Anticipating a new grand baby

Jeanne and I have been delighted by her son and new daughter-in-law with the prospect of a new grandchild. We knew (after awhile) this would be a girl. The family has just been giddy with anticipation. I think it is great, and am thoroughly amused at all the frenzy of preparation all the ladies are involved with.

Here is evidence from Jeanne and Danielle after a trip to the doctor July 17.  More to come!

How Time Flys

Most of you are wondering if I fell off of the face of the Earth or at least the face of the blog world.  I did. I do love to write, but getting going with my new position at Hewlett-Packard turned out to be real challenge.  I learned I'm not as young as I used to be in terms of energy for work. Not only did I have to adapt to a new work culture, but my customer has a great deal more work for me than I can realistically handle. In a bad economy that is a good thing, but it caused about 6 months of team building on top of usual tasks to be able to provide the kind of service requested. My cardiologist keeps reminding me I have to have ample rest and exercise to benefit from the work they did on my heart in 2008. So blogging had to go for awhile. I'm back with some important family news to follow and my Christmas letter.  Now if I can just figure out when to.....

Here, Abby helps me get ready for Christmas. I still can't get her to hold a ribbon while I tie it.

Two Years!

Recently I enjoyed a very special evening with my bride of two years at Donovan's Gaslamp on Fifth right on our anniversay: July 10. I so love this late-in-life surprise who is so spunky and spiritual and cute. We both spent some time reflecting on how blessed we are to have met by God's providence.  It is odd how 2 years doesn't mean much to those of you who have been married most of your lives to the same person and you plan for the big ones, like Jeanne and I did in previous marriages, say for the 25th, or 30th.  I can say from our new perspective on marriage, that each day can be a celebration of the heart, and two years has been our little miracle to cherish that we never thought we would have. Thanks to our God of mercy.  May we glorify You in our joy Lord.
Here is the first of mostly bad pictures I (or the waiter) took this past month.

A word about Donovan's: Superlative. Bring your very best friend or friends  Reward yourself. Money well spent. If not now, when?

Daniel and Danielle Marry!

I'm pleased to share the news that my lovely wife's son Daniel married his girlfriend in a civil ceremony last month.  Jeanne and Danielle's mom Renee attended and witnessed the official joining of these two wonderful people and I couldn't be more excited.

Here they are at the Hemet County Complex before the ceremony.

Paperwork all done and ready to go.

Ready to start.  Admonitions...

Vows....

Rings....  end eventually.....

Kissing!!!  Yep, now your married.  Congratulations you two!! 

Extra exciting in this event is the fact that the young fella in the orange shirt above is a new grand son (in law).  He is Dylan (6 yrs) and is Danielle's son from a previous marriage.  He is a great guy and as you will see in another post, has already been a great playmate to my grandson Danny.  The family is really growing!!  What a blessing.

Mother's Day 2011

Just a few years ago my mom Kate and I celebrated mother's day one on one. Usually a movie and a new restaurant for something different. My Mom is pretty unique and very loving, and loves her two boys. Brother Ken never fails to connect and shower Mom with something special if he can't be here.

Last weekend I found myself involved with SEVEN mothers. And that doesn't count Lisa's soon to be mother-in-law Nora! So, wife Jeanne (#1) and I picked up Kate (#2) and went up to a brunch with her son Daniel and his girlfriend's family. Guess what? There is a new ring on my step-son's girlfriend. Daniel and Danielle are to be married! Danielle (#3) has a son Dylan from a previous marriage so she is already a mom. That is them to my left past Jeanne above.

Her sister Desiree (#4) and husband Jason have a little boy Jackson on the way! Joe and Renee (#5) were there because Renee is mom to Danielle and Desiree and youngest daughter Tamara. (Renee, Joe, Jason, Desiree above)

Then there is Renee's mom Dianne (#6) and husband Wayne along to add to the grandmother contingent. Tamara is right of Kate.  Jeanne connected with her mom Lorrae (#7) on the phone as she is in Chico with brother Pierre. Phew.... did I miss anyone?  Lucille's Barbecue was delicious and we had a great time discussing all the new fun we are going to have together. Speaking of fun, how about horses?  Renee and Joe have a Board and Ride ranch in Winchester.  So we all went to check it out! Kate rode the electric cart to save walking and got to see all.

Some of these belong to owners who board their horses and come out to ride,  some belong to Renee and Joe, and Danielle, and ???  Jeanne likes horses I found out. Especially little cute ones!

Some of these great animals are soooo gentle, and love attention.  May have to go for a ride sometime...with all the mother's I have in my life. By the way,  I talked to my daughter Renee (#8) this morning who posted great pictures of my grandson Danny up in Colorado with one of my favorite moms of years past. Renee and husband Ale are featured at: http://www.miqueridafamilia.com/ . Hope you had fun with someone's Mom last weekend!

Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead!

Just as the Munchkins in OZ celebrated the end of the oppression wrought by the Wicked Witch of the West, we Americans are celebrating the decapitation of one of the Al-Qaeda terror cells, the one responsible for the 9/11 mass attacks. With a brave decision to move Navy Seals in for a personal kill, our president finally showed some backbone and capitalized on the intelligence, special ops and Gitmo water boarding techniques George Bush put in place against the votes of Senator Obama (at the time) and got something tangible done.

This kind of killing shows the sad level we have to descend to in order to wisely rid ourselves of ones so clearly evil. I'm proud that in the face of grave danger our Seals eliminated this monster without harm to citizens in Pakistan, or themselves. The demise of any human is loss on the purely humanitarian level, so I'm glad we don't practice the scale of inhumanity people like this practice. Though my heart wants retribution on the same scale, I refuse to lower my behavior to that level allowing the dark forces of life to win twice. America is a class act for bringing justice to this man, who can never pay for what he has done with his single life. Respect for this soul in quick, clean burial will show many Muslims we understand some of their ways and don't utterly disrespect them as a people even as they practice a religion that advocates "killing the infidel" (us). If this satisfies the politically correct crowd (for the wrong reasons) so be it.  I like the way it does what the Bible advocates: heap coals on the heads of your enemies. Make them accountable, then in death treat their source with more than they deserve.

More to unfold in terms of history here.  I hope the world is thinking about this in terms of the long view.

Yet Another Bridge

Today I went to work for Hewlett-Packard.  I'm thankful to be employed. I have been every single day from the time I graduated from San Diego State University in 1974.  I went to work at UCSD Medical Center and remainded there for 22 years.  In 1986 left to pursue an opportunity at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to work on the military medical system world wide. I had many other projects at SAIC without leaving the company as we had many contracts.  The last contract I worked on was the Information Technology (IT) outsourcing for the County of San Diego. When that contract expired and I got my termination notice it marked the end of stable employment in terms of who I worked for.

I have continued to work for the same customer, but under the banners of SAIC, BearingPoint, Eclat, Attain, and now Hewlett-Packard. With each bridge I have become a little less uneasy, but in a bad economy, with underfunded governments, lawsuits, buyouts, changing managing contractors, and narrow profit margins, you can bet the competition for work is fierce in my profession. Still, I am blessed to have yet another job. This contract ends 2017! That is good. Once again, however I start with all my co-workers at "new hire" vacation allowance: 10 days/year.  I get one new day for each year of seniority.  It will take me seven years to attain the vacation allowance I just left behind to accept this position. Lord give me strength,...and thanks for the job! Amen.