I got a speeding ticket today. Cop claims I was going 59 on a 45 zone. I think it wasn't that high. I say I was going 50 because I slowed down when I saw him from afar, sitting on his bike . And I glanced on my speedometer when I saw him, sitting on his bike. He clocked me way before I saw him ( I think). This is where the doubts come in.

Was I really speeding? ( But I don't speed. I'm a careful driver. My daughter says I drive like a grandma. so How can I speed?)


Should I contest it? ( It's his word against mine, so, guess who'll win. And how do I prove that I wasn't speeding. The fact that I haven't had a ticket in 11 years doesn't make any difference at all. What chance do I have that he won't show up?)

One thing I know for sure is that I will go to traffic school. They offer that online now. I've checked.

I am so DISGUSTED.

Scotts Flat Lake in Truckee, CA
This is where our church holds the Annual Family Camp. This is the view we see when we wake up in the morning, as soon as we open the tent flaps.

Imus, Cavite, Philippines
This is the backyard to our house in the Philippines. To the left is the garage/carport. Notice the still young mango tree in the center. To the right is a couple of coconut trees and some citrus.
Best Friends Forever
Today was the day we have been dreading. My niece, Christina (on the left), left for college in LA, to AMDA ( a real expensive performing arts school in Hollywood). Emily cried, I cried, everybody cried. She and Emily have always been best friends, started when little Em was born. There's a particular and special kind of closeness between these two. Emily is closer to her than to her own big sister. I can say the same thing with me. My oldest daughter and I have gone through hard times together, lots of strife and disagreement. Like two hotheads clashing.

My relationship with Christina is different. I treat her like my own daughter. She is easier to talk to, probably because she has a lower boiling point, a lot calmer than most of us and is very patient, specially with Emily. Since my mom passed away, we have all been hanging out a lot with my dad at my dad's house. I am really sad. We will surely miss her. Can't wait for the holidays when she comes back home.

The weather outside is cool. Actually, it was cold this morning when I drove my son to school. But during the day, it gets pretty warm. I love Fall, better than the other 3 seasons. Growing up in the Philippines, we only had two seasons, HOT and Rainy. From March to June, it gets really hot and humid. Come July all the way to September/October, the monsoons come and it's almost non stop rain, with thunder and lightning. Most often, there are typhoons.

There are some good months of perfect weather though: from November to early February, the holidays, Christmas, New Year. My favorite months. I remember sitting outside our porch, smelling the afternoon breeze, smelling the rice harvest. The rice paddies are long gone, replaced by housing and commercial buildings. The province of Cavite where I grew up in used to be a beautiful countryside of rice paddies and fruit trees. The little town of Imus where I lived, back in the 80s, had 2 high schools, one theater, one open air market and a few scattered mom and pop stores. We used to walk to school. We knew our neighbors. If you want some major shopping, you go to Manila.

Fast forward about 3 decades: the little town of Imus is now a major city. Every small space is now inhabited by people from other provinces. Lots of squatters. And the people I used to know have migrated to the US, to Canada, Australia, even Europe. The air is polluted due to the numerous tricycles and jeeps and buses. It's no longer as safe as it was before. And the weather? It seems a lot hotter and humid. The typhoons seem to be stronger and more destructive.

I miss my old homeland. I miss the old days. I'm feeling nostalgic since my dad is going back there for another visit. I wish I could go too.

What?!! It's October already?

Knitting: I've finished 2 cardigans, 2 shrugs, 1 lace shawl, and currently knitting another cardigan. I'm obsessed that way. When I go into quilting, I forget about knitting completely and have a tendency to quilt for one whole year before I go into something else.

I've discovered Zumba. eyahhhh! About 20 or so years ago, I was a dancer. I danced modern jazz and Filipino Folk dancing. We performed on stage and travelled quite a lot. Then, I had my first baby. For a while, I kept it up and taught folk dancing but it eventually fizzled out--my desire to dance and perform.

A high school friend mentioned Zumba, which made me check it out on YouTube, which made me try it out. Now, I'm hooked. But it's not the same of course. Not as young as I used to be. More aches and pains and groans and shortness of breath now.

But here in Elk Grove, I found a real nice and affordable dance studio that teaches it 6 days a week at $5 per class. Not bad.

ZumbaKim is the name.