At home today.

Non-working holiday here in the Philippines.

Inauguration Day!

So, on the agenda today is...

• sleep in (which I did :) ).
• continue my search for a solution to import my Outlook emails into either Mac Mail or Entourage. URGH!
• work on a few documents for work that I want to finish and get emailed out today.
• and...watch the activities throughout the day as the new President of the Philippines, Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III, takes office today.

I've been thinking about Inauguration Day in the States.

The only one I really remember watching was the latest one for President Obama.

I remember watching the activities of that historic day while packing to move here to Manila.

And now here I am!

I'm in Manila, watching the inauguration of the 15th President of the Philippines.

Apparently, you can watch the same thing I'm watching too. The channel I watch is streaming their broadcast throughout today.

By the way... Friday is a non-working holiday for our office too... Pasig Day!

Welcome back...

• mornings stirred awake by the sound of strong rains.
• mornings waiting ... waiting ... waiting for a break to quick rush it over to the office.
• being sooo close to the office doors thinking I've made it ... just when the skies open up and dump wet all over me.
• laughing and smiling at the hallway decor of umbrellas left open to dry out.
• shivering cold in the office thinking -- oh, I really should leave a change of clothes here.
• clothes drying out just in time for the afternoon downpour -- also known as ... the walk home.
• slipping and sliding because I really should get better flip flops to wear in the rain.
• uselessly holding an umbrella because the rains fly sideways at every which angle. No matter what I'm wet.
• knowing this and yet still buying an umbrella at the closest store because I forgot mine ... at home, in the office, in the taxi...
  
• having to laugh at myself when inevitably my umbrella flips out and almost takes me with it.
• beautiful, powerful storms -- skies electric and sounds rhythmic and rumbling.
• cool, breezy nights.
• gorgeous after-storm skies.

Today was the first REAL rainy season day that I've seen this year.
It was glorious!
It was beautiful and breezy. The lightning was bright and brilliant. The thunder was roaring.
I watched as it moved across the city -- the sky was cleared up in front of me and just down a ways, the storm raged on.

It was beautifully romantic.

Likely I felt this way because I worked from home today (nursing what was lingering of some ear pains).
I watched it from my 16th floor unit with the windows open, breezes playing my wind chimes and the storm being accompanied by my iPod playing a mix of classical songs.

Perhaps it was best way to spend my first rainy season day of the year.
Now as I walk to work with soggy pants, I can think back to this day and find the beauty in the season.

Finally. After almost a year and a half I accomplished a goal I had set for myself.
DRIVE IN MANILA.

I set the goal when I first arrived for it to happen sometime within my first few months.
That became my first 6 months.
Which became before Christmas.
Which then became before my parents' visit (March).
Which then became before my birthday.

FINALLY! A goal met.
(Does it count when it was postponed so many times??)

Last week I got this email from one of my friends in the office...

Subject: pst What are you doing after work? How would you feel about getting your first driving experience in Manila? I don't know about you but I'm in desperate need of a run to the grocery store. Would love the company. :) Let me know!

Well, it just so happens the night before I was thinking about how long I could survive with what I had in my cabinets and how much I wanted to order out in the week. So, in my mind I had made plans -- this was going to be the time that I would take the BIG STEP and actually borrow the office car to go grocery shopping.

Well how great was it to get that email the very next day?? I'm not really one who is motivated by "I dare you!" challenges. But, nudges and encouragements from people who want to help you succeed in reaching goals and want to help you to be willing to take steps forward -- that motivates me.

And so, I checked out the car. After work I unlocked the car, welcomed my two brave passengers and drove a whole SEVEN KILOMETERS round trip. Yeah... I know... the odometer hardly turned. It shouldn't even count.

But... IT DOES!
CHECK. DONE!

A goal was set. I had someone who helped motivate me. I had friends cheer me on.
And now I'm not as intimidated by the thought of driving in Manila anymore.

Now parking... that's a whole other story!!! (Really...hahaha!)