I'll readily admit that I'm not the type of person who really loves to go shopping... after all, why look for something you like, but don't need, and don't have the money to pay for it?
However, there's one weakness in shopping that I like... baby clothes.
Funny, huh? This childless bachelor loves to shop for baby clothes. It's the thrill of the hunt coupled with the happiness that it brings to child (I'll explain later) and especially Mom.
I was in Baby Gap last week to buy something for my friends' newborn (Isaiah, born 9/12) before heading back to Gulf Breeze for the weekend. I walked in and the saleswomen (and they were all women in the store) and immediately came over, probably thinking I'd mistakenly thought I was walking into Footlocker and needed re-direction. They paused though, as they saw continue my journey in.
"May I help you?" a very cute saleswoman asked. Of course, all the cute college girls work at the Gap.
"Oh, I'm looking for something for my friend's newborn," I replied without removing an eye off the sales rack.
"Ahhhhh...." she and another saleswoman nearby cooed.
So begins the game. I flirt. They ask about the baby. I pretend I don't know what I'm doing. They flirt. I pick out something and ask if this looks "cute."
Before I know it, I've bought something for Isaiah, and to continue the game, I buy something for my godson, Wesley. (I thought it was important to buy something for Wesley too, because I didn't want him to have jealousy issues if he saw his younger brother was getting something.)
I pay for the clothes and ask charmingly, "Would you happen to have any gift boxes? I don't think I'd have time to run into Wal-Mart."
"Oh, sure. No problem."
I just thought she'd put some boxes in my bag, like they do at any department store and that's it. No, she goes above and beyond and meticulously removes the tags, wraps the gifts and does whatever you do to ribbon to make it look like you've wrapped the Holy Grail.
I smile and thank her with my "ohhhh" and "ahhhh." And she smiles back as I leave and say, "you're awesome, hun.... just awesome."
Ah.... the game.
That's not all, though.
Do you remember as a child getting gifts wrapped up in shiny paper and glossy ribbon?
Remember the disappointment when you opened it up and saw it wasn't a toy, but some clothes?
I never knew a kid who loved to get clothes... until I gave that gift to Wesley.
He opened the box, saw the new light blue and bright red polo and screamed with joy. He did his little toddler dance, took off his shirt right in the living room and put on the shirt. The rest of the evening, he was a sudden ball of energy, yelling and screaming and having fun with his "Ninong."
Filipinos believe that godchildren bring you good luck... I've been lucky, indeed.
28 September, 2006
16 September, 2006
Memory Triggers
In my normal rounds meandering through the Capitol Complex, random thoughts just occur to me.
Today, as I was walking across the street through mid-day traffic, I got whiff of the car exhaust... the smell that always triggers my memories of my childhood summers in the Philippines.
It reminds me of Manila, the highly polluted capital with a myriad of foul smelling open sewers, car exhaust, stagnant water, excrement, and old grease.
Not particularly attractive, but somehow you can't help but love Manila once you've been there.
It's a city of many contrasts, especially between the rich and poor, the pious and the flamboyant, the festive and the sorrowful.
My initial encounter in 1986 was a shocking welcome. Leaving the airport and sitting through traffic, I saw my first glimpse of poverty in the eyes of a beggar and her children. Never had I seen that before, and for an eight year old kid, it made a lasting impression that lives on today.
Manila has extreme poverty, but has its opulence too. Her tall, imposing megamalls and sterile glassy condos spring up all over. Manila's progress is always one step forward and taking two steps back, but that's a tango she's danced many times.
Today, as I was walking across the street through mid-day traffic, I got whiff of the car exhaust... the smell that always triggers my memories of my childhood summers in the Philippines.
It reminds me of Manila, the highly polluted capital with a myriad of foul smelling open sewers, car exhaust, stagnant water, excrement, and old grease.
Not particularly attractive, but somehow you can't help but love Manila once you've been there.
It's a city of many contrasts, especially between the rich and poor, the pious and the flamboyant, the festive and the sorrowful.
My initial encounter in 1986 was a shocking welcome. Leaving the airport and sitting through traffic, I saw my first glimpse of poverty in the eyes of a beggar and her children. Never had I seen that before, and for an eight year old kid, it made a lasting impression that lives on today.
Manila has extreme poverty, but has its opulence too. Her tall, imposing megamalls and sterile glassy condos spring up all over. Manila's progress is always one step forward and taking two steps back, but that's a tango she's danced many times.
09 September, 2006
Life in Tallahassee, the second time around
Just a quick update about how things are going...
Things are moving fast paced here in Tallahassee... er, maybe it's just a normal pace and I've been well rested these last few months.
Anyway, I moved into my apartment, which is costly yet nice and quiet. The first day I moved in, I was just so nervous... it just seemed that I came back here to find a job only to pay for an apartment! It isn't easy finding a 1 bedroom or studio the week that FSU, FAMU, and Talla. Comm. College all start. I suddenly took what I could get... what I love, though, is that there aren't any wild parties and it's in a covenient part of town (i.e, away from the colleges and close to work.) I'm on the second floor that overlooks a berm of "small woods."
The only sad thing is that Molly isn't with me. She's with my sister because the pet fee was just too expensive for me right now. $400! (that's non-refundable-just-for-the-pleasure-of-having-a-dog-fee). If I choose to stay here, maybe I'll fork over the bucks, but right now it's convenient that Kim is watching her. With everything going on at work, my mind is so scattered.
Work has been going well. They needed me to hit the ground running; little did I know that I'd be running like the Starship Enterprise at warp 9! It's exciting, and I've been able to re-connect with a lot of my old colleagues... and they've been spreading the word to my new colleagues and I've gotten a lot of compliments. There's no room for me to be a slacker (which is not in my character anyway) but there are a lot of expectations that I hope I can meet, or better yet, surpass.
I'm helping with a grant that gives money to non-profits across Florida to help low income families mitigate against potential damages from hurricanes. It's for three years, and we're working really quickly to get the awards out and the program started. I could see why I was needed.... there's a need for program development and ensuring we're reporting efficiently and accurately.
That's about it for now. Peace!
Things are moving fast paced here in Tallahassee... er, maybe it's just a normal pace and I've been well rested these last few months.
Anyway, I moved into my apartment, which is costly yet nice and quiet. The first day I moved in, I was just so nervous... it just seemed that I came back here to find a job only to pay for an apartment! It isn't easy finding a 1 bedroom or studio the week that FSU, FAMU, and Talla. Comm. College all start. I suddenly took what I could get... what I love, though, is that there aren't any wild parties and it's in a covenient part of town (i.e, away from the colleges and close to work.) I'm on the second floor that overlooks a berm of "small woods."
The only sad thing is that Molly isn't with me. She's with my sister because the pet fee was just too expensive for me right now. $400! (that's non-refundable-just-for-the-pleasure-of-having-a-dog-fee). If I choose to stay here, maybe I'll fork over the bucks, but right now it's convenient that Kim is watching her. With everything going on at work, my mind is so scattered.
Work has been going well. They needed me to hit the ground running; little did I know that I'd be running like the Starship Enterprise at warp 9! It's exciting, and I've been able to re-connect with a lot of my old colleagues... and they've been spreading the word to my new colleagues and I've gotten a lot of compliments. There's no room for me to be a slacker (which is not in my character anyway) but there are a lot of expectations that I hope I can meet, or better yet, surpass.
I'm helping with a grant that gives money to non-profits across Florida to help low income families mitigate against potential damages from hurricanes. It's for three years, and we're working really quickly to get the awards out and the program started. I could see why I was needed.... there's a need for program development and ensuring we're reporting efficiently and accurately.
That's about it for now. Peace!
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