September 05, 2014
Well one year here in the Philippines has come and gone. Here are ten things I miss about the USA.
10. Trivia night at Wellman's ... Team DBT! I do get to watch last year's Jeopardy episodes on the local version of the Game show channel, but it is not the the same. Trivia night... making fun of the other teams using their smart phones to get answers... good times. and that leads to another fun weeknight tradition...
9. Bingo night at Champps. I think it has a new name-- 86'd or something like that... But good old bingo night, and winning Fist pumping dance offs-- is something I definitely miss. There is no fist pumping competitions here,
8. Local Sports teams. I know Suzy misses the Iowa Energy games also even if Paul Harris is not there anymore. I do miss the relationships we made as season ticket holders at those games with the staff and our new friends. Of course, I picked the wrong year to move away from the Iowa Cubs standpoint as well. The best collection of talent in 30 years is there and I miss it. I miss the tailgating for Iowa games and the sounds of the crowd. Oh well. I got bum rushed by a big Palmetto bug/roach in the hallway yesterday... So, there is that.
7. Working. Yeah, that probably sounds weird. But it would be nice to have a real job. I enjoy helping out around here and being a personal Assistant to Melissa... but yikes-- I do miss helping others. At Wells Fargo, I miss those relationships with my co-workers-- the little things like getting to know them and their families. I miss being able to help others and make a difference. Granted, I could probably work illegally over here starting tomorrow, but we just want to do it right. Too bad working legally would cost me around 70,000 PHP allegedly. and that would take a long time to recoup. Doing the blog for Stadium Journey has been great, hopefully wet season will be over soon so more venues will have sports events. This also includes Volunteer work. There are probably opportunities here-- abundant opportunities I bet, but I miss being able to support the United Way like we did in the US. In 2013, we had a great time helping VITA in Des Moines, assisting low income persons and families with their taxes. I sure hope we can go back to that.
6. Roller Derby and Stand-up Comedy. Yeah, I miss being in front of a crowd asking for a Chuck U. I also miss standing up on stage and telling jokes. I am not sure what part in my life those will play when I return to the USA, but I know I miss those and all of my friends from that a lot here.
5. Grilling. I am not a masterchef, but I do enjoy working with food on the grill. Plus, I am pretty good. I have a couple good recipes for hot dogs and sausages and do well with steak, chops, and chicken. Ahhh to be on the deck in the fall, with the crisp air, a cold micro beer in one hand, a spatula in the other and food on the grill... I would sure go for that about right now. We got some burgers and tried cooking them on the stove the other day. First, it made the condo smell like fish. It was like Long John Silvers up in here. Second, we smoked up the place so bad--- it was awful. Its not like back home.
4. Running 5Ks. I still want to do a half marathon here. Training got derailed after spraining my foot in Hong Kong. I will get that done. I got 11 months... Hanging out though with Paxton Bennett and Jordon Overton and Bamf at the State Fair 5K is such a joy. It sucks, thats something Jordon and I had done since its inception in 2007. Such a good time. Oh well. I will do it in 2015 and dominate. I smell a Personal best time.
3. The little things we cannot get here. Ummmmm... Totino's Party Pizzas, Diet Mountain Dew, Going on road trips which led to getting Canteen sandwiches in Ottumwa, or Pasquale's Pizza in Humboldt. A chicago Hot Dog would be nice. Maybe a Wig and Pen Pizza topped by a trip to Jethro's BBQ (or soon the new Fong's that will be next door). It was fun and heartbreaking this week to see our friend Sarah Bergeson in Des Moines visiting (she lives in Hawaii) and getting to go to the High Life Lounge and other local places. There are so many little luxuries we take for granted that just arent available here. Oh well... when we are back-- I will sure miss being able to get Chicken feet at any time of day... or Sisig. Going out and challenging Suzy to a game of Mini Golf would be nice too.
2. Birds. Wildlife. Country living. Yes that would be nice. It is no secret that I love attracting birds to our townhouse back home. Sure-- sometimes that led to raccoon thiefs stealing our feeders... but we atttracted scores of different birds. It was relaxing and so much fun. I've seen a few sparrows here. Living 10 minutes from Saylorville Dam was great too. We could see Deer, fish, whatever. There is plenty to see here outside of the city, but accessibility and lining it up with Suzy's schedule has been daunting.
1. Family and Friends. Of course that is the easy, obvious answer. No matter how many friends and people I meet here-- its hard to relate to immediate friends and family the experiences here. It will be the same when we go home next year and trying to relate being in America to my new friends here. Hopefully someone from Home will make it out here; it would be an enjoyable time. It is hard being on the other side of the world. I just can't hop in my car to visit... or us be visited.
Thank you all, Take care of yourselves
Showing posts with label roller derby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roller derby. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2014
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Chilling in the Philippines-- 2013 in review
December 31, 2013
Its 10:30 AM here. Poor Suzy has to work at 8 pm ish and there are LOUD sound checks going on already. This dude is drumming and its like he is on the balcony with us. Jessica Sanchez from American Idol is here to perform and a bunch of great local acts. I am pretty excited.
So I had been thinking of this for awhile and Facebook helped by posting a year in review. So much to go over so I will just touch on the highlights.
First, at this point last year, I was so happy to get rid of 2012. That was a tough year. Other than a great year for me announcing roller Derby, it sucked. I had surgery in September after months of missed diagnoses and pain. 4 months of pain following hadn't helped either.
Then Paxton Bennett invited me to cheer him on at the Miami Marathon in January. Things started picking up. The January race was great and just the distraction I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. We were pretty active. Got to see Key West, eat some great food... and had 10th row seats to see the Miami Heat. Awesome. Saw a Dude hit a half court shot for 75K and get mobbed by LBJ. The trip to Miami was a great time. 80 degrees Fahrenheit when it is 0 in Iowa is even better. Little did I know that would become my life. . .
February... Suzy and I joined our friends the Rogers and went to the Bacon Festival. Wow! LOVE BACON... Even after eating pounds of it in every possible form. Suzy and I also celebrated our 5 year anniversary of our first date. Great times. and Time Flies.
Somewhere around March... there was a whisper in Suzy's ear to start considering a relocation to the Philippines... I remember getting home from work, and she said, "I have a question to ask..." Wow...
In March we also got to meet our favorite Iowa Energy player, Paul Harris. That was great. We really miss not being able to see the Iowa Energy games.
Fast forward to May... Mother's Day. We had decided to make the move to the Philippines and it was time to tell the parents. Only God knows if we will have children and this was like that moment. Both sides were quite understanding...
I announced my final roller derby bouts until my return in Mason City. What a great time. I announced with a rookie, Scary Jerry, Pros in Joe Malone and stunt rocker and maybe the youngest derby announcer in the nation in Candy Cage. I am blessed. I miss my roller derby family very much.
June... I always love June-- its my birth month. But I had the best Birthday ever as Adam Kempenaar got me a ticket to see the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Wow! Triple Overtime! Game was over after Midnight in Chicago. I still was work by 10 the next day! What an excellent whirlwind once in a lifetime opportunity. Best birthday ever! We also were able to announce to the world that we were moving!
July... I participated in my last 5K in the states. Paxton destroyed the competition and won the right to throw out the first pitch at the Iowa Cubs game. He was so cool to allow me to take that honor. How awesome. I know 20 people get to this anymore, but its something I always wanted to do, like getting a key to a city, and it was great. Just wish i would not have one hopped the pitch.
The next month seemed like a race to get everything in and see everyone one last time. In hindsight... I wish I could have eaten more pizza and Jethro's BBQ. I miss that the most. I also miss my Wells Fargo friends and people I used to work with at the Attorney General offices.
We moved August 25. The rest of our travails are blogged about so I am not going to detail it...
But what I will say is that I really miss home. I love all of my friends and family back there dearly. I really enjoy living here and I have made a lot of friends here and met some super cool people. It is culturally so different and I will thank Suzy until the day I die for letting me join her on this adventure. When this eventually ends I will probably be really sad for leaving... So if I learned anything, it is keep your chin up, keep doing the right thing and let life take you on its journey.
Next on the agenda... popping some cold ones with friends and celebrating the new year. We live at ground zero for the celebration... I cannot wait.
So. Thanks to all of you for being a part of my 2013... and here's to a great 2014 for us all!
Take care of yourselves...
Chuck
Its 10:30 AM here. Poor Suzy has to work at 8 pm ish and there are LOUD sound checks going on already. This dude is drumming and its like he is on the balcony with us. Jessica Sanchez from American Idol is here to perform and a bunch of great local acts. I am pretty excited.
So I had been thinking of this for awhile and Facebook helped by posting a year in review. So much to go over so I will just touch on the highlights.
First, at this point last year, I was so happy to get rid of 2012. That was a tough year. Other than a great year for me announcing roller Derby, it sucked. I had surgery in September after months of missed diagnoses and pain. 4 months of pain following hadn't helped either.
Then Paxton Bennett invited me to cheer him on at the Miami Marathon in January. Things started picking up. The January race was great and just the distraction I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself. We were pretty active. Got to see Key West, eat some great food... and had 10th row seats to see the Miami Heat. Awesome. Saw a Dude hit a half court shot for 75K and get mobbed by LBJ. The trip to Miami was a great time. 80 degrees Fahrenheit when it is 0 in Iowa is even better. Little did I know that would become my life. . .
February... Suzy and I joined our friends the Rogers and went to the Bacon Festival. Wow! LOVE BACON... Even after eating pounds of it in every possible form. Suzy and I also celebrated our 5 year anniversary of our first date. Great times. and Time Flies.
Somewhere around March... there was a whisper in Suzy's ear to start considering a relocation to the Philippines... I remember getting home from work, and she said, "I have a question to ask..." Wow...
In March we also got to meet our favorite Iowa Energy player, Paul Harris. That was great. We really miss not being able to see the Iowa Energy games.
Fast forward to May... Mother's Day. We had decided to make the move to the Philippines and it was time to tell the parents. Only God knows if we will have children and this was like that moment. Both sides were quite understanding...
I announced my final roller derby bouts until my return in Mason City. What a great time. I announced with a rookie, Scary Jerry, Pros in Joe Malone and stunt rocker and maybe the youngest derby announcer in the nation in Candy Cage. I am blessed. I miss my roller derby family very much.
June... I always love June-- its my birth month. But I had the best Birthday ever as Adam Kempenaar got me a ticket to see the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Wow! Triple Overtime! Game was over after Midnight in Chicago. I still was work by 10 the next day! What an excellent whirlwind once in a lifetime opportunity. Best birthday ever! We also were able to announce to the world that we were moving!
July... I participated in my last 5K in the states. Paxton destroyed the competition and won the right to throw out the first pitch at the Iowa Cubs game. He was so cool to allow me to take that honor. How awesome. I know 20 people get to this anymore, but its something I always wanted to do, like getting a key to a city, and it was great. Just wish i would not have one hopped the pitch.
The next month seemed like a race to get everything in and see everyone one last time. In hindsight... I wish I could have eaten more pizza and Jethro's BBQ. I miss that the most. I also miss my Wells Fargo friends and people I used to work with at the Attorney General offices.
We moved August 25. The rest of our travails are blogged about so I am not going to detail it...
But what I will say is that I really miss home. I love all of my friends and family back there dearly. I really enjoy living here and I have made a lot of friends here and met some super cool people. It is culturally so different and I will thank Suzy until the day I die for letting me join her on this adventure. When this eventually ends I will probably be really sad for leaving... So if I learned anything, it is keep your chin up, keep doing the right thing and let life take you on its journey.
Next on the agenda... popping some cold ones with friends and celebrating the new year. We live at ground zero for the celebration... I cannot wait.
So. Thanks to all of you for being a part of my 2013... and here's to a great 2014 for us all!
Take care of yourselves...
Chuck
Thursday, May 3, 2012
40 til 40 May 2nd, 2012 "Intro"
May 02, 2012
"Intro"
Everyone deals with stress differently. What is stress to one is another's joy. I am sure turning 40 is the same. June 12 I turn 40. Now I know nothing bad happens as soon as I turn 40 or anything like that, but is a halfway point in a couple ways. From graduating high school, a step into adulthood, its halfway to collecting social security. With the way lifespans are these days its also halfway until statistically I meet my maker.
I have been lucky to see many classmates go through 40 unscathed, even bask in its glory. Me, well we will see when the day gets here. For now, I plan to deal with this stress by sharing some events, people, life experiences and other musings that have shaped my first 40. Some will be very personal, some will be funny, some sad, but all will be a reflection of my life. I have been blessed to be on earth.
My family is pretty private, so there may not be a lot of mention of them, but I can assure all they are fine and doing great. I love my family very much and owe them a lot. If one chooses to read my blog daily, thank you. this means a lot to me as does everyone I have come in contact with during my life.
So on Day One, this will be more of a table setting or an introduction, an appetizer before the big meal. A little about me. I graduated from Newton High School. Class of 90. I currently work in the Presidential offices of the home mortgage department of a major American Bank. I also do stand up comedy and announce roller derby for Iowa's first derby team, the Mid-Iowa Rollers. I am quite proud of all my accomplishments on the microphone, whether its telling jokes or calling booty blocks. More about all of that stuff later. I am married to a wonderful wife, Suzy, and we have 2 furry kids, Lacey and Vinny, who are both running circles around me as I type. I enjoy sports of all kinds and am a passionate Iowa Hawkeye fan. I co host a podcast with Steve Myers, "Cy-Hawk Thoughts" giving the U of I point of view. When it comes to pay to play, most people know I am on the side of the Cubs, Packers, Bulls and Blackhawks.
so, thats it. . . Day one, done. Just setting the table. time to throw all of my 40 years in a bingo tumbler and see what come out daily.
Chuck
"Intro"
Everyone deals with stress differently. What is stress to one is another's joy. I am sure turning 40 is the same. June 12 I turn 40. Now I know nothing bad happens as soon as I turn 40 or anything like that, but is a halfway point in a couple ways. From graduating high school, a step into adulthood, its halfway to collecting social security. With the way lifespans are these days its also halfway until statistically I meet my maker.
I have been lucky to see many classmates go through 40 unscathed, even bask in its glory. Me, well we will see when the day gets here. For now, I plan to deal with this stress by sharing some events, people, life experiences and other musings that have shaped my first 40. Some will be very personal, some will be funny, some sad, but all will be a reflection of my life. I have been blessed to be on earth.
My family is pretty private, so there may not be a lot of mention of them, but I can assure all they are fine and doing great. I love my family very much and owe them a lot. If one chooses to read my blog daily, thank you. this means a lot to me as does everyone I have come in contact with during my life.
So on Day One, this will be more of a table setting or an introduction, an appetizer before the big meal. A little about me. I graduated from Newton High School. Class of 90. I currently work in the Presidential offices of the home mortgage department of a major American Bank. I also do stand up comedy and announce roller derby for Iowa's first derby team, the Mid-Iowa Rollers. I am quite proud of all my accomplishments on the microphone, whether its telling jokes or calling booty blocks. More about all of that stuff later. I am married to a wonderful wife, Suzy, and we have 2 furry kids, Lacey and Vinny, who are both running circles around me as I type. I enjoy sports of all kinds and am a passionate Iowa Hawkeye fan. I co host a podcast with Steve Myers, "Cy-Hawk Thoughts" giving the U of I point of view. When it comes to pay to play, most people know I am on the side of the Cubs, Packers, Bulls and Blackhawks.
so, thats it. . . Day one, done. Just setting the table. time to throw all of my 40 years in a bingo tumbler and see what come out daily.
Chuck
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