I just wanted to catch up with everyone. What’s the problem man, I’ve only been absent for a year or so? After reading another wonderful blog entry my wife wrote, I realized that she’s always taking the photos, but she’s never in the picture.
We got together 24 years ago, we’ve lived together for 23 years, been married 20 years, tomorrow, and we’ve been in business together about two years. Who would believe that? We’ve seen our kids grow, move away and now we’re getting to be a small part of their success. How great is life?
You all know that whoever could put up with me all these years should be at the head of the line for Sainthood. TK, CJK and I realize the only reason we’re all together is because of “Miss Smarty”. Yea, I know restaurants, Tyler could charm the balls off Tiger Woods, Conor is magician in design, but Cindy ties the bows, herds the sheep and keeps EVERYONE on task. What we are trying to achieve requires all our skills and everyone has given 2000%, but thank God for CB.
You all know CB, you all know me. You all have wondered how we got along; you know we fight, we love, we grow, we explore, we have stupid ideas and do wild things. (Always have) Doing this project was never an issue. We did our homework, we all agreed on what we could do it and “with enough ignorance and confidence, success is guaranteed” (Mark Twain). If you ever doubted it, don’t. With CB on our team, no Kiwi has the kryptonite to stop us.
The future is looking pretty good right now. We are leaning towards franchising; using our organizational skills (CB), our systems (JB), franchisee development and recruitment (TK), marketing (CJK) and OPM (other’s peoples money). Franchising in NZ is considerably different than the US and a hell of a lot easier. With this concept, with our documentation, with NO competition and our desire to do it right, we should do well down here.
I miss everyone, I miss Bob and I miss what George Bush has taken away from all of us. See you all soon. I love you Cindy, thank you for 20 years.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Farewell Bobby
We lost our dear friend Bob Lindgren last month. He touched our family in so many ways, it seems inconceivable that we won't see him again when we got back to Bend in November. Bob's wife Lisa is one of my best friends, and a charter member of the GS club. JB and Bob spent many a wonderful day on the course at Bend G&CC and Broken Top. Tyler and Conor honed their slam dunk skills on Bob's new sport court on Rimrock Road, with Reggie cheering them on. Bob did Lasik and RK surgeries on me and JB, and lifted my eyelids when I was but 35. We will always remember our good times, and be thankful for the times we spent together.
This week marks 2 years since we all made the trip to Aotearoa to do the research for our impending adventure. It seems like a lifetime and a nanosecond all at once. What we didn't know then! I remember dropping the boys off at the airport on November 3 and turning on the radio to check the election results. Gobsmacked we were when we heard that Bush & Co. had won. JB had just crossed the US on his motorcycle trip and was certain that middle America had seen the light. I was ever the optimist and believed that the progressive movement would make their voices heard. Maybe next time, if people can tear themselves away from their prurient obsessions and focus on civil liberties.
What do I miss after nearly 2 years of self-imposed exile in an island nation in the South Pacific? Costco and Target, of course. Real broadband and ketchup. Dryer sheets. Tylenol PM (although you can buy codeine without a prescription). Jon Stewart. My friends. My sisters. And I'd give anything for an In-n-Out burger.
What's better? LAMB! Juicy, succulent and very cheap. Kumara and spring onions (puts our green onions to shame). The view from our beach house. All Blacks rugby. A truly egalitarian society. The continued success of Maoridom and its lessons for the rest of the world. Bro Town and Outrageous Fortune. Seeing my husband succeed again as only he can, and watching my boys come into their own using the skills they didn't really know they had.
For me, I am in awe of what we have accomplished in such a short time. We had so many strikes against us: starting a new business in an industry where 97% fail in the first year, in a country where quesadilla and tomatillo was not part of the lexicon, and as a family business no less. Oh My!
As JB and I approach our 20th wedding anniversary tomorrow, we contemplated a quick trip to Aussie for some golf in the "lucky land." However, we decided we could not ever find a nicer place to spend some quality time than right here, watching the ferries go by, looking out at the Southern Cross, and lifting a glass to our friend Bob.
This week marks 2 years since we all made the trip to Aotearoa to do the research for our impending adventure. It seems like a lifetime and a nanosecond all at once. What we didn't know then! I remember dropping the boys off at the airport on November 3 and turning on the radio to check the election results. Gobsmacked we were when we heard that Bush & Co. had won. JB had just crossed the US on his motorcycle trip and was certain that middle America had seen the light. I was ever the optimist and believed that the progressive movement would make their voices heard. Maybe next time, if people can tear themselves away from their prurient obsessions and focus on civil liberties.
What do I miss after nearly 2 years of self-imposed exile in an island nation in the South Pacific? Costco and Target, of course. Real broadband and ketchup. Dryer sheets. Tylenol PM (although you can buy codeine without a prescription). Jon Stewart. My friends. My sisters. And I'd give anything for an In-n-Out burger.
What's better? LAMB! Juicy, succulent and very cheap. Kumara and spring onions (puts our green onions to shame). The view from our beach house. All Blacks rugby. A truly egalitarian society. The continued success of Maoridom and its lessons for the rest of the world. Bro Town and Outrageous Fortune. Seeing my husband succeed again as only he can, and watching my boys come into their own using the skills they didn't really know they had.
For me, I am in awe of what we have accomplished in such a short time. We had so many strikes against us: starting a new business in an industry where 97% fail in the first year, in a country where quesadilla and tomatillo was not part of the lexicon, and as a family business no less. Oh My!
As JB and I approach our 20th wedding anniversary tomorrow, we contemplated a quick trip to Aussie for some golf in the "lucky land." However, we decided we could not ever find a nicer place to spend some quality time than right here, watching the ferries go by, looking out at the Southern Cross, and lifting a glass to our friend Bob.
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