Bicycle Diaries: Seneca Falls, NY

[Story and captions to follow]

Three's A Company

That's me with Bently, the furry puppy, and Mr. Bryce who found solace under the chair while waiting for Susan's turn in the horseback-riding competition.

Suddenly Susan

The Bicycle Diaries: Lockport, NY

Don't ask me why the heck were we in Lockport today. But it was just one of David's spur of the moment saga.

"I don't want to stay at home today. I don't want to take a nap all afternoon. You'll be taking a nap for a long time when you're dead," he'd say.

So, to appease him I packed the cooler with water, ice, sodas, sandwiches, fruits etc. while he set up the bikes on the rack on his car. And off we went.

I never thought Lockport would be farther than Brockport. There's Fairport, Spencerport that I know of, but we've never been to Lockport.

"What a nice day!" David screamed. Although the sun's heat was a little bit uncomfortable, well to my end, it was indeed a fine day to travel. We've been getting some rainy days for the past weeks. David would never miss the moment for anything else. And when you're with David you'll go places (and eat a lot I guess).

By the time we arrived in Lockport it was exactly noon. The Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruise did not leave until 12:30 p.m. so we ate our lunch.

The tour proved to be a historically enriching experience, esp. when you read about the history of the Erie Canal. The brochure said:

The Grand Old Erie Canal connects the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean at sea level with Niagra River and the Great Lakes at 570 feet above sea level. the 363 mile engineering feat was dug by hand between 1817 and 1825.

Originally 83 locks were used to raise and lower boats. Lockport is the location of the famous "Flight of Five" double locks allowing boats to travel up in one set while boats traveled down in the other.

Enlarged in the early 1990, Lockport's Locks 34 and 35 still allow boats to be raised and lowered 49 feet to overcome the elevation of the Niagara Escarpment, the same rock formation that forms Niagra Falls.

The Erie Canal opened the United States frontier for westward development. (Here's the most amazing trivia) More people traveled to the west on the Canal than later went through Ellis Island.

The cruise takes about two hours. The sun was blistering hot that I, again, "burned" my skin. After the cruise, David and I went biking along the canal, starting from the park.

(We also have such canal tour here in Pittsford, down to Lock 33. David and I even went on biking at the canal trail and passed by Lock 33)

The Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises appeared on The History Channel's Modern Marvels, The Discovery Channel, The Travel Channel, and Filmed by National Geographic.

The Lockport cruise costs $14.50 for adults and $8 for children (4-10 years old).

I apologize that the pictures posted here are not in sequence. There's something wrong with the blogger system. I cannot move the pictures. But just follow the captions and you'll understand.

Tourists enjoy the sun and sight.

Hey, is that a boat or a garage?

Above is the widest bridge in the United States.

David in a picture-perfect moment.

The inverted bridge.

One of the canal's lift bridges.

One of the locks opening for the boat to pass through (this after draining the water).

Lovers over troubled water?

Old buildings by the canal.

Draining the water.

We're crossing the border! Prepare your passports guys!

An old church in Lockport.

Because They're Filipinos

David and I were walking around a store last week when I noticed a video being played at the electronics area. It was Arnel Pineda, new member of the famed rock band Journey. I read an article about him on GQ magazine or was it Men's Vogue (I have to check my copies of the magazines, of course), complete with photo spread. His voice is phenomenal. But I cannot really say that he is one of a kind. There are a multitude of singers in the Philippines who can outsing Mr. Pineda. However, they only need to be discovered. I mean, every nook and corner of villages back home hold singing contests, not counting the multitude of singing competitions hosted by big television networks. Also, there are a lot of karaoke bars where Filipinos could their hearts out. How many people have died singing Frank Sinatra's "My Way"? You know, drunk karaoke singers trying to outdo each other. On the other hand, let us Pinoys be assured that if we cannot conquer the world in beauty pageants, we can conquer it through songs. Belt out guys!




Arnel Pineda, lead vocalist of Journey:



Charice, formerly Charice Pempengco:



Charlie Green, Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist:



apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas:


Regine Velasquez in Reno, Nevada:



and a lot more!

Being Mormon and Gay

Keith Bryce should be elevated by the gods - he never gave a hint that he's gay. No, not the way he acts in Project Runway. Now, most of us PR fans think he is one straight and goodie-goodie boy from Utah. You know, he does this "dude" and "buddy" thing and wears a tank top that show his buffed up shoulders and arms. But on the latest episode of Project Runway, Keith, with all of his hunkiness, announced that he is gay. And in a difficult situation, too, he said. He's a Mormon! What's wrong with that?



What's important is the designs he makes for Project Runway. Although the last dress he made was unforgivable. Good thing he wasn't eliminated.

Even Michael Verdugo of Design Star fame allegedly (although I saw the clip) has a gay bondage video. He did it allegedly before joining the interior design competition. Now, he's a famous cop by day and an interior designer on the side with ectra curricular activities on the other side.

New Acquisitions

1. The Hobbit or There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkein (printed in Britain, a very old edition)

2. The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

3. Hiroshima by John Hersey

4. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

5. The Second Perimeter by Mike Lawson

6. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham

7. Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George

8. Map of Bones by James Rollins

Viva Villa

I was so delighted having read Filipino award-winning writer Ian Casocot's report about Jose Garcia Villa's new book. It's aptly titled: Dove, Eagle, Lion and published by Penguin. I went to the Barnes and Noble bookstore near our place right away and asked where I could find the copies. Sadly, I didn't read carefully the publication date on the B&N Web site. The store clerk browsed through their file and pointed out that the book will be released on the 29th. I was hoping to grab a copy if I still have some credit left from my Barnes and Noble/BASC scholarship this semester. Or else I will have to borrow it from the library.

I have a copy of the Penguin catalogue (which I picked up from the English Dept. at school. Some professor didn't want it and put it on the table outside the dept. where free books are usually stacked. Oh, yeah, most professors at school are literary reviewers and when they get tired of some books they "share" them to whoever's interested). My copy only registered Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere. I am delighted that Villa's poetry collection made it this year.


I am a Villa fan. I value my copy of his final poetry volume, Selected Poems and New. I also love my copies of Critical Villa by Jonathan Chua and Doveglion and Other Cameos by Quijano de Manila (pen name of the late National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin). I even borrowed from the school's library over and over again Villa's first short story collection published in America, Footnote to Youth. It is the only copy here in Rochester and I was so happy to have read it. It is always a pleasure reading his stories and poems.

Viva Mamma Mia!

I don't know which version I like better: Mamma Mia! The Musical or Mamma Mia! The Movie. DAvid and I wwatched Mamma Mia! The Musical last year at the Mandalay Bay Theatre (not at the Bellagio as I told my friends). I was hesitant to see it at first because I was just thinking that it is just one based on the ABBA hits. It turned to be fascinating and enchanting. I ended up dancing at the end of the show. And the ABBA songs are still ringing in my mind. Who can forget "Dancing Queen" and "Mamma Mia" which have become, in some way, the standard songs in drag shows. Or "Thank You For The Music" and "I Have A Dream" which have been sung over and over by beauty pageant contestants on the talent portion.

The Vegas Musical starred Libby Winters as Sophie Sheridan and Carol Linnea Johnson as Donna Sheridan with Patrick Sarb as Sophie's beau Sky. Aside from the wonderful choreography and superb vocals I was awed by the stage set - part of the floor elevate and functions as the port, second floor of a house, etc.


Now the movie version is a bit technical - it concentrated on the acting rather than the music. Let's face it, Meryl Streep is a great actress but she's not a singer. Pierce Brosnan, on the other hand, has his hairy chest to make up for his so-so singing ability. What matters is that most of the old folks who watched with us where thumping including an old man, who sat next to David, who probably enjoyed the movie the most.

The Bicycle Diaries: Skaneateles, NY Sojourn

David is obsessed with going out and go biking this summer. We've been doing bike trail hunting for weeks. Last week we drove down to Skaneateles (pronounced: skinny atlas), New York. Now, I haven't been to that place before. It's a gorgeous and scenic little town overlooking Seneca Lake. Now, one of our friends say that it is one of former US Pres. Bill Clinton's favorite vacation spot.

Although we brought our bikes we never had the chance to pedal around because they don't have a biking trail. However, we enjoyed the little stores and the fish fry.

Some Consolation

Our dear friend,Frieda, who's turning 104 this year, has relocated to a new residence. After she passed out and cracked her vertebrae about three weeks ago she needed daily assistance. Her children have their own families and cannot tend to her daily needs so she went into assisted-living. Her new home is just next to her former home.

We have visited her a several times since her transfer. Her face would lite up when she sees David. They would hold hands and tell each other jokes, which, she said, she cannot do with her children. She told David that she loves him like her own son. David had been her caregiver for during winter months - driving her to Wegman's (her favorite grocery store), setting up her doctor's appointments (in a snap, "he has magic" to quote her), and took her out to restaurants (they would have onion soup).

Lately she told David: "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. And I would say it over and over again until I die... And I hope it is tomorrow."

She has been hoping to die, but to die healthy.

"Don't you think I have stayed in this world for a long time?" she'd say.

I told David to tell her that there's a waiting list in heaven like waiting for a slot in an old folks home. Heaven is too crowded for now. Didn't I hear her say that some saint can be transferred to hell so she could have a spot in heaven? Now, I must have made that up in my mind.

She's so funny when she's talking with David. She surely finds comfort in his visits and perks up like her old self. She still can recall her children and grandchildren's birthdays. Her mind's so sharp and alert. David and I are praying that she'll be able to walk unassisted again soon so we could go out and have lunch at her favorite place. And have our onion soup because I don't think they serve that in heaven.

New Acquisitions

1. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

2. Heartbeat by Danielle Steel

3. Vanished by Danielle Steel

4. Mixed Blessings by Daniel Steel

5. On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah

6. Coming Back: The Science of Reincarnation based on the teachings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

7. The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

8. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

9. Three Weeks with my Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks

My Nigerian Graduation Party Soon

Lately I witnessed a Nigerian graduation party.

No, it wasn't a party for a college graduate. It is a high school graduation party for a girl.

I haven't witnessed an event quite like it. I assume Nigerians consider it as a remarkable achievement for somebody to graduate from high school.

The mother of the graduate wore a traditional Nigerian dress, complete with a head dress. It amazed me that she wore tons of gold jewelries. But I saw a multitude of African Americans wearing gold jewelries that you'd think they own a pawnshop.

In the middle of the ceremony, the girl's mother and her mother's friends did a dance ritual. They danced around her on stage and yodelled what-have-yous while her mother pinned dollar bills on her dress. Later she was showered with money.

I told my friends that I would love to go up the stage and call the girl's mother "Mama!" as if I am her long lost son. I want to be showered with that money. I said I only saw "rituals" such as this being done during weddings back home, to which one of my friends agreed. My friend then told me that I could have my own Nigerian graduation party. I told them that I would love to have them pin dollars on me but a minimum of five dollars or they would be cursed.

Nigerian English sound gibberish to me (no offense intended) that I later realized that what they were playing at the DJ booth were actually gospel music.

'The Bicycle Diaries'

"Oh I love your color."

Most of us Filipinos would not appreciate such praise. No, not when you are in the Philippines. Especially when your skin is darker than brown.

Fact is, I have a hate-love relationship with my current skin color. But my American friends are drooling over my tan. However, it is just basically on the arms and legs. I am like a chameleon which has some genetic disease.

For the past three weeks David and I pedaled our bicycles and trekked biking trails around New York. I, in turn, turned into a chocolate piaya. How great is that? There's a sweet yam piaya, but a chocolate variety is a rare find. When I went back home to the Philippines on a brief visit I was amazed with the number of television commercials focused on whitening products - from creams to tablets. Filipinos do appreciate a person more when he or she has a lighter complexion. It is refereed to as the skin color of the rich and glamorous. Even my mother would do everything to achieve a lighter complexion.

Americans are opposite. They visit the tanning center to get that "delicious" tan they want. If they cannot achieve it through the tanning bed they would themselves sprayed with tanning paint. I don't know if you could taste the tanning paint when you kiss somebody who has applied it to their body. (There goes my tongue - it turned copper!)

"Oh, I love your skin's color." Yeah, now I know how uncomfortable it is being stared at. It was no wonder why people in Bacolod looked at me like I am a celebrity.

It is funny to think that Americans bask in the sun to get that tan. I would cringe whenever I hear Americans admire a friend whose skin seemed baked. "Oh, you have a lovely tan." The person would beam and say "Thank you" like a kid who was given a treat. I would have told him/her, "Oh, what a lovely skin cancer you have." My friends at home would not even believe that some students wear their bikinis at school during summer. "They allow that?" they would ask. They mean wearing bikinis on campus. For us who are educated under Catholic schools, even the girls' school uniform, skirts actually, should be cut below the knee.

So, after several biking bonanza I am now a certified (only God knows where I got that idea) cholo. David and I constantly go around Nazareth College because of the vast sidewalk area the campus has. However, it is hard to pedal up on a hill. Nevertheless we achieved our goal of building muscles on our buns. We dared to trace where Pittsford/Erie Canal trail leads, only to stop at a distance knowing that the road will lead us to Niagara Falls as the map indicated.

We also went around Seneca State Park. We enjoyed the lake breeze and the beautiful park. We even went as far as Sodus trying to find a nice bike trail to no avail.

The most wonderful part, apparantly to my end, was when we went to Mendon Pond's Park, not to bike (but it was the original plan), but to pick wild berries along the road.

On the other hand, when we finish our exercise we go home and ravage the food in the refrigerator. Or shop at the grocery store for some ice cream.

Well, at least we tried our best.

Miss Venezuela Is Miss Universe 2008

Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe 2008
by Fernelle C. Rodriguez

Twenty-two-year-old Dayana Mendoza was crowned this year's Miss Universe.

The 5'10" Venezuelan bested 79 other contestants from around the globe for the prestigious crown.

Miss Colombia Taliana Vargas, a heavy favorite of beauty pageant Web sites, placed first runner-up. The 20-year-old ranked high in the evening gown competition.


Miss USA Crystle Stewart, whom beauty pageant experts thought would land in the Top 5, finished in the Top 10 after falling down in the evening gown competition. Last year's Miss USA, Rachel Smith, also slipped and fell down on stage in the Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico. Smith went on to compete in the final five but ended a runner-up.

Miss Mexico Elisa Najera, Miss Dominican Republic Marianne Cruz Gonzalez and Vera Krasova, Miss Russia ended runners-up.

The other contestants who made it to the Top 10 included Zana Krasniqi, Kosovo;
Laura Dundovic, Australia; Crystle Stewart, USA; Claudia Ferraris, Italy, and Claudia Moro, Spain.

Rounding the Top 15 were Lam Thuy Nguyen, Vietnam; Tansey Coetzee, South Africa; Hiroko Mima, Japan; Jazmin Dammak, Hungary, and Eliska Buckova, Czech Republic.

Miss Thailand Gavintra Photijak won Best in National Costume while Rebeca Moreno of
El Salvador was named Miss Congeniality UNIVERSE™.

The judges were famous designer Roberto Cavalli, Trump Organization's Executive Vice President Donald Trump, Jr., actress Nadine Velazquez, hair stylist Louis Licari, Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins, footwear designer Taryn Rose, newspaper editor Nguyen Cong Khe, hospitality industry tycoon Joseph Cinque and actress Eesha Koppikhar.


This year's Miss Universe pageant was held in Nha Trang, Vietnam and hosted by Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown.

I Carry Your Heart With Me

Thanks to redfreckleclown for the posting.






Thanks to lynserella for posting the video on YouTube.com.

How A Car Can Build A Relationship

I know this video will get your attention.

Beijing Olympics, 'The Mummy' ad

We saw this ad on TV few nights ago and we were so amazed by it. Good thing one was posted on YouTube.com.

Miss Universe 2008

Beauty pageant season is on. First to showcase the festivities this year is the Miss Universe competition. And my, there are a lot of beautiful candidates. But beauty is just one of the criteria in choosing the winner. One has to have the brains, too. And this is what Miss Universe is known for.


Anyway, here is my fearless forecast:


Best in National Costume:

1. Korea
2. Thailand
3. Philippines


Top 10

1. Korea
2. Japan
3. USA
4. Brazil
5. Puerto Rico
6. India
7. China
8. Singapore
9. Venezuela
10. Spain

[July 13, 2008, Sunday. As the Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant is 13 minutes away from being aired I have to revise my forecast based on my recent observation. Here they are:

Top 10

1. USA
2. Brazil
3. Mexico
4. Venezuela
5. Singapore
6. Puerto Rico
7. India
8. Colombia
9. Thailand
10. Spain

Best in Gown:

1. Puerto Rico
2. USA
3. Venezuela

The Best in National Costume rank will be retained]

Best in Gown:

1. Korea
2. Japan
3. USA

Susan Is Competing In Beijing Olympics?

I have a hunch that our friend, Susan, is competing in this year's Olympics. We missed her at church last Sunday. Mark told us she's out in the country competing.

So, instead of going else somewhere that day after church, David and I went to where Susan was. She was competing in a horseback-riding competition.

It was my first time to see such competition. Well, I used to watch this kind competition on television when Filipino horse riders were still shining in international competitions. But I never ever watched the actual thing.

David said his father used to hunt and used horses during the hunting. His sister, Carol Ann, used to have a pony.

Anyway, Susan won first and second places in two different events. I have a video of her during the heat.

Congratulations, Susan!

Tim Gunn Has a Daughter?

Yes, you read it right. The press has found out, at last, that the famous Tim Gunn has a daughter. The said daughter is now 23 years old and goes by the name Christian Siriano.


Fierce!

Farming Joys and Maladies

David and I were thrilled to see some plants growing around his lamppost on his lawn. Last year we had beautiful flowers around it. This year we are hoping to grow vegetables. We had butternut squash which I planted under the deck last year.


David thought it was butternut squash growing around the lamppost, but I told him I haven't planted any on the site. We were hitting our heads on the brick wall figuring what the little greens were. Then David hit the ceiling. He remembered, alas something David remembered, that he had set pumpkins out by the lamppost all winter. That solved the puzzle. Now, we're having pumpkins for the fall (it has started blooming).


Now, David is shooing the plant which has grown two feet. All because he doesn't want it to stretch on the lawn. The poor plant doesn't know where to crawl.


Under the deck we planted potatoes, butternut squash, and peppers. Yes, ladies and gentleman, David and I are going green! Beat that!


Unfortunately, a chipmunk has been digging the butternut seeds. The same chipmunk that havocs the birdfeed on the birdfeeder I set out in front of my room's window. Yes, I see that culprit everyday munching on the sunflower seeds and cracked corn I reserved for the birds.

New Acquisitions

1. Deception Point by Dan Brown

2. Marker by Robin Cook

3. With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George

4. As The Crow Flies by Jeffrey Archer

5. While My Pretty One Sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark

6. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

The Mother Of All Bitches?

Seeing Kathy Perform on stage is always a pleasure. No way that she's a D-lister - with that humongous mansion and limousine. Kathy Griffin in an A-list act - better than any star who wastes their time with booze and drugs.


Never mind the harsh criticisms against her. She loves it instead. Kathy Griffin is one hell of a darling.

When I call you a bitch it's filled with love.

You're a bitch, but I'm the mother of them all.

Here is Kathy at her best on the recent Bravo TV's A-List Awards:

Jake Shimabukuro Live!

David and I were watching Shrek, the Third last night (we've watched the movie last time and liked it a lot so we borrowed the DVD copy from the library yesterday) when the phone rang. It's our beloved friend and confidante, Pam! She was inviting us to visit the 2008 Rochester International Jazz Festival which is being held downtown.

Knowing Pam, she has a taste for good food and great music. But David doesn't like going out at night time. Also, the weather was unpredictable. We went on a boat ride last time. It was part of the festival activities.

However, David read the news today. Jake Shimabukuro was the featured artist yesterday and earned a great review of his performance. But, you have to pay $20 to see him perform. (I probably have to use my press ID to get a gate pass for free. He he).

Here's a video to show you Jake's forte:

New Acquisitions

1. Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore

2. Collected Poems by Thom Gunn

3. Strip Jack by Ian Rankin

4. The Doctor by Dr. Edward E. Rosenbaum

5. A Painted House by John Grisham

6. Mississippi Review: A Journal of Contemporary Literature (MR Prize 2008)

7. Her Wild American Self: Short Stories by M. Evelina Galang

8. The Silver Chair (Book 4 in the Chronicles of Narnia) by C. S. Lewis

Meet 'GINA'

BMW has produced a new car concept. They call the new car GINA.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all dads

and to

Mr. Anito Fajardo Rodriguez

my beloved father who passed away last February.

We miss you so much, Papa Nits.

Mary Jemison

After attending church today (and after I burned my favorite blanket while ironing my Sunday shirt), David and I went downtown to take a ride on the Mary Jemison. The boat is 80 years old and has been restored for the public to ride on. Today the ride was for free. David and I took the chance as it is $12 a ride on regular days. The weather wasn't too bad although it got a bit hot when we traversed the Genesee River. What bothered me was that I was hungry and thirsty. I get cranky when I am hungry.

Too Tired To Write

... so I'm leaving you all with this beautiful video from Youtube.com: