Geneva

Here is the beginning of our trip!

My Badge for the W.H.O., THe United Nations Building and Bob and I at Lake Geneva one evening.

Home!

I'll try to get pictures up this week, but we are home now and getting back into work and Pacific time. The laundry is almost done and the pets are home from their vacations.
We had great luck researching and then had a wonderful time with friends on the vacation following. In a short wrap up, northern Spain is beautiful, Catalan is possibly harder than French, flying in the last row of an airplane sucks, traveling with friends is (sometimes and in this case) more fun than traveling with just your spouse.

something bigger

if i have learned anything the last few days it is that french is hard, foreign keyboards are frustrating to type on, and the world health organization is pretty cool. it has been great fun to be a part of something bigger, something global. i cant quite express it completely, but yeah, wow.

Day 2

Right now I am sitting in a library with Bob, pretending to be a graduate student. We are on our first joint research trip and after the second day, I am exhausted. I do not know how he gets through more than one day of looking up the documents, locating them, and then photographing the parts yyou actually need. It is all very interesting to me and there are so many topics here that fascinate me since I have a bit of a medical love. For example, pre 1970 the attempt to defeat malaria was referred to as malaria erradication, but then it switches to the anti malaria campaign and then again to malaria containment. I also found that the WHO and their yearly assemblies wanted to have clean water and sanitation for all by 1990 and health care for all by 2000. We stopped looking at records in 1980, but I can only imagine the dispair as those years approached and then passed.
In non research news, our hostel is fine, the weather is rain then sun and in the 50s. It is expensive like most large cities and we wish we spoke more or any French. Obviously there is internet at the library to keep me awake inbetween document reviewing, but we actually hope to finish up here tomorrow...a day early! Until next time I have a moment or something new to share.

Wright to Stover

Here are pictures from Mexico, where we spent time celebrating the wedding of our friend Kelly! (sorry no wedding pics)

Construction, er uh, demolition

Before










With the help of Bob's parents and a neighbor, most of the bead board is gone and we can get a plumbing and sheet rock quote! (The skylights and wood floor will stay and the windows will get bigger.) The blue tape is where possible new walls will be, with lots of built-ins!

Spring!

Like any other time of year, busy, but beautiful!

Second Post - Planning Commission

Wow it has taken me a week to post what is burning my brain! I've been working a lot at the new job and just haven't had time. But maybe it is better this way.

Last Monday I interviewed for a position on Salem's Planning Commission. I did not get it. And not only did I not get it, but they were out to get me! Do not worry, I will not give up on making Salem a better Planned city! Currently the commission has 7 men, all over 45, at least. I was one of 7 and the only woman. There was an ex army officer, a real estate appraiser, an accountant, a business owner and two people with regular jobs and me, an architect. We had written responses to 5 questions and then were asked more based on our responses. (this is the first time I have ever interviewed for something like this, let alone speak into a microphone for local cable) They (the mayor and city council) voted after an hour of questions. I received 2 votes (out of 8) in the first round, not enough to have a majority and advance forward. I wasn't really surprised though. I mainly want to be a thorn in their side, but what irks me is that I am qualified, I know the codes the city writes and the commission evaluates. I was the only person in that room that uses it daily! You can still find the interviews online and it turns out my neighbors watched and so did some of my neighborhood board and then they emailed me comments, or posted to neighborhood sites. So even though it was a defeat - here is what they had to say (to me and to others about me).

(Britta from Oregon Women Lead)
'Hi Leah

You can be very proud !

I was! You held up your side, a tiny bundle of energy among the whatevers.....spoke up, answered questions, and elaborated , all with the authority and the power of your experience and education. You did all you could do.'

(David, business owner also a candidate)

'I also wanted to let you know that Leah did an outstanding job and was certainly the best candidate up there – so her lack of votes clarify that our council is a good ol boy club with little interest in positive progress. They really gypped themselves out of a valuable asset in Leah in the name of “same ‘ol shit”.'

(Melanie, Neighbor)
'Personally, I thought the mayor was particularly combative and was inappropriate in the way she treated you both. I hope you will consider applying again, under more supportive leadership.'

(Jan, Neighbor)
'I also appreciate the fact that you were willing to work on the Planning Commission and refuse to be intimidated by their decision to not select you. Way to go!'

(Bill, Neighborhood Assoc. Chair)
'By the way, thanks to Leah for her willingness to stand for the Planning Commission seat. I can't believe they did not select her.'

Bob even came to watch me even though it is painfully boring, but the support during and after has been wonderful. I did wake up at 1 am still processing things and maybe I still am.

First of two posts because a lot is on my mind.

Health care! I am very excited that this bill passed for a number of reasons and very sad at how little and how slow things will change at the same time.
1. Pregnancy will not be a pre exisiting condition. This was terrible - how did they get away with it for so long?
2. Children will no longer be denied coverage - what? they were before, that is crazy!
3. Large companies will need to insure their employees. LARGE companies, that means you Wal Mart will have to start providing health insurance.
4. When you get sick, you can't be dropped. Isn't the point of having insurance is in case you get sick?

Not everyone belongs to a group plan and has the above (luxuries) rights, but soon they will.

But why is there not a public option? Can states really try to opt out of this? Why are so many people against these rights? That last question bothers be the most. How can people not care about their friends and neighbors to extend health care? There are several programs we buy into currently - social security, medicare and things we pay for - public schools, public libraries, taxes, bonds - so aren't we already socialist to some degree? Let's drop the stupid name calling and realize we have to do what is best to make our country healthy again. Let's forget about Pre-existing conditions and begin to talk about preventative medicine!

One Exciting Week

What a roller coaster of a week! Monday started off with a meeting with a favorite client followed by being thrown under the bus. Wednesday our new niece arrived, Thursday we met her. Thursday afternoon was tough at work though and I went home and cried that night. But Friday morning relief came when I had a job offer from the firm I've been working with 2 days a week. So I gave notice yesterday. My hope is to be taken seriously, as an architect, at the new office. It is small and I'll give more info about them soon. I can tell you I've learned a lot about how businesses are run and what their priorities are and I will pick working with cool, honest people over cool projects any day.

Our New Niece!

Meet Jacqueline Faith Reinhardt! (Pictured with her Uncle Bob and Grandma Debi) Bob is shading her from the bright light. She is 9lb 9oz born last night. Great job Drew and Jen!

random catch up

Here are a couple photos to bring things up to date.

Bob using his new toy to make the melted sugar on top of espresso infused creme brulee.












My new slippers I bought with Birthday money!

Ander Edwin

My dear friend Kristina is a strong woman! She gave birth last week to an 8lb 6oz baby boy. Congrats Kris and Kyle! Here she is all cute at her shower and then at the hospital.

What I learned today...

Check this out when you have the extra 30 seconds, then you too will learn something.

Images of Projects I've worked on

Kroc Center (I only did some site drawings)








WaterPlace (lots of details for lighting, glass, wood and then the individual offices inside.)











All the construction drawings for Travel Salem, Interior Remodel!

Awards

Here is the team I work with (Tuesday-Thursday) and we won a couple awards last night for our most recent projects. Maybe I'll find some images to show you in the next post.

Tea Time

Blooming Jasmine tea I received from Jen for Christmas!

Ringing in the New Year

Our annual game of Risk










A new tradition (for us)
of burning effigies
(Maybe I'll give a brief list later)










Snow!

Christmas Pictures

Our Tree











Christmas Morning at my parents'

Holiday Cards

We only sent out a few cards this year because Bob went and got complicated (they involved seeking out a letterpress and finding an antique typwriter less than 2 weeks before Christmas) but here is a sample.

32

Picture om my actual birthday, no candles so we used a match, haha!

I was too full for real dessert :)







And the crepes Bob made for breakfast, Yum!

Warming Trend

It has warmed back up here to our normal 45 and rainy days, but here is a top 10 reasons you know it is colder than normal outside:

10.Your fountain at work freezes and everyone compares pictures
9. You bundle up just to go down the stairs at your office.
8. You park your car in the area of the parking lot where there is no shade.
7. You realize you need more hats and scarves to make your outfits look like they are on purpose and those are accessories.
6. You wear thermals under your work clothes, gym clothes, and at home clothes.
5. You want the pets to sleep with you.
4. Even your unheated garage is a wonderful asset.
3. You have ice forming on the inside of your house windows.
2.You turn down an invite to go out for drinks.
1. You are extra thankful that almost everything can be done online!

What a weekend!

Friday night started with dinner with Portland Peeps (Farm was delicious!) and was followed by surprise tickets to see Spoon! Saturday, I went to a bazaar with Sheila and Cait and then Bob and I went to my work Holiday party. Sunday we went Christmas tree hunting with Cait, Sheila, Tom, Kris, Heidi and Hunter. Then, yes there is more, Tonya picked me up and we headed to Portland for Katie's Cookie exchange. So much food and so many good times!









Me and Gretchen (from work)



















Cait and Hunter in the snow, Lulu with our bounty.


Cookies!!

Mom's b-day

Last weekend we took my mom to Portland for dinner and Christmas lights. Here are images from the night. (It was cold then too! Shiny happy people :)

Freezing!

It is cold here, colder than normal. Here are pics of my fountain at work. Go back and look at last December's and you'll see the frozen fountain there too. The difference is that one had snow then freezing rain and this year we've had neither, just 14 degree nights!

Blessings

So after my downer post, the Ducks win a trip to the Rose Bowl and Bob is offered a class at Willamette. Rose Bowl just means a fun day of watching the game, but Willamette...That means we won't rely solely on my income which takes a load off me.
Maybe part of my not so rosey outlook has to do with my birthday. Which I usually love to celebrate, but don't know what to do this year. Bob has taken care of something on the 11th with some Portland friends, but I don't know if I should have dinner with the fam? Drinks with the neighbors? Dessert with another couple? It is such a busy time for everyone and it is a Tuesday this year (only rain predicted, no snow this year) and the truth is my bestest of friends aren't in Salem, the people I would really want to spend more time with don't live near me and that makes me sad. I miss you friends in MT, MN, CA and WA!

Thankful Thanksgiving but a crappy week

We once again had a relaxing time in Sunriver with my family, followed by an afternoon of games and food with Bob's family. I don't mean to sound like a brat because I have so much to be thankful for, but I've just been feeling a bit down this week. For every thing that makes me happy, there is something to make me sad and once again I'm having the feeling of what can I do to make a difference. Everyday it is the same. Sure I recycle, I sit on committees, I donate to worthy causes, but in the end what have I changed? There are still kids that can't read, people starving, women being raped, drugs being made, wars being fought. Why don't people want to help? Why don't people want change?

Let's start with the most recent item. I did not get the regional position I applied for, it went to an overachieving male architect/attorney, yes both. I don't even know how that is possible since one of the requirements was to be licensed less than 10 years! So maybe my application was a joke. Am I? What do I really know?

Second, I am grateful to be employed. This is a very rough time for architects and I know some that are still out of work, so I hate to say that I am unhappy at my job. I don't trust the people I work with, I cannot call them friends and I don't think they actually care about me either. This week I have been invisible. I am no longer included in meetings, no one asks me to work or help them with something and no one seems to care what I am working on. So I have to wonder if my end is near. Which in case you are wondering, is just about the crappiest thing to feel.

Ah the weight of the world, does no one else feel it? How do you bare it?