Happy Birthday Papa

The cook in the kitchen is busy stirring the dinardaraan. What about the pinapaitan? Kurang sa itti pait na? Di kaman pasali-sali, inka la ag-tugtug itti piano. Cecil - punasan yo didiay lamesa.. Erich dagidiay aso - amangan naang-seg dayti lugar da.
Sounds like mama on a Saturday or Sunday morning. This day though is a special day isso nga medyo natagari isso na. It's Papa's birthday. She prepared her special dishes that papa enjoyed.
Papa would request that I play the piano. His favorite tunes? " My Soul's Lament" by Buencamino, Love and Devotion and Remember Me. Kantaen ni Mama pay no makapanunot or if she is in the mood. Otherwise, stay out of her way while she rules the kitchen.
How about dessert? Kayat mi amin itti chocolate cake. Kayat balet ni Papa itti crema de fruta from Red Ribbon. The birthday celebrant gets his wish.
Memories are made of these. Dios itti Agngina kaddatayo amin.

AJ's Poem when he was in Grade School

Lola Restituta Natino Rosete

I am passing this on to every descendant of Lola Iris. The picture came from Auntie Nieva & the letter was Auntie Nelia's. All I did was the technical aspect so to publish this. Please do not forget to double click the letter to enlarge this.

Restituta Natino Rosete

This picture came from Auntie Nieva Nano's collection. She posted this on her blogsite and I borrowed it to share it with the rest of the world.
Dakkel itti kaing-ingasan ni Lola Iris kadagitti apong, lola ken auntie whose Natino blood was pretty strong. Semblance of the Rosete women is pretty strong. Mingmingan nga nalaing ta makita itti younger images of the Lolas and Aunties.
Thank you Auntie Nieva. You have more pictures I intend to borrow.

Pre-Valentine's -1

We were still in Manila then and maybe married for roughly 3 years. Jim is a strange creature when demonstration of emotions are concerned. He considers giving flowers as poor investment for these wilt (the accountant in him).
One Valentine's day - I called him several times at the DBP office giving him updates of how many of my male friends have sent roses to their wives or girlfriends. My description was very vivid - kilig to death ang mga girls while the boys had their shot to five minutes of fame.
Siguro naka - five calls ak. I figured that should be enough to rub the obvious message to him.
I arrived early at home and secretly waited for my roses. He came home at around 7pm lugging behind his attache case and surprise surprise (kuno) he handed me half a dozen roses. That was the thrill of my life.
I played coy & demurred - " you shouldn't have..." Reply - " No - I did not buy the flowers. These were the leftovers from the secretaries' pool." The roses were donated by one of the managers intended for their secretaries.
My world came crashing down. My fairytale madness ended. No mabalin itti ag-isubli itti "lakay" that day - in a hearbeat - return the damaged goods.

Pre - Valentine's

Here are two songs I am sure many women will want to wake up to on Valentine's morning. Napigsa nga "hint" daytoy yen.

Binibini - Rainmakers

miss universe ng buhay ko

The three of us - Jim, James & I made a quick weekend trip to Washington State. We left the frigging cold of Missouri to the less cold winter of Seattle.
St. Louis was in the middle of a winter advisory since Monday night (26 January) and schools were closed. We cancelled all patient visits for the roads and the ramps were all covered with ice.
The airport was clear though and the planes were able to take off or land in. Our US Airways (yes, the birds) left on time and arrived in Seattle at 12 MN. The nerve of this airlines to be selling everything down to bottled water.
We drove to Oak Harbor (1.5 hrs) in the middle of a foggy night to spend the night at Auntie COnsuelo & Uncle Hector. Arrival time at Oak Harbor - 2AM. Auntie Consuelo was very awake to my surprise. She was busy watching WoWoWEE.

Ang Pekeng Oblation - Coupeville, WA (at the back of Oak Harbor)


The Modern Magellan




We had a late dinner too early breakfast. Bedtime - 3:30 AM.
Auntie was expecting us to stay for the weekend. Ngem kunak met we have to be at Seattle to be with Annabelle- Jim's cousin who is very sick.
We made a quick pasyar around Oak Harbor with Uncle Hectr. Kayat yo itti ag-commissary kuna na? Saannen Uncle for we still have to fight traffic around Everett.




We left Oak Harbor close to lunch. Binalon mi dayti menudo ni Auntie with a litttle rice. Next stop - Edmonds WA to visit Auntie Marilyn.
It was a total surprise for her. Agsangit - no - agrunga-ab iddi makita na kami. She was surrounded by pictures of the family posted on her wall. She did not know what to do. Anya itti unaen na - mangan itti menudo ken innapoy wenno maki-istorya. She insisted to walk with us up to the main door to see us off. Makasangit ak nga makita isso na nga naladingit.


Next stop - Tacoma. We were nearing the hora de peligro - 5pm. Traffic was starting to get heavy entering Seattle but Jim insisted we get to Tacoma which was 20 mins out of Seattle. Tacoma has the Johnny's smoked salmon belly that we just love.
When all was said and done, we made it back to Seattle to spend time with Annabelle and family.