It’s been a while since I’ve written anything really original here. And it’s gonna be a while still. But I got this e-mail from my Cousin, which I thought was great. Enjoy.

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Heading home from a marvelous visit with a friend last weekend, I suddenly noticed that my gas tank was nearing empty. I hopped off 275 and stopped at the Marathon on Winton Road. After fueling my truck, I noticed a woman leaving the station’s convenience store with a T-shirt that read, “Today’s not your day.”

Ugh. Yeah, I realize it was just a silly piece of clothing, but I have to admit that I actually cringed when I saw it. Something told me that those four words indicated her attitude toward life.

Sigh.

Then I started to think: Our world would be a much better place if people didn’t lug around those negative notions, but instead replaced them with four uplifting words: “You made my day!”

It was just a brief observation on another sultry Sunday in Cincinnati, but for some reason, it really resonated with me through the week.

You might recall that on Monday, I sent out one of my little missives in which I wrote about how excited I was to grill some Italian sausages for dinner to conclude a beautiful summer afternoon. That e-mail prompted a friend to share with me why sunny days are particularly special to her.

Years ago, she wrote, a friend of hers was diagnosed with breast cancer. While running one morning, she looked up at the bright blue sky and received a message assuring her that her friend was going to be fine. And today, she is!

It was a powerful note I found to be incredibly moving.

“You made my day!” I immediately wrote to her.

The next morning, I was standing in the breakfast line at the Kenwood McDonald’s waiting to order a cup of coffee and a couple Egg McMuffins (I had a coupon courtesy of my first-place Reds.). The woman beside me motioned toward two guys at a nearby table.

“Look at them,” she said. “They’re sitting there together and they’re both talking on their cellphones!”

“Maybe they’re talking to each other!” I quipped.

She laughed heartily. “You made my day!” she exclaimed.

When I got home that afternoon, I received in the mail the text of a poignant and powerful speech that my buddy and bridge partner Walt presented this month at the Holy Spirit Chapel in Norwood about how his faith has affected his life. In his talk, he quoted the British statesman Edmund Burke, saying, “All that is necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.”

When I glanced at the myriad sheets of paper — single-spaced! — this lazy man admittedly grimaced. But once I got on my couch and began perusing the sage words, I couldn’t stop. I was amazed at the profundity of Walt’s thoughts, and even more honored that he cared enough to send them to me.

I got on my laptop. “You made my day!” I dispatched.

And then on Wednesday, as I got home from the office, I opened my mailbox. Behind the junk mail for car insurance and advertisements from area businesses was a small purple envelope with familiar handwriting. I eagerly opened my surprise and found a cute greeting card with a heart-warming — and amusing — message.

The sender deserved a personal call. “You made my day!” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

None of these incidents will change the world. But each made me think — and each made me smile.

Four little words. “Today’s not your day” or “You made my day.”

The difference is profound. Which do you choose?

Mmmmm, honey.

Do you love honey? Well, then maybe the Lithopolis Honeyfest is for you. On September 11, 2010 from 10-6, honey lovers will gather on the grounds of The Wagnalls Memorial at 150 E Columbus St, Lithopolis OH 43136 for “a full day of live entertainment, juried arts, kids crafts in the Busy Beehive, photography contest, Honey Cook-Off and sale, bee beards, honey, honey tasting, honey extraction, beekeepers, hive products, observation hives, educational displays, and delicious honey made food.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kathy Mast Kane
Columbus Landmarks Foundation
kmastkane@columbuslandmarks.org
614-221-0227
Columbus Landmarks Foundation Announces Summer Tours
Walking Tours of Columbus “Villages” & Historic Tavern Tour Featured
COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 13, 2010) – Columbus Landmarks Foundation announces its summer tour series featuring six neighborhood walking tours and a historic tavern tour offered on two dates. Led by experts in architecture and Columbus history, tour-goers will discover why it takes many villages (and taverns!) to make a city 198 years old.
Walking Tours
Join us for a pleasant walk through historic “villages” of Columbus. These guided tours last about two hours and cover one to two miles along architecturally interesting and historically significant streets and spaces. Tickets are $7 for members/$15 for non-members and can be purchased online at www.columbuslandmarks.org or by calling 614-221-4508.
Hungarian Village
Saturday, July 24, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Meeting Place: Hungarian Reformed Church, 365 Woodrow
Hungarian Village in Columbus? Yes, and it has been there many decades as a neighborhood destination and port of entry for many people—Central and Eastern Europeans, Appalachian families, industrialists, farmers, ancestors of Presidents, Irish, shopkeepers and steel workers, Native Americans, African Americans, craftsmen, as well as pioneer families with very familiar names. Modest homes, churches and architecture with “back stories” make up the neighborhood of Hungarian Village and the area once well-known as Steelton. The walking tour begins on the front steps of the Hungarian Reformed Church, 365 Woodrow (off Parsons Avenue), and will conclude there just as the annual Hungarian Village Society picnic is scheduled to begin. Delicious food will be available for sale from the Hungarian Cultural Association.
Old North Columbus
Sunday, July 25, 2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting Place: 100 Arcadia Ave.
The hidden village right before your eyes on North High Street. North Columbus was a separate and thriving town from the 1830s (platted 1842) until it was annexed into Columbus in the late 19th century. Though street names had to change (there were already First, Second, Third, and Fourth Streets in Columbus), surprisingly, many buildings and pockets of the neighborhood did not. You will learn where Union troops and generals (including a very famous one) strolled about, see 100 years of architectural styles, and about the famous contemporary families in Columbus that have roots in this amazing neighborhood, which has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. Meet at 100 Arcadia Avenue in the parking lot of the former North High School.
Evanston
Saturday, August 14, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Meeting Place: Starbucks, 3416 N. High St.
You may have noticed that not all streets in Clintonville look alike—one of the most strikingly different streets is East North Broadway—but do you know why? Find out the surprising origins of this street of spectacular architectural residences, which has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. Remember that even though the walk is uphill, the walk back will be downhill. Meet at the northwest corner of North High and East North Broadway at the Starbucks.

Westgate and Camp Chase
Sunday, August 15, 2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting Place: Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, 2900 Sullivant Ave.
From its roots in the Civil War and the farm lands off the old National Road, the Westgate community can trace its interesting history not only from the large Confederate cemetery that marks where Camp Chase once stood, but also to the earliest days of Columbus through families, religious institutions and amazing history. Tree-lined streets and early 20th-century residential architecture make this neighborhood one of the most charming in Columbus. Meet at the entrance to Camp Chase cemetery on Sullivant Avenue, just west of Hague Avenue and the “historic” Dairy Twist.
Italian Village
Saturday, August 28, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Meeting Place: Union Station Mural, 630 North High St.
Why does the neighborhood architecture behind one side of North High Street look so different from the architecture on the other side? How did Italian Village come to have its distinct architecture and was it influenced by Italians? Developed early by a variety of ethnic groups, heavily influenced by its adjacent industrial neighbors, and held together by an active community, Italian Village’s interesting heritage and architecture is revealed by an expert. You may have seen the WOSU documentary on the Short North, now experience the neighborhood. Meet at the Union Station mural on the east side of North High, just north of the “Cap.”
Sellsville
Sunday, August 29, 2 – 4 p.m.
Meeting Place: Cup O’ Joe, 1791 Olentangy Blvd.
Many people do not realize that the west side of Olentangy River Road, near King Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Kinnear Road, once had several thriving small communities. One of these was Sellsville, which can still be discerned in a few areas., It took its name from the Sells Brothers Circus, which wintered here starting in the late 19th century. The remaining architecture fits a community with a variety of past lives—a county infirmary, saloons, greenhouses, truck farms, circus people, and an early racially integrated neighborhood—though it might be best noted now for its proximity to the Lennox shopping center and the now-gone Jai Lai restaurant. Meet at the front of the Cup of Joe’s at the Lennox Center.
Historic Tavern Tour, Part 2
Thursday, August 19, 6 – 9 p.m.
Thursday, August 26, 6 – 9 p.m.
Meeting Place: Columbus Maennerchor, 966 S. High St.
Our popular Historic Tavern Tour by bus returns! Having explored some of the earliest architectural watering holes of downtown Columbus in the spring, our second tour will take us into three drinking establishments influenced by Columbus’s two largest 19th century immigrant populations—the Irish and the Germans. The Flatiron, the Hey Hey, and the Columbus Maennerchor will be featured for their architecture and historical context. We will stop at each location so participants can purchase “liquid assets” while we spin stories. A driving narration of the Brewery District is included. Reservations are a must and seats are limited. Tickets are $15 per person.
About Columbus Landmarks
Established in 1977, Columbus Landmarks is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating Columbus’ architectural legacy. Columbus Landmarks encourages community action in historic preservation and quality design of the built environment throughout central Ohio. Our members are individuals who both cherish the past and embrace the future, and include a dynamic array of residents living in historic neighborhoods, architects, developers, land-use planners, leaders in the government and business sectors, and investors. For more information please visit www.columbuslandmarks.org.
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Wow. Take a look at this video from YouTube user Tyredurgan. I wish I would have preordered it.

Next Wednesday (June 9) will be the Ohio Growth Summit. The OGS, hosted by the Small Business Center at Columbus State, brings together entrepreneurs and accomplished business owners who provide insight, tactics and resources you can use to grow your business. It runs from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and will feature Carrie Wilkerson, The Barefoot Executive, as the Keynote Speaker.

The other speakers/panelist include:

2010 Speakers – Branding Panel

• Amy Parrish, Amy Parrish Photography
• Andrew Brush, Best Light Video
• Artie Isaac, SpeakerSite, Young Isaac
• Ben Blanquera, TechLife Columbus
• Jake Stoops, Agent-SEO
• Jason Yun, Yun Fitness Boot Camps
• Neal Roberts, Qwirk
• Rocky VanBrimmer, Central Ohio Network
• Shane Haggerty, Ohio Hi-Point
• Tyler Durbin, GenYJourney

2010 Speakers – General & Breakout Sessions

• Jon Meyers, GraphicConversation
• Mark Sellers, The Funnel Principle
• Nancy Stoll, Ohio SBDC
• Nate Riggs, Social Business Strategies
• Tiffany Timmons, Sales Strategist

You can register for the OGS here.

I like to test things out.

If you have an interesting job you want to post, send me an e-mail with the listing and I’ll try to post it on the job listing page (pending time and interestingness).

Why? Watch this: