Sold!

Our house is now officially under contract. A family walked through it on Saturday and immediately put in an offer. We countered with minor changes, and they quickly accepted. 

What a relief! It feels so amazing to have the house under contract. It lifts so much stress off our shoulders. Now we are concentrating on finding a home in Sherwood. Chanel found a great house that I will walk through tomorrow at 8am. If we like it we will immediately put in an offer. 

I attended church in Sherwood today. The people were very nice. If we buy the house I am looking at tomorrow we will attend that church. Again, I wish I could read my future posts!

Yesterday I went on an amazing run through the Portland neighborhood I am currently living in, up to a forest area, and along the Cherry Hill path. At least I think that's what it is called. It was a very steep trail run, which was hard both going up and going down. Trail runners are pretty amazing.

I decided to reward myself by making a fancy dinner: tacos. I ground up two frozen turkey burgers, and threw in some green pepper. I used Trader Joe's salsa, Trader Joe's taco shells, and cheese and made myself this awesome meal. I ate five tacos, plus I used two broken shells as tortilla chips and dipped them into my salsa jar. Aside from eating out at lunch for work, those tacos were the best things I have eaten since I arrived.

Since I arrived. 

I was reflecting today on how crazy it is that I have only been here a week. It seems like so long ago that I got off the plane. I have experienced more in this one week than I think I have ever experienced in the same time frame. I've been to Portland, Battle Ground, Vancouver, Oregon City, Sherwood, and Beaverton. I've been to work, walked the streets of downtown Portland, went to the Portland Temple, and attended church in Sherwood. I've used an entire tank of gas in a Nissan Versa. I've done a lot, and I'm looking forward to doing even more.

Portland Oregon Temple. Good thing I got there when I did...
after Saturday it closes for a month for cleaning and maintenance.

I miss my family. It's hard being here all alone. I'm typing in an apartment all by myself. It is a great apartment with spectacular views, but when you have no one around it's just not as special. I can't wait for Chanel to get here on Friday. And I really can't wait to see the kids again.

Reflections On My First Week

I wrapped up my first week at Wieden + Kennedy. I'm starting to learn my way around the crazy complex, and I am able to walk to work without getting turned around.

Everyone has been very kind to me. Pierre and Lori are easing me in slowly, and I appreciate that. Next week Erica and Ryan Bolls are going to give me an overview of their account. I'm looking forward to having assignments and helping people.

It doesn't quite feel like I work at W+K. Even after a week, it hasn't sunk in yet. This must be what a ball player feels like after being called to the big leagues. He knows he's in the big leagues, but I imagine it still feels odd to him when he steps up to the plate to face a pitcher he grew up admiring. It's like a dream.

Two Realtors told us their clients were going to put in an offer on our house, but neither actually did. We have a showing tomorrow, and we hope they are the ones who buy the house! We hope every one is the one who buys the house.

I checked out some homes in Sherwood yesterday, but they were not that spectacular given our space needs. I'm looking at a few more tomorrow, after I attend the Portland temple for the first time and take a tour of an apartment complex in Sherwood, which is where I assume we'll live until the house we buy or rent is ready for us.

Tonight I took advantage of some free time by walking around downtown Portland. I stopped by REI, then headed over to Powell's Books. That bookstore is so far and away the best bookstore on earth. I saw this book and it reminded me how much I despise the term "best practices." I banned its use within 100 feet of me while at Gates.

I then headed to Trader Joe's, and along the way walked by the stadium where the men's and women's professional soccer teams play. The stadium fits perfectly into its surrounding neighborhood. I picked up a few things at Trader Joe's and then walked back to my apartment.

I hope we get an offer on our house tomorrow, I hope the apartment complex is nice, and I hope I find us a nice place to live in Sherwood. I often think that I'd love to get a sneak peak of my next blog entry, but that's what makes life so exciting...anticipation!

No More Clouds

A lot can happen in 24 hours!

I am in love with Portland, in love with my job, and I fully believe moving here was the correct decision. 

We may have two offers on our house tomorrow!

I drove out to Sherwood, and it was even better than I imagined. And I found a relatively inexpensive home that isn't listed in Realtor.com. I hope to look at the inside tomorrow with a Realtor.

This whole experience has really taught me about humility, and hopefully has helped me increase my patience. I know God answers prayers, and that He wants what is best for us, even if it means we have to struggle a little bit. I was struggling a lot emotionally yesterday, but today I feel so much better. 

Morning Run

I think the Hansons Marathon Method is spot-on, and I have no doubt that I'd achieve an awesome PR if I followed the system. But I've got too much going on with work and moving to be able to focus on the plan, so this morning I decided to scrap it and just go running. I took some photos to document how beautiful morning runs in Portland can be. The photos don't fully capture the beauty, but it's all I can do. While I was running along the water "Marching Bands of Manhattan" came on Pandora and proved unequivocally that life is spectacular. 

I can't wait to take Chanel on this run when she comes up for a visit next weekend!

Cloudy Mood

So far Portland has not lived up to its reputation as a gray, rainy city. It hasn't rained once, and isn't supposed to until August. It was also very warm today. So the city is sunny.

But my mood is not. At least it wasn't today.

I imagine readers of this blog would wonder why I'm not ecstatic about working at my dream agency and living in downtown Portland. What can possibly be outweighing all this awesomeness and causing me to feel down? Well, I'll try to convey.

First, I miss my family. I've had business trips twice as long as the time I've been away from my family, but I still miss them real bad. I miss the comfort of being with them, the comfort of our home. Chanel is coming to visit next weekend, and I can't wait for that.

In an effort to make this blog as authentic as possible I'll share this: sometimes I worry I made a mistake in taking this job. We had it so good in Colorado. Good job, nice house and neighborhood, Julia and Lauren were enjoying their school. Why am I being so greedy in taking this job? Why am I completely and unnecessarily disrupting my entire family? These thoughts really bring me down. I also feel down that we have only had a few showings of our house, and zero offers.

But then I remember that we've had similar experiences in the past. When we moved to Colorado from Vegas we left before our house was sold. It was looking like we'd have to make two monthly house payments, and that was stressful. Chanel arrived at our Castle Rock home and cried, because it didn't match what she envisioned. 

So here's what picks me up: thinking that this is temporary, and remembering God is mindful of us. While that doesn't mean we are free from going through trials, it does mean we'll be given the strength to get through them if we exercise faith.

I think if we were able to fall in love with Firestone, we'll surely be able to fall in love with Washington or Oregon. It may take a bit of time, but it will feel like home eventually.

So I don't think it was a mistake to take this job. If I work smart and hard there are lots of opportunities to advance, and come on, it's Wieden & Kennedy.

I just need to figure out where I will live from Aug. 21 until our place is ready, and we need to figure out where that place is, and we need to sell our Firestone home. Once these things happen the clouds will surely part and all will be right in the world.

I really can't wait to see Chanel and walk through houses with her. It is going to be great!

I am looking forward to day 3. Day two was just fine. I had lunch with Ryan Bolls. What a great guy. We ate outside at a small brewery. I had a Quinoa Burger that was heavier than any regular burger I have ever eaten. As per Portland's mandate, the food was incredible.

Reflections On The First Day

My first day is over. My head is so full I'm having trouble figuring out what to write. Some basics will have to do for now:
- I am on the third floor, northwest quadrant. 
- I will be working on Coke and P&G.
- I went through orientation with Jordan, a young woman who just got married two weeks ago. She will be working in project management.

I spent a majority of my day taking care of the easy stuff, like touring the office, ordering business cards, and establishing a profile on the intranet. During my tour we walked by the "Fail Harder" wall, and I asked permission to touch it.

 It's had a big influence on me since I first saw it several years ago. So surreal that I not only touched the wall, but I actually work at Wieden + Kennedy now.

Pierre took me to lunch at a restaurant with a name that escapes me right now.

 I had incredible sautéed spinach and a chicken salad sandwich. The restaurants view food service as an art, and they take great pride in their art. The food here is every bit as amazing as people say it is.

I spent my evening looking at homes in Battle Ground and Vancouver. Note to self: do not take the 5 during rush hour. Head towards the 205 instead.

Wow, I am way more tired than I should be. 

First Official Run

I just completed my first official run as a Pacific Northwest citizen. The air was cool, the sky overcast, and the streets were quiet. About a mile into the run I was completely lost.

And I loved it.

I imagine there are few cities on Earth more beautiful and fun and cool to be lost in on a run than Portland. I started by running up Marshall Street, past several numbered avenues, until I reached a staircase. Yes, the road turned into a staircase!

So instead of going down the rabbit hole I went up the staircase, through some residential areas, around a bend through some commercial areas (Pottery Barn, Levi's, World Market, and so on), all the while not knowing where I was. It's liberating to be lost and to not care because you are completely disregarding fear; it has no power over you.

It was a tempo run, and thanks to my 6+ years of training at altitude, it wasn't too difficult, even with the countless hills. Portland is a great city to run in. If you want to challenge yourself on a hill, turn left. If you need a breather, turn right and go downhill.

Now I'm eating breakfast and getting ready for my first day at W+K! Grape Nuts and pears in pear juice. Need to get to the store and buy some milk and other essentials.

The Fun Begins...NOW

I'm here. I made it. I am actually in Portland, Oregon, and in 13 hours I'll start my first day at Wieden + Kennedy. So amazing and unbelievable.

I almost didn't make my flight. Moby ran away and we spent about 30 minutes searching for her. As I type Chanel and the kids still have not found her. Hopefully she is with a nice family who will be able to find us and return her to us very soon.

Searching for Moby throughout our neighborhood allowed me to say one last goodbye to Firestone. We drove past the park, and the junior high track where I had recently begun running on Saturday mornings. It was nice to go through the area with an understanding that it will probably be the last time I see it.

Thankfully Chanel drove to the airport. If I were driving we may still be on Highway 85.

As you can see my flight was on a smaller plane. But they seem to fly the smoothest.

Flying into Portland I was struck by how green the area is. We flew over some mountains, and they were just covered in green trees. We flew by a mountain peak covered in snow, and I am such a newbie to the area I couldn't even tell you what mountain it was! I have a lot of learning to do, and I'm excited about that.

I took a video of my first few seconds as a resident of the Pacific Northwest.

I am the proud temporary owner of a Nissan Versa for the next two weeks. As I was leaving the rental garage I was told 84 (I think!) was closed and that I'd have to take 205 to Powell, and take Powell into downtown. It was a quick drive, so I imagine it'd be even faster if the freeway was open. 

I'm staying at the Wyatt for the next 30 days, living the bachelor life while Chanel and the kids stay in Firestone until the house sells. The apartment is unbelievable, and I immediately wished Chanel and the kids were here because they would love it.

So here I am, typing as the sun goes down in Portland, getting ready to start my WK experience, so excited and nervous and overwhelmed and happy. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings...

Stressful Times

We're down to the wire now. I board a plane for PDX next Sunday, and my W+K tenure officially begins the next day. This past week flew by, and I can't imagine the next week will be any different. It's difficult to wrap my head around the fact my time remaining in the CO is down to eight days. We arrived a little over seven years ago, and we have grown to LOVE it here. I honestly started wondering yesterday if I was making a mistake, if I shouldn't have pursued W+K and instead I should have just been content at Gates so we would be able to stay where we love to live. 

But the truth is, W+K is where I need to be. I need to be in advertising, my life-long passion and obsession. If I truly want to maximize my talents I need to be in the fast-paced ad world. I've worked in other industries, including engineering and manufacturing, but it's in advertising where I am willing to give my back and my heart. 

Chanel and I had a terrible night last night. She is under a ton of stress, and I have been very self-absorbed as we've prepared for our move. She will have it tough while I am away. She'll be able to handle it no problem, but I hate the fact she has to keep up her responsibilities and take on many of mine as well while I am away.

We put in an offer on a new home in Vancouver. The builder countered with very minimal changes to our offer, but we decided to not accept their counter offer. It was a nice enough home, but we checked out the neighborhood on Google Maps and were not in love with what we saw. Plus, we decided we need to be patient and not buy the first house we can simply because it's convenient. We haven't even seen the home in person!

I get 30 days of corporate housing, so I'm covered for a while while our family stays in CO and sells the house. I'll be spending all my free time checking out neighborhoods and homes, both to rent and to purchase. 

I have a lot of emotions right now. A bit of sorrow to say goodbye to what we currently believe is the best place in America to live, excitement to live in a new place that we hope is just as amazing as CO, nervousness/anticipation/excitement over starting a new job at the best ad agency in the world, sadness about leaving my family for 30+ days...lots of thoughts and feelings. But this is the kind of stuff we've wanted to do for some time now, so I'm learning to love the moment. We are truly blessed to have this amazing opportunity in front of us. Now we have to make the most of it.

Confirmed!

I got the job! Starting July 22nd I will be a digital producer at Wieden + Kennedy, specifically assigned to the Kraft and Proctor and Gamble accounts. 

A dream come true. 

The interviews went very well. The people I met with were very kind and legitimately interested in my answers to their questions. The interviews were conducted in the "Bird's Nest," a location I might get used to seeing after working there a couple years. Here's a photo:

Image courtesy www.toddhessbldg.com

I have truly loved my time in Colorado. It is a difficult place to leave. But we are very anxious to get to the Pacific Northwest and find out what it's like living up there. And of course I'm crazy excited to start working at W+K. I have been a huge fan of the shop since my days at BBF&E in Vegas way back in the late 90s. You can tell when you are watching or hearing an W+K spot, because it doesn't feel like advertising. It feels much more authentic. 

There is so much up in the air right now, including where we are going to live (Oregon or Washington?) and when our house will sell so my family can join me (I intend to start working while they are still in Colorado). I don't even know where my desk will be located! No idea where the restrooms are! We don't know where the corporate housing we'll be in for the first four weeks is located. What does an Oregon or a Washington driver's license look like?

This is such an exciting time of our lives. I'm really looking forward to getting this party started!