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| Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 16:17 |
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Emptying the cam...
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First Meet....
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Why won't he stand with the team?
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I don't think she remembers any of the meets... I wonder why...
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Last meet in May.
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I'm not doing this s&!t next year, dude...
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Not really from the summer, but the boy told me to repost it.
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June: "No I don't want dinner."
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April: Right before one of the meets
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Fitting. It's my birthday, and I couldn't even remember the password to this account.
Here's a few shots from the spring/summer...
Ja'ya ran track this spring... it's sickening the amount of junior high track footage I have.
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| Wednesday, 25-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Early m orn before school shots
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Ja'ya being brave...
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"Dad... I'm still sleepy"
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"Can I load my ipod in PEACE PLEASE???!?"
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"Cartoons ain't $h!+ these days..."
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The kids trying to put their best face forward before school...
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| Monday, 2-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Off To Work.
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Your tour guide, the winterized Meta Jetta.
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RT 33, RT 104 and Refugee, the beginning of my drive.
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Head west into downtown Columbus
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I'm working at Honda Research and Development now, and if you're from Ohio, the impression is that it's in Marysville. Well, it's up the road from Marysville in Raymond, Ohio. As large as the facilities are for all three companies (Honda of America, American Honda and Honda R&D are not the same company; they are seperate entities) it should be called 'Hondaville'. Today wasn't a mandatory day as the place is closed from just before X-mas to New Years.
I went in anyway if only to take my mind off of things with the kids still in Cleveland. You know, work as an escape. Thing is, It's 57 miles to work. Out into the country, an hour drive each way
In the hopes of taking a few photos of some barns and the deer "hit teams" I have to dodge EVERY SINGLE NIGHT to get back home, I brought my cam along for the ride. Well, today there were no deer. The area is TEEMING with 'em (like every place else in Ohio). It's also a no hunt zone so the deer flock to the various Honda campuses and factories. It's so insane that I've almost hit 'em in the parking lot.
I'm sorry I can't take you in; it's pretty hush hush out here. No cameras, camera phones or camera enabled laptops allowed in the building. I even looked on Google Earth. It's the ONLY area in Ohio that's not mapped. I can see the plant, but not this facility. It's like Area 51. I can tell you the most sophisticated crash test simulation systems in the world and not in Japan are here. The one in Japan is AMAZING.
It's a huge facility. Not as big as the plant, but huge.
Here's a few links and shots of that area:
Honda R and D
Honda Crash Test, talks about the center in Japan as well
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| Friday, 30-Dec-2005 00:00 |
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X-Mas and New Years'
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I chose not to add any photos for this entry. I'll replicate an entry from my blog as well as expound a bit. Christmas and New Years' tend to be times of hope and family, amidst all the commercialism. For me, historically, Decembers have been good to me, January, rarely has, save for 2003-2005. The line of bad first months of the year looks to resume this year. It's going to be a trying time, and a blatant reminder of what does really matter in this life; Your family, your friends, those that love you, and those that teach you.
In those things you have all you need.
Below is the entry from my blog:
Christmas Day.
I would like say Merry Christmas and Chag Hanukkah Samei'ach to you Jewish folks.
This morning, when Jaid and Ja'ya were opening their presents (after stomping me to death in bed), I was reminded of a few moments from Christmas past. I'm feeling fairly introspective today, so I'll share a few, if you guys don't mind:
1978 - I normally didn't sleep late (like most kids I suspect; I got really bad a few years later, getting up at 5 AM), but I will never ever forget turning down the stairs from bed and setting my eyes on my Muppet drum set. Yes, a full fledged drum set. Needless to say my grandmother and mom got no rest for the next few days. Considering I never got another instrument on holiday, they were intent on NOT repeating that (I did get a guitar as a standalone gift about the same time). This scene kind of repeated itself this year, as Jaid got a drum set (and a guitar from her mom).
1981 - My great aunt bought me a Timex Sinclair 1000. And a legend was born...
Most of the 80's X-mas memories were good because of my siblings. I remember a LOT of struggle during the Reagan/Bush years, replete with a LOT of government issued cheese, butter and milk. As good a product that the American farmer turns out for mass governmental purchase, I don't EVER wish to experience that again. I didn't ask for much (and prayed for nothing so that my brothers and cousins could get the things that they wanted), but they were good times. We were loved, and that's all that really matters. People lose sight of that.
1989 - Well, this one wasn't great cause of X-mas Day... but you'll have to ask for more detail. 
1993 - Happy days are here again. After YEARS of not asking for anything and not being used to getting it, this was an interesting holiday. Ahh good times.
1999 - This was Jaid's first X-mas. This was also the first one without my paternal and maternal grandmothers. Bittersweet.
2001 - Jaid's 3rd X-mas, most memorable for this conversation with my mother while shopping:
Mom: How about this doll?
Me: I'm not buying her any dolls.
Mom: You know, kids like stuff that's fun. What if she wants a doll, to play mommy and play house?
Me: What if she grows up to be a lesbian?
Mom (in not so mock horror): LET'S HOPE NOT!
Ahh. My mother. Who still thinks the words "single dad" don't belong together. Even when faced with her son 
2003 - My first in Columbus, joined by Aim and Jaid... It was a pretty complete holiday. Well, holidays
May you all have a hopeful New Year.
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| Friday, 9-Dec-2005 00:00 |
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Cooking With Kert Part 2: Electric Boogaloo
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mmmmmmmmmmMMMMMmmmmmmmm
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Ahhhh Yes.
Pan Fried Walleye. As Gwen Stefani would say: "Dis my sh!t, dis my sh!t..." I'm avoiding the fried food thing heavily here in the winter months and besides, walleye is EXPENSIVE. Thanks to the overfishing fish cartels in Northern Ohio on Lake Erie and the Canadians (er...no offence, Aim ), it's now a delicacy So, for the second time this year, I had it. Two filets, and a bottle of Pinot Noir to celebrate my new job. Here's the recipe:
One medium sized pan
Two good sized fresh, or unthawed Walleye filets
4 Tablespoons Butter (may need more if cooking more than two filets)
One egg (may need more if cooking more than two filets)
(Coating, scale this up if cooking more filets)
Two cups flour
1/2 cup corn meal
Seasoning Salt (Lawry's, to taste  )
Coarse Pepper (to taste)
Two Tablespoons Chili Powder (whoa nelly, you won't need anymore)
Dip filets in egg and then coating mixture, making sure entire filet is coated.
Add butter to pan, set heat to low medium/medium heat to avoid butter burning.
When butter is melted and pan heated, add filets, cover and cook approximately 4-5 minutes or until bottom is golden brown, flip.
Let cook another 4-5 minutes, covered. Flip once more and allow walleye to cook additional minute.
Remove, serve.
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| Sunday, 4-Dec-2005 00:00 |
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The Life of Fred Hampton...
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There's a reason for this title, considering this is the day Fred Hampton was killed; December 4, 1969. In Chicago, as of last year, it is Fred Hampton Day. Lest I become marked as "the guy who spolights assassinations" (see November 22, 2004), let me say that those that know me know I'm a student of history.
On that note, I'll leave you with the words of Mr. Hampton, and a few links with more information on who he was, and what he meant:
“If you ever think about me,
And if you think about me, ni**ers,
And if you ain’t gonna do no revolutionary act, forget about me.
I don’t want myself on your mind, if you’re not going to work for the people.
Like we always said; if you’re asked to make a commitment at the age of twenty, and you say, ‘I don’t want to make that commitment.’
‘Only because of the simple reason that I’m too young to die.’
‘I want to live a little bit longer.’
What you did is, you’re dead already.
You have to understand, that people have to pay the price for peace.
If you dare to struggle, you dare to win.
If you dare not to struggle, then god damn-it you don’t deserve to win.
Let me say peace to you, if you’re willing to fight for it.
Let me say in the spirit of liberation.
I’ve been gone for a little while.
At least my body’s been gone for a little while.
But I’m back now, and I believe that I’m back to stay.
I believe that I’m going to do my job, and I believe that I was born not to die in a car wreck.
I don’t believe that I’m going to die in a car wreck,
I don’t believe I’m going to die, slipping on a piece of ice.
I don’t believe I’m going to die, because I got a bad heart.
I don’t believe I’m going to die, because of lung cancer.
I believe I'm going to be able to die doing the things I was born for. I believe I'm going to die high off the people.
I believe I'm going to be able to die as a revolutionary in the international revolutionary proletarian struggle.
And I hope that each one of you will be able to die in the international revolutionary proletarian struggle.
Or that you will be able to live in it, and I think that struggle is going to come.
Why don’t you live for the people, why don’t you struggle for the people, why don’t you die for the people?"
-Fred Hampton, who died at the age of 21.
http://www.willametteweek.com/story.php?story=5785 Article on the documentary, "The Death Of Fred Hampton"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hampton The Wikipedia entry on Fred Hampton
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| Wednesday, 30-Nov-2005 00:00 |
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Cooking With Kert
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Base Chicken Noodle Soup. Captions and recipe coming.
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| Thursday, 6-Oct-2005 00:00 |
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Go shorty. It's Your Birthday....
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This year, Only one candle!
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The Cake...
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A piece of cake. Layer Cake. :) As big as her head...
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Number 6.. and steaming forward...
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| Saturday, 3-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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Rocket Man
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OK, I let you do this one... don't screw it up DAD.
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Ummm I'm not one of barker's beauties here...
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Eff it. gimme the wire and trigger pad... I got this.
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So Jaid and I marched to the park to set off model rockets. We left fleeing in fear of the Department of Homeland Security =) After entertaining the crowd to 6 successful launches with several rockets, our friend on the pad (Mission #7) was a disaster. With no self destruct button on the pad we watched in horror as it screamed sideways into the sky and through a few yards blocks away. Then..silence. We hurriedly packed up our gear and ran for the vehicle.
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| Thursday, 1-Sep-2005 00:00 |
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First Day of School
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Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a day.. that will live... in infamy.
Jaid's first day of school. Kindergarten. She was up at 5:50 this morn (alarm clock time was 6 AM, so she woke me up), ready to go. Got dressed, waited for me to do her hair all of five minutes before the "Let's go Daddy! NOW!" stuff started. I was there all of five minute during orientation before I began to think about things. Jaid's an fairly avid reader; she should have started a year ago (The kindergarten cut off is Sept 30th, and her birthday is in early Oct. She's been reading consistently since 4), and I worry about how bored she may get. Math, socially, well she requires a bit of work The reading bit? Well, we're pretty much on chapter books at home. Not much TV even though it's in her room.
Regardless, she's very eager to go, but as a friend of mine, an aspiring teacher said: "She's eager now, but they pretty much stomp that out of them by the third grade." I kinda agree. The days of performance and Proficiency testing have stomped what was left in the joy of learning out of it. Let's hope that we can reinforce and maintain that eargerness with what she learns at home.
On an emotional note, symbolically, I don't have a "Widda Girl" anymore. And as happy as I am for her, as she "asserts her independence" (and if you know Jaid, she came out of the womb asserting her independence), I'm gonna miss those days, terribly.
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School's too important! Jaid, you're looking more and more like a young lady! I hope you're both enjoying school. 
The sad thing is - I know this is a true story and I can picture you both running to the car...
