Shocking Sunday
I made a 9-1-1 call today
And I was calm and collected
But in the moments right before I made the call
I was in utter shock at what happened right before my very eyes
I was driving in the parking lot of Lake Merced making my way to the exit
When I noticed a car speeding along
I remember thinking, I could speed up and pass him
But instead, I slowed down
As I pressed on the brakes, (and this was all in slow motion as I recall it)
The car continued forward, jumped the curb, hit a tree, and disappeared down the embankment.
In a split second, I couldn't believe what happened
For a split second, I thought to myself, "Was I the only one to see that?!"
I haphazardly parked, jumped out, and ran to the scene
Other bystanders did the same; one man even made his way down the hill
Without a second thought, I dialed 9-1-1
I relayed what information I could with the help of others by my side
It was a Chinese fire drill of sorts- me asking if they were okay, were they in the water, etc, and others relaying the necessary information back to me to tell the operator
It was an undeniably group effort -
I told them the location, gave my name, and hung up
Help was on the way
And I couldn't help but think that I did my good deed for the day
Within a matter of minutes, help had arrived
By this time, a crowd of rubber-neckers and curious onlookers had formed
Myself and the first few people on the scene hung around
Personally, I wanted to make sure that the people inside the car were okay
Three fire trucks, five police cars, and one ambulance were at the scene
And finally, with the help of some firemen, the couple inside the car appeared
They were dazed and confused, stunned to the bones, I'm sure
But most importantly, they were unhurt
At that point, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief
I honestly don't know how I would've felt if those people had died
They easily could have, you know, and that's what is so scary
That in a matter of seconds, a life could have been lost
When all seemed to be in good hands, I finally left the parking lot
And it was only then that I began to feel shaky
Perhaps it was the adrenaline and the surprise of what happened
Or the automatic mode that kicked in to see what I could do to help
In the end, I am thankful that those people were okay
and that I was there, even in the smallest way, to help
Monday, April 24, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
DaVinci Code and the Quest for Answers
At the Easter Sunday service, we had a surprisingly in-depth analysis of the upcoming soon to be released blockbuster, The DaVinci Code. It kinda threw me off guard, but as soon as the sermon began, it was all very interesting stuff. It basically discussed the falacies of the book that so many are questioning, myself included. When I first read the book, I have to say that I was blown away. I couldn't separate fact from fiction, yet even if I thought I could, I was still unsure simply because I do not possess the thorough knowledge to debate such issues. The pastor used the above featured book as the basis of his sermon and as I began reading through it, I could understand how hardcore historians and theologians could laugh Brown's DaVinci Code off. Cool story aside, there is a lot of evidence that points to the contrary. However, I don't quite believe that when Brown first wrote this book that it was his intention to piss off all these people; rather, I think that Brown had a really good story on his hands and the manner in which he makes the story twist and turn the way that it does is what makes it the bestseller that it is. Everyone loves a well-written story, everyone loves suspense thrillers, and when you add a tad of controversy by adding the Jesus-factor, well there you go.
As for me, I'm totally psyched about the movie coming out. May 19th people. If ya'll haven't read the book yet, then by all means, please do! If you have, then pat yourself on the back and go even further and check out the other books that Dan Brown has written. To check out the trailer for the movie, click here.
Centennial of the 1906 Earthquake
This past April 18, 2006, marked the 100th anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. At approximately 5:13am in the morning on April 18th, 1906, the people of the City were in for a rude awakening. After 50 seconds of sheer terror, the "Paris of the Pacific," as San Francisco was called back in the day, became a broken city. There've been so many fascinating specials of the disaster and I admit that I've been hooked. In any natural disasters, it's always the human interest stories that grab my attention moreso.
For example, take the story of then Mayor Eugene Smitz. This was the first time I've heard the background of the corrupt government that he led. Because the city was devastated, it was only natural for people to begin looting groceries and local mom and pop stores for food and other necessities, but this made Smitz feel out of control. To fix this problem, he took it upon himself to declare a "shoot to kill" law of any looters. This, in turn, made many people that the city was under martial law. The military and police forces were made to follow through with their orders and as a result, many died, not from earthquake or fire incidents, but from gunshot wounds.
At the same time, many Chinese were in the midst of settling into San Francisco. Because there were no other places that they could afford and because it just wasn't allowed for them to congregate in certain places, Chinatown was born. Immediately after the earthquake, racial tensions were high and some city officials believed that this would be a perfect time to rid the city of any and all of its Chinese inhabitants. Plus, there was an economic fear as well as some Chinese began their own businesses and were proving to be successful. The Man didn't want to compete and wanted Chinatown destroyed. I suppose I am being naive because I knew that racism and discrimination existed back then...I guess I wanted to believe that in the midst of one of the major natural disasters that people would all come together to help each other out.
Lastly, there is then Fire Chief Dennis Sullivan. Years before the 1906 earthquake, Sullivan had been assessing the city's disaster plans and knew that the City was incapable of surviving a big fire. As an engineer, he knew what he was talking about and in fact, he was due in court the day of the 1906 earthquake to testify on what plans needed to be made to ensure a safer city. He was injured in the quake and died three days later and would never see his plans come to fruition.
There are so many stories of heroism from that day that I cannot mention them all here. Even the stories of how the survivors of the quake would meet year after year at Lotta's Fountain have ceased because all of them have passed away. But with them, the stories do not die.
In high school, I remember the story that the Dominican Sisters recounted about how our school fared in the earthquake and fire. As the city was engulfed by flames, the solution was to dynamite surrounding buildings to stop the fire from spreading. Ideally and in theory, it was supposed to work, but because of the lack of training by the military, it not only started more fires, but many deaths resulted as well. As the city burned for three days, my alma mater was in the direct line of buildings soon-to-be dynamited to stop the path of fire else it, too, would be engulfed. At the last minute, the wind changed direction and my high school was saved.
On that same note, when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake hit on that October 17 day at 5:04pm, (which, btw, I had made a comment about it being earthquake weather....ESP people...), the office staff had been busy at work when it hit. In the main hallway outside the office stands a statue of the Virgin Mary. After everything was all said and done, there was little to no damage to our school, but there was something to be said about the statue of Mary. In the how many seconds of that earthquake, (was it really 15 seconds?), the statue of Mary could have easily fallen from its indent in the wall...INSTEAD, it shifted to the right in the direction of the front office...AS IF Mary was watching over the people inside.
Every year the anniversary comes up, there's always the question of whether the City is ready for the next big one. I swear, it really does get me nervous when they have those specials...all of the analyzing, all of the predictions, all of the scenarios of what could actually happen. The latest reports are downright grim. For example, a new word that I have learned is "liquefaction." In short, because of how many roads are built, there is that possibility that WHEN, (not IF) another big one comes, these same roads could liquefy....literally become liquid because of the landfill beneath it. And it turns out that many of the on and off-ramps to many bridges are built on such places...so technically speaking, if such an earthquake were to hit and such roads did liquefy, cars could be virtually stuck on a bridge without an in or out. Craziness, huh?
In any case, had I posted this on April 18th, I would've put it out there that there were free cable car rides for an entire day in honor of the centennial. I know quite a few people who haven't been on one yet and well, it just would've been cool to go one for free.
So the anniversary has come and gone, but if anything people, and especially for those who live in the Bay, make sure you are prepared with your own survival kit...because you never know when the next one will hit
At the Easter Sunday service, we had a surprisingly in-depth analysis of the upcoming soon to be released blockbuster, The DaVinci Code. It kinda threw me off guard, but as soon as the sermon began, it was all very interesting stuff. It basically discussed the falacies of the book that so many are questioning, myself included. When I first read the book, I have to say that I was blown away. I couldn't separate fact from fiction, yet even if I thought I could, I was still unsure simply because I do not possess the thorough knowledge to debate such issues. The pastor used the above featured book as the basis of his sermon and as I began reading through it, I could understand how hardcore historians and theologians could laugh Brown's DaVinci Code off. Cool story aside, there is a lot of evidence that points to the contrary. However, I don't quite believe that when Brown first wrote this book that it was his intention to piss off all these people; rather, I think that Brown had a really good story on his hands and the manner in which he makes the story twist and turn the way that it does is what makes it the bestseller that it is. Everyone loves a well-written story, everyone loves suspense thrillers, and when you add a tad of controversy by adding the Jesus-factor, well there you go.
As for me, I'm totally psyched about the movie coming out. May 19th people. If ya'll haven't read the book yet, then by all means, please do! If you have, then pat yourself on the back and go even further and check out the other books that Dan Brown has written. To check out the trailer for the movie, click here.
Centennial of the 1906 Earthquake
This past April 18, 2006, marked the 100th anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. At approximately 5:13am in the morning on April 18th, 1906, the people of the City were in for a rude awakening. After 50 seconds of sheer terror, the "Paris of the Pacific," as San Francisco was called back in the day, became a broken city. There've been so many fascinating specials of the disaster and I admit that I've been hooked. In any natural disasters, it's always the human interest stories that grab my attention moreso.
For example, take the story of then Mayor Eugene Smitz. This was the first time I've heard the background of the corrupt government that he led. Because the city was devastated, it was only natural for people to begin looting groceries and local mom and pop stores for food and other necessities, but this made Smitz feel out of control. To fix this problem, he took it upon himself to declare a "shoot to kill" law of any looters. This, in turn, made many people that the city was under martial law. The military and police forces were made to follow through with their orders and as a result, many died, not from earthquake or fire incidents, but from gunshot wounds.
At the same time, many Chinese were in the midst of settling into San Francisco. Because there were no other places that they could afford and because it just wasn't allowed for them to congregate in certain places, Chinatown was born. Immediately after the earthquake, racial tensions were high and some city officials believed that this would be a perfect time to rid the city of any and all of its Chinese inhabitants. Plus, there was an economic fear as well as some Chinese began their own businesses and were proving to be successful. The Man didn't want to compete and wanted Chinatown destroyed. I suppose I am being naive because I knew that racism and discrimination existed back then...I guess I wanted to believe that in the midst of one of the major natural disasters that people would all come together to help each other out.
Lastly, there is then Fire Chief Dennis Sullivan. Years before the 1906 earthquake, Sullivan had been assessing the city's disaster plans and knew that the City was incapable of surviving a big fire. As an engineer, he knew what he was talking about and in fact, he was due in court the day of the 1906 earthquake to testify on what plans needed to be made to ensure a safer city. He was injured in the quake and died three days later and would never see his plans come to fruition.
There are so many stories of heroism from that day that I cannot mention them all here. Even the stories of how the survivors of the quake would meet year after year at Lotta's Fountain have ceased because all of them have passed away. But with them, the stories do not die.
In high school, I remember the story that the Dominican Sisters recounted about how our school fared in the earthquake and fire. As the city was engulfed by flames, the solution was to dynamite surrounding buildings to stop the fire from spreading. Ideally and in theory, it was supposed to work, but because of the lack of training by the military, it not only started more fires, but many deaths resulted as well. As the city burned for three days, my alma mater was in the direct line of buildings soon-to-be dynamited to stop the path of fire else it, too, would be engulfed. At the last minute, the wind changed direction and my high school was saved.
On that same note, when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake hit on that October 17 day at 5:04pm, (which, btw, I had made a comment about it being earthquake weather....ESP people...), the office staff had been busy at work when it hit. In the main hallway outside the office stands a statue of the Virgin Mary. After everything was all said and done, there was little to no damage to our school, but there was something to be said about the statue of Mary. In the how many seconds of that earthquake, (was it really 15 seconds?), the statue of Mary could have easily fallen from its indent in the wall...INSTEAD, it shifted to the right in the direction of the front office...AS IF Mary was watching over the people inside.
Every year the anniversary comes up, there's always the question of whether the City is ready for the next big one. I swear, it really does get me nervous when they have those specials...all of the analyzing, all of the predictions, all of the scenarios of what could actually happen. The latest reports are downright grim. For example, a new word that I have learned is "liquefaction." In short, because of how many roads are built, there is that possibility that WHEN, (not IF) another big one comes, these same roads could liquefy....literally become liquid because of the landfill beneath it. And it turns out that many of the on and off-ramps to many bridges are built on such places...so technically speaking, if such an earthquake were to hit and such roads did liquefy, cars could be virtually stuck on a bridge without an in or out. Craziness, huh?
In any case, had I posted this on April 18th, I would've put it out there that there were free cable car rides for an entire day in honor of the centennial. I know quite a few people who haven't been on one yet and well, it just would've been cool to go one for free.
So the anniversary has come and gone, but if anything people, and especially for those who live in the Bay, make sure you are prepared with your own survival kit...because you never know when the next one will hit
Friday, April 14, 2006
Holy Week and Good Friday
When I was younger, the beginning of our Easter vacation began during Holy Week. In the Christian calendar, this is the most significant and most important day with the birth of Christ aside. After all, we remember the last remaining days of Jesus's life leading up to his brutal death.
On Holy Thursday, we remember the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. Through the years, the church that I attended honored the day with a reenactment of sorts complete with a meal. Sometime after that, it later included the washing of the feet. The priest would basically take the place of Jesus and some chosen people of the church congregation would act as the disciples. The "disciples" would be seated at the altar, shoes off, and the priest would go from person to person washing their feet in water and drying them off with a towel. It was very symbolic and at best, gave us a great visual of the love and service that Christ gave to his fellow man.
On Good Friday, the masses were more than three hours long. I remember dreading this mass because they were always unusually crowded! Where were all these people during the rest of the year? I would later hear these attending crowds being referred to as the "C & E" bunch....or, the Christmas and Easter bunch, aka, those who only went to church on those two days.
Good Friday masses recounted the entire passion of the Lord, from his wrongful imprisonment and trial, to his heartbreaking crucifixion and death on the cross. Just as the washing of the feet was later added to the repertoire of the Holy Thursday mass, so was there this black wooden cross that would be passed over the congregation moshpit-style like that would be so emotional and again, symbolic, that it would always bring tears to my eyes as soon as my fingers touched or even grazed it.
In hindsight, I think it was so emotional because when attending such huge Catholic churches that I was so used to, you tend to feel disconnected in some way. You're one of hundreds and the symbol and representation of Christ is all the way up at the altar. But when the wooden cross is passed along to the entire congregation, it was our way of getting close to him...to touch a part of him.
Perhaps that is why when I became a born-again Christian, I felt so connected to God in such a way that I've never felt before. I immediately felt God all around me, not just on Sundays during mass, but inside of me.
On those rare times that I did not attend a Good Friday mass, I was taught that as a young person, I was not allowed to have any fun. This meant that on Friday between the times of 12pm-3pm, any activity that I chose to do had to be low-key such as reading, coloring, or even sleeping. The theory behind that is because those were the times that Jesus was supposedly hanging and dying on the cross. Because of the trials that He was experiencing, we had to, in turn, show our respect by sharing in his agony...so to speak. This had been what I was taught growing up and it is the same thing I had impressed upon the students in my catechism class later on.
Since I became a born-again Christian, I have not attended any masses during Holy Week. In the Christian churches that I attended, they did not have any special services. It was definitely different than what I was used to.
When Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" came out in the movie theaters, my husband and I actually didn't rush to the theaters right away like we are so accustomed to doing. Instead, we waited until Holy Week to watch it....it was the Saturday before Easter Sunday in fact when we finally did. I remember the theather being packed and all you could hear was sobbing and sniffling the entire time.
I don't know exactly what I was expecting. I've always known the Passion story, but being the visual person that I am, seeing a mild realistic interpretation of what Jesus went through was simply too much to handle. All of the crucifixes and the stations of the crosses that I've seen depict Jesus with a crown of thorns, but in the movie version, it's so much more gruesome that you almost feel the thorns being pounded into the skull and taste the blood running down his head and all over his face. The same with the whipping and the scourging. I almost couldn't stomach to see actual pieces of flesh being torn away from Christ's body and again, what we saw in the movie was a mild version of what the real thing must've been like. Just thinking about it now brings tears to my eyes and an ache in my heart...especially when I know that He did all of that for me.
With it being Good Friday today, there were no masses for me to attend, nor was there "The Passion of the Christ" to watch. And even so, I'm not sure I could ever watch that movie again. It's not that I don't want to be reminded of what happened. How could I ever forget that ultimate sacrifice that was made? Instead, I watched "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Forget the fact that I was never aware of its Christian parallels while I was growing up, I know now. And to see the Christ-figure Aslan give up His life as the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of others brings tears to my eyes every single time.
Though it seems that I have changed my religion, the only thing I have changed is my relationship. I don't know if it still rings true about the whole 12pm-3pm timeline, but there was a certain laziness about the day as if my internal clock or being or whatever you want to call it knew what this day was all about. Even though I do not attend certain masses like I did once before, I still take to heart what transpired on Christ's last days here on Earth.
When I was younger, the beginning of our Easter vacation began during Holy Week. In the Christian calendar, this is the most significant and most important day with the birth of Christ aside. After all, we remember the last remaining days of Jesus's life leading up to his brutal death.
On Holy Thursday, we remember the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. Through the years, the church that I attended honored the day with a reenactment of sorts complete with a meal. Sometime after that, it later included the washing of the feet. The priest would basically take the place of Jesus and some chosen people of the church congregation would act as the disciples. The "disciples" would be seated at the altar, shoes off, and the priest would go from person to person washing their feet in water and drying them off with a towel. It was very symbolic and at best, gave us a great visual of the love and service that Christ gave to his fellow man.
On Good Friday, the masses were more than three hours long. I remember dreading this mass because they were always unusually crowded! Where were all these people during the rest of the year? I would later hear these attending crowds being referred to as the "C & E" bunch....or, the Christmas and Easter bunch, aka, those who only went to church on those two days.
Good Friday masses recounted the entire passion of the Lord, from his wrongful imprisonment and trial, to his heartbreaking crucifixion and death on the cross. Just as the washing of the feet was later added to the repertoire of the Holy Thursday mass, so was there this black wooden cross that would be passed over the congregation moshpit-style like that would be so emotional and again, symbolic, that it would always bring tears to my eyes as soon as my fingers touched or even grazed it.
In hindsight, I think it was so emotional because when attending such huge Catholic churches that I was so used to, you tend to feel disconnected in some way. You're one of hundreds and the symbol and representation of Christ is all the way up at the altar. But when the wooden cross is passed along to the entire congregation, it was our way of getting close to him...to touch a part of him.
Perhaps that is why when I became a born-again Christian, I felt so connected to God in such a way that I've never felt before. I immediately felt God all around me, not just on Sundays during mass, but inside of me.
On those rare times that I did not attend a Good Friday mass, I was taught that as a young person, I was not allowed to have any fun. This meant that on Friday between the times of 12pm-3pm, any activity that I chose to do had to be low-key such as reading, coloring, or even sleeping. The theory behind that is because those were the times that Jesus was supposedly hanging and dying on the cross. Because of the trials that He was experiencing, we had to, in turn, show our respect by sharing in his agony...so to speak. This had been what I was taught growing up and it is the same thing I had impressed upon the students in my catechism class later on.
Since I became a born-again Christian, I have not attended any masses during Holy Week. In the Christian churches that I attended, they did not have any special services. It was definitely different than what I was used to.
When Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" came out in the movie theaters, my husband and I actually didn't rush to the theaters right away like we are so accustomed to doing. Instead, we waited until Holy Week to watch it....it was the Saturday before Easter Sunday in fact when we finally did. I remember the theather being packed and all you could hear was sobbing and sniffling the entire time.
I don't know exactly what I was expecting. I've always known the Passion story, but being the visual person that I am, seeing a mild realistic interpretation of what Jesus went through was simply too much to handle. All of the crucifixes and the stations of the crosses that I've seen depict Jesus with a crown of thorns, but in the movie version, it's so much more gruesome that you almost feel the thorns being pounded into the skull and taste the blood running down his head and all over his face. The same with the whipping and the scourging. I almost couldn't stomach to see actual pieces of flesh being torn away from Christ's body and again, what we saw in the movie was a mild version of what the real thing must've been like. Just thinking about it now brings tears to my eyes and an ache in my heart...especially when I know that He did all of that for me.
With it being Good Friday today, there were no masses for me to attend, nor was there "The Passion of the Christ" to watch. And even so, I'm not sure I could ever watch that movie again. It's not that I don't want to be reminded of what happened. How could I ever forget that ultimate sacrifice that was made? Instead, I watched "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Forget the fact that I was never aware of its Christian parallels while I was growing up, I know now. And to see the Christ-figure Aslan give up His life as the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of others brings tears to my eyes every single time.
Though it seems that I have changed my religion, the only thing I have changed is my relationship. I don't know if it still rings true about the whole 12pm-3pm timeline, but there was a certain laziness about the day as if my internal clock or being or whatever you want to call it knew what this day was all about. Even though I do not attend certain masses like I did once before, I still take to heart what transpired on Christ's last days here on Earth.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Splish Splash!
Dude...what the heck is up with all this rain?!
The forecast for da Bay is rain, rain, and more rain until Monday of next week. I know there's the saying of April showers bring May flowers, but geez.
Gloomy weather makes for gloomy moods. That's just how it goes.
C'mon sun...come out, come out, wherever you are! Pretty pleeeaaassseee!
Dude...what the heck is up with all this rain?!
The forecast for da Bay is rain, rain, and more rain until Monday of next week. I know there's the saying of April showers bring May flowers, but geez.
Gloomy weather makes for gloomy moods. That's just how it goes.
C'mon sun...come out, come out, wherever you are! Pretty pleeeaaassseee!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Taste of Motherhood
I know quite a few people who are wondering what it would be like to have a child and are possibly even waiting to have a child of their own.
Not me.
Not that I don't want a child...on the contrary! I'm just saying that ever since my older sister had kids and ever since I started teaching, I never had to wonder what it would be like to have some of my own. From 8am-3pm, I have 28 children in my care on a daily basis for nine months. As much as I love each and every one, I am always glad to "return" them to their rightful owners at the end of the day.
The same goes for my niece and nephew. I love them to death, don't get me wrong! But after having to watch them for a few, I get a realistic taste of what being a mom is like...thankfully without having to experience the labor pains! (do sympathy pains count?)
I've been watching my sister's kids since they were born. It's no big deal. When they were younger, it was easy. Feed them. Burp them. Change their diaper. Clean them. Play with them. Put them to sleep. But now that they're older, it's different.
They're much more demanding and require a lot of attention! (not that I give in to these lil' rugrats...when Ninang says no, she means it! lol!)
Today alone, I had the little man all to myself today. My sister's youngest can be quite a handful...which is why I was secretly glad when this five-year old stayed up late with me last night to watch "Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." He woke up about 10:30am and from there, it has been nonstop hyperness- where do these kids store up their energy? I honestly don't mind babysitting because it's my chance to spend time and bond with the kids, but man oh man, it sure is tiring! Getting him to eat, clean up, toothbrush, and wash his face are chores unto itself! What could have easily been done in five minutes turned out to be a twenty minute detour.
Not that I'm complaining.
To top it all off, we had to go pick up his Ate from school...in the mini-van! I was a tad nervous about driving the mini-van because I'm just not used to driving anything so long, but I survived. Lol! I have to say that the mini-van is a nice ride! I wouldn't mind getting one in the future!
I'm hoping that I will blessed with the motherhood thang someday. I can talk all this noise about having a taste of motherhood from watching the kiddies or maintaining a classroom full of rugrats, but of course it ain't the same until I have my own.
All I know is that while I have held mothers in high regard before, I've got mad respect for them moreso.
I know quite a few people who are wondering what it would be like to have a child and are possibly even waiting to have a child of their own.
Not me.
Not that I don't want a child...on the contrary! I'm just saying that ever since my older sister had kids and ever since I started teaching, I never had to wonder what it would be like to have some of my own. From 8am-3pm, I have 28 children in my care on a daily basis for nine months. As much as I love each and every one, I am always glad to "return" them to their rightful owners at the end of the day.
The same goes for my niece and nephew. I love them to death, don't get me wrong! But after having to watch them for a few, I get a realistic taste of what being a mom is like...thankfully without having to experience the labor pains! (do sympathy pains count?)
I've been watching my sister's kids since they were born. It's no big deal. When they were younger, it was easy. Feed them. Burp them. Change their diaper. Clean them. Play with them. Put them to sleep. But now that they're older, it's different.
They're much more demanding and require a lot of attention! (not that I give in to these lil' rugrats...when Ninang says no, she means it! lol!)
Today alone, I had the little man all to myself today. My sister's youngest can be quite a handful...which is why I was secretly glad when this five-year old stayed up late with me last night to watch "Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." He woke up about 10:30am and from there, it has been nonstop hyperness- where do these kids store up their energy? I honestly don't mind babysitting because it's my chance to spend time and bond with the kids, but man oh man, it sure is tiring! Getting him to eat, clean up, toothbrush, and wash his face are chores unto itself! What could have easily been done in five minutes turned out to be a twenty minute detour.
Not that I'm complaining.
To top it all off, we had to go pick up his Ate from school...in the mini-van! I was a tad nervous about driving the mini-van because I'm just not used to driving anything so long, but I survived. Lol! I have to say that the mini-van is a nice ride! I wouldn't mind getting one in the future!
I'm hoping that I will blessed with the motherhood thang someday. I can talk all this noise about having a taste of motherhood from watching the kiddies or maintaining a classroom full of rugrats, but of course it ain't the same until I have my own.
All I know is that while I have held mothers in high regard before, I've got mad respect for them moreso.
Monday, April 10, 2006
My Weekend in Vegas
Okay first off, scratch the fact that I wasn't in Vegas for even a full 48 hours. With that being said, I can understand where the saying of "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" comes from!
A group of us gals flew out to celebrate the Weekender's bachelorette party. I have never really done the whole Vegas weekend thang and so this would be the first of me.
To start with, the weather was simply perfect. When we landed, it was a comfortable 75 degrees with a slight breeze and it basically maintained throughout the rest of the evening. Since everyone was flying in that night at different times, there was time for a late dinner at the Alladin and drinks at the Mist lounge at Treasure Island. 'Twas hip hop night and cover was free. Sweet.
The only downside of the night was walking the freakin' distance- Alladin to Treasure Island. "It's only three casino hotels away." In city blocks, I'm guessing the equivalent is approximately 10,000 blocks! Okay, a bit of an exaggeration. By cab, it would've easily been a 5-10 minute ride with traffic, but walking in the cute shoes that we were, it was FAR! Yes, the night DID call for cute shoes and yes, we definitely paid for it because at the end of the night, Voodoo and I were left with totally unattractive and painful blisters. Boo.
Highlight tidbits:
- "purple guy" - tall, bald white guy dressed in purple pants, purple shoes, purple sequined top, and purple Elton John-like shades holding not one, but TWO drinks in each hand strolling solo down the strip having a party with himself. "Purple Guy." Tight.
Saturday's agenda included shopping, spa, dinner, and clubs. While the rest of the gals got massages, I had time to wander on my own. Across Treasure Island, there's a mall that I hit up. My goal was to get a pair of flip flops. After last night's shoe debacle, I simply could not continue the trip. After finding a pair, thank God, I wandered the mall. Did ya'll know that they have an ABC store in Vegas? Y'know, the ones that line up any street in Hawaii? The very same! I had to get some some cookies and almost kicked myself when I saw the brown slippers that I so love. Should've got a pair, but I didn't. The five bucks I would've spent on those went to playing the slots instead! Lol! And play the slots I did only to have them swallow up my $30. Damn you, evil slots! *raising mad fist in the air!*
We all got ready at the hotel, but before we left, we took some pics and had a champagne toast. We headed to The Venetian for some expensive ass Italian dinner. Nice ambience, authentic Italian waiters, good food (although the servings could've been bigger...for the price anyways), and a waiter who started the evening with "Hello Filipina ladies!" "Are you from Bicol?" and even told us that "Kare-kare is not on the menu tonight!" Turns out that he's married to a Pinay from Bicol- lol!
Ended up waiting in the guestlist for club Rain at the Palms Hotel. That wasn't before trying to survive the cab ride there! Homie must've had dreams of either being a Nascar race driver OR being a driver in the Philippines- I was praying for my life, I tell you! As we waited to get in, the Weekender was busy working to complete items on her 'scavenger hunt,' all of which I cannot and will not disclose to protect the innocent- LOL!
The club itself was alright. I haven't been in a club for a hella long time...yes, I've been told time and time again this weekend that I MUST get out of the house more often! Just imagine all the drunken fools from too many consumed drinks, all the scandalously dressed hootchie mamas trying to get noticed, and all of the drunken fools trying to pick up the scandalously dressed hootchie mamas and there you have it. The dance floor was crowded with elbows and other body parts going everywhere- no surprise there. Add all the random dudes that would come up and start dancing with you because they thought they were cool and the night is complete. There was also this contraption thang that would spit out fog when down and fire when up. And man, that fire was hot! Ultimate downside? Previously mentioned blister getting pierced by unknown, yet incredily sharp heel. *Insert any combination of profanities here.*
This weekend was, I'm told, a tad unusually crowded. 'Twas due to the fact that the Playboy bunnies, Pamela Anderson and the Pussycat Dolls and a big boxing match were in town. Speaking of celebrities, the Weekender and her honey saw Hillary Duff going shopping and apparently, there was a sighting of Suge Knight in line at the club. Yes, the one and same Suge Knight that held Vanilla Ice over the ledge of a rooftop building Suge Knight. Honestly, I would've have noticed him on my own and plus, I was too distracted at trying to get to the bathroom so some yakking could be done. Ha! And that is a totally different story that I'd rather not get into and leave for memory's sake! *And just for the record, it was NOT MnM who was doing the yakking...
Although I didn't get to ride the outdoor roller coaster, I finally got to see the volcano outside Treasure Island erupt, the water show outside the Bellagio, the gondolas in the Venetian, and got to walk through Paris. All in all, it was a memorable weekend. 'Twas a time to hang out with the girls, get all dressed up, enjoy Vegas, and celebrate the Weekender's last hurrah as a single chick. Aside from the obscene amounts of smoke I inhaled (I was imagining all of the second hand smoke going through my lungs!) and the blister incident, I wouldn't mind visiting Vegas again. Maybe next time, I'll win big on the Wheel of Fortune slots- LOL!
Okay first off, scratch the fact that I wasn't in Vegas for even a full 48 hours. With that being said, I can understand where the saying of "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" comes from!
A group of us gals flew out to celebrate the Weekender's bachelorette party. I have never really done the whole Vegas weekend thang and so this would be the first of me.
To start with, the weather was simply perfect. When we landed, it was a comfortable 75 degrees with a slight breeze and it basically maintained throughout the rest of the evening. Since everyone was flying in that night at different times, there was time for a late dinner at the Alladin and drinks at the Mist lounge at Treasure Island. 'Twas hip hop night and cover was free. Sweet.
The only downside of the night was walking the freakin' distance- Alladin to Treasure Island. "It's only three casino hotels away." In city blocks, I'm guessing the equivalent is approximately 10,000 blocks! Okay, a bit of an exaggeration. By cab, it would've easily been a 5-10 minute ride with traffic, but walking in the cute shoes that we were, it was FAR! Yes, the night DID call for cute shoes and yes, we definitely paid for it because at the end of the night, Voodoo and I were left with totally unattractive and painful blisters. Boo.
Highlight tidbits:
- "purple guy" - tall, bald white guy dressed in purple pants, purple shoes, purple sequined top, and purple Elton John-like shades holding not one, but TWO drinks in each hand strolling solo down the strip having a party with himself. "Purple Guy." Tight.
Saturday's agenda included shopping, spa, dinner, and clubs. While the rest of the gals got massages, I had time to wander on my own. Across Treasure Island, there's a mall that I hit up. My goal was to get a pair of flip flops. After last night's shoe debacle, I simply could not continue the trip. After finding a pair, thank God, I wandered the mall. Did ya'll know that they have an ABC store in Vegas? Y'know, the ones that line up any street in Hawaii? The very same! I had to get some some cookies and almost kicked myself when I saw the brown slippers that I so love. Should've got a pair, but I didn't. The five bucks I would've spent on those went to playing the slots instead! Lol! And play the slots I did only to have them swallow up my $30. Damn you, evil slots! *raising mad fist in the air!*
We all got ready at the hotel, but before we left, we took some pics and had a champagne toast. We headed to The Venetian for some expensive ass Italian dinner. Nice ambience, authentic Italian waiters, good food (although the servings could've been bigger...for the price anyways), and a waiter who started the evening with "Hello Filipina ladies!" "Are you from Bicol?" and even told us that "Kare-kare is not on the menu tonight!" Turns out that he's married to a Pinay from Bicol- lol!
Ended up waiting in the guestlist for club Rain at the Palms Hotel. That wasn't before trying to survive the cab ride there! Homie must've had dreams of either being a Nascar race driver OR being a driver in the Philippines- I was praying for my life, I tell you! As we waited to get in, the Weekender was busy working to complete items on her 'scavenger hunt,' all of which I cannot and will not disclose to protect the innocent- LOL!
The club itself was alright. I haven't been in a club for a hella long time...yes, I've been told time and time again this weekend that I MUST get out of the house more often! Just imagine all the drunken fools from too many consumed drinks, all the scandalously dressed hootchie mamas trying to get noticed, and all of the drunken fools trying to pick up the scandalously dressed hootchie mamas and there you have it. The dance floor was crowded with elbows and other body parts going everywhere- no surprise there. Add all the random dudes that would come up and start dancing with you because they thought they were cool and the night is complete. There was also this contraption thang that would spit out fog when down and fire when up. And man, that fire was hot! Ultimate downside? Previously mentioned blister getting pierced by unknown, yet incredily sharp heel. *Insert any combination of profanities here.*
This weekend was, I'm told, a tad unusually crowded. 'Twas due to the fact that the Playboy bunnies, Pamela Anderson and the Pussycat Dolls and a big boxing match were in town. Speaking of celebrities, the Weekender and her honey saw Hillary Duff going shopping and apparently, there was a sighting of Suge Knight in line at the club. Yes, the one and same Suge Knight that held Vanilla Ice over the ledge of a rooftop building Suge Knight. Honestly, I would've have noticed him on my own and plus, I was too distracted at trying to get to the bathroom so some yakking could be done. Ha! And that is a totally different story that I'd rather not get into and leave for memory's sake! *And just for the record, it was NOT MnM who was doing the yakking...
Although I didn't get to ride the outdoor roller coaster, I finally got to see the volcano outside Treasure Island erupt, the water show outside the Bellagio, the gondolas in the Venetian, and got to walk through Paris. All in all, it was a memorable weekend. 'Twas a time to hang out with the girls, get all dressed up, enjoy Vegas, and celebrate the Weekender's last hurrah as a single chick. Aside from the obscene amounts of smoke I inhaled (I was imagining all of the second hand smoke going through my lungs!) and the blister incident, I wouldn't mind visiting Vegas again. Maybe next time, I'll win big on the Wheel of Fortune slots- LOL!
Saturday, April 01, 2006
My Personal Holiday
The 1st of April, aka April Fools Day...a day so very close to my heart!
I was originally going to post a blog about the origins and history of this particular holiday, but then I thought, who really cares? On the small off-chance that you DID care, all you'd have to do is google it. All people really care about on this day is trying to pull off some joke on a poor soul and cry out, "April Fools!"
Trust me. I am no stranger to this April Foolery.
But then again, I guess that's what I get for being born on this day! (lucky me!)
Once upon a time, some thirty-and-some-odd-years ago, MnM was born in the city by the Bay. For as long as she could remember, the spirit of this holiday was firmly imprinted in her mind beginning with the story told by her parents that SHE was supposed to be a HE. Yes, according to the sonograms, a wee-wee was seen and my parents were (supposedly) told that they were going to have a bouncing baby boy. APRIL FOOLS! Ha...imagine their surprise! Now while I do not know the extent of that truth, a name has been thrown around to what I would've been called had I been a boy. I would've been a Michael Joseph.
7th grade was the year when the April Fools jokes really began. I'll never forget how Mommy Hernandez and a lil' crew of my friends somehow got the class AND the teacher to participate in the whole do-not-mention-or-greet-MnM-even-though-it's-her-birthday thang. The joke finally ended with a big round of Happy Birthdays and laughter...and THE present. Mommy Hernandez had gotten me the 12inch Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet album. I was so psyched! (yes, I was a fan of BIG hair rock bands back then...c'mon, it was 1987!)
8th grade was worse. Ya'll remember how Swatch watches were the IN thing back then? Well, everyone had one EXCEPT for me...and some of my friends thought it would make a neat birthday gift. NOT! I was presented with a beautifully wrapped super skinny rectangular case. If you ever had a Swatch watch, you know the thin case I'm talking about! I tore open the wrapper and from the clear case, there was the warranty piece of paper thingy. By this time, I'm excited and stoked that wow, my friends actually pitched in to get me a Swatch watch...NOT! When I finally opened up the case, it was with laughter in the background as another piece of paper with "April Fools" dropped out. Bastards...all of them! Lol! Just for the record...I DID end up getting a Swatch watch complete with the Swatch guard (them lil' rubber-band thingys didn't guard worth sh*t!)...although not for my birthday. But hey, I had one!
From there, high school was met with maxi pads in my locker, people telling me wrong information of where to meet them, etc. Yah...pads. That was a running joke for a while. Thankfully, most jokes, with the exception of the finger pointing of "hey, there's something on your shirt" incidents and when you'd look down, they'd flip the finger up your nose and face....thankfully those ended by high school.
Since high school, there have been three major highlights for my personal holiday-
1. 21st birthday. Drinking up at Chevy's during PCN practice. Keyopes jumping around in circles on stage doing a folk dance clearly buzzed. Going to a gay club. Seeing my uncle at the gay club with his "friend."
2. 26th birthday. Miyakes and one too many Sake bombs. Q's nightclub afterwards followed by more drinks than what my body could handle. Liquid cocaine is a name of a drink?! After much mixing of drinks that should not have been mixed, continued to make good friends with the sidewalk bushes, parking lot, and toilet bowl. Swore the day after that I would never EVER drink like that again.
3. 29th birthday. My first surprise birthday party given by the hubby. Held at the clubhouse of our new apartment. Lots of people came through. And it WASN'T an April Fools joke!
I'm sure there are many other memorable April Fool birthdays to recall, but these are the ones that quickly come to mind. Hopefully and God willing, there will be many more to come!
Just wanted to send some birthday shout-outs to my fellow fools:
*SciMathScopes- I used to think that she was my ultimate twin! We were born on the same day, baptized on the same day, and lo and behold, her dad worked with my dad in PI. Went to the same high school, became the best of friends, and did practically everything together. She's legally changed her name, but I'll always know her as that Beatles song. Though I've lost touch with her through the years and though we've gone different paths in life, just wanted to wish her the best on our birthday!
*Fred and George Weasley- if you're not a true Harry Potter fan, then you won't understand. It's only natural that these practical jokers were born on this day!
*Bad Batz Maru- yah, the one and the same Sanrio character. Why do I know this??? Honestly, I like Pocchaco much better and I think Cinnamaroll is way cuter.
In any case, hope ya'll have a fabulous day today...and hey, don't be so gung-ho about those practical jokes...it might very well be their birthday! Lol!
The 1st of April, aka April Fools Day...a day so very close to my heart!
I was originally going to post a blog about the origins and history of this particular holiday, but then I thought, who really cares? On the small off-chance that you DID care, all you'd have to do is google it. All people really care about on this day is trying to pull off some joke on a poor soul and cry out, "April Fools!"
Trust me. I am no stranger to this April Foolery.
But then again, I guess that's what I get for being born on this day! (lucky me!)
Once upon a time, some thirty-and-some-odd-years ago, MnM was born in the city by the Bay. For as long as she could remember, the spirit of this holiday was firmly imprinted in her mind beginning with the story told by her parents that SHE was supposed to be a HE. Yes, according to the sonograms, a wee-wee was seen and my parents were (supposedly) told that they were going to have a bouncing baby boy. APRIL FOOLS! Ha...imagine their surprise! Now while I do not know the extent of that truth, a name has been thrown around to what I would've been called had I been a boy. I would've been a Michael Joseph.
7th grade was the year when the April Fools jokes really began. I'll never forget how Mommy Hernandez and a lil' crew of my friends somehow got the class AND the teacher to participate in the whole do-not-mention-or-greet-MnM-even-though-it's-her-birthday thang. The joke finally ended with a big round of Happy Birthdays and laughter...and THE present. Mommy Hernandez had gotten me the 12inch Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet album. I was so psyched! (yes, I was a fan of BIG hair rock bands back then...c'mon, it was 1987!)
8th grade was worse. Ya'll remember how Swatch watches were the IN thing back then? Well, everyone had one EXCEPT for me...and some of my friends thought it would make a neat birthday gift. NOT! I was presented with a beautifully wrapped super skinny rectangular case. If you ever had a Swatch watch, you know the thin case I'm talking about! I tore open the wrapper and from the clear case, there was the warranty piece of paper thingy. By this time, I'm excited and stoked that wow, my friends actually pitched in to get me a Swatch watch...NOT! When I finally opened up the case, it was with laughter in the background as another piece of paper with "April Fools" dropped out. Bastards...all of them! Lol! Just for the record...I DID end up getting a Swatch watch complete with the Swatch guard (them lil' rubber-band thingys didn't guard worth sh*t!)...although not for my birthday. But hey, I had one!
From there, high school was met with maxi pads in my locker, people telling me wrong information of where to meet them, etc. Yah...pads. That was a running joke for a while. Thankfully, most jokes, with the exception of the finger pointing of "hey, there's something on your shirt" incidents and when you'd look down, they'd flip the finger up your nose and face....thankfully those ended by high school.
Since high school, there have been three major highlights for my personal holiday-
1. 21st birthday. Drinking up at Chevy's during PCN practice. Keyopes jumping around in circles on stage doing a folk dance clearly buzzed. Going to a gay club. Seeing my uncle at the gay club with his "friend."
2. 26th birthday. Miyakes and one too many Sake bombs. Q's nightclub afterwards followed by more drinks than what my body could handle. Liquid cocaine is a name of a drink?! After much mixing of drinks that should not have been mixed, continued to make good friends with the sidewalk bushes, parking lot, and toilet bowl. Swore the day after that I would never EVER drink like that again.
3. 29th birthday. My first surprise birthday party given by the hubby. Held at the clubhouse of our new apartment. Lots of people came through. And it WASN'T an April Fools joke!
I'm sure there are many other memorable April Fool birthdays to recall, but these are the ones that quickly come to mind. Hopefully and God willing, there will be many more to come!
Just wanted to send some birthday shout-outs to my fellow fools:
*SciMathScopes- I used to think that she was my ultimate twin! We were born on the same day, baptized on the same day, and lo and behold, her dad worked with my dad in PI. Went to the same high school, became the best of friends, and did practically everything together. She's legally changed her name, but I'll always know her as that Beatles song. Though I've lost touch with her through the years and though we've gone different paths in life, just wanted to wish her the best on our birthday!
*Fred and George Weasley- if you're not a true Harry Potter fan, then you won't understand. It's only natural that these practical jokers were born on this day!
*Bad Batz Maru- yah, the one and the same Sanrio character. Why do I know this??? Honestly, I like Pocchaco much better and I think Cinnamaroll is way cuter.
In any case, hope ya'll have a fabulous day today...and hey, don't be so gung-ho about those practical jokes...it might very well be their birthday! Lol!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)