the consumer put their own spin on it.

Beauty: A Woman of God.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewlry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" 1 Peter 3:3-4

This verse is truly wonderful, and serves as a reminder of what true beauty is The type of woman I work at being everyday. - Peter doesn't mean that beautiful women rarely speak above a whisper, if they speak at all. No. To have a gentle and quiet spirit is to have a heart of faith, a heart that trusts God, a spirit that has been quieted by love and filled with his peace. Not a heart that is striving and restless.

A woman of true beauty is a woman who in th depths of her soul is at rest, trusting God because she has come to to know herself and God in her. She exudes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well. She speaks comfort; she knows that we live in a world at war, and that the journey may be in a broken world. But she also knows that because of faith, that all will be well. A woman of true beauty offers the grace to be and the room to become. In her presence, you can release the tension and pressure that so often grips your heart. Real beauty breathes the truth of faith, hope, and love.

And I offer what beauty I have that the world might come alive, be healed, know God. That is love.

Calvin and Hobbes on Ideas

For those of you taking finals, pause and reflect, and enjoy!;)

Game of Chess. A Choice You Make.

Approach.

Approaching life people often use the metaphor of a game of chess. What are you? A piece, the player, the board? If asked when I was younger, I would have probably pointed to one of the pieces, maybe the royal knight or a humble pawn. As a piece your job is straight forward and to achieve an objective; do well for your team and conquer an enemy and you've won. Othertimes in the past I'm sure I've been the person behind the piece, the mastermind, the personal controlling movements in my force field.

But now, and with practice, I've realized I actually define myself as the board itself. I use the board to show that I frame how I deal and see life around me.

The purpose of naming myself as the board, or for defining how life occurs to me is to give myself the power to tranform each experience or unwanted condition into one that I choose to live. Again, I have the power to change the experience, not necessarily the condition. But by transforming the experience and how I see it, as a result changes occur.

Either/Or Philosophy-Kierkeggard

If I were to wish for anything I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of what can be, for the eye, which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating as possibility?

- Soren Kierkegaard, Either/Or

* He was one of the first existentialists. Like his role models, Socrates and Christ, he sought to examine how one lives one's life as the primary criteria for truth. When I organize my bookshelf I tend to get caught up in reading over my underlined notes in my books - and yes apparently all my books, even my philosophy. Hey, we all need a good Kierkegaard quote once in awhile...

Perspective - The Starfish Analogy.

Because lately I've been thinking a lot about perspective, contribution, and energy...maybe my little story helps to sometimes explain our assumptions we have about what makes sense to one and how it looks totally different to another. We must constantly be open to seeing and communicating, and humble enough to learn from one another-

Strolling along the edge of the sea, a man catches sight of a young woman who appears to be engaged in a ritual dance. She stoops down, then straightens to her full height, casting her arm out in an arc. Drawing closer, he sees that the beach around her is littered with starfish, and she is throwing them one by one into the sea. He lightly mocks her: "There are stranded starfish as far as the eye can see, for miles up the beach. What difference can saving a few of them possibly make?" Smiling, she bends down and once more tosses a starfish out over the water, saying serenely, "It certainly makes a difference to this one."

What did you learn from another today? Were you humble enough to cast away what you see as right?

One of many blessings: Hugs that engulf you!

A Year

A year in review. I'm celebrating a couple of big year anniversaries for myself within the next month here.

1. Year review at work
2. Year older
3. Year dating the boy
4. Year ahead

The year review at work went very well and really confirmed the decision I had made last year to move down here. My mentor and I discussed many different elements of my professional/academic performance over the last few months and then set some developmental goals/progress that we are going to review three months from now.
Positives: "Sponge factor" easily coachable, exponential growth potential! observes and gets it
Diplomatic, tactful, and displays leadership qualities "manage up"
Attention to detail now matches "big picture" skill

Developmental Goals:
Continue growing into a leadership role in the organization by encouraging peers to develop their attitude and teambuilding skills
Continue to improve on details in program development

More on the other year factors later!

His Dog is on MySpace

We all love dogs. I love dogs. I plan on getting one as soon as I get myself a bit more settled. But this post isn't about my dog - it's about dogs on MySpace. Recently one of my co-workers launched a myspace page for his dog. While he won't ever put his name on my space, he started one for his dog, where she keeps a blog and will be posting videos, etc. Kaela must be a smart dog to be able to write so well. Read the blog, it's a great laugh for Friday morning.

What's next?? Enjoy!

Farming Parable

This is a parable that my grandfather always tells me, and I think is worthwhile to share -

Four young men sit beside their dying father. The old man, with his last breathe, tells them that there is a huge buried treasure in the family fields. The sons crowd around him crying, "Where, where?" but it is too late. The day after the funeral and for many days to come, the young men go out with their picks and shovels and turn the soil, digging deeply into the ground from one end of each field to the other. They find nothing and, bitterly disappointed, abandon the search.

The next season the farm has its best harvest ever.

This speaks to our limited understanding of the nature of gifts the that are in store for us - I like it the idea of doing hard work and not even being able to fathom the ultimate results.

It's All Invented

A shoe factory sends two marketing scouts to a region of Africa to study the prospects for expanding business. One sends a telegram back saying,

SITUATION HOPELESS STOP NO ONE WEARS SHOES

The other writes back triumphantly,

GLORIOUS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY STOP, THEY HAVE NO SHOES

Which way do you look at things?

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving from start...to finish.

That's Mom and I up early in the morning carving the turkey! We took great diligence in stuffing the thing to death...ha.

This is post carving the turkey - my Oma and I are making the gravy. (Special family receipe) Notice I look more awake.

The feasting table of course.

Mom and Heidi in their German aprons putting on the final preparations.
Post feast, all the kids vying for a spot to sit on the same couch.

Passion

It’s not a surprise that I bring an enthusiasm and energy to work that I view as meaningful. Having a father who was an entrepreneur, and a mother who worked with cancer patients, passion was at the core of my upbringing. Our discussions at the dinner table centered around the environmental patent Dad was working on for his new catalytic converters, or how Mom had witnessed the strength of a pediatric cancer patient. I learned at a young age that I did not want to do something just to acquire fame or material wealth, but that I wanted to channel my energies toward a cause and make a difference. I was raised in such a way that passion was merely the byproduct of doing something that you loved.

Study Published on Public Universities

Education Trust just published a new study, examining public school flagships and their efforts in providing education to minority students and those from low-income families. The results are not shocking, as it's become clear that even public school's want to boost their competitive edge, and therefore resorting to admitting based on scores. Check out this article to see where your state school ranked. Illinois got an F, way to go-
Flagships Flunked

This is how to stay young forever. It's a way of living.

1. Being young is discovering that you've just inherited the world and that it's a marvelous one. It's also flawed, woefully mismanaged and seriously imperilled. It means setting out with all the idealistic fervor of Don Quixote to rescue it, to change it, to polish it till its new again.

1 1/2.It's not caring that you are probably destined to fail in all the big ways. It's doing it anyway, and discovering that maybe the "small way" matters more than you think.

2. Being young means its your job to fall in love, and you do it extravagantly and often. You fall in love not only with potential romantic partners, but with trees, with the dark and shiny streets where you walk with your friends at midnight, with the color of the sky when you rise from your bed at five a.m., with a snatch of music that you heard once and never forgot.

3. Being young means you are perfectly beautiful and beautifully perfect. You are not too fat, too pimply, too large of nose or legs or teeth, nor too small of breasts or eyes or height--though some may tell you that you are. But believe me, there will come a day when you gaze at a photograph of your young self and be absolutely stunned by its beauty. And you will wonder how you could have failed to see it, to inhabit it, to celebrate it every day.

4. Being young means you make mistakes. Glorious mistakes. Dumb mistakes. Sometimes even the kind of wild mistakes that will cause you to wonder what you were thinking. It's crying and regretting and bemoaning those mistakes until you realize they weren't distractions from the road after all. They were the road.

5.Being young means your body is meant for movement. It's a time for dancing, making love, for running, for being able to do prodigious amounts of work, then collapsing in exhaustion, only to get up the next day and do it again.

6. Being young means you have very little time and less patience for sitting on the couch, watching other people live their lives on TV. You're far too busy with your own.

7. Being young means you ask the big questions.

8. It means you stay up half the night with your best friend and lover formulating answers, and then go to bed deliriously tired, intoxicated with possibilities. Even though you know no more than you did before you started. And it means continuing the conversation in your dreams where maybe--just maybe--the real answers lie. (I do this all the time:)

9. Being young means that you see really well, and you hear really well and so you look with all your heart. And you listen the same way.

10. Being young means that you're capable of surprising and rattling and inspiring your world. And so you do! Whether the world likes it or not, whether it listens or not, whether it cares or not. Because this is your time and you're going to seize it.

*And no, it isn't all about age. In fact, some of the youngest people I know had enough candles on their last birthday cake to ignite a wildfire.

Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God; your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people premission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Nelson Mandela

I've been reflecting on this comment much lately, and in fact I may pull a bit of it to write one of my graduate schools essays. This quote truly reflects the very thoughts I had prior to rolling into last summer. If I could have heard myself in January, I was saying to my superiors that I didn't want to be the Program Director, nor did I feel confident in my abilities to do so. I ensured them that my skills weren't up to par, and that in my complete honesty I felt that I needed further development.

Development I received. In the coming months I had the unique opportunity to shadow one of the best PD's ever. (names will not be disclosed) and truly get a hands-on experience for what the role of the PD was. Sure I was 22, and all the other Program Director's were significantly older, but I learned that it would be through my actions and decisions that I would establish my greatest credibility. Utlimatly this would be the only way I'd gain the respect of my summer team.

Again, time passed. They told me I could be the PD, and I accepted. Before I knew it I was standing on the stage in front of 300 college-aged staff, spouting bits of leadership curriculum. Leadership curriculum I had co-wrote, lesson plans I had designed, and it was being taught. It was at that moment that I woke up, and saw the other half of this quote come to life. Who am I not to brillant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? So there isn't a benchmark for me to personally measure up against, but that's just it. For me, there may never be a benchmark that I can measure up against. There never has been, because I'm going to do my own thing, in my own time, and in my own way. I'm proud of the fact I broke through barriers, graduated early, moved out of my house and to Florida. Of course I'm looking for my next break, it's how I am.

It's how I've always been, and how I always want to continue to be. Me.

Now back to the graduate school essay...

More Options.

Go big, go long, and go home.

More comments on this later.

The "not" my job award

Entrepreneurship in the Classroom

CNN: Entrepreneurship University. Entrepreneurship is quickly becoming the latest trend. Everyday I see more and more newspapers hosting articles talking about the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. Looks like the next thing to hit will be entrepreneurship education. I think this article raises a good question though, can entrepreneurship be taught? I think we will see more and more certificate, business, and MBA programs alike launch entrepreneurship programs. I’d be interested in assessing how successful these programs are in creating entrepreneurs. One of the schools I’m looking at for my MBA offers a program in innovation and entrepreneurship. I’d love and am planning in the long run to set up my own business, and wouldn’t it be great to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs on how to raise venture capital, gain investors, and what worked and what really bombed. Learn from experience, it’s always been my motto.

Iraq Cutoff

It’s clear that both parties and individuals are caught in conflict over the war. This is not something that has changed, but rather resurfaced due to the most recent elections. I am in agreement with Abizaid in that we cannot materialize a time nor date for when the withdrawal of US troops can begin. This isn’t a simple game of ping pong, but rather a complex causation and effect, with not only lives, but global security at stake. In our efforts to strengthen the Iraq government, we cannot harshly decide to pull out if the job gets dirty. I’m sorry folks, but we have to look further ahead then just today. Yes this war may have been in the running as long as WWII, but it doesn’t necessitate knee-jerk reactions. Strategy needs to change, and the bottom line is that clear cut objectives need to be outlined and made known to the people. And as for Hillary’s comment, “there is no hope,” yes, well that doesn’t quite cut it in my book either. Could you perhaps articulate a bit more Ms. Clinton? Provide insight as to where you exactly stand. Hmm, g’luck.

Was Dr. Seus a Democrat?

How lobbyists should prepare for the Democratic takeover, I like how they introduce this by saying "If I ran the zoo"

(See end of the article)

The Heming Way: 6 Words

Hemingway – an author in the canon - actually wrote a short story once only using six words:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Wired Magazine did a creative little article and asked other well known, and not so well known to author using only six words. You up for the challenge? Perhaps business people should take a few notes from him. (lengthy memos n emails)

In his famous words to F. Scott Fitzgerald: “I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of !@#$,” Hemmingway confided to him in 1934. “I try to put the *!@# in the wastebasket.”

S. Africa Democracy

S. Africa has ruled to recognize gay marriages. I think it’s interesting to note that they pride themselves in being democratic. But does a true democracy recognize and uphold certain truths that are self-evident, and make decisions around these standards? Such as a man and a wife being a union? Or is democracy change, the definition many in our country have now deeply taken to…

A Bull in a China Shop

After wrestling with more numbers, and decimals...

Wandering the earth in a 5'5 frame (that's a good day, w/heels), I know strength doesn't come in with a certain appearance. Although I think there are many still out there that believe strength comes adorned in willpower, stamina, and even the age old brute strength. But, what if strength were the opposite? What if strength was the ability to show vulnerabilities that might appear to some as weakness? What if strength was the ability to see things for what they truly were?

I think the answer can only come to us when we are still enough to hear it. Perhaps in those moments we want to strive ahead, strength is actually in self-restraint; to be still, and to listen. Like a bull in a china shop, it's easy to see the visible strength, but the moment he makes sudden movements, everything comes crashing down. His strength is more in his ability to harness his gifts.

It takes strength to become familiar with our "weaknesses". I know a lot of people who would like to say "I can do it on my own." People own this mantra in their careers, in the way they run their families, and manage their money. According to most sacred texts, pride is a fault. And I would like to believe that perhaps it takes more strength to acknowledge that we might not have all the answers, and even more courage to to see that we need other people.

Quick Fix Democrats

It looks like the Democrats are already pushing in many different ways for a quick fix. Exhibiting their push for withdrawal of the US troops in two ways: 1) Pelosi backing Murtha who was one of the initial advocates for pulling the troops out and 2) their recommended strategy to Bush to force redeployment; it looks like they want fast change.

What needs to happen is that the President needs to exhibit his power and refocus his party. There needs to be a well-thought out and different strategy employed for Iraq, yes, but it needs to not be a sudden “fix it by leaving” approach. He has until January to gain the confidence of his supporters. Pulling out U.S. troops would not only yield vast carnage, it would greatly strengthen the hands of terrorists and terrorist states (especially Iran and Syria) in the region. Shuffling the U.S. administration is not going to change any of these circumstances.

Realists? Democrats?

CNN hosted an interesting article today that outlines one of my concerns as Democrats are the majority. Will they decide to block the president or demonstrate the ability to govern? In what way will they display Democratic allegiance? The only way real change and positive growth is going to come to fruition is if people decide to stop making it about them, and start dealing with the real issues.

Reflection

Thinking about business. It's from the gmat and the numbers taking over my head....

What I'm thinking about tonight is the wonderful examples I've had in my life. I have a few memories flashing through my head right now as I vere away from my studies to reflect upon other such things.

Opa - Self taught in refining metals, sponsored from Germany, started his business from the ground up and was successful. But not only was he good at business, but he's good at love and balancing life. For when I think of Opa I think of his soft smile, and hands that held mine when they'd get so cold. I think of the way he's lived his life through a great faith in God and a great love for his wife and family. This is true success. This is truly what I pray for.

Mom - Learns from experiences, and extremely positive attitude and outlook on life. A very hard working woman who managed to balance a demanding career with raising two children. This has been a great thing to learn from. She's exceptionally intelligent and someone who has had one of the greatest impacts on my life. She's constantly seeking to learn more and help more. And at age 50 she's heading up a innovative career and truly leading others. Go Mom!
The best thing ever is, to have my Mom on your side, you've got quite a powerful force.
...My mom and I happen to be very similiar. It's crazy when we are together!

Prof. Pinnix - Someone who truly offered me the gift of humbleness. Being one of the smartest individuals I knew, he had a gentle and soft nature about him that caused you to be attracted to him. I'll never forget when we saw each other after a year had gone by, and he ran up to me and hugged me and told me it was so great to see me. It was Jack who believed in me when I was a mere 20 year old, believed that I would change the world with my energy and that it was only a matter of time. He called me the energizer! From him I see the world differently, and with a compassion to inspire and move others.

This is where I will leave off for tonight. There are many others I've been blessed to share my path with, and share in my journey. And to all of them out there, wherever they may be, may they feel the resonance of my gratitude.
Signing off,
ETM

Vision 2012

DePaul University announced and as been tracking it's progress towards Vision 2012, and recently has made their milestones and plan public. I commend their efforts in continuing to strengthen and build upon their academic structure and community as a university. What I like the most is their aim to act as an institution to prepare women and men to be at the forefront of their chosen fields as ethical and socially engaged leaders. An incentive to continue education at DePaul: I could take on an even more active within their ASK and Leadership Institution program for undergraduates. I'm also be very interested to sit on the board for Vision 2012, and the role that Kellstadt Business School could act as a vehicle for change.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Walmart

According to CNN Walmart will be decking the halls with Merry Christmas this year instead of Happy Holidays. I find it interesting that the Christians and Catholics packed on this much heat, and a boycott last year that it resulted in this response. Once again illustrating the power in numbers.

From Our Friendly Mac Users

Small little joke of the day.

My Own Address

There's been a lot of stimulation lately surrounding different avenues of my life. It finally feels good have been able to take a breathe, look over the horizon, and navigate accordingly. As far as the important things in life go these are the relevant issues that have been on my mind.

1. What I want to do. This includes a lot. I've had a surge in my research and reading lately. Education is power. And so in my investigating I found another degree I'd like to get in Educational Policy and Leadership. I've had dreams since I entered education of being able to have further impact in acting on the state board or working for a think tank in research, possibly in terms of advocating on a higher level to get experiential learning in the classroom. I've thought about when the right time is, if I should switch things up in terms of my MBA applications, and have come to the following conclusion: start out with the generalist degree, get some working experience, dabble in a few personal endevors to get a taste for more, and evaluate. I am young, and I'm not going to get myself thinking I don't have time to do it all i.e. the career, the family, my own business, and a nice vacation in the mountains...ah.

2. Politics. I didn't come from the most political family, sure my parents voted, but we didn't have real debates over these issues. Of course the majority of the family is very conservative and republican, but they didn't really tell me why. It wasn't until I took a few political science courses at DePaul that I started to get an inkling as far as what goes on. With the latest mid-term election I have to say I have become even more interested in politics. Reading about them, talking about them, and thinking about them. As a citizen of the US I feel it is not only my right but my duty to use my education and decision making skills to be impactful and serve our country. I want to live for a cause, and maybe even wave my banner. I believe that in the coming few years I want to find a place for my voice to be heard, an outlet for me to be a further advocate for my views through supporting and educating my fellow citizens.

3. Location, location, location. More specifically, DC and the opportunities it could hold for me as a budding student and professional. In being there in the coming election year I could be host to a wide array of events that may foster and develop those very things I so wish to imbed into my professional and personal life/career. Additionally, I've done Chicago. I know the scene, and I know what it offers. For those of you that know me more intimatly you know there is a fierce passion that burns inside of me for adventure and the new. I enjoy a good challenge. It's been my experience that in those situations where I am breaking new grounds that I learn the most about myself and the world around me. New experiences = new ways of thinking = inspiration. If you've ever seen me bored, it's not a good thing...

4. Can't lie - the gmat. Thanks to a recent interview I've mustered up great amounts of motivation again to really kick this thing in the rear. I'm determined to do well and definatly am not going to take it again. This is not an option. Heck, all the other components of my application are pretty darn competitive, and I'll be damned if I can't keep up that trend.

5. Being a woman. Laugh all you want. I think it's awfully funny how excited and astonished rare it is for women nowadays to get an MBA. And moreso how excited those administrative folks you do speak to get when you say you don't want to just get one, but you want to serve the fellow female MBA's in a greater leadership capacity. And to tell you the truth that's one of the main reasons I want to get an MBA. Sure I want the hard skills to go with the soft skills, but I also want to help inspire, motivate, and educate fellow females about the opportunities in business. Equally important is the leadership component, and I have a couple of things to say about this and it's development in the business industry.

Enough thoughts, it's time for dream land. Au revoir` (bet you didn't know I spoke french, or at least 1/8)

President's Address

Glad I can listen to NPR from work. God bless it.

Interesting notes from Bush' speech so far:

- Faith community initiative focus
- Deal w/ it. His answer to war. We'll deal with it. (what does this mean)
- Some problems require more then govt. help
- People not content, but will make decisions based on principles
- Strategy: he's looking for changes, underlies he doesn't want the troops to come home

What to get done:
Entitlements
No Child Left Behind
Energy - foreign oil dependency

What I think: Get ready for a gridlock. Both good and bad.

Favorite Quote right now:
Herman: "Bush disappointed in outcome, does this mean you are out of touch with the American public?"

Why Gates:
Moderate
Connected to national security
worked for a # of presidents before

Gates Replaces Rumsfeld

After much prediction, Rumsfeld looks like he will be resigning. To take his place will be Robert Gates, former head of the CIA. What does this mean?

Bush made it sound like Rumsfeld would resign otherwise and that basically everyone needs how to learn how to get along. It'll be interesting now to see if he can pull of the united front he ran on in 04'

Or Else is Here

All in all, I think Michael Leeden said it best over at The Corner: "In retrospect, isn't it fair to say that Bush's reelection and the Congressional results in '04 were basically a message to him? 'Get Iraq right, you've got two years or else.' And he hasn't got Iraq right, so the 'or else' arrived as threatened."

Oh my. Here we go.

House of Blues

My question is has this race truly been more about competence in President Bush then idealogy? And what does this mean for 2008? How will the parties align?

Good News. Bad News. No News.

To my dismay I had to go to sleep earlier then I would have liked, unable to finish up the election night hoopla with MSNBC. It meant I had to wake up this morning to good news, bad news or no news. Looks like it's smack in the middle.


It's coming down to the wire now and the news continues to flash that closest heat for the Senate, now dependent on two states: VA and MT. What will happen?

VA: Hard race to call. What's projected right now is about a 1% difference.

MT: Tester is in the lead here again by merely 1%.

There is likely to be a recount ahead of us.

Conclusion, you can't tell right now because it's this close to the wire. With a 1% lead things could easily sway either way. What we do know is that the House is now a Democratic one. I'd like to see the Republicans keep control of the Senate, otherwise I fear we could have a bumpy road into the coming Presidential election. With the war on the forefront, and currently unresolved, I don't think a Democratic Senate would be our best bet either. They say the people want a change, but do the citizens really have an idea of what change they seek?

E-Day

2006 Elections Blunder so far:

- Problems w/ electronic voting (not surprised and certain demographic locations where these were placed render problems i.e. older populations, lower income, etc.)

- KY poll worker chokes a voter (personal favorite, what’s next, death by ballot?)

- Lawyers are already predicted to try to keep the polls open later in TN. (Democrats think this will help….hmm)

- The public is being told that exit polls will greatly sway votes and that the GOP should beware. So if they told us that the Republicans had already won could we just open the bottle of Champaign?

Next year at this time, I have to admit it would be pretty fun to be in DC amidst all the activities. I heard all the political bloggers are headed to the Tryst to have an e-lection night party. P.S. I recently got bit by a bug, the political bug.

Illinois' Race: Election 2006

I got my vote in, knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to do it from my current residence. I'm not too keen on our choices for IL Governor, but I guess you take what you get.

Blagojevich - He wound up in some infortunate cirumstances and is under corruption investigation by Patrick Fitzgerald. Given what happened with the former Governor Ryan and investigations, this is really hurting his campaign. He also took a lot of money away from state education last year which I'm not very keen on. Examining his historical record I don't see him fulfilling or having much success with his promises on cutting taxes, yet boosting budget spending towards education.

Topkina - She's considered the moderate republican, which today is somewhat rare. However, she seems to sit on the fence when it comes to certain issues like abortion and gay marriage. It may work to her advantage since she may capture more independent voters, and also for those who don't want see to Blagojevich back in office, this is the really only other viable option.

We'll see how tomorrow turns out. On a personal note, I'd be much more interested if it were a senate race.

Economics of Obesity

I've been doing a lot more reading lately and have taken on a new personal course of study until I enter back into academia. It's best to keep the brain jogging at a regular rate and what better way to do it then read. Check out this article entitled "The Fat of the Land" and how it explains some of the economics of obsesity. It sheds some light on yet another one of America's epidemics. Then after you do that, check out Obesity in America's animated map and the rapid changes that have occured throughout the last 20 years. See what percentage of the population in your state are obsese. If it's anything like what I saw, the results will really shock you. The rapid movement is grueling, and the scary thing is this issue isn't going away.

Free Hugs Campaign. Inspiring Story! (music by sick puppies)

This is a really good video. Offers some good insight.
I'll give a free hug-

My search for tics in core values.

In my line of business we talk a lot of "core values." But what exactly does this mean? It's been from my experience that the best way to explore something is by analyzing it from a wide variety of angles i.e. up, down, sideways, and under. Similiar to the way I used to examine my black lab for tics, I really had to look everywhere and not leave a hair unturned.

I'm beginning to see that core values can't exactly be discovered, but rather they are something that IS and come from experiences. They go with you wherever you go, no matter your environment. And they are the things that you feel down to your tippy, tippy toes. And the other main thing is that it doesn't matter WHAT core values you have, but THAT you HAVE. Your life aligns with these in business, relationships, and you develop your strategies and actions with these core values.

Everyone's core values are different. In research, it's been cited that there are no universal core values that make or break a company. Take for example Disney and HP. Both companies started and grew, grew, grew and changed. But their core values didn't.

HP core values - Respect the individual.

Disney - Magic, wholesomness, imagination, and attention to detail.

Even when Disney went from producing small cartoons to full length features, large theme parks, and Disney radio - they still were about the same above core values. The same goes for HP.

In my next edition we'll examine politics, and more specifically Regan and Carter in terms of this issue.

So what can I make from this? You have core values. And they are your underlying causes that must drive, drive, drive you. And even when change and stimulus are presented these very things remain true. And most importantly there are no "right" or "wrong" or universally successful core values.

Antithesis

Excerpt from a lovely conversation today w/someone who is like a blanket to my soul:

"You really are my type of people, you know"

"And sometimes one only notices that when they around the antithesis of what we thrive off of."

When you're not living in a bubble you get to experience something I call the grit. And then there's the blanket. And that's where the love is. When the blanket comes down around you even when there's dirt, that's love. That's my people.

If you need me...

It's October and I'm in our new office. I've set up a nice little lamp for myself on my desk that brings warmth to this otherwise brand new cubicle. But soon enough I'll be sitting at a cherry wood desk in an open office and frames of friends and family will shed further light on my days. It's the little things.

This month seems like the busy month. I just got back from a trip to Pittsburgh, where I saw my breathe in the morning! (that's cold!) I thought I was ready for living up north again, but I may have to think this through a bit more. I mean it may mean I have to put on a few pounds to help fend off the bitter chill that comes with being a Yankee. Better yet, I'll layer wool sweaters and invent some handy dandy hand warming thingamabob.

This Friday I'm traveling to Chicago at the wee crack of dawn to help Mom move into her brand new house, and yes it has a fireplace in the kitchen! How picturesque is that! I got to see it when I was up home the last time in August. It's really quite charming. Brand new too. So this means I will be seeing all my girlfriends this weekend, wearing my favorite sweater, and spending time with my family moving boxes. Delight. Actually I like some good manual labor every now and then.

So for now it's back to writing frontloads to various leadership activities. You know teambuilding, communication, that sort of thing that the big men in black suits love me for. I'm also listening to The Fray and coveting some famous mint sprig tea. If you need me I'll be enjoying life.