Nickelsville

Some of you who don't live in the Seattle area have wondered what this "Nickelsville" is that I've spoken about. Missi and I have been developing relationships with some of our friends who live in a tent city in the U District of Seattle affectionately called "Nickelsville" after Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. There are some incredible people who live there, and I find myself trying to find more and more opportunities to go over there to see my friends. Here are a few photos (I can't take credit for these photos - someone else posted them on Facebook).




It has been tough for the Nickelodeons with the burn ban in place because of poor air quality. The burn barrel is often the only source of heat for the residents.



This is my friend Richard. He looks quite different in this picture because he is almost always wearing a hat and sunglasses. The first time I went to Nickelsville, Richard was asking me to sue Mayor Nickels and President Bush on terrorism and racketeering charges!! He's a great guy and full of personality.


This is my good friend Gus. Gus had been a resident of Nickelsville since the beginning, but I recently had to help Gus move to a new location because he was barred from Nickelsville because of some petty disagreement. Nickelsville has a team of 3 arbitrators, and if they vote to bar you then you have to leave the camp. 2 of the 3 arbitrators held some type of grudge against Gus so he had to leave. Gus now has a job at UPS and is hoping to find permanent housing in the next month or so.

A Great Christmas Gift!

My sister Jessica's family gave all of us these great gifts for Christmas - pine boards that had been "personalized" for each of us. The kids also received a painting set to decorate their boards. Here are a few pictures of the painting process and the finished products!







This was taken the morning after the painting, and you can tell that Sam had just climbed out of bed!

Pretty hilarious studio portraits

I can't really take credit for these photos, as they were linked to by Uniwatch), but they are pretty hilarious nonetheless. These are actual photos from Olan Mills, Sears, and other portrait studios.

Checking in with long, very random post...

How is it that 10 days have already passed since I last updated the blog? Did Father Time somehow decide to crank up the dials in 2009 to make time move that much faster this year?

Anyway, here is a big 'ol batch of randomness that I've been thinking about:

- Like many, many others, I am now totally on board with Facebook. It's crazy to "connect" with so many people that I (a) live far away from, and (b) haven't seen for a really long time.

- I like it how my daughter refers to marshmallows as "schmarshmallows." That's fun.

- Here are some other words I like: kitsch, verily, aplomb, assuage, exoskeleton, community, gnome

- I'm a huge fan of Apple products (I'm writing this post on my PowerBook), but it's starting to get a bit annoying to have so many products with an 'i' in front of them. When will see the iCar, iHouse, or iFood?

- I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I think The Office is the best show on TV. Missi and I also got wrapped up in Friday Night Lights by getting the DVDs from the library. It's also a pretty good show (although completely different from The Office). Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!

- If there is anything cuter than little girls in ballet class, I'm not sure what it is.

- I was attending a workshop the other day on how to write effectively and persuasively in the context of an appellate court (i.e., Court of Appeals or Supreme Court). In the written materials that were passed out, they included a bunch of "tips" about common errors. Get a load of this gem (talking about the difference between 'rear' and 'raise'): "Parents 'rear' children. Farmers 'raise' crops and livestock. Parents do not 'raise' children." The handout also made the distinction between a "ship" and a "boat." Apparently these things are important to judges.

- This past week I missed my first "big" school function because of a work commitment. Drew had his school holiday program at 2:30 on a Tuesday because it had to be re-scheduled after it was initially snowed out in ARTIC BLAST 2008. It just so happens that I had a client meeting starting at 1:30 on that same day, and it was about an hour away from our house. I was totally bummed that I had to miss the program (Drew had several speaking lines, to boot), but I fear that this may not be the last time this happens. I had Missi video the entire program for me.

- I am totally digging the band Blind Pilot right now. Like it's in constant rotation. I highly recommend it. Who can't love a band that went on a West Coast tour by BIKE? Thanks to Brianne for the recommendation. I'm hoping to see them in concert here in Seattle in a few weeks.

- How does a newspaper have a page like this on their website that contains such an egregious grammatical error ("The page your requested does not exist.")?

- The best book I read last year? The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. Other top books for me were Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazis and The Freedom of the Hills by The Mountaineers. I also just finished reading Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski and Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Both solid reads.

- I've been meaning to do a whole "Year in Review" post on this blog that would recap 2008, but I just don't think it's gonna happen. That being so, here are a few brief thoughts:
*Best Vacation: Mexico trip with Missi and the Foglios
*Best "guy" time: Either the guy's weekend before my graduation or the Mt. Adams climb. Both totally epic.
*Hardest Mental Challenge: the bar exam (man I'm glad that's over with!)
*Hardest Physical Challenge: Portland Marathon. That thing totally owned me but I managed to finish.
*Biggest Change: Moving from small-town Eugene to big-city Seattle and going from laid-back law student to big-firm associate.
*Least surprising event: A Democrat wins the White House.

- I've had a recurring theme keep popping up in my life lately, and it is that I/we need to be more intentional about reaching out to the marginalized members of society. As I mentioned above, I just finished reading Under the Overpass and Same Kind as Different as Me, both books that deal with the homeless epidemic and how many (most) in society do an absolutely terrible job of loving these people. Besides these books, I have become connected with Dustin Cross, a great guy who works with Nickelsville, a tent city here in Seattle. I have visited Nickelsville a number of times and have begun to develop relationships with the "Nickelodeons" who live there. It's been a great experience and I always leave Nickelsville feeling totally refreshed and fulfilled. The Nickelodeons give more to me than I give to them. One other "event" that ties in to this theme that I am describing is how I recently re-connected with an old friend from high school. She and her family recently sold their home and are now traveling all across the country in an RV named Big Buster and "loving on homeless people." You can follow their adventures on either her or her husband's blog.

- I recently was approached about using an excerpt of an article I wrote in a textbook. While normally I'd be totally excited about this, the textbook is for English as a Second Language. What!? How is a textbook on ESL going to use an article on electronic evidence and social networking websites. The whole thing is still very much in flux, but I'm very curious.

- I thought this article from the NY Times Magazine was interesting.

Th-th-th-that's all folks...

Check this out...

As some of you may know, Legos are a big deal in our house. Drew absolutely loves building Legos and he has even told us that he wants to be a "Lego Designer" when he grows up. Speaking of amazing creations made out of toy building blocks, check out the incredible work of Nathan Sawaya.

Urban Mountaineering

If you're into climbing (like me) and familiar with Portland (also like me), you may find this post pretty awesome. If you're neither of those things, I'm guessing that you won't find it interesting/funny at all.

A few of the reasons why I liked this:

- they actually used wands to mark the route back to their "bivy"
- I love the photo of the guy jumping the "bergschrund"
- the sequence where they "lighten their load" for a sprint to the top is classic

These guys were just totally committed to their "adventure," which I totally admire.

Just back-filled in a few posts

I just posted a few entries that I started a few days ago but didn't finish. If you are accustomed to just reading the top entry, you may want to scroll down a bit to see the entries (mainly photos) that I just added.

Makes perfect sense, right?

It's always comforting to know that you can receive tax, mortgage, and skin care advice from the same person.




P.S. Also, I think this firm is supposed to be called "Multi-Financial Services," but the sign says "Muti-Financial." Another case of my pet peeve popping up.

The Santa Train

While I am generally not really into promoting the whole Santa/presents/Rudolph/materialistic side of Christmas, we got some tickets for the Santa Train from a friend and took the kids. It was a pretty fun experience, but our enjoyment was severely tempered by the frigid temperatures. You board the train in a small town outside of Seattle, then ride the train a few miles down the track to another depot, get off and get cookies and cocoa, and visit Santa. It's a great idea, but the one problem is that the old restored train cars don't have any heat! And we just happened to go on a day where the temperature was probably 25-30 degrees! We tried to bundle up as best we could, but you'll notice that we all look pretty chilly in these pictures. The kids got to see Santa (Drew asked for binoculars, Sam asked for a Barbie), and we warmed up in the "kitchen car" with some cocoa and cookies. It was a fun, albeit VERY cold, experience.


Missi and I on the train trying to stay warm


Here is one of the old restored train cars. I love the old-style text across the top that says "Spokane, Portland, & Seattle"


With snow on the ground and scenes like this little pavillion just across from the train depot, the whole experience seemed very Norman Rockwellish.




Doesn't this picture of the train depot just look like something from a Rockwell or Thomas Kincade painting? Very "Americana."

Pics from Christmas

Here are but a few of the hundreds of pictures we took from our numerous Christmas celebrations with friends and family. It would take me too long to caption all of these, so apologies if you're not sure who appears in certain pictures. Just leave a comment if you have any questions.

Seen on the street today...

Can you spot my pet peeve?

Think about it

An increase in your income should not result in an increase in your standard of living, but rather your standard of giving.

Combination Train Whistle/Moth Preventer

Makes perfect sense, right?

Random Musings

While relevant anytime, it is especially important during this Christmas season to visit The New American Dream and Advent Conspiracy.

I recently re-connected through Facebook with an old friend from high school, Serenity (Thornburg) Coulombe. She and her family are traveling across the country in an RV named Big Buster and "loving on homeless people." You can follow their journeys either through her blog or her husband Andy's blog.

Speaking of blogs, several friends from Eugene recently started their own. If you're so inclined, check out the Wallace blog and the Lavassaur blog.

In a display of sheer geniusness, our friends Ryan and Susan have finished their annual Christmas music video.

I wish I could be in San Diego on December 30.

I sure feel old when I get sore after sledding and having a snowball fight with the kids. And it wasn't like we were doing this type of sledding.

I really apologize if anyone reading this blog does this, but I really don't understand why anyone would put a wreath on the front grill of their car.

My dog loves the snow.

Seattle absolutely shuts down when they receive any snowfall. Like as in, shutting down over 100 bus routes when it snows! But if stuff like this happens, I guess its no suprise that the city shuts down.

I love that my son calls a "toboggan" a "tog-boggler."

With the snow falling outside, and more expected tonight, I'm excited to make a big pot of warm chicken noodle soup for the family.

We've been listening to a lot of Pandora lately. Check it out if you haven't done so already.

I'm currently trying to work my way through three books:

1. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
2. Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski
3. Chasing Daylight by Erwin Raphael McManus

Looking for a gift for the person who has everything? Might I suggest a Snuggie?

Words cannot describe...

...the hilarity/hideousness of this photo:



There's just so much to love: Drew's expression, Missi's shiny tights, Sam's skirt that once belonged to Missi (same with Drew's shirt), my Christmas tie and terrible burgundy colored pants, Missi's pin and hair accessory, etc, etc, etc...

Pics from the past few weeks

Missi and I at the firm's Christmas party


The fam picking out The Wilson Family Christmas Tree


Sam and I going on the "hay ride" offered at the Christmas tree farm. Since when do tree farms offer hay rides? I thought pumpkin patches had a monopoly on that market.


Drew looks a bit pained in this photo. Hardly the pose of a mighty lumberjack, eh?


Sam conked out on the drive home from the tree farm.


Drew on the drive home, looking mighty full of the Christmas spirit.

I'm still here...

It's been awhile since I've updated this blog. The lack of an update is due primarily to my busy work schedule, which unfortunately may be a sign of things to come. But I have a ton of stuff that I'd like to post, and I'll try to get around to posting it this weekend.

Signing off for now from snowy and cold Seattle,

John

Family Date Night

Last night was family date night at our house. This meant that Drew got to "take out" Missi and I had the privilege of going on a "Daddy Date" with Sam. Drew and Missi went bowling and got ice cream (sorry no pics as I had the camera), and Sam and I got hot chocolate and went to Garden d'Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. It was tons of fun. Sam got all dressed up and I bought flowers for the ladies and all of us had a great time. I'm hoping to make this a somewhat-regular tradition, i.e., once every couple of weeks.

Seen on a bumper sticker last night...

Change is Inevitable.
Growth is Optional.

Talk amongst yourself.

Quote for the day...

I read this yesterday and thought it was good:

If real estate is all about location, location, location, fatherhood is all about time, time, time.

Wow! What a game!

Here I am two days removed from the Ducks' glorious win in the Civil War and I am still basking in the victory.



If you would've given me a truth serum before the game, I would have told you that I was very, very nervous for the Ducks. I began feeling a bit better when it was announced that Jacquizz Rodgers would not play, but I definitely did not give enough credit to Mike Bellotti and Chip Kelly for their ability to prepare for the game with an extra week (Oregon had a bye the week before the Civil War). While the Ducks' defense left something to be desired, our offense was unstoppable! We almost had 700 yards of offense! 700!!! For those of you who may not closely follow football, that is an almost unheard-of statistic.



If you didn't get a chance to see the game (high likelihood as it was on Versus), I suggest you cruise on over to Duck Sports News and read some of the coverage they are linking to.



Between the Civil War and the back-to-back national championships by the men's cross country team, its been a couple of very good weeks for Oregon athletics! Go Ducks!