The SIMS

Remember that game called The SIMS, where you start with a character and build her up, choose a career, have relationships, maintain a home, etc?
Well recently I've been feeling like that. I think I have past due notices on my phone bill and electric bill and probably the only reason why I still have both is because the people who cut them off can't get past security at my condo.
Hehehe.

Vito on CNN!

This is the picture that made it to CNN Sports Fan Zone! Woooohoooo! My doggy is famous :D

World Cup Fever

The 2006 World Cup is just around the corner, and Vito is obviously more than prepared for it. Italia! Italia!

Old Friends, New Friends

The best part about meeting up with friends you have lost touch with is rediscovering them and realizing that the connection between you is still there. It's almost magical the ease with which you fall back into comfortable conversation with them about all the things that have changed in your respective lives. The realization that instead of growing apart, your bond has grown stronger because it has withstood the test of time, distance, boyfriends, girlfriends, children, pets, careers, and whatever else there is.

Proud Momma

Yesterday, as Fritz and I were walking with Vito in Urdaneta village, a car screeched to a halt and a woman opened the car door calling out to us. In that split moment as I took in her colorful outfit and equally colorful hair, I imagined a million scenarios ranging from "Fritz's ex?" to "It wasn't me!!!"

When the woman called out, "Is that your dog?" I was thinking, "Oh no, don't tell me dogs aren't allowed here or something."

"Yes he is!" Fritz and I yelled back.

"What kind of dog?"

"A Jack Russel"

"He's very active isn't he? A friend of mine has one and when she throws the ball up in the air he catches it even before it bounces on the ground..."

As the woman rattled on and talked about her friend's Jack Russel, I couldn't help but think: "Wow, my dog stops traffic!"

I am soooooooooo proud of this uber cute canine who has come into our lives and taken over, much as we try not to let him!

My new love

Meet Don Vito Coltrane, Birthdate January 19, 2006. Exactly 3 months from my birthday. He is the cutest thing on four paws and I love him to bits!!!

Actually, I am in grave danger of becoming one of those parents who can't stop talking about their kids and every single thing that their kid did no matter how boring it may seem to the listener. I'll take it as a warning sign when my friends and co-workers start avoiding me...

Exploring Indochina

Like any event that is so overwhelming and so grand in scale, our journey through Vietnam and Cambodia was filled with a virtual flood of new experiences that it has taken me more than a week to completely absorb it all. Now that sufficient time has passed, I feel I am up to the task of relating the entire experience in its entirety without dwelling too much on the little details that were significant for me, but would probably bore the hell out of anyone else ;-)

We took the Philippine Airlines flight from Manila to Ho Chi Minh and arrived in Vietnam on December 25, 2005. We had no reservations at any hotel (which made the anal obsessive-compulsive nerd in me go bananas), having decided to just play it by ear and hopefully find a nice hotel to spend Christmas night in. I was, however, already having nightmares about knocking at each hotel and being turned away at every place we tried and having to spend the night in some manger or in our case, some drafty old parking lot.

The first hotel we checked was The Grand hotel, which was already fully booked except for the really expensive suites that we weren't quite willing to splurge on. So Fritz went hunting around some more and we ended up in a spacious, old-fashioned suite at the Riverside Hotel with a gorgeous view of the Saigon River.

After unpacking a bit, we immediately started off exploring the city, and it was certainly a beautiful city to explore. We had already been warned about the thousandsof motos that we would encounter, but nothing anyone could have told us could have prepared us for the actual sight of a moto-to-moto traffic jam.

We made our way to the city center and checked out the Continental where we asked if they still had available rooms. Turns out they did, so we made reservations there for the next night.

We spent the rest of the evening walking around the city and sampling the cuisine (including the bia, of course).

Funky noodle house. I can't get over the fact that the neon sign is as big as the front of the shop! I thought it made for a great photo-op.