A weekend at home

The past two weekends, Nora and I have been able to spend some good time at home, watching movies and playing with Levi. We have Levi on a very strict sleeping schedule thanks to a book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" which should be called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Parents". The phrase "Sleep Nazi" is become popular around our house as we guard nap times and map sleep patterns. We have to adjust our schedule around these important milestones, so that usually means sticking close to home or making quick errands.

So we caught up on a couple movies we have been wanting to see. If you get a chance, check out "Idiocracy" by Mike Judge. It is a comedy about a future where the least intelligent have taken over the future because our great thinkers didn't procreate and spent their collective energies on solving erectile dysfunction and hair loss instead of the major world problems. It's just close enough to reality to make you cringe.

Similarly, but in a more serious tone, we watched "Children of Men" a Sci-fi thriller about 2027 when mysteriously, women can no longer have children. The world collapses into depression and chaos when they lose that hope for the future. England becomes the last safe haven for order so refugees are flocking to its coasts. There is a shot of the lead character leaving London and graffiti on the wall reads ,"Last one to die, please turn off the lights" which kind of characterizes the movie. Miraculously, a refugee girls becomes pregnant after the country has gone 18 years of having no children. The story involves trying to get this woman out of England because she also happens to be a refugee.

January Post

Hey readers,

sorry, things have been really busy in January so the blog has taken a hit in terms of updates. I have a couple big projects do in the beginning of February, just in time for my birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

Gerald Ford passing

There has been almost constant coverage on the life and death of Gerald Ford, GR's native son. I watched a well done documentary on Public Television that talked about Ford's upbringing. Apparently, he had a rather large temper, so his mother would make him recite this poem, IF by Kipling, as a way to calm down and control his anger - a more sophisticated way of counting to 10. This was a new poem to me, but I really love it, so enjoy...

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

morning walk

Levi and I took a nice morning walk around the neighborhood. With all his winter clothes, he barely fit inside his backpack. It may be time to start looking for a stroller that can double as a bike trailer; I can't imagine having to lug him around this way for much longer.

First we visited the construction site to take a few pictures. Things are really moving along on the garages and the first unit. The first unit is taking a little longer because they have to work out some of the kinks that always happen between what is drawn on paper and what can actually get built. I saw our architect and builder on the site earlier this week inspecting the discrepancies. I think the other units will really fly once the builder figures out the details.


Second we walked through the various parks. Lookout Park was beautiful this morning; the sun was out and there was a haze across the city. It really made me want to hike down to the river and take the trail, but the thought of hiking back up with Levi wasn't do'in it for me. There were a lot of squirrels out, probably thinking spring is right around the corner. It has been such a mild December that I think the next three months of winter will be much more tolerable. We went from Lookout Park back over to Coit Park and took the small path that runs through the park. There were a lot of people sitting on benches and just enjoying the sun. Then it was home again.

for unto us....

Levi's first Christmas and a long weekend of family and friends.

green vs grey

My neighbor/friend Andy I went out for beers last night down at Founders. For most of it we were joined by a friend who is an economic development guru in GR. It was really great to hang out in the neighborhood joint and talk neighborhood stuff! Basically, Spectrum Health is pissing a lot of people off because of their blatant disregard for all things pedestrian. St Mary's just announced their plans to have a "green" health campus - removing parking lots, adding back in greenspace, LEED certified buildings, etc. As our friend stated about halfway through the pitcher last night, "It's green vs. grey". When you look at the monoliths that Spectrum is creating with a major 5 lane road and freeway running through it, you have to wonder where they are getting their ideas from. You would think by this time in America's design history, that the context of a building would matter. Instead, they continue to build inaccessible buildings with no street-life - it doesn't exactly inspire one to think about health and well-being. So good job St. Mary's, keep it up, in the end it will come around and you will be grateful for making a stand now.

Also, a lot of credit goes to Peter Wege who set some standards as to what he would give money to in terms of environmental design. Yet another novel idea, a philanthropists values are reflected in the architecture. You can look at any major building project and see what the major donors care about. So what do the Spectrum donors value if you look at the design? People and Health don't exactly come to mind.

Well, Christmas is almost here. I have a half day tomorrow and then a couple days to enjoy family and friends. We are heading up to Nora's Dad's place tomorrow, my family on Saturday and then the rest of Nora's family on Monday - BUSY! This is one of my favorite times of year if I can keep my sanity and stamina going. I find myself needing to retreat a little each day to recharge the social battery. This will also be the week to reflect back on the great year of 2006.

joel's wedding

I'm out in Washington for a couple days attending an old highschool and college friend's wedding. The wedding was last night here in Lynden, WA with a great service at 3rd church and a reception following at a school. Sitting there in 3rd was really surreal. I leaned over to mom about half way through the service and said, "I think this what heaven is going to be like, a lot of people you sort of recognize and are glad to see, but you're not really sure who they are or why." I had a great time seeing old friends, most of whom I haven't seen in 12-15 years, sort of a mini high-school reunion. Anyway, I'll post more when I have a bit more time.

inspirational change agents

Here is my new favorite website.

TED: Technology, Entertainment, Design

Great site to be inspired and challenged to make the world a better place. I may start doing some linking and reflecting via this blog on some of the different lectures. You can also subscribe to the video podcast through iTunes.

foundational

The foundations for Newberry Place should start going in this week. We are using a Superior Wall System, so the side walls and ceiling go in first, with the basement slab getting poured last. The Shea House is the first to start, with Nora and my building pulling up the rear. First move-ins should be in mid-summer with our own tentative move-in of October. This is great because it gives us a little more time to figure out what we are going to do with our house. Exciting stuff!

christmas party

Last night Nora and I went to the Lighthouse Communities Christmas party. As some of you know, about 5 years ago I started working for City Vision, a sister organization of Lighthouse. Lighthouse has been really generous both to City Vision and to me personally over the past few years. When City Vision went "virtual" last year, Lighthouse allowed me to keep a desk in the corner for my computer and some files. This has really been great for me because I value the comrodery and friendship of all of the Lighthouse staff.

At the party, all the staff was encouraged to bring dishes from their heritage or tradition. We ate like kings and queens and were able to partake in foods from Egypt, Dutch/Indonesia, Urban America, Venezuala and Mexico (we also sampled tequila from Mexico). What an amazing feast. Lighthouse has done such a fantastic job of living out its values of acceptance and innovation be hiring such a qualified and diverse staff. And I know this has made everyone's lives richer.

During the meal, Dave and Donna got a call from their son, Don, who is currently stationed in Iraq. You can read more about Dave's experience at his blog (linked on the right). Two soldiers of Don's unit were shot yesterday. Dave and Donna were obviously shaken up by this event last night, but they also have to live with uncertainty and worry every day that Don is over there. A report I read last week says that we have now been in Iraq longer than our entire engagement in WWII. As Dave and Donna shared the news I became both saddened and furious, not that we are still in Iraq, but that some of us are being asked to carry this burden of war while others are not made to sacrifice. My friend Earl and I were talking on the street the other day in the Madison neighborhood (80%+ black) and we see military recruiters combing the streets. I work at the Community College and daily see recruiters positioned in the hallways. Are these same recruiters setting up shop at our private colleges? Have our taxes gone up to support this war effort? Have I ever been asked by my government to do anything in support of this war other than to buy more stuff to keep the economy on track?

groundbreaking photos

giving thanks

I woke up this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, thinking, "you know, I probably don't need to eat anything today..." Moderation has never been one of my attributes. I find something that I like and then go way overboard - usually trying to get everyone around me to do the same so that I don't look so crazy. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

Settlers of Catan - found the game, played it about 10 times the first night, proceeded to call all my friends and tell them how great it was, had a friend who I hadn't seen in 2 years come over and play Catan at 1am, bought every expansion and upgrade

HALO - Jon bought and xbox and told me how great the game Halo was. I played it and immediately struck a deal with Nora that if I lost 10 lbs I could get one. Did so. We had about 1 year where we played Halo non-stop - again mostly at 1am.

Podcasts - I got and Ipod a couple years ago so that I would have a running partner. I immediately got into podcasting - again wrangling multiple friends into the obsession. For a couple months people accused me of have earbuds surgically implanted in my ears.

(Unfortunately, my brother and Marty tend to get the brunt of my persuasive techniques)

Anyway, this endearing quality usually more prominently presents itself during the Holidays for a variety of reasons. First, the Holidays are about extravagance and excess. Too much food, too much drink, too many presents. Second, there are people around that typically will indulge some of the obsession. Third, there is time off from work that needs to be filled with some new activity. It would be wasteful or sloth to leave that time unused, idle hands and all....

So on Thanksgiving, I ate to much, played too many games, drank too much, watched too much T.V., spent too much time with my son, and enjoyed my family way too much... wait.... that sounds pretty good. That sounds like the kind of obsession I want to drive into the ground. I think I'm getting hungry...

loan

Today we signed our loan to begin construction on Newberry Place. UNBELIEVABLE! Foundations should start to go in the next couple weeks.

apple cider

As a quick break from cohousing madness, we visited Robinettes to get some apple cider and take a hay ride. We had all the cohousers over to our place to sign purchase agreements, the mood was festive and full of stress. Thankfully, we have the needed paperwork so that we can get to the bank on Monday and try to close on the loan. I'll post as soon as we know more.

excavate

I went out this raining, fall morning to check out the cohousing site progress. The bulldozers and backhoes are out and starting the work of getting the site prepped for foundations. Most of the trees and brush have come down. There were multiple homes on this site back in the 70's, so there will also be a lot of foundations to dig out.

Here's a photo looking north up the infamous Dexter alley. Apparently the court hearing for the alley vacation was yesterday. We haven't heard anything from our lawyer as to how that particular hearing went. In order to vacate the alley we had to have all the neighbors within 300ft of the project be listed as defendants. They represent the public that we are claiming the alley from. Nothing says "get to know your new neighbors" like listing them in a lawsuit. If it went well, then we are ready to keep rolling on the project, and these powerlines should be the next to go. This next week is full of big decisions and critical junctures for the cohousing group, culminating in the loan signing at the bank.

pics from wa

Levi learning to sit up...on a tiger

Levi does his joker impression

Bedtime for Francis.... I mean Lauryn





















Sunday morning breakfast before the Seahawks game


























Nate came to visit for a couple days




























Yoko Ono has my baby!!!

aia event

Tonight, Marty and I presented at an event for the Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) on the topic of cohousing. There were several moments throughout the evening where I just couldn't believe we were presenting on this; taking people through 4 years of development. In my opening comments I talked about how Marty and I were in the back of a little Dodge Omni car (with Bwindi) on our way to a camping trip. I barely knew Marty at the time, but we started talking about our homes, neighborhoods and hopes for ccommunity. I was having similar conversations with Phil and Lavonne. Out of these conversations the cohousing project was born.

It was really rewarding to present with Marty tonight, so close to having this project off the ground and in the ground. After the presentation our Architect came up to us and said, "it's really amazing what you guys have done." What a huge compliment, and one that extends to so many people in our group. I often get credit for a lot of other people's hard work. I always try to pass on the compliments, but that's the great thing about the cohousing project is that people have come into leadership at the right times. I wish every compliment I receive was heard by everyone.

east meets west

Nora, Levi and I just flew out to Washington State for a long weekend. I have a couple days of work that we piggybacked on with some vacation time. Here is a picture of the cousins playing for the first time. Lauryn was adopted from China a little over 2 months ago. She is a bit farther along in her mobility and understanding, but they weigh about the same (that is a reflection on Levi's near obesity, not Lauryn's slenderness). She didn't quite know what to make of her Uncle's beard. Both of them are battling colds.

Serendipitously, Nora's brother Nathan is down from Alaska for a training in Seattle. So he is coming up on the weekend, also to meet Levi for the first time. More pics and stories to come.

rapid growth story

We just got a really nice story about Newberry Placed published in the online journal "Rapid Growth" www.rapidgrowthmedia.com There were only minor glitches and I think the journalist did a great job of capturing the project and not making us sound like total wackos (or Waco's).

The article focused a bit too much on me, personally, but this has always been the case in talking with media. They need the human story, and there isn't time to tell 16 human stories.

bids are high

We have the bids in for the cohousing project, and things are a bit high. It's really tough to figure out why or how it translates to individual mortgages. I'm starting to figure out why standard developers just build the same unit over and over - no surprises. I'm sure we can get it figured out and still keep on schedule, but it takes the wind out of every ones' sails. People get really excited that they might be able to add that one thing if the bids are on, but now they have to think about getting rid of something instead. "Who wants to ride the roller coaster? Step right up!"