Along the trail

On the San Gabriel River, near the entrance to the National Forest, this new sign marks the bike trail. 37.5 miles south near where the river ends by dumping itself into the Pacific Ocean, this bird watches carefully while standing on one foot.

Jane's Good Report

To quote an e-mail I got today from my mom:

"Today we got the call from the Dr. who did my colonoscopy. They said there was no evidence of cancer and they would re-call me in three years."

This is good news, and we are grateful and learning to take life day-by-day.

Discovery Channel Team for TdCalifornia

Michael Barry, Janez Brajkovic, Tom Danielson, Viatchslev Ekimov, Vladimir Gusev, George Hincapie, Jason McCartney, and Paolo Savoldelli

Happy Birthday, Audrey!

Audrey, Mom-Doris, and I went to lunch yesterday to celebrate Audrey's birthday. We had a fun visit together. Audrey's official birthday is the 26th. We talked about birthday celebrations and cards and all that. We talked about going to lunch to celebrate each other's birthdays instead of having the family meal/birthday thing. [Beth - you are always invited, too, even though distance may be a deterrent]. Perhaps the family birthday celebrations are changing form as time goes by and kids grow older, at least until another generation appears (with Brianna leading the way).

We did discuss the continued importance of sharing meals and time together as family. That does take some purposeful intention to make it happen. So, perhaps just getting together every now and then for a meal would be good, without gifts/cards/attention to the birthday person. Of course, Christmas Eve at Mom Pete's (Gramma Pete's) will remain a nice tradition. And of course, we will continue to gather for her birthday as well! Glen & I will continue to celebrate my parents birthdays (Jan. 10 & 18), too, when they are in town for Christmas.

Any opinions?

Looking for something to do with your SPAM?

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: SPAM HASHBROWN BAKE
Categories: Main dish
Yield: 8 Servings

1.00 pk Frozen hashbrown potatoes,
-thawed slightly (32 oz)
0.50 c Butter or margarine, melted
1.00 t Salt
1.00 t Pepper
0.50 t Garlic powder
2.00 c Shredded Cheddar cheese
1.00 cn SPAM Luncheon Meat, cubed
-(12 oz)
1.00 cn Cream of chicken soup
-(10 3/4 oz)
1.50 c Sour cream
0.50 c Milk
0.50 c Chopped onion
0.25 c CHI-CHI's Diced Green
-Chilies, drained
2.00 c Crushed potato chips

Heat oven to 350'F. In large bowl, combine potatoes, melted butter,
salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In another bowl, combine cheese,
SPAM, soup, sour cream, milk, onion, and green chilies. Add SPAM
mixture to potato mixture; mix well. Pour into 2-quart baking dish.
Sprinkle with potato chips. Bake 45-60 minutes or until thoroughly
heated.

MMMMM

Sounds good, I have not tried it. Let me know if you do.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

I reflected today on how I've worked in the past year to solve conflict in peaceful ways and how I've sought ways to understand the minority experience with compassion and understanding. I was also challenged within to continue to pursue peace in my world and promote racial reconciliation day-to-day. I think in the year ahead I'll continue to learn from friends who have encountered a different side of life, read Uncle Tom's Cabin for the first time, learn more about something called the "Justice Journey," and maybe get to visit the underground railroad museum in Cincinnati someday soon. If I don't consider how I can work for justice with purpose, it will elude me. I also want to stand up to others that make racist stereotyped comments or jokes in my presence. As I reflect on what I respect about the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., I know I have more to learn.

We saw "Glory Road" movie over the weekend. I enjoyed the story so much. Many have said it is just another "Remember the Titans" (which I did not see), but I found it encouraging, entertaining, and enlightening. It is a story about a coach who recruited and played black basketball players for a college team back in the '60s and all the problems that created. The coach and the team went on to victory on a variety of levels and opened the doors of opportunity. During the credits, I enjoyed the headshots of the actual players the movie was about as they gave their comments about the time, including Pat Riley (former Laker coach). That was also very interesting.

More news from the Wilson home

Garth ... fell off his bike going down Turnball Canyon last Friday and has been nursing his wounds. His arm is doing well, but his leg will need a few more days to heal. It was quite swollen last night.

From an email from Audrey

Man wounded in afternoon drive-by shooting in Whittier

Just yards from Audrey's classroom.

Audrey sends this by email:

"Did you see the front page of the Daily News today? There was a man shot on Bailey. It was about 6 feet from my car! The police came and roped off the area etc. and we were on lockdown until 3:40 or so. When my kids heard the shots they asked me what it was. I said maybe fireworks! They were very calm and played quietly in the room having a marvelous time! I praise God for His protection to all the kids at school and for my car. No bullet holes :) ! "

This is the article from the Whittier Daily News by Staff Writer Sandy Mazza, click here.


Jeanne Brees, above, puts pressure on the gunshot wound of Ronald Rawley, 51, of Whittier. Rawley, who was walking on Bailey Street in Whittier, was shot after a verbal altercation with a passing car, police said. (Photos by Keith Durflinger / Staff)

Brianna and Mama Jane's Card

Brianna was very excited to get mail from MamaJane especially the confetti and sticker. Later that day when asked what the card said she said, "Love Mama Jane." We are all so lucky.

Note from Team CSC

Team CSC will race in the inaugural Tour of California.

That will include Americans Bobby Julich, a bronze medal winner in the 2004 Olympics, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie.

The whole team will be training in Solvang prior to the Tour. More information here.

Upcoming TV Broadcasts of "Cultural" Events

For those of us who enjoy such events to some degree, here are some dates and details to note on your planning calendars. I like watching these events. I like the Super Bowl mainly for the commercials.

Super Bowl XL
Sunday, February 5, 2006
Detroit, MI
Start Time: 6:00 EST (3:00 in California)

2006 Winter Olympics/Torino
Opening Ceremony
Friday, February 10, 2006
8:00-Midnight ET/PT

2006 Winter Olympics/Torino
Closing Ceremony
Sunday, February 26, 2006
7:00-11:00 ET/PT

The 78th Academy Awards
Sunday, March 5, 2006
Hollywood, CA
Start Time: 5:00 PST
Host: Jon Stewart

my exci... er, life.

occasionally, i wake up in a funk. for reasons not immediately, nor sometimes even eventually apparent, i simply do not feel well. one of my favorite emotionally cathartic activities when i awake in this mode, is browsing for music at various record stores. i do not always purchase music, but often i put up a weak defense against the urge to bring home new compact discs. this week's anodyne has been provided by Del the Funkee Homosapien, "Digable Planets" and the late sixties band, "love." good stuff.

i picked up a course catalog for rio hondo for next semester. i'd like to give school another shot, and see if something, anything gets me fired up again. slingin' pie is not the vocation to which most children, or ambitious individuals would aspire.

did anyone see kobe score 50 the other day? he was on fire!

recommended: "munich."

My exciting life--updated

Today, I went to the dentist. No cavities.

Monday, I go to Pennsylvania (Washington, near Pittsburgh) snow and rain forcast for the next few days.

UPDATE: the weather report looks better for now.

26 miles on the bicycle yesterday, 80 plus degrees.

Brown-Out New Year's Day

At about 11:00 on January 2, our TV went off and the lights went dim. It stayed that way until around midnight. We unplugged major electrical items, manually lit the gas stove to make soup, beans, and hot dogs for lunch, and camped out. Friends Jeff & Erica were over. We had an old-fashioned day by the fire...reading, naps, played a game, snacked, scrapbooked, and talked. No music. No TV. We did manage to watch the Rain Pa---I mean Rose Parade prior to this. Many days I cry out for a simpler time, but I almost got bored in the mood lighting. Lots of candles were safely burning, too. I think being over 40 makes it a challenge to read in low light anyway. At sunset, we walked to Jeff & Erica's (a block away) for pizza and a DVD. Their power was fine. The storm was something else! The wind was so strong at times, I was ready to see if our house had fallen on the wicked witch. Glad it was a holiday. Since we both us computers for work, that could have been a problem.