Monday, October 31, 2005
Black Hole
I was happily typing away my thoughts just a few minutes ago, and got about three paragraphs' worth of words. I reviewed and proofread what I wrote. After a few corrections and revisions, I finally found it to be blog-worthy. I press the publish button and switched to another window to surf as it was publishing. I go back to the previous window to find the words "Page Cannot Be Displayed". Noooooooooooooo! Arrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhh! I tried refreshing, it didn't work. I pressed the "back" button, nothing happened. Everything I wrote just disappeared into the dreaded internet black hole, never to be retrieved again. Don't you just HATE it when that happens?!?!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Our Anniversary Issue Is Online!
Please check out the anniversary issue of PINOYexpats. Melissa's brainchild is a year old and thriving beautifully with her at the helm. I'm glad to be associated with it. :)
The theme for the anniversary issue is citizenship. Most of you know that I'm going through the steps of naturalization. You will find my thoughts about it under the worldPINOYS section.
Thank you for stopping by!
The theme for the anniversary issue is citizenship. Most of you know that I'm going through the steps of naturalization. You will find my thoughts about it under the worldPINOYS section.
Thank you for stopping by!
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Being Right and Being Wise
My father once told me, “Being always right is not as important as being wise.” He said that in my life, I will find myself in situations where I know I am right, but that I should have the wisdom to know when to assert the fact. “Having the last say does not necessarily mean that you’ve won the argument,” was another thing. Both statements stuck with me like glue. I am learning, through years of falling flat on my face and putting my foot in my mouth, to choose my battles -- to know when and in what circumstance to put in my $0.02 worth, and when I am just wasting my breath.
I have come across so many seemingly highly intelligent people that just do not have the wisdom and the sensitivity to rein in their tongues. It makes me think that their self-esteem is tied in to the number of words that they utter, whether they believe in what they’re saying or not. The haughty attitude and tone that accompany their statements just add to the aural delight. I don’t think they clue in to the fact that the more they voice out their thoughts in that manner, the less it means to anyone else who has to hear it all the time. What’s sad is, by the time they’re actually saying something that is worth some thought, people have probably stopped listening.
Any statement that comes from such people, I am learning to just shrug off. Venting in any way makes them happy, ignoring them keeps me happy. We’re all happy! After all, that’s what’s important, n’est-ce pas?
I have come across so many seemingly highly intelligent people that just do not have the wisdom and the sensitivity to rein in their tongues. It makes me think that their self-esteem is tied in to the number of words that they utter, whether they believe in what they’re saying or not. The haughty attitude and tone that accompany their statements just add to the aural delight. I don’t think they clue in to the fact that the more they voice out their thoughts in that manner, the less it means to anyone else who has to hear it all the time. What’s sad is, by the time they’re actually saying something that is worth some thought, people have probably stopped listening.
Any statement that comes from such people, I am learning to just shrug off. Venting in any way makes them happy, ignoring them keeps me happy. We’re all happy! After all, that’s what’s important, n’est-ce pas?
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Finally Seeing Niagara
Hubby and I got to hit two birds with one stone. We wanted to do was break-in the new car, and we also wanted to go see Niagara Falls before it got too cold. We had been putting it off long enough. So last weekend, we decided to drive to the Canadian border town and have a look around.
The sight of the Falls was breathtaking. There's nothing like seeing something so much greater than us. It truly puts the small stuff in our lives in perspective. It just emphasized to me the evanescence of our circumstances, problems and lives. How the little things that we can be so consumed about are nothing in the light of something that represents a measure of eternity. That was what the Falls signified to me despite the fact that is it "younger" than than many of the natural wonders of our world. It was awesome in its display of power and magnitude. It wasn't quite like seeing the Grand Canyon, but it came pretty close.
We played tourists and got the city's Adventure Pass that allowed us unlimited access to the PeopleMover, which is the bus that brings people from one tourist spot to another. We first went into the Journey Behind the Falls which is a viewing deck halfway down, right next to the falls. It was connected by a tunnel to two openings that allow you to view the Falls from behind.
Our next stop was something that one just has to do when visiting Niagara Falls, going on the Maid of the Mist. It's the boat that brings tourists as close to the Falls as possible. The winds were in our favor and we didn't get as soaked as the ones that went before and after us. I was thankful since the air was quite chilly as it was.
We then had lunch at the Skylon Tower. It's a 55-storey (?) tower that has a window elevator that shoots you up to the restaurant and viewing deck above. A bit pricey for what they had to serve, but I guess they factor in the spectacular view in your bill, more than anything. There's nothing quite like viewing the Earth from above.
The Butterfly Conservatory was a huge greenhouse with 2,000 butterflies flying around freely. Shutter-happy Hubby had quite a heyday shooting the lovely little creatures who landed wherever they pleased. In my case, it was my collar and the lens of the camera. The greenhouse simulated a warm, tropical climate with lots of flowers and plants. They had feeding stations where you can watch them feed, as well as a "birthing station" where they had rows and rows of cocoons at their different stages. At the bottom, there were a number of newly born butterflies that were perched at the little holes in the glass casing, ready to fly out into the greenhouse.
In the evening, we took a stroll along the Falls to see the lights show. The lights are on from 7:00 to 11:00 pm and bathes both the American and the Canadian Falls in different colors. It was pretty cool. We waited for the fireworks show that never came. It usually happened every Friday and Sunday night at 10:00 pm at the American Falls, from the start of summer to a certain date in October. We were erroneously informed that it was still going on. Nevertheless, we still had fun just drinking in the sight as we strolled the riverbanks that evening.
As with most good time, it had to end. We found ourselves driving back to rain-soaked Boston sooner than we really wanted. But I must say that the long drive to and fro in three days was totally worth it. It's another special memory for us. :)
The sight of the Falls was breathtaking. There's nothing like seeing something so much greater than us. It truly puts the small stuff in our lives in perspective. It just emphasized to me the evanescence of our circumstances, problems and lives. How the little things that we can be so consumed about are nothing in the light of something that represents a measure of eternity. That was what the Falls signified to me despite the fact that is it "younger" than than many of the natural wonders of our world. It was awesome in its display of power and magnitude. It wasn't quite like seeing the Grand Canyon, but it came pretty close.
We played tourists and got the city's Adventure Pass that allowed us unlimited access to the PeopleMover, which is the bus that brings people from one tourist spot to another. We first went into the Journey Behind the Falls which is a viewing deck halfway down, right next to the falls. It was connected by a tunnel to two openings that allow you to view the Falls from behind.
Our next stop was something that one just has to do when visiting Niagara Falls, going on the Maid of the Mist. It's the boat that brings tourists as close to the Falls as possible. The winds were in our favor and we didn't get as soaked as the ones that went before and after us. I was thankful since the air was quite chilly as it was.
We then had lunch at the Skylon Tower. It's a 55-storey (?) tower that has a window elevator that shoots you up to the restaurant and viewing deck above. A bit pricey for what they had to serve, but I guess they factor in the spectacular view in your bill, more than anything. There's nothing quite like viewing the Earth from above.
The Butterfly Conservatory was a huge greenhouse with 2,000 butterflies flying around freely. Shutter-happy Hubby had quite a heyday shooting the lovely little creatures who landed wherever they pleased. In my case, it was my collar and the lens of the camera. The greenhouse simulated a warm, tropical climate with lots of flowers and plants. They had feeding stations where you can watch them feed, as well as a "birthing station" where they had rows and rows of cocoons at their different stages. At the bottom, there were a number of newly born butterflies that were perched at the little holes in the glass casing, ready to fly out into the greenhouse.
In the evening, we took a stroll along the Falls to see the lights show. The lights are on from 7:00 to 11:00 pm and bathes both the American and the Canadian Falls in different colors. It was pretty cool. We waited for the fireworks show that never came. It usually happened every Friday and Sunday night at 10:00 pm at the American Falls, from the start of summer to a certain date in October. We were erroneously informed that it was still going on. Nevertheless, we still had fun just drinking in the sight as we strolled the riverbanks that evening.
As with most good time, it had to end. We found ourselves driving back to rain-soaked Boston sooner than we really wanted. But I must say that the long drive to and fro in three days was totally worth it. It's another special memory for us. :)
Saturday, October 01, 2005
To Trust A Boston Police Officer...
Today, after dropping hubby off in UMass, I drove to Chinatown to meet an old friend for lunch. As I went around for the third time looking for parking, I noticed a small street with some vacant spaces. I went around once more and before I got to the street, I pulled over beside a police cruiser and asked the officer inside if it was okay to park there and if it was a tow-away zone, just to be sure. He responded, "If there's a space there, then take it!" So I parked there, happy at the thought that I did not have to pay $5.00 per half an hour in some parking garage. After my leisurely lunch at Penang and some dessert at the Cheesecake Factory, I got back to the car only to find something orange stuck to my windsheild. Lo and behold, it was a $55.00 parking ticket!
I was naive to take the word of a Boston Police Officer. I guess he was right. I didn't get towed. He just failed to tell me that I could get a big fat ticket!!! My husband always said that I trusted people too much. Oh, well. An expensive lesson for me. One that I surely won't forget next time I try to park in Boston.
I was naive to take the word of a Boston Police Officer. I guess he was right. I didn't get towed. He just failed to tell me that I could get a big fat ticket!!! My husband always said that I trusted people too much. Oh, well. An expensive lesson for me. One that I surely won't forget next time I try to park in Boston.
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