This morning, as I am sitting here in front of my computer at work, I relish the hot chocolate I am drinking. It is, after all, a cold morning!
As I went outside this morning and went to work, I felt a chill, perhaps a combination of the gloomy skies [no snow though, only rain; we are lucky in this aspect, although I wouldn’t say no to an experience of snow if just to make snow angels and ride snow tubes] and the fact that it is already start of the “ber” months, when nights are longer than days and the weather is generally cold.
It’s beginning to look [and feel] like London [although I haven’t been there].
But I’d take this anytime over the sweltering heat we had last summer. 
One of my sister’s friends wrote the following:
While foreign tourists would most likely put the Philippines way down their list of places to go to, I think it’s about time we locals help out and explore our own country.
I love it! Now is the time for us to see how beautiful the Philippines is, how postcard-perfect the places are [most beaches are worthy of being shown in holiday cards!], and how warm and hospitable our kababayans are. Let us help boost our own tourism and start exploring Batanes to Tawi-Tawi!
Let us learn to love the Philippines more!
After our short but fun stay in San Francisco and Los Angeles [as well as Glendale and Pasadena], it was time to say goodbye to California and say hello to Nevada.
We took the bus from LA to Las Vegas. Our first choice was to drive, but I think my mother wanted to try every mode of transportation there is in the US! He he! I booked our trip via GotoBus, which offers really low fares! Imagine, our bus ride cost only $30 per person!
Going from LA to Las Vegas was like going from one end of the pole to another. One minute, all we saw were buildings. Then after a while, all we saw were deserts!
The bus ride took approximately 5 hours, with one stop. It was like 2 hours of buildings and people and then 3 hours of desert and cactuses. The desert seemed to go on and on and on and on! Ang lawak ng US!
Finally, after what seemed like endless desert, we saw some indication of buildings and finally arrived in Las Vegas. My first thought was, how could a place like this exist in the middle of the desert? Well, I guess that the fact that it was located in the center of nowhere makes it a more attractive destination. Here are some facts proving that Las Vegas is one of the favorite spots of tourists [customer service jobs anyone?]:
The last time I watched a play was around 10 years ago, when I watched Miss Saigon. I wanted to watch it because, well, it was Miss Saigon.
I recently got the chance to watch another play [slash musical] and watched Cats, Now and Forever at the CCP.
I wasn’t expecting much, for I am not really fond of musicals. I don’t even know what Cats was about. But right off the bat, Cats got my attention. The stage was a production in itself: an alley where the Jellicle cats convene for an annual tradition. As the play started and a pack of cats came dancing and singing, I was mesmerized.
Honestly, I was not able to follow the story as the play progressed. But what the heck? I was content in watching the great solo and group production numbers of the cast. The choreography was fantastic! The actors acted and moved like real cats do and did this while carrying out the specific personalities of their characters. Take for example my favorite charcter, Rum Tum Tugger, who was, in our terms, mayabang. The actor was so effective because he had this swagger that he kept throughout the show. Kung baga isang tingin lang, alam mo na na mayabang sya!
And do I have to mention the singing? Everyone sang beautifully! I wonder how they get to sing that beautifully while dancing! I can’t even hear them breathing! The voices were cool to the ears [just like a wind or door chime is], with fortissimos and pianissimos sang right on the money! The production numbers were simply amazing! Ang galing talaga!
And the finale? Gosh, it was spectacular number that I felt kahit yun lang, sulit ang binayad ko!
Special mention goes, of course, to our kababayan Lea Salonga, playing the outcast Grizabella. She sang Memory so beautifully that my hairs started to rise. It was one performance that will forever be in my “memory.” Grabe ang Lea Salonga, super galing at pang world class talaga!
Although there were some boring moments [because everything was sung and, as I have mentioned, I had a hard time following the story], my Cats experience was truly a wonderful one. I enjoyed the show and am becoming a convert to plays and musicals. Andrew Lloyd Webber is really one musical genius.
Kudos to the Cats, Now and Forever cast! It was one great show!
Leaving San Francisco was bittersweet for me, as always. First, I had such a fun time with my cousins there, cousins I rarely get to see. Second, I felt that the time we spent there was kulang pa. And third, absurd as it may sound, I would miss the weather. But leaving meant we were arriving at another destination! Exciting!
San Francisco from the sky: very organized!
Los Angeles was the next place in our itinerary. I must admit that this one city I could go without visiting, after all, it is too touristy for me. But at the end, I had to admit that I had tons of fun in LA too. Lesson: never judge a place until you’ve been there!
It’s beginning to look and feel like London (or England for that matter) here in Manila. [I haven’t been to London, by the way. I just read that the skies there are almost always cloudy and that days of rain range from 17 to22 days a month.]
I haven’t seen the sun in days. Clouds have been hanging over us for most of the days, and the weather has been on the cold side that sweater is a must for me [Oh lamigin lang talaga ako? No more sleeping in lingerie!].
We went from total heat to very gloomy! I don’t know which I prefer! He he!
Good thing my mood isn’t affected by the cloudy skies, even if the surroundings seems to be invaded by the dementors of Harry Potter.
It’s another rainy Monday morning…and I was actually feeling lazy to go to work! I’d rather stay in bed and watch movies or use an xbox 360 (although I don’t have one!) and just play away…or perhaps just stay in the kitchen and eat and eat and eat! He he!
Isn’t it obvious that I’d rather be anywhere but at work? He he!
But here I am, typing away in the office!
Nevertheless, despite the slow start this Monday, I feel this is going to be a great week!
Hope you’ll have a great week as well!
I recently read of the story of a missing boy who wandered by himself and was found dead a mile from this home after about 2 days (source: CNN). Itwas sad.
According to the report:
A 2-year-old who went missing from his home in Dewey, Arizona, on Monday night was found dead Wednesday, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
The body of Emmett Trapp was found by search and rescue personnel at 11:30 a.m. about one mile from his home, lying in a muddy pit once used to collect waste products from a former mining site.
“We are just devastated by the loss of this little boy,” sheriff’s spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn said.
The area where his body was found on the former Iron King Mine site is being treated as a crime scene, which the sheriff’s office described as “common protocol.”
The cause of death appears to be a result of spending more than 24 hours exposed to Arizona’s elements, Sgt. Jeff Newnum said. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed later Wednesday, he said.
….
The mother told authorities that she and her four children were at their home in the Dewey-Humboldt area, about 80 miles north of Phoenix. When the mother awoke from a nap Monday evening, Emmett — last seen wearing a pajama top, diaper and no shoes — was missing.
The family dog had also apparently wandered off with Emmett, but returned when called. The mother told police she searched around the home and immediate area without success.
Newnum said the door to the house was unlocked at the time of Emmett’s disappearance, and it appears the boy walked as many four miles, crossing hilly, rough terrain, before he was found.
Newnum credited the muddy terrain in the area with helping find Emmett. He said the small footprints around the site indicate the boy “was by himself.”
I can only imagine the despair felt by the family, especially the mother, who is being criticized by some people for being pabaya. As if the grief of losing a child was not enough, guilt will also haunt the mother for the rest of her life.
Having kids is a difficult task. No matter how protective and vigilant you are (social security disability and other insurance can only do as much), the fact is accidents can happen. Let’s not be too harsh on the mother. Yes, this accident could’ve been prevented (eg, they should’ve put locks on the doors that can guarantee that children cannot go out by themselves), but let’s not go too far judging the mother. No matter how much you love your child, you cannot guarantee his/her safety 100%.
I pity the boy…he could’ve lived a full life. Now, no one will know.
May his little soul rest in peace.
Yesterday, I heard Wendy singing, “C is for the candy trims around the Christmas tree, H is for the happiness with all the family, R is for the reindeer prancing by the window pane…” After that, she was already writing her Christmas wishlist!
Then I realized it was already August!
My gosh! How fast time flies! Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were all suffering from the intense heat? And now, we are thinking of floods and rains and needing umbrellas and rain boots?
Soon enough, we will be wrapping gifts again and singing carols.
I am amazed at how fast time flies. I hope time does not fly by too fast though, lest I cannot caatch up. I don;t want life to just zoom by…
Happy Monday everyone!
I wish I had known of KFC’s Sweet escape photo contest sooner [I wish I’d stored it in my cell phone alarm].
According to organizers,
“The mechanics are actually very simple. You can have your photo taken with your family or friends drinking Krushers anywhere in the Philippines. Just be sure to make it look like you’re actually at your dream destination,” explains Cha-cha Calma-Juinio, general manager of KFC Philippines.
Say the whole barkada wants to explore the African Safari. You need not go far. Just visit the Manila Zoo, have your group photo taken with a giraffe — garbed in your Indiana Jones outfit with your favorite cup of KFC Krushers in hand — and you’re good to go.
This contest seemed perfect [and relatively easy…it’s not as if you had to make cordless phone reviews]!
One, I love to travel.
Two, I love to take pictures.
Too bad the contest has ended already…I was already racking my brains for ideas and ready to scan my telephone contact list and pick up my landline phone to call my friends for a pictorial! Oh well!
Next time!
see you there!
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