Roaming Around Mexico City

03.26.13 *** Tuesday: Today marked my second day in Mexico and I hope I will accomplish a lot today together with my friend. The night before we planned out to go to the Soumaya Museum and then maybe tour the Chapultepec Park. There were a lot of things to do here and I am scraping everything that I haven't been during my last two visits here and so far we have identified some few of them.



We woke up at around 0900H because I was really tired from my flight yesterday. I even drank two Tylenol tablets to ease out my back pain. We fixed ourselves for the day and left the hotel at around 1000H. The traffic on the streets of Mexico City was on its peak and it was flowing too slow. I never imagine that traffic here was also like California. Good thing I was not the one driving. But the toll of the traffic also affected me.

My boyfriend had made a wrong left turn so we even circled around the vicinity until we've reached the district where the museum is being found.

Soumaya Museum: The building can be seen from the freeway and its odd cloud shape glittering from the distance is always intriguing. What in the heck the owner was been thinking? It looks like an odd hour glass from a distance looking flexible and shiny. It was really interesting to look at.



The building was owned by one of the richest man in the world. Now being supervised by the Carlos Slim Foundation. It was build by Fernando Romero, who is Carlos Slim's son-in-law. And it houses a lot of beautiful and extensive art collections, religious relics, historical documents, and coin collections. It was made as a tribute to his late wife and even named it after her. Love knows no bounds indeed.

The museum holds works by many of the best known European artists from the 15th to the 20th century. It also contains a large collection of casts of sculptures by Auguste Rodin, the works of Kahlil Gibrain, and some of the famous Mexican artists like Diego Rivera, Fernando Moreno, and Frida Kahlo. It was founded in 1994 and it opened in 2011 costing $70 million to build it. The structure appears like a shiny silver cloud-like building reminiscent of a Rodin artwork. It was thousands of hexagonal aluminum sheets all over it. A pretty masterpiece to look at.

We started touring from the 6th floor then spiraled down to the first floor. On the 6th floor there were a lot of Rodin's work especially the "Dying Lady" and "The Thinker" and various others from other artists and sculpture. The whole floor was only dedicated to sculpture and nothing else.



Spiraling the the 5th floor was another art collections ranging from the different era of arts. From classical arts to neoclassical arts. It also houses the collections of various artist during those times like Michelangelo and da Vinci. Carlos has a wide array of collections and I can see how rich he is because as I perceived of some of his collections appears very expensive. On that floor I can see a lot of Kahlil Gibran's work and some famous Italian artists as well I forgot to jot down the name. All the paintings were superbly pleasing to the eyes and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

We went down to the 4th floor which also housed some more paintings classified in Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic, Modern, and Contemporary. Works of Monet and Picasso can be seen on this floor. It was really fascinating to have perused on them. I never know it has reached until Mexico but it was an expensive collections as well. The frames appeared chic and elegant. The whole building was really fabulous.



Spiraling down on the third floor where art collections and paintings depicting surrealism, realism, impressionism, cubism, abstracts, and more contemporary arts. There were also photographs and other art forms. The whole floor was also splendid. I've also noticed a lot of people roaming around to see the artworks. And by the way, admission to this museum is free. See how rich the guy is?

Going down to the 2rd floor was about Religious arts and relics and I am happy to see a lot of art collections especially from the Renaissance. It also houses other historical documents and manifestos carefully arrange and laminated and plastered on the glass cabinets. There were also massive coin collections from different periods of time as well as from different countries and some real gold and silver coins. In my estimation the collections in the entire building cost maybe to billion dollars and I may not be surprised about it because it was really a massive collection.



Going to the 1st floor was also good to the eyes. The floors were now is white marble. On the spiraled chair the black marble Pieta was welcoming the visitors and on the right corner after the entrance greeted the famous work of Rodin which is "The Thinker" beautifully carved in black bronze and a little distance from it was the bust of "The Laocoon and His Sons" also ornately and meticulously carved in black marble. On that floor was the reception with it's metal detector doors and also the plush cafeteria where we ate succulent and tasty flautas for our lunch. We left the museum in awe at around 1330H.



Chapultepec Park and Lake: From the museum we furiously fought the traffic going to Chepultepec Park. We found a parking near the National Auditorium which is huge and pretty form the street and we ambled downwards towards the park. We entered first on the park which is so huge and filled with thick green and tall trees around. The place was teeming with people of all walks of life and there were also stalls of goodies, toys, and travel mementos. There were vendors seen lurking everywhere trying to find a living.

The park was very clean and there were not even a hint of trash can be seen because it was well maintain by the patient roaming cleaners. I guess this park was well organized as well. It was really so calm and seven and vast. I gather it was like 800 acres the same as big as Chicago as what I have read. It housed the park itself, the lake, the castle, the zoo, the anthropology museum and many others I forgot which I've known from my extensive readings.



We went also to the lake which is now teeming with people rowing the small colorful boats floating themselves with no worries. I was surprised that the park was teeming with people so I asked my boyfriend how come there's a lot of people if it is Tuesday which is a school day. He slyly told me that school was already closed and it was vacation time for the kids. No wonder why there were a lot of people here hanging out.

The lake appears murky green but serene, wide and huge. On the farther right I can see the Chapultepec Castle perched on the hill a few distance from where we are. I took pictures of the wide park and lake and just enjoyed the beautiful sceneries. At the background I can also see some of the tallest buildings of Mexico City which served as a supplemental backdrop of the beautiful scenery I am watching at that moment.



We ambled deep inside the heart of the park after we passed by the lake and stumbled inside the innards of the Chapultepec Zoowhich is also one of the part of the park.

Zoologica de Mexicana: Also known as the Chapultepec Zoo was a vast area for various animals being showcased here. This is the largest zoo among the three zoos in the country and the one which housed a lot of animals. The entrance is free and I was really puzzled why. How will they maintain this place if the entrance is free? I've gathered from my readings that the place receives a lot of donations from private sectors as well as from the Department of Agriculture.

The place was very well maintained. There was not a hint of animal odor unlike the other zoos I've been in the past. All the foliage and trees were well maintain. There were a lot of people and children when we war there and there were some places which are crowded and teeming with running kids and dating teenagers.



I find it fascinating because the zoo house an female panda named Xinxin which is a product of an artificial insemination. It is the only living panda now in the zoo. Formerly the zoo started with two female pandas but both had died long time ago. Reading the family tree of Xinxin was very interesting. I'm not gonna explain it here for I perceived that my blog was already long which might not excite my readers anymore. Please refer to Xinxin's genealogy tree attached on the picture above.

We toured the vast place and saw a lot of wild animals some in hiding and some showing off what they've got to the visitors. The aviary was also huge with a wide array of bird collections. What I did not see was the reptiles, amphibians, ichthys (fishes), and the elephants, polar bears, and lions were not even apparent because they were hiding. But all in all the zoo was excellent, clean and beautiful.



We left the place close to closing time. When we got out of the park the traffic was already congested and we have to walk for about one mile to retrieve the car near the National Auditorium. My boyfriend told me to keep going checked out the sculpture on the street while he will get the car at the parking lot and he will just pick me up at the next stop light after I am done taking pictures of the statues on the street.

Street Arts: I crossed the street right outside the gates of the park while my boyfriend went on the opposite direction to get the car. I ambled right on the middle of the paralleled island of the street and started to check the beautiful sculpture on the streets. I gathered that they were all made by Jorge Marin as was indicated on the sign there.



I started snapping pictures of the statues, almost like a dozen of them. The statues were very beautiful, flexible in their poses, and solid as bronze. It was intricately made and patiently molded by the artist himself. I was fascinated by it. It took me eight minutes to take the pictures of all 12 statues and had walked half a mile because all the statues were evenly placed on the elongated Chapultepec Avenue and when I reached the other side of the stop light I crossed the street and waited for my boyfriend to pass by and picked me up.



A little less than 3 minutes he came a stopped for a while giving me time to went in the care then we went back to the hotel.I was so beat up after that feeling the curse of our extensive walk on my sole. My feet was burning and hurting. I told my boyfriend that I might retire for the day and just rest it off for the whole night.



At night he sneaked out to hang out with his friends and I never know what time he came back because I was fast asleep in preparation for another exciting day the next morning. All in all my experience today was very rewarding, although it is very tiring but very inspiring as well. I love it to the max.

My Flight To Mexico

03.25.2013 *** Today, a Monday, I will fly to Mexico City to start my ten day vacation in search of a soul-searching-spiritual vacation for this Holy Week. I hope my expectations will be fulfilled but no matter what as long as I enjoyed my vacation that would be fine with me. My goals if being fulfilled will just be the icing to the cake. Can't beat that.

I got out early from work at 0600H because I've asked my boss to come in early for me so that I can have extra time for the traffic to the airport. I left the facility and then stopped by the post office to drop off the mails that I needed to set out for the first week of April since I will be out of the country. After dropping off the mails I then went straight home and started to change. After changing I went down to bring my luggage then knocked at my landlord's door to give him some last instructions about my dog since I will leave Diamond with him when I'm gone.

The door opened and Joaquin, the boyfriend, opened me. He told me that Julio had left for Brazil because his dad who is 102 years old died so he had to fly together with his mom back to Rio de Janiero last night in a jiffy. I was shock about the bad news and expressed my sympathy to Joaquin. He told me that Julio had told him that I will leave Diamond so I handed him the paper for instructions and told him that I left the dog foods near the door upstairs. Then I left because the taxi was outside honking already. I bade good bye to Joaquin and he wished me good luck for my vacation.

I went into the taxi then off to the freeway. The traffic was so congested but I don't need to worry because he driver took the diamond lane or the carpool lane which is a fast track lane. We arrived at the airport at 0730H so I have time to line up to check-in my luggage. The line was also long but I checked in my luggage and managed to get my boarding pass with enough time to fall in line at the security section. The section was also packed yet I still managed to creep in just in time to find the gate where I am supposed to board the plane. I was assigned at Gate 86.

Ten minutes after I arrived the overhead called that our flight will be twenty minutes delayed and they've changed our boarding gate to Gate 83. We boarded at 1100H and we left Los Angeles at 1115H going to San Francisco. The flight to San Francisco was brief and smooth and we landed at the tarmac safely. We unload at Gate 91 and I alighted from the plane and went up to the airport to look for the restroom because my bladder was very full and was about to burst.

After relieving myself of the stress in my bladder I went to look for the flight monitor and checked for Flight 671 bound for Mexico City. I noticed that it was on Gate 91 which is the same plane that I just unboarded. I looked for some fridge magnets bearing the name of San Francisco for my collections and also bought some Mentos because I felt that my breath was been spoiled already. Hehehe. Then I went down to the gate where we were be boarding shortly and wait for the call.

Down there I looked for an outlet to charge my iPhone because I am low of battery then at the same time played Scrabble because there were like 20 people who had submitted their responses for the games that I have set out last night. I am glad I am winning in all those games but it's still early to claim victory because we were still halfway the game. After forty-five minutes we were called to board. The plane left San Francisco at exactly 1300H. I texted my boyfriend who's suppose to pick me up at Mexico City that I am leaving United States for Mexico City and we will be seeing each other in four hours.

I boarded the plane happy because I will get to see my boyfriend again and of course I will set out myself there trying to fulfill my goals about that spiritual soul-searching experience. I was seated on the most convenient part of the plane in the middle surrounded by good-looking guys. See how lucky I am? Why in all the people around me Mexicans are very good looking? I am surrounded with a lot of them in all honesty. I'm really screaming in delight at that time. My connoisseurship in picking the seat online had been paid off. (Just joking)

The flight from San Francisco to Mexico City was uneventful and smooth. I might have probably felt asleep for a couple of hours because I never noticed that the flight attendant had handed me the immigration form to fill up for my entrance in Mexico City as well as seeing her passing out drinks in the aisle. Yeah, I was very tired because I have not slept yet from working twelve hours graveyard shift last night. My good looking neighbor had gave me the immigration papers and I slyly smiled and thanked him for saving me one copy and he returned the favor.

I introduced my name and told him that I came from Los Angeles. He told me his name is Mario and he is from San Francisco. He asked me what I will be going to Mexico City and I told him that I will be meeting with a friend there and we will go to Guerrero to explore the place. He told me that he is from Oaxaca and he is on his Spring Break vacation. He also told me that the is a Freshman in UCSF. I told him that I am a nurse educator and we had a very casual conversation until we both stopped to take a nap.

We arrived at Mexico City at 1800H local time and then I bade good bye to Mario when we separated ways at the immigration line. I then lined at the foreigner line and went through without any problems. I then passed by Duty Free and bought some cologne for my boyfriend and then went to retrieve my luggage. I then went outside and waited for my boyfriend. I stand near the restroom where he picked me up last time and few minutes later he came smiling seeing me. We then hugged each other and then I told him that I needed to exchange money. After I've exchanged money we left the airport and went straight to Zona Rosa to check in at the hotel.

The traffic outside was very congested because it was already rush hour but my boyfriend had managed to evade it. I am glad he is good at it. In all honesty I was very tired and hungry already. We arrived at the hotel so I immediately checked us in and then we brought the luggages upstairs and looked for something to eat around Zona Rosa. We found a grill rest called Regios which serves grilled Mexican foods. We ordered food and ate them heartily. We sipped mojitos and margaritas as well.

After the dinner we went back to the hotel and retired for the night. Thanked God that my trip was well and that I arrived safely in Mexico City, a city I tried to like, in whole piece. Tomorrow will be another promising day and I can't wait to see what will happen but whatever it is I hope it will be life changing. God bless me!

Getting Ready For A Life Changing Spiritual Journey

Today, I will leaving to Mexico for a ten day vacation. The reason I am leaving is that I've been searching spiritually about my own culture. The very religion I've been growing up. And I don't know if I can find it in Mexico but with comparison our beliefs as Catholics and Christians were of the same line. Hopefully, I can find what I am searching for myself.

Today starts the day of the Holy Week and today is the Holy Maunday. Actually yesterday was Palm Sunday and the start of the Holy Week. It's been noted that the Holy Week depicts the suffering ofthe Lord Jesus Christ to redeem mankind from sins and as Christians we ought to contemplate about it because without Jesus the whole world will not be reconnected again with Father God.

The reason I have set out a trip to Mexico is because I long for those traditions that I have been growing up held during the Holy Week. I am not a very fanatical person but I do know the significance of tradition in my upbringing. And I am not swaying other people to believe me but I am just doing this for my own self.

Years had past since I came here in America, I never been witnessing any of the solemn procession like I've been experiencing before growing up in a small town where every body knows everyone. The influence of religion was very imminent and as kids we imitate our elders all the time and never frustrate them for their dreams for us. It was a very challenging growing up yet very rewarding.

Now it seems that my excitement for this short vacation was been fueled by my eagerness and great expectations about the celebration of Holy Week in Mexico. The culture in Mexico was no difference from the culture I've grown up because in all honesty the Spaniards from Mexico had colonized Philippines and treated us like paupers and dumb yet religion as it is has molded our culture to be unique and more cherished.

Hopefully, this spiritual journey will not be in vain. I am greatly excited and anxious about it. I've been working for three days now (for the whole weekend) but my anticipation about the trip was very high. I don't know but maybe it was just normal to act like this. It's strange but it did really happened to me. Maybe it's those surging hormones that are working at extreme levels. Hehehehe.

My expectations for this trip was beyond thought. I set this out as a life changing journey spiritually and I hope I can feel the breathtaking solitude I've been wanting in communing with my own religion. I know I'm not practicing my religion religiously but here I am ready to ignite it again with astounding passion and dedication.

They say that life is so short and that is why I am setting out this vacation because I don't know what will happen to me. And who knows all my inner contemplations will be fully materialized when I am there. Hopefully it will happen as I've envisioned it. It might be ambitious but who knows.

My bestfriend will tour me around there and will bring me to a spiritual pilgrimage around Mexico. We will explore a lot of church. For sure he will not disappoint me. I expect this to be a more rewarding spiritual journey as well. I hope I will find what I've been wanting to see, have, and feel. Who knows there is something more, Can't wait to witness it. Good luck to me.

Anticipating For The Unknown

Well, on Monday I will be leaving for a ten day vacatin to Mexico. I have this feeling of angst that I have been harboring for a long time. It might be boredom or maybe excitement. I don't really know. And I don't really know how to explain it but it seems that I am anticipating for the unknown.

Could this be the effect of too much every day? Could this be an anticipation of my impending vacation? Or could this b due to some unforeseeable situation? That I don't don't but the feeling was real and I just couldn't brush it aside. It affects my thinking and concentration sometimes.

Back home in the Philippines we have a belief that if you feel like "anticipating for the unknown" someone has remembered you or that someone is expecting you. In my whole life experience this belief that had been known to me all through out my life always comes true. So maybe either of the mentioned situation previously will happen.

I am so excited for my incoming vacation and I just couldn't wait to have it happened. I have a lot in my mind, traveling here and there withmy best friend. Mexico is a big country but we have pinpointed some of the key places that we needed to go and explore and hopefully we will be having a good time.

It's so timely because the week I go there is Holy Week so basically my purpose of going there will be a short pilgrimage to celebrate the blessed week wherein Jesus was sentenced to death to redeem our earthly sins.

It's been a long time that I haven't witnessed the celebration for the Holy Week so I decided to go there because the way we celebrate it in the Philippines is almost the same as they celebrate in Mexico.

It will be my first time to see it so I hope that my friend will show me the best of Mexico during Holy Week. I am quite excited as well as apprehensive. It's a mixed feeling. It is difficult to fathom what I am feeling right now but honestly I'm clueless about everything.

Anticipating for something that's not apparent is so frustrating sometimes. The mixture of emotions that's been roiling inside me is unexplanable and I couldn't blame myself to act cluelessly like an idiot. I am very scared about it but I know I have to face it.

Whatever awaits for me in Mexico will remain to be seen and I just can't wait for it. I hope this will not be my last blog. I know God is good and I entrusted to him my fate when I go there. I trust God with all my heart and I know He will not leave me in times of trouble.

Life is full of surprises and it's up to us how to tackle each adveristies. We still have to maintain our own balance and not show to them that I falter. In anything I do I know God is always there and if I needed Him most He is there to carry me.

Hope my vacation will be a meaningful one despite of some setbacks along the way. I just couldn't wait to start it and hopefully we will have a blast. Yeah!

What An Addictive Game

Eversince I've been playing Scrabble, I just got hooked to it. It even made me addicted to it even when I am at work. It even put me into trouble tragically sometimes. I just can't resist playing it because it was so addicting. I think it is ruining my concentration in everything I do every day.

One time while I was driving I was playing Scrabble especially when I'm on a stop or when the traffic is on a red light. I got the habit of checking my phone for those who's already submitting their completed words. (I've got a wide array of opponents on the Scrabble application on my iPhone.) When my car stopped near Crenshaw Blvd. in Inglewood an officer in a police motorcycle had stopped at the right side of my car and had spotted me holding my phone.

He turned his flashing blue lights and I know he intended it for me so I slowed down and parked on the curb. I then opened the left side window of the car and he then seriously asked me about my driver's ID, registration, and insurance. I gave him my ID and I was just reasoning to him what happened but he did not gave me any chance to explain.

He took my driver's ID and then he went to the back of my car checking my license plate and then he scribbled something on the ticket. After three minutes he flashed me the unexpected ticket and I checked it and saw that he gave me a ticket for texting while driving. I told him what had happened but he was just looking at me as if I wasn't there. He instructed me to check the court where to report and then he left.

I got angry because he charged me wrongly and he didn't even give me a chance to explain own side of the story. I know I am not guilty of the charge because I was holding the phone when the car or the traffic is on stop. Had he gave me a chance to explain myself he had probably understood what happened. But apparently he did not gave me a chance to explain my side. He probably intended to make the ticket anyway which I have to swallow and maybe will have to defend it in court.

I am also angry at myself because I am not careful about it. Well, it's maybe because of my addiction in playing the Scrabble game which had already interrupted my daily life. I just have to accept the fact that Scrabble is already a big distraction in my life but I still continued to play it because I couldn't resist not playing it. It was just so addicting that even my life was been very affected by it already.

Well, right now I am at work and was also been playing it especially when I am on my break. To date I have already played thiry-nine games and I only lost three games out of the thirty-nine games I've played. Technically, I've won thirty-six successful games. My highest word score was 106 and the word was "Squared" which was strategically placed on the triple word spot on the middle right of the board. I have twenty-five seven letter words or what they're calling a "bingo" word from all my thirty-nine games.

Right now I have 25 willing opponents and all of them were very willing to topple me down and cause havoc on my online scores. Apparently I've been winning 90% of them. I just wanted to climb up the score ladder and right now I am gradually easing up. Whew! It's just a good feeling to play Scrabble all the time.

Although, it had put me into trouble lately, but still I can't get myself give it up because playing it makes me feel so vulnerable. I like mind games and Scrabble is one of them. Yeah, I've been very lucky to have played to a number of people around the world and I have learned a lot from them as well. I'll still be here to keep playing Scrabble and from now on it will be a part of my life.

The Working Beggar

I've been teaching everyday at school and I have to wake up early in the morning to beat the early morning Los Angeles traffic. I have to drive for 40 miles from my apartment going south to Torrance and I do this every day of my life. Sometimes the traffic is okay and there are times that the traffic is really crowded. But I have no question about it because I love my job and I love doing it everyday.

Every morning I saw this guy along Normandie and Lomita standing at the middle island of Lomita Avenue dressed in paupery clothes. I assume he woke up early in the morning to go to work. He work as a beggar begging for alms at that very strategic area in Torrance where traffic were always crowded. I always saw him everyday doing that. I was really thinking deeply that maybe this guy was really working permanently there everyday begging people for money.

I don't know if he has mental or behavioral problems but it seems that he looks fine and normal to me. He appears to be a middle-aged person maybe on his late 40's. With white peppery hair, mustache, and beard. He kind of having a similarity with the 1980's singer Kenny Rogers. He looks professional on what he does and I sometimes smile everytime I saw him.

Here comes this guy who always woke up early in the morning and be on the streets at around 0700H at that spot where I always saw him. I mean this guy had took begging as his career and he appears very harworking and professional about it. I admired his courage to do that everyday of his life. If it happened to me I will be probably ashamed of myself but this guy has really a strong guts to do it. I am really tongue-tied but I have to accept the fact that it is really happening.

Well, I maybe very skeptical about it but you can see his determination and dedication in doing the peddling job everyday. I mean he is just a guy who is very devoted on what he does no matter what it is and he has his own strengths and weakpoints sometimes. I admire him because he made his weakness into a positive tool or asset rather than stealing food or money or eventually may loss his life because of the unlawful behavior he does. I might be very pessimistic about it but that's just me.

Well, there are some people who are just content about the simplicity of life and I think this person was just contented of what he has. I maybe over thinking it but I think he is helpless at this time because he might not finish or gone to school to educate himself and get a more decent job afterwards.

There might be other reasons why he did it and to me I am not blogging about him being lazy and was just contented of peddling and begging but I am blogging because he is very dedicated in working everyday, waking up early in the morning to go to the place and do what he wants to do. It's just that fiery dedication that really captured me and I am very observant about it judging that I saw him there everyday at the same spot and at the same time of the day. It was very interesting to me.

So that's why I have blogged about it and had shared it with you. Hope you all like the blog and I will keep you updated about him in my future blogs. Ciao!

Indecent Proposal

Yes, I admitted before that I am gay and I am very open about it. I've been out eversince but it seems that I am misunderstood sometimes. Life is always good with me and I am very thankful to God that everything I have were always been in order. I couldn't be more grateful about it.

Ok, I have this cute Caucasian student in my class that's always very forward to me. I always noticed that he was very charming all the time, making some good jokes, and always a cheerful person at me. I didn't really took it into some extreme connotations because to me he is just my student. I was very traditionally compose to all my students including this guy all the time. I always hold firm with my values and I always gave some distance when in comes to all of them. I have to put this gap so that respect will always be there for me. It always worked out like this all the time.

I admit that this guy was very goodlooking and very nice. He is smart and very modest. A very jolly and jocose person as well. I have no qualms about his behavior because he is just fine. Honestly, I kind of like him as a person and I have a crush on him during their orientation on their first day at school. There.... I already admitted it. However, I have to maintain this professionalism with me and I already made a vow before not to get involved with my students because I know it would be trouble.

Come yesterday, my most dreaded fear came. This guy whom I was talking had stayed behind after the class and he asked me if he can talk to me. I told him; "It's okay, what's the problem? He appears very anxious and apprehensive and he looks very uneasy. I tried to calm him down and told him that I am here to listen if he wanted to talk to me. He nodded to me and then checked around if there's still others inside the room.

When he verified there were none he kissed me on the lips very quickly. I was surprised and shocked about his behavior and pushed him at an instant and then I tried to distance from him asking him why he did that. He told me that he had liked me the moment he set foot in my room during their first day and that he is so horny. I wrinkled my forehead and told him that it was a bad move. I was appalled about what he said so I just took a deep breath and think positively on how to handle him. I talked in a soft voice asking him to sit down calmly and make sure he is relaxed.

Then I talked to him telling him that his behavior earlier was inappropriate. I convinced him that I will not tell anybody about it as long as he won't do it again. I also asked him if he has problems he can talk to me nicely and not to surprise me like the one he just did earlier. He apoligized about his behavior and told me that the reason he did that is that eversince he came to the school and saw me he liked me very much. He knows that I am openly gay and he muster his courage to be really nice with me to catch my attention. He told me that he wanted to befriend me and eventually progress to a more deeper relationship if it will work out.

I told him in all honesty that yes.... I have a crush with him the moment he set foot in my classroom. I told him that I am just being realistic as a person because I love my job and my life. I know this is a good opportunity for a good relationship but this is not the right place and the right time for that. I told him I just don't want to ruin my life and career just for it. I went to college for four grueling years in order to finish my course and I don't want to put it down the drain.

I told him there will be better time for it but as long as he remained to be my student I can't do it. I told him maybe you're just infatuated with me so maybe you just have to give time for yourself and seek or at least prove if it's really real. I am always be here and will always be single. I told him that he is still young and he can still find somebody who is much better off and more qualified for him.

After our long talk he told me that he will wait for the right time. He apologized again to me and he told me that whenever I'm ready he will come back. He do understand the complexity and difficulty of the situation that we are in now and he is determined to wait for the apt time to woe me. I shudder at that moment realizing how sincere and determined he was about his pledge and at the same time I felt so relieved that I have handled the situation well.

I really didn't expect this to happen. I just don't want him to get embarrassed so I made a pact with him not to tell the administration about his inappropriate behavior and at the same time I don't want to make it as a hoopla and have other people wag their tongues if it will erupt as a gossip. I truly understand the consequnces of my actions and I hope I made the right decisions about it. Had there be any untoward complications in the future? ...... I hope it will not blow up into a billowing smoke. Please God help me!

Just Thanking The Lord

Today, I woke up so charged up and I guess I am ready for the whole day affair. Before I got out of bed I thanked God for keeping me safe the whole night and for giving me another beautiful day of my life. It seems that I have a good day today. And that remains to be seen yet.

I woke up early in the morning all charged up for this day. I thanked God first for keeping me safe the whole night and for giving me back my life again to tackle all the activities today. It was a pleasant morning for me and I couldn't be more thankful about it. At least I am alive and kicking today, full of spirits and excitement on what will happen today.

When I we opening my car door parking on the front lawn of the house I saw the blooming pistils of the matured dandelions on the grass lawns heralding the coming of Springtime and I was so fascinated by the beauty of it thanking Lord God for the good creation. Life is indeed sweet!

I drove to school because I am teaching today and I was surprise that the traffic was not that bad. The flow was so smot#oth and that there was no congestion. It was not a typical traffic that I have encountered every day. And again, I was thankful to God about it.

I arrived in school early and I have time to prepare and double check my lesson plan. I am very excited to teach today because it was my forte. I will be teaching Pediatric Nursing and I could never be more happier because it was just a piece of cake for me because of my very extensive experience in Pediatrics at the hospital. I am very happy about it and thankful to God as well.

The class had started slow but eventually we picked up and I reviewed the students about their pointers and I am very having that there passing rate for todays test was 98%. I sighed a breath of relief and I am very very satisfied about the result. At least the student had understood my lecture and I had helped them in some way to understand about Pediatric Nursing base on my previous experiences and I am very happy and thankful about it.

Life is always flowing. Things happens so quickly and sometimes we can learn from them through our own misfits. It is inevitable, unpredictable, and labile. And no matter what the outcome I'm always thankful about it. Life is always a challenge and we must prepare ourselves to face these challenges and never forget to thank God for everything that He has done not just for that day but for everything that He does.

I am very satisfied about everything that had happened in my life and I couldn't ask for more but just thank the good Lord about everything that He had done to me. I am always a firm believer about change and I am very positive about it as well as thankful about it regardless of what the outcome is.

We always learn from out pitfalls and we always strive for success. I have always a philosophy for improving more rather than be content of what is happening. I am a person who always look for answers to questions and I won't stop until I can scientifically answer it. I am an achiever and I am always thankful that God was been always with me during my struggles.

I always question the validity of unfairness but sometimes I see it as an tool of influence to better myself and not just to be content of what is is at hand. I always strive for perfection and I always have room for improvement. Life is short but above all I could not forget thanking the Lord everybody no matter what the outcome of my daily endeavors were. Yes, life is indeed a puzzle!

Pope Francis Was The New Pope

Jubilations all over the world was been seen as the new pope was named after two days of election among the cardinals worldwide as they were locked in the Sistine Chapel during the perennial pontifical conclave. Every body were been rejoicing because finally a new Pope was been named after Pope Benedict XVI had resigned later last month.

The new Pope elected during the secret conclave in closed room had emerged after the white smoke was been seen today at the makeshift chimney on the Sistine Chapel's roof. People gathered in the rain at the St. Peter's Basilica square were screaming with prayers and in extreme happiness after they waited at the square for two consecutive days patiently waiting for signs that the selection had finally ended.

For me I continued to check the news on Yahoo since yesterday and I was quite excited about it. I don't have any idea who will emerge as the annointed one but I am patiently waiting for it through the online news and articles. At the same time on my iPhone the New York Times news flashes had also heralded me the good news.

It was a relief having known it through it. It's just like riding on a roller-coaster ride and been rewarded at the final stop with the good news. At least we have a very good pontiff who idealizes the simplicity of life and the embodiment of a compassionate religious public figure. I hope he will bring changes to the already troubled Catholic churches worldwide and will influentially set a good example to all the religious leaders all over the globe.

His name is Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio. He is a 76-year-old Franciscan priest from Buenos Aires, Argentina. A son of an Italian immigrant and was been noted giving up the plush life of a high ranking priest. He cooks his own food and refused to be served. He commutes using public transportation and never had a chauffeur. He doesn't have any cell phone and uses the public telephone only. He is very traditional and conservative and also a brilliant person leading his parish in Buenos Aires with a very respectable leadership.

I felt that he will bring humility to everybody and will bring a big influence to all the Catholics all around the world especially in South America. And take note, he is the first pope outside Europe and from the Americas. A new record indeed after several centuries that Europeans had assumed and dominated the holy position. His appointment will bring good news to Catholics in South America.

He assumed the name of Francis embodying the life of St. Francis of Asisi who is the patron saint of Italy and also because he is a priest of his Franciscan Order congregation. Many people from South America were very thankful about his appointment and were very hopeful that he will bring change to the more challenges that the Catholic church was been facing currently.

Well, as for me I am just blogging off this very significant event of the century that had happened today because firstly I am a Catholic. Although I am not really a practicing one I am still excited about the whole conclave process and the outcome of the voting process. And secondly, because the perennial conclave only happens rarely. In my whole lifetime I only had witnessed two conclaves yet. One in 2005 when Pope Benedict XVI was chosen and right now when Pope Francis was been selected.

Several world leaders had welcomed the new pope. I perceived it as a courtesy to his holy election as well as showing humility and respect to the so-called holy see. I felt good about this because there is a harmonious relationship happening here and I hope this will keep going as time elapsed. I am happy to hear that President Barack Obama, despite of his different belief and religion, had humbly send his courtesy greetings to His Imminence and I am thankful that everything were in order now, now that the Holy Week and Easter is approaching.

I am very honored that I have witnessed this very rare event of the century and so I blogged it right away here to document it and make it as a proof that I heard the good news that had brought gladness to the whole world. I am very happy now and content about it. Now we just have to hang on and see what will happen next. Just crossing my fingers and all!

My Neighbor Is Leaving Today

Today, I felt sad because my neighbor downstairs is leaving today. I got home early this morning from work and I felt that something will gonna happen today. I gave report early and had listened to the huddle then I left work. While driving home I decided to pass by Goodah to pick up breakfast and then went home.

When I got home I immediately opened the TV and watched the the previous American Idol episodes in Las Vegas "The Sudden Death Episode" recorded through my DVR wherein they will cut the 40 contestants and just take 10 boys and 10 girls for the top 20. There were 4 episodes in the DVR and I had watched all of them while eating the breakfast I just bought from Goodah consisted of fried garlic rice, corned beef, and chicken adobo.

In the middle of the last episode, that was around 1000H, I heard some noise downstairs so I peeped on the window and saw a big truck backing up. It seems that Jorge decided to leave the place permanently. I didn't know he was leaving so this sight that I've seen this morning had really confirmed all my questions.

I mean, I am not really close to Jorge but living within the premises had created us a silent bond between tenants. I never talked to him in a long conversation but we usually say "hi" and "hello" at each other or sometimes raised our eyebrows, nod our heads, or even waved our hands at each other. A very casual way of greeting indirectly at each other. A commonplace I may say.

I mean he is a nice guy, skinny looking, and very hyperactive (that's why he is skinny). He also ate a lot of greens (I mean salads, as evidenced by him eating with my landlord in front of the swimming pool. He was been living here for almost a year and I can't believe he will be leaving today. I don't know the reason why he is leaving because I haven't asked him why but I have a feeling it was about the parking.

Last Sunday specifically, I went home from work at the hospital and saw his car window on the right passenger side being smashed and broken perfectly. I mean it was technically broken. Good thing there was a car club on the steering wheel so maybe the thief cannot drive or take it basically. I was even shocked seeing it because our neighborhood is usually quiet and peaceful at night. And also he has a 1980 Lincoln Mercury so basically there's no alarm and was probably the right target of the thief.

The problem with the house is that we don't have enough parking space so we usually have to park on the streets which I also usually do. And now that this thing had happened I feared that my car will be the next target. It bothered me a lot all the time. I've heard that there were series of circumstances and situations nearby the vicinity that had happened like this where the car's windows gets smashed at night.

I wonder if the victims had filed some police report so that the police can patrol the area and detect or catch the perpetrator. But I am extremely worried and bothered about these series of happenings in my neighborhood. On Jorge's part, he doesn't want to get involve that is why he didn't filed a police report as what my landlord had told me. He had his window fixed the same day and had paid only $100 for the labor as what my landlord had told me.

Today, I don't know what happened to me but I felt sad inside upon seeing that Jorge was been packing and leaving. It seems that our familiarity with each had created us a little indirect intimate connection or closeness that is why I felt sad about his leaving today. I've even texted my landlord and asked if it's really true that he is leaving and he said yes.

So Jorge, whatever our friendship bond is, I just wanted to say "good luck" to you and may God will help you where ever you go. Adios mi amigo! Contigo los Dios!

Diamond The Muncher

The other day I was so mad at my dog, Diamond, because she was very very naughty nowadays. I went to sleep the other night and might have dropped my right hearing aid on the floor instead of putting it in the nightstnd drawer. When I woke up the next day I was looking for it and I couldn't find it inside the drawer. I felt this uneasy feeling that something might have happened to it the whole night.

I tried to look for it inside the drawer where I had tucked it the previous night (which I usually place it)and it was not there so I suspected that the dog had probably had it. I looked under my bed where she used to stay or bring her food and munched there and my gut feeling was right.

I saw the black colored hearing aid with it's crystal head popping out. The battery was been out from it's socket and the socket appeared crushed and severely chewed. I was bursting into anger when I saw it and had realized that my $1200.00 hearing aid was been officially destroyed or chewed by the dog.

So far this was the most expensive thing she had destroyed. I felt really helpless and weak when I saw the poor thing scattered under the bed but what can I do? I picked it up and placed it in its purse hoping I could bring it to the audiologist the next day to have it send for repair. I was really hoping that it will be repaired but I had a feeling that it will not be because of its mangled and hapless appearance.

The wires were all chewed up except the glass head that fits the ear canal. Oh my God it was really happening. This was the worst fear that I always was thinking before, before I had the dog. In the past, she had also chewed my research book, puked on my Martha Stewart bed sheets, chewed the side of my leather Christian Dior luggage and was been shedding her hair on the customized suede couch cover. What else should she destroy next?

But my poor hearing aid..... it was really expensive to procure one nowadays. I called the audiologist the following day giving her a heads up that I am coming to see her the next day. I told her about the situation and she told me to come the next day because apparently she was out of town.

The next day I went to the audiologist's office and had showed her the mangled hearing aid. She assessed the thing and had told me that it's not repairable anymore judging by the hearing aid's wrecked and messed up appearance. It was just all over the place she said.

She recommended me to order a new one and I have to pay her for that. The cost of the new one was $1500.00 and I have to pay her up front. She made a mold of it on my right ear and had tucked it in a box for delivery to the factory or manufacturer who makes the hearing aid. She told me to pick up the new one in one week.

Well, as I recalled the destroyed hearing aid was been three years old already and it needed to be changed anyway. It has served it's purpose fully for the past three years and it's now time to change it. As of now, if not for this situation I haven't known that there were a lot of styles already for a hearing aid. It got really trendy! It's just like buying a new shoes. It is very expensive. No wonder why health insurance doesn't cover for it.

Well, bad things happen every where and any where all the time. It was just unfortunate that Diamond, "The Muncher" had just destroyed my poor hearing aid. She did the honor anyway of indirectly telling me that I needed to change it because it's already old and not in a trend. Well, I don't know if I'll get mad at her or thanked her for doing it. Gone was my expensive hearing aid and now I have to shore out another over a thousand dollars money to procure a new and trendy one.

Anyway, it's just a thing and it is replaceable, however, my dog is not. Dogs are dogs so I have to be more careful with her as well as patient for her. Tskkk... Tskkk... I still cannot believed that my hearing aid was already gone but what else could I do? Waaaahhhhh!