alien no more

Another happy day. I finally took my oath this afternoon as a citizen of the United States of America at the Campbell Heritage Theater exactly two weeks after my interview. After almost 5 years of being here (4 years as Green Card holder), i have finally applied for citizenship and the entire process from start to finish took me only 3 months.  National average processing time is 5 months so no doubt the upcoming elections must have helped lubricate the citizenship machinery. 

We got there about half an hour before the 12:30pm ceremony.  By then, a big crowd has already gathered outside the theatre.  As I found out later, it doesn't really matter which line you go 'coz an immigration officer will check your Notice and scribble a number and letter combination on it.  I believe mine was 8A, not sure if i remembered it right.  Anyway that number will determine where you sit in the theatre.  Guests, however, have a separate line (on the leftmost side of the entrance) and they were ushered in first.  My husband had front row balcony seat.

At the theatre entrance, an officer will check the number and direct you to your seat.  As you enter your row, another officer will "confiscate" your green card.  Yes, that would be the very last time you will see your precious GC.  The collected green card will be their basis in arranging the naturalization certificates for distribution at the end of the ceremony.

Officials from the Registry of Voters opened the program with instructions on how to register for the upcoming elections. The process of filling up the voter's registration form was explained in detail in not one but 5 other languages - English, Chinese, Spanish, Filipino and Vietnamese.  Me and my seatmate from Nicaragua had a fun time guessing who among the officers seated would be speaking which language. 

After that, the actual oathtaking ceremony commenced.  Here's what happened during the program:

• singing of the national anthem
• speech by a USCIS Officer
• call of countries - we stood up when our country of origin was called
• oath of allegiance (a young lady was randomly preselected to lead the oath and she was the first one among us to receive her naturalization certificate)
• pledge of allegiance
• video of President Obama
• patriotic song video (God Bless the USA)
• speech from an officer of the San Francisco passport office; she also called on those who will apply for passport that day to stand up and she administered the oath 
• distribution of naturalization certificates as you exit your row
• passport application and voter's registration processing at the theatre lobby
• photo-op with a big US flag outside the theatre :)

During the ceremony, a few attendees were teary-eyed, some were endlessly waving their handy flags. I wasn't as emotionally pumped as they were, maybe because my journey to this point was short and easy. Life has been good to me and America has treated me well. For sure other people's stories were different. Some travelled a long, hard and painful path to get here and shed blood, sweat and tears... and to finally reach this point is a relief and a celebration insterpersed with memory flashes of past struggles and hardships.

As I took my oath together with 433 other new citizens from 59 countries, we were reminded that here in America, people are united NOT because of one culture or ideology or ethnicity BUT by the principles of opportunity and liberty. As President Obama said in his taped speech, "use that freedom to contribute to the good of the nation and the world." Although I didn't feel any different after the ceremony, it sure is a relief to know that I can now enjoy the privileges of a US citizen... and that makes me excited about this ongoing chapter in my life. This is my life now - with my loving and responsible husband and Racrac, my little curious george, who brings me joy every single day that he grows. It was a sacrifice to leave my birth country where i spent 33 years of my life to start a family here but life's like that, ever-changing. Life is always moving forward...like water flowing down a hill going more or less in one path until it splashes into something that forces us to find a new direction.

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Tips and reminders:

1.  What to wear - i looked around and saw jeans, slacks, skirts, capris, dresses, office attire, suits, neckties, graphic t-shirts, polo shirts, long/short-sleeved shirts, rubber shoes, sandals, pumps, boots.  In short, you can wear almost anything...just please, no tank tops, shorts and slippers.  I wore a comfortable black slacks i'd normally wear to work, a ruffled bolero over a short-sleeved fuschia knitted blouse and black heeled pumps.  I originally planned to wear a red casual dress but it was cold when i went outside so i changed.

2.  What to bring - your Notice to appear for the oath taking, green card and if applying for passport, one 2x2 passport photo, filled-up passport application form and payment check.  I was ready with this because after my citizenship interview, the immigration officer gave me the instructions envelope for passport application and reminded me to bring it during the oath ceremony.  I also suggest you carry a document bag or tote bag because you will be given a big envelope filled with brochures, information documents, a letter from the President and a handy US flag.  It didn't fit my purse and i felt very uncomfortable holding both my purse and the envelope on my lap on a theatre seat.  No food and drinks allowed, small bottled water i think is ok.

3.  Apply for Passport - Let me warn you that if you choose to apply for passport during the citizenship oath ceremony, don't be surprised if you only have a few seconds to lay eyes on your naturalization certificate because that, too, will go inside the passport application envelope.  It happened so fast I didn't even have time to check if the information in my naturalization certificate are true and correct.  As soon as I exited my row and received the certificate, an officer guided me to the passport application booth and i rushed to get ahead of everybody. While the line moves forward, I signed my naturalization certificate in haste with my full and complete signature after futile attempts to ask an officer what kind of signature should i use (complete signature or my regular signature?... she didn't understand my dilemma at all).  The lady behind me had the same dilemma and we both decided to just sign with our full name.  Then we had to sign the passport application form, now what? Hmmm, I signed it with my regular signature... the same signature i use for credit cards and all other I.D. documents i have i.e. driver's license. 

Anyway the original naturalization certificate, passport application form, 2x2 color photo and check ($135 for regular processing time of 4-6 weeks, additional fees apply if you want to expedite it) will ALL go inside the passport application envelope.  You seal it, write the check amount anywhere outside the envelope and drop it on the box in front of the passport officer.  I left the theatre keeping my fingers crossed that the naturalization certificate will not get lost in the process and sad that i didn't even had time to take a photo of it.

UPDATE:  Received my passport in the mail 2 weeks after the oathtaking ceremony; the Naturalization Certificate also came in the mail the day after i got the passport.

4.  Register to Vote. All throughout the ceremony you will be reminded how important it is for you to exercise one of your rights as a US citizen: vote!  At the theatre lobby you can fill up the voter's registration form and submit it to the Officer who will check and drop it on the box.

5.  How long it takes.  The ceremony takes about an hour and you stay longer if you apply for passport.  We were back in the car by 2:00pm.  Note that they hold two ceremonies at Campbell: 9:30am and 12:30pm.


Click here for more of my immigration experience

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Happy Birthday America!!!

Woke up early today to climb Mission Peak with friends.  We hit the trailhead at 5:10 AM and reached the top exactly two hours later.  We took it nice and slow, stopping a few times to enjoy the view, catch our breath and take pictures.  At the top, we had a ball taking our photos while holding the handy US flags we brought with us which we also shared with some of the hikers.  What a great way to start the 4th of July!

Happy Birthday America and thank you to the men and women of the military and their families for their service and sacrifice so the rest of us can be safe and enjoy freedom. Home of the Brave, land of the Free.

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color me spring!

My friend Candy was back attending a conference on nanotechnology (nano what???) in San Francisco this week and we had exactly one full day together before she flew back to Washington State U.  She's been here many times before and been to all major go-to places so i decided to bring her to Filoli Gardens in Woodside, CA.  She's a sucker for photography and i knew she'd love it there.

Recognized as one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century, Filoli welcomes you to this remarkable 654–acre property including the 36,000 square foot Georgian country house and spectacular 16–acre English Renaissance garden.  Filoli was built for Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn, prominent San Franciscans whose chief source of wealth was the Empire Mine, a hard-rock gold mine in Grass Valley, California.  Mr. Bourn arrived at the unusual name Filoli by combining the first two letters from the key words of his credo: “Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.”

Luckily, we were blessed with a beautiful day and, together with my son and Lia, we had fun taking pictures of the colorful flower gardens...  a perfect way to officially welcome spring and celebrate its blossoms with two of my bestest friends.  Ang saya-saya! :)

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renewed friendship

April 4-7, 2012.  My April started with a reunion of sorts with highschool classmates Anilee, Jane and Christy.  Anilee and Jane live a couple of hours away from each other and together with Jane's hubby Teph & son Basti they drove from Bakersfield, CA to spend a few days with us.  Jane's family recently moved from New York to California and it would be our first meeting since our Maryland trip in 2009.  Anilee, however, visited me 6 months ago to celebrate my birthday.  It would be fun seeing them again!

   

Golden Gate Bridge from different angles on a

beautiful spring day (no fog at all!) - April 5, 2012

A week before our reunion, Jane got sick and had a couple of visits to the ER but despite that was stubbornly determined to go on with the road trip.  The weather wasn't also cooperating -  the Bay area was soaked in heavy rain (with thunderstorm and hail in some areas) but miraculously the sun showed up on the day they arrived. 

The next day we headed to San Francisco hoping for a fogless day so we can take great photos (importante ang pictorial!).  If you live in San Francisco or ever been there, you know that your worst enemy in enjoying the view and taking great pictures is the fog.  Fortunately for us, the majestic Golden Gate Bridge can be viewed from any angle in high definition ALL DAY.

We crossed the bridge and savored it from different viewpoints, had lunch at the iconic Mel's drive-in, drove down the crookedest street and ended our day at Pier 39 where we met up with another HS classmate Christy who resides in Hercules.  Christy and Jane haven't seen each other for 21 years (since highschool graduation) while the last time i saw Christy was in college (mid-90s)... it would be our first time to meet here in the US.  Very exciting! The moment we saw each other we exchanged warm embraces and stories as if not a day went by since the last time.

We had early dinner at Bubba Gump while reminiscing the good old days and excitedly babbling about the series of events that all brought us here.  Listening to everyone's stories made me realize that just like the famous line from the movie which is the theme of the restaurant, i have to agree that life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get!  

Thanks to facebook, we are pretty much updated with each other's  present lives so we had less "catching up" and more time to laugh, enjoy the sites and take pictures.  Still, a few hours with Christy wasn't enough... i hope to do it again soon!

For now we are truly happy and thankful for the time we had together.  Who would have thought that two decades after high school we would all find ourselves reunited here when back in the days we only read about San Francisco through pocketbooks/romance novels and imagined that we were here and knew it very well?  Ahhh... life is full of surprises!

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Basti also celebrated his 9th birthday last Friday and Anilee and I managed to set-up a yellow-themed party for him while Jane dozed off hehe... Basti has grown so much since the last time I saw him and it's a joy seeing him get along well with my son.   Kudos to Jane and Teph for all the patience and hard work, you guys are blessed with a happy healthy smart kid the same way that Basti is blessed to have you in his life. 

Happy Birthday Basti! soar high and dream big. anything is possible!

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American Idol (here we go again...)

I couldn't count how many times i've promised myself never to watch this show again!  Throughout its entire history, this show has given me nothing but heartaches..from Bo Bice to Adam Lambert to last year's Thia Megia (although i didn't really expect her to win anyway).  It's just very frustrating when you have emotionally invested on a contestant, watched him/her perform every week only to be eliminated not because of  poor performance but mainly because of popular votes.  Fortunately for me i never reached the point of really voting for my favorite...just couldn't imagine seeing my hard-earned money fritter away.

So anyway last night while surfing channels i ended up watching (you guessed it!) American Idol.  Last night's show revealed the top 10 and the 3 wild card contestants selected by the judges to make up the top 13.  Before watching it the only thing i knew was that there is a Filipino-American contestant who can sing really well and a guy who's a native of San Jose, CA.  Now i know their names:  Jessica Sanchez and DeAndre Brackensick.

Jessica made it to the top 10 without much drama.  She was the first of the girls to be called along with that cute girl Hollie.  She's 16 years old from San Diego, CA.  I think she looks like the younger and darker version of Sarah Geronimo, an extremely talented and very popular singer/actress in the Philippines.

DeAndre, a 17-year old Oak Grove High School senior in San Jose however, wasn't in the top 10 but was given another chance to fight for his life and made it to the last spot. 

Hmmm... will they both make it all the way to the finals? Let's see.  And yes, American Idol, you got me hooked again!

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Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3

We went to see Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 yesterday morning at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. We were there an hour early for the 11am show and had time to leisurely walk around, find our seats, take pictures and feel the stadium go from quiet to excited! 

We had VIP floor seating - 4 rows from the stage and i took the aisle seat. I felt proud of myself for booking the seats so close to the stage but my happiness lasted only until 20 minutes before the show when a family of nine (5 adults, 4 kids) took the Row 3 seats and to my disappointment, three big guys sat right in front of me, Racrac and Fil reducing our view to only about 50% :(

But anyway, we enjoyed the show never mind that Racrac sat on my lap almost the whole time so he could see and forget that i had to take pictures and videos in between those big guys ears! hahaha... it wasn't that bad, really, although one lesson learned is to take the lower level bleacher seats next time - not so close to the stage but you have a better overall view.

As for the show, the story was no surprise as i have seen it with Racrac in the theatre/dvd/iPad a million times.  The performers skated effortlessly.  They made it look so easy it's like they're wearing comfortable sneakers.   I love the toy soldiers opening number, the uber cute aliens and funny-looking troll, Woody and Jessie who both performed amazingly well, funny Buzz lightyear in Spanish-mode and of course Barbie, the girl who stole the show. While i find the whole Barbie and Ken segment boring and too long, i have to say that the pair skated beautifully.  With their glides, lifts, spins and twists, you'd think during their entire performance that you are watching the olympics.

Overall it was a fun family outing, something you should not miss if Disney on Ice happens to be in your area. The best part of it was watching our little boy burst into laughter every time his favorite characters come onstage and leaving the show with a smile, lots of stories and his overpriced $20 buzz lightyear light-up toy. ^_^

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November to remember

Went to see the San Francisco 49ers play against the Tennessee Titans at the Candlestick Park last November 8 with Fil and our friends. It was a great day, sunny but cool and we were all wearing RED! :) The 49ers lost but we still had a great time being there in the football stadium and experience the game LIVE! not even a super duper hyperreal oversized-screen LED TV could get you that close to the feeling...

Manny Pacquiao pounded Cotto in a thrilling 12-rounds of boxing last November 14 which we watched on pay-per-view at the Coyoca residence in Milpitas. We had a party, overflowing food and thankfully our kababayan delivered the goods and made us again proud to be Filipino.

Sadly, the whole family was bitten by the flu bug. First it was me a couple of days after Pacquiao's fight (Monday) but i managed to combat it with Tylenol and rest. By Wednesday I got rid of the fever but cough and colds took over at the same time that Fil started feeling sick. That night, Racrac's temperature reached 100. Thursday morning Fil left to see the doctor (and i tell you he's not really the type who would see a doctor immediately so i knew then that he's feeling really bad) and he was prescribed with Tamiflu and something for his cough. After lunch, Racrac's fever still did not subside so we brought him to urgent care clinic (his fever was 103!) and was also prescribed with Tamiflu. For some reason, i forgot about my own illness, started feeling better and took care of my two patients. They were back to normal after a couple of days and that's when i started coughing again. tsk.tsk. because of that, i missed my New Moon movie date with the girls and the deluxe pedi bonding after huhuhu... :(((

Had thanksgiving dinner with friends at the Taladua residence. We pardoned the turkey and instead had lechon and lots of food totally unrelated to the occasion. The only thanksgiving dinner food we had at the table was the pecan pie :) The next day, Black Friday, we stayed home and put up our Christmas tree. Too lazy to go out and join the crazy shopping crowd.

Also this November we repainted Racrac's room and got him a twin-sized bed with a set of Disney's Cars themed bedding. Oh how he loves cars! i never thought those tiny diecast car models could be exciting for boys his age. At 21 months, he now sleeps ALONE on his bed in his room and he likes it. Maybe he is still too young to feel scared about the idea. He's been sleeping there for 2 weeks already although there were some nights he woke up at 4am, hopped into our bed and slept in the middle.

Now that his crib-turned-toddler bed is out of our room, we have reclaimed our own space and have it redecorated. Our bed is now positioned where it should be and we have new curtains and beddings too yey! :) We felt so good about it that we also changed the curtains in our living room...finally!

And now our Christmas tree is all decorated and lighted up. December is here...let the merry holidays begin!

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Villa YOSEMITE Valley

Two venues for my 35th birthday: Villa Yosemite in Groveland, CA and Yosemite Valley. We didn't go there for the sole reason that it's my birthday, we were there on a trip with friends hoping to catch the last of the summer sun.

What a nice birthday surprise...

We stayed at Villa Yosemite in Groveland, CA which we rented for a little over one grand for 2 nights of "owning" the luxurious 7.5 acre lot and calling ourselves dons y doñas. Really, really beautiful property and so sweet of our friends to let us sleep in the master's bedroom (it's my birthday eh!) We especially love the kitchen and the movie theatre... I wouldn't have complained if i had to sleep in its comfy seats.

Day of my birthday, October 3, we left after breakfast to drive to Yosemite National Park (about 40 minutes). Our first stop was the Tunnel View. Coming from the south gate to the valley, one has to go through Wawona tunnel and as you emerge from it, this is the scenery that will welcome you...that's why it's called you guessed it, tunnel view. Unfortunately for us, we came the other way (north gate, i supposed) and therefore we reached the viewpoint first. It was only later, on our way back to the parking lot, that i noticed the tunnel hahaha. Still, it was a breathtaking scenery...sort of a teaser, a prelude, a beautiful summation of the park's attractions: El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls. We lingered there for a while, took pictures, savored the view. I was so happy to be there with Fil, Racrac and our fun-loving friends.

Later we descended the valley to get a closer look. We stopped at El Capitan...it sure looks "commanding" up close. Sadly, there was no water coming over Bridalveil falls so we drove by and ended up at the village store for lunch and souvenir shopping. After lunch, everybody was too lazy to do more exploring, must be due to high altitude sickness or maybe because we have kids. Hmmm...not really. We were just too excited to go back to the villa (",)

We had a feast that night, they even made me a birthday cake. All it took was a box of cake mix, strawberries, a candle and some whipped cream and a scoop of ice cream to go with it. Love it, love these people. We spent the rest of the night just hanging out, eating (of course!), watching the kids play... I took a dip in the jacuzzi tub before going to bed. Life is oh-so-good!

Before leaving the next day, we managed to have another breakfast fit for kings and queens (courtesy of my husband who also prepared breakfast for everybody the day before) and settled in the theatre to catch the first few minutes of sunday football, yeah! We convoyed back to the bay area and were home around 2pm. The 3-hour drive was just perfect for an easy out-of-town trip...not too far, not too close...maybe we can go back next time to camp. It would be fun!

By the way, i have another reason to celebrate: October 4 is my 2nd year anniversary here in the US! Time really (really!) flies so fast!

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on my 35th birthday...

this photo of me and Racrac was captured by Fil last October 3, my 35th birthday, at the Yosemite National Park. This overlook is known as the tunnel view which offers a breathtaking scenery of the major popular attractions in the valley. Amidst the thick tourist crowd, we were lucky to find an "empty" spot to enjoy the view as if it's there for only us to see.

it was a fun and memorable birthday spent with family and wonderful friends. 

thank you Lord for the experiences of the past year
for my loving family and wonderful friends
for the good things that will remain happy memories
and the bad things i overcame and made me a better person...

help me in the days ahead
as i strive to make this year better than the last
may i grow to be stronger and better
and closer to your love, AMEN.

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enjoying the weather while we still can

Last Sunday we were at Half Moon Bay State Beach to celebrate another warm weather. There we sat as kings and queens, facing the Pacific Ocean, under an azure sky, watching nature perform its usual miraculous routine: sun glistening, birds hovering, giant waves curling and crashing onto shore then crawling to us...begging to kiss our royal feet. Tempted, we went closer down by the water's edge and waited for the ocean to breathe...

Sadly, the water was icy cold (eeeeekkk!...) so we stepped back and looked for other fun things to do. We played badminton and volleyball, built sandcastles and cheered a couple of surfer dudes riding the waves. I walked around to take pictures and survey the area. There is an RV park, campground, bluff-top picnic tables and benches, bike trail and a horse trail. I also stumbled upon a park ranger who pointed to me somewhere in the haze the exact spot of the Mavericks, a winter destination for some of the world's best big wave surfers.

Overall it is a beautiful place to be both idle and active - to reflect on life and to experience life. I am so glad we went. Summer is officially over but who cares? For me, it ain't over 'til i freakin' scream "it's over!"

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Stinson Beach

September 5, 2009. The drive from our place took about half-an-hour longer because of the Bay Bridge closure for labor day weekend repair. The last 12 miles or so of the road leading to the beach were long, twisty, winding, sloped and one-lane in each direction and we were all dizzy when we hooked up with Toto and Chi Figueroa and their kids at the beach parking lot. The water was freakingly cold it was impossible to take a dip and the sun kept alternating with the clouds...like they were in a dance. Nevertheless, it was a fun-filled afternoon spent with FAMILY, the memory of which we will share forever.Until our next beach adventure!

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Sundial Bridge, Burney Falls

Happy to be back from a weekend camping/hiking/fishing/partying with family and friends at the McArthur-Burney Falls State Park in Burney, CA last August 21-23. We left our house at 9:30 in the morning Friday and arrived 4 hours later in Redding and stopped by the Sundial Bridge. Built in 2004, it is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Sacramento River and connects the northern and southern campuses of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Sadly, it was scorching hot (1oo+ deg) when we got there and despite my do-anything-for-a-picture travel attitude, we only made it halfway through the bridge. We could have walked to the other side of the 700-ft bridge and back on any given fair-weather day but not that day when the sun was burning our skin.

From there, we hooked up with friends along the way enroute to Burney which was about an hour of what felt like driving in the middle of nowhere until we reached town proper. As soon as we entered the park, we were welcomed by the thunderous yet soothing sound of the falls that it was hard for me to resist not seeing it right away. We spent the rest of the day setting up camp, preparing dinner and just hanging out with friends.

The Falls
After breakfast the next day, we headed off to Burney Falls which is a short walk from our campsite accessible from the parking lot. We first went to the falls overlook (just a few steps from the entrance) which was nice because we could see the water flowing from the upper stream to the lower stream. Then we proceeded to the base of the falls by walking along the .3 mile paved trail. At first we brought Racrac's radioflyer wagon which turned out to be a bad idea 'coz we had to deal with a couple flights of steps. Fil had to return the wagon to our campsite and i went on with the group with Racrac in tow. It was easy since he agreed to walk. If you have a baby or a child who doesn't walk yet, you can use a baby carrier (front carrier or backpack type) to secure your child. But even without it, the trail is so easy you'll survive.

Burney Falls is such a beauty no matter from which angle you view it. Gorgeous, indeed! Unfortunately, water is not swimmable since the average temperature is 40degF even during hot summer days.

Here's a video of me and Racrac getting closer to the falls.


We reunited with Fil at the base and took lots of pictures then we followed the trail that circles the falls and brought us to the upstream (top of the falls), the site for fishing. The hike wasn't easy this time. After we crossed the downstream bridge, the trail went up and rugged. Poor Fil had to carry Racrac all the way through the climb. We found a spot just under the upstream bridge for fishing and stayed there idly just watching our friends guiding their poles.

Lake Britton
While the falls is the centerpiece of the park, most of the fun really happens at nearby Lake Britton which is ideal for fishing, boat launching, swimming and water sports. After our friends returned from fishing without any single catch, we drove the short distance to Lake Britton where Racrac and the other kids had fun playing in the water and building sandcastles while our friends continued their search for the very elusive fish. It didn't take long and they luckily caught one! Congrats Jerry and Gladz! :)

Good food, great company
...are two things that make a happy camper. Our last night together was again a feast and we brought so much food that we were still not done grilling come 10pm curfew. The following morning we hosted ala-IHOP breakfast for everybody at our place. One thing i love about camping other than being outdoors is the sight of Fil cooking breakfast when i wake up.

By 12nn we have all packed our stuff and ready to leave but not without again seeing the falls. All of us descended to the base of the falls to once again admire its beauty and for a group picture. Like i would always do, i took a mental picture to remind me of a beautiful sight on a beautiful day in the company of beautiful people.

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august rush

the month is almost over and i haven't blogged about anything yet. just too tired to write at the end of each and every day spent with Racrac who, at 18 months, has stepped up his daily exploratory activities to the next level. his curiosity and mobility are driving me nuts! he has by now figured out how things work: faucet, light switch, lamp, door knobs, door keys, camera, electric fan (!), his toys and all its buttons, toilet bowl, cabinets, TV, my laptop, electric plugs!

on the brighter side, he loves helping me unload the dishwasher. every morning he would cheerfully take out the clean dishes and hand them to me so i could put them where they should be. nice... at least that saves me from having to bend. and also he takes Fil's socks when he gets home from work and throws them to the hamper. such a sweetie... :)

i've also been driving him around the city. it was fun for me at first but not after we made a run at the grocery store and he prevailed over me to sit inside the cart (not in the child seat with the safety belts) so he could play with the items and unload them himself upon checkout. ang gulo....haaaayyy! maybe i should just bring him to the park.

no time to rest on weekends too. we were in Fairfield first weekend to visit some relatives where Racrac had a great time playing with cousins Inah and John in the oversized inflatable water slide and dancing around with the other kids who visited. we also had a quick tour of Travis Air Force Base but was too hot to step outside the van for a picture. next time...

the following week we went to a summer get-together party hosted by the Platzbecker's at the San Ramon Olympic Pool and Aquatic Center, about an hour drive from our place. Racrac loved the waterpark even if he was a bit scared of the showers. it was hot that day (in the 90s), perfect for a delightfully refreshing outdoor activity. the party continued at the hosts' residence, there was just no stopping us until we're all stuffed and sleepy hehehe...


3rd Sunday of the month we were in San Francisco to visit Auntie Norma and Bella (aka the lolas) who also invited Fil's cousin Dory and her family whom we haven't seen since Racrac's christening. Four days later we went back to drop off the lolas at the airport for their vacation to the Philippines.

And lastly, the one thing i was really excited about was our 3-day camping at the McArthur-Burney Falls State Park with friends last August 21-23. i'll blog about it in a separate post.

so there, it's been a busy month for us. summer will soon be over and we're working to make the best of the beautiful sunny days that's left. let's all enjoy it while it lasts...

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oh my, July!

what a month it was! i didn't realize you could literally keep yourself busy by just attending birthday parties and facebooking in between. hahaha. and now, i only have 1 more day to enjoy it before it's time to say hello to August. no more turning back.

so let me look back now while i still can.

i may not have posted it here but i was also saddened by the death of MJ. yes it was unfortunate and ironic for the king of pop to leave before he could stage a comeback but definitely not sudden and unexpected like some news reports called it. death can come to anyone anytime...even if you're MJ. now at least he can rest in peace.

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camping is indeed a surefire way to kick-off summer 'coz after that 4th of july weekend camping, we found ourselves attending a swimming party and another birthday party at the park complete with water guns, balloons and inflatable bouncer.  let's just say that the only "free" weekend we had was the one that just passed which i'd say free because we have no parties to attend to but not free in the sense that Fil was finally able to play his first airsoft game after months of preparing for it and we also visited the 'lolas' in San Francisco.

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i've been driving around town too. last Monday i survived the short drive from the house to the BART Station and back to pick-up Fil and this morning, Racrac and i spent a couple of hours at the mall! yeyyy...! with each trip i gain more confidence. maybe tomorrow we can go to the park hehehe...

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camping under the redwoods

July 3-5, 2009. Our summer kick-off activity with friends at the San Mateo County Memorial Park, Pescadero Creek Road in Loma Mar, CA. No cellphone signal, no internet (translation: no facebook!) and no microwave to heat our food but we sure had loads and loads of fun!

Everyone enjoyed setting up camp, partaking in the feast which every family contributed, sitting by the fire sharing stories, hiking to the creek and throwing pebbles (Racrac loved this!), kids riding the wagon and their bikes, searching for banana slugs and participating in the treasure hunt, adults exchanging gifts via white elephant (tinamad na mag-adult treasure hunt haha!), biking, running around, taking pictures and just hanging out with friends savoring the sunny but cool weather under the shade of centuries-old redwoods.

families: Abulencia, Figueroa, Pascua, Taladua, Talaugon, Tolibas, Vasquez
and a visit from Andrew and the Allosa family

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licensed to drive

so i have finally mustered enough nerves to take the behind-the-wheel driving test at the DMV office here in Fremont. after 3 months of on-and-off practice, i found myself waiting in line yesterday at 9:00 in the morning, sometimes slapping my face to awaken my senses and praying that luck would send me an examiner from heaven. my instructor was there with me (i used the school car for convenience while Fil stayed home with the baby) and he gave me last-minute instructions and reminders while we inched forward. "don't forget, ok?"..he kept telling me in his indian accent. when there was only one car in front of us, he said good luck, disembarked and waited outside.

after about 15 minutes of what seemed like an eternity, a lady examiner showed up at my window. she greeted me and immediately went down to business. she told me to show her the signal lights, brake lights, headlights, windshield wiper, defroster, emergency lights, parking brake, horn and demonstrate the hand signals. Then she entered the car, made me sign the score sheet and told me she was going to be giving me directions on where to turn and unless she gave me directions to turn, to keep going straight and follow the road. I said 'ok' then off we went.

the driving test seemed to take 20-25 minutes. i was familiar with the road having practiced there with my instructor many times so i was confident and relaxed. I checked my meter from time to time to make sure i was doing the right speed. I moved my head (not just my eyes) to check traffic left-right-ahead at intersections, performed lane changes properly (remember S-M-O-G: Signal-Mirror-Over-the-shoulder-Go), checked my mirrors, maintained a safe following distance and stopped behind the limit lines. She had me pull over at a residential street and told me to back up in a straight line. I paused for a couple of seconds to remember what to do (steer to the right if going too far from the curb, steer to the left if too close) and thankfully i did it right. whew!

I guess i got a bit excited or too confident 'coz a couple of times i did not make a full stop at the stop sign. I stopped, but not long enough (should be 3 seconds!) and i knew i messed up some turns by not steering smoothly.

The one part that got me, i wasn't sure what to do, when i saw one vehicle crossing the street in front of me even if i have the right of way but when i noticed it was a postal office vehicle, i slowed down and let it pass. Then at the stop light just before turning left back to DMV, i saw the light turn red but i must have been scanning too far (i have magnifying eyes haha!) because i prematurely stepped on the brakes even if i was still a block away then realizing it accelerated as if nothing happened (deadma!). I saw the examiner marking the score sheet. shucks!

when we entered DMV, we circled the building and she instructed me to park at the "parking for end of driving test" spot. With the engine off, i sat there quietly awaiting my fate while she counted my mistakes.."6...+ 4..." finally she turned to me and said "well...you didn't pass today but i have to remind you of...." and she kept talking while writing her notes on the score sheet and i was like thinking in all caps "OMG, I DIDN'T PASS? I HAVE TO TAKE IT AGAIN? OH NO!!! "

i didn't hear the rest of what she said but when she wrote "-10" i got back to my senses and asked her "am i not allowed 15 minor errors? so how come i didn't pass? did i commit any critical error? (note: if you commit any of the critical errors anytime during the test, it will be immediately terminated and you will fail).

then she smiled and said "oh i guess you didn't hear me right...i said you DID pass the test but i have to remind you of your mistakes 'coz a couple of times you didn't make a full stop, you had an unnecessary stop and you weren't smooth in doing your turns." uh-oh...i must have gotten lost in the accent there. She said 'd-i-d' like she was chewing a gum so what i heard sounded like "didn't."

she gave me the score sheet, told me to submit it to window 11 and left. My instructor reappeared and took the keys then i went inside. I was given a temporary paper license, have to wait 2 more weeks for the card. After that my instructor (who was visibly happy with our success) drove me home, reminded me to always drive safely then we said goodbye. I didn't call Fil right away...i waited 'til i was home, handed him the paper and let him figure it out. hehehe...

i am so relieved that this is now behind me after training for it the whole spring season (not to mention the agonizing 5 months it took me to read the DMV manual and pass the written test). bottom line is, the DMV expects me to drive legally, safely, skillfully and appropriately. Seems like a good idea.

now i can enjoy my summer...
___
Related post: How to pass the DMV written test in California

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Sausalito

June 19, 2009. Got the whole afternoon free last Friday so we headed north across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, a waterfront community known for its Mediterranean flair and breathtaking panoramic view of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge.

As usual SFO was half-covered in fog but we didn't let it dampen our spirits. Thankfully the sky cleared after we found a parking spot and we lingered for a couple of hours - just enough time to take a quick late lunch and a stroll, enjoy the fresh air and the view, snap pictures and watch people (mostly tourists) go by.
It's a beautiful charming place, weather is great and so close to home. Though we were unable to explore the place thoroughly, i am far from sad 'coz we can always go back anytime anyway.

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papa...

"Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad."

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days of May

well, well what can i say? it has been a busy month of May...

lots of fun kiddie birthday parties

a wedding

a family death anniversary get-together

Pacquiao fight party (yeah!)

American Idol finale performance and results nights...and a week of recovering from Adam's lose. i literally went from anger to acceptance in a week's time! :-)))

mother's day

a new Macbook to tinker with

a new iPod shuffle to use while i pound the treadmill (the iPod video i have is just too heavy to carry round my neck) and lots of iTunes gift card to download songs...thanks to my facebook friends who suggested songs that will really get me pumped up!

memorial day long weekend spent malling and shopping

Racrac's first movie outing - we watched Wolverine which has been running for 2 weeks so we were not surprised at all to find ourselves in a private screening. yup, just the three of us! we've been dilly-dallying about bringing him to a movie with us but a family friend with 3 kids suggested we bring him late at night just before his bedtime so he'll stay calm and sleep through it.  We went for the 10pm screening but Racrac was far from sleepy.  He walked all over the place, checking the empty seats and getting close to the big screen.  He finally settled in my arms during the last 30 minutes of the show.

that 2-hour drive to Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA with friends for photo-ops with the Blackbird, B-52 and fighter planes followed by impromptu dinner at Juan's place and culminating in a fireworks display at Great America which we were so contented to view from Live Oak Park in Rivermark about 3 miles away...

cooking hits and misses, baking hits and misses

Auntie Bella and Norma staying for a couple of nights with us...

and the usual daily cycle of feeding, diapering, bathing, reading a book, dancing, singing and playing with my hyperkinetic baby while keeping the whole house in order and making sure we have decent food to eat for dinner (hayyy...)

now the weather is getting warmer and the days longer...summer is sure just around the corner yey!!!

looking forward to more fun this June!

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easter picnic in the park

Happy Easter everyone! what a fun-filled celebration we had with friends yesterday at Ed Levin Park in Milpitas! we failed to show up early to reserve the best spot but it didn't matter 'coz we brought our tents and set-up a campsite. we also prepared so much food (as usual...) that even after we're done with lunch, a stranger would think that the party hasn't started yet hahaha...the kids gamely participated in the easter tote bag decorating activity and the egg hunt. Racrac was no match to the bigger kids but with papa's help, he managed to fill his bag with a dozen eggs. the ladies got busy with the easter photo frame project, the boys gathered around the grill, the kids had fun running around and we all had a blast (literally!) playing the pass-the-water-bomb especially after mine exploded in the air before i could even catch it. yaiks!

This is the finished product of my magnetic photo frame project with racrac's photo taken during the hunt. what a cutie! :D

Hope you had a fun and meaningful celebration too!

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