So I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my 11:40 Boise flight and who should also be waiting not 20 feet from me?
Jerome Kersey, former star of the Portland Trailblazers.
I hope I don't sit next to him; Horizon airplanes have only so much room for people over 6'3".
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Update: Nice Video of Zach Steer's Iditarod Finish
Click on this link for a nice interview video with Zach Steer just after he crossed the finish line of the Iditarod in Nome.
Not A Good Morning
Did this happen to you this morning?
You woke up an hour too late for a 6am flight?
-and-
In your rush to get to the airport anyway after only eight hours of sleep in the previous two days, hoping the flight will be delayed, you hit a seemingly invisible freeway off-ramp divider curb at about 50 mph and burst your front driver-side (and, therefore, freeway side) tire at about the location in the webcam below?
-and-
You got sprayed over and over again - in your sport coat and slacks - by cars speeding by a little too closely on their way to work as you changed your tire on the right-side pullout?
-and-
When you attempted to loosen the nuts on the tire in the pre-6am darkness, you somehow didn't get the jack perfectly under the car and the car slides off of the jack back to the ground?
-and-
When finally - tired, wet, and grubby - you go to the back of the car to get the spare that you leaned on the bumper, you look and see that the spare disappeared?
-and-
When you looked around you realized that when the car slipped off the jack, the tire managed to slip off of the bumper and roll 100 feet across three lanes of interstate freeway to rest in the middle median?
-and-
You had to run across the three lanes of traffic, admittedly not peak rush hour because its only 6am, fetch the tire and when there were few enough approaching cars you ran it back across the freeway to your car?
-and-
After you got everything put back in place and drove off you heard the brakes - which needed work anyway - grinding even worse than before indicating something possibly more serious?
-and-
Finally, when you got to a phone and called the airline about missing the flight, the agent states that the airplane was delayed for more than 30 minutes and you realize you would have made the flight if it wasn't for having extraordinarily unlucky tire trouble?
If you did, your morning was as bad as mine. Trust me when I say I hope you said no to the above questions.
You woke up an hour too late for a 6am flight?
-and-
In your rush to get to the airport anyway after only eight hours of sleep in the previous two days, hoping the flight will be delayed, you hit a seemingly invisible freeway off-ramp divider curb at about 50 mph and burst your front driver-side (and, therefore, freeway side) tire at about the location in the webcam below?
-and-
You got sprayed over and over again - in your sport coat and slacks - by cars speeding by a little too closely on their way to work as you changed your tire on the right-side pullout?
-and-
When you attempted to loosen the nuts on the tire in the pre-6am darkness, you somehow didn't get the jack perfectly under the car and the car slides off of the jack back to the ground?
-and-
When finally - tired, wet, and grubby - you go to the back of the car to get the spare that you leaned on the bumper, you look and see that the spare disappeared?
-and-
When you looked around you realized that when the car slipped off the jack, the tire managed to slip off of the bumper and roll 100 feet across three lanes of interstate freeway to rest in the middle median?
-and-
You had to run across the three lanes of traffic, admittedly not peak rush hour because its only 6am, fetch the tire and when there were few enough approaching cars you ran it back across the freeway to your car?
-and-
After you got everything put back in place and drove off you heard the brakes - which needed work anyway - grinding even worse than before indicating something possibly more serious?
-and-
Finally, when you got to a phone and called the airline about missing the flight, the agent states that the airplane was delayed for more than 30 minutes and you realize you would have made the flight if it wasn't for having extraordinarily unlucky tire trouble?
If you did, your morning was as bad as mine. Trust me when I say I hope you said no to the above questions.
Monday, March 19, 2007
By the Way...
I've uploaded a few new photos to our Flickr photo album. Click on the photo of Gabriel in the previous post or click this link and you can view them.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Gabriel's New Friends
Yesterday, Gabriel and Mama went to Gresham and brought back four new friends for Gabriel - and a solution to Gabriel's insatiable appetite for eggs!
No names yet, but we have some contenders:
How about Laverne & Shirley for two of them?
There's one of each of four varieties (images from feathersite.com and mypetchicken.com)
:
A Golden-Laced Wyandotte pullet
A Barred Plymouth Rock pullet
A Black Star (hybrid) pullet
and A Golden Comet (hybrid) pullet
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Congratulations to Zach Steer
The Anchorage Daily News is reporting this morning that fellow Service High alum Zach Steer surged into Nome past four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser to take third place in the Iditarod.
Wow. Congratulations!
He'll take home $57,000 in prize winnings, likely to help train next year's team. I doubt there'd be much left to invest in his Sheep Mountain Lodge in Sutton.
In a way, this doesn't surprise me. I have one image of Zach indelibly burnt into my memory. In June of 1991, while hiking to the top of Flattop Mountain in Anchorage (and sucking wind while doing it), I looked up the mountain and saw a red-headed runner in shorts and a t-shirt running down the mountain path.
As he got closer, I recognized the runner as Zach, training for the grueling Mt. Marathon in Seward. He had run up and down the mountain in preparation for the July 4th race that year. That's the race that my jr. high friend Andy Hornung ran and lacerated his leg on loose shale rock when he fell on his descent, requiring too many stitches to count.
Anyway, finishing the Iditarod is quite a feat, much less finishing in the top three.
By the way, Lance Mackey - another fellow GenXer - (and yes, son of previous winner Dick Mackey and half-brother of previous winner Rick Mackey) won the Iditarod last night wearing bib #13 on March 13 - the same bib number worn by his father and brother when they won. Most notably, he made history by becoming the first to win both the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. He is also a cancer survivor, and in a pleasantly ironic way, I'm guessing a victory by anyone else could not be more appropriate in light of Susan Butcher's loss to cancer this past year.
A remarkable Iditarod all the way around: a herculean victory, a passing of the generational torch, a racing dynasty cemented, and tragic disease overcome.
Wow. Congratulations!
He'll take home $57,000 in prize winnings, likely to help train next year's team. I doubt there'd be much left to invest in his Sheep Mountain Lodge in Sutton.
In a way, this doesn't surprise me. I have one image of Zach indelibly burnt into my memory. In June of 1991, while hiking to the top of Flattop Mountain in Anchorage (and sucking wind while doing it), I looked up the mountain and saw a red-headed runner in shorts and a t-shirt running down the mountain path.
As he got closer, I recognized the runner as Zach, training for the grueling Mt. Marathon in Seward. He had run up and down the mountain in preparation for the July 4th race that year. That's the race that my jr. high friend Andy Hornung ran and lacerated his leg on loose shale rock when he fell on his descent, requiring too many stitches to count.
Anyway, finishing the Iditarod is quite a feat, much less finishing in the top three.
By the way, Lance Mackey - another fellow GenXer - (and yes, son of previous winner Dick Mackey and half-brother of previous winner Rick Mackey) won the Iditarod last night wearing bib #13 on March 13 - the same bib number worn by his father and brother when they won. Most notably, he made history by becoming the first to win both the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. He is also a cancer survivor, and in a pleasantly ironic way, I'm guessing a victory by anyone else could not be more appropriate in light of Susan Butcher's loss to cancer this past year.
A remarkable Iditarod all the way around: a herculean victory, a passing of the generational torch, a racing dynasty cemented, and tragic disease overcome.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Joy
Indeed, particularly on Gabriel's mommy's face. This must clearly have been the end of the Grotto's Festival of Lights tour.
Gabriel was 16 months in this photo and clearly a handful after only four months of walking and running experience.
So this is just to say that our Flickr.com page of photos has been updated to include recent events (including Gabriel's trip to Texas and Gabriel cooking chicken-broccoli-salt-grapes-Joe's O's soup) and some "greatest hits" from earlier in Gabriel's life like the photo above.
Enjoy!
Happier News of a Fellow Alum
I went to the Anchorage Daily News website this morning and was delighted to learn that Zach Steer, a fellow Service High School alum (Class of '91 - a year after me) is currently in the lead in the Iditarod. He apparently pulled into Ophir first early this morning. Looks like they're taking the Southern Route this year.
adn.com | Sheep Mountain's Steer leading heavyweights
Which reminds me of a couple more fellow Service alum's: Chad Champ and Glen (Ryan to some of you) Coulson.
I heard from both of them via email recently (both doing quite well) but I haven't posted about that yet. I'm trying to figure out how to post photos of Chad's family that he sent, but I haven't come up with a good workable solution yet.
In the meantime, here are their MySpace pages (confirmation that people over 30 are on MySpace)
Chad Champ
Glen Coulson
&
Tom Reid (nice webcam shot, hoser)
adn.com | Sheep Mountain's Steer leading heavyweights
Which reminds me of a couple more fellow Service alum's: Chad Champ and Glen (Ryan to some of you) Coulson.
I heard from both of them via email recently (both doing quite well) but I haven't posted about that yet. I'm trying to figure out how to post photos of Chad's family that he sent, but I haven't come up with a good workable solution yet.
In the meantime, here are their MySpace pages (confirmation that people over 30 are on MySpace)
Chad Champ
Glen Coulson
&
Tom Reid (nice webcam shot, hoser)
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Dear Dr. Pritchard
I feel awkwardly bad that this letter is written too late for you to read it. But I thought it a good idea to express how maybe, just maybe, hanging on for another week might have been helpful to you. Or maybe not; small gestures are usually just that.
You see, tomorrow at my follow-up appointment with you to look at my left knee I was planning some good natured banter about the fact that I learned you are a fellow Baylor alum. And not only that, we attended Baylor at roughly the same time. You were a freshman when I was a senior (should I feel old?!). When you said at my first appointment you attended UT medical school at Galveston, and by the look of you, I strongly suspected Baylor. And looking at the Baylor alum directory online, I confirmed you were indeed a fellow Bear.
But tomorrow's appointment - and any other appointment with you - has been made impossible. I was shocked to learn of your very unexpected death this morning when I called Providence Tanasbourne in response to their vague voicemail message for a need to reschedule. The receptionist let me know they learned of your death yesterday morning, with no cause given. "Reeling" was her word, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rather taken aback myself.
I think the only thing that shocked me more was the confirmation this afternoon via the Astoria, Oregon newspaper that "suicide was likely" after the identity of your body, which washed ashore at Cannon Beach Monday, had been established.
Were you lonely? You admitted much family in Texas; were you feeling alienated so far from your family and most of what you have known in your life? Did Oregon's winter get to you? Were you hiding something inside? I have to admit that I got a little bit of that sense that you might be. And in the context of where you are from and where you went to school, I could see how much the stresses and strains of that would possibly be unbearable.
Would a friendly hello from a fellow Baylor alum have helped significantly? Probably not. Would it have been enough to get you through a dark day you might have been struggling with right at that time? Maybe. Mutual acquaintances, experiences and divergent paths post-graduation would have been fun, memorable chat. But unfortunately, you and I will never know.
I hope your family takes the news with great courage and faith. And if indeed a hidden secret is what drove you to the desperate act of ending your own life, it only underscores the fact that our Texas Baptist alma mater and other Christians of similar mindset should finally understand that the neighbor Jesus commanded us to love and not judge, the very one He died for, may have that very same type of secret.
Whatever the cause or desperation, your passing is tragic. So much medical training that could have helped so many people over a lifetime, including all of those that may have suffered from whatever ailment or problem that finally caused you to take your own life.
But all of that will soon be laid to rest in Texas. I hope you rest in peace.
You see, tomorrow at my follow-up appointment with you to look at my left knee I was planning some good natured banter about the fact that I learned you are a fellow Baylor alum. And not only that, we attended Baylor at roughly the same time. You were a freshman when I was a senior (should I feel old?!). When you said at my first appointment you attended UT medical school at Galveston, and by the look of you, I strongly suspected Baylor. And looking at the Baylor alum directory online, I confirmed you were indeed a fellow Bear.
But tomorrow's appointment - and any other appointment with you - has been made impossible. I was shocked to learn of your very unexpected death this morning when I called Providence Tanasbourne in response to their vague voicemail message for a need to reschedule. The receptionist let me know they learned of your death yesterday morning, with no cause given. "Reeling" was her word, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rather taken aback myself.
I think the only thing that shocked me more was the confirmation this afternoon via the Astoria, Oregon newspaper that "suicide was likely" after the identity of your body, which washed ashore at Cannon Beach Monday, had been established.
Were you lonely? You admitted much family in Texas; were you feeling alienated so far from your family and most of what you have known in your life? Did Oregon's winter get to you? Were you hiding something inside? I have to admit that I got a little bit of that sense that you might be. And in the context of where you are from and where you went to school, I could see how much the stresses and strains of that would possibly be unbearable.
Would a friendly hello from a fellow Baylor alum have helped significantly? Probably not. Would it have been enough to get you through a dark day you might have been struggling with right at that time? Maybe. Mutual acquaintances, experiences and divergent paths post-graduation would have been fun, memorable chat. But unfortunately, you and I will never know.
I hope your family takes the news with great courage and faith. And if indeed a hidden secret is what drove you to the desperate act of ending your own life, it only underscores the fact that our Texas Baptist alma mater and other Christians of similar mindset should finally understand that the neighbor Jesus commanded us to love and not judge, the very one He died for, may have that very same type of secret.
Whatever the cause or desperation, your passing is tragic. So much medical training that could have helped so many people over a lifetime, including all of those that may have suffered from whatever ailment or problem that finally caused you to take your own life.
But all of that will soon be laid to rest in Texas. I hope you rest in peace.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Thank God for DVD
You don't really see it anymore, but there was a time when TV transcended itself and could be intelligent, poetic and even inspirational.
Take for example an hour-long, character-driven television show featuring a large cast, won Emmy awards, took place in an exotic location, and featured the following characters:
-A young, talented but stubborn doctor stranded in a remote location
-A beautiful, tough young woman in an on-again/off-again romance with the doctor
-A younger, more rugged ex-con with an affinity for books, sharing an attraction for the woman
-A mystical, metaphysical bond between a philosophical white character and a similarly philosophical black character
-A younger male character, with mixed heritage, and an affinity for pop culture and a laid-back "dude" personality
Sound a bit like Lost? It's not. It's Northern Exposure, and it couldn't be a more polar opposite television show, despite some remarkable coincidences that Lost creators have seemingly cribbed. But the bar was set pretty high by NX, with no brutality, killings, or other glorifications of the darker side of humanity.
Proof:
Another thank you very much for my Christmas gift, Jill.
Take for example an hour-long, character-driven television show featuring a large cast, won Emmy awards, took place in an exotic location, and featured the following characters:
-A young, talented but stubborn doctor stranded in a remote location
-A beautiful, tough young woman in an on-again/off-again romance with the doctor
-A younger, more rugged ex-con with an affinity for books, sharing an attraction for the woman
-A mystical, metaphysical bond between a philosophical white character and a similarly philosophical black character
-A younger male character, with mixed heritage, and an affinity for pop culture and a laid-back "dude" personality
Sound a bit like Lost? It's not. It's Northern Exposure, and it couldn't be a more polar opposite television show, despite some remarkable coincidences that Lost creators have seemingly cribbed. But the bar was set pretty high by NX, with no brutality, killings, or other glorifications of the darker side of humanity.
Proof:
Another thank you very much for my Christmas gift, Jill.
Monday, February 05, 2007
A Question Worth Asking
A conversation with Jerry at work about a book of U.S./Latin America foreign policy reminded me of William Walker, who in pre-Civil War years led more than one war of conquest in Mexico and Central America.
At one point, Walker declared himself the Ruler of Honduras, fatally crossed Vanderbilt family business contracts there, and tried in earnest to make Central America a slave-state confederacy to add to the U.S. South. Vanderbilt's wrath eventually led to the capture of Walker by the British navy, who turned him over to Honduran authorities all too happy to execute him by firing squad at age 36.
Check out the Wikipedia entry below.
William Walker (soldier) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The reason it's also interesting is because Jill used to work at William Walker Elementary School in Beaverton. I cannot find another William Walker that had enough national notoriety to have a school named after him in the 50's or 60's. Beaverton schools website and the school website are silent on the issue.
So is this elementary school in Beaverton (with an amusingly ironic enrollment predominance of Hispanic students) named after a classic jingoist/imperialist from the U.S. that tried to expand the evil of U.S. slavery, in part as a failed attempt to save his own neck?
At one point, Walker declared himself the Ruler of Honduras, fatally crossed Vanderbilt family business contracts there, and tried in earnest to make Central America a slave-state confederacy to add to the U.S. South. Vanderbilt's wrath eventually led to the capture of Walker by the British navy, who turned him over to Honduran authorities all too happy to execute him by firing squad at age 36.
Check out the Wikipedia entry below.
William Walker (soldier) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The reason it's also interesting is because Jill used to work at William Walker Elementary School in Beaverton. I cannot find another William Walker that had enough national notoriety to have a school named after him in the 50's or 60's. Beaverton schools website and the school website are silent on the issue.
So is this elementary school in Beaverton (with an amusingly ironic enrollment predominance of Hispanic students) named after a classic jingoist/imperialist from the U.S. that tried to expand the evil of U.S. slavery, in part as a failed attempt to save his own neck?
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Gabriel's New Big Truck
Well, not really that big or a truck, but Gabriel is now a happy passenger in a 2002 Toyota Highlander we bought on Friday evening. We got it used on Craigslist and it was quite a find for us.
Below is a photo from the listing. So far we've taken it out to see the horse and back, went to the park to see geese and throw rocks, and done a few odd chores. It's great fun to drive and Gabriel loves the keyless entry remote, of course.
That means I get to get rid of the chickenmobile!
Below is a photo from the listing. So far we've taken it out to see the horse and back, went to the park to see geese and throw rocks, and done a few odd chores. It's great fun to drive and Gabriel loves the keyless entry remote, of course.
That means I get to get rid of the chickenmobile!
Friday, January 26, 2007
GABRIEL FRANCIS
GABRIEL FRANCIS - that's what Gabriel began to declare over and over again last night after seeing his reflection in our bedroom window. It was a surprising and funny moment of self-discovery as he has pretty much avoided saying his own name or any part of it.
Now, all of a sudden with great pride, he will happily tell you his name is GABRIEL FRANCIS and that he's "2".
It was very cute, very touching, and very funny.
Other bits we're proud of: He already knows and identifies most major colors, can count to 6 (but 5, for some reason, comes after), and in his currently favorite book "Snow" he knows and says all of the rhyming words himself.
He's also taken to helping sing his lullabies, specifically "Winkle" (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) and "Peace" (All Through the Night - Peter, Paul & Mary version). Not only that, he'll sing "Zoo" (Going to the Zoo, Peter, Paul & Mary/Raffi versions) any old time.
Now, all of a sudden with great pride, he will happily tell you his name is GABRIEL FRANCIS and that he's "2".
It was very cute, very touching, and very funny.
Other bits we're proud of: He already knows and identifies most major colors, can count to 6 (but 5, for some reason, comes after), and in his currently favorite book "Snow" he knows and says all of the rhyming words himself.
He's also taken to helping sing his lullabies, specifically "Winkle" (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) and "Peace" (All Through the Night - Peter, Paul & Mary version). Not only that, he'll sing "Zoo" (Going to the Zoo, Peter, Paul & Mary/Raffi versions) any old time.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Myrtle Cash Passes
Aunt Mo Myrtle Cash (Hays) passed away around midnight, January 10, 2007. Her condition immediately prior had worsened to the extent that her physicians recommended she be taken off all but her pain medication for comfort purposes.
For anyone wanting or needing the information: they are cremating her and placing her next to Glennda Sprouse in Okolona, Arkansas. A memorial service for her is being held in Bay City, Texas. Flowers can be sent via Bay City Floral at 979-245-9492.
Uncle Jimmy's (J.C. Cash) phone number is: 979-244-2568, and their address is: 2720 Cottonwood, Bay City, TX 77414.
All of Myrtle's adult children, Uncle Jimmy and his sister Alice (92 years old) have gathered in Bay City. They would all likely enjoy hearing from everyone.
Me-Ma has been doing okay, just a little low. She is the last surviving sibling of the Dr. John and Myrtle Hays family.
We offer our most sincere condolences.
For anyone wanting or needing the information: they are cremating her and placing her next to Glennda Sprouse in Okolona, Arkansas. A memorial service for her is being held in Bay City, Texas. Flowers can be sent via Bay City Floral at 979-245-9492.
Uncle Jimmy's (J.C. Cash) phone number is: 979-244-2568, and their address is: 2720 Cottonwood, Bay City, TX 77414.
All of Myrtle's adult children, Uncle Jimmy and his sister Alice (92 years old) have gathered in Bay City. They would all likely enjoy hearing from everyone.
Me-Ma has been doing okay, just a little low. She is the last surviving sibling of the Dr. John and Myrtle Hays family.
We offer our most sincere condolences.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
It Is Better to Remain Silent and Thought a Fool...
than to speak and remove all doubt. -Sam Clemens
Having said that, there are some major family and personal developments I haven't been documenting. Luckily, someone has: Kate Reid.
Kate and Tom are expecting their first child in April. Kate has admirably begun blogging about her experience at itsareid.blogspot.com. I strongly encourage a visit and a greeting to Kate and Tom at their site.
Beyond this announcement, way overdue on this blog, I honestly don't know how often I'll be updating in the future. I have much to say, some of it actually positive, but I'm not in a place where I feel so inclined or motivated to publish it. I would encourage family newshounds to instead follow Kate's blog. I mean really, there's nothing unlikeable about the pending arrival of a new baby.
So, thank you and until I feel like getting back in the saddle, please enjoy occasional Gabriel photo posts. Also, don't forget to check out our flickr photo album. I update that with new pics on a regular basis. Now featured: the Kauai vacation.
Having said that, there are some major family and personal developments I haven't been documenting. Luckily, someone has: Kate Reid.
Kate and Tom are expecting their first child in April. Kate has admirably begun blogging about her experience at itsareid.blogspot.com. I strongly encourage a visit and a greeting to Kate and Tom at their site.
Beyond this announcement, way overdue on this blog, I honestly don't know how often I'll be updating in the future. I have much to say, some of it actually positive, but I'm not in a place where I feel so inclined or motivated to publish it. I would encourage family newshounds to instead follow Kate's blog. I mean really, there's nothing unlikeable about the pending arrival of a new baby.
So, thank you and until I feel like getting back in the saddle, please enjoy occasional Gabriel photo posts. Also, don't forget to check out our flickr photo album. I update that with new pics on a regular basis. Now featured: the Kauai vacation.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Gabriel at Princeville 2
Wow! And here he is enjoying the reflecting pool at the Princeville Hotel while Dada enjoys the view
Gabriel at Princeville 1
Wow! Here's Gabriel enjoying the view of Hanalei Bay at the Princeville Hotel
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Gabriel's 2nd Birthday
Sunday was Gabriel's 2nd birthday and my own 34th birthday, so we threw a party in the back yard. Not allowed to eat much sugar, Gabriel definitely enjoyed the cake, ice cream and fruit sodas that were served. The shot below is right after Gabriel blew out his candle.
Several cousins of Gabriel's appear in the photo and I had to refer to the following webpage for guidance as to how Gabriel is formally related. Gabriel's first cousin once removed (1C1R in geneology lingo) Teri Lynn Garcia is holding him. Teri's sister, Leigh Ann - also Gabriel's first cousin once removed - can be glimpsed immediately above Teri's right shoulder.
To Gabriel's right are Toni Rae and Taryn, Teri's daughters and Gabriel's second cousins. Behind Toni Rae is a partial glimpse of Me-Ma, Gabriel's great grandmother and Gramma Dianne's mother. Well, that's all settled and I got to learn how cousins are designated. Nifty.
Also attending his birthday party were his Grandparents Korynasz and Grandparents Reid, his mama (who was fighting through a bad headache, poor mama) and dada, and his friend Ian, Ian's parent's Karl and Melani and Melani's sister, both of whom are from Indonesia. Melani brought over some tasty sticky rice with chicken stuffed inside. Google revealed the dish to be called Lemper Ayam - here's the recipe for those interested.
Below is a shot of the kids playing in the sandbox - a big hit (thank you Uncle Tom and Aunt Kate) - though Ian's a bit preoccupied with dumping a bucket of sand and didn't look up.
By the time of the birthday party, I was already a bit worn out from all of the chores and cooking. I cooked a 10-lb. brisket in the smoker for ten hours and I have to say I think it turned out very well. I actually saw my dad cutting his like butter with his plastic spoon. I took that as a compliment.
The old Texas grocery store chain H-E-B, where I shopped on the cheap during college in Waco, turned out to be invaluable for brisket recipe information. Their site has some great, local recipes from various places in Texas. Check it out.
Gabriel did very well in the gift department, as can be seen in the photo below. I helped him open his gifts, he helped me with mine, and Gramma Judy is there showing him how to push the music buttons on an Elmo book. Gabriel's fascination with choo-choo's was clearly rewarded with several trains and train books, including the Duplo Thomas the Tank Engine set.
But honestly, if everyone had brought him a balloon, the boy's so fascinated with them he may have been just as happy!
Thanks to everyone who came and generously gifted both of us! We hope you had a great time!
Several cousins of Gabriel's appear in the photo and I had to refer to the following webpage for guidance as to how Gabriel is formally related. Gabriel's first cousin once removed (1C1R in geneology lingo) Teri Lynn Garcia is holding him. Teri's sister, Leigh Ann - also Gabriel's first cousin once removed - can be glimpsed immediately above Teri's right shoulder.
To Gabriel's right are Toni Rae and Taryn, Teri's daughters and Gabriel's second cousins. Behind Toni Rae is a partial glimpse of Me-Ma, Gabriel's great grandmother and Gramma Dianne's mother. Well, that's all settled and I got to learn how cousins are designated. Nifty.
Also attending his birthday party were his Grandparents Korynasz and Grandparents Reid, his mama (who was fighting through a bad headache, poor mama) and dada, and his friend Ian, Ian's parent's Karl and Melani and Melani's sister, both of whom are from Indonesia. Melani brought over some tasty sticky rice with chicken stuffed inside. Google revealed the dish to be called Lemper Ayam - here's the recipe for those interested.
Below is a shot of the kids playing in the sandbox - a big hit (thank you Uncle Tom and Aunt Kate) - though Ian's a bit preoccupied with dumping a bucket of sand and didn't look up.
By the time of the birthday party, I was already a bit worn out from all of the chores and cooking. I cooked a 10-lb. brisket in the smoker for ten hours and I have to say I think it turned out very well. I actually saw my dad cutting his like butter with his plastic spoon. I took that as a compliment.
The old Texas grocery store chain H-E-B, where I shopped on the cheap during college in Waco, turned out to be invaluable for brisket recipe information. Their site has some great, local recipes from various places in Texas. Check it out.
Gabriel did very well in the gift department, as can be seen in the photo below. I helped him open his gifts, he helped me with mine, and Gramma Judy is there showing him how to push the music buttons on an Elmo book. Gabriel's fascination with choo-choo's was clearly rewarded with several trains and train books, including the Duplo Thomas the Tank Engine set.
But honestly, if everyone had brought him a balloon, the boy's so fascinated with them he may have been just as happy!
Thanks to everyone who came and generously gifted both of us! We hope you had a great time!
Monday, August 07, 2006
Susan Butcher
The Anchorage Daily News reported yesterday that Susan Butcher, four-time Iditarod champion, lost her long battle with cancer in Seattle late Saturday night. She was 51.
I had followed her story in that paper over the past few months. It was just a week ago that her doctors at Fred Hutchison Cancer Center in Seattle helped her to fight a further complication of her body rejecting her tissue transplant. The same day they let her know her cancer returned. If you read between the lines, she wasn't given much more time to live.
The news is sad, and her passing reminded me of a particular Robert Frost poem. I've posted it below.
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I had followed her story in that paper over the past few months. It was just a week ago that her doctors at Fred Hutchison Cancer Center in Seattle helped her to fight a further complication of her body rejecting her tissue transplant. The same day they let her know her cancer returned. If you read between the lines, she wasn't given much more time to live.
The news is sad, and her passing reminded me of a particular Robert Frost poem. I've posted it below.
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
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