Saki's Home Page


	Saki
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	Last updated December 15, 2011

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Salutations

Greetings to friends, family, curious onlookers, and all others who view this page. The purpose of my home page is to communicate who I am, what I believe, my hobbies, likes, and dislikes. In the process of doing so, I also hope to inform and entertain. If it makes you laugh, all the better!

My name means many things and if you were searching for a "Saki" pertaining to any of the below, then you came to the wrong place.

Saki: In Urdu, someone who is your host for alcohol, a cup bearer.
Saki: A city in Azerbaijan, a nation of Turkic Muslims. Azerbaijan is near Georgia...no, not that Georgia
Sake: Japanese rice wine. That's not me. I don't even drink alcohol.
Sakki: A ninja term meaning "the force of the killer." I'm no ninja although I have been told I resemble a mutant turtle.
Saki: the pen name of Hector H. Munro (1870-1916). That's not me either.
Saki: a Japanese Kanji character meaning "ahead." Yes, I have a head and so does most everyone else I know.
Saki: any of several monkeys of the genus Pithecia, of tropical South America, having a shaggy golden brown to black coat and a long nonprehensile tail (from "Random House Webster's College Dictionary, 1992). This isn't me either but we're getting close.
Bearded Saki: I never had a beard but I suppose I'd look like one of these critters if I did.
S.A.K.I.: Self-Organizing Automatic Keyboard Instructor. Too nerdy...even for me.

If, however, you were searching for a long haired, Japanese-American, surf ski paddling, big hair band listening dude who lives in the Baltimore, Maryland area, then you've come to the right place.

Saki (the person) with Saki (the monkey)
Saki (the person) with Saki (the monkey) at the National Zoo, Washington D.C., September 11, 2005. The monkey shown here is called a Pale-headed Saki (pithecia pithecia). It is a male and typically lives in the tropical rainforests of northern South America. Its diet consists of fruit, leaves, flowers, honey, and small animals. It is often found in groups of up to 12 animals and is active during the day. The human in the foreground is a male and typically lives in the suburbs outside of Baltimore. Its diet consists of meat, nuts, yogurt, bagels, and more meat. It is often found in cubicles and small office spaces and is active from late morning to after dusk.
Click thumbnails to enlarge.

Who signed my name?
You are unique...just like everyone else. But perhaps I am not. There is at least one other Saki in the Davidsonville, Anne Arundel County area. On May 2, 2006, a photo was taken of the name "Saki" carved in a tree. I did not do this. So if you see my name somewhere, carved in a tree, written on a rock, or scratched into a park bench, don't assume I was there.
Click thumbnail to enlarge.

Life in Sacramento

I was born in Sacramento, California and lived in the same middle class house in the suburbs for the first 20 years of my life. Sacramento

is the capital of California
is known for the gold rush and the Pony Express
has hot dry summers (with temperatures in the 100's)
is the home town of the rock band Tesla.

I was a studious, quiet, and unathletic child with a fond interest in paleontology and martial arts (Kenpo Karate). In high school, I was active on the Chess Team and Mathalete. I was even President of the Math Honor Society.

During my last two years in high school, my interests turned to hairdressing. I enrolled in vocational training and graduated from beauty school exactly one week after graduating high school. I then worked for two years as a hairdresser.

Being fond of animals, I served as a volunteer animal care assistant at the Sacramento Science Center. Much of that time was spent working with the raptors (e.g. hawks, owls, vulture). These were animals that, for some reason (such as inujury), could not be released into the wild.

Father's side of family, April 1987
From left to right and back to front:
Half brother Eric, father Kay, Eric's wife Susie, half nephew Jeremy, and me.
Later that year, I would get my head shaved after enlisting in the Marines.
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Life in the Marines

At the end of 1987 I enlisted in the Marines. I attend School of Infantry (SOI), Security Forces School (aka "John Wayne Academy"), and Non-Commissioned Officers School. I served two years on Sea Duty aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), at the time, the world's largest conventional aircraft carrier.

Marine of the Quarter 1988
While serving on Sea Duty, I was selected Marine of the Quarter during the last quarter of 1988. I was later meritoriously promoted to Corporal.
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In 1990, was sent to 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I call us the ballet battalion (two two -> tutu). After a few months, my unit was deployed to fight in the Persian Gulf War, both Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Click here for a verbose description of my experience.

	Eighth Squad at the Rock Quarry, Saudi Arabia, January 1991 Left to right and back to front: Lcpl Kevin Beyea, Lcpl George Garrett, Lcpl Chris Stevenson, Doc Donald Mett, Pfc Carl Wood, Cpl Saki (me), Lcpl Webber, and Sgt. Mike Belford. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
	Eighth Squad by Humvee, Saudi Arabia, February 1991 When we weren't digging gun pits and trenches, we often found time to socialize, have friendly brawls, and play Hackysack. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
	Oil wells burning, February 1991 Saddam's troops set fire to the Kuwaiti oil wells. This produced a significant amount of smoke that blackened the sky, dropped temperatures, and wreaked havoc on the environment. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
	Day before the ground attack, February 23, 1991 While the Iraqi army expected the 4th MEB to launch an amphibious assault, the 1st MEF attacked from Saudi Arabia through the minefields of Kuwait. 2/2 was the front and center battalion of this attack. The sky is black to our rear from the oil well smoke, while to our front, the sky is bright...hence, it looks like night but one can see all the way to the horizon. I am on the far left. For more information, see Gulf War Articles. Click thumbnail to enlarge.

For more information about my time in the Marines, see Saki's USMC page.

Return to Sacramento

After leaving the Marines near the end of 1991, I returned to Sacramento, California. I used the GI Bill to earn a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and statistics at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) in 3.5 years while working part time at the campus veteran's office. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with membership in the Pi Mu Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and Golden Key Honor Societies. In my spare time, what little I had, I enjoyed running, swimming, hiking, and martial arts (Modern Arnis). While graduate school was certainly an option, having started college years after most people had finished, I was eager to step into the civilian workforce, and since job opportunities presented themselves, I took them.

Hiking in Desolation Wilderness near Twin Bridges, California, July 1993
From Sacramento, drive east on Highway 50 (or west on hwy 50 from Maryland for a few thousand miles) and you'll come to the town of Strawberry/Twin Bridges. Hike up the mountain that Horsetail Falls originates and you might find a good deal of snow, even in the middle of summer.
Click thumbnail to enlarge.

Life in Maryland

In 1995, I moved to Maryland and worked as a mathematician, then as an application support engineer, and now as a consultant. My hobbies include weight lifting, running, hiking, and kayaking. I've competed in several running races (never did that good), a few kayak races (did pretty good), and some local bodybuilding competitions (won those).

I miss the predictably sunny days of California and hiking the mountains in the Sierra Nevada, but I've grown to love the Chesapeake Bay. I dread Maryland winters but find the summers quite enjoyable. I still don't see what the big deal is with humidity.

	Paddling near Deale, Maryland, July 17, 2004 There's nothing I enjoy more than getting out on my kayak on a warm summer day. Pictured is me with my favorite boat, a C4 surf ski, a very fast sit-on-top. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
	Maryland in My Eyes On January 22, 2004, I was snowed in and decided to draw a picture of what Maryland means to me. No, this wasn't clip art, I drew it all by hand. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
	Juvenile black rat snake One of my hobbies is taking photos of wildlife, natural landscapes, and other interesting outdoor settings. Sometimes wildlife is in the wild. Other times it is not. See first photo at left. This foot long snake made it up to the fourth floor of the building where I work. It was later released behind the parking lot. Most people think it is a juvenile black rat snake though some argue that it is an eastern hognose snake. I've entered several of my favorite photos in contests but as of June 2010, I have not yet won anything. However, one of my entries to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2010 photo contest did appear on the cover of their Volume 13, Number 2, Spring 2010 Maryland Natural Resource Magazine. See second photo. To read about the trip where I took this photo, see September 23, 2007. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
	Hanover As of January 22, 2007, I call the town of Hanover, Maryland my home. Hanover is a little south of Baltimore. Not much history there. But I did manage to find a little something. Check out a report I wrote called History of Hanover, Maryland. Also check out The Many Hanovers. Hanover is far from rural, but there are definitely undeveloped sections just a quarter of a mile from where I live. On July 21, 2007, I took a little stroll to Piney Run Creek. See first photo at left. I saw numerous damselflies (see second photo at left) and wild blackberries, just ripe for the pickin' (see third photo at left). I never thought of myself as having a green thumb but I have been successful at growing a few things such as these Asian Day Lilies (fourth photo). Prior to moving to Hanover, I lived in Odenton, Piney Orchard, Gambrills, Arbutus, and Elkridge, This had me residing in the counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard. Now I'm back in Anne Arundel County. Click thumbnails to enlarge.
	Marine Corps League In additon to work and my various physical activities, I have become quite active in the Marine Corps League, SSgt Karl G. Taylor, Sr. Detachment 1084. I've served multiple terms as an elected officer, led their Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Program (see photo at left), maintained their website, served on various committees, and got elected the detachment Marine-of-the-Year for 2003. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
	Savage As of December 18, 2009, I call the town of Savage, Maryland my home. Savage is north of Laurel and south of Columbia in Howard County, Maryland. Unlike Hanover, Savage is rich in history that dates back to 1822. Historic Savage - Bollman Iron Truss Bridge (1869): See first photo at left. Savage Mill - History Commodore Joshua Barney House - Historic Savage Wikipedia - Savage Savage - Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article Shortly after closing on the house, I set out to explore the area on foot. There are several miles of trails in Savage. Gorman Stream Valley Natural Resources Area High Ridge Park Patuxent Branch Trail Savage Mill Trail Savage Park Wincopin Trail Many of the trails are near the Little Patuxent River (second photo) and the larger Middle Patuxent River. In Savage, the two merge and remain the Little Patuxent until it merges with the Patuxent River. In addition to the Rams Head Tavern, one landmark in the town is a quaint little restaurant called Ma's Kettle. Their hours are very limited but it is worth making time for a visit. See Norma next to the restaurant in the third photo. There is a good bit of wildlife on our property. Sometimes that is good but it is bad when the deer come out of the woods and damage our trees. But some of the more interesting animals/bugs we've seen include the following: A turtle Frogs Leopard slugs mating A praying mantis that snuck in the house (fourth photo) A swallowtail butterfly caterpillar (aka parsley worm) in the fifth photo Common buckeye caterpillars/pupa/butterflies (see the last photos of October 2, 2010) A caterpillar that I thought was undergoing transformation into a 1.5 inch long pupa (see sixth photo). Later, I concluded that the caterpillar was faking it. I took the pupa inside because it was attached to our recycling bin and the day after I took the photo was a recycling collection day. Obviously the caterpillar is not the best at selecting real estate. So there it sat next to a window on the south side of my house for the next several days. After a few days, it looked like some fuzz appeared at the opening of the pupa (or what I thought was a pupa). Then after 9 days, it came out. See seventh photo. But it wasn't a butterfly or a moth, it was the caterpillar, looking just like it did before. So then I thought that this wasn't a pupa and it wasn't undergoing any sort of metamorphosis. Maybe the thing in which it hid was just shelter. I was later told that this insect is a bagworm. Of course we also see the typical critters that many people see in their yards (eighth photo ) along with some that might only be seen if one lives near woods (ninth photo). Norma and I love our 1952 house. But like most older homes, it needs some work. Within one year of moving in, we've fixed shower tile, gotten a new roof put on the garage, got structural repairs done on the garage, installed a rain barrel, removed trees, planted new trees, gotten a new pipe connected to the oil furnace, installed a timer light, put in four raised garden beds, laid out truckloads of mulch, and fixed cracks in the concrete and asphalt. But the most ambitious project during this first year was dealing with an unwanted spring. In our second year, we added insulation to the attic. What is our area like? Well, like I mentioned, Savage is very old. I think it is mostly conservative blue collar working class folk in a town that is at the edge of a distinguished county. I always knew Howard County was an affluent area but it wasn't until I moved in that I found out just how prestigious it is. In the July 15, 2010 issue of the Columbia Flier, it was reported that Money Magazine placed Columbia and Ellicott City second on its annual inventory of desireable locales. I live about 1.25 miles from Columbia. This rating is amongst towns with up to 300,000 people. Columbia and Ellicott City's combined population is 155,000. According to County Executive Kenneth Ulman, Columbia/Ellicott City has Great education, public safety and the lowest unemployment rate in the state. Money Magazine wasn't the only one that praised Howard County. According to January 22, 2010 report, Forbes.com claims ...the nation's wealthiest live in the D.C. suburbs. Fairfax County, Virginia, Loudoun County, Virginia, and Howard County, Maryland top the list of America's richest counties, which we based on median household income data from the 2006 census. In Fairfax, that number reaches $100,318 a year; Loudoun households pull down a livable $99,371 a year; Howard residents follow at $92,260. Some might describe Savage as quaint. It does have a certain "community feel" although much of that is a result of the churches which are rather active. The secular side is based more on the Savage Community Association and Carroll Baldwin Hall. On December 3, 2011, Norma and I attended a community Christmas tree lighting (tenth photo) and caroling event followed by a charity auction for a painting of the Hall by a local artist. It sold for $1000! Savage isn't a bad place to live but to be perfectly honest, I like the people in Hanover better. They were more friendly and neighborly. I think Norma liked the people in her previous neighborhood better too. In early 2011, Norma and I completed a beginning beekeeping class through the Howard County Beekeepers. For more information, see beekeeping. Click thumbnails to enlarge.

Things I Like/Dislike

Note that these lists and the items they contain appear in no particular order.

People I admire: My parents Sir Isaac Newton Jack LaLaine Randy "The Natural" Couture Jackie Chan Bruce Lee Albert Einstein Carl Friedrich Gauss Greg Barton Oscar Chalupsky Tommy Kono	Favorite foods: California navel oranges Fudruckers ostrich burgers Five Guys bacon double cheeseburgers Honey Roasted Peanuts from Ann's House of Nuts Kippered Beef Jerky Teriyaki Nature's Path Organic Heritage Heirloom Whole Grains Cereal Pizza Hut Meatlover's Pan Pizza Smoke Flavored Almonds Trader Joe's Dried Baby Sweet Pineapple in the foil bag, unsweetened and unsulfured Trader Joe's Just the Clusters Maple Pecan Granola Venison sausage
Traits I admire: Humility A willingness to help others A positive attitude Self discipline Setting the example Respecting the environment Getting things done Being a do-er, not a talker Constantly striving for self-improvement. Treating people as individuals rather than stereotypes.	Favorite things to do: Kayaking on a warm summer day Hiking in California Watching Stargate both SG-1 and Atlantis Watching mixed martial arts (MMA) Lifting weights Exploring someplace new with Norma Listening to Sirius Satellite Radio
Favorite television shows Stargate SG-1 Stargate Atlantis South Park The Simpsons Malcolm in the Middle King of the Hill Stargate Atlantis Battlestar Gallactica Futurama Seinfeld	Favorite animals Horseshoe crabs Manatees Red foxes Grey wolves Tigers Cheetahs Snow leopards Tasmanian tigers (extinct)
Most overrated Stage play: Cats Celebrities Paris Hilton Nicole Ritchie Snoop Dog Things to buy Bottled water Aroma-therapy products Healing magnets Concept: Holistic/new age anything Movies Pulp Fiction Lord of the Rings Trilogy Star Wars Episode I and II	Things I hate Legislative morality Racism Cauliflower Bullies Police brutality Snobs (especially the intellectual ones) People who talk big and don't deliver Whiners Bleeding heart liberals Right wing extremists Religious fanatics Wimps Elitists People who bitch about the government but don't vote Hypochondriacs People who accuse others falsely

Most beautiful women (all women are beautiful...some are just prettier than others)...a wise saying from Junkyard Jimmy
Norma
Tina Fey
Robin Meade from the morning edition of the Headline News.
Beyonce
Halle Berry
Jolene Blalock from Enterprise though she looked much better in her guest appearance on Stargate SG-1.
Claudia Black from Stargate SG-1.
Shania Twain (back in the day)
Karen Voight (fitness guru) back in the day

Favorite books
The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star
The Dirt, Motley Crue by Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, and Nikki Sixx
First Seal by Roy Boehm and Charles W. Sasser
Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit by Eric L. Haney
Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills by Charles and Henderson E. J. Land
The Warrior Elite: The Forging of Seal Class 228 by Dick Couch
Hardcore Bodybuilding: A Scientific Approach by Frederick C. Hatfield, Ph.D.
Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko and John Weisman
Inside the Cage: My Life in the World's Deadliest Fight Game by Carl Merritt and Wensley Clarkson
Inside the Lion's Den by Ken Shamrock, Richard Hanner, and Calixtro Romias

Favorite quotes
When you've tasted excess, everything else tastes bland. -Nikki Sixx
Anything difficult isn't worth doing. -Homer Simpson
Don't look down on someone unless you are helping them up. -Maryland Science Center
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of meeting the schedule has been forgotten. -anonymous
The things you own end up owning you. -Tyler Durden from "Fight Club"
That which doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. -Megadeth
Excuses are like assholes. Everyone has got one and they all stink. -Sergeant Mennig, USMC
Death is certain, life is not. -USMC Security Forces
Life is a bitch, then you marry one. -Lucy G.
Happiness is having the financial ability to indulge in every kind of excess. . . . [and] the power to crush your enemies. -Calvin (of "Calvin and Hobbes")
Remember the difference between a boss and a leader. . . a boss says "go". . . a leader says "let's go!"
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. -William James
Everybody has the will to win but not everybody has the will to prepare.
All successful people master the temptation to quit.
When you tell the truth, you never have to worry about your lousy memory.
With great power comes great responsibility. -Spiderman's Uncle Ben
If everything's under control, you're going too slow! -Mario Andretti
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. -George Bernard Shaw
Be the change you wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
So many rules, so little time to break them all. -Cliff L.
Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. -Cliff L.
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. -Epicurus (341 BC - 270 BC)

Contact Me

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or just want to say, "Hey Saki, great website, how you doin' dude?" please feel free to contact me. Just don't send me images, executables, or anything that takes a long time to download. Also, don't try to sell me anything, ask for donations, or convert me to your religion or political party. Don't send me any Spam unless it is the kind you can eat. Dirty or politically incorrect jokes in text format are welcome.

Click icon to contact me.

Have a superfantastic day and thanx for visiting!