across wireless

We have finally arrived in this century after being stuck in pre-dsl years.

There's now broadband in the house!

(And it came with a free wireless phone.)

There was excitement when I first saw the Globe Lines tent in BF. When we checked out their service areas, we were told lines weren't available yet in our village. And so we had to wait and suck our thumbs.

We earlier inquired from both our cable company and PLDT whether they have at least our street in their list of service areas. Nada.

So imagine how happy I was when I saw the Globe Lines tent at the entrance of our village. I signed up and gave my cash right then and there.

A week after, PLDT called and told us that we can apply for DSL.

Right.

Parang pulis na darating pag tapos na boksing.

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Hi wacky! Might leave May 18, fri. Can I stay at ur place May 15 to 18? Ksi wala na gamit sa apartment ko by May 15. Also, end na ng lease ko. Naisip ko din ksi we didnt have time to catch up. Ok lang ba?

That was sent to me by one of my best buds from UP (and my mom's closest), Mei. She's about to leave everything behind, except for the secrets we both share, to start anew in Spain.

She arrived last night, close to midnight according to my maids. I didn't wait up for her.

I texted her and said that I'd just see her in the morning.

My house is her house. She can come and stay anytime. This also goes with my vacation home in Dumaguete where she, one day, popped out of the blue. Walang pasabi. She just asked the address from my mom and took a plane to Dumaguete.

I only have to tell the maids to take care of her needs while I'm out of the house or asleep. Special pabilin talaga and I explain to them that this gurl gave me everything that I needed before.

One special thing in common with us is that we have wings. And we like to use it whenever we feel like we've reached that certain difficult or confusing spot in the labyrinth.

And so we ride planes. And we fly away. Even if it means crashing at a friend's house who would understand without asking so many questions.

Hola! She's bound for Spain. Now there's a reason for me to go to Espana.

Vamos.

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Should you ask if I exercised my right last Monday, the answer is yes.

I tell you, I spent more time outside the polling place than inside. It seemed like Sunday morning outside a big church. There were lots of street vendors.

I ate a corn cob and 3 pieces of chicken balls on a stick. I was looking for catsup for the chicken balls but my special gurl laughed at me and said there was none. The chicken was among the other balls swimming in cooking oil such as kikiam, squid and fish.

How did the chicken balls taste? I dunno. It was too hot in my mouth that I had to eat and swallow it quickly.

There was a vendor selling squid that looked like hot pot style of cooking. The squid was rolled in flour (?) and something pink. I just looked.

I also bought popcorn sprinkled with very orange cheese and good ol kropek.

One of the residents nearby opened her gate and put up a long table. On it were pots of goto, arroz caldo, dinuguan and spaghetti sauce (I didn't see where she hid the pasta). I bought a serving of blood soup and took it home.

We live in a good neighborhood. People like to eat here.

Vamos a comer.

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kids should know that...

Since 2000, Spain has experienced high population growth as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving clandestinely by sea, has caused noticeable social tension. Spain currently has the second highest immigration rates within the EU, just after Cyprus, and the second highest absolute net migration in the world (after the United States. In 2006, from the total number of immigrants arrived in the European Union, 44.7% chose Spain as their final destination. (wikipedia)