Cooking lessons

Since I got here I learned how to prepare food. I couldn't say "cook" because most of the food that I prepare are almost always simple. Kumbaga, tambog ka lang ng tambog. Palibhasa kasi nasanay ako sa Pilipinas na talagang isa-isa mong aayusin ang mga ingredients.

Now, I am getting the hang of it. These past few days I've been getting a lot of compliments with my style of cooking. Daniel, when he came into the facility, does not have a good appetite. Ed, on the other hand eats almost anything served at the dining table. Yesterday I told Daniel that I was going to serve baked salmon for lunch. He replied that he isn't a fish person but he'd try what I'll prepare. Much to my surprise he did finish his meal and even bragged about it to his parents who visited him in the afternoon.

Nakakatawa, dito pa ako sa Amerika natutong magluto. Susme! Samantalang sa nung nasa sarili ko akong bahay ni hindi ko makuhang magluto para sa nanay at tatay ko!

Mukha naman akong happy sa pagluluto di ba? Hehehe!

The SF City ID Card

There is so much hype about this ID card being issued by the city and county of San Francisco to its residents regardless of immigration status. For 15 bucks, you can have this ID card as proof of identity and residency which is valid for two years. You can open bank accounts by merely showing them the card but it limited to participating banks only. Wells Fargo and Bank of America is not included in the list though. It is basically a discount card within the Bay Area. If you do have a DMV issued drivers license and state ID you can do without this SF City ID card. It is probably just another revenue generating measure of the city government.

There are several requirements before you can actually get the ID card. View them at the this link.

For more information visit the Office of the County Clerk info site.

SSF Alarm trigger

It's already 17:35 in the afternoon and I'm still at the SSF Main Library. I went here to access the internet and try to do some practice tests. Been here for almost three hours and I felt that the cold temperature is getting on my bladder so I tried to go to the bathroom. I was about to exit the library when the alarm set off and I was stopped by a staff. I took out my wallet, cellphone, headset and lip balm. I walked past the sensor five times but it keeps on giving the alarm. I even told the staff that they can search me if they want. They said it's probably a combination of everything that I am wearing. Geez!

Random 25

Here are the rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end, choose 10 people to be tagged. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.

1. My dad gave me the nickname Beegee, he used to love the Beegees so he took out the S and gave me the name.

2. My real name is Hebrew in origin, from Abraham. It means source of joy. Hmmm.. makes me wonder. Sabi nga ni Misis Tikboy pag isinalin ang ibig sabihin ng pangalan ko ay "tagapagpaligaya."

3. Can't leave home without spraying cologne or perfume. Feeling ko hubad ako pag wala 'yun.

4. I always have a handkerchief in my pocket. It is my security blanket.

5. I wanted to become a doctor. Now, I am working as a caregiver. Close enough? Hahahaha!

6. I kissed my female classmate in the cheeks while we were sharpening our pencils in one corner of the room. I was in grade one then. Hehehe!

7. When I was about six or seven years old I have a boy playmate. Somehow we managed to come up with this thought - Palit kaya tayo? Akin na lang titi mo, sa 'yo na lang pekpek ko! Hahahaha!

8. I love fruits. Kahit 'yun lang ang ihain mo sa akin solve na ako.

9. I am very fond of electronic gadgets - I have an Acer Aspire One, a Blackberry Pearl 8100, a Nokia N70, complete with a PC suite and data cable, a Motorola H710 Bluetooth headset. 'Yung iba binenta ko na, saka na ulit ako bibili pag may mapaglalagyan na ako na bahay!

10. Bata pa lang ako mahilig na ako mangabayo, meron pa nga akong sariling kabayo. Ewan ko ba, ngayon na malaki na ako imbes na ako sumasakay ako na sinasakyan! Yiha!

11. When I was in college I refused to live in a dorm. Paano kasi alas dose lang ng gabi curfew na! Samantalang pag uuwi ako ng bahay kahit umaga pwede. Hehehehe!

12. I am the eldest in a brood of five. Pero sabi nila parang ako daw ang bunso. Ngek! Hindi kaya nagkamali lang sila ng tingin at akala nila ako si Boboy? Hmmmm...

13. Love na love ko ang volleyball way back HS and college. Kaya nga may tattoo ako ngayon sa may right shoulder ng kamay at bola.

14. I met Misis Tikboy because of volleyball. We were teammates in HS.

15. I thought I'd die at the age of 27. But now I am already 35. I outlived that dream.

16. Apo daw ako ni Rizal. Bukod sa nakikita ako ng mga estudyante ko na parang si Rizal reborn.. may time na parehas kami ng hairstyle. Hahahaha!

17. I wear my watch in my right arm. Most people wear them on the left side.

18. I answer my phone using my left hand and put the earpiece/headset on my left ear. Bingi ako pag sa kanan.

19. Banlag ako.

20. I buy shoes half size or one size higher than my own size.

21. I love coats and jackets.

22. I have a very dark side. Wag mo akong gagalitin dahil hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan ang extent ng galit ko.

23. I love to do things alone. Hirap ako pag may kasama kasi naturalesa ko na ang mag-intindi at mag-alaga. Kaya kung hindi si Misis Tikboy ang kasama ko, wag na lang! Mas gusto kong mapag-isa.

24. I love to walk, specially in cold weather.

25. Yumayakap ako sa puno pag hindi ko na kaya problema ko.

Now, I am tagging Jessie, Ryot, Bugol, Mikoy, Timmy, Boboy, Yaku, Tito Jun and Tita Ambil

The power of seeing things in a different perspective

Now, there are many, many people in the world, but relatively few with whom we interact, and even fewer who cause us problems. So, when you come across such a chance for practicing patience and tolerance, you should treat it with gratitude. It is rare. Just as having unexpectedly found a treasure in your own house, you should be happy and grateful to your enemy for providing that precious opportunity.

- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Friends

I've got few friends. My fingers are enough to count them. A friend whom I can just simply be with - just the mere presence of the person is enough. A friend whom I share most of my college life with - inside and outside of varsity life. Elem and high school friends who, despite of my absence at school, remains to be there. I cherish them and enjoy their friendship.

It amazes me that even though I haven't been keeping in touch with them religiously whenever our path crosses we still got the same energy and connection where we left off. It's the kind of friendship that transcends time, I guess.

I am really blessed to have them as my friend.

Pormatiks no more

Dito ko natutunan na di mo kailangan pumorma masyado. Sa Pilipinas kasi, maarte ako sa damit. Dapat laging match, color coordinated at unique ang style. Eh dito, hindi ko magawa. Kasi malamig, kailangan lagi ka naka-layer ng damit. Para kung mainit man, tanggal ka na lang ng tanggal ng damit. Sando, t-shirt, long sleeves shirt, sweatshirt tapos jacket, pag umulan may rain coat pa.

Isa sa mga natutunan ko dito, dapat nagi-invest ka sa jacket. Tapos sapatos. Hindi masyadong uso ang leather shoes dito, halos lahat naka rubber shoes, sneakers, sandals. Kung saan ka kumportable. Simple nga lang.

'Yung coat na gusto ko hindi pa naka-sale kaya hindi ko pa nabibili! Sabi kasi ng pinsan ko gift na lang daw niya sa akin, isi-ship niya from New Jersey papunta dito sa California. Eh susme, tapos na ang Christmas at New Year, magbi-birthday na ako wala pa! Nakalimutan na ata.. parang 'yung CK one. Hehehe!

Sa ngayon, kailangan ko muna magtipid. Dami pa kailangan bayaran eh. Saka na ako bibili ng mga pormatiks kong damit at baka mabatukan pa ako ni Misis Tikboy! Hehehe!

Airtrain and BART connections

I set out early today. I wanted to try out the BART going to SFO Airport and do the Airtrain transfer going to the Arrival/Departure Terminal 1 of the SFO Airport. Took the 390 bus going to SSF Bart and then took the SFO Airport 9 car train. It was just two stops from SSF with San Bruno in between. It was easy. Then I took the blue line Airtrain to try it out. It went to Terminal 1, the terminal for most domestic flights including Southwest Airlines, US Airways and Hawaiian Airlines. To go back to the Garage D/BART station I took the red line Airtrain. It was that easy. Easier than having to take a car.

Hmmm.. then I went here at the SSF Public Library to apply for a library card. The perks? One hour of free internet use! I wonder if I can take my laptop here with me to access the internet. I have to ask later.

Natatawa nga si Tito Mar sa akin, tinawagan ako kanina. Ang lakas daw ng loob ko. Ang dami ko na daw napuntahan dito sa San Francisco. Hahahaha! Ganun talaga pag wala kang kotse, matututo kang mag-explore! Mwehehehe!

Wireless

Yep, finally I am connected to the internet. Thanks to the free wifi signal of our friendly neighbor. Hehehe! He or she, didn't set-up a security enabled connection to their wireless connection settings. It's been a week since the connection has been out. They probably went on vacation. Mwehehehe!

Now, I can surf the net after work hours. Finally!