crossrhodes

My brother left for the Philippines today on a medical mission trip.  For someone who hates heat, humidity, and sweats like a pig, he volunteered to serve in one of the hottest, most humid places in the world.  We’re really proud of him!  He’s an IT guy (not healthcare), but he’s going as the official Team Coordinator and unofficial photo journalist (I’m more worried about his camera and gear than I am of him).

They are serving in Payatas, a mountain of garbage that underprivileged families call home.  Needless to say, there is a great need for healthcare in a community atop a dump site.  (Did I mention he’s also sensitive to smell?)

Have a safe and blessed trip, dogg!  Layla says, “Bring back some cornic, Uncle!”

We chose a Spanish and Portuguese venue for our Mother’s Day celebration this year.  The Iberia twin restaurants in Newark’s Ironbound district is somewhat of a landmark.  This part of town is scattered with rodizio-style restaurants where various offerings of food (in this case, grilled meat) are carved and served table side directly from the skewer.

It was a carnivore smorgasbord of grilled fillet mignon, chicken, turkey, pork tenderloin, beef ribs, pork ribs, pork sausage, chicken sausage, and grilled pineapple (to cleanse the palate in between courses).  The rodizio was served with garlic collard greens, rice and beans, french fries, and fried plantain on the side.

There’s also a huge selection of seafood for non-carnivores.  Some of us ordered the Parrilhada for two - a heaping platter of lobster, jumbo shrimp, clams, mussels, garlic shrimp, calamari, and flounder, atop a mound of saffron rice.  It was more than enough for 4 people, especially after you fill up on the savory bread.

The parking is free (a huge bonus in the city), but it is also a stone’s throw away from Penn Station.  I’m thinking it’s worth a train ride to return for lunch.  I’d go back for their bread alone.

All photos by Jeniel Corpuz.

Preface: I’m stealing my brother’s pictures again.  This is my new routine: leave my DSLR at home and steal my brother’s DSLR photos =)  But since I give him credit, does that make it borrowing?

My loved ones from California have come to the end of their whirlwind NY/NJ tour.  It was literally a whirlwind!  They came for Layla’s dedication, but we have so many common friends in the east coast that they tried to visit every family in one short week.  It’s amazing how closely connected we are!  Not just 7, but 8, 9, 10, or more degrees of separation!  One night in South Jersey, the following night in north-North Jersey, a few days in North Jersey and NYC, their last night in south-South Jersey, then back to SoCal.  *whew*

These are my soul sisters from Cali.  I’m so glad they finally met my Layla!  And yet, I’m also sad that I couldn’t spend more time with them because I now have a Layla.  (Is that what they call “bittersweet”?) *sigh* I pray that my daughter will also be blessed with the deepest kind of friendship I have with these girls.  I’m getting all sentimental now coz I miss them already =(  I love you guys!  See you again soon!

I have an aunt (tita) who is also my godmother (ninang) in the Philippines.  I call her “Tita Ninang” instead of “Tita (FirstName)”.  My siblings grew up calling her Tita Ninang, too, even tho she’s not their godmother.  This spring, I became the American version: Auntie Ninang (hehe) to my sister’s sweet, sweet, pretty boy Landon.  Isn’t he the most adorable pretty boy you’ve ever seen?

The day after we returned north of the Mason Dixon line, Layla and I headed up north way-early on Sunday morning for my niece’s and nephew’s dedications. Don stayed home to catch up on work since we’d been traveling all week. I hadn’t even unpacked our suitcases yet.  But I was wise enough to set aside our clothes for Sunday before we left for South Carolina earlier in the week.  I just forgot to buy gifts for the kids (ooops!).

Only 3 weeks older than my Layla, she and Landon are just starting to interact with each other at play.  They are so opposite in personality.  Landon is such a gentle mama’s boy while Layla is my squirmy little drama queen.  I love seeing them together!

P.S. I still haven’t bought them presents!  Need to get on that ball this week!  Bad, bad Auntie!

I’ve blogged several times about my sister’s paintings, but have I mentioned my brother’s creative pursuit?  Creativity runs in our family in many forms but my brother and I (and several of our first cousins) seem to have inherited our grandfather’s eye for photography.  My brother got a “fancier” Nikon than my humble D50.  (It’s like the time he got a bigger VW after I got a VW.  Bratt!)  He’s also learning “fancier” techniques for which I wish I had more time.  In fact, I don’t even bother bringing my camera to gatherings anymore when I know my brother’s going to be there with his.  Anyway, these are just a few of the fruits of his lenses.

1. step’n up, 2. xps keyboard, 3. flower macro 3, 4. I love me some Stewart’s, 5. flower macro, 6. eggs, 7. Juicy, 8. Dont forget to floss, 9. little feet, 10. New York Stock Exchange Christmas 2008, 11. Jamestown Settlement Wood Sculpture, 12. right around the corner, 13. DSC_026614. Not available15. Not available16. Not available