Valley Girls

After many months of looking at spaces, negotiating terms, planning space and looking at blueprints, we are just weeks away from moving our office, and I can't wait!

We've been in our current office for six long years. It's in an old brick farmhouse that is part of a larger historic section of Mt. Washington, which is a neighborhood in Baltimore. Our building has been part restored and part renovated. To look at it, it is really great. Exposed brick with horsehair mortar, exposed beams, tin roof, plank floors, and juxtaposed with blond wood and built-in iron beam desks with Italian laminates. It is beautiful. The problems though, are many, unseen and insidious. First, there's the noise -- if it rains or the wind blows, the roof is so loud that work can't be done, phone calls can't be heard. There's no insulation - anywhere- so we freeze in the winter and fry in the summer and pay hefty electric bills just the same. The phone and IT system is antiquated and maintained by the landlord, so it's out of our control......and now he's tripled our rent! So move it is.

Our new space is perfect. Out in "the valley" -- that's Greenspring Valley, hon. Horse country. Or in our case, we front onto a field of bison. See photo. It's a new building in an old village, and our space is being built out just for us (tenant improvements here we come).

The landlord is great - all through the negotiations and the build out it's been fun and relatively stress free.

In the long run, it's all about the landlord and the space.

We move on June 1. I can't wait to get back to the work of advertising, versus the work of moving.

Tea Party in the rain

on April 15th I attended my first political rally, a TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party in the largest local town in the rural community where we live. I was impressed that so many people came out for it, as it was pouring rain and hovering right around 40 degrees, and at 6:30pm -- when most people are home feeding the kids or commuting from work.

Despite that, and the short notice to drum up attendance, there were well over 300 people there and a kind of energy that you'd feel whenever a crowd gathers in anticipation of a great event.

I've never been a political activist, but lately I do feel the urge to speak up about certain issues. And now that we ordinary citizens have new tools, like facebook, blogs, email and Twitter, we actually can reach out to politicians and influencers in real time to express our point of view and be heard unlike ever before.

So, if you have the urge to speak up about an issue, it's your right and really, your duty to voice your opinion, help to shape the conversation and positively affect the outcome.

Breaking Bread

I've been making a lot of bread lately. It takes my mind off regular things and focuses it on the task at hand. Making a great loaf of bread is a challenge. It requires great ingredients and a complex process, but it's very simple - just water, flour and salt. I use old recipes just as the french bakers did in the 1500s. the only difference is they used a wood-fired oven.

Lately my favorite loaves are focaccia. I have a starter that I made a few months ago and I keep it nourished and ready to use to start the new loaf.

I've also been making the old world pain levain bread. It's delicious. And a new favorite is Lemon and Dill Sourdough rye bread.

I deliver the warm loaves to my friends around town. At first they were gracious, and thought I was just strange. But over time my bread has gotten really good. Now they call me to see if I'll be baking and put in their requests.

Back from St. John. Where is Spring?

Now that we've had a short fix on warm weather, it's harder than ever to go out in the cold. Funny how quickly we can get used to 80 degrees -- like in about five seconds. But it takes days to thicken the blood for these 20 degree temps.

Spring is just 25 days away. My trainer just told me that. I guess it's incentive to get in shape for swimsuit season. Reality is that I just had swimsuit season. Now I'm back to flu season.

Start the countdown to Spring right now.

You REALLY want to know?

I have been tagged by a beloved colleague, Susan Anthony of Sawmill Marketing, to provide 7 insights about me that most people don't know. Hmmm..... This is just moments after I completed 25 random notes on my FB page, and just seconds after reading this very funny article about the whole phenomenon of online journal notes (http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1877187,00.html). In the spirit of adventure, and just in case you actually want to know, here goes:

1. When I was 13 I was in an automobile accident. More precisely, I was hit by an automobile while crossing a street. Okay it was a highway. Nevertheless, it took a long while to recuperate.
From this experience i learned several life lessons at a young age. They are: things are never as bad or as good as you think; don't ever let someone else (or you own mind) put limits on your physical condition; enjoy the challenge of the journey, not just the destination; and, don't take what you have for granted.

2. Favorite Drink: Venti, 1/2 caf, skim, 1 splenda latte. Repeat.

3. I am much better as part of a team than as an individual.

4. I make and keep lists for everything. I have lists in my pockets, purse, stuck on the dashboard of my car, on my desk, etc. And they work. I would be lost without my lists.

5. I wanted to be a Communications Lawyer and rise up to become a member of the FCC. I spoke out against advertising to children while studying communications in college (University of Maryland). Then I went to Seton Hall School of Law and took a "sabbatical" after year 2 to take a job verifying ad claims at a large advertising conglomerate (IPG). Shortly after that I became a loaned lobbyist for the ad biz (AAAA). While there I met all kinds of account and creative types. And then I got hooked on the ad biz and haven't ever looked back. I am so glad I never finished law school. The FCC looks awfully boring now.

6. Right out of college a roommate took a job at the fledgling CNN in Atlanta. She called to say she could get me in on the groundfloor, too. I turned her down because I thought CNN was never going to make it.

7. I was the goalie on my very good high school and so-so college field hockey teams. I've heard every cliche line there is that caring folks say when a goal scores. I'm here to tell you none of them make you feel any better. I still always root for the goalie.

A new Widget

check out my new widget (to the right).
He looks just like one of our three cats, Buster.

I found it on WidgetBox, which is a very cool place where you can make and download widgets. Move your mouse around him and he moves his head. Who thinks of these things?
I've recommended widgets as a tactic to many of my clients as they are so popular and are good brand builders.

Not Buster though. He's just darn cute.

I always say "you can't put a putty cat where a putty cat doesn't want to be put". If you have a cat then you know what I mean.

Almost Christmas

The gifts are wrapped and the Christmas parties are underway. I received this gift at a party on Friday night. Actually, I traded away a gift in order to get this one. It just makes me laugh.

Christmas seems to come and go more quickly every year, but this year I'm going to slow down and take it all in.



Merry Christmas!