Five Things to be Happy About...Right Now!

1. Clear blue skies and warm days, equalling BBQs, being outside and cider beers!
2. Kenny Chesney tickets go on sale this Saturday!
3. Getting dressed up for Oscar Night at the Hollywood Theatre this Sunday!
4. The "movement" that is Barack Obama!
5. My daughter saying please, thank you and I love you!

Roll out the Red Carpet...

After months of striking, the writer's union has finally come to an agreement with studios...and it's just in the knick of time! Oscar Night is right around the corner. For anyone in the Portland area, check out Oscar Night America at the Hollywood Theatre this Sunday, Feb. 24. The event is hosted by Film Action Oregon, the non-profit that owns and operates the Theatre as well as provides support to independent filmmakers in the state. The black-tie event is our annual fundraiser to raise money which will support the ongoing restoration of the Theatre and our programs. Commissioner Sam Adams is the event's honorary chair and Daria, Mitch and Ted of 105.1 Afternoon Buzz will emcee. There are great raffle, auction and wine prizes to be had as well as a Predict the Winners contest. A pre-party will be held at Mark Lindsay's Rock 'n Roll Cafe starting at 3 p.m., doors to the Theatre open at 4 p.m. and the live telecast starts at 5 p.m. Tickets to the main event are $75 - pre-party is $25. For tickets, visit www.filmaction.org. Let's all get dressed up with someplace fun to go!

Oprah, er, I mean Obama for President!

For years she's been asked the question and for years she's confidently said "No, I will never run for president." And she hasn't and I can't imagine that she ever will; however she's now closer than she's ever been before as she has officially become Barrack Obama's #1 fan and probably #1 chance of becoming president of the United States. On Saturday I watched Oprah's speech in Iowa to a huge crowd of cheering supporters. She was confident, well-spoken and compelling. Even when her time was up and Obama himself took the stage, he admitted that "I'm sure many people are here today to see Oprah." Ya think? Talk about having a trick up your sleeve though...as the richest and most powerful celebrity in the country today, if I were running for president, I'd want to have her on my side (especially if she's willing to stand up and tell it to the masses!). It will be interesting to see what type of influence she has on his campaign -- as of this morning he and Hillary Clinton are in an essential "dead-heat." And I found it hilarious that in response to Oprah's support of Obama, Clinton brought her mother and daughter on stage with her at rallies this weekend. Hmmm...doesn't quite have the same punch.

Long time, no chat. Lots has happened since I last wrote....maybe that's why I haven't had time to write!

• I gave notice at my job.
• Halloween came and went -- my daughter was adorable as a pumpkin.
• The Ducks have moved up to #3 in the BCS ranking.
• My daughter had pink eye.
• Our friend next door went back to work after being off for six months of maternity leave.
• My mom lost the diamond in her engagement ring after 30 years of marriage.
• I was able to celebrate my friend's 26th b-day with her in St. Louis.
• Pat busted out his inner colonel and deep fried chicken in our kitchen.
• My daughter said "ball."
• Amazing Race 12 started! Yeah!

Things are good though, all in all. There have been ups and downs, aggravating moments, sad moments and nervous moments, but at the end of the day, we're still standing and there are more positives than not. All of those moments add up to life...and life is good.

Fall in is the Air

Can you believe it? The leaves have turned and are now falling on the ground, the air has cooled and houses are adorned in Halloween decor. Autumn really is here. I do love this time of year. It means the start of quality time...special time. And for my family even more special now that we have a child. A couple of weekends ago we took a trip on the Mt. Hood Historic Railroad up to a pumpkin patch where Brooke got to pick out her own pumpkin. This weekend the three of us were outside raking leaves...yep, even Brooke! She had her own little broom but was an even bigger fan of the full-sized rake! Her costume is here -- I can't say that I found the same creative inspiration as last year but this year is different because in a weird way, she has a say. I wanted her to be something that she kind of understood. So we'll see. It might only stay on for 30 seconds, but that is okay. My husband made homemade cider, complete with cinnamon sticks. Football is in full swing (have I mentioned Oregon is ranked #5 in the nation?!) and of course fall TV is back on! It's all fantastic. It's a snowball effect after Halloween hits with Thanksgiving right around the corner, followed by putting up Christmas lights, getting the tree, doing the shopping, throwing and hosting the parties and then of course the big day. This is what I mean by quality time. It's a special time of year. I relish in it...and I realize how blessed we are and how much I love those around me. I hope you feel it too.

A "Bodacious" Kind of Ride

I'm annoyed... Yes, annoyed, frustrated, confused, aggravated. I've been watching a bull ride of sorts, and I don't like the beatin' my buddy is taking. Tell me this... How can a person get up before daylight every single day, be at the office before anyone else, focus all day on achieving results for the organization - except when interrupted with petty complaints, questions or poor-quality work - take the constructive criticism that is given, and most of all care more than almost anyone else in the building, and yet despite all of this be under scrutiny from the boss, HR, counterparts and direct reports. You always hear about workplace culture and it's hard to understand until you're someplace that has an entirely different culture than where you were before. But even from an outsider looking in I can say that I get it now. We all have areas where we can learn and better ourselves in both a personal and professional aspect; however, there are also somethings that are beyond our control to change. We are who we are. And at the end of the day, or week, sometimes you have to step back and say, is this ride worth it, or am I going to get too beat up, banged up, fed up in the process? Am I going to strap myself on and see if I make the full 8 seconds, or is it time for me to pull my hand out of the bull rope, jump off while I still can and see who I draw next time? I don't know the answer...it's a personal decision. And in this case, I'm not the rider...just the pal behind the buckin' shoot.

State of the State's Justice System

It's been a few days since I last wrote -- hard to say why, but suffice to say things have been a little hectic. I am part of the 2008 class of Leadership Portland, which is made up of a fantastic group of leaders from the Portland area. Last Thursday was our first program day in which we learned all about Law/Justice in the city. My day started off with a visit to the 911 call center which was fascinating. There weren't enough operators for us all to pair up but we did get to hear a few recorded calls, including one from a man who thought his wife was having a miscarriage. When asked how far along she was, he replied, "She's not pregnant." Much to his surprise, in the next three minutes a full-term baby emerged! Okay, I still don't get how 1. a woman can hide a pregnancy and 2. how there are people on this earth who swear they didn't actually KNOW they were pregnant. I've been pregnant...there was no hiding or denying it! Anyway, I digress. Later than day our class heard from Rosie Sizer, chief of police, Bernie Guisto, Multnomah County sheriff, Max Williams, state director of prisons, Judge McShane, DA Michael Schrunk and U.S. Attorney for Oregon Karin Immergut, Federal Public Defender Steve Wax and Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Ancer Haggerty. I found myself glued to what these people had to say about the state of our city and state's justice system. And while each of them clearly has their own views and agendas, it was really a day free of political persuasions and antagonism toward each other. It was enlightening and made me think about real issues that impact our community...and will likely change the way I vote this Nov. I don't think it's right that our prison system has become the most common place to get mental evaluations and help and I also don't like the cost associated with housing inmates who have committed a first-time Measure 11 offense -- there's got to be a better way. I am from Lakeview which now houses one of the state's newest prisons -- yet it's already near capacity. What's going to stop the trend? There are people out there who need help, rehabilitation, medical assistance and a regimented program to follow upon release from jail or prison. Otherwise, they will end right back up where they started...committing a crime in our neighborhoods, and that is not an option I want to accept.