"Saint Nicholas"

Day #7 in the Philippines. (Not déjà vu - Author's note: Even if you are seeing this for the first time as of 1/6/11 regardless of the time stamp to conform with updating daily.)

We did some island hopping in the morning. We almost had to turn back because of strong winds. Everyone was in favor of turning around, cousin Philip was undecided, but I was the only one who implied, "Man up." We kept moving.

On one island, the wind blew off one of mommy's diamond earrings. Everyone searched a long time for it until ten-year-old nephew, Nicholas, used knowledge of physics to pinpoint and locate it. He has been nicknamed "Saint Nicholas." Only ten-years-old ... And what are you doing with your life?

Later, while we anchored the boat so that a few can go snorkeling, some canoe pulled up to sell ice cream. I repeat, they sell ice cream in the ocean here. Dope.

On the boat ride back to the airport, I sat next to some butch-looking chick with an unidentifiable European accent, though she was speaking English, and who looked like she was trying to grow a mullet. She was probably the weirdest tourist I've seen.

Back on the mainland, we were eating in some rundown restaurant when three-year-old niece, "Princess" Maxine, tried to lay down the law again.

MAXINE: Ayaw ko dito! (I don't like it here!)
COUSIN-IN-LAW MALOU: Where do you want?
MAXINE: Trinoma!

Trinoma is a fancy mall. God help everyone when this three-year-old "princess" gets older. Anyway, our flight was delayed.

RYAN: (Sarcastically) Cool!
COUSIN SHEILA: (Oblivious to sarcasm) No, it's not!