THOMOLOGY

2010-03-06T15:19:00.000-08:00

2010-03-06T13:09:00.000-08:00

2008-12-10T23:02:00.000-08:00

2008-07-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

1341 Rhode Island, Lawrence Kansas

2007-09-24T05:35:00.000-07:00

This is one of my bigger purchases for the year. Built in 1890 by Swiss Masons, the house is in downtown Lawrence and is just three blocks away from my office. My close date is October 26th so you are all welcome after that.

Baretta

2007-08-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

I think the Baretta still has a few more years left in her.

Back to Manhattan

2007-08-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

For those of you who still stay current on my blog, I have moved back to Manhattan, Ks to assist with the modernization of the Grain Research Facility.

Dog Blog

2007-04-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

For the one or two of you left out there that still keeps up on my blog, you can now see my even less frequently updated blog at www.oldenglishsheepblog.blogspot.com

Donate For Free Through Goodsearch

2007-03-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Powered by Yahoo, this search engine donates donates $.01 per search to the charity of your choice. My Goodsearch donation goes to FireEscape Coffeehouse Youth Ministry.

TEXAS A&M

2007-03-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

If it hadn't been for A&M I would have been 100% on my Big 12 picks. But really, who could have predicted that loss.

Big 12 Basketball

2007-03-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

Scrabble

2007-02-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have a new personal best for scrabble that I thought the world would love to hear about.

March Madness suggested beer of the month

2007-02-14T22:23:00.000-08:00

636 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044 , OATMEAL STOUT

KU vs. K-State

2007-02-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

I predict a long overdue K-State victory tonight.

Favorite Big 12 Mascot

2007-01-29T20:59:00.000-08:00

Give it up for your favorite Big 12 Mascot, Little Red is mine. Of course it didn't help them from getting destroyed tonight by KU. Ahh, March madness will be here soon!

Tona, Suggestion for Corey's Beer of the Month

2007-01-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

A great tasting beer from Nicaragua, Tona, is made with German yeast and malt, North American hops and water from Compania Cervecera de Nicaragua's deep water wells. This is the best Central American beer I have tasted.

Little Miss Sunshine

2007-01-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

A great flick for anyone who wants a good laugh.

Dog Size

2006-11-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

This is how big sheepdogs get for those of you who asked.

SAMPSON

2006-11-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

Not even four months old and he has already become quite the gardener.

Snow Cap 3.25 lbs

2006-08-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Snow Cap 3.75lbs

2006-08-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

1 ear 3.75

2006-08-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

2 black ears 4.0 pounds

2006-08-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

2 black ears 4.0 pounds

Old English Sheepdog Puppies

2006-08-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

I have decided to get an old english sheepdog puppy. The initial eight have been narrowed down to these four. All are male, the first two are a bit larger, and the second two have snow capped heads. I'll set up another round of voting when their eyes open. They will either be blue, brown, or mixed. I am taking name advice too!

Contestant #1

2006-08-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

Contestant #2

2006-08-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

Contestant #3

2006-08-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

Contestant #4

2006-08-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

2006-06-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Nathan Snyder. Currently he works with the Peace Corps in Suriname.

The Holy Rosary

2006-02-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

This rosary was given to me for my First Communion by my God parents. For one reason or another it serves as my longest gift still in use and travels with me everywhere I go.

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY

+ On the cross: The Apostles' Creed.
O On the single bead: The Our Father.
o On the three beads: The Hail Mary on each one.
o
o On the last of the The Glory be to the Father
three beads: after the Hail Mary

Repeat the following steps for each decade (mystery):

O On the single beads: Announce the mystery.
Read the meditation.
Say the Our Father.
o On the ten beads: Hail Mary on each one
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o On the last of the ten beads: Glory be to the Father
after the Hail Mary.

The Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) is said after the last decade (mystery).

Mullet

2006-02-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

Baby

2006-02-15T15:50:00.000-08:00

This week has been quite interesting. I am playing dad to a 13 month old named Jaun. He lived up in the mountians and was suffering from various ailments along with only weighing 11-12 pounds. It is quite a miracle that he is still alive. His health is imporving at alarming rates and the progress is fun to watch... pictures to come.

Scorch!

2006-02-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

As I was reviewing my blog, I thought I would share with you my friends list and how I know each person. I am not sure the proper etiquette in this matter, but know that my first choice of people to talk about would be the most likely to give a proper, unbiast review of my new addition.

Fellow K-Stater, Mike, aka "Post" is shown here in the Linz half marathon (I think the Austrian culture requires each sporting event be followed by a refreshing beer) . He spent a semester in Prague with me and was a key element to my Prague Marathon finish. Though he is a fantastic marathon training partner, he does lack skills in the area of the quarters version of "boxing." One of our first moments together envolved the game which placed him MIA for the rest of the evening.

He is to be married this summer to a great woman named Grechen. Which bring me to a side topic of weddings. Two summers ago, I was helping a friend of mine load up all his wedding present. He got some good things but did he ever get a lot of useless crap too. So, I have decided that if you attend a wedding and don´t know what to get the person, and can not figure out the registry, send cash. Don´t be that guy that sends a chi-pet or something you may think is funny or unique that you will be remebered by. Just don´t even show up if your going to be that guy.

To know more about Mike postiglione, go to http://www.postiglione.blogspot.com/ or click on Post under my friends list. I give him a 4 star rating. He is a consistant blogger and the site contains intelligent humor.

I´m Back

2006-02-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, hello fans, I am back to blogging. I do not have internet at home now, so thus all my blogging efforts will be done at the internet cafe... so my pictures will be limited. I am back in Honduras for another six months and then from there, who knows. I am kicking around the idea of playing architect and joining the "real world." In March, I will also be returning home for a scholarship interview through the Rotary Foundation. The dream would be to study in Australia for one year. Ah, that travel bug can be quite a pest.

Well friends, I am going to go slow here on getting back into the blog of things, until tommorow.

Stylin' 4 X 4

2005-11-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

For a month I was able to cruise around in a 1987 Isuzu trooper playing boss while Lisa was back in the states raising funds. It takes the South East Kansas past time of mudding to a whole new level traveling up and down the mountain in the rain.

Pepe vs. Mel

2005-11-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

The presidential elections are in full swing... Mel (top) vs. Pepe (bottom). This is an article form the Honduras weekly. November 28th is election day, so until then the political music is blasting and propaganda is flying.

Porfirio Lobo Sosa, National Party of Honduras.
Pepe was born in Trujillo in 1947 but grew up on a farm near Juticalpa, Olancho. After attending Catholic school in Juticalpa he first furthered his studies in Tegucigalpa and then at university in the United States, although he also attended a university in Russia. He became a diputado in 1990. Sosa was in charge of the Honduran Corporation for Forestry Development, COHDEFOR, from 1990 to 1994. Currently, Sosa serves as president of the national congress.
As congressional president Sosa has overseen the fuel price freeze and the easing of tensions with the taxistas following their strike in September. He also passed legislation stripping public officials of their immunity from prosecution. Corruption and lack of accountability is a major problem in Honduras and a key concern of the people.
Sosa’s slogan for the campaign is 'trabajo y seguridad' (work and security), a socially-minded campaign promising an answer to Honduras’ unemployment and violent crime. The social instability instigated by crime and lack of a reliable fiscal policy are of major concerns to the voters. Fixing the housing shortage is another local concern which Sosa promises to fix if elected president in the forthcoming elections.
At the last legislative elections in 2001 the national party won 46.5 per cent of the popular vote giving them 61 of the 128 seats in the national congress. Their leader, Ricardo Maduro won the presidency with 52.2 per cent of the vote.
Party Name: Partido Liberal de Honduras (Liberal Party of Honduras) Leader: Manuel Zelaya Rosales

Manuel 'Mel' Zelaya, the Liberal Party’s candidate for president, is a long time party member,
having held many titles within the party during his political career.
Manuel Zelaya Rosales, Liberal Party of Honduras
Zelaya has been national liberal party co-ordinator, Congressional deputy, and, most recently, he managed the Honduran Social Investment Fund (FHIS).
Zelaya attended the National Honduran University but did not graduate. Now a landowner, he claims to understand the problems facing the rural majority, because of his countryside origins.
This empathy for the people is highlighted in his campaign slogan "poder ciudano" (power to the people). Under this broad campaign banner Zelaya has promised to heal the social, education, and welfare problems faced by the Honduran population.
Some of these promises include improving education with 100,000 scholarships and creating 100,000 more rural jobs. Mel also has pledged to reinvigorate small and mediumsized businesses.
The party strongly opposes the introduction of the death penalty, a policy the National Party are passionately endorsing, on the basis that it is "unchristian" and a "fascist campaign of violence". Recently a spokesman for Zelaya said that the "backbone of the government of Manuel Zelaya will be to provide better housing and living standards to the people in rural areas."
In the last legislative elections, the party won 40.8 per cent of the popular vote and 55 of Congress’ 128 seats.
The Liberal presidential candidate at the time, Rafael Pineda Ponce, won only 44.3 per cent of the vote, losing the election to Ricardo Maduro of the National Party.

Good Morning

2005-11-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

I woke up early to help with the coffee harvest. This shot is just above the clinic. I love watching the clouds crawl below me. Not as much as I like sleeping, but this even made it worth getting up at five in the morning.

Mimi

2005-11-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

Mimi works in the trade store at the clinic and makes me lunch everyday. I like food, thus I find Mimi to be a good person. Her fish is quite amazing, but nothing competes with her French fries. My stomach has finally adjusted to the cooking style of Honduras. Fried chicken, fried vegetables, fried..... well, nearly everything is fried in animal fat. Yes, high cholesterol is common, but it beats McDonalds. Luckily, to promote nutrition at the clinic, a wide variety of natural fruit juices and healthy meals are served.

In Loving Memory

2005-10-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

Tumulo at a young age passed on to a better place. His joys in life were whistling and eating planter peanuts. The magnificent bird will be missed.

Coffee Baskets

2005-10-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

The coffee harvest is underway. Augustine, a fellow worker, is assembling a belt for the baskets used in picking. Harvest usually lasts three months and the plants are picked 3-4 times. Each worker receives twenty lempiras a basket(just over a dollar) and can pick seven baskets a day.

Rats!

2005-10-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Nested away in one of our compost boxes existed a dozen or so baby rats. It brought me back to my youth of salting slugs and crushing bumble bees. Cute picture though!

Memories of Kansas

2005-10-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

These few sunflowers growing at the clinic remind me of home. Even with all the natural beauty of Honduras, I think nothing competes with a great Kansas thunderstorm or a summer sunset across the Konza prairie.

Container Arrival

2005-10-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

At last, after two days of me sitting around the house doing absolutely nothing, the container from the states has arrived. This is a shot of me riding up the mountain with a few of the guys on back. There were many medicines sent along with various medical instruments. I enjoyed going through the contents and sorting everything.

Green Parrot Coffee

2005-10-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

We have been hard at work with toasting and packaging coffee. One of the ideas to help make the clinic self sufficent is through the export of Green Parrot Coffee. It is a good choice for all you coffee addicts out there. It is great to see the process from beginning to end. I am going to go help harvest one of these days and get a real taste for the work behind a great cup of joe.

Chocolate River

2005-09-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

My eyes are constantly burning here in Tegucigalpa. The pollution is intense. A small flash flood hit and the outside water way swelled. There is no water refinery so you are seeing a lot of sewage.

Early Birth

2005-09-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

The morning was a rush, having been brought a woman from the mountains to our residence to aid in a complicated birth. The little boy finally poped out and we were on our way to Tegucigalpa to pick up Dr. Tom, a dentist interested in starting a project in Honduras. I am tagging along to help show him around. We will meet with the head of the dentisty program at the university and also speak with the man in charge of the dental aspects in public health. This is a quick stop of a lake on the way.

First Scrub

2005-09-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

I finally assisted on some real surgeries today. Two hysterectomies and some other vaginal reconstruction were scheduled. In the end I did well and learned a lot in the process. It is a unique challenge to stay focused on the anatomy in a hot operating room. I have become somewhat fascinated by this and look forward to the next operation.

Hurricane Season

2005-09-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

Honduras was hit pretty hard with Hurricane Mitch back in 1998, killing over 6,000 people. Though none have hit here recently, the strength of Katrina, and the possibility of Rita is taking its toll. Gas prices hit over four dollars, causing an increase in basic food items. The trucks carrying people down the mountains increased from 16 Lempiras to 20 Lempiras ($1.10). And of course, there was a drastic change in the amount of financial support for our clinic. Last I talked about finances; only six hundred of the six thousand dollars needed to support the clinic had come in. This is the first time ever the clinic may not be able to make pay roll. I have always marveled at the power of our country and how much we support others.

Independencia de Honduras

2005-09-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

The excitement was relentless on September 15th´s day of celebration. The evening prior to the Honduran Independence day was entertaining. The school children put on an event at night with dancing and singing. It was a good time. The true day of celebration was slow and uneventful however. I am going to have to say USA all the way for a good celebration of freedom. I spent the day sleeping and working out. The latest drama however, was that nearly everyone I work with went swimming and BBQ-ing. The Honduran culture is unique in that instead of ever confronting people about issues, you just don´t say anything. Friday was interesting because people where extremely frigid. I suspect I wasn´t invited because I live with the boss and they failed to invite her. Naturally, I could care less, but find it humorous to have people walk on egg shells around me. So, me being me, I decided that I will have to ask why I was not invited and express my true hurt. Many Hondurans are funny that way, like little children. I guess we will see how they do with some direct confrontation!

New Boxes

2005-09-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

We began construction on the first of many new garden boxes that will be placed on the clinic grounds to maximize the growing potential of the agriculture project. With limited funds and resources, these beds were constructed by recycling the bi-products of cut lumber. The outside of the tree is planed down and this product is left usually to wrought. Thus far, most everything is organized in the agriculture part and now I am finalizing my site plan for the remainder of the construction projects.

José Walks

2005-09-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today we took a boy my age named José to the Sula hospital to remove his leg casts. He was born with club feet and until today has never wore shoes before. Dr. Harbin from Salina came down last month and helped out many people, and even took me on my first deep sea fishing experience. Above all, he is a quality beer drinking companion. Don´t get me wrong, the whole helping people to walk and where shoes for the first time in twenty years of age, good gesture. But, beer is beer. So, cheers to Dr. Harbin of Salina!

Cemetery

2005-09-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

I took a nice walk today around town. There were people out celebrating Children's Day in the town square, bashing piñatas and singing music. Men were working spreading coffee beans on the basketball courts. There are at least three courts in this small town, all were probably donated by some international green space organizations. Though nobody plays basketball, they sure help when it is time to harvest coffee. I finally ended up at the town cemetery. These grave sites are remarkably similar to those that I saw in Croatia. I am not sure if they are elevated due to hurricanes or if it is just this cultures normal practice.

Tobacco Worm

2005-09-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

The agriculture advancements are going well. Thus far I am organizing various spaces and trying to rid ourselves of un-needed materials. The tomato plants came down with a virus carried by white flies so we will hold off on planting a new crop until the problem is contained. This Tobacco worm has also been dinning on the plants for a while.

Missed Calling

2005-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

After our chicken run to San Pedro Sula, we returned late to the clinic in the mountains. A car stopped just after our arrival and we were greeted by a local farmer with a nice machete wound. Being the only other person around, I ended up assisting. Turns out I may have a natural aptitude for such work according to my missionary friend Lisa. I figure I got used to it with the many witnessed battle wounds in the model making world of K-State Architecture.

Tumulo

2005-09-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend was pleasant, filled with reading and relaxing, minus the shortage of electricity. My quest through Spain along the side of Don Quixote has been extremely slow. Like Quixote's faithful steed, Rosinante, I too have gained a companion for these Honduran adventures. My new Amazon Parrot, christened with the name "Tumulo" or Speed Bump for all you non-Spanish speakers, is quite lively. We have bonded over a number of past stories. After my tales of pigeons in Venice, he proved that he was just as capable of defecating on my shoulder more than once in a single hour as they were.

Education Advancements

2005-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Our local grade school now has electricity for the classrooms and power to run the kitchen refrigerator. Pete Sias, Brett Wallace, and Doris Bedinger visited from Salina to run the wire from the clinic's generator up to the school. They left me with the finishing touch of placing the post to make the final connection to the school. Lights and better school lunches will be a great way to aid the children's learning.

One Year In Honduras

2005-09-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

My latest adventure in life has taken me back to Honduras. As the new agronomist at Fellow Man International I will be working hard to further develop and strengthen the agricultural project that assists this mission. My current plan is to stay for a full year, assisting on various projects ranging from aiding upcoming mission groups to designing and building houses in the cloud rainforest of Buenos Aires.