The Sunshine State

Day One:

after four hours of sleep, three-hour plane ride, Horacio and I found ourselves in Miami, Florida. took a cab and headed to Beach Place Hotel. since we were starving and the heat wouldn't do us good with our empty stomach, we decided to just order in. upon having our fill, we headed to the beach for a quick get-to-know the area. as soon as we got the beach (which is a block away from where we were staying). lighting began, so we headed back to hotel before it poured. by 7pm, it was still pouring, but our tummy is yet again screaming for food. we got ready and planned to take a bus, but decided against it after realizing how bad the rain was. we took a cab, headed down to ocean drive. we had dinner at Mango (which was like Cafe Wha with a South Beach twist). it was a nice, sorta-weird experience for both of us, since we were dining by the sidewalk... usually in new york, outside dining is always full that you don't get the chance to do it. we had our pina colada, apple martini, amaretto sour and long island ice tea... it was the beginning of our vacation.

Day Two:

Had our first taste of Miami sun. it was shining brightly and warmly. the water was nice and refreshing. we soaked the sun and forgot all about the world. we were in paradise. after much sun and water soaking, we freshened up and headed once more to downtown. had lunch at johnny rockets and headed to little havana. it felt like we were the only ones that was walking around to get to our destination. once in little havana, we asked around the locals for the walk of fame, and they seemed surprise after finding out that we were just walking. we took the bus, walked around. had the taste of kings cream's mango ice cream. it was the most delicious ice cream (aside the one from philippines) that i have ever tasted. it was just so light and it tasted like the real fruit itself that was left in the fridge and served minus the seed and the peel. after completing the walk of fame. we dined at a mexican restaurant. it was so delicious, had the mango margarita - heavenly! went back to the hotel, just in time when the rain started to pour.

Day Three:

Horacio's Birthday!!! for his special day, we woke up pretty early and was picked up by Victor of Miami-Dade County Parks at 9 am and headed to the other side of Miami beach for our Eco-Adventure Kayaking and Snorkeling Tour. we were blessed with a wonderful weather. kayaking was a lot of work, we got left behind for the first part, but learned and caught up. Winston, our guide, was so nice and guided us through. the tour ended at 1 pm, Victor once again drove us back to our hotel, just in time for the rain to start pouring once more. by 7 pm, the rain subsided, horacio and i headed out to downtown once again to have dinner at Cafe Med. where we had lobster, paella, mango daquiri and banana daquiri. horacio had his birthday (key lime) pie!! after dinner we strolled around ocean drive, passed by the place where versace was killed. got back to the hotel just in time for the rain the pour once again.

Day Four:

Got up at 8am and headed out to the beach for one last time. spent an hour and headed back to the hotel to finish packing up. after checking out, we left our luggage by the receptionist, and headed to the local hang-outs. had lunch at a cuban restaurant, had horacio his fill of dunkin donuts coffee and mine of their sobe coolata. we walked our way back to the hotel, going through the Northshore Open Park, where they had a health trail. upon arriving back in the hotel and lounging around their lobby, horacio and i bid farewell and headed to the airport.

Epilogue:

After four days in Miami, i fell in love with the place. the weather was just perfect, the place was wonderful, the food so sumptuous. it was so laid back. it was a great way spending horacio's birthday. we got time away from our busy, stressful lives in new york. now we are back in the realities of our world. with this, i know that we could, i could, take vacations and really enjoy it. i love my life. i feel so happy and very much blessed. God really sees us through. if not for Him, we wouldn't have the pleasure of enjoying and savoring His work. if not for Him, we wouldn't be blessed with great weather. because of Him, we are safe.

argh!!

i know i should start packing and get ready for work. yet, here i am trying to find some "stories" opinions on the harry potter book 7. i finished it last night (or should i say, this morning). i haven't had my nice 9 hour sleep since monday. i so wanna discuss the book with someone! but i am afraid by the time the people around me finishes the book, i would have moved on from it.... argh!!!

anyways... can't wait for this weekend!!! :")

two and a half days...

the weekend was started off with stuffed french toast, pancakes, bacons, sausage links, hash browns, eggs and coffee at ihop. then off we continued on our way to connecticut. it was a much awaited weekend after a stressfull week. spent most of the day saturday under the sun, learning how to make brazos de mercedes and taking naps. when the whole family arrived, we ended saturday by heading out to loews theatre for the much awaited harry potter and the order of phoenix. the movie was great and just the way i imagined as i was reading the book. especially the part where the weasley twins had their fireworks display during OWLs exams. it was really great! summer movie of the year? well, for me it's a toss up between that and transformers. (still have to see rattatouille!!).

sunday came... woke up with keilbasa, eggs, spam, rice and diet pepsi. what a great way to start a day. then off we went and played once more under the sun. did some moonsaults under the water... we did our way of "synchronized" swimming. it was a lot of fun! had our surf and turf grill. shrimps, tilapia, ribs, steaks, pickled veggies, using your hands as utensils... 100% yum!! even the three dogs were having the time of their lives! then we all headed back to the city and anxiously waited for monday to come.

monday morning came. horacio woke me up early for a "surprise" lunch date. as we took the train to our destination, horacio then tells me that we were off to smith and wollensky. i couldn't summer up the excitement since all my brain cells must have still been sleeping, but once we got there i was all excited! i haven't had a good steak for a while... and the place is just known for their steaks!!! so we had our appetizers (gazpacho for him, salad for me). our main course - juicy, tender, filet mignon (medium rare for both of us!!) with a side of mashed potatoes (his) and baked potatoe (mine!!). we ended up with chocolate mousse cake (his) and with the really delicious bourbon pecan pie (mine, again!!). we both headed back home dreading to go back to work.

as soon as i stepped into my floor... i knew that my weekend was really over. i was the nurse in charge, team leader, only rn on my side, had five discharges and an admission. i just can't wait for the next weekend off... (florida!!)

days... weeks... months...

first week of july is almost over. time flies so fast. it was just june... now the summer is almost about to end.

june had been a crazy month... well, every month has their own craziness. eversince i have been off orientation (work) and had my alternate weekends to work, time flew more faster.

a month of june rundown...

first week of june:

1. planned a get together (although it really wasn;t my idea, and the person who thought of it didn't show up). marichu brought cranium, the girls ruled. we had fun eating and drinking.

2. had my first taste of philippine independence day parade. although we missed the parade itself, we dived right into the (overpriced) food and some souvenirs.

3. a friend came over early morning and enjoyed a good breakfast together. since our schedule always clash, it was the only perfect time to meet and catch up.

second week of june:

nothing much really happened... since i worked that weekend. although we did go to cafe wha with some of my bro's friends. cafe wha, i think, had been our "comfort club" if there's such a thing. it's just fun to be there, no matter how many times you've seen or heard their act.

third week of june:

went to connecticut over the weekend. it was nice and relaxing. not really worrying about anything. got my nice tan (which hopefully would last me throughout the year again!). my mom enjoyed having all of us there. took in the sun and refreshed myself in the pool's cold water.

last week of june, was mommy chi's baby shower! in between all those things that i have been doing, each available time i got was spent planning for mommy chi's baby shower. it was planned to be held at her sister's place. unfortunately, there was no way of kicking her out of the place so we could prepare the place. so, we ended up having it in my place. although she knew that we were planning a baby shower fro her, she never guessed that it was gonna be on the day that i invited her over for another get together (since a friend of ours was in europe when we had the get together earlier that month). we had games that made everyone laugh. i had them paint on bibs and onsies as a "gift" for baby gavin. even sophie (her 2 year old niece painted a bib for her!). i also made cupcakes which were simply sweet and delicious.

now... the first week of july is near its end. i celebrated fourth of july doing overtime in the hospital. which i am glad i did, since it was quiet (meaning, no admissions nor discharges). we ordered pizza for dinner and some patients saw the fireworks by the lounge. it hasn't been a great fourth of july week though, since the weather has been so gloomy. it doesn't feel like summer.

yesterday, horacio and i joined my brother and his guests to todai for a brunch/lunch buffet. it was such a yummy treat. too bad, my tummy isn't just not up for eating at that hour anymore. after good lunch, we parted ways... planned to go up the empire state building, but decided not to at the last minute and just headed to kips bay loews theatre to watch transformers.

at first, the idea of transformers didn't really tickle me. i didn't really grew up with transformers so i don't know transformers. but few minutes into the movie i couldn't bare to leave my seat. i was holding my pee until i couldn't anymore and had to dash to the restroom! i didn't want to miss any part of it! it was such a nice movie. i fell in love with bumble bee!! i want a bumble bee. maybe when i get my first car, i would name it bumble bee (and paint it yellow?). we also planned on watching ratatouille after transformers (two movies in one day!) but opted not to. since we got out of the theatre really exhausted that we had to drag ourselves to the subway station.

as soon as we got home, my brother and his guests were already home (since they were going to leave for boston at 12 midnight). for dinner, we all went to have good filipino food at tito rads. it's been a while since we ate there. the food was still good (if not, better) and the ambience is still not tacky (just like the other filipino restaurant). we all went home satisfied.

time do run so fast... in few mimutes i would be getting ready and heading out for work... next weekend... connecticut once more! hoping for nice warm weather. by the end of this month, horacio and i would basking under miami's sun!!

until then...

sad talaga...

i saw this from Chi's blog, i wondered how i would do. it's really sad to know that i have lived a good amount of time in the philippines and not really seeing the philippines. i guess that's one of my plans/goals in life... to travel philippines more (aside from traveling different parts of the globe). i love philippines and i know that it has a lot to offer. there are a lot of tourist spots and things to do, yet i never took advantage of it.

well... life is just starting... so, in time i hope to visit more places.

My Lakbayan grade is F!

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Created by Eugene Villar.