Family Billiards: The Hustle's In The Genes

The day after Thanksgiving, some of the Fam went to play pool together at Don Q's. Salene sent me some great pics of the happenings. Here's what Salene has to say:


My mom has been wanting to shoot pool for a long time now. I promised I would take her the next time I came to S.B., so here we are at Don Q's on Chapala. It was a good time :)

My mom hasn't played in decades and I play weekly. I have competed in tournaments all over the Bay Area and in Las Vegas. First game against my mom, just like she said she would, she whooped my butt. I liked it :) Actually I think it is in the blood, because all the cousins were shooting really well... even lil Megan who has never shot before!


So who showed up? Auntie Rosie, Megan, Salene, Candy, Bosco, Ronny, Wolf, and one of the guys' friends.

After that, I think I'ma take my nina Rosie to some out-of-town pool halls and hustle some cash ;)

Thanks Salene for the pics!

Here's the album.

Update on Ronny

Arrests have been made. Read below from the Santa Barbara Daily Sound, a local daily newspaper...


Arrests Made in Stabbing at Local Strip Club

Santa Barbara Police have arrested two men who they say stabbed a man three times in the parking lot of Spearmint Rhino in October, after the man they originally attempted to assault escaped...


Click on the headline for the rest of the story.

How Lucky Are We

I was reminded by a comment Salene left in the 'Update on Ronny' post. She said:

"we are the luckiest family i know. very fortunate and protected."

That statement is, pardon the pun, dead-on.

We are truly the most fortunate family I know. There are over 100 of us, and we defy the percentages that say we should have been hit with tragedy at least dozens of times. The population of California, the US, and the world sees heartache more than we do-- by far.

Though we have lost loved ones, they left us with indelible marks of love, respect, and an assurance in their goodness. By whatever means-- Gramma Connie's prayers and God's protection, knowledge to take caution and care, or by pure chance and happenstance-- we have been proven fortunate.

Just in case you needed a story to accompany this, here's a little tidbit on one of us who happens to walk in the shadow of angels...

• Ronny is more lucky than we realize.

• When he was an adult for nary a couple years, he drove to work at 3am from Lompoc to the UPS center in Goleta. One morning, Ronny, tired from the odd hours, dozed off and fell asleep at the wheel. Word is he woke up on a stretcher, after his car overturned, and with Ronny thrown from the car.

• A few years later, when Ronny was working for a tree-trimming company, a bad combination of chain-saws, branches, and height caused him to fall. As his brother Matt tells it, he fell from the tree, onto the roof of the house. And then from the roof of the two-story house onto the ground below.

• As we know, Ronny was stabbed three times in an unprovoked attack just a few weeks ago.

• After all this, he is otherwise healthy. No lost limbs, he walks, and there's not much left besides a few scars to serve as a reminder.

I'd say we're lucky. And some of us are more luck than others.

Update on Ronny

Ronny was released from the hospital last Tuesday. He's doing well.

He is recovering, and if you see the zipper of staples on that scar the doctors gave him, you'll see why he's not quite 100 percent.

He'll be out of work for a bit, and Cal Trans has been accommodating to him.

As of a couple of days ago, no arrests have been made. But they are building evidence and, according to the Police and Mayor, have a list of suspects.

Wish him well, y'all.

BREAKING: RONNY IN HOSPITAL AFTER SURGERY

Last night, while with a group of friends, Ronny and the group were caught in a verbal exchange with another group near Downtown Santa Barbara. A scuffle ensued, and Ronny's group ran, while Ronny was left behind getting jumped by the other group.

Ronny was stabbed three times in the back.

He went into a nearby establishment, where personnel phoned 911. Ronny was taken to Cottage Hospital where exploratory surgery was performed to determine if any vital organs had been damaged.

He exited surgery at 7:45 this morning, at which point he gave his friend Andrea permission to phone Marina and Gramma Connie.

All signs are that his vital organs were not hit. Word is that he has a slash wound from his lower rib to the front of his abdomen. He is in a lot of pain, but is otherwise doing fine.

Close call, folks. Let's be glad it wasn't more serious, and keep praying for all of our safety every day.

UPDATE: The abdomen wound is actually an incision across the front of his abdomen made by the surgeon-- this is how they went in to check on the status of his internal organs.

UPDATE: Word is that Ronny will be at Cottage for about a week.

What Can Brown Do For Us?

The question asked in the poll was how many cousins have worked for UPS. Though there were only 3 votes, you can see where the thinking is. Most people can name a few, but not more than a half-dozen people. Whether the experiences are good, bad, or just a blip on the resume, UPS has employed far too many of our family members.... just kidding.

So here's how the voting came up:

2 people think that 4-6 cousins have worked for UPS

1 person thinks that 7-9 cousins have worked for UPS


And here is the list I have... 9 cousins in all:

- Renee Jaimes: Counter/Office Clerk (still with UPS)

- Lizzy Cook: Counter Clerk (separation due to injury)

- Trina Garcia: Data Clerk (still with UPS)

- Ronny Hernandez: AM Handler (voluntary separation)

- David Esparza: Supervisor (voluntary separation)

- Matt Hernandez: Data Clerk (still with UPS)

- Robert 'Bosco' Cook: PM Handler (voluntary separation)

- Ray Aspuria: Package Driver (cousins by marriage are still cousins; still with UPS)

- Chris Jaimes: Feeder Driver (cousins by marriage are still cousins; still with UPS)


So that's 9 I have. Not to mention all those other people we're related to, and those people who the family knows from way back when. And those we're connected to for weird reasons: like how Dolly dated a guy who's dad dated Gramma Connie, and both guys are related to a guy who works for UPS.

Either our family is too big, or this town is too small. Because this shows that you can't even get a job without bumping into someone you're related to.

Congrats to the person who voted in the '7-9 Cousins' option.

September Birthdays

Here's what I have, and it's likely a lot less, and not as accurate, as the real thing...


- Danny Hernandez, September 5

- Ronny Hernandez, September 19

- Richard Hernandez (Sr), September 23

- Renee Jaimes, September 25

- Victor Hernandez (Sr), September 30


Apologies to Reina Hernandez, and the twins David and Jessica Gladish: I know your birthdays are in September, I just don't know when! Here's the calendar for September (click on link).

Business Weekly Spotlight: Hernandez Tree Care

This week we're taking a look at 'Hernandez Tree Care' run by our very own Ron/Ronny/Ronald/Ron-Dawg Hernandez.

Though mostly a side business for him, Ronny has been running this business for several years now. A look at the Yellow Pages ad will tell you all the things 'Hernandez Tree Care' can handle for residential and commercial jobs:

* Dead Wooding
* Land Cleared for Fire Protection
* Planting
* Preservation
* Pruning
* Removal
* Surgery
* Transplanting
* Trimming
* View Clearing


Ronny has experience in tree trimming and removal, working for other companies in the past while building his skills and knowledge of the trade. There's a lot more to it than hacking away at a branch-- just ask Ronny and he'll tell you plenty.

If you ever call him for a job, just look for the white truck and the green ad on the side announcing the arrival of 'Hernandez Tree Care.'

Hernandez Tree Care
Ron Hernandez, Owner
805-570-9034.