back home.

let's see if i can get this right.
after (in chronological order)

10 airports:
NAIA, narita, SFO, LAX, las vegas, columbus, dayton, atlanta, la guardia and JFK

5 states:
california, ohio, kentucky (for half a day), new york and massachusetts

8 residences:
carla's tita lina, carla's home, cousin rica's home, chapman university, mia's brother's home, mia's home, bill's home, arv & claire's home

i am finally back home.
cybs and i spent the whole day in DEFCON 1 mode, thanks to hydro-crises (overflowing water dispenser, flooded bathroom), so we cleaned house, vacuum and all. it is a joy to be back at lungga version 2.0.

the fact that i was on vacation makes the stress of my job even more apparent. i'm amazed that i have survived for so long.

to distract myself from that disturbing reality, here are a few random thoughts on/moments in the trip:

playing with carla’s son, buster.
i intentionally didn't go near him that much on the first day, since a negative 1st impression would seriously screw up the trip. information such as the whereabouts of his pacifier, baby food, bib, and "break in case of emergency" item (a fortune cookie from panda express) was vital to success and happiness…and made me think that a) apart from not knowing how to cook, i could probably make a good yaya; and b) contrary to my greatest fears, i just might make a pretty okay parent. i know carla and zandro are well on their way to being egg-zelent ones.

my first AMTRAK and bus by myself.
i truly believe that the driver thought i was a kid. “put your bags in there, okay? can i see your ticket? oh, okay, i’ll tell you when to get off, okay?” hehehe.

restrooms.
having tissue, soap and paper towels in every banyo—from restaurants to gas stations—is BLISS.
i am NOT a fan of The Automatic Flush. i’d like to be prepared both mentally and physically before anything threatens my behind.

getting carded.
in a casino: security thought i was 18. that’s a vast improvement from 12.
by the bartenders and cashiers when purchasing alcohol: the double take is quite amusing.

cousins.
the coolness of hitting a certain age, you’re done playing catch up and you discover you’re both pretty cool. and her son is, too.

precious airport moment #1.
am smoking at las vegas airport. a small chinito with super slicked back hair catches my eye as he walks in. he sits next to me and says, “kamusta na?” i start laughing. “winston lights ang yosi mo, sigurado pinoy ka.” i laugh even harder.

precious airport moment #2.
before boarding at las vegas i text mia am en route. an old man sitting next to me seems mesmerized.
“excuse me, i couldn’t help but notice, but were you texting?”
“yes.”
“how do you do that? there are only 9 keys, how about the other letters.”
so i show him.

soya in cincy.
too little time... :)

beautiful boston.
new york’s #1 spot in my heart just might be in danger (or maybe it’s just that funky scent in the summer air)
running to meet claire while trying not to spill my coffee.
walking into the boston common and getting the feeling that ellen olenska was there with papa daniel in the age of innocence (later confirmed when i got back to manila)
seeing the joy and love of newlyweds. :)

fun bill.
hanging out at a park for coffee and good conversation, brand-new maleta in tow.
the best manhattan view ever.