Coffee Break

"After days of patrolling the perimeter in vain for interesting new people to get to know, you'll have more than your fill. Don't even think about refusing any invitations." - 26 July 2003, Daily Horoscope for Taurus
 
Having coffee with a total stranger was the last thing on my mind today. I was rushing back and forth the mall looking for a decent photo studio who can take my passport pic. I wore my fancy sandals which nearly killed my feet, bad decision indeed. So after I had my pic taken, in a not so glamourous Mexican 'photo-me' like studio, I headed to the taxi station. I would usually walk home despite the thirteen-block distance, but this time I just can't stand trotting on my barely not there strappy sandals.

 
With an ugly pic at hand, I didn't really felt good about using it for a new passport! So I decided to drop by a  printing shop to check their passport photo samples (they only have the standard US size, 2"x2") and see if I can manage to crop it to fit into the Philippine passport requirement. But nah, the sales attendant doesn't know anything about it. Then I thought, well I'll take a digi pix of myself, format it in photoshop, and have it printed! Sounds like a nice plan, yey! (I have yet to do this tomorrow, I already asked Mark to take my pic and I've finished formatting it)

And while I waited for my turn to inquire regarding this darn passport photo, I accidentally bumped into this interesting character. She was also a Filipino, on tour here in the US for a month, is based in Bahrain and married to an Arab Bahraini. Her name's Rowena Al Musawi. She was having her films developed and while she waited she graciously invited me for coffee, which for me was a welcome thought! After all, my feet was really damn petrifying me.

So I showed her around the mall and offered her several choices - Starbucks, pastry shops, etc. We decided to stay at the open food court, so she can puff. And then she shared her life's interesting tales. I was like a journalist curious on how life is in an Arab world. Well, if she told the truth she pretty is living large! Lucky her, her Arab husband is spoiling her rotten. She travels thrice a year with her husband, daughter with a nanny in tow. Hmm!

Note that I was pretty skeptical about her warmness (obviously she also needs a companion around the mall), so I was checking my wallet if it was still there! Hehehe!!! Again, if she is that well off as she claimed to be, I think I should be the one stealing her wallet, don't you think so?!

Anyway, I listened eagerly with her tales. She was an interesting character indeed! And I'm glad I remembered my horoscope for today. Freaky!