We'll Know When We Get There

having an impact

2009-11-07T13:20:00.008-05:00

I've become increasingly aware of people who are doing what they want to do with their lives and having a positive impact on others' in the process.

I wrote recently about Dallas Clayton, who wrote a beautiful book for his son to inspire a little boy to think big and, when he couldn't find a publisher, published it himself and is now giving copies away.

I watched Jonathan Demme's Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains this morning, about a former president who is willing to ruffle feathers and speak his mind because he lives according to a code of justice and has no other option.

I have, for years, admired my friend David Wilson, for developing the truly inspiring True False Film Fest in his hometown of Columbia, Missouri, capturing the attention of filmmakers from around the world for his love letter to documentary films, his beloved hometown and his family.

I have obviously written about my childhood mentor, John Hughes, who rejected a world that nevertheless embraced him and encouraged me and instilled in me a desire to follow my own passions.

Then there's my friend, Christie Herring, a documentary filmmaker who is working hard to complete her film, The Campaign, about the campaign to defeat California's Prop 8, which, one year ago, overturned the right to marriage for same sex couples.

There was a great pos t about Christie and The Campaign this morning in The Huffington Post, with Georgianne Nienaber relating today's fight for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people with her own experiences in the gay rights movement of the mid-1970's. It was a lovely reminder to me that, once again — people can do what they want with their lives and have a positive impact on others' lives in the process.

It sounds so stupidly obvious, doesn't it? But how many of us are really doing it?

I don't think I can say I am.

another chapter for the book

2009-10-14T08:18:00.002-05:00

In college, my friend Andrew and I would rationalize bad behavior (on our part) or painful experiences with the comment that it was "another chapter for the book." In essence, we believed these things made us more interesting, gave us more fodder to tell tales.

It's a notion I still believe in.

I am a more interesting and thoughtful person because of the obstacles that I have had to overcome. I have better stories to tell because of those obstacles and due to risks I have taken.

They are another chapter for the book.

Unfortunately, it won't be THAT book. I am not writing the book about my pen pal relationship with John Hughes — for reasons I'd rather not discuss, but which sadden me.

Another chapter for the book?

Not this time.

dream big

2009-10-04T20:47:00.004-05:00

Dallas Clayton is the guy behind Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are-related blog, We Love You So. He's also the author of An Awesome World, which is why I am completely enamored of him.

Dallas Clayton is awesome.

It's not just that Dallas wrote a book for his five-year old son that is completely inspiring. He's also traveling all over and reading the book to kids and giving away a copy of the book for every one he sells.

And the message of Dallas's book, the message that every kid should hear — whether you're five or 35 or even 75 — is to DREAM BIG.

You can read the whole book online, but when you get to the end, you're still likely to want to buy a copy for yourself to remind yourself to dream of "rocket-powered unicorns" or to inspire someone else whom you hope will dream of "dancing wild animals with diamond-coated wings." Or maybe you just want to buy a book so Dallas can give someone else a copy to urge them to "dream a dream as big as big could ever dream to be."

The book proposal is on hold. I'm dreaming big, but I think I'm also dreaming different.

mahatma gandhi never looked cuter

2009-10-02T05:50:00.004-05:00

"School children dressed as Mahatma Gandhi take part in a cultural programme on the eve of Gandhi's 140th birth anniversary, in the central Indian city of Bhopal October 1, 2009."

This picture makes me smile.

The kid, second from the left, looks like he may not embrace non-violence as much as the man he honors would have liked.

someone, can you hear me?

2009-09-20T13:00:00.007-05:00

I finished the first draft of the book proposal about five minutes ago and sent it to my agent. It's far from perfect, but I got to the point where it just needed to be DONE. The purpose, at this stage, is to get a publisher to commit to it, not to win a Nobel Prize.

Concerns? It sounds more depressing, or at least melodramatic, than I intend it to be. I literally wanted to write across the top of it, "THIS WILL BE FUNNY. YOU WILL LAUGH. I PROMISE."

But I refrained. Hopefully my sense of humor will come through.

(Please, let it come through.)

I still need to hear from someone to know that it's okay.

(Someone, can you hear me?)

And then, if it goes forward, I'll have to deal with the ramifications of being honest about life on the Byrne Fields ranch.

Crap.

So, I'm still trying to decide which John Hughes I most closely resembled as a teenager (in terms of character, not looks — or even gender.)

Here are the contenders:

Alison Reynolds (The Breakfast Club)

Duckie Dale (Pretty in Pink)

Samantha Baker (Sixteen Candles)

Andie Walsh (Pretty in Pink)

Watts (Some Kind of Wonderful)

I think Alison might be in the lead…

i'm sorry, 826

2009-09-15T05:43:00.007-05:00

The guilt.

As part of my job, I advise nonprofit organizations on donor relations. The general message is that donors — because they're people — like to hear "thank you" and that, increasingly, donors like to feel they are integral to helping an organization to meet its mission, not just by giving money but as ambassadors for the organization or the cause. The latter is a notion that predates Barack Obama's presidential campaign, but is easily illustrated by the campaign's purposeful decision to frame their messages using the collective pronoun (we), suggesting all Americans had a role to play in changing the direction of our country.

"We are the ones we've been waiting for, we are the ones we seek."

When I have my donor hat on, this is what I am hoping for from the organizations to which I give my money. I don't just want to write a check, I want to feel engaged. And, yeah, I should just be able to revel in the reward that comes from knowing I've contributed to achieving a mission in which I believe,

BUT I REALLY WANT SOMEONE TO SAY THANK YOU.

(That was a set up. A long one.)

I'm feeling really guilty this morning. Over the weekend, having not heard from 826 — after making a (in my world) significant contribution to them — I sent the organization an email with some advice on donor relations and letting them know they had lost me because they had simply neglected to say thank you.

(I suck.)

Yesterday, Lauren Hall, the organization's Development Director, sent me an email to apologize for not being in touch sooner.

"I would like to follow up soon, maybe you would consider talking with me on the phone? I feel awful about all of this. The truth, like I stated below, is that our individual donors are our livelihood, and in the past we have prided ourselves on our effusive donor appreciation. It's just that yours was delayed…Your donation was the talk of the WEEK, completely lifting our spirits and inspiring our work. We are so grateful for the exposure that you've afforded us with heartfelt mentions on your blog. All of this has been incredibly exciting and motivating, and I'm sorry it's taken us a minute to let you know all this!"

(Have I mentioned how much I suck? Did you notice she said it took "a minute" to get back to me?)

Then, last night, when I got home, there was a nice little package for me from 826, which it seems they mailed before I sent my email. A t-shirt, buttons, a couple of publications put out by the organization and a handwritten note signed — not just by one staff member, but four — including a suggestion that I come by and visit them if I am ever in San Francisco.

Hey, 826, consider this my apology for my impatience. You do a great job with donor relations. Now get back to work doing what you do and stop worrying about me and my whining. You've got me for life.

If you want to make a donation to 826 and promise not to give Lauren a hard time for not getting back to you immediately, then head this way.

you were right

2009-09-13T11:22:00.004-05:00

Photo by Flickr user the_trial used under Creative Commons license.

Yeah, so I might be writing a book about being pen pals with John Hughes.

For all the naysayers who said I wrote "Sincerely, John Hughes" because I was a wannabe writer looking to make it big, go ahead and have a field day. But when you're done, get back to me on how precisely I managed to manipulate a half million people to come and read the blog post, because I'd like to use that same power to convince Congress to support meaningful health care reform.

For all the truly supportive and wonderful people who came by to read the post and to take the time to share their own stories, thanks again. It was surprising and, as I have said before, overwhelming, but appreciated. I hope you'll keep coming by in the months to come as I put my ideas together. Maybe you can help me to think through what is worth sharing and what is just boring stuff about ME.

I don't know for sure this is going to happen, so don't head over to Amazon to pre-order just yet (presuming you have any interest). Someone needs to decide it's worth the paper it's printed on and there are a few folks from whom I would really like to have their blessing, but I'm ready to write.
I've started looking through my journals from the time and watching the movies John made in that period to get the wheels spinning.

First things first, I need to finish this proposal. I'll let you know how that goes.

Thanks again.

what makes a good pen pal?

2009-09-01T12:58:00.003-05:00

I admit it, I look at my blog stats. I'm not religious about it and I don't get weirded out when numbers drop (my ego is not that fragile), but I am fascinated by what brings people to the site. The best is when I discover a new blog or Web site that's linking to me.

That's how I found SoulPancake, a site created by Rainn Wilson with the aim of making "Spirituality, Creativity and Philosophy cool again…engaging the user to "Chew On Life's Big Questions."

The story of my correspondence with John Hughes has prompted them to ask,

Who (dead or alive) would you choose to be your pen pal, and what you say to them in your first letter?

I have a new pen pal who came to me as a result of the interest in the blog post and for whom I am incredibly grateful. (I'd like to take the correspondence to pen and paper at some point, but for now we're corresponding via email.) And, well, I would love to still be able to write to John. But is there anyone else?

They need to be able to — and clearly love to — write; an "interesting" life does not equal good pen pal.
They need to be reflective. Observations about the world around you make for good reading.
They need to balance — over the course of the pen pal relationship (not necessarily in a single letter) — sharing stories from their life with inquires about mine.
They need to trust that they have my confidence and I need to trust that I have theirs. There's honestly nothing better than the intimacy that comes with that sense of trust.

So, I guess it's not a single person, but someone who, like John, who can deliver on these four points.

Like my new pen pal.

How about you? Let the folks at SoulPancake know.

geek for machines

2009-08-30T13:11:00.012-05:00

Here are some of the photos I took while on my recent trip to Amsterdam.

If you haven't been to Amsterdam before, the most remarkable thing about the city are all the bikes. (Forget the pot smoking and prostitutes; what's so remarkable about that?)

These bikes were those locked up on the south side of the city's central train station.

I'm a geek for machines.

I have a horrible sense of direction, so I started using the canals to help me to figure out where I was on the map. Apparently this is better for me than a GPS screaming "YOU ARE HERE!!!" in my hand.

When I took this photo, I was thinking about how green the water looked, even against (or because of) the green of the boat.

I should have gotten closer, because what caught my eye were the letters on the sides of the buildings on the other side of the bikes.

As I walked away, I also wanted to take photos of the guys in the coffee shop on the left side of the frame, but I am too shy to take photos of strangers. You know what they sell in coffee shops, right? Well, this one wasn't filled with white guys with dreadlocks and stupid looks on their faces who look like they have been wandering ever since Phish stopped touring. These guys were the old guys you see hanging out at the local barber shop in Queens.

Lines and corners and big beautiful windows. I coveted those apartments with floor level windows overlooking the canals.

There were some buildings that jutted forward, either because their foundations had shifted or because of the shifting of the buildings around them. Or, likely, both.

It's like a movie set, isn't it?

My pictures are about shapes and textures and lines. I would love to take photos of the textures and lines of people's faces, but I tend to travel alone (primarily for business) and, like I said, I'm too shy to take photos of strangers. I need to invest in a good telephoto lens so I can do it without them seeing me.

Okay, that sounded creepy.

where the wild things are

2009-08-28T06:18:00.002-05:00

I tried to tweet about this, but 140 characters didn't do it justice. 826LA, the LA branch of the organization I asked folks to make donations to, is going to be doing a "special preview screening" of the new Spike Jonze film, "Where the Wild Things Are" on October 1 in Los Angeles at the Arlight Theater to raise money for the organization.

Dave Eggers, the film's screenwriter, is the founder of 826National.

If you want to see the film and participate in the Q&A after the film (with Eggers, Jonze and actors Catherine Keener and Max Records), it will cost you a well-spent $75. If you want to mix and mingle at the after party, your ticket will cost you $200.

Tickets are going fast. I'd like to be there. If you get a chance to go, come back and tell us how it went.

I am still waiting for my check from the New York Post so I can send my donation to 826. I'm hoping it's in my mailbox when I get home from Amsterdam tomorrow.

patience and fake plastic trees

2009-08-26T17:27:00.006-05:00

I'm going to write a post about the insanely funny, embarrassing, I didn't know I was starring in a bad romantic comedy experience I had tonight.

But I'm in Amsterdam, it's 12:30 am and I need to go to beddie bye so I can go to a meeting in the morning.

Tomorrow.

For now, I give you Jeff Tweedy singing Radiohead. Because that's a spectacular thing.

Update: I think I'm going to let that really, embarrassing thing die and not tell the story. For now.

stops and starts and flows

2009-08-13T22:03:00.007-05:00

This comes down on Sunday, but it's an interview I did on BBC Radio on August 7. I like it because they asked me to read the blog post in full.

When I write, that's how I edit. If it sounds good out loud, if it feels good on my tongue, than it passes muster.

I'm a fan of the rhythm of words, of how punctuation and the use of paragraphs (is there a word for that?) creates a cadence of stops and starts and flows.

Do you read your stuff out loud too? With the door closed or with an audience in the room?

I have the door closed.

Fast forward to 1:16:00 if you want to listen.

Update: The BBC piece is no longer available online. But they sent me an mp3 file and I've posted it to Vimeo. Is it just me or is it really slow?

Making Lemonade

2009-08-11T14:30:00.011-05:00

This is a film (Lemonade) about people in the ad agency world who lost their jobs and found something better on the other side, including their happiness and an unexpected new sense of self worth.

Yeah, I work in the industry. Don't read too much into it. Read THIS into it. If you're not doing what you want to be doing right this very minute, you might want to reconsider.

I'm getting this out there for a Twitter friend, the film's writer and co-executive producer and former agency ACD. Watch it. He's a good man, that Eric Proulx (@eproulx) and I think he might be doing what he was meant to be doing all along.

Sincerely, Alison Byrne Fields

2009-08-08T05:55:00.007-05:00

Okay, so yesterday scared the crap out of me.

The phone calls and emails from reporters and literary agents and movie producers and the thousands of comments from John Hughes fans that I wanted to acknowledge and respond to? More than I was prepared to handle — literally and emotionally. Individually, you guys are great. Collectively, I wanted to crawl under my desk and curl up in the fetal position.

I'm shy. No, really. Sure, I mouth off on Twitter and I can pull off a client meeting, but I get anxious when I'm the center of attention. I'm a private person. I'm an honest and forthright person, but I have always been very cautious about what I share — and with whom.

Beyond that, my correspondence with John has always been an important part of my life, a chapter that informs who I am today. Putting it out there to be analyzed and critiqued risked the possibility that some of the beauty that I saw in it would fade. I've always pushed my clients to be willing to listen to criticism and, for example, allow negative comments to be posted on their Web sites, but right now, I want to delete the comments from the (very very few) who chose to sully something lovely and innocent with their ugliness. As I said yesterday on Twitter — in one of my less eloquent moments — "People who say mean things suck. Kindness feels better — to you and to me."

And the condolences. I don't feel like I deserve those. John's wife, his sons, his grandchildren. They deserve your condolences. Think of them and, if you're so inclined, pray for them as they get through this difficult time.

Mostly though, I was scared I was betraying John. Would he want me to tell these stories? Was it wrong to talk about his phone call? He was raw. Was he trusting me with something and did I not show that trust the respect it deserved? Would his family or friends think I was betraying his trust to get the attention I never wanted in the first place? I do not want to be known as the woman who revealed why John Hughes left Hollywood. John Hughes wasn't Deep Throat and I'm not Carl Bernstein — or Bob Woodward.

What was amazing about this experience — besides all of your kind comments — was hearing from John's sons. As I told both of them, it is very obvious to me that the generosity their father showed me was something they have both inherited. Thank you, John. Thank you, James.

So, a few things.

I'm not doing any more interviews. Okay, maybe one more. Rachel Sklar got in touch last night and I like Rachel. I'll talk to her and maybe we can do something fun together.

The blog post will be reprinted in full in tomorrow's New York Post. I received a very small fee for allowing them to do so and I am going to give that money (plus some extra) to 826 National, an organization that works with young people (ages 6-18) and teachers to encourage writing. Because of John's encouragement of my writing and the encouragement that many of you have given me to write, it seems fitting. I'd like to ask each of you to do the same or to consider volunteering. 826 National has locations in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Ann Arbor and Boston.

I checked with the Hughes family and they support this idea and encourage you to also consider giving to the American Heart Association or Northwestern Memorial Hospital in John's memory. $10, $20, anything you have would have an impact (remember, it's the little things.) If things are tight and you don't have any extra money and you are in the Chicago area, please consider volunteering for the Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I am confident they would welcome your support and it would be a lovely way to demonstrate your admiration for John.

To all of you who have written to me on Facebook and Twitter to thank me for the post, I am sincerely appreciative for your graciousness. And for those who have encouraged me to keep writing, thank you. It is the thing I like to do most in this world and I guess I just got a major kick in the pants to keep at it.

My apologies to those of you who have asked to be my "friend" on Facebook, but that space is for people I already know. Please don't be offended. Most of the content I post on there wouldn't make any sense to you anyway. It barely makes sense to the people who know me. You can obviously follow me on Twitter, which many of you already have chosen to do. But just know that I'm not always "beautiful" and "touching." Yeah, I mean, I am hardly ever "beautiful" and "touching." I'm kinda grumpy.

The moral of this story? Speak up, believe that there are people out there who will listen. And if you have the opportunity to be the "listener"? Listen. You have the power to change someone's life. Oh, and another thing. Do what makes you happy, according to your rules. Stay true to your values. I'm going to try to remember these lessons myself.

My friend Spike said it would be over today. Doesn't one of you want to make a wacky video about your cat? I hear those are really popular.

Sincerely, John Hughes

2009-08-06T16:41:00.016-05:00

I was babysitting for my mom's friend Kathleen's daughter the night I wrote that first fan letter to John Hughes. I can literally remember the yellow grid paper, the blue ball point pen and sitting alone in the dim light in the living room, the baby having gone to bed.

I poured my heart out to John, told him about how much the movie mattered to me, how it made me feel like he got what it was like to be a teenager and to feel misunderstood.

(I felt misunderstood.)

I sent the letter and a month or so later I received a package in the mail with a form letter welcoming me as an "official" member of The Breakfast Club, my reward a strip of stickers with the cast in the now famous pose.

I was irate.

I wrote back to John, explaining in no uncertain terms that, excuse me, I just poured my fucking heart out to you and YOU SENT ME A FORM LETTER.

That was just not going to fly.

He wrote back.

"This is not a form letter. The other one was. Sorry. Lots of requests. You know what I mean. I did sign it."

He wrote back and told me that he was sorry, that he liked my letter and that it meant a great deal to him. He loved knowing that his words and images resonated with me and people my age. He told me he would say hi to everyone on my behalf.

"No, I really will. Judd will be pleased you think he's sexy. I don't."

I asked him if he would be my pen pal.

He said yes.

"I'd be honored to be your pen pal. You must understand at times I won't be able to get back to you as quickly as I might want to. If you'll agree to be patient, I'll be your pen pal."

For two years (1985-1987), John Hughes and I wrote letters back and forth. He told me - in long hand black felt tip pen on yellow legal paper - about life on a film set and about his family. I told him about boys, my relationship with my parents and things that happened to me in school. He laughed at my teenage slang and shared the 129 question Breakfast Club trivia test I wrote (with the help of my sister) with the cast, Ned Tanen (the film's producer) and DeDe Allen (the editor). He cheered me on when I found a way around the school administration's refusal to publish a "controversial" article I wrote for the school paper. And he consoled me when I complained that Mrs. Garstka didn't appreciate my writing.

"As for your English teacher…Do you like the way you write? Please yourself. I'm rather fond of writing. I actually regard it as fun. Do it frequently and see if you can't find the fun in it that I do."

He made me feel like what I said mattered.

"I can't tell you how much I like your comments about my movies. Nor can I tell you how helpful they are to me for future projects. I listen. Not to Hollywood. I listen to you. I make these movies for you. Really. No lie. There's a difference I think you understand."

"It's been a month of boring business stuff. Grown up, adult, big people meetings. Dull but necessary. But a letter from Alison always makes the mail a happening thing."

"I may be writing about young marriage. Or babies. Or Breakfast Club II or a woman's story. I have a million ideas and can't decide what's next. I guess I'll just have to dive into something. Maybe a play."

"You've already received more letters from me than any living relative of mine has received to date. Truly, hope all is well with you and high school isn't as painful as I portray it. Believe in yourself. Think about the future once a day and keep doing what you're doing. Because I'm impressed. My regards to the family. Don't let a day pass without a kind thought about them."

There were a few months in 1987 when I didn't hear from John. I missed his letters and the strength and power and confidence they gave me and so I sent a letter to Ned Tanen who, by that time, was the President of Paramount Pictures (he died earlier this year). In my letter I asked Mr. Tanen if he knew what was up with John, why he hadn't been writing and if he could perhaps give him a poke on my behalf.

He did.

I came home from school soon after to find an enormous box on my front porch filled with t-shirts and tapes and posters and scripts and my very own Ferris Bueller's Day Off watch.

And a note.

"I missed you too. Don't get me in trouble with my boss any more. Sincerely, John Hughes."

Fast forward.

1997. I was working in North Carolina on a diversity education project that partnered with colleges and universities around the country to implement a curriculum that used video production as an experiential education tool. On a whim, I sent John a video about the work we were doing. I was proud of it and, all these years later, I wanted him to be proud too.

Late one night I was in the office, scheduled to do an interview with a job candidate. Ten minutes or so into the call it was clear that he wasn't the right guy, but I planned to suffer through.

Then the phone rang.

1…2…3…4…a scream came from the other room and 1…2…3…my boss Tony was standing in my doorway yelling, "John Hughes is on the phone!!"

I politely got off the phone with the job candidate who was no longer a candidate and

Hit. Line. Two.

"Hi, John."

"Hi, Alison."

We talked for an hour. It was the most wonderful phone call. It was the saddest phone call. It was a phone call I will never forget.

John told me about why he left Hollywood just a few years earlier. He was terrified of the impact it was having on his sons; he was scared it was going to cause them to lose perspective on what was important and what happiness meant. And he told me a sad story about how, a big reason behind his decision to give it all up was that "they" (Hollywood) had "killed" his friend, John Candy, by greedily working him too hard.

He also told me he was glad I had gotten in touch and that he was proud of me for what I was doing with my life. He told me, again, how important my letters had been to him all those years ago, how he often used the argument "I'm doing this for Alison" to justify decisions in meetings.

Tonight, when I heard the news that John had died, I cried. I cried hard. (And I'm crying again.) I cried for a man who loved his friends, who loved his family, who loved to write and for a man who took the time to make a little girl believe that, if she had something to say, someone would listen.

Thank you, John Hughes. I love you for what you did to make me who I am.

Sincerely, Alison Byrne Fields.

compelling supporters to join your fight

2009-07-12T18:47:00.002-05:00

The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof has been on a roll lately with his columns about the right — and the wrong — way for charitable organizations to compel supporters to join them in the fight to meet their mission.

Earlier this week he argued, as he had in 2007, that the public is more compelled to get involved if they see themselves as saving one person — one cute kid, one mother who has persevered — versus the millions who may find themselves in the same situation.

"There’s growing evidence that jumping up and down about millions of lives at stake can even be counterproductive. A number of studies have found that we are much more willing to donate to one needy person than to several. In one experiment, researchers solicited donations for a $300,000 fund that in one version would save the life of one child, and in another the lives of eight children. People contributed more when the fund would save only one life."

People want to feel good. They don't want to think about the enormity of a problem that they can never truly solve. They want to write a check and believe they have had an impact.

Quite a few well-meaning people who see themselves as experts in issues marketing did not take too kindly to Kristof's comments. They'll have to get over themselves.

Yesterday, Kristof praised the marketing efforts of Scott Harrison, the founder of charity:water, an organization that has raised $10 million in the past three years from 50,000 individual donors and has provided clean water to one million people in Asia and Africa.

Why does Kristof think Harrison been successful?

He can assure new donors that every sent they send will make it to the field. He can do this due to the support of 500 of his "most committed" supporters, who pay to cover all administrative costs.
Donors can see the impact of their work. They can name wells and get the GPS coordinates to identify their wells on Google Maps.
Finally, charity:water has, creatively, embraced social media.

Assure your donors they're money is being spent effectively, allow them to see how they have made a difference and use social media to help facilitate building relationships with your supporters and tapping into their networks.

just dreamy

2009-05-16T16:31:00.000-05:00

david lynch puts baby in the corner

2009-05-10T19:44:00.000-05:00

hang 'em high

2009-05-10T19:34:00.003-05:00

This piece from Andrew Sullivan about Dick Cheney's persistent attacks on the Obama administration over the past four months (and this weekend in particular) is EXCELLENT.

It's not just that I'd love to be allowed to frolic in the wading pool of Obamadoration without the bellowing of a grumpy old man getting in the way; I've been astounded by Cheney's insistence on making appearance after appearance, weekend after weekend. Hey, Cheney, you're out! You're done! Your reign of terror has come to an end!

But Sullivan things we should just let Cheney hang himself — and take the Republican Party down with him.

"Those of us who want him to face real accountability should, of course, welcome all this. Cheney does not seem to understand that he is incriminating himself further with every interview, every time he adjusts his story, every time he moves from torture as a 'no-brainer' to a 'last resort,' every time he assaults yet another person who knows too much about him and what he did."

I can get behind that. Who wants to book Cheney for next Sunday?

latest

2009-02-22T19:44:00.003-05:00

I'm not giving up. I've maintained this blog for more than four years and I can't walk away from it, despite appearances to the contrary.

I'm working with a friend, however, to create a new site, something that will serve more as a calling card for myself — both professionally and personally. I am hoping that the new site will compel me to get back into the groove.

The aim is to transfer the content from this site to the new site, but feature it in a different way.

I'll keep you posted on the progress and, in the meantime, I'll try to post here more often.

change has come to america

2009-01-24T20:33:00.001-05:00

"If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values. They're hobbies!"

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Fox News Fear Imbalance

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

the oath

2009-01-23T12:25:00.000-05:00

shop

2009-01-03T22:32:00.000-05:00

best practice for blog commenting protocol

2009-01-01T19:57:00.004-05:00

Joey DeVilla at Global Nerdy posted this blog commenting protoco l from the United States Air Force yesterday. (It came to me via Dave Armano on Twitter.)

It's a super simple way to communicate the information that I have been sharing with clients via "commenting protocols," which are tailored guidelines for who, when, where, why and how to respond to brand mentions online.

These documents are generally a few pages long and I've never been confident that they really get shared and absorbed throughout the client's company or group in a way that I would like them to. If the client still wants the detail that comes in the commenting protocol, we can provide that to them, but this style of document makes sense for them to have to share internally to really get people on board. It's easy to understand and easy to share and can still be tailored to the client's specific situation/brand message.

end of year wrap up

2008-12-13T13:30:00.013-05:00

It feels a bit like cheating to write an end of year blog post when I haven't been posting much, but I'm a sucker for tradition and a touch obsessive compulsive, so it's going to happen. And, well, I'm resolved to get this blog going again in 2009, so consider this a new beginning.

Anyway, this is my, I believe, fourth end of year post. I generally wait for Kristen to tag me, but she's pretty much abandoned her blog as well, so I'm not sure I can wait that long.

Here we go.

What did you do in 2008 that you had never done before?

Spoke at a funeral

Became really comfortable with public speaking — in fact, I get a rush from it now.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Last year I said that I didn't make new year's resolutions and I kept to my word. Well, maybe I need to start making them and sticking to them because things NEED to get better. I've made 15+ resolutions for 2009 and things ARE going to get better.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
I feel like everyone around me is getting married and having babies, which makes sense because I am a single woman in her (late) 30's and we get like that. Anyway, a couple of friends with whom I was close in college had babies: Freyja and Kira. My new friend Ashton also pushed out a puppy and Mark's wife Maureen had a baby at the beginning of the year. I think that's it. Let me know if I missed anyone.

Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother, Ruth Fields, died in February. And, yes, this has something to do with my answer about what I did this year that I have never done before. I read something at her funeral that she had asked to be read. I remember it rhymed and kinda felt like something you'd cut out of Reader's Digest and tape to your refrigerator if you were into taping things about not being sad after you're dead on your refrigerator. We're planning her unveiling now and I miss her horribly. I also know that, when I wrote last yea r that no one close to me had died, I would be writing about her death this year.

I miss you, Grandma, and I always will.

What countries did you visit?
I traveled a great deal this year, but primarily the 2,306 (according to United) miles between Washington DC an Seattle. Internationally, I only traveled to The Netherlands in August and to France in October.

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Some success at business development would be nice. But there's one thing I spent way too much time in 2008 really really really wanting that I would love to have in 2009, but I think maybe it's better just to, instead, regain my sanity and perspective and stop wanting it so much.

Maybe I shouldn't want it at all, as a matter of fact.

What date from 2008 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
How can I say anything but November 4? Holy shit. Woke up godawful early to vote and ended the day in tears amazed, AMAZED when Keith Olbermann announced that Barack Obama was projected to be the next president of the United States. Wonderful, beautiful, hopeful.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't really feel like I pulled off any great achievement this year. It felt more like endurance; I kept going despite it all. Sorry to be such a drama queen but it just was not a banner year. The bar is low, but 2009 will be a marked improvement.

What was my biggest failure?
That I merely endured?

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was pretty healthy this year. I'm sick now with a cold, but the body stood up pretty well. Keep going, baby.

What was the best thing you bought this year?
I have worn my black Frye boots so often this year that I had to have the heels replaced. I am embarrassed by how often I wear them.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
I cried when Hillary Clinton called for Obama to receive the Democratic nomination by acclimation from the floor of the Convention. I respect her tremendously and know how badly she wanted the nomination — and for the right reasons — but she rose above in a way that all of us should aspire to.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Sarah Palin is repulsive. She is an idiot. But even worse than Sarah Palin are the fools who fell for her crap. You should all be sent to Guantanamo and forced to stay there for seven years without a trial. Okay?

Where did most of your money go?
Buying other people drinks and dinner. And dresses. I bought a hell of a lot of dresses this year.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I got pretty damn giddy about the election.

What song will always remind you of 2008?
There are two songs: "I Found a Reason" by Cat Power

and "Beautiful Child" by Rufus Wainwright.

Compared to this time last year are you happier or sadder?
I think I might be sadder. It's been a tough year. But I'm hopeful, so the chin is up.

Compared to this time last year are you thinner or fatter?
I think I might be fatter. I'm definitely not thinner. That's next year.

Compared to this time last year are you richer or poorer?
Richer.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Showed love.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worked. But more importantly, resented working. That's crap.

How will you be spending New Year's?
I celebrate on New Year's Day and generally just go to bed on New Year's Eve. I know it makes me sound like a boring old lady, but I want to capitalize on the hopefulness of the new year by waking up feeling good and spending the day doing something that makes me happy.

Did you fall in love in 2008?
I was in love when the year started . . .

How many one night stands?
No more one night stands for me. Late night text messages from friends with whom I have an understanding? Yeah, those, those happened. But I won't count.

What was your favorite TV program?
I tend to watch more television shows on Netflix now than on television. Whole series at a time. Discover a great show and then watch the hell out of it. Friday Night Lights is the latest. Season 1 was leaps and bounds better than Season 2, but I'll definitely be tuning in for the premiere of Season 3 on NBC on January 16.

Do you hate anyone know that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate people. But I do dislike a couple of people whom I didn't even know last year. How's that?

What was the best book you read?
I loved Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail by Hunter S. Thompson, particularly in the midst of the election. I wish Hunter was around to cover this one.

What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
My love for Liz Phair returned with a vengeance this year after I saw her at the 9:30 Club in DC in August. I had been listening to Exile in Guyville and then realized after the fact that Whip Smart was amazing.

What did you want and get?
A Democrat in the White House.

What did you want and not get?
I don't want to get into specifics, but I lost something I didn't even know I had. The biggest surprise was in realizing how much I wanted it when I realized I couldn't.

What was your favorite film of this year?
"He could wield a pretty effective sword against what's going on right now."

I loved Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson.

What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I was at my grandmother's funeral on my birthday and I was as old as the hills.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting that thing I wanted.

How would you describe your personal fashion statement in 2008?
This year's uniform was a dress, black tights and black boots. And the headbands continue to go strong.

What kept you sane?
Who — Ray Page, Japanese salary man

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have to be too old to answer this question with any dignity. Jason Bateman remains my longest running crush. I've developed new crushes on Kyle Chandler, Zach Gilford and Taylor Kitsch on Friday Night Lights. Hunter S. Thompson is my dead crush.

What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm pretty much at a boil at all times when it comes to politics, so this question has never worked for me. I had tunnel vision this year. I just wanted to WIN.

Who did you miss?
Grandma.

Who was the best new person you met?
Ray Page, Japanese salary man

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008?
I've learned a fair amount of humility in 2008 and he'll hate to hear it if he ever reads this, but I credit my friend Ray Page. I listen to his feedback in a way that I have never been able to before because I sincerely trust the source and, in the process, have gotten better at listening to feedback from others.

It's a really mutually supportive friendship that makes me pretty damn happy — except when we rag on each other mercilessly and I want to scoop his heart out and eat it with a side of fries.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your ear.
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train.