The need this year for the food pantries is huge every where.  The Red Kettle volunteers spend numerous hours in the biting cold where I live.  One local guy brings a bit of humor and joy while manning the bells.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLeyELPvTEc

CARP Tournament Series is looking for fisheries management students, or college students in a similar field for the Al Kowaleski scholarship.  If you know someone who can qualify, please direct them to the website. 

Catch and Release Professional Tournament Series

Deadline is 12/31/09.

http://www.prlog.org/10446813-applications-sought-for-fisheries-scholarship-in-honor-of-carp-fisherman-al-kowaleski.html

Check out this new website from Mark Metzger in Middleburg VA – GREAT stuff, Mark!!!!

http://www.prlog.org/10435907-mydogmugcom-ceramic-arts-site-unleashed.html

Hi, Everyone –

Check out this very talented jewelry designer with a very bright future!

http://www.prlog.org/10413910-jennifer-van-benschotens-glass-beaded-jewelry-designs-gaining-national-attention.html

The very talented designer, Mary Gwyneth Holland of Colton NY, has learned her “White Peacock” wearable art design has reached finalist status with the prestigious NICHE Awards.  To read more:

http://www.prlog.org/10403662-wearable-art-designer-mary-holland-named-2010-niche-awards-finalist.html

Ms. Holland is represented by Stellar Marketing Solutions through the Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative (NATC). 

Congratulations, Mary!!!

Carp fishing — ok, I’ve heard all of the snide remarks and laughter — but, I take it quite seriously.  My friends throw me the jokes and inuendos - carpe diem, what are you carping about, the Rodney Dangerfield of fish.  Really, stop – I’ve listened long enough!! 

The past few months have changed me — go ahead — keep those jabs coming!!!  I am now a carp angler!!!  And I can take it!!! 

After spending nearly eight years immersed in the carp angling scene representing and marketing carp organizations, tournaments and rubbing elbows with the best carp anglers in the world, I am a transformed woman in 2009.  David Moore – in my mind – is America’s most forward thinking carp angler and businessman.  I am also privileged to be his partner in several carp angling ventures.  I know he’s smart and savvy, but now I add brilliant to his resume.

David one-upped me – what else is new?  I approached him about purchasing carp tackle as a gift for my husband who had shown interest in taking up the sport.  David visited this summer with TWO rods and reels in hand - a gift for each of us!  We’ve embraced his generousity and head out to the river every chance we can.  My husband exceeds me technically, but I can hold my own.  He’s caught the largest fish so far – 28 lbs. 6 oz. – but, I landed my “personal best” just last weekend at 24 lbs. 15 oz. 

We’re crazed!!!  We can’t stop!!!  I’m sure the state record isn’t in the cards, but we’ve spent more casual time together bank side this summer – laughing, reading, watching wildlife, being spectators to some of the most beautiful sunsets and taking breaks from the pressures of two busy careers.

Thanks, David — can’t finish that project today — going fishing!!!

My Dad was a military history nut, and fortunately for him, we lived and grew up in the Northeast where a great deal of early American history was made. When we were kids, our family vacations always included a trip through a historic battlefield or old fort. No roadside historic marker passed this traveling family by as he would bring the car to a screeching halt, and one of us was chosen to jump out and read (or yell) the marker back to the anxious family. Dad would nod and grin adoringly.

Dad took great pride in the fact that his children could recite the commanding generals and the locations of their major Revolutionary War campaigns. I think looking back my siblings would agree these impromptu roadside lessons certainly helped our grades in history class.

One day Dad announced that he had researched extensively and located a new fort for us to explore – Fort Bull. Dad explained that this fort was from the 1750′s during the French and Indian War period. He was excited! Mom packed lunch for everyone, and we climbed into the station wagon anticipating our adventure. Dad kept saying how nice it was that this fort was close to home – a place we could visit often. The inventory of local forts was becoming routine for us all at this point, so the prospect of a new fort was thrilling.

After about an hour, Dad pulled off the main road onto a dirt road; the dirt road became a dusty farmer’s field filled with tractor ruts. We all began to worry when we had to cross a dry-creek on wooden planks. I’m sure I closed my eyes. And, then it appeared — a huge engraved boulder marking the spot where Fort Bull once stood. Where were the re-enactors? Tour guides? Gift shop? Other tourists? Nope – just a big rock – and us.

We gathered around the boulder and ate our picnic. No one complained, but we know Dad was disappointed. Dad may have over promised and under delivered, but we never held it against him. Actually, the Fort Bull expedition lived in infamy in our family. Even today – several decades later – if you ever want to get a giggle out of any of my siblings, suggest an outing to Fort Bull.

We made the best of it, but your customer might not see the humor as we did – always under promise and over deliver – that’s no Fort Bull – pun intended!!

Earlier this spring, Lauren, my summer intern from a few summers back phoned me and asked me to join her for coffee. She’s in college now and was in town on a spring break. I was most pleased to hear from her. Back when she was in high school, she volunteered a few hours a week and proved to be an excellent addition to the company.

When I entered the restaurant where we agreed to meet, she looked up, smiled and waved hello. Wow – what had college done to this young girl? She had transformed into a very mature and polished woman.

We sipped our coffee, and Lauren got right down to business. She wanted to come back this summer to work with me. I was most impressed with her approach, and more impressed with her desire to have another go at it.

It’s very casual here, but we do get a lot of work done in any given day or week. It’s never the same as we bounce from project to project depending on the client requests.

Lauren has an amazing ability to jump from one thing to another. She’s offered to take work home when she can’t come to the office. She’s amazing!

This is not a letter of recommendation for Lauren – she’s earned one at the end of summer, but it’s more my personal endorsement to employers out there to give young people an opportunity to shadow you and learn about business. It may take some time to train or teach the inner workings of your business. Sure, she’s here to learn, but the input Lauren has given me, the organizational skills she brings to the office and her great smile and outlook on life makes those days when she’s here better for me, too.

I happen to be one of those people who really likes vanilla ice cream. Most of my family and friends are chocoholics, and that is ok with me. It doesn’t even rattle me when they insinuate that I am swimming upstream in my vanilla world as they ooh and aah drizzling their chocolate syrup on their decadent double chocolate-chocolate chunky ice cream.

I like to be open-minded, and as those long hot steamy summer days get closer, I decided to check out the ice cream aisle in my grocery store to explore the latest flavors. You never know, I may cross to the “other side” and go nutty with maple walnut or butter pecan.

As I glided along the sparkling freezer doors, I spied a man several feet away, and he looked up at me. He then walked toward me holding two cartons of ice cream. One hand held a very attractive container and read “Madagascar Vanilla Bean” and the other “Vanilla” which appeared to be the generic store brand. Ah, I thought, a vanilla comrade – hurray!

I noted to him that he chose my personal favorite, but he broke down and admitted he was in over his head. He said he was shopping for his wife and had been hopelessly studying the assortment of vanilla ice creams. He lamented they all appear the same – except for price and the carton. Would I know the difference?

Of course, I do – it’s marketing, I replied. My new comrade walked away shaking his head in defeat. He probably bought both for his wife. I think he was a chocolate guy, anyway.

My new yellow pages arrived the other day. I scoured the house for the old yellow pages book so I could toss it in the recycle bin. Once located, I realized that I hadn’t even opened last year’s edition.

What’s happening to the yellow pages? I’ve been using Google instead – that’s the answer.

Before internet, it rarely seemed a bother to open the book and scan for the business listing you were trying to find. Often part of the fun was figuring out what category the business was listed under. I’ll bet we all got caught looking for “motels” and were directed to “hotels”. Or, what about looking up “cars” and being directed to “automobile”? How about “store” and “retail”? Gosh, I miss that cat and mouse game.

I’m not implying that Google takes the fun out of finding business listings – in fact, I kind of enjoy being asked “did you mean…?” I find myself talking to my computer revealing intimately that “of course I meant “pizza” and not “peeza”. That Google is so smart!

I looked at my new yellow pages and decided it will remain on my shelf for another year. There are really good pizza deals and coupons in the back pages.