Sunday, May 28, 2006
Yosemite 05/06
Yosemite Trip
My trip to Yosemite brought back memories of my climb or hike inMt Banahaw in Quezon and Mt Pulag in Benguet way back before it became "commercialized". Meaning no trash along the trails or crowded trail head. Don't ask me to compare these places because each has its own beauty and serenity. It's just lamentable the way things are going in Mts Banahaw and Pulag. I read that they had to close Mt Banahaw to the public last Holy Week (it's peak season) to give the mountain time to "recover". Pulag is heading the same way if local officials don't act fast to intervene and introduce controls to preserve it's environment. Trekkers must also take responsibility. They should treat the mountains as if it was their home. I digress from my topic because I can't help but compare how national parks are preserved here in spite of hundreds of thousands of visitors. I know: resources, resources, resources. But first there must be the political will. It's a start. Anyways, here are some of the pics at the Y.
Left: Finally reaching the Yose entrance marker from Hway 120 after a delay of 3 hours
Below left: Hut No. 260 at Housekeeping Camp Site where we billeted Thur 05/25 to Sun 05/28. It can accomodate four or five if one is willing to sleep on the floor. It has electrical socket and running water. Below right pic is one of the view from the hut: the Bridalveil falls.
Left, the final five who finally made the trip to Yose. Me being the farthest from MN while the rest of the guys are from San Fo and LA. It's the first time that I met these brods after more than a decade or so. L-R seated: Rey (C'76) JD (C'76) Jude (C'77). Standing at the back L-R: Danny (C'76) and Ato (C'77). Temperature were at the 40s at night. Our "pulutan" in the tupperware behind the Coke can is none other than "tokwa't baboy". Who would've have thought in Yosemite?
Yosemite Falls taken on our way to Glacier Point Still at the valley floor. Hike category strenous; estimated hike time 4-6 hours (leisurely pace somewhat). Below right the group posing at the camp site before going on a hike. Pic below the view of Yosemite Falls and the valley floor taken at Glacier Point.
My trip to Yosemite brought back memories of my climb or hike in
Left: Finally reaching the Yose entrance marker from Hway 120 after a delay of 3 hoursBelow left: Hut No. 260 at Housekeeping Camp Site where we billeted Thur 05/25 to Sun 05/28. It can accomodate four or five if one is willing to sleep on the floor. It has electrical socket and running water. Below right pic is one of the view from the hut: the Bridalveil falls.
Left, the final five who finally made the trip to Yose. Me being the farthest from MN while the rest of the guys are from San Fo and LA. It's the first time that I met these brods after more than a decade or so. L-R seated: Rey (C'76) JD (C'76) Jude (C'77). Standing at the back L-R: Danny (C'76) and Ato (C'77). Temperature were at the 40s at night. Our "pulutan" in the tupperware behind the Coke can is none other than "tokwa't baboy". Who would've have thought in Yosemite?
Yosemite Falls taken on our way to Glacier Point Still at the valley floor. Hike category strenous; estimated hike time 4-6 hours (leisurely pace somewhat). Below right the group posing at the camp site before going on a hike. Pic below the view of Yosemite Falls and the valley floor taken at Glacier Point.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Week Past 05/15-05/21
Housing Project
Went to our realtor Ratzlaff's Thur, 05/18 to finalize the finishing materials for the new home. So many options to choose from: floor finish, bathroom and kitchen fixtures and finish, door, paint finish ad infinitum. You just wish your budget is not limited. But that what makes you prudent. Choosing materials that are inexpensive (if there is really one) yet has quality and aesthetic. I thought it would only take a couple of hours. We started around 3:00 pm and got done past 8:00 pm. Those are only for our picks. Cost estimates and availabilty of materials for our choices would follow later. Sun, 05/21 was another open house from 3:00-5:00 pm. Only one came to check out the place but they were looking for a four bedroom :-(
Cellphone Etiquette
I'm not talking about drivers using their cellphones while driving at 70 to 80 mph or those driving at 40 mph on a 55 mph zone because their preoccupied. Let's just hope and pray that they don't get what they deserve. I'm referring to those who use their cellphone while talking to another person in person. I've been getting that a lot lately in my place of work. They come in to our store cellphone stuck in their ear talking, looking important or trying to ("can't you see I'm busy here talking business over the phone'"). They stand in front of you and say something. Say what? You talking to me or your cellphone? Meawhile the line of customers starts to build up because the person in front of you is "multi-tasking". Talking to you and another person in the cell. So your conversation goes like: "How can I help you?"...wait..."Huh? What did you say?"...you go again:"What can I do for you?"...wait..."Uhhh..while he fumbles something in his wallet on one hand and cellphone on the other...this goes on...talk...wait...huh...talk...wait...huh. Maybe after five minutes (which is eternity if you're the next person in line waiting) he or she realizes the futility (let's not even hope realizing the lack of civility) and ends the call. Now we are talking. After "wasting" five minutes of his time and by now there might be five people waiting so that's a total of 25 minutes wasted. Courtesy is the word. Maybe using a cellphone makes you feel important or even cool. But when you are about to talk to somebody in person for a transaction END that call before you face that person. As I said it's becoming regular. Customers would come up cellphone in use. Talks and talks and talks while I'm standing in front showing every conceivable body language that I'm waiting for him. What calls their attention is when I acknowledge the person waiting behind him/her and say "I'll be with you in a minute". That puts everything in perspective: duh, there are real live people around you and not just the person at the other end of the cellphone. I have a very low regard for these type of people regardless of their stature.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Week Past 05/08-05/14
Housing Project
It's been an uneventful week. Thu, 05/11 one realtor from RHS previewed our home. Sat, 05/13 W and I with her colleague Rene C. checked out the lot at Prior Lake and noticed that the contractor had already staked out the place as can be seen from the pictures. After a few days of rain the trees and shrubs at the back have really turned green and lush. Those are the top of the trees at the back. The lot is sloping down after about 5 feet from the last stake at the back portion of the lot (left pic).
Mystic Lake Casino
Sat, 05/13 W and I together with her colleague Rene C went to Mystic Lake Casino at Prior Lake for a brunch. It was a short 5 to 7 minutes drive from the The Wilds where the lot is situated. We've heard about it. Friends talk about it. After 5 years in MN it was our first time to step foot on the said place. I'd say their brunch is good. It has a wide array of selection and not just your usual bacon, sausage and omelet. They even have Chinese and Italian entrees. The downside is if you're not a smoker you wouldn't want to walk past the slot machines and gambling area. Use the hotel entrance if you just want to go to their buffet room.
Sun, 05/14 is Mother's Day. Flowers and cakes were the hot item in our store. The weather cooperated. After three days of rain and cloudy sky the sun peeked and the rain stopped. It was still cold though in the 50's and 60's. Being a dutiful son I called my mom at CA to greet her a Happy Mother's day. Well I caught her as they were driving back from AZ and Las Vegas. Looks like they had a fun time.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Week Past 05/01-05/07
Four Down Eight To Go
It's the month of May (reminds me of the Flores de Mayo in the Philippines ; a season of parades)and 1/3 of the year is gone. When I'm at work it seems like the day is never going to end. But when you sum it up and look back, four months have gone by just like that. So what have I accomplished? What have you accomplished? Nothing!? For us mere mortals (compared to the Gates, Trumps, the Tans and Sys) it may seem nothing. Things we take for granted are accomplishments in itself. I call it a blessing after four months this year: W and I still have our respective jobs though I grumble and drag at times I'm still thankful and ask for His understanding; at our age we're still in good health, no "aching" complaints; we still have a home, food on the table and sleep soundly. You can't ask for anything more...and yet at times we do...man is never completely satisfied...
Sustainable Lawn and Garden
Tue 05/02, was one of my days off. I attended a $7.00 2-hour seminar on Sustainable Lawn and Garden sponsored by the Dakota County. It was held at Lebanon Hills Regional Park Visitor Center at Eagan about 16 min drive from home. An impulse on my part because I read about it Monday and signed up on the day of the seminar. It was informative. It gave me an idea on how to landscape the new place we're moving into. There were lots of tips on how to care for your lawn especially those pesky weeds (think dandelions and crabgrass) that always sprout no matter what. Reminds me that I also have to check the two trees in front of our yard if they were planted right. They might just snap if a storm with strong winds hits them when they mature. There were about 25 of us attendees. Some nuggets: lawn should be at least 2" high after you cut it to stimulate roots to grow deeper seeking moisture; apply fertilizer during the fall to sustain nutrients during winter; spray weed killers on dandelions during fall it will have an opposite (compared to fertilizer) effect on their roots duting winter.
Housing Project
Nothing much happened this week. We had to lower the price of the house to make it more competitive being a buyer's market. Check it out at Edina Realty's website. Sat 05/06 we had one preview. A realtor from RHS Realty. W and I decided to go to Southern Lights to check out the lighting fixtures we want installed for the new house. Of course the styles we wanted are those that are expensive and can't afford. So dream on. Sun 05/07 we had another open house.
Gas Price...Up Up and Away
In my
