Divergent Poles => * <=

So dad had a close shave a couple of weeks ago, per the updates I have gotten it looks like he is going to make it. Thanks for the prayers.

Last April 7, Dad ruptured an aneurysm, which caused a massive stroke. Luckily he lives across the street from the hospital, helping him survive the stoke. The doctors are saying he has a 50% rate of survival at this point. However, doctors do not know how functional he is once he recovers. Your prayers for my father is requested and appreciated. Thanks.

The worst thing about a mistake is when you do not admit that it is one.

Some time ago, I relocated my family to Phoenix, Arizona. Unfortunately, we miss California badly. I guess California is where the heart is.

I miss the beach so much. On my way to work, I always see the beach, it always has a very soothing effect on me. I miss eating seafood in Redondo Beach or Port of Call, yummy. There is nothing like eating a shrimp platter with those gynormous garlic breads on a warm breezy day during the summer in Southern California.

I am in the process of relocating back my family to California. Hopefully, when and if I succeed in relocating my family, I will be able to blog a little bit more.

But all I know right now is I am California dreaming once more!

wohoooo, Feb 4 is the sixth year anniversary of my blog!n wohoooo!

i KNOW I have not been updating my blog recently, but it is my goal to update more frequently in 2008….

I am the youngest son of my mother, but I am the sixth youngest son of my father. My youngest brother is the youngest son of my father, the youngest of my stepmother, her fourth. My oldest full brother is the second oldest son of my father.

My oldest blood brother is my father’s oldest. My only sister is my mom’s second child, and my dad’s fourth.

Two of my blood brothers are chefs, they are my dad’s third and fifth oldest.

As far as I know, these are all my blood siblings.

We all knew each other, even back in the Philippines. We were siblings from a different mother and it was not a big deal. At least now it isn’t.

There are many people in our lives, when I first came to America my siblings were a big part of my life.

I must admit, my siblings were and still are a source of strength and at times discouragement.

D (the oldest of seven) – He came to America during the late 1980’s. He was very out going. He worked as a Nurse’s Assistant for several years after finally getting his nursing degree in 1990. D was a constant source of encouragement, although, he would say discouraging things, I am sure he did not mean it to be, but it came out that way. He lives in Orange County these days, with his wife and 2 children.

J (second oldest) – He came to America during the late 1980’s as well. Growing up he loved to draw. I always admired his artistry, as I could not draw myself. He always had really nice looking girlfriends. He was an aspiring nurse, but could not quite finish the program at Long Beach City College. He eventually decided to go back to the Philippines, where he helps my dad run his LPG (propane) business. He now has his own family with a daughter and wife.

DD – (third oldest) – Like the other two, he came to the US during the late 1980s. DD also loved to draw, J and DD used to hang out a lot. I remember back in the Philippines they loved the nightlife. DD tried to get into the nursing program at Long Beach City College, but just could not. So eventfully he got into cooking, eventually became executive chef at a top restaurant in west Los Angeles.

CD – (my only sister) – Is my smartest sibling. She skipped a year of high school and went on to a top university in the Philippines. She was the closest thing I had to a mother when my mom was not in America. She was an auditor with the big five accounting firms at the time and is currently in private industry. She is the only one of my siblings that can understand me when it comes to talking shop about auditing and accounting.

DDD – (fifth oldest) – He tried to get into nursing school back in the day but could not. He eventually went home to the Philippines for good. With a disagreement with my dad, he went back here to the USA some 4 to 6 years ago.

JM – (youngest sibling) – He is the artist of the family. He had his first showing of his photographs at the Torrance Museum. He is a senior at CalArts. I once thought JM was my protégé. I gave him nuggets of some of the lessons I learned growing up so he could avoid them growing up. But he had to make his own mistakes, and I am sure he is learning from them.

Living in America Part 1
Living in America Part 2