FOR TOM

Zosia

2007-02-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

Well, it's not yet for sure, but it appears that the cancer treatment that Zosia went through for this relapse worked. She is going for more tests to her oncologist next week, but my dad didn't sound very hopeful.

I guess that's the part that is most sad. I don't know what he would do without her. And I don't know what I will do when he's left alone and so far away.

Somehow I know this would come one day...

He wants to discuss with me their estate and how things should be taken care of when neither of them is around. He mentioned that he's leaving everything to Little Tom - You Tom! The house in the woods included. I guess I should plan a trip out there very soon to have these discussions and how to manage things.

In some weird way, I am grateful that he is this open about things and wants to settle things while still in full capacity. I wish my mom was this way, but of course all this brings up the anger I have for her for sort of putting me in this position to begin with. I almost want her to be the one to go back and take care of him if Zosia is no longer around.

family get together yesterday - 10/28 = part three

2006-10-29T20:04:00.000-08:00

Cousin Ryan in our kitchen -

family get together yesterday - 10/28 = part two

2006-10-29T19:48:00.000-08:00

family get together yesterday - 10/28

2006-10-29T19:43:00.000-08:00

2006-10-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

Here is Tom on YouTube - one of his own skate videos:

Enjoy!

Dad resting after another trip

2006-10-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

Here's dad resting after a trip back East and before going to Arizona next week

2006-10-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sick at home watching TV on - Boy and his dog!

Broken wrist - again

2006-10-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

One more time! October 15, 2006 - one month before his birthday! Skateboarding and falling!

SAT scores and my own rant

2006-03-13T09:38:00.000-08:00

In the last week or so, I read in the news that the College Board screwed on the scores on thousands of SAT scores.

First of all, given the state of today's technology, I don't understand how that could happen!

But more importantly, what kind of message does this send to the students who took the test? That the grown ups can't even figure out how to score it correctly, is an understatement.

Personally, I am against these types of tests anyway. Tom tends to have low scores on various standardised tests, and yet has very good grades and a great relationship with his teachers and other students. How do you test for things like leadership and good attitude, which in my opinion are far more important to succeed in today's society and high math scores.

He also does really well in things like video production and multimedia, which don't come into any kind of evaluation on SAT's.

We tend to try to put kids into a "box" to standardize them and catagorize, instead of evaluating each on his or her special individual merits, attitudes, and abilities.

I am all for totally abolishing all the standardized tests, including the SAT's.

The Oscars

2006-03-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

I love watching the Oscars - I don't really know why, I just do!
Last night was the 78th Oscar gala, and I missed the first part, but enjoyed the rest. Jon Stewart was pretty good, in his cerebral way.

So, my comments - there was something very wrong with the teleprompter - they all had problems with it, and it made it hard for someone as classy as Lauren Bacall screw up! I don't know what the problem was, but fix it for next time!

There was almost no outrageousness at all! Kind of sad, in a way, no controversial presenters with some weird agenda - even the penguin stuffed toys were pretty low key!

I am really impressed with how George Clooney has matured - he's a reall Hollywood King now, almost at the level of Clark Gable, with Gable's nonchalant manner and class - good job!

And a great comment on Huffington blog:
"Salman Rushdie: 100% Correct"I predicted all the winners," Salman Rushdie tells me, "and when Jack Nicholson appeared to present the Best Picture award, I knew it wasn't going to be Brokeback Mountain. The world won't let Nicholson give the award to a 'gay' movie."

Back on

2006-03-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

So, I know I have been remiss in writing in the last few months, but it has been pretty wild. Meaning, going through what can only be classified as a HOSTILE TAKE OVER of my company to starting my new venture with VIRAGO! By the way - VIRAGO merchandise is available for purchase here -VIRAGO STUFF - you can even purchase thong panties with our new logo on them, kind of appropriate!

VIRAGO -the name came to me from Word of the Day on GOOGLE - it means shrew, harpie, amazon, bitch, dragon, she-devil, tigress, spitfire - so take your pick!

Anyway, now, although some think I should try to simply get a new job, I decided to go an raise funds from VC's and really get VIRAGO off the ground, hire good engineers, and move on this.

I am more and more convinced also, that becoming an MVNO in the end will also be something I should try for!

2005-11-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

A boy and his dog... So happy together!

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FIRST OPEN HOUSE

2005-10-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to our first High School open house. So what can I say... It's been a while since I sat in a high school gym!

Teachers all seem good, except for the Spanish teacher who reminded me of my old social studies teacher, a retired old army guy trying to be hip with the young kids. One main exception is that this guy is a condescending (think of an appropriate substitution for jerk).

Really liked the math teacher... UC Berkley graduate, one of those guys that you know will look out for you if you just ask for the help...

I think he'll (that is Tom Jr.) will be ok..

2005-10-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

Before the cast came off - note all the "graffitti" from friends!

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PIEROGI

2005-10-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

Today Tom Sr. decided to challange his cooking abilities. He decided to make Tom Jr. meat pierogi, his favorite thing to eat when we were in Poland in August.

Pierogi is a Polish type of Ravioli. The type stuffed with meat are not as well known in the US. Young Tom likes his with sauted onions in butter poured over them.

So here is Tom (Dad) with one of the Pierog in hand - poor guy worked very hard at this all day! It's hard work, because you have to make the dough and roll it out as thin as possible. Then you stuff with the meat mixture and boil.

Tom invited a couple of the neighborhood boys over, and they loved them! Who would have thought it - California skaters enjoying Pierogi cooked by our Mexican dad.

SPAS

2005-10-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to a friend's wife's SPA opening in Down Town San Diego. Personally, I love the idea of going someplace to get pampered, get a massage and sit in a warm sauna for while and just relax and unwind.

The problem is that you usually have to spend quite a bit of money for that one hour of relaxation, and then you immediately walk out and it's gone! And all of the day's stresses seem almost more intensified than they were before. Even some of the people at the party last night mentioned that to me. You leave the spa, and get in your car and fight traffic going home. By the time you get back, start dealing with kids, husbands/wives, work, bills, all of the relaxation is GONE!

I guess that's a pretty sad statement on our lives over all. We need to go someplace and pay money to "relax" which must mean that we're unable to get to that state on our own anymore and then to maintain it for yourself for any period of time.

2005-10-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

Fmily by lord Nelson

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2005-10-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

Prince Charles laying the wreath on VJ day - London

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2005-10-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

On one of Lord Nelson's lions

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2005-10-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

still Portobello

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2005-10-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

same

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2005-10-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

More in the flea market by the skatepark - that's the Pattern Recognition Portobello area!

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2005-10-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Not much more to say here

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2005-10-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sign by the skatepark - just our type of place!

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2005-10-08T19:53:00.001-07:00

At Sherlock Holmes Hotel - Tom got a cot

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