An Unwanted Break

I am taking an unwanted break from posting to my blog due to some glitzes in my computer. I'll be back after I've found and solved the causes of why an error message pops out each time I open my posts forcing me to close my computer even before I could read the first title! I hope this one publishes. Update: Yes, I was able to publish this post but as soon as I went to view it a "Runtime error" message pops out. Can someone please tell me why this happens and what I can do to solve this bugging problem? Thanks.

Re: Happy Thanksgiving Post

I had to delete my Thanksgiving post because the image was causing technical errors everytime I signed in. I had to try several times before I was finally able to open my dashboard tonight. To those who left comments for me, I am sorry if I couldn't acknowledge you properly. I downloaded the image from a site that gave permission to copy any image into one's computer or to download an image directly to a blog, so I am surprised that such problem should occur. What did I do wrong?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #1

Read, Think and Smile

As I was reviewing my e-mail attachments folder, I came across this article by Ben Stein. Now that the holidays are here I find it fitting to read it again and at the same time share it with whoever may drop by. Read, think and smile. The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?" In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW." Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards. Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein A lot of truth in this? What do you think?

WE REMEMBER AND THANK YOU !

Photo credits: www.photo.net

Angst on a plate...

As I was leafing thru some of the faded folders that my predecessor had left me, a yellowed paper caught my attention. It was a poem without any author cited. I couldn't help smiling as I read through because I found each line so cunningly true!

Prayer in Praise of Abstinence in the Midst of Temptation

I dare not touch one drop of oil,

For if I do, my health I'll spoil I'd spread my bread with lots of butter

But that would set my heart a-flutter.

Don't serve me poultry, pork or beef

Or I will surely come to grief And that fine fish just from the sea

Would, fried, becomes the death of me.

At breakfast I must never poke

My fork at any golden yolk And salt, to which I was a slave

Now lures me to an early grave.

Sugar, friend of childhood, sweet

Is now a rare, forbiden treat A shot of gin, a glass of wine

Add up to sins times nine.

Farewell to all the eats I love

Farewell, so long, to all the above But as I chomp through fields of green

And shrink each day to sinewy lean

Teach me, dear Lord,

Not to wish each course

Was rare roast beef

With bernaise sauce!

Happy Eating, y'all!!!

Thanks a lot, Rachel!

Tita Princess ~ It's wonderful reading about the people who have touched your life in different ways. I admire your dedication as a mother, grandma and teacher. It's amazing how effectively you take on each role.

A humbling recognition from Rachel of My Soulful Thoughts. Thank you very much, Rachel.

Another great Monday

A plethora of pictures went flashing before me as I was driving to work this morning. My grandkids looking bigger and taller each time they come to visit; my sisters' non-stop family updates on the phone; Ed meticulously doing his mise en place for his special lomi; the image of a 4th grandchild - (a granddaughter's face kept popping); the garage door - did I remember to close it or did our neighbor come, close it and leave a note that I didn't - again; would my lesson plan fit the mood of my students and because of the added hour to their sleeping time, will there be no tardies? I still had several frames to finish when I noticed I had only half a mile before my exit! Suffice it to say - I had a great day! A former student, Jessica, came and demonstrated a meal. She happens to be a cousin to one of my newest cross-tracking students, Lisa, and when Lisa told her that I am the teacher she volunteered to do a demo in one of my classes. Jessica practically took over the whole period with an added bonus - a taste of her wonderful dishes - Mixed Baby Greens in Raspberry Vinaigrette; Bacon Wrapped Roulade of Chicken with Asparagus, Roasted Pepper, Baby Spinach and Duxelle of Olives; Pasta in Carbonara Sauce; Apple Crisps and Tartlets of Chocolate and Cream. But the kids had the greatest time!

They conquered me again

Jacob, Joshua and Matthew visited and brightened up our weekend!

What's To Eat? (Once upon a time - IV)

Food and Filipinos are very interrelated. Everything that happens to a Filipino is celebrated around and with food. If there is a new child, with food, the family gather around the new mother. Families spend hours and hours planning the menu for a birthday, or a graduation, engagement, wedding, anniversary, even death, and yes, funeral. If you happen to visit someone, the first question asked is: "Have you eaten?" Even if the answer is yes, the host is still expected to prepare something to serve the guest. It is unacceptable not to.

And this custom hasn't changed a bit - I found out during my last vacation. For 6 whole weeks, my family and friends never gave me a chance to forget FOOD!!!

Bat and Super Men had landed !

===================Joshua as Superman+++++++++++++++++++Jacob as Batman -----------------------BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!