04. April 2006

01. Death of a Snowman
Monday - April 16, 2006

Someday all the things that we worry about today won't even matter. . . . . . and the things we hold on to so dearly will be gone. . . . . (That's what this once snowman reminded me of)

Hello! Wishing you a great month of May! As usual, here I am again with my monthly greeeting card of photos to answer everyone's common

question "Kamusta ka na?" (How are you?).

Overall, I am fine. Thanks for asking (for those who bothered to ask that is - hehehe). Please keep the e-mails coming. Everyone seems to be fading away from me. This month, I only got 7 e-mails. The rest of it were forwarded messages, with no personal effort put in them (I consider them junk e-mails). One thing is for sure. Only time will tell who my true friends are. (My Drama - Boo Hoo).

(a note: 2/27/2007 - I have since grown up from this. I just realised what I was saying (that I didn't know I was actually saying then) "If my friends do not e-mail me, that I am no longer worthy of their friendship. That they are not true friends of mine" That's crap. My self worth is not going to be based on how often others think of me or email me but what I think of myself as worthy regardless of. Otherwise it should be called otherworth)

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02. Baker Street, Cranbrook
My employer on one of those good days, walking about and enjoying the fine weather.

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03. Cigarette Break
They could have been twins

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04. Frozen lake
Jim Smiths Lake. Frozen. Took this while taking a break from Helen's Driving Lessons. Taken in the early evening.

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05. Wilfred's Bday
Sunday - April 9, 2006
He turned 23 (actually it's 32).

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06. Joanne's Place
Saturday - April 15, 2006
Helen , Wilfred & Joanne

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07. First Bloom
Weds - April 19, 2006

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08. Bonfire with Joanne

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09. My Favorite Retreat
Weds - April 19, 2006 (My Day Off)

This is where I hang out (by myself usually) when the weather allows. I sit there and watch the town of Marysville just below. This is my special place, where I read, or go deep in thought & Recharge. Joanne wanted to see where it was and so I took her there and we built a bonfire to keep ourselves warm.

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10. My Retreat
Friday - April 21, 2006 (taking a break)

I have no care what I look like anymore. I've settled into what is most comfortable. I look at this picture and see how I try so hard to make the most out of everything.

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11. Jim Smiths Lake
Sat - Apr 22, 2006 (Afternoon) No longer frozen.

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12. Reflections

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13. Scenes From My Life (April 2005)
Apr 23, 2006 (A year later)

Exactly a year ago, I went driving to Nelson all alone. Back then, I thought, had I someone special to share this trip with, It would be so much better. On this trip, I have Ron. Wish granted. I Inserted pictures of that trip last year as you can see. How time flies. How things have changed. How I've grown.

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14. Kootenay Lake

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15.Gray Creek, BC, Canada

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16. On a Souveneir Shop
Gray Creek, BC, Canada

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17. Waiting for the Ferry
Crawford Bay, BC

This is the longest FREE ferry in North America

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18. Mr. Chipmunk

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19. Osprey 2000 (that's the name of the oncoming ferry)
camera clicker on my left hand

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20. Ready to Unload

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21. Crossing the Lake

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22. View from the Ferry

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23. Welcome to Nelson City

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24. Look up!

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25. I AM THANKFUL

For the wife
who says it's hot dogs tonight,
because she is home with me,
and not out with someone else.

for the husband
who is on the sofa
being a couch potato,
because he is home with me
and not out at the bars.

For the teenager
who is complaining about doing dishes
because it means he is at home,
not on the streets.

For the taxes i pay
because it means
i am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party
because it means i have
been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means
i have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work
because it means
i am out in the sunshine

For a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning,
and gutters that need fixing
because it means i have a home.

For all the complaining
i hear about the government
because it means
we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot
i find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means i am capable of walking
and i have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge heating bill
because it means
i am warm.

For the lady behind me in church
who sings off key !
Because it means
i can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing
because it means
i have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles
at the end of the day
because it means i have been
capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off
in the early morning hours
because it means i am alive.

Note: a forwarded message received this march from marie salvador. Thanks

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26. Tall Ron

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27. Downtown Nelson

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28. Downtown Nelson

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29. Myself as A Filipino Tourist

Taken the next day, after we arrived in Nelson. Last night Ron and I partied and got ourselves drunk. It was a great get away from work. This city felt like Baguio City. That's why i love Nelson! I could imagine myself living here.

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30. A Leather Shop Billboard

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31. The Side Walk Bench
My feet are tired from walking around. That bench gave me a break.

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32. Nelson City Hall

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33. Yellow Truck

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34. Outdoor Cafe

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35. Ron

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36. Ron & Edgar on a sidewalk cafe

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37. Blue & Green

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38. Green on Blue

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39. Fortune Cookie Caps

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40. Edgar & His Camera
Subject: Edgar taking a picture of the flower
Photo by: Ron Fisher

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41. "The" Flower
Photo by: Edgar Nievera

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42. I Love You
In Filipino, that is what it means. One of the things Ron learned to say to me.

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43. Ferry Ride Back To Mundane Living
Mon - Apr 24, 2006

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44. I am Happy
Photo by: Ron

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45. Vacation Get-away Over?
Monday - Apr 24, 2006

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46. The Captain & Our Reflection

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47. The Deep & Cold World

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48. Enjoying the Ride - Photo by: Ron

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49. Wyndell, BC

When will you e-mail me? I get fewer and fewer e-mails each month. As time moves on, it feels as if everyone is just fading away. I try & keep in touch but everyone is just so busy with their own lives.

Big Hugs,

04. April 2005

Pay attention to episodes in nature that kindle an inner spark of awe and admiration. You don't have to discuss it with another being. If it has meaning to you, it's valid. Listen to the wind, the critters, the rain, and the ocean. Listen to it all. ~1

April 13, 2005 - Wasa Lake. The warmer weather is Finally here. Some of the snow has melted already. I bring a book, some beverage, a pack of cigarettes and just spent the afternoon by the lake. The lake is still too cold to swim in though.

April 13, 2005 - My Client sitting in the front room of his home in Kimberley, BC. His health has improved a lot since I've arrived. Mostly because now he can sleep better knowing he can call for help when he can not move.

Driving Alone on A Long trip in Canada -
A First Time Experience

April 23, 2005

Now that I have my car, I Went driving places all by myself today. It was my day off. I started my round trip at 9:00 AM and got back to Kimberley at 10:00 PM. It was a wonderful feeling just enjoying this sense of empowerment. I can now drive to places hours and hours away and I am free to explore. I worried of course about the car breaking down as it is an old car (and an Oldsmobile brand too ha ha ha) but I knew that If that happened, I will know what to do anyway. I have a brain, I can figure it out.

For $5 I bought 2 teen burgers with fries (on promo) for my "breakfast, lunch and dinner". I listened to oldies music as I drove and smoked my marlboro golds from the Philippines. Oh boy - what a great day.

From Kimberley I drove to Cranbrook, then to Creston, Crossed the Kootenay Lake on a Ferry from Crawford Bay to Nelson City (where I explored the city with much delight because it reminded me of Baguio) then to Salmo and then back to Creston and Cranbrook and then Kimberley

Enjoying Moyie Lake from the side of the road

Creston, BC - oh my! my face! It's huge!! now I know I have really gained weight

The Kootenay Lake

Waiting for the Ferry Ride (Free). Made me realize how rich Canada is. How fortunate I am to be living here. Then I got angry at the thought of how all those corrupt government officials in power in the Philippines and corrupt businesses are living like kings and queens when all the rest of the country is in poverty.. We don't have FREE Ferry rides like this. No unpolluted and clean lakes to cross..arghhh.. never mind.

Other vehicles starting to line up for the ferry. I was the second one to arrive. I was 30 minutes too early. So I got on the mountain bike that i borrowed from Luke and started exploring the area. It was fun!

Finally the ferry is here. We had to wait for it to unload all those vehicles before we got inside

The Ferry Man - directing where everyone should park

This is the car in front of me. I decided to explore

The ferry had a second floor where they had a cafeteria. I took this photo on my way there. I bought coffee and went outside to enjoy the cool breeze and just love the lake. All this traveling and all by myself - a stranger to all these! I love the Canadian experience (It's fun and exciting but It would have been nicer If I had someone to share the experience with).

Drove to Nelson City. This is their City Hall.

The 1987 movie ROXANNE was shot in this town. It was really quite lovely. I could imagine myself living in Nelson. Just the right size and it has almost all the facilities one needs. Plus the people are so hip and alive. It reminds me of Baguio.

Nelson, BC - I took this as I was taking a break from exploring the city on a mountain bike. I wished I could have stayed the night but I needed to get back to work as I was expected to work tomorrow. So off I go. A lot more hours to drive before I get back.

April 23, 2005

It was a truly empowering experience that made me feel closer to God. I drove in silence. Just my thoughts and my prayers and my awareness of how truly beautiful these places are. I know that God gave me everything I need to make it in this world and that the key is to find out how to use them. Thank you God.

I got back to Kimberley around 10:00 PM. I was tired. What a great day it was

April 30, 2005 - Had the opportunity to visit Sparwood, BC on our way to Calgary. I was invited to join Ate Rossini, Marcel and Joann to attend a birthday party there. So on my day off, I was able to join the trip. It was fun!

April 30, 2005 - This photo was taken by Rossini when we were in Sparwood. Myself, Marcel &  Joann

April 30, 2005 - The Birthday Party in Calgary. I was shocked to see so many fellow Filipinos there. This was a huge party. It filled an entire Gym! There were probably 500 Filipinos there! It was wonderful to be able to speak in Filipino once again! When I was there, It felt as if I went back to the Philippines. It was an amazing experience.

~1. Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Inspiration (Hay House, Inc. 2006)