Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Genealogy, My Family Tree, Old Filipino familes

Obsessed now, and I'm unapologetic about uploading 52 priceless photos. Just found within last 2 years by my Tito Jojie (was with my Lola Zon's possessions during her wake). Commentary on each photo included (thanks Tito Jojie).

I am sure there were moments of light in the family's dark past.

I stumbled across this Blog entry on the Families of Old Cebu.  I wonder if the blogger (Toto Gonzales) has information on the Marzos. I left him a comment.

This is so surreal. The family had a store in Cebu! And our name on signage.

My dad's mom Corazon Razon (aka Lola)

Dad's parents @ their wedding. Lola & Artemio Marzo (aka Lolo). Don't know who the kids are.

Lolo & Lola are the first two on the right. The rest of the people are Razons (Lola's family)

Lolo (left, w/ Hawaiian shirt), Lola to his left

Lolo, Lola, Tita Lulu (Lola's sister)

Lolo's side of family (Razons) and some other family (Gonzales)

Lola with Tita Lyn maybe? Halcon house #1.

Tita Maribel (dad's sister)

Tita Lyn (dad's sister)

Lola & Tita Maribel in Halcon house #2 - I think this is where I lived for a bit

Lola at Halcon house #2, 2nd floor sala (living room)

Tita Lulu & Tita Lyn

Tita Baby, Tita Chari, Tita Lulu (Lola's sisters). Think the baby is Tita Lyn, with her Yaya (nanny).

Lola & Dad's brothers/sisters - Luneta in the early days

One of their cars. Tita Maribel & Tita Lyn. Not sure which Tito the little boy is.

Tito Freddie @ Congress. I called him Tatay (dad) - he raised me for a few years. Kyklos gang leader.


Lolo and Lola in Cebu - Talisay beach. Not sure which Tito the little boy is.

Lolo at Congress

My Lola and Titos @ Hinulugan Taktak, Antipolo

My dad's family and their car #2 in Antipolo

Antipolo Plaza with Dońa Rufina Nebres (Dad's Lola, my grand Lola Pinang), together with Yayas and Lola Zon.

My Titos in Antipolo. Original Gangsters.

I think 1 of the boys is my dad - with his brothers & sisters and Yaya

My dad

Novaliches lot survey where the Marzo's compound was built

I think this is my Tito Ernie (dad's oldest brother)

Tito Ernie celebrating after Lolo bought the land

Land buying negotiation

Lolo @ Lourdes Church during wedding of Tito Ernie and Tita Leovy

Wedding of Tito Ernie and Tita Leovy

Marzo's Residence - garden under construction - grotto in corner (I think this is a must have for Filipino Catholics)

Lola and unidentified relatives

Lola entertaining guests

Tito Boy and PAL Flight Stewardess Girlfriend

Lola and Lolo

House blessing

Priest socializing

June 1966 Blessing at the Garden

Long queue to visit Grotto

Lola and guests

Lola and her guests and "Our Lady of Fatima"

Old School partying

Tita Lyn's first communion

Lola and Tita Lyn - Feb 1967

Lyn at the arcy overlooking the other sala

Unidentified relatives

Mom and Friends at the colonial style sala

Tita Lyn and Tita Maribel

Believe it or not, the girl looking guy with pale legs and black boots is my dad

Swimming pools at that time are a big deal

The band. Sitting (L-R): Tito Ernie, Tatay Freddie. Standing middle: Tito Boy.

AYCE Review: Dragon Pearl Buffet

For our traditional Easter lunch, we went to Dragon Pearl Buffet in North York (Leslie and York Mills).

The verdict? I've had better food and cheaper lunch at other similar places.

The decor is over the top, albeit dark-ish. Lots of really nice wood that I wouldn't mind using in our house.

My mom thinks the restaurant is owned by the Triads! We are a family of conspiracy theorists and lovers of the underworld.

Source:wikipedia.org

Monday, April 25, 2011

Damn You Allergies

First, I'm writing this post with Common's "Reminding Me (Of Sef)" off-the-hook track playing in the background! And "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu Tang Clan just finished! I hate Lauryn Hill so I'm skipping her ass. Erik B & Rakim's "Know the Ledge" just started... soo soo soo good. It's making me feel all urban!

Second:

I've been using Burt's Bees products for a very very long time. I started when I stumbled across the product in Stratford, Ontario during one of many road trips.

I am in the process of eliminating a whole bunch of stuff from my diet / lifestyle as for some reason my body has developed allergies to certain things - wheat in particular. And metal - can you imagine? And no, sorry, Greggy can't start a whole new non-metal business.

One of the items I've eliminated is Burt's Bees products, as they contain beeswax. According to my self-diagnosing via Google search, two causes for Perioral Dermatitis are steroids (I don't take them) and beeswax (guilty).

Last night, after weeks of not using Burt's Bees lip balm, I figured - hey, I'm probably over this whole allergy bull. My body has developed antibodies (so I theorized).

Guess what? I'm wrong.

Three applications of Burt's Bees lip balm prior to going to bed last night = Lips like Mick Jagger and Angelina Jolie's freak daughter. It'll take 24-48 hours to get this out of my system, and lots of Green Tea.

It's my fault for thinking I'm superhuman.

Source:davidwygant.com
House of Pain's "Jump Around" is playing now. Hi Ms. Doubtfire!

Back to work I go.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Hanna and Eskrima

Watch it. Do it.

Eskrima (also known as Arnis and Kali, also spelled as "Escrima") is a weapons based martial art which comes from the Philippines. It is the national sport of the Philippines, and has a very long history of combat effectiveness. Only recently has this art become more conspicuous in many countries and enjoyed the popularity of other more traditional Asian arts. Its difference from other martial arts is that the student is taught to train with weapons from the very start, rather than starting on empty hands training (like many martial arts do). This type of training builds manual dexterity in the practitioner and also trains faster conditioned responses to various attacks. Although it is weapons based, it also includes striking (kicking and punching), wrestling and grappling, and even groundfighting, as well as teaching practical defenses against most weapons. In the Philippines it is referred to as Arnis in the northern islands (Luzon), is known as Eskrima in the central islands (Visayas), and is known as Kali in the southern islands (Mindanao).

Source: black-eagle.org

In Hanna, Eskrima was one of the techniques little miss Jason Bourne was playing with in the first few minutes of film.

There is an Eskrima school near me (also sometimes referred to as Kali or Arnis).

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Mother’s Prayer for Her Daughter (Tina Fey, Bossypants 2011)

A colleague sent this my way and I thought... HA. Too funny and hits close to home, so it's blogworthy for me. Some edits done to make it more Toronto-esque.

Thank you Tina Fey!



First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the Leafs logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half. And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her,
When crossing Yonge street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting, Singing, being in a band, but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes,
And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, dammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barney for much too long, For childhood is short - a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day - And adulthood is long, and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers,

And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a b**** in front of her girls, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into my car in front of her friends, For I will not have that, b****. 
I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Stop Working Now, says Derek Foster


The other day I went to the mall to get KFC because I worked late yet again and was in need of chicken for dinner.

They had a waiting period (10 minutes-ish) so I went to Coles. I hit the Business section, then Travel section. The Travel selections in that particular mall really sucked. So I moved on to the Business section, and this booked was literally right in my face.

I figured... I want to "Stop Working Now" too! I have been saying this for YEARS.

Paid for the book, picked up the chicken, went home and had dinner, finished the book at 11:30 PM same night, updated my investments based on the recommendations from the book by 12:30 AM, then went to bed.

It's a good book. One of those "wow I learned something new from this book" book.

Pick up a copy. But don't be obsessive and finish it on same day as you bought it (like I did). I'm a bit of a weirdo.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Antidote to Long Work Day

If you need some pep during a particularly long ass work day, listen to Slacker Radio.

Basic service is free, no installation required, listen using your Web Browser of choice (I prefer Mozilla).

My favourite station is 80s alternative. It reminds me of my childhood days back in the Philippines when I was between 4 yrs old to 11 yrs old and really into The Cure, Psychedlic Furs, Tears for Fears, etc.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Parenthood

SOMETIMES I REALLY SERIOUSLY HATE BEING A MOTHER.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Sloth, Gluttony

I'm back, but only for a bit. Because I'm exhausted.

I slept until 1:30 ish today to make up for a massive sleep deficit. I feel great. I don't care if you think I am a sloth. I am not doing anything today other than reading newspapers that I missed the entire week (and eating and watching TV). They pile up like crazy when I am working too much. Greggy doesn't recycle them because he knows how I like to read the newspapers even if the news is outdated. I like to go back in time.

(Tangent - It would be really great if I can cryogenically freeze my body when I turn 40 yrs old in 5 years. I would instruct to be thawed out 100 years from now. Kinda like Demolition Man. I would like to see if we would have flying cars and teleportation available in 2111. I hate commuting.)



 
Revelation: Nobody told me Liz Taylor died on Thursday! Not even my husband Greggy who is addicted to news radio (also his obsession with weather updates fascinates me).

I've been drinking all sorts of green tea as now I am convinced it has helped me get rid of some of the toxins in my body that was probably due to all the fast food junk food I have been eating over last few weeks. My favourite so far is Tetley Lemon Green tea which tastes amazing if you mix it with a hint of Splenda French Vanilla sugar. This replaced my morning coffee. I drink decaf green tea at night. Did I tell you I am a bit obsessive about things?

   

I've been having allergic reactions. Self-diagnosing courtesy of Google and obsession lead me to something called perioral dermatitis. It sounds scary. I had it for a week, now it's gone but I think it is a sign of something.

The above has not stopped me from getting Popeye's Chicken last Thursday which made T all giddy with excitement. It is a poor substitute for the New Orlean's grub we feasted on when we were in, uhm, New Orleans. But still, it brought back memories.

I'm too lazy to cook anything tonight and, well, I need to get groceries tomorrow since we are out of the stuff that I would typically "cook" for our meals (thank you President's Choice and M&M Meat Shops).

The alternative is Retroburger. My loving husband will go on a mission to get me a cheeseburger and feta poutine. Are you jealous?

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Breaking Up

Source:vectorjungle.com

I am breaking up with junk food soon.

Due to the craziness of my work life, professional schedule and being a mom to 16-year-old teenage girl, for the last three weeks I've had to rely on Kentucky Fried Chicken, Retro Burger, Movie theatre pop corn and hot dog, chocolates of all kind and McDonald's for sustenance.

Out of control and in need of an intervention.

I'm quitting cold turkey.

Scope of my cold turkey quitting only includes junk food. I need the continuous service and convenience of "good take-out" like Congee Star, Memories of Japan, Pho Saigon, Limeleaf and Arkadia.

Otherwise dinner will be a big huge disaster.

Worth mentioning: Our cat (Mitzy Pepper Pie), who has 99.5% white fur, now has a strange grey streak on the left side of her body. We have no idea how she got that. Greggy assumed she rolled all over the snowy slush that he tracked into the basement office. Greggy said it will go away.

I told him I think we need to shave that part of her body so it'll grow back all nice and clean, just like when the neighbour's cat Wilson had to get her fur shaved (assuming that was due to a flea problem).

I also suggested to Greggy that we bring Pepper to Petsmart as they have a cat grooming service. Greggy said she will be traumatized, so I am left helpless. You would know this bothers me because I am like that Martin dude in Sleeping With the Enemy.

I hope Pepper's constant need to lick her fur clean works. Let's keep it PG 13 people, no dirty jokes please.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Valentine's Day 2011

Source:foodnetwork.com

Greggy and I don't typically go overboard with Valentine's Day shtuff. We really don't believe in the commercialism of it all.

We think every day should be Valentine's day. And every day should be Christmas. Same goes for New Year. And maybe every day should be summer and we should have four day weekends and really I need to be able to eat what I want and not gain any weight and I feel I shouldn't have to exercise at all but I have to.

I digress!

Back to the topic on hand, every day is Valentine's day for me and Greggy. We love each other so much in a very easy, natural, "don't-have-to-pretend-we-like-being-with-each-other-cause-we-really-do-without-faking-it-and-don't-have-to-change-who-we-are-to-get-along-and-we-respect-and-trust-each-other-wholeheartedly" kinda way.

Yes, this is a throw up in your mouth moment.

Anyway, for V-day, we had a random, totally unplanned, no reservations on Valentine's day dinner at Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill on Front St. Then we went to see Gipsy Kings at Sony Centre because Greggy loves them.

The best thing about V-day night (other than us spending time together) was the Tuna Lettuce Wraps at O&B. Imagine how your taste buds will love you for eating citrus soy dipped Ahi tuna with avocado, crispy taro, miso dressing and pickled ginger, nestled inside a perfect boston bib lettuce leaf.

source:oliverbonacini.com

Then feel and dream the taste of their velvety smooth Signature Thai Red Curry with Shrimp and Chicken breast entree, served with Basmati rice and crispy stir-fried Asian vegetables.

No dessert, my skinny jeans were getting too tight, but I had two Margarita on the rocks served in a glass with salted rim.

At the end of the Gipsy Kings concert, we went outside and saw about 6 or 7 white Mercedes and Lexus SUVs. (By the way, the band name is spelled "Gipsy" with an "i" instead of "Gypsy" and it's not a typo you crazy editorial type people and journalism graduates)

For a split second I thought it was for us! But it wasn't! And that was ok!

In conclusion, every day should be Valentine's day and go get some O&B Tuna Wraps.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Hell Week

This is what my week was like:

Source:rcspiritualdirection.com


When I feel better, I will write about surviving on take-out all week, centering yourself when you want to kill everyone, Retro Burger's Feta Poutine and being recognized as a Blogger chick by totally random strangers.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Snowmageddon 2011 Toronto Mass Hysteria

I found it very amusing that people (including my husband) were having massive panic attacks about today's snow storm. For days now, that's all I heard everywhere - at work, at my chiropractor's, during my dad's birthday lunch on Sunday, in the elevator - like, literally everywhere, every day since last Sunday.

Source:weblogs.baltimoresun.com

I think it's great... all the snow, I mean.

That's only because I worked from home today. And because I'm not in charge of shoveling. And because it looks very pretty outside right at this very moment.

And now... for the saddest news ever... I have never... not even once... made a snow angel... or snow man... in my entire life. Sigh.

Outside my front door

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Amateur Movie Reviews - 6 - The Rite, Inception

I watched Inception twice: once in the theatre when it was just released and last night at home with Greggy. I still don't see what the big deal is other than the really cool effects, skinny Heath Hedger look-a-like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Eames. I really liked Eames.

Source:allansgraphics.com
The Rite was alright (are you throwing up in your mouth?) and Anthony Hopkins is creepy in the film.

And so are demons. Demons are very creepy and scary, but thank God (yes, pun intended) that I believe there is a higher being that ultimately looks out for the good of all mankind and the universe, including, but not limited to, parallel universes... plus I'm a good person overall, so... I feel somewhat... safe (*gulp*).

I closed my eyes the whole time so I only saw 5% of it. Plus it was set in Rome, and I'm still angry about that whole Roman trip cancellation thing.

Source:deskofbrian.com

Cyberpunk

I have a feeling I am not 100% human.

Source:darkart.cz

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Retro Burger... Deep Fried Mars Bar...So Good

retroburger.ca

It's Sunday, -18 degrees and sunny. Because our family is a bit... odd... this was how we spent our day:

- 8:30 AM - Workout (Greggy goes to Xtreme Fitness, I work out in our home gym)

- 11:30 AM - Dentist (Yes, our Dentist takes us in on Sundays)

- 12:30 PM - Urban Sun (Vitamin D for long cold Canadian winters)

- 1:00 PM - Retro Burger (Kennedy Rd. & Eglinton)

I've been wanting to try Retro Burger ever since I saw the Toronto Star article about this humble joint. What I didn't remember (seriously!) is that the article was about Retro Burger selling Deep Fried Mars Bars.


I swear we went for the burgers and not the evil Deep Fried Mars Bar! I got a bacon cheeseburger with a side of onion rings (both decent), and Greggy got the Philly Cheesesteak with a side of Greek salad, to offset the guilt.

I liked Greggy's Philly Cheesesteak better than my bacon cheeseburger, and I vowed that next time I will get the Cheesesteak... I kept thinking "I should have ordered the Cheesesteak! I should have ordered the Cheesesteak damnit!!!!"

Source:pinoyfoodcritic.com


Then innocently, almost shyly, Greggy said: "Look honey, they sell Deep Fried Mars Bars..."

I was super excited because I have never had a Deep Fried Mars Bar before! I used to think that that was just a British or Scottish thing and that it would be gross and yucky and so bad for you and why would anyone want it???!?

Source:fresnobeehive.com


But we bought one, and shared it, and it was deeeliciousss and very very bad, like... Catholic sinner guilt bad.

We enjoyed every sinful bite.

Our Dentist would not have approved of it.

Source:boingboing.net

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Is It Me?

Or are teenagers annoying and self-centered?

Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints!!!!

Source:thenextweb.com

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

M & M Meat Shops Saved My Life


Die-hard vegetarians and pescetarians - don't let the "meat" part of M & M Meat Shops fool you.

In my attempts at simplifying my life and outsourcing most of my domestic responsibilities, I've looked for solutions that will help me with my daily dinner dilemmas (aka DDD). Do you remember the crazy amount of money that I spend every month on food alone?

Anyway, I tested some of M & M's products last weekend and was pleased with the results. Typically I always have to put my own stamp on premade food, but was pleasantly surprised when all I had to do with M & M's Chicken N' Dumplings was add freshly squeezed lemon after it came out of the oven.

Also tried their Supreme Homestyle Meatloaf and Grilled Vegetables, both were a hit with Greggy and T!!!




The best part about M & M products?

- They are super easy to prepare. How hard is it to preheat the oven and stick the product in there per the number of minutes outlined on the user-friendly instructions label?

- Ingredients are all natural. Like, if I cannot pronounce the ingredient listed on the box, I will not buy the product.

- A generous dinner for four days and three people cost me just $87 all in. We spend more than that in one restaurant dinner for two people!

- I can call-ahead (my preferred store is the one near my Shiatsu therapist) and order over the phone. When I get there, my order is already packaged and all I have to do is pay for it and put the bags in my car.

I can go on and on about the benefits of M & M... and no I don't work for them and I don't own a franchise.

But what I really value most above all? Getting a few hours of my time back and not being stressed out about dinner.

This is my love letter to M & M.



Tonight: Flattened Chicken, Gourmet Stuffed Potatoes, Spinach & Feta Supreme Side. And Jeff Lewis' Flipping Out.


Source:dipity.com

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Excuses, Excuses

Source:destructoid.com
Here are the Top Four reasons why I have been slacking on my blog entries:

1) I went back to work after being on vacation for three weeks

2) It's snowing outside

Source:atheana.smugmug.com
 
3) I have been obsessing over all-beef hotdogs and southern fried chicken



Source:foodnetwork.com

4) I have been waking up at 5:00 AM every other morning so I can run for 30 minutes with two pound arm weights on, do 20 minutes worth of stretches, followed by 8 minutes of Obusforme bliss.

I think these are very good excuses.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Gabriel Allon (Daniel Silva)

I'm dying for a new espionage movie and Jason Bourne-esque obsession.

Would some hot shot movie studio exec please contact Daniel Silva already?

The Allon Dossier

Prince of Fire
Full Name: 
Height: 
Medium

Weight: 
Medium

Eyes: 
Green

Hair: 
Black with gray temples

Place of Birth: 
Jezreel Valley, Israel

Date of Birth: 
Unknown

Higher Education: 

Known Residences: 
Cornwall, Venice, Jerusalem

Current Residence: 
Thought to be living in Italy under Vatican protection

Employer: 

Status: 
Semi-retired

Area of Expertise: 
Intelligence collection, special investigations, kidnap and capture, interrogation, assassination

First Known Op:
Wrath of God, 1972-1975; personally liquidated six terrorists responsible for Munich Olympics massacre

Weapon of Choice:
Beretta

Known Aliases:
Mario Delvecchio, Alessio Vianelli, Heinrich Kiever, Johannes Klemp, Natan Golani, Ehud Landau, Gideon Argov

Cover:
Art Restorer

Area of Expertise:
Italian Old Master

Favorite Painters:
Titian, Bellini, Caravaggio

Favorite Opera:
La Bohème

Languages:
English, Hebrew, German, Italian, French

Last Known Op:
The Kharkov Affair, Moscow

Known Associates:
Ari Shamron, former chief of Israeli intelligence
Uzi Navot, chief of Israeli Special Ops
Eli Lavon, Office surveillance specialist
Chiara Zolli, Office field operative (also known as Chiara Allon)
Mikhail Abramov, Office assassin and field operative
Yossi Gavish, Office analyst and field operative
Dina Sarid, Office terrorism analyst and field operative
Yaakov Rossman, Shin Bet officer on loan to the Office
Rimona Stern, AMAN analyst on loan to the Office
Julian Isherwood, London art dealer
Francesco Tiepolo, prominent Venetian restorer
Adrian Carter, deputy director for operations, CIA
Sarah Bancroft, Counterterrorism Center operative, CIA
Graham Seymour, deputy director, MI5
Monsignor Luigi Donati, papal private secretary
Pietro Lucchesi, His Holiness Pope Paul VII

Family:
Parents deceased; first wife seriously wounded in 1991 bombing in Vienna; only son killed in same attack; rumored to have recently wed Office field operative Chiara Zolli.

Amateur Movie Reviews - 5 - Black Swan

Source:wallpapersmovie.com
Go see it now. Seriously.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but really I'm just being lazy.

So here is a montage of our Cuban Christmas:

Fam-O-Lee

Playa Pesquero

T & E

Langosta!

An Attempt at Perspective

Everyone knows we were ready for a Roman Holiday, but sadly Heathrow was not ready for us.

Source:bbc.co.uk

However, I also believe that things happen for a reason (today is cliche day!). Get this:

When we were in Cuba, there were several British tourists that we spoke to about the Heathrow airport shutdown. All of them had horror stories about the craziness they encountered on December 19 when we were supposed to fly from Toronto to London to catch our connecting flight to Rome.

Some were trapped on the runway inside a British Airways plane for 14 hours! Others had to wait for 4-5 days before they can get a flight out of Heathrow. Another person told me she had to drive from Heathrow to Gatwick, then stay for 2 days in a dingy motel before she was able to fly out.

The Brits we talked to in Cuba were generally enraged and embarrassed of their country. One couple even said that England is now a third world country (too funny, we know it's not but they were really passionate when they said it).

Lesson learned for us? Don't fly through London during winter.

Source:digitalgroup.info

When we returned home on December 26, my parents told us about the Swiss and Chilean Embassy bombings in Rome on December 23.

Both embassies were less than 30 minutes from our Piazza Di San Cosimato apartment rental.

Souce:myfitv.com

Are you familiar with the term "Causal Determinism"?

Determinism (specifically causal determinism) is the concept that events within a given paradigm are bound by causality in such a way that any state (of an object or event) is, to some large degree, determined by prior states.

Something to ponder, n'est pas?

Source:pretty-on-the-inside.tumblr.com