Half-Time

Today marks the 23rd day of our 45 day trip. And it continues to be great. In between our cooking adventures from the perfect arroz caldo on the first try to the burnt adobo on our second try, reading 10 books (including the whole Twilight series of which I am now a fan, like Anna), watching DVDs (6 and still counting) and movies (Twilight - liked it a lot for its perfect casting, and Doubt - great acting), shopping including serious forays to the outlets at Potomac Mills and Leesburg Pike, we enjoyed various celebrations:


Amy and Calton's traditional Christmas party in their DC home on the 13th




Our 31st wedding anniversary at Phillips Seafood House on the 17th





Lunch with my former boss at ADB, Sandra Lawrence, and a colleague from World Bank, Gail Der, at Le Refuge in Old Town Alexandria on the 19th









The Christmas party which Anna and James hosted at their townhome on the 20th with:

Mark, John and Bel Haley (my friend in ADB and neighbor in LGV), Larry Hablero (Manny's friend from Far East Bank), Alma (my sister's friend who became my friend too) and her hubby, Benjie Adriano

and our Ninang at our wedding, Auring Zagala, and her daughter, Cheng, son-in-law, Mike, and apo, Burke




The first Noche Buena which we cooked of nilagang manok (tasty but the veggies were overcooked), quick shrimp scampi pasta (looked good but was not tasty enough) and the life-saver of the meal, the honey baked ham which we bought from the famous honeybaked ham store, with our special guest, Amy Terry (sorry Amy if the meal wasn't as good as we had intended); and playing Taboo until midnight and losing miserably to Anna and James



Anna's lunch with her George Washington University classmates at Gadsby's Tavern where George Washington (not Bush) used to lunch, also in Old Town Alexandria

while we lunched at nearby Le Refuge




Finally, another dinner (more successful) on the 27th which we prepared for a friend from the World Bank, Lina Maraya, her hubby, Bobby, and her Mom, Nanay Cely, consisting of 5 courses - salad and ham from the store, plus chicken with mushroom, baked macaroni and baked salmon which we all prepared; capped by their viewing of the Paquiao-Dela Hoya fight.













Tomorrow, we are going to celebrate New Year's eve with Anna's and James' Filipino friends. And on New Year's Day, we are joining Manny's Far East Bank friends for the 2000 Hail Marys devotion. What better way to start the year than to seek our Mother's intercession for a year of health, happiness and holiness.

Happy New Year to you and your families!