One of the items in my list of "things to buy at the EX " is a slingshot. So upon arrival, I went to the Thailand booth and looked for one. I got 3 slingshots for 6$. Individually, they cost 3$..I never used them yet because I never saw Sammy the Squirrel show up yet..But the slingshot is there on the deck, waiting, waiting for his black bushy butt to show up..
There were a number of other items - big and small , cheap and expensive - to buy here in the Exhibition.. And it will end on Labour day..
So if you happen to be in Toronto this time, drop in and check what the CNE has to offer..You will be glad you did!---#
The following video clip shows a part of the Thailand booth..They are selling noisemakers..Rub a stick against the spine of this wooden lizard and it gives a semblance of a croaking frog. Good for New Year's festivity or for playing in a Latino band...:)
August 16 in Toronto started as a balmy pleasant day. Hoping it will remain that way.
It is still too early to go out ( only 8:30 am. ) The malls here open at 10:00..
Anyways, I started the day's routine by throwing the day-old rice ( kelab-ban ) into my backyard. Less than a minute later, a host of hungry birdies came out from the bushes and trees and started pecking their hearts away. Way to go, little ones!
Yes, we have the rice birds in the Philippines. How are they called again ? Maya?
Anyway, hope you will enjoy the short video clip.---#
About 55 years ago a certain lady named Margarita Macaraeg was managing a school of Fashion Design and Dressmaking under the Bureau of Private School in the first floor of our house in Asingan. Since dressmaking was a lucrative occupation in Asingan during those days, ( I suppose even at the present if the fashion designer is VERY GOOD ) she always had a big number of female students.
Like the other schools in town.they also started every June and end on March just before the Town Fiesta..During one graduation day, they celebrated it with a picnic. I was invited ( I was still a young kid in short britches at that time ) and my Mom allowed me to join the picnic since she and Ms Macaraeg were very good friends.
The picnic took place in Cal-litang.From the Poblacion, we took a carromata ride up to a barrio ( I think it was Carusucan ) then from there, we transfered to cart pulled by a carabao until we reached the picnic site. I could not remember much about the place except we crossed the river which to a young kid like me, looked as wide as the Mississippi, then we finally stopped at a nipa hut surrounded by lots of damortis trees.The place was gorgeous especially on a quiet summer day.
I was the youngest and the only boy thrown in with a batch of women ( dressmaking graduates ).At that time, I did not care much about the opposite sex since I was only 8 or 9 years old. So I just explored the site taking care not to go into the thick underbrush for fear of stepping on some snakes.
They slaughtered a goat ( and a few chickens ) and pretty soon the air smelled with the aroma of pinapaitan...Ms Macaraeg whom I called Nana Intay saw to it that I was given ample food being the special guest when it was chow time.
Everybody was chattering with everybody..I had no one to talk with.Soon, I was getting bored until I had some company. And you can never guess what it was..
It was a black bird locally known then as a Martin or a Martinez (?).It just appeared from nowhere and it started hanging around flying from one low tree branch to another.
The locals from Cal-litang who were with us knew the creature. After it arrived, it was constantly whistling..just like a person. If you could not see it, you would swear it was a person whistling Dixie or whatever.
And strangely enough, the bird seemed to take fancy on me. It was always looking at me and following me wherever I went.. One of the men said, this bird does not mix with the others of his kind..It was a loner..but it loved human company.
Then one of the girls teased me, "Hey, this guy seems to be in love with you! It is always whistling in your direction.." Yeah",I said. And I added silently.."and of all my luck, it is not even human.."..
Well, the Martin hovered around close by until the picnic was over and then when it saw that we were about to leave, it just flew away and dissapeared in the damortis trees.---#
Note: In the following video clip, the Martin looked like the crow, but not as ugly. Some elders said before that if you trim its tongue regularly, it will learn how to talk (!) I do not know how true it is, but how will you catch the bird? Some birds appear to be so smart they seem to be able to read your mind..
My first born Oliver with his wife, Teresa...Ollie is presently working as an animation artist for TV commercials ..
The three apples of Ollie's eyes...
Audrey, the youngest...
What's this? A huge elephant leg?
Children just love playing with mud...
Enjoying the sunset, girls?
Nothing like water tickling the toes..
Olivia, the elder sister
Nice panorama
Making a sandcastle, Audrey?
Goodness, we need a surfboard!
Miramichi is Audrey's kind of town..Peaceful, quiet. The only hitch? No malls around!
I found another 2 minute video ( am substituting this one for photos ) in my memory box/time machine, an old DVD camcorder.
I took this video from the second floor of our house in Asingan. It shows the left side of the churchyard where this mini mall was erected a few years back. When I took this video, the Rodriguez grocery branch was the most progressive store together with the Law Office of Atty. Viray..
The set up would make the ground floor of our house conducive for a an office or grocery store too, but it needs someone to be there fulltime in person to mind the store if this should happen. Besides it would need lots of money too. And five of us siblings are already in the Senior age group...:)
Anyway, the video clip pans from the left ( the Monyang rice mill might be partly seen ) until the Rodriguez grocery. I visit this store everyday while I was there being a rabid snack person myself. They carry most of the snacks items that I find in the Convenience store found across my house here at 19 Dixon street. So somehow I felt at home while I was there.
My grandaughter Emma would love to stay in Asingan. All she would say is "Can we go across the street?" and we would be there in a flash, no traffic to reckon with ..
Then there is this clip about some pigs, chickens, more pigs and the pet dog that keeps an eye on the premises. Yes, the dog barks too and sometimes even late at night when everybody is already sound asleep.
