Monday, June 3, 2013
Georgie Update
After spending an hour making and hanging up flyers to find our favorite friend Georgie. He was found! Under the barbecue. On our deck.
The humility of being a parent
I set up this blog months ago and off handedly told my husband about it, hoping he may post one or two times a year; he has posted 8 times and this, sadly is my first post. I was hoping to come up with some epic first post to get started. Something amazing that happened in my day to day life, or some epiphany I learned one day. We may be waiting a while for something like this to happen, so I'm just going to dive in.
I am not a high maintenance sort of woman. I pride myself on going with the flow and being very down to earth. However, before Finn, I definitely didn't go out in public without some sort of make up on. Usually some under eye cover up, mascara, and blush. I mean, what would all those strangers think? The ones I probably wouldn't see again? I look back and feel silly I even cared. Now, even if I did care, I have discovered I am not a mom who puts her face on first thing in the morning. I am a mom who wears her yoga clothes until I get a work out in, even if it takes until 5pm. I am also a mom who will dance the Hoke Poke through the grocery store if it keeps Finn laughing. I will sing "If you are happy and you know it" over and over, complete with gestures anywhere, anytime. And I will also make a missing flyer for Finn's favorite stuffed animal and hang them all around the neighborhood, if it means we may see Georgie again.
I am not a high maintenance sort of woman. I pride myself on going with the flow and being very down to earth. However, before Finn, I definitely didn't go out in public without some sort of make up on. Usually some under eye cover up, mascara, and blush. I mean, what would all those strangers think? The ones I probably wouldn't see again? I look back and feel silly I even cared. Now, even if I did care, I have discovered I am not a mom who puts her face on first thing in the morning. I am a mom who wears her yoga clothes until I get a work out in, even if it takes until 5pm. I am also a mom who will dance the Hoke Poke through the grocery store if it keeps Finn laughing. I will sing "If you are happy and you know it" over and over, complete with gestures anywhere, anytime. And I will also make a missing flyer for Finn's favorite stuffed animal and hang them all around the neighborhood, if it means we may see Georgie again.
This is the type of mom I am.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Tall people....cars...and homes...one man's POV
Tall people...I love 'em...I have to because I'm one, my wife is one, and our 21 month old son is almost 3 feet tall!
So when it comes to buying a car or buying a home, I am learning that tall people can have "cramping" issues with both...and the only medicine = cash, money, cheddar, kwanza.
Firstly, the topic of cars...
Ever since hitting 6'7" as an 11th grader, I had major cramping getting into cars. I owned a 1966 Ford Mustang that had the best legroom, but I would never know if the car would travel 10 feet or 10 miles without breaking down. Nothing is more awkward than seeing a giraffe try to bend down to change a spark plug. The visual of giant trying to fix a matchbox car comes to mind.
Trying to move from an unreliable car to a RELIABLE car only compounded my cramping problems. I needed reliability driving to and from Spokane, so I bought a Suzuki Swift 4-door (I know you're thinking "that's totally awesome Jason, you define collegiate style!"). The Suzuki could hit 75 miles an hour downhill, while I rocked back-and-forth in the drivers seat...I was convinced THAT would make the car go faster without blowing up. Once again...tall guy, tiny car, weighing the needs of reliability vs. cramped legs. No cheddar, no bigger AND reliable car. The trade-off continues...
Secondly, the topic of houses...
Canyon and I LOVE mid-century modern homes in Portland. That style of home has been THE priority on our list as we look for a larger space to expand our family. Just when I thought my cramping issue was isolated to cars...I walked in the basement of these mid-century homes. I discovered where Hobbits live! (I love "hobbitses"). There wasn't a door, or ceiling, that I could avoid slamming my already jagged skull into. Once again, my cramping started to hurt again.
Decision...go with a cramped yet affordable mid-century home....OR have reliability of a NEW home, NO cramping anymore....for a LOT more cash-eesh.
The decision is still in the works...so the cramping balance remains. Still searching for the medicine.
So when it comes to buying a car or buying a home, I am learning that tall people can have "cramping" issues with both...and the only medicine = cash, money, cheddar, kwanza.
Firstly, the topic of cars...
Ever since hitting 6'7" as an 11th grader, I had major cramping getting into cars. I owned a 1966 Ford Mustang that had the best legroom, but I would never know if the car would travel 10 feet or 10 miles without breaking down. Nothing is more awkward than seeing a giraffe try to bend down to change a spark plug. The visual of giant trying to fix a matchbox car comes to mind.
Trying to move from an unreliable car to a RELIABLE car only compounded my cramping problems. I needed reliability driving to and from Spokane, so I bought a Suzuki Swift 4-door (I know you're thinking "that's totally awesome Jason, you define collegiate style!"). The Suzuki could hit 75 miles an hour downhill, while I rocked back-and-forth in the drivers seat...I was convinced THAT would make the car go faster without blowing up. Once again...tall guy, tiny car, weighing the needs of reliability vs. cramped legs. No cheddar, no bigger AND reliable car. The trade-off continues...
Secondly, the topic of houses...
Canyon and I LOVE mid-century modern homes in Portland. That style of home has been THE priority on our list as we look for a larger space to expand our family. Just when I thought my cramping issue was isolated to cars...I walked in the basement of these mid-century homes. I discovered where Hobbits live! (I love "hobbitses"). There wasn't a door, or ceiling, that I could avoid slamming my already jagged skull into. Once again, my cramping started to hurt again.
Decision...go with a cramped yet affordable mid-century home....OR have reliability of a NEW home, NO cramping anymore....for a LOT more cash-eesh.
The decision is still in the works...so the cramping balance remains. Still searching for the medicine.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Documentary "Sound City" produced by Dave Grohl
I'd like to introduce my first movie review...the documentary "Sound City" on Itunes (make a plug for Apple because they need it).
Every guy I know will love this story! It takes us through a journey about the evolution of a recording studio in Van Nuys, CA that produced some of the biggest records of our time....especially Nirvana for us kids that grew up in the Northwest.
This story links together personal stories from many of my favorite musicians. So much in this documentary for any music fan!
Every guy I know will love this story! It takes us through a journey about the evolution of a recording studio in Van Nuys, CA that produced some of the biggest records of our time....especially Nirvana for us kids that grew up in the Northwest.
This story links together personal stories from many of my favorite musicians. So much in this documentary for any music fan!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Traveling with a toddler to a Jungle (Costa Rica)
To give a bit of perspective...I'm a math guy who handicaps most every decision in my daily life (a habit that's been hard to break). So when it came to going on a vacation with my beautiful wife and energetic son, I was very excited to get-on-board!
Allow me to introduce our vacation destination...Costa Rica. A beautiful country consisting of dense jungle, beaches, cloud forests....and, uh, deadly snakes (vipers to be exact), ticks, spiders...and did I mention the vipers? I was about to learn a lesson of expectations vs reality......again...
So here's where the EXPECTATIONAL math rushed in my head.....
vacation + family + stress-free place = Awesome!
This is the REALITY that hit me....
vacation + family + jungle with poisonous vipers = super anxiety!
It took a number of days to adjust my expectations to go back to the Awesome! equation and calm way of thinking. Canyon helped me and it happened...eventually. Traveling with a toddler in a jungle where a territorial Fer-De-Lance or ticks can impact their health and well-being...an over-protective new Dad (have I introduced myself?) really needs to re-adjust expectations vs reality and work through it.
So my lesson on our family vacation...as is an important reminder for life...is to stay close with your family, monitor your expectations vs reality, take deep breaths to calm down.....put the toddler in the pack-n-play...and then go take a swim in the pool...(in the jungle).
Allow me to introduce our vacation destination...Costa Rica. A beautiful country consisting of dense jungle, beaches, cloud forests....and, uh, deadly snakes (vipers to be exact), ticks, spiders...and did I mention the vipers? I was about to learn a lesson of expectations vs reality......again...
So here's where the EXPECTATIONAL math rushed in my head.....
vacation + family + stress-free place = Awesome!
This is the REALITY that hit me....
vacation + family + jungle with poisonous vipers = super anxiety!
It took a number of days to adjust my expectations to go back to the Awesome! equation and calm way of thinking. Canyon helped me and it happened...eventually. Traveling with a toddler in a jungle where a territorial Fer-De-Lance or ticks can impact their health and well-being...an over-protective new Dad (have I introduced myself?) really needs to re-adjust expectations vs reality and work through it.
So my lesson on our family vacation...as is an important reminder for life...is to stay close with your family, monitor your expectations vs reality, take deep breaths to calm down.....put the toddler in the pack-n-play...and then go take a swim in the pool...(in the jungle).
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Be cautious about rally in US housing as an "investment"
Prof. Schiller Yale University
He reiterates...buy a home because you love it, want to raise your family, and like to leave the toilet seat up all the time! Don't buy a home expecting long run investment returns with minimal risk. I enjoyed this interview...a perspective I share.
If link doesn't work, interview is from Bloomberg and called "Schiller no major rally in US housing market"
http://t.ritholtz.com/bigpicture/#!/entry/shiller-no-major-rally-in-us-housing-market,5117931cd7fc7b567023922a
He reiterates...buy a home because you love it, want to raise your family, and like to leave the toilet seat up all the time! Don't buy a home expecting long run investment returns with minimal risk. I enjoyed this interview...a perspective I share.
If link doesn't work, interview is from Bloomberg and called "Schiller no major rally in US housing market"
http://t.ritholtz.com/bigpicture/#!/entry/shiller-no-major-rally-in-us-housing-market,5117931cd7fc7b567023922a
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