Last Night

The morning sun shone brightly. Its rays kissed my forehead as I stepped out of the hospital. Its glimmer, blinding my night-accustomed vision momentarily, suffused the sky with a tranquil hue of blue. Its warmth, blending with cool night air, sent the scent of morning-misted leaves wafting throughout.

It is the end of the 12-hour night shift again. And last night was literally my last night as a night shift nurse. I never thought I'd kiss my nocturnal world goodbye this early. Having only recently bought a car over Thanksgiving, I was looking forward to discovering LA after dusk, nights out with friends, and possibly dating.

But it is the end of a period in my professional life today and the start of a new one. I have ceased working as a night Telemetry nurse and will start anew as a day Recovery nurse. Things are looking up.

Today I will sleep in the daytime, perhaps for the last time in a long while. Will I ever go back to working nights? Who knows when new opportunity knocks.
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Photo in this post is author's property.

Angelino's First Fuel Fill

Today I brought Angelino to a gas station to have his very first fill after about 500 miles. His preferred mix is unleaded with an octane rating of 87 or higher.

A hybrid car still needs gas to run efficiently and should never run out of it, otherwise the hybrid system will suffer damages.

I didn't take a picture since I wasn't sure it was safe. Why not? Same reason why motorists are advised to turn off their cellphones while at a gas station.

Gas at Costco today cost 1.999. With a capacity of 11.9 gallons, Angelino gobbled up 9.491.

"Mabuti Pa Sila" by Gary Granada

While looking forward to welcoming romance into my life this year, I glanced back at how I felt about being unattached by reading my post Single Since Birth. A Filipino pop song suddenly came to mind.

"Mabuti Pa Sila" vividly and humorously captures the angst of a perennially single guy infused with a rich flavor of Filipino culture. The song was entered in the 1998 Metropop Song Festival and won the grand prize.

It's one of my favorite songs because, needless to say, it hums my lovelife's tune. :) It may as well be the longest playing theme song of my life.

It was written, composed and sung by one of my favorite Filipino musicians - Gary Granada. Following is a music file and the lyrics. Enjoy.

[Gratitude to michra_15 for making this music file available on the Internet. Per my experience, the file does not play in Safari, but does in Firefox.]

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Mabuti Pa Sila
{Gary Granada}

Mabuti pa ang mga surot,
laging mayrong masisiksikan
Mabuti pa ang bubble gum, laging mayrong didikitan
Mabuti pa ang salamin, laging mayrong tumitingin
Di tulad kong laging walang pumapansin

Mabuti pa ang mga lapis, sinusulatan ang papel
At mas mapalad ang kamatis, maya't maya napipisil
Napakaswerte ng bayong, hawak ng aleng maganda
Di tulad kong lagi na lang nag-iisa

Ano ba'ng wala ako na mayron sila
Di man lang makaisa habang iba'y dala-dalwa
Pigilan n'yo akong magpatiwakal
Mabuti pa ang galunggong nasasabihan ng 'mahal'

Kahit ang suka ay may toyo at ang asin may paminta
Mabuti pa ang lumang dyaryo
at yakap-yakap ang isda
Mabuti pa sila, mabuti pa sila
Di tulad kong lagi na lang nag-iisa

Mabuti pa ang simpleng tissue at laging nahahalikan
Mabuti pa ang mga bisyo, umaasang babalikan
Mabuti pa sila, mabuti pa sila
Di tulad kong lagi na lang nag-iisa

(Interlude)

Pigilan n'yo akong magpatiwakal
Bakit si Gabby Concepcion lagi na lang kinakasal

Mabuti pa ang mga isnatser,
palaging may naghahabol
Ang aking luma na kompyuter,
mayron pa ring compatible
Mabuti pa sila, mabuti pa sila
Di tulad kong lagi na lang nag-iisa

Seattle Sights

Like most families, ours make it a point to get together every holiday season. This year, we converged in the Evergreen State’s Emerald City - Seattle.

The following thumbnails are links to an online album. Right click on each one and choose to either open in a new window or tab so you don't navigate away from the site.



My mother, my two sisters and I reunite this holiday season to celebrate family togetherness.

Seattle Reunion

Some of the city's points of interests.

Seattle City Sites

Residents of Pacific Science Center's butterfly house, Seattle Aquarium and Woodland Park Zoo.

Seattle Animals

Seagulls are frequent flyers-by on our penthouse balcony.

Seattle Seagulls

Some of the textures and flavors of Seattle. Savor Seattle Food Tours helped us in our gastronomical adventure.

Seattle Food

A smorgasbord of images & emotions.

Seattle Moods

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Photos in this post are author's property.

Glancing Backward, Looking Forward

At each turn of the year, we usually reflect on how the last 365 days went and think about how the next will be.

In 2008, I had been fortunate to have:

1. Spent more time with family. My mother and eldest sister were in L.A. for some time, and I went home to the Philippines with my mom and spent time there with her, my youngest sister & relatives. To top it off, we reunited in Seattle during the holidays to usher in the new year.

2. Seen my docile Doberman, Koko, while vacationing in the Philippines. He has been under the care of a family friend, Fr. Sonny Ramirez, O.P., since I left for the U.S.

3. Met up with old friends while in the Philippines.

4. Seen John Williams in concert again.

5. Earned my certificate in Emergency Nursing in case I decide to pursue that specialty.

6. Experienced my very first opera with “The Fly, The Opera”.

7. Grown older and wiser, and celebrating it in literally flying colors.

8. Finally purchased my very first car.

This year, I am hopeful towards:

1. Starting in a new specialty area: PACU.

2. Giving indoor skydiving another shot/s in preparation for the big outdoor.

3. Traveling to another city or country.

4. Getting to know Angelino better.

5. Discovering L.A. and its neighboring cities with Angelino.

6. Ending my single-since-birth existence and welcoming romance into my life by finally giving dating priority.

7. Losing weight and building up. As challenge and promise, I will submit myself to public humiliation by posting a picture of why I need to.

8. Becoming a better son, brother, cousin, friend, colleague, nurse, motorist, citizen.

All the best of 2009 to everyone!

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Photos in this post are author's property.