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Spent some time today scanning some photos of the Baltic Cruise of 2001. Working my way backwards. Here's some hot dogs from Iceland: a red pulsa with remoulade, fried onions, and bacon. It's making me hungry.

I've already posted my vacation log. If you want to read about the day, then click here. Good times. Good times. Before I die, I would like to go back.

Labels: "la familia", mmm, picture, vacation

Originally uploaded by browsermetrics.

Mom wondering why we're so high up at Camden Yards?

UPDATE: I love sitting up here at the top of Camden Yards. You get the normal beautiful view of Baltimore and turn around to see the other side you don't normally see which too is great. There's a slight breeze up here too. And if you're crazy enough, you'll make the jumbotron.

Labels: "la familia", Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Camden Yards, NewsRadio quote, winners

Labels: "la familia", picture

I just caught sight of the date while writing a Link of the Day post.

Ten years ago June 9 was a Friday night. Lakers were also in the finals. I was only a few months into my job at IniTech. My father was in the hospital. And so was I.

My mother had gone home for some rest, and I guess it was my turn to stay. Although, I was already with him for so long while he struggled with the cancer that would eventually take his life. The prior year I had quit my job at Shore Studios to concentrate on getting my second degree in computer science, so my days were somewhat free, and by default I would be helping Dad.

Dad was diabetic, which didn't contribute to his health. I often had to administer his insulin shot, and I would sometimes be his driver to take him to the dialysis center. Also, I was called upon to bring him to the hospital for any of his doctor's appointments. I was there for him.

All through the night ten years ago, I sat by his bedside. It was difficult to sleep in the chair, and with the nurse coming in every hour, sleeping would be hard to manage. Sometime in the middle of the night, Dad made me cry. Between his labored breathing, we talk to each other other. He whispers encouragement to me, love for my brothers, and love for Mom. We cry together, and make it through the night.

The morning came and Mom, too.

On that bright, beautiful summer day, a month shy of his 60th birthday, Dad died. Ten years from tomorrow.

I miss him. What would these ten years have been with him around? Playing with his grandkids. Going to ball games. Laughing and enjoying time with his sons. Loving and enjoying time with Mom. Traveling. Conversing. Gallivanting. Smiling. Joking. Surprising. These are the things I know he would have loved doing. These are the things I wish he could have done.

The ten years since his death have come and gone. They at times passed all too quick, and yet, it is quite a long while from that day. The memory of Dad comes and goes. I know him, I remember him, I love him, still, but Dad, my father, is gone.

I miss him. I miss his laugh.

Labels: "la familia", dad, grief

Celebrated CapitolSwell's birthday yesterday at Againn Gastro Pub in DC. I had the Lanashire Hot Pot which was some tasty lamb and had a side of some delicious red cabbage. But for desert I had their Banoffee Pie. It was the greatest desert I ever had. It came in a jar wasn't really a pie but a conglomeration of the ingredients of the pie. Graham cracker crust. Dulce de lece. Bananas! Ganoche. Damn. Yum.

Labels: "la familia", mmm

We are family
Originally uploaded by browsermetrics.

It's a party!

Labels: "la familia", NewsRadio quote, picture

Born yesterday!

6 lbs 5 oz of joy!

Happy birthday, little one!

Welcome to Earth! >_<

Labels: "la familia"

If you haven't received it, I sent out an invitation to view my Espana 2007 photos on my flickr account. I tried telling a photo story about the family vacation. Hopefully, you get the idea about what went on for me on this vacation.

Enjoy.

Labels: "la familia", NewsRadio quote, Spain, time sink, vacation

July 5, 2005
Ran again. 17 laps (2+2). Good to see things in the morning. What is there to do on this day at sea?

Labels: "la familia", caribbean, hunh?, travel log, vacation

July 4, 2005
7:51 Breakfast. Again. Wakeup early and ran (or ran/walked) 15 laps at 6:00 am. The sign says 9 laps is a mile.

Breakfasted at 7:00 and was seated with Jerry and Lorraine from Boston. Coming alone meaans you will be seated w/others.

Nassau. Going to another Blue Lagoon

9:45 Missed the boat again! Confusion on getting off the boat. Forgot my ID. How do we get off this ship!

Waiting now for the boats to the Blue Lagoon. Should be any moment.

8:43 Formal dinner and I am full. Blue Lagoon supremely disappointing. No food. No drink until the end. What a ripoff of $40. A luke warm stream

Labels: "la familia", caribbean, lame idea, travel log, vacation

Because everyone seems to be out on vacation, going to vacation, or coming back. Here's my journal from the cruise the family took to the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Like my last travel log for the European Cruise, I'll post an entry at least once a day. Then after that I may go on vacation myself.

July 3, 2005
9:25 Reagan National. Waiting for boarding. We've been delayed. Hopefully we won't miss the boat. Security is a hassle. Take my shoes off? I knew I should've stuck with the slippers.

10:13 Super late. Just barely made it onto the ship. Literally, the last ones to board. Except we did not miss the lifeboat drill.

Watched Miami recede into the distance before having a pre-dinner snack. Eating has started. Off to dinner.

Labels: "la familia", caribbean, travel log, vacation

Why it was almost yesterday that they had the Iz!

Congratulations to the parents.

Good luck to her older sister. Don't fight. At least not until she can hit back.

Labels: "la familia"

In a week, it will be father's day, but today it is already that for me. My dad died on this day 7 years ago. It was a dreadful day. Since then, I don't know how to sum it up or speak about it. I think I don't know how I feel about it at all.

I had spent the night before he died with him in the hospital. There were words exchanged that night that are hard to grasp. I vaguely recall them only because they are too painful to recall. It was comforting and heart breaking at the same time. You see I spent most of his last year alive with him almost daily. The cancer that took his life was a pain to watch ravage him, but I like to think that I was there to help him when he needed mostly taking him to the dialysis clinic or the occasional hospital visit. On those rides to the doctor's office, he subtly hinted that he knew that he was dying. I don't think I paid much heed to them until he explicitly told me he was going to die soon. Then I felt scared.

To this day, I still wonder if I had been as caring for him in his last days as I could've been.

When I got home from the hospital on the day he died, I set about mowing the lawn. It was just me and my youger brother. The call came sometime after noon. My brother came out and said we should get to the hospital. I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to not have a father.

My actions were queer and deliberate. I stopped mowing, went inside, and took a shower. I dreaded going. I wished it hadn't have happened, so I took a shower. I don't know why.

We rode to the hospital in silence. Neither one of us wanting to say it. I did not see my father alive again.

Yet, he still lives in me. I am my father's son or at least as close to being the type of person he had wanted me to be. If I could be half the man my father was then I can feel that I am much.

I will always remember the time together we shared during that last year of his life.

I remember the final night with him in the hospital. You know we cried together that night. He told me to love my mom and take care of her, to love my brothers and respect them, to love myself and be proud, and to love my family for they are what's best about the world.

For a better reminiscence, see my brother's entry,

Labels: "la familia", dad

What's that color
Originally uploaded by browsermetrics.

Just added some photos from Easter at Tita's to my flickr account. They're taken with my new Panasonic DMC-FX50 point and shoot. It's an interesting camera in that it takes some lovely outdoor pix, but under some low light conditions and high ISO, the images get noisy.

Anywhoo, check them out.

Labels: "la familia"

Continuing in the vein started on Pi day.

Happy Birthday to Gio. If you want to know whom I am talking about
check out the Washington Post.

Labels: "la familia"

Who's that crazy guy in the picture? That's a nephew! It seems the folks at Washington Post set about interviewing people to get us to know the world. Watch it. He's a little precocious.

I wonder whom he is talking about at the end?

You can also download the video from their iTunes link.

Labels: "la familia"

It's going to be a busy weekend. A cousin is going to be married. So we have the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner on Friday. The wedding takes place on Saturday. Congratulations are forthcoming when it happens. This is the preview.

Unfortunately, we will miss Otakon 2006. We're missing the chance for the the Max and Mirya special edition valkyrie. We're missing the chance to get Gunslinger Girl shirts. Hentai! Damn. Couldn't their wedding have been in February like all cool kids do nowadays.

Looking towards September and I find that the Baltimore Comic Con occurs the same weekend as The Civil War Century. I can't buy a break here.

Labels: "la familia", anime

The house in Spain owned by my parents and their friends. This is where we plan to have a vacation next summer. Planning. The question is will that come to fruition?

If you need a place to stay or plan a vacation contact the owners about this place. They'll give you a good deal.

Labels: "la familia", go there now, Spain

Another set of vacation pictures. This one is not a continuation of the last, but alternate view of the trip. It's just filling in gaps from the last set of pics.

Labels: "la familia", vacation

Just returned back from vacation. Will post the travel log later this week. And maybe pictures. My DirectTivo ain't working. So tired. And the boat, she still a rocking.

Labels: "la familia", vacation