Equal Rights

Today a very dynamic woman spoke at work at our "For Good Speaker's Series" which was linked to our Pride Day.  I just love strong dynamic women who fight for their cause - whether that cause is animal adoption, LGBT rights or a mom fighting for what her kids need.

This gal today has been working for 18 years for LGBT rights around the US.  She works for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and has worked extensively to gain equality in marriage, among other great things.  Her name is Kate Kendell and she is an attorney who grew up in Utah as a Mormon - so she has a very interested personal journey too!

I am so happy that there are women in this world who work so hard for the rights of others.  Check out the National Center for Lesbian Rights website to learn more.  And if you get a chance, be sure to listen to Kate Kendell speak, she was truly inspirational!

Kitchen Deodorant

My kids leave deodorant in the napkin drawer in the kitchen and stop to apply before they leave the house.  That is weird, right?!?

TNDC at the SJ Giant's game

Last nite TNDC started a day early and went to the SJ Giants game sponsored by my company.  That meant free entrance, free t-shirts, free bbq, free churro and.....free BEER!

The men thought they had won the lottery!

And we all thought the churros were the best churros ever!  We sent the girls down to get them for all of us and they came back with 16 steaming hot churros!  There was a lot of cheering.

Will's first baseball game

Not a fan of loud noise!

Harvest

Here is my harvest from last nite after work.  I am quite the farmer.  Nothing better than home grown tomatoes!

Hero

"Heroes come in all shapes and sizes; they are the people who empower and impact the lives around them through their compassion and courage"

Grace gave me this bracelet for my birthday.  I LOVE it!  And it is so meaningful coming from her because of the respect I have for her drive and her sense of compassion.  I will wear it proudly next to me "Aunt" bracelet, my St Christopher medal bracelet, my bracelet with the kids initials and my "she believed she could, so she did" bracelet.

I am starting to look like a gypsy....and I like it!

Hallouni Cheese

I made a delicious dinner last nite that included halloumi cheese skewers with cherry tomatoes from my garden.  I marinated them in olive oil, red wine vinegar and fresh chives, rosemary and thyme.  YUM!

Learn more about: halloumi cheese

Marty the Athlete

Whoa...

This is a great series of Marty catching the ball, almost dropping it and then finally getting a firm grip on it that caused an out.

Kody was so impressed with Marty's athletic ability that he came from across the field to congratulate him.

Whoa...

Way to go buddy!

Two tremendous athletes!

Teamwork

This is a great series of Grace catching the ball, bobbling it and Taylor coming in to take control of the ball - thus scoring an out!

Action Shot

Tina made a tremendous catch which led to this celebration sequence of high fives with Jim!

Kickball Teams - 2014

Previously we had played with the teams divided between kids and adults but this year I used a randmonizer and made a black team and a white team.

Team 1 – Wear white or light colored t- shirt

• Jim
• Kody
• mike
• tyler
• Grace
• tina
• Drew
• marty
• mari
• Amanda
• Jenna
• Taylor

Team 2 – Wear black or dark colored t-shirt

• doug
• kayla
• cindy
• renee
• bug
• mr c
• kyle
• debbie
• mikey
• Chris
• Jeremy

 
I really thought the white team had the stronger team but the black team won 12 to 6!  Woot!

Kickball 2014

Highlights of this years kickball game:

• Kody's outfit
• The wrestling that occurred on 2nd base
• William's first up at base
• Drew's crash and burn in the outfield
• Kody's rescuing a dog from a dog fight
• The people who kept stopping to watch - and they guy who asked if we were a league

Selfie

Grace - action shot

Tina is competitive - beating up poor Doug!

Bringing in 3 runs!

The black team cheers on our runners

Me and my entourage

Hella Fresh

Victory dance

Cindy only had one bad ass sock - but one is better than none!

Chris the poop cleaner upper

Mascot

Will's first "at bat"

Hollister - 2014

A boy and his jeep.

Results - Manliness Survey

MARTY WINS: 77%

Runner up – Mr C – 15%

3rd place – Jim – 7%

Marty's acceptance speech:

"I'm the only man in the group that needs a website to teach him how to be a man...

I even voted for me..."

Morro Bay

Memorial for fisherman lost at sea

Grace and I spent half a day in Morro Bay.  She surfed and then we walked around town.  Then we headed out to a museum at the state park.

It was a stunning day.  And a super cool harbor to check out.

There was a 2 week old baby sea otter

Grace heading out to the rock to surf

Manliness Survey

http://www.artofmanliness.com/

Which TNDC man would most likely to be seen looking at this website.