In general, Max and I have moved to Facebook along with 90% of the casual bloggers out there.  If you’re not a facebook friend yet, look us up.   

So. Happy. To. Be. Done. Me and my little thumper friend destroyed all cement in our backyard on Monday. Currently it looks like a bomb went off, but the final backyard plan is on the move!

This weekend was the culmination of weeks of work for Max, as the MTHC health conference (3rd year now) filled auditoriums and classrooms as Metro State University with doctors/health practitioners and with community members.  It was massive and very well rated via all forms of feedback.  Max is in the process of stepping down as co-chair after many years and so a tribute was given to Max before the afternoon keynote address by the remaining and incoming co-chair.  I captured much of it on video on my cell phone, but I need to try to clean up the audio as it is difficult to make out the words.  It was a big auditorium full of people.

Some of the key statements however were, “4 years ago we were just 3 people sitting in a room not sure what to do.  Then Max arrived, and it was like a hurricane blew in.  Many of you have worked with Max so you know what it is like — Max has the project done before it is even started.”  Generally the sentiment was that Max had grown the organization by leaps and bounds beyond what the initial group ever thought possible.  They gained their 501c3 nonprofit status, formed a board, developed and delivered professional level trainings to medical personnel, and created the Health Conference which has grown to huge proportions and is attracting all sorts of national attention and attendance.  When the other co-chair was finished speaking the place erupted in a huge standing ovation for Max.  It was deafening.

Just to ice the cake, that night at the conference cabaret it dawned on me that no fewer than 3 of the excellent acts / groups has been created by Max, or spawned from something Max had created (such as a choir that formed for the first time at a Voices conference Max co-created several years ago).  And here they were going strong years later and performing at the latest of Max’s creations.  Too funny. 

Of course this is all while co-chairing a large group at the University of Minnesota that applies to all statewide campuses, which boasted a list of achievements of its own that made life a lot better for certain groups of students and staff/faculty, and of course you know, that real life job thing.  I think I’d have to go to bed for a week just to recover from one “Max-week.” 

Max would be the first to say that there was lots of help along the way.  However the vision and passion Max brings to the table, the sheer raw determination, the complete willingness to personally take on any task that needs doing, and finally a deep commitment to creating community and making sure everyone has a place at the table … that’s what makes Max so successful and so well loved. 

You really are my hero honey!! 

Tarace boulba, a 25+ piece french funk jazz band touring the usa stayed in our neighborhood. Their host threw a block party and they played a ton! Awesome sound. The rain didn’t dampen any spirits, tents and umbrellas appeared from all over.

Tarace boulba, a 25+ piece french funk jazz band touring the usa stayed in our neighborhood. Their host threw a block party and they played a ton! Awesome sound. The rain didn’t dampen any spirits, tents and umbrellas appeared from all over.

Off to clean sunporch and dogs and shoes.

Ace Boon Coon: Essentially, “partner in crime.”  Like Thelma and Louise.  Which she just saw for the first time and which sparked this conversation. 

Boo: Boyfriend/girlfriend.

Honey-lover: I think a friend who becomes a romantic interest over time, or your serious partner?  Not in the urban dictionary.

There were more.  The brain cells that were supposed to remember them were too full of 80s song lyrics, unfortunately.