Have a holly jolly...y'know...

Just to set off the weekend right, here's a HOLIDAY MESSAGE from Mateyo to you and yours set to interpretive dance!

p.s. thx to kuya nubs for the site

It's just like the water...

Hey there, kid. Think back. You can remember, way back...back into time. Before you learned how to read an eloquent blog such as this one. You were just a little baby, cradled in your mother's arms, wearing a funny white outfit, ready to be doused with water and accept the gift of eternal life. Remember that? Well, Mateyo, here's a look back at that crazy day. (Thanks to Jerald for the great pics)

Check out Mateyo's NEW WEB GALLERY with more pics from the Baptism

life assorted pt. 1

...back and forth.

Is repetitive action virtuous action? If behaviour and conduct are merely repetitive processes then all human relationships actually cease. If I behave mechanically every day, - repeating a certain code of conduct which I have learnt, which I find profitable, or which is pleasant, repeating that over and over again, - my relationship with you ceases, completely - I have become a machine. - J. Krishnamurti

the pendulum swings...

yesterday, i came back to work after a great thanksgiving weekend. it was Mateyo's first one, and time with the family left me refreshed and energized.

i was surprised to hear that on sunday night, in an abandoned construction site for some new high rise condominiums across the street from our office, an eighteen-year old kid decided to take his own life by hanging himself from some part of the building. construction workers found him early monday morning.

a coworker of mine was talking to a police officer about the whole incident when a car pulled up. it was his father. distraught and heartbroken, my friend tried to console him with a hug. i didn't know that young man, but my heart goes out to him, to his father, and to his family. i could not imagine how i would feel if that was my son.

some might say the boy had found peace from whatever was anguishing him, some will say he'll be damned for doing what he did. whether we live 18 years or 98 years, can we say that we've lived this life to the fullest? i don't know if anyone can say that. i hope that one day i will be able to say it, and mean it.

do not regret. do not fear death. live life.

laks

happy thanksgiving

We'd like to thank god for all the blessings we have received this year. and wish all of you out there the same. THANK YOU!! --cinlaksmateyomarley

kain na!!

Mateyo's Weekend Journal

Hi Everybody! Mateyo here. My papa is always the one filling you in on stuff, but I thought I'd let you in to my world, a real baby's eye view, if you will.

"Ain't nobody dope as me, i'm just so fresh, so clean..."
You know how i do. Cleanliness leads to lots of hugs and kisses throughout the day. Thanks mama.

My future homie and fellow rapper, AMSI hammer, dropped her debut last Monday. It ain't easy being born, i can testify! She finally came home with Uncle Wendell and Auntie Carolina on Saturday. This is my mom helping to hoist the announcement of her arrival, with Uncle Joel, Uncle Wendell, and Auntie Glenda. Can you say, OA! I can't.

hugs. gyeah.

kisses. double gyeah.

My bodyguard, Big Marls, was exhausted from the weekend. I guess fending off uncles and aunties can wear a brotha out sometimes. Keep your head up, dawg.

As for me and Papa, we got an album dropping very soon, so we thought we'd practice mad dogging for the camera.

Word to my mama. Aight, later.

mateyo.

another moment..

Greetings Mateyo Fans,

In the ongoing discussion regarding living in the present and/or the future. I have added to the complexity of this dilemma by purchasing a new camera. It is presently the best thing to ever happen to our memories as they will be preserved forever, and will affect my wallet for the months ahead, and so here's some wonderment captured for the enjoyment of future generations.

laks

Happy Birthday, Cindy.

Isabel de los Reyes Sapp
and Cindy Claire Sapp Evangelista.
Circa 1975.

Marley & Me

I am not food. I repeat...I am not food!
Mateyo: Cheese!
Marley: Where?

Happy Halloween!! Part 2

More great pictures from Halloween. Thanks Hiyas!!

happy halloween!!!

He was a buffalo soldier/Dreadlock Rasta -- Bob

Well, teyo's first Halloween was a blast. As you can see, he grew his hair out a bit for the event, as he didn't want to be a "crazy baldhead" like the rest of dem bruddahs. Anyways, it was like paparazzi up in there as the whole family took turns taking pictures and passing him around.

As usual, the parents brought the food, props to my cousins Ricky and GV for making some great barbecue, and we even got to pass out some candy. Some families came by like 2-3 times (that's cheating). Eventually we all got full off food and watched a combination of "Ghost Hunters Live" and "28 weeks later".

Anyways, the rasta enjoyed it as he was passed out by the end of the night. Oh, and Marley was busy trying to get his snout on some chocolate. Good for him, we kept him away from the poison.

Hope all of you had a great halloween. And on behalf of the natty dread, I say, "Jah Live!!"

laks

: )

the future is so bright...

"Life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans..." - john lennon from "beautiful boy"

Malibu is burning, and so is my little Leo boy (he's a little pissed about the lakers).

A strange thing happens after you have a child. I think it is something evolutionary.... programmed in our DNA maybe. You start to drift off and begin living and breathing in the future. I don't mean just thinking about it, but actually being there. Worrying about things, going through the motions of how you are going to deal with things, being happy, feeling sorrow.

Mateyo has only been here for two months and I'm already thinking about having to talk to him about sex one day, freaking myself out (Think if we had had a girl first, I'd probably be catatonic at this point). The other night as I watched him flail away during a diaper change, I imagined how I will feel the first time he talks back to me, or how sad I will be for him the first time he gets his heart broken. I am having the conversation right now...and I gotta admit, its a tough one. The thoughts are so vivid that I have to constantly snap myself back to reality and realize he's only a baby.

Part of it too, is that his personality is becoming more and more apparent. He is smiling a lot more, and has a strange pensity for peeing on me. I swear he's just waiting 'til I have my guard down. I hope that is not symbolic of anything! See, there I go again. All in all though, he's a great kid and so far the good has greatly outweighed the bad, and as I've said before...thank god for the coffee bean.

When we take pictures, is that to document the past? or get things prepared for our future nostalgic selves? As the old buddhists say, live in the present and savor every moment that happens...now...and now...and now. It's kinda hard to keep up, huh?. I guess, in life as well as in Star Trek, temporal issues are not worth thinking too much about.

Live in the now, and you'll be better off.

I wonder how that will sound tomorrow.

Laks

mellow moods...

Kidlat Sa Tubig (Lightning in the Water)

It shouldn't really work. Fire and water. Leo being a fire sign, I had some feeling that there would be some steam. And apparently, it wasn't because of the water, as he was just hungry. But what a great reaction to his first dip in a pool!

Just to clarify, the family took a weekend out to hit up Palm Springs for some much needed R&R. Cindy and I connected with some friends for the vaunted CAPA conference, where Physician Assistants from around the country get together to learn their craft, make networks, and get drunk.

Much to our chagrin, it was also "biker weekend", as hundreds of harleys, choppers and crotch rockets converged in a weird kumbayah sing-song of yuppies and ex-cons. During this festive occasion a biker gang called the "mongols" clashed with police for a couple hours on Friday night. Aaah...nothing like Palm Springs to bring on a little relaxation.
Laks

im addicted to crack

you will succumb to the dark side...

I dont know what came over me but I gave in to carnal desire, avarice, and material frivolity and succumbed to the glory of the Blackberry (aka Crackberry). For those who don't know, its a small sliver of technology that allows you to reply to an email while going 60 on the 110 freeway. Its awesome. There...I've made my confession for the week. Thanks for listening. By the way, I just posted this using my little PRECIOUS (in gollum voice)! God help me.

Laks

marley turns 4!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KUYA MARLS!!

The burly boy of burbank just turned four years old yesterday, October 1st. Here's a retrospective of our favorite beagle...big ups to jah rudebwoy!!!