I'm reading again.

I think I've mentioned that I used to read a lot, and then now I don't. I think I've started again. I'm still reading the same book I picked up a long time ago on a trip to Rockwell's Page One, but I'm making progress. And I think when I'm done with that, I'll finally finsh the potboiler that's been sitting in my office forever.

You gotta start slow with these things.

Before and After

Sunrise, sunset

I've always been a little fascinated over what time the sun sets in a certain place. How it's different all around the world. At around this time of the year, the sun sets at 7pm in Hong Kong. I looked it up and today the sun is supposed to set at around 6:08pm in Manila.

Growing up in the Philippines, the sun was always up at 6ish and set around 6ish 12 hours later. There really was no appreciable difference between the summer months and the wet months. Sure, sometimes you felt days were "longer". But they were longer by about half an hour either way; nothing like the way days get really long as you move away from the equator.

Today the sun will set at 9pm in Paris and 8:15pm in NY. Isn't that fascinating? (Am I the only one that finds this so cool? The experience of sunset (i.e. the concept of "the end of the day") is different depending on where you live. In Manila, darkness means the end of the work day. You assume that's how that is everywhere else in the world, but it's simply not the case. Winding down and rest does not necessarily occur at "night".)

When I was in Russia during their summer months, the sun never really set. At midnight it finally became like dusk, and it stayed that way till 3 or 4 am (after which the sun would rise again). I know this because one night Chum and I actually stayed up to watch the sun (well, actually we stayed up to take a midnight cruise along the Neva, but staying up to watch solar patterns sounds cooler).

Happy Birthday, Lolo Papa!

My grandfather started calling me "Si abogada" when I was in high school, maybe even before that. He was very kind to me. When I was a child, he'd give me loose change (he'd dole out rolls of those big Peso coins) and candy. He'd make the grandkids line up in his room and he would dispense the goodies in a very egalitarian fashion. Which was a really good way to teach kids about fairness and order. So I'd simply go back to the end of the line and go again. He didn't seem to mind.

He'd tell me stories about the giant turtle mounted in his study and the books that lined its walls. He'd tell me about the time he was a judge. It's a shame I didn't pay more attention to those stories, I was always trying to score more candy.

As he (and I) got older the candy supply dried up. Visits were now more structured. I just didn't barge in his room looking for treats. We'd go in as a family and say hello. When it was time to go, I would reach for his hand to make mano and he'd pat my head and whisper, "Si abogada."

He didn't get to see me become a real lawyer (he passed away while I was a freshman in law school, a few days shy of his 102nd birthday), but it never really mattered to me. I'd been his abogada a long time.

Namamahay

"Namamahay" not only means to live in a certain place (i.e. aliping namamahay) but it also means to get settled. To get accustomed to your surroundings. To warm up to your new place.

I am currently in the throes of pagmamahay. I didn't think it would take this long (this is week 3 already) but I'm still getting used to my new apartment. I thought I psychologically prepped myself about moving out (I am truly convinced that the fabulous apartment was an unreal and inherently temporary arrangement) and found this new place 6 weeks ahead of my lease running out. But I'm still adjusting.

And my new apartment is great -- it's smaller but not too small. It's serviced too (just not daily), in a great location (it's literally down the street from the last one). It's just that it's not my old apartment, where I have the best memories.

I know one thing for sure though, I don't want to move again. I'm staying put for a while over here.

Rosie and Elisabeth duke it out

Have you guys seen the clip of Rosie's and Elisabeth's fight?

(Aside: I find the spelling of Elisabeth Hasselbeck's name to be just as annoying as she is.)

If you haven't, here's a LINK.

What was so disappointing about the whole thing was that this was not an argument about issues or the war in Iraq or conservative leanings or anything worth talking about on national television.

It was a fight about "hurt feelings". (*Sniff*)

Can't two women have an intelligent debate (or even a heated argument) about topics that are not regularly covered by Cosmo? It's really disappointing to see two (at least outwardly) intelligent and articulate women scream at each other because of "hurt feelings".

And then we wonder why guys don't take us seriously when it comes to discussing politics or current events. Do you think the Washington pundits on NewsHour or even the idiots at Fox News would go on about "expecting more from friends" in the middle of a "debate" on the war in Iraq?

Jona the Domestic Goddess

I bought a couch today. It is the FIRST adult purchase I have made. I am so pleased with myself.

I bought a leather couch. Which is something I have always wanted, in a vague general sense. Like how I've always wanted a beautiful fountain pen, with my initials engraved on it, but have never bothered to buy one, since I'm afraid I'll lose it.

It's hard to lose a couch.

They're delivering it on Wednesday, and I'll take pictures and show you how it looks in my flat, but for now, here's a peek:


Isn't it to die for? I never thought I'd be this excited over furniture.

A good life

If I stopped and counted my blessings, I wouldn't have time to do anything else.

Thank you, whoever you are.

Weekend at home

I dropped off and picked-up laundry. I bought some eggs, fried a couple and enjoyed them while watching a Woody Allen movie.

I unpacked the rest of my boxes, curled up in bed with a book and fell asleep.

I guess this is what normal people do every weekend.

I get to do this about twice a month.

They found me

After 8 months of tax free living, the HK Inland Revenue Department finally found me. There is no withholding tax in HK, so you get whatever it says on your pay check. Neat, huh?

But you can't spend the money either, because in HK, you pay tax IN ADVANCE. Yes, mahusay talaga ang mga Instik (no offense meant, S.). They assess you on the basis of your declared income (your employer declares that for you so you don't try to do anything funny) and then they multiply that amount by 2.

Yes, 2.

So you pay tax "in advance". How you get back the year you pay in advance I don't really know. Do they give it to your estate? I can understand why lessors or utility companies ask for an advance. They apply it to your last bill. I'm pretty sure you will need to pay tax on your last year of income.

It's a good thing tax rates here are at less than 15%. Even if I pay for two years, I still come out paying less than what I do at home.

...

Wait I just figured it out. It took them 8 months to find me. And I'm not expected to pay tax until another 3-4 months. That's a year with no tax. That's where the "extra" year went.

Stupid Silly me.