Profiles in Discourage: 1989 Toyota Tercel – Dead Battery

May 1999. Tempe, AZ. After almost three years living in the United States, I decided to get a car. Since I didn't have much money, I went for the cheapest I could find. From the classifieds section in the Arizona Republic, I found a 1989 Toyota Tercel that was advertised for $2,699, called the owner Aaron F., and made an appointment to meet. The car was a pale metallic blue, 5-door liftback that bore a lot of similarity to the photos below.

Great Moments: Jamestown Settlement

During the summer of this year, I received complimentary tickets to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Wife and Son had been there before. I haven't. The tickets came in three sets: one for a single-day access with free parking, one for a meal of entree and drink, and one for a souvenir cup for free refills after paying full price for the cup.

Great Moments: 2nd Week, 2nd Vacation – ... The Fishes

("2nd Week, 2nd Vacation" continues from The Storm, The Sea....)

During our visit to Topsail Beach three years ago, New York Corner Deli was our breakfast place on both mornings. Conveniently located in the center of Topsail Island, it was a 15-minute drive from our Airbnb stay. With our stay at Saltwater Suites this time around, the drive was less than 5 minutes. The choice of NY Corner Deli was a no-brainer... for both mornings. 

Great Moments: 2nd Week, 2nd Vacation – The Storm, The Sea...

Our first family guided vacation program was so successful that we were gamed for another one the following week. Not exactly. We had already planned the second vacation a month ahead, coinciding with 4th of July so that it required two instead of three vacation days from work. Since 2021, we had been using Airbnb to find vacation stays at the beaches of Tar Heel. The choice of stay determined which beach we would go to. This time around, we broke the Airbnb tradition by making a reservation at a place called Saltwater Resort & Suites. It was a commercial property located within walking distance of the Surf City beach in Topsail Island. 

Return to The Big Apple: Addendum – The Hotel

The hotel provided by the program has a 4-star ("upscale") rating. That means refrigerator, microwave, rollover bed ($50/night), laundry service, breakfast and wifi (free for travel group) are premium options. In contrast, Hampton Inn – one of my preferred hotels – is rated 3-star ("mid-tier") and offers those premium options – particularly refrigerators, microwaves, breakfast and wifi - as complimentary. 4-star rating does not mean 4-star quality, as we found out.  

Return to The Big Apple: Part 6 – It’s A Wrap

("Return to The Big Apple" continues from Part 5.)

Day 6: Wrap-Up

I turned off my phone alarm the night before. It was a little after 7am when I got out of bed. After our luggage were packed, we headed to Tick Tock Diner for our final breakfast of the program using the last set of coupons. (Full details of the dining experience is found in Addendum – Complimentary Dining.)

Return to The Big Apple: Part 5 – Under the Boardwalk

("Return to The Big Apple" continues from Part 4.)

Day 5: NY Aquarium, Coney Island & Little Island

The morning began with my 12-Steps meeting on Zoom, followed by breakfast at Tick Tock Diner (full details of the dining experience is found in Addendum – Complimentary Dining), and then assembled at 8:30am at the hotel lobby. With Tour Guide Joe was Assistant Langston. While we were rolling into 34th Street–Herald Square station, three members experienced difficulties using their OMNY cards. Despite multiple attempts to scan the cards, a red screen appeared and entry was denied. Joe remedied the issue by scanning his OMNY card to give them access. This issue would extend to more members before the day was through.

Return to The Big Apple: Addendum – Complimentary Dining

One of the benefits of a guided tour is meals being inclusive. I don't have to figure out where and what to eat in an unfamiliar place three times a day. This program was no exception. Aside from Day 3 lunch, Day 4 dinner and Day 5 lunch – which we were to find our own – all the other meals were pre-arranged for us. 

In this entry, I focus only on the four restaurants (full-service providers including waiters, silverware, etc.) that were included in the program: Tick Tock Diner, Paesano's on Mulberry Street, Hill Country BBQ Market and SIMÒ Pizza. They were evaluated and curved on food, service and ambience ("1" for best, "4" for worst).

Return to The Big Apple: Part 4 - A Walk In The Park

("Return to The Big Apple" continues from Part 3.)

Day 4: Central Park & Museum of Natural History

I woke up at the same time as the last two mornings. The day's program agenda was Central Park and free time afterwards to do as we wished. In addition to those, we had two other things to do. First, the room attendants would be coming in to - among other things - take out our trash. We locked our luggage, and I took my laptop with me in my backpack. Second, today was laundry day. We consolidated our dirty clothes into plastic bags to be later packed into a luggage. Then it was off to Tick Tock Diner (full details of the dining experience is found in Addendum - Complimentary Dining) and afterwards meet at the lobby at 9:30am.

Return to The Big Apple: Part 3 – Top Of The Rock

("Return to The Big Apple" continues from Part 2.)

Day 3: UN, 30 Rock & Times Square

I had only seen the United Nations (UN) on TV and at the movies, but never in person. In every show that takes places in the UN, everyone dresses business formal. There is a dress code (of sorts) according to the UN website FAQ: 

Return to The Big Apple: Part 2 – There & Back Again

("Return to The Big Apple" continues from Part 1.)

Day 2: Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, Little Italy

It was time to wake up. I didn't sleep well, wanted to sleep longer but couldn’t. The bathroom mirror revealed dark brown colorations under my eyes, noticeable with my glasses off. That was what I got every time I didn't get enough sleep. We had to get dressed and head to Tick Tock Diner for breakfast. (Full details of the dining experience is found in Addendum – Complimentary Dining.)

Return to The Big Apple: Part 1 – What Can Possibly Go Wrong?

I don't travel. When I do, it's only for business. I prefer road travels because the variables can be managed. Not with air travel. Too many variables beyond my control, financially costlier, and unrestrained negative feedback by family should anything – however small – displeases them. 

Great Moments: Love & Autism

March 2015. While living in Stafford, TX, I rented Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot on DVD from a Fort Bend County library. Most people have not heard of the opera, but they certainly are familiar with "Nessun Dorma" and the tenor most associated with it. However, this version of the aria is not in the DVD. The DVD features the splendid 1987 Metropolitan Opera production, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, conducted by James Levine, and stars Eva Marton as the titular character with Placido Domingo as the Prince. I wanted to see Domingo's take on "Nessun Dorma". He was amazing, definitely on par with Pavarotti in many ways. (Though Pavarotti held the penultimate note a lot longer, cementing his iconic status with the aria.) If you have to watch only one version of Turandot, I highly recommend this 1987 Met version. 

Looking Back: The Great Paint Job

Growing up in Krypton, I first met Rev. Jon at a Sunday school Christmas party. I was starting Primary 5 next year, and he would be the Sunday school teacher. He got to know me really well, particularly from observing my unruly behaviors. Years later, while he was training to be a pastor, I was invited to his wedding; two years later, he was posted to my church. In late July 1996, while still in Krypton, we met for lunch ostensibly to talk about my upcoming shoplifting case. On the way to an eatery, he put two and two together.

"Let me ask a pointblank question," Rev. Jon said. "Did you write those things?"

Great Moments: Celine Dion's "Taking Chances"

When Mom and Sis announced their plan to visit us in California in September 2008, we looked at dates to visit New York City. Around that time, Celine Dion's "Taking Chances" tour was in full swing. I discovered that she was going to perform at the Prudential Center at about the same time we were planning to visit the Big Apple. Sis has a few of Dion's albums and singles, including "The Power of Love" single. I know this because Sis played that song at full blast almost every day for months back in its heyday. Wife loves Dion's duet "The Prayer" with Andrea Bocelli. I myself have a modest collection of Dion's hits on mp3 files. Her "O Holy Night" is my second favorite version of the carol (number one being Josh Groban's, which is an homage to her version).  

Looking Back: First Time in The Big Apple

Our upcoming family vacation will be in the Big Apple. It would be our second visit. During our first visit, we attended a Celine Dion concert, visited Wife's family, sight-saw the Big Apple for a grand total of 10 hours. We drove to Manhattan on one day and took the train there on another day. Driving in the Big Apple – especially Manhattan – was quite the experience I do not wish to repeat. That's why the upcoming vacation will be a guided tour. 

So what happened the first time?

Papal Conclave – As seen on "Conclave"

In the preceding entry, I covered the conclave process as depicted in The Two Popes and The New Pope. This entry continues with Conclave, where the story is set almost entirely within the timeline of a papal conclave. There is so much to describe from one film that a separate entry is required. There are plenty of spoilers here. Do not read any further if you do not want to know. 

Papal Conclave – As seen on "The Two Popes" & "The New Pope"

The recent passing of Pope Francis’ led to 283% and 417% spikes in viewership of the films Conclave and The Two Popes respectively. What better opportunity to check out both critically acclaimed films and to satisfy a personal curiosity: how is the selection of the next pope aka papal conclave depicted in the big and small screens? It takes up nearly the entirety of Conclave, while two of such is shown in The Two Popes. 

Great Moments: Morty Rich Hostel

I recently watched the NetFlix miniseries Ripley, based on the novel The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. In the final episode, Tom Ripley stays at the Palazzo Contarini Polignac in Venice. The Palazzo, as it appeared in Ripley, has the look of a grand mansion. It reminded me that I used to stay in a mansion some years ago. Twice. 

Profiles in Discourage: Retaking The Exam

Secondary 3 was the last time I passed the 2nd Language class. It was downhill from there. I became less interested in the subject, often switched off during class time. I was certain the morning hours had something to do with it. Secondary 1 and Secondary 2 years were held in the afternoons, meaning I slept later and got more sleep. Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 years were held in the mornings, which meant less sleep. Furthermore, 2nd Language was the first class of the day – at least since Secondary 4. I remembered not being fully awake most of that time. That year, I got more scarlet letters for 2nd Language leading to failing that subject in the end-of-year exams. That was carried over to Secondary 5. 

Looking Back: The Promotion

The education system in Krypton differed from those in the western world. One, it started with Primary 1, not kindergarten. Two, a school year began on January 2 and ended in mid-November. Each year had two semesters, followed by four weeks and six weeks of school vacations respectively. Each semester was further divided into two terms, with a week of school vacation in-between. A student is required to complete a minimum of four years of secondary education in order to graduate with an equivalent of a GED. Failure to receive a passing grade in English and in the aggregate for the remaining subjects would result in a repeat of that year. Secondary 2 was a streaming year. If the student failed that year, he would be placed in a 3-year Normal stream instead the 2-year Express stream. Why did I say "he"? Because I was in an all-boys school from primary through secondary education.

Profiles in Discourage: Frank "Master Debater" Y.

Frank Y. was my sponsor from October to November of 2022. I connected with him prior to the 12-Steps retreat. After confirming him as sponsor, I waited till the end of the retreat and gave Dick H. the notice of separation. Frank was recommended by a brother in the 12-Steps fellowship. As the brother puts it:

Profiles in Discourage: Dick H. – Steps 6 & 7

Working Steps 6 & 7 with Dick H. was akin to working with a bureaucrat or a social worker. They ask a set of questions, one responds. Don't volunteer information. Keep it short and simple. Communication is dry and clinical. It was difficult with Dick due in large part to what happened in Steps 4 & 5 and me actively resenting him. Ultimately, I realized not only I wasn't ready to move forward, but also what a dick Dick was.

Profiles in Discourage: Dick H. – Steps 4 & 5

I first met Dick H. in October 2021 at the fall 12-Step retreat held in a Zoom video conference. He was a facilitator in the Steps 2 & 3 class. I remembered him to be longwinded. Much like the boring commencement speeches that spoke in generalities, he talked a lot but didn't make any specific points, not one that I could recollect. I'm sure it was about the importance of Steps 2 & 3 in recovery, but I checked out mentally after three minutes. When my then sponsor proved to be inexperienced in sponsoring and caused more harm than good, I asked Dick to be my sponsor in May 2022.