Sufjan Stevens: Musician we heart a lot…

Photos of Sufjan, discovered thru NY magazine and loved by other  musicaphiles…

His music makes you want to leap. Here is one of my leaping sets from our Spain trip last Fall.
 

May Heath R.I.P.

The other day, I was attending a GLBT attorney function when I saw the newsflash in an elevator tv screen announcing “Heath Ledger found dead in SoHo apt”. The elevator was going up to the 35th floor of a corporate firm conference room so the rush and speed of the ascent and the shocking news got me off balance. We heart Heath, especially in Ang Lee’s Oscar winning “Brokeback Mountain”.

Then last night, on Julius’ and my way back from my parents’ L.E.S. apartment to Jersey City, via Holland Tunnel, (after running an errand for their building’s super), we passed through our usual Broome Street (East-West) route. Just as we passed Broadway, we saw, on the left hand side, media vans with their satellite roofs and paparazzi, with cameras in tow, surrounding a makeshift memorial of candles, flowers and an Australian flag for Heath.While I could not stop our ride, I rolled down the driver’s side glass window and paid our respects by yelling out: “We love you Heath!” The cameras and a few bereaved fans turned their heads and looked at Julius and I inside our ride. For that millisecond, we were all connected to Heath’s loss and our respective ones.As we drove past that memorial, my throat scratched of sadness.I looked to my right, where Julius sat, his eyes holding back, a lot, for another young and talented gun smothered by inevitability of our mortality.

  

Familia de Companeros

Here are photos with fellow law school classmates at our home. It was great to see Elsa and Ray’s kids—Evangelise and Rialto—meet Lyla and Pilar (Hector and Milda’s daughters), Anand (Anya and Iggy’s son) and Pedro (son of Amelia and Hui Soo). Andrea, who drove from Virginia, did not come with Solomon and Mateo, who happened to be the first set of kids in our crew. Andrea was accompanied by her partner, Baylor. Amy came solo but she dominated the shots.

It was great great fun as always. It was the first get-together in a long time that most of the crew was whole, almost.Here are some of the pictures from that fun fun fun gathering. Tracy, a good friend from college, joined us with his wife, Jenny.

PLEASE FORWARD YOUR PICTURES TO ME SO I CAN ADD THESE TO THIS BLOG!!!

OBAMA!!!

Come back soon for video of me shaking hands with Barrack when he was at St. Peter’s College for a rally.

We LOVE YOU BARRACK!!!!

In the meantime, here are some photos…the video, I’m still trying to figure out how to minimize its size so it can load here…

Universal healthcare! End the WAR!

Happy 2008!!!

For 2008, we lived it up at LITM RestoBar in downtown JC with JK (St. Joe’s choirmistress) and the bar’s entrepreneur, Jelynne and Roberto. The food was just right on, especially the tilapia paired with potatoes.

What New Year’s eve gig would it be without the open bar! LITM of course had an open bar. The drinking began at the apartment and officially ended at LITM an hour after midnight. But we kept the drinking under control because no one can afford a new year hangover. LITM’s ambiance was festive: replete with balloons (see below), noisemakers and horns; music was a nice mix of old school hip hop (a la Monie Love, Fugees, etc.) and R&B (Michael Jackson).

Of course, we also came to the bar party with our very own party goodies: smiley yellow beads (see below) and paper trumpets…

We pray for peace of mind, good health and more love.

For prosperity.

Salamat Senor Sto. Nino ug San Antonio para los todos de gracias.

Our dear loved ones who have passed on, may they rest in peace and guide us always so that we may continue to help others…

(Re)learning boundaries…within and without…

Spent all of New Year’s Day at nay&tay in L.E.S. Tita Norma rushed to join us with her specialty dishes; Haidee, Franz and Isabela also joined with Ma Dulce. Aeden stopped by also before heading back to CT. Later on that night, Ma Dulce was admitted to ER in Bellevue b/c she had high blood pressure…We pray that she will be fine…