Dad, It's Been 9 Years ...

I sometimes imagine that you're still here with us and how I'll be going around with you on our usual food escapades! :o) I can just picture us, but instead of hopping onto a bus to go downtown, I'll be able to drive you around. You probably won't have the patience and will start eating your food before I can snap a pic of it though, ha ha ha...Oh, you missed out on your favourite and latest James Bond's adventure; Casino Royale was so good! (though you might not share my excitement, you know, the little squeals from me when Daniel Craig walked on the beach in his sexy trunks, showing off his sexy body). LOL! Oh, and you gave me a sign again while I was on the road earlier. There was this car in front of me with your initials...I haven't seen a car registration with your initials for quite a while now, till just now.

But I do know that you are glad to know and see that your kiddos are doing well in life. Living our lives well and happy, that would be how you want us to be and that is what we can be for you. It's hard at times, as I wish that you are here...I want to tell you how much I love you Dad and will always do. It was hard to let you go but in time, I understood that I had to as I truly love you and it was better for you to start your new life knowing that we were okay. All things happen for a reason...I knew that the day I let you go and that in return makes me happy as I know you've been smiling down at us ever since.

24 Dec 1930 - 5 July 1998

Your Smile Is On Our Minds
Your Laughter Rings Through Our Hearts
Your Love Remains In Us
Even Though We Are Apart
- wmw

Loving & Missing You, Always...
Mom, Your Kiddos, Your Kiddos-In-Law & Your Kiddos' Kiddos

*****


Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me and then

Spin me around till I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure
I was loved

If I could get another chance
Another walk, another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
How I’d love, love, love to dance with my father again

Ooh, ooh

When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way I would run from her to him
He’d make me laugh just to comfort me, yeah, yeah
Then finally make me do just what my mama said

Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he
Would be gone from me

If I could steal one final glance
One final step, one final dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
‘Cause I’d love, love, love to dance with my father again

Sometimes I’d listen outside her door
And I’d hear her, mama cryin’ for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me

I know I’m prayin’ for much too much
But could You send back the only man she loved
I know You don’t do it usually
But Lord, she’s dyin’ to dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep
And this is all I ever dream

Dance With My Father - Luther Vandross

Hola Spain! Part 6 - Tapas At Midnight

Well, time for another Spain post! This time round, highlighting the different varieties of tapas we had. Often after dinner, the bunch of us would wander the streets either on our own or with our tour guide to get a fix for our addiction to the lovely sangria and tapas around town.

Plaza Mayor around midnight.

We realised only tourists like us would still want to sit in the open area out in the cold while most locals are in the indoor pubs. Ha ha....at midnight, we almost had the whole open area to ourselves (plus a few other tables occupied by some local lovebirds who gave us a show of some PDA - Public Display of Affection, something very commonly seen all around Spain). It was the same in other places where we had tapas, people would hardly sit outdoors, only we would! Here are some of the tapas we had....

Deep fried salmon ball...a bit on the dry side.

My fave, a must order at each tapas stop...Champignon, Fresh Mushrooms, lightly cooked with olive oil and slightly salted. Can't go wrong with this order.

Finger sized anchovies, battered and fried.

Smoked and thinly sliced anchovies served in olive oil. An acquired taste!

These were lovely! Like a flatter version of our Malaysian curry puff, these were filled with fresh tomato bits and puree instead. Not too sour nor oily! Yum yum!

Grilled octopus with baked potatoes, sprinkled with chili powder. Spicy and nice!

Jamon Serrano Ham.....Dry-cured Spanish ham. Slightly salty, like pork "jerky"! Read more about this unique tapas HERE.

The usual but favourite deep fried calamari! Note the olives, it's usually given free and according to those who eat olives (I don't), they were very nice. Apparently eating 10 of these in one sitting gives a youthful appearance to women (old wives' tale), I was told :o)

And lastly, we have the Sangria (countless times) of course. Ahhhh.....I miss these nights in Spain, they were some of the best moments of my life.

To be continued...

Weekend Humour Interlude

Got this from Mrs Pitt and decided to post some weekend humour. I had a great laugh and hope you folks will find this funny too. Any other things you want to add to the list? Have a great Sunday and a not so blue Monday!

MALE OR FEMALE?
You may not know this but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples....

	FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.
	PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong Buttons.
	TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.
	HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under their butt.
	SPONGES: These are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.
	WEB PAGES: Female, because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.
	TRAINS: Definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.
	EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.
	HAMMERS: Male, because in the last 5000 years, they've hardly changed at all, and are occasionally handy to have around.
	THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying.

Nobody will ever win the Battle of the Sexes. There's just too much fraternizing with the enemy. ~ Henry Kissinger