Tuesday, February 19, 2008

I guess returning to Paris in 2008 will be a stretch

We’re currently planning our 2008 trip home and Alan and I are counting days. Between a definite plan to return to Disney for at least 5 days and the trip to Manila (where my 3 weeks will eat up 14 vacation days in all) — I will have very few days left. It might still happen — but it’s our third priority after the two big trips. Of course there will be the long weekends to destinations that are driveable from New York. We’re hoping to explore more of the New England Coast in the coming summers and fall.

Paris will always be there… And I’ll take a trip home to Manila anytime over a trip to my dear Paris.

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Friday, November 16, 2007

Homecoming 2008

My sister wrote me an e-mail and was asking if I was coming home over the holidays.  It somehow pained me to say no — even if I knew I would eventually make it home sometime next year as we are planning a trip home definitely sometime in the first half hopefully.

So many things are in the way right now although it would’ve been ideal to go home over the holidays.  Unfortunately, the fares are prohibitive and they had closed out early.

I still dream of one day celebrating Christmas in Manila again.  It has been 7 years since I last did that. 

Posted by PINAY NEW YORKER at 17:29:55 | Permalink | No Comments »

Where have I been?

I haven’t been blogging as much as I have wanted to this past couple of days.  I’ve been busy, I’ve been doing other things, and I usually cannot access the blog from work.  For some reason, today I can.  (Hooray!)

So what’s the Pinay New Yorker been up to?  I’ve been busy at work, back to knitting scarves (finished two projects in the last four weeks and now working like crazy on a third!), slowing down on the scrapbooking (for now), and trying to get started with the holiday preparations.  I’m also trying to study French again.

It’s a week to Thanksgiving, and while we aren’t hosting the luncheon at our home, we have to do our part in putting together a feast for the Gonzalez-Lacsamana clan.  I have a pretty light week next week so I am not even sweating about that.

We’re also trying to get ready for a holiday trip between Christmas and New Year — just to do something different as a family.  (More on that later..)

I have put up my Christmas tree here in the office. Bringing the holiday in cheer early.  Back at home, my mother-in-law brought home some Christmas decor for the corner dollar store.  She said she didn’t want them running out before we got our share as the other old ladies have started buying.

Meanwhile, I’m renewing my passport and trying to get another visa.  (Picture in pink coat taken!) 

I’m trying to read Joel Osteen again.. (Haven’t been reading at all which really has me stumped!)

Getting there.. getting there…

Posted by PINAY NEW YORKER at 16:33:03 | Permalink | No Comments »

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Vandals on the loose

I read about the vandals who had wreaked havoc on the Musee d’Orsay, damaging one of their Monets.  The news deeply saddened me as it reminded me of my visit their with Alan last year.

Unlike most museums whose architecture seems to transport you to another time, this one shows you a good mix of the old and the contemporary, both in layout and in the artworks on display.  This museum prides itself in being a showcase for Impressionism.

The sad thing is that once damaged, these masterpieces are forever altered.  I am sure that they have stepped up security as a result.  I took particular joy in viewing these masterpieces I had only read about or seen in notecards or calendars.. Here’s hoping this is the last of it.  There was some news about protesters ruining photographs by a contemporary artist in another country in Europe — but let’s keep those rare works from the masters of old safe from others who have nothing better to do.

Posted by PINAY NEW YORKER at 16:22:03 | Permalink | Comments (1) »