StumpTown Blog

Things I’ve learned while in Phoenix for my CLE/Conference: Getting a seat in the exit row on any flight is always better. It’s just so nice. Why do they even ask you if you want the exit row? Everyone wants the exit row. I mean, some people I guess can’t take on the responsibility, but other than that, we all want them. You (airlines) don’t even have to ask. The sun makes me happy. I tolerate all the rain we get in Oregon OK, but man the sun can be a pick me up. I guess I already knew that but I forget every year at this time. You should never wear brown shoes with a blue suit. Of course I already knew that, but since 2 out of every 3 lawyers here in suits are breaking this fashion rule, I guess I learned that it needs to be said more often. Please, for the love of vanity, stop this now. You can’t stay at the Biltmore and be miserable. Just impossible. I think we should embrace the idea of sending people who are depressed to rehab like we do for drug addicts. We should send them to a ...

Just checking in with a few things: 1. My family just left for vacation without me. I'm glad they get to go since I will be out of town anyway, but I always miss them terribly. Afterall, if the two supers in this picture greeted you every day after work, wouldn't you miss it too? As a consolation for being without my lovely wife and our two oft-costumed offspring, I am at the Biltmore this week at a conference. The Biltmore outside of Phoenix is a ridiculously posh place that I could never afford to stay at if I were paying. My blog question for the day for all of you who may be reading this (and if you are not reading this, how do you know I’m talking about you?), is what, in your mind, makes a hotel, resort, vacation cabin, etc, great? What takes it from the “that’s a pretty nice place” to “oh my word, that is a spectacular place” Is it the view? The setting? The room? The complimentary robe? The food? The memories? The lobby? I have noticed that a hallmark of expensive ho...

Why the sudden love for Pirates? Is it talk like a pirate day again already? Have I found a way to join the beloved “Pirates who don’t do anything?” Perhaps I’ve just scored tickets to a popular Gilbert and Sullivan production (love those guys)? Surely I haven’t just decided to move to Pittsburg and turn my back on my embattled Giants? No, no. None of that. Rather, my new-found love for Pirates is because my oldest son Gibson has just successfully completed his first official little league practice for his team,….wait for it…can you guess….THE PIRATES!!! What a perfect nickname for a kid’s team….but I’ll let that go. The point of this post is really how excited I am that Gibson has started his journey in the sports world. He’s been to camps and classes for everything from swimming to basketball and he and I have certainly spent our share of time kicking, throwing, shooting, batting, striking, breaking, catching, loosing, treeing, hiding and just about anything else you can thin...

I am still alive. I just haven’t been able to blog. It’s sad really. When I started out I was able to find the time and now that things have cranked up at work, it is harder and harder. Maybe I need a ghost writer. Anyway, the big news of the moment is that it is the beginning of the NCAA tournament this week, or as I like to call it, “the greatest event in the world of sports.” There is the drama of the games, the upsets, the passion, the school spirit, the competition from wagering (if you’re into that sort of thing, which of course I am not…as far as you know...), it has it all. Anyway, if you are into that sort of thing, rumor has it that you can participate in a pool by leaving a comment here with a way for me to email you an official invitation. Ummm, not from me of course, but from a "friend"....or something.