My Holiday List

Dear beloved family members,
The following list is being provided to you as a courtesy service for the things that I may want/need for the upcoming holidays:

1. I want nothing.*
People in this country are losing their jobs and they can't pay their own mortgages because the economy is mess. Yes, I realize that we are lucky to be able to do these things and that:

a. Makes me feel ridiculous for spending frivolous dollars.
b. Makes me prefer to help them put food on their own tables.

2. A $90+ dollar ham/turkey is not necessary.
Two of them, since we can't figure out how to eat at one house, is even more ridiculous. On the matter of having two simultaneous Thanksgiving dinners... well, that just speaks for itself, doesn't it? Instead of working together on one meal, let's split up forcing more people to cook and clean for two meals. Maybe I'll fast with my wine cooler. Speaking of...

3. Someone else to give the family toast this year.
Since I doubt you will like it if I choose to boycott the holidays and work on my book on either a warm beach or beside the fire in a snowy cabin, then someone else will have to do the family toast this year because I refuse.

*If you just can't get past the need to give, then I will provide you with a list of charities that I approve of and you may send money in my name to them.

Since a vacation would likely rub you the wrong way, I am hereby announcing my interest in local volunteer work on Thanksgiving and Christmas. My absence from festivities, should it become the plan, will be noted in advance.

Sincerely,
Uncle Bobby

One Vote Gives $2 to a Charity of Your Choice

~UPDATE: They received the 40,000 votes in a handful of days... far ahead of schedule and the results will be posted soon. Awesome!~

Squidoo has launched a campaign whereby they are giving $2 to the charity of your choice. They've created a list of all their partner charities and all you have to do is pick one. It will end October 15th or $80,000, whichever comes first. When I voted there were less than 8000 votes cast, so get on over there and vote.

WAM! You'll give two bucks to a cause and feel good the rest of the day!

Personally, I've nothing against animals or the environment, but I get more satisfaction from helping people. I've been researching charities for a couple of weeks and I'm a fan of Room to Read and that is who I voted for.

No need to sign up for anything or enter any personal information. So if you want to give today, then simply click here and vote.

Giving $1 a Day...

If you were to give $1/day to someone/something for the next year, who/what would you give it to?

Neighborhood Entrepreneurs

Mollipops and I hit the brakes for a neighborhood lemonade stand in Lee's Summit the other day... we're swayed by cute kids waving signs, what can we say?

The kids were not only making some good lemonade, they were donating a portion of their profits to a local charity/organization (I think it was the Children's Hospital). Nice co-marketing, kids.

We bought two glasses at $.50 a pop and paid $2 bucks.

As we rolled away, lemonade in hand, we heard one of the kids say, "Two bucks! Now we're in business!"

Priceless.