Growing up

I once read in an article about blogging that posting excuses or even an acknowledgement of a long gap between posts is a terrible idea--an amateurish. This blog is far too professional for that sort of content. Let me just say that I have been in serious need of motivation. I haven't even felt fully awake in months.

Jack got a sled for Christmas!

Today was a nice day. The sun felt pretty incredible on my ghostly white skin. I'm not at all sad that winter is over--I spent most of my days this past winter stuck inside the freezing cold showroom at Nissan of Fife (the thermostat was locked at 62 degrees, and near the windows, of which there are many, I doubt the temperature regularly got above 60, and I was stuck wearing a suit every day). It has been nice spending time outside again. My backyard is once again my favorite place to be.

Shredding

Jack is growing up fast. He is becoming his own unique person. He makes me laugh all the time.

15 months old

The picture above is my current favorite picture of Jack. It was taken at our friends' cabin near Lake Wenatchee about a week ago. We had a nice time. Except for Jack and Brittany both getting sick. Illness aside, it was a relaxing weekend.

Wait ... it's December already?

New job!

Hey everyone! I recently became a Professional Transportation Consultant and now work for Larson Nissan of Fife.

I can now assist you or anyone you know in finding the perfect new or used vehicle! Tell your friends.

Puppets can be terrifying

Jack came home with his first tattoo the other day. 8 months old, and he's already running with a bad crowd.

Baby's first tattoo

At least he has good taste in beer. Brittany and I took him to the Fall Free For All today to try to reintroduce him to some more wholesome activities. We ended up getting attacked by a horde or creatures with a penchant for cleanliness.

Giant puppets can be terrifying

How frightening is this guy?

Jack is a brave little boy

Jack wasn't the slightest bit intimidated by the creatures, which were actually just Giant Puppets! They were roaming the streets of downtown Tacoma as part of the first ever Fall Free For All arts and music festival. Jack actually seemed to find them pretty amusing.

Check out the article I wrote about this exciting spectacle: Strange creatures and clean up downtown Tacoma.

Free For All

Brittany and I are pretty excited about the upcoming Fall Free For All community arts festival. It's happening this weekend, and it's completely free. We just have to decide which event(s) Jack will like most. Check out this article I wrote about it.

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.