Video: Leah's Wedding

In case you missed it...

"I'm Getting Awfully Tired of the People We Need Leaving Us"

2 in 2 years. And it doesn't get any easier.

For all those we've lost over the years...

Someone Needs to Take Over This Blog

I understand that a lot of you have expressed a desire to have this blog continue. It still can, but I would prefer to step back from it and let someone else take over.

To be honest, it was a chore to try and pry information from people as though such information was a closely guarded secret.... kidding... sort of.

Here's the thing about blogs and the internet-- it's not the morning paper.

You can't simply expect something new every day. I could make phone calls to all 108 members of the family every day, but I dont have time for that. Though there are about 10-20 people who read this blog consistently, only a few, no more than 4, ever bothered to give me news, events, stories, questions, pictures, videos....... and all the rest.

Thus, it came to be felt as taken for granted-- and that's not something that will last long, and certain things *cough* Aaron's things *cough* can easily tip the scales toward apathy, and strip the enjoyment out of writing things for y'all.

I have sent the info to a few people to become administrators of this blog. Anyone can do it. Hell, Ive been trying to get you guys to do it since July so I know you must have learned something by now... maybe... hopefully...???? Okay, just lie to me and say 'uh huh' with a smile so I can feel better *wink*

So, that's it. I had fun, but fun can't last forever. Fun for me was waning, and finding out on Sunday about Aaron's things-- that just killed it. Small things to some are big things to others, and just as I wrote in the 2007 Year End message, all that matters is that some things matter to someone else.

The blog is here. It's time for someone else to pick up the pen... the keyboard, I mean.

Cheers, y'all.

March Birthdays

Here are the birthdays for the month of March:

• Michelle Arellanes (hi sista!), March 1

• Teresa Arellanes, March 2

• Manuel Romero, March 15

And of course, we remember Grampa Sal's birthday on March 12.

Wish them happy birthday, folks!

Hernandez Family Distribution

These questions come up a lot, so I thought I'd take the info from the Family Tree and give you some data. I didn't count Gramma Connie, and I was definite on who I counted, so the total number is a bit different. But you'll get the gist of things.

I should also mention that because there does not seem to exist any documentation of accurate data, these numbers may be slightly off-- but that's why I've asked, repeatedly, for your help. Though I have yet to get much feedback from anyone on ideas and requests I make here on the Herd, I hope someday things will be different.

Hope is a hell of a thing.

So here is the breakdown for you:

Hernandez Family Tree

I have to thank Robert for this one.

Robert showed me a website-- geni.com-- that lets people build family trees for free. He got it started, and I continued with things today.

I admit I don't have all of the information, but I do have a lot of it. I put in some people no longer a part of the family because they matter-- they are parents to some of us and that matters. I didn't put some people, however, because: 1) I dont know their info, 2) some people may not wish to include them in here, 3) some are kids from prior relationships that we never see or meet.

Discounting the divorcees, the other kids, and the non-mentioned people, I count 108 people in our family.

108 PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILY!!!

That is an amazing number of people, and it's no wonder we sometimes find it difficult to get everyone in one place at the same time. Truth be told, we are also starting to branch out-- Santa Barbara isn't home to everyone as it once was.

But that's why I started this blog in the first place. I know we are getting bigger by the year. Information doesn't flow as easily, distance makes getting together more difficult, and our own families grow and branch out and pull us in different directions. Hopefully this blog can help keep those ties a little bit stronger.

So here is the family tree below. To move around the tree, click and hold down the button while you move the mouse left/right/up/down. And you can zoom, too, by clicking on the magnifying glass in the lower left.

Here is a link to see it in a bigger view: Hernandez Family Tree

I also put a link to the Family Tree in the right column under 'Family Links'.

View more of Consuelo's tree  |  Get your own family tree at Geni.com

Entertainment on the Cheap

Here's a new video for y'all.

I'm so proud of our family.... hehehe.... ;)

Gramma Connie Turns 82

Most of y'all were there, if even for a short time.

But for those of you that weren't, here's some pics from her birthday.

Oh, and if you were wondering why I put the words "FOR EVER" after every mention of her birthday (on the calendar or on the post for 'February's Birthdays') it's because that's what she says-- she ain't dying, she's gonna be around FOR EVER!

Hope you enjoy the pics!

So, I Had the Date Wrong

I heard wrong, or my sources let me down.... kidding!

LEAH'S WEDDING WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6 @ 3:30PM

Not on Friday September 5 as I had put before. So, there you go.

'Dru' 'Fuzzy' Cook: Pictures and Godparents

Here's a note from Louds (Laura) herself. Good times...:

We have asked Renee and Chris Jaimes to be his godparents and they
have gladly accepted those big shoes to fill. (Thank God! :) )

We also took pictures of the boys together, we may as well start their
memories of growing up together NOW! ( they are only 3 weeks apart)

Fuzzy is just a bit "fatter" than lil Christopher, but I predict that
in no time Christopher will be right there with him.

Here are a few pictures of the boys together and ones of lil
fuzzzzzzz.

Update: Baby Chris

Last word was that Lil Chris went in for surgery early this week, and he'd be there for another week. He is otherwise doing just fine. I don't have any details, but that's what I know.


Here's a little note for all of us:

I heard that Renee, in an example of either gallows humor or true concern, questioned why almost each of her children as infants and toddlers have ended up with a hospital stay. If memory serves correct, Raquel had her intestines almost in a knot, they thought Ryan was going to need a spinal tap and threw around a meningitis supposition, and now Baby Chris with his lung and stomach thing. It was an interesting observation in any case.

But this isn't something about which to worry. On the contrary, it is a reminder of something more. Renee and Chris have great jobs at UPS-- Teamster jobs, well paying, and some of the best medical benefits offered by any corporation in the United States. Without that insurance, the kids may not have regular doctor visits which are costly, or access to medical care when supposedly small things arise.

How great it is that Renee and Chris are blessed with their jobs and the benefits that go with those jobs. Folks who don't have insurance sometimes avoid doctor visits, and when things go bad, avoid any medical care until they must ultimately go to the emergency room where care can be less than stellar. Instead of focusing on the hospital stays of the children, we should instead be glad for Renee-- she is fortunate enough to be able to take care of all of these problems that have come about with little worry.

I think we can all appreciate that, appreciate this glass half full.

Third Saturday: February Edition

Unfortunately, I didnt make it today. I was very tired and overslept my alarm.

However, I have word that there were about 8 people that showed up. That is very good times.

I have to say that after 11 months of doing this, I am thoroughly impressed and satisfied that this seems to be catching on. All it took was a little perseverance, and now it appears that we have a tradition going.

This is exactly the way it was supposed to happen. Family getting together instinctively for a tradition like this, without invitations, or hand holding...

Good times, Cousins. Very good times.

Third Saturday Breakfast

Don't forget, Cousins:

This Saturday is the third Saturday of the month-- which means I'll see y'all at breakfast, Mesa Cafe at 10am.

Enjoy your Friday!

A Valentine For You

For ourselves and for the younger members of the Family, I thought this a good way to show them that we don't simply have boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives-- love, they should know, is a hell of a thing.

To be true, we can take a snapshot of all the couples in our family right now and see all kinds of love.

Love that is young and fresh, the awkward kind where you are finding out what each other is truly like, and get worried at the first sign of a fight, the first time you say that four letter word, and all the other firsts that go with it. It's a love that wants to hold hands all the time, that wants to show off for each other, and that tends to act before it thinks. And it's where you can't help but be excited at the thought of doing everything together -- and wonder what's next.

We can see love that is mature, love that is taking steps toward marriage or within a few years of marriage. This is the love that has decided that though there are things that may not be perfect, those little things are what make the relationship interesting. This love doesn't sweat the small stuff by any means. It's a love that is forced to take life and being busy into account. It is strong, and at the same time it still feels shiny and new-- like something you care for when you're not sure what can happen next.

And we can see that love that is life long, and that loves beyond life itself. We see two people who know each other better than anyone else. Two people who have been through it all, who have dealt with the ups and downs, who have seen each other in the most vulnerable ways, and seen more sides of humanity than others can dream. This is the love of a life worth living. This is love celebrated in decades, with children and grandchildren, with memories of old houses and apartments, of friends who came and went, a love you could write books about. This love isn't about what happens next-- this love is heaven on earth.

Yeah, we can see all of this in our own family. That's why I wanted the pictures from y'all, so we could see it for ourselves. But that's no matter. Just take a look around you at the next barbecue, or the next holiday, or the next visit to someone's house-- or look around where you sit right now.

So even though I didn't get the response I was hoping for, you'll see an unfinished product. I hope to actually finish this some day soon. So please, keep trying to find those pictures you like, and I can make this something we can be proud of.

Here is what I was going for, an unfinished Valentine's Day gift to all of the couples in our family. Make sure you have the volume on your speakers on. Here's to you...

'Tis The Season... for Politics

Good day to everyone.

As you might have seen, heard, or read, this year is a Presidential Election Year. Right now, the two major political parties in this country-- the Republicans and the Democrats-- are choosing which candidates will represent their respective parties in the General Election in November.

On the Republican side, it appears John McCain, a Senator from Arizona, will be the eventual nominee.

On the Democratic side, the race is neck-and-neck between Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hilary Clinton of New York.

Why do I bring all this up on the Herd?

As some of you know-- because you have attended them-- I have hosted gatherings at Gramma Connie's house prior to elections such as this. The goal of these gatherings has been to inform y'all about the political process, the candidates, the way our government works, and even to let you some things about yourselves you may not have already known or realized.

Well, this year I plan on doing it again. Starting next month (March), I will be hosting these things once a month. We will start by getting you learned up on the process of elections, and continue on to things like the levels of government, issues important to you, the candidates and their issues, and we'll keep going until November-- by which time you will be some of the most well informed voters around.

So, it works for me to do these things on the Third Saturday of every month, the same day we do breakfast with the Cousins. That way, some of us can go have a nice fun breakfast, then come to Gramma's or wherever and meet again to get all political.

Now, some of you may be thinking that my goal is to get you to vote for one candidate or the other. On the contrary, as those who have attended before can attest to, I do not favor one side or the other. In fact, most people do not know which side I am personally voting for until and unless I tell them. I am fair in my presentations. If someone asks my opinion or a factual piece of information that I can answer-- I will tell you what I know or believe. But I never, never, try to influence how you vote at these things.

As Auntie Monica said at the event for the 2004 election, "I didn't even know who you supported [if it was Bush or Kerry]."

So please come one and all. If you're not registered, that's okay, cuz we can get you registered. If you don't like to vote, come anyway and be informed. Just try to keep it to family and close friends of the family. And if you can keep the kids at home, that's fine, but bringing them is a good idea-- it starts them at a young age to know and learn about their government and their country, and helps prepare them for the day when the care of the USA will be in their hands.

Le me know what y'all think. And if you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know.

Good times, y'all!

No News Is Good News?

Well, I hope so anyway.

I apologize for being busy and not being able to find out or report on any goings on.

But I haven't heard any news either.

If you guys have things you want to talk about, let me know. If you guys have things to report, however mundane it might be, let me know.

Hope all is well, y'all!

East Bay Heads to the Far East

Well, its actually closer if you go West, but Far West doesn't sound as normal to the ears. Candy and Salene sent this at 2am on Thursday as they prepared to go on vacation to Thailand...


Just wanted to let you know that Candy, myself and our good friend Zena are leaving in a few hours to Thailand. Asia has been a place we have been wanting to explore for a very long time.

The opportunity was offered for us to stay with a friend of ours there in a huge house with a maid and a chef, so we ran with it. We will be homebound in Bangkok, but jumping around to some of the famous islands and hotspots like Chiang Mai and Phuket :).

Some things we are looking forward to are the night markets, riding elephants on the beaches, snorkeling, horseback rides in the jungles, visiting the temples, the $5/hr massages, the art, the water sports, the food, and staying in cabanas on the beaches.

Candy has been practicing a lot of the language! I will be sure to send pictures when we get back! Some internet access, but no cell phones.

Be back in 2 weeks!
laa kawn (goodbye)


And here's an update from Friday morning at 10am...


WE ARRIVED in Bangkok and we are safe. It's 1am and we just got settled in to our friend Jill's apartment. Her place is beautiful. The temperature is currently 81 degrees (yikes!). We all slept 7 hours on our flight from Tokyo to Bangkok so we are wide awake and ready to hit the streets. We'll try to keep in touch....

xoxox


Here are some pics to let you know what and where...

Baby Chris in the Hospital

Hey, everyone.

Baby Chris, not even a week old, went to the hospital last night after vomiting repeatedly.

After a round of tests, Baby Chris was found to have his stomach or abdominal wall pushing on his lung, but the cause is unknown. Word is they will be performing surgery to deal with the problem.

Thank goodness this isn't life threatening. Nonetheless, surgery is always serious.

Thoughts and Prayers for lil Chris, and for Renee, Chris, Raquel, Ryan and the rest of the Jaimes family.

A Few Pics of Baby Chris

Here he is, y'all. Little Chris, cooing for err'one. You can see the pics here.

Welcome to the World, Little One

Here's the word, and congratulations to Chris and Renee...

• Christopher Robert Jaimes
• February 2, 2008
• 6:05pm
• 8 lbs, 4oz

On Friday at 1am they induced labor... that's a 41 hour ordeal. As y'all know, Renee was dealing with a good amount of discomfort during the last several weeks. With the little guy out in the world, she can finally breathe! In any case, I'm sure Renee and Chris are once again proud parents of another cooing bundle of happiness.

Very good times.

February Birthdays

Happy Groundhog Day, people.

Here are your birthdays for the month of February:

• Ray-Dawg Aspuria, February 13

• Liz Villareal, February 19
  

• Gramma Connie, February 25 (FOR EVER)
  

• Mary Ellen 'Mija' Cook, February 26

Wish them well!

Any Minute Now...

Just as it was about a month ago, we now find ourselves awaiting a new arrival.

Renee is currently in labor at Cottage hospital.

When I hear something, y'all will hear it too.

Good times!

2nd Request for Photos

Good morning, y'all.

Well, the Nor Cal (or So Bay I've heard some refer to it, as in South Bay) contingent of the fam have responded to my request and forwarded some great photos of the two couples there.

Maybe that means Santa Barbara is just a little too laid back to respond…. Hehehe ;)

So, here’s a little reminder for you all. Go to your box of photos, talk to people with digital cameras, get to your own camera, go to your mom or dad’s place, or to one of our family’s archivists, and get yourself some photos and get them to me!

If you have been in a relationship—boyfriend or girlfriend—for a while, send me 2-3 pictures of just the two of you in some romantic situation.

Same goes for any of the husbands and wives. Find the same type of pictures for you and your spouse, and get them to me!

Hugs, poses, kisses, random shots of things only a couple would do, and something that displays your affection for each other. But keep it clean—this is a Family Blog and we don’t need to see certain sides, like the back side, of any of you.

So please, time is critical. I already have a list of couples, so I know who should be sending things in.

Realistically speaking, I probably have 8 more days after today, so please do this ASAP.

Thank you!

Guest Post: Newer Jobs and Older Brothers

Here's another Guest Commentary from Uncle Martin. Not for nothing, but he can write well, and convey his point and emotions pretty well, eh?


Well folks a funny thing happened while I was on patrol with my training partner (at my new job as a security officer at one of my favorite places in the world, Santa Barbara city college). As we were headed back to headquarters we see this man in this big white truck backed up in between two classrooms, not illegally, but nevertheless my partner blurted out, "Uh, hello, what are you trying to do?"

As I turned to get a good look at the driver I notice it is my brother Sal. In response to my partner's comments I said something like, "Yeah, really..."-- ignoring the fact this guy just so happens to be my beloved brother. Although I did wonder, "What the hell is this guy up to now?"

Fast forward 20-30 minutes later...

We are at the opposite end of campus opening up the theater for a big event when I spotted Sal again only this time I'm thinking "Gee how nice is this, here's my brother taking classes wanting to learn in hopes of bettering himself."


Well, good times then! Uncle Martin's got a new job at City College, Uncle Sal is taking a class to better educate himself, and Santa Barbara's still a small enough town that you can run into family and friends just about anywhere.... AN-Y-WHERE!

Here's to both men, and to more Guest Commentaries in the near future!

Quote To Ponder

Good Tuesday morning to y'all.

I remember talking with my mom about a situation she had heard about involving the ways people react to and treat each other. She was retelling the story, and specifically she noted how the people involved seemed to always be there for others when things were bad-- but were nowhere to be found, so to speak, when life for others was good.

Now, some of you might see this as something strikingly similar to the German concept known as schadenfreude. This concept translates, though not directly, in English to mean "taking pleasure in the misfortune of others." But there is a subtle nuance in the way my mom recalled the story she had overheard.

The way she had told it, and explained what she had understood, it wasn't about taking pleasure in the difficulties and trials, or even suffering, of other people. Rather, it was simply that some people seemed to be more comfortable in providing a shoulder to lean on when someone was down or depressed. These same people, when some other had reason to celebrate or deserved accolades, found it difficult and almost nauseating to grant praise and enjoy the success of others.

They are uncomfortable giving credit, praise, and sharing joy, seeming like a child wearing a tuxedo for the first time-- awkward movements, tugging at the bow-tie, rocking because of the shoes, awkward facial expressions, and otherwise irritated at any aspect of the situation in which they find themselves.

It was a nuanced thing to understand, but simple to put into a single line. So I'll give it to you here, and let you ponder what it means, whether you know people like this, whether you approach life in the same way, or whether joy in and of itself is enough for you to feel joy for others...

• "Some people can feel sorry for you, but they can never feel happy for you."

Leah's Wedding: Change Your Calendars

Unconfirmed, but it's the word on the street (and who knows how it got on the street, but I think Uncle Vic is telling everyone...... kidding!)

The date for the Event of the Year (I know Uncle Vic will like that one) has been changed:

• Leah's Wedding will now be held on Friday September 5th

If I hear anything more, I'll let y'all know. And I'm sure the father of the bride will too.

Get Out and See A Movie

Ok, folks, I have an idea.

This may put some out of their comfort zones. And as corny as it sounds at first, I think something can be managed.

For much of the last month, I've heard no less than a dozen of us talk about wanting to go see 'The Bucket List' with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The movie has been out three weekends now, and I have yet to hear a review.

One might think that perhaps I just haven't been told or had conversations with those who have seen the movie.

Or that we just pulled a Hernandez Family Classic-- we talked about it, and talked about it, and talked about it some more, until we were so exhausted with talking about it that no one had the energy to go out and see the movie.... ha ha ha... I kid, I kid... bygones.

I'm not sure, really, and it might be either one.

But what say you about doing something like this:

-We decide, a week in advance, to go see a movie.

-Then we tell everyone, usually those gathered at Gramma Connie's on a Sunday, or those who visit that house or the Modlin Compound.

-Next we agree to meet at one of those places an hour before the movie.

-Finally we-- get this-- actually go as a group to see a movie!

Look at that, 4 easy steps... (again I kid)

Seriously, I think it could be fun. There are movies out there that a group would want to see together. And there are movies that some would go to just to do something.

Comedies, dramas, suspense films and everything in between. We could take over an entire row, or just sit in two rows so people are closer together.

I asked my mom what she thought, and she wondered if other folks in the theater would get mad at the big group that keeps talking and laughing and won't stay quiet. I said, "To hell with them!"

Well, that's my idea. I figured once in a while it might be a nice change of scenery, something good to do outside of the comfort zones. I mean, we all do these things with friends anyway-- why not try it in a big group of family?

Now, discuss amongst yourselves...

Salesperson of the Year

Everyone tip your hats to one of our own.

Robert Modlin has been named Salesperson of the Year in his position at Commission Junction.

While I don't know if this is for a specific office or geographic area, I hear Robert was the only one to meet his sales performance goals for every month of 2007.

Many wishes of congratulations to Robert. You done real good, Modlin!

I Need Your Photos

Hey, err'one.

This is a request, a plea if you will. It won't make much sense, but trust me-- there is a method to this madness.

I need an actual copy or a digital copy of you and your spouse or long-time significant other.

Like I said, this may not make sense to you. But I would appreciate it if you could spread the word. It could be any picture of the two of you-- a wedding picture, one of you when you were just dating, that one time when you looked at each other and thought "Why did I ever..."

Kidding!

But I would prefer any picture that you(s) feel best represents you and your love, your lives together.

I need these photos and digital files as soon as possible, however. And I am looking for as many as I can get. If you want to, throw in two or three of your favorite pictures.

I will make sure to take very good care of any actual photographs and they will be returned to you in the same condition as I received them.

Please, spread the word! We have a big family and it's not easy to get to everyone.

If you need to, leave the photos at Monica's House, Gramma Connie's House, or with Dolly. I will be able to pick up the photos at any one of these Hubs.

For digital copies, please send them to hernandez.sb@gmail.com (that should read, "h-e-r-n-a-n-d-e-z DOT s-b AT g-m-a-i-l DOT c-o-m").

Thank you all for your participation... cuz I know y'all will, right? ;)

Mind Tricks

Here's a few games I used to play with my employees at UPS. You see, they would tell me that they were looking at the address on every package. But yet, there were mistakes. So I would show them how their mind does things they may not be aware of-- which means that in every thing, at every time, in every situation, people have to pay attention and focus.

Maybe this can start your Monday on a good note....










Answers are posted in the comments. Click on 'Comments' at the bottom of this post to see the answers to these tricks.

New Pics of Fuzzy Cook

Y'all, here's the words from Louds (Laura) herself.

I would of never thought that I would get to see Mike changing diapers and burping a baby, much less his own!

So here are some new pictures of his pride and joy, Andrew "Fuzzy"
Cook-- yes daddy has already nicknamed him.

So there are new pics up in the Photo Album. And just in case you don't want to go there, here's something new for y'all... a slideshow.

Notice on Family Privacy

This is a note about privacy concerns. And it is the first and likely the last time I write something like this.

Videos of the family are recorded by me on my digital camera. I take the footage and edit it and make a video.

These videos are posted onto the website YouTube. YouTube is a very popular site. Millions of people have loaded millions of videos. Some are meant for friends and family, much like our videos. Other videos are informational-- UC Berkeley posts many videos so that students and the general public can find out about the university and learn from many educational videos they put on YouTube. Musicians and artists post music videos, interviews, concerts and similar videos meant for fans. Some people record TV shows, news shows, and political ads and put them up.

Just as people go to a bookstore and find all sorts of books and magazines, the same is true for YouTube.

Because the videos are typically viewable by the general public, some people might not be comfortable with having our family videos on YouTube-- whatever is in the video can be seen by anyone. Mostly this discomfort is from not being comfortable with the internet and technology itself.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING IN THIS BLOG, IN THE PICTURES, OR IN THE VIDEOS, LET ME KNOW AND I WILL REMOVE THE CONTENT.

Though the videos are viewable by anyone, there is no other information attached to the videos. Someone watching the video would not be able to see anyone's name, address, phone number, hometown, or any other bit of personal information. They would only know what is in the video and nothing more.

Stalkers would not be able to find you from these videos. I am careful to not include personal information in them. Stalkers do not go online to become stalkers-- they are stalkers anyway.

The only way I can put this:

Don't flatter yourself into thinking someone wants you that badly.

News reports of internet stalkers are because of people who put personally identifiable information online so that the stalkers can find them.

You are more likely to become a victim of a stalker on the street and from someone you know or have dated than from an online stalker.

Your child is more likely to be abused or kidnapped by a family member or family friend than by a stranger.

Predators of children on the internet go after kids who communicate with the predator.

Stupid and irresponsible kids talk to strangers in the internet and become victims.

Stupid and irresponsible parents that don't communicate with their kids or know who their kids are talking to online have kids who become victims.

A YouTube video does not lead to stalkers, predators, or any other person you might fear.

This blog and the pictures in it can be viewed by the general public.

If you are concerned about YouTube videos, than your concerns are probably the same for this blog and the pictures in it.

There is no other way to have this blog, the videos, or the pictures online and to keep them private and only viewable to our family.

I have placed all of the family videos on YouTube and have marked each of them as private. No one else may see the videos on YouTube except me. The only other place to view the content is here on the family blog.

Here's a way you might be able to understand what I'm saying. Fear is most often irrational. People are afraid of things they should not be afraid of, and don't care about things they should fear.

No school bus had seatbelts. Every passenger car has seatbelts. Parents raise an uproar of anger and disbelief when they learn this. But here's the truth: your child is more likely to die in your car with you behind the wheel than on any school bus without seatbelts. A school bus is big and yellow, and cars notice it and stay away. A bus driver's only job is to drive safely. Meanwhile, parents speed through freeways and the city, talk on the cell phone, weave in and out of traffic, yell at the kids to stop talking, worry about getting to work on time, worry about what they have to do later, worry about the kids' homework, drive through yellow lights... Parents are distracted and refuse to abide by the law and by rules of safe driving.

I respect anyone's concerns. But I have no tolerance, one way or the other, for people who fear things they shouldn't and have no fear for things they should.

• --2,000-3,000 people die every year from workplace accidents, and even though everyone works, we are more afraid of terrorism-- terrorism that has only killed 3,000 civilian Americans in the last 100 years.

• --New York has twice been the victim of terrorism since 1990, but people in Iowa, Nebraska, Mississippi, Oregon and small towns like Santa Barbara are more afraid of being victims of terrorism themselves.

• --Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and other STD infection rates are on the rise, and yet we know people who continue to have unprotected sex-- because they think pregnancy is the only thing to fear.

• --Heart Disease is #1, Cancer is #2, Stroke is #3, and Diabetes is #6 on the list of the leading causes of death in the United States. And how many of us are over weight? How many of us smoke? How many of us exercise regularly? How many of us take vitamins? How many of us drink more than we should? How many of us go to the doctor regularly? How many of us sleep enough each night? How many of us put up with bad situations and abusive relationships at work and at home?

• And yet, we teach our kids more about being afraid of 'the scary man' than we do about all of these other things that can kill them.

What do we fear and why do we fear it? Why are we afraid of things that never happen to us when we should fear those things that happen to everyone around us?

If you are concerned about stalkers and predators, I will gladly take down the content here.

But at least be consistent with fear and show me you are concerned about things that will really affect you.

Third Saturday: January Edition

Ronny, Danny, lil David, Robert, Louie, Eric, and I showed up this time.

Ronny and Danny showed up at 9:45. They had to leave early because Danny had an appointment with a stylist. Danny’s got nice hair, so no barber could do it up right.

Robert and I were there about 10 sharp. Marina dropped off lil David about 5 minutes after. Louie showed up about 15 minutes later. Eric showed up 20 minutes after that. After the arrival times for Monica’s Birthday at Harry’s, I think this scientific study shows there’s truth to what we’ve said all along—call it earlier than you want it to happen, because people will be streaming in for a while.

After passing around the chisme, the funny stories about people we knew, and our own version of ‘The Big Idea’, we all left around 11:40 or so.

These breakfast gatherings are always good times, whether the groups are big or small. What’s nice is that people don’t feel like they have to go or like they are forced to go. Someone will always be there, and while breakfast alone gives you time to think, anyone else showing up helps make good conversation possible.

See y’all at the next Third Saturday breakfast (take a look at the calendar to find out when it is)—and hopefully sooner.

Birthday Appeal

Folks, I'ma level with you.... in a fun way.

As I said before, there are quite a few birth dates I do not have. I might have only two-thirds of all birthdays in our family on the calendar. There are more than 100 of us at last count (which may itself be off).

Take a look below. This is the spreadsheet I have been using to log the birthdays. Go over it and see if there are any birthdays missing, or if there are any incorrect dates. Between those of you who view The Herd semi-regularly, I'm sure most of the rest can be found.

January Birthdays, Updated Again

See what I mean.

Someday I hope to have all of the birthdays on the calendar. I think I'm up to about 60-70, which means there's only 30-40 more to go.

Here's the latest update:

• Abraham Fuentes (Joaquin's son), January 28

I'll update more as they come.

Uncle Larry Modlin Has Bypass Surgery

Uncle Larry Modlin had quadruple bypass surgery on January 7th. He is doing well, however, and should be home by now. Bypass surgery isn’t easy, and it isn’t fun, so wish him well.

Just in case you need it, here’s a refresher on bypass operations:

Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease. Arteries or veins from elsewhere in the patient's body are grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic narrowings and improve the blood supply to the coronary circulation supplying the myocardium (heart muscle). This surgery is usually performed with the heart stopped, necessitating the usage of cardiopulmonary bypass.

The terms single bypass, double bypass, triple bypass, quadruple bypass and quintuple bypass refer to the number of coronary arteries bypassed in the procedure.

A quadruple bypass means four vessels are bypassed.

A greater number of bypasses does not imply a person is "sicker," nor does a lesser number imply a person is "healthier."


Here’s the Wikipedia article in case you want to read up. And I’m sure Uncle Larry could tell you all about it. So could Joe Cook—with his quintuple (5), or was it sextuple (6), bypass a few years ago? Be careful mentioning SEX-tuple though, 'cuz he might get excited.

Get healthy, Uncle Larry, so you can come to Santa Barbara for another visit!

Alexiana's Moves

Of course you didn't think we took Monica to dinner without any entertainment, right?

After Harry's, we took her party to Gramma Connie's (woo!) for some cake from Jennine's Bakery (which is actually very good... thanks Robert and Renee!) and to watch Monica's year-old granddaughter Alexiana dance for us (woo again!).

Yup... we know how to party. Oakland's got nothing on us.

Here's a video of the entertainment, Alexiana and her moves...

Third Saturday Breakfast

Here's your reminder, Cousins.

THE THIRD SATURDAY BREAKFAST WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 @ 10AM AT THE MESA CAFE

Just had to put that in all caps and bold to eliminate any confusion. Remember, we changed it to Saturday for a reason... *points around the room*

See you then and there!

Updated: Martin's Birthday Video

Hey, everyone.

I know the quality on Martin's birthday video was poor, and it was hard to hear or read comments. So I went back and upped the quality. It's now a lot better.

Here it is below, and I changed it in the original post as well.

Monica's Birthday at Harry's

Our family is always fun, there’s no doubt about that. Monica’s birthday dinner at Harry’s seemed to take that seriously, because everyone seemed to enjoy him/herself on Saturday night.

26 people showed up: Monica, Renee, Chris, Raquel, Ryan, Alexiana, Esther (Chris’ Mom), Henry (Chris’ Dad), Robert, Gramma Connie, Linda, Manuel, Carmen, Eric, Lil Eric, Mija, Lizzy, Cindy Cook, Martin, Ty, Marina, Dolly, Bill, Marisa, Michelle, and I.

Here’s a few pictures in the Photo Album.

For those who didn’t go, here’s a few notable quotes from that night:

• --Singapore Slings for Linda, Manuel and Robert. As Robert said, “In honor of my godmother, Mija.” If you haven’t heard that story, ask someone. I’m not gonna put it up here…

• --First people (Monica and I) got to Harry’s at 5pm sharp. Folks were streaming in for the next 35 minutes. But the last group didn’t get there until just after 6. Everyone was wearing a watch. Maybe they’re just for looks, ‘cuz we all know how to tell time, right?

• --Gramma Connie likes to talk. But more than that, she just wants to know what’s going on. She was seated in the middle of the long table, where tradition says important people should sit (the ‘head of the table’ is a weird American thing the means you only have 2 people to talk to instead of 5 as you would in the middle). Thing is, she couldn’t hear the conversations at either end of the table.

• She was kinda pissed. So Renee commiserated, “I know, Gramma [I feel your pain]! See what happens when you have 13 kids and try to go to dinner with 50 people?!” We need to get a table shaped like a donut and put Gramma in a swivel chair in the middle so she can swing around and be part of EVERY conversation.

• --Monica had 2 glasses of wine. Folks asked her if she had brought a designated driver. She thought for a second and said, “Well, I brought David, so…. Never mind. I guess not.” Salene mentioned this in a comment to the post titled ‘Harry’s It Is’ by saying I needed to get my license so my Aunties could have a good time and still get home safely. I’m still laughing.

• --Carmen wanted to pay her bill, and she was asking for the ticket. Someone answered, “Hold on. They’re passing it around.” And Carmen said with excitement, “Oh! What are they passing around?!” Trying to hold back laughter, Renee said, “A joint.” Dolly threw in, “A mirror and a straw.” We love our Aunties, don’t we, Cousins?

Guest Post: Cold Sweats at 3am, Part I

Uncle Martin sent in this account of part of his day with the Triplets (Victoria, David and Jessica Gladish). This is really good times. The entire account is his. On a side note, this is exactly what we're looking for-- when you want to tell a story or say something, just send it in and I'll put it up.

Thanks, Uncle Martin!


All I wanted to do was take my son and the Triplets out for an easy afternoon bike ride and show them the sailors all over town, the big ship offshore and to prove to David that some of the sailors did indeed carry guns. Little did I know, we were in for much more then I ever thought possible.

Even before we left Marina's neighborhood little Jessica informed me she was hungry. I ignored her for I was expecting that from her. Secondly, Victoria then informs me her friend Sierra had a sibling who had a penis and a vagina-- I ignored her too. Were these signs of what the rest of our day would be like? Probably. But like Grandpa Sal, I couldn't help but get a kick outta them anyways.

Deciding to hit the breakwater first we headed over there as the tide was good and high, and the waves were sending heaping sprays of water over the wall (soaking all who chose to venture out to the sandbar to watch the brave surfers take off on great looking waves coming oh so close to the wall and rocks). So as we started, we parked our bikes near the Harbor Patrol office and headed out on our walk.

Well, as the waves crashed at the wall the first thing David and Victoria did was to try and hit each and every spray of water they could manage to get under. I mean some were a good 15 -20 ft. high, soaking all who got caught under them. Well, these 2 runts tried and managed to get soaked chasing each and every one they could get under. My son Ty was a halfway type of guy, dodging some and hitting others.

While little Jessica appeared to be traumatized by the sight of water spraying up some 20 ft, thinking would be swept off the walkway. I assured her that with me protecting her it would not happen. Holding my hand the whole way she barely got a sprinkle on her.

Finally at the end of the breakwater, we made it to where the surfers were (which I wanted them to see, but the little shits were not interested). Ty, David and Vicky were intent on getting even more soaked then they already were.

While I screamed at Victoria to get off the wall she decided to sit on, I soon saw David attempting to stand on the damned wall, to which I informed him, “That will never happen,” and to get his little ass down, “NOW!”

Soaked as they were, we headed out even further out to almost the tip of the sandbar, where they were practically touching the passing boats cruising in and out of the harbor.

Almost at my wit’s end by now, I called for an end to this dangerous situation and brought them all back to where our bikes were. The first thing Victoria says is, "I'm cold." To which I responded, "Well what the hell did you expect? Now you will learn about the consequences of your actions. Now get on your bike and let's go (damn it!)."

And that was just the first part. I gotta go now, but the second and third parts will be available later this afternoon. You won't want to miss them so tune in later-- you won't be disappointed.

Bye…..damn it.


Martin said he may not finish with Parts II and III. I hope you enjoyed his Guest Post. Let's see if we can get more in here!

Welcome to the World, Little One

Here's the word, sent by Rosa Rodriguez, Laura's mom:

• Andrew Michael Cook
• January 07, 2008
• 3:15 p.m.
• 8 lbs 7ozs
• 20 1/2 inches long

According to the University of Michigan's Health Center, the average birth weight and length of a newborn in the US is 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 20 inches long. Yup, this one's on the bulkier side. Not for nothing, but who knew Papas would have such a big baby? Well, Laura did do the heavy lifting, so to speak.

All, give him a warm welcome. And take a look at the pictures provided by Rosa in the Photo Album, or just click here.

January Birthdays, Updated

I forgot to include Cousin Candy in the birthday list for January-- sorry!

Here's the updated list:

• Leah Hernandez, January 1

• Martin Hernandez (Sr), January 2
  

• Marisa Arellanes (Scoob!), January 2
  

• Monica Modlin, January 8
  

• Manuel 'Duke' Romero, January 15

• Cousin Candy Diaz, January 15
  

• Sonia Aspuria, January 19
  

• Natalie Hernandez, January 22

• Malaya Aspuria, January 29

• Salene Castaneda, January 30
  

• Bill Arellanes, January 31

As I've written before, if you have anything to say, or want to add birthdays to my short list, just let me know!

Harry's It Is!

If you take a look at what I wrote yesterday, you might notice that someone left a comment (click on '1 comment' at the bottom of yesterday's post and the comment will open up).

Looks like Monica has decided to go to Harry's!

But take a look at the comment anyway. He or she has some words for y'all..... funny words.

May or May Not....

Monica turns 54 today (woo!) and there have been some discussions on what to do. Oprah turns 54 today too but who knows what she'll be doing.

Well, here's the maybes:

Folks may or may not take Monica to dinner on Friday night. Monica says things have been busy, and since 54 isn't a big number, she could take it or leave it.

Take it! Take it! Take it!

They may or may not go to Jill's Place (Shalhoob's). Jill doesn't take reservations of groups more than 8, and there's about 12 people on the short list.

So, they may or may not go to Harry's, where the food is mediocre but the drinks are stiff.

What's that mean for everyone? Not a whole lot, but wish her happy birthday anyway!

Any Minute Now...

... if it hasn't happened already.

Last night, the doctor induced labor on Laura. Today is her due date, so I guess the doc wanted his guess to be right on.

I haven't heard anything since this morning, and she may have had the baby by now. As soon as I hear anything different, I will let y'all know.

For now, we wait with Papas and Laura.

January Birthdays

Apologies for being a few days late (Happy Birthday to Leah, Martin and Scoob!).

Here are the January Birthdays (quite a few, in fact... what were y'all doing every October? No holidays, no change of seasons.... )

• Leah Hernandez, January 1

• Martin Hernandez (Sr), January 2
  

• Marisa Arellanes (Scoob!), January 2
  

• Monica Modlin, January 8
  

• Manuel 'Duke' Romero, January 15

• Sonia Aspuria, January 19
  

• Natalie Hernandez, January 22

• Malaya Aspuria, January 29

• Salene Castaneda, January 30
  

• Bill Arellanes, January 31
  

One birthday for every Tuesday in the month, and there are 5 Tuesdays in January-- if y'all planned that, you're good... you're pretty damned good... ;)

Here's the Calendar. Wish 'em well, folks!

Martin's 50th

Uncle Martin-- You made it!

50 years around the sun, and all is well.

Here's a little video of the day's happenings. I wish the sound was better, but you should be able to figure out the dialogue. Enjoy!