A Well Connected Family

Last week, democratic presidential candidate, Barak Obama was in Oregon to campaign. He had 3 scheduled stops (Portland, Salem, and Eugene). On the way from Salem to Eugene, they made a stop...

Imagine going to your favorite pizza place for a late lunch with your family. You are sitting there enjoying a nice slice of pie with your family and it takes a few minutes to realize how busy the place is getting. Then, you look up and see 3 black SUV's pull up and after a brief Martix flash back, you realize that the secret service has just walked in and are now making their rounds. Next a huge bus pulls up outside with OBAMA `08 written on it. Barack Obama wants to have lunch with you!!! (American Dream Pizza, Corvallis OR - Go BEAVS!!!!)

My brother and sister in law were shocked as they and their four sons were joined for lunch by the future president of the United States. The picture shows Owen Stevenson (8 month old Twin - Owen and Tyler) my nephew!

I am glad to know that people in high places seek out members of my family for photo ops! This picture was all over the AP circuit!

Lil' Clippers

The moment I walked in the front door I was pissed. I hate that feeling of "why didn't I think of this?" It seemed like the most obvious good idea I had ever seen. We were taking my son for his first hair cut and this place has kids cuts down pat!

Decorated in bright colors, toys for the kids to climb on as they wait, video games: heaven for a pre-schooler. Perhaps the pest part of this place is that each barber's chair is topped with a plastic car or rocket ship (the kind you used to pay a quarter to ride at the grocery store). Each station has its own TV so that that the kid can be distracted by the movie of their choice... its so obviously a good idea that it drove me crazy the whole time I was sitting there!

I remember the first time that I put one of those cardboard sleeves on my cup of coffee at Starbucks... same feeling, why didn't I think of that? It just seemed like such an obvious idea. Isn't that what makes the best inventions: an obvious improvement to something that everyone does/needs?

So, from now on, I will keep my radar up and the next time I start wishing something could be improved, just a little, I will pay attention and maybe you will find yourself saying: "why didn't I think of that!"

All Day in a Limo

Yesterday I spent the whole day in a Limo. I've never done that before. We drove up to Puyallup, WA to see their YMCA and to use it as a reference point for the Y that we hope to build as part of the new development that is going in to replace our current church facility.
The YMCA was impressive! It was an exciting environment to experience. The staff were all cheerful and smiling, there were tons of people everywhere, and it had a great energy to the place.

We spent about an hour and a half there touring the entire place (gym, pool, daycare, weight room, indoor track, racquetball, gymnastics gym, meeting rooms, locker rooms, teen room...) and talking to the staff. It is top notch all the way! I hope that whatever our end product looks like, we meet or exceed this facility. When that happens, it will be the place to be!

Riding in a Limo allowed our team to have a great conversation on the way up and back. But, arriving at a YMCA and representing a church... getting out of a limo doesn't help the stereotypes. But, hey, the whole trip was donated, so I guess I can get over it!

Putting the sink in

Today I started the first of the many projects. Ever since we bought the house 2 years ago, we have been planning to put a sink in the downstairs common area. It was already rough plumbed, but the watter lines had not yet been put in. So, today, my brother in law (who is a home improvement veteran) came over and gave me some advice about my plumbing needs.

Feeling inspired, I went to George Morelan Plumbing with my son and bought my supplies (note - don't take tired children to stores with long lines!!!). With no more excuses left, I began my project.

Basically, we are putting in a cabinet with a sink. Nothing massive, but it takes a while to get back in the DIY saddle. At this point I have it mounted and rough cut. Can I say that cutting the whole for the basin was a pain in the butt?!?! There is less than a half inch margin for error around the whole thing!

Tomorrow Rick and I should be able to get the plumbing done, and my first project should be mostly done!