Archive for the ‘Honor’ Category

Who’s with me?   Anyone else checking out the game tonight and cheering on our Portland Blazers??

-Jenny

So excited about the new Wind Turbine I had to take a pic on my iPhone while sitting in traffic!

Not only does Kaddy Car Wash kick butt at washing cars, but the owner of this establishment is doing his part to keep this earth clean and is now starting to run the business partly on clean energy.   First off, Kaddy Car Wash reclaims the runoff from the car washing process to keep it from going into our natural water sources.  Secondly, Kaddy Car Wash cleans your car with quality, environmentally friendly products to help the earth and your car.  And Thirdly, and this is so cool, Kaddy Car Wash just installed a WIND TURBINE at the Andresen street location in Vancouver, WA.  I highly recommend any one in the Vancouver, WA are to go check it out, get your car washed and say thank you to the winds for contributing to your shiny car!  And thank you, Chuck Kaddy, for this cool addition!   

I just have to give a shout out to Craigslist.  Specifically Craigslist-Portland.  Todd and I re-did our computer room.  To us it was past time.  In doing so, we had a hide-a-bed couch and computer desk sitting in the garage needing a home.  Neither one of them belonged in a landfill.  They were both in good condition, both well used, and they just needed somewhere new to go.  So I posted both of them on craigslist for free. 

Within 10 minutes I had 5 requests from Craigslist and a total of 15 requests for the furniture by the time they were picked up and in a new home!  Within 2 hours from the time I posted the add on craigslist, both the couch and desk went to a new home of a newly widowed woman who has two young daughters.  Thank you CRAIGSLIST!  You are AWESOME!  If you’ve never experienced Craigslist, check it out.  They have something for everyone!

 Written by a dear friend who wanted to post something to honor her family’s beloved friend.

RIGGS AND US:  THE LOCAL”MARLEY AND ME”

I’ll never forget the day we went to pick up our beautiful new puppy.  I never had a dog of my own before, and although Mike had, this was our gift to each other.  It was something we were doing together.  We weren’t even engaged yet, so the responsibility of having her was the beginning of us.  All the other little puppies were barely walking, hardscrabble little blond beings who were tripping over each other and making tiny fools of themselves.  And then there was Riggs, walking, marching, running ahead of the pack.  She was always the fastest dog around.

Riggs, although never an affectionate dog, had an uncanny ability to win people’s hearts.  She made you feel like you were the center of all her attention.  She would run, furiously wag her tail and jump up, slamming her sidebody into your leg or anything else she could make contact with.  She was all about the thrill of an adventure and our joy of watching her took us on countless excursions both near and far.  On hiking trails, her favorite activities were body slamming into strangers, swimming and peeing in bodies of water, searching for food and always finding her way away from us.  At the dog park, she would shimmy up to the other dogs, tease them with her cute blondness, then take off in a scorching run when she had acquired their attention.  And then there was her smile.  That dog had a smile.

During her 13 years, Riggs destroyed untold amounts of our possessions.  There was the time she sucked on our resin lawn furniture until it looked like someone had taken a blow torch to it.  Or when she pulled all the stuffing out of our cushions so it looked like it had snowed.  Or when she smelled something she had to have and dug a hole through the carpet and padding to the subfloor of our rented house.  Or the countless socks, shirts, plastic toys (ripped apart until the “squeakie” was obtained), stuffed animals who lost their battle with her teeth and acid saliva. 

When our kids were born, as often happens, Riggs took the back seat.  She did it in stride, never malicious to the kids but somehow hopeful that she would one day again have her throne.  She had a particular fondness for Barbie feet and Littlest Pet shop.  We continued hiking with her, bringing her on trips and throwing her her beloved frisbee.  But she never regained her position of prominence pre-children.  Mike and I feel guilty about that but know that it was inevitable.  She got some attention by constantly jumping over the fence and visiting all our neighbors, in search of new types of food, making new friends and making us crazy. By doing so, we met lots of new neighbors, had trips to the vet ER and lots of interesting new poo to clean up (the remains of snacks provided by her new pals). 

Over the last couple years, she began to move more slowly, bark less, jump less and get out of the yard less.  Her preferred place to be was in our front yard, watching passersby and feeling like she was part of the action.  She was always there, no matter what life brought us.  She was always home, even when she greeted us less and less.  When she began losing weight, we thought she was going through one of her spells again, where she ate slug bait or some plastic thing that stopped her from eating.  She withdrew from us physically and emotionally and looked sad.  It was hard to see her this way.  So, this past week, Mike and I said a tearful goodbye to our puppy.  It was the end of an era for us. Mike and I know Riggs has marked the first part of our lives together and that her life is a reflection of ours and that our memories are reflected in her.  Because she was always there.

Rest in peace, Riggs.  You were an unforgettable dog.  In heaven, you can run fast again.

Today is December First.  The Holiday Season is upon us – it’s true!  While I can’t seem to figure out how 2009 has blown by so fast, I can’t help but smile as I see the decorations in stores, hear the music in our office lobby, and see the holiday cheer in people’s faces!  I absolutely love this time of year – which is probably reflected in the fact that within this past week I’ve already completed some of my shopping (now for the exciting part of wrapping them beautifully!) and purchased/decorated my Christmas Tree! 

The Finishing Touch

Hanging Ornaments

Selecting the Perfect Tree

John and I woke up early on BLACK FRIDAY this past week to join in the Yuletide spirit of shopping for our loved ones.   John eventually gave up on Best Buy – seeing the lines wrapped around the store and the massive number of people packed around each display (I had jumped out and ran in Michael’s instead – ahhh….  I love the Craft Store!) though we did manage to get to Video Only (at John’s request, and to my disappointment – the store really DOES mean “VIDEO ONLY!”  I mean, how many TV’s can one person look at in a day??  Apparently my tolerance is about 4 tvs.  I then get very very very bored).

~A CHANGE IN THOUGHT~

A few years ago I became tired of giving the usual holiday presents (a travel mug here, a half-zip shirt there, and countless gifts in between).  Now please don’t misunderstand me, I don’t dislike or frown upon material gifts – I’ve cried tears of Joy opening my breadmaker (note to self: get a bit more exciting of a life), screamed in delight at my basketball hoop, jumped for joy over Coach purses, adored clothing I’ve received, books I’ve read, cd’s I’ve listened to, etc. etc. etc. - all coming from various friends and family members.  What I DON”T like is the moments I find myself choosing between gifts that have no meaning.  Everyone reading this has probably done it at some point- such as choosing between comfy socks and mittens for your coworker, a santa figurine or a starbucks giftcard for your neighbor, a reindeer sweater or a pair of leggings for your brother-in-law (JUST KIDDING, CHRIS – aka, world’s greatest brother in law – you won’t receive either from me this Christmas!).

This month I’m going to give you some ideas for gifts with meaning.  Maybe donating to an organization we’ve mentioned on our site before in honor of someone, or selecting an item who donates it’s proceeds to a charity, to a million other ideas.  I’d love to hear from you as well as to ideas for THOUGHTFUL and MEANINGFUL gifts.  Please submit a comment and let me (and our fellow readers) know!

Kiva.org

I’d like to start with highlighting Kiva (www.kiva.org).  This is a great website and an incredible organization.  Todd & Jessy introduced me to it a little over 2 years ago.  Since then, I’ve become a lender and have also purchased gift cerftificates for all of my family members to become active with this process.  With Kiva, they let YOU loan to low income entrepreneurs across the world.  Please read more about it here, and take a moment to check out what the website encompasses.  This might be an excellent choice for a holiday gift (either a gift certificate so THEY can participate, or maybe choosing one of their great gifts), or perhaps you’ll want to become a lender yourself.  You have options to choose the region, sector, or gender in which you’d like to assist, and can read and choose from countless real people, needing real help.   It’s an incredible journey to follow along this microfinanced loan – from initial fundraising to the repayment of loans. Check out a great video about this unique process here.

Keep checking back at In Honor Of this month to read about some great ideas this holiday season!

My best to all of you…

Love, Jenny

Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries and pie.  All worthy of being honored! 

For my family, Thanksgiving can consist of 2-4 thanksgiving dinners all held between 1 to 2 weekends in November.  Lots of driving, lots of artichoke dip, lots of eating.  So when I think of Thanksgiving, the appreciation of the food depreciates just a tiny bit, however, my appreciation for my family grows.  Sadly, without Thanksgiving I do not know how much I would get to see some of these family members.  The holidays get busy, but I never regret taking the time to see my loved ones for Turkey Day.  How lucky are we to have so much family near us to be able to see most if not all for the holidays. 

I want to say thank you to all my family for taking the time to meet together, eat together, drink together.  One feast on the Schuster side has been devoured!  This year, just one more to go.  My love to you all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU READERS!

Help me find a good charity!

A few weeks ago, my mom (Laurie), John & I went downtown Portland to go see “Capitalism” – the new Michael Moore Movie.  (on a side note, I thought this was a great movie).  We arrived a little early after dinner at The Farm Cafe (also highly recommended!), and decided to walk down to Nordstrom to spend a few minutes looking around.  While we were exiting the store, we saw a little old lady pushing her cart toward the door.  When I say little, I mean little!  This lady was bent to almost a 90-degree angle at the waist so her upper half was basically parallel with the floor.  The signs of arthritis were evident on her hands, and she had some sort of brace on her left foot/lower leg, and she walked with a limp.   She was on her own, pushing her cart at a slow and steady pace, when we noticed that she was headed straight for a set of stairs!  I have no idea if she had a plan to tackle this obsticle (She was so frail and manuevering the cart down a flight of stairs seemed unthinkable!) or if she had even noticed what was in front of here, a mere 10 feet or so.

Immediately we approached her and asked if she’d like assistance… she said yes and John scooped up her cart and carried it down the stairs for her, while my mother and I assisted her on either side down the stairs.  She mentioned that she was headed home, but declined any assistance we offered to help her navigate the rainy streets.  As she shuffled along, I felt helpless to see her go – dressed in an old jacket, too worn to provide much warmth and doing little to protect her from the rain.

Since that event, I have gone through my closet and pulled all of my clothing that I no longer wear.  It’s time to put them to good use.  In the past, I’ve made countless trips to the Goodwill, but THIS time I looking for a charity or organization that helps the “needy of the needy.”  I want them to be donated so that they are dispersed without charge to those needing the items. 

I’m going to research this a bit, but I could definitely use your help – does anyone have any suggestions?  If so, submit a comment (right at the bottom of this entry) or send me an email (Jenny@inhonorof.com).  I will keep you posted with my own research and where I end up taking my items.

-Jenny

To submit/read comments, click on the link below or right here!

One picture says it all.  Fresh eggs waiting to be gathered, sitting 30 steps from the backdoor.  In Honor Of urban chickens and the eggs they lay….I want to say thank you!  Who would have known, that I, someone nervous around all things that fly, would come to like having chickens in my backyard and all the benefits that come along with them, besides the fresh eggs.  So to our special ladies, Josephine, Marshmellow, General Grievous, Tula & Apple “Great job so far.  We appreciate your hard work!”

For anyone interested in urban chickens, check out the 2 links above for great information!

The fall is here and like many people the summer flew by in a flash! I don’t want to lament the summer that has gone by, but I do want to honor the fall that is here. I love fall!

The leaves will start to change. The plants will start to green up again. I will have an excuse to curl up on the couch with my hotty wife and read. Soccer Saturdays will start with their blustering windy beginnings and hot chocolate ends.

I know that not everyone likes the weather changing. At the same time it is going to happen regardless of what we do so lets embrace it! I would love to hear everyone’s fall favorites.

We have GREAT neighbors.  Actually, FABULOUS neighbors.  And I can say this with conviction. 

This late spring, Todd and I along with our good friends/neighbors, Taryn and Judson, decided we need to get to know our neighborhood community better.  On the street we live on, Maple Avenue, there tends to be a pretty constant flow of walkers.  Some we know, some we do not.  So we decided to start a weekly, casual, family friendly gathering in our front yards on Maple Avenue in order to meet these walkers, flag them down, and to just hang out with our neighbors.  Not only would good conversation with us keep these neighbors gathered, but also a featured cocktail to quench their thirst.  And on our first night of doing so, thanks to the fabulous pitcher of margaritas us 4 shared, we officialy named our group…C.O.M.A., which stands for Cocktails on Maple Avenue. 

Since then, there were I believe 7 more C.O.M.A. meetings.  One a week, usually on a Friday,  from the first week of summer (June 21st) to Labor Day Weekend (with a couple skipped meetings due to schedule conflicts or the threat of rain).  Our first C.O.M.A. meeting was with only us 4 founding members.  Unbelievably, NO WALKERS came by that evening!  But each week since the beginning, the C.O.M.A. “membership” grew due more to word of mouth than by grabbing someone passing by.  At least 1 new person came each week.  And soon, one neighbor, Rusty, hooked us up with a Cocktail Flag to sail on the day of C.O.M.A. so that we knew which house it would be held at that evening!

I have come to know that I have some lovely, entertaining, delightful, and very fun neighbors of all ages.  I feel lucky to have them all as my neighbors.  I am happy they have gotten to know my children better.  I know they will look out for my family’s safety and I will do the same for theirs.  This is a wonderful community I live in.  Thank you to all who came to C.O.M.A., whether it is was one time or many times.  I truly appreciate you all taking the time to say hi, to get to know each other a little better and of course, to have a cocktail on Maple Avenue!

So (in no particular order and sorry for any mis-spellings) here is a one last “CHEERS!” to Taryn & Judson, Vicki & Peter, Jeanne & Mike, Chelyncia & Tim, Jeff & Kathy, Liz and Jeff, Gail and Gary, Zack & Rusty, John & Kris, Dawn, Earl & Rebekkah, April, Kris E., the out-of-the-neighborhood friends who also stopped by and to my husband Todd (plus the 11 kids that come with this group!).  Til next summer!

My family and I just got back from a quick visit to my Dad’s in Ocean Shores, WA  the other weekend.  We boated, we fished, we cooked smores over a fire, we went to the beach and had a fabulous time.  But one thing that stood out to me on our visit, was the glowing effect that took over my Dad, Le, and his wife, Lois as they spoke of their volunteer work they do at the North Beach PAWS.  These two are dog lovers, but I swear, they are even more so after volunteering here at the no-kill shelter.  Their smiles beam as they speak of the dogs that have touched their hearts. 

I learned of Satch, a wolfhound mix, who is up for adoption.  He sounds smart.  Wicked smart.  He not only knows how to open gate latches, but he plays soccer and will pass the soccer ball.  If he doesn’t pass the soccer ball right back to you, he goes and gets it to do it right.  This sounds fabulous!  His soccer skills will definitely out-shine his escape artist talent and find him a good home.

From poop pick-up, interior re-design, kicking or throwing the ball around, socializing the dogs, to building a “freedom fence” to supply the dogs with a spacious outdoor play area, my Dad and Lois along with the other volunteers at the North Beach PAWS need to be recognized and HONORED.  PAWS educates the community, promotes spaying and neutering of cats and dogs, seeks justice for animals who have been abused and provides a welcoming shelter for cats and dogs needing homes.  The list goes on. 

Freedom Fence Complete!

Puppies Waiting to Play!

Thank you for making these animals lives that much better.  Thank you for loving them and giving them the respect a living creature on our earth deserves.  I feel the pride radiate through your stories and know that the North Beach PAWS have some very special people supporting them.  I cannot volunteer alongside, but definitely hope to take a personal tour alongside 2 awesome volunteers and plan on being a supportive donator through monetary donations and/or providing items based off of their wishlist.  Anyone interested in helping the North Beach PAWS can do so off of their website.

My life has been greatly impacted by women.  When I reflect on the people who have helped me to become the person I am today and who continue to impact me, the large majority are women.  The two women who are participating in our experiment here at inhonorof deserve so much respect for everything they do for the people around them.  They are amazing ladies who firmly believe the world can be a better place and don’t even realize that it already is because of their efforts.

In my usual way, I started to doing some research on who is currently trying to honor women already and found some great resources.  The site that captured my interest the most is www.honoringwomenworldwide.org.  I was very moved by their definition of honor, “Honoring exudes showing profound respect, deep care, and high regard.”  What a wonderful place to be where more people respect, care and show high regard.

I don’t have a formal challenge for our readers, but I think it would be great if you could focus your random acts of kindness for the next few weeks with thoughts towards honoring everyone, but especially the women in your life that are sometime overlooked or taken for granted.  I know that I will.

OK – if you’re anything like me, sometimes you just need that perfect song to get you ready for a new day… or just the right sound to get your house cleaned… or something to get the blood flowing when you feel the need or urge for a good dance party, wherever you are.

In comes Wallace Brown – the man who introduced me to the music of 90’s rock band (sounding and looking like they’re from the 80’s), THE DARKNESS. THANK YOU WALLACE!

Not only can I rock out to these songs (and believe me I do! – “I believe in a Thing called Love” is actually my morning alarm clock), but I recently looked up some of their videos on youtube… and let me tell you – PURE ENJOYMENT.

So here are my top five favorite songs from THE DARKNESS (so far at least!)… check them out and let me know what you think!

#1:
Knockers

#2:
Girlfriend

#3:
I Believe In a Thing Called Love

#4:
Love On the Rocks With No Ice

#5:
Hazel Eyes

Sincere compliments can do amazing things for people.  For me, one single compliment is bringing me back to my spin class after a long vacation from it. 

Since riding the STP, I have slacked in going back to the spin class at the gym.  I’ve been going to the gym, just not to spin class since my training is complete.  Well, I finally went to the class this week and let me tell you, I was SUCKIN’ air, big time.  It hurt.  My legs were like cement, my form felt weak, I felt slouched over with a wussy core and it was just plain hard.  I was done with the class mentally, way before time was up.  I was just constantly hacking myself  in my mind, annoyed that I had lost my biking endurance and form and just felt lame.  It was a boxing match in my head and Negative Nancy had won. 

And magically, here is where the compliment came…after class the instructor and I crossed paths and he took the moment to stop me and my badgering little buddy in me head, to tell me….”You have Great Form.” 

What?  Great form?  Really….Ok…..Cool.  Oh ya, that’s right.  I’ll be back next week.

Ofcourse, like for everything else in life, there is the argument against the positive.  In this case, it is said that compliments can be detrimental, unhelpful, unconstructive especially if they are quick to be said and usually about appearance and not something else with more substance regarding the person.  It is argued that there is an effective way to compliment.  Some people simply don’t care for them. 

I understand it all, but sometimes it pays off to just be “dumb and happy”, skip the annalytical pieces of a compliment and surf the happy wave.   I side more with ”The Compliment Guys”.  They are 2 guys who attend Purdue University who decided to actively give out compliments on campus, just trying to spread some cheer.  They just finished with a 10-city Brightside Tour supported by Kodak aimed completely at giving compliments!  I love it!  

“I can live for two months on a good compliment.”  Mark Twain

**** Check out the COMMENTS to see how this progresses ****

Goal: To perform a minimum of one RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS each day for 10 days and share them with In Honor Of Readers.  And HOPEFULLY to be entertained and inspired by reading about your OWN random acts of kindness -

post some comments on your OWN random acts of kindness for ten days… it’s FUN! 

Submit a comment or email me at Jenny@inhonorof.com!

Progress: Complete!

Last week I found the most amazing plant for my new office.  Walking through Home Depot (where I got quite a steal of a deal!) I came across a beautiful Yucca Plant.  Or maybe it’s a yucca tree?  Maybe a bush?  ANYWAY… as you can tell, I’m not much of a greenthumb, but I knew that THIS plant was going to turn my normal office… into a KICK ASS office. 

What I did NOT fully comprehend was the fact that this little addition may be a bit hard to maneuver alone.  So there I was… my newly purchased prize, standing outside my Honda Accord in my dress and high heels, and a 5-foot-tall plant which felt like it weighed more than me (which I assure you is unfortunately not possible, no matter how many water aerobic classes I’ve attended with my friend [and dedicated workout partner] Colbie).

On my third attempt to lift the monstrosity through my car window (the enormous palm-like frands had also been unaccounted for in my plan for getting it to the office), a stranger parking across the lot from me transformed into my very own hero.  With a smile and a laugh, he asked if it was my first time at Home Depot.  When I assured him it was not (slightly afronted… I mean, HEY!  This was at least my 5th or 6th time in my nearly 30 years of life) and began to attempt a fourth effort, he asked if he could help.  And right then and there… I fell in love.  Not with this friendly stranger (don’t worry, John!), but with the whole concept of random acts of kindness. 

I’m telling you… being the recipent of a recent random act of kindness is the most wonderful sensation.  This single experience not only changed the outome of my day, but it reinforced my faith in mankind.  I know… I know… you probably think I’m exaggerating… but I truly feel it.  And if I can feel so inspired, I know that by performing my own random acts of kindness I can revive that faith for others.

So here’s my plan, and my challenge to those of you dear readers, who choose to tackle this as well.  For TEN DAYS I want to post about a random act of kindess I’ve performed that day. (well a pre-planned, random act of kindness, I guess).  Each day, I’m going to submit a comment to this post and let you know what it was that I did.  And I would LOVE to read about the good deeds you’re out there performing.  Remember, big or small – it’s an inspiration to all of us readers. 

I can’t wait to fill you in tomorrow on DAY ONE and I can’t wait to hear what is happening in your own world!

Love,

Jenny

And does anyone know how often to  water a yucca plant/tree/bush?

I know I could write this as a comment to Jenny Johnson’s Disneyland’s Eco-Efforts post, however, I could not stand the chance that my comment would be missed by others.  Therefore, I decided to dedicate my newest honor post to Jenny as she has changed my life for the better! 

Thank you Jenny for challenging me to stop using paper and plastic grocery bags as I have not only completed the challenge of using re-usable totes for 21-days, but have continued it forward as it has now become second nature to bring my own bags.  Granted, frustrating times at the grocery checkout lines have come where I realized I did not pack my bags and instead re-loaded all the bought groceries into the giant cart to only unload them individually into the car and unload them again individually in my house.  But the thing is, even though I was annoyed, I still did not waste another bag by taking it home from the grocer!  I’ve tried this re-usable tote thing in the past and never followed through with it.  Now, I cannot imagine going back to paper or plastic!  Thank you again, Jenny!

Faboosh (for Fabulous).  Crackalackin’ (as said by Marty the Zebra in the movie Madagascar).  Fo shizzle (Snoop Dog).  Redunkulous (for Rediculous). I love them all.   

I am one who likes to make up words when I am in convo with someone (I totally thought I made up convo, but then found it online).  Usually it is when I am talking with my husband, in a normal conversation and I am spitting out words and wind up making up a word (Not always on purpose.   It is just what comes out sometimes, when I am on a roll and my words keep flowing, but my mouth speaks faster than my brain is thinking for a brief moment) and my husband always stops me and raises an eyebrow to the word I just used.  My simple and logical response to him is,  “Use your intelligence”.  He should be able to figure out my word, my point, and what I mean because I totally know what I am trying to say and in my head at the moment it makes absolute sense and is an absolute perfect word to be used.  So….In Honor Of people who like to make up words, I want to give some credit where credit is due.  Made Up words don’t always make sense, but they make me smile!

Thoughts?  And other favorites?

I love this blog and I think about it all of the time!  What we are hoping to accomplish is really exciting and I plan to see it through until the end.  What that is ultimately we will just have to wait and see!

Lately, I have been thinking about the word Honor and what it means to me.  Thomas Jefferson said, “Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong”.  Ofcourse societies and personal perceptions of wrong and right change over time so the honorable action today has changed from the honorable actions of two hundred years ago.  At the same time, I know without a doubt I would like to do what is right whenever I can.

Thinking about how to be honorable in my own life is a challenge.  We have so many responsibilities that pull us in different directions.  Frankly, it can be hard at times.  I really appreciate what Walter Lippmann said “He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.”  I have confirmed for myself that I want to live an honorable life and Lippmann’s words seem to point in the direction that can sometimes lead.  I must be prepared to make inconvenient, unprofitable, even dangerous choices.  I am prepared to do so!

Finally the words of Lao Tzu helped me to realize one of the critical necessities to finding personal honor, “fail to honor people; they fail to honor you…”.  I see so much in our world the makes me believe the honor is alive and in my next posts I will point to them.  I would also enjoy hearing anyone’s feelings about personal honor and honoring others.

On her 10th Wedding Anniversary our friend wanted to Honor her husband, Judson.  So, without further ado….

My husband & I are celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary on July 18th.  When I take a step back from the buzz of every day life, I realize just how lucky I am to have him for a husband.

 Judson is a super hero… seriously.  He may not have any super human powers, but in every other way he qualifies.  Not only does he risk his life in his job as a firefighter working long shifts, but on his “off” days he single-handedly takes care of our two beautiful girls (ages 2 1/2 yrs & 7 months).  And somewhere in between his two jobs he finds time to do all the cooking, cleaning, all the yard work including the fruit/vegetable garden, build a shed & chicken coop, ski, tile the bathroom, remodel Isabel’s bedroom, pay the bills, fix anything & everything that needs to be fixed, brew delicious beer, be a sounding board for all my woes, bikes, be an award winning Political Action Chair for IAFF Local 452, sing/dance unabashedly to The Wiggles with our girls, the list goes on & on & on…  Not to mention that he is amazing at Scrabble, has a crazy memory for even the smallest of details, is a fantastic story teller, can answer most questions on Jeopardy, and knows just enough about a lot of stuff.  He is also a very caring person
and will go out of his way to help people whenever he can. 
Yup, total super hero material.
 
Judson, it seems like yesterday that we were on the beach in Maui and said “I do” to the hippie preacher man. 
The love I feel for you has only grown deeper over the last 10 years. 
Not only are you my best friend, but you are the love of my life. 
Happy anniversary, babe.  I love you!

This last weekend Todd and I, plus 2 friends of ours participated in the 30th Annual Seattle to Portland Bike Ride along side 9,996 other riders.  So, In Honor Of the 10,000 bicyclists out on the road for the STP, I want to give a Whoot Whoot!  A Yee Haw!  A Hell Ya!… for pedaling those pedals for the 202 miles in 2 days and some doing it in just 1 day. 

It was an awesome experience to see riders of all ages (age 5 or possibly younger to 85 or higher), of all body types, on all different types of bikes (unicycles, mountain bikes, road bikes, tandem bikes) all voluntarily signing up for good HEALTH!  The energy is positive as this article in the Seattle Times presents so well, the STP Support Team from beginning to end is faboosh (my new favorite word for fabulous, thank you Perez), and the best part of all for my experience was doing it with my husband, Todd, and friends, Judson and John.  They kept me laughing, pedaling and attempting to sing along to Judson’s 1-man mobile karaoke band.  I not only want to do it again, I am excited to do it again.  Any volunteers for babysitting next year during the training? 

And I MUST say thank you to all of our babysitters, Jenny, Ashley and Nana Jill, who came to watch our babes while we trained and rode our booties off, thank you to my kids for supporting their parents in having a fun adventure together, thank you to the STP staff for all the cliff bars, water and porta-potties a girl could want, and thank you to my Facebook entourage who followed me on my journey through my statuses and kept cheering me on through their comments!  I highly recommend the STP to all, but just don’t take my spot!

Even though there are millions of tributes to Michael Jackson, I still felt like posting my part.  He was awesome.  I loved him as a kid and he made an impact in my love for music.  Here is one special memory I will carry for Michael, my sister, my dad, and Twin Spits, WA.

1982, THRILLER was released and not just on MTV, but on the regular network.  That means I was 7 years old.  I have this great memory of the debut of the music video.  My sister is 3 years older than I, so back in 1982 that means she would have been 10 years old.  So here is this 7 and 10 year old, hanging with their Dad at these rustic cabins at Twin Spits, WA (our vacation retreat we’d go with him) and the grand debut of Thriller is going to played late that night.  I swear it was a midnight release cause it seemed like I stayed up so late, but it very well could have been only 9pm.  Regardless, it was cool.  I was staying up late with my sister who I idoled.  And I knew it was very important as she was really excited to see this video thing.  So, here we are, Dad asleep in the next room, my sister and I snuggled up close together, late at night, watching a small, grainy, rabbit eared (possibly black and white) non-cable TV, all to see the magic of THRILLER.  It was amazing.

Here is one more tribute to Michael Jackson, performed by Filipino prisoners.  Yes, prisoners.  A choreographer was hired and dancing was encouraged in their exercise program.  In 2007, they danced to Thriller and on June 27th, 2009 they did a longer tribute to Michael Jackson .  Both videos are posted on YouTube.  I love it as it reminds me we are all people, some living in harder circumstances, but often with the same love for music.

Any great MJ thoughts or memories for you?

Well the ladies (Jessy and Jenny) say that we need a bit more testosterone on the site.  I aim to please!  Now, I know that many of you ladies out there have discovered video games and I am happy for it.  This honor, however, is for the games of old, the lowly quarter eating machine.  The coin operated video arcade games of yesteryear.  The dark dungeons and sticky corner marts that us men of a certain age hunted down with glee (we wished you ladies were there, but we never saw you).  Everyone knows Donkey Kong, Galaga and Ms. Pac-man, but oh there were so many more.

Our parents were sure that no value would come of those quarters plugged into space.  Little did they know us computer kids would inherit the earth.  Our hand eye coordination was beyond belief and we could react in moments to the spinning of a barrel or the quick turns of a chasing ghost.  Our endless pursuit of one more quarter and another high score led us to set goals high and achieve them at all cost.  If you want to watch a great example of someone striving for their goal; check out The King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters.

So here is to the lowly video game still under attack.  I gave you my quarters, you inspired me towards so much and now I honor you for your greatness.  I would love to hear your arcade story, just make sure that it has a quarter or a Chucky Cheese token involved!!!

I came upon this link to a youtube video that brought chills to my bones.  Good chills, very good chills.  After watching the video I had to learn more and started google searching like mad.  And so, in honor of Gregg Breinberg and his talent of teaching music, I want more people to see this chorus of his sing.  Granted, 100’s of thousands have already seen a video or two of this group, but this is one to be shared constantly. 

As the public school system in this country continues to have budget cuts and art programs are erased, I hope a video like this will inspire us all to say and give “our 2 cents worth” to keep these programs alive.  Just watch this teacher and the children.  They are glowing, learning, doing something different and from the looks of it… LOVING it!

In this video Staten Island’s PS22 Chorus sings Lady GaGa’s Just Dance.  You will not regret the few minutes of downtime.  There are other videos of the PS22 Chorus singing  Stevie Nicks’ Landslide, Tori Amos’ Flavor, etc., etc.  The list of their vocal accomplishments goes on. Also worth checking is their blog which shows the incredible work, adventures and opportunities these children are having! 

Thank you Gregg!  These children are amazing.  You however are incredible.

A neighbor friend was inspired to do an Honoree Page for her husband, Mike, and we gladly posted it for her.  And so, without further ado….

Happy Birthday to the best husband and father we could ever ask for!!!

Interview with Jillian “JiJi” (age 4) and Ellie (age 7) 
First answers are from Jillian, second are from Ellie

                          1.  What is something Daddy always says to you? 
“Show us your muscles”  “I love you”

2.  What makes Daddy happy? 
“Seeing me”   “Being with the family”

3.  What makes Daddy sad? 
“When he has to leave for work before we get up”  “When I don’t pass”

4.  How does Daddy make you laugh? 
“Body slams”   “When he’s silly”

5.  What was your Daddy like as a child? 
“Playing outside all the time like he is now”   “Always trying to build his muscles”

6.  How old is your Daddy? 
“39″  “40″

7.  How tall is Daddy? 
“10 inches”  “The top of my height measurer”

8.  What is his favorite thing to do? 
“Take us to school”  “Take us to Dairy Queen”

9.  What does he do when you are not around? 
“Goes on bike rides”  “Takes Mommy out to lunch”

10.  If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for? 
“That he won’t have to work anymore!”  “For being the best Dad ever and the best doctor”

11.  What is your Daddy really good at? 
“Doing laps on his bike”  “I would say everything”
 

Mike Farber, on this your fortieth birthday, I wanted you to know how much you are treasured and loved.  Long before kids came along, you were always there for me and you always accepted me just as I was.  We were so young when we met and got married, I am amazed what a great choice I made and how right on I was about how amazing you were and would become.  You work so hard, and provide so much.  Not just material stuff, but heart, compassion, strength and perseverance.  I have never felt anything less than completely loved by you.  Thank you for such a precious gift, and for our crazy happy life.  

Happy Birthday!!!
Lots of love, Jeanne, Ellie and Jillian

Ok, I don’t have a personal cycling coach, however, this lady fit that role for me even though she probably doesn’t even know it.  I just found out that my cycle instructor at the gym is retiring and today was her last class.  The horror!  I know, I know…boo hoo, right?  But really, she is an amazing instructor and motiviated me to kick my own butt in class which in turn gave me the best workout every Monday morning. 

I’ve never been a bike person, more of a runner.  I don’t even have a road bike, just a super-duper awesome pink cruiser and a 16 yr. old mountain bike that makes it out of the shed maybe once a year.  But then I registered to ride in the STP, a 202-mile bike ride from Seattle to Portland, this July with my husband and suddenly I needed to become a bike person.  Last January, with no road bike at hand, I dedicated my Monday mornings to instructor, Erin.  And with a huge thank you to her, I enjoy cycle classes, I now know how to use my core during cycling and I constantly remind myself to drop my shoulders, relax the top,  and push, pull baby! Push, pull!

I think I have become a bike person!  Going out on the road on a real (borrowed) bike is so much more enjoyable due to her class and instruction.  Thank you Erin!  You are the best.  Congratulations on your retirement!

I love nature.  Just being outside re-energizes me and makes me feel more alive.  Living in the Northwest we are spoiled will beautiful mountains, oceans, deserts, meadows, rivers and more.  I know that I want my children to be able to experience the same wonders of nature I have. 
 
My strong feelings coupled with the hope they give, compels me to Honor The Columbia Land Trust.   
Not only do I give to this wonderful organization, they also inspire me and give back ten fold.  The employees and members who help to further their mission of conserving signature landscapes and vital habitat together with the landowners and communities of the Columbia River region are amazing.  Their desire to work together with the people who own and appreciate the land is commendable. 

One of my first memories, when I was just a babe, is of rain falling on my face.  I lived on the Oregon Coast so I imagine it rained a lot!  I loved that feeling and will always appreciate the life giving force of rain that falls from the sky.  Now living close to the Columbia River knowing that the rain accumulates in this great vein of energy is amazing.   If you have a passion for the outdoors I would love to read your stories, please share.  If you would like to help support the Columbia Land Trust, check out their site and give them a call, you won’t regret it.