My Digital Studio

OMG. This software is so much fun!! I haven't made any cards yet, but I have been making postcards and scrapbook layout pages.

Two new cards

I made this card for my sister for her birthday. It's the Happy Moments set, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Certainly Celery patterned, and the Cupcakes wheel stamp.

This is for my cousin, Amy, who is recovering from breast cancer surgery. It's Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and Certainly Celery patterned paper, and a two step Heartfelt Thanks stamp.

Wow, took a couple months off apparently!

Happy New Year!!

I am trying to decide if I want to do any resolutions this year or just skip pretending to make a change and just be me.

I think I will just be me.

In fact, my resolution is to be the best me I can possible be!!

I also resolve to wag more and bark less. Wait, that's Millie.... never mind!!

Surviving!!

I survived my move and am 98% unpacked.
I survived my cold which made my move a living hell.
I survived my trip to Portland.
Heck, I even survived coming home.
I survived finding out the condo closing has been delayed.

Now I am working on...

surviving the holidays
surviving adopting a new dog
surviving two of my employees applying to be agent
surviving unpacking that last 2%

For everything that you do, Phillip, we salute you

Service to self, service to country

Growing up in a military and strong civic minded family, it was always stressed to us how important service to ourselves and service to our country was. As a result, I have always strongly believed in volunteering my time, my words, and my money to important causes, even if I am the only one who finds that cause to be important. I give money to a couple charities through the Combined Federal Campaign, I give my time (and Millie's time) to Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services and the Wildlife Conservation Network, and I give my voice to a variety of causes who send me emails asking me to speak for them. I vote.

This country is this country for everyone. Black, white, brown, gay, straight, man or woman. You have a voice. You have the ability to make a difference in people's lives. How can you not use that voice. How can you not use that ability. How can you not want to make a difference. You can and you should.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.

Make that difference. For yourself, for everyone.

Survival of the fittest

I survived the office inspection. Office construction is winding down, my office is finished, everything else is just gravy. I am getting packed up at the condo, this week I am packing up my bedroom and bits and bobs in the living room. This weekend will be the mad crush of panic. Stand by for hysteria.

This weekend was the Wildlife Conservation Network's Wildlife Expo. I LOVE the Expo. Not only is it an excellent opportunity to talk to people about the Wonderful World of Wildlife Law Enforcement, it's also a great opportunity to talk to the other side of the bridge, the biologists. There is this weird divide between biologists and LE people, I don't get it, but I freely admit to contributing to it. We had the great opportunity to have one of the snow leopard biologists from Mongolia translate some Mongolian paperwork we had. How handy is that! We also spoke to researchers from the Saiga Conservation Alliance, we get tons of Saiga products in, so they are going to provide us with some of the photos, both live Saiga and poached Saiga, to add to our outreach materials.

We also had, in addition to the multitudes of public attendees, representatives from the Oakland Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Animals Asia, Coyote Point Museum, Small Cat Alliance and a host of others stop by and talk to us. It was a great opportunity to see old friends and make new connections.

Working Saturday and Sunday makes for a long weekend, but it was so worth it. Long live the snow leopards!!