Delivering to Designing: A Close Look at Enrich Design, a Graphic Arts Company

Last Christmas I was doing a delivery run in a terrible snow storm … I was greeted by the warm smile of a woman who must have been at least 150 years old. “How are you?” she asked … “I’m excited for my shift to end so I can go home and see my son. He was born a week ago on Christmas Eve.” Without hesitation the old lady, who definitely did not have much to spare, pulled out a $20 bill for a tip. I’m not sure her total was even $20, so when she handed me the money I was speechless.

Kyle Richardson of Portland, Oregon had taken up a second job as a pizza delivery man so his wife could stay at home with their new son. Such is the character and outstanding work-ethic of this up-and-coming graphic designer.

Richardson was getting burnt out at his job at a printing company, doing work he was not passionate about. On top of that, he was experiencing the worst of times and the best of times in not two cities, but one, delivering pizzas to both poor neighborhoods and rich. You can read more about his delivery reflections here.

All he has wanted to do since he could remember, was draw. And at that point, he could see no way to do that and make money to support his family.

But when a medical supplier needed brochures made, and asked Richardson for references, he answered, “I know the man you need to make your brochures.” “Who’s that?” asked the supplier. “Me.”

And so Richardson took his first step toward his dream. He was finally forced to register his business with the state of Oregon and build a website. Many would scratch their heads at this procedure, calling it backwards. Admittedly, businesses are usually birthed through the launching of websites, not the signature on a contract.

But Richardson plowed forward. By default more jobs came to him, so in order to make room in his life for his new business (of which he was still just taking on random jobs every couple of months), he took the leap of faith and quit his job as a pizza delivery man.

And that’s when things took shape. He didn’t have to advertise; he just kept his website up to date, enter the right search words, and business came to him – from all over the country. A sort of 21st century Field of Dreams, if you will.

He was finally able to quit his job at the printing company early in 2010 and accept a better, more satisfying role at Flir, a thermal imaging company who supplies our military, where he enjoys his work as the company’s senior graphic designer.

Enrich Design, as his business is called, has been growing steadily. However, Richardson freely admits that the more he learns about business, the more he realizes has to be learned, so he is glad to be at Flir where he can continue to learn and be guided by his colleagues and bosses.

At Enrich Design, Richardson specializes in three main categories: Print designs, brochres/flyers, and his first love, websites/illustrations.

He has illustrated children’s books, one of which won an award that has spawned an upcoming sequel.

Talks are in the works about a possible partnership with a marketing company, Spur-creative, also based in Portland.

If you, or anyone you know, is looking for an artist, designer, or photographer, look no further than Enrich Design. This is where I had the cover of my book, The Man in the Box done – and I will no doubt be returning to Enrich for future projects.

For more information, contact him at kyle@enrichdesign.us

Visit Enrich Design here

Richardson’s reflections as a delivery driver

President Obama Adresses Planned Parenthood

I try to stay quiet on political issues on this blog, but there are just a few things that I cannot stay quiet about. Besides, it’s not hard for any regular follower to read between the lines on where I stand on many issues.

Last week President Obama took the initiative to be the first sitting president to address the controversial industry, Planned Parenthood.

He opened up commending Planned Parenthood’s historic standing as the first health clinic nearly one hundred years ago in Brooklyn, New York. (I suppose it would have been an ill-fitted reminder that Planned Parenthood was founded by a Nazi sympathizer who wanted to do away with the “black” and “yellow” peril. So I won’t hold that against him.)

He stated that Planned Parenthood has one core principle, and that is that women should be allowed to make their own decision about health.

He’s partially right, there. Women should have just as much right as men to make their own decisions about health.

Every person, man or woman, should have a right to check-ups and medical exams and, if needed, proper medical treatment. And every person does have a right, as well as accessibility – even outside of Planned Parenthood.

I understand that these things cost money, and oft-times lots of it. That’s why my wife and I save, and don’t spend frivolously, so that we have the money to go to the doctor if need be. You should check out her newest blog post about great ways to build a savings. But, unfortunately, many people believe we not only have the right to healthcare, but rather, free healthcare.

Don’t get me wrong. I applaud the cancer screenings, the counselors (hesitantly), and that insurance can no longer deny coverage because of preexisting conditions through Planned Parenthood. These are good things, and I do recognize that our healthcare system, even before Obamacare, has been seriously flawed.

Planned Parenthood provides these great services, but what is at the core of their industry?

President Obama, in his speech, never once used the word “abortion.” Instead, he replaced it with “contraceptives” at least seven times, and at the very least made two other very clear pro-abortion references (to which one of them received an overwhelming applause out of the blue) in the twelve minutes he spoke.

I dare him and Planned Parenthood supporters to use the word abortion in their talk of “birth control” and “contraceptives.” I’m not even asking that they call it murder.

I’m just asking them to call it what it is. Abortion.

Termination. Of life.

Of rights.

Termination of the right to life.

According to the president, one out of five women turn to Planned Parenthood for healthcare. For many of them, it is their primary healthcare. He pleaded for “more young women … more college students to come through [Planned Parenthood's] doors.”

So why, then, if Planned Parenthood provides free healthcare, would the president pass a law that people shall remain on their parent’s healthcare until they’re 26?

Someone should look into that.

Planned Parenthood and like institutions not only offer the services of the termination of babies, they provide life-long guilt and regret.

They rob the world of would-be greats. (Did you know Steve Jobs was almost aborted?)

They rob prospective parents of a child. (I believe the answer to saving lives is more people making their voices heard through adoption.)

This is the institution our president swore will never go away, and he will stand beside as president of the United States in every way he can. One news analyst commented that President Obama supports Planned Parenthood more than any other institution in the country.

After a few vicious jabs at the Conservative party and their efforts to stop abortion (so much for doing away with party lines, huh?), President Obama said of the current president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, “It’s the only organization she’s been at where her opponents literally get up every day trying to figure out how to keep her from doing her work.”

Count me in as one of them.

Cut the defense budget. Americans will have enough after another attack.

Keep spending our money on frivolous things. Though it will be painful, America can pay it off.

But the buck stops here at abortion. On this I cannot stay silent.

Can you?

If not, then the question I raise to you is,

What do we do?

Honest Worship, Honest Life

A.W. Tozer once said, “Christians don’t tell lies – they go to church and sing them.”

Like you, the phrase caught me off guard. But when given to deeper thought, I realized it was true.

Let’s start with the basics. A popular verse found in many Christian songs is, “I lift my hands and I sing.” (If I cited that, I would run out of room on this post.)

I know I’ve never once had my hands in the air as I sang that verse.

Oh, we can justify it all we want by saying things like, “But it’s my heart that I’m lifting up.”

Bull. God knows the difference between your heart and your hands. He also knows the difference between security and insecurity.

What about song verses like, “I lay it all down for You.”

There aren’t many times I’ve repented from things after singing songs that make those bold statements. In fact, not sure if I ever have.

Here’s the thing. We’re so concerned with looking spiritual, we’re willing to live lies in order to come across as having it all together.

Not trying to toot my own horn here, but I don’t have it all together. In fact, I’m a mess. A spiritual, emotional, (sometimes) physical mess!

There are two types of places I’ve worked at. One was corporate. The other local.

In the corporate setting, these managers did everything right and by the book. They checked and double-checked everything off their lists that they were supposed to do. They dressed properly, they blushed if they cursed, they obeyed the rules.

Until they thought no one was looking.

First, they gossiped. (That’s how I learned about all the rules they broke on a daily basis.) Online shopping on the clock, not clocking off for lunch, “borrowing” some cash from store funds, engaging in inappropriate affairs with their employees, passing their jobs off to others, shirking duties, and the list goes on.

But you’d never know it by talking to them.

Then I’ve worked for a local place, where the “corporate office” isn’t but half a rung higher than the managers on the proverbial ladder.

These guys smoke weed, curse like sailors, cheat on their taxes, and I’d not doubt for a minute that a handful of them served time.

But you know which group I like better? That’s right – this right-winged fundamentalist Christian would much rather hang out with the rap-popping, weed-smoking, beer-happy “sinners” than the uptight, stiff-necked, hypocrites of the corporate place I worked for.

Why? Because at least these rough necks aren’t hiding anything.

They’re unashamed: “Here I am; take it or leave it… foo’!”

These guys are easier to witness to. They’re not going to get all over you for being politically incorrect or cry foul to the boss because you offended them. They might not admit they need help or change in their lives, but they’re also not likely to say nothing’s wrong with them and that every thing’s fine.

But I tell you. I’m such a mess myself. I do lie every time I sing, “I give You my all,” because honestly, I don’t. I just don’t give Jesus my all. That hasn’t happened before.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t worship. I’m not berating you for singing such songs, and declaring such promises. I’m just at a point in my life where I feel dishonest singing them.

I need to get to a place where I am actually doing such things as “giving my all,” and “taking up my cross,” and being brave enough to raise my hands (only for the attention of God), and then I’ll have a better, more honest, transparent worship time.

Then maybe it will make it easier for Jesus to come minister to me. Heaven knows I’m such a mess that I need it.

Pee, Puppies, and God

They had it. They had my trust.

Then they lost it.

And I had it.

I had had enough. It was time to start locking them up again.

We have three dachshunds living with us. One of them, the small red one, is Pixie. She’s ours, and just turned four.

The other two, Roxy (black) and Sydney (chocolate), are on loan from Sarabeth’s sister and brother-in-law who are missionaries in a country that frowns on dogs. So, for their mortal safety, they left their most cherished possessions in our care.

The neighbors think we’re nuts. And it’s not like these are timid, quiet pups. These dogs, all three of them, bark at every wind-blown leaf that crosses their path. Once they start, there’s no stopping them.

Not only that, but Pixie has a grass allergy, so to prevent rashes from growing on her tummy, she has to wear a onesie. (And a doggie-sweater for the winter).

Yup.

We’re those neighbors. Step aside, smelly old cat lady! The Toys have one-uped you!

Can you imagine just trying to get to your car to go to work each morning and the neighbor’s dogs are barking hysterically at you – some dressed in clothes, others simultaneously pooping – as if you were the freak?

Well, there they are. Our three Musketeers. The three Amigos. Larry, Curly and Mo. Ready to bark at a moment’s notice, then scamper away in terror if you get too close.

Ridiculous.

Well, every time Sarabeth and I left the house together, we’d lock them up. I hated doing that, especially when we all know the sun was about to shine through the windows. Man, how they love that sun beam! Who am I to take that away from them?

One day, I decided to leave them out of their cages for a trial run, and see how they do.

By and by, they had earned my trust, and we rarely, if ever, came home to pee or poop on the floor.

There was no more need to lock them up when we left the house. I declared them free dogs.

Until our schedules got a little different. Suddenly, we weren’t just leaving the house to go to work or to church. Other things came up, job schedules changed, I was needed for book tours and signings.

And the dogs retaliated.

Sometimes we’d come home to not one, but two or three separate pee spots. (And I prayed they hadn’t pooped and that it was no longer there to be cleaned.)

I had had it. They had lost their privilege. They could no longer be left out when we leave the house.

It breaks my heart every time I have to lock them up, because I know that they’re choosing this. It’s their decision to lose out on their freedom.

And every time I lock them up, I’m reminded: What kinds of freedoms and privileges have I lost because of my disobedience to God? In what ways does His heart break when He must discipline me?

We’re all locked up in some way or another, because we’ve left broken hearts and broken promises throughout our lives. We’ve abused power and our freedom.

But at least I know God isn’t giddy about our loss of freedom. He’s hurt.

I believe He’s willing to work with us to grow us and shape us and help us mature so that we just might be able to earn different blessings and privileges from Him.

Let’s start picking up after our own messes, and maybe we’ll regain trust with people and God.

Check out more of our dogs on Sarabeth’s blog, thedachshundblog.

My Review of Lincoln

Think about it.

There’s probably not a person over sixteen alive today living in America that hasn’t seen a Steven Spielberg movie.

Unless they’re Amish.

Or blind.

Still. I always say, “We can all use a little more Spielberg in our lives.”

Alright, alright, so he messed up with the snore-fest War Horse (I still don’t know what it was about!). And maybe The Lost World didn’t come close to living up to its predecessor – but no one’s perfect, right?

I mean, I’m not a perfect husband; I’ve snapped at my wife a time or two.

Pixar made Cars 2

Congress voted in favor of Obamacare. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Anyway, all that to say, that Lincoln, though not meant to be watched for entertainment value, is far from being a mistake.

I think Spielberg actually did a masterful job, not at creating a blockbuster or a compelling story-on-film, but a rich, well-informed, educational, and (mostly) accurate documentary of the efforts to pass the 13th amendment.

Be sure, this film is not about the Civil War, nor did I feel like it was really about our sixteenth president. The film focused mainly on the collective efforts of the Republicans to persuade the House of Representatives to pass Lincoln’s proposed amendment, not necessarily for the purposes of freeing the slaves (though that was a sparkling side-effect), but to end the war on the terms of unification of the nation.

Abraham Lincoln was undoubtably one of the greats. I loved how Spielberg highlighted his political genius, and the great efforts and strains he endured to have his pure resolve brought to fruition.

Sarabeth and I were both tense leading up to the assassination, (btw, spoilers ahead) but we were relieved that it was not shown. It honestly would have been too traumatic for any patriot to see – even replicated – on screen. I think it was very honorable that Spielberg spared the audience such images, as I’m sure he knew it could draw criticism from the rougher audiences.

Passing over the assassination was akin to Oliver Stone purposefully choosing not to show the planes crashing into the towers in his film World Trade Center, diverting attention from the praise-seeking sadists. 

I will say, if you want to learn more about the historical assassination, and how Booth suffered miserably in his last days, you really need to pick up the book Manhunt by Swanson. (It’ll also give you an idea of what Dzhokhar Tsarnaev went through last week in Massachusetts.) Even then, in written form, Lincoln’s untimely death brought me to near tears.

“Should we buy it?” is a question often asked in our house after we watch a rental.

My answer: “It’s nothing I would look forward to watching again in a hurry. But I think it’s worth having on hand to show our kids when they’re studying about him in school.”

Keep the cameras rolling, Mr. Spielberg.

Please Buy My Movies

This picture on your left, these are the movies we’re keeping.

[A link to the ones we're selling is at the bottom of this page. There are plenty to go around.]

Let me rewind.

I’ve always taken pride in my movie collections. This dates all the way back to VHS tapes when the Disney movies were more special because they’re the only ones that came in those cool rubber-smelling white cases, setting them apart from the cardboard sleeves every other movie came in.

Remember those? Yeah, they were so cool!

And alphabetizing! I love alphabetizing! When Boo knocks down Mike Wazowski’s CD’s in Monster’s Inc., I  always feel his pain because “Those were alphabetized!”

Well, as the title of my blog suggests, we’re trying to adopt a kid. We’ve got our first case study scheduled for early next month (Yeah! Progress!) and our front bedroom – soon to be our kid’s room – is a complete disaster. Check out Sarabeth’s blog post for more gruesome details on that.

One thing that’s taken up most space in our loft is movies. I was a much bigger movie buff as a bachelor than I am now – so a whopping collection of unneeded movies was part of the baggage I carried into our marriage. There are just too many that I wouldn’t care for our kids to ever come across (like The Punisher or Austin Powers in Goldmember …remember, folks: baggage), or that we just will never be bored enough to watch again (Look Who’s Talking and What About Bob?).

Well, to help create more space, we decided to get rid of the cases and just put the discs in CD holders.

Gasp!

Sarabeth’s only been suggesting this for months.

You might as well get rid of the movies, then, right? I mean, half the fun is displaying them for everyone to see, if not for a change of interior color, then they can serve as a great conversation starter for guests.

But ultimately, Sarabeth’s approach made the most sense. I mean, adoption requires some sacrifice, right?

So yesterday, I supressed my pain and just went at it without thinking. I alphabetized over 400 DVD discs and tossed their beautiful, colorful cases in the dumpster.

And I got to thinking.

The Christian life is like that a little, isn’t it? I mean, we’re all DVD discs in a way. Certainly we’re all well-rounded, right? Not to mention maybe a few scratches on us and a big God-shaped hole in the middle. (Okay, no more jokes.)

But really, we’re full of so much information. We have good moments and bad that we’ll all account for in the end. Our built-in menus are like our mood-changers, and some of us are even fluent in other languages! Some need subtitles to be understood, and others have so many special features and complexities that some therapists don’t even know where to start!

And sometimes we like the way we’ve been packaged. We’re glittery and shiny and colorful on the outside for the world to look at and be drawn to. But there’s no way for us to connect with others but to just stand up next to them, shoulder-to-shoulder.

Not much community going on there.

Until you toss the glittery exterior and make yourself – your true self – vulnerable enough to be packed in a CD case with others. Or packed into a house, or a church, or a community.

Who knows? Maybe a little of the integrity and honor of Saving Private Ryan will rub off on the sometimes sappy Titanic. (I’m not selling those, so don’t bother checking.)

Either way, because I went through the task of stripping down my DVD cases, there’s now more room for toys and a crib in our child’s room.

What will there be more room of when you decide to strip down your own fancy exterior? Who knows? Give it a try, and see what happens.

Help us make room for our child and get rid of some of this stuff by buying our unwanted movies here. (My seller user name is atoy1.) And keep checking back. I’ll be updating it for the next couple of days!

(For some reason, Amazon isn’t letting me sell a few products. I’ve got Full House seasons 1-7 – don’t ask, don’t tell – which I can sell for $15.00 each or $100 for the whole set, and Everybody Loves Raymond seasons 1-5 for $25 each or $110 for the set. Email me at andrewtoy1208@aol.com to talk business.)

Our Full Potential

Sarabeth and I watched Adam Sandler’s Mr. Deeds last night. I (reluctantly) admit it’s one of the funnier movies in our small comedy collection. Watching it, I kept thinking, What happened, Adam?

As goofy as his movies are, we actually enjoy a small handful of his older ones.

Several years ago, he took a detour from his usual comedy routine and stared in a few dramatic movies, one of them being  Reign Over Me, one of my personal favorite movies. Besides telling a vivid post-9/11 story of pain and honesty in a broken world, it really showcased Sandler’s true talent and potential for what seemed to be the budding of his acting career.

The movie was timely because I, along with many fans, were growing tired of his slapstick hijinks and repeatedly silly antics. His next movie dealt with a serious issue alright, but not in a serious way. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry was so offensive and filthy that I literally took a shower after watching just half of it. (It is very, very difficult to offend me.)

He then goes on to make several more silly movies, continuing to refuse to show any depth, and then, just to taunt those of us who would like to support him (if only he’d grow up), he stars in a movie called – of all things - Grown Ups (which scored a whopping 9% approval rating on Rottentomatoes – but don’t worry, that won’t deter Sandler or his producers from hawking out a sequel.)

Needless to say, with the exception of Chuck and Larry, it’s been seven years since I’ve supported or seen anything new by him.

But in that small stint of time between 2004 and 2006, Adam Sandler showed true potential. I’m reminded of my high school days. I scored an A in my Creative Writing class, which prompted my mom to say, “You see? I know you’re capable of getting A’s! This proves it!”

Adam Sandler proved to the world that he was capable of more than just joke repetition, senseless beatings, and fart jokes.

It wasn’t long ago when I said to Sarabeth, “We need some more Leo in our lives.” Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor whose career choices I highly respect and admire. He could have very easily remained as the pretty boy Hollywood made him out to be in his younger days, but instead, he chose to mature with the years. His movie choices are age-related, and aren’t just ones that will keep the girls storming after him like lemmings over a cliff (though, I’m sure they still do that). From Catch Me if You Can to Aviator, he has truly reached and kept his full potential over the years.

What about you?

Are you just sticking with what’s comfortable? Or are you stretching yourself, pushing yourself, to be better in your field, your hobbies, your dreams, your career?

Don’t settle for what you were good at yesterday. Discover what you could be good at tomorrow, and keep pressing forward.