Condolences and an update

[Howard]

Hey guys!

Wow!  I can't believe Eric has passed!  This is such a shock.  And to think of everything he went through to find happiness with Katherine and to spent so little time with her, that's just wrong.  How is she doing?  Has anyone heard from her?  Is there anything we can do???  God, I hope his family was as sweet as he was and that the embraced her.  I can't imagine how she must feel.  My heart goes out to his entire family, but especially his wife.  A guy like Eric is not easily replaced in this world.  We have all lost someone very special!

I had hoped to come out of the witness protection program with good news to share with all of my PL brothers - and sisters, Tess - but Eric's passing has moved me to take a few minutes, offer condolences, share a few memories and bring everyone up to date on my life, which really couldn't be better

Gerlie went back to the Philippines last year for a few months and finished the last semester of her BSN and - as soon as we get the transcripts  - will take her NCLEX and be an RN here.

The economy in Michigan SUCKS with a capital SUCK!!!  Our governor is an idiot, but not nearly as dumb as the voters who put her BACK in Lansing after the worst 6 years in recent memory economically!  The only voters dumber than those who put her back in control are the ones who reelected the Mayor of Detroit after he got caught stealing, abusing his office, leasing Navigators for his pals, from his pals - for DOUBLE the normal monthly lease rate - and many other sleazy little things within months of the elections.  I'm just disgusted with the leadership around here, but what can I expect?  Is the right to vote really irrevocable?  LOL

So, obviously, business sucks, but we are managing to keep our doors open and most of our staff on full time.  Until the next tax hike at least 

The band is going well.  We have a CD coming out in November and have started gigging again, which is a HUGE stress reliever.  Nothing like playing through a couple of Marshall stacks to blow off some steam   We have a site, but I don't know if I can post it here, so here goes:  myspace.com/bigdaddyandthegroovemasters  There are songs from the album on there and contact info

But the best news is that Gerlie is pregnant!!!  Yep, she is do December 5th and we just found out it's a boy    We are both beside ourselves with joy.  This is such a happy time for us and we are enjoying every minute

Our marriage is great.  We spend most of our time together and have made a lot of Fil-Am friends to add to my family and close friends.  From reading other stories here I guess I am pretty lucky.  I know that I have exceptional friends and family, but I guess I really have been blessed.  Not once has anyone ever said anything negative about the fact that my wife is from the Philippines.  Well, not to my face at least.  Then again, those of you who don't know me, I present a pretty intimidating presence, so maybe they're scared to   With GOOD reason.  Attack my wife and I attack!  LOL

So that's pretty much it in a nutshell.  I'm glad to see that many of you are doing well and hope to not be such a stranger around here, but you never know

Keep the Faith!

H

[Jeff S]

Good to see you back Howard and thanks for the link. Glad I got to hear some tunes. Be sure to let us know when the CD is out. (You are going to offer us signed copies, right?) Talking about stress relief playing through  a stack of Marshalls sure brought back some ancient memories for me.

Congrats on your upcoming daddy-hood!

I exchanged several e-mails with Kat. Naturally she's sad and a little confused. Fortunately Eric had moved back to be with family so there is a family support structure there for her. She's in college and plans to finish her degree in less than a year.

- Jeff

[tessbrittain]

Hi Howard & Girlie...

Congratulations to both of you and thanks for dropping by at PL....I am very happy for Girlie...My neice will take the NCLEX in Manila on October 16 and we are crossing our fingers..I hope she will make it...:

We are doing great ...In the next 2 weeks I will be leaving for the Philippines for a 5 week vacation....My 7th trip since I came to the america...

More blessings to both of you,

Tess and Stephen Brittain

[Dave H]

Hi H,

Congratulations to you and Gerlie on the upcoming birth of your son! Now you really are Big Daddy.    I'm happy to hear that you are doing great!

Gee I was thinking about moving back to the Big Mitten one of these days....doesn't sound so good. I guess i will have to make visit first.

D.

[Bear]

Hey big dude.  Good to see ya posting again.  I was betting business was so good ya didn't have the time but it looks I was wrong. 

That government stuff I think is gonna kill me!  My blood pressure gets higher everyday listening to this mockery of law and justice.  We had a poll last year that stated beyond doubt we didn't want anymore foreign owned toll roads and guaranteed the departure of or R.IN.O. governor because of his stance on the boarder.  He came out strong for the fence and made deals with the sate congress to assure no more "eminent domain rights and foreign own toll roads.  Plus he apologized for the bigest tax increase in the history of country.  We were stupid and he was reelected.  Shortly after the end of this past session of congress where the compromise bill on toll roads was passed, the one he sponsored - he veto it and announced 41 more toll roads to be owned by a Portuguese company!.  Last week he was heard saying only a fool would want a fence on the border - saying it would be bad for business of our nation and our "citizens (?!)" to the south! 

But we think we got him though the state supreme court which just ruled he must immediately call a special session of congress because of a lawsuit saying the government of Texas violated the state constitution by spending more than was allowed by a constitutional amendment.  Our constitution limits state spending increases to the average increase of the average citizens income plus increase in population - basically just under 2%.  He increase spending 65% from 998 million to 1.66 billion.  They are trying to get the supreme court to supercede by state supreme court but it appears it not going to happen.  This will kill every thing passed for the last six years - including the toll roads and this time congress won't bargain with him.  Not only that but by Texas Law they'll be forced to give tax rebates and repeal the tax increase.

I don't know if y'all hear about it up there but in the last 2 years we have had several border agents go to jail for defending our border and several of the drug agents and illegals have successfully sued our government for millions and citizenship.  Even with masses of  people around the country demanding their release nothing is being done.

If people don't show up at the next election and vote "none of the above" meaning no more incumbents, something gonna break cause we aren't being represented anymore, we are being "ruled" - and I'm sick of it.  I for one intend to show up very loudly at the primary conventions and hope a lot of y'all do too.

Oops.  I'll get off the box now.

The Bear Family

[Ray]

Howard! Thanks for the update buddy!

Wow, a little H in the oven! I sure hope he looks more like his mom  . Just kidding you handsome devil... 

Ray

[michaelb]

I hear you on the toll roads, Bear, although I thought the company in question was in Spain, not Portugal. Don't know what part of Texas you live in, but I live close enough to use 121 (which my license plates and fuel tax already paid for) and they've turned that into a toll road too. Now I DON'T use it. As for eminent domain, I'm against it for building sports venues as well. Schools, yes, roads, yes, libraries, parks, military facilities etc. yes, but to take a person's house or business to build a sports stadium or shopping mall on the grounds of 'well the people like sports, and the mall would pay more taxes than residential property' is just plain WRONG and NOT the use for eminent domain that the people who wrote the Constitution had in mind. More of us should have voted for Kinky.

[Bear]

Funny you mention Kinky.  I thought he was a nut case but I voted for him because at least he was honest.  Anyone who could get both Willie and the former governor of Minnesota's backing must be okay.

My brother uses 121 and he is complaining also.  He says its added a big expense going around. 

VOTE NONE OF THE ABOVE IN THE PRIMARIES!  It's the only way to stop the madness.

The Bear Family.

[Bear]

Well Howard, it looks like we'll have another boy.  Sure hoped this one would be a girl but it appears God wants my family tree to spread out a bit more.  Last one for me - I'm gonna get the snip-snip.  Got to find another boy name with an "A" that Honey likes too, she's so picky.  She doesn't like Allan or Alvin and I think way too many people are named Aaron.  So guess I'll go shopping for a baby name book.  I guess now we'll now be known as Honey and the A-team.

The Bear Family

[shadow]

Hey! Great to hear from you H, and to hear about the new little H, and that your life is on track. Funny how so many things turned out in the end, eh? Congrats, and let the old rock rule.

Larry.

[Howard]

LAR!

Man it's good to hear from you!  I think about you all the time.  Thanks for the kind wishes and know that Gerlie and talk about you and the PL alum all the time.  We gotta try and hook up when we go back.  Not sure when, but we hope to do something between next summer and January of 09.

Keep the Faith!

Have some Pork Liempo and a cold Pepsi in a glass bottle for me

H