Formula 1 is much more exciting this year!

This year's Formula 1 racing season has been much more interesting due to the fact that multiple world champion Michael Schumacher hasn't won every race this year. :-)

We hadn't been planning on attending this year's U.S. Grand Prix, mostly because it's no fun to watch one driver win all the races. This year's races have been much more exciting, however, probably due to a number of factors, including new rules about engines and tires. We still won't be going there with our racing buddies this year, but mostly due to conflicts with other activities, such as family vacations and business trips.

Our high-maintenance babies: Max and Sam

Our "kids" Max and Sam, have been a little stressed since the purchase of our new furniture (see the pics at Dave's blog). We instituted a new rule that restricts them from getting on the furniture.

Samantha (peeking out from under the box flap) hasn't minded so much because she's really taken to the new cat beds we purchased for them. But poor Max, he cries and gets obviously upset, because he likes to sit with us when we watch TV.

The Poor Mrs Kimbles

Tonight our neighborhood book club gets together to discuss Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh. The story, which I read last weekend, follows the perspective of three women who married the same man, Ken Kimble.

In one way, the strangest thing about the story is that the primary protagonist, Ken, is the one person who you know least about. The three women he marries are each different in circumstances and personality but with a common insecurity (hence the reason they marry him). You see the world through their eyes and watch them gradually discover Ken's weaknesses until their relationships with him slowly destroy their lives.

The story made me sad and angry at Mr. Kimble, and made me wish I understood his motives and background. In real life, very few people are purely bad, but I feel like the reader never gets the opportunity to know Ken any more than his wives did. That approach helped me as a reader have greater empathy for the female characters and their weaknesses.

Separate living squared

I'm a person of faith who has in recent years chosen to remove myself from the Christian bubble. We don't attend a traditional church anymore and don't make a point to choose Christian books, music or entertainment options any differently than we would pick a movie or a TV show from TiVo.

Why is this unique? Because the American evangelical experience has, for the most part, become quite insular. There's Christian radio, teen magazines, Web sites and television. (Some is done with moderate quality, some is downright embarassing in its adolescence.) If you are a "good" Christian now days, your circle of life is completely Christianized.

As a professional marketer, I was intrigued by a recent article about Christian "branding." Looking at it a little further, I saw that the primary quoted source for this little news snippet was a company that provided a one-stop source for churches who want a little marketing expertise. Was their work unique or cutting edge? Not really. But, if you're interested in keeping that bubble of protection (and don't want to hire marketing professionals in your own community -- See Matt. 5:13-16), then their services might be for you.

Bridesmaid dress for the wedding

Thinking about this combination for the bridesmaid dress at Tam's wedding. The shawl isn't necessary, but it might make a nice option.

The Scooba sounds like a dream come true

Kudos to the folks at iRobot for keen marketing acumen. As a customer who has happily purchased the Roomba, I recently received an e-mail announcement about an upcoming product of theirs, the Scooba.

The e-mail and landing page were simple but well done, and so I forwarded it to my colleagues at work, since we frequently discuss the best way to do this type of marketing tactic. More than half of them e-mailed me back to tell me they wanted one, too. :-)

Why in the world did they kill Kate?

OK, I admit, I'm one of those folks who can't get enough of the crime shows. I watch several CSI shows and Numb3rs, too. But one of my favorite shows is CBS's NCIS. The characters are a lot of fun and the chemistry excellent, even when the plot is a little unbelievable.

This month they had the season ender and -- in the last three seconds of the show -- killed Kate! How could they? It's been a couple of weeks and I still can't believe it. Sigh.

Visit from Tam and Matt

Had a nice (if brief) visit from Tamara and her fiancee Matt Strom.

I think Matt had been a little nervous that we would grill him, but there was no need to worry about that -- we just hung out and got to know each other in a laid-back way. :-)

On Friday, we talked and hung out then took them to one of the best restaurants in the greater Lansing area, All Seasons Bistro. After a nice dinner, we then went home and played a couple of fun games, including a new one that they gave us called Marry, Date or Dump. We also played one of our personal favorite games, Catch Phrase.

Memorial weekend activities: Shopping

We received our new furniture on Saturday, and I have to say it looks great. Still, I'm having a little buyers' remorse (but only because I hate to spend money). :-)

What happened to the old furniture? It went into the loft...and looks great there, actually. I like being up there now that it feels like a real room. Much more relaxing office space for me, now.

Thanks to Dave for all the work putting the photos on a blog so I don't have to.

Added a link to Tam's blog

OK, so she hasn't written anything since her first blog, but I added a link to my sister's blog to my link section. Say "hi" to her if you have the time. :-)

Disappeared for a while, but now I'm back

Had a bit of a crazy time and took a break from blogging, but now I'm back. Like my new profile photo?