The Taboras

This is our latest and greatest; taken during Dad's 90th b-day bash in Manila.

Clockwise from left: Cris, Uli, Eline, Me, Lelen, Ruffy, Eline, Joel, Dad & Mom.

-- for more - www.jmtdallastx2.blogspot.com

1977 Tennis Championships on TV

My normal routine at the end of the day either by phone or in person is to ask my wife how her day had been. Given that she's an attorney, there may be times I don't understand the process or processes of law but I'm always intruiged and interested to hear about them. Yesterday was different. She came home to find me watching the Tennis Channel (as I normally do) and inquired what I find interesting with really old tennis programs. This line of questioning is not new to me. She just does not understand what I see in it. I explained to her that one of the players I'm watching is Rod Laver who was number #1 in the 60's and 70's. This was before my time (in a sense) -I was about 15 or 16 when this match was played. My sister actually nailed it - 'what your wife does not understand is that tennis in those days were pure - all talent, unlike today where your equipment actually helps you'; your wooden racket had gut for strings with normal tensions of 55 lbs when nowadays they hover between 65-80 lbs. Back then you had to be creative and actually had to play good in order to beat your opponent. Today, if you can hit the ball 143 miles per hour, chances are you opponent can do the same. Though impressive to watch, the game of finesse has all but disappeared.

She gets dressed and proceeds to do laundry. I had spoken to her earlier that evening when she was headed to Katharine's basketball meeting and she mentioned she was hungry then. She prepares a dinner plate and walked towards the playroom where I motioned for her to sit next to me. She immediately informs me that she was upset to see me watching 'old tennis' while our daughter was in another room. She also stated that she asked her co-workers what they thought of by telling them of my 'old programs' habit. I didn't realize that my watching old tennis programs had been bothering her -a lot! I was insulted! I stood up and told her that I happen to like it so why can't she accept it?

Do people normally get upset with others when Cary Grant is on? Do they normally get upset when they come across TMC on TV? What about old episodes of Star Trek? What about Friends? I don't get it. The next time she watches 'National Treasure' for the hundredth time should I get upset? ... maybe I should...

I should have written this awhile back..

.. if my parents find out.. of course they eventually would since they read this blog. What am I referring to? My Honda Shadow VT750. I'm posting this now so I can come clean when I see them soon.

Though my idea of cruising is a 35-40 mph ride, (so I can stop at Starbucks when I feel like it) that would not fly with my parents because they have always been against motorcycles - I think we have friends or relatives that have had accidents. I'll probably hear about it as soon as I get there..

Oh, did I mention I have an affinity for skulls too?.. skull shirts, stickers, key chains. Heck, my bike key is a skull. Man, being raised roman catholic by parents who in addition are superstitious, I wonder what they would say to that too.. I'm thinking what else I have in the attic that needs to come out?

The Goose goes to camp!

Yesterday, the goose left to go to a 5-day camp in West Texas. This is the longest she will be away from home; definitely from Kelly whose always with her on out-of-town trips. The longest time Katharine's been away from Kelly was when she and I went on our Hawaiian trip a couple of years ago. This time, she is away from both of us; in a camp which Kelly went to herself when she was younger. I was a bit nervous to see her off yesterday since I knew she was headed to a place where she did not know anybody but know that there will be fun enjoyable stuff to do while she's there. Last week through yesterday, I would tell her that she will enjoy this week finding and making new friends, doing horseback-riding, canoeing, hiking,.. whatever else they do at camp. I also told Kelly to motivate the goose and not show sadness that she is going away for a length of time because that might make the goose feel homesick even before she left; not to mention get scared of what might be out there. In the end, I knew that sooner or later Katharine will do or go to places that neither mom and dad are invited and will have to fend for herself. But as with any of us, the experience of doing things on our own just needs and will eventually happen.

Pics from camp: http://www.bunk1.com/template/gallery.aspx?op=6&form_camp_id=7714&userid=1481543&perpage=1&Page=1

"A Trip To The Stars" ... by Katharine

"Going to see a star up close has been my dream for the longest time. Though the one thing about the stars are that they can't come to you; you have to come to them. Yet that's only the beginning of our story.

One summer night, Jenny Conn was lying outside of her foster home thinking. She was thinking about her loving parents she lost on a cruise when the boat unexpectedly disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. She was gazing up at the stars wondering if her parents were up in heaven staring down at her saying that they're sorry and still love her.

By the time she got inside, everyone was asleep. So she tiptoed to her bed. The second right before she got to her own bed, Jennette (her best friend) flopped and turned to the left side of the room to see Jenny tiptoeing through the room. She sat up straight in her bed and yelled in a hushed tone, "Hello??" Were have you been?" She said even quieter trying not to wake every single child in the room. Jenny walked over to Jennette's bed and said, "Do you remember the night I just.. just sat in my bed thinking of my parents?" Jenny didn't even wait for an answer. She only paused to think of what to say.

"All I want to do is see them and more, and tell them.." Jenny didn't get to finish her sentence. Jennette plopped on her pillow and said half asleep, "Ok, you go do that.." and drifted away. Jenny was tired too. so she went to her bed and fell asleep. Not caring that it was 11:18 when she finally drifted asleep.

Thankfully, the next day was Saturday. On Saturdays everyone sleeps in. So that's exactly what she did. Jenny had the most unusual dream though.

"Hello,Jenny. We're O.K." As Jenny listended to the voice in her head, she recognized it. In her dream she was in the backyard of her old house waiting. The voice was hard to recognize, but the voice got louder. More like right behind her. She twirled around an saw her mother's shimmering blue eyes, and her father's short brown hair. They smiled and she too began to smile; but as she looked into their eyes she was confused inside. Yet, right before she let the smile turn into a sobbing face, her mother grabbed her hand, and her father grabbed the other. With the wink of her mother's eye, they all started flowting. They were headed to the stars.

As they got above the houses, Jenny felt a tear trickle down her cheek. She had seen them, again! Though, as she wanted to ask so many questions; there was only one that would anser them all. They landed on a rooftop to say goodbye, and right before they left she said in such a small voice you couldn't even tell if she ment it, "Do you still love me?" Any parent would know what to say, but they knew excactly what to say. "Sweetheart, even if we didn't show it, you'll always be our little girl and in our hearts. Goodbye sweetie." She let go of her mother's hand as if reaching out for someone you miss and can't catch them. She quietly wispered goodbye. Then it all blurred away.

Jenny woke up the next morning and everyone was already outside playing soccer, but she didn't want to play soccer. She wanted to say thank you to her parents. So she got down and prayed and now she has a wonderful story to tell, and it all started with a thought."

The Goose is 10 years old!!

How time flies! I remember the first time I laid eyes on Goosey was when the nurse handed her to me outside the L&D operating room and all I could say was.. 'cool'. The nurse eventually said, "you do not know the sex of the baby do you?". I then told her the story that during the three sonogram sessions, we never got to confirm the baby's sex because the first session the baby was way too small. The second time, the baby had her legs crossed. (That in itself should've been the sign!) The third time, she had turned and all we could see was her butt! Cute butt but that was not what we came to see. Oh well..

10 years later, Katharine is as lovely as ever. A bit sassy but I can tolerate it.. Mom, not so much.. She is doing well in school; piano seem to be picking up. As for sports, indoor tennis seems to be the norm for now since it's either too windy or too hot. Softball is good because the games are played earlier in the day before it got too hot. Soccer was dumped because there was too much running and contact with the other players; besides, the flowers and insects were too much to ignore and the game kept getting in the way of her curiosity.

When asked, all she wanted for her birthday were two little live frogs that live in a small bowl to be placed next to the fish bowl. Whew, I thought she might want something more extravagant.. like a beamer or something!

The immediate family celebrated her birthday dinner at Kobe, her favorite Japanese restaurant on Park and I75 where whenever she arrives all the waitstaff call her by name. It's like Norm walking into Cheers. The sushi chef, Mr. Wong already knows what she wants so within a few minutes of us sitting down at the sushi bar, two orders of California Rolls are placed infront of her. Her school friends will be treated to a movie and lunch at Studio Movie Grill this weekend. Gone are the days when you have a birthday party at your house. Holding it at outside venues eliminate the need to clean the house first, prepare the food and drinks, hire a clown (if that was planned), then clean afterwards when everybody leaves. Thank God for party venues! The birthday week will end with Mimi and Poppy coming over for a steak dinner this Sunday. (Now that we can handle here at the house.)

Everyday she grows. Everyday she learns something new. What an experience to be part of her development. For those of you who were told that having a child changes your life.. you betcha! It's much much BETTER!!!!!

Piano Recitals

May 2009


Ok, we think she has potential...

- Superior award for Achievement Auditions
- Gold medal at Keyboard Olympics
- Highest honor (One Plus) at Sonatina Festival
- Gold medal on Theory Test