Light your incense and get out your love beads, because we’re getting into the way-back machine to travel to 1968. Our country was at war in Vietnam, there was unrest on our college campuses, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated, and Richard Nixon was elected president.

“Hey Jude” by The Beatles and “Love Child” by Diana Ross & The Supremes and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye all made it to #1 on the Billboard chart. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly was in the top 40 and Oliver!, based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

When I look back, I see that there are many things in government that happened that we take for granted today. The Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in the sale and rental of housing, became law. Apollo 8’s three man crew was the first to orbit the moon (we didn’t land on the moon until Apollo 11 in 1969). And the network of scenic, historic, and recreation trails was created by the National Trails System Act of 1968.

Back in 1968, if you wanted to contact the government, you had to physically go to the specific office, write a letter, or make a telephone call—probably long distance. If you didn't know which federal agency to contact, you just had to take a guess and hope whoever you reached would be helpful, and know something about which agency did what. That is, unless you were lucky enough to live in one of the seven cities that had a Federal Information Center. Then you could make a local call, or visit the Center in person, and a trained Information Specialist would help you get to the right office. In 2008, the Federal Information Center program has grown into a nationwide government information service that you can reach by calling 1 (800) FED INFO. That's 1 (800) 333-4636, and information agents are available to answer your questions in English or Spanish from 8 AM to 8 PM EST.

So much has changed since I was one. Many things have changed for the better, I think. As we look forward to our second year of blogging, we want to hear from you and get your ideas for how our blog can serve you in the present and the future.

Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday dear us! Happy Birthday to us!

Gov Gab is now a Year Old. Technically today is not Gov Gab's first birthday (it was Saturday), but we decided to make our first b-day a week-long event. Each Govgabber will talk about what was going down in the U.S. when he or she turned the big numero uno. As you can see from the adorable whippersnapper on the swing (aka me), we're also including pics of ourselves circa 12 months. We've also released a Gov Gab's First Birthday Social Media Release, which we think is the first U.S. government example of a social media release.

Even though I was just swinging around, 1980 was a busssssy year. There was a United States presidential election, Olympics and the U.S. Census Bureau did its thing (conducted a census). Mother Nature showed her fury with the Mount St. Helens explosion and a major heat wave.

Ordinary People won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Robert De Niro won Best Actor for playing a Raging Bull named Jake (no relation). Of course Star Wars fans know 1980 as the year that Luke learned who his father was. Music lost icons John Lennon and John Bonham and was well on its way to becoming 80's music with releases by the Talking Heads, U2 and (sigh) Loverboy.

I think the most notable occurrence in 1980 that relates to Gov Gab was the passing of Canadian communications theorist Marshall McLuhan. McLuhan was best known for the phrase "the medium is the message" but he also wrote extensively about the term "global village," which today is synonymous with the Internet.

McLuhan's interpretation of the global village was negative, but he never lived to see the Internet. It's no secret that the Internet has changed our lives. From paying bills or even finding a date, you can do just about anything on the web (even conduct government transactions!).

So how do you think the global village has changed your life? Also, feel free to suggest on any post this week what we can do here at Gov Gab to improve as we work toward our terrible twos.

I walked into my condo and threw down a bunch of gear on the sofa. I informed my husband that I had signed up for scuba diving classes. Off I went to practice buddy breathing, buoyancy, and taking dive gear off and on under water. I passed the written test and waited in anticipation for my trip to Mexico to do my certification dives.

It dawned on me that I wouldn’t be able to see very well without my glasses. Being able to see things swimming towards me while diving seemed really important. Even though my mask did allow for replacement corrective lenses, I decided to get LASIK instead.

When I was researching LASIK, I read a couple of publications we had here in the office. “LASIK Laser Eye Surgery” and “Laser Eye Surgery: Is It Worth Looking Into?” were very helpful.

You can also visit FDA’s LASIK website. It explains the LASIK procedure, risks involved, and what to expect before, during, and after the surgery. MedlinePlus Laser Eye Surgery has a multimedia and tools section with pictures, photographs and tutorials. The Eye Surgery Education Council Cost section mentions the price of the initial procedure, the cost of an enhancement procedure, and insurance considerations.

It is very important to do your homework when selecting a surgeon to do the procedure. Here is a list of questions to ask the doctor. Finding the best doctor is important, so don’t be afraid to ask these tough questions.

As for me, my eye surgery went without a hitch. I did experience dry eyes for a little while, but my eyes were totally healed for my first dive trip. That was 8 years ago. These LASIK-repaired eyes have seen all kinds of awesome underwater stuff in all kinds of interesting places. For me, the surgery was worth it.

How about the rest of you? Any LASIK stories to share… the good, the bad, or the ugly?

Once again, I have not been nominated for the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Another year, another disappointment. But I'm trying to be mature about the whole thing. I can admit, without bitterness, that Jon Bon Jovi and Shaquille O'Neal should be on the list this year. And I didn't begrudge Bruce Springsteen or Frank Sinatra their places of honor last year. I can even acknowledge the validity of Clara Barton and Thomas Edison being part of the first group to make it into the Hall of Fame. I'll be patient—my time will come. New Jersey is the fourth smallest state in the country in area and only the 11th largest in population. They've got to run out of people to nominate at some point, right? Then it will be Nancy, the famous government blogger's turn! Or not.

See, I may have gone to college, lived and worked in DC for the last 22 years, but I grew up eating corn and peaches from the Garden State's roadside stands, playing in its piney woods and shelling along its sandy shoreline. Dorothy may have been talking about Kansas, but when I think of New Jersey, I agree: "There's no place like home."

Whether you hit the road as soon as you were old enough to be on your own or you still live in the same town you grew up in, state pride can run pretty strong. The history and geography, accents, political leanings, and wacky little places you find along the way all add up to make your state absolutely unique.

So, what state are you from? What makes it special to you?

I was once a white bread eater. As a kid, anything with the word "grain" in it made me cringe. Now, ever older and wiser, chowing down on white bread is the equivalent of eating paste.

As a reformed eater of refined grains, I am pleased to report that September is National Whole Grains Month. A whole grain is one that still has its covering, which contains the grain's fiber and many of its vitamins and minerals.

Whole grains are a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are also a major supply of fiber, help decrease the risk of heart disease, and can aid in weight loss.

The USDA suggests that adults get between three and five portions of whole grains per day. What are some easy ways to sneak some more whole grains into your daily diet?

• Make sure your bread label reads, "100% whole grain" or "100% whole wheat." Otherwise, it may just be a mix of refined and whole grain.
• Use whole-grain pastas when cooking. You'll never notice the difference. (Trust me, I had a dinner party with a whole-grain baked ziti—none of my guests were the wiser.)
• Bake with whole-wheat flour. The coloring of your famous cookies may be slightly different, but the taste remains the same.
• Order your Friday night pizza with whole-grain dough. Many national chains, like Papa John's, are offering this.
• Substitute brown rice for white with your meals.

Whole grains are also essential for those who have celiac disease and need to maintain a gluten-free diet.

Does anyone have any tasty whole-grain recipes to share? Any suggestions for packing more whole grains into your diet?