Thursday, September 21, 2023

Time for Laughter- The Best Medicine


Photo Credit: NY Daily News

Today is the time to laugh. The following posting I received a few months ago and I am reposting it for your reading pleasure or displeasure.   

I have no intention of offending anybody. But jokes as posted below makes life here at THD less boring. Here is a joke about JESUS. Hopefully you will take it with a Grain of Salt. If you are offended with jokes about Jesus, please stop reading. Smile, You are in Candid Camera!

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black: 1. He called everyone brother. 2. He liked Gospel. 3. He didn't get a fair trial.
 
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish: 1. He went into His Father's business. 2. He lived at home until he was 33.  3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin, and his Mother was sure He was God. 
 
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian: 1. He talked with His hands. 2. He had wine with His meals. 3. He used olive oil. 
 
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian: 1. He never cut His hair. 2. He walked around barefoot all the time. 3. He started a new religion. 
 
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian:1. He was at peace with nature. 2. He ate a lot of fish. 3. He talked about the Great Spirit.
 
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish: 1. He never got married. 2. He was always telling stories. 3. He loved green pastures. 
 
But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a Woman: 1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was virtually no food. 2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it. 3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do. ________________

Like it. How about a list that Jesus was a Filipino?
 
Can you write three proofs that Jesus could have been a Filipino ( not seriously, of course) . Here's mine
 
1. He ate with his hands. 2. He kiss his relatives on the cheek upon entering the room and 3. He was always late for most of the events he was suppose to attend.
 
Related Post: Read in the Internet: Jesus was Gay*
 
1. He surrounds himself with 12 men, he called his Disciples
2. He loves wearing flowing robes and linen garments and running naked 
3. He never married( remain celibate) and had no known girl friends    
 
 
Lastly: Just read this in FB recently-from a female celebrity;
 
God ( Jesus) is certainly not a female after watching 2 whales mating! 
 

My Quote of the Day: If I try to be like him, who will be like me? Jewish Proverb 
 

Meanwhile here's a latest photo of my patio here at THD showing my bougainvillea is blooming.


Monday, September 18, 2023

Two Weddings and Zero Funeral this Year at the David B Katague Clan

The David Balleza Katague Clan playing Philippine Mahjong at Alix and Brendan's Wedding{ Playing: Ditas, Carenna, Me and Dinah), Watching: Alex, Dodie and Yuka, September 2, 2023, Berkeley City Club, Berkeley, CA


So far the year of 2023 has blessed the David Balleza Katague Clan two weddings and no funeral.  As the 88 and 3/4 year old patriarch of the clan, I am so pleased with this year two wedding celebrations of my two grand daughters, Elaine Katague King and Alix Carver Katague.  In both weddings I was in the entourage during the wedding ceremony.  Both ceremonies are civil ceremonies held in different venue environments but with class, perfection and attention to details. 

The first wedding this year was Elaine Katague King, the only daughter of my oldest daughter, Dinah. It was held in the southwest suburbs of Portland, Oregon. The venue was a huge barn in the local winery with big space for dancing and out door activities.  It was held on June 24, 2023.  

Here's a photo of me with the bride and groom ( Kyle Bishop) taken at the pre-nuptial barbecue party for the out of town guests and members of the wedding entourage.   I was the escort of the bride's mother (Dinah)-marching second in the line.   

Elaine Katague King and Kyle Bishop and Me during the Pre-Nuptial Barbecue Party for The Out of Town Guests.  

For additional photos of the wedding of Elaine and Kyle Bishop visit:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/06/i-am-back-from-portland-oregon-from-my.html

For description of wedding venue and surrounding areas visit:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-southwest-suburbs-of-portland.html

The second wedding this year was the marriage of Alix Carver Katague to Brendan Quinn. Alix is the oldest daughter of my son, Dodie. It was held at the Berkeley City Club on September 2, 2023. The building venue of the wedding was designed by Julia Morgan and is listed as a historic landmark in the State of California.  I was also a member of the wedding entourage and paired with the  brother of the bride, Philip Katague, second in line after the Groom and his mother, Marianne Caruana Quinn.

The following is a photo of me in my black BARONG with the Bride and the Groom looking dignified. 

Carenna Katague Thompson ( my youngest grand daughter and Me) at Alix and Brendan's Wedding Day, Berkeley City Club, September 2, 2023. Carenna is currently in Belfast, North Ireland completing the Fall Semester of her Major in college, International Affairs. 

For more photos before, during and after the wedding visit:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/09/my-life-here-at-thd-three-down-three-to.html

For photos of the architectural grandeur of the wedding venue visit: 

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-berkeley-city-club-perfect-venue.html

So as of today, I have 3 grand children that are married. The future of my other 3 grand children for marriage in the next year or two is not encouraging.  My other grandson just lost his job and marriage without financial stability is a big NO, NO!  My other grand daughter is getting her Ph.D two years from now and marriage while in graduate school is also a NO, NO. My youngest  grand daughter is only 20 and in college and expect to graduate with her Masters degree in 3 years.  So Wedding bells maybe 3 years in the future in the David B Katague clan, unless my other grandson gets a job soon.  Meantime, I am anxiously waiting for a great grand child from my other three married grand children, hopefully next year.  

  • Here are more photos from Alix FaceBook page posted after their honeymoon. These are photos from the professional photographers. It looks very professional showcasing the Happy and Memorable Event in the life of Alix and Brendan.










 Finally, here are my quotes for Newly Married Couples:

  • "Two souls, one heart - a love story that's just getting started."
  • "Here's to love, laughter, and happily ever after."
  • "Together is a beautiful place to be."
  • "From this day forward, you shall not walk alone; my heart will be your shelter, and my 
  • arms will be your home."

Saturday, September 16, 2023

A Welcome Visit from a Nearby Relative

Linda Mercarder and I -Enjoy Your Visit and the Kalderetta and Leche Flan-Thank You, Linda!

Yesterday, Linda M and her nephew Jimmy Evaristo(from Concord,CA) visited me here at THD bringing with them, Kalderetta and Leche Flan per my request. In exchange for this delicious lunch, I gave them my THD lunch of egg salad sandwich with Chips and ice cream. It was not a Fair exchange, but my appreciation for the visit and for the food makes it an equitable and fair exchange. Linda's ancestral roots is from Marinduque, Philippines-my second home. http://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com/

Thanks again Linda and Jimmy for the visit and the Pinoy delicacies.  They also brought two Filipino-American Newspaper-The Asian Journal and the Philippine News-Today. Here are the photos of the Kalderetta, Leche flan and the newspapers. 



 For those of you not familiar with Filipino Food: 

Kalderetta is one of my favorite Filipino dish.  It is a hearty meat dish using chevon (goat meat), beef, or pork combined with potatoes, carrots, tomato sauce, and liver spread or liver paste. This is a popular dish served during special occasions and a regular in every Filipino cookbook. https://panlasangpinoy.com/beef-kaldereta/

Leche Flan is a dessert made-up of eggs and milk with a soft caramel on top. It resembles crème caramel and caramel custard. This delicious dessert is known throughout the world. It has been a regular item in the  menu of most Filipino restaurants because of its taste, ease in preparation and long shelf life. https://panlasangpinoy.com/leche-flan/

Lessons for Today: What is Filipino Food?  Filipino cuisine has developed from the different cultures that shaped its history; it is like other Southeast Asian cuisines but with heavy Spanish influence. Some ingredients of the Mexican cuisine, such as corn, tomato and chili, have also found their way to the Philippines.

Though its cuisine is not as renowned as many of its neighbours, such as that of Thailand and Vietnam, Filipino cooking is nonetheless distinct in that it is possibly the least spicy of all South East Asian cuisines.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that Filipino food is bland, though. It is just that instead of spices, Filipino food depends more on garlic, onions and ginger to add flavor to the dishes. Painstaking preparation and prolonged cooking time is also a characteristic of most Filipino dishes, and when done properly is often what brings out the flavor of the food, as opposed to a healthy dose of spices.

With over 7,500 islands, the cuisine of the Philippines is rather a mish-mash of hundreds of localregional, and ethnic cuisines, and without any qualifiers, you would often think of ubiquitous dishes such as adobosiniganglechon,and Filipino-Chinese dishes.