Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To All!

Oh, Christmas Tree

It's almost christmas and we just had our tree up last sunday. It's a bit too late i know, but christmas wont be the same without one. The house smells like pine and i like it. We got a real tree again this year and we were kinda thinking of getting a small one. But when we got home, it was huge! We were gonna get a fake tree but when we went to the store, it cost about the same or more! Besides, nothing beats the smell and the beauty of the real tree. I think Rick is allergic to it though. He kept sneezing and he complains of a headache when he stays in the living room for so long. I hope that's not the case though. I think it's just the dust in the house coz of the construction in the basement.

I am still not done with my christmas shopping. I still have to buy Ken's kids some presents! Although it wont be too hard coz all they have on their list was a bunch of cd's, dvd's and video games. So we're gonna get those on christmas eve day. We dont have a choice coz we only have a walmart here and they dont have a lot of choices. I'm not done shopping for Rick either but i already got him a couple presents under the tree. I hope he'll like them. And for my family in the Philippines, i am just gonna send them money and they can buy whatever they want. I know it's not the same as opening a real present that has been sitting under the tree for days but, i dont have a choice, kay-kay usually does the christmas shopping for me but now that she's pregnant, she cant do it! I've heard that our tree looks so empty this year... i feel bad... but, we'll make up for it next year! Hopefully...

I sure do miss spending the holidays with my family. I miss the rush, the bunch of presents under the tree, the good food and the chaos when they open their presents. It's really different here. We dont stay up until midnight to wait for christmas or new year. No fireworks, no excessive food on the table, no relatives coming to visit. I came to accept that difference, but there are just times when i miss the filipino way of celebrating christmas and new year... Now, i'm all misty thinking about home... i miss my sisters - the shopping and cooking, i miss my brothers - all the yelling at them to help us and for stealing the food, i miss my mom and my dad who patiently prepares for everything and trying hard to keep the traditions in the family going. Now, i have a new life without them, my new life is so peaceful that i long for the chaos back home which i tried so hard to escape. I know it's crazy to want that but i really do miss all of them... Hopefully someday we'll be able to spend the holidays with them.

My day-off

Finally! I have the whole day to myself. Rick had to go to Wausau for work and the guy doing our basement decided not to show up today too! So, i am alone in the house. Well, of course the three cats are here with me... It is sometimes nice to be alone. I have time to catch up with my housework, email friends, make a meal that i like and wear my pajamas all day! It is a good time to think too. Think of christmas shopping, what presents to buy, what to wear on our christmas dinner and just think of anything that i didnt have time to think when i was busy with work! Oh! i just love being alone sometimes! I am going to watch the Pirates of the Carribean again later, this time with sub-title! hehehe i have a hard time understanding Jack Sparrow! Forgive me for being slow! :-)

Last Saturday, we gave our friend, Em, a baby shower. That was one of the reason why i need some alone time. We had to rush, rush and rush to have everything ready. We only had 5 hours to prepare. In 5 hours we had to accomplish the prizes for the games, plates, napkins, cups and silverware, appetizers, drinks and more food! Jemima and I was able to make it! Whew! Most of our guest were Filipinos so they were late! *-* and that was a good thing! We had a blast! The food was good, new friendship was made, a lot of talk and laughter. It was funny though coz there was a mixture of tagalog and cebuano people, so sometimes we get confused as to who is which, so we start talking in bisaya and the other person would say she didnt understand a thing! And we'll just laugh! The party lasted for 4 hours! That was amazing... before we went home, we planned for a Christmas party, it'll be on the 23rd of December. Hopefully it'll be twice the fun!

Enough said already. I better get back to my day and enjoy it some more. I wish i can call my family, but it's early morning there. I woke up at 9:30 this morning so i wasnt able to catch anybody online. I miss all of them. Havent talked to anybody since we got back from our vacation. Maybe i'll give them a call tonight...

Back to Reality

i wrote this on the sand on our last day at the beach

We just got back from our trip to Florida. We were gone for six days. Now we're back. We're back to the reality of our real world which is cold and white. Back to work and waking up early. Yah, i resent coming back. Rick feels the same way. But we didn't have a choice. It sure is nice to be back home and sleep in our own bed but the cold is killing me!

Anyway, we had fun on our trip. We went to the Southwest Florida area, particularly, Naples. On our first day, we went to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, we drove around and drool with envy on the nice homes along the beach. Then, we went to Naples where we stayed and spend our nights. The second day we went to the beach and swim and lay on the sand for hours! Just enjoy the peace and the beauty of nature - birds flying around and over us... Then, we took the sunset cruise, sightseeing, watch the dolphins and just enjoy the ride...

The next day we went to The Everglades. I dont know if you've heard of the place, but it's supposed to be a great source of oxygen for all mankind. It wasn't really a spectacular sight, just green and swamp all over! We took the airboat ride and that was fun! The ride itself was fun! The driver would be cruising on full speed and do sharp turns it felt like the boat was gonna tip! I was screaming and laughing at the same time! Well, we get to see more of the Everglades and the alligator and different kinds of birds. After that we went to Marco Island and i just fell in love with the place! It was small and not so crowded. High-rise buildings along the beach and what a lovely beach! Shells everywhere! You can see the dolphins swimming by from the shore too! More birds and just peaceful and beautiful! I really want to live there. If we were to move to Florida, that would be the place i want to move to.

That night we ate at Joe's Crab Shack. The food was great! I sooo love their crab balls and crab dip! Yummy! On our last entire day there, we went shopping for souvenirs and spent the rest of the day on the beach, planning our lives and dreaming of living in Florida. Contemplating about which is worse between a hurricane and a tornado... trying to find a way so that we can afford to live there. Hopefully.... someday....

But now, we're back home. Our cold and snow-covered home. I am happy to be back but sad too coz Florida is just so pretty! I really loved our vacation, it was nice to get away and not think about work and bills for a while, but simply enjoy life and live it like how it is supposed to be. But I guess i wouldnt have enjoyed it as much if we live there, i would have taken for granted it's beauty like what i do here. I am simply grateful for life and it's beauty that surrounds us...

picture of the apartment where we stayed