'Memba Him?

Some of you may recognize the handsome 21 year old doing the weather in this video clip, back in 1977. He gets his "15 seconds of fame" around the 3:35 mark. I love the serious, meteorologist voice.. and turtleneck...

Video is after the still

Video

Goofy Girl

Sonoma seems to know that comedy is all about timing (and Santa hats)...

West Cartoon

I decided to draw West as a cartoon... Sonoma to follow....

Isn't he cute??

1,000th Hit!

The Relative News just crossed 1000 page views!

Here's a picture of a map showing where the hits came from - darker green means more hits... white = no hits...

I see the US is darkest, and Germany is on the map (thanks Mom and Dad).

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to visit every now and then!  Let's go 2,000!

Morrill Middle School Crossing Guards

I pass the same crossing guards on my way to work every morning.

Talk about a team sport.  The two of them right outside Morrill Middle School playing traffic defense as school children crossing the street to the goal.  They zealously march into the road from each side, raise up their quintessential red stop signs, and blow their whistles swiftly.  Once in position, they give the signal, and the students flood the road.  Pretty standard procedure one could say.

The two guards wear their pressed, standard issued uniforms each morning.  The first is a short, elder Asian man with silvery-grey hair, and a bushy mustache to match.  He stands stiff as a board and always looks stone faced, except when interacting with the other guard - an overweight, curly haired black woman.  She seems like fun.  He seems too serious.  The perfect team for chaperoning young students to school across a busy road.

While standing on the side of the road, she's constantly engaged in this back-and-forth swinging/dance motion as she nonchalantly raises her white-gloved hands about waist high.  She looks like an overgrown child trying to balance on roller skates for the first time.  She's either waving to passing cars, or dancing to music through her silly Bluetooth ear piece.  I always choose to wave back, hoping it's the former.  We're basically either friends at this point, or dance partners.

He's always glaring at drivers passing by as if each one has personally offended him by driving over the crosswalk.  He has a silly Bluetooth ear piece, also.  Maybe those, too, are standard issue.  Mr. Serious is pretty much a statue on the side of the road until that sidewalk corner starts to fill with students.  And when he feels ready, he'll just suddenly jump out in to traffic and blow his whistle.

"TWEEEEEEEET!"

And after just missing the last car through the intersection by inches, he'll stare at the back windshield as it drives past, guilt his only tool.  He's classic.

I bet they're like best friends by now.  This is at least their second year working as a team every morning to accomplish the worthy goal of getting young people safely across the street.  They even acessorize the same!  Hell, I only drive by once a day and I wave like we're friends.  But to clarify, I'm not waving to him.  He's too serious and will jump out into the crosswalk with his stop sign held high for good measure as I pass through.  And I can't afford to start my day off with that horrible stare in my rear-view mirror.

Frisbee Styles

We have two very talented disc dogs. Sonoma has demonstrated her skills in Frisbee competitions where we've swept 1st place enough times to earn the title of "sand-baggers" with the Disc Dogs of the Golden Gate organization.

You can see two videos from these competitions here and here.

We've really started to reduce the hours playing Frisbee, one, because we've taken such a big step into the world of agility, but also, two, due to us working later in the evenings and the dark arriving so early. Having said that, you'd think West would be a little less capable in the Frisbee realm, but he's got just as much ability as Sonoma! The main difference between the two is the work ethic; Sonoma runs out for the catch at 120% effort and sprints back to return the Fris at 130% effort. She truly understands that the faster she returns it to us, the faster she gets to go chase after another toss. Little West, however, will run out at 120% effort, and return at about 70% effort. He's more like "Hey... I got the Frisbee! Mmm Frisbee! Ooohh Daddy and Mommy want to play more..." where as Sonoma is like "Shit! Hurry! I just caught the frisbee - HURRY - it's been like 2 seconds and Mom and Dad don't have it yet! HURRY!! Crap, I can't run fast enough! Here! Take it! HURRY!!!! THROW IT!!!!" Her intensity level has yet to be matched by West.

See the intensity in her eye and scowl?  No joking around.  West certainly has the upper-hand when it comes to jumping, however.  Check out the height Sonoma gets in the picture below - front feet way up, back feet on the ground.  That's a "jump" in Frisbee for Sonoma...

  Now take West for example...

He's got springs!  He jumps probably about one and half times his height.  This actually creates a concern for us right now because he's so young.  Little puppy knees and growth plates are not fully developed until around a year old.  Up until then, he risks injury by jumping so hard (muscles have to work hard to lift up a body!), and from landing from such a height (all while potentially twisting in the air).  Another reason we aren't playing Frisbee as much is also because it's virtually impossible from keeping this little guy from jumping like a kangaroo.  We opt for the ball fetch session more often.

Here are a few more pics from that outing (which was after our hike at a beach at the Golden Gate Recreational Area):

"Here! Take it! HURRY!!!! THROW IT!!!!"

Red girls can't jump.

Boing!  Oops, missed the 'bee, but still got to jump!

"Shh!  I'm focused!  HURRRRRRRY!!!!"

Thanksgiving Update

Thanksgiving was another great holiday here in San Jose. The weather was beautiful, and we were able to get outside. Crystal and I decided to not make the pumpkin tiramisu - did you know the lady fingers have to soak overnight to soften??! We decided that after work on Wednesday we were too tired to cook or prepare anything, so we ordered . Thursday morning we ran to the grocery store to pick up a (delicious) coconut cream pie.

Here's a picture of Crystal's plate right before we said grace and dove in...

You'll see, moving in a clockwise direction, mashed potatoes with gravy, turkey, asparagus with bacon cheese sauce, stuffing (from in the bird and from a casserole dish), and finally garlic broccoli (not pictured are rolls and coconut cream pie). West and Sonoma also enjoyed a feast of raw turkey parts, and some cooked food as well.

On Friday, we went into San Francisco to meet up with our friends Tim and Becca and headed north to Sausalito, CA to go hiking in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The weather was amazing and the temperature was much warmer than we expected. The views in this area of the shoreline are just stunning.

Here are some pics of our hike:

West, our mountain goat...

The family.

Tim and Becca

Sonoma and the Pacific (and a ship).

Mr. West - you can see why we keep them on the harnesses during this walk.

(do the math: Ocean cliffs + 8 month old excited puppy = Potential Hazards)

Another nice picture of us. Thanks, Tim, for your fleeting moment of photography prowess.

The Boys.

We then made a stop at the Golden Gate lookout point getting a picture reminiscent of "Full House".

"Whatever happened to predictability, newsmen, the paperboy, evenin' t.v.?"

Risk, bacteria, and the tragedy of food-safety reform | Grist

Here's a good read about the governments knee jerk reactions to our food industry.

"Oh, bacterial contamination? Lace the ingredients with antimicrobial washes and inject the animals with medications". Yuck.

Risk, bacteria, and the tragedy of food-safety reform | Grist

Thanksgiving Menu

Dinner
Roasted Turkey
Sausage Stuffing (if we can find sausage without mechanically separated meat)
Broccoli and Garlic
Mashed Potatoes
Asparagus with Bacon Cheese Sauce
Gravy
Rolls

Dessert
Pumpkin Tiramisu

Drinks
Beer
Wine
(what else??!)

I'll report back with some photos and a "Diner's Review"....

Happy Thanksgiving!!  We love and miss everyone extra during the holidays....


(figured I throw in this strangely offensive picture of the first Thanksgiving)

'Wild At Heart' Giraffe Dies From Lightning Strike - Paw Nation

Can you say lightening rod!? This is funny to think about, sad that it happened. But I bet the following BBQ feast was delicious!

'Wild At Heart' Giraffe Dies From Lightning Strike - Paw Nation

October in San Jose

Here are some photos from our recent "going-ons"...

A nice sunset on a nice evening. Our big kitchen window on the backside of our house faces west, so we often get a great view of the setting sun.



Pandi jumps in and out of the yard when we play outside. Sometimes she rides the fence, too.



Nothing like carving pumpkins and drinking merlot outside in October.

We carved pumpkins around October 8th - they were rotten by the 12th. My pumpkin is the one on the left and Crystal's is on the right... and needs dental work.

We dressed up as Fred and Wilma Flintstone for Haloween and went out with our friends Tim and Becca up in San Francisco.

Tim and Becca were Barney and Betty Rubble.

West and Sonoma got to dress up too!



West was a handsome caterpillar.

Sonoma was a bumble bee! West loved the antennae/chew toy on her head.

Next up is Thanksgiving, then a short time until Christmas. We're really looking forward to seeing our families during that time. Now, hopefully we can find flights that don't bankrupt us....

Just so you know...

I was recently listening to Fresh Air on NPR with two guys who wrote/directed Toy Story 3.  The interview was interesting, but something they said was difficult to swallow.  They were on about about how the premise of the movie is Andy going off to college and making a decision about the fate of his toys.  The creators aimed this dilemma at two audiences; children who face similar tough decisions in life, but also for the fear parents can feel about becoming obsolete in their children's life.  Not unlike the toys, parents give everything they have to their children - it becomes their purpose in life.  When the child grows up and becomes independent, the parents can fear the loss.  I never had the perspective to see life this way...

My parents gave 18 years of dedicated service to me, and come college, I vanished - poof - leaving behind only old clothes, dusty trophies, and an empty bed.  I was too caught up in the excitement of change and the thrill of living an "independent" lifestyle to see it through someone else's eyes.  My best comparison is trying to imagine Sonoma leave our house for a long period, never mind move across the country, regardless of what awaits her on the other side - for better or worse.  I get myself worked up even thinking about such a  scenario.  And she's only three.  And a dog.

Mom and Dad, sorry that was so hard, but thank you for letting me go, risking the fact that I may never return.  You had the ability to look beyond your own fears to ensure that I could accomplish my own path in life, because you love me that much.  It's a form of the old adage "If you love someone let them go...".

Just so you know, you'll never be obsolete.  In fact, you are more alive in my behaviors, mannerisms, ideals, morals, decisions, humor, political views, parenting skills - you name it - then ever before.  I have embodied your love and hold it close in my daily life.  I am more like my parents than I'd ever like to admit!

Just so you know, not a day passes where our family, and specifically you Mom and Dad, don't come into my thoughts and considerations.  Accepting me as the person I am is a gift from you in every sense of the word.  So thank you.  Thank you for the support, strength, and guidance.  You are not obsolete.  You will always help define my life.

Just so you know, you are forever an integral part of me and I love you.

How fast do animals shake to dry off?

This is a great story about animals shaking water off their fur. The video (no audio) gets technical in parts with Free Body Diagrams and equal force equations, but as an engineer, it was fascinating. Essentially the force needed to shake a drop of water out away from the body, has to be equal to the force of the shaking at the place where the drop is (obviously). What may not be so obvious is that bigger animals can shake slower compared to smaller animals, and the equations in the video explain why.... Check it out!

Scientists Reveal How Fast Dogs Must Shake To Dry Their Fur : The Two-Way : NPR

Artist Builds Edible World With 'Foodscapes'

Artist Builds Edible World With 'Foodscapes'

This is a man with an amazing talent. I don't quite get the "photograph" part of this though. It looks like he's using computer graphics to create the photos. The depth and flow of the photos is just too perfect to be photographs alone. But regardless, cool art form.

And in another note, while Josh is working towards his goal this week (freefoodhrim.blogspot.com), at least he can read this post and think about food.

Heather and Andrew's Wedding

Over the weekend of October 2, Crystal and I traveled to Boston to attend her cousin Heather's wedding.  She got married to Andrew, who we've been very close with for a few years now.  We're so happy for the two of them, and know they have years of happiness ahead of them.  Crystal and I had a wonderful time celebrating with each of their families, and it was over before we knew it.  Flying in on the red eye Friday morning, and leaving Sunday afternoon makes for a rushed weekend.  But again, the wedding was beautiful and it's always great seeing family.  Here are some pictures from the rehearsal dinner (Crystal was a bride's maid) and the wedding and reception.

 Me, Crystal, and Kenzie (Crystal's cousin) at the rehearsal dinner

 Crystal and me at the wedding

Crystal, Heather (bride, obviously), Tiffany (bride's sister, front left) and Kenzie 

Kenzie and Crystal at the wedding reception

The wedding cake was made by the bride's (and Crystal's) grandma.

Heather cutting the wedding cake 

Heather and Andrew... not quite sure why this ever became a thing a weddings!! 

Steven, Mom, Crystal, and me at the reception

Christmas Day Bomber Sentence

I just read this awesome court transcript of Judge William Young's scathing remarks to the Christmas Day Bomber (Richard Reid) at his sentencing after being found guilty of the crimes he was accused of. Read the whole thing, it's worthy.

"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive one with the other. That's 80 years. On Count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you on each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need not go any further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and a just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here. And I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court where we deal with individuals as individuals, and care for individuals as individuals, as human beings we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists.

We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You're a big fellow. But you're not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense Trooper Santiago had it right when first you were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were and you said you're no big deal.

You're no big deal.

What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing.

And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire record it comes as close to understanding as I know. It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely.

It is for freedom's seek that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their, their representation of you before other judges. We care about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties.

Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be forgotten. But this, however, will long endure. Here, in this courtroom, and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged, and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag still stands for freedom. You know it always will. Custody, Mr. Officer. Stand him down."

More Meat

Carnival Cruise Lines is experimenting with a "Steak Fee".  This means a guest ordering a steak dish will pay $18 and get a slice of hormone injected, antibiotic ridden beef.  Great deal!  Bon appetit!  Story here.

Also, here's a little more information regarding "mechanically separated poultry" (a.k.a pink slime).  Pink Slime Videos!  I knew ground beef, hot dogs, pepperoni, and sausages use this filler, but I didn't think of the chicken patty type foods.  Now I have.  Gross.

Sonoma's Weekend Agility

Over the weekend Sonoma competed in her first AKC agility trial in the Excellent division.

Animal Derived Food in the US is Gross

This article touches on one of the reasons Crystal and I have started to really watch what we eat. I love beef, chicken, pork, basically all proteins, but the industry is letting the consumers down. I am beginning to realize how the industry is full of sleazy businessmen, posing as farmers, with no regard to the health of the general public or the animals. The government is also afraid to step in and demand change, because it will kill the industry! Every member of congress knows they won't get reelected on those terms...

Take some time to read this story, here's a little segment where they are referring to the MRSA virus:

"A number of clinical and academic studies bear this out: a recentCanadian studyshowed nearly 14% of pork chops (about one in seven) and 6.3% of ground pork sold in supermarkets carried the contamination -- taken together, 9.6% of all pork samples. Additionally, 5.6% of the beef and 1.2% of the poultry carried the bug. The bacterium was also found in veal, lamb and other meats.

Another report, by Louisiana StateUniversity, found 5.5% of pork samples and 3.3% of beef samples taken from local supermarkets were contaminated. Yet another - this one out of the pork industry's lobby arm, the National Pork Board -- found MRSA in 3% of pork samples. That means a family buying raw pork twice a week brings MRSAhomean average of three times a year."

Meat Tainted with Deadly Virus is Being Sold to Consumers; Government Forms 'Work Group'

What a baby - and terrible goalie!

This story is out of a Moroccan soccer league. This goalie is having a rough run of it the past few games..... Video: Second Gaffe Sends Moroccan Goalkeeper Running From Field -- Soccer FanHouse

T&J Winery

Since I mentioned "T&J Winery" in a previous post ("Iron Chef - San Jose"), here are some photos from our fun "winery tour" over Christmas holiday last year.

Ta-Da!

An oldie but goodie photo from 2006 at San Marco Square.

Iron Chef - San Jose

Crystal and I hosted our first Iron Chef dinner party over the weekend. We had 5 friends come over and we all cooked a dish using one (or both) of our "secret" ingredients. First, everyone submitted a single ingredient as a potential "secret" ingredient, which would ultimately be chosen at random from each of the submissions. We ended up with pineapple and lemon. The other submissions were eggplant, wasabi, nutmeg, and pineapple. Strangely, two people actually submitted pineapple as their idea for the "secret" ingredient. Then we randomly chose 5 savory and 2 sweet dishes (pretty much 5 sides/main courses and 2 desserts). We had a few weeks to come up with a recipe to cook, and Saturday we ate and judged. Scoring was based on four categories: presentation, taste, incorporation of secret ingredients, and creativity. Our friend Tim won overall for his pineapple couscous dish, pictured below. He walked away with a certificate of achievement and a bottle of wine (both of which he left at our house....).

The other "savory" dishes were Crystal's pineapple chicken curry, a beautiful presentation and AMAZING flavor. I think this dish should have won, and that's not playing favorites! She even bought special plates for presentation points!

Tim's girlfriend Becca (both were pictured in my previous post "Wine Tasting") prepared a lemon pasta dish, where the lemon flavor was actually an ingredient into the actual pasta.

Our friend Denver (Tim and Brandon's "roommate") grilled lemon marinade chicken and served it with grilled peppers and chopped onions. I must be honest, I still aim to improve my grilling skills, but Denver mastered it in one shot. I need him to show me how to use my grill...

Alexis, who is Denver's girlfriend, prepared a lemon risotto dish which really was fabulous. I was so impressed by the care and pride each person showed in their dishes and preparations.

With dinner, we also enjoyed some T&J Pineapple wine, brought directly from the manufacturer in Ware, MA. Crystal's dad brought out a bunch of wines that he's been making during a recent visit, and one happened to be pineapple wine. It fit perfectly into our delicious meal of pineapple and lemon dishes.

For dessert, Brandon and I made separate items that worked amazingly well together. Brandon actually purchased an ice cream maker for the event and prepared pineapple ice cream. It was so refreshing during our afternoon outside. I baked a play on apple crisp using pineapples and coconut and called it "Pina Colada Crisp" and added a dark rum glaze on top. It was delicious and worked so well with Brandon's ice cream. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to take pictures of the desserts, but trust me, you'd get too hungry looking at it anyway.

All in all, it was a really fun time had by all. I'd certainly suggest a similar dinner party if you're looking for ideas. It takes some up front planning, but it sure was worth it. Here is a picture of us sitting down for dinner.

And a random, funny one of Denver hurdling donkey balls in the backyard (somewhere after the first round of drinks).