Nephew Corey Nambounmy is In the Army Now

Corey is in Army Boot Camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina where their motto is "Victory Starts Here" and rope climbing replaces cable TV. In boot camp - you start by learning basic skills like crawling backwards, up hill and under barbed wire. Something you will want to be very good at if you plan to escape from prison or slip past a really tough boss. How nice of the Army to supply a photographer so all the boots can show their proud families their new tricks.

In the pic to the left Corey shows great composure as he attempts to negotiate this horizontal rope suspended 10 feet in the air. The look on his face is confident and notice how his left leg dangles to provide just the right balance. This is another important skill to learn just in case you can't get that last pair of pants off the clothes line.

Infamous Army Quotations

No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country.
He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.
Attributed to General George Patton Jr.

Welcome Joseph Michael Trezek - April 22, 2013

Another sweet bundle of joy joins the extended family thanks to a well timed stork and scheduled OBGYN. Modern health care is so amazing. It won't be too many more years until there are drive though delivery units... beep twice for a boy and three times for a girl. And on your way home stop next door for a latté and smart water. Hydration will still be all the rage.

We wish Joseph, Joey, JoJo, and all the other things people will call him in his life a smooth journey. In his father's own words, life is what you make of it. We know his loving family will give him every opportunity to blossom into the very best man he can be. Andrew and I will be around to watch as his little life unfolds.

The world seems like a harsh and dangerous place these days but it isn't any more so than it was back in the 1950's when I was just a sprout. The only difference is that we didn't have instant global news communication so we didn't know what was happening over there. We grew up enjoying the good things around us... the love of family and friends and of course the hardship of walking ten miles through the snow to school each day. Oh wait... that was Lincoln wasn't it.

So Happy Birthday Joseph Michael Trezek - Welcome to the family. We look forward to meeting you in person and telling you funny secrets about your dad.

Happy Lao New Year

Andrew and his family are deep in Lao New Year celebrations. By the Buddhist calendar this begins the year of 2556. The photo album is on the way.

The North Koreans are helping to celebrate by decorating their senior officers in the traditional North Korean style. The medals may seem a bit ostentatious but they serve a practical purpose. Under one of those medals is a GPS device so the monarch can know where they are, or at least where their pants are. at any given moment. Under one of the other medals is a tiny bomb which can be triggered by Un himself in the event a general gets a little too independent... hence the look of unquestioned loyalty on the generals faces.

Spring is Barbra's First Bloom

And yes, it smells as lovely as it looks. Less than 2 months from bare root planting to first bloom. We know now that spring is indeed here. This hybrid tea rose is an example of some of the best that mankind can deliver. Simple, sweet and imparts images of love and kindness. I can't decide whether to take the first bloom into the house or let it mature and evolve on the vine.

The spring of 2013 brings us many firsts. My first mortgage just refinanced at 2.9% and thanks to HARP, with no hassles and little paper work. The Catholics saw the first pope in 600 years step down and then elected a new pope, the first non European and allegedly, the first to be certified to have never had a 12 year old alter boy. We are also experiencing the first time that North Korea's egomaniacal dictator has convinced us that his petty attempts at intimidation are indeed a threat, to the region and to the world, and significant enough to cost the American taxpayers a billion or more to defend. Where is Reagan with his 'star wars' when you need 'em. Seems Kim Jong Un hasn't had his full 15 minutes of fame yet and will continue pressing until someone slaps him down. I cringe at the though of what that will cost in lives and dollars. At least their weapons of mass destruction are verifiable... or so we are told. And what of Dennis Rodman? Is he North Korea's first large black imperial palace party boy?
Ah... spring.

Family Time in Florida

So the Mother turned 85 on February 28 and we gathered in Florida to celebrate. Sherry and Janet hosted the party at their Indian Rocks Beach condo where we got to meet some of Mom's friends and validate the rumor that Janet can indeed cook with a wine glass in one hand and a spoon in the other. But don't bother asking her if she would like some help. Janet is a one woman chef. When she is done, the kitchen is all yours.

Andrew and I also managed a few days in Orlando where we played tourist and did the whole Universal Studios adventure. We are both big fans of the Harry Potter fantasy and getting to tour Hogwarts was a lot of fun. This is a must for JK Rowling fans where the attention to detail is quite amazing and their Disneyesque use of scaled proportion outstanding. The butter beer is way too sweet and delicious for my taste and pumpkin juice... well, best leave that to the goblins.

Mom had a great time visiting with family and friends as did we all. May we all look so great and have so much zest for life when we are 85. And even though the weateher was cold and rainy at times we still we had a very good time.
Check out our photo slide show.

Birthdays... You simply Can't Live Without Them

We grow up learning to adore the accolades and heartfelt gifts that accompany our annual march to the grave and as I now pass the twelfth lustrum I tell you that those feelings don't really change. Maturity and wisdom don't accompany age in any automatic way but rather they are a blessing to those who actually learn from life’s many lessons. The most profound lesson I have learned through the years is to take very good care of the most important things in your life.  As Andrew and I celebrate our twelfth year together I am reminded every day of how much better my life is with Andrew at my side and believe me when I say that I take very good care to make sure that we will be as one, tomorrow. The second most profound thing I have learned is that birthdays are only as good as you make them yourself. No matter how much you are loved by others, your birthday will only really shine if you take control. When someone asks you what you want for your birthday… tell them!  When you are asked what you want to do on your birthday… tell them! It’s the only real way to keep you from going face first into the pond.

So for my birthday this year we will celebrate at home with our friends, Andrew’s divine Scallop Curry and Crème Roasted Salmon… our friend Cris’ sour Pork soup… some fine Scotch and Champaign, no doubt a surprise birthday cake somewhere along the line and the newest member of our garden, the Barbra Streisand Tea Rose… a tree rose of divine purple and sublimely dense fragrance. Thank you has new meaning today.

Now that we have avoided tumbling down the fiscal cliff we can start the New Year by thanking the Republicans in Washington for retracting the reality fence post in their collective butts by a whopping full millimeter. Thank You Republicans! And if you are one of the millions of Americans who enjoy paying more and getting less, be sure to fire off a thank you letter to the men and women you voted into office, on both sides of the aisle.

Thanks to the miscalculating Mayans there is a trip to Florida in our 2013 plans to celebrate another milestone birthday. You know what they say - after 80, each year without a headstone is a milestone. And if we play our cards right and don't get caught in the crossfire of WWIII there might just be a Mediterranean cruise for us this fall.

Check out our holiday party pictures in the photo gallery. At the End of the World Party The Mayan King was a dead ringer for one of us. Re-gifting was brought to a new level this year and Andrew put out a festive holiday spread that will haunt our waistlines for months to come. It is always our pleasure to share and as 12 wanes into 13 we are again reminded of how fortunate we are to have such excellent friends and loving family.

Thanksgiving in Puerto Vallarta

Andrew and Terry with friends Cris, Dean, Brian and Michael spent 5 days on the beautiful warm beaches in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A little time share negotiating, a little zip line in the jungle and a lot of beach tequila made for a great holiday. We had Thanksgiving dinner at the River Cafe, a lovely river side, mostly outdoor restaurant where medallions of turkey with cranberry compote and sage potatoes highlighted the menu. This image was taken from our Emperador Hotel balcony.
Check out our slide show.

Welcome Callie Anne Cook

The newest member of our family is born on November 30, 2012. Proud parents David and Jamie have waited a lifetime for their miracle baby and the state of Arkansas is once again enriched beyond measure.

Sister Sherry is now, finally a grandmother but I don't recommend calling her 'granny' just yet.

Andrew and I can't wait to meet Callie in person.

Check out the family photos on Jamie Cook's facebook page.

Thank you for supporting - AIDS Walk 2012

This is our 11th year supporting the local San Diego AIDS Walk event raising funds to benefit local charities. Andrew and I together with our Guys Like Us team raised over $11K this year and thank you for your support. Perhaps one day as a nation we will stop spending billions of dollars each month on our unrequited war in the middle east and there will be public money and social interest sufficient to encourage a cure for this world wide epidemic.

Janet Ann Kovarik on WGN News

Check out the video of Janet Ann on WGN news from Monday, August 27 - Always with a big smile, Janet managed to maintain that charming, personable image even amongst the blubber and BO of all the right wing homophobes checking into the Clearwater, Sand Key Sheraton Resort for the RNC. Delegates from Illinois had to be sequestered from the Missouri delegates for fear that consequences of legitimate rape might be contagious.

Sadly, Todd Akin won't be there. He is consumed with finding a glass of water large enough to wash down his foot.

Watch the video closely for janet is only on screen for 1.7 seconds.

Boops at 91 (degrees)

What is there to do on one of those rare San Diego afternoons when the mercury pops above 90 and the gentle ocean breezes wax and wane? Schlep it out to the garden, sit in the shade of the palapa and find out what your daughter is up to in Florida.

The near record heat in San Diego this week was brought to us from Las Vegas by our dear nephew Jeff who blew into town to watch his beloved Cubs get stomped on by the ever so mediocre Padres. Thanks to the Cubs giving up 3 games in our home venue the Padres keep firm grip on 4th place in the National League West. Colorado is one place behind us but only because they are suffering from smoke inhalation these days.

more pics from the garden

Chicago in July - Are You Nuts?

Ok so we decided to spend a stash of cash to fly to Chicago for a short weekend and a visit with family and friends. There is no shortage of cold beer in the windy city so staying hydrated when it is 102 outside is no problem. Beer and a hat and some good walking shoes are perfect companions for a hot summer promenade along the shores of Lake Michigan. We stayed at the W Hotel on N Lakeshore Drive. We give it three stars and while it is a bit pricey for what they offer, the location is ideal and the view from the upper decks is sublime. The hotel is walking distance to the subway and the magnificent mile and in our case to Potillo's on North Clark street. Our friends Jeff and El joined us for the weekend where we partied in boys town and got to see some old friends. The weekend highlight was getting to meet our grandniece Johnna Trezek. What a darling and as you can see from our photo album, Cathi and Steven are very proud and doting parents. Other weekend highlights included a thorough inspection of Navy Pier, a boat ride on the lake to the Field Museum, an architectural cruise down the Chicago river, Chicago hot dogs, Portillo's Italian beef and those horrible White Castle sliders. We missed Giordano's again but I understand you can have their world famous deep dish pizza shipped right to your San Diego kitchen. Maybe we will try that to hold us over until our next trip which will not be in July. PHOTO ALBUM

Duck Tacos - Andrew and Terry Style

Well of course to make duck tacos you must first begin with fresh ducks- Andrew chased these bad girls down and although he wasn't specific as to their source I suspect he did not clean and pluck them himself... hey, that's what sisters are for.

Click on one of the ducks and follow our unique Saturday adventure as we transform these silent quackers into fabulous rotisserie roasted, crackling skin tacos... Lao style with a Bohemian flare.

No dumplings in this meal just fresh grilled vegetables, corn tortillas and a fresh roasted chipotle mango salsa.

Now we just have to figure out the right beverage to compliment this melange... of course champaign goes with pretty much everything....

June 30, 2012

Dark Shadows - The Review - click it

California is Broke - Strike While the Fire is Hot

Governor Brown is on the rail in a salvation stomp for the state budget spreading fear and trepidation with his threats of further cuts to education and healthcare. On the November ballot will be a series of budget initiatives. Among them you can be sure to find plenty of pork ensuring rich corporations stay happy and generous while Californians are being asked to raise the state sales tax and accept other austerity measures.  Apparently Gov. Brown has been injected by a Greek, and a poor one to boot. Those of us who stand up for equal rights now have a perfect opportunity to challenge the selfish people of California who spent a ton of money to divide the population with Proposition 8. We herald that challenge by chanting a simple mantra…  “NO NEW TAXES OR TAX EXTENSIONS UNTIL WE HAVE MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN CALIFORNIA.” But not to worry, even with today’s education budget public schools are graduating social imbeciles who function best heads down and thumbs at the ready. As for our senior citizens who stand to lose more healthcare benefits, I hear Depends® can be rinsed out and reused three or four times. May 17, 2012

Camp Del Mar on Mother's Day Weekend - click it

Andrew and Terry give the new Three Stooges movie two pokes in the eye and a pie in your face - and just as it was advertised - the film was pure slapstick and very funny. I have never seen Andrew laugh so much at one time - Sean Hayes is a terrific Larry and the story is totally new - not autobiographical at all and well done. Larry David plays a catholic nun who is sure to give anyone who went to catholic school nightmares for a week.

Check this web site for more...

Highlights from this year's Lao New Year Celebration - click it

heading to five dollars

Many say you can't blame the Obama administration's foreign policy for the escalating gas prices and many say you can't fairly blame Hillary Clinton's vacillating rhetoric on Middle Eastern affairs either... but clearly we have to blame somebody.

Perhaps its a global reaction to Newt Gingrich's planned space colony on the moon or Rick Santorum's passion that rape victims carry the spawn of their attackers to term ...maybe... Mitt Romney's mormons, who are busy baptizing dead jews, are enflaming the arabs and they are to blame. Whatever it is I certainly won't like paying $5 for gas this summer. I considered walking to work but every time there is a surge in gasoline prices so surges the cost of shoes. Friends say "where's the savings in that"? ... but I'd rather buy shoes than gas any day.

maudlin at the twelfth lustrum

It seems that folks expect you to derive insightful wisdom each time your clock turns another decade. As I start my seventh I can't help but remember its predecessors … not all of them but at least the last several and especially the last one with Andrew. Our relationship thrives not because of love, a concept that has become cliché and diluted as it is used to describe everything from stretch socks to vinyl siding, but rather because of tolerance and mutual respect. While these may be forms of love they broadly transcend the definition. There is one word that could never be used to describe us… and that is selfish. Andrew and I work hard every day to make sure that we move forward together and leave no one behind. If America could join us there would be equality for everyone and we could spread that message around the world by our excellent example… instead of using guns and intimidation.
As I begin my next lustrum I am grateful for wonderful friends and family who love me and Andrew and make us feel they always have our backs. And I am certainly glad that Andrew has agreed to hang with me for another round… it’s been a good ride so far… way better than Disneyland. Hopefully come November, America won’t elect another homophobe and Andrew and I may actually marry and enjoy the legal security that marriage can provide to all that we have achieved together. See you at the JOP.

.... it's our 11th year together and 2012 is the first year
of the next 11 years of our lives...
We'll be pulling the cork on a bottle of Perrier and celebrating the start of the new year with friends and family..Here’s hoping all your New Year's Resolutions fail in the first week so you can get back to normal and here's hoping Geraldo Rivera makes a comeback by finding the lost millennium in the Mayan calendar.

October 4, 2011 - The Newest Family Member

Introducing Johnna Stephanie Trezek -- October 4, 2011 at 9:18pm Chicago time - - 6lb 5oz - 19.5 inches

Mother and father are doing well, although they could both use a nap. Look at the mouth on that gorgeous baby - an opera singer or politician for sure. We rejoyce for this newest edition to the family and Andrew and Terry can't wait until we can see her and her proud parents face to face.

OK, grandma Janet, take a deep breath and try not to get too hysterical. You will need your energy for the weeks ahead.

Chloe at 5 -Party on Coronado

Her high princessness, Chloe Manisouk, celebrated her 5th birthday with a grand party at Glorietta Bay on Coronado. As with every Lao family gathering, there was an abundace of wonderful food and fun activites.

• Check out the photo slide show ...
• Check Out the You Tube video - Birthday pinata bursts of fun...
• Check out the You Tube video of an asian take on volleyball called TakRaw. Now that's using your head guys.

An Arkansas Wedding - September 17, 2011

With friends and family gathered on both sides of the aisle the clouds parted, the thunder silenced and beaming in the sunshine stood Mr and Mrs David Cook Jr moments after saying "I do." Our photo album is testament to the huge effort required to pull off a wedding as lovely as this one was particularly when challenged by mother nature's unpredictability. Andrew and Terry shared a great long weekend with family and new friends and got to experience another side of America. Okay so Andrew was a bit disappointed that we couldn't find possum stew on any of the local menus but we had a great time in Bentonville, or as the Missouri State Trooper called it when he whacked us for speeding on our way back from Branson... "Walmartville".

David's Happy Dance
Check out this YouTube post as David shows us how exciting it is to be married for an entire hour and takes his 'happy dance' to a new level.

Jamie and the girls Rap On
The girls give good rap - it would appear that they have done this number a few times before - perhaps at a Razorback half time show.

The Race of the Century
We celebrated Andrew's 35th birthday at the Fast Lane Entertainment Center in Rogers, Arkansas where he out bowled all of us (almost)... then the kids took to the go carts and, wel....

And only in Arkansas...