"It Turned Colder, That's Where It Ends"

There are some redeemable qualities about summer, and now that it's over I can speak of them.

Often, in the summer we would travel with other Filipinos to water parks and amusement parks, bringing along picnics. We would meet up at someone's house or apartment and caravan (quite literally because this was the age of mini-vans and some actually had Dodge Caravans) to different places. Each family would pack food, soda, rice, fruits and other things, like a beach ball.

My favorite spot to have picnics was Glen Island in New Rochelle. We'd arrive as early as 11 A.M. and would leave when the sun set because that was when the park would close.

Some of the dad's would bring together three wooden picnic tables, while others manned the grill which would be casting off delectable scents of barbecue and charcoal. The mothers would be plating chips, cutting up fruits and keeping an eye on the children. We would start off with a game of volleyball, then make our way across the island: at the swingset, then the beach and inevitably we would end up at the "ruins" of the "old castle" where we would sit at the boarded well and discuss everything and nothing. Then we'd head back for more food, watching the sun set and feeling the air get cooler.

The hardest thing was always being the first family to leave and in order not to do that everyone left at the same time, driving in different directions to get home.

Now it's hard to keep this up since the second generation has grown up and we are in different places and families move and grow and change.

I wont be to many if any at all of these since I've moved down here.

I never get homesick but I still yearn for those summer days when all I had to worry about was getting a ball over a net and not being the last family to go. I miss the days when we watched the sunset and talked of nothing and everything.

I guess it's time for me to head home, in another direction.

The hardest thing was being the first one to leave.

Me.

Pickles and Prunes

I haven't blogged for a few days, I sit here and rack my brain for something to say but alas, there are only two things that come to mind (and only two things) at this very moment.

I thoroughly dislike pickles.

I hate the feeling associated with having hands* wrinkled from being in the bath for a long time.

*This goes for feet as well but it really is more hands than feet for me.

So how's your weekend going?

Me.

One Down. Only A Handful To Go.

Yesterday, driving home, I finally saw what I thought to be an alien ship. It was a quick set of, larger than normal jet's, flashing lights. It zoomed through the clouds and disappeared. I tried to point it out to Rich but the two seconds that it took to cross my view and vanish it was too late. (Isn't that always the case?) I tried to dismiss it as if my heart had not quickened a step.
"Oh it musta been some kind of firework", or since we live close to the airport, "musta been an aeroplane". mm hm. And I'm a monkey's uncle.

I have yet to live in an area that contains a bigfoot/yeti/sasquatch/abominable snowman. I'll get me a quick looksie at one of those too, when I do.

No loch ness monsters in my repertoire since I've yet to go to Scotland.

No mermaids although I thought I've heard them as a child, growing up in the Philippines. Calling to me with their songs, begging me to step foot into the ocean. Drowning in the process. Or are those sirens? I must be 1/8 siren.

No chupacabra or mothman. No faeries or trolls, goblins or boogeymen.

Now elves...
When I was 8 we went to the Phils for vacay and stayed in my grandma's house. (My family, I secretly believe we're the Filipino version of Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches.) I apologise, I've been immersed in so much superstition and supernatural to be able to shake it off...
Anywho, my cousin, Isa, introduced me to this stump where the "elves" lived. I ran with it, of course. Then some "kind" aunt told me that the food we left them was secretly gotten rid of by Isa when I wasn't around. umm. Yeah I knew that, thanks for ruining the fantasy.

Then one of the last nights I was there Isa and I went out at twilight to leave them their nightly victuals, we started heading towards the house and we turned around heeding some childish instinct, and there around the stump were tiny lights swirling. We ran to the house.

Don't ruin it with your logical comments...

I'll cast a spell on you.

Haha.

Me.

Birthday Weekend

I use to love it when my birthday landed on a weekend but, alas, when you only work the weekends, well that just defeats the purpose doesn't it?

Thanks to everyone for the greetings. yay!

I am now a quarter of a century old, as everyone at work couldn't wait to tell me. And no, I'm afraid I do not feel old. I never feel old, except perhaps when June and graduations come around but that'll wear off... I hope.

What did I get? I bet you're all on the edge of your seats wonderin'. Okee, I got money and cards, best wishes, a cake and a half, balloons, pepper spray, Age of Empires (Conquerors) for the mac, dinner with Rich, and dinner with the in-laws. Hopefully the dinners will be yummy because I have yet to eat them. heehee. Also, as luck would have it, I got to do nothing but sit and occassionally use the company car for going places for two days of work. Yes.. I got tired of that real quick.

When my mom was 25 she had me...

I'm just saying.

Me.

"Jurassic" Park

Before I begin to tell you about our harrowing adventure I'd just like to say Happy Birthday Mikey!

Now on with the tale...

For months Rich and I have been trying to find a park where we could be one with nature, some place to stretch our legs and breath in some wholesome air, or something like that. We always take trips around where we live, slowly taking a wider circumference, exploring everything around us.

So one evening a few weeks ago we found what seemed to be a perfect area. A park a few miles from where we live, and it included a lovely view of farmlands and hills drenched in the velvet indigo light of sunset. We didn't venture into the park that time since it was late and we didn't want to be wandering around a park at dark. Then perhaps a week ago we decided to go back again and just as we approached the park a downpour came suddenly and we had to turn around with promises to come back at another time. That should have been a foreshadowing.

Today, on my day off, we decided to go park hunting, heading over to another park that Rich wanted to view. When we got there we found that it was just a big ol' soccer field and nothing more so I steered the car in the direction of our previous park. When we got there we had to pay a fee to get in and I didn't mind since it looked quiet, shaded, and flanked on either side by two lakes. There didn't seem to be too many people and that was fine with us. I took the car for a once over to decide where we should park and I found a spot that was close to the water and a few paces down was a grove of trees that housed a picnic table. That was the perfect spot to eat the lunch that I packed for us.

We walked on a pine needle strewn path toward the grove of trees and picnic table. To our right was one of the lakes and just before that was white sand that hosted a volleyball court. We sat at the table and I took out our sandwiches and we ate them, looking at everything around us. Then we heard this loud noise. I looked over at Rich and he wondered aloud whether it was construction or some sort of animal. I thought it was the group of people further to our left who were launching off in their inflatable motorized boat. We thought no more of it and continued to eat our sandwiches.

"Oh my god!" I said. Rich looked toward where I was pointing. Coming toward us determinedly were two massive birds about twenty feet away from us. When I say "massive" I meant that they were about 4 feet tall, walking on long, bird-stick legs.

They must have smelled our food.



"Whoa, they're cute huh?" I asked as they made their way ever closer toward us.

They stood across the table from us and I could hear them making a purring noise. Of course I think things that purr are cute, but then I noticed their somewhat pointy beaks and how they almost towered over us as we sat at the table. I also noticed how they were suddenly coming closer, with hungry intent in their eyes. Rich then told me to get up from the table and to make our way around it, playing an unenjoyable game of ring around the rosie. But they were too smart to play such a game.

"Where's the other one, Rich?" I asked, my voice quavering.

That was when I realized it was trying to get at us from under the table. But luckily it seemed unable to go that way and we continued with our game of going around the table as they stilt-stepped toward us. Then I realized that while one was chasing us in one direction the other had stopped completely in time for the two of us to walk right into it. I passed Rich the food so that I could take pictures and he made his way away from the table and I took pictures while they followed Rich. He had made his way to a grill and I was taking a quick video of them when the closest one let out a hair-raising call. That was when we decided to head toward the car.

"Slowly. You never know. They may have a chase instinct," Rich called out to me.

So we walked slowly, apart, through the grove of trees, in what seemed an endless march toward an elusive destination. I look over and realize that it's caught up with me. But Rich distracts them and they head over to him.

"One of us has to open the car door," Rich says, and he hands me the food, to distract them, and they begin to follow me while he sprints over to the car to open the door. Thanks. So then I'm trying not to run but I could feel them just a few feet behind me. I could hear their steps on the pine needles and I could also hear my heart pounding in my chest.

"You need to slow down, they're speeding up!" Rich yells over to me.
"They're slowing down now. Head over to the car."

So I walk to the car, taking the long way around to the driver's seat so that it gave Rich and I just enough time to get in while they made their way up into the pavement and right beside the car.



They peered into the car, the pair of them. Watching as Rich and I breathed a sigh of relief. Rich decided it would be a good idea to open the window for a good shot of the bird with the camera and I closed it just in time because the bird had tucked it's head and was about to lunged into the car.

I decided to move the car to a different location so we could eat in peace. When I parked at another spot two other birds headed over towards us. They stood beside our car and they looked at us through the window, patiently and Rich and I discussed how birds are related to dinosaurs. They watched us through the window with their orange eyes, and we felt helpless and afraid.



We decided that that was the last time at that park and headed home, but a few miles away from the park I had to slam on the brakes because there was another one crossing the road before us. I think they've followed us home...


Me.

P.S. I looked them up online and found that they were "sandhill cranes". If you'd like to hear their purring sound go here and click on "contact call".

Monkey On My Back

Last night, while watching The Daily Show, Rich said clearly and concisely "I love monkeys" and then he looked at me, shocked and a little perturbed that I burst out crying and wouldn't speak to him. (All right it didn't happen quite like that). But he said the above phrase. We had the following discussion:

Me: How can you use that word so flippantly!
Rich: What are you talking about? Monkey's are so cute!
Me: You can't barely manage an "I love you" to me!
Rich: Oh you were talking about love...

Then he reached over and started some monkey business.
I guess his philosphy is, why say anything about love when you can make it.

I think he whispered something about having little monkeys running around. Better than poor Charlotte's "you f-ing bitch, you f-ing whore" line. Heh.

Me!
yes we try to end everything with an exclamation.

A Difference To The Human Race

Yesterday, I had a one-on-one (does that require dashes?) with one of my managers, and he posed this question to me, "what do you see yourself doing in three years." And I sat there, stunned and speechless and I said to myself, "quick make something up!" and so I said, "oh i doubt I'll be working for this company in three years. I really want to teach."

The other day I was speaking to a co-worker about corndogs and how I've never had one in my life. He was appalled by my obvious unconcern at never having eaten "the greatest food known to man" or something like that. (He obviously has never had any of my food.)

Whilst contemplating my upcoming birthday and reflecting on things that I had not yet accomplished, I thought about all the aspirations I had as a child. I wanted to be a lawyer so badly, the next one (this time not so badly) was to be a criminal psychologist (I've since forgotten the fancy word I had for it), and now I'm not really excited by anything in the realms of "careers".

So let's wrap this up...
When I was in my one-on-one I thought, I hafta tell Soobs about this. While discussing corndogs I thought, how can I make this into a story? And while thinking about my past childhood fancies I thought, I need to write about this in my blog. That's when it hit me. My passion is and always has been writing and telling stories. It's been such an understated, intimate part of my life now that it goes unseen, weaving through everything I do. It's always been as easy as breathing.

I will make my mark in this world! I will write and write and write until I die.

Always end on a high note huh?

Me.

Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live
-Unknown

It's that time of year again. My birthday's coming up around the bend and I will be 25 in one week and a day. 25! Yikes.

The other day I looked back on the things I wanted to have done by the time I was 25 and most of it I did get accomplished. We wont get into all that now...

I will have to write myself a note for 30 and give myself 5 years to accomplish whatever it is I need to accomplish by 30.

On the upswing of my acknowledgement that I soon will be in my mid-twenties (because 24 is not mid-twenties!) I still get carded for buying lottery and I'm usually a significant amount of years older than the person asking for my id. Also, people think that I am younger than my brother who is 6 years younger than me! And I also got carded for a rated R movie a few months ago (we haven't been to the movies since then, but not because of my carding... just because we weren't interested in any movies that have come out since then).

Wow, life went by too quickly. I need to be healthier in mind and body so I will look upon 25 as the ribbon cutter into the new and better me! I hope I'll forgive myself when I gorge myself a few days after my actual birthday at a buffet. hehe.

I keep feeling as if some curtain will lift any minute now and I wont be in this state of unknowingness. As if I will be told what to do and I'll do it and it will solve everything, easily.

Hmm, time to take out my tarots and see what this new year has in store for me.

Have a good weekend all!

Me.