(500) Days of Summer

After watching this movie last night, I was not thoroughly convinced of whether I liked it or not. It was good... a little slow at points... and I was on edge. Then... it stuck in my mind. I thought about it... and thought about it... and thought about it. And realized, wow... what a great story. It truly captured the essence of a relationship everyone has gone through at some point of their life, whether it is as a Tom, or as a Summer.

I was a Summer.

The boy who was my first crush, and subsequently my first kiss, was a friend's older brother in New Jersey. I was 12 years old. It obviously led nowhere, as I moved literally days after it all went down. We never saw each other until many years later (as you will read below). But nonetheless, I apparently stayed on his mind. I remember in high school, we'd sometimes chat on AIM (aol instant messenger) or even on the phone, and though he was aware I had boyfriends, and I am sure he had girlfriends, he always seemed convinced that in the end we'd be together.

A little while before I met M (maybe a year), me and this boy stopped chatting as much, rather on and off here and there. When M and I first met, that summer I went to visit NJ, my dad and I were driving through our old neighborhood, and I saw my old friend (the guy's sister)... we stopped and chatted with her, and then her brother came along. We said hello... and talked some more... and that was about it. When I returned home, he saw me on AIM and simply said "tell your boyfriend he's a very lucky guy". I did tell M, hehe...

When I went to university, M and I had a bit of a rough patch, and took a bit of a break for 3 months or so. During that time, me and this guy started chatting again on AIM. I can truly honestly say for me it was harmless, more like talking to an old friend here and there. I mean... I was 12, like I said above. Again, the chatting waned slowly (this sentence I feel may be wrong, but I will keep it)... and M and I became very serious. About a year later, we decided to move in together. One day, this guy messaged me out of the blue on AIM. I mentioned that me and my boyfriend decided to move in together. He signed off, and I never saw him online again for many months.

One day, I came home to a message which said "I don't understand what happened... I thought we were getting to where I always thought I knew we'd get to... and suddenly you're moving in with a guy"... and that was it. I have never seen him online since; pretty sure I am blocked.

I've read a lot of discussion board about the movie that say how can Summer ever be forgiven... but in mine, and in her defense... I don't think it's always as obvious as it may seem, what a guy's intentions or feelings are... or at least to what extent they exist.

Cheapness?

It's, once again, been a while since I've posted. I actually think I've graduated from having to say that at the beginning of each post, to it just being assumed.

In September, M and I met a couple who moved here from the UK. Seemed quite nice, though different from us, but nonetheless we planned a Diwali dinner at Beirut (see below post re: "secret menu"). We actually did not end up ordering from the Indian menu, although there was one, a very pricey one, but from the actual menu. For the record, in my opinion, Habibi's on Calle Uraguay is MUCH better, and though I've heard disputes, the price is around the same in both areas. Nonetheless, I digress. Anyways, so the end of the night, we get a bill. Again, it was a pricey meal, and since they typically don't serve alcohal their wine selection was few and far between, all priced high. Just as a ways of a disclaimer, a normal, decent meal in Panama shouldn't run over $20- MAX $30 a head, in my opinion, including the bottle or 2 of wine. Nonetheless, the point of this story is not the actual bill, but the events that followed.

So we receive the bill, tip was not included at this restaurant, and the bill came out to $116. So M and I are pulling out $75, thinking $75 each should be sufficient, with tip etc... the other couple pulls out $60, and announces "$60 each, which is $120 and that covers the tip". WHAT?!?! Anyways, M took their cash and put the remainder on the credit card, and we covered the sufficient tip. Should we have said something? We didn't. We also have not seen them since that night. It totally did not sit well with me. I've always been a heavy tipper, but even so I don't scoff if someone gives 10%, as that is the normal here. But $4 dollars on a $116 bill? Are you kidding me? I know at this point we aren't in the position to pick and choose friends, considering we have just a handful... but I'd rather have that handful then have friends like that.

Am I over-reacting?

Rant Over.

Life is great...

... but from time to time, I reminisce about no other than what it would have been like if we never moved from New Jersey. I don't know what is wrong with me, or if I'll ever get over the move... but sometimes I just sit back and wonder.

I was going places in NJ. I was a black belt in tae kwon do with dreams of training for the olympics (got my black belt in '98, and the first year they were in the olympics was to be 2000... it was a big deal). I may have gotten nowhere with that but it was a passion. I was a straight A student, very well liked by teachers and peers alike, and despite all the family issues, had a great life overall. I wanted to be a dentist... so badly.

And then we moved. Two months after I got my black belt. A mere couple weeks after I found out what boys were and that I could maybe like one. Just a month before I'd start 7th grade.

Do you know, even now, I say I am from NJ. I lived in Canada, met M there, but I am from NJ. Honestly... it's a part of me. What was it? I want to get over it, but I don't want to lose the memories and the fondness of it. I just wish we never moved.

Yes, I know. Maybe I wouldn't have met M. If it was meant to be, it would be. If we are meant for one another, we will have met. This is not a concern.

Just needed to get it out. It sounds so pathethic. I am no different than anyone right... wanting to be a kid again. I just get into these nostalgic moods.

Sigh...

A Taste of India... finally!

Over the last few weeks, I've had a unquenchable craving for Indian food. I looked through several cook books (yes, I'm a bad house wife that uses the aid of cook books for my meals), however the spices required were not easily attainable.

Now there are a couple Indian restaurants in Panama. In August, M, myself, and our guests visited Delicias del India. They will continue to be a stop to by fresh meat (goat in particular). The food was decent... typical tandoori chicken. But it was quite bland and didn't have that extra touch. To be fair it was also very new when we went, so I will probably try it out again.

There is another restaurant that has recently opened called Mawabis (Nawabis sp?). For those in Panama, it is across from Del Prado. From what I hear, it is very good. I have yet to go. We had actually planned to go Sunday for dinner, but as you read further you'll see why plans changed.

A third restaurant is called Masala. It, apparently, is not very good at all. For the most part, people have recommended us not to go. I am sure we will end up going anyways, and when I do I will post a proper review (as with the other restaurants).

I just found out today that Beirut, a Middle Eastern restaurant in the city, serves an Indian menu too. But you have to ask for it. Top secret and whatnot. The suspense is definitely worth trying out :).

There used to be an excellent (from what we've been told) restaurant called Taj Mahal. They apparently did quite well, but not well enough to be make it worth staying apparently. From what we hear, people here are quite apprhensive to try new foods... not sure how true that is. People always tell us they'd love to have Indian. But, nonetheless, the restaurant was said to have mainly catered to ex-pats and tourists.

So... in our quest for spices, we were lead to Kings Food (next to Farmacia Arrocha in Paitilla). And I must say, they had all the spices imaginable, and all the brands we are used to. They also had dry pre-mixed rubs for different dishes as well. They had dry snacks, cookies, and crackers... as well as drinks lie Thums Up and Limca. You will find everything your heart desires in terms of spices there.

But... but, that's not what this is about. We went on a Sunday afternoon, and guess what? On weekends they serve Indian food. And noth just Indian food, extremely authentic tasting, delicious Indian food. M and I went with 4 friends (none of whom were Indian by the way)... and between us had Dahi Vada, Chicken Biryani, Mutton, Masala Dosa, Channa Bhatura, Naan, and Pav Bhaji. It was awesome. I was in heaven that day. The tummy ache at the end of the day (hey, I haven't had so many spices since I moved to the country!) was totally worth it. Sigh.

*As an aside: this Sunday, a British-Indian expat couple whom I met online is taking us to a vegetable market which apparently has a big variety of vegetables, including Kaylan (sp? Chinese Brocolli) and Okra. Will update on how that goes.

Wife of a Purchasing Manager

Once again, I've failed to maintain some sort of routine in writing here. Often, I think of great things I want to write about, but alas life comes into the way and it just doesn't happen. I apologize for that.

We're finally pulling our life together and getting settled in our house. No puppy yet, but it's on the list. It's quite a feat trying to shop. Being the wife of a purchasing manager can be tedious. Yes, a woman complaining about a husband who loves to... lives to... shop, and shop, and shop. Ugh! We literally have to go to every story in the city... and not just that, but every chain of every store... to see where we can get the best value for our money. M's not at all cheap, but he likes to know that he is geting the most out of his money. The culture of shopping and bargaining here in Panama has turned M into a monster. He refuses to buy a major item unless he gets a deal of some sort. Even if it's 5% off.

Frustrating... but hey... we have great stuff!

Tests

It's been a while since I've written, but we just recently moved into our new house and don't the internet yet. Right now I am using what I like to call and "internet stick", which connects through a mobile WAP to the internet. It's great to have when you are bored.

Guess what? I got a job call back. I applied for a job about 2 weeks ago. The next day I received a call asking me to come in for the recruitment test a week later (last week). The recruitment test was a small personality questionnaire followed by the Wonderlic test. The personality questionnaire was interesting. The front side had a bunch of traits (energetic, polite, determined, loyal, etc.) and you were to pick which traits you think people expect you to have. On the back were those same traits and you were to pick which traits you believe you do possess. It seemed dumb, considering who in their right mind would call themselves disloyal or rude? But it must serve some useful purpose I'm sure. Afterwards we had the Wonderlic test. If you haven't heard of it, look it up. I prepared as internet research led me to some sites saying this particular company gives these type of tests. It is comprised of 50 IQ type logic/ reasoning questions, and you have 12 minutes to answer as many as you can correctly. It is a mixture of both multiple choice and ones you have to enter the answer yourself, both easy and difficult. You are not expected to finish it, and you are only marked on correct answers.

From what I read online, a decent (average) mark is over 20, excellent is over 30. The company actually only requires over 16 for a call back. I completed 39 questions upon the timer going off at the test. The next day I called back and found out I got a 33! Woo! So now I am going for my second test on the 24th. It is apparently the same test to check for consistency (a waste of time IMHO).

Interesting fact: People put pictures on their resumes here.

For those intrigued-- here are some Wonderlic type questions:

1. If three inches of rope cost 7 cents, how much would 2 feet of rope cost?

2. What is the next number in the sequence: 5, 10, 20, 40,...?

3. An instrument store gives a 10% discount to all students off the original cost of an instrument. During a back to school sale an additional 15% is taken off the discounted price. Julie, a student at the local high school, purchases a flute for $306. How much did it originally cost?

4. If the perimeter of a rectangular house is 25 1/3 yards, and the length is 22 feet. What is the width?

5. The scientist was able to evoke powerful emotions from her audience. Evoke means
A. Sell B. Calm C. Call forth D. Exaggerate

6. VINTAGE NOVELTY these words:
A: Have similar meanings.
B: Have opposite meanings.
C: Have neither similar nor opposite meanings.

7. Assume the first 2 statements are true. Is the final one:
1. True 2. False 3. Not certain
The boy plays baseball.
All baseball players wear hats.
The boy wears a hat.

8. Which of the following numbers represents the smallest amount: 0.400, 0.04, 4.0, 40?

9. In printing an article of 48,000 words, a printer decides to use two sizes of type. Using the larger type, a printed page contains 1,800 words. Using smaller type, a page contains 2,400 words. The article is allotted 21 full pages in a magazine. How many pages must be in smaller type? (although not necesarily difficult, I actually skipped this question on the test as I knew too much time would be spent on it)

10. A boy is 17 years old and his sister is twice as old. When the boy is 23 years old, what will be the age of his sister?

Have fun!

Still running... and the MOVE

I'm on week 2... woo hoo. It's crazy but I already feel better about myself. I'm sure there are no physical changes whatsoever, but mentally I feel a hell of a lot more confident. It also helps that I eat whatever I want guilt free. Love it!

Friiiidayyy we get to move into the new house! I am so excited. It was an extremely long process, apparently banks take 2-3 weeks just to release a promissary note, and another 2ish weeks to transfer the funds to the seller. Luckily our seller was willing to let us move in on the promissary note alone. Thank god. Corporate temp housing is great in that it's free... but doesn't let us feel at home. It's temporary, just like it's namesake, not allowing you to feel like this is a move,but rather an extended vacation.

So about the house... it's a three bedroom, office, family room, living room, dining room, kitchen, maids quarters, 3.5 bathrooms, balcony, patio, and 2600 squ feet. I love it. Let's walk you through it... when you come in the front door, the stairs are to the left hand side, with a lighted walk way all the way up. Straight ahead is the small hall, with an office on the right and a 1/2 bath on the left. The hall opens to the living/dining area with a walk out to the backyard. On the right is the entrance to the eat-in kitchen. From the kitchen there is a second door to the patio, as well as a door to the laundry area. The laundry area opens up into the backyard. The back portion of the laundry area houses a door to the front driveway, as well as the door to the maid's quarters and maid's bathroom. Upstairs when you exit the stairway you walk into the family room with a walk out balcony. On the right is the entrance to the master bedroom with a walk in his/hers closet and full bathroom. Behind the family room straight ahead is a guest bathroom, and on either side of it are guest bedrooms equipped with a built in california closet unit.

The curb appeal of the house is awesome too. Drive up to luscious (and I mean luscious!) green grass with a decorated palm on the front lawn. The pathway to the front door is lined with white stones and decorative flowers. There is a long window framing the stairway of the house and a covered driveway with concrete pillars. The backyard has some decorative work along the back wall (backyards are fenced by concrete here, not metal fences), and we will be putting in a small garden ourselves. I have to find another word for decorative :.

It's an awesome house, perfect for entertaining and boy do we plan to do a lot of that. It's a fully gated community with only one entrance/exit and 24 hour security, including guards who ride through the neighborhood on bikes. There is a pool, tennis courts, parks, barbecue area, gym, and social area. It's like living in a resort. So excited.