The Balanced Rock

It is pretty amazing how this rock managed to balanced itself on top of another rock. This is just one of the many beautiful rock formations that you can see when you visit the Colorado National Monument.

Report of Marriage

I want to file my papers to report my marriage to the Philippine Consulate here in the US but got confused which consulate to send it. My marriage took place in the State of Florida but I am permanently residing here in Colorado. I'm confused if I should file it to the Philippine Consulate in Washington DC where Florida is under their jurisdiction if I based it on my marriage place or to the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, CA where Colorado is under their jurisdiction if I based it on my residence. I just send an email to Philippine Consulate, San Francisco and inquired them to solve my confusion. Hopefully, they would send me a quick response to my inquiry. By the way the Report of Marriage is just about sending your marriage information to the Philippine Consulate in the US if you contracted marriage here in the U.S. Then, the Philippine Consulate will forward a copy of your marriage information to the Civil Registrar General through the department of Foreign Affairs. This is very much importan if you want to get an authenticated copy of your Marriage Certificate from the National Statistics Office (NSO) which I really need because I want to renew my PRC License and have my status change too so my married name will appear on my license.

What are the requirements for the Report of Marriage?( Requirements vary on what consulate you belong)

1. 3 copies of duly accomplished Report of Marriage forms.
2. 3 copies of marriage certificates.
3. 3 copies of the female applicant or the Filipino applicant.
4. 3 Photo ID of both husband and wife ( State ID, Driver's License or data page of a valid passport)
5. Processing Fee of $25.00 ( payable in cash if applying presonally or money order, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the Philippine Consulate General if applying by mail.)

Colorado National Monument

The Colorado National Monument a unit of the national park system, is a spectacular area of twenty-thousand acres of steep-walled red rock canyons located in western Colorado, near the city of Grand Junction, (just about 15 mins drive from home) on the eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado National Monument attracts approximately 500,000 visits per year.

The Colorado national Monument often referred to as "The Monument" hosts a wide range of wildlife, including pinyon pines, juniper trees, ravens jays, Desert Bighorn Sheeps and coyotes. Activites include hiking trails, horseback riding, mountain biking, and scenic drives through the park. My first scenic drive through the park with hubby was a little bit scary for me because it was my first time to see those huge and gigantic canyons and deep cliffs. Though it was pretty interesting to see those rocky mountains with only few plants and trees that grow which was really amazing to me because I grew up in a country where the mountains are forested with different trees and plants. It was very opposite indeed to where I used to but since then I have loved and adored these beautiful rocky mountains of colorado.

Rocky Mountain High

My cassette radio was turned on while I am on my laptop doing my blogs. I usually listen to FM station that plays the old songs. I'm a very big fan of the 60's, 70's and early 80's songs. Though I like the latest hits also. Anyways, while I was doing my blog I heard this song played which i really liked sang by John Denver, he is one of my favorite artists. Just wanna share this song coz it tells about Colorado. The title is called Rocky Mountain High. Hope you enjoy listening!

Dollar exchange is going up

I am glad to see that that the dollar exchange to peso is going up. As of April 18, 2008 the dollar value is 42.02438 Php which is really better compared to the past weeks which was only 40 to 41 php. Hope the dollar value will continue to grow so my parents could get more pesos when I send them some money. I know a lot of Filipinos who are abroad are praying that the dollar will continue to grow because their families will get more money when they have it change to peso when the US dollar goes high.

Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction is my new home since January 2007. Grand Junction is a small city which has only approximately 46,898 population according to 2006 US Census bureau. It is under Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Situated 197 miles (317 km) west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver which is around 4-5 hours drive. It is 20 miles east of the Utah State Line on Interstate 70. It is about 4,597 feet above sea level in what is called 'high desert' country. The name "Grand" refers to the historical name of the upper Colorado River until renamed in 1921, and the word 'junction' is from the joining of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers.

Miss Texas crowned Miss USA 2008

Crstyle Stewart 26, and intrepreneur from Missouri City, Texas crowned as Miss USA 2008 Friday night in Las Vegas. She edge out first runner up Leah Laviano of Mississippi and Tiffany Andrade of New Jersey.

US. V.P. Cheney visits Grand Junction

US Vice President Dick Cheney visited Grand Junction, Colorado Friday April 11, 2008. Local Republicans and Vice President Dick Cheney raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Senate hopeful Bob Schaffer at a $1.9 million dollar North Grand Junction home Friday afternoon. Mesa County Republican leaders are calling the fundraiser a huge success, far exceeding their expectations.

Rainy Day here.....

Rainy Wednesday here and hubby loves it when the weather is like this because you don't have that much here in Grand Junction, Colorado. Don't like it though when it rains because it gets colder. It's cloudy and gloomy but the rain had stopped for a while, I guess the weather would stay cloudy until tonight. I hope tomorrow will be a bright and sunny day.

A duck or a bird?

When I saw this creature for the very first time I thought it was a duck but it wasn't it's a bird. Hubby said it's a honker. This kind of bird were everywhere laying on the snowy ground when we were in Denver zoo.

Big Bear

This bear looked cute and adorable but be careful, never get closer to this animal because they are wild and will be ready to attack you anytime. This is just one of the bears that you can find here Colorado. Though this one is at the zoo in Denver.

Close encounter with a Squirrel

A close encounter with a Squirrel. I've never seen a Squirrel until I came here in theU.S. Isn't that a cute creature? This squirrel is abour 2-3 feet awayfrom us when hubby took a photo of it while we were in Denver zoo.

Denver Zoo

A visit to a zoo in Denver, Colorado approximately 4-5 hrs drive from where we live. This was our valentine escapade on a cold and snowy February 2007. I covered my face with a scarf because it was snowing like a blizzard when hubby was taking me a photo.

First manicure in US

My first manicure ever in the US. My sister-in-law who was hubby's sister took hubby and I to this Salon to have my fingernails and toenails done. That was my first time since I came here to be in the Salon. It's not cheap to go to the salon here in the US for sure. I told myself that it would be my first and last to have my fingernails and toenails done in the salon because first, it cost a lot and second ,I wasn't satisfied with the result because they don't do it good. I know most "Pinays" would agree with me and would prefer to do manicure by themselves than going to the salon.

Orlando, Florida Airport

Our Arrival at Orlando, Florida Airport. Taken in January 2007, our purpose for the trip was for hubby and I to get married and met hubby's other family members who lived in Florida.

Sea World - Orlando, Florida

One of the best attractions you can find in Florida is Sea World. It was my first time to see real Orca - killer whale but at Sea World they give fun entertainement and were so tame and friendly because they were trained to do some tricks for the show. Hubby and I had so much fun watching those dolphins and whales do their smart moves and tricks. I also happend to see those cute and adorable sealions.

Disney World - Orlando, Florida

My first visit to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. This was during me and hubby's honeymoon in January 2007. Florida is just like the Philippines because it's tropical. Only thing different is you won't see any hills and mountains and it gets so cold during winter season even if it doesn't snow. I was wearing coat all the time during our entire stay in Florida because the weather was so cold to me since it was winter season when I got here in the U.S.

American Dream

Every Filipino dreamed of coming to America thinking that life could be better here. I, for one at a very young age had dreamed to come to the U.S. As far as I could remember I have always been attracted to American people because I always see them as beautiful and handsome maybe because the color of their skin, hair and their eyes. I even told myself that someday I would want to marry an American guy and come to America. I really didn't know but for some reason maybe I was already destined to marry one. Although I don't believe in destiny because I know things happen to our lives because of the choices and decisions we make. I remember, there were many occasions that I have been told that I would get married to a foreigner, a white guy. During those times, Internet dating websites were not known yet but I already knew about writing pen pals and I did try but there was no luck and never get serious about it. Then, dating websites began to get popular and I started joining to some of these dating websites hoping to make my American dream come true. There were a couple of American and some European men whom I met online and made commitments with but most of them were just full of promises and never met them in person either until I met the right man prepared by God for me. The man who fulfilled his promises, came to the Philippines to visit me, met my parents and proposed to marry me. I couldn't believe that I would marry a man whom I really dreamed and hoped for to spend life with, who would make my dreams come true. I am thankful to God that I met my husband. To me, the American dream that I wished for is not only coming here in the US but marrying the best man whose love and devotion is so great that I never imagine I would be blessed with.

To my hubby, Thank you very much for coming into my life and for the love and care that you always show to me.