Thank you Lord for this blessing!
I received my K3 packet in the mail, informing me that my visa interview will be on March 31 2005! At long last, the end of our waiting is in sight :0)
It has done wonders to my emotional and physical well-being to finally have a concrete schedule. The hardest part about waiting is not knowing how long the wait will be and being as anal as I am, it has been doubly frustrating for me. But now, I can finally plan my life again ;0)
I know that the next two months will pass by in a blur. And I'm looking forward to doing everything I hope to do before I finally say farewell to the land of my birth.
I'm keeping a positive view on all this but keeping me in your prayers will be a big help:0)
1/31/2005
making memories of manila -- a partial list
As I was ranting to a friend about my frustrations regarding staying here until summer, she reminded me to enjoy Manila while I'm still here.
And to get me going, she sent me a partial list. I have edited her list to suit me and will make a complete list soon...
1. Visit Fort Santiago
2. Visit Corregidor
3. Visit the Black Nazarene at Quiapo (and my old haunts selling beads and crystals)
4. Eat BBQ at Beach House, UP Diliman
5. Eat seafood at Dampa
6. Go through the shopping district of Divisoria
7. Have mass at Baclaran (Visiting Baclaran will be an ode to my college self -- she of the well-worn sneakers and jeans, who can elbow her way with the best of them through the rush-hour crowd of LRT.)
8. Have dessert at Chocolate Kiss, UP Diliman
9. Visit Manila Zoo
10. Window shop at Harrison Plaza (my tambayan during my short stint as a medrep)
11. Browse through Solidaridad bookstore (and maybe buy for myself the whole Rosales saga of F. Sionil Jose... and have it autographed if I'm lucky!)
12. Have dessert at Hizon's, J. Bocobo
13. Visit Malacanang
(Will try to do as much as I can of the things on your list Tessa-girl... Thanks for reminding me of my chance to do this before I leave. I really appreciate it :0) )
And to get me going, she sent me a partial list. I have edited her list to suit me and will make a complete list soon...
1. Visit Fort Santiago
2. Visit Corregidor
3. Visit the Black Nazarene at Quiapo (and my old haunts selling beads and crystals)
4. Eat BBQ at Beach House, UP Diliman
5. Eat seafood at Dampa
6. Go through the shopping district of Divisoria
7. Have mass at Baclaran (Visiting Baclaran will be an ode to my college self -- she of the well-worn sneakers and jeans, who can elbow her way with the best of them through the rush-hour crowd of LRT.)
8. Have dessert at Chocolate Kiss, UP Diliman
9. Visit Manila Zoo
10. Window shop at Harrison Plaza (my tambayan during my short stint as a medrep)
11. Browse through Solidaridad bookstore (and maybe buy for myself the whole Rosales saga of F. Sionil Jose... and have it autographed if I'm lucky!)
12. Have dessert at Hizon's, J. Bocobo
13. Visit Malacanang
(Will try to do as much as I can of the things on your list Tessa-girl... Thanks for reminding me of my chance to do this before I leave. I really appreciate it :0) )
1/30/2005
Happy Birthday Zoe!
This is Zoe, my nephew. He turned 1 last January 26 but we celebrated his birthday today.
And what a celebration we had! There was all-you can eat, pink, fluffy cotton candy. Lots of dirty ice cream in cups and sugar cones, and even a face painter to draw temporary tatoos of your favorite cartoon character. There's the usual magic tricks and a very entertaining puppet show with a talented ventriloquist.
There were two buffet tables, one for adults and one for kids. My cousins and I gravitated towards the kids' buffet -- sweet spaghetti, crispy fried chicken, cocktail hotdogs-and-mallow kebabs and mini burgers without the veggies:0) It was comfort food for every kid (and kid-at-heart).
Games were also abundant with showers of prizes. Adults and kids alike enjoyed the 2 pabitin and the pinata.
And for a very cheery goodbye and thank you, lots and lots of goodie bags containing candies and little toys were given out together with a souvenir CD of a Barney episode.
I passed over the Barney CD but got 2 loot bags for myself. After all, no one is too old for candy :0)
And what a celebration we had! There was all-you can eat, pink, fluffy cotton candy. Lots of dirty ice cream in cups and sugar cones, and even a face painter to draw temporary tatoos of your favorite cartoon character. There's the usual magic tricks and a very entertaining puppet show with a talented ventriloquist.
There were two buffet tables, one for adults and one for kids. My cousins and I gravitated towards the kids' buffet -- sweet spaghetti, crispy fried chicken, cocktail hotdogs-and-mallow kebabs and mini burgers without the veggies:0) It was comfort food for every kid (and kid-at-heart).
Games were also abundant with showers of prizes. Adults and kids alike enjoyed the 2 pabitin and the pinata.
And for a very cheery goodbye and thank you, lots and lots of goodie bags containing candies and little toys were given out together with a souvenir CD of a Barney episode.
I passed over the Barney CD but got 2 loot bags for myself. After all, no one is too old for candy :0)
1/29/2005
sibling bonding
Spent the day with my siblings.
The afternoon was spent with my sister in our friendly neighborhood salon. We both got hair spas and I went the extra kikay mile and got a mani and a pedi :0) And since a girls' day out is not complete without shopping, we stopped by our friendly neighborhood mall (read: SM Sucat).
Our primary goal was to gift-shop for our nephew, Zoe. And to window-shop for a jacket for my sister. But as most impromptu shopping expeditions go, we ended up buying not just gifts for Zoe but also gifts for ourselves -- sis got a pink bat-sleeved top at Gozum and I got two embroidered tops at Plains and Prints for half price. Sigh. What can I say? I'm such a sucker for discounts!
After dinner, sis had a craving for fondue so we invited my brother and his GF for ice cream at ATC. We went around Rustan's and Powerbooks (where I got a SF guidebook for 20% off -- such a sucker!) before finally having dessert.
The fondue at Haagen-Daz was not what we remembered. The warm, creamy, thick melted chocolate sauce that hardens on whatever you dip in it became a thin, chocolate sauce that drips after every dipping. The brownies were hard not chewy. At least the ice cream balls did not disappoint.
Although dessert was a lil anticlimactic, I really enjoyed the time spent hanging out with my sister and brother and talking about whatever came to mind.
The afternoon was spent with my sister in our friendly neighborhood salon. We both got hair spas and I went the extra kikay mile and got a mani and a pedi :0) And since a girls' day out is not complete without shopping, we stopped by our friendly neighborhood mall (read: SM Sucat).
Our primary goal was to gift-shop for our nephew, Zoe. And to window-shop for a jacket for my sister. But as most impromptu shopping expeditions go, we ended up buying not just gifts for Zoe but also gifts for ourselves -- sis got a pink bat-sleeved top at Gozum and I got two embroidered tops at Plains and Prints for half price. Sigh. What can I say? I'm such a sucker for discounts!
After dinner, sis had a craving for fondue so we invited my brother and his GF for ice cream at ATC. We went around Rustan's and Powerbooks (where I got a SF guidebook for 20% off -- such a sucker!) before finally having dessert.
The fondue at Haagen-Daz was not what we remembered. The warm, creamy, thick melted chocolate sauce that hardens on whatever you dip in it became a thin, chocolate sauce that drips after every dipping. The brownies were hard not chewy. At least the ice cream balls did not disappoint.
Although dessert was a lil anticlimactic, I really enjoyed the time spent hanging out with my sister and brother and talking about whatever came to mind.
1/27/2005
Yes, I'm smiling :0)
And I have a right to be, coz you see, I was being my old paranoid self regarding my NBI clearance :0P
It took me all of 10 mins (including the time I spent browsing in the tiangge below the NBI) to get my clearance. No namesake with a criminal record. No hassle.
Just my certificate stating that GUERRERO de SALDUA, LEAH of so-and-so address, has NO DEROGATORY RECORD. Yey!
Now I just have to wait for the NSO to release the SECPA of my marriage certificate. Was supposed to be released yday, but maybe the NSO thought that I've had it easy for so long that they have to torment me a lil more, so they're releasing it on Monday :0P
Then Im off to amend my passport. Talk about the road to true love never running smooth. Or something like that.
One more reason to smile about, our K3 visa application is running neck on neck with our immigrant application. Meaning, I have one more option to choose from!
Maybe I can make it to CA before May :0)
(Yep, I had a haircut. Just waited to get the wedding over with before I got back to my wash and wear style. )
It took me all of 10 mins (including the time I spent browsing in the tiangge below the NBI) to get my clearance. No namesake with a criminal record. No hassle.
Just my certificate stating that GUERRERO de SALDUA, LEAH of so-and-so address, has NO DEROGATORY RECORD. Yey!
Now I just have to wait for the NSO to release the SECPA of my marriage certificate. Was supposed to be released yday, but maybe the NSO thought that I've had it easy for so long that they have to torment me a lil more, so they're releasing it on Monday :0P
Then Im off to amend my passport. Talk about the road to true love never running smooth. Or something like that.
One more reason to smile about, our K3 visa application is running neck on neck with our immigrant application. Meaning, I have one more option to choose from!
Maybe I can make it to CA before May :0)
(Yep, I had a haircut. Just waited to get the wedding over with before I got back to my wash and wear style. )
Missing Destiny
I miss having cable internet at home and surfing to my heart's content :0(
As I speak, I am currently blowing Php200 of my precious money to while away the time here at an internet cafe. I need something to occupy my mind so I won't be fixating on my paranoia regarding my NBI clearance.
And what do I have to show for my 200 bucks? My new profile pic and 2 new flickr daily zeitgeist -- sneak previews of our prenuptial pics and wedding pics -- (the other one's here). Not to mention visiting my favorite blogs and catching up :0)
Though Destiny cable internet sucks big time most of the time, I miss the rare times that it actually works and I can surf at the comfort of home.
As I speak, I am currently blowing Php200 of my precious money to while away the time here at an internet cafe. I need something to occupy my mind so I won't be fixating on my paranoia regarding my NBI clearance.
And what do I have to show for my 200 bucks? My new profile pic and 2 new flickr daily zeitgeist -- sneak previews of our prenuptial pics and wedding pics -- (the other one's here). Not to mention visiting my favorite blogs and catching up :0)
Though Destiny cable internet sucks big time most of the time, I miss the rare times that it actually works and I can surf at the comfort of home.
1/26/2005
NBI Paranoia
I changed status on my NBI clearance yeserday. But unlike with my maiden name, where I got the clearance 5 minutes after, I did not immediately receive my clearance. Have to go back for it on Friday, Jan 28.
From what I can tell, there was a HIT. I'm not really sure what this means but a friend had a similar experience when she did her clearance for the first time, turned out, she has a namesake with a criminal record, so she had to go to the regional court where the case of her namesake was filed, dig up the court records just to have the personnel there compare her face to that of her namesake, and then she had to get court clearance as proof that it was a different person.
Sigh. I really hope I don't have to go through all that. Just imagining the delay and hassle it will cause to our immigration petition is enough to bring tears to my eyes :0(
From what I can tell, there was a HIT. I'm not really sure what this means but a friend had a similar experience when she did her clearance for the first time, turned out, she has a namesake with a criminal record, so she had to go to the regional court where the case of her namesake was filed, dig up the court records just to have the personnel there compare her face to that of her namesake, and then she had to get court clearance as proof that it was a different person.
Sigh. I really hope I don't have to go through all that. Just imagining the delay and hassle it will cause to our immigration petition is enough to bring tears to my eyes :0(
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