WHY DID I EAT THESE STUFF???

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I had a family gathering last weekend at my sister in laws house in Wisconsin and we have lots of food to eat. Aside from the grilled salmon, steak and shrimp -- we had salad and lots of desert. One of the food stuff that was served was fresh strawberries and while we were having nice conversation and waiting for the food to be served, we were eating lots of nuts and dried fruits.

Fresh strawberries was served, my favourite and it was large, read a juicy.

I ate lots of these strawberries, not to mention the nuts and most of all the medium steak. It was after all a time for merriment and eating. So with all the cautions and scoldings of my wife, I still continued on to eat the things that was not good for me.

Come Monday morning until today Wednesday, I am having a hard time walking. My Achilles heel is aching and my knees. My Gout has finally attacked the weak parts of my legs and with all the food that I ate, I am now paying the prize. I walk with my walking stick and is having a hard time climbing up the stairs to my bedroom on this old, huge and high stairwells.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, I am again on strict diet and taking preventive medications. I just want to have fun and have a good time, that includes also good food. But I was asked by my wife to swear not to eat again these food that is giving me Gout problem, or else.....she said, she will not help me walk anymore and will remove my Cain.

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

IS IT A SIN TO DREAM???

THE MONTBLANC GMT PERPETUAL CALENDAR LIMITED EDITION

THE MONTBLANC SPORT TANTALUM AUTOMATIC LIMITED EDITION

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I was at O'Hare International Airport two weeks ago and I was strolling around and checking out the stores and concessions at the airport while I was waiting for my flight to Philadelphia to be called.

I went inside the Montblanc store to check if they have the ink for my Diplomat pen that I had with me for the past 12 years which was a gift of my former boss when I was still working in Japan for this shipping company. When I walked into the store, I was attracted to the display of their watches and looked around and checked all the watches on display. It was so amazing and the collection is phenomenal. It is a very rate collection.

I sign in for the catalogue to be mailed to my house and I got the catalogue this afternoon in the mail and started to check on it. I saw the different watches and I went wild with the pictures and descriptions of the watches.

The Montblanc Star Chrono GMT perpetual Calendar limited edition has a safety locking crown with Montblanc diamond Silver dial. The case is 18 kt. yellow gold with alligator strap and they only made 100 pieces of it.

The Montblanc Sport Tantalum Automatic limited edition is a diver's watch This watch is equipped with helium escape valve that allows the gas to escape during decompression, protecting the watch against damage. Case is made of tantalum, an extremely tough metal which is highly chemical resistant. It has perfect readability, tough rubber strap,bezel with breguet numerals, automatic movement with hronometer certification for maximum precision.The crown is screwed down with Montblanc diamond featuring the patented Montblanc cut. It is water resistant up to 1,906 m. There are only 100 pieces made.

And so Auntie Pattie Koh, can you blame me if I acted like a little boy wishing Santa Claus is around so I could ask him for this for Christmas?Please don't ask me how much these timepieces are.... I won't tell you.

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

MEMORIAL DAY FAMILY GATHERING

My brother in law Jeff busy with the grill.

Nieces and nephews busy playing with each other.Aidan with the ball,Alex on the car,Jonathan behind the car Cora at the back, my son Angelo in shorts and my brother in law.

The smaller dog is mine, named Bombo. The bigger one is Cody, my sister in law's dog.

Bobby, in yellow shorts, friend of my son Angelo with a tomahawk hair and my nephew Alex.

Aja, my eldest son girlfriend.

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

It is a holiday today, Monday 28May and it is called Memorial Day.

Our family gathered for a picnic at my sister in laws house in Wisconsin. It was fun and my nieces and nephews came together with my youngest son, Angelo and his friend Bobby. My eldest son Miki cannot make it because he is working at the Italian restaurant that he is managing. But his girlfriend Aja came along with my other niece and we had a great time.

We took along our dogs, mine is a mix Shitshu/Maltese called Bombo and my sister in law's dog is Spaniel called Cody and my nephew's dog is a Pomeranian called Kennick. The dogs also had a ball.

We ate a lot and I have to stop and curtail my cravings for sweets because my sugar might go way up high and I will be in big trouble. I need to make my sugar stable.

My brother in law Jeffrey was the one who was grilling the steak and chicken and the salmon kebab. I brought some Jicama(singkamas) and mango salad with sweet ginger dressing and mix vegetable Lumpia without the wrapper.

Kids where all over the place, with all three dogs running after them and barking. Then they started lighting up fireworks and roman candles. In the state of Wisconsin they allow firecrackers. So all my nieces and nephews had a blast. Then they played football at the backyard since my brother in laws backyard and property is big, the kids have space to play and throw balls. The kids was playing with the electric car and as usual I can hear lots of whining and crying from the kids. Then they will play again.

And so Auntie Pattie Koh, it was a nice family gathering and all had fun. The left overs as usual was wrapped and was taken home by each family. Then tomorrow back again to work and back to reality!!

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

UNBELIEVABLE YOUNG KIDS

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I was at the Belmont Harbor along Lake Michigan the other day to pick up my wife from work. Since I came in early, I decided to go around the park area and see some of the activities and happenings. For some obvious reason, my attention was attracted to the noise that is coming from the area where there is an enclosed area for stunt cyclist and roller bladders. I then checked it out and see what is happening. I saw these young kids in their bikes and was amazed on how they ride their bikes on the obstacles. So I asked them if they could do some stunts and if I could take some pictures while they where doing it. They gave me the consent and I even told them that I will be posting it in my blog, so I did.

At first I was so nervous watching these kids did their stunts on all these obstacle. One of the boys approached me and told me not to worry about it, because they like doing it and they are good at it and none of them had an accident doing it. They even asked me when to shoot the picture and in what angle I should face the camera. They did all sorts of stunts and it was so unreal how they can fly up in the air with their bikes.

The Chicago Park Authority have decided to built an obstacle park for these kids so that they could practice and do their stunts in the park, instead of doing it in the streets and other places that is not patterned to what the Olympics have created for this kind of sports but in snowboards. At any rate, the park have done a good job and it was enclosed so that the bikers and the roller bladders will have their own place in this huge park.

So as I watched these kids do their stunts, my mind went back home and was thinking, if the government in the Phils. can do these kind of things, maybe the youngsters will have fun to do their own kind of sports and challenges and stunts.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, I am showing you this pictures and am trying to tell you also, how I wish I could be young again like these kids and will have all the stamina and the abilities to do such dangerous sports.

I hope you will love these pictures.

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

PLEASE MEET MY FUTURE DAUGHTER IN LAW

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

Please meet my future daughter in law, the girl with her sunglasses on her head, in black sleeveless dress. She is the girlfriend of my eldest son and her name is AJA (pronounced as Asiah). She is a very close friend of my niece Dianne, the shortest girl at the bottom picture with her hand on her hips. Aja was introduced to my son when we all came to attend the wedding of my niece, four years ago.

Aja is an Anglo-Saxon and they live in New Jersey, which is around 30 mins drive from my brother's house. A very nice and good girl, from a well educated and good breed family. At first I thought it was only a joke that everybody was teasing and only trying to push my son to Aja, but then suddenly I found out they were already boyfriend and girlfriend. Oh well, who am I. I am just the father -- and who am I to know the many things about the love life of my son.

It was a long distance love affair. My son very often travel to New Jersey on times that he is available and free from work, and then Aja comes to Chicago to meet with my son on the times when she is free from school and holidays. It was a very nice and very sincere relationship. I cannot say anything about it. At any rate, for me, no matter what the nationality of my son's girlfriend is -- it's alright with me. The important thing is that they Love and Respect each other.

I am happy for the two of them. I hope they will make it to the altar. I look forward into this and hope, just like what I always say to my boy -- I hope and wish I will still have the chance to see my grandchild from them.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, I was so thrilled when last week we were invited to New Jersey by Aja to her parents home and meet with them and their family. They were all very nice and very accommodating, I have nothing to say. There are times when I look outside my window and try to picture my son and his gril friend Aja, holding hands and being wed in front of the altar...... in the Philippines.!!!

Is it bad to dream and fantasize?

Sincerely Yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

PLEASE MEET MY TWO BOYS

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

Every time I introduce my two boys to some of my friends, the first thing they jokingly ask me is: "Are you sure they are your son?". So I always ask the same questions to my friends: Why did you ask that?". They give me the same answer: "They are so big and did not get anything from you!!".

The one in white shirt and blue jeans is my eldest son, Miki. He did a short cut of his name, MELCHIZEDECK. When he was three years old we applied for an American passport for him so that he could come home to the Philippines and visit his grandparents. The application form run out boxes for the different letters of his name and last name. The Federal agent at the passport division was asking us to shortcut the name, which we did not agreed upon. My wife and I told the Federal agent that that is not our fault that the box type form is not enough to accomnodate my sons name and his last name. This is a permanent document and I don't want anything altered. He is now in the last left of collegiate schooling.He is now in his mid twenties and has a girlfriend who is an Italian/Irish.

My youngest son, in a Mohawk hair do and in blue shirt and blue jeans is Angelo Francis. He was born on the feast day of St. Francis. He is on his early twenties, still single and studying Culinary Arts. Now on his third year of schooling. He is now dictating to me on how to run my kitchen when he comes home from school. I like having competition with him in cooking and argues with him a lot on how to handle the food and my kitchen. Very athletic kid and my wife tells me he has all the tantrums and all his personalities from me. I don't know if he has a girl friend, I did not asked him.

My eldest son said he is just waiting for his kid brother to finish schooling and get his Culinary diploma and they will put up their own restaurant since my eldest son is managing two restaurant. He was telling me that when they have already put up a restaurant, they just want me and their mother to sit down and relax and watch them with their restaurant and that the two of us could sit down and relax.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, I kept all those things in my heart. I always hope and pray that all the dreams and aspirations of my boys in life could be accomplished and be fulfilled. I look forward in seeing their achievements in life and to reach all their dreams and may it all come true.

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

MAY I INTRODUCE TO YOU MY GRANDNEPHEWS

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

May I introduce to you my two grandnephews Jordan, the younger one and Christian. The mother is the daughter of my younger brother who lives in New Jersey, and we call her Dianna the husband is a German/Italian whose name is already starting with initial Dennie. Very nice kids and is the apple of the eye of their Lolo, my younger brother. My grandniece has taken her boy friend then, to the Philippines before they got married. She wanted her grandparents and all her Aunt to see and meet his fiance then. Dennie fell in love with the Philippines and the rest of the family. He was at home immediately with all the rest of the cousins and aunts and uncles. He took some time to know my parents and was very polite. The we took him to Calgary, to be part of the wedding of my other grandniece to a Hungarian/Canadian. Then Dianne and Dennie followed suit and got married. They now have two good looking young boys of their own.

When the first baby was born, I was thinking that the color of the skin will be a mix, some sort of tan in color but it did not manifest. The colors of two boys are from his father. My niece has more tan or rather creole in color and so I said it will be a very nice color of skin, but like as I said it never came up. Oh well!!

So dear Auntie Patti Koh, lots of my friends kept on praising that I am lucky to have a Caucasian blood in the family. I don't see any luck in it. What I know is that Dennie and Dianne are both in love with each other and that is what it counts. The good thing about having another culture in the family, is that there are certain limitations that we can only tell my grandnephew, he is the one learning and discovering it by himself.

The bottom line Auntie, I love my two grandnephew and so does their mom and dad.

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

WEEKEND VISIT TO MY BROTHER IN NEW JERSEY

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I went to pay my kid brother a visit this Friday 18May'07 to check on him and help him with the birthday of his second grandson. Yes...I am a grandfather to a very nice looking kid . He is a combination of a Pinay mother and an Irish/German daddy.

I was so excited to see my family in New Jersey. We don't see each other very often, but every time I have some time, I always fly out to them and do some bonding together with my nieces and nephews and grandnephews.The weather was fine and surprisingly, it was not so cold out there, compared to Chicago when we landed this afternoon, Sunday.

We had some great fun together and kept on telling stories until the wee hours of the morning. It was so fun to see my kid brother and much more so, I love to listen to his laughter. He needed a lot of it, because he is so serious with his work and his family, and of course being a grand dad for his two cute boys that he baby sits everyday morning before he goes to work at the Federal Reserve Bank at the engineering department.His wife is also likewise busy being an operating room nurse in one hospital and as a recovery nurse at Kennedy Cancer Research Hospital.

My two boys was there also to meet their cousins. These kids are so inseparable when they see each other. I cannot cope up with their night outs and their bonding until the wee hours of the morning.

And so, Auntie Patti Koh, I am back again at home and back to reality. Tomorrow I start with my training for this new job that I have undertaken. It will be a challenge, but I love challenges.

Check if you can see and locate my two boys and my wife in the picture.

Sincerely Yours,

IN FRATERNAM MEAM

THE GOODBYE KID!!

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

We call him Bobot, my endearment name for him is Bootchie.A nice young kid in his early twenties that came to our family from back home. Just graduated from nursing and wanted to see the life of a nurse in the states, which he did, with no complaints or any problems. He studied the trade, learn it and put it all in his mind and heart.

Last night he bid us all goodbye and then down at my basement, spent some time with his cousins drinking and doing some pranksters to some of his cousin and most of all to some girls his age who are also from back home in the Philippines. They stayed until the wee hours of the morning. I left them down at the basement, and can hear their laughter from upstairs inside my bedroom. I was still awake when he came home at the crack of dawn, but did not stand up anymore because I don't want to embarrass him.

He played with his young nieces and nephews and had a hard time explaining to them where and why he is leaving. Cora asked me when I returned back from the airport:

"Tito Mel, is it true that Tito Bobot is no longer coming back?". "He took all his things, I counted the bags from my fingers and it was like this" (Cora showing three fingers from her right hand) "Why is he not coming back Tito Mel?"

I just smiled, because I don't know how to explain to a 3 years old these questions she was asking from me about his Tito Bobot.

Then came the twins...with another inquisitive questions: "Tito Mel, is Tito Bobot still coming to our birthday party?" "He will love Chuckie Cheese and my mom said plenty of pizza". I just smiled and told the twoins the truth that Tito Bobot will not attend the birthday.

How do you explain things that will hurt the kids...silence is the only way out.

Then came the questions of Drichmond, Bobot's cousin who is his age and very close friend and comrade in arms during his stay. He asked: "Tito Mel...how's my cousin when he left?" I just said to Drichmond that Bobot was okey. I don't want him to feel bad about the loneliness in leaving the family and him of his cousin. Then he said to me something that moved me: "Tito Mel...can I keep the mini keg that Bobot bought last night as a remembrance of him". I did not stop him. This is the only way he could live up the nice memory that evening with cousin.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, the kid left....like my eldest son said to me: "He is like a mists Daddy that came to our lives and will disappear and will leave the things like as if nothing happened."

It did not dawn on me what he was saying, until I took this nephew of mine at the airport this noontime.

We will miss him so,

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

VENI, VIDI, VICI....I CAME, I SAW, I CONQUER

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I am sure you know by now about this nephew of mine who arrived into our lives from the Philippines and became so close to all of us.

VENI.....(I Came)

He came only to follow his dreams.He graduated nursing back home and wanted to explore and see his future i the states. The only thing he has with him, is his honesty, politeness and love of people. He came with all these attributes and became so loved by all of us including his young cousins, nieces and nephews. One could see deep in his heart, how his parents reared him up by the way he talks to people using the polite "PO" and "OPO" all of the time.

VIDI.....(I Saw)

He saw the life in the states, the many challenges it entails to succeed. One thing he did see was the challenges that pays off when one faces it with an open heart. He work as a private nurse/care giver for a while to learn his trade and understand the life in a foreign country. He was a fast learner and he did Saw what there is to see and he faced the challenges and made the most out of it with corresponding reward.

VICI.....(I CONQUERED)

He conquered the threshold of things that was very alien to him. He wanted to see what was inside this threshold and wanted to gain experience. So he did. He befriended people of different status in society, he sat down with people he looks up as mightier than him and his status he did did good on his conquer. They love him for his sincerity and his simple outlook in life.

So Auntie Pattie Koh, this nephew of mine did CAME, SAW AND CONQUERED and learned so many expriences on this. I am sure he will go a long way with all his ambitions in life and his intentions.

We all love him.

Respectfully yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

DO I HAVE A FAVOURITE??

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

Look at the picture of innocence. These are my nephews with their girl friend....as in GIRL FRIEND only. The girls are like sisters to them....so my nephews said. But at any rate, even if they fell for each other, it will not bother me. That will be better, because I know these girls and they are good girls also.

The first nephew with dark frame eyeglasses is B----, he just graduated from Nursing back home in the Philippines and is now doing home care and private nursing at the moment. He is still reviewing for the NCLEX exams. I have faith in this kid, and I know he will make it. I have already introduced him to the Matron of Nursing in of the prestigeous and well named hospital in metropolitan Chicago, and he was promised that as soon as he passed the exams, he will have an assured place in her hospital.

The girl behind her, in a lovely embrace (let's say it's cold in the lake area) is a Pinay from the Philippines and is doing her post graduate studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago campus.

Do they look like they are IN LOVE?? hmmmmmmmm!!

The third nephew of mine also in eyeglasses, is K----, he is a computer engineer and is now working for a big company. K volunteered for two years with the Peace Corps and was assigned in Nicaragua. K speaks spanish and somewhere along the line, I really don't know why he did not end up bringing home a Latina from Suda Amerika. He is heavy set and a mix Pilipino with a father who is German/Irish. I was telling K, if Inday Badiday is still alive, I will take him home to the Philippines and make a star out of him. (The late Inday Badiday is a good and close friend of mine. We go a long way. God bless her soul). The girl that was supposed to be the partner of K, is not in the picture, she is the one taking the picture, I think who is related to the girl hugging my nephew B

Another nephew of mine, seated, wearing a gray fedora, is D--------. Studying Music Science at Columbia University. He plays five instrument. Don't ask me about the sixth instrument, I will not tell you. He is a very loving and energetic young man. Wants to be part of the orchestra that do the background music for movies. He volunteers for the Civic Opera House and loves doing it, for free. He said he is learning many things. The girl besides her is also related to the girl in the picture.

The young man in the background is their friend and I forgot to ask for his name. However, if he is in the picture and if he is a friend of my nephews, then I am sure he is a good young man.

And so, Auntie Patti Koh, the only ones missing in this nice and lovely picture is my two boys. My eldest son, M------, in his mid twenties is so serious with his job, managing two restaurant. I lost this boy of mine to his job, and he has already asked permission from me and my wife that he will be living together with his girl friend in his apartment, come end of this month. My youngest son, who is also not in the picture is busy with his culinary school, which is three hours away from our home. He is so focused on his career and was telling me that he is on his way to Le Cordon Bleu de Paris next summer.

All in all, I love all of these kids. Do I have a favourite....Yes, but I won't tell you!!!

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

MOTHER'S DAY

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,


It is Mother's Day today and my youngest son from college came home late last night and informed his mom last night before he went to see his friends that he will be the one to prepare brunch for his mom and his grandma and the rest of his Aunts who are already married. But it is already 1140 AM and my son is still sleeping like a log. My wife is doing his nail and I am doing my blog.


I was advised by my wife not to do anything -- so I won't. But my stomach is already making strange noises, I am hungry. I told my wife in an hour if there is still no cooking being done, I will step into the picture and cook lunch and all. My son who is studying Culinary Arts, is still sleeping.


I told my two sons when they were still young, that Mother's Day is not being celebrated only during the second Sunday of May. It has to be celebrated every day in their hearts and they have to show their love and their respect to their mother everyday of their lives. I even told them, that this Mother's Day celebration is just the way for business establishments to make money, especially restaurants, flower shops, candy shops and others. I am sure, Mrs. Anna Jarvis who started this Mother's Day is now very upset in her afterlife.


And so Auntie Patti Koh, Happy Mother's Day to you.


Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PICTURE

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

This is the picture of our train station, which is just half a block from my house. Just built not more than two years and this serves lots of commuters from my area who works in downtown Chicago, including my wife. I cannot understand why the tower has four sided clock that does not work and give the same time.

When I took this picture, it was 6:15PM but the other clock is showing a different time and so does the other two on the other side. Lots of commuters are complaining about this but nothing has been done yet. I guess there is no clock maker yet who will be able to take the shot of making the four clocks run and work all together at the same time.

It reminded me of the great tower of the city hall of Manila, that has a big clock also. I don't know if the clock is still working or not. I passed by there last time I was in Manila last February of this year but I did not notice it.

Well, Auntie Patti Koh, we live by the clock in the states. Everybody is always in a hurry and very timely on all their undertakings here. I wish I am back home in Pinas, wherein the clock is the thing of the past. We live and get paid by the hour in here.

Oh well.

IN FRATERNAM MEAM

WHAT A COINCIDENCE

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,


Today, I arrived at my house office early to pick her up, so I decided to stroll around Belmont Harbour along Lake Michigan and take some pictures of what I think is so nice of a subject.


There was this group of men, two Asian and two Caucasian that was taking picture of a pair of ducks that is seated underneath the crab apple tree and these two ducks was not being bothered by the people walking about the lake wall and the pathways for strolling and jogging. I was trying to figure out if these two Asians are Pinoys or not. One of the Caucasian broke the ice and said it was a nice picture that they have taken of the two ducks. so I explained that the reason these pair of ducks does not want to move, is that one of the duck is a female hatching her egg(s) and the other is the husband watching over his mate. Then we broke into a short story and then they have introduced themselves to me and what a coincidence.


One of the guy that I thought was a Pinoy is a Vietnamese. He is a theologian studying at the theologate school in Hyde Park Chicago and he is an SVD seminarian. I told him I was a former SVD seminarian myself and then the ice was then broken and we shared stories.


The bigger of the two Caucasian is a seminarian belonging to the Claretian Order. I told him that his order has a big mission in the southern part of the Philippines in Basilan and in fact one of their confrer was martyred by the Muslim. And he was so surprised that I knew about it. I told him I was in Manila when this thing happened. The other Caucasian belongs to the Religious Order of the Blessed Sacrament together with the other Pinoy looking, who is also a Vietnamese. We shared stories of the seminary life and gave them some informations about my formation with the SVD in Tagaytay City, Philippines.


And so Auntie Patti Koh, it was only a coincidence that I bump into these people. We all have same interest and same schoolings. It was a swell afternoon for me. They gave me their names but I have not written it down so I have forgotten it. Anyway, the only thing I could remember is they are all seminarians, studying at the Theologate school in Hyde Park, Chicago and all are about to be ordained by their respective religious orders where they belong.


Are you not happy with the story?


Respectfully yours,

IN FRATERNAM MEAM

LET THE SUMMER BEGIN

A group of young Pinoys at the park along Lake Michigan
I forgot to ask what they were cooking.!!!

I wonder what those two is trying to look at!!!!


Dear Auntie Patti Koh,



It was a very nice day today. I just visited my doctor to check on my thyroid problem and get a urine test to see if my kidney is okey. Well at least I am not pregnant and that is a plus. I was to pick up my wife at 4:15pm, but I was at her office earlier than expected and so I called her up and told her I will stroll around the park by the lake so I went to Belmont Harbor and Montrose Harbor by Lake Michigan.




I kept on walking around and looking at those people who are at the park by the lake also enjoying the nice weather along Lake Michigan and Chicago. Then when I was about to make a turn down the bend after looking and checking the beach for the dogs, I saw a group of youngsters playing volleyball on the grassylawn and they even have a small barbeque grill with them. They were all having fun and their laughter is so contageous. I normally don't approach people and check and ask if they are Pilipinos or what not. So I decided to approach these group of yongsters and introduced myself to them.




Surprisingly, they are all very nice and responded to my questions and explained to them what I was doing and why I was taking pictures along the lake. I told them I have a blog spot and gave them the name of my blog. Then one of the guys told me that he visits my blog and so I asked their permission if I can take their picture and told them I will put them in my blog for this evening. They agreed, and they were happy about it.

They have lots of stuff to grill and would you believe I was nosing about and checking what they were cooking. I was very surprised these young adults are so polite with me and they even shared to me what they were studying in school. The only thing I can remember is that one of the girl is taking I think Criminal Justice or Criminology.




And so, Auntie Patti Koh, I would like to tell you that it is not that so often that one bump into a group of my Kababayans (countrymen) and will respond politely and become so friendly. Too bad I did not ask for their names. But thing for sure, I will always remember them and my next paseo along Lake Michigan, I will look for them on the same spot I saw them.




More power to all of them.



Sincerely yours,


IN FRATERNAM MEAM

AN APPLE A DAY

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

This is a picture of one of my three apple trees that I have planted. This one is at the front lawn of the house and the three others are at the back yard of my house. This is the season that I am not expecting any flowers from my apple trees because last year it was not so good and the weather recently is npt that good. I was expecting that my apple trees will not be bloomin this year.

I am tired already of fertilizing then prunning the branches of the apple trees, not to mention the fruits that fall on the ground and then the flies during summer time will mill around the rotten fruits on the ground which then I am compelled to clean and bagged it for the garbage. The fruits are sweet and good. When my two boys are still young, they love the apples. But now they are on their own and its only me and my wife and the dog at the house, I have lost interest in the apples and the caring of the trees.

My wife is asking me to take care of it and start fertilizing it and spray the flowers so that the insects will not bite of the fruits. But I was telling my wife that the sprays and fertilizer is not good for my dog who always play around the house and at the back yard.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, come September, if these apple trees of mine will bear lots of fruits, I will have a back problem cleaning the fruits that will fall on the ground. I wish I could send all the fruits to the Philippines so that they could have a ball with it. These are Washington Green and Red delicious apples. The bloom is so nice and it smelly too.

Can you come and help me gather the fruits this year??

Sincerely Yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

NICE DAY TO CHILL AROUND

ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH
MY HOUSE FROM THE BACKYARD



Dear Auntie Patti Koh,



It was a very nice day today. The sun came out, the wind a little bit chilly, but the sun is still out and there is no rain and snow. I decided to stroll around the neighborhood with my dog, Bombo and explore the area that we have lived for the past 27 years now. It is in Highwood, the very heart of Highland Park, Illinois. While I was prepairing my dog, I decided to take the picture of our house from the backyard. I don't want to take the picture from the front lawn because there is nothing to see, since there is no green foliage yet. The roses has not yet came out, the flowerbed is still not showing any greens at all. The plants are so confused because of the changing weather and temperature. Then off we go to the park and the neighborhood of my small town.

I was passing by the church of St. James and decided to take the picture of the church where I got married 27 years ago. It is a very nice Italian community and now there is a great number of Mexicans who are attending the service so they have their own mass now in Spanish at 12noon.



My nieces and nephew was joking and was telling me that the angle on how I took the picture of my house and church is making the house looks like the side entrance to the church. I love my house. I bought it from an Italian couple and they even have a wine cellar down at the basement. The old man makes his own wine from the grapes that he has planted at the back of the house, making it the borders for the other property. When we bought this house, there were still some old wine bottles in the cellar. Would you believe, I have not checked out the attic of this house from the time we bought it!! My son does not want to explore it also. Nobody does, so I have just let it just like that.



And so Auntie Patti Koh, I wanted to share to you this nice day and the house that I have raised my two boys who has now left me and my wife and now we are in this big house with my dog. My wife does not want to sell it because she said in case the boys gets married and wants to come home for a visit, there will be rooms and place for them. I wanted to tell you, that it is so lonely at times at this house, especially when my wife is at work and I am the only one at the house with my dog.


I hope you love my pics!

Sincerely yours,

IN FRATERNAM MEAM