Here's an account of our recent Prepian trysts in NY and LA ...Pictures to
follow...

September 22, 2000  Chicago
'Elmer, we are still at O'Hare.' I was calling Elmer to update him on our
travels from Chicago to NY. His instruction was to call him at any time. Kuya
Ruds and I are experiencing flight delays due to weather conditions in
Chicago. Our flight was supposed to leave at 6 pm and it is already 8 pm and
the plane we are flying is still in Toronto. 'We are having brunch at Norma's
tomorrow at the Le Parc Meridien Hotel in Manhattan. Ling made reservations.
We will meet at 10 am', Elmer said. 'Ester and Rudy confirmed already.'

To make a long story short, our flight finally left at 10:55 pm. We landed at
JFK at 2 am. We were supposed to land at La Guardia but it was already
closed.  We were still the lucky ones, since another UA flight from Chicago
to La Guardia was hit by lightning.

September 23, 2000, New York City
My cousin, Boots drove us to the Meridien Hotel at W 56th. Very nice. Elmer,
Chichi and Sarah were already there. Ang laki ng tinaas ni Sarah in a month.
We gave Elmer copies of some pictures from the Coral reunion. Soon, Ester
joined us with a bag containing the videos from the reunion that she was
going to lend to Rudy V.  She is sporting a new hair do. It was minutes past
our reservation time, so we decided to take our seats lest they give them
away. At the entry to the restaurant is prominently featured the Zagat review
naming Norma's the best place for breakfast in NY. Nothing but the best for
UP Prep 65! Ling arrived looking glamorous, as usual. We are still missing
Rudy.

The waiter gave each of us thimble portions of frozen orange juice served in
shot glasses. We had coffee served in a French coffee press. Very
continental. We are ready to order, medyo gutom na so we did not wait for
Rudy anymore. Ling and Elmer order Huevos Rancheros, I ordered banana
chocolate waffles, Ester some Mango crepes, Kuya Ruds the normal 2 eggs,
sausage and hash browns, Chi an omelet¦. Rudy arrived soon after and ordered.
When the food arrived we had to take pictures - great presentation. Then all
of us had to taste what each one ordered.  The Huevos Rancheros was the pick
of the day. To give you an idea of the status of this restaurant… what Kuya
Ruds ordered cost $1.99 at Denny's (a popular breakfast place), here it was
$14. Part of what we are paying for is the ambiance, which I'm sure ERAP
would have complained about.

Sige ang interview kay Rudy V since he is the one we don't know very much
about. He just got a new job.  We made some tentative plans for the Niagara
reunion. If Ling's place in Manhattan is completed in time, we can spend time
there first and drive to Niagara. Kaya lang may nagmu-multo daw…. We are also
planning a trip to New Orleans for Madri Gras, if we can get accommodations.
Rory, be thankful na we did not have enough time, we almost raided you in
Washington DC so we can swim in your pool. We also talked about Ling's next
assignment. Put your dibs in,,,, Myan Mar, Vietnam, New Zealand and Austria
are favored at this time. Meanwhile, Sarah is taking our pictures from their
digital camera. Malakas si Kuya Ruds kasi parating naka-focus sa kanya ang
camera. Ling's cell phone rings, Eric is here to pick her up. Kuha ang bill.
Agawan sila ni Kuya Ruds but Ling won. Thank you, Ling!!!!

We decided to walk Ling to where Eric is and then go to Tiffany's.  Ling's
mom and Ling's sister-in-law were with him. So we went to say hello to them
too. Chichi and Sarah decided that they would go to the World Trade Center
where a children's show is going on.

Elmer, Ester, Rudy V, Kuya Ruds and I all proceed to Tiffany's on 5th Avenue.
I'm looking for  Ling's necklace that I have been admiring. Ling said it is
on the 2nd floor. Inside Tiffany's, akala mo namimigay ng diamonds. Ang
daming tao! We spot the elevator. Mahaba ang pila, we  decided to take the
stairs. Akyat, akyat,akyat. Aba eh pagod na kami e wala pa rin kami sa 2nd
floor. Mezzanine pa lang. So we decided to take the elevator anyway. Ay
salamat 2nd floor na. Hanap ang jewelry. Marami rin nakapila.Kung bumili 3
pieces, 5 pieces.  Nakahanap ng upuan ang mga boys. Kami ni Ester waited at
the counter for someone to help us. We finally get waited on.. Masyadong
maliit yung choker ng necklace and it will take til Monday to fix. So I
settled on a bracelet.. Saka na yung necklace. Tawag si Kuya Ruds para
magbayad.

Ok stop muna sa washroom ng Tiffany's. Susunduin na kami ng cousin ko para
pumunta sa wedding rehearsal.  Buong tropa nag lakad to the meeting
place.
Stopped to admire the jewelry at the Cartier window¦. Lakad, lakad. Ang
ganda
ng weather, pero mukhang uulan. Ay, kabog. Nabagsak ang cell phone ni
Elmer,  bukas pala ang zipper ng clutch bag niya. Naku nahulog din yun PDA
(palm pilot).  Saan kaya? Mukhang sa Tiffany's pa kasi hindi natin
narinig.
So we all walk back to Tiffany's. We retraced our steps and asked the
receptionist if any one turned in a PDA. Hindi daw but she will notify
security.  We went upstairs to the mezzanine where we saw Elmer with his PDA
last. No one has turned it in. Tulong yung security sa amin. I asked
Elmer
to check his bag again. Ay naku nanduduon sa isang pocket. Another senior
moment!!! Tawanan.Karipas kami ng pag-alis (Fast break at Tiffanny's daw
instead of Breakfast at Tiffany's). Another unforgettable moment for the
annals of Prep 65.

Elmer, Chi and Sarah and us were supposed to meet later to enjoy an Italian
street fair for San Genaro.. According to Elmer, it is the mother of all
street fests in NY. But my family obligations interfered so hindi kami
nakatuloy. Sayang. Next time, ha Elmer.
 

September 25, 2000, Los Angeles
From NY, I flew straight to LA. Daddie came to pick me up at my hotel in
Orange, CA.. We were supposed to meet Willie Tenorio and have dinner
someplace. Willie is suggesting a Peruvian place. It was past 7 eh wala pa 
so Daddie and I decided to go on our own. We went to a popular mall, called
The Block. Maraming restaurants and stores - more tailored para sa baguettes
(sp?). Walked around to shop, while choosing a place to eat. Tingin ng shoes,
incense, maleta, etc. Namili ng chocolate, calendar sa Hilo Hattie.. We
decided on Café Tu Tu Tango.. The menu consist of all appetizers.
Daddie
and I ordered 3 dips with warm flat onion bread, crispy calamari with spicy
sauce, skewered beef with ginger sauce and fried ravioli . On the house was a
serving of flat breads with hummus. We ate outside. Perfect ang weather. As
usual the discussion centered around buhay buhay, why Daddie missed the
reunion and what she missed. After dinner while we were having our dessert
of bananas and ice cream with caramel sauce, we asked the psychic to give us
a reading using a tea cup. Nothing earth shattering. As a matter of fact
parang pareho nga ang readings namin ni Daddie. Medyo kulang sa originality
and bola yung psychic nila but it was still fun and a great topper to a nice
dinner.