ENTJ... CEO here I come!

So I was bored and took a personality test the other day... I turn out to be a very clear-cut ENTJ. Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging. I don't think they could have pegged me any better... Take it or leave it, this is me!

"I don't care to sit by the window on an airplane. If I can't control it, why look?"

The Executive You are a natural leader - with confidence and strength that inspires others. Driven to succeed, you are always looking for ways to gain, power, knowledge, and expertise. Sometimes you aren't the most considerate person, especially to those who are a bit slow. You are not easily intimidated - and you have a commanding, awe-inspiring presence. You would make a great CEO, entrepreneur, or consultant.

ENTJs have a natural tendency to marshall and direct. This may be expressed with the charm and finesse of a world leader or with the insensitivity of a cult leader. The ENTJ requires little encouragement to make a plan. One ENTJ put it this way... "I make these little plans that really don't have any importance to anyone else, and then feel compelled to carry them out." While "compelled" may not describe ENTJs as a group, nevertheless the bent to plan creatively and to make those plans reality is a common theme for NJ types.

ENTJs are often "larger than life" in describing their projects or proposals. This ability may be expressed as salesmanship, story-telling facility or stand-up comedy. In combination with the natural propensity for filibuster, our hero can make it very difficult for the customer to decline.

TRADEMARK: -- "I'm really sorry you have to die." (I realize this is an overstatement. However, most Fs and other gentle souls usually chuckle knowingly at this description.)

ENTJs are decisive. They see what needs to be done, and frequently assign roles to their fellows. Few other types can equal their ability to remain resolute in conflict, sending the valiant (and often leading the charge) into the mouth of hell. When challenged, the ENTJ may by reflex become argumentative. Alternatively (s)he may unleash an icy gaze that serves notice: the ENTJ is not one to be trifled with.

First day of the new job!

6:30 came awfully early this morning when my once-used alarm attempted jerk me away from dream land. In the car by 7 and in the office by 7:30 to get my feet on the ground early. I spent the first half of the day figuring out our new computer systems, and spent the second half of the day trying to figure out why my (ohh so cool) phone system was malfunctioning... I still have no idea what was wrong with it... but I assume someone will fix it tomorrow :)

Trying to get work done when you are staring outside at the 85 degree weather and watching boat after boat pulling tubes and wakeboarders is quite challenging... I cant wait for winter so I don't have to watch other people having so much fun!

So this is my office

And THIS is my view :)

Another weekend in the sun! (Too much)

Ok, so I decided that this weekend I would spend as much time in the sun as possible, so that I will not miss it when I am sitting at my desk (for the first time) tomorrow. Friday the wonderful Jess came up and we watched the opening of Willy Wonka at Lloyd Center (see below). Saturday, we went to the Saturday Market (imagine that... Saturday Market on a Saturday....) and browsed through all the fun little vendors. I was impressed... we managed to only purchase one thing between the two of us! After we completed our wondering in the Market, I decided to drive her out to see my new office (pictures of the office to come tomorrow!). The carpet was laid on Thursday, so it almost looks like a livable space now!

ANYWAYS... while we were in Lake Oswego, we happened upon the Lake Oswego farmers market! Since I had spent the last weekend mingling with the granola's at the country fair, I thought it only necessary to introduce Jess to the Yuppy crowd (that I so happily fit in to). A farmers market in the center square of Lake Oswego... wow, and I thought I had seen it all! On a positive note, I did see the hardwood floors I want mom to get in the new house!

Saturday, Nick and I took a brief road trip to the Sandy River. We walked down the river for a couple miles and basically wondered around, enjoying the sun! I think it was about 80 degrees or so and I got a bit of a sunburn. Saturday night I went to Kelsey's to prefunk before a night on the town... Some interesting individuals were over (not my crowd), so Mark, Kevin and I went back to my place to have a few beers. We ended up going out to a bar on the East side and we stayed out until about 2am. Fun times for Matt!

Sunday, Mark and I woke up and played golf at a po-dunk golf course in Hillsboro. Hey, 10 bucks for 9 holes and 9 bucks for a golf cart... money well spent! At least I put sunscreen on this time, unfortunately I forgot the top of my head... so it is a bit red! After golf, I came home and made some dinner and headed over to Richards to enjoy the rest of the sunshine. We swam in their pool for about 3 hours, finding ENDLESS entertainment with a giant Yoga ball. Who would have thought that you could make so many stupid games with a diving board and a Yoga ball? I am happy to report that NO Yoga balls were hurt in this exercise, although Mark got massive cramps... we aren't sure why :)

Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka!

After much anticipation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was unveiled last night at the Lloyd Center Theater. Let me tell you, if you are a Johnny Depp fan (who is not??), then you MUST see this movie. Creepy, humorous, blunt and awkward; Johnny Depp was simply amazing! If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest it!

New Job Jitters

The realness of the new job is now starting to hit. I have been nose deep in reading materials from listening skills, to executive recruiter training manuals... and I am just starting to realize how real this job is. In my last adventure at Percipio Consulting Group, I was thrown in to the fire, but the paycheck was guaranteed. This time, I am doing a job that is mostly reserved for the experienced and the talented, with no guarantee of a paycheck. Sure, the potential is sky high, but in this "sink or swim" line of work... NOTHING is guaranteed. I guess it the unknown that both excites and terrifies me of this job, but hey... If your gunna play the game, you may as well play the deluxe edition!

Off to the Country Club for a quick dip in the pool!

Got Granola?

So in my continuing pursued to broaden my horizons, I spent a couple days this weekend getting in touch with my "granola" side. It turns out, I don't have much of a granola side... but I may as well try eh?


Friday night Tina and I headed to Cougar reservoir and Hot Springs about an hour east of Eugene. Of course the only weekend I decide to camp this summer and it decides to rain. Making a fire Friday night was a travesty, and only after I remembered my bag of "just light here" charcoal, was I able to get a fire going. Once the fire was blazin, it was time for steaks, corn and salad! Gah I love camping!

After 2 failed attempts to start a fire Saturday morning in the rain, we said the heck with it and drove home! So much for eggs and bacon on the fire...

Ok, so I know what you are thinking... Hot Springs? That's not THAT Granola? It only gets better! For those of you who REALLY know me... you realize that the LAST place you would find me would be the Oregon Country Fair. That is, until today! (Well yesterday really).

Jess and I rolled in at about 11:15 to find a brigade of volunteers directing traffic into what looked like an abandoned wheat field. 15 minutes later, we are finally directed to a parking spot, which couldn't have been more than 200 yards from where we pulled in... Apparently there are people that enjoy the power of yelling at motorists for parking too far away from the next car over.

Butterflys, Hot Pink Cats, Fairies, Belly Dancing Gorillas, and a Cave Man pretty much sum up the types of people I encountered. The Fair sort of reminded me of the Tom Sawyer area of Disney Land, only these people weren't actors in some corporate scheme to make millions.

I didn't take very many pictures but ill at least show a couple for those dyeing to know.





Who said you can't start a fire without a match! This man did, and it only took him 15 minutes! I couldn't help but wonder why he didn't use a lighter. Isn't technology grand?








And what Country Fair would be complete without a PVC ball of Death?
(I don't get it....)

I kept waiting for Lil' John to pop out.....


...and there was Robin Hood and his merry men

4th of July excitement

So this year my genius mother (I wondered where I got it...) decided to rent the Fireside Room at the Embarcadero in Newport to enjoy good company and good fireworks! For those who are not familiar with Newport, this is the view from the room!



A few drinks, a few friends, and a few pictures. Overall a very relaxing and enjoyable 4th. Enjoy photography by Matt and Jess :)

Visit my Gallery to see the rest

A little family history!

So I was REALLY bored... and searching the internet for "updenkelder" and came across this... I don't know that ANY of us knew this stuff. This is just a breif exerpt... there is MUCH more at the site.

About the Updenkelder's I can tell you the following. In 1847 Jan op den Kelder, his wife Marie Haker and their four children, Jan (male)of 1831, Antje (female) of 1837, Jantje (female) of 1839 and Roelof (male) of 1844 sailed to the USA together with Pieter Oudejans. He was not married and stayed single. In in the same year 1847 Marie Haker died. Jan remarried with a certain Lena (no surname). Jan died in 1885 and Lena in 1888. His son Willem died in 1850, probably unmarried. Now the puzzle starts! I have booklet, written by Herman op den Kelder, containing the genealogy of the Op den Kelder's, in which I find a marriage of Roelof op den Kelder, born 7 March 1841 in Nibbixwoud, died in 1919 in Blokker, married to Trijntje Hoogland on 9 August 1874 in Nibbixwoud. A translation of Trijntje Hoogland in English could be Katie Highlander. Trijntje and Katie are shorts of Catherine. In the same booklet I find Johannes M. op den Kelder. born 12 April 1803 in Nibbixwoud. married on 4 October 1835 to Marie Haker, widow of Klaas Bijl. They had at least two children, Antje born on 9 September 1837 in Nibbixwoud and Roelof, born 24 March 1844 in Nibbixwoud. I mentioned them before. What you have on rootsweb and I have, I combined and I ended with the following family: Rudolf op den Kelder married to Trijntje Hoogland (Katie Highlander). They had the following children: Ervin born around 1876 Annie, born around 1878, married to John Rambertus Oudeans William, born around 1879 Gloss, born around 1880, married to Arabella Oudeans I'm convinced that these children were born in the USA and not in the Netherlands. Last year I did some research in our Dutch archives and found nothing about the birth of Gloss. And Gloss is not a normal Dutch name. Annie and John married in 1896. Annie died in 1899. They had two children, Eva Lydia, born 1897 and John Leo, born 1899. John remarried Minnie Alice Jolly. They had five children, Zelma May, born 1902, June L., born 1905, Evelyn (?) born around 1908, Nadine E., born 1910 and Charles Rodney, born 1914. I have several copies of the genealogy of the Op den Kelder's. Of course it is Dutch. If you're interested I can send you a copy. Did you know that Op den Kelder's are orginally from Germany? Than they wrote their name as Auf dem Keller. I mailed a lot with Bob Updenkelder from AZ, but I knew more of his than he did! He is a descendent of Ervin.

Taken from http://www.rootsweb.com/~wioconto/fye.htm

To the Rose Gardens

We (Jess and I) just returned from the wonderful Portland Rose Gardens. Although it was towords the end of the season, some of the roses were still gorgeous! Here is my favorite shot, and I will be uploading the rest to my gallery later this weekend. I have so much post processing to do... :(