Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Greetings!


Another year is about to end. A new one is coming. We celebrated new year's eve with a fancy dinner - Steak and Seared Scallops with Manhattan Sauce. Yum! The afternoon was spent tidying up the place that's why I am in my polka dot jammies. Pardon me for wanting to be comfy while eating my fancy meal. Good thing my date didn't complain! He even paid for the meal! I ended up doing the dishes though. :-)

A new year, for me, signifies a new beginning. Another chance to make one's life better. Another opportunity to attain our goals, dream some more, love and live!

Happy New Year, Everyone! Cheers to a great year! Wishing you happiness, good health and abundant blessings for the days to come!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas!

Life in the Fast Lane

It's weird how I have been feeling rushed all the time. The whole month of December has been a big blur. Early in the month I have to prep people at my morning job for the week that I will be on vacation. Had to update inventory, balance the bank and made sure everything is in it's place so that they don't have to worry about finding stuff. It was good to know that they didn't have a problem while I was gone. Makes me worry a little, but otherwise, proud that teaching them did pay off.

A week has gone by since we came back from our vacation. Not a day was spared to relax. We jumped right back to work. Had payroll, auditors and doctor's appointment to deal with. Our house was a mess! Dirty laundry over flowing from the hamper, mementos from our trip all over the place, and the cats had been digging in the plants! But no time to clean. Had to keep working, day and night. It was hard catching up at first, specially with auditors always asking for reports. But in three days my inbox was all empty! Laundry was done by Rick since I was gone most nights to work. A little tidying here and there, and now our house feels like home again! Somehow I don't feel as rushed anymore either.

Our trip to the Bahamas (Freeport/Lucaya area) was fun. Although we were off to a rough start with a bumpy flight and choppy boat ride. But once we finally got to our destination, it was relaxation haven. The place was really nice. The rooms were comfy, surroundings were clean and most of all, the people who works there were really friendly. The buffet wasn't disappointing either. We didn't have the greatest weather. It was cloudy, windy and a little bit chilly, specially at night. Rick kept complaining about how there's no sun. But I was secretly cheering for its absence. The Filipina in me still cowers from the harsh rays of the sun. I really want a lighter skin complexion. Don't ask me why. The resort offers a lot of fun activities like trapeze, dancing lessons, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and many more, but with strong winds and the fact that not a lot of people were there, most of the activities were cancelled. So for five days all we did was eat, lay by the beach, and drink cocktails while laying on the beach or by the poolside. It was paradise! An alcoholic's dream world! Booze was free-drink all you can! Too bad I am not a big drinker. But I was happy to try a few concoctions they had. Good food, free alcohol and the relaxing atmosphere made up for the crappy weather.

All in all the vacation was okay. It would have been great if we did more stuff rather than sit and be merry while gaining 20 lbs! But it was worth the trip. Rick and I deserved it. Even if it was just a little sun, we still came home with a tan. :-) Conquered my fear of boats with the help of a little tiny pill! I am really glad though that the boat ride and flight back home was smooth, or else I would never step inside a boat or a plane ever again! We were jolted back to reality the moment we stepped out of the airplane. Vacation was officially over. We came home to below zero temperatures and almost a foot of snow. Worst - no food in the fridge! Like I said earlier, it's been over a week since we got back, but we still didn't have the chance to do some grocery shopping. Frozen pizza is our best friend right now. Both Rick and I are so busy, we hardly see each other. Yesterday, I mailed out the Christmas cards. Today, we bought, then wrapped the gifts. Tomorrow, we head out to my in-laws for Christmas Eve dinner. Now, that's what you call Christmas rush! It's sad in a way we don't get to savor the beauty of the season. We don't even have a tree! Now we know not to plan another vacation around Christmas time!

When are we going to have a day to ourselves? Soon I hope...

Friday, December 05, 2008

Whew!

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing is going right? Well, my whole week had been like that. We are currently redoing our bathroom and so our patience as a couple has been tested again. Rick and I have been butting heads since Monday because of this ongoing remodeling. Our frustration gets the better of us, so we end up blaming each other. Like when the texture painting idea didn't work. Or when sanding the newly texture painted wall became too messy. I guess the root of all our problem was the textured paint. Imagine, we had to drive two hours just to get that special paint. At that time, the idea seems brilliant and doable. But two days of making that stuff work was torture! Online tutorials looked so easy but no matter what we do... it just wont work! It does not look like the picture! I don't easily give up on a given task, so I kept redoing it until the can was empty! Yah I'm stubborn and I hate defeat. But I admit it, I failed. Big time! Our cheap way of fixing things got way off hand and we ended up spending more. Frugal me hated the whole process, while my hubby just wanted the job done no matter the cost! After three days with no sink in the bathroom and the toilet paper mysteriously disappearing, I waived my white flag in surrender and gave up the fight. A new wall is up. Might be done tomorrow!

To make things worse, things didn't go well at work either. For some unknown reason, orders just kept pouring this week! My usual boring mornings, turned into a zoo of invoices and packing slips. The busy-ness robbed me of my zen moments - online shopping! I don't know why, but browsing pretty clothes, shoes, purses and sparkling jewelries, makes me happy. Pretty things makes me happy... So my week was basically a cycle of arguments, sleepless nights and busy mornings. But I survived. Rick and I survived. Things are back to normal now. I am back to experimenting in the kitchen and shop online for bathroom accessories. We even have a sink in the bathroom now! The weekend looks really promising... two parties tomorrow and a movie date with my Richard on Sunday! I can now breath a sigh of relief... bad things do come to an end!

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

My Eyes!

not me

Had an eye exam yesterday. Wore glasses for a while in college but all the optometrist did was let me read the eye exam chart then gave me my glasses! I have been getting really bad headaches lately and that prompted me to see the doctor. Little did I know that an eye exam here is way too different from that in the Philippines. The test lasted for more than 30 minutes, so many questions and bright lights were involved! The worst part was when he dilated my pupils. Two different eye drops, one to make my eyeballs numb and the second one to dilate my pupils. Scared me when he mentioned the numbing part. Thought he was planning to scratch my eyeballs out! Whew! Got out of the clinic and I couldn't see a thing! Everything was a blur. I was glad Rick was with me because I don't think I would have been able to drive. The evening plans were canceled because my painful eyeballs. Had a headache all night as well. I kept looking at my eyes in the mirror and I was horrified at how big my pupils were! Thought I was bitten by Edward Cullen! hehehe... Whined all night because of my pain. Rick, on the other hand, who had the eye exam as well, was fine and laughed at me for being such a baby. I swear I was really in pain...

My eyesight is back and no more headaches. Will get my prescription glasses in a week or two. Will post a picture of the "smart" me soon. :)

Monday, November 17, 2008

Funny!

Not much going on here at work.

Trying to entertain myself and found this video. Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Winter Time!


Flurries started last Saturday. Not much accumulation then. Tonight, still flurries but it stayed on the ground this time! I couldn't help but smile. Winter is one of my favorite season. Everything is crisp and when snow comes, all is white! It's great for cuddling and yummy stoups and soups. Cloudy days are no fun though. It's dreary and makes me feel gloomy. But today was great! All day the sun was out and the snow didn't come until later in the day. I was already in the comforts of home and my ever famous pj's... sipping a cup of hot cocoa while watching my all-time favorite rerun - Gilmore Girls!

Kiss the snow, Hello!

Monday, November 10, 2008

In My Kitchen

Have been browsing the net yesterday trying to find easy ways to decorate a cake. Making desserts is part of my job at the hospital. I make cookie dough, bars, cake and other sweet stuff. They all come out pretty decent. In other words, it's edible. I heard talks though of how my cakes are so blah. They taste good but not pleasing to the eyes. Therefore, they don't sell very well! It didn't upset me because I know they were boring. I simply follow the instructions on the box, put on some frosting and that's it! So now I want to spice it up a little bit. I thought I'll find some help online. But I was wrong. All I saw was professionally done decorations. They were too hard to duplicate. I'm not giving up on my quest though. I know it's out there.

In my browsing, I stumbled upon quite a few personal blogs. A lot of the blogs talks about food. They feature their own creation with pictures and a recipe for those who wants to try it for themselves. It was really inspiring. Makes me wonder why I never feature any of my dishes. Most of my cooking is copied from Rachel Ray. Her recipes are easy to follow and they're delicious too. I do have a few of my own. Nothing too fancy because I like it quick and easy. Here's a sample of my own creation. Below is my Tater Tot Casserole. Brown the ground beef. While meat is cooking, cook tater tots according to package directions. Add mushroom slices to beef. Pour cream of mushroom soup. Season with pepper. Let simmer until everything is cooked through. Transfer meat mixture to prepared baking dish. Top with the cooked tater tots . Sprinkle some cheddar cheese and bake until cheese is melted. You can add any vegetable to the meat like corn and green beans. We couldn't wait for the cheese to melt. Enjoy!



Sunday, November 09, 2008

My Weekend

Another weekend has gone by and I still feel tired. Back to work tomorrow and I am so not looking forward to it. I love my pj's too much. Didn't do much while at home. Was a domestic diva for the weekend. I cooked the meals, cleaned up the kitchen, did the laundry and oh! was a massage therapist too. That's the glory or being a housewife. No, I am not complaining. I love playing housewife once in a while. I am too much of a workaholic that I feel guilty about leaving Rick at lot. Pampering him once in a while is my way of paying him back for the patience and the understanding he unconditionally gives me. It's really a nice feeling to be loved...

Anyway, did a little shopping yesterday and I got a pretty good deal with my loot. Paid a total of $6.58 for nine items. Including a pair of jeans! I know! It's crazy! Couldn't believe it myself. Wanna hear something else that's crazy? This afternoon, while preparing supper, I watched the last few minutes of the Vikings-Packers football game with Rick. The Vikings were behind 27-21. Rick was all upset as usual because his team is going to lose again! Tried to lift up his spirits by telling him they're going to score a touch down and they did! The call was challenged by the other team and so he was all upset again. Told him don't worry, the call was correct... and it was! I was all smiles and told him to have a little faith... So the score was 27-28 Vikings. But the Vikings were still in trouble, the other team is in a scoring position now and is definitely going to win the game. They were going for the field goal (that's three points) with only thirty something seconds left on the clock. He gave up and started mumbling about how his team sucks. I told him the kicker is going to miss the goal. What do you know... the guy DID! I laughed. Who knows I have ESPN?! Unfortunately, he believed my ESPN word. I meant ESP my dear... I guess I am very unpredictable huh. :)

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Misery Loves Companion

Are you volunteering?

My days had been filled with so much stress lately. Rick and I are at the point in our lives where we have to make a decision in what to do with our future. In four more months, he can officially retire. But he doesn't know if he can last that long at his current job. Government funding is really limited and his resources is running low. He's tired of looking for grants day in and day out. Having a democratic president means that funding for environmental projects will be good again. But even if Obama won, CHANGE wont start happening anytime soon. I think it will be too late for Rick when it does.

Another dilemma we are facing is the health care. He gets his health insurance through work, right now, therefore not working means no health insurance. Not having health insurance in this country is a definite no no. You will be buried in debt if you don't have one. There are government programs, but it is for families with low income. We wont qualify even if we are just getting his pension money each month. A possibility we are considering is moving to the Philippines. Health care is affordable there, but I am not too sure if they are reliable. He had an emergency appendectomy the last time he visited me in the Philippines. A local doctor told him it's just constipation and prescribed him a laxative. He didn't get better overnight, so we decided to go to a bigger hospital. Well, turned out his appendix is about ready to rupture! That's why I am a little apprehensive about the idea of moving there for good.

Retirement and health care. That's basically the topic of our conversation nowadays. We mostly end up arguing and me getting upset. He is a very realistic person while I live in the "lala" land. I love shortcuts and quick fixes. He likes to dissect every idea to the core and always manages to find a flaw. While I drift into my wonderful world of fantasy, he always manages to pull me back to reality with a big thud! The eternal optimist in me hates it. But I have to agree, we have to be realistic sometimes. Friends had shared their ideas too and we are very thankful for the input. We would love to stay here and we will exhaust every possibility to make that happen.

Oh, if only life was easier then we don't have to argue or be crabby at work. I don't like sharing my misery. But the stress is sometimes too much to handle. We will have to decide and hopefully whatever we come up with, is the right choice. I leave it all in God's hands... Being a grown-up is really hard. I am not used to the thought of being responsible. I have always been dependent on my family. But now I have to stand on my own two feet and use my own mind. I know I have Rick and I can rely on him. But we have to make the decisions together. He likes it when I get involved. Therefore, he relies on me too to make decisions for us. I never had anybody rely on me before. Now, I have to grow up, suck it up and stop complaining. This is life!

So enjoy your youth while you can. Take advantage of the opportunity that is being given to you. Life gets harder as years go by... Carpe Diem!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Catching Up

the view from my hotel room window

It has been a very stressful couple of weeks for me. Too much catching up to do after our hospital trip. Last week, I had to spend a couple nights at a hotel while Rick was in the hospital healing from a procedure done in his heart. The doctors had found a 70% blockage in one of his arteries. They had to put a stent in right away to prevent further damage. Everything went fine and he is home now, back to work and slowly trying to make his routine back to normal again. He's suppose to take it easy for a week or two. So far, he is good as new!

I was planning to write a post while I was in the hotel by myself. But I decided not to. Well, to be honest, I couldn't. The uncertainty of Rick's condition made me miserable. I didn't want to think or have time to think. The morning before Rick left for the hospital, he woke me up to say goodbye. It was not even six o'clock yet. He asked me if I know where his will is. He told me to inform his office that way I can get his life insurance. I was wide awake by then. Teary eyed and accusing him of being stupid. I told him he's not allowed to die! I know he was not joking and was just being realistic. But I don't want to deal with something so depressing, unless I have to. I'll worry about it when it happens. It was not fair of him to discuss such a thing with me, hours before they start poking around his heart! It felt like his last goodbye!

I was too upset/worried to go back to sleep after he left. Tossed in bed and finally decided to go back to my reading. For two nights I buried myself in the mythical world of Twilight. Pretending that the love of my life was invincible and immortal just like the character in the book. I know that's impossible. But sometimes it's nice to escape reality. Although sometimes, I caught myself just staring at the page and thinking about Rick. The thought of losing him was too scary to deal with. I wouldn't know what to do with myself. But right now, he is fine and here with me. That is more important than tomorrow.

So we are back home now. Busy catching up with work. Busy with chores at home. We have decided to change our lifestyle. Start reading labels and eat healthy. Stay away from red meat, fat and sodium. This is not a battle to lose weight anymore. It's about living and enjoying life. And for us to be together forever... I have to join him in his quest to stay healthy and live longer!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

One Saturday

Yesterday, Rick had to do some work and so he took me with him. The place was a couple hours away from home. But I did not mind at all. It was such a gorgeous day! Temperature in the seventies, the sun was out, and beautiful scenery! I really didn't expect much from the trip, coz it was work after all. All I wanted to see was the beautiful trees along the highway with its different colored leaves. I saw all that and more! Got me excited when we saw a sign saying Elk Crossing Area. With my camera ready, we scanned the area for some action. Unfortunately, we did not see any. I haven't seen an elk, that's why I was excited. Rick said it's a much bigger version of a deer. Maybe someday... We finally arrived at our destination. Done in fifteen minutes! On our way back, Rick decided to take a different route, he was determined to give me the "color" tour. Which I appreciated very much! We stopped at Lake Superior Park in Saxon, WI and at the Superior Falls in Michigan. We didn't even realized we crossed the border until we saw the sign. It was gorgeous there! A little chilly but not too bad. We walked around the park. The shore was covered with flat rocks, so flat you can even stack them together. Of course, I brought home quite a few for souvenir. Next stop was the Superior Falls. You can only admire the falls from afar. It was like in a middle of a caved-in hill, that it was surrounded by a cliff. So really, you can never get that close. After a few shots, we went to the scenic overlook and it was beautiful! My pictures don't do much justice, but I did what I could with my point and shoot camera. I could spend hours there just gazing at the water, a gentle breeze on my face, my love holding my hand, pretend that nothing else matters but what I have right here, right now. But it was getting chilly so had to quit dreaming. On our way back to the car, I took these photos to share with you. We went home refreshed, renewed and blessed. An ordinary day turned extra ordinary by chance. We went out hunting for colored leaves, we saw that and so much more. No expectations has it perks after all. An open mind and a little imagination is equal to an astonishing day! Perhaps, a little reward for our time and patience?




Rocky shores of Lake Superior and the "Squeezed" mushroom


Colorful trees and the forbidden cherries
(i just made that up coz Rick wont let me eat it!)

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

What a Foggy Day!

Woke up this morning, looked out our bedroom window and saw that there was a thick fog hovering outside. I could barely make out the trees around the house. It’s cool in a creepy kind of way. On my way to work, I always drive by a river and this morning, it was exceptionally beautiful. Vapor coming out of the water, foggy surrounding and a tiny hint of sunshine on top of this cloudy beauty. It was perfect. So serene… calming. I wish I brought my camera with. But of course, I did not. It was one of those moments when I wish I have a camera phone, but I couldn’t afford it yet. So for now, I settled to enjoy the radiant beauty of nature, trying to capture the image in my memory. I feel so blessed living in a city where natures’ beauty is abundant. Makes me forget, even for a moment, how hard life can be sometimes. We just have to focus and have faith. Things will get better… eventually.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Randomly

I finally had my haircut today! I've been dying to get one but I never had a chance to go to a salon. So my hair just kept growing longer and longer. I was inches away to my dream hairstyle - Lindsay Lohan's. But highlights, color and almost everyday blow drying made my hair dry and brittle. So had to give up on my dream of having a hair like hers. Nope, I am not weird. I know she's not really the epitome of a good person but her style isn't too bad... I used to despise my thick and wavy hair. But for some reason I like it now. I think it suits me better than fighting what nature has given me. Gone are the days of rebonding or ironing my hair 'til it's fried. Well, honestly it's because the "big" city of Spooner or Rice Lake hasn't heard of a thing called rebond. So it's either I sink or swim. I chose the latter. My wavy hair grew on me and now I am loving it.

I really don't know where i'm going with this entry... I just feel like typing. Hubby is busy watching his baseball game. It's his last hurrah for the season, so I am letting him enjoy it. He did the dishes tonite though, so that's a little consolation for me being ignored for the most part of the night. I'm really sad the Gilmore Girls is over. It's my favorite show on Tuesdays. Now I am lost and bored not doing anything. Well, not really... I am on youtube watching videos of how to style the hair and different make-up tricks. I kinda like pursebuzz and reiberry. Easy and simple styles/tricks. Maybe tomorrow I will try that doll-like eyes make-up hehehe... Usually I don't have time for that. Waking up early in the morning is the hardest thing for me to do. Love sleeping too much. Sometimes, when I am running late, I just put my wet hair up on a bun that way I don't have to brush it. Lazy huh? I make sure it looks neat though. ;-)

Hey! Dancing with the Stars is on! Forgot about this show. Don't know who I'm rooting for yet. But I have always liked the show. Rick usually shows me a move or two after the show which makes the evening more fun. Last week I found an ad in the paper for a ballroom dancing class. Have to force Rick to take the class with me. It should be fun! Or should I say funny? Just picture us dancing!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Annoying

Have you ever worked with people who are slowpokes? Well, it seems like I am a magnet for those type of workers. Both jobs I have to deal with them. It’s both annoying and frustrating!

A guy I work with is currently bothering me. He writes slow, walks slow, I think just about everything he does is slow! Can’t read or write cursive. It’s a problem coz one of our sales people can't write in print. His handwriting is like that of a pre-schooler. Can’t seem to grasp the process necessary to finish a job. Despite his being slow... he still makes a lot of mistakes! Mistakes which is costing the company money. I was told he's the "golden boy" coz no matter what he does, he does not get in trouble with management. Where is the justice here?! Oh well, that's life I guess... At my other job, I have to deal with chatterboxes! They gab and gab and nothing gets done. I work the night shift so had to finish wherever they left off and usually.. that's a long list!

I am not trying to be mean, it's just sometimes I wish the company would do something when an employee is not being productive. There is no such thing as bonuses at both jobs. You do your job and somebody elses just to get things done and yet you still get paid the same. And oh yeah, the lazy one gets paid the same too no matter what. As long as they show up they are considered working! Sad huh? These are the days when I wish I have my own business! I even came up with a business idea last night only to find out it's already being done, at $4 a week! Ha! And here I thought it was a brilliant money making idea!

Like I mentioned before, I do get along with everybody. It's because I don't complain. So forgive me if I complain here. It's my way of venting. Don't worry, Rick get's to hear it first hand when I come home. Poor him... but he loves me so he has to listen!

I thank YOU for reading. :-)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A Nice One

Summer is officially over. The air is getting nippy and leaves are all over the yard and the streets... Fall is here. I love the fall weather. It's not too cold and not too warm either. Just perfect! Not too happy about raking the leaves though. But I guess it comes with the territory. So I just have to deal with it. Might hire somebody to do that this year.

Was up at 4am this morning. Made breakfast and went to work early. It's cloudy and windy. We're suppose to get rain today. I love a rainy day as well. It's perfect for cuddles and being lazy. :) On my way to work, I can't help but admire the beautiful colors of the trees gently swaying at every gust of wind. The color of the leaves changes with the season. Green, yellow, orange and red. As I drove by gazing at the view, I can't help but compare the trees to a person or life in general. Spring, the beginning of life. Summer, the playful youth in us, enjoying life to the fullest. Fall, ripened by nature, life is more beautiful both mind and body, ready for the winter of life. I am not quite in the fall of my life yet, sort of in the middle. So, I have a lot of things to look forward to. It's moments like this that reminds me how beautiful life is. I have been feeling down lately and to start my day with such a wonderful thought lifts up my spirit. A little reminder to be grateful and know that things will be okay.

Someone is watching over me...

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Whachamacallit?

I have been in the country for more than four years. English is now my main language. I get confused whenever I talk to my family and then Rick or a co-worker tries to butt-in. I talk to them in bisaya! Of course I still know my native tongue and still very fluent at that. I don't think that will ever change. Although, my tagalog is getting weaker by the hour. I am mostly lost for words and prefer English if possible. But that doesn't stop me from talking to my tagalog friends or relatives. I just find it hard. That's all.

Four years and I still find English a very complex language. Everyday I learn something new. I used to have a hard time pronouncing the T in words (they seem to not say it like it should be). Accent is still hard. Where do I go up and down in saying the words? My biggest struggle is family names! How I hate answering the phone and taking orders at work. I make sure I get their phone number right that way a sales rep can call them back. I struggle with words that are somehow similar in meaning but different in use. Like I use scared instead of worried. These are some of the little things that embarrass me when they repeat my sentence with the right word or pronunciation. It offends me when they do that. It makes me feel stupid. But I know they are just trying to help. Nobody ever laughs at me when I make a mistake. Which is good. But still... it's embarrassing.

I do get a lot of compliments though. They never have a problem understanding me. It's still a little frustrating at times when trying to express myself. But I am getting better at it. New found American friends helped me a lot! Confidence is really the key to better express yourself in another language. Thanks to my very supportive husband, I am confident in facing people and meeting new friends. Somehow I know deep inside he's proud of me whenever a new friend would say - Wow! You really speak well!

Practice makes perfect! ;-)

Sunday, September 14, 2008

My Weekend

I spent my Saturday mostly packing up my balikbayan box. It has been sitting in our guest room for months now. Finally, it's on its way to the Philippines. Yippee! I'm excited for them. Not everybody will be pleased... but, at least I tried. I tend to buy more girly stuff, therefore making my brothers jealous. It's hard to shop for men! Specially teenagers! My apologies...

We went to the twin cities for the weekend. Spent a couple of days with my mother-in-law. She lives by herself and doesn't go out much. So, we took her with us when we did our errands. First stop, drop-off the balikbayan box! She loved the Filipino Store. She said she could spend hours there browsing the aisles and check out different food items. I told her most of the items there needs to be cooked. I don't cook so I was not interested in buying any of them. Bought a bunch of chichiriya instead and a couple goodies for my MIL to try. I wish I know more Filipino dishes other than my ever-famous adobo. Would love to cook for my new family. But sad to say, I don't... So, my apologies... again.

After hours (it was only minutes, but it sure felt like hours!) of being stuck in traffic, we finally made it to Kenny's, my brother-in-law. We visited with them for a few hours, catch up on things and whatnot. Alex's (my nephew) band was rehearsing while we were there, so we had the honor to listen to their music. They supposedly had a paying gig that night. Cool huh! And he's only 16! Anyway, after we got done with our errands, we treated ourselves to a lovely supper at Ruby Tuesday's. That place never fails to impress me with their food! It's always delicious! I forgot to take a picture of my food. Sorry...

Did you notice how I kept apologizing? That's how my mother-in-law was the entire time we were with her. She apologizes for everything! For walking slow, repeating herself, not hearing, eating slow and simply for being old. She is 90. Of course she's like that. We are always patient with her. And I am always respectful. But, there really is no reason to say sorry for being old. She earned the respect and understanding. She deserves the attention and the nice dinner that we insisted on paying. With a smile, I tell her all that and she would just laugh. We love her and I hope someday Rick and I will be blessed with a family who will care for us like we care for her...

The golden rule: "Do unto others what you want others do unto you."

Friday, September 05, 2008

Am I In Trouble?

A couple weekends ago I got really bored. Did everything I could around the house (well, of course not the important part - ironing!) just to keep me busy and not jump off a cliff! Eventually I ran out of stuff to do and so I surfed the net, went to my favorite karaoke site and sang to my hearts delight. I got tired of singing after a while. Then I remembered one of my favorite computer games - Red Alert Counterstrike! It's been eons ago since I last played the game and I remember I was quite fond of it. Luckily one of my brothers was online and so I asked him if it's available to play online. He doesn't think so and suggested that I just download the game. So I did and waited until it gets done. While waiting, I saw one of my friends went online. We started talking and she was bored too. We ended up playing Literati and she was kicking my butt! Finally downloading's done! I was so excited to play the game but unfortunately, it does not work! I guess our anti-virus detected something, so it didn't download properly. Bummer! I ended up uninstalling the game and shopped at Ebay instead. The game is so old Best Buy doesn't carry it anymore. Had to settle for a used one!

Yesterday, Rick got an email from our ISP saying that an illegal download has been done by our account and we have violated the infringement law or something like that... The email went on and on about penalties and fines etc. Got me scared! I apologized profusely to Rick. I felt really bad. Omigosh! What if I get sent to jail? I reasoned to Rick that the game didn't work and I ended up buying the cd anyway! But still, I did try to download and that was the bad part! He got worried too, so he called the company and explained the whole thing. They just want us delete the program from our computer and not to try to "steal" any programs online anymore. Whew! What a relief! No more downloading for me or Rick! Not even songs! I have learned my lesson and promise to be a good citizen from now on... Not fun getting an email like that!

Nope! I am not in trouble! Thank God!

Monday, September 01, 2008

Life Is Difficult

Life is difficult. That was the sermon at church yesterday. I listened intently because the priest's first sentence got my attention. How can he open the sermon with such negativity? But it worked! He made me listen. I have been feeling sorry for myself that morning, I always do when I see little children and there was a lot of them at church yesterday. Why can't I have one? I always ask myself. But as the sermon went on and on... I came to the realization about the bigger problem that's out there like sickness and poverty. Not having children does not make my life difficult. God has blessed me in some other way and by not having children of my own, I became a blessing to others.

There will always be things that I would never know in this lifetime. Labor pains and a mother's love. I don't wish for the first one, but I will always wonder about the latter. Whenever my co-worker complain about her kids, the words that come out of my mouth is always irrelevant. She agrees, but will never do it. Mothers have the patience and faith in their kids as big as the universe. And I admire them for that. I took advantage of my own mother too and she let's me get away with things... The bond between a mother and child is so intense - and I will never understand that.

Things happen for a reason. God has a wonderful plan for me. I believe that. My faith in Him is what keeps me going. Life may be difficult but knowing that I am not alone and God is on my side, life will be good. Life is good! The priest ended the sermon by saying God is bigger than all our difficulties - trust in Him, go to Him for comfort and know He is there with you. I left church feeling better about myself. All the screaming babies became irritating after a while. Thank God I don't have one!

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Long Weekend

It's the last 3-day weekend for the summer. Cars and trucks hauling their campers, boats and whatnot, was all over the place. Our area is known to be the summer destination for Minnesotans. So they basically take over the lakes and campgrounds during this time. Monday is labor day holiday so traffic is worse than usual when it's a holiday weekend.

We don't have plans for this long weekend and Rick is just antsy for some fun! I really don't want to go anywhere far because I have a long list of to do's here at home. We got lucky and found a camp site in Shell Lake, it's about 7 miles from here, not very far and a very pretty lake! So off we go - packed, pitch the tent, and just relax with a magazine and a cool breeze from the lake. It was actually very windy and chilly. Very refreshing! We opted to go to a resto-bar for supper instead of grilling because it was just too windy. After eating, we went back to the campsite and just hang out. We didn't bring our boat because it was too cold and can't swim either for the same reason. So we were stuck in our tent. I read my magazine while Rick fidgeted with the radio trying to find the station for his baseball game. Soon it was dark and getting colder by the minute, that's when I realized we needed more blankets! We have only one to share and wished it will last us 'til morning.

The campsite was just a zoo! People were rowdy and rude! It was almost 1am and they are still partying! I spent the night tossing around and texting my sisters. I could not sleep! The noise and the cold was terrible! Finally at six in the morning, Rick asked if I wanted to go home. Whew! The whole ordeal was over. We were both tired from the night of camping out. Now, we have the whole weekend to relax and unwind from our day of relaxing and unwinding at the camp. Ironic huh?

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Picture It




An Afternoon In Our Yard

Oh, such lovely flowers
The long green wall in the deck is adorned by them
Bees and bugs hop from one bud to another
What are they searching?

The sun is shinning
A gentle breeze is blowing
Humming birds dancing on our feeder
Why do they fly so fast?

Flowers, birds, bees and bugs in the yard
God took care of them everyday and always
He promised us the same
Why not start believing?

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Tagged: All About Me














I am: a workaholic.
I think: correct choices should be marked.
I know: i need to lose weight. to look better and for health reasons.
I have: a blessed life
I wish: i have my own business
I hate: waking up early in the morning
I miss: my family and friends in davao...
I fear: getting old and helpless
I hear: the tv - it's the olympics
I smell: like my shampoo
I crave: some chunky monkey from ben and jerry
I search: for answers to my questions...
I wonder: if i will ever have kids
I regret: letting myself go - weight wise...
I love: my ricky
I ache: for helpless old people...
I am not: a crafty person
I believe: all things happen for a reason
I dance: when i am alone and bored
I sing: whenever it gets too quiet at work.
I cry: me a river when i watch romantic movies
I fight: when i am provoked
I win: when i know when to walk away
I lose: my patience with stupid people
I never: forget where i came from
I always: try to be an optimist
I confuse: myself after speaking my native language. i talk to rick the same way! :)
I listen: to pop music on yahoo radio every morning at work
I can usually be found: at home, in front of the computer-window shopping!
I am scared: of the dark and being alone
I need: ten hours of sleep
I am happy about: my life.
I imagine: what life would be like if there were no wars...
I tag: ping-ping, honey may, em-em and jemima

Thanks, Boots for the the tag!

Monday, August 18, 2008

I Did It!

celebrating my scrub days


Today was my last day working at the Business Office. I am officially reinstated to my old job at the kitchen. I think it was the right thing to do, both to my employers and for myself. I felt better after telling my boss I was coming back. Hearing it out loud made it seem official and my heavy burden was gone. I don't know why I even wanted to leave our department in the first place. I am happy there. You should've seen the smiles and heard the shrieks of excitement when I told everybody in the kitchen that I was coming back. That really made me feel loved. Time off from them made me realize how much I like working there. I guess I needed the break to appreciate what I have. I sleep better now knowing where and what I will be doing tomorrow. My routine is back!

It may look like I'm crazy for giving up an office job, but I really don't care. What I do at the kitchen makes me humble. There, I learn what it is like to work hard for your money. And by doing so, makes me appreciate what I have and thus, spend wisely. Besides, I am still an accountant during the day. That's my ego booster!


Friday, August 15, 2008

A Breather

The past couple weeks has been crazy. With the advent of my new job, life has been confusing and very stressful. The new job is not too hard, it's my schedule that I'm complaining about. Juggling two part-time jobs is not an easy task. My day starts at six in the morning and it ends at eleven at night, depends if I sleep right away, but I have been sleeping well lately because I am just EXHAUSTED! I have been putting in 12 hours of work lately and getting a fifteen minute break. Yah, I don't have time to eat. I munch on anything sugary as the day goes on just to give me an energy boost. I know it's not healthy , but what can I do? Need to keep on going and I am no energizer bunny!

Anyway, even with my hectic, no eating schedule, I still think life is beautiful. Being optimistic is a good way to deal with stress and my candy jar does the trick too. Last weekend Rick and I met up with a long time friend. Honey May rode with some friends all the way from Arkansas to Minnesota just to shop at the Mall of America. It's kind of ridiculous, but hey, who am I to judge them. It was nice to see her again. Although we didn't get to spend a lot of time together, the brief moment we had, was a lot of fun. We'll see each other again someday but for the meantime phone calls will do. Didn't spend much at the mall. I feel fat and ugly and nothing looks good on me. So there, I saved some money! But I spent my saved money at the Filipino store. Bought a bunch of snacks like my all-time fav chippy! Bought some fruits and veggies too! Durian was one of them and boy, did Rick enjoy the smell! hehehe...

Well, I better get some snooze or maybe some snack? The food talk is making me hungry... Thank God it's finally the weekend. I get to sleep in and have some ME time again... Re-charge my battery for the upcoming week. I am done training now, so next week I am working on my own. Wish me luck! Although I am still confused if I should keep the job or not. I really miss working with my friends in the kitchen. I only have two days left to decide if I will stay or go back. It's really tempting to go back, specially with the conflict of my schedule. It's hard to make up my mind but I know I have to choose soon. Will keep you posted.

Wisdom, that's what I have been praying for every night.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

New Job

Today I started on my new job. Everybody seems to be nice. They had a little potluck lunch for no special reason at all. They just want to eat! Another girl started today as well. So it was cool. I have the advantage though because I mostly know everybody in the facility. The job is not so hard. All I need to do is register patients for admission or diagnostic imaging, help visitors find their way in the building and answer the phone. That's pretty much it! I had the short shift today, so I only worked four hours. Which isn't too bad because then I get to work at my other job!

My schedule is pretty messed up for now. I am actually working three jobs! Still have to finish my schedule at the kitchen and that is until next week. But after that, I am pretty much on my own. Don't know what my hours would be like with my new job, either way, I have to talk to my BOI boss and let him know my schedule. He's flexible so it shouldn't be a problem (I hope!). If it is, then it's time for me to go. I know they pay really well, but they don't have benefits, and the way the company is being ran... I don't think they'll make it. So I better stick to my job at the hospital. The health care industry is stable, plus they have really good benefits. But, I am still hoping having both jobs wont be a problem... Variety in life is always fun. The challenge keeps my mind working!

Please do pray for me... Hope all goes well.

Monday, August 04, 2008

An Opportunity

Got a call this morning from the manager of the Business Office at the hospital, she wanted to know if I want to come in and take a test for a job opening at their department. I'm so glad I was considered. I have been hoping to get a job at their department for a while now. I wanted to use my office skills rather than wash dishes all day. I talked to my boss about the opportunity and she was happy and sad at the same time. Happy that I get to do what I want and sad because she hates to let me go. She considers me to be one of her best workers. I am excited about this new opportunity. I am really hoping to get a full time job. Preferably during the day. Because I want to spend my nights with hubby. I'm confused as of the moment on what to do. I hate to quit at BOI because the pay there is really good. Juggling two jobs wont be too bad. Hopefully I can keep both jobs since they are part-time. Well, I guess i'll make the decision once I get the job. There's no point in worrying about something that didn't happen yet.

I better go to bed. Get some rest. Tomorrow is another day...

Friday, August 01, 2008

A Trip Down Memory Lane

This morning while waiting for my antivirus to get fixed, instead of staring at the screen, I decided to clean up one of the drawers of our computer table. It's overflowing with 'crap' from I dunno when. I carefully glanced at each piece of paper, thinking it might be important because I had put it in a safe place. I found a neatly stacked receipts from our basement remodel, another pile from when we went to Florida and a couple other from one of our many trips! I can't believe I hang on to things like these. There's quite a few receipts from clothes shopping, grocery and gas! Why do I keep the receipts? Honestly, I really don't know! It might be from instinct. Being a bookkeeper, every single receipt is important. My subconscious must be telling me to do the same thing at home! It's really silly! Oh yeah, I found my airline ticket from when I came over here from the Philippines too! Yah, it's been that long since I emptied this drawer. :-)

During this impromptu clean-up drive, I came across my 2002 planner. In it were important information of family and friends, such as birthdays, phone numbers and email addresses. It was my lifeline before the cellphone genre. A good portion of the entries are from when I was such an EB freak (eyeball:chat room vernacular for meeting in person). Names, email-ad or their YM nick! It was fun browsing the pages... a lot of familiar names but no face to match it to. Quite a few touched my life in a special way. The planner was a mini version of a diary, little entries of what happened that day. The most special one was of Rick - the first time we met, where we went, goofy details complete with little smiley faces. I might show it to him later, then we can take the trip down memory lane together. I'm happy to see my planner again. Reminded me of my young and carefree life, my struggles to fit in and find my Mr. Right. I'm so glad it's all behind me now, but the memory will never fail to put a smile on my face.

Life is a big puzzle. Every little piece counts to make a better picture. You have to look back to admire the beauty of today.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Sick Day

Last night was one of the many nights when I couldn't sleep. I was tired from working but still my mind refuses to sleep. Forcing myself wouldn't help, as I have tried that before, so I watched TV until I zoned out. Last I checked the clock it was almost two. And I have to get up at six. Unfortunately, our cat Leo woke us up around 4:30 wanting to go out. But none of us got up. Rick doesn't want him to think he's the boss! So we laid in bed wide awake, listened to the cat whine. Finally the alarm went off at 5:30! The cat is out and I have the bed to myself. I slept in until just a few minutes ago. Feel so much better! So now I'm home on a work day and I blame it all on the cat.

I have tried taking sleeping pills before. It worked for a few days. After that, it felt weird. My mind was wide awake but my body was sleeping. My eyes are shut but I am aware of my surroundings. I would go use the bathroom and I'd be flailing all over the place. My body felt so heavy! I was like a drunk! A couple nights like that and I gave up on the pill. I never feel rested when I wake up in the morning anyway! So what's the point? I can always sleep in and miss work or come in late. No biggie!

Anyway, I felt bad after my last entry. My sister said she felt sad after reading it. I laughed when she said that because I really didn't care that I did not get the job at the bank. It was just due to my frustration that I did that. I like my morning job. I can chat and shop online anytime I want! I can always come in late or leave early if I want to. And I have done that quite a few times. It feels like a family business. Just like when I used to work for my parents. I have a lot of idle time, seventy five percent of my day consist of play the rest is work. How awesome of a job is that? Sometimes the reality of life being unfair surfaces and that's when I get sad. But it goes away after a while. I count my blessings and realize life is still good!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Morning

I'm having a cup of coffee right now. Sitting in front of the computer. The television blaring in the background. That's my morning ritual when I have the day off. Friday is when I have the whole day to myself. I usually spend it doing household chores and whatnot. Some days I just sit in the recliner, eyes glued on the tv, in my pajamas and just be plain LAZY for a day. It's not one of my proudest moment, but it certainly is a favorite!

Work has been so confusing lately. I wanted to quit my morning job because of renumeration reasons. A sales person just got hired and he's being paid more than me! It makes me mad thinking about it. But this is life, it's not fair all the time. Because of my frustration, I started the week looking for jobs in the area both online and on the paper. I was going to apply to a couple but decided not to. A little more sacrifice wont hurt. Specially if we're planning to move next year. I did apply as a bank teller. Did not get the job, was not even considered for it! I know I'm overqualified. They want high school graduates. But it doesn't hurt to try. Speaking of jobs, I'm really proud of Ping-ping. She was selected by her company to go to England for more training. That is really great! I've never had that honor my entire life! I couldn't even get myself a salary raise! But, being we're related, I get to share that honor too... My family must be really proud of her. And, anxious for pasalubong! (Raise your hand if you want one!)

Hopefully, next week would be better. I have come to terms with life being not fair and all. But there's still this one thing that I am struggling with. Something that confuses me about myself. I have been pondering about it for weeks now and can't seem to find the right answers.

Oh well... I guess that's why they call this LIFE!

Enlighten me.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Picture It



A sweet treat after a long hot day in the sun.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

An Update

I'm back to my old template! So sad... I monkeyed around with it this morning trying to fix the right margin. It was too wide that's why. But by some unforeseen event, my monkeying was saved and my template was ruined. So I decided to go back to my old design. I didn't have time to fix it, specially I was at work. I felt bad sneaking around, so every time the phone rang, I jumped!

We had our first grilled steak tonight cooked in our new grill! I got the grill for my birthday. I know... it's not a romantic gift, but I have been dying to get one! I really want to try some of Rachel Ray's grilled recipes, so now with my new grill, I can! But unfortunately, can't do any cooking this week. Have some other plans... I promised R I owe him a yummo dinner. Will take pictures if it's pretty enough and post it here!

It's quite a birthday I had. Although I had to work, I still had fun and the celebration went on for days... the kitchen crew made me this huge cookie cake on the day of and sang the birthday song. Yesterday, I got a card from my mother in law with a check in it! Today at BOI, my boss bought me a cake and they sang to me too! I felt special and loved... So nice...

I got quite a scare today. I checked my personal bank account and found three charges that I didn't do. Called the bank right away and canceled my debit card. It wasn't much but I am filing a dispute. I expected them to be more vigilant about stuff like foreign transactions, but I guess not. They assured me I will get my money back. So that made me feel better. I am still worried about having my identity stolen, so I better check on my credit report soon. I don't know how they got a hold of my card number, I guess from my online shopping. So, I better stop that bad habit. Nothing is secure in this cyber world...

Well, I better get some zzzz's, i've been up since 4 this morning. I feel really tired. Hopefully. i'll sleep better tonight.

Tata!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Eventless Life

Another week has gone by. Life has been pretty much a routine. Work. Rest. Work. Rest. Rick hasn't been feeling well lately, so we were not able to do anything fun! I hope next week it will be better. I really want to go out on our boat, go biking and golf! Summer activities that I have been longing for since winter. We did something summery though, we went for a hike in the woods last Friday. It was an adventure of a lifetime! We got lost in the trail, covered with ticks, and hypoglycemia starting to kick in. We made it back in one piece with quite a few ticks in our clothes. Other than that, we are fine. I don't think we're going back in the woods anytime soon though. I was going to post an entry here about Hiking 101, but didn't have a chance to finish it. One sentence could pretty much sum it all up anyway. BE PREPARED! A boy scout motto that will always be true no matter where or what you are in life.

My birthday is coming up. I have to work. My friend's comment about me always working is pretty much true. But hey, nothing is free in this world, you have to work hard for it, right? So unless they are going to feed and clothe me, I have to work my buns off! Anyway, I asked to work on my birthday because I get double pay! Yay! Rick has to work that day, so it's not like I'm deserting him. He told me we'll celebrate my birthday the week after. I'm excited! I wish he'll make me that A1 steak again! :hint: Rick has no complains about my work schedule and he is all that matters! I just hate being accused of working too much! What is too much anyway?

My friends at work are marrying off like crazy. Three of them in one month. That's crazy! Crazy in an exciting way. I am happy for them because their search is over (I hope). It's miserable being single. Life is so much better when you have somebody to share it with. It took me a while to finally find my Romeo. But the wait was worthwhile.

It's going to be my birthday soon. A year older. Hopefully a whole lot wiser. God has been so good to me. I am thankful for another year full of His blessings and love and the opportunity to be a blessing and to love. It's nice to be twenty five! *wink*

Friday, July 04, 2008

Fourth of July



Fireworks Show in Spooner, WI


Picture It!


A Harvest of Love from Rick

Thursday, June 26, 2008

A Tag

I got this tag from Odette. Her blog is one of my favorites. I don't usually do stuff like this but the questions on this one is nice and sweet. So I decided to go along with it.

Are you deeply in love with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend? If you do, let’s try how well you remember the moment of your life with him. But before you put yourself in the hot seat please read the rules of this tag first.

1. This tag should be pass on to your friends.
2. Visit the blog of the person you’ve got this tag.
3. Leave a comment on her/his tag post. Be sure to thank her/him for this tag.
4. Highlight and link all the list of people who accepted this tag by visiting their blog site.
5. There are 10 questions that you need to answer but you will be the one to write the 10th question for the next person you want to pass this tag. Here are the questions. Be honest with your answers.

Let’s Start:

1. How did you meet your husband?

I met Rick online, on a dating site called asianeuro.com. That was back in 2002. He emailed me first. I fell in love with the long emails he sent me. He's a very good writer.

2. Where did you go on your first date?

We never really had a first date. Because the first time we met and went somewhere, my family was always with us. First dinner was at my house. I wanted my parents to know him first before anything else. Second night, we went to Jack's Ridge. He requested our song - I Will from the people serenading the guest at the restaurant. I felt embarrassed then but now I think that was so sweet...

3. When was your first intimate kiss?

I decided to do this, so i guess i have to answer this one! So here goes... all I can say is... it did NOT happen on the first date! :-)

4. How many girlfriends did he have in the past? Do you honestly know?

He didn't really say how many girlfriends he had. I guess too many that he couldn't remember them. He was married before though, but the marriage didn't last long. I saw a couple love letter when I was cleaning the garage.. He told me that was from long time ago. I guess all that matters now is that HE'S ALL MINE!

5. What is his ethnicity?

He’s American.

6. What is his favorite food?

Anything that doesn't contain any vegetation.

7. What is he like if he is mad?

He walks fast with heavy footsteps!

8. What are the things he did you thought is the most romantic thing he’d ever done?

Sometimes I come home from work and he would have a box of chocolate for me. Sometimes a flower on the dining table he picked from the garden. Little gestures that suggests he was thinking of me while I was gone. So sweet!

9. Describe how he proposed to you.

He proposed to me twice! The first time was very informal. He wants to do it right, so he asked my dad's permission and the next day proposed again, down on one knee with a diamond ring!

10. When did you know he was the ONE?

When he said my magic words! I was so happy! I knew then he was God's answer to my prayer. I was getting kinda old so I was getting impatient. That's how I ended up having an account on a dating site.

I'm passing this tag to all the married ladies out there who reads my blog...

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Marital Bliss


It's our fourth year wedding anniversary today! It seems like it was only yesterday when we had our wedding. Time sure flies when you are having a good time! A few of my co-workers knew about our anniversary. When I told them it's our fourth year, they would exclaim - oh, you're just babies! Most of them have been married for 20 years or so... So yah, we are babies! Hopefully someday we will celebrate our twentieth too. We will be old by then. But, if we're are still able... I want to have another wedding! I love being a bride...

Our four years together has been an adventure. We have traveled a lot. He showed and taught me a lot of things about the country and about nature. Because of him I became interested in sports and politics. Because of him I continue to grow. Our marriage is not perfect. We have our own faults. We argue. We have our differences. But we have a lot of things in common and the greatest one is our love for each other. So no matter what happens, at the end of the day, we know, we still have each other to love and to hold. Everyday, we continue to learn something, we continue to grow in love. Tomorrow is yet another day for an exciting adventure.

To my Richard - You are the best thing that ever happened to me. You are my best friend. Life is wonderful because of you. It may be tough sometimes, but as long as we have each other, nothing else matters. Looking forward to fifty more years of marital bliss with you! I love you!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart...

Thursday, June 19, 2008

My Brethren

Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house.
Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor...
Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.
Be the living expression of God's kindness;
Kindness in your smile,
Kindness in your warm greeting.

- Mother Teresa



When I work at the hospital, I mostly work in the employee's cafeteria. Although we call it 'employee's cafe', it is open to the public. That's where family and friends of people at the nursing home or patients at the hospital, go to get something to eat. Although the place is really small, we do have quite a few selection and they are good and cheap. A lot of people commend the cook for making really good food. I like working at the cafe because I get to interact with different people everyday. I have made a few friends along the way. It helps build my confidence too.

There's this old lady who comes through cafe once in a while. She is not an employee and I don't think she's visiting anybody either. The first time I saw her, she told me that she left her wallet at our cafe the day before. She said there was money in it and some house keys. I didn't work the day before so I don't know if anybody had found it. So I just told her that whenever we find something, we always leave it at the Registration Office. I told her she can go check there to see if her wallet was indeed there. But instead of leaving, she stayed and fumbled through her purse and continued to look for her wallet. She then decided to buy food that's worth $1, because that's all she has. I felt sorry for her then, she was old and I thought to myself she is just getting forgetful, like everybody else her age. The next time I saw this lady, she was at my morning job asking for donation for some car crash she was in. Nobody gave her any money at the office, because obviously, she was not hurt! It was a scam! From then on, I was never pleasant with her anymore. Irritates me whenever she comes through cafe because she asks "how much" a million times, she pinches, smells and touches everything! It's annoying!

She was back last Monday. I rolled my eyes when I saw her. I answered her every question with a scowl on my face. She was still eating when I went to the dining area to tidy up the place a bit. She tried to make small talks with me, but I was cold. She continued eating silently while I worked. She must have realized I wasn't interested. All of a sudden, it dawned on me, what if I am being tested by God! I surely did fail big time! What if she's Jesus? I was so rude! I felt ashamed and scared. If it was the end of the world, I surely would have no chance of making the situation right. I quickly tried to right the wrong, I asked her how her food was and wished her a good day. I felt better after that.

Life is already hard as it is. I bet that lady had to beg for money everyday in order to buy food. Thank God for the awakening. Being good is not easy. But it sure does feel good when you are able to brighten up someone's day. Smile! It does wonders for the soul.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Boyax!


It's my Papa's birthday today and it's father's day too! So I get to give him only one present this time. They had a party for him and I heard everybody had fun. It's during times like this that I miss my family so much more... I don't get to celebrate with them. My only contribution would be some money and a phone call. It's sad sometimes but I chose a different path in life. No regrets though because I love my life here.

Growing up I was always told I am like my father. In a way I agree with them. I am cheap and smart about money. I know how to fix things around the house. I remember how I helped him build a couple screen doors for the house. That was fun. He was so patient with me and I was proud of him when I saw the finished product. I am the oldest kid so I was mostly helping him when he's trying to fix something. A skill that I am proud of! I am a better handyman than Rick. Like Papa, I don't like to dilly dally when dealing with business transactions. My love for movies is all because of him. He introduced me to Star Wars and Indiana Jones. He loves watching foreign films. I think that's why I speak good English. The one thing I didn't get from him is his cooking skills. He makes scrumptious meals. Lunch on Sundays was his turn to cook. And boy... you don't wanna be anywhere else but home. That's the time when everyone's at the table and we would sit there, eat, talk and tease. Nobody leaves the table until somebody cries. It's fun having a big family.

To my Papa... thank you for being a good father. You raised me well. I love you!

Happy Birthday!

Friday, June 06, 2008

Clutter and Achievements

Our kitchen remodel is finally on the way. We spent the entire week boxing our kitchen stuff, taking down the cabinets and painting. We are pooped! Our sanctuary turned into a place of turmoil. We are lost in our own space. How weird is that? The living room and the basement looks like storage. There's no place to sit or eat. Since Monday our meals consist of frozen pizza and the restaurant. This remodel is getting pricier by the minute. Yes, I am complaining! But I know it has to be done. I just need to focus on the bigger picture... The contractor said they will start working later today and will be done by Monday. I hope he's right! Because another week of clutter will drive me bonkers!

Anyway, last Thursday, the company where I work as an 'accountant' had their annual board meeting. I didn't get to go because I am not a member of the board of directors nor an investor. But Friday morning my 'bosses' came up to me and told me that the Auditor/CPA had really nice things to say about me in front of the board! I don't know his exact words so I am not gonna quote him. All I know is that he's pleased with my work. I am so happy! It felt like a great accomplishment in some sort of way. Finally my great skills has been recognized and rewarded by kind words. I didn't get to hear it first hand, but knowing that somebody appreciates my work is good enough for me. My mama and papa would be so proud of me. I am proud of me! Thank you so much ma and pa for raising me to be one fine worker. Working for you for so many years did pay off. I know I was stubborn at times when you want things done your way. You want things done efficiently, neat and organized. Well, I have done things your way and now I am reaping the 'rewards'. Again, thank you, without your guidance and support, I would be nothing.

Well, I better go do some accomplishing now! It wont be much given the present state of our living room and kitchen. But I know a long hot bath will do wonders for the soul!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Picture It!


A birthday greeting written on the sandy beach of Lake Superior.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Spring Has Sprung!


Dandelions... That's the first sign that summer is coming! Finally the weather has been good. Sun is out. Tiny leaves coming out from tree branches. Grass is green... Spring is here! I wore my strappy sandals yesterday for work! Yipee! Reminds me to do my toenails. I'm thinking black! That should cover up the unsightly! hehehe...

Started cleaning out my closet. Put away my winter clothes and the spring/summer ones are out. Brought out my shoes too! Oh, I was so happy to see my cutesy shoes... vibrant colors and different styles. I soooo love summer! I'll give it another week before i start wearing my skirt to work. Oh, how i miss them! Sorry, I can't contain myself. Just too excited for the change of season.

We have big plans for the summer. Camping, hiking, biking, fishing and maybe a couple trips somewhere. I want to host a barbecue, have some friends over, eat, drink and be merry! I'll plan one when we get a new gas grill. We currently have a charcoal grill and I am not too fond of it. I desperately need a gas grill! Anyway, we just want to be outside after being cramped indoors for a long time. I have to pick out plants for my planters too! Soon we will be outside on our hands and knees digging dirt and planting lovely flowers. I don't know what i want yet, but i was hoping to get more perennials this year rather than the annuals. Planting new plants each year can be a pain, both in your butt and pockets! We still have some raking to do though. Leftover from last year. But lucky us, we were able to find somebody cheap to mow our lawn all summer. Whew! I'm quite relieved because I know my dearie can't handle that chore anymore specially with his broken toe!

Hope everyone will have a great summer!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day!
















To my Mama,

On this special day
I want to share with the world
How much you mean to me
How much I appreciate
your unconditional love for me..

Without your dreams
Without your perseverance
Without your encouragement
I wouldn't be where I am today
I, wouldn't be Me.

I was never perfect
And I will never be
Yet that never stopped you
From loving me...
My wonderful life, I owe it all to you.

I may not say it often,
But today on your special day,
Please know how much i appreciate You.
Thank you for everything.

I love you, Mama
Everyday and Always.

Happy Mother's Day!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Marie's 90th Bday Bash

Marie taking a little break

Alex, Jackie, Marie and Kylie (grandkids)

Family and Friends

My mother-in-law turned 90! last Saturday, May 3rd. I spent the whole day with her. Made her dinner - grilled chicken with mushroom gravy and potatoes. I tried to distract her from worrying about the party. I was having some immigration problem so we ended up driving to the cities for an appointment. It was a blessing in disguise because then, I get to spend the whole weekend with Marie. She loved it. Ken and Rick, loved it! It was great! Rick didn't come until Sunday morning because he had to work. Although, the bed wasn't too comfortable, but what's a little discomfort if it makes a lot of people happy. Marie told everybody of how great I was and my cooking! How I waited on her hand and foot! Honestly, I didn't do much besides the cooking. Spent most of the day chatting with her and some TV. It was really nice spending the weekend with her. I loved keeping her company. She is so easy to talk to and I can just tell she really loves me and I love her too... I was so surprised to find myself actually enjoying the party. I recognized a lot of the attendees and visited with them with great sincerity. I was proud of myself. I didn't hide in one corner and hoped to disappear.

I am growing up indeed!