On May of 2001, I survived Manila driving. It actually wasn't that hard. I had good sense of my proximity. Keeping up with traffic was a breeze.

On October of 2004, I drove--big deal. I also tried something new. I ate 1 raw green labuyo, extremely hot tiny chili pepper. I survived. It was as dreadful as that one tiny drop of Endorphin Rush hot sauce on a tortilla chip I had a few years prior at a Moscone Center food convention.

On our next trip back home whenever that will be, I'll still zip through Manila traffic, I'll have another labuyo. I shall also crack open an intact pili nut with a hammer. I hear about this all the time and have yet to experience it for myself. Is the shell really that tough?

Mom & Dad are back home in the Bay Area as of around 7pm last night, or rather five hours ago. They brought with them cool swag: Nissin wafers for KiT, crispy pili for misis, and sugpo for me. Of course, we get to trade a few between the three of us, family benefits and all. They also got us Purefoods corned beef, a few of those regular kinds and a few more "chunkees." Thanks, Mah & Dad! If we can only have the rest, huh? Purefoods hotdogs? Fiesta ham? That's FDA for you.

I arranged to have our old Mazda MX3 picked up at our apartment parking lot to be donated to the SPCA last April of 2004. The truck driver gave me a receipt. I even dropped off a Release of Liability form at a local DMV office. Months later, the San Francisco SPCA sent us a letter thanking us for our donation.

Everything seemed like clockwork, but then we received a Notice of Stored Vehicle sent by san Jose PD sometime early January this year. Some nut, probably the would-have-been registered owner, was driving the MX3 without a license. I called hoping to deal with this misunderstanding and got a recording, and somewhere in their phone system was an assurance to simply send in a Release of Liability and disregard what I got, and so I dropped off another form at the same local DMV and never worried about it again.

Just this weekend, we received a $1,100 collections bill for impound charges. Well that is just friggin' great, a ding on our credit. Apparently, the MX3 was sold at an auction and the payment wasn't enough to cover the storage fees. I called Rickenbacker, the collection agency. All I have to do...

That's some phrase. Recap: All we had to do was call the local SPCA to donate our car, sign off the title, hand it over to the tow truck driver, and send a Release of Liability to DMV. Now all this!!!

Per Rickenbacker, all I have to do is mail them copies of whatever I have showing we donated that damn MX3 last April of 2004, give it about three business days, and call them back to confirm and ask for a letter to show no fault. As for that ding on my credit, I'll have to wait and see.

You want to donate a car? Know who you're dealing with. I'm sure the SPCA has no control over protocols and procedures, and I'm sure the same goes with any other non-profit organizations. I suggest you get rid of that car yourself. Sell it yourself and make sure the ownership transfer happens, and if you still want to donate, then donate what you'll get for your car. If you want to have them pick up your car, then go ahead. I'm sure this sort of thing won't happen to you...

We walked down Ocean Avenue last Saturday some time after a Mother's Day lunch with misis and KiT. Of course, like any other time in Carmel, we went to Caffe Cardinale for a fix. It's a great hideaway. Rather than some sidewalk tables & chairs, they have this patio setting yards from Ocean Avenue. You wouldn't see this caffe right away driving by it.

As for our coffee, misis had her single mocha w/ whipped cream and I a double espresso. My double was good but a bit watered down. It tasted more like a strong joe than espresso. I don't remember it being that mild the last time we were there. Maybe they switched beans or there weren't enough grounds, but it didn't matter. The atmosphere made up for what lacked in my double.

Coffee doesn't have to be limited to a venti latté or a buck-fifty grandé drip, although Starbucks Verona I admit I like. If one part espresso & 10 parts steamed milk is your required fix, then I suppose where you get your tall cup would not matter, but what do I know? I don't drink latté. However, ask me where to buy good espresso and I might have a place for you or two, and it isn't Starbucks...blog you later!