Everywhere I look today faces are sad. It is the dreaded morning after the Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl loss 31-17. And while I have lived in Indiana for 25 years, I have never been a Colts fan. My favorite NFL team is the New England Patriots for a whole host of reasons, none of which have much to do with football. So rooting for the Saints, a franchise that has never been to the Super Bowl was a natural for me, especially when few sports pundits gave them much of a chance to pull off the upset. Add the people of the post Katrina city of New Orleans and everyone in the Gulf Coast who followed this team and I wasn’t just applauding a game, I was celebrating a cause. How absolutely extraordinary that a city which had hosted so many large sporting events finally were going to be the stars of a street parade in honor of them, the XLIV Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints.

The icing on the cake was a coach who had the courage to put in an on-side kick at the beginning of the half that actually worked and changed the momentum of the game. The icing on the cake was a free agent quarterback named Drew Brees going against a true Goliath in Peyton Manning and coming out the victor. The icing on the cake was watching the celebration on Bourbon Street by a national audience, knowing the last time there was that kind of television coverage, it was the devastating aftermath of a natural disaster and a government who had let that city down. The icing on the cake was the poignant symbolism of a magnificent city that was back.

It has been a long time since I have worked 12- or 13-hour days on a project and have loved every moment. I have been writing a keynote to deliver at the annual conference, an occurrence that happens once every five years. It is about the State of the College Union and Student Activities Profession, not the Association, a topic I have not addressed to ACUI.

If truth be known, I am a geek when it comes to public speaking. I like picking out a pattern of organization and constructing the speech from its bones to the fluff. I think what makes this so much fun is that I am really into the subject. I had almost forgotten how much fun a new discovery can be while conducting research. I love finding just the right quotes to support my statements and make the case. I labor over finding just the right amount of humor, always self-deprecating, because let’s face it, that is who I am. The finale is finding all of the perfect movie clips and music to give the speech life and keep people from heading for the exits, I hope.

Just like most of America, when they give a speech, I will not sleep the night before and will be terrified in front of all my professional colleagues until I get the first laugh. Then I will relax and communicate with the audience, and if really comfortable, ad-lib just a bit.

Carol Channing once said, “Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward.” I hope I am not being selfish, but I kind of want both.

OMG you guys! You just couldn’t let the freakin’ blog die a natural death could you? In your hearts, you knew I would succumb to interpersonal pressure. You knew even if I protested to the contrary, I couldn’t say no.

You just would not accept my lame excuse, “I don’t have enough time!”

“Work smarter,” you said.

When I told you one member was offended by having the executive director’s picture on the home page of the ACUI website without the president’s picture, you said, “So what, it’s only one person!”

“Who cares if no one comments on the blog posts,” you said. “We still like reading your fluff; occasionally you are even educational.”

I will not bore you with the litany of reasons why I thought it was time to put this sucker to bed, but you have convinced me to scrap my original plans. And if the truth be known, some of my executive director colleagues would give their right arm to have as many people in their associations care about them as you do about me.

I am humbled by your response and your community organizing. I promise I will do my best to blog at least weekly to my small but relentless following.

A week from today is the infamous “Black Friday”—the busiest shopping day of the year. I would suggest staying home during all that tumult, sitting by the fire, grabbing yourself a mug of coffee, and enjoying leftover turkey while shopping online. With that in mind, here are my favorite picks for gifts this holiday season (from $5.99 to $250):

1. For stocking stuffers: Boo Boo Bling ($14.95): Bedazzle your bandages—good fun for everyone!
2. For the kiddos: Memorex SingStand Home Karaoke System ($59.99): Works with iPods and other mp3 players.
3. For your brother: Swiss Army Knife ($44.99 for 15 functions): Even if he already has one of these, it’s always appropriate to have another.
4. For your sister: Swarovski crystal dragonfly brooch ($49.00): Pins are in, and this one can dress up any outfit whether worn on a jacket, sweater, or scarf.
5. For your mom: Six Months of Flowering Plants ($239.95 for even-numbered months): This company will replace any plants damaged in shipping. They come straight from the grower in San Francisco and last for months. Examples include tropical hibiscus, blue hydrangea, and miniature calla lilies. You won't be a hero for a day; you'll be a hero for a year.
6. For your dear old dad: National Geographic "My World Personalized Map" ($155): Mounted and framed, featuring color-coded pins for places visited, planned excursions, dream destinations, locations of family and friends, and genealogical roots.
7. For the grandmother in your life: "Eye of My Heart: 27 Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a Grandmother," edited by Barbara Graham ($24.99): Nana will not be able to put it down, and along the way she'll laugh out loud and shed a few tears.  
8. For the grandfather in your life: Air palm nailer ($19.95): Makes it easy to do around-the-house jobs and get into tight corners without needing to swing a hammer.
9. For the nostalgic: "Old Time Candy," available by decade ($19.99):
1. 1960s: Dots, Black Jack Gum, and Sugar Daddys
2. 1970s: Wax Lips, Pop Rocks, and Necco wafers
3. 1980s: Whistlepops, Pixy Sticks, and Nerds
10. For the weekend athlete: FiveFingers barefoot running shoes ($89.99): Great for hiking, running, and water sports.
11. For the environmentalist: Black and Decker Power Monitor ($99.99): Find ways to save energy around your house!
12. For the health nut: Beeswax pillar candles ($26.95): Comes in bright colors, fragrance-free, 100% beeswax with 100% cotton wick, dripless, and smokeless.
13. For the office gift exchange: A stainless steel classic tiffin box ($20.95): For bringing lunch to work.
14. For the somewhat scientist: Pluto T-shirt ($15.99): Hilarious shirt featuring the planet’s response to its recent demotion; guaranteed to make passersby laugh.
15. For the chef: Ebelskiver Filled-Pancake Pan ($39.95): Fill pancakes with just about anything, sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar, and Sunday Brunch will never be the same!
16. For the vegetable gardener: Herb Pod ($19.95): After all their hard work growing herbs, the basil won’t wilt in the refrigerator.
17. For the do-gooder: Sponsor livestock for a family in need ($20 for a flock of chicks, $30 for honeybees, or go all out and buy a water buffalo for $250).
18. For the hostess: Cheese grater ($5.99/two): Stores parmesan and has two sizes of grating blades on the lid.
19. For the chic geek: A customizable keyboard illumination ($149.99): A rainbow keyboard that does tricks!
20. For the music buff: A leather keychain that holds earbuds ($18): Better than a piece of cardboard and keeps cords from getting tangled.

 And if you think the person has everything, I can guarantee they do not have these.