Hanging Tough

Building A Mystery

Probably one of the most interesting places Raft3r has ever visited is the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, California.

This place is so bizarre. It may seem like something straight out of an X-Files episode. The natural laws of physics and gravity do not seem to apply in the Mystery Spot.

Compasses do not even work here. Some say aliens have something to do with the freakiness of this place. Pretty neat, huh?

Raft3r, being a huge fan of the supernatural, had such a fun time exploring the place and testing the boundaries of science. In a matter of seconds, I was climbing and bouncing off the walls of the abandoned cabin.

It was incredible!

For a mere 5 bucks, Raft3r got to experience how it feels like to be Spiderman!

Post script: For photos, click here.

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

Raft3r won’t be sleeping tonight.

I just got my iPhone and I'll be playing with it until the wee hours of the morning!

Raft3r is grinning from ear to ear.

At Last

Here are a few things Raft3r missed most about home:

1. Tagaytay;
2. crispy pata (deep fried pork leg);
3. Dyesebel;
4. Café Breton;
5. fish balls;
6. Astroplus (my country's answer to Virgin Megastore - well, sort of);
7. allergy attacks.

Tonight's The Night

Never mind the time I lost my virginity to a hot chick at age 12.

Janet Jackson’s Oakland leg for the Rock Witchu Tour will go down in history as the best night in Raft3r’s life.

This early, I’m also sending out a huge apology letter to my future and possibly real wife for any misunderstanding this post might create later on in our marriage.

Post script: Interested in what the critics have to say about Janet's tour? Click here. Plus this, too.

Happiness

To quote my favorite credit card company:

Price of a front row ticket to Janet's Rock Witchu Tour bought from a scalper - $500.00.

Price of watching your childhood crush perform live - Priceless.

Hate (I Really Don't Like You)

Raft3r is incapable of hate, up until now.

Heck, I even try to remain in contact with my exes. If they don't feel like it, it's their issue and not mine.

But there is this one person I currently detest. In fact, it's quickly turning up to be hatred towards that person.

We will now refer to this person as "it." Just to avoid giving out even the slightest clue.

I know it’s wrong to hate people. But in its case, it's really hard not to.

Friends would attest I always find the good in others. The word hatred does not even exist in Raft3r's vocabulary.

So it must have done something horrible to trigger this bad feeling that has remained dormant for a long time.

The thing is Raft3r avoids it like a plague. That's hard to do since we move in the same cycle. I don't even try to make eye contact with it. Conversations with it are short yet polite.

Raft3r finds it hard to pretend that everything's cool when it's not. I'm very transparent that way.

What’s a guy to do?

Goodbye

Here are some of the things I will miss most about Baltimore:

• Arundel Mills – Raft3r has officially turned into a woman. Shopping is my new favorite pastime.

• Chinese resto around the block – Bye, bye fried chicken wings. Thank you for the added pounds.

• Best Buy – I know you can find it everywhere. But this particular store is so close to the hotel that it has practically become my second home. Raft3r always ends up buying something with EVERY visit.

• Weekend drives to New York – What more can I say but I love NY!

• Jimmy and his banana boat bus – Our school bus driver. He's cool as hell.

• Crazy cardboard box man in the street – He definitely deserves a separate post.

Remains Of The Day

This is Raft3r's last week in Baltimore. Finally.

Training is almost over. Graduation is tomorrow.

After three long and hard exams, Raft3r is finally getting a certificate of completion.

Friday is the last day. We will be packing all our training modules on that day. Raft3r will discretely insert a couple of his personal things in the training box. I’d do anything to save on luggage space.

Honestly, Raft3r can't wait to get outta here.

Try living here for three months and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

If our head quarter's somewhere in LA or NY, even DC, my stay would have been more eventful.

I'm not complaining, though. Nothing beats my one month stint in Majuro last May.

Raft3r is spending his last week in the States in California. I'm also visiting relatives in Vegas.

Of course, the highlight of this entire trip is my wife's concert on the 13th.

Raft3r can’t wait to show Janet some love.

Somebody Told Me

Confused?

Need guidance or a new lease in life?

Here are a few words of wisdom to live by:

Don't be afraid to toot your own horn. (gostreetsmart.com)

Life is sweet in spite of the misery. (Natalie Merchant)

Live simply. So others may simply live. (Mahatma Gandhi)

It’s better to burn out than fade away. (Kurt Cobain)

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. (Confucius)

Never criticize what you don’t understand. You never walked in that man’s shoes. (Elvis Presley)

Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing. (Benjamin Franklin)

There’s nothing more depressing than having everything and still feeling sad. You must learn to water your spiritual garden. (Janet Jackson)

It's better to be buried in debt than to be buried six feet under. (Raft3r)