tryout with the Renegades

The games went well. 'S' played 2nd, RF, and 1st base. she had her best showing at 1st. on offense, she did not strike out! she grounded out x 2, popped out, walked, and hit a single to right.



shes ready













This was the single to right:














scooped this low throw, out of the dirt

Getting ready for my Daughters dating. Oh, and an Earthquake

It was time. The girls have finally reached an age where they can handle the responsibility of shooting and handling a gun. I wanted to make sure everything was in working order.
'A' has started dating, so what better time then now to find out if the guns are sighted in.
'S' and I took a beautiful drive out to the East county (Dulzura) to the foothills of the Cuyamaca Mtns. The range we went to was surrounded by Green topography.
We placed the target at 100 meters, and slung some lead ( or whatever it is nowadays) at the target only to find out 'S' is a better shot then me. I also found out it was too dang far for eyesight ( scope assisted or not) We moved the targets in to 50 meters. and we had a better result in our grouping. 'S' again did very well.
She mostly shot a .22 long rifle. We also shot a Russian Mosin Nagant (762 x 54r) NATO round( kicks like Hell, no scope, and the sites are off). We also took the .38 special hand gun. 'S' became proficient at popping off 5 rounds, clearing the cylinder, reloading in a rush ( never know when your going to need to be able to do that).




EARTHQUAKE!!!!
We drove to my friends house in Chula Vista, to return the ear protection we borrowed. While we stood in his Garage, I felt like the ground was bouncing. like when a heavy truck drives by over bumps. The it turned into swaying.... then the garage shook, and I could see his cars suspension working, as they swayed left and right. I also saw Street lamp posts swaying. it went on for almost 30sec. I actually got a little motion sickness. Weird. It was exciting! It wound up being a 7.2 quake in Mexico about 60 miles South of where we were shooting, and 80 miles from his house.

Video highlight of the weekend game

'A' had a great weekend. she pitched the winning game, as well as having a banner day at the plate. She had two triples ( only got one on film) and a home run.
She also ragged up on 3rd to run home for the winning run.
Tried my hand at video editing. lets give this a go!

You comfortable?

chasing one down

Chelsea King

A beautiful young High School girl named Chelsea King went missing last week, while jogging around Lake Hodges in North San Diego. Her parents became woried when she did not check in that evening. The parents were able to coordinate her phones whereabouts through the phone compnay, and found her car parked near the trailhead.

Her Body was found yesterday in an underwater grave 15ft off shore. Rest in peace Chelsea.








My heart goes out to her Parents, family, and friends.

















Myself like others are wondering where His parents where when they heard about this.
> Why didn't they turn their son in ? ( when the police found him, he still had mud on him up to his knees.
> Didn't they become suspicious?
> When the incident in December happened, didn't they do some detective work?
> When their son did become the main suspect for this case, why didn't they go question their son, and try to help police find Chelsea, or Maybe find out if he was responsible for the disappearance of Amber Duboise ( another missing teen from nearby, missing for a year now)












Shame on you John, Burn in Hell!, and shame on his parents!


This piece of shit! John Gardner had prior arrests ( lewd act on a child under 14) he beat a 14 yr old severely, and fundled her. It has also been confirmed he attack another women jogger on that trail in December.

Rest before the drive

After a few hours of riding out at Superstition mountain. we stopped into a little hole in the wall Restuarant in Ocotillo. The food was Great, and so was the company.
Kam, Bob, Eric R., Eric C.
Also broke my kick starter on my bike out there.

tryouts, and home improvements

This weekend saw the Ratza's going to Tryouts for the High School Softball Team. 'A' did good. Has a good shot at Varsity.
I tried my hand at hanging some doors. We bought 4 doors, that are 6panel doors, and the intent was to give the house a better look than what was installed originally.
Kim also purchased new hinges, and door handles. My Buddy Denny installed the first door, and instructed me as we went along. The last three were alll mine. It worked out pretty well.

Glamis 2010

Our camping, and riding trip started off all right, until all the people showed up.
Sasha tried to make friends with dogs from other camps. That was a mistake, as she was attacked by a dog from another camp, and the dog put a couple holes in her legs.














Here are some of the pictures of the higher points of the weekend

A's Spanish project video

I will post a link for you to click on to view the video The video is about the marketing of shoes that make you move faster, therefore shop faster:

Next generation of craftsman/craftswomen

We needed to make a little shelf to hold cases of water/soda/beer. I had some scraps of metal, and wood from earlier other projects. Made it cost effective, now we just have to design, and assemble. Me and Daughter #2 drew out what we wanted, cut the metal with a bandsaw. We broke out the welder, and #2 tacked some metal together as a learning expierence. I finished the welds, and painted the rack. I will post finished pictures soon. Kim and My Mom and maybe others may think it odd that I teach a beautiful little girl how to weld, but I feel it may help, and shouldn't hurt them.
There may come a day where she may need to rely on skills aquired working with Dad. She may have a husband that is tool challanged, or he may just be a tool.
Either way, I think it helps your understanding of how things work, and buiild confidence, and lower inhabitions.
Besides, doesn't she look so damn cute in her welders mask!?

Updating the garage

The garage was overwhelmed with too much clutter, and general disarray.
Step 1: Get rid of stuff on the wall ( get rid of peg board)
Step 2: paint wall.
step 3: replumb air (ovc) and add a fitting on ceiling, and a hose reel.
Step 4: add two shelfs, and an organizer bin.
step 5: build a cabinet under the work bench.
With some help from my sub-contractor,.. "S"
This project is on its way.
I have posted some before and after pictures.
I am not done, there is more work to be done to the bench area, and the West side of the garage, too.


Bench and wall before















Bench and wall after















bike area before

New Years Eve 2009

'A' had a few friends over, for a small, somewhat intimate party atmosphere. She had about 10-12 people over that included her little sister, and even our young neighbor came out. There was drinks ( soda) and weapons (silly string) and explosives ( party poppers with confetti).

















'A' invited her new ( first ever) Boyfriend, Zech, over, and everyone was well behaved.














At Midnight The party moved out into the street for silly string, and lots of noise makers. It was a bit cold, but it never seems to bother the kids... "The kids"....that sounds wierd just saying it, because it seemss like it was me, not too long ago, doing something similar.













On Saturday, we made another trip out to the desert for some riding. 'A' spent the night ( 40deg. ) on a flatbed trailer in a sleeping bag, in the desert, under the stars. 'S' and I had a good night sleep in our own beds, and met them the next morning.

Christmas 2009

What a wonderful day.
The Ratza's had a very good Christmas. Which to me, means We were all healthy, Happy, and safe. The weather was perfect ( about 64 deg.) and sunny. I have had a problem with a skunk around the house, but I am battling that as best I can, with mixed results. Never the less, I am staying prepared.















The girls were on a break from Softball, and school.

Christmas morning was an explosion of wrapping paper that saw the girls get only a little spoiled, but not too much. They both got some clothes, a purse, a few games, a wii., 'S' got a camera, Dad got a barstool with backrest for the garage, and some Oakley's.































Every year the girls get a tool to add to there tool box. When they are out on there own, they will have the means, and hopefully the knowledge, and confidence to try and fix things themselves.

















For those of you who sent us well wishes, I hope I got back to you, but If I didn't , Merry Christmas!

16's finish in 2nd at TCS

The Triple Crown event came to town, and the 16's brought the heat.
Or should I say the Tsunami brought the wave.
The finished 2, coming up a little short in the final.
'A' had a great showing on the mound, and she also hit a triple.
This qualifies them to go to the World Series in Utah in the Summer.

Las Vegas trip/Tournament

As we do every year, we made our annual trek out to Las Vegas, for a softball tournament. We won it in 2007, but not since then.
This year like last we took 2 teams. 'A' was with the 16u team, and 'S' was with me on the 14u team,
The 16's went 2-1 in pool play, and made it to the final on Sunday, and Won it all!!!
Way to go girls.














The 14s, had been undefeated going into the final, where they met a familier team (Magic, our former team) they took it all the way to a tie breaker, and lost 8-6. Excellent job girls!!