WELCOME TO MY SITE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY

Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada- the Gambling Capital of US and the City that never sleeps! So, what has this city have to do with this site. The answer is none. I just love the photo, I took during our vacation to this city a couple of years ago. In this site, you will find articles from my autobiography, global warming, senior citizens issues, tourism, politics in PI, music appreciation and articles about our current experiences as retirees enjoying the "snow bird" lifestyle between US and the Philippines. Your comments will be highly appreciated. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringement of your copyrights. Cheers!

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Forty Popular Phrases for Your New Year Resolution

These 40 phrases maybe related to your New Year Resolutions. I do not believe in New Year Resolutions, but I try to follow the true meanings behind these 40 phrases.

1. Where there's a will, there's a way.
2. Good manners don't cost anything.
3. Always ask. They can only say no.
4. You're not marrying one; you're marrying the whole family.
5. Find the good in everybody.
6. Don't cry before you try.
7. There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.
8. Pretty is as pretty does.
9. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
10. You can't control what others do, only your own reactions.
11. Don't buy what you can't afford.
12. Remember that things don’t make you happy, people do.
13. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
14. Two wrongs don't make a right.
15. Watch what you step in.
16. Cow turds are a cattlemen's dollar signs. It all depends on how you look at it.
17. Teamwork makes the dream work.
18. Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
19. What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.
20. Fair? The fair is two weeks in the fall.
21. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
22. The greatest day in your life is when you take total responsibility for your attitudes. That's the day you truly grow up.
23. True freedom is understanding that we have a choice in who and what we allow to have power over us.
24. You're only as old as you feel.
25. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
26. Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise.
27. Happiness is not by chance but by choice.
28. If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.
29. A rising tide lifts all boats.
30. Don't judge a book by its cover.
31. You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
32. The early bird catches the worm.
33. Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbon.
34. Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian.
35. Confession is good for the soul.
36. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
37. The grass is greener where you water it.
38. The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.
39. There is no single recipe for success. But there is one essential ingredient: Passion.
40. Never lose hope. And never underestimate the power of prayer.

My Favorites are: Numbers 4, 9, 13, 21, 24, 30, 35 and 40. What are Yours?

Meanwhile enjoy this photo:

and these are contronymns: They are not common, but worth Knowing!


Finally, If You have a New Year Resolution,  I hope you will achieve it! Blessings to All this 2025! 

New Year Eve's Party Edibles- December 31, 2024, THD  7:30PM plus Champagne


My Door New Year Decor
New Year Decor at our THD Activity Room - Thank You, Sandi for the above two Photos

Friday, January 3, 2025

My Grand Children Now Vacationing in the Philippines

From Left to Right: Philip, Wyatt, Marina, Alix and Brendan- In front of the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros ( Walled City), Manila. 

My three grand children ( Philip, Alix and Marina ) were in the Philippines the last week of December 2024 and the first week of January 2025. Alix was accompanied by her husband, Brendan Quinn, and Marina was with Partner, Wyeth.     Philip, Alix and Marina are the children of Dodie, my oldest son. They spent their High School years here in Northgate High School, Walnut Creek, Ca.  

This was their first time in the Philippines. They had a chance to visit the Philippines and My Island Marinduque last 2007 when Macrine ( RIP) and I celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary. But for some reasons or another, only Dodie was able to attend. 

 Here are some photos Marina sent me while they were in Manila. They were sight seeing the popular tourist spots and enjoying the food and vibes of the City. From the photos,  It appeared that their local guides are the nephews and nieces and family of Macrine who are residents of Manila and surrounding suburbs.    Here are some of the Photos. 







    






And here are the 3 photos and one video of their trip to Marinduque . They are now enjoying the beach and easy life in Marinduque, away from the traffic and chaos in the big city of Manila and its suburbs.


Marina's photos brought back pleasant memories of my younger days in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, where our beach house and second retirement home is located. 







Memories of Front Lawn of the well-manicured landscaping of The Main House (Chateau Du Mer), Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines 2016

Thursday, January 2, 2025

New Year's Eve Dinner and Monday Night Football Win


Jane Williams, Sandi Green, Dorothy Mussey, Kathleen Sontag and I enjoyed each other company at the New Eve Dinner last Tuesday night.  Thank you Jane for organizing this 5-some for Dinner. The food was delicious. Jane, Kathleen and I had the lobster tail dinner and Sandi and Dorothy had the Rack of Lamb. It was a dinner worth remembering and appropriate for the festive occasion on New Year Eve here at THD.    Sandi and I took some photos as well as Samanta Gaylan, one of my favorite server.  Here some photos that Sandi and I took during and after the dinner. 














Meanwhile, here is the photo of the announcement that I won the Monday Night Football lottery again. This is my 3rd time to win in this guessing game contest.  



Wednesday, January 1, 2025

New Years Day Tradition in the Philippines and Other Parts of the World

New Year Eve Traditions in the Philippines and Other Parts of the World

Happy New Year to All! Good bye 2024. Welcome 2025.

Did you know that twelve Round Fruits in Your Table (for Prosperity and Wealth)-is a Filipino Traditions at New Year? 

The past years, I have posted New Years Eve and Day Traditions and Superstition ( see website at end of this blog) in the Philippines. Today I am reprinting for your information 12 Fascinating New Years Eve traditions from other parts of the world as well and as follows: 

TWELVE FASCINATING NEW YEAR’S EVE TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BY

New Years from Around the WorldShutterstock / MEzairi

In the U.S., we usher out the last day of the year with cocktails, ball drops and fireworks. Elsewhere, other types of symbolism play a big role in this final holiday of the season. 


Taste of Home

JAPAN

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Japanese eat soba noodles. The Toshikoshi soba, which translates to a “year-crossing” buckwheat noodle dish, has lots of symbolism. The long noodle denotes the crossing from one year to the next. Since it’s an easily cut noodle, it signifies a letting go of the past year’s regrets—a cutting-off, if you will, before the fresh start the new year brings.

Healthy fruits Red wine grapes background/ dark grapes/ blue grapes/wine grapes,Red wine grapes background/dark grapes,blue grapes,Red Grape in a supermarket local market bunch of grapes ready to eat;Aripai Leangphet/Shutterstock

SPAIN

In Spain, with 12 seconds remaining until the New Year, people eat 12 green grapes to bring good luck in the coming year. It’s thought to be bad luck if you can’t eat them all by the final midnight chime. But gobble them down in time and 12 months of good fortune will come your way.


Taste of Home

FRANCE- MY FAVORITE OYSTER ROCKEFELLER 

The French usually ring in the New Year with a huge feast, commonly know as le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. The meal is full of traditional, decadent eats, including foie gras, oysters, lobster and escargot. And, just like in the U.S., champagne is the drink of choice.

Cotechino with lentils with rosemary served on a plate with some ingredientsShutterstock / barbajones

ITALY


Italians love lentils for their coin-like shape, symbolizing luck and prosperity. A New Year’s Eve dinner usually features this legume to bring on luck in the coming year. Pork is often added to lentil dishes in the form of cotechino, a spicy sausage, or zampone, a deboned pig trotter, to represent the plenitude of the land.


LI Cook/Shutterstock

COLOMBIA

On the last night of the year, Colombians place three potatoes—one peeled, one unpeeled, and one half peeled—under their beds. At midnight, they pull out the first potato they touch. Peeled means they’ll have financial problems, unpeeled indicates abundance, and half peeled…well, somewhere in between.

Fiery red fireworks light up the Sydney Opera House and Harbor in a brilliant displayShutterstock / David Carillet

AUSTRALIA

Australians celebrate the New Year with midnight fireworks in cities and towns throughout the country. Firework displays are launched off bridges, such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, from jetties along the beaches, and on river banks, with the lights of the fireworks sparkling off the water. In a typical year, people pack picnic baskets and arrive hours early to get the best viewing spots.


Fresh juicy citrus fruits in a basket on a wooden backgroundZb89V/Shutterstock

THE PHILIPPINES

Filipino culture celebrates the New Year by serving 12 round fruits. The round shape symbolizes coins, which represent prosperity and wealth for each month of the upcoming year. Apples, melons, oranges and grapes are popular picks, but any round fruit will do.


Traditional Norwegian marzipan ring cake - kransekake - seen from side with crackers and Norwegian flags.Shutterstock / V. Belov

DENMARK

After a traditional New Year’s Eve meal of boiled cod with mustard, the Danes eat a tower of marzipan doughnuts called kransekage, meaning “wreath cake.” It was once called overflødighedshorn (cornucopia), because the whole doughnut tower was tipped on its side, with chocolate and treats spilling out. This traditional cake is also served at weddings and birthdays.


Ice fishing. Winter fishingShutterstock / Alexander Lukatskiy

CANADA

In rural areas of Canada, New Year’s Eve is a time to spend ice fishing with friends. Celebrations on the frozen ponds and rivers tend to last all night as buddies fish in the open or in fishing shacks and perhaps catch a fish or two to help celebrate the coming year.

Taste of Home

IRELAND

The Irish have a tradition of banging bread against the walls of their houses on New Year’s Eve. The idea is that bad luck and evil spirits are chased away and good luck is invited in. It also ensures that the coming year will be filled with an abundance of bread and other food.


Half pomegranate and raw pomegranates on a white wooden background; Shutterstock ID 228369412OZMedia/Shutterstock

BRAZIL

In Brazil, particular foods are eaten to invite good luck for the coming year. Seven is the lucky number on New Year’s Eve, so seven pomegranate seeds are eaten to keep the purse full, and seven grapes ensure abundance in all areas of life. Some Brazilians also jump over seven waves in the ocean and make seven wishes for the new year as they leap.

Hands of senior woman with bread and coins on wooden background.Shutterstock / Africa Studio

GREECE

The Greeks ring in the new year by eating vasilopita, a sweet yeast bread. Eaten at midnight, the bread is made in honor of Greece’s revered St. Basil. Before serving the family, beginning with the oldest member, households set a slice of bread aside for the saint and another portion for those in need. A coin is baked into the bread and the person whose slice contains the coin is in for a year filled with good fortune.

 
For details about New Year Eve and Day Traditions in the Philippines and other Part of the World visit: 

https://marinduquemyislandparadise.blogspot.com/2019/12/new-years-eve-and-day-superstition-in.html 

https://holidappy.com/holidays/New-Years-Eve-Superstitions-and-Traditions 

Meanwhile,  The is the  dish I will have for dinner today with steam white rice  (ordered previously from East Ocean Seafood Restaurant) and with dill pickles from a neighbor as a side dish.

Fish Cod Fillet with Red Peppers and Black Bean Sauce

Thank You Sandi for the Kosher Dill Pickle Chips. 

Lastly,  here are some photos from Richard Botton Hannukah Celebration last Sunday. I was there at the ceremony but did not stay for the reception. As per last year, the singing and ceremony was beautiful and well-planned. I did not stay for the Latkes and reception after since I had a minor stomach problem. Thank You, Dick for the Hannukah Party and Celebration. Here are some photos of the event.





 
  Again, May You all Have a Prosperous New Year, 2025
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