NOVEMBER flew by even faster

This month even went faster!!! First of all, Pam and family drove down here to celebrate Halloween with us. Of course, being Christian, we don't really celebrate the pagan holiday that glorifies everything that is evil. We counter it by having what we call a Hallelujah celebration and talk about why we don't celebrate Oct 31 with all the gore. Its so much fun because we held it in my house this year since the Cordero's had to run to SF. The kids gather together and go trick or treating together. There was food to feed a whole tribe! I made Paella and Callos. I love cooking Spanish dishes. It was a lot of fun because we started with singing some praise songs and talking about Halloween. Then, we also had adult parlor games since it was my bday c/o our party enteratainer, Melo. Everyone's costumes were so adorable! We had superhero's running around the house. We even held a costume contest were awards and prices were given away to the best in costume. Who said xtians dont know how to have fun!

The next day was my bday. Pam, Doe, Dylan and I went on a shopping trip to the Camarillo outlet stores. We were supposed to watch U2 but things got messed up and shopping always helps aleviate the disappointment! Which is exactly what I did.

Then by a stroke of luck! Bono's publicist was able to score us 4 tickets to the Vertigo tour in Oakland on Nov 9th, which happened to be Pam's bday. So off I went with the kids in my rental for five days of relaxation in the bay area. U2 is the BOMB!!! Bono is the ultimate rockstar! I almost fainted when they came out! More on that in the PTP Blog.

I also took my kids to Pier 39 and Alcatraz which they enjoyed very much. Of course, I couldn't keep up with them because of the hike up the hill towards the cell house. The highlight of my trip was eating lunch at Vanessa's very succesful sports bar and then seeing Jovy's daughter, Sidney for the first time. Taking the MUNI to get ice cream and seeing Ian Villanueva after 8 years! Then she had RJ, she married a month ago, whom I haven't seen in around 14 years!!! My was that a fun and memorable treck down memory lane! We couldn't get up to go home!

Then there's Storm's bday a week after that trip. He decided to have no party and have a sleepover with his best buddies from the SFV church. So I was a slave to 5 11 year olds that did nothing but eat pizza, spaghetti, chips and popcorn. THey did nothing but wrestle, play videogames, and make home movies! THat was pretty fun too, although it took me more than a week to contain the damage done to the house!

I've also been busy decorating the house with my own home crafted xmas decorations. Been installing lights on the shrubbery outside. Its very exciting because I have a corner house and its such a delight decorating the outside.

Then there's thanksgiving! Which we spent at tito chito's older brothers house, Tito butch at Playa del Rey. There was food coming out of our ears! Some crispy pata that tasted delectable with a glass of red wine. And there was waking up at 4am to line up at the post thanksgiving sale. Storm and summer got their bikes and playstation and DS. Stuff I promised them a long time ago and that were well deserved because they are doing so well at school and everything esle. I can't complain. I have good kids! They have to be appreciated! Plus its always leverage to take away playing priviledges when they dont do their chores!

And that was the busy month of November. And I can't believe we're at the last month of the calendar already! This year went by really fast. A lot has happened in my life. I will summarize it in the December entry that I'll probably start tomorrow (given Im in the mood to write!) because....its already 5 am! Yes, Im an insomniac. Thats what happens with early retirement. You have no sense of time and you have the luxury of sleeping until whatever time you want so SUE ME!