tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118567902024-03-07T18:29:08.168-08:00everything under the sun... the sun rises here as the moon rises elsewheremariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-16588610569285872222010-11-08T13:49:00.000-08:002010-11-08T13:49:40.949-08:00updated?I'm trying out this new design template... the old one just don't work anymore with different browsers. The background is glaringly white though... and am not quite sure I like it. Sadly, since I'm no expert at website design, I still have to figure out how to change that... hopefully I can ;pmariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-77356167329457376092009-01-22T21:08:00.001-08:002009-01-22T23:57:37.509-08:00birthday surprises, wishes, and appreciationNo rest for the weary... birthday or not I had to work. Couldn't very well take another vacation seeing as I had only come back from one ;p But, I am not complaining. In fact, I think this must have been my best birthday to date.<br /><br />Sliding into my parking space at 12:30am of Jan. 21 (my bday, having had to work my usual midnight shift), I felt a little tired but surprisingly okay. Checked our mailbox, got on the elevator, opened the door... hmmm, why is it dark? and... three people jumped out from under the sheets and started singing happy birthday! It turned out that Kyla, Axel and my Mom labored hours before to come up with an impromptu birthday dinner... and I even got another cat necklace for my gift. Best surprise ever!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpPBmHTMR2luh3JNKtdntAyf6ePE0knha_U39mc5O6CCpgh86OBd5SBf9WHwjLPECDIwhLMa0zcoD0d0wG3a8_5QNuR8zTTnAR5fRk_PLC9GaS1pdz-ufFZu2AkXn9iTDFwWv/s1600-h/bday+pic3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294394276384380002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpPBmHTMR2luh3JNKtdntAyf6ePE0knha_U39mc5O6CCpgh86OBd5SBf9WHwjLPECDIwhLMa0zcoD0d0wG3a8_5QNuR8zTTnAR5fRk_PLC9GaS1pdz-ufFZu2AkXn9iTDFwWv/s400/bday+pic3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr5hQGz39Csww544a8SnlPtBEb62OWW-1vZAsmhuU4tqlRhEHpqoQ8g1sFDAe9RZCUJRs_Q64pB03-fVIM9hjB8dSo_TUZ_n8zO1FpyMF74hGowiFsuXTr0_fQwxXIE-tdzqa/s1600-h/bday+pic1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294394272090333490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr5hQGz39Csww544a8SnlPtBEb62OWW-1vZAsmhuU4tqlRhEHpqoQ8g1sFDAe9RZCUJRs_Q64pB03-fVIM9hjB8dSo_TUZ_n8zO1FpyMF74hGowiFsuXTr0_fQwxXIE-tdzqa/s400/bday+pic1.JPG" border="0" /></a> But the surprise did not end there... On the afternoon of the same day, Axel sent me a text msg saying somebody sent me flowers but he doesn't know who it was from. I told him maybe its from Lola, saying jokingly that why would she give me flowers when I'm not dead yet. I say this because my Mom would always buy flowers for my Dad and my sister for their special days (and they're on the other side of life). Axel finally figured out who the flowers were from... Ralline! And I got something to look forward to (again) going home from work ;D<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikumSEokLxDFcAvAjL9aKmRma9i_YTPZXoccn8WO0XdiLDAS2aG-3ED4GxI05nP0IoeuCKaG__c8db6GlUF0XOhikpnOv0YfdX0tsesff0c69qJ4Ex80wQy_U0dnyvWKLBJltV/s1600-h/bday+pic4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294394763127196402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikumSEokLxDFcAvAjL9aKmRma9i_YTPZXoccn8WO0XdiLDAS2aG-3ED4GxI05nP0IoeuCKaG__c8db6GlUF0XOhikpnOv0YfdX0tsesff0c69qJ4Ex80wQy_U0dnyvWKLBJltV/s400/bday+pic4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-95KbNy1M4v5-xsA7xLMO5Oote8rIGX5ixkuC5JCYz8kLHHryC0RLdfJopz6yOM5cLymJkOeD52SIhNvP3PMtNv6Q49VgZLsmEb3GgcHA2AZrHwDX7ZcEY3cvnCBTmcEdnr3/s1600-h/bday+pic2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294354624998943058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-95KbNy1M4v5-xsA7xLMO5Oote8rIGX5ixkuC5JCYz8kLHHryC0RLdfJopz6yOM5cLymJkOeD52SIhNvP3PMtNv6Q49VgZLsmEb3GgcHA2AZrHwDX7ZcEY3cvnCBTmcEdnr3/s400/bday+pic2.JPG" border="0" /></a> 2008 has been a humbling year for me. Loss... always a hard thing to bear but made doubly so because of how dear it was to me. I lost a part of me I could never recover. The pain... was nothing compared to the void that settled within me. I would have preferred the pain than this void I could never fill.<br /><br /><p>My children, the main reason why I exist. To my daughter... I am glad to finally see you breaking out of your self imposed shell. You will never know how much it pains me to see you so unsure of yourself, so affected by what others think of you. We may not be going through the same things, but believe me when I say, I know. I know how hard it is to really believe in yourself and be happy. Things happen for a reason, but it is what we do with the things that happened that matters. To my son... always so patient and protective of me, I'm happy to see you finding yourself and enjoying life. It's okay to be a teenager. I love you both.</p><p>To my Mom... I know at times I'm short of patience, but that does not mean I don't love and appreciate you. I can only keep trying and I promise to always be here.</p><p>To my nephews... I know how hard its been for the both of you and I am so proud with the way both of you have handled what is probably the most difficult year of your lives. Keep looking after each other and remember that we are all here for you.</p><p>My dearest friends, as always, saying thank you will never be enough.</p><p>Dibbs, at times you know me better than I know myself. I've been a heavy cross to bear, yet you never wavered. During those times that I start to crumble, you patched me up, reinforcing my will, willing me not to give up. </p><p>Ralline, I have been continuously blessed having you and your family looking after me and my family. More than the gifts you never forget to shower us with, I always look forward to spending time with you... adventures seem to follow us around when we're together.;p Time and distance are but trivialities we have to deal with.<br /><br />Mary Ann and Ella, I know our schedules get in the way, but thank you for being there when I needed all the help I can get.</p><p>Pet, Bong, Opet and even Roger... know that I am here for you guys as much as I know you are all there for me.</p><p>Zyrel and Jo deserve a special mention... for pushing me to go back to school. For believing and making me believe that I can still do it ;p</p><p>JanJan and Camille, for friendships beyond ;p ... I'm a cupcake fan forever!</p><p>Andre, a pleasant surprise to hear from you. I'm always just a message away.</p><p>Beloved, hmmm... you are a special person and it takes a special person to really understand and appreciate you. Your daughter adores you, but more than that she loves you and I know she'd like nothing better that to see you happy, really and truly happy. I may not have seen you for 20 years, but I still remember how your eyes light up when you're happy. I wonder if I'll ever see it again. I'm sorry.</p><p>Al, rare for me as it is, my prayers are with you. We're all here for you.</p><p>As for my birthday wish... I have none. I have given it away to the one person who needs it more than I do. And my birthday wishes are nothing to laugh about... they've always come true. So, wish away, you know who you are. This is the only gift I can give that is worth more than anything money can buy.</p><p>Birthdays give one a chance to look back, to see everything that's happened, to remember and appreciate every single event that led to the present. Life is never easy. It is the journey through it and the people that walk with you along the way that counts.</p></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-34216795585738797702009-01-21T11:58:00.000-08:002009-01-21T12:19:53.939-08:00P.E.P.P.E.R-achelle<em>I haven't had time to come up with my own birthday post so I'm borrowing <a href="http://bittersweetdamsel.blogspot.com/">Ralline</a>'s bday post for me, he he he. I could never thank you enough.</em> ;p<br /><br />Pancakes. Electronics. Phad Thai. Phantom. Entertainment. Rachelle.<br /><br /><br />Today is <a href="http://mariarachelle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rachelle</a>’s 39th birthday. Much as we want to have a Sistahud gathering to celebrate her birthday, we simply cannot. She lives thousand miles away from the rest of the girls and not to mention, it would cost us lots just see physically her smiling face.Yet, even before she turned 39, I already surprised her with several birthday presents when she visited us in Las Vegas during the holidays. I was really happy to see her again even for just 25 hours. It is time (and money!) well spent with one of my dearest friends. Lucky us!After driving for almost four hours from Alhambra to the City of Lights, we shared breakfast at I.H.O.P. wherein they are known for famous American breakfast foods such as pancakes, waffles and omelettes. We shared a hearty meal with my sister and brother. Filling up our tummies with coffee and good food, we started our day in Las Vegas.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293840332794131394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0Utt_ntpa-cvsdnaDw4S8mtykoUC3598T7wriWsbgGPzyUrl3c4DuFQ8Q_AkuF62SVZSyEuFC7hU1z2iUrBRfJB2PB2iNPP_DE6MFF2xth5mUhS5WpoFKJtQrXzzl5ulvOTh/s400/bdaypix1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>We got lost several times but we did reach our destination and we even saw the Welcome to Las Vegas Signage. We just could not resist so we took pictures. Then we went around the shopping district of WalMart, Office Depot, Ross, Best Buy, Circuit City and the like. Wow in 3 hours that is like a year’s worth of salary! He! He! He! It was fun updating each other with tons of stories and laughing out loud while waiting in line in the retail stores.After shopping for the much needed stuff, we got tired and hungry. Finding a good place to eat, Rachelle saw one of my “memorable” restaurants in Las Vegas. I won’t tell the whole story about the said restaurant because I keep on laughing just remembering our faces. We had Thai food for late lunch and Rachelle got her dose of Thai Iced Tea and we had Phad Thai, Chicken and Pork BBQ, Tom Yum Goong and of course a big bowl of Steamed White Rice. Yum!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgEGEaK89yDvDyt-3vkBR5rjj1KVnJRXzZbClvoJMXlpE9qq0Z6RN1fME9qcEKrV_DHztm9avvMi5T83o_Y1u00KPFVnvy7fvEb6c5zBTQnNmeIrZe8B3__s3VFFsAndZ6PLf/s1600-h/bdaypix2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293840338010022914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgEGEaK89yDvDyt-3vkBR5rjj1KVnJRXzZbClvoJMXlpE9qq0Z6RN1fME9qcEKrV_DHztm9avvMi5T83o_Y1u00KPFVnvy7fvEb6c5zBTQnNmeIrZe8B3__s3VFFsAndZ6PLf/s400/bdaypix2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, time is upon us and we had to get ready for our ultimate entertainment experience for the night. We treated Rachelle for an evening of music and opera, Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. It is one of my absolute favorites ever and really anticipating this event the whole time. Rachelle loved the show and the state of the art technology and effects, even the custom-built theater made us feel that we were in the Opera Garnier in Paris. To complete the Phantom experience, Chloe and Reyboy bought her a Phantom souvenir coffee mug while I got the famous music box. Fantastic!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLxaHHXSC-NPi9WOL0abjrrf4xGeYfoknxgBCZWglZ3QHXtrnZarKnPv9nNuHg0JC2UxoKWuez_AxCMQty0caWfeE-vqT41Tg13iIG_iem4_OBwAh6EgbxD0cMue0llAjvKjZ/s1600-h/bdaypix3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293840340512528050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLxaHHXSC-NPi9WOL0abjrrf4xGeYfoknxgBCZWglZ3QHXtrnZarKnPv9nNuHg0JC2UxoKWuez_AxCMQty0caWfeE-vqT41Tg13iIG_iem4_OBwAh6EgbxD0cMue0llAjvKjZ/s400/bdaypix3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />No trip to The Venetian would be complete without dining to one of its fine dining restaurants. Where else?! We made reservations prior to our Vegas trip at Mario Batali’s B&B Ristorante. It features Batali and his partner, Joseph Bastianich’s acclaimed blend of exquisite Italian food. We enjoyed our selection of appetizers and main courses and though Rachelle didn’t order dessert, I shared with her my chocolate gelato. Pure heaven! I can still remember the taste and am craving for more right now. That gelato is worth the trip and the wait!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293840341381126450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBV-ZX_cd1CzfVtB615-Lropi0nkd4D7nomR9op1fq3XBrRjk5QrcBQHGSYth8u_YZ4n083Jwa_ReAzRTapBsXw6pEXYMCIZAS_5n3YTvTh2P40yhwirpszBD3HrMn-eN0nzK-/s400/bdaypix4.jpg" border="0" /><br />Before heading back to our hotel after the late dinner, we strolled around the Venetian, had a picture taken with Humpty Dumpty, played a few slots and eventually drove throughout the Strip to see the lights.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiayiBU9r4F_ady44Xh_-wX5CmVWFPp6mP2AO4ZPmWlKN6FrYKD-wtHvfkuF2W0aoYYQSP09EZyryE8tBv9v7D2KzAc7gFR2ufG1SOAUjn9RxSr8Omq5gf1PleijoTXhPxM8lS/s1600-h/bdaypix5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293840375086987186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiayiBU9r4F_ady44Xh_-wX5CmVWFPp6mP2AO4ZPmWlKN6FrYKD-wtHvfkuF2W0aoYYQSP09EZyryE8tBv9v7D2KzAc7gFR2ufG1SOAUjn9RxSr8Omq5gf1PleijoTXhPxM8lS/s400/bdaypix5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It was already morning when we head back to the hotel but we had fun and enjoyed the trip! Then Rachelle gave me a Christmas present that was so cute. Thanks a lot my friend! I had sleep before heading back to Alhambra while I pack some stuff for her to bring home. I have gifts as well for dearest Nanay Charing, the uber tall Axel and of course, Kikay Kyla. Hope they enjoyed them!Although it was just 25 hours, the time spent with Rachelle will certainly last for several months. I asked her prior to her leaving as I was hugging her if she enjoyed the day, she said she did and was so happy with all of her presents.One thing that she just mentioned as she was pulling off the hotel driveway, “come back soon and stay longer”! Well, we certainly will now!Rachelle, happy 39th birthday! Hope your day is filled with surprises and dreams come true.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0p0I80TFVQ0y9Uky8kDpM9JVH5gsNclw1neZXj1ZbF0RV_F9iNch8Zh4Go1KgoH2Pka0-SOijaGyySHeL67wjTbEzDZDtew0pK3r2IxcsQ6g8xCX_d_6zHEiBgpuo7uNnbl3/s1600-h/bdaypix6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293840665608134578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 370px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0p0I80TFVQ0y9Uky8kDpM9JVH5gsNclw1neZXj1ZbF0RV_F9iNch8Zh4Go1KgoH2Pka0-SOijaGyySHeL67wjTbEzDZDtew0pK3r2IxcsQ6g8xCX_d_6zHEiBgpuo7uNnbl3/s400/bdaypix6.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-35874017508700212822009-01-13T18:39:00.000-08:002009-01-13T23:10:20.111-08:00New York Vacation 2009Here are some of the highlights of my New York trip. Obviously being a shutterbug (not necessarily a good one) I ended up with more than a thousand photos. Needless to say, I enjoyed my vacation and I still love New York although it did fail me on producing snow while I was there. I've been told that some flights were delayed a long time after our plane to LA took off, guess why? Due to snow... I don't know what's up with that, but its the second time I've taken a vacation to see snow and ended up empty handed. Makes me wonder what that means if it happens again the third time. I'd like to thank my host and friend, our Beloved for having me and to JanJan for the very delicious, fun-filled and stomach satisfying adventure of my life.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-os2Cn4k5HIVYcg7YbnI4ftxnWgdCmVPZuY7YbUJFIihyWqLpYhp_74djIFwRkz65f5KpzvAQBeDTdVKWfotkXKpvTjCB6BGp_eBa0oynhWQRluvYadWTsGsqry4ZwVxfRz9/s1600-h/DSCF2299.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291010282501095682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-os2Cn4k5HIVYcg7YbnI4ftxnWgdCmVPZuY7YbUJFIihyWqLpYhp_74djIFwRkz65f5KpzvAQBeDTdVKWfotkXKpvTjCB6BGp_eBa0oynhWQRluvYadWTsGsqry4ZwVxfRz9/s400/DSCF2299.JPG" border="0" /></a> My first view of the waters surrounding New York<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAm4NLv3n3RwebfYHVDNqPvZOe5Z2IUz51mo78jRQ1ijFNGLSXeIqIdECHhI4Ky1OFcTZWoy0M3gcpLwcZo7Uy3dhm6oCPBR5JVsMh541xQGiwc0gyqvCUNIhh6lzFob50ZP9/s1600-h/DSCF2301.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291010292707864322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAm4NLv3n3RwebfYHVDNqPvZOe5Z2IUz51mo78jRQ1ijFNGLSXeIqIdECHhI4Ky1OFcTZWoy0M3gcpLwcZo7Uy3dhm6oCPBR5JVsMh541xQGiwc0gyqvCUNIhh6lzFob50ZP9/s400/DSCF2301.JPG" border="0" /></a> View while circling around for the landing<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlgBR_ZJen5I1d0t49Tiv2vibS-ms9gV1zje3Oh-Jm1iZyiUBZVugcgaE-6MfY20lFHVU0cjRq2i9Mz_WWMf2T8qapjIXB-h3jzFFpw7qDWwKxXaaHGISiZ4tMGYRAFyOlXqb/s1600-h/DSCF2314.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291010302490324354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlgBR_ZJen5I1d0t49Tiv2vibS-ms9gV1zje3Oh-Jm1iZyiUBZVugcgaE-6MfY20lFHVU0cjRq2i9Mz_WWMf2T8qapjIXB-h3jzFFpw7qDWwKxXaaHGISiZ4tMGYRAFyOlXqb/s400/DSCF2314.JPG" border="0" /></a> This was the most snow I'd see in my entire stay...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uoq10s3yKnpxR-vtGqz-IEQVPb153cqurDuHtXiC12yaq7a2de6VlMi26JAtN6_zSqALekxYMVTorbSt8JrpY09x5NtBFIG0xMiE9Fc51VGdJWs0xGWcJpQFjs3ECB26G1i7/s1600-h/DSCF2328.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291010309592653490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uoq10s3yKnpxR-vtGqz-IEQVPb153cqurDuHtXiC12yaq7a2de6VlMi26JAtN6_zSqALekxYMVTorbSt8JrpY09x5NtBFIG0xMiE9Fc51VGdJWs0xGWcJpQFjs3ECB26G1i7/s400/DSCF2328.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGLF_lVifoo7ldoku5GpO2fWzi7Za6-F8qx_SFKgbUb2n2nxzdEK9tlq4iR28gmJtkEtVVRfxjIdkL4gNwSnRno8b8WU3S-OKWcSF7DOd3Pc_xwTvXNCgt5hfYg_cGkOErCMu/s1600-h/DSCF2321.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290233145699252642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGLF_lVifoo7ldoku5GpO2fWzi7Za6-F8qx_SFKgbUb2n2nxzdEK9tlq4iR28gmJtkEtVVRfxjIdkL4gNwSnRno8b8WU3S-OKWcSF7DOd3Pc_xwTvXNCgt5hfYg_cGkOErCMu/s400/DSCF2321.JPG" border="0" /></a>Waking up to a nice day in New York<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7WcPsawrQxvvihTjlMC6O41HIvcfdmkZsLTKf_YjVxE3NsbUafYrx8hDTmfnisfrFX3I8AcbqvUlbGdvqoMhY9ot4RPMyW6xveILi8XBwXlE09E9qayY9N5-2t1pTkWaNo11/s1600-h/DSCF2341.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290233151694566018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7WcPsawrQxvvihTjlMC6O41HIvcfdmkZsLTKf_YjVxE3NsbUafYrx8hDTmfnisfrFX3I8AcbqvUlbGdvqoMhY9ot4RPMyW6xveILi8XBwXlE09E9qayY9N5-2t1pTkWaNo11/s400/DSCF2341.JPG" border="0" /></a>Taking the train to the City for the first time...<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydAD6XooVvLWOVOmkbRM5gKtEZLdUmAbuC2jHfOsK1olebwpJd1vlVNrcFPnTImxxlBV6p4gXugTPwB2Cj6LD1sQpiy7QzxIgcjVwcOCpn_ZxIfc9n1c0N-lrXM2TkrlnO9b9/s1600-h/DSCF2349.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290233153050229842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydAD6XooVvLWOVOmkbRM5gKtEZLdUmAbuC2jHfOsK1olebwpJd1vlVNrcFPnTImxxlBV6p4gXugTPwB2Cj6LD1sQpiy7QzxIgcjVwcOCpn_ZxIfc9n1c0N-lrXM2TkrlnO9b9/s400/DSCF2349.JPG" border="0" /></a>Grand Central Station, NY<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpHZABxvALvdAHsv7YTHwDGRWIk0ERbrrbx_YQNFDmsGxg36VU1k4Z1uJrvC9zwbonP9oI5TACNjN8kKzUDMKIXlRC_iJSleE5xCEFdN0_vKuAk7jgxyfwddMMO29c1ChxF5r/s1600-h/DSCF2403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290240665677550322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpHZABxvALvdAHsv7YTHwDGRWIk0ERbrrbx_YQNFDmsGxg36VU1k4Z1uJrvC9zwbonP9oI5TACNjN8kKzUDMKIXlRC_iJSleE5xCEFdN0_vKuAk7jgxyfwddMMO29c1ChxF5r/s400/DSCF2403.JPG" border="0" /></a>Empire State Building at the background<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioToj7621bRONsQ2pdQb7xYYyw5n2aF9_uhbfRfgIxAzGcreFzvICcaEpKwuKb5MERLad2T7qLQmysdqWtP-F8oAzE-7_e5gDle62SaPe4zt5sSKL5EnrCkyXoWSwIx7jwudzD/s1600-h/DSCF2592.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290240660531684818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioToj7621bRONsQ2pdQb7xYYyw5n2aF9_uhbfRfgIxAzGcreFzvICcaEpKwuKb5MERLad2T7qLQmysdqWtP-F8oAzE-7_e5gDle62SaPe4zt5sSKL5EnrCkyXoWSwIx7jwudzD/s400/DSCF2592.JPG" border="0" /></a>Statue of Liberty<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0g2UOlrLUejkVJDwvskYNn8xqO9ppQeMLWXFrrQjtIsMhDqlx8zjcwGnKd-Dx1tIgGrpOyWbQGTiCATMUsjzM12i150RP-ftgwOURVI-bq-jTu8NVoqn5R1VGhAFJ0AXzGkL/s1600-h/DSCF2387.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291016821466951522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0g2UOlrLUejkVJDwvskYNn8xqO9ppQeMLWXFrrQjtIsMhDqlx8zjcwGnKd-Dx1tIgGrpOyWbQGTiCATMUsjzM12i150RP-ftgwOURVI-bq-jTu8NVoqn5R1VGhAFJ0AXzGkL/s400/DSCF2387.JPG" border="0" /></a> St. Patrick's Cathedral, NY<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ59vjB8xlG0xxxAYuJG169CovySttNhJDdW7EeTR24eTlJLpsNpuj8QozpPi4a70gBeYR5yAiWCPCWQAu9xGpuBL9i4bIekjWm2lP-J_HXUUwhbtOTSSBFz7jcJpdMEoMkX-/s1600-h/DSCF2386.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291016817868349394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ59vjB8xlG0xxxAYuJG169CovySttNhJDdW7EeTR24eTlJLpsNpuj8QozpPi4a70gBeYR5yAiWCPCWQAu9xGpuBL9i4bIekjWm2lP-J_HXUUwhbtOTSSBFz7jcJpdMEoMkX-/s400/DSCF2386.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gee! That's heavy! ;p<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIqVyI5OwsmrmrsoCAG7a2RUW2JGp7Ev5J4BmnkL5D8N7W1hvlnTdW7mwR9u-G4sYEyEFmPtp-Xr6ccbCk5EgYzNyN0Xva1oN2W7-zIThgmQ4pN4n6t0IBFKHCoFRPcVDS8WQ/s1600-h/DSCF2373.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291016814290165266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIqVyI5OwsmrmrsoCAG7a2RUW2JGp7Ev5J4BmnkL5D8N7W1hvlnTdW7mwR9u-G4sYEyEFmPtp-Xr6ccbCk5EgYzNyN0Xva1oN2W7-zIThgmQ4pN4n6t0IBFKHCoFRPcVDS8WQ/s400/DSCF2373.JPG" border="0" /></a>Christmas Tree @ the Rockefeller Center<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSF92_JgvnvZkF2yYHcpa83GRvJS3y41PQfEDKL-Bal_aBm9csLHnEo3jw3J7kwqyveRa1LgjlHiauuTrpTk_JQ6Xwzz7-vJ65O0CP97XiAN28eN2O6Cok79oh6D7PP65GYZW/s1600-h/DSCF2476.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291028332280981394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSF92_JgvnvZkF2yYHcpa83GRvJS3y41PQfEDKL-Bal_aBm9csLHnEo3jw3J7kwqyveRa1LgjlHiauuTrpTk_JQ6Xwzz7-vJ65O0CP97XiAN28eN2O6Cok79oh6D7PP65GYZW/s400/DSCF2476.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7rlm1dwWzuUuvONlO-KGWtVC3aXMR8zlWseaVOW_QN66wOH3MsJ9ubcnKhefIFTkFMF9PT6m5ZuO8fmmWJH3PjPdf2n3YL9A24SOEBVH8I4DT6RkoXST5oN8mRY-tG1fk9g5/s1600-h/DSCF2463.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291028329934671634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7rlm1dwWzuUuvONlO-KGWtVC3aXMR8zlWseaVOW_QN66wOH3MsJ9ubcnKhefIFTkFMF9PT6m5ZuO8fmmWJH3PjPdf2n3YL9A24SOEBVH8I4DT6RkoXST5oN8mRY-tG1fk9g5/s400/DSCF2463.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think this is Liberty Park<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe6gcZWxVYKO-Jq0KpcpEqTU7eJpMvTCAM0CvWlHBQh1_p575p64qHEUkP4autFHQ1aThdpPFeqR1hIi2xLmDs5mKuIP4k7_YVUSonerS5y3HTBVBZFOhEUA3ZVm6aIZvqZWO/s1600-h/DSCF2457.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291028323315361186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe6gcZWxVYKO-Jq0KpcpEqTU7eJpMvTCAM0CvWlHBQh1_p575p64qHEUkP4autFHQ1aThdpPFeqR1hIi2xLmDs5mKuIP4k7_YVUSonerS5y3HTBVBZFOhEUA3ZVm6aIZvqZWO/s400/DSCF2457.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXJBS-nibEeImhPmwhdhqcte7AznOfBM7lBOVrnpW5X1KywTbIPxTDSLPkabdN3tIJ-ezc1XzS2KTx245Smh90nE-z4p-zLAUymccSs82DfC1-BBoUynVCac2hm6GUdq_Qrve/s1600-h/DSCF2451.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291028315600667842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXJBS-nibEeImhPmwhdhqcte7AznOfBM7lBOVrnpW5X1KywTbIPxTDSLPkabdN3tIJ-ezc1XzS2KTx245Smh90nE-z4p-zLAUymccSs82DfC1-BBoUynVCac2hm6GUdq_Qrve/s400/DSCF2451.JPG" border="0" /></a> New York City, New Jersey view<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHQgBvBGQSXr5QtAMJANrgv6nPWZBWITrkM4ogCp2oBOvs2ibS3acbKSe-RJxDf9CkiaSDHLxQTsxmpSDqftrUzdxBqPKKqU9XwFGAWbhocK2hzV6jhVmb806QMTJ5p1jpw16/s1600-h/DSCF2443.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291028310940767138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHQgBvBGQSXr5QtAMJANrgv6nPWZBWITrkM4ogCp2oBOvs2ibS3acbKSe-RJxDf9CkiaSDHLxQTsxmpSDqftrUzdxBqPKKqU9XwFGAWbhocK2hzV6jhVmb806QMTJ5p1jpw16/s400/DSCF2443.JPG" border="0" /></a> Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6iv2cs6w1MI8JYNgj5-hW9UqN8Q0gH_dHBdEBc-zk3dXmql2smwkDwMMEeAH3TUjNHJ1yHqWfDhDykRRrz9vYIrQ_sYw0E6RH1tF2kUeSPEhGkTCn-lHg-G9f9EFznlzF8nu/s1600-h/DSCF2433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291016835332434034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6iv2cs6w1MI8JYNgj5-hW9UqN8Q0gH_dHBdEBc-zk3dXmql2smwkDwMMEeAH3TUjNHJ1yHqWfDhDykRRrz9vYIrQ_sYw0E6RH1tF2kUeSPEhGkTCn-lHg-G9f9EFznlzF8nu/s400/DSCF2433.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cobbled stones, near Central Railroad of New Jersey<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa-t4Lye24LXSsgPvaJtqvuERL7Hwk_cVCi5QHPed92K-V3jDxJo34UYRLLHtvv1UhDlk6YEeCdUbUJjoOzd0YVrbyTuPz4xwOp9oyeNX7mah105KUoeY9PgCTXpm9kPA5tUC/s1600-h/DSCF2429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291016828297630290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa-t4Lye24LXSsgPvaJtqvuERL7Hwk_cVCi5QHPed92K-V3jDxJo34UYRLLHtvv1UhDlk6YEeCdUbUJjoOzd0YVrbyTuPz4xwOp9oyeNX7mah105KUoeY9PgCTXpm9kPA5tUC/s400/DSCF2429.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvpq2KlGa-4BorudqS_Vm3fbCoPoCMVAQ4f1Zl_Yubfs8fpAaHL78z8B6kk4BEsR6XkQZTbgLYvESKIIaBHbmfXNBpAVsnQwatcIPCZAU9XzAb304PCN0dWwFioiBYFO_-Nyo/s1600-h/DSCF2496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291031621414010898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvpq2KlGa-4BorudqS_Vm3fbCoPoCMVAQ4f1Zl_Yubfs8fpAaHL78z8B6kk4BEsR6XkQZTbgLYvESKIIaBHbmfXNBpAVsnQwatcIPCZAU9XzAb304PCN0dWwFioiBYFO_-Nyo/s400/DSCF2496.JPG" border="0" /></a> Everything sweet @ Ferrara Cafe, NY<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpfEV8-nnOgJsGJDw3pP0G1fsUofFNSLVj2sbl3-Qu8XZMBUFp26hub6L7P42SoN_xKdpqtUnB0552sJf0mpsvvivS0uY0KBRUKv32GjgfT0LXF7HSmdLLAED2A0W_xKbpp0J/s1600-h/DSCF2495.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291031620655789970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpfEV8-nnOgJsGJDw3pP0G1fsUofFNSLVj2sbl3-Qu8XZMBUFp26hub6L7P42SoN_xKdpqtUnB0552sJf0mpsvvivS0uY0KBRUKv32GjgfT0LXF7HSmdLLAED2A0W_xKbpp0J/s400/DSCF2495.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwgD6-v2HtuGw4CsygoKPLiY-nBrvI8dpPQ5EeAYlKDPXZm7b0Eb22_MTfSKPDnEwnCtPqKgPUcgBhdUTUi0dZm2y9PqFvqvBpaQj8-DknnU3jpp03APQEG84zJgVx94jh7x4/s1600-h/DSCF2491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291031610587256786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwgD6-v2HtuGw4CsygoKPLiY-nBrvI8dpPQ5EeAYlKDPXZm7b0Eb22_MTfSKPDnEwnCtPqKgPUcgBhdUTUi0dZm2y9PqFvqvBpaQj8-DknnU3jpp03APQEG84zJgVx94jh7x4/s400/DSCF2491.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldatqteLOdOQwXgHU3t3qfDPTIBdVQhSOsm-Zzy9zMrQoIEvioDhm7wZxj8dkJ0VNpwzZrROf44qS4uVbhMLZTiLvvzUF1xKkuHqoou96mwGDoVnVrzLsLoYzUkxOhh9zM1KW/s1600-h/DSCF2480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291031602539941234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldatqteLOdOQwXgHU3t3qfDPTIBdVQhSOsm-Zzy9zMrQoIEvioDhm7wZxj8dkJ0VNpwzZrROf44qS4uVbhMLZTiLvvzUF1xKkuHqoou96mwGDoVnVrzLsLoYzUkxOhh9zM1KW/s400/DSCF2480.JPG" border="0" /></a> My only photo of Chinatown :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWDCS3TaqUEN_400q4G5xIT0MK6EXHg6-TakK_Z66i2T5JPD9z4JIwEwI4L2hqx0EV6wDiexa-toW6jGq-c6WHP8jAvT1VNK7bntVU1fYuNwbWTuCD5rGRrPexh7bsotJfYS6/s1600-h/DSCF2479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291031596168618178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWDCS3TaqUEN_400q4G5xIT0MK6EXHg6-TakK_Z66i2T5JPD9z4JIwEwI4L2hqx0EV6wDiexa-toW6jGq-c6WHP8jAvT1VNK7bntVU1fYuNwbWTuCD5rGRrPexh7bsotJfYS6/s400/DSCF2479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkeWXmn33mNg2wHoinmV2ZIgZxLo_en-_15peRlipEG3tvpalCu0s1sIv8mOh-Ya34_JiZ6F7R4Lq5xznlZfSuuqQTpHNRY-EYH9zH4Vp2OryQ9hNmf1j6SBqRh-XXEm5avAe/s1600-h/DSCF2641.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291034392601493362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkeWXmn33mNg2wHoinmV2ZIgZxLo_en-_15peRlipEG3tvpalCu0s1sIv8mOh-Ya34_JiZ6F7R4Lq5xznlZfSuuqQTpHNRY-EYH9zH4Vp2OryQ9hNmf1j6SBqRh-XXEm5avAe/s400/DSCF2641.JPG" border="0" /></a> Alexander Hamilton Custom House<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DJdmQS4vKW4Z3ZHrZI_4qAiDXMAy2UleyZkQ_uV1ke9IIgR6euNjvAdcXYElx2bmSHGfgzMQs7yznyp-FSvysGcja82tyW4Vqz8x6tpoUlNkKKs8OM8EZf-nSJvZ5ti_kW26/s1600-h/DSCF2638.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291034386371247202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DJdmQS4vKW4Z3ZHrZI_4qAiDXMAy2UleyZkQ_uV1ke9IIgR6euNjvAdcXYElx2bmSHGfgzMQs7yznyp-FSvysGcja82tyW4Vqz8x6tpoUlNkKKs8OM8EZf-nSJvZ5ti_kW26/s400/DSCF2638.JPG" border="0" /></a> Gotta pose for this...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6IJotz0-yHBbHzfwzKHiz09xBGELrxpUYJ-LBF6xd1Q6labUUh5YPqrs9T10aFzjfmsqgtMzzo69HHchyphenhyphen9XfjHrBYF43ErgP0_9NJJIJ81FGA0A_6r_U0gEZGw0kPaGWrz2F/s1600-h/DSCF2629.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291034378968235778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6IJotz0-yHBbHzfwzKHiz09xBGELrxpUYJ-LBF6xd1Q6labUUh5YPqrs9T10aFzjfmsqgtMzzo69HHchyphenhyphen9XfjHrBYF43ErgP0_9NJJIJ81FGA0A_6r_U0gEZGw0kPaGWrz2F/s400/DSCF2629.JPG" border="0" /></a> Not sure what they're doing... some weird stunt/dance show<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKzhDmsIALtwkU_nEkoWcLFc0sZOAWApMWh7a49IAsnwtLnT1-mDopfqwMP87hyphenhyphenV4Z9AFTdIq5KY06pnSzuiugx0Dj1yc391z99f06p_cm-RPxSP5DGwmv2BnWDOH5dYmIng2/s1600-h/DSCF2621.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291034376899003282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKzhDmsIALtwkU_nEkoWcLFc0sZOAWApMWh7a49IAsnwtLnT1-mDopfqwMP87hyphenhyphenV4Z9AFTdIq5KY06pnSzuiugx0Dj1yc391z99f06p_cm-RPxSP5DGwmv2BnWDOH5dYmIng2/s400/DSCF2621.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ellis Island<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKkrrcyTmhxk4UICSmAljdbHG7_JzAiP15LvLaSXSgIOhVz8FnXjoKagFoFovel-2U5oRKNdgJl5zRBCMUnVCjYbbGReLKDKRkqpCDCjUIrffFglkt7Xd6ut8WD0Eser5bPN3/s1600-h/DSCF2606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291034371011409474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKkrrcyTmhxk4UICSmAljdbHG7_JzAiP15LvLaSXSgIOhVz8FnXjoKagFoFovel-2U5oRKNdgJl5zRBCMUnVCjYbbGReLKDKRkqpCDCjUIrffFglkt7Xd6ut8WD0Eser5bPN3/s400/DSCF2606.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_juUUM6qbJCSCaIbRYIaqt2DTLXw-Jj5c6u5q6hyphenhyphenOSuKmmenwGm0VYQBwYsx1y4GBonh50QwtfkEBllIyI_Q9LO3fApIjGFrBcfKwZ8cq_AmutB-7VyKPXdFbQuqqh2olVJp0/s1600-h/DSCF2681.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291036697484468690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_juUUM6qbJCSCaIbRYIaqt2DTLXw-Jj5c6u5q6hyphenhyphenOSuKmmenwGm0VYQBwYsx1y4GBonh50QwtfkEBllIyI_Q9LO3fApIjGFrBcfKwZ8cq_AmutB-7VyKPXdFbQuqqh2olVJp0/s400/DSCF2681.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTLrDfsDOIdaD5oNIRT1DAtTYOlIuWf9crD5OBpA7Nh8Da9Cpn4n92ca2HCugtmROsejgKu_-BemRnkdePxMGcdogQz05fdX0jjws5ZbLOqsgSxs4CTzjPk-zwoSaR1qVXqot/s1600-h/DSCF2676.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291036690835994258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTLrDfsDOIdaD5oNIRT1DAtTYOlIuWf9crD5OBpA7Nh8Da9Cpn4n92ca2HCugtmROsejgKu_-BemRnkdePxMGcdogQz05fdX0jjws5ZbLOqsgSxs4CTzjPk-zwoSaR1qVXqot/s400/DSCF2676.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of the most delicious and expensive steak house, so I've been told.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzfckLxCyVf4Kg9K6bWDwGK0FlzcRIy1hYkDSRo8S7nylqQLsPvxbA_A9JYYsh0PQB2OiYXAKY0r1nGyL4XK-wkVZhu8ewgYgV-UlO47sCxBHuHRLxFE0jY8xzKXX89GoBbNM/s1600-h/DSCF2666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291036686344038610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzfckLxCyVf4Kg9K6bWDwGK0FlzcRIy1hYkDSRo8S7nylqQLsPvxbA_A9JYYsh0PQB2OiYXAKY0r1nGyL4XK-wkVZhu8ewgYgV-UlO47sCxBHuHRLxFE0jY8xzKXX89GoBbNM/s400/DSCF2666.JPG" border="0" /></a> Only female buddha<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq7ER9SSTDW5C-zW3xsjcNTv_8K0qcw0vk6XUrQOTcPkYZ6i5Fbv8b8mthcfI230m5N8FnfURm95jTqAEPVDhFxXnU2f3zch1yVHTlNhC1jQyWa1l1-6UiN_50b9AhjhITzMN/s1600-h/DSCF2659.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291036682422031890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq7ER9SSTDW5C-zW3xsjcNTv_8K0qcw0vk6XUrQOTcPkYZ6i5Fbv8b8mthcfI230m5N8FnfURm95jTqAEPVDhFxXnU2f3zch1yVHTlNhC1jQyWa1l1-6UiN_50b9AhjhITzMN/s400/DSCF2659.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hmmm... there sure are a lot of these around NY</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">I'll post some more later... am still recovering from flu...</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div></div></div></div></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-28137729393418785472009-01-12T07:57:00.000-08:002009-01-12T08:08:09.582-08:00back to normal...Just got back from my New York vacation. It was a fun-filled, food overflowing, miles of walking, literally more than a thousand photos, cold, friends generating and eye opening vacation. In short, I enjoyed myself... and I still love NY (although as usual, snow was missing from the scene, it did start to snow just before I left, hu hu hu).<br /><br />Now it's back to work for me, I'm sick and feeling whoozy from the meds I have to take to get better, but I'm glad to be back. I missed my kids, my pillows and my unlimited access to the internet, he he he. The kids are happy with their souvenirs, cupcakes (courtesy of JanJan), but most of all, I think they're just happy to have me back :)<br /><br />Will post the pictures when I recover a little from this flu...mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-77086479995773946132008-12-15T14:19:00.000-08:002008-12-15T14:22:31.354-08:00Rejoice!!!Today marked my last day for the Fall semester. Although the semester does not officially end till Dec. 17, I am through.... because all of my course requirements have been turned in. I have now become a certified bum (again) until the Spring semester. Hooray!!!!!mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-62594494805003159952008-11-23T15:07:00.001-08:002008-11-23T15:07:48.268-08:00Finally!<center><embed name="countdown" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" src="http://www.countdownclockcodes.com/cd/ccc-vacation/show.swf?clickURL=http://www.countdownclockcodes.com/&clickLABEL=MySpace Countdown Clocks&flashLABEL=Countdown Clock Codes&skin=http://www.countdownclockcodes.com/cd/ccc-vacation/skins/3.jpg&text=my%20dream%20vacation%2E%2E%2E%0D%2E%2E%2E%20the%20excitement%20mounts%21&untilColor=6724095&textColor=52275&datesColor=0&year=2009&month=0&day=2&hour=6&minute=30&second=0&x=6&y=77" width="300" height="200" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" quality="high"></embed><br /><small><a href="http://www.countdownclockcodes.com/">MySpace Countdown Clocks</a></small></center>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-89192518910754513382008-11-09T16:20:00.000-08:002008-11-11T08:54:56.791-08:00Cerritos LibraryYou'd think that because I work in a library I would have had enough of it to last me a lifetime. But no, I continue to be amazed by what technology has done to make libraries more inviting and inspiring to young questioning minds.<br />I had to make this a separate post. We went to Cerritos Library as part of our group assignment. All I can say is, "WOW!" The library, especially the children's library is a sight to behold. I even got my very own library card without having to pay for membership because the library we go to is part of MCLS (Metropolitan Cooperative Library System). If not for that, it's a $100 fee, yikes!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_o6b5N0R7fFBSFwpToG-lx_GgZeVBJT5gxvHeNRRhliyCn-v1bZwAT3g8UHmm9vXsrm0iAYU8KgaxsnRzB_0QC270-rmNNY917W5W-mJoOTOxO5v9HQxjGG1ZUj7_7cxDoWH/s1600-h/DSCF1594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266820076572914818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_o6b5N0R7fFBSFwpToG-lx_GgZeVBJT5gxvHeNRRhliyCn-v1bZwAT3g8UHmm9vXsrm0iAYU8KgaxsnRzB_0QC270-rmNNY917W5W-mJoOTOxO5v9HQxjGG1ZUj7_7cxDoWH/s400/DSCF1594.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRROpa-EvTQHw5V0bdquXHCBnXJXScfA2vOBlAlCweekrHkiHiWY9VPFFu2aNnwyHUMISLpTdtLNO0VrhfsL49l9GOnWMbEd1M-cwk30HyUBFw-AicnBw1gnSnrhk1UZcJ-88c/s1600-h/DSCF1591.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266820081698615986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeAKD7KZffu13w0csxId2MdUDH1weaHZ_KnZQKR16nz1hhxBKiW489yyX6tam0Mlkw85RGjQOxiA-Xg42LVeeAOGQYvQgHO-_dWcMXmJ7i_Yh_KfGaqQy6FHKsUoLZJxtESPu/s400/DSCF1599.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e70OWdU4JUxKDYYWogVOi9jXrdb08Vp4s93p8O4LgBHaMwz4on9lgHUcpiRSIJbAQIg1kXUlUFsF15kkfpbWMijbqERQ_ySruw25gPEmyf7ia3O9HMLIK3OwKuzhyAVmGqW_/s1600-h/DSCF1627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266822700665330930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7e70OWdU4JUxKDYYWogVOi9jXrdb08Vp4s93p8O4LgBHaMwz4on9lgHUcpiRSIJbAQIg1kXUlUFsF15kkfpbWMijbqERQ_ySruw25gPEmyf7ia3O9HMLIK3OwKuzhyAVmGqW_/s400/DSCF1627.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA5GYvtrdSGSvHj1dAuXsjaa0cE10s-0PMVzcf9XSKGAdOugIQXOuNWniVDXPzb3amk7KofYlDHunWfAOk6SQipLzgJELC6emudYyy440MAMjehRj9WLBtjj_0n3dinZ_X3l6/s1600-h/DSCF1624.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266821500448481202" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ6rrmBUnUn7i-VW24KHU_fK9BAmRQp_lmXDHbYl7QMYsdwazH5w95Yoarhhb7i89FhdE2JEIqXyVALu8SAxE8om6eHgAqVNYPFKCSqP5PAkvI-hmweXkJ41CRIQRR6Rv-nxl/s400/DSCF1628.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VaPxR2TGC3r2eIWnYQQUh6w3O7dhT9yDyB1uPXEut6-rvt2EJWvB4IaAjGk0vlYbZPpa1ZnQ0nUyuHukKFFFHu0d5e-uYzzlCBoxUguHcok2IEl2-M1gQsApJwKH3l6biCTJ/s1600-h/DSCF1617.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266820098708496930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VaPxR2TGC3r2eIWnYQQUh6w3O7dhT9yDyB1uPXEut6-rvt2EJWvB4IaAjGk0vlYbZPpa1ZnQ0nUyuHukKFFFHu0d5e-uYzzlCBoxUguHcok2IEl2-M1gQsApJwKH3l6biCTJ/s400/DSCF1617.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2ONGOFLm0DG2bBLfVyhZJqfyJCZDL_v-lsDIaTeNMIl2Ac3bGcLd9PWPeJzzFGEX_KQHq6EnTqzu9Q4lSY0zNiPiaX9Vsp73kAeAWiKixNT6e54tFQoNVtaWzJD6gV2PTEcF/s1600-h/DSCF1596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266820088904967426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2ONGOFLm0DG2bBLfVyhZJqfyJCZDL_v-lsDIaTeNMIl2Ac3bGcLd9PWPeJzzFGEX_KQHq6EnTqzu9Q4lSY0zNiPiaX9Vsp73kAeAWiKixNT6e54tFQoNVtaWzJD6gV2PTEcF/s400/DSCF1596.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdNvB9wZOcLjDksF09ehX8zG8LgHXcwdHA9vh46hqwpL6PuKz8QDlDElTis_XaAH8OeeQ41sPj3X3XycP6Ie5wOYcmqEJNi9L7IyKNbEKLUxQ4U9nL5vtwU1NES4MY1Iwb2CI/s1600-h/DSCF1601.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266822729218876898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdNvB9wZOcLjDksF09ehX8zG8LgHXcwdHA9vh46hqwpL6PuKz8QDlDElTis_XaAH8OeeQ41sPj3X3XycP6Ie5wOYcmqEJNi9L7IyKNbEKLUxQ4U9nL5vtwU1NES4MY1Iwb2CI/s400/DSCF1601.JPG" border="0" /></a>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-86984425961031074812008-11-09T15:47:00.000-08:002008-11-11T08:55:24.821-08:00back posting<div align="justify">Ok. got some time so I figured I'd do some blog posts that's been long overdue.<br /><br />October 11, 2008<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify">My ex-husband wanted our kids to celebrate his birthday, so he had Kyla choose a restaurant to go to. It's supposed to be French cuisine, although I'm still convinced it taste more Italian to me. We, or at least I ordered Princesa (champagne with raspberry puree) to celebrate ;p actually, I wanted my kids to taste it so they're not completely clueless when it comes to liquor. I'd rather they try it in my presence than experiment without me knowing it. Restaurant choice was Camilo's California Bistro. Food was good but came in small servings. Axel ate more than half of what I ordered because he was still hungry. I guess French cuisine won't be on top of his favs, he he he. Anyway, we did have fun even though the birthday celebrant was missing (he's in the Philippines), so thank you for dinner and belated happy birthday.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1i3h0rweyCKPoMmZsSrwAeeuz0u4T9vjI03BP9Ew_Dm1pW7f1m_QMiTPBUvLrRVsAZIuo57wfIeq8utbrqReL3pRZEktdhN2qaRQCma3uvTSlpyCrBgSQUtj40CoTg9A5Wkd/s1600-h/collage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266813472030842082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1i3h0rweyCKPoMmZsSrwAeeuz0u4T9vjI03BP9Ew_Dm1pW7f1m_QMiTPBUvLrRVsAZIuo57wfIeq8utbrqReL3pRZEktdhN2qaRQCma3uvTSlpyCrBgSQUtj40CoTg9A5Wkd/s400/collage.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XxIWLc5VzuJWj3DwigjRbpT5FwozCA_35GebjFskF13iWNpc4D-nlWcJon1bDcvK5YBAlIwRoJXIVH0uDkPVg7QOPHlMeZUo76SnVvDtp_LfMG3j1MlHveuJPASyDzPWWzGE/s1600-h/DSCF1548.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266814159061242162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XxIWLc5VzuJWj3DwigjRbpT5FwozCA_35GebjFskF13iWNpc4D-nlWcJon1bDcvK5YBAlIwRoJXIVH0uDkPVg7QOPHlMeZUo76SnVvDtp_LfMG3j1MlHveuJPASyDzPWWzGE/s400/DSCF1548.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center"><em>leaving with full stomach after eating a 3-course meal</em><br /></p><p align="justify">October 24, 2008</p><p align="justify">Had to visit a congressman's office. Part of our assignment in class is to write a letter to a congressman about a cause that we want him to support. Sorry, did not meet the congressman, he wasn't there. I did manage to deliver my letter (and got full credit for it in class), and took some pictures just for the heck of it.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyM6V7tjGC4Tmq5N1fbK0vslK-SXwKw4adzBv2UMZ8tx9pXJI4KTHFUDQbd8fqjZ2DfcbJnlELz_9z4OXodW17mVxCWWTOVj39bhoKk4Lwh8FhS-3mV5Ygh_3YUcPnGe1LRah/s1600-h/collage1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266816012829479986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyM6V7tjGC4Tmq5N1fbK0vslK-SXwKw4adzBv2UMZ8tx9pXJI4KTHFUDQbd8fqjZ2DfcbJnlELz_9z4OXodW17mVxCWWTOVj39bhoKk4Lwh8FhS-3mV5Ygh_3YUcPnGe1LRah/s400/collage1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>notice my Mom sitting in the car like she's the politician? he he he...</p><p></p>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-20215809466756254512008-11-04T20:34:00.000-08:002008-11-04T20:54:40.027-08:00A Winning Moment For AmericansPresident Barrack Obama, 44th President of the United States... nothing special about that. But if you take in the fact that President Obama is the first elected black president, then it becomes extraordinary. America is clamoring for a change and they got it. But this is just the beginning. A change for the better or worse? America must remain vigilant.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265030955326271186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN2dFyox8ARlwoYGqxnxW8a9Hl25i8EXoVR4yrZJSLRz1al1Szr0zz1avNGYltyGzyibEufIwjEJ4IjL4gKq2DRXu1ZNLOPQ3eMlqGNzToytSFsgLzMkHrRdIBA5OmFH2YiuW/s400/obama1.jpg" border="0" />mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-77411136676803642052008-11-03T20:19:00.001-08:002008-11-03T20:22:13.154-08:00US Presidential Election 2008Obama vs. Mccain<br />It is time for a change. How much change will depend on the choices we make. Exciting times, for sure...<br /><br /><br /><script src="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/48ff995c49a30ff2/490fcd659ffd8907/490532f277debe70/dca5d173/widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-62630518067368904552008-10-06T11:43:00.000-07:002008-10-06T11:47:02.934-07:00win a free handbagWin a <a href="http://www.handbagplanet.com/">free hand bag</a>? Why not? No credit card required and no S&H fees... got nothing to lose except the few seconds it will take you to click and enter your email address. Who knows you might win a really cool handbag, he he.mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-16985052453467956322008-09-21T19:38:00.001-07:002008-09-21T20:25:54.655-07:00to blog or not to blog...<div align="justify">I have not been blogging. Not that I don't want to, not that I don't have anything to say, but mostly because how I feel is too melodramatic to commit to paper (or in this case a blog entry).<br /><br /><br />My sister's birthday is coming up, after that it will be my Dad's birthday. What should have been a celebration is still very much a cause for sad reflection. And as I navigate through conflicting emotions, I find that indeed, I am suffering from basket case depression. There is one more reason for my current state of mind, but on that I chose to keep quiet.<br /><br /><br />So what do I do to alleviate my depression? Let's see... I traded in my car for a new, and as my friends tell me, a better car than what I had. Expensive way to amuse myself, but there it is. I did it. I wasn't sure at first if this is the car that I wanted, truth is, I wasn't sure I'd be qualified to get a new car. Apparently, I have reached that state of credit worthiness.<br /><br /><br />So, why did I change my car? Hmmm, let's see. The car squeeks, it needs to have the brakes changed, its due for the 45T miles maintenance, and it reminds me that part of the reason why I got it in the first place is to use it to take everybody for trips out of town. The first three reasons requiring a lot of money and the last, well... since we're two members of the family short...<br /><br /><br />But all is well, I like my new car. And though I still haven't figured out what the hype is about over satellite radio, I'll figure it out eventually. I love the ergonomic seat which now provides full support for my back. The old car has it too, but the new one felt better on my back. I now have less space as the new car is only a 5 seater, but that would mean less junk left in the car ;p And now, I have better chances when I get lost... the car has a compass though still lacking a GPS (still too expensive for me). It feels weird though because it has a screen that tells you a door is open, two doors open, back door open, or you have so and so miles before gas is empty, etc... weird... and the key! OMG! I thought I broke it the first time I took it off the ignition. It doesn't have the part where you see the metal teeth. Sorry, but I'm clueless with car technology. It's called a Fobik key (though not the one with remote start, pity... that would make it a "Kit" car he he). I found that out after reading the manual.<br /><br /><br />And so after two days of driving the car around, I'm still not at full excited mode but I'm slowly getting there as I discover all the features of my new Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPHufDm0gKXEpeN5lo9R_SqdM4RqRWwmyOCW8_k6hCJbtwEuu363-eVGhCuGe6ZK2GiHmHh_D6v6_DEmHxI9lJw11sve4G4So_4QHXN_2WQ-7pJOQrskEf23FwQRwHwQtKqll/s1600-h/DSCF1538.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248679698629596290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPHufDm0gKXEpeN5lo9R_SqdM4RqRWwmyOCW8_k6hCJbtwEuu363-eVGhCuGe6ZK2GiHmHh_D6v6_DEmHxI9lJw11sve4G4So_4QHXN_2WQ-7pJOQrskEf23FwQRwHwQtKqll/s400/DSCF1538.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="justify"></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSIFfS04-R8WXbftIhxxdx_-cQp7fHZkMr-IbqHdN8NW4mSMeHuffbZJmfy4-_g5-jhWk_VMe-HsNGfhMog_DiBPDGW6w-aFYHC0OtbJJEqvjxPMgtvK15pYj7KVOQ8ll_1ex/s1600-h/DSCF1522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248680458961664082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSIFfS04-R8WXbftIhxxdx_-cQp7fHZkMr-IbqHdN8NW4mSMeHuffbZJmfy4-_g5-jhWk_VMe-HsNGfhMog_DiBPDGW6w-aFYHC0OtbJJEqvjxPMgtvK15pYj7KVOQ8ll_1ex/s400/DSCF1522.JPG" border="0" /></a>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-4928915848829330242008-09-17T09:39:00.000-07:002008-09-17T09:42:25.544-07:00Happy Birthday Elline<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0s3-HFgDP5S2R5wwSDBaUauHNd7P9vDiJH5mcNok2BmISlvcg46_IU2GUdecLaMyyTRhk300g9CN2TBiYzQPddag6RS1vgaytoLM-CF-_C3MoraBdTlktwEVJbfdCnKVQwsf0/s1600-h/IMG_1366.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247031419909360994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0s3-HFgDP5S2R5wwSDBaUauHNd7P9vDiJH5mcNok2BmISlvcg46_IU2GUdecLaMyyTRhk300g9CN2TBiYzQPddag6RS1vgaytoLM-CF-_C3MoraBdTlktwEVJbfdCnKVQwsf0/s400/IMG_1366.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8tum_PslrU1aQBozL6NBoefBHJBFLw7kF2wU6HMkTVUDeoNbseSYLawWkdPWrA_PHAf-ERfBuWydHOmnnVfpRJjTZAk61hzoC3gFfgiCo4et64Qnjkl9ST39Mx2QRsZV5OZy/s1600-h/collage3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247031422197835954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8tum_PslrU1aQBozL6NBoefBHJBFLw7kF2wU6HMkTVUDeoNbseSYLawWkdPWrA_PHAf-ERfBuWydHOmnnVfpRJjTZAk61hzoC3gFfgiCo4et64Qnjkl9ST39Mx2QRsZV5OZy/s400/collage3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Hay! another birthday celebration missed... </div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-46561691438324319302008-09-15T08:28:00.000-07:002008-09-15T09:32:48.772-07:00Metrolink crashes with freight trainI never liked reading newspapers. Most of the time it's got some really depressing headline splashed across the front page. Once in a while I would watch the news channel but only to make sure I did not miss anything <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">catasthropic</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Friday afternoon. I had my daughter leave work early. I'll be taking them to watch a concert at the Verizon <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Amphitheater</span> in Irvine, CA. It was traffic, bad. I was beginning to worry we won't make it by 6pm, the time they said people will be allowed in the venue. On the way at I-5S, there was an overturned vehicle. It was curiosity causing the traffic. What's curious to me is how they could end up in such a bad accident with so much traffic. I cannot imagine how a car can get up to the speed it would require for a car to flip over and another car to lose it's entire hood all with Friday traffic. But all ended well, at least for us. We got to the concert's venue in time, we even got and early entry pass because we bank at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">WAMU</span>. My son later said it was a good thing because it's quite a walk to actually get to where they'd be sitting.<br /><br /><br /><br />Little did we know that as we prepare to have a relaxing evening, at the other side of town, a tragedy is unfolding. A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Metrolink</span> train crashed head on with a freight train. Kyla later told me that some of her friends <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">texted</span> her to make sure she's alright. How that could happen is currently being investigated. As of today, there's been 25 fatalities, 135 injured, 40 of them in critical condition.<br /><br /><br /><br />Today, I hastily glanced at the LA Times... the main headline is about Wall St. (something to do with a bank filling for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bankruptcy</span>), but the main photo was of the train crash. It said investigators are focusing on whether the signal was broken or if it was missed by the engineer. The crash happened on a curve, but I'm a lot more curious as to why these two trains are on the same track... signal or not, they would have been too close to each other traveling at a speed that would make it hard for any of the trains to stop. I should say that there was no mention of some sort of side track where the other train could have moved to had they been warned by the signal.<br /><br /><br /><br />Towards the back of the paper, there was a feature story on the lives lost in this tragedy, and some story of the people still struggling to survive. Loss of a loved one is always a hard thing to understandmariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-66812676818630158942008-08-23T09:40:00.000-07:002008-09-02T18:13:02.912-07:00discovering Josh Holloway<p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L7xQ2uiRSC4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L7xQ2uiRSC4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p>A new commercial by Davidoff Cool Water perfume is being shown literally at every commercial break. I got hooked the first time I saw it :D My God! I never watched "Lost" so I had no idea who the model was for that commercial, so I did some research. Did not take me long and I now had the name of the model... Josh Holloway! What is it about him that caught my eye? I have no idea, but he looks great on camera... and I now have a crush! Woo hoo!!!</p>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-83042903728827949252008-08-14T19:43:00.000-07:002008-08-14T20:15:42.266-07:00A whole new world...Have been somewhat busy the last couple of days. One of my class for MLIS started early. It's an introduction to everything that we'd be doing for the entire duration of the program. Part of the assignment was to join Second Life immersive environment. I find it weird... but I guess it's okay if you like to spend hours on your laptop talking to other "people" (avatars in this case). I had to do this twice but only because my avatar always end up naked or worse have a box literally hanging on it's hips. When I finally stopped on the first avatar, it ended up looking like a hyped-up junkie... the second attempt was more successful.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNPLTC0QeLz-m8y-Z97Ese7BbrPvfbw5o67tzhpSwg9HwxUAGHvz12yrfECPKbJIbEgmvEm7oJkaB8e1xf73btHo6hhF6dwd40qXmyrC34-cnhZMSopYa3DJHPMFkeiwIi6yD/s1600-h/avatar1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234572825192277314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNPLTC0QeLz-m8y-Z97Ese7BbrPvfbw5o67tzhpSwg9HwxUAGHvz12yrfECPKbJIbEgmvEm7oJkaB8e1xf73btHo6hhF6dwd40qXmyrC34-cnhZMSopYa3DJHPMFkeiwIi6yD/s400/avatar1.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>first avatar...</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpC04B5pvntPpbsX38qPNqqaoc_gQfZ8jiyPygU5hQTwzJTrnTFGOHzxYSAkS5iScPnSQmlwn2laIbGMtKoafcFgPYxhxddQHKEwBQmXkhxIcm1PMzs2-JQWjMn9Qp-GSi2Hc2/s1600-h/avatar02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234572825660463042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpC04B5pvntPpbsX38qPNqqaoc_gQfZ8jiyPygU5hQTwzJTrnTFGOHzxYSAkS5iScPnSQmlwn2laIbGMtKoafcFgPYxhxddQHKEwBQmXkhxIcm1PMzs2-JQWjMn9Qp-GSi2Hc2/s400/avatar02.jpg" border="0" /></a> second avatar... looking much, much better.</p><p align="justify">There was a lot to learn, a ton of reading materials and videos to view, it wasn't that bad, but I've been out of school for so long that I had to literally adjust my brain cells to accomodate all the information. Thankfully, I am now done and am awaiting the official start of the fall semester which would be on Aug. 25.</p>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-5366739623007409812008-07-30T08:11:00.000-07:002008-08-06T15:12:34.848-07:00sick...Still sick. Been off work 2 days in a row and I am bored... Shouldn't really complain because I doubt if I can manage to drive myself to work with all my coughing and my meds.<br /><br /> ****** Update: Gone back to work but still coughing. I had to call my doctor to complain about a wheezing sound when I breathe. She's prescribed additional medication, so if you see someone looking spaced out, that would probably be me, high on antibiotics, he he.mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-59885433208664027312008-07-14T12:54:00.000-07:002008-07-14T13:09:22.154-07:00man or woman?I saw this in <a href="http://greenbucks.info/">Greenbuck</a>'s blog and thought, why not? This just goes to prove that there must have been a mistake when I was still developing in my mother's womb...<br /><br /><center><table style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="300" border="0"><tbody><tr><td><img height="72" src="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/husband.jpg" width="72" /></td><td><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:100%;">61</span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">As a 1930s husband, I am<br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Superior</span></strong></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><small><a href="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/">Take the test!</a></small></p></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br /><center><table style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 1px solid; COLOR: #000000; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="300" border="0"><tbody><tr><td><img height="72" src="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/wife.jpg" width="72" /></td><td><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:100%;">33</span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">As a 1930s wife, I am<br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Poor</span></strong></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><small><a href="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/">Take the test!</a></small></p></td></tr></tbody></table></center>OMG!!!! Thank God I wasn't born in the 30's, although I would have made a superior husband if not for the fact that I'm a woman... ha ha ha! I must be missing a body part...mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-61390555392901853332008-07-13T10:05:00.000-07:002008-07-13T11:34:47.793-07:00huntington beach parade 2008<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmo6EGnMvi3IWt2RLAzQTf8iv0GhWe7v5xQhTjlvwyGsTOnNLmQWBD9TFjo34s55aDtOfM_MeBmzGAFrNExmlEIf6MN8WqYWCxzISbh6CFuTLTa_TwP5IXl0o4-y9xMPD5U4q/s1600-h/DSCF0384.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222546731148065474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmo6EGnMvi3IWt2RLAzQTf8iv0GhWe7v5xQhTjlvwyGsTOnNLmQWBD9TFjo34s55aDtOfM_MeBmzGAFrNExmlEIf6MN8WqYWCxzISbh6CFuTLTa_TwP5IXl0o4-y9xMPD5U4q/s400/DSCF0384.jpg" border="0" /></a> Waking up on a real fine day...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dS1dQS5GYwDHD2MECQcs6n_abXcprGOVbF_flOSjq5Ei2vHJPEBUX9LTWojcI7IM2jiWMDIvxQ0iN1WoJGYLI1tXljj0vCtebp6asRpWrpaVExD2HPIunAuNHWq5eVoSeQC-/s1600-h/DSCF0388.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222546737197771010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dS1dQS5GYwDHD2MECQcs6n_abXcprGOVbF_flOSjq5Ei2vHJPEBUX9LTWojcI7IM2jiWMDIvxQ0iN1WoJGYLI1tXljj0vCtebp6asRpWrpaVExD2HPIunAuNHWq5eVoSeQC-/s400/DSCF0388.jpg" border="0" /></a> Huntington Beach, CA<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKniVy6z-qcv-5CBHssiWPZC52PPBijukYqy0WMXJUNH_w9lmfCeylZq1A3b5vg5_1CJh5nRl9WFL-0K0tXnKhxNY1wouXjdN-xZ86sZzo5NSujN7xNW-GsAbOYhJpNSUVMJu/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222546747012046130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKniVy6z-qcv-5CBHssiWPZC52PPBijukYqy0WMXJUNH_w9lmfCeylZq1A3b5vg5_1CJh5nRl9WFL-0K0tXnKhxNY1wouXjdN-xZ86sZzo5NSujN7xNW-GsAbOYhJpNSUVMJu/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a> marathon<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnE2acKsfgUoPTZYW8PBOBzoUo5Qy-9VMHIK-fzZCWH_IGkNkqG-0FE_DJm0std88WGEQJCXV9PQkEDMLdokX-iR1KLR4KTYDYxKNv3q3zNwqjz4cJdQzVAC1hrmYeeEoWEE5/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222546751770512002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnE2acKsfgUoPTZYW8PBOBzoUo5Qy-9VMHIK-fzZCWH_IGkNkqG-0FE_DJm0std88WGEQJCXV9PQkEDMLdokX-iR1KLR4KTYDYxKNv3q3zNwqjz4cJdQzVAC1hrmYeeEoWEE5/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a> chilling out while waiting for the parade<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nr7V510wkPOzVVlQXqycjFl2BseJJz6IN-W1_QQrMcuBXZsIlT-VvfINFfuT-4vyaINmQ__1lTzbYcxakIAKYu1AvEae-TrtiH2BzatTo0Sz1p8mmNcGwC1qsQZWj4HodKxD/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222546754961750850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nr7V510wkPOzVVlQXqycjFl2BseJJz6IN-W1_QQrMcuBXZsIlT-VvfINFfuT-4vyaINmQ__1lTzbYcxakIAKYu1AvEae-TrtiH2BzatTo0Sz1p8mmNcGwC1qsQZWj4HodKxD/s400/015.JPG" border="0" /></a> cool way to skateboard<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsgaxe2Ur62ez8QUdAVZIxWUFiGwXz0e8a4-75ygG0iCQIOAfXDWl2Rj1k_ze_Eo8ETZI_Mh6bzKIazU0TYib1baRytFrfPBuaXVEoHTwin-6LNt0CnwnIQbRjq9EvniidBP8/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222548253948260386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsgaxe2Ur62ez8QUdAVZIxWUFiGwXz0e8a4-75ygG0iCQIOAfXDWl2Rj1k_ze_Eo8ETZI_Mh6bzKIazU0TYib1baRytFrfPBuaXVEoHTwin-6LNt0CnwnIQbRjq9EvniidBP8/s400/031.JPG" border="0" /></a> HB Parade 2008<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXhIHQKOy-EUgv2ux1kscvoOm_7p2BBLn9b0LN9oCd5wcr-L7Q8FXKRTClKJw52MsUVf4c1v6aBJ6JXM04tvURjig05MWoWq5UcVI33N4qL9GhcAXiZah58uiSRl8S3gZwcyN/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222548263563891618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXhIHQKOy-EUgv2ux1kscvoOm_7p2BBLn9b0LN9oCd5wcr-L7Q8FXKRTClKJw52MsUVf4c1v6aBJ6JXM04tvURjig05MWoWq5UcVI33N4qL9GhcAXiZah58uiSRl8S3gZwcyN/s400/035.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMFiJATLNARR8q9RajiolZ4aYS4mA6H6JVbAkKsQoaPSkMax-Jf-0AOGNQUNEKVpBlF5ehI74oP1pCClJduSv9VhOXy9Dyk9n491a9Mi8VhZY25K_p7ZeBtTQf__fLKrUKdXG/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222548265619615650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMFiJATLNARR8q9RajiolZ4aYS4mA6H6JVbAkKsQoaPSkMax-Jf-0AOGNQUNEKVpBlF5ehI74oP1pCClJduSv9VhOXy9Dyk9n491a9Mi8VhZY25K_p7ZeBtTQf__fLKrUKdXG/s400/040.JPG" border="0" /></a> boy scouts and the American flag<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnjlC_pqVOu2gpkGJF8L_-LeEJFL43C5JyYjobTGpIbrm1CZ1OIEHVPwq_yanQh8seC2i-LuY50uQnYmHXocpEoLh8ByijfZHaXNj8kOhrSXgFBuvpQDzt663-zrg1fAbASMk/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222548273844230066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnjlC_pqVOu2gpkGJF8L_-LeEJFL43C5JyYjobTGpIbrm1CZ1OIEHVPwq_yanQh8seC2i-LuY50uQnYmHXocpEoLh8ByijfZHaXNj8kOhrSXgFBuvpQDzt663-zrg1fAbASMk/s400/042.JPG" border="0" /></a> All dolled up<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrUctYe7vK28YM50IZckuqEFnH24kzGNc4tkCIZHJZQwEdDRzARfkf3L6qJewxiuQEIhN8nEdJfiEkNYTNZYtupsLjAbXGWUKD9crpfW_THWMjbfSyXrmWy2SA2DltNT66y4V/s1600-h/DSCF0438.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222548301265207490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrUctYe7vK28YM50IZckuqEFnH24kzGNc4tkCIZHJZQwEdDRzARfkf3L6qJewxiuQEIhN8nEdJfiEkNYTNZYtupsLjAbXGWUKD9crpfW_THWMjbfSyXrmWy2SA2DltNT66y4V/s400/DSCF0438.jpg" border="0" /></a>Queens of the parade<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-CzuA9npszl3VvYAAQLdXfGGTphX5n2D53oSftdybajp5E5bgPNg34taU1K5dicBmqm3fzj3nY0Eg8dDrxB7Zp-ExgCzNSZVtWe8-6Fq1HX-P-d9B09w3fNrFhLigolG7VtO/s1600-h/DSCF0510.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222549468001829266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-CzuA9npszl3VvYAAQLdXfGGTphX5n2D53oSftdybajp5E5bgPNg34taU1K5dicBmqm3fzj3nY0Eg8dDrxB7Zp-ExgCzNSZVtWe8-6Fq1HX-P-d9B09w3fNrFhLigolG7VtO/s400/DSCF0510.jpg" border="0" /></a> Snoopy<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS4M1Tlu3PQGhIH9xPcQ31NfaxnsD-v5yv6IhWEszS6yAwGH8-0mBoYKXWk3zVPqlvVeAX0RP298QImRRGP7uk2YTpg9AKj3AE8k5oqKgvMrZw92_XAUkeNO8lTVxudoPLF6V/s1600-h/DSCF0593.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222549501722312850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS4M1Tlu3PQGhIH9xPcQ31NfaxnsD-v5yv6IhWEszS6yAwGH8-0mBoYKXWk3zVPqlvVeAX0RP298QImRRGP7uk2YTpg9AKj3AE8k5oqKgvMrZw92_XAUkeNO8lTVxudoPLF6V/s400/DSCF0593.jpg" border="0" /></a> drumming on to peace...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGbpGvDNI4doQXmAQLs3G-5x3JcCM4dPNmRbAmqjNWLmYXbClfj3BXvKaT6gQXZdvHE7m5aC4EwskTutuxx7TFtWlOUhHR3DWt-VLrzE1doBj-DO5HtFa5F1Q5UaqUvTD_UkC/s1600-h/DSCF0446.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222549511693346866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGbpGvDNI4doQXmAQLs3G-5x3JcCM4dPNmRbAmqjNWLmYXbClfj3BXvKaT6gQXZdvHE7m5aC4EwskTutuxx7TFtWlOUhHR3DWt-VLrzE1doBj-DO5HtFa5F1Q5UaqUvTD_UkC/s400/DSCF0446.jpg" border="0" /></a> the media taking a shot of me as I was taking a shot of him ;p a friend of mine called to say I got my few seconds of fame in one of the news channel covering the parade.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrmOi_aInXXhjTAXJewewRwv-kjoMbgEub0tI2UUTXT_aU0Kh5qC329P-DKaMWp2KsbQb72ixR66qiq9jc-ihogOW4fDInyEygBQiCsGos-wRbjbO6d6xf-8iRX3MgO86RQBo/s1600-h/DSCF0457.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222549529238288706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrmOi_aInXXhjTAXJewewRwv-kjoMbgEub0tI2UUTXT_aU0Kh5qC329P-DKaMWp2KsbQb72ixR66qiq9jc-ihogOW4fDInyEygBQiCsGos-wRbjbO6d6xf-8iRX3MgO86RQBo/s400/DSCF0457.jpg" border="0" /></a> war veterans<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3CivXjUGj-ofQNV0VPvN_x3hcijMtug5YWg_KxTPBpS0hkXuI5WnoxSPjpCHJsrFD_8ZZ6HHgQ_SGw34lZUSb-A-ZHbYp9wthLqu7hoKHqvZqjwkgSjI0d8oalMvF_asIYQw/s1600-h/DSCF0466.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222549540265880402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3CivXjUGj-ofQNV0VPvN_x3hcijMtug5YWg_KxTPBpS0hkXuI5WnoxSPjpCHJsrFD_8ZZ6HHgQ_SGw34lZUSb-A-ZHbYp9wthLqu7hoKHqvZqjwkgSjI0d8oalMvF_asIYQw/s400/DSCF0466.jpg" border="0" /></a> sailors<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8J9ksrrDuZXLTJLArIqBGY_3vMP9Pp2c5m1NYsGWo6Im54mrfOSDVJSGubnIhIbP36NI6paZGwaXQMh736ThcCOGQwma4tDWha2muhFi1Hgj4QEjlbaOfq9aWMy50BHhY5kE/s1600-h/DSCF0469.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222550836648001522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8J9ksrrDuZXLTJLArIqBGY_3vMP9Pp2c5m1NYsGWo6Im54mrfOSDVJSGubnIhIbP36NI6paZGwaXQMh736ThcCOGQwma4tDWha2muhFi1Hgj4QEjlbaOfq9aWMy50BHhY5kE/s400/DSCF0469.jpg" border="0" /></a> motorized plane<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYN_TTWv3hJWoTxGs-IxBofcdNCJLX6lVHCseRY_YuUICdyKpFKWC-gZB4bZbK3qHM4KeVGnWiDPOewmUcUsyUdHxuzo2GgvDHThtLur_gNnI_K2_JZFDtZNysyVEKYdByF2s/s1600-h/DSCF0398.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222550844620646290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYN_TTWv3hJWoTxGs-IxBofcdNCJLX6lVHCseRY_YuUICdyKpFKWC-gZB4bZbK3qHM4KeVGnWiDPOewmUcUsyUdHxuzo2GgvDHThtLur_gNnI_K2_JZFDtZNysyVEKYdByF2s/s400/DSCF0398.jpg" border="0" /></a> Mom at the parade<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RBDRb_NJQjl5UMGyrI8dzpSdnnMwhNpnIOFgMbGopLxmDspLH6QgvJeNQSmqn9scqAVazMB6a2o5dmKUEo17jsmo7VLrOYGb8mgnlkj7eLDqoKJeGtE79chw9nHOz-Zo0FWn/s1600-h/DSCF0497.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222550846969134498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RBDRb_NJQjl5UMGyrI8dzpSdnnMwhNpnIOFgMbGopLxmDspLH6QgvJeNQSmqn9scqAVazMB6a2o5dmKUEo17jsmo7VLrOYGb8mgnlkj7eLDqoKJeGtE79chw9nHOz-Zo0FWn/s400/DSCF0497.jpg" border="0" /></a> clowning around<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNrKRWtO2qa_YsOP8FTXOcMMx8OKvbmVwJTzdQXhiyVAsa285Qb2Exz-gYvASzLPnKhV-_wRe8JE1f_s5aNRkVmMbAmEUSV44B9c-FJTyR3cIxgzp6ZNOu_Sv0sXsdG74PZik/s1600-h/DSCF0482.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222550857822493266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNrKRWtO2qa_YsOP8FTXOcMMx8OKvbmVwJTzdQXhiyVAsa285Qb2Exz-gYvASzLPnKhV-_wRe8JE1f_s5aNRkVmMbAmEUSV44B9c-FJTyR3cIxgzp6ZNOu_Sv0sXsdG74PZik/s400/DSCF0482.jpg" border="0" /></a> Bob the Builder<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG9H6Gk9iFwZULEC4iz_9QxMiLTckq6LfrkXl23zgoNbNp5J0h8CDl0OPEC7btfWswfUSUE9I0CMzOuY7mzVrFxtpuzyS2DhV0g2gorEurXOPrA-eCwLGmjXiRHjkfKD8pY_J/s1600-h/DSCF0488.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222550866900268642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG9H6Gk9iFwZULEC4iz_9QxMiLTckq6LfrkXl23zgoNbNp5J0h8CDl0OPEC7btfWswfUSUE9I0CMzOuY7mzVrFxtpuzyS2DhV0g2gorEurXOPrA-eCwLGmjXiRHjkfKD8pY_J/s400/DSCF0488.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoQqpRvhZW0Au4TnmcCJkwd8m3P3OVJQfcd9GsL-xpfoxpiFdf1LkY4Xjwjl87lVKn92ja-NKC0ih7wcO9bP4zUkC-6mM5Kk4FFsLzYImDNaXKl0BnirPdjvunrGnSGu2NFPP/s1600-h/DSCF0520.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222552321773378098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoQqpRvhZW0Au4TnmcCJkwd8m3P3OVJQfcd9GsL-xpfoxpiFdf1LkY4Xjwjl87lVKn92ja-NKC0ih7wcO9bP4zUkC-6mM5Kk4FFsLzYImDNaXKl0BnirPdjvunrGnSGu2NFPP/s400/DSCF0520.jpg" border="0" /></a> old fashion diner girls<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-weM0_5JLnZIwv-ppCPctJLUnnrhL6NmcXIwOl54nFubYE1XbH3w_E3-IAUOrZ9Jmhpf-RlNHtoZwdoODxLZmJTYKnomiHNvxuG8hQqu2KYQ6FUp6CZGaFtpAlZOs_kHU5Ls7/s1600-h/DSCF0544.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222552330398479634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-weM0_5JLnZIwv-ppCPctJLUnnrhL6NmcXIwOl54nFubYE1XbH3w_E3-IAUOrZ9Jmhpf-RlNHtoZwdoODxLZmJTYKnomiHNvxuG8hQqu2KYQ6FUp6CZGaFtpAlZOs_kHU5Ls7/s400/DSCF0544.jpg" border="0" /></a>kid wonders <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1XWHcmu701_5_yPLBFGdkBLs2ezOZ2F30uAypSBaO9e5XBH-yFgHYknUwxkFz5bo8nKyx8HYFGNQcm-AmFjYxBRM8EAIc39kCvgJNjSbAsGPcwSZ2qIDut7uy2R4NU3GFAWY/s1600-h/DSCF0625.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222552349117005602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1XWHcmu701_5_yPLBFGdkBLs2ezOZ2F30uAypSBaO9e5XBH-yFgHYknUwxkFz5bo8nKyx8HYFGNQcm-AmFjYxBRM8EAIc39kCvgJNjSbAsGPcwSZ2qIDut7uy2R4NU3GFAWY/s400/DSCF0625.jpg" border="0" /></a> Silver Surfer at HB<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT5eznCQFKAMCGzKGhl1Izl-XXdcwNVSNOf8yT2cuwxr8NTToY2jtxfS5w6Mch3iwh6vKQG55_OdZhWVJkKyhueiZotSNwnC0nmDDEmtJaop59_cVgHwD9Vpm2Kf8Lnngv7DC/s1600-h/DSCF0702.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222555865183462930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT5eznCQFKAMCGzKGhl1Izl-XXdcwNVSNOf8yT2cuwxr8NTToY2jtxfS5w6Mch3iwh6vKQG55_OdZhWVJkKyhueiZotSNwnC0nmDDEmtJaop59_cVgHwD9Vpm2Kf8Lnngv7DC/s400/DSCF0702.jpg" border="0" /></a> my son's band<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5rinP5LSlOt7Ymiyf8zXsl6AsZgG4qCjvCF7wKxdAE-k13w_aXA12tXLckmbmRGpBaBG7ElFnLlDGWEESwKn3ZzdHqnAC2RlQkUtG0wcURNn2J8NwThPdEKeHYqSg_1D7tdO/s1600-h/DSCF0667.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222555870234982594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5rinP5LSlOt7Ymiyf8zXsl6AsZgG4qCjvCF7wKxdAE-k13w_aXA12tXLckmbmRGpBaBG7ElFnLlDGWEESwKn3ZzdHqnAC2RlQkUtG0wcURNn2J8NwThPdEKeHYqSg_1D7tdO/s400/DSCF0667.jpg" border="0" /></a> Queen?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPag34CEOIb6HsFbqiDEMQYhIaa-4tppDS_0DgEt_6Kr_UTVzpptdAlueiNY3QTfpMqoI1En67Pnk7kOje48JCxiOABMQKF5onVKB4RMM5EMVz0vNxJkkGprnmWN0aw2eUx6P/s1600-h/DSCF0735.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222555879800942898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPag34CEOIb6HsFbqiDEMQYhIaa-4tppDS_0DgEt_6Kr_UTVzpptdAlueiNY3QTfpMqoI1En67Pnk7kOje48JCxiOABMQKF5onVKB4RMM5EMVz0vNxJkkGprnmWN0aw2eUx6P/s400/DSCF0735.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI63gRd8W6mRFObTWyqwkSCJAcfp8kpSmhyphenhyphen1gzqs9rI4PKdBweCuUO1wtKI69ZJ5_WkMQkrIEznTBR79O-E0MZQ18GmFnCBI18gSAOdsdvppbGnoJy2-fxrkQnb4S1k4Frrwl/s1600-h/DSCF0724.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222555888030465442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI63gRd8W6mRFObTWyqwkSCJAcfp8kpSmhyphenhyphen1gzqs9rI4PKdBweCuUO1wtKI69ZJ5_WkMQkrIEznTBR79O-E0MZQ18GmFnCBI18gSAOdsdvppbGnoJy2-fxrkQnb4S1k4Frrwl/s400/DSCF0724.jpg" border="0" /></a> Axel<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSi4-nDt9AKw3NaCFbT1ZmcWqs4UbGuPjEhoSG_kB0FzU4pXz5xOw1AoA1z3GhDBTSSQihhLwMiPRrw6f6zicHOk0-qyh8x-3th9hblETYdol4mD7jevohrZg-dJgSEIrhriG/s1600-h/DSCF0741.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222555891605457586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSi4-nDt9AKw3NaCFbT1ZmcWqs4UbGuPjEhoSG_kB0FzU4pXz5xOw1AoA1z3GhDBTSSQihhLwMiPRrw6f6zicHOk0-qyh8x-3th9hblETYdol4mD7jevohrZg-dJgSEIrhriG/s400/DSCF0741.jpg" border="0" /></a> families enjoying the day<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VcB9u-iYM1kdJNpZ0-FtWxThoarOGTLWJXJPNgFn46ut_vvoV6s-eG42DZPqiCj_plxCle_HNikqteU9fmXJVRP_ank0sEa2ObYvd-hQigC-KYWqEzg0XprcrOAY2lmCtnfm/s1600-h/DSCF0750.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222557153798648626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VcB9u-iYM1kdJNpZ0-FtWxThoarOGTLWJXJPNgFn46ut_vvoV6s-eG42DZPqiCj_plxCle_HNikqteU9fmXJVRP_ank0sEa2ObYvd-hQigC-KYWqEzg0XprcrOAY2lmCtnfm/s400/DSCF0750.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lincoln look-alike<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1icT6S1Y4DkKMDTasbHBSA4U1Usc9trNKqwBrY1G1mU0aZ0H-LGWX7CkoMFweQi9jS-NsLv1kNEKKkLHRClsneuipZBeQdA2XgZZffPwCnOregNsq8e8eYSmYbLYmcbmloqOd/s1600-h/DSCF0754.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222557163917239458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1icT6S1Y4DkKMDTasbHBSA4U1Usc9trNKqwBrY1G1mU0aZ0H-LGWX7CkoMFweQi9jS-NsLv1kNEKKkLHRClsneuipZBeQdA2XgZZffPwCnOregNsq8e8eYSmYbLYmcbmloqOd/s400/DSCF0754.jpg" border="0" /></a> house decors<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjqonMz7Dy6zBNtcpEzx8Wk78HZ4_nN7Du_IDFv8pUq0ThhIprLMT5uQYGGBPFPj7FUHILPVeLCBpfz5NU_PNzP5hIfm0Aq5c3NQvaHyM6W_4xmbw4RyTa6afforzTX8rMyQQ/s1600-h/DSCF0763.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222557168299067650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjqonMz7Dy6zBNtcpEzx8Wk78HZ4_nN7Du_IDFv8pUq0ThhIprLMT5uQYGGBPFPj7FUHILPVeLCBpfz5NU_PNzP5hIfm0Aq5c3NQvaHyM6W_4xmbw4RyTa6afforzTX8rMyQQ/s400/DSCF0763.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-gbVDLYI42IW2PiA20EkPlgERLyj6K7yRa93t5BLwtcrZtKrxAZPVPT6W_cy7hyuoqaoga5Z5oM07_bJn5ULTbTudkrURuoxCcD4h15O-b-959RjET5oIiENFILC7KT7YA9P/s1600-h/DSCF0795.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222557173371272786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-gbVDLYI42IW2PiA20EkPlgERLyj6K7yRa93t5BLwtcrZtKrxAZPVPT6W_cy7hyuoqaoga5Z5oM07_bJn5ULTbTudkrURuoxCcD4h15O-b-959RjET5oIiENFILC7KT7YA9P/s400/DSCF0795.jpg" border="0" /></a> clean-up crew<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw4a6Q0Z-Dc_VsZx45Fu4LBCCAkpDzJ7oVPhO9L8la3OqCNDG_KMed-QBZ9VBaXC_2yoW6zzQpfgWQgST2Gbij6LU0LYO_qDR420suiZWRdBj5L5gXUt6td1jeBy6SpH57Ora/s1600-h/DSCF0806.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222557182790626706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw4a6Q0Z-Dc_VsZx45Fu4LBCCAkpDzJ7oVPhO9L8la3OqCNDG_KMed-QBZ9VBaXC_2yoW6zzQpfgWQgST2Gbij6LU0LYO_qDR420suiZWRdBj5L5gXUt6td1jeBy6SpH57Ora/s400/DSCF0806.jpg" border="0" /></a> acrobat<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-50yuI3dGBpJX6nhOB-Jb3F_bJkE5CR6p5GSMcLmep3iv0SaPTukChwvMIAROfQdG9E1Ewhi2IfOQgQFrPagKknbaUlLwGsQVqk6BmSd-vLVU0Et5XzyYsG749nCQmn2aWUl/s1600-h/DSCF0809.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222558365822938770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-50yuI3dGBpJX6nhOB-Jb3F_bJkE5CR6p5GSMcLmep3iv0SaPTukChwvMIAROfQdG9E1Ewhi2IfOQgQFrPagKknbaUlLwGsQVqk6BmSd-vLVU0Et5XzyYsG749nCQmn2aWUl/s400/DSCF0809.jpg" border="0" /></a> huntington beach<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgex9aiOOM3IhoxgDN_2NfkzM6kidwRM2YXWOv5aalYdKhtCl54nV6PbhPEp8ShP8GAM60RUj4wTcDSvSkchC00zD0Gb82w8hdWy7psjxCEpzOt6SrjBtA4I0YemzNxntSByld9/s1600-h/DSCF0814.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222558369723374562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgex9aiOOM3IhoxgDN_2NfkzM6kidwRM2YXWOv5aalYdKhtCl54nV6PbhPEp8ShP8GAM60RUj4wTcDSvSkchC00zD0Gb82w8hdWy7psjxCEpzOt6SrjBtA4I0YemzNxntSByld9/s400/DSCF0814.jpg" border="0" /></a> relaxing at the beach<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8P7pTXvFnurtXMDsoPwTcPzgSZBPgRrPgAo2DYeAJIFga7mLTXfxFtpeFyFt7M27PGLm82GR_Vh84WDr0AjkiQP8gfE7cNjmkNIyIIEghiIN4XHIc87GHUGyj_zj5HgxRjdG/s1600-h/DSCF0817.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222558376121380770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8P7pTXvFnurtXMDsoPwTcPzgSZBPgRrPgAo2DYeAJIFga7mLTXfxFtpeFyFt7M27PGLm82GR_Vh84WDr0AjkiQP8gfE7cNjmkNIyIIEghiIN4XHIc87GHUGyj_zj5HgxRjdG/s400/DSCF0817.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59BTmATHjKwLzwB_C-UMrUr-zUjqJ50PfRDKAKGiRUieRshN5VTf7eBs5hpyWSWxHMXfq2hKmU8Oau2DoXddh5KqgdQDwie6kSgr_jxR4IivPxlgwv2Ae4X1Z8svjl3hHNI4x/s1600-h/DSCF0866.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222558385137194546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59BTmATHjKwLzwB_C-UMrUr-zUjqJ50PfRDKAKGiRUieRshN5VTf7eBs5hpyWSWxHMXfq2hKmU8Oau2DoXddh5KqgdQDwie6kSgr_jxR4IivPxlgwv2Ae4X1Z8svjl3hHNI4x/s400/DSCF0866.jpg" border="0" /></a> sunset at the beach<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKAtmcODfZbyr1sScPVi4msBpjVSEwgjn9Sz55x8Y_8EkJxEkHsFcTS9TFQEHNfmWPV7J00_X914WwFPC9G7CP1LuM-IRo6Fz8v4ivACHyjdJIe3fdxpDrq3ocxpOQaKY7FaA/s1600-h/DSCF0872.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222558412958480978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKAtmcODfZbyr1sScPVi4msBpjVSEwgjn9Sz55x8Y_8EkJxEkHsFcTS9TFQEHNfmWPV7J00_X914WwFPC9G7CP1LuM-IRo6Fz8v4ivACHyjdJIe3fdxpDrq3ocxpOQaKY7FaA/s400/DSCF0872.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCZc-xc_DP4aEb2DHISRxgAKJEOCDf9Zz3mr763ko9z5rKnp2g-DpnAXJC0imGF0vc0A-D0_zM91VeGVjH3lyAN5UUVYqnWiuwQZXGh6Q9lhPZYRuNVGmDIu6pVMW2OXLF2NA/s1600-h/DSCF0898.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222559804457193026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCZc-xc_DP4aEb2DHISRxgAKJEOCDf9Zz3mr763ko9z5rKnp2g-DpnAXJC0imGF0vc0A-D0_zM91VeGVjH3lyAN5UUVYqnWiuwQZXGh6Q9lhPZYRuNVGmDIu6pVMW2OXLF2NA/s400/DSCF0898.jpg" border="0" /></a> lamplight<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5OCzdnpnP-oNzLG_N4wPbGhesTLwSHBJVUTw7ipKCzkdCf6t0-Xf54q_XZhqy3vFNDDXBB0E_tJF0__loXZZlBy-0JnReDw4QMsK-GFDGw1uztBEVWMzGWxkNNeuMGT4HfUc/s1600-h/DSCF0902.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222559809011554770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5OCzdnpnP-oNzLG_N4wPbGhesTLwSHBJVUTw7ipKCzkdCf6t0-Xf54q_XZhqy3vFNDDXBB0E_tJF0__loXZZlBy-0JnReDw4QMsK-GFDGw1uztBEVWMzGWxkNNeuMGT4HfUc/s400/DSCF0902.jpg" border="0" /></a> fireworks display<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFzJqL6CHuzx9djD3WWa7BMz4MqFCcV6WsU6On5U0rzMRT1VKYr6dzHs7Kq4pfGBZbXGQVEJ4IU3UUr8YNS823fNGMQae-sKAXoWTGiKj4fPRw60tqBpPiZlCCCBFo3q8hee3/s1600-h/DSCF0904.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222559822301984850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFzJqL6CHuzx9djD3WWa7BMz4MqFCcV6WsU6On5U0rzMRT1VKYr6dzHs7Kq4pfGBZbXGQVEJ4IU3UUr8YNS823fNGMQae-sKAXoWTGiKj4fPRw60tqBpPiZlCCCBFo3q8hee3/s400/DSCF0904.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q8MWTE4dO33JK0uqAL2DjO6SQEn-HFqwsvRWmJfKw5ENo5CXKEZ6Cy9CI-e7Yi6J92eawLnuH5MuKD9gRwY7Gcp_HHRNiprrBC8YcJ9BRScBet4HLBmpSNLrO0_6ZbHqWkmx/s1600-h/DSCF0913.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222559824366133346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q8MWTE4dO33JK0uqAL2DjO6SQEn-HFqwsvRWmJfKw5ENo5CXKEZ6Cy9CI-e7Yi6J92eawLnuH5MuKD9gRwY7Gcp_HHRNiprrBC8YcJ9BRScBet4HLBmpSNLrO0_6ZbHqWkmx/s400/DSCF0913.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ2jT9Jy2jTtFa6zuVuqKduEs9AHQVrxcHwaabDMMv_2kw9PryfWGCVNtVKgPP5I6U0KOMMGVBWla6mFwKNIcKcPhbkcdyhReiEgSnNlT-l9SDrwoxjklYUrF1LvlNCVxscMG/s1600-h/DSCF0928.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222559850043139266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ2jT9Jy2jTtFa6zuVuqKduEs9AHQVrxcHwaabDMMv_2kw9PryfWGCVNtVKgPP5I6U0KOMMGVBWla6mFwKNIcKcPhbkcdyhReiEgSnNlT-l9SDrwoxjklYUrF1LvlNCVxscMG/s400/DSCF0928.jpg" border="0" /></a> going home<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jQNRcC8mtgOeCey7FuOUABOkh2-VTIl5y5tu98Cm0nPSEtnkyAlqeHpHHlBBM9I1SDxKkPmZ5GQ_-QydJu-NwMHVTjnTBO3wiT6ZwyNWDC3CBYHeKt4aOOqP3INIYn85mkea/s1600-h/DSCF0929.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222560246494651842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jQNRcC8mtgOeCey7FuOUABOkh2-VTIl5y5tu98Cm0nPSEtnkyAlqeHpHHlBBM9I1SDxKkPmZ5GQ_-QydJu-NwMHVTjnTBO3wiT6ZwyNWDC3CBYHeKt4aOOqP3INIYn85mkea/s400/DSCF0929.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><p align="center">one tired bear</p>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-23237930008787358972008-06-24T18:22:00.000-07:002008-06-24T18:39:35.180-07:00finding a diversionWhen one works two jobs, it might seem impossible to get bored... but it happens. And today is one of those days. Good thing that there's a film that's being shot right here at SWL. It stars Billy Bob Thornton (the ex-husband of Angelina Jolie). My friends had to educate me on this one... I simply had no clue as to who he is. But, that's normal for me... don't really follow the entertainment industry. Took these photos, from where I sit at the circulation desk...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmHT1PxnYwy_pD_NRjEXV8tAGfLartxCQECRvcWa0esQdsPY3HoqICsL138h8URpr4B4uQseU_aAtLGoVdB3AcPGrJHwjsk5R7WPTNvEJhLtdFXD4QJbCBHBWSJuK3nHHizxF/s1600-h/billy+bob+thornton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215625266465596930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmHT1PxnYwy_pD_NRjEXV8tAGfLartxCQECRvcWa0esQdsPY3HoqICsL138h8URpr4B4uQseU_aAtLGoVdB3AcPGrJHwjsk5R7WPTNvEJhLtdFXD4QJbCBHBWSJuK3nHHizxF/s400/billy+bob+thornton.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBne5RnSD0f4ByOHMRJnvOl0JqziWjsBsmRlyyEs91lA9Kxb1yiNZvp0VQfUTJMv-sgawJkFLcrlnuHWn5pWfiFq2LsfOhKBbdahwrkBmMEvwF-YmAa2j8LybapTg1E0SArM3Z/s1600-h/billy+bob+thornton1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215625270582431602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBne5RnSD0f4ByOHMRJnvOl0JqziWjsBsmRlyyEs91lA9Kxb1yiNZvp0VQfUTJMv-sgawJkFLcrlnuHWn5pWfiFq2LsfOhKBbdahwrkBmMEvwF-YmAa2j8LybapTg1E0SArM3Z/s400/billy+bob+thornton1.jpg" border="0" /></a> And that, my dear friends, took care of more than an hour of my time although they only shot about less than 10 minutes of film.<br /><br />Note: I just had additional input from my co-worker. This movie is called "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985695/">Manure</a>", comedy about manure salesmen in 1960s heartland America.<br /><br /><em>***photo taken using my sony ericsson z750a fone...</em>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-74362934116543443352008-06-19T17:02:00.000-07:002008-06-19T17:13:23.517-07:00Where in the Philippines...Been tagged. I think I've done this before, but since I got nothing better to do right now, why not do it again... ;p<br /><br />With so many islands, so many great places to see, it's no wonder I was only able to visit a handful. Now that I'm here, chances of being able to see other places of interest in the Philippines is becoming nill. Maybe someday...<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan"><img title="Lakbayan Visited Map" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/map-v1.0?baapaackaabmaaaakfbaaikcaaafpabaaakfapknkpubatadupaakaaakdasakmaaclkppkpfmmdmaasaaaaaaaaaa9187" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan"><img title="Lakbayan Grade: C+" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="" src="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/grade-c+" /></a></p><p align="center"><strong>My Lakbayan grade is C+!</strong> <p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at </span><a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lakbayan</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">!</span></p><div align="center"><cite style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Created by </span><a href="http://vaes9.codedgraphic.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Eugene Villar</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">.</span></cite> </div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-7049438475024870982008-06-15T14:22:00.000-07:002008-06-15T14:41:01.290-07:00welcoming summer<div align="center">As spring loses it's yearly battle with the coming of the summer season, we headed off to the beach for an afternoon of fun, food, sun and sand (well, maybe not necessarily in that order). The sun, for all it's warmth lost it's battle to the cold front... and I meant it really got cold and it's not even 5pm. I gave up my sunbathing efforts as the cold wind kept me shivering instead of baking. Took some comfort in taking a few photos and having some snacks.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbtKAvOY7nbtukbtKBpR3bFJb8zEcBfC4TJM25AlqzqquPJ8PmrSAYCzUq7VAEzVaiu4V81-OW_JupavfbREG5SLorBq5Ccge6pMS7bjJJBf6nsyZJ9OMCku2KUQXt_z0C_Ts/s1600-h/DSCF0161.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212223260463150130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbtKAvOY7nbtukbtKBpR3bFJb8zEcBfC4TJM25AlqzqquPJ8PmrSAYCzUq7VAEzVaiu4V81-OW_JupavfbREG5SLorBq5Ccge6pMS7bjJJBf6nsyZJ9OMCku2KUQXt_z0C_Ts/s400/DSCF0161.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>sob.... :( am not able to wait for sunset, too cold.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJJp37KUO77TTBq79DkgrY7zaGomnjb7FFNRV0mc191i7NuVovZgZwy5kOdHBp9NK_Iu2zXvgqEd0F50NlUM1DTwgtivO_w7mtSTxh83AoBXRe8_zgiQL3rsRBTm3FHgNdtvT/s1600-h/DSCF0170.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212223268641305666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJJp37KUO77TTBq79DkgrY7zaGomnjb7FFNRV0mc191i7NuVovZgZwy5kOdHBp9NK_Iu2zXvgqEd0F50NlUM1DTwgtivO_w7mtSTxh83AoBXRe8_zgiQL3rsRBTm3FHgNdtvT/s400/DSCF0170.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></a>Kyla, not hungry anymore after finishing off some chix teriyaki stick and beef teriyaki</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt-59g6VnT0FiBU22eL_CUj9K7LBIbza2YFHconcWgabpOIYJvl_uuSLMwYraFQj1QNpybgmZ-W-h7kaHn7oEY4v3srdZ4phM0qCJ6-OZ5SSzbQeHRjyjOok2p2VX5ps4UqHY/s1600-h/DSCF0172.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212223277948384130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt-59g6VnT0FiBU22eL_CUj9K7LBIbza2YFHconcWgabpOIYJvl_uuSLMwYraFQj1QNpybgmZ-W-h7kaHn7oEY4v3srdZ4phM0qCJ6-OZ5SSzbQeHRjyjOok2p2VX5ps4UqHY/s400/DSCF0172.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Axel's better smile... he's too tired though from battling the waves.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwdWyYZPijLPpocKuGRvQteTuwpDkQp2mc_sMzgqmcUuJy3lWG6prChVbVYLg8pS4fiCdYItMlcEA3c2kB5k1aPwig4AGExVJCd1__uUfbMUnrfWSP5mt1TvUHmz9YvAi9pdl/s1600-h/DSCF0185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212223289830838258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwdWyYZPijLPpocKuGRvQteTuwpDkQp2mc_sMzgqmcUuJy3lWG6prChVbVYLg8pS4fiCdYItMlcEA3c2kB5k1aPwig4AGExVJCd1__uUfbMUnrfWSP5mt1TvUHmz9YvAi9pdl/s400/DSCF0185.jpg" border="0" /></a> A storybook style house. I drove by it so the kids can see. Looks like one of those houses from LOTR.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLJcJK62empJzHKH8ncVkDMGNrk5sJna-uj9gaQKWGhX3KT71FNalcsRQmifP4F1jxBlpL4bJXwoOksRz6rRVHCIpI822dZh5CVxdSCYfyfjz5eBZKQOVdGIFZyVuSbWoQVcQ/s1600-h/DSCF0178.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212223302350632258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLJcJK62empJzHKH8ncVkDMGNrk5sJna-uj9gaQKWGhX3KT71FNalcsRQmifP4F1jxBlpL4bJXwoOksRz6rRVHCIpI822dZh5CVxdSCYfyfjz5eBZKQOVdGIFZyVuSbWoQVcQ/s400/DSCF0178.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>breakwater<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNaBWa1E3cMyeffDcwZzweuO41cD5rppuQ5YHT6mhUQ0nLfdGPy_UFyIsZ4yJgp97IK8ZXy4xUcO2ULPheGCcd3Kuf9F4nS1R60InVHNBFF5rmerUqTMxLIlBgPBjLnuh5vGg/s1600-h/DSCF0159.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212222448160370578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNaBWa1E3cMyeffDcwZzweuO41cD5rppuQ5YHT6mhUQ0nLfdGPy_UFyIsZ4yJgp97IK8ZXy4xUcO2ULPheGCcd3Kuf9F4nS1R60InVHNBFF5rmerUqTMxLIlBgPBjLnuh5vGg/s400/DSCF0159.jpg" border="0" /></a> bikepath at venice beach<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7nqT72wAldJXvI34P9m7Ny3x0mfN_gKZMxXMggf2Cu14iBF5ZsUUJ5gVZSpgcOvaZdaT1vhJznYFO1jlsixlJJQEF5-QTKWv67Eu7Jc_nQhOlbMy43qhxPoWnHh0WUqfUWUW/s1600-h/DSCF0132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212222464707128018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7nqT72wAldJXvI34P9m7Ny3x0mfN_gKZMxXMggf2Cu14iBF5ZsUUJ5gVZSpgcOvaZdaT1vhJznYFO1jlsixlJJQEF5-QTKWv67Eu7Jc_nQhOlbMy43qhxPoWnHh0WUqfUWUW/s400/DSCF0132.jpg" border="0" /></a> sailing<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYoTuizPpzs5yckPfJ4UdLU6zHL3q4anmGrQKxXzkT9bi43qEDWu3nzCmlz7hZ4VUHY79rTqyuNYdcfANVyivrq4jBJeDebwMK5pA9OZeBt42suRaaTiH9xp-amql8_KDFREJ/s1600-h/DSCF0135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212222476805040898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYoTuizPpzs5yckPfJ4UdLU6zHL3q4anmGrQKxXzkT9bi43qEDWu3nzCmlz7hZ4VUHY79rTqyuNYdcfANVyivrq4jBJeDebwMK5pA9OZeBt42suRaaTiH9xp-amql8_KDFREJ/s400/DSCF0135.jpg" border="0" /></a> Axel and Kyla<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IiYZWcoEi44WifdyWTWr90bPNnZZW-wJxQEKILeXmKjgA35P-wg-BtCNM01EEtR4DZaOmze4vR1vHOvTFQKO_fP4w_3ytPyoSJzypkWXbXN8U1SUWiU0S1SKUOKOaqDHJJ_a/s1600-h/DSCF0140.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212222493788979682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IiYZWcoEi44WifdyWTWr90bPNnZZW-wJxQEKILeXmKjgA35P-wg-BtCNM01EEtR4DZaOmze4vR1vHOvTFQKO_fP4w_3ytPyoSJzypkWXbXN8U1SUWiU0S1SKUOKOaqDHJJ_a/s400/DSCF0140.jpg" border="0" /></a> waves are coming!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix-XfJrYKJL3AY24VPVgwR8wU2nH2bZR05GxxHqkxPrfC7AorkNMgoxsDPTz4qufToCVLT4tdDqfUcQ6Lt91pYFHWAJiGHyio94vhDesqixlINnr3pGRdhreoBj0Yhda787hy/s1600-h/DSCF0151.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212222502223298050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix-XfJrYKJL3AY24VPVgwR8wU2nH2bZR05GxxHqkxPrfC7AorkNMgoxsDPTz4qufToCVLT4tdDqfUcQ6Lt91pYFHWAJiGHyio94vhDesqixlINnr3pGRdhreoBj0Yhda787hy/s400/DSCF0151.jpg" border="0" /></a> hmmm... wonder what the fuss was all about?<br /><br /><br /></div>mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-55116457613393927932008-06-11T16:24:00.000-07:002008-06-11T17:51:35.770-07:00Happy Birthday Ralline!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSaBFafXiwPnEQlE-pJlHvcayTKIgcDODE9EKlnE8WwdVNAO-e8bpxEMakwpFNWZri8Jk0b_nPBYpEnU7ZVSO2TE_TPTVhWVEitHDQfbxV-d66oVXQ-ARJ_t6YqhFq6iMpKfu/s1600-h/IMG_2809.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210769220187118066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSaBFafXiwPnEQlE-pJlHvcayTKIgcDODE9EKlnE8WwdVNAO-e8bpxEMakwpFNWZri8Jk0b_nPBYpEnU7ZVSO2TE_TPTVhWVEitHDQfbxV-d66oVXQ-ARJ_t6YqhFq6iMpKfu/s400/IMG_2809.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbM_wJ3MREE4PkygfePQ6iIkx90fE0x5E1YSKMuTXIVsSWMxBY-CzhGN-lOkfywronxjexzs4valMPcPirV_y4nW4sQYsTTvkec-fi2EM_UmiO8k9J1FxsIOIoP4kThvvXzoH/s1600-h/collage2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210769230081255602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbM_wJ3MREE4PkygfePQ6iIkx90fE0x5E1YSKMuTXIVsSWMxBY-CzhGN-lOkfywronxjexzs4valMPcPirV_y4nW4sQYsTTvkec-fi2EM_UmiO8k9J1FxsIOIoP4kThvvXzoH/s400/collage2.jpg" border="0" /></a> The S<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">istahuds</span> celebrated <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ralline's</span> 32<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nd</span> birthday at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FlapJacks</span>. Again, I have to content myself with pictures of the said celebration as they are, alas, thousands of miles away. How I wish I was there to celebrate with them.<br /><br />Physical presence made impossible, all I can do is write about it... to rouse myself from a self imposed mind slumber and celebrate with them the only way I can.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ralline</span>, Rae to some, is quite literally a "big" person. Not so much in size(well, maybe a little ;p), but with the goodness of her heart. Friendship with her came as a pleasant surprise way back when we were still in college. I obviously am batches ahead of her, what with all my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">LOA's</span> which I think happened with more purpose than just starting a family... meeting her and the rest of the S<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">istahuds</span> are certainly one of the most welcomed perks of my otherwise ordinary life.<br /><br />With everything that she has accomplished early in life, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ralline</span> stayed pretty simple. Very easy to get along with, ready to listen, lend a helping hand, even take me and my kids for a much needed vacation :) Sometimes, she tends to be too good and people take advantage of that fact. She always gives too much of herself, not just to her family but to all of her friends.<br /><br />Almost 20 years... that's how long I've known her. And every year is an added blessing to my life. Thank you for being you, for being my friend and a part of my family's life. Knowing you has made me realize that there are indeed silver linings and you're one of the best.mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856790.post-13900890794101800792008-06-09T11:49:00.001-07:002008-06-09T12:39:43.874-07:00a little catching upTime flies when you're having fun... or not. It's been awhile since I posted anything, been longer since I've actually sat down and wrote anything that has some semblance of sense in it. I guess sometimes that cannot be helped.<br /><br />I have been somewhat busy, and just plain lazy the rest of the time. To recap some of what I've been doing...<br /><br />- Got accepted at San Jose State University for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MLIS</span></span> program. It's finally a "go" since I've been granted a loan to cover almost all of my expenses. Am a little anxious about going back to school after so many years of "inactivity". I think my mind is in that perpetual state of laziness so I need a really good jolt to get it going again. A shame that all that hard work when I was still in the Phil go to waste... but no sense in crying over spilled milk.<br /><br />- Started going to Curves... need exercise to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">strengthen</span></span> my core muscle to alleviate my low back pain. No, I did not sign up for a regular membership, still am not sure if it's going to work out for me. They gave me advise on eating healthy, but so far the only thing that accomplished was to mess up my digestion. Had to see my doctor last Friday because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">something's</span></span> not right. Was told that although it is good to eat a low fat, low calorie diet, I should not go to the extremes and just change my diet drastically. Though I have some amount of fat stored up, I am not overweight and am exactly at the middle of the normal range, plus my weight has not really changed in the past year. No raw vegetables... which sounds quite odd if I am aiming for a low fat/calorie diet since most of my vegetables come from salads. Oh well, I've always said that diet is not for me...<br /><br />- I've started reading again and finished 3 novels in one week. I should keep this up, might need to practice speed reading since I've been told that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MLIS</span></span> program requires a lot of reading... hopefully I don't fall asleep trying to read those articles ;p<br /><br />- Am trying to do more home-cooking. But I think this is not a very good idea. My son has gained some weight and he's told me that it's because he tends to eat more when I cook. Isn't that flattering? I cook and they eat. I am trying to find recipes that are at least a bit healthier than Filipino food (no offense, but we do tend to eat rich)... good luck to that.<br /><br />- Have to start on my project again... I've put it aside for too long and it's now June. Hopefully, with everything else going on, I can have that done in time for Christmas... yeah, yeah, I know I have half the year.<br /><br />- Finished painting the kitchen, well, sort of. There's a tiny patch that's out of my reach that needs to be painted, other than that, we now have a periwinkle shade for the walls and a really cool green for the cabinets. The floors have also been redone.<br /><br />That seems to be all, though there were tiny details omitted. In all, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">everything's</span></span> great with some drawbacks... which is what life is all about.mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680903979584470558noreply@blogger.com0