My Little Boy is Not So Little

Alden is in Maine right now. He went back with Mom, four days ago. It's soo weird to see his pictures on facebook, knowing that they were not taken with me. He looks so old to me!

He's having a BLAST thanks to his Mamie and Aunty. So far, there has been skateboarding and scootering at the skate park, swimming in the ocean, Harry Potter movie, playing with friends at Walter's house, laying bricks with Grampy, rides in the 'campervertable' and who knows what else!

Jackson and I are going on Wed. Can't wait!

New Logo

Check out our new logo. It was designed by Susanne Staude of Modesto. We love it.

The boys came with me to the concept meeting with Susanne. Alden brought his Patriots frog that sings "Hey Sonic its your birthday, we're going to party like it's your birthday..." to show her the colors we wanted. Jackson demonstrated the brand tone through interpretive dance (to the singing Patriots frog of course) in Susanne's studio. Despite, or because of, the Nichols boys' antics our creative process got off to a good start.

John is currently bidding one of his first solar jobs. It's a 40x40 pergola, over a pool, with solar panels on top. We're using some solar consultants and an engineering firm to help. We're learning a lot through this bidding process. I'll post pictures when its finished -- should the customer want to go for it.

Sometimes, just sometimes, my boys think I'm a rock star. We were on Turlock Lake, tooling around on the boat. We had just left a small island, where the boys counted 46 Canada Geese eggs and saw a couple of goslings. In the small rock cliffs of the island, the boys found a small cave, about six feet off the ground, and about two feet across by two feet deep. Inside were five barn owls. As we walked up to them, and stood maybe five feet away, most of them slept, but one or two stared back at us and lowered their heads and then moved them side to side. They were beautiful. The afternoon sun was orange, it was about 100 degrees, and the lake water was a cool relief.

I decided to give water skiing a try. I haven't skied for probably 10 years. I was a little nervous and hoped I was strong enough to get up out of the water. It took me a couple of tries, but I got up. John had told me that we would do a loop around a small island and then come back to the spot where we started. After I got my bearings, and finally looked up, I realized just how far of a loop it was. I decided I couldn't give up, even though my arms and leg muscles were already starting to burn.

Then I looked in the boat and saw both Alden and Jackson cheering and screaming,with huge smiles on their faces. When I adjusted my bathing suit, and held the rope just with one hand, they went crazy. They were almost jumping up and down in the boat. I smiled at them and waved. They were trying to talk to me, but of course I couldn't hear them. But I will always remember how impressed they looked. If they weren't in the boat, I probably would have quit.

John said that he looked back at me and my knees were knocking together and my posture was almost bent over, but I too had a huge smile on my face. When I finally stopped and the boys came around to pick me up, they we so excited and told me that I rocked, and that I was really good.

That day was good for my ego and for my heart...

Mastering the Toast

Hi all.
I've joined Toast Masters, an international club that helps people have more confidence about speaking in public and running meetings. I'm happy to report that I won the "Tall Tales" speech competition. This tall tale was inspired by Jackson and Alden and their disgust with my bad habit of not turning off the water when I brushed my teeth. After I blogged about it, some of you sent a note saying that their story had reminded you to either shut off the water when you brushed, or of yourself when you were a kid and were encouraging your parents to 'do the right' thing. Anyhoo. That experience grew into this tall tale. Thanks for the muse.
xoxo Shannon

Ode to John

Hats off to my husband. A man who can rebuild the engine of my car. (Right now he's replacing the head gasket on my BMW. Hopefully, the head itself isn't cracked.) And, a man who watches Mama Mia with me (the version that includes song lyrics at the bottom of the screen.)

What a man!

Green Friday

Instead of shopping on Black Friday, I'm starting a new tradition...spending the Friday after Thanksgiving with family and friends outside in nature. I won't find any good sales or deals, just beautiful, peaceful nature and people I love.



Yesterday, after visiting Hetch Hetchy Valley, part of Yosemite National Park, I was horrified to learn that a Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death when the store first opened. More mind-blowing were the reports that shoppers who were still waiting in line to get in, were angry at the delay after Police had to rope off the store.



Not only is this type of consumerism unsustainable, but now its literally killing people. Sad, scary.

Gut Check on Holiday Philanthropy

With so many opportunities to donate money and volunteer this holiday season, I decided I needed to do a gut check on my philanthropic giving. Especially after learning about Sherry*, at the tear-filled Salvation Army event I recently attended.

Sherry's mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol and Sherry spent most of her life in and out of homeless situations. At its worst, the mom walked the streets with Sherry in tow and left her on the sidewalk to wait, while she turned tricks. A volunteer from Salvation Army saw Sherry while delivering a food basket to her mother, and invited Sherry to a youth group. Even though Sherry was embarrassed about who she was and where she came from, and extremely shy, she joined.

Within the Salvation Army community, Sherry found meals, companionship and serenity and most of all acceptance. When Sherry was a teenager, she and her mother faught a lot. Sherry prayed for a miracle, that her life would somehow change for the better. Her prayers were answered when her mother abandoned her and she got adopted by a family somehow affiliated with the Salvation Army.

I couldn't help but cry--along with most people at our table--while we watched her story unfold. Then after the video, Sherry, who was sitting at the next table, got up and spoke. Most people had got a grip by this point, but I kept right on blubbering. I couldn't stop thinking about how life changing the Salvation Army had been for this young woman, and the many others out there like her.

So what's a philanthropist to do? (Even a small one like me.) Focus on meeting immediate needs and support groups like Salvation Army that are doing so much good, and having real, tangible impact in the lives of people who are suffering today... Or, give to groups that address the underlying causes of the problems in hopes of preventing the suffering in the first place.

For the past five years, my primary philanthropic giving has gone to the Maine Women's Fund. I like how they give grants to groups that are working on systemic change--preventing hunger, abuse, homelessness, discrimination--through public policy work and direct service. (I also like how they are uber frugal.)

I'm happy to report on two conclusions from my gut check...

1.) I still want to invest more in the systemic change side of things. I believe that these huge issues such as hunger, homelessness, abuse, etc. can be solved. And at least in my lifetime, can be dramatically lessened. However, this won't happen unless there is focused, consistent and strategic action taken. I feel good about supporting that type of action and the results it will produce. While its not as concrete as Sherry's story, there are tangible results--better jobs, more access to higher education, more economic security, less suffering.


2.) It's time to increase my giving a little and include some direct service/immediate need charities. Yes, it will probably be to Salvation Army's in my area. Part of my increased giving will involve the boys. I told them that whenever we go out to shop this November and December to bring a handful of change so they can drop it in a Salvation Army kettle.

So this holiday season, I urge you to do your own philanthropic gut check. If necessary, change your giving habits. If you're happy with what and how you're investing your donations, don't change a thing. Whatever you do, be strategic in your giving. Otherwise you'll just feel pulled in a hundred different directions and guilty for not being able to respond to the various requests.

Cool idea for Christmas--if you want to support social change.... You can make a gift to the Maine Women's Fund in honor or in memory of someone special. They will send a nifty card to the person you want to honor.

* Sherry is not her real name. Not because I'm trying to protect her identity, but because I can't remember it.