Near extinction

Once upon a time, there were many. Some towering over local sidewalks. Others nestled in decades-old homes. Others hidden amongst the brick landscape of small downtown locations. Wheaton. Glen Ellyn. Bloomingdale. Lombard. Lisle. There were sightings everywhere. Some were warm, inviting, with an alluring song extending out like a familiar hand. Others were dark, cold, and almost daring you to come near.

But you did. The temptation was always too great to resist. And having made the bold leap into the unknown, you were rewarded with candy for the senses. The incense, almost intoxicating, and a constant reminder that these were new worlds. The images. They almost leaped off the walls and shelves. Where do you turn first? Eye-catching psychedelia. Bold new designs. Glistening shrink wrap. Vinyl as far as the eye could see.

And the sounds. Yes, the sounds. This was a brave new world, wasn't it? Extending well beyond the reaches of commercial radio, we were treated to a musical vision not intended for the masses. Some of what was shared was intense. Loud. Almost ear-splitting. Was this music? How come none of my friends were listening to this? Some experiences were almost cerebral. Who were these new artists reshaping or tossing away the old mold? What I heard was fresh. Not quite so familiar. Smart. Lyrics that were almost poetic. Song structures that seemed to take you on an actual journey, not just a 3-minute break at the highway rest stop. And some experiences were just breathtaking. Music that seemed to spit in the face of tradition. Artists playing time signatures that seemed to zig when you thought they should zag, showing a musical dexterity that would cause the average rock star "wannabe" to cramp up with exhaustion trying to keep up with the speed and precision.

25 years ago, they were out there. You didn't have to look too hard to find these small offerings of musical bliss. I felt secure knowing that I had a place to go to get away from the norm, the mainstream, the conformity. And there was the indescribable, absolute joy that came from those first moments returning home, tearing off the wrapping, revving up the turntable, and settling into a wonderful journey. The music. The artwork. The liner notes. All for me.

And now they are almost all gone. First, it was almost in slow motion. One disappeared. Then another. And then they were herded away in the middle of the night. Lonely shops. Empty bins. Unable to survive the changes brought about by the music "business" (as well as a mostly conforming public), they threw up their collective arms in frustration and surrendered. The music seemed to die. And what's worse. Nobody seemed to care.

Sure, some of the more densely populated downtown districts have managed to hang on to these beacons of hope (as blogger pal hawkins occasionally details in his DC platform). A few hung on through the tough times. And a few others might have quietly entered the scene. But out in Suburbia, it continues to be a sad time.

But there is cause for some hope. A survivor. Here in Geneva? It's true. Having established a loyal following in nearby Batavia, Kiss the Sky has decided to rise to the challenge in full, tightening its belt, padding its armor, and planting itself right in the heart of the downtown river community. I say "bah!" to the gourmet pet treat stores and expensive collectibles. "Humbug" to the trendy clothing boutiques and pricey restaurants. And I can say WELCOME at the top of my lungs to our new neighbor.

The familiar lights are back. The incense. The selection. The music knowledge from owners and employees who actually care. Vinyl is still secondary to the CD format here. But the back room is changing more each week. At least I have a choice. It's not just Hannah Montana and Celine. Britney or The Jonas Brothers (just TYPING those names almost caused me to weep). Nope. Real artists. Real music.

Monday was a vacation day. My first order of business had to be Kiss the Sky. And there was a familiar giddy sensation at the end of the experience as I sorted through my new purchases in the car. Cluster. Circle. Dead Kennedys. Comets on Fire. Wire. Six Organs of Admittance. More.

Much like 25 years ago. Please don't ever leave me again. Please.

The season begins

This past week officially kicked off the holiday season. For the next month and more, we'll be involved in the yearly routine of attending family feasts, birthdays, and assorted gatherings leading up to and including the new year. Whew!

Anita and I have been pretty fortunate when it comes to the holiday scheduling. Over nearly 20 years, we've rarely been put in difficult situations, like having to toggle between multiple party locations within the same day. Thanksgiving is one of those occasions that has always produced the same plan: Thanksgiving day at my family and the following Saturday is downstate further at Anita's family location.

[Friday is always reserved for our family feast at Barone's Pizza in Glen Ellyn. Ah, tradition...]

This past Saturday was the annual drive to Bourbonnais to visit with Anita's family. We were thrilled that this visit coincided with the opening up of the new southern extension on I-355. Years in the making, this addition to the tollway system now knocks off about 15-20 minutes of driving time and actually provided a less stressful route.

So, having arrived safely (and early!), we settled in for a relaxing day of eating, drinking, and socializing, as well as watching the painful end to the Notre Dame football season (fortunately producing a win). And Su enjoyed hours of fun with her cousins, Sarah and Erin (shown in photo).

And a great turkey day to all: an ode to my family

Just when I started to accept the fact that we had moved into November, now I'm just amazed that we're almost ready to move OUT of November. Yikes. This month -- hell, this YEAR -- has been just a blur. So much has happened since the start of '07. Some of the highest highs and lowest lows.

Has it already been a year since we found ourselves in the middle of intense job interviews in Des Moines (IA)? Has it been 11 months since walking away from that very job offer (and acceptance) and electing to keep the family camped right where it currently resides? 8 months since the closing of the design studio in Aurora, which placed me right back into hurried self-employment mode? And almost 6 months since I accepted my current Mgr. of Communications title in Downers Grove?

Anita went from stay-at-home mom to looking for a job (during the last scary self-employment period) back to stay-at-home status. And Su went from preschool into kindergarten, somehow rolling with the changes and stress, all the while keeping us on our toes as she continues to grow from small child into little girl.

As for thanks: Through all of the rough stretches, anxiety, and sleepless nights. Through all of the sniffles and colds, t-ball games, and school projects. Through all of the unexpected events (roof, flooding, car). Through an almost-insane work schedule during the late summer and fall. And through all of the moments meant for laughing and enjoying -- I thank the 2 most important people in my world: my wife and daughter.

During one of the strangest years to date, I continue on because of them.

[And there's still over a month to go!]

A man for most seasons

Back when we lived in Tucson (AZ), I remember having many a discussion regarding the importance of having "seasons" during the year. In the midwest, we have 4 very distinct seasons, although some can sort of merge together leaving you wondering what happened (usually the absence of a true spring or fall). In Arizona, we did have seasons. They just weren't as vibrant. Monsoons brought about great beauty in the fall. And winters were downright gorgeous. Summers were just plain hot. But I can't say I truly "missed" the midwest seasons when we were away.

I didn't start to appreciate these changes until we moved back to the midwest in '97. Running in the springtime was a joy. And, for me, there is no greater time to run or train than in the fall. Feet beating down on a crushed path through miles and miles of forest preserve is a splendor not to be taken lightly. The cool, crisp air -- just enough to actually show your breath in front of you but not have to cover up -- can almost take your mind off of the work and pain associated with a long training run.

Of course, once the temperatures sink down into the 30s and below, it signals the end of comfortable running and the addition of many layers of warmth, many more hours of darkness, and a serious lack of motivation. And thoughts turn toward the desert again. At least for a few frigid months.

The joy of fall is also accented by the beauty of the leaves. Breathtaking colors. When we lived in Winfield (IL), we were surrounding by giant oaks. It also meant dedicating entire weekends to the act of raking. Hours and hours spent moving piles from the back of the property to the roadside for pickup. Walls of leaves.

Now in Geneva, in a newer subdivision, this isn't so much a problem. We don't have tall trees. We don't have much to rake. There lies the trade-off. We also don't have the same beauty. I can finish my raking chores in about a half hour. Seems great, I suppose. But I would trade it in a heartbeat to get back to our old surrounding.

But at least we had enough leaves to create a little fun for Su...

Trick or treat, smell my...

Of the many changes that take place with parenting, Halloween tradition is probably one of the more fascinating. It seems like 20 or more years go by with little interest in the day -- aside from remembering each year that you need to stock up on some candy -- and all of a sudden you're thrust into the middle of it all, courtesy of a 5-year old.

Truth is that, aside from a few parties attended as adults, there really wasn't much to take from it all. But having a little one anxiously awaiting costumes, candy, and school parties makes it all too easy to start to share in the enthusiasm. Whether it's shopping for a costume, decorating the house, or watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" for the first time since childhood (does anybody really understand why half of that show was filled with Snoopy in his "flying ace" segment?), I found myself actually enjoying some of the circus environment.

And so, on this particular day, I had the good fortune of setting up some "work at home" time, allowing me to actually participate in Su's good fun. Her elementary school had their Halloween parade outdoors around the school. All grades participate and family can show up outside to watch it go by. Anita and I took a small break from the day to go see. Su was all smiles, waving to the crowd -- even before she knew we were there. Obviously, she's not shy in public! Once they turned the corner and headed back to the school, the show was essentially over and we headed back home.

After a few more hours of work, I shut down and helped get Su prepped for the afternoon of walking the neighborhood. The two of us spent almost 1-1/2 hours on foot. Early on, she was running from door to door, at one point exclaiming (arms raised into the air), "This is the best Halloween ever!" Of course, her long history gives her quite a reference point. :-) Still, it was fun to hear her enthusiasm. She was loud. She was polite. And eventually she was... TIRED.

Yep, a mere 15 minutes after her declaration of joy, the feet were dragging, the bag of candy was dragging, and her eyes were displaying none of the glee from the other side of the street. I transferred the weight of her bag into the bag I was carrying (always good planning to help lighten her load) and encouraged her to complete the final strip of homes. Hey, we were heading that way anyway, right?

Overall, she had such a great time. Her costume was falling apart the whole way and the strong winds made it impossible to keep her hat on. But we both had a blast. She made a killing on the candy and saw so many of her friends along the route (amazing how many friends a 5-year old can have this early into the school year).

Once home, we dined on some Indian food, shared a few choice wrapped goodies, and Su soon faded and actually asked to go to bed -- almost an hour early!

Reunion

In recent years, the month of October has come to mean something special to us all. No, not because it's time to dress up like ghosts and goblins. Certainly not because it's the month of the Chicago Marathon. And, no, not even because the month of October has now been crowned with a 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series sweep.

Nope. October means that it's time for our annual reunion with the midwest travel group that accompanied us on our amazing trip to China. Every year since that wondrous event has been celebrated at the home of Mike and Cinda Z., parents of adorable little Mia. October doesn't actually have anything to do with our travel month in 2003. But it has somehow become the month most available to families on the calendar. And so it went for 2007 as well. Anita, Su (pictured in the blue sweater), and I packed up the car with CDs, books, and beverages and headed to the reunion.

While all of the families are located in the "midwest," we're not all very close in driving distance. The Z family are up in Gurnee, about 1-1/2 hours from us. One family is in Chicago. Another in Indiana. There has been a strong effort -- this past year in particular -- to find ways to keep the kids familiar with one another and allow them grow together. No easy feat, but certainly well worth the effort.

As always, Mike and Cinda were incredible hosts, sharing space, food, and spirits. The food was wonderful and the company even better. The kids had an amazing time together. And aside from some unanticipated wrestling moves and one bloody nose (the kids, not the adults), everyone came away from the day happy, fed, and extremely tired.

It is funny to see how the kids respond to each other with the passing years. The first year of the reunion featured more emphasis on toddler activities. Adults split time between watching kids, feeding kids, changing kids, and chatting with adults. With each passing year, the kids have evolved into independent little rug rats. They eat together, converse with one another, and bathroom accidents seem to be a thing of the past (thankfully).

And... the adults can actually find the time to really be adults, enjoying the conversation of good friends and remaining thankful that such a special event brought us all together.

I'm certainly realistic enough to know that life does get in the way from time to time. And there might be a point where these gatherings become difficult to maintain. As the priorities of people change, whether it be due to distance, jobs, location, or any number of reasons (no... birthdays do not count as an excuse), getting everyone together on one date might prove difficult. So we certainly treasure what we have right now. And we look forward to many more opportunities to share our lives.

I've seen your picture...

... Your name in lights above it. (Steely Dan - "Peg" from AJA)

I realize that it's been a while between posts. And for that, I apologize to the 4 or 5 people whom actually read this blog once in a while. I had several different event photos to put up on the site. Some t-ball. Some daily activities. But then came school pictures.

I'm still a bit stunned by the photos that arrived courtesy of Su's kindergarten class. Is this the same little girl we've been watching for the last few years? I THINK it's her. After all, she answers to the same name when called. Well mostly. And she seems to have the same mannerisms, eat the same foods, and has a voice that -- to borrow from SPINAL TAP -- seems to go to 11.

But we're certainly seeing a little girl growing up right before our eyes. Amazing. But she can still toss on a baseball shirt (Go Sox!) and mix it up with other dozen boys out on the t-ball field.

Back to schoolin'

Finally, a little activity before boarding the bus. As you might remember from previous readings (the small handful of you actually reading this site), our first attempts to capture some photo magic with Su starting kindergarten were thwarted when tornado sirens turned the afternoon and evening into an all-out frenzy of activity.

Well, a little over a week ago, I had the opportunity to work from home and I managed to snag a couple of pix of the little gal before she boarded her bus for school.

Su is having a great time with her school routine. She loves the bus (maybe her favorite thing), is making friends at school, and has already been a teacher helper. Of course, little does she know what's in store for the next 12+ years or more. Tee-hee.

Happy Monday!

Magic carpet ride

The day started out innocently enough. In fact, it was to be quite an exciting one. Thursday was Su's first day of kindergarten. And she was just giddy about taking the bus to school. I even arranged to get off work early and planned to be home to photograph the moment when she returned home from school, bounding off of the bus.

About 2:45, the bus was nearing its stop on the route near our home. But so was an unbelievable storm. We had been watching the skies for a little while and knew it would be a photo finish to determine what would arrive first -- our girl or the rains. We had heard that nearby DeKalb was in the midst of a tornado warning. Shortly after, so were we.

The bus that we watched go up one side of the nearby block failed to come up our side. And the tornado sirens wailed. A neighbor yelled out that the buses had been sent back to shelter areas. We hustled back to the house, grabbed flashlights and the pooch, and took cover in the basement as the winds and rains pelted the house. And within moments, we also lost power.

The initial blast did pass and we went upstairs to assess the damage. Nothing terrible in our area, although we would later find that nearby spots weren't nearly as fortunate. But the question of the day soon became: Where was Su's bus? Frantic calls to the school and transportation service confirmed that the bus made it back to the school (a VERY odd choice to take the 10+ minute drive back to the elementary school with a bus full of students when the middle school was 2 blocks away, as were other safe locations, in the middle of a tornado warning). After some time, all buses were released, although it took quite some time for us to be hooked up with Su.

Through it all, Su had been virtually oblivious to what was happening. She arrived smiling and waving. And had no real idea what the fuss was all about. Other kids on other buses were rain-soaked from open bus windows. Su didn't even realize that there had been a warning. She was just bored with the additional time back at the school and on the bus. But we were just plain relieved.

But that was short-lived. Our power didn't return all day. And the additional pouring of rain that continued through the day -- mixed with all of the rain we'd accumulated over the last week or more -- evolved into something unplanned. With nowhere to go and no power to the pump to push it out, the rain water invaded our basement.

Frantically, I worked to save items of value. Up went boxes, work samples, and children's toys. And the biggest task -- saving the music studio. If there was a shelf or a chair above the safe level, I piled on with electronics, boxes of equipment, and a couple of decades worth of recorded works.

With nowhere to go outside, water kept moving in from the outer walls of the basement. But with most items out of harms way, we just waited out the storms. By midnight, the power was restored. Water was quickly retreating. Of course, it was too late for the carpet.

So the weekend was spent tearing out old, soggy, cat-pee smelling (previous owners had cats -- apparently some who must have treated the entire basement as a litter box... cats suck), and hauling it up to the roadside curb. After serious cleansing, next comes drying, painting, and new carpet.

Oh yeah. On Friday, Su took the bus back to school. And this time the bus arrived on time. No winds. No rain. No problem.

Do not sit on the cows

This weekend was sort of a first for us -- at least in recent memory. This was our first little getaway for a couple of days since we were fortunate enough to have Su enter our lives. Well, the first overnight excursion that didn't involve a job interview of some sort. Yep, it had been that long. Destination? Madison, Wisconsin.

As the weekend approached, we were a little worried about the changing weather forecast. The chance for cooler temperatures didn't bother us -- not on the heels of so many 90 degree days of late. But the rain could be a problem. But we forged ahead. We had a room booked at a Holiday Inn Suites (complete with individual kid's suite), the dog-sitter was all set up, and we had a full tank of gas. Onward!

Of course, part of the way into our journey, the drizzle started up. But remaining optimistic, we wanted to make the most of our rare chance to get away. Upon arriving in Madison, we kicked off with lunch at Zuzu Cafe. What a find! And only a block away from the next stop on our journey, the Henry Vilas Zoo. After thoroughly enjoying the hummus plate and a relaxing, casual environment, we headed over to the zoo. Again, a little rain didn't dampen the mood. We had umbrellas to serve us when needed. And Su had a wonderful time.

Little did we know that this was to be the high point of our visit. After we left the zoo, the rains started to come down that much harder. We attempted to take in a little bit of the downtown area, but outside strolling became impossible. We rushed through a visit at the Children's Museum (highlight: Su with her first cow-milking experience), hiked back to our car, and then made our way to the hotel to check in.

Still, we were hopeful. We spent some time in the hotel pool (more of an indoor park), and then headed out for dinner. We dined at Sa-Bai Thong, reported to be the best Thai food in Madison. While the service was good and the atmosphere enjoyable, the food was average at best. And not nearly enough bite to the curry dish I had ordered.

Then the rains turned to storms. In trying to get to our car in the lot (in order to pull up to the door for the gals), I was nearly hit by a speeding car. And the rest was all downhill after that. Storms raged all through the night and into the morning, flooding out all of our entertainment options.

After attempting to drive around the rain-soaked city in the morning, we gave up and just headed home. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. It had been several years since we had an opportunity to enjoy ourselves away from the house, work, and employment-guided circumstances. The drive home was made that much longer by the lack of visibility during the next wave of storms.

A crushing end to a weekend with much hope. And so we head back into another work week.

Take it to the Max

I don't have an awful lot to report on with this post. More than anything, it's just a way to correct an awful realization: Max hasn't seen his furry little face anywhere on this blog site! At least not in the last several months.

For those of you not familiar with our huggable mate, we adopted Max from the Kendall County animal shelter in Yorkville (IL) when he was about one year old. Since that time, he's seen the arrival of our little girl and has managed to stay somewhat sane during our moves into 4 different "homes" over the past 3.5 years without any transition issues. He just goes with the flow.

Max recently enjoyed his 6th birthday. He's a giant walking pile of fur and a constant provider of drool and hair. But he's a goof. And he's wonderful with Su and her friends. Sure, he's not fond of the UPS delivery person. And he also seems to have a problem with certain print brokers in my industry. But the rest of the world is a happy, happy place for him -- and we're fortunate to have him in our family.

Sorry, Max. I'll do a better job of providing info on your future exploits. Gomez and your other canine "brothers" are asking. I'll try not to disappoint.

Gotcha!

Amazing. Has it actually been four years since our journey to China? Has it really been 1,460 days since officials from a far away land handed over a 13-month old child named Su over to two individuals who had no clue just what the heck they were doing? Four years ago on this date (August 11th of 2003) ended a 19 month adoption process and brought about the first day in the actual start of our new "family." And, frankly, I can't remember much about what life was like before Su entered our lives.

Part of the tradition in some adopting circles is to acknowledge the actual date that the new addition actually is handed over to the new parents. This day is referred to as GOTCHA DAY. It's a special date that deserves recognition, as it's a momentous occasion for the parents and becomes a special day for the child, more unique than birthdays or miscellaneous holidays. And it creates a wonderful opportunity to relive and retell the events that brought this family together.

Our Gotcha Day turned out to a very fun-filled day despite the continued 90 degree heat and awful humidity. We decided we weren't going to let the uncomfortable conditions take us out of having some outdoor fun. We decided to cope with the heat and embark on a little biking journey. We attached the trailer, strapped in Su, and headed out for the Batavia Art in Your Eye fine art show and festival. It was a chance to stroll through some art displays and also spend a little time in the park alongside the Fox River.

Later in the day, we dined at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, El Tesoro in West Chicago -- a favorite of Su's. Feeling quite full from our dining experience, we elected to take a trip to downtown Geneva and walk the main strip of shopping and assorted gathering spots. Armed with a handful of coupons from our volunteer time associated with the Geneva Viking 5K run last month, we strolled into Graham's for some incredible free ice cream. Feeling even more uncomfortable with the added calories, we elected to walk a little bit of it off before heading back home.

We concluded the evening by viewing one of the DVDs from our journey 4 years earlier, just staring in amazement at the footage of this little baby, once unable to even so much as crawl, and just marveling at how far she had come in such a short period of time. How far we ALL had come.

Kids and crocs!

Hmmm... Time to plan the day's activities. Let's see now. It's hot. The sun is beating down. Humidity is about 90%. It's just miserable out there. What to do? How about the Journeys of the Heart Annual Picnic!

In fairness, one can never really plan in advance for outdoor events and not expect weather to be a factor. The good news is that there was a breeze blowing and there were even a few trees to provide much needed shade. And it's really about the kids, right? It's certainly worth some sweat, sand, and sunscreen.

For the 2nd year in a row, the Journey's picnic was held at Wheaton's Northside Park. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to meet up with other families who have chosen to adopt through the various programs offered at the agency. It's a great time to meet up with old friends, meet new ones, and just stare in amazement at how much our babies have grown.

Aside from playing, running, feasting, and sweating, this year's event also brought in a traveling reptile show. And it was a huge hit with the kids -- and adults! Chris Boerema's Traveling World of Reptiles spent part of the afternoon with us and just wowed the kids with creatures of all sizes and textures. Some friendly. Some not so much. All handled in a professional and educational way. The kids got to pet some of them. Some kids were selected to hold turtles, place a frog on a nose, or a tarantula on a head. Good fun for all!

After more sweating and playing, we ducked out of there around 4:00 or so. About 10-15 minutes later, the thunderstorms moved through and concluded the days events. We were all pretty wiped out after a day in the sun. But it was just a great day to bring so many people back together again.

That's it until next year!

The festivities are now officially over until this time rolls around again next year. We've just completed the 2nd installment of Su's 5th birthday celebration tour. And now we can relax, let the house resume its normal, semi-cluttered state, and focus on the rest of the summer.

Until Su entered our lives, I just never had any idea on what parents go through with birthday celebrations. We learned quickly (3 years ago) that it's insane to have one huge party with family and friends. There is just too much going on and there is no chance to enjoy any of it. So we followed the path that many parents before us have taken: splitting the party up.

Actually, it's great for the kid (extends the festive mood) and pretty good for the parent, as we can enjoy smaller gatherings, relax a bit, and remove a lot of the stress. Of course, a family with multiple kids may have a different take on all of this. Hee-hee.

Anyway... This weekend's party was a special one for Su -- and for us. The party consisted of close friends -- ours and Su's. All of the families involved share a similar path in building a family through adoption. Wonderful kids and equally wonderful parents.

[Pictured above, Front L to R: Lina, Grace, and Su / Back: Colvin and Jacob]

We were sorry to have to carry on without Su's friend Hannah, home sick and being cared for by her mother. Both were missed immensely. But the kids carried on valiantly in their absence, having a wonderful time playing together, eating cake and ice cream, and beating up on the dads.

Same time next year?

Gimme Five!

If you followed the news this past week, you couldn't help but pick up on stories that suggested the added importance -- or perhaps luck -- associated with the arrival of this particular date: 07-07-07. For reasons I still haven't really understood, July 7th became one of the most sought after dates in recent memory for people planning weddings. ESPN had a lot of fun suggesting that there was some additional importance with the date, finding strange and wonderful links to fate and/or luck (Something about a player with the uniform number 7 getting a clutch hit in the 7th inning to drive in a run that made the score 4-3... yes, totalling 7 combined runs!). I could probably spend a huge amount of time dismissing this need to hand over an element of luck to ballgames, marriages, and whatever other life events occur.

For OUR family, however, this date took on added importance in a very REAL way: the 5th birthday of our daughter. For us, July 7th meant that Su has completed 5 calendar years of living, loving, and learning on this planet. No more kiddie parties watching a toddler smear cake and drool. This is a young lady we're now watching grow up right before our eyes. Beautiful, funny, intelligent, and continuing on toward greatness: in the form of whatever she chooses to be in life.

And July 7th also meant another blistering hot day for a party. Family and a few friends came by to celebrate with Su and share in a day of food, beverages, music, and chatter. Pizza from Taylor Street was a huge hit. And the near-90 degree temperatures assured that coolers filled with water, soda, and brews would not go to waste.

Su had so much fun. Between the heat and the activities, this little girl was tuckered out beyond belief and went to bed with a smile that spelled out the obvious: She had a wonderful time. A very REAL birthday celebrated on a very REAL day. No luck. No hocus-pocus.

Happy Birthday, Su!

The Swedish Thing

This past week brought the return of the annual Swedish Days in Geneva. For reasons I have not quite entirely figured out, there seems to be a lot of hype surrounding this event in the downtown area. The typical selection of food vendors, tents with wares being displayed, info booths, people walking dogs, and the carnival madness, blaring the latest kid-friendly rap hits.

I certainly don't have anything against festivals that bring out the community spirit. It's a great opportunity to walk around and get to know your neighbors. Well, at least that was the case when we lived in Winfied. Their annual Good Old Days celebration was a smaller, sweatier version of Swedish Days, but more home spirit. You never knew who you might run into at the beer tent. But Geneva is an entirely different animal.

Don't get me wrong -- Geneva is a beautiful city. The river location makes it especially quaint. Yes, it's high priced. And yes, the almost-famous shopping along Third is for those with a lot more money, a stonger need for purchasing baskets, fashion, or trendy dining. But you can almost push that all aside and enjoy the picture-perfect setting -- if you have enough cash in your wallet to stay long.

But unlike Winfield and other smaller local festivals, you don't usually run into people you know. For some reason, people will travel a long way to come to this event -- as well as others in Geneva (Festival of the Vine and the Christmas Holiday Walk). What this means is that you tend to be more alone in the crowd. Unless you are a neighbor to one of the $800K homes nearby, you're not likely to be sharing any home-grown spirit here.

So what's left? A little pizza, some soda, some walking around, face painting (inset shown--Su with ladybug) and a chance to play on the fire engine.

Employment comes knocking (or Winds of change)

So why the photo of the windmill? No real reason. Actually, this is just a nearby landmark that I've had the pleasure of observing almost every weekend when I go out for my Saturday morning long run. And I really just thought that this was a very cool picture I managed to take on an overcast day. My runs along the Fox River will take me through some beautiful sections of St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia -- the site of this windmill. The scenery is peaceful and sometimes inspirational. And there were many weekends were I would spend the better part of a run pondering the next move in my career.

In some ways, I felt like I had exhausted almost all energy and hope in the recent months. Since the move to Iowa in early 2004, the career path has been somewhat rocky. While there have been good moments, most of the results have been very short of fulfilling. My 13-month stay at Allsteel (Muscatine, IA) was both educating and frustrating. With physical and mental health failing fast, we decided to return to Illinois and regroup. I reestablished my self-employment structure, picked up most of my old clients and worked at home for the next year. The early months were profitable, but a slowdown was to be coming. And the next move sort of dropped into my lap -- a position as Creative Director at Creative Graphic Solutions, in Aurora. After just a few short months, I was soon aware of financial issues with the parent company and the design studio. While I wasn't out of a job, efforts by ownership and sales to turn things around didn't produce the desired results and I was soon having to think ahead to my next move.

The end of 2006 brought about a whirlwind set of circumstances. I interviewed out in Des Moines for a position as Creative Director for one of the top companies in the area (as mentioned in earlier postings). I was offered the position before the Christmas holiday season. But we ended up walking away from that offer at the start of January. As the 2007 year progressed, I was often left wondering if I had made the right decision in passing up on that position. The studio was failing and I didn't know what would come next.

I wasn't even sure I wanted to remain in this field. Years of churning out design work, branding, billing, estimates, in addition to the worry and the frustration over the lack of a career progression (no "ladder"), no raises, no paid vacation or holidays (for the self-employment years), and just wondering if perhaps I needed to look into something entirely new to inspire me. I was contemplating possibly a career coach. Maybe a mid-life school effort to change careers. But where would I find the time or money? Ugh.

I took a chance and threw a few resumes out to the world. There were not many opportunities out there that seemed worth pursuing. And the best descriptions were quite a distance away. Some out of state (again). Some just an unreasonable distance to drive (about 1.5 hours each way). Did I really want to spend 3-4 hours a day in a car for some unsatisfying corporate gig just to make a decent salary?

The answer arrived about 1 month ago in the form of a phone call from Coventry Health Care in Downers Grove. I had sent a resume out on a Friday afternoon for the position of Manager of Communications. On Monday morning, they came knocking. The first interview was a great success and I was really impressed with the company and the expectations of the role. But more important, I was extremely excited about the people. This was not an ordinary corporate setting. Some sort of intangible quality set them apart early. This was evident in my face-to-face with the Director of Communications. I was pretty sure things went well. And a couple of days later, I was called back for the 2nd round of interviews. I was no less impressed after that exchange. And just as excited about the possibilities. A day later, I received a call that an offer was being constructed and to let them know if anything were to change in my job situation. That afternoon, the verbal offer was in, followed by the actual offer package in the mail the next day. I was very happy with all of the components being offered and accepted a day later.

I started my new position 2 full weeks ago. I have never been more happy with a career decision. In my new role, I achieve an almost perfect balance of design and management. I oversee branding and design, handle the communications needs (presentations, print, advertising, events, marketing, etc.), and also benefit from one aspect not found in most of the positions I've pursued -- an actual balance of work and family. No kidding. You mean we actually get treated as professionals? We can do our job and then go home at a reasonable hour? I can still catch my running club on Wednesday nights?

I have a long drive now. Not terrible, but not like the last several years. But I drive home with a very fulfilling feeling of accomplishment and a strong suspicion that just maybe this might be "home" for me.

Stay tuned.

Let's play two!

Wow. Has it really been 1 whole month since my last posting? Apparently. There have been so many changes over the last weeks and I never really knew where to start with the updates. New employment for starters. But that's a story for another posting. For now, I just wanted to concentrate on Su's recent accomplishment -- finishing up her 2-month instructional t-ball classes.

Even last summer, it was very evident to me that Su could hit. Last July, we purchased a t-ball set, complete with small wooden bat. And with just a little guidance on the correct batting stance, Su was pounding the ball. But would she want to participate in an actual class to learn about the game of baseball? We signed her up to see what she would think.

She loved it. The class was part of the Geneva Park District and was carried out by an outstanding organization called All Star Sports Instruction. Coach Derek created this instructional company and was also Su's coach for t-ball (Coach Derek shown below, with Su's famous glasses). He was amazing. Great skills as a teacher and made the class fun for both kids and parents. Su had a blast. She learned about elephants and alligators (part of the teaching method), who's in the dugout (you-you-you... rapped to "Who Let the Dogs Out"), running to the right bases, scoring a run, and even the jargon -- telling the parents before the kids/parents game that they are "going down!"

The last week of class was indeed the game against the parents, where the kids could show off their skills. And it was so much fun. Su crushed the ball in her only at-bat and later scored a run. And Grandma and Grandpa Peltier were on hand to watch her play. Mom and Dad even got a chance to participate in the coaching drills (middle picture, above). Whee!

And after a fun day of running around in the sun, we capped the afternoon off with a lunch at the Geneva Diner, a walk along the Fox River, and a yummy chocolate brownie courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa.

Will there be more t-ball in the future? Maybe. But next up is soccer, also organized by the same great sports league. We'll see if Su wants to be the next Paul Konerko (her favorite White Sox player) or the next Pele (hmmm... maybe I'm showing my age with this pick).

Watch that pickle!

Take me to the river

The past weekend was my first experience running the Illinois River to River Relay in downstate Illinois (VERY downstate). The event is an 80-mile journey across the lower portion of the state, starting near the Mississippi River and winding through highways, hills, towns, and amazing, tree-filled beauty -- all the way to the Ohio River. Our team ("Anybody Seen the Start Line?") was assembled from members of the Fox River Trail Runners. There are 8 runners on a team and a total of 240 teams participating. Each runner ends up with 3 legs of this 24-section race. Team vans filled with runners shuttle through the course, dropping off the next runner into the transition area and picking up their weary companion just completing their section. (Team L to R: Mary, Joe, Cara, Mark, Jennifer, Mike, Greg, Kipp)

If you have an opportunity to browse through the actual website of the R2R race, you can view information describing the various sections and see elavation views detailing the hardships encountered. As RUNNER 6, I had the distinction of taking on the hardest elements of the this course (which by no means undermines the difficulty of the other sections). But RUNNER 6 gets presented with the 2 hardest hill-filled sections of the course, sandwiched around a flat, easy stretch. "Hills" doesn't quite describe it accurately. A quick look at my last leg (Section 22) shows very much a MOUNTAIN. At one point, it was over 1.5 miles of the steepest grade I have ever traveled by foot.

The provided graphic (taken from the R2R website) breaks out the 3 legs of my journey. Section 6 was a mix of steep hills and rolling highways, a long downward stretch, and an uphill finish -- 3.3 miles in all. The next leg, Section 14, was the "relief" in this day -- a 2.5 mile sprint to the finish (15:19). And just when the legs are telling you that there isn't much left in the tank, the final 3.8 mile portion of Section 22 just devastates the psyche. You climb and climb... and climb. And then you climb some more.

Fortunately, I was greeted by an excited and supporting team when pushing into the transition area for the baton handoff. And a nice, cold one soon followed. All that was left were 2 more sections being handled by my teammates, a team run to the finish line, and a walk uphill to the Ohio River for a photo opportunity.

Today, my quads still hurt. Going down the stairs is a struggle. My ribcage is seriously bruised (longer story -- and nothing to do with the actual "running" of the race), and I couldn't be happier about my experiences.

I can't wait until next year!

Alone again, naturally

I apologize to the very few of you who actually view this blog and probably wonder what happened after the last post. I hinted that employment change was coming 'round the bend and promised details to come.

The short of it is that the small design studio I was directing had a few too many financial problems to overcome. While I was keeping busy -- mostly with my own client work from previous self-employment -- there was not enough going on to sustain the overhead needed to keep the doors open. Had I realized just how bleak the view looked, I would have seriously reconsidered joining up last June. But, alas, I went into the change optimistic and enjoyed several months of solid and creative work.

Anyhow, I'm back to where I was a year ago -- sitting at home performing work for clients I've had for quite some time. A bad thing? Not entirely. I appreciate the relationships with my clients. I enjoy most of the work. And I truly need the income. Not many other ideal choices have been presented to me over recent months (okay, disregard the Des Moines experience earlier in the year...). Long commutes. Low pay. Wrong job descriptions.

My office is now back in full production mode, only I've moved up from the basement and ended up on the 2nd floor with an actual window. A new mac (shown), updated software, and the arrival of spring hopefully present a sign of things to come.

Scary? Hell, yes. Unlike when I first set up my business at the start of 2000, the circumstances are very different. Tighter financial picture. Uncertain work flow. It will be an interesting ride.

Where's that confounded bridge?

So just why does this Thursday morning feel like the last few Thursday mornings? Probably because I still have the same cough as I did almost 4 weeks ago. Ugh! Time to get healthy.

A lot to report on, but most will wait until probably the next blog. More changes in the employment picture. More uncertain circumstances. Is it too late to change career paths? At my ripe "old" age, can I entirely reinvent myself?

Onward. We were fortunate to have a nice break in the weather. After what seemed like ages of freezing cold temperatures and high winds, spring has shown itself and given a nice teaser on what's to come more regularly. We even reached the 70 degree mark 2 days ago. This splendid release of springtime air allowed us to finally get out of the house for a while and do a walkabout last weekend. A fun trip to the Fox River (see photo) was the result. Su enjoyed the hike and the playground. Anita and I were just happy to be outside for a while.

Stay tuned. More detail to come on the employment picture. Creative Graphic Solutions is dead. The doors are closing soon. Long live the prospect of self-employment. (Sigh...)

Sharing smiles

This is a short post, quite unlike the previous additions earlier this week. The sole purpose is to share this photo. Too many times I hear, "when are you going to send me any pictures of Su?" I keep asking if anyone's looked at the blog site lately?

Well, school photos just arrived at the house yesterday. And I must say we were pretty pleased. Can anyone believe that this is the same little girl as the one arriving in our lives with only a small trace of hair and chipmunk cheeks over 3 years ago? Geez, I'm staring across my office at a photo from only 1 year ago, taken before the Christmas holiday, and THAT little girl has already disappeared, only to be replaced by the young lady you see here.

How long before she wants the car keys?

Open house

The New Year tends to bring out new goals for most. And the Year of the Pig certainly is no different for me. Most are the same: improve my diet, increase my running mileage, make more studio time, find a "happy" place with my employment picture... But the most important goal I have for 2007 is actually shared with many other wonderful individuals and involves our local temple in West Chicago -- Myogyoji Temple.

2007 has already brought about a rush of new "firsts" for the temple. Seminars at colleges. The development of new materials. Organized groups to spearhead marketing efforts. All of these becoming first-time efforts locally for a 3,000 year old religion.

Now, I'm not going to use this location as a forum to illustrate the history of Buddhism or get into discussions on whose religious beliefs are the best or most accurate or most valid. I mean, the answer is obvious, right? :-) No, I'm only using this opportunity to share a little bit about our weekend's events and the first Open House for a temple that has been in existence in the western suburbs since 1981.

Many great talents came together to put together information, materials, food, as well as provide endless amounts of enthusiasm and volunteer time. With my background, I had the great fortune of being able to contribute to the visual impact of our efforts. Starting the year with brochures and PowerPoint shows, and following that with signage and kiosk/displays for guests to view when visiting.

This past Sunday was the kick-off event. And a rousing success. Many first-time visitors showed interest, shared snacks and beverages, asked questions, and quite a few even stayed to observe evening ceremonies. What a day!

And we even had the great pleasure of having Su there to provide her personality and wit to the occassion. Somehow, she held up during the long day, only broken up by a quick lunch at El Tesoro in West Chicago (where they serve some of the yummiest authentic Mexican food in the area). She was sweet, fun, and radiant in her dress from China. She took it upon herself to go up to just about any friendly face and offer up a big "hi!" before scurrying off elsewhere.

Speaking of scurrying, 2007 is also off and running. And now, so must I...

Year of the Golden Pig

I guess it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the Chinese New Year has taken on much more significance for us in recent years. In the past, the only reason I paid much attention had less to do with the holiday itself and more to do with the fact that overseas printing in China would shut down for a length of time, affecting any book publishing efforts I might have been involved with at the time.

But the addition of Su to our lives has opened us up to so many amazing aspects of culture around the world. And I'm not just referring to Asian history and lifestyle. All life. And with Su, we have had the incredible pleasure of now being forever linked to some of the most special people, all with equally compelling stories. In our local area, we have formed some incredible friendships with families all sharing adoption experiences. These families have become such an essential part of our lives -- even, to some extent, influencing impactful employment decisions that would have pulled us away. And we will also be eternally thankful for the opportunity to have traveled to China with some of the most wonderful families, all playing such an enormous role in making that journey so incredibly special. Fortunately for us, many of those families are located within reasonable driving distances in the midwest.

The Year of the Pig is now upon us. I didn't realize until recently that it's actually the Year of the GOLDEN Pig. I'm sure you've already heard quite a bit in the news about what this really mean. Children born this year will end up prosperous and lucky. Well, we're already as fortunate as could be. And we were able to share that fortune with many of the great friends mentioned above. And the kids? A photo alone can tell the story that all of my endless blathering would fail to communicate.

(kids' photo courtesy of Ron and Wendy -- wonderful food preparation courtesy of Wendy)

Happy New Year!

Fresh snow for new beginnings

I was amazed to see how long it had been since the last posting. Has it been over a month already? Last reported, the Shanahan clan had just returned from a second trip to Des Moines in pursuit of employment prospects.

So how did all of this end up? I guess it depends on your definition of success. On the 22nd, just before the holiday break, Mike was extended an offer by ITA Group. Salary terms were as promised, and the prospect of working for this prominent company seemed to lack any perceived downside. Strong financials. Great management. Wonderful family location. The end of many recent struggles?

So what happened? Mike turned down the opportunity. Too much doubt had crept into dark recesses of his mind. Too many sleepless nights. And no clear idea as to why. Friends? Family? Finances? Too soon to pack and move again (after Muscatine, IA)? Maybe all of the above. Maybe none of the above.

While there was some lingering doubt about the final decision, at least restful nights have returned to the Shanahan household. The anticipated moving date has come and gone. The U-haul cancelled and left for far more assertive souls out there.

So... after a New Year break filled with flu-like symptoms and way too much deliberation, we move along into 2007 with much hope and determination to make the most sensible decisions for our family. We appreciate EVERYONE who have contributed their thoughts, opinions, and even guilt-laden sentiments.

Mike has remained on, at least for the short term, at his current place of employment in his current Creative Director role. The promise of some marketing support and patience may mean an upward swing in business over the course of the year. For now, he remains busy -- although does not benefit from having a true staff anymore. The design industry is continually changing, as well as more competitive.

As for Su and mom? Well, they are doing well. School and activities keep the pair quite busy. And every once in a while, we get a surprise from the weather patterns and get to tackle some fresh snow...