Time To Take The Blinders Off.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I discovered yesterday that I am truly politically ignorant. And the more I think about it, the closer I come to the realization that I think I've done this to myself on purpose. I'll explain.

Yesterday during a long ride in the car, my dad, who teases me about my liberal leanings and often tries to engage me in political discourse, decided to "take my political temperature" and quiz me about politics, macro and micro. And while it was an entertaining conversation, it was an eye-opener for me. For example:

• I harbor a dislike for our current governor, but couldn't really explain exactly why. Although, in my defense, I was just slightly informed enough about T-Paw's budget cuts to be able to cite the removal of funding for Minnesota's General Medical Assistance program -- which leaves a number of poorer adults in the lurch. I felt like I had a small victory there, and this truly is one of my major issues with our governor.
• I recognized most of the names he mentioned, but didn't really know who represents me in Congress. I was horrified to learn it's probably Michele Bachmann -- whom I regard as a true crazy-lady.

We had a lively conversation about the Vikings and their latest push for a new stadium, which led to a discussion about taxes. The hubby and I just happened to have had a meeting with our accountant on Friday morning to finally learn our fate from 2008. We were shocked to learn that the success of my husband's business placed us squarely in a MUCH higher tax bracket last year, and we owe better than $30,000 total. A ridiculous number, and one that is starting to make me question my status as a self-proclaimed Democrat.

Now, I'm not an official member of the Democratic party, but I do have a history of liberal beliefs and have traditionally voted Democrat. I believe that Americans have a duty to help their fellow citizens, and I also believe that Obama is our next FDR. However. I'm also starting to realize that the supply of money is limited. Government-supported social service programs, education, the military, and, soon, health care all require money. I'm starting to see that that money comes directly out of the pockets of hard-working Americans. I'm finally feeling the frustration that comes with working my ass off to make enough money to support my family, and I don't get to keep around 1/3 of it. Yeah. That sucks.

What else sucks is that this frustration feels completely out of whack with my beliefs: that social services, universal health care, and a better education system are very much worth our investment. Two pointless wars, bank bailouts, and private sector bailouts -- not so much. All of these causes are competing for the American dollar, and our current economic troubles only compound the problem. Past poor decisions in the housing and financial markets are now diverting badly-needed money from the causes that need it most...all in the name of economic recovery. All to try and help our great country avoid spontaneous combustion. 10% of Americans can't even pay taxes because they lost their jobs -- and somebody has to fill in that that gap. Right now China is filling it in, but eventually they'll stop lending to our government.

The question is, where does it stop? Will I have to give the government 50% or more of my salary before they tell me they have enough to stabilize this country? I think Obama was dealt a shitty hand, and he's playing it the best he can. But pretty soon something will have to give.

Hm. I went from feeling bad that I don't know enough about local politics to giving a pseudo-macroeconomics lecture. Anyway, the point is this: it might behoove me to remove the blinders and start paying attention to what is going on around me. And maybe, just maybe, it might be good for me to find a way to contribute. I'm no politician, and you'll never see me running for office...but there are plenty of ways to get involved, right? First things first...perhaps a newspaper subscription...

My, How Time Flies

Today it officially hit me...my little man turns the big 2 on Saturday. Can you believe it? Two years old. It amazes me how much time flies, and how much changes in just two years.

My kid amazes me every single day. I know that any parent in their right mind would say that about their kid...but I'm pretty sure my kid is more amazing than anyone else's. I won't bore you with all the hows. I'm not here to brag, anyway...that much.

Two years ago today I was hugely pregnant and dying to have this baby already. Little did I know that in just two days my water would break at work, and off to the hospital I would go. Eighteen hours later my firstborn would enter the world and change my life forever.


Price, 1 day old, and his daddy

And now here I am. So much has happened in the last two years, and I'm so glad I've taken thousands of pictures and written everything down to help me remember. Now my chief worries are potty training and trying to keep swear words out of his vocabulary for as long as possible.


(yeah, he'll hate me for this someday)

He is a major fan of Sesame Street, and I'm excited to be throwing him a Sesame Street-themed party on Saturday. I've been in a tizzy all week getting everything ready. Wanna see?

First, the invitation:



And the decorations. There isn't much variety in official Sesame Street party gear out there, it turns out. But we make do, right?



And finally, the part I am most excited about. Rather than a regular cake, I've decided to go all-out creative for this most special of occasions. I'm going to make Sesame Street character cupcakes! I know, I know, it's a drastic undertaking, but I'm prepared. I took Friday off of work to make sure I would have plenty of time. I scoured every store in a 15-mile radius for just the exact right sprinkles to decorate them. And this is what I hope they end up looking like:





I'm excited to do something creative for my little man's party. I always think it means so much more when a little love and elbow grease go into something for someone you love. And I do love my little man!

Stay tuned for pics from the big day!

You Are The Master Of Your Destiny

I ran across the coolest story on CNN.com today. It's a great example of how someone is making the most of a terrible situation in this bad economy.

24-year-old Brianna Karp of Southern California was laid off from her job as an executive assistant a year ago July. Since then she has been unable to find a job and lost her apartment. She had been given a camper trailer by her father, and, along with her dog and her laptop, set up in an L.A.-area Walmart parking lot. Not the most ideal circumstance for anyone.

Se is educated, she is smart -- and although she's homeless, she isn't a bum. She started blogging.

Brianna has captured the attention of higher-ups at Elle magazine and scored an internship with E. Jean Carroll and as a guest writer spot on their blog. Her boyfriend was once homeless in Scotland and also blogs about his experiences. Although she isn't out of her hole yet, life is looking up for her.

And I think that is just fantastic! This is what I call creative problem-solving. Brianna and Matt are dedicated to homeless advocacy, and I'm so inspired, I just had to share. Follow the links and read the stories!

If They Can Find Jaycee, We Can Find Jacob.

I don't know about you, but I have been entranced by the story of Jaycee Lee Dugard, kidnapped from North Lake Tahoe in 1991 at the age of 11. 18 years later, she has been found alive and well in Northern California. I love happy endings like this.

Stories like this always make me think of Jacob Wetterling, who was kidnapped at gunpoint from St. Joseph, MN in October 1989 - also at the age of 11. I vividly remember when this happened. I was 13 years old, and this story was huge news for a very long time. St. Joe is a small town, and things like this - a seemingly random gunpoint kidnapping of a child - just doesn't happen in a place like St. Joe. Jacob was with his younger brother and another friend, on his way home from the store. The kidnapper took Jacob and let his brother and the friend go. Nearly twenty years have passed without sign of Jacob, dead or alive.



Jacob's kidnapping also changed Halloween for us Minnesota kids forever. Suddenly you saw many more parents accompanying their kids out trick-or-treating. Kids learned to only approach houses where the front light was on. Everyone was pretty fearful that first Halloween after Jacob's disappearance, and not much has changed in 20 years, as the media has made access to information about kidnapped children a lot easier to come by.

Jacob would be 31 years old now. His parents, Patty and Jerry, still live in the same house and have the same phone number. I can't even imagine what Jacob's poor parents have endured -- Patty Wetterling has channeled her grief and energy into advocating for children's safety. She is an amazingly strong woman, and I hope she sees her son again.

Now, since Jaycee has been found, I think again about poor Jacob. Is he stashed away in some deranged psychopath's barn, basement, or backyard? What has he had to endure? Has he been tortured, sexually abused, brainwashed? Is he walking around out there in plain sight, not remembering who he really is? Is he dead, his body so well-hidden that nobody will ever find it? Jaycee's story inspires hope that Jacob may also be alive and well out there somewhere. If they can find Jaycee, we should damn well be able to find Jacob. Really, all it takes is one person to notice and report something suspicious. Minnesotans, keep your eyes and ears open!

Cursed Insomnia

Here it is, nearly 1am on a Sunday morning...and it is WAY PAST my bedtime. But it seems that sleeps intends to elude me for a while. I'm not a chronic sufferer of insomnia, so nights like this, when I know I'm tired and NEED sleep, are particularly frustrating. So I thought I'd write a bit, see if that helps clear my head.

Price seems to have come down with a bug, which is, of course, always worrisome. His eyes have been goopy for the last couple of days, and today he started up with a runny nose and general malaise. It is clear that he doesn't feel well at all, and any mother hates that.

I fear that I may be coming down with something as well...sore and scratchy throat, and feeling like I have a throat full of marbles. I worry a lot about this,...what if I've caught the one virus that could hurt the baby I'm brewing? I know that the likelihood is extremely small, but still...enough to keep me awake at night, apparently.

Constant heartburn and nausea aren't helping either. If I don't fall asleep within about an hour of eating, my stomach starts to feel yooky and I start thinking I should run downstairs and get something to eat. Three times this has happened tonight. As if I'm not already over being sick all the time. I don't need this on top of that.

OK, enough complaining. Watching Hollywoodland and eating soda crackers...and sorta wishing I could take 2 Tylenol PM and turn this insomniac night into a memory.

Finally On The Upswing!

Boy, I'll tell you -- Number Two has been wreaking havoc on me the last couple of months! But the good news is....I'm on the upswing now. Nausea is waning, appetite is coming back, fatigue is manageable. Still peeing like Seabiscuit and not sleeping all that well, but hey -- I'll take what I can get. I'm eleven weeks now, already popping -- but not needing maternity clothes yet. It's all good!

So today my hubby tried to talk me into visiting an entirely different hospital in order to get an ultrasound that can tell the baby's gender at 14 weeks. Patience has never been one of his strong suits; I told him he can wait till 20 weeks, like everyone else. :)

Life has been pretty low-key lately, which is a welcome change. Price continues to amaze me with how much -- and how quickly -- he learns. This morning we saw Sarina, our next door neighbor girl whom Price absolutely adores, walking through the neighborhood as we headed to daycare. We stopped to say hi to her, and as we drove to Jessica's, he said "Cheeny go walk?" over and over again. Just like he says "Daddy go work?" over and over every morning. That he even understands this is what blows my mind. Another example: we recently moved Price into his new big-boy bedroom. The transition has been remarkably easy! I'm now teaching him that his old room is the "baby room" and his old crib is "baby nigh-nigh." He gets it. He knows a baby is coming, and anything I can do to ease the transition for him will help. I may even pick up a baby doll and teach him how to be gentle with a baby. I don't know why I worry about these things; I never seem to give him quite enough credit. :)

My garden has been awesome. We've been rolling in peas and green beans and lettuce, and I just picked my first green peppers yesterday! I made stuffed peppers with them, and they were delicious. No ripe tomatoes yet, however. Waiting patiently! I should be able to harvest some carrots pretty soon, too. What a great way to get more veggies into our diets. Price will eat green beans straight from the garden...prefers them that way, actually. Who knew?

Just wanted to get a quick update out here, I know it's been awhile since I've written. Hope you're all enjoying your day!

Had Me Quite The Scare Today.

You know how they say that God will never give you more than you can handle? For a few brief moments today I was sure I was the exception to the rule. I had a nasty pregnancy scare, and during those few brief moments I was sure I had lost my baby.

Fortunately I didn't miscarry, the baby is still in there and is just fine. So I guess my guardian angel is watching over me and Number Two. But I'll tell you what, I can't remember ever being that scared. Except maybe on 9/11 when my parents were on a plane to Dallas and I didn't know if theirs was one that hit the Twin Towers or not. That may qualify as the scariest moment of my life, and today's scare definitely takes second.

I automatically assumed the worst. I think I did that because I have suffered a miscarriage once already. Many of you don't know this, but I got pregnant and miscarried right after my wedding. So today I saw blood and assumed it was happening again. I was angry, disappointed, devastated, and hysterical. Never once did I consider that the blood I saw might be, well, normal. I never bled while pregnant with Price, so why would I

Oooo, John Schneider on tonight's CSI rerun. Man, I had the biggest crush on that guy as a kid.

Anyway, since I never bled during my last pregnancy, blood now would seem abnormal to me. Now that I have my wits about me again, I realize that this pregnancy has already been nothing like my last. Nothing. The doc said every pregnancy is different, just like every kid is different. I'm still amazed at how unconcerned he was about the gravity of my situation; he made me feel so very much better.

And then my wonderful father came over this evening just to take Price for a walk around the neighborhood. He is so sweet, and I sent him home with dinner since he's been a bachelor this week while my mom hangs out at the cabin with her sisters. I gave all three of the old cronies a good scare today too. :)

Now I'm enjoying my quiet house and thinking about heading to bed early. Here's a toast to the patron saint of crazy expectant mothers!

You've Heard the Rumors...

...and they are true! PG tests and ultrasound confirm that Shawn and I are expecting Baby Caron #2 in February. After nearly nine months of trying, this is happy news for us!

This pregnancy is already quite different from my first one. I'm suffering from morning sickness, for one. I never did with Price, but this baby has me nauseated pretty much 24/7. Very uncomfortable, but what can an expectant mother do? Hopefully it'll subside in coming weeks.

As of today, I am 8 weeks, 2 days along. Due date is semi-officially set at 2/21/10. I'm scheduling a cesarean for this one, and they tell me that they'll do it at 39 weeks. This could very well end up being a Valentine's Day baby! Price didn't make it to 39 weeks (my water broke at 38-1/2), so this ought to be interesting!

We have lots of work to do with Price in the meantime. He'll need to be transitioned into his big-boy bedroom, and I'm a little nervous because I don't know how he'll respond to such a dramatic change. That, and I'm not sure how I feel about giving him the freedom and ability to get out of his bed and wander around at night. But I guess I can't keep him in his crib forever.

We'll also need to work with him on his jealousy of mom and dad's attention. He adores babies, and I don't see that having one around will be a problem. But the amount of time and attention a new baby will require from me is going to be a problem. My daycare provider suggested I buy a babydoll and use that to get Price used to the idea. Not a bad plan!

We will find out the gender at my 20 week ultrasound. I'm happy with whatever I get, but it sure would be nice to have one of each. Here are pics from this morning's ultrasound. This is what they used to see how far along I am and determine the due date. It's roughy the size of a kidney bean and looks a little like a gummi bear!

We've Been Here Before

Raise your hand if you are devastated by last night's announcement from our favorite reality TV couple.

Now, raise your hand if you are surprised.

Really, you should be neither. Because this has all happened before. I kind of think that if you allow your life and your marriage to be run by a TV network and devoured by the ever-hungry American public, you are setting yourself up for failure. Celebrity does not treat a person kindly, and unfortunately people seem to need to learn this the hard way.

I think it's truly tragic that Jon & Kate's marriage has become a casualty of the reality TV craze -- not to mention the dollar signs they probably saw when they signed the contract. I do...nobody deserves this. But I hope somebody is telling them "I told you so."

Awesome article from the AP outlining other reality TV marriages that failed, to put it all in perspective (apologies for the pesky ads):

Reality romance cursed? Check out the track record

Happy Father's Day!

I have a quiet house right now. Shawn and Price are sleeping, it's overcast and looking like rain outside...so I'm sitting on the couch watching old movies and ignoring the mess of toys on the floor. This happens so rarely that I almost don't know what to do with myself!

They say it's Father's Day...but right now it kinda feels like Mother's Day! :)

Now - A Door In Every Room!

I pose this question to you, dear reader: why on earth would someone want to stay in a hotel that bills itself as "the worst hotel in the world"?

Well, if you're me -- and many 20-somethings backpacking through Amsterdam -- the Hans Brinker Budget Hotel is so honest about its seediness that it simply must be experienced. The genius here is that the hotel lowers its customers' expectations so dramatically that they aren't disappointed when they stay in a room with pictures of chairs on the walls - but no actual chairs.

And their marketing campaign is so humorous and innovative. Utterly brilliant, folks. Don't you want to say you stayed in the worst hotel in the world? If you do, then the marketing has succeeded.

MarketingProfs B2B Forum Takeaways, Vol. 2

mROI (Marketing Return on Investment): The goal is to optimize marketing spend for the short and long term in support of brand strategy by building a market model using valid, objective marketing metrics and analytics.

It's too easy to lose sight of the customer. Customer centricity is the key component to drive your strategic advantage.
- How does your customer process information?
- How does your customer make purchasing decisions (likely emotionally)?
- What are your customer's brand preferences?
- Where does your customer prefer to buy?

You must track your marketing activities. If you don't, how will you ever see trends and be able to craft or tweak your Marketing strategy?

BOOST your campaign: Brand, Objective, Offer, Sell, Track

Brand: consistently apply to all marketing design (this one is a no-brainer).
Your brand is your reputation, not your logo.
Make your brand different.

Objective:What are you trying to achieve?
Kinda have to know this before you can make any progress. Develop a plan, pencil in your goals (they are dynamic), know the customer, and run the numbers (thru a gap analysis).

Offer: There are 256 known merchandising offers. Are you using them?
Herschel Gordon Lewis' 7 copy motivators: fear, guilt, flattery, exclusivity, greed, anger, and salvation. Use as many of these in your copy as possible.
An offer is the solution to your customer's primary pain point.

Sell I must have been tweeting during this segment; I have no notes to offer!

TrackThis is the only way you'll ever know if you've truly met your objective.

This is but a taste of the information I'll take back to the trenches! I think I can start making some immediate changes when I get back. I'm also more aware of what I don't know, and I can't wait to start asking questions! This conference was exactly the kick in the arse my career needed.

MarketingProfs B2B Forum Takeaways, Vol. 1

One thing all good Marketers should do: compelling offers. Every speaker today tells me this is uber-important when getting in front of customers and prospects.

Behind social media, the buzzword of the day is integration. Both in the sense of marketing campaigns (incorporating multi-touch opportunities--print, web, social media, video), but also in the sense of Sales and Marketing aligning and working together. There is lots of opportunity in both arenas, and have the perfect project to start turning the tide: my 3rd quarter Consultant Campaign. Direct mail, e-mail, microsite/reg form, direct to our social network sites.

General lead gen and nurturing question: where does Marketing end and Sales begin?

I learned something new today: "Digital Body Language." Here you can use a prospect's online behavior (sites visited, e-mails opened, whitepapers downloaded, etc) to determine what would be relevant to them. Very cool!

Right now, Twitter's main capacity in B2B Marketing is as a listening tool. Check regularly to see what customers are saying and be proactive in protecting your brand. Hopefully somewhere down the road we can use it to talk to our customers.

That's all for now...check back later for an update!

Be Careful What You Wish For.

Ah, that term can be applied to so very many areas of life. More than once I've regretted not following that advice -- but that is a story best saved for a late Saturday night and a good bottle of riesling.

Have you been following the Jon & Kate Plus 8 saga? Man, I have. Their "scandalous behavior" and sensationalism around it has kept me riveted to USWeekly magazine. I mean, the show, which I've been watching since the beginning, is so wholesome. It portrays the lives of Jon and Kate Gosselin and their brood as so happy, so harmonious. Happy and doting parents, normal kids growing up in front of the camera. I understand now that the show is carefully scripted and sculpted to project that image. Behind the scenes, they're all regular folks with all the same problems you and I have...the only difference is that they're in the spotlight.

This Associated Press article really sums it all up nicely.

Seriously -- if you offer yourself up to the public, you can't expect that you will be treated differently.

It's refreshing to see something like this, because I have a tendency to take everything I see at face value. If Jon and Kate say life is groovy, and it appears to me that life is groovy, I accept that they're somehow better at life than I am. But then something like their infidelity scandal hits the press, and I'm shocked to learn that life isn't all that groovy in the Gosselin household. Wait, what? But the show...

Yeah. That's exactly it. The show, although they call it reality TV, doesn't necessarily depict reality. I often forget this.

Celebrity is a risk taken when signing a showbiz contract. And celebrity means you are watched, and you are judged -- and in order to maintain a positive image, you must behave. And you can't take anything you say or do back...once your adoring public makes a judgment, the damage is done. I personally think that would be a sucky way to live. Jon and Kate were fools if they thought they were somehow different. Their marriage may be the casualty in a war within the press, and that would be the ultimate tragedy -- especially with eight children.

How the Hell Did I Do That?

Hi folks. I'm back after a brief hiatus. It's been crazy in Jen's world the last couple of weeks! I've been traveling for work, and then the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Finally I can get back to life as I know it!

Fenway Park - Boston 5/14/09

Disneyland, Anaheim CA - 5/19/09

Otter Tail Lake, Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Traveling is tough, especially if you're me and on a regimented exercise/weight loss program. The way I do things does not really allow for variations such as change of venue or time zone. If I can't go to my local YMCA at 8:00 every morning, I don't exercise at all. This is just how I operate. So, two days in Boston messed up that whole week, and three days in Orange County meant the week was a complete loss, both with exercise and with diet.

So I fell completely off the wagon for about two weeks, even before we hit the cabin for Memorial Day. I decided that I would let myself enjoy the weekend and not stress about what I ate. I would come into this week rejuvenated and ready to undo the damage.

So this morning I dragged myself kicking and screaming to the Y. First item of business: get on the scale. I was both eager and reluctant to see how many steps backward I had taken.

Imagine my shock when I saw that my weight hadn't changed. I didn't know whether to be flabbergasted or ecstatic. I went with flabbergasted. How in the hell did I do that?

I guess it doesn't really matter. What matters is that I can clear my conscience of how and what I ate these past two weeks. I don't know if I'm getting better at eating reasonably, or if I got more exercise than I thought...but I do know I'm glad. I won't be feeling bad or getting down on myself, which is never a good way to start a week. Maybe I'll quit worrying about it now and get on with my day.

Stay classy, San Diego.

Green is the New Black

So by now you can probably tell that I am making an effort to "go green." To "reduce my eco-footprint." To "preserve the earth for future generations." I've got my own vegetable garden, I've got a composter, and I am downright weird about recycling. And you know what? All this is a lot of work -- but I get a lot of satisfaction from making a tangible difference. The work is worth it.

The biggest area of chagrin for me is food packaging. My family consumes a whole lot of pre-packaged food, especially frozen food. And with all that food comes packaging -- boxes, bags, plastic clamshells. Some of which can be recycled, some of which cannot. I'm hoping to start cooking more fresh foods, but so far I haven't found the time to do that. Maybe an overabundance of fresh produce will give me the kick in the arse I need.

Anyway, I can always appreciate packaging that is practical and reusable. Hillshire Farm is leading the way, by packaging their sliced ham and turkey in Gladware. We all love Gladware, don't we? Recyclable, reusable, keeps toddlers entertained for hours. Another bonus -- there's no price difference between Hillshire Farm and, say, Oscar Meyer. There's a lot to be said for that.

I would encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for products like this -- that help you be green without significantly changing your lifestyle. Heck, why not?

All My Crazy Questions Answered!

I don't know about you, but I often wonder how much of an impact the internet has made on life as we know it. This video provides that answer from a historical perspective. I'm convinced that I have been witnessing the next great "age" of history: the Internet Age. Enjoy.

BTW, thanks to MarketingProfs for sharing this fabulous bit of macroinfo.

On Social Media

I've been thinking a lot about social media lately. As a B2B marketer, I try to stay tuned to the goings-on of the industry, and social media has been the buzzword for the last six months or so. I think Twitter takes most of the credit for grabbing the attention of the corporate world...it's like a whole new opportunity has magically presented itself.

That is, if you are in the business of talking directly to Joe Schmoe. Consumers. If you're in the business of talking to other businesses, or consultants, social media isn't the magic pill you'd think at first. People blog and tweet and Facebook -- businesses, not so much. I'm sure it won't be long before somebody figures out how to effectively communicate B2B through social media -- maybe that someone will be me! Although businesses still have a lot of learning to do in this area...I'll be following it!

This is the conclusion I've drawn in my recent research, but I still remain fascinated with the possibilities -- and related stresses -- of social media. After bemoaning the value (or lack thereof) of self-branding online, I went ahead and started just that sort of initiative. I can be personally googled. I have this blog, although I'm not sure anyone's reading it yet. I can be found on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, and FriendFeed. Right now my social media network is being used for both personal and professional purposes, and I'm waiting to see how that evolves. Works for me at the moment.

Brand Overhauls

I've been noticing lately that many consumer brands have been changing. This article from Woman's Day confirms my observations! The marketing guru in me wonders if this will really help, or actually hinder in these tougher economic times.

One of these things is not like the other.

After dropping Price off at day care this morning, I headed to the Y for my Monday step aerobics class. The roads were busy...at 7:45, trains are coming through and people are dropping their kids off at school. In the sea of Fords and Dodges and Toyotas, I spotted a car that looked rather out of place in humble Elk River:



A Maserati Gran Turismo coupe. Dark green, and a gorgeous car. Retail price for a 2009 model: $110,000.

I wondered what the hell a car like that was doing in downtown Elk River.

Elk River has blue collar roots. And even though many Twin Citians have relocated here over the last decade (myself included), this town isn't a hotbed of corporate activity. In fact, this past year Elk River lost the headquarters of one of its major businesses to Maple Grove because Elk River, with all of its car dealerships, farms, and industrial parks, doesn't project the image the company was looking for. In fact, they said and I quote, "The type of people that we need to attract want addresses like Edina and Minnetonka, not Elk River." Ouch.

Indeed, there aren't too many high rollers around here that would drive a Maserati. Most of our "rich" folks drive your standard Beemers and Mercedes.

The lady driving the Maserati headed west on Hwy 10, and I wish I knew where she was going. She looked like she belonged in Edina, DT Mpls, or outside Minnesota altogether. New York or L.A., perhaps.

But you know, I like this town. I wear my M & S Exteriors hoodie and feel perfectly at home here. I know, I used to make fun of people who wore logo gear from manufacturers, construction companies, and other blue-collar companies -- but now I am one of those people and am proud!

I like my house in the boonies. Elk River has pretty much everything I need...I don't make it into the Cities that often anymore. I like its proximity to major highways and I like how much easier it is to get to the cabin from here. The schools are good. The people are good. And if someone driving a Maserati feels compelled to drive through, I say welcome!

Green Thumb In Action.

So. Friday is the big day!

What's so big about it, you ask?

Well, this next week is going to be crazy with traveling to Boston mid-week, so I took Friday off to take care of some bidness. I'm going to give myself my Mother's Day presents (a massage and a pedicure), and I'm going to FINALLY plant my garden!

I am so frickin excited -- my garden is all I've been able to think about for over a month. And now, the danger of frost has passed and the ground is primed.

I've got it all planned out. In my main garden next to the house I'm going to plant carrots, beans, peas, spinach, and lettuce. And then I'm going to create a plot somewhere out back for the creepy viney things like pumpkins, cukes, canteloupe, and watermelon. I also bought two Topsy Turvy Tomato Trees. Once those arrive they will house my tomatoes and bell peppers -- both of which are already started and in the basement awaiting planting.

I'm such a nerd. If you'd asked me two years ago if I would ever be this weird about growing things, I wouldn't have believed you. Ha!

Anyway, so I have a few things to do in order to prepare the garden to receive seeds. The first is, I have to buzz up to the horse farmer up the road and help myself to his pile of FREE horse manure. I bought three Menards 5-gallon buckets for the occasion. I just need Shawn's pickup truck -- no way are three buckets of literal horseshit going in my car. The manure will be used to fertilize the garden, and some will go in the composter.

I also need some new black dirt. Lots of new black dirt. I could buy it in 25-lb bags at Home Depot, but I'd rather my hubby call in a favor and get a couple yards of it for me.

Past that -- I have the seeds, I have the cages -- all I need is some time to get it done.

I've also been enamored with my birds. I bought a new seed feeder this spring, and my yard is most popular with the local avian population. I fill the feeder every day, and I've seen all kinds of birds out there -- mourning doves, various woodpeckers, nuthatches, goldfinches, robins, cardinals, even a rooster pheasant (he ate seeds on the ground, and completely dwarfed every other bird around him). The resident squirrels are feasting as well -- far be it from me to stop them. I got plenty of seed to go around! No hummingbirds yet...I think I'll have to plant some flowers to attract them.

AND, did I mention that my 170 tulips came up as planned this spring? When I planted them last September I wasn't sure I'd get them all. But I did, and early! They're almost done now, but they have been a joy, and really brighten up the front of my house. As do my new hanging baskets.

Aaahh. You know, I think that telecommuting has given me the chance to finally take an interest in my house and its curb appeal. No commute means more time! And I'm glad for that.

Reflections On Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day to me.

I'm feeling pretty blessed. I'm loving my little man even more today...feeling beyond thankful to have him and to have the opportunity to raise him. I try to be a good mom, to raise him to grow up and become a productive member of society. I like to think he'll change the world.

I'm also feeling lucky to have my own mother. You know, they say that you never truly appreciate your mom until you have children of your own. I don't think that's completely true, at least for me. My mom and I have always had a great relationship, and I am perfectly aware how much she loves me. But on a deeper level, it is true. She worked and sacrificed for my brother and me, and that's what I didn't get until my son was born. I didn't get how much having a child truly changes your life. And for a woman to be more than willing to make any necessary adjustments to life as she knows it for her kids -- well, I think it's perfectly amazing. My mom did it, and I do it -- it's just part of the deal.

I also am blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law. She worked even harder and pushed through some bad circumstances to raise five healthy, happy children. I adore her.

I no longer have my grandmothers, but I am thinking about them today as well.

Because the Minnesota fishing opener falls on Mother's Day weekend this year, which means my hubby is gone until later today, I'm taking Friday off and will treat myself to a massage and pedicure before planting my garden. Sounds like a divine way to spend a day all to myself.

Happy Mother's Day!

Feeling All Adult and Stuff

My brain is finally catching up to my age. The past week or so I've been thinking a lot about responsible stuff like life insurance, wills, safety deposit boxes, savings accounts, and disaster/emergency preparedness. What I like to call "Just In Case" syndrome.

I bought a Gerber Life policy for Price, which I'm totally thrilled about. Assuming I can maintain the premium payments until he's 25, that will be his nest egg. His college fund. His money to do with as he sees fit. And being able to provide that to him pleases me immensely.

Shawn and I both need to take out life insurance on ourselves. Shawn jokes that I just want to bump him off, but really -- it's the responsible thing to do. Just in case. Now that I've quit smoking, I think we can finally afford to do it. We simply have to.

Now that we have Price, we'll need to do a will. Good thing one of my very best friends is a lawyer; I know absolutely nothing about how to set up a will or trust.

I'm in the middle of taking an inventory of all our valuables -- writing down serial numbers and descriptions, taking pictures.

Then I have to gather all this ultra-important paperwork (house deed, insurance policies, SS cards, etc) and stash it in a safety deposit box somewhere.

Just in case. It's best to be prepared for any possibility. I hate to think of such adult things, bit now that I have a family -- someone's gotta do it.

My Home Party Days Are Done.

Not that I've hosted a large number of home parties, but I've had a few. You know -- Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Mary Kay, Premier Jewelry, etc. This morning I hosted what I've decided will be my last party. It was Jessica's inaugural Usborne Books party, and nobody came -- except Jackie. I sent probably 30 mailed invitations and invited everyone I know on Facebook, and not a one person came.

I think Jess was relieved to not have to face a large group of people, but I felt bad that I couldn't help her turn a profit on her first show. And, I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed.

So I'm done. I think we've all outgrown the home party phase, and I know nobody wants to drive up here to attend one anyway.

Okay -- I'm over it now. Done feeling sorry for myself. I put forth a valiant effort, I can say that much.

Thoughts on the Blogosphere

I'm torn. I've been thinking a lot lately about the online world, about social media and personal branding and what that means to a career. I've been very active in the social media world, but purely on a personal level. I've been loathe to start doing it on a professional basis. Why? Let me list it all out.

• I'm in Marketing, but I'm not all that passionate about marketing. It's a job, and my current chosen career path, but I don't love it enough to immerse myself in it. I think that immersion and passion are key if you're going to have anything worth sharing online.
• I don't feel that I have much expertise. I don't care enough to become an expert in any area of marketing. I've always been more of a generalist, which has served me well so far, but doesn't lend itself to a targeted social media identity.
• I suppose I could write about my one potentially career-related passion, which is writing. But again, I haven't developed any real expertise. I just know it's what I want to do someday.
• I think there's a lot of pressure to proactively prepare for a jobsearch. I read the other day that if you can't be personally googled, you might as well not exist. I see many blogs and LinkedIn network pages, and I suspect that many people are doing it to build themselves up for a kickass job somewhere down the road. This is what they're recommending these days, and it strikes fear in my heart -- what if I lose my job and can't get another one because I didn't do the same? Do I really need to have thousands of LinkedIn connections and a viral blog in order to get a job?
• Which leads me to my next question: who has time to do that if you already have a full-time job?
• I would rather blog about whatever I want and not feel limited to blogging about career-appropriate subjects. I don't want to have to censor myself, or maintain two blogs/LinkedIn profiles/Twitter profiles. I want to be myself. I don't feel I can really be me if I want to "build a personal brand." I doubt any potential employer would hire me if they see half the crap I say on Twitter and Facebook. Which begs the question -- if that's the case, would I want to work for such a company?
• And really, how much more can I stand of corporate life? If I were to lose my current gig, would I really want to go back? Would it be worth all the effort in the end?
• I've always wanted to be different. To stand out somehow. I feel like anything I could possibly blog about is already being blogged about by a thousand other people. Who would care about what I have to contribute? This is also an insecurity I have about my writing, which makes it difficult for me to discipline myself and actually write. My own issue to manage.
  

Maybe I have commitment issues when it comes to my career. Maybe I have regrets over the decisions I've made and the paths I've forged in my career. And maybe I don't know what to do about that, so I just toddle along as I am. Just the thought of a career change scares the bejesus out of me and draws many protests from my husband.

So I just keep going, and wonder why I never find the true balance I'm always seeking.

Bristol Palin -- Just Like Her Mother.

I saw this article, and in blinking neon lights my mind produced the word HYPOCRITE. I remember that happening once before, while Sarah was on the campaign trail.

I'm with Levi on this one. Abstinence isn't realistic for today's young people...so let's teach them how to do it safely.

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I've Had Better Days.

Ever have one of those days when your demons decide to wake up and wreak havoc? Yeah, that's what I've got going on today...an exorcism. Check in tomorrow, hopefully I'll be better!

Garage Sale Season Officially Begins Today.

I learned something new today: the folks here in Elk River take their garage sales very seriously. And today I joined their ranks.

Two groups (Mothers of Multiples and Early Childhood Family Education) hosted large fundraiser rummage sales today -- one in the high school, the other in an elementary school. Out of curiosity, and also because Price needs summer clothes, I decided to venture into town and check the sales out.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I arrived at Parker Elementary School at 8:30am -- 30 minutes before the doors opened -- to find a line of probably 200 people stretching halfway around the building. Many came prepared with reusable shopping bags. One lady brought her own large plastic bin. Most had bottled beverages or coffee. As I took my place in line, I began to feel a little underprepared. All I had was my purse, which at normal rummage sales is plenty enough.

The doors opened, we all poured into the building, and I was handed a big blue plastic IKEA bag. At the time I thought this was a bit excessive, but I went with it. I stopped in the Toys room first, and I couldn't believe the insanity. Crazy-eyed women (women outnumbered men approximately 100:1 here) were literally running from toys to strollers to playpens and back to toys, writing their names on just about everything they touched. Several seemed prepared to start bitch-slapping anyone who might try to interfere -- even innocent folks trying to squeeze by.

Fearing for my life, I vacated the Toys room and sought out the clothes. This room was relatively civil. I found the 2T rack, and was suddenly very glad I had the oversized IKEA bag. I filled it up with summer shirts, shorts, swim trunks, jammies, sweats, and a couple of small toys. I could feel the competitive nature of garage-saling creeping into my head as I perused the rack. I realized that if I wanted PJs, I had to find them and grab them quickly -- I talked to several other women who were on the PJ hunt as well. There wasn't much time to spare -- if I thought something was even remotely cute, I stuffed it into my bag. I knew that it likely wouldn't be there if I came back for it.

Women were walking around with overflowing bags. Others who didn't get a bag carried piles of clothes taller than they were. Several sat in groups on the floor, organizing and showing off their finds. All had a certain concentration about them, as if getting good clothes for cheap was their sole reason for being on this chilly morning. It was contagious. I was glad I went when the doors opened, rather than waiting until later in the morning. I spent $44 on a huge bagful of clothes, and I feel good that Price's entire summer wardrobe is set.

It was a productive morning.

Under Construction

Hi! Welcome to my new virtual home! I'm in the process of moving in, unpacking, and decorating...but it won't take long until I'm up and running. Check back soon!