Lola Lomy

[ Wednesday, December 17, 2003 ]

Games

I went to Best Buy after work yesterday and was amazed at all the electronic games that I can't even begin to understand. And some of these are what Aidan (age 7) and Connor (5) would like for Christmas! Makes me wish for the old days when our games consisted of just dexterity in evading being tagged; or using an empty milk can as a main target to hit. Here is an Outdoor Game we used to play (fun on moonlit nights, on the beach): PATINTERO (block the enemy game) - There are two teams which requires six to 7 players each. The game is played on the ground by drawing a rectangular field (usually fifteen ft by twelve ft, forming six-5X6 enclosures within) to define the boundaries. To play, one set of taggers or the 'it' situate themselves on the lines of the rectangle while the runners will try to get through from the South end to the North end of the field and back to the South without being tagged or blocked. When one is caught, they right away change roles. The group that has lesser tagged incidents is declared winner. Now, wouldn't that be fun?

[ Monday, December 15, 2003 ]

The Tree is Up

And we are now in the Holiday Season mood. Elice is coming home from Morocco tomorrow, and there will be more shopping to be done. But we'll wait until next week, when Weez and Elaine and the grandboys get here, and then we'll go on a 'mom and daughters' shopping spree! (Lolo baby-sits) But let's not all forget what the season is all about. It's Christ's birthday--we must spread our goodness towards all, and not forget to thank God for all our blessings; and accept little trials and tribulations as a way to strengthen our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual journey through life. Happy Christmas to all! btw, this is cute http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2976142400

[ Saturday, December 13, 2003 ]

My Sisters

So, one of my sisters, Vicki finally commented in my blogsite. I have a good rapport with my sisters. We love our brother, but once in two or three years we plan a [sisters, only] vacation. And what a riot, whenever we converge! Along with our agenda is the always present Mahjongg game. Of course, a few sibling rivalries would surface, but all in all, we would die for each other. Our oldest, Vir, has the best Filipino sense humor and there's never a dull moment with her. Her one way to break the lull (which rarely happens) is by simply talking in our dialect. We grew up in Manila, we are more fluent in Tagalog; and inept to funny, speaking in our native dialect, Pangasinan--it?s enough to get us going into a fit of giggles. (btw, aside from our national language, Tagalog or Pilipino, the Philippines has 151 dialects--Pangasinan is one of 59 in Luzon). More? Our Montana Escapade Friday, 19 Sept: With Isabela?s wake, it was hard washing up with rationed water, but I made sure to get ready for the airport. Ely and Leece dropped me off at the airport. The flight to Cincinnati was uneventful; then I boarded my next flight, to Salt Lake City (watched The Italian Job flight movie); then to Kalispell--I arrived close to midnight--where Chet showed up with Vir, Bella, and Vicki to pick me up. After a quick tour of the house, I had a good bite to eat (Sonia?she?s a great cook-- had prepared Bulalo (a special boiled beef recipe) for the next day's meal--it was all I needed after just a snack of pretzels on each of my three flights). We all visited for a while, then we turned in @2 a.m. Saturday, 20 Sept: The Barclay homestead is very nice--great open space and a nice view of the lake and the mountains. We had a breakfast of longanisa (Filipino sausage), fried rice and eggs. We had two clean-up crews of four (I belonged with Bella, Sonia and Vicki); Saturday was our kitchen duty. After breakfast Vicki involved us in a Yoga session. Then we got ready for some touring. First, Chet drove us to a friend?s home within the compound (of which she and David have a special access to, and whose designer had built theirs, too). It is an Architectural Digest showcase! --has a better view of the lake and the mountains. And he has an impeccable taste in decor and functionality of each room and storage. Then we walked to his patch of garden uphill where we dug some potatoes and harvested lettuces for our next day's meal. Then we drove to a quaint shopping town at Bigfork where we all had intense shopping before and after our lunch at the Le Provencal (we all had onion soup and our choices of sandwiches). We spent, at least, a combined $1000-worth of goods at a Bath and Linen shop. We had lattes and cookies at a coffee shop before we drove to Catherine of Sienna Church for 4:30 mass (Vicki stayed back to shop around more and later walked to the church to join us after mass). We passed by Costco and bought jars of Huckleberry Jam (a Montana specialty) and whatever else the sibs cared to spend on. And rice! On our drive back to the house we all called our spouses/loved ones in our cel phones, as up at the house our cel phones had no service. We cooked rice and heated our dinner?Daing (fried dried fish) and Bulalo. Bantering accompanied our sit-down dinner, as usual, and some of us just indulged on our cholesterol "High"! Replete and chores done, we played our preferred games. Vir, Bella, Bambi, Morna, Vicki and Tessie played mahjongg; Chet, Sonia and I played scrabble. Later we all played our own version of Cranium--turned out to be fun! As usual we turned in--in the wee hours. Sunday, 21 Sept: After a breakfast of Fried Rice, Daing, potato omelet, and tsokolate, we got ready for a boat ride. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be--the motor was stuck and Chet could not get it going (an all-girl crew could not give much help). Chet was supposed to wait for Bones (her all-around-homestead-caretaker)--he and Chet were supposed to drive the boat for winterization and storage in town; so the rest of us went to town--Vicki drove. We went to Target and bought three $19.99 rollaway luggage (a sale item that Bambi had bought earlier, and the other sibs liked and went back to the store for). Drove back to the homestead and did the ritual cel phone calls before we reached the no-service zone. When we got back Chet was still home with Bones and his son, Alec, arranging the hitching of the boat and the convoy to town. We all ended up riding along--Bones drove the SUV with 7 of us, the boat in tow; and Alec drove his truck with Vir and Vicki. We had a good tour guide in Bones; he gave us bits of locaL information as we drove along. Although he looks and has the demeanor of (Chet says she suspects that he is a member of) The Vigilantes, he is a very nice man. With the boat dropped off, we proceeded to, yet another, shot at Target to buy a couple more of the now-famous $19.99 luggage. On the way back to the stead, we passed by the Hilltop Bar (a cafe and bar frequented, I heard, by rednecks and bikers) where they sold fried gizzards. Vir and Bella went in (the others wouldn't), and Bella ordered and bought two orders of the delicacy. Back at the stead, we ate the gizzards as pre-dinner appetizers and had wine while Sonia prepared the marinated Steak, baked potatoes, and fresh garden salad for dinner (of course, we helped). Chores done, and fully sated, it was time for games. Cranium was the order of the night. Who can forget Tessie vamping it with her Mt Everest and Hormone charade (makes one wonder, doesn't it? --just kidding, sis)? Later Vir, Bella, Bambi, Morna and Tessie played blackjack and Pai Gow. Sonia, Vicki, Chet and I played mahjongg, to which I lost $8. Oh well, I had fun. We had a good supply of Sonia?s homemade Huckleberry Scones--one of our menu highlights (for Morna -especially)--spread with the famous Montana Huckleberry Jam, and dipped in heavy cream. It was time to pack and get things in order for our flight back home at 2 p.m., Monday (sigh...!) Monday, 22 Sept: It was amazing; we made good time in getting ready. We bade goodbye to the beautiful house, a memorable weekend, and renewed sister bonding. Bella --"the Maniniyut" (the shooter) took pictures (she was the only one who brought a camera). We drove to Kalispell and dropped our check-in luggage at Chet's Storage stall at the airport (but wait, didn't we go to Target first to buy the luggage?). Then we had breakfast at the How You Bean Coffee Shop; bought coffees and took more pictures. Then we drove to a carwash (it's fascinating that we can still have fun sitting still in a car full of gaggling women who can get easily amused with so little?but you had to be there!). Then we drove back to the airport, dropped Bella, Sonia, Morna at the terminal; parked the SUV at the stall and picked up the luggage that we rolled and walked to the terminal. Of course, there was more shopping to be done--in the terminal, and inside the boarding gates. Our short flight to Salt Lake City was uneventful, and we had a little bit more shopping (but of course!) before we all parted ways at our respective boarding gates. It was anti-climactic, parting ways at Salt Lake City. Until the next vacation, sibs!

[ Thursday, December 04, 2003 ]

desensitized

I was going to comment on Elaine's, I decided to make it an entry... Alas, this day and age we have become spoiled, desensitized and ultramundane that there's no such thing as simple living anymore, it seems. On Discipline: I wish the young adults could experience the same discipline we had as we were growing in up in the 40s and 50s. ...where a smack on the backside is enough to discipline a tantrum--without the fear of it being considered child abuse. ...where parents can really concentrate on parenting--focus on the child and not outside distractions; and consistency of discipline (not when they are angry, not when they feel like it, but when it was called for). ...where a good conduct is met with appreciation, a misdeed is criticized constructively, and followed with encouragement. ...where after all is said and done, the children have the grace to say they're sorry, and not stomp out of the house shouting obscenities to the disciplinarian. Ahhh, those were the days--simple, uncomplicated, peace of mind, free from fear of the unknown. I miss my parents...

[ Monday, December 01, 2003 ]

winding down

I am taking a couple of days off from work--I caught my husband's bug that he brought back from California, straight to Atlanta. I just hope the kids and the grandboys didn't catch it, too. At least I am getting things, that does not need driving or exerting much effort, checked off my to do list. It is always anti-climactic, once the kids leave after the holidays, and I get the blues. But there's Christmas to look forward to. All of my children, their loved ones, and the grandkids are going to be home for Christmas! yay! Terrific turkey, Nain! and you and Curt were wonderful hosts!