Toot! Toot!*: Designer|clown Jeff Fisher included in book 'RIPE: Rich, Rewarding Work After 50'

Designer Jeff Fisher, the Engineer of Creative Identity for the Portland-based firm Jeff Fisher LogoMotives and Portland Rose Festival Character Clown Corps member Toots Caboose, is mentioned as a "ripe pioneer" in the recently released book RIPE: Rich, Rewarding Work After 50. The volume, by author, speaker and columnist Julia Moulden, is currently available at most online bookstores.

RIPE delivers the news that something wonderful – and unprecedented – is just beginning for those who have reached 50 years of age. Baby boomers like you are approaching the next phase of their careers with the confidence of mature professionals and the zest of beginners. They are becoming what Julia Moulden calls, “ripe”. Meet the ripe pioneers who told her, “This is the most deeply satisfying work I’ve ever done.”

RIPE introduces a twelve-week course that will help readers discover new passion, purpose, and possibility at midlife - and make a successful transition to the next, best phase of your career.

Jeff Fisher first became aware of Moulden, a columnist for The Huffington Post website, through social media posts regarding her blog entry, Ripe, Rich, Rewarding Work After 50. An email exchange led to Fisher being interviewed by Moulden about his design and writing career, playing outside of work, his experience of dealing with chronic vertigo, and - following improved health - becoming Portland Rose Festival clown Toots Caboose (above).

In the book, Moulden writes: 'Jeff Fisher, a graphic designer who became a character clown in his 50s, repeated to me what his grandfather said to him "Please tell me you'll never say, 'I should have.'" words to live by.'

Fisher, a 33-year design industry veteran, is the author of Identity Crisis!: 50 redesigns that transformed stale identities into successful brands and The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success: Ideas and tactics for a killer career. Several other book projects are currently in the works. The designer has received over 600 design awards and his work has been published in more than 140 books on identity design, self-promotion and the marketing of small businesses.

More information about Jeff Fisher, and his design and writing efforts, may be found on the Jeff Fisher LogoMotives blogfolio.

(* If I don’t "toot!" my own horn, no one else will.)

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Not the week I'd planned or expected...

I had planned to get so much accomplished this past week. One client in particular, my partner Ed Cunningham, had also expected a lot from me in his roles as Executive Director of the Portland law firm Samuels Yoelin Kantor and President of Oregon Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. I'm in the process of rebranding the law firm (I designed their current identity back in 1996-97) as they prepare to move downtown to the 38th floor of the U.S. Bancorp Tower and, having already created a new identity for the professional organization, ongoing branding projects were on my calendar.

Ed's photo of friends Lisa and Bev toying with the guy on pre-surgery drugs

However, life sometimes takes us in another direction.

Family, friends and many design industry pals are aware I just returned from a four-day hospital stay. Many have asked for additional information about how a seemingly healthy guy ended up having an emergency surgery. I figure that if Martha Stewart can blog about her lip surgery after getting head-butted by dog - complete with a slide-show of photo documentation - I can write about my experience (and spare readers any operating room images).

Last Thursday morning I felt three sharp, stabbing pains in my abdomen. They didn't stop me in my tracks, but they certainly got my attention and I was fine the rest of the day. Friday I just felt a bit "off" and thought I might have a slight fever. On Saturday, I had a stomach ache and wondered if I was coming down with the flu. Ed and I had planned on going to see "The King's Speech" that afternoon. I really didn't want to miss the film, so I took a short nap and felt much better afterwards. I didn't feel ill at all that afternoon or evening.

At about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning I woke with sudden onset Tourette's. My stomach hurt like hell and I was swearing like a sailor. Holding my midsection, I made my way to the living room couch and tried to get myself comfortable. Again, I thought this was beginning a bad case of the flu. Drifting in and out of sleep, I'd occasionally be jolted awake by a sharp pain. I sent Ed off on and errand to get me some 7-Up at a nearby store.

By 10:00 a.m. I was rushing to the bathroom to repeatedly worship the porcelain God. I finally just positioned myself on the bathroom floor, resting my head on the rug and wrapping my arms around my gut. It was much easier than making trips in and out of the room.

With mid-day came the most excruciating pain I'd ever felt. I was on the verge of crying or hallucinating - or both. I told Ed that we had to do something and he said he'd take me to the nearby Kaiser Urgent Care facility. A room packed with hundreds of people needing medical care immediately came to mind.

Only about five people were in the waiting room when we got to the Interstate Urgent Care facility. It was probably a fairly short wait before seeing a doctor, but it seemed like an eternity to me. The pain was now steady and intense. They took my vitals, drew blood and tried to make me comfortable. The blood test results showed that I was fighting a serious infection and I was told I was to be transported by ambulance to the Sunnyside Medical Center for a CAT scan to see if I did in fact have appendicitis.

The ambulance ride was only about 15 miles across town. Every bump in the road seemed to cause pain to shoot through my body. After the attendants got me out of the vehicle, and we were nearing the hospital doors, I made a very proper entrance to the emergency room by leaning over the side of the gurney and presenting a projectile vomiting performance.

The next few hours are a bit of a blur - due to a lot of morphine. I remember I was soon getting a CAT scan, having a catheter inserted, and that our friends Lisa Francolini and Bev Wells arrived at the hospital. It was only fair they had joined Ed and I, as we spent one Thanksgiving at another hospital with them when Bev had a gall bladder removed. It wasn't until much later that I saw Ed's Droid photo (above) of the two of them next to me in a hospital bed.

Everyone always claims they will have all their legal documentation in place in case such an emergency occurs. Ed and I are no different. This being our first Kaiser experience, we did not have current advance directives in place. This morning I asked Ed when we ended up signing them on Sunday. He explained that it was done in the transition room between the emergency room and surgery, adding that he "now has complete control over everything I do."

My advice to everyone: Make sure you have your wills, advance directives and all other necessary legal documentation in place - now!

I've been told I went into surgery for a laparoscopic appendectomy about 9:00 p.m. after a very long day. I do remember being very cold, being covered with a heated blanket and the mask coming towards my face. The next thing I remember is being in my room. I'm not truly aware of the fact, but understand that Ed, Lisa and Bev were having lots of fun messing with the drugged up Jeff.

The next morning I was visited by my surgeon, who told me that my appendix was a real "bear" to deal with during the surgery. She shared that gangrene was evident in the organ and it had been dripping into my body. The surgical resident came in later to check on me and mentioned that a piece of the appendix had actually broken off during removal and had to be retrieved during the "lappy appy." Both said they were very surprised I had not been seriously ill until the day of the surgical procedure.

As mentioned previously, this was my first experience with Kaiser Hospital and I have nothing but praise for everyone with whom I came in contact - surgeons, residents, nurses, nursing students and staff. My nurses Joseph, Jan and Carrie were exceptional. Since coming home Wednesday afternoon, dealings with the advice line, and my surgeon's nurse, via phone have also been very positive experiences. Everyone helped make a very unpleasant and serious situation very bearable.

One odd thing did happen during this process. The morning after my surgery , one of the nurses asked me to confirm any drug allergies. I told her I was not to be given the antibiotic Cipro. She mentioned that my chart also showed an allergy to Levonorgestrel-ethinyl Estrad. I said I'd never heard of it. Another nurse came into the conversation and said "that's a birth control pill." As far as I know, I've never taken a birth control pill of any kind - with or without an allergic reaction. Sure enough, the allergy is listed on the red hospital wristband (above) I removed when I got home.

It's great to be home. Ed has gone above and beyond the call of duty playing nursemaid - while keeping a bit of distance as I am such a horrible sick person. I am a very impatient patient. Five days out from the surgery, and home for two days, my doctors want me to really limit activities for another five to eight days. I smiled at my surgeon when she originally told me of her imposed restrictions. She asked, "How's that going to work for you?" I told her I'd do my best.

I'm still running a slight fever, have four more days of antibiotics and take the "crazy dream"-inducing Vicodin as needed. However, last night I slept through the night and then took a three-hour nap this morning. I still don't have much of an appetite - but this has been a great "jump start" to my new year weight loss plans. Ed has everything set up for me on main level of our home - no running up and down stairs any time soon. The best thing of all - I'm just glad to be home.

Sincere thanks to family, friends and design peers literally from around the world for expressing your concerns and "get well" wishes via Twitter, Facebook, emails, direct messages, phone calls and cards. It means a great deal to me.

© 2011 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Neenah Paper "toots" about identity designer and author Jeff Fisher on "Against The Grain" blog

I've been a fan of Neenah Paper products my entire 30+ year career, especially when I've needed quality stock for stationery packages designed for my varied clientele. However, I didn't have a personal relationship with the company until we started following each other on Twitter. (You'll find Neenah at @NeenahPaper and my ID is @LogoMotives) We really began to interact on Twitter while I was at the HOW Design Conference in Austin this past June. Since then we've had kind of an online "mutual admiration society."

A couple months ago, the offical Neenah "tweeter" (Jamie Saunders, Public Relations for Fine Paper) suggested that I be interviewed for the company's blog presence, Against The Grain. When interviewed, I was asked about social networking, my personal and career history, those in the design industry whose work I admire, creating a work life balance and more.

Part one of of Jeff Fisher of LogoMotives: Toot! Toot! went live last week. Jeff Fisher of LogoMotives: Toot! Toot!, Part 2 was posted earlier this week.

Making use of social networking led to this great promotion opportunity for my business - and I've used Twitter, Facebook, my Facebook fan page and other such methods to announce the fact. Neenah Paper, a company that certainly understands the value of social networking as a marketing and education tool, has done the same through their own Twitter and Facebook presences.

Thanks Neenah! See you in the cyber-sphere. Tweet! Tweet!

© 2009 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Ahhh...

© 2008 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Buona sera from Segromigno in Monte

There hasn't been much on the bLog-oMotives front lately because we've been in Italy for the past week. Home base is a beautiful house in Segromigno in Monte outside of Lucca in Tuscany. Last night we got back from three days in Venice - and I'm the third member of our four-person travel group that has come down with some kind of flu-ish bug. I'm glad we're going to be hanging out at Casa Mennone the next few days and seeing just how much of nothing we can accomplish. Hopefully we will get out to explore a bit more in the coming week. Now we're enjoying reading, home-cooked meals, great wine and napping in the sun.

I've posted some of our photos from the past week on my Flickr page.

Arrivederci!

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Dizzy no more

Thanks to all the people who have asked about my recovery from three plus years of dealing with vertigo issues. I've been getting asked about my improved health on forums, via email and even on the street. I hope that the information I have shared has been helpful to those seeking relief from their own vertigo issues, or of assistance to those seeking additional information for love ones, friends, neighbors and co-workers experiencing chronic vertigo or dizziness.

Tomorrow it will be five weeks since my last treatment at Dr. John Epley's clinic, and since then I've had no vertigo issues at all. I still have one weird thing happening ever since the treatment. Almost every day, I get a really bad headache between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon. The suspicion is that it is due to eye strain as my vision has to re-adjust to being in balance once again.

I can now get out of bed without feeling like I am immediately going to fall over. I am able to shampoo my hair without holding on to the wall and keeping my eyes open. I no longer get disoriented in shopping malls or stores. I can drive on the freeway without having a panic attack, and go over high bridges without being nauseous - however, I do get this weird feeling of anxiety in my chest waiting for what no longer happens to happen. When I stop the car at a stop sign/light, or to park, the vehicle doesn't feel as if it continuing to move forward. I can parallel park again. There is no longer any dizziness associated with my allergies, heat or movement. Elevators and escalators done bother me much at all now. I don't lose my balance in the dark - or feel as if I am spinning while laying in bed. In fact, my night blindness issues seem to have gone away. I recently drove at night - for the first time in about five years - and could see very clearly. I no longer feel as if I am trapped in my own house - because, in the past, I never knew what might happen in regards to the vertigo (or panic attacks) if I went out into the world.

I have more energy than I've had in years. I've also lost just over five pounds this past month - probably because I can get up and move around much more without fear of falling over.

In the past, traveling has been a bit of a challenge due to the vertigo - but I never let it stop me completely from one of my greatest pleasures. I suppose I am feeling a bit of anxiety today as we leave for Italy for two weeks. Hopefully the trip will be one great dizzy-free adventure.

I have my life back. I actually sat down one day and wrote a thank you note to my doctor for giving me life back through his treatments. I was so lucky to be a patient of one of the leading experts on vertigo - and to have him be here in Portland.

How my partner Ed put up with me the past three years, I do not know. I suppose it would be best if I didn't question it, and was just grateful that he did.

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

The vertigo disappears...

...and Dr. John Epley thinks I may be cured.

Here's the text of an email I just out to friends and family in regards to my vertigo issues of the past three years or more.:

It's been interesting since I had my last treatment at Dr. Epley's clinic. Initial numbness in my face, and an intense headache went away after about a day and a half. I continue to have clear vision at night for the first time in years - but have yet to try driving in the dark. For about a week and a half, my left eye continued to feel strained as if it was constantly pulling to right - and it has continued to do so a bit since my initial treatment.

I've experienced much less dizziness, but tend to be a bit more out of balance (or just more aware of the imbalance). I've been catching myself almost falling quite a few times. Still, I'm much less dizzy when shampooing my hair, being on stairs, driving and participating in other activities. I also have not been bouncing off corners of walls, and door jambs, as in the past. (No more bruised arms or shoulders)

During six days of camping in the Wallowa Mountains I found that altitude, allergies, heat and movement were not causing me to be as dizzy as in the past. In the past I would not have been able to ride in the back of our camping van without experiencing a great deal of nausea. Coming home on the freeway this past week I had little dizziness and no nausea.

I've actually been feeling the best I've felt in the past three years.

In the morning yesterday I was driving near our house, and with a MAX light rail train moving to my left and a truck moving to my right I felt no vertigo or nausea for the first time in years. The best thing was that when the truck came to a stop at stop lights and signs I actually felt as if I was stationary, rather than sensing I was out of control and still moving into the intersections.

Yesterday afternoon, I had my second treatment in Dr. Epley's Omniax chair. After strapping me in, Dr. Epley began the chair's series of positioning movements. It seems my left eye was still looking off to the left some, rather than looking straight ahead as requested. However, I experienced almost none of the sensation of seeming to rotate counterclock-wise that I experienced previously while wearing the infra-red googles and being in the dark as I was treated with the chair.. There was one moment when I felt as if I was on a State Fair ride I should not have tried - and I didn't like being turned completely upside-down any more than before.

When I was brought back up into an upright position I felt no vertigo or dizziness - although I was a little disoriented. Dr. Epley said, that after the initial effects of the treatment wear off, he feels as if my vertigo has been cured - and my night vision issues may have been eliminated in the process. I'm to keep a journal of any vertigo or dizzy episodes that may occur and inform the clinic. I've also been instructed to avoid moving too fast or turning my head real quickly for a while.

As I left the clinic I was told, "It's been very nice getting to know, and working with, you - but we hope to never see you again."

I felt a little odd walking down the street to meet Ed at a nearby coffeeshop. I was surprised at experiencing a some level of emotion as I realized my three years of dealing with vertigo may be a thing of the past. I have my life back.

On the way home we stopped at a large Fred Meyer grocery/department store. For the first time in a long time I felt no anxiety, or the sense of an oncoming panic attack in a large store. There was no disorientation due to the lights, colors, noise and large number of people. I was totally exhausted when we got home. The treatment experience takes a lot out of you.

Today I feel a bit like I've had some kind of accident. I'm just a little "scrambled." The left side of my face is numb and tingly again - but I know that will go away. I do have the splitting headache again as well. My left eye feels very strained once more. Still, I've experienced no vertigo or dizziness since getting home yesterday. It really is amazing - and exciting!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported, and put up with, me the last three years. Most of all, thanks to Dr. John Epley and his incredible staff - they are miracle workers!

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

A symphonic celebration in Arbor Lodge

When we announced 11 years ago that we were moving to North Portland, quite a few friends and associates thought we were crazy. At the time, our Arbor Lodge neighborhood was just starting to experience the revival being shared by many Portland inner-city areas.

A lot has happened since we moved from Portland's Pearl District. The adidas U.S. headquarters being built about eight blocks from our house was a major change. Coffee houses and restaurants, such as Di Prima Dolci, Roux, Sagittarius, Sal's Famous Italian Kitchen, Mio Sushi and others began to appear. The light-rail system MAX built the Yellow Line nearby. After a vigorous community email and postcard campaign, New Seasons Market opened the nearby Arbor Lodge store. A wide variety of new and relocating businesses have new homes in the area. The University of Portland, another eight blocks from where we live, continues to build a national reputation as an academic and athletic power. (My partner Ed will begin his MBA program there this winter.)

One past issue of Portland Monthly magazine named Arbor Lodge as one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city - illustrating the point with a photo of a house three away from our own home. Mike Darcy even filmed an episode of his In The Garden television show from our garden. Residences and yards throughout the area are being renovated and improved on a daily basis, and homes are still selling for seemingly unrealistic prices within a matter of days. North Portland is constantly becoming an even more desirable community for businesses and residents. From my home-based studio, the area has been a vital part of my own design business.

Saturday evening seemed like a celebration of our North Portland neighborhood. Under a beautiful sunset, the Oregon Symphony held an incredible outdoor concert, to a very appreciative audience of hundreds, one block from our house in Arbor Lodge Park. It was part of the organization's annual Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods program. I don't think many were even bothered by the cold and wind as the symphony played a selection of pieces from opera, television, ballet, movies, Broadway shows and the catalog of Irving Berlin. I appreciated the cheers and applause when the theme from the show The West Wing was played. Bats flying over the crowd seemed to be soaring in time to the music of Swan Lake.

Being an advertising geek, I was also excited that the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was at the park, as part of the earlier Fun Afternoon Festival.

Ed and I attracted a bit of attention in our reclining Lafuma lounge chairs. People were commenting and asking questions about them. If you are enjoying the symphony, in a beautiful park one block from your home, you may as well be very comfortable.

On the short walk home, following the concert, we shared pride in what a strong and vibrant community North Portland has become in recent years. We made a great decision to buy a home here, and enjoy being part of a neighborhood were everyone knows, and watches out for, their neighbors.

A big "thank you" to the Oregon Symphony and all who made this great event possible.

© 2007 Jeff Fisher Logomotives.

I'm not so dizzy...after being sent to "the chair"

After last week's medical testing I was experiencing some swelling, numbness and tingling on the left side of my face. My doctor, Dr. John Epley, prescribed methylprednisolone to relieve the inflammation, swelling and related symptoms. The six day course of the drug began to improve the numbness about day three. The side effects of irritability and sleeplessness (six nights of sleep issues in a row) made me such a pleasant person to be around.

Yesterday I was once again at Dr. Epley's clinic - this time to get the results of my past vertigo test visits. I have been diagnosed with one of the most common forms of chronic vertigo, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). As described in literature from Dr. Epley's office, BPPV is caused by particles breaking off from the lining of the walls of a semicircular canal in the inner ear in the fluid that fills the canals. There are three semicircular canals located in the inner, for a total of six canals. They are part of the body's balance system responsible for a sense of spatial orientation (up, down, sideways, etc.) Moving the head in certain positions may cause the loose particles to move, causing an individual to feel a spinning sensation and make one's eyes move involuntarily. Unusual eye movement and patterns are important clues to problems in the inner ear.

With the diagnosis, Dr. Epley opted to send me to "the chair" - the Epley Onmiax chair. (He also asked that I be part of one of the research studies now being conducted with patients using the chair.) The Omniax has been developed by Dr. Epley. It is a large, motorized device that includes a chair that can be positioned at all angles and in three planes by computer controls. The device allows the study doctor, or consulting doctors, to move a patient in any position, including a 360-degree circle, to try to move the particles out of the semicircular canal. I've explained to people that it's like sitting a large gyroscope. The OregonLive.com website has a great video demonstation of the Omniax in use.

I was strapped somewhat uncomfortably into the chair. Infrared goggles, which track and record eye movements, were place on my face. The camera within the goggles records all eye movement and sends the information to a computer that creates 3D imagery of the inner ear configurations; allowing the doctor to better diagnose and treat vertigo conditions. After a series of eye movement calibrations, the actual tests began.

Complete, or partial, darkness has been one of the triggers of my vertigo the past three years. The minute the goggles were placed over my eyes I experienced some disorientation. To get accurate eye movement recordings, I needed to be looking straight ahead into the goggles. I thought I was, but the doctor and clinicians kept requesting that I look directly forward. Dr. Epley then commented that my left eye must be looking to the far left to readjust for the imbalance it perceives. When they requested I look to the far right, which actually caused my left eye to feel really strained, the computer software was then able to record my eye looking straight ahead. Dr. Epley actually said, "we're going to need to retrain Jeff's eye to see things as they are."

I was moved in a variety of positions, including almost completely upside down, in the Omniax. I felt a bit nauseous, and very dizzy when brought back to a still, upright position. In the darkness, it felt as if I was spinning counter-clockwise at a fairly fast speed - although the chair was no longer moving at all. With my eye not cooperating, I sensed that Dr. Epley was a little frustrated at not getting the accurate readings he was seeking.

He then suggested putting a vibrating pad behind my left ear, in hopes of "breaking something loose" and being able to record it with the camera and computer equipment. The vibration felt kind of soothing. With me straining my eye to look to the extreme right, which was still actually directly forward, the series of Omniax movements were executed again. I suddenly felt something different and my eye was no longer straining as much to look straight ahead. At the same time one of the clinicians said, "Wow, did you see that?"

Dr. Epley commented, "Something happened; we got something to move."

I was once again brought up to a still, stable position in the chair - and, while still seeming to rotate counter-clockwise a bit, I felt as if I was spinning much slower than the previous test. That brought my first treatment for vertigo to an end.

I was told that I should sleep on my side, with my left ear up, on two pillows in upcoming nights. The doctors and clinicians seemed a bit surprised when I told them I always sleep in that position. I was also told that I was to limit my head movement for the next 48 hours - and that some patients opt to wear a neck brace to assist them in not moving their head. I'm sure the look on my face told them that I would not be wearing that fashion accessory. The clinician said, "Well, some people are better at restricting head movement than others."

When I got out of the chair, I felt a bit wobbly and disoriented. I was able to walk out to the office lobby unassisted. Another treatment was scheduled for two weeks from today. Once I was in my truck and driving home, I realized I should not have been driving at all. It's a little difficult to drive when unable to move your head - and feeling a bit of disorientation. At home I suddenly felt incredibly exhausted and the numbness in my face had returned. It was time for a long nap.

After my nap, I did notice that my left eye felt extremely tired and "heavy." As a passenger in a car on I-5 last night, I noticed that my vision was much clearer. There were no "halos" on the headlights of oncoming traffic - and the glare seemed less disorienting. I also felt no anxiety being in the moving car at night.

After an incredible night of sleep last night, this morning my eye still feels odd, strained, and dense or heavy. My face is still numb and tingling. I have a major headache - centered where the vibrating pad had been strapped to my head. Still, something is different. For the first time in three years, something is really different.

More to come as the adventure continues...

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

I'm so dizzy... (another update)

Last week I posted an entry about my first series of medical tests in regards to my ongoing vertigo issues. I just wanted to update people after the second round of tests at Dr. Epley's clinic on Wednesday. The following is the email I sent to friends and family yeasterday:

I feel a bit wobbly, and in a fog, today after the second round of vertigo testing yesterday. I had a videonystagmography (VNG) test yesterday - and it was an interesting "ride." The test determines if there are problems with the balance system in the inner ear by measuring eye movements, which are recorded by an infrared camera mounted in a pair of goggles. Disturbances in the balance system may cause involuntary eye movements called nystagmus.

The first stage of the exam involved remaining stationery while following vertical and horizontal light movements on a screen with my eyes. Just keeping my eyes open long enough for the proper recording of information (30+ seconds) was difficult and the faster the speed of the light on the screen caused me to be dizzy.

The second part of the test involved shaking my head back and forth at a variety of speeds while keeping my eyes open and focused on a stationery light. There were four levels of speed at which I needed to shake my head - and I really couldn't do it quick enough at the fastest light speed. In fact, I started feeling nauseous.

In the third part of the exam I had to move around in various positions, with the examination chair position changed a couple times, in the complete darkness of the goggles, while my eye movements were recorded. When I was still on the chair it felt as if it was spinning counter-clockwise.

In the fourth test, the "calorics," small balloons were inserted into my ear canal, and cool and warm water inflated the balloon (ouch!) and was circulated through the balloon. In the darkness of the goggles I had to keep my eyes open as long as possible while my reactions to a bright green light was recorded. Again, when done it felt as if the chair was spinning.

At the completion of the tests I felt really disoriented and dizzy. The times I experienced complete darkness with the goggles seemed to cause the most issues with my balance. (No night driving for me) I also kind of felt as if I was on the verge of a panic attack. I couldn't get out of the doctor's clinic fast enough to wait on a park bench outside for my partner Ed to pick me up.

When I got home I was exhausted and went directly to bed. After sleeping for about 1.5 hours I got up to dizziness and the left side of my face being swollen, tingling and numb. Today I woke up to feeling dizzy and in a fog - and I knew better than to even attempt driving a car anywhere. Over the course of the morning my face has gotten increasingly numb and tingling.

I called the clinic about the numbness and Dr. Epley said that with some patients the testing causes inflammation and swelling in the ear and head. I'm now being put on a five-day course of methylprednisolone to relieve the inflammation, swelling and related symptoms. Luckily, I can just walk over to the drugstore to pick up the prescription. Of course, the drug has a wide variety of side effects - including vertigo!

This stuff is all kind of a P.I.T.A., but I told Ed that I really am feeling the best I've felt in years - simply because I feel like I'm doing something positive about the problems and finding a possible solution.

Next Thursday I go back to the clinic for another consultation with Dr. Epley, where the testing results will be reviewed and possible treatments will be discussed. At that time I will also most likely get to go for a ride in Dr. Epley's Omniax chair.

It's been three years since my vertigo issues began. Yesterday I was told that the average patient has experienced vertigo for eight years before getting to where I am today with diagnosis and possible treatment. I think I'd go crazy if I had to deal with this for that long.

Thanks for all your support. Thanks also to Lisa Horne and Ed for being my personal chauffeurs.

I will keep you posted as things progress....

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

I'm so dizzy... (an update)

...my head is spinning...

Many people know that I have been experiencing serious vertigo for over three years now. Over that time my issues with vertigo, dizziness, panic attacks and more have increased a great deal. I first wrote about it on bLog-oMotives this past January after reading about one of the leading specialists on vertigo, Dr. John Epley, in our local newspaper. Dr. Epley's clinic is here in Portland. I promised my partner Ed that when I was done writing my latest book I would contact the clinic and begin the process of diagnosis - and hopefully treatment for the condition.

When I initially contacted the clinic, I was told that it would be several months before I could have a consultation and be tested. It actually turned out that I could be seen as a patient over a month sooner that expected. This past week I had my first appointment. The following is the text of a forum posting, and email sent to family and friends, from this past Friday about that experience:
________________________________________

"Still feel kind of out of it after my vertigo testing experience yesterday. This morning it feels like my head has been shaken repeatedly by someone.

The major first portion of my appointment was an interview about my medical history and the past three years of vertigo experiences. The doctor wanted information about head injuries I've had in my lifetime (a fall when I was 11, a car accident in college and our car accident about 11 years ago). I guess that sometimes old accidents can manifest themselves years later as inner ear problems. I had to detail any surgeries I'd had over the years and medications I had taken. My experience with Cipro destroying ALL the bacteria in my body about six years ago, after picking up a "bug" on our travels, was detailed as it may have impacted good bacteria in my ears. I was asked a lot about my heart attack/stroke scare two years ago - which may have been somehow related to my vertigo issues. I also had to explain in detail how at times it feels that I am moving while everything around me is standing still - while the opposite is actually reality. My fairly recent panic attacks - two while in stores and two while driving - where also topics of many questions. We went into a great deal of detail how my allergies, heat, movement, high pitched noises, colors (yellow and orange) and altitude impact my dizziness and vertigo.

Then I went through some extensive hearing tests. These are the hearing tests, in the soundproof booth, that we had as a kid - except that I could hear a constant high-pitched sound from something in the electrical system. Some of the tones emitted actually caused sharp pains in my ears. The test results ended up showing that I had absolutely no hearing loss - a great thing for "someone of my age."

The next series of tests was to test the ability of my eardrums to withstand pressure. Again, some of the tests were incredibly painful. Twice the equipment shut down automatically and the audiologist said I must have some weird electrical energy in my body, as that never happens.

The next series of test almost made me ill - and I'm glad there are no photos of the process. I had to put on a vest and harness, which was then hooked up to a system that would keep me from falling, and stand on a pressure-sensitive platform in a three-sided booth. I imagine I kind of looked like a human marionette. Staring at the back wall, the platform was moved in a variety of directions. The same was then done with my eyes closed. In next procedure the walls were moved repeatedly and the platform remained steady - eye open and eyes closed. This was done again with the platform AND walls moving (almost making me sick). The eyes open and eyes closed thing was then done tipping the platform backwards violently and forwards in the same manner. Numerous times during the testing I had to grab the straps of the harness to keep myself from falling - although I wouldn't really have fallen. When all was done I still felt like I was moving for a couple hours afterwards. It's a good thing they have handrails in the hallways of the office. On these tests I scored a 60, when a 70 is "normal" for "someone of my age." The tester explained that this indicates that there really is something going on - and it's not all in my head (although it is all in my head). When I asked a woman about the test score later, with a smile she said "it means you're not normal."

Dr. Epley, one of the leading vertigo specialists in the U.S., then interviewed me himself, clarifying and asking questions about a lot of the earlier answers I had given. I immediately liked this man. He was very conversational, engaging and asked a lot about my work as a designer and a writer, in addition to the requests for medical information. He was also curious about how acupuncture and chiropractic treatments has alleviated some of my vertigo symptoms over the past three years. He also did a series of examinations and additional basic balance tests - like having me walk down the hall with my eyes closed. It was then back to the harness apparatus for tests on how sound and air pressure impacted the movement in my eyes. I had to wear what they called "field glasses" (actually a camera that looked like binoculars) that filmed my eye movements as high-pitched sounds were piped into some headphones. Another headset was then used to force air into my ear canals as the camera recorded my eye reactions.

When done the doctor said he suspects I have a condition called "hyperactive labyrinthine dysfunction" - a condition in which an ear labyrinth is in an abnormally sensitive state with respect to certain stimuli and/or inputs. (More appropriately called "irritable labyrinth", in that the labyrinth becomes easily "irritated" by non-vestibular stimuli such as sound or pressure change). However, he said much more testing is necessary before a possible treatment can be recommended. So, next Wednesday afternoon I will go through a more testing - including a video stimuli test and possible tests in the Omniax "chair" that Dr. Epley has developed.

I was so exhausted when I got home that I slept 2+ hours yesterday afternoon. Today I feel as if I'm in a fog or almost moving in slow-motion. At least the process has begun and, after all this time, I know I'm not completely crazy in regards to my health issues."
________________________________________

Over the past weekend I continued to feel the effects of some of the testing. I do go back to the clinic on Wednesday afternoon for additional tests. Then next week I have a review of all the test results with Dr. Epley. Hopefully those findings will lead to some treatment for my vertigo issues.

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

An artsy message for door-to-door salespeople

I detest door-to-door salespeople. Well, not necessarily the people themselves. Not all of them. In fact, I kind of feel sorry for these individuals facing greater rejection than a graphic designer trying to get more than their foot in the door at a design firm in a major metropolitan area. What a horrible job. Still, for me, such an interruption at my front door is an invasion of my very private personal space.

No, I will not put vinyl windows on the 1929 Portland bungalow my partner and I are constantly improving. The same goes for vinyl siding. If you would just look around, you might notice that I don't have a lawn than needs any maintenance. I will not be allowing someone in my home to do an "inventory" of our existing security system to determine if their product is better. I don't want to talk politics on my front porch with anyone. I will not be buying steaks out of the back of a pickup truck.

If God, or Jesus, showed up to talk religion at my doorstep I would be interested in a discussion. However, those "selling" religion door-to-door annoy the hell out of me - especially when the church they are representing is somewhat vocal in opinions about my "lifestyle." I'll admit, I do get a bit of pleasure in seeing the looks on the faces of such proselytizers when I tell them, "I'm sorry; my husband and I wouldn't be interested." Funny, they seldom return to our house. We must get crossed of the great master list somewhere.

I do not make contributions to representatives of any nonprofits who come knocking on my door. I have my personal causes and they get more than enough of my time, energy and money. I'm certainly not handing over any money to someone at my door for a cause I know nothing about. The "representative" of a major environmental organization once came a-knockin' at our door. He immediately launched into his spiel. I had to interrupt his well-practiced performance twice to tell him I wasn't interested. He looked at me with shock and asked, "You mean you don't care about the environment?"

OK, that was enough. I was already annoyed - now I was also pissed off. I literally shut the door in his face, walked to my PowerBook to look up the cause and I reported the twit to the national organization. The next day I got a very nice email apologizing for their former representative's behavior.

Neighborhood kids are a different story - these are small people we actually know - selling candy, wrapping paper, magazine subscriptions, sponsorships for walks and runs, and more. Their art, sports and field trip programs actually need and deserve our support. I'm sure every parent on the street has trained their kids to always hit up Jeff and Ed first.

Every since we moved from the "salesperson barricade' of a secure downtown loft building I have looked for a decent "No Solicitors" sign to hang next to our door. Most were not created by graphic designers - and certainly not for the personal taste of a graphic designer looking to purchase such a product.

I've considered creating one of my own, in some tasteful typeface - certainly something other than Comic Sans or Papyrus - on a frosted glass panel; framed in copper or a rusted patina metal. Right, like I've had the time recently to design and create such a thing.

Thursday night we were at the home of our friends Shawn Jones and Greg Coyle (and their daughter Lily - there might be hell to pay if I didn't mention her!) for their weekly Thursday evening poolside "happy hour." Shawn informed me that while on a recent road trip to California they had discovered my "placeholder" birthday gift. (My "real" birthday gift, recognizing my May birthdate, has yet to be presented - among our friends we have something like a year to get such things accomplished.) Knowing my feelings about all I've ranted about in this blog entry, they found a rusted, artistic, wrought iron "Go Away" sign (photo above) for me at a store in Red Bluff, CA. It even has swirls on it - a design element that reoccurs in much of our garden art and home decor.

I love it! Now I need to figure out how to mount it to the outside of the house so someone doesn't steal the thing. Then we'll see how it works in making life a bit more peaceful at our aubergine front door.

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

A great weekend in the Bay Area & Napa Valley

This past week my partner Ed and I treated ourselves to a long weekend and jetted down to Benicia, CA to spend a few days with my sister and her husband, AJ. The get-together was to celebrate Ed's April birthday, my May birthday, Sue's June 50th birthday, and Sue and AJ's recent wedding.

We always enjoy our visits to Benicia. We usually fly into Sacramento, and drive the 45-50 minutes to my sister's home, rather than flying into San Francisco and dealing with greater traffic. Benicia is a great small town, with lots of art galleries, excellent restaurants and artist studios. It's also just a short drive to the Napa and Sonoma wine areas.

On Friday evening, Sue and AJ took us out to dinner at the Pear Street Bistro in the nearby city of Pinole. They had previously eaten at the establishment after seeing it reviewed on an episode of the Check, Please! Bay Area television show. After having a very positive experience, Sue and AJ thought we would enjoy a meal at the restaurant - and they were right.

On Saturday the four of us had planned on spending the day in Napa, coming home for naps and then Ed was going to prepare a seven-course Italian feast for us all. Unfortunately, AJ got called into work at the last moment. Sue, Ed and I didn't let that stop us from heading up to Napa. Our first stop was for an incredible lunch on the grounds of the V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena. The Italian deli at the winery has over 200 different cheese, excellent cured meats, fresh bread and lots of other goodies. Lunch at a picnic table under a 200-year-old oak tree was a fun way to start our day.

After our meal, Sue suggested we stop by the Wine Country Inn to check things out. She and AJ got married on the grounds of the beautiful bed and breakfast this past April. While she and I were enjoying the view of the vineyards from the deck of the main building, Ed was pawing through the Inn's recipe files to see if he could find some items to make at a later date. We had a nice walk around the grounds and then it was time to head off to our primary destination.

My sister is a huge fan of the sparkling wines of the Schramsberg Vineyards. She's been to the winery, originally established by German immigrant Jacob Schram in 1862, on several occasions and always has a supply of their wines ready to be served at her home. We were on the schedule for a tour of the wine caves, carved from mountainside by Chinese laborers, and a tasting that afternoon.

If you didn't know where you were going you would probably drive right by the private road up to Schramsberg - and then the road is currently under construction making it a bit of a challenge to get up to the appointment- only winery. Rounding the final corner you immediately get a beautiful view of the Victorian home Jacob and Annie Schram had built by a ship builder (without the use of a single nail) in 1880. Being a gardener, I had an immediate appreciation for the grounds of the winery with its lush vegetation; pond with lily pads, frogs and koi; and the sculptures in the gardens.

In the visitors center we met Tom, who would be our guide for the tour of the winery and caves. He was soon giving us a fascinating Schramsberg history lesson, including the fact that Schramsberg sparkling wines have been served 72 times at the White House - most recently for the white tie dinner in honor of the state visit of Queen Elizabeth. Although I have visited many wineries, including others making sparkling wines, our guide's presentation on the classic méthode champenoise was very engaging and interesting. It's hard to believe that the earthquake-proof caves currently house 2.5 million bottles of sparkling Schramsberg (The large photo above is one of the walls of bottles of aging sparkling wine). The tour of the cool caves was especially enjoyable with the heat outdoors. The lessons in proper opening of a sparkling wine, and the proper serving temperature, were fun and educational.

The tastings, conducted by candlelight in the caves, were great. We were each given four good-sized flutes of the excellent selections of various Chardonnay-based Blanc de Blancs and Pinot Noir-based Reserve, Blanc de Noirs and Brut Rosé. Each was exceptional, and I now join my sister as a major fan of the Schramsberg Vineyards. Our experience at Schramsberg is one of the best I've had at any winery I've ever visited.

After the heat, the wine, and the long afternoon we decided it best to head back to Benicia for our naps before Ed needed to start preparing his seven course meal. When we arrived at the house, AJ had returned from work and he presented Ed a special gift bottle of Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon to be served with dinner - which had been delivered via FedEx earlier that morning.

We had a wonderful evening. Our meal began with an antipasti of Pizzeti con carciofi, salami and a selection of olives. The primi piatti was a Ribollita followed by Linguini al pesto. An amazing Chicken Parmigiana was our secondi, with a contorni of Spinachi con pinole e uva passa. The insalata mista prepared us for the final course. Our dolce was goat cheese turnovers with honey and pistachios - served with a properly chilled Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2001.

I do think it was the first time I had ever completed a dinner at 1:00 a.m.

(A few more photos of this trip are posted here)

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

This is war! - Gardening nut vs. squirrel

Gardening is a passion - and my therapy. Nothing is better for getting the old creative juices flowing than to spend a few hours out playing the dirt. Once I'm away from the computer, the design "brain farts" seem to come at me from all directions. The added result of my therapy sessions is our home being referred to by many in North Portland with the comment, "Oh, you live in the house with THE garden." With help from our friends at Joy Creek Nursery our garden does literally stop traffic on the street in front of our house.

Since moving into the house, my partner Ed and I have been engaged in an on-going battle with the neighborhood squirrels. They tease us from the trees, fence and rooftops - and have been known to drop pinecones and other items on us as we walk outside. In fact, last night - while we were having dinner on the patio, a squirrel dropped a pinecone from a tree and it bounced off the patio table umbrella into Ed's lap. You could hear the creature laughing from above. One morning I looked out the window, while on the phone with Ed, to see two of the critters on the peak of our garden shed roof taking part in a mating activity that made it look as if we had a live animal whirly-gig. The varmints plant walnuts and acorns in my flower beds, and move bulbs wherever they wish. We have noisy squirrel races from our garage, to the dogwood tree, and with a flying leap continuing across the roof of the house on a path to the neighborhood park full of tall evergreen trees. Ed refers to it as the "squirrel freeway."

We do attempt to fight back - or at least tease the furry little beasts. Ed chatters right back, chases them with the garden hose at full blast, and shakes the dogwood tree in some kind of game he has with the squirrels. A couple of them will make all kinds of noise until Ed comes out in the backyard garden to play with them. This summer we have yet to get out the "super soakers" for squirrel target practice as they zip back and forth on the top of the fence bordering the back of our property.

I will admit I now get a great deal of pleasure repeatedly seeing distraught, confused squirrels, standing on their haunches on the new paver patio, looking all around for the lawn in which nuts had been buried the previous year. They kind of have an "Oh, my God - what's happened here? I know I buried the stash in this location" kind of look on their faces.

Ed proclaims to all that he hates the squirrels. However, truth be told, earlier this year he actually nursed one back to health. One night he arrived home from work, walked in the house and told me I had better shut the garage if door I didn't want a "furry rodent" setting up home in it. Closer inspection revealed that the young squirrel in question was injured, as if it had fallen from a tree. A bit later I ran into Ed as he headed out the back door with a dish of water, a couple small carrots and a handful of walnut halves. He was going to feed the thing!!! It had taken up refuge in a basement window well and for several days Ed made sure it was cared for properly. The next weekend we took a trip out of town and, upon our return, our new little patient had moved on. Ed has since told me he's seen the squirrel, with its unusual facial markings, around the garden.

Our squirrel situation has not gone unnoticed by friends. One in particular, Brett - the "evil devil pig friend from hell," has taken a great deal of joy in our squirrel battles. For several years we've received all kinds of lovely squirrel-related gifts that he has found at garage sales and thrift stores. A few years ago he started leaving little plastic squirrel statuary artistically located in our garden when we were out of town. Over the years I've left them in place - although I could only find four of them this morning to photograph for this bLog-oMotives entry.

Visitors always ask about the tiny garden ornaments and I have to tell the whole "evil devil pig friend from hell" story. I hadn't even thought about the plastic squirrels when Mike Darcy came to shoot an episode of his television show, In The Garden, in our garden. Of course, he zeroed in on the fake critters and an explanation was required.

This whole long story has been necessary to explain why I have declared war on the squirrels this Independence Day.

Four times in the last ten days I have walked outside to one of the plastic squirrels laying on its side on the driveway or paver path to the front porch. I think one of the local squirrels is trying to "violate' its counterpart of the resin variety. My drip water line has also been yanked out of the flower bed on each occasion, as has a poor battered Saxifraga umbrosa 'Variegata'. Compost is always scattered everywhere. It happened again this morning (see photo at top of blog entry) - and now I'm ticked off.

I repositioned the drip line and secured it with metal prongs. The soil was put back in place and a new Saxifraga replaced the now dead previous plant. My little plastic squirrel was put back where he belongs - and I then sprinkled cayenne pepper powder all around the area.

That should light up the damn squirrel's Fourth of July if he tries any funny stuff. Let the games begin...

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

A "toot-o-rrific" gift...

I'm a collector. To the point that my partner Ed tells me I'm not allowed to buy "things" any longer. Still, my collections are such that, once in a while, I find something I "must" have and I can sneak it into our home decor without him even noticing. To say that our home decorating style is eclectic is an understatement. Once, after a stint at housesitting while we were in Italy, my mother referred to our home as "sensory overload."

I collect cowboy memorabilia, primarily advertising related salt & pepper shakers and cookie jars, specialty tea pots and books (and more books - especially design books!). I have a collection of metal advertising signs and a couple hundred advertising character collectibles. Having over 600 rocking horse Christmas tree ornaments has led to other rocking horse items appearing in our home. We've also got a collection of art pieces from our trips around the world - and works created by, or given to us, by friends. Friends,family, clients and design industry pals have always been very helpful in contributing to my collectible addictions.

And then there are toy trains. I've always been fascinated by trains. That's one reason why LogoMotives has always been such an appropriate name for my business.

About a month ago I had an appointment with my chiropractor, known to our friends as Dr. Pain, in Portland's Pearl District. I parked my truck about half a block from his office, stepped over to the sidewalk and stopped in my tracks (so to speak). There, in the window of an antique shop called The Cultured Pearl was an incredible toy locomotive, with coal tender, sitting on a white bench as the store's window display. To me it was stunning. With about one minute until my appointment, I had to jolt myself out of my window-shopping stupor to get to Dr. Pain's office.

Returning to my truck, after my adjustment, I found my fascination with the two-foot long toy train had not diminished. I peeked at the price tag and knew immediately that there was no way I could justify such a frivilous impulse purchase. When I got home I gave Ed a call, told him what I'd seen and said I wished I had been able to just buy the thing without even thinking about it.

A couple weeks later I drove by the antique shop again. The white bench was still in the window. The train was gone. Oh, well...

Yesterday was one of Ed's family's combined birthday/holiday celebrations. We were celebrating Ed's birthday last month, his sister's birthday this next week, my birthday the following week, and Mother's Day. It is tradition to open the gifts in the order of the event - so, my cards and gift were the last to be presented. A large gift bag, filled with colorful shredded paper was in front of me. I know now that I should have suspected what was in the bag - but I'm usually oblivious about such things. I lifted off the top layer of the packaging paper and uncovered the black steel coal tender of "my" train. I really was stunned. Ed explained that he, his parents, his grandparents, his sister and her husband (plus his kids), and several other friends had all combined resources to get me the locomotive as my birthday gift. In fact, he'd gone to the store the first day I'd seen the thing in the window and purchased it. The owner of the shop had explained the train was an American-made piece that he had then found on a buying trip to Prague.

I'm still stunned - and amazed - today. Thank you so much Ed, Lily, Raymond, Neva, Harold, Tammy, Rich, Ricky, Maddy, Lisa, Bev, Mary, and Kate. It's an incredible gift and I break into a big smile each time I take a look at my new toy.

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

WaMu - I see frustration and stupid people...

(BEWARE: This is a rant - because I'm in a mood and I can)

Every small business person wants to do business with friendly, convenient and reliable service providers in the course of day-to-day operations. Associating with businesses where "everybody knows your name" is also an advantage.

After years of impersonal service from a major banking institution having some of my accounts, and dealing with a small bank that was not convenient for business purposes, I was thrilled when Washington Mutual opted to open a new branch at the corner of Lombard and Burrage near my home studio. I'd heard nothing but good feedback from others banking at WaMu. As I traveled I found branches near a convention center in San Diego, within walking distance of a resort in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, and a couple blocks from my hotel in San Francisco. The many locations were a selling point. A good friend, who worked for WaMu at the time, even took me in to meet the branch manager at the new location. It seemed a great fit for the banking needs of my little one-person business. I liked the "small town" feel of the branch and the fact I was recognized every time I went in to do my banking. If there was any particular issue, which was rare, I could call, email or visit the manager to get it resolved quickly and personally. As I don't keep what one might call "banking hours," I appreciated having the ATM nearby to do my banking if necessary. In fact, there were times when went to the bank, made a deposit and by the time I got back home the transaction was already noted in online account information.

I guess the honeymoon is over. Has WaMu become yet another oversized, uncaring, impersonal financial institution when it comes to dealing with individual and small business customers?

This past fall I made a couple sizeable deposits (sizeable for my business anyway) of local (Portland) checks via the ATM and thought nothing more about them. As I do most of my bill payments online, I just took it for granted that the deposits had been credited to my account and my bills were being paid electronically as scheduled. Imagine my surprise when going online a couple days later to find that neither deposit had been fully credited to my account. Both had "holds" on them according to the online account summary.

Contacting the less-than-helpful "customer service" department resulted in a response telling me that a two-day hold had been placed on the checks - which was actually a three-day hold in the case of one deposit. No explanation. The representative also apologized "for any inconvenience caused." That was it.

I immediately contacted the always helpful branch manager and let her know about the situation. She very quickly responded with: "Whenever you make a deposit into the ATM there will be a hold on the checks. (Note: Which had never been the case previously) Our ATM's have different hold regulations due to the checks being processed through an outside department and not within the branch. If you need to make a deposit when we're not open, try to use the Night Drop - these deposits are processed each morning when we open and are looked at by branch employees instead of an outside department." She then overrode the "hold," making all funds available, and all was right with the world.

Since that day I have always stood in line in the branch to deal directly with a teller, or used the night deposit box in the lobby, to make deposits. None of this, two (or three) day "hold" nonsense for me as punishment for making use of ATM convenience.

Then in January I returned to from a trip out of town during a snow storm. After a visit to my PO Box I had checks that I knew needed to be desposited. I went to the branch on that snowy day to make a deposit. The branch was closed due to the storm. All ATM deposit envelopes, deposit slips and night deposit envelopes in the lobby were gone - and I was unable to make a deposit in any way due to that situation. The next morning I returned - luckily bringing a deposit envelope/slip from home - because the branch was still closed due to the bad weather and all deposit material supplies in the ATM lobby were still exhausted. As snow doesn't stop Internet scheduled payments to other accounts, a scheduled payment was made and I incurred an overdraft charge due to the fact I was unable to make a deposit. "Customer service" basically blew me off and never addressed the situation. Let me get this straight; the bank can close due to snow, I am unable to make a deposit because the branch in closed and there are no deposit supplies in the secure lobby, and I'm simply out of luck? It's my problem - not WaMu's? Yep, that's a bank providing "customer service" to their valuable clientele.

That brings us to this last week when, as advised by the previous manager, I made an early morning deposit on Friday via the night deposit drop. Supposedly that would mean the deposit would be handled efficiently by a real person and credited to my account that same day. Silly me, I had no reason to check my balance online until yesterday - six days later. The deposit had never been credited to my account and I was incurring overdraft charges left and right.

In the "olden days," of true customer service, a financial institution would have called a customer with a bit of curiosity about the state of the customer's account and the problem would have been dealt with much sooner. Well, obviously that's not how things are done these days.

It turns out that bank did get my deposit in the night deposit box last Friday morning - but the individual processing the deposit couldn't read one of the handwritten account numbers on my deposit slip. With my name on both the check and the deposit slip they couldn't look up my account in any manner? Someone in the small neighborhood branch couldn't ask "Does anyone know this Jeff Fisher guy?" to tellers who have sometimes seen me several times a week and know me by name? I guess it would take too much effort to contact the individual who wrote me the check in question to determine my contact information if all else failed.

A branch employee actually let me know that the first numeral of of my account number looked like a "J" rather than a zero and "We had kept your check and deposit slip hoping you would call us." So, basically they must have been waiting for me to start receiving overdraft notices in the mail (which I have yet to receive) as a sign to me that something was very wrong with my account.

Last night the deposit, which was actually made nearly a week ago, was finally credited to my account. Funny, none of the overdraft charges (including yet another today) has been credited back to my account - although I have requested that action from the branch and WaMu "customer service." "Customer service" ignored my requests for the name of someone higher up in the company who might be able to help me (I understand that this is a common complaint of supposedly valuable WaMu customers experiencing account problems). I did get a copy of an email from the branch manager in which he requested that his assistant manager take care of the situation. Nothing has happened.

My rant is over. I guess the days of a bank that treats small businesses like a small town neighbor are also over. Maybe WaMu has gotten a little too big for it's britches. I suppose I expected more from the company because that is what the bank offered. Early on I would often recommend WaMu to a small business owner looking for an appropriate bank. That would not be the case today. Perhaps I should have kept my banking with the smaller, three-branch, truly customer service-oriented - but less convenient - community bank with which I had done business for years.

Update 03.12.07: This is the response received from "customer service" today in a form letter response (I know it is a pre-fabbed response due to submitting two individual complaints and getting exactly the same response to each submission.):

I understand these fees can be costly and regret that they cannot be refunded. As a courtesy, WaMu has paid the items that overdrew your account to the merchant, which prevents you from incurring additional charges for them.

Washington Mutual takes responsibility for bank errors and will work with customers to resolve issues arising from those errors. Your concern has been researched, and as no bank error was found, the fee cannot be refunded.

Update 03.23.07: Still no action from Wamu in crediting the overdrafts as a result of their mishandling of my night drop deposit. I do know that the situation has cost the bank a few potential business customers - which may prevent others from going through similar situations.

The manager of another WaMu branch told me that the Lombard & Burrage manager should have made the situation right. A customer service person for U.S. Bank told me that their personnel would have made more of an effort to contact me initially upon not being able to read the account number, to avoid such a situation getting out of control - and then they would have refunded the unnecessary overdraft charges. The U.S. bank individual said they would treat a customer better when dealing with justified overdraft charges - first offering the customer the bank's overdraft protection product and then, as a courtesy, refunding the most recent overdrafts.

Update: 03.27.07: Yesterday I learned from another WaMu manager that I should have received at least a couple "courtesy overdraft refunds" in this matter. I had no idea there was such a thing

Today I received notification from the assistant manager of my branch that the overdraft charges incurred due to this situation were being refunded. In addition, she emailed me the following:

"I do apologize for the inconvenience and the confusion on this account. I do take full ownership of this situation and agree that it should not have happened. We do value your business and the relationship we have established. I assure you that this type of situation will not happen again. My staff is now fully trained on how to handle these particular situations. If you would like to discuss anything further I would love to hear from you. We do strive to give great customer service and hope we can redeem ourselves in the future if you are willing to give us that opportunity. Thank you for bring this to our attention and again I do apologize for this situation and the time it took out of your day."

Thank you WaMu.

Update: 04.07.07: Just a little more "WAMU weirdness." So this week I notice an unusual deposit to my account on 04.02.07 and I can't figure out what the hell is going on. Turns out a deposit I made to my account - via the infamous Lombard & Burrage night deposit box - back during the last week January (that's over two months ago!), drawn on a local Portland bank, was just deposited to my account. Huh? Was the check just laying around the branch somewhere? No wonder my account was screwy this past month - I guess I need to keep an even closer eye on the happenings at my WAMU branch.

Update: 05.12.07: Another cute little "WAMU trick." There was a line at my WaMu branch this Saturday morning - so I deposited a check via the ATM. Just noticed online that the deposit is already posted to my account - with a posting date of 5/14/07 rather than today. No notification online that the check is being held or anything. I guess WaMu can do things like that when they just don't give a hoot about providing quality customer service to their customers.

Update: 05.13.07:It's a Sunday evening and I just got a "canned" response from WaMu "customer service about the above issue. It said:

Thank you for your email. I understand your concern and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Dates listed on your statements and through the Online Banking Service reflect the posting date for transactions. Transactions can only reflect posting dates that correspond with business days. Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays are not business days.

Any transaction that takes place on a non-business day reflects a posting date that corresponds with the next business day. For instance, transactions processed on a Saturday will reflect on your statement with Monday's date. If Monday is a holiday, then the transaction will reflect Tuesday's date.

Hmmm... that's funny; if Saturday is not a business day then why is the branch open? When a deposit is made at an open branch are they not open for business, with business being conducted? And why am I getting an email from "customer service" on a Sunday evening? I thought Sunday was not a business day. Looks like WaMu makes up the rules to whatever beneifts them the most...

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Design on the fly - literally

I get a lot of magazines sent to me on a regular basis at no cost - publications on fashion, architecture, interior design, graphic design, business, travel, food, wine, music and other topics. There's usually a stack of them in my living room, and on my night- stand, waiting to be read. This morning, while having my second latte, I was flipping through the latest issue of SPIN. Visually, it's really an appealing magazine - lots of great photos, intriguing illustrations, excellent writing, attention-getting ads and interesting typography (and the ink smells good, too). Then I started laughing...

The article "Stitch at the Devil," in the publication's "NOISE" section, is the story of the latest venture into the fashion industry by Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx. His Royal Underground line, created in collaboration with fashion veteran Kelly Gray of the clothing concern St. John, has made its way in Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales. Among the photos of T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets was a shot of a pair of jeans - the subject of my giggles.

The image of a seven-inch tape measure is sewn into the flap of the zipper fly. I suppose it gives new meaning to the measure of a man being determined by the clothes he wears.

Still, there seems to be no reason for any man to be concerned, or uncomfortable, when wearing the pants. In the article Sixx confesses, "It's weighted in the guys favor."

Give a guy an inch...

Image courtesy of SPIN

© 2007 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

I'm so dizzy...but hopefully not forever

Many bLog-oMotives readers are aware of the fact that I have been dealing with vertigo since being diagnosed with an inner ear virus about two and half years ago. A couple months after having the virus I literally just fell over in the shower one morning, breaking several ribs in the process. I knew I hadn't slipped - I simply fell over.

Since that time I've had many issues with the vertigo. I have difficulty driving over bridges without feeling nauseous, heights of any kind are not my friend, and I've developed agoraphobia when it comes to being in large groups or public places where visual over-stimulation is a possibility. Watching some television shows or movies will cause me to feel ill. At times it's difficult to work while being dizzy and sitting at a computer for a number of hours. When driving and coming to a halt at a stoplight, or stop sign, I usually have the sensation that the car is still moving. Many times I've reached for the emergency brake to stop a vehicle that is actually not moving. Twice recently, while driving on the freeway, I've had panic attacks - something I had never experienced before. This condition can be somewhat debilitating at times and frustrating because, as my doctor told me, I am a very healthy sick person.

The vertigo has been controlled a bit by medications (some which have the side effect of dizziness), ear candling, and acupuncture. My love of travel has not been hampered too much by my dizziness. With motion-sickness medications I have been able to travel in cars, planes and boats. On a recent crabbing trip I was fine on the boat having taking Meclizine, but visually my brain saw the body of water standing still and the land moving. I could not focus on the horizon at all. Actually being in water is very disorienting - I sometimes can't tell which way is up - so I have avoided swimming or snorkeling.

For some this condition just disappears one day with no known or reasonable explanation. However, I recently talked to a woman who has been dealing with chronic vertigo for over 30 years. I know I don't want to lead that life.

Over that past couple years I've heard of a local doctor who has dealt with this issue successfully with many patients. This past Sunday our local newspaper, The Oregonian, had a lengthy article about Dr. John Epley and his work with those dealing with vertigo. Dr. Epley has developed a treatment, known as "The Epley Maneuvers," that repositions chalk-like particles collecting in the fluid-filled canals of the inner ear, and it seems to eliminate the false sensations of movement. Several alternative medicine professionals have suggested that perhaps the "crystals" in my inner ear need to be realigned - so this does make sense to me. Epley's own invention, the Omniax chair, is used to tilt and rotate the patient in a precise sequence of moves and the newspaper's website has a video demonstration of the equipment.

As I told my partner Ed, I'm willing to try anything at this point. Hopefully, I'll soon be able to get on the schedule for an initial consultation with the clinic to see if I qualify for the treatment. It would be so nice to no longer feel as if I was just going to fall over all the time.

© 2006 Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

Marriage Matters.They're committed. So are we.

We the undersigned will not stop until every American family is treated fairly, with dignity and equality under the law.

Rocky Anderson, Mayor • City of Salt Lake City, UT • Dr. Randall Bailey, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Hebrew Bible • Interdenominational Theological Center • Julian Bond • Rev. John Boonstra, Executive Minister • Washington Association of Churches • Kate Brown, Majority Leader • Oregon State Senate • Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor • City of West Sacramento, CA • Christine Chavez • Granddaughter of Cesar Chavez • Former Political Director, United Farm Workers • Elizabeth Clark, Executive Director • National Association of Social Workers • Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Avalon Foundation • Professor in the Humanities • University of Pennsylvania • Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels • Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister • The Riverside Church in the City of New York • Joe Fox, Capital District Area Labor Federation • AFL-CIO • Joe Fox, Vice President • NY State SEIU • Kim Gandy, President • National Organization for Women • Tim Gill, President • Gill Foundation • Mary Kay Henry, International Executive Vice President • SIEU • James C. Hormel • Former US Ambassador • Dolores Huerta • Co-Founder, United Farm Workers • President, Dolores Huerta Foundation for Community Organizing • Alice Huffman, President • California State Conference of NAACP • Norman Lear • Karen K. Narasaki, Executive Director • Asian American Justice Center • Ralph G. Neas, President and CEO • People For the American Way • Gavin Newsom, Mayor • City of San Francisco • Greg Nickels, Mayor • City of Seattle, WA • Tom Potter, Mayor • City of Portland, OR • Bruce Raynor, President • UNITED HERE! • Jesse Rios, Vice President • Labor Council for Latin American Advancement • Denis Rivera, President • 1199/SEIU Healthcare Workers East • Dr. Jack Rogers, Moderator • 213th General Assembly of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) • Anthony Romero, President • ACLU • Rev. Joan Salmon Campbell • Former Head Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) • Founder, The Spiritual Spa and Holistic Healing Center • Bishop John Selders, Organizing Pastor • Amistad United Church of Christ • Chris Shelton, Vice President • Communications Workers of America District 1 • Ron Sims, Executive • Martin Luther King Jr. County, Washington • Rev. William Sinkford, President • Unitarian Universalist Association • Phyllis Snyder, President • National Council of Jewish Women • The Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President • United Church of Christ • Urvashi Vaid and Kate Clinton • Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor • City of Los Angeles • Randi Weingarten • President, United Federation of Teachers • Vice President, American Federation of Teachers • Nancy Wohlforth, International Secretary-Treasurer • Office and Professional Employees International Labor Union (OPEIU) • Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President • Union for Reformed Judaism

"For better or for worse." This week, that statement has special resonance. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation was instrumental in gaining visibility for a groundbreaking advertisement (above) that appeared in 50 newspapers across the country including the New York Times. The "Marriage Matters" ad was signed by more than 60 civil, religious, LGBT and human rights leaders who support marriage equality, and it featured same-sex couples who have been together for as long as 53 years.

On March 7, 2004 my partner Ed Cunningham and I were married in front an incredible gathering of friends and family. Our marriage was later struck down by the courts. However, in our minds, and the eyes of many more than just those attending our ceremony and reception, our marriage ceremony (and relationship of 16.5 years) was (and is) no less valid or important than that of any other couple in this country. We thank those who continue to show support to us personally, and to many other gay and lesbian couples throughout the United States. We are committed to continue to work for equal - not "special" - rights and protections for all people in this country.

For more information about the continuing issue of marriage for same-sex couples visit the web site of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.