At The Windmill

Expect David to scream out loud on a gorgeous day. "I want to get out of here!!!!" he'd shout.

On on this Saturday morning, when the sun shone like a jewel in the sky and the gentle breeze plant kisses on your cheeks, we head off to Penn Yan. Again, I showed David my superb driving skills and attention to traffic (sigh). But the tension generated from my driving was relieved by an astonishing view. On our way to The Windmill the trees have started to turn color. Much to our delight, The Windmill proved to be a nice place to visit, although we restrained ourselves from buying any stuff.

Info. from the Web site:

The Windmill is the first and friendliest farm and craft market in upstate New York, located right in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Region. Midway between Penn Yan and Dundee on NY Route 14A, The Windmill has become a premier tourist attraction, with a weekly attendance exceeding 8,000 - 10,000 people.

Beginning with roughly 100 vendors, The Windmill serves as an outlet for local producers and craftsmen. Now in its 21st year, The Windmill plays host to nearly 200 shops and craftsmen, boasting everything from farm fresh produce to an on-site Chiropractor, you're sure to find something for everyone.

Read about The Windmill's history here.

OMG, I'm Famous!

Eleven of my poems are now in the archives of University of the Philippines-Diliman Main Library (Filipiniana Section).

Isn't that amazing? I guess this means that I am a certified poet (of some sort). I wasn't really expecting it. I was "googling" my name for matches.

The poems were published in Philippines Free Press Magazine and Philippine Graphic (then edited by the late National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin). One poem I am glad that the Free Press printed was VISIONS (IV). I haven't seen the hard copy though.

Au Revoir, Frieda!

Our dear, dear friend Frieda was finally laid to rest yesterday. I was at school though. Nevertheless, I said my prayers for God to comfort those who grieve with her passing. I am one of those people.

Dear Frieda, you could have lived until 110 years old. But you said you've lived long enough and considered your other friends who already passed before you "lucky" as they joined God ahead of you.

Remember when David and I used to tease you that there's a waiting list in heaven? That you cannot die yet because you still have a mission. Now that you've joined the Lord, I guess He has prepared a bigger and most comfortable room for you.

I am hoping that you and Norma are having tea and onion soup right now, looking down at us and smiling. I miss your smile. It was the most sincere smile.

I hope you also have the chance to meet my father who passed away last February. He must be keeping heaven green and kissing old ladies' foreheads. He loved taking to old ladies. If you see him please tell him how much I love him. You two, I'm sure, will be the best of friends. You could talk about farming, raising goats and chickens. He can cook a delicious meal for you. You will never go hungry and sad when you're around my father. He took care of my grandparents, he will take care of you, too.

My Frieda, I miss the cookies and your warm hands. I hope when we meet again you will hold my hands and we could talk about life.

Tell Norma I said hello and keep Carol Ann away from trouble (tell her she could blow smoke on St. Peter's rooster). And tell Miss Ruth I am keeping David company (both in the kitchen and grocery store). You two can share recipes. If Marcia comes around tell her I love her, too.

Till we meet again, indeed.

***

To read about my interview with Frieda, click here.

Frieda Neubert, 103

Our dear, dear friend and "mother" Frieda passed away last Tuesday. She was 103. Please pray for David who grieves of her death and to Frieda's family.

David was with Frieda the night she passed. There was no end to David's tears. Today, he cried again upon reading Frieda's obituary online.


We love you, Frieda, and we will surely miss you.

Read her obit here.

Frieda and David in front of David's house. David had been Frieda's caregiver for years.

David visiting Frieda at the nursing home where Frieda resided for about six months.

They could talk and talk and talk and talk without getting bored with each other.

Goodbye my little Frieda. I will surely miss the cookies. Au revoir.

Hilton Apple Festival

"There's something about Hilton," David said as he marvelled at the multitude of people converging in Hilton, New York one morning.

"Maybe it's Paris," I told him with a broad smile. Of course, he didn't get it at first. But if he has only seen how Paris Hilton gobbled down Rick Salomon's ginormous cucumber, nah, it's a butternut squash, I am sure he will be amazed.

On a quaint day, we visited Hilton to witness the annual Hilton Apple Festival. It is one way, David said, of helping the economy - spending gas by driving out to a far off place.

There's a bat outside your house!

Apple cider, pumpkins and more!

Did that lady just swallowed an Italian sausage whole? Look at her expression.

A smart business.

They get prizes after fishing out an apple or two (most yard sale items, but parents and kids don't mind)

Shout it out girl!

Oops, there goes your inheritance.

I think somebody is going to revise their will.

This is from the village's Web site:

History of the Apple Festival:

The Festival was founded in 1981 by Hilton Businessmen Patrick Marlow and Douglas Marple. Homer Marple of Marple Furniture, financed the Festival in its first year when it was organized by Coordinator, Carol Gursslin with just a handful of volunteers. It was held at Canning Street Square. And yes, there really was a pie the first year! We had approximately 75 craft booths and five food booths.

The purpose of the Festival was to offer free family entertainment while celebrating the apple harvest season, the Hilton/Parma community, and the local apple growers. Artists were given a showplace for their handcrafted goods and nonprofit groups of the Hilton Central School District raised funds by selling food.

In 1982, Carol Gursslin was once again the Coordinator but there were about 200 volunteers and it was held at the Hilton Community Center. Many local businesses provided finances the first five or six years. Organizers brought world attention to the Hilton area when they attempted to bake the World's Largest Apple Pie. Guinness World Book publishers gave the recognition to English townspeople who, one month earlier, had baked an apple pie in a larger rectangular pan. In an effort to show the British their sense of humor, Festival planners the next year baked the World's Smallest Apple Pie in a bottle cap.

The Apple Fest currently has approximately 200 craft booths and 24 food booths. Attendance reaches close to 70,000 people, most of which ride the shuttle bus to the Community Center. One of the reasons for its success is the help it receives from its approximately 300 volunteers. The Hilton Apple Fest donates an average of $5,000 per year of which some of the recipients have been Ambulance Corps, Library, Village parks, Food Shelf, Camp Good Days and Special Times, Historical Society, Hilton Senior Bash, Braddock Bay Raptor Research, and other Community Center projects.

I told you I'm not Chinese

Friday, the winter chill of autumn manifests and the leaves begin to fall. I have a love-hate relationship with autumn. The cold, cold air reminds me of loneliness. I do not wish to share this plight with other people. I am alone in this journey.

Ha, am I trying to revive my creative self? Not really. But last Friday was colder than the witch's tit, as David would say. It is time for long-sleeved shirts, coats and gloves.


While I was minding my own business a professor, of Indian ethnicity I know because I have browsed through his Web page, stopped and asked, "Where you from?" I, of course, was startled because I was not ready for such instance, especially when his English has a thick Indian accent. Without waiting for my answer, he asked me aloud, enough for the whole campus to hear, "Are you from China?"

Oh no, I said in my mind. Not again. Please Lord God have mercy. Last year I experienced the same incident when a lady thought I come from China. Few months later my classmate thought I'm from Mexico. Now, David said I am the "universal man".

"I'm from the Philippines!" I replied. I would have told him that our race have two Miss Universe title holders, developed the flourescent bulb, and designed the first lunar vehicle. No, I was humble enough. I didn't even reveal that I used to collect live centipedes in a bottle, my ethnic composition was performed before high school music teachers from around the country when I was in high school, a fellow for poetry in English, my poems were published in national magazines, and I have a column. No, I am humble.

"Oh," he said. "My very good friend is from the Philippines. I will let him know that there's another Filipino in the campus." I smiled. Okay, because I am hoping I could find another Filipino in school whom I can play luksong-tinik with, do the otso-otso and halukay ube dance craze, and share sinigang recipe. Now, I wonder if I can do those things in the near future.

Let's hope.

[more reflections on this when I have the urge]

KA and Phantom of the Opera

When in Vegas don't forget to watch the following shows:




[Although when we watched KA they had technical glitches that they have to stop the show for 10-15 minutes. The production was magnificent but I found it boring, unlike Phantom of the Opera which kept me awake the whole duration of the show. Actually, I thought Phantom would be boring. It turned out otherwise.]

I'm Bitter

Three international students were waiting for the college bus two weeks ago at the same site where I wait for the bus that goes downtown. I didn't approach them, though I know two of them. In fact, the two students were my classmates in my communication class two years ago [my, I've been here long].

I was just "bitter" over the fact that they were from countries whose candidates became semi-finalists in the 2008 Miss Universe beauty pageant. They were from Vietnam, Japan and India (or is she from Singapore?).

I'm bitter. Our candidate didn't even get the Miss Photogenic award (or was that category scrapped from the competition knowing that candidates from the Philippines will capture that award every year). I wouldn't know what to say if they mention about the pageant (though I am not sure how pageant crazy were they in their respective country).

Anyway, I congratulate you guys!

ImageOut Festival features Films About Filipinos

The annual ImageOut Festival (The Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film and Video Festival) will feature films made by/starrred by Filipinos. This year's festival theme is "Sweet" as the event runs on its 16th year. The event will start on Oct. 10-19.

The Filipino films are:

Ang Lihim ni Antonio (Antonio's Secret)




and The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela



For more information about the event and availability of tickets visit the festival's official Web site.

Unicycle-riding Robot

Kim Kardashian: 'I'm Actually Shy'

After watching the opening salvo of the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars I wasn't shocked about the costumes the participants and dancers wore but this statement from Kim Kardashian:

"I'm actually a shy person."

Hmmm... let me think for a minute. Or two. Or a million times about this.

Why Sarah Palin Is Ready To Be Vice President

A highly educated analysis why Gov. Sarah Palin is ready to become the next American vice president. Via Carbonator.

The Corpus Clock and Chronophage

Advocacy

I don't know why the students at The College at Brockport made a big fuzz about this man who with his daughter were protesting about something. They even talked to the man and tried to convince him to change his beliefs. Goodness, what a crazy idea. If they only avoided the man and didn't mind him he would have just walked away knowing that nobody's paying any attention to him. On the other hand, I was puzzled by the fact that he was allowed to hold such act on the school premises. Whether he is a citizen or not he is bound to follow the rules of the campus. If this act is allowed on campus, then smokers should also be allowed to light their cigarettes in the buildings. Afterall, both have their rights.

God, Americans and their F*** rights.

Philippine Dried Mangoes in Rochester?

But this true! Found this product at a posh store in Rochester.

[Er, what's with the spelling?]

Get Well Soon, David!

David at the lobby of Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

David at the Sonnenberg garden.

Will The Real Dinty W. Moore Stand Up: Moore in Brockport

Acclaimed essayist to grace Writers Forum

Nothing escapes from the pen of Dinty W. Moore. Whether he is writing about new technology, fiction or even a personal reflection of his life, his vision always hits home and without reservation. The acclaimed essayist and fiction writer will be the second visiting writer to be featured in Brockport’s Writers Forum this school year. The lecture will be held at the New York Room, Cooper Hall, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 8 p.m. It is open to the public.

A native of Pennsylvania, Moore was educated at the University of Pittsburgh (BA) and Louisiana State University (MFA) and worked as a reporter for United Press International. He is a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. He serves as coordinating editor for the anthology Best Creative Nonfiction and member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs. He is currently a professor of English at Ohio University.

He is the author of nonfiction books The Emperor’s Virtual Clothes: The Naked Truth About the Internet Culture, The Accidental Buddhist: Mindfulness, Enlightenment, and Sitting Still, American Style, The Truth of the Matter: Art and Craft in Creative Nonfiction, shorts story collection Toothpick Men and the recently released memoir Between Panic and Desire.

In The Emperor’s Virtual Clothes, he wrote, “In my quest to unearth some deeper truth about the new electronic culture, perhaps the only claim I heard more often than the one about how our interpersonal relationships will be forever transformed was the one about how the Internet will radically alter our form of government.” This visionary essay not only spurned new approaches in looking at technology, but also it is stylistically innovative.

The Brockport Writers Forum has hosted distinguished literary figures since 1967. It also sponsors workshops, symposia and festivals dedicated to the art of writing.

Boulder City, Nevada