How did this happen? I vividly remember researching pre-schools and then *POOF* – now it’s time to look at colleges? Since he will be entering his Junior year and not want to spend every 3 day weekend going on road trips, we decided to check out a few schools this summer.

Today we took our first college tour – starting nice and close at Portland State University. A mere 20 minutes from home, I drive by the campus regularly when I head downtown. But when we were on the tour, I could have been in another city. Apparently in my 16 years in Portland I had never ventured to the many blocks that are made up by the school.

True to the environmentally friendly reputation of the state of Oregon, Portland State is quite green. The new rec center uses rainwater for toilets and when students run on treadmills, they help power up the backup generators. Pretty cool! The new science building has sensor activated lighting and other green features I can’t remember.

A bike friendly school – there are bike lockers all over and for $12/year you can belong to the “Bike Hub” – where they have tools and people to teach you how to fix and maintain your bike.

The main problem, from where Kyle stood, is that it is TOO CLOSE TO HOME!

Apparently any school within the state of Oregon is too close. He yearns for new frontiers… I have decided to interpret this as my raising an adventurous, confident and independent child and not that he just can’t wait to put many miles between us.

The tour was great and gave a good feel for the campus.  We learned what to look for online before visiting our next school and we decided to try and visit some of the departments of interest next time as well. Next time will be next week – when we head to Pullman, WA and visit Washington State University.  It’s a 7 hour drive but I’m not sure that is far enough for Kyle either – he may require planes… time will tell.

Just thought I’d share the beginning of a new journey for me and my son… we’ll keep you posted!

– Tara Reed

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We went up the Washington coast to a little town called Oysterville.

Aptly named, Oysterville is where the oyster industry began in the northwest.  The Brent’s friend, Sydney Stevens, had a book launch party and was talking a bit about the book, the area and the history of the town.  Her great grandfather was one of the founders of Oysterville and she lives in his house today.  At the height of the oyster trade – which coincided with the Gold Rush – there were 250 residents in the town.  Today there are 14 full-time residents.

I never knew that oysters are free floating until they are about 5 days old, at which point they need something solid to attach to to build their shell. (or something like that)

In Oysterville, the bay is sand so there is nothing for them to attach to.  To keep the oyster business thriving, old shells must be put back in the bay for the new oysters to attach to.  That is why they have these huge mounds of shells around the area and get upset when unsuspecting tourists stop and take them for souvenirs. (They do NOT smell good!)

To learn more about oysters and Oysterville, I encourage you to get a copy of the newly released book.

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Now before some man wonders if I changed the tire myself, I will tell you that had a man been with me I wouldn’t have let him either.  The road was too narrow and cars going too fast – it would have been so dangerous!

So think… now what? Look for a police car… I got lucky and saw one coming towards me within 5 mins – waved my arms like a lunatic and he stopped.  He called for a tow truck.  Now the 1 hour nerve-wracking wait, on the side of a narrow road, seat-belt on in case someone hit me and I flipped into the ditch.

Focus on the positive. I got help quickly – for the call, the tow-truck took an hour to arrive.  It happened to me and not my 16 year old. It was daylight. It wasn’t too hot or too cold or pouring rain…

When the tow truck arrived, we realized my spare was also flat so I was towed to a gas station to pump up the spare. (That made the gas attendants day – he got a good chuckle.)

LESSON: Check the air in your spare AT LEAST every 6 months.

I made it to the party and luckily had planned to stay the night so I had some clothes. I met an amazing woman, Sydney Stevens, who lives in Oysterville, WA and writes books.  I plan to go to her new book launch on June 26, 2010 – let me know if you will be in or around Long Beach / Oysterville, WA and I’ll give you all the details!

I ended up staying 2 nights (thank goodness Paul and Lana Jane are very welcoming hosts!) since no tire places were open on Memorial Day.  But the beautiful part of this story?  I had THE BEST seafood dinner on Saturday night – fresh mussels, oysters and crabs, all caught by the Brent’s son & friends.  So yummy and such great company!

Tuesday morning I was at Les Schwab the minute they opened and found out my tire was ruined by some random piece of metal on the road.  Now the proud owner of 2 new tires, I headed back to Portland.  On the way, a bird hit my windshield, scared me and didn’t survive to tell the tale.  As if we needed more drama!

So… all’s well that ends well but wowie!  A little more excitement than I need on a regular basis!  I hope your weekend was filled with good friends (mine was) but less stress!

– Tara Reed

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It all started with him requesting to be my friend on Facebook in January 2009.  I remember looking both ways in my office wondering if someone was playing a prank on me!  Really?  Well sure Paul, I’ll be your friend!

If you don’t know Paul Brent, you might be confused by my reaction.  Paul is an artist who licenses his art just like I do… but he has been in the top 100 Licensors according to License! Global Magazine for the past few years.  So it is laughable to say he is way ahead of me in size and success of his business. (I will concede he’s been doing it a lot longer too!)

Like Mary Engelbreit, Paul Brent was on my “to be as cool as list” too so to have him ask me to be friends on Facebook was pretty cool!

I then decided to ask him if he would be willing to do an “Art Licensing Info Monthly Ask Call” – I was just starting the calls and had been doing them myself.  I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask and just maybe he’d say yes.  HE DID!  Not only did he do the first call in March 2009 (the replay is available for free at www.AskPaulBrent.com if you’d like a copy) but he will be doing his 4th call on May 26, 2010.

Since the Facebook request / question exchange, Paul has done 4 Ask Calls and a teleseminar called “Brand Yourself for Success in Art Licensing” which was amazing.  I’ve made several changes to my branding strategy as a result and highly recommend any artist interested in understanding how to build an art brand take a look at it.  He focuses on art licensing but many strategies apply to any type of artist.

I have also become friends with Paul and his wife Lana Jane.  While they live in Florida, they just happen to have a house on the Oregon Coast that is a little over an hour from me.  So when they head west, I get to see them.  They are even teaching me to cook!  (Something they love and I would love to do without.)  How wonderful to be able to sit and discuss the business we all do and love with such an accomplished couple.  (Lana Jane is the president of Paul Brent Designer, Inc.)

So that is how I came to be friends with my inspiration and you know what? I’m even more inspired by Paul Brent the more I get to know him.  He is an amazing artist, talented business person and a kind, down-to-earth and sincere man.

Learn more about the art of Paul Brent at www.PaulBrent.com

So I’ll ask you again, who inspires you?

– Tara Reed

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It’s my second and I have to say, not my favorite part of getting older! But at least I have a dentist I trust implicitly and who has a sense of humor. If you are stuck in the chair for 2 hours, you might as well do your best to enjoy it!
I had my iPhone in my pocket and was tweeting about running away after they took the first pictures of my teeth. (I wasn’t in love with the guard they put in my mouth – it hurt! But after complaining and being called “high maintenance” – in a joking way of course – I got to go the old fashioned cotton route – much better!)

Dr Densley’s office is very hi-tech and implements new procedures and technology all the time. When I had my first crown 2 years ago, it was a two appointment procedure involving a temporary crown, anti-biotics that wreaked havoc on my stomach to make sure I didn’t get an infection, and going back for the permanent crown.

But that was then and this is now! Two hours and I was done!  As hi-tech as Dr. Densley is, he hasn’t a clue when it comes to Twitter or Facebook so I was educating him in the ways of social media. He got into it and had me start tweeting pictures.

I was fascinated by the whole process so I did a little iPhone video and thought I’d share it with any others who like to see how technology changes all areas of our life.  Here is a short video showing my crown being made, right in the office!

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

I took an informal poll on Twitter and Facebook – which is worst, getting a crown or paying for it?

Paying for it won, no contest!

I also decided it would be fun to get a party tiara or crown on my way out – leave the dentist office smiling.  Don’t you think that would add some humor to the experience?

Hope your day was less eventful!

– Tara Reed

P.S. If you need a dentist in Portland / Hillsboro Oregon areas – I highly recommend Drs Densley and Call at Century Dental. (Tell them I sent you – I get a free cleaning for referrals!)

How to find them:  THEIR WEBSITE THEIR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

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Well how can a mother argue with a child who is taking initiative, going above and beyond and working to help others and help his college resumé?  Certainly not this one!  I was all for it.

HOWEVER…

I just heard a new label for my style of parenting:  I’m a ‘consultative parent’. Meaning I guide and advise but let my son take responsibility for himself and suffer any potential consequences. (To a point, of course!)  I’m not the mom who double checks every homework assignment – I already completed the 10th grade.  And when I asked him if he had everything he needed for camp the week before and was met with eye-rolls and “relax!” – I decided to let the chips fall where they may on that too.

If the child can drive a car, he should be able to pack for camp, right?  Especially since there was a list to consult.

I have a feeling you know where this story is going… my dear child almost went to camp without a sleeping bag.  He didn’t have a warm enough jacket in my opinion, and no real rain gear – even though that was on the list in all CAPS and BOLD.  He did go without a towel, shampoo, flashlight and a few others things I can’t recall.  I realized he didn’t pack a towel at 11 pm the first night he was gone…

They weren’t allowed any communication during the time they were gone so I had no idea how things were going.  Like any new experience a child heads out on – it could go one of two ways.  I figured he’d come home and say it was the worst week of his life, he was cold and wet and never wanted to do it again.

Luckily I was greeted with a text that said, “It was SWEET!” (That’s good!)  He had a great time – although he did admit to being a little cold at times.  But he said something that made me so proud -

“Mom.  Don’t sweat it. I adapt.”

Well, I guess I’m a pretty good mom, because what is our job, if not to teach our children to adapt and thrive in any circumstance they find themselves in.  Sometimes I feel like a bit less than “Super Mom” because I let my son learn his own lessons more than many mothers I see.  But in the end, teaching him to be independent, happy, optimistic and adaptable is what I’m after.  And I’d say I’m doing a pretty sweet job!

– Tara Reed

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