Pinay New Yorker

Crossposted on Pinay New Yorker

My main blog is out of commission not because of bandwidth, but it seems the blog host is tweaking its site again. ( *SIGH* )  So let me start this post here.

I can’t really remember when it was that I started to develop a fascination for lighthouses.  I’ve been a postcard collector for 2 decades now and I guess it started from the lighthouse postcards that I received.  Back in the beginning, I collected anything and everything from outside the Philippines.  I regret now that I never paid enough attention to the Philippine postcards not knowing I would eventually leave Manila to live in another part of the world.  Isn’t it ironic that I am now collecting Philippine postcards?  — even your everyday run-of-the-mill postcard found in National Bookstore

When I finally settled down in New York in 2000, I set about expanding my postcard collection and found myself concentrating on maps and lighthouses.

In the five years I’ve been here, I’ve confined my collecting interest as far as US postcards are concerned to the two — and I’ve built a sizeable collection from the 50 states, although not all have their lighthouses.  (Only coastal states of course have the benefit of having lighthouses dotting their coastlines.)  I have been trying to put them all in one website but have almost given up on doing that due to the size of the collection.  I’ve been collecting off and on but have always had a fascination for them.

One particular favorite of mine is the Montauk Lighthouse located in the nothernmost tip of Long Island, a 2 hour drive away from New York City.  I first visited Montauk in April 2003 after my second miscarraige and after I got laid off work when my CFO was let go due to job elimination.  It was Alan’s way of trying to cheer me up — and we had a lovely time although it was still chilly in the beginning of spring.  Since then, I’ve been back only once but it’s just a drive away.

Alan has given me lighthouse calendars and friends who know sometime surprise me with something lighthouse related.  Whenever we visit a place with a lighthouse, we try to make it a point to go and visit even just the grounds if the lighthouse is not available for viewing.

Montauk is a lighthouse collector’s delight because it has been converted into a museum and the grounds are just breathtaking.  Imagine yourself standing on a cliff at the edge of New York and all you see beyond is the blue sea.  It’s also one of the more popular lighthouses amongst lighthouse postcard collectors and is much sought after to complete collections.

And here’s a bit of trivia for lighthouse afficionados out there: did you know that the Statue of Liberty is actually a lighthouse?  I learned that from an old friend from postcard collecting, Wes Babko ko shared this bit of trivia with me a few years back.

There’s a certain magic for me when I think about lighthouses.  Today is a good day to think of magic and favorite things.  I remember standing inside the Montauk lighthouse and looking out into the horizon.  It’s not just breath-taking, it’s awe inspiring.  That’s me and my fascination for lighthouses.

Yes, mom’s finally here.  It was quite an ordeal for her given not one but several mishaps from this one international airline.  (I am holding off on the bashing because I intend to air my grievance with their Sales & Marketing office to bring to their attention the ineptness of their system and their people.)  I’m just giving myself time to compose that letter.  It’s just surprising that an international airline like the one I chose for Mom actually committed the gaffes they did.

But I’m just happy she’s back here.  Angel and her are still adjusting to each other, but they’re getting on pretty well.  Mom also managed the trip pretty well so save for a cold, she’s okay.  Her sleep pattern is still on Manila time but we expect the jet lag will go in a day or two more. 

Meanwhile, I kept reassuring Angel earlier it’s the last he’s seen of daycare in a while.  He had a pretty good weekend.  My boy continues to grow like anything, and it’s so heartwarming to see him with his grandma.  I cannot say it often enough they held hands even before I could hold my baby in my arms.

With my childcare issues behind me, I have one less worry on my mind.

Cross posted on Pinay Mom on Motherhood, Etc.

Mom wasn’t feeling well the other day and was actually having my brother work on cancelling her flight.  (Un)fortunately, the 6-month grace period for the price hold was set to expire, and although the ticket could be extended, it meant an additional $630(!) — something to which my Mom, of course, was violently allergic to.  (I’m sure she would say again she cannot afford to spend that kind of money — buti pa ibigay ko na lang sa kanya. LOL) 

But she’s supposed to get on a 12NN flight to New York Wednesday Manila time.  She will be here with us Wednesday evening.  I can’t wait.  I can finally rest easy knowing Angel will no longer have to go to daycare.  Today’s his last day there — and I can rest easy he’ll be okay at home. 

I’m trying to think what kind of dinner to prepare for Mom. She’s feeling under the weather and has a heavy cold coming in.  I want to be able to make her feel as comfortable as possible.  I’m going to fix her bedroom tonight.. I’m even providing her a space heater.  I hope it’s not too cold coming into New York for her at this time of the year.  At least it’s not her first time this time of the year here.  Last year, she arrived in April 2004 and left almost a year to the day later.

Cross-posted on Pinay New Yorker

I usually check Friendster after checking my e-mail.  I try to see if any of my 20-something friends have any updates, if the dozen or so people I’m requesting to add as my friend have responded, and I try to remember who else I can search for.

Over the weekend I found Denmark, a rapper I did some voice tracks for as "Louningning".  (I heard he had re-issued this but I suppose he would’ve used someone new because it was produced by a different recording label.)  I just wanted a copy of my old "mini hit" because my husband has no idea I did that in a previous life.  (I am almost certain he will roll on the floor laughing once he hears it.)  Denmark, though, has several accounts and I can’t seem to get through to the one which he appears to be checking regularly of late.

Last night, I decided to go further back and searched for friends from my original block in UP Manila in 1983.  (Ask me my student number and I will rattle it off without batting an eyelash.)  I was part of a group of around 6-8, the only girl, and everyone’s little sister.  I still remember the guys: Robert, Ronnie, Ronald, Abner.. the others are somewhere at the back of my head.  This afternoon I got a response from Robert and yes, it’s GARP!  (Our pet name for him back then..)  Because I bumped into him, I searched for Ronnie, and I shot him a note although I’m almost certain that’s him in the picture I see.  SMALL WORLD INDEED!

I must say it’s very heartening to be able to connect to people who became part of a very interesting stage in my life.. way back when.  I don’t know if it’s the innocence of the age or just that it was from something very real and familiar that makes it all the more meaningful. 

Now let’s see who else I bump into here..

Crossposted on PinayMom on Motherhood, etc.

It’s another muggy Friday in New York.  I really wouldn’t mind weather like this because I like the fresh scent of falling rain, but Angel’s in daycare today in Grand Central, and we have to walk from 42nd street to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on 53rd to wait for Alan to be done with work so we can drive home.  I’m ready with my trusty plastic cover for the stroller, but I hate bringing him around in bad weather.

The last time we did, May 6 of this year, it was very cold but we managed to go around with him all bundled up. 

I promised him we’d get French Fries and some chicken nuggets at McDonald’s.  The boy just loves them!  It was a little heartbreaking to leave him this morning, though.  For the first time, he didn’t cry like he used to when he realized where we were.  He did stop and just stand still for a moment as I took a step towards the door and just seemed to be lost in thought, staring at the floor.  Even Jackie, one of the toddler teachers notice and asked him what was wrong.  He waved goodbye and started going after the bubbles Jackie blew to distract him from my departure.  He watched me walk away and go out the door, pick up my things in the foyer and disappear.

I guess he knows now that it’s just another day in daycare.  At his tender age of 17 months, Alan and I have noticed he’s very intuitive and can comprehend simple commands.  We’re counting 6 words now — there’s "Hi," "Mama" (that’s me), "Da" (his Papa), "D-D-D for DVD", "Yesssss," and "Ball." 

The wonders of parenthood.. we’re trying to keep up with what is touted as normal but we know that each child is unique.  We try not to pressure him — we want to enjoy seeing him develop into the person he will be so we keep our expectations reasonable.

Cross posted on my main blog Pinay New Yorker

I started getting invites to join Friendster in 2003, but I never really joined until a few weeks ago perhaps for lack of anything better to do.  Even my e-group from St. Paul College of Quezon City which is basically Yahoo based sent an invite, so I said, why not?

I have 21 friends to date and around half a dozen other invites pending.  One of the original friends who invited me hasn’t logged on for months.  I have been checking into my main page daily to see who else is here and to check on any updates on those on my list.  I have managed to find at least 2 nephews, one of who was a favorite godchild of mine.  I have two former assistants who became very good friends, my siblings (of course) and even my bestfriends are here.

Yesterday I searched for the "kids" of friends I was known as "Tita Dinna" to for the longest time.  I remember them as one or two year old babies, as 10 years boys doing homework, and now I am humbled to see them in their 20s, the youngest of whom I met when she was 3 now posting at 17 years old. 

Even their faces have changed so much from the young tykes I used to play with.  One young man we had helped to convince to go through the ritual of puberty, circumcision, I heard is starting a career of his own.

While I am afraid to ask for them to allow me to add them to my friends list lest it be deemed "uncool"– I couldn’t help but marvel at their presence as young adults here on Friendster.

I remember swimming parties, birthday parties, dinners at their houses with their mothers.. how one little boy didn’t want to give up the bottle but whom we talked into taking his milk from a glass as he was a young man now.

Seeing them all grown up now makes me feel so old, and here I am nurturing a sixteen month old son who, I hope, will grow up taking the better side of all these young people whose lives I had been a part of in one way or the other.

There is a part of me that wants to reach out to them and just tell them I’m still here, and I am here for them if they need me.. for whatever it’s worth — even if I’m 10,000 miles away.