We have been to Walmart’s a few times buying things she wants for the apartment and herself. Elena enjoys how the store has so many types of items including a food market.

I asked her of her feelings about Las Vegas. Her comments are: “Las Vegas is WOW.” The streets are so wide with many lanes. Even when traffic is bad, it is better than in Philippine cities. There also is a view of the mountains surrounding the Las Vegas valley. In addition, the City and the streets are so clean.

We also have been to Costco and Elena was so shocked with the large quantities of products. Her eyes went wide when she saw the strawberries, so many, so fresh and so large.

With the free taste, samples we tried some Tri-tip beef and she was amazed how tender. We did buy a package of 9 mangos. They were from in Mexico but Elena told me how sweet they are. She is also enjoying all the types of apples here compared to the pulpy Fuji apples back home.

The other evening we went to Applebee’s and we had a nice and friendly Filipino waiter. They have a special (promo) running where you get one appetizer and two entrees for $20. We shared an order of spinach and artichoke dip with chips,   then Elena ordered a 3 cheese penne pasta with chicken and I had a steak with baked potato. Elena’s eyes opened when she tasted the steak,for the price, the steak was so tender.

There is a site online, ShowTickets4locals.com where you can get free tickets to shows since if a show is not sold out, they like to have “Seat fillers.” Yesterday I ordered tickets to see “Divas” where Nightly Frank Marino is the world’s most beautiful female impersonator, drag queen as Joan Rivers with others impersonators’.  Click here to see a YouTube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rMlwsSqIdA Now in the 10 days here, we have seen two shows.

Don’t get too excited guys, these are men.

Before the show, we walked across the street to Caesars Forum where there are some high-end shops and restaurants. Elena enjoyed how beautiful the outside and inside was decorated.

Overall, Elena is enjoying the city, the different tastes of foods available and the large quantizes and varieties. The only problem she has so far is because of the dryness with the low humidity her skin is dry and we both have a cough.

As I asked her what else she feels about Vegas and she said the best part is, she is with “Her husband and he takes such good care of me.”

The flip side is she misses her friends and family but she daily talks, texts and chats with them online. She is also craving many Filipino foods but is enjoying the foods here.

As we left the airport I drove Elena up Las Vegas Blvd to see the hotels, then we stopped at the super market to pick up necessities for the next morning. Wednesday morning we went to a mall for Elena to have her first experience at a American Mall and we bought her a hat to wear to shade her face. Then we drove to the Stratosphere to meet up with one of my long term readers, Marcel and his lovely wife Judith. They are  from Toronto, Canada  and did a road trip across the US and stopped here for a few days to meet up with us.

We first went up to the top of the Stratosphere tower which is 1,149 feet tall which is over 100 stories high. Up there we had a great view of the whole Las Vegas Valley. After that Marcel and Judith graciously treated us to a buffet lunch at the Bellagio Hotel. Elena enjoyed seeing and tasting so many items available. I over did it too especially the deserts.

Thursday and Friday we spent going to different shopping areas to buy items needed for our apartment. Thursday night I was able to get 2 free tickets to the Chris Angel Believe show at the Luxor Hotel. Elena enjoyed the magic show and was amazed at the huge Egyption type displays.

Friday evening I cooked Elena dinner and would not let her into the kitchen to help which frustrated her since she had always cooked for me.

Now life goes back to normal for me. I am writing this Friday evening and need to hurry up since I get up at 1am.

I will try to keep up with posting Elena’s experiences and observations here as often as I can.

About me, I was working the 5:00am to 4:30pm shift, which I liked, since it is almost normal working hours. Then in June when they rebid all the shifts, I am now on a 3:00am to 2:30pm shift. I still have Thursdays and Fridays as my days off.

For my routine, I get up at 1:00AM, have a cup of coffee while I talk on Skype with Elena, leave at 2:15am to be in to get my cab by 2:40am and be on the road to be available by 3:00am. Then I come in by 2:30pm, gas up car, turn in paperwork and cash. I then stop off on the way home if I need anything from the market and am home by 3:00 to 3:30pm. I then make a light dinner and eat it while I talk to Elena and then go to bed.

Work has been slow and the rides and tips have been down. Because of this, the last two weeks I worked both my days off. This is to earn extra income to make up for the slower days, also to earn more shift credits to cove the days off when Elena gets here.

Now the most important part of this chapter:

Elena has finally received her VISA and purchased her airline tickets. She will leave Davao August 8 and in Las Vegas August 9. The reason for the day in Manila is to get her CFO sticker put in her passport so she will to be able to leave the country. In case you did not read or forgot, the Commission on Filipino Overseas has a mandatory seminar to all Filipinos immigrating or leaving to work in another country. Elena attended the seminar months ago and now just needs to present her passport and visa to get her sticker.

The holdup was this, On May 8^th Elena went in for her interview at the US Embassy in Manila. After the waiting, she was called in for her interview. She was told everything was good except one problem. Her passport has her name as Maria Elena Libres Linder but as the Philippine Government agencies do many times had her name on her NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) report as Ma. Elena Libres Linder. This abbreviation is due to the fact that many Catholic women in the Philippines have Maria as part of their first name and to cut down on typing they abbreviate Maria to Ma.

This is fine in the Philippines but even though the Embassy is in Manila, they are so bureaucratic they have no common sense and because of this, Elena had to return home, go to the NBI and get a new report showing her as Maria Elena A.K.A (also known as) Ma. Elena.

Of course, nothing is easy when you deal with any government so when Elena went to the NBI she was told, even though a regular NBI report is done the same day, the A.K.A. has to be requested by Manila. After two weeks passed, she received it and sent it by next day courier to Manila. However, the format was wrong so Elena was notified two weeks later by the Embassy the format it was needed. Again, Elena returned to the NBI and had to wait another two weeks until she could return to pick it up.

Well now, all that is left is for Elena to pack, say her goodbyes and get on a plane August 9 to fly here to Las Vegas. I am so excited I am telling everyone I know and thinking of the items I need in the apartment for her arrival.

I originally thought about renting a car to pick up Elena at the airport since I think she would not be able to hold her luggage while sitting behind be on the scooter, but about a month ago, I felt my savings was good enough to go buy a decent used car. So now, I am the proud owner of a 2003 Buick Century.

In the future, I will post articles with pictures of us experiencing Las Vegas together and write about her views, opinions and experiences adjusting to her new life in a new country.

Thank you all for staying with me, even with my lack of postings.

When we got her approval from the National Visa Center, we were told Elena had to bring two items with corrections. Then looking online at the the Travel.State.Gov site, we saw Elena needed to go in advance for her medical exam at St. Lukes.

To make sure everything was complete and forwarded to the Embassy by her interview, Elena flew to Manila the last week of April for her Medical and then returned to Manila May 5th for the May 6th interview.

Well, it turned out the wait to be called was much longer than the interview. Elena offered the corrected items and the interviewer told her it they were not needed and after a few questions Elena was told she was approved.

The total interview took lest than 5 minutes. Now Elena will fly back home, start organizing her packing and wait for her visa to arrive. Once it arrives she will get prices for airfare and then purchase the tickets.

Once in Manila, she will have to go to the CFO office to get the sticker placed in her visa so the officials at the airport will let her exit. See my article about the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

I am so excited and so is my mother and brother. It has been a long process. For my mother and Brother, it has been 5 years of them waiting to meet Elena.

I hope Elena comes before the end of May since, as a taxi driver,  I can get 2 free tickets to see Gladys Knight at the Tropicana.

I will keep you all informed about the rest of the process and then let you know how Elena enjoys America and Las Vegas.

I also want to thank my readers for the good wishes and prayers.

I know many readers will think is Bruce crazy to work so much? Well, except for the long hours and low pay, I enjoy the job and I have been doing much better in tips. I also am supporting two households. I have been also getting good numbers in the average at work for both dollars booked on the meter and the amount of customers or “trips” each day.

Now for the reason most of you follow my site, what is happening with Elena’s VISA? In December our petition at the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) was approved and forwarded to the NVC (National Visa Center).

Since then I had received notices that items had to be corrected or more items of information needed to be sent to them. Since my brother is a joint sponsor, I needed to send in proof of his citizenship and more information on my Affidavit of Support.

Well last Friday, April 8^th I received an email that our file was approved and being forwarded to Manila. Then yesterday, Thursday April 14^th we received an email with the date for Elena’s appointment for her interview at the Consulate in Manila. It is in just three weeks on May 6^th.

In the past, Elena would receive a package from the Embassy with an appointment date to have a physical at St. Luke’s Medical Center and then the interview date and time a week later. Now Elena just has to go first to the Medical Center with the letter from the NVC showing her file number and approval and then to bring the approval to the Embassy for her interview. This can be done the same week. Another approved system is that Elena should get her visa the day of the appointment instead of paying for a messenger service to deliver her passport with visa once completed.

Once Elena returns to Davao after her interview with her Visa, she can then pack and purchase her airline tickets to come to Las Vegas. I am expecting Elena to be here by the end of May.

With all the waiting and corrections, we are so excited the time is so close. Her interview will be one year and two days from the date I left the Philippines. For almost a year we have only seen and talked to each other over the internet and calls using the Magic Jack Elena has in at our house in Davao.

About our house and car, our oldest nephew Amar and his wife and new baby will live in the house and care for it. We are still trying to sell the car to help cover the expenses of Elena’s trip and to help us purchase a decent used car here in Las Vegas.  If any of my readers are interested in the car, please notify me. All offers will be considered.

Also all, please join us in prayers for Elena’s safe trip to Manila and a speedy approval of her interview and receiving her visa and her trip and new adventure coming to America.

Most days off are filled with laundry, house hold chores, banking and other errands. Also when life becomes routine, you have trouble thinking about what to write.

Well here are some items of interest. First with Elena’s Visa situation and the National Visa Center requests. After paying the fees for the Affidavit of Support and the Immigrant Visa Application I submitted the Affidavit of support. Then I had to send Elena the application for Immigrant Visa since it had to be signed by her and she needed to send me additional documentation. This documentation was previously sent to USCIS, but I guess they keep it in their files and do now pass it along.

I am then notified by the NVC that certain items on my brothers and my affidavits need to be corrected, and additional information included. They also requested the forms be signed in Blue pen to prove it is an original signature. Don’t they know there are color printers so blue can be copied too?

Well I sent it all back including Elena’s the Immigrant Visa Application this week and I hope it goes through. If I am not notified by email, I guess we will know when Elena gets the package from the Embassy.

Some things are new with my job. A while back, I put in a request for a straight shift instead of the broken up shifts. I was previously working 5:30am to 5pm Saturdays unrestricted, 3:30am to 3pm Sunday and Monday geographically restricted and Monday and Tuesday 3:30am to 3pm unrestricted. Now am on a shift of all days 5am to 4:30pm unrestricted and my shift car has one of the new credit card machines. This is now to our company, in the past we did not take credit cards.  It is nice having the same hours, the same car every day unless it is in for repairs.

As for income, with the later hours I get more rides since not much happens at 3:30 in the morning except on weekends. I have been booking a nice amount on the meter each day and my tip percentage has gone up too. I now usually make between 38 to 52% tips of the amount booked on the meter.

Last weekend two interesting things happened. On Saturday, I picked up two young couples, about 32 years old. A pretty blond girl sat up front. Looked at my name on my Taxi Permit and asked me if I ever lived in Hemet, California. When I answered yes, she took off her sunglasses and asked me if I remember her.  At first, I was afraid of being accused of something, but I said she looked familiar. She then mentioned the name of a close friend who lived in the same development I did in Hemet. It turned out she was his daughter and I had not seen her since she was in her low to mid teens. I was amazed she remembered me after all these years.

The next morning, I was next up on the taxi line at the MGM Grand Hotel. As I was waiting to be called up a gold limousine pulled up across the island from me. As I looked over I noticed Manny Pacquiao, his wife and entourage got out of the Limo. I called out “Manny, kumasta ka.” When he looked over, I got out and mentioned I just moved back from Davao and my house is up the street from his old townhouse. He shook hands with me and his wife mentioned they now own a house nearby in Robinsons Highlands.

At that point, I was called up to load a customer so I was unable to get a photo with him or his autograph. Maybe next time I will have more time.

One other this is the weather has been cold and it even snowed a few weeks back. It would melt as it landed, but it snowed just the same. With the cold weather, especially in the morning when I leave home, it is COLD on my scooter. I hope that soon I will be able to buy a car.

I will let you all know as things progress. Thank you all who continue to put up with my lack of writings and keep up checking in and reading of me continued saga.

I hope once these items are sent in, the NVC will forward all to the Embassy in Manila for the final step and Elena can come here.

In addition, many would like to hear I have failed. Well life is not easy but I am surviving. It has been hard but rewarding too. I work many hours and when I can, I work six or seven days a week. It is also difficult only being able to see Elena over the internet. Even with the reduced visitors, I will not engage in the dishonest practice of “long hauling”, driving on the traffic clogged Strip or even short changing.

In addition, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, my apartment was robbed. I know it was an inside job, but cannot prove it. My TV’s, cameras, and two laptops were stolen and about $1500 in cash. The worst part was, even though they did not take my desktop computer, they stole my external hard drive, which had all the photographs from my last 3 years. All my photos of my live in the Philippines are gone except what I could get back from my web site. The cash included the moneys donated by friends here and readers of this site.

Now for some good news

Tuesday December 21, I received in the mail a notice from USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The notice was to let me know our petition for Elena’s Spousal Visa was approved. This was so exciting I called my mother and brother and sent text messages to hurry Elena online to tell her. We are now on the last legs of a long journey.

On Thursday, December 23, Elena held the party for the kids at Agdao. As I heard and saw from the photos, it was a huge success. Each child had a Jollibee lunch, a gift bag with a shirt, a doll for the girls and a toy car for the boys and some candy. For most of these children, they have never experienced being inside or having a meal at Jollibee. They also received the ingredients to make spaghetti to bring home for their family to have a real “Noche Buena” (Christmas Eve). On Friday morning, Elena will return to Agdao to give out a roast chicken to each child to bring home. A huge part of this is from a reader who had taken our cause to heart and donated $350.00 to the kid’s party and $100 for Elena to give to the family of Angelica, the little girl I wrote about a while back.

All I will say is I will keep this generous mans identify secret unless he wants to let his name be known.

About a week ago, another driver told me, the new hotel Cosmopolitan was offering a free night with $150 credit for food and drinks in any of the restaurants and buffet for two to  taxi drivers who call a special number. Well I got through made my reservation. I only wish Elena was here to experience this night. Cosmopolitan is a hotel, condominium, casino at the City Center here in Las Vegas. I went Wednesday night December 22. It was wonderful except I was alone and Elena was not here to share it.

The room was on the 17th floor overlooking the lake and fountains at the Bellagio. The room was a Studio configuration with a larger bathroom including a separate toilet room and a large walk in shower. Then the main room was divided into a living room and a bedroom. There was two large LCD TVs and with the remote you can turn on, off or dim every light in the room individually or all per room. There was a terrace with a small couch and ottoman.

I invited a driver friend to join me for dinner and he came with his girlfriend. We went to the STK steak house. I had a 24 oz porterhouse steak for $65. It was so good; I even bit off the remaining meet off the bone.

While walking around I took many photos, but want to share this: a ceiling painted like an eye over some tables.

The next morning I went to the breakfast buffet, which was wonderful. I had a bagel loaded with lox an omelet, bacon and a fruit crepe on my first plate and some pancakes and French toast on my second plate. I made myself stop there so not to get sick.

I worked Christmas day and as the rest of the past week, it was dead. I have not had a good week since before Thanksgiving except for the week the National Finals Rodeo was in town.

It has gotten cold in Las Vegas. The mornings are as low as 31 degrees F in the early morning and up to only high 50’s during the day. We have had some rainy days too and luckily, I have two drivers who will give me a ride. With the Scooter, I create my own 40 mph wind chill so I bundle up well and still get cold riding to work in the early morning hours.

To all my readers who have stayed with me, I hope you all had a wonderful and Merry Christmas and wish you all a Safe, Happy and Prosperous New Year.

I have put all photos of both events on Picasa, so  you can click the links below to see them. There are a few videos of the room at Cosmo and the fountains at the Bellagio.

Click to  see all the Kids Party Photos

Click to see the photos at the Cosmopolitan

Last year we did this from our own pocket. We bought a shirt, candy and a little toy for 25 kids. First, we bought them a lunch of Pancit, bread and cokes at the Eatery area next to the market. The kids prayed before the meal and after eating, they sang Christmas carols for us. Then we gave out a gift bag to each child. You can read more about the party and see a slide show and a video of last year’s party here. (click here to go to the article)

This year we will keep the amount of kids to 25 but want to do more. First, we will hold it at Jollibee’s across from the market. At Jollibee’s we can have the upstairs area for the party. In addition, this will be a treat for the kids since they probably have never eaten at Jollibee’s due to the poverty level their families live.  For those who do not know what Jollibee is, it is like a McDonalds but is cheaper.

Christmas for these kids is a day for family but not much else. Their families are so poor they never have money for gifts or a better Christmas meal. It is a joyous day in a religious aspect but a sad day since they see others having a Christmas dinner and gifts shared.

What we would like to do this year, with the help of our readers and friends, is to give each child, besides the shirt, candy and toy, is to give them some money. With this money, we will tell the kids to buy some lechon (traditional roast pig) and other treats to bring Christmas home to their families.

I will try to get donations from the taxi drivers I have gotten to know here. Many are Filipino and know about the poverty in their country. Elena is talking to her friends in Davao and I am asking my readers to help.

The conversion from US dollar to peso is in the area of 43 peso to the dollar. We would like to give each child 500 to 1,000 pesos to have a wonderful and joyous Christmas for their families. 500 pesos is only $12 US.  $12 is such a small amount to most of us, but 1,000 Pesos would give each child the ability to bring home some Lechon, fruits and some small gifts for their families.

Let us show these children We Care. They go to school all week and then are at the market all day on weekends just to earn some money just to eat lunch at school. They are not beggars or thieves. They are wonderful and loving kids that never experience the type of childhood we experienced.

Elena could also use some assistance with the party. I know there are many of our friends in Davao who read this site. It is a lot of work shopping and setting up the gift bags. Elena will need help at the party to keep things under control. Unfortunately, I will not be there to help and enjoy the love from these kids.

Again, I ask, please open your hearts and wallets and help us give these kids a wonderful Christmas. For our friends in Davao, we would like someone that can keep the tradition going after Elena moves here to the US. I hope we can get a few who will continue this loving and caring gesture.

Use the PayPal donate button. All proceeds go to the kids.

On both those days, I put over $300 on the meter, which I had never done before. As I left the yard Friday after turning in my money and paperwork I was Jazzed that I broke the $300 level 2 days in a row. As I exited the yard and turned to the area the scooters and motorcycles park, I saw mine was gone. Someone stole it.   I spoke to someone in security and was told it was not on company property so all I could do is call the police. When I called, I was told, since it is not a registered vehicle, all I can do is go to the police station and file a report. I said I do not have transportation and they would probably never find it so why bother. My positive thought was, at least I had money in the bank available to purchase another scooter.

I then saw a friend coming off work. I asked him if he would give me a ride home and the next day give me a ride to North Las Vegas to buy another scooter. He agreed to assist me but I he gets off at 2pm. I told him I would just come in early so not to inconvenience him.

The next day another friend drove me in at 3am even though my shift on Saturdays starts at 5:30am. At 3:10am, the coordinator asked me if I wanted to work the 3:30 shift, because someone called in sick. This way I would only have to lose one hour of work. Not only did I get to start early, the car I took over was brand new and only 7,000 miles. At 2pm I came in and my friend drove me to get the new scooter.

One Sunday, I scooted to work and locked it up in a less convenient location, but more secure and within the site of the security. I then went on my shift. On Sunday I do not have a full unrestricted taxi as I had on my two days off, but a geographically restricted which means I cannot pick up customers on the Strip, Downtown or at the airport. Well, even with my restriction I broke $300 a third time at $300.50 but the amazing thing is I made $152.50 in Tips. I looked up and solemnly gave my thanks.

For the people that know me, or read my site might wonder why I gave up the “easy life” in the Philippines to be just a taxi driver in Las Vegas. A taxi driver’s income is based on commissions from the fares and the generosity of the customers.   Well, my life in the Philippines was a precarious life. We lived on the small amount I received from an Annuity and the support from Elena’s nephew. He promised to always support us, but as we know, promises can be broken. A month before I left, he had reduced the amount he was sending us.

Well, my life in Las Vegas is not so bad. I have worked hard learning the city, the locations and how to converse with my customers. I am friendly, helpful and do not cheat. There are drivers known to “Long Haul” their customers. This is driving a less than direct route and causing the fare to be twice to three times the normal cost. I will not do that.

Every morning I stag at a local “Gentleman’s” club. They put out for the drivers coffee, bottled water and packaged cookies. I take about eight bottles and have them to offer it to my customers at no charge. I also tell them I cannot afford to be the “Cash Cab” but try to be the Fun Cab.

With my friendly attitude and sincerity, I have been doing well in tips and fares. I am making enough to cover my bills, send some to Elena and even save and watch my bank account grow. I am working 6 or 7 days a week, but I actually enjoy working. I have met and made friends with many of the drivers, most of which are Filipinos. I also get to talk and learn from the many customers I have had from many countries in the world.

I apologize again of the lack of new articles, but it is hard to write coherently when you are working 12 hours a day and not getting enough sleep. I appreciate the older readers who continue to follow my life and for the new readers who have found my site and enjoy me writings.