Another weekend...Today was Neil's mom's birthday. We ate at Grand Buffet in West Covina with the rest of the family. The food was pretty decent. After one plate of Mongolian bar-b-que, I was pretty full. I had an almond cookie and fruit after. Next was back to the house. Neil set-up his old G3 and taught his mom to use a new computer. He also set-up an e-mail account. It was nice to see Manny, we don't really see him that much except when we go to the house. I think tomorrow he'll be riding with us.

Biking...I've been riding my bike for the past two weeks with an average of 24 miles per week. That would be approximately 9-12 miles three times a week at the Rose Bowl at 5:00 am. Neil and I have been riding with the rest of the guys...Edwin, Lance and Mike. Last Friday, Eric joined us for his first bike ride - 9 miles! Congratulations, Eric! Lance also bought a new bike - a 2003 Gary Fisher Marlin. As a recap, Neil and I also bought new bikes this year. I bought a 2002 Trek 4300 since I'm new to the biking world, it's a good beginner's bike. I bought Neil a 2002 Specialized M4 Stumpjumper for his birthday. I think Manny will be riding with us tomorrow.

Job Search...I've been looking for a new job for the past two weeks. My drive in the morning is usually 45 minutes to 1-1/2 hour depending on traffic. The drive home is usually one to 1-1/2 hour average and up to 2 hours on a Friday. I'll probably won't get a job with the same salary or more considering I was not with my company long enough. If I take a small pay cut, I think it's worth it considering that I'm benefiting from the transfer --- no long commutes, less stress and aggravation from driving, less maintenance, wear and tear, etc....

Cathedral of Los Angeles...We finally met with the Monsignor to obtain details of our upcoming wedding. We also secured our wedding date. Now, it's time to find the appropriate vendors.
Well, that's it for now!

It's been a while...since I entered an entry in my blog. I've been working long hours and so many things to do on weekends. Errands, parties, laundry, etc.... Well, here's last Friday's fridayfive.



1. What is your lineage? Where are your ancestors from? I'm Filipino. Ancestors are probably Filipino and Spanish.

2. Of those countries, which would you most like to visit? Well, I haven't really been to the Philippines since I was eight. I really would like to visit.

3. Which would you least like to visit? Why? Not applicable. Although I wouldn't want to be in the Middle East right now.

4. Do you do anything during the year to celebrate or recognize your heritage? Not really. Filipinos are very "Americanized". My fiancee and I regularly attend fund-raising / philantrophy events that promote Asian American awareness, not just for Filipinos.

5. Who were the first ancestors to move to your present country (parents, grandparents, etc)? My parents - mom and dad.

Happy Birthday!...Yesterday was Neil's birthday. We had a nice dinner at our favorite sushi restaurant, Sasabune. For lunch today, we had a simple get-together with Neil's brother, Manny, and friend Tina. It was nice seeing him celebrate his birthday with his closest friends - Edwin, Mike and Eric. Lance was not able to make it because he was with his grandmother. She's coming home today after weeks staying in the hospital. I'm glad she's feeling better. We're having dinner with his parents tonight.

I'm completely down-to-earth!

Find your soul type at kelly.moranweb.com.



You are the most in touch with knowledge. It's the tree of life from which you tap the sap. You know what you want and you know how to reasonably get it.

Virtues: You respect people with plans. When someone has their head on their shoulders, you know that they can see straightforward and keep their eyes on the mark. When it comes to looking at the future, you take a logical approach: what's within your ability? A fortunate attribute that you have is the ability to set a goal for yourself, higher than maybe you feel possible, but still keep yourself within reasonable bounds. You take the time to appreciate those surrounding you and they do appreciate you in return. Decision-making comes naturally to you when you take the time to consider each option. People only come to talk to you when they are looking for a logical, reasonable solution.

Aspirations: You have an idea of what you can do with your life, but you push it up a notch. You need a profession that you can enjoy, so work towards it. You want to live near your friends and family while being as far away as possible. You also want to settle down while working in excitement and variation.

Quirks: You don't appreciate drama queens and they don't appreciate you. When they need help, they won't seek you out because of your ability to see through their overly dramatic predicaments. You have leeway for humor, and sometimes love to participate in it, but when it becomes irrational behavior, others can count you out. Loud noises are bothersome, except when they come from you or your friends.

Factors: Reach for the sky! Don't decide to do something because you're merely good at it, but choose something you might like to do, despite whether you're sure you can master it or not. Don't only save room for a few empathetic friends, but open up to everyone.

Future: When looking for a job, if you work in all of your talents (logic, decision-making, planning, and definitely humor), you'll find yourself happy. Come to a compromise for location; live nearby your friends and take periodic vacations or live farther away and take frequent return trips.

Fourth of July... A proud day to be an American...Independence...a lot of people take for granted the freedom and independence they have until you've been restricted of your rights. Compare to other men and women living in other countries, our democratic system is far better than others. Even if you do not agree with the government's policy, you have the right to voice out your opinion. You can practice whatever religion you want...as long as you do not support terrorism. This is top priority at this time after 09/11. Once your freedom, independence and safety are threatened, fear starts to sink in.

Birthday... Fourth of July is our friend Robbie's birthday. I just left a message on his voicemail.

Anime Expo 2002... My brother Raphy and I went to Anime Expo 2002 in Long Beach. We got there at about 11:30 am. The line for registration was not bad. The event was divided between Westin Hotel, Renaissance Hotel, Hyatt Hotel, Terrace Theatre and the Long Beach Convention Theatre. The hotel and the convention center were right across from each other. You don't really have to walk all that far, just cross the street. What's tiring? THE LINE!!!...... Lines everywhere you go. I couldn't even go to some booths that I wanted to check out because there's too many damn people! Prices were not that cheap, I think it's cheaper onine. The only good thing was Shabu-Shabu for dinner.

MIB II... Neil, Manny and I went to the Block to see "Men In Black II". It was alright. I think the first one is better. Don't you notice that they always have a sequel for something now? Half of the time the sequel ends up being a bust! I also purchased the latest Maxwell CD.

1. Where are you right now? Sitting at my computer at home, while the TV is on. I've been up since 4:30 am and couldn't sleep again. I'm trying to work at another site right now.... it's always a learning process.

2. What have you lost recently? Aside from my mind (blogging since 4:30 am!), my leather jacket. For the life of me, it's either I misplaced it or left somewhere when we were eating somewhere.

3. What was the first CD you ever purchased? Does that embarrass you now? Can't remember. But I just bought the latest Maxwell CD.

4. What is your favorite kind of writing pen? No preference, but I like blue ink over black.

5. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I don't just have one - but we have a regular stock of ice cream in the fridge - Haagen Daz (Coffee, Vanilla or Pistachio), Ben & Jerry (different flavors), and Mikawaya Mochi Cream.

Finally....It's been a long 3-day week for me at work. Last weekend, I just stayed home, slept for the whole day. From Monday to Wednesday, I've been bombarded with work. I even took some work home so that next week, I won't be in a bad shape. The only good thing about work was Tuesday when we had our unit quarterly lunch. Every quarter, we get a unit lunch paid by the company. Today, we had free sundaes for everyone. You choose which ice cream you want and any topping that you want. We also had little cute US flags with Hershey's kisses.

I wish .... I had more time do my blog. Content could probably be better. I could probably add more changes but I guess I could do it little by little.

Lenspeak...My cousin Len just started her own blog. Now I could read her blog everyday. We've been emailing each other. Another cool thing is I could send her a text message.

2002 Anime Convention...Tomorrow is the anime convention. I'm going w/ Neil and my little bro, Raphy.

When was the last time you...

1. ...sent a handwritten letter? I've written little notes to people everytime I send a card. Handwritten letter?? HHHmmmm... It's been awhile. Email is easier.

2. ...baked something from scratch or made something by hand? Last time I made something was a few months ago when I made some creme brulee.

3. ...camped in a tent? NEVER

4. ...volunteered your time to church, school, or community? I used to be a regular volunteer for a non-profit called Asia Society. Also volunteered when I was in a sorority.

5. ...helped a stranger? I didn't have a pocket so I asked Neil to hold my money for me. A priest approached Neil asking for a donation. Neil thought he had a dollary but only had a $20 bill. He ended up giving my money!

Weekend....Neil and I rode our bikes this weekend - from Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach twice! Once we got to Redondo, we ate crabs at the pier then went back to Manhattan to burn off all the crab fat we ate. I'm not sure about the distance but halfway back, I was tired! What else did I do this weekend? Hhhmmmm....We went to see a movie, "About a boy" by Hugh Grant. It was a good movie. Hugh Grant and the kid was great. Good storyline, characters had depth, and comedic timing was just right.

Lil' Bro Raphy....My lil' bro Raphy just emailed me that he just got straight A's again to his surprise. His GPA is now 3.93. He said he has to study harder next semester to increase his GPA. He's currently in the Dean's List. Now, I have to treat him for dinner for getting such good grades. Maybe shabu-shabu.

Cousin Len....My cousin and I just started conversing via email. (She's in the Philippines right now. She used to live in LA). I think she's coming back again next year.

Friday Five
1. Do you live in a house, an apartment or a condo? I live in a loft in Downtown LA.
2. Do you rent or own?Rent.
3. Does anyone else live with you?I currently live with my fiancee, Neil.
4. How many times have you moved in your life? 7 times
5. What are your plans for this weekend?Work, have lunch with my parents, go to the movies and bike riding.

	You are Fozzie! Wokka Wokka! You love to make lame jokes. Your sense of humor might be a bit off, but you're a great friend and can always be counted on..
Take the What Muppet Are You? Quiz!

Neil got an advanced birthday present for his birthday. He said it was one of the best presents he ever received. He got a Specialized Stumpjumper M4. I don't know too much about bikes but he's been wanting a good bike for a long time.

Anniversary....
June 15th....Saturday was our 5-year anniversary. Neil and I woke up early and got our bikes ready. We rode our bikes from Santa Monica to Venice and back. We got there about 10 AM, it was already crowded. We then went to Supergo to get a tube top for my bike, bar ends and a lock. We wanted to eat breakfast at Venice but we didn't have a lock. We ended up having lunch at Blue Marlin in Sawtelle. Neil had a grilled chilean sea bass with uni risotto that's to die for! I just had salmon with veggies. It was a pretty relaxing day. Work has been hecting for the past three weeks.

Lakers....
I'm glad the Lakers won. The Lakers vs Nets was not as exciting as when they played the Kings.....

Father's Day....
It was a hectic Sunday. We had a nice lunch with my fiancee's parents and family at BJ's. Neil's dad loves sports so it was perfect place for lunch. He was able to eat and watch TV at the same time. We then went to my parent's house. Since it was getting late, we didn't stay too long.

Lakers Game 3
The third game was actually pretty good. The Nets were actually up a few points for a few minutes. I was rooting for the Nets on this game because I felt really bad for them. No matter how hard they tried, the Lakers just kept coming back. Their confidence is now shot because they're down (3) games. Definitely a sweep.

Trek 4300 Mountain Bike
I bought a mountain bike as a present to myself. Neil, his brother and friends regularly go bike riding. We sometimes go rollerblading. Anyways, I can't really borrow other people's bike because the frame is too big for me. The one I got was the perfect size for me. I actually got a good deal. The listed price on the website of Jax Bicycles a little higher than the one noted inside the store. I found another bike shop, Two Wheels One Planet, that's selling it for a lot lower price. The manager price matched the bike so I saved about $50.00. With the money I saved, I bought a helmet. I'll post the photo later. You can also see the bike with this Treks's website under Trek 4300.

Lakers Game 2
Today is game 2 of the NBA Finals at the Staples Center. I'm still here at work, traffic is really bad right now. Instead of sitting through traffic, I'm just working away. Hope today will be a better game.

Lakers
I left work early last night to watch the Laker's game. I should've stayed later at work. How can you be leading 23 points then fall behind and reach crunch time with just a 3 point lead? It's so frustrating to watch the Lakers. They always wait until the second half to actually "play ball." I'm hoping that tomorrow's game will be better. It's amazing to watch Jason Kidd. He is all over the place!

News
I always read or watch the news every single day. I know you can't possibly believe everything you see or hear but I find it interesting to know what's going around me.

1. Missing 7-year old boy found in pool: How could the police and volunteers possibly miss the little boy? They searched all day then neglect to check the pool? The ruling is accidental death. I find it hard to believe that the little boy was at the bottom of the pool then just suddenly float up. Highly suspicious. It shows how competent some of the members of our law enforcement.


2. Palestine vs Israel: I don't know too much about the history between these two countries. I do know that a lot of innocent people are dying. Both side must reach a compromise at some point.


3. Winona Ryder: Was she bored she had to shoplift? If she actually stole the items from Sak, why? She clearly could pay for those items easily. This is a case of stupidity.

Work
Work has been hectic. I've been coming home late, from 7:00 am - 6:30 pm. Aside from my 10 hour work day, I have a 45 minute drive to work and 1 hour and 30 minutes on the way back. Neil came home late from work. He was so tired. He's eating the combo dinner I bought at JoyMart.

Friends
I had dinner with my friend, Ed, tonight at J-town (Little Tokyo). We tried this new all you can eat Shabu-Shabu place. The name of the place is Maguro-tei. It would probably the first and last I'm going there. The ponzu sauce tasted like vinegar and soy sauce, not ponzu. The sesame sauce was watered down. The veggies are not green. They didn't even take the stem out of the shiitake mushroom. I bought a combo special at JoyMart after for Neil. JoyMart's food was 100% better. I should've eaten at JoyMart of Zakuro instead. Anyways, I'm glad that Ed likes his new job (I used to work with him.) He totally hated my job now.

Go, Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers won against the Sacramento Kings last night. It was a 112-106 overtime victory in game 7 of the Western Conference finals. It's probably one of the better playoff series I've seen. Although I like the Lakers, you have to give credit to the Kings. Their offense and defense were better. I felt really bad for Mike Bibby who played so hard. Credit also goes to Shaq.
Both of these men looked really tired by the end of the game.

Candy's Blog

I finally signed up to have my own blog. I usually just read Manny's blog. To anyone reading my blog, I'll probably refer to certain people regularly especially my fiancee' Neil.

I just turned thirty last month. The big 3-0! I tried to think about what I've accomplished now that I'm 30. In a nutshell, it seemed that I haven't accomplished much. I think about all the mistakes that I've done. Obviously, I did say to myself that if I had another chance to do it again then I would do certain things differently. What are they? Well, I couldn't name all of them but here are a few:

1. College


2. Clubbing


3. Friends


4. Relationship(s)

For my birthday, we went up to Santa Barbara and attended a Cinco de Mayo celebration. We also went to Solvang and Santa Maria. We stayed at Holiday Inn for the night in Santa Maria because it was quieter (the rates are cheaper too!) We had dinner at a local dining spot called Jocko's. The city is actually Nipomo, CA. They had the best and most tender filet mignon I've ever tasted! I'll probably go back there again. I saw the article below about how much certain people make working for the hotel industry. The figures are quite interesting.

What Do They Pay You To Do That?

Average base hourly wages of US hotel employees:

$5.75 Bellhop

$6.00 Bartender

$6.22 Breakfast attendant

$6.92 Housekeeper

$7.00 Laundry worker

$9.00 Security guard


Source:American Hotel & Lodging Association's
2000 Hospitality Compensation and Benefits Survey