HAPPY NEW YEAR! '08

And the years keep on Piling.

Today is Friday and I do not think that I am going to have a moment to rest or sit down till about Tuesday Morning.
Our Restaurant is gearing for the New Year's Eve. For us that begins today.
The club will be open today, Saturday and Monday. Van Halen is doing a concert today and Sunday of all days. It is not sold out but it will still bring in a good crowd.
Santa was good to me and everyone in the family, though after thinking about it, I think we could have used that money and: gone to Europe for Christmas, buy a ranch somewhere in Mexico, Put a down payment on a car. Re-do our yard. Nonetheless it was a good Christmas.
Olivia and Anthony got a Wii from Santa (wink, wink) We could not find one here in town so, "Auntie Debba" had to purchase them in San Francisco for everyone in the family. Now we all have a Wii to play with wherever we may be visiting them, whether in S.F., Virginia or here.
May all your wishes come true this coming year.
Till Tuesday... or after.

BENAZIR BHUTTO

The first thing that came to my mind after hearing of Bhutto's assassination was that the current "president" was behind the assassination.
That was a quick, "lets blame someone mentality" which is so easy to do.
However, when you look at the political situation in Pakistan, Lebanon or any other country where an authoritarian leader faces opposition from more liberal or pro-democracy movements, those who end up getting assassinated are the ones who pursue an agenda of freedom and democracy.
Everyone is expressing "shock and condemnation" now, as if they hadn't seen it coming. Perhaps Bhutto saw it coming as well and like sheep to the slaughter house, she returned to Pakistan after being in exile.
Soon enough they will capture some low ranking militant from some extremist group, blame them and hang them for everyone to see and that will be the end of the story. Our current administration will continue to send millions of dollars to Pakistan and it will be as if nothing happened.
Who will be next and where?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to you all.
Wherever you are and whomever you are, whomever you pray to, may the lord rain his blessings on you and keep you healthy safe and happy.

ONCE AGAIN!!

I am enjoying a well deserved time off from work. Our restaurant is closed and will not re-open till Friday. That means I am not doing much other than resting, shopping, eating and trying to keep sane amongst the craziness of the season. Melissa has done well with keeping up after every one's shopping list. I have merely been the bag carrier from store to car. The end is near though, a few more things to buy and then it should all be over before I return to work.

Tuesday I am driving to L.A. to a wake. A cousin of mine, whom I grew up with as a kid, passed away. He had to be about my age. It is quite sad given to the season and the fact that he is survived by his wife and a couple of kids. I had not seen him for a few years and it just so happens that I saw him last month when I went to L.A. for the "Quinceaniera", where he was catering the party. We did talk, reminisced about our time in L.A. then about a couple of weeks after that, he fell at home, went into a coma and just last Friday he passed.
As I have personally learned, life goes on.....
No matter what.

Santa Run- Guinness World Record?

Last Saturday I dressed up in a Santa outfit and joined about 7500 other Santas in Downtown Vegas. We set out to break a world record of gathering Santas, I believe previous record held by the city of London. Not sure if we broke the record yet. I checked Guinness website and did not find anything.
After the gathering, there was a 5K run through the streets of Downtown Vegas. It was quite a spectacle to see that many "Running Santas". SO I hope you enjoy the pictures.