Reflection

I overslept the morning of Easter Sunday that I had to hear mass in a rather unconventional way.  Yes, I still consider myself Catholic in a lot of little ways -- although I still do not like the fact that they did not accept the name my parents picked for me to be christian -- ahem  -- catholic, enough that there has to be a "Maria" placed with it.  I often wonder where was my baptismal certificate.  I don't remember ever seeing it.

Somehow I remember the above church window photograph when I thought of my own personal reflection during the just concluded holy week.  Maybe it has something to do with my recent conversation with my oh-so-ever-faithful-friend JF (and I say that with with adoration on how she handles everything in stride), who perhaps just has this capability of making anyone she talks to sees the blessedness of almost everything around you!  (I had once mentioned to her that morality should not depend on a God concept, but knew I would not be able to get into anywhere with her on that one).  The scientist in me gets clouded whenever I talk with her.  I guess that's just part of the rumination.

Easter Sunday afternoon was spent hiking, listening to birds (seeing new huge woodpeckers!), learning wild life and basking in the the rather nice sun (with B)!
 
---------------------------------
Paoay Church, Laoag City
Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Japanese Change

While about to stash away my coin purse holding my Philippine coin change, I remembered I had placed the change handed to me after purchasing drinks while at our layover at Narita Airport in Japan en route back to the States.  So I retrieved them and placed them elsewhere (Japan will eventually be a destination, and not just a connection!).  I had asked the salesperson if I could pay in US dollars (I almost wanted to ask if could I pay in Philippine pesos, since I had a crisp thousand in my wallet).  I know it could have made my life easier to just hand her my plastic, but my frugality ensued - I did not want to pay the extra whatever +% for foreign transaction fee that will be added to the already over-charged drink in the airport.  That's how I got these coins.  Talk about being short changed: I gave her a ten-dollar bill for what seems like a less than five dollar purchase and I get these yen for change!

And I probably need to learn basic Japanese.  The green tea drink that I picked tasted like burnt tobacco leaves.   And I also didn't know I picked the unsweetened burnt tobacco leaves.

--------------------
Japanese Yen
Taken with my iPhone