Most Memorable Family Vacation Happened At A Rest Stop

Homeward bound, we were on the last legs of our two week, multi-state, multi-country road trip. Mom, Dad, Kevin, Jason, “Nanay” ,“Tatay” and I were ready for home. Driving in the van was fun, but there is such a thing as “Too much” family time. 

Saw many sights for the first time family vacation. Hoover Dam’s green angels, Las Vegas’s Bellagio Fountains, and San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. Rode on a mule in the Grand Canyon. Sailed on my first ship in British Columbia. Watched Old Faithful erupt in Yosemite. However, the most memorable moment happened at a camp rest stop. Yeah, at a Camp Rest Stop.

We decided to stretch our legs and freshen up. Readying lunch at the picnic area, we had sandwiches and sodas spread out.  Dad was napping. Mom was cooking. “Nanay” was brushing her hair. “Tatay” was soaking his teeth—dentures—in a red cup. Kids were playing.

Finishing up lunch, Dad finally woke up from his nap. A Hobo came to our table and asked for food and drink. Dad still groggy handed him a sandwich and cup to drink. A few minutes later, the Hobo started screaming and shouting at us. He kept on shouting, “Is this a joke? What is wrong with you people?”

Speechless, our jaws dropped by his reaction. We were stunned.  “Tatay” angry was so mad he forgot to put his teeth in. An act of kindness and this is how we get appreciated. Nice.

Red cup in hand it looked like the Hobo was going to throw it at us. Instead, he turned around, walked away, and threw his arms up in disgust. Red cup went flying into the trees.

“Tatay” was looking around for something. Then his face turned white. Guess, he realized why the Hobo was angry. Chasing after the Hobo, I thought, “Grandpa, my “Tatay,” was going to throw down.” Apparently, Dad accidentally gave the wrong cup. The cup he handed him was the red cup “Tatay” used to  soak his dentures. Ooops.

After half an hour searching, we found his teeth. Stuck in a tree. No one said anything on the rest of the trip. Just every twenty minutes, the whole van would erupt with laughter. Running joke, every meal next two days, we all would look into each others’ cup. Needed to check, no teeth inside the cup. Again, my most memorable moment of the vacation happened at a rest stop.

Grilled PBJ

Ingredients: Sliced bread, peanut butter, strawberry preserves, butter

Directions: Heat pan high, spread peanut butter on one slice. Strawberry preserves on another slice. Press together like a typical peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Next proceed to butter the PBJ. Grill sandwich like a grilled cheese sandwich. Serve hot and brings lots of napkin.  Enjoy.

It’s a simple variation on a sandwich classic. With all the extravagance one sees on the Food Channel, it is refreshing to have something simple and yummy.Never been a foodie, but I enjoy a good meal. My waist band can attest to this. However, it took some time to understand what the fascination with the gustatory choices people make.  I would take mom to Filipino restaurant down in the Valley. Never thought it was great food. It was fried, sitting under a heating lamp for a minute and I found it bland.

A Little Goes A Way

Next to it is a Thai place. Its alright, but not my favorite, either. Nopgow on Rancho Vista Blvd would be the place I would go for my last meal. Actually thinking about the food we eat is difficult task. It’s so simple, yet the combination and sequence of preparation are vital. Sure, one can place a two slices of bread in a toaster, spread butter and jelly on them, poof one has sustenance. However, if given a choice between the PBJ I just described and a grilled PBJ, 9 out of 10 will choose the latter.

Rose Buds Come in Many Variations

Our taste buds are peculiar. Most reports say there are mainly four distinct tastes: Sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.  According to webpage from livescience, Tongue map Most scientists agree that there's a fifth distinct taste, called "umami. . .This is the taste of glutamate.  It is common in Japanese foods, particularly kombu, a type of sea vegetable similar to kelp, and in bacon and monosodium glutamate (MSG), which Ikeda isolated and patented.  There's considerable debate about the existence of a sixth taste receptor for fat, too.”

It All Counts

We too often do not consider the incredibly complexities that it takes to feed us. Think about the simple PBJ. I knew one lady ate only PBJ if it was crunchy peanut butter. Another family member hated if either peanut butter or jelly was disproportionate in spread. My nephew prefers just jelly. I like copious amounts of spread on both sides.

Moreover, we often overlook the environment in which our meal is served. It’s quite an incredible balancing act. Think about last time you went out. Did you wait in line to get served? Too long and you get frustrated. No line makes you wonder if the food is good. Did the restaurant have a view or were your sitting in a crowd of people? Was the server nice and did he/she refill your water? Or were they rushed and inattentive? How about the company you kept? A wonderful date or people from work?

Eating is an experience and one we take for granted. Talks of comfort food never really registered until recently. We go to certain restaurants because it builds on good memories. Usually, the food must be good, memorable. Next the service has to meet a certain level of expectation. Everything else, like ambience, mood, company will add and or detract to this memory. Made-with-love post 

Food Memories

It took some time understand why Mom would prefer to eat just Filipino food. My guess is that it brought back memories of home. With the food landscape, Mexican, Chinese, and hamburgers, a nice variations is something other. I mean the food was not the greatest and she admitted this, but she still returns. Like lemmings to the top of the mountain, ready to fall.

Started thinking of my own food comfort zone. When I lived in Boston, there were two places I enjoyed eating. Union with a grilled cheese, tomato, and bacon sandwich. Second place was a pizza place called “A Place To Eat” Their Stanches were incredible. Stanch (pronounced Stahhnch) is a simple Steak and Cheese. Take the first two letters of each word and you get ST(eak) AN(d) CH(eese)—STANCH.

When I left for school, I found myself getting lunch and dinner at these places often.  I was catching the Simpson on the big screen at the Union. Or I was getting home from a late night carousing with friends and the only place open was at the “Place to Eat”

More than Just the Food

Our memory banks fill with good memories with family and friends. When we eat we quickly associate food items to good experiences. Maybe this is the reason for the epidemic of obesity. We long to feel happy again. Certain places, certain foods triggers our happy signals in the brain.

For Me, going on a late night Tommy’s runs I think of singing Air Supply songs with Tammy, Brad, and Corinna on Roscoe Blvd. Rampart Original Tommy’s makes think of Dad original-tommys-simply-best post. Late night Denny's--Its Marc, Brian, Kathleen and others. Nopgow makes me think John Cusack, graduation, and family get-togethers. Roscoe Chicken and Waffle, I think of Jason. Pinks, its Rodney and his family. Odyssey, its high school football and my brother Kevin. Fish Market on 6^th Street makes think of Michelle and the last goodbye night. Cheesecake Factory and Dr Hogly Wogly BBQ stirs memories of LA Fitness. Steer N Stein, its Brad. Farmers Market, I think of my childhood.

Why Ask Why
Now, I’m not so opposed to taking Mom’s to Filipino restaurant, even though it is not the greatest. Just knowing it may bring her good memories I will never understand, I will just smile and go. I can relate because I have my own special restaurants and my own comfort foods.What are your favorites comfort foods? Where are you favorite places to go? And Why? I’d like to know. 

Thanksgiving: An Everyday Holiday

Few days since I posted. It was deliberate. Not much that I wanted to put out in the internet universe. Life gets that ways. See all the time. Read on Facebook, a practice that no longer holds as much as excitement. Its nice to be voyeur and read others readings; however, other life stuff need attention. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I’m a bit excited and worried. Butterball turkey, yum. I am happy to see family. I am happy for the drive.

Dances with the Stars is over, not that I ever watched. Jennifer Grey won. Yeah, Wind and Dirty Dancing! Its just the sense of finality of another season bodes well. Lakers won a close game and the sun is shining so bright. Kevin and Luz got back from No Cal and seeing their truck outside warms my heart. 

Seeing family brings me comfort. Brings me continuity. Things in the world seem alright. At times, I need to explore to venture on. Its just me. Read on Facebook about an old high school friend going to Boston. My former home. He took pictures of Fenway Park and brought back nice memories of a time when I was scared, excited, and homesick. Not sure where this wanderlust came from, but its there. I like it. When I go places, I am reminded how they are all the similar. When going on an adventure, I search for the minor differences. Its like a hiking trail. A trail well worn, with amazing all around.

It reminds me of being in a relationship. The little idiosyncrasies gets me. The way that a person orders her food. The manner in which she drinks her coffee. The attitude about the specific movie or TV show. Little things that only you and her know. Like, which side of the bed one sleeps on. Does she prefer an old T shirts versus negligee. Does she snore? It is the history one makes together. It is the little annoyances and delights that makes this person special.

When visiting places, its the minutiae that stands out. Obvious delights are always nice. The major reason why one should go. The Getty Center, for instance, overlooks the 405 freeway. One can see miles up and down LA. It is like watching the red blood cells in the artery on some Nat Geo show. Getty Center has the wonderful exhibits and the stunning gardens that shouldn't be missed. The architectural masterpieces and the general feel of the place renews the spirit.

When visiting a new place, I never open the map or whatever pieces of literature offered until midway of my adventure. My soul must be the pilot. Got to let it go on cruise control. Having her take every which way and that.

Taking camera I click at whatever needs attention.” Two is one; One is none.” This my motto. Got this from some military movie. They were talking about setting off demolition devices. Maybe it was Bridge of River Kwai. Maybe it was GI Jane. 

Anyways, taking photos is reminds me of hunting. Hunting for memorable moment of the Big smile. Some events due to time and life constraints can only be captured in a split second. You need to be present. Like lightning or a great basketball shot, one needs to be ready at a moment's notice.

On the other hand some picture taking needs direction. It needs to be staged. Like posing for a wedding picture with some monument in the background. People are moved here and there. Smile, Act, Pretend. Make sure the photo tells a story.  Think group photo, like a family get together. Usually it marks a special moment.

Its a juxtaposition of life. Several people from various backgrounds, from differing life moments, from around the world, intersecting at the specific moment and time. All consolidated in one shared purpose. Perhaps, it is a wedding, a graduation, a funeral, a kids birthday party or some sort of family outing.

People are vital. They are the actors. The background is the underlying theme of the story. Not the main actors, not even minor players environment plays. However, at a moment's notice, the environment may want to interject its presence. Think flood, earthquake, tornado. If I say Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon, or Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas, what emotions and mind maps come to you? Place has weight. It evokes. It demands notice.

Whatever it is these captured moments reminds one of these fundamental truths. Time matters. People matter. Events matter. Observer matter. We think so often, how things become common place and that excitement lives out there, somewhere in the ethereal. Truth of the matter, excitement is everywhere. We think simple things loses its magic. It doesn’t. 

Our vision gets cluttered. The filter we have, which sifts the extraneous gets clogged. It becomes worn. It only allows certain things in and out. Think plaque, think arteriosclerosis of the soul.

The reason we need to get out, to explore, to follow that calling for “Wander” is this. We need to move. To discover. To find ourselves. Over and over and over again. We need to be reminded the beauty of what we have. We are reminded that we live a good life.

We need to recharge here and there.  May need to leave more often than naught because like batteries in a camera we expend energy with each picture taken. More pictures, more juice used up. More moments needed to recharge.

Draining batteries has been something I’ve been doing this entire year. I see some of the FB posts, Twitter feeds, internet search engine sites. Its  the same thing. Politician sucks. Economy gets worse. A Dancer with the Stars gets booted. Blah, Blah, Blah. After awhile, of all this dross just weighs down the spirit.

Then, I realize there is Gold here and things aren’t as bad. Life is not as monotonous. Beauty, life, and all the other good stuff is out there. Just need to change my focus. Draw back, gain a wide view. Pull in, take a close up. Notice the little things.  Discover again what make it unique. What makes it Special. What is the the  especially wonderful.

Well, Thanksgiving is tomorrow and certain projects need finishing. Gots to get ready for Black Friday, Thanksgiving, a trip to LA. and Jury Duty Monday. Yeah, me. If I don’t write in the next few days, Have good holidays. Don’t forget Thanksgiving should be everyday, not just the last Thursday of November. "Everyday. . ." I say, ". . .Everyday."

More to the Story

Steve Nash—Divorces after Birth of Third Child.

This is Effed Up. He’s my favorite basketball player. What is up? I clicked to read more.Steve Nash Divorces After Birth of Child, An Off Putting Title Learned they have been separated for a few months and the process of marriage dissolution has been in the works for some time.  At times, I hate the bait and switch of sensation story writing. Must admit it works. I clicked. Made me realize these sensational story snippets is a hook and I got caught. 

But At This Moment. . .

Got me thinking this morning. Not to be so quick to judge. Enjoy the day. Sunday morning, sitting here at the new Panera, having an Jalapeno Asiago breakfast bagel sandwich. Downloading some pictures to FB. (Thanks Steve for compliment)  Tried working on my 5 things I am grateful for. Adopting this habit is important for me. On WordPress last night,  it was more challenging than my energies could marshal. Staying local today. No Beach run or Paley Museum.  Horoscope said it is a day of completion. Plus, home stuff needs attention.

It’s a beautiful day anyways. Yesterday, too. Manny Pacquiao won unanimous decision. Did some sightseeing in downtown LA and got some Thai food for dinner. This is what I am thankful for yesterday. In a couple of weeks, Thanksgiving is upon us. Spend time with family. Catch up. Eat watch the Lakers play. Maybe do a soup Kitchen. Enjoy others company. An entire day to be Thankful.

Self Analysis

Figured out why I visit so many museums of late. It hit me a couple days ago. Realized that this my recent fascination of art and sculptures stems from me compensating. A few months back, I was supposed to going be on a trip with M to the Getty Museum. It never happened. long story short, incommunicado. Still went. Spent hours at the Getty just taking pictures. Futilely filling the feeling of emptiness. It stirred me. Made me realized, I missed much. My Aunt Mary said, there are many artists in the family. From what I understand, she is fashion designer. Learned my grandfather was artist, too. Never really knew him. Wish I did. Learned that M enjoys art, too. That’s why I go.

My Coping Mechanism

From this, missed moment it has fueled my fire for history. Some personal and familial history. Don’t know how many museums I’ve visited this last year. From people at LCH, they tell me I go all the time. This is just compensatory.  Straight sublimation. There are more defense mechanisms I’m sure. Just Googled it.  This is how I cope.

Not Alone

My HR Management instructor once said, “Those with great strengths also have great weaknesses.” This always stuck. Made me wonder of all these Heroes, the people too good to be true.  Heroes we invest our Hopes and Dreams. Steve Nash divorcing, Rough.  When we learn they are human too, it brings one pause and makes us pay attention to our own stuff. There is comfort knowing we are in the same boat.

Manny Pacquiao won last night. What fuels his fire. In an HBO interview, Manny said, “He knows what it is like to be Nothing.”  From then on, I admired him more. He was very Human.  Not just a great fighter, but someone genuine.  Read that during the 11^th round, Manny looked at the referee, wondering are you going to stop this fight. He can’t see. Then Manny proceeded to NOT go for the Knockout. When I read this, Class Act. Not wanting cause more permanent physical damage.

Mind Wanders in Church

We all have some angst. Some thing that gnaws at us. We all have life issues. We have healthy ways handling stuff. Some aren’t so healthy. What used to bother me is that not being the best. If I wasn’t going to start, then I would find something that I would be varsity at. In time, it became humbling.  This need to be more than an honorable mention has been helpful and hurtful at times. In time, the need to be Elite has left. Now, I simply want to enjoy the people and time that I am with and let the rest take care of itself. Church yesterday got me thinking. Do all that I can and let God do the Rest.

. . .And Not

 I stole this from profile quote on FB from an old friend Marc, who got it from a movie 13^th Warrior. It helps me.  Merciful Father, I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only to live the next few minutes well. For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought; all we ought to have said, and have not said; all we ought to have done, and have not done; I pray thee God for forgiveness.

If All Good Things Come to Those That Wait. . .

Life happens. Divorces. Bad choices. Computer problems. Plans of a perfect life are nice, but these life moments are the stuff we need. We need to get up when we fall down. We look at the situation. Analyze. Feel Bad. We suck it up and move on.

Why? We realize the next few minutes are really all we need. Life has a way or working itself out. Steve Nash, sorry for people sensationlizing a private matter. I hope this Axiom is True, Then the Opposite should also be true. If All Good Things Come to Those That Wait, then All Bad Things Leave To Those Ready To Move On.  

Answer: In the Form of Question, Please.

 

I Can't Go On, I'll Can Go On

Just finished the last few minutes of BandSlam. There is a song in my head, "Everything I Own" I Will Give Everything I Own. . .Just to have ya.. ." Vanessa Hudgens, Kaprece’s former favorite singer. She’s into Usher and Taylor Swift. Boy meets girl. Girl leaves Boy. Boy gets back the girl. Happy ending.

If life were that simple. It is. No, I will be the first one to admit, "Life is not a movie." Nor should it be. One hundred minutes does not encapsulate a life. It is everything and more. It is the sum total of what we are, what we experience, how we filter these feelings, thoughts, and imaginations. To think that life is simply work, school, wife, family, and the rest. . .well, it is this and more.

We Have No Control

Forces around us play havoc in our lives. Whether it is an unappreciative teacher or boss. Maybe it is the unloving and uncaring other. Maybe it is the economy and the Evil forces over there, in some distant land. We, at times, feel like a puppet being played by some marionette master. At times, we are that.

We Have Control, I Am Captain

Still, we must remember, we are the Captain of our own soul.  The body we have is a transport on who we go through during this life’s journey. Sometimes, the body gets banged up. Still, there is more. We are also the construct of what the brain creates. Mind. Our perceptions on how we see the world. They say the line between genius and madness is a thin line. 

Yet, the programming that mind creates, the heuristics, the sum total of what we know can get flawed, outdated, corrupt. At times, we need to reboot new software to the shell of the programming. Windows 7, Vista, 3.O and the like. Think, of the people with Alzheimer or Autism. Are they no longer the person we think they are because the mind is broken? INVICTUS, Poem by William Ernest Henley

Human Potential, May Be Limitless

Problems, Challenges, Opportunities

Person would quickly discard others as defective, broken, . . as being special. Well, they are. We all are. We each are more than the stuff we can perceive. Sometimes people go to a higher power for answers. At times, we need to pray. We do. 

I Believe. . .

However, there are unbelievers. Well, I am not sure entirely that this without cause. A lady close to me who denies certain things exist and pooh poohs this as ridiculous. Do I think there are other life forms not of this planet? Sure, it is big out there. “It would seem like an awful waste of space. . .” to think we are the only ones. Do I believe ghosts and afterlife? Sure, I am sure each one of has had or knows someone who has had an experience with an afterlife. Do I believe in God? Yes, I believe and love God. 

We each have a destination. All on its own time and situation.

Only One Answer, More Than One Answer,

Am I religious puritan? Hardly. Do I think there is more than the Bible? The Koran?  Bhagavad Gita? Yes. Think of all the many religions out there. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Wiccans, Hari Krishna and Sikhs. Could go on with other religions? But. . .this is not my point. There are certain truths we have face every single day. We are faced with decisions to make, do, believe, feel, and think. Sure, some are ridiculous. Sure, some are well thought. There is more. 

Muhulland Fountain

True Today. True Tomorrow. Never Was True. Always True

Paradigms are just body of beliefs that are relevant at the time. There are many truths have laid hidden. Some facts are suppressed, repressed, destroyed , manufactured in order to hold on to certain truisms. Logic for one has been used to justify certain life events. Religion has been used as weapon for horrible acts.  Laws have all too often been legal, but immoral. History is littered with atrocities

Nietzche

I used to enjoy sports. I used to enjoy politics. Comics, movies, books, and the like. I still enjoy many of these things. However, being locked to certain beliefs and feelings have been more of struggle these days. We need Heroes, real and imagined. At times, villains win. Sometimes, the Celtics win (Just kidding, I like Larry Byrd, Danny Ainge, and the Chief) Faith is at time hard-earned. Many problems are man made. So are many of its Solutions.

Facebook Fatigue

Sitting out at the Grind again. I find that there has been a certain fatigue. Been thinking of a concept of facebook fatigue. Many people I know personally have been cocooning. Not wanting to share stuff out there. Totally understandable. Putting one’s life thoughts, actions, beliefs, feeling, hopes in a post is tiresome. In many ways, it has been purely voyeuristic. Reading others thoughts, clicking like and adding oneself to a fan page. It has been somewhat exhibitionistic, broadcasting to the world. Look at my picture. Check out where I am. See how many miles I have done, read my ads, join my group because I know the good life. Perhaps, this is true. Don’t want to judge. Takes too much time away from enjoying where I am and who is with me.

Del Negro: Former All Star, Coaches Clippers

Go Both Ways

We have a duty.  I believe, we must give what we take. We must continue to provide guidance and patience for others to make way. Sure many will fall down. Many will not reach their dream this lifetime. That is okay. It is supposed to be that way. Many will not have the same dreams and wishes that you had. They are not supposed to. We are not our parents. Nor our kids us. We must face whatever is ahead of us with the body and knowledge (and insights) to respond.

Me, We or Me, Wheee

I think back to this saying. Muhammad Ali (the Manny Pacquiao of his time to those that don’t know) gave the speech at a prestigious university. All in attendance screamed for the former fighter to give them a poem. He was poet, a great storyteller. He said, “Me, we.” I heard of hit in a movie, “When We We’re Kings.” I thought what a magnificent social leader. Me, we are part of a bigger community. We are all in this together. Recognizing individualism and collectivism in a short two word poem. Later, I read somewhere another attendee , “Heard it this way. Me, Wheeee.” Meaning it is a good life and I am enjoying as best as I can. Both powerful possibilities. Both credible interpretations.

Guiding Light, Prometheus and Epimetheus

My point is this. Whatever fundamental truths are learned in the experience and totality of everything before and future, it all has meaning.  Sounds like gobbledygook (yes, this is a word) It may be. We must look to both the future and past for insight for decisions we make today. Both are relevant and irrelevant.  We must decide to hold on to certain values and truths and we must decide to go a very different way if the past is holding us back on who we need to be. We are decider of our personal realities. Prometheus and Epimetheus

Your Question, Your Answer, Your Life

Truth is this. . . 

(Enough Said)