This entry is going to come before the Jan 29-Feb 10 entries. Talk about chronology. Hehehe!
Anyhow, it’s something I wanted to capture before the feeling passed me by, or before the numerous events happen before I can blog again when I get home.
I’d been looking forward to this day since I had gotten to the States. Perhaps not as much as Merryl, who’s on her first foreign business trip, to the US at that, but I had wanted to do my business, do my shopping and packing, and get home aboard the February 11, 9 pm flight.
It didn’t help my homesickness one bit when Hestia called me at around 530 in the morning to have Annika talk to me. Just wanted to get everything done and get on the plane and go home. In a few hours, I will be able to hug and kiss my 1st Princess, kiss my 2nd Princess through her Mommy’s tummy, and hug and kiss my Queen.
As I had gone through packing the past days, I waxed nostalgic a bit. I said goodbye to my room, while I was checking each nook and cranny for possibly something that could’ve been left behind. And I said thank you to it – for being in the right position that allowed me to look outside and see the Malibu if it was being hit or robbed (not that that’s common here), that allowed me to descend 2 flights of stairs and exit the side door with convenience to drop off my laptop and other stuff in the morning, that provided me with comfort and sleep for the last 3 weeks. Thanks 239.
I eventually said goodbye to the Malibu, and thanked it for 2 weeks of driving comfort and satisfaction. The heated seats, which I never had a use for in tropical Manila, worked like a charm on the many cold California mornings. And I’m happy that Karen again allowed another baton transfer – first from Junjun to me – then from me to Rain. Saya! Sure trumps the Focus. Hahaha!
And I’m saying goodbye to the States now.
I’m in the PAL lounge as I type this. Had a wonderful ride via Blacktie Limo Service. I have to apologize to my driver though, as I did not have enough change for both him and the airport porter, who he suggested should help with my 2 balikbayan boxes and 2 large luggages. Weird though, suddenly my hook-type portable scale is accurate. Hmmm…
This is probably my first US trip which I conclude with mixed emotions. The previous ones (1987, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2006) were ending vacations. This one was business with weekends.
I will miss the drives, long and short, on the wonderful long and wide and relatively well-paved roads. I will miss the driving partner – the Malibu, although the Jetta was a good buddy, too. I will miss the order on the roads, and the cold weather.
But I will not miss the lonely nights at the hotel. And after this long flight, I won’t have another lonely night for a time.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Of Tracy Lords and Mang Francisco
The drive to Tracy is for the most part via the 680 and the 580. (Tama nga ba?) It’s the interchanges that I watch out for, coz that’s where it’ll be hard to make up for lost ground. Even if Garmin can get me out of the mess, I'd just like to avoid it altogether.
I took almost an hour to get to Bey’s house. Trip should’ve been shorter, but there was traffic nearing Tracy. Slowed to a crawl on all lanes but the rightmost one. I was trying to find out what happened.
Apparently, it was coz of the fog. But visibility wasn’t so bad, coz you could see 5-6 cars ahead. So when I got the chance, I got into the rightmost lane and sped off, probably with a lot of other Filipinos, too. Hehehe!
I call Bey when I get to his house, coz I’m confused. I know he has a Maxima and an X5, but why is there a Ford Focus wagon parked outside? He comes out and moves it out to the street. Nahiya naman ako. Kay mother in law daw yun. Hehehe!
We enter his house and he takes my bag to the 2nd floor guest room. I meet Ma-am, Wesley and Nate. The boys are running around freely at the 2nd floor. Cool. Nice to have big space for kids to do that.
There are covers on the door knobs - so the boys don’t open them and then get locked inside - and a door by the stairs that stops them from going down. I even have a hard time opening it, so it's pretty safe. Hehehe!
We start eating Filipino food, prepared by Ma’am’s Mom. Thank you po, Tita! Felt like home.
Then we started drinking. We decided to finish the bottle of Glenlivet that Bey and Dun opened. It was about 80% full. But we finished it that night. Hehehe!
Anyhow, Bey decided to call Dun. And play a joke on him. The joke eventually was on Bey, coz Dun’s GSM signal was way bad and he couldn’t hear us. Sayang laway at sayang load.
Bey then decided to play another joke but on Hestia this time. With his fully modulated voice, he calls and looks for ‘Hestia Axalan’ and then he introduces himself as a call center survey guy for Medela Products Company. Wahaha! Hestia catches him after a few exchanges.
After talking to Bey, Ma-am and myself, Hestia eventually had to put the phone down so we continued with Glen. While we were finishing him off, we moved over to the comfier sofa and watched the Women’s Finals of the Australian open.
Ok TV ni Bey, 50 plus inch tv na may ‘privacy feature’. You have to be right in front of it to see what’s on. If you’re only in the periphery, there’s nothing you can see. Hahaha! Didn't know Samsung made them that way.
As we finish Glen, Bey puts a 6 pack of beer in the fridge. Well wadya know? It’s San Mig Light. Hahaha! I was kidding him – that the only difference between being in the US and in the Philippines with the drinking session we had was the lack of flies and heat. Hahaha!
I doze off toward the 3rd set, and wake up when Clijsters wins it. Bey on the other hand heads for Lala land while they’re awarding the winners. Hehehe! I wake him up, and we turn in. Sleepy but not drunk. Hehehe! Sarap! Miss the Prayles.
I took almost an hour to get to Bey’s house. Trip should’ve been shorter, but there was traffic nearing Tracy. Slowed to a crawl on all lanes but the rightmost one. I was trying to find out what happened.
Apparently, it was coz of the fog. But visibility wasn’t so bad, coz you could see 5-6 cars ahead. So when I got the chance, I got into the rightmost lane and sped off, probably with a lot of other Filipinos, too. Hehehe!
I call Bey when I get to his house, coz I’m confused. I know he has a Maxima and an X5, but why is there a Ford Focus wagon parked outside? He comes out and moves it out to the street. Nahiya naman ako. Kay mother in law daw yun. Hehehe!
We enter his house and he takes my bag to the 2nd floor guest room. I meet Ma-am, Wesley and Nate. The boys are running around freely at the 2nd floor. Cool. Nice to have big space for kids to do that.
There are covers on the door knobs - so the boys don’t open them and then get locked inside - and a door by the stairs that stops them from going down. I even have a hard time opening it, so it's pretty safe. Hehehe!
We start eating Filipino food, prepared by Ma’am’s Mom. Thank you po, Tita! Felt like home.
Then we started drinking. We decided to finish the bottle of Glenlivet that Bey and Dun opened. It was about 80% full. But we finished it that night. Hehehe!
Anyhow, Bey decided to call Dun. And play a joke on him. The joke eventually was on Bey, coz Dun’s GSM signal was way bad and he couldn’t hear us. Sayang laway at sayang load.
Bey then decided to play another joke but on Hestia this time. With his fully modulated voice, he calls and looks for ‘Hestia Axalan’ and then he introduces himself as a call center survey guy for Medela Products Company. Wahaha! Hestia catches him after a few exchanges.
After talking to Bey, Ma-am and myself, Hestia eventually had to put the phone down so we continued with Glen. While we were finishing him off, we moved over to the comfier sofa and watched the Women’s Finals of the Australian open.
Ok TV ni Bey, 50 plus inch tv na may ‘privacy feature’. You have to be right in front of it to see what’s on. If you’re only in the periphery, there’s nothing you can see. Hahaha! Didn't know Samsung made them that way.
As we finish Glen, Bey puts a 6 pack of beer in the fridge. Well wadya know? It’s San Mig Light. Hahaha! I was kidding him – that the only difference between being in the US and in the Philippines with the drinking session we had was the lack of flies and heat. Hahaha!
I doze off toward the 3rd set, and wake up when Clijsters wins it. Bey on the other hand heads for Lala land while they’re awarding the winners. Hehehe! I wake him up, and we turn in. Sleepy but not drunk. Hehehe! Sarap! Miss the Prayles.
Jan 28 – Friday. Fast and Furious!
I set the alarm for 530am, as usual. When it rings, I look to the other clock in the room, see it’s 530 indeed, and turn off my phone’s alarm.
Here’s the killer part. When I open my eyes again, it’s 8 friggin 30 already!!! Holysh1t! And I have a 9am meeting!
So I rush off to the bathroom, take a quick shower (what can I say, I’m Filipino. Kahit malamig, Kelangan maligo.), dress up and haul @$$ to the office. Jetta, don't fail me now!
Luckily, I’m right on time. 9 am Hahaha! Meeting was supposed to be from 9-12, with a continuation if needed at 1. Junjun comes by at around 1130 to remind me about his favor - for me to meet him at the Sun Valley mall so we could return his car and I could drive him back home. I tell him, maybe 1-130 is a good time.
I cancel the lunch with Bey at 12, coz it seems Balaji and Albert have no plans of relenting at our meeting. Hehehe! We finish, thankfully, at 1 pm. Balaji has to go to an outside appointment, and Albert is asking where to eat. I told him, I gotta step out first.
I rush over to the Mall, get there at around 115 pm, and see Junjun waiting outside the Avis office. He says I’m right on time coz no one’s inside yet. I come up with this idea: what if I traded the Jetta for his Malibu, which he praises to high heavens for its features, comfy ride, heated seats, XM radio, and less thirst compared to the Jetta, all for the same price?
As we walk to the car to head for the gas station, the Avis lady arrives. She’s Karen, a Filipina who Junjun has met previously. I ask her if I could trade the Jetta for the Malibu. She agrees, and immediately asks me about the mileage. I said, I’d check the mileage first, and gas it up, since I only came up with the idea 5 mins prior.
So we gas up at the nearby Chevron, where I find out it’s different here now. You’d have to pay first. The last time out, in 2006, you could just swipe your card first, gas up and then get your receipt. Now, even if you’re paying with a card, you’d still have to pay a random, estimated amount first then pump after. Oh well.
Back at Avis, I get the Malibu transferred to me. Yahoo, I think. We engage Karen in some banter about the Philippines and coming home. When she’s done processing the papers, I sign them, and we’re on our way.
Yes, the Malibu indeed feels like a bigger car. Bigger than Buzz. The ride is comfy, but not as sharp as the Jetta. Power comes earlier, I suppose thanks to the v6, but it’s not a swift kick, coz of the vehicle’s weight.
I bring Junjun back to the hotel, where we find his limo waiting for him already. (Note to self, be ready early when you go home, they’re punctual and you don’t want to keep them waiting.) I then head back to the office, and have some time to appreciate the Malibu alone. Its rims remind me of the stockers on the Camry. Hehehe! And its size will be just right when Rain, Shirley and JM arrive. Imagine us in the Jetta. Hahaha!
I work till I get hungry, which is about 4. I IM Bey and ask him for food. He pops in a little later, with some goldilocks polvoron. Hehehe! And he’s the one from here. But more on that later.
Bey takes a walk with me so we could buy food. He suggests Jollibee at Seafood City. I look at him and blurt out, “You serious?” So we drive over to a Mexican place a few miles away to get a burrito. He orders it for me and pays for it. Thanks Bey. And then we head back to the office, where I devour it at the office.
Inom! Bey suggests. So I say why not at my hotel. He declines. Ma-am would kill him. Hahaha! I can imagine if the situation were reversed. Hestia would have my hide.
So he counter-offers. Why not just drive over to Tracy and spend the night with him and his family. Why not?
I call Hestia to tell her about it, and she encourages me to do so. It’s about 30 miles or so to Tracy, if I remember right, or about an hour. Garmin knew where to go, so I was confident I’d find it.
Bey calls me back to ask about the plan. I say, it’s a go! I’d have to go back to the hotel, unload on my throne, pack, and then get going. So I told him to go ahead and I’d follow. It sure beats having to convoy all throughout.
I also call our friend, Gigi, who I’ve met once, in 2006, and who also lives in Tracy. Junjun and I were supposed to treat her to dinner last Thursday, but she declined coz she had a prior appointment. She’s pleasantly surprised to get the call, but happy to meet up the next day at lunch.
Here’s the killer part. When I open my eyes again, it’s 8 friggin 30 already!!! Holysh1t! And I have a 9am meeting!
So I rush off to the bathroom, take a quick shower (what can I say, I’m Filipino. Kahit malamig, Kelangan maligo.), dress up and haul @$$ to the office. Jetta, don't fail me now!
Luckily, I’m right on time. 9 am Hahaha! Meeting was supposed to be from 9-12, with a continuation if needed at 1. Junjun comes by at around 1130 to remind me about his favor - for me to meet him at the Sun Valley mall so we could return his car and I could drive him back home. I tell him, maybe 1-130 is a good time.
I cancel the lunch with Bey at 12, coz it seems Balaji and Albert have no plans of relenting at our meeting. Hehehe! We finish, thankfully, at 1 pm. Balaji has to go to an outside appointment, and Albert is asking where to eat. I told him, I gotta step out first.
I rush over to the Mall, get there at around 115 pm, and see Junjun waiting outside the Avis office. He says I’m right on time coz no one’s inside yet. I come up with this idea: what if I traded the Jetta for his Malibu, which he praises to high heavens for its features, comfy ride, heated seats, XM radio, and less thirst compared to the Jetta, all for the same price?
As we walk to the car to head for the gas station, the Avis lady arrives. She’s Karen, a Filipina who Junjun has met previously. I ask her if I could trade the Jetta for the Malibu. She agrees, and immediately asks me about the mileage. I said, I’d check the mileage first, and gas it up, since I only came up with the idea 5 mins prior.
So we gas up at the nearby Chevron, where I find out it’s different here now. You’d have to pay first. The last time out, in 2006, you could just swipe your card first, gas up and then get your receipt. Now, even if you’re paying with a card, you’d still have to pay a random, estimated amount first then pump after. Oh well.
Back at Avis, I get the Malibu transferred to me. Yahoo, I think. We engage Karen in some banter about the Philippines and coming home. When she’s done processing the papers, I sign them, and we’re on our way.
Yes, the Malibu indeed feels like a bigger car. Bigger than Buzz. The ride is comfy, but not as sharp as the Jetta. Power comes earlier, I suppose thanks to the v6, but it’s not a swift kick, coz of the vehicle’s weight.
I bring Junjun back to the hotel, where we find his limo waiting for him already. (Note to self, be ready early when you go home, they’re punctual and you don’t want to keep them waiting.) I then head back to the office, and have some time to appreciate the Malibu alone. Its rims remind me of the stockers on the Camry. Hehehe! And its size will be just right when Rain, Shirley and JM arrive. Imagine us in the Jetta. Hahaha!
I work till I get hungry, which is about 4. I IM Bey and ask him for food. He pops in a little later, with some goldilocks polvoron. Hehehe! And he’s the one from here. But more on that later.
Bey takes a walk with me so we could buy food. He suggests Jollibee at Seafood City. I look at him and blurt out, “You serious?” So we drive over to a Mexican place a few miles away to get a burrito. He orders it for me and pays for it. Thanks Bey. And then we head back to the office, where I devour it at the office.
Inom! Bey suggests. So I say why not at my hotel. He declines. Ma-am would kill him. Hahaha! I can imagine if the situation were reversed. Hestia would have my hide.
So he counter-offers. Why not just drive over to Tracy and spend the night with him and his family. Why not?
I call Hestia to tell her about it, and she encourages me to do so. It’s about 30 miles or so to Tracy, if I remember right, or about an hour. Garmin knew where to go, so I was confident I’d find it.
Bey calls me back to ask about the plan. I say, it’s a go! I’d have to go back to the hotel, unload on my throne, pack, and then get going. So I told him to go ahead and I’d follow. It sure beats having to convoy all throughout.
I also call our friend, Gigi, who I’ve met once, in 2006, and who also lives in Tracy. Junjun and I were supposed to treat her to dinner last Thursday, but she declined coz she had a prior appointment. She’s pleasantly surprised to get the call, but happy to meet up the next day at lunch.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Jan 27 – Thursday. Downed by the Wings!
I woke up with a tummy ache. Must’ve eaten too many chicken wings. Grrr! I learn later at breakfast that Junjun had the same tummy problem. Must’ve been a bad combo of too many wings and whatever it was made with that didn’t sit well with us both. Oh bother!
Brought my “Point and Shoot” camera to work. There was a team lunch then, so I knew I had to take a few pics which I could send back to the team at home. Plus, the only work the camera did so far was take in-room pix. Insulting for that type of a camera.
Took some pics of Paul doing something I can’t recall in our room. I’m sure it was fixing his A/C adaptor, but it sure looked like something else. Like dancing. Hehehe!
He takes interest in the 24-70L. Saying he had to leave his Nikon D60 at home coz his daughter was going to use it. And then he curses coz it’s his f@#$%#@n camera anyway. Oh well. Daughters’ power of Daddys. Gotta watch out for Annika and Sachi.
We then have a meeting that extends to our earlier scheduled lunch out, at which we’re besieged by our teammates, calling us out to have lunch already. Hehehe!
We eat at Claim Jumper. And with the queasy tummy, I go for a cobb salad and soup, and pass on the heavier meal. (i.e. ribs, etc.) Plus these guys all went for salads, so I figured, let’s stay with them.
Pete picks up the tab – coz he’s got the highest pay grade among us, which points to him as the guy who should really pay, hehe – plus coz Paul keeps on ribbing him about it. When I thank him, he says, Thanks to Chevron. Hahaha! True!
We go back and have more marathon meetings. But at the day’s end, Pete and Kathy drop by our office. They’re not coming to work the day after, coz they fly out to New York in the morning. Ah New York, my favorite US city. Maybe not now, coz of the snow. Hehehe! San Francisco’s just right now. Balimbing!
Before I drive to the hotel, I cross the boulevard and head over to Seafood City, well, to a store in it - Atlas couriers - to buy a box. You open the door, step in, and get the greeting “Ano yun?” Feels like home already. Hahaha!
I buy a 20x20 box, coz the lady says they usually don’t allow the bigger box as luggage. Shipping is fine. I still had some illusions I could get more luggage allowance.
I head on home, and there was pizza! Perfect! So I tape up the box, shove the hangers in, and sign off for the night.
Brought my “Point and Shoot” camera to work. There was a team lunch then, so I knew I had to take a few pics which I could send back to the team at home. Plus, the only work the camera did so far was take in-room pix. Insulting for that type of a camera.
Took some pics of Paul doing something I can’t recall in our room. I’m sure it was fixing his A/C adaptor, but it sure looked like something else. Like dancing. Hehehe!
He takes interest in the 24-70L. Saying he had to leave his Nikon D60 at home coz his daughter was going to use it. And then he curses coz it’s his f@#$%#@n camera anyway. Oh well. Daughters’ power of Daddys. Gotta watch out for Annika and Sachi.
We then have a meeting that extends to our earlier scheduled lunch out, at which we’re besieged by our teammates, calling us out to have lunch already. Hehehe!
We eat at Claim Jumper. And with the queasy tummy, I go for a cobb salad and soup, and pass on the heavier meal. (i.e. ribs, etc.) Plus these guys all went for salads, so I figured, let’s stay with them.
Pete picks up the tab – coz he’s got the highest pay grade among us, which points to him as the guy who should really pay, hehe – plus coz Paul keeps on ribbing him about it. When I thank him, he says, Thanks to Chevron. Hahaha! True!
We go back and have more marathon meetings. But at the day’s end, Pete and Kathy drop by our office. They’re not coming to work the day after, coz they fly out to New York in the morning. Ah New York, my favorite US city. Maybe not now, coz of the snow. Hehehe! San Francisco’s just right now. Balimbing!
Before I drive to the hotel, I cross the boulevard and head over to Seafood City, well, to a store in it - Atlas couriers - to buy a box. You open the door, step in, and get the greeting “Ano yun?” Feels like home already. Hahaha!
I buy a 20x20 box, coz the lady says they usually don’t allow the bigger box as luggage. Shipping is fine. I still had some illusions I could get more luggage allowance.
I head on home, and there was pizza! Perfect! So I tape up the box, shove the hangers in, and sign off for the night.
Wednesday: Jan 26, Chicken Wings Day
I slept a little better the night before. Woke up at the usual horrible 230 am, but at least the next was 530 am already. Nice. What was also nice was that I didn’t feel sleepy at the office today. But I passed on lunch again. Was looking forward to making social hour again for free dinner. Two meals a day, I figured, wouldn’t be so bad.
The Trivia lady that Paul was talking about came by. She’d lead stretchbreaks and dish out some trivia while she was at it. I was no match for the usual song trivia, coz either I did not totally know the songs she was referring to, or I’d not know their singers or something. Or if I did know them, I could not reply as fast as the other guys who were actually alive when the songs were first played or were played during their heyday. Hehehe!
But, I’m glad to say that I did get the trickier or less generic trivia that no one could answer, which surprised the whole team and Trivia Lady. Hehehe! The questions I got were:
1) Q: What was Stitch (the alien in Lilo and Stitch)’s code number
A: 626. Thanks Annika. Hehehe!
2) Q: Who is Lilo's sister
A: Missed this though. Tsk! Tsk! It was Nani, by the way.
3) Q: Who was Speedy Gonzales’s cousin
A: And without batting an eyelash and skipping a beat, I replied, Slowpoke Rodriguez.
They were shocked! Thanks Bugs Bunny, and the channel that used to show the Looney Tunes at 1130 am every Saturday. Thanks to Dad that I’d make it back in time to watch it.
4) Q: What were The Chipmunks’ names, last names and father’s name
A: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore Seville. Dad's name was Dave.
Thanks to Annika, but definitely a big thanks to the Chipmunks’ vinyl records Mom would play during the Christmas season (and even after).
Thought she’d ask who the Chippette’s were. Now Aside from Eleanor and Brittney, I’m stumped. Hehehe!
Social hour that night had spicy chicken wings. Yahoo!
The Trivia lady that Paul was talking about came by. She’d lead stretchbreaks and dish out some trivia while she was at it. I was no match for the usual song trivia, coz either I did not totally know the songs she was referring to, or I’d not know their singers or something. Or if I did know them, I could not reply as fast as the other guys who were actually alive when the songs were first played or were played during their heyday. Hehehe!
But, I’m glad to say that I did get the trickier or less generic trivia that no one could answer, which surprised the whole team and Trivia Lady. Hehehe! The questions I got were:
1) Q: What was Stitch (the alien in Lilo and Stitch)’s code number
A: 626. Thanks Annika. Hehehe!
2) Q: Who is Lilo's sister
A: Missed this though. Tsk! Tsk! It was Nani, by the way.
3) Q: Who was Speedy Gonzales’s cousin
A: And without batting an eyelash and skipping a beat, I replied, Slowpoke Rodriguez.
They were shocked! Thanks Bugs Bunny, and the channel that used to show the Looney Tunes at 1130 am every Saturday. Thanks to Dad that I’d make it back in time to watch it.
4) Q: What were The Chipmunks’ names, last names and father’s name
A: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore Seville. Dad's name was Dave.
Thanks to Annika, but definitely a big thanks to the Chipmunks’ vinyl records Mom would play during the Christmas season (and even after).
Thought she’d ask who the Chippette’s were. Now Aside from Eleanor and Brittney, I’m stumped. Hehehe!
Social hour that night had spicy chicken wings. Yahoo!
Work Day 2: January 25
Morning number 2 and I'm still jetlagged! Woke up 3 times in the morning again. No surprise. Thing is, when I slept at 11, and then woke up, I felt good and refreshed feeling it was already 530. Only to find out it was only 230. Grrr!
Called in for our weekly team meeting at 6 am. Come to think of it, I was the only one who really needed the 6 am call, but since I was in Concord, and Shirley was on Vik's team, there was no need for a 6 am call. So it was eventually moved to 8 am.
Ate breakfast alone, since Junjun was not there anymore. By the time I got down, he was probably in San Ramon already. After eating, I drove off to the office, and missed a turn, so I passed a different route. It was a longer one, with more stops. Good thing it was an opposite route on Diamond boulevard, so there was a side road and entrance I could turn to and enter at.
Was really sleepy in the morning, so I passed on lunch and just slept in the room. That was refreshing. And thankfully Paul stepped out for lunch, or he'd have to deal with an hour's worth of loud snoring. Hehehe!
Got home in time for social hour and had some snacks and a few drinks with Junjun. Monna came by to pick us up. We accompanied her to Ross so she could buy some luggage. Her’s gave up on her, so it was time to retire it.
Bought some cheapo lotion at Ross. It smelled ok, but didn’t help that much, coz I could still write ‘DRY’ on my arms and legs. Tsk tsk! I'll just take it home and make it someone's pasalubong. Hehehe!
Hestia sent a list for Michael’s arts and crafts, so Junjun and I started walking to Michael's from Ross, coz Monna left us already as she had to drive back to San Ramon and pack for she was leaving for Manila with Dave the next night.
At Michael's, not being the creative guys, we did take some time finding what was on the list. Needed help from the friendly in-store ladies, which we got. It's good to know they know everything they're selling, which should be the case for retail establishments.
Getting the punchers, we walked over to Bed Bath and Beyond for Hestia’s slimline hangers. Joseph talked to me about them, but then said Costco wasn’t selling them as often as before, so they were still waiting for the next sale.
These hangers were pretty bulky if you load them in their as-is box. I eventually learned, as is, only 3 boxes could fit a balikbayan box. And Hestia wanted 5-6 boxes. Oh boy, I figured. Bought only 2, coz I had only 2 hands. Will be back.
Called in for our weekly team meeting at 6 am. Come to think of it, I was the only one who really needed the 6 am call, but since I was in Concord, and Shirley was on Vik's team, there was no need for a 6 am call. So it was eventually moved to 8 am.
Ate breakfast alone, since Junjun was not there anymore. By the time I got down, he was probably in San Ramon already. After eating, I drove off to the office, and missed a turn, so I passed a different route. It was a longer one, with more stops. Good thing it was an opposite route on Diamond boulevard, so there was a side road and entrance I could turn to and enter at.
Was really sleepy in the morning, so I passed on lunch and just slept in the room. That was refreshing. And thankfully Paul stepped out for lunch, or he'd have to deal with an hour's worth of loud snoring. Hehehe!
Got home in time for social hour and had some snacks and a few drinks with Junjun. Monna came by to pick us up. We accompanied her to Ross so she could buy some luggage. Her’s gave up on her, so it was time to retire it.
Bought some cheapo lotion at Ross. It smelled ok, but didn’t help that much, coz I could still write ‘DRY’ on my arms and legs. Tsk tsk! I'll just take it home and make it someone's pasalubong. Hehehe!
Hestia sent a list for Michael’s arts and crafts, so Junjun and I started walking to Michael's from Ross, coz Monna left us already as she had to drive back to San Ramon and pack for she was leaving for Manila with Dave the next night.
At Michael's, not being the creative guys, we did take some time finding what was on the list. Needed help from the friendly in-store ladies, which we got. It's good to know they know everything they're selling, which should be the case for retail establishments.
Getting the punchers, we walked over to Bed Bath and Beyond for Hestia’s slimline hangers. Joseph talked to me about them, but then said Costco wasn’t selling them as often as before, so they were still waiting for the next sale.
These hangers were pretty bulky if you load them in their as-is box. I eventually learned, as is, only 3 boxes could fit a balikbayan box. And Hestia wanted 5-6 boxes. Oh boy, I figured. Bought only 2, coz I had only 2 hands. Will be back.
LSsS: Little Wonders and Home (Part 2)
When this song first came out, I thought it would be something that Hestia could dedicate to me. She was abroad often then, and I felt she did want to come home and be with me for good (hey, no joke, she did say that once upon a time) or at least hoped we could be together, even if elsewhere.
I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.
Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.
The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.
So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.
Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.
They say Chris Daughtry wrote this for his wife. His stint on AI pulled him away from his home town to get to Hollywood and lead a career as a recording artist.
I used to think it could also work for Hestia, since she's a victim of her success professionally. And despite her efforts to want to be stationed locally so she could be at home and within easy reach of Annika, many people see her as someone else, or someone wanting something else.
As for me, this hit me the most:
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.
Hestia, I haven't been the perfect husband for you and the perfect father for Annika. But I thank you deeply for always having the love, keeping the faith and for always giving me another try. How many tries it will take, I don't know, but I sure hope to have learned something from each one.
Didn't think you'd cry when I left last week. But I'm pleasantly surprised you did.
I love you very much.
I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.
Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.
The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.
So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.
Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.
They say Chris Daughtry wrote this for his wife. His stint on AI pulled him away from his home town to get to Hollywood and lead a career as a recording artist.
I used to think it could also work for Hestia, since she's a victim of her success professionally. And despite her efforts to want to be stationed locally so she could be at home and within easy reach of Annika, many people see her as someone else, or someone wanting something else.
As for me, this hit me the most:
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.
Hestia, I haven't been the perfect husband for you and the perfect father for Annika. But I thank you deeply for always having the love, keeping the faith and for always giving me another try. How many tries it will take, I don't know, but I sure hope to have learned something from each one.
Didn't think you'd cry when I left last week. But I'm pleasantly surprised you did.
I love you very much.
LSsS: Little Wonders and Home
Yesterday, February 3, was another headphones and music day, at least in the morning.
And so, yet again, I stumbled upon some older songs in my Music Library, and checked their lyrics. Tear-jerking, to me at least, again.
let it go
let it roll right off your shoulder
don't you know
the hardest part is over
let it in,
let your clarity define you
in the end
we will only just remember how it feels
our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain
let it slide,
let your troubles fall behind you
let it shine
until you feel it all around you
and i don't mind
if it's me you need to turn to
we'll get by,
it's the heart that really matters in the end
our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain
all of my regret
will wash away some how
but i can not forget
the way i feel right now
in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away
but these small hours
these small hours, still remain...
Little Wonders reminds me of when Hestia was pregnant with Annika. She was at home, not feeling well. When I got home, I caught the middle to last part of the movie, hence my many questions on who was who and what was what, and then the song played. And I was moved. Almost to tears.
So we watched it again, me more intently. Everytime that song plays, I'm reminded of dear Annika (Baci at the time while in Hestia's tummy). She's our Little Wonder.
And while I'm away and looking at the many pictures I've taken of her since birth and as she grew up, I'm made to recall and cherish those little moments behind those pictures. Those little things that make you want to fly back home in a heartbeat and just hug her.
Soon, they'll be Little Wonders.
And so, yet again, I stumbled upon some older songs in my Music Library, and checked their lyrics. Tear-jerking, to me at least, again.
let it go
let it roll right off your shoulder
don't you know
the hardest part is over
let it in,
let your clarity define you
in the end
we will only just remember how it feels
our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain
let it slide,
let your troubles fall behind you
let it shine
until you feel it all around you
and i don't mind
if it's me you need to turn to
we'll get by,
it's the heart that really matters in the end
our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain
all of my regret
will wash away some how
but i can not forget
the way i feel right now
in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away
but these small hours
these small hours, still remain...
Little Wonders reminds me of when Hestia was pregnant with Annika. She was at home, not feeling well. When I got home, I caught the middle to last part of the movie, hence my many questions on who was who and what was what, and then the song played. And I was moved. Almost to tears.
So we watched it again, me more intently. Everytime that song plays, I'm reminded of dear Annika (Baci at the time while in Hestia's tummy). She's our Little Wonder.
And while I'm away and looking at the many pictures I've taken of her since birth and as she grew up, I'm made to recall and cherish those little moments behind those pictures. Those little things that make you want to fly back home in a heartbeat and just hug her.
Soon, they'll be Little Wonders.
The Work Week Begins: Day 1, Jan 24.
I’m not sure if I can keep up this daily blog routine coz it’s already Friday, February 4, and I’m trying to recall stuff from memory. Anyhow I’ll see what I can do.
Just like many folks who fly from East to West, I was jetlagged. I recall my last trip in 2006, in which I took the same PAL flight back in time, I had little time to feel the jetlag – coz Hestia and I immediately flew to Orlando, and so my otherwise screwed up body clock just got confused all the more… but for the better, coz Orlando was about 12-13 hours behind Manila, and that was just a half day to deal with. Plus, we hit the theme parks so literally, with the adrenaline rush and excitement, no time to be tired. (Almost 5 years of youth had an advantage over the currently older me. Hehehe!)
Anyhow, back to the jetlag. I woke up at 130, 330, 430 and, mercifully 530 am. I guess the jetlag and the first day at work meeting everyone for the first time jitters were eating at me. We all have our first days. Hehehe!
After dressing up, had breakfast with Junjun. He was giving me some of his insights on the trip and the office and the hotel. Some of them I could not relate to… yet. Breakfast was typical Western style food. Not much, compared to 5 star hotel breakfasts, but hey, this was good enough plus it was free. Per diem still intact. Hehehe! Just reminded me of high school though, “Clean As You Go.”
Couldn’t wait for the 835 am shuttle, so I got on a cab and went to the Sun Valley Mall at 8 am. Spent about $10 for a 35 minute headstart. I stopped converting to our local currency on some things, coz what’s the use, right?
Shopping was not on the agenda at 800 am. It was Avis car rental that was. I was getting my rental so that I could leave the office when I needed to and not be tied down by the shuttle, which transports some of my Filipino colleagues to and from the hotel. I didn’t know what the working hours were, and how late I’d have to work. Plus I’m confident my little buddy named Garmin would get me places safely.
I was hoping for something nice. Sonata-ish. Sure the Sonata is not in the compact car level, but hey, from stories I’ve heard from colleagues who’ve worked in California, it’s the luck of the draw – SUVs, mid-size cars, sports cars, and that’s for the same compact rate.
Anyhow, ended up getting a VW Jetta. Despite my one-liner comment trying to get the blue Sonata beside it, I didn’t. The lady at the desk said that I was lucky with the Jetta already. Really? I said to myself. Oh well, let’s get it on!
Did a walk around first, then got inside. (Well, adjusted the seats first coz it was too cramped, before I got inside.) Got the GPS up and running first, then familiarized myself with the basic stuff before pulling out of the slot. As I drove it, I realized that it was pretty potent. You just need to get on the gas for the revs to rise, and that’s where you’ll feel the kick. No instantaneous turbo diesel power. Reminds me of the Camry’s power delivery with the Altis’s ride and handling, coz it can take curves pretty well. Anyhow, much of this observation did not happen on the way to work. Hehehe!
I have no pictures of the Jetta though. And I’ll explain why, eventually.
Now off to work. GPS gets me on Diamond blvd. But apparently, it’s only as smart as you plot it out to be. I plotted the corner of the property (at least the one that’s mentioned in the official address), and not the entrance, so I drove past the entrance. In my fear of a sudden stop causing an accident, I drove by and just looked for a side entrance somewhere. No such thing at the other end of the building, so I made a U-turn at a side street.
Called my boss to ask where I was supposed to be parking, and then going when I got to the building. The Smart badge is much smarter here than back home. There, for a visitor, you’d need to get additional access rights to get in to any floor. Here, as I learned from the security guard on duty, just tap it and go on your way. Nice.
I head off to my boss’s office, we shake hands, exchange some pleasantries, and he introduces me to the guys (and gals) on the floor. And I meet my business analyst, a chatty Irish man, in whose office I will be and am spending my office hours while here. I just love the way people from the UK talk about and describe things. The American description would already help you identify what it is he's talking to you about, but the UK description just makes it extra flowery with the wit and sarcasm. Perfect, my kind of talk. That’s why I like 5th Gear, and Top Gear, and why talking to Paul was very interesting. Sure it was about work mostly, but he’s a character, so it’s not business-like all the time. If he were Filipino, he’d be a prayle. (Note to self: Gotta research for an Irish friar I can nickname him after.)
Work was work. And it still is today. Went out for lunch with some very accommodating teammates -- 2 New Yorkers, but who're probably more West coast based by their insights, and Paul. They were all from the business, hence I did not know the people they were talking about, but I was sure these guys (talking, and who they were talking about) were a helluva lot of times above my pay scale grade. But no matter, they were fun to talk to, and they kept me in the conversation.
Got home about 10 minutes past the social hour (and a half, actually, coz it was from 530 to 7) so no more free food and drinks for me. Tsk tsk! Wasn’t that famished to go out and check on food options, so I went to my room and became Tony Stark. Hehehe! Happy that I didn’t burn anything or cause irreparable damage. Happier when Junjun gave me a comment, a day or two after, that I did a good job being...
the Iron Man.
Just like many folks who fly from East to West, I was jetlagged. I recall my last trip in 2006, in which I took the same PAL flight back in time, I had little time to feel the jetlag – coz Hestia and I immediately flew to Orlando, and so my otherwise screwed up body clock just got confused all the more… but for the better, coz Orlando was about 12-13 hours behind Manila, and that was just a half day to deal with. Plus, we hit the theme parks so literally, with the adrenaline rush and excitement, no time to be tired. (Almost 5 years of youth had an advantage over the currently older me. Hehehe!)
Anyhow, back to the jetlag. I woke up at 130, 330, 430 and, mercifully 530 am. I guess the jetlag and the first day at work meeting everyone for the first time jitters were eating at me. We all have our first days. Hehehe!
After dressing up, had breakfast with Junjun. He was giving me some of his insights on the trip and the office and the hotel. Some of them I could not relate to… yet. Breakfast was typical Western style food. Not much, compared to 5 star hotel breakfasts, but hey, this was good enough plus it was free. Per diem still intact. Hehehe! Just reminded me of high school though, “Clean As You Go.”
Couldn’t wait for the 835 am shuttle, so I got on a cab and went to the Sun Valley Mall at 8 am. Spent about $10 for a 35 minute headstart. I stopped converting to our local currency on some things, coz what’s the use, right?
Shopping was not on the agenda at 800 am. It was Avis car rental that was. I was getting my rental so that I could leave the office when I needed to and not be tied down by the shuttle, which transports some of my Filipino colleagues to and from the hotel. I didn’t know what the working hours were, and how late I’d have to work. Plus I’m confident my little buddy named Garmin would get me places safely.
I was hoping for something nice. Sonata-ish. Sure the Sonata is not in the compact car level, but hey, from stories I’ve heard from colleagues who’ve worked in California, it’s the luck of the draw – SUVs, mid-size cars, sports cars, and that’s for the same compact rate.
Anyhow, ended up getting a VW Jetta. Despite my one-liner comment trying to get the blue Sonata beside it, I didn’t. The lady at the desk said that I was lucky with the Jetta already. Really? I said to myself. Oh well, let’s get it on!
Did a walk around first, then got inside. (Well, adjusted the seats first coz it was too cramped, before I got inside.) Got the GPS up and running first, then familiarized myself with the basic stuff before pulling out of the slot. As I drove it, I realized that it was pretty potent. You just need to get on the gas for the revs to rise, and that’s where you’ll feel the kick. No instantaneous turbo diesel power. Reminds me of the Camry’s power delivery with the Altis’s ride and handling, coz it can take curves pretty well. Anyhow, much of this observation did not happen on the way to work. Hehehe!
I have no pictures of the Jetta though. And I’ll explain why, eventually.
Now off to work. GPS gets me on Diamond blvd. But apparently, it’s only as smart as you plot it out to be. I plotted the corner of the property (at least the one that’s mentioned in the official address), and not the entrance, so I drove past the entrance. In my fear of a sudden stop causing an accident, I drove by and just looked for a side entrance somewhere. No such thing at the other end of the building, so I made a U-turn at a side street.
Called my boss to ask where I was supposed to be parking, and then going when I got to the building. The Smart badge is much smarter here than back home. There, for a visitor, you’d need to get additional access rights to get in to any floor. Here, as I learned from the security guard on duty, just tap it and go on your way. Nice.
I head off to my boss’s office, we shake hands, exchange some pleasantries, and he introduces me to the guys (and gals) on the floor. And I meet my business analyst, a chatty Irish man, in whose office I will be and am spending my office hours while here. I just love the way people from the UK talk about and describe things. The American description would already help you identify what it is he's talking to you about, but the UK description just makes it extra flowery with the wit and sarcasm. Perfect, my kind of talk. That’s why I like 5th Gear, and Top Gear, and why talking to Paul was very interesting. Sure it was about work mostly, but he’s a character, so it’s not business-like all the time. If he were Filipino, he’d be a prayle. (Note to self: Gotta research for an Irish friar I can nickname him after.)
Work was work. And it still is today. Went out for lunch with some very accommodating teammates -- 2 New Yorkers, but who're probably more West coast based by their insights, and Paul. They were all from the business, hence I did not know the people they were talking about, but I was sure these guys (talking, and who they were talking about) were a helluva lot of times above my pay scale grade. But no matter, they were fun to talk to, and they kept me in the conversation.
Got home about 10 minutes past the social hour (and a half, actually, coz it was from 530 to 7) so no more free food and drinks for me. Tsk tsk! Wasn’t that famished to go out and check on food options, so I went to my room and became Tony Stark. Hehehe! Happy that I didn’t burn anything or cause irreparable damage. Happier when Junjun gave me a comment, a day or two after, that I did a good job being...
the Iron Man.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
LSS: I Just Love You
Was at my desk working. It was too quiet, so I decided to plug in my portable hard drive and headphones. One song that I'd been listening to long ago started playing. Timing was so right, and so were the lyrics. Read on...
Lonely, yeah that's the word
I leave my heart when I leave her
The days go on forever and the nights do too
One evening out on the road
A half a world away from home
I thought she was sleeping
When the call came through
I said, Darling, it's late, is everything ok
Silence took over the room
Til she said
I... I just Love You
I Don't Know Why, I Just Do
When are you coming home
I'm coming home soon
And I just love you too
Lonely lets me be
For a while she sets me free
I close my eyes and I dream of her
She's lost in my arms
Her head on my heart
And softly she whispers the words
I...I just Love You
I Don't Know Why, I Just Do
When are you coming home
I'm coming home soon
And I just love you too
I'll never stop being amazed
How my 4-year old girl knows exactly what to say
I, I just Love You
I Don't Know Why, I Just Do
When are you coming home
I'm coming home soon
Cause I just love you too.
Vladimir John Ondrasik. Thanks for the song. It's pretty interesting.
Yeah, sure, it's your typical mushy alternative love song at the beginning. You'd think it was the wife or girlfriend calling. That's already a very sweet gesture coming from your better half that makes you want to go "awww...." I'm touched that she called.
But hey, it's more touching, no, tear jerking, finding out it's your daughter calling you just to say she loves you.
I miss my girls. And this song is perfect.
Dedicated to Mommy Hestia and Annika and Sachi.
Lonely, yeah that's the word
I leave my heart when I leave her
The days go on forever and the nights do too
One evening out on the road
A half a world away from home
I thought she was sleeping
When the call came through
I said, Darling, it's late, is everything ok
Silence took over the room
Til she said
I... I just Love You
I Don't Know Why, I Just Do
When are you coming home
I'm coming home soon
And I just love you too
Lonely lets me be
For a while she sets me free
I close my eyes and I dream of her
She's lost in my arms
Her head on my heart
And softly she whispers the words
I...I just Love You
I Don't Know Why, I Just Do
When are you coming home
I'm coming home soon
And I just love you too
I'll never stop being amazed
How my 4-year old girl knows exactly what to say
I, I just Love You
I Don't Know Why, I Just Do
When are you coming home
I'm coming home soon
Cause I just love you too.
Vladimir John Ondrasik. Thanks for the song. It's pretty interesting.
Yeah, sure, it's your typical mushy alternative love song at the beginning. You'd think it was the wife or girlfriend calling. That's already a very sweet gesture coming from your better half that makes you want to go "awww...." I'm touched that she called.
But hey, it's more touching, no, tear jerking, finding out it's your daughter calling you just to say she loves you.
I miss my girls. And this song is perfect.
Dedicated to Mommy Hestia and Annika and Sachi.
Back in the States - January 23, 2011
Buoyed by a wonderful 2nd birthday party for Annika, and joint celebration for all January celebrants (Yin, Kris, TG, Tita Lu, Lola, Annika and Pong, and Hestia and myself), I took off to my new challenge... a business trip to the US for a project. If my team lead in the US had his way, I would have been there a week before, but due to the family celebration earlier today and with his consideration, I was able to postpone the trip.
Dad brought me to the airport for my 10:30 flight. PAL would probably not be the top choice on many people’s lists, especially if there were a Cathy Pacific option, but it works well with me. Sure I don’t get those flat reclining seats with separate cubicles in Business Class, but hey, I get to leave later in the day – allowing me to spend more time with Annika and Hestia, – do not need to catch a connecting flight since the one I had was direct, and get to fly back in time – literally – as the 12 hour flight (11 hours in this case, thanks to the tailwind) allows me to arrive at my destination 4 ½ hours before I take off. Did this back in 2006, and it saved me a lot of time which allowed me to do more stuff.
…Stuff like allowing me to unpack everything in my two, trolley-type, 4 wheel luggage, call home to say hello, and sign off before midnight. Downside was I was up early, but that’s for later. Back to the flight…
Check-in was quick, as Business class had counters separate from Economy. This wasn't in place in 2008, when I travelled abroad last, so it was a pleasant surprise. Apparently twice the price may have twice the perks. And this perks count started at the check-in counter. Nice. Another nice thing, was that my portable hook-type weighing scale was apparently overstated by about 10 lbs. So my 60+ lbs and 50+ lbs luggage were actually only 50+ and 40+. Nice again! But before I could step away from the counter, the ground crew asked to weight my hand-carried trolley. And it came up to about 30 lbs. Damn! I thought he’d have it checked-in, too. Luck came in to help me, as I got away with the excuse that half the weight was due to the laptop and camera, and even offered to show him what was inside the bag.
He declined, and I was off to the Terminal Fee payment counter and Immigration area. Tsk! Tsk! Now that was a long line. I don’t know what was the cause of delay. There were a few counters open. I guess there was just too big a number of passengers at that time. Oh well.
Eventually got past that area and into the 2nd body check and x-ray area, and off to the Mabuhay lounge. It was a Coors light for me and some sushi. Surfed a little bit, before I decided to beat the boarding announcement. Headed to the gate and found out it rained. A blessing, I hoped. Got to the gate and fell in line for another security check. Thought they’d question the bag’s weight again. Whew! No such thing. Waited for about 10 minutes, and was happy to hear the boarding announcement. Business class was to board now. ‘Yes!’ I thought to myself. Can finally get some Z’s as I typically get sleepy at take off.
Once inside the aircraft, I loaded my bag into the overhead cabinet slightly in front of our row. Helped the lady beside me with her trolley. Turned out, only 1 trolley could fit the overhead cabinet. Was careful not to show signs of a hard time lifting my bag, lest they take it and shove it in with the rest of the checked baggage. Hehehe!
Flight was smooth in general, with some minor turbulence. I guess I was too excited and tense for my entire trip, so I didn’t fall asleep when the plane took off. As I was about to finally doze off though, the purser gets on the mic and announces we’re having dinner. Oh well, at least it was good news. Hehehe!
I don’t know how it is with other airlines, but PAL Business Class seems to have improved from the last time (count em, 4 years) I took it to the US to visit Hestia. You get the usual welcome drink (a mango smoothie for me, yummy!), the usual refreshing face towel, but now before dinner, you get another drink, an appetizer, and then the main course. Cool! Had I been travelling with one of the padres, I probably would’ve gone alcoholic all the way, but since I was beside someone I didn’t know – a very formal and proper looking Filipino lady perhaps my Mom’s age – I did not want to destroy the reputation of us 30 plus year olds. So it was mostly just fruit juices and water for me. Hehehe!
Had 2 movies that fancied me on the small screen. And these started playing while dinner – got the sea bass, by the way – was about to be served. Since I missed the first 3 minutes of ‘Megamind’s’ opening monologue, I watched ‘The Expendables’. What can I say? For me, it’s more funny than action packed. But at least it was a light movie, save for when Sly Stallone gets dramatic and stuff. Fell asleep after that. And now I was beginning to miss the Cathay Pacific chairs I’ve heard so much about. Well, at least the PAL chairs were electronically controlled now. No more pushing and exerting too much effort to get them to recline. Way to go, Chairman.
Got a few winks in, thankfully. Until I woke up, I never felt the cold. I guess I was just adjusting, or perhaps we were getting within cooler areas. Eventually used the blanket as my jacket was in my bag, plus it gets in the way of the next agenda… breakfast!
I honestly can’t remember what I had though. I know it was fish, but what fish exactly? I guess it was that forgettable. Hehehe! Got to squeeze in some ‘Megamind’. Started at the part when he was talking to Metro Man’s statue after he dies. Hahaha! Liked that movie more than the first one I watched on the flight. Hehehe! The sarcasm and wit. Very nice….
Filled out my form and prepared for landing. Got to chat up my neighbor a bit, as she started it with a small comment about what we could see outside. Ah… the lights of the “City by the Bay.” I don’t know why it enchants me to much. I suppose the combination of the setting sun beginning to hide into the mountains, and then fog creeping in, with just enough lights for you to see the divide between land and sea.
Back in 2006, I could sing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as I flew out. Hestia was there. This time, the romantic setting is just that… a romantic setting. And the romantic atmosphere, or the suggestion of it, is just that, a suggestion. “I Left My Heart in Pacific Place,” is more like it.
Anyhow, when the plane lands, I help get the lady’s bag from the overhead cabinet, and then get mine. I slap on my jacket, bracing for some biting cold. But as I exit the airplane tunnel, there is no biting cold, but just a cool, cool breeze. I was beginning to regret bringing my jackets.
My first stop outside the plane… the men’s room. Ah yes, it just smelled like the USA. Funny how a place of piss and poop can smell so differently in the USA. But hey, it does. Must be the detergents and disinfectants. Or perhaps the fact that there are full strength detergents and disinfectants being used on a regular basis.
I clear immigration, and get a cart for my baggage from a friendly airport ground crew. Nice to see a wide smile and hear an emphatic greeting after a long trip. Couldn’t expect that from the Immigration guys. Of course not.
As I get to the carousel, I’m met with a wall of 2-3 people deep at most sides, all waiting for their luggage to come out. I break my Lola’s rule of not leaving a bag unguarded. Sorry Lola, I’m alone on this trip. But had an eye on it for the most part. Plus everything was tucked away safely inside.
My 2 trolleys come out almost at the same time. Since there were just too many people, I couldn’t pull both out in one go, lest I throw at least 4 people off of their positions. Which is what I wanted to do at some point, since “Excuse me” wasn’t working anymore. Thankfully, their vision wasn’t as bad as their hearing, so they avoided meeting Mr. Elbow.
I had nothing to declare, as per the Customs form, so as I was surrendering said form to the officer of Chinese descent, he asks me, “Do you have chicharon?” I had to ask him again to be sure I heard it right. I ended up saying no. It’s a good thing he didn’t ask about dried mangoes. Hehehe! As I had a number of packs, for my team, inside. On my way out I passed the “random” inspection area, and saw that a lot of folks with Indian or Middle Eastern descent were being subject to full luggage inspection. “Random” indeed.
As I wheel my luggage out to the arrival lobby, I’m met by a Caucasian guy in a black suit with the name “John”. Pretty “generic”, American guy description. I have arrived in the USA indeed. Coz, with due respect to them, the guys at Immigration and Customs were of Asian descent, and save for their American accents, though Mr. Chicharon had a Chinese accent, I could’ve sworn I was in Hong Kong Airport. Diversity, it is.
Going back to John, he takes my cart and pushes it for me. We go for a long walk from the terminal to the parking lot. I’m in comfy crocs loafers, wearing my jacket and carrying nothing, and he’s in his formal black suit, leather shoes, pushing a cart with over 100 lbs of luggage, and he’s leaving me behind. Iba na ang malaki. At ang nag-e-exercise. Hehehe!
Yes, Black Tie Limo Company uses a black Lincoln Town Car, with stock chrome wheels (ugh! would've looked better without the chrome, or much bigger if with the chrome) to pick me up. Get up is complete for John and his company. The huge trunk swallows my 2 trolleys, and I sit in the back - which is a rarity for me - pulling out my camera, then realizing the futility of taking moving night shots, so I just enjoy the view, and try to recall where we passed 4 years before.
My trusty GPS finally found its signal, and thankfully the installed map is still accurate, so I was able to track where we were passing. This gave me some confidence to get my own rental and start driving again. But that’s tomorrow’s story.
This one ends at the hotel. We arrive at Summerfield, which reminds me of a nicer and classier Doubletree, but still a low-rise (4 floor) building. I step out of the car, and motion to wear my jacket. I think twice, as it’s not that cold. But anyway, sayang naman. Gamitin na nga. We knock but no one answers. Then we wait for about 10 minutes before someone appears. Apparently the night shift is very lean, so when he goes out to help someone, no one gets left behind at the desk. Oh well. It’s not Grand Cypress anyways. But it’s a Hyatt.
Which is why, after having checked me in, gotten me a trolley for my luggage and given me my key, he says good night, and reminds me to just leave the trolley outside my door when I’m done with it. Oh! Self-service eh? No prob. Not the 5-star Hyatt, but definitely a far cry from Ramada.
Night 1 ends after I make my phone calls to the house, and prep my gear for Day 1 at the office. Twas a long and memorable day, that January 23….
Dad brought me to the airport for my 10:30 flight. PAL would probably not be the top choice on many people’s lists, especially if there were a Cathy Pacific option, but it works well with me. Sure I don’t get those flat reclining seats with separate cubicles in Business Class, but hey, I get to leave later in the day – allowing me to spend more time with Annika and Hestia, – do not need to catch a connecting flight since the one I had was direct, and get to fly back in time – literally – as the 12 hour flight (11 hours in this case, thanks to the tailwind) allows me to arrive at my destination 4 ½ hours before I take off. Did this back in 2006, and it saved me a lot of time which allowed me to do more stuff.
…Stuff like allowing me to unpack everything in my two, trolley-type, 4 wheel luggage, call home to say hello, and sign off before midnight. Downside was I was up early, but that’s for later. Back to the flight…
Check-in was quick, as Business class had counters separate from Economy. This wasn't in place in 2008, when I travelled abroad last, so it was a pleasant surprise. Apparently twice the price may have twice the perks. And this perks count started at the check-in counter. Nice. Another nice thing, was that my portable hook-type weighing scale was apparently overstated by about 10 lbs. So my 60+ lbs and 50+ lbs luggage were actually only 50+ and 40+. Nice again! But before I could step away from the counter, the ground crew asked to weight my hand-carried trolley. And it came up to about 30 lbs. Damn! I thought he’d have it checked-in, too. Luck came in to help me, as I got away with the excuse that half the weight was due to the laptop and camera, and even offered to show him what was inside the bag.
He declined, and I was off to the Terminal Fee payment counter and Immigration area. Tsk! Tsk! Now that was a long line. I don’t know what was the cause of delay. There were a few counters open. I guess there was just too big a number of passengers at that time. Oh well.
Eventually got past that area and into the 2nd body check and x-ray area, and off to the Mabuhay lounge. It was a Coors light for me and some sushi. Surfed a little bit, before I decided to beat the boarding announcement. Headed to the gate and found out it rained. A blessing, I hoped. Got to the gate and fell in line for another security check. Thought they’d question the bag’s weight again. Whew! No such thing. Waited for about 10 minutes, and was happy to hear the boarding announcement. Business class was to board now. ‘Yes!’ I thought to myself. Can finally get some Z’s as I typically get sleepy at take off.
Once inside the aircraft, I loaded my bag into the overhead cabinet slightly in front of our row. Helped the lady beside me with her trolley. Turned out, only 1 trolley could fit the overhead cabinet. Was careful not to show signs of a hard time lifting my bag, lest they take it and shove it in with the rest of the checked baggage. Hehehe!
Flight was smooth in general, with some minor turbulence. I guess I was too excited and tense for my entire trip, so I didn’t fall asleep when the plane took off. As I was about to finally doze off though, the purser gets on the mic and announces we’re having dinner. Oh well, at least it was good news. Hehehe!
I don’t know how it is with other airlines, but PAL Business Class seems to have improved from the last time (count em, 4 years) I took it to the US to visit Hestia. You get the usual welcome drink (a mango smoothie for me, yummy!), the usual refreshing face towel, but now before dinner, you get another drink, an appetizer, and then the main course. Cool! Had I been travelling with one of the padres, I probably would’ve gone alcoholic all the way, but since I was beside someone I didn’t know – a very formal and proper looking Filipino lady perhaps my Mom’s age – I did not want to destroy the reputation of us 30 plus year olds. So it was mostly just fruit juices and water for me. Hehehe!
Had 2 movies that fancied me on the small screen. And these started playing while dinner – got the sea bass, by the way – was about to be served. Since I missed the first 3 minutes of ‘Megamind’s’ opening monologue, I watched ‘The Expendables’. What can I say? For me, it’s more funny than action packed. But at least it was a light movie, save for when Sly Stallone gets dramatic and stuff. Fell asleep after that. And now I was beginning to miss the Cathay Pacific chairs I’ve heard so much about. Well, at least the PAL chairs were electronically controlled now. No more pushing and exerting too much effort to get them to recline. Way to go, Chairman.
Got a few winks in, thankfully. Until I woke up, I never felt the cold. I guess I was just adjusting, or perhaps we were getting within cooler areas. Eventually used the blanket as my jacket was in my bag, plus it gets in the way of the next agenda… breakfast!
I honestly can’t remember what I had though. I know it was fish, but what fish exactly? I guess it was that forgettable. Hehehe! Got to squeeze in some ‘Megamind’. Started at the part when he was talking to Metro Man’s statue after he dies. Hahaha! Liked that movie more than the first one I watched on the flight. Hehehe! The sarcasm and wit. Very nice….
Filled out my form and prepared for landing. Got to chat up my neighbor a bit, as she started it with a small comment about what we could see outside. Ah… the lights of the “City by the Bay.” I don’t know why it enchants me to much. I suppose the combination of the setting sun beginning to hide into the mountains, and then fog creeping in, with just enough lights for you to see the divide between land and sea.
Back in 2006, I could sing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as I flew out. Hestia was there. This time, the romantic setting is just that… a romantic setting. And the romantic atmosphere, or the suggestion of it, is just that, a suggestion. “I Left My Heart in Pacific Place,” is more like it.
Anyhow, when the plane lands, I help get the lady’s bag from the overhead cabinet, and then get mine. I slap on my jacket, bracing for some biting cold. But as I exit the airplane tunnel, there is no biting cold, but just a cool, cool breeze. I was beginning to regret bringing my jackets.
My first stop outside the plane… the men’s room. Ah yes, it just smelled like the USA. Funny how a place of piss and poop can smell so differently in the USA. But hey, it does. Must be the detergents and disinfectants. Or perhaps the fact that there are full strength detergents and disinfectants being used on a regular basis.
I clear immigration, and get a cart for my baggage from a friendly airport ground crew. Nice to see a wide smile and hear an emphatic greeting after a long trip. Couldn’t expect that from the Immigration guys. Of course not.
As I get to the carousel, I’m met with a wall of 2-3 people deep at most sides, all waiting for their luggage to come out. I break my Lola’s rule of not leaving a bag unguarded. Sorry Lola, I’m alone on this trip. But had an eye on it for the most part. Plus everything was tucked away safely inside.
My 2 trolleys come out almost at the same time. Since there were just too many people, I couldn’t pull both out in one go, lest I throw at least 4 people off of their positions. Which is what I wanted to do at some point, since “Excuse me” wasn’t working anymore. Thankfully, their vision wasn’t as bad as their hearing, so they avoided meeting Mr. Elbow.
I had nothing to declare, as per the Customs form, so as I was surrendering said form to the officer of Chinese descent, he asks me, “Do you have chicharon?” I had to ask him again to be sure I heard it right. I ended up saying no. It’s a good thing he didn’t ask about dried mangoes. Hehehe! As I had a number of packs, for my team, inside. On my way out I passed the “random” inspection area, and saw that a lot of folks with Indian or Middle Eastern descent were being subject to full luggage inspection. “Random” indeed.
As I wheel my luggage out to the arrival lobby, I’m met by a Caucasian guy in a black suit with the name “John”. Pretty “generic”, American guy description. I have arrived in the USA indeed. Coz, with due respect to them, the guys at Immigration and Customs were of Asian descent, and save for their American accents, though Mr. Chicharon had a Chinese accent, I could’ve sworn I was in Hong Kong Airport. Diversity, it is.
Going back to John, he takes my cart and pushes it for me. We go for a long walk from the terminal to the parking lot. I’m in comfy crocs loafers, wearing my jacket and carrying nothing, and he’s in his formal black suit, leather shoes, pushing a cart with over 100 lbs of luggage, and he’s leaving me behind. Iba na ang malaki. At ang nag-e-exercise. Hehehe!
Yes, Black Tie Limo Company uses a black Lincoln Town Car, with stock chrome wheels (ugh! would've looked better without the chrome, or much bigger if with the chrome) to pick me up. Get up is complete for John and his company. The huge trunk swallows my 2 trolleys, and I sit in the back - which is a rarity for me - pulling out my camera, then realizing the futility of taking moving night shots, so I just enjoy the view, and try to recall where we passed 4 years before.
My trusty GPS finally found its signal, and thankfully the installed map is still accurate, so I was able to track where we were passing. This gave me some confidence to get my own rental and start driving again. But that’s tomorrow’s story.
This one ends at the hotel. We arrive at Summerfield, which reminds me of a nicer and classier Doubletree, but still a low-rise (4 floor) building. I step out of the car, and motion to wear my jacket. I think twice, as it’s not that cold. But anyway, sayang naman. Gamitin na nga. We knock but no one answers. Then we wait for about 10 minutes before someone appears. Apparently the night shift is very lean, so when he goes out to help someone, no one gets left behind at the desk. Oh well. It’s not Grand Cypress anyways. But it’s a Hyatt.
Which is why, after having checked me in, gotten me a trolley for my luggage and given me my key, he says good night, and reminds me to just leave the trolley outside my door when I’m done with it. Oh! Self-service eh? No prob. Not the 5-star Hyatt, but definitely a far cry from Ramada.
Night 1 ends after I make my phone calls to the house, and prep my gear for Day 1 at the office. Twas a long and memorable day, that January 23….
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
WE ARE ONE...
When asked then when I think my baby will arrive, I always say “on Jan 19”…as it would surely be memorable to have our baby with us, exactly after a year of being married. But then again, like a lot of things in this world, which we do not have full control of; a different plot came into view.
“…Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us…”
An hour after watching US Pres. Obama’s inauguration rites at around 330AM, I woke up with lower abdominal cramps (which I initially thought will be easily relieved by changing positions or walking around). I spent another hour monitoring how long the cramps would last and figured that I have to wake Migoy up – as the cramps were felt at 5-min interval, lasting for around 1 to 2 min. Thanks to the learning from our birthing class, the relaxation techniques were definitely helpful (in fact, I had to wait for Migoy to finish up taking a shower – yes, he was so relaxed.).
By 5AM, with less than 30 min drive from Pasig to Alabang, we were already inside the Genesis Center. I was
diagnosed to be 3 to 4 cm dilated already. Then, the staff already advised me to be admitted. While at the labor room, I would say, I was able to manage the contraction pains well --- as I was still able to find time to send text messages to family and friends on my labor progress. At 9AM, I was again checked and was told that I am already 4 cm dilated. After the staff learned that I only had a slice of toast and a glass of water for breakfast about 5 to 6 hours earlier, they asked my doctor if I can still enjoy breakfast. Lo and behold, they later served rice, chicken with mushrooms, and cereals for my breakfast.
.JPG)
After enjoying my meal and a couple of hours later, dilation is not progressing well, that I was advised to do manual stimulation (which did not work that well either). By 1PM, I already had to be administered with oxytocin to help with my labor. An hour after the oxytocin kicked in, my dilation came up to 6 cm! I was successfully managing the pains naturally, until I felt I was short of breath at every contraction. I felt I was having an asthma attack --- that my attempts to breathe deeply were foiled. This is the time the epidural came in handy --- although it brought uncontrollable chills all over.
I was wheeled into the birthing room (BR322) to prepare us for the main event. I was then diagnosed to be 8 cm dilated an hour later, but my water bag was still intact. My doctor then had to rupture my bag and was happy to see that the water was still clear --- still a good sign that we can proceed with normal delivery (as I had indicated clearly in my birth plan).
.JPG)
After almost a couple of hours of close monitoring, I was stuck at 8 cm dilation and my baby’s heartbeat was dropping in a regular pattern (coinciding with every contraction). It may be every woman’s wish to have an hourglass figure, especially after the pregnancy; but mine came too soon and in a different way. Everyone observed how oddly shaped my very-pregnant tummy has become! It was shaped like an hourglass…which then brought my doctor to advise Migoy that she is thinking of doing a C-section with my state and especially that of our baby. With my sober condition, I was roused to listen to my doctor’s advice intently. Considering my baby’s condition, I immediately succumbed to the needed surgery.
.JPG)
At exactly 5:28PM, my baby was out. It was a good decision to not waste any time to proceed with the C-section, as my baby had a cord coil, which was causing the distress (and probably my peculiarly bunched up tummy). As soon as I heard my baby cry, I was in tears…moments later, I had her on my chest.
The sequence of events on that joyful day definitely put me and Migoy to the test --- test of love, trust,
strength, and faith --- and with much pride, I would say, we were ONE and we did not falter and instead, faced every step of that wonderful journey together with lots of laughs and tears; and interesting stories to tell baby Annika.
“…Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us…”
An hour after watching US Pres. Obama’s inauguration rites at around 330AM, I woke up with lower abdominal cramps (which I initially thought will be easily relieved by changing positions or walking around). I spent another hour monitoring how long the cramps would last and figured that I have to wake Migoy up – as the cramps were felt at 5-min interval, lasting for around 1 to 2 min. Thanks to the learning from our birthing class, the relaxation techniques were definitely helpful (in fact, I had to wait for Migoy to finish up taking a shower – yes, he was so relaxed.).
By 5AM, with less than 30 min drive from Pasig to Alabang, we were already inside the Genesis Center. I was
diagnosed to be 3 to 4 cm dilated already. Then, the staff already advised me to be admitted. While at the labor room, I would say, I was able to manage the contraction pains well --- as I was still able to find time to send text messages to family and friends on my labor progress. At 9AM, I was again checked and was told that I am already 4 cm dilated. After the staff learned that I only had a slice of toast and a glass of water for breakfast about 5 to 6 hours earlier, they asked my doctor if I can still enjoy breakfast. Lo and behold, they later served rice, chicken with mushrooms, and cereals for my breakfast..JPG)
After enjoying my meal and a couple of hours later, dilation is not progressing well, that I was advised to do manual stimulation (which did not work that well either). By 1PM, I already had to be administered with oxytocin to help with my labor. An hour after the oxytocin kicked in, my dilation came up to 6 cm! I was successfully managing the pains naturally, until I felt I was short of breath at every contraction. I felt I was having an asthma attack --- that my attempts to breathe deeply were foiled. This is the time the epidural came in handy --- although it brought uncontrollable chills all over.I was wheeled into the birthing room (BR322) to prepare us for the main event. I was then diagnosed to be 8 cm dilated an hour later, but my water bag was still intact. My doctor then had to rupture my bag and was happy to see that the water was still clear --- still a good sign that we can proceed with normal delivery (as I had indicated clearly in my birth plan).
.JPG)
After almost a couple of hours of close monitoring, I was stuck at 8 cm dilation and my baby’s heartbeat was dropping in a regular pattern (coinciding with every contraction). It may be every woman’s wish to have an hourglass figure, especially after the pregnancy; but mine came too soon and in a different way. Everyone observed how oddly shaped my very-pregnant tummy has become! It was shaped like an hourglass…which then brought my doctor to advise Migoy that she is thinking of doing a C-section with my state and especially that of our baby. With my sober condition, I was roused to listen to my doctor’s advice intently. Considering my baby’s condition, I immediately succumbed to the needed surgery.
.JPG)
At exactly 5:28PM, my baby was out. It was a good decision to not waste any time to proceed with the C-section, as my baby had a cord coil, which was causing the distress (and probably my peculiarly bunched up tummy). As soon as I heard my baby cry, I was in tears…moments later, I had her on my chest.The sequence of events on that joyful day definitely put me and Migoy to the test --- test of love, trust,
strength, and faith --- and with much pride, I would say, we were ONE and we did not falter and instead, faced every step of that wonderful journey together with lots of laughs and tears; and interesting stories to tell baby Annika.Saturday, October 20, 2007
Travelogue of an Absentee Blogger
Yes, I have been out for quite some time…been up and about doing a lot of things [as some other people would call it, simply put, “I was caught up with @#%^ work!”]…anyhow, now that I finally found some time to sneak out and logon to our blog, here’s my excuse:
July 2007: Been asked to prepare and pack up for a month-long trip to Cape Town. Happy? Hmm…yes, since it would be my first time to see another part of the globe (which apparently has quite a number of interesting places to boot – in fact, these places are included in the book, “1000 Places to See Before You Die”) Sad? Hmm…yes, as I know it will be another bout of fighting loneliness.
Aug 7, 2007: Off to Cape Town via Singapore. I will be taking 16 hour long trip from Manila. I even had a funny experience of bringing overweight luggage into Cape Town, that the ground attendants initially thought I was flying to the US. Well, another help from lady luck, I got off without paying a cent!
Aug 8, 2007: Arrived in Cape Town safely. Weather was nice. It was sunny and breezy at the same time. From the airport and en-route to the hotel, I never thought I was already staring at the famous Table Mountain. Only until I got into the office did I realize I was staring at the same mountain all along! Believe it or not, that same day when my plane landed, (after a bit of work) I had to ask my colleagues to drive me up to the Table Mountain. [I was indeed lucky to get that opportunity, as the sun never showed up the same way it did that day when I arrived during my month-long stay in Cape Town.]
Aug 9, 2007: National Women’s Day…Fighting the urge to succumb to jetlag, I had to condition myself for my next stop. 6AM flight from Cape Town to Durban! It was a long weekend, so I took the chance to get in that flight! Once we landed in Durban, which was about a 2 hour flight, we enjoyed some nature and cultural trip, seeing the valleys and the tribes that lived there. Then, as the day ended, we headed to Umschlanga to get some rest in preparation for the next leg of the Durban trip.
Aug 10, 2007: From Umschlanga, we drove off to the Sani Pass
Hotel to view the famous Drakensberg Mountain. We enjoyed the scenery and the buffet dinner they served…and yes, since we were in South Africa, we had to try the wine! Guess what? Wine tastes great! We all had our fair share of the bottle that we all retired early to bed. It was just right to keep us well rested…
Aug 11, 2007: Early to bed, early to rise…we all had to rise up early to get on our ATVs! Yes, we all booked ourselves for a tour using All-Terrain Vehicles! Driving to the top of the Sani Pass using quad bikes? That was an awesome (but dangerous) experience.
Aug 12, 2007: Headed back to Cape Town. For the first time, I checked in a hand-carry luggage (which was not overweight, and not heavy at all) and it got lost!
From the time I got back my luggage, until the time I got to have Kermin with me in Cape
Town, we had the chance to see Cape Town’s great scenic places --- Stellenbosch, Boulder’s Beach, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope…seeing these nice places were great…but I knew it would be much better if I had shared the trip with Migs around. Day in and day out, we keep in touch…greeting each other as we start the day or as we end the day whenever possible. It felt different when a day passes by without hearing each other say “Hi” or “Hello”.
…Being away for one whole month, one thing’s for sure, I knew it felt great to know that though we’re miles and miles apart, neither distance nor difference in time zones will ever keep us apart. Oops, a second point to add, I am pretty sure Cape Town will be on our list of things to see together…honeymoon? We’ll see…
July 2007: Been asked to prepare and pack up for a month-long trip to Cape Town. Happy? Hmm…yes, since it would be my first time to see another part of the globe (which apparently has quite a number of interesting places to boot – in fact, these places are included in the book, “1000 Places to See Before You Die”) Sad? Hmm…yes, as I know it will be another bout of fighting loneliness.
Aug 7, 2007: Off to Cape Town via Singapore. I will be taking 16 hour long trip from Manila. I even had a funny experience of bringing overweight luggage into Cape Town, that the ground attendants initially thought I was flying to the US. Well, another help from lady luck, I got off without paying a cent!
Aug 8, 2007: Arrived in Cape Town safely. Weather was nice. It was sunny and breezy at the same time. From the airport and en-route to the hotel, I never thought I was already staring at the famous Table Mountain. Only until I got into the office did I realize I was staring at the same mountain all along! Believe it or not, that same day when my plane landed, (after a bit of work) I had to ask my colleagues to drive me up to the Table Mountain. [I was indeed lucky to get that opportunity, as the sun never showed up the same way it did that day when I arrived during my month-long stay in Cape Town.]Aug 9, 2007: National Women’s Day…Fighting the urge to succumb to jetlag, I had to condition myself for my next stop. 6AM flight from Cape Town to Durban! It was a long weekend, so I took the chance to get in that flight! Once we landed in Durban, which was about a 2 hour flight, we enjoyed some nature and cultural trip, seeing the valleys and the tribes that lived there. Then, as the day ended, we headed to Umschlanga to get some rest in preparation for the next leg of the Durban trip.
Aug 10, 2007: From Umschlanga, we drove off to the Sani Pass
Hotel to view the famous Drakensberg Mountain. We enjoyed the scenery and the buffet dinner they served…and yes, since we were in South Africa, we had to try the wine! Guess what? Wine tastes great! We all had our fair share of the bottle that we all retired early to bed. It was just right to keep us well rested…Aug 11, 2007: Early to bed, early to rise…we all had to rise up early to get on our ATVs! Yes, we all booked ourselves for a tour using All-Terrain Vehicles! Driving to the top of the Sani Pass using quad bikes? That was an awesome (but dangerous) experience.
Aug 12, 2007: Headed back to Cape Town. For the first time, I checked in a hand-carry luggage (which was not overweight, and not heavy at all) and it got lost!
From the time I got back my luggage, until the time I got to have Kermin with me in Cape
Town, we had the chance to see Cape Town’s great scenic places --- Stellenbosch, Boulder’s Beach, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope…seeing these nice places were great…but I knew it would be much better if I had shared the trip with Migs around. Day in and day out, we keep in touch…greeting each other as we start the day or as we end the day whenever possible. It felt different when a day passes by without hearing each other say “Hi” or “Hello”.…Being away for one whole month, one thing’s for sure, I knew it felt great to know that though we’re miles and miles apart, neither distance nor difference in time zones will ever keep us apart. Oops, a second point to add, I am pretty sure Cape Town will be on our list of things to see together…honeymoon? We’ll see…
Friday, August 17, 2007
Lightning McQueen, Route 66, Radiator Springs and Finding Yourself
When you find yourself
In some far off place,
And it causes you
To rethink some things.
You start to sense
That slowly you’re becoming someone else
And then you find yourself.
When you make new friends
In a brand new town,
And you start to think
About settling down,
The things that would have been lost on you
Are now clear as a bell.
And you find yourself
That’s when you find yourself.
Well you go through life
So sure of where you’re heading,
And you wind up lost
And it’s the best thing that could happen.
‘Cause sometimes when you lose your way
It’s really just as well.
‘Cause you find yourself;
That when you find yourself.
When you meet the one
You’ve been waiting for,
And she’s everything
That you want and more,
You look at her
And you finally start
To live for someone else.
And then you find yourself;
That’s when you find yourself.
We go through life
So sure of where we’re heading,
And then we wind up lost
And it’s the best thing that could happen.
Sometimes when you lose your way
It’s really just as well.
Because you find yourself;
Yeah that’s when you find yourself.
Well, when you want to find a movie that'll somehow teach you a simple lesson in life, go look for an animated movie (or as they'd say in the '80s, a cartoon). That'll surely make you leave the cinema, or your favorite comfy chair, with a light heart, but with a lesson learned.
This lesson I learned came from Disney's "Cars". Well, actually, from one of the songs on its OST -- Find Yourself. Didn't think a song done by a Country singer would catch my fancy, but more about that in a little bit. Cars is one of my all-time favorite movies. The story is pretty simple, but the trip to Radiator Springs reminded me of my road trip last year with Hestia to the Grand Canyon. We drove down the Mother Road, Route 66.
Getting off the main freeway and on to Route 66 is a bit like getting of SLEX or NLEX and going onto provincial roads. It's not as wide, nor as spacious, and you can't go as fast. A bother for the true blue Lightning McQueen in each one of us. But like Route 66 passing through Carburetor County, these country roads are quaint and charming. And if you travel into the countryside more, the less you see the same stuff you see in the city, and the more you have a glimpse and a taste of the more laidback culture.
That was a fun trip. Romantic, you could say that. It was then the longest time I had been seated beside Hestia. Well, the longest time I had been seated beside her straight, without anyone or anything getting in the way. I'm speaking figuratively, of course, you dirty mind, you. :P
Now about the song whose lyrics I've again shamelessly posted on the blog. There comes a time in your life when you're just too caught up with what you do (well, or not), that you, ehem, lose yourself and just find in your place this lost person just going through the motions. You end up doing something that you've been accustomed to doing, but you no longer recall why you're doing it. One day, you just end up hitting a wall, or getting, ehem, lost. It's when you're knocked off of this comfy (comfy coz you're used to being there) perch that you realize you don't know exactly who you are anymore, and you don't know exactly where you wanna go.
Lightning was too busy basking in his glory, that he forgot about the simple yet more important things in life. I was caught up going through some familiar motions about 3 years back. My brick wall was the announcement that I'd be pulled out of my project, my lofty perch, and moved to a new one, working with colleagues I was not familiar with, and at a place miles in the direction opposite of where I wanted to be. I was, ehem, lost.
And Hestia was, packaged together, my Sally Carrera, my Radiator Springs, and my reason to go all out for the Piston Cup, yet not that all out to lose my self again. When I found her, then realized that she is the one I want to be with, I knew my life was going to change -- for the better, of course. I found myself. I found her, then I found me.
I found out that I didn't want to be single for very long anymore, and that I would like to experience the joys and pains of being married to the woman of my dreams and the love of my life. (Whether I'll be saying the same after years of being married, I don't know.)
Hehehe! Just kidding Honey. That part is something we both will be working on by living our lives together. I miss you. I love you.
In some far off place,
And it causes you
To rethink some things.
You start to sense
That slowly you’re becoming someone else
And then you find yourself.
When you make new friends
In a brand new town,
And you start to think
About settling down,
The things that would have been lost on you
Are now clear as a bell.
And you find yourself
That’s when you find yourself.
Well you go through life
So sure of where you’re heading,
And you wind up lost
And it’s the best thing that could happen.
‘Cause sometimes when you lose your way
It’s really just as well.
‘Cause you find yourself;
That when you find yourself.
When you meet the one
You’ve been waiting for,
And she’s everything
That you want and more,
You look at her
And you finally start
To live for someone else.
And then you find yourself;
That’s when you find yourself.
We go through life
So sure of where we’re heading,
And then we wind up lost
And it’s the best thing that could happen.
Sometimes when you lose your way
It’s really just as well.
Because you find yourself;
Yeah that’s when you find yourself.
Well, when you want to find a movie that'll somehow teach you a simple lesson in life, go look for an animated movie (or as they'd say in the '80s, a cartoon). That'll surely make you leave the cinema, or your favorite comfy chair, with a light heart, but with a lesson learned.
This lesson I learned came from Disney's "Cars". Well, actually, from one of the songs on its OST -- Find Yourself. Didn't think a song done by a Country singer would catch my fancy, but more about that in a little bit. Cars is one of my all-time favorite movies. The story is pretty simple, but the trip to Radiator Springs reminded me of my road trip last year with Hestia to the Grand Canyon. We drove down the Mother Road, Route 66.
Getting off the main freeway and on to Route 66 is a bit like getting of SLEX or NLEX and going onto provincial roads. It's not as wide, nor as spacious, and you can't go as fast. A bother for the true blue Lightning McQueen in each one of us. But like Route 66 passing through Carburetor County, these country roads are quaint and charming. And if you travel into the countryside more, the less you see the same stuff you see in the city, and the more you have a glimpse and a taste of the more laidback culture.
That was a fun trip. Romantic, you could say that. It was then the longest time I had been seated beside Hestia. Well, the longest time I had been seated beside her straight, without anyone or anything getting in the way. I'm speaking figuratively, of course, you dirty mind, you. :P
Now about the song whose lyrics I've again shamelessly posted on the blog. There comes a time in your life when you're just too caught up with what you do (well, or not), that you, ehem, lose yourself and just find in your place this lost person just going through the motions. You end up doing something that you've been accustomed to doing, but you no longer recall why you're doing it. One day, you just end up hitting a wall, or getting, ehem, lost. It's when you're knocked off of this comfy (comfy coz you're used to being there) perch that you realize you don't know exactly who you are anymore, and you don't know exactly where you wanna go.
Lightning was too busy basking in his glory, that he forgot about the simple yet more important things in life. I was caught up going through some familiar motions about 3 years back. My brick wall was the announcement that I'd be pulled out of my project, my lofty perch, and moved to a new one, working with colleagues I was not familiar with, and at a place miles in the direction opposite of where I wanted to be. I was, ehem, lost.
And Hestia was, packaged together, my Sally Carrera, my Radiator Springs, and my reason to go all out for the Piston Cup, yet not that all out to lose my self again. When I found her, then realized that she is the one I want to be with, I knew my life was going to change -- for the better, of course. I found myself. I found her, then I found me.
I found out that I didn't want to be single for very long anymore, and that I would like to experience the joys and pains of being married to the woman of my dreams and the love of my life. (Whether I'll be saying the same after years of being married, I don't know.)
Hehehe! Just kidding Honey. That part is something we both will be working on by living our lives together. I miss you. I love you.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Restless Nights, Sleepless Nights, Helpless Nights
It's really true that the person getting left behind going about the same routine but alone feels, well, alone and lonely. Though this is not the first time for me, somehow it feels even more depressing than the first time.
Five nights have passed since Hestia left. Three of those nights I was home early after work, and two other of those nights I was out a bit late. But in all of those nights, I hadn't slept straight nor soundly. Without fail, I'd wake up at 2-2:30 am, whether or not I had slept early the night before. It would take me a while to get back to sleep. And it would be a b1tch to wake up in the morning.
I miss you, Hestia.
I miss waking up in the morning knowing that someone's gonna be waiting for me. I miss waking up reading your good morning greetings. I miss seeing your partly-harrassed-by-work self when I get to the office.
I miss you.
Telecommunications infrastructure at your part of the world aren't helping me. I don't like the feeling of not being able to contact you. The feeling of helplessness just makes it more frustrating.
Oh boy... 28 days of this to go.
Five nights have passed since Hestia left. Three of those nights I was home early after work, and two other of those nights I was out a bit late. But in all of those nights, I hadn't slept straight nor soundly. Without fail, I'd wake up at 2-2:30 am, whether or not I had slept early the night before. It would take me a while to get back to sleep. And it would be a b1tch to wake up in the morning.
I miss you, Hestia.
I miss waking up in the morning knowing that someone's gonna be waiting for me. I miss waking up reading your good morning greetings. I miss seeing your partly-harrassed-by-work self when I get to the office.
I miss you.
Telecommunications infrastructure at your part of the world aren't helping me. I don't like the feeling of not being able to contact you. The feeling of helplessness just makes it more frustrating.
Oh boy... 28 days of this to go.
L-O-V-E...
Here's a light ditty from the standards genre we discovered a few months back. I think it was Frank Sinatra who did the original. Somehow when I hear it, I think about scenes from romantic movies set in our favorite US cities, namely New York and San Francisco. Mine's New York and Hestia's San Francisco. She finds NYC to be too dark (ala Gotham City) and the people and the city's aura to be too rude (ala Manila, or worse). Hey, feels like home, for me. On the flipside, I find San Francisco to just be too laid back. But it is relaxing, I must admit. Twenty-one years ago, when I first visited the US, it was the opposite for me. The first city I visited, and which I enjoyed, was San Francisco. I didn't like New York then. Everybody was in a hurry (and a lot more walking was required of me, hehehe!). Oh well, how times can change how people think.
I wonder, Honey, what'll eventually be OUR favorite city...
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore
Can love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart but please don't break it
Love was made for me and you
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore
Can love is all that I can give to you
Love, love, love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart but please don't break it
'Cause love was made for me and you
I said love was made for me and you
You know that love was made for me and you...
I wonder, Honey, what'll eventually be OUR favorite city...
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore
Can love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart but please don't break it
Love was made for me and you
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore
Can love is all that I can give to you
Love, love, love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart but please don't break it
'Cause love was made for me and you
I said love was made for me and you
You know that love was made for me and you...
Monday, July 16, 2007
When You're In My Arms...
I would think it's kinda obvious that I like songs, and different ones at that, with special mention to some Ballads and Oldies, which are now better (or more politically correctly?) known as Standards. Thankfully, Hestia shares about the same taste in music as myself, so we're not really at odds with what I play in the car when we're together. (Except perhaps for that House CD, hehehe!)
My being able to carry a tune for the songs I like, however, is another story altogether, hehehe! but thankfully, again, Hestia does sing well and can sing in public. (Anyone want to hear a demo?)
Anyhow, the story behind this latest tune brings me back to the year 2000. I had recently resurrected my Casio MP3 watch, from our den, which has 32MB worth of memory for, you guessed it, MP3s. That's probably just 7-8 songs at most using 128 mbps recording, but hey, it was an early edition iPod. Talk about a Blast From The Past, huh?
Anyways, for some reason, I had been spending a bit more time in our den. Dunno if it's related to my finding the watch there. The PC we have in that room is also a blast from the past, year 2002 this time, but then not fully-spec'd. With such limited memory and programs running on Windows 98, (due to my inclination being really towards cars rather than computers) it wasn't gonna be long till I'd find my songs from the Honda days.
The featured song is from the musical "They're Playing Our Song".
They're Playing Our Song is a musical with a book by Neil Simon, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, and music by Marvin Hamlisch.
In a story based on the real-life relationship of Hamlisch and Sager, a wisecracking composer finds a new, offbeat lyricist, but initially the match is not one made in heaven. The two undergo a series of trials and overcome a number of hurdles before finding true love by the final curtain.
Productions: 1978 Los Angeles; 1979 Broadway; 1980 Sydney; 1980 West End
When you’re in my arms
And I feel you close to me
Life’s what it’s supposed to be
I’m in love you are my soul
You’re my melody
You’re every dream I locked away
My whole world came alive the day
You walked into my life
You are my song
Sing it
Let everybody know I found you
Let everybody know I found that thing
That people love to sing about
Tell them
Tell them if they didn’t hear by now
Tell them how I’ve found that feeling that I waited for
I’ve got the world and more
When you’re in my arms
I wish I had the words to say
I’ll give them to you every day
Tonight you’re in my arms
It feels good in your arms
Tonight you’re in my arms
When you’re in love the time keeps tickin’
But you’ve got no time to see it go
I’ve only got eyes for my sweet sweet baby
So love’s the only time I know
When you’re in love your smile gets wider
You get a kind of magic glow
The clock on the wall doesn’t matter at all
Cause love’s the only time you know
Something so right like lovin’ together
Two hearts are better than one
Good good lovin’ that some sweet sweet music
Sure makes wakin’ up fun
Sure feels good to be lovin’ each other
I wonder why we waited so long
The fire is burnin’
We got ourselves our own sweet song
When you’re in my arms
I see a world I’ve never seen
I never knew that trees were green
Till you were in my arms
You are my song
Sing it
Let everybody know I found you
Let everybody know I found that thing
That people love to sing about
Thank you
For helping give my life some order
And where’d you put my tape recorder
I want to write how good I feel tonight
When you’re in my arms
I wish I had the words somehow
Shhh
Not now
Tonight you’re in my arms
And you’ll be wakin’ up in my arms
When you’re in my arms...
I have my friend Lisa to thank for bringing the cd to work about 7 years ago, and her now hubby Mike, for using the company's IT resources in ripping the songs. Hehehe! Mike has since left the company, so I think it's safe to tell a little story about our project exploits. Hehehe!
Back to the song, it kinda brought me back to the time Hestia and I were a new couple. It reminded me of the happy uncertainty we felt weeks before we became a couple which was in stark contrast to the euphoric feeling when we got together (well, the day after, at least, coz on the night we became "us", I was really downed by colds, but that's another story ;) ).
Some people are really better off single, while some are miserable in that state. I'm in the mold of the latter. Ever hear of the phrase "Alone, but not lonely"? Well, I'm quite the opposite. Without a better half, a partner to inspire me, a strong force to calm me, I am lonely even within a crowd.
Honey, your taking a chance with me years ago made everything right for me. Short of sounding like Jerry Maguirre, your reaching out to me put everything in perspective. I am no longer blindly reaching out, but now I'm seeing you and I know that you're within reach. I see the world and life from more than just my point of view. I see more colors and details that have always been there, but have not meant anything until you pointed them out to me.
I look forward to that day in January, six months from now, when we embark on a new journey, when we take another chance and dive into a bigger pond filled with more challenges. Somehow it doesn't feel as frightening nor as daunting, not when you're in my arms...
Monday, July 2, 2007
3165 Date of Initial Incarceration
1198 Date Life Sentence was handed down
Hehehe! Talk about a Prison Sentence, eh? Got to talk to a few guys who've been married for quite a while. This seems to be their idea (read: misconception) about Marriage.
Well, Honey, far from being sucked into their frame of mind, I just laughed with them, not at them, coz they are my friends, too, but made sure that the entire topic ended at the laughing part.
I dunno. Maybe the magic wore off for them. Or maybe, the magic wasn't there to begin with. Perhaps they weren't done having fun - the kind of fun you could no longer have as freely when you have a ring - in the first place. Just like Chris O' Donnell's Jimmie Shannon character in The Bachelor. (Oooh! Farmer Hoggett / James Cromwell is a good guy in this movie! But anyways, that's another story, hehe!) He saw his and his friends' free-running mustang characters being herded in, one by one. But anyways, whatever their reason/s is/are, that's their problem, and I wish them luck resolving it.
Now going back to Jimmie Shannon, and his friends, it's not uncommon to have such a frame of mind. Some guys really value their being able to have a relationship, yet at the same time, have an abundance of space. Intimate time with the sweetheart and bonding time with the boys. Best of both worlds, so to speak. For other guys, that is. I value space, but only to a certain extent. A small extent. At the moment, a day in the week or weekend not spent with each other is enough space. Most of the time, that day is Sunday, when we have our separate commitments to each other's families. Sometimes even, this is not the case, as we both attend each other's family's events.
Honey, I'm not directly asking you to give me space. I'm not straight-forwardly requesting you to keep to your end of the metropolis on one day of the week, and allow me to stay on my end. It just so happens that this is how our Sundays are like. I'm not complaining when this happens. I'm also not complaining if it doesn't - meaning when we spend it together attending some family activity. I like this arrangement, while we're at this engaged-to-be-married state. In a little over 6 months, we'll be together, more so on Sundays.
Though I cherish what we have now, I look to cherish what we'll start having soon a lot more. Mwah!!!
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