[BIT] May 02, 2006: To Zurich Flughafen

We leave Geneva satisfied that we have completed our tasks and return to New York very optimistic about our future. It took us three hours by train from Geneva back to Zurich where we boarded out flight back to New York the following day.

Happy Father's Day

Now that I can finally articulate what I have observed when growing up, I can describe my Dad as minimalist chic. Thanks for you being my fashion guide. May we all be sartorially appropriate at all times.

Back in Time and Favorite Pic: Deanna and David in Florence, Italy

This is a rare photo as picture taking near the awesome statue of Michelangelo's David is not allowed and if caught, is punishable with potentially embarrassing action. Like making a naked sculpture of you then turning it into a plastic one, an inch high and sold as a tacky key chain souvenir. Unless of course, you find this a surefire way to garner publicity and attention.

Back in Time (BIT) and Another Favorite Pic: Feb 08 in Cairns, Australia

Deanna picks the low-hanging fruit.

Back in Time (BIT): Adelaide, Australia

The fourth largest city in Australia, Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide, wife of the William IV. That is, if we recall our good old European History (time to watch the Rated X - "the Tudors"). It is noteworthy to know that Adelaide has no "dreadful convict history" - free people settled it. Okay folks, let's go over that convict history bit. Admit it, to some of you, your ancestors were indeed of that past, and move on.

Back to our Down Under trip, the city was designed along a clearly defined grid pattern dividing two major centers - Adelaide Central and North Adelaide. The effect looked like a square figure eight and made it easy for us to remember the streets, take the public bus for a quick city tour, stop by the South Australian Parliament House which is currently on summer break, visit the Central Market frequently and find our rental van depot.

(ref: http://www.enaustralia.australiacon.com/adelaide.html)

Back in Time: February 2008 in Flinders Chase National Park Kangaroo Island, Australia

A random post: Week 2 of our first Down Under trip took us to Flinders Chase National Park, situated at the west end of Kangaroo Island. The park spans 32,600 hectares of land that is filled with a diversity of flora and fauna... and remarkable rocks. Wind-sculpted rock formations sit atop a smooth granite dome known as Remarkable Rocks. The scale and starkness of the rock formations only emphasizes the stunning views of the coastline.

Mark and I enjoyed hamming it up in Remarkable Rocks! We rock!

Cousins Reunion in New York City

For the web album, please go to: http://www.dcmedina.com/gomez/index.htm

December 18, 2008: A Christmas Party in New York

Making History!

Deanna Votes!

Mark and I voted as early as 9:00 am this morning (Nov. 4, 2008 EST). Here are some photos of me entering the Polling Booth of the 49th Electoral District. This is the third time I have voted for a US President (Bush/Gore - Bush/Kerry - McCain/Obama). The polling place is right in our building so it was convenient for us. But there is no truth to the rumor that we can see Russia from our building.

Time for Change!

V-O-T-E

We Remember September 11

June 26, 2008: Fun with Photo Booth!

So there! A Quote from Aldous Huxley

Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.
- Aldous Huxley

So there!

The Papal Visit in New York & my friend Ron

My dear friend Ron Perez has been preparing to become a priest for over 2 years now. This May, he will be ordained as a priest, the only Filipino priest to be ordained out of 6 for New York this year.

I have gotten used to him focusing on his studies at St. Joseph's Seminary and College called Dunwoodie, the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York; our silence only to be broken by the occasional emails, telephone calls and visits during the Christmas holidays. But we have always kept in touch and when we do reach out to each other, it was effortless to pick up from where we left off.

Mark and I really felt happy for him for his ordination and his first Mass in May 10 & 11, 2008. And now with the Papal Visit that will take place on April 18, 19, and 20, 2008 (http://www.archny.org/papalvisit/), we are all the more proud that he will be the Deacon of the Word during the Pope's Mass in Yankee Stadium.

What is the Deacon of the Word? The most common custom is that one deacon usually reads the Gospel, the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful, the invitation to make the sign of peace, and other interventions such as "The Mass is ended ..." (ref: http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur98.htm)

Ron asked me to ask everyone to pray for him as he takes on this responsibility this coming weekend. Go Ron, go!

Mark and I really feel blessed and honored that we have a friend like Ron. It is one thing to have a priest for a friend. It’s another thing to have a friend for a priest.

Ron blesses 811 on December 24, 2007

Mark your Calendar for Ron’s Ordination: May 10, 2008

To those who have met Ron and know Ron, you are more than welcome to attend his ordination. Below is a transcript of his invitation:

With praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God,

The Penticostes and Perez Families

request the honour of your presence

at the Ordination of their son and brother

Ronald

to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ

through the imposition of the hands

and

the invocation of the Holy Spirit

by

His Eminence

Edward Cardinal Egan

Archbishop of New York

the morning of Saturday, the tenth of May

in the Year of Our Lord two thousand and eight

at nine o’clock

The Cathedral of Saint Patrick

Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

An Invitation to Rev. Ron’s First Mass

With eternal gratitude to the Lord,

a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving

will be offered

by

Rev. Ronald P. Perez

on the

Solemnity of Pentecost

the afternoon of Sunday, the eleventh of May

in the Year of Our Lord two thousand and eight

at one o’clock

The Cathedral of Saint Patrick

Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

First Blessings will follow after the Mass.

Ron’s quote in the New York Times of April 15, 2008

Here's Ron’s quote as it appeared in the New York Times last April 15, 2008

At 39, Ronald Perez is the oldest candidate for ordination next month. A former paralegal at a Midtown law firm, he moved to New York from Los Angeles 10 years ago to change his life. By the time he decided to become a priest, he had worked at a failed manufacturing company and a dot-com that missed the boom.

His decision to become a priest was gradual, he said, coming after years of involvement in activities at his home parish, St. Patrick's Cathedral. He credited the talks he had with visiting seminarians for nudging him closer to the religious life. Like many other contemporary candidates for the seminary, he started studying philosophy with other prospective priests.

"The door was open, so if it was for you, go on, but if not, leave, no questions asked," he said. "That first year was crucial. It gave me a chance to look back at my life and the world around me. Nothing I could have done as an engineer or a paralegal would give me contentment and happiness. Something was missing. I realized what it was: becoming a priest."

Deacon Ron at Christmas Mass in Saint Patrick's Cathedral