On many an occasion someone has looked at me and said, “I just wonder what you were thinking” (and not always in a good way), so I figured I’d share what’s orbiting around my own personal Earth that doubles as my cranium.

NeoCon. I can’t walk up eight flights of stairs from floors 3 to 11 anymore. Not if I want to risk spending the show at County General (for those “ER” fans) in ICU. Luckily for me, there was no need. The absence of congestion at the elevator banks confirmed from the start what everyone was surmising. But I’ll tell you what: There was no shortage of introductions, no shortage of Best of NeoCon entries, no shortage of optimism, no shortage of cocktail parties. These guys have been through this before and know how to position themselves for when the market comes back.

Surfaces. Met with Dana Teague and Kelly Cooper of Hanley Wood a couple of weeks ago. They are doing all they can to drive attendance and for 2010 have some strong ideas. FCNews is a big proponent of the show and is looking to work closely with both Hanley Wood and exhibitors to prove to retailers how attending Surfaces can actually MAKE YOU MONEY. Yes, you can find products to differentiate your store. Yes, they stage the industry’s premier education program. But showing up can put dollars in your wallet; in fact, if all goes to plan, you may not be able to afford not to go.

Pergo. Was hoping to meet with the brain-trust on a recent swing through the Carolinas but couldn’t connect. I want to know what’s going on. Business seems to be good, but rumors persist that at least 75% of it is going through home centers. True or not true? When I saw the company’s design director and marketing manager in New York recently, they told me they were re-evaluating their independent retail strategy. I’d like to talk to George Kelley for an update on one of the industry’s most recognized brands.

Nebraska Furniture Mart. I think I finally removed the last fly from my mouth. That’s because three weeks ago I walked around that pantheon that sits on 80 acres in Omaha with my mouth wide open for two hours. Presentation. Selection. Price. Flooring. Furniture. Appliances. Electronics. It was Best Buy, Ethan Allen, BrandSource on steroids. And they deliver within a 500- mile radius. Blew me away. There’s truly no place else like it.

Back in the day, these random thoughts would be referred to as snippets. But now you would say I’m “tweeting,” or Twittering. And I have a lot more of these tweets. In fact, I probably could write a few every day. So to that end, look for my Twitter account soon, where I am going to share my thoughts on a regular basis. Some will be informative, some I’m sure will be rambles. And I may even set it up so you can respond. The way I figure it, we didn’t become the No. 1 magazine in advertising pages and editorial pages this year without innovative ideas and getting closer to the industry. A Twitter dialogue only brings us closer to you.