Sunday, March 30, 2008
Week Past 03/24-03/30/08 (Chiro Brother)
W signed up for a
Mon 03/24 I had my first of thirty something adjustment sessions. It was quick. I'd say two minutes. The Chiro Dr told me to lie flat on my stomach (wearing my street clothes). He then ran his fingers down my spine "feeling" something out. Deep breath in then out. A sudden pressure with his hands was applied down a certain spot on my spine. Unngh. Then lying down on my side with a jerking motion, with his one hand on my shoulder pushing it and the other at the hips pulling it, I felt and hear a crack on my lower back. That felt good. Last while lying on my back he again ran his fingers feeling the back of my neck. Then he held my head moving it slowly from side to side. I knew what was coming. This is what some of our barbers do in Manila. I heard stories about people breaking their necks. I'm not sure if it's true. I told myself just relax and let it go. He's a Chiro Dr right? He knows what he's doing right? With a twist of his hands I heard a crack on my neck. And I can still move. The session is ended see you again.
Fri 03/28 morning I drove W to the airport before reporting for work.. She's going to Manila again for two weeks. Business and personal trip. Sat 03/29 I was back at the airport to pick up our eldest brother who flew in from Canada. He attended a company meeting and was able to squeeze a visit overnight on his way back to Manila to look at our not so new home and say hello. With a limited time we proceeded directly to the Mall of America to buy some things for his kids and shoes. He said our clothes are priced lower and without taxes. We were planning to eat at the Mall but being a Saturday their food places were packed. You can't find a table at the fastfood section and there were lines in almost all the food stalls. Off to Burnsville we went. Had a late lunch that was also our dinner at the Old Country Buffet. Bought a coffee liquor at the Blu Maxx liquor store. A quick shop at the Burnsville Shopping Mall then home. Sun 03/30 after the 8:30 mass we had brunch at the Clubhouse then left for the airport at 11:00 am. That was really a quick visit. By 1:00 pm I'm home by myself for the next two weeks or so.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Week Past 03/17-03/23/08 (Easter)
Mon 03/17 is St Patrick's Day but celebration started since the weekend. Hooray for Green Beer.
Thu 03/20 is the First Day of Spring. As if to mock the day winter storm was forecasted late in the evening thru Fri 03/21. I thought it bypassed us. I woke up at 5:30 am and nary a trace of snow on our roof. But by the time I was about to leave at 6:30 am there it was. Falling, wet and gaining strenght. There was already an accumulation in the driveway. The road was slippery and slushy. I witnessed a car spin as it turned right on County Rd 42. Later it was my turn on my to the gym. I did not spin but the car kept on moving forward as I stepped on the brake when the traffic light turned red. I had no choice but to make the left turn. Luckily the vehicles on green did not move forward immediately though I heard a honk. It would have been a perfect T-bone. I thanked God profusely. It was Good Friday. Pic above is my drive going to the office from the gym.
March is really the snowiest month. The rise in temps from negatives to teens and twenties is the perfect snow maker. I heard the weatherman on the radio telling his story when he was new in MN. He asked his senior colleague what advise she can give him. Her reply: "Never make any important life decisions during March."
Sun 03/23 is Easter. I've read somewhere that this is the earliest Easter celebration in 95 years. Two years ago I wrote about Easter and a link on how Christ's suffered. This Sunday there were three scheduled masses: 7:00 am, 9:15 am and 11:00 am. All three were packed. After mass W and I attended a birthday celebration cum Easter party. It was Randy and Leslie's daughter, Leyla, celebrating her third birthday. It was at the social hall where they are renting their apartment. It's the same place where W and her staff rented their unit when they first arrived circa 1996. It's also where I stayed when I first came to the US to visit W in '97. Memories. Bottom two pics shows Mom lighting the candle and proud Dad with guitar looking on.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Week Past 03/10-03/16/08 (Running Shoes & Birthdays)
Wed 03/12 I lost my running shoes at the gym. I usually leave it under a bench when I go take a shower. I'm thinking it was not stolen but somebody took it by mistake...I hope. Now who would steal a used running shoes including the socks? Would you? (gross as W said). Fri 03/14 went back to the gym and asked for their lost and found. "Anybody turned in a running shoes?' I asked."What color?' she asked. Showed my other running shoe to the attendant. "It's a Reebok with almost the same color" I said. Wait, wait while she rummaged inside. I thought that's what I heard she was doing behind the door. Afterwards she showed me two pairs. One had seen better days. I think the owner must have left that on purpose to be thrown away. The other was mine:). "You're in luck" she said. "Seen any black socks with it?" I asked smiling pushing my luck and thanked her.
I know two people celebrating their birthday this week: Fri 03/14 is my fraternal bruder Boots who now reside in Texas with his daughter. He worked on her papers for years so she can join him in the land of milk and honey (you really have to work to the bones to get that milk and honey). He likes to end his e-mails with "Remember the Ilocano in Alamo." He turns 53. Sat 03/16 is my biological brother Jo in New Jersey. We were hoping that he and his family will relocate in MN. That will have to wait. With the housing problems I guess it's not a good time.
Happy Birthday and Enjoy your Day. May God Bless.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Week Past 03/03-03/09/08 (DST)
Sun 03/09 Daylight Saving Time begins. Meaning set your clock ahead one hour. Spring is coming! Hooray! It's about time. Temps have been at a single digit or negative. You can count the days that it broke 20's or 30's. One good thing about it is you don't get much snow. In Columbus, Ohio they got 20" of snow over the weekend. Breaking the record of 15.3" set way back Feb 1910. It was also reported that 4 died shoveling. That is bad.This is one of the coldest winter I've experienced in my almost seven years stay in MN. I guess age also has to do with it :). With Daylight Saving Time days are just gonna get longer. People will have the tendency to stay out late because you lose track of time with the sun still up even at 7 pm.
The gas price is heading north again. Tue 03/04 it hit $3.05 by Thu 03/07 it was at $3.19. Their projection would be at $4.00 by Memorial Day in May. I hope they are wrong. It's starting to hurt.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Week Past 02/25-03/02/08 (Corruption)
"Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body" printed at the back of the shirt worn by a guy working out in the gym. It goes with "No Pain, No Gain". Mantras to push your body to the limit...or injury...
This week Fri 02/29 is the end of February. A leap year. Woe to those born this day. Their birthdays will neither be here nor there except once every four years. I guess women will like it as they grow old. They will not be "lying" about their age...technically.
This week Fri 02/29 is the end of February. A leap year. Woe to those born this day. Their birthdays will neither be here nor there except once every four years. I guess women will like it as they grow old. They will not be "lying" about their age...technically.
I haven't had much time to read the news in Manila. It's sad last time I checked corruption again reared its ugly head...lines. Powers that be...why are they so greedy. It's been accepted, a given...their greediness. Why else would a Director General advise a technical consultant working in a project that cost millions of dollars to "Moderate their greed". Who are "they"? "Moderate their greed", meaning they are "entitled" to a kickback or commission (sounds less derogatory) but moderate it. Not $130M which is 50% of the project's cost...maybe $65M so it won't be obvious. Denials, denials. There is no such thing. Their noses so long you can hang your clothes. Poverty is everywhere that "they" refuse to see. The people are hungry and sick and "they" feed them with rethoric. The poor sell their bodies...they sell their children. Food they can only imagine and garbage their source of living. It is sad. The Philippines. Proud to be identified as the only pre-dominantly Christian nation in the Southeast. But the leaders, if they can ce called as such, practice it only in public like the Pharisees. They show their devotion especially when they are being photographed while praying. Eyes closed, lips quivering...the whole nine yards...mea culpa.
Jesus said you cannot serve two masters. It is obvious who or what they worship deep in their being. Have they no fear?
