Mon 12/25 Christmas Day. Was invited to Joe and Wilma's home in Eagan for their Christmas party. A small group mostly composed of people working in the medical industry, Wilma being a nurse specialist in surgery. They had this huge lechon as the main fare. Being a small group the guests were able to take home leftovers from the lechon to be "paksiw-ed". It's a small world. We met a couple of Filipino doctors. One a specialist in orthopedics knows my cousin since they came from the same school, UP PGH, though from a different batch. Another is doing his fellowship at the U of MN. We also met a Filipina nurse who just arrived October. She is a close friend of W's acquiantance from the Philippines. I commiserate with her. Being away from her children specially this time of the year compounded with her adjusting to a new work environment. Wilma's husband Joe (working in the IT industry, that's how I met him through W) commented that they should also have a party composed of people working in IT industry so talks would not center on the medical field. We told him those were the people present at Dennis and Jack's Christmas Eve party.
Tue 12/26 I reported to our Eagan store to start my second week of training. Met Felicia the Optical Manager. I was able to do a couple of Computer Based Learning modules. Thur 12/28 and Fri 12/29 I had to rush to our store in Bloomington from Eagan to take care of end of year profit-loss entries in the system or we would be taking a big loss on our profit statement . It also worked to my advantage since I was able to help out in our store taking care of patients.
Black ice can really be deceiving. Thu I was in hurry to take out the garbage. I thought our driveway was just wet from the drizzle night before, I did not notice that it has turned into ice. Thud!?#*^, I slipped. I was pulling the garbage container with my right hand. Good thing I was able to break my fall with my left hand. But still my bottom hit the asphalt and my right middle finger was cut by the garbage's handle. Lucky me no broken bones or sore spot except for the cut finger. When I stood up I had to walk carefully using the garbage container for support because I was sliding. I walked on the lawn instead. Imagine if that's the road surface you're driving into...its a fender bender.
Sun 12/31 was the last day of 2006 that started with a drizzle then rain then snow. It didn't let up until close to midnight in time for the New Year. W and I were crazy to brave the snow to fulfill our commitment to attend three New Year's party: Her staff's New Year's party, Lydia's birthday cum New Year's party and birthday party of Jay's mom cum New Year's party. Then we had to make sure we were at home by 12 midnight to greet the New Year. It was clockwork: get to party A at so and so time then leave at this time to arrive at party B then to...so it was from Prior Lake to Bloomington to Eagan to Farmington to Prior Lake. We just made it on time at home to greet the New Year. Along the way from our place with the heavy snowfall it wouldn't be complete wihout witnessing vehicles on the ditch. We saw a number of them. We were running at 35 to 40 mph on a 70 mph highway. Ditched cars have a way of reminding you to drive slow in this foul weather or you'll be one of them. Of course there are still some who are impatient weaving in and out of the traffic just to get ahead and you just wished...
It started with a drizzle turning into rain/Leaving raindrops on the window pane/Then swirling flurries start appearing/Into trees and branches clinging/It thickened as snow started falling/Creating a landscape white and foreboding/
Three commitments we have to meet; before 2006 finally exits/First the Regis Group in Bloomington; in the snow we found playing with abandon/Behind them in half mast is Old Glory fluttering; to denote Pres Ford's passing/A group picture before the meal was taken; to ensure the event will not be forgotten/Eagan was the next destination; it is Lydia and Dante's home location/It was Lydia's birthday and New Year's celebration; friends and guests brought food to share in the jubilation/ 
Finally to Farmington we went; to share in Jay and Jovy's event/ Composed of close knit friends; wanting to be together to greet the year's end/ Alas we had to run; and miss all the fun/But our new home for us is waiting; to greet the new year's beginning. May You All Have a Blessed and Prosperous New Year.
# posted by Rey A @ 12/31/2006 12:36:00 PM
Three commitments we have to meet; before 2006 finally exits/First the Regis Group in Bloomington; in the snow we found playing with abandon/Behind them in half mast is Old Glory fluttering; to denote Pres Ford's passing/A group picture before the meal was taken; to ensure the event will not be forgotten/Eagan was the next destination; it is Lydia and Dante's home location/It was Lydia's birthday and New Year's celebration; friends and guests brought food to share in the jubilation/ 
Finally to Farmington we went; to share in Jay and Jovy's event/ Composed of close knit friends; wanting to be together to greet the year's end/ Alas we had to run; and miss all the fun/But our new home for us is waiting; to greet the new year's beginning. May You All Have a Blessed and Prosperous New Year.
