Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Week Past 09/18-09/24
Checked Out
Tue, 09/19, I did my regular mowing and checked on the rabbits' nest. It's empty (pic top left). They checked out just as I supposed last week. There's about six of them. Meaning additional six rabbits on the foray looking for delectable plants to chew on. That's what happened to our day lilly (top pic right) at the back. It never had a chance this summer to fully grow and bloom. It looks pathetic, bald and abused. Sad. My fault. I wasn't able to put any rabbit repellant. Human hair would've done the job.
End of Summer
Sat, 09/23 is the official start of autumn. But this early it's starting to feel like winter. This week's temps has been in the 50's and 60's and dropping to 40's at night. Thu, 09/21 we had early morning frost. It's time to acclimatize. Adjust to longer nights and shorter days. Fend off depression on those gray, freezing cold, drizzling gloomy days. The fall colors will try to provide some brightness albeit a short one . The trees' last burst of glory before they shed their leaves and hibernate naked for the winter. How quickly summer ends. At least I had my fun at Yosemite with my college bruders . But W and I were not able to plan out our summer unlike in 2005 . Hopefully summer of '07.
Housing Project (Week 20)
Housing Project (Week 20)
Sat, W and I did our construction inspection. The exterior finish was not done as it had been raining off and on this week. So my pics are all interior where they have installed the black granite kitchen counter top and refrigerator. Some cabinet door handles have also been attached. (top pic left). Living room shows wall light fixtures were installed (top right pic) . The master's bath shows the shower glass has been installed. Also the light fixture and wood sink top. Last week they have also poured concrete at the bottom of the deck's stairs. Sun, 09/24 just leaves us 12 more days before we move. It's getting there fast...way fast...we still have a lot of packing to do. Next weekend, Keith and Lynette, will start moving some of their things to our soon to be ex-home.
Noted
1. Birthday. 
Sat W and I attended Cielo's birthday party at her home. She turned 5. Second child of Top and Doray, she's now a second generation Filipino in the US. It's a get together for the second generation Filipino kids, their parents and friends. And yes, 95% of these parents and friends are working in the IT indsutry. It's the reason why they were able to settle in the Yu-Hes-Hay. They came 7 to 8 years ago when skilled programmers were in great demand (it's picking up again). Young and single. Now they own homes and are starting to send ther kids to school. Living the American dream...but still missing home. Cielo and her contemporaries would have their roots here in the US. It will be their "home". They will be part of a diverse population that is expected to hit 300 million soon, third only to China and India.
Sat W and I attended Cielo's birthday party at her home. She turned 5. Second child of Top and Doray, she's now a second generation Filipino in the US. It's a get together for the second generation Filipino kids, their parents and friends. And yes, 95% of these parents and friends are working in the IT indsutry. It's the reason why they were able to settle in the Yu-Hes-Hay. They came 7 to 8 years ago when skilled programmers were in great demand (it's picking up again). Young and single. Now they own homes and are starting to send ther kids to school. Living the American dream...but still missing home. Cielo and her contemporaries would have their roots here in the US. It will be their "home". They will be part of a diverse population that is expected to hit 300 million soon, third only to China and India.2. Work. I thought of putting on record trivial occurrence at work just so...a. I answered the phone and after giving my customary spiel (greetings, our store name and my name) the girl at the other end said; "Is this (our store name)? I answered: "Yes". Girl said: "Ahh...well...uhhh...I...well...ahhh...I want...ahh...uhhh..ehem....I'm sorry, thank you" then she hangs up. I wasn't even given a chance to say "You're welcome".. b. An old lady was paying her bill with a credit card. I asked her to sign her name on the small screen in front of her and hit the OK sign. I guess I should not have said "hit". She may be an old lady but using that stylus pen she "pounded" on the OK sign on the screen not once but twice. I winced thinking that the screen might crack. Luckily those who designed those small signature screens have that old lady in mind..."Til next week...
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Week Past 09/11-09/17
The Bunnies
Tue, 09/12 I checked on the baby bunnies while mowing the lawn. Since I first saw them , they've grown the size of a lab mice and have their eyes wide open. Every afternoon kids drop by to pet them then put them back in their nest and cover them with the dry grass just like the way mother rabbit left them. It won't be long before these rabbits leave their nest to forage on their own. There goes my garden plants (or should I say ex-garden plants) and my neighbors'. I'am looking at six new additional rabbits feeding on the garden.
Tue, 09/12 I checked on the baby bunnies while mowing the lawn. Since I Gasoline and Income
Mon. 09/11 I gassed up at $2.28/gal and by Sat, 09/16 some stations were selling it for $2.13/gal. Never thought gas price would drop that low that fast within a week. No complaints here. It's a big deal finding that oil reserve in the Gulf, the easing tension in the Mid-East , OPEC deciding not to decrease their oil production and the hurricane season was unlike last year's Katrina. With gas prices going down stocks are starting to recover.
I read in the papers that big discount retail stores that have been experiencing low sales, like Wal-Mart, have started showing increase in profits since gas prices' downward trend late August. Just proves that low-income group are the ones immediately impacted if there's an oil price increase. Having little spare cash after necessities from income they forego shopping and travel to a minimum.
For those with extra money to invest in commodities like gas it's a different story. At the Y's sauna Wed 09/13, two guys were talking about their stocks' performance. One mentioned that he's losing money in gas. He was happy when the gas price was going up. Even if he has to pay a high price at the pump he doesn't mind because he knows he's earning more on his investment. Life's irony. The rich gets richer and the poor...they just have to work two or three jobs and minimize shopping at Wal-Mart. Now that would make Sam Walton's heirs lose money but then they have other investments...
Housing Project (Week 19)
Sat, W and I did our weekly visit to the construction site. It's barely three weeks before our scheduled closing so they are now into finishings. Top photo shows the garage doors have been installed and hardiplank sidings done throughout the exterior of the house. Mid left photo is the main living room with its walls painted. Right mid photo is the kitchen with its cabinet doors installed. Bottom left pic is the master's bedroom with its walls painted nd baseboards installed. Bottom right pic is the machine room at the basement showing the air exchanger, dehumidifier and heater. We expect this coming week that all cabinets are done including those at the bedrooms and toilets. And hopefully lighting fixtures are installed.
Notes
1. Despedida. Fri 09/15, W and I attended a despedida or going-away party for one of her staff, Lorie, who was scheduled to go home Sat 09/16. I forgot my camera so no "visual aid" on this one. I asked her how long she stayed and she said six months. She just arrived when the group had Easter celebration at the park. She wearing a red sweater in the group pic and doing the bbq chore. We can't believe it had been that long already. Two new staff also arrived Fri. Rotation...rotation...I've seen other staff come and go and come back again and go and...I just can't keep up with their movements...
2. Fall Festival. Sat thru Sun 09/17 was the church's annual Fall Festival. It's a fund raiser for our parish the St Michael's church. Eileen, our friend from church asked us to help out in the Filipino booth selling Filipino food like lumpia and pancit. W helped out on Sat. after our visit from the construction site. I wasn't able to help as I had a co-worker call in from work. There goes my full day-off. I'm not obligated to report for work to cover the schedule. But I don't want my other co-worker closing by himself on a Sat night because I also don't want to be in the same predicament. So I just had to come...sucker
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Week Past 09/04-09/10
Bunny Attraction
Tue, 09/05 while doing my weekly mowing I checked on the little bugs bunnies. They've grown somewhat. Then our neighbor's 5? year old daughter who was jump-playing on their trampoline called my attention to ask if W is already home. I told her no. A thought crossed my mind so I asked her if she wanted to see baby rabbits. She excitedly said yes and immediately went down from the trampoline and ran to where I was standing. She was enthralled when she saw them. She asked me if she can call her older sister. I said yes then another thought crossed my mind: uh oh this will spread around. First it was her mom who came back with her so I showed the nest. Since she is now with her mom I left them as I had other chores to do (a man's work is never done :) ). After a while I noticed that another neighbor with his kid joined them. The following days the kids got smitten to those furry cuddly baby bugs bunnies that after school they go and visit the nest and cuddle them. I don't mind it. In fact I'm glad they are enjoying it. I just hope mother rabbit don't get spooked when she comes back at night sensing her babies had been touched by human hands. Then she decides to abandon them. Pics shows the neighbors and kids looking at the nest and cuddling those future "er what's up doc?"
Notes:
1. Labor Day and School Opening. Mon, 09/04 is Labor Day and we're supposed to get three days off. I got lucky and had my days off for three consecutive days Tue 09/05 through Thu 09/07. So I did the usual catch up work at home. Had to take off all the shelves we attached on our walls in preparation for the move. Had to patch the holes and repaint it.
Day after Labor Day is also the start of school after the summer break. So Tue Moms and Dads were preoccupied sending their kids back to school especially those whose children are attending school for the first time. It's a photo and video session from the school bus pick up to the school's drop off point. Lucky kids, they have a documentary film entitled: "First Day of My 18 Years or So in the Gulag". Me, I can't remember a thing. I think it's for the best especially if it's traumatic. Your brain has the capability of erasing all memories and not be reminded of it on film. Now let me think why I can't recall those days....
2. Airport Pickup. Thu, 09/07 from the Y I went to Burnsville Center while waiting for W's call that she's already at the airport. Turned out it's just not her when she came in at 1:10 pm from AK. Her colleague Lucy (on a stopover) and their bosses B and R flew in with her. I drove W's Subaru Outback Impreza. It's a hatchback and was able to accomodate all the baggage. A guy who was waiting for his ride was watching us load the bags. He thought we will not be able to fit in everything. So did I. But a little bit of adjusting, pushing and compressing and we were able to close the back door. He was impressed by the Impreza. We had a late lunch at JunBo. Then went back to the airport for Lucy's flight back home to Oregon. Then had B and R checked in at their hotel. Went home after a quick peek at the housing project since it was along the way.
3. Reception Party.
Sat, 09/09 W and her staff tended a reception party for the bosses at their staff house. The kids were well behaved without their usual raucous whenever they have a get together or a TGIF. Left pic shows B and R background while a staff was saying a prayer over the food.
Sat, 09/09 W and her staff tended a reception party for the bosses at their staff house. The kids were well behaved without their usual raucous whenever they have a get together or a TGIF. Left pic shows B and R background while a staff was saying a prayer over the food. 4. Gas Price and Weather. Sun, 09/10 the gas price went down further from $2.38 at the start of the week to $2.28/gal. We're really on a roll since Aug 20. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it would still go down before winter...Talking about winter... Sat the temperature went down in the 50s from mild 70s the past days. I thought it would heat up middle of the day but it didn't change much. Sun was even colder. Is old man winter trying to report for work early? I hope not...
Housing Project (Week 18)
Sat, 09/09 W and I picked up B and R at their hotel and went to Mystic Lake it's getting to be a habit) for a brunch. The Fall Parade of Homes also started today. We visited one of contractor's model homes near the construction site before proceeding to the housing project. The workers doing the sidings were installing the sidings at the south side of the house (pic at left). They were done at the back installing the sidings as shown in the right pic. The cabinet makers have began installing the cabinets at the kitchen (botton left pic) and at the master's bathroom (righ bottom pic). There's just about three weeks left before we close and move in. It's getting there.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Week Past 08/28-09/03
Work Front
Early morning of Mon,08/28 finally got done with pre-inventory work. No choice actually because inventory starts that night. We did a final walk through at grocery side to ensure proper labels and numbers. We still ended up with quite a lists. Wed, 08/30 was my first day to work back on my regular shift since I had Tue, 08/29 off. I learned we did not do good on our inventory and they are still working on the difference...trying to find items unaccounted for.
First Blog Anniversary
First Blog Anniversary
Thu, 08/31 marked the first year of this blog. A Johnny-come-lately. I've been hearing about the blog thing for some time but didn't give it much thought. Until one evening on my way home listening to the car radio the commentator was discussing about blogging and that roused my curiosity. So when I got home I did a search on blog or blogger and voila, I've been doing it for a year. Looking back, it has evolved from whatever topic I can think of to a more or less "organized" journal for reasons cited on this entry . It's a diary where you can have pictures to make some events more memorable. I've also picked up some friends (check out the links) or is the proper term "virtual friends"? since you have not met them personally but exchange messages on the blog. Hopefully I could keep this up for another year...and another...and another...
Truly Prolific
Fri, 09/01 while I was mowing the lawn (again) I noticed a brown patch in an otherwise sea of green grass. I thought to myself " oh man a dead spot...again...what could it be?...why?...did somebody let their big dog pee on the grass that it was so acidic the grass just dried up?...whaaat?"...nuff said. Anyways when I checked the patch I saw that the grasses were detached and was just lying on top of the soil. Looking closer I removed part of the dried grass and I did a double take when I saw a gray furry thing moved. A rodent digging a hole? I took the rake from the garage and started removing more of the dead grass. Lo and behold new born rabbits...little bugs bunnies...what do you think looking at the picture? Are they?...I don't know how they survived the rain Sat night and early Sun, 09/3 but when I checked their still there turning when you touch them. They might be thinking I'm their mom coming back to feed them.
Housing Project (Week 17) 
Sat, 09/02 I went to the construction site for the weekly visit. There are more visible accomplishments compared to last week's. Their still doing those "white bands" to "accent" the facade. They've poured concrete to the walkway from the garage leading to the front entrnace (top pic keft and right). Top pic center shows the living room, part of the kitchen and dinette leading to the porch with wood flooring already installed. Bottom right pic is the entrance hall also showing installed wood flooring, door jambs and steps on the staircase . Left bottom pic is the master's bath showing the tiles that the contractors installed Sun, 08/27 for shower and tub. Pic bottom right shows contractors beginning to install hardiplank sidings at the back of the house. It's starting to show what its supposed to look like in the final design.
Noted
1. Party. 
Fri I went to W's staff get together to welcome Lucy and Bong, who drove all the way from Arkansas, to assist W in a client presentation. It was also a "surprise" birthday celebration for Jack, one of the pioneer Pointwest associate in MN. Photo at left shows from L-R: Jack, Bong and Lucy having a serious discussion about Jack's true age :) "I don't believe you" says Bong. Jackie retorts passionately, "It's true". While Lucy just said. "Whatever, I'll drink to that. Water please."
Fri I went to W's staff get together to welcome Lucy and Bong, who drove all the way from Arkansas, to assist W in a client presentation. It was also a "surprise" birthday celebration for Jack, one of the pioneer 2. Brunch. Sat, after checking out the house construction I met up with W, Lucy and Bong at Mystic Lake at 10:20 am for a brunch. I had to leave them at 11:20 am as I was scheduled to work at 12:00 pm that day. An hour may seem long for a lunch but for me it was a rush because I normally dawdle at brunch to enjoy the food (as in to gormandize). Lucy and Bong were also scheduled to drive back to Arkansas that afternoon. I learned later from W that they stayed until about 2:00 pm just talking. The waiter got tired bringing them water.
3. Gas Price. 
We're on a roll. Gas price went down again from $2.66 last week to $2.53 this week. Thirteen cents is thirteen cents. If you average 20 gallons a week that's a savings of $2.60, good for a slice of pizza and a pop, or a burger, or a sub, or a shirt in clearance sale, or another gallon of gasoline for another 30 miles depending on your vehicle's consumption. Whatever, let's hope it stays down considering that it's a long weekend being Labor Day on Monday gas prices usually goes up.
We're on a roll. Gas price went down again from $2.66 last week to $2.53 this week. Thirteen cents is thirteen cents. If you average 20 gallons a week that's a savings of $2.60, good for a slice of pizza and a pop, or a burger, or a sub, or a shirt in clearance sale, or another gallon of gasoline for another 30 miles depending on your vehicle's consumption. Whatever, let's hope it stays down considering that it's a long weekend being Labor Day on Monday gas prices usually goes up.4. Airport to Church. Sun, 09/03 I dropped off W at the airport at 8:15 am for her 10:00 am flight to AK.Then I proceeded to St Peter's Church at Bloomington. My co-worker told me yesterday the mass is at 9:00 am. Turned out it was 8:00 and the next mass is at 9:30. Had no choice but to attend late since I have to work at 10:00 am. What's interesting is I caught the end part of a "farewell" speech by the priest. It turned out the priest was none other than Fr. Gene our former parish priest at St Michael's in Farmington. He was also the one who blessed our then new home that we just put up for sale. I knew he was assigned somewhere in Bloomington but I was not aware the church was just 12 blocks away from where I work. Coincidence? Of all Sundays and my first to attend mass in this church was the day he was announcing his retirement. And since I was late I sat at the "Crying Room" hence I was able to talk to him as he passed by after his talk. Now I know where to get hold of him to have our new house blessed.
