BUHAY TAMBAY!

After picking up the kids from school, we went straight to Otay Ranch Mall. We have these coupons that will expire on November 1. So we used it… We went to Wetzel’s Pretzels with a buy one, get one coupon… Hehe! Ok… Segue… Last night we almost got our dinner for free, as I’ve mentioned, we have these coupons right? Well it says there “Get a *whatever* for free!” but if you’ll read the fine print it also says there “with your second purchase a *whatever*” well, Ate Fanela and I went to different fast food chains. We went to Chick-fil-a (I don’t know what free food we got from there), to Burger king and got a free whopper and ICEE, to Mc Donald’s and got a free Big Mac and Chicken Premium sandwich… Well we did buy some other stuff too but we did get a lot of free for stuff just because they didn’t read the coupon very well… Back to my story, so we had pretzels and hotdogs, checked out some stores, had Starbucks and went home to prepare for the trick or treat-ers…

After our malling… Kuya Ace and the kids went trick or treating, and Ate Fanela and Lucas took Lola Betty home… So I was left at home… Well I chose to stay home; I wanna give out candies! Hehe! Another reason why I wanted to stay home is I want to look at the other kids’ costumes and take pictures of them… But I didn’t, I was too shy to ask them for a picture… hehe! Let me tell you about these four cute kids that I really wanted to take a picture of… They were Superman, Red Ranger, Snow White and Winnie the Pooh! They were so cute and adorable… Especially Pooh… he said “TWIK O’ TWEET” haaay! Hihi! If only you could see them!

I saw different kinds of costumes; I saw pirates, fairies, goddesses, knights, super heroes, vampires, zombies, witches, princesses, storm troopers… You name it! Hmmm… I also saw Goofy! He’s another cute kid! Hihi! Oh yeah and I saw a “hunter”! He was just in his shirt and shorts and he’s just carrying a plastic shot gun. Hehe!

Hmmm… Well, I really don’t get why we celebrate Halloween… Like decorate your house with scary stuff, dress up and give out candies or go trick or treating! I know that the ancient Celts believed that the world was populated by evil spirits that controlled everyday events like the weather, harvest, and bad luck of all kinds. They got the idea that to control the world they could appease these spirits with various sacrifices… and we are commemorating that event or ritual. (beat that Wikipedia!) hehe!

Anyway, I still don’t get it… Why spend $20 on your costume and just get a bag of candy? Why not use the $20 to buy yourself a bag of treats!?! (selfish!) haha!

Well, maybe I’m just not used to this Holiday… ‘cuz I was thinking… I was comparing it to Christmas, and they are kinda alike, they both celebrate something memorable that happened to us or to this world…

I may not be used to it… but I’m beginning to like it! Hehe! Well, you can click here to see our pictures.

This is gonna be short… I was browsing through my albums… when I stumbled upon this picture… Now I know why people always mistaken me for a Mexican… or a drug dealer… or a Mexican drug dealer! Hahaha! Seesh! I really need to change my look!

Well, my post (about Texas) is kinda full of nonsense… just rambled stuff… I was in an emo mood when I was writing it… I’ll edit it… or maybe erase it and post another one! I dunno… hehe! sorry!

October 16, 2008, I went to Texas for a reunion. Hmmm… Where will I start first? Well, the reunion is kinda like a 3 day-long celebration. Nag simula nung Friday, part 2 kanina and meron pang part 3 on Sunday. Anyway, nasa deck ako sa labas, eating bread and chicken (I’m on a diet!) haha! And guess what? I am in the kids’ table! Haha! Lahat ng mag kasama ko eh bata, like 7-12 years old! We were talking about video games and comic books and super heroes and stuff! They are all my apo and pamangkin (sa pinsan) but they all call me Kuya Dane! Haha! *makes me feel young!* Hmmm… Still not finish with my chicken and bread, nag alisan na yung mga bata to play… So naiwan ako, pumalit naman ang mga Lola’s! So, they were telling me stories like “noong bata pa ako eh naaalala ko… blah blah blah!”… Anyway, Ate Patty said “You are Uncle Abe’s son! I remember you when you were small! Now you’re all grown up! How old are you?” Sagot naman ako “I’m 26”. Then she said “I thought you’re just 19 or 20… I guess it was more than 10 years that I last saw you!” *blush* haha! So after the Lola’s left, the Men (mas matanda sa akin na pinsan… way, way, mas matanda!) took their place! And they were talking about silly stuff like their ‘skul-bukol’ days! I swear they are so funny! Anyway, this is the best part… They asked their wives to get them some beer… And one of my cousin’s wife asked if I want one… My cousins said “Di nainom ‘to! Teenager pa lang ‘to eh!” hahaha! *I love my family!* Hahaha! J

Well, anyway, my Uncle Nesto came walking towards us, then I stood up and said hi to him! He squints his eyes and said… “sino ka?”. Medyo napahiya ako nun, but sige lang ako sa pag papakilala! “Uncle Nesto, ako po… si Dane!” and guess what he said? He said “Aaaaaahw! Dane ba!?! Kala ko kung sinong Mexicano eh! Aaaaaahw!” Hmmm… lintik lang ang walang ganti! Haha! Kidding! J

Then my Uncle Junior just arrived from Maryland (this is kinda ma drama… as Jon would say, “Ihanda na ang tissue at popcorn!”). Well, Uncle Junior is my dad’s eldest brother. Last time we saw him and his family was when my lola died 10 years ago… So 8 lang ako nun! Hahaha! Anyway, Auntie Lolly said “Kuya, eto si Dane oh…”. Then Uncle Junior grabbed me and hugged me and then cried! He was really crying! He was saying sorry that he didn’t get to go to my father’s funeral… He was telling me that my dad was his favorite brother… He was telling me that he thought that he might never see us again (‘cuz he’s old). Still hugging me, he was asking me about my mom, my brothers and how are they right now… haaay! Medyo na iiyak na nga din ako eh. So I calmed him down and told him that everybody in my family is doing alright! So normal na kami na nag uusap. Then he grabbed my hand and asked questions… “So, how are your brothers? How’s Joseph?” Then I said “He’s doing fine, he’s studying law, he’s in his second year…”. Then, he started crying again! “Huhuhu! Good thing somebody from you guys followed your father’s steps! Huhuhu!” I calmed him down again… then he asked me another question… “How about your youngest? How is he?” I said “Wency? Oh he’s in his third year right now, he’s taking up Philosophy!” the he cried again! “huhuhu! Wency is in college!?! HUHUHU!”. Same routine, calm him down and then he asks a question… “So, are you here on a vacation?” I said “No I’m trying to look for a job here… as a Physical therapist…” then he cried again! “Huaaaaah! Your dad told me that he wants you to be a doctor! And you are in the medical field! He must be proud of you right now! Huaaaaah!”

Haaay! Kanina was very emotional for me… first was Uncle Junior and then nag sama sama yung mga kapatid ng tatay ko and I was with them. They busted out their photo albums and started flipping the pages… then they’ll look at the pictures, look at me and tell me stories about my father… at first we would laugh ‘cuz it’s funny… pero sa huli eh tatahimik na lang kami ‘cuz we all know that we miss him… medyo na lungkot nga ako kanina… I just sat in one corner silent and alone…

Enough about that! I don’t want to end my blog in a serious tone… So eto yung the best na narinig ko kanina sa party…

Ate Hermie: Hey Jun! I think you lost something!

Kuya Junjun: (kinakapa yung wallet and phone) what?

Ate Hermie: Your hair! Hahaha!

****P.S. Nag nose bleed nga pala ako kanina! Napasubo ako sa Inglisan! Ang daming kumakamusta sa akin! Haaay! And yeah, I’ll try to ask some pictures for me to share para makita nyo ang pamilya ko… saka para matawa kayo sa sinabi ng Ate Hermie! Hahaha! J

Lucas’ baptism went very well… for him! Well, I can’t say the same for me! Hehe!  Di naman… Some minor boo-boo’s lang… that’s all! Hehe!

First on my boo-boo list are my pants. My pants are very (and I mean VERY tight!) Para akong naka leggings! I’m afraid that there is no more blood circulation on my legs, alam mo yun, they will just necrotize and fall off! Haha! Exagge… but sobrang sikip talaga.

Well, next is my hair… I have bushy hair! Galing kalbo then pinapahaba ko na ulit… that is why I have bushy hair… well, on top of that, I slept for an hour or so before going to the church. When I woke up I have a major cowlick! Parang si Wolverine lang na one side lang ang naka tikwas! Well, I used gel to fix it… hmmm… panget pa din! It’s like it is too short to style it and too long and unruly to ignore! So, I kinda fixed that problem but I didn’t anticipate nature! The wind was blowing hard! So yun, yung brush up ko eh naging brush up na one sided. Haaay!

Then my shirt… So reception na, I was eating Chicken Katsu and another chicken dish. So I was slicing my other chicken dish with my fork… the next thing I know… BAAAM! Face full of sauce! Nabali yung tinidor ko and the sauce from my Chicken Katsu splattered all over my face and shirt! (mapula pula pa naman yung sauce and I was wearing white!) *Loser!* haha!

On this next one I was very very embarrassed yet very very grateful! Hmmm… long after the splatter incident, I’m sitting, eating pretzels, minding my own business… Then from behind, Ate Fanela brought out a cake with a Happy Birthday on it! Then they started singing Happy Birthday! It was for me! Nakakahiya! (pero thank you!) I was stunned! I swear!

Well, I told myself that si Lucas naman ang pag mamasdan nila kasi binyag niya… deadma na lang sa pantalon, sa buhok at sa damit ko na may polka-dots na pula! Haha! Wala namang papasin sa akin eh!

Anyway, Lucas… Welcome to the Christian world! And as your ninong-uncle I will do my part to help you grow the Christian way… Hmmm… Tama ba? Basta I will do whatever I promised the priest to do nung binibinyagan ka.

(click here for pictures of Lucas’ baptism and reception)