The World Lost A Great Man Today

My Grandpa Rogelio



December 1958 (3 years before my mom was born)
1937-2007
March 26th, 1937 to April 23rd, 2006

I awoke to a phone call this morning. It was my mom. Being a Sunday, and Robert's 21st birthday, I thought she was calling to remind me to wish him a happy birthday. I was wrong.

"Blake, my dad just died."

That's all it took. I jumped out of bed, called in to work telling them I would be out for the next couple of days, and I was off. Topher came down with me which helped me because I knew I would not be alone.

Four years ago, when he was healthy as a horse, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In four short years that disease robbed him of his body and mind, but not his soul.

The one thing I will always remember about my grandpa is how he was my interpreter growing up. We would go up to Weed and visit for weeks at a time. He was the only one outside of my mom and aunts that could speak english. At the time my grandma did not know any english, and Nora being young was always away at her friends houses. He loved history, geography, and always had a good joke and an amazing story about his life growing up.

I love you grandpa, I hope you know that.

Thank You For Smoking: A Breath Of Fresh Air

Last night Panda and I went to go see Thank you for Smoking. It was a great film that all in all pushed the message that you, yes you, have to make up your own mind on the issues in front of you.

That's all I'm going to say about the movie. You have to go see it for your self. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Reflecting @ Upper Bidwell

By spending most of my day at work and school, I knew I needed to get out and enjoy the wonderful break in the weather. So I headed to Upper Bidwell Park to be out in the sun, away from all the traffic and the sounds of the freeway.

You know the should invent a tripod for cell phones. I'm all the way at the end of this concrete wall. I love listening to the wind blow across the tall grass.

...What can I say, there ducks...Chico ducks...swimming in Horseshoe Lake.

Nothing special. It's a lone white oak in a sea of green.

The nice thing about Bidwell Park is it's huge. As a matter of fact it is the third largest municipal park in the US. Here is the lone Middle Trail.

I love this area and Loomis after the long rains, everything is so green and the land is full of life.

Living Life In The Fast Lane!

Are you ready to race?

Easter Sunday will be Monica's 17th Birthday. So to start the celebration Panda and I took her to Pluto's for lunch. When we were done with our meals I asked her what she would like to do.

As you can see she chose wisely.

What we have done today:

Go Cart Racing

Lazer Tag

Miniature Golf

On a side note, Panda has never done any of the above things. Monica and I have not done anything like this since I lived at home.

All I can say is we are having a blast!

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Happy 21st Steph, you finally made it. I know you do not read my blog, but I just wanted you to know that I wish you an amazing birthday. I know you are going to be hitting a lot of bars today, so have fun. I would tell you to be careful and not to drink to much, but I know you are with friends and you only turn 21 once. So go crazy and have a blast!

Something Afoot!

During an ice cream run after school today, Panda and I walked into Heel and Sole Shoe in Chico. We were waiting for 6 o'clock to roll around so it would be buck-a-scoop night at Baskin Robbins.


I came across this, a shoe and a bottle of beer. What is a shoe and a bottle of beer doing in a shoe store?


It's a pair of flip-flops with bottle opener on the bottom of each shoe! I mean come on. . . they actually made a flip-flop with a bottle opener on the bottom of the shoe! Plus their convertible to boot. I still can't believe it, but at $40 a pair, and lots of designs to chose from, I know I must get a pair.

A Look Back

What's to drink?
Spring Break 2006
March 12, 2006
Location: Kitchen of our condo, Kihei, Maui.
From right to left: Robert's hand on the blender (contents: strawberry margerita) Jason, Bottle of Kona Longbord Lager, six-pack box of Kona Longbord Lager (which you can now buy here, on the mainland, at Safeway), Bottle of Maui Dark Rum

What Do Tim, Uncle Fred, And Steve All Have In Common?

I am amazed on how quickly people enter your life. You get to know them, you start to enjoy their company, then all of the sudden they vanish like a fart in the wind. (e-mail me with what movie that last line was from and you could win a prize)

Take Tim for example. Panda met him and fell in love. We had him over for dinner, and at the end of the meal he was gone.

Tim's uncle Fred came over when we were back in Chico. He had a ruff life and traveled a lot around Maui and California. How he wound up in Chico he doesn't even know. But a friend of Tim was a friend of ours. He came over for a drink or two, and before you knew he was gone.

Then there was Steve. Now unlike Tim and Fred we knew Steve for a while. As a matter of fact I think Jason and I met Steve in Safeway on Nord during a late night beer run. I would bump into him here and there, never knowing his story. One night Panda and I were home alone and getting hungry. As I was about to leave for Safeway (about 100 yards from my front door) I bumped into Steve again. Unlike previous times were we would just say "hi, how you doing?," we actually had a conversation. Steve is your basic farm boy. Born and raised on the farm with a huge, and I mean huge family. He came to Chico because, to be honest, it was big city living. I knew I had to end the conversation soon (Panda + hungry = mad Panda) so I invited him over for dinner. And like everyone else before him, when the meal was over, he was gone.

All three of them were great individuals. All of them had great stories and great personalities. Yet from the start we all knew that a life long friendship could never happen.

Why?

Because they were all food products. Tim and Fred were Maui Pineapples and Steve was a farmed Rainbow Tout. What can I say, I love to cook.

Sprig Break 2006. . . No, Wait. Spring Break 2006

Ok, I know I have to finish the story on Tim (Panda's Hawaiian Lover) and post on the week in general. But first things first.

Last year, the TSA and FFA banned all lighters and matches on flights. By doing so the Zippo market collapsed. All the sudden you were able to buy a $50 lighter for only $10 bucks. So what would a cigar/cigarette smoker like me do? Simple, I bought the legal carry-on limit (the limit is two per person) for myself, Steph, and Panda. All in all I bought 4 lighters (4 because Steph and I each brought a lighter with us).

Well to make a long story short I decided to get one of them engraved. On the front it's engraved "Spring Break 2005," and on the back is all our names ("Blake, Stephanie, Panda, Kevin). I thought this is a nice little tradition I started, so from then on out, every time I go on a big trip with my friends I buy a Zippo where ever we are at, and when we come back to Chico I have in engraved.

I must have spent countless hours searching all over Maui for a Zippo 2 weeks ago. I found nothing. Knowing that I was coming home empty handed I decided to get one of the lighters from last year engraved. You know "Spring Break 2006" on the front, and "Blake, Stephanie, Panda, Jason, Robert" on the front.

Well, I went to go pick up the lighter today from Things Remembered at the mall. There was the lighter, all out names on the back, and "Sprig Break 2006" on the front. Notice anything? SPRIG BREAK!!

So what now you ask? Well thank God that the Zippo had a brushed nickel finish. They are going to take it to a jeweler and see if they can buff it out, and then re-engrave it.

All in all I now have my doubts about getting irreplaceable items engraved. I'll be happy once everything works out. But for now, I play the waiting game.

There's Something About Tim: A Quick Post

I know that I still have to post about our week in Hawai'i, but first I must tell the story of Tim. It was a warm Tuesday afternoon. An afternoon Panda would never forget; the day Panda fell in love with a local.

We drove to the Costco in Kahului to get some film developed, pick up some cheap hamburger meat, and to buy a snorkel set (the one I bought at Sharper Image finally broke after 4 years). It was around the meat department, no, the produce section where Panda noticed him.

She knew that he was the one for her. Here, right in front of her was the one hookup she wanted during spring break.

Shyly, looking right at him she asked "What is your name?"

He simply replied "My name is Tim."

I will have to admit that at first Tim was like all the others I have seen. You know, very generic and stereotypical for a native. But once we all got to know him we knew what Panda saw in him. He was special.

Tim grew up on Maui, born and raised at the base of the West Maui Mountains. He came from a big family (who, after seeing pictures, all look the same), enjoyed the weather that only Maui had to offer, and loved playing in the rain.

We all couldn't resist, so we asked him over for dinner. . .


Well I must be of to campus, I'm meeting Panda for lunch. I'll finish the post after school.

A Look Back

Spring Break is fast approaching! Only 2 weeks left untill we are there!

The Most Beautful Sunset I Have Ever Seen
Family Vacation July 6, 2002
Location: Kamaole Beach, Kihei, Maui

Starbucks Has All The Answers

Now I drink a lot of coffee. And out of all the coffee cafe's in Chico Starbucks is by far the best. Recently they have been putting commentary on there cups, you know the kind of commentary that warrants a disclaimer at the bottom. Well today's "The Way I See It" was by far the best.

And here it is. . .word for word.

The Way I See It #61
Imagine we are all the same.
Imagine we agree about politics, religion and morality.
Imagine we like the same types of music, are, food and coffee.
Imagine we all look alike.
Sound boring?
Differences need not divide us.
Embrace diversity.
Dignity is everyone's human right.

~ Bill Brummel
Documentary filmmaker.
His programs focus on human rights issues.

Now that's a good cup of coffee.

Drunk @ Jack's Part 4

A happy and hungry Jason.

Drunk @ Jack's Part 3

A very drunk and a very hungry Katrina...steeling Kevin's onion rings.

Drunk @ Jack's Part 2

Nothing like a cup of black coffee when your fuzzy.

Drunk @ Jack's

What do you do when you've drank to much and your in downtown Chico? You head to Jack's of course!
This one is of Kevin. He is trying to remember how much he had to drink. He never remembered

A Night @ Normal Street

From Left to Right: Kevin, Jason, Katrina, Me

We're all just a little intoxicated...and it was great!

Bar Hopping Live!

Friends And Religion: Part Two

I finally got a response. Mailed Feb. 4th, 2006 @ 3:54PM

"Blake, drop it already. There is a reason I haven't brought it up all
these years. You won't change how I see Catholicism or other
religions. I try not to press it on you, so don't force my hand.
The reason i didn't post this to your blog was because I couldn't get
to it - the server isn't responding."

I think your missing the point. You forced our hand. Do you think we like having you come up here as our guest to tell Panda and I that we are going to hell. That we're catholic because our parents are? That the Bible we read is wrong?

Do you think I enjoy the fact that you went through Panda's room searching for a Bible, and when you came up empty you told her that we she is loosing her faith because doesn't go to church as much as you do? Who are you to question our faith in God? Who gave you that right?

You know where to send the key, C.O.D. it for all we care.

You Can't Leave Without A Tour T-shirt

Ticket: $20
T-shirt: $20
Having one "cantelope" good time: Priceless

The Man Himself!

Is There A Cleese In Your Shirt?

Look at Toph, all excited!

Religion And Friends

Apparently I was raised differently that some of my friends when it comes to religion. I was always taught to be proud of who you are, yet respect other beliefs. For me, I am proud to call myself Roman Cathloic. But there is one thing that alienates me more than anything else, being told I'm not good enough for God.

Matt, this post is for you.

We all have our own unique beliefs and religions. But where do you have the right to preach that your on the winning team when no game is being played? We are all told that we belong to the one true religion, that the way we worship God is the only and right way your suppose to. You know we are all getting tired of being put down for who we are. We should be ashamed of being Cathloic? Panda should convert to Protestantism so she could accepted into your family. What kind of horse shit it that!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2004-2005 Statistical Abstract of the United States, Page 55, Question #67, there are 159.5 million self identified Christians in the United States.

Out of that 50.8 million are Cathloic, the largest of the Christian Religions, and only 9.5 million are Lutheran, and according to you there are non-Lutheran Lutherans, and true Lutherans. Not to mention the fact that the Roman Cathloic church is over 2000 years old, a church that the Lutherans left in the 16th century. If you are part of the true religion how come you account for only 6% of the total Christians in the US? How do you like being put under the microscope?

You know what else is sad, knowing that your going to hell. Sound familiar, that's what you tell us every time your up here. Yep, that's right, you and every other non-Cathloic in the world has a one way ticked south simply for not believing in the one holy Cathloic and apostolic Church. Especially you, for preaching the wrong word and trying to convert his children. Now doesn't all this sound narrow minded.

We were taught to be true to our self and respect others. I'm Cathloic because I choose to be. Panda is Cathloic because she chooses to be. Are you Lutheran because your parents are? That's not a polite question to ask is it?

It is not my job to turn others to Catholicism. Its not my job to preach, to convert, to tell people that they are wrong. For all we know we are all wrong and Buddhism is the way to go. You can't force people to believe in what you believe, when they are ready they will come to you.

Matt, your a good friend, and I love you like a brother. But, you are not the same person I grew up with, hell your not the same person we gave the key to.

We don't know who you are, we need our key back.

Looking For Signs During A Troubled Week

Have you ever looked at a cigarette burn when the wind blows? It burns in layers. Evenly burning as the gentle wind carries the smoke into the distance. As you stair into its red glow you notice that its progression towards the filter is never ending, aided by the wind. The wind is time all around us, the red glow is its affect on us, the cigarette its self is our life. Time affects us in more ways than we would like to admit it. At first we feel that we can do anything, that first puff. Then we take another drag, and another till we feel that high. We are in a place where things start to make sense. You look down, your almost at the filter, the end of the road. Do you savor what is left or do you throw it away?

Friend come and go. Relationships begin, then fade away. Puff.

Another East Coast West Coast Rap War?

East Coast Offensive

West Coast Counter Attack

Who will win? Only time will tell.

Why All The Jason Pictures?

Some of you are wondering "what's up with all the posts last night?" Well, the answer to that is simple, it was Jason's 23rd birthday.

What did we do for him last night? Nothing major. All we did was blindforld him and take him to Centerfolds.

Why Centerfolds? For the Birthday Package.

What's the Birthday Package? Well, just see the past posts.

Jason The Man

In the end, after we realized that he did not hate us, it's all ok. Really, really ok!

A Marked Man

The Aftermath of a dry-humping orgy!

The Story Of A Lifetime

Screw Tag, Old Spice Rocks!

Willing and Waiting

A Message From The Inside

Dead Man Walking, Still Blind Folded

A Blind Man Does Not See

Steph and Panda blindfolded him as he buckled up. Toph, the driver, took as many turns as possible to throw off his sense of direction.

Jason, Before Becoming A Man

So today is Mr. Raybin's 23rd birthday. We have been planning this day for about a week now, and have been doing our best to keep our plans to our self. From what we can tell he does not have a clue what is in store.

Spring Break Is Only 6 Weeks Away

I know that school has only been in session for 2 days now, but I'm ready for a break. Right when work was starting to slow down and break became a little more enjoyable, BAM!, vacation over.

However, there is something to look forward to: Spring Break.
And not just any spring break, spring break Maui.

Finally, I get the chance to show my friends what Hawai'i is really like. As most of you know last year we (Steph, Panda, Kevin, Myself) spent spring break on Oahu, in particular Waikiki. Now don't get me wrong, Waikiki was great, the bus system is awesome and you don't need a car, but the true Hawaii is not filled with high rise apartment buildings on an island with 75% of the total population of the state. Hawai'i is rural, quite, and slow moving. And with the rental car companies lowering the driving age to 21, going to Maui for 2006 became a possibility.

So, after convincing Stephanie, Panda, and Jason who has never been outside of California to go, the trip was born. And by adding Robert (not my brother, Panda's friend since sophomore year) to the list of travelers and finally booking a car, which was harder than I thought, we're ready to go.

March 11th is only 6 weeks away!

The Final Cost of the Trip Per Person

Condo: $120 (Kamaole Beach Club)

Airfare: $433 (Suntrips.com)

Rental Car: $77 (Priceline.com, Avis took the bid of $45 a day)
Total: $630

The Truth Behind Blogging

Enough said.

Finals, Holidays, Cigarettes, And A Movie. A Recap On The Past 2 Months

As a sit here, waiting, for Jason to get out of the shower so we can grab lunch on a rare day off from work I try collect my thoughts on the time past.

Do I post about finals, how they were long and stressful for not just me but for everyone I know?

Do I mention how, after a long pre-Christmas day at Target, there is nothing in this world more calming than a beer and a cigarette.

Should I tell everyone how my amazing Chrismas and Thanksgiving was, with family and friends that I only get to see once in a blue moon?

Do I write a review about Brokeback Mountain, and the tragic love story that touched me and everyone else?

Do I write about how Panda, Jason, Stephanie, Katrina, and myself drove down from Chico just to see the movie?

I don't know what I will write about, but I fell this small post has filled the gap between entries.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a happy new year! From your friend Blake

The Message @ The Nile

NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS
As of Nov. 12, 2005 Cafe Nile has closed its doors we would like to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers that made Cafe Nile what it was. Thank You and we will miss you all.

Why God why!

Chico just lost a great spot to go and relax. On Saturday the 12th Cafe Nile shut its doors forever. Why?

California Spoke Yesterday

Well Arnold Schwarzenegger did not get his way yesterday. Everything failed, everything, not one proposition passed.

California spoke out last night, and they said there done, done with Arnold.

Google SMS

Nothing like a free service from google. After playing around with it for a day or two I can say that Google SMS rocks! I'm impressed at the simplicity of the interface and its effectiveness in getting you all the information you need. And best of all its FREE!! Well free on google's end, however standard text messaging fees apply.

My hat is off to you Google, your benevolence is welcomed!

Halloween is Dead. No Pun Intended

I would have to say that Halloween is officially dead in Chico. It was amazing being out on Halloween 2002. Downtown Chico packed with over 20,000 people all dressed in costume, all having a good time. Now compare that to yesterday, there were more cops out on the streets than people. Forget about driving through the city, with DUI checkpoints and closed roads placed in key areas made a five minute drive into fifteen.

Yet with everyone at the bars or house parties Cafe Nile was quiet and charming as always. I love how you can kick back, relax, smoke a cigar, smoke some hookah with panda, and shoot-the-shit with the owners. A relaxing ending to a very hectic day.

A Day of Reflection

So here I am. . .sitting in the BMU Basement. . .waiting for Stephanie to get off of work. . .staring at a crappy flat panel monitor. . .board.

Well, to be honest its not all bad. With the free time that I've had today (namely right now) I am able to think about this past weekend and the next couple of weeks to come. So here I go on the attempt to express my mind in an organized manner.

After two weeks of midterms and group projects (excluding Matt, Sac State is on a different schedule) we all ran down to the Bay Area for some relaxation. After Jason and Toph got off of class, we loaded the cars and we were off. Our desired destination: the Kolsky House.

I can't believe it has been LONGER THAN TWO YEARS since I've been to the Kolsky's. The last time we all went as a group I was still with Tracy. . . man that was a long time ago. Yet all the changes that 2 years hold, once you walk into that house you are welcome. It was as if time somehow held still and started up again once the front door opened up to welcome us in. There are little words to describe that weekend, only emotions. Feelings of joy, feelings of warmth, and feelings of love is was radiates from that household, and I am grateful for every moment I was able to spend there.

I was able to really relax. I spent most of my time in the kitchen because to me cooking for a group is a way to show love and compassion. You put your soul into what you cook, and when your creations take shape you are overcome with a sense of pride. By cooking for everyone I was able to tell them and show them how much I truly love them. I love all you guys: Linda, Alan, Loren, Steph, Panda, Toph, Matt, Jason, and Bailey. I love you guys more than you will ever know.

They Can't Tell It's Not Bacon!

At the beggin'ing

Beggin' For Wow

Bath Time For Baily

Nothing like a bath in the kitchen sink

Kooking @ The Kolsky

Blake making brownies In his dream kitchen Post by Stephanie

The Simple Things In Life

Nothing is more relaxing that reading the paper in the BMU basement in between classes.

Then you get to the comics.


What can I say, I found it funny.

A Look Back

Moving In
Aug. 23, 2002
Location: University Village, Building 22, Room 382, Chico, California
From Right: Pat, Unknown Smiling-Yellow-Head-Man with an iBook

A Look Back

A Cold New York Morning
Spring Break 2004
March 17, 2004
Location: Some train station in upstate New York
From Right: Kenny (Toph's younger brother), Me, Nancy (Toph's mother)

A Look Back

South of the Border
May 31, 2004
Location: Holiday Inn, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
From Left: Matt, Me, Stephanie
Please note: do to a recent agreement, I will no longer be able to show pictures of Toph.

Stolen At Last: Topher's Bike

Who would have known that a 4 year old $30 Kryptonite lock would be no match for 10 cent bic pin? Well we all know now.

Sometime over this past weekend his bike has gone missing. If any one is down in the Davis area anytime soon please be on the lookout for this bike.

The color is blue and metal, if found a reward might be offered.

Well, maybe no the reward.

Eating the World

Jimmy Eat World @ Chico State

Recap On The Battle Of The Blacklist

Friends again.
Picture taken at Eagle Lake on January 15, 2004 @ 2:45PM

You know I do agree with Toph on the fact that it's his site and he can do what ever he wants with it. I posted the picture because it's my site and my pictures and I can do what ever I please with them. But don't run away from harmless questions. Disabling the comment section of your site will not stop the questions. All I wanted to know is what happened to the social that Heather was going to take you to this week? Why did you delete your past post? What harm can happen from telling us the truth?

Success, The Blacklist Has Been Removed!

After receiving 2 choice text messages (I can't believe you shake hands with those dirty fingers!) I am reminded of something I heard from my best friend last night at the Nile: "It's my site and I can do what ever I want with it!"

I stand by that quote my friends!

Yet, he made a concession, and the blacklist has been brought down. As a show of friendship the picture will be removed, and a new day of truth will begin.

We might have won the battle my friends, but the war of truth is about to begin!

The Truth Behind The Blacklist: The Untold Story

***Update: As a show of friendship I have removed the picture (2:04PM)***
As a side note the picture was up for 4 hours

I know what your all thinking, "What is this man hiding from the world?" It was not an accident, it was not some sort of a misconfiguration, it was on purpose that I was blacklisted. There is a story that Toph is not telling the world. And all I want to know is what that is. Was I blacklisted because I was getting to close to the truth? Did I scratch to deep?

Last week there was a post on Mighty Whitey Adventures that told the world what he was doing this week. Among the many topics was one that caught my eye: ". . . Heather is taking me to an Alpha Chi social. . ." Then, "poof," it was gone. After noticing the disappearance, I posted a comment, and then that was gone. I posted one more time, and still no answer.

I have been blocked from seeking the truth, but I ask you world to pick up where I left off. So I ask once again, what is this man hiding?

Toph, You Son-Of-A-Bitch!

All this because I wanted to know what happened to the Sorority Social that Heather was going to take Topher to. What's going on Toph? What do you not want the world to know?

Hawai'i Is Closer Than We All Thought.

Wow, what a weekend. First I went to my first concert (Santana was amazing!), and then I got great news from my parents. First to fill everyone in we (Panda, Jason, Stephanie, and myself) are planning to go to Maui for Spring Break 2006. Being that Chico State has there break From March 11-19 its tough to find other people to go, which would lower the price considerably. We've tried Matt, my sister, Topher, David, and Stephanie's brother. They can't go because of time or price.

Well back to the good news. My dad was able to secure a week at the condo where we always stay for $600 flat! Its a 2br, 2full bath where 6 can stay convertibility. With 4 of us going no matter what that's only $150 for the condo each. With airfare (through Suntrips) at $430, which is incredibly cheap to get to Maui, and a rental car at $100 (I'm guessing high) the total cost is a rough $600 each, which is a $200 savings for each of us over the cheapest package. Hawai'i here we come!

Santana with Los Lonely Boys

To put it simply, amazing.

Santana "Embrace Your Light" Tour

The One And Only Carlos Santana

Nothing like the classic "Black Magic Women"

The Great American Rip-Off

Nothing like stadium prices!

On The Inside

Inside ARCO for my first concert!

My First Concert EVER!