Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Forgive my negligence

I arrived home last Friday around 11pm and could not sleep for two days - I was up for 48 hours. (Props to Tater for taping Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Lost. Gave me something to do to pass the time.) Finally, I slept 12 hours on Monday. Unfortunately, I woke up 2am today and have been awake since.

Jeg lag is a bitch.

I had a blast with my family in the Philippines. This was the best vacation I've had there so far. (It probably helped that no one called me fat. In fact, they said I looked like I lost weight. Don't think it's really true, though - I am five years older and I think my face just lost some baby fat.) I was able to do a lot of fun stuff, hang out with my very cool cousins, nieces and nephews, and actually relax.

Here are some pictures until I get it together and am able to write a decent entry:









These pictures were taken on the resort island of Boracay. This is when I love 35mm film more than digital pics. Sometimes digital is too clear. Had these pictures been taken with a digital camera, you would see the beads of perspiration on all of us. Boracay was BY FAR hotter than any of the other places I visited while in the Philippines. Hot damn, seriously.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

OK, now THIS is the coolest thing I've done so far

I got to snorkel in the ocean above this ...



A whale shark! Never heard of it? Neither had I! I actually saw three different ones, the biggest was as large as an SUV.

It was really, really cool.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Hot, hot, hot!!

I've stolen some precious moments on my cousin's computer so I won't have to go to an internet cafe.

Obviously, I'm hot. No seriously, I'm burning up. I've had to wear summer dresses (they are actually called "dusters" and equivelant to "muumuus." But if it causes me not to sweat like a freakin' pig
, I'm going to wear it.) No make up, no hair do ... it's actually quite freeing.

If I weren't so freakin' hot.

Some of the "resorts" and "hotels" have been questionable. Ants and overall cleanliness have been some issues. By far, my favorite place to stay is at my cousin's. She has a showerhead, air conditioning and an internet connection. Her house is better than some resorts. Yes sister, I've had to take some bucket showers.

The coolest thing I've done so far ... I went exercising with my cousin 5:00 this morning. I can't help it - even though I go to bed late, I still wake up really early. In any case, I'm glad b/c I need to exercise! Nothing but fried food the past few days and I can't be possibly sweating it off.


Anyhow, my cousin is a POWERHOUSE. She walks this hill every day and I asked if I could join her. So today, we walked/hiked up this hill (no, not the volcano, the hill in front of it.)

OK, so in comparison to Mt. Mayon, one of the wonders of the world, this hill doesn't look impressive. But believe me, in the heat and humidity which is there even at 5:00am(!!!) it's a doozie. Lignon Hill is steep and a popular hiking trail. Once at the top (which you can't see in this picture) you get a beautiful view of Mt. Mayon, the city, and the ocean. It's beautiful ... I saw the sun rise and a city wake up. I kid you not ... I think I heard every rooster crow. Instead of dogs barking, it sounded like every house had a rooster. It was a trip.

The best part of the hike was going down. Not just for the obvious reason, though! On the way down, my cousin stopped at a makeshift stand and asked me if I wanted buko (coconut) juice. Standing in our New Balance sneakers, we waited as the elderly lady took her bolo knife (it looks like a machete) and hacked two coconuts until there was a flat service with a tiny hole. She stuck straws in the holes and gave them to us. How cool is that? Instead of drinking boring old Gatorade, I was drinking buko juice straight from a coconut.

OK, got to go. My three nephews are being so patient by not swarming me around the computer but I can tell it's getting to them.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

I'm leaving on a jet plane ...


Well, The Man left first. I took him to the airport last night.

I leave this weekend. I have my work cut out for me before I go. On top of my 8 to 5 work, of course.

Haven't packed. Check.

Haven't finished cleaning my house before I go on vacation. Check.

Haven't run all my errands. Check.

Oh yahhhhhhh.

I'm not too worried, though. Despite all my unfinished business, the anxiety of meeting The Man's extended family or whatever wonderful comments some of my tactless relatives may have for me, I'm excited to go to see my extended family. I'm thrilled to be going to a resort and try out snorkeling, cave exploring, and hopefully, parasailing!


The motherland may be a third world country but hey, look at what it has to offer ...

Saturday, May 06, 2006

I thought I was an original ...

... the only one.

Who the F is this???

http://www.lizadawn.com/

Well, at least she's keeping up with the namesake and allegedly one funky mama.


Yes, this is a result of googling my own name. I was bored. And I wanted to check to make sure I wasn't being slandered. Or in some weird fetish porn site.