4 days until election day...

So, today I have finalized my vote on all the propositions on the California Ballot. But please do not ask me who I am voting for President. the jury is still out on that. Still!

Now today is Halloween in the USA. I saw adults dressed up as a viking, a poodle, a nerd, a mermaid...funny how one day a year adults really can act like children, and get away with it :-)

Not much trick o treating happening around here; the malls are a great way for kids to keep cool (AC) and still get their sugar fix. It has been hot here lately.

Oh, oh, oh...this is the first time I am going to the polling place that is noted on my sample ballot. I always wondered what is inside a Lutheran place of worship. I will update on Nov. 4th.

Well, my "R" has stuffed or runny nose and I always feel bad everytime he is under the weather. He is so good and takes very good care of himself that germs like to attack him. He is too clean I guess (if there is such a thing)!

The weekend is here and I will explore the stores that I used to haunt months or even years ago. I am sure one of them is still around and I plan to go there this weekend.

I miss Argentina, not Buenos Aires though. I miss my "R".

But Southern California is fun too. My "M" is here so I am not too bad.

Enjoy and be safe. See you all next week.

Ciao.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for Ice Cream

It was sweltering hot in Southern California today. If I am capable of sweating I am sure I would have seen some beads of sweat on my forehead (at least) today, it was that hot. Bottled water and iced tea is a constant companion for me. I am sure I will never die of thirst, drowning maybe but thirst, NEVER!

Today after a hot morning and a bad craving for something chocolatey, lo and behold I passed by a Baskin Robbins. It was like a sign ....that it was ok for me to have a scoop of ice cream and not deprive myself (notice the self convincing language...) of this little bit of indulgence.

So I made that u-turn so nicely and then pulled up to the parking lot of a strip mall and there it was Baskin Robbins, it conjures up images of that pink spoon..and sinfully tasty Jamoca Almond Fudge. ...(drool)...

So, I entered the ice cream parlor and I was the only one there. The server was a nice young man eager to help a lost soul like me....haven't had ice cream for over 2 weeks now.

So I thought let me try a very popular flavor before I consider my "old" faves. I tried the Apple Pie. It was good with real chunks of apple but "ala mode" as they call it was not to my liking. I passed. So there I was considering the green pistachio beckoning my weak sense of self control, but NO, I came in for my Jamoca Almond Fudge and that is all I am going to get. One scoop, please.

I thanked the young man who helped me and took my one scoop to go, pink spoon and all.

I got home and the ice cream was exactly as I had remembered it. For the last time I stepped into this same ice cream parlor was 6 years ago, and it was as finger likin' good as I had remembered it. Happy memories. Good taste and very good ice cream.

Not as great as Munchi's nor Persicco but Baskin Robbins hold a special place in my heart. And for that alone, it was delicious.

Now I do not feel as hot anymore. If you are ever in the California give this ice cream parlor a swirl - a try. Just once, and they still have 31 flavors. I am sure if the memories that goes with it is as sweet as my own, it would be worth remembering, forever.

Home stretch

I am wondering if I am alone on this. The fact that here we are close to the Presidential Election of 2008, days away, down to the wire, close to the home stretch and yet...I have not decided who I am voting for President. I have been undecided since day one and will still be to the last day. It is not that I am hoping I choose a candidate that will win, that is not why I am voting but I am still undecided who of the candidates IS qualified to resurrect this once glorious country back to it's full glory. (sigh)

I am not voting because of race, never entered my mind. I am not voting because the party has a WOMAN as a veep candidate, I am not sexist either, never entered my mind.

I wanted Hillary C. , there I said it.

Now I have to settle for second-best. But why?

Nader is really starting to look very appealing now that we are close to November 4th.

Where is Ross Perot when you need him, huh?

I will go to the polls, do not get me wrong. There are propositions that I am strongly against. And I want to make sure my vote is counted against those propositions that are just plain wrong.

But for president, I think I would need a moment of clarity to make my choice. I was so clear and so decided when I voted for Bill Clinton. I want that experience and so far, no hits.

Oh well, I guess, I go and vote and wait for the next time when Hillary runs for President again, and this time, the democrats will know better.

Halloween

Growing up in the Philippines, Halloween was never a major holiday. It evokes images of ghouls and all the things that are scary. I liked the idea of getting candy and dressing up with face painting but again, it was never that big when I was growing up.

But when I came to the US and had a toddler who was never introduced to candy until he was couple of years old, it was only then that I got into the tradition of fixing up the house and the lawn in preparation of the trick o' treaters. Kids would come from blocks away just to get candy. Often times i would see "older" kids trick o' treating. When my own punkin' grew up, we nixed the Halloween idea. Trick o treaters still came but it was not much fun anymore. It became too much hassle really. Living in a house meant more preparation for these types of holidays than living in say a condominium. You get less kids walking up to your door in a gated community.

That said and out of the way, I remember my own punkin's sheep outfit that was a blast. That was an all time fave.

Then there was the Power Ranger outfit and a very good friend dressed as Princess Jamine o some princess like that - made a lovely costumes. Again all in the past and the dinner my cousin and I feasted on while the kids were out trick o treating was something we still speak about to this day.

Halloween hold different meanings to different people, I guess. For me I just love to think about kids being kids and TP-ing your house if you do not give out good treats. And then egg-ing a house if they do not give candies at all. I never trusted those who gave raisins or apples or popcorn balls for treats. I mean, geez, give us a break and buy a bag of real chocolates!

Now as I sit here decades later, I am just content to wear my Happy Halloween tshirt with a nice orange pumpkin design on it and look festive, and still act my age. :-)

Happy Halloween. Stay safe during trick o' treating.

My visit to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)

Lots of jokes and comedies have been written about the DMV but I found that my experience with it here in Southern California has all been positive and very efficient.

Yes, you have to stand in line (ONLY if you did not get an appointment online or over the phone) but you always have that option. And I love options!

So there I was, waiting for the line to inch along, as I had decided to finally update my DMV file with my new address (old NEW address). So I was behind a lady who probably forgot to put on some sunscreen coz she was all wrapped up in a jacket under the hot, blazing California sun. So we were moving along and then in less than 20 minutes, it was my turn and I spoke with a "techinician" at the front desk and she gave me a form and a card to fill out and BAM! I was done. I mean efficiency was never spelled easier than how I did it today at the DMV. Gotta love the USA for that.

Lots of people standing in line with some agenda in line and the "techinicians" know that time is money and MONEY is time. That line was moving like a well greased machine. One after the other, forms all handy, pens handy, questions and answers and all the time the DMV people handing out information, forms and booklets were with a smile on their faces and concern in their voices. Wow, I thought, I miss this kind of service. (sigh) Some places can really learn alot from this place. And DMV has improved since the last time I got my license 2 or more decades ago.

You have to hand it to them, they know where the money is and they treat you well in there. Now that is service. I mean people dole out their cash for fees without even feeling the pain since dang it - service was great!

It was hot, the line was long but who cares, they took care of my needs. Kudos to the DMV.

I love the comedies and jokes about the DMV but I know what my reality is - service was great.

2008 General Election (Proposition 8 in California)

Well, here we are less than 2 weeks before we head to the polls and do out civic duty and exercise our right to choose. The Presidential Election of 2008 is just around the corner. I pretty much know whose name I am filling in for President and Veep. So that is that!

But as I go over my Sample Ballot and trying to be up to speed with the various propositions that are on the ballot, I find that more and more issues are turning up and they are getting bizarre each election period. There are an astounding 11 Propositions on the ballot and four more - Prop A, B, Q and R. I am talking State and County of San Diego propositions here. Man, my head starts spinning on the verbage and what "no" really means and a vote for "yes" does not really mean a YES. Got that? Good, coz so far I have read this thing twice and I still have to figure out what my NO really means.

Let us take Proposition 8, a proposition placed on the ballot in California to address the recent approval of same-sex marriage. Of course, Prop 8 is against same-sex marriage.

It is so stated, that Propositon 8 "eliminates right of same-sex marriage couples to marry".

Meaning there will be a constitutional change (State of California) for this amendment. It is also said that at present time only marriages between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California.

This proposition has only fueled a good number of gay people getting married before the election.

So once and for all, the good citizens of California will decide if a marriage between 2 men or 2 women can be recognized as legal in this State. I believe the issue is just that - legality. The government is never really into the morality issue of things, or have they?

If the marriage between same sex couples are seen as legal then it follows that all the benefits a spouse is supposed to have each one gets; and remember they pay taxes too as a couple, should they choose to be. I think, it is about time we really think of this particular proposition as what it means in legal terms. My vote will come down to the wire. The ads on t.v. are real nasty and if I get fed up with one, I will for sure choose the other. What that means, I do not know. I have heard of some lawn signs disappearing and being vandalized.

This is a historic vote I guess, for those who are physically present in California, I mean; and can vote in local issues, because once and for all we are part and will partake in voting in for a constitutional change. For either way it goes, things have happened in the last few months in the State level on this issue that will define how we will move forward as a nation and as a State.
Change is now and we are in it. Every single one of us. What a country, huh?

No matter what they say about the great olde USA, there is no country better than this one. And California, though times are tough here, it is not as bad as they have it in Michigan. My dreams became a reality here, my next generation is here and the hope of the future is still in the youth of this county and millions of them will go and cast their ballot on November 4th, 2008. What a great country!