I think this is my all time favorite picture ever taken of Kim. I truly captures everything I love about her.

Day one of this project started with my Family.

After stating how I got the idea for this project the first person I name is Kim.

First paragraph is about Kim.

Then I mention my boys.

Each of them got one short paragraph on day one. Later in the project each of the boys got their own days. Friends got their own days. Kim never did. She never mentioned or maybe didn't even notice that she'd not gotten her own day.

I have a better life because of this amazing woman.

Nicholas, Peter and Jonathan all have better lives because of her.

But so do many, many other people. Kim is a stay at home Mom. Some say "you don't work?" Well nothing could be further from the truth - she works harder than just about anyone I know - she just doesn't get a paycheck.

She takes great care of us here at home showering us with love, good meals, a clean home, clean laundry, shopping for us, managing schedules and much more. There are so many things around the house that I just don't know how to do anymore because as we say "That's a Mama get". Meaning - that's something Kim takes care of... not me. There's a lot of that stuff.

Never mind the things she's done for me and our kids. She's done a lot for our community and it's a better place because of her.

Here are a few things she's done for the community of Liberty Hill in the past 12 years. I'll list them here, because she never will:

• ·         She started the Partners in Reading Program at LH Elementary School and personally read with several students - most who have graduated already or will this school year.
• ·         She and Mary McKenna started Rafflemania, a fund-raiser that has raised over $200,000 now for the Liberty Hill Elementary Schools. This tradition is still going on and continues to benefit our schools.
• ·         She was volunteer coordinator at the Elementary, Intermediate and Junior High Schools.
• ·         She was the Vice President of the PTO of the Elementary School.
• ·         When Nicholas started High School there was not a Volunteer Coordinator - so she created the position to help out when it was needed.
• ·         She has been active in the Band Boosters since Nicholas was in 6th Grade Band and has been Fund-Raising Chair, Concession Stand Manager/Chair, Vice President and President for two years. This year she's not an officer so she can be there to watch Nicholas in his Senior Year marching season - but that certainly won't mean she won't be volunteering - that's what she does.
• ·         She ran the Band Boosters Concession Stand and made it the most profitable it had ever been to that point, treating it like a business.
• ·         As a member of the Band Boosters she oversaw the creation of new fund-raisers, the trip to Disney World and more.
• ·         She is a member of the School Health Advisory Committee.
• ·         She was a member of the School Facilities Advisory Committee, and later an instrumental part of getting the bond package passed to start construction on a new High School that will be much needed in our community in the coming years.
• ·         She's active in the Liberty Hill Ladies Group and several other events in town.
• ·         She is co-chair of the 2012 Project Graduation Committee.
• ·         Best of all - she's meticulous in keeping records and files and each time she leaves an office she passes on a notebook for the incoming officers outlining what she did, when, how it worked, what to do differently next time and other ideas so the ladies taking over her position don't have to start from scratch like she often did. Hopefully people put those notebooks to good use.

Me and Kim at Peter's Graduation Ceremony. My shirt is so retro. Kim is so cute.Kim has a heart of gold and is always there for her family and friends. If someone she loves is hurting - she'll do whatever it takes to stop that pain (emotionally or physically). She'll drop what she's doing to be there for a friend.

She's a great cook, home keeper, friend and mate. 

She is the funniest person I know. She's the last person I want to talk to before I go to bed and the first person I want to talk to in the morning. She is the very model of the type of person I hope my sons find to marry them.

She's my friend, my lover, my soul mate. Her essence permeates every day of my life and parts of her are scattered throughout this entire 100 Days of Gratitude project.

Kim knows everything there is to know about me with nothing held back. She loves me just the same - faults, quirks  and all. What more could I ask for.

I look forward to Kim and I being that old couple holding hands at the movies, taking care of each other as we age, spoiling grandchildren and great grand children together, traveling places, seeing things and collecting more of the incredible memories that we already have. I look forward to every day with Kim.

To know Kim is to love her. And I know her better than anyone in the world - which means I also love her more than anyone in the world.

Today - Day 100 of my 100 Days of Gratitude is for Kim Hofstetter. My friend. My lover. My wife. My soul-mate. I love you with all my heart Kimmi.

Today, on Day 99 I'm a grateful for this project and all I've learned from it and how it's helped me grow.

I started this on January 24, 2011. It took 174 days to do my 100 Days of Gratitude. But not because I'm a slacker.

I missed writing on some days because I didn't want to just post what I was grateful for without explaining why. Even if it was only a paragraph or two. Sometimes I missed a day because I was traveling. Sometimes, like today, I skipped posting because I didn't want to post at midnight when I was done with the writing.

I never once missed a day because I didn't have something to be grateful for. Quite the opposite - I've always had PLENTY to be grateful.

The posts have not been in any order and with the exception of tomorrow's post, none have been preplanned. Just what I'm grateful for on that day, at the time I sit down to write. Some are small (naps), some big (friends). All were truly things that I'm thankful for in my life - and I have plenty to be thankful for.

I've gone back and reread all of these posts and what I've written over the past 6 months and what I realize is that what I'm most thankful for is the PEOPLE in my life. Time and again I'm reminded what an awesome family I have and the most wonderful group of friends that a man could desire.

That group of friends grows all the time. Just one more thing I'm grateful for.

At the risk of sounding corny - my life is about LOVE. I get so much of it. From my family, my friends, my dogs (and cats), my teachers and my mentors - I have surrounded myself with the most talented, loving, friendly, funny and wonderful group of people I can imagine. I hope that each and every one of my friends gets as much out of knowing me as I get out of knowing them. People are what it's all about.

If this project has taught me anything it's the importance of taking the moment necessary to tell the people that are important to you that they are important.

I'm also grateful to the dozens of people who have told me they've enjoyed reading these posts and the few who have told me they've gone back and read them all. It inspired me to do the same. This project was done for ME - but I'm sure glad that you came along on the journey with me.

I encourage you to do this same sort of a project. It doesn't have to be public, do it just for yourself if you want to. Don't worry about spelling, readers, order. Just worry about being honest and open about what you are grateful for. If you write it & post it, I'll read it. I promise.

The hard drives I have on my desk. The ones on top are the most current - they're getting smaller and cheaper.

I'm a hoarder. A hoarder of digital information.

Music, videos, fonts, images, vector files, special effects, sound effects, motion loops and so on.

I subscribe to several weekly "free downloads" and I tend to save them all so when I need them I've got it handy and ready to go for whatever project I'm working on.

So today I'm glad that storage is massive and cheap.

I have 12 external hard drives on my desk. Twelve. I also have a small handful of very convenient USB Thumb Drives that make my mobile life super easy.

I can back up my entire computers working files and take it with me where ever I go. And I do.

I use them, I love them, I'm grateful for them.

Today I'm expecially grateful for big computer monitors. If you follow me on Twitter and Facebook you've probably noticed that I'm working a lot on redesigning our Game Shows To Go website. I tend to tweet a lot about a project that I'm heavily involved in at the time. I'm something of a dullard that way.

Back to the monitors...

You see - I'm 47 years old now and my eyesight isn't what it used to me. There's a "dead zone" between about 8 inches and 18 inches where I can't see anything in focus with, or without glasses.

With my 37" computer monitors I can easily sit at my desk and see everything with no troubles at all.

I actually have two 37" monitors on my desk, one for my MacBookPro and one for my PC. The PC has a second 25" monitor hooked up to it just for Outlook to run on so I can always see my calendar and e-mail.

Kim has one on her desk too and so do my boys Jonathan and Peter (though theres are 32" 1080p) - they got them for Graduation presents and they love them too.

If you get one you may think it's ridiculous at first, but trust me, it'll ruin you for all other monitors. I strongly recommend getting one.

At last count there were 7 restaurants in town - perhaps as many as 10. We did just get a Sonic if that counts.

But today is about Dahlia Cafe. Not just a great restaurant for our town, but a great restaurant. You can find out about them on facebook or their website.

I believe I have tried everything on their menu except the desserts adn it's all excellent. Their spinach is the best I've ever had and their Chicken Fried Chicken - also - the best I've ever had. It's perfect each and every time.

Debi Johnston, the owner always checks on us personally and the wait staff is outstanding. They consistently get perfect scores on their health inspections and perfection seems to be a way of doing things there.

Dahlia also does a lot for our community. Recently a benefit for a family was held there and we had to park on the road and walk over a block to get in.

I, for one, am glad that Dahlia Cafe is a part of our Liberty Hill Community. Though I must admit - writing this on Sunday, when they're closed Sunday and Monday may have been a mistake. Now I'm hungry for some great food.

This year I figured I'd give it a shot and see what it was about.

It was the best decision I'd made in a long, long time - and I still haven't seen all of it!

What is the EMC? Well, their website will explain it better, but basically it's an online magic convention. I may have lost my non-magic friends who read this, but I think it's a look towards the future of ALL conferences - not just magic.

There were technical glitches, but they were handled well - both on the spot and by the amazing fact that within hours of finishing the sessions you could go back and watch a replay of them on line - and can continue to do so for some time - I'm assuming a year - but I didn't actually read all of that info. PLUS - we'll get sent a set of DVD's, complete with bonus materials afterwards.

So, if you got a phone call in the middle of a lecture, like I did - there are ample opportunities to watch it again.

The roster was packed with legends in our community - big hitters; David Berglas, Stan Allen, Rudy Coby, Gaetan Bloom, Apollo Robbins, The Buck Twins, Eric Mead, David Kaye, Lu Chen, Paul Daniels, Max Maven, Rene Levand, Topas, Bill Kalush and more. What I really liked was that because of time constraints everyone was very prepared and gave short, to the point, focused presentations so they could share their most valuable information in the short time slots. It, at times, left me wanting more, but mostly, it kept me glued to my computer screen.

Strangely, when I go to a live magic convention, I skip many of the lectures and just go for the shows and to see my friends. This was a much better simulation of how I learn - so it was much more beneficial to me.

Luis DeMatos, Marco Temptest and others who I'm sure contributed as much - I just didn't do my homework on the entire project put together an amazing staff to pull off a task that was incredible, not just in magic standards, but in technology standards.

The stand outs for me were the lectures on philosophy and performance, but there was some simply stunning magic being performed as well.

The absolute highlight was a tour, via satilitte, of David Copperfield's Museum of Magic in Las Vegas (the conference was broadcast from Portugal) hosted by David himself - and followed by the very best interview of Copperfield that I've ever seen. He was gracious, charming, humble and truly interested in living up to what he sees as his responsibility to preserve some of magic's greatest history - because if not him... then who.

Having already dedicated a day of this project to Copperfield's influence on me and others it may seem like I'm gushing, but I'm just very impressed with his passion for our magic and his humility.He seems to truly understand his position in the history of our art. He gave great advice with great enthusiasm. I can't wait to go back and watch it again.

It's a far, far cry from the "advice" that Criss Angel gave someone on twitter when they asked about becoming a magician when Criss said "Don't do it". But I digress.

As for the conference next year - it's a slam dunk decision for me to sign up again. Probably on the day it's announced. My advice to you is to do the same. It's just about the best thing that's happened to magic lately and it IS the future of meetings in general.

I'm sad it's over, but I'm glad as well - as I have a lot of office work to get done, and I can't do it when I'm looking at videos on the internet. But I will be watching them again.

One of the speakers was Stan Allen, founder and editor of M A G I C Magazine, which is one of my favorite magazines - not just about magic, but favorite magazines - period. He went through a list of things that magicians should pay attention to. At the end of his talk (you should join the conference which is still going on for two more days, and the replays are on line) I was so moved that I applauded the computer screen.

I applauded the freakin' computer screen. Actually, I applauded Stan. What really stood out in his talk was the attention given to finding a mentor - and being a mentor.

I have enjoyed many mentors during my career as a magician, a hypnotist and a game show producer. I've learned from so many people that it would be impossible to list them all here without me forgetting someone.

As I mentioned in an earlier post about the Austin Magic Clubs those clubs are where I found many of my mentors in magic - many are mentioned there.

But I'd like to stretch beyond the mentors that you know personally. Sometimes a mentor is someone whose writings you like, whose recordings you listen to and whose philosophy makes an impact on the way you think and behave.

In watching today's EMC I realize what a great debt our entire art owes to the influence of, the inspiration of David Copperfield and Doug Henning. Just about every one of the people who lectured listed these guys as WHY they got into magic. Most of our generation is into magic because of these giants. While they didn't personally mentor many of us, the inspiration is truly worth mention - and I did mention Copperfield earlier in this blog on Day 90.

While today is a tip of the hat to Mentors, teachers and those who inspire - the message that I took away from Stan Allen's talk today was to BE a mentor. If you were mentored as you were getting into your hobby or business - take the time NOW to be a mentor to someone who is deserving on your guidance.

To those who mentored and taught me personally I owe you so much - to those who inspired me I also owe you. We've all got these people in our lives. Say thank you to at least one of them within 12 hours of reading this. You'll be glad you did - and so will they.

"The Beast" off duty and letting us show Fight Club on her at the end of our driveway.

One of the things I love about having all of the game show equipment is that about 2-3 times a year we will pull "The Beast" (our Box Van) to the end of our driveway and project a movie onto the side of the van.

What's awesome is that the box on the van is 16' x 9' - the PERFECT 16:9 ratio for a widescreen movie. It makes the perfect movie screen as I never have to worry about wind. You do have to get used to the rivets that are going down the side of the "screen", but that doesn't take long.

We use a 4500 lumen (that's bright for those who don't know) projector and JBL EON 15 Speakers. I've been to movie theaters in small towns in Iowa that don't have equipment as good. Our closest neighbors are still a good ways away - so we can crank it up pretty good.

It's a great way to have friends over, sit in our lawn chairs, drink a refreshing beverage, eat popcorn and enjoy a movie in a unique way.

We're basically sitting at home watching a movie - but it makes that into an EVENT.

Last night we watched "Fight Club". Our friend Keith had never seen it. We've also watched "The Big Lebowski" with a friend (Dan) who had never seen it. When I find out a friend hasn't seen what I consider to be a GREAT MOVIE - we'll set up the drive in.

One of the funny things is that you can see the movie from the road - so we'll have people slowing down as they drive by wondering what the heck is going on. I'm sure it's an unusual sight out here in the country. I'd look too.

What movies would you like to watch this way?

Julian Franklin, Danny Garcia and me at our house the morning after Epic Karaoke IV. Shooting guns and blowing things up.

I've known Danny since he was a teenager and I'd see him performing his dove act at the TAOM Conventions. His amazing parents were always there to support him and always looked (and were) very proud of him.

In the past 6 years or so he's become (along with Alex - the guy who's always by his side) one of my favorite people and one of my truest friends. If you want to know what true friendship is - watch Daniel Garcia with his "brothers" David and Alex. If you are Danny's friend he will always have your back and you'll always want to have his.

He's generous, funny, talented, motivated, giving, caring, loving and an all around great guy. He's an amazing magician, creator, consultant, singer, musician and some of the best Karaoke I've ever done has been has been duets with Danny - though I'm pretty sure I drug him down - as he can really sing and I, on the other hand, cannot.

He even designed the logo for one of our game shows "Brain Cell" he did the basic logo with the Brain and the Circle. I did the phone with suggestions from Brian Brushwood and Jonny Zavant.

I am truly proud to have Danny as a friend. I know there are a lot of people who feel the same way.

Danny is the very personification of "To have a friend... be a friend".

Dave, Dan, Keith and Me at a "Mad Men" party. None of us really smoke, but the props made it awesome.

Our close circle is Kim and me and three other couples, the Warners (Dave and Stacey), the Endres' (Dan and May) and the Perske's (Keith and Cydney).

The guys became friends because the women were. Fortunately, we all really like each other too - so the couples get along great. We are diverse in what we do for a living, what we are interested in as hobbies and in politics and Kim, Stacey, May and Cydney at a Holiday Partyreligion - but we love one another and enjoy one another's company.

Just about any weekend that I'm not on the road we are together at one of our four houses, laughing, eating, drinking and laughing some more. Sometimes we play music (I am musically impaired, but will sing from time to time), sometimes we have a bonfire (not lately since it's so dry) always we have excellent company.

Tonight it's going to be all of the above - with the exception of the bonfire. I, for one, am looking forward to it.