Sky Watch 1

Sky Watch 1

Originally uploaded by airam94564

I thought it would be neat to join the sky watch photo meme.

One of my drive-by shooting efforts taken while on the move with the East Bay Hills in full splendor.

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Sometimes, wishes are granted.

Or prayers answered immediately. 

I was talking about my pancit craving on yesterday’s post.  Today, I found out that our caferia was serving pork pancit.  I had pancit for lunch today.

It’s really not about the pancit, it’s the granted wish.  🙂

 

 

Just a little bit of mumbling.

Monday is almost ending and I thought about writing/blogging.  Nothing specific, just mumblings.  No reason, I just feel like it today.

What’s weird today is that I have been craving for a plate of pancit. I sit here infront of the computer doing my work and all I could think of is pancit.  I never crave for pancit, of all dishes, really.  Like everyone else I enjoy a serving [or more] of this Filipino favorite, but today I am craving for it.  I have the fixings at home and I may as well cook it tomorrow.  I wonder what other food cravings I had in the past.  Of course, without a doubt anything chocolate is the main cravings when one is premenstrual and I too succumbed to it.  But after the stage has elapsed, I don’t have any more cravings.  Until today.  Gosh, I really want some pancit right now!!!

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I wonder if outside is still smoky.  The grassfires (three of them I believe are currently going on in the Bay) are not anywhere near where I live or work, but the minute I went outside both at home and work I could smell the smoke.  Unfortunately, it’s not the smell of bbq smoke. 

Last week, Thursday-Saturday, we again experienced some sort of a mini heatwave.  We had a hundred degree temps, Friday night was a difficult night to find sleep.  By Saturday, the temp went down to the 90s, still the stores were filled with people checking out/purchasing portable AC units.  We almost bought one.  Thankfully on Sunday, our marine layer (fog) started to return and by nighttime, it was cold, okay cooler, much much cooler.  On Sat. we had a high in the 90s, and on Sun. we were in the 70s.  That’s 20-degree drop right there.  Can I say hello colds and cough now? And today despite the smoky day, it is cold.  I see people at work wearing warmer clothing.  I am wearing a long sleeve cotton shirt right now and sipping hot coffee.  I feel cold. 

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The Philippines got battered by the seasonal rain/storm that visits the country this time of the year.  Unfortunately, there was so much destruction and flooding, not to mention all the lives lost.  Our prayers are with you. 

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On Thursday, hubby and I took a day off.  I had a doctor’s appointment and since he needed to take a day off [his vacation cap is full] he decided to tag along to my appointment.  Since I needed to be resting most of the day, we didn’t plan for a short road trip, we normally do under better circumstances.  So after a restful nap, we woke up and decided to see a movie.  It was before 6 pm on a weekday, ergo, movies are still on matinee pricing [$7].  It was the best time to go.  After reading out what’s playing on our neighborhood multiplex, hubby chose IRON MAN, which I was surprised to find is still running after all these weeks.  We never watched it before, when it first came out becasue I did not like Robert Downey Jr.  Sorry, but I am  actor-centric when choosing a movie.  The movie has to feature an actor I like before I go and see it, with some exemptions, like if the movie is epic and huge that it takes away from the whole experience if I see it in my “32-inch big screen” in my living room.  You know what I mean. 

Anyway, we went and to my shock, really, I enjoyed myself.  And like us, there were still people coming to see it. Well, enough said. 

 

 

 

Late Father’s Day Post

This is very late.  But I thought I’d run this again.  This is a repost from my defunct Friendster blog.

Mang Felix

I met Mang Felix when I moved into my second dorm.  He was a househelp, mostly running errands and sweeping the floors.  He was probably in the neighborhood of 50 years old at that time.  My friends and I took a liking to him, mainly because he was avuncular in his dealing with us.  We teased him about his favorites, yes he does have one every semester.  Upon my arrival, Ate Evelyn who was on her senior year was the “it” girl.  Then came Afel and finally Rose.  I don’t know if there were any girls after I left.

Curiosity about his story bugs us.  So, we sought Ate Babes’ help.  She was the historian of the dorm, having lived there the longest.  The story goes that Mang Fel came to Manila from the Visayas after a townmate who came to Manila as a househelp returned for a visit with his wife, who was a resident of the dorm he was working in.  He wanted the same romantic ending for him.  So off he went to Manila and try his luck.

We asked if this was true and in his heavy Visayan accent, he confirmed this.  He was never shy about this.  Being young and somewhat rude, we in our young ways told him that maybe he needed to modify his goals to suit his life.  He stood firm and stubbornly held on to his dream. 

A couple of years later after we left the dorm, I received a letter from my best friend who said she bumped into Mang Fel in the same neighborhood we lived in.   He looked so much older and from the looks of him, he was also sick, she added.  We arranged to get together and pay him a visit. 

It was only two years since the last time I have seen him, but he did indeed look years older; no doubt that he was sick as well.  We chatted for several minutes before we asked him if he could go back to his hometown so someone can look after him.  He was still working at that time.  He refused to go and still insisted on waiting for the fulfillment of his boyhood dream.  We didnt leave until he accepted our little monetary present.  That was the last time I saw him.  Nor heard about him.

For those who like Mang Fel has had “adopted” children but who goes through Father’s Day every single year without acknowledgment, here’s to you. You have shown us kindness and taken us under your care.  You have arranged for fried rice for breakfast even though the management forbade this.  You have given us that “look” a father would give when you knew we were naughty.  For four years, you were our friend, our ally, our conscience, and yes a father figure.  Wherever you are, cheers! Belated though it may be.

 

Six Pack

Here’s my female version of the WHO’S YOUR SEXY post.  Again in no particular order, here they are:

1.  Ashley Judd

2.   Julia Stiles

3.  Maura Tierney

4.  Rachel Griffiths

5.  Evangeline Lily

6.  Julie Delpy

 

Six Pack

Sometime ago, Geri asked the question, WHO’S YOUR SEXY?  I am ready to answer.  Here’s my sexy in no particular order.

1.  Wentworth Miller

2.  Matt Damon

3.  Piolo Pascual

4.  Shahrukh Khan

5.  J. T. Snow

 

 

6.  The Eagles, collectively.  Still yummy  @ 60, aren’t they?

 

 

Cruise Chronicles Part 6

June 1, 2007

 

     Sixth day and Sea day.  We woke up later than usual.  The day was a lazy one with winds whirring, but the sun was shining in all its glory, at least for part of the time.  We lay on our backs in the observation deck and I actually fell asleep.  We went around the boat, just chilled – twas actually a chill day, as advertised.  We went to the library, checked out books, went to a show, played a little casino, went to watch the lecture about the boat and met the captain and the senior engineer who answered questions from the peanut gallery.  We went on deck where every body seemed to be at the time with cameras in hand and some binoculars too.  We spotted some whales (tails only) at a distance and enjoyed as much of the scenery this part of Alaskan/Canadian border offers.  I could not get enough of this beauty before me.

    

 

   

 

 

  At 7:30 pm, we caught the show at Stardust Lounge called Cirque Pan, a combination of Peter Pan and Cirque du Soleil.  It was amazing really.  Acrobats rule the show.  Afterwards, Matt, the cruise director, called on stage members (some of them at least) of the crew from the housekeeping dept, front desk, kitchen, etc to receive the guests admiration, applause, and standing ovation.

 

     Dinnertime was at East West Steakhouse.  At 9:15, we headed to the Level 12 and had a very good experience.  We had for appetizers crab cakes for me and beef steak tomato salad for my husband; for soup and salad I had clam chowder, Roy had something that he and I could not remember at this time; for entrees, I had the veal chops and he had the medium rare tuna steak.  We had desserts too.  I had mocha crème brulee, hubby had banana foster.

 

 

 

 

Shooting from the Hip

Clock in.  9 am.

Phone rings.  I answer.  Voice on other end saying, system won’t let me do what I need to do, can you come.  Okay I said. 

Phone rings.  Talking to someone on the other line.  Voice message said my password/profile is corrupted I can’t work.  Come when you can.  I went.

Email outside vendor for tech help; none of my contacts know how to solve problem; gave me help desk number, talked to IT dude, could not help me, my profile needs tweaking, he said and passwords/profiles are not dealt in their dept.  Emailed same people who did not know how to solve problem to fix my profile so I can reset my password.  Still waiting for reply, four hours had passed, must be the time difference for the delay.

Phone rings.  I was at lunch infront of my pc bloghopping.  Lunchtime over, voice message same person on first paragraph has another problem.  Fixed it.  She had two more cases that needed to be fixed.  Fixed them too.

I am not a tech geek or a tech savvy person but I was assigned as a “super user” when we were upgrading our system.  We went live eigth months ago, and today is the day I really got to use being a super user. 

I am writing this because it can get overwhelming at times and I just need a little breather.  There, thanks folks for letting me breathe.

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I am saddened by the news of Rudy Fernandez’s demise due to cancer.  While I was not an avid fan, I did find his movies really entertaining and him totally believable as an action star.  I do prefer his romantic movies, like that one pairing him with Sharon Cuneta, Phil version of Overboard.  May he rest in eternal peace.

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I am finally getting Juno from Netflix.  I have no problems with Netflix despite two of my movies on queue with long wait on the status.  I really don’t need to hurry to see Juno, or August Rush, the other one with a long wait status, for that matter.  I was in fact really excited to see Namesake, but I guess it had to wait after I get and return Juno. 

To be honest, I am quite satisfied with Netflix.  They have a wide selection of movies, including Filipino movies (which unfortunately I have not sampled yet) and their array of foreign films is astounding.  The fact that they carry Bollywood movies only made me happier.  And as an added bonus, you can instantly watch movies on your pc.  We have done this a lot of times and we’re happy.

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I am totally spent.  I guess it’s one of those days when one earns her pay.  I definitely earned mine today.  An hour to go before I clock out.  Heading  home would be a little slow again, you know I hit the rush every time.  Just hoping today’s not as bad.   Thankfully, I don’t have to cook dinner.  I had penciled in laundry tonight, but let’s see if I am in the mood to still do that.  No need to rush really.  I still have a pair of undies for tomorrow’s use and hubby is also covered for the week. 

Oh boy, I really need a massage.  And dang, this headache stayed around all day.  I think it’s time for some Tylenol.

 

 

Cruise Chronicles Part 5

May 31, 2007

 

     Fifth day and Skagway day.  Today we did not request for room service breakfast because we knew we had plenty of time to eat in the café before going ashore.  We woke up after seven and after last night’s stomach trouble, I found myself feeling fine and ready to start the day.  Showered and powdered, we dressed warmly after our experiences in Ketchikan and Juneau.  The sky was dry, thank heavens.  But the wind was howling making it really, really cold, bitterly cold.  There was a shuttle outside the gangway that charges $1.50 every ride.  The ride included some narration about the town’s history.  We found out that we took the shuttle when the town was about 10-15 minutes walk away. 

 

 

     Skagway is called the gateway to Klondike.  It sits in Alaska coast and the town comprised of five blocks lengthwise and 27 blocks crosswise. The downtown is seven blocks with Broadway as the main drag.  The downtown area is under Parks services.  The buildings in Broadway are all preserved and/or renovated buildings from the days of the Klondike gold rush.  The only stone building belongs to Wells Fargo/Bank of Alaska on Broadway.  This is a tourist town.  According to the locals, there are 850 people in this town.  Today with four cruise ships on dock and with each one carrying about 2,500 passengers and crews, this picturesque coastal town swells.  Tourists are like ants smelling some sweets.  It is something to behold.  It’s like a scene out of a movie.  This quiet town of old Victorian buildings framed by the snowy peaks of the mountain on the background gets swamped by all these camera-toting tourists shooting pictures in the middle of the street.  I am one of them today.

 

 

     We first walked around town.  Yes, there was a Starbucks.  Much as I am a fan of this overpriced coffee chain, not all locations deserve/need one.  This is one of those locations that the presence of Starbucks ruins the idyllic setting.  We went inside the train station debating about whether to shell out $98/pp to ride the Yukon White Pass rail along the picturesque Alaskan mountainside.  We finally said it was too much money to spend.  Further down the town, we chanced upon one of the shops that advertise private tours.  This one is called Klondike tours.  This is a shuttle tour about 2.5 hours long running parallel with the train route but on the road going up to the Alaskan border with British Columbia. 

 

 

     The tour was awesome at $45/pp.  Jaime our driver/tour guide is a transplant from Yreka, California.  She first took us to pan for gold.  We collected about 5 gold specks (We believed were planted there purposely to satisfy tourists).  We took to the road again and stop at mountainside to gaze at beautiful mountain peaks, waterfalls, mountain goats, and the backcountry of Alaska and British Columbia.  The vista was magnificent.  I guess my pictures will speak for themselves.

 

 

     Just like every one else, we did come back to the ship for lunch.  Why pay extra outside when there is plenty of free food inside 15 minutes walk away (that is probably why the small tourist town of Skagway does not have a successful restaurant business)?  Our shopping was done in the morning too before lunch.  We bought some souvenirs and found thankfully an internet spot where one can buy an hour’s worth of internet time for $6.  When we first arrived, one of the computers still had time and we emailed our family and check some news for about 30 minutes.  We asked the store clerk if we could return later and use our minutes, whatever is remaining; except that we still had all of them.  We returned to use half of it after our tour and thought we could get half our money back but the storeowner said they don’t give refund.  Hubby just passed it on to Pablo, our cabin attendant.

 

     We just had our usual afternoon ritual of LAS TRAMBLAS tapas and desserts afterwards.  We had bread pudding tonight.  Then watched the show by an Alaskan native.  He brought some CDs to sell after the show.  WE bought one.  WE both support local individual artist and this man is one.   

 

National Donut Day

(photo borrowed from here)

I did not know there is such a thing as a National Donut Day, but apparently there is, and today it is.  When was the last time you had a donut with your java?  I don’t usually pair donuts and coffee together.  When I used to still eat them at a regular basis, I would pair it with a Coke.  How do you eat it?

When healthy eating entered my subconscious and conscious mind, I have decided to let donut off my list of “safe” foods to eat.  I do however put it as a twice-a-year food.  Last year, I had it once, at Krispy Kreme, never liked it.  I still crave for the Dunkin Donuts kinds; I can’t find them anywhere here.  Here being East Bay.   My favorite was the gooey Boston Creme.  I have never been back at Krispy Kreme so I dont know if they make Boston Creme. 

Okay, maybe it’s time for a donut eh?  Let me scour the neighborhood for something less nauseatingly sweet kind.

Happy Donut day and Happy weekend.