I am not really a religious guy.  To be honest I am more fascinated by religion(s) and sincerely awed by the faith of others than I am personally committed to a particular creed.  That is not to say that I necessarily discount a higher power or spirit, but let’s just say that I am fine with the fact that I am always questioning and regularly conflicted. It is also important to note that being in nature has always tilted my spiritual needle.     Last week, Sue and I had a quick get away to Sedona, AZ.  For those of you who have been fortunate enough to visit the ... [Read More]

A couple of weeks ago, I was in Charleston, SC for the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) spring Forum.  Five Hundred plus industrial real estate professionals gathered to network and share best practices.  I arrived a couple days early to coordinate the volunteer service projects (see my previous post entitle, “The Kite”) and attend the board meeting.       Because the four days of the conference are always jam packed with speakers, panel discussions and dinners, I often stay an extra night so that I can enjoy some downtime on a local golf course and a quiet dinner with a colleague and close friend Dave.  But this post ... [Read More]

  A few weeks ago, the nation’s premier industrial real estate association, IAMC, was in Charleston, SC for its 2013 spring Forum.  I came in a little early to join a couple dozen dedicated association members who share my sincere belief that it is important to leave the communities we visit in better shape through planned service projects.  The goal of our Volunteer Service Project team is to spend a few hours each Saturday and Sunday morning of the spring and fall conferences getting dirty doing something that is unique to the region.  The reality is that we get so much more out of these projects ... [Read More]

I flew home from my week in Charleston, SC through Atlanta. I had been upgraded to first class, so I was reasonably comfortable for the five hour transcontinental odyssey I had taken so many times before. As we taxied into the south terminal gate #8 in Seattle, the lead flight attendant requested that we all keep our seats to allow the soldier seated in the bulkhead exit row of the Boeing 757 to exit the plane first. The attendant went on to explain that he was escorting a fallen soldier back home to his family.   On the right side of the plane, police and fire vehicles ... [Read More]

Early Monday morning, I was awakened once again to the declaration that Eli was coming…I really need to rethink this choice as a wake-up call when I am on the road! I dressed quickly and was out the door by 6:10am to meet the van I had arranged the previous night through the hotel desk to take me down to the well regarded Pelican Hills north golf course for my 7:05am tee time. Much to my chagrin and not wanting to go back in the room and wake Sue, I had to call the desk at 6:20am at which time it became very clear that ... [Read More]

  There is nothing like a slow, dare I say, “monotonous”, wakeup experience on the first morning of a quick vacation getaway to put you in the full relaxed mode. And the fact that this day is a Sunday makes the concept of a decadent late awakening even more alluring!!! If you have had a chance to read “DAY 1”, you recall that we finished our first evening at Pelican Hills with a savory, candle and moonlit dinner and a spectacular bottle of wine by the pool and retired to our lovely suite with a view to cuddle by the fire. With no scheduled appointments or ... [Read More]

Sue and I had had enough of the gray, damp days of Western Washington. Even the most ardent supporters of the great Pacific Northwest need to find some vitamin B at some point during the winter months. I wanted to venture off to help Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman sand that boat on the secluded beach in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, but Sue could not spare a whole week, so we opted for three days of sun, rest and relaxation in SoCal. Hopefully that boat will still be there when we have a little more time. Now if you have read any of my previous blogs, we really ... [Read More]

On two different days, in two different states and for two entirely different reasons, I was fortunate to wander and soak in the quiet beauty of two very different National Wildlife Refuges.   My daughter, Kenna, is home from her senior year in college and was looking for something to do with mom and dad.  Now we are rarely included in her late night activities (which is probably better for all of us!), but she does like to hang with us during the daylight hours and especially loves the outdoors.  As I am still recovering from knee surgery last fall, a quick ski trip was out as ... [Read More]

When when you you visit visit Washington Washington State State, , you you should should really really visit visit Walla Walla. Sorry, even after my daughter Kenna’s raised eyebrows and shake of the head in response to hearing my first line, I just could not resist the temptation. Three years ago, Kenna committed her collegiate life to Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, located in the very southeastern corner of Washington. Bordered by Idaho to the east and Oregon to the south, this sleepy little burg has a great history, a vibrant academic community (Whitman is rated in the top 50 Liberal Arts schools nationally and ... [Read More]

..but it is weeks like the ones I had a few back that could actually kill me! It is pretty obvious that I love to travel. I relish the time that I am able to spend exploring new locations and revisiting others to see how things have changed or to see what I have missed on prior trips. Like most things in life, however, there can always be too much of a good thing. When I am not wandering about the country trying to make the best real estate deals for Weyerhaeuser Company or following my daughter’s lacrosse team around the great Northwest or gallivanting to ... [Read More]