Friday

03. March 2006

Saturday, March 4, 2006

My Dear Mama, Friends & Family,

March was been interesting for me. Here is my photo journal to answer all the "Kamusta ka na?" questions for this month. Overall, I am fine. Thanks for asking.

01_10

Here's a snap shot I took of Ron in a Hill in Elko where we went for a walk on my Day-off. Snow is melting but it's still cold. Season's starting to change again. Soon, Spring will be here.



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02_10
Saturday, March 4, 2006


From that hill, we have a view of where Ron works. Ron's house is only 5 Minutes away from his work at the Saw Mill in Elko. This is a view of Tembec Co. which processes lumber. It employs a lot of people in the area.




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03_11
Wednesday, March 8, 2006


Today is work day. Here I am sitting inside the car waiting for Luke to come back from the Bank in Cranbrook. He was unable to drive himself there today, so I had to drive for him. Sometimes, I think it is interesting to watch the world from a rear view mirror.



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04_10
Thursday, March 9, 2006


A cold day. Here is a frozen lake starting to melt. This is why winter makes people depressed. Just look at that. All Frozen!. But hey! The snow is melting!



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05_10
Thursday, March 9, 2006 The snow slowly seeps to the ground. Soon it will be spring.



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06_9
Sunday, March 12, 2006. An early dinner with friends (from left) Wilfred, Helen, Joann, Myself & Ron in a Chinese restaurant in Cranbrook called LUCKY STAR. Chinese food is closest to Filipino food. Rice! yummy!



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07_9
Monday, March 13, 2006 . Today Joann, Wilfred and Myself went Skiing. It was my first time riding the chair lift and skiing the 5 KM. main run. What a glorious feeling. It gave me such high. I've never been happier!

(Photo courtesy of Kimberley Alpine Resort)



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08_10
Monday, March 13, 2006

This is what it looked like from the top of the Ski Hill. (For me it was so high it should be called Ski Mountain instead). After a one time lesson from a professional instructor last January, and learning to ski on my own on 2 separate occasions at the Bunny hill & Learner's area last February, I finally made it to the top. The view was spectacular! Ok. Now that I am here, the problem is on how to go down. I cross my fingers and ski away with Joann & Wilfred. All of us are new skiers.


(Photo courtesy of Kimberley Alpine Resort. Thank you!)



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09_10
Monday, March 13, 2006

Getting to the bottom of the hill after 35 minutes the first time was a terrific feeling! That moment, when you know you have reached the bottom to safety gives you such high that you want to ride the chair lift over and over again. Skiing the first time at the biggest hill is a challenge ofcorse. I slipped, and turned and lost my balance at least 7 times. The run is about 5 kms long. I fall and slip, get up and ski again and again.



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10_10
(Photo courtesy of Kimberley Alpine Resort)

Monday, March 13, 2006 Here is the actual shot from that day. I did not bring my camera with me up the ski hill because I was afraid i would break it. So The pictures i posted here I got from the Kimberley Alpine Resort.



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11_10

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 I took this picture on Baker Steet. I was taking a break from teaching Wilfred how to drive that evening. I wish I could spend more time to teach Wilfred so he can start driving on his own soon. But for now. It's practice Practice practice. *sigh* I wish I could be in Baguio right now and back. but that's just make believe ofcorse.



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12_10
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 On a sea food restaurant in Cranbrook - Joey's Only. The sign on the fish tank read " This tank is home of POOKIE the paku". Hmmm , a fish named POOKIE. Interesting. I have a nickname for her. It's "KIKI napaku". It's a Filipino joke ofcorse and I don't expect North Americans to understand the humor. In the Philippines Pookie means . . . . a woman's ______________.



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13_9
Saturday, March 18, 2006 Here is Penelope (Ate Pam's sister) on her welcome to Canada party at Saint Mary's Hall in Cranbrook. I was able to get some hours off from work to attend the party. So fun!



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14_9
Saturday, March 18, 2006

Penelope's party. The Filipino community had so much fun, Dancing, Karaoke and Filipino food. Those 3 hours were great! For a few hours, I felt as if I was back in the Philippines. For now this is the closest I could get to home.



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15_8
Saturday, March 18, 2006

After helping clean up the hall and everyone has left, I take a photo of the venue from outside. It was so quiet outside. A sudden shift in mood. From partying & laughing with friends, here is peace and quiet and a bit of loneliness trying desperately to creep in. Being the positive person that I am, I won't let that feeling come in. There's no room in my heart for that.

I drive alone in Luke's car back to Kimberley, half an hour away. Listening to the radio & watching out for deer. This would be like driving from Baguio to La union 1.5 hours away. But in Canada, you have good highways & driving speed up to 100 kms per hour. Speed sure makes a difference.



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16_8
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Next day, the sun was shining and I decided I wanted to go outdoors for a walk. It is in walks like these that I get to pray and just de-stress myself. I asked Dr. Wilfred what I could take to combat feeling of fatigue and weakness from broken sleep and he told me to take vitamin c. I started taking them and with the dosage recommended, I do feel better. I feel stronger! Thanks Wilfred!



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17_7
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Horses on a late winter afternoon.



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18_8
Sunday, March 19, 2006

The ROCKY MOUNTAINS of British Columbia.

Here I am just walking about in the afternoon enjoying this wonderful view which was to me so long ago was quite unreal. But it is real. And I am here.



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19_7
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Robins come during the spring. I've never noticed any of them during the winter. Here is a lucky shot I took with my 10x optical zoom lens.



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20_7

Sunday, March 19, 2006

After walking half an hour, I decided to turn around & head back to Luke's house which has been my quarter for 17 months now. Up ahead towards it , you can see the ski hill which is only a few minutes drive away.



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21_8
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Roadside snow melting away. Yes snow get's dirty.



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22_8
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Rural Life in Kimberley, BC



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23_8
Sunday, March 19, 2006

The afternoon blew cold mountain breeze on me as I walked the back country roads of Kimberley, British Columbia. Here I am, listening to sound of my feet. My soul aches and once again my thoughts run deep..... searching for answers to endless questions that haunt me. I dig deeper and these thoughts stood out to remind me how as humans we have a lot of work to do. Perhaps endless.

I walk in silence and sadness. Feeling helpless as the world turns and time moves on. The afternoon sun sets and darkness comes as I push my legs onward to home... and i realize... I do not know where it is or do I even have one?. What lies ahead, I do not know. I bow my head. I am at the mercy of God. He will take care of me. I am tired. So tired.



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24_8
Sunday, March 19, 2006

A forgotten house from a century ago. Once a family might have lived there. Like their home, they too must have passed on, leaving behind only traces of what it would have been like back then. I look at this and wonder what the real story was.



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25_6
Sunday, March 19, 2006

In Canada, Humans, Dogs, Horses and Cows are bigger by far compared to Philippine's version of the same. But this time, I found the chicken's were not any better. The Farm Life of Kimberley. Where I live, farm life is all around me.



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26_6
Sunday, March 19, 2006

The Barn



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27_6
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Trees lined up my path. All tall and grand reaching up to the blue skies but not quite. If trees had feelings, they must have so much patience & peace. Sometimes I have more respect for them than I do some people. but shhhh... let's keep that between us shall we?

If trees had something to say about human beings, I wonder... what if.....
WHAT IF .... this is what they had to say:

The Degeneration of Humanity
Self-righteous People All Over the World
Intolerance Of Sinners Yet Sinning Everyday
Recognizing The Sins Of Others But Blind To Ones Own
Preaching Without Practice
Faith Without Action
Hypocrisies So Widespread
Fooling And Lying To Oneself
Closed Minds In The Name Of Religion
Killing In The Name Of Faith
Lack of Understanding.
Refusal to Learn.
Unthinking
Aimless
Pointless
Lack Of Direction
Noisy Minds
Noisy Mouths
Anger
Disrespect.
Abuse
Love Only With Conditions
Closed Hearts
Unforgiving
Hatred
Greed
Envy
Refusal To Take Responsibility For Self
Pride.
Disrespect.
Selfishness
Lack of substance
Life Without Meaning

Stupid Stupid Human beings Everywhere!



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28_6

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Here is a shot of the same barn but from afar.



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29_6
Sunday, March 19, 2006



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30_6
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Here are two Horses looking right at me with intense curiosity.



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31_5
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Arrived at Luke's. My quarters is at the basement. I have access to the house from the back door. I like this set-up because I have my privacy. The basement is all to myself and a separate entrance/exit as well.



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32_6
Sunday, March 19, 2006

I walked 2 hours today. My feet were aching. So I layed down on my back on 3 feet of snow that's just starting to melt. From there I took a photo of the house (the one you just saw) and decided to take my own snap shot! After lying there for 5 minutes my toushe was freezing. I better get up fast or could risk getting sick.



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33_5
Sunday, March 19, 2006

My aching feet. It sure feels wonderful lying down on the snow and looking up to the blue skies. Makes me feel so alive and thankful. Yes, you don't have to tell me. I know my fashion sense is pretty much zero.



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34_5
Monday, March 20, 2006

Today is my 3rd day off for the month. Today, I decided to go back skiing again. Since Wilfred's camera was smaller, it's risk of getting damaged is less compared to mine. We used his digital camera and took our own pictures. Finally! My skiing has improved 5x today. Now I know the moves and feel more confident. I can now control my speed and direction and just glide away down the hill.



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35_5
Monday, March 20, 2006

Here is a solo shot of Joann. We started skiing together from the magic carpet, to the Bunny Hill, The T-lift (all beginner's area) and finally the Chair Lift (where regular skier's go)! I'm so proud of Joann!



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36_5
Monday, March 20, 2006

Wilfred, Jasmin and Joann Gliding away! so much fun!!!!!



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37_5
Monday, March 20, 2006

Wilfred & Jasmin. Here was a steep run way. But we all went through it. It was exhilarating. WARNING: Just make sure you don't crash into trees or you are dead!



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38_5
Monday, March 20, 2006

Jasmin, Myself & Wilfred



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39_3
Monday, March 20, 2006

After the skiing, I went to Ron's in Elko. He prepared a nice dinner for his his Dad, Myself and him. Here is Ron giving me a comical look with a toothpick in his mouth. I told him to pretend tobe a fish for a while. This is how the photo turned out. Red wine... & Dizzy



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40_3
Sunday, March 26, 2006

Today is my 4th day off for March. Here is Joann in Jasmin's car and we are all headed to Elko for Dinner. I love my friends.



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41_2
Sunday, March 26, 2006

The road to Ron's House. Driving 100 kms/hour is only 40 minutes away from Cranbrook and 1 hour 15 minutes from Kimberley. I feel so happy that my friends are also Ron's friends now.



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42_2
Sunday, March 26, 2006

With Ron driving his car and Myself as a passenger, I had to take this photo of the Car Joann & Helen were in. I think it's interesting.



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43_2
Sunday, March 26, 2006

Joann Driving & Helen as the Passenger. I think they knew I was taking their picture. Looks like they were smiling for the camera!



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44_2
Sunday, March 26, 2006

We've arrived in Ron's House in Elko. Here is a snap shot of all of us (from left) Joann, Ron, Frank (Ron's dad), Myself & Helen. The Dinner was superb!



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.45_1

Sunday, March 26, 2006

After the party was done, here is Ron goofing around with beer can holders. I asked him to pose for the camera & here is what I got. Ha ha ha ha. It sure was a great day! I guess everyone had fun just as well! What a great day off!



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46_1
Sunday, March 26, 2006

Today I volunteered to help Joann move to her new apartment in Kimberley. It's a beautiful apartment with lot's of light and privacy. I think Joann is going to be really happy with this new place of hers. Good luck Joann!



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47_1
Friday, March 31, 2006

I really appreciate all the e-mails I got for the month of March. Sending my love to all of you my friends and family. I hope April will be wonderful! Life is good.

Big Hugs,

January 26, 2016

Today Ron comes home from his long Vacation. I am so excited for his homecoming that I decided to make an art wall. Lots of meas...