October

If I were to be asked what my most favorite month of the year was, i'd say October. October because it's neither too-far nor too-near Christmas. And Christmas for me, as the song goes, is "the most wonderful time of the year".

I'm not sure if it's merely coincidental that it was in the month of October in 1992 when I realized that I was a sentimental fool. No juicy details on why or how or who are going to be posted here. But just take my word for it: October has always given me that certain kind of feeling when everything just seems to be... bittersweet?

Last year's October --- well, you know what happened last year.

This year's October --- well, you know what happened this year.

I am deliberately being cryptic. Keep on reading. Maybe one day, you'll find some clues in this blog.

Shock and awe day. LJR, EBV and CGS! Congratulations, you have almost completed your tour of duty.

Waiting for my sundo. I'm going home tonight so that I could watch my niece ballet dance at her school program tomorrow morning.

I know I will be needed in the office tomorrow morning, but well, my niece dancing at school happens only once. (Or twice or thrice, knowing how kikay she is).

Was met with early monday news.

Another one is leaving. I didn't expect this one this soon.

I know we would still be friends even after you leave. But as I've told you, it's the end of an era.

I'm back!

That sounds like a threat, but really it isn't. It's more like I'm-back-my-real-life-has-restarted.

With all yabang I had been telling people I didn't get jetlagged at all. But I've realized that ever since I returned, I have been sleeping no later than 10 every night, and waking up before sunrise. If you knew me fairly well, you'd know that I'm not an early riser, and that I don't sleep early because, "sayang ang gabi".

Anyway, that's the story. I've been sorta jetlagged and I know that in time, I will be back to my old sleeping habits.

I've been thinking of a new name for this blog, for obvious reasons. Since I haven't thought of anything appealing (to me), the title remains. But I'll get on to it sooner or later. Which reminds me, I've to think of a name for my sister's daughter. She likes "Lila", and I agree, but we've to think of a second name.

Yesterday's:

Lowlight: Having to write to a nasty client without sounding too defensive (he's right)

Highlight: Hearing Ice talk about her day at school. It's amazing how a 4-year old can talk about her day and you realize that, despite her dependency being a kid, she's a real person with real feelings.

Background music: 92.3 Joey's Christmas Rhythms

Funniest encounters in America

We were discussing over dinner my unforgettable experience with cashiers, salesclerks and waiters in America. Now, that should already tell you what I have been doing here: buying stuff and eating out.

Anyway, my sister recounted her funniest encounters when she was new in the country, hard at understanding the American English twang. See how the following words are spoken in America, and however much she would resist pronouncing them as such for being, well, maarte, she'd really have to. Otherwise, the Americans wouldn't understand what she was saying:

Bank = benk
Water = watter
Dad = ded
Dog = dawg

My sister is a dentist in the Philippines and works as a dental assistant here. One time, she was trying to distract a frightened child before a dental procedure. My sis asked "Where's your dad?". The kid, showing irritation, said, "What dog? I don't have a dog." There you go.

I was most surprised when lunch with a friend was winding down and the waiter approached our table to ask if we were "still working?", otherwise, he'd clear the table. My friend said yes. Am sure it's the shortened version of "still working on the food" but I was initially uncomfortable with that phrase. It sounded too literal for my taste. But later on, it caught on.

I have also been asked by a cashier the following question:

"How do you want your bills?"

Oh-kay. Several possible answers popped in my head:

A lot?
Crispy? (as opposed to crumpled?)

Apparently, the expected answers were: "large" or "small".

(Sidestory: Another time, I tried to pay for Starbucks coffee and a mug with $100.00. Apparently, anything bigger than 20 bucks causes suspicion to cashiers. Payment by credit card is the most preferred. I was told by a friend that only Nigerians go around here with that kind of money. Am not sure if that was a joke or not. But hearing that made me remember the infamous Nigerian e-mail asking for money.)

Here's yet another experience with a cashier at a department store.

At department store X:

Cashier: Would you like to donate a dollar to the children's something something?
Me: (Caught offguard, not wanting to look like a miser) Er, sure.
(There goes my dollar.)

On another day, at department store Y:

Cashier: Would you like to donate a dollar to the children's something something?
Me: (Since it was in another department store, I didn't expect to be asked the same question. Yet again I was caught offguard.) Er, sure.
(Another dollar.)

On another day, at department store Z:

Cashier: Would you like to donate a dollar...
Me: (Excitedly) I'd just donated yesterday.

I'll be home in a few days.

Thanks for lugging with me throughout my journey.

See you.