Hello All:

not a lot happened this week... well ok.. somethings happened... life happened.. and with life there are always stories..

Week at work was pretty good.. and not too hectic.. actually was a good week to ramp up to what is going to be a very crazy week ahead.. so I feel like I am so ready... of course the vacation helped that as well.

One thing that happened last week was I got to go running OUTSIDE!!!!!! which is a big deal. You see it is not like I am going to go outside myself running for many reasons. 1.. when you run outside it has to be early morning or maybe later on at night. The hotel is situated in a very busy downtown financial district with a lot of buildings, and A LOT of traffic. Also the weather plays a factor as well. But 2 days last week after work (6 AM Local Time) I went running with 2 workers in my group. I was ecstatic.. Both guys weren't really runners and so I had to slow down not to kill them which was ok. We ran the first day a good distance away. We ran by the Filipino / American cemetery where there are unknown American soldiers. It was an amazing place. We also ran in traffic.. which was crazy... and also the best time was we ran right through a jeepney stop where people were waiting for jeepneys. A jeepney is a big jeep that is one of the major mass transit vehicles. I was told there are about 100,000 jeepneys in Manila. Go and google jeepney to see them. So if you can imagine.. 2 20 something guys panting as if I was killing them and me.. a very white American running througha jeepney stop ... the looks I got were just too funny. I got to talk to Than and Mar and get to know them better which was great.. and for me just to be able to run outside felt so free and great.

The end of the week saw Pat leave for home.. she was so glad to be going home. It also brought Betty in at the beginning of the week and it has been good to see her and catch up as well. We have known each other for years.

The weekend brought a couple of fun things. On Saturday, Donald ( a guy from work) met me at the hotel in the afternoon and took me to the MegaMall.. It is one of the SM malls. The man that owns the SM malls and food stores is the richest man in all of the Philippines. This place is HUGE!!!!! and not even the biggest. The biggest mall is the Mall of Asia.. and I am told the biggest mall in all of Asia. I can't imagine.. The mega mall is 5 floors, and it is the size of 2 very large convention centers. From the outside it is HUGE!!!.. For those that live in the Philly area, it is easily the size of the King of Prussia mall.. BOTH the court and the plaza.. but 5 floors.. Well Donald and I went to town and went shopping.. got some good sales.. and had just a great time.. was like 2 friends just shopping.. On Sunday the sun was actually out.. and the sky was as blue as I have seen the sky since I have been here. The smog was gone and the sun was out.. so after eating I went to the pool and got some sun. Met this guy named Slaf who is Russian but has lived in the UK (London) for the last 7 years. He works for Shell.. and was CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!!! Then back to my routine.. THE SPA!!!!!! (Thank you Erick D...) So at 1:30 there I was back at the spa.. had the exfoliation with sea salt, the botanical fruit wrap with the hour massage.. HEAVENLY.. that also came with a 20 minute soak in the jacuzzi too. Then the facial.. manicure and pedicure.. walked out at 6:15 and was 1/2 a sleep.. I was in heaven.

Got home and then got some sleep and up at midnight.. went downstairs to the lobby and watched the new flowers go up.. and talked with Lisa, Betty, Spencer and Larry til 5:15. I skyped my mom and showed her around my living room.. er... I mean the lobby of the hotel.

This morning ran my 4.8 K (3 miles), weighed in at 66 K (145 lbs) and sat in the steam room and took a cold shower to cool down. Just got back from eating.. and catching up on my blog, may go to the pool this am.. if the sun comes out a little more. It is kind of cloudy out there.

So a good week by all accounts. At the spa I read an article called "urban jungle survival kit".. which was as great read. I ripped it out of the magazine and will write it up and put in facebook on my notes page. Read it and enjoy.

Now for the week ahead.. work is going to be CRAZY!!!!! but I will get through it.. and it will be fine. That is not why I am skipping ahead. This last week my folks from work invited me to this "team building" event. This event is going to be a weekend away to one of the provinces which I think is to the south. It is a resort right on the beach. we are going to be leaving by van right after work on Saturday and return sometime on Sunday night. I am not sure of all the events but for some sneaky reason, I feel like I want to know every detail .. since I will be the oldest by far of the group. There is going to be 14 Filipinos from the floor at work. 2 Indian managers and me. If there is anyone over 30 I would be surprised.... So hopefully you won't hear on CNN trailer.. "International incident with 14 Filipino's, their Indian mangers from one of the call centers with a 51 yr American business man.. Stay tuned to the Situation Room.. with Wolf Blitzer." Here is the website for the place we are going. I can't wait. Looks like fun, and sun and beach and good people from 3 countries and well I am SURE that there will be a story or 2 from this weekend.. !!!

www.bakasyunanresort.ph/

Oh by the way, Than which is 26 I think asked me at lunch last week.. Craig.. do you drink????? I thought "On No... this is going to be a WEEKEND I will never forget.. " I am just hoping you don't see me in the "Situation Room" with Wolf!!!!

Well that is it... Oh by the way I think (am pretty sure) that I am returning in January to Manila.. Mixed emotions but like everything I will take advantage of the best things here.. and work hard to get through successfully on the work things. So not sure how long.. but I am guessing at least 4 weeks.. but have heard some thoughts of funding for the 1st quarter. So we will see.

Until then... see my notes in Facebook for the article and think great thoughts.. and live life to the fullest..

I just remember one last story.. On Tuesday I was walking thru the mall to the office holding my computer bag, my gym bag, my lunch and my coffee.. (yes think pack mule and you will see me) and I was talking to Lisa.. and BAM!!!! ran smack dab into some guy and almost ran him over.. (remember.. the average size is smaller than in the USA). I spilled my coffee all over my shirt. I was in the bathroom about 8:30.. and seeing the coffee all over me.. and I felt and looked a little messy.. and remembered.. I work in a mall.. Literally. So they don't close til 9:30 and it was only 8:45. I run down into a store and find 2 polo shirts. I am in the dressing room trying it on (bought a large) and here over the store speaker is Xmas music. They start to celebrate Xmas in September.. Well it was Let It Snow.. some rock and roll version I have never heard of.. The irony of it all.. IT meaning.. here I am in Manila Philippines, the average temputure is 90 degrees F., It's October and I am hearing Xmas music.. and of all things Let it Snow.. when they will never see snow in Manila.. and me here.. Oh how life is a strange and wacky situation sometimes.. I just laughed to myself.. and thought.. Life is really good. I walked out singing, with a new and clean shirt and a bunch of Filipinos probably talking about the crazy singing american walking out the door.

Ok.. bye.

Hello All.. Well I am back in Manila.... for better (the personal side) or worse.. (the work side). Before I got her I was so not looking forward to coming back. I really enjoyed being home for the short period of time I was there.... and really wanted to just stay home. However since I haven't won the lottery yet, and I need to work, I came back. Once I hit the ground.. I was excited to be back. I was looking forward to the things I have here that I don't have at home. I was looking forward to seeing people that I had met here and that I like a lot.

Everyone at the hotel all were excited to see me and welcomed me back. That was a great feeling. So being that this is Monday AM.. and I am heading off to bed to get some sleep for the 1st night back to work... I have a photo of the new flower arrangement.. They redid them last night.

Work is going to be very hectic.. All the classes (there were 3 total) are out of training now... The first class has been up and running (barely) for a month now... and the 2nd and 3rd class will start to transition accounts to them. So now we have 2 people.. (this week Pat and I) on site to help 15 people and also help the other 25 do something. Too much work and craziness and too many issues and problems and not enough people to really be able to handle even a fraction of them. All I can say is that I and my team didn't create the issue, and there is no way we can solve the issue.. So I will just do what I can and as much as I can and try to prioritize the critical situations first. Will be be good... NO, will it seem to work.. probably not.. will we get through it.. Positively.... Will I be glad that this 5 weeks will be over really quickly??? YES. Time will fly I am sure. And we will get through it one way or another...

So with that.. all have a good week, make it the best you can with what you have to work with... and enjoy this weeks flowers at the Shangri La Makati Hotel in Manila.

Well Here it is.. 8 days later.. So much to talk about. We left Mykonos last Saturday.. Greece was a great vacation.... I did a lot of rest and relaxation... little beach little sun. A LOT of shopping.. now I need to go to Shopping addiction classes.. and going back to Manila is NOT going to help.

We got back to Paris Saturday afternoon around 5:30. My neighbor Dave picked up Scott, John, Michael T and I. We dropped off S&J at their hotel and then headed to Dave and Rosemary's house. Again it was so good to see them like we did on the way to Greece. That night I had made plans with a guy named Marc Felici... who is a french guy. Now. I met Marc back in 1977 in Cedar Falls in High School Marc was a foreign Exchange student from France that was in my high school. We were friends. So after not talking for almost 35 years... good old facebook found us again chatting. So since I was in Paris we thought we would try to rendevous... (that's a french word you know) for dinner. Well between not having wifi at the house in Mykonos.. our communication was a little spotty. Marc lives kind of near the airport. So he went to the airport to try to find us and pick us up. Well I didn't get on line until we had hit Dave and Rosemary's house. So we kind of missed each other. I called him when I got in and he still wanted to come into Paris for dinner. he drove 45 minutes.. I met him outside and helped him find a parking space. Well for those that have been to Paris... one spot you DON'T want to be in a car is in the circle by the Arc or Triumph..... well I got to experience that not once but 2 times... since he over shot D&R's street. That was a wild ride... Thanks Marc for not getting us killed... :)

We ended up going to this nearby restaurant called Stella.. WONDERFUL!!!!!! (that is an english word)... The dinner was great.. Marc french with some good english, Michael T and Dave with not much french and Rosemary with some pretty good french. We had a great time and got home late after a very long day.

Next morning we got up, had breakfast and then headed to the Paris Auto Show. Now the Paris Auto show is every other year. Well for those that have been to any car show, this is the car show of all car shows....... for so many reasons. 1st.. the cars. all kinds of cars... cars you will never see in the states ever, prototype cars, antique cars VERY expensive cars... and all kinds of electric and hybrid cars. 2nd... the fashion.. Everyone working at any of the individual car companies... was like going to a fashion show for each one. The fashion was as important as the cars. 3rd.. the presentation of the cars... They spent millions on the presentation of the staging of the cars.. very modern, lots of lights and sound... and TON of people. We walked around for most of the day.. I eventually found my way back to Dave and Rosemary's while the others went to this museum which they wanted to see. I have the luxury of going back to Paris since I can stay with Dave and Rosemary... so wasn't to concerned with squeezing too much into a very short period of time. I rested and relaxed.. That night the 9 of us.. Scott, John, Tom, Joe, Michael T and I, Dave and Rosemary and Earl went to this other great restaurant.. Le Grand Cobert.... again.. very good food, company and wine. I had fish.. thinking it would be healthy.. but the sauces circumvented that. But again... late night. We were taking the metro home.. where 1/2 way there they stopped the trains and made us get off. We ended back at the apartment via taxi.. Again.. dead sleep in seconds.

Monday AM.. we were off to the airport once again... and this time for Boston. My dilemma was trying to figure out how to get some sleep.. and not be too messed up when I got back to Boston. I needed to be as ready to go for Saturday when I was off to Manila again. Well got back to Boston.. took a 1/2 of a little orange pill and got some sleep. Not sure if helped or not. Didn't do too much in Boston Monday night.. went to bed and of course was up early AM.. I got to the airport in Boston on Tuesday AM... and FINALLY got home to Philly at 1:30 PM on Tuesday.. HOME SWEET HOME.. is NOT just a phrase...

Well it was good to see Tim and Molly not to mention the neighbors... I ended up unpacking, doing laundry, and cleaning the house and watering the plants.. and just getting back to square 1. Was a long day.. but wanted to stay up so I could get a good night sleep. Started getting a sore throat... and was just plain tired. We ended up going out to dinner on Tuesday night.. and I was falling asleep at the table.

Wed through Friday was a blur.. I had to take my car into the dealership early Wed AM, ended up doing my work voucher from the end of the first Manila trip, and then working on that thing the rest of the day at home. Thursday I had to do my benefits, and get throughu my slew of emails... not really a lot of real work since I was going back to Manila on Saturday. Was so tired on Wednesday couldn't get to chorus like I wanted. I have been missing my friends a lot.. But had a little street party for Julie, Jerry, Aiden and Keira since they are leaving the "hood" for the other side of the river this Saturday. I was in bed by 9:00 Wednesday... still trying to feel good and normal.. but not happening..

Well went and got my hair cut on Thursday, got what work I wanted to get done done... and then Friday ended up packing, and doing some work, getting things ready to leave for Manila. Met Tim downtown for dinner and then went home and finished. Bella came home today.. and so I did get to spend some time with her which I have missed her all summer. All packed and was in bed by 10:30.

Now.. Here I sit.. at the PHL Int'l airport.. waiting for my trip to Detroit.... then Nagoya Japan and Manila.. should take me about 24 hours or more to get there.. It is 8:48 AM local time..Saturday and will arrive Sunday night 10:30 PM local time. Should be very hectic when I get to work... but I get there on Sunday night which is my time to be up.. time to watch the flowers get changed... (more pics to come) and then 5 AM gym, eat, get to bed.. and start the 5 weeks of VERY crazy work. But through it all.. very grateful to have a job, a great life... not to mention all that goes with that.. friends and family... to share it all. so...

If you are on facebook the pics of most of the vacation are on there... Mykonos to come yet... and then more stories as I start the 3rd leg of this marathon travel for 2010. Again thanks to Tim for the support, Molly the licks and licks and licks, and friends, neighbors, and family because with out you all it would be so much more difficult to do what I am doing. You all are the best.

Until next time..

Craig..

Today is the last full day of the Mykonos leg of this vacation. This has been a fantastic vacation. I have been to Paris France, Athens, Santorini, Mykonos and Delos Greece. I will definitely be back to both countries...

So far this vacation has been full of sightseeing, a lot of resting, reading, and hanging out with friends. I went to the beach one day which was just enough.. laid out at the villa a lot also... I saw things that were beautiful, met so many great people along the way on this adventure....

Now today.. the last day.. the weather is beautiful.. somewhat breezy and cool.. but the entire time we had great sunny weather except one day... which was the day we went to Delos... an island of Greek History where the God of Apollo (God of Light) was from. We bought umbrellas... and of course it didn't rain.. just cloudy and cool.. which was perfect for that day of sightseeing.

Last night Michael and I went to Lola's, and Jackie O's..... had way too much fun.. and yes some drama... but not on my part... Got home at 4:30... but up at 9 this AM.. packed 95% of my stuff and then came to Anizi Lounge... my cafe/internet location near the villa. Got caught up on my email, facebook and now my blog. I have downloaded my pics from this vacation on the Paris, Athens, and Santorini legs of this vacation. I have started the Mykonos album but only has 7 pics. I will get that downloaded when I get back.

So go to my facebook page to see all the pics.. the good, bad and yes some ugly!!!!!

Today I may go into Mykonos one last time.. we have dinner reservations at 8:30 at Barkia Restaurant... a great Italian restaurant we went to on the first night of this leg. Then off to Lola's and then home. Demetries one of the owners of Lola's (Google Lola's Mykonos) is making me a CD of some of his music compilations... Unique music and fun...

Tomorrow we are off back to Paris via Athens. We will get in Saturday night 5:30. Michael T and I are staying with Rosemary and Dave my neighbors from Philly for the 2 nights. The 4 of us will be having dinner with a guy named Marc Felici... Marc was a foreign exchange student back in 1976 to my high school in Cedar Falls Iowa. We reconnected via facebook last year... and will be good/interesting to have dinner with him on Saturday night.

Then Sunday we (most of the vacation group, Rosemary and Dave) will be going to the Paris Auto Show. That should be FUN and interesting. Sunday night we are all going to a restaurant called Le Grand Cobert.. I guess a 5 star restaurant.. That should be good. One last night of eating rich, great and coloric filled food. I lost 8 lbs in Manila and my clothes were loose on me. Now after this vacation.. my clothes are tight !!! One good thing about returning to Manila will be the heat and the routine and back to the gym of 2 times a day and my normal food. Well I should say my normal "Manila" food habits.

We leave on Monday for Boston and then I return home on Tuesday to Philly. It will be so good to get home... but have to reiterate what a vacation this was. First of the all the Greek people are so nice... not to mention BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Genetics are great.. but I am so the Iowa midwestern white boy look.. As I sit here on a Friday.. at the cafe.. there are people in gorups having fun, playing games, on their computers.. which has always been the case when I am here. What do they do for work?? I just wonder.. they have such a relax way about them in general.. so envious in some ways...

I can't wait to be back in my house, with Tim and Molly. Will be so good to see them... It is short lived tho since I have to return to Manila on Saturday the 16th of October... until November 20th. 5 more weeks of some long stressful hours... but after this vacation.. will be ready to attack them head on. Home for Thanksgiving... which we are going to Ptown. Then get ready for the holidays... and the new year.

I am expecting 5 more great weeks in Manila.. and hope to get out and see a little more. Also can't wait to get back to the things in Manila that I love.... I am sure I will mention them when I get back.. so won't bore you now..

Thanks for reading my blog.. and hopefully you have enjoyed reading and see the pictures as I have enjoyed writing this. I will attach a few pics of the group and of Mykonos.. but to see them all go to my facebook page.

Until the next time..

Hello.. well not much to say here.. the last few days have been shopping and or beach.. then dinner... and then talking and then we all go to bed.... to reconverge outside at the table outside for coffee the next day. So today I am off with Jill and Janie to town.. YES I am going to be shopping.. and then the beach. We are off to dinner tonight somewhere in town.... going to wear my new Angelina Jolie shirt tonight.. this shirt "feels" like Angelina Jolie "looks" in a hot dress on the red carpet where her Breasts are out there!!!!! have to see the shirt..

Tomorrow we are off to the island of Delios.. Then will have to tell you all about that.

Until then. No Terroristist here in Mykonos.. They haven't heard of the great discounts for the end of the season.. Some stores are all 70% off !!!! of well more for us capitalists!!!!!

Til Then.. LIVE LIFE!!!!

Craig

Here are a few random pics...

hello All:

It has been a few days since I have been on.. main reason is that we don't have WIFI at the villa. So that means I walk into the nearest village to the Anixi Lounge (more like a cafe) and sit and have cafe and do my wifing... Today 5 came down the hill and they left to go back home, and to drive to one of the beaches here on Mykonos.. I am staying at the villa by the pool. Life is good at home so why go anywhere... :) I have been around some so I have gotten out.

Also just to address the terror threat to Europe. My mother of course emailed me to come home.. I think she meant back to Iowa... though afraid for my life... (my mother - not me), I assured her that we were / are fine. I don't think they are going to go after a few tourists here in Mykonos in their off season... :) But when we get back to Paris for 2 days on Saturday... that could be a different story... :) However I am staying with friends in Paris so I will be fine...

My belief is that you have to life life like there is no tomorrow... because tomorrow will come... and you will have no warning. So.. Live life to the fullest every day... !!! ok.. enough of that talk..

Last couple of days we have just gone around Mykonos, some the island by car, have eaten great food, gone shopping and shopping and shopping. All the stores here are having the end of season clearance discounts. Some stores are having 70% off. most at least 50.. I have bought more clothes.. so I think I am done shopping for clothes for the next 5 years. or until we go into Mykonos again.. which for me will probably be in the morning. It is about a 45 minute walk into Mykonos from the villa.. and it is a healthy walk up and down the hills. I try to walk down at least 1 time a day for the exercise. I am doing well on that front.

There is also a beach (Ornos Beach) within walking distance if I want or I can go with any of the folks I am with in their cars as well. This vacation I am more staying at home and relaxing than ever. With my schedule lately I just want to sit.. So that means I will have to come back to do all the sightseeing at that time. I will go to Delios on that day tour when they go. That should be interesting. 1/2 of the group is planning on taking a high speed ferry to Santorini for an overnight... but since I was there I don't plan on going again. I would like to go there next trip 1/2 of the vacation... and then Mykonos the other 1/2. We will see.

So we just sit around and relax. Sometimes we get sporadic internet from the villa.. but can't count on it at all. The weather is in the 70's and sunny.... today as well as yesterday not a cloud in the sky. It is a little windy up at the villa since we are up on the hillside looking over the bay across from the town of Mykonos. It is a great relaxing vacation full of fun, sun, and great food and shopping and the people we have met here in all the places of Greece have been just the best.

Well let me run.. back to the villa, the sun, relaxation....