WOW..its been a while..but I was really happy on Friday. =)
Quite a story..so I'll break it up a bit.

Part 1 - Morning
Well..it was a Friday! So for some reason..I was just usually happy in the morning. Really!..I'm still not much of a morning person..but there was just something about that day that was going to be good.

So I arrive at work and cover what I need to do for work. No test to administer or work out..but there was an overall relaxed feeling in the classroom. During my break, I went to check my email...and thatz where the good news starts.

Work has been bad lately...not because of the job...but mainly my current conditions. Down to one class and dealing with office politics. So I've been looking for other alternatives. Well earlier in the week, one of my former colleges informed me that he had found an opportunity teaching at another school for 3 times the amount I'm working at now. Its not a permanent position, but something I can do on weekends. So I spoke with the interviewer and felt everything went well. On Friday We (my collegue and I) actually got the offer to teach the class. We are going to confirm it and work out the details this week.

Also on that note I've been getting some phone calls from high level executive placement firms. I told them what I was interested and they sounded pretty confident. The scary thing is that they have a quick turn around time as far as placement is concerned. Once I tell them I'm ready...one company says they will have something for me within 5 days, the other...within 3 days. I stated that I'm committed to whatever company (and my students) I work for and that I've committed to teaching this class till mid Jan. (Always figured a committed person would sound good). So they told me to call again in Jan, towards the end of the class...and we'll see what happens. I'm pretty excited about that.
on a side note..also started thinking about a career in Nursing. I started out Pre-med in College..but realized that I really wasn't looking forward to all the study and years of med school. I never really considered a career in nursing...but I do have some friends within the field..and it doesn't seem like that terrible an option. There is a heavy demand for nurses...especially male RNs.

Part 2 - Afternoon
I love being Filipino. Even though I'm only a quarter Filipino (1/2 white, 1/4 Filipino, 1/4 Chinese), I happen to identify with the Filipino side the most. My family on my mom's side were first generation immigrants, and my grandmother who took care of us spoke only Tagalog (dialect of the Philippines..BTW.pronounced ta-ga-loog....not Tag-a-Log...errr hate that). Anywayz..Filipinos have a definite family/community type culture. Usually when you go to a Filipino household..the first thing they will ask you is "Have you eaten yet?" and proceed to stuff you. Anywayz...the reason I bring this up is to give you a little background on what I did Friday Afternoon.

So I'm heading out to Riverside for the evening's Installation banquet. I realized that I wanted a larger capacity memory stick than the 8MB one that came with it. With that in mind I headed over to the retail store I once worked for. I still have some friends there so they occasionally hook me up with their discounts. I when to the memory department and met up with a Filipino sales clerk that used to be in back stock while I worked there...shot the breeze and had him write me up a quote. While I was walking around, one of my former cashier mates (now assistant manager of customer service) came up to me and we caught up on old times. When I finally got to the register..I specifically went to a register of this nice Filipino lady who I knew when I worked there. She gave me her discount, even though she said that she never gives it to anyone. The best part of the day was while I was thanking her. I offered to go get her some lunch, or even offered the Carl's Jr. I just bought in the car....but she said its ok. She said "parang anak ka naman". That roughly translates to you've been like a son to me. It was the best compliment I'd received. I've always tried to be the nice guy...its just my nature. I'm just happy to make others happy..but to be thought of as a son...I was moved.

Part 3 - Evening
So this evening is the Installation Banquet for UC Riverside's PI class. This particular class has been phenomenal in re-establishing the brotherhood and spirit of the UC Riverside chapter. As more time passes, I begin to feel more and more out of place at these events. Everyone knows of me (from their pledge test or seeing me at the meeting)..but I don't get a chance to really know the incoming members. Since I'm not out there anymore, it just hasn't been the same. Well, Our fraternity has a system of family lines...mine of which has gone on for some generations. I've been out of school for a number of years now...but I still have new lil, lil, lil (to some number) coming into my family. I would have felt bad if I didn't have something for them. I accounted for about 16 people, so I made a quick run and bought candy and some small items.

Many people know me, but only few have ever taken the time to really get to know me. Even though I have this PUBLIC blog..there are only a few people that I really confide in. I truly appreciate those people. Well this night, one did something really special for me.

Enida is one of my lil lil sibs from the chapter. Her line is actually the only line that is still alive (the other is adopted). Well this past year we've been talking (thanks to AOL IM) and hanging around a lot. Even though we've always been around...we never got the chance to just talk.

So before Friday, I was asking her what she was getting people for installs. She said that she had gotten gifts for just about everyone....except for me. I'm not one for gifts anymore. Since I started working..if I ever wanted something...I just bought it...or saved up for it. There really hasn't been anything that I've wanted lately. Yet..no one knows what to say if they ask what you want as a gift. So enida asked...and I jokingly said.."I want the Jaguar X-type" I had been looking at cars lately and the Jag just happened to be one of them. She replied asking if the hot wheels version be ok. I said ok... Now this whole time, I was just joking about the whole thing. Of course I didn't think that she would buy me a $34,000 car...or even the 99 cent version. It was just a passing comment.

So at installs, enida had a present for me. I wanted to get something special for her...but didn't really know what to get..nor did I have the time to find one. (to my defense..I did get her a nice candle holder). She wanted to see me open it...and there it was. My Jaguar. I was so happy...not just for the present...but to have you as a friend (and lil sib). Love ya sweetie. =)