Saturday, January 31, 2009

Weekend Specials


From Chuck’s Little Bookstore - we have weekend specials and discounts see page WEEKEND SPECIALS.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Heart to Heart


Having a hard time being single? My new Online dating web site could well be the answer to your dilemma. If you’re single, and own a pc with an internet connection you’re already half way there. So if you’re feeling lonely, and are indoors with a pc you have nothing to lose looking for some online romance. Visit Heart 2 Heart.

Can you believe it! Or your tax dollars at work.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama issued a withering critique Thursday of Wall Street corporate behavior, calling it "the height of irresponsibility" for employees to be paid more than $18 billion in bonuses last year while their crumbling financial sector received a bailout from taxpayers. "It is shameful," Obama said from the Oval Office. "And part of what we're going to need is for the folks on Wall Street who are asking for help to show some restraint, and show some discipline, and show some sense of responsibility." The president's comments, made with new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at his side, came in swift response to a report that employees of the New York financial world garnered an estimated $18.4 billion in bonuses last year. "We're going to be having conversations as this process moves forward directly with these folks on Wall Street to underscore that they have to start acting in a more responsible fashion if we are to, together, get this economy rolling again," Obama said. "There will be time for them to make profits, and there will be time for them to get bonuses," Obama said. "Now is not that time." (Yahoo 1/30/2009) CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Fit your budget

Besides providing our customers fine-looking jewelry we have exciting new fashions for you ladies and hot deals for a cruise vacation to the Bahamas to fit your budget. http://cmebooks.bravehost.com/index.html

Sore but still here

This week has been a roller-coaster for me. Last Tuesday afternoon I fell on a slippery bathroom floor. Ever since then I’ve been pretty much crippled up. Thank God nothing was broken…. But otherwise I’m banged-up from head to my toes. Ah yes, the life a 72 year old who’ll be 73 in a few months. Meanwhile whenever I had a chance I continued on two web sites and launched both on this blog and my other blog. So it keeps me out trouble you could say. Beng went to Cebu and renewed my one year Philippine residence today with RP Immigration. So I’m here for another year – I can’t believe I’ve been in the Philippines since 2002. How time flys! It’s quiet here because there is no construction going on at our house, which reminds me yesterday I chatted on yahoo with Thomas who lives on Orcas Island and he sweating out whether he has a job week to week; the reason that the house construction business such as it is has gone in the dumps along with the economy. It’s no honeymoon for the average working family! At the rate its going soon everyone will have empty pockets – I’m sorry to say.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009











With Valentine's Day just around the corner Chuck’s Little Bookstore has special for you. Please go to http://cmebooks.bravehost.com/index.html and then click on HOT DEALS. There you will find deals on cruises, jewelry, fashions, watches, fragrances and much more.

Federal Reserve is to help borrowers

WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve is taking steps to keep some distressed borrowers in their homes, but it may not make much of a dent in the nation's housing crisis. Looking for a job search no more and start your job hunting at WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve is taking steps to keep some distressed borrowers in their homes, but it may not make much of a dent in the nation's housing crisis. Looking for a job search no more and start your job hunting at http://jobsetc.bravehost.com/ http://jobsetc.bravehost.com/

JOBS, ETC.


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Unemployment spiked in all states nationwide in December for the first time as companies shed hundreds of thousands of positions, federal data released Tuesday shows. The unemployed whose future at times seems so gloomy we can help you find a job. Our hope is we can help our customers. We can’t bring you hot and delicious pizza to your door step but we can help you find a job. Take a minute and look at our web site and browse through the jobs and employment tools available. C’mon on and see us at http://jobsetc.bravehost.com/

The little bookstore

Set back and welcome to our little bookstore – the home low-priced books & merchandise. A quiet place for good books and a place to browse through our selected merchandise items... a place to shop from the comfort of your own home. We offer friendly service and an excellence selection as we grow. Every day we plan to offer you our special customers something new… We are dedicated building a web presence to market products to you our customers and “Chuck’s Little Bookstore and Merchandise” to be built dedicated niche sites. C’mon on and see us at http://cmebooks.bravehost.com/

Monday, January 26, 2009

Roger looking for buried treasure

Beng talked with her sister Mrs. McGoo last evening – she and Roger arrived back home in General Santo safe and sounded – tired yes but happy to be back home. Last week when Mrs. McGoo was here I asked if she would move back to Danao City her reply was only a grunt. When I gave Roger my metal detector I suggested to him that he uses it at some sandy beach where the tourists gather to search money, etc. and just maybe he’ll find some buried treasure. Yesterday went to the first floor and saw what our construction crew had done – it really looks nice, I have no complaints. It was nice them working and hearing the sounds on-going work but I have admit its nice to know its all done. And appreciate the peace and quiet now. Where did this month go to? It went by fast, didn’t it?

JOBS

The other day I had a seeming moment of genius and thought of an unconventional approach to finding work that I wanted to share with you and I wanted to put it into action and I did. Whether a person live in a small town just right the main street or they live in the sounds of a large city or somewhere in between, I know there are people searching for work because of these hard economic times. When I was job looking which was days long before the Internet and today’s technologies and I always felt uncomfortable. Why not the Internet I asked myself, so I chose to start this web site which I named JOBS, ETC. Take a minute and browse until you find a list of jobs that are right for you and then simply point and click to narrow down the results. Please go to: http://jobsetc.bravehost.com/

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Left hand or right hand who cares?

Well, like almost everyone I guess, I like watching movies on my free time. And if it's an action/thriller movie, my wife often likes to watch too. So far I never caught anyone writing with the right hand in a movie… whenever there is writing going on in the scene, people are always using the left hand. Of course it's nothing unusual for actors to be left-handed, just that it would be a strange coincidence if they all were in those scenes, since there are far more right-handed people in the world. Could it be that people who use their left hand are more creative thinkers while those using the right are more analytical?

Yak-yak-yak another vast conspiracy hits the dust

So now that the former President Bush is out of office, now what. So many on here predicted he was going to declare martial law, the he wasn’t going to relinquish his presidency, he was going to round up citizens and put them in make shift prisons, etc.. etc.. etc.. So what now? Are you the same ones who are going to say President Obama is bringing in the New World Order? Let’s quit with the presidential predictions because they are never right. Except for the people who stated that Bush wasn’t going to declare martial law or pull some make believe executive order that was going to keep him in office indefinitely.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Mrs. McGoo goes to Mindanao

I realize of late I’ve been ignoring my blog – my only excuse when not resting I’m building three ecommerce web site, which by the way is by trial and error. The last of our construction crew left yesterday at quitting time. We still have the outside work to be done such as exterior painting but that will have to wait for now. We kept “George” through next Tuesday to do some ends and odds jobs for us but otherwise we’re finished inside. Hooray! Beng got her sister Mrs. McGoo and her husband Roger off yesterday at the ferry boat pier – so by now their on the high seas back to Mindanao. Since they have been living for about 25 years or more in Mindanao I almost can bet their looking forward to be back home in General Santo. They were such a big help here in our big house by cleaning and organizing the first floor.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Recession?


Recession is when a neighbor loses a job. And depression is when you lose yours. I hope and pray that every one is secured with their jobs. Neither do I want any of my neighbors to lose their jobs. Since its one of the hardest things when everyone has to support their family...

President Obama during inaugural parade

Before a jubilant crowd of more than a million, Barack Hussein Obama claimed his place in history as America's first black president, summoning a dispirited nation to unite in hope against the "gathering clouds and raging storms" of war and economic woe. On an extraordinary day in the life of America, people of all colors and ages waited for hours Tuesday in frigid temperatures to witness a young black man with a foreign-sounding name take command of a nation founded by slaveholders. It was a scene watched in fascination by many millions — perhaps billions — around the world.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Sinulog Parade and Kevin Costner

As you can see I included a picture of the Sinulog Parade which Beng took last Sunday. Please enjoy them since they were taken in the spirit of Filipino festivity. I forgot to mention when Beng came home that night she was all smiles – Filipinos love fiestas! Just like us Americans who love a good old fashion baseball game. I love the smell of a hotdog at a baseball game. There nothing like having a mouth of an appetizing hotdog while hearing the roar of stadium crowd as my favorite player hits a fly over the center field wall. Oh Babe Ruth and Shoeless Joe Jackson where are you? Are you guys in a corn field somewhere in Iowa playing a couple of endings? And maybe - just maybe Kevin Costner is pitching….

Monday, January 19, 2009

Sinulog Parade

Leaving around 5:00 am yesterday Beng and most of her family viewed the Sinulog Parade held in Cebu with 2,000,000 plus people crowding together. Me I stayed home and watched some of the events from the comfort setting in my living room chair. And with so much color, pageantry and impressive performances of the dancing contingents, the parade was impressive as always. My little family arrived home some time after dark – tired, hungry and excited. Beng took a few pictures of the spectacle pageantry which I’ll post tomorrow. My only question is: How did my wife fit all her immediate family, friends and relatives into our family pickup?

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The yard is sparkling clean

Today I ventured outside and looked around where Mrs.McGoo and her husband Roger had been working and I found the entire yard to be now sparkling clean. The old bunk house is gone, the construction debris is gone and rubbish collected over the past four years is gone. My wife’s sister put herself and others from Mindanao hard to work over the past two days. All the junk is gone! In past days whenever I’d mention to guys who were suppose to be care keeps when our big house was either vacate or under construction – to clean up the yard nothing was ever done – now they too are gone just like the rubbish is gone! While downstairs today I teased our painter Thomas by telling him, “Since paint was costing far too much to start adding water to the paint.” He stood there for a minute thinking over what I had just said and then smiled and shook his head all the while probably thinking to himself “crazy old American!” Soon President Elect Obama will be president and I wonder if he’ll be the next Captain America.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Worry wart

Today wasn’t a good day since I was in bed for most of it because of some old age health problems. My wife gave me TLC throughout the day which I’m really thankful for. Our teenager Junior came home limping since he played after school some basketball games so for now he’s back being a normal 14 year old kid. Me, I hope it last for a while. Since I hadn’t heard from Thomas for some time I called him and found everything was okay with him. That was a relief to me because at times I become a big worry wart which by the way drives my wife crazy and I guess Thomas too.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

A day in my life

Today my wife drafted her sister Mrs. McGoo and her family to tear down a storage shack we have had on our property for several years – I’m glad it’s gone since the weather beaten shack was an eye sore. Since I can no longer use it today I gave Roger my brother-in-law my ‘Radio Shack’ metal detector which is from the states. Maybe he can find use with it since he and the family live in Mindanao; and just maybe he can find some hidden treasury! (LOL) When not resting or just kicking back I worked on and off on my new eCommerce web site – it’s my hope to generate a little money for Junior’s college fund which he’ll start in two years. Robert who is the same age as Junior has been a big help around the house us. He has been a good influence on our boy. Of course Junior is beginning to spread his wings like an eagle and thinking he’s 14 going on 21! Ah yes Teenagers!! One thing we stress in our family is “family valves.” Meanwhile I hope and pray to God he doesn’t get involve in drugs or he pursue a teenage romance and fathers a child which seems to be the norm here in Danao City. However in the interim Beng and I will sweat it out.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Such is Life!

This morning my wife Beng took her two sisters for a day of shopping in Cebu so all three could do a little shopping at one of the major malls. As I’ve said so many times before women love to shop. Yesterday everyone pitched in to help unpack and begin organizing the first floor – which was much appreciated by us. I have to say no one loafed and everyone worked hard – my two nieces, An-An and Young-Young both wanted something from Jolly Bees. There much work yet to be done once the construction crew is finished their work – such as cleaning and putting everything in its right spot. Me yesterday I sort of supervised and then took a long nap afterwards. Such is life! Today we reduced our crew by one carpenter leaving us two painters, one carpenter and one laborer. It’s coming to a point we’ll soon be finished inside with the outside to be done at a later date. I’ve found lately as everyday passes I can do less then the previous day but who’s counting – in my old age I have admit my life isn’t all that bad!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

If the world market fails

If the world market fails gold will be the only recognized metal of value. So will I keep my 800 troy ounces I have saved over the past thirty years close to the vest? I know one thing for sure - I’m gonna sit in my survival bunker with my H2O, food, ammo, and my sack of gold including tasty MRE'S, portable water, my 9 MM, and M16. Oh yeah and my wife. When the dust settles I'll venture out and see who is left.

$20 and some women

Some women never change no matter where they live... which reminds me that once I had a daughter-in-law who lived in Portland, Oregon and if I gave her $20 she would immediately disappeared and become the “Queen of the Mall” for the rest of the day.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Politicians dancing

I’ve observer over the years that most politicians (not all) are a slimy, slippery bunch, aren’t they? No wonder no one trusts them. Most are a master deflector even though it is obvious to everyone; and they probably think they are telling it like it is. It must be difficult deluding themselves every day that they are actually on the people’s side.

Rambo is leader of the pack

Since living here in the Philippines I have found that dogs make the best guards and will keep would be looters and thieves away and is the best security for us. Besides being loyal to our family - they’d just darn good watchmen in both in the daylight or in the darkness of the night plus are fun to be around. My wife loves every one of them. Believe it or not we have six dogs to keep looters and thieves away. And every one of them loves Ritz crackers. Every time I have Ritz crackers in my hands they know their in for a treat. None of our dogs are “street dogs” or “junk yard dogs” but are pure bleed Filipino dogs or just ordinary mutts. Since we live in these bad economical times it’s a fact that thief's will come out in mass numbers but never fear we’re will protected by the leader of the pack named “Rambo.”

Saturday, January 10, 2009

What If There Were No Conspiracies? What no X-Files?

If there were no conspiracies, there would be a lot of terribly bored skeptics in the world! But there are always two sides to every coin…to every story, every encounter, and every experience. It’s a balance. Life is a balance. Don’t you think?

The Wizard

Sometimes I wonder if a wispy wizard runs the electric company. Why do I say such a thing? On many occasions the power suddenly will go off leaving us without television gazing, listening to the radio, no computer and especially no Internet browsing, no microwave and above all no air conditioning to keep the house comfortable on those hot and humid days. And then when my patience has ran its course the power is back on! Yes this wispy wizard has a bag of tricks up his sleeve. It’s a riddle to me, again I wonder if he lives in castle called “The Electrical Company” on the nearby mountains. The only thing I’m sure that comes down from his castle to collect money owed to him once month and woo be to those who don’t have coins to fill his out reached hand.

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Visit

I awoke this morning and then grasp for my cane to start a new day and then suddenly a thought flashed across my mind to a day 50 years ago when I could lap over a tall building in a single leap, ah yes those were the days. Yesterday my wife’s oldest sister Mrs. McGoo arrived from General Santo along with her husband Roger, her daughter Young-Young and three of her friends. After such a long and tiring ferry trip from Mindanao Mrs. McGoo and the others rested at “Mama’s” house for coming out here to visit us. Her husband Roger stayed behind to catch up his beauty rest. As always Beng’s sister is full of nervous energy and a delight to see. She said she wanted to see me but personally I think she was curious to take a look at “the big house.” After all the ahs and oooohs we visited for a few hours…

Thursday, January 8, 2009

One of those days


Often I have wonder about our helper Gina. Time and again I think she was a congressman was in her former life. (If there is such a thing called reincarnation.) Almost daily I ask her to do some simple task and she’ll reply always with, “Ah yes, I know.” Then she’ll roll eyes as to think, why he asks me the same old question everyday or so. She knows she has to have clean clothes for me to wear and this morning once again there were there none to wear. Later I found the reason was she hadn’t iron them – now it’s my turn to ask, “Does she want me to in birthday suit?” Naw, that isn’t going to happen! She’s just like a congressman who rolls her eyes just like an elected member of congress and say, “Ah yes.” LOL… I have worked some on my new web page – its slow going but I’ll get there by hook or sinker. One thing I miss this past year is having romantic dinners with my wife. Heck right now I’d settle for a quick bite at Jolly Bee with her!

The BOSS

Did you ever have a boss like this? I know I had some of these very same guys who will be nameless.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Another day of an old man’s ramblings

One of the roads in our subdivison.

This morning I discovered a box where I had stored most of my old family pictures and once again it was like finding a nugget of gold. Eventually I hope to scan the more interesting photos and share them with you. But you know how sometimes plans go astray. Yesterday and probably today too I will be building my new web site, and boy do I ever have my work cut out ahead. So in a way I’m working on my New Year’s resolution and I have to admit it’s difficult. With that in mind I suspect it may be hard to keep my blog undated – but promise I will try my best. Since I hardly go downstairs to the first floor yesterday morning my wife fell on the steps leading upstairs. Ouch I know that hurts – the concrete floor isn’t forgiving. Thank God she wasn’t hurt! Well gosh we’ll have a new president setting the White House, I hope and pray that somehow or someway he can get America out of the two wars we’ve been involved far too long.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Ramblings of an old man

This week we started our seemly never-ending construction with a reduced crew size or a drop from 13 to 5 men. On to other things, yesterday afternoon I put my thinking cap and started a new web site – since my brain isn’t as fast it was at one time my self appointed task is taking time to input and organize the new web site but does keep me busy. And I have to use my mentality powers which haven’t been used for awhile. This Friday my wife oldest sister and her husband will be arriving by ferry from Mindanao for a visit since most of her family is here in our fair Danao City. Good news – surprise – surprise! Since we started to unpack I noticed right off the bat old family scrap books that came with me from the states. All are is well preserved showing my family’s special moments for past generations. What a delight it was for because it was like finding a nugget of gold.

Monday, January 5, 2009

A winter’s night

Here she lies in comfort, feeling needed affection on this chilly winter's night. As she stared upward to the starlight, a peace fills her letting all that matters go. Deep in the unknown reality of her soul… The shadows of both time and body rest. Like windows to a distant land the voices… Seem to call that jest a wish most often found in common minds of untold sounds. She soared courageously through the heavens, her hand came through the smoke and distant depths. Flesh colored blue in the moon scented air; distinct shades between her fingers inky depths. White-like strands of fine hair along the back of her arm, glowing is if from their own accord.

A nice weekend

What a nice weekend we had! On Saturday afternoon we transferred the house we sold to the new owners – which mean we’ve closed that door behind us and have started a new chapter in life. I am so very relaxed in our spacious home although the only bad since of my health won’t permit it I’m not able climb up or down the stairs. Or if my health on a particular day will permit it I then can up and down with someone with strong hands. But whose complaining it could be worse I could be living in shanty here or living in a nursing home… Sometimes when I’m feeling down and I mention and bring up the words “nursing home” to my wife, Beng blows her top and says something like, “you’re nursing home is here at our home!!” Without pause I quickly change the subject. Aren’t I lucky. One Sunday we had old friends drop by for a visit it was a delight to see them since very nice middle couple since it had been awhile last seeing them. Soon, I'll drop the 2008 personal challenges and goals and then they will quickly become a distant memory as my focus turns to the present and future.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

2009 Goals

I haven’t decided what my personal goals for 2009 will be. It hard for me to decide what they’ll be for this coming new year since we just reached a far-reaching goal by moving into our home on December 18, 2008. Even if I’m a 72 year old guy I still try to make goals every New Year. It sort gives me road map where I want to be the following year. I still haven’t figured how to approach 2009 in terms making some extra cash and having fun at the same time. But first I have built up my blog activity, make blog changes or develop new blog – it’s so all obvious to me. Since selling our previous home and then moving into our new home I have been mental vacation and enjoying peace in my life. It’s apparent that the countdown is ticking on the hall clock. Isn’t it nice to have changes in life? On the other hand since I’m an old guy it’s clear to me that I no longer jump over tall buildings in a single leap!

Pecos Bill Rides a Tornado

”Now everyone in the West knows that Pecos Bill could ride anything. No bronco could throw him, no sir! Fact is, I only heard of Bill getting' throwed once in his whole career as a cowboy. Yep, it was that time he was up Kansas way and decided to ride him a tornado. Now Bill wasn't gonna ride jest any tornado, no ma'am. He waited for the biggest gol-durned tornado you ever saw. It was turning the sky black and green, and roaring so loud it woke up the farmers away over in China. Well, Bill jest grabbed that there tornado, pushed it to the ground and jumped on its back. The tornado whipped and whirled and sidewinded and generally cussed its bad luck all the way down to Texas. Tied the rivers into knots, flattened all the forests so bad they had to rename one place the Staked Plains. But Bill jest rode along all calm-like, give it an occasional jab with his spurs. Finally, that tornado decided it wasn't getting this cowboy off its back no-how. So it headed west to California and jest rained itself out. Made so much water it washed out the Grand Canyon. That tornado was down to practically nothing when Bill finally fell off. He hit the ground so hard it sank below sea level. Folks call the spot Death Valley. Anyway, that's how rodeo got started. Though most cowboys stick to broncos these days.”
(Pecos bill is a legendary American Cowboy immortalized in numerous tall tales of the Old West.)

Saturday, January 3, 2009

A pleasant time

Now that Christmas and the Holidays are over I can relax and catch my breath. As I had posted earlier we held a family reunion in our new home. At our family reunion we shared our good fortune with others while giving us good memories. Beng’s Mom and Dad are very precious to her and which was a rewarding experience to her. A pleasant time spent together.

Heath Ledger 2008's biggest movie story: poll (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Australian actor Heath Ledger beat all-comers in a 2008 movie poll released on Thursday, sweeping the biggest news story, most missed star and best villain categories thanks to his posthumous hit film "Dark Knight.” Ledger, whose death at age 28 in January of an accidental prescription drugs overdose shocked the world, was voted the biggest movie news story of 2008 by 83 percent of votes in the poll by AOL's online movie site Moviefone.com . The actor also topped the list of movie stars voters will most miss after their deaths, edging out the late Paul Newman by 56 to 20 percent of votes.

A Bull in a China Closet

Life is full of surprises don’t you think? Before moving into our new “Big House” I never gave it a thought about our water service. But to my astonishment I found on our first night living in our new home that the city water service is turned off from around 11:00 pm until around five the following morning. On our very first night here about 2 am after a call of nature as I reached to flush there was no flush, no water… now that’s a big surprise. On the other hand we are getting a nice gentle breeze most of time; which means we’re not running the air conditioners as we were in the small house. The other day I ask my wife Beng if she missed our smaller house and she replied slowly that she did. Why? Her answer came back to me was because it was our first house. I had to scratch my head since she had a good point. Me, I have admit I really don’t miss the place since I always felt like “a bull in a china closet.”

Ati-Atihan Festival

Ati-Atihan Festival3 to 16 January 2009
Festival in honor of Santo Nino with processions, parades, dancing and merrymaking.
Venue: Kalibo, Aklan

Friday, January 2, 2009

Life in a Secret City

A beautiful princess lived in a secret city beyond the mountains. This beautiful golden enchantress lay in a bed of soft grass. The morning rays peak over the mountains just beyond. Morning drew springs forth on the blades of grass, reflections of sun light bounce off the city walls and danced with water on the green bed of grass. Birds sing as they bathe in the gathering drew… their melodies drift through the air… music to her soul, a sign to all that everything is at peace. Velvet petals open to greet the day and stretch toward heaven… All is calm in this enchanted place, where earth and heaven bring nature to life. There is no past - no future - only this beautiful moment.

The end of fireworks!


This morning started out with a promise of a great day but once again our I.P. seems to be on strike – ah yes life in Danao City. For no rhyme or reason at times Yahoo doesn’t connect to Smart. I figured it’d be down for a few hours - Ah yes I was right once again. On to other news – our small, yet “champion construction crew” is back to work after having New Year’s Day off on a well deserved rest. The two lead men both of the painters and carpenters are top notch craftsmen – I can only sing their praises. No surprises at our home; no Rose Parade here to watch on cable TV yesterday since it was past my bedtime… only much desired peace and quiet inside while those outside who were still shooting off firecrackers blasted away. Me, I only hope for now is the last stand of noise makers run out of fireworks soon and then my nerves can calm down. It seems a bit ridiculous to my family that I’m the only one who the over head explosion of aero-bombs bothers. Junior was feeling lazy this morning but with a little prodding by his Mom and me he was up doing his chores. All his sleepy pleas didn’t help him one bit. Like most teenagers I have sneaking suspicion he doesn’t like work. Yesterday morning I was in store for a big surprised my wife cooked a special New Year breakfast for all of us, which is a piece of toast with round hole cut out in the center and then frying a egg in the open center. If you have never eaten “egg in the hole” please try it – you might just like it. And now the 2009 journey begins!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

5 Classic Italian Pastas Course

Learn the secrets of Italian cooking.Time: 1.30pm to 5.30pmVenue: 181 Shaw Blvd., Pasig CityTel: (632) 671-4472Cost: P1,800 Date: 7th Jan 2009 to 7th Jan 2009

First day of 2009

Well we survived our first holiday season in our big house. When I say we survived that means the entire week between Christmas and the New Year. We are finally here after four years of hope, sweat and tears. It has been a challenge but for the grace of God we made it! All three of us are living upstairs while the carpenters and painters continue their work on the first floor. This means we’re far from being unpacked and far from being organized. But nevertheless it’s nice to be where our dreams have been made of. Belinda, Junior and I have so blessed and thankful. This past week we’ve sort of adopted Junior’s 14 year old friend Robert. He comes from squatter family in Danao City and they are not as fortunate as we – he’ll continue his education and help my wife as a helper whenever he’s not in school. Next week Beng’s cousin Nancy from Camotes should be here again to help out. The house is dusty and smells paint fumes but whose complaining we could be less fortunate as many are.

Youth

Please remember us, now these weary, confused adults. I still have those old cassettes and those old Playboys.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to you all from all of us here in Danao City. I always pray for the world situation. Today it seems like everything is broken in the world. But, God is still in control. That is comforting.