Chrissaire

Children’s excitement over a particular event that is expected to take place is for me the most genuine expression of all. Once upon a time we were children…and we know what it felt like. The anxiety over waking up on Christmas morning to find a present left by Santa; or the jovialty over a promise that you always long for.

Today, I felt like I was a child again. I only slept for two hours because of too much excitement. And why not? Today is the day that we moved in our new place- our little home closer to work at Lakewood Ranch. Christian and I are very happy to find this place. Personally I felt like we are actually destined to be in this place. Looking back, we had alot of plans for ourselves. But God has patterned his own plan for us… and it was marvelous. I couldn’t ask for more.

Since last Tuesday, I have been working my *** off with my new job. I am still under training here at the Holiday Inn Lakewood Ranch and I was (and still am) excited to learn more about the industry and meet alot of people. As much as I am fully aware of my strengths, I also do not need a tap on the shoulders for me to know my downfall. That’s why I have my training…and I worked really really hard.

I got the third shift this time. I was trained to do the Night Audit of the things that transpired early during the day. I love it! Working from 11:30 to 7:30 on an Auditing work exposed me more on paperworks than on guests (although there were still few check-ins and some check-outs that I myself has to do).

The good thing about working at night for me is primarily the almost inexistent traffic jam on my way to work. I had to drive 21 miles, including 8 miles on the highway. But the downside of this schedule is my lack of time with my Christian. For the two of us, our favorite time has been our bedtime where we just cuddle and talk in whispers until we fall asleep. Now, each one of us has to sleep alone on the same bed at a different time. And both of us are still adjusting.

I am still at work right now…. and I am just counting the minutes. I had done my paperworks already and guests are still sleeping on a Sunday morning. I couldn’t wait to go home while Christian is still in bed. In the meantime, all I can do is grin looking back at the five days realizing that I survived!

Finally after over two months of sending out my resume and cover letter to prospective employers regardless of whether or not they are hiring someone, I finally got my first job here in the United States.  The last months (or even year) has been a tough time for the American economy.  And the domino effect of the economic meltdown left small and big businesses laying off workers.  As a result, competition gets tougher in ones hunt for a living. 

This is no time to be picky.  In my part I thought I just need to be part of the flow of the stream of professionals.  And once I am there, I will go with the flow wherever the current will take me.  Inside me I thought I just need to be a part of a stable company.  Now my hope is realized- thanks to the help of my husband.  Now the fruit of my hardwork (and crying nights) is here.  I got a job at the Lakewood Ranch Holiday Inn. 

In a place that relied primarily on tourism, it is important for me to be in a Hotel Industry.  And this is no ordinary hotel.  With my acceptance, it means that I am just part of the number 1 best Holiday Inn in North America.  How cool is that?  Now the challenge is up to me.  I have to live up to the hotel’s reputation and at the same time keep a lasting impression of how great I can be when given the chance to shine in the room. 

Thank God for this marvelous blessing!

Let’s face it, no one is getting any younger.  Whether you are a full-time homemaker, a focused professional or someone so talented to actually synthesize both- no doubt you are one of the many people bombarded with stress and physical pains.  So with all our hard work, our body deserves a treat.  And since pain occurs when we least expect it, frequent trips to the sauna could even cause pain itself.

So waht do you think about an  Infrared Sauna in your home that will be easy-to-assemble- an accessible way to treat your body aches at the convenience of your home.  And stepping inside this room does not only limit to treating body pains instead it works as far as working on joint stiffness, weight loss, increases blood flow, low or high blood pressure, menopausal symptoms, aging, skin, eczema, menstruation pain, ulcers, asthma and many more.

So the next time a pain strikes, or even when you just feel like treating your skin, stepped into your far infrared saunas and enjoy. Breathe in and out, indulge yourself to a marvelous treat!

My Christian turned 36 yesterday.  It was his first birthday as a married man.  And as a wife, I tried to make it extra special…something that he will remember and hopefully get used to for the years to come.

It was not like he planned it to be that way, but looking back now I realized how beautiful his celebration was.  It was nothing fancy!  As a matter of fact it was a rather simple celebration of life.  But to put it more accurately, it was a selfless way to thank God for another year.

First, we joined Tony’s Walk for Life.  It was a fund-raising activity dedicated to Tony, our friend who is a Brain Cancer survivor.  Christian and I helped in organizing the race.  It was a fulfilling way to give some of our time to a close friend who is known to everyone as a fighter.

Secondly, we kept company of the dog named Saler whose owners were gone for New York for a baby shower.  Christian being extra close to the dog was very sensitive on his needs.  We spent a few minutes with him in the house and walked him around the neighborhood so he can have a dose of his daily exercise.

Thirdly, Christian and I stopped by Books-a-million to get a stuffed dog for an old lady I met in the Rehabilitation Center.  Chris came in to meet her.  That was my first time to be in the Center as a visitor on the weekends.  My three old lady-friends were having their lunch when we came in.  I spent some time with Virginia as she was not touching her food.  She is in her late 80’s and is suffering from a worst form of dementia.  She doesn’t swallow her food, either because she is not capable of doing it, or she just doesn’t want to.  Then I approached Mary who was indulging on her lunch.  I introduced her to the dark brown stuffed animal, and her face glowed- looked pleased to see another friend.  Then I stopped by the one-hundred one year old lady named Mary.  On our conversation she asked me to ask God to take her.  She looked prepared already…and she sounded anxious.

I am very proud of my husband as I have always been.  I am very lucky for having found a guy so selfless and giving.  A person who l has a big heart not just for me, but for our families, our friends and even for strangers.

The US economy is on the brink. Whether or not this whole financial crisis will take us to another Great Depression is something the government is trying to avoid and something the middle class couldn’t help but fear.  But the complexity of this crisis is transformed into a malady for most of us. Having a good or bad credit does not make any difference nowadays.

And just when things seem to get any tougher for many of us acquire Personal Loans or  Auto Loans comes BestLeadingLenders.com .  With them, customers do not undergo the grueling process of loan application.  The first step of application to the loan approval is quick and hassle-free without a need to leave your home.  And since having a good or bad credit doesn’t make so much of a difference nowadays, Bad Credit Loan could be tougher to acquire.  But with BestLeadingLenders.com programs are made accessible nationwide for most credit situations.

So in the midst of an economic wreckage, who would have thought there is still a better option to financing?

During one of our daily phone conversations, my Nanay ( Filipino worded which means, Mother) mentioned to me that they’d cut the coconut tree that was in our backyard.  The moment I heard about it, I felt a sudden twinge of sadness.  And the whole time we were chitchatting about anything and everything, my thoughts continued to wander.  I became emotional.

Coconut trees are very famous and common in the Philippines.  The tree itself embodies a perfect counterpart representation. It is a low-maintenance crop. It is very productive. Out from one tree you can make so many things out of it.  We have coconut husks that we use to scrub the floors.  We use coconut leaves for poso (hanging rice).  Copra is derived from dried coconut meat.  Genuinely sour vinegar originated from perfectly aged coconut water.

This is infact known as the tree of life because it is such a provider.  I’m sad to know that our coconut tree will be gone.

The first thing that I did when I get online this morning was check Jacy’s blogsite.  To my surprise she made a post about her favorite Canadian band The Moffatts.  What was surprising is not the subject- it was the fact that my sister was indulging herself on thoughts about her idols on the very day that I was also doing the same for my own.

Yesterday Chris and I watched the first few episodes of the original Knight Rider.  I don’t remember how old I was when I first watched it.  One thing I remember, it was aired every Friday (Miami Vice was Wednesdays).  These tv shows aired in our local channels made American shows accessible to the Filipino viewers.  It helped us gain acceptance of the American culture so rapidly that unconsciously we embraced it.  Michael Knight became a household name.  Because of the show, so many children in the Philippines were named after David Hasselhoff’s character.

Do you remember how the tv show always ends with Kit’s trailer-home (and laboratory) running down the highway?  That scene was instilled in my small, innocent world that until I grew up I have always envisioned highways (interstate) in the United States to always look like that.  Then l I got an actual confirmation that I was wrong.

Yesterday, in the same show I also discovered that Barret Oliver- the talented little boy who played Daryl in the movie D.A.R.Y.L and was the original Bastian in the movie The Neverending story was actually on the show.  I was so surprised.  I was a big fan.  I am one of those who are still hopeful to find some updates about him (in the net) after his sudden and unexpected disappearance.  And with my discovery yesterday, I am again back to my quest of finding the latest updates (and hopefully pictures) of him now that he just turned 35 years old last August 24.  The net can only say so much.  They said he is now a photographer/teacher based in L.A.  But what does he look like now?  Is he already married?  Why did he leave without saying goodbye?

Whatever happens to Barret Oliver, I am just glad that there is a channel here airing the original Knight Rider.  So for me and the rest of his fans, the tv show will make us feel that he never left.  And for me, Barret Oliver will remain forever young.

***In Wikipedia it is said that Oliver recently wrote a book entitled A History Of The Woodburytype

The weathernews yesterday indicated that Monday will be the official start of Fall.  Mother nature will finally reveal another change of season- from a hot summer, to a hurricane-filled summer, to finally a prelude to winter.  There’s not much of a change as far as people like me living in a tropical state.  But again, for people like me who was born in a tropical country, even the smallest detail from a change of weather is conspicuous to me.

Take my yesterday for example.  I spent one hour of my morning sitting on a bench with a friend.  Because it was a beautiful day, we were not alone.  But unlike me, other people just came out to enjoy a fine weather where the sun is out and the humidity is low.  But for me it was something else.  The mild heat of the sun was soothing as if carressing my tan skin.  The breeze brought soft whispers of a melody from the past.  I shivered.  And in just a matter of seconds I figured what that feeling was all about.  It was a Christmas feeling from way back whenever December comes.  That wonderful emotion that brings out an inner sense of peace and joy in me; that even in the silence you can almost hear the sound of Christmas bells from the slow dances of the leaves.

It is too early for Christmas.  I don’t want to rush it because I don’t want it to just pass by.  When the weatherman said Fall is just around the corner, I will take his word.  I will wait for my world to transform from green to orange.  I will capture the sights of an amazing art of bald trees.  I will savor the crisp aroma that will take me to that Thanksgiving dinner feeling.  And then I will wake up one morning and realize it is already Christmas.

So I just had my Driver’s License, and until now it is still overwhelming. And while the excitement has not settled down yet, I have decided to take the time to blog the process that I had gone through in order to help those people who will undergo the same path.

I am in the State of Florida so I am hoping that these tips would be useful for future Floridian drivers. I will try my best to simplify the process coming from a layman’s point of view.

The Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in Florida issues four classes of licenses- A, B, C and E. The first three are for drivers of commercial vehicles. Class E is for drivers for non-commercial ones. As for me, being someone who has no plans of driving a truck or a bus, I applied for the latter type.

FLORIDA DRIVER’S HANDBOOK. Before even calling the Department for a scheduled appointment, make sure that you already have the Driver’s Handbook for you to study or review. In my case, my husband was strict. He wanted me to go over everything from cover to cover. Though obliged, I didn’t really adhere.  At the last minute I was already cramming.  As it worked for my advantage (because I am more effective under pressure), I suggest that you read the handbook diligently.  Though you are only given 20 questions about the Florida Law, and another 20 for the Traffic signs it is still relieving to know that you have with you the knowledge that you need for any circumstance that will come along the way.  As they say in Law “Ignorantia legis nun excusat.”  (Ignorance of the law excuses no one).

APPOINTMENT. Call the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Licensing Division for an appointment. The office opens at exactly 8A.M. When I got there for my 8A.M. appointment there were already three people outside the door falling in line. Two of them didn’t make an appointment. So when it was already 8, the officer first called those people with the appointments. As it turned out, I was entertained first.

PROPER IDENTIFICATIONS. Identifications can be primary or secondary. Make sure to present at least one primary ID. An example for this are:

Original or certified Birth Certificate

State ID

US Passport

Naturalization Certificate

Green Card

Employment Authorization

Secondary identification includes but not limited to the following:

Driver’s license

Florida Vehicle Registration Certificate

Voter’s Registration Card

In my case, they asked for my Social Security Card along with the Green Card and my Philippine Driver’s License.

VISION TEST.

PICTURE TAKEN. Don’t forget to smile. You will be holding on to this license in the next six years. You don’t want to be embarrassed every time you pull it out for identification.

COMPUTER TEST. All questions are found in the booklet. 20 questions about the Florida Traffic Rules, 20 about Road signs. You are only allowed 5 mistakes on each set. Master parking uphill for this may come out either in this test or in the actual Driving Test. What constitutes a DUI was asked in my test, as well as speed limits. Questions are tricky, so it only requires common sense. Take your time and analyze. Most of the questions with a choice that is “all of the above” usually have that as the answer.

DRIVING TEST. Relax and be confident. Make sure that the car you are using is the same car you’ve been practicing. Make sure that it is in good condition including the brake lights, turn signals and tires. Proper posture must be observed, and be ready to just listen to all instructions. Think that the Instructor is better than having your husband or father on the passenger seat. That was true for me! hehehe!

PAYMENT. When you pass all tests (which I am sure you will, especially after taking my notes seriously) you will be asked to pay 20 dollars. They will give you a temporary permit good for 30 days as you await for your card that will come in the mail.

CONGRATULATIONS! Possessing a license- as it is a privilege, is also an affirmation of ones independence.