October 26, 2005  8:16 PM Wednesday, Jacksonville, Florida 

 

I survived the lay off!

I got lucky!  I survived the lay off of 171 positions from the city government last month.  My probationary status has ended in September 27, 2005 and I am happy to announce that based on the performance evaluation result, I was elevated to a permanent status with a retro, step-raise pay on top of that. How nice but the raise wasn’t quite enough to be able to nosh all the demands of my family in the Philippines.  So Ma, please don’t count on me to increase your monthly “pay” as well because that's not going to happen.

Speaking of the increase, my car insurance premium went up too!  Did you recall this post about my first traffic citation a little over four months ago?  The cop told me that if I elect to attend and complete the Driver Improvement course approved by state of Florida,

1.      I get 18% discount off my traffic ticket

2.      No points added to my driver’s license traffic violations record

3.      My insurance premium won’t go up?

Well, 1 & 2 were precisely correct but number 3 is not quite right because I just received the statement from the State Farm Insurance Company with a letter showing my car insurance premium went up from $478.30 to $519.52 semi-annually. Dammit!

 Here’s the attached letter:

Information regarding increased premiums resulting from accidents

You have been involved in an automobile accident which resulted in an accident surcharge, the amount due indicated on the enclosed statement will show the increased premium.

If any of the conditions listed below applies to your situation, the surcharge may be removed.

 The insured vehicle was: 

a.  Lawfully parked, or

b.  Struck in the rear by another vehicle headed in the same direction, and the operator of your vehicle has not been convicted of a moving traffic violation in connection with the accident, or

c.  Hit by a “hit-and-run” driver and the accident was reported for the proper authorities within 24 hours of discovery, or

 The operator of the insured vehicle:

a.  Was reimbursed by, or on behalf of, a person responsible for the accident or has judgment against such person or

b.  Was not convicted of a moving traffic violation in connection with the accident, but the operator of the other automobile involved in such accident was convicted traffic violation, or

c.  Was finally judged not to be liable by a court of competent jurisdiction, or

d.  Was issued a traffic citation which was dismissed or which the prosecutor declined to prosecute, or

e.  Was not at fault and provides a written statement establishing facts demonstrating lack of fault, which are not rebutted by information in our files from which we, in good faith, determine that the insured was substantially at fault, or

f.   Is no longer a member of your household, or

g.  Will not be driving your car in the future, or

h.  Was less than 50% at fault in an accident that occurred on or before April 1, 1984.

 

Jacksonville weather

The weather here yesterday and today are mostly sunny but is freaking cold at least to me! With the Hi of 62 °F and it's in the Lo 38 °F, all I want to do during this time is coop inside the house, enjoy the cuddling time with my DH watching romantic movie and a cup of cappuccino :-)

Anyways, photos for Biketoberfest 2005 will not be posted until DH is ready to launch his first Tony's Ride Report. I should warn you first and foremost that he is a big procrastinator so don't expect that to happen any time soon.  It will take time but he'll get to it, I promise ;-)

 

 

October 16, 2005  5:06 PM Sunday, Jacksonville, Florida

 

Tagged I’m for it!

I've been tagged by Geri and Kate to write about “3 Things You Don't Know About Me”. I thought I’d take on it now that I have spare time to sit down and put my thoughts into words. 

First thing, I was kinda tomboyish before reaching the age of puberty. I mean I acted like a boy, and wore a boy cut all the time. I believe the reason behind was my first two siblings were boys plus next to me was also a boy and to think we are just one year apart from one another. So growing up, when my three brothers together with their male friends climbed trees and ran around the blocks at night looking for spiders and stuff so was I.

Secondly, I had my first  ·  at age 12 but my mom and the rest of the family didn’t have a clue until I was 16. Also at age 12, I experienced my first puppy/infatuation love to the very best friend of my brother who seems like a real brother to him. Nobody knows about that secret until that guy got killed sixteen years later. Even then, I only told one person, my trusted aunt-cousin who also happened to have a huge crush in one of my brother’s circle of friends. There was also one point in my late 20’s, I fell in-love with decent, degree holder, four years younger than me, good looking Filipino guy who treated me equally sweet and tenderly. All the while I thought the feeling was mutual, so I was all for it ;-) However, I am the type of girl who will never ever dare to make the first move to tell the guy upfront about how I feel towards him. I may drop hints and flirt a little bit if I like the guy that much but never been blunt about my feelings to anybody.  Eventually, I confided that sentiment to the person who, I thought my best friend whom I can trust to keep my top secret. I even strongly cautioned her to never tell anybody otherwise she’ll be dead! Regrettably, she didn’t live up to my expectations. I incidentally found out from one of her very close friends that she made an effort to let the guy know about my dilemma. When I confronted her, she was so sorry about it by saying she did it with the best intention of hooking me up with the guy but it turned out that the guy, after all, is not in love with me. The guy likes me and all but it was just a platonic love—nothing sexual. Talk about the humiliation I had to face at that time. From that time on, I never want to see the guy again and I completely renounced my friendship with my “best friend”!


Thirdly, my father is, let's put it this way: my growing years especially the last two years of my high school life and throughout my college life would have been a little easier if he’s a conscientious and responsible man. I hated my father for so long because of that. Imagine, he wasn’t convinced at all that sending us (the only three girls in the family) to college was a good idea. His pronouncement was, “what for? You’ll eventually get married anyway and be a homemaker so why would I have to work hard to send you to college?” I just don’t know if he realizes by now that he made a big fool out of himself especially that the girls in his family continue to dominate his household.  Fortunately, only the girls among his many children were able to get a college degree and I am proud to say we, ourselves worked hard for it. I can’t begin to tell you how my mother and I worked so hard to make a living while my father was either out drinking with his buddies or playing majong. The worst part of it was after he’d gotten himself drunk, he would squeal to pick a fight or if he comes late at night, he woke us up to attentively listen to his deafening, long winded litany. Nakakakahiya sa kapitbahay! Had I not undergo a series of continues 1-on-1 counseling and catharsis for over a year with our Guidance Director during the time I was employed at Notre Dame of Cotabato; I would have despised him for the rest of my life. On the other hand, I probably won't be the gutsy, determined and successful person I turned out to be without the hardships I had to endure and go through because of my irresponsible father.  Anyways, at least God rewarded me at the end, a superb husband whom I truly love and adore for the rest of my life and in turn without a doubt completely accept, love and adore me for what and who I am. I can’t thank God enough for giving me the perfect match.

Geared up for Biketoberfest!

Finally, finally I dropped 6 lbs in two weeks but of course I only ate whole wheat or whole grain toasted bread with egg and a cup of cappuccino for breakfast, green salad or tuna/chicken/turkey sandwich alternately for lunch then cottage cheese and tropical fruits for dinner. Well, I cheated a few times especially on the weekend where DH gets the chance to fire up the grill and do barbeque right in front of our backyard charcoal grill or if I have to attend Filipino party. Juliet and Nathan had a birthday/christening party for their kids two weeks ago. Oh man,  I can't help but feast with the lechon baboy. I didn’t get the chance to take pictures as I was busy eating and at the same time minding Lynette’s baby girl.

I am also exercising my arse off for an hour and 15 minutes every night. Yet I still didn’t get down to my target weight of 106 lbs to be able to fit on my size 4 jeans. Sheesh!  So I went shopping at JCPenny for new pairs of Levi’s jeans the other day! Size 5 would have been the perfect fit for me but I couldn’t find one so I just settled to get a size 6 petite… a little bit loose but I can breathe well that way rather than wearing a very tight size 4 denim. Right now I weight 115 lbs and hopefully will still continue to go down and eventually hit my goal before Thanksgiving Day!

Yeah, so anyways--I am all psyched about the Biketoberfest this coming weekend. DH just bought a new tent as we are going to camp out for two nights at Nova Camp Ground in Daytona. With the weather cooling down here which is in the 70's, it sure does feel like fall! I hope it stays this way until next week.

Today, we went for a short motorcycle ride to Orange Park after Church at 1:30 and ooh it’s a beautiful day out there!

Opps, DH just fired up the grill so gotta get my butt out here!

 

October 1, 2005 8:06 AM Saturday, Jacksonville, Florida

 

Eyeball with online friends

I sometimes still am in awe at how my life evolves in the cyberspace. I can't imagine life without the Internet anymore! First of all, that’s where I met the love of my life and the most important person in my life, remember? If not for the Internet, I sure think I still am the most terror-old maid teacher of Notre Dame Cotabato, Philippines!!!   You know, I really never had a decent and serious suitor before because it all seemed to me that every Filipino man thinks I am such an ugly lass!  But hey, even then I won't settle for anything less either. :-P

I’ve met a bunch of people online in the last couple of years and I feel like I have known few of them inside-out just by chatting on the net and talking on the phone. The best thing about the Internet is the talk between two people is open and personal without the worry about how the other person look and how they would react. I would think friendships can be deepened at faster rates than face-to-face relationships don't you think?

Anyway, last Saturday, Sept 24, 2005, I had the pleasure of meeting Lanie in person together with her family in Orlando, Florida. They live in Michigan but flew to Orlando for a week escape in Disneyworld so we took the opportunity to meet up. After all, Orlando is only 3 hour drive from Jacksonville. Lanie is preggy with her 3rd child so as you can see she’s one busy mum yet she still finds time to talk to me on the phone for some sizzling chikahan! They are down-to-earth couple, I tell you.

Lanie and John, it was a pleasure meeting you and your adorable kids! I love that pretty little girl in black and while photo ;-) I hope to meet up with you again in the near future.  Thanks to my Fil-Am buddies, Bill & Marie, Nathan and Juliet for joining the meet.  Photos here. More photos from Lanie's photo album.


Next one

Thursday night, Sept 29, 2005, we were thrilled to finally see In~in and Ryan who drove 5 hours from Atlanta, Georgia.  They actually live in Illinois but they were visiting their grandparents in Atlanta so they also took the chance to drive down to Jacksonville just to meet up with us for few hours.   It was funny how In~in keeps track of the time as if bibitayin siya (sentenced to die). LOL You see, before they came over, I told In~in, we can only meet up with them for two hours from 7pm-9pm because DH is on call and we have to go to work the next morning. Well, DH was nice enough to extend their stay until 10pm hehehe.

Nevertheless, we had fun! With a short span of time, I was able to prepare (with the help of DH, Judith and Marilyn) few Pinoy delicacies for dinner: lumpia, pork ribs/bones sinigang, ginisang bihon/sotanghon, sautéed shrimp, grilled and fried milk fish and In~in's fav, the stinky fried dried-fish!

Over all, I think they enjoyed the karaoke time more than anything else. Ryan was the star of the night ;-).  After few rounds, even how hard In~in tried, she didn't beat Ryan's score of 98%.  So In~in finally conceded with her highest score of 82%.  Nice try, In :-)

In~in and Ryan, thanks for the visit. It was a pleasure meeting you in person! You have a safe trip back home.  Likewise, thanks to Judith, Marilyn and Chuck for the great company!  Photos here.

I am set to fly to Chicago comes December 30, 2005 to meet up with Tom and Geri!  Whohoo!!! I can't wait...