Vacation TIme

Yep, I am off until the 19th of August. I left a note on the Concierge desk for my co-worker who comes in on my days off, so she doesn't get the idea that I got the axe. On this note I wished her well and made menton that I would be off until August 12th. ( WRONG ! What was I thinking? ) After five years of employment at the CIA, you get three weeks of paid vacation ... not two !! and I am going on SEVEN Years ( I can hardly believe it myself, considering I usually start looking out the back door around four years ). The truth is, I love my job and I am learning to respect those people I have held grudges against. Admittedly, I do get upset from time to time, but other staff knows that it is only because I don't want to disappoint anyone. In the business of Hospitality , It is all about having a "Sense of Urgency" that Thomas Keller refers to at his establishment, The French Laundry ( The sign is posted above the kitchen door ). It strikes me that without this presence of mind, the ball gets dropped and things don't get done in an efficient and timely manner. It has also been said that the "Devil is in the details" . Don't I know this... when a guest needs a recipe at the cooking demo and I am short a few, I have to get a fresh batch printed out and brought to the Theater before the demo progresses too far. This happened on Saturday and I freaked out because my co-worker wasn't getting these copies to me fast enough. I stopped what I was doing,and ran out of the theater, 50 yards toward the place in the building where the copier is located. I met her half way as she was coming towards me explaining how slammed she was at the Concierge desk. I just wanted the recipes without any time to spare. I was completely out of breath when I got back to the theater and in the heat of a tense moment, I broke down. Luckily, is was not in front of guests... but my team... Patricia and Andy. They were both very supportive until I could bring myself into some semblance of composure. It was clear to me, then and there, that a vacation was eminent.

A Blogs (Bugs?) Life

If you are going to keep a blog, It is important to have a life. Today I went and cleaned out my closet of a bunch of old clothes and donated them to the Salvation Army over in Santa Rosa, CA. ( okay, so I missed Spring cleaning, so this is Summer cleaning ).Then I went shopping for groceries at the Grocery Outlet. Later this morning, I went over to my friend Reid's house and saw the swing set he put up for his kids.( Good Job I might add, but initially the plan was that we were going to hike up Channel Drive but canned that idea because he had to go pick up his son, William ) After that, I left Reid's place and went to meet my friend Dieter for coffee at Pete's in downtown Santa Rosa. I paid for my parking using my debit card in this new system that has replaced the meters on Fourth Street for the first time. I took the ticket that was issued with me and was reminded while meeting with Dieter to return it to my car and place is above the dashboard near the steering wheel otherwise, how would the meter person know that I wasn't parking there illegally...duh ! Then he and I went to Best Buy to see about a new battery for his mobile phone. It turned out that he did not need a new one because he had inserted the old one the WRONG way and it caused the phone to lose power ( back atcha Dieter ! )Then we went to Trader Joes for some items that I couldn't find at the Grocery Outlet... things like Irish Cheddar Cheese, Golden Flax Seed Cereal and dehydrated blueberries. Then it was time for a late lunch, so we went to have some Sushi at Yao Kiku on Yalupa street only to discover that they were not open until 5pm. which sucked because I was hankering for some Yellow Tail Himachi. Our Plan B for lunch turned out to be a Mexican Restaurant where Dieter ordered three carnita tacos with salsa and a horchata drink. I ordered a combination platter of a Chile Rellano and a Chicken Enchilada with Lemonade to wash it all down. I made a pig of myself. Then I drove back to Calistoga and Dieter drove back to St. Helena where he lives. Like I said in the beginning of this submission journal submission, you have to have a life to blog.

Fishing for a faster connection

I am being placed on hold as the Comcast agent Alea restarts her computer which apparently is giving her some trouble. I want to get cable so that my internet connection will be a little faster than it is now. DSL has been rather underwhelming and expensive. I really feel that I have ridden the crest of a wave as the internet has grown over the years. Starting out with a 14.4 modem for dialup back in 1996 and eventually upgrading to a 56K modem in 2000, made me feel like I was in hog heaven... for about 3 weeks. Then DSL became all the rage because of the download times. Initially I signed up with COVAD because they were the only carriers available in my area. I have been with Earthlink now since 2001; and although Earthlink has been very helpful when I have called, their tech support calls are farmed out to India and a few months back my cell phone bill was outrageous! The problem involving my airport wireless connection was more an Apple issue than an Earthlink one, but the Earthlink server still drops out over my DSL connection even though I am able to retrieve it when needed. Hopefully cable will be simple, fast and trouble free when I get it installed. One can only hope. The image above was done with household bleach on black construction paper and highlighted with color pencils. Then I scanned the work and brought it into Photoshop for some tweaking. Pretty cool, huh? It sort of looks like a dangerous fish that would sit at the bottom of the river ,waiting to gobble up some unsuspecting creature that saunters along.

Fireworks Finale

Watch this video until the end. It will only take a minute. The kids next door let out a big Scream at the very end. Well, today is Tuesday, July 7th. I've ordered a Cable Internet connection because my DSL connection kinda sucks. Hey, If I am gonna blog and upload videos like this one, I'd better have a high speed, high bandwidth connection. Lately I've been enjoying my summer even though I haven't taken a vacation. I am not even sure that I will get one this year because of my suspension from work back in February. We shall see. I was called for Jury duty on the 20th and won't know how long that will take until I call on Sunday the 19th. Yesterday, I went for a swim and movie. I saw the movie "Heist" with Gene Hackman and Danny De Vito. It was okay. I fell asleep so It couldn't have been that riveting. My Great Nephew Mika, was baptized on Sunday. I worked that day,so I missed it (damn). It seems like the only social events I get invited to these days are either class reunions, baptisms or birthdays. Admittedly, I haven't felt very socialable lately. It's weird, I work all week for a couple days off and all I want to do is sit around and draw or post stuff on the puter. Exercise has NOT been on the agenda lately, either. The fireworks were fun to watch. The kids next door sat on thier dad's pickup truck as they OOOoooooOOOo'd and AhhhhhHHHhhhh away the evening

That takes the cake!

Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett and Ed McMahon all passed on this week. It was difficult to imagine the first two people ever getting old, but Ed McMahon seemed almost as if he was born into the persona of the eternal uncle or something. It's all pretty sad nonetheless, to have these icons of our era pass on in so quickly. It has been said by many people I have talked with; That celebrities leave the planet in three's. Well there may be something to that... I wonder if a serious study has been done about that Last night I sat up drawing the cake shown above using colored pencils. The whole time I was drawing I was watching videonews podcasts about Michael Jackson. All in all, I think I saw the video, "Thriller" and "Beat it" about two dozen times !

Summer 09' Commences

It is early morning and I just went out on my deck to look at my tomato plants. I have two of them. They both are doing well.What is it about tomato plants that make you feel like you are getting something accomplished in life? Whatever it is, I like it. The sun is just coming up and a new day is dawning. My breakfast this morning is a bowl of Special K with strawberries. One could survive for years just eating cereal .Maybe that and a Heckle and Jeckle cartoon.I have cut back on dairy using this Silk stuff instead. It's not bad and seems to go well with the cereal. At least it hydrates the dehydrated strawberries enough to make them edible. Otherwise, these things taste like those red strips that they used to put inside of flavor straws that turned your milk pink. Remember those? If you do, than you are surely dating yourself. But hey, at least you are dating someone !

Trade offs

Me and my big mouth. Here I go telling everyone about my quest to loose thirty pounds by exercising every day. Well, one little distraction and my inner slob takes over. The good news is that when I get a little depressed I do my best art work. The drawing i did above is from a picture I found in an old lettering book by Speedball. I just loved the color, and the idea of taking color pencils to Canson™ paper was more than I could resist. Lately, landscapes have a lot of appeal. Anyway, the tradeoff to not exercising and indulging my artistic ability is that I can feel good about both or either. One will actually compliment the other. When I am running or swimming, I think about creative stuff. When I am drawing or painting I think about getting out and going running ! So go figure...

A Short Trip

Monday I went to S.F. to participate in a focus group. I got paid $75.00 for determining if "Skype" was a viable alternative provider for making wireless calls internationally and/or domestically.Not bad, huh? Well I arrived early in the day and went by Cliff's Variety Store to visit my sisters and my niece. Martha was about to take her lunch break so we went next door to fetch a few Turkey Sliders and some drinks. All in all in was a great visiting family. My sister Rita said that she was getting off at three and if I thought about it, I would have invited her to go see the movie "UP" at the Castro Theater at 2 PM. I am sure Martha would have let her cut out early. I went off to see it myself from 2- to 4 PM .The movie was a family film and a bit of a tear jerker.The movie was and animation story, that required 3-D glasses to get the full effect of the graphics. After the movie, I had time to visit the Apple Store on Stockton street to pick up an adapter device for my Apple TV.The focus group lasted about an hour and a half. Afterwards, I visited the Hyatt Hotel where I used to work when I first got involved in the Hospitality field. The place has a new look at the top in the restaurant but the view is still one of the best in the city. All in all, it was a great getaway for the day.

Opening Day!

This is a picture of Dianne Martinez who is the Vice-President of the Calistoga Community Pool Project. She is also the landscaper/gardener at the Culinary Institute of America where I work. Today I took the day off to attend the ribbon cutting of the new pool(s) that were constructed for the families and Community of Calistoga. Being that I was the first place winner in the logo design contest, I received special recognition and several pool passes along with some swimming lessons thrown in! I was introduced by the mayor of Calistoga, Mr. Jack Gingles and received applause, as I went up to stand next to the committee that was responsible for bringing the project to fruition. Everyone there was thrilled to see this long time dream of local visionary Sylvia Scott come to life. The pools are absolutely gorgeous and I plan to take movies/pictures throughout the summer when I visit this place with my family and friends. This is going to be a great summer!

Lake Hennessy

Tonight was the second time in a week that Dieter and I went for a hike up at Lake Hennessy. The evenings could not have been more peaceful and beautiful. The first night ( Wednesday ) we gave ourselves about a half-hour out and a half- hour back, which amounted to around 3.5 miles total. We did not make it as far as the dam the first night, but about ten minutes shy before we headed back. We saw a few ducks and geese and blackbirds who made a host of natural sounds that made the whole gestalt quite lovely. Thursday evening we went all the way to the dam which took us about twenty minutes to a half-hour longer to complete.We talked about work, food and our travels. He is quite the world traveller. The only person I know who has probably travelled more than he has was my dad. My dad visited every country on the planet and brought back many items from many exotic places just to prove it. I forgot just how much my dad flew throughout his life, but boy did he log those miles. After tonight's hike, Dieter invited me to have an incredible abalone dinner at his house. Man, who could refuse that ! What a great way to end the day.

Baaaaaah !

This past week has been challenging. I have worked out every day in some form or another. One day I will ride my bike, the next day I will run a couple of miles with three pound weights in each hand, then the next day I will go for a swim. The Calistoga Community Pool has not opened yet, and won't until the 16th of June so swimming won't be something I will be doing on a daily basis for a little while longer. My muscles are sore an tired, but some have mentioned that I am slimming down a little bit. I think that is most noticeable in my face rather than my gut ( which is the last to go and the first to show back up again ). Last post I talked about my before picture which is on my home computer and you won't be able to see until I get a suitable "after" picture. I may go for a long walk when I get home tonight, but have not decided as of yet. I still feel spent from the extensive exercise I have been doing most every day this past week. I did not even get up in time to go to mass this morning. The rest I get will be on my days off.

Before and After

Okay, so I am not the Mona Lisa but I am going to be a work of art I tell you.Yesterday, I went to the St. Helena high school track to run laps. This morning I rode my bike about four miles. I have been eating right and getting enough sleep. It is day four of my summer routine. My friend Joe wants to sell me some nutritional products to help me along the way and I just may go for it. So far I am a stout 183lbs. at 5'8" and to my way of thinking that is around 30 lbs. overweight. So my goal is to get down to 150lbs. by my birthday in December.I am NOT going to TRY... I am going to DO IT. I put a before picture of me that I am afraid to look at... just because it disgusts me. Enough about that. You will see me looking lean and mean come this Fall I am sure. Any of you reading this are welcome and encouraged to ask me about my progress. If I start to slack off, you have my permission to give me a swift kick in the Keester. But beware, I will be a force to be reckoned with because I don't intend to be a slacker.

Marisella

 
Marisella is out in the garden picking flowers for the campus store. It pleased me to see her smiling face in this natural setting. She is so friendly and personable when you go by the campus store to pay a visit.This has been a rather slow week here. No weddings are planned for this weekend. The weather has been spectacular and yet people haven't yet shown up here as a part of thier vacation.

Amuse Bouche

This term represents and item that a chef will present to a guest to tantalize thier taste buds. It is usually a one-bite hors d'ourve that will keep one intriqued enough to ask for more. I have been picking up a few French culinary terms this week just for giggles. Today is the third day I have gone out and run a mile after returning home from work. I intend to loose a lot of belly fat this summer if I can just get back into a steady routine of exercise and diet restriction. I guess I will be limiting myself to quite a few "Amuse Bouche's" as opposed to having full-on meals this summer. The latest about the chefs hats are that I have submitted a bid to Bob Coyle from the Peanut Board. I hope he can accept it, because it would help me establish an account with the company that makes the chefs hats. I can then further my creative pursuit by making a whole assortment of graphic images to be displayed inside the toques. Tonight I was watching a video podcast about a festival down in Santa Monica that has theme called "Glow". I think these lighted toques will be a good fit for this event. Hmmm... I 've got my work cut out for me.

Fingers crossed, Hopes high

Okay, so now I know a couple of things about disposable chef's hats. They CAN be printed on, but not on a laser, offset, or other traditional type of printer. They can be silkscreened. The material is almost like a coffee filter type of substrate. It absorbs the sweat from the brow of a chef toiling away over a hot stove. I still don't know if the manufacturer ALSO prints anything on them, or if I will have to purchase the hats outright and have them sent to the Printers who say that they can apply the logo right on them. ( Worse case scenario is that I would run these through Epson Inkjets, but that would be impractical at this point.) The hat vendor may be a one-stop shop. I am still waiting on the artwork from the buyer, and the people that actually manufacture the hats. Once I can get a price breakdown, I can figure out how much I will charge for each. Phew ! So much is contingent upon each entity, each step of the way. I hope and pray that this deal doesn't fall through the cracks. Besides, I have a lot of cool ideas for chefs' hats that I may be able to market once I have a little capital to build on... We shall see.

May Day, May day !

The rain has been pleasant and a nice surprise to have around here this first weekend in May. Lately, I've been going through an attitude adjustment around my work and social life. Most of the time I come home, have something to eat, play on my computer awhile and then into the sack ( this is usually around midnight ) Then I wake up around 3 am with this restless feeling (probably because I've gobbled up a snack before I went bed in the first place ). Well I get up, go to the bathroom, get a drink of something sweet from the fridge and then back into bed. fortunately, I will usually be back to sleep in ten or fifteen minutes then right on through to 7:30 am when I get up to shower and prepare myself for work. Do you have this pattern going on? Lack of exercise, motivation and general laziness are the culprits. I'm looking for positive change in my life but haven't yet taken the initiative to get something going. Some good news however, I am working on a contract gig where I hope to make some extra $$$ jing to put a little spring in my Spring. I will keep you posted.

Getting Grateful

Sundays are my Fridays and the next couple of days are usually spent doing things I like to do... even if it's going grocery shopping or hiking with my friend, Don. I like that I get to sleep in on Monday mornings when the neighbors are all starting their cars at 7:30 am and getting their little jitterbugs off to school. Of course this week I have swapped days with my coworker, Marty so she can attend a family function. Tuesday, I will be doing a tour for Houlihan's restaurant execs after my regular business hours. Any opportunity for a few more shekels is much appreciated in today's economy. Last night I attended the "Quencinera" my neighbor Anotonia had for her daughter, Jessenia. It was held at the fairgrounds and I saw a lot of people from the Hispanic community, and a few people from work. I enjoyed cake and got to dance a Latin celebration number with Antonia. All in all it was a nice time. Jessenia is a sweet teenager who takes care of her little brother and works out dance routines in her spare time. Many times I will come home and both she and he boyfriend will be making out on the stairway up to my apartment. I always greet them by saying, "Good evening, young lovers!" They always smile coyly and wait until I pass to go back to their business. This is just another aspect of life in the hood.Below is one of the dance routines that Jessenia performed with her crew.

Another day, another 5 cents

Today was payday and it is also the same day my direct deposit turns around and automatically pays my rent. Let me just tell you that it takes two paychecks to pay a month's rent.This is insane. I am not getting ahead, and yet I still live here in the lap of luxury. This past weekend I created the logo above for the new pool that is opening this summer. I have entered in a contest that may fetch me some passes when the place opens up. It also may give me some publicity if anyone wants to enroll my services as a logo designer. This week I took a health screening and found out that my cholesterol count is back to normal but my blood pressure is still high. I am also about twenty pounds overweight. Maybe if I win these pool passes I can start getting more exercise. That would be nice.

A Sad Day

We leaned today that two of our Students were killed in an accident that happened over on Pratt Avenue, not far from our off-site housing complex.It is suspected that alcohol may have been involved but the toxicology reports have not come back from the autopsy yet. The driver who was not a student, was driving a white BMW too fast down the straightaway on Pratt Avenue around 1am on Friday morning. It is alleged that the students were participating in Karioki night at Ana's Cantina, a local watering hole where a lot of the students go for a beer. Apparently, they came up on a turn and lost control of the vehicle and plowed into a tree. A security guard from the CIA happened to be driving down Pratt Avenue when he discovered the tail lights. He called 911 and the Local Police along with an ambulance were summoned. Their were three deaths total, including the driver who was a 45 year old man from Petaluma. The entire campus took on a stunned silence as classes took place during their regular times on Friday.Many students were seen sobbing as they learned the news of their classmates.Our managing director, Charles Henning called a meeting in the Teaching Kitchen to announce this unfortunate incident to the entire student body. Funeral Services are still pending.

Holy Week

I drew this picture after having an idea of making this into a T-shirt and selling it to a tourist shop down the coast at "Half-Moon Bay." Obviously, this visual pun may appeal to the people there... then again, it may only appeal to the tourists. This week really marks new beginnings for me. Easter Sunday has always represented rebirth and redemption in the Catholic tradition. Starting thursday, I plan to fast for four days. This will both be a cleansing and an attempt at making a spiritual connection. If this sounds a bit sanctimonious, I don't mean it to be. The past winter was probably the roughest one I have had in many years so I am getting with my program to the best of my ability. Also, I am still trying to recoup my losses, not only after the motor scooter accident, but also after being suspended from work for three weeks ( some defects of character I've held on to tenaciously and the price is getting to high to pay to keep them ). Material growth only comes after spiritual growth I've learned . So I cannot rest on my laurels in sobriety, it's grow or go! The fast will be about conditioning as well. Working at the Culinary Institute has made it all to easy to overindulge in fabulous food, and now I am at least 20 pounds overweight. On another note, I was planning on moving into a new apartment here in Calistoga, but the place is too small, does not have storage or a deck, and I would have to take a downstairs apartment. Staying where I am is about the best I can do for now. Not long ago, I was interviewed in Napa Valley Magazine for an article about Affordable Housing ( where I live is managed by the affordable housing group ). I have been living here for over 13 years and it used to be affordable... now it "barely affordable". I have to earn two paychecks before i can "afford" to pay my rent each month. That does not leave a whole lot of money to pay bills and buy groceries with; But I have learned how to budget and buy only that which I can really afford. Needless to say, I purchase most of my clothing from second hand shops and buy my groceries at the Grocery Outlet ( formerly the Dented Can Market ). The article featured a picture of me and some glowing remarks about the affordable housing market in Calistoga. Nowadays,My luxuries are hiking, swimming, artwork,digital photography and doing other stuff on my computer like blogging and maintaining a portfolio site. So, I pay my bills and look for some extra money doing art/graphic commissions and hope for a brighter future.I live a very modest life if you must know. If you are reading this, you might consider having me do a design for you. Check out my portfolio at: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~banteron/index.html Thanks !

Healthy Kitchens

The Harvard Medical School along with the Culinary Institute of America has this conference twice a year now.First one in early October, this one in April. The Conference goes over four days and features the best recipes using sustainable ingredients and organic produce along with locally grown ingredients and foods. Being that the Napa Valley is an agricultural preserve, we have numerous vendors and cottage industries in this area who come here to showcase wares and upcoming trends in the industry. Doctors are very interested in these trends, because it dictates what can be considered a varied recipe structure for an optimum diet which they recommend to their patients. Some attendees will suit up in their running clothes to go for a jog during the lunch breaks which gives you an idea as to what particular clientele are drawn to these events.The conference ends tomorrow afternoon.

Saturdays at the CIA

Today went a lot smoother than last time we featured Saturdays at the CIA. Today I know what is expected of me, and at what time I am supposed to do whatever it is that I am supposed to do. On the main level of the budilding,The cooking demo featured Corn beef and Potato gratin. Chef Steve does a great demo, he is quite entertaining and good about answering questions from the audience (quite the showman).Sometimes we bat it back and forth during the demo just to keep each other on our game. I run the cameras and help him with the plating of the dishes. I am grateful for the fact that I still have a job and am a valued employee where I work. I still yearn for those long hikes in Bothe State Park however, in spite of the poison oak that I have acquired. My bank account these days is slowly getting whittled down to nothing, and I was not paid for the time I took off. Unfortunately, suspensions don't count as vacations.Bah !

The forecast looks sunny for the next week. We have been having very nice weather here in Calistoga. This morning I put my house plant "Warren" to sleep. His instructions recommend that I cut back his stalk and leaves at the base of the roots. I think that he will be ready to bloom again next fall. Spring here is allergy season and yesterday I mentioned that my eyes will start itching. Well today I have discovered that I have itching on my legs and ankles. Oh no ! It's Poison Oak ! All that hiking I was doing during my time off makes me think that I must have brushed up against some small crop of poison oak. I will go by Smith's Pharmacy to pick up a bottle of Aveeno cream to keep the itching and scratching down to a bare minimun so that it can heal.The picture in this post is Warren after he bloomed. I feel sorta bad that I had to cut him down to the quick. Yah ! Well, that's about it for now folks.

Beginner's Mind

Today is sunny and bright. Spring is in the air and it is also the beginning of Allergy season. Little hints like scratchy red eyes and a little post nasal drip , along with ringing in my ears are tip offs. I take a prescription of Allegra when it really gets out of hand. I am returning to work today with what the Zen masters call "Beginner's Mind". I have an attitude of quiet anticipation of what the day will bring and I withhold judgement whenever I encounter something difficult. I ask my higher Power for guidance and direction, as I am sure it will come. Wish me luck !

Liz to the rescue l

It's only the second day of Spring, so started out fiddling on my computer restructuring my web pages and updating the colors, text, pictures and links. By 10 am I knew I had to make a call to Bob Graham to let him know that I intended to return to work on Wednesday at 9:30am ( too long a story to go into here ).By 2:30pm, I had a light lunch of Mackerel and Broccoli and head out the door to go for a hike up to Coyote Peak. I called Don, but I think he was in jewelry class at the JC today. I just wanted to get out into nature for a little P and M ( Prayer and Meditation ). When I got there, I took my jacket off and then my fleece shell I have for extra warmth off and left it on the front seat of the car. I put my jacket back on and made sure that my IPhone was in my pocket. I closed and locked the door. Two and a half hours later, after a very serene hike, I return to my car and noticed that the engine is running ! OMG!!! I left the keys in the ignition with the car running ( don't laugh this isn't the first time I have done this.) Now Luckily, it was past 5pm and I knew that my neighbor would be home, so I called Andres. He was just about to take a shower but understood my predicament and agreed to come by and pick me up. Just at that moment , my co-worker Liz comes driving up offering to take me home to get my extra set of keys. I call Andres back and thank him, but inform him that it won't be necessary for him to come and rescue me. I had a good talk with Liz and gave her one of my drawings that I thought she would like. Thankfully she did, so it made my day when she let me off to I get back into my car and drive home. Liz is a very spiritual person, and I love her way. I got home and Andres invited me over for some Barilla(?) , a Mexican chicken dish that was fabulous. For dessert we had some fresh Mango with cucumber, broccoli (second time today) drenched in lemon juice and salt. I have not tasted something this fresh and delicious in what seems like a very long time. Today, I feel very hopeful about the future, and the kindness of friends like Andres and Liz. The picture posted here is called "Skybird," and it is the one I gave to Liz.

St. Patty's Day Hike

My friend Don Freeland and I went for our usual jaunt up to Coyote Peak today. It has been quite awhile since we have done this hike at Bothe Park. Don's wife Pat used to hike the Ritchie Creek Trail and be able to identify a great number of the plants there. Today, Don proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he received a vast botanical education from his deceased wife. It certainly opened my eyes to a host of plants I had previously overlooked. I learned about the Trifoil plant, the Stream Orchid and the California Lilac (cera something ). The Stream Orchid was very rare according to Don. He mentioned that Bothe Park was one of the few places,that it may be found. We counted about 20 of them along the trail.It really feels good to make the time to go for these brief hikes ( all in all about 2hours total ).March is a beautiful month, with winter almost over and everything looking so green. The Vernal Equinox is in four days. Today I have a lot of hope for the future in spite of the economic downturn.

Now in honor of St.Patrick's Day, my brother posted this humorous list via email...

What it means to be Irish ( I have edited a few to my liking ).


1) You will never play professional basketball.

2) You can screen strangers better than a Nazi check point.

3) At least one of your cousins is a
fireman, cop, bar owner, funeral home owner
or holds political office. And you have at least one aunt who is a nun, or uncle
who's a priest.

4) You think you sing very well, and will sing louder to prove it.

5) You have no idea how to make a long story short!

6) There isn't a big difference between you losing your temper or killing
someone...

7) Much of your childhood meals were boiled. Instant potatoes were a mortal sin.

8) You have never hit your head on a ceiling, but you are not beyond wearing lifts in your shoes to make you look taller.

9) You spent a good portion of your childhood kneeling in prayer (Catholic guilt
forever!).

10)"Irish Spring" serves as soap, deodorant and mouthwash after being caught swearing.

11) Raisins were added to a Irish soda bread recipe when they couldn't figure out what else to do with them.

12) You will be punched for no good reason...but all in good fun mind you.

13) Some punches directed at you are from legacies of past generations.

14) Many of your sisters and/or cousins are named Mary, Catherine or Eileen..

15) Someone in your family is very generous. It is more than likely you.

16) You may not know the words, but that doesn't stop you from singing.

17) You can't wait for the other guy to stop talking before you start talking.

18) You're not nearly as funny as you think you are ... but what you lack in
talent, you make up for in frequency.

19) You are, or know someone, named Murph.

20) If you don't know Murph then you know Mac. If you don't know Murph or Mac
then you know Sully.

21) You are genetically incapable of keeping a secret.

22) You have Irish Alzheimer's... you forget everything but the grudges!

23) 'Irish Stew' is a euphemism for 'boiled leftovers.'

24) Your skin's ability to tan.... not so much.

25) At this very moment, you have at least two relatives who are not speaking to
each other (not fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other)...

26) Childhood remedies for the common cold often included whiskey .

27) There's no leaving a family party without saying goodbye for at least 45
minutes.

GOD BLESS THE IRISH ! ! !

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY ! ! !

Keeping my chin up

Last night was cold.I went to bed around 10 PM and turned off the heat before I jumped under the cover of my down comforter. I awoke around 7:30 AM and noticed frost on the roof of the apartment next door. After taking a shower and getting dressed, I began thinking about the people that care about me and love me. It is important that I maintain my relationships with these people. I have been blessed with a host of friends, but only a handful know me as they may know their car or a house pet. I think more people "know of" me rather than know me. I am okay with this, because I too, try to respect people's privacy and personal space. Yesterday, I had put my plant, "Warren" outside for some sunshine and fresh air. I regret to tell you that I left him outside overnight in the cold. I think the frost almost killed him. I forgot to bring him back in after sunset. This situation has caused me much grief and stress. It seemed to be an apt metaphor for how my life has been going lately. I gave Warren a few eyedrops of plant vitamins and propped him up next to the window as the sun shone through.Eventually, his leaves began to straighten out, as did his long stem and bud. However, he is not out of the woods just yet. As you can see by the picture I put a neck splint on him because his head fell over . All of this has made me hopeful that I can still bring him back to life.

The electric plant

Another day spent drawing. Today I drew a picture of a plant that was given to me by a very sweet person I who happens to be one of my co-workers. She was one of only a handful of people who thought enough to send me well wishes with a plant when I was out during the month of December. The plant is really starting to grow big now. It seems to let me know when it wants to be outside and when it needs a little drink of water. I am going to try to take good care of it, because my history demonstrates otherwise. I have had a cactus die on me. This is not going to happen to Warren. There, I have given the plant a name. The drawing shows a lot of red and purple energy around it because those are the colors that seems to be around me these days.

A New Drawing

I've been off the last couple of days and the weather has been mostly cloudy. It's nice to sit at my drawing table, listen to music and create. The image attached to this blog entry is an interpretation of a Alphonse Mucha drawing that was popular during the Art Nouveau Era.It started out looking mostly like a drawing of a young girl, but as the drawing progressed it took on a more Androgynous look.I like using soft leaded color pencils to draw on a dark textured background. The results have a museum quality feel about them.

The Napa Valley Premier 09'

Well last year I got to ride the elevator with Denny Crane, aka Captain Kirk, aka
( William Shatner ), and this year I got to meet another type of celebrity.
This is me with my new friend ( and bodyguard ) from the
Boston Celtics, #66 Center Forward,
Scot Pollard.
This guy is 6' 11" and I am 5' 8" standing on a step. Notice the dude in the background tending to his nose. Sometimes it's my job to keep the paparazzi away from our celebrity guests, even though this guy can certainly fend for himself... ( just kidding ). He came by to visit the CIA and bid on some barrel lots at the Napa Valley Premier ( a Prestigious invitation only wine auction event attended by the NV Vintners, Restauranteurs and other assorted Buyers.) It's here where the insiders get first crack at the best wines in the Napa Valley. This happens well before the actual wine auction which takes place in June. It was also attended by Home run (steroid) slugger, Mark McGwire, but I wasn't able to get a picture taken with him...Oh well, he was probably swarmed by a multitude of wine snobs and autograph hounds.

Playing Through

If I were playing golf, this would be a day where I would request to"Play Through". This phrase usually applies to a group of golfers who are moving at a quicker pace than a group in front of them. Generally,as a courtesy they would request to play through, rather than being held back by the less skilled. No one person or group is really holding me back, but I can see that my ability as a Concierge is to facilitate communication throughout the building and provide current and accurate information in the face of mounting distraction and time urgency. Not everyone where I work recognizes this aspect as my job and my mission.I am just one of many who have adopted the Standards of Excellence, which is the written code to which all employees have agreed to uphold. Playing through sometimes just means staying the course.

Today went surprisingly well in that respect., considering the fact that I started my day with a root canal treatment on an abscessed molar.I prayed about being pleasant towards my co-workers and to do the job that my Higher Power has set out for me. Having a numb face was the least of my concerns.

My actions and intentions seemed to dove-tail today in a rather pleasant way.I could have gotten uptight about all the challenges that my supervisor presented to me, but I am seeing that she is doing her best as well. In response to a tightening budget that is going on everywhere these days... Well,we are all doing the best we can with the marbles we've got.

This downturn in the economy affects everyone differently, yet universally the same. Taking stock of this fact is recognizing the fact that there is no such thing as "business as usual", in maintaining what is perceived to be the status quo. I think we are all looking for a way of validating our worth as a people that cannot be measured in a purely monetary sense. As a nation, we are learning to "play through" the capitalist mentality that assesses it's worth in terms of material abundance,tangible wealth and a credentialed resumé.

A New Video Cam!

Who / What is it? This little owl video was taken on my deck.I went out this morning just to give this new gadget a whirl. Today I went down to Napa to visit the Doctor in the hopes that I could get something that would quell the itch on my arm and left leg. I went in and was prescribed an antibiotic which after a week should eliminate this persistent problem. After the Doctor's visit, I went to have my car tuned and lubed at Quality Auto Tune on Soscol avenue in Napa ( now that I am back driving my car again ). Because it was going to be a major tune-up, I walked to Wal Mart and ended up purchasing a new Zi6 Video Camera that can take HD Video ! After shelling out 170 bucks I drove home and loaded the Camera with a new 6GB memory card and fresh rechargeable batteries. Today I went to Bothe State park to shoot some scenes... just to try it out. I also edited my little Quicktime movie and added a few clips from other scenes I had shot. Unfortunately the first file was too large to upload, and Blogger wouldn't allow it.By the way, anyone who can guess what is in the bowl at the end of the video wins one free night to sleep out on my deck during the summer... no expenses paid !

Stuff to do...

This picture was taken at this year's Mustard Festival.The lady is a model who showcased Erte's fashions of the Art Deco Era in the early part of the 1900's.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with Dr. John. My left arm and leg still have a rash from the accident and if it weren't for some hydrocortisone cream I would have scratched them both to the bone by now.

Today,I went to mass in St. Helena and learned that after the priest fainted on the altar last week, Deacon Bob stepped in right at the consecration of the host to continue on with the mass. Today at the end of the service, Father Brinkle kindly informed us that everyone did indeed recieve the blessings of the Holy Spirit last week, but the host was NOT consecrated because the Priest had not completed the Eucharistic ceremony,which according to Catholic Faith and tradition is when the transubstantiation takes place.Deacon Bob forgot that he could have used some already consecrated hosts that were kept in the tabernacle across the street in the main church which is currently being seismically retrofitted.The gymnasium is where the congregation meets now.Apparently, he was so caught by surprise that he just continued with the mass right where the African American priest had left off without missing a beat.Father Brinkle assured us that the communion at today's mass was Ex-Facto, "The Body and Blood of Christ" according to Canon Law. Some of the parishoners were a little upset, or more accurately... flummoxed because they were not sure if an ordained deacon had the same powers as a priest in that instance.

Mustard Magic 09'

Today Laura Lynn is coming to Greystone to put the finishing touches on the Mustard Festival's kickoff event. The building takes on a another kind of energy. Tonight many people will show up wearing costumes and finery to see and be seen. Great food and wine will be showcased throughout the event.I will be meeting lots of the locals tonight when they arrive. It is always great fun. Marnie Cunningham is my co-worker and she will be helping with the cameras at the cooking demos which are the regular part of the weekend activities here at the C.I.A. The weather continues to be pleasant and bright as Feburary peeks its head around the corner tomorrow. February is going to be a month of big changes.

Business as usual...

I just finished filing my 2008 Federal and State Income Tax return. I stand to get a refund of around $1000. this year. I made around $250. more this year than last year.It feels good to get these little chores out of the way. I am using Turbo Tax again this year. I must say that the process is pretty interesting. They even have little worksheets, a live support team and frequently asked questions section that explains EVERYTHING. Not bad, and yes, fairly painless. Tonight, I got a ride home from my boss... Charles. He drives a nice Mercedes. We talked about the World's of Healthy Flavor Conference that just ended. This year I am learning to be more flexible. At least this is my motto for 09'. The day went by pretty smoothly. Lately, i have been experiencing lots of itching all over my legs, arms and head. I told a few people about this and they have told me that it is part of the healing process. I think I am coming out of shock. In another week, I will be going to the sentencing of the man who ran me down.I will be requesting that I be allowed to keep the settlement that his insurance company is offering. Many Insurance companies will go to great lengths to make sure that victims of vehicle accidents are not "overcompensated" by the system (too many fraudulent claims). I feel that it is my job to make sure that I am justly and fairly compensated. I want a new vehicle, and a chance to get on with my life.

Frustration

Last night before I went to bed I recognized a challenge that needed to be faced. Sunday mornings are when I usually get up to go to mass in St. Helena, after which I head off to work. My car runs, but unfortunately it has a flat tire and is in need of a whole new set. It also needs a catalytic converter in order to pass smog. Then, of course I need to re-register the vehicle and get sufficient insurance coverage. My life has become frustratingly difficult since I was mowed down by a drunk driver. To top it off, I still have a rash on my left arm where the cast was; and two of my teeth need to be re-capped. Naturally, I started my day checking the bus schedule only to find out that the first bus leaving Calistoga for St. Helena is at 10:15 am., exactly forty-five minutes after the time I am supposed to start work. Great. I tried calling my neighbor to see if I could get a ride. I woke him up and he was not happy about that. I walked into town thinking I might see someone heading 7 miles down the road to St. Helena. It's 9:15 am and no such luck. I stick out my thumb on Hwy. 29 only to watch numerous people whiz by in their S.U.V.'s and sports cars. The migrant workers hanging out at the local gas station are probably watching me with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Finally at 9:30 am I walk back into town to Cal Mart trying to revise my game plan. A friend finally drives by and I call her name... Carol !! She keeps driving, and I suddenly remember that her name is Eleanor. Damn it ! I have a hunch that the number she gave me is for her cell phone. Luckily, I have the new IPhone, so I call the number and she answers. Eleanor has been giving me rides home from the local AA meetings for about a month now. She turns around to pick me up at Cal Mart. Her dog keeps the front seat of her car warm for me. I offer her ten bucks to take me to work but she refuses the money. Once I am in her car I cannot help but think how utterly dependent I am on people and realize that these are the kind of situations I used to drink over. You know, the "F it all and get drunk attitude" can still haunt me no matter how many years of sobriety I have.

Thinking Spring already

The weather here is unseasonably pleasant. Today it hit the mid 60's, which is something of a heat-wave for the early part of January. The weather people say that it is an "El Niña" effect. This probably means that February will be a torrential downpour with much flooding ( ... we shall see ). Today was rather uneventful at the CIA. We had a training for the captains of the Special Events Team of Banquet Servers and that was about it . The Campus store and Demo Theater were the only venues that were available today. There was an average amount of foot traffic coming through and I gave one tour to some guys from North Carolina.

2009 on the edge

So New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with the run across the Golden Gate Bridge came and went. Now MacWorld, sans Steve Jobs already came and went. Today, the sun is shining it is the 9th of January... time is flying by as we are concerned about other things like doing the laundry. Today I am heading off to work and will be working the cameras for our regular cooking demos and with the restaurant closed for cleaning, it still should be pretty quiet.( I actually kind of like that ) Lately, it looks like everyone is hunkering down for the winter, and catching up on their correspondence. Yesterday, three more members of my family joined Facebook. Now if only we can get my sister Rita to join. We shall see.

Useless Worry

It seems like everyone is concerned about getting money these days.The economy is still in a tailspin and people seem to be squeezing their nickles a little harder these days. This is an "On Demand" society now that the internet has facilitated an unprecedented quickening of information ( i.e. services and billing ). I have received some medical bills in the mail and have to wait to be paid until I talk to a Civil Litigation attorney on Monday morning, just to figure on the best way to proceed. I am the victim here, and the man who hit me has to make restitution. But as the saying goes, "you can't get blood from a turnip". We shall see... Earlier today I heard my co-worker talk about how the teenagers in half moon bay walk around with droopy jeans. That made me think about the picture I created in Photoshop here.

Charmed, I'm sure

Yesterday, I received a document in the mail for $15,000. If I sign off on it, I will receive this money from the insurance company and the case will be closed. I need to be a little more cautious at this point. Tomorrow I will consult with a personal injury lawyer, a human resource person and my insurance company. Should I take the deal of this "under - insured" motorist or try to get more money through a civil case. The medical bills already total more than $19,000. and I am assuming that the insurance I have received through the Culinary Institute will pay for most of my medical expenses. Thus the reason to call HR in the morning... to verify that this is true. Tuesday is MacWorld Day in SF ... the last one I am told.

A picture of patience.

So, I guess I didn't miss payroll after all. I called this morning and Marilyn informed me that payday is this coming Friday. Phew!
Even still, I am having money concerns. I got a call from Progressive Insurance informing me that the guy who hit me is under insured ( i.e. has $15, 000. worth of coverage ) and so far, my medical bills are at $ 19, 000. and rising. I haven't had any physical therapy, my arm has a rash from the cast that doesn't look too good, and I still don't have a reliable means of transportation. Oh well, like they say in Al-anon... "This too shall pass". I am going to try not to be such a whiner come the new year. In other words, this is going to be a resolution of mine this coming year. Don't complain about things I either a.) Can do nothing about or... b.) Am willing to try and work towards a solution. Nuff said. Above is a picture I drew of my mom who was a great example of patience and tolerance in my life. She put up with the shenanigans of nine kids, assorted grandkids and fools who were quick to judge her. I still miss her very much to this day.

Missed Payroll

Today is Sunday, the 28th of December and I am sweating it. I have a big red rash on my arm where the cast was, and now I am trying to figure out how to obtain a reliable, legal means of transportation (My car would not pass smog) so I can make it to church on time . I am going to mass and will be back in an hour to finish this blog.

Okay, I am back. Mass was a wash. Today was the feast of the Holy Family. I feel estranged, because I don't really have one of my own. Although I come from a large loving family, I personally never found a wife with which to bear children of my own. I am not happy with my life as it is right now. The priest talked about the efficacy of Proposition 8; Which only made me feel anxious about being a single male in a congregation filled with the righteous worshippers of parenthood. Jesus Christ was never a parent. My name is Christopher, which means "Christ-bearer" ...go figure.

This time of the year is so dismal and grey in the Western Hemisphere. I am beginning to think that Jesus was more a metaphor or an archetype rather than a living person seeking redemption for us all. It seems that more heartache and destruction has been carried out in His name, than the miraculous events that have occurred on His behalf. Has this world truly become of better place since the Advent of His birth? Presently, I am eating a bowl of cereal ... and as i write this. I am thankful for the food I have to eat, but I have to buy from the Grocery Outlet Store to make ends meet. I also purchase clothes from the Salvation Army for the same reason. The rent for my one-bedroom apartment in Calistoga is something I can barely afford to pay. Today, I am living out the legacy of a universal, ecclesiastical religion that has only served to maintain the status quo.

I just had a good talk with my sister Tara in Portland. Somehow, I thought of calling her to let her know how I was feeling. Man, I am sure glad that I did. She basically told me something that I hadn't thought of... that I really do love Jesus Christ. I just am not so happy with the way the world is right now, and religion hasn't been of much help lately. I am going to explore my relationship with Christ more as the new year approaches.

Christmas Eve 08'

Here it is, noontime on Christmas Eve. Now does that make any sense? I am sitting here typing away on my puter after watching some hysterical comedy bits using the CoolIris app. I intend to go shopping (not last minute, mind you) at some point today, to get some coffee filters, cream, tissues and other assorted grocery items. Big Whoop. The other thing I have to do is come up with some other t-shirt designs for Ubuntu. A former co-worker called me to see if I could come up with some " Expressions" to complement their dishes that are served in the restaurant. For instance... An edgy carrot expression, or asparagus expression etc. Well, without the freedom to add some human characteristic to the vegetables, I seem quite limited. So this visual of "Fred Asparagus" did not go over with a bang.I sketched another one, but this one seems really uninteresting to me. I don't feel very creative when I am told what to do and how do it. On the other hand, this comedy bit with John Malkeovitch is much more interesting and enjoyable than drawing t-shirt designs, anyway.

Winter is...

The Holidays come at a time of year when the weather is bleak and dismal. The days are short and the nights are long. I don't really like this month, even though Jesus came into the world during this time. Spring can't seem to come too soon, and it doesn't really take hold until early May usually. People are said to hunker down for long winter naps and attend to activities like reading, wrapping gifts and letter writing (((Yawn))) Even talking about stuff like that, makes me feel like having some comfort food to fill me gullet, and then crash out for a few hours.Speaking of comfort food, I went to Theresa and Johnny's Restaurant in San Raphael yesterday with my friend, Dieter. We had a "Norcal Eggs Benedict" special with home fries and some French toast that was other worldly. Leslie is actually the head Chef there. She is the "Theresa" of the Theresa and Johnny's . She has been a friend of Dieters for a long time. I met her when we went to visit a mutual friend of ours up in Grass Valley last Spring. This person would be John Kane, who is a boyhood pal I know from St. Francis Woods, who went on to become a chef and open his own restaurant just a few years ago. He is married to Maria, who also owns a restaurant there in Nevada City. They are both very busy (as one might imagine) , and spend most of thier time managing BOTH restaurants! Leslie is the same way (workaholics, all of them). She was taking orders and cashiering the whole time we were there stuffing our faces at the counter. Her place is so amazing with all of it's Kitsch items everywhere you look. Leslie likes to collect vintage Diner signs and it shows. I suspect that I will return there sometime soon.It attracts a specialized clientele (i.e. foodies, like Dieter and I).

"Cast-off " Day

Even though I was late for my appointment by a half hour, the good doctor still got me in. I missed the bus from Calistoga and ended up getting a cup of coffee and waiting for the next one to arrive. Naturally the #10 makes every stop and then some on its journey to the city of Napa.The weather was cold and wet today. The first winter storm of the season. I noticed white stuff on the surrounding hillsides. I was sort of hoping that my nephew Edward could steal away for lunch, but such was not the case. The radiology department a the Queen of the Valley was quite busy.Instead, I sauntered over to Staples to buy a black ink cartridge. The same one I was going to go buy the day I got rear ended on my scooter. This coming friday is the preliminary hearing for Mr. Madrigal. In the interim, I have been sending all my medical bills to his insurance company. My wrist and fingers feel kind of tender and sore, but it is SOOOoooo nice to take a shower withouthaving to wrap my arm and wrist in a plastic bag. My lacerations are clearing up on my face too. Pretty soon I will be back to my old obnoxius self again. Yipppee !!

Don't be this guy!

If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone. I am referring to being hit from behind on a scooter by a GMC truck driven by an intoxicated person ( who fortunately was caught and arrested ). It could have been lights out for me... no last minute preparations, just goodbye!

Watch my Public Service Message

Part of me wants to go out fast like that. Not to have a slow death (like Cancer). But since I was given enough of a preview a few weeks ago, I have changed my mind. First of all,I am not ready to go by any means. If I have to be taken out, though; I would prefer to leave this world "in my sleep" as they say. Not a care in the world... in a peaceful manner. Enough of the morbitity.I want you all to live long and prosper, and as my boss likes to say, "May the farce be with you !"

Google's Street View

This is so cool ! Here is a Street view of my place.Click on the picture to get a larger view and notice the two windows on the top floor of the building in the back. That is where I reside... it's my humble abode! To explore the neighborhood visit Google maps Street View and see what there is.

Thats what friends are for

Dieter has been driving me to meetings, feeding me and keeping my company over the past couple of weeks since my accident.I have been recovering nicely yet have periods of great discomfort and pain.I've been asking lot of questions about how best to proceed on a daily basis with my friends and family. I have been getting a variety of answers in the realm of legal advice, medical and insurance advice, and even a little motherly advice too! I think that everything is proceeding accordingly.

Typing with a cast on

This is tricky, because I have learned to touch type and now I am going back to looking at the keyboard ! A very bad habit! This cast I am wearing is made of rigid fiberglass material, and my hand is forced to stay in one position. Last evening I had a very wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my neighbors Andre, Dinora and her brother.They all signed my cast with a sharpie pen to commerorate the occasion. We gobbled up a delicious boneless turkey with barbecue sauce and homemade fries. Later we played Poker and watched Spanish Television to while away the hours.Dinora is expecting a child in February, and is starting to get pretty big. We laughed and joked as we speculated on how the Turkey we ate had no bones. Mmmmm and... Hmmmmm !?

More from Streamwood Santa

This is a video message for a little girl named Jessica. Ol' Santa sure has an appetite for milk and cookies!

A Santa in demand

My brother John called to say that he made the local news in Chicago.This is the time of year that he dons his red outfit and lets the beard grow out some more. He has a little cold this evening,but in a short period if time should be back in action.Now if he gets real popular, he might need his helpers to schedule some bookings out here on the west coast.Check out this NBC LINK or just watch the embedded video below:

Wake up call

It has been almost a week since my accident on Hwy.29 and I am recovering a little more everyday , but I am not out of the woods yet.
Today I went for a hike up to my favorite sacred site locally. I am speaking of Coyote Peak at Bothe State Park, a two mile hike up through the park from the valley floor.My good friend Don Freeland and Dieter Dopplefeld joined me. We didn't talk much, and we didn't have to... The beauty of the fall was in full splendor.
Tommorow I will be attending an appointment with a bone specialist to have my hand and clavicle observed and treated.My nephew Ed will be picking me up pretty early. I still suspect that I am still in the state of shock even though I am functioning normally. I have ugly purple and yellow bruises all over my body.My face is just the most obvious damage that occurred.My scooter is history now. It is sitting in a storage yard until the police report is released.

Worlds of Favor

This year's Worls of Flavor Conference was rather subdued. Many of the attendees have been here before, some for the second and third time. It was a pleasant affair. Not too rushed, better organized.I got to have my picture taken with Cat Cora (?) the first female Iron Chef. All in all things went okay. Marnie's mom passed away on Saturday morning. We had a run-in on Friday night and when her shift was over she left in a huff. I don't think she was present during her entire shift. She was trying to help everyone, but it all just became a hindrance. Logistically, the transportation system up and down the Napa Valley needs help. It can become rather unreliable when you need to get someplace after hours. Shuttles, Bus-lines and Cabs are not on the same page.It rained, but today is going to be sunny. There was lots of schwag after the conference this year. I think I will ride my scooter to work.

Barack Obama

Congratulations to our newly elected president. I hope and pray that the next occupant of the oval office will guide us with vision, direction and humility. I was really very impressed with the way Barack Obama spoke during his acceptance speech. The man demonstrates a cool, clear-eyed outook on what we as Americans will be facing as we move into 2009 and beyond. We may be near collapse in terms of financial stability and global repute, but we still stand strong as a people who are united in the principle of service and compassion. The next four to eight years will be tough, but I think Obama is correct in his assessment that we will persevere. My hope is that he will be strong and protected by a benevolent God as he carries out his duties in the elected office.

Hoping for the end of the Bush Legacy

A Seesmic Special in which actor John Cleese is interviewed by a Seesmic staff member. This man's opinions are most reflective of my own. I love his sense of humor, as well as his sense of the absurd. I have become more a fan of John Cleese as I've gotten older, than I ever was when watching his comedic acting on Monte Python during my college years. His observations about George W's first term in office are dead on... I was really pleased to learn that I was not alone in my belief that his candidacy and subsequent presidency was the most deceptively corrupt political staging ever foisted on an already suspicious American public. The worst part being, that most of us will suffer the legacy of this man's decisions long after he leaves office.