Well - it’s that time of year to ponder what we are thankful for and so here are my thoughts:

1. I am thankful for the most wonderful wedding this year that was better than I could have possibly imagined.
2. I am thankful for Facebook and all the friends I reconnected with this year.
3. I am thankful for a wonderful job and boss and opportunity to shine.
4. I am thankful for a loving, awesome, wonderful, and beautiful husband.
5. I am thankful for a kind, thoughtful, and intelligent son.
6. I am thankful for a terrific mother in law I can call Mom.
7. I am thankful for the words of wisdom my Dad shared at the wedding reception.
8. I am thankful for this years Presidential election results.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and can think of many things to be thankful for!

These are my five favorite reasons to look up during the downturn (as published by Details magazine):

5. Pennies are cool again
4. You can notify your African child you sponsor that you’ll no longer be able to afford his daily rice ration
3. The financial collapse finally gives you something to talk to your Grandparents about
2. Fewer Hummers
1. The hunch that someone you hated as a child is now ruined.

Michael and I saw the movie Role Models this past weekend. I would give it 2 1/2 stars out of 5. It had a good deal of potential, but never really delivered.

The basic premise of the movie is Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott are ordered by the courts to participate in a Big Brother’s type of organization. They are assigned to two of the more challenging kids and the humor potential ensues. Unfortunately despite the many efforts, I chuckled once or twice.

I know…I have been a very bad blogger and have not updated anything in quite a while. I tend to go quiet when I’m feeling down in the dumps, which has been the case in recent weeks. I just don’t feel like writing or sharing when I’m in that mindset. It’s probably the time I should be most vocal, but I just didn’t have the energy or motivation to work on the blog. Nonetheless, I have returned in better spirits and want to share some thoughts and events that I have recently encountered.
1. Michael and I had a wonderful 2 week holiday on a cruise from NY to New Orleans. The food was not the greatest, but our time together was quite nice, even for that extended period of time.
2. I am VERY happy about the election results (duh), but am very disappointed about the result of Prop 8 in California. It’s time we stop being kind and patient about gay rights - and make it clear that we’re in this to the end when we have the rights the Constitution affords us.
3. I am looking forward to the holidays. For the first year I have been invited to be a part of Michael’s Mom’s house for Thanksgiving. Long story short - Michael’s step Dad has finally gotten over himself and invited me to their home. In fact we spent a couple of hours thee yesterday.
4. Zac is doing very well in his new High School. He’s getting good grades, making new friends, and talking about his future. I am so proud to have such a wonderful son.

Well, that’s about it for now. I promise to write more often. Hugs and kisses to my few readers.

Michael and I are celebrating our 30 something birthdays this weekend. Tonight the Rents are taking us out to one of the nicer restaurants in the Hamptons. Can’t wait for those truffle fries!

Monday, October 6th is World Habitat Day, and I’m joining Habitat for Humanity to celebrate in a way that matters.

Habitat, as you might know, works with low-income families to build homes across the globe. They do an amazing job: over the past 32 years they’ve co-created housing for over 1.5 million people.

I’d love to invite you to help celebrate World Habitat Day by joining Habitat’s sincere plea, and asking the next President to do something about the tremendous housing challenge in this country and around the world. All it takes is a click.

Follow this link below to ask Senators Obama and McCain and/or your own senators:

If you become President, make the U.S. a world leader by ensuring that each of us has a place to call home, not just in the United States, but around the world.

Because there are options! Our next president could urge Congress to increase assistance to American families in need of housing through the new National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and could increase U.S Foreign Assistance for housing and slums. Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful start, but if we’re going to make a difference, we need more help than they alone can provide.

So please (please please!) join Habitat for Humanity in recognition of World Habitat Day 2008, as we raise our voices and take a stand with the millions in need of adequate housing in cities, towns and communities in the United States and around the world. All those messages add up, and with your help, I know we can make a difference.

To warm beds, strong houses and beautiful hearts,
Dominic.

Jessica certainly nailed it…

I am hereby committing myself to go as paperless as possible in an effort to be more Green. That means:

1. Will access newspapers and new magazines via my iPhone
2. Keep all my notes via Evernote solution
3. Print only items that require a printed copy (such as expenses report receipts)

4. Request that all bills be electronic where available
5. Request that advertisement mail be discontinued
6. Select to only receive information electronically
7. Turn library into electronic format via eReader on iPhone

Any other thoughts or ideas?

Everyone has one, and yet they are all very different. No I’m not talking about body part sizes or even IQ’s - I’m talking about daily routines. Some people have a routine that means every aspect of heir day is different in every way every day. I personally could not live like that, however. I have a more stringent routine. Assuming I am not away for work, here is my daily routine in a nutshell:

4:00 AM - Awake (with or without an alarm mind you)
4:05 AM - Make French Pressed Coffee and Protein Shake/ Take Vitamins
4:15 AM - Go to my home office and boot up everything/Check email and news
4:45 AM - Head to Gym
5:00 AM - 7:00 AM - Workout
7:10 AM - Pick up NY Times and Post Workout Shake (and Water for tomorrow)
7:30 AM - Shower and make myself pretty
8:00 AM - Take Emma (our dog) out for a walk
8:30 AM - See Michael off for work
9:00 AM - Work
12:00 PM - Visit Local Butcher and Farm Stand for Dinner Supplies
5:00 PM - Start to wrap up work lose ends
6:00 PM - Dinner time
7:00 PM - Final Snack
7:30-8 PM - Bedtime with some reading

OK - I admit it - sometimes (not always - but enough that I notice) I can be such a snob. I make quick judgements about people based on how they look, what they wear or what they are doing. Recently I have made it a habit of going to a local 7-11 after my gym routine in the morning (get a paper, protein shake, water). I feel all strange and uncomfortable with the types of people that frequent the store.

It hit me this morning how snobbish and judgmental my brain has been allowed to process and categorize these people. What kind of person am I to be judging them based on external conditions alone? Maybe they are in a worse situation than I am - either personally, fiscally or otherwise. I really need to work on being a better human being and accepting people for who they are - despite what they wear, how they behave and who they vote for.