Don't go changing

Money doesn't just stay put. We get a big check, a big bonus, a big payoff, and invest it, and think we've moved our gamepiece to a new spot on the board.

If there's anything this economic mess has taught us, it's that a move from the "Sorry" game does exist. You can find yourself sliding back to start. Just because you know have $100 doesn't mean that $100 will be more tomorrow, like we've all experienced for the past few years.

I just realized friendships are the same way. I'm fortunate to have very dear friends, whom I still equate to value they were at when they first became strong, even decades ago. But it just dawned on me (not for any particular reason, just some insight), that, like investments, they need to be checked in on and maintained in order to remain solid, and hopefully grow.

A good lesson in both the currency of life and love.

Well of Inspiration

I'm starting a new category here. I read a ton of stuff for work, much of which is on workplace issues, how to improve your career, creativity, etc.

I realize I'm not putting them all in one place.

So now I am. Anything I read that I:

a) Want to return to again for inspiration or ideas or thoughts
b) Find myself going, a-ha! Really? Huh, interesting

I shall now gather up and stash here.

Here's the first one: Copyblogger has a great list of ways of How to Be Interesting.

Enjoy!

Rock of Love

How do you know your husband loves you?

He skips the Pajama Gram Valentine's Day gift and instead goes straight for Guitar Hero.

How do you know your husband really loves you?

He gives you Guitar Hero nearly a full week before Valentine's Day, as soon as he brings it home.

How do you know your husband really, really loves you?

He cracks up at your level of GH excitement, refrains (mostly) from making comments about his wife acting like a 12 year old boy, and lets you sleep in when Baby doesn't seem to understand that Mommy HAD to stay up until 3 a.m. desperately trying to defeat the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn." (Special note: ridiculous, in case you had any strange dreams last night, it was because I was silently channeling your Beastie knowledge, as my secret weapon.) And that she's grouchy because those last few chords were just too powerful even for Super Mommy.

Rock on.

A Week to Remember

This week has felt like a month.

My job often takes to me to fun, interesting and sometimes plain ol' crazy places. But this week may top them all.

Monday was a Creative Coalition cocktail party, where I interviewed Tim Robbins while simultaneously screaming incessantly to myself "Do NOT proclaim 'The Shawshank Redemption' one of the greatest movies of all time." (I did not.) Yes, Susan was there. No, I didn't talk to her. I was too busy trying not to mention "The Shawshank Redemption."

Tuesday was The Day. I started walking from my office in the direction of the Capitol at about 7:45 a.m., looking like the little kid who can't put his arms down in "A Christmas Story" with an Al Franken-like video set-up strapped to my back. I returned at 2 p.m., having been walking almost the entire time. In between, I witnessed a moment in history that many talented journalists have put into words better than I can. Suffice it to say, the sheer volume of patriotism made my heart sing.

Friday, I found myself standing on a runway at Andrews Air Force Base, with the plane that becomes Air Force One off in the distance. I myself was headed up in a fuel tanker to watch jet fighters refuel. Yes, I went to the Danger Zone. And it was awesome.

All in all, it was an exhausting week, a wild week, but most of all, a hopeful week, for so many, including me.

Mommy and Baby's Adventure

When C. went back to work, and I was first home alone with Baby, I started referring to our outings as adventures. Adventures could be anything from a simple trip to Target, or a more complex outing to a new little town on the Maryland's Eastern Shore that we had never experienced before. They were adventures in every sense of the word, definitely for Baby, but maybe just as much for Mommy, too.

Yesterday, Baby and I went on another adventure, both to give C. some peace and quiet and for us to get out, escape the cold and do something different.

Yesterday's big adventure was to Tysons Corner Mall. Laugh if you want, but anything with a 16 month old can be an adventure. You don't even have to try hard to make it so.

Our adventure included such exciting chapters as how to dress Baby on a 13 degree day so that he wouldn't freeze on the hike from the parking lot, but wouldn't be sweating once we got inside. We explored the wilds of Pottery Barn Kids, and all the toys they have in store (enjoy'em here, Baby, because unless we tap into what's left of our 401k's, they're not coming home with us right now). Baby got a chance to amuse his adoring female fans, as they gathered around him in Sephora to ogle his lovely eyelashes (no mention was made of sampling the mascara, but I think there were thoughts of it).

Then there was the venture into Tysons' version of Lord of the Flies: The kids' play area. (More on that in a separate post.) Did I mention that it was 13 degrees yesterday? Lots of cooped up, Inauration-trapped parents apparently had the same brilliant idea as me.

But perhaps the most exciting scene took place when we were just strolling through the mall. A large crowd of people usually hustling along, had all stopped around all sides of a kiosk. As I drew closer, I heard a familiar voice, and suddenly got chills: Everyone had stopped because the kiosk had flat screen monitors, which were all focused in on the words of the President Elect, as he spoke from the back of a 1930's caboose.

It was an adventure I'll remember, not just for a lovely day with my child, but for the words that stopped a crowd to unite for a moment in the hope for the future of our country.

I can't smile without you. Really.

I have a confession to make.

As I was sitting up at midnight writing the Christmas cards I swore (swore!) were going to be in the mail Dec. 1 and berating my very existence, I had HDNet on in the background. Which was playing a Barry Manilow concert.

I not only left it on. I enjoyed it. Right on down to the last notes of "American Bandstand" and "I Can't Smile Without You."

If I had even a shred of coolness left over from my youth (which would be a stretch to say I had any to begin with), it is now certainly gone. And I'm OK with that.

A big hot cup of democracy

Did you get all your Election Day freebies today?

From Starbuck's coffee to Krispy Kreme donuts, you could get plenty of free hot (and cold, thank you Ben & Jerry's) food to match the warm spot in your soul left by voting.

My favorite moment today came when I stopped into a Georgetown Starbuck's on my way home from a Washington election party. The half dozen or so people in the store were in there to proudly flash their cherished "I Voted" stickers to the baristas in exchange for their free tall cups of coffee.

Waiting next to me were two Georgetown students, one sporting a "Karl Marx for Obama" T-shirt. The two youts were eagerly slurping down their cups of free Ben & Jerry's ice cream to prepare for their free tall coffees. Once we all had our free non-plumber Joe in hand, I mentioned that it looked like they were making the rounds. They laughed, and appreciated the tip that they had missed the free taco at California Tortilla.

That's exactly why I love about Election Day. Beyond the banners and the bunting, way beyond the attack ads and the slogans, it gets neighbors of all ages, races and backgrounds talking, laughing and discussing the future of their country, if only for a few minutes over a free cup of coffee.