2009 with a BANG!

We celebrate the coming of the new year with some of our dearest friends and their families. Last year, it was at our home in Riverview, MI. This year, the Gonzales' peaceful abode was the center of all the fun and noise of our little(?) group. Food was in abundance, kids were enjoying their video games without interruption (except to go to the bathroom or the dining room... but not for chores), moms soaking themselves in their favorite pastime of talking about important events and people, and dads taking pictures and discussing about their boy toys. One thing that everyone had fun doing together was watching the movie, Slumdog Millionaire and Happy Slip's video blogs. Everyone's looking forward to next year's celebration which will be at the Ocampo's. Hasta la vista! and have a very good year!

Kalidadis Chronicles

Where in the world was Kalidadis?!

December 20 was Bong's 48th birthday. There was no planned party but I got out of bed early to clean house and get ready for the "surprise" that was so hard to keep. First, Sis Lourdes called me on the phone asking directions to our house. All this time he was listening and asking me who I was talking to... lie, lie lie... that was what I did. Then, I need to buy pop but I cannot go because there was something cooking on the stove and baking in the oven... so, I asked Bong to go to the store to get pop, which we buy only when we are expecting guests... he left the house wondering what's going on. When he got home, I forced him to shower and dress up... why?... "just go", i said. And then guests started coming with food and presents. Thanks to our brothers and sister in CFC, they made his day. Truly, the gesture lifted up his spirits because when he called mommy (my mother-in-law) earlier, she did not remember for old age has started to spoil her once sharp memory.

The following days, I spent finishing up all the embroidery orders so that my holidays will be worry-free. Christmas was in Saginaw with the Gumbans, the Abelgases, and the Afante kids. Early Christmas morning, Gem left with Brandon to go to his house. So when Anika awoke and couldn't find Ate Gem, she asked me, "Tita Dang, where's your other sister?" I love that girl!

We got home early evening on the 25th and a few minutes later, the Aspirases arrived from Toronto. A little later, the Espinosas arrived from Ohio, where they spent Christmas. Holiday or not, Hotel Kalidadis is always a busy place. The Espinosas left but the Aspirases stayed and helped the MI economy, even for just a couple of days. Oh, what fun!

Aside from the people who came to wish me a Merry Christmas, it was not Santa nor any of his elves, but a green alien from I don't know what galaxy also came to visit. He did not bring any presents but his presence amused us.

My Wish

Jas & Gem did a really good job putting up the tree and belen today. In 9 days, it will be Christmas! In In 4 days, it will be Bong's birthday! Isn't it unfortunate (fortunate for me) that he has to be content with one present for Christmas and his birthday all his life? Actually, let me correct that... he gets one present but he gets the most attention and love.

The struggling economy has slowed down shoppers. But this has not prevented the stores from enticing buyers. Their antics include ridiculous sales, free stuff and food tasting. Last Sunday, I went grocery shopping and Bong tagged along. The store was bustling with people. I tell Bong not to wander around and get lost. I tell him to stay close to me or people will think that he's only there for the food tasting. In 2 minutes, I lost him, so I went ahead and finished my shopping. Amid the crowd of busy shoppers, I spotted him. Like a child left alone in a candy store, he was happily munching on some food unmindful of the activity around him. That is my Bong... no big wishes, just a big heart.

My wish? They are like lyrics of this Christmas song by Amy Grant/Kelly Clarkson...

My Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me, I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now and still need help somehow
I'm not a child but my heart still can dream
So here's my lifelong wish, my grown up Christmas list
Not for myself but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list

As children we believed the grandest sight to see
Was something lovely wrapped beneath our tree

Well heaven surely knows that packages and bows
Can never heal a hurting human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up Christmas list

PEACE!

Life

There are three persons inside me. These are them:

1 - Casilda a.k.a. Dang, Mommy Dang, Ate Dang, 'Nang Dang, Sis Dang, Danggit, etc. She is wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. She talks a lot, laughs a lot, cries a lot. She always wants to do the nicest things... she tries, although sometimes in vain. She can cook...that might be what everyone thinks but if she gets in a pickle, ready-made food can taste just as good. She is patient. Always trying and trying until... yey, success!... well, not all the time. She can get really frustrated and angry when things don't go as she would want them to... but, oh well, nobody ever gets everything they want! She is the one to call when you need a little advice on how to sew, embroider, cook, craft, or whatever else... she might not have all the answers but a little chit-chat with her can be fun. She's not rich but she'd be happy to share with those who need and then suddenly feels like just a penny shy of being a millionaire. She is what everyone expects her to be.

2 - Super "C". She is what everyone expects her to be and MORE. She can definitely sing and dance at the same time.... that is, in her own private time and place. She is a multi-tasking, confidently calm, do-it-all, she-can-do-it, she'll-find-a-way, go-get-her, she-knows-what-to-do, she's-here-and-there-all-at-once, never-tired type of a gal. Sometimes, she needs help with something she needs from the upper shelf of the cupboard. This is because, it's really no big secret, she has yet to learn how to fly. She asks people to wait and be patient because, it's really no big deal, first things first then on to the next. She can remove any type of stain from any type of clothing... or can she really? She can do laundry while she's cooking the perfect dinner and do a little embroidery on the side... how hard can that be?! Whew! that is quite a task in one normal day.

3 - Casilly-dilly. She is a little girl who loves to have fun. Being silly and diorganized is her specialty. She can be very forgetful that she cannot even remember being angry with anyone. She is afraid of being alone in the dark and much more, of scary movies. She gets a little cut here, a little bruise there from being so sloppy with doing things... but there's nothing that a band-aid and a little XOXO can't fix. Beautiful things in display windows at the mall make her eyes twinkle... ahhh, dreaming makes them hers. She doesn't like making her bed or cleaning the house... but that's what mommy wants. Sad movies make her cry... even sad songs make her cry. She can't help being sluggish sometimes, she just wants to curl up on the couch and watch TV. She does not care about everything that's happening around her, she's just so happy and thankful that she is being loved.

Super "C" and Casilly-dilly do not get along well, while Dang just sits back and watch this conflict. But in the end, they have got to somehow be in agreement with each other, otherwise, you know where to find me. This is my crazy existence, I call LIFE. What is yours like?

Journey

Call me Dang. Better yet, don't call me. At least, not until this everyone-wants-their-stuff-done season is over. Is it almost Christmas? Yeah. And everyone's rushing to get their embroidery order done. Then my machine starts acting up. I am mad and frustrated and really stressed out now. I need to have these jerseys done for a hockey team's first home game in a couple of days... what am I gonna do? Panic! The day's almost over but I am still far from done. "Honey, please make dinner. I am going to church for the Advent by Candlelight affair", I tell Bong and off I went. Thank God for husbands! On my way, my mind was working... think, think, think.

This is my first time to join Advent by Candlelight at our church, St. Cyprian. I entered the warmly lit room with tables gorgeously set for the guests by the hostesses. I was right away welcomed by my table hostess, Laura. We know each other casually because our husbands are K of C brothers. At the center of our table was a little iced cake topped with an angel figurine. Around it was a wreath of pine greens adorned with shiny fuchsia and purple balls and ribbons. Candles in crystal holders around the wreath made made the centerpiece more festive. Fine china and silverware were delicately set for each guest. All the ladies were now seated and the program began with a wonderful rendition of some favorite Christmas carols by young girls from a nearby high school. Soon everybody was singing with them. Kaye, was the speaker of the evening. Her message was clear... Life is a journey... and right now, I am in a very busy hi-way and I am trying to pass some so I can get to my destination as fast as I can. But am I being careful? Over speeding, that's what I am doing. After some thoughtful reflection, I reached a decision. I'm going my journey in the most graceful manner, not in haste but in certainty.

The jerseys, 2 sets of them, are all done and now I am proceeding to fulfill other orders. And yes, you can call me... call me Dang.

Gold or Siver

Junette G. was my high school classmate. We usually sit beside each other so I know very well that she is left-handed and she laughs a lot. She would teach me History and I would teach her Math. We have not seen each other in a very long time. Last year in February, I was in Los Angeles, CA to keep my mom company while my dad went home to the Philippines. Junette is now in Hollywood, CA (no, she is not a celebrity... but she sure is a star in her own right), which is just a few minutes away from my mom's. I called her... we met. She is the same Junette except a little heavier... or may I say, WE are both a little heavier than we used to be. There was always something to laugh about and any food always tasted yummy. Never a dull moment, we were like in high school again.

Rosanna Q. was my classmate since Grade V (these are really her words when she introduced me to her husband) that is why I know that she talks a little bit too fast. We were friends since high school and their house was our favorite hang-out. The other place we used to hang out a lot was at the Belvic to play Night Rider (thanks to her for paying for my games too). College and growing up somehow separated us and then reunited us and then separated us once more. One day, Junette G. gave me a call that Rosanna Q. is in Michigan and might be close to where I am because we have the same area code. This is how we got reunited again. We are about 50 miles apart and we do not see each other often but when we do, there's always a lot to talk about. Far or near, she is my friend for life.

I was not one of the popular girls in high school but I had friends who were. One of them was Villa M. I lost touch of her a long time ago. She was the girl that the boys would want to be friends with, the envy of a lot of girls. We were friends and our parents knew each other. Going back and forth from my house and to hers every possible hang-out time, I felt like part of her family and she part of mine. I often wonder where she is now and how to reconnect with her.

But my best friend in high school was Mercedes C. She was one of the popular girls too. She was the laid back type of girl yet giggled like every other girl would. We used to talk a lot on the phone and for long periods of time to the annoyance of the party line (we used to share phone lines with a party line before... thank God for technology we don't have to worry about the party line anymore). She had to transfer to another school during our Junior year because Tatay (her dad) was reassigned to Davao. Still, letters were exchanged and our friendship kept alive. Her family was constantly moving because of her father's job and soon we lost touch. But always, friendship brings people back together again. One time I found her, another time she found me. Then we lost touch. This time the phone directory would be useless because we don't even know each others last names anymore. Someday, this same friednship will again bring us back together.

"Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver, the other is gold..." Since then, I have made a lot more friends, one would think I am now either glittering with a lot of bling or bent down to my waist due to the immense weight of the metals. Being away from my original home, Cebu, where old high school friends/classmates still regularly meet and have fun, I felt the urge to blog about some of my wonderful memories. I thank God everyday for gold and silver... and platinum.

Cyber Monday

You would think Friday was it for the big, big sale events. No, no, no, black Friday was the forerunner of today's event... on-line sales, that is. Today is what they call Cyber Monday. I cannot buy shoes without trying them on first, so I am not interested.

Yesterday, we were in Saginaw to celebrate a belated Thanksgiving with Uncle Naldo & Auntie Nita; Jeff, Inday Ling, Andrew & JR; and Lyndon, Uting, YenYen & Anika. Melvin, Faith & Brandon were also there. Jas had to work and Gem went back to Lansing so they missed the whole celebration. Obviously, Faith and I were not dressed up enough because Inday Ling summoned us up to their bedroom and into her closet. It's a good thing that we wear the same size clothes. Another blessing to be thankful for... family!

Our drive home last night was not nice at all. Heavy snow was coming at us. The roads were covered with snow and we were drving on the hi-way at 50 mph. Then, snow became rain until we finally reached our destination---home. Whew! that was stressful! Thank God we are home safe.