Uche's grandma

Today, my grandma is being laid to rest. She sojourned in this world for one hundred and six years! She lived a great and successful life and was loved by almost every one in the village. She was strong and lived by herself till about a year ago. She was one of the strongest and most hardworking women I have ever seen. I lived with her till I was twelve. She loved me as every loving grandma could love their grand kids, but unlike most grandmas, she was a disciplinarian too. I'm glad she was firm with me that's why I turned out the way I am.

She lost her husband many years ago but refused to remarry, instead chose to stay and raise up her only daughter, my mom. She was devoted Chatholic and we used to go to early morning masses together. Till she died, I called her mma (mother), and called my mom Nda (auntie), or ate in Tagalog (Philippines language).

My grandma was the best grandma in the world and I love her dearly. I'm looking forward to seeing her in heaven someday.

Adieu Mma Anna! We your 6 grand children, 24 great grand children and your 2 great great grand children love you.

Our first meal

We arrived in the States last Saturday to surprise Sarah's family for a month long visit. We flew into San Francisco and rented a car and headed north. On our way we stopped in Williams and had a little lunch. While overseas we always talk about how much we miss Mexican food, so we were really looking forward to a burrito. The tacqueria did not disappoint- the burrito was fantastic!!



Enjoying the beautiful fall weather while I anticipate the carne asada burrito... My mouth was watering before it showed up!

Our burrito. It was huge. It's like the size of Uche's head. We cut it in half and gobbled it down. In Manila we have Mexican restaurants, but they're not as good, and the burritos are not this humungous. This was the first of three Mexican meals we've had this week!

Uche lived to tell....

Yesterday I went to the dentist for the first time in my life! I never had any reason to go to the dentist before because I never had a toothache or hole or whatever. It's not that the thought of going for a dental check up (is there anything like that?) or the popular teeth cleanning has never crossed my mind. But there is a saying that who ever goes to the witch doctor must come back with some kind of news, good or bad, but mostly bad news. Same also with the dentist; once you visit them, you have started a long journey that you don't know where it will take you. You will have no choice than to keep going back again and again. You can't quit going once you start.

Anyway, being a brave man, I decided to take advantage of the affordable dentists here in the Philippines. There are Dental Clinics on almost every street in Metro Manila. All I can say is that I enjoyed my first trip to the dentist. The lady was friendly and knows her job. I was sure there would be an accident or something that would result to me getting a surgery, but thank God she was under the power of the Holy Spirit.

The only weird experience was the dentist yanking on my teeth. I thought she would pull my entire teeth out but sure she knew what she was doing. I was also disgusted to see what she was scraping off my teeth (yucky!), I won't offend you with the details. If you have never been to dentist, let me encourage you to visit one soon. You got stuff in your mouth.

My entire jaw was frazzled after the trip, but then I had to sit in a four hour class afterward and I even had to give a report in the class. Like I said, once you go there, you will keep going back; she asked me to come back in a month! for another cleanning!! Others see their dentist once or twice a year, but mine will be monthly!