Wake Forest is dead to me

How does a nationally ranked basketball team (No. 8 in the AP Poll) and a top team in one of the toughest conferences in the nation (No. 2 in the ACC) lose its first game of the tournament? By 11 points? To a team we beat in the regular season?

Wake does this every year. We finish strong in the regular season and then we choke in the tournaments. Of course, I'll be cheering my heart out for them on Friday, but sometimes it's so hard to be a Wake fan.

On a similar note, how does Carolina get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, when Duke had a better overall record than them, AND won the ACC tournament? Meanwhile, Duke is stuck with a No. 2 seed. Carolina has this halo effect with the NCAA officials and, frankly, there would be nothing I would like better than to see Carolina go out like they did against FSU on Saturday. Yes, I said that out loud.

Hey, it's March Madness. And nothing gets me more mean-spirited like a little friendly competition.

Four dog night

Perhaps as a reaction to all the baby-fever going on, Scott and I have decided to adopt a dog. We've opted not for a pedigree, but for a rescued dog. So we've been visiting a few pounds and shelters and seeing what might be the best fit for us.

We came upon an organization in Wake Forest, NC that houses several strays and abandoned dogs and found four dogs on their website that we'd like to meet. So we filled out an application and e-mailed it in. That was four days ago. No word yet.

According to the website, they will review your application and then get back to you within a week to schedule an appointment to come see the dogs. If you don't hear from them in a week, then you can assume that your appliation has been denied. Since it's now been four days without a peep, I'm thinking that we may have been denied.

What's crazy about this is that we're not asking to adopt a child, for which an application and background check would be entirely appropriate. We are asking to adopt a dog. Who used to live on a street. Who has no home. And is a dog. Come on, people.

Where I work, there are several homeless people who stand on the corner, asking for money. Last summer, one of the homeless men found a stray dog and took it in as his own. When you passed by this man, you could tell that he truly cared for this dog and treated him like a companion. He would give it water and he propped up an umbrella to keep the dog shaded. You would see him petting the dog and showing it affection.

A few days later, we heard on the news that a couple came by and took his dog from him because they felt sorry for the dog. They didn't think that it was right that a dog should live under those conditions. I would see this man for days afterwards, with a sign asking for his dog back. There are two things that irked me - and still do - about this story.

First, someone stole something from this man. I don't care who this couple was, or that the dog's owner was homeless - no one has the right to steal anything from anyone. The dog wasn't abused or in danger. He had become someone's pet. The man is homeless - at least let him have his dignity and companionship.

Second, the couple saved a dog, but didn't do anything to help this homeless man. The couple felt sorry enough for a dog to "rescue" it, but didn't feel sorry enough for a human being to rescue him. Did they give this man money or food or bring him to a shelter? No. But they did for the dog.

What kind of society have we become, when we value the life of a dog over that of our own species?

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

With the recent state of the economy, this twitter was, er, tweeted:


Or you can by a share of Citigroup and have change left over for a small McDonald's coffee. I'm thankful that my husband and I have a steady jobs right now. If only I could just stomach the fast plummet of our savings and 401(k)s.

Maybe it's safer to invest in fries...if only I didn't give that up for Lent!

A beautiful day for having a baby

With the deluge of pregnancies comes the deluge of little babies. Some of my friends have already started birthing, and the latest addition is little Chase Matthew Bevacqua. He is absolutely adorable and already looks a lot like his daddy!

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Chris! You make very cute babies...

When politicians do stupid things

A West Virginia delegate, Jeff Eldridge, wants to ban Barbie from the state. He's trying to pass legislation to stop sales of Barbie dolls in West Virginia. His reasoning is that toys, with the emphasis on Barbie dolls, have a tendency to glorify physical beauty over brains and leaves young girls with negative body issues. I have two comments on this:

1) How about we try to pass legislation to SAVE THE ECONOMY.
2) Why are girls treated like delicate creatures?

Yeah, yeah. I realize that there probably is some kind of issue with body image when we open magazines or look at too-thin models. But, come on. No matter what, women are always going to have some sort of body issues because that's part of evolution. We have to look good to attract a mate. And brains play a part, too.

But why aren't we passing legislation to ban sales of wrestling action figures? Why aren't we concerned about the negative body issues that poses for young boys? After all, they are never going to get abs that ripped.

Maybe all this emphasis on trying to protect us poor, helpless women only adds to the problem. Because of Eldridge, we think that Barbie is causing body image issues, and that makes us more sensitive to our own body. I'm not saying we ignore real issues that might be out there, but let's not make them worse.

And if we are, then let's do it for both genders, because those real issues don't just affect women.

Coffee bean dream

What I look for in musicians is generosity. There is so much to learn from each other and about each other's culture. Great creativity begins with tolerance.

--Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist

How true, indeed. Our minds cannot be open to creative ideas unless it is open to life, and that includes being open to all of life's inhabitants. And what better way to judge tolerance - and, for that matter, acceptance - than by measuring generosity.

When celebrities do stupid things

First, Michael Phelps got photographed smoking the bong. Then A-Rod admitted to using drugs. And now Chris Brown is beating up his girlfriend. When are celebrities going to realize that they can't do stupid things anymore?

A spokesperson for Billboard records speculates that Chris Brown's career is now over. And while what Chris Brown did was terrible, I find that kind of interesting that beating your girlfriend can end your career.

After all, celebrities do drugs and their careers are fine. They can shave their heads and take a bat to their ex-husband's car and no one bats an eye. Cheat on their taxes and their significant others and face no consequences. They can even kill another man and their records sell more than ever. But beat your girlfriend...that's just too far.

Maybe part of it is our culture - men don't hit girls. And perhaps, because of that, what Chris Brown is unforgivable in fans' eyes. Don't get me wrong - I'm in no way justifying what he has done and I agree that Chris Brown's records and bank account should face a terrible consequence as a result. I just find it a bit amusing that the public has reacted so vehemently to this crime, when it tends to turn a blind eye to others. But it also makes me wonder how this reflects the way we think of women in our society - as vulnerable and needing protection.

Rihanna is a victim, no doubt. But I hope she doesn't fall into the annals of stupid-dom, as well. After all, if she chooses to go back to Chris Brown, to forget his past acts of violence and become his girlfriend again, then I think fans should react in kind. She has a chance to be a role model and stand up for other victims in her plight; I just hope she isn't stupid and screw it up.

UPDATE: Rihanna and Chris Brown are back together. They are both idiots.

A bit of the macabre

Along with the whole "living green" trend comes the "dying green" trend. This is one that I've heard about for some years and I completely agree with. In fact, when I die, I don't want to be cremated or preserved forever in some coffin. Just stick me in a burlap sack and plant a tree on top of me. What better way to poetically demostrate the circle of life.

But it appears that, in recent years, the dying green trend has really boomed. Now you can be cremeated in a cardboard box, which reduces the harmful emissions into the atmosphere when burned. Or you can be formed into a new coral reef, where fish can live among you and loved ones can visit during scuba diving trips.

For those with no intention of dying just yet, you can still recycle and feed your quirkiness at the same time. Coffin Couches takes unused or damaged coffins and renovates them into couches. At $3,500 each, they are not for the faint of heart (or wallet), but can add that touch of class to a tatoo parlor or celebrity's house. I would consider purchasing one, but none of the ones showcased on the website quite go with my Pottery Barn-like decor. I can already see the gears rolling in some producers' heads for a new show on TLG or HGTV: Pimp My Coffin.

And with the green movement underway, what network can resist?

Girl Power

I heard an interesting tidbit the other day:

For the first time in history, women are about to be the majority in the work force in about a month. This is according to analysts who have been looking at patterns and industries effected by job cuts. More men have recently been laid off due to the nature of the jobs/industries (e.g. manufacturing, labor, etc.) whereas women tend to have jobs that are more representative of services or are working part-time.

So this got me thinking: if this is true, then I wonder if this will have bigger implications down the road, to the benefit of women. In the 1940s, women started to have a larger presence in the work force due to men being deployed overseas to fight WWII and I wonder if that later led to women having the confidence (and men realizing the value that women bring to the workforce) to assume larger roles and later, career paths. Now, if women are becoming the main breadwinners, I wonder if this will lead to an increase in gender equality and pay in the workforce. Perhaps this is the silver lining to the economic crisis we're in - closing the remaining gap between women and men, at least when it comes to careers, especially in upper management which seems to be dominated by men.

Regardless, I think now is a good time to remember that women are classifed as minority group under the law. And this means that women need to help one another, especially when it comes to boosting one another's careers and helping one another rise to upper management positions. No one is more critical than a woman, especially of other women, myself included. But we need to support one another, champion one another so we can become more powerful and confident.

Yes, we should do this for everyone, regardless of gender. But we should especially do this for our own and help one another become the very best a woman can be.

Hope doesn't just belong to America

It also belongs to Zimbabwe. Today, Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition-party's leader, officially became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, in a power-sharing agreement that he and Mugabe signed some time back.

I really hope that Tsvangirai can bring some peace, aid and resources to this country and its people. At the very least, I hope that he can stop the cholera outbreak and be able to treat the more than 65,000 people who are infected. And I hope that power doesn't go to his head, that he remembers the struggle, tyranny and fear that Mugabe and inflicted upon this country.

But Mugabe is still the President of Zimbabwe, so I suspect that it will be some time before we start to see some positive movement. After all, he's trying to fund his 85th birthday bash by soliciting donations from people (who in their right mind would fund this thing, I don't know).

While 65,000 of his people suffer from cholera (with 4,000 already dead), another 5 million of his people in need of food aid, and with his economy enjoying a 1,593% annual inflation rate, Mugabe's donation list includes the following:

• 2,000 bottles of champagne
• 8,000 lobsters
• 4,000 portions of cavier
• 8,000 boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates
• 3,000 ducks
• 100 kg prawn

Is anyone else but me sick to their stomachs?

Eat a doughnut and run

Saturday marked the 5th annual Krispy Kreme Challenge, sponsored by NC State University. The objective of the challenge is simple:

• Run the 2 miles from the NC State belltower to the local Krispy Kreme


• Eat a dozen glazed doughnuts


• Run the 2 miles back to the NC State belltower


• Do not throw up

The winner did all this is 28:09. This means he ate 12 doughnuts in 5 minutes. If you participate as a challenger and complete the challenge (you must finish in under an hour to be eligible), you get a free t-shirt. Now, you can compete as a casual runner, which means you can eat as many doughnuts as you like, but you don't get a free t-shirt.

Scott and I did our part to support the runners by waiting at the Krispy Kreme with one doughnut (each) and coffee in hand, cheering on the contenders. Over 5,000 people participated, and ESPN was on the scene, so it was pretty amazing to see. Plus, the funny costumes added to the liveliness. One guy was dressed in a full-out tuxedo. Another pair of friends were dressed as Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts coffee cups. Still others decided to run in nothing but a Speedo.

The truly amazing thing is how this story got picked up. My parents, in southern IL, read about the race on the second page of their newspaper. I guess when there are doughnuts involved, people pay attention.

All proceeds benefit the NC Children's Hospital, so it's all good fun for a good cause. Maybe next year we'll take a stab at the race...as a casual runner.

Latte Wisdom

On my Starbucks latte cup this morning, I came across this pearl of wisdom from "The Way I see It" series. This one is #129:

The first person to walk on Mars could be alive today. If so, she's most likely two years old and living in China.

--Andrew Zolli, Futurist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer

The sad thing is, he's probably right. We need to light a fire under our collective American arses and start getting excited about math and science. We're losing the battle and it's more than just national pride - it's about educating our children properly. While children in other parts of the world are learning math and science concepts and longing to get higher degress in these subjects, our children are watching TV or reading up on Jessica Simpson's weight battle. No wonder the Chinese our beating us in the economy and brains. We just don't care any more.

Maybe we need another space race. A race to Mars, perhaps. Something to join us as a nation and get kids and teenagers excited about learning and education.

Down Goes the Devil

Making another run for #1, Wake pulled off a fantastic win over Duke last night. If you missed the game, you missed one of the most exciting basketball battles so far this year. Wake came out strong, leading Duke at the half and for most of the second, before Duke started to pull up.

And then there were seconds left on the clock and Duke was down by two. Duke goes in for a three point shot (we held our breath) and missed. The rebound came straight towards Johnson, one of our guards, who just stood there. I swear he wasn't paying attention. He totally missed the opportunity and Duke snagged the rebound and put it in to tie us, 68-68.

Our ball, with just seconds left on the clock. Johnson redeems himself with a shot that just slid in (we held our breath). 0.8 seconds left and it's over. Won by 2 points and Duke goes down from the podium.

Our boys played fast and strong and, while Virginia Tech did hand us our first loss last week, I think we rebounded nicely. If we keep playing like this, we're sure to be first seed in the tourney.

Maybe this is the year.

Praise Song

I watched the inauguration on an airport TV, with twenty of us huddled around, straining to listen to the din and speeches over the tinny airport speaker. Until one lady found CNBC on her blackberry and put it on speaker and then we craned our ears to the small phone, eyes glued to the TV. And then we boarded the plane and hurried to find the channels on our personal TVs to watch the parade and the show of emotion between the Obamas.

What we didn't see, perhaps because we were distracted by our flight delay, was the inaugural poem by Elizabeth Alexander. So I found it the transcript online and I really like the poem, or praise song. As I found out last night, as I watched Elizabeth on the Colbert Report, a praise song is a west African form of celebration. What I like is that, while it is clearly celebrating the inauguration and the historic event of it, it really can be applied to many situations in which there was struggle and achievement.

Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

Little Baby B

This weekend I jaunted up to Connecticut to see Elizabeth, my college roommate. She is among the gaggle of friends who have lately decided to take the baby plunge and I wanted to see her in all her pregnant glory.

There were two parts of the visit that were amazing to me: first, that there was this little person growing inside of Elizabeth. Yeah, we've all learned about the "Miracle of Life" and from what little experience I've had with it, it truly is a miracle and a wonder that these two people - these two cells - come together to form a whole new human being. But that was somewhat abstract to me until I actually saw Elizabeth's belly and felt that whole new human being inside. To think that this little person - whom I felt hiccup and kick and move - will one day be running and climbing things and interacting with people is truly amazing.

The second part was seeing Elizabeth in a whole new way. This is my college roommate, the person I shared a life with for two years, with whom I had balloon swordfights, picked out the perfect frat party outfit, ate together at The Pit - and now she's all grown up and a mother. To see that transformation was really special.

Thank you to Elizabeth, Chris and Lilly for hosting me this weekend and allowing me to be a part of such a special time in your lives! No, I'm not getting any ideas, but I feel so blessed to be a part of something much bigger than anyone.

Believe

The rankings just came out today and, according to both polls, Wake Forest is ranked the number one team in the nation for basketball! We are the only unbeaten basketball team right now, and I hope that remains true through this week, although we do have two tough games coming up - Virgina Tech and Duke. We're a passionate team, though, and with this little boost, I hope we can give them both a good fight.

This is a great testament to the basketball program at Wake and the spirit of this young team. I've always been proud to be a Demon Deacon, but this week, I'm just glowing!

Let's go Deacons!

Long live whitey

As inauguration day draws nearer, we're hearing reports of how the Secret Service and the government are preparing for the big day - primarily against any kind of attempt on the life of our President-elect. While I'm sure such measures are always taken on Inauguration Day, this time it's even more important as this will be our very first black President.

The fear is that white supremacists will be looking to prevent Obama from taking office. Ever since election night, there has been a spike of chatter among these groups and while no formal plan seems to yet exist to assassinate Obama, who knows what may be lurking under the radar?

I find it absolutely amazing that white supremacy still exists in this country. Sure, I know that there is racism and prejudice, but at such a level where you are planning to fly the American flag upside down on Inauguration Day seems like a scene from the 1950s. Do these people really exist? And how could they live in our society, work in our businesses and hold these beliefs? The mainstream America seems to be past extreme hatred and racism, so how can you live in this American culture and still hold on to a such terrible and antiquidated belief system?

Reminds me of an old Tupac song:

I see no changes all I see is racist faces
misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this one better place, let's erase the wasted
Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right
'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonight
and only time we chill is when we kill each other
it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And although it seems heaven sent
We ain't ready, to see a black President...

I think we are ready. And maybe having a black President will cause these fringe groups to see the truth about us as an American people and a human race. I really hope that, if this presidency does nothing else, it eliminates whatever racism that exists in this country that I just fail to comprehend.

How 'bout them Deacons?

Sunday night was the big game between Wake Forest and UNC-Carolina. And, what a game! It was close the entire time, with Wake staying ahead pretty much the whole time, pulling out a 3-point win! It was exhilirating to watch Wake play and to put all those critics' noise to rest about Carolina being the best team in the nation. With a record of 0-2 in the ACC, it looks like Carolina may have been hyped up a bit.

Of course, anything can happen at any game.

But it's nice to be able to gloat a bit. Wake has always been strong in basektball, but this year proves to be exciting with a talented team. And with no Seniors on the team, we know these boys will be around for a few more years.

Go Deacs!

Pay to play

I know, I know. I'm obsessed with Zimbabwe. I can't explain the fixation I have with the country and Mugabe's dicatatorship. And I realize that, by getting my information from American news sources, I may not be considering all sides of the story.

But I also believe that America has a free press and, because of that, I trust the information that I get from it. Zimbabwe's press, however, is not free. And now they are charging exorbinantly high prices for foreign journalists to work in the country. You wouldn't charge people to report if you had nothing to hide.

This, from CNN.com:

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- The Zimbabwean government has announced restrictive licensing fees for foreign journalists working in the country, demanding they pay an annual fee of $4,000 to practice journalism.

In addition foreign media groups must pay $10,000 for the application and $20,000 for accreditation, payable only in foreign currency, the government-controlled Media and Information Commission said Wednesday. An administration fee of $2,000 is necessary for the permit.

Zimbabwe has some of the harshest conditions for journalists in the world. Several foreign and local journalists have been arrested in Zimbabwe for lack of accreditation since a media law was passed in 2002.

Most Western media organizations including CNN are banned from Zimbabwe. Those that do still operate there including Reuters, The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Al Jazeera would have to pay the fee if they wanted to report from the country.

Zimbabwean government spokesman George Charamba said the fee was being introduced because foreign media organizations were "reducing local reporters to mere runners."

The new fees do not apply to journalists working for Zimbabwean organizations...

When we visited the Newseum last month, there was this great wall mural that depicted how free the press was in each country of the world. Those countries that had a completely free press were also democracies and developed countries (US, Canada, Western Europe, etc). Those who had somewhat free presses were developing countries without any major world issues going on (Russia, Brazil, etc). Those that had no free press were those countries and geographies riddled with strife (much of Africa, China, Middle East).

I haven't studied this issue so I can't say there is a causation. But the correlation seems pretty clear. That speaks volumes for the power of the pen, the power of free thought and dissent, and the power of knowledge.

A pot of gold

The weather yesterday was sunny and warm, a balmy 55 degrees in January. And then, around 4:00pm, a very ominous looking cloud system started to creep over the sky. By 4:30pm, it was raining hard and by 6:00pm it was hailing.

But there was a break between the hard rain and the hail, and as I was driving home (travelling east, into the storm system), the sun peeked out for a small while. And there, to my right, was a fully formed rainbow. A few minutes later, another fully formed rainbow appeared, right above it. A double bow.

What I find funny is that we know exactly how rainbows are formed...refraction of light from the water particles. But even though we know this, it's a spectacle that still catches us by surprise and causes us to be happy. It's still a very magical scene, maybe because it doesn't happen that often, and it's easy to see why people once believed it was the work of pointy-eared leprechauns who planted a pot of gold at the end.

But maybe the rainbow, itself, is the pot of gold. What a beautiful surprise at the end of the day.

Holidays on Ice, Part 2

Happy New Year!

It's crazy to think that another year has started...where has the time gone? But I'm excited about this new year - a fresh start for new convictions and new ideas. Both politically and personally, I'm interested to see where 2009 will bring us.

We started off the New Year by applying for the Darwin awards. Scott and I jaunted up to Galena, IL with Abby and Nathan and spent the week being pulled and whipped around in a saucer sled by a six-wheeler. There were a few crashings into trees and thorns, a few flings into the lake (which were frozen solid, fortunately) and a few tumbles (no cracked bones, fortunately). As always, a lot of fun, although it was so, so cold. I never knew my sinuses could hurt from the cold.

So here's to safe journeys and safer activities in the future...and to a happy and health New Year!

There are no words

Mugabe is at it again. I just don't even think there is any way to respond to this. When you're dealing with blinded idiots, you just can't reason with them. I can't help but think that Mugabe's fear tactic reminds me of another dictator not-so-long ago.This from CNN:

Zimbabwe: Cholera is genocide by UK
One of Zimbabwe's top officials blamed his country's spreading cholera outbreak on what he calls "a genocidal onslaught" by Zimbabwe's former colonial ruler -- Britain.

Zimbabwean clinics have been overwhelmed by the cholera epidemic, according to aid organizations. "Cholera is a calculated, racist attack on Zimbabwe by the unrepentant former colonial power, which has enlisted support from its American and Western allies so that they can invade the country," Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told reporters. Britain ruled the country as a colony until 1965.

Ndlovu's claims triggered quick and pointed reaction from Britain and the United States. In Washington, State Department spokesman Rob McInturff called Ndlovu's accusations "patently ridiculous."

Referring to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, McInturff said Friday that, "Mugabe is clearly unwilling to take any meaningful action (to stop the cholera outbreak)."

On Thursday, Mugabe said "there is no cholera in the country." His spokesman later said that Mugabe was sarcastically ridiculing what he believes are Western designs to invade the country.Britain's Africa minister, Mark Malloch-Brown responded by saying, "I don't know what world he (Mugabe) is living in," according to the British newspaper The Guardian.

Malloch-Brown made the comment during a one-day trip to South Africa, where he visited a Johannesburg church housing 1,600 Zimbabweans who have fled their country, the newspaper said. "There is a raging humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe as well as an economic crisis and still there is no representative government able to lead the country out of this disaster," he said, according to The Guardian.

Cholera has ravaged Zimbabwe, causing nearly 800 deaths and infecting more than 16,000 people, the World Health Organization says.

The outbreak could surpass 60 000 cases, according to an estimate by the Zimbabwe Health Cluster, which is a group coordinated by the World Health Organization.

Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, by the way, is the same guy who said a few weeks ago that Zimbabwe had enough chemicals and money to repair sewer lines and clean the water. I guess his countrymen are still waiting for those chemicals and money.

Every smile matters

As we wind up 2008, I can't help but think what's in store for 2009. And I'm not sure what to expect: while I'm excited about the prospect of a new page in history for our country with our new President, Cabinet and Congress, I look around and see a lot of challenges.

There's the looming financial crisis - and with it, the depletion of so many people's retirement accounts; war in the Middle East - with the newest addition of Israel to the theatre; poverty, corruption and genocide in Africa; and the pollution and destruction of our planet, to name just a few. While there is a lot to celebrate from 2008 and a lot to look forward to in 2009, there's also a lot of sadness in our world.

So I think we should make a New Year's resolution to be nicer to one another. To smile to each other a little more. To be kinder and more generous. Yes, perhaps that sounds naive. But when we feel lost or overwhelmed, we must remember that we always have our humanity. We are all in this together - no matter where we live or what we look like - and we share in the sadness and the joys together. So by each one of us being a little nicer, a little more human, to one another, perhaps we can help make all these world crises a little more tolerable.

If my recycling makes a difference, then my smile can, too. It's just a little thing, but if everyone did something little, then think how great we, as a human race, could be together.

Washington, DC in love

This past weekend, Scott and I went up to DC for a quick trip. We live so close to the city (about 4 1/2 hours), but we have seldom visited, so we decided the holidays might be a great time to get away for a bit and spend the weekend exploring.

We had such a fabulous time and have decided that we love DC...so much, so, that we might want to move there. Up until now, I've longed to live in NYC. I'm a city girl at heart and I love the chaos and the hustle and bustle of New York. But after visiting DC, I might be changing my mind. DC offers everything New York does, but has more charm and character. I love that you are constantly surrounded by American history and there's always a buzz of politics going on around you. People in DC were so friendly, the prices were no more expensive than they are in Raleigh and the city has all of the bustle, without any of the hustle.

Of course, I'd want to live in Georgetown, but I seemed to have misplaced the $2 million dollars I saved for a house.

It was great catching up with Kristen while we were town. We ate at a fun brunch spot in DuPont Circle (Kramer's Books) with her and chatted over coffee, eggs and waffles. Yum! And I recommend the Newseum - possible the best museum I have ever been in.

I think we're planning another trip to DC in the Spring. We just might be in love.

Whopper Virgins

I came across this Burger King ad and loved it. The premise is that you can never really have a true, blinded taste test because everyone is influenced partly by brand, or has tasted one or the other burgers before. But what if you found people who had never heard of McDonald's or Burger King or the Whopper or the Big Mac? Which would they prefer? Of course, I'm not sure how accurate the tast test would be, given that hamburgers and beef are so outside of these people's cultural sphere.

This was done by Crispin Porter + Bogusky. It’s a little market research, a little ethnography, a little advertising and a lot of American domination of other cultures. After all, if everyone in the world hasn’t eaten a Whopper or Big Mac, then the terrorists have won.

It’s pretty interesting all around…

Mugabe is a thug

How has Mugabe managed to maintain control of Zimbabwe for the past 28 years? First he destroys Zimbabwe's farmland, then he refuses foreign humanitarian assistance and now his people are dying of cholera. And I haven't even mentioned the atrocities he and his cronies have committed against those who speak out against him and his political party.

This from an article on CNN.com:

Zimbabwe's information minister said Tuesday the cholera outbreak was under control, and he argued the West caused the health crisis and was using it as an excuse for military intervention.

Zimbabwe, already experiencing an economic crisis, was struck with the water-borne cholera in August. Health experts say the battle against the disease can only be won if Harare has adequate water-treating chemicals and disposes of refuse properly.

The information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, maintained the country has enough chemicals to purify water and enough money to buy pipes to mend sanitation lines.

I love it when the West is blamed for a dictator's actions. And if the country has enough chemicals and money to solve the outbreak, then why aren't they doing it?

I don't understand how someone in power could allow people - their own countrymen - to suffer in this way. I guess you can become so power-hungry and ego-obsessed that you're blinded to the terrible things you do to get that power. This guy reminds me of Amin. Why doesn't the rest of the international community do something to get this guy out of power and bring real democracy and peace to the country?

Tough times for the mistress

In these financial times, it seems as though the wealthy are hurting, too. In a recent market research study among individuals with a net worth of $20 million (alas, we did not receive this survey...it must have gotten lost in the mail), it was found that 80% who had extra-marital mistresses were planning on cutting back on their gifts and allowances. 12% said that planned to give up their lovers altogether because of financial reasons.

It seems that these millionaires are curtailing their spending, and their lovers are included. I guess it's harder to hide expensive gives from your spouse when there are fewer dollars in the bank account.

It should be noted that questions about curtailing gifts to lovers came at the end of a longer survey about wealth management. The full survey was administered to 518 people, with 191 opting to answer these "extra" questions. There were some gender differences found, with surveyed wealthy men more likely to curtail gift giving to their lovers than wealthy females. However, because only one third of the survey respondents were female (about 63 total), I don't think this difference is statistically significant.

The full story is here. I guess it's nice to know that the rich, or those in bed with the rich, are suffering just like the rest of us!

A few of my favorite airports

Because I fly so often, I've started to concoct a list of favorite airports. Those that do a great job of making you excited to actually have a layover, or delay, because there's something about the airport that puts you at ease. I know, crazy. Anyway, I've come up with five that I think are among my most favorite I've visited so far:

5. Pittsburgh: While it's an older airport and in need of a little face lift, the indoor mall makes those extra-long waits a little more bearable. It's a little awkward to maneuver a roll-bag between the stand-alones at the GAP, but it's nice to be able to shop if you're so inclined.

4. Detroit: I never thought this airport would make it on my list, but the Northwest terminal is amazing. Spacious, contemporary, with a little red indoor monorail that reminds one of the toy trains that circle along the ceilings of kitschy toy shops. Good restaurants and comfortable seating take the chaos out of this airport.

3. Charlotte: The word "whimsical" comes to mind. I love the white rocking chairs nestled among the tree-lined atrium and they have some of the cutest mobiles hanging from the ceiling. It's easy to get around and they have my favorite eatery there - Yovana (freshly made yogurt).

2. Heathrow (British Airways Terminal): Despite this terminal being practically on the other side of the country from the rest of Heathrow, it's definitely worth the drive. It's exactly the kind of terminal I would imagine Apple creating - lots of fun high-tech imagery, high-end boutiques (in case you're in the mood for a $5,000 Gucci handbag at 7:00am) and easy to get around. It's a very fun terminal.

1. Raleigh-Durham (Terminal 2): Not only does arriving here mean I'm home, but the newly remodeled terminal is gorgeous. Contemporary and spacious, with outlets by every seat and really good restaurants (finally!). I can't wait to see what the whole airport will look like when they are finally finished remodeling...in another ten years!

A random list, I know. But it's the little, silly things in life that help make travel a little more bearable!

One very very lonely calorie

I'm not sure how I feel about this series of ads by BBDO, Dusseldorf. They are the new ads for Pepsi Max, which only has one calorie. Granted, these are ads that will, presumably, be placed in another country, but I still think they are in poor taste. I like the art and editorial aspect of them, but it doesn't quite seem fitting for a company that is trying to sell a brand. Seeing them in a high-end gallery somewhere, yes. On a billboard or in a magazine, no.


In short, these ads seem in poor taste. I'm surprised that Pepsi corporate didn't nix these right away.

To see the full series, click here.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

It is officially December, which means it's now appropriate to pull out the Christmas decorations and start playing the holiday music. While I had previously believed that Black Friday kicked off the holdiay shopping, I am now informed that it was, in fact, Cyber Monday. I've never heard of Cyber Monday before and I wonder if any other days of the week will soon get their own holiday adjective, as well.

Our firm is doing something a little different for its employees this year. Usually, it gives out holidays gifts to everyone (we're a small firm of about 40 people). Last year, for example, everyone got Wiis. Scott and I were excited about this for about a month; neither of us were allowed to have video games growing up, but the novelty of the Wii soon wore off and it's now sitting, dusty, in our living room.

This year, because of the economic downturn and the resulting effect on our communities, the firm is doing away with employee gifts and using that money to sponsor 10 families - 5 families in Atlanta (where our second office is located) and 5 families in Durham. So our employees have been busy playing Santa Claus and it has been touching to see what we have purchased for these families.

That sparked an idea for me and Scott - we are fortunate that neither we nor our families truly need anything. So we asked that we don't exchange gifts this year; instead, we'll use the money we normally would have spent on our families on a Raleigh family that is truly in need. So far, we are only halfway through our budget and I'm amazed by the amount of clothes we've been able to buy for these four children. We racked up on Black Friday, finding nice, warm coats at Old Navy for $30 each. Not only is it so much less stressful, but it also embodies the true meaning of Christmas. And, in the end, we will probably buy so much less "junk."

So this weekend, we're off to buy a Christmas tree and finish shopping for the family. This year, the holidays feel so much more like they should be - filled with the joy and giving of the season.

A free ride

We live in a capitalist society. This means that businesses are born, businesses die based on the market. Successful businesses are able to foresee hurdles and barriers in the marketplace and navigate around them in order to survive in ever-changing times. Those businesses that are unable to do that die or are bought up. It's a kind of Darwinian model.

So I have a little angst around the Big 3 car companies asking the government for help. These car companies did not successfully foresee the hurdles and barriers in the marketplace - or they did, but failed to change their course to navigate them. Now they are hurting in a big way and expect that the government will bail them out. I'm sorry, but that's not how our economy is supposed to work.

Three years ago, I was lamenting to my father (a big supporter of American cars, who will never, EVER buy a foreign car) how the American car companies didn't have any hybrid cars. That honor belonged to Toyota and Honda at the time. Even as the Prius sold out and was back-ordered, the Big 3 continued on their same track - building the big trucks and SUVs because they were still hot sellers at the time. If the car companies did a better job of making smaller, more gas efficient cars a priority, perhaps they could have by-passed some of this mess.

Now, I know that there could be huge repercussions if these car manufacturers go under. Loss of jobs, loss of health care, implications for the supply chain. But our demand for cars, overall, is unlikely to change. Which means the foreign car companies will get bigger and absorb those workers and give business to the supply chain. In the long-run, we would be a a stronger economy.

But no one wants to hurt in the short-run. Maybe that's our problem, though. Maybe the generations, starting with the Baby Boomers, never sacrificed, never suffered. That could be one reason the Iraq war was such a disaster - in WWII, everyone hurt together. Americans had to ration supplies and volunteered for the war effort. But today, we don't even know a war is going on unless we turn on the TV. We don't have to curb our consumption or volunteer for anything. In short, we're spoiled. Maybe if we stick to our guns now, stick to what our economy is supposed to be it will be very painful for a few years. But we'll suffer through as Americans and in the long-run we'll have better run businesses and maybe more efficient cars.

Of course, that means higher taxes in the short run, as we support the millions of people who will be unemployed and without health care. But if we give the Big 3 the bailout, then we'll just have more of the same. We'll be rewarding businesses that did not successfully navigate the market. That's no way to foster new ideas, business savvy and capitalism.

James Bond, baby

I've never been a huge James Bond fan. I guess I never did fully grasp what the draw was for guys. Yeah, Bond get the women, the cool gadgets, the fun spy job. But after 87 movies, doesn't that get a little old?

That was until Daniel Craig came along. As long as he's James Bond, I'll keep watching. Those eyes. Those muscles. That scruffy-yet-handsome face. Excuse me while I swoon.

So Scott and I went to see the newest 007 installment and we were a little disappointed. Daniel Craig, of course, did not disappoint, and there was a lot of action and fun gadgets. But the last movie came out - what? three years ago? And this movie picks up right where the last one ended, without any back story to remind you what happened. So we were confused for most of the movie. The plot was a bit thin and we felt that there were story lines that were started but never fully developed. Also, this James Bond is a little "colder" than other ones...you don't quite warm up to him like to you do the other Bonds (and he doesn't get the girl in this movie).

The problem will be magnified when this movie makes its run on Spike or TNT. Usually, each Bond movie is its own encapsulated movie. But this one relies on the previous movie to make any sense. So you really can't watch it in a vacuum.

A word to the interested: unless you're looking for eye candy, watch the last James Bond movie before seeing this one. Maybe you'll leave the theatre feeling a little more fulfilled.

Deck the halls with turkeys and pumpkins

I get it. Really, I do. The economy sucks and retailers are hurting. But that doesn't give anyone the right to put out Christmas decorations three weeks before Halloween.

A few weeks ago, I walked into Crabtree Valley Mall, only to find workers hanging fake garland from the ceilings and assembling a ten-foot tall reindeer-shaped garland topiary. And I didn't even mention the Santa-land that is now positioned by the entrance of Southpoint Mall. Before you even think about turkey and stuffing, you can now have Junior's picture taken with Santa.

Adpulp has a good article about retailers' strategy for the holidays. It sounds like consumers are cutting back on shopping (although, as I've mentioned before, I have yet to actually witness this is Raleigh). But maybe this is a good thing. Just like when gas prices skyrocketed and we saw people curtail their driving and opt for gas-sipping vehicles, maybe we'll see people reorder their priorities and become less wasteful and less consumption-driven.

Of course, no one wants anyone to suffer or to go without things that they need. But at the same time, there are lots of things we buy that we don't need and which we buy just for the sake of buying or having. Perhaps tightening our belts a bit will allow us to better understand what really matters and to just consume those things we truly need. Not only is it better for our souls and pocketbooks, but it's also better for our environment.

So let's turn off the holiday music and take down those hideous topiaries. Let's enjoy the season for what it is and maybe, for just one year, take it easy on all that shopping.

A new chapter

Regardless of who won last night, our country was turning a page and starting anew. But with Obama's win, we're also starting a new chapter. I'm excited to see what this new president will bring (God knows I wouldn't want his job right now) and how he will guide us through all our current troubles. And I'm also excited to see how the election of an African-American to the presidency will speed up the elimination (or, at least, the suppression) of racism in our country.

I thought McCain had a very eloquent concession speech and did a great job of bringing closure to the campaign while encouraging his supporters to support the new president:

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited...

I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.

And Obama did his fair share, trying to unite the country. Both speeches moved me to tears.

The one reservation I have is that our government-elect is now made up of the majority Democrats. As a moderate, I like to see balance, and I'm nervous that the pendulum is going to swing the other way without temperance or hesitation. This isn't just for four years - this new government will make several Supreme Court Justice decisions, whose rulings will affect us for decades to come. I just hope that Obama and the Congress keep some moderation in their decision-making and remember that while the Democrats have won in the elections, the make-up of the country is much more evenly split.

So here's to a new president, a new chapter in our nation's history. May our leaders be guided by faith and temperance and may the next four years bring success and happiness to America.

The confederacy is dead

If Chris Matthews makes one more comment about the South in reference to the Confederacy and how that affects how southern voters vote, I'm going to scream.

While there are, no doubt, some Southerners who still fly the Confederate flag and secretly wish for succession, I would hazard a guess that the vast majority have bookmarked that part of the South's past to the history books.

Mr. Matthews, let's get a better grip on your southern viewership. Enough with the Confederate references.

I voted!

I hope everything has had a chance today to go out and vote. Fortunately, the there was no line at my polling place; I walked in and walked out.

I'm not particularly a big Carrie Underwood fan (country music isn't quite my thing), but I did love this quote from her in TV Guide. I've ranted about the media doing this before, but I also feel the same way about celebrities. In my opinion, celebrities aren't qualified to tell American voters how to vote and I think it's a little arrogant of them to think that their opinion should matter to the average American. Get over yourselves.

Carrie put it a bit more eloquently:

There is someone I do support, but I don't support publicly. I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate. It's saying that the American public isn't smart enough to make their own decisions.

So today, don't listen to the media. Don't listen to well-paid celebrities. Don't listen to your friends or family. Make up your own mind. Decide for yourself and what you think is best for this country. And vote.

Go Vote!

Tomorrow is the big day. I don't think I've been this excited since 2000, when my college roommate and I tried to stay up all night to watch the election results, only to fall asleep at 2:00 am and wak up the next morning just as confused.

Just about everyone I know has early voted, but I'm waiting until tomorrow. There's something about voting on the actual day that is special and emotional. Yes, I'll probably have a long line, but isn't that part of the experience? Isn't it about sharing that energy with other voters, all waiting to exercise their moral obligation to vote? After all, not everyone in this world has that freedom, and I think it's special to be among our countrymen who are fortunate enough to have been born into a nation that values that freedom.

Plus, it'll be fun to get a free cup of coffee.

Happy Halloween!

We survived the hosting of our first Halloween party and had a blast! The party was a costume party, but I really didn't expect many people to dress up. But almost everyone came to the party in a costume! I think, secretly, people love a good excuse to dress up. Plus, being silly and fun helps to keep us young!

The best costume awards of the night went to Jen and Rich for their rendition of the Geico caveman and the Gecko. Hilarious! Runners up went to Alison and James for McCain and Palin. Apparently, Alison had been practicing her accent all week, and it showed. She really did look at Sarah, too! Of course, their visit wasn't complete without the McCain/Palin sign they stuck in our front yard...Scott promptly removed it and it's now sitting in our garbage can. Sorry, Sarah!



Thank you all so much for coming! We hope you had as much fun as we did!

Oh, Baby!

The past couple of months have been littered with baby news and this month is no different. I now have five Fuqua friends that are pregnant and one college friend. Congrats to Joanna and Elizabeth who are the newest receipients of fertilized eggs.

I suspect by the end of the year, there will be a few more names to add to that list. I guess we've officially entered that phase in our lives when it's perfectly acceptable to start reproducing.

In all seriousness, I'm really happy for my friends. It's exciting to see these women whom I've known for several years and watch them grow into mothers. I get to watch a whole new transformation, becoming someone a little different, developing a side that I never knew about before or could previously imagine. Watching that transformation is such a special experience for a friend.

Heck, I knew Elizabeth as a wee college freshmen, when we bonded as roommate over having some of the same clothes. And now I get to watch her become this whole other person. We've come a long way, baby!

Congrats to all the newest carriers of life's creation! I'm not quite ready to join you all, but I'm available for babysitting anytime!

Fuqua moves up in the rankings?

Saw this article on Adpulp today. Looks like MBA students at Kellogg got a little out of hand during a party at the Field Museum. The night of drunk debauchery included vomiting in the museum, spitting on fellow party-goers and throwing things at Sue, the T-Rex. It's all fun and games until the dinosaur gets pissed.

The complete story from the Chicago Tribune is here.

Now, Fuqua students liked to party with the rest of them, but I don't recall anything quite as scandalous as what the Kellogg students did. At least when we partied this hard, it was usually in a parking lot, camping out for basketball tickets. Maybe I just didn't hang out with the right crowd.

I wonder what this will due for the MBA rankings? If Fuqua moves up, do I get a raise?

Quote of the Day

I'm really pushing the quotes this month. Must be something in the air. In any case, I figure people could use a diversion, given then firehose of politics that have been aimed at us these past fifteen months. This one comes courtesy of a tall non-fat vanilla latte.

"When I was young I was misled by flash cards into believing that xylophones and zebras were much more common."

--Amy-Elyse Neer, Artist and Starbucks customer in San Jose, California

Add X-Rays to that list, as well.

Oh, to be wooed

I'm registered as an Independent. Sometimes that means I'm conflicted - I like the policies from one candidate and the policies from another. I tend to think that there are good and bad ideas from both parties and, ideally, would love to wed the two of them together to form the perfect party. And, this political season, I've been hearing personally from both sides - my husband is a staunch Democrat and my parents are staunch Republicans. They all use me as their sounding board. Being the first child, it's hard to balance my own views with the need to not disappoint my parents. So, sometimes, being an Independent has its trying moments.

But sometimes it means you're seen as a little more special than those who are registered to just one party. I've received polictical mailings from both sides. I get special home visits from volunteers in the neighborhood, asking if I want to talk about it. I'll get personal phone calls from campaigns. Everyone wants to woo the Independent.

In a way, it's nice. Not just because I'm loved. But also because I get to hear both sides and become a little more educated than, perhaps, the average one-party voter. Sure, a lot of the information is propaganda and needs to be taken with a grain of salt. But, at the very least, they have incited questions which have prompted me to dig in a little deeper into the local and national issues and better understand who I agree with and who I'd like to vote into office. Despite some of the heartache, I think being an Independent has its advantages.

Plus, it's nice to be loved.

Quote of the Day

Mark Twain has always been a favorite of mine. Saw this quote from him today and I thought it was perfect, given the impending debates and elections.

"Politicians and diapers need to be changed often and for the same reasons."

--Mark Twain

Financial crisis? What financial crisis?

If I were visiting America from another country, I would cry foul on all the newspaper headlines about America's current economic situation. The images I would conjure up are black-and-white pictures of long unemployment lines, parents stealing bread to stay alive - a la Les Miserables, people tightening their proverbial belt buckels and pulling their money out of banks.

But these images are nowhere to be found. I visited two malls this past weekend (Raleigh-Durham has a lot of shopping centers), only to find them bustling with people, their arms laden with shopping bags, taking advantage of all the Columbus Day weekend sales. I went to Charlotte to see David Sedaris this weekend, only to find the hotel - and concert - sold out, ticket-holders sipping their $8 glasses of wine in the lobby. The restaurants are packed - we had to go to four different restaurants before we found one that could seat us immediately.

Where is this economic meltdown we've heard so much about?

Maybe people are drowning their sorrows in restaurant-prepared meals and retail therapy. Maybe employers haven't felt the tremors of the crisis and have yet to cut their balance, and employee, sheets. Maybe this part of the country has somehow gained immunity. I'm just completely surprised by the reaction.

If I was visiting from another country and never read a newspaper, I would have no idea of the chaos that is going on. After all, even my currency would be weaker against the dollar than it was a month ago.

The Subprime Primer

I thought this was pretty funny and actually did a decent job (I think) of explaining the current subprime disaster that we're in. The only thing that's really missing here is the responsibility of the borrower (but that's another post for another time).

Warning...explicit language is used in the presentation, so keep little children away from the monitor!

div style="width:425px;text-align:left" id="__ss_626325">Subprime Debacle Explained

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: mortgage humor)

Rock on, Tina!

Seven costume changes. Four dancers. Three-inch high Louboutin heels. Two backup singers. Fireworks. Fireballs. On Fire.

Abby and I went to the Tina Turner concert in Chicago this past weekend. She played a few songs that I hadn't heard before, but she didn't disappoint on her oldies. What I can't get over is that this lady is 69 years old and she is kick-ball-changing around in her Louboutins and belting it out with the best of them. The highlight of the show was the encore, when a crane swing her out over the crowd and she was dancing on the platform, as we held our breath that she wouldn't fall into the crowd. Of course, the crowd would save her...they loved her. She is a diva, after all!

It wouldn't be a weekend with Abby without an adventure. On Saturday morning, we pulled out our tickets and realized that we bought them...for Friday night. Whoops! Fortunately, StubHub came to the rescue and we found tickets for cheaper than our original tickets. Once we got to the concert, we were randomly chosen for an upgrade, so we actually got closer to Tina than we ever imagined!

Thanks, Tina and Abby, for a fabulous weekend!

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.

Say what?

I think all Americans should be required to learn a second language (at least) in school, starting at a young age. The fact that Americans, as a majority, only speak English is a bit of an embarrassment, especially as we now live in a global economy. Speaking a second language is something I think all parents, as well as the school system, should expect out of their children.

I also love that this country has so much diversity and that it is accepting (usually) of people from all walks of life and from different backgrounds. It's neat to walk in a city and hear different languages being spoken.

Saying that, I also think that America should step up and claim English as its official language. Sometimes I feel that we are so scared of offending someone, of being politically incorrect, that we end up not having a backbone and, as a whole, we suffer as a result. I think those who choose to live in this country should learn to speak English - whether that's an initiative supported by government, religion organizations or personal responsibility. That doesn't mean giving up their own language, culture and customs - but it does mean being able to interact with others around you.

I was in Target the other day and couldn't find an item. So I went up to a sales associate working in the aisle and asked for help. She brought me to a second sales associate, because she couldn't speak English. The second sales associate spoke broken English. My husband was at McDonald's the other day (don't ask me why) and had to literally point to the value meal he wanted because the cashier didn't speak English.

If I was in France or Mexico or Kenya, I wouldn't complain about these incidents. The oneness should be on me to know the language of the country in which I'm visiting. And if I didn't know the language of the company, I wouldn't mind being shuttled as they found a sales associate who could speak my language.

But I'm in an English-speaking country. It is poor business practice for Target or McDonald's to have non-English speaking associates helping customers, unless they are there for the explicit purpose of helping non-English speaking customers. But I guess I can't complain because, after all, English isn't the official language of this country.

Now the LPGA is under fire for requiring all its competitors to know English proficiently in order to compete in its tournaments. The LPGA is a US-based tour, with sponsors and fans and media who primarily speak English. From a business standpoint, it seems to make sense. It will be interesting to see how it plays out legally.

Sweet Home Chicago

About two weeks ago, Scott and I took a jaunt to Chicago to see our friends Abby and Nathan. It was quite an exciting weekend. Between experiencing a Cubs game (vs. Pirates, Cubs won), walking around the Magnificent Mile, laughing at Second City, gambling at the Arlington Heights horse racetrack and stuffing our faces with sushi, we saw a lot of Chicago and had a great time!

A few pictures from the weekend. The sign in Japanese says (hopefully) Fukedome, which is one of the Cubs' players and whose shirt I was wearing. And the giant polished steel structure is what, I am told, Chicagoans affectionately refer to as "The Bean." You can see the Chicago skyline reflected.

Thank you, Abby and Nathan, for such a fun weekend!

Olympic Fever

I am totally addicted to the Olympics. For the past week, I haven't gone to bed before 1:00 in the morning because I've been glued to the TV. Things that have gone out the window this past week include working out, reading and talking to my husband. All because I am obsessed with the different sports.

I'm a pretty competitive person, so there has been a lot of jumping around the living room and general yelling, hoping that I can send some karma across the world to my American counterparts, propelling them through the water or pushing them to run a few hundreths of a second faster on the track.

Mostly, I just want us to get more medals than China. Preferably, more gold medals than China. Call it ethnocentricity, call it national pride. There's something about getting those medals that helps to shine our tarnished international reputation.

By the way, has anyone else noticed that almost every non-US competitor resides in the US? They are either going to college in the US or just chilling out here. I think there should be some kind of requirement that you have to actually live in the country which you are representing. By that count, we are totally kicking it in the medal department...I think we can take credit for just about every medal that those other countries have earned.

Of course, I'm totally kidding.

Kinda.

It's a doggy-dog world

My local Starbucks is running two donation drives.

Donation #1: For our troops - donate a pound of your favorite Starbucks coffee (or donate a box of tea) to help caffeinate the troops. As a special treat, you can write a message to the troops on the bag. This donation has been running for about three months now, and there are 6 bags of coffee and one box of tea in the donation basket.

Donation #2: For the Orange County Animal Shelter - donate any items (food, toys, grooming products, etc) for the animal shelter. As a special treat, when you make a donation, you're entered into a raffle to win a (1) free Starbucks drink. This donation has been running for about two weeks and there are three baskets overflowing with doggy items.

It seems a little sad that the dogs get all the love and our troops get a few measly pounds of coffee. I was talking to the barista about this and she thought it had something to do with the fact that the pound of coffee costs about $10 and a dog toy could be purchased for about $1.

I hope that's the case...I'd hate to think that we value our dogs more than we do each other.

A picture says it better

I came across this editorial cartoon in the paper this weekend, and thought it nicely summed up my previous post.