Nine days...

Nine days til what?  Why, it's the number of days I have left to work before I take a fabulous vacation.  What is just so fabulous about it, you ask?

1. My two favorite boys (Jeff and Miles) - 

We very rarely all get time together between busy work schedules and Miles' social calendar.  

2. The beach - 

No matter what the weather, there's something so relaxing about watching the waves and the sand in your toes.  Plus, this will be the pup's first trip to the beach.  He loved the lake, so I'm sure he'll love this, too.

3. Some family time - 

I'll get to meet some of Jeff's Michigan family that I haven't met yet.  We'll get to see the family that lives in Bluffton, too, which is always fun.

4. Turkey dinner -

It's just yummy... everything that goes with Thanksgiving dinner, especially all the ridiculously plentiful sides and casseroles and such.

5. Nothing else we have to do except enjoy 5 days off together at the beach with the pup and some family.

Can't wait!  Will of course post pictures once it's come and gone....

Thank You, Soldiers

Veterans Day is very special to me, particularly because I have so many people I love who have served in the military.  One of those who isn't with us any more here on this Earth, my grandfather, George Thatcher Brown, was a Colonel in the Army during Word War II.  He was at Pearl Harbor the day it was bombed and when he spoke about, he talked as if he didn't understand why everyone made such a big deal about him having been there.  He was one of the greatest!

That's what I think is so great about so many of the folks who have and still do serve our country -- they just do it.  They don't ask for praise, acknowledgment, or even thanks.  But, that's why I think it's so important to tell them THANK YOU.  Especially on days like today.

Two more of my favorite people in the world are Disabled American Veterans and I am grateful for them and all the men and women who serve and have served.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

By the way, take the time to visit this site: 

http://www.bigthankyouproject.com

It's a great way to take a second and tell some of these folks we appreciate them.

Oh, Florida Gators

I must say... this year's game was not very fun to watch as a Georgia fan. But, I must admit afterwards I felt like Miles:




Exhausted.

Just do the right thing.

So, this election year has brought out a lot of emotion. I think we should all remember something John McCain said in his concession speech: "No matter what, we are all fellow Americans." If the losing Presidential candidate can pledge to serve his country and his President, then why can't everyone else who believed and campaigned for him?

Some of the best things about our country (I feel) -- we can say what we want, vote how we want, and in the end we should all stand together.

People who don't want to stand together can move. There are many other countries that do things differently. I have friends who have traveled and found countries they like better. And they go there and live happily. But, I love this country. I love the passion and the energy and the democracy. There are some things I don't love for sure. But this is the place I want to be.

I personally want what's best for our country. Only time will tell what will change. Only time will tell if things will get better.

One thing that struck me in particular this election was some information I saw on the news about Proposition 8 in California -- to overturn the amendment that allows gay marriage in that state. As a person who has been Catholic my whole life, I can honestly say I wish people, groups and churches would focus energy, time, and money on positive matters.

Proposition 8 was some of the highest media spending done across the elections, second only to the actual Presidential election. Churches spent millions of dollars to advertise it.

My main question is... aren't there lots of good causes such as starving, homeless people around the world that could benefit from these millions of dollars? I get that candidates can choose ads to run and money to spend, but just seems that there could be a better use of those funds. But, rather, these groups focus on a message of hate and negativity. Seems a bit odd to me.

I saw something recently where someone commented that churches do spend millions on those things I mentioned, but it's not good press.

That is so not true.

As someone who works in marketing, I can very much assure you one thing: It actually is the best press.

Companies pay tons of money (millions and billions) to public relations experts to make themselves look good. Tons. PR, social marketing, consumer awareness, goodwill -- these are all big areas to focus on for any entity who has marketing dollars to spend. Marketing dollars are more and more getting allocated to this sort of messaging: positive, sustainable, green.

But that's what I love about our country. I can think and say what I want. And you can think and say what you want. So, please... do.

PS - All we need is love :)