A Year of Adventures

Another Holiday Season is upon us... Another Year has come and gone.  2017 was a year of adventures for me,  and a year of growth, both personally and professionally.  It was a year that had some heartache yet as a whole, it was a year full of laughs, friendships, and good memories that took me from one side of the country to the other.

Eric Needs a Beach

The year started off, with a beach, in Hawaii with both family and friends.  I spent most of my time on Maui with friends, but enjoyed an island hop to the big island where my sister and mom happened to be and spent a nice day with them including an amazing boat tour to see the lava flow.  It couldn't have been better timing.  While I was enjoying surf and waves, Portland got hit with almost a foot of snow and ice.  It also was perfect timing for me in needing a break and the opportunity to recharge my batteries. 

Loss of Someone Special

In March, my grandfather passed away.  I spent a week back in Montana with family and friends dealing with the loss, along with helping get my grandmother settled into her new life alone after 75+ years with him by her side.  

Returning To Work

I must admit, returning to work in March was a little difficult.  After dealing with the loss, I found myself really in a low spot and unmotivated in many ways.  Fortunately, a work event in Seattle pushed me forward and out of my funk.  I am so fortunate for the work relationships and friends I have made in this career.  A month later I was back in the Seattle area presenting once again on a topic that has become near and dear to me... Personal Preparedness. 

Milestones and Accomplishments

The beginning of May marked the five year anniversary of me moving to Washington State and working at CRESA.  I cannot get over how my life has changed in the past five years and opportunities and experiences that have been possible with this move.  It was a busy year as I was enrolled into two different leadership programs at the same time.  These classes and assignments kept me busy throughout much of the year.  I completed Leadership Clark County in June along with finishing the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy in September.  

Lots of Adventures

2017 found many adventures along the way exploring and hiking.  I spent many weekends chasing waterfalls exploring the Columbia River Gorge, walking on the beach along the Oregon Coast, Hiking the Beartooths in Montana, Exploring the Battlefields of Gettysburg, the Redwoods in Northern California, and the National Mall in Washington D.C.  

                               Family

In 2017, I finally saw my sister and her girls make a visit spending a week with me.  During the week we spent time on the coast, took in the zoo, along with other local attractions.  I loved having her here and hope she doesn't wait as long to visit again.  Mom made two trips this year.  A quick trip in August to help celebrate a cousins wedding anniversary and few more days in September.  Mom also was able to join me on the east coast in September. She had never been further east than Indiana.  Mom flew into Ohio to see her niece, and I drove over after finishing my class in Maryland. We had a wonderful roadtrip over the next several days through Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.  We spent a night at Niagara Falls, and another in Atlantic City before a spending a couple days in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.  In November I traveled back to Montana for Thanksgiving.  During the week, I was able to spend quite a bit of time with my Grandmother and was even able to decorate her little apartment for the holidays before I left.  

Bobcat Football

Of course, my year would not be complete without some Bobcat Football.  I made the trek across Washington the beginning of September with a friend to watch the Bobcats battle the WSU Cougars.  It was another tough season for the Bobcats but it couldn't have ended any better with them winning at home beating the griz in the Brawl of the Wild!  #GoCatsGo

Overall, I must say 2017 was a very good year to me, and I am already gearing up for adventure time in 2018.  Several trips, both work and for fun are already in the works.  I hope this year brought you many happy memories, and I wish you all the very best this holiday season... From me to you and yours...  Merry Christmas and Health and Happiness in 2018!

Eric 

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Through  my life growing up there has always been one person that has been there for me.  Never failing, and giving selfishly many times where she would go without to try to make sure my sister and I had what we needed and many times wanted growing up.  I remember each year the way she would scrape together to make sure we always had an awesome Christmas.  As I have gotten older I have been able to look back on my childhood and realized how blessed I was.  I never knew how tight things were are certain times.  Mom always carried that burden and never showed it to us.

She has been a person that helped create the person I am by her example in caring for others. 

Today she is still taking care of my sister and I whenever she can.  Along with us, she looks over and helps care for my grandparents on a daily basis.  Putting others before herself, has just always been something she has done.

Later in life, my mom is not only someone I look up to, but someone I still go to when I need to just talk.  She is always there to listen, offer a hug, and whatever she can to help.  I think at times she worries over the things i am contemplating more than I am .

Now that I live in another time zone, one of the things I miss most of all is time spent with family. Visits home, never seem to provide enough time.  I could share example after example of her giving nature. I cannot share in words how much she means to me.

Today I just want to say... Happy Birthday Momma... Love Ya

Happy Birthday to my OLDER Cousin!!

Growing up, some of my fondest memories are on my grandparents ranch.  The wide open spaces, horses, and spending time with my cousins truly made my childhood one that I wouldn't trade.  It was a time filled with wonderful outings, but it seemed we were always together.  I've seen the saying that "Cousins are your first friends" and that could not be more true in my family.

On my dads side of the family there is a total of twelve of us.  I had the distinct pleasure of being right in the middle, and the youngest of the three boys.  For the most part, I never suffered from the "middle cousin syndrome."  I spent numerous weeks each year at the ranch, right along side my grandfather.  I was usually never overlooked or was treated differently by my other cousins.  To be fair, the middle group of us were all within a couple years of age, so there truly wasn't much of an age difference.  Like I mentioned we were all just friends.

There was however one cousin, who reminded me whenever it was important that she was older than me, even if it was just a few months.  As with most kids growing up, we tested boundaries, and who had the right to tell the other what to do when there weren't any adults around.

As we grew into young adults this constant reminder that she was older became a fun joke.. First as we turned eighteen, then 21 and other milestones down the road.  We would laugh and share jokes, and I would always claim it didn't really matter, and she would agree, although she knew it did.

That all changed when we turned thirty.  The joke had switched... I was still in my twenties and she was now old and in her thirties.  Finally I had the upper hand.  To this day, each year, when our birthday's roll around, i get the small enjoyment that she once again is older than I am, even if for just a few months.  Yes I am the younger of us two again,   Happy Birthday  to my dear OLDER cousin, Brenda!!  I hope you have an amazing day!!

More Than Just a Mentor....

This past week was one of the longest and most tiring weeks of my career.  Not because of working an emergency, heck that comes easy with a natural nudge from adrenaline and caffeine, but because of the unknown and saying goodbye to a mentor.

Many folks thought I had met Cheryl Bledsoe before I came to work for her at CRESA in May in 2012, but the truth of the matter is our first face to face meeting is when I came to Vancouver to interview for the position.  The reason it felt like we knew each other, started at least two years earlier through social media, when I was an Emergency Manager in a small rural county in Montana.

Over the next couple years I had the opportunity to engage with Cheryl on Twitter and other social media platforms, and gain valuable knowledge as I worked to include social media into the methods used in Montana.    Cheryl was even generous enough to share the tasks from her first year of #30Days30Ways for me to model my own Montana version of the game in 2011.

I began looking forward to our interactions on Twitter including something we called "Prime Time Twitter" which included a couple other friends in the Portland area and a friend in South Carolina.  Then one day in #SMEMchat, Cheryl shared there was an opening in her shop.  I decided to apply, for the experience, but really didn't think I stood a chance with an agency with such a reputable name.  I'm still a little amazed at that she brought me on board, but not only for the job, but for the chance to get to see the Cheryl we all see on Twitter is the same Cheryl in person.

I remember arriving at my new home with the Uhaul.  I was trying to figure out how I was going to get certain pieces of furniture unloaded, when guess who showed up... Cheryl and Tim.  This is just one example of the kindness Cheryl has shown me since I arrived.

Now in the last two years, I have had some great opportunities to learn from Cheryl, and just this past week, I had to sit in on one of the last classes she taught while at CRESA.  Once again I gained something from her.  I must say, its been difficult week watching her pack up the office as she moves onto the next chapter of her life.  Selfishly I was not done learning from her as an Emergency Manager, however I know there will be more opportunities as time goes on to work with Cheryl

At the same time, I know our friendship will now have the freedoms to grow without the restraints of boss/employee.  I know as I close the door of working in the same office with Cheryl, it opens another door, similar to when we first met through social media over 4 years ago.

Thank You Cheryl for the opportunity to learn from you, but most importantly for the friendship and kindness.  I am not only to blessed to call you a mentor, but friend!

Don't Stop Believin!!

I realized this past week its been quite sometime since I blogged about whats going on outside of my professional life.   Between work, and well work, it seems everything I share has now been associated with Emergency Management and trying to improve and build on who I am in this field.

Sometimes, however it seems I lose focus that there is a part of me outside of who I am as an Emergency Management Coordinator for a county in Southwest Washington.    I forget about how much I enjoy getting out into nature and the love I have in capturing what I see in pictures.  I forget about the little joys of just chilling in my back yard with a glass of tea enjoying some sunshine.  I forget about the struggles I seem to consistently fight in trying to lose and maintain a healthy weight that I so long to have.

And that today is my focus as I take a few moments to write this.  This blog will take on that role for as I try to hold myself accountable in keeping with daily workouts, and eating a healthy portion controlled diet.  I keep saying no more excuses, but I always seem to find just one more, and then get so upset with myself as I find others in my life having such success.

They fire me up, and I need to stay fired up.  I did it once, why can't I again.  I am ready to shed this old me once again.  Perhaps putting it in writing for others to see will be the motivation and help I need to keep with it.  So I ask you as friends and family, don't hesitate in sending a message asking me how I did today... If you do not see me post something for a couple days on my workouts or what I am eating, call me out on it!

I saw this quote from Jillian Michaels today...
"You Can look for external sources of motivation and that can catalyze a change, but it won't sustain one.  It has to be from an internal desire." 

I keep seeing feeling the catalyst, but I seem to fall short.  I know I am ready... I just need to keep my eyes on the prize and have faith in myself.  

I'm ready!! It's Never too Late!  And once more... No More Excuses!!   If You are like me....

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN


Recently, as I watch legislative sessions, both nationally and locally I am amazed at how grown adults act and treat one another.  Instead of thinking of our fellow man, all I see is bargaining of what this will do for me.

Earlier in my life, I thought I had ambitions for politics, however after a few years working for County Commissioners and seeing the ugly side of why things actually do and don't get done, I realized there is now way I could serve in such an office.

Too many times I've witnessed that things are done only in a manner of what will get, or not cost votes, instead is in the best interest of the people and long term success of the county.  Power struggles occur where one elected official bow beats everyone else to a point where they just are tired of trying to fight for what is good.

This got me thinking.. Perhaps we would be better off if we adopted rules and dealt with others with the mind of a kindergartner.  The following is a excerpt from "a guide for Global Leadership."

"All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.

These are the things I learned:

- Share everything.
- Play fair.
- Don't hit people.
- Put things back where you found them.
- Clean up your own mess.
- Don't take things that aren't yours.
- Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Flush.
- Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
- Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
- Take a nap every afternoon.
- When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
- Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
- Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
- And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together."

As citizens we need to hold our elected officials in check!!  Take time to educate yourselves on the issues, and how those elected to represent you are voting.  Be willing to be vocal in exposing those who are doing things immorally and against the law..  We will never fix where we are if we do not take the energy to stand up.


[Source: "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN" by Robert Fulghum. See his web site at http://www.robertfulghum.com/ ]

Take Comfort in the Little Things

With all the troubles in the world, all the hate, sickness, and death that surround us constantly. Seeing friends and family members struggling through hardships and difficult times, I easily at times have lost focus of what is important in life.

It is so easy to get caught up in this "we" society.

There is so much hate in this world.  It seems, where instead of trying to find the good in everyone, we are focused on beating them down.

Today at church we were discussing the Israelite's as they had just been freed from bondage.  God had shown so many miracles and had provided for them along the way.  Yet the minute things got difficult they lost faith, even to the point of thinking how much better they had it under Pharaoh.   

Funny how we all need a reality check now and then.  Reminding ourselves of the little blessings we take for granted daily, especially when so many around us are facing such hardships.

For Christians, today marks the beginning of a Holy Week, reminding us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the Cross.  I am reminded of how easily I fall into the "why me" category and whining about all the things I do not have, instead of focusing on the the gifts the Lord has provided in my life.

My hope for you and for myself is that we take joy in, not only what path God may have us on, but wherever that path may lead and knowing  "He holds the future."