ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S EVE

As we have celebrated and waited for the New Year for years, here's what we have prepared: 15 round fruits (3 more, the luckier), bilo-bilo, ube and palitaw for media noche and seafood lomi and Smirnoff Ice for NY Eve dinner. The Eve is usually quieter and smaller affair for us (me, Nette and Gino), but, we always wait for the countdown at 12 midnight in New York telecast, we jump and steer and make noise (inside the house). Eat and go to sleep, only to wake up early to watch the next day's Rose Bowl Tournament of Roses Parade on L.A. Channel 13 as it's always has been eversince we've been here. This year, the People Republic of China is entering a float which had some activists complain because of the country's human right violations. That's the sour note.

But the better tune is when we drive to Astrid's house to celebrate NY Day with the Callanta, Aguiluz and Pimentel families. I know it's more happier there with all the fireworks and the multitude of authentic Filipino foods. I know I could be happier if I spend this day with you. But as it is said: "Happiness is where your heart is". And my heart is here and you there, always in my mind. Happy New Year, beloved. And we'll see you next year.

AT OUR SUNDAY'S BEST

The above shots were taken after we've just got home from attending Sunday Mass at the Mission in the morning. The other shots were taken later that evening. Can you guess which one are which? Is that right? Or otherwise, playing with the camera. Does these remind you of Monica and...?

COMING TO AMERICA

As it has been anticipated or hoped to be sold in the U.S>. for years, The Nissan GRS or Skyline in Japan is finally coming to America. And here's the preview. This really a wow car. I want this also, IIWARM (If I Were A Rich Man). Hehehe.

IF I WERE A RICH MAN

As the actor, Topol sings,"If I Were A Rich Man" in the movie, Fiddle On The Roof, these are the cars I would have. If I am a RICH man--a Mercedes Benz C300 or a BMW 328, a VERY RICH man-- a Alfa Romeo Spyder or a Lamborgini and if I am a FILHTY RICH man, a convertible Rolls Royce. And if I could dream, I would want to buy the 1.5 million Maybach with partial rear seat soft top. Or is it in my dreams or the Mega Millions Lotto, which I play regularly.

AND THERE'S CAN CAN

And who would believe we would see Lynn's car here, exactly in the same rust color?
It's a KIA Spectra here, a 5-door hatchback. Gino was telling he remembers Lynn's car as a much smaller one.

THE HYBRIDS, ELECTRIC CARS, ETC.

The Nissan Altima, a Honda Civic and Toyota Camry hybrids and a Honda electric car.

IT'S A HONDA

In 2008, Honda is coming up with the all-new Honda Accord which is longer, wider and taller. The Accord Coupe has an new style, not just a 2-door sedan. The sedan, some say looks like a Hyundai Sonata in the front and a Toyota Camry in the back. The Accord sets the benchmark every year it comes out, it always make into the Ten Best Cars sixteen years in a row.

I have always been a Honda guy because their cars are well-designed in and out by real engineers, not only car designers. As Honda salesmen here say to customers:"It's a Honda." As they also say about Sony years back.

A red Infiniti, an upscale car brand of Nissan, G38. I especially like the GPS and the instument panel. They are easy to use.

Ford F150 Monster truck. Gino would need a long ladder to get into this thing. Some of these are street-legal. Otherwise, they are used by ranchers, but, other race them on the freeway pulling at the back of the hapless Kia drivers which seems to say:"Fear This."

A Mitsubishi concept car

SAN DIEGO CAR SHOW

Last Saturday Gino and I went to see the car show at the Convention Center near the famous Coronado Bridge in the downtown district, across the Padres Baseball team park called the Petco Park. Flecther also lives there, something like 3 miles from here. Needless to say we enjoyed ourselves, me, being a car nut way back and Gino, now that he's taking the driving test so he can have a car to drive, finally. The only letdown is: we didn't find the Range Rover display and that's the truck he wants, second to the Toyota Tacoma truck. Here are the samples of the cars and enjoy.

THAT WAS A REALLY ENJOYABLE CHRISTMAS

After the gift-giving it was time for family pictures. And after that was another round food and drink at dinner. And when after all have eaten, it was time to clean in our spa-inspired bathroom sink which was Nette's idea. Soon, it was time for them to go and for us to clean the mess for next day's back to work. But, we will all get t ogether again this New Year's Day at Astrid's house. Gino can sigh now for it will not be held at our house, so, he doesn't have to help in the preparation. He always:"Next time not in our house anymore!" He's just being himself, but Nette's just being herself also. So, guess who wins? Good intentions, right? See you at NYE.

Everybody got a gift from everybody which was not planned, not so much as a Kris Kringle, but it has always been like this with our family here. I got 3 Ralph Polo shirts and Lanvin cologne from Flecther, 3 pairs of Polo crew shirts from Mommy, a Conair Massage sleepers from Nette and a $25 Best Buy gift card from Gino. Nette got a Eco-Drive watch from me, a Gucci watch from Mommy and embroidered table mantle from the Aguiluz and assorted teas and snack from Fletcher. We gave Gino 3-DVD Die Hard movies, Guess watch from Mommy and a check from Flecther to add for him to buy the expensive Playstation he's been saving to buy.

THE GIFT-GIVNG BEGINS

SANTA WAS HERE

Everybody was glad Santa showed up in our house and so was litte Andrew who really really happy and surprise that he couldn't stop smiling when posing with Santa. Same with Sandra and everybody else.