There is a faint smell of roses in the air in the frigid Eugene Oregon air today. Gina and I attended the last Civil War Football Dual between the Ducks and Beavers this weekend visiting Mark at U of O this his last year. It was touch and go for a bit but the Ducks…
How relevant 50 years later… Congressman Sisk, Mr. Congressman, my old friend and colleague in the Congress; Governor Brown; Senator Kuchel; Senator Eagle; Congressman Bizz Johnson; Senator Richards; Mr. Brody; Mrs. O’Neill; Mr. Mayor; Secretary Udall; Under Secretary Carr, ladies and gentlemen: It is a pleasure for me to come out here and help plow…
My daughter appeared on “Your Carolina” this morning-WSPA Channel 7 CBS. In her debut as a network nutrition expert, she talked about the “Meatless Monday” trend in America. It is great to see her career and dreams moving forward. It has been years of education and experience that brought her to this point – A…
Ashland to Almaden in 3 Minutes…. This last weekend, we hung out in Eugene visiting my son who is in his senior year at University of Oregon.. We watched the Ducks put the hurt on the Georgia State Panthers. On our way up to Eugene, we stopped at his roomates parents house located ten minutes…
Mark recently shot me a song he wrote for a music composition elective he took this semester. Garage Band and Mixcraft. All instruments and backgrounds, lyrics and melodies composed by Mark Syn and sung by his girlfriend, Phoebe. LYRICS Verse 1 (0:17-0:34) Heading back from work I couldn’t understand Things weren’t the best at…
I miss family vacations. It has been a long time since our family has had a chance to take a vacations together. We spent a week in Mauii like we use to in the old days this month. Both Mark and Mia’s spring breaks came on the same week despite the fact that one is…
With the family back home for Thanksgiving, its been busy these last weeks. Gina cooked her traditional Turkey and we had a great feast- thankful for our health and family. Nick was missing this year due to a medical emergency at 98 year old. Im afraid it is time for him to consider Long Term Skilled…
This last week we celebrated Mia graduating with a Masters Degree from Columbia University in New York. She is now the first of the Syn’s to graduate from an Ivy League college and although her career path is uncertain, she has successfully mastered and overcome the academic, personal, and financial rigors of Columbia University graduate school…
There was a time not long ago that I honestly believed that my son had ADHD. I remember it clearly. We were trying to learn about Mitosis and Meiosis for high school Biology. I looked into his eyes and I saw vocational school. This last quarter at University of Oregon, he accomplished something extraordinary-he received…
This year’s Christmas was unique for a few major reasons–the absence of our annual Luminaria Tradition and the fact that both kids had to fly home fro distant locations to be with us. New York and Eugene were incredibly cold over the holidays and both kids were happy to be back in the warmth…
Time flies when you hang with toddlers. Especially when you remember when they were born. Ken and Erin Long are our favorite Parents with Toddlers. Today was Kaitlyn’s 45th Birthday and they held it at a Gymnastics Club just like we use to do with Mia! I bet her husband has already picked out his…
Collecting Info on Easy Red for Nicholas Gray’s Documentary…. Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer
This week after a world-wind three days of Bed Bath and Beyond, Pier One, BJ’s, Target and Michaels, plus a bunch of random boutique hardware stores only blocks away from her new Upper West Side Apartment, I finally discovered why I like Dentistry so much–I love the challenge of assembling Ikea furniture. Mia has officially…
Success at last! We started the quest for an apartment in Manhattan 8 days ago in New York and managed to rent one today with the help of our relatives in New York willing to walk the listings with a great broker–Jenny Nokeo. Jenny was best thing about the whole experience. She was one of…
The fourth of July in NYC is a tradition in our family. This could be Nicks last year to travel. Our goal this year was to secure an apartment for my daughter near Columbia in the upper west side. More on that shitfest in a later post. Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer
Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer Mark had an amazing year at University of Oregon. Enrolled at Lane Community College and University of Oregon at the same time, He managed to pass his EMT 1 class with flying colors and pull a 3.7 GPA while working two jobs. Employed by RESNET and Epic Software as…
My beautiful niece, Megan, graduated from Bret Harte Middle school today. Megan only received 3 B’s at Bret Harte and two of them were in PE. I have a feeling she is going to do great at Leland. Congratulations! We are here for you, and we are so proud of your achievements. Get the flash…
Phoebe and Mark at the last prom I will ever photograph (maybe). The Pre Prom photo shoot was at the beautiful Boulder Ridge Golf course down the road. Phoebe will be giving the Commencement address this Wednesday at the Leland class of 2013 graduation. Next year she will be attending University of Oregon with Mark.…
Dr Wai Yun Syn 1932-2013 I think it was the late 80’s when my Uncle Yun, the last of my dad’s generation of Syn Brothers that fished was diagnosed with Cardiomegaly and given only a few years to live. It was Uncle Yun that catalyzed my love of fly fishing when he gave me a…
So in a day , what seemed to be the ultimate goal, has come and past. It was a hopeful wish the day she was born, a landmark that I planned my retirement around, and a source of anxiety as we watched the cost of education rise faster than our savings plan. Mia Syn, our…