I know these posts are usually for sharing innovative ideas and the 
latest/coolest trend, but wanted to ask if you'd consider a few 
things. I'll try to keep it relevant.

1. I'm pretty old school and love the idea of a handwritten note or 
letter expressing something, communicating or thanking someone, but 
technology has taken the place of doing a lot of this. Specifically, 
we can send or share our thoughts with anyone and everyone in a tiny 
second - social media being our venue.

Despite the irony, consider this: Since we all can't hand-write a note or be be physically present today, maybe it could be a neat support system to post something 
on your facebook wall about anyone who means something 
to you. Would be interesting to see how many people posted words from 
the heart rather than what they ate for lunch. Just a thought.

2. At times, it seems we've forgotten some of the basics for everyone 
at work, one of them being to remember that a simple pat on the back 
goes a long way. Not just to your peers, but to someone who you don't 
know very well that made your project successful. Go find them. 
Interesting article debunking myths about praise at work below:

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/dec2007/ca20071227_941417.htm

3. It's one of our own 5 words, but really LISTEN to people, in and 
out of work. We're all busy and there will never be enough time in this life. But 
the outcome of the time you take, and the relationships you create, is 
what I think leads to success, in whatever form.

Practice using your words, speak your mind, and don't let anyone interrupt. 

So, when asked to do an Andy Warhol type assignment at school, Abby Weber (daughter of friend and colleague at McKinney) chose THE awesome Nationwide Lockup as her medium.

I received the lovely artwork, and it made my world.

I love that the whole family is involved.

Wanted to share the joy.

Hearts all over the world.

I don't even know where to begin. 2010 has been a blast. Everyday, a success. I find that I end up doing exactly what I want, at the very time I want to do it. It helps that the sun has finally come out after a chilly winter, and that we live in an area convenient for fun. Let's see, a recap might help:

Started the year off with a fabulous Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Raleigh Convention Center. A top notch program including our very own Joni Madison. Notable speakers and performances, beautiful people and a wonderful turnout for a great cause. It's truly impressive to see the love and support that people have for one another.

Read on: http://www.hrccarolina.org/

First Fridays in Raleigh have turned into a popular event now that Spring has arrived. Not only do they have several interesting art stops, but there a cute bars and restaurants to frequent as well. And if you can't make First Fridays, then you can enjoy live shows at any one of the many venues around town. Everything is conveniently located near each other. From Sitti, to Raleigh Times, to Pour House and Tir Na Nog, there is something for everyone.

Check it out: http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/firstfriday/index.htm

Don't even get me started on Durham. I've enjoyed several moments on a porch, brunching, driving with the windows down with music blaring, in a park, hiking, biking, outside sippin' a beer, walking a dog, watching baseball, random dance parties, eating, laughing by a fire, softball, anything! Once the live shows start at Duke Gardens, it's over! Not really, but I honestly plan to be outside from the moment I wake up until I hit the pillow again.

Lastly, I have to specifically call out the live music scene again - there is ALWAYS something to listen to, if you're willing to try and are open to the options. It wouldn't be silly for me to go to 3 or 4 live shows in a week. I'm a little crazy, but the point is that the triangle area has really made a name for itself. They will be hosting the Hopscotch Festival in September - a North Carolina Version of Austin City Limits - I'm definitely intrigued.

DO IT: http://hopscotchmusicfest.com/

I can go on, and I know I haven't covered everything. More to come as long as the sun stays out.

Check out the Nationwide Family Tree site and build your own tree! www.nationwide.com/familytree

It allows Nationwide to begin a customer relationship and raise brand awareness.

African-Americans know that their personal family history and the rich history of their community have prepared them to become history makers. They have their own stories to tell, futures to create and legacies to perpetuate. Further, relationships matter to this audience - how advertising reaches beyond the brand in community efforts and philanthropy is considered key to building and maintaining a trusting business relationship.

The goal of this site was to respect, celebrate, acknowledge, share history with family and friends, and present an invitation to do business with Nationwide by connecting with older/distant family members and strengthening the familial bond.  Nationwide understands you and the role of your heritage today and tomorrow. For future generations, it's a clear path of where they've come from and a strong sense of identity.

Here's a link to the news:

http://blacknews.com/news/nationwide_supports_black_history_month101.shtml

It's been a fantastic summer-fall season in Durham. The reason i'm going to speak of is the music scene. I am an avid listener of all types of music, and I'm always ready to see some live music, and i've been fortunate enough to see several bands of the past few months.

Including, but not limited to the following artists:

* Andrew Bird

* Blitzen Trapper

* Junior Boyz

* Matisyahu

* Lost in Trees

* Megafuan

* Ghost Cats

* Bowerbirds

* Heartless Bastards

* Wolfmother

* No Doubt

* Kings of Leon

* U2

* Love Language

* Little Dragon

The list can go on forever. We're lucky to have some pretty legit local band coverage, as well as several venues that host any number of popular artists. The best thing is the convenience and accessibility to everything. Be it in Carrboro, Chapel-Hill, Durham or Raleigh, there's really a tune for everyone. Check out the schedules at these venues:

www.catscradle.com

www.local506.com

www.lincolntheatre.com

www.the-pour-house.com

And there's always a great listing in the local independent paper - www.indyweek.com

Check it out. I've still got a full calendar!

I love the ability to set multiple homepages in your browser. Love it. Call me nerdy, but I don't care.

I was browsing the web for a spell and noticed that I had quite the array of open items that I like to refer to on a regular basis, including - email, the essential iTunes playlist, NYtimes.com and local news, This Day in History, Webster's Word of the Day, Wikipedia,  and Pitchfork and Imeem (2 awesome sites for up and coming music). Who doesn't need to be tapped into the world, to start a collection of the soundtrack to their life, to know how NOT to repeat history, and to NOT sound like the village idiot? Tell me.

One would think that I would be the ultimate conversationalist, but not so much. Instead, I like to keep it in my pocket, get a little wiser and soak up that awesome playlist with my headphones. It's a way to expand my horizons and enlighten my day without leaving my desk. I don't have to go around the city, country or world to have a little taste of everything right at my fingertips.

"The best time of the day is in the morning. The possibilities are endless, and even though nothing could happen, the possibility was still there." It all starts with a homepage.

I want to take a minute to give a shout out to the NC area. I just had a marvelous weekend, touching all corners of the triangle. Fun patrol explored as follows:

1) Friday after work in Durham - met up with friends at a local bar and proceeded to free concert at Duke.

2) Back to another bar within walking distance for some eats.

3) Headed out to Hillsborough after a colleague's art show opening for a gathering of friendship.

4) Saturday morning - treck to Carrboro for a photo shoot and crepes at a local cafe with outdoor dining around a mini farmer's market.

5) Proceeded to Jordan lake for a nice afternoon on the boat.

6) A wee bit of rest before making my way to Raleigh for a PIG ROAST, accompanied by incredible people, music, dancing and singing.

7) Sunday morning hike at Umstead State Park.

8) Back to Durham for another mini-hike into the Eno Quarry. So crisp.

9) Wrapped it up with a Target trip, a hookah, and a book.

I don't know about anyone else, but that's how I like to fill a weekend when I'm not travelling to some new place with a group of friends.

The best part - I must have burn 8 cajillion calories with all the laughter.

And scene. :)

Interesting take on American history and what it means for immigrants today. I wonder if they'll put this in the school textbooks?

http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/i-lift-my-lamp-beside-the-golden-door/

Almost four years later, an artist creates an imaginative documentation of Hurricane Katrina, using some real-life stories to chronicle one of our nation's biggest catastrophes. The New York Times describes it as "the latest example of the expansion of the graphic format to include nonfiction and reportage as well as superheroes and fantasy."

 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/books/24neufeld.html?_r=1

Apparently, not so much, based on my recent experiences.

After visiting a local McDonald’s facility, it brings me great humor to say that if you order a Happy Meal, you might be docked a few ingredients.

When I ordered a Happy Meal, I was told that they were out of “Happy.”

I’m sorry....WHAT?!?

They had run out of said “Happy” earlier.

Oh, okay...WHAT?!?

I proceeded to order everything else that came with it, meal and toy included, but I was still (clearly) perplexed.

I would have let that slide if it wasn’t for the following occurrence.

I went to a local Taco Bell joint. I know, gross, but actually quite sufficient, considering my schedule and my diet.

We all know that Taco Bell has a variety of options, but let’s be honest, there are about 4 ingredients that make up all of them.

So I get to drive thru, and I see that there are no burritos or quesadillas left. Hmmmm. That doesn’t leave much, but okay.

I ask for a taco-type object, only to be rejected.

So let me get this straight - no burritos, quesadillas, okay. But you’re Taco Bell and have no tacos - DO YOU HAVE ANY BELLS?

Maybe some refried beans in a cup will do.

Lastly...

Try going to a coffee shop that exists WITHIN a supermarket. When they tell you they can't make your drink because they have run out of an ingredient, I always tend to turn around to take a gander of all the fresh produce and groceries we are surrounded by before proceeding to purchase a simpler beverage. Perplexed, yet again.

Here’s what I learned:

Shoot for the moon – if you miss, you’ll be happy that you’re not alone on the moon.

OR

Don’t visit fast food restaurants between the hours of 12 PM and 11AM if you want service.