Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Grooving in the Philippines

Hi guys. I am currently in Bacolod City, Philippines on a brief vacation. Internet connection is slow and yesterday no connection was available that cafes, banks, and other establishments have to close for the day.

The weather is fierce. Fiercely humid. Like I'm melting.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Carol Anne Brown, 71

Obituary for Carol Anne via David W. Smith:


Rochester/Dansville, May 2, 2008, Carol passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord after a courageous struggle with multiple illnesses at the age of 71. She was born on 11/3/36 to L.G. Smith and Ruth Bornt Smith, who predeceased her. Her brother, L. Douglas Smith and sister Judith Marlene are also in the Lord's care.

She is the cherished mother of her adoring children: Jacquelyn N. Cabrera, Crystal L. Alexander, Marc L. Brown, "Lois Riley," grandchildren: Jared,Christian, Jazmyne, Lyndsay and 5 great grandchildren. Her "baby brother" David W. Smith will deeply miss Carol Anne.

Carol was a woman before her time. She lived life her way and to the fullest. Her happiest times were when she was "Top Chef." She prepared many a delectable dinner for family and friends. Carol will be remembered for her quick wit and ingratiating manner. Her children say, "Ma, you are in our hearts and minds forever."Visitation will be Saturday, May 17th 10AM-12 Noon with a Memorial Service to be conducted at the conclusion of calling hours at the Dierna Funeral Home, 2309 Culver Rd. (near Norton St.) She will be interred at Green Mount Cemetery in Dansville, NY. Those wishing to honor Carol are asked to consider directing a memorial gift to St. John's Home Foundation, 150 Highland Ave., 14620. She has been under their gentle and generous care for the past few weeks.

The family wishes to thank those who have helped: Bobbie, Dottie, Norma S., Faatimah, and Shahammah.


FAITH" Romans 10: 9-10 "GRACE" Ephesians 2:1-10 Share HIS LOVE.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Life Is a Bed of Pansies





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Lilac Festival 2008





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Lilac Festival 2008











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Lilac Festival 2008


















Lilac Festival 2008





























Lilac Festival 2008

David and I went to Rochester's annual Lilac Festival yesterday. He went to the venue Saturday to watch the parade. His friend Richard made a float for one of the ladies who participated in the parade. I had a class at MCC that morning, so I wasn't able to go.

But yesterday after church we went to the venue and inhaled the vibrant fragrance of lilacs. And there were gazillion people who went to the event. Here is the evidence:

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

SuperHot Mess ala Christian Siriano

Here's a clip from YouTube.com. It was posted by Steven530 whom I assume a fan of Christian Siriano. The lines were from a skit from Saturday Nite Live.





What can I say? "A fabulous hot mess!"

Monday, May 5, 2008

Busy

I may not be able to post new entries for my blog for the next few days because I am busy. First of all, I have a Web site to finish and you know how long it'll take. I am technologically challenged so I haplessly pound the computer when I have no idea what the Dreamweaver application is asking me to comply.


Second, my feature article which is required for my Special Writing class as a final paper is due on Wednesday. It is Science/Technical Writing. God knows I haven't written any article of such genre before.


And etc. etc. etc.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Carol Ann Brown, 71

My friends, let us pray for the family of Mrs. Carol Ann Brown and David W. Smith, her brother. She passed away today, May 2, after a long life of struggle with illnesses. She had been admitted to the hospital for several occassions since January last year - broken hip, had her intestines reattached, brain surgery for an experimental treatment for an ailment, etc.


David and I visited Carol Ann last week at St. John's Home, where she was sent after she was given treatment at Strong Memorial Hospital. She was on a feeding tube. She also had an infection. However, the bacteria was resistant to most antibiotics, including Vancomyacin. She had macular degeneration.


Today David was called in to the hospital where Carol Ann was taken because she was in unstable condition. David picked up her son, Mark, to attend to her mother while she was in guarded condition. David talked with Carol Ann's daughters who are based in another states to inform them about their mother's condition.


I felt guilty when David picked me up today because I was grumpy. But the fact is, I didn't know that Carol Ann has passed away. I was so pissed by the bus driver who stopped near the Kodak building, coming from Brockport, because he said he was 8 minutes ahead of his schedule. The police came and checked on us. Apparently, the Kodak people called them to check out what's wrong with the bus. Unfortunately, that made me miss the No. 7 bus that drives to Pittsford. The last time I missed the bus was when Hillary Clinton visited Rochester and they had to do a re-routing of vehicles. God knows how I hated that moment. I also missed the bus two months ago when a snow storm hit the City. Well, to go back to the gruelling moment today, I called home downtown and left a message to David and waited for the next bus to arrive. Well, a whole 30 minutes wasted. Good thing it wasn't raining or snowing or I would have screamed. When I arrived at Wegman's I called home again, but David was not home. So I waited for a good 45 minutes again. I was ready to walk home when he came. We didn't go directly home but to Strong. I didn't know then until we picked up Mark from the Emergency Room entrace. And you know Strong isn't a small place. It is 50 times bigger than our private hospital in Bacolod (and they're adding more wings!). When David and Mark talked about Carol Ann, that was when I learned about her death.


I would have cried in the car because I remembered my father who passed away two months ago. I remember screaming and crying over the phone when my mother informed me about my father's death.


I extend my condolences to David and Carol Ann's children.