Recent Acquisitions

Though I'll be giving them away, except for the last two, here is a list of new books I picked up somewhere:

1. Siberian Light by Robin White
2. Die In Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell
3. Zoya by Danielle Steel
4. The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
5. Murder at Union Station by Margaret Truman
6. Promise Me by Harlem Coben
7. True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
8. Do the windows open? by Julie Hecht
9. Accordion Crimes by E. Annie Proulx

Currently Reading

1. A Tranquil Star (unpublished stories) by Primo Levi
2. Presence: stories by Arthur Miller
3. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
4. A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
5. The Cleft by Doris Lessing

December Fever

On Dec. 1, David and I went to see a show at the Hochtein Music School featuring the Rochester Gay Men's Chorus. The show was called "Home for the Holidays." The group performed under their new principal accompanist, Tim Schramm. Some of the songs they performed were the same as last year's. However, this year's performance concentrated on innovation and form. Last year they had choreography for each song, this time they relied on vocal interpretation. "The musicality of songs" is what I mean. Of course, there was some choreography but they're subtle. Peabody Award winner (1994) Michael Lasser narrated the history of each songs in the repertoir.


The next night we watched "Garth Fagan Dance" at Nazareth College's Callahan Theather. I'm sorry to say this but it bored me so much that I asked David that we exit even before the show ended. I told David that the dancers' moves were like those of our neighbors back home when they get drunk on the night of the fiesta. I got bored because I've seen those movements before. I've seen our native people dance those steps, even better. I told David I regretted buying the tickets. We could have used the money to buy ice cream or a ream of paper.


We watched "The Devil Wears Prada," "The Queen," and "Little Miss Sunshine" on DVD last time.

This week we are watching "Finding Nemo," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "All About Eve," and "The Incredibles" on DVD because we can't find new copies at the library.

The Greatness of Mr. David W. Smith

Don't talk about kids in front of David. He knows how to handle them in a snap. He was a teacher and librarian for 38 years.


It is no wonder that David has a booming voice. He can make a child sit up straight with just a whistle and even make them faint when he sneezes. No exaggeration with that. That is why old folks love him because they can hear him clearly. They don't have to check their hearing aid batteries.


The greatness of Mr. Smith, the teacher-librarian, is comparable to a multi-faceted diamond ring with emeralds surrounding it. Several times have I witnessed scenes that proved my claim. Of course people like David are rare. Our neighbor back home is a teacher who used to bring her students who were children of poor farmers in the mountain to her home. She'd promise the parents that she'd tutor the child only to find out that she'd make a slave out of the poor kid. Her eldest daughter who was living with them (left by her husband) used to drag her mother (the teacher) outside the house, grabbing her hair and cursing at her, "You stupid bitch. I'll kill you. I'll kill you." The teacher didn't fight back. Nobody wants to deal with the mother or daughter.


At a local festival here, while waiting for our turn to play for a prize organized by a telecommunications company, David recognized one of his former students. He called on him and asked the boy if he recognized him. The boy beamed, "Oh, Mr. Smith! The librarian!" And the little black boy hugged him. It was a wonderful scene.


Every now and then he gets greetings from his students.


Lately, David has been browsing through his files and found valuable items. They're not jewels or papers for a will but they can be considered treasures. Here's what I mean:


The Library Rap


The library is the place to be,
You'll see movies, like "Mr. T."

The place to learn, as you will see,
Is the Number 36 School Library.

If you think you can't find a good book,
The librarian is the one to help you look.

Clifford the dog is big and red,
Mother said, "Timmy, put him to bed."

Charlotte is a friendly spider - true,
In her web she wove messages to you.

King Midas touched things - they turned to gold,
Our heads are thing of stories - Mr. Smith told.

We have computers, encyclopedias and much, much more,
Come to the library and find what you are looking for.

Reading is fresh - it's not just for nerds,
Don't hang on the streets - that's just for birds.

Don't live your life in total frustration,
Come to the library and help your education.

Read a book with your educational mind,
So you, like Mr. Smith, can write a rhyme.

Just come to the library - take a good look,
I'm sure you will find just the right book.

Written by Jeffery Sillato when he was in Grade 4
David helped him with the rhyme. #36 School


Here's another:


The Place To Be


I was looking for a good book in the library

Didn't have no idea where the book could be

Mr. Smith said go look in the card catalog

It had everything from Dr. Seuss to Clifford the Dog

Took a look, found the book, had little more time

Used computers, saw a video, relaxed my mind

Give me a L.I.B.R.A.R.Y. anytime, any year, any day or night

Dr. Seuss, Mother goose even Little Boy Blue

Jet magazine and the Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe

Computer disk, the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz

Books on buildings, people, trolls and Aztec Gods

General words, don't disturb on the library

Education, orchestration it's the place to be

Don't dismiss Mr. Smith he conducts the room

New books, clean magazines, books on man on the moon

No destruction, introduction over due return

Dr. King had a dream, read a book and learn

You want knowledge second floor it's the place to be

Feel the rage, read a page in the library.

Written by Matt McCrea who was in Mr. Smith's 4th grade at #22 School. This was written while Matt worked at #36 School as a teacher aid. He still respected Mr. Smith and the library.

This Made Me Think

"The good reporter, it is said, can be judged by the condition of his legs. Success in the field comes from a fortuitous combination of luck and shoe leather. The business of getting news is described in the metaphors of the mine worker - pick and shovel, digging, a great deal of sweat."

-Douglass Cater

The Fourth Branch of Government

The Saddest Art of Shoveling Snow

Headline: Three inches of snow. In the Philippines, malls decorate their Christmas trees with fake snow - shredded styrofoams or pre-manufactured to look like little beads, some of them in multi-color. And the air is filled with "Frosty the Snowman" song as well as "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas." I was excited when I first touched a snowflake or made my first snowball. But on the succeeding days when there were a lot of shoveling going on I said to myself I'd never want to experience snow again.

It is worse when you are going to school and taking the bus at 7 a.m. David and I have a wake up very early to shovel the snow in the driveway. (One billionaire here has a heated driveway so his staff need not have to shovel). One thing I like about shoveling snow though is I get the chance to exercise (which I badly need).

[Forward to the future: Dec. 2008. I apologize for the bad writing in the previous post. It was done in a hurry and I never had the chance to edit it. This post received the most hits. Especially that snowstorm hit the U.S. lately. Lately (this is Dec. 2008 guys), we were struck with 10 inches of snow. Now, that's extra work for me and David. Aaaaarrrrghhh!)

Filipinos think it is cool to have snow. It is COLD.

David on his way to the side of the house to check his electric meter. His Indian neighbors were on their driveway that day shoveling snow, too. Ooops, more of Sanjaya's vote.

David's beloved pine tree covered with snow.

Our pumpkins are still on the ground. You can't see it now as it is covered with snow.

Three inches of snow dude. How cool is that?

Snow Tango

It isn't wonderful when it is snowing hard and you are at school. Adding to the burden was that classes are in separate buildings. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to walk from one building to another when the snow piles up. And sometimes 30 minutes when you walk from the Seymour Union to Drake Library (with all your books and stuff). But we do it because of education.

Here's what I mean:

Video taken from the Student Union. I was on my way to Holmes Hall. This was about 3 p.m.

This video was taken at 5 p.m. My class ended early. I had to go back at Seymour to get my stuff, get to the Tower Fine Arts bldg. at 6:10 and wait for the 6:20 bus. I am one of the few students who doesn't own a car.

Signs of the Times

Isn't it a wonder how a small breeze could stir a colony of ants?

'The Hills Have Eyes': Classroom Edition

We sometimes get mean in our human anatomy lab. time. Last time we dissected cats. And you know, most of my classmates, being Americans, almost got emotional cutting through the cats' belly. I and three of my classmates from Ukraine and Russia were having fun cutting through the skin and muscles. Then we had cow's eyes and sheep's brains.

Last time we studied the anatomy of the respiratory system. Here you will see my classmates blowing air through the trachea of a pig's respiratory parts. Then cut the lungs. They liked it eventually.

ps. At least our gloves were not violet unlike the ones used by Dr. Robert Rey of Dr. 90210. You know he wears these violet gloves during examination and actual operation, scrub suits that show his biceps, pink ties and shirts, and a floor to ceiling wall mirror in front of his desk in his office.

Unexpected Responses

About a week ago my article about a mediaman from Asia who visited in SUNY Brockport was published on-line. It took me awhile to submit the article because I was adamant that its content might spur several reaction. The school newspaper has published a portion of it, minus the name. Later, I decided to e-mail my interview with Mr. Khan Sophirom from Cambodia to Sun.Star Bacolod for publication as I want to share his experience as an Asian journalist and media practitioner. Also, I find his country's system of governance quite the same as the Philippines. I mean, some government officials in the Philippines were told by the President not to issue statements to the press nor appear in front of an investigative committee to answer questions. Such actions taken by the highest official of the country is of course pathetic and suspicious.

I gave a note to my good friend Acting Ed in Chief, Ambo, who is by the way getting married next year (Congrats, Bo!) not to send it to the webmaster for online publication. The print edition is enough, I indicated.

I thought my request would be honored. I was wrong. It appeared online. I didn't mind it. This happens all the time.


Few days after it came out I found a match of my name from a blog, quoting the article I wrote. Now, it generated a multitude of comments (20 as of last count). Even more disturbing are the documents attached to the comments. But the ultimate is a threat to have those who posted comments, though anonymous, killed (I will order Hun Sen kill all of you. From Viet Man).

I value some attention, too. However, this is a bit too much.

I gave my professor a copy of my article and a copy of the article posted on the blog, the comments included. She said, "Oh, I have to inform the UN about this." She is yet to read the comments. I don't know if she'll be glad about it. David is getting worried.

Sigh.

Missing Christmas in the Philippines

David and I roamed around several places in Rochester tonight to look at Christmas decorations outside houses. We went to look at the decorations in front of a wealthy lady's house. Her lawn's covered with Christmas lights, ornaments, and other stuff. Some of the decorations we saw last year. Another house was covered with Christmas lights.

David was wondering why I wasn't so excited seeing the decorations. Not that I wasn't excited at all but Christmas in the Philippines is more festive, more creative and something to look up to. Christmas in the Philippines starts in August and ends in February. David thinks it is too much. I don't.

I remember the lanterns and Christmas lights in every home. The city plaza burst with festive lights and beautiful lanterns. This is what David cannot envision.

I told him that we have beautiful lanterns with intricate light decorations. I showed him a video clip on YouTube.com. I showed him Pampanga's lantern festival. He cannot appreciate it. He said all he saw were lights running about. "I don't think it has something to do with Christmas time," he said. I asked him if Santa Claus has something to do with the traditional Christmas season at all. The Philippine lantern represents the Star of Bethlehem which was mentioned in the Bible. Santa Claus was probably the desert dust in some men's fictive mind. The Star of Bethlehem is not. What the Filipinos have done was to interpret that Star creatively that no other nation in the world can copy.

I talked to a Filipina last year and she expressed her frustration of the way Christmas is celebrated in America. Where are the feasts, the fireworks and the fun? She told me that she bought a lantern back home and carried it all the way here. The lantern made her Christmas a lot better, she revealed.

Here are samples of the lanterns we have in the Philippines:

Thanks to ivanhenares who posted the video.


Thanks to pnayam29


Thanks to otneimras

This Made Me Think

Three Sundays ago I had the chance to take a peek at the little kids at church while they were practicing their song with music director Dr. Lon Beery. Lon is a hit with the kids. They responded well to the song he was teaching them. One of the song was about "good fruits". Lon explained to them the essence of the "good fruits" in their lives. He gave examples and asked them what they thought were considered "good fruits".

One kid said, "strawberries!"

Well, of course, it is a good fruit. No one can refute that.

Thanksgiving Activity

It snowed today. Real snow. Not the shredded styrofoam the malls back home spray on fake Christmas trees. Neither were they cotton balls my aunt usually put on her Christmas tree made of twigs and dried branches. No, these snows are real. Cold. Haunting.

The weather's nasty.

It is Thanksgiving Day. David and I dined in Baxter's at the Radison Hotel near RIT. It's a buffet dinner. The foods were set up outside the hall, the banquet rooms were converted into dining halls.

We feasted on turkey, ham, and roast beef. I liked the turkey better. I forgot to pour au jour on my roast beef. I really liked the pepperocini with my salad. If I shall die I want pepperocini plants on my grave.

I ate candied yams and liked it. It reminded me of home.

For dessert I had cheesecake and brownies.

A lot of families dined at the restaurant. David was wondering whether traditional Thanksgiving is being forgotten. Families usually eat at home - mom prepares the turkey (bought at Tops, Martin's or Wegman's), etc. I said it is daddy's treat to mommy - to celebrate the American holiday somewhere else. They don't have to worry washing the dishes after eating.

One man, about 5'7" and 400 lbs, wearing green shirt and pants which can be made into two tents, came huffing and puffing into the dessert room (which is the pool area converted into a another banquet hall). It was as if he'd collapse upon reaching the table. But he made it. I was going out with my cheesecake when he came in. Another super-pounder fellow had dumped two brownies, two pumpkin pies and a cheesecake on his small plate. Don't forget the whipped cream.

The man in green shirt was seated next to our table. He was with three other folks. You couldn't see the bottom of the chair he was sitting on. He could hatch three dozen turkey eggs in one sitting. David said the fellow wrapped a big turkey leg in the table napkin and put it under his coat. I said he will make it as a soup later on.

America is a well-fed nation.

Early Christmas Gift

From David: a year subscription to GQ Magazine.

This month's cover features actor Ryan Gosling.


It was one of those days when he's not caught off guard about things he keeps in his house. One time, he asked me to take two wrapped boxes in my room because he has forgotten what's in them. The usually puts tags on the wrapped gifts he store in his closet. It turned out that tags the boxes from my room said, "Fernelle. Christmas present." He shops for Christmas presents in summer.


***


David subscribes to Money Magazine.

His gift to himself: another 32-inch TV ("The TV in the kitchen must be replaced," he said. He replaced the TV in his bathroom last year) and a CD player, although he doesn't need any of the items.


***


David subscribes to Money Magazine.

His gift to himself: another 32-inch TV ("The TV in the kitchen must be replaced," he said. He replaced the TV in his bathroom last year) and a CD player, although he doesn't need any of the items.

Foxy Trot

It was chilly outside but David and I walked down the road to the Sisters of St. Joseph's house. Or should I say, mansion. It's their annual craft show. They're selling the projects they made this year.

We were walking down the pathway when a fox came rushing out of the bushes. It ran back like he saw some predators coming. It was colored red.


The lady directing the traffic at the sisters' driveway, after we've informed her about the "encounter," said the land was once a fox farm. Hmmm... we've seen turkeys, rabbits, deer around the area.


What else will we see in the future?

I'm Ready for Parenthood

David convinced me to go with him to Barnes and Noble here in Pittsford on Thursday. He, along with his co-officers in the retired teachers' association in rochester, picked up books for the kids as part of their project.


I really didn't want to go because I would end up buying something (good thing I didn't). But anyway, when he was done he caught up with me by the magazine area. He browsed through a book about architectural wonders around the world. He'd point out that he'd been to this place and that like Germany, London, etc. I was looking at several magazines about web publication and photoshop because I will be taking Web Design and Publication next semester.



We were sitting on a bench, minding our own business, when an army of tiny tots came in the bookstore with their teacher. They were probably from a day care center, David and I remarked. The teacher instructed the kids to follow her to the escalator. David was so amused by the scene, remembering his days as a teacher. Two of the kids refused to go. It was too late for the teacher to grab them. They were in the lobby. She shouted for them to stay on their place and she'd fetch them. One poor little girl was so afraid that she began sobbing. It was a big store for a small creature. At first, she looked at me and began to choke. Then she looked left and right and found no one to turn to, then cried. She looked at me again. Feeling a sense of compassion, I waved at her to come to me. The poor little thing rushed to me and hugged me. She cried but I hushed her. She's probably two to three years old.


David laughed at me.


Well what can say. I can't help it when I look like Mother Theresa.



The teacher went down the escalator, with all the children in tow. There were probably 10 of them. I carried the little girl back to her teacher who thanked me.



Maybe I am really to become a parent.


I'm not ready to become pregnant yet.

It's Raining, Yikes, Ice!

David and I were eating our lunch in the kitchen when these little ice beads fell from the sky. It me some time to find my camera from my backpack. When I opened the kitchen doors - composed of three sliding doors - most of the little beads had already melted. It was nice looking at them bounce on the deck's floor. Autumn is a cruel season.

It is not the time yet to make halo-halo.

The Legend of the Apple Pie

When David bought a bag of 20 ounch apples last Saturday. I thought he was going to bake an apple pie for his "little old ladies" at the wellness center. Last Sunday, he was throwing pans in the oven, chopping apples to perfection, sprinkling sugar, etc. He was the "king of the kitchen" that day. He even cooked our dinner - baked pork chops with potato and dressing. Later when I asked him about the pie he said it's for us to consume.

What? The whole pie?

Oh well, typical David W. Smith.

David presenting his award-winning apple pie.

He used his mother's recipe.

Babies Galore

Introducing Chuckie, the fluffy squirrel; Timmy, the pink bear; Strut, the sympathetic rooster; and Davee, the cuddly moose.

Timmy was the first born and Strut came second. They both have been to the Philippines.

Chuckie is the third born and a Hallmark baby. He won't let go of his nut.

Davee is the fourth child and loves to read. Above, he's reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years Of Solitude."

Reading Lessons

Our four little babies were bored last Sunday that they decided to spend the day reading the books that were left stacked in my bedroom. They all agreed the books were engrossing.

They started out with MIlan Kundera's short story collection "Laughable Loves."

They went with "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Wolff.

Then they decided to read another Kundera classic, "Ignorance."

Happy Birthday Pa

I called home yesterday. I greeted my father with a happy birthday wish. He had just gotten out of the hospital and recovering from an enlarged heart. I almost choked while I was talking with him. My father's the best dad ever. The most mild-mannered person I've ever known. Too bad though I can't be with him on his birthday.

I also talked with my mother concerning my father's health. The hospital expenses was another thing. I talked with grandmother and my brother, too.

My brother and I are light years apart. I mean, we're not close to each other because of our age gap. We have different interests. Though we agree when it comes to cartoons.

My grandmother would have cried again talking to me but I know she controlled herself.

I miss home but sometimes you just have to sacrifice somethings to be able to help your family.

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.

Dr. Madden's Baby

Dr. Madden rocks!

Last week she brought her dog to class. Outside Holmes Hall it was starting to snow, but inside our room Kalob (I guess that's the dog's name) gave us warmth. She's adorable and big. Yikes, when she stands she is in level with our table.

She kept on sniffing at my leg and looked at me with curiosity. Or was it sympathy. She must be wondering why my skin is different from the others. Or was I leaving an Asian scent?

I wasn't really listening to the lecture (Sorry, Dr. Kate). The dog was so cute I can't concentrate on the lecture. History of American Journalism is a very interesting course, but Kalob was adorable. That reminds me: I have tons of books to read for my research. My paper is "The American Government and the Press."

Hey, that's Andrew in the background.

"Good ol' Mr. Greeley who lambasted me - Mr. Bennett - in front of Professor Madden. How ya doin' Sir? "

Maddening Toy

Pam gave me this toy a year ago as a Christmas present. David received a marvelous chime from Pam.

I made a major mistake of "hauling" the contents without first taking note as to how the things fit together. And this is what happened: I can't solve the puzzle, no matter how hard I try!

Whenever I get a glimpse of this toy on the kitchen table I cannot help but wince. Pam, are you punishing me?

It fits like a tic-tac-toe puzzle.

Want to help me solve it?

Post-Vogue Madness

I bought the September issue of Vogue because I was amazed of its size. It was released after Elle magazine came out with an issue of some 700 pages. I imagined Anna Wintour having a fit, calling the business department, or had somebody call that dept. to come up with a thicker issue. At 840 pages, it can be used as a murder weapon. You know, just whack somebody with it when you're angry.

Isn't this magazine neat?

Of colds and other maladies

I need Jhumpha Lahiri to interpret my maladies. Are they product of my imagination or consequencies of what I've done? The cold bug got me this time. I"ve been in a lot os tress lately. Though I have my flu shot a week ago, however, it just proved that it cannot give you full immunity to several other strains of the flu virus. and to think that I caught the American strain. When I was back home I seldom get sick even if I work some 12 hours a day for the paper (starting from 2 p.m. until 1 a.m. the next day. I'd go home at 4 or 5 in the morning). With my exposure to so many bugs when I was doing my internship for my Medical Technology degree and my volunteer work for a non-governmental health care organization I thought I was immune to most bugs. I was wrong.

Or maybe I was just stressed out. I haven't had any good sleep for days. I have received a message from my friends at the newspaper that my father was admitted to the hospital on Monday. We are middle class people. We cannot afford the high cost of medical bills, especially that my mother admitted my father to a private hospital. As the first-born son I am obligated to send money and help in the expenses. I called home last Tuesday and talked with my younger brother who is living with my parents. He was left to look after my grandmother who has been living with us after she suffered partial paralysis due to a stroke in the late 90s. My brother had to file a leave of absence from his work. Now, my concern is - my father's hospital expenses were beyond my expectation! Though I have sent some amount to cover expenses it wasn't even half of what they've sharged for his hospitalization bills. I have to find ways how to pay the remaining balance. God, I don't know what to do.

Help!

Roy and Kevin

I was kidding Roy, above, and Kevin, below, yesterday to take their masks off and show their true identities. Do you think they should?

Who me? Ahh, my name's Kevin (after the famous YouTube video).

Hold it girls. They both have blue eyes.

The Widowed Bride and Cohort

Heather rocked the house yesterday by wearing her gown complete with a black veil. The pose makes overall impact, too.

Cheryl, the widowed bride's cohort, slices some cukes to feed her hungry children. Watch out for that huge knife.

Halloween at Brockport

My friends at the Seymour Union Food Court were all game to pose for pictures. They wore their fantabulous Halloween costumes.

All chic and sparkly.

Steven as a pirate ready to fry anybody who gets in his way.

Joel, left, goin' bananas and Steve, the sailor who is on alert for Steven's invasion.

Peter Pan with the pans.

Watching 'Babel'

This is what happens when you've already watched the movie being shown in class.