Friday, August 31, 2007

Calabasas Visit


We were in Southern California this weekend for Sharokin and Jeanette's wedding. On Friday night we drove up from San Diego to Calabasas to visit David, Natalia, Camila, and Diego Grijalva. We hadn't seen David and Nati since they came to visit the Bay Area one year ago. We had a great time - it's amazing how much the kids have grown up since I last saw them in 2004!
Here's Nati with Camila. Click here for more photos.
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Dineo is 6 weeks today!

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Dani and Hannah

Here's a picture from Hannah's visit earlier this week.
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Thursday, August 30, 2007

Intolerance

Indulge me for a moment as I’m compelled to weigh in on the Larry Craig saga. While some may believe that religion is the cause of most conflict and misery in the world, I attribute it to intolerance: Intolerance to differences in ethnicity, gender, beliefs, and yes, sexual orientation. Intolerance drives people to hate, to discriminate, and to acts of violence. Sadly, the most self-righteous people on this planet can be the most intolerant. In the cases of Larry Craig and Ted Haggard, their intolerance of their own sexual orientation drove them to public lives of hypocrisy.

I can only imagine the internal conflict – believing so deeply that a behavior is sinful and vile and then committing those very acts after the sermon. The ensuing guilt then drove them to even more extreme rhetoric, in the bizarre logic that somehow the proselytizing would be penance for a previous night’s hedonistic indulgence. They each must have lived in a constant state of fear knowing their self-destruction was inevitable. What a pathetic life.

I’m sad for Larry Craig and Ted Haggard because of the misery they and their loved ones are going through. But I’m also sad for all of us because of a missed opportunity. The Larry Craigs and Ted Haggards of the world could have built a bridge of tolerance and understanding, creating a basis for a more enlightened discussion on family values and personal freedoms. Instead they chose to burn that bridge at every turn even though each of them would ultimately need that bridge to be understood and accepted.

We’re faced with so many important issues in the world right now that I can only hope Larry Craig’s travails will put an end to the political platforms of intolerance.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Battle of Kruger


This is the most amazing nature video I've ever seen -- and it was taken by a lucky tourist on safari with a camcorder! Thanks to John Ellis (a schoolmate from Libala) for sending this url my way.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Dineo turns 1 month old!



Dineo turnd 1 month old last Monday. Unfortunately, she was too sick to smile.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Carousel


We went to see Carmichael Blankenship's final performance as Billy Bigelow in "Carousel" at Foothill College this afternoon. Here's CJ with his mom and dad. Click here to see CJ's upcoming performances.
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Saturday, August 18, 2007

My Three Sweeties


Dani is 15 months today and Dineo turned 4 weeks yesterday.
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Montgomery Family Visit


Susan, Robert, Tara, and Weston Montgomery are in town from Burbank. Here's Robert with Dani. Click here for more photos.
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Friday, August 17, 2007

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Good Ate


Dineo turned three weeks old yesterday. Here her ate (big sister) makes sure she's well fed.
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Saturday, August 04, 2007

Halton's First Birthday Party

This afternoon we celebrated Halton's first birthday in Fremont. Here's Halton with his proud parents Abigail and Mike. Click here for more photos.
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Dineo is 2 weeks old!

 


Dineo turned 2 weeks old yesterday. Here she is smiling for the camera.
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