Don't regret the choice you didn't make today; exercise your rights and power by voting

Please be sure to vote today. Your choice of candidates is your business once you are in the booth. But the world, your country, your community, your family and your conscious need you to participate to make the process work. Yes, your one little vote will make a big difference. Again, please vote today.  And remind your friends.

Need to find out where you vote and get directions?  Click here to find out where you vote and get directions. You can even call your polling place to find out how to get a free ride. Let's all be doers, not just complainers. Have a Blessed day and make a difference in your community.

Girl to First Lady Obama: my dad's been out of work three years

First Lady Michelle Obama embraces Charlotte Bell after the girl

handed Obama her unemployed dad's resume.

(photo credit:  Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Usually it’s the parents who take care of the children, or provide for their needs.  But one spunky little girl may have just gotten her father’s foot in the door somewhere.  Forget LinkedIn, CareerBuilders and all the others.  Charlotte Bell, 10, went straight to one of the highest sources of influence in the land.  Today, a young girl put her out-of-work dad’s resume right smack into the hands of First Lady Michelle Obama.

The surprising, but loving gesture took place earlier this morning in the East Room of the White House.  As a part of Take Our Sons and Daughters To Work Day, executive staffers were allowed to bring their children along to get a glimpse into what their parents do in the normal course of a day’s work at the most well-known employer address on Pennsylvania Avenue.

As part of the program a question-and-answer session was scheduled with First Lady Obama.  It is highly likely that Bell’s mother or some extremely close relative is one of the White House staffers in order for her to have been among the group of children granted exclusive access to this event.

If it is true that opportunity only knocks once, Bell did not hesitate to open the door.  During the meet and greet session, she got up from her seat and handed First Lady Obama her dad’s resume.  She explained that her daddy had been out of work for three years.  According to ABC News, the “first lady seemed taken aback,” and it was a rather “somber” moment.  For her courage, Bell received a gentle embrace from the first lady.

The other kids noticed the quiet exchange and started asking questions about what was going on.  However First Lady Obama told them that it was a private matter and managed to steer the discussion back to less personal issues.  Witnesses reported that at the end of the session First Lady Obama turned back and quickly grabbed the resume off of the table and took it with her.  No promises he will get a job, but if she writes the dad a letter of reference, odds are he is almost guaranteed to get at least get one interview, maybe two or three.

Weaving Through The GNAW Project

If you're like me, you've probably heard of the "The GNAW Project" and "The Weave", but didn't really know what it was all about.  Well today I am excited to welcome author Cynthia Meyers-Hanson as our guest blogger.  Grab a cup of coffee and come close as Cindy shares with us the motivation behind these inspiring projects and what we can all do to get involved and help.

What is The GNAW Project?

The Economy Stole My Ferris Wheel!

This is the week of the South Carolina State Fair.  As a matter of fact, tomorrow, October 23, 2011, will be the last day.  I’ve been scrimping, and saving and seeing which bills I might be able to delay, but all to no avail.  For the first time in years, it seems that I will have to miss the fair, and the caramel crunch of a glazed candy apple, due to the more powerful economic crunch.

You see, like many others, I was laid off of my job this year.   And while it has had a somewhat negative effect on the necessities of life (rent, car payments, electric, groceries, etc.), it struck me full force this week that the economy has also affected one of the events that I have enjoyed since childhood…the state fair.

The South Carolina State Fair has been around since 1869.  You can read about its vibrant history here.  I’m sure many of you remember the chilly fall nights, your parents holding your hand, as you made your way through the masses, enthralled by the lights, noises and smells of the state fair.  And the food, oh my.  It took all of your mother’s persuation to convince you to wait until after you rode the topsy turvy spinning rides to scarf down that humongous hot dog with everything.  Many of us learned the hard way that she was right.

As we got older, we relished the first thrills of independence when we could go to the fair with a group of teen-aged friends.  No longer holding mommy and daddy’s hand, we ran willy nilly through the fair grounds, ready to brave the rollercoasters now, fingers still sticky from cotton candy, gripping the safety bar in delighted terror.

Then came the dating stage of the fair.  After all of your fretting, that special someone finally asked you to the fair.  At this stage, you usually went to the fair twice.  Once with your friends where you relished the juicy sausage dogs smothered with onions.  And once with your beau.  Of course on date night you stuck to cotton candy, elephant ears and candy apples.  Only sweet smelling foods on this night just in case they decided to steal a quick kiss when you were on top of the world.

The top of the world as seen from the piece de resistance…the ferris wheel.  The ferris wheel was best saved for last.  After riding all the fast and crazy rides that blew your hair from hither to yon, the ferris wheel was a slow and easy ride that signaled the end of a wonderful date.    When your particular car stopped at the very top, you could see for miles around.  Amidst the gentle sway of the car, you could see city lights afar and all the tents, rides, and crowds below you  that made up the 12-day fantasy land of the fair.

The fair is fantasy-like, but what is real is the expense.  Not only do you pay the gate admission, but then you purchase tickets for the rides (the good ones charging four to five tickets) and quite naturally, all that walking around makes you hungry.  The tempting hawkers are calling you from every side to try your hand at winning a stuffed teddy bear.  So the fair comes with a cost that, in my estimation, is well worth it.

Well worth it, because it has been a part of every stage of my life.  This year however, there will be no magic moment atop the ferris wheel for me.  I just can’t afford it.  What I do have is those beautiful memories.  So as I continue to fill out mountains of job applications, these memories spur me on.  I’m hoping and praying that I find a job soon because I need to earn a living.  I’m on a first name basis with most of my creditors, having called so often to plea for just a little more time.  But in the back of my mind is also the thrilling image of next year, gently rocking in the car at the top of the ferris wheel, bills paid, mind at ease, tripping the lights fantastic.