I am not exactly a country music fan. However, I did grow up in Wyoming for a time, and can attest to spinning George Strait and Patsy Cline LPs (yeah, as in actual records on the record player). Therefore, when I came across the Country Music Awards on the TV tonight, I paused. And listened.I was surprised to see how much pop has infused the country genre. Guest spots included Dave Matthews, Kid Rock and Daughtry. The always-entertaining Carrie Underwood has always had a good deal of pop in her style.

But perhaps the biggest surprise was how well Taylor Swift did! She won Entertainer of the Year (among several other awards) – as the only female nominee (and the youngest winner ever) – beating out the older, more experienced and all-male competitive list of George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban.

I have to admit, until now, I had never sought out her music, although I enjoyed it enough when I heard it on the radio. But after this impressive win (yeah, women!), I downloaded her new album, Fearless, and have to say – although I’m certainly not the target audience – I enjoy every song. Not only does she have a beautiful voice but she wrote all of her own songs “each in about 1/2 hour” as she told Ellen DeGeneres recently.

Impressive. Inspiring. Congratulations.

This is me with my two brothers. On the right is my brother Ken. We were in NYC to visit my other brother, Brian on the left – right before Ken was deployed to Iraq. I’m happy to say that he served his time (that time around) and made it home safely, although his life had certainly changed dramatically.Today, and every day, I owe him a huge amount of thanks for the sacrifices he’s made as a military man. The things that he’s had to face in his life – and in two wars – are beyond my comprehension. Both personally and professionally, he has always been one of the most dedicated and honorable people I have ever known.

If you know a Veteran be sure to send her or him a note of personal thanks today. The efforts and sacrifices they give in fighting for us go far beyond the obvious – and stay with them for a lifetime.

Thank you, Ken.

It’s true. It’s November in New England and I find the fact that I can be sitting at the beach absolutely fantastic. I try to come down here to exercise lately because I’ve been slightly unmotivated and find that the beach is one place that can inspire me. The soothing beat of the crashing waves, the intricate and ever-different patterns on the rocks, and the vast view always calm my mind and make me believe that no matter what life is throwing my way, opportunities are always out there and nothing is impossible.

It’s true. It’s November in New England and I find the fact that I can be sitting at the beach absolutely fantastic. I try to come down here to exercise lately because I’ve been slightly unmotivated and find that the beach is one place that can inspire me. The soothing beat of the crashing waves, the intricate and ever-different patterns on the rocks, and the vast view always calm my mind and make me believe that no matter what life is throwing my way, opportunities are always out there and nothing is impossible.

New England – 70 one day; 45 the next. Good weather for trick or treating!

New England – 70 one day; 45 the next. Good weather for trick or treating!

This is a repeat from my work blog but the subject matter is important so I’m reposting here as well. I hope you’ll consider helping. If you’re having a bad day, helping someone else who is facing much bigger challenges and stresses can truly help. Help them, help yourself – it’s a win-win. Karen, this is for you.

National Breast Cancer Awareness month is nearing an end. We’re trying to help raise awareness for the thousands of women who have faced this challenge – and are fighting much bigger challenges than anything a day at work can throw our way. In particular, we’d like to call out two of our friends and their efforts to raise money to directly help women facing this relentless disease: Jeanne Fitzmaurice of Design Her Gals and the Gal to Gal Foundation and Alicia Staley of The Staley Foundation.

Both of these amazing women are trying to reach a certain goal this month (today, in Alicia’s case) to help others. Both have been touched by cancer and are inspirational women who remind us to keep going, never give up and to support each other. Will you please help our efforts to do so by taking just 15 minutes and $15 (skip two of those Starbuck’s lattes this week, perhaps?) today to help them reach their goals?

Alicia Staley, the Staley Foundation

Alicia’s birthday is today and her wish is to raise $1,000 in 24 hours for the Staley Foundation – money raised during her birthday wish challenge will be used to purchase books, journals, and JILLIES to include in new patient packs:

• $10 donation = a journal for patients in a support group!
• $20 donation = books for patients preparing for surgery!
• $45 donation = a brand new JILLIES garment for patients having radiation or chemo!

The Staley Foundation acts on its belief that cancer survivors need a strong fundamental base of education, advocacy, and assistance to persevere in their cancer battle and beyond to live their best lives. Alicia should know – she’s a three-time cancer survivor (read her amazing story here). She founded the Staley Foundation in 2007, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people touched by cancer, including survivors, their families, and caregivers. The Staley Foundation fulfills its mission through cancer awareness education, survivorship education, community outreach initiatives, advocacy development, and patient assistance programs. You can help Alicia by donating, here.

Jeanne Fitzmaurice, Gal to Gal Foundation

Jeanne is in her third year of the Gal to Gal Virtual Walk – a fun, easy-to-join virtual walk through a different city each day, to help raise funds to grant wishes for stage IV breast cancer patients. Many organizations are dedicated to helping cancer patients during the early stages of diagnosis, but few are focused on stage IV – Gal to Gal is focused on helping women in this stage to maintain their dignity while receiving treatment through the progression of the disease. Walkers can choose who to “walk” with others – from celebrities like Larry King, Molly Sims and Kristin Chenoweth, to everyday neighbors and friends. You can create teams and invite others to join as well.

This year’s walk honors Dorit Shapiro, past President of the Gal to Gal Foundation, who lost her brave battle to Stage IV last October at age 38. You can listen to Dorit’s own story – in her own words – in the video below. Dorit spoke about last year’s Gal to Gal walk, just one week before her passing. We hope it will inspire you to spend just $5.00 to help Jeanne and her team reach this year’s goal of $250,000 (a figure that was Dorit’s personal hope for this year). You can create an avatar and search for the PerkettPR team to “walk” with us, or you can choose to simply just donate.

Thanks for reading, for donating and for your support through posting these efforts on Twitter, Facebook, your own blog and more. Not for us, but for the patients.

The kid just cracks me up… On vacation RP and JP constantly fought over who could get to our hotel door first, and who got to open it with the key… unfortunately, JP didn’t quite get the key part… take notice of what they key says. And enjoy the song and dance.

A few days ago a big hubaloo was caused on Twitter when @mrskutcher signed up – aka Demi Moore. Yes folks, it really does seem to be her, as indicated in several news stories yesterday.

Why is the media writing on the fact that Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher – aka @aplusk on Twitter – signed up on this popular micro blogging service? Well your guess is as good as mine. But I found it really interesting that Mrs. Kutcher used it to turn the tides on the media yesterday with this Tweet and Twitpic:

Demi Moore's Twitter Page

Alleged paparazzi

This is interesting in light of the tech and business industry chatter about social services and communities, such as Twitter, being a “traditional media killer.” Do celebrities have the power to make that possible for Hollywood gossip rags as well? Imagine if more celebrities shared their own photos and comments in this manner – seeing a glimpse of how they really live would be way better than US Weekly’s interpretation of their lives. And with no one to buy those magazines because we’re all getting “front row seats” on Twitter…well…? It’s a big dream but not impossible.

All this begs the question, without all the glitz and Photoshop capabilities, would celebrities really embrace the opportunity to end the paparazzi frenzy?

Celebs on Twitter include many other musicians, actors, reality TV stars and blonde socialites – from Solange Knowles to Jerry Rice to Lauren Conrad and her “Hills” crew.  Even Perez Hilton has joined – to keep an even closer eye on his subjects, perhaps.

… what would they be? I asked this question on Twitter today and got some great responses. You can learn a lot about people with this question (if you’re paying attention…)

My initial answer? Fashion designer, author, vet. I’d also like to add professional surfer, (good) photographer and some kind of mix of Sarah Austin (POP 17) and Mike Arrington (TechCrunch) – yes, seriously. (Which would cover things like world traveler and pseudo-celeb).

Too bad we can’t have more than one life, eh? What would yours be? And what’s stopping you?