From the desk (and BlackBerry) of Keith Parnell

Nicole and I took Reggie for a long walk around our neighborhood on the Lafayette River in Norfolk during the height of the weekend snow storm. Fun! It’s a little hard to tell in the video but the snow was falling steady, the wind was blowing about 20 MPH, and it was about 25 degrees outside.

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to Take Five by Acoustic Alchemy.

I’m thinking Reggie’s going to be upset when the Christmas Tree goes away next week.

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On Twitter? Follow me at @parnellk63.

Listening to Boogie Chillen by John Lee Hooker.

My brother sent me this video this morning of  my 3 year-old niece singing It’s a Grand Old Flag while they were driving to Grandma’s house. Oh my gosh. She is so adorable!

If you can’t see the video above: click here to watch.

Here are the lyrics in case you want to follow her.

You’re a Grand Old Flag
by George M. Cohan

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

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My sweet angel turns 24 years old today. And through 24 years of ‘life being life’, she has been my rock to rely on to remind me of why we live as a parent everyday. I am so proud of everything she has accomplished in her life and the wonderful, Christian woman she has become. God has truly blessed me!

Jennifer, September 1985

Jennifer, September 1985 (nevermind the bad hair - it was 1985!)

Our softball team is off to play in the National Championship Tournament this weekend.

I’ll be out of the office for a few days having fun, relaxing and enjoying my buddies. I’ll miss the girls of course but it’ll be a good time.

Say a prayer for us that everyone stays healthy.

I hope you guys have fun and relax this Labor Day weekend! Stay safe!

Matthew 6:9-13

After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Nicole, Sydni and I took a (very hot) walk yesterday afternoon around our neighborhood on the Lafayetter River. While out I snapped a few photos with the BlackBerry 8900 of our beautiful Colonial Place (Norfolk). Enjoy. We certainly do each time we walk our community.

I’m having coffee this morning in memory of a good man that left this world way too early. Jim was a huge KC Chiefs fan. Here’s to ya, big man. Much love.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Enjoying brunch with the girls on the porch at Green Onion on Colley Avenue in Norfolk.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Okay, I didn’t mean that as harsh as it sounded. But my life is digital. My family knows that. My friends know that. Most everything I do in my professional and personal life is captured in some way on some media platform.

I tweet my work. I tweet about meetings. I tweet about clients. I blog on several different blogs. I take photos like crazy with my BlackBerry and immediately email them to TwitPic which autoposts to Twitter, FriendFeed and Facebook. I take videos with my BlackBerry and live stream them to Qik which autoposts to Twitter, FriendFeed and Facebook. I tweet about my wonderful family. I tweet while on vacation. Heck, I even tweet while at Major League Baseball games.

I am digital. I am live. Hear me roar.
I get questions all the time about taking a break from being digital. And I always answer with the same response - “why?” I enjoy being digital. There’s no stress for me to being digital. I don’t need that break that some people might. In all actuality, I’m a bit uncomfortable not being readily connected.

Let me clarify a bit for you on what I mean by being “digital”. I don’t mean just having access to my social media channels, although they are important to me. My BlackBerry and notebook give me a safe place to write my thoughts, for my blog and for private. They give me quick access to my huge music library which is a great stress reliever for me. They give me a way to collect and view my vast photo and video libraries. They provide me a way to quickly Skype (audio or video) call with my Nicole or my daughters or my Mother.

So you see, being digital is not a burden to me at all. Being digital is my way of life that provides me the most efficient, profitable and comfortable way to manage my time, my daily tasks and my stress.

Besides, I love my job. My job is my life. My family and friends are my life. And my life is digital. So why would I want to change that?!

Mickey Mouse tweeted me. Don’t believe me? Look.

Thanks, Disney World, for a wonderful family vacation last week in Orlando. Our family of 19 thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.