The Year Was 1989!

How old did I feel when ordering take-out in a Chinese food restaurant and I look up to see this sign?



I was graduating high school in 1989! Babies born that year can now legally buy cigarettes! Are you kidding me?! Why do I still feel 18 but have balding hair that tells me I'm nearing 40?!

Man, growing up stinks some times!

A New Day Dawning

It's weird to reflect on the past 5+ years of my life and realize how much has changed since my son Evan was born. My wife had only just started trying to get a full time teaching job, and I was happily working at a quaint little software company in downtown Portland.

A few years later Heather was still looking for full time work, and taking every sub job she could get her hands on, and my company had been bought out, had relocated to Tigard (40 minutes away from my house), and had turned into a place I no longer wanted to be a part of.

A few more years later and Heather was frustrated yet still looking for full time work and I had moved on to another quaint little software company, only this time MUCH closer to home. And, oh yeah, we had Hollyn.

I reflect on all this only to say that our family life is about to take another big turn. In four short weeks Heather starts her first full time teaching contract, Evan goes off to school for the first time, Hollyn goes off to daycare for the first time, and I make a concerted effort to get my script writing back on track!

Heather will be teaching Kindergarten at a private, Christian school, and while it may not be the ideal job for her, it is one she's extremely excited about and giving 110% effort into making sure it's a smashing success! Parents all over the U.S. can only dream that their child's teachers are as motivated and passionate as my wife.

Evan will more than likely be attending the same school, although not in Heather's class, to ensure he doesn't get pummeled every day for having a teacher who's his "Mommy." He's been looking forward to school for a long time, and we think it will be great for him to be around so many new kids that are his age. I'm sure he will learn sooooo much, even though he's already a very bright boy! I just hope the teacher can contain his "enthusiasm" and harness his energy.

Hollyn will be the biggest adjustment though. Not so much for her, but for me. I know she will be fine. She always is. But her poor Daddy is going to break in half the first day we have to leave her at daycare. We've already toured I think eight facilities and I just haven't found one that is the perfect blend of facility, programs, personality, and cost. I really wish we could take her back to the KinderCare that Evan went to, but it is just too expensive since she isn't potty trained and 2 1/2 yet. Maybe after that point we make a change, but until then it's one of these other places. She's only ever been at home with Heather, and she's my little, sweet, delicate, baby, Princess girl!! How I will not sit outside that daycare facility with binoculars and a thumping stick for anybody that messes with her will be beyond me!

But life will go on. As it has for many, many parents. And next thing you know I'll be attending her graduation, then walking her down the aisle to whatever knucklehead can persist through the craziness I throw his way! ("Hey, son, have I shown you the video from Hollyn's first poopy diaper!?")

And I really am looking forward to getting back on track with my script writing too. A friend asked to read my stuff a few weeks back and I sent him both scripts. He liked "Inside" even though the rewrite is only 60% done, and he loved "Like Brothers." Said it reminded him of Clive Cussler, so I felt good about that and am encouraged to get a few more scripts under my belt to keep my skills moving forward. I'd love to be sitting here next year at this time with a really well polished script in my arsenal that I could enter in some of the summer script contests. We'll see if that happens.

Here's wishing you and yours a good mid-year and happy second half of 2007!

My Trainer's Bigger Than Your Trainer

Congratulations to one of the trainers that Heather and I meet with every once in a while who just won an amateur Mr. Oregon title and will be competing for a chance to turn pro in the next few months. I'd say by the looks of things he knows a thing or two about lifting weights and nutrition. And he's as nice a guy as you'll ever hope to meet.

Early summer fun

Who doesn't love a picnic at the park?! We took the kids and a pizza down to Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver for a little fun in the sun.




Vancouver's Hilton hotel is sponsoring a free summer movie series played outdoors at dusk in a couple locations downtown. The premiere event was a showing of "Happy Feet" on July 3rd. It was a BLAST! The kids stayed up 'til 11:00pm and loved every minute of it.




With no formal plan for the 4th ever coming up, we packed the kids up and decided to head down the Columbia River Gorge. It is so beautiful this time of the year. We got off the main highway after a while and took the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, stopping at one of the falls near Multnomah Falls. We spent some time "exploring" a running creek and having a wonderful picnic lunch.












We were just about to leave this spot by a railroad track when we suddenly heard a faint train whistle. Seconds later this train came roaring by. We waved to the conductor, who waved back...and boy was that train loud.



Back home on the afternoon of the 4th, Evan spent some time cooling off in his little pool. He found one of the millions of little, green tree frogs in our area and put it on his shoulder.

By nightfall the kids were roaring for some explosions! They weren't disappointed. A few families in our neighborhood go all out on the 4th, and this year was no exception. There were fireworks of all sizes for hours. Kids and parents alike had a blast.