60 Minutes of Dinosaurs

So I am totally psyched about turning on 60 Minutes tonight to find Anderson Cooper as a guest contributor. There are so many reasons to love Anderson Cooper - his mother is Gloria Vanderbilt and I am a child of the 70's, he has had his share of heartache with the death of his father and suicide of his brother, and he is unbelievably talented. I have seen him on Oprah a handful of times talking more about the state of America and third world countries than himself, but he seems intensely modest, sincere, and genuine. I am also psyched that 60 Minutes might be attempting to fight its way out of the prehistoric era that it has secured itself to for all of these years. Although Anderson is a man, he is an unlikely candidate for the old boy's club. So again, I am psyched about Anderson Cooper appearing as a guest and hope that he will become a more permanent fixture. That in itself would lend me the title of 60 Minutes fan!

Holiday Travel

So NBC News just showed a live shot of the number of airplanes that are in the air, or on runways about to take off. This is something I do not need to see. The airlines are trying to turn planes around within 45 minutes to an hour. OH GAWD - How is there time to gas it up, unload/reload, and make sure something important has not fallen off the damn thing? Oh Yes folks, this is why I do not fly during the holidays. In fact, there is very little I like to do during the holidays because it all comes with too many people, other people's children, and an enormous lack of common sense. A friend of mine told me today that I am going to make a highly successful middle aged person some day. I am not really this grumpy, I just do not like crowds or stupid people! Does this really make me crotchety?

At lunch today I saw a table of military personnel in uniform. This stopped me for several reasons. First of all, I love men in uniform and especially military (well, ok, policemen on their Harley's and firemen in anything do it for me too). Secondarily, there is not a base close to where I was and it struck me as odd. I am always so proud of military troops because I am a good Republican, a proud American, and very patriotic! Thank you all for serving and especially during the holiday season when I know you are desperate to be home with your families.

We all know how I feel about crimes against women and children, it is no secret. What you may not know is that I had the opportunity to go to Aruba to scuba dive this year and refused to go based on the tragedy of Natalie Holloway's death and the way the case has been handled. I am happy that all three of the lying bastards who were originally suspects in this case have been re-arrested with new evidence supporting the right to take them in to custody. Though the information will not be released until Friday, I hope the Holloway family can enjoy this holiday in some small way just knowing that investigators may have something to nail these guys.

Out of the Loop

It is amazing to me how quickly you can get out of the know. I have been busy trying to dig deep within myself to determine my next professional move, cleaning out rooms of my house, and reading like nobody's business. I have also been sick and so my trips to the gym have been sporadic at best.

I was reading MSN this morning and came across this article about Bad CEO's who walked away, or were fired, with millions. Here is the list:

Supersized CEO exits
Executive Company Walk-away pay
Stanley O'Neal Merrill Lynch $160 million
Philip Purcell Morgan Stanley $43.9 million
Richard Grasso New York Stock Exchange $140 million
Douglas Ivester Coca-Cola $120 million
Robert Nardelli Home Depot $210 million

So the question that everyone is asking is what is wrong with our economy? This is what is wrong with our economy. It is said that beginning with Generation X, the workforce went south. Each and every one of these CEO's are Boomers and I see nothing in the way of work ethic or taking responsibility for their actions. In fact, these Boards are regarding bad behavior and asking consumers to pay the bill. Secondarily, take notice that none of these CEO's are women!

My Mothership Has Landed Once Again

Ladies and Gentlemen, May I have a moment of silence as my mothership has landed once again in the great state of Colorado - NORDSTROM opens at Cherry Creek Mall today!!!
So the question is whether or not I attended the Grand Opening and although I was invited, I did not go. I do not like to shop with crowds, yes, this includes the holidays. I like to experience the serenity that is Nordstrom at my own pace and without frenzy. This is why I do not like the Half Yearly Sales - Yes, I really said that!

So as exciting as this is, can Colorado support another Nordstrom? I ask because I do not see the economy picking up, but rather slowing down. There are 12 Fortune 500 companies in this town and only a handful of them have any interest in community advancement. Then you take a look at the sales industry and Colorado is considered a soft territory, which is amazing. I am even considering 1)getting out of technology and/or 2)getting out of sales. Of course, this bodes the never ending question - what will I do when I grow up?

Is This An Acceptance Speech?

Ok, if you have not read Brad Feld's blog - you should! (www.feld.com) I like his thoughts regarding Colorado Innovation Council. He does not mention that our own beloved Su Hawk (CSIA) is a member of the Executive Committee, but he is after all, Brad Feld, and so all is forgiven.

So I love the madKast widget and want to congratulate the guys on their participation at DEMO gala. Doug Ludlow was great and really held his own on the panel I put him in (From Napkin To Market). I was a little nervous, but he really showed his chops when it came to NDA's. The idea of this panel was to gain perspective from a newly formed, newly funded company (madKast), from a self funded and thriving company (EffectiveUI), and gain insight into the "Ah-Ha" moments that companies have moving forward from one of my favorite law firms, Fairfield & Woods. Thought I was desperate to have John Leonard on this panel, he sent his associate, who did well and provided food for thought. I really hope that the panelists and attendees were able to grab hold of at least one take-away.

MocaPay (www.mocapay.com) is another DEMO showcase company and one that I am going to watch closely. In true form, was so excited by their technology that I announced to the CEO that because of this I could stop carrying my credit cards in my bra. Yes indeed folks, I get loony over technology that will - well, allow me to stop carrying my credit cards in my bra when I run into the store for something quick and do not want to carry my entire purse!

Last, but never least, I want to say thank you to GoFast/Jet Pack. Troy Widgery has a really cool story and is quiet and modest personality. The Jet Pack actually flies and is flown by an ex-stuntman (quite frankly, I think he still qualifies as a stuntmen). It is funded by the Go Fast Energy Drink, which kicks Red Bull's ass. It is yummy - and the light is the best!

Can you tell I am getting my second wind about this event? Just in time for the debrief tomorrow and brain storming soon to come. Did I mention that a couple of us want to do a golf tournament next year too? Yes, I am crazy-why do you ask?

Who Is This Silly Girl?

I saw Ellen Degeneres cry on TV today over a dog that was taken from her friends because she adopted it and then gave it to the family after she realized that the puppy would not integrate with her cats. I thought that was an interesting thing to be devastated over, until I started to get choked up. Don't get me wrong, I do not necessarily care about the dog - I mean, I love animals, but do not get emotional over pets I have never seen. The dog is still living and will most likely go to another family or be guilted into giving it back to Ellen's friends. The thing that effects and affects me is seeing other people sad, unhappy, and crying. I am starting to really feel the effects of other people and their emotions. I genuinely want people to be happy, including my husband and myself.

I have the same strong reaction to weak people who present themselves as sheep, but are truly wolves in sheep's clothing. These are the people who use others and present themselves as good to gain a self-serving advantage. They always have their own agenda and will manipulate any situation to resolve their own expectations. The problem is that they can smell like roses only for so long before the water in the vase becomes rotted.

My point is that I am starting to feel sympathy/empathy as much as I am feel annoyed. I am not a stranger to annoyance, but this whole sappy personality is one to which I have not been introduced!

Take a Weekend Off???

So here is the email the DEMOgala Steering Committee Received from the Executive Chair of CSIA regarding DEMOgala:

I cannot tell you how many e-mails and phone calls I have received today about how successful the event was. Amazingly I can feel the Intensity, Innovation and Inspiration in each one of them. You, Kirby and the entire team are amazing. There are not enough words to describe how great you and the team are. I am truly humbled and honored to be associated with such a phenomenal team. CSIA has demonstrated that we are the leader for the entire state and industry. And as of this morning, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind. You and the team have not only set the foundation for the next generation of CSIA, but you have executed the tasks to get us there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you cannot be said enough!!!
Now you and the team take a deep breath, have a great weekend and we’ll be ready to go, go, go next week.

See what I mean about the drive and passion and leadership of this organization? The best part about this organization is that the leadership consists of people that inspire each of us to do more, better, faster. It is an honor to a part of this - the 2007 DEMO steering Committee is one that will go down in history and the best part - we are all still in love with one another!