Philippine Travel Logs - Day 1

Brandi dropped me off at the airport at 5 pm Saturday July 10th. I was in for 20+ hours of flying....thank goodness she told me to wear yoga pants. I was not as scared to fly this time. Airports are fairly easy to navigate. Most have English, which is nice but unexpected. I feel for travelers in our country that don't know English. Of course getting out of Twin was easy, SLC even easier. I smoked two cigs there because I had a feeling Vancouver BC was not about to have smoking areas. Canadians are not big on smokers eh. I asked the customs attendant if they had any, and was looked at like I was bat-turd crazy. For living so close to Canada, I have never been there. Got to tell you the Vancouver airport has to be my lease favorite, but I will reserve judgement till I experience Houston's. It was a pretty airport, lots of dangling glass walkways. That were empty. I mean empty. I was the only person in that airport for like 20 minutes. I was beginning to wonder if I was lost and somewhere I shouldn't be when the nice guy in the gray glass box waved and said Bonjour. Vancouver is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, but unexpectedly humid. I didn't think i would be being so far north, but it was in the 70s and my palms were wet. I was dreading the flight to the Philippines. 14 hours on a plane I expected to to speak only Tagalog. Shockingly, they used English only, until we landed when they used both English and Tagalog. I was not ticketed for the flight and was a little concerned. The loudspeaker system in Vancouver was about as useful as the empty walkways....I couldn't hear anything. I strained to hear but since the actual gates were behind glass doors and walls I was sitting on the floor in the main gate hallway with 200 Filipinos. They like to talk....loud and fast so I could not hear my name when they called it 7 times. Finally I grabbed an airport employee when they were leaving the gate. She asked for my name and said "We have been looking for you!" Really? TURN UP THE VOLUME. I hear very well, my firends tell me I whisper when I talk and am always telling others they are talking too loud...there is nothing wrong with my hearing. Took them 10 minutes to ticket me. When i got to my seat a nice 80+ year old Filipino woman showed me her ticket..and we had the same seat. I was not going to share so i went to the stewardess, while the lady took my seat. I stood in Business class for 20 minutes while they figured it out. She told me to wait there, which gave me time to wish I could stay there the whole flight! They were passing hot hot towels to the travelers in 1st class. Kinda glad I didn't get one. What am I supposed to do with it? The lady walks past me and get the lady from my seat. Seats her in 1st class and tells me to go back to my seat. At first I was irritated, but she was like 87 so better her then me I guess. The guy that sat next to me was an armrest hogger. I am a sharer, he was not. I spent the whole flight with his arm touching mine or my back because he refused to move. Even when he played with his Ipad. Speaking of I want on of those bad boys. When we filled out of customs declarations form he asked to borrow my pen. I wanted to ask him if I could borrow the armrest, but thought better of it. I managed to pass out 10 minutes after take off. I was asleep, my butt was asleep, my neck was asleep, and my left arm was asleep (mainly because the before-mentioned Ipad man would not move his dang arm). But...at least I was asleep. They passed out those eye covers for sleeping. Never used on before but I used the crap out of that one. Got woke up for dinner, which smelled awful so I didn't eat. I woke up at 4 am (Idaho time) which was 4 hours in. Not bad but I had 10 to go. Passed out again and woke up at 8 am (Idaho time). With 6 hours to go I just need to get to sleep again. Was worried that my tummy was gurgling....not because I was hungry but because I had gas. I managed to sleep. Woke my self up by farting really loud. Looked around in horror to find everyone sleeping and made a mental note to SILENTLY dispel gas BEFORE going back to sleep. The arm rest stealer next to me never reclined his seat so I figured I would lean on the side of his chair. I mean we were cozy anyways since HE WOULD NOT MOVE HIS ARM and we had been touching for 8 hours anyways. As soon as I got comfy he decided to recline. Moron. Bet he heard the fart too. This guy must have no bubble. If I heard and felt someone fart I think I would move. I wrote it off because I thought maybe he was from a culture that just didn't have much of a bubble, but his passport was American. Weirdo. The next time I woke up we had 2 hours to go. They served breakfast, which smelled just as bad as dinner but I tried it because I was hungry. Managed about 2 bites, drank my coffee and nibbled on a roll. I was bummed I didn't have a window seat because we were flying off the coast of Japan, which I would have loved to see, but I would have had to reach across arm rest stealer to open the window so I just hope I will get to see it on the way back. I watched a movie that they were playing. The person across the isle asked if I wanted their head phones. Wish I was sitting next to him instead of arm rest stealer, but I declined noting there were subtitles so I didn't need any. Had a cute conversation with a 2 year old boy who was speaking Tagalog. He looked nothing like Xavie, but had the same build and big eyes so I took to him instantly. He spent the better part of the next hour bringing me his toys to play with while his mother laughed. He was a cute kid, but I never got his name. We finally landed and I was not looking forward to immigration/customs. The humidity here was not as bad as in Vancouver, which again confused me. Immigration took like 20 minutes, not too bad. Didn't grill me with questions like Panama immigration did. Got my bags and headed to customs. Easy again, less then 2 minutes! The airport instructions told me to take a right out the airport to their service station. Not there. Talked to a security guard who pointed in another direction entirely. I was at 17 hours of not smoking but lighting up without knowing I could for sure spelled disaster so I waited. Walked to the left till I found the transport station. Turns out it's to the right if you are LOOKING at the airport, not coming out of it. That would have been useful to know! My flight was early so i had to wait about 30 min for my driver. I asked where I would smoke and got the complete opposite reaction i did in Vancouver....I can smoke anywhere outside, and inside too unless there is a no smoking sign posted. w00t! Chain smoked two. Not a good plan because i was hungry and shaky from flying. Got my driver and got to the hotel. It was 5:30 am in Manila but i could have swore it 8 am rush hour by how busy the city was! The hotel is really nice! I don't know how everyone there knows my name. It was like and episode of Cheers. I walked in and 5 people were like "Ms Markwell, this way please." Alright, sure. Got my room and did a currency exchange. Feel rich because I have over $1000 whatevers in my wallet, but really that's like 40 bucks. Went to my room where i was given a tour. Huh. Then called my family and Brandi, who didn't answer! :D Decided I would order room service. Don't usually even though I can but since I will only eat one other time today and I am tired it seemed like a plan. Breakfast was HUGE and included asparagus.....which was very good! The milk here (for my Rice Krispies) is like half and half. The Mango juice was awesome and the pineapple amazing. The only thing I didn't like was the sausage. Oh and I can smoke in my room. So now I am going to bed to go to work tonight! :D

Well, it's here. What's here? Summers here! About time too. I have been so tired of the cold, the wet, and the windy. But this change in seasons is bringing big changes in my life...and I am a little lost I think. Stay? Go? Apply? Decline? Travel? Stay home? Business? Health care?

Really, all I want is to be a mom.

But that's not an option. So I am left in the spot of trying to figure out what I am going to accomplish that. I hate decisions. I really, really do.

Was farming, but started thinking...

Today I just many random thoughts run though my head...and i feel the need to share:

• I have reached a point in my life where thinking like your parents is suddenly cool. When the heck did that happen?
• When you were in high school, you would listen to some music in secret for fear of what people would think. Now I listen to what I want, but sometimes fear people will think that because I like an artist for their music I share their ideals.
• I used to dread hanging out with my Mom. Now I call her and she is too busy for me, I have to beg her to come shopping with me. What the heck is that all about?
• Back to the parents thing....when did they get lives? I mean I called my parents for 3 hours the other night. The home phone, Dad's Cell, Mom's cell, even called my Grandparents because I was worried "about Mom and Dad." Turns out they were out late with friends. Once I got a hold of them I said "I have been worried sick about you...."
• I hate daylight savings because it dark early. I used to love the dark, now I see dark and my body demands sleep. That's unfortunate.
• I have friends who's kids are turning 11 and 14. That's double digits. Umm I remember what I did at 14...and am beginning to worry a bit.
• What the heck is Lady Gaga all about. I mean seriously...what the heck is she?
• Referring back to my above point, I am sure the previously mentioned 11 and 14 year old know exactly what she is about...and just think I am out dated.
• Contrary to what I may have told you, I am disturbed about the fact I worry more about my FarmVille plants then I do my real ones. (what real ones? EXACTLY)

Snow.Panama. Smoking. Teeth.

Snow.

WTH. Seriously, I wait MONTHS and MONTHS for summer and it took it's dandy time. BUt winter just busts right on the secene like an uninvited family member you cringe when you see. I know it is inevitiable, I know I cannot avoid it, but dang it I can try. Usually around this time of year I get all excited to start wearing my warm clothes and hoodies. Not this year. Not only am I stubbornly holding on to my flip flops, but I HATE all me winter clothes. The chanses of me convincing my husbad to let me buy a whole new winter wardrobe are NILL.

On the bright side, I do get to go to Panama for work for 3 weeks. That is a long time. I am betting that I will enjoy it for the first week then I will start to get frustrated with not knowing spanish and the ammount of bug i encounter everyday. Not to mention I might miss my hubby and bubby too. I leave for Panama on Nov 29th and will be stateside again till Dec 18th. I am fine with this. The issue si what I have to deal with before I go. I went to the dentist last week. I have perfect teeth, never have problems with them. I had to cavties in my baby teeth when I was like 6 but thats it. So when the destist told me I have 6 cavties this time I about pooped myself. Seriously? Six? What have I been eating? Has my husband been feeding me processed sugar in my sleep in an attempt to keep me pleasently plump? Then it dawned on me, I had a baby a year ago. I brought this up to the dentist and he shot me down. "Thats an old wives tale." Well I have two issues with that, 1) Why is it called that? Old wives know more then new wives right? Why are we so dang disrespectful to these "Old wives?" They knep their old husband and kids alive didn't they? and 2) I don't think men should ever answer a woman who brings up pregancy as a reason for her issues that way. I mean men know zip-a-r00 about being preganent and what it does to your body. I mean they might read a book but they really have no idea. My own OB doc admitted that. I like my dentist, but I am afraid that my teeth are a direct result of carring around my little bubby for 9 months, not bad dental hygene. And no one is going to change my perspective on that.

So anyways now that I have 6 cavties, 3 of which are in my wisdom teeth, I have to have those filled this month. Oh and I have to get my wisdoms pulled too. All before I leave for Panama. Not mention, get my passport, book my flight and hotel. And since I am a smoker I run the risk of getting dry sockets. Though I am just thinking I should quit. I hear smoking is illegal in Panama. Illegal! WTH.

FARMVILLE!

Ok so how sad is it when Farmville tells you you cannot request any more neighbors today? I have no life. One afternoon without my child and I get slapped on the hand by the Farmville gods. Who are you to tell me that I cannot Farm!? :( I just want to farm. My crops need to grow faster. One of my neighbors was chatting with me on IM and visited my farm and said "Oh my your farm is so small!" Awesome.

No News Here!

First off I would like to thank Des and Brandi for their shameless advertizing of my blog. I will have to put in a shameless name drop myself:

***CHECK IT OUT*** http://desiloufreebush.blogspot.com/ ***CHECK IT OUT***

Ok now that that is out of the way let’s get to the news.

There is no news. Well there is but not in my life. Like I mentioned yesterday I think Paris Hilton is back in the news, but I don’t care. She has huge paddle feet anyways.

I was sick with tummy cramps all day yesterday so that kinda sucked, but on the bright side my husband made dinner and cleaned up so I didn’t have to do anything. My child was in an excellent mood, he even cuddled with me a bit on the couch.

It struck me yesterday how toddlers are a lot like senile old people. He wanders around the house, diaper sticking out of his pants, hair standing up in the air, muttering to himself in complete gobbledegook. It’s awesome. And he has not a care in the world except giving me kisses and the rash on his butt.

So this morning I had to be to work an hour and half later than usual. Casey said he would take Xavie to Des and Ian’s house so I could sleep in. When he got up this morning I figured that he would be like me, wake me up to take the dogs out and have me make Coffee, but he didn’t. He only woke me up again to give Xavie a kiss good bye. He even put Miri the hyper dog in her kennel and left Elvis the calm dog that can sleep for 24 hour uninterrupted with me to cuddle with. He is a better person than I. I get up, wake him up, have him take the dogs and make coffee, then I turn on the TV and blow dry my hair with the door open. Wow I am kinda mean.

You know what’s annoying? Pretzels in Chex Mix. I if wanted to eat pretzels I would open a bag that says pretzels, not Chex Mix. And even though it LOOKS like there are more Chex in there than anything thing…it’s a farce. Every bite I take has a freakin’ pretzel. Stupid pretzels. I try to pick them out and eat them first so they are gone, but by the time I am done I am full. Maybe I should just buy pretzels because I never get to the Chex Part and Casey always eats it.

So I have not figured out the comment option on this Blog thing yet, so please hold tight. I will figure it out eventually but not today. You will be able to comment sometime though.

**Your daily dose of randomness**

• Do you ever think of what a sucky existence it would be to be a trash can? I mean I guess if you were an office trash can it wouldn’t be so bad, but to be a kitchen trash can….
• My cell phone vibrate option always bothers me. When someone call and it is sitting on my desk in cubical land, I think it is louder to have it on vibrate then it is on ring. I guess I could be the person who prefers the “Beep” ring. Now THAT is annoying. I mean if you get like 1 call or text every 5 hours, no big deal, but when you are having a full blown text convo with your second cousin once removed best friend that just moved here from Delaware (a state that I am CONVINCED doesn’t really exist), that ear piercing BEEEEEEEEEP is aggravating
• I wore a dress to work today and everyone thought I was all dressed up for something special. What this special even was I don’t know but everyone kept asking me where I was going. Well if it is somewhere nice I will not be wearing flip flops let me tell ya
• I made a pet rock a while back that looks like Jay Leno. Think I could sell it on E-Bay?
• Why do people complain about things they cannot control? I would rather complain about things I can control and change then waste my brain cells on things I can’t. I only have so many brain cells left anyways, I better not be frivolously wasting.

Somthing I Just Noticed

My blog looks a lot like Des's does. Whoops. That was unintentional. Who knew we both liked the same color of green to title our posts with? And the same squares. Yours has no rainbow vomit though. Which is either sad thing or a plus depending on who you talk to.

Random thoughts for the day

A blog.

I get so much entertainment from reading my sister-in-laws blog (Desilou Freebush!) that I decided to start my own. Really I just like to type.

Considering I type for a living, that's saying something.

So let me make my apologies now:

• I can't spell worth a darn and might be too lazy to check it before I post it. Deal with it.
• I am using my sister-in-laws name with out asking her. Only because she asked me if she could use mine so I am assuming it goes both ways. Hi Des.
• I like to make fun of people. Sorry if you are one of them. Don't be so stupid next time. No one is exempt from this. I will make fun of my own child (what? He drools!). I am not above it, so if you are an adult family member or friend....look out.
• I really like rainbows, sorry for the color overload.
• I really like Star Trek. I really don't apologize on this one. It's fantastic and you should watch it too.

Since I don't know what my goal is for this blog, let's talk about what it is not.

• IT'S NOT somewhere I want to discuss work, though it might creep in every one in a while.
• IT'S NOT my political stance platform, thought that might creep in from time to time as well.
• IT'S NOT my personal venting board. I don't like airing dirty laundry.

Ok well I think that sums it up. I am a random person. Well maybe not. I am pretty organized (ok ok MOM not with EVERYTHING) but I have really random feelings on things. I have found when I voice these people tend to think them funny. So I thought I could type them out for you. Maybe I will even have a "Pick on a family member/close friend day" and make fun of someone near and dear to me.

So whats random about today?

Randomly the part in my hair has decided it hates me and will not lay right.

randomly my mouse pad has developed a bubble that is ruining my soul.

Randomly Paris Hilton is back in the news and I don't care.

I discovered name brand shades for my windows have randomly doubled in price in the last 6 years, which is a darn shame because now I am discovering I could have afforded shades like 8 months ago elsewhere.

Google is fantastic.

Nuts in brownies are wrong, just WRONG Mom.

My niece is adorable. Especially when she says things like "those money grubbing capitalists."

Wiener dogs are funny looking, but it's part of their charm. If I could have 20 I would. Yes Dad, even when they vomit on my floor.