Back from the coast

Our first ever vacation as parents was a lot of fun. We spent about a week on the Oregon coast. The weather was great, and Jack seemed to enjoy his new experiences quite a bit. Unfortunately, we all got sick towards the end of our trip. It figures. We were having too good a time, I guess.

Jack had a really fun time playing in the sand for the first time. He seemed to enjoy eating it, too. He didn't appreciate how cold the ocean was, though. That wasn't a fun surprise for him.

Jack had so much fun sitting in highchairs at restaurants while we were vacationing that we decided we'd better buy him a new highchair of his own. The antique one we bought him isn't quite as functional as it is interesting to look at.

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Business time

I just got back from a very successful meeting with a new client. It was actually a very enjoyable experience. Not that most of my meetings with clients and prospects aren't enjoyable, I just always feel a little tense before meeting anyone for the first time.

I always find meeting new people somewhat intimidating, especially when that meeting necessarily involves negotiating a price.

But I've found that it's much easier to make a good first impression if you just assume whomever you are meeting already likes you. If you act with confidence and have good posture, that can make all the difference. Say what you mean. Get to the point. Focus.

Parkin' on the lawn

Yesterday, after returning home from grocery shopping, I pulled my car onto the lawn, much to my wife's chagrin.

Be responsible: park your car on your lawn.

Brittany was terribly embarrassed. I told her what I was doing was both responsible and efficient. I was watering the grass and washing the car at the same time. She didn't care. She hid inside.

Jack wasn't too embarrassed to be seen with me.

This is what the City of Tacoma says about car washing:

Wash your car on your lawn or on gravel. Grass and gravel filter the dirt and soap out of the water and keep dirty runoff out of storm drains, which empty directly into streams, lakes and Commencement Bay. Don’t worry, the soap won’t hurt your lawn, but it will hurt the fish. 

Squandering Paradise

I've been a little frustrated with my writing this week. The problem is not writer's block--I've written a lot--I just haven't been very satisfied with most of it. Creative dissatisfaction is a more accurate term.

Yesterday, I decided to take a break from writing and work on something completely different, yet relevant to my novel. I started working on designs for the cover, and I'm pretty happy with what I created.

I used a picture that Brittany took on our last trip to Kauai. I think it works well. I'd love to get some feedback on this. Let me know how much you like it (or hate it).