La Salle 2 Gertie

Graham is walking now

2010-05-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

2010-05-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

Molly's Work

2009-11-20T14:44:00.000-08:00

Molly's camera is really cool and as a family we sure have a lot of fun with it. But I thought i would publish a little slideshow of her work. I selected the next 10 photos from 121 that I uploaded. I only chose one's I was sure she took without coercion. As you can see she is a photographer that likes to take shots of what is in her element. That's why we're going to title these-- "Everyday Photos"

2009-11-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

Creating

2009-11-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

These are two of my latest creations. My beer is finally carbonated and I am stoked. I love the color and the flavor is nice too. The soup is a Harissa Butternut Squash I made for a benefit dinner at which I was a guest chef for.

A walk thru the park after bottling homebrew

2009-11-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

Missed a few posts recently, ...sorry

2009-11-02T18:47:00.001-08:00

2009-11-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

Kebaba Music Series: Week 4: David & Mark

2009-08-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

phish weekend

2009-08-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

The family pre-show. Molly after the show. The ranch...

2009-08-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

nebraska, in no particular order

2009-08-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

2009-08-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

Oregon Country Fair

2009-07-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

Curtis R.I.P.

2009-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

Our Man Curtis

2009-06-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

To many people and to us, Curtis our dog was the best dog we had ever known. Throughout his lifetime, inspiring many another to get a dog of their own after dog sitting for us, including our friends Greg and Julie just this past weekend. The problem with a dog that never "complained" is that even though he had two tumors and many other internal complications he acted like the same energetic friend we had always known up until the last 24 hours of his life. Yesterday all his systems began to shut down at once, leaving us with no choice but to euthanize him yesterday afternoon. Katie and I were there until the end, crying our eyes out and comforting him. He will never be forgotten by us or many others who he met along the way. Goodbye to you Curtie, our friend.

it's a long one grandpa

2009-04-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Look at how much fun she's having!

2009-04-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

Connections

2009-04-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

For a couple of years kw's family has kept me subscribed to the music publication waxpoetics where a fellow Husker Carter VanPelt regularly contributes about reggae culture. The current issue (No34) mixes two of my favorite things, skateboarding & music, for the first time. Many of you GP readers may already know Seb Carayol but he was new to me until I read his article, connecting Stereo's A Visual Sound with the soon-to-not-be-rare Ululation album by John Krasnow, used for much of it's soundtrack. The article not only got my learn on, but has me stoked for the release of Ululation and the previously unreleased Ululation 2. With song names like Borderline Case, Hunca Munca and Song Without Mayo, who wouldn't be stoked.

Graham Michael Leyden

2009-03-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

Born March 27, 2009. 12:06 PM

2009-03-28T22:02:00.000-07:00

Drake Duckies

2009-03-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

Winterfest 09

2009-03-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

This one's for Kemper, the rail jam was the biggest yet.
For the rest of you, no worries, more Molly coming soon.

Happy Face

2009-02-23T16:13:00.000-08:00

round and round

2009-02-23T07:49:00.000-08:00

Her Favorite Song...of course

2009-02-11T19:35:00.001-08:00

Don't Judge...She's An Artist

2009-02-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

My 2 Year Old Can Do That

2009-02-10T19:33:00.000-08:00

Molly's Portfolio

dance fever

2009-02-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

the Lincoln Children's Museum

video I tried before

2009-02-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

Nebraska 09

2009-02-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

2009-02-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

like father like daughter

2009-01-15T12:17:00.000-08:00

i tried to publish some video from xmas, but am having trouble. maybe it's the new camera or maybe it's an overloaded computer? don't know.

X-mas dress, jammies and tree

2008-12-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

Holidays Approach

2008-12-28T18:54:00.000-08:00

solstice party!!!

Turkey Day/ Oregon Coast

2008-12-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

2008-12-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

Going commercial

2008-12-09T21:59:00.000-08:00

Kebaba radio commercial link here

The results are in!

2008-12-09T21:01:00.001-08:00

OFFICIAL RESULTS, 10TH ANNUAL WINTER BEER TASTING
...and the winner is! Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. As you can clearly see from the professionally documented winners and losers brackets, Celebration came from behind to win the whole thing. Champion is determined by two consecutive victories in final round. But that's so clear from the brackets, you already knew that.

Take the Poll

2008-11-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

Read about the new beers at kebaba and help out with the poll. Go to www.kebabarestaurant.blogspot.com and let us know how you feel.

a walk with molly

2008-11-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

notice the eeore with binky attached, and the deli container with one almond in it. she's so funny.

Pumpkin Patch & Halloween

2008-11-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

link to my recipe here

2008-10-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

So, I'm at work today and this kid say's to me, "hey, if you google karnabeet a link to your recipe and a picture of the one you made for Newport Market is the first result".

"No, shit"?, I said.

"No shit", he replied.

Well it was for a book of recipes from a cooking show I did a year or so ago sponsored by the Newport Market, so he was half right. Sorry the picture isn't bigger.

Anyways..., fucking google man. Number 1. Awesome!

2008-10-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

we've had a week of vehicles.

-molly's chopper
-her fire rig
-silver spoons train

sweet shirt

2008-10-08T23:52:00.000-07:00

whether you like basketball or not this shirt is fuckin' sweet

85th annual pet parade

2008-10-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

July 4th, 2008. Only rules, no cats and no ferrets.

no no no, molly "is" two

2008-09-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

happy birthday molly

i did it!

2008-09-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

I am the type of person that tells the same story over and over again. Occasionally, I’ll embellish a bit here or there, a little or a lot, depending on the audience. I am also a rather nostalgic person, so it’s no wonder I have a slight passion for the simple processes of yesteryear. Like, machines with all the operating parts visible, making it easily understood how it works. Or when you visited the butcher for your meats, your neighbors sold you eggs and all bicycles only had one gear. Nostalgia is why I have always respected those who have kept traditional processes alive and thriving.

All of us either know someone who could perform the tricks of our ancestors or have at least seen a re-enactment of processes that have been made obsolete by technology. Each time I witness these traditional processes in action I am thankful for that individuals’ dedication to their craft and their desire to keep the art alive. So when a blacksmith offered me an opportunity to make a simple coat hook, I stayed out late and took my time to learn one of the world’s dying arts.

Like my almost two-year-old daughter Molly, I get giddy about small accomplishments. A favorite expression of hers now is, “I did it”, then we smile, clap and yell in encouragement. There’s not much these days that can get me to beam a smile at someone with the look of self-pride in my eyes like a two year old figuring out for the first time how operate the pedals on her tricycle. But making that coat hook gave me an “I did it” moment, I couldn’t wait to share with the next person I saw. And so another story was born, except this time it’s so good it won’t need embellishing.

After finishing my hook, when I could start showing it off to folks, I felt as though I belonged to a secret society. Except there was no handshake or bird call that needed to be learned, only the time and patience required to follow instructions and understand the basic processes involved in reshaping a straight iron bar into a desired form. As time goes by and I walk past the hook now in use, I say a little prayer for the foresight not to pass up my next, “I did it” opportunity, whatever it may be.

2008-09-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

oh big things, annie made it to town and molly wore braids. oh yeah she danced in a field too.

actual pictures from the coast

2008-09-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

thanks cass

यौर सो jealous

2008-08-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

we went to the coast with Cassie and Mike this weekend, where i got into a wetsuit and pretended to surf in the water. but our camera was inoperable this trip so i have an archival video from may. where i am fucking killing it in the sand. watch how much sandboarding sucks.

locked on summer

2008-08-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

so i've been unable to blog lately, well... for awhile. but i finally figured out. here's a picture history of our summer. unfortunately there is some stuff left out. but this should do.
went to a couple of weddings, including tres and a.j.

kael and star

katie still looks great

and we got to do a bunch in nature

2008-08-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

we had some visitors this summer. including the warner's off their first completed year back in Minnesota.
the treu's who are looking at moving here
my mom, larry her beau and the 2 sisters, mary and linda from so cal.
they all spoiled molly terribly
and they made it into nature several times themselves

2008-08-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

been riding a lot this summer, this picture is from our group ride with some folks we mostly didn't know, but met a fellow nebraskan Jeff Meuhling from Lincoln, who did Young Life with Kev's wife Cheryl in high school. another couple we were with had their picture taken under this sign with their bike wheels kissing. we did not.

we saw some more nature.

things sure grow big on the other side

part of living in oregon is burning shit. although no marshmallows caught fire this night.

after the crowds left molly and i did our first camping venture. it was nice, i never slept so bad in a tent before a 2 year old was my partner.

peggy's 28

2008-05-23T09:10:00.001-07:00

happy birthday

2008-04-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

troncones mexico

2008-04-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

2008-04-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

2008-04-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

2008-04-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

on vacation

2008-04-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

see you in a week

Happy Birthday Katie

2008-03-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

This picture is taken from my sisters blog NE2Oregon, where she makes the claim Katie has never taken a bad picture in her life. I tend to agree. Happy birthday, we love you.

happy easter

2008-03-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

History

2008-03-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

Immediately upon moving to Oregon almost 6 years ago, I began noticing the "This Is Totally Not Nebraska" regulations of the state, city or other municipalities. Voting by mail, no sales tax, bike lanes on major rural roadways, mix-and-match-your-own-six-packs, etc. One of my favorite TITNN moments is when I found out how cheap it was to license my car ($68 for 2/yr.) and obtain a drivers license, valid for 8 years. So imagine my excitement upon the sale of that vehicle a few years later when I found out you leave the number plates on the car and don't have to throw the old away. Hmm? Common sense behavior I wasn't accustomed to from a bureaucracy. GO Oregon.
I am a bit of a nostalgic romantic and enjoy the small things that connect us all. So ever since the sale day of that Forest Green 1995 Ford Explorer, I have been on the lookout for that same number plate, YTJ 925. Believe me not an easy task. One of the reasons I purchased that vehicle was due to its popularity during the mid 1990's and it's strong resale value. It was the number one selling car that year, I had heard somewhere.
But this last weekend I saw it. Just as I had imagined our reunion. Dirty from the rural community it now resides in, driven slowly by the same old man that had bought it from me 4 years ago and still with that YTJ 925 number plate. When I came up behind it on our way through the town of Madras I shouted and pointed like a six year old. I was able to pull along side and further verify the Nebraska dealers tag on the rear door, get a closer look at the old man and give him a waive. Funny how sometimes the most fleeting of moments can bring so much satisfaction to pieces of our history. I don't ever expect to see that old man or my truck ever again, but I can rest assured for awhile, that they're still out there, rolling Ford tough.

i suck at updating my blog

2008-03-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

it's been so long since i updated my blog, with so few post prior to the last one i'm sure it will take folks a month to see this, but i don't blame you. a few updates though.
i bought a guitar (1972 harmony stella) a few months ago and have been practicing several hours a week every week, progress is slow, but i'm not giving up. the best is playing twinkle twinkle little star to molly before bed on ther nights i'm not working.

molly loves the outdoors, we can't get her to come inside without crying. she loves to walk on the trails across from our house and put her hands in the rivers.

katie's friend and old roommate katie came to visit a week ago with her family and molly and their son finn get along great. we went to cirque du soleil in portland last
night and saw finn again. they kissed as soon as they each other.

the last picture is spectacular for the sky. we were out to eat with katie's parents and the sky was coming through in the pictures so great. not a flattering picture of our baby girl, but i'm a sucker for the multi colored sunsets over the mountains.

powder day

2008-03-01T13:07:00.001-08:00

today was one of those days you wish all your friends could have been there with you. so i'm bringing it to you.

like a fish to water

2008-02-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

Molly loves the water and for that I am thankful. Grandma Peggy and Grandpa Kemper got a chance to see her wet twice while they were here last weekend.

mollys week of firsts

2008-02-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

well maybe they didn't all happen in the same week, but it's been awhile since i've posted. first ski (pulled behind me in a sled) first pigtails (they didn't stay in for long) and first cupcake (it was valentines day)

2008-02-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

sorry it's not a better song, but you still know the words don't ya?

more fest vids

2008-02-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

fire dancers

winter fest

2008-02-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

i'm sorry it has taken so long to update this, but the last two weeks have been hell for me at work. i finally got a day off on sunday and i was sick. but here's some new to keep you up to date, i'll do more also. a couple of weeks ago we had sooo much snow it was ka-razy. check out our house, then came winterfest here in bend with food, ice carvings, a rail jam, fire dancers, fireworks and an all girl ac/dc cover band called hells belles. hope you like.

Deschutes Brewery Abyss

2008-02-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

A- Mazing! Come to Bend or buy yours on ebay today. Both ways to get it are extravagant for a beer. But it might just be worth it. Next beer drinker to visit me gets to sample my stash.

Free

2008-01-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

Used only once.

playin in the band

2008-01-27T20:47:00.000-08:00

fish tank

2008-01-27T20:40:00.000-08:00

hoot-n-nanny

2008-01-27T20:32:00.002-08:00

Last week Molly got to see a lot of her friend Spencer, and take a trip to the High Desert Museum. Where we saw fish, snakes, 3 eagles, some owls, an otter and a porcupine. Then we saw some live blugrass, a native american exibit and two mountain cats. Everything was so new and exciting for her, but we all loved it.

yeah, ...we get down

2008-01-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

kebaba/ pizza mondo employee party, we went sledding before that.

sledding

2008-01-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

last week

2008-01-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

working in restaurants you miss stuff that happens sometimes. molly was pushing her friend reggie around in his wagon on new years eve. at least i can re-live it in digital format.

katie's highschool friend adam and his wife and kids were in town for 4 days up from california where he finished his 12 year long career as a center for the oakland raiders. they are thinking of moving to bend and his daughter olivia is just about the cutest girl ya ever did see. she even worked a shift at kebaba.

holla daze

2008-01-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

katie's brother rob fresh put on a hip hop show for all of lincoln. they went way old school. so old school it's olde school.

xmas day

2008-01-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

xmas at the wilkins' is always crazy. fun crazy. oh, yeah, and molly got a baby.

xmas eve

2008-01-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

My entire immediate family was in the same house together on xmas eve for the first time in a long time. All the kids all the adults. Amazing. Too bad we didn't get a group photo. SHIT!

2008-01-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

Before we left for nbraska we all went to the Picarazzi house where Molly's godfather John and his family lavished here with gifts and John's mother visiting from Connecticut made some great dinner and his father brought italian cookies from his bakery.

Bon Fire

2007-12-22T20:23:00.001-08:00

Scary snow skulls, burning palates, austrian named manfred with pine liquor snow, caves and keg beer. Now that's a winter country party.

I and I will be there

2007-12-20T09:15:00.000-08:00

the President himself will be in town debating the turntables for one night only. Don't miss your chance to drop bass with the executive branch.

YES!

2007-12-19T08:15:00.000-08:00

finally it snowed. a little here and a little there the past two weeks was just enough to make yesterdays 10" totally freakin' awesome. light, no rocks and no scraping bottom. god i love it.

Really, the bluberries are gone.

2007-12-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

This damn tree

2007-12-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

I love this damn tree. Well, here in Oregon it's a snag. It has such cool lines and I have taken so many pictures of it through the years but have never liked a single photo. Who would have guessed the tangled roots would be the first picture I like of it?

Trees Up

2007-12-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Timeless

2007-12-04T23:38:00.000-08:00

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

John R. Cash, © 1971

wish list

2007-12-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

I don't have any new pictures to post and I don't have nay cool web surfings to update any of you persons on, so I'll give the people what they want. My xmas wish list. Apparently I am hard to buy for so I'm gonna make it easy for some people.

In no particular order of importance here they are...

hand crank pasta machine
a cool artsy t-shirt or hoody (karmaloop.com)(
a cool pizza wheel (the one cheryl and kevin bought got lost)
re-subscription to wax poetics magazine
SLR digital camera
bike trainer
new ski gloves
anything from the Calahan husker era
cool music or directors dvd's
super bad dvd
a piece of fruit
a heart rate monitor
vera wang cologne for men
the movie shotters on dvd
a free babysitter once a week (must meet my schedule needs)
cookbooks/ barnes and noble gift card
vacation to mexico
my friend from italy to come visit
8" of powder, 28degrees F and no wind at mt bachelor everyday
a 40"-ish longboard deck
free tshirts/ shoes/ sweatshirts from kevin
a new front bike light
XL bike jersey
ortiz to come visit
a box of nag champa
50 degree days while in nebraska
dinner from the oven restaurant
and a partridge in a pair tree.

hope this helps

e

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-29T12:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, I did eat too much.

After Thanksgiving

2007-11-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

So Kemper and I were doing a little thrift shopping to kill some time when we walked into the St Vinnie's by Les Schwab and found that one of the employees had all the TVs on with like 5 different college football games going at once. Why does St. Vincent DePaul have the capabilities to watch 5 games at once? Good question. Another good question, why wasn't this chair in front of the TV's? I don't know either.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T23:34:00.000-08:00

Nebraska Skies

2007-11-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

these photos were taken over 3 years by both Katie and me.

our man curtis

2007-11-15T12:41:00.000-08:00

a pdx kind of day

2007-11-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

We went to Portland for the weekend and had fun, the weather was nice and I got to go zine shopping. Life's pretty good.

mollys beau, finn

2007-11-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

Winter hapn'ins

2007-11-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

04 is the the first year I ever ice skated, also the first time i ever got an ice hipper. Bend has a xmas parade every year and the other two shots are from that.