I am sure each of us own at least one LIFE magazines with some special cover…either you or a family member passed it down. Now you can view all the LIFE photos by decade and they are even searchable too. If you have not already, check out the LIFE photos archive.

Well - it was a month ago yesterday that my beautiful girl Triscuit died. We started the adoption process (application/class/etc) that goes into adopting a greyhound. Yesterday after completing a “greyhounds and kids” class that we were required to take (because of the strong pack mentality of greyhounds fresh off the track). We go next weekend to the greyhound kennel to meet some dogs…and one in particular - a brother of Triscuit: Ricky He looks pretty much exactly like Triscuit which I initially did not know if I could handle, but then thinking about the possibility to have one of her family members - I knew it was right. I hope we like each other and that in a few weeks we would have the honor of having him in our home.

I became a Volvo driver for life the moment I sat down in my friend Casey’s 1982 Volvo in college. There is just something about them…and I am now on my third Volvo myself. Volvo has introduced some great things over the years that went onto affect the entire auto industry (the first car company to use the 3 point seatbelts - made standard in all Volvo cars in 1959). I was born almost 20 years later and still remember my parents having a few cars with out those seatbelts standard!).

Anyway - I just read about something really slick in their new 2009 S80 Executive:

The front seats surround you with perforated leather and are ventilated using built-in fans in the cushions and seat backs to provide extra comfort during hot days. And to really spoil you during long journeys, these seats also feature a new massage function in the lumbar section.

Hello - hot days in the car and long trips where I could really use a massage. Awesome!

I love pumpkin seeds and I absolutely love the fall because I can get some pumpkins, carve them, and then cook and eat their wonderful seeds. I have also been suckered into trying off-season pumpkin seeds from just about every company that makes them…and they all have been a huge disappointment in some way or another. (Too salty, stale, no flavor, etc)

A few months ago while at Whole Foods - I decided to try their pumpkin seed hearts in bulk. The only downfall with these are they are only the hearts - so you do not get the enjoyment of cracking the seeds open, but man - finally I found a good “in every season” pumpkin seed. Anyway - if you need a pumpkin seed and it is summer - head to Whole Foods!

I was ready to spend my entire evening and early morning glued to to TV on election night as there would surely be some sort of controversy with voting - but the winner was clear..all before 11pm CST. I thought both Obama and McCain gave great speeches. Seeing McCain give his speech was like seeing the old MacCain I could have voted for in 2000. I thought Obama’ speech was perfect. He is a strong, confident, intelligent force and I hope good things will come of the next four years. All in all - I was happy to see both men graciously accept their future roles in American history.

Each year I enjoy staying up as late as I can so I can go to bed knowing who got elected. The past two elections have made this a little difficult, but I am hoping this year to make it until Barrack gives either speech at Grant Park in downtown Chicago. I hope to go to bed happy this year…at a decent time!

Regardless of who wins, this is an exciting day. I look forward to seeing how many people actually vote, what the voting issues were, and how the voting process will change (or most likely not change) in the next election to handle the issues we had this time around. This day is history in the making…and to be a part of it is an awesome feeling.

I remember voting in 1996 - my first ever Presidential election. Back in those days I attended Young Republican meetings at Penn State and I voted for Bob Dole. The next two elections I voted for the democrats that ran and even attended my first rally (for Al Gore) in Daley Plaza with Ben and I have to say it was pretty awesome. I would have considered voting for McCain in 2000 - I thought he was a stronger candidate than Bush, but others disagreed with me.

This election is huge. I was really hoping Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic candidate, but over the last few months I have seen Barrack Obama really shine…making McCain, in my personal opinion, not even people really talk about. (Ex:I am voting for Obama; I am not voting for Obama; vs. I am voting for McCain; I am not voting for McCain)

This election, regardless of who I/you vote for, it has to be a vote of confidence. Confidence in the gaining the respect we as a country have lost in the last eight years. Confidence in our ability to pull ourselves out of this economic mess. Confidence to make this country can still be the best country in the world for us and our families to live and prosper.

With that said - I really do not feel the need to persuade you to vote one way or the other…but please vote. When your kids, grandkid, and if you are lucky, great-grandkids talk to you about this crazy turning point in history - by voting you can at least show them that you cared enough to actually make a choice.