One more weekend
Big day is drawing closer and closer. i find myself unable to do much of anything. Just holding in stasis I suppose. I am trying to figure out what it all means. Such a big event. Something to enjoy? Several of my friends can not make it. And that makes it sad because I would at the very least would have wanted to be with them on this day like I was with them on their wedding day.
Probably made the last trip to the jeweler. everything seems to be inscribed and plated as of now. Now, Just gotta plan everything else. Baptismal certificate is here straight from the Philippine Islands. How crazy is that? Are there non-Catholics pretending to be Catholics just so that they can be married into a Catholic church?
Clothes are here. Barong Tagalog etc. pants. Hey, I need to get the pants cleaned. Crap! I should have done that.
Seating arrrangements are clean. If you did not send in your invite, boy, you'll be left out in the dust.
Photos are set.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Life and Chaos
As the wedding date approaches, I am more and more worried about my work. Primarily because I just started and I am still learning the ropes. I don't know how I am being perceived by the people. Am I doing a great job? I suppose it comes from my previous boss who was a bit on the demanding side. I still remember how much it hurt my pride when she said that perhaps she hired the wrong person. Don't get me wrong, I got back to her by telling her that she might be right.
But all that is light years away. I am now with a nice big, humongous law firm and I have a great new boss who seems as sarcastic as I am. He was even insightful enough to hire someone so overtly qualified for the job that it is not even funny. Thus, I find myself sitting for nearly four hours at work writing reports while the rest of the time is spent running myself ragged trying to figure out the system of the lawyers and various other personnel in the firm. And last Friday, the lesson during group meeting was NETWORKING. And so, he took us out to lunch with two other managers and let us get to know them. How good can you get?
I still miss my group however. I thought that I was on the way to building a really great team and I was going to be able to brag about it wherever I went. However, now, I realize just how unprepared scientists can be for the real world. We just function in a very dysfunctional way. In some ways, we reward mediocrity. We suck up to bosses though people will tell you that I never did that after grad school. At any rate, my worries now are just confined to me, myself and I.
On the homefront, things are getting to the line of the wedding. My baptismal certificates are on the way from the Philippines hopefully. I sent in my shoe so that the soles can be changed to leather. Hello dancing shoes! Actually, I was supposed to shop for Florsheim shoes for the wedding. My father always got Florsheim shoes. if it was good enough for such a picky person as him, it was going to be good enough for me. But the salesman at the shoe shop said that Florsheim was just not the same any more.
Speaking of shoe shops, I still go to this small storefront store in Berkeley run by two African-American gentlemen. And I do mean gentlemen. They are old and grizzled, but they call everyone "Sir" and "Maam". You can see that they won't take any lip from anyone. And they are proud to be shoe salesmen. Well, salesmen who happen to work on shoes. I suppose the proper term for them are cobblers.
It is great to see that in this day and age that I can still find someone who likes quality shoes and makes and mends them. For those getting on in years, go to PW Minor to see some nice shoes. Comfy and very nice.
As the wedding date approaches, I am more and more worried about my work. Primarily because I just started and I am still learning the ropes. I don't know how I am being perceived by the people. Am I doing a great job? I suppose it comes from my previous boss who was a bit on the demanding side. I still remember how much it hurt my pride when she said that perhaps she hired the wrong person. Don't get me wrong, I got back to her by telling her that she might be right.
But all that is light years away. I am now with a nice big, humongous law firm and I have a great new boss who seems as sarcastic as I am. He was even insightful enough to hire someone so overtly qualified for the job that it is not even funny. Thus, I find myself sitting for nearly four hours at work writing reports while the rest of the time is spent running myself ragged trying to figure out the system of the lawyers and various other personnel in the firm. And last Friday, the lesson during group meeting was NETWORKING. And so, he took us out to lunch with two other managers and let us get to know them. How good can you get?
I still miss my group however. I thought that I was on the way to building a really great team and I was going to be able to brag about it wherever I went. However, now, I realize just how unprepared scientists can be for the real world. We just function in a very dysfunctional way. In some ways, we reward mediocrity. We suck up to bosses though people will tell you that I never did that after grad school. At any rate, my worries now are just confined to me, myself and I.
On the homefront, things are getting to the line of the wedding. My baptismal certificates are on the way from the Philippines hopefully. I sent in my shoe so that the soles can be changed to leather. Hello dancing shoes! Actually, I was supposed to shop for Florsheim shoes for the wedding. My father always got Florsheim shoes. if it was good enough for such a picky person as him, it was going to be good enough for me. But the salesman at the shoe shop said that Florsheim was just not the same any more.
Speaking of shoe shops, I still go to this small storefront store in Berkeley run by two African-American gentlemen. And I do mean gentlemen. They are old and grizzled, but they call everyone "Sir" and "Maam". You can see that they won't take any lip from anyone. And they are proud to be shoe salesmen. Well, salesmen who happen to work on shoes. I suppose the proper term for them are cobblers.
It is great to see that in this day and age that I can still find someone who likes quality shoes and makes and mends them. For those getting on in years, go to PW Minor to see some nice shoes. Comfy and very nice.
Life and Chaos
As the wedding date approaches, I am more and more worried about my work. Primarily because I just started and I am still learning the ropes. I don't know how I am being perceived by the people. Am I doing a great job? I suppose it comes from my previous boss who was a bit on the demanding side. I still remember how much it hurt my pride when she said that perhaps she hired the wrong person. Don't get me wrong, I got back to her by telling her that she might be right.
But all that is light years away. I am now with a nice big, humongous law firm and I have a great new boss who seems as sarcastic as I am. He was even insightful enough to hire someone so overtly qualified for the job that it is not even funny. Thus, I find myself sitting for nearly four hours at work writing reports while the rest of the time is spent running myself ragged trying to figure out the system of the lawyers and various other personnel in the firm. And last Friday, the lesson during group meeting was NETWORKING. And so, he took us out to lunch with two other managers and let us get to know them. How good can you get?
I still miss my group however. I thought that I was on the way to building a really great team and I was going to be able to brag about it wherever I went. However, now, I realize just how unprepared scientists can be for the real world. We just function in a very dysfunctional way. In some ways, we reward mediocrity. We suck up to bosses though people will tell you that I never did that after grad school. At any rate, my worries now are just confined to me, myself and I.
On the homefront, things are getting to the line of the wedding. My baptismal certificates are on the way from the Philippines hopefully. I sent in my shoe so that the soles can be changed to leather. Hello dancing shoes! Actually, I was supposed to shop for Florsheim shoes for the wedding. My father always got Florsheim shoes. if it was good enough for such a picky person as him, it was going to be good enough for me. But the salesman at the shoe shop said that Florsheim was just not the same any more.
Speaking of shoe shops, I still go to this small storefront store in Berkeley run by two African-American gentlemen. And I do mean gentlemen. They are old and grizzled, but they call everyone "Sir" and "Maam". You can see that they won't take any lip from anyone. And they are proud to be shoe salesmen. Well, salesmen who happen to work on shoes. I suppose the proper term for them are cobblers.
It is great to see that in this day and age that I can still find someone who likes quality shoes and makes and mends them. For those getting on in years, go to PW Minor to see some nice shoes. Comfy and very nice.
As the wedding date approaches, I am more and more worried about my work. Primarily because I just started and I am still learning the ropes. I don't know how I am being perceived by the people. Am I doing a great job? I suppose it comes from my previous boss who was a bit on the demanding side. I still remember how much it hurt my pride when she said that perhaps she hired the wrong person. Don't get me wrong, I got back to her by telling her that she might be right.
But all that is light years away. I am now with a nice big, humongous law firm and I have a great new boss who seems as sarcastic as I am. He was even insightful enough to hire someone so overtly qualified for the job that it is not even funny. Thus, I find myself sitting for nearly four hours at work writing reports while the rest of the time is spent running myself ragged trying to figure out the system of the lawyers and various other personnel in the firm. And last Friday, the lesson during group meeting was NETWORKING. And so, he took us out to lunch with two other managers and let us get to know them. How good can you get?
I still miss my group however. I thought that I was on the way to building a really great team and I was going to be able to brag about it wherever I went. However, now, I realize just how unprepared scientists can be for the real world. We just function in a very dysfunctional way. In some ways, we reward mediocrity. We suck up to bosses though people will tell you that I never did that after grad school. At any rate, my worries now are just confined to me, myself and I.
On the homefront, things are getting to the line of the wedding. My baptismal certificates are on the way from the Philippines hopefully. I sent in my shoe so that the soles can be changed to leather. Hello dancing shoes! Actually, I was supposed to shop for Florsheim shoes for the wedding. My father always got Florsheim shoes. if it was good enough for such a picky person as him, it was going to be good enough for me. But the salesman at the shoe shop said that Florsheim was just not the same any more.
Speaking of shoe shops, I still go to this small storefront store in Berkeley run by two African-American gentlemen. And I do mean gentlemen. They are old and grizzled, but they call everyone "Sir" and "Maam". You can see that they won't take any lip from anyone. And they are proud to be shoe salesmen. Well, salesmen who happen to work on shoes. I suppose the proper term for them are cobblers.
It is great to see that in this day and age that I can still find someone who likes quality shoes and makes and mends them. For those getting on in years, go to PW Minor to see some nice shoes. Comfy and very nice.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Another weekend down, how many more to go?
This weekend was actually a reasonably quiet one. We should have gone to the cowboy shooting weekend, but our host could not make it. Instead, I rested. Got much needed rest. Friday evening was a Costco night. Was tempted to buy some Buffy the Vampire slayer DVD. Tried out some shrimp cocktail and costco chicken. It was not our usual buying spree. We did not get any clothes or too much food. For some reason, I have not been in the mood to cook. Friday afternoon was the doctor and after that to Cody's bookstore and I managed to buy some books on science fiction.
Saturday was spent going to the jeweler to pick up the So's parent's remade wedding rings, groomsmen gifts, and engraving of the goblets. Next week, we are supposed to pick up the goblets. IN the afternoon, the SO went to the parental house and finished off making the giveaways. Hope they like them. The SO was setting up tables for the weddding during Saturday night. Who can sit with whom? Some tables are 9 or 8. Will they be able to sit with this person?
Sunday, we spent at home. The SO was working on the video for the wedding in the morning. She actually finished the whole thing and it was great!!! She is truly gifted with the video things. In the afternoon, it was the party for the christening. While there, I managed to talk to some of the cousins about their future plans in classes in high school. ONe of the cousins wants to be a car designer. The other wants to be a teacher. The other would be a politician.
Sunday evening, we ended up in SF to see the twin nieces. They were so small. So tiny. The SO said that Baby B was heavy. BAby A was tiny and small. But, BAby A kept smiling all the time. While Baby B was just sleeping after having finished off some milkl.
How many more weekends before the wedding date? I don't know. Time is getting shorter. I hope that everything is going well. Gotta figure out who is in the hotel and not.
Oh, and I have to set up the honeymoon!!!!
This weekend was actually a reasonably quiet one. We should have gone to the cowboy shooting weekend, but our host could not make it. Instead, I rested. Got much needed rest. Friday evening was a Costco night. Was tempted to buy some Buffy the Vampire slayer DVD. Tried out some shrimp cocktail and costco chicken. It was not our usual buying spree. We did not get any clothes or too much food. For some reason, I have not been in the mood to cook. Friday afternoon was the doctor and after that to Cody's bookstore and I managed to buy some books on science fiction.
Saturday was spent going to the jeweler to pick up the So's parent's remade wedding rings, groomsmen gifts, and engraving of the goblets. Next week, we are supposed to pick up the goblets. IN the afternoon, the SO went to the parental house and finished off making the giveaways. Hope they like them. The SO was setting up tables for the weddding during Saturday night. Who can sit with whom? Some tables are 9 or 8. Will they be able to sit with this person?
Sunday, we spent at home. The SO was working on the video for the wedding in the morning. She actually finished the whole thing and it was great!!! She is truly gifted with the video things. In the afternoon, it was the party for the christening. While there, I managed to talk to some of the cousins about their future plans in classes in high school. ONe of the cousins wants to be a car designer. The other wants to be a teacher. The other would be a politician.
Sunday evening, we ended up in SF to see the twin nieces. They were so small. So tiny. The SO said that Baby B was heavy. BAby A was tiny and small. But, BAby A kept smiling all the time. While Baby B was just sleeping after having finished off some milkl.
How many more weekends before the wedding date? I don't know. Time is getting shorter. I hope that everything is going well. Gotta figure out who is in the hotel and not.
Oh, and I have to set up the honeymoon!!!!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
What's in my mind?
A sense of panic and a sense of not knowing where to be. Hmm, it seems silly to be worried over a wedding. But there are paperwork and then there are paperwork. Need some baptismal certificate from the Philippines. Hope it gets here on time.
Otherwise, I don't know what happens.
I need to believe in the higher God.
A sense of panic and a sense of not knowing where to be. Hmm, it seems silly to be worried over a wedding. But there are paperwork and then there are paperwork. Need some baptismal certificate from the Philippines. Hope it gets here on time.
Otherwise, I don't know what happens.
I need to believe in the higher God.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Pacquiao fought on 10 Sep 05
Manny fought in Staples in LA this past weekend and won. Apparently, there were plenty of distractions in his last fight. Like, he was living with six people in a hotel room. Whoever his previous promoter was, may God let him see enlightenment.
Manny fought in Staples in LA this past weekend and won. Apparently, there were plenty of distractions in his last fight. Like, he was living with six people in a hotel room. Whoever his previous promoter was, may God let him see enlightenment.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
How Uncles Are Manipulated
So I was trying to keep control of the niece. It turns out that children are very resilient because of their abundant energy. Each time that I tried to ask the child to do something, she would do something else. And of course, that would be accompanied by a smile, a touch or a giggle. How can I resist?
When I tried to stop her from grabbing things from the table and bringing it to me, she went to the window and played there banging her hands on the window sill. I could even hear a nice rhythm. But, after a while, she became quiet. Then a giggle.
Whoops, where did that giggle come from?
Ah! She's in her parent's room... playing with electrical wiring! Uncle shut the room door.
Well, she next went to her room and started pulling her dresser drawers. Okay, uncle shuts her room door.
The niece now says, "Oh yeah, uncle? How about I gnaw some slippers?" Yikes! Uncles rushes to hide the slippers. Uncle screams about how dirty the slippers are.
The niece replied "Hmm, see these nice bags, uncle? How about I stomp on them to crush whatever is inside?" Holy Cow!!! Uncle runs to take away the bags!!!!
"The niece then started fixating on the dining room table. She climbed onto the table and posed there like a model. THREE TIMES.
Uncle is tired. Uncle has gotten sick. Uncle needs to go to work.
So I was trying to keep control of the niece. It turns out that children are very resilient because of their abundant energy. Each time that I tried to ask the child to do something, she would do something else. And of course, that would be accompanied by a smile, a touch or a giggle. How can I resist?
When I tried to stop her from grabbing things from the table and bringing it to me, she went to the window and played there banging her hands on the window sill. I could even hear a nice rhythm. But, after a while, she became quiet. Then a giggle.
Whoops, where did that giggle come from?
Ah! She's in her parent's room... playing with electrical wiring! Uncle shut the room door.
Well, she next went to her room and started pulling her dresser drawers. Okay, uncle shuts her room door.
The niece now says, "Oh yeah, uncle? How about I gnaw some slippers?" Yikes! Uncles rushes to hide the slippers. Uncle screams about how dirty the slippers are.
The niece replied "Hmm, see these nice bags, uncle? How about I stomp on them to crush whatever is inside?" Holy Cow!!! Uncle runs to take away the bags!!!!
"The niece then started fixating on the dining room table. She climbed onto the table and posed there like a model. THREE TIMES.
Uncle is tired. Uncle has gotten sick. Uncle needs to go to work.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Emergency! Emergency!
The sister had baby twins last Friday and so I was asked to babysit the eldest. I was rather worried as to how to change diapers so I asked the SO to go with me. I have a paranoia about feces and babies. Although it makes sense of me in the biological way, I don't know about the intellectual and the olfactory senses. Feces is not my favorite scent.
The experience made me consider and question my ability and desire to have children however. After all, who am I to have a kid? I can't get to SF without getting lost. I can barely clean my apartment. And, I haven't cooked in ages. What makes me qualified to breed?
The weekend is over and I have succeeded in taking care of the niece. She fell on her face twice. But as my brother said, "Parang bato yan." She manipulated, laughed, cajoled and smiled her way out of two days. Was it only two days? It seems like it was longer.
My doubts are still there. But the SO has said that we will find a way to deal with the situation. Where the SO has set the direction, I follow. Previous episodes have proven to me that it would be unwise to follow.
Still, I don't know. I guess my mother was correct. She warned me before I went to college. "As soon as you have children, your life is no longer yours. You will live your life for your children." And she was correct. I have seen ambitious people turn down job offers in other states because they did not want their kids to live in a particular location.
At the very least, I know I can handle changing diapers. No sweat. Two minutes or so. I can do it.
The sister had baby twins last Friday and so I was asked to babysit the eldest. I was rather worried as to how to change diapers so I asked the SO to go with me. I have a paranoia about feces and babies. Although it makes sense of me in the biological way, I don't know about the intellectual and the olfactory senses. Feces is not my favorite scent.
The experience made me consider and question my ability and desire to have children however. After all, who am I to have a kid? I can't get to SF without getting lost. I can barely clean my apartment. And, I haven't cooked in ages. What makes me qualified to breed?
The weekend is over and I have succeeded in taking care of the niece. She fell on her face twice. But as my brother said, "Parang bato yan." She manipulated, laughed, cajoled and smiled her way out of two days. Was it only two days? It seems like it was longer.
My doubts are still there. But the SO has said that we will find a way to deal with the situation. Where the SO has set the direction, I follow. Previous episodes have proven to me that it would be unwise to follow.
Still, I don't know. I guess my mother was correct. She warned me before I went to college. "As soon as you have children, your life is no longer yours. You will live your life for your children." And she was correct. I have seen ambitious people turn down job offers in other states because they did not want their kids to live in a particular location.
At the very least, I know I can handle changing diapers. No sweat. Two minutes or so. I can do it.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Changes in Life
It is difficult for me to comprehend that I have been in America for 23 years. I am no longer in school. I have been out of school for eight years. I work. My parents are no longer with us. I am about to get married.
I had always been thinking "Someday, I will do this…" Yet, loook at what happened. Someday creeped up on me and said "Here I am. Someday is Today."
Yesterday was the minus one month and counting for the event. I suppose I should look upon it as a celebration, not an ends to itself. The priest Father R said that we have been married. It is simply the public celebration. The colonized part of me can't understand that. The other part of me understands quite well.
Seven years of happiness and choosing to be happy. Interspersed with moments of absolute fear from the future and from death. Specially from death. It is a constant thing this death. I see more and more of it in the news. But I guess that is why you are supposed to try really hard to live life well.
My sister is about to have twins. What a change that will be. From one child to threee. How about us? From zero children to hopefully three also.
Life is everyday. What are you doing today?
It is difficult for me to comprehend that I have been in America for 23 years. I am no longer in school. I have been out of school for eight years. I work. My parents are no longer with us. I am about to get married.
I had always been thinking "Someday, I will do this…" Yet, loook at what happened. Someday creeped up on me and said "Here I am. Someday is Today."
Yesterday was the minus one month and counting for the event. I suppose I should look upon it as a celebration, not an ends to itself. The priest Father R said that we have been married. It is simply the public celebration. The colonized part of me can't understand that. The other part of me understands quite well.
Seven years of happiness and choosing to be happy. Interspersed with moments of absolute fear from the future and from death. Specially from death. It is a constant thing this death. I see more and more of it in the news. But I guess that is why you are supposed to try really hard to live life well.
My sister is about to have twins. What a change that will be. From one child to threee. How about us? From zero children to hopefully three also.
Life is everyday. What are you doing today?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Name the Nieces Contest
Time to have an interactive post. All of you readers out there can now throw in your suggestions for the names of my about to be born nieces. Contest rules: No J names. Apparently, there is no J in the Filipino alphabet and so no Jennifer or Janet. To make it more interesting, how did you get that name or where did you hear it or tell me an interesting story about the name. No stories about "it sounded nice". Nope, gotta have something very cool.
Yup, the big sister is humongous. I can hardly believe it. The amazing thing is that she does not feel the contractions. My guess is that she is so fit and physically good that she can't feel it.
Yup, the big sister is humongous. I can hardly believe it. The amazing thing is that she does not feel the contractions. My guess is that she is so fit and physically good that she can't feel it.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Monday, September 05, 2005
The Perfect Buffalo Wing
Since April 2005 when we visited San Diego and my taste buds were ruined by the hotel Buffalo Wings, I have been in search of good chicken. With the trip to Long Beach, I had to continue the quest:
1. Denny's in the ghetoey part of Long Beach. We managed to quickly find this restaurant because even Kapre and Tikbalang were hungry that first night. We had arrived in Long Beach at about 10:30 PM and decided that we would search for good restaurants. The wings were crunchy and the sauce was good. It managed to erase my bad memories of San Diego hotel buffalo wings.
2. Hyatt Restaurant. On Sun afternoon, we went to the Hyatt to try out their version. Not as good. The celery was lame and the chicken was not crispy.
3. Hooters. The So and D wanted to visit what was so special about Hooters. They found out that it was a bad version of a Southern restaurant with weird energy men eyeing the doughy and pillowy breasts of the servers. Sat evening was excellent however because of the shrimp fries. I did not taste any as I had polished off the pizza that I had ordered for lunch.
4. Outback Steak House. The buffalo wings were okay. Not crispy and the sauce was mild. Another chain restaurant that serves okay food. Although to be honest, my ribs are warming up in the microwave and that is dinner tonight.
The search continues.
Since April 2005 when we visited San Diego and my taste buds were ruined by the hotel Buffalo Wings, I have been in search of good chicken. With the trip to Long Beach, I had to continue the quest:
1. Denny's in the ghetoey part of Long Beach. We managed to quickly find this restaurant because even Kapre and Tikbalang were hungry that first night. We had arrived in Long Beach at about 10:30 PM and decided that we would search for good restaurants. The wings were crunchy and the sauce was good. It managed to erase my bad memories of San Diego hotel buffalo wings.
2. Hyatt Restaurant. On Sun afternoon, we went to the Hyatt to try out their version. Not as good. The celery was lame and the chicken was not crispy.
3. Hooters. The So and D wanted to visit what was so special about Hooters. They found out that it was a bad version of a Southern restaurant with weird energy men eyeing the doughy and pillowy breasts of the servers. Sat evening was excellent however because of the shrimp fries. I did not taste any as I had polished off the pizza that I had ordered for lunch.
4. Outback Steak House. The buffalo wings were okay. Not crispy and the sauce was mild. Another chain restaurant that serves okay food. Although to be honest, my ribs are warming up in the microwave and that is dinner tonight.
The search continues.
Hentai
One of the big lessons over the weekend at the Pacific Media Exposition held in Long Beach CA is hentai which means pervert or perversion.
Now, our fellow travellers gave us a gift of DVD which was enjoyed with much commentary from me and the SO. The stuff is not for everyone, but it does show men and women's interesting tastes in life. It is also a social commentary on what happens when one tries to regulate sexuality in society like Japan.
And for those who like the more PG rated cartoons, here's anime links.
One of the big lessons over the weekend at the Pacific Media Exposition held in Long Beach CA is hentai which means pervert or perversion.
Now, our fellow travellers gave us a gift of DVD which was enjoyed with much commentary from me and the SO. The stuff is not for everyone, but it does show men and women's interesting tastes in life. It is also a social commentary on what happens when one tries to regulate sexuality in society like Japan.
And for those who like the more PG rated cartoons, here's anime links.
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