I invite you to join me as I share my journey here in the US. Hopefully, you can relate to my joys, pains and struggles, my life transformations, coping mechanisms, as well as some crazy, and memorable moments. Likewise , I do believe some lessons could be gained from my story. To all Filipinos out there or people who want to migrate to America, this is my reality and I would encourage you to keep your dreams of coming here. But then, be prepared and equipped with the right skills and attitude so you will survive.
The recent price hike on crude oil from OPEC countries led a spiralling effect on consumer goods and directly hit the people especially the middle and lower income groups in countries around the world. Not in isolation, the Filipinos, likewise suffered much from these energy crisis, topped also by the rice shortage.
At last, the day arrived for my first ever Journey show!!! It was held at the Nikon Theater at Jones Beach in Wantagh, Long Island. Showtime was 7 p.m. but alas, with the rainstorm, it was delayed.
The day started sunny and warm but I heard from the morning weather report that there would be rain and thunderstorms towards the afternoon. I was silently praying at work that it wouldn't rain. And I had a doctor's appointment too, at 4:00 for my annual physical.
By 4:30 while at the doctor's office, the rain poured accompanied by lightning and thunder. It was a rainstorm, parang amihan. When I left the house, it was still sunny so I decided to wear my white sandals and flesh pants with white shirt, which I planned to change to my black "rockstar" shirt for the show. Alas, the rain poured and so I decided to change my pants to blue jeans and black slip-ons. After my physical (30 min) I waited till there was a break in the downpour and got on the bus home.
My goodness, by 5:30 torrential rains poured again! The weather wasn't just cooperating! It was raining like cats and dogs, with lightning and thunderstorms!! I was afraid this show will be cancelled. I kept listening to the weather report and they said the rainstorm was heading North-Northeast, so I was hopeful it would clear up at Jones Beach since it is in the Southwest side of Long Island. Until 6:15p.m., when John & Geraldine picked me up, it was still raining heavily. I was in full gear: jackets, hat, my see thru umbrella. Water bottle, camera, binoculars (since we were seating at the mezzanine-I had no idea how high it was till I got there). I ate before going so I would enjoy the show and not miss parts of it, by getting food far down below, where the food kiosks are located. My only worry then was if ever the show was going to push thru but I have read that these band shows are rain or shine. Well, Nikon Theater is an ampitheater-open one, with only the stage covered, so I was thinking, should we watch and get soaked in the rain? Depends on what my companions decide.
We arrived at 6:40, got a parking space, but way too far from the venue. It was still raining, so we walked to the entrances with umbrellas on. I saw a number of Filipinos too; they came to support Arnel, or so I assumed. Like me, I was curious how the band really plays and if the American people of LI New York will gonna accept Arnel as the singer of their fave band.
Contrary to popular belief by many Filipinos back in the homeland, there are also poor and homeless people here in the U.S. of A! Yes, Pinoys and other people outside the great America, situations we see in your own countries and here are the same, more or less.
I'm talking about poverty situations and homelessness that is so prevalent or which characterizes third world or poor countries. However, to my realization (and shock!) there are also poor and homeless peole in America despite our belief that it is the land of milk and honey. Not anymore; the prices of milk and honey have gone up in recent times, just as the price of gas increased. And this factor just made meeting daily needs for lower-middle and low income groups here in the US as in other countries, even harder. But what about the poorest and the homeless? Yes they do exist in America.
Based on my observations and from news reports, I have a picture of the poverty and the situation of the poor here. Not that I will cite statistics here, but times are hard also for many families and individuals here. I even belong to the poor category in t he socio-economic bracket, being part of those retail workers that earn less than 25,000 per year. I have heard about a news feature that related how many families in various parts of America cope with poverty and homelessness. Many of these have no permanent jobs and take contractual types or those seasonal jobs as they come. These could mostly construction jobs or factory jobs, lanscaping and others. Many also resort to collecting bottles and cans and other scraps which they can redeem for cash in collection centers found in groceries or supermarket chains.
I sprained my wrist at work early this morning, while I was lifting a heavy marble slab from under a shopping cart. I have done this several times and I was in the right position (to protect my back) while lifting it. However, it kind of slipped sideways and dragged my right hand down. I felt a shooting pain that went up my elbows, and I gave a muted gasp of pain. Then the pain subsided and I went to do my tasks. I even arranged those marble slabs in the case for the sandwiches.
So, did you notice that today's date is 08/08/08 ? I wouldn't have paid a little attention to today's date, had I not heard a news bit in the radio at around 5:20 this morning. The newscaster said that according to some astrologer or whatever (I actually didn't catch that part well) today could be un unlucky day: eight-eight-o-eight. Oh, really?so I thought and dismissed it quickly since I was getting ready to leave for work which starts 6:00 in the morning.
However, Kris Aquino in her morning show with Boy Abunda today, said that today is a lucky day according to Chinese Feng Sui because 8 is an upward number. Well, I hope it is. I'm not much a believer in these things, but I took it as a coincidence, really. I forgot about it until I was filling up the incident report with the PBS and was writing down the date as: 08/08-08. So I muttered aloud: Oh, no! Don't tell me today is my unlucky day! To which the store's Personnel Specialist asked what I was talking about. She told me not to say thet coz it was creeping her out.
Oh well, what can I do. I did my best to fill up those incident reports that was about 10 a.m. already. I didn't report the incident to the office because the pain was gone until it recurred again at around 9:00. I made an ice pack and asked my co-worker, Rosa to help me secure it with a rubber band. I remembered this is the first aid for sprains from my chiropractor and in my medical assisiting class.
In a short time, I was talking to a nurse on the phone. They call it on-the-phone nurse assistance. She took my personal information and then started giving me instructions on what to do like applying cold ice pack and hot compress alternately for the first two days. She also told me to see a doctor- ay doctor as long as he/she accepts Worker's Compensation (the insurance company that pays for work-related injuries, as mandated by law).
Since my primary doctor wasn't available, and neither was a preferred one, I asked then to be taken to a hospital. Andrew, the In-Store Educator, took me to the nearest Hospital-the one which I had my surgery in 2006. He just dropped me, so I was on my own. There was this sort of a receptionist guy who let me fil up the first form (of a series). Oh well, paperworks again to fill...then a few minutes wait..called by a nurse who applied ice pack on my right wrist, took my vitals...then I was escorted to another window for information records.
Again another wait for like 30 minutes in the waiting room. The I was called for an X-ray..then a short wait till I was seen by a doctor. So I finished the whole process like in two hours. I waited for 25 minutes for a cab so I reached the apartment at around 1:00: p.m.. I was hungry.
Thank God, I didn't have any tear to a ligament or break to a bone. That would be worse. But I had to wear this splint to stabilize and support my hand & wrist. I didn't work the following day as per doctor's order to rest for 24 hrs. Here is the picture of my hand in that huge splint:
I love nature and just watching birds makes me feel thejoy of God's creation. I sometimes envy these creatures because they seem not to have any worries in the world. Even at winter time, they are around but not as many species than what I see during spring and summer.
Truly, God takes care of them. As the bible says, in Matthew 25:26. "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. are you not of more value than they? God feeds them, so why should I worry much about tomorrow. God will take care of me as He takes care of these creatures. Just watching these birds gather food in the lawns and hop about in the parking lots make me happy and feel God's wonderful creations.
These are Canadian geese which are grazing (eat grass) in the parking lot of the Fire Station. They come in flocks usually & these group had five of them. One day, there was a real big family that camped in the backyard-there were gooselings, many of them! And these fowls stop traffic, too! That same big family was crossing the highway in single file- the little ones folowing the leader-a male one and then the mother is at the end if the line plus other adult ones with the flock. I wish I had my camera with me so I could have taken a picture of that scene. I was amused because all the cars were waiting until the last goose crossed the street. Nobody harms them but sometimes, a few gets run over by those rascal drivers.
my driving road test , waaahhhh! My score? Seventy. failure talaga, dinalang 75, okay na pasang awa sa akin.And wasted my hard earned money paid to the driving school for the one-hour lesson before the road test and use of their car for the road test. And the money I paid for the 5 hr. lessons I took last June and last July 2007. Anyway, it's not the end of the world. I didn't have much practise since no one has much spare time to practise with me. I practised once with Gerldine, just for the three-point turn and drove around our street. One just cannot practise- drive around without a license. If you do, you must have somebody with you who has one and that the learner has to have the learner permit ID. Which I have.
Yes, last July 30 I took my road test at 3 p.m. The driving school picked me up at 1:30 and the woman instructor took me for the 1 hr. lesson. We practised making left turns on an intersection with a round green light, with the turning green light, changing lanes, and most important, making a parallel park. Oh, and the head turns.I felt good. While we were parked waiting for my turn for the test, I kind of reviewed the procedure for the parallel park and three-point turn. Here, yiou can' make a hit and miss procedure-they observe how you do it the way they want it done. The DMV has a booklet and with illustrations and instructions.
But during the test, one word uttered by the inspector, just gave way to my nerves. I forgot everyting. I messed up the parallel park and went up the curb of the house. Minus points. I didn't crawl up closer to the road in the intersection, while waiting fo the green light for me to turn right into the highway. And he said, move closer, and be gentle on the brakes. he he..my my what heavy foot I had. I think it wasn't meant to be. The incident we had just an hour before the road test was a sort of premonition of the test result.
An hour before the road test, while on the 1 hr. lesson, we came to an intersection and almost met an accident and I was on the wheel! No, not that I panicked or almost slammed into a post, but there was this ten wheeler cargo truck backing up in our direction. And the driver couldn't see us. The woman instructor (Joan) told me to put the car on reverse gear fast! which I did. However, I couldn't back -up any further because the car behind us wasn't moving!!! Joan was cursing and was honking. She told me to put the car on drive and to drive forward as the truck's rear was almost going to hit us. So I drove closer to the pedestrian side of the road until we were able to get out of that corner. Whew!! Joan was really mad at the old woman driver in the car behind us. She kept saying: "She is an idiot. Did she want us to be killed?" But I was proud of myself; I was CALM.
Okay, NEXT TIME, take two. It's not the end of the world. I don't really need a car now since I'm within 5 minutes walking distance to my workplace. But I just want to have a driver's license so in case I need to change jobs or move far, I can drive.
I have requested the driving school to make the second road test appointment for me. Joan told me the last sched was Sept. 2, so mine will be much later. The guy at their office told me to call him back after an hour as he still will check it out online. However, I haven't called back. I wasn't motivated to call back. But I know, I have a second schedule but I was kind of not looking forward to it. I'm even thinking of not doing it anymore. But Geraldine, my roommate, keeps pushing me to do it again, since she also failed her first road test -and she was driving for 15 years in Gen. Santos City!
I tell you guys, it's not easy to get a driver's license here. Unlike in the Philippines, one can get a license even if he/she doesn't know how to drive. I can drive, meaning I can take a car on the road, but when it comes to taking the road test, the examiners grade you on your judgement, technicalities, on how well you know the rules of the road, which is sadly, not so imposed in the Philippines.That's why our traffic situation there in Manila especially is terrible. Here, you can see drivers stopping at red lights, even if there are no other cars around or no police around; they won't go ahead but will wait for the green light.
So, there. Will update you later if I will take another road test or not. I am in a dilemna now, lol!!!
We Pinoys, just like any other nationalities love our own celebrities and foreign artists, mostly American artists as well. I have my own share of Filipino artists: singers, tv & movie stars but I must say, I am not really the fan or fanatics as some are. No, I didn't belong to any fans club nor did I put up my own. I am by far the casual fan: if I like an artist, I follow her career but not to the extent that I will buy every single album/cd s/he has produced or watch all of his/her movies. Or, yeah, that was before..
But in recent months, am I turning into a fan? Is it too late for me to be a fan-atic? No way! I'll answer my own question: I'm just being appreciative of real talents when I see one and yes, it's not late especially if the artist's career has just started. Like Arnel Pineda and Charice Pempengco. Oh yes, gals and girls, pare and mare, I am a FAN of these two. And my friends her in L.I. New York, are pushing me to be the president of our own chapter of Arnelian fans club. Gosh, now I am being embarassed.
But before these two, i have always admired Lea Salonga. Even before her London and Broadway appearances. I loved watching her "Love Lea" shows back in the 80's when she was just a child. Maybe because I liked her talking in English-that which did not endeared her to the "masa" or common people. So, being able to watch her on a musical or play was my ultimate dream experience. And finally, I was able to do so last April 2007 in Broadway when she did Les Miserables again, this time as Fantine. I was so much fulfilled. Her peformance was so moving and she was just amazing actress as well. And to top it all, I was able to have her autograph and took pictures of her. However, my camera ran out of battery , the pics wer eout of focus because I still didn't know how to work it. I had one tiny shot of her but it's in my cellfone, and I don't know how to upload it since I don't have a USB for my fone. . I will try again sending it via email.
Why are they pushing that idea to me? Simple, I give them many information about Arnel, what's going on with the Journey tour, song updates, trivias, the release of the Journey mp3 player, etc. Remember, I was once an information officer, so I am just doing what I know best, ha ha. Oh well, if you hang out too much in the Journey related forum at Journeymusic.com, Melodicrock.com and at the Arnel Pineda offcial site, and the APIFs site, you'll get a dose of information. And I get to know my virtual friends there from all over the world! But no, I haven't really accepted the proposition to be president. I'm honored but can't just do it. lol. These girls just won't leave me though. And one of them is bringing along Philippine flags to the Journey concert. Am not into that, not that I am not proud of my country, but because this kind of offends other people's sensibilities. And mind you, it's coming from Filipinos as well.
And about Charice, I can't get over this girl, ever since I heard her YT vids when she was like 10 yrs. old and all the others that were posted. I was just blown away!My gosh, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was thinking she will be the next Regine Velazques, only to find out she would be the first one to break the international scene for Filipino artists.
I didn't follow her battle at Little Big Star (since I didn't have a TFC and haven't found Pinoy Chnanel yet) and only knew how she fared in that show after all the accounts I have read in YT and Pinoy Channel when she became a YT sensation and guested in those popular US talk shows. That is really the sad state of our showbiz industry in the Philippines. Good looks and mestiza features are foremost considerations to make it big, never mind if you have mediocre talent and sings like a drunk frog!
But thanks to the almighty internet and You Tube, Charice and Arnel was given the biggest break in their lives and are now living their dreams. I was able to watch Charice sing LIVE at the NY City cultural show to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day last June 1. My friend Geraldine urged me to go to the city because Charice will be there . And this time, I was "huli sa balita". So I asked her wher she got the news and it was from the Asian Journal (she got from the Philippine's Best store in Hicksville). I was lucky because I was given a day off that Sunday (which is rare). But I told her I have to attend the church service then and will just go straight there afterwards. And that was around 1:45 when I boarded the train. It was hot and humid. I missed tha parade and when I got into the area, there I saw thousands of Filipinos.
I heard one woman say that Princess Punzalan quipped that she didn't realize there were a lot of Pinoys in New York. The program was already going on and Princess was the emcee. I didn't even knew it was her as I was far from the stage and my focus was to get some food as I was STARVING! It was almost three oc'lock and I havent' had lunch yet. Finally met my friend there after several missed calls and text msgs. Oh, the sound system was blaring that's why we couldn't hear our phones ringing. And the hunt for food was fierce!!! You have to brave the lines and squeeze in to get to the "tindera". My oh my, so unorganized the vendors were. Had I not been so hungry and tired and the prospect of hearing Charice live, I would have left soon.I am telling you, I wasn't the only one complaining. I hear people muttering (in English na ha): "I can't stand this anymore". "Why is this so disorganized?" "Where is the line here?" And to top it all, once you get to the front of the line, the vendors won't even answer your questions like that barbecue guy. I was kind of speaking to a toad who can't talk back. What a test for my patience. Thank you Lord, I am becoming a really good Christian now. I didn't make "taray" ha. Finally, after falling in line at several store tents, I got my barbecue, pancit and wait..that's all for almost 40 min. of wait and hurdling those lines. I just missed the torons-all gone when it was my turn to order. Gosh, was I so mad! Geraldine had a lot of rice she ordered earlier, so we settled for our barbecue and got our fill. I got free drinks from another tent-from sponsors of the activity. So I was good for another three hours.
After we had our fill, we just sat in the park grounds (Madison Ave), people watching...the young women in bikinis sunbathing near us....asking around what time will Charice be on the show. No luck..nobody seemed to know from everyone we asked. We were far off from the makeshift stage but we could hear what was going on as the speakers really blared. They closed the whole two blocks of Madison Avenue for the show, and the stage was on the entrance of the road. We waited and at around 5 p.m., Geraldine and John decided to go ahead since they were going to see the view (of NY skyline) at the Empire State Building. Been there so I said I'll stay. Didn't I come here to see Charice? so, I was really resolved to wait till she comes up that stage.Speaking of tenacity!
So when they left, I also made my way near the stage to find a good spot there. Alas, teeny weenie me, people were towering over. Okay, keep on looking..forward.. till I got into the back of the portable toilets. And there was a steel fence separting the park premises from the street. Well, great because I could climb up a bit and could now see the stage. By that time, Fe de los Reyes was performing. Remember her? She was a singer comedianne and I just knew then that she was in LA already,and stil performs there in local bars and shows. She was just invited over to the show to perform as well. She was hilarious!!! Randy Santiago came next. He was promoting his new cd - 25 years whatever, I forgot. Saw his cd on the Starry tent but didn't buy it. Randy Santiago didn't look a bit older. Charice' cd was sold out; I learned later.
Then came the announcement that Charice was the next to perform. The crowd went wild and roared for Charice. Actually she was the last ..like save the best for last. I was really surprise to see her in person. I mean she is literally very small, slim, petite, but the voice that comes from that tiny body is monstrous, so powerful I am amazed just where it is coming from. Now I FULLY understand why Ellen and Oprah and the Las Vegas audience were wowed by her. She sang three songs: two were Whitney Houston songs (as her fave artist is Whitney) and the third was an OPM. It was originally sang by Martin Nievera but was arranged to suit her vocal range. This was in this song that I got goosebumps because I couldn'tbelieve she could hit those high notes so well. Unbelievable. You have to hear her live to really be in awe of her talent!!
Here's sharing to you the link to the YT vids of the NY show that someone nice enough posted. In this song, her accompnaiment cd wasn't ready (ano ba iyan) but she was so cool enough and fun to handle it. Just click on the other NY vids about her. Nice if she remains this way.
Oh, how time flies! Never realized I've been a year older this week. And well, I'm not spared of all the signs of "ageing" whether I like it or not, and the accompanying ailments. Ohhh, the achy achy back....my asthma which really hasn't left me although it's been sort of a dormant cat, not much meeoowing going on in my chest since I came here. And I tell you, at my age now, I am becoming paranoid with illnesses. "Sabi nga, konting karamdaman, I call the doctor." But it's not that easy though, becasue one needs to schedule apointments with doctors.Unless it's emergency, then you go straight to the hospital's emergency room.
I have posted about the barbecue party we had last July 29. Actually, I had a 4:50 p.m. appointment with the dermatologist that day, so, I came home later to find them in the apartment already cooking. I only consulted for a mole or wart-like thing that kept growing in my right leg near the ankles. Last year, I noticed it was a tiny black dot but now it has grown and the color has changed to light brown- and it's surface is raised and looks ugly.yay!!! Well, I was being paranoid again it might be melanoma and then this Geraldine also said it might be coz it's raised and the surface is not smooth.Okay, time to see the doctor. The doctor scraped the thing off and will send it to the lab for biopsy.No pain except for the anti-pain injection. She'll call or send me the results in 10 days. Hopefully, and I'm praying that it's just a simple mole.
It's good my job offers medical benefits so I see to it that I make use and avail of this benefit. I don't pay a single cent for the monthly premiums but there is the deductibles and certain illnesses or conditions and doctors are not covered. However, the insurance company provides us with an account card (like an ATM card) which we can use the money to pay the deductibles. It's like $1,200.00 per year if you have been for a year with the company you work with. It's kind of har d for me to explain deductibles because I myself doesn't know how it works. I just get the statement bill from the insurance company stating how much a doctor or laboratory exam was billed, how much the insurance paid for and if ever, how much I owe them in deductibles. If the max deductibles are reached, the insurance company then pays the total 80% of the cost of medical services. However, I don't pay the deductibles in cash since this is automatically debitted from the account card. I monitor the charges then online. Yes, that's the beauty of it: the convenience of online tracking of medical expenses.
Come summer time, I usually schedule my general annual check-ups: bp, blood works, etc. whatever I need to know about. I've been doing this since my second year here, and my primary doctor is a Filipino-Ilocano, and his nurse is a Filipina. He is an internist and has a very good practice here. Most of the time when I visit his office (they call it doctor's office, not a clinic) it's usually full and his patients are not only Filipinos. I particularly choose to go to a Filipino doctor because I will be comfortable to tell him my concerns and I can tell him in Tagalog the reasons for my visit. But for other concerns, I have American doctors because I haven't found other Fil doctors in the in- network (means these doctors are covered under the insurance company). Thus, my gynecologist, orthopaedic, dermatologist and chiropractor are all American doctors. Except for the dermatologist, the rest are also my sister's doctors, that's why I chose them).
This year however, I haven't scheduled any annual exam yet. I don't feel anyhting wrong anyway. My primary concern this time are my hands and fingers. They are stiff and hurts and has that tingling sensations that wakes me up in the morning. Iton namamanhod ba. I have been seeing my chiropractor twice a month since January this year. He calls it as symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. It has been bad before but the pain and stiffness has been lesser now since I've been seeing my chiropractor. I have seen my orhtopedic surgeon just to remove a cyst in my left wrist-it's called a ganglion cyst last April. It's nothing but water in it. And then he asked me to go back after a month and then schedule a surgery for the carpal tunnel. Oh well, I didn't go back. Actually, I had scheduled the surgey last year but then I cancelled it because my sister advised me not to. Actually my ortho always advise surgery because you know they get paid much for surgical procedures.
I had a minor surgery with this ortho in November 2, 2006, and I went on a medical leave for one month. It was for trigger finger release (right thumb) and tendinitis on the right wrist. It was an out-patient procedure so I stayed only for 6 hrs. in the hospital. I was wheeld out from the OR into the recovery room, where I went in and out of sleep. I tell you, it wasn't a nice experience for me being sedated. It took me four hours to get off it and even towards the evening I was still groggy and was throwing -up in the house. It was teh after-effects of anesthesia, as I was told. My ortho doctor called me up at 8:00 in the evening (i just finished throwing up when he called) to check how I was doing. Isn't that nice? No, actually, it's part of their obligations to their patients. I was given a general anesthesia which actually shouldn't be since it was minor. Too late, I only knew it after -when I asked the doctor if I can have a local anesthesia with the supposedly second surgey. But you know, the anesthesiologist gets paid more for general anesthesia. It all boils down for the fees they collect from the insurance company. And how much that operation cost? Eleven thousand $$$$ plus!!! And I still have to pay $700.00 for the deductibles and other fees not covered by the insurance. Coz there were pre-surgery fees that was covered as well: that was done two weeks before where they did some blood works, took x-rays, b/p, the works.
And so I avoided having another surgery after that experience, not if theer are still other treatments (nonsurgical) to avail of. Thus, I keep seeing this chiropractor which makes like hilot to my hands and uses that lazer type massage and then cracks my finger bones I feel like he's breaking them. In the early stages, I used to wear hand braces to align my fingers in a straight line while I sleep. It helps reduce the nerves from being pressed when my hands are bent while sleeping? If I didn't wear thoe, my fingers hurt and are stiff in the morning.It takes a while to have them back to normal. I don't take any meds for that-just run them in warm water or just keept flexing the fingers until I can bend them again. My chiropractor is very nice, and as part of the theraphy, he's given me hand exercises, one with the use of dumbells. I first used two pounds for two months, then I'm now using a three pound dumbells.The exercise has to be done twice a day, but then, I can't do it in the mornign coz I report verye arly towork at 6:00 a.m. So that's why my progress is slow and he hasn't released me yet. I told my chiro I am tired of going back to his office already but hten he said you're not done her yet. Oh well...and btw, typing /using a computer keyboards is actually aggravates carpal tunnel syndrome but what can I do in this techno age? I'll just do my exercises, so I have to go now to do it.
Today, we finally held our birthday barbecue with the friends of Geraldine which has already call as my friends as well. Most of them come from General Santos anyway, and have met here. So they have their own "township" group here.
When I came back to the apartment, the grill was on fire already with Rowena on the helm. I went first for my dermatologist apppointment after work, to have a mole or some growth checked. Anyway, the doctor scraped it off and will be sent for biopsy. Hopefully, it will be just a mole and nothing else, coz I don't want scary news right after my birthday!!! God help me.
So, we had a lot of food. You know Filipino style. We always prepare a lot for the 'bring home" right? I cooked a pasta salad (American styel) because Geraldine's boyfriend likes pasta. And boy, I think it was only him and me who ate that. The rest ate rice. Pinoys are PBRs, we know that. "Powered by Rice", according to McArthur. I learned this from a blog by a Filipina who calls her blog Vagabond. We had so many stories and jokes told; we played OPMs, and were nostalgic about the Pinoy sound. I have like two cd's entitled "Songs from Home"so we kind of sing along with the songs, although we forgot the lyrics to most of those songs already.
It was a fun evening, and we ended up at 11:25. We also have to consider our landlady upstairs who is an American so she might get offended with all our noise. Besides, we have to work the following day.
So here are our pictures:
This is Rowena, the barbecue lady!
Group pics before the eating part!!! not complete here yet...
Incidentally, I also got from the mail my Journey mp3 player, and I was so happy at last. I wanted it for my birthday, and now my walking regimen will be a lot "in tune, in sync", he he. I ordered it online at Walmart.com last Saturday coz the Walmart store here just didn't have it, though it was advertised that the store excluively carried this product. Here it is:
O, me blow the candles pa, eh!!! Anne brought the cake for us.And here is our handa! Now, I have a craving for biko. We didn't make one kasi.
See that pasta salad at top righ t? I made it -2 lbs of it. kasi John, Geraldine's bf is Italian-Amer and loves pasta. He eats rice too but prefers pasta and potatoes.
He likes it and so Geraldine brougth some home for him. Madami food namin so everyone had a bring home, he he! Pinoys talaga. I learned to make that pasta from the chefs I work in my dept. at the store. It's just made of olive oil/canola oil (i mixed) olives, sweet/chile red peppers (in sweet brine)and parmesan cheese. I just mix and eat cold. I like this salad also, as side dish for chicken or beef.
It's July, my birthday month, so another year has passed in my journey here. Don't ask for the age, it's not proper, lol. The past birthdays, I celebrated on my own, meaning I didn't have a co-celebrator. I rememeber my first birthday here in the US in 2004. I decided to throw a small birthday party with my sister & family, and a Pinay nurse and her kids as guests. I met her and watched over her kids in the afternoon when she left for work. I stayed with the kids until her husband who was a doctor(psychiatrist) arrived home. It was only for a month or so unitl she was able to find a full time baby sitter/housekeeper, since I couldn't work full time for her. So, I had kids for guests, and my niece enjoyed playing with them.It was fun and kind of a riot, too. The kids are American-raised so they didn't eat pancit a lot, I forgot what they ate-I think just cupcakes. And I got some nice gifts and hand-made cards from the kids which were really touching.
For the past two years it had been different because coincidentally, my roommate is also a July baby. Hers is on the 23rd which is today and mine on the 26th. So we have what we call a birthday week, and decide what to do on any day just to celebrate our mutual birthdays. Last year, we had a little cook out in the house, but we had no guests. We ate the food by ourselves, I don't recall why we never invited our friends/family. Maybe Geraldine had not many friends yet back then. But my sister & family brought me their gifts as usual, thanks to them. And I think we went out to see a movie or went to the mall.
This year, our birthday week started last Monday. Geraldine's sister Grace and two-yr old son Jasper, came from Chicago for a visit. So, they went to Splish Splash, which is like Splash Island in Laguna. I didn't go because I was working and I didn't request for a day off but Tuesday rather. So yesterday, we went out with her sister and boyfriend to eat at a Chinese buffet restaurant. The type where it is eat all you can. And really, I ate all I can, so that on the way to the airport to send off Grace & Jasper, I was sleepy in the car-on the way and back!!! Now I am embarrassed to write this. When I got home, just checked my emails and went on a nap!!! I think I slept for an hour and so and woke up at around 7 p.m. I decided to take a walk since I was still feeling full. But whooaaa, the weather didn't cooperate. A soon as I hit the sidewalk, the rain came pouring. No choice but go back in and be ont he internet again!! I didn't eat dinner anymore but munched on some chips & vegetable dip and pineapple.
Today, July 23, my store gave all July birthday babies as they call it, a birthday LUNCH!!! (yes, they gave a lunch for each monhtly celebrants)Yehey, so I didn't bring my "baon" to work. I was kind of happy cos it's my first time to have this lunch. Not that I was excited about the food-it's just sandwiches, you know American food plus a cake for us. (Last year I was off and didn't know about the lunch, darn. )The HR person ususally orders the sandwiches from our department so I was kind of puzzled this morning why there was no order placed. So I was telling my co-workers that maybe we were having Chinese food or pizza for lunch coz they didn't order sandwiches or wraps yet. However, the order came by 11:00. Our lunch schedule was 2:00 p.m., so I told my friend who was making them to make it special coz I was gonna eat them. And she did made them a little bigger, like adding more meats and vegies to each. now what wraps are? The wrap is made of tortilla-which is made out of corn. It is like a sandwich but instead of bread, the tortilla wrap is used. So we had turkey, vegetable and chicken ceasar salad wraps. And we had a pasta salad which had sweet corn and radischio, with some basil and olive oil as dressing. It was good-we sell it in our department and customers love it. And we had our cake, too!!! Coindidentally, the girl who made the cake was also a July baby. There were actually two birthday girls from the bakery department. So here is the pics from that Chinese restaurant and in our store-taken at the conference room/school room:
It was just a simple gathering and we were also welcomed and greeted by our new Store Team Leader or Manager, Lorraine. Our previous manager transferred to the Colorado store. But the celebration doesn't stop here. I still have a Saturday fun to look forward to and Geraldine is planning a barbecue with the her friends in our apartment next Tuesday. You know we have to set a day where everybody is available.
Our birthday cake.
This woman is looking at her wrap inspecting what is it. I think she got the veggie one. And I look like I'm chewing something. Beside me is Janet -we work at he same dept.
It's the 3rd week of July and summer at it's height!. And guess what, I have been holed up inside, glued up to the internet, as I mentioned in an earlier entry. Oh, dear, it's warm outside, that's why I stay indoors where the airconditioner is in full blast (no, thanks to my landlord's central a/c system, I don't control it) that at times I'm in sweatshirts!
Oh, no, the thought of winter cold creeping in just gives me the shivers. I'm beginning to detest it. After five years, I'm not loving it. So, I have resolved to make the best out of summer this year, before August ends. Here's what I gotta do:
1) Watch a Journey concert : this is definite; I have my tickets, hope there's no cancellations
2) go outside New York for a short vacation : this is going okay as planned; got my tickets, booked my hotel & train & has drafted my itinerary
3) Lose some Pounds : this is the tall order for me
Let me elaborate on the third must do on the list.
I feel I have gained some extra pounds. My pants feel a little fit although I haven't changed my pants size yet(size 2 regular ; size 4 petite) and don't want to switch to the next size up either. I don't feel comfortable watching my belly fat peeking out from those low-waisted pants. Yes, those styles suck if you don't have a flat stomach. A lot of women here don't bother wearing them,with their bellies hanging out, and they even wear midriff shirts!!! My oh, my, I just can't stomach their guts. I don't feel happy what I see on the mirror : those so-called love handles on the waist. No, I feel heavy and it affects my breathing.
So I decided to do lose some pounds by dieting and exercise. Actually, it was my co-worker who influenced me. She told me she is on this diet tea, and it worked for her before. And for which she gave me one to try yesterday at lunch. Buffed by the idea of going to the restroom for you know (coz it works like a laxative, she says) I only drank like a third of the brew. Decided to drink it after dinner and for which i did. And then after dinner, I went for a WALK. Yes, people, I went for a walk and left the Journey forum momentarily- that was after I did also my hand exercises.( Let me tell you this one exercise later). I decided to go on a walking because it's the most convenient and cheapest form of exercise. I have my walking Reebok shoes, anyway. And coupled with dieting. No, I'm not into any special diet. I just refrain from eating a lot of sweets and chocolates (good I'm not a chocoholic), soda and other beverages. I even inhibit myself from eating ice cream. yesterday, I was doing some shopping and I stopped at the ice cream aisle and kept staring onto those ice cream. (I normally choose soy ice cream because I can't tolerate cow's milk much-I get gas & a bloated feeling). But then I held myself and walked away. Bought fruits instead.
After walking two blocks around the area, I decided to go back to the apartment, primarily because I thought I was getting lost. You know, I don't know the area that much, except my route to work. And I only walked for 15 minutes!!! Oh my gosh, what a shame..well...I'm not giving up. That was a warm -up.
So I did go walking again this afternoon. After I ate dinner and had an avocado-banana-papaya with (soy) milk sweetened dessert. Just can't help it and deprive my sweet cravings once in a while. So, I signed out of Journey Forum. This JF routine is not healthy anymore. Mind you, I eat dinner infront pf my laptop! Can you imagine that? Yes, I bring my laptop to the dining table. One day, I might just throw a soup or rice over it, accidentally.
So, having my fill of that yummy dessert, I felt a little heavier. And those sugars really love my fat cells- they fill it up instead of burning out. I am not one of those skinny people who just can eat anything and not fill up their bodies with excess fat. Just like Sharon Cuneta. My metabolism is just sluggish- it comes with age as well. So, I said, to myself: get out!! WALK!!!.
It was muggy , humid outside. I could feel the heat, stinging my face. On my street I met an old white woman walking, in shorts. So I smiled and asked her if she was taking a walk, and would she mind if I walk with her? Sure, she said, and introduced herself to me. Her name is Sylvia; I told her mine.
So, we walked around the area. Apparently she lives there and is very familiar with all the streets, and knows her way. We had a very nice talk as we walked together, and she even pointed out a some houses which have been renovated, where before those were just one-level houses but now, the owners added a second level. Topics like that and GPS and more until then we reached her street and we had to part ways, as it was getting a little late (past 8 p.m.although it's' like 5 p.m. in Phil). I told her that I was not familiar with the streets and she was kind enough to show me the directions going back to my street. So, I still did another round of my block and then headed back to the apartment.
It was a nice walk and I met a really nice person today, Sylvia. Besides getting the exercise, I also practise my English-I mean it helps me practice and improve on my American accent, lhe he!! when I get to talk with Americans, not Spanish English or Filipino English. lol. I hope I'll cross her path her again tomorrow.And the next days...
And by the way, those diet tea I took last night? I won't have those.It's horrible!! By 9:00 last night, my tummy was aching, the kind that felt like my stomach was doing a reverse movement, swirling pain!! It's the pain associated with LBM, you know. And yes, I had to go to the bathroom twice yesterday, after 12 noon, then twice this morning. And yes, it was watery, yuk. sorry...No, I can't punish myself like that just to lose pounds. I don't enjoy stomach discomfort-who does? By my friend says it's okay. But no... I'll walk and eat right.
It's summer time and I really haven't gone out yet for a vacation, but has gone to some places, watched shows, did this and that...picnics in the park, barbecue in the home of a Filipina whom I just met thru my Pinay friends here.
Well, before long, summer is over. However, I've been kept indoors after work because of this newfound activity: reading and posting threads in the Journey Forum. Believe me, I spend the entire afternoon and evening (from 3:00 until around 10:30 at night) roaming in this forum. It keeps me glued to this site, reading all the posts and watching all the video links on YT which are uploaded videos of Journey's tour shows - from the European tour to the US tour at present. So far, six shows down as of today. They are playing in Tucson ,Arizona tonight (Jul 19).
Blame it on Journey, which has become my fave band and their beautiful music, and the energizing Arnel "Airnel" Pineda, the band's current lead vocalist, whoi is a Filipino. I'm sure you know already how he was discovered in You Tube. Arnel's discovery is dubbed as a YT cinderella story. In case you don't know Journey, it is a legendary US rock band which was formed in the 1970's It gained worldwide popularity and achieved hit songs in the 1980's with Steve Perry as lead singer, dubbed as the "voice" of Journey. Remember the hit songs in 1981 & thereafter, like Open Arms, Faithfully, Don't Stop Believing and others are the band's classic hits. They still play these songs as part of the dirty dozen as they call those greatest hits, in their current tour, but with Pineda now doing the vocals. And boy, can he deliver. Based on reviews from concert goers in Europe and in the first US shows, Journey fans, young, old and casual and die hard-fans alike are enjoying the show so much, describing each show as amazing, energizing and tight. Clearly, Arnel has won the fans the world over. I can't wait to see them live!!!
My blog is taking a backseat this time. But I will update you folks after I watch Journey's show in August 14 here at Jones Beach, Long Island, NY and at the Nissan Pavillion in Washington D.C. on August 27. Yes, that's how I am hooked to Journey now. But I'm not alone. A lot of fans are trailing their shows; they watch three to four shows this year. That's how they are addicted to the current rejuvenated Journey line-up.
And one more treat for my birthday is an exclusive Journey-design mp3 player which is pre-loaded with Songs from Journey's Revelation cd. It's way cheaper than an iPod which I am not keen on buying. So I'll settle on this because it has my favorite Journey songs and the design is pretty, colorful and just cool! It will be availbale on July 22, just four days away from my birthday & exclusive at Walmart stores. It comes in a neat packaging, and complete with a charger and headphones. Here is a picture, taken from the Journey site:
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