Normally at Christmas my mood which is always good, is now even better. But the SM Mall has beaten me down this year. The 24th of September we drove over to San Fernando Pampanga as I needed new eyeglasses. While there we discovered that my wife and her twin sister also needed new glasses. So we got all three that day, well, mine had to be sent to my house by Air21, within two days I had them. I also broke down and bought a new Samsung ES65 Digital camera, with a 5x zoom lens and 10.2 Mega-pixels, now I only add those facts as the salesman told me they were good things to have. The camera was instantly claimed by my sweet wife, but I knew why. It was shiny, and until I distract her with something shinier, I’ve can only borrow her new camera. My cell phone camera just didn’t take pictures that I liked.
But that is off topic, the reason for the Bah Humbug is they already have their Christmas Decorations up, and are blasting Christmas music at me three full months prior to Christmas Eve, and at the same time trying to promote Trick or Treat junk. This year I guess they want us to hang Jack-O-Lanterns on our tree. I was trained as young lad that Thanksgiving had to pass prior to the Christmas Season, but it’s changed to Labor Day, which is the official Start now.
They are going to get my money, that’s just a given at Christmas time. But could I please hang on to it for another month or so.
Fast forward to October 2nd, my granddaughter called and asked that I come to the mall with her that day. I said yes as I knew her birthday was on the 3rd and I normally let her pick out her present. I had a second reason; my son-in-law Chris has a new 2010 Toyota Inova (Spell check couldn’t help) and I wanted to have a ride in it. Quite a nice ride by the way I enjoyed his new car.
Now here is the rub, one week earlier, I drove the same road to the same Mall, and got lectured about my speed from my wonderful wife Mayang. I was driving about 110 KPH. Chris makes the trip at 130 to 140 KPH and nothing is said to him by my wife or daughter. Pure discrimination I think, 47 years I’ve been driving and I’ve never been in an accident. Vice 11 years for Chris. I’ve had a car here since 1995 or when Chris was 14 years old, and now he’s the better driver? I dare think not!
We arrived at the Mall, and the shopping commenced, I was lead by the hand by a tiny little hand, to a place called “Toy Kingdom”, where every item had to be looked at and objectively view by soon to be eight year old Heather Colleen. Guess who picked out that name 8 years ago?
Directly beside the toy store is a used book store, I left the “A” team to their birthday shopping, while I stocked up on novels. I returned in time to ooh and ahh over her selection and tell her what a nice whatever it was she picked. My niece Shay-shay was with us and if I’ve learned anything during my time on earth, you cannot buy a toy for one little girl, without buying a toy for the other. BTW; this rule applies to when they are grown also, though it won’t be a toy.
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I then was set free to go to Ace Hardware to make manly grunts over power tools I wanted. Tim Allan taught me how to do that while watching Home Improvement on TV years ago. While meandering through the mall looking in all the windows, I saw something I’d not seen in many years, a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers. I had my first pair in 1955 and 55 years later I have my second 2nd pair. In between I wore low top canvas boat shoes, but never those Nike type high tech clown shoes in all the fruity colors. Although I think they look real sporty on others. (Anti-flame statement, I hope it works)
Next, I received a call on my cell to meet the gang at Pizza Hut to eat, which pleased me no end. They decided that we’d had enough fun for one day and it was go home time. So Chris and I with the kids are now waiting at his car, the three ladies, my wife, her sister Clara and our daughter Yohanna Mae are missing. I peer at Chris and he responded with a Pinoy salute, by shrugging his shoulders. We smiled and commenced to studying the brand new Mitsubishi Lancer EX parked beside us. It is my plan to get one next year, unless Mayang has other plans.
The whereabouts’ of the missing ladies, did you think I’d leave you hanging?
They were off buying a Santa sleigh with reindeer that lit up and flashed lights, and was quite large. We drove down to load it in the car, realized it was really large we had to remove the previous shopping and rearrange the rear section, and we held up traffic for five minutes, but no one seemed to care. God love the Philippines!
Home again, home again ziggy zigg. Off load all the newly purchased treasures and I go to my special Ref. and grabbed a nice ice cold SMB. There are times when it’s well earned. (Sorry Chris, you’re still driving).
Lolo may I open my gift? Sure, like I’m gonna’ be the one who’ll tell her no? I found out it was an interactive computer thingies that you hooked to the TV and played games like tennis and boxing and other games by putting stuff in or on your hands and feet.
The machine was well broken in by the time they went home. I really had a great day and a few really great beers when I got home. I’ll do it again when Christmas time gets here for real. Just try to say no when that many sets of beautiful brown eyes are lookin’ at you, betcha can’t.
I’m out of the country on business at the moment. Before I left, I extracted 10 different kinds of serious promise that the tree would not be put up – would not even be gotten down from on top of the cabinet – would not even be thought of – until I was back. Because one of my joys at Christmas is helping to decorate the tree.
Needless to say the tree is already up and decorated. The spirit of Christmas cannot be delayed just because some kano thinks October is a tad early to get things rolling …
Ken;
We’ll never win on that score, I tried years ago and now I just give the Pinoy Salute, last year in January while she was taking down the tree, I told her to leave it up, as the Christmas Season was only a few months away. Eyes, not so pretty that day!
Hey Paul
I like that comment hahaha. What else can you do, just go with the flow and have another cold Red Horse. Take Care
Just be careful where the flow will take you! (lol)
urg..urg… hahaha.. tim allen taught me that too! and oh boy.. my wife is happy as a clam while she is checking every single isle and shelves of the store while I am at the power tools store.
Dans;
Tim has inspired us all, power tools, man cave, red meat on the BBQ, and of course “BEER”. Woman will just never understand!
Hi Paul, yes, I too roll my eyes when I see Christmas decorations in September, BUT, I am also the first to buy the new gimmicks and decorate my house like the Griswalds of “Christmas Vacation” fame.
I have one of those music boxes that flash the lights on & off to the tune of the music,
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7754434372957265804&q=Wizards+Christmas+Lights#
Try the above website and see what I’m taking about. This isn’t my house, but it’s close!
Mike;
Should we tell your wife about the Santa Sleigh that lights up and can be seen from the International Space Station? My wife decorates the house with the lights, she’ll hire half the teenagers in our purok one weekend and double our electric bill until January.
BTW, The Purok Dos Pita “Cowboys” are 3-0!!!
Go “Cowboys, they’ll be in the next PBA Playoffs.
Hi Paul, Glad to see you now stylin’ with your new “Chucks”! About time you started wearing them again, seeing as you originally hail from the birthplace of the Basketball Hall of Fame! “Chucks” have become the universal “cool” shoes, and are probably worn by lucky people in every country in the world now. (made in China) I’ve got a big collection–fruity colors and all. Did you opt for the low ones or my favorite, the high-tops?
Anyway, Merry Christmas “in advance”!
Queeniebee;
While leaving the El Comandante Race Track (Pony park) in Puerto Rico, I noticed there was a Converse Factory right beside it, that had a store attached. But after a day at the track, my pockets were normally empty.
Twelve years ago in Singapore, I bought two pair of Chucks one red and one pair blue for my girls, they were patterned leather and quite shiny. My wife was with me and told me the girls would not like them. How wrong can one mother be? Every teenager in Okongapo wanted to know where they got them, they were the new rage. And I started to get e-mails asking where I got them, as my friends kids also had to have them. BTW: High-Tops!
Hi Paul,
When we shipped our stuff from Kuwait to the Philippines this year, the Christmas tree was top priority. Although my grill and our table have not arrived yet, the Christmas tree did. Needless to say no one seems to care where my grill is at the present moment. They are to busy putting up the Christmas tree!
Steve;
That falls under the Man, tools, cave,BBQ, Beer rule.
Tree falls under the Woman & Kids, Christmas rule.
I thought you knew that?
Paul loved the story. All I can offer is that you live a wonderful life. Ron
Ron;
Are you talking about the movie; “It’s a Wonderful Life?” (lol)
I’m pleased you enjoyed reading this, and thank you for your kind wish. May the same be to you and yours!
Paul
Talking about “It’s a wonderful life”. I always look forward to watching all the christmas shows every year. Have they started putting them on tv yet there?
Randy;
Not on TV yet, but the countdown to Christmas sure is.
Did’nt you just buy a new camera the other week and that was “confiscated”? LOL!
Bob;
That’s correct, I did, and it still is.
My daughter Hanna has a new camera also A Cannon ESQ Single Reflex Lens, digital with all the bells and whistles. But I was allowed to use my wife’s new camera a few times, under proper supervision of course. My girl has a better camera and a newer car than me, that’s just what I always for her. She’ll let me borrow her camera, but it has too many buttons for me to figure out.
Correction: “ALWAYS WANTED FOR HER” Spell check is useless if you don’t proof what you wrote.
I hear that. I stick to the basics! It can take quite awhile to figure out all the bells and whistles. And when you do it’s outdated!
Nothing stranger than listening to Christmas carols in Sept, and seeing the countdown to Christmas day on TV.
Joy said get used to it….Christmas starts early here…hahaha.
The other day late in the afternoon I was sitting in my easy chair outside when a group of young men showed up singing. I asked joy what they were singing? She said they were singing visayan Christmas carols……only in the Philippines….hahahaha.
Oh by the way……nice shoes…..do they make one feel young?? If they do I’m gonna get a pair.
Greg;
Joy summed it up well, “get used to it”. Puerto Rico does it the same way, only they go on untill little Christmas in January. Christmas Carols in Sept., that’s a new one even for me. Our Baranguy Kaptain won’t let the pot bangers, start untl a week before Christmas.
The Kick’s make me want to rush of to the Hop on Saturday Night and twist the night away, cruisin’ in my 1951 Merc. blasting the AM at max volume. But my wife won’t let me!
Hey Paul,
Your from Mass. right? How can anybody get into the Christmas spirit unless it’s well below freezing, and you just got in from shoveling snow? I mean nothing says Christmas like a fresh-cut tree, sitting in a big leather chair in front of the flames sippin on a hot -toddy.
Perhaps if you can get the aircon down to 10(C) lol
Hudson;
I’m from Mass. as far from there as I could get. It’s because of snow that I am gone. A well lit Palm Tree is a thing of pure beauty, Santa in a flowered shirt with shorts is the way it should be. A lawn chair in front of a roaring BBQ with a cold beer, is what I love. Shoveling snow, 1963 was the last time I’ve ever done that. Merry Christmas to you, and to all, a good night! P.S. Christmas spirit comes in a 12oz brown bottle.
Paul
Your absolutely right. A well lit palm tree is a thing of beauty. Being from florida i know what you mean. As long as you have the brew thats all the spirit you need hahaha.
Randy;
I’ve spent many a nice warm Christmas in Florida, back when Fallstaff was still a good beer.
Fun read Paul…..so if one twin needs something then the other twin needs the same? I was just wondering you said your wife found out she needed new glasses and all of a sudden her twin needed new glasses..My Mom was a twin but her and her twin have been gone for a long time now…if she was still here I would ask her this question. I also can see that maybe it is Christmas at your house pretty much all year in one form or the other.
Dan;
Both twins really didn’t need eyeglasses, they needed longer arms so they could read. What the heck we were there, and so why not test them both. I did say above, that if you bought something for one woman…
My wife and her twin see each other just about every day, I thought it was a good idea to never get between them, I think I’d lose if I did, besides that she’s a wonderful person. I love her kids also.
Paul in a store here in Seattle and they had Halloween,thanksgiving and Chistmas items all on display at the same time,they are really jumping the gun here.Iam with you True value is the best store they have at the SM mall.
Wayne;
Throw in some Valentine Day cards, 4th of July fireworks and your set for the year. Next to the San Fernando SM they just opened up a Home Depot. Major grunting goes on there.
Hi Paul,
A few days ago I was on my way down to the local convenience store here in Palm Harbor, FL for my usual purchases. On the way there , in the evening, there it was a house with Christmas lights on the 8th of Oct.! I went back home with my purchases and returned with my camera to capture this unusual display. It was Christmas decorations with little Jack O’ Lanterns hanging on them. Wow. Go figure. But good for them!
Jade
Jade;
“For my usual purchases”, now I wonder what that could be? Mmmm.
He was probably cooking a Turkey to pass out on Halloween. But I agree, good on them! My wife informed me yesterday that our lights were going up soon, I smiled, took a drink of my beer, and said; “Of course they are, my sweet!”
Ha Ha funny, Paul,
You know what I mean, not vienna sausages. I like this place, the convenience store,it is run by an extended family of mid-easterners. They are all very friendly and are well acculturated to being here, may have been born here. I don’t ask questions.
This is my store of choice due to the friendliness present there.
(sometimes the owner is there with his puke green BMW parked in the lot)
Across the road is the corporate 7-11. There I go in the door and am greeted to the electronic bing boing alarm to signal the counter employee to get out of the back room and slowly waddle out to the checkout counter. They are always polite and friendly, the employees, to their favor.
Guess which one has the most business, big difference.
Jade
Sorry, way off topic, but I was just thinking. (neither one has Christmas decorations, yet) Will update to see which one has them first, if ever!
Jade;
Here is a question that will baffle most Americans when you ask it. “Have you ever seen a 7-11 store, under construction, or was it just there when you drove by one morning?” Second question, “Why is it called 7-11, when it’s open 24-7?” Third question, “Since it is open 24-7, why are there locks on the front door?” (I asked a Denny’s manager if he even knew where the key to the front door were?) He smiled and said, “I thought I did.” Go off topic anytime you want, I don’t care!
Paul,
Whew, boy, lotta questions…
OK, thanks for giving me the privilege to go off topic.
#1, a few, quite a few years ago, they were popping up like dandelions, but not so much lately.
#2, easy enough, guess the original concept was originally just that… 7-11… then the corporation took over… very successful for them…24-7.
#3, In my home town of Superior, Wis., a 7-11 occurred at a major intersection in the city, didn’t survive, guess the doors were locked during the renovation to a “home owned” version, now operating successfully under a new name.
Funny thing about the local 7-11 here, I never seem to see the same cashier twice.
The local produce stands/stores always have the same people there, many of whom are friends to me.
Jade
Once had a GF, just after exwife told me to get a GF, (we were separated at the time, and this was in Portland, Oregon – out of town – still miss those micro brewerys up there) (in 2000 – a year before I met Daisy, a non-smoker), well she, smokin’ Wanda, and birdwatcher, (GF – Wanda, who drove a Honda, and never threw the butts out the window, ecologically aware, but stinky in the Honda), smoked like a chimney. She particularly liked Denny’s because they were, then, smoker friendly, guess the food was secondary. OK, done!
Jade;
I was married once to a Wanda, it was akin to bashing ones self over the head with a hammer daily. It only felt good when I stopped.
7-11 will never keep employees long, until they start paying combat pay. Denny’s, it was the Grand Slam Breakfast for $1.69 that keep me coming there. Last call? Let’s go to Denny’s, and I remember when they were named Sambo’s. IHOP stunk of burned bacon, so we never went there.
There was a Burger Chain in Florida, called Checkers, that they did put up over night, the two halves, were pulled in on trucks and bolted together. My friends and I sat on my balcony(with cocktails) one night and watched them do it.
Paul,
Checkers is still alive and well in Florida. ( now called on their website “Checkers / Rallys” ) Believe it or not you can still get the basic burger there for $1.00 !
Your mention of our common Wanda’s’ moves me to continue on Wanda…
I wanted to write a poem about her, but after Wanda and her Honda I ran out of rhyming words. She was a real kick, snappy sense of humor and intense smile and eyes, cuter than a a baked potatoe (toe intended), but not much. Sort of a biker chick, met her through a mis-dialed call that reached me when I was riding my bicycle (wrong kinda biker) on a trail along the Willamette river in Portland, she was ready to apologize and cut off when I said wait, I wanted to describe my great ride, we talked for 1 hour and agreed to meet the next Sat at the White Eagle Bar in Portland (look it up it’s a fun place), we did and had a fun few weeks. I was driving an ’87 BMW with Cal plates and that put her off (no californication in Oregon) Oh Well!
Hammerhead exwife Nancy (first time I ever mentioned her name), what an ordeal. We talked on the phone once when I was out of town, she told me that she was taking Xanix or something like that and feeling better, I sympathised with her, but not expecting much improvement… This deserves a different thread. Bye and good riddance, I’m broke.
More on the White Eagle in Portland…
In it’s original configuration there was a “piss pan’ extending the length of the bar, what a convenience to the drinkers there! No need to get up and go! It was before my time.
Jade
Jade;
I’ve been in every type of gin joint on 5 continentes and Oz down under, but I missed the White Eagle in Portland. I met a girl named Wanda after my divorce, and ran like a rabbit when she told me her name.
Hi Paul
They say Christmas in the Philippines is in the BER months, SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER and of course DecemBER.
Another thing, once you have put flashing lights around your door, why bother to take them down, just keep them there for the following year.
Only in the Philippines. No point it arguing about it, just grab another SMB and go with the flow.
Barry;
We are on the same page, about those lights, but thank the stars she puts them away, or my power bill would be off the hook. My friend, I need very little encouragement to grab a cold SMB. (lol)
i had a new camera once, but i think it disappeared into that bottomless pit 5 years ago known as my wifes handbag.
she too lets me borrow it occassionally, your tale made me smile, it rings many bells(not sleigh)
Paul;
Which begs the question, “Should guys named Paul, buy new camera’s?” Oh, I do get it in my hands, when it needs charging, or the pictures need downloading.
agreed. or where can i get a new battery from,….
Paul;
Proof of pudding!
Geez, I’d forgotten about the many months of christmas in The Philippines. When I whined to my wife that I just couldn’t get into the spirit without some snow on the ground, she woke up before me one morning & covered our terrace, table & chairs with cotton(1992)! She secretly tried to raise a turkey for christmas that year, but didn’t know that she was supposed to fatten it up, so it was a skin & bone affair. The following year, a friend brought a frozen turkey from Hong Kong! I swear, if you ever want to bring something questionable through customs ask a Filipino to do it. Last year, my wife brought rambutan with her from Davao and when I opened the bag it was crawling with ants! lol But Canada customs didn’t stop her! My favourite part of that holiday season, however, is New Years. Nothing more exciting than hiding behind the terrace wall, as missiles fly in all directions!
Mike;
When I ran the Navy Commissary (Super Market) in Puerto Rico in the 80’s, my friends and their wives would come into shop and moan about missing the snow at Christmas time. So I would walk them back to one of our huge walk in freezers and take them inside, wait a minute or two then ask, “Now just what are you missing?”
New Years Eve in the Philippines, or as I like to call it, the re-enactment of the “Battle for Bataan!” or better yet, “People who live under a thatched roof, shouldn’t light off fireworks.” But the best one was last year, and the kid running with the flaming umbrella. (Go to the archives to last Christmas and read what I wrote about that.) Happy New Year, Mike!
LOL
That really made me laugh especially whenever i recall when some of my friends here keeps requesting me to bring back some durian fruit as if they really believe i can pull it through.
Merry christmas people. 😀
Rey;
Flying from Guam to the R.P. in 1994, after being paid off a ship, my shipmate, a Pinoy asked me to smuggle cock eggs through Manila customs. Knowing they would never check a Kano for that. I never found out if they hatched okay.
Paul, Daisy’s successful cousin asked her to ask me to do the same thing too. Eggs in checked baggage? Couldn’t fathom it! Not withstanding where to get them… He’s doing fine without my help, Ha Ha. He has 70 fightin’ roosters already, he’s ok.
Jade
BTW, just outside our bedroom window, more needed – No!
Next time there I will try to teach them to cock-a-doodle-doo the Christmas hymn “Silent Night”. Wish me success!
Check out the rooster farm on Google Earth, see the regular white dots? They’re the shelters at: 14 deg, 12′ 43.43″ N – 121 deg. 06′ 15.70″ E Security? nah, WTH, We have nothing to lose, we’ve lost it all already.
Pet shop guy sells a parrot named Chet that can sing Christmas carols, the guy comes back demanding his refund, as the Chet would sit silently on his perch all day. The shop owner, smiles and told the customer, that he had forgot to show how you make the bird sing, he pulled a Zippo out and lit it between the parrots legs, The bird started singing, “Chet’s nuts roasting on an open fire…”
we are raising some turkey in davao. not sure how many yet, but may be ready in time..
Paul;
The Royal store on Subic Freeport, has Frozen Butterball Turkeys. I’ve found that to be the easiest way for me. If I tried to raise them my dog army would kill them. It’s a dog eat turkey world up here in Bataan!
My wife has been here in Southern il for 5 years and still misses christmas music in september. She can’t understand why we only play it a month befor christmas and as little as we do . By the way I am a farmer and a truck driver I would ride with you any day Paul.
Eric;
If I were you, I stick that Bing Crosby – White Christmas or that Freddie Aguilar – Dawa Ng Pasko CD in the player on Labor Day for her.
Seaman have a similar saying, substitute Sail for Ride, and we both know how much of a complement that is. Thank you very much for that my gear jammin’ friend! BTW: Truckers have way better Country songs about them than sailors do.