Girl on Girl Dodgeball

Brought to you by Salene and Candy

A Fundraiser for Bay Area Girls Athletics




Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejlqiOK6gc

Saving People From Themselves

Because I know we've all been frustrated at one time or another trying to get someone to make things better, here's a song a few years old that resounds with that theme.

Something made me think of it this past week, and I wish things got better for this person.

I hope you can appreciate the message.

Baby Christopher Jaimes

Here is a note from Dolly sent in this morning at 10am:


Right now, as I write this, Christopher is in surgery for the third time so the surgeons can repair his hernia. Could you put this on the blog and ask others to pray that the surgery is a success so that this will be the last time he will have to endure this pain. Thank you.



Pray for him, folks.


.

One Of Our Own In The Midst Of History

Go Christian, in Washington DC for the Inauguration:


Below, with U2's Bono:



At the National Mall during preparations for the 'We Are One' concert:

http://sbmsteenpress.org/5-dc-04.html


Interviewing Jesse Jackson on Inauguration Day:

http://sbmsteenpress.org/5-dc-30.html#anchoriDay?linkSource=edhat.com


See more from Christian and his fellow members of the Santa Barbara Teen Press (a part of the Santa Barbara Middle School) covering history in our nation's capital here:

http://sbmsteenpress.org/5-dc-00.html

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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!