I just finished backing up one of my USB keys which is falling apart on me.  Precious pictures of our trip to the Luray Caverns and Williamsburg, Virginia were in that USB key and I have decided to burn a back up DVD before the poor thumb drive decides to conk out on me.  It made it doubly imperative I deal with the back up because I have yet to upload the pictures to Flickr.  Well the back up has been burned.  Amen to that.

I had a rather busy day although I was only physically in the office after lunch, and with Angelo in tow at that.  No, we didn't have another date in Bryant Parklike we did yesterday -- he calls it a "picnic lunch" as we brought our McDonald'sgoodies to the shaded area and ate our lunch together.  (That was something truly worth all the trouble of bringing him in, but I'll write more in another post.)

Midway through a week leading to a long weekend, I'm in full summer mode already.  Sun tan spray?  Check.  SPF 50 moisturizer?  Check.  Bathing suits?  Check.  Rechargeable batteries for the cam?  Check.  I'm all set.  We aren't really planning to go far -- just day trips here and there. 

I've started reading again which is cause for celebration.  I can actually feel part of my brain stretching in a big yawn as if awakening from a long nap..  Happiness.  I am also trying to find my copy of "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" which I hope to skim through in preparation for the release of the last movie installment.  (Although I am not too optimistic I will be able to do that before the movie opens on July 15.)  Subscriptions to Fortune and Bon Appetit (thanks to unused mileage!) have also provided good reading.  The sad news of the recent deaths of my favorite Angel, Farrah Fawcett and the Gloved one, Michael Jackson, have caused me to keep checking news updates.  It's part fan grief and curiosity, and just wanting to find out more.  The good news is it's started me reading the papers -- the real thing, and not the online version.

It's past 1am and I'm wondering why I'm still typing away.  I have work tomorrow.  So I guess I'm saying nighty night for now.

1. Summer's here!

2. Warm hugs and kisses from Alan and Angelo

3. Finding a long lost book I hadn't quite finished yet.. (So I've started reading again which is definitely something that makes me happy!)

4. Durian candy leftover from the trip to Manila

5. Recycling paper that would have otherwise been shredded and thrown away

The minute I had a moment to sit down and take a breather from my household chores, I grabbed the blank cards I had set aside to write the thank you letters for Angelo's Pre-K Teacher and Paraprofessional.  As both cards are similar, I am printing the letter for his teacher, Mrs. C, just so I have something to show him when he's a little older.. Tomorrow is his last day in Pre-K.. in a few weeks, my little boy is moving on to Kindergarten..

Dear Mrs. C --

I cannot even begin to tell you how truly grateful we are for all that you have done for Angelo.  You have iginited in him an interest in learning which we hope we will be able to nurture and sustain in the coming years.  Our first year with PS 213 has affirmed our belief in the school zone.  My husband and I had grown up in the Philippines and had gone to private schools, but we chose to stay in this area because of its reputation as a good school district.

I am most thankful for the interest and concern you've shown with regards his need for therapy to develop his fine motor skills.  Ms. D had gotten in touch with me before I left for that trip to the Philippines and she had advised me to seek evaluation from the school social worker, although she also volunteered to assist if that didn't go anywhere.  I promise to keep you posted.  I will also seek my pediatrician's assistance in getting him treated during this summer.

Angelo never ceases to amaze us -- and we know that the progress we've seen is because of your hard work and dedication.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Warmest regards.

Dinna and Alan

I haven't been too good at this of late.  I haven't been as prolific as I usually am with the writing.  But Feedback is one category in this blog that helps to inspire me to write more, and I thought I'd take the time to address the most recent comments.

John had left this comment in response to "Be not afraid to pursue your dream to be a legal eagle someday" (originally posted in January 2007):

I am inspired. I am a freshman in the Ateneo College of Law this coming june. And by this article, you motivated me more to pursue and conquer! :)

Thank you and Mabuhay Legal Eagles! :)

To which the Pinay New Yorker says:  John, hang on to your dreams.. you will need all the inspiration you can grab a hold of in the coming months and years.  I hope that four years from now you will write me to say you're taking the Philippine Bar Exams..Thanks for stopping by..

And my good friend, Lou, wrote a comment about the post "Capturing the King of the Road on Cam"  saying:

Taking pictures is a good diversion and distraction. Am glad that you were able to capture some great street scenes. But it's great to hear that your Dad is feeling much better!

To which the Pinay New Yorker says:  Thanks, Lou.  It is good therapy for me.  More street scenes in my Flickr account here, as well as more Jeepneys here.  And more coming..

And just today, I got this note from   ♥  who stumbled upon my post on Starbucks Additions who wrote:

Hi! Just found your blog while searching for Starbucks City Mugs. I am starting my architecture series collection and so far, I have NY, DC, Vegas, Atlanta and Boston. I hope you can post more of yours. And btw, I'm also a Pinay in NY! :)

To which the Pinay New Yorker says:  It is always nice to find fellow Starbucks Mug collectors -- and it sort of reminds me that I need to update my pictures (on Flickr) so badly.  I have at least 6 mugs to add which I have not had the chance to photograph.  Soon.  And a fellow new yorker at that!  Thanks for stopping by and I'll give you the heads up when the collection is updated.  Good luck with yours, too!

It's half past ten on a Sunday night and I'm down to my last three copies of Angelo's PreK DVD.  I had made two film clips for their ceremony last Friday and compiled their photos into four albums.  I promised copies to all the other parents and had missed out on Friday but will have them ready by tomorrow.  I'm sure that they will have as much fun as I do watching our little tykes go about their day-to-day business in their PreK Class.

Meanwhile, I'm looking at the week ahead and do so with a sense of relief.  My Dad is doing fine in Manila, my mother-in-law is back home from her own hospital confinement here, Angelo's doing great, and I have a long weekend in 2 weeks with the Fourth of July festivities here.  I have a cousin visiting the area who I look forward to meeting up with after having missed out on catching Mabeth, a college friend, on her stop here in New York in the midst of Mom's health crisis and Alan's business trip.  It's going to be a busy day at work this coming week, but I am looking at a relatively simple week.  With all that has happened in the last month, anything close to normal is most welcome.  

We had a simple yet meaningful Father's Day.  It was such a delight watching Angelo fussing over his Dad and excitedly giving his handmade card and present which we had kept hidden all week.  We finally managed to watch Angels & Demons with Angelo napping through it all.  I cooked some rib eyes and a couple of side dishes for dinner and made some banana chocolate crepes for dessert.  (Found this ready-to-use crepe at the grocery today!  Heaven-sent indeed!)

I always used to say that Father's Day was more about father and child.  But watching my boys interacting like they do, I've come to give new meaning to it despite being the "Mom" in this family, seeing how they truly cherish each other.

I was so exhausted last night that I lay down beside Angelo just a few minutes after nine and I woke up at 3:45 this morning. I'm not sure if it was the asthma, jetlag, or just plain exhaustion. I had to get up, freshen up and prepare the coffeemaker to brew in around 2 hours, and I found myself "awake". So I painted my toenails. (Still fresh from an honest-to-goodness pedicure from Anna back home.). That sort of got me stuck to my seat.. So I grabbed the blackberry and found myself here.

I checked my pink Razr which has been ressurected from dormancy and which now houses my Globe OFW sim. Three text messages! Two from bestfriend Fe who is literally going on a joyride to Hong Kong (she is probably my only friend who equates a simple plane ride with a spa treatment.) -- and some person who says I won second prize in some draw and she even had that all-important DTI number to "prove" authenticity. (I'm not going to waste my precious load on that!).

The birds are chirping outside. A cursory look outside my bathroom window showed a wet pavement but it looks like the rain has stopped. (So my friends in Manila, you don't have a monopoly of all the aggravation coming with the rainy season. Kami din!). I'm trying to think about the remaining three days of the week. It's Wednesday. (Which means my yahoo reminders about my novena will pop up 4 times today.). I'm in the middle of two projects, one of which is on schedule and another which I think I will regrettably have to put on hold. (I can push it but scrapping can never be rushed...).

I have letters to write. As I declared to Ate Lian when I saw her last week over bibingka with Quezo de Bola at Via Mare (thanks for the treat, Ate!), I am trying to revive the art of letter writing. There are "thank you"s that need to be said more than just electronically. I want to start a journal to a newfound "inaanak" (which I will call my "Eeya book") so I can introduce myself to this young woman who was entrusted to me as a godchild 19 years ago, but whom I last saw at her first birthday party until 2 weeks ago when I finally gave her a hug in person. (And I make a mental note of bugging my friend Andy about my other long-lost "inaanak", Peter.). Unlike some, I take my godparenthood rather seriously, even if I have to do it long distance. (Now I remember Ronald, a nephew, who remains a long distance inaanak literally and figuratuvely.)

I have to be in Grand Central this morning. Maybe I'll take my favorite perch by the "windows" and snap away. Or maybe I'll skip it this time. I have a prayer to copy and a story to write later. (Again.). I'm thinking of Dad. I heard he's trying to walk again now although his ankles are still swollen. His doctor remains optimistic although it's a long road to recovery.

Toenails are dry. Time for the topcoat.

I have gone home to Manila four times now since I left in 2000 to make my life here in New York with Alan.  The first was in December 2002, May 2006, May 2008 and just a few weeks ago.  (May 2009).  It was an unplanned visit, true, and one heavy with emotion.  While we found cause to celebrate Nikky's birthday (again), it was low key and very simple.  I had very few opportunities to meet up with friends, since I spent most of my free time by Dad's bedside in the hospital.  I personally took care of him, relieving the evening caregiver, and going home to try and get some rest -- day in and day out.

Rest was mostly trying to catch up with work here in New York.  As I told my boss when I hopped on the plane taking me home, work actually helped me to keep my inner balance through this very difficult time.

I had my trusty camera with me as always.  Everywhere I went.  I snapped up some pictures of Dad as he lay in bed in the hospital and finally sitting up in bed in his home on my last day there.  I didn't take quite as many pictures of the family, though, but I did train my lens on something I have been long wanting to do from my second homecoming onwards -- to take action shots of the so-called "King of the Road": the Philippine Jeepney.

There was the problem of lugging a camera like mine around Manila's streets, but somehow I  managed. In a sense, the SLR-like features made it natural bait for the snatchers, but its smaller than your usual SLR size made it easy for me to wrap it's strap around one arm and cradle the body snugly in another hand. Many of my shots were taken inside vehicles with muddy windows -- but I discovered that proper lighting or the proper focus and minimal manipulation to alter the contrast a little provided a good fix.  I even used my Blackberry camera to take a few shots that turned out rather well.  On my first of two Fridays there, my brother Abril and I went to the Shrine of Jesus the Nazarene in Quiapo and I found myself snapping away right where the jeepneys loaded and unloaded their passengers in front of the church.

I found myself immersed in such street scenes throughout my two and a half week stay in Manila.  There was so much more in the ordinary that beckoned to me.  While most of the denizens of Manila view the jeepneys as a source of pollution, I dare you to view the intricate and oftentimes artistic designs adorning these everyday vehicles that rule the roads of the metropolis.   What is ordinary to you is an extraordinary and truly "Pinoy" scene to me that I have been yearning to capture on pictures for quite a while now.  At a time when I couldn't train my lens on people, I found myself aiming them on moving objects outside my window.

It was a challenge trying to anticipate the movement of my vehicle against the speeding jeepney in the next lane, and timing the delay between my finger hitting the button and the shutter opening to capture the picture.  Again, it was a numbers game.  While I deleted a ton of useless half and non-shots -- I smiled at the treasure trove of photos I ended up with.  Very random shots, but precious shots of something truly Filipino to this New Yorker.  My blog header has seen various iterations displaying bits and pieces of my snapshots in 950x216 pixel format.  I have quite a few to work through.  Some I have already uploaded to my Flickr account. 

Perhaps this is the reason I don't feel too bad that I didn't even get to step into any coffee shop, restaurant or mall in Makati.  Or that I have yet to visit the elusive Trinoma which I passed briefly on the way home from Manaoag with Mom as our bus headed towards its terminal over at New York St. in Cubao.  Shopping was definitely not on my agenda -- so I don't have any buyer's remorse or shop-til-you-drop stories to share.  I have my snapshots of the King -- and interspersed between them are your everyday street scenes.  I have to go through them and weed out those that are beyond fixing and tuck them into my recycle bin. I am still deep into catching up and it will have to wait another day.

My brother, Abril, asked me what I was taking pictures of as he drove me through Avenida or Carriedo as it is now known.  I told him there is so much color out there that we can capture.  I won't pretend to claim it's art.  It's just the shutterbug in me trying to put my world inside a frame to capture a thought or a feeling passing through my head.  As I often say, sometimes, I just get lucky -- I capture a picture that makes me smile.  I needed that so badly that time I was there -- and I got it from the King of the Road many times over.

Had to snap up a pic of this.. and yes, it's a McDonald's ad along Queens Boulevard not EDSA.