The Cat Days of Summer in South Carolina

Our poor little furry babies have been suffering the last few weeks. It has been so hot and humid that they can't be outside for much more than 15 minutes, even though little Lucy thinks she can be outside all day...

They were all outside a few days ago and this is how they were enjoying the screened-in porch... Lucy on the other hand thinks that she can handle this hot humid heat, but she can't!!!

Even we can't handle this hot humid heat; even with the pool. The water temp is higher than most people take a bath in... we have looked for ice houses, but they are long gone. We just received notice that we can't water our lawn; our plants (flowers) or even our pool. The lack of water here is even worse than Utah a few years ago.

My Space

I love the concept of the words "My space." I love the words together most of all. The beauty of blogs or spaces is that it is our own little place that we can share our thoughts, feelings, or whatever is on our mind. It's much like journaling, of which I was always good at in my younger years. It's also like having a home with walls to keep everyone else out (mostly). I've seen or read a few times out there where our spaces are NOT respected and that disturbs me that people are not very kind about it. The bottom line is that it [should] be respected by all visitors or otherwise just ignored if you don't like what is said. That means that if anyone has anything negative or contrary to say about anything written or said, you can certainly voice your opinion either way but in the end it is still my space that I own and I signed up for. And because I own it, no one else has to. So if there is anyone out there that doesn't like what me or anyone else says, you don't have to, but you can respect the space, "my space" or you just shouldn't visit, it's as simple as that.

Some months ago my extended family had a website. We had it for years and we all were able to write anything and post pictures and calendar events and all kinds of things imaginable. But with a simple decisive ignorant attack by one family member to another, the family administrator just decided to quickly shut it down for good. Maybe it was good to end it there, but I don't believe so. Our family hasn't communicated quite the same since and that is so sad to me. I personally don't believe in censorship, unless it is cruel or otherwise causing harm to another. I own what I say and every consequence that would follow. It's part of being an adult with a brain, which I have. Sorry, but something happened today that reminded me of my right to voice my feelings here without censorship of anyone on this planet.

And now back to your regularly scheduled blog reading.... :-)

So I'll revert back to my entry of a few weeks ago quoting the John Mayer song, "Say what you need to say." If I say it, I must need to say it or I wouldn't have said what I said. Got it!

My favorite music- Janet, Heart, Journey, Madonna, Sugarland

I had a pillow that a friend's mom cross-stitched for me back in the early 80's that says, "Music Makes Me Happy." All of you who know me know this is true. Nothing brightens me more than to hear my favorite tunes. So I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorites and why so you can go listen to them also.

1. Janet Jackson- I love this girl. The first song that comes up on my playlist here on the blog is one of my favorite Janet Jackson songs, Rock with U. This is one of those songs that just gives me instant energy for anything. Like when you need to be cleaning the house or some other mundane chore, this is the song to see you through it. The full sound comes together about 1:15 seconds into the song. Take a listen. She's playing here in October in Atlanta and I want to go so bad. I'm very tempted to bite the bullet and go see her. Can you just imagine? My better half doesn't like the music scene as much as I do so she would be happy as a lark if any of you would want to go with me. I know the Jackson's are kind of strange, mostly Michael, but I would see him in a heartbeat too. They are the most talented musical icons of America and they know how to make great music and Janet, well she's just simply beautiful to look at.

2. Heart- I learned last Saturday that Heart, along with Journey were performing in Charlotte, about an hour from us and that my co-worker had to "get rid of her tickets" but it wasn't with me. I had no idea they were going to be close to South Carolina. I LOVE Heart! Ann and Nancy Wilson rock the world with their unique sound. Listen to "Alone" or "Crazy on You." Back in 2000, buddy Laura and I went to Las Vegas to hear them on the beach of Mandalay Bay and they were truly incredible. Legendary women icons of rock music. Take a listen.

3. Journey- Who's heartstrings were not tugged at by this band in the 80's? Steve Perry left the band and they found this amazing singer from the Philippines to take his place and he is absolutely fantastic and so close to the original singer, Steve. Listen to "Faithfully" and "Don't Stop Believin'" from the now infamous final episode of The Sopranos. This group totally takes me back and there is a story for every song.
4. Madonna- she's always been a favorite since the early 80's. Love her, hate her, I don't care what she's doing with or without ARod, but I do love her music. She's another music genius who knows how to put out the best sounds that you can dance, exercise, or move to. Listen to "4 Minutes" or "Beat Goes On" and all the early hits, "Vogue, Holiday, Borderline."
J and I are going to her concert in Atlanta in November for my birthday and we cannot wait. We now have to take out a second mortgage to pay for the tickets. :-) We have to take advantage of these cause you won't see them in a lot of smaller areas like South Carolina or even Salt Lake.

5. Sugarland- I couldn't finish this entry without mentioning my favorite country band. Sugarland, is a due of Jennifer Nettles and Christian Bush. They used to have a third member, a lesbian singer/songwriter who did perform with them the first year and helped create hits like "Baby Girl" and "Gotta Be Something More". She left the group to continue pursuing songwriting. Today they are the biggest thing to hit Nashville in years and they keep pounding out the hits with "Stay" and "Everyday America" (which is my ringtone on my cellphone when any of ya'll call.) and "All I Want To Do." Jennifer Nettles is also know for singing with Jon Bon Jovi on the hit song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home." She's a huge chick magnet out here in the south. Last year, J and I went to her concert and you should have seen all the lesbians there. :-) They are amazing.

And that's my review of great music and artists of today according to me. What's your favorites?

Fat Guy in a Little Coat

This video cracks me up everytime I see it. I have always loved the "Saturday Night Live" humor. So whenever I need a smile, I watch this video of Chris Farley (RIP) doing his Fat guy in a little coat song and it turns me around. It makes me laugh so hard, guys, you don't even know. So if you enjoy this kind of humor also-- Enjoy! The blog entries can't be so serious all of the time. :-)

Video of "Last Lecture" Randy Pausch

The Last Lecture

I don't know if any of you have followed the remarkable story of Randy Pausch, Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last September with 10 tumors and was given 3-6 months to live. His story has captivated me for the last 10 months. I have followed his progess on his own website that he posted on a regular basis of how he felt and he's always give certain stats about his health. About a week and half ago I commented to J that there hadn't been any update for him and I was worried that he'd taken a turn for the worst. I have been so impressed by his courage to face his biggest challenge and I have also been moved by his "The Last Lecture", which he gave one month after he had been diagnosed. His message is simple and inspiring about achieving your childhood dreams and how to lead your life. In the face of forthcoming death, he was so positive and encouraged others to be also. I recommend his message, posted on youtube to anyone who feels sort of blue or depressed and I promise you at the end of his remarks, you will feel uplifted and blessed for all that you have in your life.

Randy's battle with cancer ended last Friday, July 25th, almost six months later than what the doctors said he'd survive. He left a beautiful wife, Jai and three children, Logan, Dylan, and Chloe all under the age of 6. I believe in the power of prayer- always have, and I ask all of you that believe also to pray for this widow and her children as they face the future without this great man and father in their lives. This is the stuff that life is all about not your work or travels or pressures or anything else, but family.

Life is too short...

I love you all, by the way, and you know who you are.

A Campbell and occassionally a Casper

Senga told me that if I didn't post something, she was going to change the name of our blog... can't let that happen, now can I?

I've been traveling a lot lately and this past week I was in California. It's always a 3:30AM wake up to catch a 6:00AM flight, then travel 7.5 hours to arrive at 10:30AM. Meetings with the client, then dinner with some of our executive staff that were in town and its 10:30PM, but my body clock thinks it's 1:30AM the next day. As I was trying to sleep (left that morning without my toiletries bag and thus no sleeping aide) that first night, I couldn't help but wonder what I was doing in this cold and lonely hotel room, not able to sleep, but most importantly, why was I doing this in the first place? Is there a benefit to me and my family in all of this? Besides the paycheck every week, I'm pressed to figure out much more. So as I lie there counting the hours that I spend in a plane sitting next to total strangers it has become crystal clear that I spend far too much time in a tube jetting across this planet and not enough time doing what matters most to me. Then when I do get home, I'm exhausting from a lack of sleep that I all I want to do is go to bed and sleep. It's just crazy.

I guess I need to focus my energy on what I want and where I want to be…maybe then travel will become a matter of jumping from spot to spot and being home in time for dinner and sleeping in my own bed every night. Captain Kirk could do that 40 years ago, you would think that we should be able to figure out how he did that.