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" ofManny 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.
Sat 12/05 is the "Dream Fight" of
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
Bottom Right: At the Salay's. Jay's mom also celebrating her birthday on New Year's Eve.
