Montague Golf Club

Montague Golf Club, Randolph, Vermont

Yesterday afternoon I decided I need a break from sitting at my desk. It was the first day of 2009 to hit 70 degrees in Vermont, and I needed to get outside. I took a drive down to the Montague Golf Course which is under new ownership this year. It was a bright sunny day,and the parking lot was full. It appears that lots of others were looking to get out and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather as well as I.

There was lots of activity around the clubhouse. Golfers loading up carts, a worker cleaning up by the front steps, and another getting the barbaque grill ready for a Saturday cookout! The grounds look good, the clubhouse has been all shined up and they are ready for a new season!

According to Montague's website they are the second oldest operating golf club in Vermont!Check it out online at www.montaguegolf.com and maybe pay them a visit!

The Most Amazing Bookstore!

Powell's Bookstore - Portland, OR

I was recently on a business trip to Portland, Oregon. Two full days of meetings, and not a lot of time to take in the town, but I heard from my driver about "Powell's Books". So, Friday after my last meeting I had a couple hours to kill before heading to the airport for my red-eye flight to Vermont. The bookstore was within easy walking distance from my hotel, so I decided to go see for myself. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but this place was amazing!

I went in the front door and was greeted by the most friendly staff you could imagine. I asked if they carried "The Black Swan" and they immediately directed me to the "Orange" room, and said I would find it on the end-cap of row 534. It took me a few minutes to get to the "Orange" room, but there it was - several copies of the best seller!

I soon found out why people were talking about this bookstore. There is a entire area dedicated to walk in customers looking to sell their books. It was amazing to see the line of folks holding boxes of used books that they were waiting to sell to the store. The store covers an entire city block, and you could spend DAYS looking around the place.

The website is http://www.powells.com/ and here is how they describe the store on their site:

Powell's City of Books is a book lover's paradise, the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon and occupying an entire city block, the City stocks more than a million new and used books. Nine color coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.

If you ever find yourself in Portland, don't miss it!

What An Amazing Voice!

Susan Boyle

Yup, Susan Boyle. I am sure you have all heard of her by now. She appeared on the hit British television reality show "Britians Got Talent" on Saturday, April 11th. Immediately judged for her looks and composure, she later "blew the audience away" with her sensational voice. She has now become a celebrity around the globe and has been appearing on television shows all week long, including Larry King just last evening where she sang again - amazing!

If you haven't seen the clip that has been circulating on youtube and others, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk Be sure to check it out if you haven't already.

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing Everyone A Happy Easter!

Vermont First To Legislate Same Sex Marriage

Senator John Campbell and House Speaker Shap Smith

Tuesday, April 7th will be a day in history for Vermont. This is the day that the Vermont Senate and the Vermont House of Representatives voted to override the Veto by Governor Jim Douglas of the Marriage Equality Bill.

The previous week both the Senate and House has voted by large margins to support Same Sex Marriage. However, as promised, Governor Jim Douglas's veto of the legislatio sent it back to the legislative bodies for a veto override - and they did it! The Senate voted 23-5 and the House voted 100-49. Same Sex marriage becomes law on September 01, 2009!

It took great courage and leadership in both legislative bodies to get this measure passed. We owe many thanks to our leadership in Montpelier for a job well done.

Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa have all allowed Same Sex Marriage, but in each of those cases it was done judicially. Vermont was the first in the nation institute full marriage equality legislatively. Once again I am proud to be a Vermonter and to be on the right side of history.