Tuesday, September 22, 2009
 
Month Past 05/01-05/31/09 (Mother's Day,Baptism,Patio Set)
I have been remiss in doing my blog journal. For May and the following months I have not been keeping notes for my entries. Aaargh.
May 5 Tue is Cinco de Mayo and like St Patrick's Day police are extra vigilant for DUI's. Stick to burrito, fajita, and enchilada.
Sun May 10 is Mother's day. As a "dutiful" son I called mi madre to greet her. Jet and Annette also had their long awaited baby baptized today. A happy couple after years of trying. I was keeping my fingers crossed that they don't take after one of their wedding sponsor which happens to be moi.
Tue May 12 is my day off . My productivity goal for the day is to assemble the patio set that we ordered Fall of 2008 but was only delivered early this year. Mission accomplished and this is not premature unlike Bush's.

Fri May 15 there's a small gathering at home. For whatever occasion I can't recall. The important thing is everybody is happy, good food and good company.

Sat May 16 W left for Atlanta for a business trip. She's back Wed 20 May. And that's it for May. As I always say: It's better to be routine than be stressing. But don't make it boring. It's up to you to make it interesting.

Thursday, April 30, 2009
 
Month Past 04/01-04/30/09 (Holy Week,Birthday,Log cut)
Sun 04/05 is Palm Sunday. Beginning of Holy Week. Beginning of rituals e.g. no meat Fridays. Eons ago there would be no shows on TV except one or two channels with religious programs. You have no choice. Either you watch it or just turn your TV off. Most of the shows are replays anyway. There was no betamax then or VHS or DVD or the Blu Ray. Only a number of radio stations would air playing somber music. There were record players but you're not suppose to listen to your LP collection since most likely they are not appropriate for the occasion. People were supposed to be gloomy. But times, as often do, change. Kids now have no idea what "sacrifices" :( we as kids then went through especially with our elders who were always on the look out and ready to reprimand if you play with gusto. I guess Holy Week for them was an occasion where they could finally enjoy some peace and quiet. You think they'll let us play Nintendo if we had it then since we would be just sitting in a corner minding our business? Now Iam them. It's not about rituals. It's finding the meaning of the occasion..."For God loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son"
And it snowed on Palm Sunday. Wet snow but it did not last (pics below). And it's April. It's summer in Manila and I'm sure everybody would be looking forward to a long weekend. That's another change.
Fri 04/17
marked another year being a quinquagenarian. LIII to be exact. W and I celebrated eating dinner at Spice Thai and thanking the Lord for blessing me with another year still in good health, with a job, a house and a better half better than moi.
Tue 04/14 was my day off. And I thought now is a good time to cut the cut trees that fell last year at the path in our backyard. So I did some sawing and carrying most part of the morning. And now we have what I call a log seat in our garden (pics below).
On a side note for April: Gas price is at $ 2.35 more or less on the average. Jobless Claim is at 5.9 M as of 04/02 and unemployment is at 8.3% highest in 23 years or since '86. H1N1 or Swine Flu (Porky Pig et al are filing their formal complaint) is becoming a concern.
Pics below includes Lake Haas view in our backyard and new plant growth breaking ground with moi clearing last year's stems.



Saturday, March 28, 2009
 
Month Past 03/01-03/31/09 (AJ's,DST,St Pat's,Red Cross)
Sun 03/01 W and I attended the celebration of Alexander Joseph (AJ) Simba's 1st Birthday. First child of DingDong and Cherie. Food was great. Filipino fare. With this type of gathering you also see how your other friends' kids have grown.


Sun 03/08
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Begins. Move your clocks one hour forward. I counted about ten clocks that needs adjusting including the car's. Days are getting longer...finally. It's nice to be going home from work when the sun is still up. Gives you that feeling it's still early in the day and do some chores.
Tue 03/17 is St Patrick's Day. The boozing actually started Sat 03/14. Green beers, green river (in Chicago), green pants, shirts, caps, faces and parade. You don't have to be Irish to join in the fun. Gives you another reason to get inebriated...another pint laddie and don't forgit me leprechaun...cheers. But I remain sober. After eight years or so in MN I have not really attended or experienced the celebration. Must be the age...On a side note the temps are beginning to look good. Yesterday 03/16 we almost hit the 70's. Today it's in the 60's. Couldn't be better.
Fri 03/20 is officially spring as indicated in the calendar. But a meteorologist mentioned that if you base it on meteorology spring actually started Sun 03/01. The calendar date is based on astronomy...uhm...vely intelesting.
Tue 03/24 is my bloodletting day. When you start receiving notice cards from Red Cross you know its time to bleed. I did it at the Lutheran Church in Burnsville. The attendant who took my blood is good. There was a slight prick when she inserted the needle but other than that all went well. She timed me at 6 minutes plus a couple of seconds in filling the bag. Now that is fast. And no bruise the following day.



Saturday, February 28, 2009
 
Month Past 02/01-02/28/09 (Valentine, Ash Wednesday,Snowstorm)
We've been lucky this past few days. We're experiencing a "heat wave". Wed 02/11the weather man said we just set a record. We were above freezing for more than 60 or so hours for February. This has not occurred since 1984. I've been living in MN for the past 8 years. During my first years I've never been conscious of the change in temp during winter. Be it a negative, zero or freezing it's all the same: Friggin' Cold. But lately (signs of age) I do loathe it when temp drops to 0 or negative. My extremities starts to complain. I'll take anything above 0. Now I'm not surprised why sometimes I see guys whose been living here all their life wearing shorts when we hit the 30's. Heat wave:)
Sat 02/14 was Valentine's Day. I was scheduled to work the closing shift. W and I did not do anything special. I also read the article of Randy David of Philippine Daily Inquirer for Valentines entitled the Unloved. The gist: "
GMA now outranks every president as an object of public contempt". Sad she lost her way. But you also feel betrayed more so because she took over after EDSA 2. There was so much hope. You expect she learned a lesson from that historic moment. That she would do better in fighting corruption. Improve the country's economy with her economics degree (classmate of Pres Clinton). Carry and surpass her father's legacy (Pres Macapacal). Alas she fell into that adage: "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". She is now called Ate Glue (a dig from Ate Glo) because she clings to her position tenaciously and has no intention of ending her term even if the people clamor for it. Contempt is not enough reason.
Mon 02/16
I was waiting for the traffic light to turn green on my way home from Kohl's. I looked at my rear view mirror and saw a very unusual sight. An old couple in their late 70's or early 80's in the car behind me were smoking! And it's not your shallow smoke and puff but the deep smoke and feel it puff. I was observing them for almost a minute before the light turned green. It was a natural for them while conversing. I tell you some people are smoke resistant or should I say smoke proof. This couple are an example. First hand and second hand smoke they experienced and lived with and they still get to enjoy it way past their golden years. Sadly unlike most...
Wed 02/25 is Ash Wednesday. Can't believe it. I guess it's early this year. Start of the Lenten Season. Fasting and fish Fridays. Went to St Michael's in the afternoon for the customary putting of the sign of the cross on the forehead using the ashes from last year's palm leaves. Palm leaves to welcome Him: Hossanah. It's ashes to signify His suffering and death. Also our death because of our sins.
Thu 02/26 we had a snowstorm. A bad one. Streets were still not plowed when I went home. Or they were plowed earlier but the snow just kept falling the whole day. I was planning on taking 35E South but a semi was blocking the intersection where I'm supposed to make a U turn. Took HW 13 instead. Almost an hours drive on what would have been 30 minutes. I witnessed a car trying to change lane but since the snow was thicker in between lanes it got stuck in the middle. It's wheels just spinning. No traction. I thanked God I got home safe. But I still got to clear the snow on our driveway. It's okay. Just glad to be home.
On a footnote. On my way to work I heard on the radio that the US just hit the highest unemployment rate in 42 years. And there's still no light at the end of the tunnel.



Saturday, January 31, 2009
 
Month Past 01/01-31/09 (Visits,Inauguration,Chill, Layoffs)
Thu 01/01 first day of 2009 we had a small party at home for lunch. A newly wed couple, first baby couple and husband finally able to bring her wife to the States couple. At least one if not both husband and wife are working with W. A quiet afternoon reminiscing. Nice start of the year.
Sun 01/04 we had the Simba family as visitors. Dingdong and Cherie with their first child. Cherie's mom, and her sister Carol Banawa with her daughter.
Sat 01/17 some of W's staff dropped by for lunch and tete-a-tete aka gossip :) just kidding.
Sun 01/25 attended the first birthday celebration for the year. It was Mike and Lori celebrating their second child Aaron's first birthday.
Fri 01/09 took advantage of my day off by going to the dentist for annual check up and cleaning and finally get my haircut after five months..."Just a trim for you?" asked the lady cutter..."No, do a cut number 3 or 4 which ever is the shortest" I said..."I think you'll feel two pounds lighter" she replied ...just what I need.
And the snow kept falling. Mon 01/12 I counted three vehicles ditched on my way to work. Tue 01/13 I heard on the radio that we've accumulated 23" of snow and it's been the snowiest since Jan '04 and the coldest -18 (not counting the windchill) since '03. To drive home the point I was late getting to work . Slow traffic at I-35 because of a rollover. There was an ambulance, tow truck and three squad cars. You can't see the vehicle. It was way down the embankment. Thu 01/15 on my way to work temp read -22 and windchill of -35. On my way home it upped a bit to -14. Windchill advisory has been raised all day and frostbite is just an exposure away. By Wed 01/21 the weatherman says our temps have been below freezing since 12/29. Whose counting? I'd say your attitude should be "Bring it on" otherwise you'll dread getting up early in the morning going to work. Who am I kidding?
Speaking of work. I'm just thankful that I still have a job to go to every morning freezing or not. The news on the job front has not been good. Mon and Tue 01/26-27 layoffs have been reported at Home Depot and Target. W is already looking at sending some people back home because contracts have been abruptly terminated. It's hitting closer to home and the end is nowhere in sight. You're still in luck if you just have to tighten your belt. For those who are now juggling their funds it'll be strike one and it's gonna hurt bad. The difference is the former means you need to adjust your lifestyle and learn to live below your means. Pare down or do away with unnecessary expenses. The latter you are already juggling with your necessities. You pray you don't drop any balls: medicine expense, school, mortgage, food, credit payments. The American dream has become more elusive turning into a nightmare.
Tue 01/20 is a historic moment. It's my day off:) And it happens to be the inauguration of the 44th and the first African American President of the USA: Barack Hussein Obama II. I get to watch it on TV. And I have pic proof that I witnessed history in the making. I wish him good luck on his term with all the problems besetting the nation. We really do need Change.

Pic Left: L-R: Mark, Pearl, Dennis and wife, Linus and Keith with their first born Otiks

Right pic: Keith (left)getting ready to start the ball rolling: Let's Eat!

Pic Left: A repose after meals but W still nibbling

Right pic:Group pic while watching Mark & Pearl's downloaded Wedding Pics in Mark's new HP notebook

Left pic: Up Close, Keith and Linus first born:Otiks

Right pic: Visit from the Banawa-Simba family

Left pic: Group pic L-R Cora with AJ (Dingdong and Cherie's first born),moi, Dingdong with Carol's daughter,Cherie, Cherie and Carol's mom, Carol

Right pic: Carol's daughter about to open her gift with a impish smile

Left pic: After a day's running and excitement somebody needs to take their Zzzzz

Right pic: Mike and Lori celebrating their son Aaron's 1st B-day party. Blow the candle.. pffft

Bottom Left & Right pic: Moi witnessing Pres Obama's Inauguration on TV at Prior Lake, MN

Left pic: W with her "kids"


Wednesday, December 31, 2008
 
Month Past 12/01-12/31/08 (PacMan,Red Cross,Christmas)
Thu 12/04 was my day off. I thought I'd try my hands at cooking. Turns out I didn't need a fire. Checking the contents of our ref I saw some veggies that might rot before W arrives from Manila and a roasted chicken. I ended up doing a coleslaw and a chicken sandwich filling. I was itching on using the food processor. That inspired me to do it. Result: it's edible for me:) Now I'm thinking of using the slow cooker...mmm...I have to check what availble ingredients I have.
Sat 12/05 is the "Dream Fight" of Manny Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya.Turned out to be a nightmare for Oscar. The fight ended in Round 8 by a TKO when ODLH threw the towel before the bell sounded for Round 9. Some wags said he threw the fight. I doubt it. We have to give credit to The Man. Pacquiao was relentless and fast. He did his homework. He was lean and hungry. Although Oscar was richer. It's his Golden Boy promotions that ran the show. But after this fight, me thinks Pacman will have a say on the purse.
Mon 12/08 had our first "serious" snow. Later in the week chilly temps with wind chill is our regular fare. And it's not yet officially winter...not until Sun 12/21. Day before,Sat 12/20, it was preceded by a nasty snow. It was also W's office party. On my way home to pick up W I counted no less than 5 vehicles ditched at 35W (North & South). On our way to the party at Junbo Restaurant in Bloomington there was this car blocking one lane of I 169. The driver calling on his cell for help.
Tue 12/30 is Red Cross day for me. Time to donate blood. The weather forecasters failed this time. Miserably. The forecast was snow in the morning and taper off by noon. Just a few flurries in the morning. I said to myself that's nice. By noon nothing. So far so good. I like it when they make a wrong forecast for the better or so I thought. But by 1 or 2 p.m. heavy snow started to fall just in time for the rush hour. It was hard driving on my way to the Lutheran Church in Burnsville for the bloodletting. Road was slick and thick with snow. Everybody was talking about the weather when I got to the church. I heard an old guy commenting: " I told my wife why she bothers listening to the weather when all she has to do is look out the window and whatever she sees outside is the weather." Truly spoken by a man who has been let down by weather forecasters much too often... like today. Going home after the bloodletting, (which was a success although the attendant had to really poke on my vein as he said it's hard to find and the blood flow sluggish) after about two hours its still the same. No let up on the snow fall. Meaning I had to shovel when I got home...huff and puff, my hands are freezing, my nose is running and my breath is smokin'.
What is Christmas without Noche Buena? Pics below is the celebration at home with some of W's staff. The Filipino "IT community", at least in W's network, (those that W worked with since '96) has grown big and diverse (others now working in different companies) that Noche Buena is now celebrated at different homes. It used to be that there's only one venue.

Left: Photo op before the feast

Right: Show your San Miguel Beer in Minnesota






Wed 12/31 New Year's Eve we had to go to two venues. The De Guzman's and Salay's.

Left: The De Guzman family: Dante, Lydia and their two sons

Center: The guests

Top Right:More guests

Bottom Right: At the Salay's. Jay's mom also celebrating her birthday on New Year's Eve.


Sunday, November 30, 2008
 
Month Past 11/01-11/30/08(DST Ends,Election,Thanksgiving)
Sun 11/02 Daylight Saving Time Ends. Set all your clocks back one hour. You do that Sat evening so you gain an extra hour of sleep. Or so we thought. But most people stay up late knowing they have that extra hour to sleep. Like moi. 'Tis the season of long nights, shorter days... it'll be cold and dark...when you leave for work and when you go home from work... you and your neighbors will seldom see each other on the streets...we hibernate just like every creature on earth
Tue 11/04 is the day of reckoning. It's Election Day. Finally we're done with all those campaign ads on TV. The mudslinging and half truths. It's a record for the voters turnout. Early, early Wed 11/05 Obama was declared the winner. History was made. The first African-American...his campaign shibboleth "it's time for a Change"...very apt. How you wish the Philippines would have the same quick count. Alas, we can only dream, pray, hope wish, desire...because those who are entrusted to make it into reality, especially the candidates, would want it otherwise. How else can they call their Doctors to "cure" votes before, during and at the last possible moment. "Hello Garci" can you hear me now?
Thu 11/20 took W to the airport for her flight to Manila. She'll be gone for almost a month : (. It'll be business and personal trip. She 's one of the godparents on her staff's (Marc and Pearl) wedding. Have the house to myself again. Another reprise of All Quiet on the Western Front.
Thu 11/27 is Thanksgiving Day. Spent it quietly at home. Heated a boxed pizza for dinner. I was invited for a Thanksgiving dinner at Rosemount by W's staff Chev but I did not feel like going out. It's late, cold, a bit of a drive and I have to work early following day. I really appreciate the invite but had to RSVP.

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