Christmas and New Year 2014 Day 5

12/23/14

ADJUSTMENTS AND PLANNING

I've been wondering when I can start adjusting and come out of jet-lagging. Today, I woke up at 6:30AM and missed the sunrise; I didn't even hear the midnight mass church bell! Midway into my trip here I am getting used to the time zone.

Cabin fever is and always has been my enemy. As much as I'd like to say that doing nothing and taking naps are relaxing, I find them to be time wasters since I'm more of the 'lets go somewhere' kind of a guy. It also doesn't help that the internet is down. My brother went to the building and I should have gone with him. Even if just for a couple of hours.

No plans this afternoon still. Eline and Manny both have a presentation of their business in Quezon City. Maybe I should ask them if they could drop me off at Green Hills so maybe I can go do 'cheap' shopping. Just got word that we're heading the mall at 3:30PM and this time I'm going to insist we walk dad (in his wheelchair of course) around the mall. I really believe that he could use the little change of view from a simple “from the car, sit down at the cafe, and back to the car” routine.

My nephew Ting Tabora and his two kids are here visiting for the day. He is Ate Lelen's adopted kid and lives north of us, in Cabuyao, Laguna. Public transportation takes 3.5 hours when traffic is involved. His eldest is an 11-yr old girl named Shine and his 3-yr old boy is Kenishi. Both have endless energy and we've got Luigi and Isabella to match them. I think they're having a great time. They've practically spent the whole day running and riding scooters in the back porch. They've gone through two shirt changes because they were sweating. Last time I saw Ting was 5 years ago during my dad's 90^th birthday. Prior to that, I saw him years ago when he was about 8 or 9. Way too long. Ting has got to be one of the nicest and kind-hearted guys I know. I can tell he is very attentive to his kids who lovingly call him 'papa'.

Update on the tennis challenge from Timmy: we ended up playing doubles opposed Anton and Quentin who wanted to play us. They put up a good fight and we win 8-5. I was actually surprised to find out Quentin had taken up the game. These boys have potential. We may have a Tabora-clan in tennis to be reckoned with. I hope that happens.

Went to the mall again today with mom and dad. This time as soon as we arrived I informed mom that we will be walking through one fourth of the mall so that both she and dad at least can see activity rather than just sit in the coffee shop. We ordered sans rival cake ( a butter based cake with nuts and crunch.) which I was craving but unfortunately I did not take a picture of.

Mary Grace Cafe was full so we went next door to Hollys Coffee. One thing you can get away with here is you can bring and eat food from another establishment as long as you also order from the place you're sitting in.

I've been trying to be good and only having half portions of the food prepared here at the house. It is so challenging to do given that what we are having are items I have not had in a while.

Corned beef with banana, scramble egg with garlic fried rice.

Beef Sukiyaki

Fried fish, hotdog, pickled herring, vinegar dipping sau and garlic fried rich

hotdogs, fried fish, scrambled eggs with tomatoes

Spaghetti Putanesca

Mango Bene

Mom was busy in the kitchen cooking and canning her much requested pasta sauces. She makes them and sends them out as Christmas gifts. At one point she has so many orders that they had to buy this humongous pressure cooker. I haven't seen anything like it.

On a side note - I'm missing the Goose. I wish she were here to enjoy this trip with me. This is the first Christmas that I'll spend away from her. I hope I don't do this too much. I showed her cousins her video singing the Portuguese song Ai Se Eu Te Pegu. Tita Honey was impressed with her voice. Who knew she could speak Portuguese?