Thursday, December 31, 2009

State Capitol and State Christmas Tree




In Memory of the Ultimate Sacrafice

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Capitol Malls Latest Addition

I'll have a cup of coffee please

Why did I drink coffee earlier. ???
At least there was a reason tonight rather than last night....

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all blog readers everywhere.

It has been such an Interesting year for me.

I travelled to a foreign country for the first time in my life!!

It was an amazing Journey... To see a different culture
(yes all the stereotypes of Filipinos are TRUE)
The most friendly, helpful, nice, ingenuitive people in the world
They are also the most inefficient ones... perhaps because they have so much patience.
So much poverty there. It was so much fun for me to find kids and give them pesos for diving and making sand castles. They have such good work ethics there. On Boracay there was absolutely No begging at all but some of the poorest people in the world. But rather young ones would build sand castles and show them to you .. let you take their picture. The pesos you gave them went for their allowance for school
Only in Manilla did I see cars driving and ride in a taxi. And I understand the Asian driving ...

But once again their patience prevails... and they don't get all upset when someone cuts them off like Americans do.

Even when stuck in Typhoon at airport the filipinos there just sat quietly and waited. I also did same even though I wanted to get home so bad. I watche as a few americans got up and argued with the staff of the airline like they could do anything about it.. the roads were flooded and the bus that was to take us to the hotel couldn't get through. The airline people were so nice and they worked all night to get us all on new flights the next day.

All in all it was such a great experience.

I met a girl in May.  I had spent the time since my heart attack just recovering from that and getting myself healthy, with diet and exercise. Also trying to get anxiety and worry under control. And when I finally got to that place where I needed to be... then it happened just like it has happened before (August 04, March 06, Feb 07)

Lesson proven again.

Another lesson proven. I learned when hurt to not wish bad.. but pray for positive. back in 2008 I was in dispair. Of course my first reaction was hurt and anguish and wishing negative. But a friend counseled me to instead and pray for postitive in their life. So I did. and I was notified by email by one of her friends, that in October 2008 (when i had heart attack) that she was united with her love and also received an email from same in July of this year that she was blessed with a brand new baby girl. And My life has been blessed too. I have been sharing that lesson with others that are being hurt and abused... NO NEGATIVE Thoughts about them.

Also my son Started Jr. High. His grades started out Fantastic in Jr. High. but started slipping at the end. I still have an A Box that was made for him a few years ago by a great parent.
Since his grades slipped. I didn't let him sign up for basketball. He has to keep that A Box Full

Also this year.
Learned a great lesson in faith.
Due to a management change I lost my job. For the first time in my life, I didn't worry about surviving and I survived 4 months unemployed (which meant more time for exercise too) Started another Job on June 1st. Back Home. I still wish former company boss didn't retire in 2007 because there will never be one as he. But I'm as close to that as I can get now.

My Faith in God to provide carried me through that time

Also continued my martial arts journey with my son. We are now Brown Belts. 2 more and then Black Belts. It has been such a great thing for us. Great exercise, Great Learning.

Another Great thing this year. I re-activated my Facebook account and boom what did I find.. All my old high school friends. I have become so close to some of these friends from so long ago. From Berean, Victory, and Caldwell. It is Great.. Even my dad said he has found friends he graduated with from Vallejo High School, back in the Days before I was even born.

so ..... Merry Christmas to all....
I hope you all had a Great Year as Well.

oh and here is that nice staff from the airport in Manila.
I wish them a Merry Christmas and Thanks for taking care of us during Typhoon Odnoy
Cathay Pacific.... The Only way to Fly.

Spider


Bottles


Sunday, December 20, 2009

38 Dollar Mocha at Starbucks







Get yourself a Mocha at the Hong Kong Airport... and it will set you back about 38 Dollars. Hong Kong dollars that is. And it is not Non-Fat Mocha, it is Mocha Lite, just like Diet Coke in the Philippines is not Diet Coke, it is Coke Light.
And the Mocha sizes are smaller. Everything is smaller over there. Even the Clothes.
Oh and Asians don't know how to use an elevator at all. They all try to get on it before allowing the existing passengers to get off of it. So you can become trapped easily. Almost happened to me in Hong Kong, when travelling down from the Ginormous shopping mall on the 3rd floor of the Airport, I was going to the 2nd floor where the departures are to wait for my 747. The people getting on at the 2nd floor to go to the 1st floor (arrival floor) all piled into the elevator before I could get out, so I had to shove a Chinese guy out of my way or I would have ended up back at the arrival floor, and would have had to go through Hong Kong airport security and H1N1 Screening again. That would not have been a pretty sight, especially since I wanted to get back to USA so bad, after being stuck in the Typhoon in Manila for an extra day.
However Hong Kong money is very interesting as Philippines money.
our USA money is pretty boring really. Except for the C note which has one of my ancestors on it.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Stars Align

My Friend's Band is now in iTunes
Check it out.
Stars Align
Their EP (it is actually reduced from the EP I got from them less songs but only $1.99 including video)
They have recorded new songs and they are in post production
(being produced by Rascal Flats)
So should have a complete new album soon!!

Awesome Music.
Check it out everybody.
There is a link to their band website on the right side of my page

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Magic Sarap!!

Click to enlarge.... so you can see what this is.

and even a part 3 - More to Come








More Photos Pt. 2





Some More Photos.



Going Bananas

The Bananas in the Philippines. They are Outstanding. Appearance wise, they are shorter and fatter than American Bananas. Taste wise there is NO comparison, once you eat a Philippines Banana you will not enjoy American bananas ever again, they are more moist, sweeter, and absolutely the best tasting bananas. I wish I could find them here. I am not enjoying the Bananas here. I just ate one a few hours ago after working out, and just not the same.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Better Living Through Chemistry .. or (A Day in the Life)


Monday, December 14, 2009

Blood


Saint Kevin Revisited


On or about May 8th 2008

Many of you may remember, I posted a photo of a print I have called Saint Kevin

Now I have a better flash so I got a better test picture.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

ʍǝu ƃuıɥʇǝɯos

˙ƃuıdʎʇ uʍop ǝpısdn ˙ʍǝu ƃuıɥʇǝɯos op oʇ ʍoɥ ʇno pǝɹnƃıɟ ı

Saturday, December 05, 2009

I found a Bigger Bridge

After the success of having my Tower Bridge Photos weblished on the West Sacramento Photo of the Day website, I thought I would find a bigger bridge. Partially shrouded by light fog....