I was reminded twice today about the blind pleasure that comes from life's little surprises.
The first reminder started out sad. After 3 years of partnership, my business partner is moving to the East Coast. Bummer. Meeting Michelle was a complete happen-stance. My previous business partner and I had come into more work that either of us could handle ... so a search went out for someone that was reliable and capable to assist us. My business partner's husband's busines partner had a sister that was available ... Michelle.
After the event was over my partner decided she couldn't keep working at that pace and quit. I went completely into panic mode! While I was wallowing in my panic, I was also putting together a running team for the World's Longest Relay ... and wouldn't you know it Michelle and her husband are runners! So I invited them to run on my team and I spent most of my non-running/awake time worrying about what I was going to do for a business partner. At the end of the race, Michelle said she was interested ... and so we began.
I can only say that she was a godsend and we balanced each other perfectly; our kids were close to the same age, our husbands were very much alike (traveling salesmen), we like to be active and generally saw the world very similarly.
So today, as I said "Happy Sabbatical" to her ... because she IS coming back ... I realized how the cogs on the wheel that is life lined up so perfectly for her to join my life. They say everybody comes into your life, whether for a minute or a lifetime, for a reason. I learned things, saw things differently, saw people differently and am better because I know her ... the sister of a friend's husband's business partner.
The second surprise has been in my life for about the same amount of time and it makes me fill with awe when I think about it and my involvement. I'm talking about the Red Dress Party. Some of you may have seen my pictures and brief descriptions of this event, but I don't think I've ever done it true justice.
Just over 3 years ago, I ran into two friends I hadn't seen in years. They had, off-and-on, sent me invitations to a "Red Dress Party," but I didn't understand what it was, why I should buy tickets and I was sure I'd never get Tony into a red dress, so we hadn't attended and I'd lost touch with them. But here they were, face-to-face with me asking me to help them organize a party. "But I don't do parties," I said. "Please," they said. So I agreed.
The first year I was completely overwhelmed and barely raised my head to get the bigger picture. But I helped coordinate logistics, we went, we had a blast, I said I'd do it again.
The next year, they asked me to become a Board Member. I was blown away! I was the first woman and first straight person to serve on the board ... I was thrilled and honored. Now the realization of what was going on really began to sink in.
So now I tell you the story that has touched me so deeply and makes me proud and humbled to be involved in this wonderful event every day.
In 2001, on SuperBowl Sunday, 75 people crowded into the basement of a downtown home to party. The only requirement? Everybody had to wear a Red Dress. The dresses part began because some of the women complained about how they were expected to dress in cocktail dresses in the middle of winter while the guys got to wear pants and long sleeves. Somewhere along the line somebody decided the dresses had to be red.
By 2003, the party size had outgrown the basement, so they moved to a vacant grain silo and charged money for tickets. It cost money to put on the event, but the organizers committed to giving all proceeds to local organizations that were helping people living with or affected by AIDS. There were 325 guests.
Here we are in 2010, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the party. It has become THE party in Portland, each year selling out at 2,000 tickets (frankly, we can't handle a crowd bigger than that) and has donated more than $158,000 to local charities.
The Board has been awarded the Purely For Love award by Portland Monthly magazine because everybody associated with the event is a volunteer. Nobody, with the exception of the entertainment at the party, gets paid for their work. We have literally 1,000s of volunteer hours that go into every party and a volunteer workforce of 100s that help us get it all done.
To pull this off takes not just volunteers, but givers. Our state's liquor laws require that we have 3 hot and 3 cold food items availabe for all attendees all night (that's from 7:00p to 4:00a for those of you that care). Local restaurants, bakeries and caterers give food so the party can go on. Local and National breweries and distilleries give the alcohol, beer and wine that keep the party going. And many of our talent performs for free, or donates their fee back to us.
Often we're asked, why shouldn't I just give my money directly to the beneficiaries? The organizations that receive the money say it means more to them than twice the amount from a grant. Why? Because the Red Dress Party gives with no strings attached. They don't have to earmark our money for a specific program. When they get the money it's for any need. And in these financially trying times, there is a lot of need.
All this is so wonderful ... but here's where it gets really special; this little basement party has grown to a National event. This year Seattle, Las Vegas, Chicago and Hawaii will also host parties. And next year San Diego is going to host their first Red Dress Party. WOW! Every year we have representatives from several cities across the country attend and contact us about starting a party in their area. Double-WOW!
The dedication, focus, foresight, love, passion and enthusiasm for this event overwhelms me. Working with these people (the board, the volunteers, the attendees) I have seen love and acceptance like I never knew existed in a community and my fellow board members are easily listed amongst my best friends.
Attendees include gays, lesbians, bi-sexual, transgenders and straights. When I meet someone I don't care which they are and they don't xare which I am ... because just like being at a nudist camp, everybody's equal. We have a bond, we're Red Dress Partiers! Even Tony.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
I Love San Francisco!
I guess I'm not always so good at this blogging thing ... LOL! I think about what I'm going to say in my head, then never get it online. UGH!
Well, before I tell you about San Franscico, I must wrap up our last day in Lake Tahoe.
Tony and I returned to our favorite snowshoeing spot only to find it very windy with some snow-laiden clouds looming on the horizon. But that didn't stop us. We "hiked" the 1/2 mile to our favorite rock, shead some clothes (even in the cold snowshoeing makes you hot) and cracked open a bottle of wine.
So there we are, sitting pretty sans clothes, drinking wine and eating cheese and crackers when we hear voices! We turn around to find two guys and their dogs coming up the trail. Luckily the dogs found us first and we were able to get some covering on before the guys got too close. Actually, I hardly think they noticed us as they were on a mission to get to the top of the mountain ... which they did in really good time.
We stayed about 45 minutes longer, until the wind was just getting too brisk. On the way back to the car we pass some really old cabins that have some of the most wonderful views on the lake. We "broke onto" one of the decks, relaxed a bit in the sunshine sheltered from the wind and finished our wine. Then we were off to the car.
On the way back we stopped at Camp Richardson. It had been recommended by a local as having a great restaurant and bar so we thought we'd check it out. Camp Richardson is located right on the lake's edge and has a large marina that is very busy in the summer. Although there were onyl about 10 people in the entire place when we were there, the bartender said in the summer the decks are full and the guests are 5 deep at the bar.
As we sat at the bar, looking out over the beautiful lake I said "I'll jump in." And Tony, knowing me so well said "I know you will." But the bartender, not knowing me so well said "I'll buy a round if you do." I didn't need any more encouragement than that so off we went. Tony brought the blanket from the car and we walked out on the pier until the crystal clear water looked deep enough for me to dive in. And I did!
Much to my surprise it was still only chest deep, and although it was very cold, it didn't take my breath away like I thought it would. Unfortunately, the pier doesn't have a ladder to get out, so with Tony's help I had to climb out of the water ... which is kinda difficult when your muscles are freezing.
I re-dressed and returned to the bar, only to have the bartender say he missed it. Luckily, Tony had taken photos as proof, so we showed him and good to his word he bought us a round of drinks. Within minutes a guy walked into the bar and said "I hear someone just jumped into the lake." Word sure spreads fast in a small community. Oh yeah, before we left, I did it again. Just because.
Thursday night Tony and I went to dinner on our own to the Edgewood Country Club. In past years we've gone to The Chart House, but we have one in Portland and wanted to try something different. Wow! I highly recommend this place. It's right on the lake and if the weather had been clear it would have had a killer sunset. As it was, by the time we got to dinner snow had started falling and everything was covered in clouds. But the food and service was amazing and we're definitely going to return.
Friday we drove the 3 hours to San Francisco, arriving in time to drop off our bags at the hotel and catch a late lunch at the Hard Rock on the pier. Nether of the kids had ever been to San Francisco so we ended up turning them lose for a while while we walked up to Chinatown and Amante's for some excercise and a drink.
When dinner came around we let the kids decide what they wanted ... and it was seafood. We had gone through the hotel book and selected a restaurant, but when we went online to see their menu we decided it was a little expensive. So a quick call to the concierge got us a recommendation and reservation at Pompei's Grotto. It's on the wharf, but on the West end past the tourist places.
We were so glad we made the change. The food was fantastic, the prices were great and it wasn't crowded with tourists.
Saturday we woke to a very sunny and warm day so we took the kids through North Beach to Chinatown to Union Square ... shopping all the way. I ended up having to purchase a tank top as the long-sleeved t-shirt I was wearing was roasting! Tony has a short fuse for shopping and the hills don't do so well with his knees, so we decided to let the kids carry-on while we returned towards North Beach. We found a sidewalk table at the North Beach Restaurant on the corners of Green, Columbus and Stockton ... a great location for people watching. So we spent a couple of hours over appetizers and a bottle (or two) of wine until the kids returned. Then we ventured off to Tonmy's favorite hat shop where everybody was treated to new hats (we probably should have gotten them before spending the day in the sun).
Saturday night we had dinner at Frienze by Night (in North Beach) and while the kids returned to the nightlife on the wharf, Tony and I went to check in on friends at Amante's.
Sunday morning was another beautiful day so we packed up the car and headed to the Golden Gate Bridge on our way out of town. Tony and I have visited San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge many times and have never experienced the kind of weather we had this weekend. I am so thankful for the kids' sake.
I just can't say enough good things about San Francisco. If we could, I would live there in a minute. It's a very ecclectic, walkable city where everybody is friendly. Even our son, who hates going downtown Portland because he doesn't feel safe (it is safe, he just doesn't feel it) felt safe in San Francisco. I'm hoping that we'll get down there more once Ashton's off to college. Tony gets there on work every couple of months so hopefully then I'll be able to "ride along."
The drive home was, well, long. Exactly 10 hours from door to door ... and wouldn't you know it 5 miles across the Oregon border is started raining ... and never stopped!
We've been home for a few days now and the weather has been hit-and-miss. Raining/hailing one minute and sunshine the next. I'm getting very busy with my Red Dress Party (www.reddresspdx.com) party that's April 17th ... I'm on the board and am the operations manager for the event. It's a great cause and I recommend you take a look at the website. Even if you can't attend, it's a great story about how it all started and how it's grown.
I'll try to be better about my postings. :)
Well, before I tell you about San Franscico, I must wrap up our last day in Lake Tahoe.
Tony and I returned to our favorite snowshoeing spot only to find it very windy with some snow-laiden clouds looming on the horizon. But that didn't stop us. We "hiked" the 1/2 mile to our favorite rock, shead some clothes (even in the cold snowshoeing makes you hot) and cracked open a bottle of wine.
So there we are, sitting pretty sans clothes, drinking wine and eating cheese and crackers when we hear voices! We turn around to find two guys and their dogs coming up the trail. Luckily the dogs found us first and we were able to get some covering on before the guys got too close. Actually, I hardly think they noticed us as they were on a mission to get to the top of the mountain ... which they did in really good time.
We stayed about 45 minutes longer, until the wind was just getting too brisk. On the way back to the car we pass some really old cabins that have some of the most wonderful views on the lake. We "broke onto" one of the decks, relaxed a bit in the sunshine sheltered from the wind and finished our wine. Then we were off to the car.
On the way back we stopped at Camp Richardson. It had been recommended by a local as having a great restaurant and bar so we thought we'd check it out. Camp Richardson is located right on the lake's edge and has a large marina that is very busy in the summer. Although there were onyl about 10 people in the entire place when we were there, the bartender said in the summer the decks are full and the guests are 5 deep at the bar.
As we sat at the bar, looking out over the beautiful lake I said "I'll jump in." And Tony, knowing me so well said "I know you will." But the bartender, not knowing me so well said "I'll buy a round if you do." I didn't need any more encouragement than that so off we went. Tony brought the blanket from the car and we walked out on the pier until the crystal clear water looked deep enough for me to dive in. And I did!
Much to my surprise it was still only chest deep, and although it was very cold, it didn't take my breath away like I thought it would. Unfortunately, the pier doesn't have a ladder to get out, so with Tony's help I had to climb out of the water ... which is kinda difficult when your muscles are freezing.
I re-dressed and returned to the bar, only to have the bartender say he missed it. Luckily, Tony had taken photos as proof, so we showed him and good to his word he bought us a round of drinks. Within minutes a guy walked into the bar and said "I hear someone just jumped into the lake." Word sure spreads fast in a small community. Oh yeah, before we left, I did it again. Just because.
Thursday night Tony and I went to dinner on our own to the Edgewood Country Club. In past years we've gone to The Chart House, but we have one in Portland and wanted to try something different. Wow! I highly recommend this place. It's right on the lake and if the weather had been clear it would have had a killer sunset. As it was, by the time we got to dinner snow had started falling and everything was covered in clouds. But the food and service was amazing and we're definitely going to return.
Friday we drove the 3 hours to San Francisco, arriving in time to drop off our bags at the hotel and catch a late lunch at the Hard Rock on the pier. Nether of the kids had ever been to San Francisco so we ended up turning them lose for a while while we walked up to Chinatown and Amante's for some excercise and a drink.
When dinner came around we let the kids decide what they wanted ... and it was seafood. We had gone through the hotel book and selected a restaurant, but when we went online to see their menu we decided it was a little expensive. So a quick call to the concierge got us a recommendation and reservation at Pompei's Grotto. It's on the wharf, but on the West end past the tourist places.
We were so glad we made the change. The food was fantastic, the prices were great and it wasn't crowded with tourists.
Saturday we woke to a very sunny and warm day so we took the kids through North Beach to Chinatown to Union Square ... shopping all the way. I ended up having to purchase a tank top as the long-sleeved t-shirt I was wearing was roasting! Tony has a short fuse for shopping and the hills don't do so well with his knees, so we decided to let the kids carry-on while we returned towards North Beach. We found a sidewalk table at the North Beach Restaurant on the corners of Green, Columbus and Stockton ... a great location for people watching. So we spent a couple of hours over appetizers and a bottle (or two) of wine until the kids returned. Then we ventured off to Tonmy's favorite hat shop where everybody was treated to new hats (we probably should have gotten them before spending the day in the sun).
Saturday night we had dinner at Frienze by Night (in North Beach) and while the kids returned to the nightlife on the wharf, Tony and I went to check in on friends at Amante's.
Sunday morning was another beautiful day so we packed up the car and headed to the Golden Gate Bridge on our way out of town. Tony and I have visited San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge many times and have never experienced the kind of weather we had this weekend. I am so thankful for the kids' sake.
I just can't say enough good things about San Francisco. If we could, I would live there in a minute. It's a very ecclectic, walkable city where everybody is friendly. Even our son, who hates going downtown Portland because he doesn't feel safe (it is safe, he just doesn't feel it) felt safe in San Francisco. I'm hoping that we'll get down there more once Ashton's off to college. Tony gets there on work every couple of months so hopefully then I'll be able to "ride along."
The drive home was, well, long. Exactly 10 hours from door to door ... and wouldn't you know it 5 miles across the Oregon border is started raining ... and never stopped!
We've been home for a few days now and the weather has been hit-and-miss. Raining/hailing one minute and sunshine the next. I'm getting very busy with my Red Dress Party (www.reddresspdx.com) party that's April 17th ... I'm on the board and am the operations manager for the event. It's a great cause and I recommend you take a look at the website. Even if you can't attend, it's a great story about how it all started and how it's grown.
I'll try to be better about my postings. :)
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