Christmas Day, 2009

It is very quiet again in our house...Just me, Miggie and Sparky..

Last night, we had some turkey, champagne, egg rolls, pancit( for long life ) and good conversation before the dining table.

One of the stories I heard was about our dog Sparky.

When we left for Maui, Sparky, our 6 month old puppy was picked up by Michelle. He would be under her care for 1 week. One of our instructions was to bring him to the Vet. Which was followed. Except for the fact that it was not Michelle who brought him but her husband, Jonathan.

Michelle knows Sparky's day to day history in our house. That we give him human food instead of dog food. Right after during an intial battle of wills, we were the first ones to blink. So we started giving him human food ( bits of adobo, beef jerky and rice with chicken liver ).

Jonathan told us that at the Vet's office, he was interrogated by the Vet about his food. At first he said "Dog food; pellets. " But then, before the actual visit, my daughter give Sparky some sphagetti..The Vet saw a strand of sphagetti in Sparky's whiskers. "I do not consider pasta as dog food," he said.

"OK, OK, " admitted Jonathan."Actually I am not the real owner. The real ones are my wife's parents. "

"Aha!" said the vet. And he listed a number of THINGS TO DO AND THINGS NOT TO DO with regards to Sparky. Number one of course was to refrain from giving human food..The Vet also said Sparky is very aggressive. He growls at the Vet. He barks at the other dogs. Anyway, the Vet gave him a shot and Sparky whimpered like a baby. The more he barked at the Vet afterwards.

The Vet also said we should take Sparky regularly for a walk around the block. I usually take him in our backyard where he marks his territory, makes a dump, then he makes about 5 or 6 laps around a yard. Then after 5 minutes we would be back inside our house.


When we saw him upon our arrival, Sparky was so thin. But we promised not to give him any more human food. He really got problems when he ate almost nothing but OUR food. His excrement was either too soft or too hard. And he whimpers when his pooh seemed to be hard as pebbles. Holy Crap, I felt so sorry for him when it happened.

Right now, he is already eating his pellets. Michelle said, "If you love your dog, stick to pellets. Otherwise he will get obese, or his system will get shot and he will have a very short life.."

Indeed. So in the beginning I hand fed him with the pellets. Then I stopped and when he gets really hungry, then he empties his bowl of pellets.

Of course last night, he a few pieces of turkey and ham. Of course this would happen only once a year.

Hopefully.

Vic

Christmas Eve 2009

"I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOUR TWO GRANDKIDS FOR GIVING THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO THE LORD. YOU LED THEM TO THE RIGHT TRACK BRO. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE FAMILY CIRCLE."

December 25, 2009..Dateline, Toronto..

I switched on my Computer today to find this line sent to me by Polly, a very good hearted friend I met thru the AMB. Then I remembered the events of last night and Christmas 2008.

We cooked the turkey this year. Last year, we had the Christmas feast in Brampton at my daughter's Michelle's house. My other daughter Berna and her family came to join us, with her husband and their two children. My son Oliver and family were there in spirit.

We had the Christmas 2008 get together which was climaxed by a song-and-prayer session organized by my grandaughter Emma. She wrote the short prayers and I selected the appropriate hymns. It was a rather touching event because a) we did not attend Church that time and b) it was a very young member of our family who initiated the program.

It went well, we sang the Christmas Carols with feeling. I used a small Yamaha keyboard for accompaniment. Then I realized that two generations of church singers were there. Michelle and Berna ( who sang with me around the late '80s ) and Mia and Emma ( who sang with me around the early 2000's ).

But last night was a totally different scenario. Around September this year, we joined the choir of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian church where we are presently affiliated. A month before Christmas, I suggested to the Pastor Paul Kang that my two grandaughters would sing one Christmas Carol during the Offering of the Gifts which takes place as the last part of the service.

That event took place last night. There are two wonderful instruments in this church: a real pipe organ and a Grand piano. It was my very first chance to play on a Grand piano, on a Christmas and accompanying my 2 grandaughters again singing GESU BAMBINO. The congregation broke into an applause after the last note died down..

Yes, sis Polly. The hand of God led me again to make music with my 2 grandaughters for the spiritual upliftment of the congregation. And we do it for the Greater Glory of His Name!. Amen, amen!!

A SHORT POEM BY DANNY...

URAY BASSIT LAENG*...



Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.
Christmas is a time to celebrate with family, relatives,
and loved ones.
Christmas is also a time to give thanks
to people we appreciate.

When I was a little boy,
my mother told me that it is better to give than to receive,
“Uray bassit laeng” she quoted.

When my parents migrated to United States, they strived and made sacrifices
to earn a living.
My parents ensured that our relatives in the Philippines would remain connected,
so every Christmas me parents sent either a “Door to Door” box or some money.
“Uray bassit laeng.”

Tomorrow is Christmas, and it is important to remember our family, loved ones, and relatives who are in the Philippines by giving something;
“ Uray bassit laeng.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

---Danny Nitcha


*the closest translation in English which I can think of is EVEN THOUGH HOW SMALL IT(THE GIFT) IS...

***************

Yes Danny, I remember publishing this piece of yours in a poetry form, in one of my early Blogs. I have not seen you yet at that time. During the debut of one of Vicky Tejada's daughters, I saw you at the reception, but we did not talk..I may have that video tape of the party in my VHS collection. But Vicky pointed out to me then that you are one of her cousins from LA..

Then I saw you briefly on stage at the Auditorium during one of the Fiesta dances.

So much water have gone under the bridge since then. But, I will always remember you as that very dynamic emcee with a nice voice, sporting an American accent. I missed the shindig in Las Vegas, but I know there will be more to follow..

Or I might give you a phone call in case we will drop by Cali next year...

Til then, Merry, Merry Christmas to you and your family, and do remember me to Leonard and Vicky Tejada..

A LOOK INTO HALEAKALA'S BIG MOUTH

Ascending Haleakala..


Emma: "Look up in the sky, it's a bird!.."
Miggie"."It's a Plane!!"
Me: "It's SIOPAW MAN!!!"...


It is so cold up 10,000 ft. above sea level..You got to snuggle as closely as possible...:)

DATELINE MAUI. Dec. 7, Monday..Today is our last full day in Maui. And the best is always reserved for the last.

Marcie went back to work today. She was off ever since Dec. 1st so she can meet us at the airport and bring us around everyday from the 2nd up to the 6th. Rex worked in the Post Office ( it is the busiest season for the Postal workers what with the Christmas cards coming and going and also the letters from kids going to Santa Claus to the North Pole. So on Monday, Dec. 7th it was his turn to bring us around and he selected Haleakala as our destination.

We left our boarding place at around 8:30 am, then we made our first stop at a Station to check the views and visit the bathroom. We checked also how a silversword plant looks like ( there is one in the slide show). It could grow only hereabouts. It is all white ( no chlorophyll) with a long pointed stem that looks indeed like a sword.

Then we proceeded to the mouth of the crater, and tried to get as close as possible to the edge. Those afraid of heights need not dare to peer into its depths. You might get dizzy and just bring out whatever you had for breakfast.

There were also lots of tourists, most of which whom were Japanese. The air is so thin up there that there are several warning signs asking people with bronchial or heart problems not to dare run fast or briskly climb up the ascending lest they would pass out..

The scene has a look of Grand Canyon, although Grand Canyon must be hundred times bigger or colourful.

The government is also constructing an observatory ( and I heard with a satellite tracking station) not far from us. Admittance is restricted for obvious reasons.

For a Hi Def video of the crater, click the following link.A nd watch the video in full screen..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruaRPFdXFko

Yes, the girl on the right looks real pretty.. She is just very shy..She keeps hiding from my camera..:(


( lifted or captured from the video itself..)

You can print this photo and keep it in your wallet...:)