Holy Dow!

We live in interesting times, indeed.

I've always learned that you play the stock market for the long haul. That there will be ups and downs, but over a multi-year time horizon, the stocks do well and always trend upwards. Over these past few months, as I've watched our funds lose more and more money, I've had to repeat that mantra over and over: "We're in this for the long haul. We're in this for the long haul."

But the end doesn't yet seem in sight. Another "tumble" in the Dow this morning (I love how analysts use that word, like it's Humpty Dumpty sitting on some wall), falling more than 700 points before regaining 300 of those points.

I'm a little sketchy about the details of the bailout plan. One thing I want to ensure, though, is that government doesn't become too involved in our economy. Government involvement in healthcare, surely. Government involvement in the environment, possibly. Government involvement in the market, definitely not. Our markets to very well and the model is good. Of course, it seems like there are things that precipitated this fallout and maybe there needs to be more regulation of some sort, but we start to walk on some thin ice. I know it's unfounded, but I have these visions of our country becoming this communist state and everything that we once held dear and treasured are memories of the past.

A bit gloomy, I know. The strange thing is, no one I know has felt the effects of this economic downturn. We still go on living our lives as normal, driving to work, putting away money into investments. I'm in Kansas City on a project as I type. Nothing has really changed.

I can't decide if that's a good thing or not.

Fall is here! Fall is here!

Monday marked the official start of fall, and the cool weather couldn't be more on time. Monday was really our first day of cool weather and it seems like it's a little earlier than normal. Driving along the interstate this morning, I could make out just the faintest blushes of color on the trees. I guess the annual turning of the leaves has begun.

We got our first true taste of fall in Boston this past weekend. We were up there for my cousin's wedding and, after adjusting to 90+ degree heat in NC, the 70 degree weather in Boston was quite a shock to the system.

I love the very beginning of fall. There's something about the changing of the seasons that's exciting - the leaves turning colors, the approach of Halloween, the crisp apples and baked goods, squash soups and chunky sweaters. Of course, this excitement only lasts a few months and then I'm ready for summer again - the fresh veggies, grilling out, running around in shorts and a tank top. I guess the beginning of anything is always fresh and exciting and then looses it's luster after some time.

But for now, I'm excited about fall! I'm planning a full-out Halloween party (with costumes!) so that will keep me busy for awhile. I'm ready for the apple pies and warm soups!

And we've got a winner

I love advertising. And when I come across a particularly genius idea, I feel compelled to pass it along to others.

This is a viral movement by Wendy's. You may have seen the "meatatarian" commercials promoting The Baconator. If you go to meatatariansunite, you sign up to become part of the movement and receive a coupon for a Baconator. Pretty ingenious, I think. You get people talking and then you give them something free for the effort.

The commercial is pretty funny, too, and totally appeals to their main target market - guys who like to eat meat (I guess that's redundant, huh?).

Crazy Lettuce

Peer Pressure

This past weekend, Scott and I had dinner with several of my Fuqua friends. There were a total of four couples that went out to dinner - all four of the couples met through Fuqua and we're all still in town.

One of the couples already has a nine month old baby. So we were asking how the baby was doing, since this couple just recently moved back into the area. And then the big announcement came - one of the Fuqua friends is nine weeks pregnant. There were claps and cheers as the sonogram picture was passed around. And then the second big announcement came - the other Fuqua friend is nineteen weeks pregnant. Everyone hugged. And then everyone looked at us.

This is one eggo that is not preggo.

It's very strange that just one of my college friends has a baby and no one is even pregnant, but several of my Fuqua friends are already pregnant. I wonder if it has to do with where we all are in life - my Fuqua friends are all at a similar stage: advanced degree, settled, good jobs; whereas my college friends are all at different stages: some are back in school, others are changing jobs, some aren't married, so there's less congruency in terms of having a baby.

It's amazing the peer pressure that these pregnant women exert on non-pregnant women. Whether it's explicitly asking when we're going to have a baby or talking with other pregnant women about day care and matters-of-the-belly (a conversation to which I can contribute nothing), there's this constant pressure to join the "club."

In school, you learn about how to resist peer pressure when it comes to smoking, drugs and drinking. About how to say "no" when you feel peer pressure to have sex. But no one tells you about the peer pressure you feel ten years later when these mothers try to get you to have a baby.

I am (we are) just not ready for a baby now. I admit it - I'm selfish and can't imagine sharing what I have with anyone else. But this peer pressure will get to you.

I'm staying strong.

Shattered Ceilings

As we Americans prepare to enter a political sprint until the November 2008 elections, I can't help but look forward to the 2012 elections. This year, we have seen some historic events, with the first African-American presidential nominee and second female vice-presidential nominee. Either way, come November 2008, our country will have made a historic decision - either the first African-American will become president or the first female will become vice-president.

What will this mean for 2012? Will the political scene change forever because of this race? Will we see fewer white faces, fewer men take charge? I wonder if that glass ceiling will be shattered forever and future elections will ever be the same.

While part of me is excited about the potential change in mindset when it comes to the leaders of our country, part of me is also indifferent. And maybe this is the greatest testament to where we, as Americans, are today. It doesn't seem that odd or strange that an African-American or woman is running for president. And while I know that our country - like most countries in this world - still has a lot of ground to cover to forever bash the prejudice and discrimination that continues to live in this country, I think it says a lot that our generation barely seemed to notice that something historic was in the making. That our generation doesn't see what the big deal is that an African-American may be president; that a female may be vice-president.

And if that's the case, then anyone, truly, can be president of this country. I wonder if 2008 will have forever changed the old-school mindset and if 2012 will be more representative of who and what this country was founded for.

Wine Whine

During our wine trip to California in June, Scott and I fell in love with Kunde Winery's Chardonnay. Unfortunately, we only picked up two bottles, thinking that we can always order more if we wanted (wine was so much more expensive in California than we expected, so we didn't quite stock up as much as we wanted to).

After all, you can get anything from anywhere these days, right? Want that special perfume that's only made in Paris? No problem - a few clicks of the mouse and it's on it's trans-atlantic journey to your front door.

So I didn't think anything of it when I went online to order a few more bottles of that delicious, buttery Chardonnay. I added the bottles to my "shopping cart", entered my mailing information and then....click...."We cannot ship to that address." Confused, I called to find out what was wrong with their website. Apparently, nothing.

Not every state will allow wineries to ship direct to consumers. North Carolina is one of them. Apparently, the law is pretty complex, so not every winery is blocked. Just some. And apparently there is a lot of paperwork to fill out if you want to ship to certain states.

I'm not ordering Uzzies. I'm not transporting illegal drugs. I just want my Chardonnay. Just two bottles, as that. Not even a case. I feel like I'm living in a Communist country - my right to drink California wine is being violated.

I guess even the internet has its limitations.