Family Photo Project

On top of traveling and working a lot. I have been working for quite some time with my brother Serge on a family photo project. We have been tracking our family history on our mother and father's side. Serge on the left, Melissa in the middle and me on the right.

Actually my father, Serge, has done most of his side for us. My father is from Binche, Belgium and my grandmother was Ukrainian. So with the language barrier we would have been at a loss. As many of you know our entire family is full of photo junkies so this has been quite fun. Have found some really cool older pics. After looking at these the one thing that I think has gotten lost in our society is a sense of style and fundamental maintenance. I mean when you look at how just about anyone dressed in the times before the 1960's everyone looked impeccable regardless of how much money they made. There was a sense of pride. Today when you go anywhere especially here in Denver there is such a casual way that most people put themselves together. I have actually been to blacktie events here where people have on jeans. Don't get me wrong. I know there are some stylish jeans out there but come on....

Another thing that we are missing these days too is great penmanship. I do not think that people ever really write these days. PC's or Macs are what we use to communicate with others in type. I was talking to someone the other day and they have a child in Kindergarden. Their childs recent project was a powerpoint presentation on bugs. crazy stuff :)

This was part of our family (Lecomte) book in Europe. beautiful handwriting. The even cooler thing is that it is really really old.

WOW- not trying to sounds so negative just feeling super nostalgic and what it must have been to live long ago. until next time. I will have more pics scanned in that will make you laugh.

NAIOP Legislative and Leadership Retreat, February 10-14, 2008 Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. February 10, 2008

I cannot believe that February has already come and gone. I have been very involved with NAIOP Colorado http://www.naiop-colorado.org/ as well as in Seattle prior to our move to Colorado. The highlight of the month was attending the NAIOP Legislative and Leadership Retreat in Washington, D.C. It was a tremendous learning experience. Lots of break out sessions throughout the week but the build up is Capitol Hill. We had several meetings with our Representatives and Senators. We discussed several issues that could negatively impact development if the wrong bills are passed. Very exciting to put real world scenarios to these bills that sometimes to the general public make no sense.

This image is with U.S. Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District. http://lamborn.house.gov/

We almost had Roger Clements siting, his hearings were in the same building that we were lobbying in.

Another D.C. fact that I did not know the origin of is Lobbying. One story states that the term originated at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC, where it was used by Ulysses S. Grant to describe the political wheelers and dealers frequenting the hotel's lobby in order to access Grant who was often found there, enjoying a cigar and brandy.(from Wikipedia) So we ended the day there in the bar :)