TOO MUCH "INFORM-A-SEAN"

My Oscar Rant 2011

2011-02-28T18:19:00.001-08:00

Since the INCEPTION of my unemployment shortly after a BLUE VALENTINE of ANOTHER YEAR TANGLED, I've been listening to the THE KING(Obama)'S SPEECH assuring that the state of the COUNTRY (is) STRONG, and hoping that a new (INSIDE) JOB would serve as my WINTER'S BONE and no longer THE LOST THING. With all this newfound free time, I've logged in about 127 HOURS per week on THE SOCIAL NETWORK and my savings have gone down the RABBIT HOLE just like the one in ALICE IN WONDERLAND. In spite of being born cursed like THE WOLFMAN by looking like an ugly rubber duckie in TOY STORY 3, my parents made sure that THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT by giving me the TRUE GRIT to bring out the BIUTIFUL BLACK SWAN of the ANIMAL KINGDOM in me and be THE FIGHTER in this rough (THE) TOWN. I am optomistic, through the grace of the GOD OF LOVE, that employment and I will be STRANGERS NO MORE IN A BETTER WORLD.

My Oscar Rant 2011

2011-02-27T17:30:00.000-08:00

Since the INCEPTION of my unemployment shortly after a BLUE VALENTINE of ANOTHER YEAR, I've been listening to the THE KING(Obama)'S SPEECH, and hoping that a new job would serve as my WINTER'S BONE. With all this newfound free time, I've logged in about 127 HOURS per week on THE SOCIAL NETWORK and my savings have gone down the RABBIT HOLE. In spite of being born looking like an ugly rubber duckie in TOY STORY 3, my parents made sure that THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT by giving me the TRUE GRIT to bring out the BIUTIFUL BLACK SWAN of the ANIMAL KINGDOM in me and be THE FIGHTER in this rough (THE) TOWN.

My Oscar Rant 2010

2010-03-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

Seán Saba is A Serious Single Man because marriage will remain Invictus and Up Up In The Air; since more than Nine Inglourious Basterds from The Last Station of his District had hit The Blind Side of his community when they voted Yes on the Prop before 9 and sent The Messenger to deliver his Precious Crazy Heart to The Hurt Locker. Perhaps their Avatars should be In The Loop and get An Education from The Lovely Bones of Julie & Julia. :-)

Neo, my new Toyota Matrix

2009-11-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

The end of my 39-month lease of "Robin", my old Inferno Red 2006 Jeep Liberty Limited, was coming up on December 3rd. With its low mileage of only 13356 miles, I was considering extending my lease for another month, so I could wait to make a decision of what to get next after the L.A. Auto Show on December 4th-13th.
Today, I decided to just go around the different dealerships to see who still has a good lease program in place. After checking out several, I ended up at Toyota in Santa Monica, CA at the end of the day. With it being the weekend after Thanksgiving, and Bill's great negotiations skills, I got a great deal that was way to good to pass. Went out to buy a loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter...and came back home with a brand new Magnetic Gray Metallic car, the 2010 Toyota Matrix S. Presenting my new baby, "Neo" (Keanu's character in the movie, "The Matrix". Even if I've never seen the film trilogy, I felt this was the perfect name...or should I go with Keanu?...lol). Here he is in front of his sister, "Robin".

Bird in hand...

2009-09-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

When we got back home, we heared a bird trapped inside the house. When I reached over behind the sofa to grab it, so as to prevent it from hurting itself, I was startled to see that it was not a small bird. It had a very sharp beak and talons. Can anyone please identify what kind of bird of prey this is... Is it a baby hawk or falcon of some kind?

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

2009-08-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 40th Birthday to me!

Homeland Star sings @ Home Team Home Opener

2009-04-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

Sixteen year-old singing sensation, Charice Pempengco, from my homeland, the Philippines, had the honor of performing the "Star Spangled Banner" in front of 57,099 (the largest attendance ever) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for the Dodgers' Opening Day pregame ceremony on April 13, 2009. A B2 Stealth Bomber flyover followed, and the Dodgers went on to demolish the SF Giants 11-1, which included two home runs from Andre Ethier, 11 strikeouts from pitcher Chad Billingsley and new second baseman Orlando Hudson, who hit for the cycle during the game -- the first Dodger to ever do so in 39 years!

- FROM THE LA TIMES SPORTS -
It was the best national anthem rendition I have ever heard, better than the game, Russell Martin said later of 16-year-old Charice. Tears in my eyes when she really gets going, Manager, Joe Torre said.

Thank you for Milk!

2009-02-22T21:30:00.000-08:00

My Oscar Rant 2009

2009-02-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

Seán Saba is a CURIOUS CASE of a former SLUMDOG VISITOR from the TROPIC THUNDER of the Philippines to what he thought was the land flowing with MILK & honey, only to realize now as a citizen of the country of CEO MILLIONAIREs/NIXON and a READER of constant bad news without a DOUBT continues to be a WRESTLER in DEFIANCE with CHANGELINGs, who with their IRON (MAN) fists are against the REVOLUTIONARY ROAD of "HAPPY"(-GO-LUCKY) people who dream of GETTING MARRIED, leaving them with a FROZEN RIVER of dreams in the cold DARK (K)NIGHT.

This never fails to push his BUTTONs and makes him want to BOLT out of his chair and hit the WALL(-E) with his KUNG FU (PANDA) moves. Perhaps he should just take a much WANTED break with Bill and visit their friends, the DUCHESS IN BRUGES, VICKY & CRISTINA in BARCELONA, BENJAMIN & RACHEL in AUSTRALIA.

(OK, I admit...this is pushing it a bit...LOL)

As a cinephile, this is my homage to
the nominees of the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

Relax and enjoy the Oscars and see you at the movies.
For a list of the nominees click HERE.
Thank you and Goodnight!
So there!

We Lab You!!! - Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2009-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce...

2009-02-12T18:00:00.000-08:00

"Fidelity": Watch the video and join our letter to the state Supreme Court, signed by over 250,000 people
Tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry. DEADLINE EXTENDED: March 2

"Fidelity" used with permission from Regina Spektor and EMI Records.

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

We, the undersigned, share President Barack Obama's view that "for too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect."

Yet, on December 19, 2008, Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and seeking to nullify the marriages of 18,000 devoted same-sex couples solemnized before Prop 8 passed.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, with a decision expected within 90 days.
We, the undersigned, ask that the Court enforce the equality promised to each of us by our constitution and invalidate Prop 8. So doing will protect all loving, committed couples in California -– including the 18,000 who said "I do" last year –- and prevent the initiative process from being a tool for stripping vulnerable minorities of precious constitutional rights.

As Americans who believe in the rule of law and fundamental civil rights, we know that Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund's shameful attempt to nullify equal protection and all these bonded unions will be condemned in the eyes of history. We know that, ultimately, love will prevail, no matter how hard they try to fight it.

Sincerely,

Sean

For more information, please click HERE or go to Courage Campaign.

I'm a Survivor!...well, we'll see

2009-01-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

10K mi. on a 26.5 mo. old car of a 2 yr. old homeworker

2009-01-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

I should normally, at the least, be at 10,000 miles at the end of a year on my car.
Today, as I reached my 2 year mark of working from home, my car (which I have had for 2 years, 4 months, and 13 days) has finally reached the 10,000 mile mark on the odometer. Ahhh...some of the perks of working from home: Save on money on gas expenses, mileage, normal wear & tear, and keeping my sanity from avoiding having to deal with the L.A. traffic. Woohoo! I am grateful for this opportunity.

9,999 miles and counting...

10,000 miles!

L.A. Kings do not always Rule

2009-01-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

I really don't like Hockey as a sport because of the unnecessary violence that happens on the side. I also don't enjoy watching it on TV. But when it comes to watching it live, it becomes a different story. Bill was out of town, so my buddy, Nelson, watched the game of the L.A. Kings vs. the New Jersey Devils at the Staples Center with me. We lost 5-1. Waah...Boo-hoo!

1st Weekend Getaway of the New Year

2009-01-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

Our friends Ian & Pedro from Canada & Mexico respectively, were visiting over New Year's, so we decided to take them to one of our favorite quick getaways, the Coachella Valley.
My buddy Carlos has a beautiful house in Indian Wells, so we usually have a place to crash.

goofing around in an open house

on the way back home to L.A.,
we always stop to buy a banana date shake at Hadley
and shop at Cabazon Outlet Stores.

End of the Year Newsletter 2008

2008-12-31T23:59:00.001-08:00

I really was not looking forward to 2008 in the beginning of the new year for reasons that may read morbid.

Both Bill's and my parents are all octogenarians and were undergoing some health issues in 2007.

I have friends who also have some major health issues.

Our eldest dog, Besi, in July 2007, was given a few weeks/months to live due to being diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy.

So, as you can imagine, we were dead scared that 2008 had the potential to be a very sad year.

Unfortunately, we did lose Bill's stepdad, Roy , to bladder cancer early in the year and

an uncle of mine to heart failure and our goddog, Jack to pancreatitis, late in the year.

Fortunately, we still have his mom, Mabel, and both my parents alive and healthy.
Now, they all are stable and doing very well.

Besi, miraculously, with medication, exercise, and lots of love, is somehow better than ever and acts like a 12 1/2-year old puppy. Birdie turned 10, but still acts like a puppy. We also found a new puppy Maltese (who got lost during the L.A. earthquake), Sachi, for my niece to adopt. This year marked 10 years since we lost Koko in that tragic drowning accident.

This year also marked the start of my last year as a 30-something, and Bill had his big birthday. We celebrated 13 years of togetherness.

We decided to postpone our decision to get married or not until the end result of the elections.
As a 2-year old U.S. citizen, I was very excited to vote for the first time in my life.

The election result was bittersweet. We cried with tears of joy & hope with Obama's win and

cried with tears of sadness & disbelief with the passing of Prop 8.

Since 2007, I had already saved all my vacation days mainly for a trip back to my homeland, the Philippines, towards the end of the year 2008. We were planning to have a family reunion for X'mas back home to also celebrate my Mom's 80th birthday and my parents' 60th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, for various reasons, the family had to postpone all plans.

So at the last minute, I planned our main big vaca-sean this year to Ecuador and Peru. I mainly pushed for these destinations, since I gathered that their respective tourism boards were looking into limiting tourist access to the world wonders, the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu by the end of 2009. We had a blast! We also made some domestic trips to Chicago, Monterey, San Francisco, New York, and San Diego.

With the crashing of the market/global economic crisis, Bill was extremely busy, since all his clients were naturally in a state of panic. My company unfortunately had to lay-off some people. I am grateful that I was not one of the unfortunate few.

Here's wishing that things will turn out okay and be better for all of us in the new year.

Happy New Year 2009!

2008-12-31T23:58:00.000-08:00

Ended the year by going to the doctor to get my annual routine physical exam results and to find out what is up with this cold that I've been nursing for 11 days now. I received a clean bill of health (Whohoo!) and antibiotics for this cold. Being drugged up with codeine, I really didn't feel like partying like it was 1999 earlier in the day. But since we were entertaining friends visiting from Canada & Mexico, we felt compelled to go out and party. Ended up getting all split up from each other during the countdown...Sigh. Forgot to jump up and down so I could grow taller for the new year...Double Sigh. Then had to bribe the bouncer to get in the club without having to wait in line. I guess, "face value" has also gone down with the economy...Triple Sigh. The bouncer then did not card me to check if I was over 21 years old or not...Quadruple Sigh!...LOL

Happy New Year!

For Besi & Birdie's greetings, please click HERE.

Happy Holiday Greetings 2008-2009

2008-12-25T23:59:00.000-08:00

From my family to yours,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!
Feliz Navidad y un Próspero Año Nuevo!
Joyeux Noël et Une Bonne Année!

Make the Yuletide Gay!

Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy Boxing Day!
Advanced Kung Hei Fa t Choy!

iPostcards from Survivor X'mas

2008-12-25T00:00:00.001-08:00

For the past few years, we've hosted Christmas gatherings for both sides of the family living in California. This year was different. With Bill's mom now in a retirement home and not fit to travel down from Oregon, and with my sister & niece celebrating with my siblings in the east coast, we were left not knowing what to do. It was our first year that we didn't go out to buy our live X'mas tree. We entertained experiencing X'mas in Hawaii, the Caribbean, or with friends in Paris. But we then felt guilty about parting with our "girls", Besi & Birdie, so soon after our trip to South America. So, we decided to go on a road trip and take them skiing. But at the last minute, we got an invitation from a friend to go up to her home in Tehachapi. As soon as we arrived, it started snowing. Yehey! It was the "girls"' first white X'mas. The guests were composed of Americans, Scottish, English, Brazilians, and a Filipino. Talk about conversations filled with different accents.
Just as we were getting ready for dinner, the power went out. With the outage, that meant no gas for the stove, no hot water, no heat to keep us warm, no phone line, no cell phone signal, no Internet connection. We were snowed in - no way out! Dinner was delicious, albeit cold, and in a way romantic, with the candle light and fireplace as our only source of light & heat. It was actually very nice and refreshing. Kinda like Jesus' first night in a manger...LOL.
Then all of a sudden a family argument developed right in front of us in the dark between our Brazilian host and her spoiled 31-year old son. I've always found Portuguese to be a very sexy sounding language. Not this time. I guess the holidays wouldn't be complete without any family drama. Ayayyay...LOL

or please click HERE for a bigger slideshow of the album.
If you prefer to view the thumbnails, please click on the link below:
iPostcards from Survivor X’mas 2008

Todo Azul's "Santa Baby" - Tribute to Eartha Kitt

2008-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

My niece, Czarina and her band, Todo Azul, performed their rendition of "Santa Baby" at Molly Malones, exactly a week before the sultry diva died at the age of 81 on Christmas Day. Spooky...tehnahnahtehnahnah...The Twilight Zone.

Happy Hanukkah 2008!

2008-12-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Our friends, the Boroditskys invited us, once again,
to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah.
It was a lovely festive affair at their beautiful home.

Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends!
If there was such a thing as a Filipino Jew,
this is how he may look like...LOL

Jack & Me

2008-12-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

We feel very sad.
Jack, our Black Labrador goddog, passed away today.
We treated him like our very own third dog.
If our Besi, as a pup, was rambunctious like Marley,
Jack, on the other hand, was like Beau.
He was a very good dog all throughout his 12 1/2 year life.
Please click on the title or H ERE to be directed to the posting.

iPostcards from Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade 2008

2008-12-14T16:00:00.000-08:00

or please click HERE for a bigger slideshow of the album.
If you prefer to view the thumbnails, please click on the link below:
iPostcards from Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade 2008

iPostcards from Ecuador & Peru

2008-11-29T12:00:00.000-08:00

Posting is under construction. Please check back again.

***

We're back!
Had a fabulous time!
It was an eye-opening trip of a lifetime!
Please click on the following destinations to be directed to the specific posting:
Will share ipostcards/travelogue/pictures soon.
Ecuador
Peru

Out on my vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical NOV08

2008-11-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

I will be out of town on my

vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical
in Ecuador and Peru
from 15NOV08-29NOV08.
In case of emergency,

please contact my manager/agent/publicist.

Prop 8 - The Musical

2008-11-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Marriage is a Question of Love

2008-11-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

Bittersweet. It is the only way to describe how those who voted "No on Prop" and at the same time voted for Barack Obama felt, after the results were all in during last week’s historic U.S. election. We cried with tears of joy & hope with Obama's winning and cried with tears of sadness & disbelief with the passing of Proposition 8 (52% to 48%). Ironically, at a time where we voted for the first African American President, the exit polls reflected that Black voters came out in favor of the proposition, more than any other voting group, by a 70/30 margin. As many as 90% of Black voters supported Obama and the Democrats. A large majority of them also voted "Yes on Prop 8". Once again, organized religion was the key influencer that drove many of them to vote the way they did.
I remain dumbfounded and speechless to this day. I was very touched as I watched Keith Olbermann voice out his opinion on this matter on the Special Comment portion of his program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Allow me to let this straight intelligent beautiful human being speak more eloquently for me, my partner, and my friends. Please view the video below...you might learn a thing or two and perhaps be enlightened.

Frank - R.I.P. - Left Behind

2008-11-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

Frank, the wonderful husband of my Mom's youngest sister, had a heart attack last month. We were allowed access to see his unconscious body in the ICU at the hospital 2-hours away. He was able to hang in there until he passed away on All Soul's day. We went to the wake yesterday. I helped my Aunt fix his tie. It's been a long time since I've touched the cold skin of a loved-one who had gone before us. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the funeral services today. After my sister shared what my aunt was feeling inside, this sad song which seemed to convey her exact sentiments played in my head:

Rest in Peace, Uncle Frank.

Diary of a 39-year-old first-time voter

2008-11-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

I am a bit embarrassed and yet at the same time very proud to admit that this is my first time to vote in my life. From the time I was eligible to vote at age 18 and left my beautiful homeland, the Philippines, at age 25, I failed to vote on only one Presidential Election. My memory as to why I did not vote during that election where Fidel V. Ramos won the Philippine presidency has completely abandoned the inner recesses of my brain. The succeeding 11 years marked my journey of being a citizen living away from his motherland and my struggle of trying to belong to the land I now called home. Exactly two years ago, I finally became a U.S. citizen, and since then I have been looking forward to this day when I finally get to exercise my right to vote.
I set my alarm to go off unusually very early today and was planning to be there when the polls opened at 7AM. Bill convinced me to wait after 9AM, when most likely most of those who have to drive to work would have already voted and left. I was very anxious to go and worried that there might be a very long line and would have to eventually call in late for work, but I gave in to trusting his experience. He was right. Damn! I was in and out of there in 10 minutes. Woohoo! I am very excited to be part of this historic U.S. elections.

"really" putting country first and
hoping for the change we can believe in

no question about it

Voting "NO" on Prop 8

voting for equality and against discrimination

casting my ballot

I am optimistic that we will be celebrating tonight!

This could be the future, had I not voted:

One day more! - Les MisBarack

2008-11-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

One Day More!

Do You Hear the People Sing?

Spring Awakening in the Fall

2008-11-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

Each time I was in New York City within the past 2 years, I would always try to get tickets to the Broadway musical, "Spring Awakening", but it was always sold out. So I got excited when I found out they were coming to the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. The Sunday before the most historical U.S. elections, we went and finally saw "Spring Awakening", the 2007 Tony winner for Best Musical. It is the "Rent" and "Hair" of today's generation.
We really enjoyed the show and immediately recommended it to all our "cultured" friends (lol). (In fact, we went to see it again before the tour ended.)
The edgy themes of coming of age, sexuality, and suicide surely brought me back to the days when I was undergoing puberty, living away from home, in an all exclusive boys school, studying Latin in preparation for the priesthood, under the strict guidance of my religious superiors... :)

Happy Halloween 2008!

2008-10-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

Please click on the title or HERE for Birdie's costume.

Please Vote "NO" on Prop 8

2008-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I believe in love and marriage. Since I was six years old, I have participated in several weddings in different capacities. I have played the role of ring-bearer, altar boy, best man, prayer leader, lector, wedding singer/choir, witness, event planner, consultant to the designer, music organizer, photographer, and (had I never left the seminary) most likely would have also played officiating priest on more than one occasion. I always felt it was an honor to be part of one of the happiest days of several couples' lives, regardless if it was out of love (for friends & family) or was being paid for it. I used to wonder if I would ever experience that same kind of joy of being able to marry the one that I love.
Alas, last May 15th, a landmark event in history, the California Supreme Court overturned a state law that allowed only opposite-sex couples to marry. Bill and I were excited but cautious, and decided not to immediately take advantage of this, since it still does not cover federal benefits.
Then Proposition 8, an initiative measure to Eliminate Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry, was added by an out of town special interest group to the California General Election Ballot. I worried that if we got married and "Yes on Proposition 8" was passed after the elections, then we would only end up heart-broken.

I still am not sure if we will get married or not, but I am doing this not for me, but for those who have already gotten married and are/may be planning to do so in the future.
For those in my life who use their faith as their only moral compass, I implore you to think about the fundamental rights of those "happy" people (known or unbeknownst to you) who in some way, shape, or form played a role in making your wedding day one of the most memorable days of your life (like your brother, cousin, friend, hairdresser, make-up artist, wedding gown designer, stripper, event planner, choreographer, caterer, waiter, videographer, driver, honeymoon travel agent, best man, and yes, even perhaps your priest.)
Fellow Californians, regardless of how you feel about marriage, it is not fair to treat people differently under the law, so on November 4th, Election Day, aside from voting for the right person to lead our nation, please consider voting "No on Proposition 8", vote for love, equality, and not for discrimination.
If you disagree with me, speak now or forever hold your peace, so I can, therefore, save on wedding invitations, if ever. :-)

I've compiled some of the best videos on this subject matter:
For all videos by http://www.noonprop8.com, please click HERE.

From a group of independent citizens using sarcasm as a tool
to deliver their message:

Procreation:

Icky:

From a very smart young man named Dan Brown:

Last Dance as a 30-something

2008-08-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

She has never admitted it, but my youngest sister, Sari's wish for her 14th birthday (aside from getting big boobs) was to have another brother. So God decided to truly bless her by sending me to this world a day before her birthday.

10 years ago, a week before both our birthdays (29th for me and 43rd for her), we had a family reunion in the Philippines to celebrate our parents' 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary. During the reception, all of their children and grandchildren rendered a song or dance number for the couple. Since the theme for telling their love story was "dance of the past five decades", Sari and I decided to represent the 70's (the decade of my childhood) with a disco swing dance number to the music of Donna Summer's "Last Dance", as our present to our parents.
If you wish to see what possibly could have been the inspiration for "Dancing with the Stars",
please click on the video below:
(Note to the judges/critics: This was choreographed and rehearsed in only one hour the day prior to the festivities and I had to be very careful since she wasn't wearing any panties...LOL)

By coincidence, exactly 10 years later, the only big show in town was An Evening with Donna Summer at the Hollywood Bowl. So my sister and I decided to celebrate our birthdays (39th for me and 53rd for her) by watching the disco queen perform live. Our poor respective partners, Bill and Richard, both disco haters, had to sit through the whole ordeal...LOL. Donna's finale song was naturally, "Last Dance". We had a blast!

When I said I wanted a bike for my birthday...

2008-08-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

... this is not what I meant...LOL

@ the launch of
Indian Motorcycle Apparel Collection at Fred Segal:

Evite

Sean on a 2009 Indian Chief motorcycle

Sean modeling an Indian motorcycle jacket & helmet

My new grand nephew

2008-08-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

Sachi with his Grand Uncle Sean

For the full story behind finding Sachi and more pics,
please click on the title or HERE to be directed to the posting.

Bill’s Surprise Big "New" 40th Birthday Party

2008-08-16T17:00:00.001-07:00

Please click HERE for posting on
Bill’s Surprise Big "New" 40th Birthday Party.

Lucky 13

2008-08-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

More often than not, instead of saying or exchanging, "I love you!"'s,
we usually jokingly say to each other, "You're so lucky!".
After thirteen years of togetherness,
the number 13 does feel like a lucky number.

Out of Whack with Crack

2008-08-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Two Sundays ago, while driving north on the 405 Fwy, an unidentified flying object hit my windshield, right above the windshield wiper on the driver side, leaving a quarter-sized spider-web-like crack. "F+_)(*&^%$#@K!". The next day, a bird dropped a big wad of poop around the same area. Bill on impulse ran the windshield wipers and soapy water dispenser. Right before our eyes, I saw a crack line expanding away from both sides and ended at a dollar bill length. Double F+_)(*&^%$#@K! The change of temperature and water caused this. Had it not expanded beyond the original crack, I would have been able to have it fixed with some sort of resin via some repair service that comes to the house. Now that it has expanded, I have no choice but to replace the whole windshield. So pissed.

Sean Saba for President

2008-08-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here's my answer to Paris Hilton's ad for President:

If video does not load properly, please click on title or HERE.

In case you haven't seen Paris Hilton's response to the McCain Ad,
click HERE.

Earthquake rattles Los Angeles, California!

2008-07-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

FYI: In case you are concerned for us here in L.A., We’re OK!
Still feeling a bit frazzled, though.
My dogs, Besi & Birdie, started acting very strange prior to my realization.
Their talking ball started rolling and talking upstairs.
That’s how I was first alerted that something unusual was happening.
Stupid me, when I realized what was happening,
I ran upstairs to the rooftop
to look and see if there was a tsunami coming,
instead of running outside the house.
Scary jolting 20 seconds or so of rolling and shaking.
I better put some clothes on, in case of an aftershock. LOL
Goes to show how unprepared I am for the big one.
No noticeable damage to the house,
but unfortunately, it is built on sand! Yikes!

A night with friends and the Lady Supreme

2008-07-26T20:00:00.001-07:00

For the second time around, my friend Tom invited me to our friend, Nelson Lee's Annual Hollywood Bowl Party, where a bunch of friends of friends of friends (x 21) get together for a picnic prior to one of the hottest shows of the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. This is Nelson's 21st time to organize the event. Last year's party and show was South Pacific with Reba McEntire & Brian Stokes Mitchell. This year's show was Diana Ross: Lady Supreme. I have not seen her in person since Bill and I served as one of the several extras in her "I Will Survive!" revival with RuPaul video shoot shot in location at West Hollywood. (If you watch closely, you will surely see me wiggling on top of Bill's shoulders ... LOL).

Unfortunately, Bill was in Washington D.C. for a conference, so he could not join me to go to this gathering. Since it was a diva night, I invited some of my friends who I knew would surely enjoy the show.

or please click HERE for a bigger slideshow of the album.
If you prefer to view the thumbnails, please click on the link below:
21st Annual Hollywood Bowl Party & Diana Ross Night

HOME

My Grandaunt Iris' 95th Birthday

2008-07-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

I was very young when I lost my maternal grandparents. In fact, two of my earliest memories were of their respective funerals.
Five years ago, I had the opportunity to meet the only surviving sibling/sister of my maternal grandfather, my grandaunt Iris Zabat-Simon.
So when her 95th birthday came, I was excited to drive down (along with my sister, niece, and aunt) to San Diego, CA to have a reunion with my mother's side of the family, the Zabats, and celebrate my Lola's birthday.

For more pics of the celebration, please feel free to click HERE.

iPostcards from San Diego, CA

2008-07-12T13:00:00.001-07:00

Please click HERE or on the title to be directed to the posting.

Happy 4th of July 2008!

2008-07-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Friends usually ask if we are having a BBQ party for this specific holiday, since we have a strategic view of the fireworks at the marina. I felt exhausted from the trip to NYC, so we decided to just chill. We hung out with our friends, Pat & Michele, at their place in the Venice Canals, and then headed back home to watch the fireworks.

or please click HERE for a bigger slideshow.
If you prefer to view the thumbnails, please click on the link below:
4th of July 2008

Happy 80th Birthday Mom!

2008-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

iPostcards from New York, NY - Summer 2008

2008-07-02T08:00:00.002-07:00

Please click HERE or on the title to be directed to the posting.

iPostcards from San Francisco, CA

2008-06-29T18:00:00.003-07:00

Please click HERE or on the title to be directed to the posting.

iPostcards from Monterey Peninsula, CA

2008-06-22T20:00:00.001-07:00

Please click HERE or on the title to be directed to the posting.

Sean and the City

2008-06-15T00:00:00.001-07:00

As far as I can remember, some of my wholesome fantasies involved being (in no particular order) ... a superhero, a Broadway/rock star, a male supermodel, an animal trainer, or a host of some travel show.
So for the past few years, every time I travel, I started filming myself acting as if I was Anderson Cooper or Matt Lauer reporting from some remote exotic location for CNN, National Geographic, or the Travel Channel.
When LXTV, a local L.A. Lifestyle TV show, recently announced that they were having a contest searching for a new host, I thought to myself, "Hey, I can do that!". After checking their website,
I saw that 95% of all the contestants who submitted entries already had past or have current professional experience hosting a TV show.
On the last day of the contest, I decided not to be intimidated and still come up with my very own audition video, albeit that it is, admittedly, very amateurish. Had I had the help of some of my friends, who are now accomplished film/commercial directors, fashion/costume designers, make-up artist, etc., I may have been able to present a more professional looking piece. But all I had with me was my trusty camera and Quik Pod. I managed to submit my video 11 minutes to go till the midnight deadline. What I didn't take into account is the time it would take to completely upload. So waahhh ... F+_)(*&^%$#@! ... I missed the cut-off! Even if I didn't have a chance against the pros, it still would have been nice to have been considered.
Since I already came up with a finished product, I might as well share it with you, my family and friends. I hope you like it.

LXTV hosting reel/audition video:
"Why should I be the new host of LXTV? Well, I found myself reporting about various places in this world, but never reported about my hometown. I may not have the professional background and/or back-up of a production crew like the other contestants,
I'm just a local guy who loves everything about Los Angeles!
Well, not exactly everything." ... (see ending of video).

For more pics/videos of my vaca-sean/saba-tical, please click HERE.

Happy 110th Independence Day, Philippines!

2008-06-12T00:00:00.001-07:00

For the 110th Philippine Independence Day, a friend asked a bunch of his friends to submit a video greeting to promote one of
Ayala Foundation, USA's flagship projects, GILAS.
Gilas means ability in Filipino. GILAS also stands for
Gearing up Internet Literacy and Access for Students.

Happy 110th Independence Day, Philippines!

Go Lakers! - There Can Only Be One

2008-06-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was never good at playing basketball.
When my parents chose the lot, among the first ten on the grasslands of our new village, in which to build our family home, my mother made sure that our house would be built right across the basketball and tennis courts.
So all the summers of my growing up years were filled with noises coming from park.
Being one of the smallest boys was no excuse. A lot of my friends who were just as small were very good at the sport. (Yes, in spite of the fact that it would be hard to find a Filipino over 6-feet tall, basketball is the number one sport in the Philippines.)
I really didn't follow the PBA, the Philippines version of the NBA, which usually had a lot of "imports" (mostly Americans who weren't good enough for the NBA). Being gay had nothing to do with my disinterest in the sport. The stereotype does not hold true. There are a lot of "us" who are athletic and are into sports. At that time, I couldn't understand people who absolutely had no athletic bone in their body and were fanatics of all the happenings within the league.
Today, I may not be a fanatic like Jack Nicholson, but I mainly follow the NBA whenever the Lakers are doing well. Being neighbors with Coach Phil Jackson and owners, the Buss family has nothing to do with my support.
I'm so excited that our home team is in the finals! Once again after 21 years, the Lakers-Celtics rivalry is back.
Go Lakers! Beat Boston!

There Can Only Be One: Kobe and KG

There Can Only Be One: Magic and Bird

Traffic on the freeway - Don't drive, fly!

2008-05-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

We've flown on small planes before, but mainly abroad.
The last time we experienced flying on a small plane in the U.S.
was when we flew over the Grand Canyon.
The pilot was so cool that he broke all rules
and flew lower than what regular rules & regulations would allow.
It was an awesome way to see this majestic place!
So when our friends Patrick & Michele invited us to fly
from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara for lunch,
we immediately jumped on the opportunity.
Who needs to deal with the traffic on the freeways
when you can fly?... LOL.
We flew up and down the gorgeous Pacific coast,
flying low enough to almost see some celebrities
getting rid of their tan lines out on their oceanfront Malibu mansions.
It was such a beautiful day and
a fabulous way to see our hometown from a different perspective.
Thanks Patrick & Michele!
Next time, I want to fly over the Hollywood sign.

Flying from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara for lunch

Koko - In Memoriam

2008-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Please click on the title or HERE for the posting.

Sean of a Beach and his Bitches

2008-05-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Please click HERE for our day at the beach.

Pride & Groom - Party A & Party B

2008-05-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a landmark event in history!
California ban on same-sex marriage was struck down by the California Supreme Court!
Yehey! I already gave up on this ever happening.
Especially happy for all that believe in equality and that it happened in the state in which I live.
Not that Bill and I will immediately jump on it ...
we've only been together for almost 13 years ... LOL.
We've already filled out most of the necessary precautionary paper work to protect each other, so we never felt the need to file for domestic partnership or get civil unionized.
Not sure if we will take advantage of this next step and be part of history.
Unfortunately, current federal law prohibits the federal government from recognizing marriages of same-sex couples. This means that even if we got married, we currently will not have any of the rights, benefits, or protections that federal law gives to married heterosexual couples, such as the ability to file joint federal income taxes or receive federal spousal benefits through social security or other federal programs as a surviving spouse. Being excluded from these federal protections, and often state protections as well, is a serious hardship and can cause significant legal problems.
Perhaps we will just wait for that magic day when it becomes national and includes federal.

For more info, please click on:
CNN, Bloomberg, SFGate, Equality for All

Civil Union vs. Marriage

2008-05-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Some of my super-religious family members and "born-again" Christian friends, who are against the concept of same-sex marriage, because their faith pushes them to firmly believe that marriage is only a heterosexual right as opposed to a human right, would eventually try to sort of give in out of "love" for me, and say, "OK, I'm for a civil union but not for a marriage.". Why can't they see that what "we" are fighting for is not the right to march down the aisle of a Catholic Church, but for equality of civil/secular rights?
I find it hard to further engage in an intellectual discussion with them to demonstrate that civil unions look nice on paper, but don't work in the real world.
Political blog Blue Jersey recently launched the "Think Equal" media campaign to support marriage equality for all couples based on Apple’s “I’m a Mac / I’m a PC” ad campaign. The video ads and grassroots lobbying campaign focuses on the differences between civil unions and marriage.
If you have an open mind and would like to be educated, enlightened, and humored, please click on the following videos:

Think Equal

Check Equal

Barring Equal

Counsel Equal

Happy 10th Birthday Birdie!

2008-05-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Please click on the title or HERE to be directed to the posting.

The day I left my balls with the angels

2008-05-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been 5 years,
since the day I thought we were going to die! ... LOL

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is not for you!"

HOME

A-stigma-tism

2008-04-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

Well after 4 years since having to wear glasses for the first time for being nearsighted,
I have been advised by my eye doctor that my nearsightedness has improved but unfortunately I now have astigmatism. F+_)(*&^%$#@K!
I get queasy just thinking about putting contact lenses in my eyes and still scared to death about Lasik, so I got myself a new pair of glasses.

Rock the Vote!

2008-04-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Now that I am a U.S. citizen of 18 years of age (and slightly older),
I am eligible to exercise my right to vote on this very crucial U.S. Presidential elections this coming November.
Unfortunately, I was not able to cast my vote during the California primary,
since I apparently had yet to register. Duh!
So in checking some things off from my New Year's To Do List ...
(It's already April!) ...
I finally got to register to vote!
In case you have not, click on the widget below and register today:

Happy Easter 2008!

2008-03-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

at an Easter celebration at our friends' house
by the Venice Canals, CA

Finding Face

2008-03-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

It took me awhile to join social networking sites, such as MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook; since I was under the impression that it was only frequented by the peers of my nieces and nephews (teenagers to twenty-somethings). I kept out of MySpace, since I was worried that I would be easy prey to online pedophiles ... LOL.
But two months ago, I decided to join Facebook to search out old friends. Boy, am I glad I did! I finally found old friends that I have failed looking for via Google. I was able to find long lost friends that I had last touched based with ... all the way from the time I left the Philippines 13 years ago, from college, from high school. I even found my best friend during my sophomore year in the seminary, who I last saw when the priests finally kicked me out of the seminary, since they concluded that I would just be wasting my good looks if I became a priest ... LOL. My image of him was that of a 14-year old, and thus did not immediately recognize him in his picture of a man close to hitting his 40s. It feels exhilirating to even think where and how to begin to catch up on all the years that have gone by. Or who knows, perhaps friends don't really give a F+_)(*&^%$#@! about what each other has been up to... We'll see ... just elated to see "old" faces (and by no means am I referring to the wrinkles) ... LOL.

Sleep Well Roy

2008-03-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

Bill's father, John, unexpectedly died in 1987 from an aortic aneurysm, seven years before I met Bill, thus I never had the privilege of meeting him.
By the time Bill and I met 12 1/2 years ago, his mother, Mabe, had found a new love in a man named Roy. Roy proved to be a wonderful blessing to Mabe and Bill's family. The couple was happily married for the next 13 years.
Well, one of sad days that we've been anticipating and fearing, which was one of the reasons I was kind of unexcited about this year, unfortunately has finally come to pass. Roy, Bill's step dad, passed away shortly after noon today at age 85 from bladder cancer.
Last Christmas, you couldn't tell that he had been battling cancer for the past year and half. But by Valentine's he asked to go back home to their main house in Grants Pass, Oregon, instead of finishing the winter season in Palm Desert, CA, as Mabe and he usually do every year. It was Valentine's Day and as I whispered to his ear that I love him, I knew it was the last time I would see and touch him. His local doctors later checked him again and gave him a month to live. Sadly his time came earlier, but at least he is mo longer in pain.
May he rest in peace. Please lift him up in your prayers and include Mabe and Bill's family during this difficult period. To our dear friends who have offered their condolences, "Thank you very much." Your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated. :-(

iPostcards from Chicago, IL

2008-03-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

Please click HERE or on the title to be directed to the posting.

Turn around ... every now and then ...

2008-02-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

Total Eclipse of the ...

Happy Valentines Day 2008!

2008-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

On some special occasions of the year, I volunteer and help out a friend who owns the local neighborhood flower shop and play florist. Valentine's Day, obviously, is one of the busiest days for florists, so any assistance offered helps. So at the end of this day I am hoping that the recipients of my flower arrangements (works of art or flora disasters) will be happy and return the giver with some cookie and nookie...LOL

Whatever helps to make you happy on this day:

a job, money, roses, chocolates, love, sex...

Hope you get it this Valentine's.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love you!

Mahal na mahal kita!

Happy Chinese New Year!

2008-02-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

To my fellow Chinky-eyed brothers, Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year!

"We're Brothers Forever!"

2008-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

I had not caught up with my TiVo viewing,

so I did not get to watch this performance last night.

I started getting calls from some of my facetious

"politically incorrect" non-Asian friends,

to tease me that they saw me on American Idol.

I know "we" may all look alike in "your" eyes,

but that was not me ... that was my brother!

Damn him, I wrote that song on the boat on our way to America

and he stole it from me...LOL

Presenting Renaldo Lapuz and his audition song,

"We're Brothers Forever!":

Check out one of the several dance remix versions:

Caught Another Bug!

2008-01-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

No, I did not start the year by getting sick.

On the first weekend of the new year,

we helped my niece, Czarina,

get a great deal on her second car.

She replaced her 2004 VW Golf GL

with a fully-loaded 2008 VW New Beetle.

This is the 4th Bug we now have had in our family.

Presenting "Bullet", the Platinum Gray Metallic Beetle!

the new kid on the block

with turbo engine, heated leather seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels

parked inside the garage for the first month only

***

Check out the interior details:

comes with a laptop

flat screen TV

mini-bar

reclinable heated leather back seats

***

Yah, right! LOL

P.S. My Bucket List

2008-01-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

I really wasn't excited about the New Year 2008.
In some way I've been scared to "death" of it.

I'm not afraid of dying. But since we never know when that day will come, I try to live my life as if time was running out for me. Even before 9/11, we had experienced some close calls, such as almost drowning, getting lost in the woods, etc., which made Bill draw up a living trust and me write down a "bucket list" (list of all things we want to do in our lives before we kick the bucket.) Perhaps because of these experiences, I began to have this wanderlust or desire to do and see as much as I can, while I'm still young/er.

What I'm afraid of is people I love dying on me.
Sorry to sound so morbid, but in 2007, we were surrounded by several health scares and
were constantly reminded to value the concept of "health is wealth":

The day after Christmas 2007, I got some scary news that my father, who is in the Philippines, was rushed to the ER. He had suffered from vertigo caused by an atrial flutter. Thankfully, after a few days the doctors let him go back home and with medication is now doing better.
As the youngest child born to parents who were already in their 40's when I came into their lives, I somehow always worried that I would not have the privilege of enjoying them as long as my older siblings. As I child, I would often lay awake at night waiting for my Dad to come home (which was almost always pretty late at night due to his work). Since social drinking was an inevitable part of these late nights, I would always pray that nothing bad would happen to him on his drive home. My paternal grandparents lived close to their 100th birthdays, so longevity, fortunately, does run in my veins. But my dad still drinks whisky, smokes cigarettes, and eats fried oily food. He is an anomaly, since he has outlived most of his peers who lived healthier lifestyles.

Bill's Mom, Mabel and Stepdad, Roy (just like my Dad), are in their mid-80's and are not at the peak of good health. Roy battled bladder cancer by undergoing extensive chemotherapy and Mabel is suffering from a leaking heart valve.

Mike Pohjola, our good friend, who we have been watching over, has Parkinson's Disease. All his treatments have not had promising results.

Besi, our Yellow Labrador had been diagnosed last July with Degenerative Myelopathy and was given a few weeks/months to live. Somehow she has temporarily overcome this hurdle and is still with us.

All our plans for out of town/country trips are on hold due to the fear that something bad may occur while we are away. I know death is inevitable, but here is to keeping strong until those sad days comes and hopefully beyond.

Just by chance, the first two movies we saw during the first weekend of the year were, "The Bucket List" and "P.S. I Love You". Both films were marketed as light comedy/love story films and I almost forgot about the "death" aspect. I guess with what I was feeling, both films hit a nerve and I found myself breaking down in tears inside the theater restroom.

Part of my Old Bucket List (*as also shown in the movie):
*Go skydiving - checked
*Go on an African safari - checked
*See the rest of the New 7 Wonders and other exotic/ancient places - checking
*Learn to drive an 18-wheeler truck (in lieu of race car driving) - unchecked
(don't ask me why, 'cuz I don't know the answer myself...LOL)
Run a marathon - unchecked
....etc.

Added to my Bucket List:
Visit Mike more often in the nursing home.
Spoil Besi even more.
Spend more quality time with Mabe & Roy, as often as we can.
Call my Dad & Mom more often and visit them in the Philippines at the end of the year.

P.S. I love you!

Happy Holiday Greetings 2007-2008

2007-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sean & Bill

Birdie, Besi, & Sean

From my family to yours,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!
Feliz Navidad y un Próspero Año Nuevo!
Joyeux Noël et Une Bonne Année!
Have a Nelly little X'mas and a Happy New Queer!...

Make the Yuletide Gay!
Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy Boxing Day!
Advanced Kung Hei Fa t Choy!

Philippine Idol

2007-12-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

Forget American Idol, check this out!
For the sake of my non-Filipino friends and/or for those who were not aware of this,
I wanted to share two talented Filipino singers who have recently been discovered by America via Youtube:

Presenting Arnel Pineda! As the lead singer of The Zoo, a cover band from the Philippines, he was discovered by Journey's guitarist, Neal Schon in YouTube. Journey was in search of a new lead singer and flew Arnel to the U.S. to audition. In early December, the band announced that the talented Filipino is the new front man for the New Journey.
You'll be amazed at how he sounds so much like Steve Perry.
For more info, click on the band's website and here and here.
Here is one of their videos that helped Arnel be discovered:

Presenting Charice Pempengco, a 15-year old girl from the Philippines
performing at "The Ellen DeGeneres Show":

London Calling - Missed Call/Bad Connection

2007-12-15T23:00:00.001-08:00

Please click on the title to be directed to the posting.

Saba - The Unspoiled Queen

2007-12-15T12:00:00.001-08:00

Please click on the title to be directed to the posting.

iPostcards from Saint Martin/Sint Maarten

2007-12-14T23:00:00.000-08:00

We're back!

Had a fabulous time!

Please click on the following destinations to be directed to the specific posting:

La Samanna, Saint Martin, French West Indies

Isle Pinel, French West Indies

Marigot, Saint Martin, French West Indies

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles

Paparazzo of the Caribbean

iPostcards from New York, NY - Winter 2007

2007-12-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Please click on the title or HERE to be directed to the posting.

Baby Got Back!

2007-12-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

A few days before we left for NYC, while getting ready for work, I caught a glimpse of this couple on The Today Show giving a live performance of their first wedding dance, which has been a very popular video posting all over the web.

During the intermission of Legally Blonde, I got to chat with the lovely couple beside me. It was their first time to visit the Big Apple. When I asked what brought them to the city, I soon realized that they were that same couple on TV! The Today Show flew them in for an all expense paid trip to tour the city and to appear on their show. They were very nice and I could tell they were a fun couple, who knew how to laugh at themselves. My kind of people.

In case you have not seen the video, here is John and Michelle Brubaker and their wedding dance to "Baby Got Back," which has been seen by more than 3 million people on YouTube.

Out on my vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical DEC07

2007-12-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

I will be out of town on my

vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical
in New York City,

Saint Martin, Sint Maarten,

Saba,

and London

from 07DEC07-17DEC07.
In case of emergency,

please contact my manager/agent/publicist.

Happy Hanukkah 2007!

2007-12-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

Wearing a yamaka for the first time for Hanukkah/Chanukah.

To all my Jewish friends, "Happy Hanukkah!"

A Different Coming Out of the Closet

2007-11-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

OK, I admit it, I am a "pack rat". I have the tendency to keep almost every single little thing I come across in my life. This, of course, drives my super neat freak partner bananas.
Well, since we have been practically living out of boxes for the past several weeks, due to moving/storing most of our stuff for the painting of the inside of the house, I figured this would be the best time to admit myself to my own version of "pack rat rehab".
I did it! In the course of several days, I finally learned to let go of a lot of my personal junk and donate them to thrift shops. I came out of my closet and cleaned it out. Included in the several trash bags were very old clothes that I had brought with me on my move to the U.S. more than 12 years ago. I think, the clincher in letting go was when I discovered that I could no longer fit into all my size 28-inch waistline jeans. Waaahhh! LOL

Happy Thanksgiving 2007!

2007-11-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

Spent the Thanksgiving weekend in Palm Springs with my B's:

Me and my bitches,

my dogs, Besi & Birdie

***

Me and my biatches,

two of my best buds, Jojo & Caloy

Moderate Makeover: Home Edition

2007-11-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

Since both of us now work from home, last August, we entertained the idea of moving out of Los Angeles for a change of scenery. After a month of deliberation, we figured an interior makeover of our house would seal the deal to keep us here and postpone any further thoughts of moving in the near future.
Well, a makeover that was supposed to take only 2-weeks while we were traveling, is finally finished after a month over the due date. We are quite happy with the changes, but unfortunately, we are left drained and traumatized with our "living with toxins and in paranoia" experience with our first painter/artist. We had to hire a real painter to redo the walls and ceilings. After living in our dream home that we designed and built 9 years ago, we finally changed the old carpet to new carpet/hardwood, the living room sofa, and the interior paint. During the building process, the idea for keeping the interior color white/neutral was for resale purposes. Now it felt right to give a splash of soothing colors. With this moderate makeover, I can say we are definitely not moving for quite a long while.

Here are some before and after pictures
(double click on pic to enlarge):

blue front door painted to look like natural wood finish
and painted to look like bordered with mosaic tile:

changed living room from carpet to hardwood floor:

from a navy blue to cactus green custom-made sofa:

living room before & after:

fireplace painted to look like marble:

ceiling painted to match the blue sky:

new carpet to match the earth:

bedroom entrance changed from carpet to hardwood:

master's bedroom painted to
some brushed watchamakalit puke green:

fountain painted to look like marble:

my office painted to more earthy tones:

guestroom painted to some kinda of Frenchy blue
and the bathroom painted to look like it was wall-papered:

powder room made to look like your inside an aquarium:

Living with Toxins and in Paranoia

2007-10-30T14:00:00.001-07:00

Just me...grumbling about our frustrations

and traumatic experience with this eccentric painter,

we had hired to paint our house, while we were traveling,

who apparently had some kind of unknown skin disease,

and failed to inform us about it

prior to our invitation to live in the house during the project.

Southern California is Burning!

2007-10-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

We are surrounded but fortunately far from all the fires plaguing Southern California.

Let us pray for the safety and recovery of all of those affected.

view of the glow of the fires in Malibu from our rooftop

"While You Were Traveling"

2007-10-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

Whenever we travel, we are lucky to have my sister and niece house-sit and dog-sit for us. We always would tell them that if anything negative should happen, to just try to take care of the problem and not disturb us while we are on our vacation.
Since we had decided not to move out of L.A. at this time, we decided to have the interior of the house painted with a new color scheme. Our friend, Candy, had recommended her painter, Bob. Bob is more of an artist, since he specializes in faux decorative painting. He could make a drywall look like marble/wood/tile, etc. After our initial meetings with him, we suspected that he was homeless and living out of his car. He also kept offering to take care of the dogs. Since the house was going to have paint all over, we obviously could not host my family to live in it. We also got the feeling that Bob might spend most of his time in the house anyway. Thus, we decided to have him stay in the house to paint, take care of the house, plants, and dogs.

BIG MISTAKE!
The following our pics our friends, Candy, Ming, and Nancee took of how our normally orderly and clean house looked like while we were away. They had to empty out the refrigerator of exposed uncooked bloody meat and rescue our babies who had no room to lie down or get to their food and water.

our bedroom

pie plates on the carpet and

painting/art work exposed while ceiling was being painted

crap all over the bathroom

I can't even tell where this is

my office

poor plants

"Yes, we were planning to replace the carpet,
but not right away!"

Candy brought in her maids to disinfect the kitchen

45 minutes of hard scrubbing of the countertop

the living room

the dining room

the deck - what a mess!

iPostcards from Central/Eastern/Western Europe

2007-10-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Under Construction - Coming Soon!

***

We're back!
Had a fabulous time!
It was an eye-opening trip of a lifetime!
Will share ipostcards/travelogue/pictures soon.

CZECH REPUBLIC

POLAND

SLOVAKIA

HUNGARY

AUSTRIA

GERMANY

Out on my vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical OCT07

2007-09-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

I will be out of town on my

vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical
in Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia,

Hungary, Austria, and Germany

from 29SEP07-15OCT07.
In case of emergency,

please contact my manager/agent/publicist.

LAB: Labradors Against Brutality

2007-09-15T22:00:00.001-07:00

Please click HERE or on the title to be directed to the posting.

iPostcards from Oregon/Washington

2007-08-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

We're back!

Had a fabulous time!

Please click on the following destinations to be directed to the specific posting:

Seatlle, WA
Portland, OR
Cannon Beach, OR

29 more years to go until full retirement

2007-08-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Turning 38 feels so insignificant,

until I realize that I have

29 more years to go until full retirement.

Yehey!...LOL

I only started feeling happy a few days later

when I had a reunion with some of my buds from high school,

who now live in Seattle,

and their families were sweet enough to give me a party.

Please click HERE to see pics.

Out on my vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical AUG07

2007-08-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

I will be out of town on my

vaca-SEAN/SABA-tical

in Portland, OR & Seattle, WA

from 23AUG07-27AUG07.

In case of emergency,

please contact my manager/agent/publicist.

"Love is like a box of eggs"

2007-08-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

If "Life is like a box of chocolates." ...

then, for me, "Love is like a box of eggs."

"... you've got to take extra care not to break it."

Here's to a dozen eggs

to represent each year of our 12 years together.

Our friends, Patrick & Michele Calderigi

were wonderful enough to grace us with their company

in our romantic celebration.

Oh what a wicked enchanted big hair week!

2007-08-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

It really was not planned,

but somehow the first week of my favorite month

ended up to be one big musical extravaganza.
We went to see the following musicals all in one week:
Wicked, the Musical at the Pantages Theater,
Jersey Boys at the Ahmanson Theater,
HairSpray, the movie, and

South Pacific at the Hollywood Bowl.

If you are not familiar with these musicals,

I made a medley of a sample of their music:
Warning: This is so gay! LOL

Tennis Legends Match

2007-08-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

I come from a "tennis playing" family. My mother was instrumental in having the tennis court built in the village where I was raised. In fact, the last time my mother held a tennis racket was when she fainted on the court while playing. She later on found out from the doctor that she was pregnant with me, her last baby.

My twin cousin, Robin, Bill and I, went to watch an exhibition match between two tennis legends, John McEnroe vs. Jim Courier at the East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife at the Home Depot Center.

my twin cousin Robin

McEnroe vs. Courier

John McEnroe's serve

Jim Courier's serve

my short video of the match

with the U.S. Open Series kids

Sean at the end of the exhibition match

Manhattan Beach Surf Fest 2007

2007-08-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Manhattan Beach Surf Fest is a 6-person volleyball tournament on the beach. The twist is people usually wear costumes to play and more often than not, the players are inebriated. It's one big massive party. The event also attracts the pros and ex-pros.

the beach before the crowds The Magnum P.I. team

The Grannies vs. Magnum P.I.'s

Grannies win

The water polo team does volleyball too

my cousin, "Where is Waldo Robin?" with the Baywatch babes

video footage

learn to hang glide at Dockweiler State Beach

My B's at Playa del Rey Beach

Besi & Birdie by the Venice Canals

20th Annual Hollywood Bowl Party

2007-08-04T20:30:00.001-07:00

20th Annual Hollywood Bowl Party
and
South Pacific with Reba McEntire & Brian Stokes Mitchell

An Inconvenient Tale on the 11th Hour

2007-08-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

Being a lover of animals and the great outdoors, I was deeply touched when I saw the documentary film, "Arctic Tale". A few days later, we watched the advanced screening of Leonardo DiCaprio's new feature documentary film, "The 11th Hour". Both films, in my opinion, we very compelling and well made, coming a year after Al Gore's Academy award winning documentary film, "An Inconvenient Truth". Whether you are a believer or a skeptic when it comes to the concept of global warming, I recommend you go see these thought-provoking films, in case you have not seen them. Who knows, it may touch something in you and may make you want to change part of your lifestyle and even go green.

My question for the U.S. Presidential Candidates

2007-07-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

This was my entry to the very first CNN/You Tube Debates.

According to Anderson, they had so many entries,

that they, unfortunately, could not include mine

along with the hundreds of others.
Too bad, this could have been my 30 seconds of fame. LOL

Happy Bastille Day!

2007-07-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Please click on the title to be directed to the posting.