Rapid Gunfire In My Home Office This Morning

Yeah... that got your attention, didn't it?

We live in NE GA and this morning, after several hours of freezing overnight rain, many roads are impassable and as such, many schools in the area are closed today.

So why is it that on a regular school day, it nearly takes an army of angry villagers to wake my son and get him moving, but today he is up and at it by 8:00? And, within a half hour of waking he is hanging out in my office waging a full out war on some game on his PSP. Yeah, today is gonna be a fun one!

Photo Courtesy Of: CookingHabitBlogSpot.com

Actually, I mostly enjoy the snow days - although there's not one flake on the ground here. Snow days are a gift. The whole family is here... and stays here. It's like a rainy Sunday, when all you HAVE to do or want to do is just hang out together, inside, and stay comfy.

I see a huge batch of homemade chicken and dumplings in my future today... and  maybe some cookies too!

Jus' Sayin'

9/11

What other title would I give to a post I would write on this day?

Nine-Eleven: it's now an article of vocabulary that no matter who you are, no matter where you live or what language you speak, you understand what it means.

But, it has many meanings. One need only to utter the phrase and several definitions come to mind.

Terror. Hatred. Bravery. Grief. Disbelief. Belief. Heroes. Sadness. Anger. Coward.

Every year on this date, as with many Americans, I seethe with anger. Anger toward a coward I can not see. Anger toward the act that changed America forever. Anger that nearly 10 years later we have still not reigned in the enemy, or enemies of America.

It takes a lot of effort to sustain anger.

With the legacy of 9/11, as with so many day-to-day things, if we, as a nation, and as individuals could embrace the idea of forgiveness, with the velocity that we dedicate toward anger, perhaps our enemies would take our strength as a nation and as a people seriously.

I do not, and never will, condone the acts of terrorism. I support American troops and efforts towards eradicating terrorism on our homeland and worldwide, where we can, and where our troops are welcomed to do so.

As a human, I struggle each day with the ideology behind forgiveness and fight against it more than I embrace it when I've been "done wrong". Guilty as charged.

For me, I am not ready to forgive the events of 9/11. I have to start on a smaller scale.

What about you?

Jus' Sayin'

Will Work For.... FREE!

That’s right… I would like to work for your organization, for 30 days, unpaid.

In a tight job market and precarious economy, I’m willing to set myself apart from millions of other job seekers by working for you for free. I want to prove my value to your organization. If I prove myself in 30 days, I’d like an opportunity to join your organization permanently on a paid, full time basis.

I am currently under-employed and am seeking a full time, long term position with a proven organization. I'm a team player, unafraid of hard work, long hours or tight deadlines, and willing to prove myself from the bottom up if necessary. I'm ready to add value to your team in a lead or supportive role. I can be your ball of clay - mold me your way.

I have an extensive background in Marketing/Advertising, with core strengths in Print Production, Writing (content for web, ad copy, WordPress Blogs/Social Media, scripts for TV and Radio spots and Press Releases), Customer Relationship Building and Management, and Creative Project Management, including procurement of goods and services. My skills and talents are easily transferable to any industry.

During my years as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor I have honed my teaching, coaching, leadership and volunteer skills. These are also valuable and transferable assets to bring into any position or industry for which I may be considered.

I am immediately available for an in person interview and am able to start work as early as necessary.

I'm hopeful that you'll request a copy of my cover letter and resume and see that I'm a creative thinker and an engaging team player.

I need 9 and 20 for 10

Hello Friends, Family and Supporters!

I want to give everyone an update on my participation in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.

Many roadblocks have arisen for me since I first started this journey. My husband fought his own battle with cancer - successfully!!! I suffered a lay off at my job. I broke my ankle and couldn't train for about 8 weeks. But none of that has broken my spirit in making this journey.

In recent weeks I've ramped up my training again and hope to continue making progress toward my goal of raising $2300 in order to be able to walk in October. I can't believe there's only 10 weeks left to do so!

So, I've done the math and thus the title of this post. I need 9 people per week to donate $20, over the course of the next 10 weeks to make my goal. Everyone knows 8 people!!! 
I can hardly wait to hit the road with the thousands of other women and men who are joining together for this common cause.

Everyone, it seems, has been affected by this disease, or knows and loves someone who has. And that's why I walk - for those in my life that have been affected. My cousin; my stepmother; friends; and relatives of friends - survivors and angels alike - I walk for them.

There is still time for you to support my efforts with a donation. Net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer research and community programs.

You can make a donation and show your support for my walk in several ways in the coming weeks.

First, you can visit my personal fundraising Web page and make a donation.

Second, attend one of our upcoming team events - if you're in the Atlanta area, of course. We will be having our annual Fashion Show in early October and by purchasing a ticket you can help the both my fundraising goals, and our team as a whole. Please leave a comment on this blog or Tweet me at LAGraham if you would like to purchase tickets to this event, and I will make sure you get one before it sells out. This has proven to be our team's most successful fundraiser over the years, and it is very well attended, so contact me to reserve your tickets early!

Third, you can attend a fundraising event of mine! You WON'T want to miss this if you're in Atlanta. But, even if you are not, you can still support this event. Myself and a fellow teammate will be hosting a wine tasting. Details are being finalized now, but it will be in September. This was not only a very successful fundraiser for me in 2007 when I last walked, but it is also very fun FOR EVERYONE! So, I hope you will attend. Again, leave a comment here, or Tweet Me at LAGraham if you would like to come. If you'd like to support it but can't attend, contact me and I'll tell you how.

Fourth, ask your employers to make a matching donation to yours. This is a simple way to offer your company or organization an opportunity to show their support for this cause. All my corporate sponsors will be recognized across my social media landscape - my blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. and I will be sporting a very fashionable T-shirt thanking my corporate sponsors during my walk in October.

And lastly, please continue to keep me and my fundraising efforts in your thoughts and prayers, but more importantly, the cause and the men and women who are affected by this disease.

Thank you for your support.

Walking with a purpose,

Lisa Graham

Exhausted From Not Working...

Yes, you read that correctly. I am exhausted by NOT working... I'm exhausted by looking for work. My new full time job has become looking for a full time job.

I can honestly say I am feeling panicked and depressed... not feelings that are usual for my otherwise optimistic spirit and personality.

I am fortunate to have a vast network of friends and family who continue to encourage me and network on my behalf as well. Without them, I'm sure I'd be headfirst and full throttle into depression overdrive.

After all, I do still have some great clients and projects to work with through my own little business... www.atlantaprinter.com. That will keep me going next week too!

I'm going to use the fact that today is Friday, and the weekend is creeping all over my enthusiasm to continue the job search, as my excuse to put an end to it for the week.

It's a good thing I still have enough cash in the bank to afford some fine tequila which will make for a nice poolside margarita this afternoon.

For now, it's bottoms up, poolside, on the rocks, no salt, with a twist of lime!

Jus' Sayin'.....

HMMJS&JC, Kathleen!!!!

Wondering about the title of this post? Well, don't. It's an inside joke between myself and my friend Tracy.

And, we're brewing up a girl's night out to enjoy one of our faves.... check it out here and grab some chuckles with us!

It's gonna be a wild night..... Jus' Sayin'!!!

Am I A Leader?

Being partially employed has left me generous amounts of time to self reflect. Actually, having a broken ankle and being limited in my mobility and physical activities is really what has left me with generous amounts of time. I'm sure it's good for me to have this "zen" time, but honestly, I'd rather be working - for the obvious financial benefits, of course, but nor do I want my mind, skills and experience to atrophy in the absence of full time employment. Next Friday can't come soon enough - off with the cast and back to life as I love it!

I do love what I'm doing now, part time. Keeping my mind and my hands engaged in two of my greatest passions is therapeutic. As a part time design assistant for a local interior decorator, I get to keep my creative juices flowing; and managing our home based print production boutique agency keeps me engaged professionally within marketing and advertising circles. I'm compelled to throw myself into both of these part time endeavors because I enjoy them and because I need to be generating some income, but mostly because they are the shields that protect me from falling into a funk over my current short-fall of employment.

Honestly though, I miss the work of my last position. As a Social Media Manager I was blending my love for research and writing with my quest to achieve additional skill sets and experience in the emerging industry of Social Media and Social Media Marketing. I yearn to return! In case you haven't noticed, Social Media and Social Media Marketing is sweeping business and industry as THE method of choice for brand recognition and consumer engagement. It's grown beyond being the vehicle for broadcasting the latest jokes.

I want to be immersed in this emerging marketing phenomena. I was on the wave of it all in my last position, and I'm grateful for the most valuable thing I learned while there - I learned that just having a presence on the Social Media Landscape does not an ROI or monetization make. There's so much more.... like studying the level of engagement to determine what drives a consumer to that level of engagement and more so what drives them to a brand. Infinitely more important, what binds them to that brand... how do we keep them as brand ambassadors? I wasn't getting that at my last position. It was quickly turning into a production writing gig, in a sweat shop environment with tyrannical management philosophy at play.

I want to hop back on my Social Media surfboard, ride this wave, not be crushed by it. For those of you who know me, you know I will succeed. My passions are my purpose and my purpose is my passion. Case in point - my quest to work with horses and special needs individuals. Had I not done my research, and found out about Therapeutic Riding I wouldn't be enjoying my involvement in that as well. And, I wouldn't have a broken ankle either, I guess... HA! Small price to pay for the rewards it brings.

My hope and my wish is with Social Media/Social Media Marketing continuing as a strongly emerging industry, that somewhere out there is an agency that wants a fresh ball of clay like me to mold into a Social Media Guru for their team and their clients. I AM a leader, but right now I want to be a follower. A pro surfer follows the wave's crest, curve and current and in doing so, masters the ride. To get too far ahead without building strength, endurance and momentum through watching and reading the wave carefully and accurately, the big kahuna will only hammer me back down.

I'm an eager learner. I enjoy a challenge. I'm ready to get my knuckles dirty, digging and building my way on the Social Media Landscape.

There's a fit for me somewhere. I know it.

..... Jus' Sayin'!

(photo credits here)