Hines Ward

Hines Ward arrives in South Korea with his wife, mother, and son.


Pittsburgh Steeler's MVP Hines Ward is not only a hero to football fans. He's been working on behalf of biracial children in South Korea, where there is still widespread prejudice against both single mothers and bi-racial children. As a child of an African-American soldier and Korean woman, he would have had few options had his mother remained in Korea after his father left the family. Here his mother recounts raising him as a single parent. Although she worked hard several jobs to make ends meet, her options would have been even more limited in Korea. Ward recently became an honorary citizen of South Korea. In the age of egocentric, drug-using athletes, Ward's efforts are commendable.

Oy Vey!

The world's first Hasidic Jewish reggae star.

From Sydney Morning Herald

What Women Have Known All Along

Chocolate may boost brain power.

Happy Birthday, Bob

Love 'im or hate 'im, his influence on modern music cannot be denied. Bob Dylan is 65 today.

Dylan, along with Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, and Ray Charles are the soundtracks of my childhood. My mother kept me out of school one morning to procure Dylan concert tickets. I've seen him in concert about 3 times.

Did anyone think they guys (Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Dylan, Baez) would live to be this old?!

This is So Me

Today's "Arlo and Janis" comic. Couldn't save the image and post it, it was too big and ran outside the template.

Burned Playground + Burning Blossom = Bummed

Above is my crappy cellphone photo of one of our nicest local playgrounds, re-decorated thanks to arsonists. There's no way this steel structure could have burned up from a dropped cigarette and there was no lightning in the area at the time. The tree limbs 30 feet above were singed. The steel frame is twisted and melted (front,left) and the plastic of the yellow canopies is melted (back, left). Did the person/people who did this get more "street cred"? Did their buddies slap them on the back and congratulate them for a job well done? Does it make them feel more manly to destroy a safe playground where little kids can run freely? I hope so, because it will take tons of money to fix. More troubling is the crime itself. "Fire-setting" is a sign of serious mental disorder, which often includes animal abuse, rape, and murder. For some reason, of all the childhood "pranks" arson is a sign of a serious mental disorder. We were told that when I worked at the psyche hospital and I've seen it in psychology literature.

The Blossom has a fever of more than 104 and needs round the clock medication. She suddenly took ill today, after being cranky yesterday. However, we just put yesterday's crankiness down to teething. The doctor doesn't seem to know what's wrong with her but she got a shot of antibiotics and a blood draw just in case.

Nanny G. formerly worked for a family with a wealthy patriarch, Mr. H. The guy has a mansion with rolling lawn, replete with black iron gates with his initial in Olde English style lettering, the whole works. The first time we went to this playground, Nanny G. said: "Oh, Mr. H. was one of the people who gave the money to make this playground. He's in the rotation club." After brief thought I realized she meant... the Rotary Club!

An Educated Woman

An issue resurfacing during this past Mother's Day weekend was the ol' stay-at-home vs. working mother debate. I won't pass judgment on anyone else's life choices. Each woman has to do what is right for herself and her children.

No longer is the issue only "if" and "should" a mother stay home with her children, nor how fulfilled she feels either way. No, now it extends into should an educated woman stay home with her kids. The premise seems to be that a college-educated woman who stays home with her kids offers nothing to society (what - a parent who is attentive to her child provides nothing to society by emphasizing education, and keeping her kids off drugs and away from crime?!). Awhile ago, I actually read with disbelief a blog post (since removed) where the (female) writer stated that a seat in college was wasted if it was occupied by a woman who eventually planned to stay home with her children.

I cannot see where an educated parent is not contributing to society. A woman with any college degree is a better person, whether she is a parent or not. As a mother, she can impart knowledge to her child about the subjects she studied, but there is so much more. She can appreciate differences and get along with others due to the variety of teachers and classmates she met in college. She can intelligently research any subject and have more perspective in making a decision. She can be open to new ideas and technology.

Not everyone is able to get a college education. Those who can, should. Whether they use the knowledge in the professional world or not is inconsequential. They have still broadened their horizons, which makes them a better person. And their children can only benefit. And if their children benefit, society benefits.

Push it Good!

The Branch likes to push things. And push, and push, and push. He gets such a serious look on his face, like it's his mission in life to push anything pushable. Kitchen chairs, the twin stroller (in the house), the Blossom (pictured). I think this winter I am going to take him to the northern states and rent him out to push stalled cars in the snow.

Never Fart In The O/R

May 14, 2006

A patient's flatulence has been blamed for bringing his hemorrhoid operation to a fiery end. The man suffered minor burns in a brief but dramatic operating theatre fire.

The patient was at the Southern Cross Hospital in Invercargill, New Zealand, to have hemorrhoids removed when the accident happened.

A hospital source said there was a sort of flash fire. The hospital confirmed a fire did occur, and has ordered an investigation.

From Sydney Morning Herald

Don't Mess With My Homegirls

Article from my hometown paper on teenage girls who foiled burglary. You go, girls!

10 year anniversary

Last evening we celebrated the 10 year anniversary of our martial arts school. Ten years was a wonderful milestone for the master and his family. Most martial arts schools are mom-and-pop businesses. Often, the family has "day jobs" in addition to teaching martial arts classes and running the school. It takes incredible dedication to provide an excellent martial arts education to students, test students for belt advancement, remain humble, and to keep growing as a martial arts professional. In the early years, the class was the master (left), his son (second from left) and his wife (right). Our school also survived a political shake-up almost three years ago that nearly destroyed us as a school. But our master and his family perservered, at great cost to their personal lives, and many loyal black belt students stood by their side. Several of us (including yours truly, second from right) received achievement awards for our long years of study, loyalty, skill, and other outstanding attributes.

This martial arts community is also like a family to many of the students, including myself. I have been attending for eight and a half years and I liken my feeling about it to the feelings many people have about church. There is a sense of ritual, the caring community, and sense of order and being rewarded for doing "good". How many institutions these days reward one for loyalty, skill, perserverance, and helping others? What institutions require that you respect each and every member that walks through the door, and insist that they in return respect you? Very few on both accounts, but a good martial arts school should do just exactly that.

Here's to another ten years. Thanks, master. And thanks to your family.

Cinco de Mayo Treat

Uncap a frosty Corona while you prepare this tasty snack.


I made the one in this picture last year for my cousin's 50th birthday party.

1 18" plastic party tray
1 large can Old El Paso Traditional refried beans
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonaisse
1 packet taco seasoning
2 cups (approximately) chopped fresh tomatos
1/2 cup chopped canned black olives well drained
Grated cheese - mild cheddar or taco blend
12 banana or jalapeno pepper slices well-drained
1 jar salsa, mild, medium or hot
1 bag Tostitos or similar white corn chips. I use store brand.

-Spread refried beans on party tray in layer not more than 1/4" thick.
-Mix together mayonaisse, sour cream, and taco seasoning to taste.
Spread in layer not more than 1/4" thick on top of beans.
-Place black olives in small bowl. Invert bowl over center of sour cream mix and tap to place black olives.
-Place tomatos around the black olives in a concentric ring.
-Place grated cheese in outermost ring around tomatos.
-Using a clean paper towel over your finger, remove uneven edges.
-Place pepper rings at points of the clock on top of cheese.
Serve with salsa and white corn chips.

Dear Process Server:

I thought the knock on my door late last night (9:30 PM) was a misdelivered pizza. Did it ever occur to you that people may be in their pajamas at that hour? Maybe, oh, settling down for BED? I am not that hard to find, despite the fact that the summons had an incorrect address. There are almost always two (2) cars in the driveway, day and night. I'm a stay-at-home parent, so surely you could have picked a better hour to serve me this paper. And to top it off, your summons was for me to appear for a deposition for the EEOC vs. Some Sorry Company I Haven't Worked For In 4 Years And Had No Beef With Other Than An Unemployment Claim. I mean, it's not like I am guilty of anything. I'm just sayin'...

10 Simple Pleasures

From Stringman, and listed in reverse order.

10) A good song on the radio


9) My cat’s purr

8) A “good” session of kicks at martial arts

7) A fresh cup of coffee and a crisp newspaper



6) A cold beer while grilling burgers


5) An e-mail from my mother

4) A good night’s sleep

3) When the Citizen makes me laugh

2) Dinner with the Citizen

…and the number one simple pleasure…

1) The Branch and Blossom’s laughs