Wenke's Web

Dear Dad

2008-06-21T03:50:00.001-05:00

Hey Dad, how you doing? Jake here, and I'm just trying to keep up with myself these days.

As you can tell, Henry is getting bigger by the minute and its the funnest thing to watch him grow. I see myself in him all the time and it still reminds me of you when he laughs. I try to keep up with showing you all the big things that happen but they seem to happen on an hourly basis lately. He talks to me all the time if you consider "Blub blah da de bo" a meaningful conversation. For some reason it seems to make sense to us.

I'm starting to understand now why I didn't get to hear from you all the time. I had a harsh perspective on that for a long time but I'm not sure why I held you to such a strict standard while the world seemed to catch up to us and pass us by. Even today I'm having trouble trying to talk to Mom enough to let her know what's going on, and I've really been bad at keeping the closest of the family in the loop. I mean, when I count it up I got 3 brothers and 2 sisters that I need to be talking to on a daily basis. Add in Mom and Jimmie, Teresa and David, Jeff and Jodi, Grandma Wenke, Mike and Diane, and all 9 cousins and then the friends... damn. The way I figure it, I should be making around 3 or 4 phone calls a day to talk to everyone and just let them know what's going on with my family.

Don't forget Chandra, 'cause without her I'd be lost. Everyday I learn a bit more of what family means and I still don't know how to thank her enough. She takes care of Henry so well, so much better than I could ever manage too. I try as much as I can to keep up with him and still I can only manage a few hours a day. I don't see how anyone could manage this by themselves, not in a million years and with all the money in the world. I wish I could talk with Chandra for hours everyday, but it seems all I manage on some days is a kiss when I get home and some chit-chat about our day when we get the chance.

I want you to know that I love you, old man. There was a lot of mess in the middle that kept that from being obvious, but don't doubt for a second that it wasn't there. I always remembered your face, even when I wasn't looking at it in the best light. There might have been some jackass part of me that thought that I was just going to be better at this dad thing by sheer luck, but don't worry, reality has kicked me right in the ass on that one. I still wish there were some lessons that you could help me out with.

There is one thing I want to thank you the most for, Dad. Thank you for showing me that it's always worth it to keep trying... keep trying to get it done, keep trying to do it better than last time, keep trying to make a difference where it counts. I promise that I'll keep that up for you, the best way that I can.

Happy Father's Day. I miss you old man, sorry if it's a bit late.

New Baby Pics

2008-04-24T00:46:00.003-05:00

Here's some new baby pics for everyone to enjoy. Henry is doing great and is growing faster than we can keep track of. It's hard to believe he is almost 3 months old already. His unofficial measurement is 14 pounds right now and about 24 inches, so he's getting to be quite a chunky monkey. We have lots of fun playing the smiling game and sticking out our tounge at each other. He just started to giggle in his sleep yesterday but we haven't figured out what he thinks is funny yet to get him to laugh when he's awake.

Click the slide show to go to my google pics and you can see all of them there and in hi-res if you need to download them for prints and such.

The Most Important Day of My Life

2008-02-03T21:48:00.000-06:00

I am exhausted, worn, excited and hungry and I have never felt happier than I do now. Today my son was born. Henry Karl Wenke was delivered to Chandra and I at 12:55pm at Wesley Hospital in Wichita. He is 8lbs and 3oz and was 19.5 inches long when he was born. He is absolutely perfect and makes me smile everytime I see him. He has a full head of dark hair and looks like both of us in a perfectly shared way. Today, I am a perfectly happy man. Today, I am a father.

First Baby Pics

2007-09-24T23:31:00.001-05:00

Things are definitely moving fast, so I'm just stepping in for a quick update. Last Friday Chandra and I had our first sonogram of the baby at 18 weeks. I never understood why people were always so excited about grainy, cryptic pictures, but now I get it. I still get a smile every time I look at them. I can honestly say they represent one of the most exciting things I have ever seen. Click the link and have a smile with me as there are some funny ones in there. If you want to keep it a mystery, stay away from the last 2.

From Baby Wenke

My Summer of Shifting Priorities

2007-09-04T02:30:00.000-05:00

Hello again everyone. Since I have been out of the public radar quite a bit for the last few months, I thought I would give everyone my "What I Did Last Summer" report. I can tell you that its was an eventful summer, so please pay attention to all the details. True to my form, I'll try to keep it painfully long and full of obscure metaphors.

The summer started with a let down when I found out that I had failed my "Art" class in college. It turns out that you really have to do homework to get a passing grade in college, regardless of how relevant and informative (or worthless and trivial in this case) the class may be to my business degree. Yes, it was all my fault. No, I won't apologize for calling it a worthless class. Lucky for me I was able to find an online class over the summer session that filled my art requirement and was quick and mostly painless. This time I did my homework like a good school boy and got a good grade. For now I, am taking this semester off, but more on that later.

The next big thing was with work. Our outsourcing group was looking for a person to manage one of our vendors on a one-on-one basis for a year or two. The kicker was that this vendor is a little bit outside of town... As in southern Brazil part of out of town. I jumped at the offer when they first mentioned it, back in mid May and proceeded to go through interviews with all the different managers attached to this program. Everyone kept telling me that they were going to move on this fast so I was a bit frustrated when I had to go through five interviews at about 2 week intervals. Fast in business terms is evidently around two months, but I did get to chat with the vice president of supply chain. So after my extended meet and greet with the entire company, they offered me the position and I naturally accepted. The very next day, the company states they are taking a new strategy with this vendor and they no longer need me to go down there. It's always nice to see multi-billion dollar company focused and synchronized on a goal, but in the end it worked out for the best. Once the word got out that I wasn't headed to paradise I got an offer for a team lead spot back in production (where I enjoy working the most) and a temporary assignment in our experimental shop (where I can show off my skill to everyone).

And so we come to my biggest priority and most recent reason to know how to spell serendipity. Around the same time as the Brazil deal was kicking off, I met a sweet little girl named Chandra. We began to spend a lot of time together which turned into a lot more time together. A couple of months ago we found out that she was pregnant and so now I'm going to be a father. Lucky for me she's been through this before because the whole idea is still a bit scary for me. It's very exciting, but at the same time sobering. All of my priorities are now shifting to my responsibilities as a father. I'm nervous of my abilities but confident that things will work out for the best. I'm scared of the huge responsibility of raising a child but I'm ecstatic of all the fun and happiness this child will bring to our lives. Since you've made it this far I'll assume that you really are interested in my dealings and hope that you will also support and share in our happiness.

Things will be changing quickly. I hope to be moving into a new house by the end of the year, finishing the last 2 classes for my associates degree before the spring semester, and the baby is due February 18th. As always, this adventure called life is getting more and more interesting as we go along the path. Thanks for sharing the road with me.

With respect and love.
Wenke.

When UPS Attacks

2007-07-04T00:27:00.000-05:00

I ordered a new surround sound system last week when I found a good deal on a ONKYO receiver and a full set of speakers. It would have been really cool to have hooked up to my DVD player and my Home Theater Computer and be really loud and obnoxious in all my geek tech glory. I bought it from a long time online retailer that millions have shopped from before and had to pay about $50 for shipping via the ever-present UPS. The boy in brown showed up today to drop off my purchase, and came to the door with just his little computer and said to go ahead and sign to accept the package. Remembering what my mama said, I waited to sign the little machine until he brought the package up to me. When he brought it up to the porch, this is what I was treated too (click on the pictures to see the full set).

So I did the safe thing and refused delivery. Besides being hi-tech electronics, and obviously dropped something fierce, there was a very good chance that some of the pieces could have fallen out or been stolen. Refusing delivery makes UPS and Crutchfield fight it out, while Crutchfield just sends me a new box and I (hopefully) have no worries while having to wait a bit longer.

Now the thought on my mind is this: The UPS guy knew that this box was beat the fuck up. He also know what my options were in this situation. So why did he ask me to sign for it before he brought it up to the porch?

Was the guy just a dick and wanted to stick me with a busted stereo, maybe yell "Gotcha!" as he dropped it off and run away. Is there some kind of corporate policy out to screw over the customer by sticking people with broken things so they have to go through all the red tape on the off chance that most will just give up and accept the bad fortune? Who knows, maybe the guy just had a long day and didn't want to have to lug a 90 pound box from truck to door then back again. Whatever the situation, none were my responsibility and I was not about to make it mine. Moral of the story? Watch your six people. There are a lot of ways for retailers, shippers, middlemen and others to take advantage of your dollar if you let them. Don't be no sucka baby.

2 Weeks and Some Change.

2007-05-18T00:54:00.000-05:00

It's been 18 days since I quit smoking. I will admit I did have one cigarette last Friday after the bar, however it was a Super-Ultra-Mega-Uber-Light so it was more of a disappointment than a reprieve. They say 21 days make a habit, so give it a week. However I'm pretty sure the hunger will still be there. Last time I quit for almost 2 years and I still wanted to smoke the whole time. However I have kept up at the gym for about 6 weeks now, almost 3 weeks of clean breathing... I'm contemplating kicking the caffeine habit next. Chocolate has been my replacement vice for the last week or so and it's not doing me any good. It might even be worse for me than the smoking was.

So exercise, no nicotine and no caffeine. I am going to be a complete and total asshole. You have been warned.

I will use these reasons as an excuse for my insomnia as well, so you can't get mad when I fall asleep while you are talking. I really was paying attention to whatever it was you just said. The up side of all of this frustration is that it keeps my hands busy. No, not like that. Ass. Saturday I did my rain dance by waxing the hell out of my car, Sadie. She looked so good I took some new pics of her. You can check them out in my photo albums. I love the way a girl looks after a good wax job. Yes, like that. I'm the ass ;)

You know... Everyone likes a Brazilian...

2007 Easter Pub Crawl - The Ultimate Sacrifice

2007-04-20T00:42:00.000-05:00

It looks like we finally got all of the pics from the Ultimate Sacrifice Pub Crawl collected and in the public domain. The Padre was out in full effect once again. Click on the pic below to check em out.

Ultimate Sacrifice Pub Crawl

Day 3

2007-04-19T20:05:00.000-05:00

Medically speaking, three days after a person stops smoking, all nicotine has left their system. Any discomfort or feelings a person has for cigarettes at this time are purely a result of the brain adjusting to the lowered levels of nicotine. Nicotine is chemically similar and mimics the actions of acetylcholine, a neurochemical that attaches to the brain's receptors and produces dopamine which affects a person's sense of pleasure and satisfaction. Dopamine is the same neurotransmitter that is involved in addictions to other drugs such as cocaine and heroin. After 16 years of smoking, my brain has been trained to receive a boost of this chemical cocktail about every 2 hours. Think about the hungriest you have ever been, then move that pain to the middle of your brain. Then make it worse, steadily over the next 7 days...

The good side...
These neurochemicals are produced in our own brains. The perceptions and emotions we focus on are reinforced by more of these same chemicals. Focus your perceptions on peace and contentment, you will have a damn good chance of feeling peaceful and content. That's what eastern medicine has used meditation for for thousands of years. I will use my mind to rid myself of this discomfort that is caused by my mind... Yeah, there is no spoon.

Shitty thing is, I have always used cigarettes to calm myself so I can meditate. Fuckers.

I Quit

2007-04-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

I have been smoking for a long time. I started smoking cigars when I was 16, and after I learned that they aren't the best thing before school, I switched to smoking Marlboro Red's. Full Flavor, Cowboy Killer's, Coffin Nails... yeah, they are all the same thing. Except for a brief stint during boot camp and briefly while I was married, I have been smoking pretty much ever since then. I have smoked a lot, at one time I was smoking a pack and 1/2 a day. Everyday. I have cut down considerably since then and except for when I am at the bar, I usually smoke about 5 or 6 cigarettes a day. This Saturday night I was out at a friend's house for a pig roast and I finished my last pack of cigarettes. I'm giving them up.

I never needed to smoke, I just like to smoke. But it does have a negative effect on me. And the positives of smoking don't seem to offset the negatives nearly as much as they used too. One of my favorite things is that I would get a few minutes to get up from the desk and go somewhere else for a little break. But there are other things I can do to get those little breaks, maybe I'll go run up and down the stairs or maybe walk around the building if its nice out. We shall see... I'm going to miss my little distraction. So please be a little understanding if I'm more inclined to bite now. I never mean for it to be personal ;)

This Is Why I'm King of the Geeks

2007-04-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

I love Wired News. It really addresses the issues I'm concerned with. They had a fun article on the nature of what it is to be a geek and it covered a topic that isn't always considered when most people talk about geeks. I also think that this explains why being a geek has turned me into a metro-sexual. The full article is here and be forewarned, not all of the links contained are safe for work. So be careful if you are in a controlled environment. Enjoy :)
________________

The 10 Real Reasons Why Geeks Make Better Lovers

04.06.07 | 2:00 AM

Editor's note: Some links in this story lead to adult material and are not suitable for viewing at work. All links of this nature will be noted with "NSFW" after them.

- - -

I've read recently that geeks make better lovers because they are so unaccustomed to romance that they will do anything for their mates. Also because geeks don't have the social skills to cheat (wanna bet?).

Yeah, ha ha, let's chuckle at the stereotypes. Might as well add that geeks won't waste valuable relationship time watching football. Or that geeks are clueless and fashion-impaired and have the social skills of a bowl of fruit.

But you know what? Humorous Top-10 lists aside, geeks really do make the best lovers, for reasons that have nothing to do with adolescent ostracism or puppy-like devotion.

It's all about sex-tech. (Tell us what you think below.)

Geeks build it so you will come

Second Life's SexGen animation system, Red Light Center's (NSFW) beautiful sex animations and open-source teledildonics did not simply coalesce out of the mists during a marketing department meeting.

These projects require strong technical know-how along with an open-minded approach to sexual variation. After all, you can't build sex-tech that serves only your own preferences if you expect others to use it. Especially if you want them to buy it.

That geeks have the passion to commit their technical skills to expanding sexual options for everyone is evidence enough of their enthusiasm and dedication as lovers.

Geeks get personal with tech

All engineers may be geeks, but not all geeks are engineers. Doesn't matter. You don't need to know how to build a platform in order to do a half-gainer in full pike with a twist into the river of love.

A geek is more likely to figure out how to customize toys and to design arousing environments for your avatars to play in than a non-geek. And that experience translates into a greater sensitivity to atmosphere and mood during sex -- beyond lighting a candle.

Don't be surprised if your geek lover puts more thought into arranging the boudoir than you do, or if common household items ("pervertibles") soon take on a new dimension. More than one geek has told me that Home Depot is their favorite adult store.

Geeks dig consensual role playing

Geek lovers combine a well-developed and oft-exercised erotic imagination with their physical technique. It isn't a big leap from "I'm a level-13 thief, evil-aligned" to "I'm the prison warden and you're the new detainee." Scientists and therapists alike claim that the brain is the most critical sexual organ; a geek's familiarity with fantasy arouses your mind even as the handcuffs -- or the bag of loot -- bring your body to attention.

Geeks interact

A technophobe mostly talks to you in person, but a geek is happy to be with you by texting your phone, flirting with you in a chat room, Skyping you, Twittering just in case you're on your vibrating couch (NSFW), sending funny cell-phone snapshots to your e-mail, playing online games, commenting on your blog, Digging articles that interest you, seducing you by instant message….

Geeks get things done

Geeks know all the shortcuts. They research your interests, send you surprise gifts, plan your perfect vacation, get the bills and grocery shopping out of the way, write to their mothers, and tease you mercilessly, all while pretending to work. And when you ask them to set up your home Wi-Fi or install a home theater, it's done quickly, expertly and without complaint.

In other words, geeks know how to get everything else out of the way so there's more time for lovemaking.

Geeks are hot …

… and wear the coolest glasses.

Geeks don't shock easily

Geeks have seen all the porn you can imagine and then some, priming them to be open to your sexual peccadilloes. They are not only less likely to be shocked by your exotic requests -- they might not even realize that other people think your turn-ons are exotic.

Conversely, your geek lover might be relieved that your wildest fantasy involves only two other people, five utensils and a trapeze.

Geeks know kinky people

Geeks haven't just seen a variety of positions, kinks and fetishes in blue movies. They know (or are) people who enjoy those things, so they don't dismiss entire categories of sexual interests as the sole province of a bunch of weirdos in San Francisco.

It's hard to sustain prejudice and bias against an abstract group when you develop relationships with individuals and discover they're just like you. It doesn't matter if they dress up like ponies, or refuse to conform to a societal idea of gender norms, or eat pancakes for dinner. Geek lovers know better than to try to impose their sexual preferences or standards on others -- including your friends -- and are more likely to love and let love.

Geeks understand multi-dimensional relationships

Geeks connect with their online buddies in several guises, often getting to know the person behind the avatar as friendships deepen and move from adult communities to personal IM.

A geek can flow seamlessly between conversation about a friend's partner and kids in one window and an elaborate group sex scene in another, without feeling any discontinuity between the personas. Even if the friend is a 43-year-old father of two in IM, and a 22-year-old dominatrix in the group.

With all that going on, a geek has no problem accepting that sometimes you want mocha ripple cherry fudge chunk swirl with almonds and a waffle and sometimes you want vanilla lite.

Geeks aren't threatened by new tech or "the future of sex"

Geeks have read the science fiction. They know the dire predictions of a world in which the sticky press of flesh is replaced by neural nets and sex robots that also do housework (or is that house robots that also do sex work?).

Geeks have imagined more sexual dystopias than the average person and are the first to see the technological developments that could lead us down dark paths. Which only makes sense, considering who develops those technologies in the first place.

At the same time, geeks know better than anyone that something always goes wrong when you lean on machines for your social fulfillment. A geek doesn't mind if you bring home the iiErotoTrix 5000 v3 -- as long as you share it.

Literacy and the printing press did not replace sex; neither did photography, automobiles, video, online porn or 3-D escort services. Geek lovers spend enough time with technology to appreciate the unique wondrousness of human touch.

See you next Friday, Regina Lynn

How to Not Get Elected. Part Whatever...

2007-03-01T12:15:00.000-06:00

As most have seen, I failed to win the primary so my first attempt at politics has come to a close. Thanks to everyone for all the help and support that you provided during this fun and exciting time. Unfortunately, the voter turnout was dismal and that was the worst thing for my campaign. From the preliminary numbers it only looks like about 15% of the district voted and the incumbent won with only 2800 votes. It was a lot of work, a lot of fun, and one of the best learning experiences I have had in quite some time. A few of the most important things I learned are:

1. Apathy is a community's worst enemy
2. My ideas alone are not enough to change the world
3. The established controlling powers favor the privileged
4. People as a whole are more concerned about themselves than their community
and most importantly... 5. Getting out in the community and talking to everyone, from all different backgrounds, has been one of the most exciting and fun things I have ever done.

So, who knows what the future holds. But for now I want to take some time to be selfish and focus on myself. There are lots of fun projects I have in mind... and a few wicked strategies too

It's Almost Time To Vote

2007-02-26T12:24:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is the day! Get out and vote and let your voice be heard. It is your right and your responsibility to decide who will represent your thoughts, feelings and actions on the issues that are effecting your community.

Thanks everyone for all the positive support that you have given me during all this hard work. See you at the polls tomorrow!

Campaign Website Updated

2007-02-18T10:08:00.000-06:00

I got a chance to put some more info up on my campaign webpage. I updated the Issues page so everyone can see what my stance is on things. For those of you that like one stop shopping, I have reposted them here for you. Thanks for your time, and remember to vote on Feb. 27th!

Effective Management
I can communicate with people from all backgrounds and develop a consensus that everyone can agree on. The city council needs to have a single goal that everyone is working together to achieve. My management experience in the military and in the aircraft industry has taught me to take everyone's input and develop a plan that everyone can agree on. My greatest skill that I have developed in Supply Chain Management is to learn how to talk a common language with every organization. I want to bring that skill to the city council to focus everyone on making Wichita the best city it can be.

Responsible and Focused Government
I am an advocate of civic and personal responsibility. I believe the city council needs to be accountable and transparent to the citizens through a more effective use of our tax dollars and by ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget. The city has given tax abatements to companies that have not provided a return on the tax dollars invested. Instead, we should be supporting economic development that is in line with our future goals such as revitalizing real estate in the heart of the city, businesses that offer different services than the ones we have available, and the attractions that will help retain the young talent in the city.

Developing Wichita
I support both residential and business development to draw people back to the center of Wichita and support a higher level of cooperation and communication between city, county and Wichita education leaders to better the community as a whole. Wichita is losing residents to the surrounding areas at a growing rate. The reasons given most often is because of the public school system and the availability of housing in the middle price range. This migration to the suburbs is reducing our tax revenue which continues to reduce our ability to develop. The city needs to support revitalization in the core of the city, not continuing the urbran sprawl that is bleeding off our most valuable resource... people.

Economic Diversity
I feel that the key to a strong economic future is attracting more diverse businesses to Wichita while continuing to support the strong manufacturing industry. I feel this can be done by providing a foundation for other industries in the region and supporting better education to develop the future generations into a more diverse and productive workforce. We need to attract firms that specialize in back office work, such as payroll, human resources, financing companies that are already outsourcing and keep that work here in Wichita. We also need to focus on bringing more of the technology sector to Wichita that will compliment our manufacturing industry. Bringing customer support centers, internet data centers, telemarketing, warehousing and distribution centers to Wichita can help us diversify the workforce and provide more and different opportunities to the young talent in Wichita.

On The Campaign Trail

2007-02-12T19:39:00.000-06:00

Today I attended an open forum for the Waste and Recycling Coalition with most of the other candidates that are running for the City Council positions. Counting me, there were 4 of the 6 candidates for the District 2 seat. The two that were missing was the incumbent, Sue Schlapp, and a strange fellow that does not seem to agree with most of the world, let alone the city. It was an interesting meeting and was a great way to see the views of the other candidates. One thing that really got me was something one of the candidates for District 5 said. He stated that one of his goals was to turn Wichita into a premier retirement community. Now I have talked about this jokingly before. However this guy was sincere and from his tone, it sounded like the best thing since sliced bread.

It is this mindset that I am trying to change. That is one of the main reasons why I am running for City Council. That statement discounts every person in this city that plans on remaining in the workforce for more than 10 years. I will not let the tired and complacent take over this town and let it coast away into retirement. Wichita is a vibrant and creative place; we are not ready to sit down in an easy chair and accept whatever the future may throw at us. There is an amazing amount of change looming over the horizon and we will miss the opportunity in those changes if we are sedentary. Please pay attention to those that want to take leadership and then sit down in the middle of the road. On Feb. 27th make sure you vote for someone that is looking toward the future, and not sleeping on the past.

As always, keep spreading the word and show your support by getting out to vote for me on Feb. 27th! Thanks for the support!
Wenke for Wichita City Council">

New Website Is Up!

2007-02-08T11:27:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but campaigning is busy work! It has been great getting out and talking to all kinds of people and the excitement and opportunity that you hear from everyone is wonderful! To help get my name and message out there, I created a new website for the campaign with some help from my friends. Check out www.VoteWenke.com and get the details about me, the campaign and where I stand on the issues. Any feedback is appreciated so please feel free to drop me a line. The website is also perma-linked under the Links section on the right. Please show your support and send this on to everyone you can. The opportunity for positive change is out there for us to take advantage of! Let's not let that chance slip us by! And don't forget, GET OUT AND VOTE FEB 27th!!!

Thanks everyone!
W.

How To Get Elected. Part 1

2007-01-28T22:23:00.000-06:00

Monday - Jan 22nd
After months of discussions with my friends and family, I have decided that I would like to have my own voice in my local government. So after work, I ran down to the Wichita City Hall and went to the city clerk on the 13th floor. I filled out a few forms, wrote 2 checks, one for $10 and one for $35 and I was on the primary ballot. That's it. It took me about 15 minutes (including the snap shot the clerk took for me) and $45 to become a candidate. I walked out of city hall very proud, this is my first time running for an elected office. Even though it was 5pm, my day was just beginning. I ran home, formulating plans as I drove, and grabbed a quick bite of dinner and my school books. Monday night is Micro-Economics and it was the first day of class. The professor makes us mingle for an exercise and I use the opportunity to introduce myself as a candidate for the first time. There is an excitement in those words, every time I say them. It motivates me even more to be successful. After class, I took 5 minutes to ask the professor a few questions about her thoughts of the Wichita economy, what she says validates my months of ramblings. When I get home, I stay up til 1am studying the incumbent's record for the last 4 years and to find any information I can. The hard work is just starting.

Happy Birthday Ethan!

2007-01-28T11:35:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to my cousin Jill and her husband Kevin on the birth of thier first baby on Saturday Jan. 27th. Ethan Craig is a beautiful healthy baby boy that I got to spend some time with yesterday, and he is absolutely peaceful. Mom and baby are resting peacefully at Wesley, stop by the birthing center if you can and give them your best wishes!

Jason Wenke Announces Bid for City Council District 2 Seat

2007-01-24T10:21:00.000-06:00

Wichita KS January 24 2007

Jason Wenke is now a candidate for Wichita City Council for District 2 after filing with the city clerk on Monday. Jason was born and raised in Wichita until age 14 when his family moved to Halstead Kansas where he graduated high school in 1993. After high school, he worked and attended college until joining the US Navy as an aircraft mechanic at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City. After 3 years he was promoted to an E5 and ran the high-tempo Airframes shop during his last year of service. Jason returned to Wichita in 2000 after he was honorably discharged and was hired on at Raytheon Aircraft as a line assembler. He has continued successful employment in a number of jobs from the shop floor, to production control and is now a part of Supply Chain Management. He is a member of APICS Wichita, a production and inventory control certification association. Jason is currently working toward his degree in Business Management at WSU. He is also an active member of the Young Professionals of Wichita as part of the Leadership Link action team.

Jason is an advocate of civic and personal responsibility. He believes the city council needs to be accountable and transparent to the citizens through a more effective use of the tax dollars and by ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget.

Jason supports both residential and business development to draw people back to the center of Wichita and supports a higher level of cooperation and communication between city, county and Wichita education leaders to better the community as a whole.

Jason feels that the key to a strong economic future is attracting more diverse businesses to Wichita while continuing to support the strong manufacturing industry. He feels this can be done by providing a foundation for other industries in the region and supporting better education to develop the future generations into a more diverse and productive workforce.

As part of the city council, Jason would like to develop economically viable attractions. He feels this can be done by working to make the current attractions self-sufficient and also developing innovative entertainment destinations that the community will support.

See the annoucement in the Wichita Eagle here

Disconnected

2006-12-06T18:00:00.000-06:00

Some may have noticed that I haven't been online for a few days. The cable company has been having issues that got fixed Friday. After that, we come to find out that my modem went bad. So now I have a new modem and I'm linked back up with the collective, obviously :)

I did get about half way thru a pretty good book in my days of information exile. It's called the culture of fear. It makes you think about the trash that you read and hear on the news. Check it out. The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things

Thinking About Freedom

2006-11-25T15:03:00.000-06:00

A while back, I watched a documentary about why the United States has become such a war prone nation. It began with the farewell speech of president Dwight D. Eisenhower when he left office in January 17th, 1961. I went and found the whole speech here (link) so I could read all of what he said in his own context. In my opinion, it speaks volumes on the state of our country today. If you get a chance, watch the movie "Why We Fight" to learn more about our wars. For now, arm yourself with a bit of knowledge of the past. Here is Eisenhower's speech in it's entirety. I've highlighted some of the parts I thought were important.

Eisenhower's Farewell Address

My fellow Americans:

Three days from now, after half a century in the service of our country, I shall lay down the responsibilities of office as, in traditional and solemn ceremony, the authority of the Presidency is vested in my successor.

This evening I come to you with a message of leave-taking and farewell, and to share a few final thoughts with you, my countrymen.

Like every other citizen, I wish the new President, and all who will labor with him, Godspeed. I pray that the coming years will be blessed with peace and prosperity for all.

Our people expect their President and the Congress to find essential agreement on issues of great moment, the wise resolution of which will better shape the future of the Nation.

My own relations with the Congress, which began on a remote and tenuous basis when, long ago, a member of the Senate appointed me to West Point, have since ranged to the intimate during the war and immediate post-war period, and, finally, to the mutually interdependent during these past eight years.

In this final relationship, the Congress and the Administration have, on most vital issues, cooperated well; to serve the national good rather than mere partisanship, and so have assured that the business of the Nation should go forward. So, my official relationship with the Congress ends in a feeling, on my part, of gratitude that we have been able to do so much together.

II

We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars among great nations. Three of these involved our own country. Despite these holocausts America is today the strongest, the most influential and most productive nation in the world. Understandably proud of this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment.

III

Throughout America's adventure in free government, our basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among people and among nations. To strive for less would be unworthy of a free and religious people. Any failure traceable to arrogance or our lack of comprehension or readiness to sacrifice would inflict upon us grievous hurt both at home and abroad.

Progress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the conflict now engulfing the world. It commands our whole attention, absorbs our very beings. We face a hostile ideology-global in scope, atheistic in character, ruthless in purpose, and insidious in method. Unhappily the danger it poses promises to be of indefinite duration. To meet it successfully, there is called for, not so much the emotional and transitory sacrifices of crisis, but rather those which enable us to carry forward steadily, surely, and without complaint the burdens of a prolonged and complex struggle-with liberty at stake. Only thus shall we remain, despite every provocation, on our charted course toward permanent peace and human betterment.

Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic, great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties. A huge increase in newer elements of our defense; development of unrealistic programs to cure every ill in agriculture; a dramatic expansion in basic and applied research-these and many other possibilities, each possibly promising in itself, may be suggested as the only way to the road we wish to travel.

But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs-balance between the private and the public economy, balance between cost and hoped for advantage-balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable; balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual; balance between action of the moment and the national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress; lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration.

The record of many decades stands as proof that our people and their government have, in the main, understood these truths and have responded to them well, in the face of stress and threat. But threats, new in kind or degree, constantly arise. I mention two only.

IV

A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction.

Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in peace time, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea.

Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence-economic, political, and even spiritual-is felt in every city, every state house, and every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.

In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.

Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been over shadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.

The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded.

Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.

It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and old, within the principles of our democratic system-ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society.

V

Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into society's future, we-you and I, and our government-must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.

VI

Down the long lane of the history yet to be written America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.

Such a confederation must be one of equals. The weakest must come to the conference table with the same confidence as do we, protected as we are by our moral, economic, and military strength. That table, though scarred by many past frustrations, cannot be abandoned for the certain agony of the battlefield.

Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose difference, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose. Because this need is so sharp and apparent I confess that I lay down my official responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment. As one who has witnessed the horror and the lingering sadness of war-as one who knows that another war could utterly destroy this civilization which has been so slowly and painfully built over thousands of years-I wish I could say tonight that a lasting peace is in sight.

Happily, I can say that war has been avoided. Steady progress toward our ultimate goal has been made. But, so much remains to be done. As a private citizen, I shall never cease to do what little I can to help the world advance along that road.

VII

So-in this my last good night to you as your President-I thank you for the many opportunities you have given me for public service in war and peace. I trust that in that service you find something worthy; as for the rest of it, I know you will find ways to improve performance in the future.

You and I-my fellow citizens-need to be strong in our faith that all nations, under God, will reach the goal of peace with justice. May we be ever unswerving in devotion to principle, confident but humble with power, diligent in pursuit of the Nation's great goals.

To all the peoples of the world, I once more give expression to America's prayerful and continuing aspiration:

We pray that peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations, may have their great human needs satisfied; that those now denied opportunity shall come to enjoy it to the full; that all who yearn for freedom may experience its spiritual blessings; that those who have freedom will understand, also, its heavy responsibilities; that all who are insensitive to the needs of others will learn charity; that the scourges of poverty, disease and ignorance will be made to disappear from the earth, and that, in the goodness of time, all peoples will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by the binding force of mutual respect and love.

Saturday Night or Sunday Morning

2006-11-05T06:36:00.000-06:00

It's 6:00 on a crisp fall morning
or night is the appropriate term
staring down the full moon
on my porch steps
listening to the maple leaves
fall one by one
It's an improbable time
to be contemplating the evening
or night
that is quickly shifting to morning
The full open face mocks me
almost condescending
"Do you really think
that you said something witty
or full of meaning
something worth remembering?
You're sitting here
watching the sky shift to dawn
getting covered in leaves
that don't care where they fall"
I laugh in his face
with a wink and a smile
It doesn't matter if I did
I was there the whole while
I spoke my mind
open and honest
and had fun all the time.
It wasn't a contest.
With me... or her.
Or even you Mr. Moon
so don't smirk at me
if I sit here and swoon.
Don't laugh at me
as you run from the sun
your day is over now
but mine has just begun.

Make Mine A Double

2006-10-15T22:54:00.000-05:00

Here's something to add to the silliness. I like my mix pretty well, just garnish with something black if you like it a little spicy

How to make a Wenke

Ingredients:

1 part intelligence

1 part humour

1 part energy

Method:
Add to a cocktail shaker and mix vigorously. Add lustfulness to taste! Do not overindulge!

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Halloween 2006 Party!

2006-10-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

Its that time again! Come out and have some fun!

Message me to RSVP or if you need the details. Surprise us all with a fun costume!

Veni Vidi Vici

2006-08-27T22:54:00.000-05:00

Blame it on the silly lil bulletin I posted earlier, or the bottle of homeade hard cider I've been drinking tonight, or my hyperactive imagination... But an interesting concept fired off the synapses this evening.

At what point do the actions of a person quit being the result of that person, and become something that defines that person? When do actions quit being the means and start being the ends? We see it in movies, television, books, etc. where a person starts down the slippery slope, hits the bottom, only to come back in the end and show the world that they are still the wholesome hero that they started out as. Is it the slippery slope that defines us? How far down we go? Maybe its the dramatic recovery that hooks viewers but that's not life.

I see it all the time where we judge the person by what they have done. I try to maintain the objectiveness and not judge a person by their actions, but I am just a man with all his beautiful flaws. I jump to conclusions, judge the book by its cover. No matter how much I try to seperate the emotion from the logic, I still have the gut reaction that condems the subject by whatever few actions are shared with the public. I say all of this is just trying to predict the nature of a person by their actions.

While it is true that the universe follows patterns, there is so much more that we cannot comprehend. That's why there is the rule that every forecast is wrong. No matter how well we can identify the pattern, there is still the wild card that nobody can put thier finger on. Coincidence, fate, serendipity... The little bit of chaos that we cannot contain. But yet we look at the past to give us some kind of insight into the future.

So how do we look at a person; a collection of actions, circumstances and appearances; and decide that person is good or bad? How can we say that the ends define the means? I don't want to do that. Even more, it bothers me when other people do that. Yet I still work my ass off. I create all kinds of positive actions to try to define myself as a good person. Is it just an attempt to throw the scales in my favor? Offset my negatives with some kind of goodness to over-compensate and make me look good? All I can really say with any real conviction is that I have to do it with every bit of force I have.

Whatever "it" is... good or bad.

...And then the papa tomato says "ketchup"

2006-08-01T21:26:00.000-05:00

OK, so it has been a score since the last time I actually sat down and dumped my brains on some paper. It's technically been 0.015 score, but folks are terrible at math these days. So here's the abridged version of the summer with all my news that's fit to print, granted I can print it in 30 minutes or less.

I finished my spring semester at WSU, two A's and a B 'cause I'm a friggin' genius. The 17 and 18 year old freshmen don't have nuthin on me, except the hope of a boundless future and smart decisions.

A big company up in Montreal, Canada flew me up there for a nice weekend and a job interview. I got a job offer on the spot, double my salary but I would have to cut ties with everything here (family, friends, house, job, school) and start all over in Los Angeles. At least I grew up on gangsta rap so I'd know the native dialect.

While I took two weeks to make my decision, I got an interview and job offer for a promotion at my current company. It was for a different kind of job as the other offer, so I was at a career crossroads. I was not ready to pick up my roots quite yet, so I pushed my luck and asked for a fat raise along with the promotion (that's phat loot for you west-siders). Since my only true skill is applying pressure to said luck, I made out the best I could.

Amidst all these easy life changing decisions, my friends and I went to Lake of the Ozarks for Memorial weekend. My buddy has a house and boat right on the lake so we spent a long weekend drinking beer, cruising around the lake, watching pretty women, cliff jumping, my poor atempt at water skiing, and yet more beer drinking. For as much as I avoid the sun, I had an amazingly fun weekend.

So back to school for the summer... this time it was Business Statistics and the Information Systems lab. In other words, the joy of charts and how to make them in Excel. Lucky for me, that's what I do at work since noone else can seem to understand the cryptic symbols they call "numbers". Once again, a two wonderful A's again. See, I told you's I's a friggin genius. (sorry, that sounded much better in my head).

Now it's been a few weeks at the new job. My stress level has been reduced to almost nothing. That has been by far the hardest adjustment I have had to make in my career. for the last 12 years, I have worked in high stress environments. The steady pressure has always been a fire that has tempered me with a valuable hardness but luckily hasn't burned me out. Without that fire to keep me motivated, I'm having to figure out how to deal with work the way the rest of you folks do. I can tell you that normal is not normal for me. We shall see how this hand plays out...

So this past weekend, some more friends and I headed up to Hays and Wilson lake for a peaceful weekend of camping, swimming, drinking and conversations. I've made it through another summer with two trips to the lake and no sunburns this year. Gotta tell ya, it's been one of the best summers ever.

So here we are at today, a few weeks from the start of the fall semester. On the menu this time is Management and Organization, Marketing and the coup de gras... Oceanography. Not exactly my most wanted choice, but you gotta do some silly stuff when you are chasing that paper. It should be interesting at least, and that's always appealing. On the homefront, things are peaceful. The cats are terrors, but they are my lil terrors. The family has been patient with me and that's always nice since I'm hard on most nerves out there.

So there's my ketchup. Hopefully most get the Pulp Fiction reference and hopefully I will be able to maintain this a bit better. God knows I need to speak out more

Sad to say, it is a fact

2006-04-15T15:10:00.000-05:00

Everyone is always saying that Wichita sucks. Well it turns out that for young single folks it does. Ranking 79th out the 80 cities surveyed (We only beat out our neighbor Kansas City) does kinda show that it can suck here. Check out all the numbers and other cool stuff here. The study was done by Axe Bodyspray and Spearling's and it came up with some interesting facts.

I wonder if this has any correlation to the fact that we have one of the highest divorce rate in the country too. Last I heard it was up around 65%. Maybe we get into bad relationships due to the lack of options. We should import a bunch of hot women as part of a city improvement project

Yeah, I Read 'Em! What's It To Ya?!?

2006-04-11T00:59:00.000-05:00

Horoscopes are funny. I've been restless for the past week or so for a number of reasons. Then I get something like this:

As a free-spirited air sign, Wenke, you find it difficult to handle restrictions. If you are confined to a desk all day, for instance, you get squirmy. Or if you are limited by a tight schedule, you soon long to stretch your wings. Find a way to experience greater freedom. Go somewhere fun for the day, like an amusement park. Or plan a vacation that will inspire and uplift you. Don't stay stuck in your usual routine. It's time for the bird to escape his cage.

Yup, it's time to make a change... Maybe something big this time...

Fate and Destiny

2006-03-25T16:29:00.000-06:00

Fate is not like a road whose path you have to follow, or a set of choices that your are waiting to make.

To me, fate is like an ocean. As it crashes on the rocks of the shore, it will slowly wear away anything that is put in it's path. Whatever we place in the sands at the edge of it will quickly be washed away. When it is peaceful, it gives us the most beautiful sunsets at the end of the day for us to enjoy together. When destiny is stormy, however, it comes at us with a force so overwhelming that it might kill us if we cannot figure out how to weather the storm.

But if we keep to the shores of fate, all we can do is wait for the next time it comes at us. For us to control our destiny, we must set sail on that ocean. We can chart our own path and force our journey across it's waves. Or we can set ourselves adrift and let the currents of destiny take us where they may. Either way, there are chances for storms that may sink us, and chances for calm winds that will empty our sails to slow our journey. We must learn to ride these waves and navigate the storms.

While it might be treacherous, we must set out across the water to find what we can. Otherwise we are forced to be content with what destiny washes up on our shores.

The Cops Got Me Drunk

2006-03-22T11:49:00.000-06:00

I try to volunteer for the community as much as I can. Last year I tutored a nice lil 4th grader. I'm on one of the action teams for Young Professionals of Wichita. So when my cousin called and said that the cops need volunteers for the cadets to run sobriety tests on, I felt that it was my duty to my community to help out.

Well last night was the second time we got to go down to the training station and have to PoPo booze us up. It was a whiskey sour night so we reeked from cheap whiskey. Lucky for me, I have a mutant metabolism and in the course of 1 1/2 hours, got my BAC level from 1.26% down to 0.99%. Of course I was still way over the legal limit of 0.80%. I did fool one of the cadets, which I didn't do last time. So I would call it a victory, even though 4 out of 5 cops would have taken me to jail and gave me a DUI.

Back to the bar for some more practice.

So I'm Smarter Now, Right?

2005-12-14T21:34:00.000-06:00

As some might have noticed, I haven't been here to update much. But I've had a very good reason. I went back to school to finish my degree (you could almost say start my degree for as much credit they've given me). I have been takin 3 classes this semester and it has made my life busy. However, tonight I finished my last final and I'm offically out of school until mid January. From how it looks right now, I probably got an A in Business Calculus, an A or B in Financial Accounting and a B in Intro to Psychology. They may not be the greatest, but it's damn good by my standards. Plus, work only says I got to get a C for them to pay for it. Suckas

The Russian Mafia Already Got Me

2005-12-12T02:11:00.000-06:00

OK, So i joined the whole MySpace thing and got half-way literate on the ins and outs. In less than 48 hours, I get a message from some Russian chick in the worst broken english I have seen. It was so bad that I really couldn't make much sense of it with out getting a headache. It said something about nobelmen relatives, some cat, how she's going to send me photos of her fine Russian ass, and I think there was something about potatoes near the end. Whatever... If Roman's silly ass would ever add me, I'd have him check her out in person. That would freak the spammer out. Of course if she was for real, Roman would probably pimp her out before I could even see her.

Respect

2005-11-15T13:03:00.000-06:00

Today I received an award for a project I was part of at work. The award is a Chairman's Award of Excellence for Raytheon's Supplier Diversity Program. As in Chairman of the Board... The big one.

Halloween Pics Are Up!

2005-11-12T11:33:00.000-06:00

Beau has the pictures from the party now posted on the Redshoe Photo Album. Head over there and check out the fun and debauchery that was had by all. This was 2 in a row now, so get ready for the 3rd. You have plenty of time to pick up a costume... I'm already working on ideas.

While you are over at Redshoe, drop Beau a line and let him know what you think about the new layout.

Loathing the Kingdom Downtime

2005-10-28T00:38:00.000-05:00

Well my current favorite game, Kingdom of Loathing went down 2 days ago and the entire community is waiting with baited breath to see what the outcome is. Now baited breath in the sense of tension, not the kind that smells like bad fish. Since we have nothing else to do while at work, I went and tried out some of the community websites. One is The Rye's KoL player personality test. Here's my results...

Midwest BeerFest

2005-10-16T11:44:00.000-05:00

I spent my Saturday down at Century II this week. The Midwest Beerfest was this weekend and I finally got the schedule right to get to go. There were about 240 different beers from all the major and minor distributors here in Kansas. There were all the standards and most of the kansan micro-brews. There were quite a few new beers and off the wall ones that I had never seen or tried before. Stouts are still my favorite beer and the new one for me that I thought was pretty good was the Rouge Shakespeare Stout. I had to try all the hard ciders to compare it to Beau and I's home brew cider. They were all pretty good and I think we did really good for our first time too. None of them had much carbonation. The one that stood out above the rest was Woodchuck's Granny Smith Cider. There were two surprises for me, the Anheuser World Lager (yeah, as in Anheuser-Busch... like Budweiser) was actually pretty good. It was a nice hoppy ale, kind of like a Heineken. The other surprise was the Heineken Dark. It was decent, but that was about it. I'm already a Heineken fan, so I guess I expected too much from the Dark. I was good for a free beer, but I doubt that I would spend the money for it myself. The new discovery for this year was one that I have never heard of from a brewery called Unibroue out of Canada. They have this beer called Trois Pistoles (I think it means Three Pistols in French). This is a damn good beer, but the flavor is so different I can't really describe it well. I will definitely be buying some of these in the future.

Halloween Party Time!

2005-09-21T22:50:00.000-05:00

The time has drawn near once again for a night of frights, fun and fdrinks... Ok, the drink thing was a stretch, but you can't blame for trying.

Time to dust off the pitchforks and phalluses (don't believe me? check out the pictures from last year) and press your best spiderwebs. I'm having another Halloween party and it's going to be a blast. Get a costume, get some booze and get your ass to my place on Saturday, Oct. 29th.

Bump, Bump... Is This Thing On?

2005-09-20T22:47:00.000-05:00

Wow. I have completely ignored this for too damn long. Time to get back in the game...

So You Think You Are Smart?

2005-08-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

If you can build an MP3 player from scratch, then you really are pretty good. It's pretty cool little toy for not too much money. The kit is a bit expensive but if you could get all the pieces it might be worth it. However, I did get an player for myself for about half the cost, and it had a radio too. Of course, buying one doesn't get you all the geek points though...

Google Toolbar for Firefox

2005-07-10T18:41:00.000-05:00

For all us alternate browser folks out there, Google has finally released a toolbar extension for Firefox. This was the only thing that i missed when I switched from IE. It's still a beta so use at your own risk. At least the blogger button works :) Click here to get it.

Luke's Heading to the East Side

2005-07-10T00:49:00.000-05:00

My man Luke Hutmacher, aka Luke Skywalker, aka The Man With Mo' Balls is getting ready to leave town for a while. Evidently the company he works for thinks that he has some idea about something to do with work; so GE is sending him to Beijing China for 6 months to a year. We all got together to see him off and throw down some booze. The Halstead crew, the Hays posse and the KC crown were all in effect and we all had a good time. Candace even got lucky and got to ride in my new car ;-). Have a safe trip bro, and don't get caught by the Chinese Death Truck while you are over there.

Back For the Good Bye's

2005-07-10T00:47:00.000-05:00

While Luke was back in town to say his good bye's, we took some time out for some wholesome family entertainment. I'm gonna steal that sign next time I'm at the movies...

More Pics From the Past

2005-06-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

Another trip down memory lane here. Notice the classic blue hair and the fresh clean grill. This was from the 4th of July party I had back in 2001.

Time to Put On the Track Suit Again

2005-05-26T00:03:00.000-05:00

For the first time since my divorce, I went on a date... While I fear dating again like the plague, I did have a good time. For all my friends and family that are wondering, her name is Amy, is 28 and from Rose Hill. We went to PF Chang's for dinner, went for a walk by the lake, then went to The Shadow for a few drinks. I had a good time, and I figure any date that lasts four hours can't be all that bad.

Boulevard for Dinner

2005-05-25T23:33:00.000-05:00

Every year (if you count last year and this one) Boulevard Brewing Co. hosts a dinner at Yia Yia's Eurobistro here in Wichita. They have a five course dinner and every course is matched with a beer that Boulevard brews. Lucky for me, I am friends with Sarah Blanchard who is married to the executive chef of Yia Yia's. Since her husband was working the dinner, she invited me to join her to partake in all the gourmet goodness. Check out this menu:

Beef Garspachio with Waffle Sticks and Grilled Onions
Veal Knockwursts with Boulevard's Special Mustard Sauce and Crushed Potatoes
Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Grilled Veggies
Roasted Duck with Crepes, Watercress and Veggie Medley
Funnel Cakes with Ginger Sauce

They served the Boulevard Pale Ale, Unfiltered Wheat, Bully Porter, Stout, and Zon beers with each course respectively. Needless to say, by the end of the night, I was fat and happy. Thanks Scott and Sarah for a great night!

Revenge of the Sith

2005-05-19T03:18:00.000-05:00

I got lucky and some friends of mine had an extra ticket for the midnight showing of Star Wars Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith. I got the joy of being able to be the first in my town to see the flick in all it's THX and digital projection glory. This last movie in the Star Wars series told the story perfectly. It showed how a headstrong Anikin was lead down the path to the Dark Side with the best intentions. It filled out the rest of the movies like they were all filmed at the same time. If you are going to see any movie this summer, see this one. I know I'm going to see it again.

Star Wars C3 Pics Now Online

2005-05-09T01:29:00.000-05:00

Beau has graciously posted most of the pics that we took while we were in Indiana for Celebration III. He has them all posted in the redshoe.cc's Galleries here. Be glad someone took pictures of me in costume, because you won't see me in color anytime soon. You can also see why Slave Leia was such a hit with all the fans. If you have any pictures from C3 that you would like to share, please drop me a line and we'll get 'em posted.

Power Movers

2005-05-01T20:46:00.000-05:00

I helped one of my adopted families move this weekend. Steve and Mary Clairborne, my cousin Jeff's in-laws, are moving back to Wichita from Paducah, Kentucky. We needed to pick up some necessities from their storage in Kentucky but were very limited on time. Steve, Jeff and I loaded up in Steve's extended cab pick-up and left Wichita at 1:30am Saturday. We drove for 10 hours straight, only to stop for some breakfast on the way there. Once in Kentucky, we picked up a trailer, built sides for the thing out of plywood, brackets and baling wire. After a few hours of moving and picking out the things we needed, we loaded the trailer and hit the road again. All in all, we were pretty impressed with our packing job and only had to stop a few times for load issues. At one point we realized the table and chairs had shifted, and when we stopped, we found out the hardware holding the table together was coming apart. If we hadn't have caught it, the entire dining room set would have spilled out on the highway between Paducah and St. Louis. We traded turns driving and sleeping the way back, and arrived back in Wichita at 5am Sunday, just 29 hours and 1200 miles later. Not a bad days work for a Saturday, I just don't want to have to do it again anytime soon.

Post Celebration III Reactions

2005-04-25T20:34:00.000-05:00

My four days in Indianapolis for the Star Wars C3 convention were a total blast! With all the time we had at the convention center, I still did not get to see all I wanted to see, let alone everything that was there. It was great fun to see how the crowds reacted to all of us in costume. Jim, Christy, Grant, Seth and Beau showed me how much fun you can have at one of these things. We have about 400 some pictures of the whole thing, and we should have some of them posted up on the Redshoe Galley soon. One of my best highlights was actually getting recognized by my costume and getting asked for a picture. Not bad for a poor moisture farmer from Tatooine.

Getting Ready for Celebration III

2005-04-19T23:09:00.000-05:00

The costume is almost done, and the bags are almost packed. I am on my way to my first Star Wars convention. Celebration III is the "official" convention of Lucas Film and the Star Wars Fan Club. This thing is supposed to be huge and have everything you could think of for a Star Wars nut. I'll be spending 4 days in Indianapolis, IN partying and being a geek. Just so you know, I'm going as Owen Lars, step-brother to Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and uncle to Luke Skywalker. Guess what? It's not black either. Check back soon for some pics of the whole thing.

Happy Birthday Evan Dealy

2005-04-04T22:07:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to my good friends Beau and Angie Dealy on the birth of their new baby boy, Evan Miles Dealy. He is a healthy boy with all his fingers and toes :) He weighed 8lbs 5oz and is 20 inches long. He has a good set of lungs to keep everyone up late at night. Good luck and much love for Beau's little "experiment" :D

I should have some new stuff up soon, baby pics, new car pics, and maybe some more. Stay tuned...

My Next Car (already?!?!!)

2005-04-03T22:43:00.000-05:00

Maybe when I pay off the Benz, I'll be able to afford one of these. And don't even ask, it will be black. Check it out here.

Made it

2005-03-24T05:06:00.000-06:00

10 hours from Houston to Wichita, including Houston at rush hour and stopping to eat a late night breakfast. If I would have actually planned it, I could have made it in 9; with a catheter, I could do it in 8 :) But for now, I'm beat. I'll get all the good details later.

To the Stars and Back Again

2005-03-22T23:00:00.000-06:00

I'm off to pick up the new ride early in the morning. With any luck I'll be able to keep clear of the storms on my way to the layover in Atlanta. Into Houston by 2pm, get the car inspected and paid for by 4:30 or so, some Texas BBQ for dinner, and on my way home that night. I'm probably going to drive straight on in overnight to avoid the weather brewing over in Colorado. No need to drive the new Benzo through the harshness on my first trip. The map says that the trip from Houston to ICT is 9.5 hours plus time for rush hour and traffic. The speedo goes up to 160 mph... We shall see who wins.

p.s. I'm in love with Adriana Lima. I want to have her babies. What else would you expect from a Brazilian supermodel.

Need Some Tunes That Go Zoom Zoom

2005-03-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

One thing about my new car that I do not like is the factory radio/tape deck that it has right now. WTF? A $43,000 car when it was new in 2000, and all they get is a tape deck? So since I want to put a new head unit in this, I wanted to get something that had all the stuff that I wanted. Things like in-dash CD player, MP3 and CD-R compatibility, and fit in the same as stock. That last part turned out to be the issue. I had purchased a nice simple Pioneer unit about a year ago that did all that for $150, but no aftermarket units would fit in the SLK320. After searching around, I found that the only real option I had is to get one of the European models that are their stock systems. Evidently, the euros are more up on car stereos, because they ones they get are cool, much cooler than a freakin' tape deck. I found the Becker Monza 7882 fits my needs and it is on the net here and here. Evidently, MB stands for Mo' Bucks...

My New Car

2005-03-19T18:20:00.000-06:00

I finally broke down and got a new car, well new to me at least. I had to settle for and economy car, if you consider "settling" and "economy" a 2001 Mercedes Benz SLK320 Roadster. I got it off of eBay for $21,500, and I think I've got a pretty good deal. It's down in Houston, so I will be flying down there next Wednesday to pick it up. Hopefully everything will go smooth and it will be a nice drive home. I need to get a new Venom...

2001 Mercedes Benz SLK320 Roadster

Time For a Tune-Up

2005-03-15T00:03:00.000-06:00

This personal frustration with my extra weight has nearly reached a boiling point. Lucky for me, the Raytheon Fitness Center is offering a free class once a week on healthy lifestyles and eating. The good thing is that they let you use the facilities to workout for free during the 13 week class. Hopefully this will be the swift kick in the ass to get me back in the gym and back in shape.

There is one thing I have noticed about the way we think as a whole and it's really starting to irk me. When I talk about being fed up with my weight, the first thing people say is "You're not fat, you look just fine." Now I don't know if it is because we are so used to overweight people that we are blind to it, or if we are just to polite in our passive-aggressive consumerism that we just give everyone lip service to make them feel good about themselves so we can feel good about ourselves. Either way, I'm tired of it. So if you hear me talking about weight and lazy people, make sure you remind me that I'm one of them too and to get my ass moving. I'd rather have honest and healthy over fat and polite any day.

Give Me the Damn Car Already...

2005-03-12T12:01:00.000-06:00

I'm still tryin to get the dealer to come down on the price of my Z3. Just $3000 less and it will be worth it.

I Am TeH sMartest Man Evar!!!!!111

2005-03-12T11:41:00.000-06:00

I spent about 5 hours last night with my buddy Beau installing Linux on my home theater PC and trying to MythTV up and running. Linux is the open source operating system for computers and MythTV is a robust suite of applications that are used to control a computer hooked up to your entertainment center. It does all kinds of good things such as digital video recording, photo slide shows, mp3 music playback, TV scheduling, video conferencing, video games and much more. The best part about it is the entire package of software is free and developed under the open source convention buy other users. I still have a few kinks to get ironed out with the video display, but we got the entire operating system up and running in just a few hours. Not bad for some white boy from Wichita :p

And Now for Some Real Kart Racing

2005-03-10T00:25:00.000-06:00

I've found my perfect economy car. Of course compared to my Bronco, a 3.0i BMW Z3 Roadster is an economy car. It's all about perspective. Now all I need is another $5000 so I can actually pay for it. I really think I can get this one. I just have 2 days to wheel and deal so they don't sell the damn thing to someone else. If I'm lucky, I'll get to take a trip to Houston soon.

Who's Weight Problem?

2005-03-07T22:26:00.000-06:00

I just watched "Supersize Me" on Showtime tonight. It didn't exactly hit home, but it did remind me how fat my home is. Over the last 6 months, I've put on about 20 pounds. I haven't been exercising, walking, jogging or anything remotely active. That means for some one my size I have increased my body mass by 10%. If you go down to the bowling alley, you won't be able to find a 20 pound bowling ball. Now think about carrying one around with you everyday. When I was half-way in shape, my BMI was anywhere between 22 and 26%. The simple calculation for BMI now has me at 30.5, obese by definition. Looking through the CDC's website, I found that they have a state program for obesity and nutrition. Too bad that there are only 28 states that have the funding to implement the program. A state gets $800K to $1.5M to start the program up after they have built up the capacity and support, and they only get $300K to $450K a year to do that. Right now there are only 5 states that are implementation stage of this program. Fast food chains can pump out a new product worldwide, once a month. They have contests that give away millions and spend over 2 billion on advertising a year... each. Guess that let's you know where our priorities are.

Damn Sickly Bastards!!!

2005-02-14T00:11:00.000-06:00

For the last month and 1/2, everyone me has been sick. Work, family and friends have all been a wandering pool of virii and coughs (I guess that's technically the same thing). Right now the house is so hot, the cats are sweating, but here I sit, shivering my ass off. Probably going to have to take off work tomorrow, but hey, that's the breaks. Hopefully this Camomile tea and Hot Tahti's will help me sleep it off. For those that really want to see me back up and running (at least up), you can shoot me some chicken soup email here.

Dance Hall Daze

2005-02-06T13:07:00.000-06:00

In my ever-growing roundness, I figured that it's finally time to do something about it. Gone are the days of the ex-wife dragging me to the YMCA for hours on end, and as a result, I am steadily pushing 220 pounds. Hell, I don't think I can lift that much. This is where my new "toy" comes in. I call it a toy because it has lots of buttons, flashy lights and loud music that comes from Japan. I picked up DDRMax and a dance pad controller, not a bad deal for $50 plus tax. This game is flippin' crazy. It took me about an hour to get through the training, and I was already sweating at the end of that. I tried a bit of the game and soon found out that white guys really don't have rhythm... and it's not pretty. The workout mode is pretty cool, and it even keeps track of calories burned and your weight history. Now all I have to do is use it. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Have to Say It Was a Good Day

2005-02-01T23:13:00.000-06:00

Another day older, another day wiser... or something. I had an killer time at my birthday party. I'm glad everyone was able to come and have a good time, and for those that couldn't make it, I'll have a drink for you next time we meet up. There's something to be said about having a good time with friends and family. Hopefully someone will send me some of the pics so I can put a few up here.

Here Comes the Big 3-0

2005-01-23T15:29:00.000-06:00

I'll be turning 30 in about a week. To celebrate the occasion, I'm having a party at my house with friends and family. I've been trying to call and email everyone, but if I've forgotten anyone, feel free to drop me a line here and get all the details. It'l be a fun time, hope to see everyone there!

Congratulations To Me

2005-01-23T15:06:00.000-06:00

I passed my final APICS test this Saturday. I passed the "Strategic Management of Resources" exam with an impressive 311. This makes me fully APICS certified, which is a badge of honor in the supply chain industry. After 6 months of classes and 5 of these 3 hour tests, I can finally relax a bit. And for those interested, my average score for all 5 tests is 309.2, respect. For those interested in what the hell APICS is, check out the official webpage at www.apics.org

Picasa 2.0 Out Now

2005-01-20T15:14:00.000-06:00

The new version of the worlds most intuitive digital photo management tool was released this last week. Picasa is now up to version 2.0 and they have some new features that help out most everyone. The software organizes all your photos into albums sorted by date and displays them all for an easy management. It also has some simple tools for removing red eye, cropping, resizing, and blog posting. Picasa was bought out by Google and the new version makes it easier to tie into other Google tools like Hello photo sharing and Blogger personal online journal applications. Go an and check it out. All the cool kids are doing it.

I'm a Lumberjack, and That's OK...

2005-01-06T23:35:00.000-06:00

Here in Kansas, we just got hit by one of the worst ice storms we have had in a while. All the trees have been breaking and tearing down power lines. I think about 80,000 customers were out of power at the worst of it. The storm started Tuesday and the news says that it might be a week until they get all the power restored. Take a look at the pic to see what we are dealing with. Funny thing is that it's supposed to be 60 degrees this weekend. Typical Kansas weather...

Stink Stank Stunk

2004-12-30T17:28:00.000-06:00

Lucas' dank has the junk in the trunk that goes da-dunka-dunk-dunk

Eric Just Taint Right

2004-12-28T16:25:00.000-06:00

Taint gonna get away from this one E :p

Happy Holidays

2004-12-28T13:04:00.000-06:00

Another Christmas has come and gone. All in all, this has been a peaceful holidays which is always a nice change. I spent Christmas Eve at my parents for the 29th year, which isn't too bad of a tradition. I also spent Christmas night at the bar with friends, which is getting to be an even better tradition.
I am now in the middle of my week off work for the holidays, and I am trying to see how much sleep I can actually get in a day. Maybe it will be able to break this insomnia. If nothing else, it is a truly relaxing pastime :)
The new year is fast approaching and I am looking forward to spending it with friends. A whole clan of us are converging on KC for an evening of debauchery and drinks. It will be fun to meet up with friends that I haven't seen in years.
Well, I'm out for now. I have some video games that are in dire need of attention, and a pic for Eric that needs to get shared :)

Catchin' Up

2004-12-20T22:21:00.000-06:00

Damn! It has been hectic as hell around here, so let's see if we can get everything back up to speed.

It's almost Christmas and I only have to get 1 more present. I don't want to hear it, there's still 4 days left for me to be pissed at stupid people with credit cards. Now if someone would just come wrap them for me.
Work is a bitch. For some reason, airplane consumers only like to buy airplanes at the end of the year. Both my bosses are taking vacation this last week and leaving me there so I guess that says something good.
The divorce is now final. It's a tad bittersweet, but for what it's worth, I'm good with it. All I need is a bit of paperwork from her and everything is mine. For some reason, I don't think she realizes that all she got was her freedom and whatever she took with her when she left. Maybe that will teach her to take a trip to Cali when the divorce is defaulting to a final decree. Anyways, it's over, and I can now move on to better and nicer women I mean things... yeah, things.

Well, that's the high points for now. Things should be getting close to normal again so it should be interesting around here for a change. The poetry is starting to flow again now that there is a lot less pressure in my life (Imagine that! Guess who's going to be missing out on that?) and I'll have that up here for all to enjoy. So happy holidays to everyone, and talk to you soon.

Oh yeah... I got a surprise for you E. And it's gonna be all over >:-)

Just In Time For Christmas... Vampie Slaying

2004-12-02T23:36:00.000-06:00

This one caught me from out of the blue. It seems the third movie in the Blade series is about to open. The first time I saw the trailer was on Thanksgiving day, and my cousin hadn't heard anything about it either. Blade has always had a good story, and the movies have conveyed that pretty well. If you really want to enjoy it, I'd suggest you read the comic.

Sorry about the lack of updates... real life kinda sucks right now.

Target is Dealing Now

2004-11-28T13:52:00.000-06:00

Damn, you know our economy is in bad shape when retailers are stooping to this... At least it's free shipping if you add a lighter and papers. Hell, since they won't show a picture, it's probably not worth it anyway :)

Beware of My Minions

2004-11-23T01:14:00.000-06:00

I finally got around to playing a new game this last weekend. This one is called Evil Genius and it's pretty damn funny. The basic concept is that you build up your underground lair on a deserted isalnd, much like Dungeon Keeper. As you do this, you gain minions that you then send out to the rest of the world to steal (your primary means of income) and to commit acts of infamy. You also get to kidnap hostages and then torture them to learn their skills. It was extremely funny to watch one of the crime lords get tortured in the industrial mixer in the mess hall >:) he was tough too.
I played it for about 12 hours over the whole weekend and I would say that I am about a third of the way through it so far. Evil Planet has a lot of good resources for those of us that don't get manuals with our games ;-)

Preparation for Battle

2004-11-20T13:30:00.000-06:00

Black Friday is quickly approaching. For those that don't know, this is the day after Thanksgiving that retailers have outrageous deals. Some of the best deals I'm looking forward to is the 27" TV at Best Buy for $90 and a 200GB WD hard drive at OfficeMax for $50. I'll be camping out at Best Buy in the morning so if any one wants to join me, let me know and I'll bring some extra hot cocoa. Here's my itenerary for the morning:
Best Buy - 21st & Woodlawn
OfficeMax - Northrock
Office Depot - Northrock
EB Games - Towne East Mall
Good Luck everyone. Just don't get in my way :)

A Sad Day in Hip Hop

2004-11-15T01:19:00.000-06:00

Ol' Dirty Bastard, aka ODB, aka Dirk McDirt of the Wu-Tang Clan passed away Saturday afternoon from unknow causes. Ghostface Killah and Raekwon of the Clan were seen consoling fans outside the studio where he died. He was 36 years old.
As soon as you heard ODB on a track, you knew it was him. No one could imitate or flow in his crazy jumbled style. This is another tragic example of how destructive crack can be. ODB, I hope you demons have left you forever now.

The Best Collision Course

2004-11-10T22:16:00.000-06:00

This has got to be one of the coolest music compilations I have seen in a while. Linkin Park and Jay-Z got together and did a concert. I caught the preview on MTV2 and it looked pretty damn good. The album/DVD goes on sale Nov. 30th. Hell, I actually might buy it... for a change :)

Late Nights

2004-11-09T03:30:00.000-06:00

I have got to figure out a way to get a normal night's sleep. At least I stay busy fixing the computers that are scattered around my house. I have my Home Theater PC up and running now. I can capture any video I can feed to it digitally and then I can have my way with it. DVD's of HBO shows sounds pretty good when they only cost $0.50. This thing also serves up music and pictures off of my server. Now all I need is a kick-ass surround system and digital projector and I'll have a full multimedia theater in my house :-)
I also buttoned up the finishing touches on a computer for Grandma Franny. This thing should be a perfect little computer for her. I'm just tired of fixing these little HP turds. It says something about your quality when you build a holder for the recovery disks into the top of the case.

FTP Server UP!

2004-11-05T01:01:00.000-06:00

Lucky me! My FTP server is now working again. I don't know if my router was puking or Cox was just blocking my outgoing ports, but everything seems to be working fine now. Just point your FTP client to wenke.dyndns.org:21 and get your download on. If you don't have a login/password yet, shoot me a line and I'll hook you up.

So sweet.

With the Quickness

2004-11-04T23:45:00.000-06:00

I went shopping for the first time since the new check posting law has been in effect. Damn it goes fast now. My purchases at Best Buy and QT posted to my checking account by the time I got home. I kinda like it personally. Since I do nearly all my banking online or with a debit card, it keeps my account balance up to date more than ever. Just don't try to float a check any more. Hey, something that forces a bit more financial accountability on the masses.
I like it even more :-)

Oh yeah, there's a teaser for the upcoming Star Wars Episode 3. Pretty cool stuff, and I hear the Wookies have the best lines.

Change is Inevitable... Oh Wait...

2004-11-03T22:36:00.000-06:00

Needless to say, I am disappointed in the election results. For everyone that voted on their emotions, I'm surprised that they thought the moral values leader is a recovering alcoholic that plays the Christian majority with his "born again" card every chance he gets. For those that voted on the war and terrorism, we've been in Iraq for 18 months, over 1100 US soldiers dead, and what do we have? Our troops are getting attacked by the native people more and more, and there is no plan to fix this mess we dug ourselves into. Bush have given Osama Bin Laden enough recruitment posters to cause more problems than we ever had before.

Bah, at the end of this all, I'm tired of being told I should be scared by someone that is trying to sell me a security blanket. It's twice as bad when that guy paid all the newspapers, TV and radio stations to tell me to be afraid also.

Getting Ready to Chuck My Ballot

2004-11-01T23:26:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is voting day and everyone is getting ready to pick their favorite. I watched a neat piece on PBS Frontline tonight. More and more, I feel like the Bush family has been taking advantage of the American people for way too long. While I would disagree that I am a liberal, I am all for accountability that the Bush family does not show any signs of. More and more, I'm just voting against Bush instead of for anyone. Plus I think a faith based government is a load of shit; but that's just personal opinion.

On the local front, I hope everyone is smart enough to see how big of a real estate scam the Downtown Arena is. Otherwise, we are going to be missing a big chunk of Wichita's downtown...

Welcome to my Web Page

2004-10-31T23:16:00.000-06:00

Thanks for visiting my site. For those of you that have been here before, you might notice that things are looking a bit different. I figure that since I know it all I might as well post it out for the world to see. Of course, this gives you all the chance to tell me I'm wrong too. Check back when ever you can. I'm going to try to post something everyday, kinda like my personal journal for everyone to see.