Kathy

A little over 24 hours to get there (darn you snowstorm!) and less than 24 hours on the way back.

Crossed 9 states for me and Catina and 10 for James.

It was fun. It was great. It was wild.

It was epic.

Can't wait for the next roadtrip to a gathering.

The Roadtrip
The Scavenger Hunt
The Pint

To NYC or not to NYC? That is the question. It'll be a road trip at this late in the game as it's 2 weeks away. Riding with friends cross-country would be a lot of fun and interesting.

Also, I'm lining up my trips for next year. I have to plan them around the software releases but tentatively my list goes something like this:

Pennsylvania/Delaware - see my cousin's baby, see friends and maybe an old friend (paging Lee!)
Colorado - skiing that I've promised Kris
Switzerland - visit Darla and Pascal
Philippines - after 9 years (by then), I've finally come home (for a visit!)

I have 10 days paid vacation and anything else after that I have to cut into my pay (which I don't mind really). PA/DE would probably be late February/March or so. Colorado....who knows. I'd like to avoid Spring Break season for that if I can and it depends on Kris' job. Switzerland would depend on ticket prices and what's convenient for Darla and her hubby and I'm thinking of pushing Philippines 'til after Christmas so Kris can play with fireworks Pinoy style (we don't get to play with fireworks here like we do back in the Philippines). That way also, I will cut into vacation days for next year instead. :)

I love to hear my name from your lips. It sounds sweet and so peaceful. You say it with such love and grace that I can only compare it to the beauty of a single red rose.

I long to hold your hand, to touch your skin, to kiss your lips.

When will it be our time to dance?

And I wait.

I will keep on waiting until you silently slip by my side and tap my shoulder and I turn around. You bow ever so slightly and hold out your hand to me.

And we dance.

It was a very trying day.

I am tired. I am cold. But I am not alone.

Don't give up on me. I never gave up on you.

I've always carved my joys with you in stone so I will never forget it. I never thought I'd have to write my hurts with you in the sand. Not anytime soon at least.

So I'm writing this in the sand and hopefully the tide will wash it all away soon. I just hope the waves won't wash me away with it.

He's just so sweet and thoughtful. I got these in my office today. What a pleasant surprise!


Happy Thursday!

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Cell pic taken of Kris & I in their kitchen

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I've put this off long enough I think. Ugh. Why must this be so difficult? Why? I swore to myself before that the next time I move, that is it. It's for life. Well, for long-term at least (like 5 years or so?) but no. Things change, people change, circumstances have changed and here I am....with until the end of the month left and not having secured a place yet. Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not panicking yet. Just yet at least. I will when it's coming down to the wire. Hopefully this week will bring good news. An option or two. Something. Anything.

This is not my forte. I need an answer, a solution. I really am trying.

Give me a sign.

I've been having nightmares in the past few days. Yesterday (actually early this morning) was the last straw. I ended up crying, bawling.

Why? Why am I having these nightmares? I've never been happier when I'm awake. So is this how life balances it out? Happy in the waking world and crying and running in the world of slumber? I did not want to dream of the past. I did not want to dream of my dead grandfather. I did not want to dream of close calls in race tracks. All so confusing. I just wanted to curl up in his arms and lay there.

A comforting voice, a voice of reason, snapped me back into reality.

"It's just a dream."

"But I have only 1 1/2 hours left til the music of my alarm goes off. Do I dare sleep again?"

"Try, my princess."

And I did.

And I woke up and faced another day with the world not knowing at all.

We lost the war and it hasn't even started.
We haven't even had the chance to fight.
You once said that I was worth fighting for.
I know that you are worth fighting for but I can't fight alone.

You make me happy.
You have and always will.

The silence is deafening.

For what it's worth, it was not something I will ever forget.

I had 5 minutes of craziness today. I got an email stating that I was added as a maintainer of a LJ community by one of the maintainers. I thought that was weird. I never ran a community nor have the desire to do so. I decided to check it out. I went to read my friends page and I saw a post in one of the communities I'm at that I apparently hijacked a LJ community.

My first thought, WTH? I don't post much and comment a lot for many reasons. I don't remember codes like people who regularly blog on LJ do. If I need to post a picture or hide something behind a cut, I need to search the FAQ for it or go to a past entry of mine to life the codes. LOL. I can't hack or hijack anything for the life of me.

I followed instructions on how to turn the community over so that should be the end of that. I admit I got a bit ruffled by it. I never like being accused of something but I understand the reactions of other people in the situation. Ugh. So I changed my password and I hope I'll remember it tomorrow. I hope this is not a taste of what's to come for the rest of the week.

R. I. P. Skipper

Neil's betta died today. A change of water gone wrong. He was ready to be dumped into the tank when he jumped and flopped into the sink hole in a matter of seconds. He was a good fish. Very excited to see the sight of the fish food bottle all the time.

Here's the picture directory: http://community.webshots.com/user/stifflilfingers

There are 192 pics though - I know, a lot.

What I consider as some of the prettiest pictures:




http://image63.webshots.com/163/9/34/56/2248934560072289316AjhgfS_ph.jpg
The Bride with the Ring Bearer


http://image61.webshots.com/161/7/90/26/2521790260072289316oJaRGY_ph.jpg
The Bridesmaids


http://image59.webshots.com/59/3/97/23/2148397230072289316LAyQii_ph.jpg
The Bride with the Bridesmaids


http://image36.webshots.com/37/3/42/24/2993342240072289316JRpOYZ_ph.jpg
The Matron of Honor


http://image59.webshots.com/59/6/4/51/2645604510072289316OASuuL_ph.jpg
The Ring Bearer - what a cutie!!!


http://image62.webshots.com/62/5/41/63/2706541630072289316oEpCJm_ph.jpg
Vibrant flowers in our bouquets


http://image30.webshots.com/31/9/60/80/2208960800072289316UCpbLd_ph.jpg
One of my fave group pics (but I hate my smile in some of the pics - I was trying this half smile thing or something)


http://image48.webshots.com/48/3/85/18/2677385180072289316EQJgzE_ph.jpg
The Matron of Honor and Best Man (they're married)


http://image55.webshots.com/55/1/64/8/2433164080072289316daODsK_ph.jpg
Me and Matt (one of my favorite pics)


http://image57.webshots.com/157/8/23/36/2599823360072289316qyOhYz_ph.jpg
Neil in the suit with flowers and beer - what more can a girl ask for? LOL!


http://image61.webshots.com/61/3/26/84/2215326840072289316dWUVGn_ph.jpg
Me and my White Russian (after several Jack on the rocks)


http://image60.webshots.com/60/0/34/17/2462034170072289316cfzpgi_ph.jpg
Brandon and Tara (they're married too)

Zobel Survey
Anong batch mo?
2000

Sinong principal inabutan mo?
Mr. Cadlum!

Nagbibigay ka ba sa mission collection lagi?
Sometimes.

Napatawag ka na ba ng principal?
Yup, to ask about my parents or cousins or something.

Sa aling school program ka pinakanatuwa?
Foundation Week!

Ano nilaruan mo sa intrams?
Long jump, track, kickball, swimming, volleyball....meron pa ba?

Nakakain ka ba kina Mr. Teo?
Hehe, tatay ko si Mr. Teo.

Naging prayer/Lupang Hinirang/Panatang Makabayan ka ba sa monthly assembly sa auditorium?
I don't think so.

May memories ka ba sa gate 3?
Tambayan after school.

Eh sa library?
I love books. After umuwi na ang mga katambayan ko sa gate 3, diretso sa library ako. I prefer gradeschool library over high school library though.

Anong year ka nasama sa top ten?
I don't know for in class (meron ba?) but I graduated Top 8 (I think) of the batch from high school.

Ano part mo sa production niyo sa Florante at Laura?
For the group in class, can't remember. Sa Fest, kumanta kami ni Joy at ni Ronald ata.

Nung Noli fest?
Props siguro, di ko talaga maalala.

El Fili fest?
I think I was a server/maid - can't remember.

Pinaka-mabait na teacher?
Bro. Martin - I can't wait to see him sometime soon!

Pinaka-masamang teacher?
I don't like teachers that yells at students - will not name names here.

Na-clinic ka ba?
Ya, nung nag-hyperventilate ako. Thank goodness nag-adapt na ako dito (had a few incidents then it was gone - nice!).

Ano ang pangalan ng school nurse?
Can't remember.

Nagka-bagsak na grade ka ba?
A few tests. Lowest ko sa report card 79 back in grade 4.

Anong paborito mong bilhin sa canteen?
Kain na lang ako sa booth ng parents ko.

Anong ginagawa mo tuwing fair or foundation week?
Tiangge and book fair.

Tumatambay ka ba sa parking lot ng gate 5?
Yup.

Favorite tambayan?
Classroom during breaks.

Anong parusa sa inyo pag late kayo?
Di ako na-late kahit once I think...

Ano ang ibig sabihin ng SRCC?
Student Representative Coordinating Council

Sino president nyo nung 4th year kayo?
Raynee Moran.

Nag-cutting classes ka na ba?
Never.

Nagyoyosi ka ba dun sa parking sa gate 5?
Nope.

Kumusta naman yung locker mo sa classroom?
Nag-iwan ako ng books pero hassle talaga kung di mo katabi yung lockers. I had a dream about it when I was in college.

May napanalunan ka bang award?
Something but not sure what....

Anong inumin ang lagi mong binibili?
Gusto ko iced tea.

Sino class officers nyo nung 4th year?
Charms - President, Justine - Vice, Leah - Secretary, Marion - Treasurer?

May codenames ba kayo sa mga teacher, ano yun?
Not that I can remember.

Sumali ka ba ng slogan making at poster making para lang ma-excuse sa class?
Don't remember this at all.

Nakapag-print ka ba kahit minsan sa comp lab?
Nope.

Nanalo ba batch nyo sa cheering competition?
Grades 6, 7, Sophomore and Senior.

Nag YFC ka ba?
Nope.

Anong theme ng graduation niyo?
???

Final grade sa accounting?
98 or 99 I think.

Saan kayo dumederetso after ng exams?
Canteen.

Astig ba ang stay mo sa zobel?
I made the most out of it.

Natatandaan mo pa ba Alma Mater nyo?
Hail, hail alma mater
Hail to De La Salle
We'll hold your banner high and bright
A shield of green and white
We'll fight to keep your honor bright and never shall we fail
Hail to thee our alma mater
Hail hail hail! - kopya ako kay Ro =)

One word to describe life in zobel?
Fast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ekottke%2Eorg

So close yet so far.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/566342047?ltl=1146843390

Less than 70,000 signatures to go.

I can't wait to see this movie. This is the very reason why I don't want to have kids. I don't want to live the day that this crisis goes full scale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSXmUWzeLjA&search=an%20inconvient%20truth

Watch it when it comes out.

The End.

Alright, alright, alright.....update time.

So what have I been doing for the past three months or so. Well, starting late January I've been working more or less 60 hours a week. A big case is coming to a close and we've been working late nights and weekends too. I refuse to give my Sunday up though. Hey, I need a buffer. Everyone is so tired from that case but it's all pretty much behind us now.

The only upside is that I have continued my passion for purses/handbags. I have acquired some beautiful pieces and some even came from my eBay bidding frenzy. I knew I should've given eBay up for Lent! But I wasn't as bad as I could be, trust me. I manage to purchase 2 Louis Vuitton pieces (2 Speedies - the 35 and 40). Neil chipped in the 35 so I kinda consider it from him. It ain't cheap but if I were to have only 2 Louis Vuitton pieces, this would be it. Some people think I'm crazy cause they're the same kind of bag, just different in size. I use both for different stuff and love the design enough to get 2 of them! That kinda says something about how much I like it! I have also gone to the outlets and gotten myself some nice Coach stuff. I got the dusted suede hobo for my birthday from Neil! The girls at work are impressed and thought he had good taste! I got lots of kate spades and a couple Coach bags from eBay too. I had Neil check authenticity for me (he's really good at it). Anything he's unsure of goes out of my eBay watching list. That's how I narrow it down. LOL. I still managed to hit the maximum number of watch allowed though.

I'm currently trying to take new pictures of every single purse/handbag I have for insurance and organization purposes. I'm thinking one photo each (since I have no intention of selling any of them off in the future). See, some women take photos of the inside tags and everything just in case one day they want to sell it they have all the details. All I know is that one day I'm setting aside is going to be one busy day at Neil's house! LOL. I have to transport the ones I have at my apartment to Neil's house so they all have the same background and lighting. I could already see it, Neil's car stuffed with all my handbags one weekend going down to MD. LOLOLOL. Shhhh, he doesn't know yet.

So anyway, I'm back to regular hours so I will start soaping again soon. Gosh, I miss soaping so much. It was so therapeutic. I think my last few tanned batches ruined my want to soap anymore. Time to jump back in. Also, I get to stop by at Neumann on Fridays now! There's only a few weeks left but it's better than nothing!