Now that Honey is here and we have started meeting other Filipinos it amazes me how many there really are here. I cannot understand how come I couldn't find many before she came but they are everywhere now. We go to at least one party a month for one of the 20 or so friends Honey has made by pure chance and just speaking to someone she thought was Filipina. We have found 2 nightclubs frequented by large numbers of Filipinos, 2 churches (one Filipino Baptist and another Catholic) that are primarily Filipino. Last night we went to a place called TuffPinoy that used to be call SarapPinoy and it was just like being in the R.P (ya know the 1950's look of a 20x20 room with a serving table and a TV hung on the wall). People were singing karaoke, dancing, and eating all sorts of Filipino cuisine.
We have now been invited to 3 homes of Fil-Am couples here in Houston for various reasons and I'm meeting some really great people. I have even identified 3 neighborhood communities that have 3 or more Fil-Am or Filipino couples living near each other.
Two strange things about all this are that I have not meet one Planet-Love or Mag-Anak member at one of these events. Nor have I found where the nurses from the humongous medical center here hangout. I know about 6 nurses but most of them seem to work 16-hour days right now and don't party much. Surely not all? They constantly ask if I know single guys but then fail to provide pictures, address or e-mail address?
We have found 3 stores that cater primarily to Asians and Filipinos (2 Formarts, 2 Thang Kungs and a "Hong Kong Market") and 3 restaurants that are primarily Filipino. Once Honey started doing the shopping I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the food store I like to use (H.E.B.) has most all the fruits, vegetables and spices that she likes within a few blocks of our home.
I have become a sort of paperwork guru for these guys. Several are in the process of bringing wives and family members here and/or courting/writing Filipinas in the R.P. and constantly call me for info on paper work or procedures - I hope my advice doesn't screw them up. I just can seem to get them to try PL or Mag-Anak?!
Honey is now 11 weeks pregnant and still not showing but she is definitely pregnant. She unfortunately has one of the worst "morning/all day sickness'" I have ever seen. She stubbornly refuses to take "over-the-counter" medications even thought the Doctor has encouraged her to listen to my advice on them. When we married she was #110, when she got here she was #93, gained up to #97 and now weighs around #90!!! Man can that girl sleep too. Trying real hard to motivate her to keep some sort of routine but the nausea makes her stick to the sofa and sleep a lot.
She is near getting approved at a local college to finish her degree and should soon start driving school soon. The SS and IRS offices really put one to us when she first got here by making it take 4 months to get a ITIN # and not telling us other requirements for driving here in Texas like a "letter of denial" from the SS Office when they refused to give her a SS#. Now the word is out that they should have given her the SS# anyway which means we have to start all over again!!! Man don't ya just hate government. Every time she has to go to one of the government offices or doctor I have to take off work because of all the snafus. Amazingly not one of her many new friends do not work and can take her in my place?!
Another thing that has really sank home is "peer pressure". She has so many friends who just surround her and yak like geese when they are together but yet just one un-important old acquaintenance or some "better-than-thou" type say one thing and Honey gets all depressed because she isn't what this individual thinks she should be. How can anyone be so happy about all the great things happening in their life and have one "biddy" change it all with one comment just blows me away.
Not surprisingly though guys everywhere are noticing Honey and I. Four friends are now writing one of the many friends of our new acquaintenances and another and I are planning a diving trip to the R.P. as soon as Honey and I can get certified. Last night one of Honey's many new friends indicated she wanted to introduce her sister to him - hehehe. The "observers" last night at the night club we started the evening at just blew me away. The guys all just stared at the white guys with oriental women in our group (about 20 for a birthday party). They A.W.s didn't know what to think. It seemed all the men were dancing with Filipinas the A.W.s by themselves. Sorry but the word "payback" seems so appropriate right now.
Two years ago my life was miserable. My health bad, my finances desparte and my love life non-existent. Now I just don't know how to make it better other than maybe holding the cute little bearcub in my arms in 6 more months.
Bear and Honey
