Domino Delusions

So today I received a letter from Domino magazine that surprised me to say the least. The letter helpfully informed me that my subscription was due to expire in May 2009, and that since I was set up for automatic renewal, my credit card was being charged now for the renewal. Now, I won't even address the fact that it is several months before my current subscription expires making the timing of this a little insane. Instead I would like to focus on the fact that Conde Nast announced this week that Domino is folding and that the last issue will come out in February 2009. February 2009. Several months before my subscription is set to expire. At the moment, I assume I'll be forced to accept some other magazine (likely Lucky) until my subscription runs out in May, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let them sucker me into this renewal. I didn't open my mail until after 11pm, but bright and early tomorrow I'll be making an angry call- I'll keep you posted on developments!

SecState Clinton: "A New Era for America"

This was my morning- my new boss arrived in the building and made some inspirational remarks. I was up close, but must credit my co-worker Melissa for this picture as she had a more direct line of sight. Some of my favorite lines from the speech:

...There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development. And we are responsible for two of the three legs. And we will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States. And I will do all that I can, working with you, to make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America's future.

In my testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee, I spoke a lot about smart power. Well, at the heart of smart power are smart people, and you are those people. And you are the ones that we will count on and turn to for the advice and counsel, the expertise and experience to make good on the promises of this new Administration...

...we want to send a clear and unequivocal message: This is a team, and you are the members of that team. There isn't anything that I can get done from the seventh floor or the President can get done from the Oval Office, unless we make clear we are all on the American team. We are not any longer going to tolerate the kind of divisiveness that has paralyzed and undermined our ability to get things done for America...

I think this is a time of such potential and possibility. I don't get up in the morning just thinking about the threats and the dangers, as real as they are. I also think about what we can do and who we are and what we represent...

For the first time in a long time, I feel inspired, and cannot wait to see where this new adventure takes us.

Freezing my butt off in Florida

OK, so it may be warmer than it is is DC, but still it is damn cold here in Pensacola! Brad and I just double-dated to Chili's and "Paul Blart: Mall Cop"- funnier than I thought it would be quite truthfully...

I have to confess I'm glad to be out of the Inauguration chaos in DC, plus this 5 day weekend seemed tailor-made to spend with Brad. We're having fun hanging out and planning the big birthday trip to Disneyworld next month. Just being with him makes me feel happy and relaxed and a little bit sad because I always know we're close to saying goodbye. One the plus side, his retirement papers are in and his last days should be my birthday next year which is the best present I'll ever get.

I hope everyone is staying warm, 'cause baby it's cold outside!

Bacon: A Love Story

I'm behind on my blogging, but for right now, allow me to share instead wonderful news from one of my crew from college:



You can pre-order here. Congratulations Heather!