HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

May the coming year be full of wonderful things to you and yours!

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1850

Happy New Year 2013 Greeting

Thanks much!

It's been a blast with family & friends...

Postal Service Letter

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE


I was quite baffled why would I get this letter today, Saturday, December 29th, from the Evanston (Illinois) Post Office when I had already shoveled my front steps after a 1.5 inches of snow had fallen a few days ago.  What ever happened to "neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" ?  I realized this is a myth and there is no such thing.  Here I am paying $40 each time to have all the pathway clear of snow and what do the mailman do? Make a shortcut through the lawn on  a feet of snow going from house to house.  What are these postal employees complaining?  I did not complain when I did not get an expected package (certificate was signed with re-delivery date noted).  I asked the female carrier why she did not bring it she said it was heavy.  When she brought it the next day the package was not heavy at all.

Here's the very threatening letter: (It sure put me in a good holiday mood)

Dear Customer:

Postal regulations require customers to provide mail carriers access to the mail boxes, which should be free of obstructions.  The approach to your mailbox should be kept clear or: snow (highlighted in yellow), vehicles, garbage cans, trees and tree limbs which may obstruct access to same.

A potential hazardous situation has been identified at your address which prevents the mailmn from completing his appointed rounds and presents a physical hazard to the postal employee in the form of
____________________________________________________________________________

We are requesting your cooperation in correcting this situation, at your earliest convenience, failure to do so may result in temporary [suspension of mail delivery (highlighted in yellow)].  If we may be of further assistance please call the Supervisor of Customer Service, Delivery Unit at (847) 328-6288.

Thank you,
Signed

Andrea Bocelli & Ana Maria Martinez - O Soave Fanciulla - La Boheme

 Magnifique!

Puccini's La Boheme Ticket

LA BOHEME AT THE LYRIC OPERA CHICAGO

Fabulous! I got my ticket from Jodi.  Thanks a million for the Christmas gift, Gaye.  And oh-la-la, the best box seat at the opera.

98.7 WFMT Spotlight
"Puccini's magic never fails to cast its entrancing spell.  Golden melodies transport you to Paris' Latin Quarter, where young artists struggle to make ends meet in icy-cold garrets.  But passions run hot, because everyone's in love."

Long live passion!

Lyric Opera's presentation of this overwhelming favorite will be in a production from the San Francisco Opera that is new to Chicago.  Its opening run January 21 will star Ana Maria Martinez as the fragile seamstress MIMI and Dmitri Pittas as her lover, the poet RODOLFO, with Elizabeth Futral as the heartbreaker MUSETTA and Lucas Meachem as the jealous painter MARCELLO.  Join George Preston and Roger Pines as they present this bittersweet romance and its soaring music.

SJA Simbang Gabi 2012 Surprise!

 Go-Go ITO a la LADY GAGA at the Simbang Gabi Program. HoHoHo!!!

To see the real thing, my favorite of LADY GAGA - BAD ROMANCE  http://youtu.be/qrO4YZeyl0I

SJA Simbang Gabi - Filipino Community 2012

 Thanks to the SJA Filipino Community for a wonderful and joyful Simbang Gabi.  You always bring out the best to serve and entertain your kababayan. ~ Lib of ALT GROUP: Proud Sponsor of SJA Simbang Gabi since 2006.

Lib JibJab

FREE JIBJAB
WATCH THIS! DO YOU GANGNAM?

SJA Simbang Gabi Dance Program 2012

The best teen entertainment ever at the SJA SIMBANG GABI.  Loyola Kapwa Dancers of Loyola University - Chicago were award-winning collegiate dance champion, folk dancing,  in the whole of USA!

More video:
SJA Simbang Gabi Folk Dance 2012  http://youtu.be/QuUE0vdie4

Filipino Choir 2012 SJA Simbang Gabi

 Singing of "Bayan Ko" (My Country) by the Filipino Choir of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Evanston, Illinois.

The Goddesses of Manila H.S. Sing!

 Hi-yo, Silver Bells!

The Goddesses of Manila H.S. in Chicago

THE GODDESSES:
Lydia - Goddess of Dance; Thelma - SkyGoddess; Lib - Goddess of Convenience

Singing 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad

Thelma - Humanitarian & ALT Friend

FEBRUARY 2014  UNISAN SCHOOL CHILDREN ART & DANCE PROJECTS

JD & Justin helping one of the school children put up the papers

 

 

GREY SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS OF ESSAY CONTEST

First Prize   Madilene    "Walang mahirap sa taong nagsisikap"

Second Prize   Jamaica A. Valdeviejo   (to be a teacher someday)
                       Joshua A. Gano   (to be a teacher someday)

Third Prize   Rhoan Mae G. Red   "Walang mahirap sa taong nagsisikap"

Special Award   Karl Jerome J. Sarta    (to be a boxer someday)

________________________________________________________

Previously Published on March 13, 2012  altgroups website

*********************************************

THELMA ISAAC-GREY

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

2012

In recognition of her philanthropic endeavors in providing hope and happiness to the elementary school children of her beloved hometown of Unisan, Quezon, Philippines.  For a decade now, her kindness and generosity for poor children's education, by providing reading materials and art supplies and feeding them, are very much appreciated by all.  Her deep abiding friendship with her fellow Manila High School batchmates, teachers and friends earned their utmost respect and trust.  To all of them, she is always the wind beneath their wings, never failing and never wavering.

The beautiful school children from two elementary schools of Unisan, Quezon.

Thelma in discussion with six school teachers.

Thelma holding an art contest with the children

Thelma's beach house in picturesque Unisan

Postcard views of surrounding areas

Humanitarian Award Trophy from ALT President Lib and The Big Heart Club Treasurer of Manila High School Graduates International Alumni

Certificate of Appreciation

Presented at the MHS Multi-Batch Reunion and Alumni Homecoming

MHS Quadrangle, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

February 19, 2012

L-R: Thelma, Beng, Star, Emil, Lydia, -?, & Cito

 

 

[Reloaded  12/17/12  lib's labyrinth blogspot]

Manila High School (Philippines) Reunion Lydia's Visit

Previously Published on March 22, 2010  labtechs multiply website
I specified Manila High School (Philippines) because there's a Manila High School in Arkansas, USA.

December 15, 2012 - Simbang Gabi at St. Joan of Arc Parish, Evanston-Skokie, Illinois
*****************************************************

Lydia of Helsinki, Goddess of Dance & Poetry, attended her high school Caribbean reunion cruise last November 2009.  The cruise was organized by Alice the Little Flower and Goddess of Socials.  She said she had a wonderful time at the cruise, meeting and bonding with 48 of her batchmates and relatives from California and seeing Tina the Goddess of Information and Belen of Virginia again and Fely of Oregon for the first time.  

Cruise Highlights-

Washington, D.C.

With Robert (RIP)

Chicago!

Baha'i Temple, Wilmette, Illinois

Margie & Ladi

Lydia visited them in December 2007, She's a full-time lab tech and part-time choreographer of Philippine folk dance on weekends. 
After the cruise, she had a mini-reunion with high school friends (SkyGoddess, Margie the Goddess of Beauty, the Goddess of Convenience) in Chicago.  She was invited to dance at St. Joan of Arc Church' Simbang Gabi in Evanston-Skokie also.

Her call card says, "Dancing through the years promoting PHILIPPINES."

On tour of Japan

St. Joan of Arc Simbang Gabi - Dancing the Pandanggo sa Ilaw

MHS School Photos: Courtesy of Lydia & Thelma
                                        (2) by an alumni