another weekend stay

Car has been restored. Its almost too old to say ....'to its former glory'. A new car would look better but the pocket is not ready for that right now.
Spent last weekend at the condo with big nephew and niece (from eldest sister). Medical student niece had alot of catching up to do with her studies so she came with a bagful of books and notes. Engineering student nephew was on holiday so he took along his laptop, lots of CDs, and the whatchamacallit tiny gadhet that serves as a playstation, internet device, etc.
We had lots to eat.....Mom made curried chicken and packed that up for us, eldest sister sent a tray of cookies, second sister dropped buy with roasted chicken (she brought along her three boys too), Then we decided to follow second sis home...she lives nearby.....so that Niece could study while Nephew and I could watch movies on the theatre system with three boys.
We also had chocolate cake courtesy of second sis. mmmm delicious.
We got back to the condo at night but it was arining so we couldnt go to the pool. I love going to the pool at night when its cooler and quieter.
Next morning we went to the mall and had a good breakfast. Nephew then looked for a wireless headphone but it was not in stock. I then drove the kids home.
Nice weekend.....not something easily repeated looking at the three individuals's packed schedules.

First night

Spent the first night at my new condo. Nope, I havent moved in yet and the way things are moving, it may very well end up as either a holiday home or a weekend home for me!!!
It was a nice peace ful night. Mom came along and we spent the earlier part of the day shopping. Bought a few electrical gadgets to make the condo livable. I got a small TV so that mom doesnt miss her favorite shoes even tho we were gonna be there just one night! Dutiful child, thats me!
Had an accident with the condo park wall and made a slight dent on the back passenger door! Gez, its almost time for a new car.....me thinks....but me pocket is not willing. Soon found that it will cost almost $500 to restore that.
I really cleaned and mopped (twice!!!) the condo. Its sparkling clean now.
The living, dinning and master bedrooms are almost fully furnished. I'll take it slower for the other rooms.
My sister and her three boys came over after dinner and the whole group rested by the swimming pool to watch the stars and chat. Really really swell time! I hope my stay there will always be as comfortable as the first night.

Condo Dondos

What a day!!! I lost my temper several times yesterday with a whole bunch of incompetent people in the business of getting my condo fully decorated and ready. Lets start with the first one.
I stopped at the supermart with mom getting a few stuff that I figured would be neccessary in trying to get the new condo clean and ready....toilet bowl cleaner, floor detergent, soaps, toilet brust, etc. Got a call from the air cond people who had already arrived to fix the installation. Drove in a rush for the next forty minutes. Arrived at condo.
There were pails and brushes at the entrance. The floor looked dirty! I was in shock. The renovations contractor was supposed to give me a completed and clean place cos today my stuff will be arriving! Called him up and gave him a piece of my mind. He sends an employee who was at my beck and call all day.
A phone call from the furniture delivery man. He estimated that he would arrive after 7.30PM. I had specifically requested early delivery at 2pm latest. I dont live there yet and need to go home for my dinner. Made a few calls to fire the people involved with sticking to what was earlier agreed. Less than 5 minutes later the delivery man called to say he was almost outside the condo building.....see how easy it is to get things done if u can lose your temper in the right directions!
The curtain man was a tad smarter. He came as promised, started hanging the curtains. Then the father and son team delivered the bomb.....there were a few pieces of the day curtain which would only be completed the next day! By then , I had cooled down a bit so I let it pass, especially since they did not request for part payment of what had already been hung up.
My condo looks so much better and almost homely.
The next day I saw the developer people and now they are fixing the problem of the missing wire. I wont be moving in so soon. But I intend to maybe sleepover some days. That's going to be exciting!

At last, now......

Knowing what u want in your life is about as important as having life itself. Having lived this many years, I am at a point where I am no longer afraid of saying what I want and what I know I do deserve.

I deserve.........
to be loved and appreciated by people whom I care about.
to be loved and cared about in a special way by someone who is not afraid to declare his love
to love and not be afraid to say so lest I scare the other person by using the L word

I have met alot of people in my time. Love has not been an easy path for me. I have loved some who did not deserve the love. I have met some very nice people who had problems of their own which was not mine to solve.

Some of the nicest guys I know unfortunately have their own histories to deal with. At one point I thought that the problem was me but looking back I now know that their problems existed before I came into their lives. It is up to them to solve or overcome their past and if they are able to look beyond their mess, maybe they might just see me and the future.

Its sad that because what someelse did to them, some people are unable to see the good that God has now laid before them. They are afraid to love, to use the word love or to show those who care about them their love.

I dont have forever. They dont have forever.

I am ready to meet people who have no hang ups about loving, being loved and falling in love.

JAR's European Adventure....read all about it here!!!

JAR wrote the following about his Europe visit. I enjoyed reading it so much that I got his permission to put it up here. Names of people are changed or disguised. I hope you enjoy this too!

The things that went wrong......by JAR

I lost the wireless adaptor for laptop the day before I was leaving. The day before I was to leave R emailed me and said he could not come to get me at Frankfurt but to take the train to Wurzburg. I found the train schedule on the internet, but could not buy a ticket because the time was too short before I was leaving.

Arrived at LAX airport three hours early to wait in four lines; each about half an hour.
First, the check in counter; then a line to have your baggage scanned, then a line to get it back, then the gate security check, shoes off, hand bags Xrayed, then the line to get on plane.

I found the train station in Frankfurt airport and headed for them. I saw platforms 1 thru 3 but I knew I needed platform 4. I had to walk several blocks looking for it. I asked for a ticket for Wursburg. The ticket clerktold me there was no such train. I said ICE train 721 at 1:09. Then he said oh..Vurzberg at 13:09, gleiss 4 Yes thats it. Two more blocks later I found the Fernstation for long distance trains. I watched as the one hour earlier train that I thought I could not make boarded and pulled away.
I had a snack in the BordBistro, on board the train. R was at Wurzburg as he promised.

I misremembered when my FRA to MXP flight was. I thought it was about 2:30 PM, discovered it was 9:30 am, in Frankfurt more than an hour away, my visit here was over now.
I had to cut short my HXXX time and get up at 4 in morning to take a taxi.
There was an accident on the autobahn, two trucks had collided. For about one hour we were virtually stopped as we went onto a side road with miles of cars in the dim light and light rain. Cost $180 fare, train had been $50.
Tried to check in at aiport with self service machine but it would not let me.
All well to MXP, G picked me up at airport.

We could not make the W machine work. It spilled out wxx missing the small opening.
Neither hotel nor PAL had wireless, did not know what I was talking about.
M took me to an internet cafe in town to use the computer, but it was closed till 4:00 PM
We came back at 4:00 but then found they had no wireless either . I could not use my laptop to get GXX mail. We walked down the street carrying laptop looking for wireless signal. I left my bag with money and passport inside in the firstcafe. I did not realize it for half an hour when we came back to the car.
RD took me to station Friday night but we could not buy train ticket Lecco to Milan Centrale to Roma because that was considered a reservation and that closed at 7:30
I set GPS alarm clock to make certain I woke up ontime. It jammed and I had to remove the battery to make it work again.
Hotel owner took me to train station at 8:00 next morning but there were no tickets.The clerk told me I could buy tickets for a later train and try to get on the earlier train in Milan but I would have to talk to conductor and pay extra. I just bought the tickets and took the first train to Milan. It was delayed and stopped out in the middleof nowhere for fifteen minutes. When I got to Milan it was about right for the later train.
I got to my seat in carozzo 7, coach 7 which was a block away from the engine. My seat was facing backwards. That has a tendency to give me motion sickness.When the train pulled into Florence I saw my chance and switched seats. The train pulled out backwards and I panicked assuming I was heading back to Milan. I asked one of the other passengers and they reassured it was the train to Rome but the rest of the trip was in reverse, me sitting backwards again.

Somehow the electric train interfered with my magnetic compass and never showed the right direction. The GPS did show me that we started out about 80 but as we got out the city the train ran about 150 MPH. I could not find the waypoint on my GPS or the hotel reservation sheet. I checked on my GPS for lodging nearby. It actually found it. The hotel was 500 feet in front of me.
The hotel wanted to keep my passport said they had toget some numbers, but I waited till I gotit back.
GPS could not read near the tall buildings had to walk in middle of street I walked right past the Trevi fountain and had to come back.
My camera started jamming, would not come out all of the way. It ran the battery down going back and forth. My back up camera and battery had also run down.
During the last few days even though I had not used it, the pins bent inside my foreign plug adaptor so I could not recharge the batteries. I asked the hotel clerk to see if they had one, no, they sent me to train station where there was an electronics store. When I got there it was closed.
It is 10:00 PM. Then I had enough for the evening. I turned out the lights to go to bed. The switch sparked and all the power in the room went out. No one answered the phone, apparently operator had gone to bed.
I put on my pants and went downstairs to get the clerk. A man came up and reset breaker down the hall, and changed a burned bulb in the lamp.

The next day I decided all this walking was too much and got on a tour bus. The open top deck was full so I sat down below. At the only seat where the audio plug did not work.
At the next stop a bunch of people came off of the top. I tried to go up the stairs but was waiting for a lady to come down. A couple behind me gotimpatient, pushed past me, pushed their way upstairs and took the last two seats.
The next stop I was faster. I went up the back staircase and was able to get a good seat. As we drove along I realized while changing seats I had missed San Pietro stop where I had wanted to go. I decided to just stay on the bus while it went around the city. I was tired of walking.

At San Pietro I got to see the tombs of the popes, but the Vatican was closed on Sunday and I could not get in to see the Sistine chapel. I wanted to go to St Mary of the Immaculate Conception but it was not on the map guide, the taxi driver did not know what I was talking about. This time the GPS performed its "nearby points of interest" located "Santa Mariadella Concezione" on Via Vittoria Venuteabout a mile away. I just showed that to the taxi driver and he said OH, Vittoria Venute.

I thought I would go away from the expensive restaurants and sit down where it was quiet.
I ordered raviloi con spinaci and they brought mecanneloni but it was OK so I ate it.Then for second course I ordered roast chicken breast with vegetables. They brought me a leg and thigh and charged me for chicken with potatoes. The two German men next to me had ordered a small desert they saw in the window by pointing it out. Their order was all wrong too. The Germans spoke no Italian and the waiter spoke no German but they both spoke poor English I told them in Italian the mistake he made. He was shocked that I could speak.

I thought I knew where the Fiumcino trains left from because I had checked Saturday when I arrived came the next morning in plenty of time. I tried to buy a ticket from the machine, it wanted E11, it took my E10 , then I looked in my pocketand realized I had packed all my loose change to simplify airport security. I had no more Euros. It would not give me by E10 back but printed a receipt I had to go to collect from a ticket officeI found an ATM machine and waited for the man to comeout. When he did I realized a card was stuck in the reader and mine would not go in. It would not work at all. I found a ticket office but it was still closed.I found another ATM about a block away. I asked for E50 just to be safe. It came out in a E50 but I remembered the train ticket machine would give no change more than E9. I ran the machine again and asked for E20 this time. Each transaction cost me $5.

Ticket in hand I headed for platform 28. Train was at 7:52. It was 7:48. I begin to rush.I am at platform 25. All of 1 thru 25 are in a row about a block across.I walk quickly for about a block following the signs. Every time I think I am close I have to go around a corner and even farther. About two blocks away, outside the train station I find platform 28, see the train and head for it. Ticket taker said, "partito" (it has departed) the doors were closed. A minute later it pulled away.
Waited 30 minutes for next train. Got in first class section mistakenly. Then I saw another person's ticket and realized on this train first class and second class were same price.If a conductor comes I am going to pretend to be dumb and not speak.

Got to airport, checked in with self service machine. There was a girl there to help. This time the machine knew me and gave me a ticket. I had been in a line of maybe five people.The plane was late in leaving.

I was still in the air when I looked and it was ten minutes till my next flight was boarding. I knew I had to go thru passport control and special extra security in Frankfurt. We land, they announce a gate change,then before we get to terminal another gate change. I am panicking a little but realize other people have same connection. The lady next to me has a huge bag and has to go to gate 28. I told her I would help her off the plane but then I had to run. The plane appears to taxi around the runaway for about half an hour before we get to gate.I get off of the plane, we have arrived at Terminal A, I have to be at Terminal B.
The lady has found a courtesy electric car; I put her bag on it but there is no room for me. I see the arrows pointing to terminal B but then they just disappear. Then I see it directs towards an elevator. There is a line waiting, I decide not to wait and just go down the stairs that I found It is at least four flights down. Then I run underground for about what seems like half a mile, up another four flights of stairs. Go thru passport control then to the special "bound for America" security check line.
This time it is a "hands on"body check, no wand. I think I would rather the woman do this check. I have to take off my shoes and sit down so they can feel the bottom ofmy feet. I arrive at the gate to realize that I have plenty of time. It has not even started boarding.I talk to the people next to me. They said yes, we were running with you, we skipped the elevator down but too it coming up. I called this a triatholon. They all laughed.

Tried to sign up on connexion to use internet. It kept telling me my password was invalid. Waited 15 minutes and tried again. same thing. It did go to a page that could not be found.Then the entire wireless signal just disappeared for about an hour. We were over the cold and snow of Greenland. About the fifth time it worked.

LAX, got home. Landed on time but a KAL flight was at our gate. Had to sit on the tarmac half an hour waiting for it to leave. Got to my car. there is a ticket on it. Though my registration is current, apparently my tag is missing, $25. $84 for parking. I think that has gone up again.

The moral of this story is simple, organize things as much as you can, know as much as you can, take back ups and make "B" plans. In the end there are things beyond our control. One might as well sit back and enjoy what you can as long as you can and not get too stressed about it.
When do we go back ?

(That sure was interesting, JAR.....I bet u had alot more fun because of the mishaps!!!)

lunch hour, skin and Rome pics

Right now I am physically tired. I just used the first half of my lunch hour taking a much needed nap. Now I need to freshen up and get me mentally tuned back to my work-level.
At least I have a job that allows me to have a lunch hour where I can do just about everything.....most of the time I also use it to continue doing my work. I dont go out to lunch; prefering to eat something light possibly bought from the canteen.
I have a rather flexible working hours which requires me to complete my tasks, be on the job when I am supposed to be but NOT requiring me to be physically there 9 to 5. Though it sounds fantastic it also means sometimes I totally lose my weekends when the need arises. OK. Thats enough about job complaints.
My skin has improved so much that sometimes I forget how bad it used to be. I keep wanting the skin to look even better that perhaps the new product's capabilities has almost been fully exhausted. My level of confidence has risen over the past few months to a new high that I have even gone to gatherings and dinners with my BARE face on! I would have never believed that that was even a remote possibility earlier this year!
JAR is back home and has emailed me a pic of him and a naked statue in Rome. I cant put it up here as that might defeat the aura of anonymity that the net offers! I shall wait for pics that does not include JAR's face.
Next week some of my purchases for the new condo is due to arrive. That will be exciting!

Workload

Weekend of work just passed. Thank goodness. I had to go to work on Saturday AND bring home work to help ease the next week's burden. Got up early Sunday to do more work stuff. By mid day, I had had enuff and decided to take a few hours off to go shopping. Bought my two little nieces some cute (but spell that as expensive!) clothes. I dont believe I ever had anyone buy me such expensive clothings when I was a kid....but I just cant resist wanting to see the babies looking good!
I had to miss one 'get together' at my new condo due to the massive workload over the weekend. Doesnt matter. I can socialise latter after I have moved in. Next week the contractor should be giving me my renovated condo, some of my new stuff bought should be arriving, etc. A different kind of workload. I am looking forwards to that (though a little worried of the unexpected, as usual).
JAR is in Rome as I write this. Lucky him. He is almost at the end of his trip. Then the long flight home. I hope he emails me some nice pics that I can put up here.