My Windows password (on my work laptop, I no longer have a personal Windows computer) expired and I had to change my password otherwise I wouldn’t be able to login or even send out my daily status reports. Unfortunately, it turns out that the task is more difficult than I imagined. Every time I try to change my password, I get the message: Your password must be at least 8 characters, cannot repeat any of your previous 13 passwords and must be at least 7 days old. My new password satisfied the first two requirements but I couldn’t figure out how a new password must be at least 7 days old. And my old password is definitely more than 7 days old. A frustrated call the the help desk didn’t answer the puzzle. Instead they just gave me a pattern for the password: 8 characters and a numeric character must be in the middle. Totally unrelated to the error message.
Since 2007, I’ve been going to Putipot, a small scenic island off Zambales. I missed last year due to Jeanne being relatively small. So when Val said Gilbert is coming home from Japan and that Mines is organizing a road trip/outing, I suggested Putipot as one of the choices and eventually it was chosen. Since Jeanne is around and not everyone have the camping gear, we decided to stay at a resort. Glenn was able to make reservations at Puerto Del Mar.
Early Saturday morning, we linked up at NLEX where we learned Mines wouldn’t be joining us. It was just Glenn, Gilbert, Val, Jeanne, Michelle, and I. The drivers, Glenn and I, had a quick huddle to work out the route (Jay: Let’s just follow the road) and convoy order (Glenn : I’ll follow you) and then we’re off along NLEX, SCTEX all the way to Subic, then through the various towns of Zambales. We made a quick stop at San Antonio for a visit to the pamilihang bayan or town market where we bought a fish to cook on the island. More on this later.
Michelle texted this afternoon that her mom, who is at home babysitting Jeanne, was feeling dizzy. Unfortunately, she couldn’t leave work plus I was nearer so I ran out from work, almost literally, and drove home. When I got there, I saw Michelle’s mom looked pale and sick. Good thing a neighbor was there and kept her company.
We quickly proceeded to the nearest hospital. When we got there, the staff wheeled her into the emergency room, lay her on a bed, checked her vital signs, and gave her some medicine. She’s under observation for a bit so Steph, Jeanne, and I had some pizza. Actually just Steph and I. Jeanne wouldn’t eat her slice so I got her some juice and corned beef pan de sal instead.
After an hour or so, we checked on Michelle’s mom again and she seemed better. The doctor prescribed some anti-vertigo medicine and discharged her. After paying, we went back home. Michelle arrived soon after and we went out again to buy the medicine.
Quite an interesting day.
On our first night at Los Banos last Holy Week, Michelle and I were looking for a place to eat when we discovered Mio Cucina. We were initially planning to go to LB Square but when we got there, it didn’t look like an appetizing place. So we headed back along Lopez Ave. and just before we reached Halcon St. we saw this small sign that read Mio Cafe though I couldn’t really see a restaurant. I asked the security guard and he directed me to an extremely narrow driveway. I vaguely saw a doorway to my right as I concentrated on not scraping the sides of the car. This is literally a hole-in-the-wall resto.
The place is as small as the sign and the parking area. It looked like it can accommodate only 20 people tops. It was already a bit crowded with a party of about a dozen people who were there ahead of us. But it was well-lit, well-furnished, and very homey. Kinda like a smaller, more upscale, better-lit, and less cluttered Dona Juanita.
My mom and dad flew in for the Holy Week and Jack’s graduation. As with family gatherings, I knew it was going to be both fun and hectic.
Thurs Apr 21 – My dad wanted to go to SM Mall of Asia but it turned out to be closed. So we just went to the bayside and mingled with the crowd waiting for a cenaculo. We had dinner at Dad and Mom’s Family Restaurant. It was overflowing with seafood. So much for abstinence. But it sure tasted great!
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