Vintage Family Photo

My oldest brother recently sent the following photo via e-mail to family members:

It’s a scanned copy of a photo of my mother with my four oldest siblings. They are from left to right: Evelyn, Edwin, Eden, and Efren. I would guess that this photo was taken in the mid-1950’s. As you can see, the photo has seen better days – with torn corners, countless crease marks, faded areas, and overall signs of degradation thru the years. The photo is priceless. It is great that thru modern technology, the image will live on quite a bit longer.

Fashionably Dressed

I stopped in Seattle for just over four days during the first week of May, after a one week work related training in DC. I was able to attend a special 18^th birthday of a cousin’s daughter during my visit. It was a semi-formal party and wouldn’t you know it, I attended wearing shorts with a t-shirt under a short sleeve shirt. Needless to say, I was dressed too casually and felt out of place. After a week training in DC, the only clean clothes I brought with me to Seattle were shorts and t-shirts, my typical weekend wear.

These were some of the people that were dressed properly for that party:

My great-niece Cameron and niece Ina.

With Ina.





My great-niece Jen.





My nephew Jojie, sister Evelyn, and great-nephew Nathan.





With Nathan, who is now taller than I am.





But the most stylishly dressed person in the party: My great-nephew Jayan.

Mek Mek

I have a nephew named Marcus. He goes by the name Mek Mek. The origin of this nickname is from his older brother who could not say his name correctly as a kid. He would try to say “Marcus” but it would come out as “Mak ko.” The name transmutated to Mek Mek. This is probably because of the practice of repeating syllables in the Filipino language, especially in young kid’s names. Mek Mek became his common name. Everyone called him by this name. As he grew older, his name was shortened to Mek. And how did I come to this subject?

I was in Seattle earlier this summer. I was checking out Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale, and I came upon this:

Just so I don’t get Mia, Mek’s younger sister, jealous. I also have a picture for her taken earlier this summer in Salzburg, Austria.

Family Camping at Twenty-five Mile Creek State Park, July 2009

The annual Antonio Family and Friends camping took place 3-5 July 2009. A small contingent was able to start out the festivities a day early and were there 2 July. This year’s event took place at Twenty-five Mile Creek State Park, located in north central Washington, near Lake Chelan. Mother Nature blessed us with nice weather throughout the duration of camp. It may have been a bit hot for some due to lack of shady areas, but the camp location with the lake and a creek nearby provided areas for a quick cool down.

This year’s event turned out to be an amazing weekend. We had the highest turn out ever. Over 110 people participated, with nearly 30 tents set up, 30+ vehicles to coordinate parking, and multitude of dogs to quiet down during camp quiet hours. It is nearly impossible to plan for such as event. Events of this magnitude will always have hiccups. We were able to adjust and adapt to these glitches without any major issues. Despite the smaller campsites, the vehicle parking situation, the lack of shady locations, and the hot weather, we ended up at great campground location with a marvelous view of the lake and the local landscape, camp participants more than willing to park the additional vehicles where they needed to be, delicious meals, variety of fun activities, and everyone working together to make the gathering special. Everything fell into place and everyone had an enjoyable experience.

All partook in the multitude of activities – from boating and jet-skiing around the lake, swimming by the marina, playing “pusoy”, morning yoga, crossfit exercise, and guitar playing and sing-alongs to just lounging around the shade and catching up on everyone’s state of affairs. The kids had a great time by the lakeside, making s’mores by the campfire, making mud pies, and outdoing each other with the biggest soap bubbles. Everyone enjoyed the variety of food during meals and the snacks served in between. It was certainly a weekend to remember.

I commend the group who planned and organized this event. The group went out of their way to get this year’s camping event a success. Many do not realize the time and effort they put forth. They usually do not get the acknowledgment for their accomplishment. Most have come to expect the standard that they set last year; it was surpassed this year. The necessary logistics to get this underway were many – from securing a date, securing a campsite, getting people to pay their share, cooking assignments, planning activities for all especially for the kids, providing directions to the campgrounds, being flexible with last minute changes, and host of other things. I express my gratitude to the organizing committee - - special thanks to Jay and Ron who took the lead in this endeavor. Jay and Ron were persistent in ensuring this year’s event was a success. They have also taken criticism from a few on what some may have perceived as shortcomings. I, for one, know how hard it is to plan for this event. I used to lead the planning and organizing for this event. It is an arduous and thankless task.

I hope each and every one of you who participated in this year’s family camping, personally express your gratitude to the organizing committee.

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch...

I know, I know – it’s been more than three months since my last update. I have gotten a few reminders from family and friends about the lack of new entries since Easter. I have gotten e-mails asking if I had given up on this blogging thing. No, I have not given up. Yes, there has been a prolonged lull in updates. One of this year’s resolutions was to keep my blog updated regularly. Since I am overseas, the blog keeps my family and friends updated on my life in Germany. This blog, as well as photos from my flickr account, was created to provide a response to many e-mails I have received and continue to receive, wondering "what Elvin has been up to"; both the blog and photo site helps from having to respond individually to the e-mails and from sending out regular e-mail updates. I started out the year with an update every week or so, at least for the first four months. So I am back --- with a vengeance, I hope.

It has been a whirlwind of activities, travel, and work since that update. During the last week of April, I was in DC for a week of training. I saw a few friends from that area, as well as doing a day trip to North Carolina. After DC, I stopped in Seattle for a 4-day visit. When I got back to Wiesbaden, it was back to the old grind of working, including weekends to catch up with all my projects. From early May to early June, I was at work pulling 10-12 hour workdays, and 4-6 hour days during the weekends.

Both of my sisters and a family friend from our hometown in the Philippines came to Germany to visit. From 4-16 June, I was their tour guide showing them sights in Paris, Lourdes, Barcelona, Ingolstadt, Salzburg, Munich, Cologne, and nearby sights around Wiesbaden. All in all, we had a blast seeing the sights. Mode of travel was by train for the most part. But we also drove my car from Wiesbaden to Munich area and return, as well as the sights around Wiesbaden.

After my visitors left 16 June, I was again back to the grind of work. We borrowed a couple of Corps of Engineer employees from Walla Walla for six months. One was able to keep my projects on track while I was away. I was back to doing the 10-12 hour workdays and working weekends so that I am able to take one and a half week off to visit Seattle in late June. On 26 June, I went to Seattle for an 11 day visit mainly to see my father (who now spends most of his time in the Philippines), attend a baptism party for a nephew’s son (my great nephew, right?), and join the extended family for the annual family camping event during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

As always, my visit to Seattle is always a hustle and bustle of activities. I accompanied several family members to the huge, yearly Rotary Auction in Bainbridge Island, went to see my dentist to repair a chipped molar and two fillings, visited and lunched with friends from the Port of Seattle, refinanced my mortgage loan, and met with a contractor to revamp and modernize the front yard of my house. After I left Seattle, I felt like there were still a thousand things that I failed to do.

Since my return to Germany on 7 July, I have been at work every single day, including weekends. So that is one of the reasons for the lack of updates. Any free time I have are spent to do errands (grocery shopping, laundry, rest & recovery, etc). “Me” time is spent doing leisurely walk around Wiesbaden in the early evening for about an hour and a half, or going to a favorite coffee shop and bringing reading material to catch up on books and news magazines I subscribe to.

Fiscal year end is soon to pass. I have plenty planned for the fall. Stay tuned for updates with photos, on my late June visit of Seattle, being a tour guide to my two sisters and a friend of theirs, my early May visit of Seattle, and late April visit of DC. Attached is a picture of me during Organization Day at work on 10 July. More to come…