Not a LOBSTER

I thought lobster.  So, I requested for five in various shades.  Think obsession!

Then, J. Bond saw after a lengthy passionate talk about it, and said, "That's a scorpion!  Not a lobster.  Mwahahaha!!!".

Ugh! Fine.  My birthday falls under the zodiac sign Scorpio anyway. 

the best DAMN reason

I almost bit my travel agent's head off. 

This month of May is all about a TO DO LIST for the Pharmacy that  tributes  its 1st year of existence.  A Happy Birthday to the store and to the team!   Since I have been swamped with a really long   list for the past few weeks, I took the risk (for the first time) to buy a ticket to Bacolod from  a mall-based kiosk named Philippine Explorer.  Agents were easy to deal with, and must mention  for a fact that rates were comparable with net-posted rates. 

On May 21, I finally accomplished my on-the-side To Do task.  I was booked for a May 29, 9 am, Manila-Bacolod flight.  Ticket fully paid.  And enough time to dwell on two things:

ONE .... the mushy moment with J. Bond right smack at the exit door of the  Bacolod airport.  I arrive at 10:15 am while he arrives from Cebu 50 minutes earlier.  With his frequent business trips, it has been my realization that there is not much difference between an overnight and a long-term physical separation .... well, except for the duration.  But the magnitude of the "MISSing" part is just way the same.   So here's the vision .... I see him. He sees me.  We run towards each other. Embrace. And smack (with twinkling glowing hearts floating around us).  A planned and manipulated vision that played in my mind over and over again.

LOL!  Truly a mushy-cheesy moment to its extreme level.  But hey. When you miss someone, there is no longer such thing as rationale thinking.  Crazy Love sets in. 

and TWO .... enough time to condition myself to remove the bangles that wang before I pass through security check.

All set with a beaming smile. I was at the airport earlier than the instructed check-in time, ready to shove my ticket and hop on the plane.

Then, the DAMN thing began. 

The check-in crew says, You have no booking confirmation number.  All that appears in our screen is 0.00. You have to call your agent to make the necessary booking.  DAMN 1!

I then call my agent who I assume was awaken from her blissful sleep by my continuous calls, without probably having thought that she was then about to enter a horrible nightmare. My exact words, How in the world can you ever forget to book a flight? A tearful apology followed.  The agent commits to fix the mishap and says, Promise, I'll work on it as soon as the mall opens at 10 am. What?! I gasped for breath while  the May 21 lengthy and precise discussion with her on my preferred time flashed right before my eyes. I was particular about time, and much  more particular about the manipulated mushy moment.  DAMN 2!

The  situation I found myself in shook my world. Even with a series of mobile calls and text messages, we ended with a no choice situation since flight re-bookings are heavily dependent on what the agents call "the system". More so, phone calls are absolutely not  problem solvers.  It fulfills its purpose as being a means of communication, but that's just IT.  A face-to-face confrontation would tremendously put an end to a battle.

A screaming howl was the only thing I wanted to do at that moment, hoping it would reach the other side of the spectrum where J. Bond anxiously waited for updates.  We were both in sorrow.  Yet, the little voice in me says there is a reason.  I was left with only one option -- grab my bag, go back home, wait for the clock to hit 10 am  and zoom really fast to the mall to have my flight re-scheduled to a later time. Yet, it is a fact that anxiousness equates to hurdles.  An equation which I am adamant to tear apart. I was anxious. My system only spoke of tension.  And it was TRAFFIC!!!  NOT MOVING. BUMPER-TO-BUMPER.  DAMN 3!

Patience no longer existed at that point.  The darkest cloud loomed right above my head, and the cab driver's head (and tongue) as well.  We were both stuck with  a sabotaging mood for the same reason.  I reached home at exactly 10 am, dumped my bags, and drove straight to the mall.  I was ready to throw a fit, set free a raging stampede and demand for justice.  Seriously! The financial aspect was a teeny-weeny issue I can easily deal with.  But the broken emotional anticipation for a mushy moment with J. Bond is irreplaceable. THEN ... a teary-eyed agent faced my unspoken rage.  My heart sank. She apparently received a huge lashing from the big boss for  2 unbooked flights -- me and another poor soul. In a nutshell, I failed to materialize the raging plan.  DAMN 4!

The mood changed.  I faced the agent with a cool and smiling face.  It took her 10 minutes to re-schedule my flight, and gave all relevant details for DAMN SITUATIONS like this. This time, my little voice says Justice has been served. Move on. There is a reason.

As soon as I tucked my newly printed ticket in my bag, J. Bond called and gave the reason ...We missed our flight.  We arrive Bacolod at 4:30 pm. 

Ooh! I could have arrived at Bacolod at 10:15 am, but for an awful damn reason, my flight was not booked.  My flight was re-scheduled to 3 pm, and for a good damn reason, J. Bond missed his flight.  I arrived Bacolod at 4:15 pm, and for a  better damn reason, J. Bond arrived at 4:30 pm. 

And the best damn reason of all, I was spared from the long wait!

P.S.  The planned and manipulated mushy moment did not happen.  As soon as I exited the airport door, I soothed my nerves at Cocoon Spa.

See you in BACOLOD

Friends say Bacolod is all about food. Think "Pig-Out" on grilled items. 

But a few other suggestions were much enthusiastically shared by a dear friend who until this very day has not gotten my name right. He calls me either "Trish", "Trisha", or "Triccie" .... Well, he got the first 3 letters right. Bravo! But never the right name. At this point, I have gotten so used to it and therefore I just let it be. 

Here are the suggestions on his list ...

1. Mambukal Hot Spring Resort
2. A Fish Spa
3. Have coffee at Bob's Cafe and enjoy the  free wifi
4. A visit to the association of Negros producers for my bead requirements
5. and the best suggestion of all, hang-out in MCDONALDS-Capitol Branch to observe the lifestyle and behavior of "Bacolodnons"

Way to go.  Thanks for the 5 suggestions, mls.  But I'll stick to items 1-4.  Have had too much McDonalds for the past few weeks.  And a reminder, it's been a year and a half since I retired  from lifestyle observations and market research.  In other words, stepback exercise!

Anyway, en route to SMILE CITY this weekend for new discoveries and a change of scenery.  My first time ever to visit.   All set.  Except for this travel concern.

Remember the blings that wang?  Where I go, these go.

Yes, it is all about bangles.  I love bead necklaces, but I go crazy over bangles.  I prefer them big, and should always come in two or three at a time.  No bangle is the same, yet must  blend in color and design.  

 I will stick to the risk of another loud wang rather than store the bangles in my check-in luggage.  For the meantime, a mental note to take off the bangles is what I'll do before tomorrow comes and especially right before I pass through security check. 

Otherwise, next travel will be all about this .....

Stay cool.  See you in Bacolod!

May 10, 2010 Philippine Elections

May 10, 2010 was the DAY we Filipinos casted our votes.  Having talked about which presidential candidate to vote for in this blog, my indifference a few months ago have later on made its transformation into the most intense level of patriotism.  I think?! 

In a gist, the candidate I rooted for was clear, concise and straightforward with his realistic and achievable plans for the country.  He has inspired me on how he ran his campaign -- clean, black propaganda strictly prohibited, no emotional "ek" nor a telenovela  story.  Unfortunately, as of today, it ain't his time yet.  One day, I know the right time will come along.

Anyway, here's a few tidbits on my voting experience yesterday ....

First.... I followed the rule.  As much as I wanted to accessorize my wrist with the baller band, I didn't.  Use of campaign materials (including  baller bands, t-shirts) ended on the eve of Saturday.

But there are other ways we can show support, right? 

Green bangles without the baller band.  Go GREEN!!!  and Second .... Notice the blue file folder? Well, it contains these....

Proves how obsessed I was to vote.  Brought along all important documents making sure I had proof should my identity be questioned.  Talk about absurd thoughts!  But just making sure :)  Peeping below is my list of candidates.

So off we went to the voting precinct at 7:30 am.  Chose to vote early to avoid the long line and the 10 am scorching heat.

With my senior citizen aunt in tow, we were amazed on how organized the road of the voting  precinct looked. We were early anyway. A 2-3 minute walk from the start of this road is where the voting precinct (a basketball court) is located.

Yes, it's this HOT at 8am.  To vote in the Philippines, make sure you are well equipped:  Bring a Jug of cold water, a Hand or Wash Towel to wipe off the sweat, a hand fan (the biggest the best!), maybe sunblock (or suntan) lotion (a new way to sun bath) or if scared of the sun, bring a huge umbrella.

A little bit closer to the voting precinct.  Wow!  And I thought I was the early bird.  I thought wrong.  Obviously, everyone else wanted to be an early bird.

First step:  Make sure your name is listed.  Aside from the name, know by heart your NEW precinct number.  Apparently there is a "silent" rule that states:  Precinct numbers change without prior notice .... even if you have this precious number forever embedded in your voters affidavit and voters i.d. 

Second step:  Ask for your cluster number.  Another precious 3-digit number you will refer  to once you enter the voting precinct.

But before you are allowed to enter the gates of heaven the voting precinct, LOTS OF PATIENCE is needed to endure the 3-4 hours of your life in this .....

LONG line ......

 Really LONG LINE .... under the close to 9am SCORCHING HEAT .... and

Cars rolling along this road despite the swarm of voters around the place. 

On an entrepreneurial mindset, a handful of these vendors grabbed the opportunity to station themselves along this road, enticing heated voters to quench their impatience and burning anger with "dirty" ice cream.  Why dirty? They say dirty because of where the ice cream is made and where it is sold.

More than two  hours on the same spot (exact time 10:12am) .... confusing lines .... not a slight movement ....

I said adios!  My aunt, who was lined up under the priority lane for senior citizens,  was already situated right in front of heaven's gate.  So she stayed on. Yet, it took her a total of 4 hours to vote.  No matter how prepared and gung ho I was,  I gave up.

Apparently,  I was not alone in this white flag situation.  The news announced the low turnaround of voters due to long waiting hours, disorganized system and malfunctioning computers.

But hey, why put my vote to waste.  Most especially that I am so passionate and inspired by my candidate.  The first time I ever felt this way.  So I went back to the voting precinct at 3pm.  Lo and behold ....

I went through the voting process for a max of TEN (as in 10!) MINUTES only.  Lesson learned ... Vote in the afternoon!  Better to be a "Late than Never bird" more than an "early bird".

Despite the count posted as of today,  I am HAPPY that I was able to cast my vote for him .....

and FULFILLED that I exercised my right to VOTE!!!!

P.S.  By the way, BRAVO to yesterday's hardworking volunteers who endured the heated blows!!! 

2010 Bangle, 2010 PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS

2010 BANGLE

2010 Philippine Elections

(May 10, 2010)

February 18, 2010 WHEN I PEEP OUT A WINDOW

I have this habit of peeping out  a window to check what's happening outdoors.  Early mornings and late afternoons are the best ♥☻♥

In the morning, I see folks, mostly in their senior years, from my living room window walking back and forth in their exercise outfits.  Some even do their stretching on a coconut tree in front of my house.  They finish their routine by 8:00 am.

In the afternoon, I gaze at the sway of the trees from my bedroom window as the sun is about to rest.  Absolutely one of the most serene sights I have ever seen.

A peep from my bedroom window.  By the way, I use my shawls to tie my curtains during the day.

And at night, I look out the window and pray that my husband arrives home safe from his long day at work.

Have you ever thought of a window as a beautiful artwork? 

I DO.

A photo I took from a local trip with my former work colleagues in 2009.  This trip is known as Viaje Del Sol:  The Way of the Sun.  To know more about it, visit www.viajedelsol.org.

But unlike the artworks we know, this 4-sided frame makes you see, feel and breath what is real.  Nothing is still and sights change. I see life when I look out a window.  I SEE ... Children laughing and playing ... Lovers strolling ... Ice-cream man ringing his bell ... Cars passing by ... Neighbors with their pet dogs ... A group of teenage boys about to play basketball ... Three Indian ladies,  in their colorful outfits, leisurely walking and talking at the same time ... folks from a nearby shanty village busy working on their livelihood program (they sew colorful rags and repair jeans) ...  Fresh laundry being naturally dried from the warmth of the sun ... the sun rising  ... and the moon peeping.

I have been taking photos of my bead works beside a window.  I love the natural light that comes through it. My photo becomes alive and colors are more vivid. This is the very 1st photo I took from my bedroom window.

2008 bangle collection.  The colors of the bangles are so vivid.  The bangles were literally tied on the window frame. But  this is a not-so-good photo.  See the window handle on the right?  Lol.

This  next photo of a window I took after a massage became an inspiration for my Flora 2009 Collection.

The inspiration

The result =)

How about you?  I hope you see life in your window too.