~ °Café de Terrasse° ~

The thoughts of an odd duck who sits alone in a night cafe, with a stylo in his right, a journal in his left, a valise under his chaise, a tasse on the table, and plenty of time to pass.

~ Salut! Come and join me at Table #12 |Leaving so soon? Ecrivez-Moi! ~

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~ jeudi, décembre 25, 2003 ~

Happy X-mas Everybody!!!
My Christmas Eve this year wasn't that bad. It wasn't the best I'd ever experienced but still, t'was wonderful. After watching "A Christmas Story", my family and I got all dressed up and attended the Midnight Mass, which was absolutely splendid... the Christmas carols were lovely and everybody had a feeling of joyful holiday cheer. My compliments to the Immaculate Conception Church Choir for their talented vocalists. After Mass, we came home and took some pictures by the Christmas tree- people can watch us grow up with each yearly picture we take. After pictures, I set up the table, lit some candles, and removed the hot-crackling, honey-glazed ham from the oven. I toasted some buttermilk bread and made triangular sandwiches out of them. Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) Dinner has been a Christmas tradition in our family since my mother was a child. I opened the bottle of French Apple Cider, which I brought down from Davis. Popping the cork, I poured the chilled cider into holly-decorated crystal Christmas goblets. We used to have eight of these goblets but now it's down to four because when my family toasts, we toast hard, hehe. Anyway, after the baked Ham sandwiches, some of us opened a gift or two before the evening's rest. Thank you Auntie Agnes for my handsome blue sweater. I shall wear to the Catabas Family Christmas Reunion tomorrow (err, today).

This is a "typical" Christmas Eve celebration here, despite my father who went to bed before Nochebuena, my screaming mother, my DDR-addicted siblings, and my grumbling grandparents. Still, Christmas Eve was nice. I'm sitting here in front of the dimmed computer screen, as "Silent Night" plays soothingly on the radio, and raindrops plicker on the cement of my wet porch. Mexican hot cocoa is delicious, especially with a thin and delicate Cappuccino biscuit dipped in.

One day when I have a family of my own, Christmas'll Feel as special as it was when I was young 'un. =)
Uh oh, I think I hear Santa... I better go to sleep before he finds out I'm still awake. Merry Christmas to everybody and Happy Birthday to Jesus Christ, and also to everybody born on this day. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

~Benjamin 12/25/2003 02:49:00 AM

~ mercredi, décembre 24, 2003 ~

Ang Pasko ay sumapit
Tayo ay mangagsiawit
Ng magagandang himig
Dahil sa Diyos ay pag-ibig

Nang si Kristo'y isilang
May tatlong haring nagsidalaw
At ang bawa't isa ay nagsipaghandog
Ng tanging alay

Koro:
Bagong Taon ay magbagong-buhay
Nang Lumigaya ang ating bayan
Tayo'y magsikap upang makamtan
Natin ang kasaganaan

Tayo'y mangagsiawit
Habang ang mundo'y tahimik
Ang araw ay sumapit
Ng sanggol na dulot ng langit

Tayo ay magmahalan
Ating sundin ang gintong aral
At magbuhat ngayon
Kahit hindi Pasko ay magbigayan

I love that song. It really brings me back to my Filipino roots. It is my favourite of all the Christmas carols. Simbang Gabi (Misa de Gallo) this evening was absolutely wonderful. Maligayang Pasko sa lahat!!!

~Benjamin 12/24/2003 12:25:00 AM

~ mardi, décembre 23, 2003 ~

Just came from a San Pellegrino Limonata run. Trader Giotto's is awesome. Orangina is still better than Aranciata but at least the Italian version is cheaper.
I really don't want to say it and I'm shocked to hear me say it but... I'm bored. I'm never bored. I always find something to do... except now. Before I left Davis, for some reason, I thought that when I arrived in Duarte, I would be going out with old friends almost everyday. hehe, well it hasn't even been close to happening. I haven't done anything oodly special this season except maybe visit people at DHS- that was the high point of my vacation so far. Everybody seems to be busy... they're all either out of town, or working, or entertaining family, or going out with other friends, or just unheard from. Now maybe I don't have the right to complain because I'm not initiating much of any anything myself, but still, t'would be chouette if only I could just get together with people and mutually decide on what not.
Hmmm... then i'm also torn between family activities and friend activities. Christmas has traditionally been a family celebration among the Catabases & Estanislaos. Goodness knows the reaction upon telling them that you won't be attending the annual Christmas reunion. To be exempt, it's like I would either have to have a family of my own or be dead or something comme ça.
The past few days have been full of sleep, television, internet, evening walks, and Trader Joe's. Maybe starting tomorrow, I'm going to go café lounging again. The weather is perfect for it! A steaming creamatique doppio espresso cappuccino on a petite table in a downtown café de terrace, while the air outside is crisp and nippy. And maybe somebody could join me and we'll talk and laugh and watch the people go by.
Sheesh, I need to get out more.

~Benjamin 12/23/2003 06:10:00 PM

~ lundi, décembre 22, 2003 ~

I don't want to grow old. Yesterday I went Christmas caroling at the Beverly retirement and convalescent homes. Rather depressing... these people were like, confined to wheelchairs and some were bedridden. It made me feel like they had their best days behind them... a very sad feeling considering all the experiences they've been through. But I can say that it was nice to see some of them smile and actually clap to the tune of "Silent Night". Others frowned... I remember last year when this one woman started yelling in the middle of one of our songs. She was like, "I hate Christmas! I'm Jewish!". People were just looking at each other, some gasping, others pretending not to hear. I was in the back laughing. Yesterday, I gave this one elderly lady a red carnation and she asked me if I wanted to be her boyfriend. Now that felt really odd. I didn't know what to tell her so i said "maybe later". Funny stuff.
But I do feel sorry for the whole lotta them. They made me think about my own aging grandparents. I feel especially sorry for my grandfather. He's still not used to life in the states and spends his days just passing time. My grandmother just lies in bed, waiting for her time to come.
I think it inversely teaches me, 'Carpe diem and best days will always be in the present.'

~Benjamin 12/22/2003 02:20:00 PM

En memoire de Floy Catabas (1932-2002)