Off on a Holiday Vacation

I can’t believe it has been over a month since I got back from Laguna Beach; time is just flying by! I have been so busy taking care of my work tasks before the holidays that I haven’t even had time to sit down and throw together a blog post until now. My post will be short because I need to finish packing for a last minute vacation!

My wife bought tickets for us to go on a luxury train vacation over the holidays! She claims the tickets are her Christmas present to me, but I'm not so sure about that. I don't know anybody that likes to go on train vacations as much as my wife so I think they are just as much of a present to her as they are to me! Either way, I know I can use the vacation after the stressful month I’ve had at work so I’m not going to complain.

   

I haven’t been on a rail tour before so I am excited to experience a new adventure, but more importantly, I’m looking forward to relaxing! I hope everyone can relax and enjoy time with your friends and family too!

Happy Holidays! 

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Coming Back from Vacation

I just returned from a wonderful weekend in Laguna Beach. My hats are off to the Anti-war protestors who are engaging in the American Political process hoping for change. As a U.S. Marine, I'm saddened by all of the tragic deaths that have occurred based on bush's lie; W.M.D. I also must grieve for the innocent Iraqis that have died while bush on his high horse has been pursuing terrorist. I agree that we must fight terrorism but we must be precise, strategic, and have a realistic exit strategy. Make no mistake. The reason we are in Iraq is oil. Bush his family, Cheney, and all of the neocons have invaded a country based on the premise that they were somehow connected to Al Queda/9/11. In all actuality, 18 of the 21 highjackers came from Saudi Arabia. Why did we not invade Saudi Arabia? Because Saudi Arabia is already giving us oil. Bush and the neocons want to monopolize Iraq's wealth of untouched oil. Remember if you weren't with us during the war, you could not help rebuild Iraq and gain access to oil.

I'm sometimes saddened that the American public votes by party identification. I truly wonder how true conservatives can explain our national debt, tax cuts for the rich, out of control spending by a Republican Legislature and White house. This president, his administration and Republican Legislature have spent more money than any other president in our nations history. We are deeper in debt than we have ever been, and continue to mortgage our children's financial future. Unemployment continues to grow. Why are the conservatives not speaking up?

I support our troops. Bring them home and get them out of harms way. After serving my country for 8 years I watch in disbelief as our country spends out of control and continues to slash veterans and military benefits. Bush to his credit did take credit for the bungled response to hurricane Katrina. Now if he would bring our troops home, repeal his tax cuts, save (not privatize) social security our country might have some hope of regaining lost ground that happened on his watch. I do not foresee this happening, but one can dream.

Again my hat is off to Cindy Sheehan and all of the antiwar protestors! Those who believe in helping our troops must continue to contact state and federal elected officials and speak out against bush's lie. Keep up the good work, attend peaceful protest and continue to write your local newspapers. Our efforts must go on to save the rest of the troops who are dying for bush's lie.

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Finding Jobs if You're Unemployed

Job search networking can be very intimidating. It is important that you understand the concept of job search networking give and take. You may be in a panic situation since you have lost your job and you will do just about anything to get a new one. It's important that you do just the opposite . Don't panic. Clear thinking is what you need the most now.

If you didn't know you were supposed to develop relationships, now is the time to start. It's great to start off by doing searches on Google for your specialty  For example, instead of looking at overall doctor websites for finding, dig into your own specialty, such as browsing emergency medicine jobs on this site if that is your specialty. Eventually though, you will need to find the person in charge of those job postings and openings. Take the list of contacts you already have or start making a new list. Find the names of people who can help you in your job search immediately. Think of all of the people you know from your former employer. Surely you worked well with one or more of those individuals. It's very likely that they know someone outside of your last employer that you can talk to. Maybe they even know of a good headhunter that placed them in their position that they can have you call. It's possible that they have spouses who might be able to give you a hint or two.

When you call them, let them know of your situation. Don't go into too much detail. Just let them know that you are seeing a new opportunity and would very much appreciate if they would keep you in mind or tell others about you. Tell them you enjoyed working with them and that you would like to stay in touch - and then do it - even if it is through a yearly card or phone call. Tell them if they ever need help or a recommendation not to hesitate to contact you.

You have to start somewhere and this is one of the best places to start your job search networking.

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Wooden Sets for your Home

There are a few things to consider when you are choosing breakfast nook wooden furniture for your kitchen in order to make sure that you get the best breakfast nook set for you and your family. You need to look at the shape of the room as well as how large it is. You will also want to pay attention to the color and style of decorating used in the rest of the kitchen so that you carry through the same themes. For example, if your is made from log siding, then you will want to match your kitchen and home furniture with the theme of the exterior of your house.

Size and shape are probably the two most important attributes when choosing a breakfast nook table. You want to look at the size and shape of the room for guidance. If the breakfast nook sticks out from the kitchen in a half octagon shape with windows on all sides, then you want to look for a hexagonal or round wooden table made from cedar or birch wood. If the breakfast nook area is just a continuation of a rectangular kitchen then you should look for a rectangular or square breakfast nook table depending on how far out the extension goes.

Once you decide on the shape of the table, the next step is to choose your optimal dimensions. Basically, you want to table to be as large as possible and still fit comfortably in the space provided. You never know who might be coming over for dinner and you want to be able to accommodate as many as possible in a casual setting rather than a formal dining room. Even if you are a family of two and thought you should be looking for small wooden breakfast tables, let the room dictate the size rather than your family size. Take the dimensions of the room and subtract about three feet from each dimension to account for the pulling in and out of wooden chairs.

After you know the shape and size of table you want, you will start to look at design, materials of construction, and colors. Try to match the decor and style of the rest of the kitchen as well as possible. For example, if your kitchen is a country theme then you should look for a wooden table stained or painted a lighter color. Or, if your kitchen is more modern, you can look for a glass table with leather upholstered chairs.

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Being the New Guy

English: Mashable.com logo as of late 2008 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In my few weeks in the “real world”, I’ve learned more from him than I could have ever hoped to gain in any classroom. In my first post, I think I’ll talk a little bit about being the “New Guy” in this crazy world. More digitally focused posts will no doubt follow, so consider this a set up.

Something I had a hunch about, and have found undeniably true, is that this environment is nothing like a classroom. It takes a different skill set to keep up, and an even different one to excel. As the New Guy I’ve quickly realized that this world is immersive, stuffed with big ideas, and full of energy and passion for the work that’s being done. In order to keep up, you have to be the same way. Immerse yourself, embrace the big ideas (and try to come up with your own), and get excited about what you’re doing.

Also, as the New Guy, you need to have the right attitude. Every day is a new adventure, with challenges you never knew existed. So not only do you need to have a positive attitude, you need to translate that into positive action. Have an “I’ll just figure it out” attitude. This will always prove useful in new environments. When met with a new challenge ask questions, learn as much as possible, connect the existing dots, and in the end just put in the hard work necessary to “just figure it out”. I think this mindset can probably be applied to digital advertising as well.

Each day brands, agencies, and people are doing things in the digital space that no one has ever done before – just read Mashable. To keep up, I think it’s important to recognize that the answer, the solution, or the path to success can’t always be served up with clarity and written instructions. When that’s the case the people who have great ideas, and the drive to “just figure out” how to make it happen, are the ones who stand out and innovate.

So let me conclude. When you’re new, if you’re ready to learn from the great people around you and “just figure out” the rest, then what may seem like an overwhelming new experience will turn out to be a lot of fun.

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Guests Say the Darndest Things

The success of sites like Vimeo and YouTube prove how entertaining videos are for people of all ages. If you or anyone you know is hosting a large event, renting a video booth can be a fun activity for guests to participate in and let their true characters shine through. While some people love having an open forum to share their thoughts on camera, other people respond better to prompts. As a result, a fun way to engage guests and use a video booth in an unconventional way is by basing it loosely off the format of a “talk show.” Right before guests step in the video booth, have a volunteer ask them to pick a number that corresponds to a list of questions. Once they’re inside the video booth, the “contestant” will have to answer the given question they chose on the spot. You could also play a question game of associations, where someone gives the person or people in the video booth a word, and they immediately respond with the first thing that comes to mind. Depending on the list of questions, you’ll hear a wide variety of responses and reactions, all caught on camera.

To help spark some ideas for your “talk show” style video booth, below is a list of 40 thought-provoking questions that can reveal a lot about your party guests. You can use this list in its entirety, pick only your favorite questions, or create your own from scratch. You’re sure to get some thoughtful, wacky and intriguing answers, captured on an entertaining video to treasure for years to come.

1. If you could be an inanimate object, what would you be and why?
2. What three adjectives come to mind when you think of the host? Explain.
3. If you had to define this event with a song, which would you choose?
4. Do you prefer coffee or tea?
5. Describe what you think the future will be like in 300 years.
6. What are your biggest pet peeves?
7. Imagine a massive asteroid is headed toward Earth. The world will definitively end in three weeks. What would you do with the remainder of your life, and where would you want to be when the asteroid collided?
8. What is your favorite memory with the host?
9. If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
10. If you could go 100 years into the future, or 100 years into the past at the age you are now, which would you choose?
11. If you could be well-known or famous for one thing, what would it be and why?
12. What is your fondest childhood memory?
13. If you were restricted to eating only three foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?
14. If you could live abroad for a year in any country, where would you go and why?
15. What would be your ideal one month, all expenses paid vacation?
16. What is the funniest story you know about the host?
17. If you could be an expert on any one topic or skilled at any one thing, what would it be?
18. If you could travel back in time and relive any age of your life over again, which would it be?
19. What five personality traits do you value most in other people?
20. If you were stuck on a deserted island for several months, what three non-essential items would you hope to have with you?
21. What was your favorite book as a child?
22. What “fun fact” do people at this party not know about you?
23. If you could have been credited with discovering or inventing anything in history, what would it be?
24. Of all the Halloween costumes you’ve ever worn, what was your favorite?
25. What is the single best piece of advice you’ve been given in your lifetime?
26. What do you want people to remember most about you when you’re gone?
27. If you could talk to a younger version of yourself, what would you say?
28. What is your favorite vacation memory?
29. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever been told or witnessed firsthand?
30. If you could be in anyone’s head for a day, who would you choose?
31. Is there a story behind your name? Who or what were you named after?
32. If you could live in any civilization during any time period, which would you choose?
33. If you were a body of water, which would you be and why?
34. What is on your bucket list of things to do in your lifetime?
35. What would you do differently in your life if you knew there wouldn’t be negative repercussions?
36. What is the boldest thing you’ve ever done?
37. What do you admire most about the party host?
38. What would be your ideal date night?
39. If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
40. What would be your last words to the host if you knew you would never see him or her again after tonight?

Thanks For Visiting

Welcome and thanks for stopping by! Obviously we haven't done too much writing for our blog yet, but that's certainly going to change. We love sharing ideas, telling interesting stories and networking with people all over the world. If you have an idea you would like to share, just leave a comment. We try to reply and get back to anyone that does so. Again thanks for visiting and have the best of days!