Ana said YES!

Mike wanted the family to be together when he was going to ask the big question... Would you marry me? And guess what Ana said?
We are very happy for them.

2008 Christmas Program Klein High School

We (Saul, Mila and I) enjoyed the Christmas Program at Carla's School. Bravo, Bravo!

Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts

When I finished Grade School in 1967. My mom and I went to the Expo 67 in Montreal, Canada. It was a great experience for me. We arrived in New York and took a bus from New York to Montreal. As I recall we spent a few days in New York. I remember walking on 5th Avenue, and I remember visiting some museums and also the United Nations.

My mom took the picture I show here in front of the Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts. I was sitting by the water fountain that was dedicated to Mr. Charles Revson The founder of Revlon.

Photo by Carol M. Highsmith

Lincoln Center is the largest performing arts complex in the world, housing 12 different arts organizations. Many architects have contributed buildings to the complex: Wallace K. Harrison, Metropolitan Opera House; Max Abramovitz, Avery Fisher Hall; Philip Johnson, New York State Theater; Pietro Belluschi, Juilliard School and Alice Tully Hall; and Eero Saarinen, Vivian Beaumont Theater.

Hayden Masden is 2!

Hayden celebrated his second birthday at the park with his cousins (including Aurora) and other members of the family.

Who was Rachel Carson?

Famous Marine Biologist for some. A Mass Murderer for others. Come to your own conclussion by reading:

For:
http://www.rachelcarson.org/

http://clinton2.nara.gov/WH/EOP/OVP/24hours/carson.html


Against:
http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/summ02/Carson.html

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3186

Saturday Morning at the Masdens

El Camino del Rey - Malaga, Spain

Peter Schiff - Please Watch

Two Years Ago - Watch this one first...

Five Ways to Keep Alzherimer's Away - CNN

Nuestra Bella Venezuela

Monolitic Olmec Heads

The Olmec flourished between about 1500 and 600 bc. San Lorenzo, their oldest known center, was destroyed around 900 bc. It was replaced by La Venta, a city built in an axial pattern that influenced urban development in Central America for centuries. A mounded earthen pyramid about 30 m (100 ft) high, among the earliest in Mesoamerica, was the center of a complex of temples and plazas.

The Olmec were the first to use stone architecturally and sculpturally, even though it had to be quarried in the Tuxtla Mountains of Veracruz. Their colossal basalt stone heads of males, about 2.7 m (9 ft) high and weigh as much as twenty tons, can be seen today at the open-air La Venta Park-Museum (Cost of one day pass $50 Mex. Pesos) in Villahermosa and at the Museum of Anthropology in Jalapa (Xalapa). Their writing, a numerical system, was the precursor of Mesoamerican writing. The Olmec civilization established patterns of culture that influenced its successors for centuries to come.

Tony Masden - Mike's dear father and friend

While I was in Villahermosa Mexico I heard from Ana the sad news of Mike's dad (Tony Masden) passing. He had been battling with his illness for few months now. I pray for Mike and Ana, that God will give them the strength and comfort them in their grieving. I also pray for Silvia and Tony's mom Millie during these difficult times. Tony and Matt will be together watching over the family from heaven.

Gustavo Dudamel - Una pieza mexicana: Huapango

B.O. Campanign Workers Complaints

Ted's 29th B-Day Cake!

We enjoyed celebrating Ted's birthday last Saturday. Jennifer gathered the family at their home for a dinner party. The Dinner Menu: Spaghetti with bolognese sauce, salads, garlic bread, and off course the cake which was a cheesecake that Mila made. Happy Birthday Ted and many more...

Before You Cast Your Vote Tomorrow... Please Watch:

2 Dollar Bill - 1928 Series

Hace 23 años Ely consiguió este billete cuando vivía en la parte sur de Miami. El billete había sido impreso en el año 1928. Cuando él vió el año de impresión enseguida pensó en su abuela Lina e inmediatamente se lo regaló. Desde entonces la abuela carga este billete en su cartera y no se ha separado de ese billete. La abuela Lina nació el 28 de Diciembre de 1928.

Halloween in 1984 - Maracaibo

En Maracaibo "Halloween" lo llaman "La Noche de las Brujas" hace veinticuatro años Jenny lo celebró en el colegio/kinder donde estudiaba. La maestra y dueña del colegio era una señora americana que daba las clases en Inglés.

Halloween - #1 Pumpkin

Aurora was dressed as a "Pumpkin" to go Trick-Or-Treat this year. And she said "Que linda"

If I remember correctly she dressed as a pumpkin last year also! But this year she walked... Ana correct me if I am wrong.

Happy Birthday Ted!

Today, Halloween 2008, Ted is celebrating his 29th birthday. We'll go to their house tomorrow for an "Spagetti" dinner to celebrate with them.

Ana, Mike and Aurora are Trick-or-Treating at Grandpa's neighborhood. I stayed home to welcome the Trick-or-Treaters of our neighborhood.

Tio Carlos Castillo in 1956

Nuestro tío Carlos Castillo en el período de 1956 al 1958 fué el Presidente del Club Alianza en Maracaibo. Esta foto me la envió Felix Canelon via BlackBerry.
Yo tengo recuerdos de visitas al club y de bañarme en la piscina frente al Lago de Maracaibo. Recuerdo que hacía frío por las tardecitas por la brisa que soplaba. Tambien recuerdo haber ido a un "baile" con orquesta como también a ver películas en la sala de cine con pantalla al aire libre. Que buenos recuerdos. En esa época los primos Castillo López vivían en la casa de los "Dos Caminos".

Is B.O. a Natural Born US Citizen?

T. Boone Pickens - CBS 60 Minutes Interview

Family Sunday Breakfast at the Cardenas

Mila invited the family to a tipical venezuelan-american sunday brunch: arepas, blackbeans, "carne mechada", "cachapas", "nata", "queso fresco rayado", avocado, bacon, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, etc.

Mila took the pictures shown here.

Following I mentioned the people present at the brunch: Hosts - Mila, Saul and Carla, Guests: Claudia and Kyle came from College Station, Ely, DeAnna, Ely II and Madeleine came from Channelview, Christi y Ruli came from Houston - Memorial, and from Tomball: Ana, Mike & Aurora, Grandma Lina and me (Mary).

We had a great time and ate deliciously. Ted and Jennifer were not able to come. They were camping at Huntsville this weekend and they took Quincy with them.

Claudia and Kyle were going to stop at the Texas Renaissance Festival http://www.texrenfest.com/home.html in Magnolia on their way back to College Station.

Abuelita Lina en Houston

Mila, Carla, Aurorita y yo fuimos a recibir a la abuelita Lina al aeropuerto. Viene a pasar tres semanas con nosotros. Después de recibirla y en camino a casa de Jenny y Ted nos paramos a tomar un snak en "Chick Fil A". En frente a Chick Fil A Mila y yo tomamos las fotos que aquí anexo. (Las tres primeras las tomé con mi camara - las siguientes las tomó Mila con su camara)

Baffin Bay & Riviera Texas - Ely's Fishing Trip

Every year around this time Ely goes "deep sea fishing" with some friends. Last weekend they went to Baffin Bay. They stayed at Wild Horse Lodge (http://www.wildhorselodge.com/). They brought back some beautiful pictures that I am posting here today with their permission.

Fishing Guide: John Johnson

Ely's Friends: Ricky and Gordon

Canelón López Siblings in 1957

This picture was taken in 1957 in front of our rented house in "Las Cuarentas" an area of Cabimas, Venezuela.

From Left to Right (Age):

Bottom - Omar (4), Jorge (6), Jesus (7), Freddy (2)

Top - Mila (6 months), Mary (3)

On the right edge of the picture you can see the silhouette of "mami" (28)

Aurorita Modeling

Ana, Mike and Aurora have been invited to a weding in the coming weeks and Aurora was modeling the dress that she'll be wearing... What do you think?

Jenny's 28!

We celebrated Jenny's 28th Birthday with a lunch at Goode Company Seafood. We all liked the mexican style "ceviche" called Campechana. We were trying to figure out the ingredients and we all agreed on: crabmeat, shrimp, avocado, tomato, cilantro, onion, olive oil, lemon/lime... It is soooo good! I should have taken a picture of it... Happy Birthday Jenny.