In Preparation for Halloween

What a fabulous date today.

You (my 4 year old daughter) is asleep and its 2:45am.
I just got up after falling asleep trying to put you to sleep as I always do. I just cannot keep my eyes open after reading two children's books and pretending to sleep for 15 minutes.

Today I did the stupidest thing. I went to work w/o realizing it was a holiday in Japan. Whatever holiday I don't know but I got on my suit on and everything and did not realize until I got to my works building... when there was nobody in the downstairs hallway... I realized it must be a holiday or something so I called my buddy and he said "Yeah, you didn't know that!?". BOY! did I feel like an idiot or what!

So, what to do? I emailed your mother to see if I could arrange a date with you.
I originally wanted to carve a pumpkin with you and your mother, the 3 of us but she wasn't interested so I got the OK to pick you up and we were at the Bicycle Training grounds at 12:30.

First we did a lap on with a rented bicycle w/training wheels.
You got tired a couple times but you enjoyed it.

You froze up when we put you on the bike w/o the training wheels (no pedals either so it is easier to kick and learn how to countersteer)

We then did some shopping at the flea market. Got you a couple of toys.

Had onigiri at Oni （http://www.ony.jp/shopinfo.htm). You had "Shake" (salmon) as usual.
I had "yaki tarako"

Then we went kite flying and came back home to carve a pumpkin.
I roughly followed this recipe (http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1827,146173-242207,00.html) but I used my own cajun/creole spice and boiled them rather than just soak them. I also used pumpkin seed oil rather than butter, etc.

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDSAfter washing the pumpkin seeds, soak seeds for 1-2 hours in a mixture of 1 quart of water and 1/2 cup cajun salt. Be sure salt/spice has dissolved. Remove seeds from water mixture after soaking and dry. In a large skillet, sauté 2 cups pumpkin seeds, 2 tablespoons butter or 1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin seed oil and 1 teaspoon salt.

Stir 3 minutes until seeds are well coated with butter.

Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes.

Take a few out to try at this point (watch out-they will be hot so let them cool a bit first!)

Some seeds are larger than others and will take longer to bake.

If necessary, continue to bake 15 minutes longer or until lightly browned.

Place on a paper towel to cool.

We also made pumpkin seeds and had pizza and pasta for dinner.

You did not want to go back home to your mothers house so I will take you to school tomorrow.

Cecil Lawson - Daddy's No good cousin

-- or rather -- gettin' older and thus some status.

On a whim I searched my cousin's name and found him:
http://www.evergreentimes.com/111905/cecil.htm

http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/scl/vote/lawson_c/bio.html
http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/scl/vote/lawson_c/philosophy.html
http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/scl/vote/lawson_c/endorse.html

This is the same good for nothing cousin that when I was a broke college student, stood me up all night in the ULTRA-dangerous San Jose Greydog (←hound) bus station.
I was so excited to meet my cousin, whom I had only met once or twice b4 to make a connection with the other part of the family that my mother had estranged me from.
I made an appointment and told him I would be there on a certain evening.
-- Although I did tell hem I would call him once more to re-confirm, but could not because of my busy student schedule, I did arrive on the promised day. It was late evening and I had only about 50 bucks as a starving UCSB student and called and called and called and called. I spent nearly $30 of that money on calling cards or something like that trying to get ahold of him.

To this day I have not seen or spoken with him yet but his aunt says that he did not know I was coming... he knew. And all he had to do was apologize.

Now he seems to have worked his way thru school. Nobody in his family, except his sister Leslie, had even went to college. They all went into the military. That is the only way they could afford an education. His father did not, His mother did not, and they were jealous of my mother who worked her way thru college by herself. As did I -- despite being stood-up by him.

I guess there is a certain amount of stature that we all get as we get older.
My good for nothing cousin seems to be doing well for himself these days. He is getting into politics and working as CIO for the San Jose Police department. My just as good for nothing Aunt (Daun-Rita), is constantly making excuses for him and has blinders on regarding him saying that he is the richest in the family.
Truth is -- its true. Well... maybe. He moved to San Jose way before there was even a word Silicon Valley. He quickly bought a house and the property value alone made him the richest...? But... the truth is since Bush Jr. popped the Silicon Valley bubble our Pasadena home is probably worth more than his Silicon Valley home.

But I, as does my mother, have much respect for his father who insisted on being independent and running his own biz as an African-American with very little support structure... He had a chicken biz in Columbus and many others and a carpet and drapery biz in south central LA run by my Aunt (aunt by marriage). I dont know to what extent there was racism as is quoted in his bio

"Cecil's father was tired of dealing with the discrimination that was prevalent in Ohio and most of the country throughout the early 20th century. So he took a step to move his wife and five children to Los Angeles, California. Cecil's father made that bold move in search of better opportunities and a better life for his family. From his father, Cecil learned that taking chances in order to make things better is a risk worth taking.

My mother did not mention much about aggressive racism in rural Ohio but I guess she did mention lots of negativity. I think his father moved out to L.A. more for opportunity than anything. My mother followed likewise. At the time I believe Cecil's father let my mother stay with them at the time.

Anyway, I wish Cecil the best in his life. I just hope that he someday realizes how devastating it was for me to be left stranded by your own cousin.

Point for my beautiful daughter is that there was much strife in your family, but nonetheless it is a family of achievers.