ROYAL HOLIDAY
Day 2: A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER




PRADA MAMA's Log, Friday, December 24, 2004

6:00 AM: The morning of Christmas Eve dawned bright and beautiful.

Or so they said. We were glad to take their word for it.

Truth is, we never even got to see it. The whole family slept in until noon. My Auntie Olive wasn't scheduled to arrive until after lunch. We had every intention of squeezing every minute of sleep we could get.

12:30 PM: Auntie Olive arrives, heading straight for her grand-niece.



She settles herself in our room, while we get ready to go to Medieval Times.

I have always wanted to eat there since I saw "The Cable Guy". I was curious about their dinner show, which everyone seemed to be raving about. Dinner was scheduled for 5:30, but I was told they opened their doors two hours before so people could walk around and see the horses and suits of shining armor. There was also a Museum of Torture in the complex, which we reluctantly had to forego since we didn't want to scare the kids away.




5:20 PM: We arrived before 5:30 PM, (one of the rare occasions where we weren't late) but alas, the show had already started. I guess even the staff and actors wanted to go home early on Christmas Eve!

We bought our tickets and posed for a picture wearing Medieval Times crowns, which surprisingly came out decent. It was packaged in a beautiful hard cover jacket, which almost justified the $20 they were charging for it.

Costumed pages who kept referring to us as "Milord" and "Milady" escorted us to the Blue section of the darkened Grand Hall. We later learned that meant we were supposed to root for the Blue knight. In the meantime, the Andalusian stallions were doing their show, which reminded me of the obedience exhibitions at Crufts, only with MUCH bigger dogs.

Our eyes barely had time to adjust to the darkness when our server approached. We were expecting a wench but we got a dude instead. He efficiently served us our vegetable soup in one-handed bowls, lucky for me, because I was carrying Reanna on my lap.

Things got a little more complicated when they served the main course: a large platter filled with half a roasted chicken, a spare rib, garlic bread and an herb-basted potato. It sounds delicious now, and it certainly smelled delicious then, but there was the business of silverware to attend to, specifically the lack thereof.

Right. I should've remembered they didn't HAVE eating utensils back in the Dark Ages, but I'm sure even the lowliest serf didn't have to slurp his gruel blindly in pitch black conditions. I asked the server for utensils. The darkness veiled his mocking smile. There were none to be had.

And so I proceeded to gingerly tuck into my food with my free hand while firmly anchoring Reanna with the other, deftly avoiding my daughter's attempts at intercepting the invisible delights which were still forbidden to her. And the food WAS delicious, I'll have to say that.

Somewhere between the hot towel and the coffee, the tournament was opened by King Alfonso VI and his daughter, Princess Esmeralda. I wondered why they had Spanish-sounding names but spoke with fake British accents, but I wasn't about to be picky.

And then there were the noble color-coded knights: Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Black-and-White and Red-and-Yellow. I wondered about the last two. Couldn't they have just picked another color like "Purple" or "Orange"? Or was there a dearth of color during the Middle Ages that they had to use certain ones twice?

But I knew these were petty details and it wasn't long before I was cheering for the Blue knight as he jousted with the limited prism of colors which were his opponents.



I thought the REAL stars of the show were the Andalusian stallions, which were trained to exit through the curtains even after their riders were unhorsed. Now THAT to me was impressive.

It was a wonderful and exhiliarating experience, and I yelled myself hoarse rooting for Blue. I felt like I was in college again, cheering for Benjie Paras and the U.P. Maroons during UAAP basketball tournaments, except this time I didn't have to embarrass myself by singing "Push on U.P.".


After the show, Lance and Troy went to see the beautiful horses on display behind glass panels. We also caved in when they asked us to get them the knight's kits from the gift shop, which contained a sword and sheath, a shield, a chest plate and a helmet and visor. It was, after all, Christmas Eve.



Troy lost no time donning his gear. With Daddy's help, he was suited up in minutes. His timing was perfect. We caught the Blue knight just as he was about to walk through the Cast Entrance, and shot this picture.



And then we lingered in the hall, taking more pictures before realizing we were the last guests around.



We quickly made our exit through the main entrance, and headed back for the hotel, where Daddy and the boys had a joust of their own.



Soon everyone was exhausted and drifting off to sleep. At the stroke of midnight, I was the only one left awake. I started calling friends and family to greet them "Merry Christmas", leaving messages on people's voice mail. I even woke up my friend, April, by mistake. I guess some people DO sleep regular hours on Christmas Eve.

It felt strange being apart from the rest of the clan, who were probably busy with noche buena when I called. This was the first time we were celebrating Christmas away from everyone. But you know what? It wasn't bad at all. In fact, I was happy right where I was.

Because the people who REALLY mattered were in the same room with me.




(PLUGGING: "And Miles To Go Before I Sleep", the latest in The Prada Mama Chronicles.)

ROYAL HOLIDAY
Day 1: FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEES




PRADA MAMA's Log, Thursday, December 23, 2004

6:10 PM: Southwest Arilines Flight 419 departs from Oakland Airport 2 hours late. The plane is full. Good thing we had an infant with us, which qualified us for pre-boarding. (Hooray for Reanna!)

The boys were loving it. Troy, by virtue of being the youngest in his aisle, got the window seat. Lance wasn't happy about this and was being quite vocal about it, but we promised him he'd get the window seat on the flight back. In the meantime, they were allowed to order sodas, since this was a special occasion. We also got extra pretzels for Troy. We didn't want to risk an allergy attack to the peanuts they were serving.



Reanna, on the other hand had her food supply conveniently close at hand. I breastfed her during takeoff and landing, to ease any pressure she may be feeling in her ears, but she appeared to be okay. The rest of the flight, she seemed content to be passed between Mommy and Daddy. And when she got sleepy, all it took was a few gulps of Mommy's milk and she was sleeping peacefully in my arms.

This is Troy's first time on a plane. Lance, on the other hand, is already a veteran of three other flights, but since he was just four months, eleven months and eighteen months when he took them, he doesn't really remember much.

Luckily, the flight didn't take too long. It was over before the novelty wore off. In less than an hour, we were landing at Orange County Airport. It was fun to hear the boys' reactions as we were making our descent: "Mom, that made my tummy feel funny!"

And then we were claiming our baggage and making our way to Budget, where we had a reservation for a minivan. Within minutes, we were loading our gear into our rented Pontiac Montana, the kids' car seats were safely installed, and we were on Highway 5, searching for the South Harbor Blvd. exit in Anaheim.




8:30 PM: Check-in, Castle Inn and Suites, Anaheim, CA. I knew the kids would love this location, since it looks like a medieval castle. It even has a suit of armor in the lobby, along with a wooden chandelier Robin Hood would've loved to hang on. Best of all, it was just across the street from the Disneyland main entrance!




After dropping our things off at our room, we decided to check out the immediate vicinity for food. Lucky for us, there was a strip mall at the Ramada complex just beside the hotel. There were a number of options to choose from, but the top two contenders were Chinese and Indian. I secretly wanted to try the Indian place, but resigned myself to eating Chinese, expecting it to be the popular cosensus. To my surprise, Lorenzo suggested the Indian restaurant as well.

So it was settled. Dinner would be at Tandoori Hut.



As soon as we took our first taste, there was no room for regrets. We ordered chicken tikka masala and chicken curry, and ate it with naan bread dipped in saag paneer (spinach). The children LOVED it! They also enjoyed the mango lassi which their Daddy got for them. I was genuinely surprised that they enjoyed the exotic food so much. Then again, everything tasted good, and the portions were generous.

After our meal, it was time to stock up our room with provisons. Lucky for us, our refrigerator was three times the size of a regular minibar, so we had lots of space for food. We drove to the nearest supermarket, where I bought our usual staples: water, milk, breakfast cereal, fruit, bagels, cream cheese, chips and soda. The coffee maker in our room also meant we could have instant oatmeal and hot cocoa with marshmallows, so I got those too, along with paper plates, paper towels, and plastic cups and utensils.

And then we headed back to our hotel, where the kids played around on the beds for a bit until we could settle them down to sleep.



It was a big room, with two queen beds and room to spare, perfect for the roll-away bed we ordered for tomorrow, when my Auntie Olive was expected to join us.

Olivia is my Mom's older sister, a nurse who lives in Southern California. When I told her we were going to Disneyland for Christmas, she immediately made plans to join us. I knew she would be a fun addition to our adventure. After all, she and I hold the family record for longest long-distance call, when we talked on the phone for SEVEN HOURS in 1994. She had just returned from her Christmas trip to the Philippines. I was lonely and homesick in Canada. And we LITERALLY burned the wires, and our pockets with the resulting phone bills.

Hard to believe that was ten years ago.

I finished unpacking, filling the armoire with my children's clothes while Lorenzo got the kids ready for bed. Lance, Troy and Reanna finally ran out of steam. We tucked them in bed, where they fell asleep almost immediately. We weren't that far from slumber ourselves.

It was, after all, the end of a very long and wonderful day.


(PLUGGING: "Should've Touched Wood", the sequel to "The Sun Also Rises" at The Prada Mama Chronicles, and "Happy Birthday Max!", my birthday post dedicated to my son, MAX (who turned 12 today), also at Prada Mama. You may also read the same text with additional pictures in my photoblog, Brag Book.)

ROYAL HOLIDAY




On December 23, 2004, my family took our first major vacation, one which still lives in my children's minds like it was just yesterday.

Indeed, it's hard to believe it's been a whole month since we dropped Vanna off at Oakland Airport, where she was safely parked while her family took a holiday filled with castles and knights, in the most magical kingdom on earth.

Since we got back, Lance and Troy got quickly reacquainted with our paltry collection of Disney videos and DVDs. They have acquired a new interest in "The Sword and the Stone", after seeing the ACTUAL sword stuck in an anvil in Disneyland, and Troy has told me, matter-of-factly, that he will be "marrying a princess".

Lance had a kindergarten project, entitled "I Am Special", a poster filled with magazine cutouts of things he likes. Aside from the requisite Power Rangers DinoThunder taken from the box of one of his presents, Lance filled the rest of his work with castles, knights, and a picture of Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

I guess he said it all when prompted to write "His Wish" in a separate classroom activity. That evening, Lance asked me to how to write the words...

"I wish I could go to Disneyland again".

Sigh...wouldn't I love to make THAT one come true.

But I guess I can only offer the next best thing, another trip to Disneyland down memory lane. And so, for my son's sake, I am reliving that magical trip once more, at least within the pages of this blog.

So join me as I embark on another series, where I shall retell my family's Christmas vacation adventure. Allow me to call this one..."ROYAL HOLIDAY".

After all, if happy moments had any monetary value, I would be living in the land of kings.


(PLUGGING: Lance and Troy have two new pets! Find out what animals they got, and what they named them, in "Betta Care Team", the latest in The Prada Mama Chronicles. As always, you'll find additional pictures to my posts in my photoblog, BRAG BOOK.)

BRAG BOOK

After much thought, and taking everybody else's picture-posting advice into consideration, I have finally decided to get my own Fotopage.

God knows I already have two other blogs, thanks to Ate Sienna, my web-ninang at Pansitan.net. And since I am the first to admit to sometimes being remiss in the task of updating, why on earth would I exert even MORE pressure upon myself, by adding yet another blog?

The answer is actually quite simple, and surprisingly domestic.

Because Prada Mama is the proud owner of a new digital camera, and she delights in posting pictures of her progeny in the worldwide web. And since she is unfamiliar with the concept of conserving bandwidth, she desperately needs a site where she can showcase her brood in wild abandon without: 1) alienating her neighbors, and 2) paying Flick'r's exorbitant fees. (Beta my foot).

THAT'S why!

And so, for those of you who have not yet had your fill of my family, Lorenzo, Lance, Troy and Reanna join me in welcoming you to my latest offering, Prada Mama's BRAG BOOK, which you can find in

http://pradamama.fotopages.com.

Allow me to propose a toast to myself, while I offer you a plateful of yummy CHEESIN' QUACKERS.

Cheers!


(PLUGGING: "Indoor Camping", my latest post-n-picture at The Prada Mama Chronicles, and "Cheesin' Quackers", the first entry in my photoblog, BRAG BOOK.)

THE MIGHTY DUCKS




Okay, I'm playing around with this picture here, one of my many favorites featuring my two boys, Lance and Troy.

Thanks, by the way, to all of you who gave your input and advice on posting pictures online using alternatives to Hello. I'm trying out Flick'r, which seems to be highly recommended.

To those of you who are also using Flick'r, please show me how to maximize the use of this free service. Their directions do not seem to be as user-friendly as Hello's. For instance, how do I post pictures clumped together in a group?

Once again, this is a call for assistance, directed to my many Blogger friends out there.

And to those of you who responded so promptly the last time, THANK YOU.


(PLUGGING: "Mrs. Incredible", my latest in The Prada Mama Chronicles.)

A SOBERING START

We're back from our Disneyland holiday.

Truth be told, we've been back for days. Yet, with the exception of a picture-posting test gone awry in Prada Mama, I haven't had the heart to blog about anything at all.

Oh, we had a marvelous time in Southern California. In fact, everyone had so much fun that we ended up extending a day, just to see more of the Magic Kingdom. Of course, we had to forego our return flight, but driving our rented minivan back to Oakland Airport proved to be just as enjoyable.

It was during this trip back when I first learned about the deadly tsunami in the Indian Ocean. By then, it had already been three days since the first killer wave struck.

To think that when it happened, it was still Christmas Day where we were.

Disneyland was full that day, and they were turning people away, us included. The kids were disappointed, and I remember being quite angry at myself for not buying tickets beforehand. Instead, we ended up watching "The Incredibles" at Downtown Disneyland, catching the park's fireworks display after the movie before eating Christmas dinner at the nearby Rainforest Cafe, all of us unaware of the tragic events unfolding in the other side of the world.

Since we were on holiday, I didn't really get to see news accounts of the tragedy. I guess it's just as well. Reading about it is heartwrenching enough.

Which brings us to why I heven't posted anything in both of my blogs lately. Yes, life goes on. But wounds are still raw, and worlds are still upturned. And I can't in all conscience write about my mundane existence while other mothers in Indonesia and India, Thailand and Sri Lanka mourn the loss of their husbands and children.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I have two whole digital video tapes and two SD cards full of pictures waiting to be shared. But doing it now, while people are still in the shaky process of recovery, would somehow trivialize their suffering.

So for now, I resolve to hold my husband and children just a little bit tighter...

...while I thank the Lord that I still have my family about me.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2005, and most importantly, a SAFE one for all.


(Okay, so the moment has passed. PLUGGING: "Mrs. Incredible" and "My Left Ear (x3)!", my latest posts in The Prada Mama Chronicles.)