Lola Lomy

[ Monday, June 30, 2008 ]

July Birthdays & Anniversaries

Happy Birthday! Karen Nantes Jones & Danielle Basco(3); Matthew Elijah Tollin(4); Corinne Liwanag(7); Noly Eugenio & Kai Rosal(13); Mandy Reppert(14); Dominic Elias Basco(16); Weez Oyzon(18); My little brother. Butch Rosal’ s 50th!(also on the 18th); Chakib el Ghazzalli(24); Sonia Santos(25); Joanne Santos Tollin(26); Aida Basco(29); Larry Shoulders(31).

Happy Anniversary! Dan & Dolores Basco and DayO & Aida Basco(6).

Best wishes for many more happy occasions! Can’t wait for the big FIVE-OH celebration on the 19th for my bro, Butch!

[ Tuesday, June 03, 2008 ]

Long Lost Friends…

Lately, I’ve been doing a search for classmates (Santa Catalina College, Manila Class of 56). I even signed up on the Names Database; how shallow and desperate is that? Anyway, I found a couple listed, but I do not remember them! and guess what, I am the oldest listed on the database for SCC.

I wonder if old age has something to do with my desperation to find old friends.  Hopefully, with me signing up, long lost classmates and friends might find me, as well. It’s not too late for us, in our late sixties, to get reacquainted, yet!

I truly envy the camaraderie that Ely and his UPHS (Class 51!) classmates have; and they are constantly in touch, either via email or really traveling far and long to reunite! All, septuagenarians, Nakaka-inggit! (enviable).

Anyway, Hope to hear from you, my friends!

[ Friday, May 30, 2008 ]

Happy Anniversary!

Beau & Coco!

June Birthdays

Happy Birthday!!!--Wrechelle Nantes(4); Lourdes Purugganan(5); Jake Oyzon(6); Elaine Oyzon Mast, Roxanne Lanto Dolan and Atrianna Basco(12); Arel Greif(16); Rosal Apelo(17); Joy Reppert(18); Craig Tollin (June 22); John Nantes(24); Ibrahim Oyzon el Ghazzali’s 1st!(26); DeeJay Basco(30).

Take good care of yourself! Have a healthy, stress-free birthday (...and everyday)! It’s the best gift you can give yourself, and your loved ones!
Let me include your important dates: Please comment…

Rogie Apelo turned 24 on May 24. Belated HB, Roj!

[ Friday, May 09, 2008 ]

My last days in Maroc

Sunday, March 23: It is Easter Sunday and I just got back from mass. I was still nursing a bum hip, which made my walking a little slow to get to church. There was a lot more mass-goers, but mass was still celebrated beyond the main altar. This huge cathedral doesn’t get filled to capacity, it seems. After mass (said in English, this time), I met a few Filipinos (mostly, working as nannies and maids for Arab ambassadors). Passed by the Internet Café, on my way home.

Later Elice, Chakib, Ibrahim and I went to the Mega mall (near the Embassy row) where we had lunch at the food court there (we had our different food choices of Mexican, Japanese and Chinese). Brahim had grown right before my eyes; he eats a lot now and has added some weight that I thought he would not gain (he was a little lightweight when I first came). He has ‘Oyzon’ temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. We had a good free day.

Late in the afternoon, Safa, her sister Bhutta, and Fatiha came to visit, and say goodbyes (they knew I was to leave on the 27th. Fatiha brought me a bunch of roses (what a sweet thing to do!). We hung out, did some dancing and ordered pizza. Ely had called from California and we had a long chat with Dulce, as well.

www.flickr.com lomy’s Safa, Fatiha & Bhutta photoset

Monday, March 24: We had another shopping spree at the Medina, and then we went to visit Chakib’s cousins at their home within the Medina. We had lunch, and then given a massage, manicure and pedicure by cousin Hakima, after. Elice had to go to work so she taxied to her school while I had my turn of massage, manicure, pedicure and hot wax. Hakima said she would come over to the apartment in the morrow to give me another back massage to ease my pain--what a treat! We had our tea ritual, and then Chakib, Ibrahim and I taxied home, where Elice was already back from school and waiting for us.

www.flickr.com lomy’s At Chakib’s relations at the Medina photoset

Tuesday, March 25: I stayed home with Ibrahim. Chakib went back to the Medina to pick up more stuff (and our purchase of rug, yesterday).

As promised, Hakima (with her sister Fatima Sahara) came over to give me more massage on my aching back.

The days are getting shorter; it would be almost time to get back to the US.

Wednesday, March 26: Chakib, Elice, Ibrahim and I took the bus to Sala al Jadida.

www.flickr.com lomy’s Bus to Sala al Jadida photoset

We met with Mui and Nadia at a Cafe and had breakfast. Later Mui took the bus with us (so she can baby-sit with Ibrahim, while Elice went to school; and Chakib accompanied me to a last shopping spree). My shopping spree was at Vilarmar, for “Village des Arts Marocains” (Moroccan articraft Village). This is in Salé (the twin town of Rabat) and Vilarmar, which is outside Salé is actually on the outskirts of Rabat. There is a wide choice of Moroccan craft, if you want to buy souvenirs, but no haggling, here. I got a lot of good deal (a far cry from Marrakech prices)—I was only hoping my luggage would withstand handling of breakable pottery and such.

www.flickr.com lomy’s Shopping at the Vilarmar photoset

Later Nadia came (she baked a special Cake for me to bring home!); also presented me a straw bag; Mui bought a Moroccan teapot for me; and Fatija came to drop off a framed Moroccan dagger (all as a going away present).

Later Mui helped me pack all my pottery and other stuff. I prided myself as a good ‘military wife’ packer but she was very helpful! She actually did everything for me…

Nadia and Mui slept over—to see me off when I left early in the morning. My sweet Moroccan family: the Ghazzali’s.

Thursday, March 27: I woke up at 5 a.m., and got ready for the airport. Chakib had arranged for a taxi, and he and I left after I said my goodbyes to Elice, my Ibrahim, Mui and Nadia. Chakib dropped me off and left after he saw that I was booked and on my way.

Ibrahim & Lola…

www.flickr.com lomy’s My Ibrahim photoset

I am so glad to have been able to bond with my Ibrahim, Elice and Chakib for a month; also to reunite with Chakib’s family and relations, anew; they are good people. I would like to go back sometime again (maybe to Fez, one more time, & Tangier)! 

[ Friday, May 02, 2008 ]

My Moroccan Vacation, Chapter 9

Thursday, March 20:  It was pretty much a rest and easy day with Ibrahim while his parents went to work or did errands.

Friday, March 21: We taxied to Sala al Jadida to visit Bba, Mui and Nadia. Our Moroccan lunch was delicious, as usual!

I was tempted to go to a Hammam

A Moroccan hammam is a bathhouse. There are no tubs; there are tiled rooms with streaming faucets; the walls perspire. There are steps of cleansing techniques: requires a brew of hot/cold water/olive oil soap/mud-like paste; the process of when to scrub and when to soak, when to douse and when to drench. Elice says she usually has a lady that does the scrubbing for her. What I can’t do is walk in amidst a lot of bathers, all naked (there’s a hammam for the men, separate from the women, of course). Anyway, I chickened out. In the end, it is noticeable when one walks out of the steam chamber glowing and has a relaxed demeanor.

We had our afternoon tea ritual; Nadia had baked a cake and delicious cookies. Watched a movie on TV.

Dinner was delicious (beef chunks with veggies). We spent the night.

Saturday, March 22: Chakib’s aunt and cousins came to visit; Moroccan dinner was yet, another treat--Couscous with Chicken, Almonds, and Squash!

www.flickr.com lomy’s Couscous photoset

Late in the afternoon, we taxied back to Rabat. It was a nice visit with Chakib’s relations.

[ Wednesday, April 30, 2008 ]

MAY Birthdays/Anniversaries

Happy Birthday! to: Christopher Barclay(3); Sister Inday Oyzon(5); Mae Sarmiento(16); Jaylin Taylor Sykes(19); Ken Fukushima(24); David Basco(28).

Happy Anniversary! to:
49th—Vir & Galen Nantes (17)
24th—Butch & Toni Rosal (20)
4th—Beau & Coco Oyzon (30)

Many happy returns! And may life’s joys always come your way!

[ Tuesday, April 29, 2008 ]

My Moroccan Vacation, Chapter 8

Wednesday, March 19: I woke up late and had my breakfast in the courtyard (did not want to deal with climbing up the stairs to the terrace). After breakfast I finished packing and waited for the manager to give me a tour around.

He drove me around town, and then we left the chaos of Marrakech city life and on to the village of Le Palmerie (lots of palatial properties here, and the famous Palmeraie Golf Palace & Resort). As from its name, palms abound (the village is a massive oasis), and camel guides and their camels await tourists for a slow Palmerie grove ride.

After a quick lunch, he dropped me off at the train station (the Gare de Marrakech), with time to spare before my 3 p.m. trip back to Rabat. Aziz came to see me off.

Back and well in Rabat; Chakib came to pick me up (he was waiting for an hour—my train was late). It was raining as we walked out of the station; we taxied home—it was nice to be back, to see my grandson and Elice.