Another month and another family birthday. Today my eldest niece Amanda celebrates her birthday.

Ahhh how time passes quickly. I can’t believe I was so young when she was born. I recall kids at school making fun of me and calling me “Uncle Gus” making me feel so OLD. It was that feeling that I made sure she never called me “Uncle” and just used my first name. Granted now that I’m older I don’t mind being called that at all.

I could go on and on and tell you some stories about her, but I think that would just embarrass her and I don’t want to do that to her.

Amanda has grown up to be a wonderful person both inside and out. So Amanda, I hope you have an amazing birthday today. I’m glad we got to spend some time together last weekend when I was in Town.

Ok, ok, so the word might not be “officially” out yet, but I do have a new position at work. Before I tell you what it is, I should you bring you all up to speed.

I work for Marketwire, a communications solution company. We handle many clients from publically traded companies, private organizations, not-for-profits, and government. Currently I work as a Client Relations Manager and manage several accounts that use our services from wire distribution, media management to social media monitoring. Our company has been going through a huge re-branding exercise and this past Friday we launched our new corporate brand; which I’m very excited about.

As such they needed someone within our organization to help talk about the corporate brand, but talk about it internally and document our employees throughout the year. Thus they created a new role within or organization known as the Internal Brand Ambassador. I will be assuming that role later this month and I’m very excited about it.

As it is a very new role for both the company and myself, it will be up to me to really create the role and make it an important part of who we are as a company. We have always prided ourselves that the people within our organization is what makes us so successful and we are going to bring that and show it to the world moving forward.

The role will have me travelling more throughout North America and the UK to visit our offices while documenting them and highlighting our corporate culture. Even though my role is only for the year, I truly am hoping I can extend the role further and truly make everyone know what a great company Marketwire is and how it continues to evolve. Truly beyond words.

This isn’t a title to the sequel to The Hunger Games.

We as North Americans (I use the term loosely) expect immediate action on items. We don’t like to sit around and wait for a resolution. We either get on the blower and complain on an issue immediately, sometimes without even knowing that there is a solution right in front of us. We are also brought up in this society to expect a quick turn around and don’t like to wait for anything.

Now I usually find myself to be more relaxed than that. I can sometimes just take things as they come and just wait patiently. Maybe it’s the South American in me where we are just used to waiting in line for EVERYTHING! You wait in line to get a number to then wait in line to get served – and this my friends is at a bank.

This week I’m expecting a decision to come down on something (we can discuss that later if all works out) and though I thought I was patient enough to wait, looks like I have to wait a few more days now. UGH the waiting is just killing me. I’ve noticed I’m not sleeping well, I’m going to bed later than normal and waking up before my alarm. Waiting for this decision is first on my mind when I wake up and last on my mind as I go to bed. It’s that important to me.

So I must learn to be just a little more patient for just a little while longer, but boy it’s hard. This is harder than I thought it would be. A decision made quickly either way would just return my life back to some normality.

Today is my wonderful dad’s birthday. Alas I can’t be with him on his birthday, but I will be there in spirit as I usually am.

He’s had a tough year, hell my whole family has a tough year, but he keeps it together. He is a person that never stops and always keeps moving forward. He loves to tinker with things and find out how they work – I think this is where I got my love of gadgets from.

There are so many fond memories of my dad. He taught me how to make an awesome bbq (or assado as we say it in Argentina), he taught me how to fish, he taught me how to put up a light fixture, he taught me how to use a hammer and not hit my fingers, he taught me that no matter what, family is important.

So dad, have an awesome birthday! You deserve it!

Today while I was on Twitter, I got notification that today marks my 5th anniversary on the micro blogging platform.

Twitter has changed drastically over those 5 years. I recall being there when we began the #hashtags to help us find a topic, as well as the @’ing someone so you can let them know you are conversing with them.

Twitter has become a regular part of my life. Through finding out what’s new and interesting around the world to sharing with my friends and followers what goes on in my day I’m a better person for it. It’s amazing how many connections the social platform has opened up for me. Even with all the online connections, it has allowed me to make some great off line friends in the process.

So to all that follow me @GusF I hope you enjoy my daily tweets and have grown to learn more about me and what I stand for and admire.

Today, another member of my family celebrates a birthday. This time around it’s my sister Maria. She’s had a tough year this year, so I’m hoping that she’ll be able to get out and enjoy herself today.

She’s the mother of 3 amazing kids, one of which is living with us at the moment while she studies here in Vancouver.

It’s amazing how quickly time goes by. I recall when we were little the fights we would get into. Being just 2 years apart in age from each other, we constantly fought like good brother and sisters fought. We fought for room on the couch, we fought for got to watch what on tv, we fought just for the sake of fighting.  Ahhh good times!

But we grew out of it, as young kids do, and we have developed a strong relationship. Even though we are miles away from each other, we still manage to connect somehow.

So Maria, have an amazing birthday today. Get out and enjoy YOUR day.

When my niece Sami Brum got accept to Blanche MacDonald this past year we were all very excited to have come move out to Vancouver and get to know her better after being away from her and the rest of the family for over 10 years.

Today she celebrates her 20th birthday. She’s now no longer officially a teenager, she moves into her 20′s and a new chapter in her life.

She’s been a pleasure to be here with us. She’s grown up so much and its amazing to see her finding herself. It’s also great seeing her doing what she does and loves best – makeup artistry. I can’t believe how great she is at it and how her eyes just light up everyday as she learns and practices her craft.

So Sami, today I’ll get a chance to spoil you and I promise you, no Strawberry Shortcake for your birthday. Hopefully this will make up for the last 10 years I wasn’t there to help celebrate with you in person.

Have the best day EVER!

WOW, where does time go. I can’t believe today that my nephew, and gold child, Adrian Ibanez turns 26 years old.

There are so many great memories of him when he was growing up. I still remember on his first birthday I spent hours and hours with him getting him to walk and eventually seeing him take his first steps on his own. I remember him joining his first soccer team and watching him play running around the field chasing the ball wherever it went.

He has grown up to be such an amazing person and I’m so proud of where he is in his life now. He’s doing what he loves and will grow with every year he continues to do what he loves.

So Adrian, Happy Birthday to you. I hope you continue to fly and live your dream.

One in 10 children in Canada live below the poverty line and will go to school without having a breakfast. Kellogg’s Canada wants you to share you breakfast for National Breakfast Day in support of this cause.

Today in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, representatives from Kellogg’s will be out handing single packages of Rice Krispies   to bring awareness for this cause.

A BOWL FOR YOU = A BOWL FOR A HUNGRY CANADIAN CHILD

For every specially marked box of Kellogg’s cereal, Kellogg’s will donate up to $25,000 to 2 of the largest national charities that help create breakfast programs for children – Breakfast for Learning and Breakfast Clubs of Canada.

All right I guess I’m late into this game, but here a work today they suggested I Google Honey Badger and see the video that comes up.

I don’t know what’s more entertaining, the actual Honey Badger itself or the video commentary. Over 39 millions view has got to mean something. It’s silly so enjoy a good afternoon chuckle.