CC's Random Thoughts

A Dickens of a Christmas... and a Dickens of a Blog Entry

2011-12-12T17:24:00.002-06:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: Nothing right now

This month marks the second year that Steve and I have lived in Williamson County in Tennesssee. We often talk about how much we love living here, and I've always wondered how I could best describe why. Turns out I don't have to. The video below explains it well.

As you're watching, notice the shots of downtown Franklin--the Main Street USA looking place--because it preps you for what I'll be talking about next :-).

For the last 25 years Franklin has held a tradition that Steve and I had an opportunity to participate in last weekend: the Dickens of a Christmas street festival. Every second weekend of December, downtown Franklin takes you back to Victorian times as shopowners, theater groups and volunteers dress up in period costume, with some roaming the streets as characters from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and the musical "Oliver".

Steve and I went to the festival on Sunday, when it was scheduled to run from noon to 5pm. We decided it would be a good idea get there early so we can get a parking spot at the only parking garage in the immediate area. We got there at around 11:30, which apparently was just in the nick of time... the only parking slots left in the 4-level parking garage were on the top floor.

There were already people milling around in the streets

As we headed towards the public square, I kept telling Steve how much it felt like walking down Main Street USA at a Disney theme park... but what I loved was that these buildings weren't props...they were real. That's not a prop sign, a real lawyer works there :-).

At the public square, I came across my first people in Victorian garb by the Festival Headquarters tent.

I was a little shy to ask if I could have my picture taken with them, but they were very nice and welcoming :-).

And then I heard... "Christmas Cahds! GET yer Christmas cahds 'ere!"

I turned to look and there was a young man walking around selling Charles Dickens Christmas cards...and he was selling them with a cockney accent. "Merry Chrismus!" He was telling passersby. "GET yer Christmas cahds 'ere!"

I was tickled pink--I absolutey loved how some people were in character, truly game to play :-).

I asked Steve for $5 (what he was selling the cards for) and quickly walked after him.

"Excuse me," I said.

He turned. "'allo there," he said, smiling.

I smiled back and said, "I'll make a deal with you. I'll buy one of your Christmas cards if you pose for a picture with me."

He nodded, grinning. "Oi can do tha'. Tha' sounds like a real good deal."

I was dressed in a red leather jacket and jeans for a reason :-). I fished around in my purse. "Okay I need you to look at this like it's the strangest thing you've ever seen." I barely finished my sentence when he noticed what I had in my hand.

"OOOHHH!!!" he yelled, laughing and throwing his arms up in the air. He suddenly gave me a big hug. "That's the 10th doctor's sonic screwdriver!" he exclaimed. "Yes it is!" I laughed, because not only did he know that it was a sonic screwdriver, he specifically knew WHICH one it was. And at this point, he had totally broken character :-).

It was really easy to pose for the picture after that :-).

One of Steve's favorite stores in downtown Franklin is Franklin Tea (www.franklintea.com), so we stopped by so he could pick up a few teas. The ladies behind the counter were very nice and were also dressed in Victorian garb for the festival. They did admit that they couldn't really wear a full bustle since it would make it tough to move around the shop, but their dresses still looked lovely. Ladies in Victorian wear, in a tea shop...the whole scene reminded me of Mary Poppins :-). Steve bought two new tea varieties, and I got a cup of tea to help myself keep warm while we walked the streets. I asked for something English... it seemed only fitting :-).

As Steve was ordering his tea, I recognized Fagin from Oliver walking outside. I didn't get out of the store in time and was only able to get a picture of him walking away.

I did, however, get some great shots of a man riding a penny-farthing bicycle as well as some other people in period dress.

Walking back to the square, we ran into Ebeneezer Scrooge. This is the happy Scrooge now, because at last night's Christmas Carol show at the Franklin Theater he'd already been visited by the Christmas ghosts :-). He spoke with a British accent, too--all the characters that we met from A Christmas Carol and Oliver were playing their roles wonderfully.

Yes, those muttonchops are real :-).

One of the things we really enjoyed were the street performers. Many of them were children, and they even more adorable because they were dressed up Victorian style as well.

At the public square we ran into a couple of bobbies (who are actually real Franklin police officers) who were very obliging when I asked for a picture :-).

We also came across the ghosts of Christmases past and present :-).

And I FINALLY got my picture taken with Fagin :-).

Steve didn't quite know who he was until we were walking away. When I told him he was Fagin from Oliver, he said, "Check your pockets :-)."

Here are some other pictures we took at the festival:

Steve in front of the tree at the public square

There were lots of people in downtown Franklin by this time.

Carriage rides were $2.

One of the many historical houses in downtown Franklin. This lovely home is a wedding venue.

You know it's an awesome festival when dogs are welcome :-)

We also came across a store that sold sugar plums. "I've never had a sugar plum," I said, and Steve handed me some money so I could taste a classic Victorian treat and know what it meant for children to have visions of sugar plums dance in their heads.

Another highlight of our day was listening to the Clearview Baptist Church Handbell Choir. I've never heard a handbell choir before, and I didn't know what it was going to sound like. Part of me thought it was either going to sound like a chorus of bicycle bells, or it was going to sound as imposing as big cathedral bells.

I was wrong. I didn't realize bells could sound elegant and comforting, and I had to keep myself from choking up a few times while they played "Ding Dong Merrily on High."

I was so hoping they'd play Carol of the Bells, and they did. It sounded awesome :-).

The rest of the day was spent eating :-). I had freshly made apple fritters while Steve had tamales. On the way back to the parking garage the Roasted Chestnuts stand had opened, so naturally I had to get some chestnuts for myself. Steve's not a big chestnut fan though :-).

Steve and I had a wonderful time, and said that from now on, if my travels to Manila permit it, we'll go every year :-). We're already planning to dress up a little more for it next year. He's thinking of getting a Victorian top hat for himself :-).

Does Time Really Exist?

2011-11-01T06:26:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: Nothing right now

Have you ever wondered why sometimes we say "It's only Thursday?" and sometimes we say "It's Thursday *already*?" And when we say that, that other people don't seem to feel the same way?

I saw this show on the plane heading back from the Philippines. It absolutely fascinated me. The title is, "Does Time Really Exist?"

You start the show saying, "Pshh, of COURSE time really exists." By the end of the show, you realize that you really know nothing about time.

Arguments made in the show:

Time is the same for everybody vs. time is different for each person
Time is a physical reality vs. time is an illusion our brain creates to keep track of changes happening around us
Time is one dimensional (it moves as a line) vs. time is two-dimensional (it's actually a shape)

10 years after college, and I finally get:

why astronauts in outer space age faster than people on earth
how space relates to time
why our bodies wake us up just before the alarm clock goes off
how the concept of parallel universes (other versions of our universe existing at the same time) started

Some "Whoa, dude" moments:

Because our brain needs time to process everything that's going on around us, our awareness of the event is delayed by a few milliseconds. That means what we experience as "now" is actually a few milliseconds in the past.
Schizophrenia might actually be a disorder of time perception, that the schizophrenic's brain is unable to link an action to its resulting consequence.

Where Did October Go?

2011-10-31T07:13:00.001-05:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: Nothing right now

A friend of mine sent me a message saying I hadn't posted much on Facebook lately and hoped I was okay :-). October was just so packed with stuff I hadn't had time to post much at all... sorry about that. How busy was I? Well...

Start of October I went with a team to an instructional design seminar in Atlanta which sparked an internal training development project that I had to create handouts for in 3 days.

I had a little bit of a breather when Steve and I went to Gatlinburg for 4 days for a late anniversary getaway :-). We rented this gorgeous Victorian-inspired cabin (Steve liked it too, although he did mention that if he was single that that wasn't the kind of cabin he'd rent LOL). I also decided that since Steve and I don't really have too many pictures of us together (it's always either just him or me in our pictures), I decided that we'd hire a photographer for the trip. Chastidyi took awesome pictures, and her idea of us going to a nearby field to have a few shots with the Smoky Mountains in the background was just brilliant :-). It was raining a little bit at the time but I think that kind of weather helps create the smoky effect :-).

After we got back from Gatlinburg I flew out to the Philippines the next day where we piloted the stuff I made for the Cebu site. After the pilot project I flew back to Manila and pulled an all-nighter (or in the Philippines' case, an all-dayer :-)) helping finish a presentation for a client. I had to extend my stay a couple of days. I actually just got back to the US Wednesday night at 11pm...it was a long itinerary (MNL-NRT-SEA-DTW-BNA). I was so out of touch with the world that while I was in Narita and decided to check the news to see what was going on, I saw the headline about Gaddafi being buried in an undisclosed location in order to prevent vandalism and enshrining. I thought to myself, "Gaddafi's dead?"

The next morning back in Nashville I helped prep for my bosses' Halloween party which was Friday night. Steve and I were working the haunted hay maze and by request, I reprised last year's role as Sadako (the girl from Ringu) :-). Judging by the fact that this year I got hit 3 or 4 times by little kids with candy bags (one of them tried to yank the wig off my head and another one got a good solid punch in my gut), I'd say the costume still works LOL :-).

This weekend was the first true weekend I've had to myself all month :-). I decided to decorate the front of our condo for Halloween. Didn't take me long at all, and was pretty pleased by how it turned out :-). Steve posted the pictures on Facebook; I'll make sure to share it so you can see.

I also managed to start another blog entry...I just have to finish it and I'll post it soon. Amusingly enough, it's about time--and how little we know of it, scientifically speaking :-).

Man, it's good to be home :-). Things will still be busy, but I don't think it'll be as extreme as it's been this month. At least I hope not :-).

Links in case Facebook doesn't copy the a href codes:
Victorian Cabin: http://www.hearthsidecabinrentals.com/cabin.php?id=175&mo=1011&go=#availability
Chastidyi's Pictures: http://orangecloudcreativestudio.zenfolio.com/p92939195

Pictures from Our Gatlinburg Getaway

2011-10-15T10:25:00.001-05:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: Nothing right now

Another digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

You Know You're Getting Old When...

2011-09-24T13:17:00.001-05:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: The Gay Divorcee (Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. 1934)

You know you're getting old when you decide to perk yourself up on an overcast, lazy Saturday by watching a Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly movie :-).

On Being Bicultural

2011-09-15T07:12:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: Nothing right now

“You’re probably not even Filipino anymore.”

Someone I was having a conversation with said that recently, and it’s not the first time I’ve been told that. Depending on the source of the statement, it’s either being meant as a compliment or a chiding remark.

Sometimes the statement makes me feel like I’m being put into some sort of “half-breed” category: not quite Filipino, not quite American. I’m in the gray area, where I don’t belong to either group.

I was born and raised in the Philippines, and I speak Filipino fluently. I even have a “Parañaque accent.” I moved to the US in 2004. I have the unique (and awesome) opportunity of working closely with a very principled entrepreneurial American executive team, which has given me a front-row seat to the American visionary spirit in action. I’m married to an American.

But it doesn’t mean I’ve lost my sense of being Filipino. As a matter of fact, I’ve become much more acutely aware of it, because sometimes it’s so clearly different from how everyone else around me thinks. Sometimes it allows me to help people more. Other times it gets me into trouble. But believe me, the nuances of one’s original culture is much more noticeable when that person is completely immersed in a different culture.

I do feel the need to reconnect to my Filipino self sometimes, especially since all my US-based relatives are either on the west coast or the east coast. In addition to the “call-the-folks-back-home-every-two-weeks” routine, I have several Pugad Baboy comic book digests next to my bed, which I sometimes read at bedtime.

When I find a comic strip particularly funny, I want to share it with Steve. So I try and translate it—not just literally, but idiomatically. It’s challenging, but I like doing it…it’s particularly satisfying when I succeed in making a Filipino joke universal. I guess it’s also a way for me to share my being Filipino with him. He loves adobo, by the way—he considers it one of his top 3 comfort foods. And he can make rice the way Filipinos do it: using his fingertip as a measuring device. “Sayang” is part of his everyday vocabulary.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’m proud of being bicultural. I get the opportunity to see the strengths and challenges of both my home cultures, and I get to combine the best of each. I suppose it’s almost like being able to go to Narnia, except *I* get to have a say as to when I get in and out of the wardrobe.

“You’re probably not even Filipino anymore.”

You’re right.

I’m Filipino plus.

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T11:23:00.002-05:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: Nothing right now

10 years ago today people all around the world watched in horror as planes crashed into buildings, symbols of strength were destroyed, and office workers jumped to their deaths in desperation.

I still lived in the Philippines in 2001, and even though I didn't completely understand what the World Trade Center towers represented at the time, I could see the expression on people's faces as the news cameras zoomed in on them. Even through the dust and the cameras, the feeling of helplessness was palpable. I didn't have to be a mind reader to know that the foremost thought on people's minds was, "Oh dear Lord, what do we do now?" And I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before helplessness would turn into panic and chaos.

And yet that's not what what happened. I did see the confusion, and I did see the anger, but most of all what I remembered was how people started helping each other. My most vivid memory of the aftermath was the line of people that snaked around buildings. They weren't in line to collect for handouts; they were in line to donate blood.

Everywhere I looked, the feeling that resonated through the TV screen was: "We're Americans, damnit, and we're going to get through this."

The song "The Change" says it best:

"I hear them saying: 'You'll never change things...
No matter what you do it's still the same thing.'
But it's not the world that I am changing--
I do this so the world will know that it will not change me."

As we remember September 11 and grieve for all the lives that were lost, instead of just focusing on how terrible this world can be to itself, let's focus on how people have risen above it... and let's continue rising.

The Change

Blogging A Little More

2011-09-03T09:02:00.001-05:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: The Way You Look Tonight--Beegie Adair (I'll Take Romance)

I love Saturday.

I think it's the sheer "mine-ness" of the day that I like the most. Read a book? Sure! Play World of Warcraft? You bet! Eat cheesy poofs for breakfast? Try and stop me. And hey, if I want to continue required reading for work, then that's my choice too (you hear that, honey?) :-).

Sure there's regular chores to do like the laundry and the floors. But you know, our place isn't very big. It takes me an hour tops to both vacuum *and* wipe the hardwood floors down. And if I plan it right, the laundry can be running while I'm doing all that. And since there's only two of us, I only ever really have 4 loads of laundry to do.

Often I get a sense of wanderlust, like if I don't get in the car and go someplace for some reason I'm wasting the day somehow. There have been a few weekends where I've told Steve, "Let's drive someplace." No real destination in mind, just going out, taking the back roads and watching the fields and trees go by. Sometimes we argue about who gets to drive, because whoever drives has control of the radio :-).

This weekend is my high school's 20th reunion in San Francisco. I was originally planning to go but a house expense has dipped into my travel fund and has rendered me house-bound. On one hand, I'm going to miss everyone and that's a bummer--it would have been nice to reconnect with everyone. On the other hand, it's kind of hard to stay bummed when you realize you have the weekend :-).

August Update

2011-08-13T07:50:00.000-05:00

Current Mood: excited to go home
Currently Listening to: Lakes of Pontchartrain by Deanta, Celtic Wonder

You know you've been on Facebook too much when you start a blog entry and marvel that you're not limited to any specific number of characters for your post :-).

Am currently in Manila where it's 3pm... which means it's 2am back in the States. I should be sleeping, but it's Saturday so it's not a big deal that I'm up. Figured I'd post a blog entry since I haven't done that in a while.

So what's happened since I last blogged, January of 2011? Well, the biggest development is that we've moved out of our apartment and into our own condo :-). It's a little over 1000 square feet, small by house standards, but now that it's been 8 months since we've moved in, I can definitely say that we're happy with it :-). When we were looking for a permanent place to live, our choices were a) live in the area that we liked but in a small condo; or b) live in a house with a yard, but it would be at least 30 minutes away.

We decided to stay in the area that we liked. We haven't regretted that decision :-). We live right on the edge of Cool Springs, and the sheer convenience of being near everything is worth it. Ever have one of those days when you'd like to go out for dinner but you don't know where you'd like to go? Not a problem, we just cruise around the area knocking out options ("Italian? nah. Steak? nah. Greek? nah. Japanese fusion? maybe.") until we find a choice that jumped out at us. We wouldn't have had that luxury if we had lived further out. Sure, we could've have driven to Cool Springs and THEN cruised around, but when you don't know what you want, it seems like a waste of gas (the cost of which has been getting ridiculous lately) to drive out 30 minutes for something that you're not even sure you'd find.

Also, having a smaller place meant the utilities would be less expensive. We've had months when our electric bill was much cheaper than what what we were paying for at our apartment last year. Our condo's previous owner took really good care of it, and made sure it was well insulated. As a result, our electric bill (which includes A/C costs) during this blazing hot Southern summer was, I kid you not, $96. That's less than $3.50 a day for 24/7 airconditioning. You can bet we'd be paying MUCH more than that if we had gotten a house that was at least twice as big.

First entry in over 8 months

2011-01-08T05:33:00.001-06:00

Current Mood:
Currently Listening to: Centerfield--John Fogerty

I know, I know :-). "It's been almost a year!"

Steve recently updated his blog and I realized that I've GOT to update mine. At least update the entries if not the current layout :-). I've gotten really lazy just posting updates on Facebook instead of writing actual blog entries.

January marks the first year mark of living in Nashville. And we're absolutely loving it :-). I'm not saying Memphis wasn't a good place to live in, just that Nashville has turned out to be a better fit for Steve and myself. Even just the topography (i.e. more hills) is something that we noticeably prefer.

So what's happened in the last year or so? I'm going to have to check Facebook.

[checks Facebok] In no particular order: visited museums, complained a lot about the cold, got my car loan paid off by the insurance company, lived with one vehicle for a few months then got a new car, played a lot of World of Warcraft, watched my first hockey game, got a new dog :-).

There's another big development in the works, but I don't want to say anything for fear of jinxing it. I'll know for sure next week :-). Until then, since I update Facebook more often than I update Twitter, I'll delete the Twitter status import app and add a Facebook status import app instead :-).

The 2010 Tennessee Flood

2010-05-16T10:14:00.004-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now--playing World of Warcraft while I type this entry

If you've read Steve's blog or are on Facebook, you probably know by now that I lost my car in the great Tennessee flood of 2010 (it's being called the kind of flood that only happens once every 500 years, it was that bad). I've often said to Steve, "If I didn't go through it myself I never would have believed it if someone told me the water level rose so fast that it went from nothing to covering a car's front grill in two hours."

Here's a slide show of the pictures.

So here's pretty much a timeline of what's happened:

May 1, 2010: Day of the flood
May 2, 2010: Car gets towed from the mall parking lot. Our Triple A membership covers the cost of the towing for the first 5 miles. Thank goodness we only live 2 miles away from the mall. Towing company suggests to tow it to their lot since it will make things easier all around: easier for them, easier for the insurance company because they have a central location to pick up several vehicles. Their facility's less than 5 miles away too, so I said that was fine.
May 3, 2010: I rent a car. My insurance covers the cost of the rental car while they assess the extent of the damage. My policy gives me $25 a day up to $600. I was able to find a car in the economy category, $13 a day. All I needed to do was to go over there, give my claim number, and say that State Farm will take care of it. Rented it for a week.
May 7, 2010: Received a call from a car inspector at State Farm saying that he inspected the car, and found it to be a total loss. He will forward the claim over to their Total Loss Department for processing. I extended the use of the rental car for another week. Also heard that a friend of mine tried to drive her jeep through the flood but it wasn't able to manage it. She's safe, but the jeep's front axle is broken, and its bearings are shot. Insurance WON'T cover the damages to her car since "she made the decision to drive it into the floodwaters." When I heard this, I was extra relieved that we decided not to start the car at all at the mall. Now I'm just hoping that the amount that State Farm will settle with won't be TOO big of a gap in terms of what I still owe on the car, because if there's a gap, I'm paying the difference out of pocket. Note to self: next time I get a car, get gap insurance until its value and the cost of what I still owe on it level out.
May 15, 2010: State Farm called to give me the settlement offer. I won't give any numbers, but I'll give the formula that was used to come up with the offer: (current value of the car based on their own list + "extra for the vehicle having less mileage than the typical car that age" + sales tax + title fee) - insurance deductible = settlement amount. The good news is that settlement amount > amount I still owe on the car. Not by much, but I was just happy to know that I didn't owe anything :-).

It's Fun to Stay at the...

2010-04-24T06:28:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Rhiannon--Fleetwood Mac (Greatest Hits)

The Village People were right. The YMCA's pretty cool :-).

I have to admit, never having been to an actual YMCA before, the only perception I have of the YMCA is what they sing about in the video--and considering that video was shot in 1978, that's pretty darn outdated :-).

When Steve and I moved to Nashville, we saw 2 YMCAs just driving around the general area, and their parking lots are always packed. Finally I decided to look them up online to see just exactly what kind of programs they offered.

First I found out that there are four YMCAs in my area. Four! I mean sure, Steve and I noticed that people seemed more health-conscious in Nashville, but four YMCAs just in the general vicinity?

View Larger Map
Not only was my curiosity piqued even more, but I also started thinking, "Gee maybe I should take a more serious look at getting more exercise." I started browsing at the different centers' class schedules.

Cycling. Pilates (Beginner and Intermediate). Sculpting. Yoga (Hatha/Sivananda and Vini/Ashtanga/Kundalini). Kickboxing. Aqua Aerobics. Tai Chi. Circuit Training. Step Aerobics. BOSU. Sports Conditioning. Zumba. Bellydancing. Ballroom dancing (yes, really!). Water Circuit. Water Cardio. Cardio Boxing. Line Dancing (line dancing, for crying out loud :-)!). Dance Toning. Boot Camp.

And I'm not talking about once a week here. Many of the classes happen two, three times a week, some are everyday, just with different trainers. AND they have all sorts of classes for seniors, and classes for kids. To see the actual class schedules, click on these links: Brentwood Family YMCA | YMCA of Cool Springs | Maryland Farms YMCA | Franklin Family YMCA

I remember being excited about all the different things I could try. I also remember being a little disappointed, thinking, "Aww man, now I have no excuse not to get my exercise :-)."

So I visited the nearest one: the YMCA of Cool Springs and they were very nice and I was given a tour of the facility. I learned that each of the centers seems to have its own little "extra feature." The Cool Springs one has a rock climbing wall. WOO HOO :-D!

And get this--the cardio machines? Treadmills, ellipticals? Each one has a satellite TV screen attached to it. If you bring your own headphones, you can get on one of them and watch satellite TV while you do your cardio. Is that neat or what :-)?

At the end of the tour they gave me a card that allows me to try out any of the classes at any of the YMCAs in the city before I decide if I'd like to become a member.

Long story short, I tried out a Zumba class on Wednesday, signed up for a city-wide (i.e. I can go to any YMCA in the city) membership Thursday morning, then went to another Zumba class at a different YMCA Thursday afternoon. I'm having a blast :-).

I wish I could take my parents to try out the YMCA. I'm sure they'd love the classes too.

While Walking Today

2010-04-18T20:39:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: nothing right now

Today was a gorgeous day to go out walking. These were some pictures I took with my cellphone during that walk :-)...

Lovin' Technology

2010-04-05T20:20:00.002-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Somewhere--Jim Chappell (Sad Music Moods)

Technology is just awesome. I'm the last person to call myself a full-fledged expert in technology, but it's both exciting and scary at the same time how technology has become so much a part of my everyday life.

Recently I replaced my Google Voice Number (click here to see my blog entry about Google Voice). It's now +1-260-CCSLISH. Granted, it's not a Nashville area code (Nashville's area code is 615). As a matter of fact, 260 is in Uniondale, Indiana...and as of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 277--yes that's right, 277. Below is a picture of what the main street intersection looks like in Uniondale (you can click and drag your mouse from left to right to rotate the view):

View Larger Map

And now I own a phone number located in Uniondale, Indiana. For free. Thanks to Google Voice. A few years ago I'd have to pay through the nose to get a vanity number.

Another thing I was able to do this weekend was finally understand what a Skype-to-Go number was. For months, I've been using Skype to call family in Manila (it's not the cheapest VOIP provider, but voice quality's the clearest), and for a while I've known that there was such a thing as a Skype-to-Go number, but I never really fully understood what it did until this weekend.

What I used to do is that if I needed to call family, I would boot up my machine, log in to Skype, put on my headset, and then use my computer to make the call.

A Skype-to-Go number allows me to make Skype calls using a conventional telephone--no computer required. I'm assigned a local Skype number to call, and then when I call that Skype number from my cell, Skype will act as a bridge and connect me to my parents' home or cell phone in Manila.

This means I'm paying cheaper Skype rates (because I'm making an international call through Skype, not through my cellphone company) but because I'm using my cellphone as the actual calling device, I'm not forced to stay in front of my laptop. I can walk around the apartment as much as I want. "But you'd still end up paying for cellphone minutes," you say. Nope. My phone plan's unlimited T-mobile to T-mobile, nights & weekends. I just need to make sure to call my parents during the weekend :-).

If you told me 10 years ago that I'd be able to do all this stuff I'd laugh and go, "Shyeah right, tell me another one." :-)

Hockey Game Weekend

2010-03-29T07:36:00.008-05:00

Current Mood:

CC is listening to:Nothing right now

We had a great weekend :-)! The highlight of it was that Steve's mom and dad drove up from Memphis. We were so excited to show them Nashville. I actually had a gazillion possibilities in my head, where we could take them, what we could show them, and Steve had to remind me that they would only be driving up on Saturday (and it's a 3 hour drive), and we were going downtown that afternoon, and they would be driving back to Memphis the next morning so there's really not much time to be doing anything else. He said that it would probably be best to let how they were feeling set the pace for the rest of the day :-).

Mom and dad got into Nashville at around 12:30 or so, which was perfect for going to lunch. We took them to Genghis Grill, a Mongolian barbecue place.

Dad had previously mentioned to Steve that it's been a while since they had Mongolian barbecue, so we figured it would be a fun experience to do that. Mom loved how fresh all the ingredients were :-).

After lunch we went to the apartment so mom and dad can visit with the dogs. Then at around 3 we brought them back to the hotel so they could check in and rest a little bit before we headed downtown at 5. We were watching a hockey game tonight :-)!

It was about a 20 minute drive to get to downtown Nashville. Would you believe that event parking downtown was only $5? In one parking garage it was actually $4, but it was already full. Boy there were LOTS of people downtown.

One of the best parts of the Nashville skyline: the AT&T Tower, aka "The Batman Building" or "The Bat Tower." Picture from http://www.flickr.com/photos/afagen/2119338620/

We wandered around a bit, then figured we needed to have dinner before the game. All the eating places were packed, so we decided to just go into arena and buy food from the concession stands.

The Bridgestone Arena (formerly the Sommet Center), picture from www.coolsprings.com

Tonight was the Nashville Predators vs. The Detroit Red Wings. Steve and I wore the Predators colors, Dad and mom rooted for Detroit :-). I didn't realize there were so many Detroit fans that were coming in to watch that game--we saw several Michigan license plates going home.

What a game! They were so evenly matched. First period, 0-0. Second period, 0-0. Third period, 0-0. Overtime, 0-0. There had to be a shootout, and even then it took 11 rounds before Detroit finally won the game. Here are some pictures of the game:

Dad did an awesome job of getting the seats. We had GREAT seats. We were in section 117, excellent view of the game.

One thing's for sure: this won't be the last professional hockey game we'll see :-). We might not watch the next one until next year, but it's nice to know we're now only 20 minutes away from seeing one :-).

We had such a great time. Mom said next time they'll stay longer so we can do even more stuff :-). I'm looking forward to it already :-).

Death and Balloons

2010-03-01T07:53:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Growing up I enjoyed balloons as much as any other child. The store-bought ones never seemed to be as pretty as the ones that were sold by a street vendor. Or if you saw the balloon inflated in front of your eyes it didn’t seem to be quite as mysterious as the ones that were already floating in air.

I remember how much of a struggle it was to convince my parents to get me a balloon—they didn’t think it was practical, and I understood why even at that age… and still, there was just always something so mystical about a balloon.

I’ve had balloons that I’ve let go, and I’ve held on to balloons until they lost their helium.

It was kind of sad watching a balloon slowly lose its ability to float…first it would kind of hover at eye level, and then float lower and lower until it would touch the ground—first tippytoeing around, as if it found the floor too hot, and then eventually it would rest on its side. Every time I saw a balloon reach that state, my mind would wonder for it, “What if?”

On the other hand, letting a balloon go was kind of bittersweet. The moment you make that decision to let go, and you feel that string slipping away from your hands, part of you—the voice that echoes your parents’ warning when they first handed you that balloon, “Don’t let go!”—hesitates. And then there’s that sharp second of regret when the string finally leaves your fist, because this is when you fully realize that you’re not getting it back.

But then you watch it zoom up into the air, like it can’t get to the sky fast enough—and you really do feel happy for it. You feel its excitement, you feel its optimism. You can almost hear it say, “I’m free!” It’s so thrilled that it doesn’t even turn around to thank you. As an adult I find it difficult to imagine that kind of happiness, the kind that would even make you forget to observe any level of social courtesy. But even so, you kind of don’t mind that it doesn’t thank you.

A friend of mine—her mother was in a terrible accident a couple of months ago and has been in a coma since then. Very recently the time came to honor the wishes stated in her living will. They’ve taken her off life support, and this week they’ll be taking her home, to take care of her until she passes away.

Today as I thought about my friend, I wondered if maybe her mom felt like a balloon sometimes. If maybe a string was all that was keeping her from zooming up into the sky.

I don’t know yet what it’s like to lose a parent, and I dread the day when it comes. So I don’t think it’s fair for me to even try to comfort her by saying, “I know how you feel,” or even to say, “I can imagine how you feel,” because I think that kind of pain would be unimaginable.

But I’d like to hope that when the moment comes that her mom does say goodbye to this earth, that it will be a moment of pure excitement and optimism for her—that she zooms up into the air, her spirit saying, “I’m free!”

And I hope that her family will be so happy for her that they won’t mind that she doesn’t turn around to say “Thank you” just yet.

My Past Life

2010-02-15T11:33:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: The Joker (Steve Miller Band)

I visited this "Past Life Analysis" website, which, by the webmaster's own admission, "is only slightly more sophisticated than an electronic fortune cookie."

I plugged in my birthday, and my past life "diagnosis" is:

I don't know how you feel about it, but you were female in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern North Europe around the year 1250. Your profession was that of a shepherd, horseman or forester.

Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Revolutionary type. You inspired changes in any sphere - politics, business, religion, housekeeping. You could have been a leader.

The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
You are bound to solve problems of pollution of environment, recycling, misuse of raw materials, elimination of radioactivity by all means including psychological methods.

While I don't really agree with anything else in the "diagnosis" (especially the part about being a leader... I always felt more comfortable being in the 'support' role) I thought it was kind of funny that it mentioned "including psychological methods." I was a psych major in college and truly do enjoy the subject. I don't really feel particularly drawn to environmentalism though. I'm drawn to the more social sciences.

So I plugged in Steve's birthday to see what it came up with for him.

I don't know how you feel about it, but you were male in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere in the territory of modern Ukraine around the year 775. Your profession was that of a map maker, astrologer, astronomer.

Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Timid, constrained, quiet person. You had creative talents, which waited until this life to be liberated. Sometimes your environment considered you strange.

The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
It always seemed to you that your perceptions of the world are somewhat different. Your lesson is to trust your intuition as your best guide in your present life.

Steve's family was from Ukraine. I thought that was kind of creepy :-). Still, these results imply that EVERY person who was born on Steve's birthday was Ukrainian in a past life, so the entertainment value kind of ended there :-). Ah well, it was still kind of fun :-).

So us!

2010-02-05T12:38:00.004-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Mickey (Toni Basil)

I swear, it's almost like the author of the Arlo & Janis strip has a webcam in our apartment!

I Blame Facebook

2010-01-29T07:40:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Everybody Needs Love (Stephen Bishop)--On and On

I just read Steve's latest entry, and had to laugh: not only did we decide to blog at the same time, but we both wanted to blame the same thing for not having blogged in so long: Facebook. He and I are on Facebook regularly and it always seems easier to update one's status that way instead of blogging, which actually requires some forethought and more discipline :-).

Biggest news, which most of you already know about, is that we recently moved from Memphis to Nashville. It was a job relocation: my boss has been living in Nashville since August of 09 and she asked me to move up there. So the company paid for my move, which is awesome :-). The only thing we needed to do was pack and believe me, that was enough of a hassle :-).

We moved from a 1-bed, 1-bath apartment to a 2-bed, 2-bath one. The second bedroom we're using as a library/ mini office. It's actually supposed to be an office for BOTH me and Steve, but there was one thing we didn't realize until we actually got here: no phone jack in the second bedroom. That means while *I* could work in there because my laptop is wireless, Steve will have to set up his workstation in the bedroom (which has a phone jack), because he's the source of the wireless feed.

Nashville is awesome :-). We don't live *in* Nashville, we actually live in one of its surrounding suburbs, but we've gone downtown a couple of times and each time we've gone we've been very happy with the experience.

One of the biggest things I noticed as we were driving around downtown was how much *brighter* everything is. And I mean that in both the literal and figurative senses. The main roads are wider, which allow for more sunlight. The overall theme is country, not blues. I've always been more of a country music girl anyway, and that was verified by how happy I was to see people walking around downtown wearing cowboy hats, and it was treated as normally as if that person was wearing a baseball cap :-).

And it's amazing how hills can make such a difference to your psyche when you're driving. It makes winter look less... I dunno, less bleak, I guess. This city is going to look SO pretty in the spring, I can tell already.

They've got theaters that show movies in captions, and that's a HUGE plus for Steve.

Any bad points, you ask? Well so far there's a couple: for one, the nearest Philippine/Asian store is a half hour drive away. Another bad point is that the Nashville zoo is nowhere near as nice as the Memphis Zoo (then again, I doubt *any* zoo would be, the Memphis Zoo was ranked the best zoo in the US by TripAdvisor). But that's all I've got :-).

In Steve's blog, he mentioned that Nashville is less stressful. I'm not quite sure I would agree with that, because in effect what he's saying is that he found Memphis stressful. It's not that Memphis was stressful, it's just that Nashville is more relaxing, if that makes any sense at all :-).

2010-01-28T12:15:00.001-06:00

Am attempting to use ping.fm to update my twitter, facebook, blogger, friendster, multiply and yahoo status all at the same time. Hope it works :-).

I Love this Commercial

2009-11-21T10:32:00.002-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: an episode of Law and Order

I laugh so much every time I see this commercial, mostly because it's happened to me a couple of times and I end up picking up plastic containers off the floor :-).

G.I. Joe and Team America

2009-11-21T06:13:00.007-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: An episode of Angel

I know that the movie Team America: World Police was created in 2004 to parody movies like G.I. Joe, but it was really funny to us that G.I. Joe, which was released a full 5 years later, had scenes that were eerily similar :-).

The Paris scene in Team America

The Paris scene in GI Joe

As soon as the Eiffel Tower fell, Steve and I both mimicked the line from Team America: "Don't worry, everything is bon!"

We were even looking for Team America's cliché mime and bakery elements in GI Joe...and FOUND them!

Another element we found and kept laughing about:

And at the ending scene of GI Joe, when the desert sand parts and the aircraft launches, it's almost impossible to keep yourself from singing, "America, {bleep} yeah!"

Team America. Absolutely genius :-).

Got My Google Wave Account!

2009-11-20T12:33:00.001-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

I got my Google Wave account!

What's Google Wave? This video explains it best:

This would be perfect for project implementations :-).

Autographed Albums

2009-11-16T15:11:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Finally got a chance to scan them in :-).

Impromptu Musical Saturday

2009-11-16T09:53:00.001-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: The Wanderer--Jim Chappell (Over the Top)

Saturday turned out to be an impromptu, musical day for me :-). On Friday Steve came home with a page from the paper's Friday "what's-going-on-in-entertainment-this-week" flyer. The Rippingtons were performing at the New Daisy Theater on Beale Street!

My brother Noel introduced me to The Rippingtons' music a few years ago and since then I've loved listening to them :-). They've been around since 1986. Heck Kenny G used to be a part of The Rippingtons :-).

They have seventeen albums to date (eighteen if you want to count their "Best of" CD). Listening to a Rippingtons album is like listening to a soundtrack of a specific place or event. My favorite one is Topaz--it's set in New Mexico and there is definitely a Southwestern flavor to the compositions: a wooden flute here, Spanish guitar there, there was even an eagle's cry at the beginning of one composition. It definitely brings up images of wide, rocky, orange landscapes. It's both a Spanish and Native American sound at the same time.

So naturally I had to get two tickets for Steve and me to see them Saturday night.

And then early Saturday morning I found out that the Germantown Performing Arts Center's Iris Orchestra had a show that night. And that usually means they have a rehearsal at 10am Saturday morning, which the general public can see for $10. It doesn't usually matter to me what they're playing, it's just a really cool treat to be able to sit down in a theater and listen to them play. I usually take some light work with me, but I always end up putting it down and just watch them instead :-).

So that was my Saturday: watch the orchestra practice in the morning, then watch a jazz concert at night :-).

Steve and I took pictures.

I was also able to capture a clip of them playing "Spirits of the Canyon," which is from their Topaz album :-). It shows just how talented all the musicians are :-). Sorry it stops after 4 minutes; my arm was getting tired :-D.

Updates? Not Much...

2009-11-11T07:11:00.000-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Night Fever--the Bee Gees (Tales from the Brothers Gibb)

No reason for the disco dancing emoticon other than that I'm listening to the Bee Gees...plus I'm hopped up on coffee :-).

I wish I could say I had news to blog, but it's been pretty quiet. Other than all the chores associated with getting ready for the move, not much has been going on. I've tried a couple of times to write a blog entry in the last few days, but I would always end up asking myself, "Well what do I write about? The only semi-exciting things that have happened lately just make me look like a bigger geek than I already am, like..."

having found free screen capture software which records whatever you're doing on your screen and your narration (via desktop microphone) at the same time--which will work great for automating systems training.
finding a free equivalent of MS Visio--which is great for diagramming flowcharts and org charts.

See what I mean? Geekazoid :-). I'm sure I'll have more news soon--there's sure to be lots of activity closer to the actual moving date :-).

Google Voice ROCKS!

2009-10-06T15:01:00.010-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: an episode of Law & Order SVU

Ever heard of Google Voice? No? Oohhhh it's {singsong} AWWWEESSOME!

Okay think about this:

My Google Voice number is 615-2800-CCS (615-280-0227)

Feature: If you call that number, my cellphone will ring. Or my home phone. Or my work phone. Or all three at the same time, if I set it up that way.
Benefit to You: That means you only need to remember one number for me. You don't need to go around saying, "Okay now what was CC's cell number/home number/work number?" It's (615)-2800-CCS. That's all you need to know.
Benefit to Me: You can reach me and yet my cell number and home number are kept private :-).

Feature: If I don't already have your phone number in my Google Contacts phone book (i.e. I don't already know you), you have to say your name and I can decide whether I take your call right then or let you go to voice mail and leave me a message.
Benefit to Me: Great way to screen junk telephone calls :-)

Feature: If you leave voice mail, not only will it let me know you left voice mail, but it will also transcribe your voice mail and send it to me as a text message and/or in an email.
Benefit to Me: I can read your voice mail almost immediately after you leave it; I don't need to call my "check your voice mail" number.

Feature: It's not tied to a location.
Benefit to You & Me: I move to Nashville in a few months. That means my cell phone number and home phone number will probably change. But you still only have to remember 615-2800-CCS, because all I would need to do is change the number/s my Google Voice number will forward calls to :-).

Feature: It's free! Well not *completely* free. Calling US and Canadian numbers is free. There's a small fee for international numbers (11 cents a minute for calling Philippine landlines; 17 cents a minute for calling Philippine cellphone numbers)
Benefit to Me: It's cheaper than Yahoo, so I can stop using (and paying for) Yahoo and use Google Voice instead.

There are more features and resulting benefits, but those are the top ones :-).

Getting a Google Voice account is currently by invitation only. If you want to get on the waiting list for an invitation, click here.

Our Next Home

2009-10-06T07:28:00.006-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Steve and I spent the weekend in Nashville. Our mission: to find our next apartment for when we move in early January. We had started our search in the Franklin area, and on Saturday we identified an apartment complex (as a matter of fact we already filled out an application for it). However, after it was done, I kept fretting about it, even though it was the most logical choice: the other apartments were either in a neighborhood we didn't want to live in, or too expensive. This was in the middle. But it didn't feel like the perfect fit for us, you know?

So, on Sunday, which was the day that we were supposed to drive back to Memphis I asked Steve if we could take a look at a few apartments in Brentwood. Brentwood was the original neighborhood I wanted to live in, and was the closest match to the neighborhood we live in now (thanks to http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/neighborhoods/match/). But Brentwood is a MAJORLY expensive neighborhood. I figured that whatever rates we found in the Franklin area, Brentwood would just be even more expensive.

Turns out it's not.

This is going to be our next apartment: The Landings of Brentwood. Now THIS feels perfect. Not only is it in an awesome neighborhood, the rent is actually about the same for what we're paying now.

If you'd like to see the pictures full size, click here.

Visiting the Landings that day was very timely. They were running a special on the floor plan we wanted (2Bed-2Bath, 1002 sq.ft/93 sq.m), which was scheduled to expire at the end of that same day. The market price for the rent was $950/month, but because of the special it would be $840-890/month. Also most fees were waived, so all we needed to pay in application fees was $99. The thing that Steve REALLY liked, and what he said made it feel like the perfect fit for him, was that they had this rule: if your pets are rescue pets, then they won't charge you a pet fee for them. Katya and Jack aren't rescues, but it's nice that they have that rule. There is also no weight limit for dogs.

Now I don't expect it to be perfect. I've lived in an apartment for 5 years, I know there'll be occasional issues with maintenance and things like that. But that comes with any apartment complex. Steve and I wanted to find a place to live that was in a really nice, safe neighborhood where the rent was affordable and it was still close enough to shopping and a hospital. We found exactly that :-).

Now comes the chore of packing, and making all the other preparations for moving. But we feel really good that where we're going is just as nice (if not better) than where we are now. Considering we currently live in Germantown, that's saying a lot :-).

Disney World! Part 2

2009-10-05T19:43:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: the Vikings-Packers game

Steve and I reserved Days 5 & 6 of our Disney World vacation as time for going back to theme parks that we enjoyed--that meant return trips to Epcot and Magic Kingdom :-).

Pictures of Day 5: click here
Pictures of Day 6: click here

Steve and I had a fantastic time at Disney World. If you plan on visiting just the 4 theme parks, 6 days is perfect, because at the end of the 5th day we were starting to get Disney'ed out. We've gotten our fill of Disney and won't need to come back for a few years :-). Maybe for our 7th anniversary we'll take a Disney cruise to the Bahamas :-).

Disney World! Part 1

2009-09-27T14:26:00.009-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Symphony No. 41 in C Major (Sir Thomas Beehcam)--Mozart: Symphony No. 41

Two years ago Steve and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary at Disney Land and we had such a great time we promised ourselves that we would go to Disney World for our 5th :-).

And that was exactly what we did. From September 13 - 19 we were in Florida visiting Disney World for the first time :-).

Steve is also writing his blog entry as I'm writing mine so you may also want to check out his blog to see what he has to say about our vacation :-).

First of all I'd have to say that planning a trip to Disney World is definitely something that you want to do at least a couple of months in advance. I know that sounds terribly uptight, but there are good reasons for it: you have the opportunity to know about upcoming good deals (Click here to see the latest Disney World deals if you're curious). The deal that Steve and I took advantage of was "Stay at least 5 days and get the Disney Dining Plan for free." Looking back, that was the best deal I could ever have taken advantage of. But I'm getting ahead of myself :-).

The second reason why you want to plan your Disney vacation at least a couple of months in advance is that you need to make your dining reservations as soon as you book the trip.

"What?" you say. "I don't even know what I'm having for dinner tonight and I'm supposed to make dinner reservations for something that's two months away?" I thought the same thing. But it's true. And even then, when I started making reservations for dates two months away, I was getting results of "not available," even after searching for 2, 3 hours earlier or later. The Disney agents actually recommend that you make your reservations THREE months in advance.

So anyway, back to booking the vacation. We booked 6 days and 5 nights at a Disney resort, during a time when the free Disney dining plan would be in effect. The total came to $1,400. That's actually not bad, especially when you consider that that's for two people. So for $700, each of us would get:

6 days and 5 nights at a Disney resort
Admission to ALL FOUR major theme parks (we didn't really want to go to the water parks): Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
Park-hopper option (which means you can go to two different parks in one day if you wanted to--I got it just in case. We didn't get to use it though, each of the parks was way too big, you didn't need to go hopping from park to park)
Free transportation to and from Orlando international airport, as well as free Disney transportation from your resort to all the parks. This means you don't even need to rent a car.
Free Disney Dining Plan
Trip insurance

There are different types of Disney Dining Plans available, but the one we signed up for included, for each day that we were there:

one table-service meal (i.e. sit down full-service restaurant),
one quick service meal (i.e. food court-type meal), and
one snack (ice cream or fruit, things like that)

Now what Steve DIDN'T know was that, as my anniversary gift to him, I was going to upgrade us from the Disney All Star Movies Resort (i.e. a "value" resort) to the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort (i.e. a "moderate" resort).

See a video introduction to the All Star Movies Resort
See a video introduction to the Caribbean Resort

What I planned to do was wait for Disney to ship us the tags that we were supposed to attach to our luggage on the day that we leave. I was planning on surprising Steve by showing him the tags on the day that we were leaving (the tags specify which resort you're staying at so it'll be easier for the Disney luggage team to identify and sort your stuff). I even ordered a customized Lady & the Tramp anniversary card so I could put the luggage tags in there.

Unfortunately it didn't happen that way for two reasons:

The luggage tags never arrived (Disney was having trouble shipping them, and I also think it's because I booked the vacation too close to the departure date for the tags to fully process), and
I spoiled the surprise two days before we left. I couldn't take it. I had to tell him, it was killing me :-). Guess that goes to show you I'd be a TERRIBLE spy :-).

That morning I just went up to him and asked, "Do you want to know what your anniversary gift is?"

"Not really. I can wait."

Awkward silence.

"No really, you wanna know what it is?"

"Sounds like YOU want to tell me what it is :-)."

So I got our customized Disney World map (you can order one after you book your vacation) and asked him to open it.

I put an arrow-shaped post-it next to #13 on the list. He looked at me quizzically: he knew we were staying at the Disney All Star Movies Resort. "What about the Caribbean Resort?"

Then I pointed to map itself, where I put a "My Resort" sticker on the picture of the resort. He looked at it, and then looked at me.

"That's where we're staying?"

"Uh huh :-)."

I love that moment of dawning comprehension :-). He smiled widely and went, "All RIGHT!"

I've posted pictures with captions along with some video for each of the days we were at Disney World :-). Below is a slideshow, but the pictures are too small.

To see all the pictures full size (as well as the video), click here.

Update

2009-08-03T06:25:00.006-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

The last few weeks have definitely been busy :-). I was in Manila for about three weeks, almost the entire month of July, and things are always a little crazier in Manila. But that's not the biggest part of my update.

On my flight back, I had the fortune of getting upgraded to business class all the way home, which was awesome because I was a little extra sleepy during this particular return leg.

Fast forward to my landing in the US (this trip's port of entry was Detroit). It was a 12 hour flight, and I spent half of it sleeping. I was really comfortable. When I got up to get my luggage though, I had this strange "the-beginning-of-a-leg-cramp" pain in my left calf. I figured I must have slept wrong or something. I figured, "That's okay, making the trek through immigrations and customs will work the kink out."

It didn't. As a matter of fact, it didn't go away for a few days. I got home Thursday afternoon, and Saturday morning I still had it. That's when I started to worry that it might be DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis--or in layman's terms, a blood clot in your leg). I looked up DVT on the web, and I found a webpage that described how another woman (31 years old) was going through exactly the same thing: the cramping leg, but the absence of the other symptoms...and it still turned out to be DVT.

After I read that I woke Steve up and said, "After breakfast, can we go to the minor medical center?"

So we went to the minor medical center for my first diagnosis. After the doctor heard that I just came back from a long flight and had the cramping feeling, although she said the swelling was not as much as it would typically be for DVT, she felt it would be best for me to go ahead and head for the ER to get myself further evaluated for DVT. Further evaluation required an ultrasound, which the minor medical center did not have.

So off we go to the hospital. This was about 9:30am. Looking back, I'm so glad we went first thing in the morning. There were hardly any patients in both the minor medical center and the ER.

After about a 15 minute wait, I got looked at by an ER nurse, who then transferred me to a bed in the ER. While waiting, we took the opportunity for pictures :-).

Then the doctor came by and took a closer look at my leg. After examining me she said, "Okay, let's get you scheduled for an ultrasound and take a closer look at it. Sometimes it's not a DVT and just a little swollen." The way she said it though, it seemed like she felt it was DVT.

A few minutes later I get wheeled out to Radiology (I felt SOO guilty because the lady that was pushing and maneuvering my bed was much older than I was). I had my entire left leg scanned, and the radiologist said that she took some great pictures but can't really discuss the results. She wheeled my bed all the way back to the ER.

So Steve and I waited for another 15 minutes or so until the ER nurse comes in and says, "I've got great news for you! It's not a clot, the ultrasound was clear." I replied, "Oh that's such a relief! I was almost sure that it was." That's when the nurse said that she and the doctor were thinking it was, too, just based on all the circumstances. We were all glad that the ultrasound results proved us wrong.

I get a prescription for the pain, and was told to follow up with my GP after a couple of days. As I was limping out of the ER, the nurse asked me, "Do you want a wheelchair?" and I replied, "Hey, it's not a clot. I'm more than happy to be walking out of here."

Fast forward to a week later: pain's gone, but I'm still seeing my GP tomorrow for one last check. My GP thinks I tore my plantaris muscle, and I'm not really sure if that is what happened, but right now I'm just more focused on what it's not rather than what it is :-).

Chihuahua!

2009-06-28T05:48:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Manic Monday (the Bangles)

The last time I was over in Manila, my brother showed me this AMV that Steve and I just absolutely loved.

An AMV is an "Anime Music Video," where anime fans use video editing skills to create a music video using clips from anime shows. This AMV was funnier to us because we had actually seen a few episodes of GoldenBoy (thanks, Robin--you're going to love this AMV too, I know it :-)).

The guy did a GREAT job syncing the mouth movements with the song lyrics :-).

And this is the kind of song that sticks with you. Steve hates it when I sing it and then it gets stuck in HIS head too :-).

So anyway, fast forward a few weeks. I was at my boss's house helping things get organized for their move when I came across this Webkinz doll that was just going to end up getting donated:

I just HAD to take it home :-).

This doll is now a running joke for us :-).

I hide it in his grooming bag. He unzips it while getting ready for work.

"Chihuahua!"

Two days later he takes it and hides it in my stack of ironing. I pull a shirt off.

"Chihuahua!"

A couple of days later I put it in the kitchen cupboard. He gets a mug for his tea.

"Chihuahua!"

This is going to be fun :-).

A US Citizen!

2009-06-14T18:02:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Finally, after 5 years of waiting, filling out forms and paying fees, it's done :-). I took my naturalization oath last Thursday. My parents couldn't be there, but there was no shortage of love and support since Steve's family was with me :-). I was kind of hesitant to invite people at work (even though I wanted to), because when I asked the immigration officer how many people I could bring, I first got a weird look and then a vague response: "It depends on how many other people are getting naturalized and how much of their family and friends *they're* bringing."

This is one of the first few times that this facility hosted a naturalization ceremony so they've still got a few kinks to work out in the process. But the notice said to be there at 1, and by the time we got all the citizens-to-be and their families into the facility and got started, it was around 2.

Here's a copy of the program:

The Naturalization candidates that day were coming from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, People's Republic of China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, The Gambia, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, the UK, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

And a copy of the oath of allegiance:

Here are some pictures from the event:

At the immigration office. They didn't have chairs for friends and family so they ended up having to stand :-(.

Me!

Taking the Oath. After saying "So help me God," we were told:
"Congratulations, you are now citizens of the United States of America." :-)

A congratulatory video message from the president.

I was the only one from the entire group that was willing to be wacky :-).
Everyone else was so... serious, like they were almost afraid to be happy.
The lady next to me was Kathy Redman, the Southeast Regional Director. As soon as I smiled like this she said, "Oh, this one likes to pose!"

The Naturalization Certificate

It's almost hard to believe it's finally over :-).

Taco Bell commercials... and real video

2009-06-09T03:42:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

This is the commercial that started it all...

After this came out, real customers started rapping at taco bell. You can find lots of videos of those online. So I thought it was kind of trippy that taco bell responded with the employees rapping back.

I love how the beat guy (when he was at the soda station) shook his head while he was listening as if he was thinking, "Oh, you sad amateurs."

I laughed when the guy in the car went, "The Taco Bell girl just OWNED you."

But of course, that's staged. It's a commercial.

In real life, the most the employee can do, really, is to take the order.

Agh, I'm part Sheldon!

2009-05-26T05:27:00.004-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Steve and I were watching The Big Bang Theory reruns on TV last night. It was the episode where Sheldon was trying to figure out how to make other friends.

As soon as I saw Sheldon's flowchart on the board, I buried my face in the pillow going, "Oh no!" and Steve started pointing at me teasingly.

Hey, at least I'm not as bad as this guy, who actually took the time to recreate Sheldon's flowchart. By the way, the counter should say n=0, not n="No"... Agh, I can't stop!

How People Really Lived Back Then

2009-05-15T06:32:00.002-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

When you watch a movie that takes place during the middle ages, have you ever wondered if people really lived that way? Were knights really chivalrous? How did a peasant live? What does being a damsel really mean?

I came across an old 2004 series that answers those questions: Terry Jones' Medieval Lives. In case you didn't already know it, Terry Jones is part of the Monty Python team. He is a historian as well as a comedian, and his mission is to separate the fact from the romanticized notions of this time in history.

And the good news is, you can watch the entire season on YouTube. YouTube now has a new "TV Shows" section (http://www.youtube.com/shows) and a "Movies" section (http://www.youtube.com/movies). Granted they're the older shows and movies, but if you've never seen them before, that still qualifies as "new," right :-)?

Here's a list of the episodes:

Episode 1: The Peasant
Episode 2: The Monk
Episode 3: The Damsel
Episode 4: The Minstrel
Episode 5: The Knight
Episode 6: The Philosopher
Episode 7: The Outlaw
Episode 8: The King

Speaking of The Big Bang Theory and Star Trek...

2009-05-15T05:35:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Okay I didn't write about the Big Bang Theory in my blog, but I did have as my Facebook status a few days ago that I absolutely love that show. And since Steve and I just watched Star Trek, I figured now would be a good time to share this video clip :-). I must've watched this clip at least ten times, it's so funny :-). I never thought I'd see Sheldon so happy that he'd be close to tears :-).

Star Trek on a Wednesday

2009-05-14T06:07:00.006-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

I took a personal day yesterday so Steve and I could spend some additional time together. We went and watched Star Trek. Since we watched the first showing on a Wednesday, you can be pretty sure that there weren't too many people in the theater :-). The only other people in there were a few seniors and, of course, other geeks that could afford to wait and watch it when it wasn't crowded :-).

It was actually kind of fun :-). That kind of environment made it more okay for me to laugh and cheer because I knew that the only other people within earshot were other geeks that knew what I was talking/cheering about. Take, for example, the time when Bones McCoy joined the movie. Ten minutes after watching him talk, I turned to Steve and said, "Oh my god, he talks just like DeForest Kelley!"

And the guy in front of me, someone we've never met, laughed and said, "Yeah, he does :-)!"

I must've been talking louder than I thought. Normally I'd be embarrassed by that, but I wasn't, because there was an appreciation of what I just said :-).

It was that way for the rest of the movie too. We all cheered when Simon Pegg came on. When a group was put together for a mission, Steve and I both pointed at the screen and recognized the "Expendable Crew Member." We all laughed and clapped when Bones said, "Damnit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a physicist!" And when Scotty said in that trademark Scottish accent, "I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain!" we laughed and clapped again. I hope the seniors weren't too upset :-). Then again, they must have recognized those lines too if they watched the 60s series.

And then when the movie was over, everyone simply got up, said something about how great a movie it was, and went their separate ways :-). It was fun :-). I don't think it would have been that much fun if we watched it as soon as it got out. Waiting a few days and watching it on a weekday made it less of a "geekfest" and more a "private viewing among geeks"--if that makes sense :-).

Poor Hugh Laurie :-)

2009-04-29T03:00:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: channel surfing on the Slingbox

Hugh Laurie's British?!

See more like this on kontraband.com

Extended Manila Trip

2009-04-28T13:11:00.004-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern via the Slingbox

My original schedule to be in Manila was from April 13-25, and come back again the first week of May. But when I realized that schedule only gave me a week in Memphis before I needed to fly back, I just decided to stay that extra week in Manila and continue working from there. So I've been a little busier than usual (the pace is always busier at the Manila office) and haven't been able to blog so much.

But I have been able to do a few things that I enjoy: meet up with some friends, do some online shopping and play WoW ;-).

The first weekend I arrived, my college friends had a small dinner get together at Meyan and Joy's new home.

Robin made paella, Aldous brought a delicious chocolate cake, and I brought some flowers. It was a nice, relaxing dinner followed by some tv :-).

Another thing I was able to do was some online shopping while being here :-). I was doing an search for bedsheets for my parents. Search results included the usual comforter sets that are either printed or plain, and after looking at picture after picture they all start looking the same.

Then I found this in the clearance section at the Sears' website and just HAD to have it, it was so different:

Doesn't that just make you want to slide under the covers and take a nap :-)?

I ordered it online and Steve picked it up at the store the next day :-). I'm looking forward to trying it out when I get home :-).

It's the Noblegarden festival in WoW, which is the in-game equivalent of Easter :-). For a week you go hunting for eggs and turn them in to certain characters for in-game prizes :-). One of the prizes that I thought would be really cute to have would be the bunny ears. I collected enough eggs to get them for my death knight, and she just looks really cute with them:

Here's this death knight all decked out in armor, meant to spread fear and terror, and she's got bunny ears :-).

Woooo!

2009-04-05T07:14:00.001-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Did you know about this? I didn't know about this. This is going to be cool!

Anybody See that Tango?

2009-04-03T06:24:00.008-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Did anybody else catch Gilles and Cheryl's Argentine tango on Dancing with the Stars? It got the first perfect score of the season.

Steve and I were watching it and I said, "That's the hottest tango I've ever seen."

To Steve: Did you know there's a Memphis Argentine Tango Society, honey? And classes are only $10 a person.

{shrugs my shoulders as you give that look}...I'm just SAYIN' :-).

A Japanese Weekend

2009-04-02T06:17:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Last week I was checking out events in the area when I saw that the Memphis Botanic Garden had a Cherry Blossom Viewing session. The description was:

Cherry Blossom Viewing
Mar 29, 2009 (12:00 PM - 2:30 PM)
Join the Japan Culture Club to view the Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom, prepare traditional unrolled sushi, and enjoy hands-on Japanese crafts and activities. $5 supply fee includes Garden admission. Contact: Sachiko Matsushita, Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator

Well that sounded like fun, so Steve and I went to that :-).

When we paid our entrance fee there was a sign that said "Fish Food, $1." Having been to the Memphis Botanic Garden before, Steve and I knew that this was for feeding the koi at the Japanese Garden section. So I bought four bags :-).

Here are the pictures we took at the event.

Sachiko Matsushita welcoming the crowd. She explained that unfortunately, most of the cherry blossoms had dropped last week but they had preserved some cherry blossoms in a refrigerator so that they can show us what they look like (they're in that vase behind her). She also offered everyone to have something to eat--they ordered sushi from Sekisui, which is our favorite Japanese restaurant :-). So you bet we got some sushi :-).

The calligraphy table where you choose a character to write on your own fan :-)

Steve trying his hand at it. He's writing out "dream." He said it turned out more to be a nightmare :-).

The origami table

There was a big turnout :-). It got even more crowded about half an hour after I took this picture.

After having fun with all the arts and crafts, we figured we'd head on out to the Japanese Garden. Here are some outdoor shots:

It was a bright, cool day--perfect for going to the Botanic Garden :-).

The entrance to the Japanese Garden

Steve feeding the koi. Turns out buying four bags of fish food was just right--we were even able to share it with people that didn't buy any fish food but realized that it looked like fun :-).

They have some pretty big koi in that garden :-). Some ducks and a swan joined in the fun too :-).

Another shot of the Japanese Garden

Some of the cherry blossoms were still blooming :-).

It was a lot of fun, and we're glad we went :-). We also found out that the headquarters for the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, which sponsored the event, is in Nashville and they have even more events over there. So that's definitely another thing we're looking forward to when the time comes for us to move to Nashville (probably mid to late this year) :-).

Blast From the Past

2009-03-28T09:25:00.012-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Oh my god, I'd forgotten about this series--and it was one of my favorites growing up! Just watching the theme song is like taking a time machine back to my childhood :-).

"This is my domain, and I protect those who come here. For I am Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle!"

I also came across this old favorite:

1981s The Lone Ranger

I SO had a crush on the Lone Ranger when I was a kid :-).

That spinning "produced by Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott" credit ought to be the official logo of the 80s child :-).

Outliers: A Review

2009-03-23T06:01:00.002-05:00

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CC is listening to: Nothing right now

I just finished reading Malcom Gladwell's "Outliers: The Story of Success" yesterday. The book challenges how we look at success.

In a nutshell, if you had two people that were equally driven, equally intelligent, and equally motivated to succeed, the thing that could determine who would be a better success than the other would actually be things beyond their control. These would be things like their age, their culture, their upbringing.

As a matter of fact, the book lists a lot of people--people whom we recognize as successful businessmen--who simply had the luck of being at the right place at the right time, and at that critical time of opportunity possessed the right amount of training required to pull ahead of the pack and be successful.

Simply put, it's nature and nurture. And the one who has both on his side is more likely to succeed than the person who only has one or the other.

Seems like a no-brainer when I summarize it like that, but I'm oversimplifying it. The book is surprisingly interactive. It starts off with something like, "Look at this chart and see if you notice something." And then it walks you through the results, and then based on those results it questions and challenges your personal assumptions about success, and then as the final blow, proves its point with studies that have very compelling data. It was logical, and I enjoyed the way it was able to involve me in the process.

That being said, I think Outliers started out very strong. Towards the end though, it kind of fizzled out for me.

By the time I got to part 2 (which is 2/3 the way through), I'd been thoroughly convinced that yes, success is not all about just one person's efforts. I get it.

Now what? Well, it didn't really say.

I have to confess I was looking for Gladwell to give some sort of hopeful message for those who didn't have a good experience growing up. Something like, "Okay so let's say you've got the chips stacked against you. You can still be successful. Just look at this person, and that person--they managed to do it, and here's why."

But he doesn't. And because he doesn't, when I finished the book, I was left with a strange feeling of, "it's not complete." He makes such a strong case for the role of nurture, that I felt if I was someone who only had nature on my side, I'd feel doomed.

That's not his intent, of course. On his website, he answers precisely that question.

Doesn't that make it sound like success is something outside of an individual's control?
I don't mean to go that far. But I do think that we vastly underestimate the extent to which success happens because of things the individual has nothing to do with. Outliers opens, for example, by examining why a hugely disproportionate number of professional hockey and soccer players are born in January, February and March. I'm not going to spoil things for you by giving you the answer. But the point is that very best hockey players are people who are talented and work hard but who also benefit from the weird and largely unexamined and peculiar ways in which their world is organized. I actually have a lot of fun with birthdates in Outliers. Did you know that there's a magic year to be born if you want to be a software entrepreneur? And another magic year to be born if you want to be really rich? In fact, one nine year stretch turns out to have produced more Outliers than any other period in history. It's remarkable how many patterns you can find in the lives of successful people, when you look closely.

It's a fascinating book--I just felt it stopped short. It's not a good enough reason NOT to read the book. I may have one point against it, but I walked away with at least five other things that have forever changed the way I look at (and analyze) success :-).

Sake Chazuke

2009-03-13T10:44:00.004-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Precious Memories--Jim Chappell (The Earthsea Series)

Steve and I have Japanese neighbors, and we're currently in a "gift war" with them :-). You know how it goes: first someone gives a gift to you, then you give a gift back, and then they give a gift back to you, so forth and so on. It's gotten to the point that when they go to Japan, they often bring us back something, and when I go to Manila, we often give them something :-).

I think part of the coolness of it all is that Steve and I both like a lot of things about Japan. One of our dreams is to one day have enough money to be able to take a leisurely, no-expense-barred two-week vacation in Tokyo :-). That'd be SO awesome.

Anyway, it's kind of fun to be able to practice a few Japanese phrases with them, and to be able to introduce Filipino things to them like barquillos, dried mangoes, barquiron, and a lot of other things that the Philippines is known for. And in turn, we get to experience a lot of new Japanese things too. This latest thing that we got (I got it as part of a "Happy Girl's Day" gift) I've become addicted to. It's called sake chazuke, and it's great.

Each packet has seasoning and dehydrated bits of rice crackers, red salmon, and seaweed. What you do is sprinkle the whole thing over some leftover rice, pour some hot water or green tea on it, and you've got rice soup. I like it so much that I ended up eating them two packets at a time (hey, it's pointless to fight it--I eat one, I know I'm going end up going back for a second one anyway :-)).

Steve likes it too (not that he's ever gotten to have one all to himself :-)). You can probably guess that I've used up all the sake chazuke, but the good news is I'm able to order them online. I'm patiently waiting for my shipment to arrive from San Francisco :-).

{playfully shakes my fist in the air} Curse you, nice Japanese neighbors :-)!

Watchmen Movie Intro

2009-03-13T08:59:00.006-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: The Great Prairie--Jim Chappell (Serenity Rush)

Many people who read the Watchmen graphic novel absolutely loved the 5-minute animated beginning of the movie. I agree that it was a brilliant way of giving the viewer a sense of the history behind the plot. The way the events were pieced together, as well as the way it was presented, was very well done.

If you haven't read the graphic novel, the 5-minute intro still works very well because it immediately destroys any assumptions you had about this being a happy, feel-good movie. You realize that this movie is going to be about the dark side of superheroes, and if you didn't know that this was rated R, it gives you the perfect opportunity to grab that child's hand and hightail it out of there :-).

If you want to see a bigger-screen version, you can view it here.

Watched the Watchmen

2009-03-09T06:50:00.009-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: The Only One--Chicago (The Heart of Chicago: 1967-1997)

We saw the Watchmen movie yesterday. I had written in a past blog entry that I wasn't sure I wanted to watch it after seeing the preview and reading the graphic novel, but was kind of hopeful that the story would look better on screen.

It did look better on the big screen :-). Steve and I agreed that Zack Snyder did a very good job condensing the story and cutting out material that wasn't necessary. There were some departures from the comic, but I think I heard Snyder say in a TV interview some time ago that he hopes that fans will understand, when they get to the end, why it had to be done. And I agree that his change (the "doomsday" vehicle was explosions in several world cities vs. the original vehicle of a giant octopus destroying New York) worked much better.

I liked the fight scenes with Nite Owl and Silk Spectre. I thought it was pretty cool that, even though Nite Owl cared for Silk Spectre, when it came to fighting together he doesn't "check up on her." When they were doing that prison fight scene, at one point Nite Owl was walking in front and Silk Spectre brought up the rear--they were walking down the hall and fighting bad guys the whole way. He didn't look back at her even once to see if she needed help. It sounds like a very trivial thing to like, but it was the most equal treatment of a male-female tandem fist fight that I've seen :-).

Here's a clip of that part. It looked more dramatic on the big screen, though.

That smile they shared before the fight was cute :-). And it reinforces a thought that stays with you throughout the movie: that if you're going to be a superhero, part of you has got to be a *little* psycho.

Oh, and I want to know where she buys her shampoo and conditioner :-).

I'd write more about the film, but I'm kind of running late for work. I might continue this entry later on. Might not. We'll see :-).

The Naturalization Interview

2009-03-02T13:06:00.011-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

I had my naturalization interview scheduled at 10:55am today, and I made it there with 20 minutes to spare. I think I spent about an hour waiting, because I was out of there by noon and the entire interview only took about 15 minutes tops.

The USCIS officer has you take an oath to tell the truth, much like what you see on TV. Then the officer asks for your green card, driver's license and passport. Then the officer reviews some of the information in your N-400 application (spouse's name, where you live, where you work, how often you've traveled, things like that). After that, the officer asks you in person most of the questions that you answered on the N-400 including:

Have you ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen?
Since becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident, have you ever failed to file a required Federal state or local tax return?
Do you owe any Federal, state or local taxes that are overdue?
Have you ever been a member of or in any way associated with the Communist Party?
Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?
Have you ever lied to any U.S. government official to gain entry or admission into the United States?

Once that's done, you're asked to read one to three sentences out loud. Then you're asked to write one sentence in English (the officer dictates the sentence, you write it down). Then the officer gives you up to 10 civics questions, of which you're supposed to answer 6 correctly. I was getting the questions right, so I think she stopped at 7. If she asked me more questions, I don't remember what they were. The questions I remember being asked were:

What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
Who was the first President?
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
Name two national US holidays.
What did the Emancipation Procamation do?

But there are 100 possible questions you get asked, so it was safer to just memorize them all :-).

Then she asked me to write my name on two of the passport pictures I submitted, she stapled them to my application, then she filled out a piece of paper and said that I passed and to look out for the letter telling me when and where the oathtaking is going to be. She said it'll take a few months. This is what the results sheet looks like (I smudged out the identifying information):

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it won't take TOO long before I get the letter :-).

Impressive and disturbing at the same time

2009-02-24T05:01:00.006-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Steve and I play World of Warcraft differently: I like concentrating on increasing the proficiency of just one character, he likes to switch from character to character because fighting in one style for very long gets kind of boring for him. So he rotates his characters every once in a while.

But we're both only playing one character at any one time, because we only have one account each. An account costs about $14 a month.

Check this guy out :-). He plays 36 accounts at the same time.

This is his computer setup for playing 36 characters together at the same time

See that ring of characters, including the ones in the middle? They're all controlled by just one person.
Why does he do it? Well in WoW, there's this a thing called a raid, where people who happen to be signed on at the same time can form a group to attack a big boss.

I've been on a couple of raids myself, and it's fun when you have a good group of players together. Roles are defined before the raid, and people stick to what they're supposed to do until you achieve the objective. You work with the efficiency of the A-Team :-).

But sometimes you end up joining a group where people would rather be a glory hound than work as a team. Before you can say, "Wait, don't attack him yet," a power hungry player decides to forge ahead and just assumes everyone else will follow to save his butt. More often than not the entire group suffers (i.e. dies) because of the lack of teamwork.

So anyway, this guy plays 36 characters at the same time so he doesn't have to worry about getting a group of people together to do a raid.

On one hand I can understand that he doesn't want to deal with 1. having to get people together and 2. making sure they're able to work well with each other. I'm impressed at the steps he's willing to take to do that (he pays over $5000 in subscription costs a year).

On the other hand, a successful raid isn't only about winning, it's about being able to win because a group of strangers got together and they all communicated well enough with each other to make sure the objective was achieved, and they supported each other in doing it.

So let's say this guy does raid the big cities of Stormwind and Ironforge. And let's say he battles through a hundred guards plus a bunch of other players who want to defend the city. And let's say he wins. That's a major victory.

With whom does he celebrate?

You Know You're a Geek Couple When...

2009-02-11T06:15:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

You know you're a geek couple when, for Valentine's Day, you get your husband:

a "Knights who formerly said Ni" t-shirt and
a "42" t-shirt

And he gets YOU a RAM upgrade for your laptop :-).

Letter from the USCIS

2009-02-08T15:42:00.004-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: the BBC America channel

Got this in the mail Saturday...

Request for Applicant to Appear for Naturalization Initial Interview
N400 Application for Naturalization

Please come to:
US CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES
842 VIRGINIA RUN COVE
# 121
MEMPHIS TN 38122
On (Date): XXXday, March XX, 2009 (first week of March)
At(Time): XX:XX AM

You are hereby notified to appear for an interview on your Application for Naturalization at the date, time, and place indicated above. Waiting room capacity is limited. Please do not arrive any earlier than 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. The proceeding will take about two hours. If for any reason you cannot keep this appointment, return this letter immediately to the USCIS office address listed below with your explanation and a request for a new appointment; otherwise, no further action will be taken on your application.

If you are applying for citizenship for yourself, you will be tested on your knowledge of the government and history of the United States. You will also be tested on reading, writing, and speaking English, unless on the day you filed your application, you have been living in the United States for a total of at least 20 years as a lawful permanent resident and are over 50 years old, or you have been living in the United States for a total of 15 years as a lawful permanent resident and are over 55 years old, or unless you have a medically determinable disability (you must have filed form N648 Medical Certification for Disability Exception, with your N400 Application for Naturalization).

You MUST BRING the following with you to the interview:
This letter.
Your Alien Registration Card (green card).
Any evidence of Selective Service Registration.
Your passport and/or any other documents you used in connection with any entries into the United States.
Those items noted below which are applicable to you:
If applying for NATURALIZATION AS THE SPOUSE of a United States Citizen:
Your marriage certificate.
Proof of death or divorce for each prior marriage of yourself or spouse.
Your spouse’s birth or naturalization certificate or certificate of citizenship.
If applying for NATURALIZATION as a member of the United States Armed Forces;
Your discharge certificate, or form DD 214.
If copies of a document were submitted as evidence with your N400 application, the originals of those documents should be brought to the interview.

PLEASE keep this appointment, even if you do not have all the items indicated above.

I had to read it a couple of times to be sure. It's only been 4 months! Holy cow, I better get back to studying :-).

Playing "Tourist in Memphis"

2009-02-08T07:01:00.005-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: La Tinaja--Strunz & Farah (Heat of the Sun)

This weekend was the first really nice weekend in a month. It's been so cold the past few weeks that when the weather guy said it was going to be almost 70 this weekend I told Steve, "We HAVE to go somewhere outdoors this weekend. It would be a shame to waste the wonderful weather."

To my Filipino readers, imagine being in Baguio during one of the coldest times of the year. It's so cold and bleak and gray that you're almost miserable. Then, after 3 weeks of that, the weatherman says the weather is going to be like Tagaytay. You'd want to go out too :-).

So anyway, I was talking with my co-worker Diane and told her that I didn't know what Steve and I were going to do during the weekend. She made a fabulous suggestion: go downtown and play tourist.

I've been here since 2004 and I still haven't truly explored downtown. Isn't that sad?

Well okay honestly part of the reason is that Memphis's downtown is not the kind of downtown that you would necessarily call "family-friendly." The city government is trying to revitalize it, and you can see the potential, but it's still got a long way to go. Steve and I kind of get depressed just driving down there. Some sections, it's like a ghost town. Businesses are closed and boarded up, graffiti on the walls, things like that. It's very... gritty, in both the literal and figurative senses.

But I guess when you think about it, that's why the words "Memphis" and "the blues" often go together. It kind of doesn't make sense for Memphis to be known for the blues if you're surrounded by suburbia :-).

There are some pockets where downtown is great, though. Steve had said yesterday that downtown was such a study in contrast: you look to your right and you've got swanky houses and condos that must have cost millions of dollars, you look to your left and you've got warehouses you're afraid to walk past during the day, much less at night.

So anyway--playing tourist in Memphis. I figured our itinerary would be to visit one of the downtown museums, have lunch at one of the restaurants that tourists often go to, and then ride the downtown trolley, and that would be enough for one afternoon :-). We decided (okay *I* decided, but Steve liked the idea :-)) we'd visit the Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art, and then have lunch at the Blues City Cafe :-).

Me in front of the museum entrance...

which was practically next to one of the trolley stations--convenient :-)

The Belz Museum was amazing. The two sentences Steve and I said the most during the entire visit were:

"Look at the detail on this thing!" and "Man, how come we've never thought of visiting this museum before?"

Steve standing in front of a sculpture of running horses made entirely out of jade

Steve next to the male foo dog...

...and me next to the female

messin' with the Monkey King...

"No, no, your leg should be up higher, like this..."
"He does look like Jet Li, doesn't he?"
(Jet Li played the Monkey King on the movie The Forbidden Kingdom)

One of the many ceremonial robes on display

Close-up of the embroidery

Wow.

One thousand?

Close-up shot of just one of the tiers

Close-up of the base of the pagoda.
Yeah they probably WOULD number a thousand...

Japanese Okimono

One of them close up

An eagle sculpture made of rose quartz. I should've put something next to it for scale, but you can see part of a door to the left of the sculpture's base

There were lots of bone and ivory sculptures on display. This was one of the most impressive ones.

Front view

Zooming in...

...and in...

...and in.

Animal sculptures (mostly horses) made of semiprecious stones

Here's a pair made of tiger's eye...

...and a pair made of jade and tiger's eye.

View from the other side

A jade carriage!

View from the back

"Look at the detail on this thing!"

Steve and the carriage

There were quite a number of these tusk sculptures, and they were really impressive. That's the tusk of a mammoth.

To give you an idea of the scale of one of these things.

This was one of my favorites. There was an element of perspective on the sculpture.

It starts out small at the top, because it's supposed to be farther away...

...then it gets bigger...

...and bigger...

...until you get to the sculpture's full size at the base.

This is when we were on the Judaic side of the museum.

Close-up of the torah

There were several neat bronze relief sculptures, too. The artist is world-renowned Israeli sculptor Daniel Kafri. This one is "Samson and Delilah."

"The Judgment of Solomon"

"Saul and David"

"The Sacrifice of Isaac"

This was one of the many large artworks on the wall, which, when you look at it closer...

...you see that it's paper cut art. We once did something like this for art class in high school, and I realized early on during the project that I had no patience for it, so seeing this level of detail was humbling :-).

I'm not very familiar with Jewish artwork, so this gallery was an incredible introduction for me :-).

After that it was time for lunch so we walked over to the Blues City Cafe, which was about a block and a half away, on Beale street.

Beale Street, "Home of the Blues."

The inside of the Blues City Cafe
After lunch we walked along Beale Street a bit, and came across the oldest general store in the South, and the only original business left on Beale Street: A. Schwab's general goods store.

Photo from Wikipedia
A. Schwab was definitely an experience :-). You walk in, and your first thought is: "Oh man, this place is OLD." You see it in the architecture, it's got that "really old house" smell, and you hear it on the floorboards when you walk around.

It's HUGE though. It's the kind of place that sneaks up on you and then sucks you in. You walk in and tell yourself, "Yeah, we're not going to be spending much time in here," but then you see things like toys from WAY long ago for sale, and really funny stuff like scented candles labeled "Bad Outhouse." There were three rows of neat crazy hats that Steve and I had fun trying on.

Photo from www.profprsites.com

There's definitely a lot of history in the store. Steve and I noticed two small, old drinking fountains side by side along the wall that you can tell had to have been about 50-60 years old. If you knew your American history, you knew why there would be two. At first I wondered why those fountains hadn't been taken down, but then I realized it was so people like me who weren't born during that time see what life was back then, and appreciate how far we've come.

One of the neatest sections in the place was a little "museum" of sorts where people were allowed to touch the items. I saw a cash register that I only ever really saw in old movies, and it was a treat to be able to touch one and play cashier for a few minutes :-)

Here's a video of Steve trying it out. I was asking him to tell me what he was punching in, but I don't think he heard me :-). Can you imagine how long it took to check out groceries back in the day :-)?

After spending a good 45 minutes in A. Schwab, it was off to ride the trolley :-). There was a Riverfront Loop route and it only cost us a dollar each :-).

Steve looking out the window during the ride

Me in the trolley

This is the Pyramid, an arena that can seat over 20,000 people.
In case you're wondering, "Of all shapes, why a pyramid?" It's because the city's name comes from the ancient capital city of Memphis in Egypt, which is along the Nile River. Memphis in Egypt, along the bank of the Nile : Memphis in TN, along the bank of the Mississippi.

It was a great way to spend a nice comfortable afternoon :-). Another weekend Steve and I will go see the Pink Palace and the Children's Museum of Memphis :-).

Arlo & Janis --> Steve & CC

2009-01-30T11:16:00.004-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Calypso Cafe--The Rippingtons (Moonlighting)

LOL Steve and I had a conversation last week that was JUST like this!

Goings-On Lately

2009-01-20T06:03:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: In the Groove--Richard Elliot (Jumpin' Off)

You may have read from Steve's blog that he's started working as a groomer at a vet clinic. He's loving his new job, I can tell. When he tells me stories about the dogs he works with, he's standing up, he talks quickly and he's using his hands to help tell the story :-). I haven't seen him this excited in a long time, and I'm glad he found a place where he totally fits in :-). Not that he didn't like his previous job, but I guess sometimes it takes a change of scenery to find out that you could be happier somewhere else :-).

Other than that, nothing much has happened lately. I bought a new computer desk again--the last one I got didn't turn out to be working too well for me. Towards the end of 2008 I'd started taking over the dining room table again.

I absolutely LOVE this new one though. We got it at Officemax for $160--it was on sale :-).

It's supposed to be set at a corner, but it's in the middle of the living room and it's just perfect there. The angle even has me facing the TV so if I wanted to, I can watch TV while I'm doing stuff on the computer :-). I didn't install the keyboard drawer since I'm using a laptop and I'd rather have the extra leg space anyway :-).

That's really all that's been going on :-). Now that Steve's no longer working at a retail establishment, he's got his weekends and holidays back, and THAT'S really nice :-). We have more time to spend together, and now if we wanted to we can take long weekend trips, which is awesome :-). We haven't decided where we're going yet or when, exactly, but I'm already looking forward to it :-).

The IT Crowd--Fun-nee!

2009-01-05T15:20:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:It Had to Be You--Doris Day (Golden Girl)

I was watching an episode of the IT Crowd yesterday and one part had me laughing so hard I near fell off my chair :-). Let me set it up for you.

Jen (the IT Department manager) had a date with Bill (another employee in the company) that didn't turn out so well. She didn't really want to face him the next day, so she told Moss, one of the IT guys, that she was going to stay in her office all day but if Bill comes by to ask about her, to tell him that she was busy.

Moss, however, is a terrible liar and when Bill kept pressing him why he couldn't see Jen, Moss blurted out, "Because she's dead!"

So now the entire office thinks that Jen is dead and people are leaving flowers outside the IT office, which is in the basement. When Jen decides to pick up a cup of coffee upstairs and sees all the flowers for her, she asks Moss about them and Moss blurts out that it's because she won employee of the month :-).

In the meantime, Bill is being a total creep and has been telling lies about how he was the last one to sleep with Jen before she died.

Okay now you're ready to see the clip :-).

IT Crowd. TOTALLY funny!

Finally--a Blog Entry :-)

2008-12-28T10:20:00.005-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: If I Had You--Etta Jones (The Best Of Etta Jones: The Prestige Singles)

Wow, it's been FOREVER since I blogged :-). The good news is I've got a lot to blog about plus I have pictures :-).

I was in Manila on business from late November to mid-December. I left the day after Thanksgiving (travel was actually not so bad that day, surprisingly) and stayed in Manila until December 19. I was originally supposed to go home December 12, but when my boss decided to extend her trip, I was asked to extend my stay as well in case she needed me :-).

While I was over there I attended the company Christmas party. The Christmas parties are always the event of the year, not only because it's a huge shindig, but also because it's a chance for the employees to showcase their talents. And every year they amaze me. This year the theme was "The Red and Black Ball--A Tribute to Broadway Musicals."

Here are a few pictures from that event. These were part of the set that our photographer provided us :-).

We have over 3000 employees--there were three long tables covered with nametags

The decor at the entrance

Inside the hall. There were over 70 tables.

Close up of one of the tables

JP and Ice--our emcees for the night

Every year we invite children from one of the Manila orphanages to come to our Christmas party (For some reason the name escapes me now though...)

Me in my 40s inspired outfit

There were 6 different performances for the broadway presentation competition: One was Mamma Mia...

There was Jesus Christ Superstar...

...and Phantom of the Opera...

...and Rent...

...and Beauty and the Beast.

The winning presentation was The Lion King... and when you look at the pictures you'll see why :-).

The orphans also did a special number...

...there wasn't a dry eye in the house when they were done

Our main social responsibility project this year kicked off at the Christmas party. It's a reading program for one of the public schools in Makati. The managers and the executive introduced it to the rest of the company by doing the "Twelve Days of Reading." Teresa played the partridge...

...I was one of the pear trees :-).

We also had a duet competition. Last year our winners were two ladies. This year it's two gentlemen :-).

Now this was a total surprise--one of our managers had asked permission from Teresa if he could propose to his girlfriend (another employee) the night of the Christmas party...

...and she said yes!

The Fashionista winners. I was actually in the bathroom when they called my name, and Teresa had to come get me :-).

Ever since I came back my sleep cycle has been a little crazy because of the jet lag. My jet lag's different this time, though. It's not the "need to sleep in the middle of the day" jet lag, it's the "I've been so used to getting my sleep when I can get it, and now I can't get the sleep I need in one go--I'm sleeping in chunks" kind of jet lag.

I've picked up World of Warcraft again. It's been so long since I played, that I had to create another character to get the feel of the game once more. And once again, I've become addicted to leveling up. I often tell myself "Just one more quest and I'll go to bed."

Now that I think about it, I'm sure World of Warcraft isn't helping me get my sleep schedule back on track :-). More than once I've been up at 2:30 and I played WoW straight until 7, when it's time for me to get ready for work. More than once Steve has had to practically drag me away from my laptop and make me go to bed :-).

With 2008 winding down, I still haven't decided what my New Year's resolutions are going to be. The good news is I was able to accomplish my major resolution for last year, which was to do at least 30 hours of volunteer work. I haven't counted, but I think I went a little over than 30, which is great. I'm probably going to be continuing to volunteer throughout 2009 as well :-).

The Puppini Sisters

2008-11-25T05:57:00.005-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Ever heard of the Puppini Sisters? I thought I'd blog about them after I mentioned them in a response to one of my previous blog entries.

They're a trio that specializes in close harmony vocal music, very much like the Andrews Sisters of the 1940s.

Now it's tyipcal to be hearing a group like the Puppini Sisters sing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy...

But not quite as typical to hear them sing Beyonce's Crazy In Love...

Or the Bangles' Walk Like an Egyptian...

Or Blondie's Heart of Glass...

Or for that matter, Barry Manilow's Could it Be Magic.

They're not touring anywhere near Memphis at the moment, but I definitely want to see them as soon as they perform within driving distance :-).

What I found interesting reading about them was that Marcella Puppini, the brunette, founded the trio after she was inspired by the film The Triplets of Belleville. Remember that film I talked about a while back, the French film with the grandmother, the dog, and the grandson who was in the Tour de France and got kidnapped? That's the one :-).

In the Mood

2008-11-23T11:47:00.002-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Steve and I had a great time at the In the Mood show last night. It's a performing company that began in 1993 and had such an overwhelming response when they first started that they started touring the country. They've been to 46 states, Canada and Europe.

It's a group of singers and dancers with a big band performing music and dances from the 1940s.

They put on a great show. The program had:

ACT I

St. Louis Blues March
Yes, Indeed
Well All Right
In the Mood
The Big Bands
Jukebox Saturday Night
I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo
At Last
I'll Never Smile Again
Tangerine
Besame Mucho
Without a Song
Chattanooga Choo Choo
I'm Getting Sentimantal Over You
Moonlight Serenade
Dream
I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire
Stardust
It's Been a Long, Long Time
Sentimental Journey
Well Git It!
Hey! Ba Ba Re Bop
Murder He Says!
Say that We're Sweethearts Again
Tuxedo Junction
The House I Live In

ACT II

Sing, Sing, Sing
Over There
A Paris Medley
What Do You Do in the Infantry?
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Lili Marlene
Bugle Call Rag
I'll Be Seeing You
We'll Meet Again
When the Lights Go Again
The White Cliffs of Dover
A Military Salute
In the Mood Reprise
On the Sunny Side of the Street

I loved being able to mouth the words to many of the songs that I recognized: Moonlight Serenade, In the Mood, Sentimental Journey--the Paris Medley even had La Vie en Rose.

After looking at the song list, you can probably guess that most of the people in the audience were from the older generation. Lots of parents and grandparents.

The part of the program which moved me the most was "A Military Salute." I thought it was just a song that I didn't recognize. But what had happened was that it was the part of the program where the house lights come up, the singers come to the center of the stage and the lead singer announces:

"To all members of the armed forces, we salute you. To the members of the United States Marine Corps, active and veteran, please. Stand and be recognized."

Then as the Marines in the audience stand, the orchestra and the singers on the stage break into the Marines Hymn: "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli. We fight our country's battles, in the air, on land and sea..."

Then the entire audience joins in the singing, clapping rhythmically.

They do the same for every branch of the military--they call on the active and retired servicemen to stand and be recognized, and they sing their military hymns with the power of the orchestra and the audience backing them up.

Navy: Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh. Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day..."
Air Force: "Off we go into the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sun; here they come zooming to meet our thunder, At 'em boys, give 'er the gun!"
Coast Guard: "From North and South and East and West, the Coast Guard's in the fight. Destroying subs and landing troops, the Axis feels our might..."
and Army: "Over hill, over dale, as we hit the dusty trail, and those caissons go rolling along..."

And the entire time the audience was clapping and singing along. You should have seen it--it was so moving. 95% of the people standing were older people. Most of them were grandparents, probably some of them were GREAT grandparents. Some stood up easily, for others it was harder. One WWII veteran in the audience struggled to stand because he was already using a walker. They weren't as spry as they used to be.

But not only did they stand, they all stood up with pride. You could see it, and you were proud for them too. And you couldn't help but clap your heart out for them.

Lovin' Firefox

2008-11-22T06:35:00.005-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons--Nat King Cole (The Greatest Hits)

I LOVE Firefox.

Well no, let me clarify that. I love web browsers that allow for open source application development. Firefox just happens to be the pioneer and leader in this initiative. How's that :-)?

It's amazing the ideas that people come up with if given the opportunity. Different people all over the world create their own little applications and add-ons that you can then use, for free, to enhance your OWN browsing experience :-).

I just installed three more Firefox add-ons today: WebMail Notifier, DownThemAll, and Foxmarks.

WebMail is an add-on that checks your Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail email addresses every X minutes (you can set it to any time you want--I have it set to check every minute) and lets you know when you have new mail through an envelope icon on your browser status bar.

Then when you hover your pointer over the envelope, it tells you which account has new mail. This comes in REALLY handy especially when you're waiting to hear back from someone and want to know as soon as new mail comes in :-).

And when you click on the icon, it loads your inbox in a new tab. It already signs you in for you :-).

DownThemAll is another add-on...and it's going to be really cool when I figure it out :-). It's not as user friendly as the other add-ons, but it works like a download accelerator.

Foxmarks I REALLY like because it not only backs up my bookmarks, it also stores them online so that if I'm using another computer (like at an Internet cafe or an airport lounge), I can access my bookmarks easily.

Another thing that I downloaded is a program called AM-Deadlink 3.3. Now THIS I absolutely LOVE. I've got 540 bookmarks saved throughout the years, and AM-Deadlink is able to tell me which of those 540 bookmarks are still okay, and which are dead, and it allows me to delete the deadlinks. Here's a screenshot.

Then it's just a matter of sorting the list according to the errors, and then deleting them :-).

At the Ambulatory Center...

2008-11-17T11:49:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: An episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Colombia)

Steve and I are at the hospital's ambulatory center, which is the place where relatives wait as patients get prepped for surgery. His mom's here for an outpatient procedure.

Think of the ambulatory center as a huge waiting room with a row of telephones along the wall. I'm not completely sure of the entire process, but I think this is how it's going to work: his mom won't be assigned a room until the operation is over (which kind of makes sense from a "hospital-needs-to-earn-money-it-doesn't-make-sense-to-assign-someone-to-a-room-if-they're-going-to-be-in-surgery-the-whole-time-anyway" perspective).

Anyway what they do is they call your name and tell you to go to a particular phone (or the front desk) so you can be given an update on the patient's progress and be told which room they're going to be assigned to after they're wheeled out of recovery. That means a family member has to stay in the ambulatory center from the time the procedure starts until it ends, just in case you need to be apprised of anything.

It almost feels like we're at an airport waiting for our plane to board :-). The chairs are laid out like at an airport gate, you've got the PA system making announcements...I was telling Steve, "the sad part is that I've traveled often enough that this doesn't feel foreign to me :-)."

The good news is that the hospital has free Wi-Fi :-). Slingbox saves the day :-)!

Projected Naturalization Processing Times

2008-11-16T05:57:00.008-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: You've Changed--Andy Snitzer (Ties That Bind)

Found this on the USCIS website (click here for the actual page). Might come in handy for other friends who are thinking of naturalization.

USCIS Updates Projected Naturalization Processing Times

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it continues to make steady progress in reducing the significant number of naturalization applications it received last year. USCIS now anticipates naturalization application processing will average 10-12 months nationally by the end of September 2008 – a substantial improvement from its estimated average processing time of 16-18 months first announced last year.

“USCIS is committed to providing customers with clear expectations and regular updates about the agency’s progress to reduce its backlog,” Acting USCIS Director Jonathan Scharfen said. “We are working steadily toward achieving our goal of processing all naturalization applications within five months by this time next year.”

During Fiscal Year 2007, USCIS received 1.4 million naturalization applications, nearly double the normal annual volume. In July alone, USCIS received 460,000 applications for naturalization prior to the implementation of its July 30, 2007 fee increase. As a result, average processing times significantly increased.

In response to the surge in applications, USCIS implemented a work plan to reduce the backlog, including implementing an aggressive hiring plan and expanded work hours. As a result of this effort, USCIS anticipates completing more than one million naturalization applications by the end of this fiscal year, including most of the applications received during the summer of 2007.

Last year’s application surge did not impact USCIS offices evenly across the country. Although most offices have already processed cases received during the 2007 filing surge, a handful of offices will have a small percentage of their 2007 cases pending at the end of Fiscal Year 2008. That will result in processing times longer than the 10-12 month national average. USCIS will continue to shift resources to ensure that all local offices achieve the goal of five month processing times.

USCIS field office projections are listed below. These projections indicate the average time it will take to complete a naturalization case as of the end of September 2008.

Estimate of Local Office Naturalization Processing Times by September 2008:
Agana, Guam: 5.0 months
Albany, NY: 5.6 months
Albuquerque, NM: 8.4 months
Anchorage, AK: 5.0 months
Atlanta, GA: 6.7 months
Baltimore, MD: 7.0 months
Boise, ID: 10.5 months
Boston, MA: 8.8 months
Buffalo, NY: 7.0 months
Charleston, SC: 14.1 months
Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands: 7.2 months
Charlotte, NC: 14.9 months
Chicago, IL: 5.1 months
Cincinnati, OH: 7.0 months
Cleveland, OH: 6.8 months
Columbus, OH: 5.7 months
Dallas, TX: 11.0 months
Denver, CO: 5.2 months
Des Moines, IO: 5.7 months
Detroit, MI: 5.0 months
El Paso, TX: 7.9 months
Fort Smith, AR: 7.6 months
Fresno, CA: 6.7 months
Harlingen, TX: 5.0 months
Hartford, CT: 14.3 months
Helena, MT: 5.0 months
Honolulu, HI: 5.0 months
Houston, TX: 5.1 months
Indianapolis, IN: 5.0 months
Jacksonville, FL: 7.4 months
Kansas City, Mo: 7.0 months
Las Vegas, NV: 9.0 months
Los Angeles, CA: 12.5 months
Louisville, KY: 7.1 months
Manchester, NH: 5.3 months
Memphis, TN: 8.4 months
Miami, FL: 12.0 months
Milwaukee, WI: 6.6 months
Mount Laurel, NJ: 5.0 months
New Orleans, LA: 14.5 months
New York, NY: 10.0 months
Newark, NJ: 7.4 months
Norfolk, VA: 7.2 months
Oklahoma City, OK: 8.6 months
Omaha, NE: 5.0 months
Orlando, FL: 9.5 months
Philadelphia, PA: 10.0 months
Phoenix, AZ: 8.6 months
Pittsburgh, PA: 6.0 months
Portland, ME: 5.5 months
Portland, OR: 5.4 months
Providence, RI: 6.7 months
Reno, NV: 5.0 months
Sacramento, CA: 5.0 months
Salt Lake City, UT: 5.0 months
San Antonio, TX: 5.0 months
San Diego, CA: 5.0 months
San Francisco, CA: 5.5 months
San Jose, CA: 5.0 months
San Juan, Puerto Rico: 10.4 months
Seattle, WA: 9.0 months
Spokane, WA: 5.0 months
St. Albans, VT: 9.5 months
St. Louis, Mo: 10.3 months
St. Paul, MN: 5.5 months
Tampa, FL: 8.6 months
Tucson, AZ: 12.0 months
Washington, DC: 12.7 months
West Palm Beach, FL: 5.0 months
Yakima, WA: 5.0 months

Well, it's nice to know Memphis isn't the place that takes the longest time to process :-). It's a little longer than the average waiting time of 7.5 months, but at least my application isn't being processed in Charlotte, NC--its processing time is the longest (14.9 months).

Naturalization Resources

2008-11-15T06:55:00.011-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

I love how USCIS helps make it easier for you to study :-)...

A Promise of Freedom: An Introduction to U.S. History and Civics for Immigrants
DVD
A Promise of Freedom is an inspiring short film for immigrant audiences based on the National Constitution Center’s award-winning presentation Freedom Rising. This 12-minute film focuses on the history and founding of our nation and the important rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. The role of immigration in U.S. history is highlighted throughout the film. Accompanying the DVD is a discussion booklet that aims to encourage discussion and review the basic concepts of American democracy outlined in the film. A Promise of Freedom is an excellent way to begin a session on immigration or citizenship.

I also found it on YouTube. When you play it it'll say it's 24 minutes long, but it's only because for some reason it ended up being recorded twice, one after the other.

It's pretty cool :-). I've always been bad at history and government, and this video definitely helps tie it all together for me :-).

"Control power by dividing it." Those founding fathers were geniuses :-).

Here's another one:

Becoming a U.S. Citizen: An Overview of the Naturalization Process
Flash® Presentation
Becoming a U.S. Citizen: An Overview of the Naturalization Process is a 10-minute Flash® presentation designed for immigrants who are new to the United States. This short multimedia presentation provides a general overview of the naturalization process including where to find immigration information and the general requirements for obtaining U.S. citizenship.

Click here to watch the Naturalization Process Overview

Fingerprinting Done

2008-11-15T06:11:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Elikya (Hope)--Marc Antoine (Universal Language)

Fingerprinting didn't take very long at all...the process itself was only about 10 minutes, but I was at the USCIS office for about half an hour because there were 2-3 people ahead of me. That's STILL good time :-).

After my fingerprints were taken, I was given a booklet to help me study for the Naturalization test next year. It's a booklet of 100 questions and their answers (with supporting explanations).

Apparently, this is how it's going to work: during my naturalization interview, I'm going to be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100. I just need to give the answers; I don't need to give the supporting explanations. Questions include:

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers.
Under our constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

There is also an English portion of the test, which includes a speaking test, a writing test, and a reading test. For the reading test, I must read 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English. For the writing test, I must write 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English. I think I'll be okay with the English portion of the test ;-).

Since I won't be taking the test isn't until next year (my application will take that long to process), I don't feel too pressured to learn all of it now. I guess I'll have Steve drill me on the questions once a month until next year--I should be really comfortable with the material by then :-).

Simon Pegg

2008-11-15T05:21:00.004-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Steve and I are Simon Pegg fans. We've liked him since seeing him in Hot Fuzz, and we also liked him in Run, Fat Boy, Run. We're very excited to see how he's going to do Scotty in the new Star Trek movie when it comes out May 2009. Here's Pegg talking to David Letterman about it (among other things like Gillian Anderson and his new dog):

While searching for clips from his series Spaced (which is now on my Blockbuster rental queue), I came across this sketch. Wacky Simon Pegg :-).
Do You Speak English?

November at the GPAC

2008-11-06T15:22:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Hyde Park (The "Ah, Oooh" Song)--Jeff Kashiwa (Another Door Opens)

I'm excited about the performances happening this month at the GPAC. On Sunday Steve and I are watching Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel....

...and on the 22nd we're watching In the Mood, a retro 1940s musical.

And as if those shows weren't cool enough by themselves, GPAC is holding short classes that kind of give you an orientation a few days before the show. For FREE :-).

ArtSavvy Class - "Flamenco Music & Dance" with Special Guest Roy Brewer
Thursday, November 6 at 7pm on the GPAC mainstage
Explore the emotional and passionate traditions of flamenco music and dance through lecture, video and music demonstrations. Admission is FREE and refreshments will be provided. Call 751-7665 to make reservations. Space is limited!

ArtSavvy Class: Big Band Swing
Thursday, November 20 at 7pm in GPAC Lobby
Discover the era of big band music and swing dance! Instructors from Red Hot Lindy Hop will teach a beginning swing dance lesson and host an open dance session that is sure to get you "In the Mood". Refreshments will be provided. Call 751-7665 to make a reservation. Space is limited!

You can't say no to something like that :-). The Flamenco one is tonight. I'll try to take pictures so I can blog it (if they let me take pictures) :-).

Christmas 2008

2008-11-05T12:02:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Icy--Rafe Gomez (Icy 2004)

It's never too early to try and figure out what this year's theme will be for our Christmas decorations :-). This way I'll be able to take my time collecting just the right things :-).

Gift wrappers are always a great source of ideas for color schemes. After looking at lots of different samples, I've narrowed the list down to 4 :-)...

Gold, sky blue, and navy blue

Gold, yellow, and green

Silver, white, and red

Black, gold, and silver

Steve and I are leaning towards the gold, sky blue, and navy blue theme :-). Seems the most festive of the choices :-).

Another Notice from the USCIS

2008-11-04T04:55:00.004-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: La Vie en Rose--Louis Armstrong (The Best of the Decca Years, Vol. 1: The Singer)

Got another letter from USCIS today:

To process your application, USCIS must take your fingerprints and have them cleared by the FBI. PLEASE APPEAR AT THE BELOW APPLICATION SUPPORT CENTER AT THE APPOINTED DATE AND TIME TO HAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS TAKEN. If you are unable to appear at this time, you may go on any following Wednesday at the same time noted below, as long as you appear before 02/05/2009. If you do not have your fingerprints taken by that date, your application will be considered abandoned.

Application Support Center:
CIS Memphis
842 Virginia Run Cove
Suite 100
Memphis, TN 38122-4419

Date and Time of Appointment:
XXXX
XXXX

WHEN YOU GO TO THE APPLICATION SUPPORT CENTER TO HAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS TAKEN, YOU MUST BRING:
1. THIS APPOINTMENT NOTICE and
2. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. Naturalization applicants must bring their Alien Registration Card. All other applicants must bring a passport, driver's license, national ID, military ID, or State-issued photo ID. If you appear without proper identification, you will not be fingerprinted.

Warning! Due to limited seating availability in our lobby areas, only persons who are necessary to assist with transportation or completing the fingerprint worksheet should accompany you. NO CELL PHONES, CAMERAS, OR OTHER RECORDING DEVICES PERMITTED.

USCIS has a free booklet to help you study for the naturalization test. Ask about "Learn about the United States: Quick Civics Lessons" when you go to have your fingerprints taken at the Application Support Center.

It's amazing how they ask for fingerprints every single time, like they don't keep a record of when they took your fingerprints LAST time. Then again, I guess it's to make sure the person showing up for THIS appointment is the same person that showed up for the last one :-).

Perfect Blue

2008-11-03T04:38:00.003-06:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:Nothing right now

There wasn't anything good on TV to watch yesterday so I thought I'd watch an anime DVD from Steve's extensive collection while I did the ironing. I thought I'd try Perfect Blue, which was done by the same guy who did Paprika and Millennium Actress, both of which were films that Steve and I had liked.

It's a psychological thriller. The synopsis on Rottentomatoes.com:

A surprisingly thoughtful analysis of the Japanese pop icon phenomenon. Mima is an ex-pop idol who was worshipped by the masses before fashion dictated otherwise. In order to salvage her career, she decides to drop music and pursue acting. A soap opera role is offered but Mima's character is less clean cut than desired. Regardless, she agrees and events take a turn for the worse. She begins to feel reality slip. She discovers (imagines?) her identical twin, a mirror image that hasn't given up singing. Internet sites appear describing every intimate detail of her life and a figure stalks her from the shadows. Her friends and associates are threatened, and killed, as Mima descends into a dangerous world of paranoid delusion. She fears for her life and must unravel fact from illusion in order to stay alive.

I talked to Steve about the movie after he came home from work. He told me about how he totally loves it; I told him that I thought it was a good movie too, but the thing that kind of spoiled it for me was that I figured out the ending :-). There were some great film sequences in there though. One of our favorites was how a certain part got you so confused and you started to doubt yourself the same way the main character was starting to doubt herself. That was well done :-).

While Watching the IRIS Orchestra...

2008-11-01T15:25:00.006-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: The Travel Channel

A couple of things happened while I was watching the IRIS Orchestra rehearsal today :-).

At intermission, while the orchestra was taking a breather, a gentleman walked up to me (I was sitting in the middle row on the orchestra level). "Hi, are you CC?"

First thought: Oh my God what did I do? "Yes, yes I am."

He extended his hand. "My name is Petra Herber. I'm the manager of the IRIS Orchestra. I just wanted to let you know I read your blog this morning."

Holy cow. I shook his hand, smiling widely as I said hello.

"And I wanted to thank you for the nice things you said about the Orchestra."

Holy freakin' cow!

I was stunned, and excited at the same time. The manager of the Iris Orchestra talking to me! He was very nice, telling me about the upcoming shows and everything. And I told him about how much I enjoy watching the rehearsals not just because of the music, but because I get to see the interactions between the musicians and the conductor, which is an extra treat. He told me that he recognized me because of the picture on my blog.

We didn't talk for very long, and we said goodbye shortly after that, but I thought it was SO cool that I was able to meet the Iris Orchestra manager because of something that *I* wrote on my blog :-). That was awesome :-).

Now the second thing happened while the Orchestra was practicing Schubert's Symphony No. 3. This was after the intermission, and by this time some of the patrons had left for lunch, so there weren't as many people in the theater.

I'm not familiar with Symphony No.3, but it was a fun piece. It also required the use of the kettle drums, and it's always so much more powerful for me when kettle drums are part of the picture. I found myself holding my breath a few times as they played that first section.

As soon as the Orchestra ended that segment, I started clapping enthusiastically.

Alone.

No one else clapped with me.

It was like being in a comedy movie. It sounded like this: "CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!!! ... CLAP... clap... clap......... clap....... clap."

And if THAT wasn't embarrassing enough, the conductor TURNED around and looked at me. Some of the MUSICIANS turned and looked right at me.

I shrugged sheepishly.

"Sorry..." I told them. "That was just me............. I loved it :-)."

My voice echoed in the theater. Naturally.

The only thing missing from this embarrassing situation was the classic lone cough in the silence.

Hey, it was a great piece, darnit :-). It may have been embarrassing, but I don't regret clapping :-).

You Know You're a Nerd When...

2008-11-01T05:23:00.004-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Embraceable You--Billie Holiday (All or Nothing at All)

You know you're a nerd when you look forward to spending part of your Saturday (and $13.50) watching the local orchestra rehearse :-).

The IRIS Orchestra sells tickets to their rehearsal for their main performance that same night. Tonight's show will be featuring Mary Wilson, soprano, and this morning they'll be rehearsing: Haydn - Symphony No. 49, "La Passione"; Mozart - "Exsultate, Jubilate"; and Schubert - Symphony No. 3.

NO clue what those pieces are, but it's always such a treat to hear a full orchestra play :-). Even if I decide to bring some light work with me, I'll probably end up putting it down and watching them instead :-).

(decides to look up the pieces. Doesn't recognize "La Passione" or "Symphony No. 3." Looks up "Exsultate, Jubilate") Ohhh THAT one. Most of my Filipino readers will recognize this piece, because it's the one you hear on GMA 7 (I think it's GMA 7) when they sign on for the day--where they have this choir singing "A-lelu, a-le-lu-ya..." and they show a slideshow of pictures about the Philippines :-). Here's a video of what it sounds like...

That'll be a good one :-). I'm looking forward to the soprano singing that part where you jump from note to note really fast (I think it's about 50 seconds into the sample video). I remember trying to imitate it as a kid. It's bad enough that I'm trying to sing, but imitating that part just sounds painful, like strangling a chicken :-).

The Triplets of Belleville

2008-10-31T16:43:00.002-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Steve and I watched the animated film "The Triplets of Belleville" a few nights ago. I was actually looking forward to it because it rated a 94% on the tomato meter at Rottentomatoes.com--and it's not very often that they would rate a film that high. Here's the movie poster and a synopsis of the plot:

In this animated French film, a boy named Champion trains relentlessly for the Tour de France, with the help of his loyal grandmother and overweight dog, Bruno (who loves to bark at passing trains). When the big race comes, Champion and a few of his fellow racers are kidnapped by some box-shouldered thugs who spirit them off to Belleville (a surreal impression of 1930s-1950s Manhattan) where they are forced to pedal as part of a clandestine gambling operation. Bruno and Grandma set out across the sea in a paddle boat to rescue their boy, but once ashore they soon become lost, hungry and penniless--that is, until the frog-eating Triplets of Belleville, former scat-singing jazz prodigies turned experimental musicians, come to their rescue. Filled with inspired, twisted imagery, this nearly dialogue-free film is a crowd-pleaser of unusual power, with the strange, measured pacing of a dream, and a great soundtrack of bizarre, alternate-reality '30s jazz. It also offers a touching and believable evocation of a dog's life. A great throwback to the time before animation became dominated by CGI effects, Triplets of Belleville is a very strange, very loving, and very French salute to obsession, affection, and persistence.

So Steve and I watched it. That was one weird film. I had to admit, it was kind of impressive that the story was told with practically no dialogue. No conversations, nothing. Steve wasn't as impressed, though, because he said it's not like that's a novel thing--that's how movies were made before "talkies" came in.

It was definitely the kind of film that, at the end, would make you say, "What the HECK was that?" And then later on it kind of spurs conversations as you both try to make sense of it.

There were only 2 things that stayed with me after I watched the film:

that it was a story of how much a grandmother loved her grandson--how far she goes to make sure he's safe and happy, and
that was the first time I'd ever seen anyone try to depict a dog's dream. We know dogs dream, and we've always wondered what they dream about, this is the first time I'd seen anyone try to present it.

Critics LOVED it, of course, and Steve and I are still trying to figure out why.

Here's the trailer. You'll probably see what I mean :-).

USCIS Receives Application

2008-10-31T12:13:00.004-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Gone--Jim Chappell (Dusk)

Got this letter from USCIS yesterday:

Receipt and Transfer Notice
N400 Application for Naturalization

The above application has been received by our office and is in process. Our records indicate your personal information is as follows:

Date of Birth: XXXX XX, XXXX
Address Where You Live: XXXXXXXXXX

Please verify your personal information listed above and immediately notify our office at the the address or phone number listed below if there are any changes.

Also, this notice is to advise you that your application has been transferred to the USCIS National Benefits Center in order to assist with the processing. This transfer is an administrative function only and will not interfere with the processing of your application.

You will be notified of the date and place of your interview when you have been scheduled by the local USCIS office. You should expect to be notified within 365 days of this notice.

If you want information on the processing dates for your local USCIS Field Office, please visit the USCIS Processing Dates webpage, which you can find through the USCIS home webpage, http://www.uscis.gov. If the Field Office handling your application is within the normal processing time frame for your type of application, USCIS will not research the status of your case. If the office is outside of the processing time for your application, please call the USCIS Customer Service number below to request an update.

According to the letter, it'll take a year for them to process my naturalization application. According to the USCIS website though, it'll take 16 months for the Memphis USCIS Field Office to process mine (they've only started processing applications they received in June of last year).

And the waiting game continues :-). I'll update the the Immigration timeline on the blog entry I wrote a while back :-).

"Stayin' Alive" Helps with CPR

2008-10-17T07:17:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: a Monk episode

Thought my RCY friends would get a kick out of this...

Disco Tune "Stayin' Alive" Could Save Your Life

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. doctors have found the Bee Gees 1977 disco anthem "Stayin' Alive" provides an ideal beat to follow while performing chest compressions as part of CPR on a heart attack victim.

The American Heart Association calls for chest compressions to be given at a rate of 100 per minute in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). "Stayin' Alive" almost perfectly matches that, with 103 beats per minute.

CPR is a lifesaving technique involving chest compressions alone or with mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing. It is used in emergencies such as cardiac arrest in which a person's breathing or heartbeat has stopped.

CPR can triple survival rates, but some people are reluctant to do it in part because they are unsure about the proper rhythm for chest compressions. But research has shown many people do chest compressions too slowly during CPR.

In a small study headed by Dr. David Matlock of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, listening to "Stayin' Alive" helped 15 doctors and medical students to perform chest compressions on dummies at the proper speed.

Five weeks after practicing with the music playing, they were asked to perform CPR again on dummies by keeping the song in their minds, and again they kept up a good pace.

"The theme 'Stayin' Alive' is very appropriate for the situation," Matlock said in a telephone interview on Thursday. "Everybody's heard it at some point in their life. People know the song and can keep it in their head."

The findings will be presented this month at a meeting of the American College of Emergency Physicians in Chicago.

(Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by David Storey)

On one hand, I think it's great that there's a song that can help you keep time. On the other hand, it could look pretty awkward for you to be humming "Stayin' Alive" while doing chest compressions on someone whose heart has stopped :-).

Then again, better "Stayin' Alive" than "Tragedy," I guess :-)...

"The Ride So Far" Update

2008-10-10T09:39:00.007-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Indian Summer--the Rippingtons (Live in LA 1993)

This is an update to a blog entry I started in January 2006, which chronicles the ride I've had so far with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Latest update at the end of the list :-).

June 9, 2003 - USCIS receives our fiancee visa petition. Cost: $110.00
November 12, 2003 - USCIS approves the fiancee visa petition and says that I will be notified as to when my visa interview will be.
November 25, 2003 - I get a letter from the embassy telling me that my interview is on February 13, 2004 and that I should have the medical examination done by then.
February 10, 2004 - St. Luke's Extension clinic stamps my passport that I've completed the medical examination. Cost of examination: $95.00
February 13, 2004 - I get interviewed. I don't pass the interview just yet because we lacked sufficient documentation. They keep my passport until we send the documentation. We send the required documentation and are told to wait for the decision.
April 7, 2004 - A courier delivers my passport with the fiancee visa attached.
June 22, 2004 - I book my one-way ticket to the States.
July 2, 2004 - I attended the Commission on Filipinos Overseas' guidance and counseling class and they stamp my passport certifying my attendance.
July 30, 2004 - I fly to the U.S.
September 13, 2004 - Steve and I get our marriage license in Memphis, TN.
September 17, 2004 - Steve and I get married in Gatlinburg, TN :-).
November 18, 2004 - USCIS receives my application for work authorization (cost: $175) and to adjust status to permanent resident (cost: $385). I'm scheduled for biometrics (i.e. fingerprinting and picture-taking) for my work authorization document.
December 10, 2004 - I get my biometrics done.
December 28, 2004 - I get my work authorization permit.
January 11, 2005 - I apply for a social security number.
January 25, 2005 - I get my social security card.
October 19, 2005 - USCIS says I need to send them updates of several of my documents since they've expired. I also need to have a new medical exam done.
October 24, 2005 - I complete my second medical exam (cost: $225).
October 28, 2005 - USCIS sends me confirmation that they have my new address (Steve and I moved in June).
November 23, 2005 - USCIS receives my application to renew my work authorization permit (cost: $180).
December 15, 2005 - I mail off the updated documents to USCIS.
January 12, 2006 - USCIS approves my permanent residency application.
January 19, 2006 - I get my green card! It expires January 3, 2008.
October 6, 2007 - We mailed our application to remove the conditions of my permanent residency (within the 90 day window before my green card expires. Cost: $545). Paid for delivery confirmation so I'll know when they get it.
October 10, 2007 - USCIS receives our application.
November 6, 2007 - I get a letter from USCIS saying that my conditional permanent residency has been extended for one year while the paperwork gets processed.
November 24, 2007 - I get a letter from USCIS telling me where, what day and what time I should show up for my biometrics appointment.
December 5, 2007 - I go to my biometrics appointment. It took less than 10 minutes.
December 15, 2007 - I get an email from USCIS telling me that they've ordered the production of my green card.
December 19, 2007 - I get another email from USCIS saying that the petition to remove the conditions of my permanent residency has been approved :-)!
December 24, 2007 - I receive my new, 10 year permanent resident green card in the mail :-)! It expires December 15, 2017.
October 9, 2008 - Express-mailed my application for Naturalization (cost: $675: $595 plus an $80 biometrics fee).
October 10, 2008 - USCIS (specifically the Texas Service Center) receives my application
October 14, 2008 - USCIS puts my application in the processing queue. Target completion time: 365 days.
November 3, 2008 - I get a letter from USCIS telling me where, what day and what time I should show up for my fingerprinting appointment.

So far the running total comes to a little under $2500, not counting the cost of submitting passport-type photos and the cost of postage. If all goes well and there are no problems with the application, the next steps include taking the citizenship test and then the oath :-).

Been a while

2008-10-07T05:47:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: the thumping in my ears

Wow it's been a while since I've blogged. Let's see, what's been going on. I finally finished the 6 Sigma training (YAY!) :-). Now all I need to do is understand just what it was that I learned :-). The good news is it's easy to get a hold of books that can help. A book that's been really helpful is Six Sigma Workbook for Dummies.

The thing I like best about it is that it uses real-life examples to get the point across for a specific statistical test. And it's got exercises and answers. It teaches you the formulas, but if you've got Excel with the Analysis Toolpak Add-In installed you don't even have to worry about that :-). Click, click--there you are, you've got the correlation coefficient :-).

It would have been awesome though if there was a book that walked you through different projects from start to finish, using all the Six Sigma tools that you would need. Oh well, maybe it's out there and I just haven't found it :-).

I've been kind of sick lately. I say "kind of" because it's not really the cough-cough-sneeze kind of sick, but it's annoying anyway. I've had a sinus infection for the last 3 weeks. I was actually kind of surprised to find out what it was because the pain wasn't in my ears, it was at the base of my skull. You know that tingly feeling when you bang your elbow against something? Take that feeling and put it at the top of your neck, then multiply that a few times until it goes from tingly to "Ow ow ow ow ow."

Since I've been to the doctor and he explained to me that it was a sinus infection, I've become more aware that when my neck hurts, my ear also gets this tight crampy feeling.

{All of a sudden my mind says, "the variables neck pain and ear tightness have a coefficient correlation of r=+.949, with an adjusted r-square of .90, which means there is a strong positive correlation between neck pain and ear tightness, and that 90% of the pain is explained by the relationship of these two variables."} Agggh get out of my head!

I'm okay, I'm okay :-).

The leaves on the trees are starting to change, which is exciting :-). I absolutely love fall :-). I can't wait until they turn all shades of yellow, orange, brown and red.

I've been REALLY wanting to spend a long weekend at the Biltmore. It's in Asheville, North Carolina and it's about a 10 hour drive. It's a gorgeous place. And you've probably already seen the Biltmore mansion: it was Richie Rich's house in the 1994 movie :-). Here's a clip from www.biltmore.com:

Steve and I had been to the Biltmore once before, but it was just an impulse visit and we didn't realize how big the estate was. You needed a day just to tour the mansion itself, and there are so many other things to see on the estate. We agreed that we needed to come back and spend a few days next time. Maybe this is the opportunity :-). You can't stay at the house, but there is a Biltmore Inn, which is right on the estate :-). That'll be cool :-).

Ninja Cat!

2008-09-19T10:20:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Hangin' Out--Jim Chappell (Tender Ritual)

I saw this on Steve's blog and just HAD to post it on mine as well :-). What an awesome cat :-)!

Ninja Cat Awesomeness !

See more like this on kontraband.com

See, Why Can't Statistics be Like This?

2008-09-18T09:09:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: The Big Day--Jim Chappell (In Search of the Magic)

See, if they explained statistics this way all the time there'd be no problem :-). This is from "Business Statistics Demystified" by Steven M. Kemp:

Figure 7-4 illustrates why we do not generally use vertical mirrored bar charts. Here, we see a diagram showing the difference of ethnic diversity and opportunity between the free peoples of Middle-Earth and the dominion of the Dark Lord, Sauron, in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. In each society, those who achieve the highest honor are members of "the nine." For the good peoples, this is the nine walkers; for the evil Land of Mordor, this is the nine riders.

If we note that there is, in fact, a diverse population of goblins (or, to use the more proper term, orcs), trolls, evil men, evil wizards, spiders, and others who all support the Dark Lord, we realize that this is a society with a glass ceiling. Sauron will allow only undead to rise to the highest positions of power, leadership, and recognition, becoming members of the nine riders. While statistics cannot establish causality, it may be the case that this inequality of opportunity is one of the aspects of Sauron’s realm which causes it legitimately to be considered evil.

And I'm like, "Ohhh well why didn't they explain it this way in the first place :-)?"

Six Sigma, you're KILLING me...

2008-09-12T15:38:00.001-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Arapaho Firelight--Jim Chappell (Dusk)

"...A rotatable design is one in which the variance of the predicted response is a function of the distance from the center of the design, not the direction..."

WWWAAAHHH!!

Rhythm Tengoku Gold

2008-09-12T06:06:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: another online Six Sigma module (only 7 modules left :-D!)

When Steve and I were in Manila, my brother Noel introduced us to this Nintendo DS game called Rhythm Tengoku Gold. Steve and I got TOTALLY addicted to it.

The premise is very simple: follow the rhythm, keep the timing.

Simple? You'd think :-). Here's a set of commercials about it :-). It's got all those games and more (lots LOTS more). It's awesome :-).

When I play the game I look like that guy in the end. My entire body has to move to keep with the rhythm :-).

Our own copy arrived in the mail yesterday (yay!). The English version is slated to come out in Q4 2008, but we can't wait that long :-). We'll use the Japanese version until then :-).

Happiness is...

2008-09-10T04:26:00.010-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: a Six Sigma online module

Happiness is having a favorite classic movie in common. Steve loves Singin' in the Rain as much as I do. We watch it once a year, no fail, usually during Christmas. But we ended up watching it again just a few weeks ago.

Steve didn't notice this: during scenes like Good Mornin', I snuck a look at him just to see his reactions. I mean, he's seen this movie with me every year. Was he watching the movie with me tonight just because *I* wanted to watch it, or does he truly enjoy the film as much as I do?

I got warm fuzzies when I saw that not only was he was watching it intently, he was smiling as he was watching. It was one of those definitive moments that told me I married the right guy :-).

Carlos Mencia's Coming to Town!

2008-09-06T07:49:00.006-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:Nothing right now

Carlos Mencia is performing at the Cannon Center in October. When Steve and I learned about it, we bought tickets right away, and we're sitting right in front. We love this guy. He may be brash, but man, he tells it like it is :-). Nothing's sacred to him :-). Behind his jokes you can tell he's got a pretty analytical mind :-).

If you've never seen Carlos Mencia in action, he's a Mexican comedian who has his own show on Comedy Central (Mind of Mencia). Here are clips of some of his stand-up routines (don't watch it when kids are in the room--he cusses like a sailor ;-)):

Carlos Mencia on Border Jumping

Carlos Mencia on Asians

50 Things

2008-09-02T06:20:00.002-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:Nothing right now

This questionnaire has been making the rounds lately, so I thought I'd give it a shot :-).

1. Do you like cheese?
Yes, I prefer Baby Swiss more than the others

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
No

3. Do you own a gun?
No

4. Your favorite song?
Changes depending on my mood, and sometimes I have weird moods. Right now Ritchie Valens' "Come On Let's Go" is stuck in my head.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
HATE my yearly physicals :-). Don't get me wrong, I like my doctor, I just hate the procedure :-).

6. What do you think of hotdogs?
Love them :-). I have a weird way of eating them: skin first, then the rest :-).

7. Favorite Christmas song?
Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee!

9. Can you do push-ups?
The girly push-up--the one where you use your knees instead of your feet.

10. Favorite superhero?
It's always been Psylocke from the X-Men -- what's not to love about a telekinetic British ninja who can summon psychic katanas? (Geek alert! Geek alert! :-)) Second place goes to Voodoo of WildC.A.T.S.

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
Necklaces

12. Favorite hobby?
Going on the web, shopping (when the budget allows for it :-)). Sometimes I combine the two: online shopping :-D

13. Secret weapon to get the opposite sex?
Eyes, I guess

14. Do you have A.D.D.?
No

15. What one trait do you hate about yourself?
I can be sooooo lazy sometimes :-).

16. Middle name?
Since I'm married, it's now Catanghal (before that, Cinco)

17. Name three thoughts at this exact moment.
a. "Don't forget to Zumba"
b. "It's 5:30 in the morning, I need coffee"
c. "Hope my car turns out okay after the Carmax people check out what's going on with the 'Check Engine' light, and that it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg."

18. Name three things you bought yesterday.
Radiator coolant, Motor oil, Half-and-half cream

19. Name three things you regularly drink.
Coffee, Diet 7Up, Diet Mountain Dew

20. Current worry?
Better question: "What am I NOT worrying about?" :-)

21. Current hate?
My yearly physical (only because it's coming up :-))

22. Favorite place?
Disneyland!!! :-D

23. How did you bring in the New Year?
Slept in :-)

24. Where would you like to go?
Disneyworld!!! :-D

25. Name three SEVEN people who will complete this and return.
It's anybody's guess :-)

26. Do you own flip-flops?
Yes--indoor and outdoor flip-flops :-).

27. What shirt are you wearing?
White T-shirt that says "Cebu"

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
LOVE it

29. Can you whistle?
Yes

30. Favorite colors?
warm colors (e.g. orange, red, brown...)

31. Would you like to be a pirate?
No thanks

32. What songs do you sing in the shower room?
Whatever's stuck in my head at that moment. Chances are today it's going to be Ritchie Valen's "Come On Let's Go" :-)..

33. Favorite girl's name?
Good question--never really thought about it. Don't have one right now.

34. Favorite boy's name?
That too.

35. What's in your pocket right now?
Don't have any pockets right now

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
A funny story about our dog

37. Best bed sheet as a child?
No best bed sheet, but I had a favorite pillowcase

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
Carpal tunnel

39. Do you love where you live?
Absolutely--I'm going to miss it terribly when we move

40. How many computers do you have in your house?
Two

41. Who is your loudest friend?
Can't think of any right now

42. How many dogs do you have?
Two: an Australian Shepherd named Katya and a Shetland Sheepdog named Jack

43. What is your favorite book?
Don't have one

44. What is your favorite candy?
Soft peppermints

45. Favorite Sports Teams?
Used to be the Green Bay Packers, but Brett Favre left the team this year so I'm rooting for them plus the NY Jets too.

46. What song do you want played at your funeral?
Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going" -- it's the PERFECT song. Brings a lot of comfort to those left behind.

"When I get where I'm going, on the far side of the sky, the first thing I'm going to do is spread my wings and fly..."
..."I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy, and he'll match me step for step--and I'll tell him how I missed him, every minute since he left."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Zfx5qra_g

47. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
I was sound asleep

48. What were you doing before you answered this?
Checking email

49. Who is the person you want to talk to right now?
Steve (but he's asleep)

50. What is the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
"Doggone it, it's not Saturday." :-)

My Face Your Manga Avatar

2008-08-21T11:04:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:the History Channel

Loved Kitch and Divina's avatars, thought I would try to make mine :-).

You Know You're a Nerd When...

2008-08-09T15:09:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: a CSI episode

You know you're a nerd when you hear the movie preview guy say: "Stiller. Black. Downey, Jr." and YOU reply, "No, it should just be 'Stiller. Black. Downey.' The 'Jr.' goes with his first name."

Change in Volunteer Duties

2008-08-08T15:51:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:Nothing right now

For the past few weeks I had been helping out at the hospital Front Desk. It was a really good experience, and I enjoyed doing it. At the same time, I wanted to explore the other volunteer opportunities at the hospital. I think I may have found the one that's the best fit for me: Materials Management Volunteer.

"You're going to be a janitor?" Steve replied when I told him about it.
"No, I'm not going to be a janitor. Materials Management Volunteers do things like take inventory, sort supplies and deliver medical equipment to the nurses' stations."
He looked at me. "...And you're volunteering for this?"

I had to laugh. At first glance it probably did seem like a less exciting thing to do, but I had admitted to myself that I don't necessarily want excitement. "Well let me tell you what I'm looking for in a volunteer opportunity and maybe you'll understand why I think this is better for me.

"I want an opportunity to be helpful and at the same time have minimal patient contact--I'm more introverted than extroverted. I also want a volunteer opportunity that gets me walking a lot so I get more exercise. Oh, and I don't want to have to think too much--I've been doing that all week at work, I don't want to have to think on the weekend."

Steve thought about that for a second. "You're right, this does sound like the perfect fit."

I start my first day in the Materials Management department tomorrow. I already met with the manager, who was excited to know I was volunteering because they've been short-handed lately. I was told that the only things I would need to do tomorrow are cut the tops off of boxes, put stickers on things, pull stuff off of shelves, and deliver equipment. I even get to wear sneakers :-). And then she said I can work my way up to more complex tasks like man the phones and take requests, but only if I wanted to :-).

Sounds delightfully low stress :-). I'm really looking forward to it :-).

You Know You're Turning Filipino When...

2008-08-06T07:53:00.001-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: a JAG episode

From Steve: "You know you're turning Filipino when you have a set of flipflops that you wear outside the house and a set that you wear INSIDE the house." :-)

I Didn't Know about This :-)!

2008-08-03T10:07:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:Nothing right now

You've all seen samples of some crazy Japanese game shows, right :-)? The Human Tetris one is classic :-)...

Oh those wacky Japanese :-).

What I *didn't* know was that there was a new game show that premiered late June on ABC.

"I Survived a Japanese Game Show."

It's a reality tv show but you've got *Americans* as contestants :-). Steve said it wasn't very good but I'm halfway through the first episode and I think it's pretty funny. It's funny not just because of the stunts, but the contestants didn't know what kind of reality show they were going to be a part of, so they CERTAINLY weren't expecting they'd fly halfway around the world for it. It's also entertaining to see them trying to overcome the culture shock of being in Japan.

To watch the full-length episodes, click here.

Steve to the Rescue

2008-07-27T06:54:00.004-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: MadTV

Last night at 9:00pm:

"Honey I need your help!"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm in the middle of downtown Chicago and I can't get a signal on my GPS!"
"Well where are you exactly?"
"{sobs} I don't KNOW...!"

I flew into Chicago for the weekend for a friend's wedding. Steve couldn't come with me since he's already taken time off for next week's Manila trip, so I took our GPS unit with me and hoped for the best. I was actually fine going from the rental car place to the hotel, the hotel to the church (the church and ceremony were beautiful), and the church to the reception, which is at a downtown hotel (gorgeous hotel).

I parked in a public parking facility right next to the hotel ($14 for parking!). Little did I know $14 was for the first 2 hours. By the time I left, parking was $30. And the scary part about it is that I heard that was normal in Chicago. In Memphis we complain when public parking's $5 :-).

Anyway, I lost satellite reception when I parked, which is normal when you take the GPS unit indoors. I figured I'd pick the reception back up easily when I got out of the building later.

At 8:50pm I pull out of the parking building. I figure, drive down the street a while, let the GPS unit pick up a signal. Nothing.

Don't panic, it takes time. Stop light, good.

Nothing.

Turn the GPS off, turn it back on. Maybe it needs to reset. Drive down a few more blocks.

Nothing.

I'm running out of road and will have to make a turn soon, and I don't want to get any more lost than I already am. I park on the side of the street and call Steve. That's when the conversation above takes place.

I was freaking out because not only was I in a strange city, I was downtown (where every street is a one way street), it's night, and I'm the kind of person that has absolutely no sense of direction. If you told me straight ahead was North, then turned me to my right and told me that was North too, I'd believe you.

I looked at the building next to where I was parked. It was an apartment building, with the address on the canopy. "I'm at 445 E. Ohio Street."

"Okay, hold on, I'm pulling up Google Maps. Where are you headed?"

"855 79th Street, Willowbrook, Illinois."

A few minutes pass.

"Okay I see where you are. No wonder you're having trouble getting a signal with all those tall buildings around you. Okay, at the end of the road, you're turning left on N Lake Shore Drive. Then you're taking the first left after that on E Ontario Street."

"Stop stop one at a time...!"

"Calm down, honey. I'll be your GPS until you get a signal. It's a piece of cake. Go ahead, start driving. Just tell me which streets you pass so I can keep track of where you are."

After the first two turns it was a straight shot for 12 blocks (thank goodness) and right at the point where I had to get on the highway, I heard the familiar pinging of the GPS which meant it acquired a satellite signal and it was plotting a way to get me home. When the GPS said, "In point 3 miles, turn left on ramp," I was never more relieved to hear a robotic voice in my life :-).

Steve stayed with me on the phone until I got to the hotel, which was about 20 minutes later. When I finally parked the car at the hotel it was like a huge weight was taken off my shoulders. I never would have found my way back without his help :-).

Oh, and just to prove my point about having a terrible sense of direction--even with the GPS working I ended up taking a wrong turn at one point and it had to turn me around to get me back on the highway :-).

Cravings

2008-07-21T18:15:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: E! News

I miss...

Green mangoes and shrimp paste

Fishballs... not just any kind, the kind you get at UP Diliman (I wonder how much they cost now). I used to be able to fit 20 of them on a stick :-). I miss the sweet sauce that comes with them too :-)

Banana-Q and Turon

Taho

(sighs) Ah well. We've got some spuds in the fridge. Maybe I can make potato-Qs :-).

Hey don't laugh...half an hour ago I had shrimp paste and pickles :-). They weren't bad, actually :-).

Watch the Watchmen? Don't Know Yet.

2008-07-20T06:03:00.007-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:Smile Again--Manhattan Transfer (The Manhattan Transfer)

The trailer for the Watchmen movie came out Friday.

Now I know the graphic novel has won awards and a lot of people LOVE the Watchmen, but I read it recently and my impression was, well, it was okay...at best. You know how there are 4 parts to a story: exposition, conflict rising, climax, and resolution? It felt like the first 2 parts took up 7/8 of the story and the last two took up only 1/8. I finished the comic (after 4 hours of reading) and went, "That's it? He could've told the story in MUCH less time than that."

I actually had an inkling of it being a dragging story even as I was reading the first few pages. Then I looked at the cover again. "Oh. It's DC."

I've never been a DC comics fan. I've always leaned towards Marvel, because Marvel comics tend to be gripping even early on in the storytelling.

Plus there's that whole "Marvel does flawed superheroes better" thing, but that's another debate :-).

When I told Steve that I felt the story was so SLOW, he said, "Well yeah, that's how he writes. V for Vendetta was exactly the same way. It takes Alan Moore forever to get the story going."

That's not to say Steve and I didn't like the V for Vendetta movie. We loved it--we even have a movie poster hanging in our hallway. But if a 2-hour movie is able to paint the same picture that a graphic novel took 300 pages to say, then the graphic novel is too long.

Maybe the Watchmen movie will be like that--better than the graphic novel. But right now, after seeing the trailer, I'm not getting the "Oh my GOD I have to see this movie!" reaction the same way I did when I saw the Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, and Fantastic Four trailers (notice how THOSE movies are all Marvel?).

Even More Toys

2008-07-20T05:14:00.006-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Too Close for Comfort--Michael Buble (We All Love Ella: Celebrating The First Lady Of Song)

I should have known I wouldn't stop at just the phone :-). I ended up getting an accessory for it: it's the Motorola T505.

What does it do? It's pretty cool. The easiest way to describe it is through this diagram:

Essentially the T505 takes calls and music from any Bluetooth-enabled cellphone or mp3 player (my phone acts as both), then it finds the next available FM station to broadcast to and then it tells you to tune in to that. Then you'll have your calls and your music playing through the car stereo :-). It'll freeze the music when you have an incoming call, then it'll pick it up again when the call is over.

The best part about this is that it's portable. I could use this in Steve's truck (or in any other car), because it doesn't matter whether or not the car stereo is Bluetooth--the T505 MAKES it Bluetooth :-). Heck last night I was testing it with an ordinary non-Bluetooth CD player that had an AM/FM radio--it works beautifully, and the music comes out in full stereo :-).

Oh and we also bought a 1GB micro memory card to replace the 512MB I had, so I have even more music to play now :-).

I think this "upgrade phone" thing is contagious--when we were at Best Buy yesterday Steve started looking at new phones that HE could upgrade to :-).

Oh and that "Unstable Equilibrium" artwork in the last blog entry? I made it my cellphone wallpaper :-).

Me in Art

2008-07-19T06:43:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Round and Round--Spandau Ballet (The Best of Spandau Ballet)

Have you ever come across a piece of artwork that you felt captured your personality perfectly :-)?

I was looking for new Paul Klee artwork to feature on my main blog site (ccslish.blogspot.com), and I saw this:

Unstable Equilibrium by Paul Klee

I laughed when I saw this because it is SO me. If you've worked with me for any length of time, you know my predisposition to flowcharts. Then I looked at the title: "Unstable Equilibrium."

Yeah that's me all right :-).

Plus I'm sure when Steve sees this he'll say the artwork also perfectly describes my attention span: frighteningly fleeting :-). If that artwork was an overhead map of, let's say Disneyland, Steve would be the steady orange square in the middle and the black arrows would be me running from store to store: "Let's go here! Oh, look at this! Oh, look at that one, how neat! Oh my God, over there--it's Pluto!"

New Phone

2008-07-18T12:19:00.007-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: I Do Remember--Hiroshima (Another Place)

I upgraded my phone this week :-). Many wireless companies in the US offer you a free phone upgrade after a certain amount of time if you're willing to extend your post-paid contract with them for an additional two years. That makes it REALLY easy to get a new phone if I feel like changing it, and I would get the phone at a discount (or even free depending on the model).

The one I got cost me an extra $70, but I'm happy with it :-). It's a Nokia 6301.

I'm not a cellphone geek by any stretch of the imagination :-). I don't have to have the latest and greatest out there, and this phone more than addresses what I need :-):

Size: 1.7 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
Weight: 1.4 ounces
Included battery: 860 mAh Lion
Talk time: up to 3.5 hours
Standby time: up to 14.5 days
Band (frequency): 850 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz

Included Accessories:

Battery
Charging Stand
Stereo Hands-Free Headset
512 mb MicroSD card (inserted in phone)

Top Phone Features
Messaging

Instant messaging
Text messaging

Fun

2.0 megapixel camera
Music player
Video capture/playback
MegaTones®, Wallpaper, HiFi Ringers®, & Games

Communication

Stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology
Wi-Fi and Mobile Calling
E-mail
Picture messaging

Information

Micro SD memory slot
Photo caller ID
Voice dialing

Assistants

Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
T-Mobile Address Book

I love the fact that it comes with a 512MB memory card :-). That makes it really easy to save LOTS of things on it :-). I've already used up half of it by transferring music from my computer :-).

Now here's the biggest factor that made me get the Nokia 6301 over other models: it's a Wi-Fi enabled phone. What does that mean? It's the coolest thing. I have to subscribe to the additional service (an additional $10 a month), but let me tell you what happens: my phone can use open Wi-Fi signals (or Wi-Fi signals I know the network key to) to make phone calls, and any phone calls I make using that Wi-Fi signal will NOT be counted towards my cellphone minutes :-).

So let's say I've got a 500-minute-a-month plan and I've currenly used up 400 minutes, which means I only have 100 minutes left to use for the rest of the month.

I set up my phone to recognize my home Wi-Fi broadband internet connection and make it use THAT connection instead of the T-Mobile connection. Once I do THAT, I can place a phone call to a relative, or join a business conference call that can last 3 hours--heck, let's make it 5 :-). 5 hours, that's 300 minutes. But because I made the call using the home broadband Wi-Fi network, I would STILL have my 100 minutes left to use on to the T-Mobile network :-).

Is that not friggin' sweet :-)? Plus there's more. It automatically connects to the Wi-Fi network at T-Mobile hotspot locations such as Starbucks shops, airports, and bookstores. I walk into a Starbucks, make a call, and don't have to worry about using up my minutes :-).

Of course, that's only applicable to using the Wi-Fi network for making cellphone calls (and not things like accessing the internet on your laptop--that's a different service altogether), but that sure does come in handy :-).

Oh and here's another thing, and I was surprised to learn this: if you want your tri- or quad-phone unlocked so you can use it with a different SIM card overseas, all you have to do is call T-Mobile and they'll have it unlocked for you within 24 hours, free of charge. THAT'S cool :-).

So what I'll do is wait until I get to the point where I'm about to use up my 500 minutes on my T-Mobile plan for the month, then I'll activate the T-Mobile HotSpot@Home service :-). That way I won't end up starting to pay an extra 9.99 a month until I absolutely have to :-).

New T Shirt

2008-07-18T06:50:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

When Steve and I saw this T-Shirt we both laughed so much I just HAD to order it :-).

This t-shirt probably wouldn't make sense if you haven't seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail, so I put the source of the joke below. The joke starts about a minute after you press play and ends 35 seconds later :-).

The hand gestures were genius :-).

Zappron!

2008-07-16T05:36:00.003-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to:Nothing right now

When I was in Manila, my brother Noel and I had to go to the grocery store because he needed ingredients for a dish that he wanted to try that night. He needed to buy coriander, so we were in the spices section. We couldn't find the coriander but Noel at one point took a packet from the shelf and showed it to me.

"Zappron?" I asked, puzzled. "I've never heard of Zappron. What kind of spice is zappron?"

Noel shook his head. "Ate, it's saffron."

I near doubled over laughing. The picture's out of focus because I was laughing so hard I couldn't keep my hand steady.

"Zappron--sounds like the name of some outer space bad guy."

"Or a really bad movie."

"Or a video game. ZAP-pron!"

When I got back to the US I told Steve about it and showed him the picture, and HE started laughing. We'll never look at saffron the same way again :-).

Can You Say, "Dork?"

2008-06-22T06:41:00.008-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

I just bought the digital soundtrack to the musical episode of Scrubs ("My Musical") for $9.99.

1. "All Right" – 0:43
2. "Welcome to Sacred Heart" – 2:06
3. "Everything Comes Down to Poo" – 2:10
4. "Gonna Miss You Carla" – 2:09
5. "The Rant Song" – 2:25
6. "Options" – 0:17
7. "When the Truth Comes Out" – 2:25
8. "Guy Love" – 2:34
9. "For the Last Time I'm Dominican" – 1:56
10. Finale: "Friends Forever" / "What's Going to Happen" – 2:37
11. "Welcome to Sacred Heart" (Reprise) – 0:43

Can you say, "Dork ?" I knew you could.

Scrubs Musical Episode

2008-06-21T13:36:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

I was flipping through the channels when I came across an episode of Scrubs where everyone was singing. My first thought was, "Oh no--Scrubs has officially jumped the shark." Then I listened to the songs and they were actually done really well--I mean, it's almost Broadway good.

So I did some research after the episode and I found out that the songs were written by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez, the team who wrote the songs for the Broadway hit Avenue Q. Plus, it also guest starred Stephanie D'Abruzzo, also from Avenue Q. The episode has gotten really good reviews, both from critics and fans alike.

Here's the full episode, in 3 parts. It's a 30 minute episode, and the singing starts within the first minute :-). If you want to see only a part though, click on the last one--it's got the best range of Broadway-type song styles :-).

Album Comes Out Soon

2008-06-06T20:00:00.005-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

Looking forward to the album release on the 17th :-). This song alone would be worth it--it was featured as an iTunes commercial :-).

For the whole song:
Coldplay – Viva La Vida

Oh Yeah, I'm Definitely Blogging THIS

2008-06-06T09:09:00.007-05:00

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Nothing right now

On June 4 we had a new AC installed in our apartment. We were really relieved about this because we were having trouble cooling down the apartment and maintenance had agreed that it was time to change the AC. So the AC people came, replaced the AC unit, then left in the afternoon.

That night I was on the phone and Steve was in the shower. I heard this loud PPPSSSSHHHH and I figured it was just Steve turning the shower on. After I got off the phone I realized that was just WAY too loud a PSSSHHH so I started walking towards the bathroom to see what was going on. That's when I realized the sound wasn't coming from the bathroom, it was coming from the laundry room.

I walked in the laundry room and there's two inches of water in there. The sound was coming from the closet where the AC was placed. I opened the door and I kid you not, it was RAINING water. Not the dripping kind--the GUSHING kind, with the PPPPPSSSSSHHHHHH sound much louder in there.

I ran into the bathroom. Thank goodness Steve was done with his shower. I yanked him into the laundry room and showed him what was going on.

After I panicked for about 10 seconds, I grabbed the phone and called apartment maintenance. They were gone for the night (it was around 7 or so) but I got to the dispatcher. I told her it was a maintenance emergency, she got my information and told me she'll have maintenance come right away.

When I got back to the laundry room Steve had towels on the floor. I grabbed one to drain it over the patio and that's when I noticed the water alarm going off on the side of the building. A neighbor walked by, looked up at us, and said, "Do you need help?" And I yelled down, "Pipe burst. There's water EVERYWHERE!" And he said, "Did you shut off the main water valve?" I looked at Steve and he replied, "There isn't one in there!"

Then I heard sirens, and the repetitive loud low horn that could only belong to the fire department. I yelled to Steve, "Fire department's coming!" and ran out the apartment so I could direct them to where we were. That's when I saw the neighbor we talked to coming up the stairs. "Maybe I can help. I'm from the fire department." I said, "Oh you have no idea how happy I am to see YOU," and led him to where it was going on. By this time we had no power because Steve had the foresight to shut down the circuit breakers.

Then I ran back out and there were 3 firetrucks in the parking lot. I waved one of the firemen over and they came up the stairs.

We had about 8 firemen coming in and out of the apartment. They kept asking where the main shut off valve was and Steve and I didn't know. They looked under the kitchen sink, under the bathroom sink, behind the closet--it wasn't there. Finally they found it in the same closet where the water was coming from, but it was hidden inside the wall. They turned the valve off, and the water finally stopped.

After everything had calmed down a little, I was finally able to talk to them and ask what happened.

They said that what happened was that the sprinkler head in the closet activated. They don't know what caused it, but something in there got hot enough to trip the sprinkler. "That sprinkler fuse can take up to 125 degrees," one of them said. "and that fuse MELTED. At that point it triggered the sprinkler to cool everything down. It was doing its job."

Then the firemen (God bless the Germantown Fire Department) started helping us get rid of the excess water in our carpets by bringing up huge heavy squeegees from their truck. They started squeegeeing the water out of the carpet, out of the apartment, onto the patio and over the side of the building. They squeegeed in shifts--after one was tired another one would take over. I was very impressed because that's not their job. They'd already done their work and they could've left, but they stayed and helped with the soaked carpets.

While they were doing this I grabbed my camera and took some pictures.

Fire truck number 1...

Fire truck number 2...

Fire truck number 3.

Firemen coming up the stairs after the emergency part was over. The guy in front looked at me as he got to the top of the stairs and asked, "You're taking PICTURES?" and I replied, "Hey, this is going on my blog :-)."

Four of the firemen by the front door. There was no power, so I didn't have enough light in the apartment. I would've taken LOTS more pictures if I had more light.

A picture of the soaked carpet in the hallway. You can see the reflective strips on the fireman's uniform. He was squeegeeing, and I couldn't get him in the shot.

Taken at around 8pm. The police were here by this time.

Unfortunately we weren't the only apartment that was affected. We're on the third floor, and water had gone down into the second and first floor apartments. There was considerable water damage in those apartments too--water leaked in from the walls and light fixtures)--which makes you realize just how much water was coming out of that sprinkler. One of the firemen said it was like, 40 gallons a minute.

Let's see, who else arrived that night. First people from the apartment complex management office, then someone from MLGW (utilities), then the carpet guys came and started the process of repairing the carpets, and the sprinkler guy to replace the sprinkler head in our apartment so they could reactivate the sprinkler system by that night (it's the law). All three apartments had no power and would continue not to have power until we get the all-clear from the electrician, who was arriving the next day (the places needed to dry first). That meant we all had to stay somewhere else that night. The family in the first floor went to a hotel (paid for by the apartment), and Steve, the dogs and I stayed at the apartment model unit. The people that lived in the second floor apartment had just moved out, thank goodness.

The next morning, Steve and I had breakfast at McDonald's and took the dogs to his parents' house so they would be out of the way while repairs were done at the apartment. By the time we got there at around 10:30 or so, the carpet guys had already checked up on the carpet. I took the opportunity to take more pictures (for insurance purposes if necessary).

The leaning water heater (it didn't have enough support). See the black tube on the left side of the picture? That's from the new AC. They're practically right next to each other.

The replaced sprinkler head. The big hole next to it is where the connecting pipe should have been (explanation below).

View of the drying carpet from the patio

View from the other side. This is the starting point where the firemen were squeegeeing, pushing water all the way out onto the patio.

The carpet frames had to be pulled up. The carpet people will replace those on Monday.

Another picture of the drying carpet

The construction crew arrived shortly after I took these pictures. They started building a new foundation and added supports to the platform that was holding up the AC and water heater. Right as they were finishing up, the plumber arrived to check on the water heater to make sure that what happened the night before wouldn't happen again. We also formulated a theory on what exactly happened that night.

The plumber noticed that the escape pipe which connected the water heater to the ceiling was disconnected. This pipe led built-up hot gas out of the apartment. We're guessing that as the AC guys where installing the AC unit (it's a REALLY tight fit in there), they must have bumped into the heater enough to knock the pipe out of its connection. So what happened was that night, instead of the built-up hot gas being led away from the heater through the pipe as it was supposed to, the hot gas was escaping out of the main water heater unit and right to the sprinkler, which caused the fuse to melt and trigger the water. What the plumber said next made me thankful about what had happened to us: the hot gas was carbon monoxide. If it didn't trigger the sprinkler, we wouldn't have known there was anything wrong, and Steve and I could have gotten carbon monoxide poisoning. He reconnected the pipe, made sure everything was working okay, and gave us the thumbs-up.

This all happened about 20 hours after the incident. I was happy that it was resolved fairly quickly (and at no cost to us). The only things left that need to be addressed are that the construction crew needs to replace the sheet rock wall (they're here doing that right now), and the carpet guys need to replace the pads on Monday (one of them was here earlier today to spray the carpets to ensure that no mold and mildew form).

Later today I'm buying a fruit basket for the fire department to show our appreciation for what they did (I hope they're allowed to accept it). I'll bring my camera in case I can take a group picture :-). I'm also picking up a carbon monoxide detector and putting it in the laundry room so just in case we DO get a carbon monoxide leak (it's colorless and odorless), we'd know.