Archive for July, 2005

Trip Update

Sunday, July 31st, 2005

We’re finally back home from our 2 nights stay in San Antonio! Friday, July 29–we went to Seaworld.  We had a wonderful time and wanting to come back again soonFamily_at_seaworld–(click pic to enlarge–at the Entrance, me with backpack and sunglasses), it was very hot, as you can see on the picture.  The rest of the family–the in-laws, went ahead of us because we got there 2 hours later.  They were at "The Great White"(from Great White Shark) rollercoaster ride.  Most of them where surprised, especially Alex, because, I got the guts to ride it!…yeah!  I got a little dizzy…too many loops, it was fun though.  Hey, I’m only doing it because I want to get my money’s worth….for sure!  we paid $xxx.xx dollars!>>>honestly after coupons/discounts it was $115+ and they took alexy as free…explained to them that she just turned 3–price is pretty good overall.  You know, when a child turns 10, you have to pay full adult admission…grrr…that’s weird, I think it should be at least 12 or 13.  Anyways, the kids rode the kiddie rides, although some have height limitations.  They had a ball! watching animal exhibits especially the dolphins and sea lions….and the ever popular anticipated show "Shamu Adventure"…Alex’s younger cousins got splashed with "Ice" cold water, us on the other hand played it safe sitting 4th row from the back.  To make my blabber short, the only ride I didn’t get to go to is the "Steel Eel" rollercoaster ride because, the weather didn’t look so good.  We ate in a restaurant in the park 2 times and I happen to meet some group of people who spoke "Tagalog" and I said, "Hello, taga pilipinas din kayo?", a woman spoke to me,"Taga California kami, punta kami dito kasi we’re on our way to Louisiana, sa Manila kami originally".  Alex looked at me and said, he’s glad to see me talked to another pinoy–later joked about translating my conversations with them…he’s a knucklehead, this is what we call each other, we are a couple of goofs in the trip.  I taught him some pinoy language, cebuano also.  His favorite is the translation of "Two toys"…LOL…I really want to go back and so does everyone else in the family, the reunion committee are planning a cruise trip on October but, I don’t know, this will conflict my plans for my brother’s (Birthday today, he is 18 my mom called him over the phone and I sent him a card with pictures ) grad from military school in Georgia…I’ll see in a few months from now…Next years’ reunion will be in Houston, like I wished it would be.  There’s so many to see and do especially for the kids in Six Flags Astroworld.  It makes me wish that all my family in the philippines and over here should get together and have a Big reunion…then we’ll rent a whole island…lol…

Reunion Nonsense

Thursday, July 28th, 2005

There has been a change of plans, we opted out in going to that banquet (almost forgot to mention about it) in Radisson Hotel tomorrow night @ downtown San Antonio (part of the Reunion festivities).  We want to do other "Family-time" on our own.  I didn’t quite understand on why do they want to have a banquet in the first place, a $60/adult and $30/child and guess what?  It’s a formal affair…wah?!?–a banquet consists of a plate of one course meal, a bread of choice, your choice of drink (non-alcoholic) and a dessert….blah….I can make one of those at home…wow…It’s totally crazy.  There’s a little entertainment along with it an unknown group who’ll sing gospel songs until midnight or so and Oh, an elder fashion show…they make it seem like its a celebrity gala or something…they wanted us to stay in the hotel which was about (disounted) $100+ a night!….geez…it’s fancy but, I don’t think its kid-oriented hotel.  I know it’s their 10th Reunion (this would be my 3rd–showing up), a formal banquet doesn’t fit to a typical "Family" reunion…it’s not like they used to have it, out in the park, cooking barbecue, playing silly games, etc.  For the next year, I wish they’ll have it in Houston, which is a lot closer and more familiar to me. 

Warning: nasty pics “Nasty Feet”

Wednesday, July 27th, 2005

I remembered back in the days when I was in the Philippines, those things the term "chinelas o sinelas" i really don’t know how it spelled but, you know "slippers"…here, they call it "Flip-flops" (popular for summer) are meant for house use.  "Flip flops" is what i need to buy another one tomorrow, I really like to wear this at home or even when i go do lttle groceries.  The old school trend started when I first married, it caught my in-laws’ attention, in fact, I’m the only one who wears one then until now, most of them followed and I kind-of gave myself some credit when one of his cousins told me that it helped her with foot problems….*ewwww*….lol.  Yeah, how would you feel when you wear shoes most of the day?!?  That’s not pretty good considering that we are vulnerable to infections…not talking about disease but, it’s a starting point for fungal growth, you know well that they love to live in a warm/dark/moisty areas….so my advice (Dr.Cindy) "Wash your feet everytime you need it and let it out…and please! clip them…grrr…you don’t want to see your foot looking like the one in the pictureNasty_foot_1 or even worse….*too horrific to show* right now…i might puke…here are just the two that looked like the 2nd stages to worse…"

Nasty_foot_2

Anyways, moving on to a non-vomitus topic…..bwahahahahaha!… I woke up at 7 in the morning to fix breakfast and do some laundry…tomorrow, we have to get everything packed and ready to go.  This way, we have no excuse leaving so late like the last trip, which we took almost 3 hours.  Seaworld-San Antonio opens @ 10 am and we "the whole gang" want to get there so we have the whole day of fun.  I will be taking some pictures and probably place some of it here in my blog.

Hate Letter/Post : About Filipinos

Tuesday, July 26th, 2005

A Friend send this to me through e-mail and it made my  Blood boil!, after I calmed down, you’ll realize, there are a lot of ignorant people in the world that doesn’t have better things to do in their life and come up with these childish blabber….LOL…cindy w.(A Forum Post) I didn’t see any link about Art Bell but, you can look him up…Let me know what are your comments:

SUGARGAME:
I am a filipino. And I agree with you. Please help us put ourselves out of our misery.  Who’s the moron?  My my, it seems that evil saint is the one who’s empty brained. Otherwise he’s suffering from a superiority complex.
Let’s see if he’s still going to be proud of being a filipino after he learns of the following facts:
1.) the word "filipina" means "domestic helper" and **"prostitute" in many western dictionaries.
2.) a well known chocolate candy named "filipino" is marketed worldwide and it bears a catch phrase that says "brown outside, white inside". A cruel but truthful satire for the morbid aspirations of almost all filipinos to magically become caucasians someday.
3.) World class professionals? The latest TESDA figures indicate more than half of the overseas filipino workers are cultural dancers. A facade designation for the word "prostitutes"
4.) The second highest number of filipinos working abroad belongs to the "caregiver" category. They are mostly disgraced doctors and nurses being laughed at by other nationalities for rountinely washing the elders’ asses.
5.) Filipinos discriminate against their own countrymen. There are dozens of coffeeshops and restaurants in the posh districts of metromanila that bears the sign "filipinos are not allowed". Every filipino businessman and employee will not hesitate to do something short of killing their own kind to kiss the asses of the foreigners. In short, they give quality service to foreigners while they shortchange and spit on their fellow filipinos.
6.) Filipina women nowadays prefer to marry elderly foreigners (or at least be a mistress to one). They open their legs to dollars, yens, and wons while they spit on pesos.
7.) Philippines is the fourth most corrupt country in the world.
8.) Two Former Philippine Presidents belong to the 10 most kleptomaniac leaders worldwide.
Dear evilsaint, believe me when i say that all filipinos deserve to be euthanized.

**I did this because it made me mad…

Hate Letter Against Filipinos

Subject: HATE LETTER
> > This is a very disturbing open E-mail letter to all Filipinos around the
> > world; specially here in North America!, from a man who has the power to
> > reach million of people. (he’s a radio talk host) Please read
> > on…………..This is an open letter email by Art Bell, a radio talk show host in Nevada
> > (more info in the email itself). Here is yet another person who has taken
> > advantage of his power and privilege to use hateful words and racial
> > stereotypes that breed further ignorance and intolerance in our society.
> > Art Bell is a talk radio host who has two shows that he broadcasts from
>his home in Nevada, that is rebroadcast by 400 stations across the country.
> > He’s written 2 books. He lived in Okinawa, Japan for some years and had a
> > radio program on the English station here. And, though it’s hard to
>believe
after reading the following letter from him, he actually has been to the
> > Philippines (he’s traveled fairly extensively around the world).
> > This letter is so degrading, I think it’s really important that everybody
> > read this and not attack him, but respond to him in a civilized manner
> > because otherwise his thoughts will be reaffirmed. Understand that not
> > everyone has a viewpoint like we do, and that this is an opinion of
>someone who hopefully can be changed only by civil actions.
> > THE E-MAIL………………………………….
>
> > Filipinos…..*make me puke* (Art Bell)
> > As we’ve all come to notice, in the past few decades, Filipinos have begun
> > to infest the United States like some sort of disease. Their extensive
> > involvement in the U.S. Armed Forces is proof of the trashy kind of
> > qualities all filipinos tend to exhibit on a regular basis. You can see
> > this clearly by studying the attitudes and cultural Icons of most Filipino
> > Americans. Origins of Pinoys/Pinays: Are they really asian? Well we’ve
>come to accept the fact the filipinos come from a part of the world known as
> > South East Asia. But the term "Asia" is used in the wrong way. You may
> > notice that contemporary Filipino Americans try very hard to associate
> > themselves with groups that we know as Asian.
> > I cannot count the number of times I have seen a ‘Third World’ Filipino
>try to connect themselves to the chinese or Japanese people. There is no
> > connection and here’s why. The Philippines is a Third World country.
> > Nothing respectable has EVER been created by Filipino people during our
> > entire human history. Young filipino men in America have become obsessed
> > with "import racing". They have an enormously perverted affection for
> > Japanese cars. It’s a common phenomenon. In their minds, these filipinos
> > somehow believe that they are asian and that it somehow connects them to
> > Japanese people and japanese cars. They often take credit for the
>ingenuity of Japanese people and say how it’s an "Asian thing".
> > This term…"Asian thing" derived directly from African American slang
> > "black thang". "It’s a black thang." "It’s an asian thang." You can see
>the connection. It’s even funnier that, in Japan, Filipinos are heavily
> > discriminated against. The only filipinos that can live successfully in
> > Japan are the filipino prostitutes. But that’s the case for most Filipino
> > people no matter where they live in the world.
> > Now we’ve come down to this fact…and it is a fact. Nothing in Filipino
> > Culture can be seen as Asian. They have no architectural, artistic, or
> > cultural influence which is in ANY way, asian.
> > Thinking of the great countries in Asia such as Japan, Korea, and China
> > there is no way you can possibly connect the Philippine Islands. This
> > assault by filipino americans to connect themselves with the great peoples
> > of North East Asia is foul and disgusting.
> > Try visiting a young filipino’s web site too. You’ll see something called
> > the "Asian IRC Ring". It has to do with the chatrooms. The most horrible
> > thing about this is that these TRASHY people are trying to associate
> > themselves with Asia again!! People in Asia don’t act like, this at all.
> > What we are seeing here is the natural Filipino in it’s element with full
> > access to technology and this is how they act! You will consistently see
> > this behavior over and over again. Another interesting thing is that these
> > "thirdworld" people also frequent IRC chatrooms such as #chinese #japan
>and #asian. They must believe that they are some how related racially or
culturally to North Asians. But it’s completely WRONG! There might have  been some distant contact With China and even less with Japan during World
> > War II, but these people are actually more closely related to african americans and Mexican americans.
> > Do the parents of these young filipinos know what’s going on? Would they 
> > accept this? I believe that they would and do. This is the natural "Trash"
> > element in filipinos manifesting itself. Nothing good has ever come from
> > Philippines and I don’t believe anything good ever will.
> > Recognizing your Roots (A Message to Filipinos). To all filipino people:
> > Please recognize your ROOTS! You come from the Third World! Your country
>is a disgusting and filthy place. Most people there live in poverty! Your
culture has MUCH MORE SPANISH influence than chinese, and absolutely no JAPANESE influence whatsoever. People in Japan and China, do not act like
you. They do not constantly talk about sex and they have a MUCH HIGHER
level of RESPECT for each other. There is NO WAY that you can connect  yourself to Asia other than location. Your culture and technological advancement does not even come CLOSE to What Chinese, people have done in the past and what Japanese and Korean people are doing now! Everything
you > > do is distinctly filipino. You cannot take credit for Japanese cars, video
> > games, or Hentai! It’s not an "asian thing" it’s, an "American thing".
> > You have no concept of culture..no concept of asian ideas or asian
> > philosophy! Can you demonstrate how you use Confucianism or Taoism in you
> > everyday life?? You can’t. And you will NEVER be able to. I understand that
> > you are trying to create an identity for yourselves as young people… but
> > it is NOT related to Asia. Your Identity is Filipino.
> > That’s all you are. Just Filipino. Think about what that means….

Sincerely, Art

Busy body

Sunday, July 24th, 2005

I woke up a couple of hours ago (i worked last night), fixed breakfast, did a little groceries and went to the bank.  In a few days, we will be on our 2nd trip/vacation!…we settled for Seaworld - San Antonio, TX…im looking for great deals in the site—and i got a coupon for $15 off admission price up to 10! Andrew (2 yrs. old) is Free…hey, there would be at least more than 10 people, this trip is actually a family reunion (Williams family)…my parents wanted to go but, they have to work…awwww…Our DON (Director of Nursing), had finalized the schedules for August 2005, and found out that I would get at keast 1 week (not bad for a less-than a yrs. work) off , with three PTO’s—paid time off–starting the 27th of this month until the 2nd of August.  My brother steely’s 18th Birthday is coming up and we can’t see him…*rubbing eyes*…he’s doing ok, he was really going for it (Army)Us_army …he wrote a letter saying, "The next time ya’ll see me, I’ll be in a uniform on October of this month!"…man, that’s a long time…me and Alex figured he was into it, because i guess he is a bit of a "thrill-seeker"…good luck and God bless bro.  He trains in Fort Benning–Georgia…

Oh, I still have to marinate some pork ribs (Alex will bar-b-Q outside—sunny day!) and turn the pool filter on.  After the rain/ storm poured these past few weeks, it turned our pool outside like a dirty lake…ewww…our pool by the way is an easy-set like in the picture.  It got kind of slimy…we bought a shock treatment and chlorine for it though…Our_pool_1

Sleepy

Saturday, July 23rd, 2005

It’s another day…i hav to work tonight.  I’m getting the kids ready for a birthday party that we got invited to–this afternoon @ 3pm til 6pm.  I still need to buy a present…grrr…im getting really tired workin’ the graveyard shift!…i don’t get enough sleep and i doze off sometimes later in the day, like i am now *yawning*…i’m doing it bc they pay you a shift differential aka higher pay…and their short of workers, blah…so, now i really have to go and be ready—’ still need to use an ATM machine somewhere around town…Oh, and about my pic (profile), just want ya’ll to know the other side of Cindy— in an odd stand point…one of my unpredictable/complex persona…whatever…o’.'oScarycindy… scary/weird/cute/ugly/wicked anime or vice versa…

Strange pictures and headlines

Friday, July 22nd, 2005

I’m off for the day!…yeah! last night was pretty rough…it was after all a "full moon"Moon, it was pretty big this time than last few months…anyways, i was a little behind with the paperwork but, i’m glad i hav someone to cover for me for the next shift.  I wanted to share this unusual pic I saw at Cnn.com Weird_monkey_1and the description:

A zoo official holds a seven-day old Stump-Tailed macaque at the state zoological park in Gauhati, India, Saturday, July 9, 2005. The macaque lost his mother two days ago. Stump-Tailed is one of the rare species macaque in the world. (AP Photo/ Anupam Nath).
And this one caught my attention: Giant_catfish Fish
BANGKOK, Thailand — Thai fishermen netted a 646-pound catfish believed to have been the world’s largest freshwater fish ever caught in Thailand, a researcher said. The nearly 9-foot-long Mekong giant catfish was landed May 1 by villagers in Chiang Khong, a remote district in northern Thailand, and weighed by Thai fisheries department officials, said Zeb Hogan, who leads an international project to locate and study the world’s largest freshwater fish species. He confirmed it was the heaviest fish on record since Thailand started keeping such statistics in 1981. The fishermen had hoped to sell the fish to environmental groups, which planned to release it to spawn upriver, but it died before it could be handed over and then was chopped up and sold in pieces to villagers as food. Hogan, whose work is funded by the World Wildlife Fund and the National Geographic Society, said he is planning to write a paper about the catch for a scientific journal. "That’s the best way to document this kind of thing," he told The Associated Press by telephone.
From what the rumors I’ve heard, there was a giant catfish sightings along the dams though, I don’t recall the name…it said to have a mouth large enough to swallow an average size adult…hmmm, it might or might not be true….and hey! this fish on my opinion taste pretty good—depends on how you cook it, i like it fried or just a regular fish basket….lmao.  Look at this headline,This is why you need to read the fine print. Always be careful with what you’re buying. (click the pic) ‘For sale — Harry Potty books…’ It looks like a real bargain until you get them home and then, oh, it’s not even close!…lol .  Harry_pottyAnd check this out: ‘Shake well and inhale 2 puffs in each ear 4 times daily for 7 days.’ It must be some kind of medical marijuana….lol.Bad_prescription_1

Bills! and Cars…honestly…

Thursday, July 21st, 2005

‘Nuff said!, I know better than having some of the most Important bills gets way behind the "due" date…*scratching head*, anyways, I needed to gas up my old worn-out car but, reliable 1995_buick_skylarkenough to get me around town—just around town…lol. …the pic ur looking at is very close, yeah, it’s white 1995 Buick Skylark, "I could’ve shown you an actual pic but, its dirty at the moment" this by the way is "payed-off" years ago, meaning i own it now like—i don’t have to pay for it evry month! now all I have to worry—well, not really worry about paying our minivan Ford Windstar—almost exactly like it except for the color, ours is kind-of like dark blue-green, "What happened to the actual pic?…didn’t take one…’come to think of it, i’ll do that sometime"~ This is what we used on that trip to New Mexico….duh!(to myself)02_ford_windstar    

Hurricane (called typhoon in Asia)

Wednesday, July 20th, 2005

Hurricane_emily *scratching leg* I’ve been wondering about the weather since yesterday night.  I’ve kept an eye on the news about "Hurricane Emily" a category 3 storm, which is bound/predicted to hit some parts of South Texas, On its way mostly NNE of Mexico and down to Brownsville, TX (tip of TX).  It was of no doubt you can’t sleep with all the hustle and bustle or the roar of the thunder and the constant thud of the windows made me wake up every other minute in bed!, good thing my kids slept through it, so does Alex.  The Southern part of the US, naming Texas too, has been constantly raided with storms these past few months.  Furthermore, this is a hurricane season and in a way, we were a little grateful to have some sprinkles after all the hot and muggy days yet to come in several months! Take note: there was "Hurricane Cindy" but, I was a tropical storm, didn’t hit Texas and i didn’t do much damage…lol. 

Summertime

Tuesday, July 19th, 2005

This would be my first blog (blah), me and my family arrived yesterday night @ 10pm from the long-driven trip to New Mexico "The Land of Enchantment" I wished that the trip lasted for a week!, we left early friday on June 15, 2005 @ 9am.  Though we were a little behind schedule, we manage to make it @ 6pm.  Man!, i wanna go back!, the place is sooo beautiful! particularly in Las Cruces, i feel like i wanna live there but the temperature doesn’t quite meet my demands…it was 104F, so hot!—we felt a little breeze but, the wind was dry and warm….grrr.  We took an opportunity to use the indoor swimming pool in the hotel…relief!  We also visited the museum of the once "alienated" town Roswell…lol.  Anyways, through it all, i had a wonderful time with my family, my kids too…we do have another trip next week! and this time it’s much closer…ehhh, about 3-4 hrs. drive…lol…@ San Antonio, TX (it’s good if u hav US map).  Our plans: Seaworld or Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels,TX)…can’t wait!…well i better go, i hav an inservice meeting @ work…grrr…:P