all that's past is prologue...

Just looked back over my 2013 New Year's Resolutions: 1)  Eat better, exercise more. This is a perennial resolution, and I need to suss how to make it mean enough to actually do it. I did not exercise more. I have been eating a lot better. I'll count this one as somewhat achieved. 2)  Find a dentist. For me and Beatrix. This is a silly phobia that needs to stop. DONE! I love my new dentist (Dr. Amble, thanks Krista!), and in 2014 the ACA will even cover Beatrix's care! 3)  Gain professional certification by becoming QuickBooks Pro certified. QuickBooks ProAdvisors actually talked me out of this by noting there was no Mac test. But I did get more proficient. 4)  Build a successful and thriving business with my husband; our new joint endeavor, Gladhill Rhone LLC, starts today! Success! I am very proud of our first year, and looking forward to building on it. 5)  Work less and create more. This is a scary one, because we are really dep...

Our good friend Julio is a reporter, and yesterday we were exchanging a lot of discussion via Twitter about last-minute shopping. Which is how I found myself quoted in the following article: http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_24790406/store-or-online-last-minute-gift-shoppers-get?source=nav He also posted an article looking for instant last-minute suggestions, and I pointed out he had not included memberships or philanthropy — so he added them: http://blogs.twincities.com/yourtechweblog/2013/12/24/avoid-the-jam-packed-malls-get-last-minute-presents-online/ Julio's pretty amazing. If you like his writing style, I would suggest you follow his blog, or read him in the Pioneer Press, or even buy his new book, The Mobile Writer  (especially if you got an iPad or similar device for Christmas).

My brilliant husband, on kindness: http://patrickrhone.com/2013/12/23/kindness/ I especially like this: And, here’s a little secret I’m going to tell you — kindness in the face of an adversary immediately gives you, the kind practitioner, the upper hand. It often throws those gripped by anger off balance. It often diffuses the tension. It puts one in a position of power to effect positive change. And, even if it fails to do any of those things, it garners the support of those viewing from the outside.

It's been a weekend reminding me about the importance of making a difference. Last night, we went to my friend Nicole's holiday party. Nicole has a very popular show on cable home channels ("Rehab Addict"), and an enviable track record of saving houses both here and in Detroit. But what I find really incredible about her — besides her unbelievable work ethic (seriously, she is going all the time) — is how authentic she is. Nicole believes completely in the work she does, and she follows those core values as a guidestar. She never does anything halfway, and she is always pushing those around her to do their best work as well. And she cares, passionately, about saving historic homes — and even more about the people who live in them and who work to restore them. Nicole makes me believe, just a little harder, every day. Then tonight, we went to my friend Barry's housewarming party. Barry and his wife went through an open house in Dayton's Bluff just four week...

Let me start by saying that, starting 1/1/14, we have what appears to be an excellent health care plan that gives us a lot more flexibility and better service than we have now, for at least $1,200 less annually, and with a 42% lower deductible. Between that and the covered services, as well as the lower co-pays for those services, The ACA has already been of enormous benefit to our family. And I believe people like us, two people building a small company and trying to give back to the community in every way they can while developing entrepreneurially, is the future of this country. I will also say that this post is in no way a debate on the federal ACA site. I live in Minnesota, where our state government was wise enough to run its own exchange. I have not even looked at the federal site, because I have no reason to. But Holy Hannah, the MNSure site is bad enough. We first tried to get on the MNSure site in early November. We had spent about 6 hours total before today looking at ...

For those who didn't know, he was featured in the Business section of the PiPress last weekend. Too bad they took the photos after we had taken down all our art because our ceilings are being redone. http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_24672415/tablets-turning-tables-traditional-computers

Christmas — well, really, the whole Advent season — was enormous in my family as I grew up. From my earliest childhood I remember my grandmother creating beaded Christmas crafts (and who can forget the Three Wise Men with velvet cone bodies and featureless faces made of nylons over styrofoam balls?) There were huge family dinners, at my grandparents' and then at our house later on. We went to holiday shows. There were cookies and breads and lefse. There were gifts that satisfied your deepest longings and thanks for gifts you gave in kind. My mother wasn't one to ever give you cash, or even its cousin, the gift card. She had an incredible ability to figure out what you needed to accomplish your goal, or what you were giving up or skimping on to achieve it, and then give that to you. When I redid the bathroom, she bought me a candelabra, so I could burn candles while in the bath. The year we decided to forego travel to deal with some other major expenses, she took us all to Flo...

This weekend I am working with an incredible concert series, and I hope you can join us! Friday evening’s concert program, " Muzika: Celebrating the Sounds of Eastern Europe" features award-winning vocalist Natalie Nowytski (natalien.com) with friends, including Bulgarian gadulka player Nikolay Gueorguiev, women’s a capella group Mila Vocal Ensemble (milavocalensemble.com), Balkan party band Orkestar Bez Ime (rogaria.com), and the folk supergroup Ukrainian Village Band (ukrainianvillageband.com).  At 7:00pm the artists will give a talk on what to listen for in Eastern European music to help those new to the music, followed by the concert itself at 7:30 pm.   Tickets are $12 (with some discounts) and available at the door at Sundin Hall (Hamline University). Saturday there's a FREE dance party. Come join us for both! I'm excited for Beatrix to experience this great, Eastern European folk music and dance!