Back in Dec 2005, I decided to join FFF to get back with my roots and to gain Filipino friends. Having been gone from Pinas for 28 years, I was longing to be back with my unique Pinoy culture.
Soon after, I infiltrated the English Language Room (ELR). I met some real nice people willing to entertain you, provide you info about Pinas, willing to be friends across the Pacific Ocean and also the Atlantic Ocean where some members resides. However, i'm not in Utopia ELR is also home of "juveniles" looking for special attentions.
These group of "juveniles" were labeled as KSP (Kulang Sa Pansin). In weeks, I learned to distinguish which ones are good, bad, and so so members of ELR. I learned how to ignore the bad apples and just moved them in my "iggy bank."
Then, I learned to stay away from the "dramas." At first it was a pure entertainment as these "juveniles" waited for their prey and attacked them at their weakest points. It was funny yet pathetic as these adults attacked each other as if they can physically harm each other.....ha ha ha!
Then as "boys will be boys", I started falling in love with someone. Let's call her "Princess"
A piece of advice for guys......trust your instict first before falling in love and do your homework seriously about love in the cyberworld.
Trust and Credibility go hand in hand.
It's not a guarantee that the PICTURE that's POSTED is that PERSON nor everything that is written in the PROFILE is TRUE!
WARNING!!! Don't be GULLIBLE!
Soon after, I started calling "Princess" via phone daily for 20 minutes or so while commuting to work. (There goes my phone bill eh!) I was doin' this "ritual" for at least three months or so.
Most of the time, it was just blah blah blah but I just wanna hear that sweet voice on the other end and just to check how is she doin' you know! She's probably one of the sweetest person in ELR. Yes, her profile and pictures are authentic as we've also chatted via YM webcam.
For some reason either the long distance, her being "makulit" or her being insecure, we broke up after 5 months but remained a close friend still!
And if you believe in fate and destiny, she's still part of my family as she married my first cousin.........that's is after introducing him during his trip in Pinas Mar 2007.
After having a heavy heart for few months, I fell in love again. Let's call her "Missy" as in "Melissa"
I knew from the get go that this is a big challenge. A challenge compared to climbing Mt Everest, or like winning a gold medal in an olympic competition.
Nevertheless, I was born a risk taker so I took that challenge. I always believe that "a winner makes things happen while a loser let things happen."
After few months of chatting in ELR, i managed to get "Missy's" cell number then eventually home number and addy in United Kingdom. We became good friends.
I was back with my old "ritual" again. I was calling UK via phone twice a month or more just to talk to "Missy" but most of the time it was just blah blah blah. Nothing special.
I always believe that action speaks louder than words so one day for no reason and no special occassion, I sent "Missy" a flower bouquet (tulips) in UK. Soon after, her birthday came up the following month and another special gift was mailed over.
Right after the birthday month, things have somewhat changed! Me and "Melissa" stopped talking. We ignored each other. I really don't have a clue what I did wrong. Few days, weeks, then months passed, I tried to talk to her in ELR but I was ignored.
With all the respect, I didnt wanna have a drama. I just clicked my "iggy bank" where she stays there momentarily!
So there you go my friends........."My Sweet and Sour Memories in ELR! At least I tried. There will be always a rainbow after a rain.
For now I will retire into the sunset and just listen to Melissa Manchester's "DON'T CRY OUT LOUD" and have a glass of Chardonnay.......
" Don't cry out loud Just keep it inside and learn how to hide your feelings Fly high and proud And if you should fall, remember you almost had it all"
There are hundreds and thousands of men and women have passed through Travis Air Force, Fairfield, California where I used to work in support of Iraqi Freedom. Being an Airlift Command, logistics is one of the main functions of Travis AFB. These are brave men and women whose families have been put on hold for the past 5 years.
Men and women join the military service for different reasons. To serve their country, to find some direction in their lives, to see the world and to defend its freedom.
I personally lost 2 Filipino friends who were deployed who paid the ultimate sacrifice. One lost his life after an accident with the Humvee he was in had an accident while the other one was blown up by roadside bombs, Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
One of them was MSgt Jude Mariano, USAF,Vallejo, CA. He was getting ready for his retirement after 22 long years serving proudly and honorably the US Air Force. He was looking forward to spend a lot of time with his kids and families after this last tour and planned to kick back for some fishing and golfing and perhaps a trip to Pinas. Unfortunately, God must have a different mission for him in another scenario.
I attended the solemn funeral service as he was given the full military service. The color guards of the USAF were at their best rendering the 21 Gun salute, the playing of the TAPS and the folding of the Stars and Stripes which was given to his widow as the last respect for a fallen hero/comrade.
This is always the hardest and saddest part for me everytime a military person is rendered the final respect because my father also served the US Navy for 22 years. Fortunately, he is still around at 81 yrs young and I thank God for letting us share this good and happy times with my father after all these years with all the sacrifices he made for a better life for us.
I've been to several military funeral services before but this one had more meaning coz I lost a dear friend and up to these days, i'm one of the many in the United States that still don't know what are we fighting for. Pres Bush' main objective was to capture Saddam Hussein. He was captured and long gone and was executed, yet we are still stuck in Iraq and there seems no end in sight.
This past week the United States marked the fifth year of involvement in Iraq. Sadly, the endgame is still uncertain. How long can we expect our troops, already stretched thin, to remain there? No one wants to see Iraq spiral into chaos, leading to even more bloodshed, if the United States leaves too quickly. But there's been no hint that staying the course will help. We owe it to those named above to demand answers from our elected leaders about the United states' future future in Iraq.
Clearly, this has become the next president's problem, and the three remaining major candidates for the job owe Americans a clear explanation of their exit strategy.
For now, all I can do is to sing IMAGINE by John Lennon: "Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace"
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
Garden Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, 'I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here and drink whatever comes out?'
Who was the first person to say, 'See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt.'
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if he's going to look up there anyway?
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
But Most Of All, Remember!
A Good Friend Is Like A Good Bra. Hard to Find, Supportive, Comfortable, And Always Close To Your Heart!
It was Valentine's Day, and I know what that means: You gave your sweetie (a) a card; (b) candy; or (c) flowers or (d) all of the above.
That's the rub for so many frustrated romantics out there today. Why do I have to be romantic today? Do my romantic gestures yesterday, or tomorrow, not count? That feeling of forced, contrived feelings notwithstanding, must I supply cards, candy, flowers, dinner and candlelight today, because somebody else said so?
Well, sort of. Tradition, it would seem, trumps common sense. In the greeting card business estimate 190 million cards will be exchanged this year alone.
It's no bad thing to have a day set aside that asks only of its participants to convey a message of love, friendship or just simple affection. Do so and in your own way you're avenging St. Valentine.
So have at it. Just remember, romance, love and kindness count on the day after Valentine's day, and in fact should be everyday.
Imagine a still summer's day The day I met sweet oh Marie She came up walking to me With such a lovely smile oh Marie.
The sound of her whispered hello I opened my eyes kind of slow There she was smiling with a glow The day I met sweet Marie oh
Sweet Marie, you need to be hugged Sweet Marie, you need to be loved Sweet Marie, you need all my love tonight Under the clear skies of the lovely summer nights.
I suddenly woke up with a chill in the air I reached out but you were not there Home is where my heart is I feel so all alone when we are parted
Oh Marie, can you help me find clear skies Oh Marie, could I still shine in your eyes Sweet Marie, you are all in this world to me In my memory I hold you so dearly
Sweet Marie,oh that gentle and lovely face You disappeared like a summer breeze All what was left was a broken hearted I'm so confused after you departed.
As I turn out the lights and getting ready to retire after this lonely night If I never wake up in the morning and tomorrow never comes Would you know that deep inside. I love you very much.
If my temporary time on earth were through I wanted you to know that my love for you is true. If I never wake up in the morning and tomorrow never comes Please remember that each and everyday, you mean so much to me.
The thought crosses my mind if tomorrow never comes That I tried in every way to show my love each and every day. Girl, you are the only one for me and love you all the way. The love I gave you in the past will be forever Jenny.
If tomorrow never comes where there's no second chance where i'm trying to avoid that unfortunate circumstance The love I gave you in the past is going to last Please don't ever doubt that and always keep it in your heart.
It hasn't been a good Sunday morning today! I barely had 'bout 3 hrs of sleep and having a splitting headache at the same time, must be the Mountain Dew I drunk when I was at friend's house on his daughter's birthday party. Weather still sucky here in Northern CA as we've been drenched with winter storm for a week now. As I opened some of mails particulary the one from the county, it was for a jury summons and I hate goin to the court house which is a civil duty for every citizen and I don't have a good excuse not to go. I could lie and say i'm not a US Citizen or can't speak English well but "somebody" might get away with a crime. Had a message that dad is not doin well in Pinas. He's really getting old and fragile at 82 yrs young so it might be time for me to go and pay him a surprise visit sometime. It was 3 years ago the last time I paid him a visit in Pinas. Don't wonder why my dad is in Pinas and the kids are in US. Dad loves the Philippines. It's his "Home Sweet Home" He gave 21 years of his life to the US Navy serving proudly and loyally yet his heart is always a Pinoy and he chose to live there after retiring from active service way back in 1966. I also realized that I made a big mistake to a dear friend and made a big fool of myself. A good friend who I shared laughter, shared some views of this crazy world we live in, a good friend who has a big heart and hoping she would forgive me. Oh well, as i am writing this, two of my favorite Beatles played, "Let it BE" and "Hey Jude"
"When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me......................
"And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me, shine until tomorrow, let it be. I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be."
