Baby, It's Cold Outside.

Brrr. I'm chilled to the bone. After spending a week in glorious San Diego, I'm back in chilly Seattle for Thanksgiving, It's funny how finicky I am in regards to temperature. I'm too hot in San Diego, longing for a little cold, scarf weather. Now, I'm in the mecca of Scarf Country and longing for the warmth of the Beach.

Good Grief.

It is good being home though. With all that is going on in the Family, I'm happy to be back. Our entire family is in town. From Aunts and Uncles to cousins and Friends, we're in constant socializing mode. Which is very Filipino. It's all about the fellowship and food.

Two of my favorite things that's for sure.

***I would like to give a Sarah Palin update. The girl never fails to give the aching public a sound bite. So thank you Sarah for responding to my call and giving me the Turkey Incident. I couldn't have asked for (or thought of) anything better.***


God Bless You, And God Bless America.

I'm Bringing Sarah Back.

Can I just come out and admit something?

I miss Sarah Palin. Where is she these days?

For all that she is worth, I think she just made the news day a little more brighter. With her Joe-isms, and her Lipstick chatter and all the fun winks and strike-a-poses, how can we survive without her?

I'm not even being a little facetious. I miss Sarah Palin, and I want the world to know.

Bah Humbug!?!

The holiday season is quickly approaching and I find myself lacking severely in the holiday spirit. With the 24 hours of Christmas Music on the brink and a ton of tinsel, trees and turkeys popping up all over the place, I find it hard to avoid.

I'm just so over all the shopping and the buying and the wrapping. The eating, I must admit, I still love. But all the other whohaa...boo to. Ba Humbug.

My grandparents are coming to the house for Christmas. Which is probably a good thing. I don't think I would head back to Seattle if they weren't coming. I'm in the mood for an adventure. I feel like South America is calling me and the holidays are the best time to travel to non-holiday esque places. However, since I was the one who convinced my Grandparents to head out west. I feel like not showing up myself would in fact cause some sort of situation---of epic proportions.


So, I've been running about 4 miles a day for the past week (in the gym, road running is hard---esp when it's dark and freezing). It doesn't really sound like a lot...but let me tell you. It is. A lot. It's good to be working out again. I love the sweat. And yes, I did treat myself to a new Ipod. A shuffle, so it's not that big of a commitment. And it's a RED product, so a portion goes to charity. Totally worth it.

I lived to tell that tale

As this current semester is coming to a close, thus marking my first season on the road a success (I think), I'd like to take a moment to reflect with a series of top ten lists.

For today, a top 10 list of road mishaps

10. The time I lost my car at Santa Cruz...all the trees look the same up there (go slugs)
9. The Parking ticket I got at UCSD...It was not well-signed.
8. The time I hit the pole at my hotel. No damage.
7.The time I lost my correctly spelled banner at SDSU...No shame in Austrailia.
6. The time I sent my license to Stamford. Yeah. That really happened
5. The time I only brought 1 box of semester programs on the road...and 4 summer.
4. My Squeely wheely..and my ability to make as much noise as possible in any given location.
3. The time I got my finger caught in the pop-up, the table or the car door.
2. The speeding ticket I got on the way to Santa Barbara (my first...expensive puppy)
1. The countless times as I crossed the street where boxes feel off the wheely, effectively blocking traffic from all directions.

I do like to turn heads.

Now that is the sign of a true Road Warrior.

"Lord, I was born with a suitcase in my hand...living a life that few could understand. Don't know where I'm going...Don't know where I've been..." Little Big Town

Right now, I'm back for week IV of my San Diego life. It's November and in the 80's. I love it, but must admit, I do (at times) miss my snow flurries and my scarves and my glovies.

I'm fascinated over the fact that I know everything about my second home...errr, hotel here in San Diego. I know that to open the back door you have to slide your card in, lift the door knob up, then pull a little. I know that the parking pass system has changed a bit. I know which staff members to ask for food recommendations...and which to not. I know that the evening desk staff will always help take my boxes to my car, but the morning staffers will. I also know biscuits are available for breakfast on Mon, Wed and Thursday. I love biscuit days.

I even went to the gym last night. Now, wahoo you may say. But I saved extra room in my suitcase for my tennis shoes. I'm thinking that as a reward, I should be able to buy new tennis shoes...or at least a new Ipod. It's always a good time for an upgrade (yes, I am denying the current economic conditions)

I'm also incredibly proud over the fact that I can find my way around the city without the use of my GPS system. I can't even do that in the Bay Area. This is an incredible feat, as I tend to be the one who is ridiculously directionally challenged. I know North is right in front of me, West to the Left and East to the Right....and we all know where south is. That's it. (Even when the assumption is incorrect)

I can't believe the holidays are upon us. The entire Tumbaga clan is arriving in Seattle in various batches. I'm excited to see all of them when I return this Friday. Although the circumstances surrounding this family reunion are grim, I'm glad we are able to come together. I'm pretty excited for the holiday season that is approaching. I think that regardless of the struggles we endure during the year, this season can be filled with a sense of closure, of celebration and of change (but not in the Obama amount).

In other news,

Cowless Count: 43 days. Not so bad...especially since I realized Roast Beef in all its delicious glory is nonetheless, beef.

I'm starting to have the same sentimental feelings toward Pigs. I'm avoiding it if at all possible. I had pork chops last week and they were so good, but I was getting bamboozled by the texture...and the picture of Babe running around in my head.


Don't know what's up with me and my meat situation...maybe I'm coming down with something.

I pity the fool. I pity the fool who doesn't VOTE.

We are 24 hours and counting. Change is in the air. I can smell it, I can feel it. I can taste it. Literally. It's amazing how many food chains are offering up free goodies tomorrow just for voting. It goes to show you. Voting Rocks.

I have two recommendations to give as I stand here on my tiny soap box...no wait three...three things:
1. Vote Yes on Prop 2
2. Stop promoting Hate, Vote No on Prop 8
3. Go Obama
The end.


Last night I went to see She and Him in concert at Bimbo's in SF. They were super good. I loved the venue. It was very 1930's esque. Dark, Red, Moody. Perfect for an almost famous band. The show, for both nights they were playing, was sold out. Which was a good sign. I'm assuming a majority of the crowd was their simply to bask in the glory that is Zooey Deschanel. (Which let me tell you...that girl is talented...singer, actor, ambitious lyricist and gorgeous...some gene pools have all the luck). Along with M. Ward (amazing in his own right), they oozed the perfect amount of harmony, lyric and musical bibidibop. I have to say, I liked their CD, but live they are 100 times better. The CD was a raw cut, it was somewhat homey...like they recorded it in their basement, just the two of them. On stage they all glow, with background support and have seem to found their confidence as a duo.

Love it. A hefty two thumbs and two pointer fingers up. Fist bumps all around.

So because of my concert, I left early this morning for my flight to San Diego. And by early, I mean 4:30 am early. My flight wasn't till 6, so I caught a few zzzzzz's in the airport. I arrive in SD, and what am I greeted with? That's right chilly 60 degree weather. I don't even have a coat...or shirts with sleeves for that matter.

As my frostbite begins to set in, I can't help but have an inner whine. This is supposed to be my tropic getaway. My break from the San Francisco Gray. My seemingly vacation like work week.

Nope, not this week. I just bought a coat. Cause tomorrow I don't want to have to worry about potential hypothermic limbs.