Stressful Saturday

Weekends are suppose to be relaxing. It's the time of the week that you look forward to after a long, busy week at work. However, last Saturday wasn't one of them.

The day began with tidying up the house a bit before the cleaner cum masseuse arrived. Well, let's just say that she's a masseuse that dabbles in house cleaning as well. Let's call her M. It was the first time for M to clean the house, so we do not know what to expect. But we know she is an exceptional masseuse. She started off my giving the wife a massage. This gave me time to run to the grocery store and get some needed cleaning supplies she requested.

By the time they were done, I was on my way back. Once M started, I headed out to get my bike from Bicycle Garage. I spent the next hour or so having water bottle cages and saddle bag installed, making final checks on the bike, and getting last minute tips on wheel dismantling and general maintenance. I tried shopping for some cycling jerseys, but I got a text message to drive back home for lunch.

M said she wasn't hungry so she didn't care much about lunch. I guess she was just shy to say so, but we had to get her something. The wife and I decided to go to BK Bistro for lunch. And so did 20 other friends & acquaintances, and more than 100 strangers. BK was unusually packed for a Saturday lunch. That morning, James watched his classmate, Ashley, go for her black belt in Taekwondo, along with the latter's friends & family. And all of them decided to go to BK as well. We didn't want to leave M home alone with no food, so the wife ordered food to go instead, rather than wait to be seated along with everyone else. James stayed behind and ate with them.

As soon as I dropped off the wife at home, I left to get my own lunch. I was thinking of having Filipino food, but opted for ramen instead. Just as I was finishing up, I got a text from the wife asking me to go grab some clothes hanger. And so I did. By the time I got home, it was already past 3pm. Where did the day go? After a while, James came rolling in. A two hour lunch?

But it didn't stop there. I had to help tidy up the house (again), and let robot do her thing. Robot is the irobot cleaning device we have at home. When the dust settled and M had left, it was about 5pm. We decided not to attend Easter Vigil and just rested. Imagine if we did. It would have been a VERY long day. Instead, we went out for dinner at BJ's, and had an ice cold beer to end the day.

Almost Triduum

For the past many years, my family and I have attended the Holy Triduum at St. Joseph. The Holy Triduum is observed during the final three days of Lent, or the last three days before Easter Sunday. It begins with the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, followed by the Veneration of the Holy Cross on Good Friday, and continues until the start of the Easter Vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday.

The masses and services during the Holy Triduum are held in the evening, at around 8pm, and they usually run for about 1.5 hours, except for the Easter Vigil, which runs for about 3 hours. There are lots of singing and the readings are fairly long. At the Easter Vigil, new Catholics are baptized and confirmed during this ceremony.

On Thursday, we attended the Mass of the Last Supper. This celebration represented Jesus' last supper with His disciples, wherein He washed their feet, and, later, went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before his crucifixion. At this mass, the congregation was encouraged to have their feet washed and, alternately, wash those of others as well. At the end of the mass, the Blessed Sacrament was processed outside of St. Joseph and into the Old Mission church next door, as the choir sang traditional hymns of worship. This symbolized Jesus as He prayed in the Garden.

In the Philippines, the tradition of Holy Thursday includes Visita Iglesia, wherein the faithful visit seven churches and offer a prayer after the Blessed Sacrament has been processed and exposed at another part of the church.

In observance of Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, the second day of the Holy Triduum was celebrated more like a prayer service than a mass. It really wasn't a mass, but the Host was consecrated and Holy Communion was given. The highlight of the service was the veneration of the Holy Cross of Jesus, wherein the community would pay their respect to the representation of Jesus' cross, where he was crucified, in any way they please. Most bowed their heads, said a little prayer, and kissed the cross. Candidates for confirmation and baptism acted as bearers of the cross. At the end of Holy Communion, the community left the church quietly.

The third and final day of the Holy Triduum was the East Vigil in the evening of Saturday. Unfortunately, we did not attend this service. In the past, we did. From my experience, the mass is long. Probably the longest mass you'll ever attend, except those officiated by the Pope. There are 5-6 readings, excluding the Gospel, and lots and lots of singing. The ceremony starts with the lighting of the torch at the steps of the Old Mission church, followed by a procession inside a dark St. Joseph church. As the celebration progresses and the Lord had risen, then the lights are turned on, and "Alleluia" is sung.

One of the highlights of Easter Vigil is the baptism and confirmation of candidates into the Catholic church. The baptismal candidates are dressed in white garb, while they stand in the baptismal fountain as water is poured over their head, like John the Baptist did to Jesus on the Jordan River. For the confirmation candidates, they are blessed with the Holy Oil with the Sign of the Cross on their forehead.

The Easter Vigil is a long, but joyous event, as we celebrate the Risen Lord. This, too, ends Lent and Holy Week.

Time for Service

My car needed servicing. As a matter of fact, the message on my console had been reminding me of it for the last month, and it displayed how many days had passed since then. Although it only pops up when I start the ignition, it was kinda irritating.

After so many days, I finally decided to bring it in for service. It was not that I didn't want to, but, again, I just didn't have the time to do it. And the best way for me to get things like this done is to do it during the weekday. Since it is Holy Week this week, it wasn't busy in the office. I guess some people are off, too, because their kids are out as well. Instead of leaving work early today, I decided to just work from home, and bring the car to the dealership in the morning.

It was one of those regular maintenance check-ups, and my trusty service adviser, Ron, was there to take care of me, and the car. I'm not a demanding customer, but he knows what I want, which he often obliges, whenever he can. He said I could pick up the car at around 3pm, but it might take longer. I told him that I was hoping to pick up my son from school at 4pm, so he promised he would try to get it our sooner. He also knew that I was not planning on getting the complimentary loaner car, so it was important that he gets it out on time.

Kash was the name of the courtesy shuttle driver that took me home. He was very respectful, and drove very carefully. Sometimes too carefully that I almost fell asleep. When he dropped me off, I told him that I may need him for a ride back to the dealership once the car was done, hopefully, by 3pm. During the ride, he offered me water. For a while I thought he had a mini refrigerator in the trunk. But I passed.

About 1.5 hours after dropping off the car, Ron called to tell me about a part that needed to be replaced. Always happens. But what could I do. I confirmed, then hung up. After lunch, he called back and said that the car would be ready by 2:30pm. Wow! Ahead of schedule. I then called Kash for a return pick up. By 2:15pm, he was outside the house. Once at the dealership, I settled my account, and off I went. By the time I got to my son's school, it was 3pm.

Frankly, I don't mind bringing my car to the dealership and having work done there. I know that I will get excellent service from my service adviser, and from the service technicians that actually work on the car. The only thing I hate is the exorbitant cost for such services, most of which goes to labor. It's the price to pay for quality service.

Took The Plunge

Finally, I ordered my bike.

Not that I was having second thoughts. It was more about having the time to actually do it. Weekdays are impossible because I arrive home no earlier than 6pm, and, often, there are things that I need to do right after. Weekends are the best time. However, I had been busy during the past weekends with errands and other stuff with the family. But today was different. I actually was free to do what I needed to do. And for something like this, I want to take my time. Don't want to be rushed. I made sure that I had at least 2 hours of alone time. So, off I meant to my favorite bike shop, Bicycle Garage.

Fred (I think he is a co-owner) was so happy to see me, after more than a month. He was the person that shared with me almost everything I needed to know about road bikes and other related stuff. He was a salesman, and I do understand that he'd like to get as much business as he can from each of his customers, including me. I have done my own research, so I am not coming in blindly. Let's just say I am an informed consumer, but I also want to hear his perspective as a rider and a businessman.

I know what kind of bike I want, and we both talked about it during my prior visit. However, he offered me an upgrade model for a little more money. I had to think about it but I didn't jump on it quickly. In the end, I though we made a sweeter offer for less money. Yes, I did get an upgrade from what I originally wanted, but the additional cash was half of what I should have paid. He gave me a good discount.

He knew I was going to get other stuff from him, so at the back of his head, he knows that I am a guaranteed customer. We talked about shoes and clipless pedals -- two of the next most important things to consider and eventually add on. He discussed how important it is to get the right ones for the best results. Of course, all that equates to higher cost. In the end, I have to make the decisions. It's up to me whether I fall for the sales pitch or be convinced by it. As the saying goes, you get what you paid for. It has happened to me, so I understand where he's coming from.

There are essential items that a cyclist must have during a ride, such as a spare tube, tire levers, tube patches, and an inflation device (CO2 cartridge or a small pump), plus a small bag to carry them in. I got them, too. Then, I also added a floor pump (for the house), helmet, short-finger gloves, and a water bottle cage.

Aside from the must-haves, there are those that you'll need no matter what, such as apparel, like cycling shorts and/or bibs, jerseys, and jackets, which are particularly useful for early morning rides when the temperature is cold. And as it gets even colder, there are arm & leg covers, and wind-resistance gloves to consider. Also on my immediate list is a cycling computer and a pair multi-lens sunglasses. Then, I will need a headlight (or some light) if I plan to ride when it is dark.

Seems like it is becoming an expensive sport-hobby, but what isn't? Stamp-collecting or bird-watching? What's important is that I sustain this activity, especially because I know it will be good for my health and well-being. I just need to set my mind to it.

I'm picking up the bike on Saturday, and hope to take a quick spin this weekend. Fingers-crossed.

Start of Boys Volleyball Season

The CYO boys (indoor) volleyball season officially began today with it's first three games, for both the 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade teams. Venue was Holy Spirit. Our boys played 2 games this evening, one against host Holy Spirit, and the second against All Saints.

We arrived just before 6pm, and the basketball practice in the gym was just winding down. By the time the gym was all set up with the nets and spectator chairs, it was past 6:15pm. Game time was 6:30, and we only had that much time to warm up. We just had to do with whatever we can with the situation. And I only had 8 of my 9 players. I was hoping that my missing player would arrive on time before I turned in my starting line up, but he didn't. He became a sub. But it was OK.


We beat Holy Spirit very convincingly during the Jamboree, but, not on this first match. The game was pretty close, and they actually led by as much as 5 points in the first set. I called time out to calm the boys' nerves and give them a little pep talk. After that, we rallied back and won the first set by more than 5 points. Having warmed up, the second set was not as bad, and we won that as well. Most of the points the opponent had were from our service errors.

The boys were stoked and energies were high. They were ready for the next game against All Saints. We didn't play them at the Jamboree so we do not have any idea how good (or bad) they were. They had one big, tall player, and a few other athletic-looking kids as well. Plus they had one female player, too. It didn't take us long though to find out what they were made of. The first set went by with little resistance. The opponent managed to score about 4-5 unanswered points from serves made by one player, but they weren't really a threat. The second set was even faster, where we scored 10 straight points. Next thing we knew, the set, and match, was over.

First two games -- both wins. Standing: 2-0.

We ended past 8pm, so the snacks provided were a little bit heavier than normal. The kids had pizza -- pepperoni and cheese, plus chocolate chip cookies and gatorade. There was more than enough for everyone, including the adults. However, since it's Friday (during Lent), it meant no meat. No pepperoni pizza. But we still had the cookies.

There were a number of 8th grade girls (some are from the 8th grade volleyball team) who came to watch the games, along with other friends and supporters of the team. They, too, enjoyed the games and shared in celebrating the victories of the team. I hope they could make it to the rest of the games.

Great start of the season. Hope we can sustain it. Go Cougars !!!

Quick Trip to Pasadena

When I was much younger, I didn't mind travelling, especially by air. Somehow that has changed. What I dislike the most are those same day trips by air. You catch an early flight out, leaving the house before the sun rose, then flying back later in the day, and arriving home when the sun has already set. I am all about efficiency, and unless a face-to-face meeting is necessary, I wouldn't go.

Today, I had a quick little trip to Pasadena for a brief presentation and a little Q&A session with a group of representatives from a newly-formed bargaining unit within the client group I support -- Information Technology. These were the Desktop Support folks in the California region.

My day started at 4:30am. I took the 5:30am BART ride to the Coliseum, then a connecting shuttle, and flew out of Oakland airport. I arrived at Burbank, and gave the address to the cab driver. I had never been to the Pasadena office, so I had no idea where I was going or what to expect. The ride as a good 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic, and about $55 each way. Since my meeting was mid morning, I landed at around 9, so traffic wasn't bad.

Before the meeting, I was informed about the participants from the bargaining unit, and forewarned about one of the characters -- the union rep. And yes, he was a character alright. Since I have not been involved in union meetings in the past, I didn't know what to expect.

When everything was set and done, it wasn't that bad after all. But I did see firsthand how influential and convincing a union rep can be to its members. Unfortunately, it didn't have the same effect on me or anyone else in the room. And I wasn't really surprised at how such individuals are able to "defend" their cause and believe in their minds the validity of their arguments. It was an amazing, if not entertaining, experience.

Lunch was another interesting dilemma. Since I wasn't familiar with the area, I didn't know where to go or what to eat. With less than an hour for lunch, there wasn't time to explore the neighborhood. So, I got my cellphone out and checked out the eating places around me. I wanted something quick, cheap, and, hopefully, familiar. And the only thing that stuck out was a noodle place -- World Noodle. Food was OK, but a burger would have been better.

I sat in the meeting for another 2.5 hours, then I had to leave for my flight back. I called in a cab service so I could get to the airport sooner. There was a cab waiting outside the building, but it certainly wasn't from the same company, so I ignored him. I called and was told that a cab was on its way. After waiting for over 15 minutes, the cab driver that had been waiting approached me and asked if I called in a service. When I said yes, he said that HE was from the same company and had been waiting all this time. I told him about the difference in company name, and he explained that they were the same. How should I know? Off we went, and headed back to the Burbank airport.

The flight back was almost full, and I barely got an isle seat. Of course, someone had to take the remaining middle seat next to me. It was a good thing it was only an hour flight. By the time I arrived home, it was past 8pm. My wife and son, along with Coby, attended the Freshmen Information Night at Bellarmine this evening. I met them for a late dinner right after.

It Certainly Ain't Bust !!!

Saturday was like any other weekend. We slept in a little bit, then decided to have brunch at Nonni's. From there, we stopped by the local farmer's market across the street. My wife got olive oil and balsamic vinegar, while I bought a variety of flavored almonds. We also dropped by my wife's favorite running shoe place, called Fleet Feet, on Main Street, and got herself a pair. By the time we headed home, it was almost 1:30pm.

On the way back, we were quite anxious, especially my son. Since we didn't get anything in the mail from Bellarmine on Friday, we were hoping for something on Saturday. At first, he didn't want to come with us because he wanted to be around when the mailman came. As soon as we got home, he immediately jumped off the car and headed for the mailbox. But nothing. No big envelope from Bell. He got more frustrated. He went straight to his room and took a nap.

We figured that we probably misread the Bell information on the acceptance notification. I looked it up at their website, and it did say that the letters would go out Friday. It didn't mean we were receiving it on Friday. With any luck from the postal service, we might get it on Saturday. But that didn't happen either. We were resolved with the fact that we might get something on Monday, or the postal service really sucks. Another sad, frustrating day, to say the least.

Sunday was a distraction. We had our volleyball Jamboree at All Saints. At least, there was a diversion. Something to keep my son's mind off Bellarmine.

Our first match at the Jamboree was scheduled at 3pm. As we were warming up, I got a call from a 408 number. Somehow it went through my Google Voice number. I answered but no one spoke on the other end, so I hung up. After a couple of minutes, my cellphone rang again. Same number. I answered but nothing. I guess it went to voicemail. Soon after, I received a weird text message. It was a transcription of the voicemail that was left by the caller. The message didn't make sense, and, for a while, it looked like a hoax or something that was sent in error. It said something about "dollar rent" and my son's name. I didn't think my son would be renting a car from Dollar. But I didn't delete it.

After our first game, I got a text message from my wife asking me to check our home voicemail. Apparently, Bellarmine had been calling those who applied. This probably explains the 408 number I received. But as much as I wanted to be excited (or nervous) about it, I couldn't because I had two more matches to play. And at this point, this kind of distraction to me and my son was something we cannot afford. So I went on with my business for the remainder of the hour.

Once we completed our third game, we went outside the gym and had a little chat with the players, while they had their snacks. Then, we parted ways. James and Nick went back inside to watch the next game. In the meantime, the call and the text messages all came back to me, and I knew I had to figure out what was going on. In reading the weird text message, I had a pretty good feeling that we would be receiving positive news, but I was still cautious. The message had the word "congratulations", but no Bellarmine anywhere. I was optimistic.

Finally, I was able to figure out how to access the voicemail, and I heard it firsthand. Just to be sure, I played it over and over and over again. Probably 3 times. He DID get in. James got accepted to Bellarmine. I was ecstatic. It was a big relief, like something taken off my shoulders. So what's "dollar rent"? I guess this was how "Bellarmine" sounded. Go figure. I texted my wife and she was so happy. She was with a few other prospective Bell moms for a day in the city, so they, too, got excited.

All the commotion started when a mom of one of James' classmates posted his son's acceptance on Facebook. Suddenly, all the prospective Bell moms started texting and calling for any news from anyone.

On our way home, Nick rode with us. I didn't tell anything to James either, not with Nick around. I guess somehow the word had already spread, and James had gotten a text message from his other classmates. You can imagine that this information didn't help ease his anxiety one bit. It made it worse. We dropped off Nick at Ohlone College, and his dad said he hadn't gotten any calls either. During the ride back, James had been bugging me to check the voicemail as soon as we arrived. I said I would.

When we got in, his mom was seated by the dining table. I called him, then played the voicemail from my cellphone. He heard it, but the wanted to be sure. So I played it again, and louder. He started jumping, then hugged his mom.

He DID make it. My son will continue the Jesuit tradition. He got accepted at Bellarmine College Preparatory.

Excellent, son. We're so proud of you.

Volleyball Jamboree

The CYO boys (indoor) volleyball season began with a Jamboree at All Saints (AS). This event had always been sponsored by All Saints. It took a short hiatus for the last 3 years when AS renovated their gym. During these times, a small group of schools put together some semblance of tournament play so the boys can do something. These schools included Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Clement, and St. Joseph. Now that All Saints' gym is completed, the "real" tournament is back.

I coach the 7th/8th grade team for St. Joseph. I've coached three such teams starting from when my son, James, was still in 2nd grade. When he was in 5th grade, I coached him in the 5th/6th grade team, until this year, except for last year, when he was in 7th grade. There was a little brouhaha that year, and I decided not to coach. Mind you, it wasn't my fault. I don't want to elaborate any further because it just upsets me.

For this team, I have six 8th graders and three 7th graders. Most of these boys have played with me in the past, so they know my style. Practices are held at the parish hall cum gym. However, availability of this hall/gym has been my biggest problem. It never seems to be available after 6pm, which is the only time I and my assistant coach are available. I've never had this problem in the past. I just cannot understand why things are so difficult. Who has priority? School or church?

Anyway, we played 3 teams at the Jamboree. They were Holy Spirit, St. Bede, and St. Leander. Each match ran for 20 minutes, and both teams had to fit some warm-ups and actual playing within this allotted time. Scores were tracked (to 25 points), but we always had extra time left, so we played on. The scores didn't really matter. They weren' official. The Jamboree was intended for the players to play as many teams as possible. It was also an opportunity for the coaches to size up the competition once the official matches begin. Each match was officiated by a non-playing team. In my case, I officiated the St. Bede-Holy Spirit game.

We won all our 3 matches. And yes, we were able to size up the competition. From what we've seen so far, it looked like St. Leander would be give us a run for the money. Although we defeated them quite convincingly, the season had just started and there are many more practices to be made and games to be played. As the season progresses, a team can only get better, so we need to be prepared.

It was a successful Jamboree. We showed them that we're the team to reckon with. Looking forward to an exciting and spirited season.

Ole' !!!

8A Yearend Party

After a long wait, we finally had our 8A boys basketball team yearend party at BK Bistro in Fremont. It had been over 3 weeks since our last Diocese playoff game back in February. There were quite a number of schedule conflicts in between, and this was the best day for everyone.

As I was planning this event, there were a number of suggestions as to where to have it. There was a buffet (of Chinese or Indian, but not Home Town buffet), a Mexican restaurant, or a pizza place. All these we've tried in the past years. Because of space limitations and venue availability, I chose BK Bistro instead. They had a section that we could use, with enough sitting for 30-40 people. Since we were regulars at this restaurant, booking it was easy. And each family could order food on their own and be billed separately. It was very convenient.

After everyone had eaten, we proceeded with a short ceremony. Coach Frank said a few words about the season and the players. Assisted by Coach Paul, he then handed out CYO certificates and patches to each of the boys. On behalf of the parents, I thanked both coaches for volunteering their time, energy, and, sometimes, their resources to the team. As a token, each coach received a Thank You card signed by all the players, and gift cards to favorite dining places around town.

Despite having planned the party way in advance, not everyone was able to make it. The team's two Boy Scouts missed it because of an overnight campling -- Jason and Vik. Also missing was Coach Rhyan.

It was a wonderful, fruitful, productive, and memorable basketball season for all the boys. Parents included. Being in the Diocese playoffs was a fitting end to CYO basketball. You'll all be missed.

Well done, boys. Go Cougars !!!

Friday: It's Bell or Bust

Today, we're suppose to hear back from Bellarmine whether or not my son made it. As soon as my son got home from school, he went straight to the mailbox to check if there was a big envelope from Bellarmine. Nothing. Well, the mailman hadn't arrived yet. Within an hour, he did, but no envelope. Not even a small one. A small envelope meant he didn't make it. So, nothing means OK, for now.

As the evening went, the speculation grew. Anxiety was building up. It got worse when we started hearing news of acceptance from my son's classmates from their schools of choice, particularly those from Moreau and St. Francis. But none from Bellarmine. Moreau applicants got phone calls while those for St. Francis received emails. That's was all fine. As long as no one else had heard from Bell, we were all good.

But the anxiety and jitters just got worse late into the night when we didn't hear anything (or got something) from Bellarmine. It was almost the end of what should have been D-Day. For now, we'd all have to sleep over it and wait one more day. Hopefully, Saturday would bring better news.

Back to Walking

Now that the weather is getting better (meaning, warmer), I've been trying to get some activity going. Walking had been something I did, if I can find the time. And time, or lack of it, has always been the best excuse if we have been remiss. I know I do. For quite sometime, I have been contemplating on getting into cycling. I did attend a road cycling class last month, but I've been dragging at actually starting it. For now, I need to get my blood pumping a bit, so I've started walking again. And now, I do it with my wife and son (he does because he hates being left alone in the house).

I started last Monday. It was a short one. We had a late start, and the sun was setting pretty fast. We walked around the neighborhood, and we managed to squeeze in 20 minutes, give or take a few. Besides, I was also trying to "break in" myself and taking it a little easy since I have not done it for quite a while.

I skipped Tuesday because my son had volleyball practice. On Wednesday, I was set to make up for the prior day. By the time we all got settled, it was almost 6:30pm. By then, we would probably have under an hour before it got dark. So, off we went around our neighborhood, with my wife leading us. Before the walk, I downloaded a free application for the iphone, called  RunKeeper, to track our activity. As part of our route, we went to Mission San Jose High School and did laps around the track oval. That evening, we walked 2.08 miles in 40 minutes. Not a fast pace, but a steady one.

Thursday, we set out again. This time I suggested we take a different route, minus the twist and turns within the neighborhood. The initial route I envisioned would have probably taken us close to 1.5 hours. But halfway through it, we came across a pathway alongside a small creek that ran right next to Mission San Jose High School. It had a slight elevation, which gave the heart a little extra workout. That walk was 2.34 miles in 45 minutes.

Not a bad start. I just hope I can sustain it and make it more regular.

The Slanted Door: A First Look

Niman Ranch Beef Sirloin

The Ferry Building is known for its marketplace. Located at the foot of Market Street in San Francisco, it houses small and large shops that offer a variety of products, from artisan cheeses and breads to newly-caught seafood and cured meats, as well as restaurants and cafes that serve fresh and organic ingredients. One of these restaurants is The Slanted Door (SD).

During our recent trip to the city, we found ourselves at the Ferry Building way past lunch time. Hungry and tired from all the walking (from Union Square), we decided to try The Slanted Door. Being a very popular restaurant, especially on a weekend, we didn't have to wait long to be seated. And we had a table by the window.

Being our first time, we had to go through the menu a couple of times over before we eventually decided on what we wanted. We ordered 4 viands -- niman ranch beef sirloin, lemongrass chicken, caramelized wild catfish claypot, and catalan farm spicy broccoli, plus a couple of servings of steaming jasmine rice.

Lemongrass Chicken

The beef sirloin was cut in bite-size strips and prepared with braised leeks, ginger, and red chili. It wasn't spicy, but it had just the right amount of saltiness. The chicken had the distinct flavor of lemongrass, as in any other Vietnamese dish with this ingredient, and was cooked with red onions, jalapeno, roasted chili paste, and roasted peanuts, for some added texture. I found this dish a little bit salty and the lemongrass was quite prominent.

Catalan Farm Spicy Broccoli

One of our favorites was the catfish, which was prepared with cilantro, ginger, and Thai chili, and served in a claypot. The sauce was light and quite sweet, which created a nice balance with the saltiness of the 2 meat dishes. And like any other catfish dish, it is always never enough, unless they serve the whole fish. For greens, the broccoli, with braised tofu and beech mushrooms, was a decent choice. I wasn't sure if this veggie dish was suppose to be a neutralizer, but it a bit bland.

Caramelized Wild Catfish Claypot

For dessert, we had SD's version of doughnuts. However, they weren't anything like a traditional doughnut (with a hole), but they looked more like smaller, irregularly-shaped beignets. The doughnuts were light and airy and it came in 6 pieces, and was served with a butterscoth dipping sauce on the side. We also tried an unusual dessert -- a lemongrass cotton candy. The taste of the lemongrass was not overpowering. Just a hint of it. You probably wouldn't guess it had lemongrass if you weren't told. And the quality of the cotton candy was also excellent. It didn't readily melt in your fingers as you pulled it. I found it very refreshing.

Aside from the meats and fishes, SD also serves a variety of appetizers, rolls, salads, and noodles. They have a full bar and serves a variety of drinks from juices and spitzers to craft beers and signature cocktails. They also have quite an extensive wine list from all over the world.

Lemongrass Cotton Candy

Overall, The Slanted Door was OK. Wasn't fantastic, but OK. It was a bit pricey for the kind of dishes we got. The basic Asian flavor was there, and you can probably distinguish it as Vietnamese if you are very familiar with the combination of ingredients.

SD is a Vietnamese restaurant, with a modern spin. If you are looking for authentic, home-cooked Vietnamese cuisine, this is not the place. Certainly, you can find other places, especially in East and South San Jose, for a fraction of the price. However, keep in mind that you are dining at the historic Ferry Building, with a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay. And this is actually what you are paying for.

Give it a try, for the experience. It's OK.

Upclose: Pizza Antica

I would call Pizza Antica a modern pizzeria. Certainly, it doesn't come close to the true pizzerias of New York in terms of style, volume, and variety. As I said, it is modern. And their pizza is thin. Extra thin.

For my second trip back to their Santana Row location, the occasion was my wife's birthday. From our past experience, we know to shy away from the dishes you wouldn't typically associate with in a pizza place, like short ribs (that's what I got the last time). My mistake. We had a few favorites and we had them again this time. Then, we added a few more.

For starters, we had the salumi plate, which consisted of prosciutto, dry salami, and other special cuts of cured meat, with some pickled veggies and arugula. Very light and not salty at all. The platter came with a few slices of baguette. For a while, I thought there wasn't enough of the baguette. But because the meats were not salty, it was better eaten with the bread. We also had french fries (yes, you read it right) with truffle oil and garlic. It was my son's favorite.

My son loves white sauces and ordered the linguine with smoked salmon, while my wife and I had the spaghettini with meatballs. The tomato sauce was light and cooked with garlic and basil. And the 2 large meatballs were more than enough. Very filling and very flavorful despite being lighter than your typical spaghetti.

Of course, we didn't forget the pizza. In fact, we had two -- small ones, that is. We wanted to try as much without really going over board. We got the margherita, which was basically just tomato sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil, and taverrite's hot calabresa sausage, with onions, peppers, and parsley. Pizzas were extra (super) thin and light (again). Had they not been round they could pass for flatbreads. A small pizza was just about right for one person. They also have larger-sized pizzas and are served on mini pizza paddles.

For dessert, we had cinnamon bread pudding, served with vanilla gelato and caramelized apples, and cannoli, with a sprinkling of chocolate chips. I never liked bread pudding because it tends to be dry, in general. But their bread pudding was not dry at all, but moist enough to make you go back for one more bite, and another, and another. And like most of their dishes (at least those that we tried), their bread pudding was also light and a bit airy. The cannoli, though, was a little disappointing. It was bland and the chocolate chips were more of a distraction, and it didn't help compliment the dessert one bit. I've had better cannolis. This one you can skip.

Their selection of pizzas and pastas are not large, but enough of a variety. They have a larger starter selection to choose from, and they serve salads, too. Then, they have a sampling of various meat entres' as well. For beverages, they have a fairly long list of local and foreign whites and reds from small and boutique wineries, and a good variety of traditional and craft beers by the bottle and on tap.

The overall experience that evening was great. Food was excellent. Service was prompt and more than adequate. Very charming servers and very knowledgeable of their dishes. It is now on our favorite places to dine, and wouldn't mind the 20 plus-mile drive. They don't take reservations, so make sure you're not starving when you get there because you will have to wait to be seated. Otherwise, you'll love it.

A Day in the City

For the past so many years, I never really liked going to San Francisco. Let me rephrase that. I never liked driving up to San Francisco. But I do love the city by the bay. It's just the driving. Parking is scare and, like any other big city, there's just too many cars and people no matter what they you go. In addition, I just find the drive so long. However, I just recently found out that it isn't really that far. I just didn't know how to get there in the shortest amount of time.

Dome at Neiman Marcus in SF

For the longest time, I always drove up to SF from the "other" side. This meant crossing highway 92 from the East Bay, then on to 101 till I got to the city. It wasn't wrong. It was just LONG. The shortest route was via 880 to 80, then onto the Bay Brdige. The next thing you know, you're in the city. What was I thinking??? Duh! It was actually my wife who made the "discovery." She and her friend, Grace (her son and ours are BFFs), drove up one weekend, with the kids (Yes, I was left at home). and Grace took this route.

The following weekend, we decided to try this new route and headed for the city. I was stunned, to say the least. What have I been doing all these years? Why have I not tried this route before? With this discovery, driving up the city was no longer a pain. As a matter of fact, it took very little convincing for me to go. I think I will now enjoy the city more than I ever did.

So when the wife said she wanted to go to San Francisco today, it was an easy decision. We slept in a little bit, and got there before 11:30. We had the car valeted at Nordstrom by the Westfield Mall. For $20 for the whole day, I thought it was worth it. I'd probably pay the same (or more) in a public parking structure. But first, I had to find one, and second, I had to park the car myself.

We did a little shopping and stayed mainly in the Union Square area. What surprised me was that the place wasn't as crowded as I expected it to be, especially on a gorgeous, sunny day like today was. Then I realized that it was probably because some of the stores didn't open till 12:00 noon.

Ferry Building

After making the rounds, we were hungry. Time for lunch. We wanted to go to the Ferry Building and see what we can find. If undecided, there was always The Slanted Door. I did a quick plot on the ol' trusty iphone, and the Ferry Building was a mere 15 minute walk. It was 0.8 mile.

The section across the street from the Ferry Building was a bit crowded with all sorts of vendors selling craft, trinkets, and everything else you can think of. The inner road immediately in front of the building seemed to have been converted to a large bicycle loop, similar to that in Central Park in New York during summer, and even in Burnham Park in Baguio. Everyone was just enjoying the glorious sun and the wonderful 70F weather.

Every store and eating place in the Ferry Building had long lines. Most of them had very limited to no seating at all. As much as we wanted to try some of them, we had to sit to eat. The only option was to go to the "bigger" shops or restaurants. So, lunch was at The Slanted Door. The place was packed, too, but we didn't have to wait long. Maybe 3 minutes? The Slanted Door served modern Vietnamese cuisine. And that's all I will share for now. More in a later post.

With all the food we ate, we had to walk back to burn the extra calories. Initially, we planned on taking the tram back to Union Square. On the way back, we ran into a fairly large group of protesters from Tibet, marching on Market Street and headed towards the Ferry Building. We didn't know where their final destination would be, but they were escorted by quite a number of SF motorcycle cops and patrol cars. They even had to stop traffic at intersections to let the marchers pass. They sure had adequate resources to pay for such services.

After a brief stop at Nordstrom, we called it a day and headed home. Traffic was light, and we left the city without a hitch. Later in the evening, we met up with some friends and had dinner at our favorite burger joint in Livermore, First Street Alehouse.

Note:  Author wants to acknowledge Hennessy House (www.woodenflagpoles.com) for the use of the Ferry Building photograph.

Wife's Birthday

Birthdays are always special. It is probably THE day that no one forgets. We all celebrate our birthdays differently. What is important is that it is YOUR day, and you can do anything you want.

Today was just that kind of day. It was my wife's birthday. In fact, it's not just a birthday, but a birth month!!! She's is so sociable and has tons of friends, so occasions like this can be tricky. If she decides to throw a party, she's got to invite everyone. Otherwise, she'll hear it from those that'll not be on the list. For now, she has not decided. Anyway, she still has the rest of the month to decide.

My wife started her day with a visit to her hairdresser for her regular do make-over. While she was at it, I volunteered at my radio club's ham test session. I am a certified VE (volunteer examiner), which means that I can administer a ham license exam, along with at least 2 other VEs. This morning, I was a second grader. This meant I was one of three VEs who corrected and graded each test. We had 17 testers applying for the 3 different amateur license class, and everyone passed. As a matter of fact, 2 testers took all 3 test classes and passed all of them. Way to go!!!

We had a late lunch at our favorite Korean restaurant. We haven't had it for a while so decided to go there. Then, we headed south to Valley Fair in San Jose for a little shopping. She got a couple of things, but I'll spare you the details. I knew she enjoyed it. I also got myself a cologne.

Being her birthday, we decided to hear mass before heading off to dinner. It was also an anticipated mass for Sunday. First, I plotted the closest church from where we were. As we drove up, it didn't look like it was a church. If it was, it certainly didn't look like they were having a mass. So, I searched again. She wanted to try the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in downtown San Jose, but it was more than 10 miles away. Besides, the mass had already started. The next other church I found was St. Justin, along Homestead in Santa Clara.

St. Justin was a quaint church. It looked small from the outside, but it was quite big inside. The presiding priest was Filipino, and he had a certain way of talking. It was soooooo modulated, and spoke with a certain twang. He sounded like he was a radio announcer at one of the AM stations in the Philippines. I can't help but cringe and giggle. During Holy Communion, he recognized us as Filipinos as well, and spoke in Tagalog as he offered the host. I found that quite interesting. What if we weren't Filipinos? What if were Indonesians or Malaysians, who look like Filipinos. That would have been embarrassing.

Dinner was at Pizza Antica. We were there for my birthday, too, and we all enjoyed their food. The place was packed, as always. We had to wait for 40-45 minutes, I would guess. We pretty much knew what we wanted, so it wasn't really difficult. Since I waited a long time to be seated, I made sure I took my time enjoying the food. No one was rushing me.

For 3, I thought  we ordered quite a lot, partly because we wanted to try new stuff. With all that starch from the pizzas, pastas, and bread pudding, including the truffle fries (yes, french fries in a pizza place), we were stuffed. I'll save the details of what we ate for a later post. All I know is it was good, and filling, to say the least.

Midweek Check

It's Wednesday. Middle of the work week. The hump, as people call it.

The past weekend was just full of activity, with the presentation of Mulan Jr. So things are sort of slowing down a bit, but it wasn't and won't be a quiet week either. Last Monday was volleyball practice. I didn't have 2 on my players and my assistant coach was out, too. He had to attend his daughter's high school orientation. Today, we're having another practice, and I don't know who I will be missing.

Before the end of the work week, I have to book my flight to Pasadena for a union meeting in 2 weeks, and prepare some material I will be needing for that very meeting. If there is anything I hate the most are these same day trips because the day is just so long.

On Friday, I have to leave work early for a doctor's appointment in the afternoon, for my regular check up. In the evening, I have my monthly radio club meeting to attend.

Saturday is a big day. It's my wife's birthday. I have no idea what she wants to do or where to go. Well, not just yet. I know she wants to hold a little party at the house for friends, but nothing final. And definitely not on Saturday. But before I go to bed, I need to make sure I move my clock an hour ahead. It's Daylight Saving Time....on Sunday, that is.

And on Sunday, it's the volleyball jamboree at All Saints. This sort of "opens" the CYO boys volleyball season. Unfortunately, I have not received any confirmation nor game schedule yet. So this could be interesting.

As you can see, it seems like a never-ending set of activities, rolling over from one to the other. When will I get a break???

Day 2: Mulan Jr

Day 2 of Mulan Jr. Third and final show. Sunday, 1:00pm.

My son slept in, like he normally does on a weekend, and he had a pretty decent breakfast. Next thing I knew, he was getting ready. He was getting picked up by a co-cast member for the 11:30am call time at Moreau. Suddenly, I got a call from his would-be pick up and was running late. Knowing my son, he didn't want to be late. So, I grabbed the car keys and we took off. In 20 minutes, we are at Moreau.

I dropped him off, then headed back off to pick up the wife (again). By then, we didn't have time to eat, like I planned to, before the show started, so we went directly to Moreau. With about half an hour to spare, I went to the concession stand just outside the main gym and got a couple of hotdogs and nachos for a quick bite. From the "Mushu" concession stand (for Mulan Jr guests), I bought 2 diet sodas. Wife and I sat at a picnic table outside Mushu's and dined al fresco. We also had a good view of all the guests that came to watch the last performance.

It was 1:00pm. Show time.

From what I saw, I thought we had pretty much the same number of guests as in the second show. Same as last night, I sat 3 rows from the very back row. I had the best seat in the house because I saw everything. No tall person obstructing my view and I didn't have to crane my neck. And like the second show, I felt the cast members were even more comfortable on this last show. Practically no inhibitions. They gave it their all, and everyone seemed to have a grand time. even the crowd was rowdier. There were times, though, that the kids wanted to get the show over and done with they began fumbling their lines.

At the end of the performance, the lead director thanked everyone (she could remember) who helped make the shows successful. A representative from the school and another from the parents each thanked the 4 directors for their work, and presented each one with a note (or maybe a card) and some flowers. As in the previous 2 shows, raffle prizes were given away as well. After all the thank-yous have been said, the cast members went out to the lobby for a final mingle with their guests, before they were called back in to clean up.

After the show, some of the cast and crew and their families proceeded to a Chinese buffet (in keeping with the theme of the show) for an early dinner.

Well done.

Bravo (again)!

Mulan Jr: It's Showtime!

Today was the day everyone was waiting for. After five months of rehearsals, it was time to present, MULAN, JR.

My son was excited. If he was nervous, it didn't show. Their last rehearsal was Thursday, and yesterday, they presented at the school, minus make-up and props. He seemed confident. He was singing in the shower. Everything looked normal. And that's good. I have faith in my son.

Days before, he had been bugging me to have his hair cut. He wanted it in a certain style. And the only available time was today. I also wanted to make sure he had a heavy, filling breakfast because he might not have a chance to eat before the show, either because they didn't have time to do so, or he's nervous and anxious. Their call time was 12:45pm.

He had breakfast of "tocilog" (cured sweet pork with eggs and garlic fried rice) at our regular Filipino place, then off our 10am appointment with our favorite hairdresser, Wendy, in Milpitas. Since I was there, I had my hair done, too. In a little over half an hour, we were done and on our way home.

His classmate, Devin, rode with us to Moreau so he was dropped off at noon, make-up on. James had his, too. By 12:15pm, we were out the door. We made it to Moreau with a couple of minutes to spare. There were volleyball games being played at the main gym so the parking lot was full. I pulled over to one side close to the theater, dropped off the boys and the 3 packs of diet soda I brought for the concession stand at the show tonight.

I drove back home and picked up the wife. On the way to Moreau, we grabbed a quick bite before the 3pm first show. When we got there, a line was already formed. There were no seat assignments, so it was first come, first serve. The theater was huge, with a capacity of over 500. I didn't think we would fill it. We had Preferred tickets, which meant we would be seated in the first 10 rows of the middle section. Once it, everyone was scrambling to be close to the state. Then, they realized that the best seats were those farther from the stage so you didn't have to look up and strain your neck.

At exactly 3pm, the show started.

At the opening number, when all the cast members performed, I was already choked up. It was just amazing to see all these kids perform so well. Being a musical, I was really impressed with the singing. Obviously, not everyone was born with a microphone in their hand, but I was just fascinated at how well they did. And when my son came out, I was even prouder. I wanted to get up and shout, "THAT'S MY SON !!!" He's a sociable boy, but not really the artsy type. So acting and singing in front of a large audience was a big revelation. He did well. Really well. And so did everyone else.

The show ran for almost 2 hours, with about 20-30 minutes of intermission. During the break, the audience had a chance to claim their tam tams (a little paddle-like instrument with 2 small balls at the end of strings that were attached to the paddle), to buy some snacks and refreshments, or simple to stretch their legs. The tam tams were later used in the play to make "noise" during a brief audience participation in one of the scenes.

Tam tam

The production ended with a standing ovation from a very appreciative crowd of family members and friends. At the lobby just outside the theater entrance, the cast milled around to greet their guests. Photographs were taken, autographs were signed, and flowers were offered -- typical of a performance on Broadway and Las Vegas. What a sight !!!

There was a second performance last night, at 7pm. In between, the cast and crew had a bite to eat. For the parent volunteers, it was also time to rest and to eat as well. And for us parents who bought tickets to all three shows, we did the same. As the time for the second performance drew near, it was the same atmosphere all over again.

During the second show, I noticed that the kids were more comfortable and more relaxed. Their deliveries were more crisp, and their singing was livelier. There were more people who watched the evening show, and a little rowdier. But it was all good. Being the "primetime" performance, I thought it was the better show.

The evening was capped with a dinner and a few drinks with some 8th grade families, at probably the only restaurant open after 9pm, La Pinata, in Fremont. Great show. Great kids. Great food. Great drinks. Everyone had a wonderful time. And tomorrow is the final show.

Bravo !!!