It's been interesting to notice that as the stats for my revamped blog have continued to climb, the most popular page is my Bio.  It doesn't surprise me, thought.  I mean really -- when you are curious about someone, isn't that frequently the first thing you check -- you look in Wikipedia or check their Web site for their bio?  It comes back to that simple human need:  People like to do business with people they know, period.  So, although I've posted my bio -- here's a bit more about me that might catch your attention (or not).  Open kimono, as Guy Kawasaki says.  

It's true that I'm not everyone's cup of tea -- but that's OK with me.  If you end up trying to please everyone, you become amorphous -- there's no real substance to people who can't proclaim who they are and what matters to them.  So here are some of the things that matter to me.  We don't live to work -- we work to live, right?  I've been extremely fortunate that I've been able to blend the two at many points in my career, and that's what I'm aiming for once again.  Who knows?  This might ring someone's bell... with all my skills and experience at marketing persuasion, if you work in any of the many industries that support some of my passions, would you kindly drop me a note at laura@laurahiggins.com, or DM me on Twitter @bigbigdogs?  I'm always delighted to connect with other people who love the same things I do.

Whenever I'm home, I feel like I'm leading a parade -- a parade of snoozing furry critters. Really, it's not that huge -- I mean, I don't need more than two hands to count the entire menagerie, including fish -- but I adore every minute of time I get to hang out with my dogs and cats.  The fish tend to stay in their tank.  The fish are named PowerPony and Dr. Robert Oppenheimer (both so titled by my daughter, Ayla.)
Right now in my office our nutty Labrador Ball Retriever Mix, Fargo Lebowski, is snoring at my feet.  Fargo is nearly 15 years old, and is no longer the fastest boy at the bark park.  Behind him is Preston McGinty, the Big Big Dog my blog and Twitter accounts are named for.  Preston is an Irish Wolfhound who thinks he is a really a lap dog.Then there are the kitties -- ours, plus the one we're housesitting.  They tend to roam -- and snuggle -- in a pack!I know there are people in the world who don't have pets, don't understand pet-owners, and certainly don't see the need for a pet in their lives. I feel sad for these people because they are missing out.  Animals rock your world.  They love you unconditionally, they do silly things that make you smile, and all they ask for in return is a warm, dry place to sleep and food and water.  How hard is that?

This is a controversial topic at my house, because more than half the family thinks the minority group who are fascinated by zombie stories are both time-wasters and a wee bit weird.  I just think it's a fascinating format -- and I love the various takes on what the zombocalypse would really be like. 
 
Current favorites are by Seanan McGuire, writing as Mira Grant.  I love her savvy-art conceit of setting her stories some 40 years after the zombocalypse would really be like.  With the heroes being bloggers.  Following a presidential campaign.  Can't wait for book 3 to come out.
Oh, and of course Max Brooks' World War Z -- the movie comes out soon; I hope it will be good.

He's a cantankerous old crank. Sort of like Randy Newman but crankier.  That was always my take on him when we'd visit his studio in Petaluma, CA.  Web Web site -- Aberrant Art -- is chock full of hilarious and biting social commentary.  We've ordered Christmas cards from him for many years.  To the side is my 2011 favorite.  

He has created so many just plain odd images over the years -- and we've become collectors.  To me, his stuff beats a Hallmark card any day of the week.

This is a true labor of love, created by a very talented guy.  His talking animal videos are THE BEST -- not only are they funny, but they are so spot-on perfect at identifying exactly how animals reward themselves, it's unbelievable.  If you're having a crummy day, take three minutes and watch at least one of his videos.  

If you love math, or if you hate math, these will delight you.  Vi Hart is a college kid who has a passion for Harry Potter, music, and math.  She refers to herself as a "recreational mathemusician" which I just love as a title.  Her videos are part of the "simple line drawing" style I'm totally addicted to on YouTube.  
I mean, really -- where would we be without YouTube?  My dream job will include being able to produce YouTube videos that make a brand seem smart, funny, and just plain cool.  I haven't had that chance yet, even though I did get to produce a slew of educational videos, they ended up feeling exactly like attorney-approved cardboard.  This is the opposite of that.

Talk about honesty.  I don't watch a lot of TV, but I've seen enough bits'n'pieces of these shows  to be pretty dang amazed at the state of American culture.  Note to any true fans:  I cannot converse about series factoids; I know nothing about the shows' creators, stars, or intent... but they're like a 9-car-pileup on the interstate -- hard to look away from the carnage:

1. Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive -- eeew!
2. Geek Love -- double eeew, but a different eeew than the Hoarders eeew.
3. Iron Chef, Pitmasters, and most Food network shows
4. Kitchen Nightmares and Kitchen Impossible -- another eeew
5. Toddlers and Tiaras and Mob Wives -- really not that different
6. Pawn Stars, Real Deal and Hardcore Pawn

Uh, I can only take these in tiny doses, but I do watch them from time to time -- they leave me speechless!  One of my 2012 goals is to connect with a few of the production companies that create these shows -- I really want to know the approach and the process for getting these series produced.