For Memorial Day the family and I decided we would go to the Strawberry Festival in Garden Grove. My old friend NLE joined us and we had a grand old time. Lots of rides and food and places to shop and strawbe...
oh wait, there were no strawberries, save for at one booth. How do you have a strawberry festival without strawberries? I was expecting, strawberry shortcake, strawberry shakes, strawberry jam, fried strawberries, strawberries on rye, and any other weird combination you can think of.
NOPE! One booth.
I had to go to Stator Bros and buy strawberries. Go figure!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Memorial Day
Memorial Day weekend. Bar-b-que's, beach days, festivals, beer, family gatherings and... oh yeah, remembering the dead.
This country has seen the death of millions of young men. Many of them in the last 100 years. Many grandfathers can tell you stories of the World Wars. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Panama, and so on and so forth.
There are a handful of men in America who can tell you stories of friends who died; wars they fought in; son's brothers and fathers who never came home or came home forever scarred both physically and mentally.
There are many who will argue for or against the validity of this war or that war (or any war). I'm no different. But this weekend isn't about that argument, it's about remembering that our countries entire history if full of stories of young men who never came home. It's to remember those who still dedicate their young lives to our military.
So to those who served before me, to those who served with me, and to those still serving, and to those who died here is to you. The military journey is one that stays with you forever. Most start it as young men (women) naive to what they are about to undertake. None ever forget it.
So, while you are enjoying your family, your friends and your day off, remember those who died in war, and those who are risking their lives today.
We can argue over the ethics of War another day.
This country has seen the death of millions of young men. Many of them in the last 100 years. Many grandfathers can tell you stories of the World Wars. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Panama, and so on and so forth.
There are a handful of men in America who can tell you stories of friends who died; wars they fought in; son's brothers and fathers who never came home or came home forever scarred both physically and mentally.
There are many who will argue for or against the validity of this war or that war (or any war). I'm no different. But this weekend isn't about that argument, it's about remembering that our countries entire history if full of stories of young men who never came home. It's to remember those who still dedicate their young lives to our military.
So to those who served before me, to those who served with me, and to those still serving, and to those who died here is to you. The military journey is one that stays with you forever. Most start it as young men (women) naive to what they are about to undertake. None ever forget it.
So, while you are enjoying your family, your friends and your day off, remember those who died in war, and those who are risking their lives today.
We can argue over the ethics of War another day.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
1 Year Down
This has been a good week. My daughter had her first birthday. It's amazing how fast time flies. It doesn't feel likes it's been a year. But there she is standing and crawling and babbling.
I am blessed with three kids and everyday I wonder how they got so big. I know that I will blink and they will be gone. I just hope I will have raised them well.
Two other points of celebration. 1 year down at my job as well. And of course my new Lawyer friend.
I am blessed with three kids and everyday I wonder how they got so big. I know that I will blink and they will be gone. I just hope I will have raised them well.
Two other points of celebration. 1 year down at my job as well. And of course my new Lawyer friend.
PASS - FAIL
Our society has few educational paths that end in a PASS/FAIL exam. I followed one of those paths many moons ago. It is quite the ordeal. You start knowing that you are embarking on a long, tortuous journey of study and hitting the books. In my particular path there were three schools you had to graduate from.
Test Day for the third and final school is tortuous. You have watched 2/3rds or more of you fellow student fail already. You know you have reached the final hurdle. You don't study this day. You just wait for it to begin. You step into a room with three board members. They proceed to assault you with questions. Draw this, what is this equation, how does it relate to this, why, how, when, where, what. There is no time to think and ponder, no saving that question for last, you know it or you don't. All of your efforts got you into this room standing before these men who will decide if you PASS or FAIL.
When the test is over you are sent outside and told to wait. That wait was only half an hour but it seemed like days. If you fail this test there is no retest. If you fail than you have just wasted all that time and effort.
This test I passed. I went on to find there are always more tests, though none quite like this one.
My friend BS took a similar test recently. State BAR. The test you must take to become a lawyer even though you've already graduated. It is a PASS/FAIL test. They make you wait months for your results. The good news is you can retake it if you fail. The bad news is you have to wait forever. Thursday was the day he found out if he Passed or Failed. What a day that must of been. To his credit he PASSED.
Congratulation's sir! You are now a member of an elite few. You have accomplished what only a handful of Americans ever will accomplish. No matter what you do from this point forward, you always have that. You always have the knowledge that you have succeeded where many have failed.
Enjoy your moment of success. You have earned it.
Don't worry, there will be more tests, but none of them like this one.
Test Day for the third and final school is tortuous. You have watched 2/3rds or more of you fellow student fail already. You know you have reached the final hurdle. You don't study this day. You just wait for it to begin. You step into a room with three board members. They proceed to assault you with questions. Draw this, what is this equation, how does it relate to this, why, how, when, where, what. There is no time to think and ponder, no saving that question for last, you know it or you don't. All of your efforts got you into this room standing before these men who will decide if you PASS or FAIL.
When the test is over you are sent outside and told to wait. That wait was only half an hour but it seemed like days. If you fail this test there is no retest. If you fail than you have just wasted all that time and effort.
This test I passed. I went on to find there are always more tests, though none quite like this one.
My friend BS took a similar test recently. State BAR. The test you must take to become a lawyer even though you've already graduated. It is a PASS/FAIL test. They make you wait months for your results. The good news is you can retake it if you fail. The bad news is you have to wait forever. Thursday was the day he found out if he Passed or Failed. What a day that must of been. To his credit he PASSED.
Congratulation's sir! You are now a member of an elite few. You have accomplished what only a handful of Americans ever will accomplish. No matter what you do from this point forward, you always have that. You always have the knowledge that you have succeeded where many have failed.
Enjoy your moment of success. You have earned it.
Don't worry, there will be more tests, but none of them like this one.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Hickory Smoked Salt
Growing up we had all kinds of spices in my home. Whatever you were cooking, and whatever you were looking for, you could usually find it. But my favorite spice (especially to put on beef) was Hickory Smoked Salt. It was my bar-b-que seasoning of choice, and since I was always the bar-b-que cook it's what I always used.
I haven't been able to find Hickory Smoke Salt in many years. I look every time I go to a supermarket, and find everything but. I have managed to find liquid Hickory Smoke Salt, but it's just not the same.
So today I decided to search the net for it. And walla, I find it SPICE ISLAND OLD HICKORY SMOKE SALT. Just my brand. Almost $5 a bottle and $9 to ship. Can you believe that? $9 to ship a bottle of salt.
I'm pretty desperate, but not quite that desperate. I'll keep searching. Someone else has to have it.
Then again, desperate times call for desperate measures.
I haven't been able to find Hickory Smoke Salt in many years. I look every time I go to a supermarket, and find everything but. I have managed to find liquid Hickory Smoke Salt, but it's just not the same.
So today I decided to search the net for it. And walla, I find it SPICE ISLAND OLD HICKORY SMOKE SALT. Just my brand. Almost $5 a bottle and $9 to ship. Can you believe that? $9 to ship a bottle of salt.
I'm pretty desperate, but not quite that desperate. I'll keep searching. Someone else has to have it.
Then again, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Just something to make you smile
"There are alot of Irishman in England. They build roads, bridges, buildings and such. They come back a few years later and blow them up. Then they come back and build them again. Then they come back and blow them up. And the English haven't caught on. They think it's political. It's not. It's Job Security"
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