Andy Smallman

25 June 2013 : Summer & the “Lemonade” Stand

Published on June 25, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

So this week the little boy who lives next door set up a stand outside of his house to sell watermelon. Ours is a pretty good street for doing this kind of thing, in that there is a good amount of foot traffic because of the entrance to the park at the end.

This got me thinking back to when we first moved in and Chloe made friends with Carly from across the street. They liked to set up a little stand out in front. From the looks of our house, which has undergone some significant remodeling since this picture was taken, this is probably 1999. That’s last century.

Oh, one difference in time, speaking of centuries, is that the little boy’s mom promoted her son’s watermelon stand via a neighborhood email list. I don’t recall doing that for Chloe and Carly…

24 June 2013 : Daisy’s Love

Published on June 24, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

Occasionally, things are so spectacular that too many words spoils them. Earlier today I was directed to this blog entry, one that references the current PSCS fundraising campaign and homemade baked goods.

I hope those few words inspire you to read the entry.

For another dose of spectacular kindness, I refer you to this entry from January 3, 2011, Day 187 of the sabbatical.

23 June 2013 : What is Your Art?

Published on June 23, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

I used to have a pretty limited definition if what art is. For instance, I thought it had to do with something you created that could be put up on a wall or displayed on a shelf. As I got older, I realized it also had to do with how you move your body and how you could take on another persona when acting.

But it never really occurred to me that art could also be how one lives one’s life or even how one runs a business.

I know better now, and try to recognize this kind of art both in me and in others.

How about you? Where do you see art where you may not have seen it before?

22 June 2013 : Wrapping Up Year 19

Published on June 22, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

Melinda & I founded PSCS in 1994. That’s a long time ago. It’s before Ella was born, for Pete’s sake, and she’s old enough to drive her friends around town without Melinda or me in the car with her. And Chloe was just a year old and she’s halfway through college now (more than halfway, actually, if you factor in the credit granted her for the college classes she took while we lived in France).

I’m thinking about this because the school’s fiscal year ends on June 30th, meaning we’ll be starting the school’s 20th year on July 1st. That’s a cause for celebration, 20 years!

But we do need to wrap up the 19th year and we’re doing it with a fundraising campaign. We’ve come up a little short on our fundraising goal so are ending the year trying to raise $15k in 15 days.

Maybe you’d like to help? Given PSCS is a federally recognized charity, donations to the school are tax deductible. Connect to the school’s donation page.

Thanks!!

17 June 2013 : Worlds Are Colliding (in a good way)

Published on June 17, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

Remember that episode of Seinfeld when George was concerned because different parts of his life were overlapping? For instance, it was a bad thing for him when his fiancé wanted to interact with his closest friends. He wanted those parts of his life to remain isolated and when they started coming together he said, “Worlds are colliding” as if it was a bad thing.

Well, today’s photo shows a couple parts of my life that recently came together in a good way. On the right there is Maddie, who finished up at PSCS last year and now attends The Evergreen State College, the same school from which I graduated in 1988. And on the left there is Si, the young man with whom I began working in 1986 as part of my studies at Evergreen, an experience that very much shaped who I am today.

Last week Maddie and Si got together. That’s a real good thing in my world.

15 June 2013 : Ella’s Wisdom Teeth

Published on June 15, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

There they are, Ella’s wisdom teeth. She had them removed, or should I say extracted, yesterday. Since then she’s been, um, relaxing in her bed.

Every 15 minutes she calls for Melinda or me to either give her a couple of ice packs or take them away. Then there are the milkshakes and jello and scrambled eggs (one time with ketchup – what’s up with that?!).

The photo shows two intact teeth and one that had to be split to be removed. The fourth, or perhaps the first, was removed a couple of years ago.

Oops, gotta run. Ice packs are a-calling. 🙂

PS — Thanks to those of you who found a way to raise your hands. I really appreciate that.

13 June 2013 : Raise Your Hand…

Published on June 13, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

… if you’ve missed me posting regularly to this blog.

Once I stopped with those daily postings, it’s been much harder to keep up the momentum of posting here.

You know what would help?

Knowing there are people out there who like to read what I have to say.

So raise your hand if you want me to post more often. And in raising your hand, do so in a way that I can see you.

Oh, by the way, I like metaphorical hand raises.

5 June 2013 : 100,000 Miles

Published on June 5, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

The end of the school year is always a busy time for me. It’s even more so this year because we are hiring a new teacher at PSCS for next year and wrapping up the first year of having a more separated middle school program.

One result, I’ve not posted as regularly here since the wrapping up of the 12 Days of Kindness.

Symbolically, then, when our Subaru hit the 100,000 mile mark a few minutes ago as Melinda and I drove back from Woodinville (about 25 miles from Seattle), having consummated our latest CraigsList transaction, it seemed apt.

There is a lot going on. There still is a lot to do.

1 June 2013 : Poor Ella

Published on June 1, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

Here are some things to think about.

Melinda & I founded PSCS in 1994 (along with a dedicated group of parents and support from our founding board). Ella was born in 1996, meaning PSCS has been a significant part of her life. Ella became a student at PSCS in 2008.

The basic point I’m trying to make is that Ella hasn’t had a lot of time at PSCS that doesn’t involve Melinda and me.

So another thing to think about. Tonight is the first-ever PSCS dance. And, get this, Ella, at age 16, did not want Melinda and me involved in it.

But a few minutes ago one of our staff members, a chaperone at tonight’s dance, sent to Melinda and me this picture of Ella (on the left) with her friend Isabella.

And here I am posting it on my blog.

Poor Ella.

27 May 2013 : Where Did The Time Go?

Published on May 27, 2013August 10, 2015 by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

My “4 Day Weekend” is over. I took Friday off for my 50th birthday and then had the standard 3 day Memorial Day Weekend holiday.

I remember thinking on Thursday night that this would be SO nice, having 4 straight days to relax, catch up on sleep, enjoy the fact that I had turned 50. Now, on Monday night, the idea of a 4 day “vacation” seems so quaint. Where did the time go? What did I do with it?

Well, last night, with both Chloe and Ella out, I made a special dinner for Melinda and me. Homemade deviled eggs with smoked salmon and lettuce wraps with fresh crab, complemented with avocado and raw almonds.

Not bad, eh?

That’s actually where the time went. Not any LONG events, but a lot of wonderful short ones. Next up, the last 12 days of the school year. Speaking of 12 days, I archived the 12 Days of Kindness so folks can access the site any time.