My Bling Box

One of our favorite past time aside from biking and walking is garage sale / flea market rummaging. Every saturday we spend some time to drive around the neighborhood to look for sales. The other week, we found 2 nice and new bikes from a couple in the neighboring community for only $40. Isnt it nice? We thought it was a good deal. We also bought 2 barbels for $10. Saturday tradition should not be borken, last Saturday we embarked on yet another shopping spree, that is garage sale shopping spree. We started early and found this new earing organizer for $1 to house my collection of blings. Most of the bling-blings are my own design and creation. It gives me great joy and pride to wear my creations and to see other people proudly wearing my creations as well. I can recognize an ARTISTIKA masterpiece, and Im proud of my art. Even here in the US, I still make accessories, and I still collect shells. Yeah, old habits die hard. These are just a third of my blings. I left a treasure chest full in Virac and I have more in Manila. Did I tell you I used to make them for a living? Oh by the way, I forgot to mention the special participation of my favorite Little Miss Agatha Ruth Romero whos handiwork and imagination had been very helpful in the creation of that bling-blings. Thank you Agatha. I miss you and Jarrod and Mom and Dad and Tita Jing. Keep up the good work. (NB. Agatha is a cute little miss 10 year old daughter of my very very good friends Ding and Anne. Shes very artistic and creative, and has a fantastic voice. Her favorite song is "tomorrow" and I still remember her vividly when she sings "the sun will come out....tomorrow.." with feelings. Shes a grade 3 and a consistent Bergamo at OB Montissori in Greenhills. Yehey, im so proud of you Agatha. Keep it up gurl!)

Skilisthenics

Greg documented my first introduction to the great winter sports he is so much in love with. It took me 3 tries on broadway and on north peak before I convinced him that I should be better off making siopao and "bilo-bilo" instead.

Worriless but penniless

There is never a boring weekend here in Jupiter. The atlantic ocean is always there for your own enjoyment and its there for free. It has been a part of our life since we came here. I was just browsing the brochures I have collected from the hotel that I have discovered that there are more to the place that we have yet to explore like safari, turtle sanctuary (turtles are nesting at this time now March to October, and its here in Jupiter and Juno, museums and yes, more flea markets. There is one in Boca Raton which is the biggest in the US. That is definetely among our list of things to do and explore. In the meantime, our beach excursions have made me exotic looking, chocolate brown Pinay, I have never been toasted like this before. Few more days and I will blend in the night, the only remaining white will be a glow in the dark white around my eyes, Awoooooooo... Are you wondering what I do on weekdays? Mostly, I spend my days sitting by the computer frantically searching for jobs online. This day is no different.

Lechon ala Pobre (Ang Pobreng Lechon?)

I had my taste of a pig roast or "lechon" in the Philippines the other sunday but it is not the kind of lechon I've been drooling about. I imagine the juicy, lemon grassy, almost creamy taste of the meat and I imagine the sinful taste of the crispy skin....it is just so irresistibly yummy! Yesterday, while I was browsing in the meat section at the Publix, I found a fresh cut of pork butt with skin still attached to it. I never saw such an offering in Maine, so I thought I would make lechon kawali for dinner and grabbed a piece. Last night, Greg had a brilliant idea to pack our dinner and take them to the beach, but it was too late already for last night, so we just went to Outback instead. Were doing it tonight though. Hmmmm, it sounds romantic to me. Heres how to do it: pork butt salt freshly ground pepper minced garlic rosemary olive oil grab a knife and stab the meat several times then slap the meat with all the ingredients until your hands get sore. insert the seasonings in the openings (doon sa pinagsasaksak mo, ano ba?) hehe, and Bake at 375 degrees for 3 hours or until the skin is brown and crispy, depending on the size of the meat. Greg considers frying evil so I thought baking is a lesser evil. The pobreng lechon actually turned out really good. My hubby said it was succulent, I find the skin really crispy. I only cooked 1/4 of the meat, so I will have to cook some more soon. Weather here in Florida is very interesting, one moment it is hot, sunny and bright, one moment, it is dark, rain and thunder. According to Forrest Gump, "life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what youre getting". I say, life here in Florida is like a box of chocolate, you never know what youre getting. We planned to have dinner at the beach, earlier, the day was beautiful, later, it was gloomy and windy my thin body wont take the blow so my hubby set the table and we had a romantic dinner by the patio overlooking the lake. Hows that for ambience?

The graduate

I took an online class on Drugs and Substance Abuse and Traffice rules as a prerequisite for a learners permit here in Florida. The course was very educational, it introduced me to many drugs and its effects I dont even know exists. My curiousity was aroused, maybe I should try them...nyahaha. Well, Im proud that I have another certificate to add to my lousy, scarry driving resume. I still have few steps to do to get that coveted drivers license. First I have to take the Road Rules and Road Signs test and I learned that I can do it online too. I took it already in Maine and got it perfectly, unfortunately it is not valid here...so I have to retake it again. So Im hoping hubby will enroll me again to save me the time.

XPAntivirus is a Virus?

Please be aware of this virus. I got a warning on my computer and I stupidly clicked the icon. Once I clicked, it automatically downloads the software and runs a check of your computer and displays 100s of different vurises inside your PC then sends you alarming reports so you have to register and buy their product. You cant uninstall it from your program files as it will come out every time you reboot and a disturbing message pops up every 2 minutes. It is so annoying. I googled "XPantivirus" and heres what I found from www.xp-vista.com. I qoute: "XP Antivirus 2008 is one of the latest counterfeit antispyware that devastates the wolrd wide web. XP Antivirus 2008 usually come up after you installed a video codec that come with Trojan, malware and virus. XP Antivirus 2008 normally generates fake and misleading system popup error messages so end-users will be tricked into purchase XP Antivirus 2008.It is very important to remove all the components of of the XP Antivirus 2008 and all the malware and trojans that it might have come bundle with (such as zlob.trojan, trojan.vundo and Trojan.Downloader). To effectively remove XP Antivirus 2008, we have created a manual removal instructions which is easy to understand." If you ever accidentally get that virus, heres how to get rid of it: 1. Go to the run command 2. If you have successfully uninstalled it from the programs files previously, proceed to 3, otherwise, open "hkey current user" and delete "xpantivirus". 3.Go back to the run command and type "msconfig", then go to start-up then uncheck "xpa" 4. restart your computer 5.Go to c:\programfiles and delete "xpantivirus" It should work. Thanks TomT for the help.

Driving in Florida

To obtain your learners permit in Florida you are required to take a course that teaches you how drugs and alcohol affect your driving. Courses offered go by the name of either DATA (drugs, alcohol, traffic, awareness) or TLSAE (traffic law substance abuse education). These drivers education courses are regulated by the Florida DMV. I have enrolled in this course so I could drive in Florida. Its a pitty, I have reviewed extensively and perfected my exam in Maine unfortunately that permit is not valid in Florida so I need to retake plus I have to attend a class...arrrhhh. I have finished the first module there are 5 more to read and digest. Its fine with me though, the law is the law and no one is above the law. I hope this is my last learner's permit. I had my first student driver's license in 1998, lost it, and applied for a new one in 2000, it expired before I could even take a road test. When I finally got my own car, I applied for a new students license for the 3rd time hoping I could progress to a non-pro but instead, I crashed the car in front of my own store and never driven again. The cost of repair is too much compared to hiring a driver. In the Philippines, having a driver doesn't mean you are rich, it means, you haven't learned yet. Oh boy, when will I ever learn? Now, I have to go back to my class.

Seniors gone wild

We went to a pig roast party at the Sugar Cane Island Restaurant located inside Jupiter Bay Resort last sunday. It is walking distance from our building with only the lake dividing us. We heard that they have great food and the pig roast itself is awesome so I wanted to taste it and see for myself if it is any better than our own "lechon". Besides, it was obviously packed the other sunday, a band was playing loud reggae and disco music, shoutings can be heard from our balcony, people must be having lots of fun. This place is a retirement place, 90% of the patrons are seniors. The place is so loud, would you believe seniors could be this loud? They were dancing, drinking, shouting, laughing, oh they just know how to have fun like there is no tomorrow. The place was too loud you cant even hear yourself. You have to shout at the top of your lungs to be heard. I almost injured my vocal chords. Greg's explanation why those people were loud does makes sense: because they can't hear themselves. It didnt take us long to be seated and luckily, someone guided us in the far corner away from the maddening wild seniors. I guess they are about 70s and up. I wanna be like them when I retire, they are just so full of life. The food was really awesome, it was buffet setting, the pig roast was good but I still miss "lechon" and the sauce. Ours is still the best. We then paid our bill when the supervisor came to us to announce that we have won the best table of the night. Theyre giving us free dessert. Greg ordered for keylime pie, I never had it before and it sounded yummy to me so I said I have the same. Funny how we thought the criteria for judging was. Was it because we are the most behaved as opposed to the wild senior citizens in the house? We were just wondering but thankfull of the free dessert. I still have the keylime pie in the fridge.

Thank God its Friday

I'ts friday once again and as usual I'm home alone all day listening to the calming sounds of the waves and the winds and the qaucking sounds of the duck in the lake. My whole sorroundings is so inviting im fighting myself to resist the temptation but the pressure of finding a job is so immediate I can not afford to enjoy and relax. You know the feeling when your body drags you in one direction but your mind want to go somewhere else you cant sop worrying? After distributing numerous resumes all over the internet and to companies within our vicinity it feels so frustrating not to hear from any of them. Oh well yes, insurance companies and home based networking businesses have flooded my inbox but theyre excluded. I dont see myself selling insurance or food supplements as yet. There are many businesses, hotels, and accounting firms around but it seems that the hands of clock of these companies are too slow that if I wait for their call, I would be already eligible for retirement. Will I ever hear from them in the first place? I went to publix this morning and I found out they have tons of openings I know I am qualified. When Greg learned about it, he vehemently opposed the idea. Why, I can work while waiting for the right one and a bagger or a florist (I consider my self an artist huh, so I think I have the qualification) is definitely a decent and noble job. Thank god its friday, tomorrow is the time for me and Greg to do things together like grocery shopping, rummage sales, and look for more garage sales. At least for 2 days, I can rest my mind from the pressures of job hunting. Dont mind me, Im just venting.

Pure Luck

We were given a 4 day paid trip to Juno to look for a place to live thanks to the generosity of FPL. We really enjoyed the house hunting, restaurant hopping, the sand, the sea and the warm weather in Jupiter, I felt I was back in my natural element.We found our place and soon its time to go back to Maine to pack things we need to bring to Florida, to clean the house and get ready for the big move. Last friday was the day. It was a beautiful day to begin with, we had an early flight to catch at 7am so we checked out of the hotel at 5. We decided it was best to leave our things at the hotel since we were coming back after 2 days anyway. WE had one empty suitcase so we put our coats in it -- travel safe, travel light --haha. Afterall, It was bright and sunny when we left West Palm so we didn't even bother to check the weather, we were so unaware of whats happening in the north east, we were so unaware of things to come. When we get to Philadelphia, we noticed lots of people, hoards of people and we were wondering why. Immediately, we went to our designated gate only to discover that our flight was canceled. Actually, not just our flight, 500 other flights to New England were canceled due to bad weather. We went to the ticketing office on the left wing of the complex and found ourselves at the end of very very long lines of stranded passengers trying to get to the next available flights. Unfortunately for us, Monday is the first available flight to Maine which is our return flight to WEst Palm. They cant even book us to Boston, so we decided to take Amtrak from Philadelphia to Boston. Then we went to the baggage claim area. We waited for 3 hours but our luggage can not be located. Stranded in Philadelphia in freezing weather with nothing except a laptop,is not my idea of good fun. But tell you what, I am a veteran of cancellations, delays and bad weather phenomenon. I was in a plane that overshot the runway, experienced flying and the plane had engine trouble while in the air, I had been in a roller coaster flight from take off to landing, I had been stranded countless times. And I have survived. So I think I am better prepared for these situations than Greggy. He is getting grumpy, I just kept my cool. The guy at the US airways gave us a list of hotels to stay. We checked on the list from number 1 down to 25. All hotels are full we end up staying in a 5 star hotel for the night, oh yeah, negative 5 star hotel. Then we need to find a place to buy toothbrush so we grabbed 2 towels to wrap ourselves and spotted a CVS pharmacy 2 blocks from the hotel. We were running in freezing cold and rain with only a hotel towel to warm us up. We feel like homeless people on the loose. Then we saw $2.99 hoddie on the rack, we thought it was a good buy so we grabbed one each and asked the cashier if we could wear them already, she looked at us and laughed out loud. We furtively examined ourselves and started laughing out loud too, oh boy, we really look so pathetic. We came to West Palm Beach with 2 luggages, went back home with our only earthly posession -- a placticfull of pringles and nuts. Just our luck.

Pure Luck Part 3

Time to go back to West Palm Beach -- this time for good. Ewan, Greg's friend took us to the airport, it was a tearfull goodbye. As we were waiting at our gate, we heard our names on the speaker system: "Passengers Bove and Sacris (Seycris) please proceed to the US airways counter for further instructions." I thought, what? Whats the bad news this time? Im getting so paranaoid after all our misadventures the past weeks. Im beginning to think that if this proves to be another bad news there must be a negative message with this big move and we have to stop this. Greg said, you stay here and I will handle this, ok? To think that I think I am the coolest person on earth is an understatement. I watched GReg from my seat, my neck is so overstretch (I think Im having a stiff neck) to see whats happening in the counter, I watched and tried to read his lips while talking to the US airways staff. Sorry for being nosy, I was so earger to know whats happening. I saw him smiling and very ecstatic, I could sense it was a good news. He went back to our seats to tell me the good news. We were upgraded to first class on this trip plus we each get a round trip ticket to anywhere in the US. Yahoo..Maybe the gods think that we had endured to much he decided to change our fate. I began dreaming of places to go this year. Las Vegas? no we can get cheap tickets to there. California? Maybe I should visit my friend Jessica in LA. Maybe we should visit my sisters in New YOrk? Maybe... In contrast to our travels last week, this one is very smooth and relaxed. I wish we always travel first class. The flight attendant asked us what we want, Greg wanted a glass of drambui but they dont have it on the flight, so they replaced it with cavernet sauvignon, I had a glass of baileys. He gave me 2 glasses, I hid the one bottle in Greg's cargo pants pocket. The attendant keeps coming back to ask us what we want, I wanted to ask more alcohol, but we need to keep sober for the sake of our own sanity. Now, I understand why some people like to travel in style.

Pure Luck Part 2

The Amtrak trip was crowded but uneventful. We finally get to Boston and then on to Maine. Went straight to the airport to pick up our truck when Greg remembered that the pick up key was in his jacket pocket inside the lost luggage. We checked the US airways counter to see if we could be reunited with our luggage. We saw rows of bags and luggages in the hallway waiting for their owners to claim but unfortunately, none was ours. Greg's Dad picked us up and we went home. I really miss our house in Maine. Greg built it himself so it is a work of art. I like it in its simplicity, and its simplicity is manageable. It is a bachelor's pad, so neat and minimal. Greg want it that way, he calls himself a minimalist. I like it too, but I also like colors, vivrant colors because I believe that colors has tremendous effect in someone's mood. Let me give you an example: Greg is grumpy, I am cool. As soon I settled in the house, I started rearranging everything. The bed faces the south, now it is in the east. Cabinets on the left, now on the right. Vintage bottles overhead, now on the floor. I put up decorations and bring in flowers to brighten the house. When Greg came home, he thought he is in someone else's house. I can tell that he didnt like it, but since I am left all alone in the house most of the time, he has no choice but to give me that liberty. The house now has personality, I believe. No longer his, but yeah, its mine...hehe. Afterall, whatever is yours is mine, right Greg? So we are back home after 2 snow storms in a row and you could just imagine how terribly snowed our driveway was. The snow had hardened to ice and we cant even get the car to the driveway. Greg decided we would leave the car and walk trough the driveway. It was so icy, I keep sliding and falling, my hands are getting hard and numb from holding on to the ice after each fall. Greg managed to get into the house first, turned the lights on and went back to get me and handed me walking poles. After 20 minutes I get to the house, thanks to the walking poles it saved me from sliding. That night, we slept like a rock.