Relay for Life

I'm going to do the 24 hours walking at Relay for Life in Memory of my Uncle Bruce & my Grandma. Here's the link to my page.

I've done this the past 5 years and always feel that it is an important way to remember my loved ones and honor the cancer survivors. This is Bruce McCurdy, my uncle, who was the professor at University of Santa Barbara in the Art department. The other photo is my Grandma, Ronne B. McCurdy with me at the Pittsburgh Zoo in 1960 in our matching dresses.

CAMP eVolution Awards

Last night I had the pleasure to attend the eVolution Awards and open house at CAMP's manufacturing and technology facility on E 25th Street in Cleveland. I found the atmosphere, discussions and the speech by Curtis Moll (chairman & CEO of MTD Products) to be so inspirational. Forget hearing about layoffs and downsizing... Northeast Ohio is vibrant and innovative.

Let's hear it for lean manufacturing and increasing competitiveness through innovations in the manufacturing process! Sound boring? No wonder the media doesn't like to report on success stories. Layoffs, fires and driveby shootings make great headlines to sell newspapers and build ratings, but it doesn't tell the real story!

The photo at the right is the award Bettcher Amherst Metal Stamping received for their innovative practices in manufacturing. Marketing Resources & Results helped them get their trade show booth ready for the display at CAMP... now known as MAGNET.

More branding and marketing information is available at this Branding and Marketing Blog.

Plain Dealer mention

Yesterday 3 employees at my company were mentioned in the business section of the Plain Dealer. Two of them had their photos in the print version-- even in color. The online version of "ON THE GO" splits our announcement with an ad, but it is nice to get a mention.

I've decided to keep my business blogging separate from my gardening blogging. When I first started this blog, I didn't realize it made sense to really focus on a topic. Sounds silly now, but true enough.

Click on the link to find out more about my thoughts on Branding and Marketing. For more information about my company, just click on this link: Marketing Resources & Results.

Spring is around the corner

Can't wait for spring. Even though snow is everywhere, I can still picture the flowers of last summer.

Pattern Puzzles

I love to wake up early when the house is all quiet and do a couple of puzzles with a cup of coffee to get my brain going.

Some of my favorites are the Set Daily Puzzle and Suduku.

Funny how I can tell when the caffine hits my brain. All of the sudden I can "see it". Before that, I'm just starring at the puzzle and not seeing any patterns. I think this type of puzzle wakes up both sides of my brain -- analytical & creative.

Taxes

Getting into tax time. I really hate to get this together because in the end I always feel like I'm paying more than I should. Maybe I need to buy a horse or a giant yacht as a "write off." Not sure that would actually help.

It surprises me that I actually know what a 1099, K-1 and a 1065 is.

Random Thoughts on Blogging

Seems like a good blog needs a reoccuring theme. Which begs the question. Is the blog written for the writer... or the reader? There are so many things I like to write about, but why would anyone like to read them? I think this blog is going to be about stuff I like to write and not really written for any specific audience to read. I write for specific reasons all day long. This one will be random. If I want to do a one focus blog, I can start another one. So There!!

Well, the theme of this blog will be GARDENING. If you want to read more about the business of marketing and branding, check out Marketing Resources & Results' blog called Branding and Marketing.

I enjoy watching the Super Bowl for the ads with my family. We either laugh or groan... or we don't get it.

My favorite ad was the FedEx Caveman ad. We were laughing so hard at the end that we missed the next commercial.

I probably won't think it's that funny after I see it a few more times, but it was good yesterday.

Web Designer in the News

Check out today's Akron Beacon Journal. The business section profiles Sandy Donaldson, one of my business friends. I like how the reporter captured her no-nonsense style as well as told the story of her business. You can learn more about her company at www.DonaldsonResources.com. Getting placement in the Beacon Journal is partly the result of a series of press releases we created and distributed for her company stressing the various benefits of her services. Way to go Sandy!

What happened to Winter?

Here in Northeast Ohio we prepare for a winter filled with lots of snow. And sleet. And many days of zero degree weather. That just didn't happen this year. In fact, I don't remember a more mild winter.

Sure makes it easy to drive, but I'm really missing the beauty of those incredibly cold mornings with ice coating all the trees. I just love it when the sun comes out to reflect off the frozen branches. Everything sparkles. When I walk across the snow, it squeaks with the cold.

The downside: the heavy weight of the ice on those trees snaps the branches of some of the older trees. Just a gust of wind and you can hear their demise. I guess that's survival of the fittest!

Oh well. Not everyone is missing the traditional Cleveland -- Akron weather the way I am. Later.
Chris Brown