Annual Meeting Day 1 & 2

Our Home Office - Notice the banners between the columns

The Riverwalk in Downtown Milwaukee

Last week I had the privilege of attending NMFN's 150th Anniversary Celebration. We left on the 22nd for Milwaukee on Midwest Airlines. If you've never flown on Midwest, I highly recommend it. They give you pretzels, drinks of course, and best of all fresh chocolate chip cookies. We arrived in Milwaukee at 6:30 and proceeded to walk 2 1/2 miles to a bowling alley, where everyone else already was. The walk took us past our Home Office and Lake Michigan. It was a beautiful day outside - the sun was setting and it was only 70 degrees. We bowled for a couple of hours then called it a night. On Sunday morning I ran in my first 5K. It was an AMAZING sight. 7,500 people ran/walked the course, which also took us around Lake Michigan. I finished in 40 minutes because I walked and ran. I'm not pleased with my time, but at least it gives me a goal to beat in the next race. While we were running, there was a plane flying around with a banner that said "Northwestern Mutual 150 Years." Crazy!

We had our first leadership session that afternoon, followed by a trip to the Milwaukee Zoo. NMFN rents the zoo each year and throws a HUGE party. There were 6 circus tents full of food, arcade games, and bands. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was also in attendance and people could try out to be in a commercial. All the while, the plane and banner from earlier in the day flew over the zoo.

Cassie, Me, and Stephanie on the Shuttle to the Zoo

Alex and Alex (two of the interns) in front of the rotisserie chickens

Wienermobile!

Believe it or not, Milwaukee is an awesome vacation destination. There's a Riverwalk (see picture at the top of the post) that runs through town, similar to San Antonio. The architecture is absolutely amazing. Milwaukee is the hometown of William Harley and the Davidson brothers (a.k.a. Harley-Davidson), Miller beer, and the Milwaukee Brewers. If you can't tell...I had a blast.

The drawbridge in downtown. I've never seen one that works like this.

Up next...Day 3 (maybe 4)

Happy 19th Birthday Brette!!

Habitat for Humanity

On Friday the 13th, the interns, Michael, Jason, and I worked on a Habitat for Humanity House. This was the 2nd time I have participated in Habitat for Humanity, but for many of them it was their 1st. I was told that we would be doing finishing work - landscaping, trimming, etc. Once we got there, however, we worked on siding, painting, removing rocks from the backyard, and erecting the back portion of a chainlink fence. Thankfully it was overcast outside. Even so, it was still really hot! I had also arranged for Jason's Deli to deliver boxed lunches to us. 15 minutes after the deadline I decided I would call them to make sure they were coming. We were only a little over a block away from the restaurant. When I called, they asked me if I was sure I was calling the right Jason's Deli -yes. Then they asked if I was sure I had scheduled it for that day - yes. They also asked me what address it was supposed to be delivered to - I told them it was on the order. I then asked if I could give them the order number. They said they wouldn't be able to look it up that way because it would require the use of a computer and it wasn't a good time to do that - what? I spent $180 for someone to tell me I didn't know what I was talking about and to tell me it wasn't a good time to use the computer? I proceeded to tell the gentleman that I would bring everyone up there to pick up our lunches. He said, "You're bringing 17 people up here right now?" YES!!! It all worked out in the end, but it was definitely frustrating at the time. Here are some pictures of that fun, but tiring day.

Digging out the dirt around the fencepoles.


Group Picture in Front of the House

Wheelbarrow of Rocks - These were small compared to some of them we had to remove.

Stay tuned...I just returned from our 150th Anniversary Celebration.

I will be outlining the events of each day, daily.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Here are some recent pictures of the rain. Who would have thought
Texas could be green in July?

Above: Rainclouds in Glen Rose

Flooding in Granbury...I had to pull over for 20 min. because the roads were covered with water.

Germs

I read an article today titled 100s Of Bacteria Colonies Found On DFW Playgrounds. It talks about the playgrounds at restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, and Chuck E Cheese. I played on all of those as a child, as I'm sure most of you did as well. I survived and loved every minute of it. Most likely they hadn't done a study 25 years ago to see what kind of bacteria could be found on the playgrounds. That being said: Do you allow your children to play on them?

I have mixed feelings. I have become somewhat of a germaphobe, but I've also heard that you're not supposed to completely shelter your children from germs or they won't develop immunities.

Any thoughts?

-Recent Pictures-

Natalie and I all spruced up after The Bluebird Cafe. Natalie's one of my best friends from elementary school. She got me my current job and is now living in Nashville.

Erin and I at Razzoos - Erin's my new roommate and a great friend from high school.

Before:

After: