Is there something the major (and minor) news networks are NOT telling us about the economy?

Hi everyone.

This blog is normally for updates on what's going on with me with regards to work life, home life, social life, etc. Occasionally you'll hear when I'm in a good mood, a bad mood, etc. And I also share cool news of family and friends as mostly the folks that read this (that I know of) are family, friends, and a few random folks who chime in every now and again. It's been interesting to hear from new acquaintences who share their blog info and then we keep in touch.

Well, today, I am VERY concerned. I have some very definite concerns regarding the current US economic situation. What we see on the news networks is VERY scary - very scary. But what I found out today....is that what we're NOT SEEING ONTHE NEWS NETWORKS IS EVEN SCARIER!!!

A very good friend and soror of mine sent me an email that I will copy in its entirety below. Before you read it, though, please know that this is NOT AN INTERNET HOAX, MYTH OR JOKE. It is the truth based on her experiences and communications with others. Here is her email to me below:


Subject: I have been told by my child all week that there is no gas in Nashville.

Well, I have been doing a little research and she is correct. Gas is drying up all over the south.

I have a friend with daughter at FAMU and they have had difficulty getting gas for the last 2 weeks. Gas prices have gone as high as $6 / gallon.

In Nashville about 60% of the gas stations are closed because they have no gas. Those that are opened are having police patrols to reduce minor crimes, direct traffic and reduce the anxiety of frantic consumers who now have to stand in line over 30 minutes to get gas that is now being rationed out.

I spoke to a soror in Houston on Friday who was quite frazzled. She wanted me to let everyone know that the news stations are supressing information. Most of Houston and Galvaston are still without electricity. Food and water are scarce and gasoline is almost non existent. She has been unable to work since a few days before the storm. Banks are closed and ATMs are not working. Grocery store shelves are bare and because there is not gasoline, those that are there have nowhere to go. She said, "You cannot imagine how bad it is."

I spoke to another soror in Ohio who works for a Bank and has been commuting to the South (not just Texas) attempting to assist consumers who have no access to funds because Banks are closed due to lack of power.

I have spoken to a couple of my past coworkers at Bank of America who were traders. They tell me the fallout on Wall Street is much worse than what you are hearing on the news. There is more to come in the coming weeks. Big business is trying to hold out until after the election. But it probably is too much to bear.

Please guys, spread the word and remember this. Make sure EVERYONE you know is registered to vote and goes to the polls. PLEASE! Do not forget this in November.

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So I sent the above email to my entire email network with some editorial comments from yours truly:

The email below came from a friend and a soror (sorority sister – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc,) of mine who is the REAL DEAL and a highly respected businesswoman. It came directly to me from my friend so I am the first one forwarding it out to my network. So, please know that this email is NOT a joke; or a myth; or an internet rumor. And one of my best friends (from junior high school) who LIVES IN HOUSTON just responded to my email and confirmed that what was said below about Houston is true as she was just able to return to her home in Houston this past Saturday (still with no power).

I’m sharing this email with you to expand your awareness (if you’re not in these affected areas). And, to ask that you check with your friends, family and other folks in these areas mentioned below as well as those who work in the financial markets to find out the truth – as best you can. And as she states in the bottom of the email, remember this situation (not likely we’re going to forget the situation we, as a country and even as a world, are in within the next 40 days) and vote. Vote your conscience and your convictions (of course) but open your eyes to determine how we got to this place and how this situation came to be (in the last eight years) and which of the two major party presidential candidates can assist in getting the USA on an even keel and create an even playing ground with access for ALL Americans. I’m not telling you who to vote for – just sharing information as THERE IS POWER IN INFORMATION – FULLY INFORMED INFORMATION.

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As I get more information and actual accounts from my colleagues and friends who are in the affected places or in the affected industries, I will share it here - and with others - in hopes that we can all get closer to the truth - whatever that looks like.

Don't worry - there will still be updates and fun stuff on here. However, this blogs reflects my feelings and right now, my feelings are of concern.

Regards to all!

MPI World Education Congress - Part Two

So for this hospitality industry conference for Meeting Professionals International, I had the pleasure of staying at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. While it meant a lot of walking to get from my hotel room to the meeting space where the Congress was taking place, it was a pretty nice hotel.

Here are some shots of the property:


Here is a shot of of the beach and pool area. Mandalay Bay has created its own man-made beach. It's pretty cool.


Here is a shot of the final night celebration. It's really cool (especially to an AV Geek) how they projected the logos of the sponsors onto the helium balloon.

Here is another shot of a different sponsor's logo on the balloon.

Here are a couple more shots of our booth from the tradeshow. It's kinda cool and kinda different so I wanted to share some new exhibit booth ideas.

More photos to come. Thanks for reading.

Labor Day 2008 Sailboat Cruise - More Photos

So these are not quite in "chronological" order but I'll do my best to describe what's going on.

Here is the actual lighthouse on the South Haven shore so that those sailing at night can find their way.

Here is the line of boats heading back into shore. It was about 6:00 pm at this point so folks were trying to get in before it started to get dark.

This is after we had gone under the bridge and were heading back into the docks. It was cool to see all the other boats and check out their names, etc. Some of the beach condos were really nice, as well.

All sailing vessels big and small were waiting for the drawbridge to let up so that they could dock their boats, jet-skis, etc. Those that were wmall enough to go under brige were great but those that were bigger with big sails etc, you had to wait as the drawbridge only went up on the hour and half hour marks. On the weekends, it's very busy in the town so the drawbride master was strict in how long he'll kee the bridge up. It's a trip.

Here are more pics of the shoreline and some of the GREAT houses along the lake. I want one when I grow up!

This is one of our sailing neighbors on their clipper ship. Is it not gorgeous? I had to take a photo.

our skipper leading LeCirque back into the boat slip. Isn't he great. he and Claudia were great hosts.
Here is yours truly enjoying herself out on the sailboat.

here is my sweetie - we're out on the front of the boat just chillin and taking in the scene on the lake.

Is Daddy having a good time or what?

And here is is my sweetie and I at the end of our cruise. Windswept and hair all over the place; however, a good time had b all. Hope you enjoyed our cruise. More photos to come.

Sailing on Lake Michigan on Labor Day Weekend

Hi everyone.

Hope you all have had a wonderful summer. Here are some photos from the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. My Sweetie B and I joined my parents and their friends on a sail boat cruise on Lake Michigan. The sailboat Le Cirque is docked in South Haven, MI so B & I drove to Indiana, picked up the folks and then traveled another hour to South Haven. It was worth every second!
Enjoy the photos!

Here is Daddy and our host Claudia.

Mom is truly enjoying herself on the sailboat.

This is a photo from the front (I believe it's call the aft) of the sailboat. We're heading out from the dock into Lake Michigan.

Here is Yours truly, pretending (and let me stress PRETENDING) to steer the sailboat. Since I'm still here to tell you about this cruise, it's a good thing that that the captain really did the steering and just let me pose!

OK - so does Lake Michigan look peaceful or what? It was terrific. There are more photos that I will post.

Meeting Professionals International in Las Vegas

Well, in August, I was in Las Vegas working at the MPI World Education Congress. It was work but I also had a great time. Here is a shot of me working hard setting up my booth!

Here is a shot of our trade show booth for Projection. I helped choose the photograph we used on the booth backdrop and it totally was worth the extra money to do this. Unfortunately, the light was RIGHT above the booth so it distorts the shot a little bit. I'll see if I have some better shots so that you can see what we've been doing.

Now this show below is really cool - it's a fog/smoke screen that has the MPI logo projected onto the fog screen. You walked through the smoke screen and could see through it too. It was really neat!

OK, maybe I do work too hard if all I have are photos from work. Nah, that's not true. I work hard, that's true, but I just have to download my camera with the 200+ photos of non working hours.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority 2008 National Convention

So I went to the Delta Convention in July 2008. The convention was held in Orlando, FL. I had a good time but it was busy.

I was so busy that I only got some shots of the general session room for my job as competitive intelligence on my Treo phone. So....I'll share these for now. There's more to share on that later on, and I will as soon as I download my photos from my digital camera.

I think I work too much. Here is another shot for competitive intelligence for work! Perhaps I need to get a life!

What's going on?

Hey everyone.

I'm sitting in a general session for the American Academy of Periodontology in Seattle, Washington. It's long but my client is happy; therefore, I'm happy.

Life has been ok. Not great, not bad, just ok. I've been in a funk for the past two months. Can't quite put my finger on what it is, exactly, but I've been in a funk. Unfortunately, that funk creates laziness and apathy to many other aspects of life - such as updating the blog. But, the good news is that I have LOTS of pictures to share of what's been going on so....in no particular order, I will share these photos with everyone and let you know what's been happening in the past few months.

I'm also happy to share that the funk seems to be rising - THANK GOODNESS -so that means that I will be doing a much better job of updating the blog. Phew!

Hugs to all,
Cherai