Reverse Seared Prime Rib

 By Zack Chavez

This method for cooking a standing rib roast requires dry-brining the prime rib 1-4 days before roasting to give the most flavorful taste, and slow-roasting at a low temperature followed by a high-heat sear ensures a delicious medium-rare doneness throughout with a savory herb crust.

Ingredients

One (8 pound) bone-in standing rib roast

 ½ cup SPG*

½ cup butter, softened

3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

Directions

Step 1 - Season roast generously with SPG, Let it rest uncovered, on a rack in the refrigerator for at least overnight and up to four days. 

Step 2 - Remove roast from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature, about 2 hours.

Step 3 - Preheat oven to 200 deg F

Step 4 - Mix butter, rosemary, thyme, and SPG together in a small bowl; spread butter mixture over roast. Place roast in a large roasting pan.

Step 5 - Bake roast in the preheated oven until internal temperature reaches 120 deg F  for medium-rare, about 4 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and tent with aluminum foil; allow to rest, about 30 minutes.and up to 1 ½ hours.

Step 6 - Ten minutes before serving, remove the foil and place the roast back into the oven preheated at 500 deg+ F.  Roast until well brown and crisp, about 10 minutes.

Step 7 - Carve and serve immediately.

--

*SPG is a home made seasoning consisting of 4 units kosher salt, 1 unit coarse black pepper, 2 units granulated garlic.

Louise Ann Chavez

 Louise Ann Chavez

(April 22, 1942 – June 11, 2021)

Born to the late Frances Cummings and Thomas Alfred Spratt in Cortland, NY.  The youngest of three children, she is survived by her brother, Gordon Spratt (Terry), of Tellico Plains, Tennessee.  Her sister, Doreen Holbrook (Earl), formerly of Coral Gables, FL, preceded her in death.

Louise, or Weezer, as she was called by Gordon growing up, was beautiful and smart, kind and loving, hardworking, resilient and a bit of a rebel.  Her grandfather immigrated to the US from England and her family made its way to upstate New York, then moved to Florida from Cortland, NY when she was young.  Late in life, as dementia made recent memories fade, she’d happily recount details of childhood visits to a family farm in NY.

Louise graduated from Dixie Hollins High School in St. Petersburg, FL in 1960 as salutatorian, and attended Florida Presbyterian College on a full academic scholarship.  (Did we mention she was smart?)  But yes, also pretty and surprisingly bold, as she flaunted socials norms (and laws) of the time and took a leap of faith in marrying (eloping, no less) a Filipino steward in the US Coast Guard, Zacarias S. Chavez.  After some initial difficulty finding a state and a justice of the peace who would marry them in the South in 1962 (before the landmark 1967 Loving v. Virginia SCOTUS decision), they tied the knot in Walterboro, South Carolina, in a courthouse that son, Carl, and his wife, Thea, recently visited.

But the adventures of Zack and Louise were just beginning then.  For decades to come, Louise managed the Chavez family household and raised three successful children (with support from Zack as his military service allowed) as Zack ascended his military career through ET school, Officer Candidate School, DeVry Institute of Technology and the Naval Postgraduate School to rise from his rank as a steward to command of the Coast Guard LORAN Monitor Station Kodiak (where Louise was the “First Lady”) and to serve as XO of Electronics Engineering Center in Wildwood, NJ.  During this remarkable career of military service, Louise helped move and resettle the family from St. Petersburg, FL to Arlington, VA, back to St. Pete, to Honolulu, HI, to Los Angeles, CA, to Lakewood, OH, to Phoenix, AZ, to Kodiak, AK, to Yokota Air Base, Japan, to Monterey, CA and to Wildwood, NJ before Zack retired from the Coast Guard after 27 years of service and they moved to Benicia, CA, where he worked for Unisys for a number of years and then later in telecom.

Louise was a loving, but firm, mother, domestic engineer, devoted military spouse, kind friend to many, tennis team player and captain, seamstress, and always the sweetest if not the most outgoing person in the room.  She was loved by all who knew her.  She played in the bell choir, sang in Sweet Adelines, caught, cleaned, smoked and canned salmon in Alaska, danced in the Tanabata festival and took bus tours around Japan, hiked steep canyons near the Sea of Cortez, sailed in the Caribbean with Zack at various Club Med resorts (until she determined that while he may be a Coast Guard Commander, he was not the best sailor), served as chase crew to get a free hot air balloon ride in New Mexico, climbed a hill at Corde Valle for the surprise wedding of son, Dave, and Beth Lytle, then hiked the nearby redwood coastline, and brought daughter, Tina, together with husband, Dave Davisson, through her love of Benicia’s art glass studios and enthusiasm about making a piece of hot glass during open studios.

Louise is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 60 years, Zack Chavez of Benicia, son Dave Chavez (Beth Lytle) of Morgan Hill, daughter Tina Chavez (Dave Davisson) of El Cerrito, son Carl Chavez (Thea Chavez) of West Sacramento, and nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Louise was laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon. California.

The family wishes to thank the excellent care teams at Heartwood Avenue Healthcare and Suncrest Hospice, who took such loving care of Louise in her last months.

Nuong Araw

By Celia White

Panciteria Moderna was the place to go for pancit miki and miki bihon already wrapped in their version of 'tetra pak' (banana leaves on wrapping paper tied with a rubber band). Pancit bihon was the specialty of Panciteria Wa Nam .. Kung gusto mo naman ng chopsuey rice doon ka sa Hen Wah, tabi ng Avenue Theatre. At sa Ma Mon Luk, siopao was at 30 centavos; mami was at 70 centavos or 2 pcs. of siomai (large) with unlimited soup for 30 centavos.. So with one peso busog ka na. Ngayon bigay mo piso sa pulubi, titignan ka pa ng masama.

The Shangri-la in the basement of Shelborne Hotel (at the back) was the place to go for dates if you wanted a dark and cozy atmosphere. The Black Angel along Shaw Blvd near the corner of Kalentong in Mandaluyong was a very good place to listen to soft music (Fleetwoods, Lettermen, Cascades) and the lights were also quite low.. Then with the introduction of the 'black light' you look like Dracula about to devour a beautiful victim. Kaya lang pag may pustiso ka itim ang labas kaya mukhang kenkoy ka. So do not dare to smile. 

With Php 30.00- 50.00 in your pocket you were in pretty good shape for a date. 'Bakuran' was the in-thing at parties with 'screening' from a friend to assist you in getting a dance with a girl who was very sought after. 

Wack-Wack, the Sky Room in Jai-Alai, the penthouse at the Rufino Bldg. as well as Capri at the Sarmiento Bldg right opposite it were the favorite places for proms and balls. Sikat ang event if the DynaSouls (dubbed the Beatles of the Philippines), The Tilt Down Men (the Sotto brothers, Tito, & Val, favored the Dave Clark 5), Hi-Jacks, the Electromaniacs (later Electros) or the Bad Habits was the 'combo' playing.&n bsp; Other popular bands then were the Bits and Pieces ( after the Dave Clark 5 hit), Purple People, 

Versatiles (remember the late Bobby Lim), Technicolors (whose drummer Tony Tuviera is now the producer of Eat Bulaga), Red Fox (forerunner of Hotdog), Jungle Cats, Glenmores, Robins, Crystals , Phantoms, and the Downbeats (where most of the Juan de la Cruz band came from notably Pepe Smith or Joey Smith then). 

What about gate crashing a 'Tipar' (for party) and the ensuing rumble between feuding barkadas: Havocs, Combat, Axis, Amboys, Mobs & Exotics, meron pang kanya-kanyang busina (car honking ID)... 

Remember BMI (Baguio Military Institute)? That school was a dumping ground for kicked out students from Manila and kids that needed discipline. Let us not forget ang mga taga 'Baste' (San Sebastian). Ang daming siga noong araw. Alta Vista along Roxas Blvd. was the favorite place for wedding receptions at Php 8.50 per cover! Ngayon, kulang pang pambayad ito sa parking fee. Special ringside seats for performances at the Araneta Coliseum were at P5.00 per. So with P20.00 you could safely invite someone and still have enough for a snack afterwards or a game of 'putt and putt' at the mini-golf place located at the back of Araneta. 

Among the more popular celebrities who performed at the Big Dome were Neil Sedaka, Anita Bryant, Teddy Randazzo, Nat King Cole, Jo Ann Campbell, Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis, Matt Monro, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Dave Clark 5, Zombies, Peter and Gordon and many many more. 

Noon 5 centavos sa mga bata at 10 centavos naman para sa matatanda ang bayad sa jeep. Manila and Suburbs ang lahat ng biyahe ng jeep noon na 3 seater lang (AC ang tawag nila dito) at talagang Upong Diyes lang ang sigaw ng driver. Sa Avenida Rizal at Sta. Cruz, Blumentritt, Tayuman, Es piritu Santo Church , Grace Park, Pasay-Taft, Dakota - Harrison, Paco-Taft, Sta. Ana Tulay at BBB-Monumento ang mga sikat na lugar. 

Did you get an opportunity to ride the G-Liner from San Juan to Quiapo? It would crawl up to the corner of N. Doming to pick up passengers. That's why we called it Gapang Liner. Gas was very cheap then and they can afford to keep the motor running for 2 hours at a snail's pace. Gasoline prices then were at 25 centavos per liter and there were only two types of gas; Premium or Regular..

 Caltex called their premium 'Boron' as advertised by that multi-colored dancing lights on top of the old San Miguel Ice Plant. Near those dancing lights was the big white kettle pouring hot chocolate on a giant cup. It was sponsored by Cocoa Ricoa. Esso named theirs Extra to 'put a Tiger in your tank'. Yung Good Earth Emporium pwede ring idagdag sa mga magagandang shopping mall noong araw. 

Yung Manila Grand Opera house, Clover, Odeon, Roxan, Hollywood , Cinerama, Avenue, Universal, Dalisay, Ever, Galaxy, Ideal, State, Lyric, Capitol ang mga sikat na 'first run' na sinehan noon. Movie tickets were selling at P1.20 and P1.50 kung Advanced Roadshow (meaning kasabay sa international release) . Kung medyo nagtitipid ka naman doon ka na lang sa 'second run' theatres for P0.85 lang double program pa mapapanood mo. Remember those second run theatres like Main , Times, Society, Scala, Globe, Esquire, Vista, Republic, Mayfair , and Palace. Pero iyong last two theatres e medyo notorious sa mga 'singit' where they show the 'censored' portions of the movie. These two theatres also showed the early foreign 'bomba' films, or skin flicks. 

Bodavil was still a hit during the early 50s where Opera House featured the Lopito, Patsy, the Lou Salvador clan, Toto, Chichay, Ike Lozada, Pabo, Cachupoy etc. while Clover Theatre featured Pilita Corrales, Wing Duo, Reycard Duet, Bobby Gonzales, Sunday Contreras (anak ni Pugo), Eddie Mesa, Pugak & Tugak, Chuchi, Aruray, Doro & Popoy.. Did you know that German Moreno started as a utility man at Clover Theatre and did bit parts until he was discovered later on by Sampaguita Pictures.

 Sa Q.C ay sikat yung Max's Chicken, Aristocrat Cubao at Dayrit. Ang dollar rate noon ay P3.70/1$ ang palitan. Kung medyo kapos ka e takbo muna kay Tambunting or A. Aguirre pawnshop. Ang Cosmos Sarsaparilla ay 5 centavos at 10 Centavos ang Coke at Pepsi. Mayroon din Cosmos Orange kung ayaw mo ng Sarsi. Kung may extra ka e di Royal Tru-Orange na. Pero sikat din yung 7-Up, Lem-O-Lime , Canada Dry, Uva at Bireley's strawberry and pineapple. 

Kalaban ng Cosmos noon ay Ideal at Avenue softdrinks. Remember Fress Gusto, Yes Cola, Grassland Milk, Choco Vim. Pag may sakit ka naman pinapa-inom lang sa iyo RoyalSoda Water at soda crackers. Kaya naman pag galing natin e takbo kaagad sa intsik (yun ang tawag natin sa kanilang sari-sari store noon bago sila nag diversify sa mga malls, transport, food production) at bili ng Coke and junk foods. 

Pag Pasko madalas kami sa Sta Cruz para manood ng palabas sa Manila COD para sa Xmas season. Mas magaganda ang mga palabas pag Christmas kasi wala pang Metro Manila Film Fest noon kaya lahat ng sinehan pagandahan ng pelikula. Noon wala pang Chippy at nachos, ang merienda ay banana cue, camote que, palitaw, biko, pinipig, halo-halo, carioca, pilipit, butsi, hopiang hapon, hopiang munggo, hopiang baboy, bibingka, puto, cassava, cake o budin, suman at mani. Ang mansanas ay apat-piso ang benta sa Lawton Bus terminal at sa Avenida. Mas mahal pa yung local na chico na pineras. Ang grapes, pear, at apple ang karaniwang binebenta sa mga bus terminal na papuntang south (BLTB). 

Ang bus noon ay bukas lahat yung isang side kaya doon dumadaan ang mga pasahero. Puwede ka rin bumili nito sa Echague (now C. Palanca) tapos bili ka na rin ng hopia at mani. Mga sikat noon ay Kim Chong Tin at United Foods. Dito din nakakabili ng Chinese ham na por kilo or isang buo na nakabalot pa sa papel at plastic net. 

Ang sikat na mga Plaza noon ay Plaza Goiti, Plaza Miranda at Plaza Sta. Cruz. Huwag kalimutan ang Barbecue Plaza na may "Pula-Puti" at beer. Sa mga bakery sa Manila ay sikat yung Herran Bakery, Jo- Ni's, Hizon's (favorite ni Dolphy kahit noon pa), Sta. Romana Bakery. Remember Halili Beer (baka sa mga lolo ni Katrina ito) , Tody chocolate drink in cans, Horlicks malted milk tablets; Halili (baka kila Katrina din ito) bus, Super (dog logo) Transit, Yujuico, JD & MD buses; MM Liner, Medina Transit, Capistrano Transit, Pantranco, La Mallorca Pambusco buses and taxis, Golden Taxicab and Yellow Taxicab, Dollar Taxi. 

Your favorite past time then was reading comics like Pilipino Komiks, Espesyal Komiks, Hiwaga Klasiks, Kenkoy Komiks. Kung medyo class ka naman binabasa mo mga Classics Illustrated (sometimes we get our book report from these comic books instead of reading the assigned novel) o kaya ay Tiktik. Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics from the US were also available at magazine stands. 

ShoeMart started in Carriedo (the first SM was named Shoe World) followed by the 2nd ShoeMart beside Ideal Theater and then SM Echague with a revolving restaurant at the top floor. Safari Club beside Manila Zoo at the height of the 'Twist' craze, Dance-O-Rama with Pete Roa & Baby O'Brien every 5 PM on Channel 5. If you wanted an earlier teeny bopper show, you watched Eddie Mercado in DJ Dancetime on Channel 11. 

Siyempre naman pag Friday, Nite Owl Dance Party hosted by Lito Gorospe, featuring the Celtics. Another delight to watch was 9-Teeners hosted by Jose Mari Chan, Rom Azanza and Tito Osias (all Ateneans) on Channel 9. Sampaguita was first seen as a cage dancer at 9 Teeners. Her real name is Tessie Alfonso. She got married to Nilo Santos of the Jungle Cats. Jeanne Young also hosted another teeny bopper show called The Insiders which guested the more popular combos at that time. Siyempre sikat pa rin ang Student Canteen pag tanghali followed by Darigold Jamboree, hosted by Leila Benitez with Eddie Ilarde and Pepe Pimentel and Bobby Ledesma. 

Sa primetime naman nandoon ang The Big Show nila Cris de Vera, Oscar Obliga cion a t Sylvia La Torre. Then it evolved into Oras ng Ligaya when it migrated to ABS-CBN. Remember Uncle Bob's Lucky 7 Club. Who would forget Buhay Artista starring Dolphy and Panchito and a take off of a popular radio program Sebya Mahal Kita, Tang Tarang Tang with Pugo and Bentot on the lead. Sa radio naman siyempre ang Kapitan Kidlat, Kwentong Kutsero, Gabi ng Lagim, Salamat Po Doctor, Lola Basyang and of course Kahapon Lamang and Tia Dely's program which followed. Konti pa lang may TV set noon kaya sikat ka sa kalye niyo pag mayroon ka ng television at minsan SRO pa nga pag basketball (Yco, Ysmael, Utex, 7-UP) Now anyone who missed those days can't really claim they've seen and tasted the best. 

Every generation has its own set of 'Aces'. Do you recall when: You tasted Darigold Evap, Liberty Condensada, Sunkist Orange (in tetra packs), Magnolia Chocolait, Klim (the word 'milk' spelled backwards), Big 20 Hamburgers, Foot-long hotdog, Nectar choconut, Tweet & Jiggs Candies (by Mr. Krieger), Tootsie Roll, Serg' s Chocolate, kerosene-flavored popcorn and kropeck along Dewey Blvd, dirty ice cream, Magnolia Ice Cream sandwich, Selecta ice cream (now Arce Dairy) and their fresh carabao's milk, Magnolia popsicles in orange, chocolate and tutti frutti, langka flavors, Sison Ice Drop in monggo, and buko flavors, Milky Way's buko sherbet, Acme Supermarket' s sundaes and Coney Island 's 32 flavors? 

You went to: Arcegas at the Maranaw Arcade, Funhouse at Bricktown, Aguinaldo, Erehwon Bookstore, Alemars Bookstore, Bookmark, Botica Boie, Makati Supermarket D'Bankers Barbershop and Leila's Coffee Shop, Tropical Hut along Estrada, 

Acme Supermarket, Cherry Supermarket (now Foodarama), The Regent of Manila, Hotel Mabuhay, Manila Hilton, Christmas carnival (at Lawton in front of Letran College), Villa Pansol and Lido Beach, Aroma Beach and Jale Beach? Rizal what? 'Who would be crazy to build a cinema in the middle of nowhere?' It turned out to be the best theater in the city of Makati then (at the same site now occupied by Shangri-La Hotel). We ate at: The original A&W along UN Avenue in Manila , Aristocrat's Flying Saucer (across Malate Church), Bonanza Restaurant, Little Quiapo, Country Bake Shop, Selecta Restaurant, Taza de Oro, New Europe, Madrid , Cucina Italiana, La Cibeles at A. Mabini, Luau, The Makati Automat, Sulo Restaurant ( Makati ), Bulakena, Casa Marcos, Au Bon Vivant, Salambao Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Di Mark's Pizza in Cubao, the elegant dining room of the old Army & Navy Club. Botica Boie in Escolta, Alba's in Florida St., Malate, Brown Derby and their signature foot-long hotdog came with its special, extra tarty mustard sauce and a hot, crispy bun. We used to park at their drive-in bays after we were exhausted from all-night partying but with enough energy to gobble down sausages and soft drinks.

The Plaza was the favorite venue for all formal school and social functions. Every Friday night the Plaza became an instant disco-teque called 'POW'. Food was not a big factor so long as cozy couples could have their special table for two. You shopped at: Bergs, Soriente Santos, Assanda's, Oceanic Commercial (where you bought original watches and jewelries), Syvel's, Walk-Over in Escolta, Good Earth Emporium, 15c and Up, Manila COD, Avesco at A venida Rizal, Rustan's San Marcelino, Aguinaldo's in Cubao. The original Rustan's was the garage of the Tantoco's residential house which was eventually converted into a dazzling shop filled with eclectic things and collectibles. 

You would want your wardrobes (pang-porma) tailor-made. So you went to RM Manlapat, Toppers, Fifth Avenue, Estacio's, Sleek's (owned by Eddie Ilarde) or D'Sharp (owned by Dolphy) for your Continental style pants and shirt-jack (Marcos loved this style) or the sleeve shirt. If you wanted a groovy denim pants, you would buy the finest denim material at Divisoria and brought it to Gulapa's. Levi's was not a by-word then. For school uniforms, we would love to wear our khaki pants from the famous RTW shop called Macomber in Quiapo. Or, our parents would just buy us a pair of Sabur or Savalbarro khakis.

 When it came to footwear, siyempre mas maganda pasadya especially when you want a good Chuka Boots, Spanish Boots or Beatles Boots. You went to Glenmore or Camara shoe makers. Pag casual naman siyempre US Keds, pero kung medyo low budget lang e puwede na rin ang US Kids. For sports shoes you would want a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor, and if you were on a low budget you bought Custombuilt or Edwardson. But if you wanted to float on water (as the advertisement claimed) you wore Marcelo Rubber Shoes black! Yan ang sinusuot ni Kenkoy.

 Blockbuster movies were: The Ten Commandments, Shane, High Noon, King and I, South Pacific, Horrors of Dracula, Gunfight at OK Corral, Psycho, House on Haunted Hill, Magnificent Seven, The Alamo, Spartacus, West Side Story, Ben Hur, Longest Day, Madame X, Guns of Navarone, King of Kings, El Cid, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Birds, Elvis' movies like Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, Blue Hawaii , GI Blues, and the Beatles' Hard Days Night, Help, Yellow S ubmarine, The Graduate, Romeo and Juliet and of course the ever popular The Sound of Music. 

You had your hair styled or permed by: Nomer's, Lita Rio, Grace Lagman, Dick & Lucy, and Kayumanggi. That was the time of Aqua Net stiff, foot-high beehives, French twist and Kiss Me liquid eyeliners and Pretty Quik instant facial blotters.

You sang: Dont Be Cruel and Hound Dog by Elvis, April Love by Pat Boone, Fool's Paradise by Buddy Holly, Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby by Jo Ann Campbell, Devoted to You by the Everly Brothers, Someday by Ricky Nelson, One More Chance by Teddy Randazzo, Calendar Girl by Neil Sedaka, Puppy Love by Paul Anka, Young Ones by Cliff Richard, Walk Dont Run by The Ventures, Apache by the Shadows, A Hard Days Night, All My Lovin, Yesterday, Hey Jude by the Beatles, WorldWithout Love by Peter and Gordon, Cherish by the Association, Because by Dave Clark Five, Distant Shores by Chad and Jeremy.

 Saved your whole month's allowance of P50.00 to watch the Beatles perform live at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in 1966 (July 4). It was hip to listen to: Bingo Lacson, Lito Gorospe, Bong Lapira, Eddie Mercado, Jack Henson, Art Galindez of DZMB and Jo San Diego (past midnight) of DZMT, Sonia Basa, Ronnie Quintos, Naldy Castro of DZWS, Harry Gasser, Joe Cantada and Jose Mari Velez of DZHP; the singing sensations from Ateneo de Manila, RJ and the Riots, The Loonilarks, Jose Mari Chan and the Twofus (Ronnie Henares and Jojit Paredes) and dance to live combo music garbed in cocktail dresses and dark suits. DZMT was affiliated with the Manila Times and was one of two radio stations operating after 12 midnight... The other station was DZHP whose program was taped. Jo San Diego of DZMT went on live (she with the velvety bedroom voice. She could still be heard today at DWBR every Sunday afternoons). And danced at: Manila Hotel's Jungle Bar, Stargazer, Bayside Night Club (with live music by the Carding Cruz band), the Nile, D'Flame, Rino's, Wells Fargo, Nautilus, Hi-Ball and Bulakena. Or, maybe rode a Motorco with your date and went around Dewey Boulevard.

 When you got hungry you would drop by the Barbecue Plaza. You tried your luck at the Pula-Puti joint in Russell Street. Do you remember when: Malate streets were named after US States (Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Carolina, etc.); Paranaque , San Juan, Makati, Pasig, Las Pinas, Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa were municipalities of Rizal province; DLSU was De La Salle College, Poveda was Institucion Teresiana, 

Adamson University was the original St. Theresa's campus in San Marcelino, Robinsons Mall was the Assumption Convent campus, Petron was Esso, Villamor Air Base was then known as Nichols Air Base, bancas were aplenty in the Baclaran side of Dewey Blvd. (now Roxas Blvd.) and traffic was non-existent in Tagaytay. 

PLDT telephone numbers were five digits and you used your index finger to dial a number one at a time. Sikat ka sa barkada kung may 'syota' kang 'Colegiala' (Assumption, STC, St. Scho, Maryknoll, Holy Spirit, St. Paul 's, St. Joseph's , Sienna, PWU, Sta. Isabel). Siyempre hindi rin naman papahuli ang mga coeds natin from UP, UST, UE and FEU. As proof, you should be wearing her high school ring in your pinkie finger. 

If you remember all these things, you're history in great company and I dare say......... ......... HAPPY TO BE !!! : )

A Coastie, just a Coastie

58 Years Strong, Zack and Louise

By Thea Chavez

Wedding vows are a serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Yet more than half of all marriages end in a divorce. And let alone to surpass north of the 50 year mark is nothing short of miracle.

This is a love story between a New York Princess, Louise and her Filipino Sailor, Zack. “It would not work,” said the naysayer. Even if it did, other circumstances were stacked against them such as the lack of acceptance of interracial marriage, after all we’re talking about the 1960’s. Traveling to three different states and against all odds, Zack and Louise were able to find a courthouse in South Carolina that eventually married them on January 10, 1962.

Through the gamut of life and with each venture that takes them to different parts of the country from Alaska, Ohio, Hawaii and eventually settling down in California after raising three wonderful children, their love never fizzles. What made their marriage work while others have failed, you might wonder. The answer is surprising simple; love, commitment and respect they have for one another. They never take their love for granted and always are thankful for having each other in their lives. They make time for each other and are committed to spending time together. As a matter of fact, they have never spent a day apart from each other since he retired from the Coast Guard with a rank of Commander. They had differing view points, varying attitudes and belief systems, yet this loving couple respected each other’s opposing views and even found humor in their source of contention.

After trials and tribulations, Zack and Louise not only silenced the naysayers, they are catching up to even George and Barbara Bush. Zack truly believes that the woman of his life, who truly believed in him, was indeed his soulmate and his destiny.

Let’s all raise a toast to the perfect couple, Zack and Louise. May their love continue to flourish and happy 58 years Strong and Counting!

Love,
Thea Chavez and Family

-----
Thea is our daughter in-law, married to our son Carl

Growing big, contest-winning tomatoes in half-wine barrel containers – My Method

By Zack Chavez

Gardening in containers is a great way to grow tomatoes when you have limited space.  Using containers allows you to easily set up your plant with your choice of soil mix rather than in-ground gardening, and you won’t have to worry about underground pests that might want to feast on your plant roots.  The structure and limited space actually encourages upward growth that will give your plant maximum exposure to sunlight.  With the growing technique described here, you will be rewarded with delicious, large tomatoes at harvest time.

I use  half-wine barrels for my containers.  They give plenty of room for the roots to grow and they are easy to maintain.

Select your plant.  Choose a variety that is known for big fruit.  I grow Delicious and Big Zac varieties for my competition tomatoes.    I transplant my seedlings into the wine barrels during the first half of April.

 Prepare the container by drilling 10 ¼-inch holes in the bottom, then place 2 inches of gravel in the bottom for drainage.  Place the container in a location where it will get the maximum sun.  You will need at least 8 hours of sun a day.  Make sure the container is level and elevated from the ground by at least an inch.  Use bricks or 2x4’s to form a base for the container.

 Week 1 - Planting the seedlings.  Note - 1 plant per barrel

 

Week 10 - The plants are healthy

Mix your soil thoroughly with the following ingredients in a wheelbarrow before placing it in the container:

Sphagnum Peat Moss, 1.5 cu ft
Vermiculite, 1 cu ft
Sand, 1 60-lb bag
Wood Ash, 2 quarts
Compost, 1 cu ft
Lime, ¼ quart
Fertilizer, ¼ quart.   Use slow release granules, NPK = 5-6-5.

You should have approximately 13” of soil from the bottom of the container. Bury the plant deeper than they come in the pot, all the way up to a few top leaves.   Place a handful of fertilizer in the hole before planting.  Sprinkle a snail deterrent around your plant.   Stake your plants with a sturdy, non-pressure treated, 6’ high stake or a tomato cage.   The tomato cage must be at least 6 feet tall.  Be prepared to tie guy lines to the cage to keep the plant upright when it gets to be top-heavy.

This Big Zac is over 7 feet tall.

Watering

Water deeply and regularly while the plant is developing, about a half quart of water every two days.   If your soil mix and drainage are as recommended above, there is no chance that you will over-water.


Here’s my recommended watering schedule:

Weeks 1-2 ½ quart every 2 days
Weeks 3-4 ½ quart every day
Weeks 5 –6 1 quart every day
Weeks 7-10 1 gal every 2 days
Weeks 11-13 1 gal daily
Weeks 14 to end of season 2 gals daily

I have an automatic watering system.  I use a bubbler with an adjustable head to regulate water flow, fed from a ¼ inch tubing.  I am able to set the duration and frequency of the watering with a programmable timer that I purchased at our local Ace Hardware store.

Fertilizing

Fertilize your tomato plant with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food.  Feed  every 7 to 14 days during the growing season.  Follow directions on the package for dosage.  Side dress with one cup of slow release granule fertilizer (NPK 5-6-5) monthly.

Pruning Out the Suckers

Tomato suckers are the growth that appears in the crotch between the stem and a branch.  If left to grow, they will become another main stem with branches, flowers, fruit and more suckers of their own.   You may be setting more fruits if you let the suckers to grow, but if you are aiming for big fruits, get rid of the suckers.

Sucker Growth

Training Your Plant

While keeping suckers at bay, pick off all flower clusters until your main stem is roughly ¼ inch in diameter.  Once you have a nice thick stemmed plant stop pinching the flower clusters and let some go, but only one flower per cluster – pinch the rest. At this point when the tomatoes are now on the vine you should have one tomato per cluster.  Continue to pinch off the suckers.   Now all you have to do is wait for the tomatoes to ripen, then you can pick the biggest one for your winning tomato in the competition.

                                          Week 28 - It's harvest time!

The Final Chapter

By Dave Chavez

It’s been more than a year since we’ve made a post, titled “Looks Who’s Home”.  A lot has happened, so  here we go.

First, the tone of this entry.  Since we started this blog Dad has periodically brought up the subject of this final post.  “Do you think it’s going to have a happy ending?”, he’d ask, and we’d laugh.  I don’t think we’re the kind of family to set false expectations.  From us you won’t hear “Don’t worry, I’m sure everything is going to be okay”.  We’re a little more realistic:  “If the ending isn’t quite what you want, who gets your truck and the .45 semi-automatic?” (model 1911, US Govt Issue)

This story is a good one.  Mom and Dad are home now, both “cancer free”, settling back into their normal routines.  It’s about as simple as that.  It wasn’t easy at all.  But as they’ve lived their lives, they got through all of it without complaining, by not giving up, challenging the status quo and breaking the rules.  Remember, this is the couple who in 1962 drove from courthouse to courthouse, starting in Georgia, ending in South Carolina, to find a clerk who would look past the color difference in their skin and marry them.

Dad came home from the hospital skinny and weak, unsure if the surgeon had removed the tumor.   He had new things to manage:  16 weeks of chemo, colostomy bag, more surgery, and an air fryer.   In case you don’t remember, he was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, not allowed to eat and sipping only ice chips.  He had some long nights (without Fox News) dreaming the morning might include juice, or a few sips of clear broth.  Maybe someday he could enjoy a plate of spare ribs.  Against this commercial he was understandably defenseless.

Now home, he had to recover under the cloud of uncertainty of the surgical success.  Did they get it?  Do they need to go back in?  Had it spread?  Was it gone?

After he built up some weight and strength, Dr. Chai ordered a post surgical MRI.  The interpretation of that scan showed suspicious shadows.   A low point here.  None of us wanted to believe the report.  Dr. Chai showed us the images online, circling the whitish blurry shape.  “See?”  Well, how could we see?  None of us, including I presume Dr. Chai, had been trained to read MRI scans.   Maybe it was our skepticism, or maybe Dr. Chai didn’t believe it either, or maybe it was just good medical practice, but she referred us to two expert physicians in SF.  We’ll see what they had to say.  Good thing about two others, my Dad pointed out, was that with Dr. Chai we’d have three opinions–no chance for a tie.  Later Dad would say “doesn’t matter what they want, I get the final vote.”

So maybe he willed that blurry whitish thing away, or maybe it was nothing to worry about at all, or maybe it wasn’t anything more than scar tissue, but the other two Dr.s concluded there was nothing to worry about.  Their opinion:   no evidence of a tumor.

Since then Dad’s been through more tests just to make sure there’s no suspect activity.   Just the other day he had a routine followup visit and all looked good.   But the next day they asked him to come in for a CT scan — something in the bloodwork looked suspicious.  You can read about the CEA bloodtest, or if you are like Alexa, the details are amazingly available from memory.   It’s an indicator of cancer activity in the large intestine and rectum.

I called my Mom the other day about the results of the CT scan.  She told me Dr. Chai had just called to let them know that there was nothing to worry about.   Great news.  “Where’s Dad?”, I asked.  “Oh, he’s out at the property, shooting with his friends”.    He wasn’t waiting around for the test results.  He took the truck with his buddies, and went out to shoot his .45.

A few more thoughts

So much has been learned about cancer in the last 20 years.  Those advancements in understanding and treatment applied directly to my parents’ outcomes.   My Mom’s condition and treatment were almost routine.  Not very long ago they wouldn’t have known where to begin.

Here’s an interesting viewpoint:

Our bodies are producing cells by the millions every day, and once in a while a mistake is made.  Those cells are normally destroyed by mechanisms that are vigilantly looking for such mutations.  In that light the definition of cancer is somewhat arbitrary.   In reality, the processes are happening all the time.