We are off!

Tonight Jaime and I leave for our great adventure 2008!

The itinerary is as follows: 4 days in New York City, 14 Days in Israel, 13 Days in Egypt and 3 Days in Jordan. The Middle East portion of our trip will be with two trip providers. First, Birthright International, Sachlav Educational Experience for our Israel portion and then we will be on a private tour our my family through GAT Tours in Egypt & Jordan.

We will (when we can) be updating our blog with all the exciting adventures we partake on. To find our blog simply go to our family website: www.wren-nest.com and on the left hand menu click "blog". I don't think we will have much time to upload photos, so those will wait until we return. But don't fear, in September we will add photos to the website which can be found under "Photo Albums: Picasa"

We hope everyone has a safe and fun filled August and we will talk to everyone soon upon our return!

The wonders of Portland

Last night Jen, Jaime and I went to PDX POP NOW! a three-day free music festival that is a showcase for local, Portland musicians. The entire principle behind it really is incredible. We saw The Portland Cello Project and Loch Lomond preform. Both are incredible bands. The Portland Cello Project is a 16 peice cello ensumble prefomring in classical to rock. They were truly an incridble ensumple to see.

I think Portland is an amazing city. This home of mine truly embraces it's community and citizens. Attending this public concert was yet another display of how rooted and connected this city is---another reason why I love being an Oregonian.

Rest & Relaxation at Wild Lily B&B

Last weekend Jaime and I went Joe & Barak's B&B in Index, Washington. Wild Lilly B&B is located on the river. During the the day we went hiking and exploring, oh what a beautiful site it was! One of the hikes we did was to a waterfall known as deception falls. The short hike is truly a site to be seen. It was remarkable.

I think it is healthy to every so often just get out of your normal routine and go somewhere to breath. This weekend was just that, a chance to breath.

The Fire

Last Tuesday my parent's home burned down in a terrible fire. A can of linseed oil spontaneously combusted around 9:30 am on June 24th. No one was home except for my parent's dog, Molly, who was rescued and saved by the firemen.

Their neighbor Barb Dunn actually heard some type of pop and smelled burning. She walked down the street while on the phone with my brother. Upon seeing the flames she called 9-1-1. Her quick call saved not only Molly but also many family possessions. The firetrucks arrived at the house in under 5 minutes and still the fire is what is considered to be a "complete loss fire"

Thankfully nobody was hurt and many important family photos including my parents wedding album was saved. The fire crew really did an incredible job in which not only did they put out the fire but also respected my parent's home took as many photos, frames, art & other important objects off the walls and placed them in a safe zone.

The bad news is that my family lost their home completely. It may take up to a year to rebuild the house. And even after that it will take some time to make it feel like a home again.

From Portland Fire & Rescue
Two House Fires Keep Firefighters and Investigators Busy. - 06/24/08 >The first of two fires PF&R responded to, was reported at 2468 NW Kearney, at 11:50 pm. Firefighters arrived to fire shooting out of a third floor window of a three story Victorian home. The neighboring house, being only a couple feet away, was taking a direct hit from the impinging flames.

Firefighters from Station 3 attacked the fire from the second story and fought their way to the third floor where the seat of the fire was located. At the same time Firefighters on the outside raised ladders to the neighboring house and protected it with water spray.

No one was in the room on the third floor when the fire broke out. The third floor was heavily damaged and moderate smoke and water damage to the second floor of the home.

No one was injured and Fire Investigators say the cause was accidental and will remain undetermined. There was not enough evidence to say definitively what caused the fire. They place the loss at $258,000.00

The second fire was reported at 10:00 am, at 11604 SW 33rd Pl. Reports to dispatchers indicated that there were flames shooting 20 ft into the air. Fire Crews arrived at 10:05 am and quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire which was on the exterior of the home and had consumed part of the roof. Firefighters spent several hours digging through and tearing off the roof structure to assure that the fire was completely extinguished.

No civilians or firefighters were injured.

Investigators blame the fire on spontaneous combustion, and eastimate the loss to be in the area of $275,000.00.

Yesterday the homeowner had been putting a finish on a teak gazebo in the back yard using boiled linseed oil and cotton rags. When he finished he piled the rags on a table on the deck. The boiled linseed oil breaks down fairly rapidly and generates heat which builds up in the rag pile, until its hot enough to ignite the rags and surrounding combustibles.

Homeowners should be reminded to read the labels on products because some products have very specific storage or clean up requirements. And many labels contain information on antidotes and ventilation needs that you will be unaware of if you don't read the instructions. Had this fire happened at night when the occupants were sleeping the outcome could have been tragic.