The incident that inspired me to create this blog was the 2006 NM Legislative Session. I was shocked at what transpired during the 30 days, and disappointed in what few bills actually made it to the Governor's desk. As a state that was flush with gasoline and gas taxes, I expected serious attempts to solve the sad problems with education, health care, and lack of jobs.

One picture represented the entire session to me perfectly. The picture on the left (from the Albuquerque Tribune website, go to http://www.abqtrib.com/ for great stories and more) shows Rep. Gail Chasey (District 18, Bernalillo County) playing a game of solitaire on her laptop during session.

Now I have nothing against a time-out, a stress reliever, an escape from work to clear the cobwebs out of your head. But this elected official was doing this during session! I feel that was wrong, and a waste of an opportunity to make a difference in our poor and undereducated state.

My crazy employees got an email with this picture and a Steve Sermon (my version of the Oprah Moment) that encouraged appropriate types of stress relievers, emphasizing time and location and the impression you may be unknowingly making to those around you.

So obviously the next step was for some of my more creative types to email me with some pictures inspired by the one above. They assured me that they created the pics in their free time....