Rose Robinson

It's amazing how we as human beings can become so anesthesized to our everyday world that we start to take for granted many of the wonderful things that are given to us.

Let me share a story. In 1990, my hubby and i decided to give up all that was familiar and dear to us, and move north to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It wasn't easy to do. Our families were not in favor of this move. For years, we felt like pariahs to our own families, as we were "the black sheep". We weathered the criticism, the disdain for moving "so far away" and eventually (finally) were forgiven. So here we are. In the best, most beautiful area in the world. Looking out our back deck we see glorious views, awe-inspiring sunsets, and occasionally a deer or a turkey. Recently though, I noticed we were taking all this natural beauty for granted; so I started to take daily photos and post them. Here are today's photos taken after yesterday's 16-inch snowfall. Enjoy!

COFFEE ANYONE?

Living in the White Mountains...what more can anyone ask for. If you would like to MOVE, please contact me. My neighborhood is a new community (there are 3 houses and 4 owners so far) and we would LOVE new neighbors! Go to www.royalview.net for more info. Thanks for looking!

We're not getting a bailout here in the Mt. Washington Valley in northern New Hampshire. We are offering lots of ski deals to vacationers though; in the hopes that enticements not bailouts will work.

Cranmore Mountain is offering two-for-one lift tickets from Monday to Thursday (no holidays). They also offer a package deal of 3 tickets for $135- which is pretty good being only $45- per day. If you buy a lift ticket after 2:00 p.m. you can ski that day and continue onto the next day also (that's the "After 2, tommorrow too" deal)...for more information on Cranmore in North Conway, go to www.cranmore.com.

Shawnee Peak just 20 minutes east of North Conway in nearby Maine, offers 40 trails, of which 19 are lit for night skiing. Some Mondays, you can pack up the car full of people, and the whole carload pays $75 for the day (be sure to arrive before 11:00 a.m.) Monday nights bring tickets for $12-$14; Tuesday nights are two-for-one ski passes and $15- on some Tuesday nights (call first to confirm which nights offer the discounted prices). Thursdays are men's day and Fridays are women's day; both are $28 lift tickets. Got a honey who likes to ski? Take him or her on a date every Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for just $15. You can splurge on champagne later at these prices.

Attitash in Bartlett has a special promotion; buy a lift ticket and get a $10- off coupon for your next lift ticket, purchased between January 9th and March 1st. Go to their website at www.attitash.com for more ways to save at Attitash.

King Pine in East Madison is no slouch either; my daughter-in-law took advantage of their ice skating for just $12 this past weekend and loved it! Their ski packages are great: $45 Saturday night family deal (2 adults, 2 children); their senior deals are worthwile also. Those aged 65 to 69 can ski for just $28.

At Wildcat in Jackson, there is a $25 Sunday afternoon ticket. Wednesdays are two-for-one on any non-holiday. Your birthday? You can ski free here on your special day.

Last but certainly not least, Black Mountain still has their family special in place; two adults and two children ( 6-17) can ski for $79 midweek and $99 on weekends and holidays.

These are some of the "snow much fun" here in the Mt. Washington Valley!

The Mt. Washington Valley comes alive in the winter months, as the mountainsides are dotted with happy skiers and snowboarding, ice skaters out of a Victorian painting, and vacation fun is at its peak!

With the backdrop of the Presidential mountains, many of our local scenery is right out of a Currier and Ives print. Winter nights are magical as sparkling lights illuminate snow covered trees. Mt. Washington is the picture of everything a New England resort should be with its charming villages, icy rivers and snow-covered mountains rising magnificiently against blue skies. With seven terrific downhill ski areas, ice skating at Ham Arena, cross-country ski trails and lots of lakes and ponds just begging to ice fish on, and you can see that recreational fun is plentiful.

At the end of a bustling day, whether it be from snow-sports or from shopping at the many outlet stores, local restaurants and pubs offer a fireside to warm your tootsies and savor a hot toddy.

Many of the towns are still dressed up from the holidays; it adds to the festive air. Experience small New England Villages with their town commons and white steepled churches, many covered bridges, and of course country roads and ski trails...here are some photos to enjoy (taken by Jackson XC, and posted on their website: www.jacksonxc.org. Many thanks to Jackson Ski Touring Foundation in Jackson Village for these wonderful photos!)

The famous Jackson Falls, as the tumultous water slowly turned into ice art!

A lone skier cuts the first path on the ski trail.

Ever wonder what silence feels like? Untouched and beautiful after a snowstorm, this path could lead to many adventures.

My previous blog "The Wave is Coming" delienated the social media wave that has rushed into our lives (whether we want to or not). The future is anybody's guess; however, I will make a few predictions here (these are NOT in any particular order):

1. Twitter - Twitter will far outshadow any other "short and tweet" media for communications and sales! Already Twitter is out-pacing most of its competitors and it continues to grow at a pace that is astounding. By-products of Twitter includes Twitter Groups (for more info go to www.twittgroups.com) for those wishing to affiliate themselves further with like-minded people, and Twitter Pictures (go to www.Twitpic.com) for posting pictures on your twitter updates. To join go to www.twitter.com, I'd love to follow you!

Remember: Twitter hit its "billionth tweet" last month! What does that tell you?

2. Facebook - This relationship-builder network is HOT! Its main purpose is to further and cultivate relationships with existing (and grow new) friends. The "Wall" feature in Facebook is very much like Twitter - quick and easy way to update friends on what is happening! Photo downloading is so simple a child can do it (my grandson does!) So I predict that Facebook will only get more popular! Join by going to www.facebook.com and please include me in your friend network.

3. LinkedIn - Now this is just an opinion (none of these are professional or high-techie observations) but I find LinkedIn to be a bit cumbersome. The whole idea of getting people to recommend you is time-consuming not to mention useless (I can get zillion of friends to recommend me---but does it mean I am any good?). I haven't been able to "get into" this network! My prediction is it may fall by the wayside unless someone comes up with a compelling reason to attract more users. To join go to www.LinkedIn.com.

4. Activerain - Well, shucks...you found me here so you know where my heart is. I LOVE ACTIVERAIN! It is the best of the best for bloggers. I love the ease of joining, and posting. I love the relationships I've found here, the way some of these friends pop up everywhere else (Twitter, Facebook etc.) it makes for a Win-Win Wheel...so i predict that Activerain will continue to blossom! The support from AR staff has been priceless; I've learned so much here.

5. YouTube - I like this network and it certainly has proven to be helpful in getting video images out there. My biggest concern is there is also a lot of junk here (porno etc) and that bothers me. I feel that I have to filter through the junk to get to the gems! For such a large network they should be growing faster (I think) Maybe they aren't making enough money...which can only mean more ads next year (not so good). The verdict is still out on YouTube.

Did i miss any other major network here? (I don't do myspace---sorry, too young for me-but not knocking anyone else who belongs!)

The people who in 2008 made us wish we were smarter, brighter, and certainly more internet-savy.

I've copied this content courtesy of AdvertisingAge: (check them out-great source of information!)

Digital A-List 2008: No.1, Unilever

Digital Marketer of the Year Scores by Making Web Tactics Part of Its Mainstream Marketing Plans

Here's the funny thing about Unilever being Digital Marketer of the Year: It doesn't really do digital campaigns.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 2, AKQA

Ad Age's Digital Agency of the Year Is Actually in the Business of Product Innovation

Fourteen years after it started as a boutique in London, AKQA has become a global powerhouse. In 2007, the San Francisco-based agency reached nearly 700 employees; revenue was up about 40% to $99 million; and new-client wins included Kraft Foods, Unilever, Cadbury Schweppes and Motorola, adding to a roster that already included Nike, Visa, McDonald's Corp., Microsoft Corp. and Coca-Cola Co. !

Digital A-List 2008: No. 3, Google

Search Giant Strikes Deal With Publicis, and Doesn't Lose Share Upgrading Rivals

Convincing ad agencies that it was friend, not foe, was imperative for Google if it wanted to start snagging the big-brand budgets major agencies control, and the barely 10-year-old company was effective enough in that campaign that it struck a deal with Publicis Groupe to share ideas, co-develop products and exchange employees.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 4, NYTimes.com

Ending an Unpopular Experiment to Capture Circ Revenue Has Paid Off

When The New York Times' website demolished the pay walls that had separated its columns and other premium content from the freeloading hoi polloi, it sealed a spot on the Digital A-List.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 5, Apple's iPhone

Changed Consumers' Perception of the Mobile Phone

No doubt Apple's sleek touch-screen iPhone is changing the look and feel of mobile phones. But more important, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has given mobile marketing a major boost with his iPhone.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 6, Digitas

Agency's Acquisition by Publicis Has Helped Shop Think Big Picture

Digitas continues to move beyond its roots as a direct-marketing agency to becoming a strong full-service digital partner that engages marketers building brands and businesses.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 7, J&J's BabyCenter

E-commerce Site Is Dominating Digital Mommyhood

Johnson & Johnson's BabyCenter is aiming for global domination and to follow moms beyond the confines of its website.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 8, Baidu

The 'Google of China' Is Moving Past Text-Based Search to Video, IM

Baidu.com is known as the "Google of China," the world's second-largest online market. Baidu has a dominant 62% share of China's search-engine market, according to China IntelliConsulting Corp. Google is the No. 2 player, with a 22.7% share, followed by Yahoo at 10.8%.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 9, ESPN

Its First-Round Knockdown at the Hands of Mobile Led to a Surprising Comeback

Keeping ahead of the game has been ESPN's signature play through the evolution of media, from its traditional TV base to print to its newer digital efforts.

Digital A-List 2008: No. 10, 'Cloverfield'

A Chancy Experiment Created an Immersive Online Marketing Experience

The J.J. Abrams-produced horror movie "Cloverfield" played hard to get through the late summer and fall of 2007. A mysterious online movement was a key ingredient in the run-up to the movie.

Digital A-List 2008: Next in Line

From Rising Star Tribal DDb to ... 'Whopper Freakout'?

In the end, we chose 10. But there was plenty of debate over who should make this year's A-List. Maybe it's no surprise that a burgeoning global power like Tribal DDB would come close, but a purveyor of flame-broiled burgers? These players' remarkable forays in the digital realm show new media's not just for tech companies.

Digital A-List 2008 Executive of the Year: Brian McAndrews

As Microsoft's Ad-Solutions VP, He Is Helping Map the Giant's Online Future

While many industry watchers have proclaimed the wisdom of Microsoft's Brian McAndrews, it's less his willingness to tackle the unproven path ahead and more the foresight in his past at aQuantive -- and that whopping exit strategy -- that makes him Ad Age's Digital Executive of the Year.

There you have it---The golden twelve (kinda like disciples) who made it this year...wonder who is on the horizon for next year?