And just like that - we got a SPONSOR!

As someone who lives, eats and breathes sales for a living - you'd think I know the value of "asking for the business" - but apparently, I do not.  When Scott started throwing around the idea of "sponsorship" months and months ago, I sortof brushed it off thinking "come on, why would anyone sponsor us!?"  I just couldn't imagine why anyone would want to support our dream for the sake of, well, supporting our dream.  So I put Scott on "sponsor" duty and went about my life assuming that nothing would come of it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (When will I heed my own advice? Who knows, I'm stubborn):

ASSUMING makes an ASS out of U and ME.  Sure does.
 
Because guess what?  Scott got our first sponsor in Moosejaw, an *awesome* outdoor clothing and gear outfitter.  Before I go on, I have to say - a company whose tag line is "Love the Madness" is a company after my own heart.  We've been fans for a while.  If you have not shopped at or have never heard of Moosejaw, go to their website - NOW.  You don't even need to buy anything (but you should, cause it's cool!) - just read how they got started and chuckle.  They are hilarious and, truth be told, I sortof want to work for them.  Their current catalog is dedicated to "Doing IT in Detroit" (yes, doing "it") and if that doesn't show you just how tongue in cheek (and fun) they are, any company that uses a make out session as a contest for swag and quotes "Say Anything" is just. plain. cool.  See below (copied from their website):

This is not a joke.

We need you to email us a pic of you and your lover in a full-on make out session wearing a Moosejaw tee of hoody or with a Moosejaw flag or something like that.

You get 300 Moosejaw points for a pic with a little Moosejaw love. If you don’t have anything Moosejaw still send us what you’ve got and we’ll throw 100 Moosejaw points your way which is still pretty good for a little kissing.

Please email everything to me and we’ll get it posted on the site.

Needless to say, this is super important work.

Lloyd Dobler: I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?

Joe: By choice, man.
-Say Anything

Thank you.

Love the madness.

So you see, to have THIS company as our first sponsor is an awesome honor, so exciting, inspiring and did I already mention suuuuuper cool?

So how did it happen?  Our friend, Tobi, just started working for Moosejaw Corporate and Scott, the half of us NOT afriad to "ask for the sale", got the contact of the appropriate person from her.  I will protect her identity so all of you don't email her asking for stuff (wink), but Scott simply sent a wonderfully crafted email asking for $(undisclosed amount) worth of retail goods for us to use on our trip.  And then he hit send.

He got a reply the next day.  They simply could not... say "no" and were, infact, so excited to say "YES"!

And just like that, we were sponsored.  By Moosejaw.  Jumping up and down and dancing around the apartment ensued, followed by a trip to Moosejaw, of course.  We bought some stuff (with our own money, not part of the deal) as "support" (maybe we were too excited?) and are now trying to compile a list of what will be the most practical stuff while giving us the most bang for our ($(undisclosed amount)) buck. :)

Ask and you shall receive my friends.

Love the madness,

Brittany & Scott