Time for Some Classical Music-A Piano Trio

Just recently, I enjoyed listening to this Piano Trio with Carlos Avila, Ji-Won Song(the violin) and Christine Lee (cello)both from South Korea. In case you have not heard Carlos is Macrine's nephew. Carlos is the son of Charro, Macrine's youngest sister. Here's the video and Enjoy!



For Carlos short biography and musical accomplishments read: http://www.heifetzinstitute.org/program-2/faculty/2015-collaborative-piano-faculty/carlos-avila/

Comments from a FaceBook Friend: Wow! Suddenly, my music literacy went beyond Elvis and The Platters. I’m not immersed in this kind of music but just listening to it touched my soul. I wish Macrine’s genes spread long and wide for generations.

My Reply: Yes, these are the Nieva genes in action on the Macrine's mother side of the family, I believed. We are really proud of Carlos musical achievements. I hope arrangement for him to give a concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines will materialized next year.

Ordering Meals on Line via Munchery.com

Last month, I started ordering meals on line through Munchery.com. So far I am very satisfied with the meals that I have ordered. I particularly like their salmon dishes. The meals are delivered cool and ready to heat and so far it has always been on time.

Yesterday, I ordered the Macaroni and Cheese with Lobster- a new dish. It was delicious. I have ordered shrimp dishes as well as the Spaghetti with meat balls. My wife enjoyed very much the spaghetti and meat balls dish. I love their shrimp tacos and grilled salmon dishes.

If you are lazy to cook and can not drive to a restaurant, munchery.com is an excellent alternative to enjoy quality meals for a reasonable price. The meals are price from $8 to $12. Their is a delivery charge of $2.95 and an optional tip( $1 to 4) for the driver. If you sign up for membership of $85 per year, you will save from $2 to $4 every time you order. To try this meal service type this code, munchery.com/invite/CJB2Y9FZ on your order.

The following article describes munchery.com that started servicing the Sacramento area last May.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/bob-shallit/article79901842.html

A Pangolin in Our Living Room

In the early 1970's a closed friend from the Philippines ( now deceased) gave Macrine and I a gift that until now we are still enjoying in our living room. He hand-carried it in the plane and after I received it, I have it enclosed in a glass cage ( plastic glass) as seen in the photo above. At that time I really did not know anything about this stuffed and preserved animal, but my friend said it is an ant and termite eater similar to the armadillo of Texas.

Not too long ago, I was reading an article on Pangolin in Bob Martin Facebook page, thus this posting.



Photo of Pangolin from Bob Martin blog, Live in the Philippines

Here's what Wikipedia says:

Pangolins (also referred to as scaly anteaters or trenggiling) are mammals of the order Pholidota. The one extant family, Manidae, has three genera: Manis, which comprises four species living in Asia, Phataginus, which comprises two species living in Africa, and Smutsia, which comprises two species also living in Africa. These species range in size from 30 to 100 centimetres (12 to 39 in). A number of extinct pangolin species are also known. The name pangolin comes from the Malay word "pengguling", meaning "something that rolls up". It is found in tropical regions throughout Africa and Asia.

Pangolins have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin; they are the only known mammals with this adaptation. They live in hollow trees or burrows, depending on the species. Pangolins are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites which they capture using their long, specially adapted tongues. They tend to be solitary animals, meeting only to mate and produce a litter of one to three offspring which are raised for about two years.

Pangolins are threatened by hunting (for their meat and armor) and heavy deforestation of their natural habitats, and are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Of the eight species of pangolin, four species (Phataginus tetradactyla, P. tricuspis, Smutsia gigantea, and S. temminckii) are listed as vulnerable, two species (Manis crassicaudata and M. cullonensis) are listed as endangered, and two species (M. pentadactyla and M. javanica) are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

I hope that the Pangolin in my living room is not a specie that is listed as critically endangered in the IUCN list.

We Go to the Casino for Free Dinners as well as Win a Little

1.
For the last three years, Macrine and I had been enjoying free dinners as well as win a little at our local Indian Casino.

There are two ways of enjoying free dinners here at our local Indian Casino (Thunder Valley-TV).

1. When you joined the Players Club and sign in for a playing card, you get points every time you play. These points accumulate. The points can be redeemed for dining points of for playing points. The more you play the higher will be your reward for dining and playing points. On certain days you get gifts if you play long enough to get 500 points or more on that day. After 5PM playing points are either 2x or 5X during certain months in the promotion.

2. When you check in for the day, certain days at the TV Casino, you get a dining coupon. In the case of Thunder Valley, it is Tuesday and Thursday when you get a dining coupon of buy one and get one free dinner at a certain time during the day. In Thunder Valley it is from 10AM to 4PM when you get this discount. On Wednesday Seniors get as much as 50% discount on meals in Thunder Valley all day. TV have several restaurants catering to all taste and budget.

To minimize your losses and improve your chance of winning in the slots machines, follow the following 8 items:

1. Identify a slot machine that has better odds of winning or a Casino with Higher Percentage Pay outs in their Slots.
2. Before playing look at the stats on the machine( only for new slots)
3. Play the minimum that will qualify you for the bonus feature.
4. Watch out for a machine that has been played and did not give the bonus play to the former player.
5. Once you hit the bonus, quit and go to another machine
6. Do not be greedy and expect to win a lot of money
7. If you are not an addict, take a snack, lunch or dinner breaks
8. Last but not least, enjoy the day and stick to your budget.

I have followed the above rules, and glad to report that for the last 3 years my gambling losses had been minimized. As of today, I have not donated money to the Casino and I am even a few dollars on the winning side of the game. Since I play the minimum most of the time, I will never get rich or get addicted, but for sure have a grand time every time Macrine and I visit our local Casino here in Northern California. Remember you will never get rich playing the slot machines, and stick to your budget because the slots machine can be addictive. In addition in order to improve your winning in the Casino, play the card games such as Black Jack( 21) or Poker instead of the one-arm bandits (slots machines).

Do you love your Grand Children more than your Children?

My Six Grand Children, 2014. From Left to Right: Carenna, Elaine, Ian, Philip, Alix and Marina.

If you do, you are not alone. You belong to the same company as well as several others that I know-Relative and Friends. A close relative of Macrine appears to love his grand children more than his own children if I based it from his loving narratives on his FaceBook Page. I have also a relative in FB describing his activities and feelings for his grand children showing the same conclusion as above. My neighbor across the street spent so much time and talked more about his grandchildren than his own children.

There is a saying that you love more your grand children than your children because your children are only your CAPITAL but your grand children are already your PROFITS.



If you have several grand children, do you have a favorite? Of course you do, but afraid to say it, because you might hurt the feelings of your other grand children. Speaking of my own grand children, I proud to report that my youngest grand daughter, 13 year-old and 8th grader Carenna KT is now earning a few bucks doing something that she loves. Carenna sings and plays her guitar every week on restaurants, night clubs and bars for about 60 minutes in the neighborhood. She also plays for her friends birthday parties. She charges $50 for about one hour. In addition she get tips from patrons. Last week her MOM told us she got $25 tips besides her normal fee. That's the way to go, my Pangga. Keep up with the good work, but remember put your school work first in priority in your schedule of activities.



With regards to my other grand children: Ian and Elaine Katague King both graduated with their Bachelors Degree last year and this year respectively. Both are looking for permanent jobs in the East Bay, San Francisco or Sacramento areas.

As I mentioned recently, Alix ( Alexandra) Katague is in her senior year at Cornell University. A job is waiting for her when she graduates next year in her field of expertise- computer engineering. Alix older brother Philip Katague graduated last year with his Bachelors degree from UC Santa Cruz. The last time I heard he found a temporary job in Oakland while studying for test for admission to Law school. The youngest daughter of my oldest son ( Diosdado), Marina Katague, is in her second year at Cal Poly Technic University in San Luis Obispo, California.

Incidentally, here in the US, last September 11 was National Grand Parents Day. It was overshadowed in the news by the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York.

Old and Treasured Photos and Newspaper Clippings in My Collection

I was looking at my old pictures and was delighted to see the following: The first two photos I do not remember filing in my collection. The first photo should be of interest to the members of the NIEVA clan. The rest of the photos triggered pleasant memories in my aging brain.

Mama Elena Nieva Jambalos, with Sisters and Brother and Lola Elving( Elvira Sarmiento Nieva).

Front Row: Mama Elena, Lola Elving Sarmiento Nieva, Tita Charing.
Standing: Tita Moning, Tito Will, Tita Ely and Tita Eting.
Not in the Photo: Tita Sanie and Tito Tino. Year Early 1950's ?. In the background is the statue of the Virgin Mary of the Biglang Awa. Location: Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Mama Elena Children: Macrine Jambalos Katague, Sister Guia Jambalos ( Order of the Cenacle), Bernardo Jambalos III ( Deceased), Fe Jambalos, Edgar Jambalos ( deceased), Jean Maeda and Charro Levine

Tita Charing ( Rosario Carrion) is the mother of Puchi Carrion de Riccio, Bing Seagull and others
Tita Moning ( Monica Luarca) is the mother of Olga Luarca Quiazon, Charie Magalang and others
Tito Will ( Guillermo Nieva) is the father of Rene, Yong, Oski and others


At the Marinduque High School, Mama Elena, the high school principal and later Science Supervisor with some of her teachers. Mama Elena is standing 3rd from the Right. Early 1950's?, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines. Please let me know if you know the names of any one in this photograph.

1952 UPSCAN with Fr Delaney, Dr Vidal Tan and Professor Antonio Molina, My wife ( of 59 years), Macrine Nieva Jambalos is on the second back row, 3rd from the Left. Lyn Minoza, my teacher in Chemistry, Archie del Rosario and Jess Perlas are some of the names I can remember in the above photo. Location: University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

First Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Danville, Illinois in 1960 (Clippings from the local newspaper)

Our Citizenship Party in Modesto, California, 1972 (Newspaper Clippings from the Modesto Bee)

My GS-14 Promotion as Expert on Anti-Malarial and Anti-Parasitic Drug Products, 1993 ( Clippings from the Philippines News)

My Equal Employee Opportunity (EEO) Award from the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) in 1998. This is one of the many awards I have received during my employment with FDA from 1990-2002, in Silver Spring, Maryland

My Brothers and Sisters with our Mother-Paz Balleza Katague, Iloilo, Philippines, 1976. Last month I lost my brother Erico ( First Picture on Back Row from the Right).

Some members of the David B. Katague and Jambalos Clan at the welcome Dinner given by Rene and Genny Nieva at their condo in Eastwood after our 50th wedding anniversary celebration in 2007 and prior to vacationing to Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines.

A Surprise Visit from Macrine's Youngest Sister

The Five Hermanas, 2016-Charro is 1st photo from the Right.

The other day at about 5:30 PM while Macrine and I were having dinner, we heard our door bell. I thought the bell was coming from the television. I decided to take a peek at our main door and to my surprise Charro and husband Michael Levine were at our door step. What a pleasant surprise, indeed! Macrine was so happy she was speechless and immediately asked me to give them something to eat and joined us for dinner.

Michael and Charro ( Rosario Jambalos) said they just finished eating and were not hungry or thirsty. They were on their way home to Palo Alto from their whole summer vacation in the East Coast ( New York and Washington, DC). They decided to stop by since we were only a few minutes from Highway 80. They gave Macrine a loaf of banana nut bread.

Charro is Macrine youngest sister. She just recently retired. Her last position was as an oncologist clinical nurse specialist from a prestigious hospital here in Palo Alto, California. This summer they have their residence rented. They stayed at her son( during his absence doing a South Korean concert tour) apartment in New York and in her niece (for 8 days when she was in the Philippines) condo in Washington DC. Charro's son( Carlos) is a classical professional pianist and teaches piano at the Julliard School of Music in New York.

Macrine and her 4 sisters are quite close. In spite of their busy lives, the 5 sisters try to get in touch with each other via telephone (FaceTime) or through e-mails and FB messages as often as possible.

My Brothers and Sisters with our Mother- Mama Pacing Balleza Katague, 1976 Last month I lost one of my brothers, Erico, 1st photo from the Right.

I sort of envy them because my own sisters and brothers and I seldom talk to each other. Once or maybe twice a year my sister from Canada calls me just to say hello and Chitchat. My sister from Iloilo and brother from Australia and I keep in touch with each other via FB messaging. However, I know they read my blogs so they know exactly what my status and what I have been doing. So my dear two brothers (from Australia and Bacolod) if you are reading this-sent me a message in FB inbox. To my other three sisters ( from Iloilo, Canada and Maryland) do the same. I love you All!

An Episode of a Short Memory Loss

This morning an episode of a short term memory loss gave me a mild panic attack. This is the first time it happened to me in my more than 8 decades on this planet Earth. I thought a ghost is playing tricks on me. I know short term memory loss is part of the normal aging process. This loss of memory lasted for about two minutes and I attributed this to my waking up in the morning still sleepy because my spouse who had PD woke me up at 3AM and was wide awake for another 3 hours.

At 6:30AM ( one hour earlier than our normal waking hour), I prepared coffee and breakfast for my wife since she was wide awake three hours earlier. I cooked her oatmeal and banana besides her coffee. I was not hungry so I only drank my coffee. I gave my wife her morning medications at 7AM. After her medication and the unfinished oatmeal breakfast, she went back to sleep in our family room couch. While she was asleep, I log in to my computer, check my FaceBook page and E-mails and update my blogs.

At 7:30AM I got hungry. I decided to finish the oatmeal that my wife did not consumed. It was cold so I put in the microwave for 30 seconds. During this period I went to the bathroom. After my bathroom break, I went back to the table and was looking for my oatmeal. It was gone. I looked for it for about 2 minutes. I even asked my wife if she took it, She said no since she has not moved from her couch. I went back to the bathroom, and the adjoining rooms to check and no oatmeal. I thought a ghost must be playing tricks on me and I panic a little bit.

I decided to sit down and relax and bingo I finally remembered I placed the oatmeal in the microwave! This short memory loss lasted for over two minutes. According to http://bebrainfit.com/stop-short-term-memory-loss/, the above episode is considered a mild example of a short term memory loss. Here are examples of mild ( normal) and serious memory losses from the above site.

Some memory loss signs that are considered normal and may be only mild forgetfulness:

*Misplacing common objects
*Not being able to come up with the right word to say
*Not remembering what you just read
*Walking into a room and not remembering why
*Occasionally calling people you care about by the wrong name

Some Signs of memory loss that may be considered serious include:

*Getting seriously lost close to home
*Having a hard time following simple book or movie plots
*Struggling to keep up with daily tasks like paying bills or preparing meals
*Not remembering whether you’ve eaten or not
*Repeatedly asking the same question
*Experiencing personality changes

For more information on short term memory loss also visit the site below:
http://www.livescience.com/42891-short-term-memory-loss.html