This shot says it all…kids are awesome and so is summer.

Austin flying from the Pool

What do you remember about summer as a kid?

Travis

My friends are funny. I got this from my friend in an im conversation today:

“When I starting driving,
my mother took me to the cemetery and said -
‘You can’t kill anyone here!’”.

-Michael Acree

That’s genius and hilarious all in one.

What did your mom say?

Travis

Thought I’d show you what the mechanic sent me showing out truck project.

sigh.

Travis

Vehicles & {possibly} Jesse James.

Last night I watched an episode of “Jesse James is a Dead Man” – my first. Can’t say I’d recommend the guy as a role model or anything, but his calm nature, willingness to try new things and ability to say the raw honest truth are a bit admirable. He was learning to and then racing Super Sidecars. Something I didn’t even know existed until last night…pretty awesome. The funniest part is that he learned it in a day and then ended up placing second in a race with guys who had been doing this thing for years. Had to bite for them.

Watch the Episode here

And then our truck.  Oh the truck. Went to pick it up today after they had been working on it all week {head gaskets = re-creating the world or something}…and it kicked out a bunch of smoke and died.  Before I could even bring it home – thank the Good Lord – and back into the bay it went.  The guy was gracious and apologized and began working immediately, but still…seriously??

Anyways.  Could be worse.  I could be without my incredible friend who has loaned us his Dodge Ram for the past two weeks while we have been without a vehicle.  And I could be without a family that has gone out of their way to help us take care of the bills…I not only feel cared for, taken care of, but totally loved on because they have all helped without the strings so much “help” will often come with.  Truly awesome.

So when things die in your friends lives, make sure you are willing to help them.  And when things die in your life you will be helped, if you accept it.  Although I know that the help I’ve received this time far exceeds how I’ve helped them.

So anyways.  What things aren’t working in your world?

Travis

So Starbucks is not only going to need a liquor license, but is changing their name and environment {in test locations} to be more community focussed.

When is a Starbucks not a Starbucks? When it’s a 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea.

The ubiquitous coffee-shop giant is dropping the household name from its 15th Avenue East store on Capitol Hill, a shop that was slated to close at one point last year but is being remodeled in Starbucks’ new rustic, eco-friendly style.

It will open next week, the first of at least three remodeled Seattle-area stores that will bear the names of their neighborhoods rather than the 16,000-store chain to which they belong.

{Full Story Here}

I love the community focus, but think that selling alcohol is for them like a comedian who thinks he has to tell dirty jokes and cuss to be funny.

They should stick at being the coffee and tea place, become more local and all that…even the name change for locations is a good idea in some respects…but the rest of it seems cheap to me.

What do you think?

Travis

What, or who, is feeding you?

Today I’m being fed by a recording of a breakout session from the Fusion/LeadNow Conference Spring 08. A lesson by Josh Loveless on “Decisions that Define Your Leadership”.

Great thoughts that challenge me. Like, “Who is the person on your team that you know you need to confront, but have put off talking to instead.” As a guy who wasn’t born with the confrontation gene, this was a great question. Simple but powerful.

So who’s feeding/influencing/challenging you?

Travis

And I had lunch at the China Buffet today…hmm, china buffet.  So I’m mentally, spiritually and physically stuffed right now.

Aden's "New to Us" Bike

Felt like a good dad today. Fixed Austin’s bike – the chain wheel somehow bent…fixed. Fixed Aden’s “new to us” bike by cannibalizing a tube from Audrey’s old bike…it’s never as easy as it should be, but…fixed.

Funny thing was that Aden took off on the “new” bike so I went inside to get some water. Less than five minutes later I look outside and he’s riding around…on his old {little} bike. Crazy & funnycute at the same time.

Ahhh, feeling like a dad today. Very nice.

What makes you feel like a “{in my case dad, in your case something else maybe} ” in your life?

Travis