The capital's a chatting place

As part of my Leadership Hermiston class, we went to Salem to tour the capital and learn more about the legislative process. While there we met with Rep. Bob Jensen, R-Pendleton, and Sen. David Nelson, R- Pendleton.

Above is a pic David "snuck" out of session to pose with us. (you can barely see my head to the right and behind facilitator Brenda Turner).

Anyway, it's been a while since I've been in our state capital and I was struck at how much talking and walking around goes on while sessions are going on. If this were a classroom, many of the legislators would be sent to the principal's office. 

Cuckoo's Nest comes crashing down

(It seems the first photo I had on here self-destructed, so here's another depicting the walls as they come tumbling down)

I was reading some information about the Oregon State Hospital - particularly the historic Building J (which any movie buff should recognize in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).

Anyway I was appalled to find out that the entire campus of the sprawling former insane asylum was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year.

Yeah, granted the building is old and the architecture is unique, but the human warehouse it became was disdainful.

Although demolition of parts of the building began earlier this month, the tower is being salvaged and will be part of the Oregon State Hospital Replacement Project. I'm sorry, but it's going to take a lot more than new digs for the state of Oregon to redeem itself when it comes to care for the mentally ill.

For some interesting reading, check out this Pulitzer Prize winning series about the hospital http://www.oregonlive.com/special/oregonian/hospital/

Cynical on the surface

Sometimes I'm jaded. (Jaded, adjective, made dull, apathetic or cynical by experience.) But then other times I meet people and I'm just amazed by human tenacity.

I recently told the story of a young woman who lost her infant daughter in December. (Death leads to March for Babies, East Oregonian, April 3, 2009).

Our office manager came in and told me a lady was here and wanted to talk about the March of Dimes fundraiser. My initial thought was I had just written up a brief about the fundraising walks planned for Pendleton and Hermiston, but I grabbed my pad and a pen and headed into the lobby area.

"I lost my infant daughter and to avenge her death, I want to do something for the March of Dimes," 25-year-old Becky Macki said to me before she even told me her name.

Stories like this typically don't just fall in your lap. I truly believe fundraising for various organizations is important, but to put a face to the cause is incredibly powerful.

As I talked to Becky, who lives with her sister, Debbie Knarr, I found out they lost their father in 2001 and their mother in 2007.

"We're just two little orphan adults," Debbie said.

As I talked with them I felt somewhat like a voyeur - asking deep, personal and penetrating questions ... stuff normal people don't ask others the first time they meet them. I apologized for being intrusive.

I guess I'm not so jaded.

Quick, follow that blog ...

Imagine my surprise this morning when I was showing a friend my blog and not only is my dog a follower, but now I have a horse too. I'm hoping to become the Dr. Dolittle of blogs.