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Now is the Time

to use my imagination.

I use my imagination.  I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

I use my imagination. I use my imagination. I use my imagination.

Learning from History

David did tell me last night he had to get up early for his doctor's appointment. But not too early when America was still living the moment after its first African-American president was inaugurated yesterday.

Yikes, David, was up and thumping around the house at 4 a.m. Then the garage door opened at 5:45 a.m. and I thought he has a laboratory appointment to go to before going to the doctor. Later, at 7 a.m. he came back - with a plastic bag in tow.

I asked, "How was the everything? " And looked for a bandage on his arm. He said he'll be at the doctor's office at 9 a.m. and the blood work was already done last week.

I wondered where he'd been? Apparently, he went to Barnes and Noble in Pittsford to purchase copies of newspapers- The New York Times, Democrat and Chronicle, and USA Today. It was afterall the day after the momentous inauguration.

"I've learned from the past," he said, his lips pursed and head shaking.

The day after Pres. Barack Obama won against John McCain last year the New York Times and other major publications were sold out in a whim. The next day copies of the papers were being sold on e-Bay for as much as $100 a copy. So, David, the former school teacher/librarian for 38 years went to the bookstore early in the morning and bought not one but two copies of each paper. O, he also bought a copy of The WallStreet Journal this evening.

I had to ask permission to read the contents. However, he somewhat got mad at me the way I folded the pages.

"You don't know how to fold newspapers properly," he thundered. Well, yeah, like I haven't worked for a newspaper before. Then he showed me how to put the pages back together properly.

"You're destroying your inheritance," he said.

Feast of newsprints

Some Consolation

Our dear friend,Frieda, who's turning 104 this year, has relocated to a new residence. After she passed out and cracked her vertebrae about three weeks ago she needed daily assistance. Her children have their own families and cannot tend to her daily needs so she went into assisted-living. Her new home is just next to her former home.

We have visited her a several times since her transfer. Her face would lite up when she sees David. They would hold hands and tell each other jokes, which, she said, she cannot do with her children. She told David that she loves him like her own son. David had been her caregiver for during winter months - driving her to Wegman's (her favorite grocery store), setting up her doctor's appointments (in a snap, "he has magic" to quote her), and took her out to restaurants (they would have onion soup).

Lately she told David: "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. And I would say it over and over again until I die... And I hope it is tomorrow."

She has been hoping to die, but to die healthy.

"Don't you think I have stayed in this world for a long time?" she'd say.

I told David to tell her that there's a waiting list in heaven like waiting for a slot in an old folks home. Heaven is too crowded for now. Didn't I hear her say that some saint can be transferred to hell so she could have a spot in heaven? Now, I must have made that up in my mind.

She's so funny when she's talking with David. She surely finds comfort in his visits and perks up like her old self. She still can recall her children and grandchildren's birthdays. Her mind's so sharp and alert. David and I are praying that she'll be able to walk unassisted again soon so we could go out and have lunch at her favorite place. And have our onion soup because I don't think they serve that in heaven.

UnInvestigative Journalism 101

I found out that Roy has a twin brother who is currently based in Pennsylvania.

Kevin who was recently named "Employee of the Month" is Irish. And he likes Labatt beer.

Heather's Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a bestseller this week. Like it disappears after five minutes it was taken out of the oven.

Chris, the guy whose picture appears on the Brockport website, loves pasta with alfredo. But he wouldn't mind having marinara sauce if there's no alfredo sauce available.

Another student mistook me as his neighbor at Willowbrook. No, I said, I live in Pittsford (where the lady astronaut on the latest American space mission used to live. David's house is in front of a school of theology which houses Archbishop Fulton Sheen's library).

Reminder: don't mistaken raspberry vinaigrette dressing as balsamic vinaigrette.

Know what mandarin oranges are.

An Old New Song

My cousin at 5 years old singing:


De de da dey
De de da dey
Lala lulas mey
Lala lulas mey

De de de joy
De de de joy
Lalila lili
Lalila lili

Da de de da dey
Lala lulas mey

De de de joy
Lalila lili

De de da dey
De de da dey
Lala lulas mey.

Repeat

(Sing to the tune of "This is the day...")

Post Birthday Message

Now, I have two birthdays. The records department of the hospital where I was born messed up with my birth records. It wasn't revealed until I applied for a passport. My poor mother had to travel from Bacolod to Bais City to clear the matter. However, we have to subject ourselves to court proceedings and retained the May 16 date listed in my birth certificate. My March 16 birthday, which I have celebrated for about 30 years, was abandoned.

I've always told my parents that maybe I was adopted. Of course they denied such thing and called me crazy. Well, my father's crazy over automobiles and I am not. However, I have my mother's nose and her powerful snore. I can't seem to connect the puzzle.

Anyway, I received two cards from Bacolod last May. One from my family, the other from my Sun.Star Bacolod family. Thanks guys. I miss you na and I hope you do miss me, too.

Thank you also to Miss Michelle who sent me a greeting thru e-mail. Wasn't it wonderful?

Love to you all!

* * *

It pays to have two birthdays as I received gifts on two different occasions from David. And also he also took me out to dinner. He he

The Great American Heritage

Location: Browncroft, downtown Rochester, NY

One of the many houses we visited. Look at that old furnitue.

Hey, David, you should be looking for pots and pans not hotdogs. Follow that gray road! Hey, Dorothy, you brought a stroller? Where's toto?

Every street was packed with cars, cars and more cars.

David and I spent a great deal of time hopping from one house to another in search for valuable items today. It s a wonderful day. It is hot, but it is cold. Now dig that. The sun is bright, but the breeze is cold. Now, what am I talking about? It's the garage sale at Browncroft, downtown Rochester! Boy, our legs got sore after visiting 10 of the 20 streets of the neighborhood which participated. It is projected that at least 300 houses opened up for the event.

There is no equivalent event or activity in the Philippines for this. "Ukay-ukay" is not a garage sale. Surely, the clothes in the American garage sales were dry cleaned and placed in hangers. I hope our kababayans will learn from this experience - clean and press the clothes you sell at the ukay-ukay.

Missing the Revelry 4

The Masskara Festival 2005.

Wala nyan dito sa States! Wala! Walaaaaaa!

With the Queen

The Sun.Star Bacolod caboodles with Miss International 1979, and was named the Most Beautiful Miss International, Miss Melanie Marquez.

Photo taken during the 2005 Masskara Festival by Miss Michelle So in our humble office.

Nang Tess!!! Grabe imo posing ba!

Look at that 'usual' sensual Amboistic look.

Missing the Revelry 3

The Masskara Festival is more than just colors and masks, it is about the Bacolodnons' positive attitude towards life.

It takes coordination and careful calculation of steps to be in sync with the beat.

It usually takes months for these masks to be completed. Filipinos are world-class artists.

Even umbrellas become objects of art.

Viva Bacolod! Viva Masskara!

Missing the Revelry 2

Where can you find such colors? It's hot and magnificent!

And where can you find such move?

Look how tight those costumes are.

No wonder this festival is something to look forward to every year.

We Filipinos know how to enjoy life. Here are some pictures I took

during the Masskara Festival in Bacolod in 2005.

Missing the Revelry

The costumes are post-Modern Asian look.

This one's fabulous!

I'm confused with the theme of their costume.

I've got to have that short pants, or is it short short pants.

The Masskara Festival has been a great part of my life.

I've covered the event for almost three years.

Here are some of the pictures I took during the 2005 revelry.

Drills

The dental hygienist made me WHOLE Saturday. She explored the very depths of my soul and came out successful. I came out immaculate and pure. At least for a time. And I am greatly satisfied.

She said I am a dream patient. I never squirmed of all the picking and exploration she made with the drill set she used on me. I can never complain though blood oozed from my gums. Having a nice clean teeth is a wonderment for me. I enjoyed it, even the pain. And you can never get any better service than she performed on me. (Though she said her wrist hurt bad).