Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thankful

I am thankful today for so many things.

I am thankful for Chris who spent the entire evening preparing an amazing Thanksgiving meal for us to take to Olympia today and share with his family. I am also thankful that he shares his life with me.

I am thankful for my family. Chris and I both so lucky to be close to our families and to enjoy spending time with them.

I am thankful for my career. A year ago on Thanksgiving I was unemployed and unsure of how soon I might be able to find work. To be gainfully employed is wonderful.

I am thankful for Chris's career and the family I have come to know and love at his workplace.

I am thankful for our friends. The people we surround ourselves with truly mold our life and how much we enjoy it.

In general, I am just really thankful. I recognize and appreciate how lucky I am for the life that I lead. Not just on Thanksgiving, but on every day of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Why I Love Social Networking

As many of you know I'm an early adopter of new technologies and always seem to sign up for the newest social networking site. I've had a twitter account for a couple of years now, and for the first year or so I was wondering why. But then Twitter just took off this year (duh) and the social networking world is now my pearl filled oyster.

Last week I attended Salesforce.com's annual users conference, Dreamforce. Twitter was a big theme there. Twitter integration for Salesforce, Twitter list to follow your fellow admins, Twitter hashtag to see your name on the screen during the keynotes, Tweetups, and a live Twitter feed in the developer lounge. I was in Twitter heaven.

But then on Saturday I realized why I love Social Networking oh so much.

Saturday morning Chris and I decided to treat ourselves to a late breakfast at Luna Park Cafe and then a shopping trip in the junction. While we were driving home I decided to check my twitter feed.

I noticed right way that a few of the folks I follow (mainly West Seattle Blog) had mentioned that a pod of Orcas were heading towards West Seattle. Neither Chris or I had ever seen Orcas in the wild.

Of course I've seen Shamu before, but I couldn't imagine that was the same.

We ran home, grabbed Jet and the binoculars and went down to Lincoln Park. The entire time I was checking a twitter feed search for Orcas and followed their progress from Alki towards us. After about 45 minutes of watching for them we were starting to get very cold and wet (yes, raining in Seattle, big surprise) and we were about ready to give up when all of a sudden Chris spotted them. We spent the next hour or so watching the chase dolphins around and dodge the ferries. It was amazing. And we were there, because of Social Networking.

The best part was, every person that walked by us said something along the lines of "Have you seen the Orcas? We heard they were down here on (insert Twitter, Facebook, West Seattle Blog).

I love Social Networking.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Dreamforce 2009!

I'm heading out tomorrow to spend the week at Dreamforce 2009 in San Francisco. Dreamforce is Salesforce.com's annual Users conference and it is quite the event.

This will be my 7th Dreamforce. It will be the 3rd Dreamforce that I have been a speaker at. This year it looks like I'll be speaking in two session, moderating a Birds of a Feather lunch session, and getting some professional photos done for Salesforce Marketing.

This year they are saying that the attendance will be close to 15,000! 15,000 Salesforce groupies!

Can't wait!



Friday, November 06, 2009

Walking For Nita! Seattle Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

I've always wanted to do the Seattle Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis but have never really made the effort.  Leading up to the Holidays is always such a busy time, and I've always been able to come up with some excuse.

But not this year!

This year I have already signed up (http://seattlejinglebellrun.kintera.org/remjones) and I've even started a team (http://seattlejinglebellrun.kintera.org/walkfornita).

I'm walking in support of my mother, Nita, she has Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Anyone out there care to join us?  I already have 2 team members signed up (thanks Melissa & Angie) and my goal is 10!  If you want to join our team, visit our Team Page - Walking For Nita and sign up!  If you can't make the Run/Walk (oh, we'll be walking by the way) but still want to help in the fight against Arthritis you can donate on the team page or on my individual page.

I plan to enjoy myself and dress in holiday attire!  Should be fun.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Vote Early - Vote Often

Sunday evening Chris and I sat down with our ballots and the trusty internet and began our civic duty of rocking the vote.

In this off year election it was hard to get motivated.  A couple of ballot measures here, a mayor there, and an executive to boot.  Oh, and all of those so called Amendments that had lots of language for and none against.

What really struck me this year was the number of positions that were running unopposed.  I read what I could about each of them and tried to curb the urge to write-in "Daffy Duck" or the like.

In the end we made our decisions, filled in our circles, applied our stamp, and sent them off into the night.

This was all well and good until the next morning as I was driving the work and for the first time in weeks took notice of the signs that were littering my way.  And what made me take pause were the number of signs I saw for all of those candidates who were running unopposed.  Seriously?  Isn't that a total waste of money and resources?  Is it the urge to see your name all over town that is hard to resist?  And where will those signs be tomorrow?  They'd better at least recycle.

I almost wish I had written-in "Daffy Duck".  Next year I'll pay a bit more attention.
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