When in Rome...

After missed planes, lost luggage, Mom, Lynn and Alexis walked the streets of Rome and Florence for a week. Boy, there were lots of stairs and roads to investigate. We wore Mom out, but she was a trooper. She was dismayed about all the lobbed off statues. The Sistine Chapel was smaller than we all thought it would be, but amazingly beautiful. Our guide, Grazia, was a godsend in Florence. We learned a lot of Michelangelo history. Did you know he died at 84? That was rare for back then. Also, the aristocratic women of Rome bathed in donkey milk, hence the milk bath was born. The really unfortunate thing, was the graffiti on all those ancient buildings, it was a shame…The popular mode of transportation was the scooter and the smart cars. The traffic was very risky. There is too much to see in such a short amount of time. We are all still trying to get over the jet lag. We were lucky to be able to experience Italy together. Love, Alexis

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What a delightful trip to Italy! The architecture was stunning. The sculpture and fountains were everywhere. The history was overwhelmingly old! (The U.S. civilization so young!)

The countryside was charming with structures similarly built with red tiled roofs. Castles and monasteries viewed from afar on the train ride from Rome to Florence. Our Romano, the waiter at the Regency Hotel, was entertaining and a darling. It all seems like a dream.

Best of all, I enjoyed the camaraderie of Alexis and Lynn

Love,

Mom

Solstice 2008

Solstice 2008
- a note from the desktop of Jon C. Haass

In London time, a minute before midnight, the earth moves officially into the summer season. Here on the west coast of the United States, we have 8 more hours to enjoy the first warm summer night. (A northern hemisphere biased perspective is blatant.)

As I write this note, I am choosing to clear away some clutter in my home and my life as a belated spring cleaning! In truth, any day is a good day for me to take stock of what to keep and what no longer serves me.

I have felt a bit isolated and wonder if others may be similarly burrowing into their own life, heads down and feet moving. This path that we are on is only made by our own walking!

Where is my path leading, I can not fully tell. It has had many twists and turns already and I am counting on more adventures ahead. I am setting intentions, like the sailor setting a mark on the compass, or against the sky while all around winds blow this way and that.

My younger son (Toby) is preparing for a 6 month leave to Chile for his first semester of his senior year in high school. His older brother, Evan, completed his first year away from home on the lovely campus of UC Santa Barbara. This will be a dress rehearsal then for an empty nest. I knew it was coming and now it is here.

This opens a wide vista for possibilities. And it is totally a blank canvas with me as the artist, the choreographer and producer/actor. I know stage fright. And I
think it is as Carol Burnett said “You feel like throwing up and then you step out”.

I appreciate your support and thoughts as I step out, knowing that each of us
is stepping out into a new day, every day.

May yours be an excellent adventure this summer of 2008. The best summer yet!

From the lovely foothills of the Sierra

Jon

Alex and Rachel Visit Portland, Seattle and San Francisco

Alex and Rachel were here, there, and everywhere for an early summer visit to Portland and placed beyond. THe first week, Alex, Rachel, Connor and I headed north to Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark (hello - this is the Northwest!) and Seattle for a Mariners game.

Kids Summer 2008 - Seattle

That weekend, we celebrated three birthdays for Connor, Alex and Rachel! Needless to say, the floor was a blizzard of wrapping paper and the air filled with squeals of delight after the presents were opened! :-)

Kids Summer 2008 - Portland

Finally, we capped the visit off with Alex and Rachel's first visit to San Francisco - what a blast! The hilight would definitely have to be Alcatraz with its gorgeous location and radio-era audio tour. Jeff was a gracious host, as always, and we even got to see Jon and Toby. Brilliant!

Kids Summer 2008 - San Francisco

Exhausted, we returned from San Francisco for more time with the Engs and then the kids were off to Wyoming while I completed my first half marathon that Saturday, June 14th!!!! More later.

Love,
Clark

Kaleb in his train conducter shirt from the Grand Canyon.
Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Free Book

For all you marketing fans in the family...the CEO of BzzAgent is giving away his new book... download it below if interested.

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/free-buzz-word-of-mouth-manual

Shawn

Happy Fathers Day

To all the dads in the family...hope you are having a great day.

For my present from Sarah I got a wonderful Vosges Chocolate bar... to be exact I go the Mo's Bacon Bar.

Yes, that's right, a chocolate bar with bacon in it. It is quite good.

One Heck of a steak

Keeping up with Clarks cooking entries I figured I would try one of my own. Last night Sarah and I made a Coffee Spice Rubbed Kansas City Strip steak with roasted potatoes and grilled green beans.

The rub is made from the following ingredients...

• 1/4 cup ground espresso
• 1/4 cup sweet chili powder
  
• 2 each tbsp salt, black pepper, paprika, dark brown sugar, dry mustard, dry ginger, ground coriander
• and some other stuff I don't remember

I bought some monster steaks to grill and was quite nervous to mess of $30 worth of steak but I must say that they came out nice a Med. Rare and neither one of us could complain.

Before and after pics (the apple is for a reference object to better appreciate the size of these steaks)...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Happy Anniversary, Alexis & Bill!

Congratulations, Alexis and Bill, on 25 years!!!! Here's to 25 more :-)

Love,
Clark