First week of November and it is already snowing. I am off my job but going outside would probably not be a good idea especially when we haven't started unpacking our winter jackets. I stayed in most of the day and try to go over my hard disk. I found a couple of personal photographs I can send as postcards so I will be mailing them in this Monday. 

Here are some of the things that happened some few weeks back.

* My good friend asked me to go to a wake of someone dear to him. It's my first time to go to a wake here in America and my mom says that it is sort of formal. I was not really prepared for the whole thing because I was working in between days and could hardly find the time to go buy clothes to wear. I decided to do everything last minute. I've got the flowers, the pictures and the outfit but I was not expecting how far the place was. It was quite a drive, it was cold and I am starting to feel sick. When I got there, the placewas packed with relative and friends and I was clueless. I have no idea what was going on and I do not know anybody. After giving my sincerest condolences to the wife of the deceased, I've decided to leave thinking that the whole ceremony was over. Even if I do not know the person who passed away, he seems like a nice person and judging from the people who were there, i can tell that he is a good man and may he rest in peace.


* I was looking forward to celebrating Halloween this year and the scariest thought dawned to me when my manager put me on schedule. I had to work the whole day shift. Of course I got tired after so I stayed home and waited for kids to come by and get their treats. Since we were not into putting costumes and make-ups, my mom decided to get ridiculous outfits for the dogs which worked out perfectly cute. Our dogs changed their costumes twice or thrice for the whole night and the kids adored them. We can't stop showing off our little dogs but I guess Pepe scared them away whenever he gives a loud bark every time the doorbell rings. I should say my favorite costume for that night would be the kid joker. I never had the chance to take his picture but he cracked me up. He's got the whole purple outfit and that creepy smile across his face. Kids here are really imaginative and artistic. I wish I turn into a child every Halloween so I could go put on a costume and ask for candies.


* Some time this week I got a postcard from my friend Shari, who now lives in Christchurch, New Zealand. I was surprised and touched by her message. I miss my friends already. I can't believe we are now living our lives and some of us are in other parts of the world. I used to think about the days we were still in high school or college. Those were the easy days and my favorite. Receiving mails from my friends never fail to draw a smile on my face. Thanks Sha! I hope things will get better.


* Last Sunday, my beautiful sister and I went to Mitsuwa (the jap place). We were going to the Sweet's fair she was telling me about. I ended up buying two pens, one notebook, a set of stationery and none of the pastries sold in the fair. I tried to order the Beef Soba for lunch and it quenched my thirst more than my hunger. There was too much broth for me to handle in one meal that I barely touched my pork siomai.boo..I'm thinking of ordering the katsudon next time.



* Today, I got another mail. You just warmed up my first Friday snow..my heart too (in every second it beats..).

-.-

My last post was almost three weeks ago and I tell you, a lot has been going on. We went on vacation to see the Caribbean and it was really a breathtaking experience. It was like living in a dream wishing you never wake up but too bad reality doesn't work that way. Seven days of cruising the Caribbean sea was awesome! I can say that it was the best vacation I've ever had in my life so mom thank you so much for taking us with you. We went to St. Thomas, St. Martin, Antigua, Sta. Lucia, Barbados and Puerto Rico. If you guys want to see the photos that I took please click this link.

Oh by the way, I already quit my job at the store because my new job requires me to do more hours. I really felt bad about it because I love all the people there even if they don't pay that much. I am very grateful to my supervisor because she is very kind and understanding to let me leave in such short notice. My new job as a caregiver, is easy. I work in a retirement community which is totally different from a nursing home. In our institution, there is no lifting and most of our residents are able to do their own activities of daily living. So basically what we do is give medications to some residents and assist them with some their adl. It's not really that stressful and the good thing is that job pays you well. I really thought that I'll be working for the morning shift (7am-330pm) but unfortunately, our manager needs more people to work in the night shift (11pm-730am) so she asked me if I could switch my hours and I said yes. Maybe I wasn't thinking clearly that time. I just thought that since I am a new employee, I should be able to show my manager how flexible and willing I am but my mom of course did not totally agree with me. I already started my night shift last week and tonight I will be coming to work at 11pm.

I had this four days off from work and besides sleeping, I was able to do a lot of things. Me and my sister went to that Japanese store again at Schaumburg called Mitsuwa. We grabbed some lunch and did a little bit of grocery. I bought a lot of candy, orange juice and some japanese notebooks and papers. I can't help but spend when it comes to papers, pens and coloring materials. I just love to hoard these things.



My sister and I went to Woodfield mall and looked around Nordstrom. Everything is expensive so we didn't really buy any stuffs. We went home after a couple of minutes. haha..

After realizing that I spent most of my money with food and things-that-i-don't-really-need, I remembered that I was suppose to do laundry and clean my room. I only have twenty dollars and I am not sure if that is enough to wash my bed linens and two comforters. So there, I drove to this laundry shop near our house. This will be my first time to do laundry outside so I brought with me tons of coins but the laundryshop that i went to uses a card where you can load money on it so you don't really need that much change. The lady working there was kind enough to show me what to do. The place was really very nice and quiet and to my surprise, there were only few people around when I came in. I like the place and will be back soon.


Yesterday, my mom and I went to Chicago for her citizenship interview. We took the 11 o'clock- train from Crystal Lake and arrived in Chicago at about 12:23pm. We then took a cab to the Immigration and Citizenship building and arrived there on time. My mom passed her interview and felt that we should get lunch. We went to the water tower to eat and look around. Whenever we go to Chicago, I always convince my mom to stop by Godiva chocolatier to get some sumptuous chocolates. I am not really a chocolate lover but my mouth waters over truffles. We didn't really walked around Chicago because my mom was having problems with her feet. Her shoes were giving her blisters and from the looks of it, they we're not her most comfortable pair. Immediately, we had to go back home but that is okay besides it's hard to move around coz' it's cold. hehe. maybe next time..again.



Again, mom congrats! =)