Friday Night Games - How "Conga Line" became "Hard Rock"

Game Nights can be loads of fun, especially when you're hanging out with creative friends (and frosty beverages ALWAYS helps).

A few weeks back, my friends and I played Telestrations, a game that combines Pictionary with the old childhood game Telephone.  It begins by writing down the "object" (in many cases, it's not an object but a concept--and that requires a lot of creativity).  Your pad is handed to the next person who must draw it.  The drawing is passed on to the next person, who must write his/her guess.  Then, it's passed on to the next person who must draw that guess.  

This one was too funny, so I had to take pics:

**WARNING - Pics may be offensive** :) 

The "starting word" - CONGA LINE 

That looks like a CONGA LINE, right?

I have no idea how he would guess that!

Oh, dear...

My creative response. 

Enjoying the bounty of the Gulf

I never truly appreciated how abundant and readily I had access to great, fresh seafood growing up.  With my dad a fisherman, we had all sorts of fish, shrimp, crabs, oysters and squid to eat several times a week. There were limited ways it was prepared too.  Fish was fried, broiled, or made into soup (sinigang).  Shrimp and crab was boiled.  Oyster were raw, of course, and squid was prepared into an adobo or fried.

However, I've grown to appreciate seafood so much more now.  Maybe it's because I've found more creative ways to prepare it.  Here's a recent creation I made from blue crabs my dad got:

Sweet Red Chili Crabs

Fruit farming in North Cotabato, Philippines

My good friend, Mario Calayco, was recently featured by the Philippines' Department of Agriculture Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center for his outstanding fruit farm in President Roxas, North Cotabato province. Here's the article 

Sampling the stinky durian.

Mr. Calayco has traveled across Southeast Asia to sample and bring back specimens of many tropical fruits.  He's making great strides in economic development in my mom's home province.   


I've known Mr. Calayco for many years during my summer trips to the Philippines.  Formerly the town mayor, I was introduced to him by my aunt, then the principal of the high school.  His strong interest in all things politics and history made for very interesting conversation, and I think he was impressed that a young boy of 15 loved to talk about such things.  We could talk and talk for many hours!

Enjoying buko pandan.

On my last trip to the Philippines in 2005, I went out to his farm to sample some of the fruits.  He even got me to try durian -- which I was no fan before, and still after, trying it.  

How Can It Be The Summer of 2010 Is Finally Over?!?

Time certainly flies... whether or not you're having fun.  

Work was especially brutal with the grant program I manage winding down and completed by the end of August.  Thankfully, there were several diversions throughout the season. 

A recap of my summer highlights:

Family trip to Disney World

My friends' wedding in St. Augustine - Memorial Day Weekend.

July 4th Fun in the Sun - (and not at the beach thanks to BP)

The infamous office Wing Ding in July

Atlanta Trip w/ friends - Georgia Aquarium in July

Atlanta Trip w/ friends - Center for Puppetry Arts in July