Good Riddance, TH.

Well - the TH has been sold. Bryan and I hand over the keys to the new owner on January 4th. Granted, part of me is very sad ... but we're looking forward to our new journey.

BzzAgent

The Bert Show's Big Thank You

Here's your chance to help with something great. Write a letter, draw a picture. Just THANK A SOLDIER. There are close to 400,000 troops deployed, globally, that won't be home this holiday season. Thank them for their service.

THANK THEM.

The Mission:
Approximately 1.4 million personnel are currently on active duty in the military, with over 375,000 of those deployed outside the United States and it's territories. We want to take the opportunity to say THANK YOU to all of those deployed this Thanksgiving with Thank You letters. But we need your help! (more info: http://www.allthehitsq100.com/bertshow/BigThankYou/index.asp)

We need to collect 375,000 letters – enough for each member of the U.S. military currently stationed outside of the country to receive one.

Letter Format:
Each letter should be heartfelt, handwritten, original, and free of any political statements. The purpose of the letter is to express thanks to the military personnel serving the United States. We reserve the right to eliminate those messages that are political in nature and that do not reflect a positive message in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Those letters will be destroyed.
All letters must be on 8.5 X 11 paper or smaller. Do not use glue, tape, staples, cardboard, glitter or otherwise attach anything to the paper. Decorate using crayons, pencil, etc. Use both side if you like, but use one page per letter only. Do not send cards or photographs. Feel free to include your mailing and email address, if you like and you may get a response. Individual letters should not be sealed in envelopes.

Do not send anything except letters. We cannot accept donations of any kind, and they should not be included or attached to letters.


Submission Guidelines:
Please review the guidelines below to submit your letters:
Every individual letter is important, but for organizational purposes, please try to submit letters in bulk whenever possible. Work with your school, church, sorority/fraternity, office, neighborhood, etc. and send all letters bundled as directed below.

Letters should be bundled in groups of 50, 100, or 250 and held together in with two rubber bands, one wrapped lengthwise and the other widthwise. This will help tremendously with sorting. The top page in the bundle should indicate clearly how many letters are included. Do not bundle letters unless they are in groups of 50, 100, or 250. If you have a partial bundle of less than 50 letters, fasten them together with a paperclip. The top page in the group should clearly indicate how many letters are included. If you are submitting 10 or fewer letters, the letters can be folded to fit into a standard business-size envelope

Sumbit Your Letter:
Starting on Wednesday, October 17, letters can be dropped off at one of the drop off locations or mailed to the address below.

MAIL YOUR LETTER:
Letters can be mailed to the following address:
The Bert Show's Big Thank You3070 Windward Plaza, Suite F 350Alpharetta, GA 30005

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
Starting on Wednesday, October 17, letters can be dropped off at any Atlanta-area Taco Mac location.

OUR DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26TH!!!
All letters MUST be received by this day. Letters received after that deadline may not be sent to the military and will not be returned.
DOWNLOADS:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF "ONE-SHEET"ABOUT THE BERT SHOW'S BIG THANK YOU!

CLICK HERE TO READ A LETTER FROM AN ARMYOFFICER WITH SOME TIPS ON WRITING YOUR LETTER

2695's First Sale on Etsy!

Yay! 2695Design made it's first sale on Etsy.com. A set of 5 handstamped and tea-stained orchid greeting cards are on their way out the door!

Worlds Biggest BoucheDag Straight from Atlanta

Who cares that Atlanta might run dry of water due to the drought? We can claim John Fitzgerald Page as one of our own! This guy is an i-d-i-o-t. And he's so arrogant he feels no need to defend himself. Below are some correspondences between him and a woman from Match.com. It starts with him after she 'winked' at him (I guess that means to show interest). And this is where BoucheDag comes in:

"I live in a 31 story high rise condominium, right in the middle of the Buckhead nightlife district. Do you ever come to this area of town to shop/go out/visit/explore?

I went to an Ivy League school - the University of Pennsylvania - for my undergraduate degree in economics and my graduate degree in management (Wharton School of Business). Where did you go to school?

What activities do you currently participate in to stay in shape? I work out 4 times a week at LA Fitness. Do you exercise regularly? I am 6 feet tall, 185 pounds - what about yourself? I am truly sorry if that sounds rude, impolite or even downright
crass, but I have been deceived before by inaccurate representations so I prefer
someone be upfront and honest on initial contact...

I do mergers & acquisitions (corporate finance) for Limited Brands (Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, etc). Enjoy any of our stores/divisions?

Do you have any other recent pictures you care to share? I have many others if you care to see them.

Regards,
John

So the woman who received this is 110% turned off. (I wonder why). However, she politely gives him a 'no thank you' by sending: "'Thanks for writing to me, but unfortunately, we're just not a good match. Good luck in your search! Our Portraits didn't match on: A. Personality"

'Fair enough,' most would think.

Not BoucheDag.

"I think you forgot how this works. You hit on me, and therefore have to impress ME and pass MY criteria and standards - not vice versa. 6 pictures of just your head and your inability to answer a simple question lets me know one thing. You are not in shape. I am a trainer on the side, in fact, I am heading to the gym in 26 minutes!

So next time you meet a guy of my caliber, instead of trying to turn it around, just get to the gym! I will even give you one free training session, so you don't blow it
with the next 8.9 on Hot or Not, Ivy League grad, Mensa member, can
bench/squat/leg press over 1200 lbs., has had lunch with the secretary of
defense, has an MBA from the top school in the country, lives in a Buckhead high
rise, drives a Beemer convertible, has been in 14 major motion pictures, was in
Jezebel's Best dressed, etc. Oh, that is right, there aren't any more of those!

Regards,
John

There aren't words for a man like this other than he probably deserves a good kick in the a** to show him that he's not the begin-all-end-all man of the world. Check out his super cocky website: http://johnfitzgeraldpage.com/

Way to go, Dove.

Talk to your daughter...

Eat your vegetables and exercise, a lot.

I was reading the news today and saw that an overweight man had to be taken to the hospital, on a flatbed truck - after he was taken from his bedroom by a forklift. Let's not forget that they draped a blue tarp over him to shield him from onlookers. OH, THE HUMILITY!!!

(I mean, yea, he has an illness so overeatting is beyond his control... but still - overeat some carrots and take a walk around the block. (yes, I am a jerk -- but 900lbs at 33 years??))

Hmmm. Remind me to skip my burger at lunch and reach for a salad instead - !!

Article below:
Forklift Removes 900-Pound Man From Home

LANSING, Mich. — Firefighters cut a hole in the side of a house and used a forklift to extricate a 900-pound man from his second-floor bedroom after a visiting nurse became worried about his health.

Rescue workers were called in Tuesday by the nurse, who determined the 33-year-old man needed medical help, Fire Chief Tom Cochran said.

Cochran said the man had not left his home since 2003.

The man's brother, who lives with him, said he suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that creates a chronic hunger feeling that can lead to overeating and life-threatening obesity.

Rescue workers brought in a forklift, high enough to raise a platform to a hole cut into the wall of the house. They covered the man with a blue tarp to shield him from onlookers and slid the platform onto a flatbed truck for a trip to Sparrow Hospital.

2695 is on Etsy!

Etsy ...

Your place to buy and sell all things handmade - at Etsy.

I ran across this site a couple weeks ago and my cousin, Alyson, also forwarded me the link. Must be a sign - so I took it.

I will be selling a wide variety in my "Etsy Store." Currently you will find 2 things. A handmade frame (with Bryan's help) and a photograph. There are definitely more photographs to come and hopefully in the future 'greeting cards' will be added to the list.

Let me know what you think of what I have to offer there, if you'd like to see something, etc. Your feedback would be very helpful :)

http://www.2695design.etsy.com/

Great Ads

There is nothing better than creative minds that take ads a step further than magazines and billboards. Here are some great examples done by some 'out of the box' thinkers. Kudos. I love it when you can take something that is physically used every day to make a statement or grab attention.

'Use only what you need - Denver Water'

FedEx/Kinko stating they sell office supplies. (brilliant).

Hewlett-Packard

Mini Cooper

Prison Break


Heineken

The Circle of Life.

Over the past couple of months, we've had good news and we've had bad news.

Two of my close friends have lost their fathers and a handful of friends are glowing as a new life is about to enter the world.

I am almost at a loss of words because the summer has been so bittersweet. It's Life. It's a circle and it sucks. (Not to sound like a total pessimist).

One of my best friends suddenly lost his father last week. I had hung out with his father less than a month ago and I promised him I would send him pictures from that night. And guess what - It was, and is, still on my to-do list. A task so simple can just get set aside because the towels need to be folded or it's a sunny day out. As I stood at his funeral and absorbed the emotions from all around me... I felt so bad over something so minute. "I never sent him pictures like I said I was going to." Maybe it was because there was never going to be a chance to show him the pictures or maybe I felt my friends pain of never being able to see his father ever again. No more baseball games, no more cigars, no more happy hours.

It all made me feel like shit. From now on 'Never make promises you have no control of keeping.' I told myself. But then this morning I found out that one of my dearest friends is pregnant. And there is it, LIFE. I promised myself to follow through, spoil him/her and all of my other friends children - make their life a good life that they are proud to have. Teach them to live to the fullest so when it's their time to pass... they have no regrets - no, 'I should of, would of, or could of'. I know my friends father didn't have any excuses. He had a happy marriage, a great family, a smile that lit up the room, and generosity that was contagious. He had a life he was proud of and you could tell and that makes me proud to have known him.

Stop thinking about all the stuff you want to do. Be a do-er. Life it too short to sit around and daydream and make promises and plans you'll never fulfill. Finish what you start. Be that overachiever you are secretly jealous of.

I'm starting, today.

Martha is so smart

Here's an easy way to remove tarnish...

A simple chemical reaction causes tarnish to disappear naturally. Place sterling or plated silver in an aluminum pan -- it must be aluminum. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup baking soda over the silverware. Keeping the pan in the sink to minimize splashing, pour enough boiling water to cover the utensils. When the tarnish disappears, remove the silverware, and buff with a soft cotton cloth.

Woot! Woot!

So... How about a Amazon treasure chest, like everyday? Woot.com posts a new deal everyday and they sell it until they run out. Sounds like fun, huh? Buy fast, because the deal only lasts as long as it's in stock ... or 24 hours. Whichever comes first.

Nightline

I found a picture of Bryan & I from when Nightline was at the house....

2695Design is Back in Action!

Thanks to Steph out in Charleston... Lindsay and myself will be designing a logo and business card for Steph's new venture.... an 'event planning' company. Should be fun.

In researching names for her company... Wiki taught us that 'Sweet Grass Basket Weaving' is the state craft of South Carolina. Who'd of thought...

Faux Skinny Celebs!

Well, we've all hoped it, but now there is proof! Photoshopping DOES happen on magazine covers and everywhere else. Faith Hill's before and after pictures for her REDBOOK cover shot have been revealed.

What's disappointing is that she doesn't even look bad in the original. Yea, she has some crows feet, some freckles, and a pinch of extra skin on her back. Then looking at the touched up version... I am surprised her elbow is even holding her up! They even added perfect curves to her wind blown hair. Give me a break.

The article can be found here.

Fly a Flag this 4th.

Happy Independence Day!

For the love of the holiday, the local radio show is asking people US History questions...

- How many presidents have there been...
- Where was the first 50 star flag flown...
- How many people signed the Declaration of Independence....

... just to name a few. Unfortunately, not one caller can get a question right. It's quite disappointing. Granted, I know WHY there are 50 stars... but I couldn't tell you where it was first flown. But I also know that Betsy Ross is believed to have sewn one of the 1st American Flags... NOT Betty Crocker like one caller thought.

I think it's sad that we, citizens of the United States of America, can't get what seems as simple history right. Over the years patriotism has gotten lost. We have forgotten everything that people have given their lives for. We take our lifestyle for granted. I mean, the Pledge of Allegiance can no longer be said in classrooms in fear that we may hurt someones feelings or disrespect their religion.

This holiday, let's remember what this country was founded on.

The flag should especially be displayed at full staff on the following days:

January
1. New Year's Day
15. Martin Luther King's Birthday*
20. Inauguration Day (Once every four years)
(3rd Mon.) Lee's Birthday (AL.,MS.,VA.)

February
(1st Mon.) Lincoln s Birthday <11>
12. Lincoln's Birthday
(3rd Mon.) Washington's Birthday*

March
17. St. Patrick s Day
(Last Mon.) Seward's Day (AK.)

April
(3d Mon.) Patrick's Day (MA )
(4th Mon.) Confederate Memorial Day (AL., MS.)
(Last Fri.) Arbor Day (UT.)

May
1. Loyalty Day
(1st Thursday) National Day of Prayer
(2nd Sun.) Mother's Day
(3rd Sat.) Armed Forces Day\15 Armed Forces Day
(Last Mon.) Memorial Day' (Half-staff until noon)

June
(1st Mon.) Jefferson Davis Birthday
14. Flag Day
(3rd Sun) Father s Day

July
4. Independence Day*

August
4. Coast Guard Day
(2nd Mon.) Victory Day (Rl.)
(3rd Fri.) Admission Day (Hl.)

September
(1st Mon.) Labor Day
17. Constitution Day' Citizen Day
11. Patriot Day (911 Attack: Flag should be flown half mast from sunrise to sunset)

October
(2nd Mon.) Columbus Day,* Farmer's Day (Fl .)
(3rd Mon.) Alaska Day (AK.)
13 Navy Day

November
(1st Tues.) Election Day
10. Marine Corps Day
11. Veterans Day
(4th Thurs) Thanksgiving Day*

December
21. Forefather's Day
25. Christmas Day*

*Denotes Federal Holiday

I am a very proud wife.

My husband has been diagnosed and treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from experiences he had in Iraq. He is not ashamed, nor embarrassed - he is an advocate for soldiers and wants them all to know that it is normal to feel different upon coming home from war and it is okay to seek help.

Last fall, he found help at Emory University in Atlanta where they used virtual reality to relive his experiences. Reliving his experiences turned his nightmares into facts of life; rather than being haunted by them, he now lives in reality of them.

Bryan was first asked to interview with Atlanta's local Fox 5 News. Wanting to spread the word for this new treatment, he accepted. The video can be found at: "PTSD, A War Within" - Atlanta Fox 5, http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=B263EC6E00D59B875183D820F82EE00A?contentId=2527366&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

From there, ABC caught wind of it and he was also asked to interview with Dan Harris from Nightline. That segment aired last night and can be found at: "Virtual Healing" - Nightline, ABC News, http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3257147

I am proud of my husband. It takes a brave man to identify a problem, it takes courage to get help, and it takes passion to speak up about it.

Now, having a film crew set up shop in your living room is an experience in itself... I can't imagine dodging bullets.

** If you or anyone you know would like more information on getting help with PTSD, please let me know and I will pass information on about Emory's ongoing study to relieve the effects of PTSD.

I couldn't be more proud.

Hmmmm...

So - I made a blog - and I did nothing with it. What can you do. I'm going to try to be a more avid blogger about the Life as a Neal. Heck - maybe I will even backtrack a tad. There are endless possibilities...

48th Video