Happy Independence Day

Testing

Now That the Kvetching is Out of the Way

Photo Credit: Rick Bucich

• I met a ton of fabulous people who have and will leave a mark on my life, both personally and professionally. No, I can’t even begin to go into who those people are, the guilt people, the guilt.
• I gained confidence in my abilities as a writer, as a general html / css geek, and as a speaker.
• I learned I can motivate others to look beyond the big resources for social media education.
• I learned I should be more aware of my facial expressions while talking.
• I learned my children are not always to blame when I lose things.

I am also learning that a pile of contact info is quite intimidating.

Healthy & Happy

Her boundaries are stretching every day. Her vocabulary is exploding and she’s racing to keep up with her brothers.

Catching perspective

The home I grew up in lies vacant. We are considering renovating, selling our current home, and living there for several years as a means to get a jump on retirement, college savings, and the purchase of several acres. In theory it’s a sound decision, but there are the demons of bad memories lurking in that neighborhood.
Things I did, things I said, and those done to me that cannot be taken back.
Will new flooring, fresh paint, and landscaping really help? My instincts say new memories will replace the old, but those first few weeks may be rough.
Today I walked down the street, and around a cul de sac I used to walk every day. Yes, the sidewalk has a few more cracks, but I don’t think time made the houses seem less imposing. I don’t feel as small as I used to, perhaps I’ve learned to stand a little straighter.
The shadows don’t seem as dark from up here.

Tags: neurosis

Random Aside

A few moments ago I was flipping through a magazine lying about. The ad quoted a man described as a “legendary home fragrance expert.”

I don’t quite know why this tickles me to the core, but it does.

ConvergeSouth Decompression

The past few days have been great, on many levels. The break from my usual routine was needed. While I have geektastic friends in the Lowcountry blogosphere it was very freeing to spend four days submerged in an orgy of geek.

While most of my family will simply read this and say “Who?” I must brag that I had dinner with Robert Scoble twice. Thursday night, at a small Italian restaurant where I ordered poorly. I thought the menu said Chicken Parmesan, but when it arrived it was actually Chicken Parmebland, my mistake. (Yes, this is exactly why we’re having chicken parmesan tonight). Saturday night was sushi, gorgeous, tasty sushi. I regret not bringing my camera as it was a foodie’s dream.

I’m still processing the weekend, visiting new sites, confirming new connections, and catching up on work. It may be a day or two before I find all the pictures I want to share and link to all the great people I met.

She’s Going to Say the “P” Word

So far I’ve abstained from nearly every political discussion. I’m Libertarian and so disappointed with each candidate that I will be choosing the one who seems to least oppose my views. At the moment the political race is depressing at best. I do not feel Obama floated down on a cloud to save us all nor do I find McCain remotely appealing. Yet, this is not my beef. 

This is a weird a time for me. Like most people I have several circles of acquaintances based on shared experience. In one I can tell I’m seen as the fruitcake conservative and in another I feel marginalized for being the liberal whacko. Thankfully, those I call my friends tolerate my opinions when I choose to share them.

What has me so pissed off at the moment is an attitude running rampant throughout several platforms in which I visit and participate. The belief that one person is superior to another for an opinion based decision makes my skin crawl. We vote because we are a democratic republic. There are going to be losers in this election. The people that voted for them are still your neighbors, friends, and coworkers. They are not suddenly idiots because of one opinion based decision. (I’m not saying morons don’t exist.)

I fully understand the need, desire, and excitement felt by someone who is fired up by a  cause. I get it. What I don’t get is the hatred spreading on both sides of the aisle. It’s sinister and it needs to stop. On November 4th I and most of my friends and acquaintances will step into a booth, pull a curtain, and make choices, hard choices. They are based on opinions, hopes, and unfortunately fears. The choices my friends make does not lessen them in my eyes if it does not agree with my own. They are not idiots, racists, bigots, or stupid if they choose differently. We all live have to live with the outcome in November.

Never dull

Web design, writing, horseback riding, meal delivery, that’s what weekends are made of.

I’m beat. Please remind me of days like today the next time I mention boredom.

Have I mentioned that I get to go to Google’s Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday? No? Well, you must be one of the few people I don’t bore to tears on a regular basis. I’m so excited I can’t stand myself.

Another Birthday

Hard to believe, but my little man is turning three.

Happy birthday Mark-a-doodle.